Issue 12 - Volume 12 - Mendip Times

Mendip Times

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Celebrating life on the Mendips and surrounding areas

MAY 2017

IN THIS ISSUE: BATH & WEST PREVIEW • WEDDINGS • SPORT • GARDENING • WALKING • EDUCATION • WHAT’S ON Local people, local history, local places, local events and local news

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Welcome

THE growing season is upon us, with splendid displays of daffodils at many of our spring flower shows, which we feature this month. Now it’s bluebell time and Sue Gearing goes in search of them on a walk over Black Down.

While you are up there, look out for new way-marking signs for the re-named Mendip Way. Rachel Thompson has also been enjoying the great outdoors and reports on Mendip at play, including the Mendip Farmers’ point-to-point – we have pictures.

With spring in the air, June MacFarlane has a recipe for asparagus and Mary Payne has a guide to planting for the new season.

We look ahead to the reopening of the Somerset Rural Life Museum in Glastonbury and to celebrations for the National Garden Scheme’s 90th anniversary. Mendip Community Transport has also celebrated an anniversary – its 15th.

Some of our community heroes have been honoured for their work and we hear how Rotary is helping to rebuild villages in Nepal, devastated by the earthquake there.

We have all of our regular contributors and features – and give you the chance to win tickets to the Royal Bath and West Show. Before that, do come and see us on our stand at the North Somerset Show on May 1st.

June 2017 deadline: Friday, 12th May 2017.

Published: Tuesday, 23rd May 2017.

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: Raising a glass at this year’s Mendip Farmers’ Point-toPoint. Photo by Mark Adler. See page 92.

CONTENTS

12

30

It’s showtime – win tickets to the Royal Bath & West

Just jesting – Postman Pat feels the heat at fayre

35

What a beauty – car auction’s a roaring success

64

Forging ahead – Radstock Museum’s revamp plans Plus all our regular features Environment ...................................6 Farming Mary James MBE ..........10 Food & Drink ...............................20 Arts & Antiques ...........................32 Business.........................................38 Internet and Crossword ..............41 Charities........................................42 Wildlife Chris Sperring MBE .......53 Walking Sue Gearing ....................54 Outdoors Les Davies MBE ..........56

Gardening Mary Payne MBE.......58 Health Dr Phil Hammond .............66 Community ...................................71 Property ........................................76 Caving Phil Hendy ........................78 Music .............................................80 Homes and Interiors ....................83 Riding Rachel Thompson MBE.....94 Sport ..............................................95 What’s On...................................101 MENDIP TIMES • MAY 2017 • PAGE 3

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CLEANING | RESTORATION | VALUATION

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NEWS

Town hall memories relived

HISTORIAN and author Lorraine Johnson used all her research skills to help a couple from Frome recreate their wedding day photo.

Lorraine discovered the photo of Terry and Sandra Wheeler on the steps of the then town hall after their marriage in 1965 whilst she was working on a book about the history of the building.

And Terry, Sandra and their family were the guests of honour at the reopening of the building after it was taken over by Frome Town Council to create a new community hub. The council commissioned Lorraine to research and write the book which took six months to complete.

As well as an impressive council chamber, the refurbished building is also home to WHY (We Hear You), Frome FM, Active and in Touch and Fair Frome. Meeting rooms are available for hire. The council has sold its former premises in Palmer Street to fund the move.

Mel Usher, leader of the council, refuted criticism of the cost

Terry and Sandra with daughter Amy Welch, husband Andrew and their daughter Abigail

Terry and Sandra prepare to cut the ribbon to reopen the town hall watched by mayor Toby Eliot

and said that it made financial sense: “The sale price of the Palmer Street offices was £340k which is £65k more than the council bought Frome Town Hall for. Palmer Street was in poor repair, held up by acrow props and in need of complete refurbishment, already too small for the existing purpose.”

1965 and the happy couple pose on the steps of the town hall

Lorraine Johnson signing copies of her book

Frome Town Hall, by Lorraine Johnson, is priced £7.50 and is available from Frome Museum and Hunting Raven Bookshop.

Visitors from Zambia

STAFF and students at Somervale School in Midsomer Norton welcomed a group of trainee teachers from Zambia to their school.

The trainees and their tutor were from Mulfulira, a copper mining town, and they got to experience life in a British Somervale students were asked to write about their impressions

Joanna Postlethwaite with her Zambian guests

secondary school through observing lessons, talking to teachers and being interviewed by students.

Somervale headteacher, Joanna Postlethwaite said: “It has been a fantastic experience for us as a school. Being able to give the students the opportunity to talk to someone from another part of the world and embrace the differences as well as celebrate the similarities in our cultures has been invaluable.”

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Rural heritage back on show

THE Somerset Rural Life Museum at Glastonbury will reopen in June following the completion of a £2.4 million redevelopment project led by the South West Heritage Trust.

Visitors will be able to explore rural life from the 1800s onwards and discover more about the county’s heritage including its landscape, food and farming, working life and rural crafts. Refurbished galleries in the farmhouse and former cowsheds will mean museum collections are better cared for, displayed and interpreted.

Outside spaces, including the orchard, will contain family trails

The farm was last owned and run by the Mapstone family as a large dairy farm with a herd of Ayrshire cows. The family is pictured outside the farm in 1918

The 14th-century Abbey Barn remains the centrepiece of the site. Outside spaces such as the farmyard and orchard will contain new sculptures and family trails that interpret the history of the site and its buildings.

Tom Mayberry, chief executive of the trust, the charity which runs the museum, said: “We’re very grateful to everyone who has made the project possible. Our goal has been to preserve the essential qualities of a much-loved museum at the same time as finding new ways to tell the remarkable story of Somerset’s rural history.

“The redevelopment has enabled us to improve access to the museum and its collections. It will also create many more

The Community Learning Space will provide a new dedicated area for museum activities. It looks on to the central farmyard and the 14th-century Abbey Barn PAGE 6 • MENDIP TIMES • MAY 2017

opportunities for community engagement and volunteering. A better range of activities and events will also mean there is always something new on offer.”

The redevelopment was chiefly funded by the Heritage Lottery Fund, Viridor Credits Environmental Company, Somerset County Council, the Garfield Weston Foundation and other donations.

Building work was undertaken by Ken Biggs Contractors Ltd. ● The reopening, on Saturday, June 3rd, will be marked by a free family fun day.

Visitors will also be able to enjoy the museum’s first temporary exhibition “Farm”, a collection of paintings, drawings and the voices of Somerset farmers by artist Kate Lynch.

The Victorian farmhouse has been carefully renovated

For details visit: www.somersetrurallifemuseum.org.uk

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Campaigners dead chuffed

COFFIN Lane campaigners in Axbridge have welcomed news that Somerset County Council has approved a feasibility report for a pedestrian refuge crossing on the A38 and an extension to the footpath leading from the village to the junction at Cross.

The work is estimated to cost between £60k and £85k and no date has been set for it to begin. Cross Lane was the old burial route from Axbridge.

Tess Gill, the campaign co-ordinator said: "This is very welcome news as such a scheme has never been more vital to improve safety for pedestrian walking between Cross and Axbridge.

“We recently carried out a survey of numbers of vehicles using Cross Lane. The results confirmed our fears for pedestrians and cyclists travelling between Cross and Axbridge. We counted vehicles in work hours and found that an HGV vehicle travels down Cross Lane every 38 seconds.

“It is obvious that this creates a significant hazard to pedestrians currently walking up the highly unsuitable verge.”

Details: www.coffinlane.com

Nature and nurture

HEALTH experts in Somerset are organising a series of outdoor activities and events in May to encourage people to get out into the natural world.

The aim of the first Somerset Naturally Healthy Month is to increase people’s confidence and the opportunities they have to be active in the natural environment in order to improve their health and wellbeing.

Events in Mendip include a health walk in Beacon Wood at Doulting, near Shepton Mallet, on Thursday, May 11th, a rock walk and cave art event in Ebbor Gorge on Sunday, May 21st, a bat walk at Vallis Vale, near Frome on Friday, May 19th and a wild walk around Dundon Beacon, near Compton Dundon on Thursday, May 11th.

Most of the events are free. For full details, visit: http://slnp.org.uk/news/naturally-healthy-month-may2017/

ENVIRONMENT

Best foot forward in Timsbury

Veronica Packham (second right), Chairman of Timsbury Parish Council with the co-authors of Twenty walks in and around Timsbury, Larry Cunningham, Sue Fraser and Peter Bradshaw, at the launch of their new book.

SOME 50 people attended the launch of a new book which is set to encourage more people to explore Timsbury and its surrounds.

Parish council chairman, Veronica Packham, said: “Villagers asked for information about local walks in a neighbourhood planning survey undertaken by the parish council.

“Three of our villagers offered to produce a set of local walk leaflets, two editions of which sold out very quickly, so they have up-dated these and added circular walks to neighbouring villages. I'm delighted with the result.”

The book contains directions, maps, colour photographs and information about points of interest for each of 20 routes, all of which start and finish in the centre of Timsbury.

One of the book’s three authors, Larry Cunningham, said: “The area has such a fascinating history, including the coal mines and the coal canal, that it was important to incorporate background information.”

Peter Bradshaw whose colour photographs illustrate the book, said: “We are very fortunate to be surrounded by such attractive countryside. Every turn opens up a new vista.”

The third volunteer to produce the book, Sue Fraser, said: “This area is blessed with one of the densest networks of footpaths in the country. We get great pleasure from walking in it and we hope the book will enable more people to share in that enjoyment.”

The book is sponsored by Timsbury Parish Council and available from Connies Tea Shop and Health & More in Timsbury, price £4. All proceeds will go to the parish council and be used for the benefit of the village.

GO WILD IN GLASTONBURY – A CORRECTION

IN the April issue of Mendip Times, we incorrectly attributed two of the images in the story Go Wild in Glastonbury to the wrong photographers: “Elegant, by Stephanie Foote” refers to the black and white photograph of a puffin; “Catching the sun, by Penny Dixie” is of the unfurling plant. We apologise for the error. ● The exhibition of winning entries in the British Wildlife Photography Award can be seen at the Red Brick Building in Glastonbury until Monday, May 1st.

MENDIP TIMES • MAY 2017 • PAGE 7

(Photo courtesy of Steve Riches))

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Going wild for nature

SOMERSET Wildlife Trust has announced the return of 30 Days Wild – its annual challenge for us all to do something wild and nature-based every day in June.

Whether it’s on a reserve, in your local green space or park or in your own back garden, Somerset Wildlife Trust wants to you put a bit of wild back into your life and make a lasting connection to nature for your own health and wellbeing.

People will be encouraged to enjoy the nature on their doorstep, as well as the “great outdoors”, with inspiring “Random Acts of Wildness”: practical, fun and quirky ideas for connecting with the wild around us.

Why not spend an evening star gazing, build a bughouse, become a stream sleuth, enjoy mindfulness in a meadow, or even sit in the garden, sipping a G&T and watch butterflies?

People can spend a few minutes, or a few hours each day enjoying nature - how they do it is up to them.

The trust’s nature and wellbeing manager, Jolyon Chesworth, said: “People connecting with nature is more important now than ever before as worrying declines in our physical and mental health are reported on a regular basis; only 20% of children get the recommended levels of exercise, and rates of depression amongst teenagers have increased by 70%.

“Adults don’t fare any better. However, realising that we are a part of the natural world and embracing it could help reverse these trends. The best thing is that nature is all around us and it’s free!”

To help you get stuck in, you can apply for the brilliant (and free!) 30 Days Wild pack, download the phone app or go online for some ideas and inspiration.

Details: www.mywildlife.org.uk/30dayswild/ PAGE 8 • MENDIP TIMES • MAY 2017

ENVIRONMENT

Boom boom – bitterns on the rise

AT least 46 bitterns were recorded in the Avalon Marshes area in the first survey of the birds’ numbers this year.

More than 70 staff and volunteers came together from across the Avalon Marshes Partnership conservation organisations and took part in the survey in March. The technique used was to position as many people as possible around the landscape to listen for the distinctive sound of the male bitterns which are “booming” and then plot their location.

The count on Natural England’s Shapwick Heath National Nature Reserve was co-ordinated by Heritage Lottery Funded Landscape Partnership apprentice Seb Mepham. In total, 16 confirmed “boomers” were recorded on Shapwick with another potential two birds on site. A further 21 birds were recorded on Ham Wall, five on Westhay Moor, one on Catcott Lows, one on Westhay Heath (with another two adjacent on Godwin’s land) and one on Greylake (just over the Polden Hills).

There were 36 boomers recorded on the March survey last year and bitterns did not start breeding in the Avalon Marshes until the 21st century.

Tribute to the snowdrop king

A PLAQUE has been unveiled outside the home in Shepton Mallet of the man known in Victorian times as the “Snowdrop King” to celebrate the success of the town’s first festival celebrating the much-loved plant.

The name of James Allen had been largely forgotten in his home town until members of the Shepton Mallet Horticultural Society decided his achievements should be recognised.

The first Snowdrop Festival attracted hundreds of visitors to Shepton Mallet with a weekend of events – plans are now underway for a similar event in 2018.

Jeannette Marsh, chairman of Mendip District Council and a town resident, made a gift of snowdrops and a plaque which was unveiled outside Highfield House, now part of the Mendip Shape complex.

Jeanette said: “The festival was thoroughly successful and it was a celebration of James Allen.”

She added: “I think the festival added to the many positive things happening in Shepton Mallet and it is becoming a vibrant place for residents Jeanette Marsh (left) with Dominic Weston and for visitors and Chrissie Kennedy, two of the snowdrop alike.” festival organisers

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Our Services Include: Commercial and Residential Property Wills and Probate Litigation and Personal Injury Criminal and Family Law Agricultural, Business and Commercial Employment Shepton Mallet: 57 High Street, Shepton Mallet, Somerset, BA4 5AQ. Tel: 01749 330330

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

The unseasonably warm weather may have come to an end but there’s no denying that spring is here.

We’re seeing more hours of daylight. The gardeners amongst us are able to get outside for a couple of hours in the evening. The Boat Race and the Grand National are behind us. The football season will soon be over and the cricket season is underway. Wimbledon is only a couple of months away.

Time certainly seems to move more quickly as we get older, but none of us can believe that the Bath and West Show will soon be upon us again. This year the show runs from 31st May until 1st June. As usual we shall be sponsoring the Power of the Past section which will be located towards the southern end of the Showground.

We have sponsored the refurbishment of the Chief Steward’s Caravan which now looks very impressive and has our logo displayed.

Karen Lucas from our As usual various members of our team will be Glastonbury office and there so please visit our tent for a glass of wine son Jasper enjoying the show last year and a chat. We’ll have face painting for our younger visitors on the Friday of the show. The weather has been remarkably good for the past few years and we’re hoping that will continue.

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

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

Website: www.bgw-solicitors.co.uk

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Dealing with bird flu – and Brexit

APRIL 13th was the day free-range poultry were allowed out of their barns as the risk of Bird Influenza was over. I talked to a local free range egg producer to see how he had coped. In the circumstances he felt the restrictions imposed were definitely the best thing to With MARY do.

JAMES MBE Bird flu had been detected in this country early in December last year. This disease is not airborne, it is transmitted by wild birds who drop infested faeces as they fly over. Obviously flocks near lakes, rivers and the sea were at greater risk.

Immediately all free range birds had to be housed. It was the only way to try to control the disease as there is no vaccine at the moment.

Then came the next dilemma for producers. Birds would lose their free range status after 12 weeks. DEFRA (Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs) were keen to change the label to “barn eggs”. Imagine the cost of changing the wording on all those egg boxes already printed.

A joint solution between the Free Range Egg Association and the supermarkets was a stick-on label on each box which said “Eggs laid by hens temporarily housed in barns for their well-being”.

Our local producer said: “Going forward bird flu could be an on-going issue.” Netted scratch areas attached to poultry

Fields of oilseed rape greeted visitors to the Mells Daffodil Festival.

The crop is a familiar sight across Mendip

houses have been suggested, at considerable cost according to the size of the flock. Time will tell.

Article 50 has been signed and the Brexit arguments rage on. The farming organisations and the farming press are full of priorities for any future agricultural policy. The minister, Angela Leadsom, spoke at the NFU AGM. She had a lot to say about nothing.

I hope she has time to digest a few facts about British farming from a report by Development Economics showing the total monetisable contribution of UK agriculture to the UK economy in 2015 was more than £46 billion. In the same year the total cost to the UK was just over £6 billion.

This report also declares that there are 900,000 hectares of woodland on UK farmland and 373,000km is the total length of hedgerows. The decrease in tonnes of greenhouse gasses produced by UK agriculture since 2000 is 5.5million. It isn’t just Mrs Leadsom who needs this information, I hope every MP is listening as well.

We can tell Mrs Leadsom that British food is best and that more and more consumers are buying British. Whatever happens we want all imports to have the same standards and regulations as we have. The NFU has produced some guides to make it easier for consumers to find British food in their supermarket. Log on to www.countrysideonline.co.uk.

Look out for the Dancing Diggers at the Royal Bath and West Show May 31st to June 3rd and enjoy the North Somerset Show on May 1st.

NORTH SOMERSET SHOW COMPETITION

Last month we offered you the chance to win tickets to the North Somerset Show at Wraxall on May 1st. The first correct entries drawn were from: Lucy Cowgill, Worle; Mr and Mrs G. Gwyther, Portishead; Mrs R. Tucker, Yatton; Ken Tucker, Langford; Mr D. Robertson, Writhlington; Shirley Slater, Wedmore.

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FARMING

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Royal Bath and West show promises to be something special THE Royal Bath and West Show has looked back to the past – and ahead to the future – to make sure this year’s show has something for everyone.

The society’s chief executive, Rupert Cox, told a pre-show briefing the society’s commitment to farming innovation, dating from the year it was formed in 1777, was as important as ever – their former offices are being turned into an agritech and food innovation centre.

But he added: “Another key role is in educating the public about where their food comes from. Some ten percent of the population attend agricultural shows and we had 140,000 people here last year. We have a responsibility to educate our visiting public.”

All but three of the food producers at this year’s show are West Country based, with major local companies like Thatchers, Yeo Valley and Wyke Farms among the sponsors. The show will also host national awards for cheese and cider.

The livestock section, with new sponsors Guinness, has attracted 1,700 entries from far afield, with Head of Shows, Alan Lyons, saying: “The farmers are back at the show, which is important because we had lost them. As last year we will have grand parades on three days, which is an amazing spectacle.”

There will also be far more agricultural machinery on display.

He said the theme was “don’t just spectate, participate” with the chance to try everything from driving a steam engine to making butter and fruit yoghurts.

He said: “It’s going to be a bit of a belter.”

Horses will be more important than ever, with a new ring

Alan Lyons, Sir John Cave, Rupert Cox & Tractor Ted

sponsored by Moet and Chandon, with show jumping, heavy horses and more.

The entertainment will include music from 40 bands, with a late night on Friday, and the only appearance of the year of the famous Dancing Diggers! Also look out for Tractor Ted, the team from Hemington, which is becoming a national children’s phenomenon.

The 154th Royal Bath and West Show, the last four-day royal show in England and one of the top five shows in the UK, promises to be something special!

B AT H & W E S T C O M P E T I T I O N

Mendip Times has teamed up with the Royal Bath and West Show to offer readers the chance to win one of five family tickets to the show, which runs from May 31st – June 3rd.

Just answer this question: when was the show society formed? Answers on a postcard to Royal Bath and West Competition, Mendip Times, Coombe Lodge, Blagdon BS40 7RG. The closing date is May 12th. The first correct answers drawn will win the tickets. The editor’s decision is final.

Join us for a coffee at our stand at the Bath & West Show to see Honda’s latest offers www.mendipmowers.co.uk PAGE 12 • MENDIP TIMES • MAY 2017

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ROYAL BATH & WEST SHOW 2017

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Equine practice anniversary

The new fleet of Stables Equine Practice vehicles outside the practice at Conkerfield

THE Stables Equine Practice will be celebrating its 20th anniversary in June and visitors to the Bath and West Show might not realise that the showground was once its home.

Nicko Robertson and his team were based at the showground for nine years before moving to their purposebuilt practice at Conkerfield at Burcott two years ago.

SEP are the equine vets for the show and have recently taken delivery of a new fleet of vehicles displaying the distinctive practice logo.

Whilst the show will be a busy time for the team – they’re be looking after the welfare of hundreds of horses in the new £120,000 horse area – they are determined to find time to enjoy the sights and sounds of the annual spectacle.

Other duties include covering Bath and Chepstow races, local point-to-point meetings – Nicko was the chief vet at the Mendip Farmers’ fixture – British eventing and Pony Club events. And, right now, spring is finally here with foals on the ground and mares getting in foal.

The new horse area boasts dedicated showing rings, woodland horse walks and parking. Head of Shows, Alan Lyons, said: “Horses are a big part of the show and of rural life; whether visitors are keen horse enthusiasts or not, seeing the diversity of breeds and skills at the show is always a thrill.” ● The team at Stables Equine Practice are looking forward to seeing friends of the practice, old and new, on Friday, July 14th between 5-8pm for their anniversary celebration.

Telephone 01749 830666 24 hour emergency pager 07659 159162

1997 – 2017 Celebrating 20 years of dedicated service

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We offer a friendly, personal service and will treat every horse, owner and case as an individual.

Our experienced vets are committed exclusively to treating equines of all shapes and sizes and are contactable directly to discuss ongoing cases or to simply ask for advice.

Offering vets on the road and in-house services with an array of modern diagnostic equipment.

Stables Equine Practice, Conkerfield, Pennybatch Lane, Wookey, Wells BA5 1NH Tel: 01749 830666 • website: www.stablesequinepractice.co.uk

PAGE 14 • MENDIP TIMES • MAY 2017

Meet D’Ovidio Bros – the award-winning builders

MENDIP-based company D’Ovidio Bros has collected another award for building excellence and will be up against the best in the south west in a regional final in May. The company was founded in 1971 by three brothers – Victor, Nicky and Tony D’Ovidio – and has been serving Tony’s grandson Ethan, aged seven and the local the son of contracts manager Craig community ever D’Ovidio, is pictured holding the award since. It is based with Sam Tully and Donna Tring, from in the village of the Somerset Building Control Partnership, and site manager Chris Worth on the Lovelace at St Thomas’s Church edge of Wells.

Its latest honour came in the Local Authority Building Control Awards for Mendip and Sedgemoor, winning the title of best local builder or traditional craftsman for its work on projects in Wells such as at St Thomas’s Church and in converting the Guard House in the city into apartments.

D’Ovidio Bros offer general building work, restoration and renovation, bespoke joinery, plumbing and heating and interior and exterior decoration and cover a radius of approximately 35 miles around Wells.

The company is a regular tradestand holder at the Royal Bath and West Show – winning awards for their displays – and Tony will be there most of the time to meet new and old customers.

He said: “It’s something like our 18th year at the show and we always look forward to being there.”

Before then, Tony and the team – very much a family concern – will be attending the black tie finals of the LABC South West Building Excellence Awards in Plymouth on Friday, May 12th.

Tony and his family are among the organisers of the annual Romulus and Remus Italian Festival which takes place on land next to the iconic Romulus and Remus statue at Pen Hill. This year’s festival will be held on Sunday, July 2nd and will include live entertainment and Italian food. Tickets – costing £12.50 for adults – are now available.

To find out more about D’Ovidio Builders, visit: www.dovidiobros.co.uk

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Ecodesign ready wood burners are here

ROYAL BATH & WEST SHOW 2017

Est. 1977

Marking our 40th year in business Contura 810

Jeremy in the Mendip Fireplaces showroom at Windsor Hill in Shepton Mallet

AFTER being in business for 40 years, Mendip Fireplaces is better placed than many to look into the future and see how the wood burning industry is adapting to demands to play its role in improving air quality.

So visitors to their stand – in its traditional place – at the Royal Bath and West Show will discover that the stoves of tomorrow are here today. Look for wood burners featuring the new Ecodesign Ready label.

Ecodesign is a European-wide programme to lower emissions and is due to come into force in the UK in 2022. A group of manufacturers in the Stove Industry Alliance have developed stoves for sale that meet lower emission limits now.

The SIA says Ecodesign Ready stoves can reduce particulate emissions by 90%, compared to an open fire and 80% compared to a stove of ten years ago.

Jeremy White, who runs Mendip Fireplaces at Windsor Hill in Shepton Mallet, will be displaying examples such as the Contura 810, Charlton & Jenrick’s Classic CPV5 and the Charnwood Blu range at the show.

He said: “A well-cared-for stove will last 20 years, so an Ecodesign Ready one really is worth thinking about right now.

“Of course, it’s not just about the stove itself, but having the correct flue and using quality wood. We’ll have all the details on our stand and also introducing people to our stove scrappage scheme which will offer up to £200 off if you trade in your existing stove for a new Ecodesign Ready version.”

In order to qualify for the SIA Ecodesign label a stove has to have been independently tested by an approved laboratory and met the emissions criteria. The test results must then be verified by HETAS, a not-for-profit organisation which promotes training and safe use of solid fuels. Until 2022, a stove must also be tested for DEFRA exemption if it is to be used in a smoke control area.

The Mendip Fireplaces display will also include the latest gas and electric stoves as well as a reminder that summer is really on its way! Jeremy and the team are now selling a unique range of elegant patio fireplaces by JØTUL. The Loke version is available in black enamel or corten steel finish which develops a weatherproof, rough and rusty surface.

Jeremy added: “We think that people are tiring of clay chimeneas and are looking for something more modern for outside. They can also be used as a traditional grill and we think they are really eye-catching.”

The future has arrived: Ecodesign Ready stoves which can reduce particulate emissions by up to 90% now available at Mendip Fireplaces Charnwood Island

See these and more on our stand at this year’s Royal Bath and West Show www.mendipfireplaces.co.uk Tel: 01749 344015 E-mail: sales@mendipfireplaces.co.uk

STOVE SCRAPPAGE SCHEME Up to £200 trade-in on your old stove For more details call 01749 344015 or email: sales@mendipfireplaces.co.uk MENDIP TIMES • MAY 2017 • PAGE 15

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Broad range of products HENCHMAN are a family business who care about doing what they do well and with attention to detail, whether it’s product design or quality of service. Their customers include several Royal households, the NHS, RHS, National Trust, councils, landscape gardeners and householders, all appreciated in equal measure.

Since 1994, the Henchman business has been the pioneer of safer hedge cutting platforms and garden ladders, launching its first model at RHS Chelsea some 20 years ago. Following a luckily not too serious fall whilst hedge cutting from a ladder, came the realisation that typical step ladders were never designed for garden or uneven terrain.

Father and son team, Mike and Tom Kitching, initially developed the first Wheeled Henchman platform.

Re-developed in recent years, the Tripod ladder range allows you to

ROYAL BATH & WEST SHOW 2017

work comfortably at height, even on sloping or soft garden ground, from a wide and stable base that won’t wobble or suddenly sink in, and cannot easily be toppled.

The adjustable legs allow you to keep the ladder level and stable, so you can get on with the job in hand with greater confidence and concentration. The ladder’s narrow top and three-legged design make it easy to move in very tight or cluttered spaces. Henchman Ladders are surprisingly light weight.

With ongoing input from designers and engineers, the company now presents a broad range of products designed to be useful, long-lasting and excellent value e.g. The Henchman 350 Barrow Trailer – the wheelbarrow that easily converts to a trailer in under a minute!

Henchman love the opportunity to meet prospective customers and talk about their needs, whether they are looking for a safe platform for pruning, maintenance, caravan cleaning or even ice sculpting or any other work at height challenge!

See them at the Royal Bath & West Show or visit their website.

Details: www.henchman.co.uk or talk to one of the team 03333 444229.

Innovation at the showground

MORE details have been revealed about the Royal Bath and West of England Society’s plans to create a cutting edge agri-tech and food innovation centre.

