The Visitor Magazine Issue 413 May 2018

Your local independent monthly journal  01963 351256 www.thevisitormagazine.co.uk

Issue 414 May 2018

FREE copy Your

Better sleep naturally

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Visit: The British Cheese Awards 2018 and Celebrate its 25th Birthday See page 4 for details

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VT01_MAY18

HARVEST

In Passing ...

W

ith the coming of lighter, warmer evenings the police usually receive an increasing number of reports of anti-social behaviour, often involving teenagers. This usually generates demands from the ‘law and order’ lobby for a tough penal response to youthful law-breakers, greater protection for society from their anti-social behaviour, and an emphasis on the value of punishment as a deterrent. Certainly for a very small number of young offenders, removal from the community is the only answer; for some, short sharp sentences do effectively curb their delinquency. But re-offending rates are extremely high for those discharged from penal institutions and residential care, and very much lower among young people who have been involved in community-based alternatives to custody.

For a significant number of young people in rural areas, life can be personally unfulfilling.

Where the school bus takes them up to ten miles to school each day, distance precludes their participation in after-school activities, curtails the development of friendship groups and limits their parents’ involvement with the school. Modern farming methods have dispelled the myth that the countryside is one huge leisure facility for young people. Space for relaxation, sport and adventure is, in most of rural Visitorland, at much the same premium as in cities.

Where public transport exists it is often for the benefit of workers or college students, leaving those without their own transport isolated for much of the day, in the evenings and at weekends. The trend towards centralisation, particularly of community and leisure facilities and services, compounds the transport problem. For many young people, a resource centralised at a place to which there is no transport might as well be on the moon.

For them, with limited opportunities for making new friends and taking part in a broad range of leisure activities and with dependence on television and the internet for entertainment, the images of city life portrayed on the screen breed dissatisfaction and the feeling that they are missing out on the excitement.

Local jobs are few for school-leavers with low educational achievements. Nowadays farming employs only two rural workers in a 100, with a further three per cent working in related industries. For those seeking work in nearby towns, car or motorbike ownership is usually a necessity rather than a luxury, while increases in the cost of petrol, road tax, insurance and maintenance inevitably hit rural dwellers harder than their urban counterparts. For a better chance of a job and a social life, a move away from the countryside seems to many to be the only answer. For some their escape route is, sadly, into drugs.

A small minority of Visitorland’s young people progress from isolation to alienation to offending. The response of the ‘law and order’ lobby addresses the wrong end of this progression. Surely the solution rests with the parents, politicians and communities at the start of the process?

NN.

Advertising Deadlines June Issue published Thursday 24th May Deadline Friday 11th May

PO Box 1, Castle Cary Somerset BA7 7BP

Tel: (01963) 351256, 351998 Email: info@thevisitormagazine.co.uk Website: www.thevisitormagazine.co.uk facebook.com/thevisitormagazine twitter.com/thevisitormag

Proprietor Helen Dunion Editor Max Dunion Advertising Julie Crowe

© The Visitor Ltd. 2018

(Items marked ©GT are the copyright of Geoff Thompson)

CONTENTS

ANNOUNCEMENTS & CLASSIFIED - 34 ANTIQUES & COLLECTING - 26 CROSSWORD - 34 GARDENING - 28

GILLINGHAM- 22

HOUSE & HOME - 16 LEISURE- 21

LOOKING GOOD - 14

MENTIONED in DISPATCHES - 4 MOTORING - 31

MUSIC for the MONTH - 31 NOTE TO ADVERTISERS Advertisements are accepted subject to our standard terms and conditions as printed on our rate card, available upon request. We cannot guarantee any specific page or position, but will always do our best to comply with clients’ wishes.

ARTWORK Artwork & design by our production department and photographs taken by our photographers are the copyright of The Visitor Ltd.

Clients or agencies supplying artwork or images should send uncompressed TIFs, JPEGs or PDFs, 300 dpi minimum if actual size, or at a higher resolution if smaller than size required, along with a hard copy print-out.

For advertisement sizes see our Rate Card.

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

NOTICE BOARD For May - 21 PAPERCHASE - 32

PHONE-A-FIRM - 32 PUBS - 24

SUDOKU - 27

TEA FOR TWO - 13 THEY SAY - 9

WINE & DINE - 27

YEOVIL INDEPENDENT TRADERS - 10 Drawings by GEOFF THOMPSON

THE VISITOR May 2018 3

Mentioned in

Dispatches

Pay A Visit To The British Cheese Awards 2018 and Celebrate its 25th Birthday

The British Cheese Awards 2018 takes place on Wednesday 30th May 2018 at the Royal Bath & West Show, Shepton Mallet, Somerset. For lovers of cheese and fine food it makes for a ‘must visit’ show.

The awards are celebrating its 25th birthday and is the preeminent cheese event in the UK, as well as a great celebration of

British cheese and the industry.

With over 1,000 cheeses expected to be entered visitors will get a unique opportunity to see all these cheeses in one location.

The British Cheese Awards forms part of the Royal Bath & West Show, that takes place from Wednesday 30th May to Saturday 2nd June. Tickets for the show can be purchased online at www.bathandwest.com and cost £20 per adult ticket (Gate Price will be £25), which includes FREE entrance for two children.

Judging for the awards takes place from 9am on 30th May and members of the public will be able to observe this unique judging process from a dedicated area in the judging room. Judges will score the cheeses on presentation, texture, aroma, flavour and

Installation – Repair – Services

balance. Dependent on the scores that each cheese receives, gold, silver and bronze medals will be awarded.

Then from about 1pm onwards on the same day, once the judging has finished, visitors will be able to have a close up view of all the cheeses that have been judged.

As well as the awards there will also be the Cheese Marquee

Yarlington House will host the largest Charity Specialist Plant Fair in South Somerset with 30 nurseries and garden related stands.

where British cheesemakers who have entered the awards will be selling their delicious products.

There will also be a variety of cheese tastings and talks for visitors to enjoy.

Popular South Somerset Plant Fair and Open Garden

On Saturday 12th May from 10.00am to 4.00pm, Yarlington House, BA9 8DY, between Castle Cary and Wincanton, will host the largest Charity Specialist Plant Fair in South Somerset with 30 nurseries and garden related stands.

With specialist nurseries attending from throughout the South of England, this plant fair is a must for keen plant buyers and gardeners alike.

Along with specialist clematis, and other interesting climbers, there will be salvias, peonies, palms and ferns for sale. Other nurseries will be selling wild

Millbrook Gardens Fete, Castle Cary Saturday 16th June, Noon until 3pm More details next month!

YARLINGTON HOUSE

By kind permission of The Count & Countess de Salis

17TH SPECIALIST PLANT FAIR & OPEN GARDEN Saturday 12th May • 10am – 4pm

A wonderful DAY OUT for GARDENERS and a great opportunity to buy those plants you’ve always wanted

A large selection of plant stalls by specialist growers from all over the South West A selection of unusual annuals on the Yarlington House Stall

Raffle, Tombola, and Delicious Refreshments available all day

Entrance Fee £3 (under 16s free) • FREE PARKING

Proceeds to St. Mary's Church Yarlington, and the Village Hall Yarlington House, Yarlington, nr. Wincanton, BA9 8DY

4 THE VISITOR May 2018

flowers, plants for shade, an eclectic mix of rare and unusual edible plants and a selection of unusual annuals from the Yarlington House stall.

Access to the pretty Yarlington House garden, which is not normally open to the public, is included in the entry of the plant sale at £3. There is no charge for children under sixteen and parking is free.

There will be refreshments available throughout the day.

This year, the Count and Countess de Salis have chosen the Parish Church of St.Mary, Yarlington and Yarlington Village Hall as the benefiting causes. This event is now in its 18th year. In 2017 over 1100 people attended the event.

A Concert by the Choir and Instrumentalists of Wells Cathedral Junior School, Wednesday 23rd May, 6.30pm

Music has been at the heart of Wells since it started as a choir school in AD909. The earliest record was as a school of choristers when the then church of Wells was made into a cathedral. The chorister school for young boys with unbroken voices and the grammar school for ‘teenagers’ were united during the sixteenth century. In 1970 Wells became one of just three specialist music schools in England, as Wells and Chetham’s joined the Menuhin school as a national centre of musical excellence.

Today it’s a thriving coeducational school that incorporates choristers and talented musicians, offering a specialist music scheme for students who wish to pursue a career in music. They receive first-class, pre-professional training from teachers who are world-class musicians themsevles, many of whom are active performers and teach at UK conservatories. The

musicians achieve great success both as performers and in public examinations. They perform in numerous concerts in this country and across Europe.

‘The Music Department at Wells provides outstanding tuition and performance opportunities. I have witnessed many talented musicians from Wells go on to become some of the finest professional players in the country,’ says Julian Lloyd-Webber, international concert cellist.

St Michael’s Church, North Cadbury are delighted to welcome the choir and instrumentalists of the junior school on Wednesday 23rd May. Tickets are £12 (under 16’s free) to include refreshments and are available from North Cadbury Village Shop, by telephone on 01963 440929, on the door or by post.

Come along and help the Friends of St Michael’s to raise money for the maintenance of the church.

Mere Girlguiding Bingo

Friday 11th May, Grove Buildings, Church Street, Mere, Wilts, BA12 6DS. Doors open 6.45, Eyes Down

7.30. Variety of prizes, raffle, refreshments. Specials - including voucher for celebration cake (of the winner's choice) - up to £40.00.

Fun for all the family. Organised

by Mere Girlguiding, with proceeds to Group Funds. Any enquiries please contact Sue Jeans on 01747 860215.

Part exchan availabge le

home Visits

Step inside!

We have a wonderful choice of

rise & recline chairs & Beds New & Pre-owned Scooters ... to suit all budgets

acorn Stairlifts

 On-The-Premises Servicing  Bespoke • Corporate • Events Parties • Weddings • Sympathy Local & Nationwide Deliveries

01963 32367

11 Church Street, Wincanton, BA9 9AA

call in and see us at ...

Next to coSta coffee aND withiN eaSy reach of MaiN car Park

10 Falkland Square Crewkerne, TA18 7JS  01460 271172

www.regencycareandmobility.co.uk “if you can’t come to us we will come to you”

THE VISITOR May 2018 5

Mentioned in

Dispatches

Wheathill Golf Club Celebrates Silver Jubilee

Experience a warm and friendly atmosphere in a Jewel of Somerset Countryside.

Wheathill Golf Club would like to thank all their members and visitors for their support over the last 25 years.

Now we are looking forward to

celebrating the club’s Silver Jubilee, starting with a members Cross Country competition on the opening day anniversary of the 1st May, followed by celebrations in the Clubhouse.

There are also many other fixtures planned during the summer such as Captain’s Day on 21st July. The afternoon will be a Family time with a BBQ and fun competitions on the academy course for golfers of all abilities and ages, open to all.

Wheathill Golf Club is a great place to learn a game for life and offers junior camps during holidays! For further details telephone 01963 240667 opt 2. or visit www.wheathillgolf.co.uk.

Museum AGM

Castle Cary Museum Annual General Meeting. Thursday 24th May 2018 at 2pm in The Shambles, Market House. All Welcome.

Hatch House Open Garden Sunday June 3rd 2018. In aid of Salisbury Hospice Charity

Idyllic Hatch House in the heart of the Wiltshire countryside, by the kind permission of Sir Henry and Lady Rumbold, will hold its annual Open Garden on Sunday June 3rd.

This is a great event for all the family and a chance to see the 17th Century walled Dutch garden with amazing views over the Vale of Wardour. Enjoy teas with family and friends and browse a wide variety of stalls. There are secondhand books, jewellery, bric-a-brac

and Lady Rumbold & Mrs Vernon's famous clothes stall packed with amazing finds, a magnet for bargain hunters. All proceeds will again go to the Salisbury Hospice Charity.

Over the years this event has raised thousands of pounds to help the charity continue its valuable work - http://www.salisbury hospicecharity.org.uk.

The Open Garden is also a perfect opportunity to see Hatch with the garden looking its best and it’s a fantastic afternoon for the whole family. Admission per person: Adults - £5, children - £1.

Opening Times: 2-5pm.

For anyone planning a wedding or very special event Hatch House is available to hire as a venue.

Please see the website for further details. www.hatch-house.co.uk.

Hatch House Open Garden, Wiltshire.

6 THE VISITOR May 2018

THE VISITOR May 2018 7

Mentioned in

Dispatches

Abandoned Wallaby Springs into Action After Being Hand-reared in a Rucksack

A baby wallaby which is being hand reared in a rucksack after being found abandoned is delighting keepers at Longleat with his progress. The baby, who has been nicknamed Newt is

thought to be around 30 weeks old. He has been adopted by keepers Gemma Short and Jodie Cobb, who take it in turns to carry him around in a substitute pouch made from a rucksack.

The red-necked wallaby, who was rescued from certain death after being found abandoned during the snowy weather, is thriving and appears particularly enthusiastic enjoying the longdelayed spring weather.

