Mendiptimes Volume 11 - Issue 6

Mendip Times

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VOLUME 11 ISSUE 6

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FREE

Celebrating life on the Mendips and surrounding areas

NOVEMBER 2015

IN T H I S I S S U E : • MENDIP PREPARES FOR CHRISTMAS • AN AUTUMN WALK I N W E LL O W • FOOD & DRINK • WHAT’S ON • SPORT

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

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MENDIP TIMES

CONTENTS

Welcome

THE sun shone on this year’s Mendip Ploughing Match with big crowds turning it into a real celebration of the countryside.

That seems to have been a theme this month, with festivals celebrating local food and drink, the arts, as well as our countryside itself.

In Paulton crowds turned out to pay tribute to First World War VC hero Oliver Brooks. In Pilton there was a party to celebrate Michael Eavis’s 80th birthday.

Wells Rugby Club has been celebrating a top award and cavers from all over the country descended on Churchill for a celebration of Mendip’s caves.

We also see how Mendip is getting ready to celebrate Christmas.

We’ve pages devoted to the tireless work of local charities, while Dr Phil Hammond writes about an inspirational blind explorer. We also have pages of What’s On and food and drink ideas.

Sue Gearing’s walk this month follows the Wellow Brook and in Gardening, Mary Payne offers advice on how to brighten up the winter garden.

With all of our usual features and contributors, including Rachel Thompson our new riding expert, we now have the carnival season to look forward to.

December 2015 deadline: Friday, 13th November 2015.

Published: Tuesday, 24th November 2015.

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: Tasty treats at Wells Food Festival. See page 16.

Photograph by Mark Adler.

16

Cheers – raising a glass to local food and drink

74

A hero remembered – Paulton’s tribute to Oliver

Stir crazy – a night in the cells for charity

90

108

On the map – runners take up Mells challenge

Plus all our regular features Environment...................................6 Farming Mary James MBE..........10 Food & Drink...............................14 Arts & Antiques ...........................30 Business ........................................36 Internet and Crossword..............40 Education......................................46 Wildlife Chris Sperring MBE .......57 Walking Sue Gearing....................58 Outdoors Les Davies MBE ..........60

Gardening Mary Payne MBE ......62 Property........................................68 Health Dr Phil Hammond.............79 Charities .......................................86 Homes and Interiors....................94 Caving Phil Hendy........................99 Music...........................................102 Riding Rachel Thompson MBE ..103 Sport............................................106 What’s On...................................110 MENDIP TIMES • NOVEMBER 2015 • PAGE 3

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Christmas Craft & Food Fayr e 12th

Give an English willow basket this Christmas

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MENDIP TIMES

Show raffle presentation

Mid-Somerset Agricultural Society president Bob Cork presents cheques to Sheila Bays (left), from Shepton Mallet United Charities, and Lorraine Pratten, from Shepton Mallet TIC

PROCEEDS from a raffle held during this year’s MidSomerset Show have been presented to two organisations based in Shepton Mallet.

Shepton Mallet United Charities and Shepton Mallet Tourist Information Centre each received £500. The presentations were made at a post-show round-up meeting of the Mid-Somerset Agricultural Society where long service awards were made to former show president Paul Barber and well-known Mendip farmer Pat Keen.

Past president Paul Barber receives a gift of a painting from Cathy Snook who nominated him for a long service award as this year’s president Bob Cork looks on

NEWS

Tourism boost for Mendips

AN event at Yeo Valley’s headquarters in Blagdon on November 17th is aimed at boosting tourism to the Mendip Hills.

Tourism businesses are being invited to learn more about what the area has to offer by Mendip Hills AONB service and Visit Somerset.

It’s estimated AONBs and national parks attract 260million visitors a year spending in excess of £6bn. Visitors help support vibrant rural communities and thousands of rural businesses.

Sarah Jackson, Mendip Hills AONB manager said: “The Mendip Hills is particularly well placed to benefit from the growth in active tourism created by trends in health consciousness and a desire for new experiences.

“The next generation of retired consumers are ‘younger’ and more active – making them a viable market for the Mendip Hills offering a range of activities – climbing, caving, walking, fishing, cycling, even snow sports.

“Younger people with less knowledge or experience of rural areas may not understand the opportunities that the countryside offers and so we need to ensure marketing of the offer is clear and targeted.”

Details: www.mendiphillsaonb.org.uk/aonb-events or call 01761 462338.

Last chance for comments on future of Wells “Rec”

A FINAL round of public consultation is to take place to help decide on the preferred scheme and location for a new play area at Wells Recreation Ground.

People will have the opportunity to comment and ask questions at a consultation event which will take place at the Bishop’s Barn next to the site from 1-4pm on Saturday, November 14th.

Proposed schemes will be on display detailing the size of the play area and the range of equipment, as well as the introduction of a new gym circuit. To help everyone gauge the size of the new play area, the footprint of the proposed schemes will be marked out on the recreation ground.

Comments from the consultation event will be considered by the Wells Recreation Ground Trust before a decision is made on the location and preferred scheme going forward. That decision will be made at the next trust meeting which takes place Tuesday, November 24th at 6.30pm in Wells Town Hall.

Kiyah is carnival princess

SIX-year-old Kiyah Carter, of Street, is this year’s winner of the annual Glastonbury Carnival Royalty Competition.

And she’ll be stepping into her sister’s shoes when she heads the procession on Saturday, November 21st - Kiyah succeeds her elder sister Aaliyah, now eight, who won the competition last year.

The competition encourages local children, with the support of their parents and guardians, to find ways of raising money towards the carnival’s charity appeal.

G See Castle Cary Carnival feature on page 100 Kiyah Carter seated amongst her attendants (l:r) Jessica Spencer (aged ten), Lilly-May Martin (eight) and Shannon Downie (15) who also took part in the competition

MENDIP TIMES • NOVEMBER 2015 • PAGE 5

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MENDIP TIMES

Birds fly into paradise!

Welcome to paradise: Kevin Anderson (far left) from the Avalon Marshes Project with residents

A RECENTLY-created community garden in Glastonbury hosted its first event with a little help from the Avalon Marshes Project when local residents got together to make nest boxes and feeders to attract more birds and bees to the site.

Paradise Community Gardens, situated on the Paradise Housing Estate, were the idea of resident and founding member Sally Morningstar who, for the last few months, has been tending some previously neglected areas to benefit butterflies, bees and other local wildlife.

She said: “It has been wonderful to watch the gardens grow as more people become interested in joining the project and with these new boxes and feeders, we should see many more species in the coming months.”

The Avalon Marshes Project is a partnership, supported by the Heritage Lottery Fund, made up of Somerset Wildlife Trust, Natural England, the RSPB, the South West Heritage Trust, the Hawk and Owl Trust, English Heritage and the Environment Agency. The partnership works with local people, stakeholders and communities to deliver projects and activities that boost and enhance the wildlife and cultural heritage in the Avalon Marshes.

Paradise Community Gardens is a Knightstone Housingsponsored project. Everyone is welcome to join either as a friend or a resident and membership is free.

Path repairs to protect Black Down

WORK is underway to repair a badly eroded path and prevent damage to valuable archaeology and heathland on Black Down.

The route approaching the Beacon Batch trig point, the highest point on the hills, is heavily eroded due to a combination of peaty soil, heavy rain and increased pressure from walkers, cyclists and horse riders.

This has resulted in the formation of an eroded gully that is now a metre deep in places and getting worse year on year. It is so deep the path sides are collapsing resulting in damage to World War II tumps, built as part of a decoy town, and a Bronze Age barrow.

The Mendip Hills AONB unit has secured grants of £56,000 from Historic England and Natural England who have both approved the path construction and erosion repair work to a 590 metre section of path.

The first stage of work is importing limestone using dumper trucks to fill the gully to bring it back up to the surrounding ground level and provide a solid base for the path. Stone is being delivered along existing tracks to avoid damaging the heathland; these routes will be levelled and returned to their original condition on completion of work.

Following this, the path will be top-dressed with sandstone to match the geology and character of the site. The AONB says the result will be a surface that will provide durable access for walkers, cyclists and horse riders while safeguarding the rich archaeology and wildlife of the site.

Details: www.mendiphillsaonb.org.uk

Dredging on the Levels

Cheyenne and Kal-El Mathivet making a nest box

For details, visit: www.paradisecommunity.wix.com/gardens

PAGE 6 • MENDIP TIMES • NOVEMBER 2015

A FRESH round of dredging on the River Parrett will begin in the New Year, after the board of the Somerset Rivers Authority agreed to target a stretch between Northmoor and the M5.

Following on from the dredging of 8km of the Parrett and Tone in 2014, the SRA has picked out and area between Northmoor pumping station and the motorway bridge for a £2.14m scheme to protect people and property and reduce the severity, extent and duration of future flooding.

Hydraulic modelling suggests this new dredging will cut peak water levels in Northmoor by up to 80mm and shorten flooding by up to five days.

The Somerset Drainage Boards Consortium, on behalf of the SRA, is also about to award a contract for maintenance dredging of 2.5km of the River Parrett, upstream of Northmoor pumping station, where a new regime of regular monitoring shows that most silt has built up.

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ENVIRONMENT

Golden start to geology festival

THE annual Mendip Rocks! Festival of Geology got off to a flying start with a day of hands-on family events at the Somerset Earth Science Centre at Stoke St Michael.

Let’s Rock offered a taster of the activities which were available throughout October as the festival celebrated Mendip’s fascinating geology.

Mendip Rocks! was organised by SESC, Mendip Hills AONB and Somerset Wildlife Trust.

Geology in a box: (l:r) Event organisers Adel Avery, Ruth Worsley and Gill Odolphie with samples of Mendip rock in a presentation box

After the gold rush: Lily and Sunny try their hand at panning for precious metals as geologist Steve Smith looks on. Steve, from Frome, has worked in many parts of Africa for the past 30 years

A tour of Wainwright’s Quarry was one of the activities on offer at the launch event

School to become wildlife haven for bees

LONGVERNAL Primary School in Midsomer Norton has become one of just 200 sites across the UK chosen to become a wildlife haven for bees.

The school joins the Bee World campaign launched

by Friends of the Earth to highlight the plight of bees in the UK and provide a wildflower haven for them to feed, safe from pesticides.

The school, which provides a Forest School themed education for its children, is going to create a 30-square metre space in a corner of their school field and transform it into a glorious wildflower area of long-lasting and beautiful flowers,

Unpredictable: this experiment aimed to show that no-one can predict accurately when a volcano will erupt

providing vital food for threatened local pollinating insects.

Headteacher, Kerrie Courtier, said: "The children will be preparing the site over the winter and will then plant the new wildflower meadow in early spring next year.

Each year the area will be managed by the children to ensure it maximises its attraction to local bees.”

In the past 60 years, a devastating 97 per cent of wildflower-rich meadows have been lost. As part of Friends of the Earth’s Bee Cause campaign, over 100 bee-friendly patches have already been created in towns and rural areas across the UK. MENDIP TIMES • NOVEMBER 2015 • PAGE 7

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MENDIP TIMES

Museum taking shape

M E N D I P

W E A T H E R

S C E N E

THE Somerset Rural Life Museum at Glastonbury – currently closed as part of a £2.3 million redevelopment – opened its doors to the public as part of the nationwide Heritage Open Days for “hard hat” tours.

Members of the project team were on site to answer questions, including South West Heritage Trust Project Manager Estelle Gilbert, architect Robert Battersby of Architecton and Russell Lillford, Chairman of the Somerset Building Preservation Trust.

The project is now ten months into the main building works which are due for completion at the end of December and the interior fitout will take place during 2016. The museum is due to reopen in early 2017.

An unusual local object was added to the Somerset Sam Astill, curator, and Emma Rural Life Museum collection Munn, project officer for the SW as part of the redevelopment Heritage Trust with (right): when Darrell and Heidi Hill, Darrell and Heidi Hill, owners of owners of The Somerset The Somerset Willow Company

ENVIRONMENT

Visitors are shown round the museum

Willow Company, presented the museum with a willow coffin.

The coffin is intended to be displayed in the museum’s new “Making” gallery. As part of the contemporary collecting process, the museum has sought opportunities to work in partnership with other organisations in the area including the East Brent Harvest Home.

Somerset Rural Life Museum is part of The South West Heritage Trust, a new independent charity committed to protecting and celebrating Somerset and Devon’s rich heritage.

From Russia with gloves – are we in for a harsh winter?

I READ in my paper yesterday that the first of the Bewick swans from Siberia have begun to arrive at the Wildfowl and Wetlands Trust reserve at Slimbridge.

These swans are not fools and they know when it is time to leave northern Russia to spend the winter here. with DAVID Siberia is a large landmass and, as MAINE such, cools down very quickly in the autumn by maybe 20 degrees Celsius or more in a couple of weeks and this is why they come here for the winter, our climate being a lot more kind and temperate, as most of our weather comes from the west or southwest from the Atlantic – a warm direction.

By all accounts this is the earliest a Bewick has arrived at Slimbridge since monitoring of Bewicks began in 1963 and a lot of people are going to make a meal out of this and predict a harsh winter to come.

WWT’s Julia Newth said: “Apparently there’s a Russian saying ‘the swan brings snow on its bill’, because they tend to move just ahead of the cold weather. Of course, we can’t infer much from the arrival of a single swan but it’s certainly exciting this bird has arrived so early.

“It’s only a year old and, because it’s made it all the way here on its own, we assume that it must have come to Slimbridge last year as a cygnet with its parents. We record all the Bewick’s swans that come to Slimbridge each winter by their unique bill pattern as part of our study and give them a name. This one needed a name, so we’ve called him Record Breaker.”

You’ll be reading the headlines from now on nearly every day in the press, hear it on radio and watch on TV. If they could have done, I’m sure they would have even sent a

PAGE 8 • MENDIP TIMES • NOVEMBER 2015

Highways chief Councillor David Fothergill with Somerset’s new gritters. Also pictured are Ian Harris and Steve Whitchurch, site agents for Skanska, the council’s highways contractor

reporter to Slimbridge to interview the swan!

We must remember that these swans began their journey some six to eight weeks ago, towards the end of August, before the land had begun to cool much so, if we are in for a long cold winter, then they know a lot more than any meteorologist can tell you at the moment!

Mind you, Somerset County Council’s highways team appear to be taking no chances. They’ve proudly announced that they are ready for winter with seven new gritters to keep roads safe when temperatures plummet. The council has a fleet of 23 gritters and a stockpile of 7,000 tonnes of salt at depots across Somerset, ready to treat around 900 miles of road every time ice is expected.

The public can see the Bewick’s swans at WWT Slimbridge where they are fed daily from November 1 to the end of February. They can also be seen via the webcam: www.wwt.org.uk/wetlandcentres/slimbridge/experience/webcam/

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01761 241387 www.pennyplant.com

We’ve had a period of celebration in our offices. Heather from our Shepton Mallet office had a big birthday recently and it gave us an excuse to go out for lunch.

We have a celebrity in our Shepton branch – Hannah Sumption (pictured) was interviewed by our local newspaper about living in Shepton Mallet. She is currently studying to become a Chartered Legal Executive and has recently achieved her Paralegal qualification in Conveyancing.

Four teams represented our firm at the annual Monaghan’s charity quiz in Glastonbury. A fun evening was had by all and the Weelen & Robinson team managed an impressive joint fourth place, out of many teams. ankfully, they managed full points on the “Legal” round and didn't embarrass us.

With so much going on at this time of year, it's easy to forget about the important matters like updating your will or having a Power of Attorney put in place. Don't delay or it may be too late. One is as important as the other but Power of Attorney is often misunderstood. ey enable your affairs to be looked after by another member of the family, a friend or a professional if you become too ill to do it so yourself. We are often told: “Oh, it doesn't matter now, if I become ill I'll do it then”. Unfortunately it doesn't always work that way, you may be too ill to deal with the situation then.

Get it done now; prepare for the worst and then it probably won’t happen. We’m proper morbid in’t we? Should've been undertakers.

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MENDIP TIMES

Cream of dairy cows on show

IT was a really great Dairy Show on October 3rd at the Royal Bath and West Showground, despite the parlous state that the industry is in. It was a place to chat to like-minded people, find answers to a veterinary problem or even negotiate a cheaper price for a product. All this coupled with some good With MARY refreshments.

JAMES MBE There is a young man in the choir I belong to who wanted to know what actually happened at the show. I guess there are many others who are not sure so here is my version of what it entails. It is a specialist show for dairy farmers, showcasing the very latest technology in milk production, animal health and welfare.

There are competitive classes for all dairy breeds, namely Ayrshire, Brown Swiss, Dairy Shorthorn, Guernsey, Holstein and Jersey. There were over 300 entries and it was the National English Guernsey Cattle Show as well, which was somewhat dampened by the fact that three breeders were unable to bring their cattle forward because of TB. Each breed has different classes to enter such as calves, heifers in milk (young cows), cows in milk and senior cows in milk.

There is a different judge for each breed who eventually selects a champion. The Guernsey champion was Bickfield Vennessa 7 and the reserve was Bickfield Phyllis 18 both from Mr and Mrs Maurice Durbin of Compton Martin.

As a finale to the show each breed champion enters the class

to select the supreme winner. The judging in this instance is done by the five breed judges who have cards numbered 1 to 10 which they can award to each breed (but not to their own breed).

This makes a great spectacle as five cows of exceptionally high standard parade around the ring and stand forward when each judge holds up their mark.

It is a highly charged atmosphere as the crowd tots up the marks and erupts when the winner is announced. This year a most superb Jersey cow from Jeff and Anthea Daw from Swindon was the winner. She actually won last year as well, which is exceptional. Royal Bath and West president Michael Eavis was delighted to present the trophy.

As well as livestock there were over 300 trade stands who offered such things as animal feed, bedding , feeders, eartags and machinery as well as advice from banks and accountants (you can’t do without those). There are many sponsors whose help has led to this show going from strength to strength and become a forum for the dairy industry in the region. There was a Speakers’ Corner where the troubles in the dairy industry were forcefully discussed.

I notice that Morrisons are now promoting their Farmers’ Milk so I do hope that those of you who go to Morrisons will help by buying it. Thank you. An accountancy firm in our part of the world is predicting that dairy farmers are facing very challenging times in the next year.

Farmers’ fears over milk prices

DAIRY farmers are preparing for an extended depression in the UK market, with an average forecast that milk prices will rise by just 2p/litre over the next year, according to a survey by farm accountant Old Mill.

It says 24% of its clients expect their average farm gate milk price to increase from its current six-year low of about 24p/litre to 26p/litre this time next year. About 36% expect it to remain between 23p and 25p/litre, with 40% predicting an increase to 27-29p/litre.

Mike Butler, chairman of the Old Mill board, said: “In a way it is a sign of optimism that only 2% of farmers expected prices to drop further. There is clearly a feeling that we have reached the bottom, and the mood at the Dairy Show was surprisingly upbeat, with a tremendous attendance despite the current downturn.

“However, with no sign of an immediate improvement in prices dairy farmers are understandably extremely concerned about their future in the industry,”

PAGE 10 • MENDIP TIMES • NOVEMBER 2015

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Shooting stars

FIRING a shotgun to break a clay may be on your “bucketlist” or you may be desperate to gain a top score in an Olympic discipline – Brook Bank shooting ground is the venue!

Brook Bank – formerly Cheddar Valley Gun Club – was established on the Rodney Stoke site in 1963, with limited, but popular, facilities. Over the years, club membership increased and competitions were well attended.

Moving on to today, Brook Bank (re-branded in 2006) has been operating from a luxury log cabin for the last nine years and has been owned and managed by the current owners for over 25 years. There’s no longer a membership scheme – everyone is welcome.

Wesley Hann, a trained gunsmith and qualified shooting instructor, enjoys seeing a beginner book up for a Shooting Experience session, then go on to apply for a shotgun certificate, buy their own gun and take part in regular competitions!

Millfield School in Street have been taking students for weekly training sessions at Brook Bank for over 17 years – including Olympic Gold Medal winner Peter Wilson.

If you book a Shooting Experience package for either 25, 35 or 50 shots, you will be shooting “simulated game” targets (clays) – which is generally known as “sporting”.

Sporting is fun because of the variety it offers – if you have skill and good co-ordination it helps.

If you would like to book a session for yourself or buy/order a voucher to give as a Christmas gift, phone or email via the Brook Bank website.

FARMING

Brook Bank welcomes beginners and experienced visitors to enjoy our extensive facilities

Beginners Clay Shooting Package (variety of targets) from £31pp Lessons available on Driven birds/clays by appointment Hull game cartridges for sale Open for practice 5 days a week Gunsmith on site – snack bar GIFT VOUCHERS AVAILABLE

Details: www.brookbankshooting.co.uk

YFC donation

Built in Britain for British Farmers Available now from your local dealer

UPHILL & SON LTD FARRINGTON Gurney YFC presented a cheque to the Forever Friends appeal for £1,500, with profits raised at the annual Fall Ball, with another donation going to Farrington Gurney Parish Council’s defibrillator appeal.

Details: Tom Green 0774 665597

Chewton Mendip 01761 241270 Main JCB agriculture distributors for Somerset, South Glos. and West Wilts.

MENDIP TIMES • NOVEMBER 2015 • PAGE 11

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MENDIP TIMES

Mixed emotions at dairy show

By Mark Adler

TEARS of joy and words of anger – the 2015 Dairy Show at Shepton Mallet was certainly full of passion, from farmers venting their fury over milk prices during The Great Milk Debate to the clear delight of winning owners, breeders and handlers.

But the one-day event at the Royal Bath and West showground was also a chance for the dairy farming community to come together to meet buyers, producers and suppliers.

On the eve of the show, 400 guests attended the Dairy Industry Dinner, sponsored by seven family-run dairy

Preparing to pose – photographer Lucinda Morgan’s team persuade a prizewinning animal to look her finest

businesses from across the West Country, including Yeo Valley, Barbers and Lye Cross Farm, during which Nicholas Saphir, chief executive of

Andrew Vickery, from Old Mill, presents the award for the Interbreed Pairs Championship to Rebecca Jarvis, with Churchroyd Gentle, and James Young with Churchroyd Heather

Fabulous – Anthea Daw’s face says it all after her Jersey cow Jubilee Excitation Ceres is named supreme champion PAGE 12 • MENDIP TIMES • NOVEMBER 2015

OMSCo (Organic Milk Suppliers Cooperative) was named the winner of the annual Dairy Industry Award.

First and second year agricultural students from Bridgwater College

Kim Sales with Bickfield Vanessa 37, part of the Bickfield Herd from Compton Martin bred by the Durbin family

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DAIRY SHOW 2015

Champion Brown Swiss cow Cancourt Sainfoin

Finalists gather for the Interbreed Pairs Championship

Dairy Industry Vet of the Future: award winner Sam Bowker, who studied at Cambridge University, flanked by Michael Eavis, president of the Royal Bath and West Show Society and Meurig Raymond, president of the National Farmers Union

Farmers for Action chairman David Handley makes his views known during the Great Milk Debate as Gwyn Jones, chairman AHDB dairy (left) and Rob Harrison, chairman of the NFU Dairy Board gather their thoughts

Entering the ring for the supreme championship

Crowds amongst the trade stands – the Dairy Show is a shopfront for the industry MENDIP TIMES • NOVEMBER 2015 • PAGE 13

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MENDIP TIMES

Celebrating Marguerite Patten MARGUERITE Patten CBE, born in Bath, was one of the UK’s most prolific, successful and popular cookery writers and personalities. She died on June 4th this year.

She would have been 100 on Wednesday, November 4th.

To celebrate her life and work the Guild With JUNE of Food Writers is “hosting” a cookalong on MACFARLANE the day. Simply cook a meal based on Marguerite’s recipes and share pictures and reactions on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram or Pinterest, using the hashtag #Marguerite100.

I was thinking it was about time to make the Christmas cake so I decided to make Marguerite’s legendary version. This is a Christmas cake as I used to know it, the kind my father loved. I thought about him as well as Marguerite as I made it. None of your light fruit cakes here, this is crammed with fruit and will be thoroughly laced with rum by Christmas. Then it will be time to cover it with marzipan and fondant icing.

MARGUERITE’S LEGENDARY CHRISTMAS CAKE

Father’s favourite – a traditional Christmas cake

When I watched the final of the Great British Bake-off I was intrigued by the fondant icing made by the winner, Nadiya Shah. She used a bag of huge marshmallows. I have found her recipe and here it is. I think there is something right about Marguerite and Nadiya both being on the same page.

Marguerite, always said that although it is fine to change the recipe for a savoury dish to suit your own taste you should follow a baking recipe to the letter. Quite right. The proportions of fat to sugar, eggs and flour need to be exact to ensure success. So clear the decks, get out the scales, put on the radio and immerse yourself in making this great cake.

METHOD

Line the tin carefully to prevent the cake from scorching. I use a double liner made from non-stick paper. Tie a double layer of brown paper around the outside of the tin; it should rise a couple of inches above the top of the tin.

Preheat the oven to 160˚C. Cream the lemon and orange zest with the butter, sugar and golden syrup until soft and amalgamated. Blend the eggs with the sherry, brandy, rum or milk and add gradually to the mixture. Sift together the flour and spices and add. Mix the peel, dried fruits, almonds and cherries together and stir thoroughly into the mixture.

Fill the cake tin and smooth the top with the back of a wet spoon.

Bake at 160˚C for 1½ hrs then lower the heat to 140˚C INGREDIENTS for a further two hrs. If you (makes a 23cm round cake or think the top of the cake is 20cm square cake) browning too much cover 350g plain flour with scrunched up tinfoil. At 1 tsp ground cinnamon the end of the cooking time a 1 tsp mixed spice skewer inserted into the 115g mixed candied peel, middle should come out Chopped 900g mixed dried fruit clean. Cool the cake 50-115g blanched almonds, chopped completely in the tin.

115g glace cherries, chopped Remove from the tin and 4 large eggs, whisked store tightly wrapped in 4 tbsp sherry or brandy or rum or milk tinfoil in an airtight tin. Once Finely grated zest of 1 lemon a week unwrap it, prick with Finely grated zest of 1 orange (optional) a toothpick and drizzle with 225g butter rum, brandy, sherry or orange 225g soft dark brown sugar juice. By Christmas you 1 level tbsp golden syrup should have a moist fragrant cake ready to ice.

PAGE 14 • MENDIP TIMES • NOVEMBER 2015

NADIYA’S FONDANT ICING

When the day comes For the marshmallow fondant to ice the 300g white marshmallows cake (a few Food colouring (optional) days before 550g icing sugar, sifted you need it Solid vegetable fat, for greasing is fine) turn Cornflour, for dusting it upside down so you have a flat surface to work on. Brush the cake with melted apricot jam to help the marzipan stick. Roll out some pre-made marzipan to a shape slightly bigger than the cake, cover the cake and press down carefully to eliminate folds.

INGREDIENTS

METHOD

Put the marshmallows, a tablespoon of water and a little food colouring (if using) in a microwave safe bowl.

Microwave in short bursts Icing with a Bake Off twist until the marshmallows have melted. Stir in the icing sugar and mix to combine. Grease your hands and the work surface lightly. Knead the paste until smooth. Wrap in cling film and set aside.

Dust a clean work surface and a rolling pin with cornflour. Roll out the marshmallow fondant to a shape a little larger than your cake, lift it over the cake and smooth down carefully. Trim off any excess and use to make decorations if liked.

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FOOD & DRINK

Waldegrave Arms

Congratulations on 30 years

Chewton Mendip, Somerset BA3 4LL

01761 241384

Celebrating 30 years!

Derek, Sue and Allan Clarke Wish you a warm welcome For a wide variety of home-cooked food Fresh fish Fridays Traditional Sunday roasts Booking advisable Derek (left) with Sue, Allan and Kirsten

DEREK and Sue Clarke and their son Allan are celebrating their 30th anniversary in charge of the Waldegrave Arms at Chewton Mendip. They originally took it on for five years, with an option for five more, but enjoyed it so much they have been there ever since.

Derek worked for Clarks Shoes in Radstock for 20 years but also organised outside bars for the Jolly Collier at Camerton and the King William at Tunley, while Sue was a canteen manageress. With their skills they decided to look for a pub to run and spent two years before they found the right one at Chewton Mendip.

Derek said: “It was perfect, a village pub on a main road with a garden.” Their son Allan joined them almost straight away, as did Kirsten Deane who has run the pub kitchen for 29 years.

Although they pride themselves on their food – Sue makes their home-made pies and cheesecakes – they are still very much a village pub, with four darts teams, current champions of the Wells and District Division One winter and summer darts league.

Derek plays with the darts team two nights a week and hosts the pub’s in-house quiz every Sunday, with teams from as far away as Radstock and Clutton. He’s also vice-chairman of the parish council. The pub has won Mendip in Bloom with their home-grown blooms seven times – when the Clarkes moved in they literally put down roots!

Derek and Sue will celebrate their Golden Wedding next year.

