With the aim of creating what it describes as ‘a fairer, greener and betterconnected transport network’, Somerset Council has recently published its Local Transport Plan documenting how the council will plan and prioritise transport provision across Somerset for the next 20 years. The plan aims to ensure that transport supports wider goals including improving health and wellbeing, protecting the environment and boosting the local economy.
Key objectives set out in the plan include promoting public transport, walking and cycling and ensuring that new developments prioritise sustainable transport. Wisely the plan doesn’t advocate a single strategy across the county. Instead it recognises the differences in Somerset’s communities and identifies eight place types from the smallest rural communities to the largest towns, each having policies to suit its needs.
The plan is seen as important in unlocking Government funding to build the infrastructure needed for an integrated transport system that reduces car dependency and is useful in travelling to work, school, the shops or other services and for leisure activities. So public transport is a priority, making bus travel more attractive and convenient being vital when it comes to ensuring that the county has financially-sustainable routes and more services linking rural communities. Other key priorities include the transition to electric vehicles to reduce carbon emissions and improve air quality, along with improvements to the highway network to enhance road safety. New railway stations serving Langport and Somerton also feature in the plan.
According to the council’s lead member for transport Richard Wilkins, ‘giving people choice brings huge benefits for their health and the environment. I would encourage everyone to get involved. Have a look at the plan and take part in the consultation.’ The plan can be read on the Local Transport Plan page of the Somerset Council website
where views can be expressed as part of the consultation process which ends on 7th September. Not that the plan contains anything likely to provoke vehement disagreement, although with so many ‘key priorities’ some readers will doubtless argue strongly for their particular interest to be made the top priority. The only notable omission appears to be any mention of coordinating the policies with those of the neighbouring counties of Dorset and Wiltshire, assuming that they have their own Local Transport Plans. Travel in Visitor land doesn’t stop at county boundaries, as many local residents will confirm.
So the plan seems like little more than an entirely laudable but uncosted wish list of good intentions, although Mr Wilkins states that ‘the council will be setting out what schemes and infrastructure it will deliver over the next few years and developing a strategy to connect all our places together’. Will the plan lead to Visitorland residents seeing any appreciable difference in the way they travel in and around the area? Time alone will tell, but don’t hold your breath. NN.
Advertising Deadlines
October Issue
Deadline: 15th September
Published: 25th September
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.
Have you ever considered what it would be like to lose your sight?
WHILST for most people sight loss is part of the ageing process (1 in 5 over 75 years old suffer) for some it can happen overnight without any warning. It’s a traumatic loss - suddenly you can no longer drive, read or recognise friends.
Fortunately, Somerset Sight is able to help with the emotional and practical difficulties that people face. In addition to the 3000 people in the county currently receiving support, 600 new people per year, recently diagnosed, seek help and are offered lifelong services to help them remain independent and continue to live life to the full.
If you know anyone with sight loss who needs additional help, please call 01823 333818.
“It's just lovely knowing there's help out there. You're such a wonderful organisation. I've already got more confidence to go
out on my own. I feel like a different person.”
Please support Somerset Sight by becoming a volunteer visitor, making a donation or leaving a gift in your will. To find out more, call the above number or email admin@somersetsight.org.uk.
October Issue Deadline: 15th September
Read Online at www.thevisitormagazine.co.uk
MAX FOOTE Associates Ltd
Chartered Certified Accountants
2 Bailey Hill
Castle Cary BA7 7AD Tel: 01963 351052
Business and limited company accounts, self assessment tax returns, VAT, Payroll, Book-keeping and Training
Personal and professional service
Mentioned in Dispatches
A Life Outside:
Hope Bourne on ExmoorExhibition at Somerset Rural Life Museum, opens 27 September
An exhibition, opening at Somerset Rural Life Museum this autumn, offers a new appraisal of the work and life of Exmoor writer and artist Hope Bourne. Open from 27 September 2025 to
10 January 2026, A Life Outside: Hope Bourne on Exmoor , is created in partnership with The Exmoor Society which cares for The Hope L. Bourne Collection. This exhibition considers Bourne’s status as one of the West Country’s most significant nature writers, whose work and way of life are especially prescient in this time of advancing environmental crisis. It draws on new research by writer and Guardian Country Diarist Sara Hudston, whose book A Life Outside: Hope Bourne on Exmoor will be published next year. Sara is co-curating the exhibition with Kate Best, for the South West Heritage Trust.
Hope Bourne (1918–2010) was a writer and artist who spent almost sixty years recording the landscape, wildlife, history and changing rural traditions of Exmoor. Fiercely creative and resolutely independent, she led a self-reliant life that gave her the freedom to write, draw and paint.
For nearly forty years, Bourne occupied a series of dilapidated cottages and caravans on the Somerset side of Exmoor, living off the land as much as possible.
Writing provided a small and precarious income, and she exchanged drawings and watercolours for meals with friends.
Bourne was a prolific creator. She made thousands of drawings and paintings, wrote and illustrated books, authored pamphlets and newspaper columns, as well as keeping a daily journal. She bequeathed her entire estate to the Exmoor Society, of which she was a founder member.
Bourne - December Sunshine at Lower Blackland. Watercolour, coloured pencil and pencil, 1969. With permission of The Exmoor Society and Halsgrove Publishing.
“The Hope L. Bourne Collection consists of over 700 books and pamphlets, more than 2,000 sketches and drawings, published and unpublished manuscripts, a mass of cuttings and jottings, photographs and other personal belongings.”
Amongst the objects on loan for the exhibition are Bourne’s paraffin lamp, her Roberts radio, compass, binoculars and Swiss Army knife. There are displays of the detailed landscape sketches she made, sometimes on the backs of envelopes and cereal packets – testament to her frugal way of life. Her personal journals and published works also feature.
Co-curator Sara Hudston said: “Hope Bourne was one of the 20th century’s greatest nature writers, whose work has been unjustly overlooked in recent years. Her ecological awareness, rejection of materialism, and close relationship with the natural world are of increasing relevance.”
To further explore Hope Bourne’s legacy and connection with the Exmoor landscape, a series of events are taking place. These include a guided walk on Exmoor and a talk about the Hope Bourne archive with Lisa Eden from The Exmoor Society. Writer and co-curator Sara Hudston will be hosting a nature writing workshop and an ‘In Conversation’ evening exploring Women Outside with journalist and author Meg Clothier.
Somerset Rural Life Museum, Glastonbury is open Tuesday –Saturday 10.00 am – 5.00 pm. For more information visit SRLM.ORG.UK.
Julie Jenkins solo exhibtion SAW2025
Artist Julie Jenkins trained and worked as a Graphic Designer in London. She paints in mixed media, landscape, portrait and botanical subjects.
Widespread travel to remote and fascinating locations worldwide is a great source of inspiration to both Julie’s creativity and spirituality. The process of creation is a joy, from the initial concept to the flowing lines and colour that form the image on the paper.
The artist has exhibited and sold her work internationally and nationally. Julie has exhibited several times at the Society of Graphic Fine Art in London. She has held solo exhibitions in the Brighton Festival, Sussex, Guildford House, Surrey; Sherborne, Dorset; and the First View Gallery, National Trust Gardens Stourhead, Fisherton Mill Gallery, Salisbury, Wiltshire. Recently, she curated her successful solo exhibition October 2022, at the Fisherton Mill Gallery, Salisbury. Julie has participated in the Open Studios, Somerset Art Weeks at her home in Wincanton since 2004.
Julie Jenkins presents her solo exhibition for SAW 2025 Open Studios, Saturday 13 September – Sunday 28 September.
Open: Thursday to Sunday 10.00 am – 5 pm. At 2 The Old Police Station, North Street, Wincanton, Somerset, BA9 9AZ.
Julie Jenkins exhibition for SAW 2025 Open Studios runs between 13-28 September at The Old Police Station, Wincanton.
Artist Julie Jenkins - 3rd from left, during her travels.
Mentioned in Dispatches
£200,000 fund boosts energy efficiency in Somerset’s community buildings
Fifteen community buildings across Somerset have received grants totalling almost £200,000 to fund vital energy efficiency upgrades. The grants will help reduce running costs, lower carbon emissions and ensure these well-used spaces remain sustainable into the future.
The funding was administered by Somerset Community Foundation (SCF), with expert support from the Community Buildings Team at Thrive. Grants have supported a wide range of energy-saving improvements, such as solar panels, insulation, double glazing, and air source heat pumps.
"We’d love to run the funding programme for a 2nd time as we received many more applications than we could support," said Clare Stephen, Programmes Manager at SCF. "Seeing the work undertaken by the trustees of community buildings across the county has been humbling. They are working tirelessly to ensure the sustainability of these buildings so that many local people and groups can continue to use them. These buildings are
Crispin Community Centre has been awarded £14,874 for secondary glazing administered by Somerset Community Foundation.
often at the heart of local communities, and we want to help protect them as essential assets in Somerset.”
The programme comes at a critical time, with rising energy costs putting community groups under increasing pressure. Many of the buildings are ageing and draughty, making them expensive to heat and threatening their long-term viability.
Many groups were also supported by Thrive to carry out energy efficiency audits, helping them assess the current condition of their buildings and identify the upgrades that would deliver the greatest impact and future savings. Annual savings of at least £500 per year are expected for participating buildings, and some groups could reduce annual carbon emissions by up to 7 tonnes. Grants awarded include:
•Ashwick & Oakhill Village Hall – £15,000 for solar panels.
