Greenwich Mean Time prevails again throughout Britain since we put the clocks back an hour in late October. This doesn’t please everyone, as is clear from the articles and letters in the newspapers every autumn. There are those who would like British Summer Time to prevail throughout the year, and those who would like it to continue into the Winter and then put the clocks forward one more hour in March so that British time is the same as in mainland Europe. And every year they trot out the same arguments to support one or other of the changes – road safety, energy saving, business and tourism benefits and so on – while many farmers and outdoor workers (and those in the north of Scotland who wouldn’t see daylight until after 10.00am in Winter) argue equally strongly against any change.
The fact remains that no matter how we tamper with the time, the actual hours of daylight in Visitorland will not change. As the days grow shorter until 21st December the question is whether we want more of those daylight hours in the morning or the afternoon. The larks amongst us who are, if you’ll excuse the mixed metaphor, brighteyed and bushy-tailed first thing in the morning will want the daylight for the early morning jog or dog-walk before they set off for work. The owls who spend most of the morning waking up and are at their best in the evening will probably welcome dark mornings as an aid to keeping their eyes half-closed until lunchtime. Now that so many services can be accessed 24 hours a day seven days a week, an increasing number of people are having to work what used to be called ‘anti-social hours’, and it probably matters little to them whether or not the clocks are altered.
Proponents of change sometimes offer this compromise: continue Summer Time throughout the year in England and Wales but retain the present arrangement in Scotland. But this would result in travellers having to alter their watches an
hour when entering or leaving Scotland in the Winter months. It’s worth remembering that in bygone days time was set locally and differently so that, for example, the time in Carlisle was 12 minutes later than the time in London, and campaigners argued forcibly for uniformity of time across Great Britain.
It was the invention of the railway that prompted their campaign. When George Stephenson’s steam-powered ‘Locomotion No1’ hauled the first train full of passengers along the 26 miles from Darlington to Stockton on 27th September 1825 it heralded a massive transformation in communications, and as railways spread across Britain the train schedules and timetables required uniformity of time. By the 1850s standard (ie Greenwich) time had been adopted in most of England and was beginning to spread throughout the rest of our island, but it was not until 1880 that legislation made it prevail everywhere. To adopt the compromise would be a huge and unthinkable step backwards.
NN.
Advertising Deadlines
Christmas/January Issue
Deadline: 9th December
Published: 18th December
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.
Sherborne Museum named a Visit England Hidden Gem SHERBORNE Museum has received national recognition from Visit England , earning the prestigious Hidden Gem accolade - a distinction that highlights exceptional visitor experiences and is awarded to a select number of attractions across the country each year.
The accolade is part of Visit England's Visitor Attraction Quality Assurance Scheme (VAQAS), which Sherborne Museum has been part of since 2016. The scheme provides a consumer-focused benchmark for quality across key areas such as cleanliness, visitor welcome, interpretation, signage, customer care, and exhibitions.
To be named a Hidden Gem is to go one step furthercelebrating those attractions that consistently exceed expectations and offer something truly special to visitors. Nominations were based on visitor reviews and the
observations of the Visit England assessor. The accolade reflects the museum's high standards in visitor experience, which runs parallel with its ongoing work within the local community, including education and engagement programmes that make the town's heritage accessible to all. With this recognition, Sherborne Museum joins an exclusive group of attractions across England acknowledged for delivering excellence at every level. Visitors can look forward to discovering inspiring displays, a warm welcome, and stories that capture the heart of Sherborne.
For more information, visit www.sherbornemuseum.com.
Sherborne Museum - housed in the East Gatehouse of Sherborne's former Benedictine monastery.
Mentioned in Dispatches
Local Motorcycle Club makes large donations to Dorset and Somerset Air Ambulance and the EVS Freewheelers ‘Blood Bikes’ On Saturday 25 October Wells Classic Motorcycle Club held its 25th Annual General Meeting, Presentations and Social evening at the Venue Club, Wells.
This years club awards were presented as follows: The Eric Upshal Cup for Club Person of the year - Jany Scott. Best attendance on club runs - Robert
Mitchell. The Dick Comer award for Best attendance on club runs by a Female Rider - Rosie Clayton. The Cockup AwardJohn Clarke. At the end of the meeting they
were joined by The Town Crier Len Sweales, along with Reps from Dorset and Somerset Air Ambulance and the EVS Freewheelers. Guests then joined with members to present Dorset
and Somerset Air Ambulance with another massive donation of £3,000.
The Blood Bikes also received a donation of £800. These donations were from the clubs 2025 Tortoise and Hare Fund These large donations were made possible by the support received from Sponsors and brochure advertisers, entrants fees and donations etc., along with much work by many club members to make the event possible and to whom they say a big thank you.
To date they have donated over £40,000 to Dorset and Somerset Air Ambulance from these events, along with £4,350 to the EVS Freewheelers Blood Bikes
This annual event caters for Motorcycles and Scooters of all ages and regularly attracts entrants from various parts of the
Wells Classic Motorcyle Club cheque presentation.
Mentioned in Dispatches
country to come and ride in some of the outstanding countryside, it is currently regarded by some as the best event in the West Country.
The date for next year is set for 18/19th July with a Social Scenic Run on the Saturday and the main event based on Wells Rugby Club on the Sunday. Entry forms and further details will be available in the new year. The club are also looking for Riding Marshals and helpers.
The club remains very active and try to arrange events for the benefit of members and guests with Bikes and Scooters etc. of all ages and people of all ages.
New members are always welcome. Guests are always welcome to join in at any of the events. All club details etc. at www.wellsclassicmotorcycle club.weebly.com.
What is Gillshed?
A Men’s Shed for Gillingham Gillshed provides an area where a man can visit if he is bored lonely or looking for company. They provide tea and coffee and plenty of chat.
Where is the Gillshed? With the philanthropic, community spirited support of Blue Diamond Garden Centres, they have built three sheds on a plot of land within the Orchard Park Garden Centre, Gillshed are situated behind the pots.
It’s Tuesday and Thursday Morning from 10.00am to 1.00pm and no special skills are needed to join.
They are biased towards woodwork however you do not have to do anything. You can stay in the Tea Shed all morning and chat. Bring your own project.
What does it cost to join? £30.00 per year membership and £5.00 per visit (First two visits free).
You can use your creative skills, learn a new skill, make something to keep or just go along for a chat and a coffee.
Gillshed has been formed to give those wanting somewhere to meet, to socialise or to engage in practical hobbies such as woodworking, some metalwork repairing and restoring, a safe and friendly place to get together in North Dorset. Why not go along and join them, make some
friends, practice a hobby, and share a chat over a cuppa if you are interested in making social connections, building friendships, whilst sharing knowledge and skills.
Not yet retired? Not a problem – you’ll be very welcome. Their three sheds have been designated as a ‘machine shed’ for those who want to practice their woodworking skills, a ‘clean shed’ for finishing/polishing, painting etc. and the third shed is reserved as a social area to enjoy a cuppa, biscuits and a chat, and to hold meetings and training.
‘Shedders’, as members are known, are 24 times less likely to suffer loneliness, experience a 75% reduction in anxiety and a
Gillshed is part of the global community of Men’s Shed, which began in Australia in the 1980s to combat loneliness and isolation, particularly after retirement, which can have a negative impact on a person’s health and wellbeing.
Are you interested in finding out more about Gillshed? Why not pay them a visit on a Tuesday
or Thursday Morning between 10.00am and 1.00pm - there will always be someone there who can show you round.
Gillshed is a CIC registered at Company House and managed by a team of eleven men who are all volunteers. For further details visit www.gillshed.co.uk or contact Bob Partridge, membership secretary on 07397 935755 or email bobpartridge 8888@gmail.com.
