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Valley Life At the heart of the Cheddar Valley

JANUARY 2020, ISSUE 40 FREE

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A new beginning News, views and features from Axbridge Cheddar, Wedmore and Winscombe

NEWS this issue Inside

welcome . . . Crowds turn out in stye for annual Festive Night – Page 7

Island Beds project receives a final addition – Page 9

Heartstart programme i s a real life saver – Pages 10-11

Welcome to the fortieth issue of Valley Life and we hope you are continuing to enjoy the offering of news, views and features from the Cheddar Valley. There is no better example of a community working together than in Draycott. Faced with the imminent closure of a vital shop, the community rallied round to make sure that the shop survived. Bringing together all their collective skills, the community have ensured that the shop will continue to serve their community. With retail shops finding it more and more difficult to make money, it may be that community-run operations, like

Draycott Community Shop, could be the way forward. Congratulations to everyone involved in the scheme and if the first few weeks are anything to go by, then it is in line for a successful future. Finally, the Heartstart programme run by first responders at Cheddar Fire Station is something that more and more people should sign up for. You never know when you might be confronted with someone suffering from a cardiac arrest, and even if you know just the basics you can give that person a fighting chance of survival. Rob Perkins, Editor

rob@valley-life.com Valley Life is published by Valley Life Publishing and printed by Flying Colours. All rights reserved. Reproduction in whole or part without written consent is prohibited. The publishers do not accept responsibility for any errors made in advertisements of for claims made by any advertisers which are incorrect. The publishers reserve the right to refuse advertising for any reason. All material submitted for publication, including colour transparencies, is done so at the owner’s risk and no responsibility is accepted by the publisher for its return.

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VALLEY LIFE MAGAZINE JANUARY 2020 / ISSUE 40

NEWS NEWS

All pulling together to save community shop

our months after the village of Draycott faced losing its shop – the community has rallied around to ensure its survival. Draycott Community Shop opened for business in December following an appeal to the community which helped to raise £25,000 to refurbish and restock the shop. Tim Cook chairman of Community Benefit Society said: “In the summer, we were told that the shop was going to close. “It was such a well-used shop and something that we believed needed to be saved because it was a hub of the community for both young

and old. A crisis meeting at the local church was called and we put together a business plan. “We carried out a survey to see whether that plan was viable and the overwhelming reaction was a positive one. That’s when we realised it was something that could work.” Shares worth £20 each were issued and that raised £25,000 but it wasn’t only money that was needed but volunteers as well. Tim added: “Although we had the finance to fund a part-time paid manager, the success of the shop depended on volunteers and we are always on the look out for more.

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The not for profit society has a committee of Phoebe Bright, Jackie Meldon, Rachel Chard, Andy Sindrey, Stephen Ledbetter, Jacqueline Hele Kergozou and Tim Cook. The society hopes to buy back the shares within three years. Any future surplus may be re- invested in the business, used to purchase the shop or used to fund other community projects. The shop will be stocked with produce sourced as much as possible from local suppliers including a Chew Valley milk machine and meat products from Cobbs of Cheddar. • For more information go to the www.draycottcommunityshop.net

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New Year 2020 offers

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buy one get one free in January & February Buy two full price main courses during January and only pay for one. Not applicable to groups of six or more. All day. Valid from 02/01/20 to 29/02/20 excluding 14/02/20. Not to be used in conjunction with any other offer.

free bottle of house wine in January & February!

Choose a free bottle of Riverside house wine per couple with any two main courses. Red, rosĂŠ or white wine - subject to availability. After 6:30pm. Valid from 02/01/20 to 29/02/20 excluding 14/02/20. Not to be used in conjunction with any other offer.

