Mendiptimes Volume 11 - Issue 8

Mendip Times

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Celebrating life on the Mendips and surrounding areas

JANUARY 2016

WE WISH ALL OUR READERS A VERY HAPPY, HEALTHY AND PROSPEROUS NEW YEAR

Local people, local history, local places, local events and local news

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MENDIP TIMES

CONTENTS

Welcome

THE start of a new year is a time when many of us resolve to get ourselves fit and we have a special feature on health and fitness this month, including some very good advice from Dr. Phil Hammond.

Travel and Education are added to our regular features, with Arts and Antiques, Business and Homes and Interiors particularly busy. We’ve dozens of pictures from seasonal events marking Christmas, as well as all of our regular contributors.

Susan Hampshire and Jenny Seagrove have been on Mendip making a film set during the 2nd WW – we have a special report – and we travel further back in history to hear about plans to build an Anglo-Saxon long hall and a RomanoBritish house at the Avalon Marshes centre at Shapwick.

There was a night of nostalgia for former footballers who celebrated John Fisher’s 80th birthday in Blackford and a poignant farewell for nine-year-old cancer victim Harvey Hext in Winford.

We’ve news from across the area, as well as pages devoted to charities and community news. We also hear why some children in Blagdon could be in for a surprise in 25 years’ time.

As the new year starts, can we thank our readers, advertisers and contributors for their support and wish you all our very best wishes for 2016.

February 2016 deadline: Friday, 15th January 2016.

Published: Tuesday, 26th January 2016.

Editorial: Steve Egginton steve@mendiptimes.co.uk Mark Adler mark@mendiptimes.co.uk Advertising: Ann Quinn advertising@mendiptimes.co.uk Rachael Abbott rachael@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: Fairground fun at Wells Reindeer Parade. See page 67.

Photograph by Mark Adler.

13

Peace and goodwill – Festive Season on Mendip

16

And the winner is? – young chefs put to the test

58

Lights, Cranmore, action – village’s movie moment

94

Match of the day – John reunited with his old team

Plus all our regular features Environment...................................6 Farming Mary James MBE..........10 Food & Drink...............................14 Arts & Antiques ...........................24 Education......................................30 Internet and Crossword..............36 Charities .......................................38 Business ........................................42 Wildlife Chris Sperring MBE .......49 Walking Sue Gearing....................50

Outdoors Les Davies MBE ..........52 Gardening Mary Payne MBE ......54 Health Dr Phil Hammond.............60 Caving Phil Hendy........................70 Property........................................72 Homes and Interiors....................78 Music.............................................88 Riding Rachel Thompson MBE ....92 Sport..............................................93 What’s On ....................................96 MENDIP TIMES • JANUARY 2016 • PAGE 3

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MENDIP TIMES

New store is just what the doctor ordered

RADSTOCK Cooperative Society has opened its second store in Frome – on the site of a former doctors’ surgery at Fromefield.

In a fitting move, Robert Slade, a former chief executive of the society and who is now practice manager for the Beckington Family Practice which used to operate on the site, was the guest of Beckington Family Practice manager honour who cut the Robert Slade cuts the ribbon watched by ribbon to open the new society chief executive Don Morris (left) premises. and store manager Tim Schuster Fromefield brings the number of Radstock Co-operative stores to 15. The society opened its first store in Frome in 2011 in the Westway Precinct.

Robert said: “The surgery was here for more than 30 years before moving across the road next to the hospital. I am sure this site will continue to serve the community, albeit in a different guise, for many years to come.”

G Society chief executive Don Morris presented Robert with a cheque for £250 for the Beckington surgery’s patient participation group.

The team running the new Radstock Co-operative store at Fromefield

NEWS

Show team wins top award

THE Mid-Somerset Show is award-winning – and that is official.

The team behind the annual celebration of agriculture and the countryside has won the Event Team of the Year Award at the annual National Outdoor Events Association presentation night, held this year in Bath.

The judges said “The team has a great ethic and the commitment from the volunteers allows them to stage this event; without them it wouldn't be possible.”

The show was amongst 17 winners nationwide of the prestigious awards by the association which aims to educate, advise and enhance professionalism and business opportunities within the sector and has more than 400 members nationwide. The NOEA was also celebrating 35 years.

Compere for the night was Paul Hooper, Secretary for the Royal Bath and West of England Society, who said: “Without organisations like NOEA there would not be outdoor events and places for people to go and enjoy in their spare time. NOEA works with others to make sure events are safe and enjoyable.”

Christine Barham, secretary of the Mid-Somerset Agricultural Society (front second left), with NOEA officials and the other winners

Clocking on at Radstock Museum

A £16,000 project is being launched in January to restore the market hall clock at Radstock Museum to full working order.

Called “A Good Time in Radstock”, the plan is to refurbish the clock and restore its hourly strike (with night silencing). The clock – a symbol of the town for almost 120 years – has been silent for many years and the museum team would like to hear from anyone who can remember when the bell last struck.

The museum is seeking help to fund the work. It was successful in being granted £500 from the local trust administering the Big Lottery Fund. It received a further grant of £500 towards the redocation of the tea room and foyer. Work is due to be completed by the time the museum reopens in February.

The market hall clock at Radstock Museum

For more information, visit: www.radstockmuseum.co.uk MENDIP TIMES • JANUARY 2016 • PAGE 5

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MENDIP TIMES

M a j o r b o o s t t o w i l d l i f e i n S o m e r s et FLAGSHIP nature reserves in Somerset will benefit from a £122,000 investment, over the next few months. Somerset Wildlife Trust has been awarded grants from Viridor Credits Environmental Company, through the Landfill Communities Fund, to spend at eight sites across the county.

Major improvements for wildlife and people are being made at the following nature reserves: • Westhay Moor and the Catcott complex in the Brue Valley (near Glastonbury) • Cheddar complex (two reserves), and Harridge Woods (Mendip Hills) • Langford Heathfield (near Wellington) • Great Breach Wood, plus New Hill and Tannager (in the Polden Hills, between Street and Somerton).

Somerset Wildlife Trust’s director of land management, Tim Youngs, said: “This funding from Viridor Credits will have a hugely positive impact on some of Westhay Moor

Pintails at Catcott

our most vital nature reserves.

“These are sites which, with this further investment, have the potential to make the biggest difference for the conservation of priority wildlife-rich habitat whilst providing more special, close-up nature experiences for visitors of all ages.

“What is particularly exciting about this investment is the scale of improvements

Details: www.somersetwildlife.org

Trust introduces new vice-presidents

GLASTONBURY Festival founder, Michael Eavis, and Taunton Deane MP, Rebecca Pow, have been appointed as Somerset Wildlife Trust’s new vice-presidents.

The trust says the honorary posts have been awarded in recognition of their significant contributions to environmental work and support for the charity.

Somerset Wildlife Trust President, Stephen Moss said: “I’m delighted to welcome two such passionate advocates for our work and our county’s wildlife on board as vice

presidents.

“Michael has been a long-term supporter of the trust through the Glastonbury Festival and supported our latest land purchase at Westhay Heath – one of our most important nature reserves in the Avalon Marshes.

“Rebecca’s friendship with Somerset Wildlife Trust goes back many years and she was a trustee for a decade, before standing down following her successful election as MP for Taunton Deane; we’re very glad to have her back.”

Details: www.somersetwildlife.org

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that we are now able to make. It allows us to make a step-change in our management work to restore these special places.”

The work will include creating open areas within reed beds for bitterns and otters, new shallow ditches in wet grassland for snipe and lapwing to breed successfully, coppicing hazel for dormice, and creating sunny rides and glades through woodlands for fritillary butterflies.

People will benefit, too, thanks to new signage and seating, including an amphitheatre area to provide an outdoor classroom at Catcott.

Meanwhile, new nature trails will be created at several sites, allowing visitors to explore the reserves on marked routes of varying lengths.

Viridor Credits’ chief executive, John Lockwood, said: “This latest project in collaboration with Somerset Wildlife Trust is a further step in improving wildlife in Somerset for the benefit of everybody.

“The Landfill Communities Fund is committed to the conservation and enhancement of biodiversity in the UK and Viridor Credits is proud to be a part of this project.”

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Palace conservation reaches new heights

ENVIRONMENT

Forest School project

The completed steps at the South East Bastion

VISITORS to the Bishop’s Palace in Wells can enjoy farreaching views from part of the walls for the first time in years after the completion of a restoration project.

Local conservation experts Ellis & Co. carried out the removal and re-laying of the South East Bastion Steps and strengthened adjacent walls. The steps had been closed to the public for nearly five years due to safety concerns – when work started, it was discovered that the steps had almost no foundations but had been laid on earth and rubble. Visitors can now climb to the top of the bastion which has views across to the Deer Park, Tor Hill Woods and beyond.

Meanwhile, January is expected to see the opening of the old Apple Store in the north east corner of the walls. The store has never been open to the public and has derelict for many years. It will be used by Edgar Phillips, the palace’s artist-in-residence for 2016.

Two further phases of work, which are likely to cost around £95,000, are needed to the 13th Century Great Hall to tackle ongoing decay. The trust hopes to continue to raise funds to complete this work in 2016 and 2017.

Trust Chief Executive Rosie Martin said: “2015 has been an incredibly exciting and successful year for the palace and we are delighted that, thanks to the support of the public, our members and, for the Bastion Steps, Viridor Credits, we were able to complete several much-needed conservation projects. Every entrance ticket, membership, cup of coffee and piece of cake bought at the palace contributes towards our ability to fulfil our long term ambition; to preserve this beautiful site for future generations to enjoy.”

MEMBERS of Mendip Rotary Club spent two fun-filled Saturday mornings making and installing bird boxes, bug boxes, and raised flower beds for the Forest School area at Axbridge C of E First School Academy.

Organiser Rotarian Richard Tilley said: “We’ve really enjoyed ourselves and produced something of benefit for the local community. We’d be happy to talk to other schools in the Cheddar Valley about assisting with their nature projects.”

He thanked local suppliers Somerlap Timber of Mark and Woodland Horticulture of Glastonbury for their donations of timber, raised beds and topsoil.

School head, Lorna Richardson, said: “The Forest School approach provides outside learning opportunities for all the pupils in a safe and secure setting. We are able to raise pupils’ attainment through social and emotional development, and it helps to highlight a greater awareness of the natural environment.”

“Gator” spotted on trust reserve!

The presentation of the all-terrain vehicle to the Hawk and Owl Trust at the Avalon Marshes Centre

WILDLIFE conservation charity the Hawk and Owl Trust is celebrating the donation of a specialist all-terrain vehicle to help with the management of its Shapwick Moor Reserve on the Somerset Levels.

The vehicle, a John Deere “Gator”, was a gift from trust members Alan and Sylvia Williams. Alan and Sylvia, who run Tean Valley Meadow Nature Reserve, near Derby, decided to make the donation after seeing a recent slideshow of volunteers working at Shapwick Moor, given by trustee Phil Holms and the schools and community officer, Simon Beard.

The 56-hectare reserve is the trust’s first in the south west and adjoins Shapwick Heath National Nature Reserve.

MENDIP TIMES • JANUARY 2016 • PAGE 7

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Awar d for cycle track volunteer

ENVIRONMENT

DO leaves on the track sound a familiar problem? The trains may have long disappeared, but keeping a stretch of the former railway line between Dundas and Great Elm safe for cyclists, runners and walkers is all part of the work of a team of volunteers led by Robert Ladd.

They look after part of Section 24 of the National Cycle Network managed by the Bristol-based charity Sustrans which has just named Robert its Volunteer of the Year for the South West, 2015 marking the 20th anniversary of Sustrans.

Robert, of High Littleton, started out as a Sustrans supporter but became a volunteer after retiring in 2012. Now he and other

Robert with his award on the Sustrans route at Kilmersdon

Fellow volunteers Rob Porter, Sue Green and Abiy Mengistu clearing a drainage ditch near Radstock

volunteers can be seen out and about carrying out maintenance work such as clearing slippery leaves or maintaining fences.

Robert has also led a series of rides for cyclists and in 2015 helped a student from Midsomer Norton’s Somervale School who joined the volunteers as part of his Duke of Edinburgh Bronze Award duties.

Robert said: “I had no idea I had been nominated for the award. I was at a meeting in Exeter and they began to read out the nomination and I suddenly realised it was me who’d won!”

M E N D I P

W E A T H E R

S C E N E

To find out more about volunteering for Sustrans, visit: www.sustrans.org.uk

Season’s greetings – unseasonal weather

SEASON’S greetings to all who read my weather column, although the weather is far from seasonal at the with DAVID moment.

MAINE Last month I was writing in the middle of a very mild November and the month, in fact, turned out to be a record with a highest-ever mean of 10.7˚C. Nothing much has changed this month either (so far!), with daytime temperatures up around 13˚C and barely falling into single figures overnight.

This is all down to a broad sweep of moist southwesterly winds off the Atlantic from quite low latitudes but at least, with the jet stream over northern parts of the UK we have been spared Storm Desmond and the copious amounts of rainfall, resulting in floods, misery and devastation in Cumbria and other places nearby.

Those down on the Somerset Levels

PAGE 8 • MENDIP TIMES • JANUARY 2016

who had a similar experience a couple of years ago can only sympathise.

But looking back on 2015 as a whole it has been a fairly average

These daffodils appeared in Axbridge well before Christmas

year, with not too many extremes of weather. The winter was certainly average, January being the wettest month and there was hardly any snow.

As we moved into spring, this was also fairly normal but April was a warm and dry month with plenty of pleasant spring sunshine. The summer followed and again it was nothing much to write home about. June was the driest summer month and August the wettest. The mini-heatwave at the beginning of July produced a maximum of 30.5˚C on the first of the month, which proved to be the year’s highest.

Then came the autumn, and after a fairly normal September, there were two contrasting months, October being very dry then followed, as mentioned, by a very wet November. The main feature of November, though, was the warmth and this type of weather has continued into early winter. Who knows how it will end up?

Best wishes for the holidays and 2016.

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MENDIP TIMES

Time to look ahead to 2016

FIRST of all a couple of events to look out for in 2016. There will be a hedgelaying competition on Sunday, February 21st at Burnt House Farm, Waterlip, Cranmore, by kind permission of the Hoddinott family, with an open class and an amateur class.

On June 1st to June 4th there will be a With MARY new-look Royal Bath and West Show with JAMES MBE a new food area, a new music area and livestock present on the Saturday, plus all the other attractions. The first one-day show of the season is North Somerset at Wraxall on May 2nd.

Just to finish off the old year, what a tragedy happened in Cumbria. When I read in the agricultural press of the devastation to the farms I was surprised that it did not appear on BBC News – or did I miss it?

Anyway, the farming industry faced its third weather disaster in as many years but again the farm help charities and the forage aid teams and volunteers were quickly mobilised to the worst-hit areas. Livestock were dragged into rivers as the swollen watercourses burst their banks.

Hundreds of sheep drowned in Cumbria. Some animals who were swept away were found 20 miles away, alive and well.

Acres of crops were decimated and one farmer and his family were lucky to be alive after a major landslide sent 13,000 tonnes of soil through their farm flattening everything in its path. Evidently the mud came down off the hill in a

FARMING torrent flattening buildings and vehicles. The farming industry always pulls together in a time of crisis and the charities received £40,000 from the Prince's Countryside Fund.

The public suffered so badly as well. Is it the consequence of global warming? The jury is still out.

It is worrying that farmers are facing a few more brickbats, the antibiotic question comes to mind. Antibiotic use has been tightened up in the UK but more can be done, reducing use in humans as well. It has been pointed out that processed food and ready meals do not have to be labelled yet to show where the ingredients come from.

Meat from countries with lower standards than ours can be included. So beware and stick to buying British. If you have access to a computer do look up the Red Tractor to see all the standards that must be adhered to get that label.

Have you been watching Hugh Fearnley-Whittingstall looking at food waste? It was a real eye-opener. Every farmer can really be depressed to hear that the food that has cost them long hours and expense to produce goes to waste. Did you see that huge load of parsnips and the look on the farmers’ faces?

So we will soon be looking to use up our Christmas leftovers. There are plenty of recipes around and we can always 'Google' it.

Finally, on a brighter note, I wish everyone a Happy New Year and may spring come early in 2016. And it's time to give special thanks to Steve and Mark for a great magazine.

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MELLS

PAULTON

Brownies benefit from craft fair ARTISAN producers donated items from their stalls at the annual Christmas at the Barn fair in Mells to raise funds for the Holcombe Brownie Group.

Members of the group were on hand to sell raffle tickets for the prizes during the two-day fair, organised by Rebecca Larsen of Edamay, which featured 20 stalls.

Megan, a member of Holcombe Brownies, sells raffle tickets as Rachel McEnlee looks on

The Christmas market was busy

The Pride in Paulton stall

Lauraine Mulberry (left) and Jan Lloyd running a stall featuring items made by the Norton St Philip Textile Group

A festive scene inside the tithe barn as shoppers browse the stalls PAGE 12 • MENDIP TIMES • JANUARY 2016

Carols round the Christmas tree

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CHRISTMAS EVENTS

GLASTONBURY

Frost fayre warms up Glastonbury

GLASTONBURY’S annual Frost Fayre brought hundreds of visitors to the town for a day of festive events.

The fayre opened with a tribute to the late Chas Ambler, one of the founders of the travelling Melodrome Stage and performance company, who helped revive the annual celebration.

Frost Fayre fans Luminous and Skye in the grounds of Glastonbury Abbey

Santa in Shepton

Jonny Gonzalez and Tasha Tucker, from the Peasant’s Lunchbox, a collective of microfarmers, growers and producers

SHEPTON MALLET

Choirs from Street sing in the abbey’s Lady Chapel

DOZENS of families enjoyed the traditional switch-on of Shepton Mallet’s Christmas tree.

The evening began with a short service by the recently-arrived rector of Shepton Mallet, The Revd. Jonathan Hunter Dunn, before the winners of a fancy dress competition joined Glastonbury Festival founder Michael Eavis to switch on the lights.

Father Christmas joins the Community Chimes bellringers on the Market Cross Pupils from St Paul’s junior school sang on the night

MENDIP TIMES • JANUARY 2016 • PAGE 13

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Ring out the old, ring in the new!

SO, how are you all feeling? A bit overfed? A bit swamped with leftovers? A bit gloomy with the dark months ahead?

Nooooo!

Think of all the new fresh stuff to come! Game may be With JUNE coming to an end, but there are MACFARLANE fresh oranges, navel and blood and Seville, and lots of excuses to eat comfort food for a few weeks to stave off the income tax blues.

So let’s have a rousing cheer for 2016, the best of years!

POT ROASTED PARTRIDGE WITH SAVOY CABBAGE INGREDIENTS

For two 2 partridge 1 tbsp each diced carrot, celery, leeks 1 glass white wine 500 ml chicken stock 1 small savoy cabbage, core removed, shredded 2 finely chopped shallots 250 g smoked bacon lardons bay, thyme and sage 200ml single cream Seasoning Butter Olive oil

January is the last month that these delicious birds are in season. It is also the month when all game birds are at their fattest and most scrumptious having been gorging on grain before the cold months really arrive.

A partridge is a lovely thing and, paired with seasonal savoy cabbage, crinkly and green, makes a delicious dish.

METHOD Preheat oven to 180˚C. In a flame/ovenproof pan with a lid brown the partridge on all sides in a little butter and olive oil. Remove. Add diced vegetables to pan and brown for a few minutes. Add white wine and bring to the boil. Add partridge, stock, cover and cook in oven for 10-15 minutes.

Sweat the shallots in butter, add lardons, cook for five mins, add cabbage, stir, cover and cook gently for about four mins until just soft. Remove partridge from oven. Keep birds warm.

Partridges are at Reduce liquid their peak in by half over January high heat. Add to cabbage, add cream, season. To serve, pile cabbage on to plate and set partridge on top.

PAGE 14 • MENDIP TIMES • JANUARY 2016

Spiced orange compôte

SPICED ORANGE COMPÔTE INGREDIENTS

Serves four 500 ml water 5 tbsp sugar 2 tsp vanilla extract 2 cloves 1 star anise 4 navel oranges

We are so used to seeing oranges in the supermarkets that sometimes we forget that they have their season. And January is it! Big juicy navel oranges from Spain, bitter Seville marmalade oranges, dark red blood oranges, are all at their best right now.

METHOD Simmer water and sugar together. Add vanilla, cloves and star anise. Reduce liquid by half. Remove from heat.

Meanwhile slice top and bottom from oranges. Slice down vertically to remove rind and pith. Cut horizontally into thin slices. Layer in a serving bowl. Pour syrup over.

Cool. Refrigerate until needed. Serve with thick cream.

MACARONI CHEESE INGREDIENTS

Serves four 300g macaroni, cooked and drained 300g mascarpone cheese 60g parmesan cheese, freshly grated 150ml double cream 20g parmesan cheese freshly grated, to finish seasoning

A five star comfort food, only surpassed by shepherd’s pie.

Dark nights, wet streets, driving sleet – perfect accompaniments to macaroni cheese. No longer an Italian pasta dish, this is one of our own, a bit dressed up here.

METHOD Preheat oven to 220˚C. In a roomy pan melt the mascarpone over a low heat, add 60g parmesan and bring to the boil. Add cream, season, simmer to thicken. Off the heat stir in the cooked macaroni. Pile into an ovenproof dish, top with grated parmesan. Cook in oven for 30 mins until browned on top.

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Whatʼs new from Myrtle Farm

FOOD & DRINK

Cidermakers’ specials available in our Cider Shop

A round-up of events from Thatchers Cider in Sandford

Mulled cider makes a perfect winter warmer

• 1 sliced orange, lemon and apple • 2 star anise • 5 cloves • 2 cinnamon sticks • 8 slices ginger • 5 tablespoons of soft brown sugar to taste.

Simmer gently for around ½ hour but be careful not to let it boil. Serve and enjoy!

For an extra twist, add a shot of rum or sloe gin.

EVERY year in mid-January Myrtle Farm comes alive with the sound of the Mendip Morris Men leading our annual Wassail ceremony. Did you know that the Wassail is a traditional West Country pagan ritual that celebrates the orchards and the good health of the apple harvest?

It’s also the traditional time to enjoy a warming glass of Mulled Cider.

Here’s our recipe for you to enjoy.

Take two litres of Thatchers Gold cider (or Heritage) and add:

Did you know?

Waes Hael to all the readers of Mendip Times!

G A commercial apple tree normally crops fully after five to seven years. The tree should have a lifespan of around 40-50 years.

G At Myrtle Farm we have an exhibition orchard that contains 458 different varieties of apple tree.

OUR master cidermakers have been busy using their skills in blending apple varieties to craft two brand new Special Vintage ciders.

Both are available as Limited Edition ciders from the Thatchers Cider Shop at Myrtle Farm, price £1.95.

Somerset Redstreak and Katy has been crafted from these two favourite varieties of apple to create a fine, full-flavoured cider which has a light fragrant aroma and soft rounded finish.

The second of the pair, Tremletts and Falstaff, offers a long, dry finish, and a rich full bodied flavour.

Both of these ciders have an abv of 7.4%.

“Understanding apple varieties and how they each bring their special character to a cider is such an important and valuable skill,” says Martin Thatcher. “Our cidermakers are indeed craftsmen, and they’ve been perfecting their skills for many years – the results are here for us all to enjoy in these two very special, limited edition ciders.”

