The Somerset Leveller - Issue 176

Dick and Dom star behind bars in Somerset prison

RICHARD McCourt –one half of legendary TV duo Dick and Dom –was among prisoners at a Somerset jail.

The star was among those taking part in a special fundraising event at Shepton Mallet Prison in aid of county charity, Reminiscence Learning, on May 21.

He was joined by former BBC correspondent Clinton Rogers, who are both ambassadors for the Wellingtonbased charity, and took part in a special ‘jailbreak’ event held during Dementia Action Week.

The event aimed to raise essential funds for the cause, which supports people living with dementia and their caregivers, as well as running

The Archie Project, an intergenerational initiative connecting schools with care homes to teach children about dementia and reduce stigma.

People taking part began their day by saying goodbye to their freedom as they entered the prison grounds and stepped into the ‘prisoner experience’.

“After ‘confessing’ their crimes, they were issued bright orange jumpsuits and were marched to B Wing, where they experienced time in solitary confinement,” a prison spokesperson said.

“From there, they faced physical challenges in the exercise yard, followed by The Cell – an immersive

and puzzle-solving skills.

“To earn their release, participants had to raise ‘bail money’ by calling on friends and family for donations.”

In the end, £13,530 was

raised and everyone was allowed to leave at the end of the day.

“For those wondering, the secret password was –‘bogies!’,” the spokesperson added, a catchphrase made famous by Dick and Dom.

Teenager detained after admitting torching seven minibuses

A TAUNTON teen who destroyed seven minibuses after setting them on fire has been given a two-year detention and ordered to pay costs.

The vehicles – which included specially adapted vehicles for helping with additional needs – were set on fire on April 26 at the Silk Mills Park and Ride, Taunton.

The teenager, who was 17 at the time of

the offence, pleaded guilty to six offences: two counts of arson, both at Silk Mills Park and Ride, namely to an Audi A1 on April 25 and the minibuses on April 26, as well as affray, criminal damage to two cars and assault by beating an emergency worker –all on April 27.

He was sentenced at Exeter Magistrates Court on May 29 to a two-year detention

and training order and ordered to pay £600 compensation to victims whose vehicles were damaged.

Detective sergeant William Instance said: “The damage caused to the minibuses was huge and has had a significant impact on the local community. An arrest was made the day after the fire and a thorough investigation has led to this conviction.”

Dick and Dom star Richard McCourt, above left, was among those jailed in Shepton Mallet, below escape room that tested their teamwork

Burglar jailed for 18 months

JANE Butcher has been jailed after being found inside a Taunton house during a burglary.

The 44-year-old, of Triscombe Road, Taunton, was jailed for 18 months during a hearing at Taunton Crown Court on May 21 after pleading guilty to burglary.

The court was told Butcher, above, entered a property in Holford Road where she was found by the victim on November 16, 2023.

She was charged that month and pleaded guilty to the offence on day one of her trial in the summer of 2024.

A purse was stolen in the burglary, but was later found discarded in the garden of the property.

Road rage assault

A DRIVER in Bridgwater suffered a cut to his neck after a man smashed a car window by punching it.

A man reportedly left the passenger seat of a car on The Broadway at around 9pm on May 22 before punching and smashing the driver’s side window of another vehicle.

The victim, a man in his early 60s, suffered a cut to his neck from the broken glass but did not go to hospital.

The suspect is believed to be aged in their 30s or 40s and was in a car described as silver or grey.

Call 101, reference number 5225143505, with info.

Yeovil dental hygienist wants to boost health in Ms GB finals

AYEOVIL-based dental hygienist has made the finals of the 2025 Ms Great Britain competition – and is using her platform to raise awareness of women’s oral health and to put the spotlight on Somerset.

Rafina O’Brien has launched the When She Smiles campaign, which focusses on women’s oral health, a topic she says is “often overlooked”.

Hormonal changes during puberty, pregnancy, and menopause can all impact gum and bone health, and have even been linked to serious outcomes like low birth weight and premature birth, Rafina said.

Through education, community talks, and online awareness, she hopes to empower women to take control of their dental health.

“I believe oral health is about much more than just teeth,” she said. “It’s about confidence, wellbeing, dignity, and overall health — and everyone deserves access to that, no matter their background.”

When She Smiles is highlighting how poor oral health can affect confidence, self-esteem, and even access to opportunities — and why it’s critical that women receive the support and education they need to prioritise their dental care.

And the 38-year-old said her

own journey through difficult times fuels her passion to give back.

“I’ve faced many challenges in my life, and I know how important it is to have support when you’re struggling,” she said. “That’s why I want to be there for others — to help, to

educate, and to uplift those who need it most.

“I want to use this opportunity not just to raise awareness, but to give something back. I also want to represent Somerset in the best light and put our amazing community on the map at the Ms Great Britain finals.”

As well as being a beauty queen and busy hygienist, Rafina is a proud and active Dentaid: The Dental Charity Ambassador, supporting the charity’s mission to improve access to dental care across the

UK and internationally.

Dentaid operates mobile dental units, runs outreach clinics for people experiencing homelessness, and provides oral health education for vulnerable communities.

She volunteers at Dentaid mobile clinics to deliver free dental care to those in need, as well as visiting schools and community groups to teach good oral hygiene practices and undertaking a number of fundraising efforts, including recently completing three ultra marathons in three months.

As well as everything else, Rafina also served as the first dental hygienist on the world tour of HMS Queen Elizabeth in 2021, which featured in the BBC’s The Warship: Tour of duty documentary.

Now, Rafina is aiming to get out and about in Somerset in the coming weeks and months, and hopes to meet as many people as possible.

“I love meeting new people and breaking down the stigma around dental care,” she added. “If I can help just one person feel more confident about their health, it’s all worth it.”

In the run-up to the Ms Great Britain finals, she will also be raising money for Cancer Research UK and A Sisterhood, through a series of challenges and community events.

Rafina O'Brien is taking on a dual challenge

Pictures: Leo/LTHP/Ms Great Britain

Quick news

Pair murdered man over mistaken claims

MARK Roberts and David Garland have been convicted of murdering Yeovil man Michael Wheeler - as they wrongly believed he was a paedophile.

Mr Wheeler's body was found in a derelict caravan in Yarlington in September 2024, a month after he went missing.

On June 5, after a trial lasting more than five weeks, a jury at Bristol Crown Court found Roberts and Garland guilty of murder and conspiracy to murder. Garland had previously admitted preventing the lawful and decent burial of the body of Michael Wheeler.

Three other men; Jack Rance, Angus Warner, and Reuben Clare, were cleared of all charges against them.

The court was told 37-yearold Mr Wheeler was friends with all five men, but owed £100 to Roberts.

Their relationship soured when the others found an online news report about a man – also called Michael Wheeler – who was jailed in 2003 after admitting grooming and sexually abusing two. However, prosecuting counsel, David Elias KC, made it clear to the

court that the murdered man was not the same person, and had no convictions for child sexual offences.

Mr Wheeler was attacked at Roberts’ flat in Juniper Close, Yeovil, in the early hours of August 24 last year, suffering multiple injuries, including 11 skull and facial fractures, and his body was hidden.

Around three weeks later Mr Wheeler’s death, police received information that he had come to serious harm. They found no proof of his being alive after August 24.

Officers began searches of several addresses and open spaces, before finding his remains in the caravan on farmland in Yarlington on

September 25. Detective Superintendent Lorett Spierenburg led the Major Crime Investigation Team enquiry into the disappearance and murder of Mr Wheeler and said: “Michael Wheeler was brutally murdered by people he had considered as friends. He was killed over a £100 debt and because they wrongly decided he had been jailed for child sex

offences in 2003, when he would have been just 16 years old.

“The defendants gave Michael no opportunity to tell them they were wrong. Instead, they took the life of a man whose last words to his ex-wife were of love for her and their daughter.”

When Mr Wheeler disappeared, his mother was suffering from a terminal illness and spent her last months under the shadow of his untimely death and passed away before the case came to court. He leaves a sister, ex-wife and young daughter.

Roberts, 39, of Juniper Close, and Garland, 40, of no fixed abode, were both remanded in custody pending a sentencing hearing, expected to be on June 13. Rance, 28, of no fixed abode, Clare, 19, of Yeovil, and Warner, 33, of Crewkerne, were all acquitted.

David Garland and Mark Roberts have been convicted of murdering Michael Wheeler, inset

Woman jailed for 15 years after stabbing 'kind and caring' husband to death

"MUM, please get the police here now. Please. I’ve done something awful.”

Those were the words of Christine Kekkonen after she stabbed her husband – Henri –to death at their Somerset home in May last year.

Now, Kekkonen has been jailed for 15 years after being found guilty murdering her husband at the house, in Dunford Terrace, Baltonsborough.

The 37-yea-old claimed she had not intended to injure her 41-year-old husband, but was convicted of his murder at Bristol Crown Court in November and sentenced at the same court on May 23.

Henri was stabbed in the neck at their home some time between 4pm and 4.20pm on May 9 last year.

At 4.21pm on that day, Christine Kekkonen sent a text message to her mum saying: “Mum, please get the police here now. Please. I’ve done something awful.”

Her dad then called an ambulance, and police were informed.

Within 15 minutes of the call, emergency services arrived at their home, but despite their efforts, Henri could not be saved and tragically died at the scene.

The knife used to fatally stab Henri was recovered from the house during a search and Christine was arrested and later charged with murder by detectives from the Major Crime Investigation Team.

In statements read out in court, Henri’s father and half-sister, both from Finland, spoke of the impact his death has had on their family.

Olavi, Henri’s father, said: “My whole life has been totally messed up, and it’s not anything that you can expect to happen to you.

“The ninth of May was the day that Henri was killed, but I

Christine Kekkonen stabbed her husband, Henri - pictured inset - to death at their home in Baltonsborough in May last year

didn’t know it yet. For some reason, I was up all night that night and I couldn’t sleep, and then in the morning at 9am there was a knock at the door, and it was the police telling me that Henri had died.

“My whole world collapsed when they told me that. I am not feeling vengeful feelings towards Christine, because these feelings are stupid and not worth it. But I do not understand how Christine is now saying that she is innocent. Henri has never been violent.”

Helmiina Suuronen, Henri’s half-sister, said Christine Kekkonen had taken away her chance to meet Henri for the first time.

“I would go and see my father and see all of Henri’s things that were still in the house, such as his games, and always thought of him as my cool older brother even though I never met him,” she said.

“The day Henri died, my father, Olavi Kekkonen, called me and told me that Henri was

Pictures: Avon & Somerset Police

dead. It was the hardest phone call of my life.

“I felt disbelief. My mum explained that Christine had killed him. I felt numb when I heard that and I cried a lot. I felt robbed of a relationship with him. I always hoped that I would have a relationship with him one day and now I have a lot of questions I want to ask him and I will never know the answers. I feel like he was stolen from me before I even got to know him.”

Sentencing Kekkonen, His Honour Judge Lambert described Henri as “kind and caring” and said her decision to hide the knife at the side of their bed “provides evidence of a degree of deliberation”.