NEWS

What you should look for in choosing a school

f you’re in the process of choosing a school, you’ll be looking for one that cares about the same things you do. Natalie Bone, pictured, head of The Junior School at Sidcot said: “’Id like to tell you something about what matters to us at Sidcot. “It matters that children are treated as individuals. Experience has taught us that one size does not fit all. Children learn in different ways. “Here at Sidcot we have the luxury of space and time to tailor our teaching to suit the learning style of each individual child. “We believe in fostering curiosity, creative thinking and questioning minds rather than a narrow focus on passing tests – that’s why we are proudly a ‘SATs free zone’! “We use a variety of teaching styles to engage your child and develop learning environments that suit everyone. We take the time to get to get to know them, to understand their strengths, their likes and dislikes; their funny little ways. “Our Quaker principles encourage us to ‘Live Adventurously’. That’s how we approach school life at Sidcot, in a way

that develops curiosity and confidence and a life-long love of learning. We appreciate that choosing a school is not a tick box process, it’s about the atmosphere and the way people treat each other. “I’d like to invite you to come and visit the school, to get a feel for the place and see how we do things here. Wander round the grounds and the buildings, meet the staff and pupils and sit in on a lesson.

VALLEY LIFE MAGAZINE JANUARY 2020 / ISSUE 40

Most importantly, be curious. Ask as many questions as you can. We’re very proud of our school and we are always happy to talk about what life is like here.” Parents are welcome to attend the Open Morning at 9:30am on January 31, 2020 or arrange a personal tour of the school. • Contact our Admissions Team on admissions@sidcot. org.uk or 01934 845236.

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NEWS

Festive Night proves to be a hit once again

undreds of villagers and visitors turned out to celebrate the start of the Christmas period to make Festive Night another roaring success. One of the biggest beneficiaries was the Cheddar Youth Trust which are now more than £1,000 better off thanks Clive Panchaud, chairman of the trust said: “The Trust would very much like to thank Jacqui at the Bath Arms for her continuing support kindly donating the proceeds of the Bath Arms Christmas raffle to the Trust which amounted to £470.00. “Also, thanks go to Estelle and

Adrian of Cobbs of Cheddar who supplied and cooked the pig roast outside the Bath Arms on festive night and they also donated their takings to the Trust which amounted to £455.00. “Taken together this will help fund the next round of grant applications to help support young people of the parish aged between five and 25 who would value support in their education or training, music, dance, the arts, sport and taking on particular leadership roles. “A quiz night also raised £400.00 and thanks go to all the teams that supported this event.”

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NEWS

Island beds finished in style The community Island beds project in Cheddar Gorge has been completed with the unveiling of an interpretation board. The project was led by community group My Cheddar with the close support of Cheddar Parish Council. While the interpretation board which includes interesting facts about the local history, flora and fauna was put together by students of Kings of Wessex Academy. The willow soay sheep on the Island were previously completed as part of Cheddar Arts Fringe Festival.

Main sponsors included the Parish council as well as the Mendip Hills Fund, Somerset Wildlife Trust, Sedgemoor District Council, Bristol Water and Batts Combe quarry.

Sewell House

• Rented self-contained, en suite accommodation for the active elderly • A home cooked three course midday meal • Trial flat for up to four weeks, when available • 24-hour emergency cover • Freedom from household management • Lift available to first floor and sitting room • Independent living within private community • Close to centre of a thriving picturesque village • Spacious landscaped gardens • Friendly home from home • Activities and outings • Guest accommodation • Views of the Mendip Hills • Welcome to people of any faith or none • Charges are fully inclusive

For further details contact the Resident Warden on 01934 843746 warden.sewell@btconnect.com Sewell House, Belmont Road, Winscombe, BS25 1LQ www.sewellhouse.org.uk

Sewell House is managed by Sidcot Friends Housing Society Ltd - a not-for-profit organisation

Pictured are some of the KoW students who contributed to the illustrations: Bettine Harris (Dipper), Milly Stoyle (Mallard) and Anna Littlewood (Kingfisher).

NEWS

Heartstart training can m

ould you be able to take charge and act with speed and confidence if someone collapses in front of you with a suspected heart attack? If your answer to that question is no, then the Heartstart course run by first responders at Cheddar Fire Station in conjunction with the British Heart Foundation can certainly help you to do so. Valley Life joined a group of volunteers to learn the life-saving techniques which could make the difference between a person living or dying – it’s as stark as that. The course teaches not only how to recognise the signs of a cardiac arrest but how crucially how to administer cardio pulmonary resuscitation (CPR) while professional medical help is on its way. The course also teaches how to confidently use the many defibrillators which are readily available throughout our communities. First responder Paul Johnson began the two-hour free course with some frightening statistics: • There are more than 30,000 cardiac arrests outside of hospitals in the UK each year. • The overall survival rate in the UK is less than one in 10. 10

