Mendiptimes Times - Volume 9 Issue 5

Mendip Times

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VOLUME 9 ISSUE 5

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FREE

Celebrating life on the Mendips and surrounding areas

OCTOBER 2013

IN THIS ISSUE: SOUTH WEST IN BLOOM • HARVEST TIME • MINERS’ MEMORIES • FROME CHEESE SHOW • WILDLIFE Local people, local history, local places, local events and local news

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MENDIP TIMES

CONTENTS

Welcome

OUR display stand has been packed away until the spring, after another very successful outing to the Frome Agricultural and Cheese Show, where we were very pleased to meet hundreds of our readers, as well as advertisers.

The rain held off long enough for the crowds to enjoy another super show. We have pictures from there, as well from many other events celebrating the end of summer. Now for the carnival season.

We join former miners at their annual reunion in Radstock and follow a flock of sheep making their way through the centre of Glastonbury. With Halloween approaching Phil Hendy asks if Mendip’s caves are haunted.

The loss of a child is devastating for anyone – we hear how one couple are dealing with the death of their son by raising £1million for charity. In other news, we meet Agnes Smalley, who has received a top award at the age of 90 for her work with Riding for the Disabled.

Sue Gearing takes us on a walk around Cranmore and Chris Sperring tells us about his love of kingfishers, while we have a report on wildlife further afield – from our own correspondent in West Africa!

With all of our regular features and contributors, welcome to autumn on Mendip.

November 2013 deadline: Friday, 18th October 2013.

Published: Tuesday, 29th October 2013.

Editorial: Steve Egginton steve@mendiptimes.co.uk Mark Adler mark@mendiptimes.co.uk Advertising: Ann Quinn advertising@mendiptimes.co.uk Marjorie Page marjorie@mendiptimes.co.uk Publisher: Mendip Times Limited Coombe Lodge, Blagdon, Somerset BS40 7RG Contacts: For all enquiries, telephone:

01761 463888 or: email news@mendiptimes.co.uk or: letters@mendiptimes.co.uk www.mendiptimes.co.uk Design and origination by: Steve Henderson Printed by: Precision Colour Printing, Haldane, Halesfield 1, Telford, Shropshire TF7 4QQ Copyright of editorial content held by Mendip Times Ltd. and its contributors. No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording or otherwise without the express permission of the Publisher. The views expressed in this publication do not necessarily represent those of the publisher or its associates.

Front cover: Floral art at Frome Cheese Show.

Photograph by Mark Adler (see page 12).

12

Cheese takes the biscuit – Frome Show in pictures

22

Follow my leader – fun and games in Chew Stoke

68

Double Hills – Paulton remembers wartime tragedy

91

Swim, ride and run – triathletes compete in Norton

Plus all our regular features Environment...................................6 Farming Mary James MBE..........10 Business ........................................18 Arts & Antiques ...........................24 Food & Drink...............................30 Internet and Crossword..............42 Community Simon Selby .............43 Charities .......................................44 Wildlife Chris Sperring MBE .......49 Walking Sue Gearing....................50

Outdoors Les Davies MBE ..........52 Gardening Mary Payne MBE ......54 Property........................................60 Caving Phil Hendy........................69 Family Mendip Mum....................70 Health Dr Phil Hammond.............70 Homes and Interiors....................76 Golf................................................87 Riding Celia Gadd ........................88 What’s On ....................................94 MENDIP TIMES • OCTOBER 2013 • PAGE 3

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Tel: 0800 097 8611

www.johnhodge.co.uk | e-mail: mailbox@johnhodge.co.uk

WESTON-SUPER-MARE | BRISTOL | CLEVEDON | YATTON | WEDMORE

Our Services Include: Commercial and Residential Property Wills and Probate Litigation and Personal Injury Criminal and Family Law Agricultural, Business and Commercial Employment Shepton Mallet: 57 High Street, Shepton Mallet, Somerset, BA4 5AQ. Tel: 01749 343091

Glastonbury: 11 Chilkwell Street, Glastonbury, Somerset, BA6 8DL. Tel: 01458 832510

We are pleased to let readers know that during November, Libby Warder (Shepton Mallet office) and Robin Weelen (Castle Cary office) will be taking part in Will Aid again this year.

Will Aid is the UK's top charity will-writing scheme. It offers everyone the opportunity to make or update their will with a professional solicitor, in return for a donation to help people in need in the UK and all over the world.

We are offering to draw up basic wills without charging our usual fee. In return for this service, we hope clients will donate the fee we would normally charge to the Will Aid charities. is is the opportunity to give to charity, rather than paying a solicitor. e money raised from donations will be shared by nine well-known UK charities: ActionAid, Age UK, British Red Cross, Christian Aid, NSPCC, Save the Children, Sightsavers, SCIAF (Scotland) and Trocaire (Northern Ireland).

Appointments will be limited and on a first come, first served basis. Please contact Libby Warder (01749 343091 or libby@bgw-solicitors.co.uk ) or Robin Weelen (01936 350888 or robin@bgw-solicitors.co.uk) directly.

Castle Cary: Old Bank House, High Street, Castle Cary, Somerset, BA7 7AW. Tel: 01963 350888

Cheddar: Roley House, Church Street, Cheddar, Somerset, BS27 3RA. Tel: 01934 745400

Website: www.bgw.uk.com

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NEWS

East Harptree has talent

LAST year the annual fete planned for St. Lawrence Church, East Harptree was washed out, so this year church warden Barry Rider and his wife Hazel suggested a Harvest of Talents instead of a fete.

The plan was to hand out £10 notes to local people as stake money, with the request that it be returned with whatever interest could be accrued, at the October harvest supper.

One person chose to offer rides to the airport, whilst young people offered to wash cars. There were two tapas and sherry lunches enjoyed by 25 people, a men’s breakfast proved popular with 30 men enjoying a home-cooked meal of eggs, sausages, bacon with coffee and newspapers.

To keep the balance, a ladies’ lunch was equally successful.

There were sales of marmalade and Christmas puddings, coffee mornings, a cheese and wine reception and an alfresco drinks party at the local stately home.

A ride round Chew Valley Lake in a vintage car with a cream tea thrown in gave pleasure to another 20 people, whilst the offer to have your family tree explored by an experienced genealogist produced some exciting results. One family discovered to their astonishment that they were fifth cousins of Prime Minister David Cameron!

The Rev. Catherine Llewelyn-Evans, who sampled nearly all

Mendip wedding

THOMAS Gay and Virginia Halling-Brown were married at St. Michael’s Church, Compton Martin, the bride’s home village, before a reception in a marquee at North Widcombe Farm, Thomas’s family home.

The couple, both 24, met as teenagers at a dance at West Harptree village hall. Tom now works on the farm with his parents, Colston and Celia, and his brother Henry-James, after attending the Royal Agricultural College at Cirencester.

Ginnie is events manager at Priston Mill and Coombe Lodge. Her parents, Julia and Brett, an accountant in Bishop Sutton, live in Compton Martin.

The bride was attended by her sister Rachael and her best friend Alexandra Griffiths. The groom’s brother HenryJames and friend James Warren were his best men. Guests came from as far as Canada, Brazil and Scotland to share in the celebrations.

The Rev. Catherine Llewelyn-Evans with church warden Barry Rider and a Bullnose Morris (and chauffeur Christopher Lewis) which gave vintage rides round Chew Valley Lake.

Photo courtesy of Amy Jefferies

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the treats on offer, said: “Never in my wildest dreams would I have thought this scheme would be so enjoyable and so fruitful.” The total sum raised already exceeds £1,800, from an outlay of £330 in £10 notes, with many more talent events yet to take place.

The result already exceeds the profits from last year’s fete, though church warden Barry Rider doesn’t rule out future fetes altogether. He said: “We’ll see how the weather looks next year.”

Slades reach their peak

THE Slade family from Washbrook, Wedmore, have completed the Three Peaks Challenge in 23 hours 31 minutes, raising £3,500 so far for Breast Cancer Care.

The family, Alison, aged 48, and sons Toby, aged 22, and Jake, aged 20, with close family friend Sammi Stephenson, aged 20, walked 26 miles and travelled 1,378 miles in their minibus, starting at 5am and finishing at 4.31am the next day, climbing Ben Nevis, Scafell and Snowdon.

Alison, who was diagnosed with breast cancer in 2010 and has since undergone a double mastectomy and breast reconstruction, said: “We are all absolutely delighted to have completed the challenge, it’s given us all such an amazing sense of achievement. It was incredibly hard physically and logistically.

“We had to plan meticulously for the challenge in order to achieve it in under 24 hours – the driving routes, organising food and sufficient liquid for everyone required much thought.

We are so grateful to everyone for their support and feel it has been a very worthwhile achievement for a worthy cause.”

Details: http://www.justgiving.com/FOURceSLADE 07974 183335 or 01934 712359

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Further boost for museum bid A FUNDRAISING campaign to redevelop the Somerset Rural Life Museum in Glastonbury has been awarded a £150,000 grant from the Garfield Weston Foundation.

The museum, which is run by Somerset County Council, is planning to update displays, improve access for visitors and modernise visitor facilities. Proposals also include a new learning centre and conservation of the magnificent 14th Century abbey barn.

The council is working closely with the Friends of Somerset Rural Life Museum to secure the £1.8 million needed for the redevelopment. The Heritage Lottery Fund and other grant-giving organisations have also been approached. David Heeley, chairman of the Friends of Somerset Rural Life Museum, said: “We are thrilled the foundation has chosen to support the project in this way.”

Councillor David Hall, the council’s cabinet member with responsibility for

heritage, said: “This generous grant from the Garfield Weston Foundation is a very major addition to the funding we need for the project. We are extremely grateful to the foundation for its support.”

The Garfield Weston Foundation was established in 1958 by Willard Garfield Weston, a Canadian businessman who was the creator of Associated British

CHARLES Dowding, the acclaimed vegetable grower and gardening writer, has become patron to the Carymoor Environmental Trust.

The trust is an environmental education and nature conservation charity which leases 100 acres of capped landfill from Viridor at their Dimmer site outside Castle Cary. Over the past 17 years the charity has regenerated the site into a nature reserve and wildlife haven.

More than 100 schools from across Somerset visit the site each year to see the landfill site and learn of ways to reduce waste, as well as exploring some of the habitats created.

Mr Dowding, who lives at Alhampton, near Ditcheat said: “I love Carymoor’s situation on the edge of big piles of rubbish and the way in which they have transformed the land into something useful, and ultimately beautiful, conveys an important message. The planet needs

New patron for Carymoor

Charles Dowding PAGE 6 • MENDIP TIMES • OCTOBER 2013

Carrymore Environmental Centre

Harvest displays at the Rural Life Museum

Foods. Since 1958 the Foundation has made grants in the UK totalling more than £680 million.

An announcement about the bid for a grant from the Heritage Lottery Fund was due to be made as Mendip Times went to press. For further information on the museum redevelopment project visit: www.somerset.gov.uk/srlmproject

healing, and we can become more healthy in the process.”

Rupert Farthing, Chief Executive of Carymoor, said: “It is terrific to have Charles involved with our work at Carymoor. His work to encourage people to grow vegetables at home is wellknown and he has published four successful books on the subject. There is a real synergy between Carymoor and Charles and we are both keen to promote more sustainable ways of living.”

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ENVIRONMENT

Seeds of change

TV presenter and naturalist Simon King is recreating some of the finest wildflower meadow in Somerset – in his own garden in East Mendip.

Simon, patron of Somerset Wildlife Trust and president of The Wildlife Trusts, used seed harvested from Somerset Wildlife Trust’s Chancellor’s Farm Nature Reserve.

Simon was joined by Jake Chant from the Trust’s Mendip Living Landscape team to sow the wildflower seed which will begin to germinate in autumn and be in full bloom next summer. The seed mix includes wildflowers and grasses such as black knapweed, yellow rattle, bluebell and sweet vernal grass. The flowers and grasses will increase the biodiversity of the meadow and support a rich array of insect life – the building blocks for a strong and diverse eco-system.

Simon said: “In just over two years of careful grassland management, I have witnessed an astonishing change to the meadows around my home in Somerset. What was green desert now dances to the paper ballet of marbled white, skipper and blue butterflies. With assistance and the wildflower seed donation from

Jake and Simon sowing the meadow

Somerset Wildlife Trust I am looking forward to an even greater diversity of life in our local grassland over the coming years.”

Chancellor’s Farm is owned by the Wessex Reserves Forces and Cadet Association and is at the centre of the Mendip Hills AONB. After 20 years of careful husbandry by Somerset Wildlife Trust, the meadow is home to some 180 species of flowering plant attracting wildlife including barn owl, greater horseshoe bat, adder, spotted

flycatcher, dark green fritillary and chimney sweeper moth.

It was named Somerset’s Coronation Meadow in a scheme launched by HRH the Prince of Wales in June. Coronation Meadows are outstanding examples of wildflower meadows that are being used as “source meadows” to provide seed for meadow restorations. The Coronation Meadows Partnership is made up of Plantlife, The Wildlife Trusts and the Rare Breeds Survival Trust.

You can watch a short film of Simon and Jake sowing the meadow on the Trust’s YouTube channel at http://ow.ly/oJr7j

Ramblers enjoy another festival success

A TOTAL of 287 people took to the footpaths in the countryside around Wells in this year’s Mendip Ramblers’ Walking Festival.

The event took place over three days with walks of varying lengths which began and ended at the Blue School.

Mary Birchall, from the group, said:

“The weather was perfect and ramblers returned to the hall to enjoy afternoon tea and mull over the day’s walking. A super weekend.”

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MENDIP TIMES

A c ti o n pa c ke d d a y o n t he St ra w be rr y L i n e

ENVIRONMENT

M E N D I P

W E A T H E R

S C E N E

AN open day at the Mendip Society’s Slader’s Leigh reserve saw a busy day of activities, including a commemoration of the 50th anniversary of the closure of the Strawberry Line.

It was a collaboration between the Mendip Society, the AONB, Somerset Earth Science Centre, the Strawberry Line Society and the GAGB (Geocaching Association of Great Britain).

As well as getting a great deal of the meadow scythed, with the help of the AONB’s young rangers, there were rock-based activities for all ages on offer as part of the Mendip Rocks programme.

The Somerset Earth Science Centre ran drop-in activities to have a go at making model fossils and fossil rubbings. The AONB and Strawberry Line Association led guided tours to discover how Shute Shelve tunnel was cut through the Mendip Hills where rocks from the Carboniferous and Triassic periods meet.

There was also a chance to see the impressive tufa formation and the home of the cave spiders that have made the tunnel their home.

Summer is turning into autumn

AFTER enjoying the best summer we have had since 2006, there is always talk of when summer ends and autumn with DAVID begins.

MAINE The meteorological summer, which is often mentioned during TV weather forecasts, comprises the three months

Harvest time in the fields above Shepton Mallet church

PAGE 8 • MENDIP TIMES • OCTOBER 2013

of June to August. This is done conveniently as weather statistics are calculated mainly on a monthly basis.

To arrive at a figure for the summer the three warmest months of the year are then lumped together and averaged out to give a “summer” figure, which is given mainly for public use, and not used so much for any long-term weather statistics. The same applies to the other seasons of the year, of course.

In reality, Mother Nature doesn’t pay any attention to the forecasts, so summer does not end necessarily on August 31st, but can carry on well into September, as has been the case this year with a lovely fine dry start to the month and with temperatures in this area up to 25.4 Celsius. In some of the more eastern parts of the UK, 30oC was reached making it the warmest September day since 2006.

I have mentioned already the meteorological summer. Another popular date is around September 21st as this is the time of the equinox and also about the time when the first of the deeper autumn Atlantic lows begins to affect the UK. This event is

Robert Shylan leads seven-year-old shire horse Bobby as they stage a logging demonstration at Evercreech Village Show

also known as the “equinoctial gales”.

Some people talk about an Indian summer, but the term really comes from a spell of fine sunny weather in North America during late October/early November after a hard frost, when the American Indians were able to gather in the last of their harvest!

Remember, clocks change on Sunday, October 27th when they go back one hour!

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Congratulations to Mervyn and Dolly

IN September I had the great pleasure of attending a diamond wedding anniversary lunch. Retired farmers Mervyn and Dolly Vowles held it in Barrow Gurney Village Hall where they held their wedding reception. They spent 39 years at Hill Farm, Barrow Gurney, before retiring to Nailsea in With MARY 1998.

JAMES MBE Mervyn was a national champion ploughman eight times and six times Welsh champion as well as winning hundreds of awards in ploughing matches across the country. His tractors were a Nuffield Universal W4 and a Nuffield Universal 3 with a Ransome plough. Although retired from competitive ploughing, he is still judging and stewarding.

Dolly was a land girl who was thrown in at the deep end, as all those wonderful land girls were. They had to learn basic farming methods very quickly. Dolly married Mervyn, the son of the farmer she worked for. She has been farmer, cook, decorator, flower arranger, gardener and renowned bowls player.

They have supported the village in every way possible. What a wonderful record This is not strictly farming but my old school, Elmhurst Grammar, in Street, held a reunion recently where we raised £268 for the Dorset and Somerset Air ambulance. The photo shows Myra Tarrant and Rick Hellard presenting the cheque to Colin Thomas. I should have been in the photo but could not get there. Myra is holding the book (cover designed by Rick) that she produced depicting the public performances by the staff and pupils 1947 – 1973. I played a rabbit in Toad of Toad Hall but I am not telling you which year!

The NFU has produced a charter designed to raise awareness

Myra Farrant, Colin Thomas and Rick Hillard PAGE 10 • MENDIP TIMES • OCTOBER 2013

Mervyn and Dolly Vowles

of the country’s lack of self-sufficiency in food. Farmers have a fantastic natural capacity to produce more British food, given the right market signals and the confidence to invest. But most importantly farmers need the support of their customers, their best ally. People who sign the charter support four statements, which call upon the government, retailers, caterers, chefs and restaurants to source more food from Britain.

There is also the opportunity to state what you personally love about British farming. So, dear reader, do get on to the internet and look up the ‘Back British Farming Charter’. Your help will be much appreciated. No internet access? Never fear there is sure to be a young person nearby who would help. My grandson who is 11 teaches me a thing or two. !

As I write we are preparing for the North Somerset Ploughing Match. We have a produce show every year and there are 113 exhibitors this year with just over 600 entries. It is really great to see so many people taking an interest. As well as ploughing there is hedging and classes for roots, hay, silage, grain and field crops. See page …

Mendip’s got talent

FARRINGTON Gurney Young Farmers Club has presented a cheque for £5,005 to the Dorset and Somerset Air Ambulance, after holding a very successful Mendip’s Got Talent competition at Chewton Field Farm, Ston Easton.

This year’s winners were the Weanie Wurzles, George Clothier, Jack and Joseph Wedmore and Rob Prichard, singing I’ve Got a Brand New Combine Harvester. The club says it would like to say a huge thank you to all the sponsors, volunteers and everyone who helped make the night such a success.

Next up is the annual Fall Ball on October 12th at the Royal Bath and West Showground.

Details: farringtonfallball@hotmail.co.uk

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County rally

Vets school expands

SOMERSET Young Farmers annual county rally hosted by West Group raised over £20,000 for charities. Pictured (l to R) are Debbie Birtwisle (Dorset and Somerset Air Ambulance), Tom Lock, Helen Ansell, Craig Rawle, Clare Williams, Elizabeth Bruin (St Margaret’s Hospice), Mike Julian and Pam Wills (RABI South West Regional Manager).

Next year’s rally on May 17th, hosted by Wessex Group, will be at Frogmary Green Farm, South Petherton by kind permission of Nick and Claire Bragg.

Farmers of the future?

FARMING

FARMER and BBC Countryfile presenter, Adam Henson, has officially opened a new £2million state-of-the-art dairy farm at the University of Bristol’s School of Veterinary Sciences at Langford. He’s pictured (left) with the head of the school, Prof.

Jo Price, and the university’s deputy vice-chancellor, Prof.

David Clarke.

Bee expert lands in Chew

DURING the weekend of October 19th and 20th, bee expert Phil Chandler, author of ‘The Barefoot Bee-keeper’ and supporter of sustainable bee-keeping, will be visiting the Chew Valley to run a course for bee-keepers who are interested in a natural, bee-friendly approach to this ancient craft.

Details: www.westfield-farm.co.uk/events

THE winners of the first Somerset Dairy Careers Awards will be revealed at the Dairy Show, at the Royal Bath and West Showground at Shepton Mallet, on Wednesday, October 2nd. The awards, organised by the Somerset Dairy Careers Project, aim to recognise the talent that Somerset has to offer the dairy industry. Funded by the Big Lottery’s Local Food scheme, the Somerset’s Dairy Careers Project is a Community Council for Somerset scheme that is working to help and support young people looking to start and build a career in the dairy industry. They are working in partnership with businesses and organisations with an interest in ensuring the future of Somerset’s dairy industry. The finalists include several young people from the Mendip area.

The project provides dairy sector resource packs for young people aged 14+ focusing on career opportunities in the dairy sector as well as promoting healthy eating. It has produced a promotional careers film and website, a hub of dairy informtion on careers, local courses, educational providers and much more.

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MENDIP TIMES • OCTOBER 2013 • PAGE 11

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A great day out

A RECORD crowd of more than 20,000 people made the 2013 Frome Cheese Show made it the best in its 150-year plus history, said organisers.

Too tempting but the sign makes it clear

Former actor turned cheesemaker Sean Wilson was amongst the judges in the Global Cheese Awards

Lucy Gould from Shepton Mallet

George Clothier, of Ston Easton, with his prixe-winning cattle entry

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FROME CHEESE SHOW

The Bolddog Lings motorcycle display team in action above the Village Green

Warrant Officer 2 Dave Evans, RM, awarded the Queen’s Gallantry Medal, ran a competition in the Food Hall aid of Help for Heroes

Exhibitors gather for the prizegiving and the start of the grand parade of livestock

Archie and Harry, from Mark, near Highbridge, with their sheep entries

Christina Sumsion prepares her entry in a floral art competition

Emma Clothier, from Ston Easton, was amongst the winning exhibitors MENDIP TIMES • OCTOBER 2013 • PAGE 13

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Dear Mendip Times, I would like to say what a wonderful piece about Prof. Mick Aston (Mendip Times August) a very interesting man, your article was well written and interesting.

I was a very sad fan of Time Team when they stopped last year and then to read that Mick Aston had died was an even sadder day.

I never met him although I would have loved to and to go and see Time Team being filmed.

They brought archaeology to life.

History to me was a boring subject which I hated but Time Team gave me an interest I never thought I would have. The programme and Mick will be sadly missed.

Thank you for writing an interesting article about him.

Margaret Davies Coleford, Nr Radstock

Dear Mendip Times, Cancer Research UK is the world’s leading cancer charity, dedicated to saving lives through research. The charity has made enormous progress in the fight against cancer and continues to do so.

However, we have only been able to do that thanks to the dedication and commitment of our supporters. Our band of marvellous fundraisers in Somerset really need more help and I would like to encourage more to come forward.

We’d love your readers to hold a coffee morning, a dress down day at work, a party for friends, or do something else they love and raise money at the same time!

We need readers to help us bring forward the day when all cancers are cured!

To get involved and start fundraising just contact myself, here in Somerset, on 01884 34340 or 07850 669067 or email Dawn.harrison@cancer.org.uk.

Dawn Harrison Local fundraising manager for Somerset

Dear Mendip Times, We wonder if your readers are aware that a planning application has been submitted for a 112ft wind turbine to be placed in a field in Butcombe?

Very few local people are aware, due to the manner in which the application has been handled by the sizeable, international, energy company behind this development. If it goes ahead, this turbine will be clearly visible from many homes in Blagdon and from the A.O.N.B area across the Mendip Hills.

There is considerable concern amongst a number of residents that this is a precedent application – if this turbine is allowed, we could end up with many more in the Wrington Vale and the Chew Valley. Consider the visual impact on the lovely rural area we all live in and also the potential noise impact – industrial turbines can make a considerable amount of noise.

There is no energy, or other, benefit for the local community – only financial benefit for the farmer submitting the application on behalf of the company. Whilst many of us fully appreciate the fact that the farming community are largely responsible for PAGE 14 • MENDIP TIMES • OCTOBER 2013

LETTERS

the beauty of the area we live in, and we respect their right to diversify in these hard economic times, this is inappropriate development of the green belt.

The application details are as follows: 13/P/1560/F Windover, Butcombe, BS40 7XQ – application for the erection of a wind turbine.

We would urge all of your readers to view full details of the application online www.nsomerset.gov.uk, planning applications and register their views directly onto the site.

Objections are per person, not per household, and you don’t need to live in Butcombe to log an objection.

The deadline for objections is 3rd October 2013. For more information please contact stabutcombe@gmail.com Concerned resident Butcombe

Dear Mendip Times, It’s been another busy month of giving presentations to local organisations eager to understand more about the Cheddar Valley Plus Food Bank. We have so many more groups and companies we wish to talk to and raise awareness of the needs for support, in this next critical stage before our projected opening, in the late autumn.

With the Methodist Church in Cheddar now our agreed base for food storage, we will be looking to secure three satellite premises in our rural areas of cover – Wedmore, Cheddar and Axbridge. Our aim is to provide help and information and with this the long-term aim of restoring dignity to these members within our local rural communities.

This month our bank account becomes live, three trustees are now in place and a constitution signed. Our application is now with the Trussell Trust Foundation and we should be officially joining them during September. Then the real work starts on finding timber, racking, equipment and so much more before we can start to collect and collate our own food storage.

Many have asked me why has the demand of the food banks gone up so much this summer. Our most critical members in our communities are young low-income families. Without access to the free school meals for six weeks they are challenged to find even more money to feed a well balanced diet to their children, when they are struggling already. Now that is food for thought!

If you would like to offer help or a donation please contact me at cheddarvalleyfoodbank@gmail.com Sue Albone.

Cheddar Valley Plus Food Bank committee member and Mayoress of Axbridge

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NEWS

New beginnings

RADSTOCK’S Victoria Hall is open once more after contractors finished Phase One of the restoration project.

Two dance studios and gallery space with pop-up coffee bar are now available on the ground floor for classes and community events. Bath Dance College now operates from the building and they are encouraging the community to make full use of the facilities.

One of the first events to be held in the hall was a craft fair but groups who have already booked space include Share the Harmony adult choir, Sheila Broun drawing classes, Bath Circle, Somer Valley FM, Radstock Children’s Choir, Choir Rocks, Butterfly Psyche Theatre Company and Play 8-80 drama group.

Councillor Paul Crossley, leader of Bath

Students from Bath Dance College in the Waldegrave Room

and North East Somerset council which owns the building and commissioned the work, said: “We are delighted to handover part of the building to the tenants who will start to support the community to make the best possible use of the space available.

