Mendiptimes - VOLUME 10 - ISSUE 4

Mendip Times

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FREE

Celebrating life on the Mendips and surrounding areas

SEPTEMBER 2014

IN THIS ISSUE: ARTS & ANTIQUES EDUCATION SPECIAL F I T N E S S & L IF E S T Y L E SHOWTIME ON MENDIP WWI COMMEMORATIONS Local people, local history, local places, local events and local news

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MENDIP TIMES

CONTENTS

Welcome

WHAT a creative lot we are – judging by this month’s magazine, which has pages devoted to the arts, business and the successes of some of our local schools across the Mendip area.

It’s also been a productive year for farmers, reflected in a very busy MidSomerset Show – it was good to meet so many of our readers there. We look ahead to Frome Cheese Show, the Dairy Show and Mendip and North Somerset Ploughing matches.

We also have a comprehensive guide to the Mendip Rocks Festival of Geology, which starts at the end of September and continues at various venues until the end of October.

The shows are a reflection of autumn – as are some of the stunning flower and produce shows that we have had this past month – as well as our harvest homes, which we feature in pictures.

We also have a picture special marking how Mendip commemorated the centenary of the start of the First World War. This month we hear how a popular horse show has been revived and have details of two big food and drink festivals that are coming up in our area, With all of our usual contributors and features, let us guide you gently into autumn.

October 2014 deadline: Friday, 12th September 2014.

Published: Tuesday, 23rd September 2014.

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

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

Front cover: Emborough Horse Show revived.

Photo by Mark Adler (see page 95).

36

Showtime in Shepton – cider, sunshine and success

38

Mendip remembers – WWI commemorations begin

78

Bringing home the harvest – villages celebrate

100

Whole Lotta Love – Plant rocks the Abbey

Plus all our regular features Environment...................................6 Farming Mary James MBE..........10 Food & Drink...............................14 Business ........................................24 Arts & Antiques ...........................28 Internet and Crossword..............35 Wildlife Chris Sperring MBE .......53 Walking Sue Gearing....................54 Outdoors Les Davies MBE ..........56 Gardening Mary Payne MBE ......58

Caving Phil Hendy........................65 Charities .......................................66 Health Dr Phil Hammond.............70 Motoring .......................................77 Community Simon Selby .............80 Property........................................81 Homes and Interiors....................86 Riding Celia Gadd ........................94 Sport..............................................97 What’s On ..................................102 MENDIP TIMES • SEPTEMBER 2014 • PAGE 3

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Events

The Art of a Darwin, 25th September 7.30pm The Wood Engravings of Charles Darwin's granddaughter Gwen Raverat, an illustrated free talk by her grandson William Pryor

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ankfully the rain stopped mid-morning and allowed everyone to venture out for the Mid-Somerset Show on the 17th August. It was lovely to chat with those of you who came by. Many of us enjoyed the Pre-show party on the Friday night. Great food and music ensured a good night was had by all.

Robin Weelen and wife Liz were, as usual, first on dance floor and Bill Bartlett even managed to “bust some moves” despite his creaky joints. We managed to get a group photo (see above) with Natalie Duckett and Vicky Scorse perfecting their smiles for their upcoming nuptials.

We have some new recruits joining us shortly, two trainee solicitors have been appointed and you will hear more about them in the coming months.

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MENDIP TIMES

Farewell to Sandra

THREE former vicars of the Blagdon with Compton Martin, Charterhouse and Ubley parish, joined the present vicar to pay their respects to Blagdon resident, Sandra Nicholson, a well-loved member of St. Andrew’s Church.

Pictured at Coombe Lodge after the funeral service are (l to r) the Rev Heather Matthews, the Rev Jane Chamberlain, the current vicar who conducted the service, the Rev Charles Hadley and the Rev Vicky Goodman.

For one night only

COMEDIAN Paul Merton had an important date before appearing at the Edinburgh Festival – he and his wife Suki Webster appeared at Barrow Gurney village hall.

Villagers and friends were absolutely delighted to welcome the couple, who performed a 30-minute sketch called 'My Obsession' written by Suki and directed by Bristol's John Nicholson. It was a preview of the show destined for the Edinburgh Festival Fringe. It was a great evening thoroughly enjoyed by one and all.

NEWS

Railway enthusiasts make tracks for Wells

AN estimated 1,400 visitors made their way to the Town Hall in Wells for the 37th model railway exhibition organised by local railway enthusiasts.

Railwells, hosted by the Wells Railway Fraternity, featured displays from across the UK, ranging from Burntisland 1883 – documenting the John Crompton, of the East of Scotland 4mm days before the Group, makes a tiny adjustment to the rolling Forth rail bridge stock on the Burntisland display was built in Scotland and demonstrated by the East of Scotland 4mm Group – to the heyday of the Weston, Clevedon and Portishead Railway in the 1930s.

However, from now on all eyes amongst WRF members are focused on City of Wells – the world-famous Bulleid locomotive nicknamed “The Volcano” because of her dramatic smoke displays – which is reaching the completion of a huge restoration project by enthusiasts at the Keighley and Worth Valley Railway in West Yorkshire. The Country Class Pacific No. 34092 locomotive made its first appearance in its traditional livery in July. The railway says further occasional test runs are likely as adjustments are made. The locomotive is booked to appear at the railway’s Autumn Gala in October.

Member of the North Somerset EM gauge group displayed this example of Clevedon station (circa 1933) created by Andrew Ulliott MENDIP TIMES • SEPTEMBER 2014 • PAGE 5

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MENDIP TIMES

Silver turns green – again

THE community-run Silver Street nature reserve in Midsomer Norton has won a prestigious Green Flag conservation award for the second year running.

The award, presented by the Keep Britain Tidy Group, is the benchmark national standard for parks and green spaces in the UK. The success of Silver Street Local Nature Reserve is due to the beauty of the reserve and the dedicated efforts of a strong Friends Group which meets every week.

The current Green Flag flies in Silver Street nature reserve

The Friends have installed a new pathway through the woods to the pond and also organise activities such as birdsong and bat identification walks.

Local schools and nurseries are encouraged to visit the woods to hold outdoor lessons and learn about the wildlife in the woods and in the adjacent meadow. The Friends group is supported locally by the Somerset and Dorset Railway Heritage Trust and the Midsomer Norton Schools Partnership.

Saturday, September 6th will see the official opening of the new footpath and restored Springhead.

Lucy Edwards, from the Friends, said: “We have it on good authority the original springhead was built by mine sinkers in the late 1700s.

It was used to supply water to Norton House the home of the Savage family, the house long since demolished to make way for the Park Way estate.

“This part of Somerset is rich in history concerning mining and the railway and as such we would like to dedicate the restoration to the Somerset Miners. It is all to easy to forget the toil of our forbears when times were so different and we feel it is important to remember that life was harsh for the ordinary family managing on a meagre wage.”

The Silver Street reserve is one of four open spaces in Bath and North East Somerset to receive a Green Flag award.

Councillor David Dixon, the authoroty’s

The springhead was restored by Keith Watson with a grant from Midsomer Norton Town Council

Cabinet Member for Neighbourhoods, said: “It is excellent news that four green spaces managed by Bath and North East Somerset Council working with local communities have achieved the Green Flag once again.

“Our Parks Team also provides advice and support to local communities who want to look after their own green spaces and we are keen to work with communities who want to gain a Green Flag in future.”

The opening will take place at 11am by Paul Myers, mayor of Midsomer Norton when an information board dedicated to the mining community will be unveiled.

Wildlife “heroes” in running for awards

A FOREST school practitioner from Welton, near Midsomer Norton, and a volunteer on the Shapwick and Avalon Marshes nature reserves, near Glastonbury, have been nominated for a national awards scheme.

The Octavia Hill Awards are organised by the National Trust, the Wild Network and BBC Countryfile Magazine and celebrate people who work to protect and enhance green spaces for wildlife and local communities.

Edward Harding, known as the “Red-Fox”, has dedicated his professional career to nurturing and instilling awe and wonder of the natural world in the youngest of learners. He has been nominated for the Professional Wild Hero award.

As a qualified teacher and Forest School Practitioner at the Welton Free Rangers Forest School Nursery, Ed shares his knowledge of local flora and fauna with groups of up to

12 pre-school aged children each day. His nomination says Ed believes that all children should learn through experiences to appreciate the natural world around them.

Julie Merrett, who is shortlisted in the Volunteer Wild Hero category, began volunteering in 2007. Julie now runs and arranges events for the Avalon Marshes Young Wardens Group and the Avalon Marshes Family Group. She organises the Shapwick Heath National Nature Reserve Butterfly transect teams and is also an active member of the Avalon Marshes Education Liaison Group.

Organisers say they received a record of nearly 300 nominations. The winners will be presented with a special award and have their work featured in BBC Countryfile Magazine and the Wild Network.

Voting closes on Sunday, August 31st. To vote, visit: www.countryfile.com/poll/octavia-hill-awards

PAGE 6 • MENDIP TIMES • SEPTEMBER 2014

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Experts rally to support Secret World

ENVIRONMENT

SECRET World founder, Pauline Kidner, has written a book, A Place of Safety, telling the story of how Secret World has evolved from a tourist attraction to a charity.

With a foreward by Terry Pratchett and endorsed on the cover

by Chris Packham it contains quotes from a number of wildlife experts, including Simon King, Michaela Strachan, Chris Sperring and Martin Hughes-Games, as well as contributions from Joanna Lumley, Valerie Singleton and Anthony Head.

A Place of Safety is on sale from September and will cost £7.99. All the money raised will go directly to Secret World.

MENDIP TIMES • SEPTEMBER 2014 • PAGE 7

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MENDIP TIMES

ENVIRONMENT

Community heritage project pleads for more information

THE Somerset Earth Science Centre near Stoke St Michael was full for the latest community event held by the Quarry Faces community heritage project team.

Many who have already contributed to the project with photos, stories and artefacts were invited to attend The Story So Far evening and help piece together missing information still needed for some

Some of the 100-plus guests at the Story so Far event at the Somerset Earth Science Centre

of the many quarries that have been recorded.

Workers at Sandford Hill Quarry taken around 1924

Quarry Faces project is working to capture and celebrate the fascinating stories behind the hidden quarrying heritage of Mendip. Dr Robin Thornes, project coordinator, said: “Although we are delighted with the response we have had since the project began over two years ago and photos continue to pour in, we still welcome more information.

“In particular we do need more details and photographs of Barn Close and Halecombe Quarries near Leigh on Mendip, Holwell, near Shepton Mallet, and Westbury-sub-Mendip and Sandford in the West Mendips.”

Quarry Faces is supported by the Heritage Lottery Fund, the Mendip Hills AONB, Mendip Quarry Producers (Aggregate Industries, Hanson Heidelberg, Morris & Perry, Lafarge Tarmac, and Wainwright), and Somerset Community Foundation.

M E N D I P W E AT H E R S C E N E

If you have any information about those or any other quarries on the Mendips, please contact Quarry Faces Project.

E-mail: robinthornes@quarryfaces.org.uk, or telephone Robin on: 01373 836571.

Was it a good summer?

AT this time of the year I usually look back to see what sort of a summer we’ve had and how it has affected different people.

Most people’s perception of whether a summer has been good or bad depends on how it has affected any event they with DAVID have been involved in. For example, the MAINE Bristol International Balloon Fiesta was enjoyed by all, with the biggest attraction being the mass ascents which happened on at least one occasion: a magnificent spectacle on the Friday morning with more than 100 balloons airborne at the same time in a clear blue sky, seen by everyone for miles around.

The weather did deteriorate during the weekend with later ascents called off but with the other attractions including

PAGE 8 • MENDIP TIMES • SEPTEMBER 2014

the nightglows, I don’t think too many people were disappointed.

Looking at the figures, both June and July were warmer and drier than normal with a 15-day dry spell in June and another one of ten days at the end of July. August is not going to be quite so good, as I write, with the first ten days quite wet. However it has not been cold so far with temperatures each day reaching 21 to 23 Degrees Celcius – rather above normal.

Did it affect us personally? Well, the only really wet day in July (remember all that thunder and lightning?) did coincide with our son’s wedding. You can’t win them all, but we had a really good time anyway.

So, if you did have a wet barbecue (or wedding in our case) you were unlucky and I can think of a lot of poorer summers. A more autumnal theme next time.

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MENDIP TIMES

We have to recognise the importance of food production AN article in a local paper was headed ‘Cheap food risks the demise of our farms’.

Have you been able to pop into an Aldi or Lidl? A whole lot of people are doing just that and have you noticed how the big four supermarkets are very concerned indeed about lost profits as the discounters have With MARY come in and stolen a big chunk of their JAMES MBE market?

As a result we are in the middle of a sustained price war which sees individual items such as milk, beef and potatoes being used almost as loss leaders.

Cheap food is all very well but it has got to be dear enough for the farmer to cover the cost of production. Make no mistake about it, every time food prices drop the farmers and growers take the hit, nailed to the floor by the supermarkets.

As well as that I gather that virtually the whole of West Country beef is now in the hands of the processors ABP. They buy cattle from Britain and from Ireland but significant quantities of Irish beef are flooding British markets.

Consider then that the British livestock industry has worked towards having the highest welfare standards in the world but do the supermarkets consider the welfare standards of the products they import? Don’t forget the horsemeat scandal.

Many people, I am pleased to say, make a point of buying British, looking for the Red Tractor logo which is based on inspections of welfare, hygiene and environment. The Union

flag can be used on any product, imported or home produced but on its own does not guarantee any standards and is not good enough.

Of course there have to be imports because we are only 60% self-sufficient in British food so there is a need for farming to be at the heart of decision-making across the wider food industry and government, to allow more food to be both produced and consumed here.

The British food and farming industries have been moving forward rapidly, making the best use of modern technology and innovation. The agricultural colleges are demonstrating the diversity of these industries, with a range of suitable and improved quality courses. Intelligent young men and women are seeing the exciting opportunities offered.

I quote from a speech made by Lord Plumb in the House of Lords on the role of agriculture and the food industry within the UK economy. He was one of the best presidents the NFU ever had and his last paragraph sums it all up: “There can be no logical reason for these industries to be excluded from Britain’s plans for economic growth in a hungry world. There is nothing, but nothing, more important than food security.”

MENDIP PLOUGHING MATCH

NORTH SOMERSET

PLOUGHING MATCH with Crafts & Produce Show

SATURDAY 13th SEPTEMBER Yew Tree Farm, Kingston Seymour From 10.00am Entry and parking free

Rural crafts, Trade Stands Food & Licensed bar – all day

Entries close September 6th – see www.nsas.org.uk for details

Tel: 08456 342464 tim@nsas.org.uk

A great day out for all the family – all welcome PAGE 10 • MENDIP TIMES • SEPTEMBER 2014

• Modern, Vintage, Tractor and Horse Ploughing • Hedge Laying and Dry Stone Walling Competitions • Farm Produce Show • Trade Stands • Refreshments and Licensed Bar • Free Car Parking.

at PRIDDY HILL FARM, PRIDDY, NR WELLS, SOMERSET BA5 3BR on WEDNESDAY 24TH SEPTEMBER 2014 Commencing 10am Further details, schedules and entry forms from the Hon Secretary J B King

Telephone: 07810 413664 Email: jimking@btinternet.com

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Future proofing businesses at the Dairy Show

FARMING

Last year’s Supreme Dairy Champion

DAIRY farmers will be examining ways to future-proof their businesses at the Dairy Show this autumn, as global commodity markets enter a weaker phase.

With more than 300 trade exhibitors, ranging from milk buyers to parlour manufacturers, and feed merchants to dairy hygiene specialists, visitors to the specialist one day show at the Royal Bath and West Showground at Shepton Mallet on Wednesday, October 1st, won’t have to look far to find ways to give their entire business an autumn overhaul.

Visitors to the show will also be able to cast their eyes over the best dairy cows available, with around 300 animals expected to compete for the Supreme Dairy Championships. On the eve of the show they can join high profile leaders at the Dairy Industry dinner. Taking place after the showmanship and calf classes, the dinner culminates with the prestigious Dairy Industry Award.

Show manager Alan Lyons said: “Following a more settled couple of years for milk prices, which peaked at an average of 34.55p/litre in November 2013, values have started to drift; losing 1.29p/litre between April and June alone.

“While milk prices will no doubt be a hot topic of discussion between farmers and processors at the Dairy Show, producers will be equally keen to look at ways to cut costs of production going into this winter.”

Alan added: “Feed costs have dropped sharply this summer, which will be a big help to dairy farmers – and following a more benign year many producers will be looking to reinvest in their businesses to make them more resilient in the years to come.”

Producers who are considering a move to robotic milking will be able to see the Lely Astronaut in action throughout the day, while other top manufacturers will be on hand to discuss the latest dairy technology. Nutrition specialists can help with planning winter feed costs and improving cow health, while live demonstrations by the National Association of Foot Trimmers will show how to keep cows’ feet in tip-top condition. Farmers can also debate the future with industry experts at the Farmers Guardian Speakers Corner.

Alan said: “Research shows that there is no silver bullet to becoming a top dairy producer – it is all about attention to detail in every area. Whether that’s making the most of your manure, growing better forage, business planning with suppliers and consultants, or choosing the best genetics; it all adds up to creating a secure and profitable farming business.”

MENDIP TIMES • SEPTEMBER 2014 • PAGE 11

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MENDIP TIMES

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PAGE 12 • MENDIP TIMES • SEPTEMBER 2014

Cider makers meet

NATIONAL Orchard Day was hosted by Thatchers Cider for the first time, with over 300 apple growers and cider making professionals gathering at the firm’s Shiplate apple orchards at Bleadon.

Organised in conjunction with the National Association of Cider Makers, the day gives apple growers the chance to meet cider makers, network with suppliers and hear the latest orcharding advice from industry experts.

John Thatcher (pictured) has planted more than 70,000 acres at Shiplate in a hedgerow style, so that apples can be picked by a new straddle harvester, which he developed.

Ploughs at Kingston Seymour

THE 171st North Somerset Ploughing Match and 27th Crafts and Produce Show will be held at Yew Tree Farm, Kingston Seymour, on Saturday September 13th.

Starting at 10am, the day includes traditional ploughing and hedging classes in conjunction with a craft and produce show.

Entries are open to all and schedules and entry forms can be found at www.nsas.org.uk. Entries close on September 6th.

There will be a buffet lunch on site run by the North Somerset Agricultural Society along with a BBQ, small bar and hot drinks. This year, the show will again be a part of the Made in north Somerset Festival, and is held by the kind permission of Richard and Anita Simmons.

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FARMING

Mark Harvest Home

MARK Harvest Home was once again a great success with the luncheon tickets selling in record time, with over 460 people sitting down to feast on locally-sourced meats, bread, cider and ales.

The day included games for adults and children, a tug of war for men and women, followed by an evening of live music from the fantastic eight-piece band Kick the Cat and DJ Olly Eade – Enhanced Entertainment.

Funds for church

A CREAM tea raised £820 towards a new toilet and kitchenette for St Michael’s Church in Burnett. It’s the latest in a series of events held by Rosie and David Turner in the garden of their home at Whitson Lodge. The church’s silver was also displayed, including an Elizabethan chalice.

MENDIP TIMES • SEPTEMBER 2014 • PAGE 13

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MENDIP TIMES

How to make your own vermouth

VERMOUTH is back in fashion! All the old ones (some of which you will still have at the back of the cupboard, with crunchy, sticky caps) some new ones you have never heard of (but you can get anything online now); and the artisanal ones that bartenders (that’s mixologists these days) are making With JUNE themselves and serving in cool restaurants MACFARLANE and bars.

Vermouth is an apéritif – an alcoholic drink taken before a meal to stimulate the appetite. They can be sweet or dry according to your taste and they are all wine based, fortified with spirit. They have some things in common, the main one being the presence of a bitter taste (the better to anticipate food) as well as sweetness and fruit or floral tones. The bitterness comes from the herbal plant wormwood (Artemisia Absinthus, Artemisia Vulgaris and Artemisia Pontica), which is where we

get the word vermouth from.

The Italians and the French are great at vermouth, but so now are the Spanish, the Argentines and the Chileans. You can drink it straight over ice, or diluted with fizzy water, or as a mixer in cocktails such as the Manhattan and the Dry Martini. And you can make it yourself.

METHOD

INGREDIENTS

You need: one bottle no frills white wine, unoaked, one bottle of neutral spirit such as vodka, the herbs in your garden and the contents of your spice cupboard and your fruit bowl. Two things you may not have are available locally – bitter orange peel (Indigo Herbs, Glastonbury 01458 831447) and wormwood (plants available from Arne Herbs, Chew Magna 01275 333399, open on Wednesdays).

Here is what I used: wormwood, orange and lemon peel, lemon verbena, tarragon, mint, oregano, rosemary, lavender, camomile, bay leaves, cinnamon stick, cloves, star anise, fennel seeds, coriander seeds, black peppercorns and vanilla extract.

You will also need 1 cup of granulated sugar.

In separate containers macerate small bunches of the herbs in vodka for a week.

Try to cover the green herbs or they will go brown. Shake occasionally. Macerate the fruit peels for one day. Infuse about a teaspoon of each of the spices into one cup of the wine by simmering for five minutes and leaving to sit for five minutes.

Don’t use the vanilla at this point.

Make a caramel with the granulated sugar by heating it slowly in a pan until it turns a good amber colour. Do not stir it, but simply swirl around the pan and make sure it doesn’t burn. Turn out on to a silicon mat or parchment paper in a puddle to cool.

Strain off the macerated ingredients and put the liquids back in their containers.

Now you have your ingredients you can have some fun! Put the rest of the wine in a measuring jug. Taste the macerations before using. You need to add in total about 200ml more liquid to the wine. Start with the infused wormwood and keep adding and tasting. The lemon flavours and tarragon can be a bit bossy so beware.

Break up the caramel and dissolve with a little boiling water before adding to the wine – you will need some sweetness. Try to balance all the flavours but let the bitterness through. Add the vanilla extract at the very end – one teaspoonful will be enough.

Bottle what you have made (the empty vodka bottle will serve) and keep in the fridge. The flavours will develop but use soon. Keep the macerations and infusions for next time, in a cool dark place.

(If you find this interesting, there is lots on the web about making vermouth.

Everybody does it differently. It’s just a case of finding what works for you.)

BAY TREE ONION MARMALADE

EMMA Macdonald, of The Bay Tree, has a new book out about preserving. I’ll bring you more recipes in next month’s issue of Mendip Times, but here’s a sneak preview of how to make her famous Bay Tree Onion Marmalade.

METHOD

In a non-stick frying pan, dry fry the caraway seeds for about one minute, tossing continuously, until lightly browned.

Put everything except the sugar in a large heavy-based pan and bring slowly to the boil.

Reduce heat and simmer gently for about two hours, stirring occasionally, until onions are soft and browned and no liquid remains. Remove from heat, cover and leave to stand for 12 hours or overnight. Then add the sugar, bring to the boil and stir until sugar has dissolved.

Reduce heat and simmer until mixture is thick, stirring occasionally. Spoon into sterilised jars with vinegar-proof lids. Seal, label, store in a cool, dry dark place and allow to mature for one month before using. Refrigerate after opening. * From Preserving by Emma Macdonald © Nourish, Watkins Publishing Limited 2014 PAGE 14 • MENDIP TIMES • SEPTEMBER 2014

INGREDIENTS

1 tsp caraway seeds 170ml/5½fl oz/2/3 cup balsamic vinegar 1kg/2lb 4oz onions, sliced ¼ tsp ground cloves ½ tsp salt 250g/9oz/1.5 cups soft light brown sugar

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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) Open 9am-5.30pm Monday-Saturday (closed Tues and Sun) Find us on Trip Advisor

0 1 7 4 9 67 1 1 66

2 Town Hall Buildings, Wells B A5 1SE coffee@square-edgecafe.co.uk MENDIP TIMES • SEPTEMBER 2014 • PAGE 15

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Food festival menu is getting full

A scene from last year’s Wells Food Festival

THE Wells Food Festival will be held again this October following the stunning success of the first event last year.

Bookings for trade stand stalls for the one-day event are already oversubscribed and organisers are planning yet more features to celebrate local food and drink.

The free festival – on Sunday, October 12th – will feature the Great Italian Sunday Lunch for 100 guests in the Undercroft of the Bishop’s Palace, a Forgotten Feast’s Autumn Banquet for 200 in the Bishop’s Barn and a Cream of Somerset Tea in the Town Hall. Profits from the event go to the Royal Agricultural Benevolent Institute.

Wells MP Tessa Munt said: “The first Wells Food Festival provided a great showcase for Somerset produce and for England’s smallest city, attracting tourists and local alike. With a superb artisan market and such a fantastic range of events, the whole day demonstrated the wealth of produce and number of expert artisans we can celebrate locally.”

Last year’s inaugural event attracted more than 3,500 visitors.

As well as the food feasts, new attractions being planned for this year are a miniature ploughing competition, talks, walks and demonstrations. Festival organisers Anne Furness and Paddy O’Hagan said: “After a terrible winter this will be an occasion to celebrate Somerset’s wonderful local produce and show our support for its producers.”

For information, visit: www.wellsfoodfestival.co.uk

THE QUEEN ADELAIDE BLAGDON

01761 463926

Travelling through, walking local trails, or living in the village, if the doors are open – come in and enjoy what Blagdon’s little country pub has to offer.

Booking highly recommended

GOOD FOOD, LAGER, ALES AND LOCAL CIDER

GLUTEN-FREE ON WEDNESDAYS

PAGE 16 • MENDIP TIMES • SEPTEMBER 2014

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FOOD & DRINK

The Carpenters Tavern

Monday night is pasta night with a help yourself salad bar, a choice of pastas and sauces and garlic bread for only £7.95 Tuesday night is curry night with an all you can eat buffet of starters, mains and of course all the sides of dips, poppadoms and naan bread for £10 per person.

Christmas bookings now being taken

SEPTEMBER 2014 DATES Wells: every Wednesday 9am-2.30pm at the Market Place All other markets 9am-1pm unless otherwise marked*

Saturday 6th Axbridge & Midsomer Norton Sunday 7th SFM@ The Frome Independent (10am-3pm)* Saturday 13th Frome & Keynsham Saturday 20th Crewkerne Friday 26th Burnham-on-Sea Saturday 27th Glastonbury & Yeovil (9am-2pm)*

For restaurant bookings please call 0117 964 6423 Wells Road, Dundry, BS41 8NE

follow us @SFMMarkets For more information phone 01373 814646 or visit www.SomersetFarmersMarkets.co.uk

Powering Farming’s Future Tel: 01225 667151 Web: www.yourenergyuk.com

www.carpenterstavern.co.uk

Christmas Party Menu 2014 STARTERS Seasonal Soup served with Homemade Bread (V) Chicken and Ham Hock Terrine with Homemade Piccalilli Prawn and Salmon Gravadlax salad, Lemon Oil Deep Fried Goats Cheese Crotin, with Spinach, Confit Tomato & Balsamic Syrup (V)

Christmas at Bowlish House.

An intimate Dinner for two or aCompanyCelebration for 60 . . . it’s time to Book yourChristmas Party!

MAIN COURSE Poached & Pan Roast Escalope of Turkey filled with Cranberry Seasoning, served with Confit Potato, Bacon & Chipolata, Sage Sauce Roast Fillet of Atlantic Cod, Herb Crust, Crushed Lemon New Potatoes, Shellfish Broth Crispy Duck Leg Confit, with Olive Oil Creamed Potato, Pancetta and Madeira Sauce Woodland Mushroom Wellington, Beetroot Puree and Truffle Velouté (V) All main courses are served with seasonal vegetables DESSERTS Glazed Lemon Tart with Lemon Mascarpone Neapolitan Chocolate Mousse with Orange Curd Homemade Christmas Pudding with Brandy Cream Sauce Selection of Westcountry Cheeses served with Grapes Chutney and Biscuits

Email: reception@bowlishhouse.com or info@bowlishhouse.com www.bowlishhouse.com e Bowlish House, Wells Road, Shepton Mallet, Somerset BA4 5JB

LUNCH

DINNER

Two Courses £18.50 Three Courses £21.95

Two Courses £22.95 Three Courses £26.50

All our ingredients are sourced as locally as possible and as far as we know, do not contain anything genetically modified, but may contain traces of nuts.

MENDIP TIMES • SEPTEMBER 2014 • PAGE 17

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Charity night

ANN Millard (right) and Pauline Currell are holding another big charity bash at the Waldegrave Arms in East Harptree.

The friends both developed breast cancer within 12 months of each other, but were diagnosed early and are in recovery after treatment at the Breast Clinic at Bath’s Royal United Hospital.

FANTASTIC FUNGAL FORAY with Adrian Boots

Join me on a fantastic wild food foray enjoying the best wild edibles the autumn season has to offer!

Sunday 16th November 2014 2.00pm to 5.00pm £35 per person Please call 01761 463356 to book your place or for more info visit: www.gowildactivities.co.uk

PAGE 18 • MENDIP TIMES • SEPTEMBER 2014

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GARDEN FOOD

Add some lemon zest

LEMON verbena (Aloysia triphylla) is just a little trickier to grow than lemon balm, but definitely, I’ve come to realize, worth the extra effort. The taste of lemon verbena is just that little bit crisper, more piercingly, truly lemon-y, and a fair bit stronger than lemon balm.

With JAKE It is a deciduous perennial, hardy only WHITSON down to around -5c, growing to be a small shrubby tree if given the right conditions. Unlike lemon balm which will spread itself around the garden quite freely, lemon verbena is better grown in a pot and brought inside in the winter, or else grown in a glasshouse or polytunnel or a very sunny sheltered spot against a wall – it also needs a free draining soil to do well.

Lemon verbena also maintains its strong lemon aroma when dried, something which lemon balm does not, given that it loses its leaves in autumn it is worth drying some for teas throughout the winter. Also worth noting is that once it loses its leaves lemon verbena looks very much dead well into spring and even early summer – I’ve known of people throwing plants away because of this.