He said her mental health difficulties did not “provide a satisfactory answer as to why you did what you did,” adding: “It may well be you do not know yourself.”

“Evidence from friends, neighbours and healthcare professionals demonstrated that

Henri was kind and caring throughout and did all he could for you,” he added.

“In your deluded mind you felt he was coercive and controlling and should have done more for you. That was simply not correct.

“Henri promoted your welfare above his own ambitions and you always came first.”

After the hearing, Senior investigating officer, Det Supt Lorett Spierenburg, said: “Henri’s life was callously cut short that day through the actions of someone he deeply trusted and cared for.

“Christine Kekkonen’s denial of his murder forced his family to have to relive the awful events of May 2024 and showed them complete disregard.

“Henri’s family have been able to see justice delivered through the courts, however nothing can bring him back to them, and that is a tragedy.”

Fashionista Ali using her business to boost charity

FROME fashionista Ali Payne has launched an appeal for unwanted pre-loved clothing for a sale that will benefit a charity close to her heart.

Ali, who runs an Instagram account called Little Splash Fashion, lives with chronic debilitating condition ME/CFS – and has come up with an idea to help others in her situation.

The 40-year-old is appealing for people to pass on unwanted pre-loved and vintage clothing, which she will sell through Little Splash Fashion, with 25% of all sales donated to The ME Association.

Ali, who once worked locally in childcare, is no longer able to work as the symptoms of ME/ CFS often mean she is bedbound and unable to leave her home.

Before diagnosis, she was in good health, enjoying exercise and jogging several times a week. However, after falling ill at work, many GP appointments and hospital admissions and being bedbound for months, she was eventually diagnosed and has lived with ME/CFS for more than 12 years.

Now, Ali has turned her love of vintage clothing into a business that will be of wider benefit – and will also help raise money for The ME Association, of which she is a member.

ME (myalgic encephalomyelitis), also known as CFS (chronic fatigue syndrome), is a complex and debilitating long-term medical condition. There is currently no cure or treatment.

“Due to MF/CFS, my health has deteriorated,” she said. “I

can no longer work a normal 9 to 5 job, and I wanted to come up with a way of earning my own money from home, within my own health parameters.

“I love fashion and clothing but can no longer go out and source my own clothes, which is why I launched Little Splash Fashion on Instagram.”

Donations of any unwanted pre-loved or vintage clothing (clean and in good condition)

including women’s, children’s, and men’s, as well as accessories such as jewellery or bags can be made, with Ali offering to pay the postage for any donations.

Ali lives with her husband Jason, and two children Evelyn, nine, and 10-year-old Felix.

n To contact Ali and donate clothing, visit instagram.com/ little_splash_fashion.

Ali Payne is donating proceeds from sales through her Little Splash Fashion account to charity

High-speed chase drug-driver in court

AHIGH-SPEED pursuit through a residential area in Bridgwaterincluding the offender running red lights - ended with a vehicle stopping on a grass verge after its tyres were burst.

Police were called to Parkway at around 2am on Sunday, October 27 last year, after two e-bikes were being ridden in an anti-social manner.

When they arrived, officers became concerned over how a silver Mercedes C220 was being driven nearby.

Dean Lawrence, from Millfield, Chard, who was behind the wheel of the Mercedes, saw the officers before driving off.

PC Marcus Cookson, of the Roads Policing Unit, activated his car’s blue lights before being led on a pursuit at around 2.15am.

Lawrence then led police through the Sydenham estate,

along Westonzoyland Road and St John’s Road before heading back onto Parkway from Bath Road at speed.

But it was at the point officers deployed a stinger, with the vehicle then heading back onto Westonzoyland Road before coming to a stop on an area of grass near Clipper Close.

In a final attempt to flee officers, 50-year-old Lawrence jumped out of the car before PC Cookson chased him down a footpath towards Longstone

Avenue, where he was apprehended and detained by a second officer.

PC Cookson said: "The pursuit was at high speeds through residential areas, he had run through a red traffic light and was contravening the Highway Code multiple times throughout."

Lawrence was arrested for dangerous driving, failing to stop, and driving under the influence of drugs having tested positive. On May 24, he was

SECURE SELF STORAGE

convicted at Taunton Magistrates’ Court after pleading guilty to dangerous driving, driving while disqualified, driving without insurance and driving over the prescribed limit for drugs and was handed a 12-month suspended prison sentence, a 24-month supervision order and has been disqualified from driving for 18 months until an extended test is passed.

PC Cookson added: "Road users who commit one of the fatal five offences are far more likely to be involved in a serious collision. We will actively seek to prosecute dangerous drivers to keep the roads safer for all.

"Thanks to the quick actions of the policing teams involved, we were able to apprehend Lawrence quickly and his driving disqualification will protect the wider community from potentially devastating consequences."

Quick news

Man fined over fox hunting

A MAN from Ilminster has been fined £513 after he pleaded guilty to a fox hunting incident in Dorset in 2024.

Dorset Police said it received reports that a fox was killed in the area of Drimpton near Beaminster after it was pursued by hounds at a trail event led by the Seavington Hunt on the morning of October 24, 2024.

A 39-year-old from Ilminster was interviewed and subsequently charged with hunting a wild mammal with dogs under Section 1 of the Hunting Act 2004.

He pleaded guilty to the charge at Weymouth Magistrates’ Court last Wednesday (May 28) and was fined £513, ordered to pay costs of £85 and a victim surcharge of £205.

PC Sebastian Haggett, from Dorset Police Rural Crime Team, said: “We take all reports of crime against wildlife seriously and we will seek to prosecute those individuals or groups who commit offences in our rural communities.

“I would like to extend my thanks to the witnesses in this case who provided evidence in this case and it shows the importance of reporting any alleged breaches of the Hunting Act 2004.”

Arrest after crash

A CAR carrying four people crashed into a lamppost – and three pedestrians – in Bath.

The suspected driver of the vehicle was arrested on suspicion of drink driving and dangerous driving after the incident, in North Parade, at around 3.15am on June 6.

One of the pedestrians was taken to hospital with serious injuries, while three passengers from the car were also taken to hospital.

Decades-old US mystery solved - in Somerset...

ADECADES-OLD

mystery surrounding the identity of a man found dead in the USA has been solved – and it comes back to Somerset.

In November 1993, a man was found dead off the coast of Clearwater, Florida. His body was discovered floating in the Gulf of Mexico, near the east side of the Clearwater Pass Bridge.

Emergency services in the US said he was declared deceased at the scene, and a subsequent investigation uncovered neatly folded clothing on the shoreline near a lifeguard tower at the south end of Clearwater Beach, believed to possibly belong to the deceased man.

While an autopsy proved to be inconclusive in determining the manner and cause of death, foul play was not suspected –but he could not be identified, and became known simply as ‘Pinellas County John Doe 1993’. Experts said the body belonged to a white man, aged between 60 and 80, who stood around 5ft 4inches tall, weighed 118 pounds, and had blue eyes with short grey hair.

Despite appeals at the time, no one came forward with information about his identity – and it remained that way for more than three decades.

Then, in recent months, a renewed effort took place to find some answers in the case, with genetics experts Moxxy Forensic Investigations assisting the Clearwater Police Department in a bid to finally identify the dead man.

They created a DNA profile of the unidentified man, which was uploaded to GEDmatch Pro, a DNA database that allows members of the public to share their DNA to be utilized in law enforcement cases.

And what they found

shocked investigators.

Kaycee Connelly, team lead for the case, said: “Almost immediately, we observed that all of the DNA matches were either living in or recent immigrants from England, which was quite unexpected for a person found in Pinellas County, Florida.

“Our team of volunteer genealogists uncovered numerous ancestors from various parts of England, stretching back to the mid1700s, to connect the DNA matches with one another.

Because of recent immigration and the estimated age range of the man at the time of his death, we were looking for very distant connections.”

Work continued, with months of genealogical analysis by nine experts finding various connections to the unidentified man, including a couple from the mid-18th century that were living in the Bristol area.

Eventually, the team was able to develop a candidate for the identity of the man – and contacted their next of kin.

That was a son of the candidate, who was contacted and a buccal swab collected for comparative purposes.

This swab was compared to

the profile of the unidentified man, which determined that the relationship between the two was that of a parent-child relationship.

Pinellas County John Doe 1993 has been positively identified as Edman Eric Gleed, born July 29, 1909, making him 84 at the time of his death.

Gleed was a secondgeneration immigrant, with both of his parents relocating from their ceremonial counties of Somerset and Gloucestershire, to the United States.

Edman was last seen on November 27, 1993, after leaving the home he shared with his son in Falls Church, Virginia, according to a US expert.

A missing persons report was filed by his son in Fairfax County, Virginia, shortly after his disappearance.

And the discovery has brought some closure to the case, not only for the Gleed family, but for the officers involved over decades.

“This case has been close to the hearts of everyone on the team,” said Ed Adams, the team assistant for the case.

"We are all honoured to have played a part in returning Edman Gleed to his family.”

A body found in Florida in 1993 has been identified as that of Edman Eric Gleed after DNA linked the deceased to Somerset

Pictures: Google/Moxxy

Influencer Flynn makes TV debut

SOCIAL media influencer

Flynn West – who grew up in Wellington – has made his UK TV debut in a new episode of a BBC series.

Flynn appears in an episode of the Sex After… series, titled Sex After An Affair, which is available on BBC iPlayer.

The episode, which explores the emotional and psychological effects of infidelity, features Flynn alongside three other guests as they open up about their personal experiences of betrayal and its lasting impact on relationships.

Flynn was approached by the BBC in January and filmed his segment in late March, and he said he offered a raw and honest perspective on being cheated on.

In the episode, Flynn candidly shares how his past experience with betrayal shaped his approach to love, commitment, and emotional vulnerability.

“This was an important

conversation to be part of,” he said. “Being cheated on changes you—it knocks your confidence, makes you question your worth, and affects how you connect with new partners.

“I wanted to share my story to help others realize they’re not alone.”

The appearance marks a major milestone for Flynn, as his transition to television reflects his growing influence in the entertainment industry, which has seen him gain 41,000 followers on Instagram and almost 124,000 on TikTok.

Traveller site near Taunton could finally be approved

A SITE for Romani Gypsies or Travellers in a village near Taunton could be officially allowed, if plans are approved.

An application to change the use of land at Greenacres, in Oxen Lane, North Curry, from agricultural to a Gypsy/Travellers site has been submitted to Somerset Council.

The scheme – in part to allow works already undertaken –seeks permission for 16 pitches and associated works, including mobile homes, touring caravans, a treatment plant and entrance gates.

A previous application to create a Gypsy/Traveller site on the plot was refused by Taunton Deane Borough Council in 2015. Other applications for the site, submitted over the last two decades, have also been refused.

However, the new plan aims to address reasons for the refusal, which included the impact on highway safety, harm to the character of the landscape, and restrictions on development in open countryside.

“There has been a policy failure of Somerset councils to make land available that can be used to provide accommodation for Gypsies/Travellers,” the application said.

A report accompanying the plans pointed to “very low” traffic flow in the area, as well as low speeds recorded on the route, with details of planned improvements to the access.