•Crispin Community Centre, Street – £14,874 for secondary glazing.
•Croscombe Village Hall –£12,000 for energy-efficient windows and doors.
•Curry Mallet & Beercrocombe Hall – £7,398 for ceiling insulation.
•Ilminster Bowling & Tennis Club – £2,500 for LED lighting.
•Rimpton Village Hall –£20,000 for double glazing.
•The Charltons Community Centre, Somerton – £10,000 for energy-efficient heating.
•Wedmore Village Hall –£10,000 for an air source heat pump.
To support more programmes like this and help fund future environmental projects across Somerset, donate to The Somerset Environment Fund, one of SCF's Collective Giving Funds: www.somersetcf.org.uk/ environment.
New Exmoor Brewery restores brewing to Wiveliscombe
Brewing is returning to Wiveliscombe in Somerset later this month, when the New Exmoor Brewery will start brewing on the site of the former Cotleigh Brewery in the town, with the first beer to roll off the line raising money for the local Jim Laker Charitable Trust Exmoor Ales ceased brewing at its Golden Hill site in Wiveliscombe in May this year, at the same time starting a collaboration with Hogs Back Brewery which saw its awardwinning ales replicated at the Surrey brewer’s site. Hogs Back will continue to brew Exmoor’s main beers for the time being including Exmoor Gold, Exmoor Ale and Silver Stallion, while the New Exmoor Brewery will focus on NPD, specials like Exmoor Beast and limited edition beers, brewed by former Cotleigh head brewer Shaun Vockins.
Exmoor Drinks – the company created when brewing ceased at the Golden Hill site – will continue to distribute all Exmoor Ales brands, as well as Hogs Back’s flagship Tongham TEA, into pubs and bars across the south west, while Hogs Back will handle distribution into other areas and all off-trade customers. Hogs Back will also be investing
in the Exmoor Ales beers, to introduce them to a broader audience.
The collaboration with Hogs Back and opening of New Exmoor Brewery saves 10 local jobs. It also opens up distribution opportunities for Exmoor, which is looking for a small group of brewer partners whose beers it can distribute in its south west heartlands.
Raising a glass with the team at the brewery was Rachel Gilmour, MP for Tiverton and Minehead, who visited to hear about their plans to save jobs and an independent business and rebuild on the long Wivey brewing history.
New Exmoor Brewery will soon open its Brewery Shop, selling Exmoor bottled beers, and fresh draught beer in refillable glass flagons and polypins. The Brewery Shop will initially open Monday– Friday, 10am- 4.30pm. There are also plans to open a Tap Room on the site.
Rachel Gilmour, MP for Tiverton and Minehead, (third from left) with The New Exmoor Brewery team (l-r) Taiya Burgess with her dog, Ace; Allan Bryant; Shaun Vockins, Jonathan Price and Rupert Thompson, with his dog Basil.
Mentioned in Dispatches
National Garden SchemeDorset Gardens Open for Charity – September 2025
THE POTTING SHED
Middlemarsh, Sherborne DT9 5QN
The Potting Shed opened its doors in April 2023. This new 2 acre Wellbeing Nursery, Therapy Garden has been created from scratch to enhance relaxation and tranquillity. The community garden has been planted organically to encourage all forms of wildlife. There is an acre of
wildflower meadow, plant nursery and tea garden to explore. It truly is a special place to relax, unwind and be inspired.
Opening for NGS: Sat 13 Sept (10-4) Admission: £5, children free. Dogs on short leads welcome. Cream teas. Gluten free & vegan scones, freshly picked herbal teas & home-made jams.
Entries may be subject to change – for latest information please check www.ngs.org.uk.
Tickets can be purchased on the day or in advance via www.ngs.org.uk and make perfect gifts for family & friends.
Electric vehicle charging points at Montacute House
The National Trust’s Montacute House in Somerset is recognised as one of the finest Elizabethan houses in the country, but despite being 424 years old, it is keeping up with sustainable travel as eight electric vehicle (EV) charging bays have recently been installed in the car park.
As the largest conservation charity in Europe, the National Trust is committed to achieving a healthier and more beautiful natural environment as land and properties in their care face their biggest threat from climate change.
With 20% of the UK’s
greenhouse gas emissions coming from transport, the National Trust have collaborated with RAW Charging, who funds and operates the chargers, to help reduce carbon output from travel.
Montacute House is the latest place to have chargers installed in the South West, with seven properties already acting as EV hubs. More widely across England and Wales, 30 National Trust places already have charging installed. Powered by 100% renewable energy, supporting the National Trust’s sustainability goals, Gareth Parker, Property Operations Manager at Montacute House, said:
“We are thrilled to be the latest National Trust place to offer EV charging points to visitors. As the transition continues away from petrol and diesel vehicles that the government has outlined, we are well placed to act as a hub for local users of electric cars, as well as being an ideal stop for holiday makers travelling on the A303 who want to take a break from their journey in a beautiful,
peaceful location.”Jason Simpson, CEO at RAW Charging, said:
“We’re proud to work with the National Trust to help make EV travel seamless, sustainable and accessible. Having delivered over 1 million electric miles to drivers across the Trust already, Montacute House has become the most recent place to be connected, and we’re excited to support their net zero journey.”
Montacute House is open 363 days a year between 10am and 5pm from March to October, and between 10am and 4pm over the winter months.
Care4Cary South Cary Planning Appeal –
hold the date
The appeal on the 46 house development next to the cemetery in South Cary will now involve an informal hearing open to the public on 8 October from 10:00 am at Council Chambers, Brympton Way, Yeovil, BA20 2HT.
The appeal was originally listed as a paper appeal only, but it seems the Planning Inspectorate
Electric cars plugged into charging points in the car park at Montacute House. Image: National Trust/Pippa Gibson.
now believes a hearing is necessary.
Public speakers and public attendance will be important and Care4Cary will circulate further information on the process and key issues after taking expert advice.
Somerset Wildlife Trust launches appeal to improve flagship nature reserve
A new appeal from Somerset Wildlife Trust to transform one of its key nature reserves on the Avalon Marshes so it is better for wildlife and better for people.
Somerset Wildlife Trust has been managing land at Catcott since the late 60’s and its latest plans for improvement hope to strike a better balance, for both wildlife and people.
Catcott Nature Reserve is at the heart of the Avalon Marshes, a mosaic of vital habitats consisting of hay meadows, wet woodland, grassland, and fen, renowned for its internationally
significant birdlife and home to otters, water voles, dragonflies, and the elusive European eel.
As a Site of Special Scientific Interest and RAMSAR wetland, Catcott, through the changing seasons, provides irreplaceable habitat for wildlife and a unique immersive experience for tens of thousands of visitors every year.
In order to improve the reserve for wildlife, the Trust wants to acquire a six-hectare field that will connect two currently separate areas of the reserve by both land and water, providing a
Image: Brian Phipps.
green corridor through which wildlife can move - making Catcott ‘bigger, better and more joined up’.
In addition, with funds it wants to expand a ‘scrape’ (a shallow wading pond) which will provide a larger and richer breeding ground for wading birds, attracting and supporting vulnerable species like lapwing, snipe and curlew.
The Trust will also make the site more accessible and enjoyable for visitors by replacing the aging Lows Hide with an inclusive and
accessible wildlife lookout which can be accessed just metres from the car park, and the car park itself and nearby tracks will be resurfaced and bridges and boardwalks repaired or replaced for safer, smoother access for all visitors, including those with mobility needs.
The target of the appeal is £535,000 and with these funds the Trust can secure the future of the reserve, making it a place where people and wildlife can flourish together for years to come.
Landscape.
Mentioned in Dispatches
Somerset GP’s warning on weight loss drugs
A Somerset GP has issued a warning over the online purchase of weight loss drugs. Dr Ulrike Naumann, a specialist with a diploma in Obesity & Weight Management, says:
“Buying these drugs online might seem convenient, but some products are fake, unsafe, or not suited to your health needs and can be dangerous.”
Dr Naumann works for Wessex Private General Practice, and will now be running a new weight management clinic at the Kingston Wing, the private unit of Yeovil Hospital. She says it is important people seek proper medical advice to achieve safe and sustainable weight loss.
“Obesity is a complex long-term health condition that has often been misunderstood and stigmatised. It requires more than just a quick fix — successful treatment involves a wraparound approach including expert guidance on nutrition, physical activity, mental wellbeing, and regular monitoring and support.
be available to fee-paying patients; but all profits go directly back into the NHS, benefiting general patient care.
Dr Naumann added:
“I understand the unique concerns and uncertainties that arise when dealing with the complex issues surrounding lifestyle, weight problems and obesity. People who receive professional support while using weight loss medications are more likely to succeed and are far less likely to stop treatment early. In contrast, more than half of those who go it alone without expert guidance stop within the first year.”
The new weight management clinic at the Kingston Wing will
With years of experience in General Practice, her interest in diabetes and metabolic health, she combines compassionate care with modern medical solutions to help patients reach their health goals. She is a Mentor and Fellow of the Royal College of GPs
Hannah Pitman, Private Patient Service Manager at the Kingston Wing, said:
“We are particularly excited to welcome Dr Naumann. Her specialism in weight management offers a new dimension to the services we provide.”