Mentioned in Dispatches
St Margaret’s Hospice’s iconic Yeovil charity furniture shop celebrates its ten-year anniversary
When The Old Cinema first opened its doors as a St Margaret’s Hospice charity shop in Yeovil back in 2015, not everyone was convinced. Local headlines questioned whether the town ‘really needed another charity shop’, while others asked if the building’s future would be ‘a town retail horror.’
Ten years later, those doubts
couldn’t feel further away. The Old Cinema has not only survived, but thrived. Once an empty Art Deco cinema, now one of St Margaret’s most distinctive stores; a three-floor treasure trove of pre-loved furniture, homeware, and clothing, powered by a passionate team of staff and volunteers.
To mark the milestone anniversary, the team has unveiled a full refurbishment of the top floor, giving the clearance area a stylish new look and a new lease of life. Thanks to Barclays volunteers and support from the Wickes Community Programme - who donated £100 in supplies –the space has been repainted in calming shades of teal and blue, making it brighter and more inviting for customers. The impact was immediate: in the
first few days after reopening, the floor saw sales rise by around £100 per week – no small feat when most items sell for just a few pounds!
More than just a shop - The Old Cinema’s success isn’t just measured in sales. Over the past decade, it’s become a social hub. Working with organisations like
Abri Group, YMCA, and SSAFA, the Old Cinema has provided essential furniture and household items to families in need. It has also pioneered the involvement of Community Payback volunteers, offering mentoring and skills development to people seeking a second chance. Some have even gone on to secure paid roles – including within the Old Cinema itself.
Together with the other St Margaret’s shops, the Old Cinema makes a real, tangible difference to the people of Somerset. Every visit, every donation, every item bought, and every conversation contributes to the hospice’s mission to provide compassionate, specialist hospice care for more than 4,800 people across Somerset each year.
Ten years ago, the question was whether Yeovil really needed another charity shop. Today, the Old Cinema stands as the answer: not just another shop, but a local landmark built on teamwork, generosity, and community spirit.
PROMISEworks Calls on Somerset to Help Support Vulnerable Young People PROMISEworks, an inspirational Somerset charity that supports vulnerable children and young people through long-term volunteer mentoring, is calling on the local community to invest in its future.
The charity is inviting residents to ‘invest £1 for 1 minute’ by donating through its new crowdfunding campaign. “Just £1 will run the entire operations of PROMISEworks for one minute,” a spokesperson said. “That’s every mentoring relationship, every safe space we create.”
Established in 2017, PROMISEworks has already supported more than 500 mentoring relationships across the county. Each young person is thoughtfully matched with a trained, caring volunteer mentor for a minimum of two years, giving time for trust to grow and
Mentioned in Dispatches
for the young person to build confidence, resilience and opportunities for personal development.
In 2022, PROMISEworks received the prestigious Queen’s Award for Voluntary Service , recognising the outstanding commitment and impact of its volunteers. The charity hopes this latest campaign will help it to continue providing vital, lifechanging support to children and young people across Somerset who need it most.
SWEDA celebrates with A Song For Shepton
Local charity SWEDA are launching A Song for Shepton, a community project looking for as many local people as possible to write their own song, poem or story that celebrates the town.
SWEDA (South & West Eating Disorders Association) are a mental health charity based in Shepton Mallet and have been supporting people of all ages affected by eating disorders for over thirty years. The charity are determined to raise vital funds and awareness, whilst also bringing people together as part of Snowdrops Festival next February.
To find out more about the charity and sign up to their newsletters for more info about the project, go to www. swedauk.org. To get involved in A Song for Shepton and to receive an information pack email: gavinosborn@swedauk.org.
Castle Cary Community Choir Christmas Concertall the C’s including Carols! Castle Cary Community Choir’s annual Christmas Concert in the Cary Methodist Church, where they rehearse on Monday evenings, includes not only traditional and more unusual carols but also Christmas songs and amusing readings. The choir doesn’t normally do concerts for itself, as a Registered Charity (reg. charity no. 1188547) its work and pleasure is to raise money for other charities and good causes. The income from this particular concert is shared between the choir and the Methodist Church.
The concert is at 7.30pm on
Friday the 19th December. There are seasonal refreshments in the interval included in the ticket price of £10. Tickets can be purchased in advance from Bailey Hill Bookshop, Castle Cary High Street, or on the door.
They look forward to seeing you there for an evening of Christmas fun and a chance to join in with some of the carols we all know and love. For more information on the choir visit website https://castlecarychoir.org.uk.
Kafé Fontana, Sherborne
Situated at the bottom of Cheap Street in Sherborne, Kafé Fontana is dog-friendly and they are selling their divine homemade Christmas cakes and puds.
All of their patisseries are homemade on the premises, and they have their popular Christmas hampers, cakes and puddings available now.
In the mornings, a hearty breakfast is served until 11.30am, lunches from 11.30am-3.30pm, afternoon teas from 2pm. If you
have any special dietary needs Kafé Fontana can still provide you with good tasty food.
As well as being fully licensed so that you can enjoy the festivities, their Christmas dinner menu is available on Fridays and Saturdays throughout December at 7pm.
Please book by calling 01935 812180. Kafé Fontana is open Mon - Sat 8am-5pm, Sun 9.30am4pm.
Bretts (C Brett & Son), Pet & Wildlife Supplies
Bretts (C Brett & Son) Pet and Wildlife supplies is situated in the Old Market Car Park in Sherborne and is a long established business.
They have a large range of wild bird food and feeders to cater for all types of birds. They have an extensive range of dog and cat toys, plus all the usual pet foods, beds, leads and accessories,
hedgehog and wildlife foods and supplies etc. Open Mon-Fri 9am5.15pm, Sat 9am-4.45pm. Tel 01935 812107.
Ward & Sibley
The Jewellers of Yeovil
When you visit a jewellers shop it is more often than not for a special occasion. At Ward & Sibley jewellers of Yeovil, the friendly and knowledgeable staff ensure that you receive a
personal service whether you are buying a small thank you giftor an elegant diamond ring. Being an independent retailer they offer a very individual choice of jewellery. There is something to suit all tastes and budgets from contemporary costume jewellery through to bespoke pieces. Whilst diamonds are always a firm favourite as are gemstones, at Ward & Sibley you will find a comprehensive range of precious and semi-precious stones. If you are seeking a particular stone please ask. Why not call in - a free gift wrap service is available to ensure your gift looks extra special. If you have any questions before visiting the store you can give them a call on 01935 474065.
Even Santa dines at Kafé Fontana in Sherborne.
Bretts Pet & Wildlife Supplies.
All
Rebecca at Alleycuts in Wincanton appreciates all the continued support from customers old
Happy New Year.
stands, wreaths, holly and mistletoe in fact everything you need to make your house full of Christmas cheer. Osborne’s also provide free Reindeer dust to sparkle in the night and attract Santa’s Reindeer to your home. They are open from 10am daily until dark right through until Christmas and look forward to seeing you.
Clear-Out Event Ahead of Sandy’s Big Move
As Sandy’s prepare for their exciting relocation at the end of December, their Gillingham store is undergoing a major clear-out— and that means incredible savings for you.
They’re offering significant reductions on a wide range of items, including their much-loved selection of pre-owned furniture: tables and chairs, sofas, bookcases, and more.
If you’re also looking for a better nights sleep, don’t miss the collection of brand-new beds and mattresses, now available at specially reduced prices. It’s the perfect moment to discover highquality pieces at exceptional value
before they move to their new home. All beds and mattresses are NBF approved and most are made in the UK.
GOLDEN YEARS
Care of the Elderly
Highfield House, Castle Cary Highfield House is completely dedicated to involving the people who live there in excellent care and support received by listening to, and acting upon people’s feedback. At the heart of Highfield House are their concerns for each person’s happiness, health, safety, well-being and dignity.