Victoria Hall is an iconic building from Radstock’s past. It is now a big part of a prosperous future with new homes and road network upgrade also just around the corner.”

Paul Crossley (left) hands over Phase One to Sue Hill and her son George

The craft fair underway

Live music in the café led by dance college pianist Mark Baker

The hall was opened by Councillor Neil Butters, chairman of B&NES

To find out more about the facilities, visit: www.victoriahallradstock.co.uk

MENDIP TIMES • OCTOBER 2013 • PAGE 15

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GLASTONBURY WOOL FESTIVAL

Sheep-shape and Glasto fashion

By Mark Adler

THIS year’s Glastonbury Wool Festival was the most ambitious to date and attracted hundreds of visitors over two days.

Spread over four venues in the town, the annual celebration of British produce began with the now traditional sheep run down the town’s High Street. Running sheep is one of the privileges of the Freemen of Glastonbury.

The festival was opened by Eric Wilson, CBE, who spent his lifetime in the woollen industry. Eric is a past Master of the Worshipful Company of Woolmen and one of the directors of the Campaign for Wool, led by HRH the Prince of Wales.

The Town Hall showcased the work of artisan producers, whilst St Mary’s Church hosted demonstrations and workshops. A fashion show was held at the Rural Life Museum, whilst Tor Rugby Club was the venue for sheep dog and sheep shearing demonstrations followed by a community supper.

Lesley Took, from the Somerset Guild of Weavers, Spinners and Dyers

Michelle and Bob Green travelled from Chichester to take part in the artisan fair

(l:r) Wool handler Gwenan Paewai, farmer George Faulkner, from Keinton Mandeville, John Brunsdon, freeman of Glastonbury, Eric Wilson, Patricia Ackroyd, one of the organisers of the festival, Alan Gloak, another organiser and freeman of Glastonbury, local MP Tessa Munt and Ian Tucker, also a freeman of Glastonbury PAGE 16 • MENDIP TIMES • OCTOBER 2013

The sheep make their way down Glastonbury High Street

Mimi was one of the models who took part in the wool-themed fashion show

Mendip farmer Andy Wear demonstrates sheep shearing

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EVENTS

Somerset Showcase – Axbridge 2013

Axbridge Community Allotment – Jen Jamieson, Dave and Stella Moore, Margaret Laborde

Jester Jonathan Weeks from East Lambrook

Axbridge Chamber of Commerce organised a Pirate Cafe in the town hall. Pictured l to r: Angie Brittan, Tricia Clark, Sue Alborne, Maggie Stanley and Patricia Filer

Congresbury Brass Band

Mendip Morris entertain the crowds MENDIP TIMES • OCTOBER 2013 • PAGE 17

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Outdoor Clothing, Footwear and Accessories

Tractors – big and small at Ashley Farm Toys!

CATHY Shellard and her partner Adrian Ashley have added a toy business to Lower Tunley Farm near Bath – and they are expecting another addition – their first baby.

Cathy will run the toy business, while still helping Adrian with the very busy dairy farm, which has expanded significantly in the last few years. Adrian and his brother James took over the running of the farm in 2002 when their father sadly passed away.

Cathy said: “We wanted something to run alongside the farm and a business selling farm toys seemed very appropriate.”

The idea came from Adrian’s younger brother Liam who has a big collection of farming toys and is constantly on the look-out for new ones to add to the collection, which made Cathy think that there was probably a market for selling farming toys.

The website went live on Tuesday September 3rd www.ashleysfarmtoys.co.uk

Speciality boot week

SPECIALITY BOOT WEEK 8th–12th October • Hillmaster boots ONLY £100 (RRP £150) • FREE Socks with every shoe/boot • Expert fitting and advice Broad Street • Congresbury (opposite Ship & Castle)

01934 877333 www.countryinnovation.co.uk PAGE 18 • MENDIP TIMES • OCTOBER 2013

IF you’re thinking of replacing those trusty walking boots or simply want to treat yourself to a new pair, then Country Innovation in Broad Street, Congresbury is holding a speciality boot week from October 5th - 12th.

There will be experts on hand to offer fitting and advice and for every pair of boots purchased you will receive a free pair of brasher socks (worth £15).

Country Innovation is a brasher premier stockist which means they stock the full range of brasher walking boots and shoes, including the new Hillmaster boot which comes in a huge range of sizes. During the week the Hillmaster will be on an exclusive offer of £100 from £150, plus there will be many other styles at greatly reduced prices.

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BUSINESS

Exciting times in Wells

YESTERDAY morning there was coffee and croissants for breakfast and on Friday there was jelly. Have I lost the plot?

Some would be very eager to agree – not least my family, I suspect. But just this once, I think I may actually have found it.

Far from being my usual fare, the coffee and croissants came about because Judith Ludovino at The Mendip Hub had organised a relaxed breakfast meeting at its newly opened business premises in Southover, Wells, which offers workstations and meeting facilities for one-person businesses.

Established businesses and new were all in the mix and it was an inspired, lively and forward looking gathering. The ‘jelly’ referred to a day hosted, once again, at the Mendip Hub, which, provided “desks, chairs and sofas, free wireless internet, and interesting people to talk to, collaborate with, and bounce ideas off.”

If you are interested in events like these, and you really should be, you can contact Judith and her team at events@mendiphub.org If you aren’t in business, other wonderful events in our micro-city of Wells are unfolding this autumn.

We have the marvellous Wells Festival of Literature in its exciting 21st year and the Wells Food Festival bursting on the scene with a flavour all of its own.

What an exciting time to live and work in the Mendips.

Here’s to us!

Jane Bowe ProBusiness

• Accounts preparation for sole traders, partnerships and small companies • Business taxation and self-assessment returns • Payroll services • Small business start-up advice • Free initial consultation

ECATCHER MOL

NO MOLE NO FEE Telephone 01275 332966

ECATCHER MOL Now does wasps

NO WASP NO STING

Telephone 01761 451384

MENDIP TIMES • OCTOBER 2013 • PAGE 19

Photo by Ignyte Limited Radstock

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MENDIP TIMES CAMELEY LODGE LAUNDRY

Duvets & Bedspreads washed & dried Sheets and Duvet covers washed and pressed Professional efficient service Collection & delivery service in the Chew Valley

Tel 01761 451787

www.cameleylodgelaundry.co.uk

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Getting ready for autumn and Christmas

NEEDFUL Things is filling with autumn ranges, including ladies’ clothing from Pomodoro, InTown, Saskia and many others.

And they are boosting their gifts section with many new and unusual items for you and your

home including a new children’s section coming soon. Now in their 15th year, behind the scenes they are preparing their Christmas stock and are confident that this year’s offer will be more exciting than ever!

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Fashion and performance

Katrina and Rob – preparing to celebrate the first anniversary of Southfield Sporting

ANYONE believing that the seemingly different worlds of fashion and country pursuits might share little in common need only visit Southfield Sporting at Nunney, near Frome, to see otherwise.

The clothing and gun shop is proof that the requirement for high technical performance does not exclude beautifully – and often hand made – designed clothing.

Southfield Sporting is run by Rob and Katrina. The couple, who met at agricultural college, were married earlier this year and share a love of country pursuits. They opened the shop just under a year ago in the grounds of Southfield House, home to Katrina’s grandmother Mrs Angela Yeoman.

Katrina outlined one of the reasons why fashion and the outdoors have discovered so much common ground: “There are a lot more ladies who enjoy shooting and the outdoors but who also want to look their best. The fashion industry picked up on that fact and in recent years the two have grown closer together.”

With the partridge season already underway and pheasant shooting beginning on October 1st, the gun and cartridge side of the business is preparing for a busy season. Rob is able to undertake all types of repairs and servicing but knows exactly who to turn to if a specialist is required. The shop also stocks a range of second-hand guns.

The couple are planning to expand their range of gifts and artwork, including some witty creations by the Somerset Feather Company, based at Shoscombe near Bath, and there has been a lot of interest in the shop’s range of dog-shaped clocks, such as a labrador and spaniel.

High fliers

BUSINESS

THE managing director of Red Berry Recruitment, Helen Lacey, plus five Berries and Rosie Goggins of Stowberry Lettings in Wells, dressed up in animal costumes and whizzed down a 148-foot zip wire at Cranmore Tower near Shepton Mallet.

They were raising funds for the charity SOS Africa. Emma Haskins, Helen’s PA, took part in a similar abseil for the charity last year and they asked her if the Berries would like to participate this time.

The charity helps children in Africa with educational equipment. Red Berry raised about £800 and said they would like to thank everyone who donated and went along to watch.

COUNTRY CLOTHING & GUN SHOP Major brands including:

And many others stocked

Southfield Sporting, Southfield House, Whatley, Frome, BA11 3JY shop@southfieldsporting.co.uk Twitter @southfieldsport www.southfieldsporting.co.uk

836 339 013O73 pening Times:

day-Friday 10am-6pm Wednes -1pm and by appointm am 9 ay ent aturd

S

MENDIP TIMES • OCTOBER 2013 • PAGE 21

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Chew Stoke Harvest Home

Local villagers battling in the tug o' war

Kate Donlevy and Isobel Baker enjoying the day

One of the riders completing a round in the horse show

Crowds flock to the flower and produce tent PAGE 22 • MENDIP TIMES • OCTOBER 2013

Eric Loveday and Andrew Tromans enjoying some of the local beer and cider on offer

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EVENTS

Wells Moat Race

The Bishop’s Palace provided a stunning backdrop to the event

Members of 1955 City of Wells Air Cadets, who organised the event alongside City of Wells Lions

Having a splashing time – friendly rivalry ahead of the junior races

Deeply drippy – the Prehistoric Portway Pirates (also known as the Flintstones) ended up in the water the most often

Members of the Flying Otters team MENDIP TIMES • OCTOBER 2013 • PAGE 23

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Young masters add fresh talent to arts trail THE Chew Valley has long been able to boast a fantastic range of talented artists and so no-one would be surprised at the quality on display in the 11th edition of the now well established Cheaw Valley Arts Trail.

But this year, what is different, is the number of new, young artists who bring a youthful energy to enhance and contrast with the established and much-loved painters and crafts people who regularly draw hundreds of visitors to the area.

Organiser, Sandy Bell, is thrilled that the younger generation are making their presence felt: “We have many wonderfully talented and very experienced exhibitors, but this is an arts trail

for everyone and we make a point of encouraging young artists to get involved.

“This year we have more young people than ever producing sculpture, drawings and illustration of the highest quality – you could call them the Young Masters. Their presence is great news because it means the trail is in safe hands for the future.”

Chew Valley Arts Trail will be held over the weekend of October 5th and 6th when studios, halls and homes will open their doors to offer a warm welcome and great chance to view paintings, illustration, photography, mixed media, pottery, sculpture, bookbinding and fine jewellery.

You could just find the perfect Christmas present or you might simply browse and chat to the artists and go away with some useful tips.

Either way, it’s a smashing way to spend a few hours over the weekend.

Gallery selected for quality by the Crafts Council of Great Britain Open Wednesday – Friday 10am – 5pm, Saturday 10am – 2pm (or by appointment) Broad Street, Congresbury, Bristol, North Somerset BS49 5DG • Telephone 01934 833660 • www.churchhousedesigns.co.uk

PAGE 24 • MENDIP TIMES • OCTOBER 2013

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ARTS AND ANTIQUES

Oyster sets pulses racing

OYSTER veneer is the term given to a thin slice of timber cut diagonally through the branch of a tree, often Laburnham wood, and then skilfully applied to the surface of a piece of furniture to create an intricate pattern.

This 18th century example offered at Clevedon Salerooms September Specialist Sale found a buyer for whom the oysters clearly had an effect, persuading the bidder to part with £6,380.

If you have fine furniture that you are thinking of selling please contact the salerooms for a free verbal valuation on 01934 830111 or alternatively email images to info@clevedonsalerooms.com

SOMER CRAFT ADDIX Craft Shop

For all your crafting needs!

Open Tues 4-9 Wed-Fri 10-4 Sat 10-3

IN STOCK CUTTLEBUG, EMBOSSING FOLDERS, SISSEX Christmas Stamps, Decoupage Unit 6, Rookery Farm, Binegar, Radstock BA3 4UL

01749 840567 • 07791 843591 www.somercraftaddix.co.uk

Mendip Times reduces travel costs 100,000 potential customers just a few miles from your business

Some gems from our

Specialist Jewellery Sale

Fine Art Auctioneers & Valuers

FREE ANTIQUE VALUATION DAYS

£19,600

£7,600

30 Sept 1 2 October 14 15 16 October 9.30am–1pm and 2pm–5pm Held at the salerooms – ample free parking no appointment necessary

£3,400

£41,500

£4,600

Jewellery, Watch & Silver

Tel: 01934 830111 or 0117 325 6789 The Auction Centre, Kenn Road, Kenn, Clevedon, Bristol BS21 6TT www.clevedon-salerooms.com

Free Valuation Day Held at the Salerooms – ample free parking

Tuesday 8th October – 9.30am – 5pm Next Specialist Sale Thursday 28th November MENDIP TIMES • OCTOBER 2013 • PAGE 25

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Video star

WHETHER you are a small business or any other enterprise with a story to tell, a video is a great way to communicate with your customers, clients or visitors. A video can be embedded on your website, posted on social media sites such as Facebook, or recorded on to DVD. Wild Country Lane Studios, based in East Harptree, is running a winter promotion that provides the ideal opportunity to have a video made economically and professionally. If you have always wanted to make a video but thought that it was too ambitious for you, now is the chance to be helped through the process in a friendly and unobtrusive manner by a small, local company.

Details: www.wclstudios.co.uk, or call 0560 2090192 for more details

PAGE 26 • MENDIP TIMES • OCTOBER 2013

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ARTS AND ANTIQUES

Busy time at Mendip Auction Rooms

THE next sale at the Mendip Auction Rooms will be of antiques, fine art and collectables on October 19th and this will be immediately followed by the quarterly sporting sale.

A good number of shotguns and firearms have been entered together with items associated with all sports including country sports. Further entries for both sales are invited and all items will be offered online to reach a global audience.

At their sale on September 14th, Killens attracted a large crowd and there was strong bidding for unusual lots including two tribal items that achieved £580. A collection of Billy Bunter annuals, including first editions, realised £400 whilst a picture of a rainbow by Lil Neilson made £950.

Militaria and medals always attract

good interest and a price of £180 was paid for a collection of medals from Pte. W Friend.

Viewing for the antiques and sporting sales take place on October 17th and 18th. A further general sale of Victorian

and later effects will take place on October 29th. The auction rooms are open from 10am – 5pm Monday – Friday and free valuations can be given.

Alternatively, the team are also able to undertake free home visits.

For more information, contactGareth Wasp or Jake Smith t. 01749 840770 e. enquiries@mendipauctionrooms.co.uk

MENDIP TIMES • OCTOBER 2013 • PAGE 27

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ARTS AND ANTIQUES

Silver teapot stands tall

TAMLYNS forthcoming antiques auction to be held on October 29th is shaping up very nicely. The latest addition to the silver section is this unassuming little teapot stand. At first glance it looks plain and reasonably well used, but a look at the marks and immediately it becomes far more interesting as it was made by the sought-after silversmith Hester Bateman in 1787.

When Hester Bateman’s husband died, leaving her all his tools, she took on and built up the silver business specialising in household wares made in the neo-classical style.

This little stand is typical of her work with the beaded edging and small claw and ball feet. The hallmarks are still really crisp, a sign that it has not been cleaned too much over the years, something collectors always prefer.

Although with some slight dents to the

sides this stand should still sell for between £200–£300.

Tamlyns hold antiques and fine art auctions every five-to-eight weeks and include specialist sections of jewellery, silver, silver plate, watches, clocks, ceramics, glass, pictures, books, decorative items, metalware and furniture.

Collectors auctions are held quarterly – these highly popular specialist sales are bursting with sections of: cigarette cards, postcards, postage stamps, medals, militaria, weapons, toys, trains, Dinky, Corgi, automobilia, railwayana, breweriana, sporting, coins, musical instruments and many other interesting items.

If you would like to enter items into this sale, contact the auctioneers on 01278 445251 for further information.

PAGE 28 • MENDIP TIMES • OCTOBER 2013

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All is safely gathered in . . .

EVERYTHING is a bit late this year, but that gives us the chance to enjoy local produce for longer.

My kitchen is groaning with apples With JUNE and pears, tomatoes MACFARLANE and cabbage, cucumbers and beans, all expecting to be stored somehow for the winter. It gives me a great feeling of security for the cold weather to come.

Pears poached with cider and bay

BRAISED PHEASANT WITH SMOKED BACON, RED WINE AND APPLES

INGREDIENTS

(for two) 1 pheasant, oven ready, jointed butter, olive oil salt, pepper 180g smoked bacon lardons 1 medium onion, chopped 200 ml red wine 400 ml chicken stock 2 bay leaves 4 sprigs fresh thyme, leaves removed 1 fresh tart apple that keeps its shape 1 tbsp butter, softened 1 tbsp plain flour

The pheasant season starts in October. Unless you are very sure of the birth date of your pheasant it is best to braise it, and I find that a jointed bird cooks better than the whole thing. Don’t use Bramley apples for this dish – they fall apart. A good crisp apple such as Charles Ross is ideal.

GRIDDLE PEARS WITH BLUE CHEESE AND HONEY

I’ve been looking for a good local blue cheese and I’m 1 firm pear per person delighted to say I such as Comice have found one!

250g blue cheese Draycott Blue, from salad leaves Draycott near runny honey Cheddar, is a delicious creamy blue veined cheese which I can recommend. Visit the website at http://www.timespastcheesedairy.co.uk/ for stockists. This makes an excellent starter or light lunch.

INGREDIENTS

METHOD

Heat a ridged grill pan. Slice the pears thickly vertically.

Griddle until caramel marks appear on each side.

Arrange on top of the salad leaves. Crumble over the cheese and drizzle with a little honey.

PAGE 30 • MENDIP TIMES • OCTOBER 2013

METHOD

Preheat oven to 150C. Season the pheasant joints with salt and pepper and brown slowly in butter and olive oil. Set aside. In the same pan brown the bacon lardons, then add the onion and garlic and cook slowly to soften. Set aside. Put the pheasant into a lidded ovenproof casserole. Add the red wine, chicken stock, bay leaves and thyme to barely cover the pheasant and bring to a simmer on top of the stove. Add the bacon, onion and garlic.

Cook covered in the oven for about an hour.

Take the pheasant out of the oven and allow to rest. Peel the apple and cut into eighths. Fry slowly in butter until the apple slices have caramelised a little on both sides.

Take the pheasant pieces out of the casserole and keep warm.

Mash the softened butter and the flour and add to the casserole juices. Bring to a simmer and whisk to thicken. Taste the sauce for seasoning. Serve the pheasant with the sauce and the apple.

PEARS POACHED WITH CIDER AND BAY

The beauty of this dish is that it needs to be made in advance. Once cooked, the pears will be fine in their syrup in the fridge for a couple of days.

METHOD

INGREDIENTS

(for two) 2 pears 75g caster sugar 2-3 strips lemon zest 2-3 bay leaves, torn in half 300ml dry cider

Peel the pears, but leave them whole with the stalks intact. Put into a small saucepan.

Add the sugar, lemon zest and bay leaves. Pour over the cider, then add enough water just to cover the pears. Cover the pan and simmer until the pears are tender. They are ready when they can easily be pierced with the tip of a sharp knife.

Remove the pears and reserve. Boil down the remaining liquor fast until reduced by half. Pour over the pears and cool completely, then chill. Serve with the syrup poured over them, with perhaps some clotted cream on the side.

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FOOD & DRINK

Pop up again soon!

CAN we have some more, please! That’s was the response from visitors to the first Somerset Farmers’ Market to be held in Somerton.

With the support of Somerton Town Council, the “pop-up” market took place as a pilot event at the end of August because there were five Saturdays in the month. Usually, other farmers’ markets are held elsewhere each Saturday.

A total of 20 traders took part and customer comments collected by market manager Barrie Cross showed strong support for markets to be held in the historic town centre on a regular basis.

Market manager Barrie Cross

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The farmers’ market underway in the town centre

Customers at Clive Rayner’s stall. Can future markets in Somerton be financially viable?

AT EAST HARPTREE

Starters Creamy butternut squash soup with a swirl of rocket pesto served with chunky bread Ribbons of smoked salmon, tiger tail prawn tart flavoured with dill, sun blushed tomatoes and celeriac coleslaw Deep fried brie studded with apricots, dates, ginger placed on a redcurrant red wine, port sauce Poached pear in whisky, beetroot chutney, crumbled goats cheese croute with warm hazelnut dressing Hot 3 way pork terrine, shouldered fillet and belly with sage stuffing apple puree and bubble and squeak

Mains Roast pheasant stuffed with lemon and thyme, rosemary, redcurrant and red wine sauce Bouillabaisse of salmon, seabass, mussels, prawns and herbs onions garlic croute rouille Fillet steak with onion mushroom tarragon red wine sauce with mash potato Griddled aubergine, courgette, leeks and haloumee cheese with puy lentils risotto Roast turkey stuffed with sausage, herbs, chestnuts, wrapped in smoked bacon pigs in blankets, gravy and cranberry sauce Puddings A rich chocolate pecan tart with butterscotch sauce and white chocolate ice cream Apple and custard brioche pie with Chantilly cream Christmas pudding with brandy sauce Oak-aged Cheddar cave cheese with home-made chutney Two courses £19.50 • Three courses £23.50

Church Lane, East Harptree BS40 6BD www.thewaldegravearms.co.uk • email:waldegravearms@btconnect.com

OCTOBER 2013 DATES

Wells: every Wednesday 9am-2.30pm at the Market Place All other markets 9am-1pm unless otherwise marked*

Friday 4th Wincanton (9am-12noon)* Saturday 5th Midsomer Norton & Axbridge Sunday 6th Frome Supermarket (10am-2pm)* Saturday 12th Frome & Keynsham Friday 18th Cheddar Saturday 19th Crewkerne Saturday 26th Glastonbury & Yeovil (9am-2pm)* Friday 25th Burnham-on-Sea follow us @SFMMarkets For more information phone 01373 814646 or visit www.SomersetFarmersMarkets.co.uk

Powering Farming’s Future Tel: 01225 667151 Web: www.yourenergyuk.com MENDIP TIMES • OCTOBER 2013 • PAGE 31

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BEAH celebrates

IT’S hard to believe that BEAH English and Mediterranean restaurant celebrates its fifth birthday in November. They are certainly part of the Wells community, providing ‘warm and friendly dining in the heart of Wells’ which has been their motto throughout the years.

They have achieved this by continuing to offer regularly changing menus, using fresh local ingredients (where possible) in their cosy downstairs restaurant, while catering for special parties, anniversaries and themed evenings upstairs (yes that does include belly dancers and on occasions live jazz).

They are always delighted to see their regular diners (who seem more like friends) who, over the years, have celebrated their birthdays, anniversaries and even weddings with them! BEAH are also proud and pleased to host Wells U3A coffee mornings, weekly business breakfasts and Wells Men’s breakfasts each month.

And now thoughts turn to Christmas and New Year. No matter what size party, Nicola would be delighted to hear from you, and, if you have had quite enough food during the festive season, for a change why not book a table for friends or family and join their New Year’s Eve quiz night?

It’s fun, can be challenging, but not too serious (judging by last year!)

So whether you want a quick coffee, leisurely breakfast, lunch or evening meal they look forward to welcoming you.

BEAH Restaurant

Christmas 2013

Christmas Lunch Party Menu

Christmas Buffet Party Menu

Roasted tomato & basil soup with herby croutons, freshly baked petit pain & butter Smoked mackerel, lemon, herb & caper pate with horseradish crème fraiche, granary toast & frissee salad Fig, olive & goats cheese tartlet with mixed leaves, tomato salsa & honey mustard dressing

Turkey curry Boeuf bourguignon Salmon & fennel lasagne Somerset pork casserole Mushroom stroganoff with fine beans & red peppers (v) All the above served with: Pilaff rice Roasted new potatoes Seasonal vegetables

Roast Somerset turkey with sage & chestnut stuffing, bacon wrapped chipolatas, cranberry sauce & rich turkey gravy Herb crusted cod loin on a bed of peperonata, caper berries & salsa verde Roasted Mediterranean vegetable & stilton crumble (v) (all the above dishes are served with seasonal vegetables) Kefta tagine seasoned minced beef meatballs in tomato sauce with egg served with cous cous & harissa paste Christmas pudding with orange brandy butter Cranberry & white chocolate cheesecake with Clementine & lime compote Mulled wine poached pear with chestnut cream & frosted hazelnuts £17.95 per person

Christmas pudding with brandy butter Irish coffee crème brulee (v) Warm chocolate brownie with whipped vanilla cream (to avoid disappointment please pre-order desserts!)

Minimum booking of 25 people £15.00 per person

For more information, please call Nicola 01749 678111 or email: info@beah.co.uk

Christmas Dinner Party Menu Roasted tomato & basil soup (v) with herby croutons & freshly baked petit pain & butter Beetroot & goats cheese roulade with mixed leaves, toasted cashew nuts & honeyed wholegrain mustard dressing Pork & prune terrine wrapped in streaky bacon, sticky red onion jam & toasted granary bread Roast Somerset turkey with sage & chestnut stuffing, bacon wrapped chipolata, cranberry sauce & rich turkey gravy Baked loin of cod with braised lentils, peas & bacon, lemon and caper vinaigrette Roasted Mediterranean vegetable & stilton crumble (v) all the above dishes served with seasonal vegetables Lamb tagine with almond stuffed apricots and sesame seeds, cous cous & harissa paste Cranberry & white chocolate cheesecake with Clementine & lime compote Christmas pudding with orange brandy butter Blueberry Bakewell tart with raspberry coulis & chantilly cream Somerset cheeseboard served with Bath Oliver biscuits, Scottish oatcakes, grapes, celery, apply & sticky red onion jam (£2.50 supplement) £22.95 per person

2, Union Street, Wells • www.beah.co.uk • Relaxed and friendly dining in the heart of Wells PAGE 32 • MENDIP TIMES • OCTOBER 2013

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FOOD & DRINK

Seven up for drinks festival

A TOTAL of 28 ciders and 26 real ales – all sourced from the Wessex region – were on offer at the 7th Wessex Beer Festival in Chilcompton.

Once again organised by the Rotary Club of Somer Valley, this year’s charity event also featured a fun day for children and live music.

Some of the team behind the festival gather at the bar

Cheers: Ainslie Saunders, Dave Mulligan, Colin Davies and Jayne Mulligan

Rick Maya – on stage on Saturday evening – was just one of the many musicians

The festival attracted one of its biggest crowds so far

Sue Batten, from Oakhill, enjoys the evening sunshine

Hops took on a different meaning in the children’s play area MENDIP TIMES • OCTOBER 2013 • PAGE 33

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MENDIP TIMES

Christmas at The Holcombe Inn

Christmas menu available from Nov 28th – Dec 24th

We are now taking bookings for Christmas Parties, Christmas Day lunch and New Years Eve. The Holcombe Inn has several log fires always burning brightly, Christmas trees and beautiful decorations making it a perfect location for your Christmas celebrations.