For more details on the scheme, log on to somerset.gov.uk and search application reference 24/25/0006.

HISTORY buffs can now find out more about life on Exmoor thanks to a newly-released batch of recordings.

The South West Heritage Trust has launched the Exmoor Oral History Archive website, making available full recordings

of personal stories from the area’s past for the first time.

The audio recordings, mostly dating from between 2000 and 2002, are available to listen to online.

They were originally recorded as part of a Dulverton and District Civic Society

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Stories from Exmoor's past can now be listened to online

project to capture for posterity life on Exmoor at the turn of the century and features 78 interviews, totalling more than 200 hours.

Included in the recordings are memories stretching back to before the First World War, offering insights into local life and work, which for many began aged 14. Topics range from farming, engineering, hunting and mole catching to the devasting Lynmouth flood disaster of 1952 and the formation of the new National Park Authority.

The new website features full recordings, searchable summaries, and black-and-white portraits by photographer Mark J Rattenbury.

Taken shortly after the interviews, Mark’s evocative portraits capture the personalities of each contributor, either in their home or their favourite Exmoor location, and form an attractive gallery from which to explore the archive.

South West Heritage Trust archivist, Liz Grant, said: “The contributors – farmers, doctors, teachers, postmen, local councillors and more – reveal a deep connection to Exmoor, with recollections that highlight strong community ties that revolved around institutions such as the church, the Young Farmers’ Club, and local

politics.

“It’s incredibly exciting that we have been able to create this new platform celebrating Exmoor’s unique stories and heritage, and to know that the archive, embedded in our digital preservation system, will now be safeguarded, not only for future generations but forever.”

Interviewer and project consultant Birdie Johnson, who made the original recordings, said: “I couldn’t be more delighted that the contributors to the archive have been acknowledged in this way.

“Inevitably, with the passing of the years, many of them are no longer with us, but I salute them all. Their voices will now live on, reflecting a moment in time in this special place.”

Dulverton contributor Chris Nelder, who was recorded in 2002 and is now 90, said he felt privileged to have been part of the project.

“It’s wonderful to know that the archive is now there for everybody to see,” he said. “It’s history. If we hadn’t been asked, there wouldn’t be an archive.”

Originally held on CD in the Somerset Heritage Centre and North Devon Record Office, the recordings were later digitised.

n To listen and find out more see exmoor-oha.swheritage.org. uk/home.html.

Hope Bourne is among those featured in the archive

Picture: Mark J Rattenbury

Leader's £12,000 allowance aims to help people take part in Frome democracy

CHANGES to structures in Frome aimed at helping working people take on leadership roles have been put into force – including a £15,000 allowance for the council chair.

Frome Town Council (FTC) has gone away from the norms of administration, which sees the elected chair of the council also act as mayor.

Due to the commitment required to the role of mayor, many councillors who also have full-time jobs, or other responsibilities, often shy away from become chair – effectively leading the authority, and chairing meetings.

However, in Frome, councillors have voted to change the way they do things – including a bid to make it financially viable for people from all walks of life to pursue leadership roles.

At the Annual Council Meeting on May 21, FTC voted to appoint Cllr Fiona Barrows as chair for 2025/26, while Cllr Anita Collier was chosen as deputy chair – and mayor.

“This dual approach marks a departure from the norm for town councils in the UK and has been proposed to enable Cllr Barrows and future councillors of working age or with other commitments to take on leadership roles within the council,” an FTC spokesperson said.

“Additionally, the move offers a fresh opportunity for Cllr Collier, who previously served as mayor in 2020/21, during the Covid-19 pandemic.”

After being selected for the role once again, Cllr Collier said: “I loved serving as your Mayor in 2020/2021, but the lockdown and some personal health issues meant many missed opportunities that I look forward to putting right.

“I’m excited to serve the town once again, and proud to

Pictures: FTC

be part of a town council which is truly ‘made differently’, a champion of equal opportunities, unafraid of a fresh approach.”

Town councillors also discussed allowances, and in particular the chair’s allowance, and judged the size of the chair’s allowance represented a significant barrier to access and could prevent some councillors from putting themselves forward for the role.

As a result, councillors voted to set the chair’s allowance at £15,000 for 2025/26, which a spokesperson said was “in recognition of the significant, consistent time commitment of around 20 hours per week associated with the role”.

The allowance for other councillors was set at £1,291 for 2025/26.

Cllr Barrows said: “Until recently, I never imagined myself in this position – not because I doubted my abilities, but because I knew my financial

situation would make it too difficult to fulfil the role.

“You haven’t just voted me in: you’ve also created the conditions that allow me to take on this role, and hopefully to do it justice.

“I believe inclusivity in this space really matters, because I genuinely believe local democracy really matters.

“I’m really excited for what I ambitiously hope will be the start of the next chapter at FTC and want to say thank you again for voting for me.”

Outgoing leader, Cllr Steve Tanner, said: “We want to make sure that anyone – regardless of income or background – can consider standing to be a councillor or chair of the council.

“By properly recognising the scale of the chair’s role and offering support to all councillors, we’re taking an important step towards a more inclusive and representative local democracy.

“The proposed chair’s allowance reflects the scale and complexity of the role in a large and ambitious town council with a £3.5m programme of work, which will only increase with the devolution of Somerset Council services.

“It is not a salary, nor does it make the chair an employee –but it would help defray the considerable costs involved in fulfilling the role effectively.”

Also discussed at the 2025 Annual Council Meeting were a new committee structure, designed to free discussion space at council meetings, a new meeting calendar required for the new committees, and the announcement of an extraordinary meeting of FTC on June 4 to discuss next steps at Badgers Hill.

n People can watch the full Annual Meeting of Frome Town Council back at bit.ly/ftcannual-council-mtg-2025.

Frome Town Councillors Philip Campagna, Mark Dorrington, Anita Collier, Fiona Barrows, Anne Hills, Steve Tanner, Tracey Ashford and Polly Lamb. Inset, New council chair Fiona Barrows, right, and deputy chair/mayor, Anita Collier, at Frome Town Hall.

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Man jailed for six years after death of Bez

Purdy in umbrella attack in her home issues.”

HOMELESS David Parish has been jailed for six years over the death of Somerset churchwarden, Beryl Purdy.

Beryl, 86, died on March 27 last year after being attacked at her Broomfield home with an umbrella by mentally-ill Parish.

In January, the 38-year-old admitted manslaughter by diminished responsibility, and was sentenced at Bristol Crown Court on May 23.

The court was told Parish – who was living in a mental health unit in Taunton – had absconded on March 27 and made his way to the nearby village of Broomfield. After leaving the unit, Parish went to a nearby barber and had his hair cut short and his beard shaved.

Prosecutor, Anna Vigars KC, told the court how Parish had tried to pull a man from a car as he drove away from the car park in Fyne Court, a National Trust property in Somerset, but had been unsuccessful.

A short time later, Parish had gained access to a home nearby. It was then that he attacked Beryl Purdy with an umbrella and she tragically succumbed to her injuries and was pronounced deceased at the scene.

An investigation was launched by the Major Crime Investigation Team (MCIT) who worked hard to unpick the events of that day and overcome the complexities the case presented.

Parish was arrested at 8.40pm the same evening by patrol officers who noticed him walking along the verge of a local road. He told them he was returning home after a day at work on a nearby farm and gave a false name.

Parish was initially sectioned to a secure facility in Devon where he was later released into custody and charged.

The court was told that Parish had been of previous good character.

Beryl, known to her friends

and family as Bez, was a popular member of the Broomfield community and had been a church warden for 20 years before her untimely death.

Her family said: “We would like to thank the police for their meticulous work in proving who was responsible for the brutal and fatal attack on our beloved wife, mother and granny, Bez Purdy. We are serving a life sentence of torment knowing that we were unable to save Bez from her attacker and the outcome of sentencing today also means that her attacker avoids a life sentence.

“We would not wish our hell on any other family and urge for a review of how the community can be protected from people with severe mental health

DI Debbie Hatch added: “This was a deeply tragic incident in which Bez lost her life in the most distressing of circumstances inside her own home. Our thoughts remain first and foremost with her family and friends, who have shown great strength throughout what has been an incredibly difficult time.

“This case highlights the complex intersection between mental health and criminal justice. While the defendant’s illness does not excuse his actions, it has been recognised as a key factor in the tragic events which unfolded. I want to commend the investigation team, specialist medical professionals and Crown Prosecution Service for their diligence and professionalism throughout this sensitive case.

“Most importantly, I want to pay tribute to Bez and the life she led. She was described by those who knew her as an incredibly caring lady and beloved by all who met her. Her death has left a profound void in the lives of many, and we hope today’s outcome provides at least a degree of closure to those mourning her loss.”

Serial Taunton shoplifters behind bars

SERIAL shoplifters Kim Parkhouse and Mark Cripps have been jailed for stealing thousands of pounds worth of items from retailers in Taunton. Parkhouse, 36, and 54-yearold Cripps, both from Taunton, were sentenced at Taunton Magistrates’ Court on Monday, May 19, after two separate investigations.

Parkhouse was sentenced to 20 weeks in prison for her involvement in 10 shop thefts between March 5 and May 18 this year, where £1,962 worth of

items were stolen, including cleaning products, garden furniture and children’s toys, from WH Smith, Homesense and B&M.

Cripps, meanwhile, was sentenced to 42 weeks behind bars, which included a previous 18-week suspended sentence being revoked due to his latest offences.

He was involved in seven shop thefts between March 3 and April 30 this year where £1,768 worth of items were stolen, including electrical

items, garden furniture and cleaning products at shops including Homesense and B&M.

PC Spencer Bishop, of Somerset West Neighbourhood Policing Team, said: “We know the damage shoplifting causes to our communities and it’s an issue we take very seriously.

“Parkhouse and Cripps are both prolific offenders who have shown complete disregard for the financial damage they have caused to businesses.

“In one incident, Cripps

entered a store with another man and selected a large piece of garden furniture to the value of £699, picked it up, and brazenly left the store making no attempt to pay.

“In another incident, Parkhouse entered a store with two others and selected a sofa and chairs to the value of £1,033.

“We’ll continue to work tirelessly to make sure those committing these crimes are brought to justice through the courts.”

David Parish, right, attacked Beryl 'Bez' Purdy in her own home Pictures: Avon & Somerset Police

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 Eat comfortably and confidently

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Festival backs Wells skatepark appeal

THE Glastonbury Festival has given a fundraising effort for a new skatepark in Wells a boost – in the form of a £5,000 donation.

Campaigners are hoping to install a “new and muchimproved” facility at the current skatepark site, off Lovers’ Lane, near Waitrose.

However, despite submitting a planning application at the start of this month, the group is still raising money to pay for the transformation.

A fundraising effort currently stands at more than £4,000 –with a £30,000 target – though the group has now revealed the festival contribution.

“A massive thank you to Glastonbury Festivals for a massive £5,000 donation to help build the skatepark in Wells,” a spokesperson said. “This is mind blowing. Community support is critical to deliver this project.”

Other donations include £1,000 from Tom Honeyands –better known online as The Tech Chap, who said he was “excited to see it come to life”.