N O V E M B E R D AT E S Su n 1 s t

S F M @ T h e Fr o m e I n d e p e n d e n t (10am-3pm)*

S a t 7t h Sa t 14 t h S a t 21 s t Fri 27 th S a t 28 t h

A x b r i dg e an d M i ds o m e r No r t o n F r o m e C h e es e & G r ai n a n d Ke y n s h a m Cr e w k er n e B u r n h a m - o n - S ea G l as t o n bu r y a n d Ye o vi l (9am-2pm)*

Plus a large selection of real ales and fine wines Christmas menu now available – see our website

Email: waldegravearms@aol.com Website: www.waldegravearms.co.uk

ME OF FEATHERS U L Rickford, Nr Burrington, P North Somerset BS40 7AH

l

01761 462682

Scrumptious Pubs Ltd Kate and Daniel Jackson www.theplumeoffeathers.com

Christmas Menu 2015

l

Available from 1st December • 2 Courses £19.95 • 3 Courses £ 22.95 Starters Whitebean soup with chilli oil Pressed ham hock terrine with spiced apple compote and toasted malt loaf Prawn and spring fritters with sweet chilli jam Sweet potato arancini balls Main Course Roast Turkey with pigs in blankets, bread sauce and sage and cranberry stuffing Salmon fillet stuffed with sun dried tomato and olive butter wrapped in prosciutto Pork escalope with apples, brandy and cream Mushroom and squash vegetarian Wellington

All to be served with roast potatoes, mashed parsnip, maple glazed baby carrots, braised red cabbage and garlic sprouts.

Desserts Christmas pudding filo strudel with brandy cream Profiteroles filled with vanilla ice cream and salted caramel sauce Baked honey, lemon and ricotta cheesecake with raspberry coulis Local cheese with spiced apple chutney and biscuits All of our meals are homemade and local produce is used where available.

Pre ordering is essential and a £6.00 deposit is required.

MENDIP TIMES • NOVEMBER 2015 • PAGE 15

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MENDIP TIMES

All foodies great and small Photos by Mark Adler

ORGANISERS estimate that 10,000 visitors enjoyed the sights, sounds and smells of the third Wells Food Festival.

Artisan food and drink stalls, events and demonstrations filled the Market Square, along the Bishop’s Palace moat and in the Recreation Ground.

Festival director Paddy O’Hagan

Young helpers on one of the street food stalls

Lela Maidimai was one of the many musicians entertaining the crowds

Wells Market regulars Sally and Rob Bail, from Charlton Orchards, won the award for the best outdoor trade stand PAGE 16 • MENDIP TIMES • NOVEMBER 2015

Core skills in the family fun area …

… with plenty for young food fans to enjoy

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Experience the sparkle of Sparkford

SPARKFORD Hall is a beautiful Georgian country house with welcome and sumptuous accommodation set in 23 acres of parkland, orchards and gardens. Whether it be a wedding, family reunion or any excuse for a party this really is the ultimate venue.

Sparkford offers an amazing space to create your unique workshop or retreat with their huge kitchen and communal areas.

Your event can be tailor-made to suit your numbers and budget.

Up to 80 can dine in their spacious main room in the house or a marquee can be attached to cater for larger parties up to 200 or more.

Their unique Cellar Club is your very own private nightclub below the main house offering the choice to party the night away with no time limits. They work with an amazing production company that can create and deliver any type of bespoke event or theme. The house has 11 beautiful bedrooms, with accommodation for a total of 28 people along with a separate cottage that can house another ten. Further housing includes designer yurts, teepees, bell tents and funky caravans.

Sparkford Hall is decorated in keeping with the period of the house but with a modern cross-over, mixing elegant antiques and classically painted rooms with modern art and sculptures and simply coloured soft furnishing. They have just started mid-week wedding breaks.

Details: www.sparkfordhall.co.uk

FOOD & DRINK

Café rings the changes

LONGER opening hours and the prospect of becoming licensed to sell alcohol are just two of the latest developments at the funky Square Edge Café in Wells.

But owners Pete Cumming and his partner Mandy Tucker are never Some of the couple’s latest ones to stand still. Not acquisitions include a cigarette only does the menu machine (empty) and a Beatlesera 1965 Hofner violin bass change regularly but so does the furniture, as regulars soon discover! Everything on show is for sale, from the tables and chairs to a recentlyacquired American cigarette machine.

From Tuesday, November 10th the café, on the edge of the Market Place, will be open until 10pm from Tuesdays to Saturdays offering a special evening menu. Around that time, Pete and Mandy hope to have been granted a drinks licence (people are currently welcome to bring their own) and plan to offer a range of local beers and ciders as well as wine.

To cope, Square Edge is taking on another chef and Pete and Mandy are busy preparing for Christmas with plans for Christmas lunches and dinners in the run-up to the festive season.

g ls in ea r rv M be Se ing vem en No h!

Ev om 10t fr

Weddings, Events and Parties . . .

Exclusively yours for the day

Independent Coffee Shop in Wells Funky Teas and Seasonal Coffee Home-Cooked Food Great atmosphere Friendly dogs welcome in our courtyard Outside covered area Retro/Vintage furniture and Music (all furniture and objects are for sale) Mon: 9am-5pm Tues-Sat: 9am-10pm Sun: 9am-4pm

Licensed for the most magical of weddings, ideal for birthday celebrations, family re-unions, or retreats.

Self catering or chefs arranged

www.sparkfordhall.co.uk 01963 441553

Available for private evening bookings Now taking bookings for Christmas lunches and dinners Find us on Trip Advisor and follow us on Facebook for our latest exciting news

0 1 7 4 9 67 1 1 66

2 Town Hall Buildings, Wells B A5 1SE coffee@square-edgecafe.co.uk MENDIP TIMES • NOVEMBER 2015 • PAGE 17

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MENDIP TIMES

New look for food company

RADSTOCK-based L&F Jones Foodservices launched their new branding at their annual trade day for suppliers and customers, held this year at Bath Racecourse.

Some of the L&F Jones team at the trade day

Alan Maidment, from McCain’s

Erin Jeffrey (left) and Chloe Hart on the Farrington’s Farm stand

Martin Jones, from L&F Jones, visiting one of the many trade stands

Sally Cooper, from Wells Film Centre, is served coffee by Beans and Machine’s Lucy Carpenter

(l:r) Kim Gait, Tina Bridgeman and Glenda Woods, from The Club and Club Lounge in Shepton Mallet PAGE 18 • MENDIP TIMES • NOVEMBER 2015

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GARDEN FOOD

Apples galore

With JAKE WHITSON

WHAT a fantastic year it has been for apples! Over the past couple of months I have been picking, both from the garden and from the hedgerows, hundreds of kilos of them, and preserving them in every way possible.

So this month I wanted to share with you a couple of simple ways that you can preserve your apples for the year

ahead.

First and foremost – juice. I have yet to invest in an apple press but instead put my apples through a home juicer, which works very well indeed. I simply let the juice settle for a couple of hours in a brewing bucket, skim off the foam and leave behind most of the sediment (I leave a little in for flavour) before bottling.

At this point the juice needs to be pasteurised, or else you will end up with exploding bottles of dodgy cider!

To do this, put your bottles, without lids, in the largest saucepan you have (I use an extremely large pressure cooker pan), fill the pan with water until it is level with the juice (or as close as you can get).

Heat the water to 77ºC, then put the lids on your bottles, and keep the water as close as you can to that temperature for half an hour. Remove the bottles and let them cool on their sides so that the warm juice can sterilise the inside of the lids. With a bit of luck, this juice will now last for a year or more in the larder, though to be honest, no matter how much I make it's usually gone by Christmas!

Apple puree can also be preserved similarly – simply pack the hot sauce into sterilised jars, place the jars (with the lids left loose) in a large pan with an inch or so of water at the bottom and steam for 20 minutes.

Immediately screw the lids of the jars on tightly and while they are cooling down they will form a vacuum, just like with shop-bought jarred goods. These should now last more or less indefinitely in the cupboard, with the same caveat as above!

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

FOOD & DRINK

WILD FOOD

A man outstanding in his field

THE autumn is the ideal time for a spot of mushroom foraging and whilst it has been a bit dry for fungi so far, I’ve seen a fairly good response with grassland species.

One of the most attractive looking family of mushrooms has to be the waxcaps. They are a brightly coloured group and it’s a joy With ADRIAN finding these jewel-like fungi strewn BOOTS amongst the grasses with the striking emerald greens of the parrot waxcap, diamond white of the snowy waxcap to the ruby red of the crimson waxcap and not forgetting the incredible rose quartz of the pink waxcap.

They really are a joy to discover. The largest and best eating of the waxcaps has to be the meadow waxcap but it is also the least brightly coloured. If I had to liken its colour to a gemstone it would have to be that of a pale amber.

Meadow waxcap (Hygrocybe pratensis) has a waxy convex cap when young, becoming more flattened (4 to 8 cm wide) with a wide central bump. Colour varies from a matt pale orange to a richer orange particularly when wet. The flesh has a cream colour, with thick cream coloured and waxy gills running down the cream coloured stem. Look for them in short grassland and meadows often with moss. They are quite common and can be found late autumn to early winter time.

Whilst meadow waxcap doesn’t have the strongest of mushroomy flavours, it is pleasant enough and the finest way to enjoy these fantastic field fungi is gently cooked in butter then served on thick sliced toast to appreciate their mild flavour.

I was once approached by a person who introduced themselves with a raised, wagging finger and continued to remonstrate with me for picking what they thought must be magic mushrooms.

They really did not have a good thing to say about this activity.

Apart from the fact that I was actually picking ‘edible’ waxcap mushrooms was neither here nor there until I mentioned in passing that it was actually my field we were stood in! Oh how we laughed. So if you do see someone stalking around a meadow they could have every right to be there, they might truly be a man out standing in his field!

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

MENDIP TIMES • NOVEMBER 2015 • PAGE 19

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MENDIP TIMES

Top class catering

TOP Deck Tatties offers a unique open-top bus dining experience catering at events and festivals serving up good honest locally produced food.

This is done on Nora, the company's beloved 33-years-young Leyland Titan, discovered on a Wiltshire Farm, but needing lots of TLC. Nora’s new career began this year in May at Millfield Horse Trials and went on to include Let’s Rock, Bristol, Larmer Tree Festival and Lakefest among others.

From the top deck booth dining area you experience a different perspective on the events and festivals attended. You can order anything from a vegan vegetable chilli on spicy wedges and a crispy jacket with various home-made fillings to a Belgian waffle with chocolate and cream for dessert. Olivia Barnes, owner and operator, is always there and hands-on to make sure everything runs smoothly.

Olivia has worked in hospitality for nearly 20 years, from crewing luxury yachts and wedding planning to most

recently managing The George Inn in Wedmore. One of the advantages of running Top Deck Tatties is that she will be able to indulge her love of travel and festivals!

She said: “From sourcing the best ingredients locally to cooking my own tried and tested recipes fresh every day, through to the service which all takes place on fully compostable table wear to reduce our carbon footprint. It is important to me that my team (who are amazing) have as much passion for the process as I do, they

certainly enjoy ensuring quality control of all the foods prepared!”

If you would like to book Top Deck Tatties for an event please contact Olivia on olivia@topdecktatties.co.uk or just take a look at the website, Facebook or Twitter feed, to see pictures of the restoration and festival fun.

In the meantime, if you want to try out Top Deck Tatties you will be able to find Olivia and Nora at Uphill Sands, Westonsuper-Mare from this November through to April 2016.

Details: If you would like to book Top Deck Tatties for an event contact Olivia on 07976 611721.

PAGE 20 • MENDIP TIMES • NOVEMBER 2015

TDT’s Olivia

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Whatʼs new from Myrtle Farm A round-up of events from Thatchers Cider in Sandford

Thatchers on BBC Harvest

Autumn glory

FOOD & DRINK

Bonfire celebration at the Railway Inn THERE’LL be a Bonfire and Fireworks Display at The Railway Inn in Sandford this year. It will take place on Wednesday 4th November, starting at 7.00pm.

There’ll be mulled cider, soup and hot dogs available. No tickets required!

THROUGHOUT this year we’ve been busy filming with BBC2 for a series of Harvest 2015. Did you see the programmes aired in October?

With presenters Gregg Wallace, Philippa Forrester and James Manning, the series met farmers across Britain, exploring areas of the industry where Britain delivers world class produce. Starting with our Wassail back in January, the BBC team became part of our life throughout the year, as they set about recording all the hard work that goes into growing our apples and then crafting them into Somerset cider.

The series is currently available on BBC iplayer if you didn’t manage to see it first time round.

John and Martin Thatcher, with Gregg, Philippa and James, during filming

OVER the autumn, our photographer Neil Phillips has been out and about capturing some beautiful shots of our Somerset orchards, which we wanted to share with you.

Cheers from us all at Thatchers Cider

www.thatcherscider.co.uk • Don’t forget you can also follow us on Twitter, Instagram and Facebook Thatchers Cider, Myrtle Farm, Sandford, Somerset, BS25 5RA Tel: 01934 822862 MENDIP TIMES • NOVEMBER 2015 • PAGE 21

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MENDIP TIMES

Food, drink and art – all under one roof THE second Somerset Food and Drink Fest offered something for all tastes – especially as it was combined with a unique contemporary art fair.

Held at the Royal Bath and West Showground at Shepton Mallet, the two-day event featured cookery demonstrations, stalls and a pop-up art gallery.

Sweet temptations on one of the stalls

Chefs Mark Lees (left) and Andy Jones at cookery theatre

Alce Halfield organised the art fair

Andy Greenwell stirs paella

The Showering Pavilion offered something for everybody

Artist Philip Ledbury

PAGE 22 • MENDIP TIMES • NOVEMBER 2015

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Apple Day celebrations

FOOD & DRINK

UÜxtw 9 UxçÉÇw TEA ROOMS AND PROVISIONS

Organic free trade coffee • Warming winter lunches Home-made tarts, pies, cakes and bread Local milk, cheeses and eggs Cards, prints and paintings by local artists.

Gift range including products from Mendip Lavender, Milly Green and Robert Fuller Galleries

UÜxtw 9 UxçÉÇw

Open: Monday-Friday 7am-5pm • Saturday 7.30am-4pm Apple Day is now a firm fixture on the village calendar

JUICE pressing, cakes, games and music were on offer at the annual Apple Day celebrations in Kilmersdon.

High Street, Chewton Mendip, BA3 4LJ

01761 240820 email: breadandbeyond@outlook.com

THE RED LION VILLAGE PUB & RESTAURANT Sutton Hill Road, Bishop Sutton BS39 5UT

01275 333042

A la carte menu and excellent specials board, selection of delicious roasts on Sundays

Sarah Fouracres taking part in the longest peel Emily (left) and Emi try their competition; her effort was 102.8cms in length hand at pressing juice

Christmas Preview Evening Wednesday 18th November. 3pm – 9pm

Sample our home-made goodies. Over 20 local food & drink producers. Gift ideas. Explore the Shopping Village plus carols from Paulton Concert Band.

Christmas Menu available from December 1st – Group/Work Party bookings taken Please see our website www.redlionbishopsutton.co.uk to view our menus

PENSIONERS 25% OFF LUNCH MENUS Please quote promotional code MTRL to claim your discount (Mon-Sat only)

The Red Lion – the pub at the heart of the community

Opening hours: Monday – Thursday 12 noon – 2.30pm, 5pm – 11pm. Open all day Friday, Saturday and Sunday.

Food available on Sundays 12 noon – 6pm MENDIP TIMES • NOVEMBER 2015 • PAGE 23

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Children aid cancer charity

BISHOP Sutton Primary School raised more than £1,000 with a coffee morning for Macmillan Cancer Support.

The local vicar, the Rev Mark Creegan, also helped by letting the children hold games and entertainment in Holy Trinity Church next door, while coffee and cakes were served in the school hall.

One of the organisers, teacher Miss Hettie Patel, said: “The Bishop Sutton children, parents and grandparents made such a huge effort to make beautiful and delicious cakes and so I would like to say a huge thank you to them.”

Unique Christmas Gift Idea Authentic Indian Cookery Classes Gift Vouchers are available to the value of your choice

Enjoy learning in a small class size (max 4)

07961 320193 • www.sweetcumin.co.uk • bini@sweetcumin.co.uk PAGE 24 • MENDIP TIMES • NOVEMBER 2015

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FOOD & DRINK

MENDIP TIMES • NOVEMBER 2015 • PAGE 25

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MENDIP TIMES

FOOD & DRINK

November and December at BEAH Friday November 13th Music & Tapas with live jazz from Jazz South West featuring Trevor Davis on drums from 7.30pm £15 pp Friday November 20th Wells Carnival open all day until 8pm Booking essential for pre-carnival dinner Christmas Shoppers Turkey Lunch from December 1st - 24th Available Now New Year's Eve Special Dinner Menu All details on the above plus Christmas and New Years Eve opening hours can be found on www.beah.co.uk

Find us at Union Street, Wells Call 01749 678111 • Email: info@beah.co.uk

www.beah.co.uk Relaxed and friendly dining in the heart of Wells

PAGE 26 • MENDIP TIMES • NOVEMBER 2015

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Tel: 0800 097 8611

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

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

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MENDIP TIMES

Show success

Words and pictures by Steve Egginton

THE 146th Mendip Ploughing Match, held at Stanton Wick, attracted a huge number of spectators, drawn by bright autumn sunshine and the spectacle of dozens of ploughmen in action.

Hedging, stone walling and root, grain and fodder competitions also took place. Demand was so great the lunch team had to send out for extra supplies!

Show president Alan Sparkes with hedging champion Alex Bown

The stewards confer

Children from Croscombe C of E Primary School

Frank Midwinter from Frome using a natural mallet in the hedging contest

A glass tankard in the hedging champion class was presented by Mary Wear in memory of her husband Frank to Paul Gulliford from Backwell.

PAGE 28 • MENDIP TIMES • NOVEMBER 2015

Some of the ladies who did lunch

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MENDIP PLOUGHING MATCH Judging the produce

Ploughman Gary Haberfield in action

The reception class from Chew Stoke School Final adjustments

Steam power from the Sparkes' crew

Letting the trailer take the strain

Horse ploughing winner Mick Puxty from Bridgwater MENDIP TIMES • NOVEMBER 2015 • PAGE 29

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MENDIP TIMES

New exhibitor at Church House Designs

Queenie and the quarry

Queenie – played by Bath street performer Sarah McClusky – at the quarry entrance

STUART Akroyd is one of the best-known studio glass designer-makers in the UK. He adapts traditional Venetian techniques to create forms in vibrant colours and organic shapes.

Instantly identifiable his work possesses a sense of movement and grace within the solid form.

Stuart’s latest sculptural pieces, titled ‘Intention’, are a perfect example of this; a solid stretched form encasing vibrant colours and captured on a steel stand.

These one-off pieces were inspired by the Skylon structure which became the symbol of the 1951 Festival of Britain. The celebration of British design during a period of post-war hope and austerity was an incredibly creative time.

Stuart wanted to reflect this in his new pieces, but also show the restraint and limitations applicable then and now.

Stuart has been making glass for over 25 years. His glassmaking career began in the North East and he opened his own hot studio in Nottingham in 2000.

QUEENIE, the reluctant cleaner, urges visitors to an art installation in a disused Mendip quarry to wipe their feet on the doormat and to clear up any rubbish left by its mysterious fairy inhabitants.

It was an unusual welcome to the third part of step in stone – an arts project reflecting the impact of quarrying on the area.

The final event was held in Fairy Cave Quarry, near Stoke St Michael, which is usually accessible only to members of caving and rock climbing clubs.

Artist Sally Kidall with her “living” installation. Sally, originally from Bath but who now lives in Australia, returned to take part in the step in stone project

Church House Designs

Gallery selected for quality by the Crafts Council of Great Britain Open Wednesday – Friday 10am – 5pm, Saturday 10am – 2pm (or by appointment) Broad Street, Congresbury, Bristol, North Somerset BS49 5DG • Telephone 01934 833660 • www.churchhousedesigns.co.uk PAGE 30 • MENDIP TIMES • NOVEMBER 2015

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ARTS AND ANTIQUES

Tamlyns ‘light the way’ with 20th century lighting ONE of the categories within the upcoming Tamlyns’ 20th Century design sale will include lighting of all descriptions, from ceiling lights, to desk lamps, predominantly from Britain, Germany, Italy and Scandinavia, featuring Space Age to industrial lighting.

A significant British manufacturer specialising in lighting is Anglepoise, a term that now tends to be readily used with reference to all lighting of a similar style and use, rather like “Hoover” – another coined phrase!

Industrial lighting has also reached huge levels of popularity in recent years – a term generally referring to workbench and large industrial ceiling lights. The Industrial style also incorporates medical operating lighting, often seen in a retail and restaurant setting, but this style is becoming increasingly seen in residential properties.

A more modernist approach is

offered by Space Age lighting from Guzzini, an Italian company – lighting

manufactured from plastic and chrome-plated aluminium. Also in high demand, are floor and standard lamps, particularly from the post-war period.

Responding to such demands, specialist dealers are now manufacturing shades either off-theshelf or custom-made with original period fabric – you can go all-out if you desire a “flower power” shade to accompany your 1960s teak and brass standard lamp!

Naturally it’s unlikely you’ll need reminding that you should always get a qualified electrician to rewire or install any lighting you purchase!

However, don’t let this stop you from purchasing a statement piece of 20th century lighting for your home, office or shop!

The closing date for entries for the 20th Century Design sale is November 3rd. The sale will take place on Tuesday November 24th.

Details: For more information, contact the auctioneers on 01278 445251.

MENDIP TIMES • NOVEMBER 2015 • PAGE 31

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Remembering great grandad

Tony with WWI memorabilia at the Swan Artworks studio on the Old Mills Trading Estate in Paulton

HAVING been commissioned to frame a number of the iconic First World War ceramic poppies which created such a spectacular tribute to the fallen at the Tower of London, Tony Osborne from Swan Artworks in Paulton decided it was time to commemorate his own great-grandfather’s wartime service.

Sergeant John Osborne fought with the 9th Battalion of the Sherwood Foresters. Tony said: "I never actually got to meet my great-grandfather, but my granddad who fought in the Second World War always said he was more proud of his father's medals than his own.

“I can't begin to imagine what each of them had to go through in their separate wars. I think since the centenary of the outbreak of WWI it is more in people's minds and more important than ever to remember our veterans past and present."

Tony’s wife Carrie added: "Since the incredibly moving installation of ceramic poppies at the Tower of London earlier this year, we've had a lot of requests to frame sets for customers who had visited the exhibition.

“We also frame a lot of family medal sets for our customers and were inspired to frame a set of our own incorporating a poppy to commemorate Tony’s great-grandfather who fought at Ypres and the Somme during the war.”

Tony wears his relatives’ medals with pride at ceremonial events such as Remembrance Day and is planning to once again attend the service in Mells. The couple’s daughters Elora and Elswyth will both be taking part in the Armistice Day parade in the village this year as Elswyth has just joined the cubs and Elora attended as a scout last year.

A close-up of the tribute to Sgt John Osborne PAGE 32 • MENDIP TIMES • NOVEMBER 2015

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Victorian horse is a winner

ONE of the exciting aspects of running an auction house is that you never know what may come through the door to be valued and sold and, at Mendip, they always see a diverse range of items entered. One regular buyer calls the Mendip Auction Rooms his “Aladdin’s Cave” as he never knows what he is going to find.

At their antiques sale on October 10th Killens saw strong bidding for the 500 lots on offer. A delightful Victorian carved and painted rocking horse is sure to generate nursery envy attracting plenty of interest and selling for £1,350.

There was an excellent entry of militaria with a Remington revolver dating from the American Civil War achieving £1,500 and a Dragoon officer’s sword from the 1740s selling for £750.

Amongst the unusual items on offer, a Coco De Mer nut shell sold to a Dutch buyer for £150, a lovely ivory chess set for £700 and a working scale model of an Allchin traction engine went for well above estimate at £600.

At the auction rooms, two sales are held monthly with an antiques sale held on a Saturday and a general Victorian and later effects some ten days later. The general sale offers more modern items and if you are looking to furnish a home then you never know what you may find. Similarly, if you are

ARTS AND ANTIQUES

downsizing and need to sell then the team at the Mendip Auction Rooms will be able to help.

The general sale of modern items held on October 20th was once again a large sale with the saleroom packed with furniture, ceramics, glassware, pictures, rugs, clocks, collectables and unusual items going under the hammer.

Buyers packed in to bid strongly for all items on offer.

Entries are being sought for the Victorian and later effects sale on November 17th and a two-day sale to be held in December.

The team are also conducting a presentation and talk on Paintings and Pictures at the auction rooms on November 5th at 6pm so do go along. Entry is free.

Details: The auction rooms can be contacted on 01749 840770 or log onto www.mendipauctionrooms.co.uk. Nicky Houston BA (Hons) MRICS GA Cert and Gareth Wasp undertake valuation days every Wednesday, Thursday and Friday from 10am – 5pm or are content to undertake a free home visit. House clearances can also be arranged.

MENDIP TIMES • NOVEMBER 2015 • PAGE 33

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Artists’ new home in Wells

THE Somerset Guild of Craftsmen has opened a stunning new gallery space in the centre of Wells, showcasing some of the county’s finest talent.

And now guild members are hoping to encourage even more artists to apply to join them and take advantage of the new location behind Pickwick’s Café on Broad Street.

The guild has around 120 members from across Somerset and neighbouring counties, with up to 80 being active artists, whose work ranges from painting to glassmaking and textiles.

John Candler, from the guild, says it is maintaining its gallery in Somerton but says the decision to open in Wells represents a major step forward in its profile. John said: “We are extremely keen to hear from more working artists, especially younger people. This is a fantastic opportunity for them to gain experience of selling through a gallery and being encouraged in their work by their counterparts.”

Artists must go through a selection process to be accepted into the guild, which takes a commission from every sale.

Any profits at the end of the year after the guild’s overheads are then distributed to its members.

John is a former shoe industry executive who took up sculpture after attending a stone carving course. He added: “We are delighted to be based in Wells where there is already so much creative talent.”

G The guild will be holding an open day at the gallery on Saturday, October 31st.

Small business showcase

ON December 5th in her Wedmore gallery, Erica Sharpe will be joining with other companies across the UK to celebrate Small Business Saturday.

This important initiative is a grassroots, noncommercial campaign, which highlights small business success and encourages consumers to “shop local” and support small businesses in their communities.

Erica and her staff will have some beautiful gift ideas, including hand-made silver bangles, classic pearl earrings and necklaces, stylish enamel cufflinks and stunning gem-set rings, as well as Christmas displays and complimentary gift wrapping, so that the gift is ready to pop under the tree!

There will be mince pies and fizz to add to the festive atmosphere and help to make your Christmas shopping relaxing and enjoyable.

Details: www.ericasharpe.co.uk or look for Erica Sharpe Fine Jewellery on Facebook

PAGE 34 • MENDIP TIMES • NOVEMBER 2015

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ARTS AND ANTIQUES

Cartier at Clevedon

MENDIP VALLEY ANTIQUES & COLLECTABLES CLEVEDON Salerooms pre-Christmas Quarterly Specialist Sale on November 19th includes a particularly good selection of fine jewellery and watches.

The Cartier Casque d’Or suite pictured will be sold as four separate lots with a combined estimate of £8,000 - £12,000. The illustrated online catalogue will be available from Saturday November 7th.

Make Thursday November 19th the one shopping day before Christmas that you do not miss!

Mark Sparkes has new premises dealing in antiques, paintings and curios Tues - Fri: 9.30am - 4.30pm • Closed Monday Sat : 9.30am - 4pm • Sun: 10am - 4pm

New Manor Farm Shop Widcombe BS40 6HW Contact: sparkes.contracting@yahoo.co.uk 01761 221001 • 07966 387252

Don’t leave it until Christmas Eve

Fine Art Auctioneers & Valuers

FREE ANTIQUE VALUATION DAYS

Silver and green enamel dressing table set

Diamond cluster ring

£500 - £800

£200 - £300

23 24 25 Nov & 7 8 9 10 11 Dec 9.30am–1pm and 2pm–5pm Held at the salerooms – no appointment necessary Rolex GMT Master (1960’s)

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

£4,000 - £6,000

Mack, Williams & Gibton, Dublin Mahogany Cellarette

£600 - £900

Quarterly Specialist Sale Thursday 19th November at 10.30am VIEWING: Tues 17th November 2pm – 5.30pm & Wed 18th November 10am – 7.30pm

Fully Illustrated catalogue online 7th November MENDIP TIMES • NOVEMBER 2015 • PAGE 35

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MENDIP TIMES

Country Innovation supports wildlife project LOCAL firm Country Innovation based in Congresbury is renowned for developing some of the best outdoor protective clothing in the world. They specialise in gear for the bird and wildlife enthusiast and this winter sees the launch of their brand new Linnet jackets and smock, highly weatherproof yet soft and comfortable to wear.