Intended to be open by the end of the year, the centre will be created through a £450,000 refurbishment project funded from the society’s charitable reserves and a grant of £42,000 from the South West Growth Fund.

The new Innovation Centre – in the society’s former office – will place the society at the hub of rural enterprise by supporting agricultural businesses, landbased skills training and micro food and drink companies. It will include a conference and seminar area for 80 people, a commercial test kitchen for young food businesses to explore scalingup their business; small meeting rooms for one-to-one business advice clinics and some commercial office space for agricultural, food or rurally-focussed companies.

The society envisages a wide range of groups using the facilities from farmers

Work could begin on the innovation centre in time for the start of this year’s show

undertaking knowledge transfer projects, higher education graduates undertaking research projects, further education students gaining farming knowledge and skills, the rural workforce gaining vocational skills to increase their employability and micro food and drink businesses looking to expand and grow.

Chief executive Rupert Cox said:

“While we have a range of facilities and users for the centre, we will be working with several partners, such as Innovation for Agriculture, to deliver the exciting menu of opportunities the innovation centre will provide, as we believe that collaborations on this scale will make the centre even more successful.”

For more information or to express an interest in working with the society on this exciting project, contact Rupert Cox on rupert.cox@bathandwest.co.uk or 01749 822201

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READ-AGRI

For farmers and families

FAMILY-run Read Agri Services at Wanstrow hosted an open event with everything from machinery displays to fun activities for youngsters.

The event also raised money for Hannah’s Wilberry Wonder Pony charity and Avon and Somerset Police’s rural crime team were also there to offer crime prevention advice.

The Read Agri team at the showroom and country store in Wanstrow

Hayley Friday and Kate Friday with youngsters Jacob Cox, aged 19 months, and four-year-old Jenson Jones

Proposals for a Formula One race on Mendip begin to take shape?

Isabel shows some wacky racers the chequered flag

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Ready for winter! Salesman Richard Bath with the latest tractor and snowplough to be bought by Bristol International Airport

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New season, new flavours

THERE are two seasons that really excite the cook – one is autumn, with the bounty that will feed us through the winter, and the other is right now, early summer, with new growth, fresh tastes and bright colours.

Whilst the Somerset asparagus season lasts I will be eating lots of it! New Cross With JUNE Asparagus Farm started picking before Easter MACFARLANE and will continue until the longest day, June 21st. There are delicious little new potatoes for digging and local rose veal and ricotta cheese. We live surrounded by some of the best food anywhere and it’s all available right now.

ASPARAGUS, NEW POTATOES AND A POACHED EGG

There is no comparison, repeat, no comparison, between the green stuff from South America and the green stuff from Somerset. Freshly picked and spirited to your own kitchen, local asparagus is a real treat. But I think it always needs some kind of sauce and a lightly poached egg is just the thing. Very fresh eggs poach the best – find your nearest hedgerow stall for the freshest.

METHOD Wash the potatoes. I leave the (per person): skins on. Simmer in boiling 4-5 little new potatoes, salted water until tender. Drain, whole add butter and keep warm. knob of butter Simmer asparagus in boiling 4 asparagus spears, salted water until just tender – trimmed don’t overcook. Drain and dry 1 fresh egg on kitchen paper. Break your egg into a small bowl and slip into a pan of simmering water until white is cooked and yolk is still runny. Arrange everything in a bowl and break yolk over.

INGREDIENTS

Veal Osso Bucco with gremolata

VEAL OSSO BUCCO WITH GREMOLATA

Osso Bucco means “bone with a hole” and the marrow in the bone gives the dish a rich glossy finish. Look for locally raised rose veal shanks, wonderful at this time of year. I make this dish for the gremolata garnish – parsley and lemon and garlic – which is delicious with anything!

INGREDIENTS

(for four) 4 pieces veal shank olive oil 3 celery sticks, 4 carrots, 2 onions, all finely chopped 2 large cloves garlic, peeled and crushed 2 tbsp marjoram, chopped 2 tbsp parsley, chopped 3 bay leaves 1 tin chopped tomatoes 1 bottle dry white wine salt and pepper 1 bunch flat leaved parsley, leaves only, chopped 2 cloves garlic, peeled and chopped zest of two unwaxed lemons

METHOD Season the meat and brown all over in the oil.

Reserve. Pour off fat from pan, add all the vegetables, the garlic and the herbs. Allow to soften. Add the tomatoes; cook for 10 minutes. Add white wine. Cook for 10 more minutes. Return meat to pan, cover and cook on low for 1.5 hours until meat is soft and tender and the sauce is rich and glossy. Adjust seasoning. Toss the last three ingredients together in a bowl to make the gremolata garnish. Serve the osso bucco with risotto or new potatoes and scatter the gremolata over.

BAKED RICOTTA WITH RHUBARB AND HONEY

When I found locally produced ricotta cheese, made from the whey remaining after cheese making, I just had to make this. It’s an easy and well-behaved dish that shows off local produce brilliantly.

The grainy texture of the baked ricotta contrasts with the silky rhubarb to make a delicious dessert, or even breakfast!

METHOD Pre-heat oven to 130°C. Chop the rhubarb into 3cm lengths. Put into a shallow oven proof dish, toss with the honey and water and cook uncovered for about 30 mins until tender, shaking once.

Remove. Raise heat to 180°C. Butter two ovenproof ramekins lightly. Beat the last four ingredients together and divide between the ramekins. Bake for 20–25 mins until raised and golden. Unmould and serve with the rhubarb.

PAGE 20 • MENDIP TIMES • MAY 2017

(for two) 1 bunch fresh rhubarb, cleaned 2 tbsp honey splash of water 250g ricotta 1 egg 2 tbsp sugar ½ tsp vanilla extract

INGREDIENTS

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FOOD & DRINK

A round-up of events from Thatchers Cider in Sandford

Family Reserve rediscovers William Thatcher’s champagne cider recipe

IF you’re looking for an extra special drink to serve at an extra special occasion this summer, our Thatchers Family Reserve will get heads turning.

Selecting the first gentle pressing of our beautiful Katy apples for the finest and most delicate juice, we’ve created this sparkling apple wine that has light golden hues, gentle fine bubbles and a great combination of intensity, delicacy and length.

At 11%, this sparkling apple wine rediscovers the recipe for “champagne cider” crafted by our founder, William Thatcher at the turn of the 20th century.

Thatchers Family Reserve was first launched on a limited pressing in 2016 and we’re delighted to be pressing it once again. It’s available in our Cider Shop at Myrtle Farm, and online at www.thatcherscider.co.uk

Raise a glass to Somerset

11th MAY is Somerset Day, the day that has been chosen to celebrate this wonderful county we live and work in.

As cidermakers born and bred in Somerset, we’ll certainly be raising a glass and supporting this great initiative. Join us at The Railway Inn on Somerset Day, when The Mendip Morrismen will be keeping everyone entertained from 7pm.

There’ll be a special Somerset Cider and Cheese tasting with some delicious local cheeses and our range of ciders.

If you’re visiting our Cider Shop on 11th May, keep a look out for some special promotions.

For more information about Somerset Day, visit www.somersetday.com

Cheers from us all at Myrtle Farm

What’s on

Raising money for good causes The Thatchers Foundation is holding a Cider and Wine Festival on Saturday 20th May at Winscombe Cricket Club. As well as our ciders, The Wine Shop in Winscombe will bring along a fantastic selection of wines for sampling. Tickets are on sale from The Wine Shop, Farrons Estate Agents, The Railway Inn, Thatchers Cider Shop, and Thatchers Reception at Myrtle Farm, price £15 (including six drinks). There’ll be live music too.

On board at St Monica’s We’re delighted to be helping St Monica’s at Sandford Station celebrate May Day. St Monica’s is holding an open day and festival for friends and family on 1st May from 11am to 4pm. We’ll be there with a cider tasting for the adults, as well as activities for the younger generation. Please come along and say hello.

Cider and Spice The Railway Inn is holding a curry & cider night on Tuesday 6th June with entertainment from the Folk Duo. Reservations are required, please call 01934 611518 for tickets.

A date for your diary Our Open Day takes place this year on Saturday 16th September. Gates open at 11.00am and there’ll be plenty of activities for the whole family. Please keep an eye out on our website for more detail nearer the time.

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

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New team at the palace

THE Bishop’s Palace and its café, The Bishop’s Table, have welcomed a new team of highly experienced chefs to the site.

Head chef Nick Hampson and sous chef Daniel Friend previously had equivalent roles at the highly regarded Bocabar in Glastonbury, which was awarded a Gold and Silver Taste the West Award under their management.

Nick has previously been head chef at The Sheppey Inn in Godney and The Crown in Wells and also worked at Yeo Valley HQ in Blagdon. Daniel was formerly head chef at The Wookey Hole Inn and at Horts in Bristol, and sous chef at The Sheppey Inn.

Al fresco!

OUTDOOR cooking and dining is synonymous with summer and today’s kitchens are no longer confined by the traditional four walls. Stylish outdoor living options are now virtually endless, and dining al fresco is only half the fun — things really heat up when you bring the entire cooking experience outside.

Outdoor Kitchens South West can design, deliver and fit custom-built outdoor kitchens and living areas in your garden to include BBQ islands, pizza ovens, fireplaces and fire-pits in a small patio garden to a large scale fully fitted outdoor kitchen, complete with a chandelier, fridge and bar!

Email them for a free site visit and quotation on info@outdoorkitchenssouthwest.com

Axbridge market wins gold!

THE Taste of the West judges said they were very impressed with their recent trip to Axbridge Farmers’ Market, which takes place on the first Saturday of each month, and awarded it a coveted gold in their hospitality and retail awards.

They said they were surprised to find a city-size market in a tiny medieval town and praised the 25 stalls which they said provided produce of exemplary quality, which was fresh and pleasing to the eye and taste buds.

Importantly they found a high level of knowledge from all the stallholders who were keen to explain their methods of production. They summed up their visit: “This market is in a lovely location, snuggled in the ancient town square with an excellent range of products.”

Farmers’ markets are also good for the producers who can take control of the whole process, whether it’s baking bread, growing vegetables or raising beef cattle, cutting out the middle men and giving customers competitive prices.

Axbridge Market has also become a great local asset in bringing the Axbridge community together, but also making visitors very welcome.

Details: www.somersetfarmersmarkets.co.uk or on Twitter @SFMMarkets

M AY D AT E S We l l s E ac h We d 9 am – 2 . 3O p m

We design, deliver and fit covered outdoor living areas To include • BBQ Islands • Pizza Ovens • Outdoor fireplaces/Fire pits • Patio Heaters Email us for a free site visit and quotation now: info@outdoorkitchenssouthwest.com PAGE 22 • MENDIP TIMES • MAY 2017

A l l o t h e r ma r k e t s 9 a m - 1 p m un l e s s o t h e r w i s e m a r ke d *

SAT 6th Axbridge & Midsomer Norton SUN 7th SFM @ Frome Independent SAT 13th Frome (C&G Market Hall) and Keynsham SAT 20th Crewkerne FRI 26th Burnham-on-Sea SAT 27th Glastonbury* (9am-2pm)

Come in and enjoy Blagdon’s traditional little country pub. enjoy Lunch or dinner with us. note 80% menu is gluten-free.

Booking highly recommended. in season: trout • Pheasant • Venison good food, good friends, good times

www.queenadelaideblagdon.co.uk • 01761 463926

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Bread & Beyond

FOOD & DRINK

TEA ROOMS AND PROVISIONS

Warming lunches • organic free trade coffee Cream teas • Afternoon tea (booking only) Home-made tarts, pies, cakes and bread • Local milk, cheeses and eggs Lovely things for sale from michel design Works, Burleigh and Brixton Pottery, Crisp and dene kitchen textiles.

Products from mendip Lavender and Lyonsleaf skincare, Priddy.

Cyclists, walkers and dogs very welcome Open: Monday to Friday: 7am - 4.30pm Saturday: 7.30am - 3pm

Bread & Beyond

High street, Chewton mendip, BA3 4LJ

01761 240820 email: breadandbeyond@outlook.com SPEND £10 IN SHOP FOR A FREE CUP OF TEA OR COFFEE

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Fresh faces at the Darlington Arms CHEF Jonny Burnett has already had a remarkable career, working in some of the country’s top restaurants, as well as becoming the youngest restaurant owner in the country – and he’s still only 20.

Now he and his team have moved into the Darlington Arms on the A38 at Redhill, determined to establish a reputation for fine food and friendly service.

Until March he was running his own Postbox Eatery in the former Post Office in his home village of Claverham, earning plaudits from food critics and customers.

This despite the lack of parking, no drinks licence (Claverham is a Quaker village) and its tiny size – though they did squeeze 30 in on Christmas Day. Jonny went to Court de Wyck School in Claverham, then on to Backwell, where he’s since returned to give cookery classes.

In his early teens he took his CV around Bristol and got work experience at city restaurants, before winning a formal apprenticeship at Hugh Fearnley-Whittingstall’s River Cottage in Devon.

Part of that involved working at Ode, in Shaldon, one of the leaders of the sustainable food movement. Then came a stint at Le Manoir aux Quat’Saisons.

He said: “That was really, really hard, working 18-hour days and spending my second year away from home, but I learned an incredible amount, and it made me determined to go and get my own place, which I set up with £4,000.

“The experience of running it was good and had it not been

for the problems with parking and alcohol, I would have stayed.

Now I’m looking forward to establishing a similar reputation here.

“We’ll be offering consistent, solid food, freshly made and locally sourced, including offal and good quality fish – nothing pretentious.”

Most of the Postbox team have moved with him, including Andre Baque, who is in charge of front of house.

The pub has undergone extensive refurbishment by owners Neil and Helen Maxwell. It has a lounge area, with a log fire, where customers with dogs are welcome; a well-stocked bar, pool room and a stylish south-facing restaurant.

THE DARLINGTON at Redhill

open seven days a week from 11am food served 11am ’til 9pm • sunday midday ’til 4pm sunday roasts served 12 ’til 4 • Booking recommended

01934 862247 www.thedarlingtonatredhill.co.uk New team | New menu | New approach PAGE 24 • MENDIP TIMES • MAY 2017

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GARDEN FOOD

Fruit of the hedge

MAY is the time for Elaeagnus x ebbingei fruit – the first fruit of the year! This plant is extremely commonly planted in gardens and municipal settings – once you start looking for it you will see it absolutely everywhere. You may have one in your garden!

With JAKE It is mainly planted as a trouble-free WHITSON evergreen hedge, which also has lovely scented flowers in the middle of winter – part of the reason it can have fruit so early. But most people don't realise that the fruit is also edible.

Before it is fully ripe it is really very astringent – don't be put off if the first one you try dries your mouth out. They need first to ripen to a rich maroon red and be soft when you squeeze them gently. Then they have a rich flavour and unusual jelly-sweet texture – delicious.

The seed inside is also edible, having a texture a little like a peanut, but unfortunately there is a fibrous seed case in between the fruit and seed – I usually do a mixture of chewing the whole fruit and seed together, then spitting out the seed case, and eating the fruit from around the seed, peeling it, and then eating the seed.

They are very nutritious, being rich in vitamins A, C and E, as well as essential fatty acids – unusual for a fruit.

I usually don't get around to making anything elaborate with them – I enjoy them so much raw. But they are also very nice dried – sustaining and substantial. Jam is also nice from Elaeagnus fruits, but the fruit must be first cooked and sieved to remove the seeds – if you're not going to eat them your chickens will absolutely love them!

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. Details: www.chaosfungorum.co.uk

FOOD & DRINK

WILD FOOD

A bit of spring cleansing

THE countryside is brightened up so much by the appearance of the many yellow springtime flowers. For example primroses, ladies smock (okay this one’s light purple), lesser celandine, daffodils and my favourite the cow slip. All are edible except the daffs.

However, there is one super abundant With ADRIAN flowering plant that is edible but is somewhat BOOTS persecuted by lovers of the perfect lawn. So which bright and cheerful plant could possibly be so maligned?

It’s the common dandelion!

The English common name originates from the French “dent de lion” meaning “lion’s teeth”. This was due to the large serrated leaves looking, well, like teeth. I would have said they look more similar to shark teeth than lion’s but then I guess French country folk didn’t tend to get too close to either for intimate dental examinations.

Local names include “fairyclocks” and “golden suns”, referencing the fact that like daisies and sunflowers the flower head swivels to follow the path of the sun. The French also call dandelion “pissenlit” which literally means “wet the bed” (it’s where one of our more colourful words for pee comes from) and leaving no room for linguistic misunderstanding was known in Somerset as “wet-abed”.

All this talk of urination alludes to the plant’s reputed diuretic and detoxification abilities. Indeed, the Latin name means “the official cure for all ailments”.

Dandelion (Taraxacum officinale) is a perennial plant with yellow flowers 25 to 40mm across, on long hollow stems. The leaves form a basal rosette and are deeply lobed or toothed.

Dandelion is very abundant and can be found everywhere there is grass flowering March to October.

During WW2 the U-boat blockades prevented coffee coming into the country, so dandelion root was used to make a coffee substitute. Ironically, dandelion coffee does not taste anything like coffee and as soon as the real thing could be re-imported, poor old dandelion root coffee literally went out of the window.

Speaking of WW2, the former USSR also used the latex from the stems to produce a form of rubber! In terms of edibility though, the leaves form part of what I call the “bitter greens” which all have some sort of vitamin or mineral benefit and often bladder related effects, which is good news for a spring cleansing of the system after a winter of eating meats and stored food stuffs.

So go on, why not try mixing up young dandelion leaves and flower heads in a salad next time you have a BBQ? Just don’t mention any increased frequency of visits to the bathroom.

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.

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Hartley’s Kitchen e Café bistro on the Mendips Hartleys have a great team – passionate about the food they source and serve.

We are all here to give you a great eating experience.

Please come and meet us: Lynda – Executive Chef From London wine bars to stunning curries Michael – Head Chef International experience – steaks are his speciality Neil – Sous Chef Great at baking our bread & making our pies Suzanne – Sous Chef e Queen of terrines & super soups Laura – Stunning starters, salads & dessert chef Eric – e backbone of kitchen support. Hot chocolate expert Billie – e star of Front of House, Manageress with style Beccie – Barista extraordinaire.

Paul – Creative influence and best selling food writer & wine waiter.

And our waitresses, Sally, Lauren, Zoe, Romany, Francesca & Nikaya

Hartleys Kitchen, Rookery Farm, Binegar, BA3 4UL Tel 01749 841718 e-mail info@hartleyskitchen.com www.hartleyskitchen.com

Only the best at Hartleys Kitchen

CAFES, bars, public houses and restaurants all ply for our business by teasing our palates with enticing offers.

The choice on the Mendips is far and wide reaching from great inns to cellar bars, from roadside cafes to gourmet diners.

Link all this together with the plethora of game, meat, fish, cheese, grains, ciders, beers, salads, fruit and vegetables grown on the Mendips and you surely have a menu for success.

Hartleys Kitchen, the cafe bistro, which settled more than eight years ago in a converted cattle shed at Rookery Farm, Binegar, has surely taken full advantage of what’s on offer in and around.

Local, sustainable and seasonal are the buzzwords there. The kitchen boasts a squad of exemplary talent, with carefully sourced, beautifully cooked and inspiringly presented local, national and international breakfast and lunch dishes.

Alfresco summer lunches, often an array of classic cars and occasional live jazz make Hartleys definitely unmissable.

Open Tuesday through Sunday from 8am for breakfast, brunch and then lunch, closing at 4pm.

Spring Menu STARTERS & LIGHT BITES (v) soup of The day (see specials Boards) £4.95 Creamy smoked Haddock with spinach, Local Cheddar & Poached egg £6.25/£12.50 Char-grilled octopus, Asian salad, honey & hoisin dressing, & Crispy seaweed £6.95 Crispy Brawn, Parsnip Puree & Homemade Piccalilli £6.25 (V) sun-blushed tomato & parmesan Aranc ini, onion Puree, Pine nut & rocket salad £5.95 (V) roasted Beetroots, goats cheese mous se, Beetroot Puree, gingerbread Crumb & Candied Walnuts £5.95 smoked Chicken & Chorizo terrine, Apple , Apricot & Almond salad, with curry mayo £6.25 FOR TWO TO SHARE (v) A selection of Breads, olives, Houmous & Homemade Pesto £7.95 (v) Baked Camembert fondue, studded with garlic & Herbs with Pickles & Bread £13.25 mixed Charcuterie Board with Crusty Bread , Pesto, olives & Houmous £13.50 fish Board, Bloody mary sauce, Capers, dill, toasted rye bread & foccacia £13.50

Come and enjoy our superb country bistro cuisine in beautiful surroundings at one of the best known food pubs south of Bristol. We are very excited about our new spring menu

We look forward to seeing you!

The Plough inn, High street, Wrington, north somerset, Bs40 5QA tel : 01934 862871 www.theploughatwrington.co.uk PAGE 26 • MENDIP TIMES • MAY 2017

MAINS Braised feather Blade, sauté potatoes, spring greens, Butternut squash puree & Chilli Jam £13.95 Pan roasted duck breast, fondant potato, orange marmalade, Pecan nuts, Carrot puree & pickled fennel £15.00 Pan roasted Chicken breast, Creamed mash, smoked pancetta, heritage carrots & Bourg inion sauce £12.50 Thai green curry, 9-hour braised lamb shank , fragrant rice & bean sprout, mango & basil salad £17.50 slow roasted Pork Belly, Celeriac Puree, Cream ed mash, Kale, Apple, Black pudding Crisp and jus £13.95 Pork sausages, with rosemary & Apricot, Buttered mash Potato & onion marmalade gravy £11.50 Homemade Beef Burger, With Coleslaw, Hand Cut Chips, £10.95 – Add Cheddar, Blue Cheese, Bacon & onion marmalade 80p, or Pulled Pork £1 Pan-fried fillet of sea trout, roasted baby potatoes, spring salad, fresh herbs & Butter sauce £13.95 Herb gnocchi, wild garlic & tomato ragu, purple sprouting broccoli, with lime, chilli & poppy seeds £11.25 Linguine with a sun-blushed tomato and parme san cream, roasted artichoke hearts, toasted walnuts & pesto £11.50 Char grilled 10oz rump steak served with Hand Cut Chips & salad £19.95 Char grilled 8oz sirloin steak served with Hand Cut Chips & salad £20.95 – extra sauces – Pepper sauce, Cafe de Paris Butter, Blue Cheese £1.95 EXTRAS Hand Cut Chips £3.50 • skinny fries £3 • spicy House Chips £4 Café de Paris Bread £4.50 • Bread 75p • side salad or side Vegetables £2.50

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FOOD & DRINK

UNDER NEW MANAGEMENT

THE LANGFORD INN AND RESTAURANT

Lower Langford, BS40 5BL 01934 863059 www.langfordinn.co.uk

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Culture bid gathers support

Wookey Hole circus skills students with the bid team outside the Swan Hotel

COMMUNITY groups, businesses and tourist attractions have added their support to an ambitious bid for Wells to be named the 2021 City of Culture.

But organisers insist the impact would be Mendip-wide, taking in everywhere from Wedmore and Glastonbury to Bruton and Frome.

The bid has also won the support of Wells MP James Heappey who said: “The proposal is different to others because it is not based on post-industrial regeneration but the power of culture to improve the lives of everybody in the community, including the elderly and vulnerable. That is bang-on message with what the Government is trying to do.”

The team working on the 30-page bid document must submit its application by the end of April. A shortlist of probably four cities – out of 11 entered – is due to be named in June with the finalist announced in December.

The team told guests who gathered at a briefing about the culture bid at the Best Western Swan Hotel in Wells that they were keen to hear James Heappey MP (right) with bid team people’s ideas and members John Turner and Rosie Martin offers of support. on a visit to the Bishop’s Palace in Wells For details visit the bid’s Facebook page – WellsCoC2021 – or find them on Twitter at @WellsCoC2021

PAGE 28 • MENDIP TIMES • MAY 2017

NEWS

Carnival chairman changes as Rita takes the reins

SHEPTON Mallet Carnival chairman Don Clifford has announced his retirement from the position after more than 20 years at the helm.

But the organising committee Rita and Don at Shepton Mallet Carnival’s will be in safe AGM hands – Rita Wolff, who became the event’s first carnival queen in 1965, is to take over.

Don announced his retirement at the committee’s annual meeting. He said: “I have enjoyed myself in that office, but being 84 years old and not in good health has told me to slow up. Thank you for all your support over the years and I wish success to everyone in the future."

Don plans to remain a committee member and was awarded life membership and made an honorary carnival president.

The annual presentation of funds raised from the carnival will be made on Friday, May 5th at The Highwayman at Cannard’s Grave at 7.30pm.

Silver celebrations for literature festival

THE Wells Festival of Literature will celebrate its 25th anniversary in 2017 with another exciting blend of authors from many different genres.

Amongst them will be Simon Jenkins, who will be talking about his book England’s Cathedrals from the pulpit of Wells Cathedral.

This year’s festival – one of the most-established in the country – takes place from Friday, October 13th to Saturday, October 21st, based in a marquee in the grounds of the Bishop’s Palace.

Richard Manning, the new chairman, said: “When I became involved with the Wells Festival of Literature a few years ago it was as someone who had attended many talks over the years, but with little idea of the scope and scale of the effort required to make it all work.

“I am now under no illusions about just how much energy, enthusiasm and creativity so many people put into all aspects of the Festival's activities, including its charitable endeavours to encourage reading and literacy in schools around Wells. The event is run by an entirely voluntary committee.”

The list of authors and the brochure will be published in July when tickets will also be available online at: www.wellsfestivalofliterature.org.uk/

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RH Windows offers a full range of products

RH Windows are the longest-established window and door company in the Chew Valley and have been serving the area for over 45 years.

The company was first established by Gerald Read and Bernard Harrington in the early seventies when aluminium was the major product being manufactured, but the company moved quickly with the times bringing in to their range plastic windows and doors, now known as PVCu. With Alan Nash and Duncan Read joining in the late seventies came hardwood and softwood, for which they have won awards and their products are widely used by architects across the South West with some of the larger contracts being in Clifton and Bath.

They have established a name with local authorities supplying windows and doors for listed buildings. All their products are produced in their factory at Farrington Gurney where they now boast a work force of over 24, all time-served

tradesmen and fully trained to their very high standards.

All products are purpose made to suit a customer’s requirements and leave the factory fully finished and ready for installation by their own installation teams who are all FENSA registered.

Details: www.rhwindowsltd.co.uk

RH WINDOWS

They are very proud of the work they do and have a very strong and loyal customer base with many customers coming back year after year. They have just completed a job in Hove, Sussex, with a customer who moved from the Chew Valley area.

Moving with the times they are now a licensed supplier and installer of Residence 9 and Residence 7 windows and doors manufactured in their factory in Bristol. These are an alternative to the hardwood windows and doors they produce and along with their range of Spectus PVCu and Smarts Aluminium products they can now offer a full and complete range to cover all your needs.

Managing director, Alan Nash, said: “We would like to thank all our customers past and present for all their support and hope to carry on supplying their needs in the future. Examples and samples of all our work can be seen at the offices in Farrington Gurney or on our website.”

MENDIP TIMES • MAY 2017 • PAGE 29

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Stepping back in time

RE-ENACTMENT enthusiasts brought the past back to life at the Glastonbury Medieval Fayre over the Easter bank holiday.

Held in the grounds of Glastonbury Abbey, the two-day celebration attracted history groups from across the country and abroad.

Fun in the stocks

Court jester Firey Jack entertains the crowds

Mara (left) and Caitlin were part of the Dutch War Bow Society from the Netherlands

Alexia, aged ten, and Oriana, five, had come from Preston to take part in the fayre with their family

Ethan, who lives near Bridgwater, enjoys getting close to Isabelle, a European eagle owl who is a member of the Berkeley Castle falconry team

Sabina, from St Kennet’s

PAGE 30 • MENDIP TIMES • MAY 2017

Jousting begins in the main arena

Members of the Black Serpents prepare lunch

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EVENTS

Style and history

THE Bishop’s Palace in Wells was the ideal venue for a meeting of owners of two of the world’s most iconic motoring names: Rolls Royce and Bentley.