Cheers and a very happy New Year from us all at Thatchers Cider

www.thatcherscider.co.uk • Don’t forget you can also follow us on Twitter, Instagram and Facebook Thatchers Cider, Myrtle Farm, Sandford, Somerset, BS25 5RA Tel: 01934 822862 MENDIP TIMES • JANUARY 2016 • PAGE 15

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MENDIP TIMES

Chefs impress in Rotary challenge

By Mark Adler

JUDGES Sally Gregory and Jamie Barnett were impressed – seriously impressed – with the seven hospitality and catering students at Frome College who took part in the annual cookery contest organised by the town’s Rotary Club.

Jamie, head chef at White Row Farm Shop at Beckington, said: “They have shown great skills and I would be happy to serve some of their menus in my restaurant.”

The seven competitors had battled against the clock to prepare a two-course meal in the district final of the nationwide contest. Each placed great emphasis on seasonal cooking, from Aimee Applegate’s venison with root vegetable mash and carolo nero to Fin Collinson’s roasted vegetable curry. Puds included poached pears in red wine with a Chantilly cream and pear and blackberry crumble.

Winner Katie Lacey

Attention to detail in Fin Collison’s hot chocolate fondant with Chantilly cream

Sally, who is in charge of catering at the Standerwick Centre, said: “There’s no doubt that cookery programmes on television inspire our young cooks. People do eat with their eyes but the taste is absolutely crucial.”

The winner was Katie Lacey, 15, with her menu of pan fried salmon, braised cabbage with onion and bacon strips, followed by pear and blackberry crumble with vanilla cream. Katie was a finalist last year and said she was inspired by the book she won by chef Gordon Ramsay. Katie said: “The hardest part was not burning the crumble.”

The contestants with judges Sally Gregory and Jamie Barnett, Rotary Club of Frome president Patrick Cusgrove, tutor Sarah Petroff and college principal Gavin Ball PAGE 16 • MENDIP TIMES • JANUARY 2016

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Food traders have plenty to shout about – but don’t!

Sylvie (left) with Rob and Yamisse at Wells market

TWO French business students were certainly impressed with the quality and range of food on offer during a recent visit to the farmers’ market in Wells. But one thing struck them above all else – unlike their French counterparts, the stallholders didn’t shout out about their produce at all.

Yamisse Creff said: “At home, the fish seller and all the other sellers would call out about what they had to sell and why it was so good, but they do not do that here. It is very quiet.”

Yamisse and Sylvie Barboux were part of a group of 16 students, aged 18-20, from the French education institute AGEFA PME, which is based in Paris and provides higherlevel professional training to young people with a view to increasing their employability, especially in small and medium-sized companies.

The pair spent the day with Rob Sweetman, from the farmers’ market offshoot Somerset Food Direct, who was collecting food from producers ahead of the weekly home delivery service. Other students spent time with Heck’s Cider and Clark’s in Street, Glastonbury and Street tourist information centres and Glastonbury Abbey.

“PME” is the French equivalent of “SMEs” and the students were hosted by Strode College. There are hopes that the visit will lead to a reciprocal opportunity in France for Strode business students.

FOOD & DRINK

Puxton’s medal winners

PUXTON’S butchers are celebrating after being awarded four medals at the annual South West Winter Fair, the major Christmas prime stock show for the West Country at which the South West Sausage Championships are held.

They entered three speciality Head Sausage maker Phill Windridge sausages and one pork variety - pork with marmite, pork with marmalade, pork with bacon and black pudding, along with the plain pork variety, which were all awarded silver medals.

Puxton head sausage maker, Phill Windridge, said: “I am delighted that we were awarded four silver medals in the competition as the level of entries was exceptionally high.”

Puxton’s farm assured meats are reared at their own family farm guaranteeing traceability with less than 10 food miles.

J A N U A R Y D AT E S W e l l s E a c h We d 9 a m – 2 . 3 0 p m S t r e e t E v e ry T hu rs d a y, e x ce p t 24 th , 1 0 am – 2p m A l l o t h e r m a r k e t s 9 am - 1p m u n l e s s o t h e r w i s e m a r k e d *

SAT 9th

Frome Cheese & Grain and Keynsham SAT 16th Crewkerne SAT 23rd Glastonbury & Yeovil (9am-2pm)* FRI 29th Burnham-on-Sea There will be no markets in January for Axbridge, Midsomer Norton or Frome Independent LATE NEWS – There will be no market in Wells on Wednesday 30th December

MENDIP TIMES • JANUARY 2016 • PAGE 17

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Market boost for Shepton

THERE’S going to be free parking in Shepton Mallet on Fridays – market day – in the hope that it will encourage people to visit the market and local shops.

The one-year trial follows a petition to Mendip District Council from traders and local residents. The trial began on December 11th, in the hope that it will boost trade in the run-up to Christmas.

Free parking is available in Great Ostry car park. Cllr Tom Killen, the council’s deputy leader, said: “Cabinet was in full support of this trial and I hope that it brings even more people in to Shepton Mallet to visit the weekly market and the variety of shops in the High Street and surrounding area.”

A chance to meet Marco

RENOWNED chef Marco Pierre White will be visiting his Congresbury restaurant early in the New Year. Places are now available to book for either lunch or dinner at an exclusive book signing at his steakhouse bar and grill at Cadbury House on Monday December 11th.

Guests will have the chance to meet the chef, enjoy a specially designed lunch or dinner menu, and receive a personalised copy of one of his best-selling cook books. He will also take a look around the grounds which now feature a luxury poultry pen, dovecotes, guinea fowl and Indian runner ducks that guests can enjoy visiting.

PAGE 18 • MENDIP TIMES • JANUARY 2016

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GARDEN FOOD

Air-dried hams

REGULAR readers may remember that this time last year I wrote an article about faggots, freshly made from the offal of the first pair of pigs I had ever kept. Well, it's a year on, and those same pigs are still keeping me well fed.

From what started as 111kg of meat With JAKE (plus blood, which made around 8kg of WHITSON black pudding), not only is there bountiful quantities of lard left – which I use for everything from pastry to roast potatoes – but there are still a handful of roasts left in the freezer, a few bags of mince, and the air dried hams.

From my two pigs there were four hams – 'ham' referring not only to cured pieces of pork but also the back legs of pigs, which are the preferred pieces for making ham. One of these back legs I cut into pieces to make leg roasts.

Another went into a Wiltshire cure – one of the distinctly British cures involving dark beer and molasses.

The other two I made into air dried hams – the same method used to create the famous Parma and Serrano hams of Italy and Spain. The legs were first buried in salt in wooden boxes and pressed by placing a wooden board and bricks on top. After a month they were ready to come out of the salt and hung up somewhere breezy to dry.

I found after a month or so that the birds had been pecking at the fat of these hams, much like a lard ball! But I simply trimmed off the pecked pieces of fat, cleaned with vinegar and then carried on hanging them inside muslin sacks, to keep the birds off.

Hams which are made like this can be cooked and eaten at any time, but to be eaten raw – like Parma ham – they need to be dried for at least six months, preferably longer.

I waited until December, around 11 months, until I cut into the first ham, pictured here, and I have to say it is simply wonderful.

The depth of flavour you get from drying and ageing ham this way is amazing, like a good soy sauce or ripe cheese – a pure porky flavour, but developed and concentrated. It is wonderful raw on its own, or in a salad with figs, or sliced and fried like bacon. Happy New Year!

Jacob is a former chef turned food writer, smallholder and mycologist. He divides his time between the Mendips and his nine-acre forest garden project in Pembrokeshire, and runs the business jakeswildfungi.co.uk, making specialist mycorrhiza products for tree planting.

FOOD & DRINK

WILD FOOD

New Year cheer!

ONCE Christmas is done and dusted and you’ve just about recovered from the excesses of New Year’s Eve, the cold wet reality of a miserable grey January is all too real.

So what to do? Well let me give you some New Year cheer with some exciting With ADRIAN boozy suggestions (if you haven’t had BOOTS enough already) with a forager’s twist.

Actually, it’s also the freezer/larder/store cupboard and Christmas leftovers twist but you’ll just have to forgive me this time.

You know those half consumed bottles of spirits and dried fruit that are still lying around after the Christmas period? Well I have some superb suggestions on how to use these up and create presents for next year too. Two birds with one stone – what a good shot. Oh yes see what I did there, spirits, shots...!

They are all incredibly easy to make and follow the same basic process; don’t worry too much about the quantities just guess/experiment with it. What I would suggest is that sometimes less is more. So here are my top secret, carefully tested but most importantly fun creations to spice up the long winter evenings ahead: G Madeira Rum and Raisin: Add a good glug of Madeira and two handfuls of raisins to 2/3 bottle of rum followed by a few table spoons of cane sugar. Give it a few shakes until all the sugar disappears. Leave it for as long as you can (at least three months) then decant the liquor. Keep the fruit and eat with ice cream for a punchy dessert.

G Blackberry and Mint Vodka: Frozen blackberries (from my hedge) and mint (from my garden). Add ingredients to ¾ bottle of vodka, some sugar, give it a shake, leave, decant, eat the fruit.

G Black Coffee, Cardamom and Honey Whisky (no not the single malt, use the blends on this one): 1 shot espresso coffee, 4 cardamom pods, 4 spoons of honey. No sugar needed. Bottle, mix etc.

G Spiced Prune Gin: Approx 12 large prunes quartered, and 2 teaspoons of mixed spice in 2/3 bottle of gin. Try without sugar. Ditto above.

G Fig and Date Sherry: You know what to do!

These fruity tipples make excellent aperitifs or digestives somewhat dictated by when you remember to get them out of the cupboard. Most importantly they make thrifty use of your Christmas leftovers be they from the hedge, garden or further afield. I’m just not sure if leftover ‘Roast Turkey Curry’ flavoured gin would be a popular choice?

Have a happy and prosperous New Year everyone!

Adrian Boots is a Landscape Ecologist, Wild Food Forager and Adventure Activity provider. You can visit his website: www.gowildactivities.co.uk to learn more about wild food foraging and activities you can do with him on the Mendip Hills.

MENDIP TIMES • JANUARY 2016 • PAGE 19

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Bini’s guide to the spice of life

BINI Ludlow, owner and teacher at Sweet Cumin, has had another successful year.

She won Champion for Best Local Food to Go in the South West for her curries at the Taste of the West Awards in September.

As you can imagine, Bini was ‘over the moon’ and is continuing her quest to share her food to curry lovers across the South West and beyond. She has also appeared on Alex Polizzi’s BBC Series Chefs on Trial and the Harvest 2015 programme extolling the virtues of matching Indian cuisine and flavours with various West Country ciders.

Bini is passionate about the health benefits of using spices in cooking and in the right combinations and here is a quick guide to some of those familiar names.

Turmeric contains curcumin, an active ingredient which has great antiinflammatory and anti-oxidant properties, which help efficient digestion of food.

Cumin similarly is said to help to reduce bloating, indigestion, flatulence, nausea or an upset stomach. Eaten whole or ground, it has a strong, bitter flavour,

so use sparingly! Try black cumin seed oil, or sprinkle some seeds in a yoghurt drink.

Fennel seeds are used both as a breath freshener and a digestive – Indian restaurants often have sugar-coated seeds near the counter where you pay the bill.

Many commercially available herbal teas contain fennel, which give them a distinctive flavour of liquorice.

Coriander has a fresh lemon or citrus aroma and flavour. The seeds contain a naturally occurring oil called linalool and geranyl acetate, both of which have been implicated in treating a host of gastrointestinal problems.

Ginger is part of the zingiberaceae family, alongside cardamom and turmeric. The root, or underground stem (rhizome), can be eaten fresh, powdered, dried, as an oil or a juice. It is said to be beneficial for the gut, helping to ease an upset stomach, prevent diarrhoea and effectively tackles nausea.

Chilli Powder is often mistakenly believed to cause digestive upset because of its intense spicy flavour but cayenne

Sweet Cumin

pepper is actually a digestive soother.

So, if your resolution is to kick-start the New Year with inspirational recipes and new skills and you want to combine a fun cooking experience with learning about the benefits of using spices, sign up for one of Bini’s half or full-day cooking classes. And if you think family or friends would benefit from attending, gift vouchers are available to the value of your choice.

Indian Cookery School Gi Vouchers

available to the value of your choice O Courses to suit all ages and abili es O Enjoy learning in a small class size O Take home the food you cook, a goody pack with recipe and spices

O Discover the secrets of blending and using spices with confidence

O Bini conducts public talks, demonstra ons and private catering

PAGE 20 • MENDIP TIMES • JANUARY 2016

O Half day courses £85.00 and Full day courses £165.00 per person.

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Kitty Banks

FOOD & DRINK

DELI - CAFE - GIFTS

WE ARE NOW 4* RATED ####

NEW YEAR’S EVE PARTY

Open seven days a week Freshly made salads and lunches daily Homemade cakes First floor gifts, fine cheeses, Hampers made to order for that personalised gift

Kitty Banks

Abba Mania fancy dress (bottle of champagne for best outfit) Live music with Kayleigh Fireworks at midnight A la carte menu available Enjoy a good knees-up!

Visit The Natterjack Inn website to inspire you to pay a visit

15 Market Place, Wells BA5 2RF

Tel: 01749 670220

The newly refurbished Wheatsheaf opens on January 2nd

natterjack

Traditional pub food including all the classics and fantastic drinks

MENDIP TIMES • JAUARY 2016 • PAGE 21

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Cycling in India

ARE you fed up with the weather in the UK? How about an overseas trip to Nepal, India or Sri Lanka? Nep-In-Sri Travel offer trips for individuals, groups of friends and families with dates of travel to suit you.

They also have a cycling trip departing from Delhi on the July 9th to 26th – North India on Two Wheels – Manali to Leh – and a 19-day itinerary from November 19th next year Culture and Wildlife in Sri Lanka.

Guests recently returned from The Colourful South trip to India saying: “Fantastic, brilliant, amazing and wished we stayed longer!”

Tigress and 4-month-old cub – Ranthambore National Park – June 2014

Calling all photography, wildlife, bird-watching, walking, cycling, golfing, honeymoon and travel enthusiasts.

Are you looking for a “ONCE-IN-A-LIFETIME” holiday to Nepal, India, Sri Lanka, Tibet and Bhutan?

ALL ITINERARIES ARE TAILOR-MADE AND PRICED to suit your own personal requirements.

Please look at: www.nepinsri-travel.co.uk Call us on: 07909 411 450 • email: info@nepinsri-travel.co.uk

PAGE 22 • MENDIP TIMES • JANUARY 2016

The world – from Wells

MILES Morgan Travel say that January is a great month to book your holiday as there are some savings available – which is always welcome after the festive period! Being an independent travel agent means that they can offer Miles with Judith Chalmers you the widest choice of holidays including a fabulous range of cruises with complimentary return transport to the port from our area.

Their India specialist will soon be launching a new, exclusive and fully escorted tour which will include transport from Wells. They also offer an extensive range of worldwide tours with a VIP home departure service and they are a main agent for holidays from our local airports including Bristol, Cardiff and Exeter.

If you haven’t received a copy of their new edition of Travel Talk, their latest holiday magazine packed full of inspiring holiday ideas, then do contact them as there are many exclusive offers that are only available at Miles Morgan Travel.

You will notice that they feature Judith Chalmers on their advert this month. Judith has been working closely with them on their TV campaign on ITV1 which will be shown throughout January and February.

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TRAVEL

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Church House – perfect for gifts at any time of the year RENOWNED for its superb collection by leading British designers and craftsmen, this festive season Church House designs will be offering, as always, a dazzling range of top quality gifts and presents.

Whether you are looking for a unique piece of jewellery, a

WANTED – VINTAGE FISHING TACKLE

HARDY, ALLCOCKS ETC. Also BRASS & WOOD REELS EARLY LURES & BAITS, RODS ANGLING BOOKS TAXIDERMY CASED & MOUNTED FISH

01934 625810

hand-printed or hand-woven scarf, and original painting, sculpture, art print or photograph, Church House Designs is confident there will be something to appeal to your taste.

Now in their 29th year, they represent the work of over 200 artist makers from across Britain and promote the highest quality studio ceramics, glass and woodware etc by some of the country’s leading creative talents.

You can expect a warm welcome from proprietor Lorraine Coles and informed advice to help you buy that very special gift. So avoid the big city hassle and make shopping a real pleasure in Congresbury – and easy parking too!

Normal Opening Times: Wednesday - Friday 10am – 5pm Saturday 10am - 2pm - Also by appointment Christmas Opening Times: Monday 21st to Wednesday 23rd December 10am – 5pm Thursday 24th 10am - 2pm www.churchhousedesigns.co.uk PAGE 24 • MENDIP TIMES • JANUARY 2016

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ARTS AND ANTIQUES

Tamlyns’ first 20th century design sale a huge success TAMLYNS’ first auction to contain a section dedicated to 20th century design, held in Bridgwater on November 24th, was a huge success. Their specialist, Chris Marks, had put together a good mix of lots including ceramics, studio pottery, homewares, lighting, works of art and furniture.

The sale attracted interest from all over the country and abroad with many people using the live bidding system to compete for the assorted items.

Who would have thought that a teak sideboard would sell for £900? Such is the strength of this market that this stylish, comparatively modern furniture is streets ahead of what the Victorian equivalent will sell for!

The sideboard in question was a Stag “S Range” designed by Sylvia and John Reid; bidding was fierce on this one with a London buyer eventually being successful. An Art Deco stacking, sectional bookcase and cocktail cabinet sold for £420; an early 20th century leather upholstered armchair £220; an Arkana tulip base dining table £110; a Heals 1950s teak double bedstead £280 and a Stag “S Range” teak drop flap table and four chairs £300. In the ceramics section a Lotus pottery bull by Elizabeth Skipworth sold for £110.

The more traditional side of the sale also fared well and an unusual green glaze plaque modelled with a coat of arms sold for £2,200; a ladies’ 18ct white gold solitaire diamond ring £500; a Tudor Rolex Gents wristwatch in need of some work £180; a

Meissen porcelain figure £1,200 and a watercolour by David Trees £180.

The book sections have grown considerably since Ed Bailey joined Tamlyns earlier this year. This sale had a good broad range of books on offer and a mixed lot containing an early, rather battered Bible sold for £500; ten Beatrix Potter books £250; a Breeches Bible £250 and a quantity of books relating to aircraft and shipping £250.

The next sale to include 20th century design will be on March 16th. This will be a two-day sale, with the second day devoted to children’s books.

G A near-life-size artist’s lay figure sold for a sale-topping £7,000 at Tamlyns’ auction on November 24th in Bridgwater. The wooden figure was known affectionately as “Mr Hogarth” by the family he had been with for the best part of 100 years.

Details: Contact Claire Rawle 01278 445251.

MENDIP TIMES • JANUARY 2016 • PAGE 25

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Clevedon Salerooms’ review of 2015 THE year started much as the previous year ended with Chinese bidders demonstrating that for the right items they were prepared to bid and bid again in order to secure the most desirable lots.

A fine 18th century Chinese blue and white decorated porcelain vase of Gu form was handed in to a St Peters Hospice charity shop in Bristol and sold at Clevedon Salerooms, commission free, for £7,000.

In the same sale realising £11,000 were two amber necklaces boasting larger than average beads that again had Chinese bidders in knots as they would not stop bidding.

A different Chinese vase, polychrome decorated and depicting stylised bats in iron red, this time purchased for £5 at a car boot sale in the Chew Valley, cost a Spanish internet buyer £6,600 to take ownership of it.

The summer sun marked the arrival of two Beryl Cook original oil on panels consigned to Clevedon Salerooms from an art collector based in the Cayman Islands who, having done his research, gleaned that Clevedon Salerooms reputation for selling original works by the artist is second to none.

The two pictures were hand-delivered to Heathrow airport where the salerooms’ Toby Pinn was waiting to take delivery and bring them back to their temporary new home. Bidders favoured the picture titled ‘On the sun deck’ with the new

From £5 to £6,600 – Chew Valley car boot sale find

PAGE 26 • MENDIP TIMES • JANUARY 2016

owner, based in Spain, parting with £32,000 for the work. ‘Tenerife nights’ found a UK based buyer at £24,000.

A rare Bristol Delft plate depicting Neptune surrounded by fish measuring 25cm diameter was keenly contested and was looking as if it might be acquired for the future enjoyment of all Bristolians, but private collectors often have deeper pockets than institutions and thus was the case with the £6,800 required for this fishy plate, complete with its chips around the border.

At another car boot sale, this time in Cheddar, a lady invested £8 into this charming Regency work box (pictured) formed as a cottage, in remarkably untouched condition.

The property market remains buoyant as this compact The one that got away and bijou 18th Century Bristol Delft detached plate weighs in at £6,800 home requiring no renovation demonstrated, and found a new owner at £3,550.

From a modest property in Westonsuper-Mare visited during a valuation of personal property for inheritance tax purposes came the rare Majolica game dish decorated with foxes, rabbits and having a frog on the cover. Lacking its inner liner, bidders were not deterred and a US based collector had all the other bidders in a stew, parting with £17,350 for the 41cm wide dish.

The market for gentleman’s vintage watches remains, with Chinese works of art, the most buoyant sector of the market with examples by Rolex, Breitling and Omega to name but a few. The frequent jewellery, watch and silver valuation days held at the salerooms have seen many clients realising that jewellery, watches and silver sat in a safe or at the bank can be converted into something far more enjoyable.

Boasting a less refined mechanical www.clevedon-salerooms.com

Booming property market From £8 to £3,550 in a matter of months

movement than perhaps a Rolex, a rare Symphonion disc playing music box depicting a terracotta model of Falstaff sat astride an oak barrel concealing the clockwork mechanism, standing 113cm high was a truly rare item with one collector revealing that in 50 years he had never seen another. At £10,900 the result was music to the vendor’s ears.

Clevedon Salerooms hold three free valuation days each fortnight where they are only too happy to share their expertise and give advice to anyone who may have items that they may be thinking of selling.

Many Bristol and North Somerset solicitors and executors insist on Clevedon Salerooms to value the personal property, including jewellery, of their clients to ensure that windfalls, like some of those mentioned above, find their way to the original owner, rather than the early bird at the car boot sale. A free valuation day makes far more sense than an expensive mistake day!

Going for a song? – Circa 1900 Symphonion disc playing musical box – £10,900

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ARTS AND ANTIQUES

Fine Art Auctioneers & Valuers Highlights of

2015 2016 Auction Calendar now available

Beryl Cook – Oil

Sold for £24,000

Beryl Cook – Oil

Sold for £32,000

Damien Hirst – Oil

Sold for £8,900

Tatham Bench

Sold for £4,900

Majolica Game Dish Two Amber Necklaces

Sold for £17,350

Sold for £11,000

Barraud of London

Rolex 18ct gold Oyster Perpetual

Bristol Delft Plate

Sold for £12,400

Sold for £6,200

Sold for £6,800

Tel: 01934 830111 or 0117 325 6789 The Auction Centre, Kenn Road, Kenn, Clevedon, Bristol BS21 6TT

www.clevedon-salerooms.com MENDIP TIMES • JANUARY 2016 • PAGE 27

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ART & ANTIQUES

Sparkling prices achieved at Mendip Auction Rooms THE two-day sale held by Killens at the Mendip Auction Rooms on December 11th and 12th generated a huge amount of interest from buyers with a record number of registered internet bidders and a good attendance in the auction room.

On the Saturday, the Quarterly Specialist Sale of Antiques and Collectables saw many buyers seeking to buy last-minute Christmas presents with jewellery selling with aplomb. A sapphire and diamond ring discovered

PAGE 28 • MENDIP TIMES • JANUARY 2016

amongst items entered on behalf of a deceased estate attracted strong bidding eventually selling for £5,100.