This is reflected by the Platinum Award achieved with the nationally recognised Gold Standards Framework April 2022 and awards for Care Home of the Year, and the award for Dementia and Palliative Care. They are also now rated ‘Good’ by the Care Quality Commission. Their vision is to be a leader in providing a responsive care service where the standard of care and calibre of staff are second to none. The mission is to provide a safe, warm and friendly environment where excellent person-centred care is offered and where staff appreciate the unique qualities of each individual living at Highfield House.
Long-term residential care is not the only option
Whilst many people welcome the peace of mind that comes from moving into a residential care home full-time, your care journey doesn’t need to start there.
Enjoy a festive day care visit or respite break with Somerset Care.
Day care and respite breaks enable you to remain safe and independent at home for longer, and are particularly useful if you need short-term support, perhaps whilst recovering from illness or injury, of if your family carers are away. Day care involves spending the day in your local care home, receiving specialist care, enjoying companionship and a home-cooked meal, and participating in the activities on offer. A respite break is a temporary stay in a residential care home, complete with expert, tailored care.
For some people, day care and respite provide a well-deserved break for themselves and their carers; for others, they provide an opportunity to experience care home life before making longerterm decisions.
Whether you stay for a day, a week or longer, you and your loved ones can relax knowing your care needs are being met. Somerset Care’s day care and respite services support you to live independently at home, for as long as possible. Please visit www.somersetcare.co.uk/respite, or contact their expert enquiries team on 0800 817 4925.
Trusted Care in a Beautiful Setting at Kingsleigh House
A thoughtfully adapted 21bedroom property offers a warm, welcoming environment where comfort and safety come first. Residents enjoy spacious communal areas designed for relaxation and social connection, along with easy access to the large, landscaped garden, a perfect space for fresh air and peaceful moments. At the heart of the home is a highly skilled and compassionate team, available 24/7 to provide exceptional care and support. Every service they deliver is tailored to meet the unique needs of each resident, ensuring dignity, independence, and well-being remain central to daily life.
To make every day meaningful, they offer a full and varied activities programme, encouraging creativity, engagement, and friendships. Whether it’s joining group activities, enjoying the outdoors, or relaxing in the comfortable lounges, residents have every opportunity to feel at home. Book a visit today and experience the difference for yourself. Call them now or visit the website to arrange a personal tour and discover why families trust them to provide the very best care.
Passionate about providing EXCELLENT care and support in a homely environment. Situated in the centre of Castle Cary we benefit from all the delights that Castle Cary has to offer within a short walk. Our calibre of staff is second to none and we are here to cater for each and every individual person.
Please feel free to contact us for any further information.
Karen at Brunel Pet Centre has plenty of Christmas gift ideas for your pet in stock.
The gardens at Highfield House.
Fosse Beads & Friends is celebrating its 10th year in business this year
Established in 2015 in Frome, it moved to Castle Cary in 2020 and has enjoyed its prominent position at the top of the High Street surrounded by other fantastic independent businesses. Specializing in a carefully curated selection of Arts & Crafts by local, West Country and UK designers and makers, this shop is a delight to visit.
It will be open late for Cary's Christmas event on Thursday 11th December on top of normal
opening hours, with much of the collection also available on their website www.fossebeadsand friends.uk.
Cooper & Tanner – Your Next Move Starts Here
As 2025 comes to a close, now is the perfect time to start planning your next chapter. Whether you're thinking of buying, selling, or letting in the New Year, why not drop by Cooper & Tanner’s Castle Cary office in Regent House on Fore Street? Their friendly team is there to help turn your property dreams into reality in 2026.
With over a century of trusted service, Cooper & Tanner are proud to be one of the region’s most respected estate and letting agents, auctioneers, and surveyors. Operating from twelve offices across Somerset and Wiltshire, they bring local expertise and a personal touch to every move.
The Castle Cary branch is led by David Swain, whose approachable and knowledgeable team handles all aspects of property sales and lettings in the
Inside Fosse Beads & Friends.
town and surrounding villages. Call them on 01963 350327 or email castlecary@cooper andtanner.co.uk. Let’s make your next move your best one yet.
Rich’s Auto Services
Rich’s Autos would like to thank their customers and wish everyone a Happy Christmas and New Year.
They will be having a wellearned break and look forward to see you again from mid-January.
Welcome to Miah’s Castle Don’t like sprouts? Then spice up your festive season with a curry. Christmas and New Year party bookings are now being taken for that special family gathering, catching up with friends or the office party. Miah’s is also an ideal location for birthday celebrations or any special occasion.
Miah’s Castle offer a takeaway service as well as an ambient, licensed restaurant, which offers a welcome evening out, with a romantic table for two or a group
party of 46. Their authentic food is cooked to the highest standards using only the freshest ingredients. Their approach to healthy cooking is that they don’t use any artificial colouring and try to minimise additives in their dishes.
A Big Thank You to
the people who gave to 2025
Poppy Appeal
“I have been Collecting for quite a few years and Castle Cary people have always been extremely generous. Thanks to Cooper & Tanner and many other kind people who offered coffee.
The Poppy Appeal Team, Simon, Martin & Philippa, who work so hard behind the scenes arranging everything, deserved enormous thanks.” From the Poppy Collector.
Needful Things
Castle Cary's Big Christmas wouldn't be the same without a visit to Needful Things at 7 High Street. This magical store goes to town with their nostaglic yet quirky Christmas displays: Traditional Red. Green, & Gold baubles of course but also the
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
most delightfully bedecked trees with every theme you can imagine. There's a tree for gardeners, with broccoli, peas, peppers, carrots and even greenhouses! There's one for Farmers too, with red, green and blue tractors!
There's Dinosaurs, Cup Cakes, Mice and Fairies! There's even a 'London Tree' with guardsmen, telephone boxes and post boxes! The nutcracker tree as you enter
is full to bursting with every size of nutcracker, bells & drums! Remember to look up above and down under every display as there are fabulous ideas for decking your halls, even on the ceiling! This year they have a wide range of Christmas cards, Crackers, Napkins and Gifts Wrap too. So whatever you need this Christmas, you need a visit to Needful Things; Castle Cary's very special Christmas Store.
Inside Miah’s Castle.
A friendly and quality service is assured at Phillips Tyres.
THIS month we're taking a look at a beautiful warming winter herb – ginger. But before we do that, I know many of you have been trying out pumpkin seeds and oil after last month's article – and we'd love to hear how you get on! Do pop into Ceres and let us know your experiences.
Ginger (Zingiber officinalis) –
This familiar spice whose rhizome has been prized medicinally for thousands of years, is probably knocking around in all our kitchen cupboards. Although I have always loved it as a medicine, I used to dislike it in foods. But over the years this fabulous spice has worn me down and you may find me sipping a ginger tea, especially in the cooler months. Aside from the main medicinal properties I'll get into in a mo, I was always taught that Ginger made a useful addition to other herbal blends as a carrier and booster, particularly when trying to nourish and warm internal organs.
most famous as a calming digestive, soothing nausea and vomiting. Motion sickness, morning sickness, post operative sickness and nausea from medications may be helped with the judicious use of ginger.
It is considered very well tolerated and safe (within sensible levels) but do always consult with your primary care physician if you want to use ginger with existing health conditions or medications. Ginger foods can be an easy and safe way to use this herb for nausea – find it crystallised, in biscuits, as a sweet (watch for too much sugar/sweeteners!). Fresh ginger tea and also inhaling ginger essential oil are other useful methods.
Pain – As a warming antiinflammatory ginger can help manage the pain of arthritis and rheumatism. It may be helpful to migraine and headache sufferers – try taking regularly to prevent them, rather than as an emergency pain killer.