Enjoy our award winning restaurant and food and our luxury AA 5 star accommodation - Trip Advisor 2012 & 2013 Certificates of excellence.

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Smoked Salmon and Prawn Roulade, creamed cheese, dill and chive Potted Venison with homemade piccalilli, garlic crostini and dressed salad leaves Loin of Somerset Pork, crispy crackling, breaded pork belly, winter greens, cocotte potatoes with a brandy and pink peppercorn sauce Potted Venison starter Turkey Wellington with pork, chestnut and cranberry stuffing, fondant potato, roasted root vegetables, buttered sprouts and a rich turkey gravy Duck Hash with Calvero Nero, buttery mashed potato and a red wine jus Christmas Pudding with a traditional brandy sauce Chocolate and Caramel Tian with malden sea salt and almond ice cream Prices from £21.00 for two courses

New Years Eve Banquet & Dancing n (Dance Floor And DJ) • £45 Per Perso inner t D e u q a n B s e r u o C 3 & l e a b s t Ticket include g with “H” for Holcombe!

Dress For Fun . . . anything beginnin

The Holcombe Inn

Stratton Road, Holcombe, Bath BA3 5EB. Tel: 01761 232478 • Fax: 01761 233737.

E-mail: bookings@holcombeinn.co.uk PAGE 34 • MENDIP TIMES • OCTOBER 2013

NEW WEEKDAY TEA DEAL Free piece of cake with a cup of tea or coffee 2.30pm-4.30pm Monday to Friday FISH AND CHIP RESTAURANT

12noon to 2pm and 5pm-7pm CAFE OPEN 9am-5pm midweek Saturday 8.30am-7pm Sunday 8.30am-4pm for breakfasts and Sunday roasts

Traditional Fish and Chips, Sunday Roasts, Cream Teas and Ice Cream

Function and conference rooms now available for parties, meetings and training

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GARDEN FOOD

Salad burnet

A FRIEND recently introduced me to this herb and I must say that I have fallen head over heels in love with it. The leaves are best when they’re young – their bitterness is at a minimum while at the same time their delightful, refreshing cucumber flavour is to the fore.

With JAKE It is native to the warmer parts of WHITSON Britain and likes a well-drained, sunny spot, ideally with a little lime in the soil. Once established, it is a hardy perennial and will take no tending at all.

I like to strip off the young leaves and add them to salads – as they are bitter use them as you would dandelions or overgrown chicory i.e. in moderation. My favourite use however is in drinks where it has become indispensable in my kitchen.

For any Indian summer days we get this October, I highly recommend this raspberry punch (making use of autumn raspberries) with salad burnet.

To make it – first, take two handfuls of raspberries or any other berries you care to add – blackberries, blackcurrants, strawberries, Japanese wineberries (a favourite of mine) and bilberries all work well and cook them over a high heat with a handful of sugar and the juice and finely grated zest of a lemon until their juices just start to run.

Allow to cool and then add these to a pitcher along with a small bunch of mint and a small bunch of salad burnet leaves, very finely sliced, a splash each of rose water and angostura bitters if you have them, crushed ice and about 800ml sparkling water. Cheers!

Jacob Whitson is a chef and food writer who has worked in many of the West Country’s most prestigious restaurants. He is currently working on his first book, a travelogue detailing the regional foods of Japan.

FOOD & DRINK

WILD FOOD

A quick nibble is all you need

DO you know what, it has taken me a long time to find this mushroom. Even though it’s fairly common and I’ve been keeping my eyes open, I never seem to have my camera on me at the right time!

I was initially hoping to find its betterknown relative in the Russula family, the With ADRIAN Charcoal Burner, to share with you. But on BOOTS this occasion I was rewarded with the lesser-known but still fairly common Powdery Brittlegill.

It gained its name from the cap texture which is matt and powdery when dry. However, here are the colours used to describe this mushroom: “Greyish, dark colours, olive, violetgrey, greyish sepia, or chestnut, dull green, wine or violet, grey/blue/green.” Have you got that? The obvious question comes to mind: “How can you tell a green tinged violet Charcoal Burner from a violet tinged green Powdery Brittlegill?” Read on.

The Powdery Brittlegill (Russula parazurea) has a cap 5cm to 12cm across, flat convex with matt green/blue/grey colours.

The stem looks like a stick of chalk 4cm to 7cm tall, 1cm to 1.5cm wide. The stem, gills and flesh all white to cream. Even the spores are cream. Commonly found in oak and beach broadleaved woodland in the summer through autumn.

The good news is that along with the Charcoal Burner and the Greencraked Brittlegill, the Powdery Brittlegill is tasty, so even if their colours are similar, you should be ok. The bad news is that really the only way to distinguish if its edible and suitable for your specific constitution is to try a piece, a quick nibble is all you need.

If it’s hot, acrid and the taste blows your head off then don’t eat any more, obviously. What you should be getting is a mild, peppery or nutty flavour.

Of course, being Brittlegills means that you have a useful key identifying feature, namely the brittle gills – yes they should easily break off!

Unfortunately, the Charcaol Burner doesn’t actually have brittle gills so is not playing the same game. Who said anything was straightforward about the fungal world?

Why not join me for a Fantastic Fungal Foray on November 3rd or see me at the Wells Food Festival on October 20th.

Details: 01761 463356 or at www.gowildactivities.co.uk Adrian Boots is a Landscape Ecologist, researcher and farm conservation advisor. You can visit his website www.walkthemendips.com to learn more about the Mendips and his Wild Food Walks.

MENDIP TIMES • OCTOBER 2013 • PAGE 35

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MENDIP TIMES Country shopping at its best

Young footballers full of beans

North Widcombe, West Harptree, Bristol BS40 6HW

SHOP EXTENDED – EVEN MORE CHOICE

Gifts including Emma Bridgwater china

Time to think about Christmas and our home-produced meat

Beautiful Somerset willow, flowers and wonderful plants

Selection of cheeses, apple juice, cider etc

CELEBRATE AUTUMN WITH US! Now at New Manor Farm Shop every Thursday, Friday and Saturday

Geoff’s fresh fish every Friday and Saturday

Centred around a traditional farm courtyard near Chew Valley Lake – the very best in local produce and gift ideas

TEA ROOMS Hot & cold meals Delicious cream teas Full English breakfasts Come and enjoy our lovely Sunday roast lunches

NEW FUNCTION ROOM NOW AVAILABLE FOR PRIVATE HIRE

Opening times: Farm shop: Monday to Friday 9am - 5.30pm Saturday 8.30am - 5.30pm • Sunday 10am - 5pm Tea Room: Monday to Sunday 9.30am - 5.30pm

Wheelchair access, children welcome, free parking, coaches by appointment

Farm Shop: 01761 220067 Tea Rooms: 01761 220172

PAGE 36 • MENDIP TIMES • OCTOBER 2013

BEANS and Machines Ltd says it’s been a pleasure to sponsor the kit for Purnell’s under 8s football team this season. Rob Norman, managing director of the company, is pictured on the far left, next to his grandson Jacob and the rest of the team, when they took part in a pre-season tournament, winning two games and drawing one. The company wishes the lads all the best for the forthcoming season.

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FOOD & DRINK

Wine events

We are very excited to announce the first annual Somerset Wine Fair, which will take place at Sidcot Arts Centre.

The fair will showcase a selection of wines and spirits from around the world including those produced in Somerset. All the wine and spirits will be available to purchase at the event and also from The Wine Shop of Winscombe.

The Sidcot Arts Centre is in a beautiful setting that offers a large venue with light and space, enabling you to wonder around the various tasting benches exploring the wonderful wines and spirits on offer.

Bordeaux Four Course Dinner & Wine

The Wine Shop of Winscombe and The Cove restaurant in Weston-s-Mare are working together to give you an evening of delicious food and mouth watering wines.

The Cove will be serving a four course dinner for you to enjoy and the Wine Shop will be selecting wines from the Bordeaux wine region to match each dish.

A glass of Bordeaux sparkling wine will be awaiting your arrival to begin an evening of tantalizing your tastebuds.

Date: Thursday 24th October, time: 7.15pm. Price: £38.00.

The Cove, Birnbeck Road, Weston-super-Mare, BS23 2BX. For tickets call, the Cove 01934 418 217 or the Wine Shop 01934 708 312.

Tickets for the Somerset Wine Fair are available from The Wine Shop of Winscombe and are £10, these are part refundable against your purchases.

Purchase a case of wine (12 bottles) on the evening and you will be refunded 50% of your ticket price. The Wine Shop can also answer any questions you may have. We look forward to seeing you there.

Date: Friday 22nd November 2013, time: from 6– 9pm, venue: Sidcot Arts Centre, Oakridge Lane, Winscombe, BS25 1PD. Call 01934 708312 to book your tickets or pop in to collect from The Wine Shop, 21 Woodborough Road, Winscombe, BS25 1AB www.somersetwinefair.co.uk

KELLI COXHEAD founder of the The Wine Shop says: “I have to confess, I used to be a three-for-£10 girl, but while traveling in New Zealand in 2006, my passion for wine was born. I was lucky enough to visit a handful of wineries and, unexpectedly, I found the experience enchanting.

That was it, I was hooked. I created The Wine Tasting Co. out of a passion and love for wine, and a desire to share this. I look forward to seeing you soon”.

We are open Monday – Saturday 9.30am - 6.30pm • 21 Woodborough Road, Winscombe, BS25 1AB 01934 708 312 MENDIP TIMES • OCTOBER 2013 • PAGE 37

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MENDIP TIMES

Meet and eat at new festival

Anne Furniss and Paddy O’Hagan

WELLS will host its first food festival in October when the city will celebrate the best in local produce.

A celebrity chef-led lunch in the Town Hall will be the centrepiece of the one-day event on Sunday, October 20th, but the celebrations will take place throughout the city.

Glastonbury Festival founder Michael Eavis will open the festival, which will also feature an artisan producers market, vintage tea party, foodie pub quiz, cake competition and lots of street food from around the world – all cooked with Somerset ingredients! Pubs, restaurants and cafes throughout Wells are being encouraged to join in by offering a special Somerset dish of the day, featuring local produce.

The Bishop’s Barn will host a debate about the dairy industry and there will be opportunities to join in a blind milk tasting.

Wells Food Festival is the brainchild of Anne Furniss and Paddy O’Hagan, two friends who share a passion for local food. Anne said: “We’ve talked about doing something like this for a couple of years and the time seemed right to launch the event.

“We have some great innovators and great producers in this part of Somerset and we thought their achievements should be celebrated. Locally and sustainably-produced food is so important, not just today but for future generations.”

Tickets for the celebrity lunch have now sold out. For the full programme of events and more information about the festival, visit: www.wellsfoodfestival.co.uk

Christmas Party Menu

Two Courses £19.95 • ree Courses £25.95 Welcome to our pub and restaurant where you will find a relaxed atmosphere, away from the busy City of Bristol and only a stone’s throw from the beautiful Chew Valley.

We pride ourselves on excellent ales, quality wines, delicious food and outstanding service.

Our menus are designed to cater for every occasion and our meals are home- cooked and freshly prepared, down to the sauces for your steak and Caesar dressing for your salad.

We use locally sourced ingredients where possible, from our homeroasted ham, Valley Smokehouse haddock to Chew Moo’s scrumptious ice cream made here in the village.

If you have any special dietary needs please talk to a member of staff and we will do our best to accommodate you.

Whether you are joining us for a cosy drink in our snug bar, a quiet lunch with friends or a special family party, the Carpenters Tavern is the perfect spot to relax and unwind.

We hope you enjoy your time with us, Team Carpenters Tavern

PAGE 38 • MENDIP TIMES • OCTOBER 2013

Starters

French Onion Soup with Parmesan Crouton Crayfish Cocktail with Marie Rose Dressing Twice Baked ree Cheese Soufflé Game Terrine with Cornichons & Crostini Fig & Blue Cheese Tart with Dressed Salad Leaves

Mains

Braised Blade of Beef with Roast Potatoes, Red Cabbage & Red Wine Jus, Parsnip, Cranberry & Chestnut Loaf with Cranberry Sauce Slow Roasted Belly Pork & Crackling with Black Pudding Mash, Stir Fried Winter Greens & Apricot Compote Hake Fillet with Gremalada Crust served on Roasted Squash Risotto with Herb Oil Roast Turkey with Roast Potatoes, Stuffing, Pigs in Blankets, Honey Roast Parsnips & Bread Sauce All main courses will be served with carrots, sautéed sprouts & mashed swede

Home Made Desserts

Christmas Pudding with Rum Sauce & Brandy Butter Sherry Trifle Sticky Toffee Pudding with Ice-cream Mulled Wine Poached Pear with White Choc & Honeycomb Ice-cream Spiced Apple & Plum Crumble with Custard Selection of Cheese, Crackers & Chutney (£2.50 Supplement) Tea or Coffee with mince Pies We have a selection of Red & White Wines by the glass to compliment your meal, please ask for a wine list

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Top award for Mendip Moments

Photo courtesy of Len Copland, Western Gazette Media

MENDIP Moments has been voted the Best Food Producer in the Taste of Somerset Awards, a celebration of the best of Somerset food and drink.

The winners were announced at a glittering reception hosted by celebrity chef Peter Gorton. On being presented with a certificate and commemorative plate, Jayne Lunnon, director of Mendip Moments, said: “It is fantastic to receive this kind of recognition. We started the company in 2006, making ice cream on the family farm as a

FOOD & DRINK

way of keeping our cows in the fields. We have worked so hard over the years to build up the business whilst maintaining the premium quality that our customers have come to expect. We are incredibly proud of our ice cream and delighted that the judges seem to agree with us!”

Earlier in the autumn the company’s Clotted Cream & Honeycomb was presented with a coveted Two Star Gold Award at the national Great Taste Awards.

Eat, Drink, Be Merry at The Crown this Christmas Christmas Lunch Party: £15.95/£18.95 Christmas Dinner Party: £26.50 Christmas Day: £65.00

Rob and Jayne Lunnon receive Best Food Producer award at Taste of Somerset from one of the sponsors Nathan Ferneyhough.

Crown-ing glory!

Menus available at www.crownatwells.co.uk email christmas@crownatwells.co.uk ’phone 01749 673457 or pop in for your copy

The Crown at Wells and Anton’s Bistrot, Market Place, Wells BA5 2RP

THE Crown at Wells and Anton’s Bistrot are celebrating after winning two restaurant awards in the space of one week.

The Crown, which is in the Market Place in Wells, was awarded a prestigious Taste of the West Silver award in the Restaurant category.

Less than a week later, proprietors Adrian and Sarah Lawrence, won the Taste of Somerset Best Restaurant Award. .

Adrian said: “To win one of these awards would have been super, but two in a space of a week is just thrilling. We are so proud of our achievement and it serves as testimony to the importance we place on working with local producers, sourcing local products, as well as the dedication and hard work of our team at The Crown.

“A special mention must go to our head chef, Giles Sampson, who joined us in April and has introduced new, innovative menus, using the best local produce, which were clearly a hit with the judges.”

(l:r): Adrian Lawrence, proprietor of The Crown at Wells and Anton’s Bistrot, Giles Sampson head chef and operations director Matthew Hailingbiggs MENDIP TIMES • OCTOBER 2013 • PAGE 39

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MENDIP TIMES

llllllllllllllllllllllllll;lllllllll

ROCK CAKE CAFE CHRisTMas Meals availaBle fRoM sunDay, DeCeMBeR 1sT sTaRTeRs Duck and orange grazed pâté and Melba toast) (served with onion chutney Homemade beetroot soup butter) crisps, baked basket roll and (served with roasted vegetable mousse Smoked salmon and crayfish and butter) (served with multigrain loaf Bantry Bay mussels ) sauce *£2 supplement (served with a creamy garlic Main Meals Traditional turkey ips, Yorkshire pigs in blankets, roast parsn (served with roast potatoes, ables) puddings and seasonal veget Poached salmon ry vegetables) , crushed peas, seasonal butte (served with creamy herb mash Homemade local game pie gravy, and Yorkshire pudding filled with (served with roast potatoes, seasonal vegetables) n Brie and cranberry Wellingto oes and seasonal vegetables) (served with a choice of potat sWeeTs y flames and cream) Christmas pudding (with whisk and cream) Masbury mess (with fresh fruit y’s Cream on the side) Bailey’s cheese cake (with Baile Choice of gateau To finish: Tea or coffee with

chocolate mint

tea or coffee and mint 2 courses: £16.90 to include tea and coffee and mint 3 courses: £19.50 to include Christmas dinners by bookings

HalloWeen PaRTy ursday, october 31st at 7pm. your chance to try some unusual food! Prize for best fancy dress.

Bookings now being taken

GRey DoGs Jazz BanD are back: playing here first sunday of every month 12-3pm. sunday roasts available 12-2pm

Rosina the clairvoyant here Wednesday, october 25th from 2pm.

Bookings advisable

only (parties of 10+)

Rock Cake Café at Rocky Mountain Nursery, Masbury, nr. Wells, Somerset BA5 3HA. Telephone: 01749 840900

llllllllllllllllllllllllll;lllllllll

llllllllllllllllllllllllll; Party time at the

Café goes cosmic

THE Rock Cake Café at Masbury, near Wells, is playing host to a series of live music and other events in the weeks leading up to Christmas as it well-and-truly enters the party spirit.

Well-known jazz band The Grey Dogs are beginning a new lunchtime residency at the venue – playing on the first Sunday of every month, starting on October 6th.

Rosina, a local and much in demand clairvoyant, will be returning to the café on the afternoon of October 25th.

Bookings are advisable for 15 minute or 30 minute consultations with Rosina, from 2pm.

On the evening of Friday, November 15th, the Cosmic Chipmunks – a locally-based country rock band with a great sense of fun – will bring their special brand of music to the café, which is part of the Rocky Mountain Garden Centre complex.

Rock Cake Cafe owner Zoe Emery (left) with Rosina the clairvoyant

llllllllllllllllllllllllll;

Christmas Fayre Available 1st to 23rd December 2013 3 Courses £19.95 2 Courses £15.95 OAP & Children 1 Course £6.95 2 Courses £8.95 3 Courses £10.95

Christmas Day 5 Courses £60.00 Children £45.00

Christmas Fayre Starters

Tomato, Roasted Red Pepper and Basil Soup Chicken and Chorizo Terrine Served with an apple and cider chutney Smoked Salmon and Prawns Served with Marie Rose sauce Mushrooms Sauteed in Garlic and Herb Butter All above served with crusty bread

VILLAGE PUB & RESTAURANT

Sutton Hill Road, Bishop Sutton BS39 5UT

01275 333042

MERRY CHRISTMAS!

Main Courses

Traditional Roast Turkey Served with all the trimmings Pan Fried Duck Breast Served with an orange and Cointreau sauce Slowly Cooked Lamb Shank Served with a Merlot and rosemary jus Baked Monkfish Fillet With an almond, citrus and herb crust Mediterranean Vegetable Wellington With seasonal vegetables, oven roasted in a tomato and garlic sauce, mixed cheese, encased in a golden puff pastry

Desserts

Traditional Christmas Pudding Served with Brandy sauce A Mountain of Profiteroles Served with lashings of chocolate sauce and cream Apple, Sultana and Cinnamon Crumble Tart Served with ice cream Vanilla and Blackcurrant Clotted Cream Ice Cream

Opening times: 6pm-11pm Monday and all week • 12noon-2.30pm Tuesday to Thursday • Open all day Friday, Saturday and Sunday PAGE 40 • MENDIP TIMES • OCTOBER 2013

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FOOD & DRINK

Now taking bookings for Christmas Parties 3 Course Menus Available: Lunch £16.95 • Evening £22.95

10% OFF on bookings Monday – Thursday Contact us or visit our website for more informa on and to view our Christmas Menus www.thecrossways.co.uk enquiries@thecrossways.co.uk 01749 899 000 Stocks Lane, North Woo on, BA4 4EU

MENDIP TIMES • OCTOBER 2013 • PAGE 41

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INTERNET

Dealing with spam emails

AT some point you will get Spam email – this is simply junk email sent round in the same way as junk mail pops through your letter box. Once it starts you seem to get more and more, so it’s worth trying to organise it so it is less bother than it might other be. Most providers try to work out what is Spam and put it in the Spam or Junk folder for you, so it’s usually worth checking from time to time to make sure they haven’t marked something as Spam when it’s not. If there is an email in Spam which shouldn’t be there, just select it by putting a tick in the box to the left of the email (or for some providers, you single-click it) and click the Not Spam or Not Junk button. But if you have Spam coming into your inbox you can mark it as Spam – all emails from that address should go straight into your Spam/Junk folder in the future and most providers will delete them after 30 days. Just click in the box to the left of the email and click on the Spam icon – Gmail has a Report Spam button, which sounds a bit drastic, but it just marks that sender as rubbish and pops it straight into the Spam box. Gmail also sometimes asks if you want to Unsubscribe and Report As Spam or just Report – you can click which option you want.

If you have registered for a website and asked to be included in their round-robin newsletter, you should be able to safely Unsubscribe from their mailing list – see below for more details about this. Scroll down to the end of the newsletter, and near the bottom should be a link to click on which would automatically remove you from their list.

Sometimes they ask you why you are going, but sometimes is just one click and you are done. However, do not Unsubscribe from an unsolicited email – this will verify your address as an active one and you may well be bombarded with more and more emails which are of less and less use to you!

Submitted by IT for the Terrified : The Old Cowshed, Station Road, Cheddar BS27 3AG 01934 741751 • www.itfortheterrified.co.uk This article is for guidance only, and the opinion of the writer. For more in-depth information, please contact us.

We offer individual training, either one-off sessions or a series, at a pace to suit you; a session lasts two hours and costs £10. We can cover a range of subjects including absolute basics on Windows XP/Vista/W7/W8; photo management; iPad; Tablet computers; basic web design; Word processing etc.

Please note; we will be closed for the duration of the school holidays – 28th October to 6th November inclusive. See our website or contact us for further details.

PAGE 42 • MENDIP TIMES • OCTOBER 2013

CROSSWORD

The Mendip Mindbender

ACROSS 1 Strange part here, with both east and west (8) 5 Chilly spot in centre of vice capital (3,3) 10 Car at junction in middle of heathland (5) 11 Teaches aliens to make toys (9) 12 Basic sprite (9) 13 Remainder of rice scrambled and left inside (5) 14 In for a small party (2,4) 15 Demand to hear shout on golf course (4,3) 18 Messy teen lad makes perfect pasta (2,5) 20/26 Place of worship obscure in this area (6,5) 22 Deserve to use dodgy timer (5) 24 Speculator – the alternative is royalty (9) 25 Trouble with frail feet - do you believe in this? (9) 26 See 20 27 Fallen into this chap goes back to employment (6) 28 For chief to remain is vital thing (8) DOWN 1 Princely village (6) 2 Went back and dealt with again (9)

3 North, south and west get go at this manoeuvre (55,5) 4 Give name to unusual tent Eli provided (7) 6 These people can trace ram line oddly (7,8) 7 A hundred fish right in basket (5) 8 Send character answers on this please (8) 9 In the sugar lick another foodstuff (6) 16 Drop right into picture but not quite make it (4,5) 17 Noisy soldiers on a street leading to rural workplace (8) 19 Involve medical department - get ill (6) 20 There’s a girl in here somewhere (7) 21 Drip dry badly? Not right in this place (6) 23 Vue rodents eating first bit of Edam (5)

Answers on Page 97

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MENDIP TIMES

Cyberbullying in the headlines

REGULAR readers will know that I was a police officer for many years and have specifically been involved in safeguarding and empowering young people.

I effectively went “back to school” around my full time job in order to be better informed. Ultimately I ended up studying for a

By SIMON PhD at Bath Spa University, specifically SELBY researching cyberbullying.

As recent events have sadly shown, this objectionable behaviour (and offending) has driven a number of young people to take their own lives. Research has indicated that cyberbullying directly affects between 22% and 45% of 11-16 year olds. My research in Bath and North East Somerset currently suggests that, locally, our percentage falls slightly below the lower statistic; however this still suggests that there are potentially many victims.

What can be done about it? Well, to parents I would say take an active interest in what your child is doing via the internet.

Facebook, chat rooms, etc. all provide positive opportunities to socialise and share information, but there are also dangers as well from less pleasant users. For instance, people often pretend to be someone else and naivety is not just confined to the young. An uploaded picture is there in the public domain virtually forever and few “profiles” are truly private despite what you might think.

Thus, the message is that unless you are happy with potentially anyone (or everyone) seeing whatever you have written (or photographed) do not put it on the internet!

What about the authorities; surely they are monitoring this type of offending as it often constitutes criminal offences as well as causing immense harm to our young people? Schools certainly do their best, with new guidance being provided from the South West Grid for Learning. That said, statistics still tend not to differentiate between bullying and cyberbullying and the guidance has only recently specifically mentioned cyberbullying. Prior to that it was all about “sexting” (sending inadvisable and personal images) and the risk from paedophile-type activity.

COMMUNITY Bath and North East Somerset council is also fairly active with a regular detailed survey, although this also only recently asked specifically about cyberbullying. Additionally, they have been very helpful and willing to assist by providing what data they have in response to a recent Freedom of Information Act request I sent and I am very grateful for their enthusiastic help.

Avon and Somerset police, however, said that the request would take too much time adding that: “The Constabulary does not currently have any policies or share any information on cyberbullying and as such does not have any e-safety groups or anti-bullying groups on our BANES District.”

I was rather concerned by this so I wrote to the Police and Crime Commissioner, Sue Mountstevens, to obtain her view. I was very grateful for a prompt response expressing her similar concerns and stating that she would have the matter looked at via the Chief Constable’s office.

Since then, the force has hosted a cyberbullying and e-safety training day at police headquarters for officers and staff, followed by a webchat. A police spokesperson said: “In light of recent tragedies in other parts of the UK, we’re making sure that our staff and officers can make the right decisions when responding to reports of cyberbullying.”

Officers from neighbourhood teams, school liaison officers, criminal investigators and police staff attended the conference along with staff from local authorities and partner agencies.

Hopefully one of its outcomes will address the surprising lack of monitoring and resultant data.

Ms Mountstevens said: “Cyberbullying is a very serious issue which can affect anyone using technology anytime and anywhere, to make victims feel scared and upset.

“Everyone has a responsibility for safeguarding young people whether it be physically or online and we want to raise awareness of this as well as encourage people of all ages to report it as and when it happens. We want victims to know that it is not your fault, no one has the right to make you feel like this and there is always someone there that you can speak to stop this from happening.”