Owner Maria Chilvers has been working closely with TV wildlife presenter, Simon King, and for every Linnet garment sold, £10 will be donated to Simon’s charity, the Simon King Wildlife Project.

Simon has spent the past four years turning a ten-acre plot of over-worked pastureland in Somerset into a land rich in wild flowers, waterways and wild creatures, where otters, badgers and foxes live alongside kingfishers,

dippers, owls and herons.

This is now the blueprint for Simon’s charity, whose objective is to encourage land restoration projects for future generations.

Country Innovation are running a free prize draw for one lucky winner to have a personal tour around Wild Meadows

by Simon, together with a Country Innovation Linnet jacket and some

Details: www.countryinnovation.co.uk

Zeiss binoculars.

All you have to do to enter is register your details on the Country Innovation website: www.countryinnovation.co.uk/prize-draw or visit Country Innovation in Broad Street, Congresbury. The draw will take place at the Birdfair in August 2016 and the winner will be contacted by email or phone.

Our new Linnet Jackets are highly Waterproof, Windproof and Breathable, and for every garment sold £10 will be donated to the Simon King Wildlife Project to support wildlife and the natural habitat.

Bring this advert into the shop and get 10% OFF any full priced product!

1 Broad Street Congresbury BS49 5DG 01934 877333 www.countryinnovation.com PAGE 36 • MENDIP TIMES • NOVEMBER 2015

• Jackets • Fleeces • Gloves • Walking Boots • Hats

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Dickies – your one-stop shop

BUSINESS

Photo by Ignyte Limited Radstock

MIDSOMER Norton Dickies Factory Shop on Second Avenue, Westfield Trading Estate has an excellent range of workwear designed for warmth, with thermal clothing often the product of choice on those exceptionally cold days.

The new Parka jacket is a key piece in the collection: key features include a removable hood, removable fur and a tail hem for extra back warmth. Double access lower pockets keep the hands warm when not working and the nylon taslon fabric makes this parka waterproof to 1000mm, durable but also light to wear.

Dickies Every Day trousers launched for the autumn are free of any exposed metals and with cargo pockets to ensure you have direct access to your tools enabling you to finish the job quickly and easily.

Dickies ideal winter accessories include beanie hats – perfect for cold working climates to keep heads warm they are fashionable, long lasting and durable. The Dickies Trapper hat offers excellent warmth in cold working conditions. The acrylic fur lining provides maximum heat retention and comfort and coverage of the ears from the side flaps.

Both hats are also available in hi vis. The Dickies Thermal gloves, ideal for working outdoors, have a thinsulate lining which helps to keep hands warm in winter.

Lastly for footwear, Dickies offers a range of boots with the Medway safety hiker comfortable to wear all day every day and offering ultimate winter protection.

MENDIP TIMES • NOVEMBER 2015 • PAGE 37

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Sam on awards trail

A YOUNG Shepton Mallet butcher has been named as a finalist in the Somerset Business of the Year Awards.

Sam King, Retail Operations Manager at the Pylle-based butchers Jon Thorner’s Ltd, has been shortlisted in the Young Business Employee of the Year category.

Having started at the company as an apprentice butcher, he is now managing the butchery sites which are Sam King serving awardlocated across Somerset and cowinning burgers to popstar and ordinates external events and X Factor judge, Rita Ora, at promotions.

Glastonbury Festival last year.

Managing director and founder, Jon Thorner, said: “Sam has always been an enthusiastic employee. His desire to succeed and to drive sales within the business brought him closer to my attention.”

Sam is actually no stranger to success, having being crowned winner at the Young Butchers Creative Meat Display Competition, at The Dalziel Butchers Show in last year.

The other finalists are Becky Read, of Claims Consortium Group and Kelly Lush from Open Vision Finance. The awards ceremony was due to be held as Mendip Times went to press.

PAGE 38 • MENDIP TIMES • NOVEMBER 2015

New business – based on bracken

BRACKENBURN does exactly what it says on the bag – it produces “brackettes” of dried bracken to burn in wood stoves or on open fires.

While clearing the hills of dead bracken, the company points to other benefits: it opens (Left to right) Richard Geleit, Barry the ground to Smith, Michael Eavis, John Burton bluebells and other plants; it provides employment; and it reduces the need to cut down trees for fuel. Glastonbury Festival founder Michael Eavis opened the new plant in a former grain store at Puxton Park and said he wished it success: “There is so much bracken around, it’s a brilliant idea.”

The idea of harvesting bracken on the Mendip Hills was first suggested by former Mendip Warden, Les Davies, and local farmer Ian Reid started composting it.

Brackenburn is currently harvesting bracken from both Mendip and Exmoor. Managing director, John Burton, said: “We passionately believe we have created an alternative fuel source that people will want to burn.”

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BUSINESS

Visit our Farm Shop to find a unique selection of Lavender gifts made on the farm.

A relaxing way to shop.

Cafe open!

CAMELEY LODGE LAUNDRY

Christmas Gifts

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

ECATCHER MOL

Winter Opening Wednesday to Sunday 10am to 4pm 11th November to 20th December (Closed Monday & Tuesday)

P & C Logs

Somerset Lavender, Horsepond Farm, Faulkland, Somerset BA3 5WA 01373 834893 www.somersetlavender.com

Friendly prompt service from Phil & Colleen at their farm in Charterhouse Quality seasoned beech and ash hardwood, chopped and split into a variety of load options (with free delivery).

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

C a l l Ph i l o n 0 7 73 4 09 8 32 3 , o r C ol l ee n o n 0 77 8 5 25 0 03 3 o r o n E v e n in g s 0 1 7 6 1 2 2 1 5 4 3

Quality new and refurbished Laptops and Tablets, at Somerset prices!

01749 347668 • info@greenmancomputers.com

MENDIP TIMES • NOVEMBER 2015 • PAGE 39

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INTERNET

Turning off automatic payments to Apple Music

IF you love Apple Music, then that‘s all good. But if you want to stop the automatic monthly payments you can, and here‘s how (with thanks to BBC Newsbeat): 1. Go to Apple Music and tap the circle with a silhouette in it in the upper left corner 2. Once you’re on the account page, scroll down a bit and tap View Apple ID. You‘ll then have to enter your Apple ID password.

3. You should now be on the Account Settings page. Go down to the Subscriptions section and tap the Manage button.

4. You’ll then see a list of your subscriptions. You’ll see when your free trial ends, as well as the green switch for auto-renewal.

5. It’ll then ask you if you want to turn off the auto-renewal. You can always go back and turn on auto-renewal if you decide that you want an Apple Music membership.

On a totally unrelated topic!: If you would like to have a personalized calculation for your meat cooking time, then the Internet is the place for you!

Go to http://www.bbcgoodfood.com/howto/tools/roast-timer Click on the arrows and enter the meat and how you want it cooked where appropriate and how much it weighs in kg or lb and oz and click Calculate to see temperature and time – e.g.

220ºC/fan 200ºC/ gas 7 for first 20 mins. Then 180ºC/fan 160ºC/gas 4 for next for 1 hour.

Scroll down for more details. Don’t forget a meat thermometer is the best way to check if your meat is cooked.

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

We offer individual training, at a pace to suit you; a session lasts 2 hours and costs £10. We can cover a range of subjects – including absolute basics; photo management; shopping online; emailing; Word processing, spreadsheets; basic web design; etc. on a range of devices, including Windows Vista/W7/W8/W10: Macs: Tablets: iPads: smartphones.

We also run a Computer Drop in session 1.30-3.30 Thursday afternoons. Call in for a quick word of advice/help/info.

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

PAGE 40 • MENDIP TIMES • NOVEMBER 2015

CROSSWORD

The Mendip Mindbender

ACROSS 1. Reciprocal arrangement at early riot (11) 10. Times emerge for broadcasts (5) 11. Attack of side-splitting giggles in not a funny way (9) 12. Earlier later delivery (9) 13. Inside uncoupled train (5) 14. Newly refurbished Stena port (6) 16. Fighters set in future sequence (8) 18. Gent torn between mother and licentious increase (8) 20. Place for hut to be built (6) 23. Turn to seasonal source of income (5) 24. Lest troth is cast asunder holds firm (9) 26. Singer with disastrous rock band has bottle and repeatedly turns it around (9) 27. More trouble over lead (5) 28. Puzzles with subtlety challenge (5,6) DOWN 2. Elixir vitae goes into production (5) 3. Group loves dancing free (7) 4. Measure bias or deviation (6)

5.

6.

7.

8.

9.

15.

17.

19.

21.

22.

25.

Inexpertly rustles sheep for combatants (8) Town passage (7) Small territory has belongings control (8,5) I’m gone from copier instead need silver shaker (8) Needs a makeover so let's wash the stands out (6,3,4) Nought north , go left, out! (8) Lightly roasted generating thermals (8) Terrible warm-up act on one leg (7) Olympic hopeful declares north of the border? (7) Moves purposefully around fairway getting birdies! (6) Display I'm in is covered (5)

Compiled by Felkov

October answers see page 113

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Cheddar gets festive

FOCUS ON CHEDDAR

EVERY year the historic village of Cheddar comes alive with the magic of Christmas. Lights sparkle along the village streets and idyllic gorge as choirs sing in the streets and late night shoppers enjoy a glass of mulled wine or a satisfying hog roast as r roads are closed from the bottom be m ce De of Cliff Street to the Cliffs up the Gorge and the caves are open for the evening.

This is Cheddar Festive Night, an enjoyable experience for all the family with attractions, entertainment and of course brightly decorated shops catering for all tastes.

This year the event will be held on Friday December 4th.

It will begin with a carol service in St Andrew’s Church at 5.30pm, following which shops, cafes etc. will be open late and there will be a market and fairground attractions in Cliff Street Car Park.

Anyone interested in helping with the event or who wishes to have a stall in the car park should contact The Parish Hall, Church Street, Cheddar.

4

Details: Tel. 01934 743217 or email sam@cheddarparishcouncil.org

HIRE

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

Huge stocks of Tools & Equipment • Compactors • Drills • Cultivators • Angle Grinders • Breakers • Hedge Trimmers • Saws • Ladders • Rotavators • Hoists • Tile Cutters • Scarifiers • Scaffold Towers • Chain Saws • Carpet Cleaners Open Hours: Mon-Fri 7:30-5:00 • Sat 8:00-12:00

Long or Day Hire Delivery & Collection Service Trade & DIY

01934 743543 www.cheddarhire.co.uk Wideatts Road, Cheddar BS27 3AP

RIVERSIDE INN & RESTAURANT

Cliff Street • Cheddar • BS27 3PX • www.riversidecheddar.co.uk • 01934 742452

MENDIP TIMES • NOVEMBER 2015 • PAGE 41

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New business in Cheddar

OLI Lee has launched a new business in Cheddar making bespoke furniture from reclaimed timber. The company, With Bear Hands, specialises in beds.

Oli used to work as a set builder for Aardman Animations so he’s plenty of experience of working with wood, though on a slightly smaller scale.

He started collecting old timber while doing roofing repairs and then decided to put it to good use by making furniture. He and his partner Vanessa live in Tweentown with their children, Noah, aged seven, Oskar, aged four and Finn, aged 15 months.

Christmas gifts all year OLD Rowlands Gift and Christmas Shop is nestled at the foot of Jacob’s Ladder in the beautiful Cheddar Gorge and has been run by husband and wife team Carmen and Chris for 12 years.

They pride themselves on providing quality gifts, homewares, jewellery and home fragrances to their

Consult the local experts for all of your insurance requirements Contact: Tony or Paul on 01934 742550 For all your insurance needs Bath Street, Cheddar, Somerset BS27 3AA Tel: (01934) 742550 Fax: (01934) 744559 Email: quotes@woodburyinsurance.co.uk

customers from suppliers such as Gisela Graham, Sass and Belle, Heaven Sends and Enchante.

Many of their items are sourced in the UK, for example their wonderful range of Wrendale stationery by the artist Hanna Dale. Of course they also have their all-yearround gorgeous Christmas range for you to browse.

See them for your everyday gifts or for that special Christmas item; they look forward to welcoming you soon.

SAMPLE MENU

To Begin Soup of the day, homemade focaccia bread £5.25 Pea & Mascarpone panna cotta, balsamic syrup, celery gel, caramelized Walnuts & a micro herb salad £5.95 Cured salmon, herb potato salad, caviar & homemade mayonnaise £6.25

To Follow Nose to tail beef, confit ox cheek, slow roasted Jacobs’ ladder, oxtail & Dijon mustard croquette, Dauphinoise potato, a trio of beetroot, pickled red cabbage & a pan jus £19.95 Pan fried West Country venison, smoked mash potato, honey roasted baby vegetables, damson & sloe gin sauce £19.95 Sous vide duck breast, roast aubergine purée, roasted fig, baby turnip, fondant potato & ruby port jus £17.95

Stockists of home and giftware, jewellery and accessories, home fragrance and allyear-round Christmas trimmings.

Gisela Graham, Heaven Sends, Sass & Belle, Wrendale Designs, Enchante, From You To Me

To Finish Champagne poached Anjou pear coated in white chocolate, cardamom cream £6.25 Belgian chocolate fondant, chocolate mousse & coconut ice cream £5.95 Peanut butter parfait, peanut brittle shards, strawberry jelly & brioche £6.25

Cheddar BS27 3AA info@batharms.com www.batharms.com 01934 742425 PAGE 42 • MENDIP TIMES • NOVEMBER 2015

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Helping Joe get mobile

Joe is pictured with Steph Atkinson and Penelope Patience

A HUGE fundraising effort has allowed Joe Redman, aged 15, from Cheddar to buy a specialist “off-road” wheelchair.

The Kings of Wessex student suffers from dystonic cerebral palsy, which affects his limbs and back and causes painful muscle spasms.

The Early Doors Cider and Ale Barn in Draycott organised a variety of events, hoping to raise £5,000, but has raised nearly double that, with other donations from local people and businesses.

The new wheelchair will enable Joe to access areas that are currently off-limits to him, such as rough pathways, beach and grass.

The family said: “This really was incredible, the community pulled together to make a real difference to Joe's life.”

FOCUS ON CHEDDAR

Mum and daughter take charge

BOUQUET Florist has been established in the village of Cheddar for over 35 years. They personally deliver beautiful flowers, chocolates and balloons within a ten-mile radius of the shop in Cheddar.

They can also arrange delivery nationally and internationally, as well as taking orders online, providing floristry services for weddings, funerals, events and local businesses, as well as a range of vintage items for your home or as a gift.

It’s owned by mother and daughter, Carol and Claire Wilcox, who live in nearby Mark. Carol has 15 years’ experience in the floristry industry and was a previous employee of Bouquet Florist before taking over the business earlier this year. Claire is a trainee florist and photographer (www.clairewphotography.com).

Make sure you pop in when you’re next passing, it’s definitely worth a look! They will be displaying their Christmas range at Cheddar Festive Night in the car park in front of the shop.

Find Santa and the snowmen

CHEDDAR Chamber of Commerce and Industry introduces its festive trail starting on Festive Night, with 40 village and gorge traders having a hidden Santa or Snowman either within their premises or in their shop window.

Find them, record the number, and you could win a family ticket to Longleat Safari Park. The trail will run until Sunday January 3rd, with entry forms available from all participating businesses.

Have a stroll around Cheddar and see what they have to offer!

Cheddar fashion

KATIE-BOO’S autumn/winter fashion show is on Wednesday November 11th at Cheddar Football Club, with proceeds going to the Bella’s Trust charity and Children’s Hospice South West.

Featuring local models, there will be craft stalls and beauty treatments available after the show. Doors open at 7pm for 7.30pm, with tickets £5 available at Katie-boo, to include a free glass of wine or soft drink.

An auction helped raise funds

Mendip Times reduces travel costs

Ladies Fashion and Accessories Shop 2, Dorchester House Union Street, Cheddar Somerset BS27 3NB

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

01934 741899 Email: karen@katie-boo.com

katie-boo.com MENDIP TIMES • NOVEMBER 2015 • PAGE 43

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MENDIP TIMES

Lions busy for Christmas

CHEDDAR Vale Lions Club’s Tree of Light has a new venue for 2015, the Bath Arms in the centre of the village.

The lighting of the tree and dedication ceremony will take place on Thursday December 3rd at 6.30pm. The carols will be accompanied by the brass from Cheddar Valley Music Club under the direction of Anne Higgs. All those who have sponsored in the past will be contacted but new sponsors are welcome. The Lions’ senior citizens Christmas shopping trip will take place on Thursday November 19th. If you would like to attend call Lion Marion on 01934 740366. The Lions’ Christmas raffle will be raising money for a defibrillator for the village.

I offer professional support for owner-managed businesses and small companies, including • Business planning and advice • Management and year-end accounts • Budgets and forecasts • Tax returns and tax planning • Payroll and VAT • Company secretarial services For a free initial consultation contact Helen Bardle at

7 Cliff Street, Cheddar, BS27 3PT Tel 01934 744333 or 07974 343335 Email helen@helenbardle.co.uk

Cheddar Motors Ltd. Full garage services

MOTs and servicing Repairs and diagnostics Cars • Vans • Motorcycles • Scooters Motorcycle MOTs Wheel alignment Bosch accredited Tweentown, Cheddar Somerset BS27 3JE Tel 01934 742955 Email: cheddarmotors@gmail.com PAGE ?? • MENDIP TIMES • NOVEMBER 2015

Garage offers a complete service

CHEDDAR Motors Ltd is a local garage that offers a complete range of services, not only for cars and vans, but also for motorcycles and scooters.

It’s run by Paul and Jayne Tame and has been in the family for over 30 years. Paul’s dad Bill still works there occasionally.

Jayne used to run the Costcutter store and forecourt next door, but is now happy to work alongside Paul, looking after reception at the garage, though they were both surprised to read in some publications that they had “retired” after selling.

The sale came after the tragic death of their son Zack, aged 18, in a crash on the Wedmore Road two weeks before Christmas. He worked as a mechanic in the garage.

New CAFÉ in Cheddar

THE Atkinsons opened Vegetarian CAFE Sketch at Easter aiming to bring some cafe culture to Cheddar.

They offer delicious freshlyprepared foods cooked from scratch, catering for allergies and intolerances, sourced locally and organically where possible, home-made or made by artisans for your table.

The interior is exciting with up-cycled materials, making it a very funky space to relax.

Sacha is passionate about food and has travelled the world learning authentic flavours to share with you. Therefore they have weekly, Indian Thali and Mediterranean TAPAS nights, live music and international guest chefs.

Festive Night! – Drop in and try some free samples, tasty bites or a hot toddy. Pre-Book Now for TAPAS and have a 25% Festive Night Discount! Katrina and Sacha look forward to seeing you!

CHEDDAR NURSERY For Chri st mas t re e s a n d w re a t hs

Sharpham Road, Cheddar BS27 3DR 01934 742135

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Beauty specialist with wide experience

FOCUS ON CHEDDAR

FULLY qualified with over 25 years’ experience including Harrods and salons in Windsor and Paris, Cheryl Childs most recently worked as a senior therapist in a Wells salon.

Situated on the edge of Cheddar and only 15 minutes from Wells, Cheryl Childs Beauty is home based though totally independent from the house with the added convenience of ease of parking.

Cheryl specialises in the CACI award winning antiageing system. CACI features a range of therapies for younger people, from lip pouting to acne treatments as well as helping to stem the advancing years.

Cheryl also offers organic waxing and hand, feet and eye treatments, as well as a range of therapies utilising Katherine Daniels, the fastest growing skin-care system in the UK today.

Offering no obligation consultations, Cheryl treats a few clients per day allowing time between appointments to ensure that clients are able to discuss their requirements and never feel hurried.

Cheryl always features a range of special offers including introductory discounts and also a selection of gift vouchers making ideal Christmas presents.

Details: www.cherylchilds.co.uk

Everything you need for the great outdoors

Starters

The Cliffs, Cheddar, BS27 3QA Tel: 01934 742688 Online Store: www.thegorgeoutdoors.co.uk

Rich Tomato & Basil Soup Served with warm bread roll Duck & Orange Pâté with toast and home-made cider relish Smokey Cheddar Mushrooms Mushrooms in a cream, white wine sauce finished with smoked Cheddar cheese topped with breadcrumbs Classic Prawn Cocktail Prawns, diced peppers & cucumber bound in marie rose sauce Feta and Roast Pepper Salad With sun blazen tomatoes and Mediterranean olives drizzled with olive oil

Mains Slow roasted crown of turkey accompanied by home made pork & cranberry stuffing, bacon wrapped sausage and rich gravy Fillet of Scottish salmon with fresh dill, white wine & lemon cream sauce Venison, Juniper & Red Wine Pie Diced venison in a rich gravy encased in shortcrust pastry Roast topside of beef, served traditionally with Yorkshire puddings & rich gravy Parsnip, Chestnut & Cranberry Loaf Sweet parsnip, sharp cranberry & crunchy chestnut with port wine reduction

Desserts

• Clothing and Accessories • Cycle to Work Schemes • Quality New Bikes • Spares & Repairs • Cycle Hire • Lots of Christmas gift ideas in stock • Follow us on Facebook to be the first to hear our exciting news in December!

Christmas Pudding with brandy sauce Homemade Chocolate Brownie With locally made brandy clotted cream ice cream White Chocolate & Cranberry Cheesecake Winter spiced cheesecake on a biscuit base

RIVERSIDE INN & RESTAURANT

Cliff Street • Cheddar • BS27 3PX www.riversidecheddar.co.uk • 01934 742452 MENDIP TIMES • NOVEMBER 2015 • PAGE 45

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MENDIP TIMES

P ri o r P a r k C o l l e g e – w ha t l i f e i s a l l a b o ut

WHAT is life all about? At Prior Park it is about offering the very best teaching and learning programme, supported by outstanding pastoral care, infused with extraordinary co-curricular opportunities and underpinned by a strong sense of their place in the wider world. These are the hallmarks of a Prior Park education.

Community matters – they have a heart and a soul at Prior Park College. It is important that they gather as an entire community of 600 students once a week in assembly. Their days are long – from 8.30am to 5.45pm.

But the advantage is that in their supervised prep sessions or in their afterschool activities they stay together as a community. They are a school where ‘everybody knows your name’. Where members of the 1st XV rugby team sing in the chapel choir and their fourth team members are as valued as their first teams.

While they are a Catholic school, they welcome all faiths and all backgrounds

into an inclusive living and learning environment. They promote a culture of service and encourage their students to develop a sense of their wider mission and their ability to contribute to the community.

This year they are making the most of new facilities, including their art and design centre, sports centre and sixth form centre. Meanwhile, they have welcomed international jazz pianist Jason Rebello as their artist in residence and they continue to be humbled by the

beauty of their environment which was voted by the Oxford Royale Academy as the most beautiful boarding school environment in the UK. They welcome interested Year 8 students to their 13+ Taster Day on Friday November 20th. This will be an opportunity for your child to experience senior school life while enjoying some hands-on workshops.

For parents, their next open door day is set for Friday December 4th from 9.30am-11.30am.

Details: www.priorparkcollege.com/eventregistration.asp

PAGE 46 • MENDIP TIMES • NOVEMBER 2015

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Giving your child the best start in life

Page 47

WEDMORE First School Academy Nursery are passionate about helping children get an excellent start in life. They understand that you want the very best for your child and they are committed to being a place that your child loves to go to, where they are celebrated and encouraged in their learning.

They do this by providing a safe, happy and stimulating environment in which your child can have fun and fulfil their full potential whilst developing self-confidence. When you visit their nursery you will see that it is designed to provide education, care and continuity in a bright, warm and friendly environment.

If you want your child to be educated in an environment where their intellectual abilities and self-esteem grow, where imagination and curiosity are cultivated, where critical thinking is encouraged and where they learn to respect others, then you should visit them.

Small is beautiful

EDUCATION

RENOWNED for its family atmosphere and warm and welcoming environment, Chilton Cantelo School helps pupils become confident as well as caring and considerate individuals. From nursery to secondary school to sixth form, their class sizes are deliberately small so pupils flourish in this attentive environment and parents and staff really get to know each other.

Offering education from three to 18 years, Chilton Cantelo starts by building strong and secure foundations that support the exciting world of learning. They use an individualised learning approach which at its heart means they have the ability to understand precisely where each student is on their personal learning journey.

OPEN MORNING 20 NOVEMBER 2015 SCHOLARSHIPS: 10 NOVEMBER (Year 12) and 24 NOVEMBER (Year 9)

MENDIP TIMES • NOVEMBER 2015 • PAGE 47

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MENDIP TIMES

EDUCATION

Burrington are winners

IN July, children in years five and six at Burrington C of E Primary School attended a weeklong residential camp at Folly Farm in Bath and North East Somerset, where they had the opportunity to become budding film-makers by recording factual films on the natural habitat of local wildlife.

The films were then entered into Avon Wildlife Trust's Wild Schools Film Challenge 2015, sponsored by Rolls Royce. Over 1,000 children took part in this competition and Burrington's team consisting of Willow Pratt, Emily Kaseras, Amelia Mackay, Holly Woods and Georgina Brown made it into the finals with the award ceremony being held at the M Shed in Bristol on Sunday, October 18th. The teams’ film ‘Nature's Habitat’ won the Key Stage 2 category and they were awarded a beautiful, carved wooden plaque by the BBC's Autumn Watch presenter, Miranda Krestovnikoff.

Burrington's head teacher, Alison Waite, said: “We are really proud of the team’s achievement and their success just reinforces how important the outdoor curriculum is to the Burrington way of learning.”

‘Believe and Achieve’

OPEN MORNING Friday, 6th December 9.15 – 11am If you are unable to attend on this date, please phone the school of'ice to make an appointment. We look forward to welcoming you.

8am DAILY BREAKFAST CLUB COFFEE MORNING in the Village Hall, all welcome, pre-school equipment available. Friday, 4th December, 8.50 – 11am CHRISTMAS FAIR – Saturday, 21st November 2 – 4pm Village Hall, Burrington – FREE ENTRY

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Chew Valley property scene

WHAT an interesting year 2015 has been for the property market!

The start of the year saw many new potential buyers, sales achieved at a frantic pace and price rises. With high demand and low stock levels, buyers were wanting to snap up the perfect home before someone else.

But as winter turned to spring, the prospect of a general election saw the market slow. Whether you were happy with the result or not, we now know politically where we stand and this stability has helped “pick the market up”.

During the past year I have been fortunate to value and sell some interesting and unique properties, including a delightful property, located in the Chew Valley. We achieved a sale much sooner than our clients ever thought possible and for over £100,000 more than the valuation of another agent. The client was thrilled and, at Killens, this is something we strive to achieve.

We aim to offer clients the best possible advice and guidance based upon local knowledge and a sound understanding of the market and this helps us to continually achieve prices beyond expectations.

Despite continued demand from buyers, there is still a shortage of residential property for sale and there is a vast gap within the market place especially in the £400,000 – £600,000 family home price brackets.

The year has also brought continued growth in land values and throughout the year we have conducted a number of well attended land auctions offering lots from modest pony paddocks to substantial sites in excess of 100 acres, all of which have attracted

PAGE 50 • MENDIP TIMES • NOVEMBER 2015

prices in excess of the guide price.

It would appear rising land values are here to stay as many see land as a good investment for the future. We recently offered a small parcel within the Chew Valley for sale by tender and received in excess of 30 tenders for it realising a price well above the guide.

Killens operate from three offices across the region and, yearon-year, the Killens brand goes from strength to strength due to the hard work and dedication of our highly motivated and focused team offering a personal approach.

As well as property sales, lettings, commercial, planning and agricultural divisions, Killens also run the centrally located Mendip Auction Rooms at Rookery Farm, Binegar attracting buyers from across the region and around the world.

So if you are contemplating moving in 2016 contact your local Killens office where a member of the team will be happy to discuss your property requirements.

Matthew Bingham, Associate Partner.

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FOCUS ON CHEW VALLEY

Raising funds for Harvey

THERE were 120 scarecrows around the Chew Valley this year, raising funds for cancer victim Harvey Hext, who has recently undergone further treatment. A Harvey’s Hoedown fundraiser will be held at Dundry Village Hall on Saturday November 14th.

Millie and Stanley Powell, from Ubley, met these local characters on the trail in Chew Magna

Details: 07986 537302 or email winfordscarecrows@gmail.com

ginf@thorntontravel.co.uk 01275 332423 or 07712 778537

WITH OVER 100 YEARS OF EXPERIENCE VISITING SOME OF THE MOST WONDERFUL PLACES IN THE WORLD We have first-hand experience in the last three years of South Africa (safari, Cape Town and blue train) and Namibia touring this beautiful country, Barbados, St Lucia, Turks and Caicos, Miami, Orlando, New York, Las Vegas, big game fishing in the Florida Keys, Fred Olsen cruise, Silver Sea cruise, Tauck River Cruise, Marrakesh, Venice and the Orient Express, Gran Canaria, Menorca, Majorca, Croatia, Tenerife, Tuscany, Rome and the Amalfi coast, Dubai. Mauritius and Maldives, to name but a few.