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• Every minute without CPR and defibrillation reduces the chances of survival by up to 10 per cent. • Performing CPR can more than double the chances of survival. Initially, the volunteers are taught how to put someone who is unconscious but is still breathing into the recovery position. But if a person has stopped

breathing the training moves on to identify the steps you need to take. Firstly, check for risks which might put you in danger and deal with them, then check whether the person can respond to simple questions and finally, and most importantly, ask someone else to call 999. If the patient doesn’t respond then the tutors tell you to use your ABCDs. The A is for making sure that

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NEWS

make a vital difference the therapeutic shock it will discharge. Course tutor PJ said: “By following these steps you are giving the casualty the best possible chance of surviving a cardiac arrest. “We have numerous defibrillators around Cheddar and no one should be more than five minutes away from a machine. “But initially the administration of effective CPR is the first most important step in the chain of survival. “These courses really can be the difference between life and death and the more people who are confident enough to take charge and administer effective CPR is what we are aiming to achieve.

the airway is open and unblocked, by tilting the head and lifting the chin. The B is for breathing. Check by listening and looking for the chest moving up and down. The C is for CPR and this is something that is practiced on the life-size mannequins which show whether the compressions are effective enough to keep the blood pumping around a person’s body. The Bee Gees song Staying Alive is

used as a guide to the tempo of the 30 compressions that need to be made before giving the casualty two rescue breaths. The D is for Defibrillation. As soon as possible someone should be told to find the nearest defibrillator by ringing 999 where an operator will give the access code to unlock the defibrillator. The machines are simple to use and can detect whether the casualty will benefit from

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“We aim to give people the confidence to look for the early signs of a cardiac arrest, buy time with effective CPR, early defibrillation to restart the heart is the next step and finally getting the professional help which will give the victim the best possible chance of surviving an arrest.” • If you would like to join one of the Heartstart courses go the Cheddar Fire Station Facebook page and message the team to find out the next available dates. The courses are free with donations accepted.

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Pageant News Keep up to date with what’s going on in Axbridge Pageant 2020

The calendar girls W ith less than 10 months to go before Axbridge’s historic town square is once again transformed into a huge stage for the 2020 Pageant, local seamstresses have had their work immortalised in a fund-raising calendar to celebrate the occasion.

Each month of the calendar, now on sale in local shops for £8, depicts a scene from the Axbridge Tapestry, the town’s very own version of the Bayeux Tapestry. And each of those tableaux faithfully recreates one of 12 dramatic scenes in the Pageant itself: from Roman times right up to the 20th century. The Axbridge Pageant is the last historic pageant of its kind in the country and is now attracting huge interest from academics, some of whom will be studying and filming the build-up and performances. The creation of the Axbridge Tapestry has added another colourful chapter in the Pageant’s history. Janie Gray, who heads up the Pageant’s 20-strong costume making team explained: “After

Three of the calendar girls, from left, Jackie Fowler, Barbara Wells and Janie Gray

the 2010 Axbridge Pageant some of us who had been meeting regularly for over two years realised that our lives felt a little empty! And so, in 2012 the Axbridge Sewing Group was formed.

town’s history that people can see all year round.”

“One of the group suggested depicting the Pageant in a tapestry, in the same way that ladies from Bayeux had celebrated the Norman Conquest, and gradually the idea took shape.

And while we have had some generous sponsorship, we still need to raise a lot more between here and next August. We have produced a limited run of the calendar – and if we can sell them all that will be a very helpful boost for our funds!”

“It took us five years to complete, with a huge amount of work and lots of financial support as well as generous contributions of materials, but we now have a rendition of the

Janie added: “Each Pageant costs a huge amount of money to stage, far more than the ticket sales alone will provide.

Copies are available at Ripleys Antiques, Acutabove, The Almshouse Teashop and the Post Office.