I often use lemon verbena in place of lemon grass in Thai curry pastes and the like. I like to add a few torn-up leaves to salads and salad dressings, and also to stuffing. For this I’ll usually finely chop an onion and fry it with a little butter until softened, before adding a few handfuls of white breadcrumbs, an egg, salt and black pepper, and one or two tablespoons of finely chopped lemon verbena leaves.

Such a stuffing is great with lamb or pork, where the lemon flavour cuts through the fattiness admirably.

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

FOOD & DRINK

WILD FOOD

Having a field day

THROUGH the summer and into autumn is the best time to be looking for field mushrooms. Commonly found in rings or small groups in grassland, they seem to particularly like fields grazed by horses.

Fortunately horses seem to have no interest in eating them; unfortunately they seem to With ADRIAN relish standing on them, which is somewhat BOOTS frustrating. However, for some reason, I seem to find them not in old pastures but in more unusual locations such as gardens, lawns and parks. I have even picked them alongside The Long Water Lake in Hyde Park, London.

Every now and then the conditions are just perfect for a bumper crop of field mushrooms. One of the greatest joys of foraging is discovering this mother load, picking a basket full of field mushrooms and cooking them up into a delicious dish. It’s like a forager’s field day or should that be, ah-hmm, ‘field mushroom day’. Sorry, couldn’t resist.

Field mushroom (Agaricus campestris) has a white cap 6 to 10cm wide with white or brown silky fibres in the centre. The cap starts off rounded then flattens out with overhanging skin at the edge. The stem is 5 to 8 cm tall by 1 to 2.5 cm wide and is somewhat spindly. Note: it does not have a bulbous base.

As it matures, the ring disappears very quickly as it’s quite fragile. The gills start off pink and become brown as they mature with the flesh of the cap turning slightly pink when damaged.

So, once you have fought off the curious equines, navigated through the piles of dung and finally claimed your prized mushrooms, what do you do? First off you make sure that in your excitement you haven’t collected a basket full of Yellow Stainer (Agaricu xanthodermus) mushrooms which are responsible for more cases of mushroom poisoning than any other.

It may look superficially similar to the field mushroom but the key differentiating features are white gills when young, yellowing at the cap edge, a bulbous base to the stem which promptly stains an unmistakable bright chromium yellow eventually fading to brown when cut.

Whilst not fatal, the last thing you want is your day ruined by getting very intimate with the lavatory. And the best way to eat field mushrooms? Simply pan fried with bacon and served on thick cut toast of course.

G Interested in finding out more? Why not join me for a ‘talk and walk’ at the Wells Food Festival on Sunday October 12th or on one of my Fantastic Fungal Forays on Sunday November 16th.

Please call 01761 462162 to book or go to the website below.

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 • SEPTEMBER 2014 • PAGE 19

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MENDIP TIMES

Tough love but the results will be worth it

THE first impression is one of sadness: a large section of a traditional apple orchard taken out and the trunks and branches lying stacked by a hedge to be turned into firewood.

No matter how beautiful the trees, commercial orchards – especially traditional ones – have a limited productive life and the tough love is part of their regeneration.

The work, at West Bradley Orchards, near Glastonbury, has been carried out as part of an ongoing maintenance and replanting programme by Neil Macdonald, who runs Orchard Groundcare. Several thousand new trees will take the place of these veterans.

West Bradley is owned by Edward Clifton-Brown and a walk around the orchards is a lesson in how the commercial juice industry is developing and embracing new techniques, not just from home but also abroad.

Some 18 different varieties of apple and four types of pear are grown at West Bradley, which will be throwing open its farm gates for Pick Your Own weekends throughout September.

Visitors will see more rows of relatively low-growing trees which makes commercial harvesting easier – as well as the PYO gathering!

Neil’s love of all things orcharding has now taken him around Europe as part of a Nuffield Farming Scholarship where the emphasis is on the sharing of knowledge and experience but he believes that the best is to be found here in the UK. His scholarship is on Orcharding Systems for the Next Decade and it is sponsored by the Worshipful Company of

Regeneration: Neil with the felled apple trees. The orchard will be gradually replanted a third at a time

Fruiterers. Neil is also involved with several industry bodies including The Royal Bath and West Society and the National Association of Cider Makers.

Orchard Groundcare manages around 800 acres of Somerset orchards and Neil would love to see younger people entering the fruit production industry: He said: “We are desperate to find young, enthusiastic people who are eager to learn and to take on the challenge of taking the industry forward in years to come.”

Modern orchards have a very different look; Neil has been studying different techniques across Europe

Fruit at its very best PAGE 20 • MENDIP TIMES • SEPTEMBER 2014

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FOOD & DRINK

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MENDIP TIMES

Weston food festival offers a range of delights THE Weston super Food Festival returns to the Winter Gardens Pavilion and Town Square on September 27/28th with a huge array of foodie delights on offer throughout the weekend.

The large community festival, recently shortlisted

September 27/28th Winter Gardens Pavilion & Town Square, Weston-super-Mare 10.00 – 5.30 Admission FREE

for a major national award, features indoor and outdoor food markets, cider and real ale bars, gourmet street food and covered outdoor eating area with live music.

Highlights include a professional demonstration kitchen, wine tasting, films, food photography, local food history, Taste the World event, an Edible Festival Garden and Kipperland with fish preparation, smokery, fishy tales and tastings!

There’s also a family activity area with practical cookery demos and workshops plus food themed Lego, storytelling, face painting and music.

www.westonsuperfoodfestival.co.uk

Details: www.westonsuperfood festival.co.uk

Quintessential English country pub | Under new management and refurbished | Imaginative seasonal menus Events catering | Garden | Dogs and horses welcome (biscuits and carrots provided)

Planning your wedding? Come to our Wedding Fair on Saturday, 18 October, 10.30am – 2pm, and meet the professional caterers, events planner, photographer, florist, B&B hosts, dress maker and marquee hire company who can help you organise your perfect day at The Strode Arms.

At the heart of Cranmore

A WARM welcome from the team behind The Strode Arms at Cranmore, near Shepton Mallet, is guaranteed – even for horses!

The jar of dog biscuits on the bar is proof that four-legged (wellbehaved) companions are going to be treated just as well as humans– the kitchen always seems to have plenty of carrots to hand for larger animals tethered outside.

The Strode Arms is a quintessential English Meet the team: Guy, Suzy (with country pub, with a sunny Harley the puppy) and Winkie terrace overlooking the village duck pond and a charming garden at the rear.

Since taking over four months ago, Winkie Pickthall, her son Guy and his partner Suzy Thomas have worked tirelessly to ensure that the pub is once again at the heart of Cranmore.

Guy, 25, is the chef; it’s a career he’s followed since he was 17.

Suzy looks after the front-of-house with Winkie working behindthe-scenes utilising her business skills, although she’s often to be found greeting customers behind the bar. Her interest is in expanding the pub’s range of quality wines; she has experience in the trade and runs a wine club in Bruton.

Guy’s good friend and sous chef is James and Winkie says the bond between them is part of the reason behind the pub’s growing popularity for imaginative seasonal food.

Winkie said: “We have had an amazing welcome from people once they knew that we were determined to make the pub part of village life; that is our goal and aim.”

Evidence of that could be seen at the village’s annual fayre when Winkie was invited to officially open the event and the pub played its full part. Themed evenings are already proving popular and other events are in the pipeline, including a wedding fair in October; the Green Room at The Strode Arms is available for bookings and the team also offers an outside catering service.

Winkie added: “Cranmore is such a great village; we are all so glad we are here.”

Wednesday 5 November Enjoy our explosive Guy Fawkes menu Special Christmas menus available Book your Christmas celebration now Tel 01749 880 450 | info@thestrodearms.co.uk www.thestrodearms.co.uk East Cranmore Lane | Cranmore Shepton Mallet | Somerset BA4 4QJ PAGE 22 • MENDIP TIMES • SEPTEMBER 2014

The Strode Arms is in the heart of Cranmore.

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A showcase for Somerset food and drink ORGANISERS of the new Somerset Food and Drink Festival at the Royal Bath and West Showground in Shepton Mallet aim to showcase the very best local food and drink growers and producers from within Somerset and the surrounding areas.

The event, on Saturday, October 18th and Sunday, October 19th, is expected to attract more than 100 exhibitors who are passionate about food and their local area.

There will be the opportunity to buy, eat and take home some of the wonderful produce on offer a and this will also be combined with tastings, cooking demonstrations, activities for children and music from the Mangled Wurzels. The Festival will be helping to raise money for Children’s Hospice South West.

The event is the brainchild of Graham Walton and his wife Tracy who run a publishing company near Shepton Mallet and are familiar faces at agricultural shows in and around the South West. The couple are passionate about their local area and were keen to put on an event to celebrate the huge variety of food and drink that is grown and made in Somerset and the South West.

The couple said: “We are looking to build an annual event as a celebration of the diversity and passion surrounding food

FOOD & DRINK

in the West Country – our reputation for cheese and cider making is a worthy one, but that’s not all that we’re good for!”

Youngsters can get involved in a free-to-enter browniemaking competition and should bring their efforts along on the Saturday to be in with a chance of winning. Entry forms can be downloaded from the festival website and must be submitted by Friday, October 10th.

There are still a few places available for exhibitors, so if you are interested in trading at this exciting new event call 01749 880168 or email info@somersetfoodanddrinkfest.co.uk For more information and ticket details, visit: www.somersetfoodanddrinkfest.co.uk

MENDIP TIMES • SEPTEMBER 2014 • PAGE 23

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MENDIP TIMES Jackets G Fleeces G Walking Boots G Bags G Hats, Gloves G Travel Clothing G

No. 1 Broad Street Congresbury BS49 5DG 01934 877333 www.countryinnovation.com

CAMELEY LODGE LAUNDRY

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

Tel 01761 451787

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Tenth birthday

COUNTRY Innovation, based in Broad Street, Congresbury are celebrating their tenth anniversary at the Congresbury shop by offering a full 20% off any fullpriced product on Saturday September 13th.

There will be something for everyone and pretty much for every kind of weather, with waterproofs from £30, walking boots from £85, half price walking socks, Tilley hats, Sealskinz gloves and much much more.

The shop will be open from 10am to 5pm so pop in to enjoy a glass of bubbly and join in the celebrations.

New Somerset tourism initiative

INTEREST in Destination Wells and the Somerset Tourism Expo, a new tourist initiative, has been huge. Launched only last month, over 30 UK inbound tour operators and a dozen major attractions have already signed up to attend the event.

Launched by the Best Western Plus Swan hotel, Visit Somerset and the Wells Civic Society the idea is to put Somerset and especially Wells on the map. It takes place at the hotel from Friday October 31st – Sunday November 2nd.

The hotel’s sales and marketing manager, Natasha MingoWest, said: “We have been inundated with interest from both tour operators and attractions – a fabulous start to a great initiative.

“We are passionate about putting Wells and the county of Somerset on the map and I’m confident that this will become a regular event."

Treat yourself or a loved one

THE Country House Gift Company’s gift shop in Winscombe offers a unique collection of beautiful gifts and treats. Their mission is to handpick quality, stylish and unusual gifts, favouring local designers and British made gifts.

Their collection includes Emma Bridgwater, Di Paloma, a Devon based company with an Italian twist, which specialises in natural cleansing bars, perfumes and other luxury toiletries, and stunning silver jewellery by Joanna Taylor.

They are even about to launch their own range of cards, featuring local artists, illustrators and photographers, to complement their already wide range of quality greeting cards and wrapping papers.

The team really enjoy helping their customers find unusual and beautiful present ideas, taking time to assist customers on their selections. Gifts can be beautifully wrapped for you too.

They even offer private shopping evenings in the shop for prebooked groups.

You can find them easily, only two minutes of the A38 in Winscombe, North Somerset (a little south of Bristol) on Woodborough Road. Free parking is within easy walking distance.

So, for a truly enjoyable gift shopping experience, with lots of tempting treats for yourself, do make a visit to the Country House Gift Company, online at www.countryhousegiftcompany.co.uk or in Winscombe.

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Photo by Ignyte Limited, Radstock.

Puxton’s new attraction

BUSINESS

Alistair Mead in bumper boat

PUXTON Park near Weston-super-Mare has officially unveiled its new £80,000 tourist attraction, a free bumper boats section in the water area of the park.

The attraction has been proving highly successful since its official launch by the Mayor of Weston-super-Mare, Cllr. Roz Willis. The park says visitor numbers in July were double those of last year.

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Made in North Somerset

THE Made in North Somerset Festival, a three-week celebration of food, drink, arts and crafts, takes place from September 13th – October 5th.

The festival, coordinated by North Somerset Council, involves a wide range of venues and events, and aims to showcase the rich variety of talent across the area.

The final weekend will see a range of events and stalls at the North Somerset Showcase at Tyntesfield.

Details: www.innorthsomedrset.co.uk/madein

Glass making display

TAKING part in Made In North Somerset this year is glass artist Chris Walters. He only just qualifies for the North Somerset tag as Rickford lies in the furthest reaches of the area. But it's well worth a trip to have a look at what he is up to – it's an idyllic spot in the Mendips.

Chris has been working in glass for the past 15 years.

Unusually he works in both kiln fired fused glass and the more traditional art of stained and leaded glass. His website www.modaglass.co.uk gives a flavour of the breadth of his work.

From the website it's clear there is emphasis on bespoke glasswork. Chris said: “It's all very well selling through shops and galleries, which I do, but I get greatest enjoyment from meeting people and rising to the challenge of making something personal to them “Arts trail type of events, such as Made In North Somerset are great for me. I shall have work on sale but will also be very pleased to discuss how I can help with any glass project, gift or idea.”

The workshop will be open September 18th-21st, check times on the Made In North Somerset leaflet or website.

Chris hopes to be demonstrating leaded and stained glass work but will be happy to discuss any aspect of his work.

ECATCHER MOL

NO MOLE NO FEE See glass artist Chris Walters During the Made in North Somerset Festival September 18th – 21st PAGE 26 • MENDIP TIMES • SEPTEMBER 2014

Telephone 01275 332966 mendipmolecatcher.co.uk

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Local wine now available

BUSINESS

FAMILY-RUN for five generations, Aldwick Court Farm has long experience of diversification in farming. The recent creation of two vineyards is but one example.

In 2008, some 2,000 vines were planted in a hectare of Homefield, followed in 2010 by a further 11,000 in the gently sloping, southwest-facing field known as Woodlands. In 2013 Aldwick Court Farm and Vineyard were proud to release their first wines.

They have six varieties of grapes: early and late Pinot Noir, Seyval Blanc, Bacchus, Madeleine Angevine, and Solaris. From late September through early November, the grapes are harvested by hand and delivered to their skilful vintner, Steve Brooksbank.

They are delighted to offer their 2013 vintages, both white and rosé, plus a limited amount of 2011 sparkling blush. These can be purchased direct from Aldwick Court Farm at the Cellar Door, online at www.aldwickvineyard.co.uk or from several local outlets.

Call in for a free sampling Monday-Thursday between 10am – 4pm or Fridays 10am – 12noon.

Supporting Shepton Show

THIS team from Red Berry Recruitment were selling show raffle tickets at this year’s Mid-Somerset Show iin order to raise funds for the event.

The show attracted huge crowds including a big livestock entry. Show Special: page 36.

Mendip Times needs you!

Due to continuing expansion, we have a vacancy for an experienced Sales Executive with a good telephone manner and proven computer skills

Send details to: enquiries@mendiptimes.co.uk

ECATCHER MOL Now does wasps

NO WASP NO STING

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

Telephone 01761 451384 MENDIP TIMES • SEPTEMBER 2014 • PAGE 27

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Time to celebrate

COMPTON Dando Art Group celebrated its ninth anniversary with a special lunch at the village hall, during which it donated £150 to village hall funds. The group will resume open demonstrations on Wednesday September 24th, with guest artist, Colin Brown, who will be painting poppies in acrylic.

Details: Sonia Priest 01761 490551

Chew Valley Arts Trail

ONE of the Chew Valley’s best supported events is becoming more like the Tour de Art as increasing numbers of people choose to cover the Arts Trail by bike. But however they arrive, by car, on foot or by bike, every visitor will receive a warm welcome at the 23 venues which will open their doors for the 12th Chew Valley Arts Trail on the weekend of October 11th and 12th.

Organiser Sandy Bell said: “More people seem to be getting on their bikes and our trail is an ideal ride with regular breaks to have a breather and enjoy the art work on show as well as seeing the lovely countryside."

This year there is the usual wide range of creativity to admire and purchase, including paintings of every style, illustrations, photography, sculpture, glassware, mosaics, jewellery, bookbinding and other crafts.

Images of Ireland

AN exhibition, the Places and Faces of Ireland, by Brian Hawkins, will be held at Winford Parish Church, in aid of church funds, from Wednesday September 24th – Sunday September 28th.

Brian, a former BBC producer, with a lifelong interest in photography, will show a collection of 70 photographs from around County Kerry and Cork, taken during regular visits with his wife Jane, who comes from Ireland.

Details: 01275 472530

PAGE 28 • MENDIP TIMES • SEPTEMBER 2014

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ARTS AND ANTIQUES

We’ve got it covered

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MENDIP TIMES • SEPTEMBER 2014 • PAGE 29

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‘Tulip-Mania’ expected at Clevedon Salerooms

CLEVEDON Salerooms’ Quarterly Specialist Sale of Antiques, Fine Art & Collector’s Items will be held on Thursday September 4th at 10.30am and includes this late 17th century English Delft Charger, circa 1680 measuring 32.5cm in diameter.

For a brief period in Holland in the 1630s the demand for tulip bulbs was such that they were traded on the Dutch Stock Market, reaching a peak when a single bulb cost the equivalent of ten times the annual income of a skilled craftsman.

A subsequent spectacular market crash left many traders bankrupt and coined the phrase ‘Tulip-Mania’ used to describe a speculative bubble. The collectors of early Delft pottery are far more sensible, but these chargers are rare survivors, and therefore with internet and telephone bidders all vying for the lot, the value is estimated at £1,500 – £2,500.

Only when the gavel falls on September 4th will we know the true market value. The online auction catalogue with images of every lot can be viewed now at www.clevedon-salerooms.com

Leading the field . . .

Fine Art Auctioneers & Valuers

Quarterly Specialist Sale of Antiques, Fine Art & Collectors Items Thursday 4th September at 10.30am Viewing Tues 2nd September 2pm - 5.30pm Wed 3rd September 10am - 7.30pm Sale day from 9am On-line catalogue now available

19th Century rocking horse

Tel: 01934 830111 or 0117 325 6789 The Auction Centre, Kenn Road, Kenn, Clevedon, Bristol BS21 6TT www.clevedon-salerooms.com PAGE 30 • MENDIP TIMES • SEPTEMBER 2014

Est £800 - £1,200 Free Valuation Days 8th 9th 10th & 22nd 23rd 24th September 9.30am – 1pm and 2pm – 5pm

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Military interest at Mendip Auction Rooms

ARTS & ANTIQUES

MENDIP Auction Rooms continued their trend of having a well-stocked saleroom with approximately 600 lots of antiques and collectable items going under the hammer at their recent auction.

In highest demand was the array of interesting and unusual collectables on offer and, in particular, items with military interest were the hot topic of the day. Items sold included a WWII period Japanese sword, with shagreen grip which sold for £550, a collection of Nazi badges £550 and a 1st battalion Welsh Guards drum converted to a waste paper bin sold to the internet for £250.

There was also an early 19th century brass ewer which met with strong demand on the internet and in the room eventually selling to the room for £440. The vendor of the item believed that it had returned from the Battle of Waterloo with Captain Willison.

Other notable items were a large collection of world stamps which sold for £650 and a collection of maps including 1920s Afghanistan and Bombay Island etc. that eventually sold for £320.

There was a good range of furniture and rugs entered and prominent items were a 20th century oak Glastonbury chair that exceeded expectations selling for £300 and a Tabiz, red and blue rug sold for £170.

The valuers from the auction rooms are always content to make a home visit free of charge and to book an appointment simply call them on 01749 840770. Alternatively valuation enquiries can be made via email at enquiries@mendipauctionrooms.co.uk.

Valuer Gareth Wasp will be at the Chew Stoke Harvest Home on September 6th and will provide free valuation and auction advice.

Gareth will also be assisted by Tom Killen and Mathew Bingham of Killens Estate Agents who will be on hand to provide advice on all property and professional matters.

MENDIP TIMES • SEPTEMBER 2014 • PAGE 31

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In his own words

Sculptor Ian Marlow – a member of the Royal British Society of Sculptors – is well-known for his landmark works such as Guinevere, the swan which adorns the moat around the Bishop’s Palace in Wells. Here, Ian gives a unique insight into the creative process.

ONE of the great things for me about being an artist is the neverending search for new methods and techniques to add to your skills and this is why I enjoy commissions because they take me down avenues I wouldn’t have necessarily explored and they offer challenges and opportunities for new ideas.

A good example of this is the large sculpture I was commissioned to make for the courtyard of the new Community Hospital at Bridgwater earlier in the year. The brief for the 14metre long sculpture was that is it should reflect something from the history of Bridgwater. History is just bubbles of time, so my suggestion for the sculpture was a girl blowing bubbles that drift across the Somerset landscape and in some of the bubbles are stained glass scenes of Bridgwater’s past.

Interestingly, I had never worked in stained glass before so I had to learn how to paint the glass pieces and lead them into panels. I then had to set up a whole glass studio with glass kilns here at Ebenezer Chapel in Buckland Dinham.

Setting up the glass studio meant I was then able to use glass in my other work, both studio pieces and other commissions. So when I was commissioned to do a sculpture as part of the artist-inresidence at All Hallows school, glass automatically became part of the design.

But it also meant that when pupils from the school came to my studio they were able to make fused-glass tiles which will be put into a permanent feature at the school. The chance for the children to actually work in a professional artist’s studio was a marvellous experience for them and far more rewarding than just visiting.

But it’s not just for commissions that I try new techniques and materials. I’m always searching for new ways to express the ideas that I have. So in the sculpture garden this year there are the new stainless steel plantform sculptures with flowers powder-coated in stunning colours from pastel shades to rich, dark cherry-red. I will also be exhibiting glass sculptures and other glass pieces made in the glass studio here, so there will be lots of exciting new works to interest visitors.

Ian shares a joke with the Count and Countess of Wessex at the official opening of Bridgwater Community Hospital

The East Mendip Cluster – the map shows the location of exhibitions by Fiona Campbell and Nick Weaver, All Hallow’s School and Christine-Ann Richard PAGE 32 • MENDIP TIMES • SEPTEMBER 2014

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Art takes centre stage at All Hallows School

ALL Hallows School at Cranmore will provide a unique setting as one of the venues for the forthcoming Somerset Arts Week.

As part of the school’s 75th anniversary, it commissioned work by sculptor Ian Marlow on the theme of dancing cranes – the birds from which Cranmore is said to take its name. A crane is the mascot of the school.

Ian’s work will be on show along with other crane sculptures by Cranmorebased artist Fiona Campbell who has also worked with the pupils. Also on view both inside and outside at the Ian Marlow’s striking crane sculpture will be feature in school’s Open Day on the school grounds Saturday, October 4th will be a number of further sculptures, stone carvings and stained glass windows resulting from previous artist residencies.

Ian, from Buckland Dinham, near Frome, became the school’s artist in residence earlier this year, working alongside the children. As part of the project, pupils visited Ian Marlow’s sculpture garden in Buckland Dinham as well as Roche Court Sculpture Park, near Salisbury.

The “Dancing Cranes” project carried across the curriculum too. Year 7 children are publishing a book of poems, prefaced

by Ian Marlow and incorporating some illustrations of his designs. The theme has also been explored and interpreted by children in the Choir, Music Enrichment Group, Speech & Drama, Ballet, Street Dance and Art Enrichment. And the All Hallows community are the proud sponsor of a real crane as part of “The Great Crane Project” to reintroduce the birds to the Somerset Levels.

Filmmaker Sarah Jane White of Whitespace Productions, from Frome, accompanied the children and filmed a celebratory documentary of art and cross-curricular teaching at All Hallows which will also be a feature of the open day.

The children are now eagerly anticipating the end result which will adorn the walls of the new Creative Centre at All Hallows, which is due to Ian working with pupils at All open its doors in Hallows September.

All Hallow School (SAW venue 139) Open Day on Saturday, October 4th, 9.30am–3pm, All Hallows School, Cranmore Hall, East Cranmore, BA4 4SF.

A life in clay

CERAMICIST ChristineAnn Richards will be opening her studio in Wanstrow, near Frome, as part of Somerset Arts Weeks for possibly the final time.

Her show A Life in Clay may well be the last opportunity for anyone to see Christine-Ann making large scale ceramics as she is spending less time in the studio.

From Friday, September 26th until Sunday, October 5th, Christine-Ann will be working on one of her signature large garden ceramics (SAW venue 141 between 11am-4pm approximately).

Christine-Ann said: “I am probably contributing to more of an exchange between artists when I take other artists and craftsmen on visits to China – visiting studios, colleges and workshops where both traditional and contemporary expressions of crafts are interpreted.”

Those visits concentrate on the Sanbao Ceramic Art Institute in Jingdezhen – the porcelain capital of China – the reason for her first visit 30 years ago! Christine-Ann added: “As you can see, China and her people’s never cease to inspire!”

SAW Venue 141

26th September – 5th October Open Studio 11 – 6pm

CHRISTINE-ANN RICHARDS rown Porcelain & Garden Ceramics Chapel House, High Street, Wanstrow, BA4 4TE Tel: 01749 850208 www.christineannrichards.co.uk MENDIP TIMES • SEPTEMBER 2014 • PAGE 33

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Martin Bentham exhibition at Bishop’s Palace AN exhibition of Martin Bentham’s paintings will be at The Bishop’s Palace in Wells from September 18th to November 19th.

Martin Bentham began his career as a professional artist painting the subjects that were familiar to him – the landscape and people of the Mendip Hills. An ex-farm labourer, Martin’s initial paintings were accurate studies reliant on expert drawing skills and choice of colour.

He soon found that nature changes fleetingly when painting outdoors, colours alter according to light and weather and it was difficult to capture these changes. Oil paint, by its very nature, is a tricky medium with which to portray the subtlety of colours and texture inherent within Martin’s chosen scenes.

Realising his paintings had become somewhat static led Martin to radically change his method of painting, especially the way in which he applies paint to the canvas surface. Using a palette knife to apply unmixed colours, Martin has discovered a new way to recreate natural textures such as rocks, leaves, and grass in a more expressive and exciting way.

These natural characteristics are what inspire Martin to paint and his chosen medium allows him to retain the identity and characteristics of his subjects.

Working outside with his chosen subject in front of him is where Martin works best. Sometimes he will go out every day for weeks on end in all weathers to the site of his subject and set up his easel (with umbrella attached!) until the painting is completed. He rarely works from a photograph or in the studio

PAGE 34 • MENDIP TIMES • SEPTEMBER 2014

ARTS & ANTIQUES

if he can help it. He finds it too static.

Working outdoors in various weather changes the way he paints. It invigorates and actually adds energy to effects of the paint. Continuing to paint directly in front of his subject allows Martin to capture the true range of natural colours, textures and the unusual shapes that occur.

The exhibition is open 10am – 5pm.

Organic sculptures in a natural setting

THERE is nothing quite like a unique piece of sculpture or furniture to create a focal point in a garden or home.

Sculptures are an excellent investment for life – enriching our daily existence and being transportable, should we ever decide to move.

Somerset Open Studios invites visitors to see artists in their working environment, many of whom have a national or international reputation. Sculptor Fiona Campbell, who lives in Cranmore, is well known for her organic, nature-inspired, innovative woven forms, an earthy combination of steel, copper, wire, found and recycled materials, transformed into fascinating pieces.

For this autumn’s open studios event, Fiona is exhibiting in her beautiful, spacious cottage garden (SAW venue 140) and teaming up with Frome-based designer/maker Nick Weaver whose preferred medium is wood. The garden will form the backdrop for an impressive show of Fiona’s distinctive sculptures complimented by Nick’s original, elegant creations.

Nick has been making commissioned furniture/sculpture for the last five years since taking early retirement from the Ministry of Defence. With a career as a weather forecaster and oceanographer behind him, he is now thoroughly enjoying the freedom to be creative. His lifelong fascination is with nature, gardening and rediscovered nature notebooks, with their intricate sketches of plants, Fiona and Nick have discovered common interests and inspiration in nature, which they are exploring through a combined use of reclaimed and found materials in some collaborative work. The contrasting and complementary results of these metal and wood “Ligna” pieces have the added bonus of harmonising well in natural garden settings.

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INTERNET

Keyboard shortcuts for iPhone and iPad

CROSSWORD

The Mendip Mindbender

Master these keyboard shortcuts to speed up touch typing on your iPad, iPhone or iPad. Tip #1: If you want to type special characters with accent marks (like the letters à or è), simply hold down the corresponding alphabet key for a while and it will pop-up a list of related accented characters for you to choose from. Keep the key held down while making a selection or the choices will disappear.

Tip #2: When you are done typing a sentence, double-tap the space bar on the keyboard and it will automatically insert a dot followed by a space. The next letter that you type will be written in uppercase without you having to press the Shift key.

Tip #3: The iOS keyboard is pretty smart at adding apostrophes. For instance, if you need to type “doesn’t”, just forget the apostrophe and quickly type “doesnt” – the keyboard will automatically insert the apostrophe at the appropriate place. You can also press and hold the comma key to get the apostrophe without switching to the numeric keyboard.

Tip #4: The numeric keyboard (.?123) on your iOS device shows the dollar ($) symbol by default. However, if you need to type the Pound or the Euro currency symbol, just hold the $ key and you’ll see a long list of alternative currency symbols.

Tip #5: If you want to change the style of quotation marks or need to use a longer dash punctuation mark instead of the default hyphen, press and hold the corresponding key. For typing the degree symbol in your email message, switch to the numeric keyboard and hold the ‘0’ key for a while.