We can put together any package holiday which will be ATOL bonded Please come and see us soon

High Class Family Butcher

Quality you can trust

Order Now for Christmas

Traditional service Meat and produce from local farms

High Street, Chew Magna Tel: 01275 332417 MENDIP TIMES • NOVEMBER 2015 • PAGE 51

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A Professional Company serving the South West

MENDIP TIMES Burglar Alarms 0 Fire Alarms 0 CCTV Systems 0 Insurance approved 0 Installation, maintenance, repairs and upgrades 0 Central Station Monitoring 0 Local engineers Tel: 01275 331914 sales@chewvalleyalarm.co.uk www.chewvalleyalarm.co.uk

Relax knowing your property is protected

Brock and Houlford Optometrists and Opticians

Eye Examinations, Sportvision, School Vision Assessments Spectacles, Contact Lenses, Family Eyecare.

33 High Street, Chew Magna, Bristol BS40 8PR Appointments 01275 332882 www.brockandhoulford.co.uk

TAXI!

Private hire 4, 6 and 8 seater vehicles – all using eco-friendly fuels.

Long and short journeys to all destinations.

School runs and account customers welcome

Commercial Landscape Maintenance Ltd Specialising in commercial work across the whole of the south west of England.

£10m site insurance – safe contractor registered

Orchard House Chew Stoke

Comfortable self-catering and bed & breakfast accommodation

Ann Hollomon

01275 333143

orchardhse@ukgateway.net www.orchardhouse-chewstoke.co.uk PAGE 52 • MENDIP TIMES • NOVEMBER 2015

www.chewcars.co.uk Established 1991

07831 825527 peterbattltd@hotmail.co.uk

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Art on show

CHEW VALLEY ARTS TRAIL

THE Chew Valley Arts Trail featured 24 venues this year, offering a wide range of arts and crafts, and featuring several newcomers to the trail. More than 50 artists took part right across the area.

Engraver Julian Poole, from Chew Magna with his 1864 printing press

Portrait artist Emily Judge took part in her first exhibition with her mother sculptor Cathy

Amelia Sommer, aged 17, from Bishop Sutton who is influenced by Japanese art Jewellery designer Ali Dymond from Felton

Joshua Dury, aged 18, from Chew Magna

Gary Hierons, Nempnett Thrubwell MENDIP TIMES • NOVEMBER 2015 • PAGE 53

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MENDIP TIMES

A thriving place in the country WESTWAY Farm at Bishop Sutton is a working farm which has become a thriving hub of small businesses on the edge of the village.

The former dairy farm was bought in 1987 by Ann and David Gillard who now breed pedigree Zwartbles sheep.

They have converted the former farm buildings into eight modern business units, all fully let. The idea to convert to offices began when a friend asked for space when a fire forced him to move.

David said: “The idea just developed over the next 20 years.

Coming here means people do not have to commute out of the

village to Bristol or Bath. It also helps the local economy because all of our supplies from tractor fuel to building materials are all sourced locally.

“It’s so important to keep the village alive. We only use local contractors for all our works.”

The latest developments have seen the installation of 100mb fibre optic superfast broadband and a total upgrade in facilities and cycle provision. All have been well received by tenants.

A change of career for BBC couple

Jane and Stefan with Karen (left)

STEFAN Zurakowski says that after working as an engineer at the BBC for 25 years he had a flash of inspiration visiting an osteopath for treatment: “I decided that was what I wanted to do for the rest of my life.”

After training, he has set now set up Avon Osteopathic Clinic at Westway Farm, supported by his wife Jane and part-time practice manager Karen Lyne.

Stefan and Jane met at the BBC, where Jane works as a production manager, specialising in live shows such as The ONE Show. She has taken a year’s sabbatical to help Stefan set up the business.

They moved from London 18 months ago to Stanton Drew, where their son Josef, aged four, attends the village school.

Stefan specialises in classical and cranial osteopathy, treating the body as a whole, rather than as a series of sections. He said: “I love it, it’s a really rewarding career helping people to help themselves – it’s finding physical solutions to physical problems.”

PAGE 54 • MENDIP TIMES • NOVEMBER 2015

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International expertise

WESTWAY FARM

GEOLOGICAL engineer Gareth Thomas founded Integrale in 1987 to give specialist advice on problems in the ground – which means a remarkable range of local and international projects are dealt with by his team at Bishop Sutton.

This ranges from trialling freshwater wells at The Palm in Dubai, to recent investigations for the proposed second reservoir at Cheddar.

Together with his wife and fellow environmental geologist Dr Kay Boreland, the practice has built up a wealth of knowledge on slope stability, historical mining, foundation options and the clean-up of contaminated sites. The technical team is headed up by Andy Harris and the office at Westway Farm, Bishop Sutton is managed by Julie Matthews, both of whom have been with Integrale for over 10 years.

Gareth said: “You never know what the next project will involve – we advise on holes that open up, rock slopes falling down, remnants of past industrial waste, and even unexploded bomb risk. A fascinating workload!

“The geology of the Bristol and Bath District is the most varied in the UK. We currently have 80 projects, including Chew Stoke, Farrington Gurney, and Backwell, and working with individual developers building their dream eco-home, and on Grand Designs with great views but hair-raising slopes!”

Fire safety consultants

MCFP provides a full range of fire safety products and services. We are fully accredited as a BSI Fire Gold approved company with ISO9001:2008, BAFE SP203 for design, installation, commissioning, handover, verification and maintenance of Fire detection and alarm systems.

MIKE Chilman’s fire safety business is the latest company to move into Westway Farm. Mike was in farming until the recession hit when he moved to work for an international fire safety company.

After being made redundant he set up his own business, MC Fire Protection, 15 years ago. It employs ten people at its main base at Bicester in Oxfordshire working mainly with commercial clients, including hospitals, universities and Formula One teams.

It supplies, installs and maintains fire extinguishers and fire alarms and acts as a consultancy for fire risk assessments and staff training.

Mike said: “We do a lot of work in London and Birmingham, but increasingly we have been working in Bristol and Westonsuper-Mare, so it makes sense to have a base here and Westway Farm is ideal.”

Our Fire Extinguisher accreditation is to SP101 for installation and maintenance.

We are conveniently located with offices in Bicester and Bristol, to provide prompt service throughout the South of England.

We have an enviable customer retention rate and always provide outstanding service and excellent value to all new and established clients.

Westway Farm, Bishop Sutton, Bristol BS39 5XP T: 01275 333336 • F: 01869 240800 W: www.mcfp.co.uk

MENDIP TIMES • NOVEMBER 2015 • PAGE 55

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MENDIP TIMES

WESTWAY FARM

Yoga finds a permanent base

AFTER 15 months of holding classes in village and church halls around the Chew Valley, Ann-See Yeoh and her partner Mr Kim Hambley have now set up a permanent base at Westway Farm.

My Yoga Space already has 65 clients and that list is growing.

Ann-See has always worked in fitness and well-being and was previously a university lecturer in exercise physiology.

Fifteen years ago she was part of the team that launched the Les Mills BODYBALANCE fitness programme into the UK and has travelled the world teaching instructors. She has also developed her own form of yoga, My Kind of Yoga. She is sponsored by Reebok.

Ann-See said: “We offer both yoga and Les Mills BODYBALANCE classes throughout the week. Most people come for stress relief or because they want to keep supple. They really appreciate having time out and time for themselves, which makes them stronger, more flexible and able to sleep better.”

Her partner Mr Kim looks after the sales and marketing side of the business and the couple live in Chew Stoke.

Tax advice from AHB

We are a local company in the Chew Valley with easy access to Bristol and Bath and we specialise in: Account Preparation Book-keeping Payroll Company Secretarial Inheritance Tax Planning Personal Tax Planning VAT Tax Investigations Tax Returns and Self Assessments New Business Start-up

FREE INITIAL MEETING

e Tannery, Westway Farm, Bishop Sutton BS39 5XP Contact: claire@ahbaccountants.co.uk PAGE 56 • MENDIP TIMES • NOVEMBER 2015

DESPITE the government’s pledge of no increases in income tax, they have made sweeping changes to the tax liability on anyone receiving dividends. The first £5,000 of dividend income is tax free but dividends received in excess of that are now to be taxed at an extra 7.5% for all taxpayers.

It is now imperative that you plan ahead for this change to reduce the overall increased tax burden. There are still a number of ways that this can be achieved, depending on personal circumstances, but as always, if you fail to plan ahead, it’s at your cost.

The advice from AHB Accountants at Westway Farm is that at present they cannot see any reason to stop paying dividends rather than salaries. But there’s a risk the government will increase this special tax in future.

They are also warning landlords they will no longer get tax relief on replacing items of furniture, cookers, fridges, carpets etc. However, the government could change this from April next year so their advice is to delay incurring expenditure.

Even worse, from April 2017, landlords that have mortgages will no longer be able to claim the interest as a deduction against rental profits.

Despite the government’s intentions on increasing all our tax burdens, there are still ways in which this can be circumvented. However, it requires planning ahead to take into account not only short term changes, but long term considerations.

The employment allowance has now been changed for all employers but beware the small print whereby you are a sole director and trying to take advantage of this allowance.

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WILDLIFE

The real wild – time to discuss the issue

Sunset at Ham Wall

Where the single species issue really falls down is only where the preservation of the one has to result in the destruction of a habitat which is vital for so many others.

Another major issue that nature faces is our disconnection from it, and ultimately our lack of respect and understanding for it. In some cases we fight it head-on instead of trying to work with it.

Many older farmers that I meet highlight this issue as a major problem, as they can see a general trend happening whereby people are becoming increasingly disconnected from the countryside.

One species that really suffers a total lack of respect is an insect that in my youth was seemingly very rare, but is now making a slow yet noticeable recovery, the hornet. Not the Asian hornet that can wipe out a colony of 30,000 European bees and is not present in the UK yet, but the European hornet to which European bees do have a defence.

I am going to add wasps into this as well, because both hornet and wasp are themselves both important species. They are amazing predators, which catch many species we would call pests, and are also at times pollinators. I for one welcome the wasp and the hornet. Once we understand them, we begin to respect them, and once we respect them they become less of a threat and more just a part of the amazing nature that surrounds us all, and that that we are very much a part of.

There are many superb examples of conservation getting it very right. One of my favourite nature reserves is the RSPB’s Ham Wall on the Somerset Levels. This is a really wild area which, although managed, is certainly not over-managed. It’s an example of superb bio-diversity enrichment and indeed it attracts many new species to the area. But what’s very important to me is that it also caters so well for the human enjoyment of nature, allowing people to be immersed in the wonderful landscape and wildlife whilst giving the wildlife plenty of cover for security.

We should all be debating the future of our wildlife and natural landscapes; it must not be left just to the chosen few.

Everyone has the ability to make positive contributions within their own area and community. The future of wildlife is in all of our hands.

Photography courtesy of Chris Sperring

ONE of the many public talks I give is called: “The Real Wild”. Within this talk I try to stimulate debate and discussion about the real needs of nature and how we should all be working to conserve it.

With so many species in this country now in serious decline it’s clear that something

By CHRIS substantial needs to happen pretty quickly to SPERRING reverse some of these trends before it’s too MBE late. One of the species which has suffered the worst decline in recent times is the magnificent songster the nightingale, whose numbers have been reduced by around 91% in the last 40 years.

Even a quick bit of research will reveal that the nightingale’s preferred habitat is basically scrubland. Deer have been implicated in playing a role in the decline of this bird, but we shouldn’t underestimate the human influence when it comes to scrub management. First things first though, we do need to manage our natural areas because we have long ago removed many of the wild animals that did it naturally, but my question about management is always: “How much do we really need to manage?”

There are numerous examples of scrubland being cleared to make way for flower-rich meadows, or to create vast open landscapes for the benefit of a few specific bird species, but when does the benefit of scrub clearance outweigh the damage? Scrub and hedgerows support a vast bio-diversity, providing food, cover and nesting sites for many thousands of species, yet these habitats are often undervalued in a way that flower-rich grasslands and woodlands are not. I sometimes feel that conservationists may be trying to break one of nature’s rules, whereby the needs of the many outweigh the needs of the few, or the one.

This leads on to how much emphasis we place on the issues of a single species. Sometimes this is essential, for example where you have a keystone species whose presence benefits so many other species, then single species focus can work, and indeed from a public perspective it’s often easier to talk about a popular species which can highlight the plight of a whole habitat and its many other, but lesser known, inhabitants.

Chris Sperring is Conservation Officer for the Hawk and Owl Trust Contact him on 07799 413 918 or via chris.sperring@btinternet.com MENDIP TIMES • NOVEMBER 2015 • PAGE 57

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MENDIP TIMES

Follow the Wellow Brook

QUIET and hidden, the Wellow Brook that runs through Shoscombe Vale near Radstock is a gorgeous area for walking. This easy five-miler mixes quiet tracks and footpaths, visits the amazing Stony Littleton Long Barrow which you can enter, and criss-crosses the brook and the old railway line.

Walking is undulating and is good underfoot. There is one difficult muddy patch near the brook so take a good stick and wear stout boots. The added

bonus of this walk is one of my favourite village pubs, the Apple Tree Inn at Shoscombe, tucked into the side of the hill. Note that it is closed lunchtime Mondays and Tuesdays. This should be a good walk for dogs. There are stiles but most should be OK and some have doggy flaps built into them.

PARK: In Shoscombe village which is south of Peasedown St John and easily accessed from the A367. Park along the road near the welcoming Apple Tree Inn (not in the car park) along the top of the village.

Alternatively you could use the large village hall car park down Single Hill.

Pass the Apple Tree on your right; go along and up White Hill, and take the first road right. The hall parking is down on the righ. To start from here, turn right downhill and take the second turning right, Single Hill and follow directions from there.

START: Turn right from the Apple Tree and take the second footpath on the right opposite Apple Croft.

With Sue Gearing PAGE 58 • MENDIP TIMES • NOVEMBER 2015

1. FOOTPATH Follow this good Tarmac path, which links the two parts of Shoscombe along and down, passing the village school at the end. Turn left and shortly, at the red phone box, take the marked footpath right. Go in front of garages and down, to enter a field. Cross diagonally left to the far corner. Turn left along the path and

follow it along and out to the road.

2. SINGLE HILL Cross into Single Hill No Through Road.

This is where those in the village hall car park join. Go along here, paralleling the old railway line down on the right. From September 1929 until the line closed on March 7th, 1966, Shoscombe had a railway station, Shoscombe and Single Hill Halt, on the main line of the Somerset and Dorset Joint Railway, much in demand for servicing the coal pits in the area. Go along to the end and take the footpath at the end straight on. Follow it into a field and go across. Come out through a metal gate onto Hang Hill.

Turn right downhill to Stony Littleton crossing the path of the old railway where there was once a bridge. Carry on down.

3. LANE Take the first lane on the left a very quiet, flat and sunny route which parallels the brook. Eventually it reaches a small parking area and a sign for the Long Barrow on the right.

4. FOOTBRIDGE Cross right over the large footbridge and then left and go over another stile. Now follow the left hedge uphill. Take the stile on the left where it is signed to the barrow and follow the hedge along. Cross right to the Neolithic barrow.

5. LONG BARROW The entrance to the chambered tomb is

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WALKING

on the right hand end. These were for the burial of the dead. Notice the fossils on each side of the entrance.

After visiting this ancient site return all the way back down to the large footbridge, but don’t cross. Continue on this side of Wellow Brook and keep on.

Gradually head up to a farm ahead.

Pick up a track which takes you to Stony Littleton Farm.

6. FARM Go through and join the farm drive which leads along to a lane. Turn right downhill and cross Wellow Brook again in Stony Littleton. Go uphill a short distance, passing the lane on the right you took earlier. Look for a metal gate in the hedge left. Turn right in the field with the brook down below on the left.

Now just continue on, paralleling the route of the old railway up on the bank right. Your path gets close to the brook where there is a very wet and muddy patch. Then just carry on through a gate under a large willow. At the end a gate leads onto a path which comes out on a bend by the brook.

7. BRIDGE Cross left over the bridge and see down by the brook large concrete triangular structures. These and pill boxes you pass later were part of the Stop Line to repel a potential German invasion in the last war. Follow the lane for two or three minutes, climbing at the end. Just before a house on the right turn right on the marked footpath.

8. FIELD Follow it into a field and head on

5 miles, about 2.5 hours walking OS Explorer 142 Shepton Mallet & Mendip Hills East, Grid ref: 712 564

across a field and over another stile.

There are good views across to Shoscombe. Maintain direction, but bear up left a little to go through a large metal gate. Now, as you go on, pass the first power pole on your right and then head straight across, towards Foxcote.

Come alongside a stone wall. Go through a large gate and follow the wall on and cross to a gate onto the lane in Foxcote.

9. FOXCOTE Turn right and immediately left come to the unusual little church of St James the Less (sadly, closed when I came). It dates from the early 18th century and incorporates a 15th century turret. Take

the lane on downhill, getting steeper, and return to Wellow Brook and the old railway. Foxcote, on the route of the Somerset and Dorset Railway, was the site, on August 7th, 1876, of a collision between the Wimborne to Bath train and one travelling from Bath to Radstock. The crash, known as the Radstock rail accident, left 13 people killed and 51 injured.

10. SHOSCOMBE VALE Continue uphill to a junction in the area known as Shoscombe Vale and go ahead to a gate ahead into a field. Head up to a hedge corner above and then maintain direction following the hedge ahead on your left towards cottages and Shoscombe. Stay in the field coming close to the end of the cottage gardens, ignoring a gate into a side field. Go through an opening into the field ahead and shortly look down right to see a metal kissing gate alongside a bungalow below.

Go down and follow the path up taking you past the pretty pub garden and round the pub to the road. If you parked in the village hall, follow the main directions from the start, passing the school and turning right. Then stay on this to a crossroads and turn left steeply uphill to the village hall on the left.

The Apple Tree Inn, Shoscombe, run

by Mark and Mandy Bryan, 01761 432263.

MENDIP TIMES • NOVEMBER 2015 • PAGE 59

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MENDIP TIMES

OUTDOORS

West Countryman’s Diary

I'M hearing tell of a hard winter to come, but I hear that most years. Having said that I will still make preparations with plenty of firewood (I With LES hope) together with DAVIES MBE candles and lamp oil just in case they are right this time.

As for my prediction, I'm not going to make one apart from the hope that the passage of time (God willing) will see us through to spring next year.

This year’s Mendip Ploughing Match was the 146th in the society’s 167 years.

We were blessed with weather that made the whole event a pleasure to attend. There were plenty of visitors and a couple of schools came along to take a look at this very rural day out.

With around 91 ploughs competing on the day, together with the hedging and walling, there was plenty of opportunity to cast a critical eye over the day’s work and then retire to the marquee for well-earned refreshments.

In my book there cannot be enough praise for the ladies who run these refreshments. They cut the sandwiches and provide tea that is taken to every competitor on the headland, hedgerow and wall. Add to this some 250 lunches for judges, stewards and visitors and you have a catering achievement second to none.

Next year, well who knows what the weather will be, but the same spirit will prevail in all those who make the day such an unforgettable countryside event.

It's also good to see the number of harvest suppers that continue to bring people together in the villages. The village of Wedmore first hit the news in the year 878, when King Alfred made the Danish King Guthrum sign a peace treaty and then converted him to Christianity.

Wedmore folk can without doubt hold their heads high as a premier harvest home, but many other smaller villages hold their own when it comes to organising a simple supper for all. This year I spoke at Henton's celebration and received a wonderful two-page letter from one of those who attended, telling me of his life and experiences in the area.

Pure gold are moments such as this, when one of my talks has inspired others to share their experiences. We all have a

story to tell and each one is going to be different.

“If you go down to the woods today” you will find a whole lot going on at Stockhill near Priddy. Timber harvesting has started and you will find machinery and vehicles moving about in the forest.

You will also see the barrier tape and traffic cones at the entrance. This is to discourage parking which blocks the access.

I have suffered on several occasions with such thoughtless parking, once waiting 45 minutes to get in and then having to wait three hours to get out again, all on the same day. When the vehicle owner returns and I get comments such as “there isn't a notice to say I can’t park here” it's not very helpful and does not endear me to their cause. I believe access to the countryside to be important, but there are quite frankly some who should not be let out without constant supervision.

There are some amazing autumn colours this year and, whereas I like the spring, autumn comes a very close second. The rustle of dry leaves underfoot and a chill in the air that makes you turn your coat collar up, are all part of the preparation for winter. I watched a grey squirrel the other day as it hurried about burying hazel nuts in the grass. How it will ever find them again I don’t know, and in reality most will be lost. There was certainly something driving the creature as each nut was carefully placed in the hole and the earth gently patted down on top of it.

You can tell that I don't have a “real” job when I can afford to spend time like this. I try and do as much standing and looking as I can and only then can I get those wonderful moments when the wildlife doesn't know you are there. I had a similar moment when a dog fox came out of a hedgerow quite close to me.

I had stopped the tractor and mower whilst I had a cup of tea. He sat there and I sat there, neither of us taking any notice of the other, until a movement from me alerted him and he made off.

When preparing for the colder weather, it is important to get well-seasoned logs for your open fire or wood burner. There are plenty of reputable people about, but there are also some who are not so concerned about what they will sell you.

Unseasoned or wet wood will not burn well and can cause problems in your

chimney and stove.

The wood I prefer is apple wood with its wonderful sweet smell and I will stack and season it for a year before burning. Again I'm lucky that I have access to wood, but many will buy in. To help you choose the best, I've found this poem written in 1930

by Lady Celia Congreve. It is believed to have been published for the first time in the Times newspaper on March 2nd 1930 and simply called The Firewood poem: Beechwood fires are bright and clear If the logs are kept a year Chestnuts only good they say If for logs 'tis laid away Make a fire of elder tree Death within your house will be But ash new or ash old Is fit for a queen with crown of gold.

Birch and fir logs burn too fast Blaze up bright and do not last It is by the Irish said Hawthorn bakes the sweetest bread Elm burns like churchyard mould E'en the very flames are cold But ash green or ash brown Is fit for a queen with golden crown.

Poplar gives a bitter smoke Fills your eyes and makes you choke Apple wood will scent your room Pear wood smells like flowers in bloom Oaken logs if dry and old Keep away the winters cold But ash wet or ash dry A king shall warm his slippers by.

I think this sums it all up, although I wouldn’t go for the green ash option. It is however at the very top of a firewood list, if seasoned. Whatever you choose, I hope the results will bring you warmth and comfort throughout the winter months.

This month’s photo is an ideal accompaniment to the evening fire, sweet chestnuts. Just one of the good things that autumn brings to us.

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

PAGE 60 • MENDIP TIMES • NOVEMBER 2015

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YEO VALLEY

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MENDIP TIMES

Evergreen, ever siler, ever gold and ever blue

AS the leaves fall from deciduous plants, and what a good year it has been for autumn colour, especially on the Norway Maples on the roadside of Chew Valley School, we are left with the bare bones of the garden for the winter, but do not despair. With a little thought, our gardens can be interesting all With MARY through the coming months.

PAYNE MBE Plants that keep their leaves are one of the mainstays, along with coloured stems and twigs and the structural remains of perennials, especially grasses. When planning a border I always try to include at least one third of the plants as “evergreens” and they do not have to be green, there are plenty of plants with white and green, yellow and green, blue and even silver foliage that really come into their own at this time.

These plants are so useful for screening unsightly sheds and compost heaps and many of them have the added advantage that they can cope with shady positions. They can take advantage of the extra light that is revealed when deciduous trees above have lost their leaves. Some, such as yew and box can be clipped into topiary shapes that themselves become a feature of the winter garden.

On the whole “evergreens” tend to be woody plants, such as shrubs or trees, but there are some valuable, versatile nonwoody perennials. Bergenias with their rounded leathery looking leaves are often either loved or hated, rather like Marmite, but several varieties turn from green to rich red shades in the winter months – a colour that I always describe as that of raw liver.

Low winter sun lights up these plants which make excellent ground cover plants for light shade. Their pink flowers are a bonus in early spring. Winter in the garden would not be complete without the Christmas roses (hellebores) all of which are more or less evergreen. The Lenten Roses (Helleborus hybridus) offer a range of coloured flowers from white, through yellow, to shades of pink and sometimes even slatey black, although the dark colours do not show up well against the earth.

Removing the old foliage of these plants in December helps the flower spikes to show up well, and reduces the cross infection of a leaf spot disease.

Golden foliage is sure to brighten up the winter garden.

Choisya ternata Sundance stays bright all year unless grown in too much shade, when it will start to go green a bit. Slightly less brazen is the more delicate foliage of Choisya x dewitteana ‘Aztec Gold’. The columnar habit and slow growth of the golden leaved form of yew (Taxus baccata ‘Standishii’) makes it ideal for smaller gardens.

It is best to keep plants with different coloured variegated foliage away from each other. Two of the most useful in this group would be the yellow/green foliage of Euonymus fortunei ‘Emerald ’n’ Gold’ or the white/green leaves of E. f. ‘Emerald Gaeity’. Both of these can be used as ground cover plants, or can be grown as a clipped dwarf hedge, or even allowed to climb a wall or fence, even north facing, where they will selfcling given a helping hand to start off.

A spectacular recent variety of false castor oil (Fatsia japonica) is one called ‘Spiders Web’. The large green palmate leaves are heavily speckled with white, and it makes a striking architectural shaped plant for light shade.

PAGE 62 • MENDIP TIMES • NOVEMBER 2015

Euonymus 'Emeral 'n' Gold'

For obscuring anything unsightly my first choice is usually Elaeagnus x ebbingei. This fast growing, versatile shrub with green leaves backed with silver will grow in shade or sun, can be clipped into a hedge or grown “free range”. In November, scaly small white flowers emit a powerful fragrance that is most welcome. If a tad more colour is required then try E. ‘Gilt Edge’ which has a strong yellow edge to the foliage but is less vigorous that its parent. Both will grow in shade.

Silver “evergreen” foliage is less common and usually needs to be grown in a sunny position as the silver effect is usually created by a mass of hairs on the foliage. Cotton Lavender (Santolina chamaecyparissus) is easy and effective, especially if it is hard clipped in late spring allowing the new fresh foliage to grow, and this technique also avoids the yellow blobby flowers in summer.

It also helps prevent the plant flopping open revealing the unappealing centre. Convolvulus cneorum also has persistent silver foliage bearing pinkie/white “bindweed” style flowers in May. Don’t panic, it is related to that pernicious weed, but is certainly not invasive, and makes an attractive small shrub for a sunny well-drained position.

Blue foliage is hard to find but the silver blue of some varieties of the Colorado spruce (Picea pungens) can be spectacular. P.p.’Koster’ is one of the most popular making a conical, small to medium sized tree with intense silver blue foliage.

Red-leaved evergreens are also a bit thin on the ground except for the new foliage of Photinia ‘Red Robin’ and the pink/cream/ green variegation of its newer, less vigorous, cousin P. ‘Pink Marble’. Both of these plants can be pruned in late spring and again during the summer to encourage new growth that has the brightest colour.

The unbiquitous so-called “black grass” (Ophiopogon planiscapus ‘Nigrescens’) certainly keeps its leaves all winter but planted in soil it does not show up. Inter-planting with snowdrops improves the effect, but it is best reserved for planting in areas of pale coloured gravel where it can be very effective.

There is no doubt that using a generous scattering of evergreens in all their colours greatly enhances the garden in winter. Add a dash of coloured twigs and a pinch of winter flowering shrubs and your garden will be heading rapidly for that elusive title “a garden for all seasons”.

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NOVEMBER GARDEN TIPS

GARDENING

G If you are not planting up your tubs and hanging baskets for winter and spring colour (why not!) take them down, empty them out and put them away for winter.

G Move plants in pots together so that they protect one another in cold weather. Remove saucers from underneath them and ensure excess water can get away through the drainage holes in the base by unblocking them and standing pots on pot feet.

G Protect tender alpine plants from the cold and wet.

Many are protected by several feet of snow where they grow in the wild. This not only protects them from severe cold but also keeps them drier. Use a sheet of glass or a garden cloche.

G If you haven’t done it already, trim the dead flower heads off summer and autumn flowering heathers. A sharp pair of shears or Burgon & Ball topiary shears (an excellent gift) is suitable for this. Trim a little of the shoot tips off too as this will keep them nice and compact.

Trees, Shrubs, Roses, Conifers, etc.

G If the soil is not too wet or actually frozen it’s still a good time for planting of hardy plants.

G Reduce the height of Lavatera, but leave the hard pruning until spring.

G Fork over borders and work into the soil a slow release feed such as Fish, Blood and Bonemeal.