For heavy painful periods, ginger can also be effective. Start taking a few days before your symptoms usually start. I would recommend a tincture or tablet
essential oil can also be mixed as a topical pain reliever. Try this recipe – 2 drops ginger, 2 drops black pepper and 1 drop frankincense blended into10ml of a carrier oil like sweet almond or black seed oil for an extra pain killing punch. Remember –always patch test!
Colds & Flu – Certainly plenty of that at this time of the year! I always like to make hot hearty brews when I'm feeling the lurgy. Here's a basic 'flu bomb' recipe I work with – 1 clove garlic, 1cm fresh ginger, ¼-½ tsp cayenne, ½-1 lemon, juiced, ½ tsp cinnamon. I'll pop that on the hob with about a litre of water, bring to the boil and simmer for 15 minutes or so. Strain, pop in some honey if you like and sip regularly.
You should get a good couple of large mugs out of this (leave in the pan and reheat) and it can be very hot! So adjust ingredients as necessary.
The more plain lemon, honey and ginger can be used to good effect. Lots of things in a mix doesn't suit everyone but when I'm feeling chilly and full of catarrh, a fiesty brew can be a great comfort!
Image: Pixel-Shot/Shutterstock.com.
Heart - Ginger may also thin the blood, lower blood pressure and lower cholesterol – the triad for cardiovascular health. It may be considered a cardiac tonic –but as most people managing these conditions are on medication/s – always consult with your GP!
There are a few precautions. Take ginger with food as it can be irritating on an empty stomach. That being said, some digestive systems just don't like ginger at all. It may be contraindicated with gallstones, bleeding disorders and before surgery. Medicinally 1-2 grams a day is the norm.
•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.
Family Health with Jenna Evans
Are you looking for someone special this Festive Season?
Try festive dating with Alison at Just Somerset Introductions
IT’S December already, where did the year go! As our thoughts move towards Christmas and the New Year, if you don’t want to be on your own and would like to meet a special someone, perhaps even have some romance and a relationship again then consider Just Somerset Introductions.
We offer one to one introductions and also arrange socials where members can meet in a relaxed way, be it a pub lunch or a skittles evening, houses and gardens, theatre trips, dinner dances, walks and more. We cover all ages and welcome all single men and womenyounger members are welcome, there might be someone there for you!
We are part of the JIG also in Dorset, Wiltshire, Hampshire and Devon. You can meet members
from across the group. Please see our website www.just introductionsgroup.co.uk for testimonials and details of how we work or give us a call!
Wishing everyone a very Happy Christmas and a very Happy New Year!
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
By
John Osborne
Answers can be found on page 31
1) Who sings lead on The Beatles 'With a Little Help from my friends'?
2) Name the male artist who asked you to 'Dance All Over Me' in 2022?
3) 'So Far Away' came from which Dire Straits album?
4) Who said 'Thank You for Being a Friend' in 1978?
5) Who was number one ten years ago in December 2015 with 'Love Yourself'?
6) How do we best know singer Mark McLachlan?
7) The Beatles released which album 60 years ago this month, December 1965?
8) Stevie Wonder once declared that he was 'Signed Sealed, Delivered...' (what)?
9) Who was on 'Cloud Number Nine' in 1998?
10) Name the solo artist whose albums include 'Piano Man', 'Glass Houses' and 'Turnstiles'
Bonus Question:
'She Sells Sanctuary' A hit by which band?
Anorak Bonus Question:
Name the band formed in 1982 and initially named 'Vortex Motion'
Great Quotes in Music (146)
"In music one must think with the heart and feel with the brain."
- George Szell
2025 has been the year of the never-ending Summer and the realisation of how important external shading is for keeping your home cool and enabling you to take maximum advantage of your outdoor space. As we head towards Christmas and the next few months of Winter our immediate focus turns towards keeping the home warm and maximising the solar gain on those sunny days to help warm us. At LPSS we offer internal blinds and shutters tailored to your specific needs and we are still installing external shading during the off season getting our customers ready to face the next hot summer. So whilst our immediate attention is focused on keeping our homes warm it’s never too soon to start planning your 2026 external shading projects.
P.S. Keep an eye out for our new look logo, adverts and vans in 2026! We wish you all a very Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year! Email us on: enquiries @lizziepriceshadingsolutions .co.uk or tel: 07879 992000.
Damian Hoddinott PLUMBING SERVICES
End of year update from Lizzie at Lizzie Price
Shading Solutions
Making the most of your budget
IN a bid by retailers to capture our attention and open our wallets, it seems that year on year we start to be bombarded with the holiday season hype earlier and earlier. With the introduction of ‘Novembermas’ any celebrity chef you care to name is jumping on the bandwagon.
In the meantime, as consumers, there is much to be gained by keeping an eye out for the many multi-buy offers available at this time of year. Here are some tips for getting the most out of these deals.
Many supermarkets require you to purchase six or more bottles to unlock their 25% off discount. Be clever with your cash and stock up when offers are on. If you spot a wine you like to drink at a deal price, buy more. The next promotion may be months away. If a wine is already discounted and then qualifies for the “buy six get 25% off”, the cost per bottle can dip significantly. Always check the fine print for terms and conditions that apply, such as minimum bottle price and exclusions (fortified wines, boxed wines, etc.).
Try lesser-known wines and regions. The best value often comes from regions that aren’t “super premium”, with Romania, Lebanon, parts of Italy and Portugal showing up in value lists. Don’t just buy cheap, consider your style and food pairing: think about what you’ll drink the wine with, and when.
Value is the goal; be aware of quality expectations. In an £8 bottle of wine in the UK, the actual value of the wine itself is around £2, with the rest going to fixed costs such as tax, packaging, shipping, marketing, and retailer/producer profit. Having said that, If your budget is very tight, you can still pick up “good enough” wines for £3-£6 — just be realistic in your expectations. The proportion of the price that is the actual wine value increases significantly as the price of the bottle goes up. You can find wines for under £10 that still taste great, but at the price point of £15-£20 you will find more complexity, and when compared with buying a glass of wine in the average pub (£6-£7 for 175ml.) you are getting twice as much value.
Bear in mind that at the less expensive end of the budget most wines are not meant for ‘laying down’ and should be drunk within one or two years at the most.
Compare prices: Before you buy, check a few different supermarkets to ensure you are getting the best price.
To get the best deals you may be required to sign up for newsletters, or join loyalty programmes.
Check for delivery costs and factor in delivery fees into your total cost when comparing online deals.
Here are some up-to-date wine deals available in UK supermarkets at the time of writing. Availability and stock may vary by store or region. Here are ten deals worth checking out, with varying styles and price points. Some are explicit current deals, others are types/brands that show up frequently and are worth hunting for:
•Waitrose Blueprint Pinot Noir, Romania – £7. A genuine pinot noir style for under £8 is rare and this “Blueprint” pinot from Romania at Waitrose is around £7, delivering bright cherry/redplum fruit and a fresh finish.
•M&S Found Feteasca Alba, Romania – £7.50. Also highlighted in value lists, this white wine is under £8, with soft peach and jasmine aromas. If you prefer a crisp white that isn’t your usual sauvignon, this is interesting.
•Loved and Found Famoso, Italy – £9.25. A lesser-known Italian style (IGP Rubicone) picking up good comments for value. Something a bit different and still budgetfriendly.
•Animus Reserva Douro, Portugal – £8–10. Highlighted in ‘under £10’ bargain roundups, reds from Portugal often punch above their price and here’s a tip to explore.
•Castellore Organico Prosecco, Italy – £7.99. From a list of the best cheap wines, this organic prosecco is a sparkling wine treat for celebrations.
•Asda Extra Special Prosecco Brut – £7.28. (Can be cheaper with multi-buy). Excellent value for fizz — ideal for guests or mid-week treats.
