News page 20:Layout 1
1/18/18
MENDIP TIMES
1:54 PM
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NEWS
Council supports rescue team
CHEDDAR Parish Council has donated £500 to Avon and Somerset Search and Rescue to help them buy new ropes for their important role in Cheddar Gorge. The gorge has the highest inland cliffs in the country and is a hot-spot for visitors, climbing and, sadly, suicides. Avon and Somerset Search and Rescue started in Cheddar Gorge in the 1970s. It is now an emergency service staffed by volunteers who are on-call 24/7, 365 days a year. They search for and rescue people from cliffs and floods and other difficult situations in the countryside typically getting called out over 30 times a year. Sadly Cheddar Gorge and Avon Gorge, along with other cliffs and quarries, are often used by people attempting to commit suicide or where people get stuck. Avon and Somerset Search and Rescue operate alongside the other emergency services to help these people and recover bodies when needed. Peter Colton and Martin Kay (pictured) from Cheddar Parish Council visited the team in Cheddar Gorge to see the
new ropes. Steve Rumney, team leader, said: “By the nature of our work we have to replace ropes on a very regular basis. “The kind donation from Cheddar parish council has helped us with getting replacements. They will be kept along with our other specialist rescue equipment in a store room kindly donated by Cheddar Caves for instant access when we need them.”
STAFF at Fosse Way School in Westfield, for children who find it difficult to attend mainstream schools, say they are delighted with the findings of their latest OFSTED inspection. The school has been rated outstanding for the sixth consecutive time. In a letter to executive principal Emily Massey, inspector Tonwen Empson said the leadership team has “maintained the outstanding quality of education in the school since Longfellows Café is open to the the last inspection.” public and students learn skills The inspector noted which can lead to careers in “relentless efforts by staff to hospitality look for creative solutions ensure that every pupil is able to thrive” as well as “the real commitment to ensure that pupils build not just their academic skills but also develops their confidence and independence so that they can go on to lead fulfilling lives”. The school sixth-form students spend their final year on-site at Bath’s Royal United Hospital to develop employment skills. Others attend Norton Hill School. Meanwhile, the school’s newly refurbished training café Longfellows, where students develop skills in customer services, cake-making and serving customers, also comes in for praise. Emily Massey said: “I am absolutely delighted with this outcome and feel it reflects the hard work and dedication from pupils, staff, parents and governors who all contributed to the inspection not only on the day but also throughout the school year to ensure our school remains outstanding. Without there continued support this outcome would not be possible.’’
AN ambitious project to restore parts of St John’s Church in Glastonbury and make the building more community-friendly has cleared its first major hurdle with a development grant from the Heritage Lottery Fund. The initial £32,400 award will allow the team behind the Securing the Future project to develop their full plans ahead of a further bid for £465,500. Securing the Future aims to celebrate the heritage of St John’s, a grade 1 listed building, by providing a better welcome and interpretation of its long and significant history, and building closer relationships with different communities in Glastonbury, including disadvantaged groups and young people. The project includes making urgent repairs to the fabric which will bring areas of the church back into use following major safety concerns over the collapsed floor of the nave, and make the building easier and more efficient to run. It also hopes to provide permanent interpretations about its heritage and activities programmes involving a wider audience, including local schools, historical societies, adult learners, visitors, and tourists. There are also plans to install modern and gazed porches at the south and west entrances as well as flexible, multifunction lighting and audio-visual facilities and modernising the servery. Project manager Larry Schenck said: “We’re delighted that we’ve received this support thanks to National Lottery players. St John’s has been at the centre of Glastonbury for over 1,000 years, offering time and space for personal prayer, meditation, conversation, history and heritage information, and social and entertainment events. We serve as the civic hub for many of Glastonbury’s annual events such as Mayor’s Service and Remembrance Sunday. Medieval buildings, especially churches, require continuing maintenance and repair, with significant restoration work every 150 or so years – now it is our turn. This award will allow us to do just that.”
School judged “outstanding” for sixth year running
PAGE 20 • MENDIP TIMES • FEBRUARY 2018
Church plans go to next stage