Anyone interested in finding out more about the weight management clinic can contact the Kingston Wing on 01935 384234 or by email at Kingston.wing@somerset.ft.nhs. uk.
Grab a bargain and help save lives in Wiltshire!
This year's Bag a Bargain Nearly New Sale is a two-day event packed with quality pre-loved ladies designer clothes, jewellery and accessories, plus great food, live music and a warm community feel.
Thanks to the amazing donations received, there are some real treasures waiting to be found. The event takes place at Deverill Storage - c/o, Manor Farm, Longbridge Deverill, Warminster BA12 7DF.
Day 1 - Wednesday 3rd September - 10am - 6pm. £6 Entry. Live music from The Olde Boston Tea Party - who will be playing a wonderful selection of Bluegrass music for an hour before lunch and an hour after lunch. Enjoy refreshments at the licensed pop-up cafe. They will be serving tea, coffee, cakes, quiches, salads & more all day.
Day 2 - Thursday 4th September - 10am - 2pm - Free Entry. Cafe open again - come for bargains and stay for lunch. Free parking. All proceeds from the event will go to the Wiltshire Bobby Van Trust , helping to protect older and vulnerable people in their homes. Any unsold clothes will be donated to the Wiltshire & Bath Air Ambulance, supporting their essential work through resale in their charity shop in Devizes.
Dr Ulrike Naumann.
Family Health with
Jenna Evans
THIS month is part two of our article on Genitourinary Syndrome of the Menopause (GSM).
Last month we had a look at what causes GSM, and some treatment options. This month I promised you a run down of the alternatives and a recipe for a probiotic pessary, so let's dive in!
Phytoestrogens – so with all things menopause (and indeed menstrual and perimenopause) you'll find phytoestrogens oft recommended for female health. These classes of different molecules found in plants, are thought to have a balancing affect on our hormones. They are much weaker than our endogenous (made within the body) oestrogens, and may help offset the damage from exogenous (from outside the body) oestrogens (aka xenoestrogens), commonly found in environmental pollutants such as pesticides and plastics. They can bind to oestrogen receptors
in the body giving a gentle boost when we have falling hormone levels and also blocking damaging effects of the xenoestrogens. These are widespread in many plants and when dealing with difficult symptoms I tend to recommend a supplemental form such as one based around one or more of the following - fermented soya, red clover, shatavari, hops and black cohosh. We also want to include more phytoestrogen rich foods in the diet – flax, fermented soya, lentils, beans, liquorice (not the sweet. It's mostly sugar and wheat – try the tea!), oats, alfalfa, wheatgerm, pomegranate ... and many others. You can also make an HRT cake. The recipe was created by a lady called Linda Kearns several years ago and you can find many variations with a quick internet search – or pop into Ceres, I always keep a recipe on hand!
Homeopathy – there are a few stand out menopause remedies including sepia, lycopodium, nat mur and argent nit. These may all be helpful especially for vaginal dryness and soreness. Topical remedies – last month we touched on using colloidal silver and coconut oil. You can also apply oils such as vitamin E and sea buckthorn. The latter is also a useful supplement to take
when suffering from any kind of dryness in the mucous membranes, including dry eyes. Apple cider vinegar (ACV) and bicarbonate of soda can also make soothing rinses. Dilute the AVC one part to 4 parts distilled water and try spraying on the irritated tissues. For the bicarb you can add ½ teaspoon to a mug of distilled water and do the same. Now for some homemade fun! For the pessaries you will need –organic coconut oil, organic cocoa butter, women's probiotic capsules (such as Optibac for Women), sacchromyces boulardii capusles (optional, it's a friendly yeast), an ice cube tray in a suitable size/shape or designated pessary/suppository mould kit. Make sure you use glass, ceramic and stainless steel cooking equipment (absolutely no aluminium or non-stick coatings). Gently melt 220g coconut oil with 110g cocoa butter. Do not boil and remove from heat as soon as it has melted. Move to bowl, cover and allow to cool to room temperature but do not let it set. You may need to keep a close eye on it and give it a jiggle now and then! When cooled enough, empty the contents of the women's probiotic capsule and optionally the sacchromyces and give it a good
stir. Pour into your chosen mould and pop in the freezer for half an hour or so to set. You can then take them out and keep them in a sterilised jar in the fridge for convenience. Try using these vaginally each night (remember to wear a panty liner) for several nights and if they are helpful you can use 1-2 a week as maintenance or after sex. You can experiment with the recipe, changing the ratio of the oils, adding other oils such as vitamin E or sea buckthorn.
Well, I hope this information has helped a few ladies suffering with GSM. I'd love to hear your own hints and tips and any experiences with homemade pessaries!
•Jenna is a Holistic Health Coach and creator of bespoke beauty products. She can be found on Facebook at ‘Alchemical Beauty UK’. Jenna is also a multi-award winning Product Advisor at Ceres Natural Foods, Yeovil.
To make an appointment, please pop in or call 01935 428791 for details. Always check with a health professional before making any dramatic changes to your diet and lifestyle or starting a new supplement, especially with any existing health conditions.
Regency Care & Mobility in Crewkerne - For a new lease of life
REGENCY Care & Mobility reliably provides a wide selection of mobility products and equipment to help make life easier.
Situated in Crewkerne, Somerset, their range of scooters, chairs, beds, and stairlifts are designed to get rid of the stigma that's associated with disability. They provide a range of items that help you or your loved ones maintain independence on a dayto-day basis.
Backed by more than 15 years
GOLDEN YEARS
of experience, they're Acorn™ approved and are always happy to provide professional advice. What's more, they also offer free home demos and delivery services so you don't have to worry about a thing.
This allows you to test the products to ensure that they're suitable before you go ahead with the purchase. Alternatively, visit their friendly advisers in-store and try out the products there.
READ ONLINE
Wherever, whenever www.thevisitormagazine.co.uk
Regency Care & Mobility in Crewkerne stock a wide range of mobilty products for you to try.
Respite break delivers relaxing holidays for the whole family
When Marg’s son and daughterin-law booked a holiday, they needed reassurance that Marg would be safe, happy and cared for in their absence.
A respite break at Grovelands residential and dementia care home in Yeovil provided the ideal solution, with round-the-clock care for Marg, who could enjoy a little holiday of her own!
Joanne explains:
“Being able to use the respite facility at Grovelands gave us peace of mind to enjoy a holiday knowing that Marg would be well looked after.”
Marg reflected:
“I enjoyed the trips out, and appreciate the kind attention I received from all the staff. And I enjoyed all the food and activities.
“My room was very pleasant and I'm looking forward to staying again soon.”
Karen Cheshire, Registered Manager of Grovelands, added:
“Respite breaks are brilliant for those needing short-term care and support, with companionship and stimulating activities providing an added boost to wellbeing.”
Part of the not-for-profit Somerset Care Group, Grovelands is rated ‘Outstanding’ by the Care Quality Commission. Somerset Care’s day care and respite services support you to live independently at home, for as long as possible.
For information and advice, please visit www.somersetcare .co.uk, or give them a call on 0800 817 4925.
Carer Support Wiltshire & Dorset’s Carer Money Matters project can help you Carer Support Wiltshire & Dorset’s Carer Money Matters project is here to help unpaid
carers across both counties with all kinds of money worries, so if you are anxious about making ends meet for yourself, or the person(s) that you care for they are there to help you!
Marg enjoyed her respite break at Grovelands - and has booked to return. Image: Somerset Care Group.
Carer Money Matters exists to support you in getting the financial support you’re entitled to. They offer free advice on energy saving and energy debt, and can help you get on the Priority Services Register with your supplier.
Their Financial Wellbeing Officers can talk to you about other financial matters toowhether it’s for you or the people you care for. They understand that balancing caring responsibilities and finances isn’t easy, and they can help you to access the support you need to manage money and reduce debt.
They offer advice and support with the following:
• Saving energy & cutting bills
• Debt & budgeting
• Benefits
• Carbon Monoxide awareness and support
• Help for working carers such as CV writing, interview prep and so much more!
If you are in Wiltshire and would like to contact them, please email: admin@carersupport wiltshire.co.uk, or call 0800 181 4118 and leave a message.
If you are in Dorset, please email admin@carersupport dorset.co.uk, or call 0800 368 8349. Carer Support Wiltshire Registered Charity No. 1092762.
The Carer Support Money Matters Team.
So, you think you know your Pop music, do you ?
By John Osborne
Answers can be found on page 31
1) Who sang about 'The Lady In Red' in 1986?
2) Who joined Take That on the 1993 hit 'Relight My Fire'?
3) Who 'glammed it' big time in 1972 with 'Metal Guru'
4) Which Beatles album was released 56 years ago this month, September 1969?
5) Who released the album 'River of Dreams' in 1993?
6) Geno Washington is best known for fronting which group of musicians?
7) Dream Academy sang about 'Life in a … …' where?
8) David Cassidy, Kool and the Gang and Madonna each had a different song with the same title, which was?
9) Name the band who declared they were 'Happy Together' in 1967?
10) Born in Argentina, how do we best know Christopher John Davison ?
Bonus Question:
In which year was the song referred to in Q7 released?
Extra Bonus Question:
What was the name of the young lady that the band (Q9) sang about?