Members of the Great Western section of the Rolls Royce Enthusiasts Club gathered at the palace for a get-together organised by club member Ted Carver, of Wells.

The section has around 200 members, but people don’t have to own one of the prestige cars – just be enthusiastic about them.

Club secretary Margaret Ball and her husband John, of Kenn, own several Rolls Royces including the 1929 Phantom I they brought to the palace. In 1951 the car served as a mobile bookshop for a company dealing in motoring manuals and was a regular sight at race meetings and rallies.

A Spirit of Ecstasy appears to be ready to soar over the cathedral

John and Margaret Ball with their 1929 Phantom I

Red, white and blue: Rollers and Bentleys by the Bishop’s Palace lawn

A vintage Bentley flying “B” car mascot

Some of the shining examples of the prestige vehicles in front of the entrance to the palace

For details about the club, visit: www.rrec.org.uk

MENDIP TIMES • MAY 2017 • PAGE 31

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Wild exhibition

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THE Wild Edge Gallery in Wedmore will be running a new art exhibition entitled Wild Somerset for four weeks starting on May 27th featuring a varied selection of work by professional artists inspired by Somerset's wildlife and natural places.

Ten percent of sales will be donated to Somerset Wildlife Trust and there will also be a raffle of original art from the gallery.

Works include paintings by Jim Starr (who has recently produced work featured in BBC's The Apprentice), sculptures

by Frome-based Ian Marlow and April Young, photography from Suzanne Easton and drawings and paintings by Erica Sharpe who established the gallery last year.

The president of Somerset Wildlife Trust, Stephen Moss, will be opening the event from 10.30am on the opening day and visitors will be welcomed with drinks and locally produced nibbles.

Stephen, who is local to Wedmore, is a well-known wildlife writer, broadcaster, and highly regarded naturalist. He is the author of many books including BBC’s recent Planet Earth 2.

The exhibition will be open Tuesday to Fridays 10am-4pm and Saturdays 10am-12.30pm until June 30th.

Details: www.wildedgegallery.co.uk

Showcase of arts and crafts

NORTH Somerset Arts Week, the largest showcase of artistic talent in the area, will run from Friday April 28th – Sunday May 7th. This exciting biennial event will showcase 240 local artists and makers at 52 venues across North Somerset, from Portishead to WestonLizzie Tucker – Long Ashton Super-Mare to Blagdon and everything in between.

The areas are split into group to help visitors navigate their way around. The South Area Group covers Congresbury, Cleeve, Wrington, Claverham, Blagdon and surrounding areas. The South West area covers Banwell, Weston Super Mare and Worle, the Mid area group covers Abbots Leigh, Long Ashton, Nailsey, Chelvey and surrounding areas and the North West area group covers, Clevedon, Portishead and Kingston Seymour.

The areas are clearly marked in the programme. A number of new venues and artists are featured this time. North Somerset Arts (NSA) was founded in 2002 as the first community-led arts not-for-profit organisation in the area.

Details: www.northsomersetarts.org

North Somerset Arts Week 28th April 7th May 2017 Pick up your free brochure from local libraries.

With more than 250 artists and over 50 venues across North Somerset.

Traditional, Eclectic, Retro, Furnishings and Interior Designs • In-House Traditional Furniture Restoration Service including French Polishing, Cabinet Work and Gilding Please ring for Opening Hours • Tel: 01749 675956 – Mob: 07814 686424 www.rajrastogi.co.uk • e-mail: rraj2@tiscali.co.uk The Old Chapel, Wookey Hole, Wells, Somerset, BA5 1BP PAGE 32 • MENDIP TIMES • MAY 2017

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ARTS AND ANTIQUES

Clevedon breaks more records!

THE March Specialist Sale resulted in the highest ever sale total in Clevedon Salerooms’ long history, to be followed just two weeks later by the most successful fortnightly Antiques and Interiors Sale ever held at Clevedon.

The live online bidding that now features in every sale has drawn new bidders from further afield, much to the delight of vendors. Every single lot now offered at Clevedon Salerooms is illustrated and sold in front of a global audience.

Craig Bennett, the saleroom manager responsible for the Quarterly Specialist Sale photography, is now joined by Kim Aguilar who joins the Clevedon team from a Midlands based auction house where she was responsible for all of their sale photography.

The recent Antiques & Interiors sale held just before Easter included this charming early 20th century gold brooch having enamelled decoration of two Easter bunnies pulling an egg-filled

cart.

The eggs were not chocolate, but instead were fashioned from precious stones and the winning bidder parted with £640 in order to secure the 2cm wide brooch.

The closing date for the June 1st Specialist Sale is Wednesday May 3rd with free valuation days held at the salerooms on Tuesday 2nd and Wednesday 3rd of May.

For more information visit www.clevedon-salaerooms.com

More results from our recent record breaking sale Cartier diamond and sapphire gold bird brooch Sold for £ 4,950

Fine Art Auctioneers & Valuers

FREE ANTIQUE VALUATION DAYS 2 3 May

18th Century walnut chest Sold for £9,650

9.30am–1pm and 2pm–5pm Held at the salerooms – no appointment necessary Antiques, Interiors, Collectables & Jewellery 11th May

Sale starts at 10am On view day before 10am – 6.30pm Sale day from 9am

Tel: 01934 830111 or 0117 325 6789

The Auction Centre, Kenn Road, Kenn, Clevedon, Bristol BS21 6TT www.clevedon-salerooms.com

Set of six Georgian Style Walnut Hall Chairs from Ston Easton Park Sold for £15,500 (Realised prices include Buyers Premium of 24% inclusive of VAT)

Quarterly Specialist Sale

Thursday 1st June at 10.30am Closing date for entries Wednesday 3rd May Every lot in every sale, illustrated and sold live online MENDIP TIMES • MAY 2017 • PAGE 33

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Great minds gel at the Somerset Guild

A CHANCE conversation, a brainwave, a meeting of minds.

Followed by a good deal of arduous design, discussion and making results in “Collaboration”, an event at the Somerset Guild of Craftsmen in Wells.

In every walk of life, we find people with whom we think we can gel and produce something special. In a creative world such as the arts and crafts we sometimes find the “whole” can be greater than the “parts”. Drop in to the Guild's gallery at 23a Broad Street and judge for yourself.

As always, there is a great range of craft work on display for Collaboration at the Somerset Guild of sale, from Craftsmenthe “prettiest” ever to wear the prints to iconic name porcelain, jugs to jewellery and jumpers and a whole lot more besides.

But included are also the results of just a few collaborations: ● Glass and Stone from Will Shakspeare and John Candler ● Wire, wood and copper from Rachel Reilly and Alastair Kinghorn ● Rachel has also worked with Ruth Keenlyside to produce some stunning photography of her work Of course there is another angle to the “teamwork” which involves visitors and clients. Most of the Guild's makers are very happy to discuss commission work.

Again the notion of what the customer wants in or around their home, or as a special and unique gift, can extend the craftsmen, sparking ideas for new and inventive work.

MENDIP VALLEY ANTIQUES & COLLECTABLES

We BUY and SELL antiques and collectables Monday Closed • All other days 10.30am til 4pm New Manor Farm Shop, Widcombe BS40 6HW Contact: mendipvalleyantiques@gmail.com 01761 221001 • 07966 387252 • Please visit our website: mendipvalleyantiquesandcollectables.co.uk PAGE 34 • MENDIP TIMES • MAY 2017

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ARTS AND ANTIQUES

International buyers at Mendip Auction Rooms

HUNDREDS of people turned out for Killens’ Classic Car and Motorcycle sale at Mendip Auction Rooms on March 25th with buyers coming from all over the UK and beyond.

The star car, a 1950 Jaguar XK120 OTS, sold for £96,000 whilst a 1960 Norton Dominator was purchased for £6,720 by a buyer who flew in from Vienna. All four of the MGBTs entered found new homes too with a restoration project going to Northern France.

Killens also found their antiques auction on Saturday April 8th to be popular with international buyers, due to people being able to bid for items online. One of the items sold was an impressive Black Forest style wooden carved bear (168cm high) which sold for £1,500. A 17th century Scottish oak chair with later replacements sold for £460, while an oil painting by Watson of Highland Cattle (Signed and dated 1918) sold for £850.

The next auction will be on Saturday May 6th and will be Antiques, Fine Art & Collectables, while on Tuesday May 16th there will be a sale of Victorian & Latter Effects items and a Sporting Sale on Thursday May 25th.

The team of valuers from Killens can provide free valuations of items every Wednesday, Thursday and Friday at the auction rooms in Binegar, or are happy to undertake a home visit.

The auction rooms can be contacted on 01749 840770 or by email at enquiries@mendipauctionrooms.co.uk

MENDIP TIMES • MAY 2017 • PAGE 35

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Valuing the individual child

ALL Hallows is a Catholic preparatory school of 300 boys and girls, situated in the picturesque Somerset countryside.

With a strong Catholic ethos, the school’s mission is to develop in children the skills and self-belief to flourish in our rapidly changing world.

All faiths, and none, are welcome at All Hallows as they believe that each child has an inherent value which they nurture spiritually, intellectually, personally, creatively and emotionally.

Boarding is very much at the heart of All Hallows. Boarding “parents”, some of whom have young families of their own, live on site and are supported by fully qualified medical staff, and gap year assistants. They pride themselves on the family feel of the boarding house – the flexibility of staff, and warmth they have, ensures there is always someone on hand should a child need some support.

All Hallows is largely non-selective on

entry, but manages year-on-year to achieve a bumper haul of scholarships; this year over 60% of Year 8 pupils achieved a scholarship. Their scholarships are not only academic, but reflect the variety of talents they nurture at All Hallows. Art, music, drama and sport are all encouraged, with the lessons in the curriculum being backed up with a wide range of extra-curricular activities. They

value the individual at All Hallows, and work with parents to recommend senior schools based on their knowledge of the child – their strengths, passions and potential.

They warmly welcome inquiries so please contact their admissions team or visit them on their open morning on Monday May 1st, 9.30am-midday. Fee assistance is available.

Details: 01749881609 admissions@allhallowsschool.co.uk

PAGE 36 • MENDIP TIMES • MAY 2017

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Complimentary therapies teacher awarded fellowship

PATRICIA Parfitt, Complementary Therapies teacher at Strode College, has recently been awarded Fellowship status by the Federation of Holistic Therapists.

Patricia has been teaching at Strode College for 27 years and delivers Complementary Therapy classes including Stone Therapy Massage, Reflexology and Aromatherapy. As part of her professional development as a therapist she has been a member of the Federation of Holistic Therapists for many years. In recognition of this continued membership Patricia has been awarded Fellowship status, a mark of distinction which shows the highest standards of expertise, achievement and success.

Page 37

College open evening

EDUCATION

STRODE College in Street is inviting school pupils, adults and employers to its open evening on Wednesday June 14th, 6-8pm, to find out about the wide variety of courses and opportunities available.

School pupils from Years 9-11, who are thinking about their options for study after GCSEs, can find out about the wide range of A Levels available at Strode, as well as excellent vocational courses and apprenticeships – with current job vacancies available now, for those leaving school this summer.

As Mendip and South Somerset’s only Ofsted Outstanding sixth form there will also be the chance to find out about university-level courses available at Strode, including degrees, HNDs and HNCs in history, heritage and archaeology; management (business or public sector); psychology; computing and systems development; and engineering.

Visitors will be able to pick up the brand new Courses for Adults prospectus, where they can choose from the wide variety of classes and sign up for a new course on the night (selected courses only).

Turn up on the evening or preregister on Strode’s website: www.strodecollege.ac.uk

Churchill builds for the future

CHURCHILL Academy’s bid for a new £3.9million science and technology block has been successful. This follows the £1.3m granted for a new IT and business centre and means it can phase out one of its original 1950s buildings. The new build will include 12 science laboratories and two food technology classrooms and will provide over 14,000m2 of space.

School head, Chris Hildrew, said: “Our main building has served us well for 60 years, but the students of 2017 deserve better than to receive their education in a building designed and built for the students of 1957.”

Both bids have been made through the government’s Condition Improvement Fund—the only funding source available to the school as an academy.

Award winning Children’s Day Nursery

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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

MENDIP TIMES • MAY 2017 • PAGE 37

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Visit our new premises at Rookery Farm

Shop and clip with Emma at Rookery Farm

Our larger shop stocks an even wider range of pet accessories, pet food, country clothing, bags, gifts and lots more

A view of the enlarged Greens of Mendip country store

And with Paws to Claws dog and cat grooming parlour all under one roof, where else do you need to visit?

Greens of Mendip: 01749 841293 For grooming appointments call: 01749 841842 Rookery Farm, Binegar BA3 4UL

CAMELEY LODGE LAUNDRY

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

Tel 01761 451787

www.cameleylodgelaundry.co.uk

LECATCHER MO

NO MOLE NO FEE Telephone 01275 332966 www.mendipmolecatcher.co.uk

Balloon flights over the Chew Valley, Mendips and Somerset Levels

PAGE 38 • MENDIP TIMES • MAY 2017

PAWS to Claws and Greens of Mendip have moved into bigger shared premises at Rookery Farm at Binegar.

Whilst the Paws to Claws grooming service continues to ensure pooches are pampered – the business is now in its 15th year – the move from the far side of the estate to a position just off the main road – has allowed owner Emma Green the opportunity to expand the country store and offer even more products.

Emma said: “I now have a bigger showroom and better storage, so I can extend the range of clothing – such as wellington boots for children – and bags and things like dog food and pet essentials.”

Paws to Claws Archie, a collie cross, comes from Burnham-onremains very Sea for a regular grooming session with Emma much at the heart of the business and Emma met five new clients in just one week recently. She added: “Owners like coming to Rookery Farm because they can leave their dogs with me and go for a coffee or something to eat at Hartley’s Café next door.” ● Emma will be offering dog nail clipping for £3 and selling pet essentials at this year’s Festival of Dogs in Collett Park in Shepton Mallet on Sunday, April 30th. The day-long canine celebration is raising money for Happy Landings animal rescue centre and the Forever Hounds Trust.

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Mendip Times reduces travel costs

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

BUSINESS Outdoor Clothing, Footwear and Accessories

CRAGHOPPERS KIWI WALKING TROUSERS

Were £40

NOW ONLY £25!

Mens

Ladies

Bring this advert into the shop to claim this fantastic offer which expires end May 2017!

Broad Street • Congresbury (opposite Ship & Castle)

A Professional Company serving the South West

01934 877333 www.countryinnovation.co.uk

Burglar Alarms ✵ Fire Alarms ✵ CCTV Systems ✵ Insurance approved ✵ Installation, maintenance, repairs and upgrades ✵ Central Station Monitoring ✵ Local engineers Tel: 01275 331914 sales@chewvalleyalarm.co.uk www.chewvalleyalarm.co.uk

Relax knowing your property is protected MENDIP TIMES • MAY 2017 • PAGE 39

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BUSINESS

Len Smith Consulting Ltd Civil Engineering and Building Consultants

Residential

Commercial

Civil Engineering Design, Structural, Building, Residential and Commercial Design Happy to design just a single steel beam, extensions, new builds or residential and commercial development.

Our services include planning application and building control drawings and calculations, site surveys, project management and site supervision for small extensions through to large building, civil engineering and structural projects.

We enjoy solving problems including listed building and conservation projects.

Tel No: 01278 752872 • Mobile: 07714 750709 E-mail: Lensmithconsulting@outlook.com PAGE 40 • MENDIP TIMES • MAY 2017

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INTERNET

Passwords

WE all know the necessity of keeping passwords safe, but it’s hard to know how.

And hopefully we all know what NOT to do, including: using the same password for everything or using short, singleword passwords or putting them on sticky notes where they can be seen or saving them written out on documents with no encryption.

There are programmes you can use, such as KeePass, RoboForm or LastPass, which will save your passwords in an encrypted file so you have everything in one place, so you just need to remember one password.

But someone suggested another way to me recently – using a photo. Write out (or print out but don’t save) your passwords and take a photo. Store the photo, but put a good strong password on it. Different systems vary, but when you have it on your computer, you should have an option in the bottom left corner which is called Options or Details. In Word for Mac, you click Options > Show All > Security to find the password options. For a photo, it may be Details and then you click Encrypt and use a good strong password. In Word Click the Microsoft Office Button (top left), hover over Prepare, and then click Encrypt Document.

Another idea is to use a telephone keypad to change a memorable word into numbers so “terrified” becomes 83774343. There are usually letters under the numbers. But you would need more variety than that.

But what is a strong password, I hear you ask!

Using numbers, symbols and mix of upper and lower case letters in your password makes it harder for someone to guess your password. For example, an eight-character password with numbers, symbols and mixed-case letters is harder to guess because it has 30,000 times as many possible combinations than an eight-character password with only lower case letters.

Create a unique password that’s unrelated to your personal information and uses a combination of letters, numbers, and symbols. For example, you can select a random word or phrase and insert letters and numbers into the beginning, middle and end to make it extra difficult to guess (such as "te55ifi1d"). Don’t use simple words or phrases like "password" or sequential patterns such as "abcd1234" .

A mnemonic can be useful too – if your memory aid is Mendip Times Helps Me Remember – then your password would contain MTHMR – but again, that’s not nearly long enough on its own of course.

For some email accounts, you can add an extra layer of security by asking for a code to be sent to your mobile phone, so you can’t continue until you type in the code which they send as a text.

Contact us at I.T. for the Terrified: 01934 741751 (usually goes to answer phone) www.itfortheterrified.co.uk itfortheterrified@btconnect.com Now in Cheddar and Watchfield.

Appointments are essential and cost £20 for a two-hour session.

Registered Charity No. 1130308 • Company No. 06779600

CROSSWORD

The Mendip Mindbender

A test of your local knowledge of Mendip and surrounding areas

ACROSS: 4 North Somerset ––––, Wraxall, 1st May (4) 7 You will find Haynes Motor Museum in this village (9) 10 Village sheltering under Brent Knoll (13) 12 Village with five pubs east of Street (7) 14 ––––hay Moor nature reserve (4) 15 Green –––, former mining village near Chewton Mendip (3) 16 See 30 across 17 –––– Room, Bath. Popular tourist attraction (4) 19, 13D and 24D Home of the Somerset Rebels Speedway team (3,4,5) 20 ––––– Noble, village seven miles from Frome town centre (5) 23 Hamlet south of Wedmore (4) 27 ––––– Leather, former MP for North Somerset (5) 28 Great –––, village found near the River Mells (3) 29 Black –––, Highest point on the Mendips (4) 30 and 16A Walk and nature reserve between Yatton and Axbridge (10,4)

DOWN: 1 Village 6 miles north west of Yeovil (3) 2 Springtime event held at the West Somerset Railway, Spring Steam –––– (4) 3 Known as the ancient royal town of Wessex (8) 5 See 25 down 6 and 11D 2007 feature film shot in and around Wells (3,4) 8 Snow––– Festival held in Shepton Mallet (4) 9 Hannah –––. Philanthropist born in Bristol and buried in Wrington (4) 10 Village adjoining Rickford housing the offices of Mendip Times (7) 11 See 6 down 13 See 19 across 18 Birthplace of jazz giant Acker Bilk (8) 21 Venue for an annual local folk festival (6) 22 ––––– Combe, parish in Wincanton district (5) 24 See 12 across 25 and 5D Director of 6 and 11 down (5,5) 26 Somerset county flower, Cheddar –––– (4)

Answers on page 105 MENDIP TIMES • MAY 2017 • PAGE 41

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Charity celebrates tenth anniversary

Students and staff from Nynahini Secondary School near Kumasi in central Ghana, at the recent ceremony to celebrate the success of their mini-forest.

THIS is a big year for the carbon offset charity Climate Stewards, based in Nunney near Frome. It’s ten years since the organisation started planting its first trees in and around schools and villages in central and northern Ghana. From small beginnings, over 90 hectares of new forests have been formed.

Caroline Pomeroy, director of Climate Stewards, said: “We’re delighted to report that after ten years, most of our sites in Ghana have formed a tree canopy and are ready to be handed over into the long-term care of the local community.

“We will continue to support school environment clubs in the schools where these new mini-forests are located. Over the years these clubs have inspired and educated thousands of students to care for the environment, with some students going on to study environmental studies and taking jobs in conservation NGOS and government departments, committed to protecting Ghana’s environment for the future.

“Meanwhile, we continue to support community-based carbon mitigation projects – planting indigenous trees and providing fuel-efficient cookstoves, solar lamps and biosand water filters in Kenya and Mexico. These projects not only take CO2 out of the atmosphere, but also bring benefits to biodiversity and health, and help to lift people out of poverty.”

Climate Stewards’ strapline is “Reduce what you can, offset the rest”. The charity encourages people and organisations to calculate their own carbon footprint and reduce it where possible using their carbon calculator on their website.

Caroline said: “Offsetting provides a way to compensate for the negative impacts of flying, driving and household energy bills, while helping some of our poorest global neighbours who being affected first and worst by climate change.”

Caroline and her colleague Adrian Frost are always happy to talk about climate change and what we can do to tackle it.

If you would like them to visit your school, workplace or club, call Caroline on 07583 770595, or email caroline.pomeroy@climatestewards.org Details: www.climatestewards.org/offset

PAGE 42 • MENDIP TIMES • MAY 2017

Masons help Gurkhas

Brigadier Jackman demonstrating a kukri knife at the lunch

A LUNCH held in Nailsea by the north west branch of the Somerset Masonic Friendship Association raised almost £400 for the Gurkha Welfare Trust.

Guest speaker was Brigadier Bruce Jackman OBE, who has been fundraising for the charity since he retired.

Brig. Jackman explained that the money raised could help place a roof on one of the earthquake-resistant homes being built after the 2015 disaster, provide six homes with healthier smokeless stoves or provide 33 homes with solar lighting. It could also provide medical assistance to Gurkha pensioners and their families.

RAFA branch’s award

THE Royal Air Forces Association’s MidSomerset branch has won an award for its efficiency.

RAFA is the charity that provides friendship and welfare support for serving and ex-serving RAF personnel and their dependants.

The association has over 65,500 members worldwide, focussed on some 400 branches. The Mid-Somerset Branch, covers, in particular, the Wells, Shepton Mallet, Street, Glastonbury and Castle Cary area.

At the association’s Wales, Midland and South Western annual reunion and conference the branch was awarded the area trophy for overall branch efficiency for small branches – a great credit to all members!

The photograph shows branch chairman Paul Branson receiving the magnificent Battle of Britain Trophy from the association president Air Marshal Sir Dusty Miller.

Anyone interested in supporting the association can join. The branch meets in Wells for a meeting and lunch on the first Monday of each month.

Details: secretary Noel Pettigrew 01749.677023 or email rafa.midsomerset@gmail.com www.rafa.org.uk/midsomerset

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Premiere boost for poppy appeal

Strawberry Line WI members and other extras at the screening

A CHARITY premiere in Wells of a Second World War film has raised more than £1,300 for the Royal British Legion.

Both screens at Wells Film Centre were fully booked for Another Mother’s Son, which tells the true story of one woman’s experiences during the German occupation of the Channel Islands.

Many scenes in the film were shot in Wells, Priddy and Cranmore – as well as in Bristol and Bath – and many people living locally were recruited as extras, including members of the Strawberry Line WI from Cranmore who attended the premiere.

Dr Peter Trafford, president of the Wells RBL (centre) and other branch members with Sally Cooper, branch chairman and owner of the Wells Film Centre and her father Derek, who founded the business

Soup and good causes on the menu

THE next meeting of the Dragon’s Den-style Wells SOUP – where four charities pitch to members of the audience to win their support – will take place on Saturday, May 13th.

The charity which receives the most votes receives half the £700 on offer and the other three share the rest of the money.

The event is known as a SOUP because of the simple lunch served ahead of the presentations.

The Wells SOUP begins at 1pm in the Seager Hall in Union Street. All are welcome.

CHARITIES

Support the air ambulance

THE Vintage Motor Cycle Club, Somerset Section has now managed to raise more than £25,000 for the Dorset and Somerset Air Ambulance. They have been holding Autojumbles at the Royal Bath and West Showground for 30 years, usually in March and October on a Saturday.

These have grown consistently over the years to a point where they are now occupying the three main halls, with over 350 stalls and another 120 plus in the outside areas.

Their last Autojumble in March got donations of £549 from the public in exchange for donated books, magazines and various motorcycle items.

It also saw the air ambulance called out to a man who had suffered a heart attack. He was treated initially by their onsite volunteers from the Wessex Ambulance Service, who gave CPR for half an hour before the paramedics arrived.

The doctor complimented the Wessex personnel and said without their prompt action the man would not have survived. The man’s wife travelled with him to hospital and one of the section’s members drove their car to Bristol and left it at their home.

A club spokesman said: “The purpose of this report is to encourage you all to support your local air ambulance service. You never know when they may be needed to save your life!”

Lifeboat dedication

THE official naming ceremony and service of dedication of Burnham-on-Sea’s new lifeboat Burnham Reach (pictured above) has been held.

Annie Maw, the Lord Lieutenant of Somerset, carried out the traditional dedication using local cider.

The D Class lifeboat will be crewed by volunteers who last year launched 22 times and rescued six people.

Annie Maw at the dedication ceremony with her official cadet

(Photos courtesy of Mark Lang)

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A wake up call

IT’S 3am on a cold March morning.

Blearily Garry Carr acknowledges the urgent persistence of the alarm and asks himself if he really wants to travel half way across the world to watch people make bricks.

He convinces himself he does and drives to Heathrow for the 8.30am flight that will eventually take him to Kathmandu. As he drives up a pleasantly empty motorway he reflects on his reasoning. Why is he doing it?

The earthquake in Nepal in 2015 left millions without homes. The SHIVA charity in the UK immediately helped; first by providing tents, then with temporary homes. But something more permanent was needed and the charity linked up with a non-profit making business called Build Up Nepal to provide earthquake proof homes, using earth bricks.

Garry is President of the Rotary Club of Wrington Vale. When the SHIVA founder, Bob Uppington, spoke at one of the club’s meetings, Garry, like his colleagues, did a double take when they were told that solid, durable bricks could be made using earth.

Now Garry was on his way to see for himself. And to find out if all the funds raised were going to a truly worthwhile cause.

Bob Uppington had convinced Wrington Vale Rotary Club. His on-going commitment to people whose needs were so desperate had touched hearts. The club agreed to raise funds to buy an earth brickmaking machine that would allow villagers to make their own bricks. The benefits, they were told, would be wide reaching.

Firstly villagers would produce their own bricks, thus lowering transportation costs.

This, in turn, will create employment and

allow homes, schools and community buildings to be constructed at lower costs.

Finally bricks can be made and sold to other needy villages.

The machine really is the start of a selfhelp project.

Hearing all this had encouraged Garry to jump out of a plane in a sponsored skydive and less athletic club members to give their wallets a bit of exercise. Wrington Vale had also spoken with its twin club in Dourdan near Paris and it had offered financial support too.

Garry arrived at Kathmandu airport via Oman the next day. It was the start of an action-packed few days that involved many miles of motor bike travel along roads resembling cart tracks. No further details are necessary!

The highlight, of course, was the time spent in the village of Ravi Opi where he was able to witness at first hand the excitement and hope that this simple machine was bringing into so many lives.

Garry watched as the villagers were trained firstly to put together the correct mix (30% soil, 10% cement, 60% sand) and then shown how to use the machine and press

the bricks. By the time Garry left, the output had risen from 45 to 400 bricks a day.

Garry visited a number of sites on his visit. What he saw impressed but saddened him. What impressed him was the resilience and warmth of the people he met. What saddened him was the huge gulf between what we, in the western world have and take for granted, and what people, such as those in Ravi Opi, have to get by on each day.