Other rings sold in excess of £1,000 and a delightful sapphire and diamond fringe necklace, sparkling with 38 diamonds, achieved £2,000.

There were a few interesting examples of taxidermy and a cased display of squirrels also met with fierce bidding selling for £4,200, well above the estimate of £1,000 – £1,500. A further cased display of peacock pheasants achieved £1,700.

There was a good entry of paintings and pictures and these were greeted with enthusiasm with a collection of vibrant paintings by the Cornish artist, Margo Maekelberghe, selling to advantage.

The team at the auction rooms are looking forward to 2016 which promises to be an exciting year with works under way to relocate the Auction Rooms into even larger and better facilities at Rookery Farm.

With the auction rooms attracting strong interest from across the world, do

call in and seek advice from the valuers Nicky Houston and Gareth Wasp on how to sell items. In addition to monthly sales of antiques, sales are also held of more modern effects including household items.

Entries are being sought for future sales and the valuers conduct valuation days every Wednesday, Thursday and Friday or will undertake a free home visit.

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MIDSOMER NORTON

CHRISTMAS EVENTS A young fan with Millie Heal as Princess Belle

Year 10 business students from Somervale School are taking part in the Dragon’s Den-style Big Pitch competition, which will culminate in a finals night in January. The competition has been organised by The Rotary Club of Somer Valley

NOT even a gas leak in the town centre could prevent people in Midsomer Norton from enjoying the Christmas lights celebrations.

Organised by Churches Together and the Somer Valley Chamber, the evening featured live music and community stalls.

Carol singing on the Hollies lawn

Welton Primary School with Father Christmas

NAILSEA

THE annual Salvation Army Carol Concert, sponsored by the Rotary Club of Nailsea and Backwell, took place at Nailsea Methodist Church and has now been a feature of Nailsea Christmases for some 20 years and remains extremely popular with residents.

It raised £636.84 for Child Assist, an initiative created by the local Rotarians to help and support disadvantaged youngsters in their local area.

Salvation Army captain Michael Dean presents the cheque to Chris Broughton, Rotary Senior Vice President and Rotarian Graham Hunt representing Child Assist.

MENDIP TIMES • JANUARY 2016 • PAGE 29

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MENDIP TIMES

St Benedict’s Catholic Primary School Charlton Road, Midsomer Norton BA3 4BD ‘Growing Together Through Christ’

Where every day is an OPEN DAY

Please call 01761 418594 to make an appointment We are a smaller than average school and pride ourselves on our caring approach and our ability to meet every child’s needs, helping them develop and ensure they reach their full potential, whilst growing in the love of Christ. We welcome children of all faiths. We also offer wrap-around care as well as an independent on-site Nursery Come and see for yourselves what the St Benedict’s experience can do for your child.

An exclusive Children’s Day Nursery delivering exceptional care & education in an award winning environment Babyroom

Nursery

Preschool

Forest School

Ofsted 2015 - Staff support children's emotional well-being extremely well and have a very good knowledge of their individual needs, positively supporting children's learning with effective modelling and questioning

Funding now available for 2-3-4 year olds

Wells Road Latcham Wedmore BS28 4SA

01934 713527

www.littleowlschildcare.com

Award winning Children’s Day Nursery

Next Steps Childcare Centre

Baby room - Nursery - Pre-school - Forest School

Highly qualified team.

Excellent secure rural location.

Funding now available for 2-3-4 year olds Gardening, Yoga, Music & Dance, Cookery

01749 346808

www.nextstepschildcare.com

The Royal Bath & West Showground Shepton Mallet BA4 6QL 2015 Ofsted inspection rated our "Contribution of the Early Years Provision to the well-being of the children" as Outstanding

College offers hundreds of courses

CONSIDERING a New Year’s resolution to learn a new skill or do something different in 2016? Well, City of Bristol College could provide you with the answer.

Based at four centres around the city, including the South Bristol Skills Academy at Hengrove and the central College Green campus, the college has hundreds of courses for adults starting in January.

If you’re looking to progress your career, learn a new skill or a new language, or even start a new hobby, there may just be the course for you.

Professional evening courses at College Green include Accounting, Bookkeeping and Counselling, or the more creative Designing for Interiors, while at SBSA, you can enrol on Fitness and Training courses, Teacher Training, and even Barbering.

A variety of languages are taught at College Green, including Japanese, German, Italian and Spanish, and there’s also opportunity to take up a new hobby.

At SBSA, you can get a great grounding in gardening by taking a Royal Horticultural Society Level 1 Award in Practical Horticulture. Developing basic horticultural skills, the course consists of preparing soil for sowing and planting, the propagation of plants from seed, the vegetative propagation of plants and planting and establishing plants.

If gardening’s not your thing, then there’s always Cooking from Scratch, Digital Photography or Make-up.

Offering more detailed information, an open event is being held at the College Green centre in St George’s Road, Bristol, on Tuesday, January 12th (5pm-7.30pm).

Details: enquiries@cityofbristol.ac.uk log on to www.cityofbristol.ac.uk or if you would like to speak to someone, contact 0117 312 5915 once the College resumes from the Christmas break on Monday, January 4th.

Christmas gifts

CHILTON Cantelo’s prep children are pictured handing over their boxes of small gifts to the annual Christmas Boxes Collection organised by Operation Christmas Child, Samaritans Purse.

PAGE 30 • MENDIP TIMES • JANUARY 2016

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Hazlegrove has something to sing about

HAZLEGROVE Pre-Prep’s new Squirrels Sing and Dance group has got off to a great start. Led by their ballet teacher, Amy Bell, these very young children are enjoying singing, dancing, story time and a snack with their friends.

It complements the already popular Squirrels Parent and Toddler sessions and provides these children with a gentle introduction to life at Hazlegrove whether they are considering joining the nursery or the reception class.

Staff throughout Hazlegrove are thrilled with their recent Integrated ISI Inspection Report which found the school to be excellent in all nine areas of judgement. The findings for the Pre-Prep are embedded throughout the whole school report but comments which are particularly pleasing to note are: • “Teaching in the EYFS is excellent and staff thoroughly engage children in all activities. Adults have very high expectations, skilfully motivate children to learn and encourage them to explore.”

• “The children’s personal development in the EYFS is excellent. Adults know all children extremely well and provide excellent support for each child.”

• “All children, including those with SEND, as well as the

EDUCATION

more able, achieve well and make excellent progress in relation to their starting points, reaching well above the developmental levels expected for their age.”

Places are still available in the reception class (for children starting full-time school in September) as well as in the nursery. Older children are also welcome to join them if they have space – be warned however, a number of year groups further up the school are full!

Details: Meet them at one of their open mornings where you will see the school on a normal working day or if you prefer, call Sarah-Jane 01963 442606 to arrange an appointment.

MENDIP TIMES • JANUARY 2016 • PAGE 31

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MENDIP TIMES

A CEREMONY in Blagdon school assembly in December marked the closing of Blagdon School Time Capsule, which has now been placed in the school attic. A pottery plaque has been placed outside the school office, saying that the capsule is to be opened in 2040.

In the ceremony, organiser Elspeth Penny, along with headmaster, Andrew Reece-Jones (pictured), filled the box with goodies: letters from all the children in the school to themselves, to their children and in a few cases from children to their country as if they were prime minister.

There were also letters written by scouts, guides, brownies and other scouting groups about life in the Mendips, written in inks made out of red and brown local soil and Mendip berries, using feathers, sticks and felt pens. The Discovering Blackdown project funded some of the letter-writing workshops as well as a set of poems about caves, after a caving trip down Goatchurch Cavern.

The time capsule was organised by Blagdon writer and workshop leader Elspeth Penny, who has a letter-writing project. Elspeth said: “The letters are hand-written or drawn and I made sure the children didn’t feel bound by rules or formality and could be as expressive as possible.

“They are full of integrity, and many

Details: www.scent.buzz PAGE 32 • MENDIP TIMES • JANUARY 2016

Photos courtesy of Gabriel Gilson and Elspeth Penny

Looking to the future

are very funny. The children have thought about what they’d like to be or have in their lives in the future. I really hope to be there when it’s opened.

“The box was donated by Blagdon dad Kym Russell. I put as many other things into the capsule that I could think of, such as local papers and magazines, including a Mendip Times, national papers, local mementos such as a calendar from Blagdon mosaic project and a catalogue of local artist Martin Bentham’s Mendip paintings.”

One of Blagdon’s teachers said: “The freedom to record their ideas on a blank piece of paper was refreshing! They chose to either write, draw and/or colour.

What a worthwhile, interesting and enjoyable activity!”

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EDUCATION

School shares story of its success in new book SISTERS, Charlotte Lucas and Jayne Morris, founded Free Rangers Forest School Nursery on the family farm four years ago.

From growing up on Welton Manor Farm at Midsomer Norton they knew that the immediate countryside has much to offer eager learners.

Their school, which has 72 pupils and a waiting list, has received an Outstanding Ofsted report, a Nursery World runners-up award and a Royal Forestry Society award.

Now the sisters have decided to share their ethos in the form of Free Rangers' first book; a creative collaboration

between Free Rangers' staff and illustrator Kate Daubney. The story sees the nursery logo’s characters come to life.

The sisters’ grandfather, George Knowles, used to farm the land, before their father, Lawrence. The sisters say: “We know from personal experience the farm and the immediate countryside has so much to offer eager learners.

“Since opening our doors it’s evident all our families want the same for their children; an inspiring and engaging place to learn and we are confident that Free Rangers provides this.

Now, milking cows and acres of crops has evolved into giggling children and muddy knees.”

Free Rangers, a 72-place Early Years childcare setting with a readers and encourage adults to spot pheasants, otters and love of nature at its heart has embarked upon a new venture even dragon flies, sharing their knowledge with future that hopes to spread their ethos far and wide. generations. All the animals included are native to our "I See, You See" is Free Rangers' first foray into producing local, wonderful countryside and we hope "I See, You See" children's picture books. forms part of children's hedgerow education, alongside e story sees the nursery logo's characters come to life activities like blackberry picking! and focusses on the wildlife and hustle and bustle that So what are you waiting for? Snuggle up, read "I See, You Hedgehog spots within his immediate surroundings.

See" and then wrap up warm to venture outside for your roughout the book, full colour spreads surprise young own adventure.

Copies are available for purchase through our online shop at: www.freerangers.org.uk Welton Free Rangers, e Mill Barn, Millards Hill, Midsomer Norton BA3 2BW 01761 411328 MENDIP TIMES • JANUARY 2016 • PAGE 33

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MENDIP TIMES

EDUCATION

A superb launch pad, discovering the exclusive talent in every child

ALL Hallows offers an inspirational education that will set your child on an exciting path to fulfilling their potential and understanding their place in the world.

As well as encouraging academic excellence, the school recognises and celebrates the exclusive talent in every child, whatever that might be. This helps guide them on their own unique journey, from the tender age of three to the start of their teenage years at 13.

The staff are incredibly proud of the fact that 60% of children in Year 8 receive scholarships and awards to renowned senior schools, covering all areas of school life. This is particularly impressive for a school

that is non-selective on entry.

Since 1938, All Hallows has cultivated a strong reputation for excellence, innovation and creativity.

The ‘old school’ charm, that is palpable within the school, has long sat beside a culture of looking to the

future, and you can be sure your child will enjoy the very latest in technology, teaching practices and facilities.

Book your personal visit or pop in during the next open morning on Saturday January 30th from 9.30am.

Details: admissions@allhallowsschool.co.uk 01749 881600

PAGE 34 • MENDIP TIMES • JANUARY 2016

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NEWS

Hundreds bid farewell to Harvey

THE funeral of Harvey Hext, aged nine, was attended by so many people it needed a park-and-ride scheme from a nearby business park to cope and the offer of parking spaces on the drives of many local residents.

St. Mary’s Church in Winford was packed and there was a marquee outside to cope with the overflow. On loudspeakers they heard how Harvey’s life had given his community “fun, creativity, focus and much more”.

Harvey was thought to be the only child in the world to suffer from Downs Syndrome and the aggressive childhood cancer Neuroblastoma. His fight against it and a campaign to fund treatment in America galvanised the village and the whole area.

On the day of his funeral, red was the theme – his favourite colour – red ribbons adorned the roadsides for miles around, the congregation wore red and there was a big red sports car outside the church.

The path to the church was lined with scarecrows, a reminder of the fundraising scarecrow trail held in Harvey’s name over the last few years. The plight of the little boy touched the hearts of many, with dozens of events helping to raise funds in the hope that his condition could be treated.

It was not to be. The message from his parents said: “Yesterday our beautiful boy fell asleep in Mummy and Daddy's arms. Harvey developed an aggressive secondary cancer that couldn't be stopped, he fought so hard but it was just too much for his precious little body. No more pain for our little hero. He will be missed so very, very much X.”

Harvey (right) with his twin brother Spencer, sister Olivia and parents David and Sarah

Crowds outside the church

Mini-scarecrows lined the church path

Harvey loved sports cars and the colour red

Details: Donations to Ups and Downs, the Down Syndrome support group www.upsanddowns.net MENDIP TIMES • JANUARY 2016 • PAGE 35

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INTERNET

Continuing our cooking theme – perhaps a few New Year’s resolutions would be in order?

A SIMPLE search for “post Christmas diet” turns up a lot of options, but like many areas of the internet, there is good, bad and downright silly advice, so using a reliable source is advisable.

The NHS is always a good place for any health info, so go to www.nhs.uk and click (or tap) on Live Well for lots of good advice (including hangover cures!)

There’s a tip on coping with seasonal affective disorder (SAD).

And Home Workouts for ten-minute exercises to kick start the year.

There’s a height and weight chart on http://www.nhs.uk/livewell/loseweight/pages/height-weightchart.aspx There is also an email support for losing weight, which sounds like a very useful thing to use.

There’s a plan to follow http://www.nhs.uk/Livewell/weightloss-guide/Pages/losing-weight-getting-started.aspx You could try the Change For Life site too http://www.nhs.uk/change4life

If you have a smartphone there’s lots of tools to help too – go to your phone’s App Store and search for what you want, such as drinks tracker, calorie tracker, pedometer etc.

The NHS has the same too – lots of app downloads, but try your App Store first – quick and easy way to find the right thing for your device. Best to go through the app store if you can.

Or maybe you just want a change of pace – perhaps a new hobby? https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_hobbies Submitted by IT for the Terrified : The Old Cowshed, Station Road, Cheddar BS27 3AG 01934 741751 • www.itfortheterrified.co.uk itfortheterrified@btconnect.com This article is for guidance only, and the opinion of the writer. For more in depth information, please contact us.

We offer individual training, at a pace to suit you; a session lasts two hours and costs £10. We can cover a range of subjects – including absolute basics; photo management; shopping online; emailing; Word processing, spreadsheets; basic web design; etc. on a range of devices, including Windows Vista/W7/W8/W10: Macs: Tablets: iPads: smartphones. We also run a Computer Drop in session 1.303.30 Thursday afternoons. Call in for a quick word of advice/help/info.

We reopen from our Christmas break on 4th January 2016.

Or if you can spare two hours a week have skills on any level that you would like to share with others, please get in touch.

PAGE 36 • MENDIP TIMES • JANUARY 2016

CROSSWORD

The Mendip Mindbender

ACROSS 1 Romans were upset looking across the Bristol channel (6,5,4) 9 Have a go at it in musical terms (7) 10 Removing with gusto in turmoil (7) 11 Listening for justice? (7) 12 Primordial firework display? (3,4) 13 Put her tea in the microwave ? (6) 14 Stalk after energy and include energy – for what it's worth (6) 15 Home town of aged thespian? (6) 18 Scot takes bath in France and writes crime novels (6) 23 Dutch shoe in Europe briefly with point for rustic poem (7) 24 Wishful thinker rearmed by mistake (7) 25 Confused Meg included by relative to make up the numbers (7) 26 Duped but given shelter (5,2) 27 Unartistic sound of Shakespeare play (5,10)

DOWN 1 Orchestrate a few predictions for the outlook (7,8) 2 Chaps in a mess having sailor's favourite food (7) 3 Not one vehicle in a position to make an instrument (7) 4 Swampy's home town?

(6) 5 Could hope be considered a companion of Saturn?

(6) 6 Puts his name to it again and gives up (7) 7 Give living creature a name it deserves (7) 8 Battle sounds before the wedding (10,5) 16 Take pleasure in gift from Ankara (7) 17 Lager is swilled down in north Africa (7) 19 Debtors' reference to the post before flying off (52) 20 Alma can look it up in the annual (7) 21 Comedian's home town?

(6) 22 When corrected I tore into his office (6)

Compiled by Richard Thorn

Answers on page 97

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MENDIP TIMES

Calendar boys

“Tash” for cash

Sam Moody with Kevin English at Tincknell’s in Wells

IT wasn’t just men who sported moustaches for the nowtraditional Movember men’s health awareness campaign – Samantha Moody, from Tincknell’s Country Store in Wells, had a whole range to choose from!

With the help of a fancy dress kit, Sam joined colleagues who grew moustaches in support of the Movember Foundation.

Elsewhere, many of the team at the Minksy’s chain of barber shops grew their own ‘tashes for the month.

THE Go Commando charity, which supports Somerset’s Royal Marines and their families, has decided to “bring back the boys” for its annual calendar, which has raised over £250,000 since it was launched in 2011.

It broke with tradition last year by featuring retired and veteran Royal Marines and their life after service, but has gone back to featuring serving men “by popular demand”.

It costs £10 with all proceeds going to the charity.

Details: www.gocommando.org.uk

Chairman’s charity evening

THE chairman of Bath & North East Somerset Council, Councillor Ian Gilchrist, has announced details of his Charity Gala Evening on February 6th. The evening, themed An Evening of Beaus and Belles, will draw its inspiration from the different eras of the Georgian period and the famed entertainment held in Bath during an exciting period in the city’s history.

The event will raise money for the chairman’s charities – Bath Cancer Support Unit Group, Julian House and Quartet Community Foundation. Councillor Gilchrist said: “The entertainment will be provided by the students of Bath Spa University, who have delighted guests at previous gala evenings with their unique and talented approach to the entertaining of the guests.”

The ticket price of £45 includes a cocktail reception on arrival, a three-course dinner with coffee, entertainment, music, an auction and a raffle.

Details: Tickets are available from the chairman’s office in the Guildhall, High Street, Bath or contact 01225 394235 chairs_office@bathnes.gov.uk

PAGE 38 • MENDIP TIMES • JANUARY 2016

(l:r) Ben Hewlett, Clive Mullins, Joseph Adam and Tyler Cornish at Minksy’s in Wells

Christmas songs

MACMILLAN Cancer Support’s Christmas event at Maunsel House, near Bridgwater raised more than £12,000 for the charity. Ladies of the award-winning Bleadon Belles choir entertained stallholders and visitors with a recital of Christmas songs.

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Golfers aid charity

THE Teenage Cancer Trust has received a cheque for £13,524 from Mendip Spring Golf and Country Club’s captains’ charity, raised through various events by club captain Andy Burton and ladies’ captain Sue Hares.

In March 2014 the trust raised £2.5million to open the first specialist Teenage Cancer Trust unit in the South West, based in Bristol, for local young people from across the region with cancer.

Death of Glyn John

Charity walks

CHARITIES

THE Nailsea Charity Walks and Runs, organised and run by the Rotary Club of Nailsea and Backwell in June, raised some £20,000 for local causes.

The current Rotary President, Chris Perry, is pictured presenting a cheque for £2,000 to Nailsea Air Cadets and a second for £1,300 to Parkinsons UK, NW Somerset chair Maureen Mitchell.

Air Cadets Squadron Leader John Radford said: “This money is going towards the purchase of a flight simulator which will be a major step forward and of great benefit to our cadets.”

The 2016 event will take place on Sunday June 26th and offers the chance to walk or run over a choice of three courses, have a lot of fun and raise much-needed funds for your favourite local charity at the same time!

Details: search for Rotary Nailsea

Glyn John pictured at Cheddar Valley Music Club where he was presenting awards and also a new instrument with money from Cheddar's Tree of Light last year.

GLYN John, who died on November 3rd, was the man behind the Tree of Light, a project that has now been adopted by Lions Clubs across the country.

He set them up in Tavistock and the Swansea Valley before he and his wife Judith moved to Cheddar four years ago, when Cheddar Vale Lions Club adopted the idea.

Glyn, who was a Lion for 30 years, felt that Christmas was a particularly difficult time of year for those who had lost a loved one. He invited members of the public to sponsor a ‘light’ on a tree in memory of that loved one or a good cause and at the same time raise money for community projects.

The various trees have raised over £70,000 to date. Cheddar’s latest Tree of Light, at the Bath Arms, was lit a month after Glyn’s death.

Aid for Nepal

MORE than £850 was raised for disaster relief in Nepal following the earthquake there by popular local choir, Vox in Frox, at a concert in Chew Magna Baptist Church.

One of the organisers, Julie Kite, said: “It was in aid of two trusted charities Care Nepal and Help a Rural Nepal, who are helping all they can after the massive devastation caused by the earthquakes.”

MENDIP TIMES • JANUARY 2016 • PAGE 39

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MENDIP TIMES

It’s a fair cop at charity shop

Raffle for research

Charity CEO Dr Jenny Clifford (second right) joins in the fun at the Midsomer Norton shop

STAFF and volunteers at the P.E.O.P.L.E charity in Midsomer Norton stepped back in time to raise funds for the project which specialises in the resettlement of low-risk ex-offenders.

Team members were sponsored to spend part of a day locked in handcuffs and decided to add to the fun by dressing in Victorian outfits.

P.E.O.P.L.E – Providing Ex Offenders Positive Learning Environments – has shops in Midsomer Norton and Radstock.

It recently launched an outreach project called COAST in Paulton. Based at the Hub Library on alternate Thursdays, it offers advice on everything from employment to housing and debt.

For details, visit: www.peoplelimited.org

Carol service first

Members of the congregation chatting in the mince pie and mulled wine area

THE first carol service for Inner Wheel members from across Somerset, parts of Dorset and Wiltshire has been held in Shepton Mallet.

Inner Wheel District 20 executive members organised the charity event in the town’s SS Peter and Paul church with the help of local club members.

The event raised money for the Alzheimer’s Society, district chairman Carol Price’s chosen charity for her year in office, and included a performance by local bellringers Community Chimes.

PAGE 40 • MENDIP TIMES • JANUARY 2016

ORGANISERS of the popular Artisan Fair at Browne’s Garden Centre in Wells held a raffle in aid of the Motor Neurone Disease Association. They choose a different charity for each fair they hold. Pictured are (l:r) Jonathan Browne, Vanessa Lancaster, who runs the fair, and Will Browne.

Charity thrives on curry and chips

HAYNES Fish Restaurant at High Littleton has been serving customers since 1955 and for 25 years has been a loyal supporter of the RNLI. The collecting box they display has now raised £1,395 for the charity. Hannah, Rosie, Anthony Haynes and Emma are pictured with a certificate of appreciation.

G The Chew Valley branch of the RNLI raised a record £2,260 with its annual curry lunch attended by 120 people at Ubley parish hall. Its ever-popular quiz will make a return on Saturday March 5th with a hot supper included at £15.

Details: For more information on how to assist or take a collecting box call Adrian Dodd 01761 472357 or e-mail greenvale207@gmail.com

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A clutch of teddies Ros with a clutch of the teddies she continues to knit

A NEW member of Midsomer Norton and Radstock Inner Wheel has wasted no time in getting behind one of the group’s chosen charities.