Great Quotes in Music (143)
“The music in my heart I bore, long after it was heard no more”
- William
Wordsworth
Summer update from Alison at Just Somerset Introductions
Hope you’ve all had a good summer and with 4 heatwaves this year - it’s been very hot indeed! I’m sure we’ll still have some good sunshine in September and badly needed rain.
It won’t be long before the summer days fade into autumnwhere has the time gone this year! It’s a great time of year to enjoy the late summer, getting out and about to meet new people. Being a member of the Just Introductions Group, means you can go to events across the group. It’s a relaxed way to meet people
and broaden your social circle. I have known many couples who have met at a social and then gone on to meet up on a one to one.
We are an Introduction Agency for single people who are looking to make new friendships, get out dating and possibly start a new relationship - an agency with the personal touch.
There are testimonials and videos from members on our website. We cover all ages and we are always looking for new members - especially younger ones. As a member you have an Area Manager to help you throughout your membership.
Every potential new member is interviewed and ID checked in their own home.
For more information on how we work please look at the website! What are you waiting for – give us a call soon!
Clay Pigeon Shooting instructor at Pimpern near Blandford
If you are looking for an exciting activity for a group of friends or to brush up your shooting skills then Clay pigeon shooting is an excellent choice. Beginner’s are welcome
A challenging and thrilling sport - shooting fast moving clay disks, safely guided by a qualified instructor, they supply all equipment and welcome Stag and Hen parties, groups of friends, and arrange corporate events. surrounded by beautiful countryside.
The shooting ground offers a wide range of targets to suit all abilities and towers to practice for game shooting. All equipment provided if required , safely supervised by qualified instructor.
Call Norman 07914 918395 or email: normanfullershooting
instructor@gmail.com to arrange your day. Find out more at www.aashootingschool.com.
Christine Jewels Italian Language Services
Italian Language Services provides Yeovil based Italian tuition. Christine teaches classes which run weekly for 30 weeks a year beginning in September with breaks for Christmas and Easter. These classes range from absolute beginners to advanced standard. There are also shorter 10 week introductory courses called Holiday Italian, these run throughout the year as and when they are required.
For those that cannot attend a regular class private lessons for individuals or small groups tailored to particular needs can be provided.
THIS SIZE ADVERT COSTS JUST £15 PER MONTHShouldnʼt you be advertising here? Call us on 01963 351256
September Notice Board
MARTOCK
The Bath Gilbert & Sullivan Society Concert, 7:30pm on Saturday 20th September at Martock Church; TA12 6JL. Tickets: £12 or £10 at Guardianstickets@gmail.com /07547 213992/Martock Gallery/ Martock Newsagent. Website:
www.martockonline.co.uk/events; https://www.bathgands.co.uk/ history. The Bath G&S Society will be performing a selection of arias and extracts from the wellknown operetta, Trial by Jury A very amusing piece that is always enjoyed by the audience.
ADVERTISE your October event here for only £5 for 20 words, 30p per extra word. Email: info@ thevisitormagazine.co.uk, write to The Visitor, P.O Box 5522, Castle Cary, BA9 0BP or telephone: 01963 351256 by 15th September.
Sudoku by T. M.
Fill in the grid with the numbers 1 to 9 so that each row, each column and each 3x3 block contains all the numbers 1 to 9
Answers to August Sudoku on page 31.
Step into Bathroom Style BATHROOMS are no longer just functional spaces; they’ve become a canvas for design expression, wellness, and relaxation.
In 2025, the latest bathing trends focus on creating bespoke experiences at home, blending timeless design with a modern sensibility. From soothing textures to bold personality, here are the standout ways homeowners are reimagining their bathroom sanctuaries.
The Rise of En-Suite Elegance
Functionality meets finesse with the growing popularity of doublesink spaces in en-suite bathrooms. More than just a time-saver for busy mornings, double vanities offer symmetry, space, and a sense of tailored luxury.
When paired with wood-effect floors, these spaces exude a calm,
timeless appeal. It's a refined look that balances rustic charm with contemporary convenience.
Pop of Personality
Gone are the days of plain, purely practical family bathrooms. A surge in the use of bold accessories, such as patterned vanity cases, colourful towels, and bright, attention-grabbing lampshades, is helping to inject individuality and a sense of fun into these shared spaces.
This trend allows homeowners and renters to explore vibrant design without permanent commitment, making bathrooms feel fresh, expressive, and perfectly suited for all ages.
Gleam & Glamour
A subtle shimmer can go a long way. Metallic finishes, especially in brushed gold, brass, and matte black, are adding a sophisticated
edge to bathroom fixtures and hardware. From taps to lighting, these glistening details layer in a sense of modern luxury without overpowering the space.
Mixed metals are also trending, giving homeowners freedom to blend warmth and coolness for a curated, high-end feel.
Soft Underfoot
Rugs are making a surprising and stylish comeback in bathroom design. Whether layered over tile or vinyl, these cosy additions bring an unexpected softness underfoot while helping define zones in larger spaces.
Calming tones and abstract forms can add a spa-like ambience, offering both comfort and a calming visual element. It's an easy update that transforms a sterile space into a serene one.
Pattern Play
Patterned vinyl floors are enjoying a major moment and are
becoming a go-to way to add realistic tile character to bathrooms. From traditional monochrome designs to geometric motifs, they add instant impact while being a foot-friendly alternative to ceramic.
Light & Shadow
From pale terrazzo to deep wood tones, flooring choices are getting bolder, with homeowners embracing both light and dark finishes to create mood and contrast.
Light-toned floors lend airiness and open up smaller bathrooms, while dark hues add depth and drama, creating an enveloping, spa-like experience. Paired with thoughtful lighting and complementary textures, these tones transform floors into foundational design statements.
Dorset’s Greener Homes open doors for the fifth year across the county during the last two weekends of September
Communities across Dorset are set to benefit from this countywide event, as over 50 homes across Dorset take part in the annual Open Homes event to showcase greener and sustainable energy installed in their homes. Many feature Solar Panels, Battery Storage, Air and Ground source heat pumps; others show low cost solutions, using natural
Patterned vinyl floors are popular this year.
Damian Hoddinott PLUMBING SERVICES
materials which can be recycled at the end of the life of the building, and wildlife-friendly gardens. There are listed buildings which have installed insulation to the walls and roof and successfully battled with listing and planning regulations to create a warm home fit for the future. You can also visit some high-end projects, including Athelhampton house, a Tudor manor which has achieved zero carbon status.
There are nearly 20 featured homes that can be viewed in the Lyme Regis, Charmouth, Bridport area, 18 homes across BCP, Swanage and Purbeck, 14 homes in the Dorchester and Weymouth area, plus a growing number in the Gillingham and Shaftesbury area.
This event has proven to be a great help to those interested in making their homes more sustainable and greener, saving money on fuel bills and making their homes cosier. Here the homeowners give impartial advice to visitors, sharing their experience of the installation processes, costs and healthy payback times on investment. How noisy is a heat pump? How can I improve the insulation of my listed building? Are solar panels really worth it? How do I
find a reputable installer?
Visitors have found practical answers to these and many other questions.
Event Dates are the 20th & 21st and 27th & 28th September - most homes are open for one or two of these days and may require prior booking. Booking details and opening times can be found on www.dorsetgreener homes.org. The website also features mini-films of some of the homes. Many homes are also open outside of the event dates all year round by appointment.
This event is one of Dorset Climate Action Network’s (DorsetCAN’s) main projects as it continues to offer residents of Dorset an opportunity to learn more about greener energy solutions. Learn more about their work at www.dorsetcan.org.
It’a never too late to add shade to your outdoor space with Lizzie Price Shading Solutions
After a busy summer season with external shading, Lizzie Price want to let you know its not too late to join the people who have already invested in creating shade to their homes and gardens with their extensive range of shading solutions. Customers are already reaping the benefits of
cooler living spaces and extended outdoor living. At LPSS they offer top quality products, reliable and honest advice, and a first-class installation service.
They offer a variety of retractable Patio Awnings including the Weinor Plaza Viva framed awning. Their Glassrooms give you a space all year round to enjoy your garden. With sliding glass doors and filled in sides, add heating and lighting for a garden room all your friends will be in awe of.
If keeping your home warm and snug over the winter is more your current mindset, they offer an extensive range of internal Shutters and Blinds to suit every application, keeping the heat in and helping to reduce those all important fuel bills.
Don’t delay, give them a call to
arrange a no obligation site survey to discuss your requirements and get shaded for the last of this summer and ready for next year. Say yes to LPSS. Call 07879 992000 or email enquiries@lizziepriceshading solutions.co.uk, visit the website to see full range of products at www.lizziepriceshading solutions.co.uk.
Lizzie Price.
TASTES of the WEST
Kafé Fontana, Sherborne SITUATED at the bottom of Cheap Street, Kafé Fontana offers both eat-in and take-away services to their regular customers and those visiting this picturesque town.
They welcome dogs and have seating inside, or outside if it’s nice. All of their cakes and scones
are homemade on the premises.
In the mornings they provide a good hearty breakfast, with salads, quiches and homemade soups also on the menu throughout the day.
They have a selection of hot and cold drinks, are licensed and do some healthy smoothies too.
If you have any special dietary needs Kafé Fontana can still provide you with good tasty food. They also offer outside catering.
Kafé Fontana is open Mon - Sat, 8am - 5pm, Sun 9.30am - 4.00pm.