Throughout his trip Garry wore his Rotary T-shirts with pride. It proved worthwhile. Relaxing after a numbing day in the saddle, he was approached by a gentleman with whom he quickly got into conversation. So impressed was he with Garry’s efforts he gave him a million dollars.

The gentleman was from Zimbabwe.

That equates to 28p.

So what next? Rotary and Garry aren’t going to stop now. Garry said: “This is why I joined Rotary. Whilst we cannot change the world, we can make a world of difference. It’s what makes Rotary special.”

Details: If you would like to learn more about Garry’s trip and/or how you can help Rotary to help the SHIVA charity visit www.facebook.com/rotaryclubofwringtonvale or call Garry on 01934 853868 mobile 07831 687181 PAGE 44 • MENDIP TIMES • MAY 2017

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Meg has a mission to inform

A FORMER Miss Bristol, part-time model and a stage management student at the Bristol Old Theatre School about to graduate and with a determined personality – anyone meeting Meg Abernethy-Hope for the first time would think life is very good indeed for a 20-year-old from Bishop Sutton.

To a large extent, that is true – now. But rewind a couple of years and Meg was in a very bad place indeed. The former Chew Valley School student who played rugby, was a cheerleader and enjoyed horse riding was diagnosed with a rare condition called Immune Thrombocytopenia. ITP is an autoimmune illness that presents with bruising and bleeding due to a low platelet count (blood cells that are essential for normal clotting). Even a bruise can be life-threatening, which was how doctors discovered Meg had the illness.

Now stable – thanks largely to her consultant Charlotte Bradbury at the Bristol Royal Infirmary – Meg is an ambassador for the Bristol fundraising charity Above and Beyond and campaigns to raise the profile of ITP. So far, Meg has raised more than £60,000 with the help of KeynshamMeg (far right) with mum Sarah (centre) and best based friend Maddy Portsmouth at the Mendip Farmers’ Dribuild point-to-point meeting

CHARITIES Group.

Meg, who had her spleen removed after it was found to be the likely cause of the condition, said: “I entered Miss Bristol because I needed something to motivate me and get me out of the house.

“It allowed me to begin Meg is an ambassador for Above and Beyond to raise the profile of ITP. It’s not a condition that attracts much attention or funding but can be life-threatening.

“The common treatment is with steroids, but they are not the answer. I also want to be a role model for girls with ITP as it can have an impact on their appearance; I have scars from the operation to have my spleen removed, but they don’t stop me modelling.”

Meg is due to graduate from the Old Vic in the summer and is looking for a career in the film and television industry – but before that, she hopes to travel.

For details about Meg’s campaign, visit: https://www.justgiving.com/fundraising/ITPMeg

Inner Wheel supports food bank MEMBERS of the Inner Wheel Club of Chelwood Bridge included Easter eggs in their latest donation to the Somer Valley food bank. The Midsomer Norton branch of the Salvation Army is the collecting point.

Members originally decided to start collecting items after hearing how so many people go hungry and rely on food banks and have been taking tins and packets of food to each meeting.

The latest food donations were gratefully received by Major Sharon Bond of the Midsomer Norton Corps, and Elizabeth Maggs, who is the church collection supervisor.

Both are on the management team.

Asked what else they needed people to donate they asked for toiletries, which people don't think of when they donate food, but which are always badly needed. They also need tinned food, dried food, milk, UHT or powdered, sugar, tea bags, non-perishable food and cleaning products.

The food banks are administered by the Trussell Trust.

Chelwood Bridge Inner Wheel members Kate Atkinson (left) and club president Mary Smith (right) with Major Sharon Bond and Elizabeth Maggs

Details: you can find out what is needed by ringing 07786 514455.

MENDIP TIMES • MAY 2017 • PAGE 45

(Photos courtesy of John Wheatley)

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Sock it to them

INNER Wheel club members in the South West have been wearing silly socks to raise money for BEAT, a charity for beating eating disorders, and the charity chosen by Inner Wheel Association president Zena Coles as her charity for her year in office.

At the district's AGM, held at Haynes Motor Museum in Yeovil, silly socks were in abundance and a competition was held to choose the best.

Also there was Philip Roethenbaugh, director of fundraising for BEAT, who gave a very interesting talk on the charity and how it is helping people to deal with eating disorders.

Pictured (left to right) are Inner Wheel Club of Wrington Vale members Nic Lucas, Pam Small, Pauline Alvis and Angie Horne.

Mining heritage

AN old mural showing what mining life was like in the early 19th century has been given a new home at Radstock Museum. The mural, made up of four large wooden panels, was being kept in storage at Bath College, who have donated it to the museum.

It shows Lower Writhlington Colliery, on the outskirts of Radstock, which was closed along with Kilmersdon Colliery in September 1973.

Mike Drewitt, from the estates and facilities team at Bath College, was keen to find a home for the mural, which used to be on display at Norton Radstock College before it merged with the City of Bath College in April 2015, to become Bath College’s Somer Valley Campus.

Mr Drewitt said: “It was too nice to throw away and now it’s gone to a good home. It couldn’t be more fitting for the museum to have it. The old Norton Radstock College started as an educational facility for miners and there used to be a printing workshop onsite.

“I don’t know if it was created at the college, but it would be interesting to know and to find out why that person chose to recreate this particular scene.”

Norton Radstock College evolved from the Old Mills Technical Institution, formed in 1948 to cater for the needs of the local mining community. In 1964, the institute moved to South Hill Park.

Now Bath College’s Somer Valley Campus, South Hill

Youngsters’ awards

THREE Frome College students have received the BBC Pride of Somerset Award 2017.

They are Abigail Welch, Frome College award winners with Jonathan Year 12, and Black, assistant principal of sixth form Ben Manning and Steff Smith, Year 13. There are only seven awards given each year.

Abigail was nominated by her Head of Year for the way she’s dealt with a really tough time starting her A Levels; but she didn’t let that stand in her way academically and personally. She’s a spokeswoman for the college, she raises money for charity and she helps out with younger students in their lessons.

Ben’s father died from a very rare form of cancer in 2014 and Ben now gives young people emotional support as a mentor, helping them find coping strategies to deal with their own tough times. He has recently done a sky dive to raise money for Dorothy House and Alzheimer’s UK amongst his many triumphs.

Steph has been a volunteer with British Eventing for more than 10 years; and she stepped into the spotlight recently to lead a team of over 100 fence judges last minute at Blenheim Palace.

Alongside that she also cares for her mum and also volunteers as a presenter at Radio Frome FM.

Park was the former residence of James McMurtrie, manager of the Ludlow, Camerton and Middle Pit Collieries.

The mural, captioned Lower Writhlington Colliery, 1830, is a reproduction of an old photograph by Leonard Meux Delt. Miranda Litchfield, development programme coordinator at Radstock Museum, said the museum holds a copy of the original photograph.

She said: “The mural is just stunning; we can do so much with it. It’s so big you can image yourself in the scene and it’s a very informative illustration. We can see that in 1830 they were still using horses and steam power.

It’s a new highlight of the museum I would say.”

Details: if you know anything about this mural email development@radstockmuseum.co.uk

PAGE 46 • MENDIP TIMES • MAY 2017

NEWS

Page 47 May:Layout 1

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

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Not many daffs, but plenty of colour

VISITORS packed the village of Mells for the community’s annual daffodil festival.

And although the iconic flowers were past their best, the streets stalls and entertainement provided more than enough colour for anyone.

The festival helps to raise funds for village organisations such as St Andrew’s Church, Mells Cricket Club and Mells Community Choir.

Volunteers from Mells Village Community Shop and Café selling baguettes in the main field

BBC Antiques Roadshow expert Marc Allum opened the festival, but still found time to browse the stalls with wife Lisa – and found some interesting items. The couple, from Chippenham, said they enjoyed every minute of the day

Crowds throng Selwood Street to browse the 120 stalls

Joining in the fun with Bathampton Morris

Festivalgoers arrive for a day of fun

PAGE 48 • MENDIP TIMES • MAY 2017

Glastonbury singer/songwriter Oskar Zaky

Paul Tozer, from the Frome-based band Bad Detectives

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Flying saucer over Mells? Jamie shows off his skills in the activity area in the main field

MELLS DAFFODIL FESTIVAL 2017

Festival chairman Daisy Steel and ITV news presenter Charlene White with town criers and their consorts at the official opening of the festival

Sophie Barker was with her band on the Field Stage

A view of the main field from the tower of St Andrew’s

Jess, a kestrel, meets a young admirer on the Spering Court animal rescue stand

Sophie and Sam during the set by the Bad Detectives

A young entrant in the Easter bonnet competition

MENDIP TIMES • MAY 2017 • PAGE 49

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Wedding and events specialists

JG MARQUEES has been providing top quality marquee hire in Bristol, Bath and the South West since 1993. It is a family-run business and Jeremy Griffin is the hands-on owner operator. The team is made up of experienced marquee professionals, who you can depend upon.

At JG Marquees their mission is to exceed your expectations, they appreciate most customers will want a “straight forward marquee” but are aiming to supply more unusual equipment, high peaked roofs, shaped ends and clear roofs for customers who want something a bit different.

Whatever your event, J G Marquees can cater for it. From weddings and family parties to corporate hospitality, film shoots and sporting events. They have an extensive range of marquees, interiors, furniture, accessories, flooring, lighting and even refrigerated trailer hire to suit every occasion. They pride themselves on delivering first class service every time, at highly competitive prices.

They are more than happy to offer you their expert advice, so call them today to ask for an initial quotation, then a free consultation to discuss your requirements, size, flooring, decorations, furniture and much more.

QUALITY MARQUEES FOR YOUR SPECIAL EVENT

• High Peaked Roofs • Clear Roofs and Window Walls so ‘Conservatory Ends or Entrances’ can be created. Also Flame Towers.

• Furniture • Starlight Lining • Dance floors • Lighting • Fridge trailer hire

Call the Marquee Specialists, Tel: 01761 221366 Email enquiries: info@jgmarquees.co.uk • Website: www.jgmarquees.co.uk

If you are looking for quality mobile toilet and shower hire in Bristol, Bath, Taunton, South Gloucestershire, Wiltshire and surrounding areas, call Chew Valley Hire Ltd on 01761 221 105 PAGE 50 • MENDIP TIMES • MAY 2017

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A stunning location

FOCUS ON WEDDINGS

THE Best Western Plus Swan Hotel enjoys a fabulous location, directly opposite the stunning West Front of Wells Cathedral. The hotel provides the perfect venue for intimate weddings, large receptions and civil wedding ceremonies at any time of year.

The hotel currently offers a fantastic fixed price wedding package of £4,999 and has an additional special offer for weddings next spring.

The fixed price package includes exclusive use of the events suite and private bar areas, welcome drink on arrival, three-course wedding breakfast with coffee, two glasses of wine with the meal, a glass of sparkling wine for the toast, Master of Ceremonies, cake stand and knife, an evening reception finger buffet for 100 guests, a wedding night stay in the Cathedral Suite and a dedicated wedding co-ordinator This is based on 50 guests, with additional covers charged for separately. In January, February and March next year couples taking advantage of the fixed-price package will also be offered two complimentary bedrooms for two guests including full English breakfast for the wedding night.

Spending a penny . . .

WE all have to do this and there is no getting away with it – however, away from home we do have to think about where we can spend the ubiquitous penny.

More often than not these days, the venue for celebrations, events and shows can be in a field in the middle of nowhere or an old building without the necessary plumbing facilities we are all used to.

And this is where Chew Valley Hire comes in to rescue the day. They can supply any variation or combination of portable loos or showers suitable for any venue, wherever it is located.

If you are planning a party, a wedding or other celebration and need loos and/or showers at the site, check out the Chew Valley Hire website and see what they have to offer.

Details: www.mobiletoilets.co.uk

Spit roast experts

PARTY Pig Catering is a professional, family-run business based on a farm near Wrington. They have been perfecting the art of spit roast catering over the last 12 years.

Andy, a farmer’s son and qualified butcher, has a real passion for local meat and produce and, with Party Pig’s own special rub, creates “cracking crackling” by turning a Somerset reared pig, lamb or joint of beef on a selfbasting spit roast machine for eight hours for a low and slow cook.

Party Pig can cater for any number of guests and offers sides of fresh bread, homemade salads and delicious hot new potatoes.

Call Andy on 078 666 364 63 to discuss your special day and spit-roast catering with theatre and showmanship!

MENDIP TIMES • MAY 2017 • PAGE 51

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The Mendip Way gets a make-over

Welcome to the latest news from The Mendip Society and many thanks to those who sent in their favourable comments following our article in March; it’s nice to know that our efforts on behalf of the Mendip community are appreciated.

OUR ongoing programme of cooperation with the AONB and CPRE is paving the way towards enhancing the life, nature and surroundings of this unique area; working in conjunction with the AONB, The Rotary, and The Ramblers, some of our hardiest members completed the re-signing of the West Mendip Way. Then a team of “ordinary” walkers, completely new to the area, was asked to journey from one end of the Mendip Way to the other, noting where a body could get lost, where the way might have been diverted or is just plain confusing. Now a new set of guidance notes from each direction, with maps, is being compiled and will be available on the AONB website from sometime in May. Historically there has been the East Mendip and the West Mendip Ways; now simply called The Mendip Way, each section still retains its own signage – so everyone is satisfied. After all – whatever it is called it is still a great walk to do over the most beautiful countryside ever!

Our walkers’ group also benefited from joining our own Sue Gearing on the Priddy Circuit from Deer Leap taken from her recent publication, jointly with Les Davies, “Miles more

THE MENDIP SOCIETY

Waymarking on Wavering Down

Mendip". On a “keen windy day” I am reliably told it was very enjoyable and if you are a keen walker, then this publication is a must item.

The society also attended its first stargazing session at the Charterhouse Observatory in 15 years, led by Mark Woodland of the Wells and Mendip Astronomers, assisted by Chris Sperring.

We were able to see the telescope in its dome (the renovation of both of which the society contributed to in years past). Last year the telescope, named Dudley after its original maker, was again restored, this time by the aforementioned astronomers’ group who now manage and use the lovely 18.25” reflecting Newtonian telescope.

What a pity it was freezing cold, but even worse were the cloudy conditions that prevailed on the night, but we will try again sometime later in the year, when we hope to use Dudley to take part in the exciting Charterhouse Exoplanet Project started by Mark; its goals are to inspire and educate.

Exoplanet detection will be the main aim. Just wait for our report when we detect one!

We are always on the look-out for new places to visit, especially when they are in great walking country – one such place recently discovered (by us but known to many already I’m sure) is the Mendip Hospital Cemetery in Wells.

Volunteers of the Friends’ group will show us the ancient chapel and peaceful grounds of the old Mendip Mental Hospital, a valuable historical resource and a haven for wildlife.

Afterwards, we will have a short three-mile walk, some of it going along the East Mendip Way, where we will be able to see the clean new signage in place fulfilling its important function.

Finally at our AGM in March we launched our new website, designed to be clear and bright and easy to navigate to all our activities and events; details at the bottom of the page. We are also re-launching our Small Grants Scheme aimed at encouraging initiatives which fulfil certain criteria and may require initial assistance to get underway.

It’s going to be an exciting summer caring for the Mendip Hills.

Richard Frost and Judith Tranter

Details: www.themendipsociety.org.uk For information and to join – membership@themendipsociety.org.uk

PAGE 52 • MENDIP TIMES • MAY 2017

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The Mute swan

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OUR resident swan is the Mute swan (Cygnus olor), and this English name comes from the fact that it’s the least vocal of the northern swan species.

It is larger than both the Whooper and Bewick swans and, interestingly, is more closely related to the Australian Black Swan

By CHRIS than the other two northern species. They SPERRING measure up to 170cm in length, and have a MBE wingspan of up to 2.5 metres.

Mute swans are some of the heaviest flying birds, with the males (cobs) typically weighing in at 11-12kg, and the females (pens) slightly smaller, although, there is a record of a Mute swan recorded in Poland with a flying weight of 23kg, that’s 51lb in old money!

The easiest way to distinguish between cobs and pens (when you are looking at a pair) is to look at the black knob at the base of their bill – it will be larger on the cob.

Whilst the adults are predominantly white in colour, the young, or cygnets, are usually a sooty grey. Cygnets grow very quickly and are almost the size of their parents by three months of age.

Their grey colouration is gradually replaced by white, at which time the parents will chase the cygnets away from their territory.

We seem to be seeing an increase in paler cygnets, however.

These have a leucistic gene which causes some of their feathers to be lighter, Mute swans enjoy full legal protection almost white, in colour.

During the winter, swans can often be seen flying, and the sound they make with their wings can be heard over a kilometre away. Non-breeding swans, youngsters and singletons, tend to gather in flocks on water courses where there isn’t a breeding pair holding territory.

In very cold weather they will also venture out into the estuary to escape frozen water. Look out for the large groups of swans feeding in the fields between Clevedon and Weston-super-Mare.

As well as grazing on grass, mute swans feed mainly on aquatic vegetation by up-ending in deeper water or by simply using their long necks in the shallows.

Mute swans pair for life and defend their territory against intruders. Nests are built on mounds, either on islands or at the

WILDLIFE

All smiles – this mute swan seems to be enjoying the attention

water’s edge, where as many as ten eggs can be laid over a period of two to three weeks, and once the last egg is laid incubation will begin. The cygnets will hatch after nearly six weeks and will be tended to by both parents until the autumn. Mute swans can be very aggressive in defence of their nests and young. Initially warning the potential threat with hissing and inflated body posture, they will launch a full attack if their warnings aren’t heeded.

Some of the main threats to Mute swans include overhead power lines, especially in places where the lines are directly above the water where the swans are trying to land. Roads are also a problem as when wet and in poor visibility flying swans can mistake them for rivers and land on them – both damaging themselves in the process and also being hit by vehicles. In shallow water swans can be predated by foxes and also dogs.

In the UK, the Mute swan is offered full legal protection, which means it is an offence to kill, capture or hold one in captivity, or to take their eggs or disturb their nests. In fact, there is one further bit of protection for this swan which dates back to the 12th century, whereby the Crown claimed ownership of all mute swans in England and Wales – although this was to stop commoners hunting the royals’ favourite dish.

This has never been repealed, so today it means that the Mute swan is indeed the Queen’s bird and so taking or killing a swan could be deemed as an act of treason. ● I will be leading lots of wildlife walks and watches throughout 2017, including a bird walk, badger watch and nightjar walk during May. Please email me for more information and booking.

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

MENDIP TIMES • MAY 2017 • PAGE 53

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Stroll among the bluebells on Black Down

THIS is a really glorious heart of Mendip walk that gives you a chance to enjoy later bluebells. It takes in Burrington Ham and Black Down and hopefully leads you to places you haven’t seen before, or shows how much has changed up there over the last few years. Because the land is high, bluebells make their appearance two or three weeks later than elsewhere, waking up and airing themselves in the sun in an area once densely covered in bracken.

Now they make a wonderful blue spectacle. Spring and summer when it is dry is superb for this circle but there are hills so you need to be reasonably fit. If you come in wet weather expect to encounter mud and water. The Burrington Inn is a very popular eating house to start or end your circle. It’s an ideal dog ramble too.

With Sue Gearing PAGE 54 • MENDIP TIMES • MAY 2017

PARK: In the car park at the foot of Burrington Combe – either in the first one you come to on the left as you go up at the side of Ham Link (by self storage sign) or go past the Burrington Inn and park in the parking area by the public toilets opposite the Rock of Ages. start: Turn right down the combe, past the Burrington Inn if you are parked above it, and take the first lane right, Ham Link.

Follow this along, passing above Burrington village and ignoring the turn down left. Keep straight on, climbing a little.

1. GATE Take the footpath through the first gate right and go up the stony path, soon passing an open area of humpy bumpy ground, due to former lead mining (“gruffy ground”). At a marker post, fork up right under trees and soon come under a lovely avenue of silver birches clearly planted by someone as a feature or for marking the path. Bend left on the path, not continuing further under the birches and head across. At a wide open grassy track, turn right and this leads to ovalshaped Burrington Camp or Hill fort.

2. HILLFORT This is one of the least known of the hill forts on Mendip and now really well cleared by the Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty team and boasting an information board. It’s worth going into the fort and imagine what life must have been like here in the past. It seems to have had a very long history of occupation dating from the Bronze or Iron Age and may have been a fortified farm community. It was also thought to be Roman at one time and have associations with the Druids.

Carry on along the path above the

hillfort. You can take the first clear path left before you reach the edge but for spectacular views continue to near the edge and then follow a small path along left along the top of the steep combe side.

Take care as you go. Soon you can look across to the Rock of Ages on the other side of the combe. Carry on following this windy path which eventually bends left and heads away from the edge.

3. LONG ROCK It finally joins a larger path (the one you may have taken after the hillfort) and turn right. It soon leads along the rocky spine of Long Rock to the Rock itself – another great viewpoint looking across Wrington Vale towards the airport, Blagdon Lake and to the Severn Estuary.

Drop right down off Long Rock and turn across the open area on the flat. Soon, at a fork, go left (not sharp left) and then turn left again staying on the flat and hopefully start to see the bluebells that are now enhancing the Ham. Much of this is due to the clearance of the Ham and Black Down – largely for harvesting the bracken for producing Bracken Down compost and now Brackenburn.

This is a lesser known part of the Ham. Continue on and at a marker post go left on the path and soon reach a junction with a wider grassy track. Turn right and you are now heading in the direction of the twin communication masts up on the top.

Reach another information board about the harvesting of bracken, and maintain direction. Come down to Burrington Ham car park at the top of Burrington Combe, where you may well find an ice cream van.

4. ROAD Turn left up the road – probably safe to

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WALKING

cross first. And soon, take the first track right by the Black Down sign, joining the Limestone Link long distance path. Go past Ellick House and continue up the stony track and through onto the open area of Black Down, which, like the Ham, is an open access area. At the marker post, fork up right (not sharp right) leaving the Limestone Link and follow the clear track uphill, through bluebells. This is a steady climb with great views unfolding. Go past a couple of boulders and a tree and continue on up, going above the bracken line. This path can be boggy after rain, so be warned. Reach the top and go ahead in the same direction. Reach a crossing path.

If you want to go to the Beacon on Beacon Batch which is the highest point, turn left for a quick detour. You can just see it from here. It is 325m high (1,068 feet) – the highest point on Mendip and for miles around.

But for our circle, continue on across to reach the crossing Slaggers’ Path, which has been well resurfaced by the AONB. It is along this that slaggers or miners walked daily for work from Shipham to the minery at Charterhouse.

5. SLAGGERS PATH Turn right on the path. Soon pass large tumps on either side which were manmade to simulate the pattern of streets in the heart of Bristol and had lighting on the top. The idea was to fool the German bombers flying above that this was actually Bristol and not to go further and dump their cargo on the populated city. History shows that it wasn’t very successful.

Bend right when the improved path ends.

Follow this clear path which has been flattened and improved a little.

6. GRASSY PATH When the track dips and there is a hole in the bank on the right, turn right on a grassy

OS Explorer 141, Cheddar Gorge & Mendip Hills West, grid ref: 476 539 4.5 miles, about 2.75 hours walking

path which drops downhill.

Come alongside the small valley of West Twinbrook on your right and continue to follow this. You now have good views across to the rocky sides of Burrington Combe and the Ham above. Come back into bracken landscape.

7. LIMESTONE LINK At the crossing Limestone Link, turn left for a short while. Reach another junction, and this time it is right. This soon takes

you through a barrier to a large track.

Opposite is the black hut of Bristol University Speliology Society. There are good caving pots near here. Turn right.

Simply follow this along, over a cattle grid, and down and it eventually comes out at the bottom of Burrington Combe near the start. There is a small path right, marked, which you could take to cut off a bit of a corner.

Burrington Inn, tel: 01761 462227.

MENDIP TIMES • MAY 2017 • PAGE 55

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OUTDOORS

West Countryman’s Diary

IT is as if everything green in the countryside is being pulled upwards, with spring really beginning to make itself known. How wonderful to be at this time of the year when, despite the odd bit of weather setback, we can look forward to the summer.

With LES Gone now the grey of winter and in its DAVIES MBE place the hope of spring. There are the early dandelions, the golden celandine and clumps of pale yellow primroses in the hedgerow bottom. Whilst in the woodland bluebells begin to cautiously show themselves above ground.

In this month’s magazine you will also find that Sue Gearing’s walk around Black Down and Burrington Ham has a bluebell theme. It’s well worth a visit.

There is a whole new generation of creatures being born into, what is for them, an uncertain world. We all need to be aware that we are not the only ones out there and our actions can at times cause problems for others. It’s pleasing to see lambs and ewes in the fields – already the lambs are forming small groups to chase about and play. There is also some serious learning going on, with play fights and the banging together of heads.

I make no apologies for raising the subject of our impact in the countryside, especially at this time of year. Please make sure that dogs are always on the lead around livestock. I know I preach to the converted here, but there are many others who visit the countryside, seemingly unaware of the damage that can be caused by a dog off the lead. Well behaved they may be, and walking at heel, but I’ve found a dog’s selective hearing to be a powerful distraction at times.

I haven’t seen an adder this year, but the recent fine weather will certainly have got them on the move. Snakes don’t come very high in my top ten of wildlife. Not through any problem with their purpose or being, but more because of my phobia. I have become used to them over the years but still maintain a healthy respect for these reptiles.

Basking on a wall, they will remain motionless until threatened. Their defence is to retreat or strike, depending on which is the most practical. The strike is a last resort, but be under no illusion, however, they will strike if escape is not an option. We all have bad days, so look before you sit or put your hand down (and don’t forget the dog as well).

Many years back in the days of the Mendip wardens, Tina Bath and I were clearing cut vegetation from the condenser flues at Charterhouse. Tina found a rather large grass snake beneath one of the piles, which needed to be moved out of harm’s way. Her approach to snakes is much different to mine, she has a fascination with them.

Carefully picking the reptile up, she advanced towards me with a delighted and menacing look, intent on tormenting me. The snake “played dead”, lolling its head back with mouth open, but this was not enough, so it employed another means of defence and emptied its gut all over her! This foulsmelling fluid with an aroma of rotting fish and putrefied meat was enough to get Tina retching.

Oh how I laughed, but professional to the end, she

carefully deposited the creature in a safe place where it could make good its escape. Maybe snakes aren't quite so bad after all!

I find the countryside to be a place of inspiration, enjoyment and at times comfort. For me the greatest pleasure is being able to share these things with others; that is why I write this column and that is why I work with school children who come out to find a little more about the countryside.

I was fortunate to have grown up at time when life seemed a little slower on the land. I had free rein to wander where I wanted to around the fields and woods on Hales Farm and in doing so I learnt a lot about the countryside. These memories stay with me still, but they are lanes that I can never walk again.

That is why I don't want to waste those memories and experience. Knowledge needs to be shared and experience related. To this end I have started what I hope will be an ongoing relationship with a group of young people who suffer with anxiety and depression. Today's world is far away from the upbringing I had.

How do we unravel the complexity of modern life with all its expectations and pressures? One way is to take a step out of the environment that creates such things. The countryside can bring the calm and comfort so often needed. People feel happier in a green, quiet environment and we should make use of it. So get your walking boots on, pack some sandwiches and get out there. The area you thought you knew so well will often come up with the most amazing surprises.

Finally, this month’s picture is of a female adder taken several years back by Andy Chamberlain at Charterhouse.

We called her Lil after a young lady who overcame her fear of snakes whilst working with wardens as part of the Princes Trust project. Lil asked me if she could see this snake, which was always on the same bit of wall.

So alongside me, she stood and watched the snake. After several moments she turned and said: “There, I’ve done it!

You can call her Lil now.” Lil lived on for a good while after and was always still and quiet so that the school children staying at Charterhouse could see a real adder. ● Don't forget to visit the Environmental Youth Awards exhibition at this year’s Royal Bath and West Show at the end of May. It’s below the commentators’ box on the main ring. Hope to see you there.