Donors have pledged their support – as well as their cash – for the project.

“This is a great initiative. The

young people of Wells deserve a state-of-the-art skatepark,” said one. “In the past attention has been skewed towards the old. Let’s do more for our young people. After all, they are the future.”

Another added: “This is a fantastic project and will really

make a positive difference to the growing community of brilliant young people we have in Wells.”

n Anyone wishing to donate to the fundraiser should visit www.crowdfunder.co.uk/ skatewells.

I am keen to buy all coins, banknotes & tokens.

I travel throughout the South West Home visits undertaken David Ayling Call me anytime on 07799 880312 or email dave@dwjayling.com

The campaign aims to makeover the skatepark in Wells Picture: Salmon Planning Company/Somerset Council

Controversial motion sparks debate over Somerset asylum seekers

A controversial motion put forward at a recent Somerset Council meeting has raised the issues of housing and immigration in the county. But what are the facts? PAUL JONES looks into the matter - and debunks some misunderstandings...

AMOTION on “severe and growing pressures” on social and rented housing – which also highlighted efforts to resettle asylum seekers – put forward by Conservative members of Somerset Council has been branded “dog whistle politics at its worst” by one fellow councillor.

The motion, put forward by Lucy Trimnell (Con, Wincanton & Bruton) asked for the Full Council, at a meeting on May 21, to support recognising problems with social and private-rented supplies in the county, while also “being honest” about the strain resettlement and asylum schemes put “on the wider housing system and public services”.

The motion, seconded by new Conservative leader on the council Diogo Rodrigues (Con, Bridgwater East & Bawdrip), also called on the council to “Write to the Secretary of State for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities to outline Somerset’s unique housing

pressures and seek urgent assurances that governmentfunded migration accommodation schemes will not come at the expense of housing provision for Somerset residents”.

It was defeated by councillors at the meeting. At the bottom of this article, you will find a Leveller Fact Check of just some of the issues raised surrounding asylum seekers in Somerset.

Those voting against the motion included Liberal Democrat members, as well as Somerset’s two Reform councillors – Marcus Barr and Bente Height – while a number of Conservative councillors abstained from the vote.

During and after the meeting, opposing councillors hit out at the Conservative councillors’ motion, including members of the public.

One was Sajjad, an Afghan refugee, who spoke during Public Question Time at the meeting of their gratitude to Somerset for welcoming them.

“This country has given me

so much, and I know that no amount of effort on my part can ever fully repay that debt,” Sajjad said. “I firmly believe that those given the opportunity to live in this country must do their best to contribute to its growth and success. I will always strive to give back to this community.”

Also during Public Question Time, councillors heard from Stephen, a volunteer at a refugee welcome hub in Yeovil, who said: “The immigrants I know and work with want to say thank you to the UK people for supporting them.

“My heart sinks when I read motions like the one you will discuss later in this meeting –asylum seekers make up a tiny number of people in Somerset – they are not responsible for the housing shortage in this county.”

Cllr Martin Dimery (Green, Frome West) who was not at the meeting, later accused the members of attempting to “draw a correlation between refugee accommodation and the lack of affordable housing in

Somerset”.

“This, coming from the party that sold off council houses and allowed housing to become a crisis in 14 years of government,” he went on.

“Despite recently bringing forward a motion in support of Ukrainian refugees, they don’t seem too keen on asylum seekers from elsewhere.

“Of course, the government, not the council, determines where refugees are sent, so the debate was pure grandstanding in an attempt to posture as even-more-prejudiced than Reform.

“What a shameful, divisive and insular proposal, risking dividing communities for a headline. Dog whistle politics at its worst.”

Cllr Dimery added: “I genuinely had respect for many of my Tory colleagues but I will regard those who voted for this with the contempt they deserve.”

Liberal Democrat councillor and lead member for adult services, housing and homelessness, Cllr Sarah

Wakefield, said: “There is no denying that there is a housing crisis in Somerset – but it has nothing to do with the housing of displaced persons.

“The motion proposed by the Conservatives has no basis in fact and makes inaccurate assumptions. Somerset residents are already prioritised for affordable housing as part of the Homefinder service in the county. You must be a resident or have a local connection.”

Those sentiments were echoed by Cllr Leigh Redman (Lab, Bridgwater North & Central), who spoke at the meeting, saying: “It is understandable to have concern for Somerset’s housing pressures, but I must challenge the assumptions and implications underpinning this motion.

“The motion implies that government-funded migration and asylum accommodation schemes are a primary source of strain on Somerset’s housing market, while failing to recognise the previous government’s chronic underinvestment in social housing and the insufficient regulation of the private rental sector.”

He said the impact of the Hinkley C development and the

Leveller Fact Check

How many asylum seekers are there in Somerset?

At the last count, in December 2024, there were 297 asylum seekers living in the Somerset Council area. The population of Somerset in 2022 was recorded at 576,852, meaning asylum seekers represent 0.05% of the county population.

Do asylum seekers ‘take’ social housing from Somerset residents?

In short, no, because asylum seekers are not eligible to apply for social housing in Somerset.

Somerset Council applies ‘local connection’ criteria to social housing applications, so even if someone moves to the county and is entitled to apply for social housing, they would rank below someone with links to the area on the housing list.

Is money used to house asylum seekers that could otherwise be spent housing long-term residents in Somerset?

Again, the answer is no. Money to provide housing for asylum seekers in Somerset is provided by central government. It is not, repeat not, money that could otherwise be spent on housing for other Somerset residents.

underfunding had “contributed far more significantly to the current crisis”.

“In fact, evidence from the Local Government Association and housing charities consistently shows that the scale of housing need in Somerset and across the UK predates the recent migration and resettlement programmes,” he said.

Cllr Redman said that “by framing asylum seekers and resettled families as a source of competition for local housing, this motion risks fuelling division and further misunderstandings within our communities”.

“The numbers involved locally in resettlement schemes are a tiny fraction of overall housing demand here in Somerset,” he added.

“Moreover, the government’s ring-fenced funding for these programmes is specifically designed to prevent displacement of local need.”

He said people being resettled or seeking asylum “are not able to access our Home finder system” and that Somerset “has legal and moral obligations to support vulnerable refugees and asylum seekers”.

“These are people fleeing

Nothing is being ‘taken away’, it is provided solely for housing refugees or asylum seekers by central government, and would not be available for other uses.

Does Somerset Council prioritise county residents for social housing?

As mentioned above, the council applies ‘local connection’ criteria to social housing applications. So as far as they are legally able, the answer is yes, Somerset Council does prioritise ‘local’ people when allocating social housing.

There are exceptions to the ‘local connection’ rules, but they have nothing to do with asylum seekers or refugees. The exceptions are for cases like people fleeing domestic violence, or for armed forces veterans.

conflict, persecution, and hardship,” he added.

“Prioritising local residents – as the motion says –“wherever legally and practically possible” risks undermining our commitments under national and international law, and if enacted could expose the council to legal challenge.

“Rather than seeking to limit or stigmatise migration accommodation, the council should focus its lobbying efforts on securing increased long-term investment in affordable housing for all.”

He concluded: “Let us be clear – Somerset’s housing crisis is real – but it will not be solved by pitting vulnerable groups against one another.

“We need unity and ambition, not division and scapegoating.”

Cllr Rodrigues, who spoke in

support of the motion, said: “As someone who has been on the receiving end of racism in my life, I found it shameful to hear a fellow councillor call my words racist when they simply were not. That does not give me confidence that race issues are properly understood — if any mention of immigration is dismissed as racism, we shut down the space for sensible and serious debate.”

While fellow Conservative, Cllr Trimnell, said the motion had been misrepresented.

“To suggest that we were blaming migrants for Somerset’s housing pressures is simply wrong,” she said. “We’ve set out a range of existing pressures and asked for planning and fairness. It’s a shame that some chose not to engage with that in good faith.”

The motion, put forward by Cllr Lucy Trimnell, above, sparked a furious response from the likes of Leigh Redman, inset

OAP in Chilean prison after drugs find

SOMERSET pensioner

William ‘Billy Boy’ Eastment is facing spending the rest of his life behind bars in South America after allegedly being caught with 5kg of drugs in his suitcase.

The 79-year-old, of Milborne Port, was arrested by officials in Chile after the drugs –methamphetamine worth an estimated £200,000 – were allegedly discovered at Santiago Airport, after he travelled on a flight from Cancun, Mexico.

William, known as Billy Boy, now faces a long stint in prison after being arrested on May 18. It has left the Milborne Port community shocked, as Billy Boy, pictured, is a popular members of the community, including playing bowls regularly and taking part in Tai Chi classes. But Chilean police say the former heavy goods and bus fitter is now behind bars in

Police in Chile said they believe Eastment was acting as a drug mule on behalf of a gang, potentially being promised cash to carry the illicit cargo in his luggage.

Sergio Paredes, head of the Anti-Narcotics Division of the Chilean PDI police at Arturo Merino Benitez Airport, revealed Eastment had told officers he had been promised

$5 million (£3.7 million) in exchange for delivering the case.

“The elderly British man we arrested claimed he had no idea his suitcase contained drugs when he was intercepted after picking it up from the luggage carousel and trying to enter our country with it,” Mr Paredes said. “We interviewed him in English because he didn’t speak a word of Spanish and he alleged he had been deceived.

“He said he had received the suitcase from some Mexicans at the airport in Cancun before he boarded his flight and he claimed he had been promised a prize of $5 million for delivering the suitcase to its final destination.

“Apart from the two or three bits of information he offered us about the supposed prize money and his accommodation and travel plans, he didn’t say much.

“We believe he was a drug mule in the pay of a criminal gang and he’s now in prison on remand while we work on gathering evidence against him and the criminal organisation that sent him ahead of probable charges and a trial.”

Mr Paredes said officers were now inspecting Eastment’s mobile phone for any connections with drugs gangs. If convicted, Eastment could face up to 15 years in jail, which could drop if he cooperates.

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Santiago 1 Penitentiary, where he awaits trial.

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Debate over sale of Frome Town ground

APLAN to lease the home of Frome Town AFC to a private investor, with the option to buy, has been rejected by town chiefs – for now.

Frome Town Council (FTC) held an Extraordinary Town Council meeting on June 5 to hear from supporters and opponents of a proposal that would have seen Badgers Hill leased out, with the tenant having an option to purchase the site.

Councillors were tasked with making a decision over the future of the ground – and eventually rejected the scheme.

However, after lengthy confidential discussions due to the financial nature of the plans, they left the door open for further proposals.

“As the private operator’s proposal stands, we consider that the legal criteria for best consideration has not yet been

met,” the council said.

“We would like to leave the door open for the private operator to improve their offer in relation to guaranteed long term community benefit.”

Ahead of the confidential session, the meeting heard from a number of stakeholders, including Frome Town AFC coach Danny Greaves and Lester Silk of Frome Town Supporters Club, who urged the council to accept the offer of the anonymous investor.

Frome Town Community

Benefit Society (FTCBS) chair Max Hirst, however, spoke in opposition to the plan.