The Buttercross Tearooms, Somerton
Situated in the heart of Somerton’s Market Place is the award-winning Buttercross Tearooms. They always source local foods and produce, make as much in-house as possible, and stick to a seasonal menu which ensures the freshest flavour.
Buttercross Tearooms love welcoming back their customers as well as new passers-by. Offering both indoor and outdoor seating, find out more at www.thebuttercrosstearooms .com.
THE BUT TERCROSS TEAROOMS
Market Place, Somer ton (01458) 273168
Homemade Cakes & Scones
Morning Coffee, Cream Teas
Lunch Served 12 – 3pm
Open: Tue – Sat 9am – 5pm
Kafé Fontana, Sherborne.
The Buttercross Tearooms in Somerton. Somerset Cidermaker scoops THREE Gold Awards
Harry’s Cider - a leading name in premium craft cider - is proud to announce that it has been awarded two Gold medals for each of their entries at the Taste of the West Awards, and a further Gold for their new Perry, cementing their reputation for quality, innovation and craftsmanship.
The award-winning ciders include: Harry’s Sweet ‘No.8’ Traditional Cider - Gold, TOTW. Harry’s Medium ‘Corker’ Traditional Cider - Gold, TOTW. Harry’s Premium Sparkling Perry - Gold, Somerset Cider Championships.
Head Cidermaker Toby Fry said:
“These awards are a testament to the hard work and dedication of our entire team. We strive to create ciders that reflect both tradition and creativity, and it’s incredibly rewarding to see our efforts recognised at one of the oldest Cider Championships in the Country”.
Each of the winning ciders showcases a unique blend of farm-pressed Cider apples and Perry pears, and expert fermentation techniques that highlight the rich flavours and aromas cider lovers crave.
The competitions - renowned for attracting the best cider makers from across the SouthWest of England - feature blind tastings by expert judges, making these gold medals and class winning a significant honour.
Harry’s Perry has been carefully developed over several years and was launched earlier this year as a limited-edition
premium addition to the Harry’s Cider range. It is only available from the cider shop and taproom in Long Sutton, alongside their full range of craft ciders, locally sourced beer, wine and gifts. Opening times are 10am to 5pm Monday to Saturday, with the taproom offering visitors a chance to enjoy a coffee with cake, or a drink with snacks with views over the adjacent cider apple orchard. These awards signify a wonderful reward for the Harry’s Cider team, following the opening of their new cider shop and taproom in April, find out more details at www.harryscider company.co.uk.
Ham Hill Country
The Prince of Wales at Ham Hill - where dogs and muddy boots are welcome!
The Prince of Wales HAM HILL Country Park is beautiful all year round. The views are simply stunning whatever the season.
The Prince of Wales sits on the top of Ham Hill and is open all day, every day and are dog and welly boot friendly. There is
plenty of outdoor seating, a marquee, and a covered area.
Inside there are two bars, a restaurant and The Chapel Function Room.
They also have Amy's Garden that has its own bar and stage. In the cooler months they offer hot ciders and mulled wine. They
Montacute Service Station for all your fuel plus a well-stocked shop selling fresh fruit, vegetables, flowers, confectionery, papers, snacks and much more!
offer local cask ales straight from the barrel and a selection of ciders. The Prince of Wales is proud to offer tasty, locally sourced food that is prepared on site.
Forward Dental Care, Martock
You will receive a warm welcome at Forward Dental Care who are situated on the Martock Workspace. They have a fantastic spacious practice offering routine private dental care, as well as periodontal - (gum therapy), implants, tooth alignment and full mouth rehabilitations.
They have a fabulous team of hygienists using the latest pain
free, gold standard equipment to make your visit comfortable. The friendly team of experts will support you and put you at ease through your journey at Forward Dental Care.
Please call a member of the front of house team for more information on how to become a part of a wonderful place.
The Muddled Man, West Chinnock - a pub that's not a restaurant
The Muddled Man at West Chinnock is a welcoming family pub that's been run by the same real people for over 25 years and is open 7 days a week, 365 days a year.
Serving ‘proper pub food’ every day from soups to steaks. Sunday night-Thursday special of 2 x 8oz Rump Steaks for £31, Friday night special is traditional Real Ale battered fish & chips. Tasty gluten free batter is also available.
Sunday Lunch on offer is traditional roast beef or pork with real gravy priced at £17.95 for large or £15.85 for a small.
Open Monday-Thursday 11am2.30pm/7pm-11pm, Friday & Saturday 11am-11pm, Sunday 12noon-10pm. Food served 122pm/7pm-9pm.
STEAK SPECIAL - Two 8oz Rump Steaks £31 *One of The Daily Telegraph’s Top 500 Best Pubs in England
Celebrating 25 years
Your hosts, Mick and Garry welcome you to
MUDDLED MAN
Lower Street, West Chinnock
A charming country inn serving home cooked fayre lunchtime & evening
Large £17.95 or Small £15.85 - Larger parties catered for SUNDAY LUNCH - choice of roast FRESH FISH Day Friday
Large £17.85 or Small £10.00 With home-made beer batter
The Muddled Man at West Chinnock has been in the same family for over 25 years.
Ham Hill Victorian Quarry workers.
Ham Hill Queen's Platinum Jubilee Beacon.
The Bigger Picture
With Bridget Sudworth
BEWARE! Our illustrious Deputy Prime Minister might be after your allotments in the desperate effort to find suitable land for housing. There is nothing like a well worked allotment with rich soil worked for years by all those with no gardens which will make a good site for new housing coupled with quality soil once the bulldozers have smoothed out all the ground mixed with building rubble for growing nice little suburban trees.
Storrington in Sussex has already lost a large patch big enough for 78 houses and Ashfield, Notts along with Bolsover, Derbyshire are currently up for grabs. Only yesterday, local news revealed that The National Allotment Society is bracing itself to fight back on this front and it seems that certain Somerset allotments might be under threat too though the location was not mentioned.
An act of Parliament has reversed the Allotment Act 1925 to allow County Councils to sell off the land. (Maybe along with school playing fields too - who knows? Those that are still there.) Not sure what Wes Streeting will think about that since he, as Main Man on the NHS, might think that taking away one of the recommended cures for mental health issues is ‘being in nature’ and working outside. This will obviously be removed by such a policy thus increasing the cost to the Health Service. Social engagement and exercise is also paramount not to mention the
fresh food. Hey ho! We live in strange times.
Good news is always welcome.
Insect life has really prospered
with the sunny weather we’ve been having and we have been lucky enough to have 3 Jersey tigers, two in the house (rescued)
as well as grasshoppers (also rescued), obviously enjoying whatever they like in our rather jungly garden but losing their way up the wisteria which, although heavily pruned, is advancing with vigour through the bedroom window, with no rain either.
It’s also clear that we are sharing our home with a record number of multi-legged people who have to be moved on with great care. I haven’t checked any records but if insects are doing well, so must the house martins and swallows who will have found plenty of food for rearing their young. Perhaps they have even managed three broods this year. Our local barn owl has been heard hooting on the hunt but not just one owl from the sound of it - there appear to be more hoots than you might expect!
The summer seems to have hurtled by with visitations from family, mad dashes to the beaches of Dorset to cool off and
benefits of
Aerial photo of a community garden allotment in the city of Leeds. Image: Go My Media/Shutterstock.com.
A beautiful Jersey tiger moth on a thistle. Image: Liz Miller/Shutterstock.com.
The Bigger Picture With Bridget Sudworth
much harvesting of unexpectedly good crops of beans, plums. tomatoes and potatoes. Good apples to come too. Annoyingly, intense sunshine has burnt the strap leaves of crocosmia and reduced the size of later blooms, not helped by the lack of rain overall and many trees have shed foliage testifying to distress which is always worrying.
My elder widowed sister has moved out of her home into residential care recently where she is very happy indeed with the load of daily living lifted from her consciousness. Distribution of her worldly goods is a strange experience as stuff gets shuffled round the family and shared out with younger student members and others who cherish family records; additionally the National Trust benefits from her books which all help to swell the coffers at Stourhead.
Off-loading Life Laundry can sometimes be very therapeutic; memories can take over and even a little invention talking about one’s past life in the communal downstairs lounge of a residential home can always be added to enhance a good story.
A deep enjoyment of churchyards has developed over the years while walking dogs. They often provide a localised shorter walk at the end of the day. Reading the epitaphs on gravestones and thinking about the people who have ended their allotted time in that ground can be very calming and contemplative. While the dog snuffles around, there is time to reflect and enjoy the beauty of the church and absorb the air of love and affection, testified by the inscriptions, which those past souls have enjoyed.
In so many cases, burials can be 10 deep which is so often the reason for churchyards being so much higher than the passing
road. In worst cases, tomb stones are moved and stacked against the walls which is quite maddening when searching for family members to complete a family tree. Some stones give an address - Joe Blogs late of Manor Farm - which is brilliant as they can then be related to a particular nearby property. Older stones recording a female death
take much trouble to include her father and husband - she pales into a shadow beside their illustrious stature - infuriating!
The other point of importance is the fact that churchyards have never been ploughed or disturbed apart from the obvious grave digging, nor sprayed with insecticides - nature can get a very firm grip and remain mostly undisturbed while seeds lie waiting for the right moment to emerge. Wildlife can abound.