Police cadets – new scheme in Street

A NEW Volunteer Police Cadet unit is to start in Street, following the growing popularity of similar schemes elsewhere in the Avon and Somerset police force area.

The uniformed cadets will meet once a week during term time at Street Young People’s Centre to learn about all aspects of policing and volunteer to help their communities.

The scheme has been running in Taunton and North Somerset since last year, following a successful pilot in South Gloucestershire in 2011, and has also just launched in Bath and North East Somerset.

To sign up teenagers should be aged between 14 and 17 and go to Crispin Secondary School, Millfield Senior School or Strode College in Street or Mendip Pupil Referral Unit or St Dunstan’s School in Glastonbury.

After initial training cadets get involved with helping their communities, attending events and patrolling with neighbourhood policing teams.

G Applications for the new unit are open until Friday, October 4th and application forms can be downloaded from www.avonandsomerset.police.uk

A total of 13 young women and 13 young men who either live in or attend school in the B&NES area were officially enrolled as Avon and Somerset Volunteer Police Cadets at a ceremony in the Guildhall in Bath. They were welcomed to the police service by Chief Superintendent Geoff Spicer and Inspector Shirley Eden.

The new recruits come from across the area, including Bath, Midsomer Norton, Keynsham, Clutton, Peasedown St John, Saltford, Paulton, Whitchurch, Oldland Common, Chew Magna and Corsham.

MENDIP TIMES • OCTOBER 2013 • PAGE 43

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MENDIP TIMES

Mendip CAB says farewell to manager

Malcolm Williams, chairman of Mendip CAB, with manager Sonia Pike

SUPPORTERS of Mendip Citizens Advice Bureau marked the retirement of manager Sonia Pike at the charity’s annual meeting and also heard that benefits enquiries had for the first time overtaken enquiries about debt as government welfare reforms begin.

Sonia took over the role in 1999 after three changes of manager in as many years. Funding was £127,000, money generated for clients was £500,000 a year and debts managed were £1million.

The charity had about 50 volunteers.

During her 14 years as manager, funding has grown to around £600,000 per year, there are more than 100 trained volunteers, money generated for clients is now £3.5 million a year, and debt managed is an unprecedented £18 million, up once again this year.

Malcolm Williams, the chair of the charity’s trustees, said: “Sonia’s selfless devotion to the service and her team has been exemplary and will be sorely missed. Throughout her time, great emphasis on giving value for the funds received has been at the corner of her work in the community. She put enormous unpaid hours into networking with many partner agencies. This has been to the benefit not only of our CAB but to the other CABs in Somerset with whom she developed very good and productive relationships.”

The CAB is also celebrating the award in the Queen’s Birthday honours list of a British Empire Medal to Michael Sackett, who served as a volunteer CAB adviser for 23 years and has been key to establishing the Friends of Mendip CAB fundraising group. He has stepped down as a volunteer and will now join the Board of Trustees.

Volunteers needed

SOMERSET children’s charity bibic is looking for volunteers to become outdoor fundraising collectors for a supermarket collection in Street on October 11th.

References, a DBS check and the signing of a confidentially statement will be required if the applicant is successful.

Details: www.bibic.org.uk/opportunities/volunteers contact Tom Foy or Barbara Curtis on 01278 684060 or email volunteering@bibic.org.uk

PAGE 44 • MENDIP TIMES • OCTOBER 2013

Fundraisers need more friends

Pictured (l to r) Jenny Ayrton, Margaret Binney, David Millard, Terry Aldous, Alison Aldous, Rosemarie Paulin (seated)

A FROME fundraising and support group that began four years ago is on the look-out for new “friends” to help it raise even more money for Dorothy House Hospice, based at Winsley.

Frome Friends Group began in 2009 to raise money for the hospice which offers outreach support for people around Frome who need either hospice at home care or site-based support.

The group is supported by Dorothy House Hospice Community Fundraiser, Yvonne Brunton, who said: “We are so lucky to have a really enthusiastic group in Frome, who have organised and volunteered at a variety of very successful fundraisers for Dorothy House including open gardens, race nights, raffle and several street collections to name just a few.”

The team are currently organising a bingo evening on October 18th at Frome Town Football Club and a Soup ’n’ Pud event on January 18th at Woodlands Village Hall.

They are holding an introductory meeting for anyone interested at Frome Medical Practice on September 24th, 7pm-8pm.

Lions make a monkey out of quackers event

THIS year’s duck race run by the Radstock and Midsomer Norton Lions Club raised £500 for charity.

Hundreds of plastic numbered ducks were released down the River Somer in Midsomer Norton town centre. Lions Dave Ingram and Alan Denham once again organised the race. A spokesman for the club said thanks were extended to all those who participated in the event and to all the children and parents who enjoyed the race and its entertainment.

The winner of the race was duck number 845, bought by Mrs Addicott, of Chilcompton, who won £50. Runners-up were duck number 832, Mrs Warton of Midsomer Norton (£30) and duck number 814, Mrs Redwood of Paulton (£20).

G A “monkey” is widely accepted as Cockney slang for £500.

It’s thought to have originated amongst soldiers returning from India in the First World War. A 500 rupee note carried an image of a monkey on it.

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Geoff’s lasting memorial

AN operating theatre at Makunduchi Hospital in Zanzibar is to be named after Nailsea and Backwell rotarian, Geoffrey Irons (pictured), who has died from a brain tumour, aged 74.

Geoff, from Backwell, led rotary’s support for the project, when Taunton surgeon, Dr. Ru MacDonagh, set up Health Improvement Project Zanzibar (HIPZ).

With support from clubs in Portishead, Stonehouse, and further afield, the clubs have sent £65,000 worth of funding for specialist equipment in two Zanzibar hospitals.

Dr. MacDonagh, said: “Let’s not forget that Geoff personally supported us at the very beginning when we were unproven and very small and in desperate need of financial and moral backing.”

Greenhouse fund

CHARITIES

Shepton Mallet Friends

Pictured (l to r) Val Sherring, chairman, Dawn Harrison, local fundraising manager, and Pamela Travella, treasurer.

A SHEPTON Mallet fundraising committee are celebrating raising £160,536 after 41 years of supporting Cancer Research UK. The friends group began fundraising in 1972 and has raised the money through coffee mornings, fashion shows, supermarket and street collections, raffles plus many more activities. Now after 41 years supporting the charity they have decided to hang up their sashes and retire.

Val Sherring, chairman, and Pamela Travella, treasurer, said: “We would like to thank the generous nature of the people from Shepton Mallet and surrounding areas, they’ve always been very supportive of the work that we do, and are the main reason that we have been so successful in making this amazing sum of money.

“When we started fundraising we wanted to make a difference to the treatment people with cancer received. If in some way we have contributed in helping save lives and further the treatments people receive than we are very happy, as that was our aim before we retired.”

Dawn Harrison, Cancer Research UK’s local fundraising manager for Somerset said: “I would like to thank Shepton Mallet Friends, especially Marjorie Sugg and Pamela Travella, who were two of the founder members, their family and friends, for the fantastic amount they have raised and the massive contribution they have made to our vital work over the past 41 years and wish them all the very best in their retirement.”

Details of Cancer Research UK 08701 60 20 40 or visit www.cancerresearchuk.org

The beat goes on

TIMSBURY Horticultural Society held a special fund-raising Sunday lunch at Conygre Hall, Timsbury, to help raise funds for a new greenhouse at the local Cheshire Home for use by their gardening club.

The gardener at Greenhill House, Martin Chalkley was invited along to the lunch to receive a cheque for £500 as a donation towards the cost of the greenhouse. He’s pictured with society chairman, Graham Nicholls (left) and society treasurer Janet Walker.

COMMUNITY music organisation, Count Me In, is celebrating new funding from the Big Lottery Fund (Awards for All). This means that their popular Heart Beats music sessions are continuing this autumn.

The group is for young people with learning or communication needs, aged between 16 and 25, who can expect a safe space to make friends, play good music, relax and communicate with each other. The club is in Wells, but welcomes anyone from the wider area. They have been running music sessions in Somerset and beyond since 2002, reaching over 140 young people so far.

The music group meets twice a month at Wells Museum, on Thursday nights, 6pm-8pm. Sessions cost just £1.50 and there is a parent zone with tea, coffee and snacks.

Details: 01373 813558, or email info@heartbeats.org.uk

MENDIP TIMES • OCTOBER 2013 • PAGE 45

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Backwell tea party

A “BLOOMING Great Tea Party”, in aid of Marie Curie in the gardens of Moorlands, Backwell Hill, turned into quite an event, raising more than £2,000.

It was held by Theresa Hodges, whose mum Barbara Russell, died from breast cancer just over three years ago.

With further donations Theresa and her family have raised £6,000 so far.

Theresa said: “After receiving such terrific nursing care from Marie Curie for my mum, we as a family realise and appreciate the fantastic care that Marie Curie give, not only to the patient, but the support to the families too. They are simply amazing.

“Thanks so much to them all! So I needed to give them some token back to thank them, for the much appreciated help with mum that we received from them.”

Striding out for charity

Help needed

A LOCAL charity supporting people to live well with dementia is looking for volunteers to help at a monthly Memory Café in Street. The café provides a friendly and social environment, along with access to information and support for those affected by memory problems.

It meets on the fourth Wednesday of every month 2.30pm – 4.30 pm. There are a variety of roles available, all of which are important and ensure the smooth running of this vital service for people living with dementia.

Tori Jones, volunteering officer for the Alzheimer’s Society, said: “You can play a vital role in the Memory Cafe by welcoming visitors to the café, making cups of tea and coffee, making conversation and signposting information. This is a really positive way to contribute to your local community and is a great way to meet new people and learn new skills.”

All volunteers receive out of pocket expenses, training, and ongoing support.

Details: Tori Jones 07801 133 745 or email tori.jones@alzheimers.org.uk

Lifeboats afloat

THIS year’s house to house collection for the RNLI in the Chew Valley raised £4,070, the second highest total within the last 10 years, but more volunteer collectors are needed. The branch’s ever popular curry lunch will be held at Ubley Village Hall on November 8th.

Details: Keith Williams, RNLI branch chairman 01275 332221 keith.williams617@btinternet.com

Jumping for charity

BRISTOL-based equine rescue charity HorseWorld is looking for fearless volunteers to abseil down St. Michael’s Church Tower, Dundry, on Sunday, September 29th to help raise funds for the charity’s discovery courses.

Details: Emily Mitchard 01275 893033 or Emily.mitchard@horseworld.org.uk

Rebecca’s thanks

THE Somerset Stride, in aid of breast cancer research by Cancer Research UK, is being held at Montacute House, near Yeovil on Sunday, October 13th.

Now in its eighth year, the event is expected to attract over 300 walkers, of all ages, on three different walks 2.5km, 7K (approx) and 10K (approx), so something for everyone.

Details: www.cruk.org/somersetstride, entry is £6 per person, under 18s free, or call 08701 60 20 40

PAGE 46 • MENDIP TIMES • OCTOBER 2013

REBECCA Worsley from Congresbury returned as guest speaker to the Rotary Club of Wrington Vale to thank members for supporting her voyage on the Tenacious, one of two sails training ships operated by the Jubilee Sailing Trust.

Rebecca, who is wheelchair dependent and suffers from cerebral palsy, said: “Thank you for an amazing experience which I shall never forget.” On the night she was supported by her grandmother Pat and sister Lucy.

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CHARITIES

Ben’s story

The death of a child is devastating for any family. For Nige and Su Crutchley, from Newbury, near Frome it’s been the spur to raise £1million for CLIC Sargent, in gratitude for the help they have received from the charity. Fundraising events this year have included a trek up Kilimanjaro and a cycle ride from London to Paris. This is their story.

BEN will always be our youngest son, a happy, healthy, fun-loving boy and best friends with his elder brother Luke.

However, it was a month after his ninth birthday party that our whole world began to crumble, when Ben suffered a seizure which became one of many over the next few days.

We took Ben straight to hospital.

Before we knew it, Ben was going through a myriad of examinations, tests, scans and underwent a biopsy. A few days after the biopsy we were given the results. My wife Su and I got the news, that as parents we had hoped so hard not to have to hear, Ben had a malignant brain tumour, in other words, cancer.

Words can’t adequately describe how we felt at that point, distraught, devastated, shocked, angry; all of these and more. But most of all we felt that we’d stepped into another world in the space of a few seconds, one where we

had no experience, no compass to guide us and nobody to turn to.

Almost immediately, Ben began a course of radio and chemotherapy along with a cocktail of drugs to control his seizures. In the midst of this, Sally and Ally came into our lives. They are CLIC Sargent nurses and they provided so much more than just medical advice.

They guided us through how we told Ben’s older brother Luke about what was happening, explained to us about the effects of radio and chemotherapy, helped us to navigate the never-ending NHS maze and supported us through some of the darkest hours anyone can imagine.

But most importantly of all they were there for Ben. It was thanks to Sally and Ally that Ben was able to have blood tests and much of his treatment at home rather than in hospital. It was also thanks to Sally and Ally that Ben understood

and wasn’t scared of any of the treatment that he was given; they were always honest, but they always cared about and intuitively knew how precious and desperately ill our little boy was.

Ben bravely fought the tumour that was continuing to grow in his brain. But in December 2011, eight months after his initial diagnosis, the doctors sensitively told us that there was no more that could be done, the chemotherapy had to be stopped. It was at this point that Sally and Ally stepped up even further.

With their help, Ben remained at home until he passed away peacefully in our arms on February 23rd, 2012, surrounded by those who loved him most. Sally and Ally visited us three/four times each day towards the end. Together, we’d made sure that Ben didn’t have to cope with any scary machines or have people around him that he didn’t know.

And they cared deeply about Su, Luke and I; they were always quietly there for each of us when we needed them the most, intuitively understanding what we were going through and making sure that we were prepared for what we had to face. They are still there for us now, over a year after we lost Ben, just making sure that we are doing OK and helping us with each stage of what, at times, feels like a never-ending wave of grief.

Lots of children do recover from cancer but some, like Ben, don’t. Ten families each day in the UK are told that their child has cancer – that’s 10 more families like mine who will desperately need the help of CLIC Sargent. So far The Benny Boy Crutchley Fund has raised £130,000 to help other families receive the kind of support we did from the amazing people at CLIC Sargent. Our goal is to raise £1million.

Nigel Crutchley

If you would like to make a donation please visit www.justgiving.com/Nige-Crutchley or Text BENY90 £5 to 70070

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Letter from Africa

MY silence over the last few months was unfortunately caused by another peril of tropical field work, one worse even than food that tastes a bit like silage, one that accounts for the historical name of ‘White Man’s Grave’ being applied to this part of Africa: tropical disease.

Rather than spending the few weeks I had

By OLLIE at home for my graduation seeing my GRIFFIN friends and family, I spent it nursing a double-whammy of cerebral malaria and dengue fever. With that baptism of fire out of the way, I hope I can look forward to a healthy few months!

I should be all set: whilst trying to determine the cause of my fever, the doctors reassuringly determined I don’t have arbovirus (spread by insects), schistosomiasis (spread by snails), strongyloides (a kind of parasitic worm) or rickettsia (spread by ticks)!

Things are progressing slowly at the forest camp. The hammer included in my first equipment order four months ago arrived last week. The nails had arrived months earlier, but aren’t much use without something to drive them home. I await the crowbar with bated breath.

When I arrived here, the research was down to a minimum, with only the elephant monitoring still ongoing. We try to identify every elephant that arrives at the bai, a marshy clearing used by many different species but created by the elephants themselves. Going by nicks, holes and veins in their ears, the size and shape of their tusks, scars, and tail features, the team has identified more than 1,000 individuals since 2001, with

A silverback followed by two mothers with their babies on their backs at Langoué bai

many of these returning to the bai time and time again.

To establish more research programs, I took on two Gabonese students, one for long-term gorilla monitoring, and one to survey an invasive ant species. Preliminary results from the gorillas look good. After a possible Ebola epidemic at the beginning of the last decade, no infants or juveniles were seen for several years. Now, we’re finding more and more each year as the population recovers. This is a fantastic sign for a population of a species that is now critically endangered and has lost 80% of its population over three generations.

The invasive ant survey was also very successful – unfortunately so. In part, it confirmed what we already knew – that there is a heavy infestation around the logging-based village where we have our logistics base. We also discovered a recently introduced population at the forest camp, probably brought in from the village with boxes of food or some clothing. This species, known as ‘the little fire ant’ or by its scientific name of Wasmannia, can spread clonally – indeed, genetic tests suggest every individual in Gabon is descended from a single queen.

When established, they kill off all the native invertebrate species (which has tremendous knock-on effects), are associated with blindness in cats, dogs, and horses, and give intensely itchy bites. Whole villages in parts of Gabon have been abandoned by people fleeing their advance. I hope, thanks to their early detection, we can start an eradication program and get rid of them before they get a real mandible-hold.

Thankfully, we found no sign of them near the bai, a few kilometres to the east, which remains an unsullied gem deep in the forest.

Former Sidcot pupil, Olly Griffin, who grew up on a dairy farm at Kingston Seymour, near Clevedon is currently working on a conservation project in a remote area of Gabon, on the west coast of Africa.

PAGE 48 • MENDIP TIMES • OCTOBER 2013

Photography by WCS Gabon

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WILDLIFE

I WAS treated recently to a superb view of one of Britain’s most charismatic birds whilst watching water voles on a local nature reserve.

I was alerted to its presence by the unmistakable high-pitched, rapid piping call that I know so well. As it came closer

By CHRIS I crouched by the reeds and suddenly an SPERRING electric blue flash sped past and then MBE perched nearby.

I never tire of watching kingfishers as they strike me as both comical and stunningly beautiful. Only 16cm from head to tail they are just slightly larger than robins, but with the most striking plumage of all British birds; iridescent blue upper parts with bright orange chests. Both sexes are similar, but it is possible to distinguish them at close inspection by the fact that females have a light-coloured lower mandible, whereas the male’s beak is solid black.

One name for this bird is the river kingfisher, which basically describes its preferred habitat, but they can also be found around lakes and ponds and will even hunt in garden ponds. During the winter they often move to coastal waters where the water doesn’t freeze.

The preferred hunting method of the kingfisher is to perch above the water, on an overhanging branch or similar, and pounce on any fish swimming below. They can also hover very effectively, though, and will use this method if there are no suitably placed perches in their chosen fishing spot. Once located they dive into the water beak first and either spear or grasp the prey, before returning to a favourite perch, where they often bash the fish’s head before swallowing it – always head first so that the scales don’t get stuck. Though they feed mainly on fresh water fish, kingfishers will also eat insects and amphibians.

The breeding season normally begins with the male providing food for the female, before digging a tunnel in a suitable river bank, which can be up to a metre in length and at the end of which he creates a nest chamber. No nesting material is brought in, though the floor of the nest chamber is scraped into a bowl shape to prevent the eggs rolling out.

Up to six white eggs are laid and incubated by both male and female in turn. The eggs hatch after around 21 days and with each young kingfisher consuming 10 or more fish per day the parents are kept incredibly busy. The young fledge at around 25 days of age and must learn to fend for themselves almost immediately as their parents only tolerate them staying within their territory for a matter of days before chasing them away so that they can start nesting again. If food is plentiful a pair can raise three broods in a year.

The obvious places to see kingfishers locally would be the watercourses of the Somerset Levels, and indeed coastal areas, but don’t rule out higher areas of Mendip, especially where there is a lake or larger pond. Kingfishers will travel to find food, and a number of people also tell me of regular visits by kingfishers to their own garden ponds.

Don’t forget: like many other species the kingfisher is protected and the reason for this is that they are vulnerable to

Photography by Chris Sperring

The king of the fishers

disturbance during the nesting period. If you want to watch kingfishers one of the best places at the moment would be on the Somerset Levels nature reserves. Go to any of the hides that overlook the bodies of water, most of which record regular observations of kingfisher hunting, and with patience you will be rewarded with great views of one of Britain’s wildlife gems.

THE Hawk and Owl Trust have received a very generous donation from the estate of Andrew Addicott.

Andrew loved the Mendips and we have decided to use this money to visit schools and clubs, run workshops and lead walks; in essence deliver hands-on environmental education to and about the Mendip Hills. Anyone who would like a free visit, talk or workshop, should contact me using the details below.

Chris Sperring is Conservation Officer for the Hawk and Owl Trust Contact him on 01275 849287 or via chris.sperring@btinternet.com MENDIP TIMES • OCTOBER 2013 • PAGE 49

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Tower power

A BEAUTIFUL, quiet and interesting circle from East Somerset steam railway at Cranmore across country to the hamlet of Chelynch, and then along the East Mendip Way to historic Cranmore Tower, 148 ft high, with a chance to climb it for panoramic views of five counties as well as have refreshment in the tea room. A walk through the glorious beech woods by the tower is followed by a downhill stretch, fields, and a quiet lane back to Cranmore village. There are excellent pubs at both Chelynch and Cranmore. When open, you can also have a snack or drink at the railway buffet, the Whistlestop.

There is one gentle hill and the walk is within most people’s capabilities. It’s a good doggy circle too.

START: In the large free car park at the East Somerset Railway, who are happy for MT’s walkers to use it. It’s a very interesting place to explore and the buffet is open on steam days. Check the website for full details: eastsomersetrailway.com Go through the meshed gate at the station end of the car park which takes you

on to the small lane running alongside the station. Turn left, then fork right as if going to a house and pass it on your left.

Go over a stile ahead into a large field and bear diagonally right across to the far corner and a cottage. Near the corner, go out a gate on to the side lane at the junction with the main road. NB: If rather wet underfoot, you may prefer an easier, drier route – turn left out of the station, up the lane to the junction.

With Sue Gearing

Here’s an alternative picture of Sue, knitted by a friend Avriel Trott, showing Sue in walking gear, complete with signpost on head, rucksack, camera, walking stick – and a book of maps. It’s about 17” high. If you are interested in a personalised knitted figure contact Avriel on Aptrott@hotmail.com PAGE 50 • MENDIP TIMES • OCTOBER 2013

1. TANSEY LANE Cross the main road into Tansey Lane opposite and take the footpath over a stone stile to the left of the bus shelter. Go clockwise round the rec past the tennis courts, bend round the corner and cross a stile on the left, before reaching the small pavilion. Follow the right edge of the next field and just off the corner, cross a stile by a gate (hopefully the stile will have been repaired by Somerset Rights of Way).

Continue on in the same direction through several more fields, crossing a variety of different stiles. In the fourth and last field

turn up right to the top far corner by a cottage. Go up a few yards of path over a stile and turn left to reach a lane.

Turn right and after about 50 yards, follow the footpath left.

2. QUARRY Pass a quarry on your left – an active one, and later on a redundant quarry. The butterflies on the massed buddleia along here were quite incredible when I came.

Continue to follow the left edge all the way to the end and then go left down a grassy path by cottages and to the road in Chelynch.

3. CHELYNCH Along here on the right is the very welcoming Poacher’s Pocket country pub.

You have now joined the East Mendip Way. Take the small road left down the side of the pub and along for a couple of minutes to a crossing footpath. Go up steps right on the EMW and cross a field to the far side. Here go ahead over the stone stile (leaving the EMW for a short

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WALKING

while) and cross the field passing the right hand telegraph pole on your right and go on along the hedge a short way and over a stile to a track.

4. TRACK Turn left. Join Tarmac, pass a house and just before the next cottage, rejoin the EMW going right. Go up the field diagonally to the right of a copse of Scots pines. Continue to a stile on the far side.

Go through a double kissing gate and cross the field to a visible stile. Go over a double stile with a top lifting rail. Maintain direction along the right edge of a small camping field to a kissing gate. In the next field, carry on along the left edge and passing in front of Temple House farmhouse. Near the end cross right to a stone stile on to the lane. Turn left and very shortly take the lane down right, which leads to a junction with a road at Waterlip hamlet.

5. WATERLIP Cross and follow the EMW opposite up a grassy swathe and then bear up right along the edge of a garden and on up. Notice the remains of an old fireplace in the wall on your left. Go through a gate into a field and straight across and into the next. Take the right footpath – still the EMW. Go down the field and in the bottom left corner, through a kissing gate into the next field and then bear right, clipping a hedge corner, and continue on to the far side by woodland. A wooden kissing gate leads into the woodland. After a yard or two go left and the path takes you out to a crossing track – Funtle Lane (on the map).

6. FUNTLE LANE Turn right alongside a house and through a gate. Maintain direction along the right side of two fields getting pleasant views across Dean and Cranmore. Up ahead see Cranmore Tower rising from the trees.

7. DALLIMORE LANE/TRACK A gate in the corner leads onto Dallimore Lane, a stony track. Go right downhill on

6 miles, about 3 hours walking time OS Explorer 142 Shepton Mallet & Mendip Hills East, Grid ref: 667 430

this for a couple of minutes. Then turn up left through a kissing gate, still on the EMW. Cross the field, climbing gently and a little more steeply later through rougher scrub land start to see Cranmore Tower again. Go through the kissing gate ahead and turn left up the field edge and find tucked into the corner a stile crossing into beech woodland. Carry on until you reach Cranmore Tower.

8. CRANMORE TOWER The owner, Farhad, and his family have worked hard to restore this folly tower and their recent innovation is a pleasant tea room inside (‘with delicious cakes’) and a seating area outside in the garden. It’s officially open at weekends out of season, but Farhad says he is here all the time, and will welcome you at any time. He suggests you ring to say you are coming. The tower with its 180 steps is well worth the climb to the top outside viewing gallery giving a remarkable panorama over five counties.

The 145ft tower was built in the 1860s by Thomas Henry Wyatt for landowner John Moore Paget of Cranmore Hall (now part of All Hallows Preparatory School). It has been designated by English Heritage as a grade II listed building.

In World War II it was used as a lookout tower by the Home Guard and the Royal Corps of Signals. Afterwards it became derelict. During later repairs, the remains of a Roman fort with a hoard of coins was discovered next to the tower.

Take the main entrance track/drive which is also a bridleway along the back of the tower and cottage, going east through the woods.

9. TRACK JUNCTION At a junction, turn right on Furzeclose Lane track. Crest a small hill and continue on the track downhill. At a left bend near the foot bear down right on the public footpath across a stile and down the bank to a stony drive. Go down the drive to the road. Cross on to the footpath opposite and cross the field and go over the stile on the far side onto the main road.

10. MAIN ROAD Cross with great care and go into the field opposite. Take care as you step off the stile as there is a steep drop. Go down across this next field aiming to the right of the house with a tower and garden. Follow the garden fence to a small iron gate in the corner. Opposite is All Hallows Preparatory School – one of the leading coed Catholic boarding schools in the country.

11. SCHOOL Turn right alongside the school and playing field, soon joining the main lane and continue on all the way into Cranmore – about a mile 12. CRANMORE Here is a family pub overlooking the village duck pond, the Strode Arms.