More tips next month.

Submitted by IT for the Terrified : The Old Cowshed, Station Road, Cheddar BS27 3AG 01934 741751 • www.itfortheterrified.co.uk itfortheterrified@btconnect.com Closed for the whole of August – reopens Thursday, 4th September.

Call in to one of our Open House sessions to find out more – Thursday, 11th September 10am or Friday, 12th September at 1.30.

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

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 XP/Vista/W7/W8: Macs: Tablets: iPads: smartphones.

See our web site or contact us for further details.

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

ACROSS 1 Wild horse torments whole district (5,8) 9 Talking clock in jewel – the best (7) 10 Small business representative not coming back for cricketer (7) 11 Bad luck . . . for residents of Cheddar? (4,6) 12 Exist before morning ray (4) 14 The limb made for sewers (7) 16 Dance cancelled, but batsman still scores (2,4) 19 Unabating but lacking nasty heart condition (6) 20 Hangs on for leftovers (7) 23 It can be a thrill to put the boot in (4) 24 Give minion a nod to tell the time (4,6) 27 Moved near lip for fattening confection (7) 28 Knighthood not barrier to being a clever clogs (4-3) 29 Divert spy pinning kid to unrestricted swimming (6,7)

DOWN 2 Parrot or other pet swallows revolver (5) 3 Give shelter at Advent . . . return of the Prodigal ?

(10) 4 Sun-screen city . . . of fuel producers? (3,5) 5 Cut out . . . the tax man?

(6) 6 Pushes umpire into sink (4) 7 I rent bath set up in historic store (5,4) 8/22 Breeze to grind Jimmy into area of Glastonbury (8,4) 9 This spot home to Roman emperor (4) 13 Mao opts out of cooking up tasty starter (6,4) 15 Excellent educational opportunity for skiers?

(0,4,5) 17 Bowler bets leg caught by awkward delivery (8) 18 Labour in the grass gone over again (8) 21 Lock up houseman (6) 22 See 8 25 Gershwin fronts TV quiz in Middle East (5) 26 Play snatch of Bach if I have my sound gear (2-2)

Answers on Page 105 MENDIP TIMES • SEPTEMBER 2014 • PAGE 35

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Mid-Somerset Show “tremendous” say organisers

Showjumping in the main arena brought the show to a close

Emma Clothier, from Chewton Mendip with her champion cow Waldron Aaron Jackie 12. Emma’s grandfather Norman Clothier later received a long-service award from show president Paul Barber

Joe Larder from Sandford was Poll Dorset champion. He's pictured with his girlfriend Rachel Lowrie and mum Wendy PAGE 36 • MENDIP TIMES • SEPTEMBER 2014

Promoting the Farmwatch crime prevention campaign at the show.

Helen Hawkins and son Daniel joined the scheme on behalf of husband and dad Joe; the family farms at West Pennard. They are pictured with PCSOs Katy Drabble and Yvonne Mears

A log cutting demonstration in the vintage vehicle field

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MID-SOMERSET SHOW 2014

Party on!

The Mangled Wurzels take a break at the Hecks cider stall with Lizzie and Andrew Hecks

Guests gather at the start of the evening

THE Mid-Somerset Show kicked off in style with its preshow party in the Members’ marquee.

Around 200 people partied the night away in what has now become a show tradition, taking place on the Friday before the show itself.

Aliyah Pugh, aged two and half, from Bruton

Helen Bailey with Chris Phillips, one of the sponsors of the party

Mrs Rose Haskins was presented with a gift by show president Paul Barber and show chairman Ian Harvey as a thank you for her family’s long-standing support of the event

The packed dance floor

Live music from XX

MENDIP TIMES • SEPTEMBER 2014 • PAGE 37

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We will remember them

Communities across Mendip gathered to commemorate the outbreak of World War One to pay tribute in their own individual ways, with some creating lasting legacies.

Shepton Mallet

The band of HMS Heron from RNAS Yeovilton leads a procession through the town to Collett Park at the start of the evening of commemoration

Lady Gass, Lord Lieutenant of Somerset, opens the evening’s commemoration in Collett Park as Major General Ray Pett, president of the town’s Royal British Legion branch, looks on

Members of Shepton Mallet Air Cadets took it in turns to maintain a day-long silent vigil at the town’s Cenotaph. Pictured are cadets Toby Stratford and Hannah Dix who were joined by local scouts

Jenny and Louise Manship wore contemporary outfits for the occasion

Historic records on show

THE Fleet Air Arm Museum at Yeovilton is making Saturday September 13th a First World War Royal Navy Family History Day, to draw attention to the enlistment papers and service records that are held in archive.

It’s part of the national Heritage Open Days, a once-ayear event celebrating the country’s inspirational

Woollen poppies were made for the event by the town’s Knit and Chat group. Pictured are (centre) Benjamin Dors with (l:r) Sasha Sheppard, Sarah Freeman, Hannah Dors and Beverley Dors. They wore the poppies in tribute to their relative Clive Lockey

architecture and culture by offering free access to places that are usually closed to the public or normally charge for admission.

During the afternoon at Yeovilton there will be three free tours of the document stores showcasing the records held at the museum. Spaces are strictly limited for these.

Details: www.nmrn.org.uk or telephone Fleet Air Arm Museum 01935 840565.

PAGE 38 • MENDIP TIMES • SEPTEMBER 2014

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WORLD WAR I Frome

D-Day veteran Charles Boswell and Normandy veteran Denis Edwards chat in front of the new Jaycee, aged eight, prepares to lay a wreath at the memorial memorial

YOUNG and old gathered at the Memorial Theatre in Frome for the dedication of the new-look war memorial. The moving service included poetry and the laying of poppies by local schoolchildren.

The memorial now features a statue of Frome soldier Charlie Robbins, who fought in World War One. For many years the statue stood outside the JW Singer factory in the town which cast the monument.

Rodney Stoke

The plaque outside St Leonard’s church – similar plaques have been unveiled at other Thankful Villages

A PLAQUE commemorating Rodney Stoke’s status as a Thankful Village was unveiled outside the church of St Leonard before a WWI-themed service.

Amongst those attending were riders who took part in a motorbike journey which visited all 51 Thankful Villages.

The ride raised funds for plaques in the villages.

Charlie and Henry, two bikers who read about the plaque unveiling in Mendip Times and attended the dedication. They joined the original Thankful Villages bike ride for a day last year Bill Baxter, from the Frome branch of the Royal Naval Association, carries the standard

Jane Norris, chairman of the Frome branch of the RBL reads We Shall Keep the Faith, written in 1918 by Moina Michael

Paulton IN Paulton candles were lit on the war memorial – one for those who lost their lives in WW1 and one for those who returned but were traumatised by the war.

They also lit 28 candles for the 28 men from Paulton who lost their lives in the war. The vigil was organised by PiPP (Pride in Paulton Partnership).

Pictured are Gail Garlick, Becky Parker and Hilary Smythe.

MENDIP TIMES • SEPTEMBER 2014 • PAGE 39

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Tribute to the women of WWI

THE experiences of women during World War One are being brought to life in a series of concerts across the south west by a group of Mendipbased musicians Trio Paradis: Cressida Nash (cello), Jamie and writers.

Hughes (violin) and Jacquelyn Bevan Women of World (piano) War One is based on letters, diaries, poems and autobiographies from the time, with music by contemporary female composers.

Musicians South West – a community interest company based in Radstock – will launch the series in Midsomer Norton in September. The production has been scripted by Petra Schofield, a freelance director from Midsomer Norton.

Trio Paradis – members of MSW – will perform the music on piano, violin and cello and a specially commissioned film will run throughout the performances.

Although women were composing music in the early 20th century, the public were largely unaware of their work. Pianist Jacquelyn Bevan said: “A few years ago I heard a remarkable piece of chamber music, a Piano Trio. I was intrigued by the arresting, dissonant opening, which made me think immediately of war and the quieter passages later in the piece which sounded like a haunted battlefield, with a ghostly version of the Last Post drifting across the scene of devastation and loss.

“I discovered the composer was Rebecca Clarke, and – it all made sense then – that it had been written during and just after the First World War. This set me wondering, how many women composers might there be just waiting to be discovered, and what kind of music had they written in response to the war?”

Research revealed that Clarke was not the only female composer and the idea of the tribute began to take shape.

Women of World War One will be performed during the Wells Festival of Literature in October and in Frome in November as well as around the south west. There are plans for further performances in 2015 and MSW would be keen to hear from anyone in the Mendip area with suggestions for suitable venues, including village halls. They would also like to hear from anyone with stories about women in the war.

March of the Women by Ethel Smyth “Shout, shout, up with your song!

Cry with the wind for the dawn is breaking.

March, march, swing you along, Wide blows our banner and hope is waking.

Song with its story, dreams with their glory, Lo! They call and glad is their word.

Forward, hark how it swells, Thunder of freedom, the voice of the Lord.”

For more information about Women of World War One, visit www.musicianssouthwest.com PAGE 40 • MENDIP TIMES • SEPTEMBER 2014

Stoke St. Michael

Paul and Louise Green with copies of the book and some of John Green’s WWI mementos

THE memoirs of a World War One horse driver who helped to supply forces with ammunition have been published by relatives who live in Stoke St Michael.

Paul Green and his wife Louise decided to bring out the book to coincide with the anniversary of the date John “Jack” Green enlisted – August 9th 1914 – and the 91st birthday of his last-

surviving son, Gordon, Paul’s father.

Jack served at Ypres, Passchendale and the Somme. He was wounded and convalesced in France before returning to his regiment, the 51st Highlanders. He dictated his memoirs in the 1970s, a few years before his death, but Paul and other members of the family discovered the manuscript only recently.

Paul said: “I knew him very well and we were very close. He told me stories about the war but never went into detail.

“When we rediscovered the manuscript we decided we should do something about it. It was taken down verbatim by his sisterin-law Joy Turner. We thought we would struggle because he switched from past to present tense until we realised that when he was speaking in the present, he was reliving the scenes.”

Paul’s father Gordon was among the family and friends who gathered from across the country at the Knatchbull Arms in Stoke St Michael for the launch party and to celebrate his birthday.

Gordon Green with Paul and Louise Too Short to be a Gunner – The Memoir of John Richard Green 645222 RFA is published by Silverwood Books.

We will remem

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Midsomer Norton

Paul Myers, the mayor of Midsomer Norton, with Peter Brooks Eyes left as the parade passes the town’s war memorial

A PROCESSION and church service marked the start of Glastonbury’s commemoration of the outbreak of World War One. Military personnel, cadets and scouts were joined by civic dignitaries including Wells MP Tessa Munt for the parade through the town.

Glastonbury’s tribute to people who Jim Barron, the Mayor of Glastonbury, served during the lays a wreath at the memorial conflict, who worked at home or grew up during the war is also featured in a new book.

Standards are lowered at the start of two minutes’ silence

em member them

A VICTORIA Cross hero has been honoured by his home town of Midsomer Norton with the unveiling of a plaque by his grandson.

Lance Sergeant Oliver Brooks was awarded the illustrious medal after leading a party of bombers from 3rd Battalion, Coldstream Guards in an attack on enemy-held territory at Loos in October 1915.

He returned to Midsomer Norton to a hero’s welcome in December that year and was presented with a gold watch and chain which is still owned by his descendants.

Peter Brooks, who lives in Windsor, visited Midsomer Norton with his wife Valerie to show off replicas of the VC and other medals awarded to his grandfather and to unveil the plaque – designed and donated by the Midsomer Norton Society – which will hang in the town hall.

The original VC awarded to Peter Brooks with the original framed certificate presented to Lance Sergeant Brooks is kept his grandfather and his replica in the Coldstream Guards medals, including the VC. archive in London.

Communities remember

T H E G R E A T WA R 1 9 1 4 - 1 8

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Cranmore Village Fayre

Street entertainment outside the village’s Strode Arms inn

The fayre took place outside the Strode Arms, in the village hall and in St Bartholomews Church

Dot Harris, from Clutton, outside the village hall

It wasn’t just the ice cream that was melting in the heat – the tar on the road also suffered! Royston, Didi and Eva, from nearby Dean, relax outside the hall PAGE 42 • MENDIP TIMES • SEPTEMBER 2014

Zoe and Bobby, aged six months, (left) with Emma and Poppy, aged five weeks

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Nunney Fayre

EVENTS

Marian White and Janet Cooke on the Nunney WI stall

The Little Victory Ball, from Frome, brought its World War One show to Nunney. The Heritage Lottery-funded group portrayed stories of women, from workers in munitions factories to their role in immediate post-war events such as The Great Silence of 1919 and the building of the Cenotaph in 1920.

Bathampton Morris processing into the Market Place

Roger Hill-Cottingham and John Falconer from Frome Town Archers put on displays in the Old Quarry Gardens

Honk Monster were amongst the performers on the open mic music stage MENDIP TIMES • SEPTEMBER 2014 • PAGE 43

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A year of massive growth for St. Brendan’s WORK has begun on a brand new £1.5 million, ten-room teaching block at St Brendan’s Sixth Form College. It is hoped that this will be complete and up and running by January 2015.

The new teaching block will also include a second café and new social space for the college’s 1,750 students. The college is also in the process of building two additional state-of-the-art science laboratories. The new buildings will allow the college to recruit more students and also continue to expand the number of courses that it offers.

St Brendan’s is the only sixth form college in the area; it has been providing post-16 education for the young people of Bristol, BANES, South Gloucestershire, North Somerset and Wiltshire since the 1970s. It has been massively oversubscribed for the last two years. This, it says, is due to its unique university style campus that is just for 16 to 18 year olds, its specialist sixth form teaching and learning skills, and its huge choice of course options for students.

The college currently offers over 70 A-levels, BTECs and OCR Diplomas which can be taken in virtually any combination. This year it will be adding a Level 3 BTEC in Applied Law, a Level 2 BTEC in Sport, the brand new Core Maths qualification and English for Academic Purposes to its already extensive list.

It will also be launching a Girls’ Football Academy (to sit alongside its Boys’ Academy). In addition, a Performing Arts &

St. Brendan’s students

Media Career Academy will join its Business and Sport & Leisure Career Academies which are already successfully operating, providing mentors from business, guru lectures and work placements for their student members.

St Brendan’s is holding a series of Open Events in October on Saturday 11th (10.30am-2pm), Wednesday 22nd (5pm-8pm) and Thursday 23rd (5pm-8pm) for those who are interested in studying there in 2015. All are welcome to attend and to bring along their friends and family for a look at the facilities and to talk to staff and current students about courses and college life.

More details can be found on the college website: www.stbrendanssixthform.com

PAGE 44 • MENDIP TIMES • SEPTEMBER 2014

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A school with diamond status

CLIFTON High School is an independent school based in the heart of Clifton, educating boys and girls from 3-18. Not to be confused with the larger, neighbouring school, Clifton College (which is on the same road) Clifton High is a midsized school located on the corner of College Road and Clifton Park Road on the edge of Clifton Village.

Behind the school gates is a hidden gem – the school is set in beautiful grounds with a south-facing aspect that is leafy and sunny. Not only is there a large lawn but the school has also created wildflower meadows, developed a mature wildlife garden and has its own pond for supervised wildlife encounters – it even keeps its own bees.

From Nursery through to the Junior School visitors are struck by what a happy, vibrant and caring place Clifton High School is. It has a warm welcoming feel that is friendly and reassuring for both parents and children. Class sizes are small, in the Nursery School and Reception the typical staff/child ratio is 1:9.

Children are taught by specialist teachers and experienced, well qualified teaching assistants. Teaching staff are inspiring and passionate about learning. There is a real emphasis on learning being exciting and fun. CHS pupils are motivated, inquisitive and enthusiastic learners who embrace the opportunities life has to offer.

In the Senior School, Clifton High is the only school in the South West operating the successful Diamond Model of education where boys and girls are taught separately at certain

EDUCATION

ages and for certain subjects. This way boys and girls get the most out of their education both academically and socially.

Students achieve excellent academic results – in 2013 approximately 70% of those CHS students who started university went to Oxbridge or Russell Group; of the 2014 sixth form this figure is predicted to be nearer 80%. At CHS you get much more than just good grades however – the school puts great emphasis on pastoral care and nurturing the individuality of each and every child.

The school aims, and succeeds, in producing free thinking young people with belief in themselves, confidence to pursue their ambitions and the resilience to succeed whatever life presents them with.

MENDIP TIMES • SEPTEMBER 2014 • PAGE 45

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All Hallows receives glowing ISI inspection report A THOROUGH inspection of All Hallows Preparatory School, near Frome, was conducted recently by an immensely experienced ISI (Independent Schools Inspectorate) team. The results were that the school emerged with flying colours with all areas recognised as being “excellent” – the highest grading possible.

The team were on site for five days looking at the quality of achievements, teaching and learning, the contribution of curricular and extra-curricular provision, the quality of the pupils’ personal development, pastoral care, welfare, health and safety, boarding, leadership and management and governance.

The overall conclusions capture the spirit of All Hallows and found the school to be very creative and extremely successful in meeting its aims. The report noted that children were challenged and stretched and reached high standards in their academic work and extra-curricular pursuits in response to an excellent, wideranging and imaginative curriculum, many exciting opportunities outside the classroom and dynamic and inspiring, personalised teaching.

In addition to finding the quality of the pupils’ achievements and learning to be “excellent”, the inspectorate noted “excellent opportunities for the pupils’ personal, social, physical and creative development” and recognised that the children were articulate, enthusiastic and independent learners with excellent spiritual and moral awareness.

They praised the school’s leadership and governance and found

the exceptional relationships that exist at all levels to be key factors in pupils’ high achievements. The links the school has with its parents were also recognised as being incredibly strong and the report noted that “all pupils are exceptionally well cared for” and that “the outcomes for boarders are excellent” with them flourishing and becoming independent and confident.

Neil Howlett, acting Chairman of the governing body was clearly delighted with the outcome of such an intense period of scrutiny: “We are thoroughly delighted and genuinely heartened by the report. It has an overwhelmingly strong and supportive flavour to it and, quite rightly, has highlighted the many areas of excellence in our school community.

“I would like to record my heartfelt thanks to the children, staff and to the governing body for their continuous hard work and commitment, and to the parents, whose support and enthusiasm for our school is outstanding – a fact recognised by the ISI team. We continue to focus on our ongoing development and remain determined that All Hallows will always be the very best a prep school can be.”

A full copy of the report can be viewed on the All Hallows website www.allhallowsschool.co.uk or on the ISI website www.isi.net. For enquiries please email info@allhallowsschool.co.uk or call 01749 881600.

PAGE 46 • MENDIP TIMES • SEPTEMBER 2014

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Students can reach full potential at Strode College THIS September hundreds of school leavers will embark on new and exciting courses at Strode College in Street that will help shape their future. Studying the right course at the right college will make a big difference to their success; they can be confident that they will thrive and reach their full potential at Strode.

The latest excellent set of results for A Levels and vocational courses, announced in August, prove that Strode students consistently attain great results.

Although nationally the overall pass rate for A Levels has fallen for the first time in 30 years, Strode’s A Level pass rate has improved slightly to 99.4%. Strode’s advanced level vocational results show a similarly positive picture with a 100% pass rate.

Strode offers the widest choice of A Levels in Somerset, an impressive 40 A Levels, 35 vocational courses and over 40 different apprenticeships. With so

many courses available, school leavers can find the right course and mix of subjects to suit their future ambitions.

Strode also offers quality and affordable Higher Education courses, including university level Foundation Degrees, Higher National Diplomas and

EDUCATION

higher professional qualifications, as well as hundreds of part-time courses for adults and apprenticeships.

School leavers who haven’t decided what to do next should find out about courses available at Strode starting in September.

For more information on the opportunities available at Strode College call: 01458 844400 or visit the website: www.strode-college.ac.uk

Idyllic surroundings

Charltons Preschool Bonfire Lane, Charlton Mackrell, TA11 7BN. charltonspreschool@hotmail.co.uk

Manager required for rural Pre-School (Somerset/Dorset border)

CHARLTONS Pre-School is an established 21 place pre-school set in idyllic village school grounds with children between the ages of two and five.

They occupy their own fantastic purpose-built premises with an enclosed and covered outdoor decking area and have the advantage of being able to use the primary school’s lawns, playing field and wooded areas.

They have great links with the school and often take part in joint activities – transition into school is excellent, with plenty of visits to ensure everything goes smoothly.

They have a good OFSTED with outstanding features. All sessions are run by an experienced team of qualified Early Years staff. They open between 9am and 3pm and have a drop-in toddler session on the last Friday of the month between 9am and 11am.

They are able to offer up to 15 hours of free sessional care per week to children from the term after their third birthday. Drop in toddler sessions are held in term-time on the last Friday of the month between 9.30am and 11.30am.

We are an established 21 place Pre-School set in idyllic village school grounds with children between the ages of 2 and 5. We occupy separate accommodation and outside space but have the advantage of being able to use the primary school’s lawns, field and wooded areas.

We are looking for a manager with: G Early Years Qualification ( Level 3 or above) or EYPS/EYTS G Detailed knowledge of the EYFS G A passion for child care and high standards in the education of children G Good leadership and effective management skills G The ability to drive improvement G Effective business administration Benefits to you: G Term time position (minimum 23 hours per week) offering flexible hours across shifts between the hours of 8.30am and 3.30pm G 38 weeks per year with over 4 weeks of paid holiday entitlement G £19, 344 pro rata + up to £3,500 per annum in childcare costs (open to negotiation depending on qualifications/hours worked) G Continued Professional Development will be encouraged and a study budget is available G You will have the support of a dedicated Pre-School administrator G Position available ASAP G A position that puts you at the heart of a thriving and friendly village community of The Charltons (Mackrell, Adam and West) but still within easy reach of urban life, with London only a 90 minute train journey away Please contact our Administrator Mrs Sue Carey if you require an application pack or to arrange a visit. Email submissions are preferred. Tel: 07900 558011 or 07971 229461 Closing date for applications is Thursday 28st August 2014 with interviews conducted the week commencing 8th September 2014.

Charlton’s Pre-School has high standards of child welfare and expects all staff and volunteers to share this commitment. This post is subject to enhanced DBS and other checks in line with safer recruitment practice.

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Sidcot student qualifies for final of prestigious competition

A SIDCOT student has qualified for the final of the Rotary Young Musician of the Year Competition. Polina Naumova, aged17, competed with students from Badminton School, Cotham and Wells Cathedral to win her district heat with a programme which included Rimsky-Korsokov “Flight of the Bumblebee”.

Polina now has just a few months to prepare for the regional final which will be held at Bristol Grammar School in October.

Sidcot’s Director of Music, Bev King said: “The contestants put together a wonderful and inspirational concert for the audience and made the judges’ decision very difficult. We are very proud of Polina’s achievements and wish her the very best of luck for the final in the autumn.”

Polina has been a student at Sidcot for two years. She sat her AS level in music at the same time as preparing for the Rotary competition. The Young Musician of the Year Award is intended to support talented young musicians to further their musical studies.

Nearly 200 of the 560 students are studying music at the Quaker school, with private tuition available in 13 different instruments including the trombone, saxophone, clarinet and trumpet. The school is a centre for Trinity Guild Hall examinations and a large number of students go on to achieve the highest grades.

Alongside excellence in the creative arts, Sidcot students are typically high achievers with 100% pass at A Levels and 96% of students gaining a minimum of five GCSEs graded from A* (star) to C in 2013.

PAGE 48 • MENDIP TIMES • SEPTEMBER 2014

Polina Namaurov to go to final of Rotary Young Musician of the year

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Outstanding results cap an outstanding year!

BUCKING the national trend of the first drop in national A Level pass rates for 30 years marked the end of an outstanding academic year for Weston College – literally. The highlight was earning the highest possible rating from Ofsted which means Weston College is officially one of the top-performing colleges in the country.

A team of inspectors spent a whole week scrutinising every aspect of Weston College life, and they liked what they saw.

The A Level pass rate was 98%, 1% up on last year. Vocational pass rates also remain high and the year saw a record number of students graduate – and that number is set to increase again.

The College was successful in its bid to become officially designated as both a Further Education AND Higher Education college, paving the way to significantly increase its degree-level provision in the coming years. Weston College puts its students first in everything it does, and is committed to creating brighter futures for them, first and foremost by helping them achieve consistently high academic results.

The learning environment plays a key

part in that, and Weston College has invested some £30 million in recent years, ensuring that its students can benefit from state-of-the-art, fantastic, facilities across all its campuses.

Weston College was named best in the West for the third year running in a student poll which looks at “learner satisfaction”, and remains among the top five colleges in the UK for Higher Education provision.

This year the College ran a campaign to try to generate pledges of 100 new apprenticeship places in 100 days – and

EDUCATION

ended up with 203!

Principal and Chief Executive Dr Paul Phillips OBE said: “We have the best teachers, with wide industry experience, and we provide outstanding support to our students, whatever their needs.

“We work very closely with employers to ensure that we are giving our students all the skills that employers are looking for when they come to select their staff.

“There’s never been a better time to choose Weston College for all your education and training needs.”

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Time to celebrate

SEXEY’S School’s students are celebrating outstanding A Levels for another year, with results well above the national average. The students secured 100% pass rate in all subjects, with 28% of students achieving A*-A grades, 62% achieving A*-B and 92% achieving A*-C grades.

Commenting, headmaster, Irfan Latif, said: “In bucking the national trend of falling results that has been the story of the last three years, I am delighted by the achievements of all of our students.

“They are a testament to the high aspirations and expectations we have for them, competing as they now do on an international level for coveted places at university and in industry. Such excellent results are evidence of the students’ hard work, their families’ encouragement, and the academic guidance of all the staff.”

Sexeians with particularly noteworthy successes in 2014 include: • Harrison Minter, A* Maths, A* Biology, A* Extended Project Qualification (EPQ), A Further Maths, A Physics, from Westfield Academy, going to Durham to read Physics • Maude Chappell, A* Biology, A* Psychology, A Geography, from Ansford Academy, going to Exeter to read Conservation Biology and Ecology • Harry Love, A Biology, A Maths, A Physics, from Sexey’s School, going to Exeter to read Physics • Mabel Bachini, A* Sociology, A Politics, A Business Studies, from Ansford Academy, going to Leeds to read

International Business Studies Commenting on his success, Harrison Minter said: “I’ve loved my time at Sexey’s. The sixth form really helped me to do my best. I’m so pleased to be going to Durham to study physics.”

His mother, Mrs. Kim Minter added, “I watched him work through six practice papers a day. He has shown such dedication and self-motivation. Without a doubt, Sexey’s has brought out the very best in my children.”

Mendip Times reduces travel costs

100,000 potential customers within a short distance of your business PAGE 50 • MENDIP TIMES • SEPTEMBER 2014

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Another record breaking year of success for Hazlegrove THIS has been another record-breaking summer for Hazlegrove as Year 8 pupils yet again excelled themselves with 23 children gaining an impressive total of 25 scholarships and seven awards to nine different senior schools. Additionally, all pupils gained places at the schools of their choice at 13+ Common Entrance.

Elsewhere, sports teams have had recognition at a national level and, perhaps epitomising much of the ethos of Hazlegrove, pupils taking part in the Exmoor Challenge continued the school’s record of significant success with two mixed teams gaining podium places despite intense competition. This gruelling 16-mile, timed trek over the moor involves navigation, collaboration and perseverance!

What is behind this on-going success? Hazlegrove is essentially non-selective and all children participate across the broad curriculum, which includes diverse subjects such as Latin, Mandarin and Outdoor Education.

All pupils represent the school in sports teams and are also in a major production on the stage each year. Extra-curricular opportunities abound allowing those with a particular passion for sport, music, art or drama to take their skills to new levels.

The children clearly enjoy life at Hazlegrove. Headmaster, Richard Fenwick, is passionate about the school’s ethos: “Pupils will thrive if you can create an environment where they feel loved and safe and where they are surrounded by teachers who are enthusiastic and inspiring.

“Striking the right balance between structure, tradition, organised activities, motivation and free play is fundamental.

With these things in place, pupils will love their time at school and will move on with the right mix of self-assurance, confidence and ‘can do’ mentality together with an underlying humility and respect for their fellow men – the sort of young men and women you want in your team.”

It is why Hazlegrove is thriving and why the pupils enjoy rising to a challenge! Visitors are guaranteed a warm welcome at Open Mornings and at other times by appointment.

MENDIP TIMES • SEPTEMBER 2014 • PAGE 51

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Pupils excel during the summer break THE impressive reputation for music at King's was recently further enhanced by organist Eleanor Little, aged 16, who won the open category of the Exeter Young Organists' Competition held at St Michael and All Angels Church, Mount Dinham. The adjudicators said Eleanor's ten minute programme showed intrinsic musicality.

The school's record in athletics is also receiving plaudits following the many successes of Elliot, Matt, and Ellen. Elliot, a British international 400 metre runner who has already won bronze at the European Junior Championships, has now also qualified for the Under 20s World Championships.

Matt and Ellen qualified for the National Athletics Finals in September following impressive performances in the South West Combined Events Championships in the Yeovil Arena.

The athletes are following in the footsteps of the school's under-16 boys and girls indoor hockey players who reached the national finals earlier this year with the boys coming fourth.

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The school’s next open morning is on September 20th, starting at 10am. Please registrar with Camilla Oulton, registrar@kingsbruton.com or telephone 01749 814251.

PAGE 52 • MENDIP TIMES • SEPTEMBER 2014

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WILDLIFE

WITH cloudless sky and warm sun beaming down upon the landscape I walked up towards Burrington Combe car park.

By CHRIS Being late summer SPERRING there weren’t many MBE birds singing, as the breeding season is all but over, but in the open fields below I could see small groups of swallows merging together as they swept effortlessly between the cows, gathering insects and preparing themselves for their epic journey back to Africa.

A few late butterflies were certainly on show, peacock and red admiral being most evident now, mostly on bramble, which are showing a mixture of black and red fruit. As I reached the car park I headed up through the wooded slopes towards Blackdown.