The Gods Acre scheme, through careful management plans, has encouraged the nurture of these hallowed grounds and there may be many delights awaiting you if you wish to rummage round with great care including grass snakes and slow worms who enjoy the cool secrecy of stony shade. The bats in so many belfries feed on the insects who lurk among
wildflowers while grave stones provide an ideal base for lichens, mosses and liverworts.
Not all churchyards embrace the scheme, however, and in our village, the grass gets cut far too often. In our previous place of residence, the scheme was very much the order of the day but fell foul of the local history society as tumbled and flattened grave stones were not allowed to be touched for fear of disturbing wild residents which made wandering with a dog sometimes dangerous as one stepped across hidden stones or tripped on fallen walls.
In the garden here, the avian lidos (bird baths) have been in constant use and need to be refreshed every day to satisfy the needs of clusters of noisy little birds who take it in turns to clean up or take a much needed drink. The pigeons continue to abuse the facilities by perching on the edge of the bath, back to front, to empty their bowels. Such bad manners.
Wilfred has enjoyed visiting family and has made new friends; he has managed to arrange the household into an order that suits him perfectly and adapted well into walking routines that avoid the high temps in the day. It has been very amusing to note how some host dogs view him with amazement, he being so smallis he a cat or a dog?
On the whole, we go along with his walking choices too! Roll on cooler days of early Autumn.
Wilfred and Tina, definitely At Home!
Outdoor visit at a care home. Image: KingTa/Shutterstock.com.
VINTAGE Motorcycling with Rod Hann
I START this month with my picture which shows a 1924 BSA motorcycle with a tradesman's sidecar attached. Who can remember seeing sidecars being used for commercial purposes? In days past a motorcycle and sidecar could be purchased for much less than a van and most men gained a motorcycle driving licence but less numbers went on to obtain a car licence. It therefore became a viable option for business owners to go this route and a cheaper option to buy and maintain. Admittedly the carrying capacity was a bit less. Commercial sidecars were used for many purposes and used to be seen as bread and cakes delivery units, also for scissor and knife grinders, shoe repairs and even for taxi work. Being signwritten they also made good advertising displays.
Now this particular outfit belongs to a friend who lives in Cornwall. The outfit started life just as it is now and was registered in Cornwall. It spent all its working life in the county with the owner dispensing his ice cream from the insulated box. The considerable sized box would carry an awful lot of the delicious Cornish cream ice cream and would have been a pleasing sight on the streets of Cornwall and at the various Fete's, shows and events all over that county.
At one time, for my sins, I was made President of the national VMCC club. One of my duties was to wave off all the starters at our Banbury Run, all 500 of them. Stood on the start line, with the mayor, the procession of bikes used to take over two hours to pass by. That meant two hours of being stood and breathing in
MOTORING
the noxious fumes created by these machines on a very hot and sunny day, which I can assure you was most unpleasant.
That was until it was my friends turn to arrive at the start line. He obviously realised my plight so when he came to a stop at the line he jumped off the bike and dived into the sidecar box and alighted with a cone filled with Cornish ice cream. The officials were going mad as he had delayed the proceedings but I can assure all readers that was the best tasting ice cream I have had in the whole of my life, and I consider myself rather a connoisseur on this subject. My friend still uses the outfit and it is not unusual to see him at club runs wearing his immaculate white coat and still dispensing his precious goods from within the box sidecar.
Events continue during September as summer draws to a conclusion and autumn takes over with plenty of riding to be done and enjoyed. The following events may tempt you out and about on the roads. The Somerset
Section have their club night at Cossington on the 4th and this will be a guest speaker. Next on the 14th will be the Autumn Leaves Run which starts from Willowbrook Garden Centre.
In Dorset things start on the 6th with the Big Road Run from Cranborne Garden Centre and this will be a longer ride. On the 10th the club night at Pulham will be a guest speaker. Next on the 14th will be the Last of the Summer Wine Run from Hinton St. Mary village hall. On the 21st will be the Veteran and Vintage Run from Leigh village hall. This is a restricted run for machines made before 1931. Lastly on the 27th is the Autumn Run from Sherborne. Our friends in the Wessex Veteran and Vintage Section have their club afternoon at Silton on the 8th and this will be to Bring an Item of Interest. As usual ring 07813-248377 for more details of any of these happenings.
I have an involvement with the VMCC which has been ongoing for over fifty years so it is quite rare for me to have a weekend without some sort of commitment. Last weekend was just one of those rarities and gave me an opportunity to do or see something different, but it had to
include some sort of motorcycling.
I therefore went to spectate at the Bonanza weekend which was held close to my home. The Bonanza club organise a series of events scattered around the country throughout the year. On the Saturday I went to the Classic Trial and how nice it was to see an old fashioned type of event with many old British machines taking part. The sound of a big four stroke single or twin climbing up the hills, amongst the wooded areas, was a joy.
On Sunday I attended the Classic Scramble. A good open course laid out along the hillside the event was well organised and obviously very popular for both riders and spectators. Again the noise and smells of bikes in close competition reminded me of years gone by. My congratulations go to the club for keeping such events alive.
My only regret is that I am 50 years too old to have partaken but I thoroughly enjoyed the weekend and now more determined to attend more of these types of events. You may consider it worthwhile to fit in something similar in your calendar, and how nice it was to see a different aspect of motorcycling.
1924 BSA motorcycle with tradesman's sidecar.
West Country Cider Makers
Target the Sparkling Wine Market with ChampagneMethod Ciders
AS the annual apple harvest gets into full swing this autumn, cider has been traditionally viewed in Britain as a rustic or seasonal drink, more associated with beer than wine.
However, in the rolling hills of the West Country a quiet revolution is underway. Known for its muddy festivals, sheepstrewn hills, and centuries-old cider tradition, the same region that has given us scrumpy in plastic jugs is now seeing a new generation of craft producers beginning to challenge its perception and undergoing a surprising transformation. In recent years, they have been experimenting with singlevarietal apples, wild ferments, and longer maturation times. Sparkling cider is the latest evolution in this rebranding. Increasingly, cider makers are turning their backs on the cloudy tankard and instead reaching for the flute - ushering in a trend and turning to the techniques of Champagne to craft premium, sparkling ciders aimed at an entirely different market: time to offend French sensibilities - and taste buds - by highlighting the new trend for producing what they are calling “cider Champagne”.
From Somerset orchards to Devon’s rural presses, producers are adopting the centuries-old labour-intensive process used in Champagne to create bottlefermented ciders with fine bubbles, structure, and ageing potential; the méthode traditionnelle , traditionally reserved for French prestige cuvées. However, instead of Chardonnay or Pinot Noir, it’s fizzy apple juice in the press, from such varieties as Yarlington Mill and Kingston Black, stored in musty barns that still smell faintly of tractor oil.
These ambitious artisan cider houses are aiming higher, both literally and figuratively. No more farm shop flagons. Now it’s corks, cages, and elegant labels with serif fonts and aspirational price tags. The move reflects both a deep respect for cider’s heritage and a strategic effort to reposition it as a serious, celebratory drink. While purists might scoff at producers using the traditional
champagne method, smugly comparing it to dressing cider up in bubbly couture; a bit like trying to make a silk purse out of a sow’s ear, the technique isn't without merit. By fermenting in-bottle and ageing on the lees, these sparkling ciders acquire a fine mousse and a toasty character that, frankly, would surprise anyone used to gulping warm scrumpy from a plastic pint.
“This isn’t the cider you remember from music festivals or pub gardens,” says one producer, delicately swirling a tulip glass of effervescent amber. “It’s refined, intricate, something to savour.”
“There’s a growing appreciation for cider as a complex, terroirdriven product, much like wine,” says Tom Oliver of Oliver’s Cider and Perry in Herefordshire, one of the early adopters of the Champagne method in the UK cider scene. “We’re not trying to imitate Champagne - we’re offering something distinct, but equally elegant.”
At the heart of this movement is a commitment to quality. In addition to using the Champagne method to undergo secondary fermentation in the bottle, the ciders are aged on the lees for months, sometimes years. The result is a drink with complexity, dryness, and finesse - all attributes that appeal to wine drinkers.
“We saw an opportunity to elevate English cider,” says Rachel Newton of Pilton Cider in Somerset. “We grow apples with incredible character, and the traditional method allows those flavours to develop in ways that surprise even seasoned wine lovers.”
It seems to be catching on, and producers are trying to market it to high-end restaurants and wedding venues with some success. West Country sparkling ciders have even started appearing on wine lists in Michelin-starred restaurants, served alongside Prosecco and Champagne, not as a novelty, but as a serious alternative.
On a personal level, I’ve long had it in for the dreaded Prosecco, so for those on a tight budget ‘cider Champagne’ might just be the ticket. It can provide the perfect accompaniment to the increasingly modern celebrity take on the traditional wedding breakfast; sausages and mash, or
fish and chips.
The trend also reflects a broader shift in consumer habits. As drinkers become more adventurous and sustainabilityconscious, there’s growing interest in local, lower-alcohol alternatives to wine. Sparkling cider, often coming in at 6–8% ABV, fits the bill.
Yet challenges remain. The production process is costly and time-consuming, and cider still struggles with image issues in parts of the UK. Education will be key to convincing consumers - and sommeliers - that what’s in the bottle deserves the same attention as a fine sparkling wine.
Not everyone is convinced; dissenters and traditionalists argue that cider is meant to be honest, not ponced about with, but there’s no denying the shift towards sophistication. There’s nothing wrong with good West Country cider, but it is no longer what you drink in a field, leaning against a hay bale and listening to The Wurzles sing ‘I am a cider drinker’.