Courtesy Cleeve Nursery

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THE TIMBERYARD • SHUTE SHELVE • CROSS • NEAR AXBRIDGE Tel: 01934 732 396 • www.timberworkbuildings.co.uk e.mail: timberbuildings@aol.com

Serving breakfast, lunch & afternoon tea Browse around JAMES STORE Large stock of HOME BREW PRODUCTS + many other bargains See our website for more details www.rockymountainnurseries.co.uk

ALL YOUR GARDENING NEEDS – SET IN 12 WONDERFUL ACRES – MENDIP TIMES • NOVEMBER 2015 • PAGE 63

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MENDIP TIMES

Village looks ahead

THE village of Temple Cloud isn’t resting on its laurels after winning a Gold Pennant in South West in Bloom – they are already planning for next year.

This was just their second year of entering – they won a silver gilt award last year. Organiser, Sandra Blair, said: “The group are all keen to continue next year but we have to decide which level of competition to enter and how we will share out the workload!”

They plan to plant bulbs on the verges of the A37, which runs through the village, and also hope to plant another border on the main road.

They would like more volunteers to help them, even if it is just for an hour or so at odd times.

Details: Sandra Blair 01761 452026 or Doris Gentle 01761 451060.

SHOWROOM NOW OPEN

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

GARDENING

Finally sort out your garden

IF you felt your garden lacked lustre this summer now is the time to resolve to do better next year. Garden designer and tutor Christine Pritchard is running a number of short courses to suit enthusiastic new gardeners.

You can choose to redesign your whole garden or learn more about putting plants together in your borders. You can even learn how to illustrate your garden plans.

There are two venues to choose from: Stoke Lodge in Bristol or the Somer Valley Campus (formerly Norton Radstock College). The Stoke Lodge courses are available on Fridays or Saturdays and the Somer Valley Campus courses take place in the evenings.

The first course starts on January 30th 2016. You don’t need to be a knowledgeable gardener or fluent in Latin to enjoy these informal courses.

Planning ahead

NAILSEA and District Horticultural Society would like to invite all members and prospective members to their annual general meeting to be held at 7.30 pm on Wednesday November 11th at the United Reformed Church, Nailsea.

Next year’s programme of talks will be unveiled and members will be encouraged to ask questions and make suggestions for the future. After the formalities Val and Martyn Davies will give a demonstration and talk about sweet peas.

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

Stump Grinding and Tree Services, throughout the South West Garden Design • Planting Schemes • Horticultural Consultancy Courses in Gardening and Garden Design www.christinepritchard.co.uk • info@christinepritchard.co.uk tel: 01761 221166 • mobile: 07966 172282

See our website at www.groundlevelcontractors.co.uk or e-mail us at info@groundlevelcontractors.co.uk Prefer to talk to us?

Tel: 01934 710135 • Mob: 07941 908832 PAGE 64 • MENDIP TIMES • NOVEMBER 2015

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THE innovative road-raising scheme at Muchelney has been highly commended at the prestigious National Transport Awards – narrowly missing out on the top prize to Heathrow Airport’s Terminal 2.

The Somerset County Council-led scheme was short-listed in the Construction and Engineering Project of the Year category, and comes just months after winning the Effective Transport and Infrastructure Delivery Award at The MJ (Municipal Journal) Achievement Awards.

The scheme saw 500m of road into Muchelney raised by up to 1.3 metres in just five months. The work means the road would be able to stay open in the event of flooding on the same scale as that experienced in the winter of 2014.

Works were completed on budget and the road reopened in February with a celebratory event enjoyed by the local community and those involved in the project. The project was delivered by the council’s highways contractor Skanska and funded by the Department for Transport. It was undertaken as part of the multi-agency 20 Year Flood Action Plan, which is now overseen by the Somerset Rivers Authority.

Councillor John Osman, leader of Somerset County Council and chair of the Somerset Rivers Authority, said: “It was a tremendous honour to see our work at Muchelney mentioned alongside major nationally significant projects such as Heathrow Airport’s Terminal 2, the Manchester Airport Metrolink Line and the London Underground’s Northern Line.”

MOTORING

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QUALITY USED CARS Your peace of mind is our priority

CLEEVE HILL, UBLEY BS40 6PG Telephone: 01761 462275 (24hrs) www.ubleymotors.co.uk

MENDIP TIMES • NOVEMBER 2015 • PAGE 65

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MENDIP TIMES

George

House

Antiques, curios and collectables George House, The Square, Axbridge BS26 2AP Tel: 01934 733939 Mob: 07979 994126 email: b.hamblin2@btinternet.com

Lavender Gifts & Crafts Shop

SINGLE ESTATE LAVENDER FIELD

George House, The Square, Axbridge BS26 2AP

Email:info@lavenderandco.co.uk Tel: 01934 733939/0781 866 5729 www.lavenderandco.co.uk

AXBRIDGE, SOMERSET BS26 2BA

Naturally bred, traditionally reared, Aberdeen Angus beef from the farm, also Tu r k e y s , Chicken, Duck, Pork & Lamb (Free range & naturally fed)

Taking orders now for Christmas

Shop open: Thurs, Fri 10am–4pm Sat 9am–1pm Mon - Thurs 11.30am - 11pm Sat 11.30am - midnight • Sun 12midday - 11pm 01934 732253 • lamb@butcombe.com

0 19 3 4 73 3 3 41

moorlandfm@btinternet.com www.moorlandfarm.co.uk

We accept cash, cheques or BACS payment

PAGE 66 • MENDIP TIMES • NOVEMBER 2015

For Christmas – Flowers, Wreaths, Gifts, Hampers

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FOCUS ON AXBRIDGE

Why not visit Axbridge this Christmas?

THE medieval town of Axbridge is the perfect venue for a day out. The historic square is the main focal point, with King John’s Hunting Lodge museum at one end and St. John’s Church standing over it.

There’s free parking in the village car park and some quality shops to browse for Christmas shopping, as well as a choice of venues for breakfast, lunch, tea or dinner.

The Secret Garden Florist is one of the town’s newest businesses, run by mother and daughter Linda and Jessica Richards, who are offering flowers, wreaths, gifts and hampers for Christmas.

Next door George House Antiques is a real treasure house of antiques, curios and collectables. Owner Baz Hamblin’s wife, Carole, runs Lavender and Co in the same building, offering a range of products made from lavender grown on the hillside above the town, as well as

other gifts ideal for Christmas.

Moorland Farm is a great supporter of Axbridge Farmers’ Market – see our Food and Drink section for details – and sells a range of quality meats from the farm from Thursday to Saturday, adding turkeys for Christmas.

After a busy day shopping and sightseeing there’s a choice of places to relax including The Oak House or Lamb Inn, both renowned for fine food, wines and hospitality.

At heart it may be a medieval town, but Axbridge also boasts high-tech companies, including Enable Promotional Marketing, a leading international marketing company.

With its location on the Strawberry Line, next to the Mendip Hills, and close to Cheddar Reservoir, Axbridge is a prime location for historians, walkers, tourists, cyclists, naturalists and shoppers – as well as being one of the most attractive towns in our area.

MENDIP TIMES • NOVEMBER 2015 • PAGE 67

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MENDIP TIMES

Retirement by the sea

PEGASUS Court and Lodge is an independent living development in Weston-super-Mare, constructed by Pegasus Retirement Homes Plc and completed in 2007. The apartments are leasehold on a 125-year lease, starting in 2007.

Pegasus Court has 22 two-bedroomed apartments and 32 onebedroomed apartments, while Pegasus Lodge has 14 twobedroomed apartments.

There is an estate manager on duty between 9am – 5pm Monday to Friday. Out of hours emergency call-outs are handled by a call centre.

There is lift access to all levels, a lounge, guest suite, fitness suite, laundry, landscaped gardens and gated car parking, secure door entry and emergency alarm call systems.

It’s conveniently situated, close to local shops and amenities and the court and communal lounge enjoy wonderful views across the coast. The beach is only a short walk away and there’s a regular bus service to Weston-super-Mare town centre.

Pegasus Court has a very active social committee, who organise coffee mornings, quizzes, film evenings and fish and chip suppers, as well as day trips to places of interest or for shopping.

New owners are accepted over 60 years of age and pets are welcome (subject to terms of the lease).

This development is ideally situated for those who enjoy the coast. The garden is sheltered and has a pagoda and patio. There

is a welcoming atmosphere.

One resident, Ros McKenzie, said: “I love my flat. I feel safe and secure in Pegasus Court and we have a manager who is always looking out for us. This is retirement by the sea, five minutes' bus journey from the town centre and with an active community life in the court if you want to take part – every day feels like a holiday!"

One and two-bedroom apartments are available from £140,000.

Details: Rachel Clarke, Court Manager on 01934 637859 or pegasus@kingsdale.co.uk

Pegasus Court and Lodge, Weston-super-Mare Court: 58 Beach Road, Weston-super-Mare BS23 4AL Lodge: 2A Severn Road, Weston-super-Mare BS23 1DN

Kingsdale Group Limited Kings House, Greystoke Business Centre, High Street, Por shead, Bristol BS20 6PY Telephone 01275 817111 • Facsimile 01275 818133 Email: estates@kingsdale.co.uk PAGE 68 • MENDIP TIMES • NOVEMBER 2015

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PROPERTY

Choosing the right agent

CHOOSING the right agent to market your home is a hard decision – there are so many factors which all agents cover; presentation of the brochure, advertising, internet, viewing and negotiating the sale.

When Clive Setter (formerly of Setter & Lee) decided to retire and sell the family home he had a great choice of agents!

With all his wealth of experience he knew all the local and national based agents could offer him a similar service, but one stood out amongst the crowd – the one that he had competed against for many years and one that he KNEW would deliver the best purchaser at the best price.

He and his family decided on David James and Partners Limited in Wrington.

Clive has known Sharon Everett for many years – over 25 in the Chew Valley alone and knew that David James would find the best buyer and not only that, the best price for the property.

He trusted that they would use all the factors that every other agent could deploy but the personality and knowledge that this company of Rural Chartered Surveyors and Property agents could resource was second to none – and he was right!

A perfect buyer was found and the contract duly completed – unfortunately the new buyer is also awaiting retirement and cannot be in the West Country for a year or so. They have employed Oliver McCarthy at David James and Partners Limited to let the property – this was done within 24 hours of the property completing and within seven days the new tenants

WEST HARPTREE, CHEW VALLEY

A very special cottage in a glorious location with views spanning the Chew Valley Lake and beyond. A superbly appointed and extended detached cottage located in a rural lane between West and East Harptree. This delightful property oozes tranquility and peace; superb open plan living space with Aga and French doors to the garden, large sitting room with woodburner, double bedrooms, polished limestone shower room. Cottage gardens and parking. Epc: F. Ref; 24942 PRICE GUIDE £525,000

LOXTON, WEST MENDIPS

A large detached period farmhouse located in the centre of the village with views to Crooks Peak.

Walled gardens and orchard, ample parking and detached stone and tile garage. Kitchen with Aga, three/four reception rooms with open fireplaces, four large double bedrooms, bath and shower rooms, cloakroom and utility. Some TLC required. EPC: F Ref: 24899.

PRICE GUIDE £595,000

moved in.

The retiring agent chose the right agent!

David James & Partners Limited celebrated their silver anniversary this year and whilst a party was held in July for all friends, clients and colleagues at Barley Wood Stables, the staff at David James felt they would like to note this special event with the giving and planting of a tree in the grounds of the offices at Wrington.

A silver birch tree was planted by the directors Stewart Waters, Matthew Blaken and Richard Nancekivell on a lovely clear evening in September, followed by a reception for all staff and friends in the stable yard at Barley Wood.

WEST ROLSTONE, NORTH SOMERSET

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

KINGSTON SEYMOUR, NORTH SOMERSET R

SIMILA RACT – T N O C T TO RED REQUI UBJEC SOLD S ROPERTIES P

Detached farmhouse with 33 acres – small holding/small farm with large agricultural outbuilding and detached stone and tile barn. The house requires modernisation; Three double bedrooms, bath and shower room, sitting room, dining room and kitchen.

EPC: F Ref: 24914 PRICE GUIDE £795,000

Wrington Tel: 01934 864300 MENDIP TIMES • NOVEMBER 2015 • PAGE 69

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MENDIP TIMES

Shortage of stock driving up prices HOUSE sales continued to pick up across the South West in September supported by a modest improvement in the availability of mortgage finance, according to the latest survey by the Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors.

Across the region, 19% more chartered surveyors saw a rise in agreed sales, with 23% more respondents expecting a rise in

sales expectations over the next three months. This trend in agreed sales outstrips the national rate, with 14% more surveyors reporting a rise in agreed sales across the UK. RICS says the stronger sales trend in the UK is broadly reflective of an upturn in demand which has been visible in the data since early spring, with new buyer enquiries rising for a third consecutive month across the South West.

The pattern echoes recent lending data, including that highlighted by the Bank of England, showing mortgage approvals at an 18-month high and up 12% compared to a year ago. Although activity is picking up, RICS says the ongoing lack of new instructions and resulting limited stock on the market continues to be an issue.

Nationally, the number of new

We’ve got it covered

PROPERTY

instructions has fallen in 13 of the last 14 months. In the South West, 5% more surveyors reported a fall rather than rise in new instructions in September. Chartered surveyors feel the biggest factor behind the negative trend in new instructions is the lack of stock already for sale which is deterring would be movers as they struggle to find a suitable property to move on to. The next most cited influence was economic uncertainty, followed by stretched affordability.

This shortage is leading to a rise in prices with 35% more chartered surveyors predicting a rise in prices in the region over the next three months.

In the lettings market, tenant demand in the South West increased once more, continuing the pattern seen by respondents since December 2014. While new landlord

instructions increased slightly in September, they were still significantly outstripped by tenant demand.

Over the next 12 months, chartered surveyors across the UK are forecasting rents to rise by 3% at the headline level while in the South West they are expected to rise by 1.6%.

Simon Rubinsohn, RICS Chief Economist, said: “Activity is now picking up which is encouraging, but unless the stock being sold is replenished there is a limit to how sustainable this modest improvement in market turnover will prove to be. And, unfortunately, the indications are that we are locked in a cycle where the lack of available properties on agents’ books is itself deterring some potential vendors from thinking about putting their own property on the market.”

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HIGH LITTLETON HINTON BLEWETT HOLCOMBE HUNSTRETE HUTTON KEINTON MANDEVILLE KILMERSDON LANGFORD LEIGH on MENDIP LITTON LOCKING LONG ASHTON LYDFORD ON FOSSE LYMPSHAM MARK MARKSBURY MASBURY MELLS MIDSOMER NORTON NAILSEA NETTLEBRIDGE NORTON MALREWARD NORTON ST PHILIP NUNNEY NYLAND OAKHILL PAULTON PENSFORD PILTON POLSHAM

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STANTON WICK STOKE ST MICHAEL STON EASTON STRATTON ON THE FOSSE STREET TARNOCK TEMPLE CLOUD TIMSBURY TRUDOXHILL TYTHERINGTON UBLEY UPHILL VOBSTER WALTON WANSTROW

WEDMORE WELLOW WELLS WEST HARPTREE WEST PENNARD WESTBURY SUB MENDIP WHITCHURCH WINFORD WINSCOMBE WOOKEY WOOKEY HOLE WRAXALL WRINGTON WRITHLINGTON YATTON

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Winscombe shopping night

1

ON Tuesday December 1st Winscombe will be alive with the twinkling of Christmas lights and the sounds of carols.

Father Christmas will visit on a procession through the village (don't worry the road will be closed to non-reindeer traffic) before taking up his place at Santa's Grotto, where you can enjoy a mince pie and your children can tell Santa their Christmas wish.

Carol singing and bell ringing will take place in the centre of the village and all the shops and business will throw open their doors for you to take a look around and enjoy some Christmas spirit.

The evening gets underway at 6pm.

Santa will make his appearance at 6.15pm; Winscombe Community Choir will be singing carols at 6.30pm and this will be followed by bell ringing, along with children's rides.

December

FOCUS ON WINSCOMBE

Christmas drinks

THE Wine Shop of Winscombe are planning their fourth festive season as part of the friendly and thriving village life that Winscombe and the surrounding villages offer.

This year in addition to their huge range of wines, speciality spirits, craft beers and Christmas gift ideas, they are offering the “Twenty Pours of Christmas” a fabulous selection of wines and spirits selected by Kelli and Matthew to ensure that your drinks evening, dinner party or Christmas dinner is truly fantastic. The Wine Shop staff look forward to helping you make sure the festive season is everything you wished for.

Colin Coates & Partners Tax advisors For personal tax, business tax and accountancy advice Free initial consultation 01934 844133 • www.ccptax.com Webs House, Woodborough Road, Winscombe BS25 1AD

10 Woodborough Road, Winscombe BS25 1AA Tel: 01934 842811 We also have offices at Worle and Weston-super-Mare

Residential & Commercial Property Divorce & Family Breakdown Criminal & Motoring Offences Disputes & Dispute Resolution Wills, Trusts & Tax Probate & Estates Special Needs of the Elderly Lasting Powers of Attorney Business Matters Friendly local office with own car park at rear Home visits by arrangement • Quotations given without obligation Contact: Ruth Berry, Roger Burdock, Anne Mehlig or Vanessa Dawson

Wishing all of our clients a very Merry Christmas

MENDIP TIMES • NOVEMBER 2015 • PAGE 71

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MENDIP TIMES

BIRDS BAKERY

M I N G! C HRISTMAS I S COin ce pie s gs • M C h r i s t m as p u d d i n S p e c i a l i t y b r e ad s

e c e m be r 1 s t O p e n u nt il 9 p m D

Tel: Winscombe 01934 842210

Litsters Traditional Butcher Booking now for Christmas 27 Woodborough Road Winscombe North Somerset BS25 1AG

01934 842248 Mob: 07772 007128

Mendip Times reduces travel costs

clivelitster@tiscali.co.uk

Winscombe Fish Bar

Traditional high quality food from friendly and reliable staff

Mon Tues Weds 11.30–2pm and 5–10pm Thurs 11.30–2pm and 5–10.30pm Fri Sat 11.30–2.30pm and 5–10.30pm

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

Gluten and wheat-free night the last Sunday of every month

1, Sandford Road, Winscombe

01934 843666

24a Woodborough Road, Winscombe North Somerset BS25 1AD For appointments tel: 01934 843617 # # # #

OSTEOPATHY ACUPUNCTURE HOMEOPATHY HOT STONE, INDIAN & NATURAL FACELIFT MASSAGE HOPI EAR CANDLING

Janet White Dan Lloyd Patricia Clark

Amy Chandler

janet@hampdenosteopaths.co.uk www.hampdenosteopaths.co.uk

PAGE 72 • MENDIP TIMES • NOVEMBER 2015

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Make Christmas special

THE Country House Gift Company is a delightful card and gift shop in Winscombe, favouring British and Somerset handcrafted suppliers.

They can help make your Christmas really special, stocking products from Emma Bridgewater pottery, Owen Barry handbags, beautiful scarves by Katie Loxton, Joma jewellery, soft cuddly teddies and Di Polomo toiletries. They have lots of Christmas cards including their own range featuring local artists and photographers and plenty of treats for young and old.

Don’t miss their Open House event at Lower Wick Farm, near Lympsham on the weekend of November 28th and 29th.

j

A enta

FOCUS ON WINSCOMBE

New business

SCOOP and Spice is the latest new business to open in Winscombe, owned by Vicky and Emdad Uddin, who have been running a similar business in Yatton for three years. It boasts 140 herbs and spices – and a whole lot more!

Vicky said: “We’d been looking to expand for a while and decided Winscombe was the right place because it's a thriving friendly village.”

They live in Langford and have two children, son Sujan, who helps at the Yatton store at weekends, and daughter Suzie, who is at university.

Join us at the LOCAL STOCKIST

INTERIORS

SIDCOT ARMS With a great menu, which offers all your favourite pub food all day, every day until 10pm, from as little as £5.99, we’re the perfect venue. Combine this with the fact we’re set in two acres of land with a beautiful, panoramic view, it makes us the ideal venue for any occasion.

FINE FABRICS • BESPOKE WINDOW DRESSINGS • QUALITY FLOORING

G Full fitting and measuring service – curtains, blinds, tracks and poles G Natural wood and parquet flooring G Wood floor sanding and restoration G Wool, seagrass, coir, jute and sisal

2 main course meals for £10.99 from selected menu Offer available Mon to Fri 12pm–6pm

SIDCOT ARMS, Bridgwater Road, Winscombe BS25 1NN Telephone: (01934) 844145

T 01934 842755 • E info@ajentainteriors.co.uk W www.ajentainteriors.co.uk Ajenta Interiors • 11 Woodborough Road Winscombe • Somerset BS25 1AB

PETER EVERETT Registered Osteopath Stocking over 140 HERBS & SPICES Nuts, Seeds, Rice, Pulses, Grains, Herbal Teas, Natural Sweeteners Eco Cleaning Products including refills Gluten Free • Dairy Free Fair Trade Gifts and more!

Less packaging – Less waste!

NEW Sandford Road, Winscombe BS25 1HD Telephone: 01934 843822 101 High Street, Yatton BS49 4DR Telephone: 01934 835427

Curry Catering at a venue of your choice!

12 Woodborough Road Winscombe BS25 1AA

T: 01934 844764

Also at Mendip Suite, Wrington Vale Medical Practice, Pudding Pie Lane, Langford BS50 5EL MENDIP TIMES • NOVEMBER 2015 • PAGE 73

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Paulton hero honoured

Photos by Mark Adler

A SPECIAL ceremony has been held in Paulton to honour a Victoria Cross hero of the First World War. More than 50 members of Sergeant Oliver Brooks’s family joined civic dignitaries, current and former service personnel and villagers at a church service before the unveiling of a commemorative stone in front of the village’s war memorial, 100 years to the day of his act of bravery.

He was awarded the VC after the Battle of Loos on October 8th 1915 when he was a Lance Sergeant in the Coldstream Guards. He was the only soldier from the area covered by the present-day Bath and North East Somerset Council to be awarded the VC in the conflict.

Oliver Brooks was born in Paulton in 1889. His family moved to Midsomer Norton where he was educated at a local school and then was employed as a carting boy at the nearby coal mines. The work did not appeal and at the earliest possible opportunity he left the mines to join the

Standards are lowered before a minute’s silence at the war memorial

army.

He enlisted in the Coldstream Guards at Bath in April 1906, lying about his age. He completed his initial training and was stationed in Windsor where he was to live for the rest of his life. In April 1913 he was discharged and briefly returned to the coal mines but was later appointed the manager of a local theatre. After war was declared, all reserves were called up; he was

mobilised in August and posted to 3rd Battalion Coldstream Guards.

The commemorative day and a civic reception in the evening were organised by B&NES, Paulton Parish Council and local residents George Batchelar, Dave Hamblin and Ken Rideout.

Oliver Brooks died at his home in Windsor in October 1940 aged 51 and is buried in Windsor Cemetery.

Members of the Brooks family – more than 50 gathered in Paulton

Mendip remembers

T H E G R E AT WA R 1 9 1 4 - 1 8 PAGE 74 • MENDIP TIMES • NOVEMBER 2015

Soldiers from the Coldstream Guards march to the church service

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HISTORY

Peter Brooks, the grandson of Oliver Brooks, after the unveiling of the commemorative stone

During the service in the Methodist Church

The Rev. Guy Edwards, led the service

A wreath is brought to the memorial

This image appeared originally in the Illustrated London News. It shows Oliver Brooks being decorated with his VC

by King George V who was recovering at the time from a fall from his horse but insisted on performing the ceremony

Standard bearers preparing to march to the war memorial

The citation

OLIVER Brooks’s citation reads: “His Majesty the King has been pleased to award the Victoria Cross to no. 6738 Lance Sergeant Oliver Brooks, 3rd Battalion Coldstream Guards for most conspicuous bravery near Loos, on 8th October 1915. A strong party of the enemy having captured 200 yards of our trenches, Lance Sergeant Brooks, on his own initiative, led a party of bombers in the most determined manner, and succeeded in regaining possession of the lost ground.

“The single bravery by this non-commissioned officer, in the midst of a hail of bombs from the Germans, was of the first order, and the complete success attained in a very dangerous undertaking was entirely due to his absolute fearlessness, presence of mind and promptitude.”

MENDIP TIMES • NOVEMBER 2015 • PAGE 75

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MENDIP TIMES

Craft fair at Bishop’s Palace

THIS November take the chance to revolutionise your Christmas shopping with an inspirational and educational craft fair at The Bishop’s Palace in Wells, from November 6th-8th, 10am-4pm.

The fair is sponsored by the Somerset Guild of Craftsmen, which has recently moved to new premises in Broad Street in Wells and its members will be there every day.

Make it a Cary Christmas

AT Needful Things in Castle Cary, Christmas is in full swing! You will find garlands and wreaths, trees and decorations and Santa’s fairies and elves!

This creative and unique shop offers everything you could possibly need for the festive season including exquisite Christmas crackers, votive and scented candles and, of course, the best selection of gift ideas in the whole of Somerset!

Christmas market

7 High Street + Castle Cary + Somerset BA7 7AN + 01963 351352 www.needfulthings.uk.com

SOMERLAP will be holding a special Christmas Market on December 5th in aid of Wedmore Juniors FC with plenty of gift ideas including scarves and knitted goods, floral products and much more.

There will also be a raffle and tombola and Somerlap will be selling Christmas trees and refreshments. Full details are available on their website.

THE IDEAL GIFT!

FLY A GLIDER!

Mendip Gliding Club is located near Cheddar and offers a variety of Glider Flying packages including Trial Lesson Vouchers (from £35), or regular membership and “Fixed Price To Solo” options. Club is open all year on Thursdays, Saturdays and Sundays. Suitable for aged 12 upwards – no upper limit! Fly with BGA-rated instructors in dual control gliders.

For further information please email patrick@h4xell.com or visit our website at:

Christmas Fair

www.mendipglidingclub.co.uk or contact Club Secretary on 01761 232080

Sunday 6th December 11am – 4pm

The Wellsway, Harptree Hill, West Harptree BS40 6EJ 01761 221382 enquiries@thewellsway.co.uk PAGE 76 • MENDIP TIMES • NOVEMBER 2015

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CHRISTMAS IDEAS 2015

Christmas in Mells

CHRISTMAS at the Barn is a unique boutique-style shopping event in the historic village in Mells and is now in its sixth year. The festive celebration offers the perfect balance of artisan stalls offering beautiful seasonal gifts, foods and home accessories in the Tithe Barn. Christmas at the Barn is organised by Rebecca Larsen of www.edamay.com who is driven by her passion for quality British handmade products and her love of the festive season.

There will be a different mix of 21 local stalls on both days with a total of 40 stall holders in all over the weekend. llllllllllllllllllllllllll

A GLASTONBURY HOLY THORN TREE Crataegus Monogyna Biflora – It’s The Real Thing!!!

Available from Malcolm Slocombe Four Seasons 16 High Street, Glastonbury, Somerset BA6 9DU Telephone No: 01458 832061 Now available in Patio size

llllllllllllllllllllllllll

lllllllllllllllllll THE IDEAL CHRISTMAS PRESENT

lllllllllllllllllll MENDIP TIMES • NOVEMBER 2015 • PAGE 77

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NEWS

Get up to speed

COMPUTER introduction and advice sessions will be running at The Hub in Paulton on a Thursday afternoon from 2-4pm throughout November.

Computers for the Terrified is aimed at those who haven’t used a computer before and don’t know where to start. These will be held on November 5th and November 12th.

The Drop in Computer Surgery is aimed at those who already have a computer/tablet/smart phone but need a bit of help, and these sessions will be held on November 19th and November 26th. These sessions are particularly aimed at older people, but any age welcome.

Details: see library staff or contact Nicky or Peter Green 01761 470615/07811 6689783 info@greenhousemedia.co.uk

Photo courtesy of Jason Bryant

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Michael with well-wishers

Michael does it his way!

IT was never going to be a low-key event when Michael Eavis threw a party to celebrate his 80th birthday.

Celebrities including Glastonbury Festival favourites Billy Bragg, Lily Allen and Chris Martin joined hundreds of family and friends at Worthy Farm.

But it was Michael’s own version of My Way which really brought the house down.

Thank you Kevin, says the Dalai Lama

Michael on stage with Chris Martin

A RECENTLY-retired Avon and Somerset police superintendent has received a surprise letter of thanks – from His Holiness the Dalai Lama.

A framed copy of the letter was presented to Kevin Instance in recognition of his work in helping organise the Dalai Lama’s visit to the Glastonbury Festival on Sunday, June 29th.

Thousands of festival goers sang Happy Birthday to the Dalai Lama when he appeared on stage with rock star Patti Smith.

The letter from his staff says: “This was an unusual and unique event for His Holiness to attend, and he thoroughly enjoyed the experience… the efforts of Superintendent Instance and his staff made it highly successful indeed. The attention to detail from

Kevin (left) with Temporary Chief Constable Gareth Morgan and the letter

The Dalai Lama addresses the crowd from the Pyramid Stage PAGE 78 • MENDIP TIMES • NOVEMBER 2015

Kevin is to be highly commended. At no times was the safety of His Holiness compromised and we found Superintendent Instance to be extremely efficient and effective and the consummate police professional.”