Beyond the trees I stepped back into the warm sun and, almost blinded, promptly stumbled on a rock. In front of me a small bird took flight, though instead of flying away it rose vertically into the air until at some 15 metres or so above the ground it began singing loudly and showered me with a volley of beautiful notes. I had, of course, unwittingly disturbed a feeding skylark.

The skylark is a ground nesting bird found in open areas such as grassland and arable fields, as well as moorland and coastal areas. As with many farmland bird species this stunning little bird has suffered major decline in our countryside over recent decades, due mainly to loss of nesting habitat and agricultural chemicals decimating their seed and invertebrate food supply.

The decline has been so extreme that it is now afforded red listing status on the Birds of Conservation Concern list. The most striking and inspirational aspect of the skylark is its song, which it is possible to hear at almost any time of the year. Certainly on mild, sunny, winter days skylarks will be heard singing wherever they are present.

The song is delivered from heights of around 20, to more than 100 metres, with the bird acsending and descending on fluttering wings to create what is also

a very visual, as well as audible, display.

The song may be delivered in anger, as was the case in my story above, but it mainly serves to define territory and also to demonstrate a male’s vigour to any interested females, by showing how long and how loudly he can sing.

Skylarks measure around 18cm in length, and have heavily streaked brown plumage, with paler undersides, which provides perfect camouflage for ground nesting. Most people’s view of a skylark is that hovering silhouette, but when perched they are actually a rather stunning little bird. Often you will notice the classic crest on the top of the head, which always makes them look highly alert.

Their nest is cup shaped and constructed from grasses and animal hair. As a ground nesting bird the skylark is susceptible to

disturbance and nest predation from ground predators, so to offset this issue incubation is very short, only around two weeks, and fledging takes places after about another two weeks. This enables them to have up to four broods

Photography by Chris Sperring

A song to warm the heart

of three-four young each year, which helps them sustain the inevitable losses of some of the eggs and chicks to predators.

Skylarks feed mainly on seeds, augmented by insects in the summer months, which are vital for rearing their chicks. When my friend Dr. Roger Clarke, who was one of the leading authorities on harriers (group of raptors), was analysing hen harrier pellets he found that skylarks were feeding largely on cocksfoot grass seed, a type of grass that most people try to get rid of. This highlights just how important it is to leave some parts of the countryside to become “untidy” in our eyes. This is really vital if the decline in our farmland wildlife is to be reversed.

As autumn begins it is possible that our native skylark numbers will be augmented by birds from Europe, but the scale and timing of this will very much depend on the weather, both here and in northern Europe. It is also possible that if the winter is particularly cold, the skylarks that spend their summers on the hills will migrate locally, moving to the warmer and more sheltered lower areas and even to the coast.

So, on those sunny days of autumn and winter, listen out for skylarks across the Mendip area, as their song is guaranteed to make you feel just that little bit warmer.

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 • SEPTEMBER 2014 • PAGE 53

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A circular walk around Dunster MAKE a day of it in early autumn and head away from Mendip to beautiful Dunster in West Somerset, near Minehead, and walk among giants!

This moderate circle on the Dunster Estate takes in the Tall Trees Trail and what is reputed to be the tallest tree in the country. Explore the medieval village with the backdrop of the picturesque castle, cross the old packhorse bridge and then head up Vinegar Hill and along a quiet lane to join the Tall Trees Trail.

Climb gently up to a farm, across open land, before following a valley and climbing up through woods to a good viewpoint. There are three main, steady hills, but otherwise it is pretty easy walking on good dryish tracks.

It’s a really good dog circle, with no stiles. There is plenty of refreshment back in Dunster, as well as toilets.

PARK: At the NT car park in Dunster.

From the A39, if coming from Bridgwater direction, turn left into the car park, before making the turn to Dunster. Parking £2.50, free for NT members.

START: Head away from the castle entrance, over towards the garden walls.

Go along with the walls on your left, round the corner and then through a small wooden gate and up across the field to the top to find a white circular lime kiln.

Continue along the edge and along the back of a the visitor centre and shop and bend round left to a small gate into the

With Sue Gearing PAGE 54 • MENDIP TIMES • SEPTEMBER 2014

visitor car park. Go left passing the visitor centre and along towards Dunster. We are leaving the main street until the end of our walk and thus also miss out the narrow and busy one-way stretch of road! So fork right up the Ball.

Continue along past cottages in Priory Green, bend round and pass the early 16th century Tithe Barn, originally part of a Benedictine Priory. It has been extensively restored to be used for special functions by the community. After an arch, find the circular 13th century Prior’s Dovecot on the right which is in excellent condition and which you can visit. Go under another arch and continue to the end with the school opposite. Go left and at the junction turn right down a picturesque street with cottages on each side.

Go left down Mill Lane signed to Gallox Bridge. Turn right by wooden posts along a tarmac path.

1. GALLOX BRIDGE Turn left past thatched cottages to Gallox Bridge. Dating back to the 15th century, the bridge was built to allow pack animals to cross the River Avill. The name could come from the word ‘gallows’ a reminder that there would have been village gallows nearby.

Continue straight over on the other side, going past thatched cottages on the right.

At the next junction is a large information board at the entrance to Dunster Forest.

Take the second track on the right signed to Timberscombe, Luxborough, Bats Castle and Deer Park circuits.

2. VINEGAR HILL Climb steadily but not too steeply up

Vinegar Hill. Continue on towards Bats Castle and Deer Park circuits. Bear right at the next fork and a few yards on at cross tracks keep straight on. After a while as the track curves left get a good view up the valley. Drop gently downhill going between some of the invasive rhododendrons which may look colourful but are a real scourge and difficult to eradicate.

3. BONNITON LANE Reach Bonniton Lane. Shortly, fork left towards Broadwood Farm on Broadwood Road and follow it on ignoring side tracks.

Heading for the Tall Trees Trail.

4. TALL TREES TRAIL Reach the start of the trail on the left marked by a large carved pine cone. The trail has amazing Douglas firs, magnolias and other exotic arboretum trees and a number of information plaques. Pass what is claimed to be the tallest tree in the country, a Douglas Fir at 197ft (in 2009) and the tallest Magnolia in England. When the trail splits, you can choose either side as they join up a little later. Reach the end with a half circle of benches and continue on along the lane.

Go uphill with a view across fields and on, bending up left climbing to Broadwood Farm.

5. FARM Go past the farm and through a gate onto an unsurfaced track. Go between hedges and, at the end, go through a kissing gate into a field. Follow the left edge of this and the next field with pleasant views over the valley and in the far corner go onto a

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WALKING

track which descends to reach a small stream.

6. STREAM Turn left on the restricted byway to Dunster dropping down. At the next junction go left on the byway towards Bonniton, still a good clear and dry track.

Ignore side tracks and carry on for about three quarters of a mile to Bonniton Lane where we were earlier by a Crown Estate sign. Immediately fork right up the public footpath through the woods which fringe Gallox Hill. Come up a crossing track and follow it left.

7. CARVED BEAR Look out for a wooden bear sculpture on the right. At a fork take the main one (left) and at a bend go up left to a viewpoint down the valley – somewhat higher than the viewpoint you had on the way out. Go

5.6 miles, about 3 hours walking.

Exmoor Outdoor Leisure 9, grid ref: 992 438

back to the track and continue on, dropping downhill. Fork right and soon rejoin the track you were on earlier. Now simply follow it on down and retrace your steps left over Gallox bridge.

There is a choice of return here: if you

don’t want to go through Dunster, take the footpath on the right, which hugs the woodland round Dunster castle and brings you back to the NT car park (NB this path was closed in the winter due to flooding).

For Dunster, carry on retracing your earlier route and just before the traffic lights, go right up the track ‘to the heart of the old village via the castle’. Pass the ticket office on the right and then turn left and come to the end of the beautiful main street. Continue up to the octagonal 16th century Yarn Market. It was built by George Luttrell, of the Luttrell family to shelter market traders and their wares from the rain.

Dunster had become a centre for woollen and clothing production by the 13th century, with the market dating back to at least 1222, and a particular kind of kersey or broadcloth became known as ‘Dunsters’.

Go on past the Luttrell Arms and reach the Visitor Centre and shop. Go down into the car park, and retrace your earlier steps by turning right to the gate in the corner which brings you back into the parkland with the NT car park below.

MENDIP TIMES • SEPTEMBER 2014 • PAGE 55

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OUTDOORS

West Countryman’s Diary

I’M sat here hoping that summer will come back again! It’s pouring with rain and the gutter is overflowing, as if to remind me that it needs attention as well. In truth, I can’t complain about the summer, it’s been wonderful but I’m getting greedy and want some more dry weather and sunshine before With LES the winter. The mornings are a little darker DAVIES MBE and the dew has been on the Land Rover windscreen and the leaves are changing colour. These things tell me that no matter what I want, autumn is on the way.

The combines have been busy working all hours to bring in the grain. These are mighty beasts with huge headers and bulk grain tanks that discharge the grain into the equally large waiting trailers. So different from the little Massey-Harris ‘bagger’ with a six-foot cut that I can remember replacing the reaper binder.

Everything was in sacks back then, and everything was carried up the stone steps into the granary on your back. Those stone steps, (without a hand rail) were worn in the middle by the countless footsteps of a couple of hundred years.

The wooden floor of the granary was pretty resilient, as it had to take the fall of bag of grain from the back, straight onto the boards. I can still remember how the whole floor would ‘spring’ back as the sack was dropped, each one would be at least 50kg, (1cwt in old money). How none of them went through the boards of that very old building into the rooms below, still remains a marvel to me, and a tribute to those who built it. All the bags were trundled into double lines by a very ancient set of sack trucks, whose iron wheels rumbled back and forth with a sound like rumbling thunder across the floor boards. The bags would be untied at the neck, and rolled down to expose the grain and allow any further cooling to take place. Temperature monitoring was simple and basic, you shoved your arm into the bag.

The building known as the ‘Meal House’ was a little more mechanised. This had a very strong upper floor, that held a lot of machinery. There was a rolling mill for barley that poured the crushed grain directly into large wooden bins on the flagstone floor below, a cake crusher for the blocks of linseed cake that were used for animal feed, a chaff cutter that dropped the cut material into a heap below, through the hole in the floor, and then there was the hoist! Now this hoist saved an awful lot of work. It consisted of a wooden ‘winch drum’ that was run by a flat belt from a shaft below.

From the winch drum up in the ceiling, a chain ran along a wooden channel to the pulley that protruded out above the large doorway. Under its own weight, the chain would drop to the ground, where it could be attached to the neck of the sack by two iron rings at the end. These held the sack firmly in very much the way a clove hitch would. The drive belt was tensioned by a ‘jockey wheel’ that was operated by a rope pull and the whole thing hoisted the sack up to the doorway where it would be pulled in and released. This system was eventually replaced by a hay elevator but it was an example of simple, yet practical engineering.

The whole building was run by a stationary engine, housed in its own room. The wooden door into the engine room was covered in prize certificates for roots, grain and fodder from the North Somerset Agricultural Society. These had been won over many

years by W.G. McEwen-Smith at Hales Farm, I still remember them, all covered in dust and half forgotten. I hope they survived somewhere. The stationary engine was a ‘Victoria’, made by the Bristol Wagon Works. There are still some of these on the vintage circuit, but this was one of only a few larger models they made. It was mounted on a wooden chassis with iron spoked wheels. A single cylinder petrol side valve engine was cooled by a cylindrical upright water tank (no radiator) and was governed at about 450 revolutions per minute (flat out).

Carrying the engine through the non-firing revolutions, were two very heavy spoked fly wheels, one of which powered the flat belt to the shaft and pulley system that drove the mill machinery, like some Lancashire cotton mill. When the farm was sold in the early 1980s, they had a heck of a job extracting this engine from its room, so tight was the fit. It’s still out there somewhere on the vintage circuit, so if anyone knows the whereabouts of this old engine from Hales Farm in Tickenham, I would be delighted to hear from them.

A little more up to date now. I have been kept busy with rough grass and slope mowing using my now well-established yellow alpine tractor. I’ve been working for Yeo Valley in Blagdon; Somerset Wildlife Trust above Cheddar Gorge and Callow Rock; Avon Wildlife Trust, crushing bracken around Dolebury Warren, as well as an annual cutting job that I undertake in an old orchard in the middle of Bath.

The mowing will normally attract the attention of a buzzard, keen to maximise on any opportunity that presents itself in the way of food. In Blagdon one such young buzzard was in attendance, and would constantly launch itself from a vantage point high in a tree in pursuit of prey that it spotted, or thought it had spotted. I have to report that much of this activity proved fruitless, but persistence was eventually rewarded. The unlucky field vole was pounced upon and the exuberant youngster set about the meal. Onto the scene comes an older bird, who with the flurry of its wings dismisses the youngster and steals the prize, the classic “Old Guys Rule” scenario!

I’ve also noticed that spiders are real opportunists and compulsive web builders, no matter what. I stop for a moment and a spider starts to spin a web between the uprights of my tractor roll bars. I’ve had other instances where I have returned to the Land Rover to find it festooned with webs, both inside and out.

For a long time I had a spider who lived behind the wing mirror of my VW van, and who retreated to the safety of the gap behind the mirror in times of danger. He was continually coming out to make repairs and wrap up the unfortunate insect that became entrapped in its web. The most disconcerting, however, is the spider that abseils down from the sun visor right in front of your face. My vehicle is somewhat akin to a wildlife haven as well.

Finally this month’s picture was taken of, and by, University of Georgia students from the USA when they came for a day out with me on Mendip. It says it all, comradeship, contentment and a feeling of well being in a wonderful landscape. Does it get any better than this?

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

PAGE 56 • MENDIP TIMES • SEPTEMBER 2014

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YEO VALLEY ‘Over the next few months Yeo Valley will be bringing you a wide selection of guest writers from different areas of the family farm. Ranging from news from the garden, the farm team, the Mead family plus many more, we’ll be sharing a little about what’s going on behind the scenes here in the valley. Happy reading!’

SARAH MAJOR

AUTHOR OF YEO VALLEY’S THE GREAT BRITISH FARMHOUSE COOKBOOK

YEO Valley is something I have grown up with alongside my brother, Tim and sister, Amanda since my father- Roger Mead started in 1961. Apart from it being a part of my childhood, endlessly talking about it and debating about what’s next within the family, we have all pulled up our sleeves to help with various things that have happened over the years. Coming from a farming background, food has always been very important to me. This is where my passion for food and for teaching others about it has come from. Clive and I have now gone back to our roots and have our very own organic farm here in the valley.

I have always been involved with Yeo Valley, not on a daily basis, but I think it’s important to keep the real heart of the company alive as it grows and more people join. This passion very much came from my father from the very beginning; with his love for farming and his pallet for people alongside really hard work and honesty. Something that I think is really important to keep as we are still very much a privately owned family business with the passion for farming and a strong belief that the only sustainable way of farming is to farm organically. Being totally responsible for our land and loving and nurturing it means that the produce is going to be great and you have the inspiration to want to cook it really well and really fresh, alongside supporting as many local and British farms and businesses as possible.

It seems crazy not to support British businesses and buy locally. As a business we buy British wherever we can for example the British blackcurrants that go into our latest Limited Edition Yeogurt; it uses less mileage, less haulage and it just makes sense. We have so much on our doorstep it seems mad to buy it from abroad. We need to preserve British farming and in turn our beautiful countryside because we need it. If we look after our soil properly and put back into the soil it becomes enriched, producing fantastic plants that are going to grow healthy, strong and full of flavour.

The basic thing is about a certain quality and it being genuine and fresh- if it tastes good and looks good then it’s going to be a winner. Taking the optimum flavour from produce which means harvesting it as close to home as possible, cooking what’s in season and enjoying it is key. It’s this message that needs to be broadcast and events like British Food Fortnight are great for this. It’s all about educating and encouraging people to try and source even just one meal from solely British produce. It’s this sort of occasion that I am really passionate about, and it is the enthusiasm of supporting and loving British food that inspired us to up the ante with the food at HQ and in the Tea Rooms at the Organic Garden, as well as producing our very own cookbook: Great British Farmhouse Cookbook.

We had been approached lots of times about various book opportunities and after conversations with Tim, he said “You are the foodie one, you should do it.” I’ve always loved the idea of doing a cookbook as it encircles everything I am passionate about, so we took on the journey and it was amazing.

With a great team of people we created a cookbook different to a lot of branded cookbooks. I felt the book did not need lots of Yeo Valley dairy products on show throughout the book but wanted to give a wider flavour of our farm and business with delicious recipes and beautiful pictures of our valley. The book is rich in colour and content and will hopefully last and be enjoyed by everyone. The whole making of the book was a fantastic experience, one that I loved and am very proud of!

For recipe inspiration and to find out more visit yeovalley.co.uk British Food Fortnight runs from 20th September to 5th October 2014

MENDIP TIMES • SEPTEMBER 2014 • PAGE 57

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MENDIP TIMES

J o bs in t h e la te s um m e r g a rd e n SUMMER might nearly be over but there is still plenty to do in the garden.

Keep dead heading to prolong the flowering period of many With MARY plants, and consider PAYNE MBE purchasing late summer flowering plants if your garden is lacking in colour.

Asters and sedums are always useful perennials, whilst Abelia, Ceratostigma, Caryopteris and Lespedeza are all shrubs that perform for this season. Dahlias and cannas should be allowed to continue until the first frosts. Bedding begonias have certainly been the stars this year, having revelled in whatever the weather has thrown at them.

Spring flowering bulbs can be purchased now, and planted straight away, with the exception of tulips which are better delayed until November. Spring flowering bulbs get the gardening year off to a cracking colourful start. Large pots crammed with tulips will make a spectacular centre piece. Tulip bulbs are considered a delicacy by badgers, so to deter them, try shaking the bulbs in a bag of hot chilli powder before planting. Mr Brock may try one bulb, but will probably think twice about returning.

Autumn raspberries should be cropping well, and may continue into November if conditions are in their favour. Apples for storing should be picked carefully avoiding bruising the fruit. Store in plastic bags with a couple of pounds per bag. Prick the bag a few times with a pin and keep in a cool place, but inspect regularly for any fruit that start developing decay.

Collect seeds of shrubs and hardy perennials as soon as they are ripe, and sow immediately. Leave the pots outside all winter to chill, and germination should take place in the spring. Cuttings of tender perennials, such as salvia, penstemon, pelargoniums and fuchsia should also be done now, but delay potting them up until the spring. Keep them on a cool, well lit windowsill or in a greenhouse over winter.

Wallflowers will be on sale this month and are best purchased on the day that they are delivered to the garden centres and should be planted immediately. They may look rough for a week or two, but have an amazing ability to survive, and PAGE 58 • MENDIP TIMES • SEPTEMBER 2014

Aster 'Sapphire'

will reward with their flower and scent next spring. Winter flowering pansies are best planted now so that they get well established before the cold weather sets in. This gives them a better chance of flowering through the winter. Bellis daisies have made a comeback in popularity in recent years, and make a change from pansies and violas. Look out for the larger flowering strains such as Habanero.

Once the tomatoes have finished it is time to give the greenhouse a good clean.

Washing the glass, both inside and out, will improve light levels for any plants that are overwintered. If bubble wrap insulation is used then that can also be put up, bearing in mind that if it is used inside the roof the light levels will be significantly reduced.

Once butterfly bushes (Buddleja davidii) have finished flowering it is a good idea to cut off the top one third of the shrub. This helps to prevent the plant being loosened by rocking in the winter storms. They can then be cut back further in the spring. A similar approach can be used for very tall roses such as ‘Queen Elizabeth’. I prefer to delay the pruning of other flowering shrubs until the spring.

It is not too late to attack unwanted weeds, especially perennial ones, such as bindweed, ground elder, couch grass and enchanter’s nightshade with a glyphosate based herbicide. One of the worst weeds to kill is horsetail. It has a coating on its stems and leaves, akin to a non-stick frying pan, so any herbicide simply runs off. To improve the effectiveness try bashing the weeds with a stick, or trample on them to crack this coating before applying the herbicide. Adding a drop of washing up liquid to the sprayer will also improve the result.

September is a great time to lavish some tender loving care on your lawn.

Raise the height of cut on the mower for a start. A good scarify to remove “thatch”, may leave the lawn looking worse to start with but it will soon recover. If the grass gets a lot of wear and compaction then aerating it will have huge benefits. For small lawns a garden fork can be used. Push the fork in for a good four inches, then remove and repeat at six inch intervals. It is rather tedious but worthwhile. For larger lawns an aerator that removes plugs can be hired, or there are several companies, specialising in lawn care, who will do it for you. This should be followed by applying a dressing of top soil brushed in to fill the holes left by the aerator plugs.

Finally an autumn feed and moss killer, high in potash, will prepare the grass for the winter. Moss may not be too much of a problem after this hot summer but shaded areas may still suffer. Try to reduce the shade by removing the lower branches of overhanging trees if this is possible. As the autumn leaves start to fall collect them from the lawn by mowing. This will shred the leaves, mix them with the grass clippings and make better compost.

Last but not least, take time to visit the gardens that are still open at this time of year. Think how hard the owners have had to work to keep the garden going through all the hot and dry weather. Be inspired by what plants are still putting on a show, and make a note to buy some for your garden for next year. A huge thank you to all those who visited my garden this year. A sum of £1,300 was raised for the many charities supported by the National Gardens Scheme.

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SEPTEMBER GARDEN TIPS

G Plant shady borders and areas under large shrubs with small flowered Crocus, Scilla, Anemone blanda, Snowdrops and English Bluebells, (don’t plant Spanish bluebells as they may hybridise with our own native bluebells).

G Try growing a few bulbs, other than the proverbial Hyacinths, in pots for the house. It is much easier than you might imagine! Dwarf Irises aren’t often grown but are very easy if they have good drainage. There are masses of dwarf Tulips and Daffodils to try! Probably the easiest are Tulip ‘Red Riding Hood’ and ‘Hearts Delight’. For Daffodils try ‘Tete a Tete’ or ‘Jet Fire’.

G Remember to use bulb fibre rather than potting compost if the pots you use have no drainage holes.

Make certain that the bulbs have made plenty of roots and that you can feel the flower bud in the shoot protruding out of the bulb before you bring them into warmth.

G Pot up prepared Hyacinths to get them in flower for Christmas. Get them potted this month unless you are happy to have them in flower in January. Try some in water filled glass jars!

G Gladioli corms of the non-hardy type (the majority) should be lifted, dried off and stored in a frost free place. The small corms that form around the base are probably best discarded as they can take several years to reach flowering size.

Courtesy Cleeve Nursery

GARDENING

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

Cleeve Nursery & Box Tree Café Your Independent Garden Centre with great advice and home grown plants!

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

Wrington Road, Congresbury BS49 5AN Tel: 01934 876337 www.middlecombenursery.co.uk

Cleeve Nursery & Box Tree Café, Cleeve, Bristol BS49 4PW Tel 01934 832134 Email info@cleevenursery.co.uk cleevenursery.co.uk/blog/ www.cleevenursery.co.uk MENDIP TIMES • SEPTEMBER 2014 • PAGE 59

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NGS GARDEN OF THE MONTH

Midney Gardens

THIS has been an ‘early year’ with the seasons, its crops and plants seemingly rushing forward to flower and to seed. At the same time, what treats we have been experiencing with unusual combinations of plants in bloom at the same time.

September, with its fruits, seeds and beautiful colours is a particularly lovely time of year at Midney Gardens, Somerton with the developing autumn colours, swathes of grasses and layers of planting creating some lovely vistas and a real feeling of abundance. I’m sure the year promises some surprises in this season as in all the others.

At Midney Gardens you can see something different – a garden which contains innovative planting combinations and really accessible design ideas which could be used in any garden. Laid out as a series of interlinked areas it combines beautiful colour themes, interesting features and quirky touches!

In addition to the various areas in the plantsman’s garden, the kitchen garden is both productive and beautiful and the new woodland walk and wildlife pond are really establishing well, providing an area of natural interest and beauty.

Midney Gardens is increasingly becoming known as a wildlife friendly garden attracting a wide variety of insects, butterflies, moths and birds, all beautiful to see in this garden – truly in harmony with its surroundings.

NGS opening details: Friday September 19th, 11am to 5pm.

Other Openings: The plant nursery and the tearoom are open between 11am and 5pm on Thursdays, Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays until October 26th.

Admission: £3.50, children free.

Contact Information: David Chase and Alison Hoghton, Telephone: 01458 274250, Email: davidandalison@midneygardens.co.uk Website: www.midneygardens.co.uk Mill Lane, Midney, Somerton, TA11 7HR. Other Gardens Open for the NGS To see more gardens open for the NGS, see The Yellow Book, or Local County Leaflet, soon to be available from local Garden Centres. Or go to: http://www.ngs.org.uk

PAGE 60 • MENDIP TIMES • SEPTEMBER 2014

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GARDENING

Clutton Flower Show

Clutton Horticultural Society ran the tea tent

Farrington Young Farmers ran the beer tent

Lisa Fraser dressed for the occasion and is pictured with granddaughter Brooke Delaney, aged four

Preparing for the dog show

Anna Pedelty, aged seven, having her face painted by Rose Mays, who was raising money for church funds

Hitching a ride

Mike Horler showed a collection of old tools and curios MENDIP TIMES • SEPTEMBER 2014 • PAGE 61

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MENDIP TIMES

ROCKY MOUNTAIN NURSERY

Gardens of delight

GARDENING

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COME & SEE OUR FINE RANGE OF HOUSE PLANTS, SHRUBS, PERENNIALS AND CLIMBERS

Visit our ROCK CAKE CAFE Full menu of home cooked food available, 7 days a week Breakfast, Lunch & Afternoon Tea and Traditional Sunday Roast NOW FULLY LICENSED

See our website for more details www.rockymountainnursery.co.uk ALL YOUR GARDENING NEEDS – SET IN 12 WONDERFUL ACRES

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< Beautiful, practical gardens < Inspiring planting < High quality hard landscaping < Treehouses and other structures < We aim to exceed your expectations

Please contact us to arrange a free consultation Alistair Barlow Mobile: 07971 264261 Tel: 01373 812031 Website: www.lowarth.com

Stump Grinding and Wood Chipping Services throughout the South West

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

Tel: 01934 710135 • Mob: 07799 014639 PAGE 62 • MENDIP TIMES • SEPTEMBER 2014

DAVID Preston of Glebelands was the winner of Westfield’s first annual front garden competition, with a stunning display of colour and variety. The competition was judged by Kevin Connell, Head of Landbased Studies at Norton Radstock College.

The chairman of Westfield Parish Council, Geoff Fuller, who is pictured making the presentation, said: “There are so many beautiful gardens on display throughout Westfield, we wanted to celebrate them.”

The council said it would like to thank Norton Green Nursery and Norton Radstock College for their kind support of the competition.

Clippings help fight cancer

LOCAL gardeners are being encouraged to save their yew hedge clippings to turn them into a cancer beating drug.

After a gap of a few years Cleeve Nursery is a collection centre again for yew clippings. The clippings are bought from Cleeve Nursery by Friendship Estates of Doncaster and the revenue generated will be given by Cleeve to Cancer Research UK. Cleeve can store clippings for a short while in their large cool potting shed and collection by Friendship Estates will be from mid-August through until early October.

Clippings should be current season’s growth – preferably cut onto sheets in order to keep them free from stones, soil, other leaves etc.

Details: Clippings can be taken to Cleeve Nursery, Cleeve, Bristol, BS49 4PW immediately.

Tel 01934 832134.

PERFECT PAVE LTD Patios B l o ck Pa vi n g D ri v e w a y s

t: 01934 740163

www.perfectpave.com

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MENDIP TIMES

BROWNES GARDEN CENTRE

Come and relax in our Coffee Shop and then select from our large selection of container grown shrubs, roses and perennials Huge selection of terracotta and glazed pots plus all your garden sundry requirements

Spring flowering bulbs now in stock

Open 9–5:30pm Mon–Sat 10–5pm Sun Coffee Shop 10.30-4pm Tues—Sun

GLASTONBURY ROAD WELLS. TEL 01749 673050

PAGE 64 • MENDIP TIMES • SEPTEMBER 2014

GARDENING

Blooming marvellous

NAILSEA Summer Show attracted over 450 people to its new venue in the atrium of Nailsea School where visitors were able to examine top quality exhibits of flowers, fruit and veg as well as art, crafts, cookery and photographs.

The show spilled over into two classrooms in order to accommodate the 150 classes, but there was still room for several craft stalls, a tombola and a book sale. Pictured are Graham Mizen with the Thatchers Cup he won for most points in the flower section and William Summerfield, aged three, with his prize winning picture and cup.

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CAVING

Cave access

THE Council of Southern Caving Clubs is the body which looks after the interests of cavers in the South West. It has always had, as one of its main purposes, the negotiation and maintenance of access to caves for all bona fide cavers.

It can therefore come as a surprise to some With PHILIP when they find the cave they intend to visit is HENDY gated and locked. Caves are not gated on a whim, and there will always be a good reason why certain caves are not left wide open.

One consideration will be public safety. Passers-by must be protected from open shafts, and so caves and mines with such entrances are generally locked, especially in areas frequented by the public, such as the Blackmoor area of Charterhouse.

It is also important that livestock, dogs and other animals do not inadvertently fall in. Some walk-in caves can quickly become hazardous with sudden drops or be liable to flash flooding, so again, cavers have installed gates.

The cave itself may need protecting from inexperienced people, cavers or otherwise. The conservation message sadly has not reached all so-called cavers, and many beautifully-decorated caves have been locked so that a record can be kept of visitors. For some caves, it is too late. Other sites may have archaeological deposits or be protected bat roosts. These must also be kept secure.

Anomalies exist. In Burrington Coombe, Aveline’s Hole by the roadside, and Sidcot Swallet and Goatchurch Cavern in the West Twin Brook Valley, have always been open, and although they are popular with novice groups, problems are very rare. In fact only one cave in the Coombe is gated, and that is a bat roost. There is a gate at Aveline’s Hole, but it is deep inside, to protect some ancient wall engravings. Most would agree that a gate at the entrance would be an eyesore.