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

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Your garden missions for May

SO far, this month, we have missed out on the April showers and so it has been quite a dry month. It is vital that plants that were planted even last autumn, and especially those planted this spring, be kept well-watered.

It is important that the old root ball is With MARY kept moist as well as the soil around it.

PAYNE MBE Evergreens in containers are especially vulnerable and I have seen far too many bone-dry box balls, topiary bays and camellias. The rain does not get into the pot, because it is shed over the edge by the foliage above.

When plants get this dry it is no good watering from the top of the pot as the water drains down the inside and out through the drainage hole. Stand the pot in a large container of water and allow it to soak up from below.

At this time of year, the trunks of trees, especially young ones, are expanding fast and it is too easy to neglect checking the ties. They can easily throttle the trunk and cause the tree to snap off above the tie if not checked and loosened. Never tie a young tree with wire as this cannot stretch. Use a flexible tie, even lady’s tights are an excellent choice and help to buffer the tree from chafing on the tree stake.

Tall herbaceous perennials will require staking – a chore I do not enjoy – and it usually gets left until the plant has already flopped over making the task even more difficult.

The posh method is to cut hazel, beech or hornbeam twigs, if you just happen to have them around, and push these into the soil around the plant, then bending the tops over to form a sort of cage.

This must be done while the plants are still short. The easy alternative is to use the half circle hoops with two legs.

These can be used to prop up leaning plants. Try to avoid using bamboo canes that are shorter than you are, as the risk of eye accidents is too high.

For later flowering plants, such as phlox, aconitums and asters you could try giving them the “Chelsea Chop”. This technique takes its name from the Chelsea Flower Show and involves cutting back the new growth to 5-10cm (2-4inches) at about the time of the famous show – third week of May. The plant then grows again and in the time left does not get so tall and may not need staking. This works very well for those over-enthusiastic sedums that are prone to flop on their neighbours.

May is the month when those tiny plug plants that you ordered start plopping through the letter box. Open them up immediately, give them a drink and stand in a lightly shaded place for 24 hours to recover from the trauma of their journey through the post. Then they should be potted up into individual pots, or alternatively, those divided trays, known in the trade as “6 packs”.

Use a decent quality multipurpose compost and grow the plants on protected from frost, either in a greenhouse or a well-lit windowsill. Because many of these plants are tender, it is advisable not to plant them into the garden, or into outdoor containers until the last week of May, or even early June, but before planting outside they must be “hardened off”.

This involves getting them used to the outdoor conditions PAGE 58 • MENDIP TIMES • MAY 2017

for a week or so. You can either bring them in overnight or protect with a layer of horticultural fleece. Once they are acclimatised to the cooler conditions they can be planted out, but don’t forget to water them in and protect against those slimy molluscs who are watching you plant their supper!

It is worth spending a few minutes planning what plants you are going to put in your pots for summer colour, and considering what pot to use. Terracotta pots are very fashionable at the moment and do blend in well in a wide range of locations. On the plus side, they keep the roots cool, even when in a sunny position, whereas plastic containers can “boil” the roots.

They are, however, porous and allow water to evaporate through the sides, meaning they will require more frequent watering than a comparable plastic container. To overcome this try using an old carrier bag. Cut off the bottom of the bag and slide the bag into the pot, thus effectively lining the inside of the pot. Add your compost and plants as normal.

Then trim off the surplus plastic bag and tuck it down so it does not show.

This also makes it much easier to remove the plants and old compost at the end of the season. Glazed pots are fine because they are not porous, but they often come in an attractive rounded shape where the rim is narrower than the “belly” of the pot. This makes it difficult to remove established plants without breaking the pot or the plant.

To overcome this I suggest you find a plastic pot that fits neatly inside the glazed one and pot your plants into the plastic one. This also means you can change the contents of the pots quickly and easily for seasonal colour.

When planting up seasonal summer pots add some continuous release fertiliser granules and some water retaining gel to make maintaining the plants easier through the summer. Take care to read the instructions regarding the quantity required of both products as overdosing with either can have disastrous consequences.

May is a delightful month to visit other gardens and get ideas. The National Garden Scheme website ngs.org will guide you to a garden near you where you can enjoy the garden, tea and often cake, as well as pick up a few plants from the sales table. You are also contributing to the many nursing charities supported by this nationwide scheme.

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GARDENING

M AY G A R D E N T I P S

● Time to plant up your hanging baskets and containers. ● Harden-off annual bedding plants ready to plant out soon ● Wait until spring flowering bulb leaves die back naturally before removing them. ● Give some of your border perennials the “Chelsea Chop”.

If you cut some of them back by about half now it will delay flowering but extend the display longer in your garden. ● Lift and dry off tulips ready for replanting in the late autumn. Other bulbs can be left in the ground. ● Plant out dahlias and begonias plants but protect from late frosts. ● Start feeding greenhouse tomatoes with a high potash feed as soon as you can see the first visible tiny fruit. Vibrate flowers regularly to improve fruit set. ● Sow sweet corn directly into well cultivated soil outside. ● Sow courgettes, marrows, ridge cucumbers and melons in individual pots. ● Sow turnips, swedes, cauliflowers, leeks and other late winter vegetables now. ● Plant out basil but this herb is best grown in a very sheltered spot in pots. It may even pay to grow them in between your greenhouse tomatoes. ● Earth up early potatoes and keep a watch out for late frosts ~ cover with horticultural fleece if frost is likely. ● Remove strawberry runners as they develop. Lay straw under fruit trusses to prevent mud splashing.

Courtesy Cleeve Nursery

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Tel: 01934 732 396 • www.timberworkbuildings.co.uk • e.mail: timberbuildings@aol.com MENDIP TIMES • MAY 2017 • PAGE 59

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NGS GARDEN OF THE MONTH Hundreds of people visited Bev and Jenny Cruse’s garden at Rose Cottage, East Harptree

Purveyors of the finest hardy perennials, shrubs, trees, climbers, exotics and specimens

THIS year marks the 90th anniversary of the National Garden Scheme and over the last weekend in May (27th, 28th and 29th) the NGS is celebrating this event with a Garden Festival.

Since 1927 the NGS has donated more than £45million to its nominated beneficiaries and partners – mainly nursing charities. In Bristol and Somerset they have 11 gardens opening to support the festival. They are: Abbey Farm, Montacute TA15 6UA. 1, Braggchurch, Hendford Hill, Yeovil BA20 2RE. 23, Chaucer Road, Bath BA2 4QX. Elworthy Cottage, Elworthy, Taunton TA4 3PX. Hanham Court, Ferry Road, Hanham Abbots, Bristol BS15 3NT. Hinton St. George, six gardens, High Street, Crewkerne TA17 8SE. Marshfield, nine gardens, Marshfield, Wiltshire SN14 8LR. Orchard View, Flaxpool, Crowcombe, Taunton TA4 4AW. St Monica Trust, Cote Lane, Westbury-on-Trym, Bristol BS9 3UN. Tintinhull, Yeovil BA22 8PZ. Wayford Manor, Wayford, Crewkerne, TA18 8QG. Other Gardens Open for the NGS To see more gardens open for the NGS, see The Yellow Book, or Local County Leaflet, available from local Garden Centres.

Or go to: http://www.ngs.org.uk

Secret gardens on Mendip

Wrington Road, Congresbury BS49 5AN Tel: 01934 876337 www.middlecombenursery.co.uk PAGE 60 • MENDIP TIMES • MAY 2017

MORE than ten private gardens in Rodney Stoke and Draycott will open their gates to the public in June to raise funds for local causes. Organised by Rodney Stoke and Draycott WI, the gardens range from small walled and newly-formed gardens to mature gardens packed with plants and larger hillside slopes with vines, bees plus a productive market garden.

The event takes place on Saturday, June 17th and will raise money for the WI and Draycott Memorial Hall. Admission is by programme/route map costing £5 for adults – accompanied under16s go free – available on the day from the gardens or Draycott Post Office.

The gardens are open from 11am-5pm. For full details, visit: www.secretopengardens.co.uk

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GARDENING

A host of daffodils

Derek Phillips winner of the Wessex Championship Class

THE Wessex Daffodil Group, affiliated to the National Daffodil Society, held their annual show on Sunday April 9th in Henton Village Hall, just outside Wells.

Coming up to the show the organisers were fearful for the number of entries due to soaring temperatures. However their fears were allayed on the day.

The senior judge, Janine Doulton from Kent, had over 500 blooms to peruse entered by 28 exhibitors from wide areas, a number from the Mendip area. Besides the familiar booms there were many attractive miniatures to view.

The Daffodil Society Silvered medal went to Chris Yates, Bicknoller, Taunton, for the most number of points, with some top exhibits including some of his own seedlings. Chris also won the American Daffodil Society Ribbon.

Other local winners were Angela Purnell, Somerton and Derek Phillips, Peasedown St John. Ivor Clarke had the best bloom in show, a variety named, Fireblade.

There are classes for local growers and the winner this year was Hilary Tinsley from the Henton Garden Society. Wessex Group is grateful for HGS for provided refreshments during the show, which helped make it a success.

Next year’s show is the 30th and it is hoped that this year’s success can be repeated.

Details: for information on the show and membership contact 01275 855675 or b.c.billinger@talktalk.ne

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Perfect Pave, based on the Valley Line industrial estate, in Cheddar, has built an enviable reputation over the last 16 years for the quality of its work installing block paving and other landscaping products. Now founders Alex Howley and Simon Bethell have set up a new service run by James Starmer supplying these products to both the trade and public, as well as continuing to expand their installation team. e company now has contracts all over the South West and offers a wide choice of projects.

Now supplying – as well as installing – landscaping products to the commercial and domestic trade Wider range and cheaper prices than builders’ merchants or garden centres

Showroom open 8am-5pm Mon-Fri 8am-12noon Sat MENDIP TIMES • MAY 2017 • PAGE 61

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Weston Garden Machinery Garden Machinery & Woodburning Specialists

Banwell Gardening Club spring show

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ROCKY MOUNTAIN NURSERY

Lyn Ralph

RESIDENTS and friends of Banwell pulled out all the stops to ensure an excellent show, with lots of entries that would not have looked out of place at any RHS show.

The baking classes were also hotly contested, particularly the men’s Victoria sponge class, where Steve Parkinson triumphed. The club offered a special thank you to Lyn Ralph for her organising skills, as well as the club committee for their help and support.

The children’s classes were very well supported, with Jamie Leigh Griffiths and Sapphire Yard winners of the 7-9 years Cup and Lola Fitzpatrick, Chelsey Long and Billy Griffiths sharing the 10-14 year old cup. David Westlake and Tina Board shared the top trophy for most points in show.

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Club president John Bawden (left) with joint winners Tina Bourd and David Westlake

Visit our MASBURY’S CAFE

Serving breakfast, lunch & afternoon tea Delicious homemade meals.

Sunday Roasts, Outside catering, buffet lunches delivered, themed cuisine events.

Telephone 01749 841155 for further details.

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ALL YOUR GARDENING NEEDS – SET IN 12 WONDERFUL ACRES – PAGE 62 • MENDIP TIMES • MAY 2017

Regular lawn mowing plus lawn mowing for any small or large areas.

Hotels, Pubs, Residential/Nursing Homes, Private Homes. etc.

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Daffodils make a fine show OVER 300 people visited Nailsea Horticultural Society’s spring show at Nailsea School to see a fantastic display of daffodils and other flowers and plants, cookery, handicrafts and photography. There were also excellent examples of children's handiwork.

GARDENING

The show had more entries than last year, with many more entries in the daffodil classes due possibly to the favourable growing conditions of the past few weeks.

Expert grower Ivor Clark from Alveston scooped many of the prizes with his first-class daffodil blooms but there were lots of other exhibitors who helped to set the highest standards.

Nailsea horticultural society member Terry Miller managed to bring lots of high quality daffodils from his garden in Wokingham and won the overall prize for most points in the daffodil classes.

Visitors enjoyed teas and home-made cakes while being entertained by the Filton Concert Brass Band. ● Jane Knight was presented with an engraved piece of Bristol Blue Glass to recognise her 50 years’ service to the show, a unique achievement in the show’s 164-year history.

Jane's involvement started from an early age, with her long family tradition of interest in the show. She is currently

the society's secretary and joint show secretary.

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You need not paint it, you won’t ever patch it, and it will stand fi rm in the worst of the weather. Your fence looks after itself so you can look after (and enjoy) your garden.

Installed by highly trained specialists, once your Colourfence is up, it really stays up offer you a lifetime of hassle-free enjoyment of your garden. Visit www.colourfencesouthbristol.co.uk in for more information or simply call number below to arrange a FREE no obligation site visit.

Bristol South District Tel. 0117 214 1201 Clevedon, Tickenham, Portishead, Nailsea, Backwell, Long Ashton, Pill, Failand Tel. 01275 277211 Shepton Mallet, Wells Tel. 01749 321066 Weston Super Mare, Yatton, Congresbury, Cheddar, Axbridge Tel. 01934 235591 Temple Cloud, Blagdon Tel. 01761 202411 MENDIP TIMES • MAY 2017 • PAGE 63

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Knowing their place

Jeff Hodder, of Midsomer Norton (left), and Bob Latchem, of Radstock (right), brought along their collections of photos and postcards to be viewed by volunteer Peter Johnson and KYP’s Alice Millard

AN interactive digital heritage project received a wealth of new information during a roadshow at Somerset Coalfield Life at Radstock Museum.

The museum – which amended its name at the start of the year – hosted a visit by Know Your Place West of England which is working on a mapping project of the region.

Organisers welcomed people from the area who came laden with old photographs and memorabilia, some of which will be added to the archive.

For details about the project, visit: www.kypwest.org.uk

Unique parish record

EAST Brent Parish History Group have produced a booklet, East Brent Remembers, a centenary tribute to all the men of East Brent who served in The Great War. It has been researched by a group member, in great depth, and features all those associated with the parish who fought, forming a unique record.

With nearly 100 pages, it provides details of the servicemen and their lives obtained over the last few years. This is a unique document to commemorate the parish and its war memorial.

The history group meets generally on the first Wednesday of the month at 7pm in East Brent village hall.

Details: 07931429927 or e-mail ebphgroup@btinternet.com

PAGE 64 • MENDIP TIMES • MAY 2017

Capture the “batch” in museum competition

The clock will soon chime again

ENTRIES have opened for an art competition to celebrate the impact of a Mendip landmark on people’s lives.

Somerset Coalfield Life at Radstock Museum wants people to capture the iconic coal tip at Old Mills at Paulton for an exhibition in June. Two winning images – in classes for adults and under-16s – will be turned into postcards.

The competition is the latest initiative to encourage even more visitors to the museum as staff and volunteers revamp many of the exhibits and make the museum more accessible. It recently received a donation of £1,000 from Somerset District Miners Welfare Trust (SDMWT) towards the remodeling of its coal-mine attraction; the plan is for the mine to be extended and made more realistic and informative.

And work is also underway to restore the Market Hall clock and restore its hour strike that has been silent for many years.

The £11,000 project is being undertaken in stages to create an accurate timekeeper, with automatic winding, with an illuminated dial and with the chime fully functional, but silenced at night! The restoration is being Mining history: (l:r) Clive Norman, carried out by Symon (treasurer SDMWT)) Dr Nick Hall Boyd of Timsbury (chair Radstock Museum) Francis Hillier (chair SDMWT) Bill Morris Clocks with advice (secretary SDMWT) Miranda Litchfield from Terry Taylor.

(Radstock Museum development ● Photographs of any coordinator) with the cheque towards size can be entered into the revamped mining exhibit the competition. Other artworks such as a drawing, painting or needlework must be A4 size. Photographs can be emailed in large format to Miranda Litchfield at: development@radstockmuseum.co.uk or handed in or posted to the museum. The closing date for entries is May 31st May. Maximum two entries per person.

For full details, visit: www.radstockmuseum.co.uk

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Will’s war – one man’s story

HISTORY

THE diary of a “quiet” country boy from Evercreech who lied about his age to join the Somerset Light Infantry and fought in the First World War has been brought to life in a new book by his grand-daughter.

William Upshall was 16 when he enlisted and when war was declared he found himself on the way to India, later fighting in Mesapotamia. It would be five years before he would return to Somerset.

Jeanette Upshall, who now lives in Holland, discovered her grandfather’s diary whilst caring for her late father Eric, who died in 2012. The diary was written in the distinctive purple pencil given to soldiers.

Jeanette – known as Jen – began researching Will’s career with the help of the Somerset Heritage Centre in Taunton and realised the diary could form the basis of a true story. Jen said: “I didn’t wanted it to be just a diary but to be a sort of documentary to it more readable, so I decided to transcribe it as thought it was my grandfather talking.”

In the Second World War, Will served in the Home Guard and the Upshall name remains well-known in Evercreech.

Jen with her book during a return visit to Evercreech

Two of Will’s brothers also fought in the First World War: Thomas fought with the Hampshire Regiment and was killed in action in May 1915. His named is recorded on the Menin Gate at Ypres and on the war memorial in Evercreech. Frederick Upshall fought with the Royal Garrison Artillery and, like Will, survived.

Jen added: “Will was a quiet lad with an innocent way about him but he sees humour in the strangest of circumstances and has a very thoughtful nature, making him a compelling narrator.

His observations provide a fascinating personal view of the world during this eventful period of history.”

William Upshall as a private in the Somerset Light Infantry

At Hanaidi Camp in Mesopotamia (now Iraq). Will notes in his diary: “We manage to have our hair cut which does us all good. I’m the one with the cross above him.”

Will’s War is published by Woodfield Publishing Ltd. and is available from the Bailey Hill bookshop in Castle Cary and on Amazon, priced £9.95. Copies can also be obtained from Alison Weller, Jen’s close friend in Evercreech, by calling 01749 831598.

MENDIP TIMES • MAY 2017 • PAGE 65

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Can Marmite really help dementia?

YOU have to take Marmite research with a big pinch of salt (geddit!), but both the Daily Mail and the Telegraph swallowed claims that the nation’s favourite yeast extract could “stave off dementia”.

This hype sprung from a randomized controlled study of just 28 healthy people in their early 20s, comparing the effect on “brain cell excitability” of

By Dr PHIL eating a teaspoon of Marmite each day for one month HAMMOND with eating peanut butter.

Excitability in the visual cortex was calculated in the response to watching flickering images on a screen using electroencephalogram (EEG) scans. On average, the brains of the Marmite people became less excitable.

Marmite makes your breath smell unusual and has shedloads of salt in it, which makes for thirsty, yeasty kisses. But it also contains vitamin B12 and glutamate which help the brain to produce a transmitter called GABA, which is thought to reduce brain cell excitability. Too little GABA may be a factor in epilepsy.

This led the researchers to postulate that Marmite could reduce the number of seizures in people with epilepsy, but the NHS website wisely warned “the suggested effects on epilepsy have not been tested on people with epilepsy. No-one with epilepsy should be tempted to stop taking their medicines in favour of Marmite”.

Curiously, the nine-page study makes no mention of dementia and the researchers are “puzzled” where the dementia preventing headlines came from. The study was part-funded by the Leverhulme Trust, which was set up by the founder of Lever Brothers (now Unilever) which manufactures (can you guess?) Marmite.

Perhaps someone in the marketing department got a little excitable? In our newly acquired interest to root out “Fake News” we mustn’t overlook how the advertising industry seeks to influence what we put in our mouths. What next? Will Sunpat hit back with a study on peanut butter and penis size? I’m spreading my bets and having peanut butter and marmite on my toast.

The research: Smith AK, Wade AR, Penkman KEH, Baker DH. Dietary modulation of cortical excitation and inhibition. Journal of Psychopharmacology. Published online April 4th, 2017.

Dr Phil is performing at Ubley Village Hall on May 6th and Bradfordon-Avon on July 13th – details at www.drphilhammond.com

PAGE 66 • MENDIP TIMES • MAY 2017

Plop the Raindrop

I LOVE the spring. That feeling that everything is starting again. New flowers, longer days, spring lambs, the chance to wear shorts and flip-flops, and a warm feeling about the year to come.

Last year I was drawn into a cosy daffodil bulb early in the winter. As a tiny water droplet I was amazed to see this thing explode into life.

Yellow, silent trumpets suddenly appeared, dazzling in the sun. But they only lasted a few weeks.

Then I moved on to bluebells. It looked like the trees were standing in a blue sea of them.

All of these bulbs then hide away for another year. They are so lovely.

That’s how nature works.

You know how the clock rules your day? The time for breakfast, school and so on. So time runs the seasons, deciding when each plant can flower.

Snowdrops, daffodils, bluebells, hyacinths, celandines, anemones and catkins give us a cue for the start of the year in the spring.

But then they are gone and the summer flowers come out, while the farmers wait for dry weather to harvest their early crops of silage to feed their animals next winter.

If you live near a pig farm, it’s a whole lot smellier. I’ve been there, living inside a slurry pit. It was warm enough, but you wouldn’t want to invite your friends for a sleepover!

When they started muck-spreading over the fields, I got stuck to a rook, which is how I ended up in Priddy in time for the folk festival.

On my last visit I sat on the hurdles enjoying the sun, listening to the music and watching the dancers. There were lots of children with paint all over their faces eating ice-creams. Were you one of them?

We water droplets love music. Sometimes in a cave there’s a tiny tinkling sound, like a tooth fairy walking on tiptoe. That’s the sound of us dripping onto the pools and rocks. Sit by a stream in the sunshine and you can hear us go humming by.

On dark boggy ground, we can hiss like a snake. When a lot of us go tumbling over a waterfall, we roar like a lion.

You must have heard us go gurgling down the plughole at bathtime.

We are water pure and simple, so I can sometimes appear as snow, fog or a drip on the end of your nose. You might think we don’t have a care in the world.

But there is something bothering me. I would still love to find my furry, friendly mammoth.

Can you help?

MENDIP GRANDAD

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Clare Hall Nursing Home

HEALTH & FAMILY HEALTH & FAMILY

Tel: 01761 241 626 • www.clarehallnursinghome.co.uk

A relaxed and homely environment

Clare Hall Nursing Home, Ston Easton, Radstock, Somerset BA3 4DE Fax: 01761 241 727 Email: manager@clarehallnursinghome.co.uk

MENDIP TIMES • MAY 2017 • PAGE 67

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WILL YOUR LOVE BLOSSOM THIS MAY?

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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.spasinglesocialgroup.co.uk email: spasocialgroup@gmail.com Or contact Anne – 01934 743139 Jane – 01458 835799

W NO ITING RU C RE

Now in our 76th year, we are the provider of choice for 4 x Local Authorities having recently been awarded the ‘Support to Live @home’ Contract for North Somerset Council.

As we are growing we have a variety of jobs available leading to great career opportunities across our organisation. Contact us now if you would like more information.

To start your career with Brunelcare call now on 0117 914 4200 or email recruitment@brunelcare.org.uk

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Getting the right support at home

A GROWING number of people are finding that they need extra care and support to enable them to continue living independently at home, or simply to provide a main carer with much-needed respite.

Brunelcare is a large provider of home care and support in Somerset, including the North Somerset area.

Dedicated homecare teams based in these areas provide a comprehensive range of services – all designed to meet someone’s individual needs.

Their community carers are provided with excellent working conditions, paid for every moment worked during their shifts and not just for their time spent caring; along with being paid for all travel time and mileage between calls.

Asked why they work as a carer, one of the team said: “Seeing people live independently in their homes is what makes it worthwhile.”

To consider working as a community carer and to find out more about the company see www.brunelcare.org.uk

Personalised care in a family focused environment

PAGE 68 • MENDIP TIMES • MAY 2017

THE Burnham Nursing and Care Home is situated in the seaside town of Burnham-on-Sea and provides high quality care for those with nursing, dementia and residential needs and a busy social life with a wide variety of activities and events is on offer too.

A well-experienced team of carers are always on hand supporting residents with dementia and offer an exceptional level of care, so relatives can be rest-assured loved ones are in safe hands. Arrangements can be made for visits by or to the doctor, chiropodist, optician, physiotherapist and nurse whenever required.

The home offers a range of care tailored to the individual needs of each resident. A newly-refurbished second floor offers luxury residential care, with rooms having en-suite, walk-in showers and roof-top views over Burnham-on-Sea. There is a comfortable lounge and dining area where residents can relax and prepare hot drinks in the kitchenette.

The ground and first floors offer residential, nursing and specialist dementia care.

If you have any questions about dementia or nursing homes in Somerset, they are always open and you are always welcome! Family and friends are welcome to visit at any time too, as they maintain an open-door policy. They conduct regular service-user meetings where residents and relatives can voice any concerns, make suggestions or offer praise.

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HEALTH & FAMILY

Frome care home enjoys success in CQC report

HC-ONE’S Catherine House Care Home in Frome has received a glowing report from the Care Quality Commission (CQC).

Catherine House is an older people’s care home offering residential, nursing, respite and dementia care, with years of experience in assisting elderly people with dementia and Alzheimer’s.

The team say they were delighted to have received an overall “Good” CQC report, showing that the home is attaining high standards and providing high quality care to older people in Frome and in Somerset. The report helps to cement Catherine House’s reputation as one of the best care homes in Frome.

In the report staff were described as kind and caring and the home as a warm and friendly environment. Relatives said they felt welcome when visiting and one relative said: “I wouldn’t want (my loved one) anywhere else.”

Catherine House’s achievement reflects HC-One’s commitment to providing the kindest care, which is shown by HC-One achieving a 9.4/10 average rating on the sector’s leading care home comparison website carehome.co.uk. The high rating demonstrates that HC-One is one of the best providers of residential, respite, nursing and dementia care to older people, as rated by service users. HC-One currently also has the highest compliance rating of all independent residential care home providers.

HC-One Catherine House Care Home Manager, Jane Reynolds, said: “We are delighted with this report which is a

L-R are: Sharon (activities co-ordinator), Leanne (deputy home manager), Brian (administrator) and Jane (Home Manager)

testament to the hard work that each and every member of the team puts in day in day out. We pride ourselves on offering the best care for older people in Frome and being one of the best care homes in Somerset.”

HC-One Managing Director, Liz Whyte, said: “This rating is great news and I would like to thank and congratulate the whole team for their commitment and dedication. The health and wellbeing of our residents is at the heart of everything we do, and we are 100% focused on continuing to deliver the kindest care for older people in Frome.”

MENDIP TIMES • MAY 2017 • PAGE 69

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After consulting with Dr Main, Una had several implants to replace her missing teeth at his clinic.

She reflects, “I was surprised at how easy the whole process was. It was amazing – it didn’t impact on my work or daily life.”

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Village hall gets a new lease of life CAMERTON Community Hall looks to have a secure future following the election of new officers. There was anxiety that it might close at an extraordinary general meeting, called following the resignations of committee members.

Now the hall has a new chairman, vice chair, treasurer, secretary, booking secretary and committee members.

Cyril James, the chairman when the hall was built back in the 70s, gave a brief history of the hall and how the site was given over to the Recreational Hall Committee by the National Coal Board Welfare Service providing the committee could achieve charity status.

This was to be a lengthy process, as was the struggle for funding, with the committee left to raise £21,000 itself.

The meeting heard that had it not been for people like Cyril, Bete Ashman, Jim Hawkins, Brian Emery and a whole list of people who helped to raise the money the hall would never have been built.

The Camerton Recreation Hall was opened by the architect of the hall Peter Kirkland who provided his services free as he lived in the parish. Also there on the day was Ken Biggs Contractors who it is believed generously worked on a “no profit” basis.

Clive Turner, the new chairman, has outlined the challenges

COMMUNITY

ahead and the need to get the hall used by the parishioners and to increase the hire periods used with the help of a reconstructed website and banners on the side of the hall.

Dances, bingo, coffee mornings, keep fit, talks, youth activities, film shows, and concerts are among the many events suggested.