•Sainsbury’s Taste The Difference Soave Classico, Italy – £7.50. This is a good example of white value, pairing well with light dishes, fish, or pasta.
•Chill Bill Sparkling Red, Australia – £6.99. This sparkling is a novel wine style — fun for mixing up your evening.
•Villa Antinori Toscana Rosso, Italy – £12.38. Is an example of a higher budget tier when discounted with mixed-six deals. If you’re willing to stretch a little, this gives premium name value at moderate cost.
At the moment Morrisons is offering a wide range of modestly priced wines for everyday drinking, including:
•Gallo Family Vineyards White Grenache Rosé (75 cl) – £6.25.
•McGuigan Bin 578 Merlot (75 cl) – £5.75.
•Barefoot White Zinfandel Rosé (75 cl) – £6.50.
•Oxford Landing Sauvignon Blanc (75 cl) – £7.25.
•Casillero del Diablo Reserva Cabernet Sauvignon (75 cl) –£8.50.
•Yellow Tail Pinot Grigio (75 cl) – £8.00.
•Torres Viña Sol (75 cl) – £7.75.
•Campo Viejo Rioja Tempranillo (75 cl) – £9.25.
Still in the process of down sizing, and slowly but surely culling my collection of over 2,500 food and wine books, whilst sifting through them I have taken the opportunity to re-visit them.
In doing so I have just finished reading Jancis Robinson’s Food
and Wine Adventures. I found this particularly informative in relation to food and wine pairing.
After a virtually wine-free childhood in a small village in northern Cumbria, whilst reading Maths & Philosophy at Oxford in the 1970s, Jancis was exposed to fine food and wine for the first time. What appealed to her was that it combined huge sensual pleasure with real intellectual stimulation; a combination of history, geography, psychology, creativity and science.
At the time food and wine were regarded as frivolous so she spent three years in the travel business, including a year in Provence, surrounded by vineyards and people to whom eating and drinking were what life was all about. Returning to London, and determined to find a job in either food or wine, her writing career began on 1 December 1975. Starting as assistant editor of the British wine trade magazine Wine & Spirit , she has since become one of the most notable award winning writers, travelling all over the world.
In quoting her, I am happy to highly recommend this excellent book -
‘There’s a lot to be said about price and value as they relate to wine. I don’t believe there is an absolute correlation between wine’s price and quality. There are many delicious wines that don’t cost a great deal, while there are hundreds of overpriced bottles carrying price tags that have been conjured out of the air by some hopeful marketeer or winery owner.’
The most important part is to have fun … wine isn’t serious; it’s all about pleasure.
With L.P-V
Image: Hryshchyshen Serhii/Shutterstock.com.
The Bigger Picture
With Bridget Sudworth
DECEMBER is significant, in case anyone didn’t know, as the month in which we celebrate Christmas. We only have 364 days to ‘get ready for Christmas’ and one is often seasonally asked this at the supermarket till or the hairdressing salon. It always makes me think that an inoculation beforehand to prepare yourself would be a good idea, Christmas possibly posing as a sort-of-disease, but that question never fails to raise a smile! It’s the time of year to get the dried blooms sprayed with metallics, search through the stored decorations in the attic to check for mice consumption and have a frantic search through muddled and untidy computer records for last year’s card list to see who to send to this year. And to fill the freezer with ready made vegan versions of Christmas fare (if, like us, you have vegan children) to save on the culinary emergencies on the day.
Having smashed yet another wine glass recently (not drunk, dear readers, just clumsy), it also means a visit to the Dartington 2nds shop to try and make up a matching set of less valuable glasses for the table - can’t use
the heirlooms - too precious!
We recently enjoyed a slightly damp but energizing week in Cornwall. Wilfred was able to race along sandy, wind driven shores doing wild zoomies, while we relished the variety of landscape and coast and eating an awful lot of icecreams. Cornwall is spellbinding (I have always said that if you go there as a child for a holiday, you will always return and luckily for both of us, our parents took us there while more or less still in
nappies), and in spite of many visitors, has managed to retain a wild mystery wrapped up with myths and legends that never cease to raise interest and speculation.
We have enjoyed so many holidays there, all over the county but this time, settled for the back regions of Falmouth. The Helford river region has much to offer not least the temperate rainforest upstream so well documented by Oliver Rackham and to some extent touched on by Daphne du Maurier in her book, Frenchman’s Creek although in 1941 when she wrote it, little was known about such arboreal treasures, they simply existed untouched and undisturbed.
Trebah tropical gardens were pretty good news and Wilfy cavorted about among the bamboo canes like a mouse in a jungle!
Gyllingvase Beach was rough though it’s likely that we saw the brave lady who is swimming there every day for 1000 days to raise funds for research into her husband’s rare form of terminal cancer. She intends to complete her marathon next July and has raised £45,000 so far.
Sadly, Falmouth High Street looked slightly forlorn with many empty premises, even allowing for the end-of-season closures, suffering as it does from the usual problem of out-of-town supermarket shopping destruction. How to raise up those precious towns is impossible to imagine as all our shopping habits have changed and are probably beyond redemption now.
While getting lost in Truro, we happened to pass a church that is earmarked for demolition, St Pauls in Tregolls Road. A sad building, unused since 2008, it is rotting with crumbling stonework beyond reasonable repair with dangerous subsidence and added to that, nudging hard upon the busy dual carriageway; all clearly now past its sell-by date.
It reminded me of the pleasure of decorating churches at this time of year and also, aroused a certain curiosity as to what may be discovered by the demolition of such a building like ancient burials beneath nave and chancel floors. Not many churches get demolished - those that have been deconsecrated are nevertheless preserved and others struggle to find alternative uses for community purposes in order to at least preserve their historic fabric.
They are so central to the lives of countless settlements, particularly the rural ones, forming the focal point so often with prominent towers or spires, or a clock that strikes throughout 24 hours annoying newcomers who shouldn’t buy a house within the sound if they don’t like it, providing wonderful roosts for bats and swallows in the summer months and packed with essential history.
And for Christians, it is the place to celebrate what is, after all, a Christian festival of joy (coming up, Folks), competing as it does these days, with other denominations that make up the varied ethnic population of the UK.
At this time of year, however, churches awake from their somnambulistic state to enfold all comers and provide unique settings for candlelit gatherings, carol singing and sharing of the reassuring old fashioned Christmas spirit.
The crisis affecting our inheritance of churches is currently dire as Christianity is nudged to one side by competition from other faiths in the UK. Of the 20,000 listed places of worship, one fifth are Grade l listed, one third Grade ll* and 40% are Grade ll but 3,500 have closed in the last 10 years.
We have just been assured too, on the national news, that bats are very happy indeed to occupy churches - as if we didn’t know. They do cause a lot of damage
with their droppings but it would appear that praising God as well as bats is now a priority.
On a lighter note, rummaging about in the garden is clearly subject to whomsoever has taken up residence in any given pile of leaves or beneath certain pots. After rain, the soil is workable so it’s a good time to plant out items that have been salvaged throughout the year but increasingly tricky if there happens to be a cache of creatures residing among the leaves. Just this afternoon, I had to cover up a pile of wormsclearly a family, plus a small grasshopper and the usual contingent of woodlice who were busy settling down for the winter. Cutting back peonies interrupted a snail on the
ascendent and while rescuing a clump of aubretia from an overgrowth of ivy, several more snails and a beetle were disturbed. The wild winds have brought down the leaves very swiftly but we have had wonderful Autumn colour thanks to the lack of rain and the abundant sunshine throughout the summer. What weather is coming our way - could it be really cold? It would be so good to have some heavy frosts to chase out some of the unwanted elements. We have so enjoyed the Hamza Yassin programmes on the telly; his delightful enthusiasm and persistence in finding the rarer species of the UK has been really exciting to watch as he trundles about the countryside shouldering his
photographic equipment to capture rarities. Seeing the elusive nightjar was especially exciting as long-term readers may recall me rabbiting on about the nightjar that had found its way into our dark village accompanying beloved old Luca and me as we plodded along the shadowy road outside our house to find the perfect spot for the goodnight pee. What it was doing down here, one can’t imagine but it hung about for at least a couple of weeks thrilling our night sojourn with its gentle purring. But on that note - we have to brace ourselves for the onslaught of Christmas! Next edition will be packed with advice on how to deal with the Festive Season in the most propitious way - as well as enjoying the whole shebang!!