An interesting cave entrance structure is the blockhouse at Swildon’s Hole. Constructed in 1967 by the farmer Albert Maine, and Bertie Weeks, this circular building has a triangular hole in the floor, down which cavers drop to enter the cave. A fee of a shilling (five pence) was payable to the farmer, and Albert would lock the cave at night.

More than one caver seeking to avoid payment was locked in overnight, but Albert was more concerned with safety than the money, which in fact was donated to the church. Before 1968,

Longwood Swallet blockhouse

Ali Moody by Charterhouse Cave gate

Swildon’s Hole was more flood-prone than it is now, and the route to the lower depths lay down the notorious Forty Foot Pot, which could be impossible to climb in high water conditions. If Albert feared that heavy rain was on its way, he would not open the cave that day. The cave is now unlocked, though a goodwill fee still applies.

One consideration will be ensuring that the cave entrance is safe, and beyond the gate, the first part of the cave may well be stabilised with cemented stones or grout. Some caves are entered by descending concrete pipes, which will be set on solid rock with the space around them backfilled. Sometimes the upper pipe projects above the surface – this helps to prevent accidental descents and the influx of mud.

Access to locked caves is generally possible for bona fide cavers. Many Mendip caves are controlled on behalf of landowners by the Council of Southern Caving Clubs, and the constituent member clubs each hold keys. These are for their own use, and may be borrowed (on leaving a suitable deposit against safe return) by visiting clubs and cavers.

The Charterhouse area is different, in that caves here were all once on land controlled by either Axbridge Rural District Council, or by Bristol Waterworks. A group of the main Mendip caving clubs negotiated and controlled access, calling themselves the Charterhouse Caving Committee. When control of the land was handed to Somerset Wildlife Trust, more formality was required, and the Committee evolved into the Charterhouse Caving Company.

The member clubs hold and issue keys, though permits are required and there are rules for most of the caves which include a limited party size, no novice cavers, and the use of electric lighting only. These are sensible restrictions, as some of the caves have vulnerable formations, and require a degree of experience to explore safely.

Some caves are owned or controlled by individual cavers or by clubs. Not all are locked, and in general access is easy to arrange, although some require leaders, who know their way around complicated caves, and are responsible for ensuring that the impact on the cave by visitors is minimised.

The system seems complicated, but most cavers have little trouble in gaining access to the gated caves they wish to explore.

Keys are held at all of the local clubs with headquarters on the hill, and several cavers who live in the area are happy to issue keys on reasonable demand. The recent guide book ‘Mendip Underground’ describes most of Mendip’s caves and gives details of access arrangements, so gated or not, it is not difficult to explore our caves.

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.

MENDIP TIMES • SEPTEMBER 2014 • PAGE 65

Photograph by Phil Hendy

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(Photo courtesy of Paul Grogan)

Food bank launched in Frome

Guests at the launch of Fair Frome at the Silk Mill in Frome

MORE than 200 people attended the launch of the Fair Frome Project, which also saw the official opening of the town’s own Food Bank.

As well as the food bank, Fair Frome is working on other schemes including Community Dining, The Washing Project and the Kitchen Utensil Project.

Peter MacFadyen, the Mayor of Frome, who has chosen Fair Frome as one of his charities of the year, said: “We shouldn’t be here, this is a rich country and a rich town, so it is shocking that we need Fair Frome, but we clearly do.

I am proud of the fact that the initial Frome Town Council meeting has led us to the establishment of this charity, this launch event, (some) funding, and projects being delivered in such a short time.”

G Food items can be donated at Asda and Sainsbury’s in the town, the Co-operative stores in the Westway Precinct and Culverhill, Frome Wholefoods and Tesco Express or direct to Fair Frome at 5, Palmer Street, Frome, on Mondays, Tuesdays and Thursdays between 10ammidday.

For more information about Fair Frome, please contact info@fairfrome.org

Stay warm this winter

THE Community Council for Somerset (CCS) has been awarded funding from the ScottishPower Energy People Trust to work with families in Somerset to ensure they are prepared for the winter months and the higher cost of their energy bills.

The new project titled Somerset Warmer Homes (SWF) will be holding events throughout the coming months to promote the project and encourage people to think about what changes they can make to save both energy and money.

Andrew Govier, the SWF project co-ordinator said: “One in three people could not afford to adequately heat their homes last winter and 29 per cent had to turn the heating down or off, or only heat part of their homes. The number of households unable to heat the living areas of their homes is at a record high.”

Details: http://somersetrcc.org.uk/somerset-warmerfamilies/ or email: Andrew@somersetrcc.org.uk

PAGE 66 • MENDIP TIMES • SEPTEMBER 2014

Fore-ever – golf day for cancer charity

(l:r): Roger Windley, Frank Collins, Zoe Tainton, Jordan Laurence, Peter Rumming and Keith McLeod

MORE than 140 golfers competed in a competition organised by the Lions Club of Frome to raise fund for the Forever Friends Appeal to build a new cancer centre at the Royal United Hospital in Bath.

A total £5,500 was raised by the 36 teams of four players towards the appeal’s target of £8.5 million. The total cost of the project is more than £17m.

Keith McLeod, chairman of the Lions club golf committee, said: “Our club are thrilled to help such a worthy local cause; not only will our efforts help to build this new cancer centre which is much needed to replace the old shabby facilities, the project will help patients, relatives and friends relax in a far better environment, they deserve. The Golf Day was a huge success.”

The competition was held at Orchardleigh Golf Club near Frome. The winner of the Team Stableford was Mogers Solicitors; runner-up was NatWest Bank.

Zoe Tainton, Community Fundraiser for the Forever Friends Appeal, said: “The fantastic amount raised will bring us one step closer to making our dreams come true. We are very excited to bring a new pioneering cancer centre to over half a million residents in the South-West. We want to replace the outdated facilities which are over seventy years old and be able to welcome our patients and their families into a holistic building, which will provide a soothing and relaxing environment they deserve.”

To find out more about the RUH’s plans to build a new cancer centre, visit: www.foreverfriendsappeal.co.uk

Charity raises over £160,000

WESTON Rotary Club held their 18th Charity Golf Day at Weston Golf Club, with 45 teams, raising £10,000 on the day, pushing the total raised since 1997 to more than £160,000. The prize-giving was conducted by Weston Club Captain Roy Schubert and Weston Rotary President Terry Gilbert.

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Ageing well – how to do it

AGEING well is something we’d all like to do, but it requires a little bit of work – the Age UK Somerset Ageing Well programme starts again in September and includes exercise classes and activities across Somerset and North Somerset.

There are over 60 regular sessions across the region, attended by around 1,500 people, ranging from chair-based exercises to yoga and Tai Chi. Besides the obvious health benefits of attending a physical activity, these sessions are also an opportunity to get out and meet people.

David Roberts attends the Age UK Somerset EXTEND Movement to Music class in Somerton every Monday morning and says that it helps keep a spring in his step. David, who was a full-time carer for his wife until recently, found out about the class at his local carers group.

He said: “I find the class really beneficial. I have had heart trouble in the past and had to attend a Cardiac Rehab class but I find this is just the right mix of fun, movement and friendship.

It keeps me feeling a little more energetic.”

Class members at yoga stretch and flex also report feeling the benefit of attending regular sessions. Recent studies have found that 20 minutes of yoga is better for boosting brain activity than vigorous exercise and improves memory, speed and focus, which is good news for older people.

Marion Radbourne, who recently underwent treatment for a diagnosis of breast cancer has found that her weekly yoga class is one of the things she missed most. She believes it has contributed to her positive response to the treatment.

She said: “I am so sure that yoga has made a huge difference to the way that I am feeling and the quick recovery I am experiencing. I couldn’t wait to finish the treatment, get to back to normal and go back to yoga as soon as I can, sitting around doing nothing drives me potty.”

For full information of classes in Somerset and North Somerset visit www.ageuksomerset.org.uk, call Di Ramsay on 0845 643 4702 or email Dianne.ramsay@ageuksomerset.org.uk

Aid for food bank

MEMBERS of the Rotary Club of Mendip recently assisted Cheddar Valley Food Bank volunteers by receiving food and cash donations at Budgens in Cheddar.

Rotary president, Mike Hiles, said: “As well as helping with the collection, we helped raise awareness of the need of local families in crisis.”

French connection

CHARITIES Mark and Nic's team enjoying the finish!

TWELVE avid cyclists have completed a challenging 300mile tour from London to Paris to raise much-needed funds for Weston HospiceCare.

One of the riders, Nicolette Bracey, of Axbridge, said: “Taking part was one of the most memorable experiences of my life! We became friends with another group of people that were fundraising for the hospice and, despite being quite a diverse range of ages, we all gelled together really well and took on the challenge as a big team!

“The support from the general public was fantastic – even now thinking back to people beeping their horns and cheering for us gives me shivers. Everyone we met on the trip now knows about the work that Weston HospiceCare does and we are definitely going to do a load more stuff to raise awareness for and support our local hospice.”

The ride has raised more than £20,000.

Co-op boosts charity

GEORGE Donkin, president of Radstock Cooperative Society, presented a cheque for £1,100 to Mary Taylor, director, Positive Action on Cancer.

The co-op’s shareholders , selected PAC as one of two main charities to support this year.

The charity provides free, professional counselling to anyone affected or bereaved by cancer or other life threatening illness. This includes any family, friends and carers as well as patients.

Mary Taylor said: “It is wonderful to receive local support from a local organisation, this funding will enable us to deliver more counselling sessions to the many individuals who need our help.”

MENDIP TIMES • SEPTEMBER 2014 • PAGE 67

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Fete aids charities

CHEQUES were recently presented to Wizzybug (Designability) and World Waterworks (Water Survival Boxes) at a special presentation at Yeo Valley’s headquarters in Blagdon.

Some £3,891 was raised at the annual church and village fete, held once again in the beautiful gardens of Blagdon Court, by kind permission of the Mead family. The village church also received a donation, as well as the charities.

Pictured (left to right) are Tina Smith (chairman of the fete committee), Katie Tanner and Emma Andrews from Wizzybugs, Hugo Pike, World Waterworks, and Mrs. Sarah Mead.

Rotary club closes

Enjoying the sun

Pictured (left to right) South West Fundraising manager, Susie McCallum, Alan Morris, Bettina Cohn, Ann Morris, Cynthia Castle, Jean Owen and Bridget Gracey, with Joan Barnes and Liz Balmforth seated in the front.

THE Chew Valley Branch of Arthritis Research UK (ARUK) raised £386 with a coffee morning and sale in the garden of Liz Balmforth in Bishop Sutton.

Organiser, Mrs Jean Owen, said: "The weather was very kind to us, and everyone enjoyed two very convivial hours sitting in the sunshine in Liz’s lovely garden, catching up with friends and neighbours.

“Liz has hosted this event for five years now and the committee is very grateful for her kindness. It continues the tradition begun

by Peter and Celia Handley.”

Runners show a lot of heart Runners in the L&F Jones charity event at the Centurion Health Club

Clevedon Rotary's last president, Judith West, is pictured with liaison officer, Jim Perrett, and Crossroads Carers representative, Mark Merchant

THE Rotary Club of Clevedon has closed after 77 years, with a final round of £4,000 worth of donations, made at the Hawthorns, to Springboard, Crossroads Carers, Clevedon Community Centre, Clevedon Inner Wheel, YMCA, the Lions and the Breast Cancer Unit Support Trust.

However, two of the most recent popular events organised by the club will continue. The annual public speaking competition for Key Stage 1 and 2 pupils will be organised by the Clevedon Inner Wheel and the Christmas Tree of Light, which raises money for charity in memory of loved ones, will continue in the Baptist Church under the auspices of the Clevedon Lions.

The club said: “It is a sad decision to make to end the club but members past and present thank the people of Clevedon for their support over 77 years.”

PAGE 68 • MENDIP TIMES • SEPTEMBER 2014

COLLEAGUES at the Centurion Health Club in Midsomer Norton were joined by 90 runners for a 5km charity fun run in aid of the British Heart Foundation.

The event, which was started by local running champion John Reynolds, saw runners chase a giant heart around four laps of the perimeter of Fosseway golf course! A fundraising coffee morning took place at the same time. The total raised was £1,750.00 The British Heart Foundation is L&F Jones’s charity of the year and one that is close to both Mike Rumble, assistant manager at the health club, and John.

Mike said: “I would like to thank everyone who took part and who donated a cake for the coffee morning. Also, I want to give a big thank you to John Reynolds for starting the race. It was a superb day!”

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Choral singers become charity ambassadors

Shoebox appeal

CHARITIES

Polly Baker (far right) with the other members of Celeste

MEMBERS of a top choral girl group featuring four former pupils of Wells Cathedral School have become ambassadors for a national charity which helps bereaved children.

Celeste will be supporting the Winston’s Wish charity which each year supports more than 30,000 bereaved children and young people through a range of services. The in-depth support programmes include support following death as a result of accident, illness, murder, manslaughter, suicide and also through military service.

The connection with Winston’s Wish is particularly poignant for former Wells Head Chorister Polly Baker, whose father died when she was 15. Fellow Celeste members Nell and Cat were boarders at the school and Nikki and Polly were day girls and best friends.

Fifth member Milly was a chorister at Salisbury and sang in a choral ensemble with Nell.

Polly said: “We are all really excited about getting involved with such an amazing charity. Winston’s Wish is doing such fantastic and very creative work with children and teenagers who are facing life without a parent or a brother or sister and we really want to support that work in any way that we can.”

The singers say they are particularly keen to get involved in the charity’s teenage music groups, where bereaved young people write and play music as a way of exploring and expressing difficult feelings. They have also expressed an interest in performing at the charity’s family oriented events, where music plays an important role in celebrating and remembering loved ones. Polly and the girls recently spent a day with the Winston’s Wish team, learning about the charity and their programmes of support and meeting some of the beneficiaries in person.

Celeste on their visit to the charity For more information about the charity, visit: www.winstonswish.org.uk

MERCY In Action’s Christmas shoebox appeal has started at its shop in Peasedown St John. The charity has been working with street children and families living in poverty in the Philippines for nearly 20 years and opened the shop in Peasedown nearly four years ago.

They run two children’s homes, a community drop-incentre and a schooling programme that sponsors 400 children to attend school. The vast majority of funding for these projects comes from their chain of charity shops around Bath and elsewhere.

Completed shoeboxes need to be handed into the Mercy in Action charity shop, Peasedown, by the end of August so they can be shipped overseas. Manager Mike Smith is pictured with Jessica Cox, from tReds, Bath, which has donated boxes.

Details: Mercy In Action, Bath Road, Peasedown, 01761 568317; main office 01225 443600 or visit their website www.mercyinaction.org.uk

Charity marathon

CHELWOOD Bridge Rotary is organising Marafun South West at Chew Valley School on Sunday September 14th, with teams sharing the task of completing the 26.2-mile course.

Alongside the race there will be a family fun-day with attractions for young and old to enjoy, so runners can take along their families to cheer them on and have fun.

All proceeds will go to local charities.

Details: www.chelwoodbridgerotary.com or www.marafun.org

MENDIP TIMES • SEPTEMBER 2014 • PAGE 69

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How to get the most from your GP – part three

Show your GP anything apart from your teeth Take notes in your consultation or ask if you can record it on your phone. Most people forget most of what was said the minute they walk out the door. You can take a friend too.

Think about what your goals are and ask how likely your treatment is to help you achieve them. If you share in decisions about your care, you’re likely to get better care that’s right for you.

By Dr PHIL To make a good choice, you must let your doctor know your hopes HAMMOND and fears, what matters most to you and what you must avoid. You also need t know the risks and benefits of the possible treatments.

At the end of every consultation, check: What is my main problem?, What do I need to do? Why is it important for me to do this? What if it doesn’t get better?

What if I don’t get on with my GP? Healthcare works best when patients, carers and staff all feel part of the same team, working towards the same goals. If you don’t get on with your GP, see another. You are entitled to, and it will benefit you both in the long term. If you find a GP you get on with, stick with him or her for keeps. A great GP is the best chance you have of getting great NHS care. He or she will protect you from unnecessary tests and referrals, but refer you to hospital when you really need it. And you will work as a team, take control of as much of your health as you can, feedback, check you’re getting the right care and speak up if you have any concerns.

What if I do get on with my GP? Don’t keep it a secret. Letting everyone in the team who’s cared for you know they did a great job, and why, is a powerful way of boosting job satisfaction and making sure they keep going in very tough working conditions. Telling your friends and family, and posting your feedback on a public site such as Patient Opinion or I Want Great Care is very helpful in guiding other patients to great care. Thanks to Trip Advisor, you don’t see many hotel baths with pubic hair around the plughole.

Going public with your feedback s a great way of supporting the NHS and letting the world know its far better than the Daily Mail would have us all believe. And if you want to know what my patients think of me, go to http://iwgc.net/ecpu9

This is an extract from Dr Phil’s new book Staying Alive – How To Survive The NHS – more next month. Dr Phil’s Saturday Surgery is on BBC Radio Bristol every Saturday morning from 9am–12noon PAGE 70 • MENDIP TIMES • SEPTEMBER 2014

Could dragons save the world?

CONVERSATIONS can wander along weird and wonderful paths with children.

Oftentimes I am guilty of not spending enough time in conversation. Breakfast time is rushed - we are trying to leave the house on time.

After school we are rushing to activities or rushing home following a long day at work and after-school club.

Bedtime is rushed because I am anxious that youngest son or middle child will not get enough sleep to enable them to concentrate the next day. Weekends and sport, birthday parties, shopping and exhaustion seem to leave little time for verbal exchanges.

Our summer holiday allows us just a little time to re-discover the lost art of conversation. Youngest son is keen to understand what makes his parents tick.

He repeatedly asks me questions like: “Mum if you could drive any car what would it be?”

And I reply: “I don’t mind, as long as it gets me from A to B.” This is not an appropriate response and I don’t blame him when he tries again a short time later.

“C’mon mum, if you could drive any car what would it be?”

And I reply: “Ok, it would be a graphite-grey Alpha Romeo or maybe a Fiat 500 in a funky shade.”

“Mum, I’ll buy you one when I’m older,” he says.

Another question is asked: “Mum if you could be any animal, what would you be?” I feel I can engage with this question.

“I would be a dolphin, swimming the oceans with my dolphin family.”

And then I ask him the same question in return, after all isn’t conversation is a two- way process?

“I would be a dragon.”

“But a dragon isn’t a real animal,” I challenge him.

“Yes it is. I am talking about a Komodo dragon like the one in James Bond. It is awesome.”

“So you want to be a predatory lizard?”

Clearly, a benign dolphin is not his animal of choice after all he is his own person.

“No mum, I just want to be a good predator that saves the world.”

I think that sounds like a super power.

MENDIP MUM

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HEALTH & FAMILY Open Morning on Saturday 13th September from 10.00–12.00

castle cary

Wells

Wedmore

clifton

01963 351993

01749 670079

01934 710220

00117 973 4464

AcAciA cOURT APARTMENTS Located within walking distance of cheddar’s amenities, the Acacia court luxury one- and two-bedroomed apartments are situated in lovely surroundings with views of cheddar Gorge. in close proximity to the newly-developed Greenhill House care Home, you will have access to all the on-site facilities there including hairdressers and shop, as well as the option to take part in a varied activity programme. You can retain your independence and the privacy of your own home, whilst benefiting from the security and peace of mind of knowing that support is available – now or in the future. e luxury apartments are spacious and light, with well-equipped kitchens and shower rooms.

Prices from £169,950.

To find out more contact RODERICK THOMAS ESTATE AGENTS 01934 710220 www.somersetcare.co.uk

MENDIP TIMES • SEPTEMBER 2014 • PAGE 71

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HEALTH & FAMILY

Part of the family

A Real Alternative

What We Offer

Bluebird Care offers a realistic cost-effect alternative to residential care. We can provide all the support you need whilst you tay in familiar surroundings, close to all the people and possessions that matter the most to you.

We offer everything from domestic support and personal care to social visits and shopping trips. We also offer overnight and live-in care.

Everything you need to stay in the comfort and security of your home.

COURT House is a family run business and has been since it started 28 years ago. The aim was to create somewhere with a homely atmosphere and everyone that visits agrees that this is still the case.

Residents all bring their own furniture, staff don’t wear uniforms and the walls are not covered in notice boards.

There are activities laid on such as a pianist who plays weekly, themed suppers arranged and visits to the local pub for lunch.

Residents are by no means expected to join in, they have the choice – which is also the case with all aspects of their daily living.

The superb location of Court House means that residents have wonderful views over the Mendip Hills and are also able to enjoy its village location, meaning that they can continue to be part of the local community.

COURT HOUSE R E TI R E M E N T H O M E C H E D D A R

Accommodation available now with full en-suite Court House is a very special place to live, the very fact that it is made up of different areas of accommodation adds to its attraction. e Main House with gracious large rooms with full en-suite looking out onto different aspects and personalized with Resident’s own furniture and pictures etc. A spacious Drawing Room with doors to a covered veranda and patio area leading onto lawns and flower beds. e Courtyard which has lovely vaulted accommodation with full en-suite and cleverly concealed kitchenettes where Residents can make a cup of tea or a snack for themselves or their guests and small raised gardens so that the people living there may, if they so wish plant and tend their own flowers. e lovely cottage accommodation full of character with a large Victorian style conservatory looking towards St. Andrews Church and doors opening out from a lovely sitting room to a tranquil garden.

Putting all of this together with the very special care given by dedicated staff that respect and give privacy and dignity to all who live here, you can see why people who come to live at Court House are so happy to have found this very special place.

Respite Care also available

“One of the most beautiful and well kept retirement homes I’ve ever seen”.

– e Photographer

Please contact Chris Dando 01934 742131 Website: www.courthouseretirementhome.co.uk PAGE 72 • MENDIP TIMES • SEPTEMBER 2014

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FITNESS & LIFESTYLE

Fit for a purpose

Making an effort

Mona Christensen in her Functional Fitness Forever studio in Wells

PERSONAL trainer and nutritional adviser Mona Christensen is a firm believer that people who want to improve their fitness and health should be motivated by having a purpose.

That applies to people who want to lose weight or improve their muscle tone to grandparents who want to enjoy time with their grandchildren. It is also just as relevant to sportsmen and women such as rugby players.

Hence the name of her business based in Wells: Functional Fitness Forever. As well as offering a health and fitness studio for individuals and classes, Mona will visit people in their homes for onetwo-one sessions.

The studio is unlike many people’s impressions of gyms; it’s calming and no loud music is pumping out. Mona said: “People come here who may

not like gyms because they can be a little scary and intimidating.”

Mona added: “I decided Wells would be the ideal location for Functional Fitness Forever and the response has been very good.”

Benjamin Palmer, who runs Wells Chiropractic and Osteopathy Centre, sends patients to see Mona as part of their rehabilitation programme but others come because they’re worried about their weight.

Mona added: “I always try to get clients to set their own goals when they come to see me; it makes it purposeful.”

Nutrition plays a huge part in people’s wellbeing, said Mona, who went through a period of being overweight herself before deciding to do something about it: “I’m no fan of faddy diets and the like; I know the pitfalls.”

Mendip Times reduces travel costs

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

WELLBEING and fitness can play a big part in one’s life when trying to find that special someone. How you look and appear to a new partner is just as necessary as how you appear to yourself.

We all want to feel attractive and perhaps improve on appearance, lifestyle and have better health and wellbeing.It can be a personal issue when some clients feel that they do not need to make a change.

Caroline Crowther offer a few gentle hints, suggesting that just a few little ‘tweaks’ can make all the difference.

They suggest to gents that dressing up rather than dressing down is good, and the ladies like to see someone who has made an effort. One client in his 60s asked what he should wear and when they replied informal and casual, he turned up in his shell suit and baseball cap!

The lady he was meeting was a pearl and twin-set sort of lady! That certainly did not gel!They try to advise the ladies too that an up-to-date hairstyle and just a little bit of lip gloss can work and men are always pleased to see that the lady has made an effort.It is not all about appearance though and fitness and a healthy lifestyle is important for a feel-good factor – walking or sport with someone new is a great way to share an interest or to get into something you may not have considered.

So join a gym, take up golf or take a gentle walk with a dog – it can be a great way to keep trim and even meet someone new!

Help is at hand

DO you suffer from hearing or sight loss? Either of these can be very distressing and isolating and many people think that they will never improve their situation – that is until they meet professionals from DeafPLUS and VisonPLUS. The Chew Valley area’s village agents are organising an event which will allow people to try out new solutions that are changing lives every day and say there’s no need to be isolated anymore.

Go along for a light lunch and a chat about your individual needs. The event is being held on Tuesday September 16th, 2pm – 4pm, at the Conygre Hall, North Road, Timsbury, Bath, BA2 0JQ. Details: Call 01275 333700 if you would like more information or require transport to this event.

LOOKING FOR THAT SPECIAL SOMEONE? Caroline Crowther is a truly local personal introduction agency helping you meet someone new in your area. We offer a long term personal service until you find your perfect match.

For a professional and personal service call 0800 056 3179 or 01934 744788 MENDIP TIMES • SEPTEMBER 2014 • PAGE 73

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MENDIP TIMES Lessons

Health benefits of riding

Taster Lesson £10 (Adult or Child come and have a try at Riding) Show Jump, Flat Work or Cross Country Training on your own horse/pony from £15 per 1hr Groups Most Saturdays and some Sundays Riding School Lessons £25

Try something new or just brush off the cobwebs and remember the wonderful time in years gone by you had getting in the saddle. In association with Sport England and e British Equestrian Federation. Hill Farm Equestrian is very proud to be offering a seven week course “Take Back the Reins” – this has been designed specifically for those wanting to find a little “me time” – e sessions will not only include riding, but also enjoying a coffee with fellow participants each week – £20 per week. Enquiries now being taken for New Courses starting throughout September.

Livery DIY, Part, Full, Schooling & Holiday Livery available.

Purpose built stable yard and New American Barn style stables.

Fantastic facilities including – 2 x All Weather Arenas, Show Jump Paddock with XC Jumps, Wash Box, Meeting Room, Tuck Shop, Saddlery Goods for sale, Free Lorry/ Trailer Parking.

Reduced Price Lessons. Plus other excellent facilities.

British Horse Society Approved Riding School & Livery Yard (Highest Rating) Local Authority Licensed Riding School Hill Farm Equestrian, Hill Farm, Burtle, Bridgwater, Somerset TA7 8NB 01278 723415 or 07891 555151 or 07977 122047 Hillfarmequestrian.com or hillfarmequestrian@hotmail.co.uk

HILL Farm Equestrian, Burtle, have been running Take back the Reins, a riding course designed to offer beginners and lapsed riders the chance to get in the saddle and enjoy the health benefits of riding.

Riding is a sport, but is also an enjoyable social pastime.

Interaction with horses has been proven to reduce stress levels; it is also well known that riding can help people suffering from depression; it has the same anti-depressant effects, similar to a “runners high”, and is associated with a drop in stress hormones.

Riding is an experience that can be shared with family members and friends, and there are always new friends to be made, especially if riding in a group.

Being outdoors soaking up the fresh air is a great feeling.

Whilst riding, muscles are being toned – it definitely is a pleasurable form of exercise without actually exercising.

Riding simply is ME TIME. Everyone needs a little of this in their lives.

If you would like to take up riding for social, health, or sport benefits, Hill Farm can offer one-to-one lessons with their caring, confident staff, on very safe and well-schooled horses/ponies.

Your local health and fitness coach

PERSONAL training is available with Sally Kingston in your own home, an outside space, or in the gym at Churchill Sports Centre. Training can be on a one-to-one basis, with a friend, or in a small group.

She can design an exercise programme just for you, provide nutritional advice and the motivational support to help you achieve your goals, whether this is fat loss, toning up, or training for a specific event or sport, e.g. rugby, cricket, golf, tennis, or hockey.

Give her a call to arrange an initial consultation, which is free and is with no obligation. Sally is also a tennis coach at Churchill Sports Centre. Call her for further information.

OFFER – Claim a free 30 minute personal training session when you quote her MT advert – valid until September 30th.

PAGE 74 • MENDIP TIMES • SEPTEMBER 2014

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FITNESS & LIFESTYLE

Help is at hand

THERE are times in most people’s lives when they feel unable to cope. It is not unusual to feel depressed, anxious or alone at some stage and at these times it may be difficult to speak with family or friends. This is when therapy may be very useful.

Your concern may be about a current problem or something that happened years ago. Your therapist will not judge you or trivialise what is important to you.

Avon Counselling and Psychotherapy Service can help. You can visit their website for more information and current fees: www.acps-bristol.org.uk The next step is to phone their receptionist who will arrange an initial appointment, which can usually take place within a week, in Bristol, and is an opportunity for both you and the therapist to find out whether counselling or psychotherapy could help you.

They can then match you with one of their therapists for ongoing sessions. They are all experienced and accredited practitioners.

Top class care

Living without anxiety

DOES this sound like your idea of heaven? Wells based qualified counsellor, Jane Ross-Wheatley offers tools and techniques to help reduce and manage the symptoms of anxiety, which can also help identify the triggers and core beliefs that activate this limiting emotional state.

Jane is offering a free of charge 90 minute session of Emotional Freedom Technique (EFT) to readers, which is an effective self-help tool that can bring understanding and ease to many issues. Jane also offers an introductory rate of counselling for the first six sessions. Please see main advert for details and quote Mendip Times.

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

J a ne Ros s- Wh e at le y

BACP ACCREDITED COUNSELLOR AAMET CERTIFIED EMOTIONAL FREEDOM TECHNIQUE PRACTITIONER Evening and weekend appointments available Introductory rate available – Complimentary initial half hour session Visit janeross-wheatley.com or call 07731 937293 e Remedy Centre, 23 Cuthbert Street, Wells

LYNNE Joyner was pleased to receive the top qualification for a fitness instructor this year: Level 4 REPS low back care and she also qualified as a specialist biomechanics coach/sports massage therapist to add to her already impressive list of achievements and skills.