The first event, the Easter Fun Day, was a big hit. The chairman thanked Julieann Biggs, the organiser, who dressed up in a bunny costume and had her face painted, and the many helpers, committee members and friends of the hall who had been on the field all day setting up, selling raffle tickets and serving food and drink, also the villagers who turned up in their droves to support this important first hall event.

Now they are planning a summer fete in July and hoping for another fantastic day.

Transport charity celebrates

Fun bus

MENDIP Community Transport has celebrated its 15th anniversary with a reception at Glastonbury Town Hall, at which Somerset’s Lord Lieutenant, Annie Maw, named its latest bus.

The charity operates more than 20 buses for community groups, the disabled, elderly, frail, visually or mobility impaired and other disadvantaged groups and individuals, living in the Mendip and Sedgemoor areas.

THE Big Blue Community Bus proved to be one of the highlights of the Easter holidays for the children of Pensford, with youngsters enjoying every minute of its visit to the village.

The bus, which was upgraded in 2016, visits several villages in the B&NES area weekly and also runs holiday play schemes.

MENDIP TIMES • MAY 2017 • PAGE 71

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Memory café opens in Chilcompton

A MONTHLY café is to open in St John’s Church Hall in Chilcompton for sufferers of dementia and other memory difficulties and their carers.

The idea for the café came after an informal survey of the village and surrounding area suggested around 100 people were suffering from some sort of memory difficulty.

Volunteers from St John’s and its partner church St Vigor’s, in Stratton-on-the-Fosse, will be running the café with the support in the first three months of the Alzheimer’s Society.

The team has also been helped by advice from the Rotary Club of Great Britain’s own dementia awareness campaign Rotarians Easing Problems of Dementia.

They are hoping to raise funds to organise events apart from the café and have already been pledged donations from a series of monthly quizzes at the Old Down Inn at Emborough and from a recent reunion of lorry drivers.

Meanwhile, 16 firefighters from Wells have been trained as “dementia friends” as part of an initiative to make the city dementia-friendly. Devon and Somerset Fire and Rescue Service is offering free home fire safety visits as part of the campaign.

Ainsley Bird, the fire brigade’s chief for East Somerset, said: “Adults over the age of 60 are twice as likely to be injured in a fire. If you add to this other illnesses such as dementia the percentage goes even higher.” ● The first café in Chilcompton will be held on Monday, May 8th from 2-4pm and then every second Monday of the month.

For details, visit either https://www.achurchnearyou.com/chilcompton or https://www.achurchnearyou.com/stratton and for general enquiries call the parish office on 01761 502068. Home fire safety visits can be booked by phoning Devon and Somerset Fire and Rescue on 0800 0502999.

Some of the volunteers at the memory café at St John’s Church

The café will run on the second Monday of every month

The 16 new dementia friends at Wells Fire Station with Ainsley Bird (fourth from the left in the front row) and Inspector Mark Nicholson, who trained the firefighters, first on the left in the back row PAGE 72 • MENDIP TIMES • MAY 2017

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Contrasting speakers

MEMBERS of Glastonbury and Street Rotary Club heard from two very different speakers at their recent meetings.

John Hardy was from District 1200 e-Club which is completely internet-based with members from across the world.

He was followed by Len Sweales, the town crier of Wells, who spoke about this 30-year-long career in the fire service in London. ● The club’s president for the next Rotary year will be Martyn Steer who takes over in July.

COMMUNITY

Youngsters’ awards

Barbecue time

THE Congresbury Youth Partnership has held its annual awards ceremony, celebrating the achievements of youngsters nominated by groups in the village. The awards are in memory of Tony Sullivan and were held at the village’s Recreation Club, where he was once chairman.

School’s new recruit

THEY don’t wait for summer to bring out the barbie in Stanton Drew – their winter/spring barbecue, complete with Hawaiian shirts, hats and blouses, raised £734 for church funds.

Getting ready to serve the food are (left to right) John Swift, Anne Bennett, Jacky Morris, Gladys Arthur, Di Farmer and Colin Bennett.

Race aids community

THE third ROK The Stones Trail Marathon, which took place on February 4th on a route around the Chew Valley, raised £1,403.71, which has been donated by race director Judith ChubbWhittle to the Pensford, Publow and Stantons Community Trust (PPSCT).

In the PPSCT’s second year of operations, grants of just under £19,000 were made to local causes including Stanton Drew Primary School for their play facilities; Pensford Finger post restoration project; Stanton Drew Sports Field; St Thomas Becket Church Tower; Pensford Primary School minor projects and to facilitate donation of additional land for Culvery Wood, Pensford. Further projects in progress include the Acker Bilk memorial bench in Pensford.

The photograph shows Judith presenting the cheque to Andrew Hillman, chairman of the PPSCT.

CHILDREN at Cameley School have a special visitor every Thursday – a Pets in Therapy (PAT) dog which listens to them read.

Mark Finn, a former chair of governors at the school, has been taking Jess into lessons for two months.

Head teacher, Hannah Maggs, said: “In that time children are gaining/have gained confidence with their reading. All the children have read with Jess but we are targeting specific children to help with confidence and fluency.

“The children have taken to Jess, who appears to bring a sense of calm to their reading time. The contact between dog and child encourages physical interaction which helps to put the child at ease. The dog acts as a non-judgmental listener and offers comfort to the child who may find reading difficult or stressful.

“We all love dogs. Mr Finn is very giving of his time and committed to helping Cameley School. We are very lucky.”

Those behind these special dogs said that research shows that young people can become nervous and stressed when reading to others in a group. But when a PAT dog enters the group, they often become less stressed, less self-conscious and more confident.

Mark Finn and Jess with Riley

MENDIP TIMES • MAY 2017 • PAGE 73

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Memories of school days

IT was back to school for the first day out of the year for members of the Farmborough Goodwill Club – it was not a modern day school but the Victorian schoolroom at Radstock Museum.

Over the years the museum has welcomed children from local schools, but this was a new venture with adults being given the treatment normally reserved for the youngsters.

And what a great success it was, with school ma’am Jennie keeping them on their toes, singing, reciting and much more, and she didn't have to use the cane once as they were very well behaved.

The group’s next trip is to Cheddar and Weston-superMare on May 16th. Any retired person who would like to join this very happy group can just turn up at Farmborough Memorial Hall on the second or fourth Thursday of the month at 2pm and you will be made most welcome.

Lions on patrol

Peasedown St John Lions Club, with members of the Party in the Park team

PEASEDOWN St John members of the Lions Club will be supporting this year’s Party in the Park community festival in the village and have been made the official event partner.

The Lions, who have raised tens of thousands of pounds for good causes in the area over the last 40 years, will help the day run smoothly on June 10th.

Almost 2,500 people are expected to attend the ninth Party in the Park, which is organised by a team of local residents.

Details: www.peasedownpartyinthepark.org.uk

PAGE 74 • MENDIP TIMES • MAY 2017

Club stalwart steps down

PETER James, aged 90, has stepped down as secretary of Mendip Postcard Club, having been secretary since the club started 24 years ago.

He was described as being the driving force and the glue that held the club together. Members made a small presentation and said they looked forward to seeing Peter and his wife, Janet, at future meetings.

Richard Raynsford was re-elected as chairman and Francis Thayer has taken on the role of secretary.

The club meets at Wells Town Hall on the third Monday of every month at 7.30pm.

Details: Francis Thayer 01458 832242.

Local heroes

THE organisers of Somerset Day, which promotes the county, have opened nominations in search of Somerset’s unsung heroes.

Somerset Heroes will honour those inspirational community champions, fundraisers and carers who work tirelessly behind the scenes, often without the recognition they deserve.

They may have worked selflessly for a good cause, overcome great odds or made sacrifices above and beyond the call of duty.

Nominees may be an individual who is young or old, but they will have worked selflessly for others or inspired their community in some way. Judges say they would like to see strong evidence of how Somerset Heroes have shown great character and fortitude in their life.

Short-listed individuals will be invited to the Somerset Day celebrations on May 11th in Taunton, at Taunton Methodist Church, where winners will be announced.

Chairman of Passion for Somerset, the organisation behind Somerset Day, Nigel Muers-Raby said: “There are some really inspirational people in our community who go above and beyond, dedicating their own time and efforts to benefit the communities in which they live, and these awards will be all about honouring them.

“We want the public to share unique stories and tell us why those individuals deserve to win so we can give them the recognition they deserve.

“It might be someone who has risked their life to help save another person, or a friend who has helped someone through a low point or someone who has devoted incredible time and energy to charitable causes.

“We have also brought in our most Heroic Pet, as there is no doubt that animals enrich our lives, and there are some inspirational stories of how a pet has saved lives or acted with incredible bravery to help another person.”

Details: www.somersetday.com

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Community fridge lays waste to unwanted food

A PIONEERING project in Frome to save unwanted food items from going into landfill is nearing its first anniversary.

Since its launch last April, more than 20,000 food items have been donated to the Community Fridge with support from local businesses and retailers. The fridge was set up by the community enterprise organisation Edventure and Frome Town Council.

Lauren Goodey, who manages the fridge in the Cheese and Grain car park, said: “We are so grateful to all of our volunteers who have helped to collect the food and clean the fridge. We will be looking for more volunteers to help with collections in the future.”

The fridge is open from 8am to 8pm. To volunteer or for more information, email fridge@edventurefrome.org

History talk is crystal clear

(l-r): club president Heather Langridge, district chairman Kate Lewis, speaker Dr Francis Burroughs and committee member Mollie Arnold

GLASS historian Dr Francis Burroughs was the guest speaker when Midsomer Norton and Radstock Inner Wheel hosted its annual interclub meeting.

Until three years ago, Dr Burroughs was the owner of the Bristol Blue Glass company. The glass, first formulated in the mid-16th century, is now made all over the world.

President Heather Langridge had earlier welcomed guests to the afternoon cream tea attended by district IW chairman Kate Lewis.

COMMUNITY

Tribute to community heroes

The Chairman of Sedgemoor District Council, Councillor Ian Dyer, with recipients at the awards ceremony

A SPECIAL ceremony has been hosted by the chairman of Sedgemoor District Council to honour 17 of the district’s unsung community stalwarts.

District councillors were asked to nominate people from within their ward or communities who they felt deserved recognition for their work within their community.

Amongst those to receive recognition were: ● Wayne Pople, of Burtle: member and past chairman of Polden Hills Young Farmers Club. He went on to county level and was county chairman last year. ● Tony Davies, of Shipham: a mainstay of village halls in Shipham for more than 40 years and chairman of the community hall for 30 years. ● Margaret Harwood, of Weare: started the 1st Weare Brownies in 1973 and led the pack until 2001, having also been a leader of Axbridge Brownies. Between 1992 and 1997 she was Axbridge District Commissioner and is now Chair of the Trefoil Guild. ● Barry Hamblin, of Axbridge: joined the Axbridge Community Theatre, participated in the town’s historic pageant and various theatre productions in the town. Twice Mayor of Axbridge. In 2006 he, along with his friend, the late Robert Tallack, formed the Axbridge Chamber of Commerce. They were also involved in the conception of the Axbridge Sea Cadets. ● Sue Freeman, of Wedmore: a volunteer at The Tuesday Club for more than 15 years. She started as a helper and now runs the club which is attended by 25 elderly residents of Wedmore and the surrounding areas. ● John Page, of Brent Knoll: has been treasurer of the parish hall and a key driver of the refurbishment and extension projects which have seen more than a third of a million pounds raised to improve the hall facilities. He also helped resurrect the village wassail and started the village’s history group.

Wassail brings cheer to charities

A CHEQUE for £3,200 has been presented to the Friends of Burnham Hospital from funds raised at two recent events – a wassail jointly organised by Richs Cider Farm and the Rotary Club of Burnham-on-Sea and two rotary competitions at the South West Winter Fair at Sedgemoor Auction Centre.

A cheque for £500 was also presented to the RNLI from the funds raised at the wassail.

Rotary Club president, Mark Newbery, said: “This is a great example of Rotary working in partnership with local companies to raise funds for locally based charitable organisations.”

(l:r): Paul Hambleton, from the Friends of Burnham Hospital, Mark Newbery (rotary club president), and Jan and Molly Scott from Rich’s Cider Farm

MENDIP TIMES • MAY 2017 • PAGE 75

(Photograph courtesy of Mike Lang)

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Property market stalls

THE South West housing market appears to have lost impetus, despite new buyer enquiries rising in March, according to the latest survey from the Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors.

It says the number of properties coming on to the market dropped further and consequently respondents to their residential market survey in the region have reduced predictions for sales growth in the year ahead.

Demand across the South West remains reasonably healthy, despite sales falling over the month, with 22% more respondents noting an increase in enquiries (as opposed to a fall).

However, it says supply is restricted, as new instructions to sell in the region fell noticeably with 19% more respondents seeing a fall in fresh listing rather than a rise over the month.

This lack of supply appears to be dampening transactions and in March, six percent more respondents saw a fall in agreed sales rather than a rise.

The lack of supply is also continuing to underpin prices in the region, with 22% more respondents seeing a rise over the last month. Even so prices growth in the South West does appear to be cooling and at 22%, the net balance was the weakest since September 2016.

Further ahead, sales expectations over the next three months were reduced with 22% more respondents predicting a rise.

Moreover, expectations for year ahead sales growth were reduced in eight of the 12 UK regions/countries covered.

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PROPERTY

New associate at David James and Partners DAVID James & Partners have announced that John Williams has been appointed an associate at the company of chartered surveyors and residential agents.

John joined DJ&P back in 2012 as an undergraduate from the Royal Agricultural University in Cirencester and has since qualified (MRICS). He is Cornish born and bred and educated at Kings Taunton.

He married back in 2014 and is well known for his appearances on the DJ&P Facebook page with his dog Goose, a yellow Labrador, which can often be found at the office of David James and Partners in Wrington – making up the rural team!

Richard Nancekivell said: “John is a key member of our professional team and we are delighted that through his hard work he has been rewarded with this promotion. John will continue to assist land sales, rural auctions, lettings

and compensation work and continues to enhance our professional reputation and ensure our clients receive the best possible advice in all aspects of property and rural land matters.”

John will be assisting Richard Nancekivell (auctioneer) at the land and property auction scheduled for May 9th at Mendip Springs Golf Club in Congresbury; there are a number of interesting land lots from Clevedon across to Wells, through the Chew Valley and down to Wedmore and beyond: At Chew Stoke – a smallholding in Kingshill Lane offering 17 acres with tremendous views over the lake, and several outbuildings/field shelters.

Middlezoy near Bridgwater – a yard and buildings; Cocklake near Wedmore – 9.50 acres; Clevedon (Moor Lane) – 1.75 acres and Axbridge (Townsend Farm) – 9.94 acres. All can be purchased as a whole or in lots. Please

contact John Williams or Richard Nancekivell for further information or to add your property or land to this or any future auction.

Future Auction dates: 9th May Mendip Springs Golf Club, Congresbury, July 25th and September 26th 2017.

David James & Partners 01934 864300

W

W

NE

W

NE

Guide Price £450,000 + VAT

Loxton Somerset FOR SALE BY AUCTION JULY 25TH 2017 A substan-al detached barn with accommoda-on over two floors amoun-ng to 2264 . Formerly a modern office with exposed beams and plenty of windows and doors with planning for residen-al use occupying a south facing loca-on up a private drive. Large gardens & paddock amoun-ng to 1.80 acres. EPC: C. Ref: 24899

W

NE

Guide Price £725,000

Easton Near Wells, Somerset A TRULY BEAUTIFUL LARGE FAMILY HOME WITH 3.78 ACRES This stunning detached house has been extended in all the right places and appointed to the highest of standards. It combines contemporary living in a rural loca-on surrounded by countryside just 2 miles from Wells city centre. Four bedrooms, two en suites, huge open plan kitchen/dining and si.ng room, separate drawing room, garden room, u-lity and cloaks. Private entrance drive, parking and some 3.78 acres of garden, orchard and paddocks. EPC: C Ref: 25313

Guide Price £625,000

Milton Road Weston-super-Mare Tucked away up a private drive and in a plot amoun-ng to half an acre. This detached family house offers huge versa-lity for those seeking a private secluded loca-on in Milton. Detached 4 bedroom family house (2,651sq ) ; substan-al block built 48 former pool house: one bedroom modern annexe to the rear of the house. The property has extensive parking and large gardens. There is a south facing aspect with lovely views from the first floor to Crook Peak on the Mendips. EPC: E Ref: 25332

NE

Guide Price £350,000

Cleeve North Somerset An immaculately presented four bedroom semi detached dormer bungalow in good size plot with plenty of parking and garage. Open plan modern kitchen/dining room, si.ng room, u-lity, modern bathroom and two double bedrooms on ground floor. Two bedrooms and en suite on the first floor. Views, good drive and enclosed rear garden. EPC: D Ref: 25339

Guide Price £475,000

Locking Weston-super-Mare Small holding/former hor-cultural nursery with 6.81 acres. A detached 3 bedroom house with 2 recep-on rooms, modern kitchen and bathroom, conservatory, cloaks and u-lity. Garage and outbuildings. Access from Hillend. AOC applies: EPC: E. Ref: 23279/3.

Guide Price £465,000

Summer Lane Banwell DETACHED STONE BARN CONVERSION & DETACHED STONE WORKSHOPS! 1500 sq of living accommoda-on predominantly over a single floor with lots of interes-ng features and 1350 sq of detached stone workshops – suitable for commercial/office or residen-al (subject to planning). Three bedrooms, open plan kitchen/dining and si.ng room. Good drive and parking to front and rear. Good size garden and lovely south facing views. EPC: F Ref: 25265

Wrington 01934 864300 MENDIP TIMES • MAY 2017 • PAGE 77

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CAVING

Background photo: Five Buddles Sink and Buddles

Draining the mines

MENDIP was once a source of great mineral wealth and lead mining, probably started in the Iron Age – the mines at Charterhouse were certainly well-established before the Roman invasion. Over the years, prospectors sought and found large quantities of lead, silver, zinc, manganese and iron ore, the latter With PHILIP usually in the form of ochre.

HENDY Surface deposits were plentiful and it was relatively easy to dig shallow pits to extract the minerals. Later, shafts were dug to follow the ore bodies downwards, until the miners met an insuperable problem – water.

Once the water table had been encountered, that was it – although a dry summer might allow more mining to take place, it was impossible to exploit the rich veins of ore believed to lie at greater depth. It might be supposed that adits driven in from the foot of the hills might release this water, but only two such horizontal tunnels or levvys are known, at Sandford and Dolebury.

In fact these, driven in 1830 by Dr. Somers and Mr. Webster respectively, were solely made in the search for ore. Neither mining area was troubled by flooding, although it was a different story at Priddy.

The area known as Rowpits or Rough Pits, lying in what is now Stockhill Wood, with Small Pits in the northwest corner at the Miners’ crossroads, was a very rich area, principally mined for lead and later for ochre. The orefield supported two mineries, where the ore was washed and smelted.

Waldegrave minery lies along the track to the west of the road between the Hunters’ Lodge Inn and Miners’ crossroads, while the ruins of St. Cuthbert’s minery can be seen further to the west.

Flooding in the mines became a problem in the 16th century and the miners were frustrated in being unable to follow their rich lodes downwards. The methods of the day for lifting water were inadequate, so another way of draining the mines was sought. An engineer, Bevis Bulmer, came forward in 1586, and with the blessing of government sought to drain the area by driving a sloping drift, which it was hoped would intercept a swallet or natural sink, which would de-water the area.

The miners were initially supportive, but refused to help financially, even though success would have brought them great wealth. They even took to sabotaging the undertaking, and after the expenditure of around £10,000, the work fizzled out.

Nearly 70 years later, another entrepreneur with extensive mining experience came to Mendip. In 1657, under the aegis of the Commonwealth, Thomas Bushell resurrected Bulmer’s plan, having learned that “millions in wealth” lay under Rowpits. He put the plan to the miners’ court, the Grand Jury, and the 28 members accepted his offer.

Miners in areas adjacent to Rowpits also became interested.

Bushell hoped to profit from any lead (and silver) he might find during the course of his work and started by sinking 20 shafts around Rowpits, looking for a natural swallet. He soon encountered similar problems to those suffered by Bulmer, however, possibly because instead of employing local labour, he used non-Mendip miners.

The local men tried to frustrate the work by sinking pits and

Tony Jarratt emerging from Stock’s House Shaft

shafts ahead of Bushell’s line of work and the courts were invoked. Bushell obtained an injunction preventing new pits from interfering with his project, except those “wrought upon within these five years, or any such five fathom deep”.

They could be sunk to water at 16 fathoms, the depth of Bushell’s drift. However, the sabotage continued. Once, the shaft, now at 20 fathoms, was deliberately flooded – while the miners were below! They only just escaped with their lives. Later, again while workmen were below, the timber shoring of the shaft was collapsed.

Another injunction was obtained, in 1659. The damage was repaired and work continued, the drift heading towards Bulmer’s earlier workings, which were known to have reached a large lode of lead. Inevitably, the undertaking became under-financed and, although a benefactor, Clement Oxenbridge, bailed Bushell out in 1662, progress was slow and ended at his death in 1674.

Some 17 years later, in 1691, Thomas Holland invented a pumping device operated by two horses, one of which was used at Rowpits. It would lift “above 50 Tuns in an Hour at 100 Foot Depth”, and probably “100 Tuns or more at 20 or 30 Foot”.

However, this scheme also came to nothing.

Three Bristol gentlemen, Underwood, Riddle and Shapland, suggested driving an underground watercourse to drain the area in 1774, but again, support was not forthcoming. Twenty years later the farming innovator John Billingley of Ashwick, resurrected the idea of draining the mines by driving a tunnel from Compton Martin to Wookey Hole; this would also in theory lead to the discovery of more ore bodies.

There was disagreement amongst the landowners as to the route such a tunnel should take, each wanting his own mines to be drained, so once more nothing happened. There is little evidence of any of these failed drainage works today.

In the late 20th century Tony Jarratt and the Bristol Exploration Club started looking for Bushell’s shafts, excavating Five Buddles Sink at the end of a line of buddles used for ore washing, on Priddy Mineries. They found a wooden miners’ sledge or hand barrow, which is now in display at the Hunters’ Lodge Inn. Over the road, in the wood, they opened an old shaft to explore Stock’s House Shaft where passages at the foot of the shaft are an enlargement of a natural swallet cave. Shot holes used for explosives probably dated from activity in the 1890s, but some of the workings are older.

If the history books are anything to go by, one of Bushell’s drives is quite long and deep, but so far, its location has evaded investigators.

Phil has been caving for more than 50 years and is a member of the Wessex Cave Club. He has been involved in producing several caving publications and until his retirement was a caving instructor at Cheddar. His main interest is digging for new caves.

PAGE 78 • MENDIP TIMES • MAY 2017

(Photography by Phil Hendy)

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MOTORING

From the sublime . . .

AUCTIONEER Jeremy Upsall is no stranger to the world of classic cars and motorbikes where the beautiful can rub bumpers with the downright odd. At the first classic car auction to be held at the Mendip Auction Rooms at Binegar, Jeremy – along with fellow auctioneer Tom Killen – tempted collector and dealers with everything from Land Rovers and MGB GTs Jeremy tries out a 1964 to a 1954 Heinkel Trojan 200 Riley from Mells and a customised Ford Escort van from West Harptree.

The auction houses hopes to host a similar auction later in the year and possibly increase the number to four in 2018.

SHIPHAM MOTOR GROUP

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BEFORE

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Marchants Hill, Gurney Slade BA3 4TY Call: 01749 841051 Mob: 07778 465520 Email: sales@caravanrepairs-sw.co.uk MENDIP TIMES • MAY 2017 • PAGE 79

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Wedmore’s Clash of the Choirs THE annual Clash of the Choirs was a marvellous event, with 250 singers packed into St. Mary’s Church, Wedmore. It raised £1,800 for The Friends of St. Mary's. The choirs taking part were: The Blackford Singers – Led by Bun Sisson, they meet on Mondays from 8pm for an hour. Singing in a variety of styles and genres their aim is to have the fun. Details: www.blackfordsingers.uk Cheddar Valley Voices – Kate Lynch’s junior girls and boys and senior girls meet on Tuesdays after school at Fairlands. Details: 07595 745884 voices@cheddarvalleymusic.co.uk Wedmore First School Academy Singers – “Clash” regulars now led by Anna Graves. This year with the added delight of their Ukulele Band!

The Axbridge Singers – Directed by Stella Moore and together for 12 years. A community choir for anyone who enjoys singing.

Details: Sarah 07775 815453.

The Bluebelles – A choir made up of pupils and staff from the Blue School in Wells, led by Tracey Hansford, tonight they are singing popular music and musical theatre songs.

Glastonbury Male Voice Choir – Formed in 1923 and now almost 40 strong. Known for their wonderful harmonies, they meet in Glastonbury Town Hall from 7.45pm on Tuesdays. Led by Tracey Hansford www.glastonburymalevoicechoir.co.uk St. Cuthbert’s Church of England Junior School Choir, Wells – Led by Elspeth Salmon and accompanied by Karen Squance, the school has a very active musical life.

Wookey Choirworks – Formed in 2007 by Polly Carroll and Jane Roberts, over 50 ladies come together every Tuesday night for a really good sing. They raise money for charities nominated by choir members. Details: Polly 07811043094.

Cheddar Valley Voices Lads – Kate Lynch runs four choirs,

Band’s double celebration

THERE was a double celebration at Midsomer Norton and Radstock Silver Band’s annual dinner. The band qualified for the National Brass Band Championships of Great Britain Third Section finals in March and earned promotion to the second section for the first time in the band’s history.

Jo Sykes, the band’s musical director, praised the band members for their hard work over the year and for achieving nation finals qualification for the second consecutive year and promotion.

PAGE 80 • MENDIP TIMES • MAY 2017

juniors, senior girls, adults and “The Lads”, who meet on Mondays from 6pm to 6.45pm at The Kings of Wessex Academy.

Joyful Spirit – Wrington and surrounding villages’ gospel choir has a lively membership of 70 singers aged from 18 to 100! They sing an eclectic mixture of songs and perform to support many local charities. Details: Alison Cooper-White mt.clements@btconnect.com

Award winners on the night were (left to right) Louise Perryman, the Life President’s Cup, for her work teaching and conducting the training band; Tim Brunskill, the Players’ Player voted for by his fellow band members; ten-yearold Aiden the Sykes Trophy, awarded to the most up and coming young member; and Jane Williams the Heather Allard Cup for her work with the junior members and for providing a sumptuous range of refreshments during contest rehearsals.

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Somerset Singers spring concert

THE Somerset Singers will perform the Magnificat and The Sprig of Thyme by John Rutter and Regina Coeli by Amadeus Mozart on Saturday May 13th, at 7.30pm in St Cuthbert’s Church, Wells.

The Magnificat is well known and in the same choral style as Rutter’s Requiem. The Sprig of Thyme is a folk song cycle arranged by the composer that includes several well-known folk songs including The Keel Haul and Afton Water.

The concert will also include Mozart’s orchestral piece The Overture to Figaro. The Somerset Singers draw members from all over the Mendip area, so why not go and support them.

They will be conducted by their new musical director Edward Goater (pictured left) with the Lochrian Ensemble, leader Catherine Black, and soloist, Cheryl Rosevear, soprano (pictured above).

Tickets priced £12 will be available in advance from Wells Tourist Information Centre 01934 843727 or £14 on the door.

Details: www.somersetsingers.co.uk

Good vibrations at Extravaganza

BEACH Boys co-founder Brian Wilson is to headline this year’s Glastonbury Abbey Extravaganza and will perform the band’s greatest album in full.

The legend will play the abbey as part of the 50th anniversary tour of Pet Sounds – which includes hits such as God Only Knows, Sloop John B and Wouldn’t It Be Nice.

