one and only Digby Tap. The Tap wasn’t always a social club – originally it was a private dwelling and parts of it date to the 16th century. By 1749 it was the parish workhouse, shown on the 1802 plan of Sherborne. In 1869 the Digby Hotel was constructed and, in 1870, local builders Caines and Croad converted the house into “a ‘Tap’ on account of Digby Hotel.” Sherborne School took over the hotel in 1964, but the Tap stayed put and became the social club it is today. Olly’s day starts at 7am. Just coffee or a tea and away he goes – there’s cleaning to manage, orders, food, accounts and banking – all before opening time. That’s without mentioning the removal business, which takes him away to London every Thursday. Unsold lunch is his food of the day. The Tap has eight full-time staff, plus cleaners, and opens seven days a week from 11am to whenever. Clearly the mathematician is still at work. Olly times his departure
to perfection, as he has to make the start line for the Digby Etape Cycling Club – which he helped set up in 2016 – thirty-mile Sunday cycle. Yes, Olly is a MAMIL* twice a week – he’s planning Land’s End to John o’ Groats later this year. Pop in to the Tap to find out more. If you haven’t experienced the sheer magic of uncomfortable seats, the cheapest beer of anywhere I know, smelly farmers, ladies who lunch and the roof lifted off every time England scores a try, it’s time you dressed appropriately – depending upon your taste and the time of day – and paid a visit to Olly’s Wilson’s Digby Tap Social Club. I love it in all its forms – and a big thank you to Olly for sharing his Folk Tales with me. You can listen live as Colin and Olly continue their conversation Sunday 12th March on Abbey104.com or 104.7fm in the Sherborne area. www.sherbornetimes.co.uk | 97