‘It appears that for some reason his mum let him out of her pouch during the cold weather but then refused to let him back in again,’ said keeper Gemma.

‘We kept him under closer observation but when it became clear she had abandoned him we had to step in and hand rear him.

‘Initially we had to feed him every two hours but now he feeds at four-hourly intervals and he’s starting to take solids.

‘At first it felt a little strange to be carrying this rucksack around but after a while you do get used to it. He’s a real character and is beginning to venture out on his own again and explore the outside world,’ she added.

At birth he weighed just 20 grams and was little larger than a baked bean. He would have had to crawl through his mother’s fur from the birth canal into the pouch where he began to suckle.

Volunteering to take over as surrogate mums has been a real labour of love for the keepers especially with feeds every four hours day and night.

What’s more Gemma and Jodie will have to keep up their role as adopted parents for up to 18 months until the youngster is fully weaned and ready to return to the wallaby colony.

Originally from Tasmania and Eastern Australia, the red necked wallaby is a hardy species and very capable of surviving in the harsh British weather conditions. There are a number of small groups living wild in Derbyshire and Sussex which originated from animals which escaped from zoos in the 1930s.

Newt, the baby wallaby, in the spring sunshine at Longleat.

Photo: Ian Turner.

8 THE VISITOR May 2018

They Say

That another £2 million needs to be raised to complete repairs to Wellington Monument.

That in Compton Pauncefoot, the renovation of stone walling has greatly improved the entrance to the 15th century Church of St. Mary.

That when it comes to quality clothing and shoes, discerning gentlemen should hurry along to Mabbs, the gentlemens’ outfitters of Yeovil, to pick themselves up a bargain before it’s too late.

That visitors to Weymouth should beware - it’s not only the seagulls that hang around for food, crows are now getting in on the act too.

That the latest stemutation record of the Hoddinott family was experienced quite recently by seven year old Emma, of South Cadbury.

That when the thermometer drops below zero in Keinton Mandeville, big jam tarts are the order of the day, for a certain gentleman.

That a few of the North Cadbury Tuesday Pilates group agree, forget the wood and slate, let’s have food on a plate.

That customers have been known to travel from as far afield as Portugal to purchase goods from Yeovil’s Old Creamery Furniture Warehouse.

That football scouts will no doubt be on the lookout for young Thomas Feakins of Stalham after scoring a hat-trick during the penultimate game of the season.

That water polo is coming to Sherborne on Sundays - strong swimmers required.

That thirteen might be unlucky for some, but not for Jon Thorner’s of Pylle, who is celebrating winning a total of 13 awards at the Smithfield Product Evaluation and British Pie Awards.

MAX FOOTE Associates Ltd

Chartered Certified Accountants and Registered Auditors 26 Lower Woodcock Street Castle Cary BA7 7BH Tel: 01963 351052

Business and limited company accounts, self assessment tax returns, VAT, Payroll, Book-keeping and Training Personal and professional service

THE VISITOR May 2018 9

Beechwood House Care Home

Set in large gardens, Beechwood House Care Home in Yeovil, provides a very high standard of residential care for 28 elderly people, all having ground level, en-suite rooms. Established for almost 20 years, their aim is to provide a caring and comfortable home for people who feel unable or do not wish to live on their own any longer.

Two sitting rooms and conservatories allow residents to enjoy either personal time, to meet visitors or to participate in the activities on offer. The cooks prepare

excellent home-cooked meals and special dietary requirements are catered for. Should you require them to order, collect and administer medication, they will gladly do so.

They want residents to maintain their way of life, whilst knowing that help is available whenever they need it. Above all, treat Beechwood House as your home. Please call Sandra Barclay, Manager, on 01935 472793 for more details.

Appleby and Childs

Yeovil for over 130 years.

They are an independent family run business offering the best in service, choice and quality.

They specialise in bespoke memorials, and also offer a cleaning, renovation and memorial insurance service.

A free brochure is available on request. ‘Let our Family look after yours’.

Hart Mobility

Hart Mobility is a family run business based in Yeovil, Somerset and it’s hard to believe they have owned the shop for 8 years. Most of their business is by word of mouth and recommendation.

They stock Mobility scooters, new and pre owned, wheelchairs, rise and recline chairs, stairlifts, daily aids and so much more.

Appleby and Childs, independent masons, has been serving the area in and around

Care Home, Yeovil • 24hr personal care • Own ensuite basin & toilet • Large accessible gardens • Medication managed if required • Full social activities programme

Call SANDRA BARCLAY, Manager on 01935 472793 for an informal chat 60 West Coker Road, Yeovil BA20 2JA email: info@beechwoodcarehome.co.uk • www.beechwoodcarehome.co.uk

Hart Mobilty of Yeovil.

HartMobility Yeovil Disability & Mobility Products

We offer the best service and the lowest prices in the

South West

★ New Scooter £595

★ Road Legal Scooter £1,495 ★ Reclining Chairs from £595 ★ NEXT DAY DELIVERY ● ● ● ● ● ●

Daily Living Aids Bath Lifts Walking Aids Wheelchairs Power Chairs Stair Lifts

01935 421111

E FRE NCE A R l INSU d lega oa for r sers u

Pre-owned mobility scooters and wheelchairs also available

1 Camborne Grove (Lyde Road) YEOVIL BA21 5DG www.hartmobility.co.uk

10 THE VISITOR May 2018

Scooter Servicing from £35 • FREE parking • FREE battery testing

Servicing and repairs available too. Free parking is available and good old fashioned great customer service.

Drop in for a free demonstration or to browse.

They look forward to welcoming you.

Focalflames Fireplaces

Welcome to Focalflames Fireplaces! They are a small, personal, family run business specialising in wood burning stoves and fireplaces, with more than 15 years’ experience in the industry they pride themselves on providing

high quality, great value services, with free home consultations, advice and even their very own showroom to browse a huge range of makes and models!

Expert advice will help you make the right choice at a budget you

are happy with!

This year they are also proud sponsors of the Festival of Dogs in Shepton Mallet on the 13th of May, celebrating our four legged friends!

Text them today for a free no obligation quote on 07931 918947.

Ward & Sibley, Independent Jewellers of Yeovil offer customers a wide range of services.

Built-in trays for walk-in showers, recently installed at a property in Merriott by J2 Tiles, Yeovil. Visit their showroom on Lynx West Trading Estate, opposite Wickes. 15% off sales over 20 square metres.

VISIT OUR EXTENSIVE TILE SHOWROOMS

 Quality Floor & Wall Tiles

15% OFF ALL SALES OVER 20sqm

WARD & SIBLEY Independent Jewellers of Yeovil

AS GOOD AS NEW! Our repair section of the business is pleased to offer:

 Distributors of Grespania and other leading brands

 Complete refurbishment of jewellery –

 Kitchen Installations now available

 Jewellery handmade to your own design

 Professional fitting service

 Free Measuring & Estimate  Design Advice

 Supply & Fit or Supply Only  Full Range of Sanitary Ware, Basins, Baths, etc.

CALL IN TODAY PUBLIC & TRADE WELCOME Open: 9am – 5pm Monday – Friday 10am – 4pm Saturday FREE PARKING OUTSIDE THE SHOP

J2 Tiles, Unit 16, Venture 20 (Opposite Wickes)

Lynx West Trading Estate YEOVIL, BA20 2HP

 01935 472088 · www.j2tiles.co.uk

soldering charms onto bracelets, sizing rings, repairing chains, jewellery cleaning

 Pearl and bead re-threading

 Seal, hand, and machine engraving

VALUATIONS For Insurance and Probate

For a Prompt, Reliable & Friendly Service THE CASKET, 103 MIDDLE STREET, YEOVIL Tel: 01935 474065 “Established for over 70 Years”

Car Park at Rear for customers while visiting the shop THE VISITOR May 2018 11

Crossroads Pet Supplies

Horse? Goldfish? Dog? Whatever your pet, Crossroads have feeds and accessories to suit.

Conveniently situated on the outskirts of the town on the Yeovil to Sherborne road, with

ample free parking outside the door.

Pet beds, toys, and accessories can all be found plus hutches, feeding bowls, bedding and more!

Whatever your pet may require, Crossroads is well worth a visit.

NORRIS BODY REPAIRS LTD ■ Insurance Claims ■ Private Jobs ■ Restorations ■ Resprays ■ Welding Work

South Street • YEOVIL • BA20 1QQ Tel: 01935 411095

Email: norrisbodyrepairs@gmail.com • Fax: 01935 473119

John Hamblin

CABINET MAKERS • ANTIQUE FURNITURE RESTORERS

Norris Body Repairs Ltd

Norris Body Repairs is a familyrun business near the town centre which carries out car body repairs and re-sprays.

If you have an insurance claim, you can choose where your car is repaired and Norris Body Repairs offer a friendly alternative to the larger body shops. Richard Norris has over 23 years’ experience in the industry and will ensure you receive individual attention together with a free estimate and highly skilled repair.

They also specialise in vehicle restorations, offering a chance for the customer to inspect and instruct as the restoration is carried out. Norris Body Repairs also carry out welding work on vehicles that may have failed their MOT. Call Mary Norris to book your car in for repair today!

Wardon Hill Trading Post

Due to their continued success there is once again exciting new developments at Wardon Hill Trading Post. They are expanding their outside area to include a plant & garden centre, which they hope to open in May. This will run

alongside the main building currently home to over 50 independent Traders selling a variety of items from Antiques, Vintage, Collectables & Craft so there will be something for everyone.

All this can be found on the A37 between Dorchester & Yeovil. They are all on one level making them easily accessible to everyone and offer plenty of free parking and an excellent tearoom with a warm environment and a friendly welcome. They look forward to seeing you soon.

Hider Heating

Hider Heating, established since 1973, is an expert in the plumbing and heating sector, working with estate agents, letting agents and the general public in the Somerset area.

They offer their customers all aspects of plumbing and heating including: full central heating installation; boiler repairs and servicing; bathrooms; landlord gas safety certificates and general plumbing.

Their Gas Safe registration number is 700 so you can see that they have been in the

We are specialists in the repair & restoration of antique and modern furniture

 Bespoke Furniture made to customers specific requirements  French Polishing

 Re-Leathering of Desktops, Bureaux, etc.  Dining Table Tops Refinished

A family run business established for over 50 years

Unit 6, 15 Oxford Road, Pen Mill Trading Estate, Yeovil, BA21 5HR Tel: 01935 471154 • jhamblin101@gmail.com “We care for your furniture”

A family concern – John Hamblin with son Mark and nephew David Dewfall in their Pen Mill workshop. Established for over 50 years in bespoke furniture and furniture restoration.

Antiques, Vintage, Collectables, Craft and so much more ...

OVER 50 TRADERS • TEAROOM PLENTY OF FREE PARKING

Open Tuesday – Saturday 9am – 5pm / Sunday 9am – 4pm

WARDON HILL TRADING POST A37 DORCHESTER – YEOVIL • DT2 9PW 01935 83069 / wardonhill@gmail.com Facebook: @wardonhilltradingpost

12 THE VISITOR May 2018

HIDER HEATING

Specialists in Installation & Service

ALL TYPES OF PLUMBING Central Heating Systems, Boiler Replacement Landlord Safety Checks and Servicing Gas and Oil Established Over 40 Years Rely on us for all Plumbing & Heating Needs Specialist in Bathroom Designs including all Tiling & Electrics

Reg. No. 700

www.hiderheating.co.uk Tel: 01935 426209 • Mobile: 07836 773152 41a West Coker Road, Yeovil, Somerset, BA20 2LY

business a long time, giving you confidence that only the highest standard of workmanship is offered as standard - they also have great testimonials.

SES Alarms Ltd, Yeovil

Security & Electrical Services (Yeovil) Limited (SES alarms) is a private company engaged in the installation and maintenance of security systems.

Michael and Maxine Muxlow started a family business in 1984 that has developed a long standing reputation for an efficient and local service and this ethos has been continued by their son and daughter, Steven and Louise, who now run the business.

They have further developed the company into a multidiscipline business offering bespoke security integration solutions ensuring a seamless service to all customers.

They have a wealth of experience with most of their staff having worked with them for many years and are committed to providing a professional, dependable and local service to all customers.

They provide Intruder Alarms, Fire alarms, CCTV Systems, Access Control systems and Home Audio visual solutions covering approximately a 30 mile radius from Yeovil in Somerset.

Whatever work they

undertake for a client we ensure disruption is kept to a minimum during installation and the customer is given a full demonstration of the system on completion.

Having outgrown their Preston Road premises, SES Alarms have now moved to Security House, 3 Oxford Road, Pen Mill Trading Estate, Yeovil, Somerset, BA21 5HR.

Yeovil Auto Tuning

Do you have a caravan - are you looking for storage? Yeovil Auto Tuning now have a sister company (adjoining their premises) Pen Mill Storage who offer secure caravan storage.

Yeovil Auto Tuning are now pleased to offer repairs to classic cars to their full range of services.