Ros Bradbury has been busy knitting teddy bears which are included in “School in a Bag” rucksacks sent to disadvantaged children around the world. The rucksacks are the idea of the Piers Simon Appeal, now in its 10th year, which was set up by Luke Simon in memory of his elder brother Piers who lost his life in the Indian Ocean tsunami in 2005.

Each bag is packed with stationery, learning resources and catering utensils to help towards a child’s education and wellbeing – plus a teddy for some TLC.

CHARITIES

Car fans help charity group

(l:r) Mike House, Margaret House, Peter Grant (BCVC chair), Jenny Taylor (BPDG), Ronnie Bradley, Eileen Picton, and Terry Orchard (BCVC secretary) (photo courtesy of Mike Lang)

BRIDGWATER Classic and Vintage Club has presented a cheque for £100 to Burnham-on-Sea Parkinson’s Disease Support Group. The money was part of the proceeds from the club’s annual vehicle show at West Huntspill in the summer.

Charity auction

WRINGTON Vale Inner Wheel Club held a charity dinner and auction in aid of Frenchay After Burns Children’s Club (FAB), which raised about £2,000.

Lizzie Evans, who started FAB 15 years ago and works closely with the volunteers, gave a moving account of the society’s work. Toby Pinn from Clevedon Salerooms conducted the auction.

Transport service set to expand

MENDIP Community Transport, the not-for-profit company that provides transport for individuals and groups who cannot use conventional buses, has been successful in its bid for two 16-seater minibuses under the government’s Community Transport Minibus Fund.

The aim of this fund was to improve the provision of transport in rural areas. Hopefully the two new minibuses will be delivered in March next year.

Rather than replace existing vehicles in its 25-strong fleet, MCT intends to use these vehicles to augment its existing services. Over the last two months chief executive, Mike Curtis, and operations manager, Mike Forbes, have been talking to all parish and town councils in the Mendip and Sedgemoor areas to ascertain what transport services they really need.

Mike Curtis said: “We are conscious that the county council are being forced to make changes to public transport due to cuts in central government funding so we believe that this fact-finding exercise will help us put these new buses to good use by alleviating the problems caused by lack of transport in rural areas.”

Mike Forbes said: “The people of the villages and towns in the Mendip and Sedgemoor areas, through their local

councillors, have the chance to be involved in this new transport project at an early stage. We are looking for innovative ways of improving transport provision so we need people to look at the situation with a fresh pair of eyes.”

Jane Gregory-Hook chairman of MCT said: “If you believe there is a need for transport in your area please contact your local parish or town councillor and provide them with details.

Please also ask them whether they are involved with this new project.”

Details: Mike Curtis or Mike Forbes on 01749 880613 or visit www.mendipcommunitytransport.co.uk to see a new film outlining MCT’s current activities

MENDIP TIMES • JANUARY 2016 • PAGE 41

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MENDIP TIMES

Mendip Times reduces travel costs

100,000 potential customers within a short distance of your business

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PAGE 42 • MENDIP TIMES • JANUARY 2016

BUTCOMBE has a new managing director, Geraint Williams, who spent 11 years with Carlsberg as a national account manager covering the South West and South Wales.

Previously he was a business development manager for Safeway covering the South West.

Development is very much on the agenda for Channel Islands’-based Liberation Group, which took over Butcombe’s Wrington brewery and 19 pubs earlier this year.

It says it wants to acquire up to 75 pubs on the mainland – the first may be announced shortly.

Geraint, a father of four who coaches his younger son’s football team at home in South Wales, joins Stuart Howe, Butcombe’s new head brewer, who was previously with Sharp’s Brewery in Cornwall. They are looking to increase production and introduce new beers, alongside Butcombe’s main brands.

Geraint said: “We are producing 30,000 barrels and could do 50,000, with a growth strategy in wholesaling and new trading areas alongside our plans to grow the pub estate.

But the crucial thing is that we maintain the Butcombe identity.”

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Ispirato

YOUR venue is booked and the bride’s dress ordered, so now it’s time to ensure mum looks fabulous for her daughter or son’s wedding.

Getting the look just right is down to expert guidance. Fortunately you don’t have to look far to find one of the country’s leading specialists in outfits for mother of the bride or groom.

Compton House of Fashion in Wedmore offers a personal service second to none.

After 25 years in business, the independent shop’s dedicated team are known for their caring approach and helpful advice for customers, backed up by an in-house alteration service.

Over two floors, it offers a choice of 1,000 outfits and hats from eight leading designers, including Condici, John Charles and Ian Stuart. Sizes are from 8 to 26.

The range of styles and unrivalled service have helped build a reputation that draws customers from as far as Australia and the USA. “Finding the right outfit can be

daunting, so we take time to make customers feel special with our one-to-one service,” says Wendy Haxton, the manager. “We discuss what they’re looking for, show them various options and offer helpful suggestions.”

After buying trips to Paris and London, the team are excited by the collections they have assembled for spring/summer 2016, particularly their one-off designs by Paule Vasseur. At Vasseur’s Parisian studio they helped style an exclusive collection in silk with matching Viennese glass buttons.

At Compton you will find outfits for garden parties, the races and second-time brides with prices to suit all budgets. Spring 2016 collection has arrived.

Photo by Ignyte Limited, Radstock.

Find that special outfit with expert help

BUSINESS

Condici

MENDIP TIMES • JANUARY 2016 • PAGE 43

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MENDIP TIMES

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Photography show success

BUSINESS

HIRE

Plant & Tools Hire & Sales • HIRE • SALES • REPAIR

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THE family behind a photography show in Wells say they were overwhelmed by the popularity of the event.

D.H. James swapped their shop on Sadler Street for the nearby Swan Hotel for the day and were “rushed off their feet”, said Nick James, who added: “We know a lot of the dealers and they said they had never seen anything like it.”

Long or Day Hire Delivery & Collection Service Trade & DIY

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MENDIP TIMES • JANUARY 2016 • PAGE 45

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CHEDDAR

Cheddar Valley Voices deep inside Cheddar caves

Rotary Club of Mendip members

Annie Teare

St Andrew's Roof Raisers

The land train was popular

Father Christmas courtesy of the fire brigade

Rotary Big Pitch contenders (left to right) Bonnie Brown, Anna Woodey and Alice Stephens PAGE 46 • MENDIP TIMES • JANUARY 2016

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Town unites for Christmas

RADSTOCK

CHRISTMAS EVENTS

St Nicholas School Choir sing outside the Methodist Church

Film characters join Radstock Town chairman Mike Bolton and Ed Hill, the winner of a local hero award for his community work, for the switch-on of the lights

Christine Spence at the Radstock Museum fayre with her home made cakes and jams. Christine won the Great Burnham Bake-Off at this year’s Burnham-on-Sea Food Festival

The Friends of Radstock Museum held their annual fayre to raise funds for the attraction. Amongst the stallholders was the team from the Swallow charity which encourages people with disabilities to live an independent life

Santas cut a dash

COMMUNITY groups, schools and traders joined together to stage Radstock’s Christmas celebrations.

Co-ordinated by the Radstock Town Team, the day featured a day of activities around the town, before the Christmas lights were switched on. Jo Milling, chair of Radstock Town Team, said: “The community in Radstock has come together, after all the difficulties of 2015, to create a magical mixture of Christmas activities.”

BATH

OVER 100 Santas from all over the region took time off from their seasonal duties to show their heels at the annual Santa Dash in aid of Dorothy House Hospice Care.

Events fundraiser Emily Knight said: “It was a great day. I never imagined Santas could be so fit. Some were alarmingly fast and it was lovely to see so many elves out in force! The atmosphere was brilliant and of course, it was all for a good cause.”

The hospice hopes to raise over £10,000 to support patients, families and carers across their 700 square mile area covering Bath and North East Somerset and parts of Wiltshire and Somerset.

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MENDIP TIMES

Christmas – in Ecuador!

WE can report that Mendip Times features in Christmas celebrations in Ecuador.

Margaret Pugh from Chilcompton took copies with her when visiting her daughter, Helen, who teaches there.

After reading the magazines, the family made them into paper chains as Christmas decorations. Grandson Mindal is pictured with one of them.

NEWS

Family reunited with Freddie

THE Falango family in Blagdon got an early Christmas present – the return of their ten-year-old Collie cross, Freddie, who had been missing for nearly three weeks.

It’s thought he was spooked by gunfire and jumped over their gate.

After putting up posters and searching the area for weeks, the family got a call to say he had been handed in to a vets in Bournemouth. The vet had scanned a chip in his neck.

Mum Tessa, who is a teacher at Badminton School in Bristol, drove straight to Bournemouth to fetch him, much to the delight of their four-year-old son William.

Dad, Richard, a plumber, said: “It’s a mystery how he got down there. He’d been well looked after. As you can imagine we are over the moon to have him back.”

Rededication celebrations for “City Of Wells”

RAILWAY enthusiasts from Wells have attended the rededication of an iconic steam locomotive named after the city.

City of Wells – built in 1949 – had been undergoing restoration for 25 years before returning to steam in March 2015 under its original name of “Wells”.

Colin Price on board the locomotive In 1949, Wells residents campaigned for the name to be changed to City of Wells after the Bulleid engine – number 34092 – came to the city for a dedication ceremony by the mayor at the time. British Railways later agreed to the amendment.

For 15 years the engine worked express passenger trains including the prestigious “Golden Arrow” Pullman train for Cross-Channel passengers. In 1964 it was laid aside and sent to a scrapyard in South Wales where it was partially dismantled.

In 1971 a group of enthusiasts from the Keighley and Worth Valley Railway at Haworth in West Yorkshire purchased it and after nine years’ work it returned to traffic, hauling charter trains for a further seven years before it required a major overhaul.

Members of Wells Railway Fraternity travelled to Bury for the renaming of the loco – 66 years to the day it first took place.

Colin Price, a Wells city councillor, former mayor and chairman of the Wells Railway Fraternity, performed the ceremony at the East Lancashire Railway station. The ELR has provided a temporary home for the engine until it can return to Haworth.

Amongst the guests was Brenda Fisher, of Midsomer Norton.

Her late husband, the well-known artist David, painted City of Wells for the fraternity and Brenda presented prints of the work to the owners. Brenda said: “I had a wonderful day and felt very proud of David’s work yet again.”

Brenda Fisher (far left)

Members of the Wells Railway Fraternity

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WILDLIFE

The howl prowl – something to listen out for JANUARY is one of the best times to listen out for vocalising foxes.

I used to say it’s the sound of the countryside; however these days it’s also the sound of the urban areas. Foxes have a wide vocal capability, like dogs; however the two main sounds we are likely to hear

By CHRIS as the daylight fades to dusk is the bark SPERRING MBE which sounds like a series of short barks like “ow-ow-oww”, the longer last bark gives it away as fox.

Although it’s worth pointing out that, at distance, this bark has been confused with tawny owls, listening for longer will stop the confusion. These then are the contact calls, indeed it’s said that each fox making this call has its own bark so-to-speak, implying that these calls can be identifiable by other foxes as a particular individual.

The main sound to listen out for at this time of the year is the scream. Sounding almost like human screams at times, the often-described “bloody curdling cries” of the fox are mostly carried out by the vixen (female). Although these screams have also been associated with territorial disputes, they appear mostly to be connected with vixens attracting mates, signalling their readiness for breeding.

The main calling time is anytime from January through to early March. If successfully mated the vixen will be searching out dens; these she won’t dig herself and are most likely isolated holes underground probably constructed by badgers.

Indeed I have found at numerous badger setts badgers and foxes seemingly living together (well almost).

Around two months after mating the vixen will give birth to between one and (the most I have witnessed) five young. Whilst caring for the young in the den, the male will provide food, though once the young have reached one month of age they begin to venture out of the den and the vixen now hunting for

Foxes make a wide range of sounds

Photography by Chris Sperring

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them returns and initially regurgitates food for them.

As they grow rapidly there is less need for this and she starts to bring whole prey, as a part of training the young she will also bring back live prey for them to practice their hunting skills.

During this time they are likely to begin wandering further away from the den and this is the time when people will find fox cubs seemingly abandoned, but more than likely just wandering. The young leave the vixen at around six-seven months of age and this is when we will see more than the normal number of foxes dead on roads, and these are most likely to be inexperienced young.

I’m sure most people know what foxes eat. However, apart from the obvious prey items like rabbits, voles, rats and mice, they will also eat fruits, berries, nuts, carrion, grasses and even insects; the list makes them more like an omnivore rather than a specialised carnivore.

In urban areas they adjusted well to the amount of food that we waste as they raid bins and, as I have seen myself, even waiting outside fast food outlets for people to drop and dare I say give them something.

It’s probably fair to say that the countryside fox has the tougher life, but here is a wild animal we can all see almost wherever we live, and certainly in January will be making a sound at night that will create the shiver down the spine.

Countryside foxes probably have a harder life than their city-dwelling cousins

Chris Sperring is Conservation Officer for the Hawk and Owl Trust Contact him on 07799 413 918 or chris.sperring@btinternet.com

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Views of abbey on Holcombe walk

GREET the New Year with a resolution to try and get out and do some more country walking, which is not only good for your general fitness but also allows you to appreciate the beauty and variety of our landscape and learn about its history.

Here is a short and easy circle in East Mendip perfect for the shorter days, ideal for a winter morning. It starts in Holcombe village taking in high open Kilmersdon Common and then down to Coleford, before following the ill-fated old canal across fields to Edford. A

With Sue Gearing PAGE 50 • MENDIP TIMES • JANUARY 2016

gentle climb up through woods and fields leads back to the top of Holcombe. It’s an undulating walk with no steep ascents.

En-route pass three very different pubs – ideal for a winter warmer, so you are spoiled for choice! There are several stiles but dogs should be able to cope. In winter, after rain, don’t be surprised to encounter some wet and mud, but not too much, I hope.

PARK: In Holcombe village which is about four miles south of Radstock. Go to the north side of the village up on Holcombe Hill. Park somewhere suitable near the start of Brewery Lane which is off the crossroads at the top of the hill and alongside the small recreation ground.

START: The original village was sited to the north of the present Holcombe but was wiped out and buried during the great plague. Mounds found around the old parish church giving testimony to this burial may have given rise to the nursery rhyme ‘Ring O’ Roses’. An alternative suggestion is that the burials relate to five local children drowned in an icy pond in 1899. Take your choice!

From the crossroads, go along Brewery Lane a few yards to the entrance to the stony and locked recreation car park (locked when I came) and opposite this, turn into the drive for Hill House (the footpath arrow is on the other side of the road).

Follow this down to a group of houses and bear left following a footpath sign

(not straight on). Go through a kissing gate and carry on. Go through into a wide open high area.

1. KILMERSDON COMMON Follow the fence line and come into Kilmersdon Common, a beautiful area with great views across Somerset.

Continue on, staying over towards the left and head towards a small hillock ahead. Go over the side of it and maintain direction, dropping towards the bottom left.

2. FOOTBRIDGE Cross a footbridge and then head straight up across the field, still part of the common. At the top, after going over a stile, keep on in the same direction.

Ahead you can see houses on the edge of Highbury. Stay on the high ground and carry on going through a gate opening between holly bushes. Dropping away to the right is a pretty valley.

3. VALLEY Drop downhill into a valley ahead with the church you are aiming for up ahead – Holy Trinity parish church of Coleford.

Cross the stream below and then bear up left to leave the field at the top through a gate well to the left of the church.

4. COLEFORD Go out to reach the road in Coleford.

Turn right and shortly, opposite the church, turn left on the marked footpath.

Go straight over the remains of the old canal. Take the kissing gate ahead of you

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and come into a field. Bear across dropping down towards rooftops. Come out onto a Tarmac drive/path down in the valley. Follow it along right and come out to a lane in Coleford alongside the King’s Head, the first of our walk’s pubs.

5. KING’S HEAD For this winter walk we are going on a route up through the old village. Turn right at the pub. Then soon turn left into the High Street in Coleford and pass the interesting mix of cottages. As you continue, down on the right but not visible from here, is the remains of the Hucky Duck, the aqueduct built to carry the Somerset and Dorset Coal Canal.

Climb uphill.

6. FOOTPATH At the de-restriction sign at a slight curve in the road, turn left through a large gate on the marked footpath and pass to the left of a tin shed. Go down the track and through a kissing gate into a field. Turn right along the top of the field.

7. OLD CANAL At the end reach the first visible remains of the old canal. We have just been walking along part of the route but it has been filled in. Here you can actually still see the canal and there is likely to be some water in it. Go through the wooden kissing gate and on along the tow path in woodland.

The Dorset & Somerset Canal was planned to connect the Bristol and English Channels and to connect the counties of Dorset & Somerset into the canal network, going from Bradford-onAvon to Poole. Due to the importance of the Somerset coalfield a branch canal from the main Dorset and Somerset Canal

OS Explorer 142 Shepton Mallet & Mendip Hills East, grid ref: 672498 3.75 miles, about 2.25 hours walking.

was proposed and construction began in 1786 following a route from Coleford to Nettlebridge through Holcombe which used to be the site of several coalfields.

However, in 1803 the entire canal was abandoned without being completed. The backers ran out of money which was in short supply due to the Napoleonic Wars.

It is believed only one contractor's boat ever used the canal.

Cross a plank footbridge and another kissing gate and on the right see the remains of a canal basin. Carry on, still following the line of the canal, but it is not always that visible and you will lose part of it further on. Go through another gate and straight on (ignore a white gate on the right) and come into a field and on as before. A kissing gate brings you into more woodland. Continue to a kissing gate with a choice of paths. Take the right hand one, still in woodland. Now simply maintain direction all the way to the road in Ham. 8. HAM Cross straight over and carry on as before still following the line of the old canal.

There is a stretch on the path which is rather uneven and narrow in woodland further on. Come close to the Mells Stream on the left. Maintain direction all the way until you reach a stile onto a crossing Tarmac drive. Go over the stile ahead and round the fenced path to the road in Edford.

9. EDFORD Down on the left if you are in need of refreshment is the Duke of Cumberland Inn, the second of our three pubs. Turn right on the road, rising gently and after

only a few minutes reach a marked footpath on the left opposite Edford Green. Follow this across to a stile. Go under trees, cross another stile and follow the arrow left and through woodland.

Drop a little and follow the arrow right and cross a stream on a small planked footbridge and continue through woodland. Stay to the right. You get a glimpse of houses over right. Walk on through an area of bracken and enter a field.

10. FIELDS Ignore the footpath that only points right.

You want the right of way straight up the field, which is not marked at this point.

At the top go through to another field and on, climbing, and bearing over to the right along the end of gardens. Maintain direction along the right edge of two fields, coming on to the top of the hill. As you go there is a good view of Downside Abbey over left ahead. Go out onto a lane. The third pub is along on the left a few yards – the Holcombe Inn. 11. HOLCOMBE INN It was called the Ring O’ Roses for a while, harking back to the plague that destroyed the old village. Turn right on the lane and stay with it into Holcombe and the crossroads on Holcombe Hill.

Cross over to the recreation ground and Brewery Lane.

The King’s Head, Coleford, 01373 812346 The Duke of Cumberland, Edford, 01761 233731 The Holcombe Inn, Holcombe, 01761 232478

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OUTDOORS

West Countryman’s Diary

HAPPY New Year! I hope that you will all have had a great Christmas and managed to spend lots of time with your family. Did you manage to get that Christmas Day walk in and did lunch turn out to be all that you hoped it would be?

I have little doubt there will be many With LES who feel they have over-indulged this DAVIES MBE festive season and are vowing there will be a ‘lifestyle’ change to compensate. What better New Year resolution could you have than making a walk a regular event in the week?

It’s cheap, but as with all activities, you can spend a lot of money in looking the part and purchasing top of the range equipment and clothing that would have you warm and snug, even at Mount Everest temperatures.

If you are going onto Mendip remember that it can be a hostile environment in bad weather. I've known temperatures to go down to -10C with a wind chill factor. This simply means that with the wind blowing the temperature drops even more. Buy the best you can afford in the way of clothing.

It needs to be waterproof and wind-proof with a good-sized hood that you can 'sit' at the back of. Don't forget the gloves either, because the poor old fingers are the first to feel biting cold. Feet are the other vulnerable area, or rather the toes, so warm socks and good boots are essential. I'm not averse to walking in wellies and today's standard of neoprene-lined boot is a far cry from the unlined rubber boot we had to put up with in the past.

The one thing about them is your feet stay dry! Good grip on the sole is essential and good ankle support desirable, so if you are looking at ordinary walking boots there are plenty to choose from. Pay a visit to your local walking shop for more advice, because badly fitting boots are nothing but a pain in every sense of the word.

Work in the orchard means pruning at this time of the year.

Clearing out the dead and unwanted wood gives me a chance to select that very special apple wood to be seasoned and burnt on next year’s winter fires. If you remember the firewood poem, apple come out as very fragrant wood for the open fire. I will open the doors on the wood burner and let the smell waft through the house. Such a fire on a January evening (or any other evening) is bound to cast its spell upon me and send me to sleep.

I haven’t seen many redwings so far, but it hasn’t been cold enough for birds to scavenge off the fallen fruit on the orchard floor. There must be plenty of other food still available elsewhere. Other years I would see large flocks of them in the orchards, but there's still time yet.

Huge flocks, or is it a “murmuration” of starlings still make their way back to the marshland roosts at the end of each day. The way they twist and turn is designed to confuse any predator, but I wonder at their system of communication that must be present in order to achieve such coordination.

The Red Arrows display team must be green with envy.

There is plenty to see if you have the eyes to look for it and, as always, take time to stand and stare quietly. Watch

and listen to what is going on around and you can quickly immerse yourself in the landscape. There's nothing like a 'good coat of looking at' to brighten a January day.

Well I have to say that 2015 has been pretty good! I stepped right out of my comfort zone to become the UK tour guide for the University of Georgia USA and spent nine days with a lovely bunch of young people who were so impressed by this country. As 'Mr Les' I was able to unlock the landscape for them from the Mendip Hills to Loch Ness. I was able to explain a thousand years of history that makes this country so special. How lucky am I to be doing what I like!

The work with schools has been great as well. I will be giving up the visits into the schools in the New Year and concentrating on the visits by the schools to the countryside.

This is where their education really begins! I saw a wonderful definition of education, as being the process by which we can all share the knowledge and experience that others have had.

Handing on our knowledge is the single greatest gift we can give, knowledge not shared is knowledge wasted. To date I don't know anyone who has a USB port in the side of their head where a memory stick can be plugged in to download that information. We all have a duty of care to pass the knowledge on.

As for the not so well section in 2015, I have put all that behind me and prefer to dwell on the good stuff. “Everything happens for a reason that we may not always be able to see at the time” is something my grandmother used to say. So it’s onward into 2016 where new challenges and experience await us all. It’s a year that still has the Cellophane wrapper on it and it’s a year that no one has messed up . . . yet.

This month’s picture is of everything loaded ready to start pruning; tractor, compressor air saws, loppers and ladder.

The old Bucher TM 250 tractor is back in service after a two-year rest due to gearbox problems. Now I have a cab and warm engine alongside me, something I didn’t need in the summer, but am so grateful for now.

I hope that your New Year is everything it should be and that health and happiness are your constant companions for the year ahead.

Finally, it’s wassail time again. Don’t forget this very important West Country tradition of blessing the apple trees at an orchard near you. I will be leading the ceremony at Godney on February 8th, so I hope to see some of you there.

You can always contact me through my website: Westcountryman.co.uk

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Let your house plants do the cleaning!