Tara Tomley, of Frome Town Women, Lee Seviour, chair of Frome Town United, a partnership of Frome Town Robins, Frome Town Women and Frome Collegians, also spokes, as well as Darren Bernstein of the Football Supporters Association (FSA) – which said the business plan for the proposal was ‘flawed’.

After their confidential deliberations, FTC chair, Cllr

Fiona Barrows, said: “We understand how much this asset means to so many people and I just want to emphasise the fact that we have taken this decision incredibly carefully.

“There’s been a lot of deliberation, not just tonight, but in the last few weeks and months.”

She said the debate posed “a very complicated question and a complicated decision” that revolved around two questions the council is “legally obliged to consider”.

She went on: “The first is: is there sufficient community benefit to the proposal to warrant a discounted rent? The second is: are there adequate safeguards within the Heads of Terms to protect these benefits and the council’s interest?

“Having discussed and debated it, we don’t believe either is the case with the proposal as it stands.”

Where am I? Drivers left confused amid pranks that see town signs relocated...

ABIZARRE practical joke seems to have taken hold in Somerset – moving town signs from one place to another.

Last month, pictures emerged of a ‘Welcome to Glastonbury’ sign – but rather than actually on the boundary of the town itself, it was confusing drivers near Farrington Gurney.

Then, around five weeks later, people arriving in Midsomer Norton were surprised to be greeted by a ‘Welcome to Frome’ sign.

Meanwhile, a sign for Kilmersdon went the other way, now confusing people in Frome. And another Leveller reader reported spotting a ‘Welcome to Glastonbury’ sign near Keinton Mandeville.

“Frome is the latest town to fall victim to pranksters,” a Frome Town Council spokesperson said. “This ‘Welcome to Frome’ sign has appeared in Midsomer Norton, with the sign for Kilmersdon making its way here to Frome.

Sign of the times as Frome and Glastonbury appear to have moved around Somerset

It’s a sad sign of the times.

“Joking aside, it costs time and money to resolve this sort of thing – and it looks as though the sign has been damaged in

Pictures: Frome Town Council/Facebook transit.”

What – and who – is behind the pranks, or if they’re linked, remains a mystery. Perhaps the pranksters will leave a sign?

n If you know anything about the signs prank, or spot any more on the move, drop us a line at newsdesk@ somersetleveller.co.uk

Taunton man, 40, stole mobility scooter

KONRAD Hicner has been jailed for four burglaries in Taunton –one of which saw him steal a mobility scooter.

Hicner, of no fixed address, committed the offences between October last year and February 2025 and was sentenced at Taunton Crown Court on May 23.

The 40-year-old admitted the offences, which included a mobility scooter being stolen from a vulnerable man at a residential underground car-park in Compass Rise on October 19 last year, and was jailed for two years and seven months.

He also stole a purse containing bank cards from a property in Galmington Road; tried to enter a property in Hoveland Drive but

was disturbed by the owner through a video doorbell, and was disturbed by another victim after breaking into a property in Belmont Drive, stealing a bag which was later found discarded.

PC Mattie Kasperek said: “Burglary is an invasive and disruptive crime which we treat extremely seriously.

“Hicner’s opportunistic offending caused the victims significant distress and inconvenience. Stealing a mobility scooter is a particularly callous act.

“We welcome the custodial sentence and hope it sends out a warning to others that we’re determined to identify offenders and bring them to justice.”

Konrad Hicner has been jailed

Picture: Avon & Somerset Police

Landmark Wells hotel re-launched

ALANDMARK Somerset hotel – known around the world after starring in a hit Hollywood movie – has been officially relaunched after a refurbishment project.

The Swan, in Wells, is recognised across the globe after featuring in hit comedy film, Hot Fuzz, written by Simon Pegg and Wells native, Edgar Wright, who also directed the movie.

In recent months the hotel, which sits in the shadow of Wells Cathedral, has undergone a makeover and officially relaunched on June 4.

Mayor of Wells, Cllr Louis Agabani, was on hand to cut the ribbon, with diners enjoying the new look bar and restaurant.

“We had a truly wonderful evening celebrating the official relaunch of our newly refurbished bar, eatery, reception, and lounge areas,” a spokesperson said.

“The night was made even

more special with the Mayor of Wells cutting the ribbon at his first official event in the role –what an honour. We were thrilled to welcome local business owners, the Reverend, regular guests, and new faces alike to enjoy the celebration.”

During the event, visitors were treated to live music, food from a new-look menu, and drinks.

“It was a brilliant evening full of laughter, connection, and community spirit,” the spokesperson added. “And if you haven’t seen our stunning transformation yet, we’d love to welcome you in. Whether you’re here to relax with a drink, enjoy a meal, or plan your next event or overnight stay, The Swan is ready to host you in style.”

Quick news

Yeovil teen assaulted

YEOVIL man Steven Hentschel has been found guilty of sexually assaulting a 15-year-old girl.

On May 21, at Taunton Crown Court sitting in North Somerset, the 54-year-old was issued with a five-year restraining order.

A jury heard Hentschel told the victim she was beautiful before kissing her on the lips in Yeovil several years ago.

After a trial earlier this year, he was found guilty of one count of sexual assault.

He was handed a fourmonth prison sentence, suspended for 18 months, and was ordered to carry out 120 hours’ of unpaid work and complete a 20-day rehabilitation requirement. He will be added to the sex offenders’ register for seven years and also received a five-year restraining order.

The mayor of Wells was among guests at the relaunch event

Celebrating a good night’s sleep

As third generation family business The Bed Specialist celebrates it’s 60th anniversary, we learn how it all began with a touch of entrepreneurial spirit.

The year is 1965. Ruth and Derek Lush were on a long weekend away in Wales visiting their friends who owned a furniture shop. After seeing how their business thrived and the exciting collections of furniture available, they returned home to Yeovil brimming with ideas, keen to establish their very own furniture shop. After a last-minute dash to post a letter at the general post office in Huish, Derek noticed the old Cooperative stores were up for sale across the street and that same night an offer was made on the premises. The dream became a reality and Preston Furnishing – The Bed Specialist was established.

The shop soon became well known as the go-to destination for trusted advice and quality furniture, building a reputation for stocking household name brands for every budget. Now owned by the third generation of the same family, Nick Stokes learnt his trade from dad Martin who spent 40 years in the business and today, the team at The Bed Specialist continues providing award winning expertise, quality products and honest service to each customer because sleep has never been more vital to maintain good health and wellbeing.

June 2025 sees The Bed Specialist in Yeovil reach their big milestone of 60 years trading in the town and the business continues thrive, welcoming customers back time and again. Nick says “We rely on our happy customers recommending us to friends and family. Customers who purchased their beds back in the 60’s and 70’s regularly return to let us know how our furniture has been at the centre of their homes for generations.”

The Bed Specialist now offers a 100-night sleep trial on every mattress purchased in store with a no quibble swap if it isn’t quite right after the first few weeks of sleep, and the special Anniversary summer sale is

going to be quite something with some of the biggest discounts and offers they have ever managed to negotiate from suppliers such as Vispring, Hypnos, Sleepeezee and Dunlopillo to mark the momentous occasion.

Shop online at thebedspecialist. co.uk or call 01935 423 596 to find out more.

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Hundreds at illegal event

MORE than a dozen people have been arrested after an unlicensed music event near Frome.

Police were called to Asham Quarry, in Bulls Green, Chantry, at around 1.20am on Sunday, June 8, to reports of loud music and a large number of vehicles in the area.

“Upon arrival, officers found the event to be well underway with approximately 100 vehicles and 200 attendees at the event’s peak,” an Avon & Somerset Police spokesperson said after the event.

A section 65 order of the Criminal Justice and Public Order Act 1994 was issued at around 3am, prohibiting more people

from attending the event.

“Officers made efforts to engage with the attendees and were able to encourage some people to leave however, due to the terrain of the quarry, it was difficult to bring the event to a safe conclusion during the hours of darkness when many in attendance are intoxicated,” the spokesperson added.

Neighbourhood Policing Ch Insp Becky Wells-Cole went on:

“Large scale unauthorised music events require extensive police resources and a very thought out and calculated approach to bring it to a safe conclusion.

“Due to the quarry having a single public highway entry and exit point, heavy foliage and

treelines, with zero visibility owing to the time of night, our response needed to consider the safety of our officers and members of the public, in shutting down the event and dispersing those seeking to attend this illegal event.

“I understand this has been a long evening for members of the local community and I would like to reassure them that we have had officers on the scene since receiving the first phone call.

“I would like to thank those members of the public for reporting this incident and I can confirm, after much hard work from our officers at the quarry, we were able to get the music turned off at around 9.30am."

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'Pushing for answers on Yeovil maternity'

MAY was busy, both in Westminster and with many events around the constituency, making the most of the fine weather early in the month. It was wonderful to celebrate May Day, VE Day and Somerset Day at some really lovely community events across Glastonbury and Somertonwell done to everyone involved! Sometimes, there are difficult issues that need my attention. A recent example is the news that Somerset NHS Foundation Trust is temporarily closing the Special Care Baby Unit and Maternity Services at Yeovil District Hospital. We’re told this is due to paediatric staffing concerns having been raised by the Care Quality Commission. It’s a huge shock to me and many constituents who had planned to have their babies there. While I understand the safety and staffing issues that forced the closure, I’m deeply concerned about access to high

by SARAH DYKE Lib Dem MP for Glastonbury & Somerton

quality care for women and their babies in the meantime, and that the closure may end up being permanent.

I’m fighting to save the Maternity Unit, and to ensure it reopens as quickly as possible as a safe place for women to give birth. I’ll continue to raise this issue in Parliament and have also launched a petition. If you would like to show your support, please sign here: www. sarahdyke.uk/ saveyeovilmaternityunit.

I’ve had several meetings with Somerset NHS Foundation Trust’s CEO seeking clarification, updates and assurance that every effort is being made to re-open the unit expediently. My priority is to ensure that all expectant mothers who were planning to give birth at Yeovil are offered

the best support. They will no doubt be feeling anxious as they will now have to travel much further - to either Dorchester County or Musgrove Park Hospital in Taunton - especially worrying given the above national average ambulance wait times in the South West. This closure appears to be part of a wider picture across the country: the erosion of our smaller district hospitals’ capacity in the name of costsaving and centralising. I’m very concerned this disproportionately affects rural communities, where hospitals are spread out and more vulnerable people may really struggle to access the care they need. There also seems to be a real disparity in accessibility of healthcare for women and the closing of critical maternity

units, and accessible district hospital beds only exacerbates this problem.

I’m calling for firm timelines and a comprehensive plan to address staff shortages and safety, as well as clear and transparent communicationwhich has been so lacking and has added undue stress for both the hard-working staff and families affected.

I will continue to push for answers on these issues and I encourage anyone affected in Glastonbury and Somerton to get in touch as a matter of urgency.

n As always, I want to hear from you. If you would like to share your views, have an issue I can help with, or wish to register your interest to attend one of my regular advice surgeries, please don’t hesitate to contact me on sarah.dyke. mp@parliament.uk.

'Conservatives must keep welfare, fair'

AT a time when the country is facing enormous financial strain, we must be honest about the limits of what the state can and should provide.