The services offered include repairs, servicing, engine tuning and MOT testing incorporating class IV, and Class VII light vans. A collection and delivery service is available.

Yeovil Auto Tuning is a family run business, established for 35 years. Proprietor Colin Frost runs the business with his wife Anita and their experienced mechanic.

Yeovil Auto Tuning is located on the Pen Mill Trading Estate where there is ample parking.

Also operating from the same premises is Eclipse Custom Campers, converting VW Transporter T4 and T5 vehicles.

Tea for two

Dining alfresco at The Buttercross Tearooms, Somerton.

THE BUTTERCROSS TEAROOMS

Market Place, Somerton (01458) 273168

Homemade Cakes & Scones Morning Coffee, Cream Teas Lunch Served 12 – 3pm Open: Mon – Sat 9 – 5pm

Kate of Living Pretty Tea Rooms, serving delicious homemade fayre.

Delicious Afternoon Tea

Somerset Afternoon Cream Tea For Two Delicious Finger Sandwiches Homemade Cakes, Scones and Clotted Cream All served on a Vintage Style Cake Stand with China Teacups and Saucers

Celebration Afternoon Cream Tea For Two

Yeovil Auto Tuning  

CLASSIC CAR REPAIRS ● Repairs and Servicing Specialists Established OVER ● MOT Testing – Classes IV, V and VII also Motorhomes 30 YEARS ● Engine Tuning ● Brakes, Clutches, Gearboxes ● Competitive Rates ● Professional, Reliable, Friendly Service ● Specialising in VW T4 + T5 Vans ● Revo Engine Re-Mapping (VW and Audi Group) ● Caravan Storage  COLLECTION & DELIVERY SERVICE 

9 Oxford Road, Pen Mill Trading Estate, YEOVIL 

Tel: 01935 426515 / 01935 411946

to include Champagne  Vouchers can now be purchased online  THE IDEAL GIFT

Bespoke Outside Catering Anniversaries, Weddings, Birthdays Garden Parties ...  Mouthwatering Canapes  Tailored to Suit You!

Monday - Friday: 9am - 4pm Saturday: 8am - 4pm Sunday: Brunch 9am - 12noon

THE OLD BAKERY • HIGH STREET • CURRY RIVEL SOMERSET • TA10 0ES Tel: 01458 253357 kate@livingpretty.co.uk • www.livingpretty.co.uk

THE VISITOR May 2018 13

Family Health with

Jenna Evans

Sleep

I saw a quote that amused me the other day - ‘I’m not an early bird or a night owl, I’m some kind of permanently exhausted pigeon’.

If that sounds like you - and a survey of sleeping habits a few years ago indicated that almost a third of us suffer from insomnia, then read on for my top sleeping tips and remedies.

First up, make your bedroom your sleep sanctuary. That means no distractions - make it a computer, phone, games console, and TV-free zone. If you have any of these things in the bedroom make sure they’re switched off a good hour before bed. Get into the habit of having a winding down period in the evening and a nightly routine that tells your body/mind that it will soon be time for sleep. Even reading in bed can be overstimulating for some people and I wouldn’t recommend it if you’re suffering from insomnia even if you may get away with it

when you’re in a better sleeping pattern. Make your room as dark as possible. This is key, as it is only in darkness that the pineal gland in the brain produces melatonin (from the amino acid tryptophan) and it’s the melatonin that gets us off to snoozeville. Try blackout curtains if you have light intruding from the outside world or perhaps you work shifts and have to catch your shut eye during the day. Make sure your bedroom is a comfortable temperature and as quiet as possible. Try earplugs or headphones with gentle music/white noise if it is sounds that keep you awake.

Perhaps most importantly, don’t place too much expectation on yourself and start worrying about whether you’ll have a good night or not. This is hard I know, but only adds to the stressful cycle that sleep disruptions cause. Some experts recommend getting up if you haven’t nodded off after 15 minutes and doing something (like reading) in another room, until you feel sleepy and want to try again. There’s a big element of retraining the brain and body if you haven’t slept well for a while so remember to be patient and go easy on yourself.

Next it’s time to ditch the caffeine and alcohol. Caffeine effectively takes away the brain's

‘off switch’, so avoid caffeinated foods and drinks from early afternoon - you may even need to remove them entirely if you are very sensitive. You can feel the effects several hours after ingestion so it’s not always obvious that it was the afternoon latte or bar of chocolate that kept you up at 2 in the morning. Alcohol is another big no-no. Although some people find that it helps them get off to sleep (and may even use it as a kind of sedative), alcohol has a nasty habit of interfering with the deeper stages of sleeping, creating frequent waking - not a refreshing form of sleep.

Now for the remedies! You may have heard of Green Tea and its anti-oxidant benefits but did you know that it also contains a substance called L-theanine which can increase the feeling of calm?

L-theanine supplements are now on the market and are used to reduce anxiety – even being used by sufferers of panic attacks. Ltheanine is supposed to be fast acting so could be a very useful supplement to take before bed, especially when chronic stress and nervous tension are keeping you awake.

As a muscle relaxer, magnesium can be helpful to induce a restful snooze and is one of the minerals thought to be most deficient in the general population. One of my favourite ways to use magnesium is as an oil massaged into the skin.

This is considered to be a more easily absorbed form of the mineral and can also be used to target problem areas. Great for tense muscles too as well as twitches, spasms and even menstrual cramps. Try massaging magnesium oil into your skin in the evening, before bed - or even better, get someone else to give you a massage!

There are several herbs traditionally used as sleep aids and you will find a combination of them in over the counter herbal

sedatives. The most famous is Valerian, a widely used soporific herb that works wonders for many people. Valerian is often found in combination with another sedative herb, hops - in fact an old school remedy for sleep is a hop pillow.

Why not get some fabric and dried hops and make one to try yourself?

Lemon Balm is another great choice and can be found in combinations with theanine & magnesium (see above). Lemon Balm, or Melissa, has been used for hundreds of years to soothe the nerves, promote sleep, ease pain and calm digestive upsets. If you’re kept awake with your brain on a ‘loop’ and can’t switch off your thoughts, the flower remedy White Chestnut could be for you. Take it during the evening and put some drops in water to keep by your bed to use throughout the night. Also, the essential oils of lavender, marjoram and chamomile can be very calming; try a couple of drops on a tissue inside your pillowcase and take slow, deep breaths as you relax into bed. Until next month, sweet dreams.

 Jenna is an 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.

Shirley Allum Fashions & Lingerie, Shaftesbury

It’s a great time to visit the store Shirley Allum Fashions & Lingerie, Shaftesbury. From 26th April 10th May, there is a special offer for 2 weeks only on Joseph Ribkoff selected styles 50% off sizes 10-24.

The trouser department is larger than ever, sizes 4-28, plus new season crops for the summer days and holidays. Eugen Klein mix and match in lime/black and stone lace.

Hooper’s Hat Hire YEOVIL

14 THE VISITOR May 2018

01935 706555 • www.hoopershats.co.uk

Loader for selling raffle tickets in store for Wear a Hat Day for Brain Tumour Research, £100 was raised for the charity and the lucky winner selected a stunning pink hat for a wedding later in the year.

Preview Fashion Boutique, Wincanton

One of many styles and colours of Brax Jeans, stocked by Shirley Allum Fashions, Shaftesbury.

Sahara arriving daily in new colours. New seasons Joules, Seasalt, White Stuff all ready for summer. Gant new label in store for spring 2018 beautiful cotton shirts. The store shoe department is larger than ever with Superga trainers, Fly, Fitflop and Ugg, also a fabulous hat department for that special occasion. Shirley and the team look forward to assisting you.

Shirley would like to thank Jean

The ideal choice for beautiful spring wedding attire, Preview has all you need to create the perfect wedding guest outfit: from hats to shoes and dresses to jackets, they have the perfect pieces for the big day.

Everything you need under one roof!

Stockists of sought-after labels such as Lizabella, Condici, Luis Civit, Tina Taylor, Michaela Louisa and Joseph Ribkoff, there is sure to be something you’ll fall in love with at Preview.

Outfit prices range from as little as £249, up to £850. Shoes and hats are priced from £59. Condici’s stunning outfits are crafted in silks and other high-end fabrics and are available in a variety of colours which will look stunning against any skin tone.

Intricate detailing such as delicate gold threads can be found

in Luis Civit’s stunning collection and Tina Taylor is a well-known label and the perfect choice for wedding or garden party guests.

Preview offer a warm welcome and a relaxed environment for you to browse and try on their extensive range. Open from 10am – 5pm, Monday – Saturday.

Needful Things, Castle Cary

Needful Things bring a beautiful selection of ladies clothing to Castle Cary. Easy fashion with a colour coordinated range of separates and beautiful dresses from popular brands such as Pomodoro; In-Town; Ella Moda Linens and Hatley Cottons.

These brands are complimented by a great mix of scarves, bags and jewellery to complete your ‘look’.

Colours this season include vibrant limes and pinks, classic red, white and blue and subtle olive and sage greens. They also have a great new range of cosmetics, jewellery and tote

bags with funky new designs.

So next time you’re in Castle Cary, make time to call into Needful Things Clothing and try on their beautiful new designs. A warm welcome awaits you.

The Dress Circle Dress Agency

QUALITY FASHION ITEMS WANTED TO SELL ON A COMMISSION BASIS Wedding hats, wedding outfits, cruise wear and good quality casual wear and accessories, accepted every day ...

10am - 4pm Monday - Friday 10am - 2pm Saturday

For large quantities collections can be arranged

4 Brunel Shopping Centre Somerton TA11 7PY  01458 273485

Spring Wedding Collection ... for the complete outfit

Condici Lizabella Luis Civit Tina Taylor Michaela Louisa Joseph Ribkoff Fashion Boutique Wincanton

Market Place • Wincanton  01963 31676 www.previewwincanton.co.uk THE VISITOR May 2018 15

FROM CONCEPTION TO COMPLETION With over 30 years of building experience — NO HIDDEN EXTRAS —

All works completed by our experienced and reliable team

SERVICES INCLUDE but not limited to: Project Management ★ New Build Planning ★ Loft Conversions Carpentry ★ Roofing Ground Works ★ Refurbishment Renovation ★ Commercial Property Maintenance ★ Joinery

All aspects of Building and Maintenance All Insurance Works Undertaken

Contact us for a free estimate

(01935) 808456

www.countrybuild.co.uk • info@countrybuild.co.uk

Frank Schrijver Damp Control

Frank Schrijver Damp Control is a unique and permanent solution for all types of damp issues. Richard Smith from Bridgwater has organised hundreds of installations in the Somerset area and has numerous satisfied customers.

They are a friendly, family based company employing twelve fully trained engineers.

Their system will dry out cold wet walls, reducing the humidity and condensation which will subsequently reduce your heating bills too.

The process will be effective on terraced, detached or any

sort of building, whether they be solid, cavity brick or stone walls.

Please check out the website: www.southwestdamp.co.uk or call 01689 800101. See their advert on page 8 for more information.

Regal Solutions Bathrooms & Showers

Regal Solutions are bathroom designers and installers specialising in walk-in showers for disabled in South Somerset and the surrounding areas.

They know how difficult it can make your life if you are unable to get in and out of the bath and they are pleased to help make your life easier.

Having a walk-in shower room can increase the quality of your life, creating independence in the home to make everyday tasks easier for you. They also fit standard bathrooms and undertake any plumbing or carpentry jobs.

Regal Solutions is an established company and have over 20 years experience in wet room and bathroom installations.

From Quote to Finish you will find a fast and friendly service that others can't match. They also offer other services designed to make your life easier, these include but are not limited to: Building Alterations; Widening of Doors; Wheelchair Ramps; Handrails. Please contact them for a free quote.

SJH Carpets & Flooring

16 THE VISITOR May 2018

SJH Carpets & Flooring are a well-established business of 18 years and continue to go from strength to strength.

The team at SJH strive to provide their customers with the best selection of floorcoverings, blinds and shutters available, fitted by trained and motivated professionals, giving you the confidence to entrust your flooring project to them.

SJH love to keep ahead of new trends and products whilst retaining an honest, reliable and approachable service: a service that their reputation is built upon. They have a huge range of choice, from traditional carpets

through to sisal, seagrass and coir, solid and engineered wood to Harvey Maria, Roger Oates Design runners, Cormar Carpets and Moduleo.

They are Amtico, Roger Oates and Crucial Trading approved and have local, employed fitters. They are Luxaflex Blinds approved main dealer and dispose of uplifted floor coverings legally.

They offer free quotations and luxury flooring of the highest quality. Their fabric department is housed in their Wincanton branch where you

will find brands such as Prestigious Textiles, Art of the Loom, Design Forum and Chatsworth Fabrics.

They are a really friendly and approachable team who have a wealth of knowledge and expertise in their fields.

A visit to them is sure to be inspirational.

April was an incredibly exciting time for SJH Carpets & Flooring as it saw them launch a third shop, this time in Langport!