The letter was presented to Kevin by Temporary Chief Constable Gareth Morgan at a force awards ceremony at the Lord Mayor’s Mansion House in Clifton.

Kevin was earlier presented with a Chief Constable’s Commendation for his planning of the policing strategy of the first badger cull in Somerset.

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If a blind bloke can do all this . . .

I’VE heard dozens of motivational speakers over the years, but my favourite by far is Miles Hinton-Barber. Miles describes himself as “a very ordinary man who happens to be blind”.

He is also a pilot, polar explorer, desert explorer, scuba diver, extreme marathon runner, grand prix driver, sky diver, white-water rafter, bob-sleigher and shark cager.

By Dr PHIL I don’t quite buy the “ordinary bloke” tag but Miles is an HAMMOND extremely funny, modest, down-to-earth, inspirational and slightly dangerous speaker. Not all of his wild exploring goes to plan, but he gets it back on track with great tenacity and spirit.

His achievements could teach us all a huge amount about the importance of resilience, good humour, teamwork, safety and technology. But his message for individuals is even stronger. If a blind bloke can do all this, what are you waiting for?

As he told a convention of other blind people: “I’m just like one beggar telling another beggar where to find a square meal. Do you understand what I am saying? I am just telling you guys where it’s at. It’s for you to go and grab it.”

Miles speaks with such authenticity and warmth, you can’t fail to be moved.

And his metaphors for surviving and thriving are very strong. He says: “There are two quotes that have meant a lot in my life. One is a Danish proverb that says that ‘Life does not consist in holding a good hand of cards, but in playing a poor hand well.’ I wasted years of my life when I heard that I was going to become blind; I thought I couldn’t live my dreams, I couldn’t have any big goals in life.

“Now I realise that, if we just play the hand of cards we have been given, it is enough for us to do anything we want with our lives. Play your hand of cards as well as you can!

“The other is a quote from Lawrence of Arabia, one of my great heroes. In his book The Seven Pillars of Wisdom he says this: ‘All men dream dreams, but not all men dream equally, for there are those who dream at night in the empty recesses of their minds, and they awake in the morning to find that, behold, it was just a dream. But there are other men and women who are dangerous dreamers. (I love that – dangerous dreamers). For these are men and women who dream in the daytime with their eyes open, that they might fulfil their dreams’.

“So don’t be a daydreamer, be a dangerous dreamer. The only limits in our lives are those we accept ourselves.”

I’ve heard Miles speak several times and get a standing ovation on each occasion and he inspires me because he simply refuses to be labelled or limited by his blindness. His card, which I keep stuck up in Miles Hinton-Barber my office, is a photo of him in scuba gear with a white stick, proudly pushing his friend Mike, a double leg amputee paralysed from the chest down, in a wheelchair across the floor of the Red Sea. It makes me smile and lifts my spirits whenever I leave the house. As Miles puts it: “Attitude is critical for success. As long as you are pointing in the right direction, every step counts.”

Dr Phil’s book, Staying Alive – How to Get the Best from the NHS – is out now.

HEALTH & FAMILY

Autumn’s bounty

I HAVE an autumn birthday and there have been times when I have wished that it did not coincide with summer’s end.

However, this year autumn has been a delight with mellow, misty mornings; weekend’s sunny enough for camping and body-boarding; and sunsets and trees displaying nature’s palette in all its glory.

Last Sunday’s sunset was the most spectacular with the sky dyed the full range of orange and crimson. Youngest son, middle child and I ran along the road to a nearby field which offered the best view of the sky’s full expanse.

“Let’s walk further,” suggested youngest son and we set off through the fields as the sun was setting, stumbling upon a small herd of deer gracefully leaping through the long grass, scared by our chance encounter.

Earlier in the month there was the super, blood-red moon. While I slept through this spectacle, eldest daughter had set her alarm and after gazing at the moon for a while she woke youngest son and they shared this once-in-a-lifetime moment together.

“It was awesome!” declared the tenyear-old, bleary eyed the following morning.

Then there was the discovery of the game of conkers. I am ashamed to admit that while my children have collected these for years, up until now, we have never played the game. However, a couple of weeks ago youngest son’s curiosity got the better of him and we set about baking, drilling and stringing up the conkers before discovering that actually hitting your opponent’s conker is much harder than it looks (I was particularly lacking in talent).

Now we’ve been enjoying quick games before bed or before setting off for school and the collection of conkers is growing.

Before Bonfire Night and Halloween, Harvest Festival gives everyone an opportunity to signal our thanks for nature’s bounty and remember others less fortunate; except last year.

Last year marked one of my most spectacular parental failures as I forgot about the school’s Harvest service, distracted by an early morning meeting and arrangements to ensure everyone reached their correct destination.

This year I remembered; but a while before the event and so youngest son carried a tin of kidney beans back and forth in his school bag for a week.

MENDIP MUM MENDIP TIMES • NOVEMBER 2015 • PAGE 79

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Ilchester dental practice

A staff outing

HILARY Quinlan qualified from Liverpool University in 1982 and after a six-month house job at Birmingham Dental Hospital embarked on a five-year commission in the Royal Navy dental branch. Her first position was at Yeovilton Royal Naval Air Station, so she says it is a real pleasure to come "back to roost" in Ilchester.

She enjoys all aspects of general dentistry and her aim is always to help patients to maintain and restore good dental health using the most up-to-date, minimally invasive and gentle techniques.

She takes great pride in treating every patient with compassion, respect and care. Like her colleague, Paula Richardson, she has a particular interest in early intervention orthodontics and treatment of bite and jaw joint (TMJ) problems, including the treatment of headaches and facial pain.

She says one of the things she loves about being a dentist is the chance to interact with a wide variety of people, to care for their dental health and the person as a whole. She joined Paula and her amazing team at The Ilchester Dental Practice in January last year.

Their practice treatment co-ordinator, Sarah Pead, is on hand to spend as much time as anyone desires putting patients at ease, discussing their health concerns and the treatment options available.

Consultations are free with Sarah so that patients can be introduced to their team and practice and decide if they are the ones for them.

Details: www.ilchesterdental.co.uk

Get fit for Christmas

GO to Balance and get into that special outfit and look amazing for the holiday parties and festivities. They can put a programme together to get you there and make this Christmas one to remember Balance offers a wide variety of classes and personal training options to choose from such as Boot Camps, Kettlercise Yoga and Pilates. Book a free consultation and start your journey to a healthy lifestyle in a calm, relaxing and non-competitive environment.

Contact Sue on Sue@balancelifestyleandfitness.co.uk or visit our website www.balancelifestyleandfitness.co.uk for more information

PAGE 80 • MENDIP TIMES • NOVEMBER 2015

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Autumn – time to fall in love

CAROLINE Crowther Introduction Agency tries to match you with someone who is similar to you, like-minded or perhaps with similar interests.

They have couples who find happiness, mainly in mature years, from late 40s upwards. They have had several engagements this year and two marriages. One couple had a 15 year age difference but said they were absolutely suited and their age was of little consequence.

There’s an old quote from a poem by Alfred Lord Tennyson that goes: “In the spring a young man’s fancy lightly turns to thoughts of love.” Then there are many references to summer flings and romances; here today and gone tomorrow.

Although any time is a great time to fall in love, there is something special about autumn. So why is autumn such a great time?

On a biological level fall also tells us this is our last chance of finding a mate until next spring. It is also the final call to procreate and perpetuate the species until the spring. Ever notice how the animal kingdom responds to this phenomenon?

Think about how bears hibernate in the winter and suddenly mothers and cubs appear in the spring. Humans still respond to this primal need for pairing up and procreating, even though we have more control and choice about it.

If you would like to find out more and contact the office for a chat, their number is 01934 744788 or 0800 180 4788.

You can visit their website too www.carolinecrowther.com.

Mendip Times reduces travel costs

HEALTH & FAMILY

REMEMBER, REMEMBER, LOVE IN NOVEMBER

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

MENDIP TIMES • NOVEMBER 2015 • PAGE 81

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Happy birthday to us!

BEN Palmer, who runs Wells Chiropractic and Osteopathy Centre, has had plenty of reasons to celebrate recently.

He said: “It was our sixth birthday this month! It's been Some of the team celebrating Wells absolutely Chiropractic and Osteopathy Centre’s sixth amazing. We've birthday got the loveliest patients coming to see us who always cheer us up, can share a laugh when they can and generally make our days’ work a happy one.

“I've also got a great team (but I don't want to tell them that in case they get big headed or ask to be paid). I keep telling them 'you'll get paid once we've been opened years'.

“My little daughter Poppy also popped in for the celebration and tried to eat a balloon. Such simple pleasures.

“Thank you to everyone for supporting our fantastic practice over the past six years. With much gratitude from Ben, Gemma, Jo, James (an osteopath and personal trainer), Amanda, Andy (when he's here), Kate, Adele, Kim and the newest member of our team, Natasha (a masseuse and clinic assistant).”

PAGE 82 • MENDIP TIMES • NOVEMBER 2015

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Glamour and grooming in Wells

INEZ Findlay, who owns The Wells Barber Co (aka the “upside down barbers”), has opened a new upmarket salon in the city.

After weeks of construction and renovation, the Glamour and Grooming Bar opened its doors in October. It’s based above the barber shop on Union Street. The development follows the continued success of Inez’s pop-up salons at various events this year, including Glastonbury Festival, Glamour in Wells – some of the team at Boardmasters, school balls, the Godney the barber shop and salon in Union Street Gathering and more.

The barber shop and salon complement each other offering treatments for ladies and gents. Inez said: “Our aim is to provide high quality hair and beauty services for ladies and gentlemen by highly trained stylists in a sophisticated, well-designed setting so every client feels confident they will leave looking and feeling their best.”

As well as regular beauty therapies such as facials, waxing, nails, eyelash/eyebrow treatments and tanning, the team at the salon will also be offering specialist treatments including therapist Julie Brackenbury who will be offering non-surgical procedures, anti-wrinkle, dermal fillers, lip augmentation, skin boosters, skin peels and more, whilst Faye Marie will be joining the team with her semi-permanent make-up techniques, including eyebrows, eyeliner and lip liner. There is also a massage specialist and Inez is also looking to offer professional teeth whitening in the coming months.

Wells Barber Co has also been renovated and decorated throughout and continues to offer an fantastic service for all gentlemen’s styling and children’s haircuts. Monthly promotions and competitions will be featured on their Facebook page.

HEALTH & FAMILY

Single? Sign up for fun SPA Singles, the Single Professional Association, has had a good summer with their last barbecue of the season and a lot of walking, including “mooching” around the village of Castle Combe, considered one of the loveliest villages in England.

Their trip to Wilton House was another fabulous day out and they have also enjoyed three good music nights, which saw 40 members dancing to the Bula, Bula band and Union Gap. They also enjoyed two three-day day music festivals at Wookey Hole and Priston.

Next to North Wales, where they were impressed

by Llandudno’s immaculate Victorian seafront which is gracefully framed by two headlands, Great Orme and Little Orme both of which

they walked up and around, before going on to Conwy.

If you are single and looking for a social life they would welcome you at their weekly bar night in Wells and once you become a member you are eligible to attend their events and those of their five other branches.

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

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

For more informa on go to www.singleprofessionalassocia on.co.uk email: wellsandmendip@yahoo.co.uk Or contact Anne – 01934 743139 Veronica – 01749 330455

Union St, Wells BA5 2PU

The newly-opened Glamour & Grooming Bar above Wells Barber Co MENDIP TIMES • NOVEMBER 2015 • PAGE 83

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MENDIP TIMES

Raising the roof at Dundry

Church women reach the peak

THE new Bishop of Taunton, the Rt. Rev Ruth Worsley, has presided over her first clergy licensing. This is the service at which clergy in new roles or new parishes are given their licence to officiate by their bishops.

Bishop Ruth licensed the Rev Judith Jeffery as Rector of Crook Peak parish at St Andrew’s Church in Compton Bishop. Crook Peak is one parish with six church buildings in six different villages: Badgworth, Biddisham, Christon, Loxton, Weare and Compton Bishop/Cross.

The event was a real celebration of women’s ministry at all levels in the Church of England in Somerset. Pictured (left to right) are the Rev Sharon Crossman, Rural Dean of Axbridge, the Rev Judith Jeffery, Bishop Ruth Worsley and the Ven. Nicola Sullivan, Archdeacon of Wells.

Community award winners

THE High Sheriff of Somerset, Lucy Nelson, has presented Royal Humane Society awards to Tiegan Baker and three others who tried to save a man who had set his car and himself on fire in Cheddar.

The young people bravely coaxed the man away from the vehicle to prevent further injury and used their clothes to extinguish the flames. Sadly, the fire resulted in catastrophic injuries and he died the following day.

She also presented a Waley Cohen award to Victoria Shaw who acted with courage when protecting her children and property when a man broke into her home while she and her children were sleeping and stole some of her personal belongings.

Victoria woke and confronted him.

During the altercation, the man dropped a pair of sunglasses before he fled the scene. DNA evidence on the glasses led to a man being convicted.

Mrs Nelson said: “It is my pleasure to celebrate these acts of courage by

PAGE 84 • MENDIP TIMES • NOVEMBER 2015

ST MICHAEL’S Church in Dundry, which has been closed since January, has received support from the Heritage Lottery Fund for urgent high level structural and roof repairs to stop further water entering the building and ensure that it can reopen for services and other community activities.

Due to its prominent hilltop location offering fantastic views over the city of Bristol, the church is popular for weddings and tourist groups. Visitors can also enjoy a panoramic view by climbing the 15th century tower.

Commenting on the award the Rev. Charles Roberts said: “We are absolutely delighted that the HLF has placed its support behind our project for St Michael’s Church in Dundry. With their help we hope to complete the vital repairs to the roof and reopen the church for worship, enhance other facilities for community use and ensure the heritage of the building remains for the next generation.

“St Michael’s Church is a living landmark for Bristol and the surrounding area and we are committed to making sure it stays that way. Thank you HLF for helping to make this possible” The church needs to raise £225,000 for the repairs and recently the rector joined others who abseiled down the tower to raise funds.

Details: Dundry 'Raise the Roof' appeal justgiving.com/stmpccd text DUND33 with your amount or go to lakesidegroup.org.uk

residents of Somerset. It is evident that your families are incredibly proud.”

Sue Mountstevens, Police and Crime Commisioner, presented a citation to Charlie Alecsander who will be presented with an RHS bronze medal by Princess Alexandra at a ceremony next year.

Charlie was involved in a serious road traffic collision on Back River Drove near Glastonbury in July 2014. The vehicle lost control and rolled several times, coming to rest in the River Brue. Charlie got himself out of the vehicle and courageously rescued an eight-year-old boy, who was still in the vehicle and could not swim.

When he was safe, Charlie helped a man who was face down in the water, rousing him and maintaining consciousness until help arrived. He then ensured the third occupant of the vehicle, a young girl, was safe before allowing himself to be looked after. The man and young girl sustained serious injuries and the young boy was thankfully unharmed.

High Sheriff Lucy Nelson with Victoria Shaw

Sue Mountstevens said: “I would like to congratulate all the winners. They deserve the recognition for their extraordinary effort and should be really proud of their achievements. It’s always incredibly humbling to hear about such selfless, courageous and brave acts and I’d like to offer my thanks for all that they do.”

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Volunteers wanted

AVON and Somerset Police are looking for SpeedWatch volunteers in and around Shepton Mallet. Sergeant Rachel Clark from Shepton Police Station said: “Community SpeedWatch is a way of empowering local people to make a difference in their own area and to help us tackle the issues that we know concern them.

“We have a SpeedWatch set up just outside the town, but we haven’t ever had anyone volunteer to start and run one in Shepton. We will obviously support and assist anyone who shows interest.”

Councillor Simon Davies from Shepton Town Council said: “I am very pleased that the council and the police are behind this scheme, which can only be of benefit to the local community.

We now need the public to support it by signing up and coming to help run the scheme.”

Details: www.avonandsomerset.police.uk

WI celebrations

LOCAL WI's have been celebrating 100 years of the WI in various ways. At Stanton Drew the WI invited husbands and friends along to the village hall to help them celebrate with an afternoon tea. Pictured (left to right) are Melanie Hurley, WI president Anne Bennett, Heather Leverton, Donna Bond, Doreen Bond and Mary Whitcher.

Harvest festival for charity

SOME 120 people enjoyed the Inner Wheel Club of Frome’s annual harvest festival at the Standerwick Conference Centre near Frome.

The evening was organised b Deanna Barnes and Gwen Inner Wheel president Yvonne Covill with Barnard and Laura Kelly from the Alzheimer’s Society raised £860 for the Alzheimer’s Society which was represented by community fundraisers Amy Watkins and Laura Kelly.

Frozen in Blagdon

COMMUNITY

BLAGDON and Wrington Rainbows enjoyed a Frozen Party, copying characters from the Disney film. Blagdon leader, Tigi Higgins, said: “It was lovely to see the girls so involved and enjoying themselves.”

Blagdon Rainbows currently has a couple of spaces for five-six-year-old girls.

Details: www.avonandsomerset.police.uk

Some slippery customers

YOUNGSTERS belonging to the Five Villages Youth Group in Compton Dando really enjoyed their last meeting when Wendy Palmer, from Edupet, showed them a wide selection of animals, ranging from mice, hamsters, guinea pigs and rabbits, to a tarantula, two corn snakes, a ball Joe holding a corn snake python, a hedgehog, an iguana, three bearded dragons and some giant snails, giant tortoises and giant centipedes.

One of the club organisers, Alison ter Haar, said: “Wow, what a collection. A great time was had by all.”

The next youth group date is November 2nd when they will be holding their regular tuck shop and having a go at apple bobbing. The group is open to all children from Compton Dando, Chewton Keynsham, Queen Charlton, Woollard and Burnett and the tuck shop operates on the first Friday of every month at Compton Dando Jacob holding a tarantula Village Hall.

MENDIP TIMES • NOVEMBER 2015 • PAGE 85

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Coffee and cake

CHILTON Cantelo School’s catering team, Thomas Franks, put on a morning of games, quizzes, coffee, cake and a prize draw for a special cake to raise £300 for Macmillan’s World’s Biggest Coffee Morning.

The school’s Merlin Café was filled with pupils, parents, staff and school friends making donations towards the charity.

GWR rides again

Volunteers recognised

ST. PETER’S Hospice in Bristol has honoured its long-standing volunteers who have dedicated hours of their time helping to support those with life-limiting illnesses.

The hospice, which covers the North Somerset area, held an awards ceremony with chief executive Simon Caraffi, for 44 of their 1,500 volunteers, who Volunteers Jan Stirrat and Jean Day between them have given 425 years of service, an average of over nine years each.

Russell Cowan, head of volunteer resources, said: “Volunteers play a pivotal role in everything we do. Without their dedication and long-term support we simply wouldn’t be able to offer the breadth and depth of service to our patients and their families.

“Volunteering is a great way to give back to your local community and makes you feel better too! We offer our volunteers a rich and rewarding experience whether in our shops, in fundraising or at the hospice itself. There is a role for everyone and if you’d like to support us or just find out more we’d love to hear from you.”

Details: www.stpetershospice.org.uk

Rotary supports festival

Cyclists tackle Burrington Combe

ENTRIES are now open for the Great Weston Ride, which is hoping for a record number of cyclists for the seventh year running.

The 56-mile ride starts in Bristol and takes a route across the Mendips to Weston-super-Mare, raising money for Prostate Cancer UK and other charities. Next year’s event will be on Sunday July 17th.

With a choice of eight routes, the ride is designed to appeal to people of all abilities. Organiser, Darren McKimm, said: “We attract lots of people for whom the GWR is their first significant cycling challenge, and we're also seeing more and more people coming back each year for another go – it speaks volumes for what people think of the event.”

Details: www.greatwestonride.com

PAGE 86 • MENDIP TIMES • NOVEMBER 2015

WESTON Rotarians and the ladies of Inner Wheel were in action stewarding the Weston-super-Food Festival in the Town Square and Winter Gardens.

The weather was superb, the crowds flocked in, and the festival was highly successful with an amazing variety of food on offer.

The Rotarians were also raising money for the Salvation Army food parcel scheme with their newly designed and constructed coconut shy which proved a great hit and made about £400 over the two days.

Details: www.westonrotaryclub.org.uk and www.facebook.com/westonrotaryclub or telephone Secretary Bernard Land 07970 184301.

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Lunch aids charities

THE Inner Wheel Club of Wrington Vale held a scarecrow lunch to raise funds for two charities, School in a Bag and Water Aid. Each School in a Bag contains a variety of items needed for a child's schooling and only costs £15. Children who have suffered the effects of war and famine may not have access to any equipment for their education and the gift of one of these bags for each child is welcomed.

The second charity, Water Aid, sends boxes to countries where there is no clean water, through natural disasters, such as earthquake and flood. This year a substantial number of boxes were sent to Nepal after the earthquake there.

The lunch was a great success with a profit of nearly £500 being raised to share between the two charities.

High fashion at low prices

AUTUMN and winter can often be the most expensive seasons to dress for with heavy coats, boots and knitted jumpers needed to update wardrobes. But you can buy the latest fashion items at a fraction of the cost from St. Peter’s Hospice shops.

Their Winterwear range has items from brands like Topshop, Boden, Ben Sherman, Dune, Zara, Laura Ashley, The White Company, River Island, French Connection and Next all on display.

Victoria Canavan, shop area manager for the charity, said: “We regularly see designer items being donated and we go on to sell them for less than half the original price so it’s brilliant value for anyone who takes an interest in fashion but doesn’t want to pay full whack.

“We’ve got so many hidden gems on our shelves so come and take a rummage, you never know what you’ll find.”

Details: www.stpetershospice.org.uk

CHARITIES

Singing aids memory loss

A GROUP of local people have offered their time and vocal skills to support the Alzheimer’s Society with their new singing group in Radstock for people living with dementia and their carers.

The volunteers are all local people who have taken on various roles such as making tea, supporting group members and leading the singing. The group is held every other Thursday 2pm – 3.30pm at Writhlington Village Hall and is free of charge.

The group was started in July and so there are still spaces for new members who are warmly welcomed. Paula Smith group co-ordinator at the Alzheimer’s Society said: “Without the help of volunteers these groups just couldn’t take place, we rely on the dedication of these local people.

Singing For the Brain can be a lifeline for some people, a focus for the week, a chance to meet other carers and an opportunity to have lots of fun.”

The group is being supported by Radstock Town Council as part of their Dementia Friendly Community programme.

Singing for the Brain is a programme developed by the Alzheimer’s Society for people with memory problems. The programme promotes communication through singing which can help with articulation, concentration, focus and motivation. Specially trained facilitators deliver a varied programme of vocal, rhythmic and gentle physical exercise and dance, along with songs from different eras and styles.

Paula Smith, group co-ordinator for the Bath and North East Somerset area said: “Even when many memories are hard to retrieve, music can sometimes still be recalled – if only for a short while. The sessions help people with dementia communicate improving their mood and leaving them feeling good about themselves.

“There are an estimated 2,000 people living with dementia in Bath and North East Somerset. With the right support people can live well with the condition in their communities.”

Details: Paula Smith 07795 344936 paula.smith@alzheimers.org.uk or log on to alzheimers.org.uk/localinformation

Good result

PRIDDY Cricket Club’s annual match against the cavers, which we featured last month, raised £430 for Motor Neurone Disease research. It was held on the village green.

MENDIP TIMES • NOVEMBER 2015 • PAGE 87

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Successful auction

WESTON-super-Mare RNLI raised £15,700 towards a new lifeboat station for the town with a successful dinner and auction on the Grand Pier, at which Lord Archer acted as auctioneer.

Peter Elmont, branch chairman and organiser said: “We are delighted. Everyone seemed to enjoy themselves. Lord Archer was magnificent and I cannot thank enough those who donated prizes, the fundraisers who helped to organise the event and the crew who attended and helped with the auction.”

Hundreds support hospice walk

Sydney or bust Barry (left) and John in front of the Sydney Opera House

FUNDRAISER Barry Hawgood spoke to Frome Rotary Club about his exciting trip in a car from London to Sydney in support of the Prostate Cancer Charity.

Having spent thousands of pounds preparing a Hillman Hunter, he and a friend, John Lewis, set off on a journey which took them through Europe, the Middle East and dangerous parts of Iran and Pakistan and on to Australia, raising £36,000 for the charity.

Camping en route

Charity day in Wells The Protexin team

HUNDREDS of walkers descended on Ham Hill Country Park near Yeovil to take part in the Great Somerset Walk in aid of St. Margaret’s Hospice.

Walkers could choose between a 5k and a 15k walk, with the 15k walk proving to be the most popular option. The circular walks incorporated breath-taking scenery, as well as many of the points of interest around Ham Hill including the War Memorial, the Stone Circle and the Deep Quarry.

The walk ended with a memorial service at 6pm and a speech

by CEO Ann Lee. St. Margaret’s Hospice says it would like to say a huge thank you to all those who took part. The walk raised more than £15,000.

PAGE 88 • MENDIP TIMES • NOVEMBER 2015

THE Mid Somerset Oxfam Group held its second One World Fair in Wells Town Hall on October 10th, attracting over 400 people.

Aisha African Dancer Some 30 charities took part, each having their own stall which they decked with balloons, colourful bunting and a full range of products. There was music from Aisha with West African drum and dance routines, Noelle Burville playing her dulcimer and the Axbridge Singers.

The One World Café provided teas, coffees and home-made cakes and freshly cooked lunches and the day was judged a great success.

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Blues charity night

Cakes are bear necessities of life!

THE walls of St. Mary’s Church, in Langford, reverberated to blues numbers from the Mendip Swing Band, in aid of Vine Counselling Services, a charity based in nearby Congresbury.

The event raised £900 for the charity, which offers counselling throughout North Somerset, but clients mainly come from the local villages of Banwell, Burrington, Churchill.

Congresbury, Langford, Nailsea, Sandford, Winscombe, Wrington and Yatton.

The counsellors and receptionists are all volunteers with donations, community grants and fundraising paying for premises and training.

Some 70 party-goers, some dressed appropriately in Blues’ Brothers costumes, enjoyed a wonderful two-course meal provided by members of St. Mary’s Church and Vine before the music began. One person asked if it could become an annual event.

Details: www.vinecounselling.org

Fifty not out

THE annual Wessex Walks charity event in Wells – one of the first sponsored events of its kind in Britain – has celebrated its 50th anniversary.

An estimated 500 people tackled the five and ten-mile circular routes in the countryside around the city. Every penny raised will go to Save the Children’s emergency appeal for the Child Refugee Crisis. The organisers hope the total will top £15,000.

Jonathan Duke, South West regional organiser for Save the Children, said: “For a single event to last 50 years is an incredible achievement. Wessex Walks has raised £3m in that time which has allowed us to help millions of children.

“Now we want to make this last for another 50 years of children and their families walking for other less fortunate children.”

CHARITIES

THERE were hugs all round when charity mascot Big Ted visited Mells primary school as part of a fundraising week of baking-related events.

Ted’s Big Bake Off was Meeting some of the youngsters and their cuddly part of the Bath toys Royal United Hospital’s Forever Friends Appeal, encouraging schools, businesses and other organisations to get baking to support the RUH Cancer Care Campaign or a ward or department of their choice at the hospital. The event replaces Ted’s Big Day Out!

Big Ted inspects a cake sale at Mells CofE School

Jonathan Duke and James Stephen thank a group of walkers

In charge of the drinks and cakes to welcome walkers at the end was 81-yearold Jane Holmes from Rodney Stoke who has helped at Wessex Walks since the first one in 1966.

James Stephen, chairman of the Wessex Walks organisers, added: “We are grateful to the Wells Blue School Sports Centre for making space available

without charge for the start and finish line and, of course, for all the wonderful walkers who made the day such a success.”

G Planning for next year’s event will start soon and schools and other organisations interested in taking part can email Jonathan at: J.Duke@savethechildren.org.uk MENDIP TIMES • NOVEMBER 2015 • PAGE 89

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MENDIP TIMES

Prisoners of fortune

By Mark Adler

t

THEY were made to pay for their crimes or, rather, it was the people who donated thousands of pounds to send them to prison for the night who dug into their wallets and purses – welcome to a night behind bars in one of Britain’s oldest and most fearsome jails.

For various reasons – none illegal – around 120 “convicts” were nominated by friends and foe to sample life in the now-closed HMS Cornhill in Shepton Mallet.

Organised by the SOS Africa charity based in the town, cells in B-Wing in the prison were opened for people to sample a stay at Her Majesty’s Pleasure. This was no holiday, former prison staff and charity volunteers made sure the stay stayed as faithful as possible to life in jail.

Proceeds from the event will go to SOS Africa’s work to offer education to children living in poverty on the continent. The first of two weekends of the event alone raised almost £27,000.

Creature comfort? Inmates were allowed only the bare necessities

A warm welcome? Prison officers John Duffy (left) and Rich Long prepare to greet the inmates

Dr Matt Crowcombe, who founded SOS Africa, said: “Both the prison officers and the inmates were fantastic.