If you can help out at this year’s pageant go to www.axbridgepageant.com

www.sidcot.org.uk

Open Morning 31 January 9.30am At Sidcot Junior School education is about expanding possibilities and discovering potential, not just passing tests. Come and discover how we encourage curiosity, creative thinking and questioning minds. You are welcome to attend our Open Morning, or alternatively, arrange a personal tour of the School at a time to suit you. Contact our Admissions team on admissions@sidcot.org.uk or call 01934 845236. Independent day school set in glorious Somerset countryside, for boys and girls aged 3 to 11. Located 15 miles south of Bristol, 8 miles from Bristol Airport.

NEWS

Mendip walks Jennifer Hunt and her dogs Daisy and Dora take to the hills

Ebbor is gorge-ous

f you have overindulged during the festive season, then this is the walk to get rid of those extra pounds!

safely under control. From here you can sit and take a well-earned rest, whilst taking in the views across to Glastonbury Tor and the Polden Hills.

Ebbor Gorge is situated approximately two miles from Priddy Village. Drive into the car park under the barrier, turn right and park at the end. Then walk down the grassy path and steps to the bottom of the gorge. On the way you will see a commemorative plaque set in a stone on your left. If you look across the wooded valley from this vantage point you will see a grassy cliff top, just below the tree line, where you are heading! At the bottom of the steps go through the kissing gate on the left and follow the path down to the right and over a small footbridge above a stream. You will then pass a huge willow bear, pictured, although, as you will see from the photo taken a few years ago, it is not looking so scary nowadays without its teeth! At the bottom turn left and walk along the level path, before heading uphill. Eventually you will come to the start of the climb up through the gorge. Although it looks 14

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Then return the way you came and take the first turning on the right, which leads down steps through the wood and along a level path, before continuing down a long flight of widely spaced steps to the valley below.

steep towards the top it is, in fact, quite easy to climb up the natural rocky steps, with hand and foot holds in all the right places. On the way up there are several shallow cave shelters to explore on the left and right. Once you reach the top, follow the path around to the right and up the slope. At the junction turn right and walk along to the end of the path, where you will emerge out onto the grassy viewing point you saw earlier from across the valley. Beware of the cliff edge - children and dogs need to be kept

There is another willow sculpture at the bottom, perhaps a lion as it has a long tail! Turn right and follow the path around to the left and back up the way you came earlier. At the top of the slope you can return to the car park by going left, as before, or turning right, which takes a while longer and is a bit steeper at the top. Whichever way you go there are some really good information boards at the end of the car park, showing pictures of and describing all the animals that lived here millions of years ago. Walk: Ebbor Gorge Nature Reserve Start & End: Deerleap, Wookey Hole, Wells Nearest Postcode: BA5 1AY

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NEWS

Healthy Eating Nutritionaltherapist therapistLinda LindaThomas Thomaswith withsome somefood foodadvice advice Nutritional

Have specific goals

n January, many of us are contemplating resolutions to improve our health.

habits easier – have water by the bed ready to drink when you wake, prepare tomorrows healthy breakfast or lunch before you go to bed, have the gym kit ready to wear, or run a bath each evening so you can relax and be ready to sleep well.

Great idea – why not take steps to feel better about ourselves or to improve our energy, sleep, concentration, digestion or any other myriad of health concerns. But how to make these resolutions stick? Firstly, be clear about WHAT you want to achieve. Vague ideas of “lose weight” or “exercise more” quickly fail as initial enthusiasm fades. Having specific outcomes helps focus efforts – train towards your first 5K event (try the NHS “Couch to 5k” program), lose 7lb in 8 weeks, achieve eight hours sleep regularly, increase vegetable intake to five per day, drink two litres of water daily, have five days alcohol free per week. Understand WHY this is important to you.

for your own self-good. Be realistic about HOW you can achieve the resolution. Break big, long-term goals into smaller, achievable steps. For example, commit to four exercise sessions per week, identify your weekly weightloss goal, meal plan to ensure five portions of vegetables per day, or identify which days will be alcohol-free.

Resolutions based on positive feelings, rather than those based on guilt or you think you “should” do, are far more likely to succeed.

Working with others can provide support when willpower is low – exercise with a friend, join a class or include the family in healthy changes to diet so that you don’t feel you are battling alone.