See their advert on page 8 for more information about the Langport shop.

REGAL SOLUTIONS SW LTD South Petherton BATHROOMS & SHOWERS Disabled Walk-In Showers Ramps for the Disabled

Electrical Work Undertaken ◆ General Carpentry

✽ Expertly Made ✽ Expertly Fitted ✽ Fairly Priced ✽ Elegant Design ✽ All Work Guaranteed

MEMBER

Registered Wet Room Installer

Electrical

Tel: 01460 241753 Mobile: 07843 339338 01460 929151 07702 888895

 01460 241261 | www.eternalkitchens.co.uk The Old Yard, Logge Farm, West Street, South Petherton, TA13 5DJ

THE VISITOR May 2018 17

Needful Things, Castle Cary

At Needful Things this Spring, they have many new and vibrant pattern books to show you! Bright and cheerful fabrics are now in vogue and what a refreshing lift

they provide! Also popular are nautical and coastal scenes such as the beautiful ‘Embleton Bay’ from Sanderson, which offers great textures and atmospheric fabrics which celebrate our

beautiful shores.

Needful Things Interiors offer a fully bespoke curtain and blind making service with free measures and quotations; free advice and free hanging. Why not

pop into their welcoming store to view their fabric library and find your perfect new décor theme?

Paints and wallpapers to compliment your choice and a full re-upholstery service to add all the finishing touches such as occasional chairs, bed-heads, throws and cushions, tiebacks and of course, poles and tracks.

Don’t forget their home accessories ranges can even add a lamp, picture or mirror to make your fabulous new room complete.

Pop in soon and discover a totally relaxed and friendly approach to creating a stylish new home.

Sandpits Heating & Home Store and Kate Macey Designs

A wood-burning or multi-fuel stove is an excellent addition to any home no matter what the time of year. With summer offers and many package deals throughout the recently refurbished showroom, browse at leisure and let them follow up with a home survey.

Sandpits are there to help you

18 THE VISITOR May 2018

decide on what would suit you and your property best. Aarow, Charnwood, Jotul, Hwam, Clearview and Aga are just some of the stoves that they hold.

Designs to suit all tastes and properties and with installation solutions which may surprise you. You don’t necessarily need a chimney, a chimney can be created with a twinwall flue, fireplaces can be created or existing chimneys relined: all by Sandpits employed staff.

Fireplaces make a lovely focal point and can be created or customised to enable you to achieve the effect that you desire.

Authentic or made to measure beams and shelves are available to add that finishing touch to your fireplace with many on display in their showrooms giving customers food for thought in creating a fireplace which inevitably will be the centre of attention in their selected room.

Sandpits can give you more information and advice about the

choices available to you.

Their kitchen showroom has also just been updated and is well worth a visit. As well as stocking a range of display model cookers from Rayburn and Esse, they have a wonderful range of Aga cookware – perfect for anyone who has (or would like to have!) an Aga or Rayburn.

Sandpits Heating Centre Stockists of

Good Food Hot Baths Warm Home Come and see our new kitchen showroom display

Stockists of

- A big hit with our customers

Accessories for the home at Kate Macey Designs, Somerset.

Made To Measure

Gates & Railings • Handrails • Garden Furniture Curtain Poles • Pond Covers, etc.

General Welding & Repairs

Enquiries: 01935 864444 desiron0@gmail.com

Unit 5, East Coker Saw Mills, East Coker, BA22 9JJ

AP Kitchen Solutions

Pictured: One of our best selling stoves

• Free home surveys • Full installation service by own Hetas engineers • Chimneys relined, fireplaces & chimneys created, twinwall flues • Chimneys swept

Visit Our Showrooms - Open Six Days A Week Summer Opening (From 1st May) Saturday 8am - 1pm Over 200 appliances on display Full installation service available High Street • Curry Rivel • Langport • TA10 0ES Tel: 01458 251476 • Fax: 01458 253505 www.sandpitsheatingcentre.co.uk Large Car Park at Rear of Premises

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Bathing a problem? We can help

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 Kitchens replaced for a fresh new look at a reasonable price  Complete new kitchens designed to suit you

 Replacement doors – “don’t replace it, reface it”

 Huge choice of granite and quartz worksurfaces  Full range of accessories and appliances

 Full project management and qualified local installers  We offer an expert and friendly service

 01935 849559

To discuss your personal requirements contact Adam or call at our showroom

Northover, ILCHESTER, BA22 8LD www.apkitchens.co.uk

Wet rooms • Walk in showers • Walk in baths Waterproof wall panelling Product and installation guarantee Slip resistant safety flooring Grab rails, shower seats & raised toilets Established family business Zero VAT on disabled bathrooms Discounts for over 60s, SSAFA and Ex-Service Personnel

Call now to arrange a FREE survey and quote

Tel: 01823 729564

info@ahminstallations.co.uk • www.ahminstallations.co.uk Showroom at: Blackdown Garden Centre, A38 West Buckland, Nr. Wellington, TA21 9HY Tel: 01823 661910

THE VISITOR May 2018 19

MMS Soft Furnishings Sparkford

MMS Soft Furnishings, formerly of Wincanton, are a well-established business with 20 years’ experience in curtain making! They have recently moved to new premises at Woodside Court, Sparkford. Why not pay them a visit and browse in their

showroom and workshop?

They have an extensive range of fabrics from Clarke & Clarke, Prestigious Textiles, Iliv, Fibre Naturelle & more … or if you already have a fabric you love you can supply your own for them to work with!

Services include bespoke curtains, blinds and cushions,

NEW WORKSHOP & SHOWROOM now open at ...

Woodside Court • Dairy House Yard • SPARKFORD • BA22 7LH (Next to the Haynes Motor Museum)

Bespoke Curtains  Blinds  Cushions Now Stocking – Linings – Haberdashery – Ribbons ... and with Poles & Tracks available to order Choose from an Extensive Range of Fabrics from ...

Clarke & Clarke  Prestigious  iLiv  Fibre Naturelle and more!

NO V. A.T. ON LABOUR

FREE Measuring & Estimating Service Visit: www.mmssoftfurnishings.co.uk

NEW SHOW ROOM / WORKSHO P NOW OPEN

Contact MELODY on: 07883 089333 or email:

salesmmssoftfurnishings@aol.co.uk

20 THE VISITOR May 2018

and they have a range of linings and ribbons in stock as well as various other haberdashery and poles and tracks available to order.

Open Monday – Thursday 9.30am – 2pm or at other times by appointment.

Contact Melody on 07883 089333 or via email at: sales mmssoftfurnishing@aol.co.uk.

ACF WINDOWS

ANDY FELTHAM

UPVC RePlaCeMenT WindOWS, dOORS, COnSeRVaTORieS, WOOden FRaMed WindOWS, FaSCia BOaRdS, Cladding, gUTTeRing, alUMiniUM WindOWS & dOORS eTC.

The Old Well House Shepherds Hill, Buckhorn Weston GILLINGHAM, Dorset SP8 5HX Tel / Fax: 01963 371715 Mobile: 07802 393344

The Green Weigh, Bridport

Living sustainably and teaching their children to respect the environment was what brought the founders of The Green Weigh together, the idea for a zero waste shop on wheels sparked following a visit to the UK’s first zero waste shop in Totnes, Earth.

Food. Love.

The idea for making the shop mobile by putting it on wheels originated when considering the demographic of Bridport, it’s surrounding villages and wider community of Dorset & Somerset.

The Green Weigh’s mission is to be affordable, accessible and to supply as many different foods as possible without packaging.

The Green Weigh is launching this Summer.

Email: thegreenweigh@ gmail.com, www.thegreen weigh.co.uk. Instagram: @thegreenweigh, Twitter: @Green_Weigh, Facebook: The Green Weigh.

The Gartell Light Railway

The Railway’s first Open Day of 2018, on Easter Monday, was busy despite the damp weather.

With two Bank Holidays in May, the 7th and 28th, The Gartell Light Railway will be open to the public on both days with trains scheduled to run at 20 minute intervals from 10.30 until 16.30.

The timetable is arranged so that two trains leave Pinesway Junction simultaneously in the same direction, which we believe to be unique in the narrow gauge railway world.

With ‘Mr G’ having passed its boiler test after an extensive 10 year strip-down and overhaul, they will have both steam locos

Notice Board

BUCKLAND NEWTON

BUCKLAND NEWTON OPEN GARDENS & Flower Festival, 26/27 May 12-5pm, plants, teas, scarecrows, music, bellringing. For Marie Curie Nurses. See www.buckland newton.com.

CASTLE CARY

CELEBRATE SOMERSET DAY at the Castle Cary Cheese & Cider Market, 4-9pm on Saturday 12th May at the Market House.

COMPTON DUNDON

FLOWER FESTIVAL of ‘Memories’ in St Andrew’s Compton Dundon, May 26th to 28th, 10am–5.30pm.

Refreshments plus Plants and Produce on sale. Choral Evensong, Sunday 6pm, and Fair and Barbecue on Monday 12noon–3pm.

HENSTRIDGE

BLACKMORE VALE U3A ‘The Dorset & Somerset Air Ambulance’.

Tuesday 1st May, 2.30pm at Henstridge Village Hall. Members £1.50, Visitors £2.50. Refreshments included.

KINGTON MAGNA

KINGTON MAGNA Street Fayre, Saturday 16th June, 11am - 4pm.

Stalls still available. For details ring Alma on 01747 838669.

MARTOCK

MARTOCK PCC invite you to ‘Songs and Tales’ by international singer and comedian Jonathan

running together with their replica Class 33 diesel.

They welcome visitors old and new to join them for a few hours enjoyment on their half-size railway.

Snacks and drinks are available from ‘The Pines’ refreshment room but those who bring their own can enjoy a picnic in the large grounds.

There is also a shop selling books and train models for all ages.

Fares are Adults £8.00, Seniors £7.00, Children under 14 £5.00 and family tickets (2 adults and up to 2 children) £22.00. Please see their advertisement for details or go online at newglr.weebly.com.

Veira in the church Saturday 19th May at 7.30pm. Tickets £12 including refreshments from Martock News or Gallery and 01935 827759 or on the door.

Scarlet Fields is an original acrylic painting

by Allan Morgan.

Overall size 69cm x 69cm.

Framed price £575.00.

Available at Martock Gallery.

With two Bank Holidays in May, the 7th and 28th, The Gartell Light Railway will be open to the public on both days with trains scheduled to run at 20 minute intervals from 10.30am until 16.30pm.

‘Tree of Hearts’

NORTH CADBURY

A CONCERT BY The Choir and Instrumentalists of Wells Cathedral Junoir School.

Wednesday 23rd May, 6.30pm at St Michael’s Church, North Cadbury. Tickets £12 (under 16’s free) on door or tel: 01963 440929.

Refreshments included. All proceeds to friends of St Michael’s.

The free pattern for this beautiful shawl is available to personal callers at Hansons Fabrics & Crafts, Sturminster Newton.

Complete Framing Service available

by EMMA NICOLSON 3d mixed media original coated in resin. Overall size 57cm x 57cm.

Framed price: £425.00.

Martock Gallery Open: Monday - Friday 9.00 - 5.00, Saturday 9.30 - 4.30

Water Street • Martock • Tel: (01935) 823254 • www.martockgallery.com

STOKE-SUB-HAMDON

MAY FAYRE: Monday 20th May, 11.30am-5.00pm. National Trust Priory/Memorial Hall Grounds.

Busy annual event with lots of entertainment including Yeovil Ukulele Club, Desert Divas, Morris dancers, interactive drumming, family fun dog show, food and craft stalls and much more. Free entry.

TISBURY

THE 3RD GREAT TISBURY BROCANTE, ‘A Festival of Antiques and Vintage Finds’.

Spring Bank Holiday, Monday 7th May 2018. 9.00am to 3.00pm.

Antiques Vintage Flea Markets ‘Vide Greniers’ all around the village, www.tisburybrocante.co.uk.

ADVERTISE YOUR JUNE EVENT HERE!

A listing under our Notice Board costs just £5 for 20 words. Send details of What?

When? Where? to The Visitor, P.O. Box 1, Castle Cary, Somerset, BA7 7BP. All entries to be pre-paid.

Extra words 30p each.

Deadline for May issue, Friday 11th May.

THE VISITOR May 2018 21

GILLINGHAM TOWN The 3rd Great Tisbury Brocante, ‘A Festival of Antiques and Vintage Finds’.

Spring Bank Holiday, Monday 7th May 2018

It’s quite usual in France to find village brocantes – essentially ‘flea markets’ spreading throughout the village, with stalls in every street and surprises around every corner.

In 2015 in Tisbury, the first Brocante really captured people’s imagination – and since then, it has been a roaring success. Others have tried to copy – even calling their vintage fairs ‘Brocantes’ – but they’re really not the same.

A genuine Brocante is very much a community event. With improved provision for parking this year it is hoped that The Great Tisbury Brocante will again set the whole village buzzing.