Continue to the junction and turn left back to the Steam Railway.

East Somerset Railway, 01749 880742.

Cranmore Tower and tea room, 01749 880742.

The Strode Arms, 01749 880450.

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West Countryman’s Diary

IT’S the middle of September and autumn is beginning to make itself felt. The warm evenings have gone and there is a definite chill in the air, but my night scented stocks growing below the living room window still give me some fragrance and are reminder of the warmer evenings that have passed.

With LES It has been a very good summer and my DAVIES MBE vegetable garden, or kitchen garden, has done me proud this time. At last I have found a stringless runner bean that I like and I’m getting close to cooking them the way my grandmother did (and my mother still does) soft and green! Not for me the al dente vegetable or rare meat; no I like my food cooked and with thick gravy if I can get it.

Tomatoes have been the best ever this time, small and sweet, and as they sit in a bowl on the kitchen unit, they cry out to be eaten – I don’t like to disappoint. I am however disappointed that the caterpillars of the cabbage white butterfly have left my sprout plants looking like ‘fish bones’. I just hope that they can survive.

Good things don’t hang around long in my kitchen and when my mother gave me a jar of pickled shallots, with the strictest of instructions that they had only been in vinegar for a week, and would need a little while longer, I did just that – and waited another two days before opening the jar. They were amazing! My shallots will be heading in the same direction, after all there is nothing like your own pickled onions.

I’m turning my thoughts to winter and just like the wildlife I’m starting to stock up on things that I will need through the coming months. The onions are dried off and hanging in nets, all the early potatoes are now gone, and I’ll lift the main crop very soon. It’s time to think about elderberries for wine and sloes for that ever-important winter warmer, sloe gin.

The firewood stack is looking quite impressive and filled with apple wood that has been seasoning in the open air for a year. It’s stacked so nicely that it seems to be a shame to have to use it.

Seasoned wood is important for your fire and the chimney; too wet and it won’t burn, it will also ‘tar up’ the chimney increasing the risk of a scary fire. If you are buying your firewood, go to a reputable source where you know you won’t be getting any rubbish or un-seasoned wood.

It’s time to waterproof all your walking and outdoor clothing before the weather finds the gaps for you. I have gone over to a leather dressing (used by horse riders) on my boots. I have found it easy to apply and it certainly conditions and waterproofs. The product I’m using is ‘Renapur’, a leather balsam that will clean, condition and waterproof luggage; motorcycle leathers; boots; bags and even wax jackets. It’s not cheap, but a little goes a long

OUTDOORS way. Don’t put off re-proofing your breathable walking coat and over-trousers, and use a good quality wash-in product.

My summer work ended with a bang, quite literally, as the gearbox on my mountain tractor failed on me. With some help, the gearbox is now out and I am hoping that the offending part can be manufactured (at a reasonable price) by an engineering company in Bristol. It has brought home to me just how much I use this machine. It does the steep slope cutting, bracken crushing and through the winter runs my power pruning equipment. I can’t get spares for it any longer, so I have to rely on local engineering to get me by.

Today’s world has more and more electronic systems and computer-controlled equipment that we’ll soon need a university degree in engineering to diagnose and replace parts in agricultural machinery. We can’t ‘fix’ things with a big hammer any longer, but maybe that’s progress. I do hope that the skills, expertise and resourcefulness of ‘real engineering’ will continue to play a part in our lives for the future.

The apple harvest is upon us once again, so start thinking apple juice and cider. I will be at the Chalice Well Trust Apple Day on October 5th, followed by a Quantock Hills Apple Day at Fyne Court on October 19th.

Finally it’s the Somerset Rural Life Museum’s Apple Day on Saturday October 28th, where I will be cider pressing. There will be lots for the family to do and see at all these events, so come along if you can.

I’ve had some very generous offers of unusual rural bits and pieces to show in West Countryman’s Diary following the drug shoe picture and I hope to be able to mix a few of these in with other photos in the future. If any of you have anything lying around in the shed or barn at home that has a rural/agricultural story about it, why not send a picture to me and I will endeavour to put it in. You can contact me through the website at www.westcountryman.co.uk This month’s picture is fairly unusual, as most of these have now been destroyed or perished. It’s a sack, not very exciting to many, but for me it’s a link to the past when a lot of grain was stored in sacks. Many of these came from hire companies such as this one, with a picture of a squirrel on the back and the slogan “store in sacks”. This company is not familiar to me, but ‘West of England’ was.

Does anyone have any recollections? I think they held a hundred weight and a half, (75 Kg approx). I know I spent many hours as a boy repairing them with baler twine and a sail cloth needle!

Finally, have a look at this link; https://vimeo.com/74369570; it’s the trailer for ‘The Apple Tree Year Book’, a project that I have been working on, and will be coming on sale soon. I’ll keep you updated!

I’m always happy to hear from you, so drop me a line at Les.Davies@westcountryman.org.uk

PAGE 52 • MENDIP TIMES • OCTOBER 2013

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YEO VALLEY

‘Over the next few months Yeo Valley will be bringing you a wide selection of guest writers from different areas of the family farm.

Ranging from news from the garden, the farm team, the Mead family plus many more, we’ll be sharing a little about what’s going on behind the scenes here in the valley.

Happy reading!’

JON WILSON, FARMS MANAGER

What do you do?

IN 1994 I came to work for Tim and Mary Mead at Holt Farm, and was immediately inspired by the vision and enthusiasm which ran through everything they were doing.

Twenty years on, the original farm at the very heart of Yeo Valley is now twice the size, and has evolved into a balanced, sustainable organic farming system. Both businesses have seen tremendous growth, with Tim and Mary still as energetic and enthusiastic as ever.

Somerset is a wonderful place to live. I love the people, the cider and the Mendip hills. It’s also an amazing place to work- I never underestimate just how beautiful my 'outdoor office' is. We farm in a picturesque landscape with traditional rotations of cereal and grassland, intermingled with woodland, trees and ancient hedgerows. It provides a wonderful habitat for wildlife, proving the importance of respecting the interaction between farming practices and countryside food chains. I feel that our care for the soil, through rotation and integration rather than pesticides and herbicides, has a direct relationship to the health and happiness of our cows- and so the quality and taste of our totally traceable organic milk.

There’s a real farming community in Somerset, and it’s great to be part of it. All farmers like to look over the hedge and see what other farmers are up to. Last month was the annual Mendip Ploughing Match, which is always a moment for friendly competition. Who can plough the perfect furrow?

Before the cider, that is.

If you’re thinking of a career in agriculture, be prepared to get stuck in. The work is hard and the hours are long but then the rewards are like no other. For me, there is nothing better than seeing the cows first go out to enjoy the new spring grass; or than the quiet stillness of the night as the last tractor and trailer go up the drive, having just finished harvest in the dry. I feel very lucky to work in an environment surrounded by clean country air and the cows we've cared for since they took their very first steps. That’s pretty special.

Farming is definitely a lifestyle choice; you don’t ever really switch off. In fact, the only time I’m not thinking about the farm is when in freefall, skydiving 15,000 feet above an airfield in Devon. I suppose plummeting towards the earth at 125 mph is not the time to think about what another farmer is doing with his tractor. But as soon as my feet touch the ground, I’m straight back to peering over that hedge again.

Find out more at www.yeovalley.co.uk

MENDIP TIMES • OCTOBER 2013 • PAGE 53

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MENDIP TIMES

A r a i nb o w o f o r na m e n ta l f r u it s FRUIT farmers are predicting a bumper harvest this year following last year’s disastrous season and this theme is replicated with ornamental fruiting plants in our gardens and hedgerows.

Apart from sloes on the blackthorn bushes, native rowans are laden with berries With MARY and a road journey will reveal a host of PAYNE MBE miscellaneous apple trees, apparently growing wild in our hedgerows and verges. These are the likely result of apple cores being thrown out of car windows, whereupon the seeds have germinated and grown.

Ornamental fruits are a valuable addition to any garden, as their colour lengthens the season of interest as well as providing food for wildlife. Every colour of the rainbow can be represented in decorative fruits by careful selection.

Red is easy. Rosehips from single flowered varieties can be most attractive and add another interest. Rosa rugosa has the largest hips, larger than some of the cherry tomatoes, while Rosa moyesii has red flowers and bottle shaped hips. The foliage of Rosa glauca is bluish making an attractive background for the pink flowers, and followed by red hips in abundance this year.

The firethorns, or pyracanthas, are best represented by the variety ‘Saphyr Rouge’, a French selection that is disease resistant and very prolific in fruit. Many mountain ash trees are noted for their fruits. Sorbus commixta ‘Embley’ not only produces large bunches of red fruits, but also outstanding autumnal foliage tints, and makes an excellent choice of tree for a small to medium garden. Crab apples come in many shades, but for sheer staying power Malus ‘Red Sentinel’ takes the prize with its round fruits decorating the tree for Christmas and beyond.

Orange is not everyone’s favourite colour but Pyracantha ‘Orange Glow’ is worth a place in any garden. Our native iris, often called the Stinking Gladwyn, Iris foetidissima, will grow in the deepest, driest shade and the evergreen foliage shows off the bright orange seeds once the pod splits. Another couple of crab apples offer fruits in shades of orange and yellow. The elongated fruits of ‘John Downie’ are larger, but do not last as long, as the round ones on ‘Malus ‘Everest’. All crabs apples make very attractive flowering trees.

Yellow is an unusual colour for a holly, but for those looking for something different try Ilex aquifolium ‘Bacciflava’ or I. a.

‘Fructu Luteo,’ but remember they will need a male holly as a pollinator. Yet another crab apple, Malus ‘Golden Hornet’ displays an abundance of prominent yellow fruits, while Malus transitoria has clusters of small fruits as does Pyracantha ‘Saphyr Jaune’ and Pyracantha ‘Golden Charmer’.

Green fruits do not show up against green leaves as an ornamental feature but I will mention the abundance of green tomatoes we get at the end of the season, ideal for turning into green tomato chutney.

Blue is a colour much coveted by gardeners. There are plenty of blue flowers but blue fruits are harder to come by. However, for the really curious, Decaisnea fargesii or Dead Man’s Fingers, must surely fit the bill. Upright green and yellow flower spikes in early summer are followed, in a good season, by hanging clusters of bright blue broad bean shaped, apparently edible fruits. More commonly seen is Viburnum tinus PAGE 54 • MENDIP TIMES • OCTOBER 2013

Actaea

‘Gwenllian’ which bears small metallic blue clusters of berries.

Sadly a Chinese shrub called Symplocos paniculata requires an acidic soil, but can be seen at Westonbirt Arboretum covered in small metallic blue fruits. The fruits of blueberries do not have the chance to become ornamental as they are eaten by us or birds. Clerodendron trichotomum var. fargesii is a monstrous name for an attractive small tree bearing scented creamy flowers in August/September followed by bright turquoise fruits, each one sitting on a five pointed maroon cushion.

For violet fruits I turn to Callicarpa bodinieri ‘Profusion from China’. Plant two bushes to get good cross pollination and the best crop of fruit. The flowers are insignificant but a bush in full fruit is a striking sight.

Our autumnal rainbow would not be complete without some pink and white fruits. Pink is well represented by our native spindle, Euonymus europaeus, visible in the hedgerows around these parts, but for gardens I suggest you plant the variety ‘Red Cascade’ a slightly pendulous form offering outstanding autumn coloured foliage and a good crop of deep pink fruits that split to reveal orange seeds. Euonymus hamiltonianus has paler pink fruits. Sorbus ‘Pink Pagoda’ is a selection from the Chinese Sorbus hupehensis which has attractive blue green foliage, good autumn colour and clusters of pink fruits.

White fruits make a change and always attract attention amongst gardeners. Skimmia japonica ‘Wakehurst White’ is an interesting plant for a shady spot but would need a male pollinator, such as the more readily available Skimmia japonica ‘Rubella’. Sorbus cashmiriana, yet another mountain ash, this time from Kashmir, is a good choice for a smallish garden. For the curious gardener an herbaceous perennial with the glorious name of Actaea pachypoda (see picture) bears small plumes of white flowers followed by white fruits, set on chunky cerise stalks and each berry has a black spot. How on earth has evolution come up with that combination and why?

Black fruits are represented by three natives. The Wayfaring Tree, Viburnum lantana has red fruits that turn to shining black.

The brambles in our hedgerows offer a tasty morsel to both us and wildlife as blackberries whilst the clusters of black fruits on our common ivy provide nourishment for birds throughout the winter.

It is interesting to observe that our native birds always eat the fruits from native mountain ash trees before resorting to the foreign species. Perhaps they can see a little red tractor stamped on the trunk somewhere and perhaps we should be following their lead. Take advantage of this kaleidoscope of colours available from ornamental fruits to enhance your garden for both you and our wildlife.

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OCTOBER GARDEN TIPS

GARDENING

G Plant wallflowers out to provide a great display and fantastic scent in spring. These traditional bedding plants still provide a superb show and look fantastic when interplanted with tall Darwin type tulips.

G Sow sweet peas for the best and earliest blooms next! Sow them in extra deep pots or better still ‘Root Trainers’.

Plants established now can be overwintered in a cold greenhouse, frame or glazed porch and will tolerate some frost.

G Plant winter flowering pansies out now but look for those that are already in flower or have buds showing. Those without buds now may not flower well until spring. Don’t forget to take precautions against slug and snail attack.

Watch for greenfly in winter.

G Lift dahlia roots and store them in a frost free place for winter. Cut the tops back to about 8-10cm and stand them upside down for a few days to let the excess water drain out of the stems. Dust the roots with sulphur to prevent rotting.

G If your borders look full and there appears to be no room for bulbs now, pot them into largish pots so that they can be dropped into the gaps which will inevitably appear as winter approaches.

G Lift and pot Pelargoniums and tender varieties of Fuchsias before the first frost gets them. Trim them back by about half and pot them into a good quality potting compost.

Place in a greenhouse with frost protection or put them onto a well lit windowsill.

Courtesy Cleeve Nursery

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See our website for more details www.rockymountainnursery.co.uk ALL YOUR GARDENING NEEDS – SET IN 12 WONDERFUL ACRES MENDIP TIMES • OCTOBER 2013 • PAGE 55

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MENDIP TIMES

Martha is a winner

FOURTEEN-year-old local girl, Martha Dean, swept the board at Regil Flower and Produce Show, winning three cups, one for the most points in the show by a resident of Regil, one for the most points in the cooking classes and one for the most points in the children’s classes – the first time this has been achieved by a junior.

Ben Keedwell again won the cup for the most points in the veg and fruit classes, Morris Stuckey won the cup for most points in the flower and pot plant classes, Jane Keedwell won the cup for the floral art and Tom Powell won the cup for the junior heaviest potato crop in a bucket.

Phillip Dando was awarded best in show for his cucumber and Morris Stuckey best in show with his Dahlia.

Phillip Dando also won the Victoria sandwich class beating 12 ladies and was first in the celebration cake class.

Tree Stump removal and Stump Grinding Services throughout the South West

NGS GARDEN OF THE MONTH

THE following gardens are open this month by appointment only.

BARTLEY COTTAGE Small garden filled with over 100 very rare and unusual conifers which will surprise visitors with differing colours, shapes and textures. Spectacular views of Cheddar Gorge. Cheddar BS27 3JP, £2.50, children free. Contact: Mr and Mrs S. Cleverdon, 01934 740387, 07737 132214.

COPSE HALL The distinctive hill of Brent Knoll, an iron age hill fort, is well worth climbing 449ft for the 360 degree view of hills including Glastonbury Tor and levels. Below it, this south-facing Edwardian house has newly-designed curving slopes and paths, ha-ha, wild area and kitchen garden. Brent Knoll, TA9 4DF, £3 children free. Contact: Mrs S. Boss and Mr A. J. Hill 01278 760301 susan.boss@gmail.com HANGERIDGE FARMHOUSE Informal, relaxing, mature family garden set under Blackdown Hills. Seats to enjoy views across Somerset landscape.

Wrangway, TA21 9QG, £3, children free. Contact: Mrs J. M. Chave, 01823 662339 hangeridge@hotmail.co.uk

KNOLL COTTAGE The garden is on the side of a valley on the outskirts of Stogumber, a picturesque village in undulating country between the Brendon Hills and the Quantocks. The four-acre garden was started from fields in 1998. Stogumber TA4 3SZ, £3. Contact: Elaine and John Leech 01984 656689 john@knoll-cottage.co.uk www.knoll-cottage.co.uk.

NYNEHEAD COURT Nynehead Court Gardens are on English Heritage’s list of gardens of historic interest. Once the ancestral home of the Sanford family, the gardens were laid out during the Victorian period and include a pinetum, ice house, parterre and extended walks within parkland of old estate. Wellington, TA21 0BN, £3, children free. Contact: Nynehead Care Ltd, 01823 662481, 07834 773441.

THE OLD RECTORY, LIMINGTON Romantic walled gardens of 1½ acres, with formal parterres, herbaceous borders, many unusual shrubs and trees including a 200 year-old lucombe oak, liriodendron, paulownia, davidia, laburnocytisus, leycesteria and poncirus. Near Yeovil, BA22 8EQ, £3.50 children free. Contact: John Langdon and Paul Vintner 01935 840127 jdlpv@aol.com WESTBROOK HOUSE Four acres comprising three distinct gardens with formal layout around house which leads to meadow and orchard with spring bulbs, species roses and lilacs. Planting and layout began 2004.

West Bradley, BA6 8LS, £3.50, children free, with a share to West Bradley Church. Contact: Keith Anderson and David Mendel 01458 850604 • mail@westbrook-bed-breakfast.co.uk See our website at www.groundlevelcontractors.co.uk or e-mail us at info@groundlevelcontractors.co.uk Prefer to talk to us?

Tel: 01934 710135 • Mob: 07799 014639 PAGE 56 • MENDIP TIMES • OCTOBER 2013

Other Gardens Open for the NGS To see more gardens open for the NGS, see The Yellow Book, or Local County Leaflet, available from local Garden Centres, or go to: http://www.ngs.org.uk

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Blooming success

GARDENING

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THIS year’s Farmborough Flower Show was another blooming success, with crafts, baking, preserves, photography and fantastic children’s art on show, as well as flowers and vegetables.

Both familiar and new faces went away with the many trophies, cups, shields, bowls and certificates – Gerald Curtis with five.

Flower Show committee member Sam Ross said: “Everyone works hard to produce what they show and should be proud of their achievements. We hope their efforts encourage more people to have a go next year!”

Encouraging wildlife

THERE were times last summer when I wondered if we would ever see another butterfly or bee in the garden. But, of course, gardeners are eternally optimistic.

In this garden I planted cone flowers and sneezewort and towering Verbena and now, in only its second year, it’s teeming with bees and bursting with butterflies. I’ve even seen several clouded yellows – as pictured.

Before this part of the garden was redeveloped it was covered with gravel. Taking it up and digging the soil was hard work but since it has been planted it has needed very little weeding.

Daffodils and tulips light it up in spring. The first perennials come through soon after. By leaving gravel paths through the plants you can appreciate the butterflies close-up.

Gardens to encourage wildlife aren’t all about nettles: for help making your garden more bee-friendly do contact me.

Christine Pritchard

Norton Green Farm Nursery and Garden Centre AUTUMN 2013

Autumn bedding (available soon), including Pansies, Wall Flowers and more, produced in our own nursery

Compost, mulches, bark etc. Fresh delivery of Glazed and Terracotta Pots

Selection of autumn shrubs and plants now in stock

Also available: • Spring Flowering Bulbs & new seed collections due anytime soon • Wild Bird food and feeders • National Garden Gift Vouchers sold and redeemed • Decorative aggregates, sand, gravel, paving & walling, etc.

• Fencing, posts & trellis etc.

LOCAL DELIVERY SERVICE Open: Mon-Sat 9am-5pm; Sun 10.30am-4.30pm

Wells Road, Chilcompton, Nr. Bath Tel: 01761 232137 E. nortongreenfarm@tiscali.co.uk

MENDIP TIMES • OCTOBER 2013 • PAGE 57

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MENDIP TIMES

Radstock and Paulton are champions

Photography by Andrew Linham

RADSTOCK and Paulton did exceptionally well in this year’s South West in Bloom awards. Radstock won a Gold award and the Ayre Cup as the top town in their category.

The judges said: “They had a very good entry with the town being a floral delight, but also showing a very strong community involvement in the town.” A special award was made to Writhington School for their internationally-renowned orchid collection.

Paulton, with their Pride in Paulton Partnership, were a new entry in the competition. One of the judges said: “For a first go they did extremely well winning a Silver Gilt Award, but also they jointly won the Vic Verrier Trophy as the best new entry in the competition.”

On top of this they also won the Michael McGahey trophy for exceptional community effort, while Paulton Junior School was named best in the south west, winning the Clem Preece Cup for outstanding school effort supporting Britain in Bloom.

Haley Shackleton, who heads the school’s gardening efforts with some of the parents, said: “The children just love going out and getting their hands dirty.”

Bath won a Gold award and the Tesco

cup (Pop 35,000-79,999) with Westonsuper- Mare again winning a Gold award in the some class. Bath also won the South West Tourism trophy for the Best Portfolio.

Keynsham won a Silver gilt Award in the Portman Cup (pop 12,000-18,999); Chew Magna won a Silver Award in the Mary Mortimer Trophy (pop under 1500); Midsomer Norton entered the new Pennant competition and won a Gold Pennant.

The Radstock In Bloom committee John Chiswell, who has watered the hanging baskets in Radstock for the last 15 years

Zoe Barnes in one of the orchid greenhouses at Writhlington School PAGE 58 • MENDIP TIMES • OCTOBER 2013

Pupils at Paulton Junior School

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GARDENING

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01761 241387 www.pennyplant.com MENDIP TIMES • OCTOBER 2013 • PAGE 59

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MENDIP TIMES

Cheddar Woods celebrates end of its first summer season THE great and good of Somerset turned out to join the management team of Cheddar Woods Holiday Home Park in toasting the success of its first summer season since opening its doors for business in July.

Over 130 guests, including the Mayor and Mayoress of Axbridge, as well as councillors and representatives from local businesses and tourist attractions, attended a champagne reception and were treated to an exclusive tour of Somerset’s newest luxury holiday home park.

The most anticipated lodge development in the UK for decades, Cheddar Woods sets a new benchmark in standards for the UK Holiday Park industry thanks to its state-of-the-art facilities, combined with a selection of modern lodges finished to the highest specification with bespoke, five-star interiors – all set against the backdrop of the Mendip Hills Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty.

The park comprises 177 holiday plots in total, including a mix of 117 holiday rentals and 60 lodges for sale, from a starting price of only £79,995.

The environmentally-conscious central leisure building allows visitors and owners to enjoy a wide range of luxury facilities, including a bar, bistro and restaurant; farm shop; gym, health club and spa; indoor swimming pool; and golf simulator.

Lindsey Bamford, Managing Director of Darwin Holiday and Leisure Parks, which operates Cheddar Woods, commented: “Having invested £8 million in the development, there has been a huge amount of interest in Cheddar Woods locally, and

PAGE 60 • MENDIP TIMES • OCTOBER 2013

Left to right: Anthony Esse, owner of Darwin Property Investment Management, Councillor John Albone, Mayor of Axbridge, with his wife, Mayoress, Sue Albone, and Lindsey Bamford, Managing Director of Darwin Holiday and Leisure Parks

subsequently we were thrilled to have the opportunity to thank everyone for their support and show them the fruits of our labour.

“Located on the outskirts of Cheddar, the development is well placed to draw visitors to Cheddar throughout the year, and we are looking forward to establishing long-lasting rapports with local businesses and attractions to ensure that the park provides a real benefit to the local economy.

“Not only have we had a great start to our first season, but we’re fully booked for October half-term and we’ve started taking repeat bookings for next summer. We have also sold our first lodge, and have received some great feedback from other prospective buyers.”

MENDIP TIMES • JUNE 2013 • PAGE 60

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PROPERTY

House prices are on the rise

RISING prices and burgeoning buyer demand have led to significant increases in homes coming on to the South West property market, according to RICS’ latest Residential Market Survey.

They say 68 per cent more chartered surveyors reported increases not decreases in new instructions in the region (from +42 per cent in July). This is the highest number since RICS started to record these indices in the South West and, with positivity starting to return, it seems that those who may have been waiting for the right time to sell are choosing now to do so. The number of would-be buyers also increased sharply, as increasingly accessible finance allowed more people to enter the market. A net balance of 66 per cent more respondents reported growing numbers of enquiries from potential buyers, which is again the highest number since RICS started to record these indices in the South West.

Perhaps unsurprisingly, price increases became more widespread, as 40 per cent more surveyors reported rises rather than falls across the UK. This is the highest reading since November 2006 and demonstrates the extent to which the market is starting to recover.

Looking ahead, it seems that recent price rises in the region, and across the UK, are going to continue unabated. A net balance of 35 per cent more surveyors expect further price growth in the South West over the next three months as the market continues to find its feet – this is the highest level since June 2006.

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A detached surprisingly spacious light and airy house, benefiting from a private elevated position close to the centre of the village. Accommodation over two floors with the principal rooms having a delightful outlook to the village and church and over rolling countryside to the coast. Three reception rooms, entrance conservatory, modern kitchen. Four bedrooms (one intercommunicating) en suite to master and family bathroom. Double garage and parking. Delightful gardens and paddock – in all .85 acre. EPC: tbc. Ref: 24567.

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Detached period cottage with self contained annexe in rural ‘no through lane’ location. Large level gardens and paddock – in all 1.31 acres.

Charming 4/5 bedroom accommodation with three reception rooms, inglnook fireplace, beams etc., Superb first floor bedroom extension with spacious master bedroom and en suite bathroom.

Self contained ground floor annexe comprising four rooms. Double garage and parking. EPC rating; E, Ref: 24574 GUIDE PRICE £479,500

Detached stone built family home with detached annex accommodation enjoying an elevated position with rural views. The property has four bedrooms, master en-suite, two reception rooms, kitchen breakfast room, utility room, mature gardens, carport and additional outbuildings. EPC rating: E. Ref: 24595. GUIDE PRICE £399,950

Wrington Tel: 01934 864300

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Telephone: 01761 452171 Fax: 01761 453342 MENDIP TIMES • OCTOBER 2013 • PAGE 61

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MENDIP TIMES

New college year, new building

Students Andrew Burdall, Courtney Webb, Sarah Brown, Zoe Taylor, Annabelle Owen, Jess Whittock, Shelby Morris and Bryony Christmas enjoy the new facility

STUDENTS and staff at Norton Radstock College are getting used to life in a new, multi-million pound and state-of-the-art building.

The £2m project replaces the North Side Building which dated from the 1950s. Peter Hodgson, Vice Principal Corporate, said the new two-storey complex will benefit all

those who study there.

Mr Hodgson added: “We are seeing a growing number of young people in the area interested in taking courses at the college, so we wanted to ensure we are able to provide current and future students with the best facilities possible.”