Just don’t call it “cider Champagne.” The French will have a fit.
The French are famously protective of their terminology, and in order to protect their market they won’t allow anyone to call sparkling wine, or cider, “Champagne” unless it comes from the Champagne region. Hence, to avoid legal friction, while signalling ambition, West Country producers are marketing their bottles under terms like “traditional method cider” or “English sparkling cider.”
For now, the mood among producers is optimistic. “We’re not trying to be Champagne,” says Newton. “We’re building something that reflects the best of British cider: rooted in tradition, but with an eye on the future.”
As more West Country bottles make their way onto wine lists and into the hands of curious drinkers, it seems the humble apple may be ready to take its place on the podium alongside the grape, although at the moment sourcing is not easy.
Burrow Hill Cider has a wide selection available.
Cidentro Cider House – 2019 vintage, £17.95 7.5% abv., aged 18 months, using Katy, Dabinett, Kingston Black apples.
Worth exploring further afield is The Fine Cider Company, which has on offer a six bottle Traditional Method Cider Selection for £88 and includes:
Two Orchards - Broomers Hill 2022 - West Sussex
Naughton Cider - Overture 2020Fife, Scotland
Find & FosterAppellation 2020 - Devon
Walgate Wine - Traditional Method Cyder 2022 - East Sussex
Starvecrow - Traditional Method Cider 2021 - East Sussex
Jane Austen Scoops Gold!
With Julie Haylock of Sandhurst Garden Design
AT the beginning of August, Andrew Haylock and I exhibited a show garden at the 194th Taunton Flower Show held in Vivary Park in the centre of the town affectionately known as The Chelsea of the West with our grateful support from local businesses.
The garden I designed celebrated the 250th anniversary of the birth of Jane Austen one of our most influential and beloved English writers who gave
us an insight of the English gentry in the late 18th and early 19th century, with strong emphasis on love, marriage and the role of women defined by the expectations of their social class, and the garden proved to be a great hit with the visitors to the show.
I wanted to design a romantic formal garden that made you feel you had stepped into the pages of a Jane Austen novel. I used high hedges on two sides of the garden to create an intimate space, with a circular gravel path which took the visitor on a journey past herbaceous planting using a soft colour palette of blue, silver and white, that attracted a constant procession of butterflies and bees in search of nectar.
Other plants I used within the planting plan included nepeta, artemisia, hardy geranium and lavender, with topiary shapes giving structure to the borders as well as a decorative bird bath and a mirror.
In the corner of the garden, we positioned a white bench surrounded by white hydrangea, Guara and Phlox that provided a tranquil place to sit and read, with plaques displaying the names of her best known novels
discreetly positioned amongst the planting.
To provide height for the garden, I used curved black metal supports; to create a pergola to add drama to the garden and in addition these represented the walls of a once great Regency house that now stood neglected.
Around the base on the pergola, we used black and white tiles to suggest the once magnificent ballroom now reclaimed by nature, suggesting to the visitor that if they listened carefully, in their minds they might still hear the sound of the orchestra playing at a grand summer ball, as they imagine two star-crossed lovers taking to the floor to dance the night away.
Before the show I contacted the South West Branch of the Jane Austen Society and arranged for Elizabeth, one of the members, to visit the show in period costume to complement the garden. Elizabeth sat in the garden shaded from the hot August sunshine by her silk parasol whilst she read from Pride and Prejudice to the delight of visitors. We were thrilled to be awarded a gold medal for our garden,
Image: Rachel Moffett Photography.
Image: Maria Jones.
Image: Rachel Moffett Photography.
presented by Garden Designer Chris Hull who is one of the regular faces on the BBC1 television programme Garden
Rescue along with co-presenter Charlie Dimmock.
Until next time Happy Gardening.
New Motorcycle Zone Announced for Haynes Motor Museum’s Inaugural Classic Show on 7 September
THE show will feature a full programme of displays, demonstrations, talks and interactive activities.
There will also be a number of motorcycles from the Museum’s collection alongside members from The Vintage Japanese Motorcycle Club (VJMC), showcasing iconic bikes from Japan’s golden era of motorcycling. The Motorcycle Zone will be a space where
enthusiasts and those attending the show have the chance to have a chat with like-minded people, share stories and find out more about what makes classic motorcycling so popular.
PASTIMES
• Over thirty years of dealing in antique and Collectible Toys • Established business paying BEST prices for old toys in any
DATE* SHERBORNE TOY COLLECTORS FAIR - SEPTEMBER 13TH
Elizabeth, Julie, Chris and Andrew. Image: Rachel Moffett Photography.
Haynes Motor Museum from above.
BEER & SKITTLES
FOOTBALL! Yes the new season is upon us to the delight of many a male, particularly, and in our skittle team this will be the main topic of conversation amongst four/fifths of the team when they should be concentrating on the game in hand (we have ten regular players!) Two of us prefer to talk cars, then subtly try to ease two of the footie fans into the chat. Does the main stream media truly believe that we are all into football? It would seem so. It leaves me a little bemused when some who profess to be a ‘supporter’ of a particular team never go near a football ground but perch in front of the telly. Perhaps it's me.
Anyway, the new skittle season is pending too, so it won't be long before we are heading to our local in the dark. The media are already referring to it as the ‘warmest ever summer’ with, as I write, the ‘fourth heatwave’! Those of us with a memory for the summer of ‘76 are already asking; have we had stand-pipes? Water delivered by bowsers? Suggestions to share a bath? Did the Thames stop flowing? I don't recall any of these reoccurring!
News has reached me from skittle leagues around the country experiencing expansion. Not so much locally, although they appear to be holding their own, but remember that Somerset has more leagues than any other county, a fact I am particularly proud of. Do check out the interactive ‘Map of UK skittle leagues’, an exciting (and enlightening) piece of work by Dave Quinn, himself a mainstay of the ABM Club in Abingdon, Oxfordshire, where their skittle league continues to grow. As far as we can ascertain, this is the only active skittle alley in the whole of Oxfordshire (we would really like to be proved wrong!)
it, Jim). Darker beers tended to be favourites to seek out, so this leads me to a recent pleasant surprise to see ‘Otter Black’ at The Kings Arms, Thornford. Sure, it's not ‘real’ but it's from a brewery renowned for its ales, so we were more than delighted to give it a go. Wow! I'm convinced that the chaps at Otter have come up with a real winner here. Not only is it flavoursome, but at a price that would make Guinness drinkers weep. Speaking of this renowned Extra Stout, I note with some dismay that nine months on from when we were first informed of an impending shortage, the dearth appears to continue, although not in all areas as it rather depends on the pub-chain owners and their suppliers. The Guinness ‘zero’ has become very popular (I've enjoyed many, whether I am driving or not) which also can be difficult to obtain from your local. It seems readily available in supermarkets though. What's your experience?
yet they make up for it with the amount of use, and even broadcast live matches via Facebook and YouTube, complete with witty commentary and even slo-mo replays. To my mind, it's far more entertaining than most of what is broadcast on telly these days. Their Facebook presence posts schedules. Whilst we like to promote Real Ales in these columns, the most important part of the message is to get people into pubs via the medium of pub-orientated games. Preferably in an organised form of leagues, the landlord and landlady can then be guaranteed patronage. However, as the majority of pub-goers don't drink real ale it proves the importance of any efforts of CAMRA campaigns to get patrons through the doors. Those of you who have the dubious privilege of being a regular reader may recall trips that the Baxter crew have taken to the USA and Belgium where we found some amazing beers, (but not necessarily as we know
I'm finding the ABM club in Wallingford appearing more and more in this column, and whilst they are 100 miles away I feel the enthusiasm that they generate through good leadership is worthy of comment. They have now introduced Bat and Trap for the first time - possibly too, the first time that it has been played in Oxfordshire - unless someone out there knows differently. The first game saw Callum Dickson showing his mettle with a top score of twelve before being neatly bowled out by Ethan Gibbs. Callum also plays skittles for ‘Spare Ribs’ whilst Ethan skittles for 'Splitz and Giggles'. To my mind each of these lads now needs to Captain a team on the Bat and Trap pitch. Everyone then grabs their beer, the blue touch-paper is lit and we all retire to a safe distance. I'm sure the banter will be plentiful! One thing is for certain, collectively they need to get some practice in as the lads and lasses from Canterbury are waiting to send a team up from Kent to ‘show them how it's done properly’. Proper fighting talk!
P. A. BAXTER
Callum Dickson strikes out!
Guinness and skittles poster.
I read that we are still losing pubs at the same rather horrendous rate, with even BrewDog in the process of shutting ten of their bars. 'Spoons too have announced a few more closures, yet thirty more will also be opening - fifteen of which will be managed and an equal number franchised. However, sales are up by in excess of 5%. At present, their estate stands at 794 pubs, which is still way down from Tim Martin's original target of 1,500. I watch them with interest, and although not a frequent visitor, I do enjoy the variety of premises. Some, I have to say, are more pleasant than others. ‘One gets what one pays for’ is a truism, but some serious food bargains and excellent beers at prices we haven't seen for decades are not to be sniffed at. Furthermore, CAMRA membership gives you £30 worth of 50p tokens for discounts at ‘Spoons and ‘Lloyds No. 1’ bars, so prices can be at eyebrow-raising lows! Other pub chains, and even Free houses, will sometimes give discounts, and even the presentation of the CAMRA membership card can
result in money off. Give membership some serious thought!