The Brocante is open to all – there are no entry fees and parking is free.

Traders in the village halls and on the recreation ground are charged a very reasonable pitch fee – the income from which pays for the expenses of staging the event.

Details of how to book, and directions on how to get here, are on the website at www.tisbury brocante.co.uk. Everything gets going at 9.00 am – there will be bargains to be found! And it’s fun!

A Flower Festival Of Memories

A Flower Festival will be held in St Andrew’s Church, Compton Dundon from Saturday May 26th – Monday May 28th, 2018. The theme this year is ‘Memories’ which is challenging the flower ladies to come up with some spectacular displays.

Some displays will feature Racing Legends, Silver Wedding, Salmon Leaping, W.I. ‘Votes For Women’, The Red Cross and many more. Visitors can view the arrangements of flowers from 10am to 5.30pm, parking is on Peak Lane (TA11 6PE) and Cream Teas are available. There will also be stalls selling Plants, Produce and Cakes. It will be a weekend of fun activities as the main fund-raising event of St Andrew’s year. On Sunday at 6pm there will be a Choral Evensong by the vocal ensemble ‘Intermedii’, with a glass of bubbly afterwards. Then on Monday there will be a Barbecue and Fun Day from 12 noon to 3pm in the churchyard.

Chris Swain and Sarah Morris of ‘Jurassic Hog’ are very kindly supplying the barbecue. The children need to bring their teddies as they will be parachuting from the church tower (the teddies not the children!!).

22 THE VISITOR May 2018

If you like motorcycles, especially those at the higher end of the market, you will certainly enjoy a browse around the Mirus showroom at Wyke on the western edge of Gillingham. The company, formerly called Moto Corsa, relocated in 2017 from Ashmore in Dorset into larger premises which were originally part of Wyke Brewery and in more recent years were an antiques showroom. These now provide a showroom full of what the company describes as ‘rare and exceptional motorcyles’, new and second-hand, plus workshops and a large café. But be warned – if you like motorcycles enough to be tempted to buy one you’ll need a big bank balance, for those at Mirus are top-class models with prices to match.

Next door, the main part of Wyke Brewery dates from the 1860s. In those days many landlords brewed the beer they sold from their premises, but the Matthews family owned a string of pubs in the area and brewed on a much larger scale. They chose Wyke for their new brewery because there was an abundant supply of water they could draw from their own well and a ready supply of all the local malt they required from Purns Mill in the town centre

which was owned by another branch of the family. The local beerhouse, the Drum and Monkey on the narrow Lydford Lane opposite the brewery, was owned by the family who renamed it The Buffalo as this was their company trademark. Even today it retains the appearance and atmosphere of a village ‘local’ but it now includes a renowned Ristoranti Da Massimo Italian restaurant. It’s well worth a visit.

By the early years of the 20th century the Matthews family owned all the pubs in Gillingham and were major employers. However, the brewery and the tied pubs were taken over by Blandford brewers Hall and Woodhouse in 1963 and brewing at Wyke ceased shortly after. Production of non-alcoholic drinks continued for a while before this, too, was transferred to Blandford, but fortunately the brewery still stands, its towers a prominent landmark on the road from Wincanton. The principal building, now a Listed Building, has been sensitively converted into apartments and named Milford Court.

Before the 1860s Wyke was just a small country hamlet on the Wincanton road. Wyke derives from the Old English word ‘wic’ meaning ‘dwelling,

A traditional garden centre in the heart of Gillingham, owned by EMA who create a specialist, practical SEND teaching environment dedicated to helping students gather vital skills, expertise and confidence.

farm or trading settlement’, and when a manor was created there following the Norman Conquest the old name was retained. Records show that the manor was held by William de Weeke in 1244, by Richard de Wyke in 1329, and by Cressbyne de Wyke in Elizabethan times when Wyke Hall was possible built, rebuilt, or extended.

Certainly it contains some woodwork from the Tudor period but the building has been so much altered down the centuries that it is impossible to be sure of its origins. It survives and nowadays is split into separate apartments. A respectful 500 yards east of the Hall were the workers’ cottages, and it was here that the hamlet grew.

It was the coming of the railway in 1859 and the subsequent development of the local brickfield that brought fresh prosperity to Gillingham and sparked some early growth, most notably at Wyke. In the 1970s housing estates began to encroach on the fields between Wyke and the town centre and by the end of the century almost the entire area had been developed. Particularly pleasant are the roads around Broad Robin, the thoroughfare created southwards from Wyke Road to link it with Common Mead Lane and enable the latter to be closed to through traffic.

The area is served by a small parade of shops on Broad Robin including two of Gillingham’s long-established businesses that draw their customers from a wide area – the Utopia hairdressing salon celebrates its 19th anniversary in June and AJS Computing has more than 30 years’ experience of computer technology, selling hardware, software and consumables and undertaking repairs and upgrades. The place to visit if you’re having computer problems.

Beyond the shops Broad Robin runs into Common Mead Lane, and eventually you’ll come to the excellent Thorngrove Garden Centre on your right. Established in the 1960s by the charity Scope, formerly called the Spastics Society, as a training and work experience centre for people with cerebral palsy, it has recently been acquired by Employ My Ability (EMA), a social enterprise provider of practical training and work for people with special educational needs and

Winsor & Newton

Artist Paint

VISIT THORNGROVE GARDEN CENTRE FOR • A friendly welcoming environment • Our new secret garden café • Expert advice and gardening tips • Affordable plants, shrubs and trees • New season roses and fruit • Unique gifting ideas in our refurbished shop • Tree and planter hire for special occasions

Common Mead Lane, Gillingham SP8 4RE. Tel: 01747 822 242 Opening Hours: Mon to Sat 9-5, Sun 10-5

www.thorngrovegardencentre.co.uk

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High Street GILLINGHAM

01747 824050 email: scenesol@aol.com

disabilities. EMA has made great strides in regenerating the site, establishing a new café, revamping the shop, improving the signage and making the centre more welcoming.

All the plants, shrubs and trees on sale are grown at the centre, and when I visited at the beginning of April it was ablaze with early spring colour. The wide variety of plants on sale all looked healthy and well cared for. The centre is open until 5.00pm seven days a week, and on Saturday 5th May it is holding a family open day from 10.00am till 4.00pm with games, stalls, a dog show and a steam organ amongst the attractions.

Thorngrove House itself, built in Victorian times on the site of the earlier Queen’s Manor, was purchased by the Spastics Society and converted into a residential horticultural training centre. Scope subsequently sold the house but retained the adjacent garden centre.

The House is currently used as the Osho Leela holistic centre.

After meandering around Wyke and Broad Robin I ventured through the town centre to visit a very different garden centre at the eastern edge on the Shaftesbury road.

Orchard Park welcomed its first customers on 2nd October 2004 and since then it has grown to include a café, florist and farm shop noted for its local beef, and to be a good source of garden-related gifts and home

accessories. Like Thorngrove, it was a mass of early spring colours. So was the centre of Gillingham. A carpet of daffodils alongside the riverside path across Town Meadow enhanced this convenient link between the High Street and Waitrose, the library and car park on Chantry Fields, and beds of spring flowers brightened the setting of the parish church. Sadly the sun resolutely refused to shine on them!

Roger Richards.

Thorngrove Garden Centre, Gillingham

A hidden gem on the outskirts of Gillingham, Thorngrove Garden Centre has embarked on an exciting and inspiring programme of regeneration, which includes a new Secret Garden Café, a revamped shop providing unique gifting ideas and space for a series of complementary local businesses. The spaces have truly been transformed, creating a fresh welcoming environment.

Thorngrove Garden Centre is now owned by social enterprise, Employ My Ability, who have a history of outstanding work and customer service at The Walled Garden, Moreton. At both sites EMA create a specialist, practical SEND (Special Educational Needs and Disabilities) teaching environment dedicated to helping students gather vital employment skills, expertise, confidence and qualifications. There

are many exciting events across the year which Thorngrove will be hosting and attending.

To celebrate the new ownership and regeneration program Thorngrove Garden Centre are holding an Open Day on Saturday 5th May 10am - 4pm, enabling them to showcase their new offerings to the local community. They are also holding workshops throughout the year and will be attending large agricultural shows such as the Royal Bath & West Show and Gillingham & Shaftesbury Agricultural Show.

Their professionally qualified horticulturalists, each with many years’ experience, and EMA students

will be at hand with expert advice during your visit and look forward to welcoming you. Thorngrove Garden Centre is definitely one to watch for 2018 and we would highly recommend a visit! To keep up to date with the latest developments you can follow Thorngrove Garden Centre on Facebook (@Thorngrove GardenCentre), Twitter (@ThorngroveGC) and Instagram (@thorngrovegardencentre).

Thorngrove Garden Centre, Common Mead Lane, Gillingham SP8 4RE. Tel: 01747 822 242.

Opening Hours: Mon to Sat 9-5, Sun 10-5. www.thorngrovegarden centre.co.uk.

THE VISITOR May 2018 23

Pete Lambden & Staff welcome you to .....

168 Hendford Hill YEOVIL

We'll be fighting in the streets With our children at our feet And the morals that they worship will be gone

The first person to tell me the song gets a free drink. Last month Joe got it right when he guessed that it was Bob Dylan and ‘The Times They are a Changin’.

Well the sun has got his hat on hip hip hip hurray! Some fantastic weather we have been having as I settle down to write this month’s letter to my two readers!

Long may it continue, 22 degrees in April is almost unheard of  .

Lots of good music coming up over the next few weeks - on the 4th of May we have a David Bowie Tribute show with a Band called Bowie Fashion.

Tickets are a fiver and are available from the pub. On Sunday 6th, we have a band all the way from Bristol called Flash Harry, google them, they played here last year to help me celebrate being here at The Quicksilver for 15 years and they are here again to help me celebrate, and you lot commiserate me being here 16 years  . On Friday 18th we have a free gig in the bar with a new band coming to the Quicksilver by the name of Mojo Hand. Music starts 9:15 pm. On the 19th of May 3 things are happening: it’s the FA Cup Final, Prince Harry is getting married and Barry Paull is here. This is the gig that got postponed because of all that snow we had back in March, seems like a lifetime ago now doesn’t it?

If you had tickets for the last gig you can use them, or if you need tickets come to the pub for a pint and pick up a couple, they are a fiver and any proceeds go to St Margaret’s Hospice Now for something completely different: on Monday 21st of May we have an exhibition of mediumship with Suzanne Gill, look her up on the internet, very interesting lady. Tickets are available from the pub or on the door on the evening. Last but not least a little advance warning for you that Utter Chaos are playing here on the 1st June - always draw a nice crowd so get here early .

Don’t forget we have a quiz every Sunday at 8pm, some great prizes to be won and always a good laugh. Come on over and show us how clever you are!

Toot Toot!!! 

BOOKINGS

 01935 424721

24 THE VISITOR May 2018

AROUND THE

H O U S E S

IN GILLINGHAM ... enjoy delicious Italian cuisine in Ristorante Da Massimo at The Buffalo Inn ... a range of traditional Badger ales are served at The Red Lion Inn ... a cosy welcoming atmosphere can be found at The Wine Bar & Grill ... you’ll always find a selection of wellkept ales at The White Lion Inn, Bourton ... friendly staff and excellent food at The Coppleridge Inn, Motcombe ... if you’re looking for a family friendly pub with rooms, visit The Walnut Tree Inn at Mere ... and The Hunters Lodge at Leigh Common offers a ‘specials board’ that changes daily and food served from 8am until 9pm, everyday.

At Evercreech Junction, The Natterjack Inn serves a wide selection of locally sourced food ... plenty of live music at The Cross Keys Inn, Lydford on Fosse over the Bank Holiday ... in Castle Cary those with a sweet tooth will be tempted by the excellent desserts at The George Hotel ... always a well-kept pint at The White Hart ... it’s sad to see the closure of The Horse Pond Inn ... always a warm welcome at The Bay Tree, South Cadbury ... it’s ‘sausage and mash day’ on Wednesdays at The Orchard Inn, Galhampton ...

Friday is ‘beer battered fish and chips day’ at The Catash Inn, North Cadbury, to eat in or takeaway ... and why not ramble over and try the Saturday brunch menu available between 12-4pm at The Queens Arms, Corton Denham.

Winding our way to West Camel we find comfortable accommodation at The Walnut Tree Inn ... Tribute is the regular ale at The Lamb & Lark, Limington ... always an excellent choice of menu at The Half Moon Inn, Mudford ... making a welcome return to The Quicksilver Mail in Yeovil on Saturday 28th April is Hells Bells, probably one of the best AC/DC shows around ... and finally, if you’re fed-up with ‘wood and slate’ you’ll find traditional pub grub served on a plate, at The Muddled Man, West Chinnock.

The

Pub Pages

B EER & S KI TTL ES P. A. BAXTER

TOAST! We drink a toast to the bride, to a friends' success, to each other's health, or honour someone, and even 'absent friends'. We've all done it many times in the past

Home-Made Food Served 7 Days a Week

and I have no doubt we will continue to do so in the future.