SOME 25 years ago work started at NASA to investigate methods of reducing the incidence of volatile organic compounds given off by modern materials in the Skylab spacecraft. Surprisingly house plants proved to be remarkably effective at reducing the levels of these compounds With MARY and improving and cleansing the indoor PAYNE MBE environment.

Toxic chemicals, commonly formaldehyde, benzene, acetone and ammonia are given off by a wide variety of building and floor materials, paints and soft furnishings and even your artificial Christmas tree.

It is well known that these products generally, referred to as VOCs (volatile organic compounds) contribute to what is known as “sick building syndrome” causing debilitating symptoms of allergies, asthma, headaches, sinus congestion and fatigue.

Many plants are effective, but some of our most popular festive season flowering plants are also useful. So keeping your house plants alive can contribute to a healthy indoor atmosphere.

One of the most effective plants for this purpose is the Peace Lily (Spathiphyllum sps.). This relative of the arum lily makes an excellent house plant, tolerating low to medium light levels well. It has a high transpiration rate, meaning it releases water vapour into the atmosphere, raising the humidity of the otherwise dry atmosphere created by central heating.

Simply keep it moist at all times. An occasional shower of rain (if it is mild outside) will help remove any dust accumulations from the leaves. If it fails to repeat flower, then move it to a slightly lighter position but out of direct sun.

The ubiquitous poinsettia is one of the most popular festive season pot plants. So how can you keep it alive for the rest of the festive season and beyond? This plant is technically Euphorbia pulcherrima, a native of Central America. In common with other members of this group of plants it contains the same milky sap as the hardy perennial euphorbias that we grow in our gardens and it is this sap that should be regarded with caution.

Do not allow animals or children to handle/chew any part of it and avoid getting the sap in your eyes. This plant hates drafts and likes an even temperature. Water it when the surface of the compost feels dry, but never let it stand in water for a prolonged period. An occasional feed with a tomato feed will benefit all indoor plants. Keeping a poinsettia from one year to the next is possible, but only for the really keen.

The small Miracle Cyclamen have been developed into an autumn bedding, or pot plant, while the larger, more flamboyant ones remain a popular indoor plant. However, they are not the easiest to keep in good condition as they dislike the warm temperatures and low light levels found in homes. To keep them in good condition position them somewhere with plenty of light and cool temperatures.

Always water them by standing in a bowl of water and let them suck up what they require, rather than watering from above which can encourage rot. Remove faded flower heads by holding near the base of each stem, then twist and pull.

This removes the stem cleanly from the tuber reducing the incidence of moulds developing. It is possible to keep a

PAGE 54 • MENDIP TIMES • JANUARY 2016

Cyclamen

cyclamen going for another year or so, but it is a bit of a fiddle.

Azaleas also prefer a cooler, well-lit position in the home and will flower for a long time if they are never allowed to dry out. They drink a lot of water, so ensure they stay moist. I prefer to keep them standing in just a quarter of an inch, no more, of rain water. You will be surprised how often you will need to top the water up. After flowering has finished, start feeding with a tomato feed and stand them outside in a lightly shaded position for the summer months, ready to flower again.

The moth orchid (Phalaenopsis sps.) has become an all-yearround indoor plant, in much the same way as the pot chrysanthemum was years ago. They are, however, much longer lasting, and can give years of satisfaction for little effort. In their native habitat they are epiphytes living up trees, so they do not need large pots or repotting.

They are usually sold in opaque plastic pots and stood in an outer ceramic pot. Every seven to ten days fill the pot with water and leave it to stand for five minutes. Then remove the inner pot and tip out all the surplus water and replace in the outer pot. An occasional very weak tomato feed can be given.

The foliage and silvery aerial roots can be misted with rain water occasionally, to simulate the humidity of their natural habitat. When the flowers fall cut back the stem to the top most “bump”, as you may get another flower stem from that point. Moving your plant to a cooler position for a couple of months can help trigger re-flowering.

Christmas Cactus (Schlumergera sps.) come from a very different habitat from the more traditional drought tolerant desert cactus. Like the moth orchid they are epiphytes living up in the branches of trees in Brazil. They can be grown on from year to year by putting them outside for the summer months and bringing them in once the new buds have only just formed.

Moving then indoors any later may incur bud drop, induced by the change in the environment, from the higher humidity outdoors to the drier air indoors. Water when the compost feels dry, and feed using a tomato feed. Take care as the flowers can drip nectar onto vulnerable surfaces.

All of these plants will benefit the environment in your home along with all of the palms offered as foliage house plants. So take care of your indoor plants, and let them take care of the environment in your home.

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JANUARY GARDEN TIPS

GARDENING

G Apply a general fertiliser to all borders. Growmore, Vitax Q4, Bonemeal or Blood Fish and Bone are all good.

G Gather up and burn diseased leaves from under roses and fruit. This will help to limit the carry-over of disease from one season to the next. Applying a generous mulch helps to suppress the disease infection too.

G Check tree ties and stakes. Adjust those that are too tight and tighten those that are not! Make sure the top tie is near to the top of the stake so that it prevents the tree rubbing. Make certain that the stake is still sound and that it isn’t the tree that is holding the stake up!

G Plant when the weather is mild and when the soil is not wet, sticky or frozen hard. Improve the planting area with well-rotted compost or manure G After frost, check around shrubs and roses for signs of soil upheaval and wind-rock. Firm the soil back down with your feet.

G Root hardwood cuttings this month. Always choose healthy shoots as cuttings. Easy ones to root include Forsythia, Escallonia, Ribes, Cornus and Salix.

G Trim Virginia creeper, Boston Ivy, rambling roses and other climbers away from windows, gutters and eaves.

G Inspect Leylandii hedges closely for aphids. This is a newish pest and leads to dead patches if not controlled with a pesticide now.

Courtesy Cleeve Nursery

Weston Garden Machinery Garden Machinery Specialist

Behind Shell Garage Winterstoke Road, Weston-super-Mare, North Somerset BS23 2YS

Tel: 01934 626093/813261 www.westongarden.co.uk MENDIP TIMES • JANUARY 2016 • PAGE 55

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MENDIP TIMES

Local firm gains national recognition

Timberwork Buildings Bespoke buildings to suit you We specialise in the manufacture of quality standard and bespoke garden buildings to suit your individual needs including:-

WORKSHOPS/GARAGES

GARDEN SHEDS

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Let our dedicated team assist you in your choice whatever your budget . . . Full design, installation and delivery service available – customise your shed to suit your needs We also do: Chicken Houses • Dog Kennels • Bin & Log Stores

YOU ARE WELCOME TO VISIT US AND SEE OUR SHOW MODELS – OPEN 7 DAYS A WEEK THE TIMBERYARD • SHUTE SHELVE • CROSS • NEAR AXBRIDGE

Tel: 01934 732 396 • www.timberworkbuildings.co.uk • e.mail: timberbuildings@aol.com

SPRING

Now’s the time to get your mowers ready! Will the grass ever stop growing!

A Happy New Year to all our customers

75 Greenhill Road, Sandford, Winscombe, North Somerset BS25 5PA TEL: 01934 852151 www.gabgardenmachinery.co.uk

PAGE 56 • MENDIP TIMES • JANUARY 2016

FOLLOWING numerous site visits, paper-based assessments and observations, Drinkwater Tree Services Ltd, based in Lympsham have been awarded ArbAC – Approved Contractor by the Arboricultural Association.

Scheme manager, Paul Smith, who assessed the business, said: “Achievement of the accreditation takes considerable time and commitment, along with a significant financial investment and demonstrates a business that is keen to improve and progress by meeting national standards and effectively agreeing to a program of continuous improvement.”

Rob Drinkwater, manager of Drinkwater Tree Services Ltd, said: “Achievement of the standard means everything to the business and to me personally. As a local person who has been working in the industry since leaving school, I have put everything into achieving the status and ensuring we are doing the best we can for our customers.”

The scheme, which dual-accredits tree surgery contractors with CHAS (Contractors Health and Safety Assessment Scheme), and offers access to the SAFEcontractor Scheme, is also SSIP (Safety Schemes in Procurement) registered, which is supported and endorsed by HSE. It is often used as the benchmark standard by local authorities and other government bodies.

Contractors are reassessed every two years to ensure their standards stay at the highest levels and that customers are satisfied with the service provided.

SHOWROOM NOW OPEN

Opening 8.00am – 5.00pm Mon – Fri. 8.00am – 12.00pm Sat

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Mendip on camera as film crews move in

PARTS of Mendip have been transformed into the island of Jersey in a new film telling a true story of the island’s occupation by Germany during World War Two. Another Mother’s Son focuses on Louisa Gould, who took in an escaped Russian Prisoner Of War and hid him over the course of the occupation. She protects the young soldier as if he were

By Mark Adler

her own son – killed in action – but is betrayed and later dies in a German concentration camp. The POW survives the war.

Louisa is played by Jenny Seagrove.

Other members of the cast include John Hannah, Amanda Abbington, Peter

Villagers dressed as extras at the East Somerset Railway at Cranmore PAGE 58 • MENDIP TIMES • JANUARY 2016

Jenny Seagrove (centre) with Susan Hampshire behind her in a scene shot in Cranmore church

Wight and Susan Hampshire, alongside musician, stage and screen performer, Ronan Keating.

Filming took place across Mendip, from Bath and Berrow Beach to Priddy, Wells, Dinder, High Littleton and Cranmore, where members of the congregation of the village church and the Strawberry Line WI were drafted in as extras.

Filming has taken place across Mendip

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Another Mother’s Son is the first fulllength feature to be made by Bill Kenwright Productions with a budget in the region of £2.5m. Bill said: “Another Mother’s Son is a powerful story that celebrates the bravery of one woman, determined to protect a young man’s life against the context of the Nazi occupation of Jersey. We are thrilled to have such an accomplished and diverse cast coming together to tell Louisa Gould’s story for the first time on film.”

Producer Daniel-Konrad Cooper said: “Some films are ‘based on a true story’ but this is a true story. Louisa, the heroine, was the great aunt of Jenny Lecoat, our screenwriter, and we are trying to be as respectful as possible to her story.”

He added: “Since news of the film came out, other members of Louisa’s family have contacted us and have visited on set.”

The production team looked at various locations across the South West but chose Mendip because of its accessibility and – in the case of Cranmore – scenes involving the railway and church were close by.

Jersey was rejected for both logistical and financial reasons. Daniel-Konrad added: “Now that we have used locations on Mendip I would imagine that other productions will look at this area in the future.”

A release date for Another Mother’s Son has still to be confirmed.

Page 59

MENDIP ON FILM John Hannah during filming on a lane in Cranmore

Actor Peter Wright on set

Children from Priddy School visited the set during filming in the village and met many of the crew MENDIP TIMES • JANUARY 2016 • PAGE 59

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Make a resolution to get fit

INCH by inch, life's a synch – yard by yard, it's hard. Increasing your physical activity and fitness is the best thing you can do to feel better and to reduce the risk of future disease. There is no sudden quick fix solution to getting fit. Like most things in life, success comes a little bit at a time.

The secret is to make small changes in your life

By Dr PHIL that you can do every day and stick with over the HAMMOND long term. These then become habits that your brain gets hardwired into doing so you hardly need to think about them. Being active makes you feel better quickly, but you need to start gently.

Set the fitness bar low to start with, gain confidence from getting over it and then raise it a little bit at a time. Don’t compare yourself to others, just keep trying to better yourself.

It's easy to come up with excuses not to be active and the first five minutes of any activity is usually the hardest. However once you pass the five minute mark it becomes a lot easier and you soon find yourself going well beyond it. Being part of a group that does a regular activity or having a dog can make you exercise when you otherwise might not.

And once you get into the habit of exercising it’s much easier to stick to it.

Walking as much as you can, as fast as you can, is unbelievably good for your health. It strengthens your muscles and bones, improves your stamina, is great for your heart and brain, reduces stress and improves your mood. Walk at a pace that makes it slightly breathless but still able to enjoy the beauty of the places and people around you. Get off the bus early and walk between stops. On a familiar route, try to really be present in your walk and notice the joy of ordinary life.

Reduce your sitting time. Sitting down is really bad for us if we do too much of it. Too many of us spend eight to ten hours a day in an office chair, then we sit on a bus, car or train to get to and from work, we sit down to have a drink and then a meal when we get home, and then we sit and watch the television.

Even if you exercise regularly, sitting for more than six hours a day increases your risk of heart disease, particularly if you do it for long stretches at a time. So try to get into the habit of not sitting down for more than 20 minutes without getting out walking around, stretching or even jumping up and down on the spot, depending on who is watching.

See if you can master the art of being able to type on your computer keyboard whilst standing up. Many people do and they found they feel much better and lose a surprising amount of weight by working standing up. You can even get desks that allow you to walk on a treadmill or pedal on an exercise bike while you’re working.

There is a lot of free help available. Your fitness depends on four things – stamina, strength, skill and suppleness. Doing a variety of activities and exercises covers all these bases and stops you getting bored. The NHS website has lots of tips and ideas on warming up and stretching down, using weights and resistance bands, ten-minute workouts, 12-week fitness plans, ideas for families and tips for walking, running, swimming, dancing and cycling.

There are dozens of groups near you to get you started. What you can do for yourself to stay fit and well is far more powerful that any drug and the more active you are, the more you can do and the more satisfied you are. So step away from that chair and step up to a better life.

FFI http://www.nhs.uk/livewell/fitness/, www.exercise-works.org/ check out the free Exercise Works booklet.

Dr Phil is author of ‘Staying Alive – How to Get the Best from the NHS’

PAGE 60 • MENDIP TIMES • JANUARY 2016

Growing up and growing grey

AS the year ends I am struck by how much the children have grown up this year. The latest rite of passage has involved eldest daughter learning to drive.

I received some wise counsel from a friend who advised me: “Don’t sit in the passenger seat until she’s had at least ten lessons.”

However, I am struck by how confident, even overconfident she is when we hit the road together. She might be growing up but there are moments as I shout “Slow down!” that I feel I am growing nearer death.

Several months later she is driving competently and applies to take her test. I am at work when the text arrives, which says: “Didn’t pass.” I phone her immediately and she describes the difficult junction that led to her failure. When I arrive home five hours later she is still red-eyed and dressed in her onesie (not a good sign).

Meanwhile, middle-child is pondering global issues.

She will be 14 soon and wants to discuss the refugee crisis, terrorism and what’s fuelling the current problems. Most of all she wants to know who is supplying all the weapons. I hope she keeps asking sensible questions so that maybe when she’s grown up the world can be a safer place for everyone.

Youngest child has found some answers in love. A special friendship was kindled over the school harvest lunch. Now they chat at school break times and email each other at the weekends. They talk about music, their favourite TV programmes and what they’ve got up to in their spare time. His sisters tease him about his “girlfriend”.

All this distracts the ten-year-old from the more mundane tasks in life. In recent weeks there have been some mishaps involving various items strewn across his geographical footprint of home, car, school, pitch and friends’ houses.

His homework diary vanishes, his trumpet does not find its way home and his trainers disappear the day he is meant to be participating in the cross-country finals. I grow grey and more frazzled by the minute.

Eventually he promises me that in the New Year he will not rely so heavily on the grown-ups to remind him to do his homework, remember his trumpet practice and take control of his possessions and I promise him that this year I won’t forget to take him to his school Christmas concert.

Happy New Year!

MENDIP MUM

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New year – new outlook

ARE you having difficulty sleeping? Maybe you wake up at 4am and the problems of life weigh heavily on your mind and you can’t get back to sleep again. Maybe you are drinking too much to help to cope with life and want to get things back on track.

Hypnotherapy with Miranda Robarts-Arnold can help you to get your life to where you want to be.

Hypnotherapy is an extremely optimistic type of therapy and gets results quickly. Unlike other therapies, it doesn’t focus on how bad everything is; you know that already.

Hypnotherapists focus on where you would like to be when everything is sorted out. If life has been a struggle for ages, sometimes you have forgotten what it is like to feel in control of things.

Miranda uses what is known about how the brain manufactures stress, anxiety and depression to help you to find a way though things that is relevant to you in terms of your life.

She has over 19 years working in different areas within mental health and says she has found hypnotherapy to be the most optimistic therapy of all.

Miranda works in Wells and Chew Stoke.

Business expands

MARK Sutton says he decided to set up a stair lift business after his father was stung by a pushy and aggressive stair lift installation company and is delighted to have been trading successfully for over two years now.

Sutton’s Stairlifts is a family-run business which was set up in September 2013 with the help of his sons. Dedicated to providing a fair and ethical service, the business offers a range of new or refurbished stair lifts for purchase or rental in the Somerset and Mendip area.

Because of the positive reaction they have received from customers they have now opened a showroom at the Anglo Trading Estate on Commercial Road in Shepton Mallet to display not only stair lifts but mobility scooters, rise and recline chairs as well as a wide range of aids to daily living.

They also offer home visits and delivery of all of their products.

STAIRLIFTS INSTALLED FROM

ÂŁ849.00

! Daily Living Aids ! Mobility Scooters ! Stair Li s ! Rise & Recline Chairs ! Walking Aids ! Accessories

www.su onsstairli s.co.uk Tel: 01749 346900 • 0800 999 5432

Unit AB8a Anglo Trading Estate, Shepton Mallet BA4 5BY

HEALTH & FAMILY

CAN’T SLEEP? AWAKE AT 4am?

ANXIOUS? DEPRESSED? NOT COPING?

HYPNOTHERAPY CAN HELP! MIRANDA ROBARTS-ARNOLD BA (Hons) HPD DHP SFBT (HYP) MNCH (Req) AfSFH CNHC CLINICAL HYPNOTHERAPIST and PSYCHOTHERAPIST

Initial consultation and relaxation CD

ÂŁ30

Come and have a talk to see how I can help you get back on track, call 07717 170 865 to book an initial consultation or visit www.mirandahypnotherapy.co.uk or email: info@mirandahypnotherapy.co.uk

Clinics held at: Wells Chiropractic & Osteopathy Centre BA5 1XJ Chew Medical Centre BS40 8UE MENDIP TIMES • JANUARY 2016 • PAGE 61

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Feet – foundations for life!

WE all know “prevention is better than cure” but many people need help and assistance with simple foot care.

As a Foot Health Practitioner, Fred Oviatt is trained to assess and treat common foot conditions e.g. corns, calluses, ingrowing toe nails, fungal infections and verrucas.

With early attention to common foot problems and by establishing a foot health care routine, he can help you maintain your foundation for life and keep your feet healthy to keep you mobile.

He holds surgeries on Wednesdays at Body and Soul in Blagdon.

An elegant home from home

Foot care undertaken in the comfort of your own home + Weekly surgery every Wednesday at Body & Soul, Blagdon • Nail Trimming • Hard Skin Reduction • Corn Removal • Verruca Treatment • Ingrowing Toenails • Fungal Infections • Diabetic Foot Care and Advice

WINSCOMBE Hall has a new lease of life looking after elderly residents and those suffering with dementia.

Once a grand stately home, built by landowner John Augustus Yatman in the nineteenth century, it had fallen into disrepair before being bought by the Cedars Care Group eight years ago.

It commands a magnificent position in woods in the oldest part of Winscombe near the church, with wide views to the south. The gardens and courtyard are now part of the facilities that can be enjoyed by the 39 residents.

The company has made a huge investment in the house, as well as the five acres of gardens surrounding it, including a centre for dementia sufferers in what was the old stable block.

One lounge is fitted out 1940s style, hopefully stimulating the memories of residents, alongside pictures elsewhere of film stars, jars of sweets and pictures of old familiar scenes on every wall.

The residential nursing unit in the main house, which retains its magnificent main staircase, has an activity room, lounge and dining room, all looking out across the gardens to the south.

This is the seventh and biggest home in Cedar Care’s group, which also operates The Ellenborough in Weston-super-Mare.

Chief executive Ty Yilmaz emphasized the aim is to provide person-centred care.

He said: “We are a family-run group and aim for a homely caring environment, a place which residents regard as their home from home.”

The home’s manager, registered mental nurse Rachael Williams, started setting up the dementia unit three years ago, after working in the community supporting nursing homes.

She said: “I felt I could make more of a difference coming here.

People who come into residential nursing can receive additional care if needed through the various stages of dementia in a place where they are familiar with the staff and they don’t have to move.”

In future they hope to open the house and grounds to village fetes and other activities – harking back to its Victorian founder.

PAGE 62 • MENDIP TIMES • JANUARY 2016

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HEALTH & FAMILY

MENDIP TIMES • JANUARY 2016 • PAGE 63

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MENDIP TIMES

Single and looking for a social life . . . then join SPA

An enthusias c and friendly group of single people who enjoy organised events

For more informa on go to www.singleprofessionalassocia on.co.uk email: wellsandmendip@yahoo.co.uk Or contact Anne – 01934 743139 Jackie – 01458 840958

PAGE 64 • MENDIP TIMES • JANUARY 2016

Removing unwanted hair

ELECTROLYSIS is a course of treatment that removes hair growth and is the only medically approved form of permanent hair removal. Dr Charles Michel first used it successfully in 1875 to remove ingrown eyelashes.

He discovered that once the follicle had been treated with electrolysis the hair was permanently destroyed. For over 100 years, electrolysis has been recognized as a safe, reliable method of treating all skin and hair types.

It involves the insertion of a very fine, disposable, sterile probe (the same diameter as the hair) into the hair follicle, which is a natural opening in the skin. A tiny amount of energy is then skillfully discharged into the hair follicle. The follicle destruction is achieved by heat or a chemical reaction, or both blended together.

During a course of treatments there will be a constant, gradual decrease in the growth of the hair until it is all permanently removed (a bit like watching a man go bald). The number of treatments required will vary from person to person and will be discussed at the initial consultation.

Following treatment clients will be given strict aftercare instructions to adhere to in order to support the electrolysis treatment.

Details: Julia Wallis, for appointments, enquiries, gift vouchers and to order products call or text 07810187589, email Julia.wallis@hotmail.co.uk visit www.julia-holisticbeauty.co.uk

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Getting the balance right

HEALTH & FAMILY

SUE Jackson says in her experience people looking for a gym like a rural setting away from the bustle of life. The Balance fitness suite, which she runs in Timsbury is set in beautiful surroundings overlooking the Mendip countryside, with private parking, great space and amazing facilities.

They offer private, friendly and bespoke one-to-one sessions to suit an individual’s needs. The idea is to get you fit for your life, not to push you beyond your limits – they like to strike the right balance.

And it’s not just about personal training; they offer a diverse range of small classes, for those who like to train with others, including ski fit, kettlercise, pilates and yoga. They even run an early morning boot camp for the pre-work early risers.

Sue said: “I find that many conventional gyms can be impersonal and very busy with an emphasis on youth. At Balance we believe anyone can get fitter and improve their quality of life, whatever their age, size, shape and fitness level.”

The road to optimum health

IF you are looking for short-term relief care or your longer term goal is for optimal health, Hampden Osteopathic Clinic are here to help.

Symptomatic or pain relief care is the type of treatment which most people are familiar with – you have a problem, you get it worked on until the problem goes away and there is no need for any further treatment.

This is the type of care a lot of patients attend their clinic for: lower back or neck pain, joint stiffness, muscle ache or neuralgia.

Non-symptomatic or preventative care differs in that it aims to maintain health and vitality by on-going regular care. Osteopathic treatment helps to keep your spine, joints and muscles in tip-top condition and working as they should do.

Whichever approach you decide upon they would like to reward you with £15 off your first* Osteopathic treatment. Call them on 01934 843617 and quote MENDIP16 and they will automatically deduct the discount – it’s as simple as that!