The 26,167 sq ft building on the Radstock campus was constructed by Poole-based construction and infrastructure company Morgan Sindall.

Established in the 1940s to serve the Somerset coalfields, the college now has approximately 1,000 full-time students and 5,000 part-time students, studying a wide range of courses over 13 curriculum areas.

As well as housing the engineering and motor vehicle courses, general teaching spaces, student social space and a café, the new building will also include a dedicated Green Room to provide training in renewable technologies and energy efficiency in buildings.

G The new building will be officially opened later this year.

(L-R): Simon Heard Quantity Surveyor, Stuart Knibbs Site Manager, Neil Lord-Hatton Contracts Manager (all from Morgan Sindall), Peter Hodgson, vice principal corporate , Shirley Arayan, Principal and Andy Higgs from Jones Lang Lasalle, client’s representative.

PAGE 62 • MENDIP TIMES • OCTOBER 2013

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A stimulating learning environment KING Edward’s School, Bath is one of the country’s finest independent schools, taking girls and boys aged three to 18 years. The school is known for its impressive academic results, excellent facilities, ‘outstanding’ pastoral care and extensive extra-curricular programme.

Children start in their pre-prep and nursery which specialises in early years education for children aged 3 – 7 years. Classes are small which ensures that every child receives the individual attention they need to grow into confident, enthusiastic learners. Children enjoy a broad curriculum with two annual dramatic productions, music lessons, and an activities programme for all year groups.

Learning is further enhanced by a range of visiting experts, class trips and events.

Children join King Edward’s Junior School from age seven years. The school offers a broad curriculum enriched with regular off-site trips and an extensive programme of extracurricular activities. The school enjoys excellent facilities including a science laboratory, state of the art technology centre, drama and performance studio, well-stocked library and bookshop, ICT suite and newly re-designed art room.

Children also make extensive use of the Astroturf and the 14acre playing fields.

Children move up to King Edward’s Senior School which has a well-deserved reputation for academic excellence, strong sports, arts, music and drama provision. The school provides a stimulating learning environment where children

EDUCATION

are encouraged to strive for excellence and to acquire a lifelong passion for knowledge, discovery and adventure.

There is a broad and dynamic curriculum and an exceptional range of extra-curricular activities to interest and enrich the lives of all pupils. This is underpinned by ‘outstanding’ pastoral care.

Visit King Edward’s School at their next open day, or contact them to arrange a private tour – they would be delighted to show you what makes them so special and how they help each child to realise their full potential.

MENDIP TIMES • OCTOBER 2013 • PAGE 63

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MENDIP TIMES

EDUCATION

Record year for Weston

IT’S been a record year for Weston College students, as more than 300 graduated this year with foundation and honours degrees.

Principal and chief executive, Dr Paul Phillips, said: “Ten years ago we had 20 graduates, now there are nearly 350 and next year 768 are on degree courses. It’s been a massive growth and we want to make Weston-super-Mare a university town.”

Weston’s growing reputation for degree provision is reflected in the fact that more than 65 per cent of 2012’s honours students secured a job in a related area compared to 45 per cent nationally;

You are never too old to learn I AM sure that many of you are familiar with the University of the Third Age (U3A) but some will ask, what is the Third Age? It refers to the period of time after the First Age of childhood dependence and the Second Age of fulltime employment and/or parental responsibility.

In other words it is for the older generation; it is a self-help organisation for people no longer in full-time employment, providing educational, creative and leisure opportunities in a friendly environment.

It consists of local U3As all over the UK; these are individual charities in their own right and are run entirely by volunteers. Local U3As are learning cooperatives which draw upon the knowledge, experience and skills of their own members to organise and provide interest groups in accordance with the wishes of the membership.

Between them the U3As offer over 300 subjects in such diverse fields as: art, foreign languages, music, history, walking, literature, poetry, gardening, philosophy, crafts, field studies, archaeology, photography and computing.

PAGE 64 • MENDIP TIMES • OCTOBER 2013

50 per cent of students gained a 2.1 degree and 21 per cent were awarded a first compared to 16 per cent nationally.

Dr Phillips said: “I would like to congratulate everyone for their hard work, dedication and commitment. More and more students choose to study with us and reap the rewards achieving outstanding results and improving their job prospects. Long may this continue.”

From September this year the College will offer 31 degree courses, up from 28 in the last year.

If your local group does not cater for your particular interest, feel free to talk to them about the possibility of starting and leading a group.

Most U3As have a monthly meeting with a speaker; these are often entertaining and provide an opportunity to get out and enjoy a friendly cuppa.

Within the Mendip Times coverage area there are 10 U3As. These are Camelot – Castle Cary, Cheddar, Chew Valley, Norton/Radstock, Shepton Mallet,

Open Day at Camelot U3A

Somerton, Street & Glastonbury, Tickenham/Woodspring, Wells and Weston-super-Mare.

A new group is planned for Winscombe and there are four others on the border.

Details of all of these can be found on the South West Regional website http://u3asites.org.uk/south-west or for those of you without computer access please contact me on 01749 813741.

Patrick Williams

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MOTORING

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Marchants Hill, Gurney Slade BA3 4TY Call: 01749 841051 Mob: 07778 465520 Email: sales@caravanrepairs-sw.co.uk MENDIP TIMES • OCTOBER 2013 • PAGE 65

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MENDIP TIMES

Miners’ memories heritage project

FORMER Somerset Coalfield miners are to be interviewed by students about their working lives as part of a £10,000 project being led by Radstock Museum.

It has won backing from the Heritage Lottery Fund to develop Mining the Past to explore the experiences and memories of surviving miners and mine employees who worked in the Somerset coal industry.

This year marks the 40th anniversary of the closure of the last of the Somerset coal mines and with each passing year there are fewer people left who recall what it was like to work in them.

The project was launched at the annual miners’ reunion lunch – the 25th – at the museum. Sadly it might by the last.

Chairman Francis Hillier told the miners: “Sadly I feel obliged to tell you that, with our small band of ageing trustees a number are encountering health problems and we need to seriously assess whether or not we can continue running this reunion in its present form.

“We will continue to administer the Somerset Miners’ Welfare Trust as long as we are able, but things have been difficult of late.”

Supported by the miners’ trust, Mining the Past brings together former mine employees with pupils and staff from three local secondary schools – Norton Hill School, Somervale School and Writhlington School – along with museum

Gathering details: Writhlington and Somervale students Isabelle Vallis, Matt Hodkins, Reece Rogers and Kezia Coles with former miners Bryn Hawkins and Gerald Quartley and Julie Dexter, from the museum

volunteers and officers.

Led by museum volunteer Julie Dexter, pupils will learn about and use oral history techniques to engage former mine employees in a series of interviews leading to an exhibition, a publication and a DVD. It is also anticipated that the project archive will help future generations learn about the lives of men who helped shape our local communities, inspiring classroom learning for years to come.

Museum Chairman, Clem Maidment, said: “We are thrilled to have received the support of the HLF for this project.”

Julie, who has been involved with the museum since 1999 when it was in a barn at Haydon and who currently edits the museum society’s Five Arches magazine, added: “The grant recognises the importance of the coal industry in the local communities and gives pupils the opportunity to ask mine employees about their working lives. It also gives them the chance to ask new questions of those who worked at its end: why did they choose to work in the industry when the Somerset pits were near to closure? And what did they do afterwards?”

Museum chairman Clem Maidment and Francis Hillier, chairman of the Somerset Miners Welfare Trust, during the lunch with students from Norton Hill School PAGE 66 • MENDIP TIMES • OCTOBER 2013

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MINERS

Wayne Thomas, secretary of the South Wales National Union of Miners, presented bouquets to the volunteers who served lunch. Also receiving flowers were local vicar, the Rev. Sue Greatorex and Julie Dexter, from the museum

She added: “We need to do the research now because, sadly, there are not so many of them around now. We have to capture their memories for not just this generation, but for generations to come.”

Nerys Watts, HLF’s Head of South West, said: “The history of mining on the Somerset Coalfield is thought to date back to Roman times, so it is appropriate that the ‘Mining the Past’ project should mark the anniversary of the end of this tradition in such a worthwhile way. The involvement of young people in particular will ensure that the memories and experiences of former miners will live on for generations to come and we are delighted to be able to support their work.”

Tony Salvidge, assistant chief electrical engineer at Kilmersdon Quarry in 1966, with Norton Hill School students

The names of some of the miners who attended what could be the last reunion lunch MENDIP TIMES • OCTOBER 2013 • PAGE 67

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MENDIP TIMES

Pegasus “revived” for memorial

A NEW addition to the Arnhem Memorial statue near Paulton was formally unveiled at this year’s Double Hills ceremony.

The annual service – now in its 35th year – remembers the 21 sappers of the 9th Field Company (Airborne) Royal Engineers and two pilots of the Glider Pilot Regiment, Army Air Corps, who were killed on Sunday, September 17th 1944 on their way to Arnhem.

Artist Dave Tigwell, a nephew of one of the men killed in the glider tragedy in 1944, created a version in metal of the famous symbol of the British and Commonwealth airborne forces which now stands on top of the memorial.

Dozens of military veterans, current service personnel, families and friends gathered at the memorial for the service, which included a wreath laying ceremony and a tribute by children.

G Next year’s ceremony will be held on Sunday, September 7th and will commemorate the 70th anniversary of the battle for Arnhem Bridge.

HISTORY

Double Hills statue creator Roy Cleeves, himself a former Sapper, Pegasus artist Dave Tigwell and a serving sapper from 9 Parachute Squadron Royal Engineers, who unveiled the addition to the memorial

Lest we forget – standards are lowered for a minute’s silence

All the armed services were represented at the service

“Let them in Lord, they are very tired ; Give them the couches where the ang els sleep, Let them wake whole again to new dawn’s fire With sun, not war. And may their peac e be deep.

Remember where the broken bodies lie – And give them things they like. Let them make noise, God knows how young they were to die!”

An extract from the Double Hills poe m – They did not die in the battle’s din

The laying of wreaths PAGE 68 • MENDIP TIMES • OCTOBER 2013

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Welcome to Men dip’s d ark side WITH Hallowe’en fast approaching, I thought I would write about the spookier side of caving. Cave entrances are boundaries between the familiar world above ground and the unknown below. They are dark and forbidding and it is no wonder that in times gone by people considered With PHILIP caves to be the portals to hell.

HENDY Many classical myths involve people venturing underground to Hades; few returned and those who did were inevitably changed in some way.

Mines, being man-made, did not cause the same fears, although stories abound of the sprites which inhabit mines and are sometimes heard by miners. Going by various names, such as knockers or T’owd Man, they could be malevolent, though tended to look after those who cared for them by leaving morsels of food and drink.

More than one miner claimed to owe his life to the noises made by the knockers warning him of an imminent roof-fall, though today we believe that what was heard was the creaking of pit props and groaning of the rock just before it fell.

Some of the Mendip caves are credited with supernatural occurrences, the most famous of course being Wookey Hole, with its witch. Stories and poems have been written about her, and even today the cave guides point out the massive stalagmite in the First Chamber, which looks remarkably like an old woman with a hooked nose.

The story was given even more credibility when Herbert Balch excavated the skeleton of a Romano-British woman, together with the bones of two goats and a crystal ball made from calcite.

Spooky sounds have also been heard in the cave. Clement of Alexandria, writing in the third century, tells of sounds heard in Wookey Hole which he likened to the clashing of cymbals.

Balch, exploring the cave in the 19th century, heard similar sounds, which he attributed to air escaping from the fourth to the third chambers. If the level of water in the cave rises rapidly, air is trapped in the fourth chamber and is pressurised.

When the river falls, just before an air space opens, the air escapes, with loud sounds. The same phenomenon occurred in our dig at Templeton some years ago, when a low passage with an upward extension, flooded. When we pumped the water out, pressurised air escaped, causing loud glooping sounds, which persisted for up to 20 minutes.

These old stories of haunted caves and mines are now discredited, although many cavers, visiting caves on their own, have heard the cave ‘talking’. Sound does strange things in caves, and voices or the sound of running water can often be heard a long way from their source – and the sound can disappear as you get nearer to it.

Sometimes a stone, dislodged in passing, can lie on another for several minutes before falling with a crash. This can be very disconcerting. I have heard voices in Vicarage Passage in Swildon’s Hole, far from running water. I could not make out any words, but when the party did not get any closer, I went to investigate. As I went up the passage, the voices receded, until I

CAVING

‘Welcome To The Dark Side’

came to a low wet crawl, where the water was clear and undisturbed. No-one had passed that way recently!

A group of us were exploring a mine adit in Spain many years ago, where I felt that there was something unpleasant ahead of us. None of the others were concerned and we walked along a straight passage to a dead end. But on the way out, I felt the unpleasantness behind me. I had a similar experience once in Foxes Hole in Burrington Combe, which I was exploring alone, for the first time. It has never happened since.

One of the strangest occurrences that I have experienced took place in Lamb Leer many years ago. A group of us had been digging in December Chamber, in the hope of finding the mythical Palmer’s Chamber. This involved abseiling down into Main Chamber, then climbing up to Valentine’s Landing on a rickety steel ladder, then squeezing and crawling up to our dig site. We had been doing this for several weeks, with nothing amiss.

But on this occasion, I began to feel distinctly uneasy, as though I was being watched by something unfriendly. It was a great relief to me when the rest of the party decided to pack up early and leave the cave, which we did fairly quickly. Only when we had reached the surface did I mention the feeling that I had experienced – and to my surprise, the other cavers admitted to having exactly the same experience. We had left the cave by mutual agreement and nothing was said until we had all surfaced. It never happened again.

Ghosts are often reckoned to be the spirits of the dead, haunting either the place of their death, or somewhere favoured in life. While it is true that there have been fatalities in Mendip caves, to my knowledge no-one claims that any of them are haunted. Cavers are a hard-bitten lot and fear and fantasies are engendered of ignorance.

We know our caves so well that there is no room for any flights of fancy. Even so, exploring a cave by candlelight, as the early explorers did, is a strange experience. The dim flickering light casts strange shadows as we move through the passages and it is easy to see how, in the past, visitors to the caves could allow their imaginations to conjure up all sorts of weird things lurking in the shadows.

Phil is a member of Wessex Cave Club and has been caving for the last 44 years. Still active, his main interest is in digging to try to find new caves. He has published a caving cartoon book and collaborated on the recently-published Swildon’s Hole – 100 Years of Exploration.

MENDIP TIMES • OCTOBER 2013 • PAGE 69

Photography by Phil Hendy

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BANES walk out of inquiry

UNDER the Health and Social Care Act, local authorities were given statutory responsibility for protecting and improving the public health of their constituents, and are now liable to prosecution if they fail to identify public health risks and put in place suitable protection against harm.

This makes sense, given that health and life expectancy depends more on income, housing and a safe environment than what the

By Dr PHIL NHS has to offer. Much of what councils oversee, from alcohol HAMMOND policies to planning applications, have public health implications.

So do councils understand their new responsibilities?

On September 3rd, Bath and North East Somerset council (BANES) walked out of a public inquiry into a proposed asbestos landfill of Stowey Quarry in the Chew Valley, because the Environment Agency was no longer objecting and they “didn’t want to use public funds” representing the public health objections of over 4,000 residents who’d signed a petition and campaigned vigorously against the plan.

Many are already living in fear, and understandably so. The landfill would be in a shallow quarry at risk of landslip on a windy escarpment above the drinking reservoir which serves most of Bristol.

Landfills near drinking water reservoirs are never a good idea because linings always leak in time and even inert waste in large volumes is almost invariably contaminated and the leachate threatens the drinking supply. Indeed, Bristol Water has had two of their water sources put beyond economic use by pollution from landfill leachate and is objecting strongly.

Leachate pollution has been devastating for residents near the landfill in Houghton Le Spring in Tyne and Wear. The Environment Agency issued a permit for the landfill but was completely unable to stop the pollution, fining Biffa £105,000 this year after campaigners had complained of the smell and water contamination for 12 years.

Landfilling Stowey Quarry with asbestos alongside inert waste makes the public health objection even stronger. The site is very windy and asbestos fibres will readily disperse. There is no ‘safe limit’ for inhalation for those at risk of mesothelioma, an incurable lung cancer, and the site has no mains water to hose down fibres on lorries due to arrive every six minutes. The quarry owners, Oaktree Environmental, have no track record in asbestos disposal and have made no effort to explain their plans to the local community.

And at an asbestos dump in nearby Evercreech, the Environment Agency was unable to prevent asbestos fibres being repeatedly released into the air. Asbestos fibres can also be carried suspended in water and swallowed, increasing the risk of peritoneal mesothelioma. And the site has not had a full environmental impact assessment for risk of landslip or leakage.

Unsurprisingly, residents of the Chew Valley (of which I am one), perceive the risk of harm to them and future generations to be significant if planning permission is granted. We expected BANES to present our public health objections to the Public Inquiry, having rejected the plan unanimously at the Development Committee stage in 2012, but they walked away leaving residents to go it alone – much to the consternation of Planning Inspector Brian Cook. The inquiry was adjourned until October 3rd.

I asked BANES if it had taken into account the Health and Social Care Act 2012 before walking out. Its response: “Health issues are capable of being material considerations in the planning system but they are given little weight when these issues are covered by other legislation. This responsibility lies principally with the Environment Agency.” Given the EA “virtually never” refuses a permit, this is a clear abdication of duty.

If local authorities fail to understand their public health responsibilities, what sense is there in shadow Health Secretary Andy Burnham’s big plan to hand over the vast majority of NHS funding to local authorities, who would then hold an “integrated budget” for health, social care and public health of around £90bn? Would they spend it wisely and stand up to corporate greed on behalf of the health of their residents? In Somerset and Sunderland, it would appear not.

Details: www.stopstoweyquarry.co.uk

PAGE 70 • MENDIP TIMES • OCTOBER 2013

Driving me mad

I DIDN’T learn to drive until relatively late in life. Like all enthusiastic 17-year-olds I began driving lessons shortly after my birthday. However, I soon realised that I was a slightly nervous driver. This was not helped by my driving instructor who spent the lessons recounting tales of his love-life.

I couldn’t wait to pass my test, not because I wanted the freedom of the road, I just wanted never to have to get in a car with my driving instructor again.

My family tried to help me, offering to take me out for some driving practice, but my dad sat beside me bolt upright, with his right hand grasping the hand-brake.

Soon after that I took my test but failed spectacularly. The story could have ended there, especially as I was living in the city and had no need for a car. However, ten years later I moved to the countryside with a small child in tow and the terrifying drives, for passengers and driver, began again, except this time I had a two-year-old sitting in the back of the car telling me to “brake” and “accelerate”.

The situation was urgent. The bi-hourly bus service didn’t fit around commuting and childcare pick-ups. I needed to learn to drive. Fortunately, this time I had a decent instructor, with endless patience who got me through my test despite a tearful meltdown half-an-hour before the test began.

I cannot lie; I don’t enjoy driving and retain some of my past nervousness behind the wheel. I love living in the countryside but this is definitely the main drawback. I am envious of car-free city dwellers.

Mendip Dad likes to amuse the children by doing impressions of me, gripping the steering wheel and braking exaggeratedly as soon as another vehicle approaches on the opposite side of the road. “You drive so slowly,” they all moan and they are right; I do try and observe the speed limit and in the countryside when 60 miles-an-hour drops to 30 it feels slow.

Unfortunately, on a couple of occasions when my foot has not pressed the brake hard enough as I have entered our village, I have been confronted by a smug-looking person holding a device that records my misdemeanour. I’m not criticising this approach, after all I have walked and cycled the same road for years, defying death with small children in tow as cars have sped past.

I just wish the person holding the guntype apparatus realised that speed and the open road hold no attraction for me.

MENDIP MUM

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HEALTH & FAMILY

Four years on – and still going strong

WELLS Chiropractic and Osteopathy Centre is celebrating its fourth anniversary in October and continues to extend the range of treatments it offers.

Run by experienced practitioner Ben Palmer, the centre has just acquired one of the most advanced pieces of laser technology of its kind. The Litecure laser equipment comes from the United States, where similar technology is used by many of the leading football and basketball teams to treat injuries.

Ben said: “Osteopathy and chiropractic treatment are very good for treating mechanical problems, but there are certain conditions such as severe arthritis or fibromyalgia where the pain is severe and much deeper.”

Litecure is a cold laser therapy which works by focussing on a very specific area – it could be as small as a person’s little finger – and penetrating deep inside.

Ben said it offers four distinct benefits: G It changes the way nerves “fire” – known as depolarisation G It reduces inflammation G It attracts the blood supply into the affected area G It speeds up cell recovery Ben said: “Laser can help people manage their pain. Some people might experience relief after just one session, but it may take several sessions for others to benefit from it.”

He added: “The team would like to thank our clients for their

NOW

AVA I L A B L E :

Ben Palmer – the centre is continuing to expand

support over the past four years; we have established a lot of very good relationships and the centre is very much part of the community here.”

LITECURE

LASER THERAPY MENDIP TIMES • OCTOBER 2013 • PAGE 71

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PAGE 72 • MENDIP TIMES • OCTOBER 2013

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HEALTH & FAMILY

MENDIP TIMES • OCTOBER 2013 • PAGE 73

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MENDIP TIMES

Baltonsborough Show

The Desert Divas brought a splash of colour to the show

The Desert Divas entertained the crowds with their dance displays Clown and slack rope performer George Orange

Louis (left) and Benji (right) are all smiles as Nyah concentrates on the wheel of a tractor owned by Brian Hill, of High Ham, near Langport

Yvonne Carey won first prize with her entry in the Nursery Rhyme section of the floral art competition PAGE 74 • MENDIP TIMES • OCTOBER 2013

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Mendip Mower Racing

EVENTS

Photography by Jack Henderson

MENDIP Mower Racing and Beer Festival took place over the August Bank Holiday weekend at Cross raising funds for various Rotarian charities.

President Mike Gelder said: “We have raised over £5,000 for The Rotary Club of Mendip’s designated charities over two successful days.”

L to r: Mike Gelder (President); Richard Tilley (site preparation and band recruitment); John Salmon (site manager, equipment & health & safety); Alison Pople (Catering); Paul Knowles (lawn mower racers and site owner liaison); Steve Gard (beer festival); Patrick Simpson (marketing & advertising); Scott McIntosh (projects)

Fun day celebrations

STAFF and customers of L&F Jones and the Centurion Hotel have enabled the parent company to donate more than £22,000 to local charity Time is Precious.

The cheque was handed over during the charity’s Fun Day in the grounds of the Centurion Hotel at Westfield.

This year’s cycle ride in aid of the charity will be held on Sunday, October 13th, starting and finishing at Paulton Rovers. There will be two rides of 40km and 100km. To enter, e-mail cyclechallenge@hotmail.com

Some of the Time is Precious team who help run the fun day

Callum, from Stoke St Michael, tried his hand at crazy golf. He visited the fun day with sister Evie and brother Ethan

Time is Precious supporters look on as Liz Jones presents the cheque to Nicky Halford from the charity. They are pictured with (l:r) Martin Jones, Neil Halford, Mark Manley and Ray D’Arcy MENDIP TIMES • OCTOBER 2013 • PAGE 75

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MENDIP TIMES

Renewable energy showroom

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01749 343414 In Store Haskins Retail Centre Shepton Mallet BA4 5AX (ample free parking) Opening times: Mon - Sat 9am - 5.30pm • Sun 10.30am - 4.30pm PAGE 76 • MENDIP TIMES • OCTOBER 2013

IN ITH S W U RY ADI IVE R G EL ILE DIN L D M U EE 0- CL TO FR A 5 IN BRIS

THE South West’s renewable energy specialists, Solarsense, have announced the opening of a new renewable energy showroom at their Technology Park in Backwell.

Stephen Barrett, managing director, said: “With the new government incentives for solar thermal, heat pumps and biomass, as well as existing incentives for solar PV, there was a need to have a regional showroom with working examples of renewable energy systems.”

As well as the full range of renewable technologies for use in the home the Solarsense Technology Park includes dedicated areas for farmers and business owners with working demonstrations of larger scale technologies, including groundmounted PV and a ground-source heat pump.

The showroom will be officially opened at an open day on October 26th, but weekday visits are available now, by appointment, from 9am-5pm.

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JACKSONS

Jacksons Fencing – news, topical treats and more . . .

I remember that in my September page I was hoping that we would all be enjoying an extended or Indian summer, with glorious weather throughout the early autumn and beyond . . .

I THINK we’ve actually done very well. After what can only be described as an abysmal and very late spring, we’ve had a super summer, one of the best I can remember for a good few years.

I don’t want to seem greedy, but I really wouldn’t mind just a little bit more golden sun through October, this would at least help to soften the blow of the coming of the long, dark nights!

With winter and icy mornings in mind, can you imagine not ever having to scrape your windscreen again? It’s a foreign concept to those of us who don’t keep our car in a garage, but it’s one of the benefits of a new product that Jacksons have just launched – the Car Port.

Based on a heavy-duty version of our pergola system we have designed a single and double configuration with polycarbonate sheeting for the roof.

So if you have the space you could enjoy not having to scrape your windows again, plus it protects your car from harsh sun and the worst of the winter elements, for a fraction of the cost of building a garage. For more info visit your local page www.jacksonsfencing.co.uk/bathlocal

Y

W

I N O U R

T I C K E T S T O HOR SE LIVE

Jacksons will be at this amazing equestrian event, held at Stoneleigh Park on 9-10th November. We have pairs of tickets to give away, simply log on to your local page, address below and follow the easy instructions on how to enter.

The draw closes 31.10.13.

To enter go to: jacksons-fencing.co.uk/bathlocal

!

Something else you can find on the local page are the results of the photo competition that we have been running over the last few months. We invited you to send in photos of your Jacksons products with your family or pets etc. I must say I’ve thoroughly enjoyed receiving the emails, not just the pictures, but the really interesting and lovely comments that accompanied them, including some of the whackier titles! You can find a link to the page with the winning photos and visit the gallery online to see the entries, there are some wonderful images there.

Thanks to everyone who sent photos in.

LOUISE TOMLIN louise@jacksons-fencing.co.uk

MENDIP TIMES • OCTOBER 2013 • PAGE 77

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MENDIP TIMES

• SERVICING • PERIODIC INSPECTIONS • MAINTENANCE • REPAIRS AND UPGRADES TO ALL TYPES OF SOLAR THERMAL SYSTEMS • SERVICING AND INSTALLATION OF UNVENTED MAINS PRESSURE HOT WATER SYSTEMS

Protect your investment

WITH autumn upon us, many will soon be reaching for their central heating controls and probably ignoring their solar hot water systems until next spring.

Natural enough, you may think, but although solar gains over the colder months will be far less than in summer, suppliers Solarscotia say a useful contribution can still be made to your hot water heating via your solar thermal system when the winter sun shines.