Many of us like to start the day with toast of a different kind, and I'm one of those people. White, brown, granary, sourdough - you name it I've probably tried a great deal of the varieties. I had to smile when I was given a bottle of beer named - you've guessed - 'Toast'.

The label even states 'Brewed with bread' and being a pale ale of 5%ABV I was keen to try it.

Reading more on the label I was staggered to read that 44% of bread in the U.K. is wasted. I have always believed that all food waste is a crime against mankind and mother nature, possibly installed in my mind by father who grew up in a time when, on occasion, the family genuinely did not know where the next meal was coming from. This has become more relevant in recent years with the growth of food banks. Before I get

Real Ales - Garden Skittle Alley

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Royal Wedding Afternoon Tea Saturday 19th May

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political we had better describe the beer!

Bread in beer? How does it all work then? Well I've pinched the following paragraph from the website (ToastAle.com) of the brewery; 'We’re re-inventing a historic tradition. We combine fresh surplus fresh bread from sandwich makers and bakeries with malted barley, hops, yeast and water.

Bread is packed with carbohydrates, which are broken down to sugar by amylase in the barley. The hops are added for aroma and bitterness, and they also help to preserve the beer.

Finally, yeast converts the sugars to alcohol'.

From my perspective and more to the point, how does it fare as a Pale Ale? Whilst the description does state that it has caramel and even citrus notes we found it extremely enjoyable and very moreish. Therefore it comes highly recommended by your dedicated team of reviewers (both of us) and we're now looking where to buy it locally. Any ideas?

We mention CAMRA a fair deal in these columns which is hardly surprising due to their succeses, and local groups within the organization contribute to the movement in an attempt to keep just one part of our Great British Heritage alive. These groups are everywhere, and membership of CAMRA gives you automatic membership to your local group.

Some of these groups produce superb publications themselves, and many are to be found in pubs that are in the ‘Good Beer Guide’, the annual beer lover’s ‘bible’. Look out for them, they are always free.

I have to say however, the record on campaigns to keep local breweries open is pretty dire.

Nevertheless, I think the resurgence in interest of decent beers over the years since CAMRA’s inception speaks for itself. How many pubs do you know that don’t actually serve real ale? Not very many I’d wager. We have noticed that even some of the trendy wine bars may serve ‘Duvel’ or other classic Belgian brews, but there tends to be a sad lack of real ale at some. A colleague who spent some time in London thinks that this type of establishment has a short life, and has noted several that have closed, sadly contributing to the ‘Ghost High Street’. With CAMRA membership comes the monthly ‘What’s Brewing’ paper and a quarterly magazine-like publication named simply ‘Beer’ with some interesting and in-depth articles on the ale scene. However, there is a big plan to make the CAMRA organisation

more up to date, as there are many changes that have happened since the inception of the organisation.

Surely the raison d'être of CAMRA must remain the same - ensuring that good ale is served to the populace. Over the years cider and perry have been added to the list which is fine I feel. Opposing brewery closures have been regular features (although as stated earlier the record is not exactly brilliant). Assisting locals to keep their pub also feature and rightly all their successes are trumpeted. So why all this talk of change? It would appear to your writer that the evolution that has made CAMRA a successful organisation is now facing a revolution, possibly initiated by the rise and rise of 'craft beer' whatever you or me as individuals perceive that to be. Personally I would leave well alone and allow CAMRA to keep evolving, for when there are revolutions, blood gets spilt, and now that I hear that the membership numbers are falling - does that speak for itself?

CAMRA is a democratic organisation and I think it is worth continuing to be a member, but I think much caution would need to be exercised by the organisation itself.

Many years ago I was sent the following quote which has always remained with me. Accredited to Petronius Arbiter it reads - ‘We trained hard—but it seemed that every time we were beginning to form up into teams we were reorganized. I was to learn later in life that we tend to meet any new situation by reorganizing, and what a wonderful method it can be for creating the illusion of progress while actually producing confusion, inefficiency, and demoralization.’ As someone who

was employed by a large national organisation for the first half of my working life, I found that reorganizations happened with almost monotonous regularity, to the chagrin of not just the blokes at the sharp end but the middle management as well. So to reiterate I wonder if the higher management of CAMRA are going about the wrong thing for the right reason, or are they doing the right

adRian & KaTe inViTe YOU TO

THE NATTERJACK INN FReeHOUSe

thing for the wrong reason?

Either way, and whatever the outcome, I believe that as an organisation they have achieved much which has rightly given them that title of 'Most Successful Consumer Group in Europe' and to that I will certainly ask you to join me in a toast - with a pint of real ale (obviously!). Cheers!

P.A.Baxter. skittlealley@hotmail.com

Now serving

SUNDAY ROAST DINNERS 12noon – 4pm

Choice of four roasts and a reduced main menu

Ever-changing specials board & real ale selection

eXCellenT aCCOMMOdaTiOn

9 EN-SUITE LETTING ROOMS Disabled Access - Viewings Welcome

Maintained 4 Star AA Rated Rooms & recommended for food quality The Natterjack Inn, nr. Evercreech Junction, Evercreech, Somerset, BA4 6NA Closed Sunday Evenings

Email: natterjack@btconnect.com Website: www.thenatterjackinn.co.uk

Telephone: 01749 860253 or Facsimile: 01749 860757

THE VISITOR May 2018 25

The Cross Keys, Lydford

May Spring Bank Holiday 2018 heralds the 5th Cross Keys Inn Beer and Cider Festival from Friday 25th - Monday 28th May. There will be a huge range of beers, ciders, good food and bands providing music throughout. Visitors come to enjoy the weekend from towns and villages for miles around.

A big thank you to those who kindly sponsored the event last year, enabling the Cross Keys to donate to Macmillan Cancer Support. What better combination to have - a long weekend party whilst raising some money for great causes. As in previous years, the event will donate funds for Local and National Charities. This year the main recipient will be The Alzheimer’s Society.

This terrible disease touches so many families in both the local and national community. Unlike other festivals, the Cross Keys don’t like charging people an entrance fee, as they are a community pub and it is a community event. Instead they look to local businesses to help support the cost of

the event i.e. by sponsoring bands and beer.

To sponsor a barrel would only cost £70.00. As a big thank you they will advertise your business throughout the weekend, in the festival, on a beer barrel and with internet advertising and provide you with some free beer tokens, for your staff or customers Should you wish to make a bigger impact, how about putting your name as being a sponsor of one of the bands for £150 and get your name announced by the band once or twice over the mic plus advertising around the stage area, when they are playing as well as receiving some free beer tokens, for your staff or customers (Promotional material to be provided by you please).

50% of any money sponsored towards the bands will go to charity.

Finally, The Cross Keys will give a minimum of 50p of every pint sold by tokens to charity. The aim is to make 2018 a record year and hope you can help to support some very worthy causes, looking forward to hearing from you.

VINNY IS FOLLOWING P.A BAXTER’S ADVICE AS HE INTRODUCES HIS NEPHEW TO SKITTLES

The MUDDLED

MAN

Your hosts, Mick, Jean and Garry welcome you to

Lower Street, West Chinnock A charming country inn serving home cooked fayre lunchtime & evening

SUNDAY LUNCH £8.95 - choice of roast Larger parties catered for

FRESH FISH DAY FRIDAY With home-made beer batter

STEAK SPECIAL - Two 8oz Rump Steaks £19.50 Sunday to Thursday

Daily Specials • Real Ale • Skittle Alley • Beer Gardens • Accommodation 26 THE VISITOR May 2018

Tel: 01935 881235

Fox Mask Caught By Silver Hunters For £5000 In 470LOT Sale

Lawrences’ week of Spring sales in Crewkerne started with over 470 lots of silver and vertu and there was enthusiasm for all that was on offer.

A small and rare wine taster from 1665, dated from the reign of Charles II, doubled expectations to make £1,460 whilst a finely chased stirrup cup in the form of a fox mask from 1845 also outran its £2,500-3,000 estimate to make £5,000. Two other ‘drinkers’ lots’ proved popular when an 18th Century beer jug, possibly Colonial, brought good cheer at just over £2,000 and a Victorian ewer or claret jug made a corking £1,220.

An impressive suite of four graduated meat dishes from 1831, sold with four plated dish covers to match, soared to £9,760.

Later in the sale, a finely decorated French ivory fan found a warm welcome and made £1,830, whilst a miniature portrait of Captain Robert Woolf Junior, finely painted by John Smart Junior (the sitter’s own cousin) combined a dashing subject with this unusual link between artist and sitter and made £2,190.

A finely chased stirrup cup in the form of a fox mask from 1845 recently sold for £5000 at Lawrences Auctioneers, Crewkerne.

Antiques Fairs

•

Chasty Cottage Antiques

•

Saturday 28th April, Saturday 26th May Digby Hall, Hound Street, Next to Library SHERBORNE • DT9 3AA 9.30am – 4pm • Trade 8.30am • Admission £1

Future Dates: Saturday 16th June  01963 370986

www.chastycottageantiques.co.uk

Local vineyard English Wine Week

WHEN the opening line of someone that you have only just met is ‘I am a geneticist, I sell bull semen’, it certainly grabs one’s attention.

At the time of my encounter I was on my way to Exeter to run the first session of the Wine & Spirit Education Trust Level 2 exam course. When I spotted someone on the same train carrying their student pack, it was not difficult to come to the conclusion, that they must be on their way to the same venue.

Hence my meeting with Mike Huskins, who soon filled me in on his interest in furthering his professional wine knowledge. He, along with two pals, John and David, have their own vineyard, Dalwood, situated in East Devon, between Axminster and Honiton.

When living and working as chef to the British Ambassador to the United Nations in New York I made it my business to promote all things British.

Back then, in the late 1980s, English wines were virtually unheard of, apart from Lamberhurst in Kent, and Three Choirs up in Gloucester.

Mostly they were greeted with derision, along with English cuisine; until they had tasted them, and my food! Thankfully, English wine has since come a long, long way, with new and exciting vineyards being planted across the South West, mainly by amateurs with a dream.

The idea for the Dalwood Vineyad apparently came about as a result of a rather drunken evening playing skittles, back in 2008. It seemed like a good idea at the time.

In 2009, once they had sobered up, the three chums set to and planted 1000 vines of Seyval Blanc, on a 1acre plot.

Dalwood’s first harvest was in 2013, and the skill of Shepton Mallet wine maker, Stephen Brookesbank, was harnessed to produce a sparkling Seyval Blanc Brut, made using the traditional Champagne method of a second fermentation in the bottle.

This, their first wine, was enthusiastically received, gaining a Bronze Medal in the Decanter Awards. This was followed by the 2015 Dry White, which won a Silver Medal at Taste of the West. Thus, Dalwood began making their mark in what is now a burgeoning British wine making industry, going from strength to strength.

Dalwood now have a further 2500 vines planted across 3 acres. The grape varieties selected, Pinot Noir (750 vines), Madeleine Angevine (750)

and Solaris (1000) were chosen for their compatibility with the climate in this region. Given that Mike, John and David all have ‘day jobs’, and given that growing grapes and making wine is a labour of love, especially when all of the processes are carried out by hand, their venture requires a willing bunch of volunteers, not least at harvest time, when friends and family are roped in to help.

Mike reckons that each vine requires around 30 mins. of personal attention throughout the course of a year, equating to a total of 1750 manhours of labour; and this is before the winemaking process starts. At a minimum wage of £7.50 per hour, were it not for volunteers, the labour alone would come to over £13,000.

This also does not include other costs of producing the wine, such as purchasing the vines, pesticides, fertilisers, equipment used, bottles, labels, marketing and transport; not forgetting tax.

Considering such factors, it is easy to understand why English wine might cost more than the cheap and cheerful plonk we are used to buying from supermarkets.

Dalwood wines, which due to low levels of production, have limited availability, cost from around £13 for still wine, to £25 for the bubbly.

Available now is the 2015 Sparkling Brut – 60% Seyval Blanc and 40% Pinot Noir, 11.5%abv, described as having ‘a surprisingly rounded palate ticking all the crowd-pleasing boxes.

Crisp apple, pear and light citrus flavours up front, with ripe fruits giving a slightly off-dry style.’

Just 3800 bottles have been produced and are much in demand, at £25 a bottle.

The 2016 Dry White – 40% Solaris and 60% Madeleine Angevine, 11%abv, is ‘A dry, crisp fruity wine with melon and honey notes finishing off with green apples and pears.’

At around £12 a bottle, I can foresee that the 1200 bottles produced will soon be snapped up.

There are a number of other local vineyards also well worth looking out for, many of them welcoming members of the public for visits, making them ideal for a day out. To find out more go to www.englishwineproducers.co.uk.

Better still, why not invest in a few bottles and hold a comparative tasting over the Bank Holiday weekend to celebrate English Wine Week, 27th May to 4th June.

I believe that we owe it to our local winemakers to show them our support.