That is why I fully support Kemi Badenoch’s stance on keeping the two-child cap on Universal Credit.

The Labour Government is reportedly planning to lift the cap, allowing families on benefits to receive additional payments for each child beyond the second. And now Reform UK has indicated it would do the same.

I believe that is unfair on taxpayers.

The welfare system must be a safety net, not a lifestyle choice.

That was the principle behind the original policy introduced in 2017.

The logic was simple:

by ASHLEY FOX Conservative MP for Bridgwater

families receiving benefits should face the same choices as working families. That remains true.

Most parents make personal decisions about the number of children they can afford to raise.

Why should the rules change depending on whether you’re in work or not?

Removing the cap would not just be financially reckless - it would lock more people into a cycle of dependency.

Each additional child would come with a guaranteed rise in income from the state, in addition to Child Benefit, housing support, and other entitlements.

That creates a disincentive to work, making it harder for

people to break free from the welfare cycle, and risks handing that same pattern down to the next generation.

We cannot talk seriously about fairness while ignoring the hard-working families who budget carefully and make sacrifices to provide for their children.

Their restraint, their planning, their sense of responsibility deserves respect - not the message that prudence is for fools and that the state will always pay more whatever choices you make.

The public understands this. A recent YouGov poll showed 60% of people support keeping the cap.

They recognise that

compassion must be coupled with common sense.

Britain’s problem isn’t that the state does too little. The problem is that the state is already too big and tries to do too much.

It crowds out opportunity, deters work, and distorts choices.

If we are serious about supporting families – in Somerset and across the UK - we need to build more homes in the right places, cut taxes on work and aspiration, and make it easier for young people to get on in life.

Simply handing out more subsidies will only deepen our long-term problems.

Fairness isn’t about promising more - it’s about protecting the balance between support and responsibility.

That is the Conservative message we must stand behind.

Your chance to help keep village pub open

ACOMMUNITY bid to buy the village pub in order to “keep it open as an essential meeting place” has been launched.

The Bird in Hand Society unveiled a Community Share Issue on Saturday, May 31, during a beer festival at Henstridge Village Hall.

The move comes after the group said it had received “enthusiastic support from the local community” for its plan to purchase the pub.

Now, the Society has published a business plan outlining how it intends to finance the project to buy the Bird in Hand, in Ash Walk, and keep it open.

“The most difficult part is finding the money,” a spokesperson said. “The pub is on the market for £460,000 but the Society needs to raise over £500,000 in order to have funds

to carry out renovations and to support running costs.

“While it hopes to get some grant funding, the Society wants to raise at least £250,000 from the Community Share Issue, which is open from May 31 to

July 31.”

Community Shares are priced at £1, with the minimum purchase being £100.

“We don’t want to price local people out of the chance to support their pub,” said Zoe

Godden, chair of the Society. “That’s why we’ve set a ceiling of £50,000 for individual holdings.

“If that is too much, then a group of people, such as friends or families, can buy shares between them.”

Local businesses can also buy shares and for such enterprises the upper limit is £100,000.

However, people wanting to take part do not have to live in Henstridge, with anyone over the age of 18 able to take part.

Currently, the Bird in Hand is open and making a profit, but is up for sale as the owners – who have run the business for more than 40 years – wish to retire, the spokesperson added.

n Full details of the Share Issue and how to apply are published on the Society’s website at birdinhandsociety. org.uk.

Villagers are offering shares in the Bird in Hand pub, in Henstridge, which is threatened with closure as the landlords are set to retire

Business, legal & finance

Coffee plan could create new jobs

"HIGH-END” coffee could soon be processed, packaged and sold from a premises near Wellington, if plans are approved.

JV Planning & Building Design, on behalf of Mr S Jones, has applied to Somerset Council for permission to change the use of units 20 and 21 at Westpark, allowing for the sale of food and drink ‘to be consumed off the premises’.

The property is currently allocated for general industrial, storage and distribution, and offices or research/development use.

“Under this proposal the applicant is seeking to retain (current) uses, but add to it the ability to sell food and drink to be consumed off of the premises,” the application said.

“This proposal will see the building being used for the processing, packaging and sale of high end coffee.

“The coffee products will be sold to anyone (including the public) from the premises. As the product would go hand-inhand with the sale of confectionary (cake/biscuits and the like), these products will also be offered for sale to the public.” No changes would be made

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to the building, which is currently empty, the application added, but would create the equivalent of four full-time jobs.

For more details, and to comment on the plans, log on to somerset.gov.uk and search application reference 43/25/0041.

When access

PROPERTY disputes can be emotionally and mentally exhausting, especially when they involve access to your own home.

Boundary disputes are stressful enough, but when your right of way is blocked or interfered with by an uncooperative neighbour, it can turn daily life into a nightmare.

I have recently helped a local couple resolve a long running access dispute that had been ongoing for over two years. Their neighbour, despite being aware of their legal Right of Way (ROW) across his land, did everything possible to make their lives difficult.

Due to the type of business that he was in, he wanted to use every inch of his land to park his vehicles and store materials.

He deeply resented the fact my clients have a ROW across his property and tried to block and restrict access at every turn.

To add insult to injury, my

Lidl applies for store signs

PLANS for seven signs at a new Lidl store have been submitted. The supermarket chain, via agent Planning Potential, has applied to Somerset Council for permission to install the signs at a new store near the Huntworth Roundabout, between Bridgwater and North Petherton.

Among the proposed displays are two ‘flagpole’ signs, which will be situated on the boundary of the site, near the A38 and Carnival Way.

Other signs will be mounted on the more-than 2,200sq ft building itself.

Plans for the store, west of the roundabout, were approved in February, and include parking for 105 vehicles.

VHS, VHS-C, S-VHS, Mini DV, 8mm, Hi 8 Cine Film

Slides, Photos & Negatives Transfered to DVD, USB, Hard Drives or Emailed to you

MP Adam Dance, inset, welcomed news of the contract to maintain the Royal Navy's Merlin helicopters Main picture: Leonardo

disputes become the bane of your life...

LEGALLY SPEAKING

by BHAVANI HOGARTY

clients are elderly. After turning off the main highway, they had to stop on a slope, get out of the car, and open gates that had been installed deliberately to cause inconvenience, especially on dark and/or wet nights.

My clients rightly felt ignored, distressed, and increasingly isolated.

They became reluctant to go out at night, and friends and family stopped visiting because of the difficulties in accessing their property.

The gates installed significantly narrowed the 14-foot-wide access granted in their Deeds.

There were large vans parked in such a way that made it difficult from them to gain access, it was near impossible for larger vehicles and emergency services, to get

through safely.

A little bit of knowledge is a dangerous thing (as it taking legal advice from the internet!) - the neighbour had initially instructed solicitors and his take from the advice was that unless there was substantial interference with the ROW, our clients would not have a claim.

He therefore argued that the gates encroaching by a couple of feet and the vans by less than a foot did not amount to/go far enough to breach their legal rights.

Despite several attempts to resolve matters (including mediation), our clients had no choice but to issue Court proceedings.

In these cases, evidence is key. We were able to take relevant witness statements from family and neighbours,

investigate historic evidence, obtain necessary photographs and have an expert who supported our contention that there was a reason for a 14-foot width.

At trial, the Judge carefully listened to both parties and found that the gates the neighbour had installed and the large vans obstructing access, were a substantial interference of our clients’ ROW.

My role as a solicitor goes beyond providing legal advice. I aim to ease the stress and turmoil of such difficult situation for my clients.

I am incredibly proud of my track record in helping clients navigate and overcome challenging property disputes and achieve their objective.

A quote from the clients in the case: "Thank you very much to Bhavani and all her team at Pardoes for all the hard work and dedication which has

helped us through a very difficult time. We could not have done it without you and would recommend you to anyone."

Bhavani Hogarty is a specialist in property disputes solicitor with over 30 years of experience.

n If you have any issues you would like Bhavani to consider, please contact her on either 01935 385987 or bhavani. hogarty@pardoes.co.uk. She would be happy to have an initial discussion with you at no cost.

Flying Scotsman arrival reignites decadesold debate - involving Somerset

LATER this month, the famous Flying Scotsman will visit Somerset, bringing rail lovers out in force to get a glimpse of the worldfamous locomotive.

However, the arrival has seen a decades-old controversy re-emerge.

Now, the West Somerset Railway has detailed the debate over whether the Flying Scotsman’s famous 100mph record had actually already been achieved – right here in Somerset.

In November 1934, the Flying Scotsman headed a special test train on the East Coast mainline and became the first British steam locomotive to be officially timed as travelling at 100 miles per hour, courtesy of the scientific instruments in a dynamometer car.

However, a question remains. Was the three figure speed reached near Wellington and Taunton some 30 years before?

In the first decade of the 20th century, transatlantic liners docked at Plymouth and passengers and mails were then taken to London by train.

An arrangement existed whereby the passengers travelled on the London and South Western Railway via Salisbury to Waterloo and the mails plus valuable metals such as gold headed for Paddington on the Great Western.

Apart from an engine change, at Templecombe or Bristol respectively, the trains ran non-stop on special timings.

The LSWR and GWR had been competing for traffic for more than 60 years and this culminated in a strange, and to modern eyes pointless, competition to take this Ocean Liner trade to London at maximum speed.

And so on a day in 1904, City of Truro coupled onto the mail coaches at Plymouth and

set off for the capital.

The line between Castle Cary and Taunton didn’t open until 1906 and so number 3440 was on the Great Way Round route, via Bristol.

There had been fast runs before but it became clear early on that this was full-tilt racing.

Some of the speeds on the curves between Plymouth and Newton Abbot were hairraisingly fast and after Exeter, City of Truro stormed up the climb to Whiteball Tunnel. On the descent from the tunnel it was timed at 102.3mph.

However this figure, which wasn’t published for another quarter of a century, has remained controversial ever since it saw the light of day.

The claimed speed was based on timings made by a journalist, Charles Rous-Martin – who was travelling in the train.

Rous-Martin was a New Zealander who had specialised in railway matters after he moved to Britain. He did his timings using two stop watches and sighting the quarter mile

indicator posts as he passed them, stopping and restarting the watches alternatively at each post as well as noting down the times.

He had a long held ambition to reach the magic 100mph figure and he wasn’t averse to exaggeration in his articles. On this occasion he was travelling in a mail coach with less visibility than that from a passenger carriage.

As a result, from the time the details of the run were published and other railway writers began to analyse them, arguments have gone on in print about what speed City of Truro reached that day.

For Great Western fundamentalists, there is no doubt the 100 was attained and for others the figure is in the high 90s.

Overall though, it was a very fast run for the Edwardian era and probably the fastest on any line thereafter for a generation.

Fortunately, the details of its record breaking day, no matter how controversial, were

published before City of Truro came out of service and it has been saved for future generations to see and enjoy.

It has visited the West Somerset Railway twice in the past although it is currently out of service as part of the National Railway Museum collection. Meanwhile, the Flying Scotsman will shortly be gracing the Quantock Hills and West Somerset coast.

Back in time once again, the ‘racing’ between Plymouth and London ended in tragedy when, in 1906, a London and South Western Railway Ocean Special passed through Salisbury at high speed and suffered a derailment and collision on the curves at the eastern end of the station.