Consider it as making changes

Create cues to make healthy

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Monitor progress - do a weekly weigh in, take photographs regularly to show progress, record the time taken to walk/ jog/run a certain distance or number of hours slept, have a daily tick list for diet-based goals such as vegetables eaten, fluid intake or days you were alcohol-free. Progress, no matter how marginal, maintains your motivation to continue. Finally, be prepared for setbacks – a temporary slip is not a reason to give up! If you deviate from the plan, get back on it quickly but don’t punish yourself for the slip-up by skipping a meal or over-exercising. Be kind to yourself – it’s a marathon not a sprint and small changes over a longer time will reap bigger benefits.

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Garden time Garden designer Jane Hicks helps you create a better garden

Harmony and unity is vital in your design

ach person’s garden is a very personal statement but saying that there are some simple principles that will help you create a beautiful space.

on the eyes. Plant of the month: Sarcococca or christmas box, pictured, in its many forms approx. 2m x 2m, is one of my favourite plants although it takes a while to establish and is a slow grower.

Harmony or unity, important principles for a garden; the garden should work together as a whole.

But in a few years if planted near a door or path it will reward you with a glorious scent from its insignificant white to pale pink flowers mid-January - February. A great plant to cheer up the home as well, a couple of sprigs in a vase will fill house with its wonderful scent.

An example of this would be paving; it’s very important that its colour should be in harmony or blend in with your properties building material and architectural style. The above also applies if you are thinking of implementing an arch or pergola as well as to the soft landscaping i.e. planting. Design a scheme which is easy on the eye. In order to accomplish this, repeating plants and shapes of plants throughout the garden will create a theme and a pulled together look. Also use a limited flower and foliage colour palette or even just one flower colour such as white.

Don’t forget to think about how the garden will look throughout the seasons as well. Plus a scheme which compliments the interior of the house is especially important if you have bi-fold or patio doors which open out to the space. So use harmony or unity to create a pulled together and coherant garden which is easy

To do this month: On a clear day you can attend to your fruit, cut down autumn raspberries, prune currants, apple and pear trees, also it’s an ideal time to plant bare rooted and root balled trees and shrubs, and also bare rooted roses. Don’t forget to keep feeding those lovely garden birds. Order seeds for spring sowing. Clear out and clean the greenhouse.

Contact Jane Hicks on 07817 041763 or email: designer@janesgardens.co.uk

Back Issues Doctor of Chiropractic Matt Sutton helps to keep you on the move

Treating a headache

eadaches may be normal but they are not a normal part of life when in good health.

triggered by stress, anxiety, and poor posture. Which is why it’s very common for me to see teenagers with these types of headaches. In fact my youngest patient with headaches to date is nine! Thankfully he’s having less days off school and is happily playing with his friends without crippling headaches anymore.

In fact over 10 million people in the UK suffer from headaches on a regular basis and for many people this is a daily occurrence. Often people are quick to take painkillers to reduce the headache when it happens and never stop consider what the cause of the headache is. Thankfully Chiropractic has the answer! I’ve been helping patients with neck tension, headaches and migraines live pain-free for years. Research has discovered that most headaches are caused by damaged structures around the neck like joints, ligaments, muscles, and cervical discs, all of which have lots of nerve endings. As chiropractors we are trained to find, examine, and correct these problems in the neck that cause these headaches. The most common forms of headaches are tension headaches, migraines, along with headaches from the side effects of medication.

Tension headaches involve pain and discomfort of the neck, head, or scalp. It’s normally accompanied by muscle tension in these areas as well, which can lead to feeling like your head is in a vice. Migraines are usually a severe headache at the front or side of the head. This is often felt as a throbbing pain. Other symptoms can be nausea, vomiting and increased sensitivity to light. Migraines are a very common condition affecting as many as 8.5 million people in the UK, with 1 in 5 women and 1 in 15 men being affected. Tension headaches are often the result of muscle contraction or joint misalignment in the head and neck. Often, these muscle contractions are

Also if you hold your head at a certain angle for too long, such as when you’re texting on your mobile phone, or reading propped up in bed this can lead to these headaches due to the neck position being bent forward for too long. Another big cause is working at a computer with poor ergonomics, such as the screen being in the wrong position and long stints of screen time at work. Whatever the reason for your headaches, you should see a trained chiropractor to get to the cause of them. We are skilled in the detection of the causes of the headaches and highly trained to spot more serious problems masquerading as a headache. Headaches are not a normal part of life. Find the cause, fix the problem, enjoy life!