LP-V.

So, you think you know your Pop music, do you?

By John Osborne  Answers can be found on page 32  1) In which year were Led Zeppelin formed?

2) 'Can You Dig It'? a 1991 single, and only record to break the top 40 for which band?

3) The Beatles 'Eleanor Rigby' song featured on which of their albums?

4) 'Paradise' is the present single by which male?

5) Lyrics - 'Let us be lovers, we'll marry our fortunes together' (Clue: famous duo)

6) Name the band who made their debut in 1979 with the single 'Hold the Line' 7) 'Like a Rolling stone' a 1965 single by whom?

8) 'Only the Lonely' by Roy Orbison, was first released in which year?

9) How do we best know Gaynor Hopkins?

10) Who once sang about a 'Midnight Train to Georgia'?

Bonus Question: The song in Q7 appeared on which album?

Question Impossible: Who is the uncredited female vocalist on Paul Anka's 'You're Having My Baby'?

Great Quotes in Music (101) 'I grew up in the day when the Beatles sold 1 million singles in a week. All you've got to do now is sell about 10,000 singles and you're in the charts' - Phil Collins

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.

Solution in the June issue!

THE VISITOR May 2018 27

GARDENING MONTHLY

by Richard Cumming

Orchard Park

National Gardening Week

NATIONAL GARDENING WEEK (30th April – 6th May) was launched by the Royal Horticultural Society in 2011 and since then has grown into the country’s biggest celebration of gardening supporting experienced gardeners as well as first timers. A good number of UK garden centres, Orchard Park included, will have their experts on hand with advice and ideas; in our industry, we get a terrific buzz out of gardening and it is a real pleasure to be able to share our enthusiasm with others.

Children seem to be particularly keen to try their hand at growing things. This year’s theme is sharing your passion for plants, inspiring and helping fellow gardeners get the most out of gardening

whether they have a large landscaped garden, a compact country courtyard or an allotment full of fruit and veg.

Then to follow this, at the end of May we have National Children’s Gardening Week (26th May - 3rd June) which aims to capture children’s enthusiasm at a time when results can be near enough immediate. With the danger of frost now behind us, a variety of plants for borders, tubs and baskets can be planted with little fear of weather damage or the need for complicated protective growing. National Children’s Gardening Week was the brainwave of Neil Grant, Managing director of Ferndale Garden Centre near Sheffield who is also BBC Radio Sheffield’s garden expert and co-presenter of their weekly garden phone in, and it’s widely supported by the whole of the UK garden industry. It’s now an annual festival of fun that’s embraced in homes, schools, and

community groups across the country, and supports the amazing Greenfingers charity, which is dedicated to providing magical gardens for children in hospices suffering from life limiting illnesses.

What to Plant this month

Herbs & pretty well everything! After the strangest winter and spring that we’ve had for a while, very wet then very cold then very wet again!

But with the soils warming up nicely, you can plant out a wide range of herbs and vegetable plants to take full advantage of the growing season. We all like to eat and a lot of us like to cook, so herbs should be high on our list of ingredients and what could be better than picking your own fresh herbs?

Most are dead easy to grow in pots, raised beds, grow bags or in the ground. A sunny position is best to get the full flavour from your plants, and a nice free-draining but humus rich soil is ideal.

There are hardy perennial herbs that will last from year

to year, and seasonal herbs that you will have to start from seed each year. Of the hardy ones, no garden is complete without a bush of rosemary or sage and a patch of thyme.

There are different varieties of rosemary to grow, low growing spreading ones and more upright shrubby sorts. Sage comes in a range of colours; green, purple and variegated.

I like the purple as it is decorative, tastes good and makes a fantastic mouthwash in a little hot water that acts as a great antiseptic for sore throats.

Lots of thyme varieties although many are better as decorative plants than culinary ones. Common Thyme, Lemon Thyme, and Broad leaf Thyme are all good to grow. The creeping and woolly thymes are lovely ground carpeting plants that edge the front of a sunny border beautifully. Clump forming herbs such as chives and garlic chives are easy to grow and completely hardy.

Biennial herbs like parsley flower in their second year so

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28 THE VISITOR May 2018

are best grown afresh from seed each spring, and coriander and basil are annual herbs in our climate so definitely need to be started fresh each year.

Herbs are the easiest and most rewarding things to grow with loads of uses from flavouring your stockpot, to treating a sore throat or making the room smell nice.

Jobs for the month

Warmth and moisture produce fantastic growth! Everywhere you look new shoots and leaves. Young and freshly planted items will need a little care and support. Don’t let them dry out as their roots will not yet have travelled far enough to reach lower soil moisture as yet. By the same token don’t drown them by over watering. New gardeners often find it hard to reach a balance and in truth it is a skill that comes with experience.

After the winter you do need to watch for damaged growth; prune back as soon as you are sure that things have stabilised and you can tell how far the damage has gone.

Generally look for the first good healthy bud after the damaged growth. Root death is harder to spot especially where plants have been rocked by wind, and sat for long periods in waterlogged ground.

These may suddenly collapse when the plant starts into growth – when the demands of the shoots exceed the ability

of the roots to support it. Give encouragement in the form of a feed and mulch and they should recover. Even more important, don’t let spring planted trees and shrubs die for lack of water. Same with newly sown areas as seedlings do not like to get started and abruptly dry out.

In the vegetable garden, sow main crop carrots, swedes, spinach and lettuce. Sow runner and dwarf beans in trays or pots. Sweet corn can go in provided the soil is in reasonable condition, and well manured. Make successional sowings of salad crops [every 14 days]. Prepare the sites for marrows, courgettes and pumpkins (a 1 ft hole filled with well-rotted manure is ideal) which can be planted out in the middle of the month.

Weed control through regular hoeing is always the best approach - use it when the soil is dry so that dislodged weeds can’t root again. Keep the fleece handy in case we do get a cold snap.

Lawns - Feed, weed and kill the moss. Lightly fork the bare patches and then rake in fresh seed covered with fine soil or loam based compost. When you get to the herbaceous border hoe off emerging seedlings, and mulch with well-rotted garden compost. Pot grown plants can be planted at any time, and don’t forget to provide support for the taller growing plants such as Delphiniums.

This is an excellent time for

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THE VISITOR May 2018 29

planting up ponds and marginal areas to give a good effect this summer.

A mini pond in a tub is really effective, easy to create and looks attractive and interesting on a patio or terrace. Roses are growing fast and must be cared for.

Even though many modern varieties are less susceptible to black spot, they still do better if treated, and the first

spray of the season is the most important. Best of all, feed your roses well, mulch liberally, and make sure they don’t go short of water in May and June.

Shrub borders – don’t touch summer flowering shrubs as all you will do is cut the next flowers off, but you can prune the early flowering shrubs such as Forsythia and clip the evergreens.

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Rochford Garden Machinery – Rise of the Robots!

You may have heard of ‘robotic lawnmowers’ and thought they were a gimmick, but Rochford Garden Machinery can honestly tell you that they are better than you could ever imagine. Staff at Rochford’s have specialised in robotic mowers for nearly 10 years so have the experience to recommend the best product for the job, from manufacturers

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PHONE: NORTH CADBURY 440660

Utilise the generous grants now available to restock neglected woodland or areas of wasteground

BBC Gardeners’ World Best Value Ride-On

GT 36H TRACTOR

BEST BUY

 Value for money  Easy handling  Excellent cutting and finish  Comfortable  Easy to empty

LEE HOLMES Garden Machinery 15 Cary Court, Bancombe Business Park, SOMERTON 01458 274261 • www.gardenmachineryrus.co.uk

30 THE VISITOR May 2018

such as Husqvarna, AL-KO Germany, John Deere and more.

The concept is simple, to cut the lawn ‘little and often’. The mower is programmed to cut frequently, taking a few millimetres off the grass and keeping it neatly cut all the time. The result is a perfect lawn, which also becomes healthier and greener. If that isn’t enough, the cost of running a robotic lawnmower is a few pence a week, and you never have to mow the lawn again.

Rochford Garden Machinery recommend the best product to do the job, at a competitive price, and equally as important is the security of their aftersales support, to keep your machine running in top condition for years to come.

The company was started 42 years ago and it’s mission has never changed, to offer ‘true value for money’ to customers.

Call Rochford Garden Machinery now on 01963 828000 to find out more.

Rochford Garden Machinery Ltd, Wincanton Business Park, Wincanton, Somerset, BA9 9RS. 01963 828000 www.rochfordretail.co.uk .

AL-KO Robolinho® R500E Robotic Lawnmower available at at Rochford Garden Machinery, Wincanton. See advert page 4.

MOTORING

VINTAGE Motor Cycling

It is May already and all classic clubs are in full swing with the seasons events. I start this month with the Westland Classic Club who have two large events coming up which are organised to benefit local charities. The first is on the 13th May and is the annual 'Spirit of the Sixties' run. It starts from the Yeovilton Museum and heads to the coast at West Bay before returning to Yeovilton. Held in aid of the Freewheelers Blood Bikes this is a very good cause to support.

On the 24th June they will be holding their Coast to Coast Run from Lyme Regis and ending at Burnham on Sea. This time they will be supporting Headway which is also a very worthwhile charity.

If you can support either event then I know you will be made most welcome. For details of these events look on their website (www.wcmcc.org.uk) or ring 07910152468.

The vintage Motor Cycle Club are also busy during the month.

The Somerset Section start with a guest speaker at their club night at Cossington on the 3rd. Next they have an Evening Meet at Catcott on the 17th and on the 27th will be the All Day Breakfast Run from Spaxton Village Hall. The Wessex Veteran and Vintage Section have a club night at East Stour on the 14th when members are invited to bring an 'interesting object'.

Next on the 20th will be their Picnic Run which starts at the PickYour-Own shop at Anstey. The Dorset Section start with the Lunch Meet at West Stour on the 2nd.

Club Night on the 9th will be a guest speaker and this will be at Henstridge Golf Centre. Lastly they return to West Stour on the 26th for the Breakfast Meet. All Sections will also be taking part in the national Founders Relay Rally on the 6th as I reported last month.

It is always fun and very social as you see different members at all the checkpoints and for some unknown reason this event always draws out some members whom we rarely see the rest of the year.

For details of any of these events just ring 01935-872528.

These days fewer old bike enthusiasts are using the really old machines instead opting to use the newer post war machines which

admittedly are easier to ride. A shame because there is much pleasure to be gained from pottering along at a steady pace enjoying the scenery and accepting the challenge that the older bikes present. To spread the enjoyment factor further, and to introduce these machines to younger riders, the VMCC organise two Training Days per year which are held at Curborough near Lichfield. On these days they assemble around 25 machines from the early 1900's through to around 1935. The reason for this is that the early machines have a hand lever throttle and hand gear change which gives a different riding sensation to the machines that followed.

At these Training Days some of the club owned machines and others brought along by members are made available to inexperienced riders to try out. Around 50 riders are accepted for the days instruction. The bikes and riders are split into two groups and each will use a different loop of the race circuit. Experienced riders or the machines owners will be there to give suitable safety instruction before the trainees are allowed out onto the circuit. They usually set off with fear and trepidation written all over their faces but after a few laps confidence is gained and they come back in with a huge grin on their faces. After a very short wait they will gain instruction upon the next machine and off they go again.

This is repeated throughout the morning session before a lunch break. The riders are changed over and off they go again doing the same thing, but with the different machines, for the afternoon session.

It gives the candidates a terrific opportunity to try many machines and with good tuition, and everyone has a thoroughly enjoyable day.

Most candidates cannot wait to get an older machine of their own and many join the VMCC as a result.

This event has always been a good recruiting tool for the club and it is perhaps a shame that a similar event could not be organised locally here in the southwest but insurance problems curtail this.

When people see an older machine of this type they are fascinated to know what all the levers do so my picture this month shows a typical layout of the controls.

Starting on the left side of the handlebars the lever slightly concealed is the clutch lever, next

to that comes the magneto lever used to advance or retard the ignition as you ride along. The next thing is the bulb horn to warn of your approach (especially good at frightening elderly persons, small children and horses - joke - not used for that purpose at all). On the right hand handlebar there are two levers together which control the carburettor, one is the throttle and the other is the mixture lever.

These two plus the magneto lever have to be adjusted to suit conditions as you ride along and all three must be used in unison.

Lastly the lever on the extreme

right is the front brake. In addition on the right hand side of the petrol tank is the oil pump which must be depressed every two to three miles depending upon riding conditions. The lever sticking up through the tank is the gear lever.

Lastly above the footboards you can see two foot pedals, that on the left is the rear brake and the right pedal is the clutch. You will therefore see that there is plenty to occupy the mind as you bowl along at a very heady 30 miles per hour. Fancy a go, then give me a ring.

Rod Hann.

A 1930 MG M-Type Double Twelve Replica that recently went to auction at the Charterhouse Classic Car Auction, held at The Bath & West Showground. Photograph by Graham Cox L.M.P.A.

