I n P assin g ...

oetry rarely gets a mention in this column. But when I was wondering what to write about this month a short poem by Siegfried Sassoon sprung to mind. I first encountered it in my early teens and committed it to memory. It opens with: ‘Alone, in silence, at a certain time of night, listening, and looking up from what I’m trying to write, I hear ...’

That’s me! Now! I have long believed that most people are either larks, at their most productive soon after waking in the morning, or owls who are at their creative best at the end of the day. I’m most definitely an owl, sitting in front of the dying embers of a log fire and thinking and writing long after most folk in my bit of Visitor land have gone to bed.

What the poet heard was ‘... a local train along the valley. And “There goes the one-fifty” think I to myself; aware ...’ From my cottage I can hear the trains, but never has the line had local trains in these early hours. The last local service left Bristol almost five hours ago and meandered through Visitor land around 10.00pm on its way to Weymouth. And night-time freight trains are very much a thing of the past. All I hear is the barking of a farmyard dog, perhaps disturbed by the nocturnal wanderings of a fox or badger.

Sassoon was aware ‘... that somehow its habitual travelling comforts me, making my world seem safer, homelier, sure to be the same tomorrow and the same, one hopes, next year. There’s peacetime in that train ...’ In the decade after World War II many people in Visitorland would have felt the same. When car-ownership was less widespread, petrol was still rationed and motorways had not been built, the presence of the railway must have seemed a permanent feature of local life. But not for much longer, as the residents of Shepton Mallet, Evercreech, Wincanton, Sturminster Newton, Martock, Langport and countless villages would soon discover. The railway would disappear, but not like the poet’s train.

‘...one hears it disappear with needless warning whistle and rail-resounding wheels. “That train’s quite like an old familiar friend”, one feels.’ That might have been true 70 years ago but nowadays it’s not the train but Sassoon’s poem that’s my old familiar friend. Amidst the contemporary cacophony of techno-jargon, computer-speak and bureaucratic mumbojumbo the sound and sentiment of poetry still resonates with me and brings me great pleasure and comfort. I hope our Visitor land schools are still reminding children that the language of poetry can be beautiful and are encouraging them to recite it, learn it by heart and treasure it.

NN.

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© The Visitor Ltd. 2023

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Contents

ANNOUNCEMENTS & CLASSIFIED 34

ANTIQUES 25

CROSSWORD 34

GARDENING 30

ILMINSTER Business Focus 20

LEISURE 22

LETTERS 6

LOOKING GOOD 18

MENTIONED in DISPATCHES 7

MOTHERING SUNDAY 24

MOTORING 27

NOTICE BOARD 14

PHONE A FIRM 33

POP QUIZ 22

PUBS 28

REMEMBER WHEN 32

NOTE TO ADVERTISERS

Advertisements are accepted subject to our standard terms and conditions as printed on our rate card, available upon request.

The views expressed in articles & letters contributed to this magazine are not necessarily those of the publisher.

SHEPTON MALLET Business Focus 23

SPRING GETAWAYS 22

SPRING HOMES 16

SUDOKU 22

THEY SAY 29

WINE & DINE 26

Cartoons by GEOFF THOMPSON

Mentioned in Dispatches

Talk and signing with James Naughtie at Cheap St Church, Sherborne on March 3rd

THE THRILLING third novel from one of our most treasured BBC broadcasters, The Spy Across The Water follows Will Flemyng on a dangerous journey into his clandestine past, from conflict in Ireland to the long shadows of the Cold War. We live with our history, but it can kill us.

Faces from the past appear from nowhere at a family funeral, and Will Flemyng, spy-turnedambassador, is drawn into twin mysteries that threaten everything he holds dear.

From Washington, he’s pitched back into the Troubles in Northern Ireland and an explosive secret hidden deep in the most dangerous but fulfilling friendship he has known.

And while he confronts shadowy adversaries in American streets, and looks for solace at home in the Scottish Highlands, he discovers that his government’s most precious Cold War agent is in mortal danger and needs his help to survive. and friends to learn more about butterflies in your garden.

In an electric story of courage and betrayal, Flemyng learns the truth that his life has left him a man with many friends, but still alone.

Tickets include Curry Supper: £15 Adults, £8 children ten years and under. Doors open at North Barrow Community Hall at 6.30pm, Supper at 7pm. Cash bar. Proceeds in aid of St Nicholas Church, North Barrow Book via email: Butterflys113@icloud.com or tel: 07590 894455.

Events - Sherborne

Douzelage Wednesday

1st March

Acclaimed Polish Comedy/Drama film Three Colours – White at Digby Memorial Church Hall, 6.30 for 7.00. Tickets £10. Winstones Bookshop or at door. Sherborne Chojna Committee

The Somerton & Langport Area branch RNLI are holding a quiz evening on Wednesday March 15th at Long Sutton Village Hall TA10 9JU to raise some much needed funds. 6-30pm for 7pm start. Bring a team of 6 or make up a team on the night. You are invited to bring your own picnic supper/drink to eat in the interval. Raffle.

Tickets £10 a head payable to: Barclays Bank, Branch code: 20-68-95, Account number: 93032671, Account Name: RNLI Fundraising, Reference number 798565.

Local care home offers grants to help combat loneliness

‘A thoughtful and detailed novel of statecraft and spycraft, recommended for fans of Le Carre’ - Ian Rankin.

For tickets (£5) or more information please contact Winstone Books 01935 816128, winstonebooks1@gmail.com.