Contact Matt on 01934 235535 or email reception@suttonchiro.co.uk

Hair Talk Acutabove owner Sarah Boundy passes on tips on making your hair stand out

New Year, a new you

s your hair making you look and feel older? Or are you stuck in a rut with your style and need a change? Your hair cut is crucial when it comes to looking and feeling your best and goes a long way towards making you feel more confident. So, if you’re ready for a change, Now is the perfect time to reinvent your look with a gorgeous new haircut, style or colour as we head into 2020 A New Year = A New You! But before you book into your favourite salon it’s worth doing a bit of home research and arrive armed with as much information as possible - and don’t be afraid that you’re being an annoying client as stylists generally won’t be offended! Here are my top five rules to discuss with your stylist! 1. Know your face-shape. Once you know if you have a square, oval, round, or heart-shaped face, you can easily search the internet for images of the styles that will look best on you. To determine your face-shape look at your jaw line - the goal is to find styles that make your face look more oval.

2. Make a hairstyle scrapbook and bring to your appointment- Try and find images that relate to the hair texture you want. Are you looking for smooth and sleek or choppy and voluminous? Look for colours you love and shapes that inspire you and don’t be afraid to say what you don’t like! 3. How much time do you have to spend on your hair? Now be realistic, what’s your lifestyle? If you’re a messy bun or ponytail kind of girl, don’t ask for a hairstyle that’ll take you two hours to get right. It’ll only frustrate you later on down the line. 4. Talk about any problems you had with your last haircut

and any styling problems you are having with your hair. Can you use a hairdryer and brush or do you need something that will air dry? Ask your stylist to show you how to easily achieve the finished look. 5. Find out if you have to use specific products to re-create the styling magic. Part of the reason your hair looks so good when you leave the salon is because stylists use the right products. Be specific- Ask exactly what you should use, how often to shampoo, what products you should use to hydrate your hair and what styling products are going to give the best results and not weigh down hair.

Contact Sarah at Acutabove, Axbridge on 01934 733666

Tiggi’s Travels Seeing life differently with visually-impaired Tiggi Trethowan

Why community is king

y the time you read this Jackie, my guide dog, and I will have eaten our way through Christmas and are currently enjoying some restorative sea air down in my Cornish homeland.

to be heard, not just mine. That is the reason why I set out to find out if my theory was true. And so Draycott Diaries was born. If you’ve not had the opportunity to listen to the Draycott Diaries Christmas Special yet, then I suggest it might just cheer up a grey January day.

I rent a small Boathouse which has been converted into a mini cosy hideaway for two with a log burner and the basic amenities.

One of the reasons I love my community of Draycott is they come together in a crisis. Last year we were in danger of losing not only our post office but also our beloved shop.

We spend our days marching along the cliff path, paddling in the freezing shallow waters whilst being watched by inquisitive seals. Most evenings we meet up with local friends and family to enjoy delicious home cooked food, often fresh caught fish, while the heavy Cornish rain and winds crash against the windows. On New Year’s Eve, just before midnight, we all make for the headland looking out at the twinkling lights across the sea to Falmouth and St Mawes. As midnight chimes, fishermen in the bay set off fireworks which are then echoed by all the hotels situated on the sea front. After the kissing and good wishes have ceased, we

stumble back to the heaven of my friend’s cottage and a roaring log fire. Jackie is not only my guide; she has given me so much confidence. Looking back at 2019, I am amazed at everything we have achieved together. We started the year in Cornwall and in the spring outside Tesco’s in Wells I had the bright idea of making a podcast series about my village of Draycott. I regularly do speaking engagements about my life and career in TV but I always feel, looking out at my audiences that everybody has a story that deserves

In a small community a shop is the beating heart and some where people can go not only for their supplies but also to exchange stories and have company if only for a short time. An amazing steering group was set up and within three months, with an army of volunteers, had not only taken over the shop but had also completely refurbished it. DIY SOS has nothing on Draycott. Don’t forget when you are looking at your revised health regime for 2020, to include an eye test. It’s not just about the tummy!

Listen to the latest Draycott Diaries Podcast available at www.draycottdiaries.com

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