GLIDEROL GARAGE DOORS

All garage doors are different, so as a roller door specialist, (I don’t replace windows, etc.) I can survey, quote and install to your requirements and make the most of your garage opening, as generally no frame is necessary. With the option of automated operation with remote control, a top quality garage door need only be a phone call away.

G.H. SALES. Tel: 01935 891414

THE VISITOR May 2018 31

the end bit...

BACK IN THE September 2016 issue I commented that many seasoned typesetters must be wincing at the way text is sometimes presented on the printed pages of our local newspapers and magazines.

Several readers responded with examples of what they considered to be bad practice, and bemoaned the apparent lack of training of whoever is responsible for the typesetting and page layout.

Many years ago when I first ventured into the world of publishing I was told to buy and read two books. One was a dictionary of style for written English and the other was ‘Hart’s Rules for Compositors and Readers’. Together these covered the house style of the Oxford University Press and are still the basis of the house styles adopted by other publishers. And although compositing has largely changed from letterpress through hot metal and photosetting to computergenerated copy, most trained typesetters still revert to Hart’s Rules if they have not been given a different style to follow.

Horace Henry Hart was in charge of Oxford University Press from 1883 till 1915, and in 1893 he devised his first set of rules for his staff. The booklet was made available for public purchase in 1904 and it grew in size and coverage over the next 39 editions to become the standard work on editing and typesetting. Hart knew that, although we might think we read words consecutively, the reality is that our eyes take in chunks of text for our brain to work with. So he charged proofreaders with ensuring that each page is not only factually correct and sensibly presented but is also pleasing to the eye. Most of his rules for typesetting are still generally accepted as producing an attractive page.

Among the pet hates of Visitor readers who contacted me is a succession of lines ending in hyphens. These don’t make for easy reading (and look ugly), especially on narrow columns. They arise because word-processing programmes automatically split and hyphenate long words at the right-hand end of lines. Once in a while this is acceptable, but skilled typesetters know ways to prevent

32 THE VISITOR May 2018

it happening. Another hate is initial capital letters sprinkled around like confetti in the hope that this will give certain words a special significance or importance.

It won’t! No two style guides contain exactly the same rules about when to use initial capital letters (apart from at the start of a sentence and for proper nouns and names), but Hart’s Rules provide a good default.

Several readers hate to see ‘widows’ and ‘orphans’. A ‘widow’ is the last line of a paragraph, less than the full line width, that falls at the top of the following page or column – in other words, separated from rest of the paragraph. An ‘orphan’ is the first line of a paragraph that falls on its own at the bottom of a page or column.

Widows and orphans stop the eye from taking in the entire chunk of text, making it less easy to read and assimilate. They’re ugly and in skilled hands they’re avoidable!

Another reader felt that a good command of punctuation is as important as choosing the right words and spelling them correctly, and this is lacking in much of what he reads in the papers. I agree.

Without a comma,‘Once she had the dress off she would go in search of matching shoes, gloves and a handbag’ can be interpreted in two ways. So can ‘Mother to be attacked on waste land’ unless a couple of hyphens are inserted.

Compositors died out as faster methods of typesetting replaced letterpress. Proof-readers have been seen as a disposable luxury by most newspaper and magazine publishers. But Hart’s Rules continue to exist and be relevant.

Around 20 years ago they were updated yet again, renamed ‘The Oxford Guide to Style’ and published alongside ‘The Oxford Dictionary for Writers and Editors’ in a single volume entitled ‘The Oxford Manual of Style’. These days, with so few reporters and sub-editors seemingly having much knowledge of typesetting, the book should be a well-thumbed feature of every newsroom.

Chronicler.

ANSWERS TO POP MUSIC QUIZ

1 2.

3.

4.

5.

on page 27

1968 'The Mock Turtles' 'Revolver' George Ezra ‘America' - Simon and Garfunkel 6. 'Toto' 7. Bob Dylan 8. 1960 9. Bonnie Tyler 10. 'Gladys Knight and the Pips' Bonus Question

'Highway 61 Revisited' Question Impossible Odia Coates

PHONE - a - FIRM

Plumbing

Damian Hoddinott PLUMBING SERVICES

Competitive rates for all your plumbing needs

01963 441232 07971 676111

Domestic Appliances

Taylors Domestic

Appliances Ltd. Sales & Repairs for Dishwashers, Washing Machines, Cookers, Tumble Driers etc.

Ridge View, Penmore Road Sandford Orcas DT9 4SE

Professional repairs by qualified engineer on most makes of appliances.

01963 220366

Email: taylorsdomesticappliances@gmail.com Covering the areas between Wincanton Castle Cary, Sparkford, Sherborne and Yeovil

Roofing

Oven Cleaning

Mister Oven Ovens - Hobs - Agas etc

Tel: 01935 475065 Mob: 07752 695264 www.misteroven.co.uk

Clean Ovens Domestic Ltd Covering Somerset and Dorset

AGAS • RANGES • OVENS HOBS • EXTRACTORS Eco-Friendly Materials Used Experienced + Fully Insured Friendly Staff

Tel: 0800 7076629 Mobile: 07563 693145 www.cleanovendomestics.co.uk

Denture Repairs

Are you a denture wearer?

D to menture sm ake y s ile a ou gai n!

Denture repairs while you wait ...

Terry New Denture Clinic

01458 210039

Home visits a speciality

For all your roofing requirements

Flat Roofing • Tiling Slating • GRP Roofing

All New Work Fully Guaranteed

For further information & estimates contact Allan Carey

01963 33528 / 07885 723915 Email: allancarey541@hotmail.com

Bourton Roofing Co. Slate  Tiling  Flat Roofing.

UPVC Fascias  Guttering FREE ES T I M AT ES

 01747 840064

... or 07866 296453 Email: info@bourtonroofing.co.uk

DEADLINE for June Issue is Friday 11th May

PHONE - a - FIRM • PHONE - a - FIRM

Fuel Storage Tanks

Bryan G. Paulley Ltd

Fires / Chimneys / Stoves

SANDPITS

HEATING & HOME STORE

Domestic / Commercial Installations / Replacements

Multifuel Stoves ... over 200 on display Chimneys Relined ★ Full Installation Service

Plastic / Metal Tanks • Temporary Tanks Leaking Tanks • Tank Cleaning / Moving / Disposal Above or Below Ground Tanks • 24 Hour Call-Out

Tel: 01963 363870 • Mob: 07836 502683 office@bgp-oiltanks.co.uk • www.bgp-oiltanks.co.uk

Framing

SCENES

Artist Materials & Gallery

 Picture Framing  Restoration  Large Selection of Prints and Paintings  Greeting Card Blanks High St. Gillingham Tel: 01747 824050 www.scenes-online.co.uk

HETAS • OFTEC • GAS SAFE

✴ Chimney Sweeping Service ✴

Showrooms Open: Monday to Friday 8am – 5.30pm and Saturday 8am – 4.30pm Email: enquiries@sandpitsheatingcentre.co.uk www.sandpitsheatingcentre.co.uk

High Street, Curry Rivel, Langport  01458 251476

Your calling card reaching 60,000 readers  01963 351256 ... to advertise HERE

Transport & Storage

07921 074602 • 01749 677440 • Solidfuel3@aol.com

Logs

Barn Stored Seasoned

HARDWOOD LOGS

 Seasoned Hard & Softwood Logs  Kindling – Briquettes – Coal  Various Load / Log Sizes

Check our website for COMPETITIVE PRICES ... FREE DELIVERY

Tel: 01458 251529 • Mobile: 07789 204232

Full details on our website: www.msmfirewood.co.uk

Fire & Security Alarms

Regular advertising brings results

ADVERTISE in FULL COLOUR this space could be yours for

£40.46 inc. VAT

(for 3cms x 2 column)

Tel: 01963 351256 – to book your space

THE VISITOR May 2018 33

Classified Ads

Send Details to: The Visitor, P.O. Box 1, Castle Cary, Somerset, BA7 7BP. 30p per word (£5 minimum) pre-payment essential.

For a Box Number please add £2.

Payment can be made by Cash, Cheque, Postal Order, BACS, Credit / Debit Card.

✽ If you require a receipt a s.a.e. must be enclosed with payment, or your email address.

Prize Crossword No. 379 Set by Frank Butler

SEND COMPLETED ENTRIES TO: The Visitor Crossword, P.O. Box 1, Castle Cary, Somerset BA7 7BP – to arrive by Friday 11th May.

Correct entries are placed in a hat and the winner is the first name drawn. The prize is a £10 voucher to spend with any one advertiser in this issue of The Visitor.

Please do not forget to state your choice of advertiser and your name and address.

NAME .....................................................................................................................................................................

ADDRESS .............................................................................................................................................................. .................................................................................................................................................................................. ..................................................................................................................................................................................

Wanted

Personal

R E D U N D A N T M O T O R M O W E R S , rotavators, chainsaws, strimmers, cement mixers, etc. Tel: 01460 77844

JUST SOMERSET INTRODUCTIONS. Bringing people together. Call Alison Tel: 07584 250285, www.justintro ductionsgroup.co.uk

Tel: ......................................................................... Cheque Enclosed for £ .................... Minimum £5

DAVE BUYS ALL TYPES OF TOOLS, salvage, bygones and collectables.

Daves Tools, Est. 1989. Tel: 01935 428975

POSTCARDS, pop memorabilia, coins, badges, old toys, games, and anything military. Tel: Clive 01749 675456

A L L S P O RT S P R O G R A M M E S a n d books, memorabilia and ephemera – especially football. Large collections welcome. Cash paid. Tel: Clive 01749 675456

O L D M O T O R C Y C L E S WA N T E D , Any condition, collected. Cash paid.

Tel: 07779 366005

Storage

S TO R A G E f o r f u r n i t u r e i n l o c k e d cubicles. Lock-up garages to let. Tel: Sparkford Storage on 01963 440045 or 440526 or 440692

Situations Vacant

GARDENER - Superplants require a team player with full d/l to help maintain grounds and install planting schemes.

01963 34842 info@superplants.co.uk

Catering / Mobile Bars

HARRY’S MOBILE BARS, all occasions, weddings, parties, etc. Tel: 01747 825553 www.harrysmobilebars.co.uk

www.country-link.org.uk COUNTRY LINK SOCIAL GROUP. Fresh air, fun, food and friendship. Tel: Andy 01225 834834 or Val 01749 342918

Services

HOUSEHOLD & GARDEN RUBBISH CLEARED, old sheds / outbuildings demolished, etc. Tel: 01460 77844 FOOT HEALTH Practitioner offering toenail cutting service in your own home. £15.

Contact Tracy on 01749 938712 WOULD YOU LIKE to tell your life story?

Contact Mandy Bloom, professional memoir writer, on telephone 01458 223251 or via enquiries. mandybloom@gmail.com

Passport Photographs

PASSPORTS – passports – passports – also studio sittings, and golden weddings.

Any time to suit you. Easy parking opposite The Quarry Inn. Tel: Graham Cox, Photographer, 01458 223769.

For Sale

LARGE SELECTION of LP Records, approx. 200 dating from 1950 onwards, mixed lot, Elvis, Abba, Country etc. Index available. Job lot £200. Tel: 01460 241753

GUNS WANTED FOR CASH

Any size, any condition, make or model We collect in any area  Registered Firearms Dealer

Tel: 07970 742471

34 THE VISITOR May 2018

Across:

1. I try mail for army matters.

[8] 5. Fruit is covered by rain. [6] 9. Argues over ten arranged in expenses. [8] 10. Fact checker rioted when rearranged. [6] 11. Detest packing-box beyond river. [8] 12. Cot in small school causes ruin. [6] 14. South African of Dutch descent includes order for sale, OK? May also be a newsagent. [10] 18. Sailor, no marine, friend?

Not usually! [10] 22. Puss, returning around limb, on the road. [6] 23. Begin with light-emitting diode, getting shocked! [8] 24. Ramble with magic tool and queen. [6] 25. Bake cold mixture in defence. [8] 26. Toffees we put into sets. [6] 27. Sorting rays, hire former county in Scotland. [8]

4. Sane, about to back up, turning. [10] 6. Channel in bed kidknapped.

[8] 7. Double list: Don’t fidget! [3,5] 8. Muddle with throne and navy towards one pole. [8] 13. As in a frame, Kelly’s late to reorder. [10] 15. What shareholder does, trap snow anew. [4-4] 16. Fill with delight going in. [8] 17. Name tram again with weaponry. [8] 19. Torture in the Civil Service breaks up. [6] 20. Talk a little, partly revealing high pH. [6] 21. Where to put poster, with glue. [6]

Solution to Crossword 378

Down:

1. Centre of ticket in my grasp, naming mouse. [6] 2. Inside, along Eric’s passage, not so short. [6] 3. Held by a Conservative, he had an idea. [6]

The Winner of our April Crossword was Mr Robin Putt of South Petherton who chose to spend the £10 voucher at The Old Pound Inn, Aller.