They are looking forward to keeping you pain free and on the road to optimum health, G Offer valid for new patients to Hampden Osteopathic Clinic until March 31st 2016.

MENDIP TIMES • JANUARY 2016 • PAGE 65

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MENDIP TIMES

HEALTH & FAMILY

IS FINDING LOVE YOUR NEW YEAR’S RESOLUTION? Caroline Crowther is a truly local personal introduction agency helping you meet someone new in your area. We offer a long term personal service until you find your perfect match.

For a professional and personal service call 0800 056 3179 01934 744788

New Year, New Location

Now open at Angel-Oh Holistic Therapies, Unit 11, Rookery Farm, Binegar, nr Wells, BA3 4UL (close to Hartley’s Kitchen) Also available: an extra half-day of sessions at our clinic at the Vine Health Park in Street

Tel: 01749 372404 Web: www.footfaerie.co.uk

Emotional Well-Being Clinic Help with: ● Anxiety ● Depression ● Lack of confidence ● Relationships ● Trauma ● Low self-esteem ● Indecision ● Stress ● Life Changes ● Negative beliefs ● Anger Management ● Painful memories ● Self-defeating/harming behaviour ● Loss

Ja ne Ross-Wh ea tley

BACP ACCREDITED COUNSELLOR AAMET CERTIFIED EMOTIONAL FREEDOM TECHNIQUE PRACTITIONER

Evening and weekend appointments available Visit janeross-wheatley.com or call 07731 937293 e Remedy Centre, 23 Cuthbert Street, Wells BA5 2AW PAGE 66 • MENDIP TIMES • JANUARY 2016

New service in Street

WESSEX Counselling has extended its counselling service to the Street area, having already been operating in the Frome, Bristol and Bath areas for some years.

The charity says it can ensure that long-term counselling is available at an affordable rate; it can provide robust training; and it means individuals have the opportunity to be seen within an organisation rather than take pot luck by choosing their counsellor on the internet.

Details: www.wessexcounselling.co.uk call 01373 453355 or email office@wessexcounselling.co.uk

Binegar – where a faerie meets an angel

PODIATRIST Sue Boothroyd – owner of Foot Faerie – has moved into a new base in time for the New Year – in the suite of treatment rooms run by Angel-0h Holistic Therapies at Rookery Farm near Binegar.

Sue opted to leave Wells for the more rural surroundings of Rookery Farm – home to popular businesses including Hartley’s Kitchen, Paws to Sue Boothroyd is now based at Claws, Somer Craft Addix and Rookery Farm Mendip Auction Rooms – where she can offer clients ground floor and wheelchair access and a comfortable waiting room. Parking is also very easy!

Conscious of the fact that some clients travelled by bus to her clinic in Wells, Sue is also increasing the number of sessions she holds at the Vine Health Park in Street by adding an extra half day of treatments.

Angel-Oh is run by Victoria Marcangelo-Lyons. Sue said: “Victoria has been so helpful and welcoming, as have the other businesses here. I’m looking forward to working alongside them all.”

Emotional freedom

EFT (Emotional Freedom Technique) is a holistic body/mind self-help method – a process of mindful and intentional tapping (gently, with fingertips) on several acupuncture meridian end-points on the face and upper body.

An EFT intervention utilises the same pathways/channels found in traditional Chinese energy medicine. Practitioners say it can allow us to transform the way we respond to uncomfortable thoughts, feelings, and troubling memories.

Whether it’s used alone or together with an experienced practitioner, they say EFT can bring surprising (and lasting) relief – as we explore EFT for ourselves, we can become more aware of how our thoughts, beliefs and emotions affect us at a physiological level.

Wells based counsellor and Emotional Freedom Technique practitioner, Jane Ross-Wheatley, offers EFT as well as counselling to help individuals build emotional resilience.

See main advert for contact details.

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WELLS

Parade organisers on cloud nine

CHRISTMAS EVENTS

Photography by Mark Adler

A wintry scene in the garden of the Swan Hotel – donations to be photographed in the sleigh go to local charities. Pictured here are Lindsay Grantham and Keevah, aged four

The reindeer parade is just a stroll in the park for these members of the Cairngorm Herd as they warm up before taking part in this year’s event

AN estimated 10,000 people packed Wells city centre for the ninth annual reindeer parade and Christmas celebrations.

Organised by the Rotary Club of Wells, the event raises money each year for the Dorset and Somerset Air Ambulance whilst charities and other groups run their own fundraising stalls. The club is already planning a special celebration to mark the parade’s tenth anniversary in 2016.

The parade will celebrate its tenth anniversary in 2016

Bird’s eye view – youngsters enjoy one of the fairground rides in the Market Square

Joyful Spirit gospel choir on the main stage

The procession makes its way up the High Street

The mayor of Wells, Gordon Wilson, and Jane Tibbs, rotary club president with Harry Wood and Benjy Nooll, who won the painting competition, Annabel Stephen and Ed Anderson, winners of the poetry competition. Their prizes were to ride in the procession

Wells Blue School students Ben Reed, Noah Gooch and Thorfinn Doyle were raising money for a World Challenge trip to Cambodia and Vietnam next year during which they will work on local projects MENDIP TIMES • JANUARY 2016 • PAGE 67

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Hall project closer

PLANS for a new village hall and community centre in Congresbury have received overwhelming support from villagers who responded to a public consultation with 80 percent backing the proposals.

Of the 96 people who answered the survey, carried out as part of the public consultation on the draft Community Right to Build order, 77 supported the proposals while 19 were against.

Project spokesman, Ian Sheppard, said: “The main concerns related to traffic, parking, noise and loss of the grass area. The project team has responded to these and set out actions to minimise the impacts.”

Minor amendments have now been made to the Community Right to Build order which has been submitted to North Somerset council to begin its own six-week consultation, subject to their executive signing off.

Cadets in clink

A DAY spent locked in police cells has helped Avon and Somerset Volunteer Police Cadets raise £1,000 in sponsorship for their units.

Teenaged cadets from the units based in Street and Taunton spent seven hours behind bars to raise the funds.

Cadet team leader Mark Bell organised the event to raise money to buy equipment for the units. He said: “About 20 of our cadets volunteered to get a taste of what it’s like to be on the wrong side of the law, with another ten acting as police and detention officers.

"They spent the day at the disused custody suite at Taunton police station, experiencing being handcuffed, booked in, having DNA and fingerprints taken, searched and being put in a cell."

The Avon and Somerset Police cadet scheme is run on sponsorship with volunteers giving up their time to run the units.

Details: www.avonandsomerset.police.uk

PAGE 68 • MENDIP TIMES • JANUARY 2016

Fete’s donations

DESPITE a wet August Bank Holiday weekend, the Whitchurch Village Fete committee was able to donate cheques to 11 local charities/organisations at their presentation evening at Whitchurch Royal British Legion.

Pictured is Shaolin Wushu star, Lewis Jones, whose whole family are involved in the fete weekend.

Exploring is fun

OVER 200 badges, representing activities and challenges completed, were awarded to members of the Saxon Explorer Unit recently at their annual awards night in Midsomer Norton, including eight Duke of Edinburgh silver awards and ten bronze awards.

Explorer leader, Neil Harrington, said, “The young people plan their own programme of activities and camps, and the leaders’ role is to make all of them happen. There are loads of opportunities for fun and developing new skills.”

Details: www.facebook.com/SaxonESU

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Village calendar

COMMUNITY

Bookworms go underground

Young volunteers celebrate at Wookey Hole Caves

COMPTON Dando Community Association, which raises money for local charities, has brought out a calendar of local photographs taken by villagers. Members, Alice Prescott (left) and Alison ter Haar are pictured with their photos.

Details: The calendars cost £5 each, call Liz 01761 490487 or 07766 203271.

Police awards honour Kevin

STREET-based police officer Kevin Stoodley, who died earlier this year days before his 41st birthday, has been posthumously honoured with the title of best beat manager in the annual Avon and Somerset Neighbourhood Policing Awards.

The awards, jointly hosted Police and Crime Commissioner Sue Mountstevens and Avon and Somerset Constabulary, aim to reward members of the police “family” for their hard work in ensuring communities are safe and feel safe.

Members of the public were invited to nominate police officers, staff and volunteers who had gone above and beyond the call of duty, shown commitment or dedication or made a difference in their community.

Kevin died suddenly in March after suffering a suspected heart attack while on duty, leaving a wife Emma and children Tyler, 17, Kai, 11 and six-year-old Sapphira. He grew up in Street and worked as a police officer in the area for 12 years.

Kevin’s nomination form said: “Kevin was a community bobby and everything a police officer should be. He was seen cleaning community gardens, at many a council meeting and always on the beat. He was very well known and as a community we will miss him.”

YOUNG people from all over Somerset who had spent their summer volunteering in libraries have celebrated their achievements at Wookey Hole Caves.

Following Somerset Libraries’ successful Summer Reading Challenge all 89 young people who had volunteered were invited to spend the day at the attraction with their families.

The nationwide challenge encouraged children to read six library books during the school summer holidays while collecting stickers. The volunteers helped out with the challenge by helping children to pick out books, engaging with them about the books they had read and enjoyed, handing out the rewards of stickers, posters and medals, reading stories to the children and organising craft activities.

This year, 7,937 children in Somerset took part in the Record Breakers-themed challenge.

Good luck Eileen!

FRIENDS and colleagues at Radstock Museum have said a fond farewell to long-standing volunteer Eileen Thomas. The retired nurse is leaving the Mendip area to move to the North West of England.

New kitchen

The village of Witham Friary, near Frome, has been awarded £10,000 from the Big Lottery fund for new kitchen facilities at its village hall. It’s one of 46 projects in the South West awarded a total of £1.1million.

MENDIP TIMES • JANUARY 2016 • PAGE 69

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CAVING is not a competitive sport, but there is friendly rivalry between the various teams of diggers, who try to find and extend the Mendip With PHILIP underground.

HENDY Occasionally, they succeed, and once a year we gather at the centre of the caving universe, the Hunters’ Lodge Inn at Priddy, to reveal to all our triumphs and sometimes misfortunes.

An award is given to the team which has found the most new cave in the last 12 months. It has to be surveyed and accredited, and must have been found under Mendip or Somerset, or Scotland.

The JRat Award, as it is called, is given in memory of Tony Jarratt, who would have been 67 on November 21st, had he sadly not died seven years ago. Tony lived for digging and was credited with many discoveries around the world, although his main loves were Mendip and Scotland.

Fittingly, this time the event was held on his birthday.

The winner this year was the Home Close Hole digging team, who have recently connected this dig to Wigmore Swallet, entering the cave at Young Blood’s Inlet. The dig was instigated and supervised by Tony just before he died in August 2008 and followed a radiolocation exercise which placed Young Blood’s Inlet under a ridge between three shakeholes to the south of the Wigmore Swallet entrance, some 280 metres away.

The surveyed length of the cave discovered this year is 309 metres. Much of the dig was in mudstone and conglomerate, so the cave passages were small, and unpredictable, unlike those we usually see in limestone. Eventually a roomy 26 metre pitch was discovered, at the bottom of which a constricted passage led to a pool.

The roof of this was raised and beyond a diver’s line reel was found, proving that the diggers had entered the original cave.

This will allow future diggers in Wigmore to avoid having to dive nine long and awkward sumps, although access will not be easy. The award, a brass entrenching tool mounted on a plinth, was presented by Stuart McManus, one of Tony’s lifelong friends, to Tony Audsley, one of the foremost of the Home Close diggers. Tony

26m pitch in Home Close Hole

then gave an illustrated talk on the way the dig was operated and the discoveries to date.

There have been other significant and interesting discoveries in the past year. At Thrupe Lane, the original stream was diverted many years ago along the side of the road to allow better use of the field.

Simon Meade-King described how, in 1967, there was a large collapse at the place where the stream disappeared underground; this drew the attention of cavers, who dug and eventually found Thrupe Lane Swallet.

An adit was blasted into the side of the depression to provide a dry route into the cave, avoiding the stream sink, but over the years the pit silted up and water began to enter the caver’s entrance. Floods brought

(Photograph by Duncan Simey)

R e ce nt di s c o v er i es u nd er M en di p

down debris, which broke the gate, and choked the passage. It was thought that the water may in the past have seeped underground farther upstream and a dig, Hobnail Hole, was initiated. Several collapses along the bank of the stream were investigated, before a 15 metre shaft was excavated, following a fault plane.

Blasting eventually led the cavers to a void filled with loose boulders. A choked rift here was dug to a six metre shaft. One route at the bottom led to a small chamber, while another led to a chamber decorated with aragonite formations, the Dairy. Two parallel potholes were found, and running water was heard.

Further digging led to a five metre pitch, at the bottom of which there is a boulder chamber. It is thought that this is not far

Phil has been caving for more than 47 years and is a member of the Wessex Cave Club. He has been involved in produ

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above Atlas Pot, a 60 metre shaft in Thrupe Lane Swallet. The dig is currently around 33 metres deep and the diggers are working down in a stream.

Cutler’s Green Sinkholes were described

by Estelle Sandford. Eight shafts, some quite roomy, were exposed in a limestone pavement when the landowner tried to build a fishpond on the site. The water vanished, and in trying to find out why, the pavement and shafts were found by a digger. This dig started in 2012, when the landowner invited cavers to investigate.

They brought in a five-metre digger in July 2015 and at the bottom of one shaft, 40 metres of passage was found. This had a scalloped roof, with mud formations. Later, a digger with an 18-metre reach was used to lower the shaft. This has now been laddered, and they are ten metres into a passage at the bottom. In total, 107 metres of passage has been found, some 67 metres in the latest dig site.

Chris Binding described two digs in Grebe Swallet, a cave modified by 18th century miners in search of lead. He has had around 70 helpers over the year, most of whom only attended once. The digs are rather squalid! Perdition Dig leads off the bottom of the Eight Fathom Shaft, to the south-east of Sidcot Passage. The Abode of Abaddon is at the lower part of the cave. It is hoped that this may lead to a large void, found and described by Cornish miners when they enlarged nearby Stainsby’s Shaft in the 1840s, but The audience

CAVING

Tony Audsley receiving the award from Stuart McManus

since lost to collapses.

Several other digs sites have revealed new passages, but they will have to wait for a later date. The award evening was very well attended by cavers from Mendip clubs and beyond, and most talks were accompanied by slide presentations and

short video clips.

This annual event is a great way of bringing everyone up to date with the latest discoveries, and is a wonderful opportunity for meeting up with old friends and talking over past adventures over a pint or two.

d in producing several caving publications and is a caving instructor in Cheddar. His main interest is digging for new caves.

MENDIP TIMES • JANUARY 2016 • PAGE 71

(Photography by Phil Hendy)

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MENDIP TIMES

How to choose your estate agent SELLING your home can be one of the most stressful events to happen in your life and can rank alongside getting divorced, dealing with death or getting married. With estate agents ranking as the fourth least trustworthy profession after politicians, journalists and bankers, it is not very surprising that people find appointing an estate agent a daunting prospect.

The agent you decide upon will be entrusted with handling your most valuable asset and you must trust them and get on with them.

You must feel confident that they are batting for you and that they will go that extra mile to ensure success.

A good agent must have the right tools of marketing in place with ready and waiting buyers on the books and a pro-active approach. Promoting a property as widely as possible is key with attention to detail given to written and online material. The quality of viewings and the information provided to potential buyers is of huge importance and the successful agent will be the one who has local knowledge, knows the property and location well and can build trust in the viewer at an early stage.

A bad agent will start with a high valuation and then talk it down once instructed whilst a good agent will demonstrate a knowledge of the local market and an ability to give honest and transparent valuation advice.

Many sellers do not realise that there is much more to selling a

PAGE 72 • MENDIP TIMES • JANUARY 2016

property than merely taking a photograph, preparing a brochure, placing a description on-line and erecting a ‘For Sale’ board.

There are agents who are good at publicity and matching buyers to properties but the hard work of an agent begins when a sale has been agreed and it is incredible how many agents give this little priority.

Agreed sales can come under pressure for a variety of reasons including withdrawn offers, failed valuations, delayed contracts, difficult surveys as well as frayed emotions. To overcome the challenges, all good estate agents should possess excellent communication and organisational skills and demonstrate tenacity and diplomacy. This is the benefit of appointing a multidisciplined agency, such as Killens, who can provide advice on a range of matters from obtaining planning permission to disposing of surplus furniture.

Selecting an agent who is a member of a professional body such as the RICS gives peace of mind and, whilst appointing an online agent to avoid fees may seem enticing, the savings are quickly lost when lower sale prices are achieved or sales fall through.

If you are considering selling in 2016, then do your research before appointing an agent and be cautious in selecting an agent just because they say they are good or because they produce the highest valuation. An agency formed of friendly, professional and knowledgeable staff who are focussed on helping you to achieve your objectives is likely to deliver success so hopefully you may consider Killens as the agent you appoint!

Tom Killen

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Farm with a view of the Channel

PROPERTY

COTTAGE Farm is on the market with David James & Partners at Wrington for the first time for 40 years! It has a wonderful elevated setting on Broadfield Down, previously described in a 1955 brochure “as one of the healthiest areas in the County of Somerset’!

Certainly there is a lot of space and wonderful skies to view from the house and land with a vista spanning the Mendips from east to west, along Blackdown to Crooks Peak and beyond to the coast and Steepholm Island. It offers seclusion just two miles from the A38 and Bristol Airport.

The property is being sold as a whole or in lots with up to 28 acres available.

The house was originally two cottages and the two staircases remain – it has four double bedrooms, a first-floor bathroom, kitchen with Aga, laundry room and two reception rooms, one with open fireplace the other with a wood burner.

There are several adjoining stores and cloakrooms and it lends itself to extension and modernisation (subject to planning permission).

There are several agricultural buildings, stores, cubicle shed and chicken sheds. There is also a detached stone barn.

The land to the south of the drive is good pasture and gently slopes away from the house – it comprises three fields: 6.22 acres, 8.41 acres and 11.78 acres with a small paddock to the front of the house and the yard amounting to 2.35 acres.

New appointment at David James & Partners

DAVID James & Partners Ltd have announced the appointment of a new rural surveyor in their Wrington office.

Richard Appleyard joins the team with a broad experience in planning and development, valuations, AMC finance, rural agency and general rural professional work.

Richard was born and bred on his family’s pig, sheep, beef and arable farm in Clutton, on the edge of the Chew Valley, which he has also helped diversify into commercial lettings and property development.

Richard Nancekivell, director at the Wrington office, said: “We are delighted to welcome Richard to the firm and consider that he is particularly well placed to service our rural client base.”

LOXTON, WEST MENDIPS

WEST ROLSTONE, NORTH SOMERSET

A large detached period farmhouse located in the centre of the village with views to Crooks Peak. Walled gardens and orchard, ample parking and detached stone and tile garage. Kitchen with Aga, three/four reception rooms with open fireplaces, four large double bedrooms, bath and shower rooms, cloakroom and utility. Some TLC required. EPC: F Ref: 24899.

PRICE GUIDE £595,000

A substantial detached period Grade II farmhouse requiring modernisation yet retaining many period features. Four bedrooms; three receptions; flagged floors, beams & fireplaces! Additional detached stone and tile barn with great potential (subject to PP), other outbuildings, extensive yard area and 1.6 acres of garden, paddock and orchard. Epc: exempt. Ref: 24945/1 PRICE GUIDE £560,000

Wrington Tel: 01934 864300 MENDIP TIMES • JANUARY 2016 • PAGE 73

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MENDIP TIMES

RNLI aids flood victims

New cup celebrates 50th anniversary of carnival

NEWS

RNLI flood rescue team volunteers from Weston-super-Mare joined emergency services from across the country to help people caught up in floods in Cumbria. The volunteers operating in Carlisle and Cockermouth evacuated over 300 people.

The local volunteers included Nigel Congram and Liam McDermott. The RNLI put in five flood rescue teams to help.

Don Clifford and carnival committee members receive the new cup from Freddie Saul and mother Monty

ORGANISERS of Shepton Mallet Carnival have been presented with a new cup to mark the golden anniversary of the annual spectacular.

The Kilver Court Carnival Anniversary Cup will be awarded each year to the winner of the Class One Open Tableau category, won this year by Pentathlon Carnival Club.

Carnival chairman Don Clifford said: “This is a very special year for us and it is generous of Kilver Court to support our fabulous local carnival with the sponsorship of such a splendid new 50th anniversary cup.”

Freddie Saul, CEO at Kilver Court, said: “It’s an amazing yearly event that brings the whole town together creating a spirit of community and altruism, both of which are needed in today’s society.”

Chew Stoke centurion

WIN Ogborne celebrated her 100th birthday on December 10th at Chilly Hill, Chew Stoke with family and friends. She was one of eight sisters born at Pixie Hall Farm, Ubley.

Growing up she worked on the farm and helped make cheese which she and her father would take to Castle Cary railway station.

She married Walter Ogborne on October 26th, 1946 at Nempnett Thrubwell Church and moved to Chilly Hill where she went on to have five children. She now has ten grandchildren and three great grandchildren.

PAGE 74 • MENDIP TIMES • JANUARY 2016

Don Clifford with Freddie Saul and the new carnival cup

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Praise for volunteer drivers

MOTORING

For servicing, repairs and sales of all makes of caravans and motorhomes

Volunteer drivers meet up at the event in Shepton Mallet

THE role of volunteer drivers who provide transport for eligible non-emergency NHS patients and social care users has been celebrated at two annual “thank you” events in Shepton Mallet and Taunton.

Around 200 people currently act as volunteers for the service, run by Somerset County Council. Anyone can be a volunteer driver – the criteria are to be over 18, have use of your own fourdoor vehicle, and hold a full UK driving licence with no more than six points. Successful recruits can claim back up to 50p per mile for expenses. Demand for the service is growing across the county.

For details, call Somerset You Can Do on 01278 664180, or visit: www.somerset.gov.uk/volunteering

Gift to cut speed

AN ex-police training motorcycle will have a new role in providing safety training to motorcycle enthusiasts in the Cheddar area.

The bike, a Honda Deville 650cc, which is known for being small, light and easily manoeuvrable vehicle, was originally intended to be sold by Avon and Somerset Police at auction.

Avon and Somerset Police and Crime Commissioner Sue Mountstevens presented the decommissioned motorcycle to the Cheddar Valley branch of the Institute of Advanced Motorcyclists.

The machine – along with a grant from the Road Safety Initiative Fund – will be used by the CVAM to train motorcyclists from across the Avon and Somerset region.

For more information about Cheddar Valley Advanced Motorists visit www.cvam.org.uk

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G Caravan Servicing G Annual Habitation Checks G Alu-Tech Bailey Approved Repairers G Warranty Maintained G Damp Repairs G Accident Repairs G Insurance Repairs G Accessory Fitting

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Open Monday - Friday 9am–5pm; Saturday 9am–1pm

Marchants Hill, Gurney Slade BA3 4TY Call: 01749 841051 Mob: 07778 465520 Email: sales@caravanrepairs-sw.co.uk MENDIP TIMES • JANUARY 2016 • PAGE 75

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MENDIP TIMES

PUBLOW

BINEGAR

Christmas at Rookery Farm

Chloe, Jess, Charlie and Millie by the crafts table

A CHANGE of venue proved a huge success as Publow Church funds swelled by £1,716 thanks to the Christmas market being held in the church itself rather than the usual church rooms. The first market of the New Year will be on Saturday February 6th.