Several passengers and the loco crew were killed and others injured. Racing stopped promptly but too late.

For more details of the Flying Scotsman visit, log on to west-somerset-railway.co.uk/ events/flying-scotsman-eventsand-tickets, or call 01643 704996.

The Flying Scotsman is in Somerset this month

How to catch Glasto on TV and radio

FOR those who missed out on Glastonbury tickets this year – or who prefer to watch from the comfort of their own homes – the BBC has announced a special celebration of the Somerset festival.

As well as more than 90 hours of live performances from Worthy Farm, the broadcaster is also hosting a two-month celebration of Glastonbury throughout June and July across TV, BBC iPlayer, radio and BBC Sounds.

Lorna Clarke, BBC director of music, said: “This year, we’re making it easier than ever for millions of music fans to access Glastonbury’s standout moments, while also giving them the freedom to explore the festival their way – Glastonbury is theirs and the BBC brings it to them."

The roster of BBC broadcasters this year is: Anita Rani, Annie Macmanus, Arielle Free, Cerys Matthews, Clara Amfo, Craig Charles, Danni Diston, Danny Howard, Deb Grant, Dermot O’Leary, DJ Target, Gilles Peterson, Greg James, Huw Stephens, Jack Saunders, Jamz Supernova, Jo Whiley, Lauren Laverne, Matt Everitt, Nathan Shepherd, Nick Grimshaw, Sam MacGregor, Sarah Story, Steve Lamacq and Zoe Ball.

How can I watch Glastonbury on the TV?

BBC iPlayer will bring viewers more than 90 hours of performances with live streams from five main stages; Pyramid, Other, West Holts, Woodsies and The Park.

Pyramid Stage sets will be available to stream live in Ultra High Definition and in British Sign Language.

Elsewhere on iPlayer, the Glastonbury Hits Channel is already live, streaming classic tracks from some of the biggest artists to have performed over the years. The channel will run 24/7 until the festival’s main stages open on Friday, June 27. The Glastonbury Channel

also returns from June 27 to 29, with hosts Clara Amfo, Huw Stephens, Jack Saunders, Jamz Supernova, Jo Whiley and Lauren Laverne guiding viewers through the biggest sets and festival surprises as they happen.

The Glastonbury Highlights Channel runs from late evening on June 27, where viewers can catch up with all the biggest, most-talked about performances 24 hours a day, until Wednesday, July 30.

On-demand, BBC iPlayer provides more than 90 sets and more than 90 tracks to enjoy throughout July. New and on-demand for this year will be Glastonbury Recap – a short montage of clips released each day of the festival to catch viewers up on the action and Glastonbury Highlights – five compilations featuring tracks from some of the most memorable performances from 2025, available for a year shortly after the festival.

Sidetracked by Glastonbury is also back for 2025 with three, visualised episodes of the UK’s number one music podcast, presented by Annie Macmanus and Nick Grimshaw – featuring interviews with Rod Stewart, Loyle Carner and more.

The Rod Stewart episode is available on BBC iPlayer now, with two more episodes dropping on Mondays (5am) until June 16.

On live TV, there will be extensive coverage over the weekend on BBC One, Two and

Four.

Leading up to Glastonbury, BBC Two will broadcast three, 30-minute specials called Glastonbury: 70s Legends (w/t), Glastonbury: 80s Legends (w/t) and Glastonbury: 90s Legends (w/t). Each will feature classic Glastonbury tracks from performers who made their name in each of those decades.

BBC Two then kicks off the first live programme from Worthy Farm on June 26, presented by Clara Amfo and Lauren Laverne, who look to the weekend ahead.

The One Show helps kick off the Glastonbury weekend on BBC One on Friday, June 27, with a live link up to the 2025 event.

Following a weekend of performances on BBC TV and iPlayer, BBC Two will show a Best of Glastonbury 2025 compilation, while more highlights will be on BBC Three.

CBeebies Bedtime Stories will be returning to Glastonbury Festival with special readings from a host of stars throughout the weekend. CBeebies House Party LIVE will delight family audiences in The Astrolabe, Theatre & Circus Field.

An stage show starring the legendary Justin Fletcher, Evie Pickerill, Nigel Clarke and the one and only Duggee. How can I watch Glastonbury on the radio?

BBC Radio 6 Music hosts All Day Glastonbury from Wednesday, June 35, to

Monday, June 30.

BBC Radio 1, Radio 1 Dance and 1Xtra: Radio 1’s New Music Show with Jack Saunders begins the station’s live coverage from Worthy Farm on Thursday June 26, from 6pm to 8pm, followed by Radio 1 Dance’s Takeover of the BBC Introducing Stage with Danny Howard, Arielle Free, Sarah Story and special guests.

There will be more music from the festival broadcast on Radio 1 and 1Xtra during the evenings of June 28 and 29.

In the weeks that follow the festival weekend, Radio 1 Dance will broadcast some exclusive DJ sets.

BBC Radio 2: On June 9, Jo Whiley will present a Glastonbury edition of her show, with special guests Jake Shears and Jessie Ware, who join to share their Glastonbury memories, favourite sets and ones to watch for this year. It runs from 7pm to 9pm.

June 28 sees Dermot O’Leary (8am to 10am) and Zoe Ball (1pm to 3pm) broadcast live from site, both talking to performers, campers and bringing listeners highlights from Friday’s day of sets.

Edith Bowman will broadcast a Glastonbury Highlights show that night from London (10pm to midnight).

On June 29, Jo Whiley (5pm to 8pm) will present highlights from the weekend so far and from that afternoon.

BBC Radio 4: Woman’s Hour is back at Glastonbury on June 27 (10am to 11am). Anita Rani brings listeners special guests, live music and explores some of the most dynamic women in the music industry.

BBC Sounds: Glastonbury on BBC Sounds brings listeners live performances, specials, mixes and more across the next two months.

During the festival, listeners can also follow along with all the live coverage across the radio stations on the BBC Sounds app.

The BBC is providing comprehensive Glastonbury coverage Picture: BBC

Somerton gearing up for music festival

SOMERTON is abuzz with excitement as it prepares to host its highlyanticipated annual summer festival, kicking off on Wednesday, July 2, with an exclusive gin tasting event at the Etsome Arms, and culminating on July 11 and 12 with the grand finaleSomerstock, the town’s largest and most vibrant live music celebration.

Festival chair, Cliff Bassett, expressed his enthusiasm, saying: "Our festival showcases the incredible local talent in our area. Visitors can look forward to a diverse lineup of events, ranging from music and history to engaging talks, plays and guided walks. There’s something for everyone and many of the events are free of charge."

Undoubtedly the highlight of the festival, Somerstock

promises an unforgettable two-day experience featuring a variety of live music performances catering to all tastes, alongside DJs and the ever-popular silent discos.

The festivities kick off on

Friday, July 11, with an evening of live performances by four bands, followed by a full day of entertainment on Saturday. Guests can enjoy a host of activities, including street food, bars, market stalls and dedicated

children’s entertainment. Best of all, children under 12 can enter for free!

Bassett further emphasized the festival's community-driven mission, adding: "This event is organized by the community, for the community. It’s not just about celebrating arts and music; it’s also about giving back. This year, we’re proud to once again support Dorset and Somerset Air Ambulance through the proceeds from Somerstock."

Tickets for all events are now available for purchase online and at Stationery House in Somerton. As numbers are limited, early booking is strongly recommended.

n For detailed information on all festival events, visit www. somertonartsfestival.co.uk/ events and for specific details about Somerstock, visit www. somerstock.co.uk.

Boom in Frome with Skindred!

RAGGA-METAL legends Skindred are heading to Somerset for a show at the Cheese and Grain in Frome.

The band, hailing from south Wales, has enjoyed huge success in recent years, including a number two album, a support slot with rock legends Kiss, and a set at Glastonbury, pictured.

Skindred have also been crowned Best UK Live Act at the Heavy Music Awards, graced the cover of Kerrang! for the first time, and performed their single “Gimme That Boom” on BBC Two’s Later… With Jools Holland in the last two years, as well as enjoying an appearance on BBC Breakfast.

The hard-earned success also included a role in a viral TikTok dance craze - featuring their 2000s hit, Nobody - which saw the #Skindred tag soar past 14 million views in weeks.

By the end of 2024, a single Instagram reel of someone dancing to the song had clocked more than 32 million views.

And the spreading of joy is key to Skindred's enduring popularity and ethos, according to frontman, Benji Webbe.

"When I look out into the crowd the one thing I notice above all else is the smiles," he said. "Even when we’re done and gone, people will still be listening to this music. That thought makes me smile."

Skindred are set to play the Cheese and Grain on October 24. For more details, and to buy tickets, visit cheeseandgrain.com/ events/skindred.

£29.00

River Exe Cruise - Stuart Line Cruises 11th August

Adult £41.00/Senior £39.00/Child £36.00

West Bay & Weymouth 14th August

Adult £32.00/Senior £30.00

Hestercombe House & Gardens 16th August

Adult £51.00/Senior £47.00

Canonteign Falls & Exeter 19th August

Adult £55.00/Senior £51.00/Child £43.00

Lyme Regis (5 seats remaining) 28th August

Adult £38.00/Senior £35.00

Dorchester Market & Sculptor by the lake 3rd September

Adult £48.00/Senior £46.00/Child £40.00

Jurassic Coast Cruise 20th September

Adult £47.50/Senior £45.50/Child £42.50

SENIORS: 65+. PICK UP POINTS IN: Yeovil, Martock, Cartgate Picnic area, Somerton, Ilchester, Sherborne & Wincanton.

Taunton

Vivary Park

Bronte adaptation heading to Taunton

BRONTE'S classic, Jane Eyre, is coming to the Taunton Brewhouse theatre later this year.

Live Wire & RoughHouse Theatre are staging Dougie Blaxland’s Jane Eyre: An Autobiography, at the Coal Orchard venue September 27.

Produced by the creative team that won the National Campaign for the Arts Best Arts Project 2021, Jane Eyre: An Autobiography has been hailed “a theatrical tour de force from a company with a rare gift for bringing classics to life with loyalty, energy and intrigue”.

The stage version of Charlotte Bronte’s classic has been adapted for the stage by award-winning writer and producer Dougie Blaxland and will be directed by RoughHouse Theatre’s Shane Morgan, with movement director, Moira Hunt.

"Jane Eyre is a character whose resilience is deeply

inspiring, and who - in spite of the isolation and abandonment of a loveless childhood - refuses to bend to the will of her abusers," said Mr Morgan.

He said the show was a "contemporary reimagination of one of the greatest novels ever

written", a blend of classical and modern traditions in which an adaptation that is utterly faithful to Bronte’s original text is shaped and styled for a 21st-century audience.

Alison Campbell reprises her role in Jane Eyre: An

Autobiography having played to audiences across the UK in the original production. n September 27 will see two performances at the Brewhouse, at 2.30pm and 7.30pm. For more details, visit www. tauntonbrewhouse.co.uk.

Debate over science and religion

'CAN someone be a scientist and a theologian?'