They also say it’s worth noting that the glycol used in solar thermal systems will degrade over time, a process accelerated by high temperatures .This can leave your system with inadequate frost protection and in serious cases result in irreparable collector damage.

They say it’s recommended that you change the glycol within your system every five years to avoid issues of frost damage. At the same time, your system can be thoroughly inspected and adjusted to ensure optimal performance, making the best of the winter sun and ready to take full advantage of another great summer – hopefully!

HOW DO WE GET OUT OF THE VICIOUS CIRCLE OF RISING COSTS?

WOODBURNER SHOWROOM

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At Natures Flame, we can also supply and fit a wide range of woodburners, with all the builders work and an exclusive range of marble and granites at exceptionally competitive prices, also supplying only, having recently launched www.wantastove.co.uk which provides the best prices on stoves in the UK with Free Delivery to England and Wales.

We aim to provide our customers locally and throughout the UK with Value for Money, we provide an efficient knowledgeable supply and fit service to within 70 miles of our base in Peasedown St John, near Bath, and as we have all the requirements, HETAS incl Boiler stove installations, OFTEC, GAS SAFE and are builders too so we can make your dream a reality – legally and save you £’s year after year, to this end we have extended our September Promotion.

We will supply and fit an AGA Wenlock Classic Multi Fuel Stove/Woodburner with 10m of liner

Give us a call on 01761 439408 or visit website: www.naturesflame.co.uk

PAGE 78 • MENDIP TIMES • OCTOBER 2013

and all the connections for a staggering £1499 inclusive of VAT, to your existing opening and hearth dependent upon site survey to confirm legality, this demonstrates we provide the best prices in the surrounding area with excellent customer service, other stoves can be substituted into this deal with stove costs deductions and additions.

Wantastove has provided a massive upturn in the supply business, through our online sales portals with stoves constantly being shipped daily to all corners of the UK and even the Channel Islands and will extend these discounts to our supply and fit customers too, so our showroom prices are our online prices so why not visit WantaStove if you Wanta A Stove/ Woodburner as all these can be purchased from the showroom or pop and see us at Peasedown St John to discuss any of your needs.

www.wantastove.co.uk

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HOMES & INTERIORS

Weston Garden Machinery Garden Machinery Specialist

Krieger – STEIN’S new clothing range of lightweight & breathable material For tree climbers who require ultimate freedom of movement

Hutton Garden Centre, Banwell Road, Hutton, Weston-super-Mare, North Somerset BS24 9UB

Tel: 01934 813261 www.westongarden.co.uk

MENDIP TIMES • OCTOBER 2013 • PAGE 79

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HOMES & INTERIORS

As energy costs rise, keeping your home and workplace warm while saving money can be hard. Süka can help.

Süka Solar provide low-energy, highefficiency, clean and greener hea ng that’s simply and easily controlled, room by room.

Wyre Forest from Adam Carpets 80:20 wool twist in plain and heather shades £25.95/m2 (was £29.95/m2) Until end of November 2013

Kasbah Stripe from Adam Carpets 80:20 wool nylon available in seven colours £29.95/m2 (was £34.95/m2) Until end of November 2013

PAGE 80 • MENDIP TIMES • OCTOBER 2013

www.sueka.co.uk

It takes just 15 minutes of electricity to provide up to 60 minutes of healthy, radiant heat. It’s guaranteed for 15 years, and it’s made in Germany.

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Evercreech Village Show

Residents are trying to raise £4,500 for a defibrillator to be placed in a central location in the village. They are working in partnership with the South Western Ambulance Foundation Trust. Lynn Crisp, who is leading the effort, is pictured with Isabelle, aged six, and Tom Jackson, the trust’s assistant community responder officer for the East Mendip area. To help with the campaign contact Lynn by e-mail: ljcrisp@sky.com These prizewinning onions were grown by Harry Godden, of Doulting

Art of flowers

THE Farmborough Floral Art group, led by hard-working chairman, Ann Bevan, held its annual flower festival at the lovely Farmborough Church on the theme of ‘Once upon a time’ with exhibits based on nursery rhymes and fairy tales.

Each exhibit was numbered and visitors, as well as children, enthusiastically took part in the competition to identify what they thought each exhibit represented. As well as the main exhibits, other displays were crammed into every available space from windowsills to floor areas, including a magnificent display of baskets of flowers by Farmborough Primary School.

Funds raised will go to the Royal United Hospital’s oncology unit. The group is affiliated to the National Association of Flower Arrangement Societies (N.A.F.A.S.) and meets at 7.30pm on the second Monday in the month at Farmborough village hall. New members are very welcome.

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Rev. Rosey Lunn, vicar of Evercreech, judged the children’s fancy dress competition. She is pictured with Charley-Rose, dressed as a flamenco dancer, Katie as Miss Muffet and Imogen, the spider

Part of the display by Nor Hobson on the theme of Gardener’s World which was awarded the Bessie Ashman Candlestick

(l to r) Ann Bevan, Betty Byers, Jayne Astill and Janet Bevan

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Stratton village fun day

Hermione, Celestine and Chessie took advantage of the face painting

Members of the local Shokotan martial arts club demonstrated their skills in the main arena

Sally Dixon, of Holcombe, who is a member of the Harness Goat Society, brought along Quinn to Stratton-on-the-Fosse village day.

They are pictured with Lola Holder and Lorraine Pugsley

Give it some wellie! There were plenty of takers for the welly whanging competition MENDIP TIMES • OCTOBER 2013 • PAGE 83

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Mendip on song

Not Mells – Coleford!

An afternoon session underway

JENNY Peplow has a mission – to spread song across the Mendips. She now runs four choirs and is bringing them together for the first time for a concert in aid of Children in Need.

It will be held in Chilcompton Village Hall, the base for her newest choir, which already has 27 members. She also runs a children’s choir in Batcombe, with 25 members, a choir in Doulting, with 27 members, and a ladies’ choir in Midsomer Norton, with 40 members.

The choirs all meet once a week and new members are welcome. The joint concert is on November 23rd, 7.30pm, with tickets at £9 including a light supper.

Jenny, from Coleford, is a professionally trained soprano and performs solo at weddings, christenings and other events.

Her husband Brent is a psychiatric nurse and they have a son, Charlie, aged 21.

Jenny said: “The choirs have all given their own individual performances, but this is the first time they will have sung together, so we are looking forward to hearing them.”

The choirs will be accompanied by acclaimed pianist Jackie Bevan.

Details: 01373 812093 PAGE 84 • MENDIP TIMES • OCTOBER 2013

MUSICIANS from across the country gathered in Coleford for a weekend of Irish music and song.

Called Still Not Mells, organiser Antony Comer – known as Pru – relocated the gathering from Mells to the King’s Arms at Coleford several years ago.

The weekend is non-profit making, although a collection box from the Mells days still sits on the table for donations. Pru said: “People came to the early events when they were still learning how to play their instruments and now many are fantastic musicians in their own right.”

Sandals are not compulsory

Pru: the weekend is for musicians of all abilities to get together to share their love of traditional Irish music

Anyone can start up a tune

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MUSIC

Lights and the Hill perform on the Meadow Stage

Music in Marston

WITH more than a dozen different live acts performing across three venues, the first Marston Music Day near Frome was certainly no church fete.

Billed as “Smaller than Glastonbury… bigger than church teas”, the event was, however, in aid of the Postlebury group of churches in the area.

Organised by Jane Norris as part of her birthday celebrations, Marston Music Day was centred on Marston Bigot church and in the surrounding grounds. Music ranged from jazz and blues to classical and choral.

Share the Harmony, a community singing group with members from Radstock, Bristol and South Gloucestershire, were joined in the church by members of Sing and Smile, from the Bath area Cooky the Clown entertained the young and notso-old

Organiser Jane Norris (back row, second right) with friends and family in front of Marston church MENDIP TIMES • OCTOBER 2013 • PAGE 85

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A day out on the Strawberry Line

OVER 80 people enjoyed a unique trip down memory lane by vintage coach to commemorate the end of the Strawberry Line.

The event, organised by Sandford Station Railway Heritage Centre Group in collaboration with Winscombe and Sandford Millennium Green Trust and Axbridge Sea Cadets, was held on September 7th, exactly 50 years to the day that the last passenger train ran.

Three tours were organised during the day, boarding at Sandford Station Heritage Centre and visiting two other historic stations at Winscombe and Axbridge down the Strawberry Line.

Sadly, the advertised 1950s Bedford OB coach had a problem and was replaced by another vintage beauty, the larger Devon General AC. The first stop was Winscombe Old Station now an Environmental Open Space owned and managed by the local community.

Here visitors alighting were pleasantly surprised to arrive at an authentic scene of people on the platform waiting for an imaginary train in 1963. ‘Stop the Clock’, a piece of living history performed by the volunteers of W &S Millennium Green Trust, related the story of Winscombe station from opening in 1869 to closure and regeneration as a Millennium Green in 2000.

On the busy platform the imposing figure of stationmaster Mr. Ken Veale, the last stationmaster at Winscombe, was looking at his watch. This part was played by Rod Simmons who was wearing Stationmaster Veale’s actual BR uniform. Rod’s own grandfather had been a GWR stationmaster at Chard.

A porter was ready with his sack truck to assist with luggage, a businessman commuting to the city, couples off on a jaunt, women with baskets of fruit and flowers from the garden visiting relatives, girls in ‘minis’ going to town adding a touch of sixties ‘glam’, holiday makers, cyclists, golfers – were all departing Then off to Axbridge, ironically travelling down the bypass which was built on the former track-bed shortly after closure of the line. The land was purchased by Somerset County Council for the highways scheme and the station has been used since that time for youth activities. It is now, newly, in the hands of Weston Sea Cadets

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EVENTS

training on the reservoir nearby. This was a rare opportunity to see inside the larger station built to serve the bustling mediaeval town and thriving local strawberry trade when it was built in 1869.

The station, which had opened its doors for the day, laid on a superb display of archive material and photographs of historic events relating to the railway in Axbridge from the cutting of the first sod of the Yatton and Cheddar Valley Railway at Shute Shelve hill, the extensive strawberry traffic, followed by decline and the building of the bypass on the dismantled track-bed with its knock-on effect on the mediaeval town.

Back at the wonderful Bristol and Exeter station at Sandford, tea and cake was waiting. Tables were set on the flower-filled platform or in the old quarry waggons alongside. Visitors also had the opportunity to look around this gem of architecture, the iconic BR MK1 carriage parked there and take in the exhibition relating to the last train, closure, dismantling and demolition of the Strawberry Line.

The exhibition will remain at the station until the end of October when the centre closes for the winter. Sandford Station Heritage Centre is open to visitors at weekends only from 11am to 4pm.

Light refreshments are available. Further information at www.sandfordstation.co.uk.

Lois Brenchley

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Mendip secure place in elite league

MENDIP’S 1st Team have succeeded in gaining promotion to the elite Division 1 of the Bristol and District Scratch Foursomes league. It’s an outstanding performance and it’s the first time in the club’s history that they’ve joined the top flight.

Captain, Steve Rawlings, congratulated the entire squad of players for bringing about the 7 wins /1 draw /2 losses. He also thanked Chris Phillips of Phillips Tyres, Shepton Mallet, for his support of both club teams over the season.

The final game of the season saw both promoted sides go head to head. Knowle put up a stern challenge but Mendip proved too strong over the final holes to win 3.5 – 1.5, crowning Mendip as champions!

Mendip's Avalon league team have also gained promotion after beating Weston-super-Mare in the final match of the season.

Two silver trophies for Katherine

GOLF

MENDIP Spring Golf Club’s Katherine Sokol picked up two trophies at the Somerset Ladies’ County Golf Association’s Silver Meeting, held at Wells Golf Club. She was ‘Best Net’ winner of the ‘Janet Winter Salver’ medal, with a score of 69. The competition scratch score (CSS) was 74.

In addition to winning the ‘Janet Winter Salver’, which is open to all that play on the day, Katherine was the winner of the ‘Dickinson Cup’, which is only open to ladies who qualify from the May medal rounds at their home clubs.

Katherine qualified from Mendip Spring by having the best net score in the Silver division (20 handicap and under) and therefore going on to represent her Club in the Silver Meeting at Wells.

Darren Saunders is the second Mendip Spring golfer in recent weeks to score a hole-in-one in a qualifying competition. Darren’s came on the 8th hole while taking part in a Men’s Stableford and Chairman’s Challenge competition.

Ladies are winners

Claire celebrates cup win

CLAIRE Walker emerged the winner when 29 Mendip Spring lady golfers competed in the club’s annual Grandmothers’ Cup Stableford competition.

She got at an impressive 42 points followed, in second place, by Lynn Webb with 39 points. Four ladies competed for third place, each with 35 points, the final order being decided on count-back as Julia Jago, Sue Hares, Julie Lunn and Lynette Lewis.

Claire is pictured (right) with ladies captain Yvonne Bate.

Denise Burton, team captain (foreground) and, left to right, Heather Kerr-Wilbur, Janet Fear, Gill Prophet, Toshiko Ricketts, Katherine Sokol and Sue Sokol.

HOME wins against Worlebury 12 – 2, and Mendip B 13 – 1, have confirmed Mendip Spring ladies as Alliance league 4th division winners for 2013. The team achieved a total of 111 points, having won eight of their matches with one drawn and three losses. The team will be competing in the Alliance 3rd division next season.

MENDIP TIMES • OCTOBER 2013 • PAGE 87

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JO Clarke, aged 38, who runs Tunley Equestrian Centre near Bath with her sister, Jill, has had an amazingly successful season With CELIA with her very GADD talented horse, Frankly. However, it wasn’t like this in the beginning and Jo says she is ‘amazed’, by how this horse has turned out and performed this season.

Jo bought Frankly as an untouched two-year-old and he is believed to be an Irish draught cross Warmblood but he was absolutely terrified of people in the beginning. It took weeks to be able to handle him confidently and the first time he had a rug put on him he bolted across the yard and through a fence and it took a long time to settle him down.

The next couple of years were very trying, with Jo using every ounce of her considerable equestrian experience to persuade the nervous horse that he could trust her. Backing him was a real struggle and he managed to buck everyone off who tried to ride him over the first few months often making Jo wonder exactly what she had bought.

However, with kind perseverance; and a consistent approach one day things improved. Jo said: “One day he just seemed to look at me, take a deep

breath in and out and sort of say ‘OK I will trust you’.

“And since then I have to say he has been absolutely amazing. He moves beautifully, has a huge scopey jump and is extremely bold as well as careful.”

Last year the pair started off their eventing career in pre-novice events and came third nationally on their points. This year after a couple of prenovice runs at the beginning of the season they commenced their novice season.

Frankly seemed to take to these larger and more complicated fences like a duck to water; and they won their first novice outing at Larkhill Horse Trials Details: 07734 259143.

October 2013 show dates Wednesday 2nd Lower unaffiliated show jumping at Badgworth Arena, Axbridge Saturday 5th Unaffiliated Show Jumping at Stockland Lovell Manor, Fiddington Sunday 6th Taunton Deane Bridleways Association Pleasure Ride at Dillington Estate West Somerset Vale Hunt Hunter Trial at Stockland Lovell Manor, Fiddington Wednesday 9th Higher evening unaffiliated show jumping at Badgworth Arena, Axbridge

PAGE 88 • MENDIP TIMES • OCTOBER 2013

Wednesday 16th British Dressage at Stockland Lovell Manor, Fiddington Lower unaffiliated show jumping at Badgworth Arena Friday 18th Unaffiliated Dressage at Urchinwood Manor, Wrington Saturday 19th West Somerset and Devon Riding Club Dressage Championships at Stockland Lovell Manor, Fiddington Sunday 20th Taunton Vale Pony Club Show Jumping

Photo courtesy of J P Event Photography

Nervous beginnings

Jo Clarke and Frankly

at the beginning of the season. After that they have been placed every time out and recently took part in their first intermediate novice at Gatcombe Park which they won as well!

They are now aiming at the 1* event at Gatcombe and then Aldon to finish the season and then are looking forward to moving up the levels next year.

Jo and Jill run a busy livery yard at Tunley and are now looking to take in more horses for people to break in and school. They work together to make sure that all the horses are treated as individuals and realise their full potential, as well as helping the owners to develop their skills and confidence.

at Stockland Lovell Manor, Fiddington Taunton Vale Harriers Pony Club Hunter Trial at Pontispool Farm, Norton Fitzwarren Wednesday 23rd Higher unaffiliated evening show jumping at Badgworth Arena, Axbridge Saturday 26th Unaffiliated dressage at Pontispool Farm, Norton Fitzwarren Mendip Farmers Show Jumping at Stockland Lovell Manor, Fiddington

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Lucy and Buchu

Boo – Hooray!

A PONY described as a “scruffy, feral filly” when she was rescued by the Horseworld charity has become a star of the showjumping world.

Owner Lucy Harris, 16, of Midsomer Norton, and Buchu – known as Boo – competed at the David Broome Event Centre in Wales at the Unaffiliated Championships of Great Britain, helping their team win first place.

Lucy has had Buchu, who is a Welsh type chestnut mare and approximately 10 years old, for nearly five years. Together they compete in a range of disciplines including dressage and cross country; however, they mainly participate in show jumping and competed at the Royal Windsor Horse Show two years ago Lucy finished her GCSEs at Somervale School in Midsomer Norton in the summer and now plans to study Horse Management at Weston College.

Buchu with her rosettes and sash

Top awards on Agnes’ 90th birthday

RIDING

MEMBERS, volunteers, and clients of the Somerset Levels RDA CarriageDriving Group were among more than 100 guests who celebrated the 90th birthday of their most ardent and active supporter.

The party for Agnes Smalley, one of the Agnes Smalley receives her award from Sue Ingleby, South West RDA group’s trainers and Regional chair (right) at her 90th fund-raisers, saw her birthday party. presented with a unique award from the RDA (Riding for the Disabled) to mark her 40 years of service to the charity by Sue Ingleby, chairman of the South West Region.

Every week, Agnes finds a way of getting from her home in Frome to the carriage-driving group’s base near Street to provide the refreshments and training for the group’s disabled drivers.

Having been an active supporter of riding and driving for the disabled for four decades, Agnes uses a rocking horse, miniature harness set and a toy wagon to teach disabled people about carriage driving.

She also oversees the Somerset Levels group’s tea-urn for its weekly sessions, and is an ardent fund raiser for the group.

Her most recent achievements include seeing three of her latest disabled trainees attaining their Grade 2 proficiency certificate, despite severe disabilities.

Meanwhile, her fellow group volunteer, Paul Marsh, was presented with the national RDA award for “Over & Above” services, in recognition of his outstanding contribution to the Somerset Levels RDA carriage driving group.

Those services include caring for the group’s ponies, servicing the group’s specially converted carriages, helping at every client-service event, and managing the use of the group’s horse-box. Paul also volunteers for the riding group based at Burcott once a week.

Vice-Chair of the Somerset Levels RDA Carriage-driving group, Caroline Sturgess, said: “We were all thrilled that the national RDA has acknowledged the extraordinary contribution that Agnes has made over 40 years and also used her 90th birthday party to Paul Marsh with his mark the outstanding work of national RDA award for his Paul to keep our group running “over & above” services as so successfully.“ a volunteer.

MENDIP TIMES • OCTOBER 2013 • PAGE 89

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A tack shop for all your needs OLD Mills Tack Shop in Paulton opened at the end of August and has already established a loyal clientele who appreciate its convenient location and opening times.

Run by Lin Rafferty and her

Visit us for:

daughter Kerry, the shop on the Old Mills Industrial Estate (next to the Tesco store) reflects their passion for all things equestrian.

Both Lin and Kerry are keen horsewomen – they keep three horses on land at Winford – and have several years’ experience in the tack business, having run stands at shows and other events.

Kerry, a former dental nurse, said: “We spent a long time looking for the right location for the shop and doing our research and there seemed to be a niche in this area. The feedback from customers has been very good; they like our range of stock and the fact that we sell feed as well.”

* Horsewear & accessories * Compe''on & leisure wear * Hat fi(ng & body protector fi(ng * Embroidery service * Rug washing & repairs * Equestrian-themed gi s, cards & jewellery * Lo'ons & po'ons * Clipper blade sharpening * Horse feed & supplements We also offer a loyalty card, gi vouchers and much more …

Opening 'mes: Tuesday, Thursday, Friday & Saturday: 9.30am-5.30pm.

Wednesday: 11am-7pm. Sunday: 10am-4pm (closed Monday)

Unit 1, Old Mills Industrial Estate, Paulton, Bristol, BS39 7SU. Tel: 01761 412819. Website: www.oldmillstackshop.co.uk

PAGE 90 • MENDIP TIMES • OCTOBER 2013

Lin and Kerry: response from customers has been very positive

Lin is a skilled embroider and will soon be setting up her machine in part of the business to offer embroidery on everything from saddlecloths and rugs to summer sheets and fleeces.

Among the other services available at Old Mills Tack Shop are rug washing and repairs and clipper blade sharpening and Lin and Kerry

RIDING

are also qualified to carry out all-important hat fitting and body protector fitting. The shop also has a wide range of jewellery, cards and gifts – all with an equine theme – and their Christmas range will soon be available.

Kerry added: “It’s lovely to be able to do something I love all day and I really enjoy the interaction with customers.”

Jumping for joy with the Mid Somerset Riding Club

THE Mid Somerset Riding Club (formerly known as the Bath and West Riding Club) are still going from strength to strength holding many local competitions in show jumping, and dressage, and having an active team presence at the National Riding Club championships every year.

At two recent competitions at the South Barrow Equestrian Centre, there was a good turn-out and many competitors enjoyed some successful rounds.

Sunday 7th July 2013 Class 1 Restricted Novice 60cm 1st Trudie (Pam Thomlinson) 2nd Just William (Tiffany Ogden) 3rd Ellie (Beverley Berry) Class 2 Novice 70cm 1st George (Issy Colwell) 2nd Jinx (Pete Brake) 3rd Dextor (Ali Perry) 4th Mighty Mouse (Pip Atkinson 5th Mojo (Sara Bartlett) 6th Moonbean (Claire Phillips) Class 3 Open 80cm 1st Jinx 2nd Mojo 3rd Harry (Pete Brake) 4th Rupert (Alice Edmonds) 5th Flying High (Matilda McCrum) 6th Alice (Annaliese Colwell) Class 4 Open 90cm 1st Alice 2nd George (Emily Carr) 3rd Mojo Sunday 18th August 2013 Class 1 Restricted Novice 60cm 1st Bubbles (Kara Hughes) 2nd Kit Kat (Lucy Dodd) 3rd Lancelott (Rachel Spencer) 4th April (Carol Plested) 5th Trudie (Pam Thomlinson) 6th Stripy (Luke Hughes) Class 2 Novice 70cm 1st Freddy (Lias Hughes) 2nd Old Forge The Astronauet (Chrissy Doey) 3rd Rupert (A Emonds) 4th Bert (Mollie Gillard) 5th Harry (Freddy Dick Read) 6th Stripy Class 3 Open 80cm 1st Spike (Joanna Gale) 2nd Sweet Pea (Sophie Savage) 3rd Mickey (Melanie Eyles) 4th Robbie (Alanna Perrett) 5th Scrumpy (Charlotte Watson) 6th Snurge (Alanna Perrett) Class 4 Open 90cm 1st Alice (Anneliese Colwell) 2nd Gordan (Louise Huxley) 3rd Floyd (Jennifer Gale) 4th= Bert (Mollie Gillard) Hulla Baloo (Joanna Gale) Class 5 Open 1m 1st Floyd 2nd Hulla Baloo 3rd Gertie (Louise Huxley)

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Olympic legacy in action

ORGANISERS of the Midsomer Norton Triathlon say they have seen a surge in interest in the sport since the London 2012 Olympics.

Inspired by the Brownlee brothers – Alistair and Jonny – younger people appear to be drawn to the endurance challenge of swimming, cycling and running.

The youngest competitor at this year’s event was 15 years old; the oldest was more than 70. Just under 200 people took part, tackling a 400 metre swim, 25km bike ride and 5.5km run.

Terry Gillard, of Paulton, who sponsored the event and competed at the age of 69 said recent reports that fewer young people were participating in sport since 2012 – when Alistair won gold and Jonny bronze – did not appear to be the case with triathlon.

Terry, who finished in just under two hours, said: “The Brownleee brothers have definitely given the sport a massive boost.”

The Midsomer Norton event was revived in its current format four years ago. Race director Ger Wood said: “We’re attracting competitors from all over the country. I think some people see it as a reason to get away somewhere different for a weekend.”

G The event was won by Keith Penney, from Frome Tri Club with a time of 1:14:26:3.

Race director Ger Wood (left) and Terry Gillard

Andre Norman and Brendon Andrews cross the finish line together.

They were raising money for the Time is Precious charity

The transition zone where competitors change into their cycling and running gear

Tracy RydinOrwin finished with a time of 2:03:26:6

Daniel Young powers home in 1:32:32:2… but it was a tough race (see above). He was raising funds for St Peter’s Hospice MENDIP TIMES • OCTOBER 2013 • PAGE 91

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A mountain to climb

Somerset Archers are on target

Emma on the wall at Writhlington Sports Centre

EMMA Welch – a 12-year-old girl from Chilcompton – is hoping to create a new world record by scaling the equivalent of the height of Mount Everest on a climbing wall.

Aiming to complete the challenge in stages by Sunday, November 24th, Emma will have climbed the wall at Writhlington Sports Centre an astonishing 1,106 times, equivalent to starting the ascent of Everest from sea level and climbing 8,842 metres. If successful, Emma will enter the Guinness Book of World Records as the youngest girl to complete the attempt.

Emma, who took up climbing when she was eight years old and says she is never going to stop, is raising money for Brain Cancer Research. She was inspired by the Rev. Andrew Stammers, from Radstock Baptist Church who is in remission from the disease. Last year Emma was diagnosed with scoliosis, which causes a curvature of the spine. She said: “This is my chance to prove that just because I have a curvy spine does not mean I can’t change things.”

She has been training regularly at the sports centre and said she was very grateful for the tremendous support of the staff and generosity of the management. She will climb the wall 50 times every Wednesday and Friday evening. On her last climb Emma will be joined by one of her heroes: mountaineer Paul Keleher.

Determined to succeed: Emma before the start of her world recording breaking attempt

SOMERSET archers have won a prestigious regional archery competition for the first time in 11 years – although the opposition were just an arrow’s width away!

The annual Grand Western Archery Society Intercounties match took place in Exeter in challenging weather conditions. Each archer shot 144 arrows, but it was so tight at the top that scores were checked several times before announcing Somerset as victors by a mere 68 points – their overall total was 19,951.

Mark Smith was top scorer in the Gents Recurve division (Olympic-style bow) and Gerry Gilmour likewise in the Ladies Longbow division. Somerset also picked up the award for top five Gents Recurves, the “Half Team” prize for top three Lady and top five Gents Recurves and the Longbow Team Trophy for the top two ladies and gents.