Father Christmas paid a visit to Mendip Auction Rooms and soon made friends with Toby the dog

Janet Smith, Jean McMahon, Gillian Wookey and Jo Bamford manning the home baking and preserves stall

PENSFORD

Staying Evergreen

PENSFORD Evergreen Club ended their 2015 season with a massive draw and party and now break up for the rest of the winter. Members meet every Thursday, 7pm-9pm at Pensford Hall, where they enjoy entertainment from a variety of artists and welcome anyone over the age of 50.

Details: Robert Bailey 01761 490639

PAGE 76 • MENDIP TIMES • JANUARY 2016

Youngsters Indi and Boheme ran a toy stall at Paws to Claws. They are pictured with Ella (front left) and Jaz Jones and Emma Green from the grooming parlour, pet food and accessories shop

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WEDMORE

CHRISTMAS EVENTS

Burtle Silver Band Carols around the Christmas tree

Kings of Wessex School

Wedmore guides provided soup

A fire juggler in the Borough Mall

This Christmas pudding came from Mudgley

A giant Christmas tree - one of the street entertainers MENDIP TIMES • JANUARY 2016 • PAGE 77

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HOMES & INTERIORS

DB Joinery – leading the way

DB JOINERY say they’re pleased to announce that following the installation of their new state-of-the-art tenoning machine, they are now able to produce bespoke, energy efficient, ‘A’ rated windows.

This follows months of preparation, training and, finally, audits undertaken by the company to meet the strict thermal energy performance guidelines stipulated by the BFRC (British Fenestration Ratings Council).

Nick Carter, managing director said: “We are extremely excited to be leading the field in this area. Up until now, this type of window has been produced predominantly in the UPVC sector and we are pleased to be able to bring it to the timber market.”

PAGE 78 • MENDIP TIMES • JANUARY 2016

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JACKSONS

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

Giving hedgehogs a helpful hole . . .

The new hedgehog friendly gravelboard from Jacksons will help our prickly friends to roam from garden to garden and forage more easily, keeping off the roads. Find full details on these and all our products by going to your dedicated page www.jacksonsfencing.co.uk/bathlocal

YOU must have been completely out of circulation recently if you have not heard about the plight of the humble hedgehog.

These appealing little chaps, who are commonly considered the gardener’s friend because they feed on some of the pests in the garden, have suffered a severe decline in numbers. The current population is estimated to be around 25% down in the last decade, which may mean there are only a million or so left.

This may be caused by a reduction in their natural habitat, the countryside.

Which means more of them are resorting to living in towns, where unfortunately a whole raft of new threats exists. The most obvious is getting run over by vehicles – possibly 50,000 come to grief on roads.

We all know that the hedgehog’s first defence mechanism is to curl up, so they present a prickly ball, not many predators will find an attractive proposition. Sadly this doesn’t work in any way to deter cars, they just squash them!

The list of bad stuff that can happen to hedgies (as I like to call them) is lengthy: many drown in garden ponds because we don’t think of putting something in there to help any hapless creatures climb out.

They are also poisoned by careless gardeners who still haven’t cottoned on to the fact that slugs eat slug pellets, slugs are then eaten by hedgehogs, then hedgehogs die a very nasty death from poison!

The list continues with getting trapped in netting, which can result in horrific injuries when they try to escape, being

burnt in bonfires that seem to be a nice place to make home, until it is set on fire, and apparently strimming accidents are fairly common too.

So what can we do to help? We can avoid leaving netting around for them to get caught in, also check carefully before strimming that there aren’t any animals that will get hurt when you let rip with the machine, and check the bonfire hasn’t become a hedgie hotel. If you have to use slug pellets, please find a wildlife friendly version that isn’t going to harm any animals.

If you are of a kind nature you could try feeding them a little cat food and don’t forget the water.

Hedgehogs used to be able to move much more freely between gardens, finding a variety of locations to feed and make a home. Nowadays we are all a lot keener on fencing in our properties, and sturdy gravelboards at the bottom of fence panels probably have put an abrupt stop to many an established hedgie run.

Here at Jacksons we’ve tried to find a way to help our spiky friends, we’ve created the hedgehog friendly gravelboard.

It is the same as a normal gravelboard, but it has a hole at one end, large enough to allow them free passage, with a reinforcing strip along the top of the board to ensure it isn’t weakened by the hole.

It may seem a small and simple move on our part to try to redress the balance. We know there will probably only be a small percentage of our customers that will opt for installing one of these boards in their

WIN £300 OF JACKSONS VOUCHERS To enter the free prize draw and be in with a chance to win £300 of Jacksons vouchers simply log on to your dedicated page, address below and follow the easy instructions on how to enter. The draw closes 29.2.16.

To enter go to: www.jacksonsfencing.co.uk/bathlocal

fence run, but it will give us, as a company, the chance to talk about the hedgehog decline to our customers and anyone else who will listen. The sincere hope is that it will help to make a difference.

One last word to the dissenters, who immediately shout out that having a hole in the gravelboard will encourage rats. My response is, if you’ve got rats, a gravelboard will not deter them. They are prolific climbers and they have a special squishy skeleton (there is a scientific name for this, but I refuse to look it up!), the flexibility of their bone structure allows them to squeeze through unfeasibly-sized cracks, so a gravelboard won’t put them off, they will simply climb over the fence, or burrow under! louise@jacksons-fencing.co.uk Special thanks to all at www.lordwhisky.co.uk for their help with the hedgehog photo shoot.

For info on any of Jacksons products or brochures please call 0800 408 4754 to talk to your local Jacksons Fencing Centre.

MENDIP TIMES • JANUARY 2106 • PAGE 79

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Another successful year SIMON Moody, director of Shuttercraft Somerset, says he is delighted with the response from customers during the last year. They exclusively supply and install S-Craft products.

He said: “We believe it is the market leader for quality and what our customers particularly like about us is our attention to detail and focus on customer

D.R. CARPETS

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satisfaction. Choosing to install plantation shutters is an investment, both in terms of the stylish look and the thermal benefits in winter and summer.”

Shuttercraft supply plantation and solid shutters, Pure Wood venetian blinds and honeycell blinds to domestic and business customers in and around the area. Simon said: “With our ‘Love Shutters 2016’ promotion running from Boxing Day – Valentine’s Day offering a 20% discount, it is the perfect time to request a free survey and quote. Come and visit us online via the website, Facebook, Twitter, Pinterest or Instagram and have your say about the world of shutters and interiors.”

Tony Hucker TV Service – Sales – Rental

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01275 332888 www.tonyhuckertv.co.uk Email: tony@tonyhuckertv.co.uk Unit 4, Fairseat Workshops, Chew Stoke BS40 8XF Open: Mon – Thurs 9.00am – 6.00pm Fri – 9.00am – 5.30pm

PAGE 80 • MENDIP TIMES • JANUARY 2016

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HOMES & INTERIORS Telephone: 01761 417654 Facsimile: 01761 417207 email: office@techniglaze.co.uk www.techniglaze.co.uk

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PAGE 82 • MENDIP TIMES • JANUARY 2016

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Kingfisher prepares for anniversary

HOMES & INTERIORS

Next year is going to be a very special year for the window and conservatory family firm of Kingfisher.

IT was back in 1986 that John Fisher set up the company and the values that he put in place then are still firmly embodied in Kingfisher’s philosophy, 30 years on.

“Dad taught us well”, says his daughter and now managing director Angie Hicks, “back in the 1980s ‘double glazing ‘companies (as they were then known) had a terrible reputation for high pressure sales techniques and very dubious pricing policies. Sadly many companies still operate this way today.

“It was Dad’s view that customers should be treated as friends, honestly and fairly. Everyone at Kingfisher absolutely buys into this way of doing business and the loyalty of our customers is affirmation that he had it very right.”

Whilst 2015 was a record year for Kingfisher, there is never any complacency in the company. Financial Director Michelle McQuarrie sums it up like this: “We are only as good as our last job and a reputation that has taken years to build can be severely compromised by one mistake. Of course unforeseen problems do occur, but we will never consider a job completed until the customer is completely happy.”

One of the reasons for Kingfisher’s success is its showroom at East Brent. In a warm and welcoming environment,

customers can browse the wide range of options Kingfisher offers and ask for advice without feeling they are under any obligation. In the autumn and winter months the log burner makes an attractive focal point and in the spring and summer customers can relax in the delightful gardens, lovingly maintained by another of John’s daughters, Debbie.

Whatever the season, cups of tea and biscuits are always available and if you’re very lucky you may just arrive on a day when Angie (aka Mary Berry) brings in some of her home-made cakes.

Certainly those cakes will be there later in the year when Kingfisher will be celebrating its 30th birthday in style.

Director, Peter Hicks, said: “It will be great day. We are lining up some very special attractions and it really will be a wonderful time for the Fisher family and the many customers who have become friends over the years.”

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01761 241387 www.pennyplant.com MENDIP TIMES • JANUARY 2016 • PAGE 83

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MENDIP TIMES

In their own words – the history of a Mendip village

VOLUNTEERS have completed a remarkable project to record the memories of residents of Witham Friary village from before the Second World War. Members of the Witham Friary History Project interviewed residents over a threeyear period to see how life has changed over the decades.

Now they have published a book called Village Voices which feature transcripts of 12 residents covering everything from farming to football and from romance to the railway line.

Village Voices also captures many of the local terms – some thought to be unique to that part of Mendip – in a glossary. History group chairman Chris Chapman used his passion for photography to capture sometimes intimate portraits of the villagers to complement their own old photographs.

Chris said: “The stories they told us are gold dust; I loved listening to them and to the old boys’ tales some of them which we couldn’t repeat.”

Village Voices was launched at the village’s landmark Seymour Arms inn which was packed for the occasion. The project is part of the Witham Friary History Society, a charity, which organises talks and other events in the village hall.

Chris added: “We are going to continue the oral history of Witham Friary; there are at least another ten people we’d like to talk to.”

Chris Chapman discusses the book over a pint at the Seymour Arms

Witham Friary football team 1979-80. Contributor Robert Ludgate is pictured bottom left in the front row

Launch night for the book

Village Voices by the Witham Friary History Project and with a foreword by award-winning novelist and resident Andrew Miller is published by Withambooks and is available from the Seymour Arms priced £10. For details of the society’s meetings for 2016, visit: www.withamfriary.org.uk

PAGE 84 • MENDIP TIMES • JANUARY 2016

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HISTORY

Raise high the roofbeams

By Mark Adler

HISTORY is being recreated at the Avalon Marshes visitor centre at Shapwick with the construction of two replica buildings.

An Anglo-Saxon long hall made entirely of timber is being built alongside a Romano-British house, both of which will add to the centre’s educational and visitor facilities.

The projects are being carried out by South West Heritage Trust staff, Hands on Heritage volunteers and the Carpenters Fellowship and are part of a gradual transformation of the centre, home to the Avalon Marshes Landscape Partnership which is responsible for the four national nature reserves.

Unlike the Romans, who used stone and mortar for building construction, the Anglo Saxons used timber for most of their buildings. The hall – based on finds from Cheddar – has been built using green timber from Dulverton.

Richard Brunning, from the trust, said the hall would typically have been a feasting and meeting place as part of a royal estate.

The Roman building is constructed partly out of reclaimed Otterton sandstone from the remains of a Roman villa discovered on the site of the Cannington Bypass and features a typical hypercaust heating system.

Tanya Camberwell, from the Trust, said: “This exciting project has been made possible by funding from the Heritage Lottery Fund, through the Avalon Marshes Landscape Partnership, and a lot of hard graft by South West Heritage Trust staff and volunteers.

“When completed the Anglo-Saxon long hall and the RomanoBritish replica building, which is also under construction, will provide an important educational and visitor resource at the Avalon Marshes Centre.”

Tanya added: “The coming few months will be incredibly busy

at the centre. We are expecting lots of visitors for the spectacular starling murmurations and our HLF funding comes to an end.”

G A crowdfunding appeal to build a new hide at Shapwick Heath has exceeded its £20,000 target. As reported in December’s Mendip Times, Natural England set a deadline of December 8th to raise the funds. Simon Clarke, from NE, said pledges included: “A very generous pledge from a local supporter who wishes to remain anonymous.”

Any excess funds will go towards building a boardwalk at the base of the hide, put in interpretation and also make the hide more comfortable for all visitors.

Richard Brunning and Tanya Camberwell from the South West Heritage Trust

(Photo courtesy of Hands on Heritage volunteer Rod Liddle)

It’s not all hard work – volunteers carved a canoe from a tree trunk and put it to the test

Volunteers Paul and Sophie Rich, from Weston-super-Mare, with some of the roof trusses for the Romano-British house

(Photo courtesy of Natural England volunteer Rob Balch)

Otters at Shapwick Heath

An artist’s impression of the completed hall – the roof will be covered in wooden shingles MENDIP TIMES • JANUARY 2016 • PAGE 85

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WRINGTON

Amplify singers based in Backwell Explorers and scouts

There was a Dickensian theme

Sculptor Mat Thorneywork uses scrap materials

Part of the crowd

Explorers and scouts

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CHRISTMAS EVENTS

MIDSOMER NORTON

Singers entertain

Owl Class Nativity Play at Leigh on Mendip First School

STREET

Knitting for Christmas

Pictured (ltor) Eileen Woodward, Audrey Crowe, Coryn Farmer and Jill Webb

STREET and Glastonbury U3A sponsored a Christmas tree at St John’s Festival of Christmas trees for the first time this year.

The decorations were knitted representations of all the elements and figures in the 12 days of Christmas, all hand made by the knitting group which is led by Audrey Crowe.

STANTON DREW

Everyone had fun at Stanton Drew primary school's Christmas fair which raised just over £900 for school funds. The photo shows Rowan and Isaac having a go at making Christmas decorations.

STUDENTS from the Radstock-based Bath Dance Academy entertained visitors to the Midsomer Norton Hub’s Christmas party.

The hub is run by the charity Age UK Bath and North East Somerset and meets at the Masonic lodge in Redfield Road. The party was sponsored by local bakers Muffins and Sainsbury’s.

GLASTONBURY

Holy Thorn ceremony

BEREN Roberts, aged seven, cuts the traditional sprig of Holy Thorn to be sent to the Queen from the tree in the churchyard of St John’s Church in Glastonbury.

He is pictured with Denise Michell, the mayor of Glastonbury, and St John’s vicar, the Rev. David MacGeoch.

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Musical Mendip

YOUNG people aged between ten and 17 took part in Cheddar Valley’s Got Talent, a music competition organised by the Rotary Club of Mendip which took place at Kings of Wessex Academy.

The best under-13 entrant was Marishelle Harris with her piano playing of Moody Prawn Blues by Franklyn Gellnick. The senior competition was won by Phoebe Lynch, a trumpeter, who played Slavonic Fantasy

by Carl Höhne. Phoebe will go on to take part in the district competition in 2016.

Organiser Maggie Steel said: “We have had a wonderful evening’s entertainment, showing that there is a great deal of musical talent in the Cheddar Valley.”

Wedmore rocks

A NEW band has been rocking the village of Wedmore with a mix of great covers from the likes of Eric Clapton, Blondie and The Jam. Kindred Spirit is a five-piece from the Wedmore and Cheddar area and band members include a hairdresser, school teacher, local piano teacher and a businessman.

Guitarist Ian Scott and drummer Clive Millar have both played in bands before – but this was 20 years ago. The other band members are Helen Sayer on keyboards and vocalists Fran Crandon and Jonathan Weller.

Details: iandscott@me.com or call 01934 710683.

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Christmas carols

THE Street Men choir opened Jon Thorner’s Christmas open evening for the third year running with Christmas carols. The event raised funds for the YMCA and attracted big crowds despite appalling weather.

Grand organ recital

PRIOR Park College student and music scholar Edmund Mortimer recently attended a course run by The Royal College of Organists, his second such trip, in London.

He played the fine and contrasting organs at Holy Trinity, Sloane Square, St Mary's, Bourne Street and the Royal Hospital Chelsea, under specialist tutors, and ended the day with a chance to play the Grand Organ at Westminster Cathedral.

Edmund is one of a number of students practising the organ at Prior Park College after developing an interest in the instrument through his music studies. He has now been playing for several years under the tutelage of director of music Roland Robertson.

Mr Robertson said: “This was a remarkable opportunity for Edmund; to play the Grand Organ at Westminster Cathedral is an unforgettable experience and one that will surely encourage Edmund in his future musical endeavours.”

Along with other student organists of Mr Robertson, Edmund will be giving an organ recital on the mighty Klais organ in Bath Abbey on February 25th next year.

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MUSIC

Choral concert in Winscombe

Jackdaws tipped for award

THE Levens Choir at their concert in St James's Church, Winscombe, which they ended with a modern day interpretation of Purcell's Dido and Aeneas

Talmans are in tune

Contestants, Rotarians and judges at the competition in Frome

BROTHER-and-sister Eliza and Stan Talman made it a family one-two in the Rotary Club of Frome’s Young Musician Competition.

Held at Selwood Academy in the town, 13 contestants aged from nine to 17 impressed judges Lyndy and Kerry Bishop.

Eliza, 14, was the overall winner with Stan, 12, in second place. Eliza will now go on to compete in Rotary’s regional competition which will be held in February.

Festival music

MEMBERS of Peasedown St John Methodist Church have new musical equipment thanks to a donation of £250 from the village’s Party in the Park festival, which has given £7,000 to local organisations since it started in 2010.

THE Jackdaws Music Education Trust, based at Great Elm, near Frome, is set for a top award for its work in spreading the word about opera to young people.

Its Jackdaws OperaPLUS programme has been nominated in the Music Teacher Awards for Excellence in the category Best Classical Music Education Initiative, sponsored by Classic FM. OperaPLUS was the first of many projects created and set up

by Jackdaws Artistic Director, Saffron van Zwanenberg.

She said: “Children and young people should have a positive experience of opera and benefit from the well documented effects of participating in music. Young artists receive training and experience in community and education work, in a supported and career enhancing way and hard to reach communities have access to high quality opera in an accessible and affordable setting.”

OperaPLUS brings together primary school children and professional opera singers from Jackdaws Young Artist programme, to perform full-length versions of well-known operas, sung in English.

The first OperaPLUS production was The Magic Flute by Mozart in June 2010, with one performance in Frome involving three local schools. Since then, the project has developed yearon-year so that this year OperaPLUS was able to present the most ambitious production yet.

Working with 14 schools from across Somerset, Jackdaws delivered five performances of the Stylist of Somerset (Rossini’s Barber of Seville) in different areas throughout the county.

Next year it will continue to build on its past successes by presenting Donizetti’s The Love Potion (L’elisir d’amore) with five performances including 18 schools. Each school will work with the cast and production team to prepare their music for the performance and are supported with a free set of resources including sheet music and recordings of their parts, all downloadable from the Jackdaws website.

Jackdaws Music Education Trust was founded in 1993 by mezzosoprano Maureen Lehane. For over 20 years it has been delivering high-quality music education to children and amateur musicians across Somerset through its yearround programme of weekend courses, projects and concerts.

Details: www.jackdaws.org.uk

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WINSCOMBE

Santa with his helpers Ella Farron and Tia Roberts

All ages enjoyed the fairground ride

Winscombe Community Choir St. James's Church handbell ringers

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Part of the crowd

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PENSFORD

Pensford Memorial Hall's annual Christmas Fair exceeded all expectations, this year raising £800 for hall funds. Santa is pictured with his helpers Vic Spicer, Laura Baxter and Lisa Cains.

BLAGDON

Santa flies the Milky Way

CHRISTMAS EVENTS

CLUTTON

These children were getting in the mood for Christmas at Clutton Cabin pre-school’s Christmas Craft afternoon which raised £438 for pre-school funds. It was held in Clutton Village Hall with the help of Clutton Social Club. Pictured are Amy (left) who was helping to run the tombola stall, with customers Izzy and Luke.

BISHOP SUTTON

Rainbows, brownies, and guides all came together for Wrington Girlguiding’s Christmas Fair, which featured an unusual grotto made by guide leaders out of 680 empty milk bottles!

Max and Ollie with the tombola run by Joan Rockliffe

The annual Christmas Fair in Blagdon raised nearly £1,000 for Weston Hospicecare and the Red Cross Syrian refugee appeal.

The hospice’s Blagdon and Wrington support group will be holding a collection of re-saleable items for the hospice in the village club on January 30th, 10am-12noon.

Bishop Sutton Primary School PTA chair, Lisa Vowles, said she was delighted with the £1,000 raised at the school's family Christmas crafts afternoon for PTA funds. Nancy, Nancy and Anna are pictured on the teddy bear stall.

Sutton Theatre Company in Bishop Sutton surpassed itself with its latest pantomime, the traditional Jack and the Beanstalk, which had the kids participating from their front row seats, shouting at the characters what to do next.

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New Year resolution: take up riding for the ultimate health work out!

WITH New Year galloping hard upon the heels of Christmas, it’s time to consider those New Year resolutions.

Popular goals focus on health improvement (whether mental, physical, spiritual or emotiona) through exercising more, eating less, taking up a new challenge and/or With RACHEL engaging in beneficial interaction with other THOMPSON humans, animals and the environment.

MBE According to the NHS, a mere one in ten of us will achieve our resolution goal, with most failing miserably due to a lack of planning and or willpower. Hot goal achieving tips include making only one resolution and sticking to it. So what has this got to do with horses one might ask? Well just a little half halt before you shell out for another annual gym membership. Just consider for a moment if your time and money would be better invested at your local equestrian centre or riding school.

Recently I met the inspirational Sally Hall, boss of Urchinwood Manor Equestrian Centre in Wrington. North Somerset County Instructor for the Riding for Disabled, Sally is one of only six accessibility trained national advisors. She has also participated in (and excelled at) practically every equine discipline – advanced eventing, grand prix dressage, international endurance.

Fit and full of vitality she is a great advert for the health benefits of taking up riding or renewing your acquaintance with it. Riding establishments encourage challenging and fun exercise within a sociable and friendly environment, whilst interaction with a group of well- behaved assorted equines is far better for you than you would ever believe.

Sally says that, in addition to their normal clientele, there are essentially four groups that riding centres are keen to encourage.

These include those who may have ridden as children and are often over 50, rusty riders of any age, those who have never ridden and the disabled or mentally fragile. Riding in a centre environment is a wonderful way to get slim and trim, build confidence and muscle as well as bonding with new friends both two- and four-legged.

Riders compete at Aintree

RIDERS from around the Mendips visited Aintree International Equestrian Centre having spent most of the year qualifying for the Dodson & Horrell National Amateur & Veteran Championships.

Mollie Smith, aged 15, from Draycott was placed fourth in the amateur 85cms final riding her mother’s Billy Brown. She was the highest placed of the local riders in the finals.

Mandy Bown from Green Ore had qualified for the amateur 95cm championship finals and jumped and was placed in the two warm-up classes and in the final with her own Mam Zelle Tatin finished in eighth place.

She said “I have had a wonderful week, this is a fantastic place and the show team are so friendly and helpful. The

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RIDING

Sally Hall with her horse Don Juan – a German Westphalian warmblood.

Most centres tailor make programmes for individuals, pairs of friends and groups depending on age and ability. You can ‘pick up the reins’, ‘trot to trim’, practice equine yoga as well as engaging in the better known equine sports such as show jumping, cross country and dressage. Horse and human are carefully matched and there is no need to spend a fortune on new gear just to have a go.

Turn up in boots with good heels and all the rest can usually be supplied.

Top tip for riders, Sally agrees with Clifford Baker, my interviewee from last month: just enjoy it! All the other benefits follow on from that. When choosing a riding centre it’s important to look for a safe, friendly and sociable environment whilst those who are disabled should look for the local accessibility mark to ensure they receive the care they need.