There's more than just a rumour going around that Government wish to lower the drink-drive limit further, bringing it in line with the new limit set in Scotland, which is equal to that in the European Union. I get the impression that just a pint of beer would put one over the limit, and results from North of the Border would seem to say that there has been no discernable difference in the number of incidents on the road, (and maybe the same for convictions?) Perhaps those who ignore the law are not going to change their ways, whatever. What it would do is put more rural pubs out of business, undoubtedly. I guess we all have an opinion on this, but I'll leave that for you to discuss with your friends.
What's the current limit of units of alcohol to be drunk per week here in the UK? Well, I expect most of us know that it's 14. As always, Government like to interfere with the way we run our lives, and if we take a short trip back into time, we find that
in 1979 the recommended maximum was (drum roll) fiftysix! (Source: The Spectator). Yes, you read that right. Then it became 36, then 28, then 21 ... you get the picture. Meanwhile it's still 56 in Fiji, 35 in Spain, and ... well who cares? Not me for one, I know that after two pints, I've had enough, and that's good enough for me.
Do feel free to drop me a line about this, or anything you may read in my column, and meanwhile. Cheers!
That Mick at The Muddled Man in West Chinnock would like to inform he's now 19 or 91depending on how he's feeling at the time. At his age those extra years mean a lot. That at Crewkerne Aqua Centre, Alison of the Lunge fame, has now been promoted to 'Visual Assistant' in the popular Tone and Fit class.
That the hard work of Choir Master Chris Denman was much in evidence at the recent Norton and Chiselborough Flower Show's Songs of Praise event.
That Mike Lewis of South Petherton has recently regained his title as the Burger King
That the recent Dorset Sunflower Trail at Maiden Castle Farm was enjoyed by an enthusiastic Harry, and a more laid-back Carol Limer of West Coker. That in Chiselborough, a wasp in your wellie is not recommended.
ANSWERS TO POP MUSIC QUIZ
1) Chris De Burgh 2) Lulu 3) T. Rex 4) Abbey Road 5) Billy Joel 6) The Ram Jam Band
7) Northern Town 8) Cherish 9) Turtles
10) Chris De Burgh
Bonus Question: 1985
Extra Bonus Question: Elenore
Vinny hits the right note
Otter Black at the Kings Arms, Thornford.
Early electrics
ELECTRIC cars are seldom out of the news these days, whether it’s extolling their undeniable environmental benefits over petrol and diesel equivalents and cheap running costs or bemoaning their high initial costs, uncertain battery life and paucity of fast recharging facilities. But they’re not new.
Thirty years ago the Visitor reported that Hyundai ‘claim to be leading the world in electric car development and have set the start of 1997 as the date their electric car will go on sale’.
It revealed that ‘Hyundai is developing a practical, five seat, family sized electric car which can be used every day without the need for costly and timeconsuming battery charges every night’ and its engineers ‘are well on their way to achieving their target of 190 miles on one chargeup’.
The same issue reported that ‘already Toyota has invested 25 years of work in this area resulting in more than 10 prototype vehicles to date’ but current disadvantages include ‘the prohibitive cost of component materials’ and the type of battery used ‘is less robust than conventional batteries in high temperature environments’.
From out of the ashes
In June 1993 the clubhouse of Castle Cary Rugby Football Club was burnt to the ground and subsequently two temporary containers which served to house the club equipment were also destroyed by deliberate fireraisers.
The September 1995 Visitor announced the good news, the official opening of the new clubhouse, describing the replacement as ‘a superb purposebuilt building of which the town in general and the club with its many supporters can feel very proud’. The report noted that ‘it reflects the time, goodwill and sheer effort’ of many local organisations and individuals, and ‘anyone walking through the new clubhouse can see how all these efforts have translated into something which, it is hoped, ‘will serve the community for many years to come’.
Changes to Crewkerne’s historic pub
According to the September 1995 Visitor ‘the White Hart is reported to be the second oldest building in Crewkerne and one of the remaining Tudor buildings in the town’. Records of its existence date back to 1499 (but the exact date the pub was built is not known) and ‘ it is said that Judge Jeffreys used to stay at the pub before taking his condemned prisoners to their execution’.
The 1995 news was that Adrian Evans from Staffordshire had bought the pub in February and embarked on extensive internal renovations. And ‘major work has also been carried out on the roof, but done so expertly that the original sagging roof remains’. The report added that ‘Adrian has many future plans, one of which is to open up the function room, subject to planning permission, possibly incorporating a skittle alley’.
Rosie moves in with Wincanton Earl
For a decade Rae and Tony Crust had run Earl Cottage Antiques on the road from Wincanton to the Anchor Hill roundabout, and in August 1995 they purchased the Rosies Cider business in nearby Lattiford when its owner David Aldrich retired.
The September Visitor reported that although they had moved Rosies Cider to Earl Cottage, ‘antiques is still very much their main business but Rosies Cider complements it well’, apparently selling over 300 gallons in the first ten days. ‘The cider is for sale on draught from large wooden barrels,’ the report stated, with ‘half gallon and gallon quantities in reusable containers priced at only £4.99 per gallon’ and ‘available in both medium sweet and dry with quite a kick at around 6% proo
Bruton’s bank buyer
The big news in Bruton in the Summer of 1995 was the sale of the former NatWest bank building on the High Street. The September Visitor revealed that ‘the front page lead story in the East Somerset edition of the Western Gazette on 10th August reported that “a mystery benefactor has stumped up £87,000 to buy Bruton’s bank and turn its upper floors into a leisure suite for residents”. According to reporter Kate Neill, the buyer asked not to be named but is quoted as saying that “most
know me.” The Visitor report commented that ‘the few who didn’t know him on the 10th were put wise on the 11th if they read the Western Daily Press. Tucked away on page 5 was a little twosentence story, the first of which revealed that “bachelor Alan Pearce hopes to woo a High Street bank back to Bruton after splashing out £87,500 to buy a redundant bank building” ’. In the Visitor columnist’s words, this rather spoilt the Gazette’s “Mystery Man’s Bank Buy-out” headline!
Roger Richards.
Cl ass ified Ads
Send details to: The Visitor, P.O. Box 5522, Castle Cary, BA9 0BP or email: info@thevisitormagazine.co.uk. 30p per word (£5 minimum) pre-payment essential. Payment can be made by Cash, Cheque, Postal Order, BACS, Credit/Debit Card.
Storage
STORAGE for furniture in locked cubicles. Lock-up garages to let. Tel: Sparkford Storage on 01963 440045 or 440526 or 440692
COLLECTIONS CDS and Vinyl LPs - must be excellent condition, most genres considered. Tel: 01458 834102/ 07704229979 or email: tonyartony @aol.com
OLD BOOKS WANTED at Antiques & Interiors, 2 Market Place, Castle Cary, BA7 7AL. Tel 01963 351014
Personal
RETIRED gentleman, widower, would love to meet lady with sight hound for walks and companionship. For both me and my Saluki cross. Yeovil area. Tel 01935 425181
For Sale
WHEELCHAIR ACCESSIBLE VEHICLE
Renault Kangoo Petrol Automatique. Mileage 40024. Very clean, super runner. Genuine reason for sale £3250 ovno. Tel 07941 194450
To advertise call 01963 351256
Prize Crossword No. 466
Set by Frank Butler
SEND COMPLETED ENTRIES TO:
The Visitor Crossword, P.O. Box 5522, Castle Cary, Somerset BA9 0BP – to arrive by Monday 15th September.
Correct entries are placed in a hat and the winner is the first name drawn. The prize for winning the Crossword is a £15 voucher to spend with any advertiser in this issue of The Visitor Please do not forget to state your choice of advertiser and your name and address.
Clues Across:
8. Number of winds wrap around nothing [4]
9. Unity in part of London ECI [3]
10. Turns on what may be fired [6]
11. Covering standing opposite [6]
12. Lord none with capitalist [8]
13. Horse-racing has no place for queen, bishop, knight, rook or pawn [3, 5, 2, 5]
15. Speak with hesitation, say, with holy man [7]
17. So grand with fabulous creatures [7]
20. Well done our Atlantic song! [15]
23. Jumping beginning [8]
25. Meaning way to camp [6]
26. Underground place where many accompany disturbed raven [6]
27. (8 plus 9) twice for common numerical base [3]
28. Paper money in tune [4]
Clues Down:
1. Vessel, tree, powerful akali [6]
2. Educates alien with railway toy [5, 3]
3. O mongrel is no cat mixed with assorted jumbles [15]
4. Apartment in the river: Let down? [7]
5. Class takes over from student in translations: Several changes result! [15]
6. On bus, I got muddled with composer [6]
7. Livid leader is partly lazy [4]
14. Drink trap [3]
16. The deuce it is! [3]
18. First guy hears it shines [8]
19. Gets after returning firearm with golden lumps [7]
21. Note Sussex forest where flowers grow [6]
22. {(16x8) + 9} x 27 is a good age! [6]
24. Bit comes up with 14, perhaps [4]
Solution to Crossword 465
Winner of the August Crossword is Cliff England of Chard who chose to spend the £15 Voucher at The Muddled Man, West Chinnock.