Lynne Evans, of Shepton Mallet, from Somerset Archers said: “All in all a great day for the county and, after an eleven year wait, fantastic to be back on top in the region.”

Cary’s big season To support Emma, visit www.justgiving.com/welchemmad or visit: www.emmawelch.co.uk PAGE 92 • MENDIP TIMES • OCTOBER 2013

CASTLE Cary Rugby Club began its 125th anniversary season with a close-fought 1st XV win in their opening game of the season in the Tribute Somerset One division.

With former international referee Tony Spreadbury on the whistle, Cary overcame Clevedon IIs 17-13 with a last-minute try by prop Chris Wake and conversion by outside half John Clay.

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Run for a worthy cause

Tabb brothers bat their way to new heights

SPORT

Julia Dukes, Christine King and Christopher Bond, three of the organisers of the Festival Run, on the verandah of the Pilton playing fields pavilion which will be the event headquarters on the day

ENTRIES have opened for runners of all abilities to take part in a charity event around Worthy Farm in Pilton – the home of the Glastonbury Festival.

The Festival Run will be held on Saturday, November 2nd and the course will visit the main pyramid stage and the stone circle. The event – the main run is five kilometres long with a 2km junior event – will raise money for Children’s Hospice South West.

It will be the first event of its kind on the festival site and organisers – a group of runners from Pilton – hope to make it an annual event. One of them, Christopher Bond, said: “We hope the run will capture the imagination of people. Because it’s the first one, we are not sure how many people will enter – if we get between 50 and 100 runners, then we will be very pleased.”

G The run costs £5 for adults and £2 for children in advance and £7 and £4 on the day, if places are still available.

For more information or to volunteer to help out on the day, visit: www.piltonvillage.co.uk

Rebels plot their course

HAVING finished top of speedway’s Premier League table, the “Cases” Somerset Rebels had first pick of their opponents in the semi-finals of the championship playoffs.

The Highbridge-based team has picked Newcastle Diamonds and Redcar Bears as their group opponents, leaving Ipswich, Edinburgh and Workington to contest the other group.

With each team in the respective groups to face each other home and away, the Rebels have moved quickly to confirm the dates of their matches: Thursday, October 3rd: Redcar v Somerset Friday, October 4th: Somerset v Redcar Friday, October 11th: Somerset v Newcastle Sunday October 13th: Newcastle v Somerset The winner of each group then race off over two legs in the Grand Final – the winners are crowned Premier League

(l:r): Chris and Nigel Tabb

INDIVIDUAL scores of 100 or more are a relatively uncommon occurrence in club cricket, so to reach 200 in a club game is some feat.

However, Midsomer Norton Cricket Club can now boast two current players in this exclusive 200 club – and what is more, they are brothers.

Chris Tabb notched up his first double century for Norton in a home fixture against Wiltshire side Nationwide House CC towards the end of this season. His 153 ball innings of 201 not out included 26 fours and four sixes.

In reaching this milestone he matched the performance of brother Nigel in a 1988 fixture against Blagdon CC, again at Withies Lane. Nigel ended that innings on 205 not out.

By chance, Nigel was at the wicket with Chris in his recent innings when the brothers shared a partnership of 133 runs for the second wicket.

Champions.

The Rebels assured themselves of finishing in first place with a “backs to the wall” display against second-placed Ipswich Witches with a 46-44 victory. They took the lead for the first time in the penultimate heat, which was followed by a stunning last race win by Somerset’s Josh Grajczonek.

Garry May, the Somerset team manager, said: “The boys really wanted to finish the regular league season at the top of the Premier League table and despite Ipswich really giving it everything, defeat was not an option for us.

“Although finishing the regular season top of the Premier League table does not give us the Championship title, it does give us a timely boost to our confidence as we head into the play-offs which will decide who will be crowned as the 2013 Premier League Champions.”

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Heritage grant for carnival project

AN exciting project to document the evolution of “walking entries” in Somerset’s carnivals has been recognised by the Heritage Lottery Fund.

The Carnivals In Somerset Promotion Project (CISPP) has received £8,100 from the fund’s Sharing Heritage programme to produce a DVD about the masqueraders tradition which it says dates from 1605.

As part of the project volunteers from CISPP will carry out research and

Walking entries play a major part in the annual carnival spectacular

development for the DVD which will also incorporate an explanatory narrative and interviews from carnival artists. CISPP has already produced a successful DVD showing archive footage of carnival floats over 40 years.

The project is supported by the carnival community, who wanted to have a story and record of walking entries. CISPP says the heritage of walking processions is important because many people who started as walkers then progressed into forming carnival clubs, which produce the floats that are so well known today.

Dr Andrew Tallon, chairman of CISPP,

said: “This is the latest exciting and interesting project that CISPP has undertaken. This gives us the opportunity to highlight how carnival originated with walking masqueraders and how Somerset carnivals continue to be important to today to both the local community and economy.”

CISPP was launched in 2009 in response to concerns that the unique heritage of the Somerset illuminated carnivals could potentially be lost in the future unless efforts were made to encourage more people to take part in the tradition.

For more information about CISPP, visit: www.cispp.org.uk

Cary carnival is coming

THE Castle Cary and Ansford Carnivals take place annually in October – and this year will be no different, despite the road diversions caused by the ongoing bridge replacement work at Castle Cary station.

The children’s carnival will be held at 3pm on Saturday, October 5th, starting at the town’s Constitutional Club.

The main evening procession starts from Ansford Academy on Saturday, October 12th at 7.30pm. The illuminated procession typically includes two marching bands, four majorette troupes and an impressive array of floats, group and single walking entries. It also includes many local entries including Cary Cygnet Majorettes and the Britannia and Cary Comedians carnival clubs.

Last year, the carnival raised £2,100 which was shared between 16 deserving causes including Carymoor RSPB wildlife explorers, Ditcheat Players, Galhampton Playgroup and Dorset and Somerset Fire and Rescue Service.

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The Mayor of Wells, Councillor Theo Butt-Philip, is pictured at a real ale and sport fundraising event at the Venue Club in the city, organised by Gorgons Carnival Club, which is based there. The carnival club is keen to attract new members in time for this year’s carnival season. For more information, contact club secretary Shelly Ford on: 01749 674391.

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The cheerful and the challenging

THIS year’s Wells Festival of Literature has not shrunk from controversy, as witnessed by the decision to invite Ian Cobain, a senior reporter for the Guardian, to talk about his new book Cruel Britannia.

The awardwinning journalist will speak on Sunday, October 13th about the British use of torture since the war, telling for the first time the story of Britain’s hidden interrogation camps from Kenya to Northern Ireland and from Cyprus right through to Extraordinary Rendition.

Simon Loveday, festival chairman, said: “It’s disturbing, but we have to face it. The British pride themselves on their human rights record – but there is a great deal of concealment and hypocrisy behind that facade.”

Elsewhere, Mona Siddiqui, well-known for her Thoughts for the Day on Radio 4, talks about the future for Christian-Muslim relations on Saturday, October 12th, and on Friday, October 8th, Sir Simon Jenkins presents his vision of England at its best.

Also on the 18th, Ben Thompson, the son of Wells’ muchloved Bishop Jim, presents his highly entertaining biography of Mary Whitehouse. And on Tuesday, October 15th Clive Anderson, will be at Wells Cathedral to ‘Talk Bark’ about his passion for Britain’s threatened woodland.

Tickets and the full programme are available online at www.wellslitfest.org.uk or from the TIC in Wells Museum (01749 671770).

Activity weekends

THE Best Western Plus Swan Hotel, in Wells, has teamed up with two local experts, rambler Siobhan Goodwin of Wells Walking Tours and artist, Steve Hall, to offer a number of activity weekends over the coming months.

Each of the Wells Walking Weekends features two beautiful three-hour walks that start and finish at the hotel. During the walks Siobhan will share her knowledge of the history, geology and nature of the local area.

The art weekends are suitable for watercolour artists of all abilities with Steve supplying expert tuition in his relaxed and friendly manner.

Details: Walking weekends October 25th -27th, November 22nd – 24th, January 10th – 12th.

Art weekends November 1st – 3rd, January 24th – 26th, February 21st – 23rd.

Princes Road, Wells, BA5 1TD

COMING UP:

Friday 27th September Justin & The Knights Of Valour 2d & 3d (PG) Friday 4th October

Friday 11th October

White House Down (12a)

Friday 25th October

Captain Phillips (12a) Turbo 2d & 3d (U) Sat 12th/Sun 13th)

Friday 18th October Wed 30th October

Runner Runner (15) Austenland (12a) (Advance Shows

Cloudy With A Chance Of Meatballs 2 2d & 3d (U) Thor: The Dark World 2d & 3d (Cert. Tbc)

G Book in person G Online 24/7 @www.wellsfilmcentre.co.uk G Over the ’phone: 01749 673195

FANTASTIC FUNGAL FORAY with Adrian Boots

Join me on a fantastic wild food foray enjoying the best wild edibles the autumn season has to offer!

3rd November 2013.

2.00pm to 5.00pm, £35 per person Please call 01761 463356 to book your place or for more info visit: www.gowildactivities.co.uk

Details: www.swanhotelwells.co.uk/activities-offers or 01749 836300.

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Thursday September 26th Chew Valley Wildlife Trust: “Can we save the Red?” – Richard Brock in the Chew Magna Millennium Hall, 7.45pm, £2.50 inc. refreshments. Richard Brock worked with the BBC Natural History Unit for 35 years.

This is his own unique, self-funded, film to promote red squirrel conservation across Britain.

Buckland Dinham History Group, 7.30 pm in BD Village Hall. Local author John Payne, with others, will talk about the book ‘Working Memories: Frome workers tell their stories’ and how it was put together. £3, all welcome. Details: 01373 454648.

Friday September 27th Coffee Morning at Norton Down Methodist Church (on the White Post Roundabout near Stratton on the Fosse) – 10.30am – fundraising for Macmillan Cancer Support. Details: 01761 420538.

“World’s Biggest Coffee Morning” – for Macmillan Cancer Support, 10am-12noon, Salvation Army, Commercial Rd, Shepton Mallet. £2 includes coffee and prize draw.

Cake and produce stall.

Friday September 27th – Monday September 30th Mendip Society, Mendip Hills Walking Festival. Walk the Mendip Way or a wide choice of other walks, including historical and heritage town walks in Axbridge, Frome and Wells. Non-members £5 to £20.

Members free. Details: 08454 092951, email: walkingfestival@mendipsociety.org.uk or www.mendipsociety.org.uk Saturday September 28th –Sunday September 29th Flower Festival, St. Michael and All Angels, Rowberrow, celebrating the harvest, 11am-5pm, with tea, coffee and home-made cakes.

Saturday September 28th Book Sale at the War Memorial Hall, Congresbury, 9am-1pm. A wide selection of good quality books, jigsaw puzzles, dvds, cds and talking books.

Winscombe Community Association Jumble Sale, 2pm at the Community Centre, in aid of WCA. Refreshments available. Please bring any donations after 9.30am that morning. Information: 01934 843184.

“Mendip Hills through the Time Tunnel” – a talk by Les Davies at the Somerset Rural Life Museum, Glastonbury, BA6 8DB, 11am-12. £5, includes coffee from 10.30, please pre-book.

Bristol Children’s Help Society open day at Barton Camp near Winscombe, celebrating its 125th anniversary, 1.304.30pm. Details: www.bartoncamp.co.uk Saturday September 28th – Sunday PAGE 96 • MENDIP TIMES • OCTOBER 2013

T i m e s

September 29th “A Snapshot in Time” – exhibition of photographs and memorabilia, Priddy Village Hall, 10.30am -4.30pm, organised

by Priddy History Group. Refreshments available. Details: mhutfield@icloud.com Quiz & Curry Night, Farrington Gurney Village Hall, in aid of hall refurbishment fund. Teams of approx. 6 to 8 invited to enter. Arrive 7 for 7.30pm start. Tickets £8, to include a two-course meal, from Nicky Stone, 01761 470158. Please warn in advance of any special dietary requirements. Ample parking, disabled access.

Sunday September 29th Beckington Go-Kart Rally at the cricket club. Rally from 12noon, plus barbecue, music, kids’ activities etc. Details: www.beckingtongokartrally.co.uk 07884 398557 or 07821 355463.

Tuesday October 1st ‘The History & Wildlife of Martin Down Nature Reserve’ a talk by Paul Toynton, the reserve’s first warden, for Somerset Wildlife Trust SE area group, 8pm at Caryford Hall, Castle Cary BA7 7JJ, £2.50, children free, wheelchair accessible.

Congresbury Over-60’s Club with popular vocalist Chris Rainbow, Congresbury War Memorial Hall 2.30pm -4pm. Details: 01934 832004.

Wednesday October 2nd Yeo Valley Probus AGM. Details; 01275 857769 or mikebrayley@madasafish.com Thursday October 3rd “Archaeological Adventures in Albania” – a talk by Louise Schofield for Wells Evening Society at Wells Town Hall.

Refreshments from 6.45pm, talk starts at 7.30pm. Visitors (£7/evening) welcome, details: www.wellseveningsociety.co.uk or valerie@valeriestanford.wanadoo.co.uk Thursday October 3rd – Saturday October 5th “The Bleadon Players Reveal Their Drinking Habits” in a comedy by American writer Tom Smith. Tickets £7 from Bleadon PO or on the door before 7.30pm performances at the Coronation Hall.

Friday October 4th Open Mic Night at Redhill Village Club from 8pm, hosted by Jerry Blythe. All welcome, artists and spectators alike. Free admission. Church Road, Redhill, BS40 5SG. Contact 01934 862619.

Saturday October 5th Quality crafts and coffee morning. Regil Village Hall (BS40 8BD) – please note amendment to time – now 10am – 12 midday. In aid of Macmillan Nurses and Motor Neurone research. Entry 50p including coffee and biscuits. Details:

W h a t ’ s

01275 472705.

Kingston Seymour Market –10am -12 noon – a wide variety of goods, including possible Christmas presents!

Bobbin Lace Making demonstration at the Somerset Rural Life Museum, Glastonbury, BA6 8DB, 2pm-4pm. Free.

Sunday October 6th – Sunday October 27th Help Harvey Scarecrow trail, Winford.

The theme this year is Fairy Tales and Films. Details: www.myscarecrow.com.

Sunday October 6th Classic Cars, Vintage & Interesting Vehicles gathering from 9.30am – 12noon at Redhill Village Club. Join us with your vehicle for breakfast! All welcome plus spectators. Church Road, BS40 5SG, just off the A38. Tel: 01934 862619.

Service of Thanksgiving at St. Bridget’s Church, Chelvey, at which Bishop Barry Rogerson, former Bishop of Bristol, will dedicate the new facilities at our twelfth century church. This is the completion of our six year long project and the 275th anniversary of our single bell. Tea will be served from 3.30pm with the service at 5pm.

Monday October 7th Congresbury Branch of the Royal British Legion meets at the War Memorial Hall at 7.00pm. New members very welcome. If you are able to help with the Poppy Appeal please contact Irving Prowse: 01934 832004.

Tuesday October 8th ‘Return of the Cranes’ A film and talk about The Great Crane Project – to reintroduce cranes on the Somerset Levels.

Victoria Methodist Hall, W-s-M, BS23 1 XU at 7.30pm for Weston-super-Mare Archaeological & Natural History Society.

“Temples, Tombs & Treasures; in search of the Queen of Sheba” – a talk for Mendip DFAS by Ms Louise Schofield at Westex Suite, Bath & West Showground, Shepton Mallet. Please contact Tony Lane, 01749 670652, if you wish to attend.

Wednesday October 9th “The Wonders of Westonbirt” – a talk by Margaret Headen for Nailsea & District Horticultural Society. 7.30pm at the United Reformed Church Hall, Stockway North, Nailsea.

Wells Civic Society, The High Street - the economic future of the city, with Luis Gordon, Wells Town Hall, 7.30pm.

Saturday October 12th Somer Valley Singers, plus guests, will be performing at their annual charity concert at St John’s Church, Midsomer Norton at 7.30pm. Tickets £6.00, in aid of Frome based charity Positive Action on Cancer and St John’s Church, from 01761 436042 or on

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the door. www.somervalleysingers.co.uk “The Fall Ball”, The Lansdown Hall, Trowbridge Civic Centre, 7pm –late. A black-tie fund-raiser in aid of the Wessex MS Therapy Centre. A Three-course dinner & dancing with entertainments, auction of promises, prestigious prizes, raffle & lots of fun. Tickets: £35. Contact: Chris: 01225 867601 or 0796 6557529. chris@bradfordbelles.org.uk and http://bradfordbelles.org.uk Somer Valley Singers, and guests, at St John’s Church, Midsomer Norton, at 7.30pm. Tickets £6.00 in aid of Frome based charity Positive Action on Cancer and St John’s church, from 01761 436042 or on the door. www.somervalleysingers.co.uk Barn Dance/Ceilidh with Fougere Rouge in Chew Magna Church Hall, BS40 8RQ, from 7.30pm. Tickets £10, (include Ploughman’s), from Chew Magna Post Office or Annie Sewart, 01275 332482. Bar. All ages welcome. In support of The Atiamah Trust.

Farrington Gurney Young Farmers Fall Ball at the Royal Bath and West showground, 8.30pm-2am. Details on Facebook, farringtonfallball@hotmail.co.uk “Lift & Divide”, a plant exchange event at Moor Plants, Bath Road, Ashcott, 10.30am -3pm, in aid of St Margaret’s Hospice.

Refreshments available. Details: 01458 851674.

Congresbury Book Sale – 9am -1pm at the War Memorial Hall. A wide selection of good quality books, puzzles, dvd’s, cd’s, talking books etc.

The Aquinas Piano Trio playing at 7.30pm at St John’s Church, Churchill for Churchill Music! Tickets £10.50, £14.50, (U-25’s free) from 01934 852919. Details: info@churchillmusic.org.uk Jumble Sale at Winscombe Community Centre, Sandford Road, at 2pm in aid of the Strawberry Line (Cheddar Valley Railway Walk) Society. Donations welcome: 01934 842470.

Frome Society for Local Study, Jane Hill: The Archaeology of Hinkley Point.

Assembly Rooms, Frome, 2.30pm.

Tuesday October 15th Congresbury Over-60’s Club with Mike and his Music. Congresbury War Memorial Hall, 2.30pm -4pm. Details: 01934 832004.

“Velazquez, prince of painters” – an illustrated lecture for Mid-Somerset Decorative & Fine Arts Society at 11am at Caryford Hall, Castle Cary, BA77 7JJ. "London's Calling" a talk by Mary Hawkins for Midsomer Norton Townswomen's Guild, St. John the Baptist Church Hall, High Street, 2pm. Contact: 01761 413528.

O c t o b e r

Wednesday October 16th Mendip Gardening Club, roses – care, history, cultivation and pruning, with Thomas Sanday, 7.30pm Ston Easton Village Hall. Details: Val 01761 241617 or Karen 01761 241079.

Thursday October 17th North Somerset Rural Business Forum, the Thrust Project, which aims to build a 1,000mph car, 7.30pm, Winford Manor Hotel, BS40 8DW. Non-members welcome at £7.50, incl. supper. Details: 01531 820307 or andrew.dodd@dairyco.ahdb.org.uk Friday October 18th Inner Wheel Club of Chelwood Bridge evening with the Twerzels to raise money for the Bath Cancer Unit Support Group, Pensford Memorial Hall, 8pm until 11pm, with doors opening at 7.30pm, tickets £12.50 include a ploughmans supper.

Details: www.chelwoodbridgerotary.com/events.htm l or call Heather on 01761 452092.

Saturday October 19th Concert at Allerton Church, Chapel Allerton, with Sotto Noces, tickets £10.

Details: sotto.noces@yahoo.co.uk Brent Knoll Harvest Supper, parish hall, 7pm, with entertainment by Combyne Arvester. Tickets from the post office £15.

Details: Eddie Fuller 01278 760308.

Craft & Gift Fayre, Farmborough Memorial Hall Hall, 11am -4pm, stalls and refreshments available throughout the day.

Fundraising to support repairs and improvements to the hall. Details: 01761 471585.

Axbridge Mayor’s Barn Dance at theTown Hall, 7pm. Tickets £8, include fish and chip supper.

Vegetarian option (pre-order please ) Licensed Bar. Raffle in aid of Axbridge & District Museum Trust. Tickets from Axbridge Chemist & Post Office or 01934 732573.

Monday October 21st “The North Somerset Butterfly House” – a talk by TV wildlife expert Pete Dawson for the North Somerset branch of The Hawk & Owl Trust, 7.45pm at The Star Inn, Tickenham, BS21 6SE. £2.50 for members, £3.50 non-members. Details: 01275 462908.

Thursday October 24th “Happy Snapper Chasing Trains” – a humorous look at Somerset railways by

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Peter Triggs at the AGM of Sandford Station Railway Heritage Centre Group. St. James’ Hall, Winscombe, BS25 1AQ, at 7.30pm. Free, all welcome.

“Madagascar – a modern day Noah’s Ark” – an illustrated talk by Dr Malcolm Sainsbury for Chew Valley Wildlife Group at 7.45pm, Chew Magna Millenium Hall.

Visitors £2.50.

Saturday October 26th Congresbury Book Sale – 9am-1pm at the War Memorial Hall. A wide selection of good quality books, puzzles, dvd’s, cd’s, talking books etc.

Nailsea & Backwell Rotary Club Book Sale – 9am-3.30pm outside Waitrose, Nailsea. All proceeds go to local charities.

Please contact Chris, 01275 856061 if you have books to donate.

Frome Society for Local Study: Richard Raynsford: Somerset in the Second World War. Assembly Rooms, Frome, 2.30pm.

Tuesday October 29th “Meeting the Stars” – a talk by Peter Lea for Congresbury over-60’s Club, 2.30 -4pm at Congresbury War Memorial Hall.

Details: 01934 832004.

Saturday November 2nd Tudor Weaving Demonstration at the Somerset Rural Life Museum, Glastonbury, BA6 8DB. Have a go at weaving! 10am4pm. Free.

Tuesday November 5th “Musical and Cultural Life in Shakespeare’s England” – a presentation

by Jeremy Barlow at the Westex Suite, Bath & West Showground, Shepton Mallet.

Please contact Tony Lane on 01749 670652 if you wish to attend.

Saturday November 9th Rotary Quiz, WI Hall, Backwell, 7.30 for 7.45pm. Questions set by Nailsea & Backwell Rotary. BYO drinks and glasses. £6/head, tables of six. Tickets: John Glason, 01275 463969.

St. Peter’s Hospice Christmas Bazaar at City Hall, Bristol, 10am-3pm. Christmas cards, decorations, jewellery, crafts , wine, cheese, preserves, cakes, plus knitwear, bric-a-brac and many other stalls. Details: 0117 9684 739.

Saturday November 16th Craft Fair in aid of Children’s Hospice SW, 10 am –1 pm at Camerton Hall.

Christmas gifts plus home made cakes & refreshments.

ANSWERS TO THE MENDIP MINDBENDER

O n

19/9/13

ACROSS: 1 Harptree, 5 Ice cap, 10 Motor, 11 Trainsets, 12 Elemental, 13 Relic, 14 At home, 15 Call for, 18 Al dente, 20/26 Temple Cloud, 22 Merit, 24 Theoriser, 25 Afterlife, 27 Disuse, 28 Mainstay.

DOWN: 1 Hamlet, 2 Retreated, 3 Three-point turns, 4 Entitle, 6 Central American, 7 Creel, 8 Postcard, 9 Garlic, 16 Fall short, 17 Farmyard, 19 Entail, 20 Theresa, 21 Priddy, 23 Rates.

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Show is model of success

OVER 2,000 people are expected to attend the Autumn Model Show at the Fleet Air Arm Museum on Saturday,

October 26th.

Britain’s best pilots of radio-controlled aircraft will demonstrate their outstanding skill in both model-making and piloting. Previous years have seen jet-powered model aircraft and an internationally acclaimed model helicopter stunt team taking part.

In addition to the radio-controlled flying display there will be an indoor flying display and display of radiocontrolled tanks taking place within the museum’s Swordfish Centre. Throughout the museum, set among its exhibits and under Concorde, there will be over 100 traders and clubs representing all aspects of model-making.

Event organiser, Jon Jefferies, said: “The Museum hosts two Model Shows annually; one in October which is biased towards radio controlled models and one in February where the emphasis is on plastic models. Visitor numbers attending the Autumn Model Show have doubled in recent years.”

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I want to tell you a story

A NEW storytelling circle has been set up in the Mendip area following the highly-successful MendipFest held in May. The group will meet on a monthly basis and is open to anyone who has a story to tell or who simply wants to listen. The Mendip Storytelling Circle is a non-profit making venture and will be hosted by local storytellers Martin Horler, Colin Emmett and Terence McCarthaigh.

Subjects might include folktales, ancient myths and legends and might be humorous or serious. Colin, who has been telling stories in local folk clubs for many years, said: “We want both story tellers and listeners to come along and share a story or just to enjoy an evening’s entertainment.”

The first meeting will be on Thursday, October 3rd at The Court Hotel in Chilcompton, starting at 7.30pm. Entry is free although contributions in the hat will be welcomed. For more information, e-mail Colin at: mendipstorycircle@gmail.com G Parents and guardians of pre-school children are invited to take their little ones along to the Paulton Community Hub for a series of story time and craft sessions hosted by Bath & North East Somerset Council’s Library Service. The sessions will run on Thursdays (1.30-2.30pm) during term times and started on September 19th.

Mark his words

MARK Diacono, the climate change pioneer gardener, is the final speaker in the 2013 programme of celebrity garden talks in aid of charity at Yeo Valley Organic Garden in Blagdon.

An award-winning food writer who leads the garden team at River Cottage, Mark Diacono runs Otter Farm in Devon where he grows unusual and forgotten foods. He is also a regular contributor to the Daily Telegraph’s Mark Diacono gardening section. In ‘The New Kitchen Garden’, on Friday, October 4th, Mark will share tips on how to grow gourmet delights including salsify, Chilean guava and Szechuan pepper. Some seasonal cocktails are promised too!

The talks are raising funds for Horatio’s Garden, the Cleve West designed garden at the regional spinal centre in Salisbury.

The garden opened in September 2012.

G Tickets for the day are priced £60 for two. The day will run from 10.30am to 3.30pm. Included in the price is tea and coffee on arrival with homemade biscuits, a delicious two-course lunch with wine, and tea and cake in the afternoon. All ingredients are organic and locally sourced. After lunch there will be a tour of the Organic Garden by a member of the garden team.

Tickets are available by calling 07429 140918 or via the website: horatiosgarden.org.uk

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Redland Rustic Oak Bedside £69

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