Are you feeling, unfit, overweight, stressed or unhappy or are you perhaps an older or disabled person? Make it your resolution to go and commune with horses and people at your local centre – you are safe in their hands.

organisers scheduled a quiz evening and on Saturday night a presentations dinner and dance for all of us.”

The show schedule has some fun classes and one of those was a fancy dress pairs class. Three local riders were in the prizes – Victoria Knight from Highbridge riding Universal Toyboy paired with Dorset rider Pippa Tucker, who came fifth, with Mollie Smith paired with Dominica Rogan-Pfaff from Weston-super-Mare, who were placed 6th.

Other local riders who were placed during the week were Sue Jarman of Langford riding her own Gin and Coke, Julie Milkins riding Granita II from Winscombe, Helen Buffin of Weston-super-Mare and Samantha Holroyd of Keynsham.

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An introduction to cycling on Mendip Edmund Lodite developed an early passion for cycling, growing up near the Peak District. After many years touring, it was competing in triathlons that got him into road bikes, before moving on to local sportives. More recently he’s ridden some of the major climbs in the Tour de France.

IF you’ve made a New Year’s resolution to get fitter or be healthier then what better way to start than to get your bike out and burn off the excesses from Christmas. The surrounding area offers a wide variety of cycling options including the Somerset levels, the Mendip Hills or

scenic loops around the lakes of Chew valley.

A good hill climb on your bike will definitely start to burn the calories away and get your fitness levels up. A good one to try is Highfield Lane in Compton Martin, better known as The Wrangle.

This is a narrow quiet lane suitable for both road and mountain bikes.

The Wrangle Where: Starts from the A368 at the eastern end of Compton Martin, on a bend almost opposite the village hall, about a quarter of a mile away from the Ring O’ Bells. The road sign reads ‘Highfield Lane, leading to The Wrangle’.

The Hill Climb: Make sure your legs are warmed up beforehand, by including this in a longer route, and be ready to drop down to the lower gears right straight away. It’s a relatively short hill climb of 0.8 miles with a testing gradient, remaining fairly steady, averaging out at just over 10% As soon as you start, you’ll see the lane rising and narrowing

Jens is a rowing champion

SPORT in the distance and fairly quickly you’ll be working your legs, heart and lungs.

Maintain a steady rhythm as the lane weaves from side to side. Just over half way up you pass a footpath and gate on your right and the lane eases for a short while until you reach the houses on your left. From here the hill kicks back in and with one final push you will soon reach the small crossroads and the end of the climb.

Route Options: Turn right at the crossroads for the start of an 11-mile return loop to Compton Martin. At the junction with the B3134, turn right and follow the road to a descent through Burrington Combe. When you reach the junction with the A368, turn right (signposted Bath) and follow the undulating road, through Blagdon and Ubley, back to Compton Martin. A very quick alternative to this loop is to turn left at the top of the Wrangle. When you reach the junction with Harptree Hill turn left and descend back to the A368 and then turn left again to Compton Martin.

JENS Hullah, aged 15, has won gold at the British Indoor Rowing Championships held in the velodrome at London’s Olympic park, setting a new record for his age group.

He’s only been rowing for 16 months but is now part of the Great Britain Under-23 Start programme.

The 6ft 5in Churchill School pupil is also a county rugby player with Somerset U-16s, as well as playing for Winscombe

RFC. He’s from a sporting family – his sister Maja, aged 13, rides and is an eventer, and brother Joachim, aged nine, also plays rugby at Winscombe.

They live with their parents, Steffen and Kristy, in Shipham.

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Tribute to local footballer

JOHN Fisher of Wedmore, the founder of Kingfisher Windows, was given a surprise 80th birthday party at Blackford Village Hall.

The first part of the afternoon was attended by his family – and then the real surprise took place when over 40 footballing guests started to arrive.

Veterans from Blackford and Wedmore teams ranging from 1952 to John’s coaching retirement in the late 1980s were invited to share memories. Players who hadn't seen each other for 30 years or more were soon reminiscing and no other entertainment was needed.

In 1948 John attended Lord Wondswoth College in Hampshire where his background in sport formed a huge part of his life. He joined Wedmore AFC at the age of 16. After two years’ national service he became very involved with Wedmore AFC and for many years was secretary building a very talented side that won many trophies in the Mid Somerset league.

It was during this time that John captained The Pick of the League team.

One of his fondest footballing memories is captaining the winning Wedmore team that

John with Wedmore FC Old boys (John holding original team photo)

Wedmore when they won the League cup in the 1960s

John cuts the cake, watched by his sons Kevin and Robert

won the Fred Crease Cup. Fred was a local Wedmore man and the headline in the Cheddar Valley Gazette said "Trophy is back in Wedmore after 44 years".

Towards the end of his playing career John teamed up with his cousin Bob Fear and they started the Cheddar Valley Sunday Schoolboy League. Blackford Villa was affiliated to the senior club and many boys stayed to play through the age levels

Double celebration for Don PURNELL Bowls Club held a surprise party for its chairman, Don Dart (pictured left), when the youngsters he had been coaching presented him with a cake on his 83rd birthday. The next day six of the young players competed in the School of Excellence National Competition at the Taunton Deane Indoor Bowls Club and all of them qualified for the county finals in the New Year.

PAGE 94 • MENDIP TIMES • JANUARY 2016

and senior sides which John managed until he retired.

Players from both clubs attended the party and although the rivalry between these two clubs was always very fierce the players present proved what a wonderful leveller sport is as they enjoyed each other's company immensely to conclude a wonderfully uplifting tribute to John and local football throughout the years.

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Churchill are champs

CHURCHILL School’s year-10 hockey team are champions, winning against ten teams in a recent tournament at Priory School in Weston-super-Mare.

Churchill were unbeaten in the group stages not conceding any goals. They played Sidcot in the semi-finals and won 1-0 with Martha Burford scoring the winning goal. The final was played against Gordano which finished 0-0, Churchill winning by forcing more short corners.

Churchill lost in the final on short corners last year and have gone two years in this tournament without being beaten in normal time and have only lost one of eight school games this season. Some of the girls have already forced their way into local ladies senior sides at the age 14/15years old.

Captain Maddy Bawden said: “This was an outstanding tournament for us as we never conceded a goal. The team were great from the goalie right up to the forwards. We owe a special thanks to our coach and teacher Sarah Entwhistle.”

New line-up for speedway side

THE Somerset Rebels speedway team has announced the names of the seven riders who will carry the club’s colours in the 2016 Premier League season.

Three returnees from the side which won the 2015 Premier League KO Cup will be joined by four new faces. The three riders who are retained are Australian Josh Grajczonek, who will captain the side, and the British duo of Charles Wright and Paul Starke.

Australian’s Rohan Tungate, who has joined the Rebels after spending the past four seasons with Ipswich, will be joined by fellow new faces Jake Allen, Bradley Wilson-Dean, and 17-year-old Bristolian, Zach Wajtknecht.

Club promoter Debbie Hancock has announced that the Rebels season-opening press and practice day will be staged on Friday, March 18th, but in a break from tradition, the evening session will see Somerset face Elite League Swindon in a challenge match for what will be the team’s first home match of the season at the Oaktree Arena at Edithmead, near Highbridge.

Enjoy some court action in January

WELLS Tennis Club is launching a series of coaching sessions in January aimed at beginners to the sport and people wanting to enjoy a novel way to increase their fitness.

Coaching sessions for beginners – which assume no or a little experience of the sport – will take participants through all the basic strokes and game play. Cardio tennis combines exercise, music and the opportunity to hit lots of balls. Players will get short cycles of high intensity activity and periods of rest, almost like interval training. The aim is to provide a fun, group activity where players of all abilities enjoy tennis together.

UP to 15 sessions costs £20.

Coach Kevin Durney said: “January is a great time to get outside and get moving. We’ve got one great offer for two exciting activities.

“If you’ve never played tennis before, or want to pick up an old racket again, cardio tennis or beginners coaching is a great way to start.”

Meanwhile, club member Vicky Flicker has been named the Players’ Player of the Year for 2015. The title was voted on by the members and

SPORT

Wells Tennis Club coach Kevin Durney

awarded to the adult or junior member who has performed most consistently to a high standard throughout season, supported the club, displayed good sportsmanship and is a good role model.

Vicky Flicker (right) receives her award

For details about the club, visit: www.wellstc.co.uk

Get Moving in January!

Wells Tennis Club has two great offers during January for beginners or anyone just wanting to get fit – up to 15 sessions for just £20.

• Beginners adult coaching. Wednesdays and Fridays, starting Wednesday 6th Jan. Coaching is for one and a half hours.

• Cardio tennis. Mondays and Fridays starting Friday 8th January.

Sessions are for one hour.

Rackets can be borrowed at the sessions.

For more information visit http://www.wellstc.co.uk Wells Tennis Club, Rowdens Road, Wells, BA5 1TU. Phone: 01749 670429

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M e n d i p

Please send entries for these listings as a single paragraph of approximately 25 words. We’re happy to list entries for charities and voluntary groups free of charge – but please submit them in the format below. Commercial entries cost £25.

Monday December 28th Mendip Society walk, Cheddar. Meet 10.30am by the Gardeners Arms, Silver St (BS27 3LE). A hilly 4½ miles. Details: Gill 01934 742508.

Wednesday December 30th and Thursday December 31st Wells Library Panto Season, free events – fairytale photo frame, seasonal crafts, panto storytelling and more. Details: Wells library on 0300 123 2224 or see them on Facebook.

Thursday December 31st West Mendip Walkers – Moderate seven-mile circular from Wells. OS Ex141 ST544465. Start 12.30pm. Park Ash Lane, nr Blue School. Contact: anthonyestrange@gmail.com 01934 733783 / 07976 902706.

Redhill Club New Year's Eve Dinner & Dance from 8pm- late. Sit-down dinner, then vocalist Jonny Lee Sage performing modern classics with a touch of Bobby Darrin & Sinatra to see in the New Year – Tickets £10 in advance. Church Road, BS40 5SG Tel: 01934 862619.

Saturday January 2nd Mendip Society walk, Goblin Coombe.

Meet 1.30pm in the car park, Cleeve Hill Road, Cleeve, off A370 next to Lord Nelson pub, BS49 4PH. Five miles through woodland. Details: Richard 01275 472797.

Tuesday January 5th Dresden: Its Art and Architecture.

Clare Ford-Wille will talk to Mendip DFAS at Bath & West Bar & Restaurant, B & W Show Ground, Shepton Mallet BA4 6QN at 11am. Details www.mdfas.org.uk. Guests welcome.

Contact 01934 862435.

Thursday January 7th West Mendip Walkers – Moderate 10 mile circular from car park back of Holford. OS Ex140 ST154410. Start 10am. Contact: anthonyestrange@gmail.com or 01934 733783 / 07976 902706.

Cheddar Valley U3A – Queen's Bodyguard of the Yeomen of the Guard, presentation by Shaun McCormack at Church House, Cheddar, 2.15pm, £2, visitors welcome.

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T i m e s

Friday January 8th Banwell Society of Archaeology, the archaeology of the Cannington by-pass and an update on Hinkley with Jane Hill, Banwell Village Hall, 7.30pm, visitors welcome Saturday January 9th Frome Society for Local Study & Frome Civic Society. Julian Orbach on the Revised Pevsner for Wiltshire, Assembly Rooms, 2.30pm.

Brent Knoll Bazaar, Farmers’ Market & Café, 10am-12 noon in Brent Knoll Parish Hall, free admission. Details: 01278 760308.

Mendip Society walk, Winscombe. Meet 1.30pm behind the Woodborough Inn. A four to five-mile walk with hills. Details: Mary 01934 843789.

Sunday January 10th Redhill Classic Car/Motorcycle Breakfast Gathering, 9am–12noon.

Open to all to bring their interesting vehicles and enjoy full breakfast or just a bacon roll in Redhill Village Hall /Club, Church Road, Redhill, BS40 5SG. Details: 01934 862619.

Wednesday January 13th Wells Civic Society, the Bishop of Bath & Wells, the Rt Rev Peter Hancock, 7.30pm, Wells & Mendip Museum.

Nailsea & District Horticultural Society, Propagation by Neill Lovesey, United Reformed Church, Nailsea, 7.30pm, members £2, visitors £3. Details: Martyn Davis, 01275 855563 or Jane Knight, 01275 855342.

Thursday January 14th West Mendip Walkers – circular 5m walk from Churchill. OS Ex141/154 ST458604. Start 12.30pm. Park: lay-by on A38 after Lower Langford turning.

Contact anthonyestrange@gmail.com 01934 733783 / 07976 902706.

Mid-Somerset Agricultural Society Wassail. North Wootton Village Orchard and Hall. 6.30pm. Tickets £7.50pp (inc. ploughman’s supper) available from:The Show Office, 3 Europa Court, Crowne Trading Estate, Shepton Mallet BA4 5QQ or Bartlett Gooding & Weelen Solicitors, 57 High Street, Shepton Mallet, Somerset, BA4 5AQ. Friday January 15th Street & Glastonbury U3A, talk from Wells MP James Heapey, Walton Village Hall, 2pm.

W h a t ’ s

Saturday January 16th Jumble Sale, Winscombe Table Tennis Club, Community Centre, 2pm, refreshments available. Contact Richard Parker 07899753063 to collect jumble – or it can be left at the centre on the morning of the sale.

Redhill Club Horse Race Night, 8pm. A fun evening to have a go and place your bets. All welcome. Church Road, Redhill BS40 5SG Tel: 01934 862619.

Mendip Society walk, Pen Hill & Upper Milton. Meet 1.30pm at the corner of Drake Rd and Hawkers Lane, Wells. A four to five-mile walk starting with a steep climb. Details: John 01934 842868.

Pilton Wassail. Pilton village hall, car park and Gabriel’s Orchard. For details, visit: www.piltonvillage.co.uk Monday January 18th Timsbury NATS, talk on Peru with John Martin, Conygre Hall, Timsbury, 7.30pm, £3.

Tuesday January 19th London’s changing skyline – past, present and future, NADFAS illustrated lecture, Caryford Hall, Castle Cary, BA7 7JJ, 10.30, free parking, £6. Details: 01963 350527.

Wednesday January 20th Henton & District Gardening Club, “Heritage Vegetables” with Chris Smith, Henton Village Hall, 7.30pm. Visitors £2.

Mendip Gardening Club, “Somerset Barn Owls” with Chris Sperring, Ston Easton Village Hall, 7.30pm. Details: Val 01761 241617.

Thursday January 21st Cheddar Valley U3A Meet & Greet Coffee Morning at Church House, Cheddar, 10.30am to 12 noon, visitors welcome. Details: 01934 744241 or www.cheddarvalleyu3a.org.uk West Mendip Walkers – Circular walk from Cheddar 9.8m, strenuous parts. OS Ex141 ST457539. Start 10am. Park nr Gardeners Arms. Contact anthonyestrange@gmail.com 01934 733783 / 07976 902706.

Friday January 22nd Families for Children (Adoption) – presentation and questions, 10am – 12 noon, Prockters Farm, West Monkton, Taunton, TA2 8QN, refreshments available, ample parking. Details: 01278 227027.

Saturday January 23rd Mendip Society walk, Shepton Mallet.

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Meet 10am at Kilver Court, Shepton Mallet. A five-mile walk to Windsor Hill following part of the Somerset & Dorset railway, then coffee/lunch. Details: Gill 01934 742508.

Frome Society for Local Study and Frome Civic Society, the Ashworth Memorial Lecture the Rosettis in Frome with Keith Falconer, the Assembly Rooms, 2.30pm.

Brue Boys Choir for Men concert, Wells Town Hall, in aid of the Somerset charity STAR. With supporting acts. 7pm for 7.30pm. Tickets £12 (inc. ploughman’s supper) available from star@star-somerset.org.uk or suepeto@gmail.com. Tel: 01458 850281.

Wednesday January 27th Backwell & Nailsea Macular Support, Backwell W.I. Hall 2pm, AGM and talk "How to use a defibrillator". Details: Sheila 01275 462107.

Thursday January 28th Somerset Wildlife Trust, East Somerset, Eve Tigwell talk on the Somerset Bird Atlas, St Catherine’s Church Hall, Park Road, Frome, 7.30pm, adults £2.50, children and students £1.

Chew Valley Wildlife Group, Natural Norway, talk by Andrew Town, Chew Magna Millennium Hall, 7.45pm, admission £2.50, season ticket available.

Natural Norway – see Chew Valley Wildlife Group, January 28th

West Mendip Walkers – Circular 4.5m from Banwell. OS Ex153 ST398592.

Start 12.30pm. Carpark opp. Primary School. Contact anthonyestrange@gmail.com 01934 733783 / 07976 902706.

Friday January 29th Kathryn Roberts & Sean Lakeman, Litton village hall, 7.30pm, tickets (limited) £10. Details: Mike Goulding 01761 241522 or Maggie Beeton 01761 241522.

Saturday January 30th Farmborough Memorial Hall, quiz & curry with teams of 6-8 in aid of hall

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MULTI award-winning husband and wife duo Sean Lakeman and Kathryn Roberts are playing a number of village venues in Somerset in support of their best-selling album ‘Tomorrow Will Follow Today’. The Rural Arts tour will take in Litton, Hornblotton, Wookey Hole Club, Compton Dundon and North Cadbury.

Details: www.kathrynrobertsandseanlakeman.com

funds, 7pm for 7.30pm start, tickets £8.50 in advance (£10.50 on door) incl. twocourse meal. Licensed bar. Tickets: Nicky or Dave, 01761 470158.

Clothes donations for Weston Hospicecare – New Year sort-out? Please bring any donations of re-saleable items to Blagdon Village Club, 10am –12 noon.

Coffee available.

Somerset Plant Heritage Group, Edington Village Hall TA7 9HA, 1.30pm, members plant sale, 2.30pm talk “Peonies on the move” by David Victor. Details: 01278 451631.

Mendip Society walk, Ubley to Rickford and back. Meet 11am in the Ubley sawmills car park. A six-mile walk with a lunch stop at the Plume of Feathers, Rickford. Details: Martin 01761 462528.

Sunday January 31st Irish set dance winter party workshop, Shoscombe Village Hall BA2 8LX, 11am-12.30noon, ceilidh 2pm-5pm, all welcome. Details: Val Knight 07979 523918 or Graham & Ann 01761 435204.

Tuesday February 2nd Eat, Sink and be Merry – Dining on the Titanic. Dr Annie Gray will talk to Mendip DFAS at Bath & West Bar & Restaurant, B & W Show Ground, Shepton Mallet BA4 6QN at 11.00am.

Guests welcome. Contact 01934 862435 www.mdfas.org.uk.

Friday February 5th Open Mic Night at Redhill Club From

8pm. Hosted by Jerry Blythe. Bring your voice, your instruments and showcase your talent. All welcome, BS40 5SG Tel: 01934 862619.

Kathryn Roberts & Sean Lakeman, Meadway Hall, Compton Dundon, 8pm, Doors 7.30pm, £8, £6, in aid of village hall funds. Details: 01458 447223.

Mendip Players Pantomime: Humpty Dumpty and the Magic Wall. Draycott Memorial Hall, 7.30pm. Also Saturday, February 6th at 2pm and 7.30pm. Tickets – £7.50 adults/£5 under16's – available from Barbara Wheal (01934 743890) and Draycott Post Office Stores.

Saturday February 6th Pancakes event, in aid of the Royal British Legion Women's Section, Brent Knoll Parish Hall, TA9 4EH, 11am –2pm, also bric-a-brac and bring & buy, all welcome. Details: Liz 01278 760810.

Mendip Society walk, around the Polden Hills, meet 1.30pm in Church Road, Bawdrip. An easy flat walk of six miles on the Somerset moors, including along the King's Sedgemoor Drain. Could be muddy. Details: Judy 01749 672196.

Frome Society for Local Study and Frome Civic Society, Sue Bucklow, former curator of the BBC’s Hulton Picture Library, on the Singers’ legacy of war memorials, Assembly Rooms, 2.30pm.

MENDIP MINDBENDER ANSWERS FOR JANUARY Across: 1 Weston super mare, 9 Agitato, 10 Ousting, 11 Hearing, 12 Big bang, 13 Reheat, 14 Esteem, 15 Oldham, 18 Mcbain, 23 Eclogue, 24 Dreamer, 25 Augment, 26 Taken in, 27 Titus andronicus.

Down: 1 Weather forecast, 2 Spinach, 3 Ocarina, 4 Slough, 5 Phoebe, 6 Resigns, 7 Animate, 8 Engagement rings, 16 Delight, 17 Algiers, 19 Check-in, 20 Almanac, 21 Merton, 22 Editor.

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MENDIP TIMES

Model rail enthusiasts head for Weston-super-Mare

A continental-themed layout from a previous exhibition

A CHARITY model railway exhibition in aid of Weston Hospicecare will be held in Weston-super-Mare on Sunday, January 10th.

Organised each year by Keith and Joyce Price, previous events have so far raised more than £27,000 for the charity. The show, at The Campus, will feature at least 25 working layouts, plus trade stands and demonstrations.

Sing for STAR

WHAT’S ON

MEN’S choir The Brue Boys will be staging a special concert in January in aid of a Mendip-based charity which works with disadvantaged young people.

STAR operates throughout Somerset; its aim is to provide opportunities through music, art, and recreation. It particularly works with young people with mental health problems, physical disabilities, learning disabilities, those from ethnic minorities, young carers, those with drugrelated problems, victims of abuse and crime and those at risk of offending. STAR is dependent entirely on charitable grants and donations.

The Brue Boys, who are based in Baltonsborough, will be singing at Wells Town Hall on Saturday, January 23rd at 7.30pm. For details, visit: www.somersetstar.org.uk

Tractors head to Bath and West

The exhibition runs from 10am-4pm. For details, visit: www.westonsupermaretrainshow.com or call 01934 425075.

Princes Road, Wells, BA5 1TD

Now Showing

Starts Saturday 26th December Starts Friday 1st January Starts Friday 8th January Starts Friday 15th January Event Cinema

COMING UP:

Star Wars (12A) & Snoopy (U) In The Heart Of The Sea (12A)

We wou ld like to wish a custome ll our rs Christma a Merry s & Happ y New Yea r

The Danish Girl (15) The Hateful Eight Creed (12A) & Joy (12A) Rhapsody/Two Pigeons ROH 22nd Jan 7.15

G Book in person G Online 24/7 @www.wellsfilmcentre.co.uk G Over the ’phone: 01749 673195

THE Somerset Vintage and Classic Tractor Show, at the Royal Bath and West showground at the end of January, is an indoor static tractor show, with the majority of the tractors and trade stands under cover in three large permanent buildings.

This year there will be about 200 tractors and implements on display ranging from early models, built from about 1920, up to the latest models that we see farmers use today.

The special feature this year will be a display of Ferguson tractors and implements, with many other tractor makes on display. Many trade stands will be there, with 1000s of tractor spares, tools, books, model tractors and toys etc. for sale.

The popular auction of vintage and classic tractors, implements, engines and related items is being held on Saturday 31st, by HJ Pugh & Co., Ledbury.

All proceeds go to local charities, with over £8,000 donated last year to Yeovil Hospital Scanner Appeal, Yeovil Hospital Special Care Baby Unit, Yeovil Freewheelers and the B.O.A.T (Bicton Overseas Agricultural Trust).

Details: www.somersettractorshow.com or contact: Nick 01749 860514 or Mike 07976 535762.

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