Lynne is a fully qualified Pilates instructor, GP referral qualified personal trainer and fully qualified life coach enabling her clients to move more freely and achieve their goals. Lynne was a civil engineer but retrained to become a fitness instructor 14 years, proving it is possible to change careers and follow your passion.

Lynne is the only instructor in the area to run a post-natal Pilates class where mums can bring their babies too on Thursdays at Chew Magna Millennium Hall at 9.30am.

Sally Kingston Fitness and Health Coach Personal Training and Nutritional Advice

Mob: 07921 105 716 e-mail: info@sallyfitnessandhealth.co.uk Web: www.sallyfitnessandhealth.co.uk MENDIP TIMES • SEPTEMBER 2014 • PAGE 75

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Join the Double Hills ceremony

THIS year’s poignant Double Hills Ceremony at Paulton will mark the 70th anniversary of the battle for Arnhem.

Organisers are urging as many people as possible to attend the event on Sunday, September 7th, which commemorates the day a glider carrying troops to Arnhem as part of Operation Market Garden crashed in a field on the edge of the village, killing 23 people on board.

The annual service is organised under the auspices of the Royal Engineers Association of Bristol together with the Bath and West Wilts and Newport and Cwmbran branches.

The commemoration will be led by General Sir Peter Wall who will lead a parade to the memorial where a special services will take place. Serving and former military personnel will also attend.

A total of 21 Airborne Sappers from the 9th Field Company (Airborne) Royal Engineers and two pilots from the Glider Pilot Regiment died when their glider broke up in the skies over Paulton. All the soldiers who died were buried with honours at Weston-super-Mare. They had earlier taken off with their tug, a Stirling Bomber from RAF Keevil airfield in Wiltshire.

The Double Hills memorial was built in 1979 and a service has taken place there ever since.

This year’s Double Hills Address: Arnhem 70th & Double Hills 35th will be given by Sir Kenneth Warren, who witnessed the crash as a boy whilst visiting family at nearby Farrington Gurney.

He rushed to the scene and helped in the rescue operation but was himself badly injured when the glider exploded.

Mines of information and memories

NEWS

The launch of the HLF project at last year’s reunion

Everyone is welcome to attend the ceremony which begins at 2pm. The meeting point is on the recreation field in Tenniscourt Road.

THE 26th annual reunion for former employees of the Somerset Coalfield will be held in Radstock in September.

This year’s event will mark the formal opening of the Mining the Past exhibition, resulting from the year-long Heritage Lotteryfunded project involving pupils from Norton Hill, Somervale and Writhlington schools.

The project was launched at last year’s reunion to commemorate the 40th anniversary of the closure of the last of the Somerset’s pits and aimed to capture the memories of the former miners about their lives underground and how they felt when the pits finally closed.

The reunion will once again be held at Radstock Museum on Monday, September 8th. It is organised by the volunteers of Radstock Museum with the kind support of Radstock Cooperative Society and L&F Jones.

MIDSOMER Norton South railway station hosted a visit by members of the town’s twinning association community from France as part of a visit to Mendip.

The visitors, from Ambarès et Lagrave, in the Aquitaine region of southwestern France, enjoyed a tour of the attraction by volunteers from the Somerset and Dorset Railway Heritage Trust.

The trust is planning to have a replica Spitfire aircraft at its

annual Heritage Weekend on Saturday, September 13th and Sunday, September 14th.

The trust is anxious to recruit new volunteers – especially trained locomotive drivers – over the coming months. If anyone has any relevant experience – or just wants to help out with routine tasks (it can be hands-on “dirty work”) – they should contact volunteer co-ordinator Alan Price on: 07751 381527 or e-mail: alanprice52@hotmail.com

Members of the twinning association on their visit to Midsomer Norton South railway station

Help us bloom – the trust is keen to hear from new volunteers

Entente cordi-rail!

PAGE 76 • MENDIP TIMES • SEPTEMBER 2014

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UBLEY MOTOR SERVICES MG Rover Land Rover Specialists

MOTORING

Sales – Service – Parts – Repairs ALL MAKES SERVICING – VEHICLE DIAGNOSTICS, AIR CONDITIONING, MECHANICAL & BODY REPAIRS Collection/Loan Car by arrangement

MOT TESTING STATION

COMPETITIVE PRICES ON TYRES, BATTERIES AND EXHAUSTS

ACCIDENT REPAIR CENTRE

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

BREAKDOWN & RECOVERY SERVICE

QUALITY USED CARS Your peace of mind is our priority

CLEEVE HILL, UBLEY. TEL: 01761 462275 (24hrs) www.ubleymotors.co.uk

SHIPHAM MOTOR GROUP Turnpike Road, Shipham, Winscombe BS25 1TX

• • • • •

Volvo Warranty Compliant Independent Servicing on New Cars Volvo Accredited Master Technician Specialist Volvo Diagnostics and Software Downloads 01934 842350 Air Conditioning www.shipham.co.uk MOT Testing Volvo Parts & Accessories

VOLVO

With a vast experience of old and new models, you can be sure that your Volvo will receive the highest quality service but without Main Dealer prices!

co FR u E ca rte E rs sy

•

Dealer level diagnostics with software Updates for all these makes

VOLKSWAGEN AUDI SEAT SKODA BMW MINI JAGUAR LAND ROVER RANGE ROVER PEUGEOT CITROEN RENAULT MOT testing, Servicing and Repairs Four wheel alignment, Tyres and Balancing Air Conditioning Servicing and Repairs Manual and Auto Loan Cars and Loan Van

Tel: 01934 862297 www.wringtonmotors.co.uk

Bailey approved body shop and workshop

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

Our shop stocks a full range of accessories and equipment

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

Marchants Hill, Gurney Slade BA3 4TY Call: 01749 841051 Mob: 07778 465520 Email: sales@caravanrepairs-sw.co.uk MENDIP TIMES • SEPTEMBER 2014 • PAGE 77

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Harvest home celebrations

Richard Willcox takes part in the procession on his prize-winning vintage tractor

Photographs by Mark Adler

THE 102nd Wedmore Harvest Home stayed true to tradition with a carnival-style procession, lunch, sports games and evening entertainment.

Hundreds of guests at down to the celebration lunch and ate their way through an impressive 50kg of beef, 60kg of salt beef, 70kg of ham and 30kg of tongue washed down with local beer and cider.

George and Anita Brown with Robert Bees at lunch

Jim Rimmer was presented with a tankard as a thank you for his long service to the harvest home

The Bennett and Weeks families PAGE 78 â&#x20AC;˘ MENDIP TIMES â&#x20AC;˘ SEPTEMBER 2014

Heidi prepares to take part in the procession

Caroline Stevens was part of the team who served lunch

Raising a glass to the harvest home

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WEDMORE HARVEST HOME

Carnival royalty: Florence, Jess, Rachel and George The Smith and Bell families join forces

The annual event is reason enough to celebrate

Wedmore Young Farmers Club

Olga Pipit and Pauline Redman are standing down after helping for many years. They were presented with bouquets by committee vicechairman Tom Willcox (left) and chairman Ian Lewis MENDIP TIMES • SEPTEMBER 2014 • PAGE 79

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COMMUNITY

Youth fund showcased

TWO new initiatives to help young people in Somerset have come to my attention recently which I would like to highlight and which

By SIMON show how adults and SELBY young people can work together to develop skills and a sense of community.

Firstly, Somerset Community Foundation celebrated International Youth Day by highlighting the newlylaunched Somerset Youth Fund. The fund’s mission is to support innovative and effective solutions to issues faced by the most disadvantaged young people in Somerset today and to raise the aspirations and life opportunities of these young people.

Mary Hancock, Deputy Chief Executive of Somerset Community Foundation, said: “Our aim is to provide substantial, long-term grants to grassroots groups so that their staff can focus more of their time and energy on delivering services and less on fundraising.”

Somerset Motor Project, which is based in Glastonbury, is an example of one of the charities in the county that the Somerset Youth Fund aims to support. Joe Degregorio, manager of the Somerset Motor Project, said: “We seek to motivate young people who have found mainstream forms of educational provision difficult. A young person who attended the project,

Thank you

A young person with a volunteer at Somerset Motor Project.

following exclusion from school at the age of 14, went on to become a full-time apprentice at a Mercedes garage and now regularly returns to deliver motivational talks to our new trainees.”

The fund would be delighted to receive donations. They can be made by texting KIDZ14, followed by your donation amount, to 70070 or call Somerset Community Foundation on: 01749 344949.

Meanwhile, Frome Town Council has introduced open access sessions in parks and open spaces across the town in a new initiative aimed at young people over 11 years old.

Mendip YMCA and Somerset Rural Youth Project have been commissioned by the town council to run the programme in which qualified youth workers will be working alongside young people to devise and develop a series of activities and projects, which meet the needs of local young people and will

THAT is the message from Avon and Somerset Police and Crime Commissioner Sue Mountstevens and Acting Chief Constable John Long as this year’s Neighbourhood Policing Awards nomination period came to an end.

More than 300 nominations were submitted by last month’s deadline recognising the hard work of neighbourhood beat teams, local beat managers, police community support officers, special constables, police staff and volunteers.

A panel of judges including the PCC, ACC and key sponsors will meet in September to decide on the winners for each of the three police areas. Ms Mountstevens said: “I am delighted with the nominations submitted for this year’s awards. It means so much to know that local people want to recognise those who work hard to ensure our local communities are safe and feel safe.

“Thank you to everyone that has taken the time to

PAGE 80 • MENDIP TIMES • SEPTEMBER 2014

include sports, crafts and music.

The sessions will run in Welshmill Park on Tuesdays 4pm – 6pm and in Victoria Park on Fridays 4pm – 6pm throughout September. And, if all goes to plan, they will continue through to April next year.

Frome Town Council says the project has been developed and will be supported by a steering group which includes the Town’s Youth Mayor and Deputy Youth Mayor, who will feed back on behalf of the Youth Council, which represents the views of young people across all areas of the council, to enable Frome Town Council to listen to the youth of Frome, to hear their opinions and thoughts of the provision of services for youth within the town. This direct and open relationship enables Frome Town Council not only to listen but also to act on ideas and advice from the young people of Frome about the services they would like to see, and would use in the town.

nominate. I will enjoy reading the nominations to find out more about the people working hard in your area and the things that mean so much to you.”

ACC Long said: “These awards are extra special to our officers, police staff and volunteers because the nominations come directly from local residents and the communities in which they serve. It is great to know that so many people felt passionately enough about the hard work being carried out in their areas by our neighbourhood teams and volunteers that they made the effort to nominate them for an award.

“A big thank you must go to everyone who has taken the time to nominate. It really will mean a lot to our teams and I look forward to reading about the hard work being carried out in your areas.”

An awards ceremony will be held at Cadbury House Hotel, Congresbury in November.

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Buyer demand falls as market ‘pauses for breath’

DEMAND for new homes in the South West fell in July to the lowest level since October 2011, while the supply of new properties coming onto the market also decreased, according to the latest survey from the Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors.

In the region, 7% more chartered surveyors saw a fall rather than rise in new buyer enquiries in July, with 16% more surveyors seeing a fall in new instructions – a decrease from a net balance of 0% last month.

As a result of the slackening in demand and supply, sales expectations in the region for the next three months remain at a lower level. With an average of 49 stock per surveyor in the region (down from 61 at the beginning of the year) 59% more respondents in the region have seen a rise in prices over the last three months, and 34% more respondents expect to see a rise in the next three months.

The average number of sales per chartered surveyor, however, increased to 26 (up from 22 at the start of the year). Across the UK as a whole sales expectations remain positive at both the three and twelve month time horizons, albeit a little less so than previously.

While there is a little more member caution reflected in some of the comments, prices are projected to rise in the South West over the next year and are expected to increase by 2.4% on a 12 month view.

Simon Rubinsohn, RICS Chief Economist, said: “A range of policy initiatives adopted by the Bank of England in recent months alongside heightened expectations surrounding a turn in the interest rate cycle has clearly had an impact on sentiment in the market.

“The shift in the mood music amongst potential buyers in the London market has been particularly pronounced but that is in a sense consistent with the move to a more sustainable market in the capital.

“Elsewhere around the country, the market in general is showing a greater degree of resilience, but that largely reflects the fact that in some areas the recovery has only recently taken hold and affordability is rather less stretched. Significantly, members now expect price gains over the next year to be faster outside of the capital, than in it.”

PROPERTY

Get winter energy advice from the experts

DO you find your home difficult to keep warm in the winter and worry about becoming ill? Does your home suffer from condensation, damp and mould? Are your energy bills on the rise?

Cold homes can make you seriously ill or even kill which is why home energy advice is available to all residents across Somerset.

If you are looking to find out how to stay healthy, make your home warmer and reduce energy bills the Home Energy Team’s WISH project can help.

They give free and impartial energy efficiency advice to help with things like grants for insulation and heating, reducing fuel debt and advice on minor home improvements like draught-proofing.

They may also be able to come out and visit you to provide essential advice on keeping warm and show you how to save energy in your own home.

This could include checking that your heating controls are set correctly, helping you tackle fuel debt or advice on reducing condensation and mould – a health risk.

Details: They can be contacted on freephone 0800 082 2234 9am-5pm, Monday-Friday or email home.energy@cse.org.uk

• Planning Permission • Listed Building Consent • Building Regula ons • New Houses • Extensions • Repairs & Altera ons • Conversions and Refurbishments • Listed Buildings • Agricultural Buildings • Stables For helpful and friendly advice and a free consulta on, please contact Rob on: Tel: 0800 458 4283 • Mob: 07818 212 532 Email: arimis.ads@gmail.com MENDIP TIMES • SEPTEMBER 2014 • PAGE 81

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HISTORY

Mysteries of Mendip Lodge

SHORTLY after he retired, Emeritus Professor Chris Stephens of Bristol University, was asked by the Woodland Trust if he could assist them in restoring the perimeter wall of their Dolebury Warren Wood property on the north slope of the Mendips.

Sections of this had become dangerous and needed urgent attention as the walls bordered a public right of way. As a professional waller and a past deputy chairman of the Dry Stone Walling Association of Great Britain, Chris, with a few colleagues, had founded the S.W. England Branch of the D.S.W.A. in 2002

TSW’s neice

Rev Dr TS Whalley 1781 Aged 35

and were already running courses of basic instruction for the general public in the area, so this seemed a mutually beneficial enterprise.

The work, undertaken with the help of local volunteers, took three years to complete, during which time Chris discovered that the walls had formed part of the estate which surrounded Mendip Lodge, an Italianate house built in the late 18th century by the flamboyant Reverend Dr. Thomas Sedgwick Whalley.

Fascinated by his life, he’s now published a book about him.

This long-lived would-be poet and playwright had married a series of rich widows, one of whom was the heiress of Langford Court, whose riches enabled him to buy a house in Royal Crescent Bath and later build Mendip Lodge above Upper Langford.

While his life in outline is known from Chris Stephens

Thomas Sedgwick’s letters edited and published by his great nephew in 1863, research over the past 10 years has revealed a far more interesting and complete account, much coming from his extensive correspondence with his friends Mrs.Thrale (Piozzi), Hannah More, Anna Seward and the actress Sarah Siddons.

Whalley was a highly intelligent, sensitive and generous man who spent a large part of his long life and much of his wealth supporting his young niece after the tragic death of her mother. The new book is one of very few to detail the long of life of a wealthy 18th century man from the correspondence of his friends both male and female.

Much of Whalley’s estate, which included Dolebury Camp, is accessible to the public, including the remains of Mendip Lodge which was sadly demolished in the 1950s.

Details: Stephens, C. The Rev Dr Thomas Sedgwick Whalley and the Queen of Bath – A true story of Georgian England at the time of Jane Austen. (Candy Jar Books, 2014) ISBN 978-0-9928607-6-9. £9-99.

PAGE 82 • MENDIP TIMES • SEPTEMBER 2014

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Dear Mendip Times, My wife and I would like to offer a big thank you, (especially to Barry, Chris and the person that let us use their landline telephone) when we had a double blow-out coming up Cheddar Gorge, with our granddaughter and two great grandchildren in the car on July 2nd.

The kindness and effort they put in to help was more than anyone could wish for. The area was a dead spot for our mobiles and Barry was on his way home after a day’s work and he went out of his way to drive me in his vehicle to a higher place to call for help.

We had to leave our car overnight at Wellington Farm and Chris let us keep the car in his yard. It was there that another gentleman and his wife allowed us to use their landline to call a relative to come to pick us up.

I again thank all concerned and am pleased to know that the spirit of helpfulness runs strong in Mendip folk.

W. Fuller Midsomer Norton

Dear Mendip Times, I write to highlight the valuable work now being done on the Somerset Levels after the devastating flooding and seek more volunteers.

Mendip Community Support is a charity which works with community groups and encourage and facilitate volunteering.

So we rallied to the challenge when Somerset County Council asked us to coordinate efforts to help flood victims get back into their homes in a joint project with SSVCA, a similar charity in South Somerset.

In early April we set about assessing the situation, first working with volunteers out of a very basic, cold and wet barn in Moorland.

We met other volunteers helping residents restore their properties and running the warehouse of donated goods. The volunteers are a great bunch of people with a host of skills from carpenters to electrician, driving instructor, supermarket workers, nurse and mums who drop their children off at school and work till the afternoon school run.

They come from all walks of life and have a can-do approach. All with the same goal – to make a difference and have fun achieving it.

Since April we have worked with all the volunteers, bringing them together as a group. Structure has been added, systems put in place, volunteers’ roles formalised, insurance put in place, expenses paid and T-shirts chosen. We have also moved to larger premises in Burrowbridge Old School and taken on a new warehouse to house all the donated stock and furniture.

Called the Somerset Emergency Volunteers, the operation continues. Volunteers come from all over, some working all week, some at weekends, others only when they have days off work.

Showing a fantastic example of volunteering to the rest of the country, the Somerset Emergency Volunteers have been nominated for the National Diversity Awards, which honours positive role models, charities, entrepreneurs and community groups.

But we could use more volunteers. If you are interested contact us on www.somersetEV.org.uk.

Paula Blight Chief Executive Mendip Community Support & Somerset Emergency Volunteers

LETTERS

Dear Mendip Times, I was fortunate enough to win two tickets from your publication for Yeovilton Air Day, and I am writing to thank you very much for them.

My nephew and I spent a marvellous day watching the spectacular flying displays, and enjoyed all the other delights on show as well. The highlight of the day for us was the magnificent Avro Vulcan. We felt very privileged to be watching it in what could be its penultimate year of flying.

The show had a great mix of the past, present, and future, and credit must be given to the people who work tirelessly to ensure that our flying heritage can be showcased at events like this, and the dedication of the organisers to ensure that these events will continue to delight and entertain us in the future.

Once again, thank you for running this competition.

Gill Selwyn Backwell

Dear Mendip Times, It has been the busiest summer we have ever had – we are manic here at the moment. I think the Mendip Times has got a lot do with this. Your magazine has been the best business rescue package we could ever have hoped for.

Many thanks to all at the Mendip Times, Shelley Pople, Hill Farm Equestrian, Burtle.

Dear Mendip Times, Thank you and your contributor Sue Gearing for another excellent walk. I followed the walk from Clevedon Pier, published in the August edition, and thoroughly enjoyed every moment. The instructions were clear. The views and the countryside were spectacular.

Kind regards, David Reynolds.

Kellaway Avenue, Bristol

Dear Mendip Times, I am a volunteer co-ordinator for Time2Share, a small, local charity that supports disabled children across Bristol, Bath and North East Somerset. We recruit, train and support volunteer befrienders and we’re working really hard to attract new volunteers to join our amazing team.

As a very small charity with only five core staff, we rely heavily on community support to spread the word about the great work that we do, so getting out into the communities that we serve is a big part of my job.

Many disabled young people are socially isolated and some may have no regular contact with anyone outside their family.

They often find it difficult to form friendships and miss out on the peer support that most people take for granted. A befriender is someone that they can trust and rely on and, just as important, it’s someone they can have fun with.

Our fantastic team of befrienders get up to all sorts of great activities with their befriendees such as cycling, swimming, shopping and even performing crazy science experiments!

We are looking for volunteers of all shapes and sizes to join our team so if you’d like to make a huge difference to a local family and can commit 2-4 hours each week for a minimum of a year we’d really love to hear from you.

Check out the Time2Share website at www.time2share.org.uk or contact Janice on 0117 9415868 or bath@time2share.org.uk Janice Walsh

MENDIP TIMES • SEPTEMBER 2014 • PAGE 83

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MENDIP TIMES

Bishop launches flood report and pays tribute to those ‘on the ground’

Bishop Peter Maurice (right) views dredging work on the River Parrett with Rob Walrond, Fact, Feeling and Future co-author and farmer

THE Bishop of Taunton has launched Fact, Feeling and Future, a report into the Somerset floods of 2013/2014.

Churches played a vital role in the relief effort to support those communities cut off by the floods.

The aim is that by implementing the report’s recommendations, the diocese and its churches can respond even more quickly and effectively to floods of this scale, and their devastating impact.

The report (available online at www.bathandwells.org.uk/go/fact-feeling-future) presents a striking snapshot – based on first-hand accounts – of the impact and implications on local people.

It also highlights the challenges that are still being faced; that communities still need support and will help maintain pressure on national and local decision-makers to recognise and respond to that.

The Bishop of Taunton, the Rt Rev Peter Maurice said: “Support for these communities that have endured so much is part of the Christian ministry to which we are called. Communities on the levels are rebuilding their homes and their lives and still need help.

“The local church network, including colleagues of all denominations, was extremely effective both in terms of its people and use of infrastructure. I’m proud of the way our clergy and lay leaders were out night and day, alongside those in need and the emergency services.

“On a diocesan level though, I want us to get support to those on the front line more quickly and take some of the pressure off our local teams, so that they can focus on providing support and care for people whose lives and property have been devastated.”

Guests at the launch included representatives from the emergency services and agencies like FLAG and the Farmers Community Network, as well as local residents and clergy.

PAGE 84 • MENDIP TIMES • SEPTEMBER 2014

Practical skills passed down the generations

AGE UK Bath & North East Somerset is spearheading a new, innovative Generations – Food for Life Partnership project that will see older people passing on practical growing and cooking skills to younger people.

The six-month pilot project, funded by Bath & North East Somerset Council, will run at Chew Valley School.

The main aim of the project is to use the skills and knowledge of older people in the community to support children and teachers to recognise the importance of good nutrition and to understand where food comes from.

Janet Dabbs, Chief Executive of Age UK B&NES, said: “We’re delighted to be working with Bath & North East Somerset Council and Chew Valley School on this exciting project. Older people have such a valuable contribution to make to their local communities and this project will allow them to pass on their valuable growing food and cooking skills.”

Details: Eilish O'Shea Project Co-ordinator on 07864 974879 01225 466135 or Chris Hart Volunteer Co-ordinator on 01225 466135 or visit our website www.ageukbanes.co.uk

Brownies celebrate 100 years

NORTON Radstock East District brownies, guides and rainbows recently celebrated the Big Brownie Birthday – 100 years since Brownies started – by planting flowers in the tubs outside Radstock Co-op as part of the Radstock In Bloom competition.

Details: Judy Collins 01761 434830

Explore our heritage

THERE’S a chance to see behind the scenes of some of the area’s most historic properties, when Heritage Open Days are held from September 11th-14th. They are designed to show local history, architecture and culture.

Among those taking part are: Carymoor Environmental Trust, Castle Cary; Curzon Cinema, Clevedon; Abbey Barn, Somerset Rural Life Museum; Chivers Farm, Stoke St. Michael, Radstock; Lytes Cary Manor, Kingsdon, Somerton; Quaker Meeting House, Street; Shoe Museum, Street; City of Wells Almshouses; Chain Bridge, Vicars’ Hall and Treasury, Wells Cathedral; St. Cuthbert’s Church, Wells; Wells Town Hall; Weston-super-Mare Town Hall; Tyntesfield, Wraxall.

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Footpath reopens

A PUBLIC footpath crossing Puxton Moor, a nature reserve in North Somerset, has re-opened after many years.

Volunteers from Woodspring Ramblers spent three days installing three new footbridges and eight new pedestrian gates on the path which links Puxton Lane and Dolmoor Lane. The bridges and gates were provided by Avon Wildlife Trust and North Somerset Council.

Puxton Moor is a site of special scientific interest and is accessed from the A370 close to Weston-super-Mare. Visitors can enjoy a variety of wildlife, such as skylarks and sedge warblers, as well as hairy dragonflies and water scorpions. The restored path is just under a mile long.

Councillor Elfan Ap Rees, the council’s executive member responsible for public rights of way, said: “The Ramblers volunteer group has carried out another first-rate job. This path has been unavailable for about 20 years and it is unlikely it could have been re-opened without their many hours of dedicated labour.

Thanks to their hard work walkers can now once again enjoy spotting rare plants and ground nesting birds on Puxton Moor.”

G Visitors should be aware it crosses an area grazed by cattle, so dogs must be kept under control. To join Woodspring Ramblers, who are part of the Ramblers’ Association, contact Martin Raines via woodspring.ramblers@tesco.net Work underway

Excellence award

THE Built Environment Group at Mendip District Council has been awarded the coveted Customer Service Excellence Standard for the third year running.

The group contains many key frontline services, including planning, building control, private sector housing, homelessness and conservation and heritage.

Assessors from SGS, the world’s leading organisation for inspection, assessment and certification, recently carried out a detailed annual inspection, concluding that: “Mendip District Council’s Built Environment Group was found to have a deep understanding of, and commitment to, Customer Service Excellence. The commitment was displayed at all levels and aspects of the organisation.”

Mother and daughter share honours

NEWS

THE Inner Wheel Club District 20 has a unique situation this coming year when a mother and her daughter both became presidents. Mrs Linda Quinn, formerly of Pensford and now living in Paulton, is the new district chairman, while her daughter, Mrs Sam Jordan, is the president of the Inner Wheel Club of Chelwood Bridge.

Mrs Jordan who took over from Marjorie Robinson at the club’s AGM, said: “I was approached to become president this year as club members thought it would be an amazing idea to have me as president and mum as district chairman.”

Meanwhile, Mrs Quinn, who was president at Chelwood Bridge 2011/2012, said: “I feel very honoured, having been less than ten years in Inner Wheel and coming from the youngest club in the country. I am also proud that my daughter Sam is the president of Chelwood Bridge Inner Wheel in the same year as I am District Chairman.”

Gardeners donate to club

Hidden secrets

A TALK about the archaeology of ancient Beacon Hill, near Shepton Mallet, will be held at the Somerset Earth Science Centre in September.

Steve Tofts, who has explored the archaeology of many areas of Mendip, will give the talk, organised by the Beacon Hill Society, on Monday, September 8th at 7.30pm.

This will be followed by a guided walk around Beacon Hill on Sunday, September 14th.

For information visit: bhsm.org.uk or call Julian Back on: 01373 813636.

MEMBERS of Paulton Amateur Gardening Club opened their gardens and sold plants, cakes and teas and bracelets, raising £330 for the Green Hill Garden Club at the Leonard Cheshire Home at Timsbury.

Pictured here (from left) are Helen, Jo, Niamh and Martin, from the home, with the cheque.

MENDIP TIMES • SEPTEMBER 2014 • PAGE 85

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£10

HOMES & INTERIORS

Time to think about winter Book NOW and claim £10 off your first booking

www.oven-clean-express.co.uk

07718 226 733

PAGE 86 • MENDIP TIMES • SEPTEMBER 2014

ECO Angus Ltd supplies wood burning boilers that can provide all your central heating and domestic hot water requirements at approximately half the price of fossil fuels.

Their wood gasification log boilers and wood pellet boiler have full MCS accreditation so will be eligible for grants under the domestic renewable heat incentive that started on April 9th this year. For example this will typically pay a grant of approximately £3,500 per year for a 40kW log boiler over a seven year period and this grant would outweigh the installed value of the product even without the potential fuel savings. The typical pay-back period with grant availability is around three to five years.

These boilers are ideal for retrofits or new builds. They are ideally sited in an outbuilding, a garage, a boiler room or utility.

They can be installed on open vented or pressurised systems.

They can link to your existing heating system and it’s possible to maintain your existing heat source such as an oil boiler or gas boiler. The boiler requires an accumulator tank which is typically 50:1 ratio thermal store to kW output. The wood consumption is 10 tonnes for 25KW output. The boilers are 92% efficient and CO2 neutral.

They are loaded twice a day from autumn through to spring and every five days in the summer when only domestic hot water is required. It is imperative that to be eligible for the grant under the RHI you have a fully accredited MCS product installed by an MCS installer. Eco Angus have seven outputs from 18kW up to 130KW and two boiler ranges the Angus Super and the Angus Orligno 200.

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MENDIP TIMES Local Stockist

Local Stockist

Tel: 01749 677299 citydecoratingsupplies@gmail.com

G Paint mixed on the premises – any size, any finish G Specialist decorating materials G Expert advice on products for restoration and conservation work G Paints have a soft velvet finish for exterior use on all surfaces including plastic G Full range of tester pots available G Farrow and Ball stockists G Mylands of London stockists G Little Greene stockists (including wallpapers) G Specialist brushes, tools and accessories G Now stocking Rust-oleum chalky finish paints for furniture G Great range of ornate cornice and ceiling roses G Major stockist of Osmo Eco paints and stains G Polyvine premier south west stockist G Next day delivery service available G Lime wash and distemper available from stock!

G Trade enquires welcome

Top tips for decorating outside

WHEN decorating the outside of your home or outbuilding, summerhouse or conservatory, please follow these top tips to guarantee a professional finish: 1: First choose the colour: this is important for a number of reasons as you may live in a conservation area and your property may be listed so you cannot just choose the colour yourself; you will Expert advice from Mike Tucker from have to check with City Decorating Supplies your local authority if you live in a conservation area and English Heritage if your property is listed.