European nightjar (Caprimulgus europaeus). Image: kingma photos/Shutterstock.com.
Warminster, Wiltshire, ready for Christmas. Image: Andrew Harker/Shutterstock.com.
MOTORING
VINTAGE Motorcycling with Rod Hann
DECEMBER has arrived and the end of another year. In general its been a good year with a long hot summer and plenty of opportunities for me to enjoy my old bikes. Not much has gone wrong mechanically to spoil the fun so no serious repairs needed before my usual preparations to do it all again in 2026. As usual I expect the January edition of this magazine to appear just before Christmas so I shall save my seasons wishes for the next issue.
Events are a little sparse during December but a few remain. The Somerset Section of the VMCC have their club night at Cossington on the 4th and this will be a slide show with some Christmas goodies. On the 7th will be their Christmas Run and Lunch again at Cossington, and on the 27th will be Ashley’s Run from Evercreech. The Dorset Section have their Christmas Dinner on the 6th (already sold out) and the next day they have the Mince Pie Run from Blandford. The Wessex Veteran and Vintage Section just have their Annual Lunch on the 8th at Wincanton. For more details ring 07813-248377.
Recently I was pleased to attend the Classic Motorcycle Show at Stafford. This happens twice a year and I have reported upon it many times. The show was very good as usual and vast in size. It attracts thousands of attendees from home and abroad. I help on the VMCC’s main club stand and we setup on the Friday afternoon and stay for Saturday and Sunday before packing everything up during late
afternoon on the last day. Long hours standing about makes it a very tiring weekend but all very enjoyable and worthwhile. We spend about half our time manning the stand and the remaining time is spent looking around the exhibits and the huge autojumble. Even so I doubt that we actually see 50% of what is there.
The official title for this show is the Classic Mechanics Motorcycle Show which caters for machines of all ages but it does tend to favour the more modern end of the spectrum. There are classes for all types and ages of machines made both here in Britain and from overseas. The standard of restoration is way beyond my words and capabilities.
On our stand this year was a machine which displays the above description perfectly, and so I have made it the subject of my
photograph this month. It is a Norcati which is a blend of Norton (British) and Ducati (Italian) parts. The frame is a modified Norton Featherbed from the early 1960’s as is the front forks. The engine is an 1100cc Ducati from the early 2000’s. The front brake is a Grimeca double sided four leading shoe job, well capable of stopping this sportster. The whole bike is beautifully put together and the shiny bits and the paintwork are to the highest of standards. This is not an easy assembly job and a lot of thought and expense has gone into its creation. The owners reward at the show was a ‘Highly Commended’ certificate but I thought it deserved more. Beauty is in the eye of the beholder I suppose.
By the time you read this I expect plans for Christmas festivities are being made and many of the presents have been bought. I like the lead up to Christmas when you visit friends
and relatives (some of which you may not have seen since last years lead up to Christmas). It’s all very sociable and that’s just how it should be. In addition many clubs are holding their Christmas Dinners or whatever they choose to have. This is a time to relax and enjoy the company of others before preparing for a fresh new year to come.
All clubs are preparing a calendar of events for 2026 so this is a good time to step forward and volunteer your services to help in whatever way you can. There are many jobs to be undertaken and they need not be overly onerous. When someone fresh gets involved those new faces see things differently to what has gone before and puts a slightly different slant on the things we do. They might only be small changes but it generates new interest for everyone. Here we are talking of evolution rather than revolution. Have a think about what you could do to help.
Norcati 1100cc with Norton Featherbed frame and early 2000s Ducati engine.
Motoring expert reveals cost confusion over car recall repairs amongst young drivers
Passing a driving test and owning a car for the first time is often an exciting milestone for young drivers, signalling a newfound independence. However, a study by a motoring expert has revealed that confusion is likely to set in if they were to be informed by the manufacturer of their car that there was a recall for a safety issue, and were advised to take it to a dealership to be fixed.
The poll by The Motor Ombudsman, which quizzed 1,100 drivers across the nation, has seen on average, more than half (60%) of young motorists aged between 17 and 24, incorrectly assuming that they would have to foot the bill in the event of a recall. Motorists are typically notified via a letter from the carmaker that known faults need putting right because of how their specific model was built –a service which is always free of charge to motorists.
MOTORING
The latest research showed the majority (56%) of 17 to 24-yearolds sharing the school of thought that recall repairs were payable, with this level of unfamiliarity then rising to around six in ten (62%) drivers aged between 25 and 34. In contrast, motorists of 55 years and over emerged from the study as the most conversant with this element of the recalls process, with only 9% believing they would need to pay for recall repairs. This is likely thanks to a longer driving career, and possible experience of having gone
through the motions of such a process in the past.
In addition, the findings of the survey highlighted that just over three in ten males (35%) getting behind the wheel believed there would be an associated cost for their car going on the ramp in the event of a recall versus around a fifth of female drivers (23%).
Sam Burton, Group Aftersales Manager at The Motor Ombudsman-accredited Gates car dealerships, said: “It may be daunting, especially for first-time car owners, to receive a letter in the post out the blue, or to read in the news, that your car – often a prized possession and a significant investment, suddenly has something wrong with it.”
“A recall notice is ultimately issued with everyone’s safety in mind, and often explains what the problem is, and the recommended steps for drivers to get their car fixed, and we urge anyone that gets such a letter to not ignore it and book their vehicle in when they can. Just as
important to remember is that you should never be handed an invoice for the work, as this is not related to how you have driven or how long you have owned the car.”
The poll also highlighted that around a fifth of 17 to 24-yearolds (22%) – often making their debut car purchases as new drivers, would solely look to sellers to inform them of any existing recalls affecting the actual vehicles they were looking to buy, rather than doing this as part of their own homework prior to signing on the dotted line. This compares to 12% of 25 to 34-yearolds, who are the least reliant age group on sellers for such information.
To view the dedicated category on recalls on The Motor Ombudsman’s Knowledge Base, visit www.themotorombudsman .org/knowledge-basecategory/recalls or to check for affected vehicles on The Motor Ombudsman’s recalls database, visit www.themotorombudsman .org/vehicle-recalls.
Essential December Garden Jobs
With Julie Haylock of Sandhurst Garden Design
AS winter arrives and the days grow shorter, it’s easy to overlook the garden until spring returns. However, December is a crucial month for gardeners to protect outdoor spaces and ensure a healthy, vibrant start next year.
So here are a few jobs, you can do now to safeguard your plants, encourage wildlife, and even lay the groundwork for new growth in the spring.
Protect Plants from Frost Frost can wreak havoc on tender plants. Shield delicate specimens with horticultural fleece, cloches, or even upturned plant pots on the coldest nights. Mulching around the base of shrubs and perennials with straw or bark chips adds an extra layer of insulation and will help roots stay snug and protected from icy temperatures.
And if we should have a fall of snow, shake the branches of trees and shrubs clear to prevent them being weighed down causing them to snap.
Feed the Birds
Natural food sources dwindle in winter, so supporting garden birds is important. Fill feeders with high-energy foods like fat balls, sunflower seeds, and peanuts.