Butterflies of the Six Pilgrims and nearby sitesSaturday 11th March

Illustrated talk by Julian Rawlins who has been counting butterflies at Cary Moor for 10 years. Come along with family

Talk - ‘Arab Spring to Ukraine Winter’ by Richard Spencer on Wednesday 12th April at Digby Memorial Church Hall, 7pm. £12.50 from Winstones Bookshop or at door.

Quiz evening in aid of RNLI

Do you or any of your family or friends paddle board? The incidents of paddle board rescues have gone up 44% in the last 2 years. The RNLI badly need funding for this extra load on their life savers. Please consider joining in for the latest fund raising effort.

Trinity Manor Care Home, Sherborne, Dorset, is offering three grants totalling £30,000 in honour of former Barchester resident, Jeanette Gill, who generously donated part of her legacy to Barchester’s Charitable Foundation. The Foundation calls for deserving local charities and community groups to apply for these special awards.

Named in her memory, the Jeanette Gill Special Awards are open to groups and individuals in need in our local community. It will be awarded to projects that enrich lives and encourage an active lifestyle through arts,

Dispatches

music, sports and culture for older people or adults with a disability, or those that may have challenges with mental health. This year marks the final awarding of grants from Jeanette Gill’s legacy.

There are three awards available:

• £15,000 GOLD AWARD (open to groups)

• £10,000 SILVER AWARD (open to groups)

• £5,000 BRONZE AWARD (open to individuals)

The Foundation is particularly interested in innovative initiatives that tackle isolation and loneliness, which bring sustained outcomes and positive changes for the people benefitting.

To find out more about how to apply for a Jeanette Gill Award please visit www.bhcfoundation .org.uk. The closing date for applications is 26 March 2023.

Dr Pete Calveley, CEO of

Barchester Healthcare and Chairman of the Foundation, said: “We were extremely touched that one of our residents donated so generously to Barchester’s

Charitable Foundation. We thought it would be fitting to create these flagship grants in her honour and memory as a tribute to the lives she is helping. The charity does so much for local communities throughout the country to tackle and reduce loneliness for many people, and these grants will make a big difference to those in need.”

Barchester’s Charitable Foundation supports senior age citizens as well as working adults with a learning or physical disability or mental health issue by giving grants to help improve mobility and quality of life.

Parkinson’s UK in Wincanton appeal for volunteers

Parkinson UK’s Wincanton Branch has issued an appeal for volunteers. The group has been providing vital support to people living with Parkinson’s and their loved ones in the local area for many years. But it could be forced to make big changes unless new volunteers come forward.

The Parkinson UK’s Wincanton Branch runs monthly group meetings, as well as Tai Chi and gym sessions. These sessions give people the chance to come together to share experiences, support each other, keep active, and have fun. However, the group can only continue to provide this vital support, if it has sufficient volunteers.

The group is particularly interested in hearing from people who may be interested in joining the committee and anyone who may be interested in becoming Chair of the Branch or its Secretary.

These are flexible roles with a big impact. Those who volunteer will help ensure that people with Parkinson’s locally can access activities that make a real difference to them.

Mary Jane Hunter, Network Support Officer, Parkinson’s UK

Mentioned in Dispatches

said: “The Parkinson’s UK Wincanton Branch is a lifeline for so many people in the local area who are living with Parkinson’s in this rural area, but unless new volunteers step forward people could be left without the support they need. If you can spare a few hours a month we’d love to welcome you to volunteer alongside the amazing people who are part of the Wincanton group - because with your support we really can change lives.”

Around 145,000 people in the UK are diagnosed with Parkinson’s. Parkinson's UK is the UK's leading charity supporting those with the condition. Its mission is to find a cure and improve life for everyone affected by Parkinson's through pioneering research, information, support and campaigning.

There are around 365 Parkinson's UK local groups throughout the UK, which are run by volunteers who are trained and supported by Parkinson's UK staff.

The Wincanton Branch of Parkinson’s UK group meets at the Charlton Musgrove Memorial Hall. For more information or to discuss please contact Mary Jane Hunter, Network Support Officer on 0344 225 3695 or email mjhunter@parkinsons.org.uk.

Singing in the Afternoon –NEW Community Choir in Wincanton

If you love to sing and have always wondered what it’s like to sing in a CHOIR, now’s the chance to find out! The new NOAUDITION South Somerset Good Afternoon Choir starts on Monday February 27th with our conductor Ruth Jenkins from 13pm at Wincanton War Memorial Hall, Wincanton, BA9 9JF and there’s a warm welcome to go along and find out more.

Bath-based music man Grenville Jones started his Good Afternoon Choirs 12 years ago and there are now 23 across the West of England.

Ruth Jenkins graduated in Music at Birmingham University, specialising in voice and conducting the University Chamber Choir. After training as a Music Therapist at Roehampton Institute, and conducting the Wimbledon YMCA choir, she worked in the NHS for 7 years in clinics and hospital settings. Ruth conducts our popular North Somerset GAC at Nailsea and looks forward to welcoming you to the South Somerset good afternoon choir at Wincanton War Memorial Hall.

Good Afternoon Choirs sing popular melodies in harmony and each choir raises money for a local charity selected by the members. In 2022 the choirs raised over £22,000 for local charities and organizations across the West of England.

Choir founder Grenville Jones. said:

“Come along and meet the South Somerset Good Afternoon Choir and Ruth on a Monday afternoon from 1pm at Wincanton War Memorial Hall, Wincanton. There’s no charge for attending the first rehearsal, there are NO auditions - why not bring a friend.”

“Choirs are great for meeting new friends and enjoying the best hobby in the world, I’ll see you there!”

See www.goodafternoonchoir .org for further information.