2: Choose the finish: options available for wood, metal and masonry are dead flat, low sheen eggshell, and a classic gloss.

The traditional, powdery matt finish of limewash and distempers are available in a full range of colours in addition to traditional white; these paints are 100% breathable.

3: Choose a brand of paint that has all the heritage of quality using natural pigments and giving quality and performance whilst containing the lowest VOC (volatile organic compound) in the paint industry. Brands such as Farrow & Ball, Mylands or Little Greene are paints that you can trust and have exceptional coverage and opacity and offer the performance and longevity of up to 15 years.

4: Finally, do not underestimate the importance of using the correct primers and undercoats as are the correct brushes and rollers which are required for long lasting results and to achieve the perfect finish.

Tips courtesy of City Decorating Supplies in Wells which has tester pots in more than 500 colours in flat historic finishes that are developed for the National Trust and English Heritage.

Open: Monday – Friday: 9am-6pm, Saturday: 9am3.30pm

No.1 The Old Chapel, Union Street, Wells, Somerset BA5 2PU

Q U A L I T Y PA I N T & WA L L PA P E R PAGE 88 • MENDIP TIMES • SEPTEMBER 2014

A family business

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HOMES & INTERIORS

Winter is coming

Tony Hucker TV

NATURES Flame has been using the hashtag #winteriscoming on their Twitter account and it looks like it is. With the recent article in the Express which stated household bills are set to rise by £130 this winter, there’s never been a better time to get a wood burner and lose the dependency on the “Big Six” energy providers.

They have lots of new ranges at Natures Flame, including being awarded the dealership for Bath and surrounding villages, of the new “Pure Vision HD” from Fireline, as well as new ranges from Merlin Stoves from Hereford, Panedero and Bronpi Stoves from Spain, Chazelles from France and Aduro from Denmark, as well as their immensely popular lines from Burley, Aga and Broseley.

All their stoves can be viewed at www.wantastove.co.uk where they claim to offer the best value in the UK, not just locally but nationwide.

It’s not only stoves at Natures Flame – they offer supply and fit of oil and gas heating systems as well as servicing and maintenance, all by their own in-house teams of engineers and builders. So for the complete package visit them at their showroom or give them a call.

SALES • SERVICE • RENTAL Panasonic

PLASMA & LCD TV

WHY GO TO TOWN WHEN WE ARE AT Unit 4, Fairseat Workshops, Chew Stoke BS40 8XF

Tel: 01275 332888 Open: Mon–Fri 9am–6pm & Sat 8.30am–12 noon

More than just woodburners at Natures Flame, specialists in bio-mass, oil, gas and solid fuel/wood.

Plus the cheapest stove sales in the UK at our online sales shop: www.wantastove.co.uk

www.naturesflame.co.uk

Please see below a selection of our special offers:

GAS BOILER

Ideal Independent C24 Combination Boiler

To supply and fit an Ideal Independent 24kw combination boiler with a standard flue. This boiler has an inbuilt mechanical clock, 2 year warranty. Includes: Filling loop • scale inhibitor • Magna clean and Sentinel x 100 • test and fill system.

Other boilers also available Yearly gas service – £65.00 + VAT

All for the sum of £1195.00 incl. VAT* * Subject to site survey

WOODBURNER

Burley Debdale 4Kw DEFRA-approved Stove

To supply and fit the Burley Debdale Stove. Install a new stainless steel 316 flexible flue liner – 10m allowed. Includes register plate, vitreous enamel pip, pot hanger and top hat adapter.

To supply and fit a stove* To supply and install a new carbon monoxide detector** The above is based on no obstruction within chimney and survey of access to roof*** To supply HETAS certification

All for the sum of £1599.00 incl. VAT*

* Subject to site survey. Other stoves can be substituted to offer ** To preformed correctly sized builders opening and hearth *** Scaffolds or towers will incur an extra cost

Unit A, Braysdown Works, Braysdown, Peasedown St John, Bath BA2 8LL

Opening Hours 8am – 5.30 pm Monday to Friday • Evenings by appointment

Give us a call on 01761 439408

www.wantastove.co.uk

OIL BOILER

Worcester Greenstar Heatslave 18.25Kw Combination Boiler

To supply and fit a Worcester Greenstar Heatslave 18.25Kw combination boiler with a standard flue. Comes with a 5-year warranty. Includes: Magna clean, time clock, mini-scale reducer, Sentinel x 100, test and fill system.

Other boilers available Yearly oil service – £80.00 + VAT

All for the sum of £3495.00 incl. VAT* * Subject to site survey

With over 15 Manufacturers and a commitment to be the cheapest stove supplier in the UK, visit us online or come and see the stoves at the showroom near Radstock, Bath – supply as well as supply and fit.

Email us: info@naturesflame.co.uk

MENDIP TIMES • SEPTEMBER 2014 • PAGE 89

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JACKSONS

J a c k s o n s F e n c i n g – n e ws , t o p i c a l t r e a t s a n d m o r e . . .

September storage solutions

LAST month I mentioned that we have a new little brochure – Additions to the Good Fencing Guide Range – which includes some of the new products we have developed over the last few years, and some new ones too, all gathered together in one cover.

Now seems a good opportunity to follow up by telling you about one of the new products in there that may be of interest to you. We have previously made our wheelie bin store in response to pleas from customers, who wanted to hide their not very pretty and growing numbers of household rubbish and recycling bins. When we did this a few years ago we came up with a smart and strong unit made from our lovely Jakcured timber, so that it would blend in beautifully with the other Jacksons products in the garden, like the fencing and decking. You would think, job done, but no!

A flaw in our cunning plan was soon revealed when council after council “re-thought” their refuse schemes and started to introduce separate containers for paper, garden waste and cardboard, and another for plastics and hey-ho, what about food waste? We can collect that too, in handy mini bins.

After carrying out a bit of research it was soon obvious that no one council had the same sort of bins, let alone the same number and type – ‘Quel horreur!’

It soon became apparent that we’d better do something to

The double wheelie bin store and the additional unit with optional slatted shelf for recycling boxes

combat this bin epidemic. Aware that we have our standard bin store that houses two good-sized wheelie bins, we thought the simplest solution was to offer an additional unit that can be added to it, to make a triple, or quadruple (not sure that sounds quite right, maybe a four unit?), or however many you want. This means that customers who have already got a double bin store, but now need more capacity needn’t leave their bins out in the cold. The new additional units have optional slatted shelves and a cabin hook that can be added to keep the lid in an up right position too.

Enough said about the wheelie bin stores, you can see the new version at the top of the page and if you want more info you can go to your local page www.jacksonsfencing.co.uk/bathlocal, where you can find a handy link to them and also a link to a downloadable pdf of the Additions booklet.

If you are the more traditional type don’t be put off, this freefone number will put you through to your nearest Jacksons Fencing Centre: 0800 41 43 43. louise@jacksons-fencing.co.uk

WIN PLANTERS FROM OUTLET SHOW GARDEN

Wheelie bin’s optional slatted shelf and cabin hook safety feature, to keep the lid upright

Enter the free prize draw and be in with a chance to win a pair of planters with plants from the Designer Outlet show garden.

Simply log on to your local page, address below and follow the easy instructions on how to enter. The draw closes 31.10.14. To enter

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

MENDIP TIMES • SEPTEMBER 2014 • PAGE 91

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MENDIP TIMES

HOMES & INTERIORS

RH

Windows

THE CHEW VALLEY’S LONGEST ESTABLISHED WINDOW COMPANY WITH A REPUTATION BUILT ON QUALITY AND SERVICE FOR CONSERVATORIES, WINDOWS AND DOORS IN HARDWOOD OR UPVC

HARDWOOD JOINERY SPECIALISTS

Telephone: 01761 452171 Fax: 01761 453342 www.rhwindowsltd.co.uk

Weston Garden Machinery

Garden Machinery Specialist

Missing something in your living room? Charnwood have the answer, the C4 available in a variety of colours.

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

Tel: 01934 813261 www.westongarden.co.uk PAGE 92 • MENDIP TIMES • SEPTEMBER 2014

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Caroline promotes the sound of music SINGAHOLICS, a fun, open access choir for women, is starting a new session in Farmborough this September. It was started by Caroline Lowe in Chew Magna two years ago in response to an overwhelming number of requests for a daytime singing group.

Since then over 150 women have laughed, learnt and sung with new and old friends. There’s no audition and you don’t have to be able to read music to join. Caroline said: “At Singaholics we sing a wide variety of music - pop, gospel, world music, folk songs, show tunes and other fun, accessible and inspiring music. Not only is it good fun but singing is well proven to benefit your health and wellbeing as it promotes good breathing and posture, and gives your heart a workout too. It also reduces symptoms of stress and makes you feel energised.”

Caroline also runs another very successful; women’s choir, Better Than Chocolate, and is now giving the men a chance to show what they can do, with a new choir starting in East Harptree Theatre on September 8th.

Meanwhile, Singaholics starts at Farmborough Memorial Hall on Friday September 12th, 1.30 - 12.30.

Charity concert

MUSIC

UNITY Singers, from Bishopsworth, Bristol gave a super concert in Barrow Gurney Village Hall in July, which was organised by Barrow Gurney WI, and raised £120 for St Peter's Hospice.

Details: Mary James 01275 392120

Choir’s contribution

Details: www.singaholics.co.uk, email info@singaholics.co.uk or call 01761 452664.

Choir’s annual concert

ONCE a year, Cheddar Male Choir celebrates a year’s work for charities and good causes by putting on their annual concert. This year it’s being held for the first time in the Princess Theatre in Burnham on Sea on September 13th at 7.30pm.

The concert will help to raise funds to stage around 12 concerts a year in aid of charity. This year they have supported charities like The Children’s Hospice South West, Somerset and Dorset Air Ambulance, Freewheelers Blood Bikers, Draycott Defibrillator and numerous others.

In the last 12 months their concerts have raised around £10,000 to help others and during their 19 years of singing they have raised over £135,000. Their annual concert on 13 September will be a great celebration of songs from the musicals, pop charts and some traditional along with the award-winning soprano Kate Eastment, winner of many singing competitions.

Details: The Princess Theatre 01278 784464. Practices are held on Tuesdays from 7:30 to 9:30pm at Draycott Memorial Hall. New male members are welcome; ability to read music helps but is not essential. www.cheddarmvchoir.co.uk

MENDIP Male Voice Choir ended its sequence of summer concerts at Midsomer Norton Methodist Church, with a presentation of £800 to Jane Bowden from the Children’s Hospice South West from retiring chairman, Andy Green.

The choir has a break but will be back on Saturday September 13th at 7-30pm to sing in concert with the Westfield Ladies Choir at Trinity Westfield Methodist Church. Tickets are limited but are still available.

Details: Eric 01761 414070, Nick 01761 413842 and Les 01761 419540.

MENDIP TIMES • SEPTEMBER 2014 • PAGE 93

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Centre goes from strength to strength HILL Farm Equestrian has grown into a first class equestrian establishment since opening back in 2006 and I took Roxie (my seven-year-old daughter) there for her first “taster” lesson.

My immediate impression was that of an orderly, tidy and well run yard and the staff With CELIA were all very friendly, and the horses all GADD seemed relaxed and happy.

Roxie was taught by 20-year-old Alice Davies and rode an ace little pony called April who was probably the best behaved pony that Roxie has ridden to date off the leading rein and she was soon trotting happily around the arena, over poles and even managed some canters too.

Alice was friendly, confident and gave clear instructions, whilst still keeping it fun and I feel that I am going to be nagged at now to go there again before too long.

Hill Farm is set on 55 acres which is divided still between the equestrian site and some active farmland and is a truly family run business.

Shelley and Colin Pople have lived there for over 20 years and developed the equestrian side of things when it was obvious their daughter Haley was very keen and wanted to make horses her life.

Haley now does most of the teaching. She is 24 and holds her British Horse Society Assistant Instructors Certificate and offers a really good level of instruction to all standards. They have a good selection of school horses there, and also a mix of liveries offering everything from a super DIY livery service through to full livery.

On site there are two arenas, and one is due to have a cover on it in time for their Open Day which takes place on October 5th. There are 37 large stables and also some pony pens which allows all of the 42 horses to be housed during the winter months.

Take back the reins group at Hill Farm Equestrian

There is also a tack shop and tuck shop on site, a large room for the use of the liveries to have their refreshments, toilet and a wash box for the horses complete with hot running water!

All the horses used for teaching are of competition standard and pupils do get the opportunity to go to competitions and do cross country schooling etc.

The very popular recent course run by Haley called “take back the reins” is designed for people who have never ridden, or are very nervous about getting back into the saddle and it is a seven-week course which has been a huge success with all the participants.

They have activity days, pony days and train people towards examinations as well as for general riding so this well run yard really does tick all the boxes for those in the local area wishing to learn or improve their riding.

The Open Day on October 5th is open to all and will be a fun day also packed full of learning opportunities with farriers, dentists, vets, physiotherapists all in attendance to give advice as well as some displays of riding and dressage.

Details: www.hillfarmequestrian.com or find them on facebook: Hill Farm Equestrian.

September 2014 show dates Wednesday 3rd Karen Whiston – Dismounted workshop – Christon, Somerset Evening lower unaffiliated show jumping at Badgworth Arena Saturday 6th Open dressage competition at Polden and Bridgwater Riding Club, Cannington College Sunday 7th Bath Riding Club hunter trial

at Claverton Down, Bath Barrow Gurney Fun Ride and Home Farm Junior BSJA at Badgworth Arena Unaffiliated dressage at Kingfisher Equestrian, Castle Carey Unaffiliated show jumping at The Hand Equestrian Centre, Clevedon Monday 8th Karen Whiston, Schooling with poles clinic at

PAGE 94 • MENDIP TIMES • SEPTEMBER 2014

Badgworth Arena Wednesday 10th Higher evening unaffiliated show jumping at Badgworth Arena Sunday 14th Grass roots dressage at Kingfisher Equestrian, Castle Carey Mark Moor Fun Ride, Weston and Banwell Harriers Wednesday 17th Lower evening unaffiliated show jumping at Badgworth

Arena Tuesday 23rd British Dressage at The Hand Equestrian Centre Wednesday 24th Higher evening unaffiliated show jumping at Badgworth Arena Friday 26th, Sat 27th and Sun 28th Senior BSJA at The Hand Equestrian Centre

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Emborough Horse Show A HIGHLIGHT of the Mendip equestrian calendar was brought back to life with a flourish when the Emborough Horse Show took place after an absence of four years.

A new committee revived the traditional country horse event, which was once again hosted by the Trippick family at Manor Farm.

The show attracted more than 150 entries to the delight of secretary Lucy Dixon: “Everyone said it was a fun and friendly show and it was great to see so many people bringing youngsters along.”

The show will go ahead next year, but the date may be brought forward, added Lucy.

Lucy Harding, from Oakhill, on Benjamin, receives her prize from show secretary Lucy Dixon

Billie Keyworth on Bobby and Maria Osborne on Flash won the show jumping relay. They received their prizes from show jumping judge Rosie Sage

Can I have a lick?

A huntsman cannot resist one of the jumps

RIDING

The show attracted more than 150 entries

Billie Keyworth on her way to victory in the relay race

Ella makes friends with one of the hounds during the Mendip Farmers’ Hunt parade

MENDIP TIMES • SEPTEMBER 2014 • PAGE 95

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MENDIP TIMES

RIDING

A-hoys there Birmingham!

A PONY club mounted games team from Mendip is off to compete in the world-famous Horse of the Year Show.

Wylye Valley PC’s senior team will face five other teams from across the UK in the competition which is one of the most popular and enduring features of HOYS, as the event is known.

The finalists fought off some 250 other teams through area and zonal finals to qualify for HOYS and Wylye Valley have a hard act to follow – the last time the club made it to the event, in 2003, they won!

The club has dedicated its 2014 success to its former team manager Jim Morgan who encouraged them to rebuild the team and aim for HOYS but died recently. Senior instructor Marie Gibson said: “Sadly Jim died just two days before our Zone final at Taunton Racecourse but he was definitely there in spirit. His saying was ‘I may not be there in person, but I shall always be watching over you’; he certainly was that day.”

The winning team from 2003: Tayah Barrs on Bouncer, Chris Clinton on Poppy, Mary Chivers on Rosie (Mary is now assistant trainer), Hannah Seabourne on Misty, James Stark on Magic and reserve Charlotte Bateman

Heading for HOYS: reserve rider Lydia Collingwood (centre) holds aloft the champions trophy from the Royal Welsh Show with (l:r) Lauren Sheppard on Goldie, George Hobbs on Flicka, Alfie Gibson on Chester, Elizabeth Boher on another Flicka and Matthew Limond on Prince

The club spends several weeks each summer at camp at Southfield House at Whatley, the home of Mrs Angela Yeoman, where the team trains twice a week. Senior instructor Maria Gibson paid tribute to Mrs Yeoman for her continued support.

Club members are now planning a series of fundraising events, including a pony club show and dinner/dance to help pay towards the cost of the adventure in Birmingham, where HOYS takes place from Wednesday, October 8th to Sunday, October 12th.

Teams will compete for the Virbac 3D Worming Cup over the first two days of the show. From Thursday evening, battle commences for the esteemed Prince Philip Cup! The Pony Club Mounted Games was devised by The Duke of Edinburgh who recommended that a competition based on cavalry techniques would be entertaining, visually engaging and enhance rider skills and teamwork. The cup was introduced at the 1957 Horse of the Year Show.

In 2013, Strathearn branch took the prestigious Prince Philip Cup. The Warwickshire Hunt branch won the Virbac 3D Worming Cup.

Longleat event will remember Agnes

Agnes Smalley pictured, last year, with Molly – the pony she bought for the Somerset Levels RDA Carriage-Driving Group for the disabled.

WEST Country Carriage drivers and dog-walkers are being urged to take part in an event near the Longleat Estate to raise funds for the Somerset Levels RDA Carriage-Driving group for the disabled – and remember their 90 year-old stalwart.

Frome resident, Agnes Smalley, was still working as a fund-raiser and tutor for the Somerset Levels RDA carriagedriving group until her death last year, aged 90.

Yolanda Hansford, chair of the group said: "Agnes was an amazing stalwart and ambassador of our group. She

PAGE 96 • MENDIP TIMES • SEPTEMBER 2014

was unique in having devoted so many years to the Riding for the Disabled charity – and was unique in how, at the age of 90, she was still organizing fund raising events and teaching our disabled clients about carriage driving.”

The event will be a 10-mile interval drive for carriages and a 2.5 mile route for dogwalkers, starting from Mill Farm, Horningsham, Warminster BA12 7LL – with starting times from 10.30am on Sunday September 7th.

Carriage-drivers will be charged £20 and dog-walkers will pay £5. Details:

http://www.somersetlevelsrda.o rg/ yolanda588@btinternet.com or 01935 826663.

PONY/RECREATIONAL PADDOCKS FOR SALE AT DEANE, BETWEEN SHEPTON MALLET & FROME

2 Paddocks, approx. 4.5 acres each, south facing, set 150 metres back from main road, in a peaceful setting with pleasant views over surrounding countryside.

Set in an excellent horse riding area, each paddock has direct access onto a well-used bridle path which leads to a network of other bridle paths in large public woodlands near quiet country roads.

Both paddocks have good free-draining soil, water, with planning passed for mixed equestrian and agricultural use. Wide, stoned, main road access, and both paddocks have wide, stoned tracks along their full length. Located in a neighbourhood watch area.

Assistance with fencing, ménage building, etc. is available if required.

To be auctioned in September please ring for further details on 01749 673428 or 07801 347287

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Countdown to festival run

MORE than 200 entries have been received for the second charity Festival Run around the Glastonbury Festival site at Pilton.

Organisers have increased the limit to 450 and have opened the event for the first time to teams.

Three races will be held at Worthy Farm on Sunday.

Glastonbury Festival founder October 12th: 2km, 5km and Michael Eavis and his grandchildren George and Noah join run 10km. organisers Mike Mayhew, Julie Entry fees for the event Patterson, Richard Raynsford and will again go towards Christopher Bond in front of the Children’s Hospice South Pyramid Stage West but organisers say individuals or teams are welcome to seek sponsorship for their own choice of charity. Amongst the teams confirmed so far are the Red Berry Babes – staff from the award-winning recruitment agency – and sponsors include Wyke Farm Cheese.

The event is also seeking more stewards to help on the day.

For information and to enter, visit: www.piltonvillage.co.uk/festival-run.html

Croquet for children

SPORT

Croquet at Bishop’s Palace

THE immaculate croquet lawn at the Bishop’s Palace in Wells will host a charity tournament in September in aid of Save the Children.

Ten teams of four will compete on Saturday, September 13th for a silver trophy; the team scoring the lowest total will be presented with blow-up toy mallets by the organisers of the fun competition. The tournament will start at 10.30am with the prize-giving due at 3.30pm. Entry to the Bishop’s Palace is free and refreshments will be available.

James Stephen, from organisers Carter Jonas, said: “We would like to make this an annual event and hope lots of people will come to watch. All ages are welcome.”

Experts and newcomers at bowls club THE latest centenary celebrations for the City of Wells bowls club have been at the opposite ends of the sporting spectrum with a game against Bowls England and also a competition for novices.

Bowls England President Adie Lloyd and his six-rink mixed team representing 12 English counties took on the city side at the Recreation Ground for a celebration match which Wells won by 132 shots to 114.

Meanwhile, 12 teams representing local sports and other organisations entered teams of up to ten players with any four playing each game. Each player paid 50p subscription – the equivalent of the 1914 membership cost of £10/6s.

Teams were divided into two groups and over a five-week period played each other in a round-robin format. The group winners contested the final for a first prize of £100 and a runners-up prize of £25.

The winners of each group both represented the “Clubmen” skittles team.

Victory went to the “Men’s Club” team – Mike and Mark Cornish, Des Treadway and David Herridge – who beat the “Boy’s Club” team – Matt, Joe and Graham Brown and Pete Muirhead – by

14 shots to eight.

Bowls club spokesman David Bishop said: “With several of these players

A right Wells welcome to Bowls England

wishing to continue playing for the rest of the season, the bowls club hopes it has raised the profile of the sport.”

Newcomers to the sport gather at the Recreation Ground

For more centenary photos and reports visit: www.cityofwellsbowlsclub.org.co.uk MENDIP TIMES • SEPTEMBER 2014 • PAGE 97

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MENDIP TIMES

Mendip table tennis duo on top of the world

Prattens table tennis pair of Terry Parkins and Jerry Musselwhite struck gold at the recent World Corporate Games in Liverpool representing PSP Insurance and Financial Solutions.

Parkins, fresh from representing England in the World Veterans Championships in New Zealand and Musselwhite, from a record 14th Mendip Singles Title didn’t drop a game in winning the over 40s doubles. Parkins reversed last year’s UK result to beat Musselwhite in the over 50s semi -final and went on to claim the Gold in style.

PSP’s powerful overall team of six dominated the table tennis with six gold, one silver and two bronze, taking the overall table tennis championship comfortably.

The World Corporate Games also have eight Championship Divisions spanning all 22 sports, with the largest being for over 200 athletes from an organisation. PSP underlined their dominance by also taking the Championship across all sports for six to 10 athletes.

Musselwhite summed it up by saying “We thought we’d be competitive with our four men all from our PSP British League team. Our two women were brilliant and won all their events, holding off a strong Turkish challenge. Winning the Division 2 Championship across all sports was the icing on the cake!”

New club flourishes

The winning team

CROQUET is booming at Camerton and Peasedown Croquet Club – the beginner’s course attracted 11 new members – and others have continued to join during the year.

Members not only take part in club competitions – many take part in national competitions, and others are looking forward to competing in regional and club finals.

PAGE 98 • MENDIP TIMES • SEPTEMBER 2014

Anyone for table tennis?

THIS coming season sees the 40th anniversary of the Mendip Table Tennis League. The 1975-76 season witnessed the amalgamation of the Northeast Somerset table tennis league, which had already joined forces with Frome Table Tennis League which had been formed in September 1951.

In the Mendip Table Tennis first season (1975-76) there were three divisions with 34 teams representing 20 clubs, including Albion Garage, Butler & Tanner, City of Wells, Cygnets, Dunkerton, Frome Police, Goslings, Henton, Literary Sports, Litton, Norton Sports, Old Collegiates, Paulton Methodist Youth Club, Prattens, Purnells, T4, Three Firms, Timsbury, Wyvern and Y.A.A. During seasons 1978 to 1983 the league had four divisions with a premier and divisions one to three, which peaked at 48 teams across all four divisions during the 1979-1980 season.

During the 1970s/1980s the First Division League title was won five times by Dunkerton and three times by Y.A.A. to be overtaken by Frome Dragons’ six titles from 1999 to 2004, then more recently by Prattens’ nine titles from 2006 to 2014.

Literary sports, Frome Police, Radstock and Blagdon A won the title on two occasions each.

The league ran divisional knock-out Cup competitions from 1974 (Northeast Somerset League) up to and including season 2008. The Handicap Cup has been running from my records (Northeast Somerset league 1973 to date) with Henton Club winning on eight occasions.

Our end of season championship was held every year, producing great players like Mike Baker, Jerry Musslewhite, Phil Payne and Linda Porter to mention a few.

The Mendip league is still going strong today, though sadly with only 14 teams representing eight clubs. The teams play each other with a split at Christmas, with two divisions of seven teams battling it out for the titles.

My research continues on the history of the three leagues so if you played in the Frome, Northeast Somerset or Mendip league and have any memories, newspaper articles or photographs please contact andyboucher@hotmail.co.uk or mobile 07720805280.

Andy Boucher Andy Boucher

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The victorious Somerset Rebels team at Peterborough

THE “Cases” Somerset Rebels have been crowned the Premier League Fours Champions after a dramatic afternoon at host club Peterborough.

The Rebels have now won the title for the second time in their history, the first occasion being back in 2005. The Somerset quartet of Nick Morris, Olly Allen, Pontus Aspgren and Brady Kurtz, together with reserve Charles Wright, were drawn in Group A of the Championship Semi-Finals along with Newcastle, Scunthorpe and Peterborough, while the defending Fours Champions Edinburgh were in Group B together with Workington, Redcar and Berwick.

Somerset won the final with 24 points, six ahead of Workington with Scunthorpe and Edinburgh tied on 15.

Somerset team manager Garry May said: “This was is just a fantastic achievement by the boys. When we put the team together over the winter I knew that we would be strong in events such as this and the Pairs, and so it has proved.”

The Rebels surrendered their Pairs title in July but Garry added: “In just under two years this club has won every team championship there is to win in the Premier League, which is some achievement, but we are not finished yet, we still have the League Championship itself to go for, we are the defending League Champions and we want to retain that title.”

Gone fishing

Pennies from Devon!

(Photograph courtesy of Ron MacNeill)

More success for speedway side

SPORT

Phil with fellow Shepton Mallet player Barb Haygarth

WORLD shove ha’penny champion Phil Foxwell is used to being recognised in his home town of Shepton Mallet but his success has spread much further.

Having added the Mid Somerset singles and doubles titles to his list of honours, Phil has discovered he is well-known in places such as Barnstaple, where the game is just as popular as on Mendip. As Mendip Times went to press Phil was due to compete in the town’s open championship with playing partner Gary Haygarth.

Phil often travels to Devon for work but didn’t expect many people to know of his prowess on the slate. He said: “There’s a pub in Barnstaple where they play on wooden boards rather than slate and people there knew all about me.”

More than 30 players – men and women – from across the south west and Wales converged on the Victoria Inn in Shepton Mallet for the South West championships.

Ian Crabb, from Shepton Mallet, concentrates on his game as the neutral marker looks on

WRINGTON Vale Rotary Club members enjoyed a day’s fishing, with Paul Newton disappointed that his catch of the day turned out to be an old lobster pot! Some 80 mackerel were caught in all.

MENDIP TIMES • SEPTEMBER 2014 • PAGE 99

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Abbey rocks to Plant and pals

By Mark Adler

THE “Sold Out” signs were hanging outside Glastonbury Abbey as hundreds queued patiently in the rain to enter the grounds for this year’s Glastonbury Extravaganza.

Headliners Robert Plant and the Sensational Space Shifters didn’t disappoint the fans who arrived equipped for any eventually, loaded with everything from picnic blankets, champagne and candelabra to waterproofs and umbrellas.

George Ezra, the Bristol singe

Happy birthday: hairdresser Cyril Gallie

Long-time fans mingle at the fron PAGE 100 • MENDIP TIMES • SEPTEMBER 2014

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GLASTONBURY EXTRAVAGANZA 2014 Siddy Bennett, leader singer from four-piece band Wildflowers who opened the extravaganza; they’ve been described as a cross between Fleetwood Mac and The Eagles

the Bristol singer/songwriter gave a massive performance

esser Cyril Gallie celebrates his 71st birthday with family

Michael Eavis, founder of the Glastonbury Festival, signs an autograph

at the front of the stage with newcomers to Plant’s music

Whole lotta love: (l:r) Jay Warbey with daughter Vaya, aged seven months, Mike Starnes with 16-month-old Isla and Gregg Jones with Vaya’s twin sister Juno MENDIP TIMES • SEPTEMBER 2014 • PAGE 101

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Palace to host literature festival

THE Bishop’s Palace in Wells will play host to the city’s annual Festival of Literature in October.

Amongst the celebrities giving talks and readings will be Michael Morpugo – author of War Horse and Private Peaceful – who will open the festival on Friday, October 10th with a talk in Wells Cathedral about his experiences of discovering and writing about war. He will also discuss his new novel Listen to the Moon, about the First World War from the perspective of a German prisoner of war.

This year also sees the 50th anniversary since Ruth Rendell published her first novel and the best-selling writer will discuss her career with local writer Tobias Jones.

And 2014 is also the 50th anniversary of the Somerset Wildlife Trust and its work will be celebrated with a morning of talks and debates with four wildlife authors.