Place feeders in sheltered spots, away from predators, and ensure a supply of fresh water by breaking ice each morning. The birds will reward you by keeping pests in check and daily visits with lots of activity outside your window.
Removing Garden Debris
Clear away fallen leaves from paths to prevent them from becoming slippery and remove any dead stems from your borders you have decided not to leave for winter interest or the wildlife and compost.
Insulating Garden Taps
Frozen taps can lead to burst pipes and costly repairs. Wrap external taps with insulating material or use purpose-made tap covers. Remember to shut off any outdoor water supplies if possible.
Assess Your Garden
With many plants dormant, December offers a clear view of your garden’s structure.
Walk around and note any gaps or dull spots and plan to fill these with new evergreen shrubs like holly or viburnum for winter interest and in addition provide shelter for wildlife through the coldest months.
Until next month, happy gardening and remember you can also catch up with me at around 9.30am every Friday, Saturday and Sunday on Radio Ninesprings with gardening news, hints and tips on my weekly feature From The Potting Shed.
More Poems By Andrew Haylock
If you are looking for the perfect gift for a poetry loving friend or family member, then how about a poetry book by local author
Andrew Haylock and beautifully illustrated by his uncle, Alan Haylock.
Andrew has written two books, A Selection of Poetry by Andrew Haylock £5.00 and More Poems by Andrew Haylock £8.00. Both books are available to purchase locally at Palmers Garden Centre, Yeovil, Somerton Art Space, Somerton, Waterstones in Yeovil and Winstone’s in Sherborne or by contacting 07899 710168 for more information.
Andrew Haylock with his book ‘More Poems’ - an ideal stocking filler this Christmas!
Stars To Sell Treasures at Wiltshire Church Fundraising Sale
LULU Guinness, the fashion designer; Mary Keen, the garden designer; interior designers Lady Lansdowne, Emily Todhunter, of Todhunter Earle Design and Emma Burns of Colefax and Fowler are just some of the famous names and leading lights from the worlds of fashion and design to be selling treasured items and rare objects at the inaugural St Andrew’s Church Chippenham Decorators’ Attic Sale and Auction that takes place
Father Benji Tyler with Marc Allum, Consultant specialist to Dore & Rees Auctioneers and BBC Antiques Road Show.
at the Church from 10.30am until 3pm on 6 December 2025. Event tickets from £2 are available at: http://bit.ly/3LW7jcz.
• Over thirty years of dealing in antique and Collectible Toys
• Established business paying BEST prices for old toys in any condition
The Pub Pages
BEER & SKITTLES
IT'S always a joy for your writer to report on a reopening of a pub, and even more so if it really had looked an impossible thing. Our regular readers will recall the reporting of the closure of the Candlelight Inn at Bishopswood, not far from Chard back in July of this year. So it's huge congratulations to Maddie and Ben, mine hosts at the Cotley Inn, Wambrook - also near Chard, who have taken up the challenge of running this pub as well. As they now declare, 'The Candlelight Inn is now officially part of the Redefined Hospitality family, the team behind the Cotley Inn!' Maddie and Ben first met at the Candlelight Inn back in 2015, so this venue means more than just a business to them, and they would like to thank Mike and Simon Rose-MacLeod for their huge success during their time at the helm. 'Their hard work and dedication have paved the way for this exciting new chapter, and Redefined Hospitality is proud to build upon the strong foundations they created.
Guests can expect the familiar hallmarks of The Cotley Inn, they added, 'with warm hospitality, community focus, and a deep respect for local produce while The Candlelight Inn will develop its own identity. The new venue will champion the creativity and style of its Head Chef, ensuring that while the brand’s DNA remains consistent, each experience feels fresh and distinct'.
We wish Maddie and Ben great success and all good fortune as Christmas and the New Year looms!
I'm ashamed to say I missed 'National Stout Day' – which was apparently celebrated on November 6th this year. How did I miss that? I've no idea, particularly as I'm someone who truly enjoys a 'Stout, Porter or Mild' – in other words, 'the dark side'. However, it makes no odds
as I will carry on enjoying the style, although wracked with guilt for not informing you in last month's exciting column. I also failed to mention that the CAMRA Champion Beer of Great Britain is a 'mild', brewed in the West Country, I'm delighted to say. This beer, by the Penzance brewery, took the prestigious award at the Great British Beer Festival, NEC Birmingham.
Quoting from the official CAMRA release, Lewis Elliott and Richard Hickman of Penzance Brewing said: “It’s quite overwhelming. I'm really glad the style has come back. It’s down to the founder of our brewery Peter Elvin and his nephew Rob, who showed me the ropes. I can’t believe we are here right now, its mad!”
Christine Cryne, Champion Beer of Britain Judging Coordinator described the Mild thus: “The aroma of this classic dark mild has all the enticing aromas one would expect. Chocolate and sweet cocoa on the nose. Chocolate, sultanas and dry roast on the palate where the gentle pleasant sweetness is balanced by a roasty, subtle, dry bitterness. Packs a lot of flavour for a 3.6% beer!”
Interestingly, hot on the heels of the remark that the 'mild' style is making a come-back (debateable in my opinion) we do see that Guinness sales are increasing, and to my surprise, it seems to be more amongst the younger drinkers. So, quizzing the youngest member (24) of our skittle team, he agreed that this is the case with his contemporaries, furthermore I witnessed three of the younger generation in our local (including one female with a pint) downing their Guinness with great alacrity!
This is all good news for the owners of the brand Diageo plc, a British multinational alcoholic
beverage company that was formed from a merger between Guinness and Grand Metropolitan in 1997. Whilst the Guinness family no longer runs the brewery, they do still have a significant financial stake in the company. However, it would appear that other aspects of this brewing giant aren't doing so well financially. I've also just read that the Slug and Lettuce chain are billions in debt (are there any of these establishments in the Visitor land area?) It always strikes me strange that a company can have this much debt, for when I've gone a little overdrawn a letter arrives from the bank (who charge me for the privilege) I guess it's the old adage 'When you owe the bank £100, you're in trouble, when you owe the bank a million they're in trouble.’
Milborne Port is a small town in Dorset. Or rather; it isn't. It's in Somerset of course, but thanks to the vagaries of the borders –and being close to Sherborne, it has Dorset postcodes! Blessed until recent times with three pubs and a club, there is now but one pub and the club (where the local skittle league still thrives, I am assured). The most recent of these pubs to close – almost a year ago now - is The Tippling Philosopher, known locally by a
former resident of the village and a good friend as 'The Tip'. It was formerly The Kings Arms, although the name it ended with could well have been its original name, the same source tells me. Further along the A30 was The Queen's Arms, a pub I frequented a fair amount at one time. So, have we been left with just the club? Well fortunately not, as The Gainsborough Arms had reopened under the care of Kerrie Blight, a young lady well experienced when it comes to looking after pubs, but now with her own name on the licence. I knew this establishment many moons ago, so many years have passed that in fact I cannot recall any details. Was that the mount of time passed or the amount quaffed here? I really cannot say. Anyway, my great mate Phil and I were going to 'pop in for a quick one' but the atmosphere was so welcoming and everyone so friendly – Kerrie in particular, of course – we stayed for the evening. The beer was excellent – Butcombe and Timothy Tailors Landlord – and I was delighted to be able to report this to CAMRA's 'WhatPub' scoring system. It's one of the few proper 'locals’ pubs' left - but with a big welcome for everyone. I really want to give Kerrie more column inches but space precludes that this month, so sometime in the near future we will expand a little. Meanwhile please do drop by, I'm sure you won't be disappointed.