Everything was taken very seriously and the officers did their best to recreate an authentic prison experience. The activities, which included arts and crafts, a planned dance routine and 6am early morning fitness after being woken by an

Farewell: orange uniforms provide a stark contrast to the forbidding entrance to Shepton Mallet prison

Lock-up time: inmates prepare to enter their cells PAGE 90 • MENDIP TIMES • NOVEMBER 2015

African horn were a big hit. I’d like to thank Denelas, Right Price DIY, Yeo Valley and Regency Chess Frome for sponsoring the event.”

G Discussions are underway about the future of the prison, parts of which date back to the early 17th Century. To find out more about SOS Africa’s work, visit: www.sosafrica.com

The cells are untouched since the last inmates left

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Running for their lives

ALMOST 700 people of all ages and abilities pounded the tracks and lanes around the Glastonbury Festival site at Pilton for the third Children’s Hospice South West charity run.

A 2km run for youngsters attracted more than 150 runners alone with adults choosing between 5km or 10km events.

Festival founder Michael Eavis was on hand to start the races and runners sang Happy Birthday to him as he celebrated his 80th birthday.

Toby Watson was the first youngster home in the 2k race

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CHARITIES

Out in front: members of Wells City Harriers at the start of the 5km and 10km races

This year’s race was the biggest in the event’s history Sally Robertson (centre) on her way past the iconic Pyramid stage

Runners pass the 4km mark up Muddy Lane MENDIP TIMES • NOVEMBER 2015 • PAGE 91

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CHARITIES

Ryan backs animal charity

RYAN Stuckey got more than he bargained for when he offered to participate in a sponsored back wax to raise at least £400 for Heart Animal Rescue.

As the sponsor form went around more and more areas to wax were added to it. Luckily for Ryan, who works for MJ Patch based in Portishead, the girls at Storm Hair and Beauty in Street took him under their wing and made it as painless as possible.

Heart Animal Rescue works entirely on a voluntary basis, relying solely on sponsorship, donations and fundraising.

Volunteers foster and care for many animals in their own homes whenever possible but at other times animals have to be accommodated where fees incur. Ange Buckingham from Heart said: “I am so grateful to Ryan and Storm Hair and Beauty for helping raise funds for us and I hope he wasn’t in too much in pain!”

An evening with Mary Berry

Before

During

After

To find out more about Heart Animal Rescue visit: www.heartrescue.org.uk PAGE 92 • MENDIP TIMES • NOVEMBER 2015

TELEVISION celebrity Mary Berry was the special guest at a fundraising event organised by the Rotary Club of Glastonbury and Street which raised around £10,000, most of which will go towards Rotary International’s campaign to eradicate polio.

The McMillan Theatre at Bridgwater College was the venue with tickets selling out in 15 minutes.

The show was opened by the College Youth Show Choir before presenter Emma Britton from BBC Somerset took to the stage and introduced Mary. The evening closed with Mary signing copies of her latest book “Absolute Favourites”.

Since 1985 Rotary International has been running End Polio Now with the Bill Gates Foundation to eradicate polio across the world. At the start of the project more than 1000 cases per week were reported; this year only 42 cases have been notified.

Africa has been declared polio-free for 15 months and only Afghanistan and Pakistan remain to be cleared of the disease.

Photo courtesy of LUMIéRE Photography

Mary Berry taking questions from the audience

Village rallies to Harry

Pictured (left to right) are Chris Ball, Tracy Payne, Alice, Harry, Freddie, Simon Payne and Marion Ball.

A CREAM tea, held by Marion and Chris Ball in Blagdon, has raised £652 for the Paediatric Diabetic Clinic at Bristol Children's Hospital.

Marion, who holds a cream tea each year for various local charities, decided to hold this one for the clinic after Harry, the eight-year-old son of a friend, was diagnosed with diabetes last May. She said: “We thought if we raised some money for the Paediatric Diabetic Clinic it would help other children besides Harry in the future.”

Harry, who lives with his mum and dad, Tracy and Simon, and siblings Freddie and Alice, in Ubley goes to Ubley Primary School, who, said his mum “have been marvellous, and a great help”.

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New trustees for singing charity

Judith the centurion

NEWS

(l:r) Rob Appleyard, Grenville Jones and Susanne Crick

TWO new trustees have joined the management board of the Golden-Oldies Charity.

Rob Appleyard is a member of Bath and North East Somerset Council and Susanne Crick is a retired property professional. Rob says the work of Golden-Oldies plays a major roll in combating loneliness and isolation and looks forward to contributing to its further successes.

Susanne a Goldies volunteer with experience of caring for people with dementia. She loves music and has for many years enjoyed singing in choirs conducted by Goldies founder Grenville Jones.

The great Frome bake-off

BUSY Stanton Drew resident, Judith Chubb-Whittle, who 'wears many hats', including that as chair of Stanton Drew Parish Council, is very happy after completing her 100th marathon, which she did at the Uphill to Wells relay.

Judith runs most weekends and is a member of Somer AC. She began running marathons in October 2009, the Snowdonia marathon – with a broken foot! She now has ten road and 90 trail marathons under her belt.

After the latest marathon Judith said: “I want to thank everyone so very very much for supporting me yesterday and through the whole 100 marathon journey. It really means a lot to me.”

Running with a team, which included her son Ivan Batchelor, niece Julia, and Vic her spaniel, she completed the Uphill to Wells Race, ending at Wells Cathedral Green, where she was greeted by a large team of well-wishers including family, friends from Stanton Drew and fellow athletes from her two running clubs.

Judith now looks forward to running several more marathons this year, in a lead-up to Stanton Drew’s very own Rok the Stones marathon on January 30th.

She’s pictured with her regular team (left to right) Karen Draper, Greg Hawkins, Judith Chubb-Whittle, Jane and John Stedman, Luretta Spearing, Martin Draper and Naomi Bennett.

Miners aid RUH FROME district rainbows, brownies and guides took part in a bake-off competition to raise money for Big Ted’s RUH appeal.

The award for the technical bake, a Swiss roll, went to Emily Chapman and Natalie Howell from 3rd Frome Guides, while Isabel Jones and Sophie Hancock from 4th Frome Guides won an award for the tart of their choice with an amazing lemon tart.

The winners of the fairy cupcakes were Jessica Meadows, from 2nd Frome Rainbows, with a hedgehog fairy cake design, Amelia Preston Jackson from 4th Frome Brownies with a minion cake and Maddy Noding and Summer Vowells with a popcorn creation cup cake from 4th Frome Guides.

Details: Penny 07738 350537

SOMERSET District Miners Welfare Trust have presented a further cheque of £2,000 to Bath RUH’s scanner appeal.

Pictured (left to right) are Clive Norman, Francis Hillier, Bill Morris and appeal chairman John Carter.

MENDIP TIMES • NOVEMBER 2015 • PAGE 93

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MENDIP TIMES

A fitter’s tale

LIKE it or like it not, we are all influenced by advertising. Exactly what makes it good or bad (or simply forgettable) is pretty much a matter of opinion, but companies large and small would almost certainly agree that recommendation is the best form of advertising.

Kingfisher’s managing director, Angie Hicks, said: “A considerable amount of our window, door and conservatory business is generated by existing customers recommending us to their friends and we believe they do that because they trust us, feel comfortable with us and know that we will never, in any circumstances, pressure them into making decisions.”

She feels that one of the main contributors to customers “feeling comfortable” is the team of fitters Kingfisher employs.

Bob Niblett joined Kingfisher as a fitter last year. After 34 years in the trade, Bob not only knows his job he loves it too.

And it shows.

He said: “I think I’m much like the rest

PAGE 94 • MENDIP TIMES • NOVEMER 2015

of the installers at Kingfisher, we treat every job as if we are doing it in our own home.”

Bob said he joined Kingfisher because of its reputation for honesty, both with customers and employees: “In my experience many window companies are disorganised and unprofessional; Kingfisher is different and it is committed to high standards at every stage of a job.

Every one of us will go the extra mile for a customer.”

Over those 34 years Bob has established for himself a set of “golden rules” that he brings to each job, big or small.

He said: “You have to like people and be able to share a laugh with them, but you have to demonstrate that you know your job, take it seriously and pay attention to detail. When the unexpected happens, and a problem occurs, you don’t resort to short-cuts to hide it. You use your experience to resolve issues and you never leave a job until both you and the customer are completely satisfied.”

In the final analysis everyone at

Kingfisher knows that customer satisfaction is the key. A reputation takes a long time to build and can be severely damaged in a day. This is why so much care is taken with training and service.

The company celebrates 30 years in business next year and proudly cites family values as central to its success.

Angie said: “Over the years many of our customers have become friends and recommended us to their friends and for this to continue we can never let our standards slip.”

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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 • NOVEMBER 2015 • PAGE 95

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HOMES & INTERIORS

Tony Hucker TV Service – Sales – Rental

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

PAGE 96 • MENDIP TIMES • NOVEMBER 2015

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JACKSONS

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

Curves in all the right places

NOVEMBER in the garden is traditionally the time for having bonfires, pruning the deadwood and generally readying things for the onset of winter. Worthy and necessary work though this is, I am of the school of thought that whilst acknowledging we have my least favourite season to endure, now is a good time to focus on the coming year.

The ability to take refuge in dreaming up potentially life-changing projects for your garden, that can improve the quality of your leisure time, is something I freely admit to. It definitely gets me through some of the dark and depressing nights.

I’ve indulged in fantasies of redesigning planting areas and decks, and have imagined pergolas that transform the ordinary to the extraordinary. Thoughts of these projects can act as a glimmer of hope or a beacon at the end of the wintery tunnel of gloom.

So here is something new from Jacksons that could be the inspiration for your very own spring project – The Curve is a beautifully simple structure, that curves from left to right – there’s no need for posts in this seemingly gravity defying garden shelter.

The generous interior space is big enough to set up a dining area, leaving ample room for a relaxing seating zone

(approx 5m x 3m x 2.2m high).

The startling effects produced by sunlight glowing through the horizontal slats, creates a magical ambience. Imagine illuminating the curves at night with LED strips to create a dinner party to remember.

The possibilities of how to use this unique outdoor space are endless, and it has the

added benefit of having a clear polycarbonate sheet attached to the panels making it shower-proof.

You can find out lots more about the Curve and its little sister, the Demi-Curve, by going to your dedicated page: jacksons-fencing.co.uk/bathlocal There are also full details on our “beat the spring rush” special offer there too – place your order this winter, have it delivered on a date specified by you and we will give you half price delivery. Just think, then you will have the satisfaction of knowing you have got ahead of the curve, by beating the rush this spring – sorry, I had to get the curve reference in somewhere! louise@jacksons-fencing.co.uk

W I N A J A C K S O N S G A R D E N G AT E S E T . . .

Enter the free prize draw and be in with a chance to win one of our garden gate sets. We have 15 different styles and various sizes – the gate sets come complete with posts and everything you need to hang the gate.

They make having a new gate beautifully simple and straightforward, and they are all guaranteed for 25 years too! Simply log on to your local page, address below and follow the easy instructions on how to enter.

The draw closes 31.12.15. To enter go to: www.jacksons-fencing.co.uk/bathlocal

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

MENDIP TIMES • NOVEMBER 2015 • PAGE 97

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Weston Garden Machinery Garden Machinery & Woodburning Specialists

For the complete package to keep warm this winter, visit: Behind Shell Garage Winterstoke Road, Weston-super-Mare, North Somerset BS23 2YS

Tel: 01934 626093/813261 www.westongarden.co.uk

PAGE 98 • MENDIP TIMES • NOVEMER 2015

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H i dd en ea r th – th e c a v er s ’ c o nv e nt i o n CAVERS are a gregarious lot and every year the British Cave Research Association organises Hidden Earth, a weekend convention where cavers from all parts of the country, and some from further afield, gather to meet old friends, make new ones, and find out what is happening in the caving world.

With PHILIP The conference moves around the main HENDY British caving areas and this year it took place on Mendip, at Churchill Academy.

We met over a warm September weekend to enjoy a programme packed with lectures and other events. With four lecture theatres, there was something for everyone. Cavers recently back from foreign expeditions described their discoveries, as did those toiling closer to home, under the Mendip Hills and in other limestone regions.

Although no major new caves have been found recently, digging has revealed several hundred metres of new cave, from all of our caving regions. There was of course a strong contingent of local cavers, and a lot of interest was shown in Mendip discoveries.

Some sumps have been dived – only recently Duncan Price and Andrew Atkinson have found a muddy passage beyond Skeleton Sump in Charterhouse Cave, which inevitably ended in another sump. Digging the top rising at Gough’s Cave is ongoing, and of course, the new chamber at Wookey Hole was subject to a lot of interest, particularly as cavers will soon get the chance to explore its upper reaches.

A complex system of caves, first discovered by ochre miners, is being dug and explored in Canada Combe, and at Cutler’s Green near Chewton Mendip, several shafts in solid rock have been excavated with a Hymac and some interesting cave passages have been found. Vurley Swallet, possibly aligned with Spider Hole in Cheddar Gorge, is also progressing well. Diggers have even found a short pitch in Burrington Combe, a rare find for this area.

Other talks covered subjects as diverse as caving in Spain, the Philippines, and America, lava caves in the Canary Islands, water tracing, mining archaeology, surveying and bats. There were also caving workshops, covering sports massage, single rope-climbing techniques (SRT) and cave surveying. The Cave Diving Group demonstrated some of their equipment in the swimming pool.

For most Mendip cavers, the highlight was the ever-popular Mendip Roundup, where Mark Helmore of the Wessex Cave Club took a whimsical look at discoveries and events in our area over the last year. This was interspersed with video clips made by diggers, with narrow escapes and footage of an actual

Adrian Vanderplank at Mendip Cave Rescue stand

CAVING

(Photograph by Phil Hendy)

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Exhibition hall

breakthrough into new cave. The clips included close shaves and moments of gallows humour, but we all laughed knowing that no cavers were (seriously) injured during the film making.

Churchill’s Sports Hall became the exhibition area, where delegates could inspect caving equipment on offer from various suppliers, and buy replacement kit or the latest gizmo. The greatest developments seem to be in the field of lighting and it is amazing the intensity of light that some of the newest caving lamps can produce – all powered by small batteries which seem to last forever. This high technology has a price to match.

Caving clubs were also represented, publicising their recent discoveries and publications. Book collectors were well catered for, with books for sale covering every aspect of caving. Both the Mendip Cave Rescue Organisation and its parent, the Cave Rescue Organisation, were represented, and the Mendip Cave Registry and Archive demonstrated a new interactive computer programme, based on Google Earth, which pinpoints every Mendip cave and mine in a virtual flyover. It will soon be available online.

The hall was also the venue for various competitions. The standard of cave photography was very high, with more than 100 entries. Cave art, both graphic and sculptural, was also well represented. Various clubs produce T-shirts for special occasions and some of these were on view to be judged, as were some of the latest cave surveys. The fitter cavers could also try racing up ropes, or attempt to negotiate a constricted artificial cave.

Hidden Earth is more than just a conference covering discoveries and the science of caving. It is also an opportunity to meet and talk to friends old and new, over a pint (or two) of local cider or beer. Between lectures, crowds of cavers were to be seen enjoying the autumn sunshine, discussing past and projected caving trips, or just reminiscing about times past – the Good Old Days.

The conference dinner was held on the Saturday evening, where Alan Jefferies, a Scottish caver known to everyone as Goon, entertained the diners with tales of some of his past trips and misadventures. This was followed by a disco, for those still able to stand.

Hidden Earth has been running for many years and goes from strength to strength. Its popularity stems from the efforts put into it by the organisers, many of whom are Mendip cavers. It will be a few years before the event returns to Mendip, but wherever it is held, it is sure to be a success. When they put their minds to it, cavers certainly know how to put on a show.

Phil has been caving for more than 47 years and is a member of the Wessex Cave Club. He has been involved in producing several caving publications and is a caving instructor in Cheddar. His main interest is digging for new caves.

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Castle Cary carnival success

Cary Comedians’ entry Carnival Queen

BOTH Castle Cary Children’s Carnival and the main evening procession brought large crowds onto the streets of the town to enjoy the annual spectacular.

Organisers – the Castle Cary and Ansford Carnival Society – were hoping to raise a large amount for charity. They were able to donate more than £1,500 from last year’s event to local causes.

Kipling Junior Carnival Club’s entry London to Paris – The Race

Gerry Lambert, from Castle Cary Comedians carnival club

The children’s procession underway

Carnival dates

THE main Somerset carnivals, organised by the Somerset County Guy Fawkes Association are: Bridgwater: Saturday, November 7th (7pm); Highbridge and Burnham-on-Sea: Monday, November 9th (7pm); Westonsuper-Mare: Friday, November 13th (7.15pm); North Petherton: Saturday, November 14th (7pm); Midsomer Norton: Monday, November 16th (7.30pm) (not part of the circuit); Shepton Mallet: Wednesday, November 18th (7.30pm); Wells: Friday, November 20th (7pm); Glastonbury: Saturday, November 21st (7pm) PAGE 100 • MENDIP TIMES • NOVEMBER 2015

Liam, from Storm Carnival Club’s entry Childhood Days

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CARNIVAL 2015

Ghostbusters prepare to take to the streets Angelina Palin and her son Nathaniel were taking part in carnival for the first time

The Flintstones, by Revellers Carnival Club Carnival committee member Sue Pexton prepares to collect charity donations

Ebony Dearsley with her winning entry Cat in the Hat with a Grandad!

Castle Cary Cygnet Majorettes lead the children's parade

Joy Frapple with grandchildren Lincoln and Joseph Wixey hidden by the Tranformers costumes she helped to make

Chloe, Casey and Poppy Hudson as Cat in the Hat MENDIP TIMES • NOVEMBER 2015 • PAGE 101

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Choir seeks director

SOMER Valley Singers sang at Carlingcott Chapel, near Peasedown St. John, as part of the Methodists’ harvest celebrations, conducted by the minister the Rev. Michelle Ireland, following which they were invited to partake in a delicious harvest tea.

The choir’s former musical director, Heather Hill, stepped in to conduct the choir, despite retiring from the choir earlier this year. The choir are seeking a new musical director.

Shipham welcomes back community orchestra

MUSIC

The Longwell Green Community Orchestra

Details: chairperson, Shirley Parker, 01761 433325, or see www.somervalleysingers.co.uk

Choir’s charity weekend

MENDIP Male Voice Choir have had a charity weekend away in Worcester, enjoyed by 40 members and their partners.

On the Friday evening the Mendip men sang for patients, nurses, doctors, visitors and friends at Worcester Hospital and were joined by their resident soloist Hannah Drury.

Then after a full day exploring the area, coaches whisked everyone off to Kidderminster Church to sing with the excellent Kidderminster Valentines Ladies’ Choir.

Mendip Male Voice Choir meet on Monday nights, 7.15pm, at St Mary's School Timsbury.

Choir on the road

The Jenny Peplow Singers – more members are welcome

FROM the Forest of Dean to Bodmin, the Jenny Peplow singers have enjoyed a busy time, raising £7,000 for charity in 2015.

As well as singing in the Forest, the choir’s mix of classical, traditional and pop music has also delighted audiences at Clifton Cathedral and Bodmin, Bath and local churches with their varied programme that will again be entertaining in three more venues leading up to Christmas.

Formed over four years ago the choir, that meets on Wednesday evenings at St John’s church hall, Midsomer

THE Longwell Green Community Orchestra is returning to Shipham Church on Saturday, December 5th when they will perform a concert of Christmas misic.

The concert is being organised jointly by Shipham Church and Peter Rutter, who plays oboe in the orchestra. It will be their second visit to the church and their fourth in all to the village.

Longwell Green Orchestra first formed in 1921 by a group of musicians in the local brotherhood of Longwell Green churches.

They give concerts throughout the year at a range of venues, mainly to raise money for charity.

The profits from this year’s concert will be donated to the Save the Children Syrian Refugee Appeal.

Tickets priced £5 are available in advance from 01934 843388 or 01934 843319. They may also be purchased on the door subject to availability. The concert starts at 7.30pm.

Norton, now numbers 43 which Jenny hopes to boost to 50 singers with more second soprano and alto voices currently being sought.

Jenny is also seeking more singers to join her two Tuesday choirs that meet at St Aldhelm’s Church, Doulting during the afternoon and at Chilcompton Village Hall during the evening.

Finding Jenny’s leadership inspirational, members have forged many friendships and list joy, fun, confidence and freedom as what they have gained from singing together.

Jenny can be contacted on 01373 812093 and more information is on www.facebook.com/jennypeplowsingers and www.jennypeplowsingers.com

PAGE 102 • MENDIP TIMES • NOVEMER 2015

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RIDING

Wincanton in a tizz

By Mark Adler

LOCAL trainer Colin Tizzard left fans breathless after the opening two races on the opening day of the season at Wincanton Racecourse.

Sherborne-based Tizzard masterminded a remarkable one-two double in the first race and followed that up with victory in the second.

Billed as Under Starter’s Orders, the opening meeting – there are 16 on the cards this season – attracted a large crowd who were treated to a parade of some West Country champions as well as tips from some of the area’s leading trainers.

East Hill’s winning owners, The Con Club syndicate, from Milborne Port

Tizzard double: evens favourite The Cider Maker and 25-1 outsider East Hill take the final hurdle but East Hill was the victor

Silviniaco Conti, the multi-winning champion from the Paul Nicholls stable, is led around the parade ring

Regulation, trained by Neil King and ridden

by Richard Johnson, shows his rivals a clean pair of heels as he approaches the finish line in the Horsington Handicap Hurdle

Rachel Bowden, from Wincanton Racecourse, with Totepool’s operations manager Paul Ritchie. Rachel raised £721 for the RNLI with a series of charity bets last season; this year’s she’ll be raising money for Great Ormond Street Hospital for Sick Children

MENDIP TIMES • NOVEMBER 2015 • PAGE 103

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With RACHEL THOMPSON MBE

HOORAY! The fly season is over and it’s autumn – my favourite season for exploring on horseback.

Me and my horse chums have been lured out most mornings by blue skies, a sun still warm on our backs and a brisk wind nipping at our cheeks and the horses’ hooves. The Mendip landscape is a stunning palette of colour highlighted by golden light and soft shadow – it’s like riding through a Constable

painting!

This morning’s vista of neatly-ploughed fields brought forth a hearty rendition of “We Plough the Fields and Scatter”… well the nags liked it, nothing like a sing-song for settling a little skittishness.

Interaction with the landscape is excellent for mental and physical health – for horses and humans alike, so what’s your excuse? Go on – catch the horse, dust it off, don a hi-vis and explore your local bridleways. If company and stunning scenery is your thing I hope you managed to participate in one of the recent and increasingly popular Mendip Bridleway and Byways Association (MBBA) rides.

Continuing last month’s theme of tracking down interesting Mendip characters who do great work for the local equestrian community, I reined in MBBA’s chairman of six years, Cherry Lawson, for a quick chat before she bolted to the Welsh mountains for a well-earned rest. At nearly 70, this retired district nurse and amateur dramatic queen enthuses about riding out to enjoy the views and wildlife around Stoney Stratton – where her 16.1hh chestnut gelding Cyril the Squirrel is kept.

We took to talking about the past, as you do. Cherry came to Mendip in 1977, she had her first horse (16.3hh Havastock) at aged 49 and for many years was a familiar sight on the endurance and pleasure ride circuit. She first attended a bridleway meeting in 1979 – gosh, back to the days of ESBA (East Somerset Bridleways Association) then. If memory serves correctly ESBA

April and Indy are champions APRIL Wilson and her amazing pony Indy have had an amazing couple of years. In 2014 they went through an England trial process to make the European team for the Mounted Games Association which meant they competed at the European championships in Belgium.

After a long week they ended up reserve European champions to Ireland.

They then went on to win the World Pair Championships 2014 with her pair partner Mitch Lyons from Canterbury.

This year April and Indy went through the same England trial process to get

PAGE 104 • MENDIP TIMES • NOVEMBER 2015

A young family enjoying the three-mile lead rein route, as a safe introduction to fun rides

(Photography courtesy of Mike Humeniuk)

Cherry’s the champion of our bridleways

(now MBBA) is the oldest bridleways association in the country, founded in 1965, and then chaired by the redoubtable Mrs Crouch of Witham Friary who lived in a house with no electricity and layers of dust interspersed with copies of fierce letters to the council, items of tack and rosettes won by all the children she taught to ride.

Cherry and the hardworking MBBA committee are continuing the grand job, in these council cash-strapped times, of ensuring that our network of bridleways and green ways remains open, usable, safe and fun! Rides such as the spectacular Glastonbury and the recent Greenscombe rides and other events offer a dual bonus of great riding and cash for bridleway clearance, surfacing, new gates and new routes.

Cherry’s hot tip for riders? Respect others out in the countryside and receive respect in return – a cheerful wave and grin goes a long way …

So, join MBBA today! Go to www.mbba.org.uk or contact Victoria Lang vlang@mbba.org.uk (tel) 01749 813344. Help always appreciated on ride days!

G Cherry Lawson is appearing in Babe at Evercreech Village Hall on November 26th, 27th and 28th. Be there!

picked to ride for England at the European Championships in France. The England team won and took the European Championship title.

Later this year April and her county team South Shropshire went on to win the Welsh Championships and the British Championships, setting a new record at the British Championships for highest ever scorers.

April, aged 21, from Breach Hill is a junior account manager with a tailored clothing company and has three ponies to look after.

She said she would like to thank her

parents Richard and Tracey Wilson, for buying her “a one in a million pony” and for all their support over the last few years.

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Frankly the wonder horse

Horse power!

RIDING

Sue Rich (BHS Avon Chairman), Jennifer Ham (BHS South West Chairman), Martha Buchanan (12,000th member) and Carrie Buchanan (Martha’s aunt)

Frankly at Tweseldown

LOCAL three-day eventer, Jo Clarke, and her talented horse Frankly, have had an excellent season qualifying to compete at 2* International level next year.

This season finished with a flurry of double clears in the show jumping and cross-country phases of a number of intermediate events, with first place wins at Pontispool, Tweseldown and Bicton as well as coming fifth in their first intermediate at Aston-le-Walls, competing against top international horses and riders.

Jo Clarke, together with her sister Jilly, own a small livery yard, Tunley Equestrian Centre, and bought Frankly at auction, as an unwanted two-year-old, destined for the meat market.

Qualifying for 2* International has been made possible thanks to the financial help provided through Frankly’s online supporters club, Friends of Frankly. Since being launched in 2013 this has steadily grown and 2015 saw some of Frankly’s major events being funded by the club.

Jo said: “Next season will be a challenge with show jumps at 1.25 metres and cross-country jumps becoming bigger and more technical, with drops up to 1.80 metres. But I’m confident and enthusiastic about rising to the 2* level and have every faith in Frankly, my wonder horse!”

THIRTEEN-year-old Martha Buchanan from Banwell has become the 12,000th member of the British Horse Society in the South West Region – but little did the BHS know just what a special background story there was.

Martha suffers from a rare medical condition called Ehlers-Danlos Syndrome which has many symptoms, some of which affect joints and muscles which in turn leads to fatigue and pain. In December 2014 Martha’s condition had confined her to bed for much of the time. Medical experts, friends and family knew that Martha needed something to look forward to. Martha’s Aunt Carrie is a keen horsewoman and has her own stables near to where Martha lives and said that she would get her a pony – Ruby – so that when she felt a bit better she could go down to the stables to meet her.

By April, Martha was well enough to go to the stables in a wheelchair to meet Ruby. Martha was able to groom Ruby from her wheelchair and by May, Martha was able to go to the stables on crutches and do a little more. Then, in June, Martha sat on Ruby for the first time and with help from people on the ground was able to ride around on a lead rein.

From that point there has been no stopping her and Martha can now ride around the arena on her own. Martha’s condition will be with her for life but doctors and medical experts say that Martha’s progress over the last few months has been like a miracle and they have never seen such an improvement in such a short space of time.

As a long-term member of the BHS herself, Aunt Carrie decided the next step in Martha’s new found love of horses would be to make Martha a member of The British Horse Society and, quite by chance, she became the 12,000th member.

MENDIP TIMES • NOVEMBER 2015 • PAGE 105

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Honours all round

WELLS Rugby Club has been awarded coveted RFU Accreditation status in recognition of its work on and off the pitch.

Somerset County FRU president Des Chalmers and the former Bath, England and British & Irish Lions player Danny Grewcock visited the club to make the award.

The club has ambitious plans to move from its current ground at Charter Way to a new site at nearby Haybridge. Club director Richard Hibberd said the plans were “progressing well”.

Meanwhile, the club has honoured one of its former players who was paralysed after breaking his neck during a game 25 years ago. Geoff Cook, who remains an enthusiastic supporter of Wells, has been made a patron of the club. Geoff was playing hooker in a match against Clifton in September

Presentation time at Wells RFC

1990 when, during a scrum, his head became trapped and he broke his neck.