Most of the events will take place in a huge marquee in the grounds of the palace. In her introduction to the festival programme, festival chair Emma Craigie says: “This year there will be lots of conversations: we have international

journalists, acclaimed cooks, debut and leading novelists and a famous neurosurgeon talking to a famous stroke victim. In case we take ourselves too seriously we also have Craig Brown of Private Eye satirising literary festivals.”

Tobias Jones in Windsor Hill Wood, home to his retreat which is the subject of his latest book: Gimme Shelter

For information, visit: www.wellsfestivalofliterature.org.uk

PAGE 102 • MENDIP TIMES • SEPTEMBER 2014

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WHAT’S ON

Time to rock!

Mendip Rocks! 2014 is back for its fourth year of events that bring alive the millions of years of the fascinating geology of the Mendip Hills.

Mendip Rocks! 2014 is supported by the Mendip Hills AONB Partnership in collaboration with the Somerset Earth Science Centre and Somerset Wildlife Trust.

DIARY OF EVENTS

SEPTEMBER Saturday, 27th BURRINGTON ROCKS! 2–5pm. Geological fun for all ages at the festival’s opening event.

“Back in time” walks, geocache trails and handson rocky workshops. Burrington Combe, Lower Car Park, BS40 7AT. ST 476587. FFI: Discovering Black Down Project Officer, Mendip Hills AONB: 01761 462338 or sbardsley@somerset.gov.uk Tuesday, 30th BANWELL BONE CAVES TREASURE TROVE. 10.30am–4pm.Timed guided tours of the impressive display of bones from animals that lived in the Mendips before the last Ice Age. Booking required. Write to: John M Haynes, The Bone Caves, Banwell, BS29 6NA or johnatthecaves@btinternet.com £6 includes tea and cake – payable at event.

OCTOBER Wednesday, 1st TWILIGHT QUARRY TOUR. 5.30–7pm. Tour by minibus to see the vast working quarry at Whatley with dramatic exposures of carboniferious limestone. Meet Somerset Earth Science Centre, Stoke St Michael, BA3 5JU. Adults only. Booking required. Dr Gill Odolphie: 01749 840156 or gill@earthsciencecentre.org.uk Friday, 3rd TORR WORKS TOUR. 9.30am–1pm. An indepth look at the geology of the magnificent rock exposures at this working quarry with Aggregate Industry’s Geologist, Steve Nice. Minibus tour with some walking. Meet Somerset Earth Science Centre, Stoke St Michael, BA3 5JU. Adults only.

Booking required. Contact as above.

Sunday, 5th VALLIS VALE’S HIDDEN GEOLOGICAL GEMS. 10.30am–4pm. Explore the fascinating geological feature of the De la Beche Unconformity followed by a fossil foray on the ancient seabed at Tedbury Camp in Vallis Vale near Frome with Elizabeth Devon. Bring picnic lunch. Meet Mells River Bridge, Great Elm, ST 749492. FFI: elizabeth@earthlearningidea.com Monday, 6th WELLS – A HISTORY IN STONE. 3–5pm. A journey through time to the ancient landscapes of the Wells area, by looking at the rock types used in and around the Cathedral Green on a guided walk with David Rowley. Meet at Wells and Mendip Museum. £3/person. Booking required: 01749 673477 or admin@wellsmuseum.org Tuesday, 7th WHERE MENDIPS MEET THE SEA. 2–5pm.

Admission charges: free unless otherwise stated but a donation of £3/adult, £1/child is welcome towards the Mendip Rocks! project.

Enjoy the dramatic coastal landscape at Uphill with Chris Richards, North Somerset Council Seafront and Events Ranger. Parking in Uphill Way. Meet at Quarry Corner, junction of Uphill Way with Links Road, Uphill, BS23 4XY. FFI: North Somerset Council Seafront Office: 01934 626982.

Wednesday, 8th DRY STONE WALLING – WAVERING DOWN. 10am–3pm. Learn the ancient skill of dry stone walling with the Mendip Hills AONB and National Trust and help in the restoration of the historic field boundaries on Wavering Down.

Booking required. Nichola Penn, AONB: 01761 462338 or mendipvolunteers@gmail.com Saturday, 11th WILD WESTBURY QUARRY. 2–4pm. Explore this former limestone quarry where cave bears once lived and now a haven for wildlife. A guided walk to see striking geological features and fossils. Westbury Quarry, Stancombe Lane, Westbury-sub-Mendip, Wells, BA1 1HT. Booking required. Nigel Taylor, Quarry Manager: 01749 871289 or nigel.taylor@explosives.net

Banwell Bone Caves

Sunday, 12th GREAT ELM AND HAPSFORD QUARRY DETECTIVES. 2–4pm. Join the Quarry Faces community heritage project on a guided walk to find out more about Vallis Vale’s fascinating history. Meet Mells River Bridge, Great Elm, ST 749492. Booking required: Ruth Worsley 01761 232898 or ruthworsley@quarryfaces.org.uk Tuesday14th and Thursday, 16th A TALE OF TWO MENDIP QUARRIES. 10am–2pm. Quarry tours to see two working quarries at Moons Hill and Whatley, within four miles of each other, quarrying different types of rock, millions of years apart. Adults only. Meet Somerset Earth Science Centre, Stoke St Michael, BA3 5JU. Booking required. Dr Gill Odolphie 01749 840156 or gill@earthsciencecentre.org.uk Wednesday, 15th EXPLORE BLAGDON AND BURRINGTON HAM. 10am–2pm. Discover the fascinating geology, history and wildlife of Burrington Ham and the northern slopes of the Mendips Hills on a five-mile circular walk led by the Mendip Hills AONB Volunteer Rangers. Meet car park next to

Blagdon Fire Station, BS40 7RL. ST 501592.

Booking required. Andy Mallender (AONB) 01761 462338 or amallender@somerset.gov.uk Saturday, 18th SPRINGS AND SLOCKERS. 2–5pm. Stoke St Michael. Investigate the fascinating limestone landscape features of sink holes known as slockers and resurgences known as springs on a five-mile guided walk with the Mendip Society.

The walk (moderate) will also include a special visit to the private Fairy Cave quarry. £2 nonmembers. Meet outside Knatchbull Arms, BA3 5JJ. ST 665468. FFI Roger Moses: 01761 490458.

Sunday, 19th OCHRE MINING AT WINFORD REDDING PITS. 10am–12pm. Illustrated talk on history of Ochre Mining followed by exploration of remains of ochre mining area with Alan Gray. Red House Farm, Redding Pit Lane, Winford, BS40 8DL. ST 532639. Booking required: Dr Gill Odolphie: 01749 840156 or gill@earthsciencecentre.org.uk Wednesday, 22nd WESTBURY QUARRY CONSERVATION TASK. 10am–3pm. Fence repair and path clearance work with the Mendip Hills AONB and National Trust in a former quarry and now a geological site of special scientific interest.

Booking required. Nichola Penn (AONB): 01761 462338 or mendipvolunteers@gmail.com Sunday, 26th EXPLORE EBBOR GORGE. 10am–4pm.

Family fun-packed day of “sand pit fossil digs”, story telling, drystone walling, guided walks to gorge and caves and much more to reveal the reserve’s unique geology and rare archaeological finds. Ebbor Gorge National Nature Reserve, ST 520484. Car park on Priddy to Wookey road. All ages welcome. Booking required. Simon Clarke 01458 860120 or simon.clarke@naturalengland.org.uk Monday, 27th WRITHLINGTON BATCH FOSSIL FORAY. 1.30– 4pm. Search for plant fossils on the coal spoils at Writhlington Batch, once a swamp forest.

Meet Radstock Museum entrance, BA3 3EP. FFI: Radstock Museum 01761 437722 Wednesday, 29th THE ROCKY ROADSHOW. 11am–3pm. A series of fun, hands-on activities to explore the wonderful world of Mendip’s rocks and fossils including a rare glimpse into the deep working volcanic rock quarry of Moons Hill. Somerset Earth Science Centre, Stoke St Michael, BA3 5JU. Dr Gill Odolphie: 01749 840156 or gill@earthsciencecentre.org.uk Thursday, 30th EBBOR GORGE AND WOOKEY HOLE WANDER. 10am–2pm. Explore the striking limestone scenery, woodland and wildlife of the south western slopes of the Mendip Hills on a four-mile circular walk led by the Mendip Hills AONB Volunteer Rangers. Booking required.

Andy Mallender (AONB): 01761 462338 or amallender@somerset.gov.uk

A full programme of festival events is available at www. somersetwildlife.org/rocks For general enquiries or for a copy of programme contact Ruth Worsley, Somerset Earth Science Centre on 01761 232898 or email ruth@earthsciencecentre.org.uk MENDIP TIMES • SEPTEMBER 2014 • PAGE 103

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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.

Wednesday August 27th Backwell & Nailsea Macular Support Garden Party, (weather permitting; otherwise in the W.I. Hall).

Friends welcome, for details: Sheila, 01275 462107.

Family holiday activities at Wells Cathedral, 11am1pm. Children’s activities and discovery tours for adults – details: www.wellscathedral.org Yeo Valley Garden and Food Days – a chance to see the garden and enjoy its produce. £50pp. Details: www.yeovalley.co.uk Thursday August 28th West Mendip Walkers – a moderate circular walk of 6.35 miles in the Polden Hills. OS Explorer 141 Grid:ST462364.Start 1.30pm, park near Walton church, off A39. Details: www.mendipramblers.co.uk Friday August 29th Walk at Wellow, 9.30am, for circular walk to Combe Hay. See www.dontwalkalone.co.uk for further details.

Wednesday September 3rd “The Life & Times of Alfred Leete”, a Westonian and artist famous for his poster “Your Country Needs You”. A talk by Pat Hase for the Friends of Weston-sMare Museum, 7.30pm, Burlington St, Weston.

Thursday September 4th Irish Set Dancing – classes resume at Dinder Village Hall every Thurs 8.30-10.30pm. Beginners welcome – you don't need a partner. Details: Paul Harper tel 01458-210051.

Birds and Birding – a presentation by Stephen Moss – tv producer and president of Somerset Wildlife Trust – for Cheddar Valley U3A at Church House, Cheddar (opp. St Andrew's Church) at 2.15pm.

Visitors welcome (£1).Details: 01934 710242 or www.cheddarvalleyu3a.org.uk or Cheddar Library any Monday 10.30am-12 for coffee and chat.

West Mendip Walkers. 7.5 miles easy to mod circular walk to West Compton from Pilton. OS Map: Explorer 141 Grid:ST588408 Start 10.30am. Park nr Pilton Working Mens’ Club. Contact: anthonyestrange@gmail.com Friday September 5th – Sunday September 7th Meare Parish Harvest Fun Weekend, at the playing field, Muddy Lane, Meare. Friday evening race night, Saturday evening live band, flower and produce show, dog show, crafts, 5 a side football, car boot, refreshments, bar etc. Details: 01458 860173.

Friday September 5th Yeovil Rotary’s “Last Night of the Proms” Concert with The British Philharmonic Concert Orchestra, 7.30pm at The Octagon Theatre, Yeovil. Tickets, £24.50 /£22, from the theatre or Yeovil Rotary, 01460 240984. In aid of local charities.

Open Mic Night at Redhill Club, BS40 5SG, from 8pm. Hosted by Tom & Jo Lee Vowles (band members of the Redhillbillies). All welcome, singers, musicians and spectators. Tel: 01934 862619.

“Life In Gaza” a talk by Yorkshire Quaker Hilary Browne who was working in Gaza during the 2009 bombings. “I want people to know what life is like there so we can all work towards a just peace.” Trinity Hall, Frome BA11 3DE. 7.30 pm. Price £3.50. All profits to Medical Aid for Palestinians.

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Reel People Film Society 2014/2015 season begins with American Hustle (Cert15). Prospect Theatre, Writhlington School, Radstock BA3 3NQ. The season’s screenings are included in the annual membership of £28. Non-members are always welcome and guest entry is £5.00 per person payable at the door. Book on line www.reelpeople.org.uk or call our hotline 01761 418749.

Saturday September 6th – Sunday September 7th Bee & Pollination Festival at Bristol Botanic Garden, The Holmes, Stoke Park Rd, Bristol BS9 1JG, 10am-5pm. Learn how you can help the bees with demonstrations & talks. Entrance £3.50 (Friends, children and students free) Saturday September 6th Chew Stoke Harvest Home and Horse Show, 12:30–5pm, (Horse Show 9am), Ogborne Field, Chew Lane. £2.50 (£3 on gate) U-14’s free. Various events and stalls. Details: www.chewstokeharvesthome.org.uk East Mendip Gardening Club Annual Produce Show, Village Hall, Oakhill, 2pm. Stalls, Car Boot etc.

Contact: Adel Avery, 01749 840240.

Chilcompton Flower Show, Chilcompton Village Hall. Starts 2.15pm. Refreshments available.

Enquiries: Janet, 01761 233301.

Mendip Society walk, Chew Stoke. Meet 2pm, Breach Hill Common, BS40 8YG. ST 542 598 5 miles, Moderate. Contact: Martin 01761 462528.

Tim Pitman singing at Brent Knoll Parish Hall at 7.30pm – light classical, songs from the shows etc.

Details: www.timpitman.com Tickets £8 from Brent Knoll Village Shop or Eddie, 01278 760308.

Railway “Rev Up” Vintage display of cars, motorcycles, steam engines, tractors and stationary engines. Railway Inn (Ashcott Corner), Ashcott Road, Meare, Glastonbury, Somerset BA69SX. 10am-4pm (also Sunday). Car boot sale on Sunday (sellers just turn up! £3). Supporting Dorset and Somerset Air Ambulance. Ffi: For Ivan Sparks: 07891 939055.

Sunday September 7th Holly Hedge Fun Day and Fun Dog Show 2014!

11am-4pm at Ashton Court Estate, Bristol – the Dovecote entrance. Photo-Entry Cat Competition, Agility Demonstrations, bouncy castle etc. Entry £1.00 (50p children & senior citizens).

Redhill Village Harvest Fair & Produce Show, 12 noon – 5pm at Redhill Club, BS40 5SG. Stalls, classic cars & motor cycles, live music and refreshments.

Entry free. To book a stall (£10) contact Hazel: 01275 474973.

Stratton-on-the-Fosse Village Fun Day, 12-4pm in the village hall and football field. Lots of attractions, in aid of the village hall. Trade stands £10 (£12 on the day) – to book call Sue, 07801 721162.

Binegar Village Day, Binegar Memorial Hall & Playing Field, BA3 4TR, 2-5pm. Skittles, lots of stalls, other activities and fun.

Cycle ride, Two Tunnels, Bath, 9.30am, Members only. See www.dontwalkalone.co.uk for further details.

Sponsored Teddy Bear Parachute from Dundry Church Tower, 3pm. Prizes for best parachute and slowest descent from the Tower. Cream teas.

Sponsor forms: 0117 9646213.

Created in Somerset – Stonemasons Demonstration at the Bishop’s Palace, Wells. 11am3pm. Meet members of the Wells Cathedral Stonemasons and find out how this ancient craft is

W h a t ’ s

still relevant today. www.bishopspalace.org.uk Monday, September 8th Beacon Hill Society talk: The Archaeology of Beacon Hill by Steve Tofts. Somerset Earth Science Centre, Moons Hill Quarry, Stoke St Michael, BA3 5JU. 7.30pm. Members free (£2 non-members). The talk will be followed by a walk around Beacon Hill on Sunday, September 14th at 2pm. Ffi: www.bhsm.org.uk or call Julian Back on: 01373 813636.

Tuesday September 9th Fosseway Gardening Club. Meet at Pylle Village Hall, 7.30pm. Dr Anne Bebbington speaking on British Orchids. Ring Barbara 01749 860438 or turn up on the night. All welcome.

‘British Owls: their Natural History and Practical Conservation’ – a talk by Chris Sperring for Westons-Mare Archaeological and Natural History Society, 7.30pm at Victoria Methodist Church Hall, Station Road, BS23 1XU. Visitors welcome £2.30.

Wednesday September 10th Yeo Valley Garden and Food Days – a chance to see the garden and enjoy its produce. £50pp. Details: www.yeovalley.co.uk Thursday September 11th – Sunday September 14th Mendip Hills Walking Festival – walks, heritage tours and visits celebrating our rather special Mendip landscape and heritage. A walk over 4 days of The Mendip Way in it’s entirety from Uphill to Frome with overnight stops en-route. Booking essential.

Details: www.mendipwalkingfestival.org.uk Thursday September 11th West Mendip Walkers. 6 miles moderate walk to Deerleap, Dursdon and Easton from Hill Lodge ind Estate, Westbury sub Mendip. OS Map: Explorer 141 Grid:ST499484 Start 13.30hrs. Park in road before industrial estate. Contact: anthonyestrange@gmail.com Friday September 12th – Saturday September 13th Chew Valley Beer Festival – both evenings 7pm – midnight plus Saturday noon -4pm. 30 Real Ales, six Ciders & Perries, live bands in the evenings. Food.

Advance tickets only from 01761 462468 or Paypal www.chewvalleybeerfestival.co.uk Saturday September 13th Silent Auction & Coffee Morning in aid of Weston Hospicecare at Hutton Village Hall, 10am -12 noon, organised by Hutton Support Group. Details 01934 813339.

Brent Knoll Bazaar & Farmers’ Market at the Parish Hall, 10am-12. Local foods & crafts, hot & cold snacks. Entrance free. To book a table, £7, contact Eddie: 01278 760308.

Dundry Church Tower Open Day. 2 – 4pm. Adults £2. Children 8 – 16 £1 – sorry no children under eight. Refreshments. Please arrive at 2pm for your timed ticket. Bring binoculars! FFi – 0117 9646213.

Guide Dogs Coffee Morning & Sale, 10am12.30pm. Stalls, raffle, tombola, cakes! Methodist Centre, Midsomer Norton,BA3 2DR. Admission by donation. Info: 01761 415326.

Winscombe Michaelmas Fair, Community Centre, Sandford Road from 1.45pm. Crafts & Produce Show, stalls, rides, Weston Brass Band, dog agility and Tae Kwon Do displays. £1 adults, 50p children & seniors.

Cheddar Male Choir annual concert, Princess Theatre, Burnham on Sea, with award winning soprano Kate Eastment. 7.30pm. Tickets £8 from the box office, choir members or Brent Knoll village

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shop. Details: www.cheddarmvchoir.co.uk Redhill Club Pool Competition from 8pm – Prize for the winner. All players welcome, Church Rd, BS40 5SG -just off the A38 south of Bristol Airport.

Churchill and Langford Harvest Supper, Churchill Recreation Ground. Bar opens 6pm. Music by The Fallen Apples. Tickets £12.40,(U-16’s £7.50)from Churchill Stores. Enquiries, 01934 852137.

Yarlington Fayre. Yarlington House, Yarlington, BA9 8DY. 11am to 4pm. Come and enjoy a cream tea in the beautiful grounds of Yarlington House, run the Yarlington mile, enter your dogs in the dog show, browse the stalls, relax with the jazz band, check our your circus and archery skills and more. Entry: £2.50, children free, free parking. Ffi: Jane 01963440660 or janebraybon@uwclub.net Murder Mystery on the Mendips. A whodunit on board a steam train through the countryside.

Departing from the East Somerset Railway at Cranmore at 7pm. Dress code: 1920s glamour. Tickets £40 each to include three-course meal. In aid of the Mendip Farmers’ Hunt. Tickets and further info from Charlotte on: 07792 683104 or e-mail: charlotte@mjellis.co.uk Cheddar Male Choir Annual Concert at Princess Theatre, Burnham on Sea at 7.30pm. A great celebration of songs from the musicals, pop charts and some traditional along with the award winning soprano Kate Eastment, winner of many singing competitions. Contact the Princess Theatre on 01278 784464 for details.

Railways at War, Midsomer Norton Station. 10am4.30pm. Full size replica Spitfire with option for cockpit experiences, vintage road vehicles, wartime action re-enactments, refreshments, railway walks and more. Also Sunday, September 14th. Adults £5 (includes £1 donation to Help for Heroes); children free. Ffi: www.sdjr.co.uk Sunday September 14th Organ recital at Wells Cathedral, 4.30pm. Entry free, collection in aid of Somerset Community Foundation's Flood Relief Fund. Details: www.somersetorganists.org/whats-on Rotary Club of Wells charity tug of war, £10 per team of eight, all ages, single sex or mixed. Details: www.wellsrotaryclub.org Mendip Society walk. Meet 2pm at Herriotts Bridge, south end of Chew Valley Lake, Nr BS40 6HN. Moderate 4 mile walk with a climb and steep descent.

ST 570 581.Contact: Peter 01761 221995.

Medieval Falconry Day at the Bishop’s Palace, Wells. 11am-4pm. Flying displays from hawks, owls and falcons and talk to the experts who look after these magnificent birds. www.bishopspalace.org.uk Thursday September 18th Cheddar Valley U3A coffee morning at Church House, Cheddar (opp St Andrew's Church) 10.30am 12. Our 'French: Les Francophiles' group will be there. Details 01934 710242 or www.cheddarvalleyu3a.org.uk West Mendip Walkers. 7.5 miles easy to mod walk along the River Barle to Withypool from Tarr Steps in Exmoor National Park. OS Map”Explorer OL9 Grid: ST872323 Start 10.30hrs. Park in the National Park car park. Contact: anthonyestrange@gmail.com “British Owls & Birdlife” a talk by Chris Sperring for Crook Peak Gardening Club at Cross Village Hall, BS26 2EH. 7.45pm. Details: Sue: 01934 822210.

BBC ONE’s ever popular Sunday evening

S e p t e m b e r

programme ANTIQUES ROADSHOW will be filming for its 37th series in the grounds of Barrington Court, near Ilminster. The doors open at 9.30 am and close at 4.30pm. Entry to the show is free. People with large pieces of furniture or other big items can send details and photographs of their objects to: ANTIQUES ROADSHOW, BBC, Whiteladies Road, Bristol BS8 2LR or e-mail them to: antiques.roadshow@bbc.co.uk. It may be possible to arrange to look at the item in advance and organise transportation to the venue.

Friday September 19th Park Lane Big Band Dance Night at Conygre Hall, Timsbury, BA2 0JG. Tickets £10. Bar, food, raffle.

Donation to Kenyan Orphan’s Project. Details: 01761 471245 or www.mendipmusic.com Saturday September 21st – Sunday September 22nd Clevedon Tides Festival – lots to see and do along Clevedon seafront – live music, art displays, fireworks, literary walks, field and water activities plus stalls: www.facebook.com/clevedontides Saturday September 20th “Fourteen Pioneers of Astronomy” a talk by Bob Mizen followed by observations through Wells & Mendip Astronomers members’ telescopes. Priddy Village Hall & Upper Green, 7.30pm. Details: www.wellsastronomers.org.uk Bleadon Village Market 9-12.30 at the village halls Bleadon, BS24 0PG. Over 30 stalls with crafts, collectables, local produce and much more.

Refreshments. See www.bleadon.org.uk/market Mendip Society Walk, Vallis Vale, nr Frome. Meet 2pm at the junction on the A362 of Wallington Way and Vallis Road, Frome BA11 3NF. Moderate 5 miles, ST 768 485. Contact: Roger 01225 872777.

Omega and Alpha, an oratorio composed by Martin Emslie, will be performed at Haynes Motor Museum in aid of Macmillan Cancer Support. Further details and tickets contact 01963 359613.

Sunday September 21st Walk: 9.30am, Wells to Ebbor Gorge. See www.dontwalkalone.co.uk for further details.

Wednesday September 24th “Macular Research” – a talk by Julie Edwards from the Macular Society, 1.30pm to 3.15pm at Backwell W.I. Hall, Station Road. All welcome. For more information, phone Sheila, 01275 462107.

Thursday September 25th West Mendip Walkers. 6.5 miles easy walk around the boundaries of Axbridge. OS Map:Explorer 141 Grid:ST438544 Start 13.30hrs. Park at Cheddar Reservoir lower car park. Contact: anthonyestrange@gmail.com Chew Valley Wildlife Group: “Born to Bird” 12 year old Mya-Rose Craig who has so far spotted over 3,500 species around the world. Chew Magna Millennium Hall, 7.45pm. Visitors £2.50.

Saturday September 27th – Sunday September 28th Heroes and Villains of Olde England at the Bishop’s

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Palace, Wells. 11am-4pm. Listen to tales of days gone by when the springs of Wells were seen as a magical place www.bishopspalace.org.uk Art & Craft Exhibition. Leigh On Mendip Memorial Hall, BA3 5QH. 11am-4pm Free Entry. Wide range of locally produced Arts & Crafts. All welcome.

Refreshments available.

Saturday September 27th Backwell Market, 10.30am-1pm in the WI Hall, BS48 3QW. Hands-on children’s workshop, bacon butties, stalls of organic local produce. Free. Details: www.backwellvillagemarket.weebly.com Family History Open Day, 10am-4pm at UWE Conference Centre, Frenchay, Bristol. Talks on WW1, advice from Family History Societies, etc. Details: www.bafhs.org.uk or opendays@bafhs.org.uk Mendip Society walk, Meet 2pm at the Heron’s Green lay-by on the west side of Chew Valley Lake on Chapel Lane,BS40 8XD.Moderate 5-6 miles, ST 554 594. Contact: David 01761 221145 Sunday, September 28th Cafe Concert. 7pm. Syrinx – the South West’s foremost wind and piano ensemble - perform the third of their 2014 series of cafe concerts at Henton Village Hall (three miles from Wells on B3139 WellsWedmore road). Enjoy a candlelit supper in a relaxed cafe-style atmosphere whilst listening to a varied programme of music for wind instruments and piano.

Book a table for six or come along and meet new friends. Tickets £15 (incl. cheese & wine supper) 07595 671116 or email: jacquelynbevan@yahoo.co.uk Wednesday October 1st – November 30th Somerset Guy Fawkes Carnivals Exhibition, Radstock Museum. Model carts, carnival art, photographs old and new, artefacts, videos, story boards telling the complete history. Details: www.radstockmuseum.co.uk Friday October 3rd Open Mic Night at Redhill Club (BS40 5SG) from 8pm. Hosted by Jerry Blythe. All welcome, singers, musicians and spectators. Tel: 01934 862619.

Trinity Singers Quiz Night, Burrington Village Hall, BS40 7AD. 7.15pm for 7.30pm start. Includes a light supper, bar and raffle. Teams of 6 but teams can be made up from smaller numbers. Tickets £6 from 01934 852123 or choir members.

Sunday October 4th – Sunday October 12th (closed Monday/Tuesday) ‘Echoes’ – an exhibition of contemporary textile art

by Gordano Textile Artists, 11am-5pm, Sidcot Arts Centre, Sidcot School,BS25 1PD. Free. Refreshments.

Details www.gordanotextileartists.co.uk The Galliard Wind Ensemble 7.30pm St. John the Baptist Church, Churchill. BS25 5QW. Tickets £14.50; Champions of Churchill Music! £10.50; U18's £4.00 from: Ursula Dornton 01934 852919 or tickets@churchillmusic.org.uk or 'pot luck' at the door.

ANSWERS TO THE MENDIP MINDBENDER ACROSS: 1 North Somerset, 9 Optimal, 10 Compton, 11 Hard cheese, 12 Beam, 14 Thimble, 16 No ball, 19 Angina, 20 Remains, 23 Kick, 24 Anno Domini, 27 Praline, 28 Know-all, 29 Skinny dipping.

DOWN: 2 Rotor, 3 Homecoming, 4 Oil wells, 5 Excise, 6 Sump, 7 Tithe barn, 8/22 Windmill Hill, 9 Otho, 13 Tomato soup, 15 high class, 17 Backspin, 18 Reworked, 21 Intern, 25 Iraqi, 26 Hi-fi.

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Film centre tribute to WWI

WELLS Film Centre is showing a series of films based on World War One as its way of commemorating the outbreak of the conflict.

One of the highlights will be the showing of Private Peaceful based on the novel by Michael Morpugo. Somerset-based film producer Guy de Beaujeu will introduce the film (Certificate 12A), which will be screened at 3pm on Friday, October 10th and the author will call into the cinema to meet fans before giving a talk on the opening night of the festival at Wells Cathedral.

Before then, the cinema will screen Paths of Glory (PG) on Tuesday, September 9th at 7.30pm.

Princes Road, Wells, BA5 1TD

COMING UP:

Starts Friday 29th August

The Expendables 3 (12A)

Wednesday 4th September Two Gentlemen of Verona – LIVE 7pm Thursday 4th September

Medea – LIVE 7pm

Starts Friday 5th September Hundred Foot Journey (PG)

Sex Tape (15) What If (15)

Starts Friday 12th September The Grand Seduction (12A) Tuesday 16th September

Tuesday 18th September

A Streetcar Named Desire – LIVE 7pm Madama Butterfly (PG) – LIVE 7pm

G Book in person G Online 24/7 @www.wellsfilmcentre.co.uk G Over the ’phone: 01749 673195

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A packed day in store

THE past will be meeting the future at this year’s Frome Show, from traditional country pursuits and skills and top quality livestock to an appearance by a robot!

The event takes place on Saturday, September 13th at the West Woodlands showground where the extensive road network means that it’s accessible for people with mobility problems.

Topping the bill on the Village Green, the Knights of the Damned will be giving a breathtaking display of mediaval jousting then, in complete contrast Titan the Robot will be strolling around the showground bringing with him the unique blend of comedy, street theatre and music which has led him to appear on TV shows such as Big Brother, Daybreak and the Gadget Show as well at many prestigious events including the Abu Dhabi F1 Grand Prix and the Winter Olympics at Sochi.

Show secretary Brenda Scott said: “If you love food, then the Local and Fine Food Halls will offer you a fabulous choice of traditional, local and more exotic dishes, you’ll be able to buy snacks and lunch from the many catering stands around the showground and, of course, the Cheese Pavilion will have on display the hundreds of different cheeses and other dairy products which will be entered for the Global Cheese Awards and other competitions – and that’s also where you can pick up some great cookery hints from top chef Jean Christophe Novelli.”

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New Range of Bosch cordless floor care available

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