Performing alongside a celebrated band which includes his former bandmates Al Jardine and Blondie Chapman, Wilson will also treat the abbey crowd on Saturday, August 5th, to greatest hits and rare cuts from their vast back catalogue.

Organiser Michael Eavis said: “To have a music icon such as Brian to headline the Extravaganza is just fabulous; he is bringing his world-famous Pet Sounds to play for us and I am sure it will be one of the best nights we’ve ever done at the Abbey.”

Brian sent this message to fans: “I love performing Pet Sounds with my band and look forward to playing back in Glastonbury, as I had a ball the last time we played at the festival, this show at the Abbey will be a special night, I look

MUSIC

Newsman launches festival

FORMER HTV presenter, Richard Wyatt, will be the special guest at Peasedown St. John’s Party in the Park community festival on June 10th.

Richard, who lives in Bath, said: “I’m looking forward to coming along to Peasedown’s big summer event in June.

I’ve heard great things about the success of the festival, so wanted to come along and check it out for myself.”

After leaving ITV ten years ago Richard moved over to the BBC where he presented the BBC Radio Bristol Breakfast Show live every morning for two years Festival chairman, Nathan Hartley, said: “We’re extremely pleased that Richard has accepted our invitation to attend this year’s festival.

“He’ll have the important role on the day of announcing the winner of this year’s Sara Holley Community Award, which is now in its seventh year.”

The festival includes seven hours of live music and entertainment with performances from The Rosa Gray Band, Call the Shots and Rubix Grove.

Details: www.peasedownpartyinthepark.org.uk or go to the event’s Facebook page at www.facebook.com

Brian Wilson, who played the Glastonbury Festival in 2005

forward to seeing you all there, Love and Mercy, Brian.”

Also playing at the Extravaganza will be the world-famous brass band, the Black Dyke Brass Band and British singer/songwriter Corinne Bailey Rae. The traditional firework display will round off the night.

Advance tickets are now on sale. For details and bookings, visit www.glastonburyabbey.com/extravaganza

MENDIP TIMES • MAY 2017 • PAGE 81

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I hear the sound . . .

… OF distant drums from the roof of the O² Arena in London – with local musician Robin Tothill taking part alongside some legendary sticksmen in a unique charity event.

Robin has been invited to keep the beat on the roof of the iconic venue along with icons including Blondie’s Clem Burke, Pink Floyd’s Nick Mason and Status Quo’s original drummer John Coughlan to raise the profile of African charity Roll Out the Barrel Trust, which provides 30litre, roll-along water barrels for communities struggling to collect water.

Robin, part of the team running Wells Trading Post, is due to take to the roof of the O² on Tuesday, May 23rd. The musician and former production company worker said: “I was looking for a new drum kit and was asked if I was interested in taking part and, of course, I said ‘yes’.

“I’ve spent hours sat in trucks outside the venue thinking I would love to play there and now I have the chance.”

Robin, who is a regular with the Glastonbury-based Nick Parker and The False Alarms – he is also a session drummer for many others – must raise at least £200 to take part. He can be heard on Nick’s new album Besta Venya.

For details about the charity, visit: http://www.rolloutthebarrel.org/ or call in to see Robin at the Wells Trading Post

We’re proud of you NINE people have received PCC Pride Awards presented by Avon and Somerset Police and Crime Commissioner Sue Mountstevens after being nominated by the public and colleagues.

Linda Vincent with PCC Sue Mountstevens PAGE 82 • MENDIP TIMES • MAY 2017

Time for tea

NEWS

ST. MARGARET’S Hospice is running its Time for Tea campaign throughout May and June asking its supporters to raise money by putting the kettle on.

By holding a tea party they hope you can help St. Margaret’s make each day count for patients and their families facing a life-limiting illness.

Simply invite all your friends and family over for some tea, coffee and cake, in return for a kind donation to St. Margaret’s.

Each year St. Margaret’s supports over 3,200 people – in their in-patient units in Taunton and Yeovil and through their community teams visiting patients in their own home.

St. Margaret’s needs to raise in excess of £7.5m from the local community to continue these services, ensuring that everyone who needs care and support to face a life-limiting illness receives it.

Details: www.st-margarets-hospice.org.uk or call 0845 345 9671.

Among them was retired Police Community Support Officer Linda Vincent who was nominated for being an outstanding PCSO, always willing to go to great lengths to keep her community safe on the Wells rural beat.

Linda said: “It’s lovely to be recognised for the job I loved doing, supporting the local communities of the Wells Rural Beat.”

Parish councillor Rhiannon PrysOwen was nominated for her efforts in coordinating the Yatton Community Speed Watch programme and for her support of Yatton PACT. She said: “This award is about lots of people in our communities working collaboratively, coming together for the benefit our communities.”

Sue Mountstevens said: “I am incredibly lucky in my role as PCC to meet some extraordinary people who go about their daily business without any

recognition at all. I don’t believe that we say thank you enough, to those who go above and beyond in our communities, and these awards are my way of saying thank you.”

Rhiannon Prys-Owen with PCC Sue Mountstevens

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Two hoists are better than one ANYONE driving between Wedmore and Cheddar recently might have been intrigued to see two cherry pickers at full stretch above a former school converted into homes.

But with a growing fleet of versatile vehicles at his disposal, Jason Beasley, who runs Jason Beasley Access based at Blackford, was able to offer a highly-flexible alternative to scaffolding when it came to repainting the bell tower, fascias and other parts of the buildings.

Jason said: “Once we are located on site and harnessed up, we can be at work at height within minutes.

“We offer a much better option, especially when it comes to domestic properties when the job itself might not be that big to warrant the expense of scaffolding.”

Jason (left) with son Jon (centre) – back from travelling in Australia – and Chris Maunders

Now available: Lorry-mounted cherry picker 26m height/17.5m outreach 3-man (+ tools) basket

PAGE 84 • MENDIP TIMES • MAY 2017

Access all areas: the scene near Wedmore recently

The sign on the back of one of the vehicles has become a talking point around the west country

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HOMES & INTERIORS

Tony Hucker TV Service – Sales – Rental

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MENDIP TIMES • MAY 2017 • PAGE 85

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A peaceful morning on the farm

SOME houses simply say “family home” to you. There’s that feeling of warmth and kindness as you walk through the door.

And it’s how you feel when you visit Northwick Farm, in Mark, the home of Alan and Sue Slocombe. For many of us farmhouses like this take us back to a time when the whole pace of life was more relaxed and less stressful.

Alan said: “Yes we do seem to need to rush everywhere these days.” But as the aroma of coffee wafts through from the kitchen, we soon start sharing memories.

He said: “Family means a lot to me. We had a dairy farm and our family business, Slocombe’s Dairy, in Street, Glastonbury and Walton, until we sold out in 1980.”

We reflect on those happy days of early morning milk deliveries and an era of reasonable profit margins for even relatively small-scale dairy farming, Today the farm is down to the three fields, yet life is still full and varied for Alan and Sue, who said: “Like so many farmers, we’ve had to rethink the way we earn our income, but we’ve tried to retain and maintain that atmosphere of family living.”

One of the fields is allocated to a caravan site and it’s a haven of safety and peace for those who enjoy the simple pleasure of a bucolic lifestyle. The Slocombes have a particular pleasure in seeing youngsters taking full advantage of their Somerset surroundings.

Alan said: “As parents and grandparents, it’s a joy to share

NAILSEA PATIO SUPPLIES

what we have. One of our two daughters lives with her husband in the adjoining annex; their son Alex has special needs and we have installed a room specially designed for him – it’s proved hugely worthwhile.”

Alan and Sue also have a beautifully updated holiday let cottage adjoining the house (it really is special and boasts a 4* Tourist rating). Sue is particularly excited by the new grey stable door that has recently been fitted.

She said: “We always go to Kingfisher for our doors and windows and their advice and help were invaluable. They’re a family firm too and they share our values.”

Alan agreed: “I like the fact that it’s like dealing with friends.

Nothing is too much trouble and they never hassle or rush you into decisions.”

It’s a way of doing business that seems to be very much in harmony with the gentle pace of country life.

Tony Thurling

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PAGE 86 • MENDIP TIMES • MAY 2017

The JØTUL Frøya and the JØTUL Terrazza

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HOMES & INTERIORS

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MENDIP TIMES • MAY 2017 • PAGE 87

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Oak flooring specialists

WAYNE Hill, the director of Oak Hill Flooring Ltd, holds City & Guilds qualifications as a carpenter/joiner, wood machinist, joinery estimator and surveyor and has a total of 28 years of experience.

This includes sales experience within the oak flooring market, giving advice on installation methods and the correct products to purchase from their website for a trouble-free install.

They can supply adhesives to fully bond your oak flooring to a concrete subfloor, or can supply all types of underlay to provide you with a floating floor.

Their oak engineered flooring is suitable for use over underfloor heating and they have a wide range of standard and colour finishes. All their prices are very competitive and they welcome enquiries from both retail and trade customers.

Oak Hill Flooring can also supply oak skirting boards, architraves, a range of oak internal doors, and external oak doors.

They can visit customers in the comfort of their own homes taking along flooring panels etc, and can recommend carpenters to install their products. They then provide you with a detailed (no obligation) quotation, and no after-sales pressure.

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PAGE 88 • MENDIP TIMES • MAY 2017

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RH

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The Staircase Manufacturing Company Limited, Wellsway Works, Wells Road, Radstock, Bath BA3 3RZ email: stairman@talktalk.net MENDIP TIMES • MAY 2017 • PAGE 89

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Step into another world at The Barn A Water Softener From On Tap Water Treatment Is The Answer

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The Barn at the Manor House, West Compton, Shepton Mallet BA4 4PB. Directions from A361

Tel 01749 890 582

Email: harrietsandys@freeolamail.com www.sandysorientalcarpets.co.uk

Credit/Debit cards accepted. Also open by appointment.

PAGE 90 • MENDIP TIMES • MAY 2017

Harriet Sandys in The Barn

AN exciting range of Oriental carpets, decorative items and clothing from central Asia and India greets visitors to The Barn, near Shepton Mallet, owned by Harriet Sandys.

Amongst the new stock are Persian oriental rugs, runners and kilims, block print bedspreads and quilts, cushions, table lamps, tribal jewellery, cotton nightwear, colourful kaftans and jackets for the summer.

The Barn, next to Harriet’s home in West Compton, is not a shop and is open only at certain times of the year or by appointment.

But since turning her passion – and knowledge of the region – into a business more than ten years ago, many people visit Harriet time and time again and become friends, rather than simply customers.

Harriet will next open The Barn at the end of May for the Bank Holiday weekend and is putting the finishing touches to a new website.

She sources the items from contacts in the different countries and prices of rugs and carpets can therefore sometimes be lower than elsewhere.

Amongst her latest “finds” are some beautiful velvet kneelength coats from Morocco. Samples are available only as Harriet will commission her supplier to make the coats to order (pre-order any size before the end of July for delivery in September).

Many items still come from Afghanistan, despite concerns over its stability, and others from Nepal. Harriet also makes regular donations to different charities and welfare organisations in individual countries and supports Fair Trade income generation projects abroad.

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Newglaze – your trusted installer THE last 37 years has seen Newglaze build up an excellent reputation throughout the home improvement industry by selling their quality products to customers throughout Dorset, Somerset, Wiltshire and Hampshire.

With drive and growth to the business, Newglaze expanded into their Blandford showroom in 2003; then in 2016 Newglaze opened a new superstore in Tower Park, Poole, having the largest showrooms of its type in Dorset.

This move allowed Newglaze to have sustainability and growth, mainly due to personal recommendations and word of mouth from happy customers.

Why not make a visit to see Dorset’s largest indoor showrooms showing a comprehensive range of uPVC & Evolution (timber alternative products) windows, doors and conservatories, aluminium and timber windows?

Items on show include:

Glass houses options – orangery concepts, solid roof options and conservatories.

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Details: www.newglaze.co.uk

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Window options – flush, pencilled edge lipped casement, storm proof, ovular and bevelled frames.

Roof line options – fascia, soffits and gutterings.

New England Colonial cladding options – smooth or textured wood effect, with contemporary or traditional colours available.

Newglaze is a fine example of how a local company can enjoy great success due to excellent workmanship, warm, friendly and honest customer service.

Carefully planned home improvements can completely transform the appearance, layout and size of your property and add value to your home.

So if you are thinking of making some home improvements, no matter how small, please call into one of their showrooms at 1 Sunrise Business Park, Higher Shaftesbury Road, Blandford Forum, Dorset, DT11 8ST.

MENDIP TIMES • MAY 2017 • PAGE 91

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A spring in their stride GLORIOUS sunshine brought out the Mother’s Day crowds at the Mendip Farmers’ Point-to-Point meeting at Ston Easton.

David Churches, of Glastonbury, owner of Emperor Renard, who won the RM Penny Open Maiden Steeplechase

On home turf: Harriet Tucker, of East Pennard, on her way to victory in the Uphill and Son Ladies Open. Harriet, on board Masterleaderman, rides with the Mendip Hunt. See Riding page XX

Pony racing ended an action-packed meeting

Cheering on a winner – excitement builds near the finishing post PAGE 92 • MENDIP TIMES • MAY 2017

Ali Perry (left) presents the prizes to the connections of Monsieur Gibraltar, winner of the Morris and Perry Men’s Open: jockey Lorcan Williams, part owner John Gane of Pilton and trainer Rose Loxton. Rose also trained runner-up Join Together

Waiting for presentations to begin – some of the jockeys in the pony races gather at the end of the day

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Meet the hounds

POINT-TO-POINT

Ticket To Ride (second left) is tucked in behind the frontrunners in the Alec Jarrett Open Maiden Race, but went on to claim victory

Hunt members escorted the riders

M&Ms: Mandy, Michelle and Moira raise their glasses to a great day’s racing

James Timms (centre) hosted a party to celebrate his 40th birthday.

James was brought up in Wedmore but now lives in Bristol

Organisers are keen to welcome more sponsors for future fixtures. For details, email: charlotteannpattison@gmail.com

Harnessing science for the good of horses

NEWLY-appointed Fellow of the British Horse Society, Sam York, is determined that science and research will play increasingly important roles in the equine world.

Sam, who grew up in Shepton Mallet, was speaking during a visit with her parents Martin and Kay to the Mendip Farmers’ Point-to-Point meeting.

The fellowship is the highest qualification the BHS offers and is rated as one of the highest coaching accreditations in the world. Sam, who is a lecturer in equine management at Nottingham Trent University, will spend a large amount of her time abroad.

She said: “We have got to put research at the forefront of equine care.”

Martin and Kay York with Sam (third right) and her partner Pete

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Until we meet again – a Mendip play in three parts

ON Mendip, events segue seamlessly together as if we are all players in a never-ending show.

One weekend recently this seemed particularly true as those characters with a passion for the great outdoors, especially when involving horses, dogs and/or guns, With RACHEL kept popping up in random locations across THOMPSON the hills.

MBE Even the weather played along, sending a warm daffodil nodding, lark ascending, blue sky breeze whipping up the horses’ tails, whether at home in the paddock, out tilting at walls with the last hunt or galloping around the point-to-point course.

“Weekend Act One” saw us following our young friends Emily, Molly and Gabby trotting through the traffic to the Castle of Comfort where hunt members, horses and hounds were cramming into the paddock and car park at kind invitation of landlady Philippa Harris.

As we watched, hoping the circulating port would come our way, a contingent from the visiting Avon Vale Hunt roared in merrily anticipating a last hurrah across Mendip, their season already having ended. The mounted field, most attired in gorgeous ratcatcher brown and green tweed, shirts and ties (spring- or post-Cheltenham rules– someone enlighten me please?), followers, farmers and interested onlookers gathered round to hear retiring hunt master and master farrier Jason Somerville give final thanks and instructions.

Jason, retiring due to a painful back, will be much missed as one of the leading lights enabling the Mendip Farmers’ Hunt to Jason Somerville is standing down thrive and prosper. A short as huntmaster

Charlotte White

BSc (Hons) Certified Equine Dental Technician

• BEVA/BVDA Approved • Full member of the BAEDT • IAED Certified • Certified through the Academy of Equine Dentistry, ID. • Fully insured professional service A professional equine dentistry service providing full dental equilibration to enhance your horses’ performance and nutritional efficiency.

Based in Somerset covering the whole of the South West

charlotte@equidentist.co.uk • tel: 07795 141 845

PAGE 94 • MENDIP TIMES • MAY 2017

RIDING

The Mendip Farmers’ Hunt meet at The Castle of Comfort

horn blow, a “hounds please” and the field of some 70 riders flowed out and down the road, leaving a few walking wounded to remind us that horses are not all fun and games!

In “Weekend Act Two” some of the principal players popped up again at the Lordswood Shoot annual dinner. A jolly scene at Cameley Lodge – without guns and dogs (and guests without ties who suffered a fine) but with great company, fine food and drink.

Chairman Chris Penny raised a lot of laughs through a very funny discourse (with actions) on the perils of bird cage construction where the assembled workers hopelessly muddled up metric and imperial measuring. Inescapable fines followed raising an amazing £650 – split between Dorset & Somerset Air Ambulance and the Build-up Nepal charity, restoring the country after the 2015 earthquake.

The Mendip plateau at Ston Easton was the location for “Weekend Act Three”, transformed for the day into the Mendip Farmers’ Point-to-Point. Despite a bit of engine trouble the night before, Norm still managed to pop up to welcome us at the gate!

Coinciding with Mothers’ Day, the site heaved with all of Mendip and their mothers, bookmakers, jockeys, horses and connections, huntsmen, hounds, tradesmen, picnics and birthday parties. Borrowing Mr Noble’s catalogue I went in search of a story, bumping into the course doctor Simon – sporting a tie, fined for not the night before: “Work attire!”, he grinned.

Searching the entries for horses qualifed with Mendip Farmers’ I homed in on Harriet Tucker from East Pennard riding her own nine-year-old bay Irish gelding Masterleaderman. I certainly should have made a bet in addition to an interview as the pair won in very fine style indeed. More on Harriet another time.

And, finally, thank you to everyone who works so hard to keep the “Mendip Show” on the road: farmers, landowners, keepers, volunteers, ordinary country folk so generous with their time and money. It would be a poor show without you.

The Trails Trust is organising a competition to encourage riders to use rights of way and to record their route. Upload your ride photos and description to The Trails Trust’s Facebook page in May and you could win £100 worth of reflective gear. For further information please contact Keith Reynolds: ewaota@hotmail.co.uk

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Junior tour of the Mendips

THERE were thrills, a few spills and some hard hills as the best emerging talent in British cycling took part in the two-day Junior Tour of the CYCLING Mendips. This event with EDMUND is one of the most LODITE gruelling multi-stage road races in British Cycling’s Junior Road series and attracts the best riders aged 16-18 from across the UK. This year the organisers, Bristol Cycling Development Squad, added a prologue time trial to the event – as it turned out, this played a bigger than expected part in determining the overall winner of the tour.

On the morning of the first day the 80 riders were timed individually along half of the popular road circuit around Chew Valley Lake. The standard was set early on by Josh Copley (Catford CC Equipe/Banks) who completed the 7.3km course in just under ten and a half minutes.

Only three other riders managed to break that barrier including Oscar Mingay (Team Wales) who beat Copley by less than half a second to take the leader’s jersey.

The afternoon road stage of 105km started with a neutralised climb up Harptree Hill before racing seven laps of an undulating but fast circuit near Priddy.

There were a few early breaks, all of which were reeled in by the chasing

(Photography courtesy of British Cycling/Guy Swarbrick)

The breakaway group at the top of Rhodyate Hill, Blagdon

Tobias and Oscar

peloton, and the race looked like it was heading for a bunch sprint finish.

With three laps to go George Wharton (Spokes Racing Team) broke clear pursued by three other riders, but then took a heavy fall on a narrow section. As the bunch picked their way past, the race was neutralised and then temporarily halted.

The race eventually restarted with all riders in one group and two laps to go.

However with the road still blocked by medics treating Wharton, the race commissaire had no alternative but to end the race. As a result the general classification of riders remained unchanged from the day’s earlier prologue time trial. Wharton was taken to hospital but discharged later that evening.

The following day Wharton was a welcome sight as he cheered on his teammates from the side of the road. The final day’s 80km road stage was going to be a hard one, taking in three of the classic hills on the Mendips.

SPORT

On the long first climb up Burrington Combe a trio of riders broke free, including Tobias Dahlhaus (London Dynamo), to claim the first King of the Mountain points of the day. After being reined in by the peloton, a few more attacks took place but the riders were together when they reached Rhodyate Hill at Blagdon. This was the hardest of the day’s climbs and the steep gradients started to separate riders along the length of the climb.

Oscar Mingay was the first over the top and took the opportunity to break clear ahead of a smaller group of five riders.

Once the main group of 20 had regrouped they gradually chased the breakaway riders down before reaching the final climb, Harptree Hill. The group started to split as they crested it and a bunch of five riders led a sprint towards the finish. Dahlhaus crossed the line first to claim the stage win and was also crowned King of the Mountains.

Mingay finished a split second behind but with a 40 second advantage over Dahlhaus from the time trial it was enough to take overall victory in the tour.

Following on from his podium finish at the first race of the national series one week before, this was a perfect start for the Welsh rider in his first year as a junior.

He said: “I wasn’t expecting the result I got in the time trial, but when I was riding my legs just felt really good – like, just floating. Then on that last stage – I knew it was going to kick off, but I knew I had good legs, so all I had to do was stay near the front.”

This was a great event that highlighted the best features of cycling around the Mendips – many thanks to the sponsors Screentek International, marshals and volunteers who made it all happen.

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L e t t h e s e a s o n b e g i n – H o r r i n g t o n C C b u y s i t s g ro u n d !

ONE of the smallest village clubs in the Somerset Cricket League can begin its season in style after a successful fundraising campaign to purchase its home ground.

Horrington Cricket Club members have raised £87,000 to secure Chapel Piece, at East Horrington near Wells, for future generations.

And legal covenants will ensure that the picturesque ground will remain a community open space even if the club – first founded in 1929 – should fold.

Horrington CC was revived in 1977 after the success of a Victorian-themed match to celebrate the Queen’s Silver Jubilee.

Last May, Horrington were given notice that their lease would not be extended beyond the season though the option to purchase the venue, where they have

Now they can call this home

played since 1981, for £85,000 was available.

The club then embarked on an urgent fundraising campaign and received invaluable associated advice and support from both the Somerset Cricket Board and the Somerset Playing Fields’ Association.

Grants included sums from Viridor Credits Environmental Company (£38,000), The Tony Coles Charitable Trust for the Development of Youth Cricket (£5,000), Playing Fields Legacy Fund (£4,500), St. Cuthbert Out Parish Council (£500) and anonymous donations totalling £25,000.

Just as importantly, local residents and supporters rallied round, raising £16,000. A coffee morning held on Saturday, April 1st to celebrate the success of the appeal raised a further £572.

Kevin Russell, honorary secretary, said: “Saturday 1st April, 2017 will always be remembered as the greatest day in the history of Horrington Cricket Club and also for the village and surrounds which now has a community asset in perpetuity.

“The club would like to offer sincere thanks to everyone, including the various charities and organisations who made this possible together with numerous

(l:r) Nelson Russell, Pat Russell, Kevin Russell, Margaret Chappell and Tom Beasley pictured at the coffee morning. Club chairman Ted Chappell, who was also instrumental in the campaign, was unable to attend the celebrations due to illness PAGE 96 • MENDIP TIMES • MAY 2017

Horrington’s ground will remain a community space

companies providing separate ongoing sponsorship.”

Vice president Tom Beasley added: “With the security that owning our own playing field brings we can now look to the development of the club, in particular youth cricket, and also to capitalise on the many sponsorship offers we have had from local businesses in order to improve our facilities further.” ● A village party will be held at the ground on Sunday, September 3rd when an honours board thanking donors will be unveiled. The appeal will remain open until the end of June, with any further funds invested in the future development of the club.

The pavilion verandah

Applause from guests at the coffee morning when the success of the appeal was announced

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Golfers swing into action for local Samaritans

TEAMS are being encouraged to sign up for a charity golf tournament which will be held in June in aid of the local branch of the Samaritans.

The competition, on Friday, June 30th at the Isle of Wedmore club, will be a four-ball Bowmaker format, with all players competing for a number of prizes. Individuals and companies are being invited to sponsor a hole on the day, which will raise funds for the Weston-super-Mare and North Somerset Samaritans branch.

Joe, branch director, said: “Without the incredible generosity of the general public we wouldn’t be able to provide the 24/7 telephone service for those in distress and despair that we help. We rely on donations from the public and fundraising events such as the golf day to keep our centre in the High Street open.” ● The maximum handicap for men is 28 and 36 for ladies.

To enter a team or for more details, contact organisers Holly Cole on 01934 713392; Andrew Midgley (01934 712642) or Shirley Turner (01934 713214) or alternatively email: hollyrcole@gmail.com

Swimming against the tide

A MAN from Glastonbury diagnosed with autism and learning difficulties has raised more than £200 for charity by completing a sponsored swim.

Glenn AdeMartins completed 64 lengths of the pool at Wells Leisure Centre – the equivalent of one mile – after being inspired by Red Nose Day. Glenn had to swim against the current caused by the rapids in the pool.

Glenn chose Glenn outside Wells Leisure Centre – he raised to raise money £220 for the Shaw Trust for the Shaw Trust charity and has been supported in his fundraising activities by Bradbury Outreach Services who provide his care.

He said: “I’m so happy! I did it! All of my staff helped me, thank you to everyone from Bradbury Outreach for shouting and cheering! And thanks to Eilidh from The Shaw Trust!”

SPORT

Tennis coaching for kids

Wells coach Kevin Durney (left) at a briefing for the Tennis for Kids campaign with Leon Smith, captain of Team GB

WELLS Tennis Club is offering free coaching to youngsters as part of a campaign to encourage them to take up the sport.

The club is planning to run a course in the summer aimed at children aged five to eight years old. It is part of the Lawn Tennis Association’s Tennis for Kids campaign. All participants receive a free racquet at the end of the course.

Club coach Kevin Durney said: “There is plenty for children and teens to get involved with at Wells Tennis Club this year with a repeat of grade 4 level tournaments and a chance to take part in the Road to Wimbledon competition.”

The club has been awarded Tennismark+ best practice standard and Kevin named Coach of the Year for Somerset by the LTA. For details, visit: www.wellstc.co.uk

Football kit for village school

THE children of Mells First C of E School are pictured wearing a brand new football kit sponsored by ADI Process Pipework Ltd, based in the village.

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Everyone for tennis?

AN informal tennis coaching session has been held at Chilcompton Sports Ground to encourage more people to make use of its three tennis courts.

The free event was organised by coach and tennis enthusiast Simon Brand, of Holcombe, who hopes it might lead to people wanting to start a club or, at very least, running some sessions on their own.

The floodlit hard courts are free-of-charge to use by villagers, but are currently underused. Simon, a Lawn Tennis Association Level 3 coach who takes sessions at Downside School as well as coaching privately, said: “I am passionate about tennis and the aim of today has been to try to encourage people to try the game for the first time or perhaps take it up again.”

Simon added: “If people want to run with this and get together to organise some matches or just regular knockarounds, then I would consider this a success.

“If I’m asked, I’d be happy to run some coaching sessions or they might want to get in another coach – whether this leads to something is up to local people to decide.”

Simon (far right) with Toby, Rebecca and Tony with a ball machine brought in for the session

Tony is keen to play tennis again aged 74, after operations on both knees

Coach Simon Brand

12-year-old Toby soon has his eye in

The courts are available for everyone to use

Rebecca, aged 15, tries her hand

For details about the courts, visit: www.chilcomptonsports.com – Simon can be reached at: simonbrand9@gmail.com

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Pavilion makeover for Batcombe CC

The new-look pavilion

IT hasn’t been so much the sound of leather on willow as hammers on nails as members and supporters of Batcombe Cricket Club gave their “pavilion” a much-needed makeover.