G Former Leicester and England lock Louis Deacon visited Wells to take a coaching session at the invitation of

Geoff Cook (seated centre) has been made a patron of Wells

Louis Deacon with some of the Wells coaching team

Geoff Cook’s son Aaron on his way to scoring a try in a recent match against Chard

Danny Grewcock, David Maxwell – head of the club’s youth section – and Des Chalmers PAGE 106 • MENDIP TIMES • NOVEMBER 2015

director of rugby Peter Kennedy. Since retiring earlier this year through injury, Louis has been coaching on a freelance basis and running an events company.

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SPORT

David is a winner

PEASEDOWN resident, David Milford, only started playing croquet two years ago yet he beat all the opposition to win the Croquet Association’s Grass Roots Championship at Ashby de la Zouch.

This championship is open to all beginners and improvers with higher handicaps (top players have low handicaps).

David won his place in the final at a knock-out competition at his club, Camerton and Peasedown Croquet Club, and then journeyed up to the Midlands to meet up with the other finalists.

They were all more experienced than David, but his natural talent and skill showed through as, after a number of competitive matches, he was awarded the Grass Roots Silver Cup. David said: “I have received so much support from club coaches and members with the result that my game has improved over this season.”

Details: Camerton and Peasedown Croquet Club Mo Boys 01225 708540 or Ros Key Pugh 01225 425727.

Relive the glory years MEMORIES of the golden era at Somerset County Cricket Club have been revived in a new book.

Somerset County Cricket Club – The Return to Glory contains more than 300

photographs by Alain Lockyer and an affectionately-written text by Richard Walsh and gives all fans of the Cidermen the chance to relive their memories of the 2001 and 2005 trophy-winning seasons

(l:r): Alain, Richard and Keith at the launch

Can you help Corey?

ELITE trampoline gymnast Corey Walkes is appealing for help to allow him to compete in a world championship event at the end of November.

Corey, aged 14, from Radstock, has been selected as one of just two boys in their age group to compete for Great Britain at the 24th World Age Group Trampoline and Tumbling Championships 2015 which will be held in Odense, Denmark from November 29th until December 7th.

But, as a junior, Corey and his family must cover all his costs, estimated to be more than £2,000.

Corey said: “This is my third year of selection to compete for Great Britain at a World Championships and I am exceptionally proud and honoured to be part of the Great Britain Team!”

To help Corey, visit his Virgin Money Giving page at: http://uk.virginmoneygiving.com/coreywalkes2015

along with 2007 when they won promotion back top the top flight.

County Ground favourite Keith Parsons, who played a key role in both the 2001 and 2005 winning teams, said: “Return to Glory is a book that anyone who follows Somerset will enjoy. It has helped me to relive many of those special days that only come round once in a life time.”

Alain is a professional photographer who runs Somerset Photo News Agency; Richard is a freelance journalist and editor of the official Somerset CCC website and yearbook.

G Somerset County Cricket Club – The Return to Glory by Alain Lockyer and Richard Walsh is published by Wellington based Halsgrove

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Mells on the map for charity runners

The village of Mells, near Frome, has become established as a popular venue for charity running events for serious and not-so-serious participants as Mark Adler reports.

Scenic end for Jim’s campaign CHARITY athlete Jim Plunkett-Cole passed a remarkable 1,000 consecutive daily 10km runs at this year’s Mells Scenic Seven event.

Cheered on by fellow runners and supporters, Jim crossed the finish line in under one hour. Jim, who lives near Vobster and is a member of Frome Running Club, has been raising money for the Frome-based charity Positive Action on Cancer.

The race itself was won by Kieran Young, from Wells City Harriers, who finished in 46’19”. Fellow WCH runner Clare Prosser was the first woman home, crossing the line in ninth place overall in 50’41”.

Jim will continue his running as part of a daily sprint triathlon effort which he will be continuing until February.

Jim nears the finish line after competing 1,000 consecutive 10km runs

Jim (third from right) with fellow athletes and fundraisers from Positive Action on Cancer

Clare Prosser was the first woman home in the Mells Scenic Seven

Ru n t o b e c om e an n u al e ve n t

AROUND £3,000 was raised for the CLIC Sergant children’s cancer charity by runners, walkers and cyclists who took PAGE 108 • MENDIP TIMES • NOVEMBER 2015

Kieran Young won the overall race

Runners and walkers line up for the start of the Mells 10k. Cyclists left a few minutes later

part in the second Mells 10k event.

Organisers Nige and Su Crutchley, who launched the Mells 10k as part of their

fundraising efforts in memory of their late son Ben, said it would now become an annual event.

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Catch me if you can!

OLYMPIC sprinter hopeful Leon Reid put youngsters from the Coleford area through their paces when he officially opened a new all-weather sports area at the village school.

Leon, 21, who trains at the University of Bath, spent a day at Bishop Henderson School, taking part in a question and answer session in a special assembly before giving pupils tips on diet, fitness and motivation.

The new games area was partly funded by a £30,000 Primary Spaces grant from

SPORT Sport England and will be available for community use. It will also allow the school to expand the range of sports on offer.

Headteacher, Tonie Scott, said: “This is such a fantastic sports facility and we are all really pleased with it. Already it has made a significant difference to the children’s enjoyment of sport and to the amount of physical activity they do each day. We now have a football club at lunchtime twice each week and a netball club after school.

Headteacher Tonie Scott and business manager Lyn Knight help Leon cut the ribbon

England success for “novice” shooter

Pete (centre) with Rob and Katrina Lintott from Southfield Sporting

“We would like to say a big thank you to Sport England for the award, which has made this possible as it will have a significant impact on sporting opportunities for the children in our school. We are very grateful to Michelle Martin, who managed the project on our behalf, and also to Lyn Knight, our school business manager, who has worked extremely hard to ensure the success of the project.”

Leon has his sights on both the 100 metres and 200 metres events in the 2016 Olympics in Brazil.

Pupils challenge Leon to a sprint

PETE Dennett, of Upton Noble, is celebrating a double success after making his debut in the England clay shooting squad.

He was part of the team which enjoyed victory in the English Sporting Clays competition over rivals from Scotland, Ireland and Wales and which then followed that up with success in the French version, known as FITASC, which also included teams from

the Channel Islands.

Pete has been shooting for some 35 years and reached the England squad through a series of qualification events.

Supported by Southfield Sporting, of Whatley, and Hull Cartridges, Pete’s ambition is to make the squad for the World Championships. Pete said: “I am so grateful for everyone’s support, especially from Katrina and Rob at Southfield Sporting and my wife Teresa.”

MENDIP TIMES • NOVEMBER 2015 • PAGE 109

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Water panto this year’s will be!

EVOLUTION Pantomimes will once again join forces with The Octagon Theatre in Yeovil to present their most spectacular pantomime to date: a modern twist on the classic Sleeping Beauty.

Evolution Pantomimes are renowned for their flair for producing pantos that celebrate the tradition of the genre whilst faithfully updating these classic stories with exciting new features – this year with a staggering two tonnes of water live on stage!

The production – which runs from Friday, December 4th until Sunday, January 3rd – sees the return of Eddie Dredge, who both directed and starred in last year’s Jack and the Beanstalk, and Sam Rabone, the Octagon’s fabulous Dame, who this year presents his Nurse Nellie.

With a West End-standard cast, lavish sets and costumes, an incredible live band and fantastic local juvenile ensemble dancers, this year’s production promises a magical adventure for all the family.

Paul Hendy, of Evolution Pantomimes, said: “We are thrilled to be producing Sleeping Beauty at the Octagon and we’re very proud of our reputation for producing some of the best pantomimes in the country. Sleeping Beauty promises to be the biggest, funniest and most spectacular show we have produced at the Octagon and we know the people of Somerset are going to love it!”

To book tickets or for more information contact the Octagon Theatre box office on 01935 422884, visit www.octagontheatre.co.uk or pop into the theatre.

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Some Christmas magic

CHRISTMAS Eve is a time of waiting. All the lamps are out, and the lights in the tree twinkle like stars amongst its dark boughs, casting deep shadows into every corner. There are secret whispers and rustles and murmurs behind each locked door. On Christmas Eve, anything is possible.

Nutshell Nutcracker is a magical and darkly enchanting retelling of the ultimate Yuletide tale, with story-telling, dance and music woven together to cast a festive spell in this production by Theatre Orchard in association with Ballet Central.

Written and directed by Tony Hulse, with choreography by Sara Matthews and Christopher Marney, it’s set to a brand new reimagining of Tchaikovsky’s classic score. It runs at the Theatre Shop in Clevedon from December 19th – January 2nd.

Details: www.theatreshop.org.uk

WHAT’S ON

Space art comes to Wells

A NEW exhibition at Wells and Mendip Museum will be out of this world, say organisers – literally.

Wells and Mendip Astronomers is hosting Visions of Space by eight of Britain’s leading astronomical artists including David A. Hardy, European Vice-President of the International Association of Astronomical Artists. The WMA organise a lot of events in the region, with the goal of bringing astronomy, space exploration and science education to as wide an audience as possible.

The exhibition, which runs from Saturday, November 7th to Saturday, November 21st, is being run in conjunction with the British Interplanetary Society South-West. Admission is free.

Princes Road, Wells, BA5 1TD

NOW SHOWING

Starts Friday 13th November

Starts Thursday 19th November Starts Friday 27th November

Starts Thursday 17th December

COMING UP: Spectre (12A)

The Lady In The Van (12A) book now Brooklyn (12A) Mockingjay Part 2 (12A) book now Good Dinosaur (U) 3D & 2D Star Wars The Force Awakens 3D & 2D book now

Book in person Online 24/7 @www.wellsfilmcentre.co.uk Over the ’phone: 01749 673195

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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.

Thursday October 29th West Mendip Walkers mod circular walk 11m from Cheddar Reservoir. Ex 141 ST439543. Start 10am.

Park north carpark, Cheddar Road, Axbridge. Details: 01934 733783 or anthonyestrange@gmail.com Somerset Wildlife Trust, East Mendip, talk by Secret World, St. Catherine’s Hall, Park Road, Frome BA11 1EU, 7.30pm.

Friday October 30th to Sunday November 1st Clevedon Art Clubs Annual Members Exhibition & Sale of Artworks Sixth Form Centre, Clevedon School. 10.30am to 3pm.

Friday October 30th Levens Choir Concert: Dido & Aeneas and other works, 7.30pm at St James’ Church, Winscombe, BS25 1BX. Tickets £7, from Winscombe PO and on the door. Details: 07960 697874.

Saturday October 31st and Sunday November 1st 25th Mendip Christmas Fair, Aldwick Court Farm, for Bristol Children’s Hospital & Children’s Hospice SW. Over 40 stalls. Starts 10am, closes 5.30pm on Sat, 3.30pm Sunday. U-16s free. Details: www.mendipchristmasfair.org Saturday October 31st Shipham Village Hall Halloween fun for charity, 8pm-midnight, hog roast, bar, pumpkin carving, disco for over-18s. Tickets £8 (£5 without food). Details: mel@mediafly.co.uk 0777 6246866.

Cossington Village Hall, Bridgwater, Whiskey In The Jar, with Sean Cannon and his sons, for Bridgwater Hospital League of Friends, 8pm, £12.50.

Details: 01278 451187 or rogercollett.sounds@talktalk.net Mendip Society walk Farmborough, meet 1.30pm in the car park at the end of Church Lane (BA2 0AN).

About 5 miles, fields & woodland. Details: Roger 01225 872777.

Tuesday November 3rd Congresbury Over-60s Club, with the Rainbow Choir. The club meets every other Tuesday at Congresbury War Memorial Hall, 2.30pm-4pm.

Wednesday November 4th Wrington Twinning Association French Connection wine & cheese festival, Aldwick Court, 7pm-9pm, £12 (members £10). Details: Anthony Hancock 01934 782462 or John Adams 07796 950346.

Thursday November 5th Cheddar Valley U3A – ‘A career behind the scenes in TV’s Antiques Roadshow' – a presentation by Tiggi Trethowan, Church House, Cheddar, 2.15pm, entry £2, visitors welcome.

Farrington Gurney YFC Firework Display, Home Farm, Ston Easton, BA3 4DE, 7pm, £3pp, U 10s free, cider bar, catering, bonfire, Guy Fawkes competition.

West Mendip Walkers – mod linear walk, 10.8m from Samford Brett to West Bagborough. Ex OL9 ST090401. Start 10am. Contact: 01934 733783 or anthonyestrange@gmail.com to discuss transport arrangements.

Frome Heritage Museum, Frome, BA11 1AT: all former Butler and Tanner employees are invited to an informal tea and chat and to view the successful Printing Exhibition. 2-3.30pm.

Friday November 6th to Sunday November 8th Bishop’s Palace Wells Craft Fair – workshops, craft supplies & stalls and an array of pre-made artisan gifts to inspire your Christmas shopping! Details: PAGE 112 • MENDIP TIMES • NOVEMBER 2015

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www.bishopspalace.org.uk 01749 988111 ext 200.

Friday November 6th Redhill Club Open Mic Night hosted by Jerry Blythe, 8pm. All budding musicians & performers are welcome, it's FREE to join and ample parking.

Church Road, Redhill, BS40 5SG Tel: 01934 862619.

Saturday November 7th to Saturday November 21st Wells & Mendip Astronomers exhibition of astronomical and space art, Visions of Space, Wells & Mendip Museum, 11am-4pm, free entry. Preview: November 6th, 7pm, £8 with lecture, drinks and canapes. Details: treasurer@wellsastronomers.org.uk or 01749 673656.

Saturday November 7th and Sunday November 8th Cam Valley Arts Trail – Free workshops, demonstrations & exhibitions for all ages. 11am – 5pm (Sat) and 12noon- 5pm (Sun) across 8 venues.

See: www.camvalleyartstrail.co.uk for more info.

Saturday November 7th The Trinity Singers, 7.30pm, St Mary's Church,Yatton, evening includes Fauré’s Requiem, Gregorian themes and other French sacred music.£10, U-18s free. Details: Margaret Avery 01934 852123 or www.trinitysingers.co.uk Mendip Society walk Burrington Combe, meet 1.30pm in the car park at the bottom of Burrington Combe, about four miles through Rickford, steep hills. Details: Mary 01934 843789.

Wookey Hole Community Hall Village Coffee Morning – Fairtrade, tombola, bring & buy in aid of new hall carpeting, 10am-1pm.

Headway Somerset Charity Ball and Auction, Somerset County Cricket Ground, 7 for 7.30pm, tickets £30. Details: Samantha Bell 01823 444829 or 07940 830168. sam@headwaysomerset.org.uk Congresbury Singers, Songs that Saw Us Through WWII, St Andrew’s Church, 7.30pm, tickets £8 include nibbles and a drink, from Congresbury PO, choir members, 01275 878740 or on the door.

Frome Society for Local Study and Frome Civic Society John Cooper from the SS Great Britain Trust on the life of Isambard Kingdom Brunel, Assembly Rooms, 2.30pm.

Christmas Craft Fayre at Ston Easton’s 11th century church, 10am-2pm in the village hall. After five lead thefts, this beautiful little church is raising money to maintain the fabric and to remain open. Details: Pat 01761 241428.

Wells Cathedral Oratorio Society perform Bach, Lutheran Mass BVW 233 Cantata 140 ‘Wachet Auf’!

Brandenburg Concerto, 7pm, Wells Cathedral. Details: www.wcos.org.uk or 01749 672773.

Con Brio Choir afternoon tea concert, Farmborough Church, 3.30pm, followed by tea, £6; the choir welcomes new members. Details: Jan Jones 01761750840 email jeannette.georgina@gmail.com Ston Easton Christmas Craft Fayre. 10am-2pm in the Village Hall. Crafts, food, Christmas presents and a sweet shoppe. Coffee, cakes and a hot soup/roll lunch will be available. Ample parking. In aid of church funds. Ffi: Pat 01761 241428.

Axbridge Progressive Dinner, moving around the town to eat in different houses. Details: axbridgeprogressive@yahoo.co.uk or call Paul 01934 732429.

Sunday November 8th Mid Somerset Oxfam Group Quiz Night, Britannia Inn, Wells, 7 for 7.30pm, teams of up to six, £2.50 pp.

Details: 01749 672342 or to book your table.

Remembrance Service, St Mary the Virgin, Orchardleigh BA11 2PH, 10.55am.

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Tuesday November 10th Inessential Necessities in 18th Century England, by Naomi Motley for Mendip DFAS at Bath & West Bar & Restaurant, B & W Show Ground, Shepton Mallet BA4 6QN, 11am. Details: www.mdfas.org.uk. Guests welcome. Details: 01934 862435.

Clevedon Art Club has Les Matthews presenting Pick ’n’ Mix – Approaches to various painting techniques at St Mary’s Church Hall, Walton 7.30pm.

Wednesday November 11th Draycott Quilters exhibition and sale of handmade gifts, Oakland House, Wells Road, Draycott, 10am – 6.30pm in aid of Dorset & Somerset Air Ambulance, £3.50, inc tea and cake, light lunches available.

Congresbury Over-60s Club, a short service will be held outside the War Memorial Hall, Congresbury, 11am and afterwards a warming cup of coffee or tea will be available inside the hall.

Nailsea & District Horticultural Society AGM followed by a talk on sweet peas with Val and Martyn Davis, United Reformed Church Hall, Stockway North, Nailsea, 7.30pm.

Wells Civic Society WW1 remembered, guided tour of exhibition with Andy Webb, Wells and Mendip Museum, 7.30pm.

Thursday November 12th West Mendip Walkers – moderate circular walk of 9m from Bleadon Village Hall. Ex 140 ST340570.

Start 10am. Contact 01934 733783 or anthonyestrange@gmail.com Friday November 13th Tex Braithwaite & the Biryani Brothers, comedy cowboy band for Children in Need, £3. 8pm at Redhill Club, Church Road, Redhill, BS40 5SG Tel: 01934 862619. Not to be missed!

Banwell Society of Archaeology: Local Churches, with John Crockford-Hawley, Banwell Village Hall, 7.30pm.

Wrington Friendship Club, bingo and bring & buy sale. The club meets every other Friday at Wrington Memorial Hall, Silver Street. Details: Fred Parsons 01934 863562.

Saturday November 14th Roxy Vintage and Hand-made Fair, St. Andrew’s Church House, Cheddar BS27 3RE, café, gifts, entertainment. Details: www.facebook.com/roxyvintageandhandmadefair Village Voices Community Choir and friends concert for Children In Need, Ston Easton village hall, 7pm, £7.50. Details: 01761 241617 vanddg.hramsa@btconnect.com Fairtrade Fair & Fashion Show, Shipham Village Hall, 10am –3.30pm, with Christmas willow workshop, many stalls, £5pp, £10 family. Details: http://shiphamfairtrade.my-free.website Congresbury Book Sale, 9am to 1pm, War Memorial Hall, a wide selection of good quality books, jigsaw puzzles, dvds, cds and talking books.

Songs from WWII to mark the 70th anniversary of the end of the war, All Saints’ Church, Weston-sMare, BS23 2NL. 12noon. Singers: Gordon Pullin & Elizabeth Glen. Tickets £7 on the door include a light lunch.

Brent Knoll Bazaar, Farmers’ Market & Café, 10am-12 noon in Brent Knoll Parish Hall. FREE Admission. Details: 01278 760308.

Somerset Plant Heritage Group sale, Village Hall, Edington, TA7 9HA, 1.30pm. A talk The Wonders of Westonbirt at 2.30pm. Members free, visitors £4.

Details: 01278 451631.

Clevedon Lions Club – entertainment with the Ukulele Funhouse Orchestra, Clevedon Community Centre, 7.30 pm, £10, children £5. Details: clevedonlions@gmail.com.

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Claverham Christmas Market, Claverham Village Hall. Locally produced quality gifts, free entry and parking, refreshments, tombola, children’s activities in aid of Clavertots playgroup and Save the Children, 10am-1pm.

Mendip Society walk, Priddy Nine Barrows, meet 1.30pm, Stockhill Woods car park on the Old Bristol Rd (nr BA5 3AR), Five miles, no major hills. Details: Peter 01761 221995.

Ubley Craft and Gift Fair, wide range of stalls, including pottery, greetings cards, toys, books, glassware and prints, plus Christmas cakes etc, coffee, tea, lunches available, Ubley Parish Hall BS40 6PW, 10am-4pm. Details: 07582 933283.

Monday November 16th North Somerset & Bristol Hawk and Owl Trust, illustrated talk by Bill Francis from WWT Slimbridge at the Star Inn, Tickenham BS21 6SE, 7.45pm.

Members £3, non-members £4.

Tuesday November 17th Gold of the Gods, NADFAS illustrated lectures, Caryford Hall, Castle Cary, BA7 7JJ, 11am, free parking, £6. Details: 01963 350 527.

Midsomer Norton Townswomen’s Guild, Wiltshire Farm Foods with Amelia Driffin, St. John’s Church Hall, Midsomer Norton BA3 2HX, 2pm.

Congresbury Over-60s Club, with vocalist Chris Rainbow, Congresbury War Memorial Hall, 2.30pm4pm.

Wednesday November 18th Axbridge Archaeological & Local History Society, Barry Lane on Westbury-sub-Mendip, the evolution of an Anglo-Saxon village, 7.30pm, Cross Memorial Hall.

Mendip Gardening Club, winning BBC Gardener of the Decade and other adventures, with Katherine Crouch, Ston Easton Village Hall. Details: 01761 241617.

Thursday November 19th Cheddar Valley U3A Meet & Greet Coffee Morning at Church House, Cheddar, 10.30am to 12 noon. Visitors welcome. Details: 01934 744241 or www.cheddarvalleyu3a.org.uk West Mendip Walkers – moderate circular walk of 8.3m around Alfred’s Tower. Ex 142 ST755314. Start 10am. Park Pen Selwood Church. Contact: 01934 743088 or rogermead1941@hotmail.co.uk Saturday November 21st Redhill Club Quiz Night, 8pm, Max six/team, or individuals. Entry £1pp – winning team takes the prize money! Refreshments during break. Church Road, Redhill, BS40 5SG Tel: 01934 862619.

Cats Protection Christmas Fair, Wells Town Hall, 9.30am. Gifts, cards, calendars, crafts, bric a brac etc., refreshments. Admission free but donations welcome, particularly cat food! Details: 01749 880545.

Blagdon & Weston Hospice Support Group Christmas Fair, Blagdon Village Club, 10am12noon.

Mendip Society Walk, along the Rivers Brue & Parrett. An easy 5.5 miles; possibly wading birds, so bring binoculars. ST 308 448. Meet 1.30pm, car park on the A38 south of Huntspill near Bleak Bridge, TA9 3RQ. Contact: Judy 01749 672196 Frome Society for Local Study and Frome Civic Society Lorraine Johnson on the history of Butler and Tanner, Assembly Rooms, 2.30pm.

Sunday November 22nd Frome Quakers meeting and discussion on “A sense of Light” at the Key Centre, Feltham Lane, Frome, 2pm. With Prof Keith Barnham of Imperial College, London.

Meningitis Nearly New Sale, Ubley village hall, babies/children’s clothes, equipment, toys and

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bedding, home-made refreshments, 2pm-3.30pm.

Details: Kate 01761 221444.

Thursday November 26th Chew Valley Wildlife Group, Big Cat Safari with Jill Toman, Chew Magna Millennium Hall, 7.45pm, £2.50; season ticket available.

West Mendip Walkers – circular walk of 5.25m from Uphill. Ex 153 ST314585.Start 12.30pm. Car park opp. Dolphin Inn nr boatyard. Contact: 01934 853639 or 07803 722878 jennymr7@aol.com Friday November 27th Wrington Friendship Club with the Reflections Singers, Wrington Memorial Hall, Silver Street.

Street Men Choir, John Thorners, Pylle, near Shepton Mallet, food & drink fayre with carols and sample tasters, 6pm.

Saturday November 28th and Sunday November 29th Christmas tree festival, St Augustine’s Church, Clutton, BS39 5SG. Decorated trees from local organisations and businesses. Sat: 11am-6pm, Sunday 2-6pm; donations £2 per adult (children free) requested, includes light refreshments.

Saturday November 28th Christmas Market, Cranmore Memorial Hall, 10am, all proceeds in aid of Eady’s Journey, supporting disabled children in Somerset. Local crafts, presents, cider, snacks, tea, coffee, raffle and lots more.

Street Men & Ladies Choirs at Glastonbury Abbey Frost Fayre. All day event with carols and goodies.

Churchill Academy Christmas Gift Fair, 11am3pm, high quality gifts and produce, Churchill Academy & Sixth Form, BS25 5QN. Congresbury Book Sale, 9am – 1pm, War Memorial Hall.

Mendip Society Walk, a moderate 6 miles around Towerhouse Wood & Tickenham Ridge ST 478 709.

Meet 1.30pm, Clevedon Rd (free) car park, Nailsea, BS48 1EH. Contact: Richard 01275 852786.

Chew Valley Choral Society, Dvorak Requiem, St Andrew’s Church, Chew Magna, 7.30pm, £10, £5 students & children, from choir members or on the door, wine during the interval. Details: 01275 333014.

St. Mary’s Christmas Fair, Yatton Junior School, 10am – 2pm, lots of fun, Father Christmas, tombola, children’s games, gifts, lunches & refreshments.

Ceilidh with Squeeze, Fiddle Pluck, Wookey Hole Club, 7.30 for 8pm, £6 on the door. Details: 01749 678468.

Sunday November 29th Redhill Christmas Fair, 12noon-4pm, arts, crafts, beauty, toys, knitted items, etc. Stalls £10 – contact Hazel, 01275 474973.Church Road, Redhill, BS40 5SG Tel: 01934 862619.

Autumnal wild art trail through the woods at Burrington Ham, half-term event, free with Mendip AONB. Details: www.discoveringblackdown.org.uk/calendar or Stuart Bardsley 01761 462338.

Tuesday December 1st Art inspired by Wine: paintings showing the history of wine production (and consumption!), 11am.

Mendip DFAS, Bath & West Bar & Restaurant, B & W Show Ground, Shepton Mallet BA4 6QN. www.mdfas.org.uk. Guests welcome. Contact: 01934 862435.

Friday December 4th – Monday December 7th Nativity Crib Festival, St Cuthbert’s Church, Wells, 10am to 4.30pm (Sunday 11.30am to 4.30pm).

Children’s activities, Wells City Band & other Christmas music, mulled wine & refreshments, free entry, proceeds to St Margaret’s Hospice, St Cuthbert’s Church and the Refugee Crisis Appeal.

Come and experience the true meaning of Christmas.

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Thursday December 3rd Street Choir at Street Christmas Fayre, 3pm-9pm, stalls and music, and outside Crispin Hall at 6pm.

Friday December 4th Churchill Music, Classic Buskers with Neil Henry, magician, wit and musical virtuosity on over 40 instruments combined with unbelievable tricks and illusions, Churchill Academy Hall, BS25 5QN, 7.30pm. Details: Ursula Dornton 01934 852919 or info@churchillmusic.org.uk Open Mic Night at Redhill Club, 8pm. Hosted by Jerry Blythe. Free – bring your voice, your instruments and showcase your talent. All welcome.

Church Road, Redhill, BS40 5SG Tel: 01934 862619.

Saturday December 5th Wells Cathedral Oratorio Society, Handel’s Messiah, Wells Cathedral, 7pm. Details: www.wcos.org.uk or 01749672773.

Mendip Society walk, Kilmersdon. A moderate 4 miles past Jack & Jill Hill to the chapel of Babington House. ST 696 523. Meet 1.30pm, village hall car park, High St, BA3 5TD. Contact: Terry 01749 840752.

Oakfield Choir perform Handel’s Messiah, Frome Memorial Theatre, with singers from the Bath Cantata Group and Beckington Choir, 7.30pm. Details: Contact the theatre for tickets.

Frome Society for Local Study and Frome Civic Society History of the Somerset Guild of Craftsmen with David Brown, Assembly Rooms, 2.30pm.

Tuesday December 8th The Fascinating World of Playing Cards, NADFAS illustrated lectures, Caryford Hall, Castle Cary, BA7 7JJ, 11am, free parking, £6. Details: 01963 350527.

Wednesday December 9th Nailsea & District Horticultural Society festive bingo and carols, United Reformed Church Hall, Stockway North, Nailsea, 7.30pm.

Wells Civic Society Seasonal celebration and cheese tasting with Richard Green, Wells and Mendip Museum, 7.30pm.

Wednesday December 9th to Saturday December 12th Cinderella – A Pantomime by David Maun, Timsbury Theatre Group at The Conygre Hall, BA2 0JQ. Details: www.thettg.org or 07542 152595.

Thursday December 10th Christmas at Yeo Valley – Living Spit Does ‘A Christmas Carol’ tickets are selling out fast!

Matinee and evening available December 10th, matinee only December 21st, from £16 children, £20 adult. Details: call 01761 461425 or email events@yeovalley.co.uk

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