More good news, this time it's from the Britannia in Sherborne, there is now a snooker table which joins the two pool tablesand the number of bookings continue to climb. There is also talk of a snooker team joining the local league (of which I was not aware, somewhat shamefully). I have been told there is also a billiards league, although my informant thought it was 'hanging on by the skin of its teeth'. Can anyone help with information please?
P. A. BAXTER
Guinness spoofing coins (author's collection).
We'll finish up with a few lines about skittles. Please pardon a little self-indulgence, but I need to have a little boast that our team won the first eight league games of the 2025/6 season! This is a reversal of our usual performance although sadly for us, it went pear-shaped at our last game. We played 'Mind The Gaps' with a team of friendly youngsters whose home alley is the King's Arms at Thornford. The better half and myself are quite regular visitors here for food but this was my own first time to perform on the alley. The atmosphere in the pub was wonderful as usual with that feeling all country pubs should
have. I congratulate Mat and Rob at the pub who never let us down, and to Sam and his team on their win. It's so good to see the younger generation getting stuck into the game.
One last thing. Following my banging on about being never too old to play skittles, a friend who plays in the Newport (South Wales) league tells me that a player (Ray - pictured) has just had his 100th birthday. Happy Birthday Ray! Cheers!
That once again, Rudolph and friends are delighting shoppers at Otter Garden Centre Wincanton, this festive season. That in Todber parcel delivery can be a bit of a problem.
That Karen of Crewkerne Aqua Centre is wished a speedy recovery from her holiday. That in South Petherton Mo Cutler likes to pick her own lemons to make her delicious lemon meringue pie!
That a 'little black jet plane' caused concern for some residents over Yeovil this month.
That even with the country experiencing a cost of living crisis, people have dug deep and raised more than £45 million (at the time of writing) to help support young people across the UK, thanks to Children in Need.
That Glastonbury’s Nigel Coppell gave a ‘shout out’ this month to all the good folks who live in and around Baltonsborough. That purchasing a new Christmas tree can be a daunting experience, but thanks to a very helpful young man at The Range in Yeovil, two senior citizens left the premises with the exact tree they had been looking for.
That you certainly get a first class service at Norton Sub Hamdon Village Shop when you need a stamp.
Unusual crib board.
Ray the centenarian in action!
Photo: Matt Callaghan.
Calamity overcome
IT came as no surprise to find that the December 1995 Visitor was brimming with Christmas gift ideas and pubs’ Christmas meal menus. But tucked away towards the back of the magazine was a brief mention of a Yeovil incident that had recently made headlines in the local and regional newspapers. Perhaps you remember it. The Visitor columnist offered this ‘word of praise for the Western Gazette staff – editorial and advertising – who didn’t let the aftermath of a firebomb attack on their Sherborne Road offices stop them getting the paper out on time’. He added that ‘it’s not easy at the best of times to get a large multieditioned newspaper through the various production processes with no hitches. To succeed in the face of such a major calamity is nothing short of superb.’
Historical Langport
Following what the Visitor described as the ‘spectacularly successful Battle of Langport reenactment of last July’, its organisers were in the process of forming themselves into the Langport & District Historical Society. So reported the December issue, adding that they were ‘already working on a Living History Camp in conjunction with The Sealed Knot, to take place on Cocklemoor on 27th/28th July, and they hope to make this an annual event’. Their other project, according to the report, ‘is to start a Langport & District Museum’ because ‘surprisingly Langport does not at present have a museum, although there was one about a hundred years ago in North Street’.
More than just a hall
The good news from Keinton Mandeville in the December 1995 Visitor was that a start had been made on building a village hall. The report noted that ‘Keinton Mandeville is the largest village in South Somerset that doesn’t have its own village hall’ and that ‘the first suggestions for a village hall were made well over 30 years ago and at one time a sectional building was bought but never erected’. Now ‘a purpose built hall with a main hall, committee room
and kitchen is to be built on a magnificent site on the outskirts of the village with fine views of the surrounding countryside and will eventually have car parks and playing fields extending to 5.5 acres’. With provision made for all local groups the new hall will include ‘play group facilities and cellar space for storage of the scout and guide groups’ tents and canoes. There will be a stage and, by popular request, the doctors who currently use the Old School Rooms as a local surgery are being provided with a new consulting room’. The hall was due to be completed in early 1997.
Artful plan for Sherborne
Plans to turn Sherborne House into a centre for the arts were revealed in the December 1995 Visitor . The large 18th century house was built for the Portman family and was currently owned by Dorset County Council which had used it as a school but was about to transfer it to Trustees. The report stated that the older rear part of the house ‘will be used as a permanent art gallery, hosting some eight to ten exhibitions a year, and as exhibiting and working space for local craftspeople’. Apparently the Trustees see the project as ‘serving an area that reaches far beyond Sherborne itself and emphasis will be placed on the educational aspects, making it available for school visits etc’. As Sherborne residents will know, it has been a long and tortuous process since then to get anywhere near to achieving these aims.
Taxing times
What the Inland Revenue described as ‘a fairer and more straightforward system’ for people whose income is not solely from paid employment was scheduled to come into effect from 6th April 1997 with the tax year 1996/97 being a year of transition from the old
to the new system. An article in the December 1995 Visitor explained that ‘until now it has been the duty of anyone who receives a tax return to enter upon it all his or her income and claims for allowances, and to return it to the Inland Revenue where an inspector and his or her assistants calculate the tax bill for the year’. In future, under the new system called Self Assessment, ‘we will be expected to enter upon the tax return all the income etc and to calculate the tax ourselves, sending the
return and the money to the Inland Revenue by a given date’. It added that the Inland Revenue ‘has introduced a new computer to deal with the new system and, inevitably, has revised the tax return form to cope with the computer’ but the reporter suspected that ‘many people such as pensioners who have managed to deal with their own tax returns until now will find it more difficult in future and will need the help of an accountant’.
Roger Richards.
Groundworks
Cl ass ified Ads
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Storage
STORAGE for furniture in locked cubicles. Lock-up garages to let. Tel: Sparkford Storage on 01963 440045 or 440526 or 440692
DAVE BUYS ALL TYPES OF TOOLS, salvage, bygones and collectables. Daves Tools, Est. 1989. Tel: 01935 428975 SANDYS Warehouse, Gillingham 01747 822077. Wanted - collections of Hornby, Corgi, Dinky. Cash paid for right models. Somdor House, Gillingham SP8 4QA, sandysremovals@aol.com
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
MARTIN, 67, would like to meet lady at The White Hart, Sturminster Newton every Friday or Saturday night. Tel: 01258 472910
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Prize Crossword No. 468
Set by Frank Butler
SEND COMPLETED ENTRIES TO: The Visitor Crossword, P.O. Box 5522, Castle Cary, Somerset BA9 0BP – to arrive by Tuesday 9th December
1 9
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:
1. Fishes in corners [6]
4. Brave as I, and scratchy [8]
9. Some drifts led George to slide [6]
10. Wing-like dynasty is scary! [8]
11. Scolding classification [6]
12. Pin cages for flight [8]
14. Break trance and inter archbishop perhaps [10]
18. Winners’ tokens confuse glad models [4, 6]
22. Anger in rural businesses producing guns [8]
23. Friend and expert accommodates royalty [6]
24. I rely on torn net completely [8]
25. Edge back and aim badly for Moses’ sister [6]
26. Is swayed crab-wise [8]
27. Stopped relaxation between 100 and 500 [6]
Clues Down:
1. Draw away sailor’s extent of space [8]
2. Weeping salutation [8]
3. Machinery maker wrecks first effort in green [8]
5. A bad lustre on the rails [10]
6. A minor route overseas [6]
7. Fair it is in part to have eye infection [6]
8. Take on mesh [6]
13. Unusually, with extreme aplomb, let small man take friend [10]
15. Man backing in pit brings thermosetting polymer [8]
