Mentioned in Dispatches

The Arts Society Mendip: Visit the Art and History of Liverpool, 5 days departing 24th September

This visit is being organised by the local Society and guests are welcome. We will be travelling by coach and staying at a Marriott 4* hotel in the city. The visits, with a Blue Badge Tour Guide will include both Cathedrals, Port Sunlight with associated galleries, the Walker Gallery, the Lowry at Salford and the Albert Dock. Cost £649 pp. For more details go to www.theartssociety mendip.org.uk/visits. Contact Carol Landman, carollandman9 @gmail.com or on 07986 029092.

Longest running band in pop is back for one final tour

When John McNally formed The Searchers in 1957, aged just 16, he could never have imagined the phenomenal success that his band would enjoy: 50 million record sales, thirteen UK chart hits - including three No.1’s - and a sound that inspired some of the greatest artists of all time, including The Byrds, Tom Petty and Bruce Springsteen

This is a chance to experience a truly legendary band, possibly for the last time. Original members John McNally (guitar, vocals) and Frank Allen (bass, vocals) are joined by Spencer James (guitar, vocals – Spencer has been part of the line-up for 37 years) and the newly recruited, highly rated Richie Burns (drums).

The tour opens at the charming Wimborne Tivoli in Dorset on Thursday 13th April, culminating with a fantastic finale in their home-town, at the famous

Liverpool Philharmonic on Saturday 17th June.

The Searchers are the longest running band in pop history. They have been in constant demand for 66 years. Not even The Rolling Stones can match that: they’ve only been going for 61 years!

The Searchers Thank You Tour runs 13th April – 17th June 2023, with 43 dates across England.

‘The Ultimate Collection’ (3CD) is out now on BMG. The Searchers will be performing at Westlands Entertainment Venue on Friday 26th May. Book your tickets online at www. westlandsyeovil.co.uk or call the Box Office on 01935 422884.

South Somerset Choral Society

The South Somerset Choral Society will perform Giuseppe Verdi’s remarkable Requiem at 7.30pm on Saturday 25 March 2023 in the dramatic surroundings of the Great Tithe Barn, Haselbury Mill, near Crewkerne.

They will be joined by four brilliant young soloists and an enlarged orchestra for this, the farewell concert for Tim Donaldson, their Musical Director for the last 11 years and he will depart to the sound of trumpets. The Requiem , nominally a devotional piece, has been described as the finest opera Verdi ever wrote, with music ranging from the sublime to the terrifying.

Tickets, priced £18.00 are available from tickets@ southsomersetchoralsociety.org .uk. Other outlets are listed on the website.

Kevin Pickles

Custom Artwork

Kevin Pickles is a Somertonbased visual artist who specialises in comic book art and produces commissions for customers featuring all manner of subjects; including, but not limited to pets; cars; spaceships; comic-book characters and sometimes painting directly on to personal effects like leather jackets and games consoles!

His commitment to drawing comic-book scenarios and stories has enabled him to hone his selftaught skills and apply them to bespoke works for whatever his customers’ needs.

Kevin works entirely in traditional methods and materials like pens, pencils and paints and welcomes commissions from all walks of life.

Kevin Pickles

Bespoke hand-drawn artwork in colour or black and white for any occasion From pet-portraits to comic-book-heroes Anything you desire

07763 782899 kevinpickles4@gmail.com

Web-Search: kevinpicklesart

Mentioned in Dispatches

Waste carriers face spotchecks in Mendip Mendip District Council have teamed up with Avon and Somerset Police to target illegal waste carriers in several stop and search exercises across the district. The operations were carried out at Wells and Glastonbury by the Council’s Community Protection team, Licensing Officers and Police Neighbourhood teams.

A total of 38 vehicles were stopped during the latest initiative. Most were compliant with regulations, however, two vehicles were found with no road tax and two waste carriers were unable to provide the correct documentation. The teams also visited Somerset Waste Partnership’s Dulcote Waste and Recycling Centre and found that the overwhelming majority of vehicles stopped were compliant, but some waste carriers will face follow-up action and further enquiries.

The teams spoke to drivers who were potentially carrying scrap metal and gave advice on how to obtain a scrap metal license. Part of the commitment of the crackdown team involves educating households and businesses to ensure they understand the legal duty of care regarding the waste that they produce.

Details of scrap metal licenses can be found on the Council’s website here: www.mendip .gov.uk/scrapmetal.

Learn about your legal duty of care and how to obtain a waste carrier license with the Environment Agency here: www.mendip.gov.uk/streetclean.

Yarlington Author’s new title ‘A Nasty Way to Die’ published March 3rd

Revenge and retribution have struck down four violent men. Investigations into their past had shown them to have been officers in Salazar’s feared secret police. They had committed monstrous crimes against innocent people during that repressive regime.

Now was the time of reckoning and they are being systematically killed in England, Portgual, The Netherlands and Germany - but by whom?

Crime/Fiction writer Peter Coe lives in Yarlington and his new book A Nasty Way to Die is being published by Austin Macauley Publishers Ltd of London on March 3rd.

Somerton Music and Arts Festival Shapes Up

The Somerton Music and Arts Festival is gearing up for its 2023 edition this summer with tickets already up for grabs for the flagship event, Somerstock. This year, the musical extravaganza takes place over the 7th and 8th July and promises an unforgettable weekend of charttopping performances led by The Blockheads, along with delicious food and a vibrant atmosphere. Don't miss out on this ultimate summer music experience - grab your discounted tickets while they last at www.somerstock.com

The Festival starts on June 30th with all-female string quartet Electrica bringing a rock ’n’ roll edge to classical music at St Michael’s Church. But before then, two prelude events will take place.

First off is the Art & Photography exhibition in the Parish Rooms in Somerton from Saturday May 27th to Saturday 3rd of June (closed Sunday 28th) which is free to visit and features work from more than 100 local artists showcasing their creative talent in various media including photography, needlework, and woodwork. Then local band Twisted Vinyl, arguably the most exciting live band on the South

Mentioned in Dispatches

West circuit, is performing barnstorming covers from timeless tunes at Somerton Sports Club on Saturday May 27th.

Other things to look forward to include a History Walk, Festival Quiz, Ukulele band and a talk on Honey Bees with many more events in store too. More information about all the Festival events is available at www.somertonartsfestival.co.uk where tickets can also be purchased.

Mere Drama Group’s Spring Production

For its Spring Production Mere Amateur Dramatic Group (MADS) has chosen A Tomb with a View by Norman Robbins. This comedy thriller will feature many of the Society’s younger members who so impressed audiences in its pantomime last November.

A Tomb with a View is a murderously funny play set in the library of Monument House, the ancient home of the dysfunctional and disturbing Tomb family, who await the reading of their late father’s will.

There’s no love lost between the Tomb siblings and the bodies are soon piling up. By Act 3 there are more corpses than live members left in the cast! The plot twists and turns like a mad March hare. Is old Mr. Tomb really dead? What has happened to his fortune? Can the family lawyer be trusted? Are the nurse and the romantic novelist who they claim to be?

Find out how it all ends in The Lecture Hall, Mere on Thursday, Friday and Saturday March 23rd. 24th. & 25th. at 7.30pm. Tickets are £8 and available in person from Mere Library or Sprout & Flower; or by telephone on 01747 861257 or 07539 329798.