A portable building donated by a local firm has been Batcombe CC’s changing room, kitchen and storage space since the club was relaunched three years ago on its original pre-Second World War ground – surely one of the most picturesque in Somerset.

The pavilion now sports smart timber cladding and a verandah as the club prepares to welcome Litton CC, supporters and guests to a barbecue before their first home game of the season on Sunday, May 21st to celebrate the completion of the work.

Batcombe CC play around 20, Howzat? Cricket is played 40-over friendly games a season in a glorious setting – usually on a Sunday but sometimes midweek. They welcome new players – both Evercreech CC and Bruton CC have folded – and the ground – with five strips – is available for hire.

Club chairman Kav Javvi said: “It’s been a real community effort and we wanted to thank everyone for their support by inviting them to our first game at home.

“Companies and individuals such as Justin Witcombe, Bateman’s, the Tyre Shed and Riley’s Cranes – along with the Christofoli family who rent us the ground for a nominal charge – have been fantastic.” ● The barbecue is due to start around 1pm with the game beginning at 2pm. To find out more about the club, find them on Facebook.

SPORT

Bishop’s move

THE croquet season kicks off at the Bishop’s Palace, in Wells, on Wednesday, May 3rd, when Bishop Peter Hancock, president of the Palace Croquet Club, will tee off at 2pm.

It is one of the finest settings of any croquet club in the world, with the backdrop of the stunning medieval palace, surrounded by beautiful gardens.

The club is a regular fixture from springtime until autumn every year and the sight of a typically British croquet match on the palace croquet lawn is particularly appreciated by visitors to the palace, both national and international.

According to the club president, Guy Arnoux, Bishop Peter is a dab hand at the game! Games are played on Wednesday and Friday afternoons and the club is always open to new members.

Details: www.bishopspalace.org.uk

Bowls season underway

THE outdoor bowls season has begun and Prattens Bowls Club at Westfield says it would welcome new members.

The club – on the opposite side of the car park to Prattens Westfield Sports and Social Club – welcomes male and female players of all ages. The season runs until mid-September.

Matches for ladies are played mainly in the afternoons; for men, mainly evenings and Saturday afternoons; mixed matches are mainly on Sunday afternoons and some evenings.

Coaching for new players can be arranged and bowls can be borrowed. Club nights are held on Mondays from 6pm.

The Pratten BC ladies team who last season reached the semi-finals of the Southey Trophy and the final of the Fear Plate, both held in Bristol The portable building when it first arrived

Contact Barrie or Pauline Dando on 01761 412705 for more information.

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SPORT

“Chips” batter Norton in rugby final

By Mark Adler

MIDSOMER Norton Rugby Club returned home empty handed from playing on the hallowed turf of The Rec in Bath after losing their Bath and District Combination Cup final 34-12 to Chippenham.

Norton fans were out in force hoping that a win would bring some comfort after a torrid league season which ended in relegation.

But despite two tries by Jamie Gimson, which briefly gave Norton the lead, Chippenham ended too strong for the cherry and whites.

Tension on the Norton bench at the start of the game

The teams contest a line-out in front of a large crowd

Norton chairman Neil Denning is interviewed before the game by Alan Trinder from Somer Valley FM

Dejection on Norton’s faces after the final whistle is blown Norton’s first try gave them hope

Norton after their defeat

PAGE 100 • MENDIP TIMES • MAY 2017

Chippenham lift the trophy

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WHAT’S ON

Kids’ Discovery Week at Haynes

IS your family ready to accept the Haynes Discovery Mission?

Working as a family of amateur detectives, your first task will be to work out what the contents are in one of the mysterious bags.

A museum volunteer will be alongside each bag and once you have identified the contents the volunteer will give you further information about it. They will then give you your “mission details”. Upon completing your mission you will need to report back to HQ with the information you have collected and you will then all receive your first mission reward.

In total there are ten exciting missions. Aimed at families, this is a fantastic chance to explore the museum and education centre, as well as getting hands on with some artefacts from our motoring past and present.

Details: www.himm.co.uk

Princes Road, Wells, BA5 1TD

FILM FESTIVAL 26th–30th April

NOW SHOWING: Starts Friday 28th April Starts Friday 5th May Starts Friday 12th May

EVENT CINEMA FOR MAY

Guardians Of The Galaxy Vol. 2 (cert tbc) The Zookeeper’s Wife (12A) Sense Of An Ending (15) • Their Finest (12A) The Promise (12A) • Alien: Covenant Thursday 11th May Obsession (15) NT 7pm Thursday 18th May Who’s Afraid Of Virginia Woolf? NT 7pm

● Book in person ● Online 24/7 @www.wellsfilmcentre.co.uk ● Over the ’phone: 01749 673195

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TOP folk artists from all four corners of the British Isles will descend on a Mendip village in July for the annual extravaganza of music and dance that is the Priddy Folk Festival.

Now in its 26th year, the festival – from Friday, July 7th to Sunday, July 9th – has a reputation for being one of the friendliest festivals in the country and its relaxed atmosphere belies some serious folk talent on show.

This year one of Ireland’s leading folk bands Flook will be topping the bill along with the popular return of Welsh band Mabon, led by the incredible Jamie Smith, who provided a storming close to the 2012 festival. There’s plenty of talent coming from north of the border too. Prodigious young awardwinning trio Talisk will be delivering a new take on traditional Scottish tunes, whilst the six-piece all-woman Scottish collective The Shee will be performing music from their acclaimed 10th anniversary album Continuum.

From England, the line-up is just as strong. Folk rebels Mawkin, BBC Radio 2 Folk Awards nominee Jim Causley and all-star trio Faustus are all on the bill. And there is a special appearance from Fake Thackray – aka John Watterson – whose amazing tribute to Jake Thackray relives the genius of one of Britain’s finest, and funniest songwriters.

For those whose musical influences are spread a little further, Mr T and the Minions will be on hand for some folk-ska-dub

WHAT’S ON

Flook, from Ireland, will be one of the headliners

mash-ups, Medicine Creek will be performing some foot-tapping vintage country while Ushti Baba will deliver some irresistible Gypsy/Balkan rhythm .

As ever, there’s a full programme reflecting all aspects of British folk dance. Top of the bill will be the National Youth Folklore Troupe of England who will be performing throughout the festival. There’s a full programme of children’s events including plenty of fun, hands-on activities to keep the young ones captivated. Youth is also on the agenda with a special performance by pupils at The Blue School in Wells who will be playing as part of the festival-funded Priddy Rising Project.

There’s also great food from around the world, a craft fair, a music fringe festival featuring some of the best local acts.

Weekend camping and non-camping tickets are available. Tickets for children aged 11-16 are half price, and under 11s go free. For details and to buy tickets, visit www.priddyfolk.org

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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.

M e n d i p

Tuesday April 25th – Saturday April 29th Broadlands Academy, Keynsham Light Opera Group (KLOG) present Dolly Parton’s Smash Hit Musical Comedy ‘9 to 5’ The Musical, tickets £10, £8, £5. Details: Box Office 07580 259757, email klogs@hotmail.co.uk or book online at www.klogs.co.uk Tuesday April 25th NADFAS lecture Art of the Magical Cave Churches of Cappadocia, Caryford Hall, Castle Cary, BA7 7JJ, 10.30, free parking, £6. Details: 01963 350 132.

Congresbury Over-60s Club, Chris Cudlipp will give a talk on Colour in the Garden, Congresbury War Memorial Hall, 2.30-4pm. Details: 01934 832004.

Wednesday April 26th Backwell and Nailsea Macular Support, Backwell W.I. Hall, Terry Merritt-Smith will present "It's Almost Like Being in Love", 1.30pm. Details: Sheila, 01275 462107.

Thursday April 27th Sandford Station Railway Heritage Centre agm and talk Steaming Along the Strawberry Line and historic stations of Wells with film maker Andrew Linham, 7.30pm, Community Centre, Winscombe, free entry, all welcome.

Friday April 28th – Sunday May 7th North Somerset Arts Week – see page 32.

Friday April 28th Fashion Show at Clare Hall Nursing Home, Ston Easton, organised by M&Co, Wells, 7pm, tickets £10 inc buffet. Details: 01761 241626.

Saturday April 29th – Monday May 1st Cheddar Arts Fringe Festival, walking trail around the village, with the chance to see 27 artists and crafts people.

Saturday April 29th Bishop’s Palace, Wells, Aardman Studio workshops, make a Morph, supporting Wells Film Festival, 1pm, 2.30pm, 4pm, tickets £7.50, children must be accompanied by a paying adult, from the palace shop or Wells Film Centre.

All Saints’ Church, Weston-super-Mare, From Vienna to Rome, choral music by Mozart, Constanzi and Bolis, performed by Harmonia Sacra and conducted by Peter Leech, 7.30pm, tickets on the door £12, concessions £10.

Mendip Society walk, Compton Dando to Chelwood, 2pm, meet at Compton Dando Village Hall (BS39 4JZ) ST 647 647, please park considerately on the adjoining road, a moderate walk of about five miles to Chelwood, returning via Lords Wood hopefully to see some bluebells. Details: Roger 01225 872777.

Trinity Singers 9th annual plant and cake sale, St Mary’s, Langford, £1 inc tea,coffee, biscuit, children free, various stalls, 10am-12.30pm. Details: www.trinitysingers.co.uk Churchill Music! Cadran Trio Ruth Harrison (flute), former Churchill Young Musician of the Year, Sophie Haynes (cello), Edward Liddall (piano), formed at the Guildhall School of Music, 7.30pm, St John's Church, Church Lane, Churchill BS25 5QW, Champions of Churchill Music! £12, non-champions £16, under-18s £4. Tickets available from: https://www.wegottickets.com/event/385503 or Ursula Dornton 01934 852919 or take pot luck at the door.

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T i m e s

Sunday April 30th Festival of Dogs, Collett Park, Shepton Mallet, 10.30am-4.30pm, free event for all the family in aid of Happy Landings animal rescue centre and the Forever Hounds Trust, with agility rings, fun dogs show, talks and stalls.

Monday May 1st North Somerset Show, Wraxall. Details www.nsas.org.uk 08456 342464.

Congresbury Memorial Hall Club, friendship evening with a game of bingo, non-members welcome, 8pm at Congresbury War Memorial Hall.

Wednesday May 3rd Mendip Society special interest visit to Downside Abbey, meet 9.50am at the visitor centre, Abbey Road, Stratton-on-the-Fosse BA3 4RH, limited parking, £16pp inc buffet lunch, followed by 4/5mile walk of the area, 1.10pm from village hall car park. Details: Kathy 01761 479110.

Thursday May 4th Bristol Male Voice Choir will host a joint concert with Melbourne Welsh Male Choir, St Bonaventure’s Church, Bishopston, Bristol BS7 8HP, 7.30pm, tickets £10 on the door or from 0117 94243788.

West Mendip Walkers strenuous circular walk 16km from Exford car park, OS Map ExOL9 SS854384, start 10am. Details: Tony Strange 01934 733783 or anthonyestrange@gmail.com Bishop’s Palace, Wells, start of four-week goldwork courses for beginners and intermediates, £60pp.

Details: www.bishopspalace.org.uk 01749 988111.

Friday May 5th Redhill Village Club open mic night hosted by Jerry Blythe, unwind with an evening of live music, with acoustic singer-songwriters at their very best, 8pm. Details: 07900 587646.

Saturday May 6th May Fair on the Green Winscombe Old Station Millennium Green, on the Strawberry Line, centre of Winscombe BS25 1AQ, community fair, maypole dancing, circus skills workshop, Avon Owls, stalls/attractions, free admission, all welcome, 1.45pm.

Mendip Society walk Shapwick Heath Nature Reserve, meet at 2pm at the Avalon Marshes Centre, Shapwick Road, Westhay (BA6 9TT) ST 425 414, easy 4/5-mile walk which includes the Shapwick Heath Nature Reserve. Details: Roger 0117 962 0541.

All Saints’ Church, Weston-super-Mare Mendip Recorder Consort directed by Joyce Rudall, ‘Our favourites from the last 10 years’, tickets £8 on the door, to include a free light lunch and glass of wine, 12noon-1pm.

Plant sale and open garden in aid of Somerset Wildlife Trust, Rookery House, The Causeway, Mark TA9 4QH, 10.30am-1pm, plants, cakes, exhibitions and activities for children, easy parking, £2 inc. tea and coffee.

Saturday May 6th – Tuesday May 30th Bishop’s Palace, Wells, Snapshots in Time historical exhibition, 10am-4/6pm. Details: www.bishopspalace.org.uk 01749 988111.

Sunday May 7th Meningitis Now nearly new sale, Ubley Village Hall, The Street, Ubley, BS40 6PN, 2pm-3pm, to include good quality baby and children’s clothes, equipment and toys, refreshments. Details: Kate 01761 221444 or Sarah 01761 220063.

Tuesday May 9th Mendip Decorative and Fine Arts Society the Historical use of Wallpapers in the British Interior, 1685 until Today, talk by Mrs Diana Lloyd, Bath & West Bar & Restaurant, B & W show ground,

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Shepton Mallet BA4 6QN at 11am, guests welcome.

Details www.mdfas.org.uk 01934 862435.

Congresbury Over-60’s Club, entertainment will be provided by Mike and his Music, Congresbury War Memorial Hall, 2.30-4pm. Details: 01934 832004.

Clevedon Arts Club presentation by Two Rivers, hand-made paper for artists, Clevedon School sixth form centre, 7.30pm.

Tuesday May 9th and Tuesday May 23rd Shipham Mah-Jong Group, 7.30pm – 10.30pm, Wilcox Cider, Broadcroft Farm, Shipham, BS25 1UF, second and fourth Tuesday of every month, all welcome. Details: Mark Trenchard 01934 842564 or mark.trenchard53@gmail.com Wednesday May 10th Wells Civic Society Singing Stones – Dr Julia Wood, City Archivist, and Jerry Sampson, author and buildings archaeologist share their knowledge and passion for the iconic buildings of Wells, Wells and Mendip Museum 7.30pm.

Thursday May 11th Friends of St. John’s Keynsham relaunched to raise funds to help with the continued maintenance of our 750 year old building, wine, cheese with historical presentations and displays.

Made in Somerset, White Hart Inn, Somerton, 10am-3pm, artisan shopping event in aid of Etatu, which supports education in a community in Kenya, over 20 stalls plus exhibition at ACEarts opposite.

Details Jacquie Lindgren on 07775 997227 or jacquie@etatu.org.uk West Mendip Walkers leisurely circular walk 7.5km from Compton Dando village, OS Map Ex155 ST646645, start 1.30pm. Details: Jenny Nicholas 01934 853639 or jennymr7@aol.com Somerset Day, celebrating all that is best about the county. See page 71.

Saturday May 13th Somerset Singers, St Cuthbert’s Church, Wells perform the “Magnificat and The Sprig of Thyme”

by John Rutter and “Regina Coeli” by Amadeus Mozart, 7.30pm, conducted by new musical director Edward Goater with the Lochrian Ensemble (leader Catherine Black) and soloist Cheryl Rosevear (soprano), tickets £12 available in advance from Wells Tourist Information Centre or £14 on the door.

Details: 01934 843727 www.somersetsingers.co.uk Concert Rowberrow Church, music and readings with Old Somerset Russets Village Band, tickets £5 including tea and cake to support the village church, 3pm. Details: 01934 844683.

Winscombe RNLI annual plant and garden jumble sale, Winscombe Community Centre, Sandford Road, 10am-12noon, vast selection of plants, gardening books, tools etc, refreshments and raffle, all donations for the sale gratefully accepted.

Details: 01934 842304 or e-mail meejlfh@gmail.com Mendip Society walk around Priddy, 4.5 miles, meet 2pm outside the New Inn BA5 3BB ST527 509. Details: Jo 01749 870813.

Plant Sale at Jubilee Hall, Ditcheat, 10am – 12noon, refreshments available. Details 01749 344219.

Table Top Sale, East Pennard Village Hall, BA4 6TU, 10am – 2pm, free entry, bric-a-brac, books, cakes and refreshments, in aid of village funds.

Details: 01749 860 347.

Congresbury Book Sale, War Memorial Hall, good quality books, jigsaw puzzles, dvds, cds and talking books, 9am-1pm.

Monday May 15th Congresbury Memorial Hall Club, friendship evening with a game of bingo, non-members

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welcome, 8pm at Congresbury War Memorial Hall.

Tuesday May 16th NADFAS lecture Decadence of Dreams – Jewellery from around 1900, Caryford Hall, Castle Cary, BA7 7JJ, 11am, free parking, £6. Details: 01963 350132.

Midsomer Norton Townswomen's Guild meeting with a talk on Fraud Management by Tina Manley, TSB, ploughman's and crumble lunch, 1.30 pm, St John's Town Hall, BA3 2HX. Details: 01761 413528.

Wednesday May 17th Henton and District Gardening Club, Henton Village Hall, BA5 1PD, 7.30pm, The Development of the Bishop’s Palace Garden 2014 to 2017, James Cross will talk on this popular visitors’ venue, visitors welcome, raffle and refreshments available.

Cheddar Library talk arranged by The Friends of Cheddar Library with local author Damien Boyd, who writes thrillers set in Cheddar and Burnham, 7pm, free but as numbers are limited please book either in the library or call Libraries Direct 0300 123 2224.

Mendip Gardening Club, Ston Easton Village Hall, BA3 4DA, 7.30pm, a talk entitled ‘A New Garden in the 21st Century’ by Nicholas Wray, curator of the University of Bristol Botanic Gardens.

Thursday May 18th Inner Wheel Club of Wells, Summer Serenade charity concert, with The Smithy Singers, Flue Allsorts and students of the South West Music School, 7.30pm, Wells and Mendip Museum, in aid of the Lawrence Centre and Life Education Wessex, £10. Details: 01761 233982.

West Mendip Walkers strenuous circular walk 14.4km from Croscombe Village Hall, OS Map Ex141 ST588445, start 10am. Details: Vi Howley 07711 662993 or vihowley@btinternet.com Redhill Village Club classic car and motorcycle BBQ meet from 7pm, all enthusiasts are welcome to park up for a chat and meet like-minded people, Recreation Field (BS40 5SG). Details: 01934 862619.

Saturday May 20th Blagdon Church and Village Fete, 1pm – 4.30pm, in the garden of Blagdon Court, Station Road, Blagdon BS40 7RN, all welcome, entry £1, if wet, the fete will be held at St Andrew’s Church, Blagdon.

Banwell Royal British Legion present The RAFA Concert Band, St Andrew’s Church, Banwell,7pm for 7.30pm, tickets £7 from 01934 823842 or 01934 253842.

Somerset Plant Heritage Spring Plant Fair at Smallway Leisure, (formerly Castacrete Centre) next to Wyevale, Congresbury, BS49 5AA, 10am-3pm, free admission, specialist nurseries, nearby refreshments. Details: 01934 750895.

Mendip Society special interest visit to the Mendip Hospital cemetery and nature reserve, a visit to the grounds and chapel followed by a three-mile walk, meet 2pm, Hooper Avenue, Wells BA5 5NA ST 561 459. Details: Judith 01275 874284.

Chew Magna Society duck race, next to village primary school fete, business race 1pm, main race 1.30pm.

Monday May 22nd The Wessex Stationary Engine Club presents a talk "The traditional English long bow, how it was made, its use in warfare, hunting and relaxation” by Hugh D Sore, 7.30pm at the Old Down Inn, Emborough BS3 4SA, all welcome, free entry.

Details: 01225 754374.

Tuesday May 23rd Open Evening for the SPA Singles Social Group,

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from 8pm at Tramways Social Club, West Street, Wells, BA5 2HN, free car park next to club, come and meet us and have a chat, we are a friendly group of people over 40 years old who enjoy organised events. Details: Jackie 01458 840958 or Anne 01934 743139.

Congresbury Over-60s Club, Elizabeth and Jack Griffiths will give a talk entitled ‘Our Yacht Pudica and her travels to the Med’, Congresbury War Memorial Hall, 2.30-4pm. Details: 01934 832004.

Thursday May 25th West Mendip Walkers leisurely circular walk 11.3km from Clifton Suspension Bridge, OS Map 154 ST565732, start 1pm. Details: Tony Strange Tel 01934 733783 or anthonyestrange@gmail.com Friday, May 26th Rex the King. Presented by the Wassail Theatre Company. The story of a Somerset darts champion who ruled the world, but lost it all – a theatrical tale that’s witty, uplifting and ludicrously tragic. 7.30pm.

The Theatre Shop, Clevedon. For ticket details, visit: wassailtheatre.co.uk/rex-the-king Saturday May 27th Mendip Society walk, East Harptree, meet in the car park in East Harptree Woods, Smithams Hill, East Harptree (BS40 6DA) ST 558 541. Details: Clive 01275 848052.

Taize and Teas, St Michael’s Church, Tower Hill, Stoke St Michael, BA3 5GT, either enjoy singing wonderful chants from Taize’ or just sit, relax and listen in our peaceful church, teas, coffee and biscuits provided, no charge but donations to the church funds are always welcome, 4pm. Details: Janet 01749 840409.

Sunday May 28th The Exeter Recorder Orchestra presents a concert at St Cuthbert’s Church, Wells, BA5 2AW, 3pm, conducted by Andrew Collis, including music by Holst, Mozart & Bach with guest soloist David Heyes, double bass, admission, adults £8, students £3, under 11s free. Details: Rachael Shearmur 01626 890617 or rachaelshearmur@gmail.com.

Monday May 29th Bishop’s Palace, Wells, Nature’s Ninjas, activities in the palace gardens. Details: www.bishopspalace.org.uk 01749 988111.

Congresbury Book Sale, War Memorial Hall, good quality books, jigsaw puzzles, dvds, cds and talking books, 9am – 1pm.

Wednesday May 31st – Saturday June 3rd Royal Bath and West Show – see page 12.

Wednesday May 31st Mendip Society talk on the restoration of historical wildlife ponds on Mendip, with Trevor Beebee of the Reptile and Amphibian Group for Somerset, 2.30pm, Wells and Mendip Museum. Details: Richard Frost 01275 472797.

Backwell and Nailsea Macular Support talk on the work of REMAP, Backwell WI hall, 1.30pm.

Details: Sheila, 01275 462107.

Friday, June 2nd Redhill Village Club Open Mic Night from 8pm – hosted by Jerry Blythe, starting at 8pm, join us and unwind with an evening of live music, acoustic

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singer-songwriters at their very best. Details: Jerry on 07900 587646.

Charity film evening in aid of Youth With A Future.

Wonder Woman (cert 12A) at Wells Film Centre.

Tickets £12.50 inc. glass of wine or soft drink.

Doors 6.30pm for 7.30pm start. Come along dressed as your favourite superhero. To reserve a ticket, like the YWAF Somerset Facebook page and private message them, or email them through www.ywaf.org.uk or buy tickets at Wells Film Centre.

Saturday June 3rd Mendip Society walk, Sladers Leigh and Wavering Down, meet at 2pm behind the Woodborough Inn BS25 1HD ST421 576. Details: John 01934 842868.

Saturday June 10th Mendip Society special interest wildflower walk, at Somerset Wildlife Trust’s Chancellors Farm reserve, Priddy BA5 3DA ST525 525, 2pm, numbers limited to 25. Details: Gill 01934 742508.

Tuesday June 13th Mendip Decorative and Fine Arts Society, Sunflowers and Lumiere – the Art of Vincent van Gogh, talk after the AGM, 10am, by the Rt Revd Christopher Herbert, Bath & West Bar & Restaurant, B & W Show Ground, Shepton Mallet BA4 6QN, 11am, guests welcome. Details www.mdfas.org.uk 01934 862435.

Thursday June 15th Redhill Village Club classic car and motorcycle BBQ Meet from 7pm, all enthusiasts are welcome to park up for a chat and meet like-minded people, held on the Recreation Field (BS40 5SG). Details: 01934 862619.

Friday June 16th Chew Valley RNLI summer event, Chew Valley Lake Sailing Club, with the Frampton Footwarmers, a Dixieland Jazz Band. Details: Keith Williams 01275 332221 keith.williams617@btinternet.com Saturday June 17th Mendip Society walk around Star, Winscombe, meet 2pm at Apple Acre, down the lane by the side of the Star Inn BS25 1QF. Details: Mary 01934 843789.

Tuesday June 20th NADFAS lecture, Undressing Antiques, Caryford Hall, Castle Cary, BA7 7JJ, 11am, free parking, £6.

Details: 01963 350 132.

Monday June 26th The Wessex Stationary Engine Club, presents a talk "Two penneth of poison – the history of poisoning of a Bristol family” by Penny Deverill, 7.30pm at the Old Down Inn, Emborough, BS3 4SA, all welcome, free entry. Details 01225 754374.

MENDIP MINDBENDER ANSWERS FOR MAY Across: 4 Show, 7 Sparkford, 10 Battleborough, 12 Ashcott, 14 West, 15 Ore, 16 Line, 17 Pump, 19 Oak, 20 Upton, 23 Sand, 27 Edwin, 28 Elm, 29 Down, 30 Strawberry.

Down: 1 Ash, 2 Gala, 3 Somerton, 5 Wright, 6 Hot, 8 Drop, 9 More, 10 Blagdon, 11 Fuzz, 13 Tree, 18 Pensford, 21 Priddy, 22 Abbas, 24 Arena, 25 Edgar, 26 Pink.

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Summer theatre at Bishop’s Palace

WHAT’S ON

THIS summer, combine a love of theatre with a love of the outdoors with the fantastic new season of performances on offer at The Bishop’s Palace in Wells.

This year, there are five new productions over seven different summer dates. The season begins on Sunday June 18th at 6.30pm with the well-loved children’s classic Peter Pan, brought to you by Chapterhouse Theatre Company.

On June 29th and 30th and July 2nd the recently formed Wells Theatre Company is bringing a brand new production of Shakespeare’s Hamlet to the gardens of the palace.

The palace is delighted to be welcoming back firm favourites The Lord Chamberlain’s Men on Sunday July 30th with Shakespeare’s A Comedy of Errors.

Then there’s a return to family theatre on Friday August 11th, with Boxtree Productions’ beautiful rendition of The Wind in the Willows.

The final production in the season is another Shakespeare performance, but it certainly won’t be a traditional one. The Pantaloons are known for their wonderful, wacky and humorous interpretations of classic shows and will be lending their wild ways to A Midsummer Night’s Dream on August 30th.

All these productions will take place in the open air and will continue regardless of the weather. Audiences are invited to bring rugs or low-backed seating and may bring picnics. The palace BBQ and bar will also be available each night.

Details: www.bishopspalace.org.uk or telephone 01749 988 111.

Shakespeare needs you!

ALL the world is a stage, but what part will you play in an exciting adaptation of Richard III taking place at Glastonbury Abbey on Saturday, May 13th?

Pushing the boundaries of Shakespearean performance, Brite Theatre has re-imagined Richard III as a bold and engaging onewoman show with the audience taking on the other roles. Tickets are on sale now for this award-winning show, along with other theatre productions being staged at the abbey this summer.

Meanwhile, the abbey ruins have provided an exciting starting point for an exhibition of ceramics by two Somerset potters, on display at Glastonbury Abbey this summer. The Past in the Present exhibition will feature the work of Elizabeth Raeburn and Rodney Lawrence, well known for their beautifully crafted pottery that has been widely exhibited across the world.

This exhibition brings the people and landscape of the abbey to life, whether in the imagined past or the real present. The artists have drawn inspiration from the abbey’s past visitors, pilgrims and residents, in addition to many aspects of the abbey today including carvings and gargoyles, utensils in the Abbot’s kitchen, ponds, orchard, trees and herb garden. ● The Past in the Present exhibition will be on display at Glastonbury Abbey from 27th May until 24th September and is free to view with normal admission.

For details visit: www.glastonburyabbey.com

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