That will be the question debated at an inter-faith debate in Taunton next month.

The Taunton Minster will be host the event, from 7pm on July 16, featuring faith leaders The Bishop of Bath and Wells, the Rt Rev Michael Beasley, and the Imam of Bath Islamic Centre, Dr Mohammed Gamal Abdelnour - both of whom have strong scientific backgrounds alongside their theological vocations.

Following the main debate, the event will open to an audience Q&A, allowing the audience to engage directly with the speakers, share reflections and contribute to the conversation.

"This interfaith gathering seeks to celebrate religious diversity and foster acceptance of all faiths — and none — within the Taunton community," a spokesperson said. "It is an open invitation for all to come together in understanding, respect, and shared curiosity."

Alison Campbell returns as Jane Eyre in Taunton this September

Picture: Craig Fuller

Benjamin Britten| Joan Trimble| Morfydd Llwyn Owen Granville Bantock |Nicholas Hooper

Crewkerne Methodist Church

YOUR Somerset Leveller is backing our county – and we want to tell the world about YOUR business!

We have had an overwhelming response in support of our Buy Somerset campaign, which we launched last month.

Now, as part of the initiative, we want to build a database of dazzling businesses, and encourage people to do their bit for the county economy by shopping with people like YOU.

So we have set up a simple form businesses can complete to tell us all about what they do and how people can support you.

Using the information provided, we can then build a business database helping people Buy Somerset.

Meanwhile, welcome to our feature detailing some of the best businesses in the county you can support.

If you want to get your business involved and advertise in future Buy Somerset features, contact Aria on 01963 400186.

n And you can let us know about your business by completing our online form at somersetleveller.co.uk/buy-somerset-submityour-business.

Photo:

THE very best food and drink produced in Somerset will be showcased during a special event next month.

From July 18 to 27, the Somerset Food Trail Festival – a countywide celebration of the best sustainably produced food and drink – will be giving people the chance to tickle their taste buds with what the county has to offer.

Now in its fourth year, the festival is an ‘open farm’ and farm-to-fork showcase putting the spotlight on Somerset’s nature-friendly farmers and producers, as well as the chefs and retailers who support them.

Live performance and art will complement talks, tastings and farm tours in multiple destinations across the county, many of which are free.

The last trail event, in 2023, involved more than 170 venues and 385 events.

It also saw around 40 venues rise to the famous 30-Mile Feast Challenge, in which 90% of the food was sourced locally.

The challenge returns this year to highlight the best of sustainably produced veg and grass fed meat, minimising food miles and championing Somerset’s smaller independent food producers.

“Increasing interest in food

provenance, a growing appreciation of the need to reduce food miles and food waste, and desire to experience local culture are all feeding into the growing popularity of this one-of-a-kind event,” said co-founder of the festival, Susie Weldon, a trustee of the Sustainable Food Somerset charity, which is behind the event.

“The festival has already been inundated with producers, cafes and pubs keen to get on the Somerset food map.”

The festival celebrates sustainable producers of all sizes, including allotments, home growing and community supported agriculture – even foraging and gleaning – offering good value days out for all the

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family and plenty of ideas for eating well on a budget.

“The Somerset Food Trail Festival is a crucial opportunity for farmers and local food and drink businesses to showcase the fantastic work they are doing to deliver sustainable, quality produce to the people they care most about – the consumers on their doorstep,” said chair of Sustainable Food Somerset, Kate Hughes, an Exmoor-based regenerative farmer, sustainability journalist and author, pictured over.

“So many producers and retailers across the county are working hard every day, making nutritious and delicious real food. The way they produce that food is helping battle everything from human health and affordability crises to climate change and biodiversity loss. We just don’t always know about them.

“The Somerset Food Trail Festival is here to change all that – to remind us how delicious, nutritious and valuable the food in this county

is and to empower us all in the battle for real food, carefully produced.

“This is the chance to get back into the local countryside we love, to learn more about our food and, above all, to feel part of it.

“At a time when consumers often feel powerless in the face of global brands, cut off from

the countryside and fears over ultra processed food, biodiversity loss, climate change and food security are weighing heavily on all our minds, I’m incredibly proud to be involved in this one-of-akind event.

“I can’t wait to develop the Exmoor leg of the festival, where Wood Advent Farm, With

the Wild and Longstraw Bakery (recently named one of the best bakeries in the UK) to name but a few, are busy planning feasts, free events, pop up stalls and more.”

Supporting local suppliers helps to boost local economies, reduce food miles, improve health outcomes and bolster food resilience, she said.

“Food and farming have been a vital part of the life of Somerset for generations; 73% of Somerset is farmed, much of that dairy, and its top cheeses, wines and ciders are valued around the world,” she added.

“Yet our food and farming system is under pressure as never before – especially our smallerscale farmers.

“Margins are squeezed to breaking point by a system that seems to have lost sight of the need for food to nourish us, where ultra-processed food is the norm for most people, leading to widespread preventable ill-health.

producers, it also benefits the local economy, supporting the quality of life on our doorsteps.

“If you think that less than 1p in every pound spent in a supermarket goes to the producer, you start to see why local farmers of all sizes are struggling, and need all the support they can get.

“Buying local not only helps cash-strapped small-scale

“There’s increasing evidence that regeneratively farmed food is not just better for the soil and the climate, it’s markedly better for health – and if it hasn’t travelled hundreds of miles, it tastes a whole lot better too.”

n For more details of the Somerset Food Trail Festival, log on to www. somersetfoodtrail.org.

If you haven’t visited Langport recently, it’s time to rediscover this Somerset gem - a charming town, thriving with vibrant markets and unique independent shops - making it the perfect weekend destination.

Fridays host the Langport and Local Market from 9am to 2pm, featuring fresh produce, crafts, and handmade gifts.

A Hidden Gem for Market Lovers and Independent Shopping

Saturdays bring variety: on the 1st, 3rd, and 5th Saturdays, Somerset Markets showcase local makers offering everything from beautifully crafted lino prints and fragrant candle blends, to vibrant clothing, original illustrations, and fresh juices - there’s always something to discover.

The second Saturday of the month (March - December) transforms Langport into a vintage haven. Wander through stalls brimming with character at the Langport Vintage Market, which carries a charming French Brocante vibe. Antique furniture, retro finds, classic homewares— it’s a dream for collectors and style-hunters alike.

Food lovers, take note: on the fourth Saturday of each month, Langport hosts a Food & Drink Market. Sample award-winning cheeses, sip local ciders, and satisfy your cravings with delicious street foods.

Independent Shops Galore

Beyond the markets, Langport boasts an array of quirky and quality independent shops. Whether you’re looking for handmade gifts, ecofriendly homewares, vintage fashion, or delicious local produce, you’ll find it all.

To find out about booking a market pitch or for more information contact Rachel swmakersmarket@gmail.com or scan the QR code

George Barson heads up Higher Farm’s unique Table to Farm restaurant in Somerset

The newly opened Higher Farm restaurant brings diners directly to the source of their food on their 50-acre regenerative farm.

Chef George Barson brings experience from River Cottage, Dinner by Heston Blumenthal, Kitty Fisher's in Mayfair, and recently Beckford Canteen. His cooking is creative yet simple, celebrating the quality of what they grow on the farm, as well as other fantastic local prod ucers.

During your visit we recommend exploring the farm, where you can see how your food is growing and enjoy the beautiful views, the wild swimming lake, the forest gardens and lot s of other farm activities.

Wed - Sun, Full opening times online

Storage

Armishaws

£2,000 grants to help get people active

COMMUNITY groups in North Somerset can apply for funding in a bid to boost activity levels among residents.

Voluntary organisations, community groups and sports clubs can apply for up to £2,000 from the Physical Activity Fund to support projects getting people active.

The window for applications in the latest round of funding is open until Friday, July 25.

The fund is available for community projects that can deliver the outcomes and actions of the physical activity strategy for North Somerset, which can be found on the Better Health Website at www. betterhealthns.co.uk/ information/get-active-strategy.

The scheme aims to see more residents and communities having the opportunity to be physically active, whether that’s through everyday activity or participating in sports, fitness groups or exercise classes.

The fund has a particular focus on supporting those who face the biggest barriers in

becoming more active, such as those with a disability or living with a long-term health condition, those from ethnically diverse communities, specific socio-economic groups and women.

In the last round of funding, recipients included the Clevedon Pickle Ball Project, Nailsea Cricket Club and The British Bangladeshi Association.

Cllr Jenna Ho Marris, cabinet member for health at North Somerset Council, said: “We’re a council which empowers and cares about people. We want to help people have more years enjoying good health and wellbeing through participation in physical activity.

“If you’re part of a sports clubs, community or physical activity group, please look at

our website and get in touch for more information. The grant money is there to support our local communities so please get your applications in.”

n More information about the Physical Activity Fund is available on the Better Health North Somerset website at www. betterhealthns.co.uk/support/ pafund.

Plans for temporary outpatients' building

ASOMERSET hospital could soon get a new temporary outpatients’ building if plans are approved.

An application has been submitted to Somerset Council by P+HS Architects, on behalf of the Practice Plus Group, for a temporary structure at Shepton Mallet Health Centre, in Bucklers Way.

It asks for permission to erect the structure, which would feature a 14-chair waiting room and seven consultant rooms, for five years – with the modular structure in use from later this summer.

“Practice Plus Group Hospital is an NHS and private hospital providing a range of orthopaedic care services, general surgeries and eye

treatments,” the application said.

“The location of the proposed building within the hospital grounds has been selected for its proximity to the entrance, with the proposed location opposite the main entrance.

“There is a limited area of landscaping, but the building has been sited to avoid impacting the existing trees.”

The new temporary building would be installed at Shepton Mallet Health Centre

Picture: Google

While some disabled parking spaces would be lost under the plan, they are set to be replaced during work to resurfacing work in the coming months, it went on.

“This car park site was previously occupied by a temporary covid swabbing station, which is still visible to the right of the proposed site,” it said.

“The proposal is for a single temporary building which will remain detached from the existing building.

“The new building will be positioned within an area which has previously been used as a car park, where it will integrate with the nearby buildings and tie in with the existing levels to provide level access into the new outpatient department.”

The application outlined how the building would arrive on site as separate modules that will be craned into position, allowing work to be finished in late summer.

n For more details on the scheme, log on to somerset.gov. uk and search application reference 2025/0952/FUL.

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Go on, give this black cat a chance!

MANY beautiful black cats are waiting patiently in rescue centres throughout the UK and Ireland for their forever homes; but sadly, finding a home for them is difficult.

Black cats are much harder to re-home than their peers. Even black kittens are left until last for adoption.

Now, in 2025, superstition and myth play a role in their misfortune. On average, black cats take around three times longer to find homes than other cats, despite being just as deserving.

Which leads me to the plight of poor Darius.

Since his arrival at St Giles Animal Welfare nobody has shown any interest in Darius. He hasn’t had a single enquiry; despite his very sleek, chic and handsome appearance.

St Giles are re-homing Darius on behalf of the RSPCA. Recent changes in his life have

by JACQUI BUDD for St Giles Animal Welfare

made him nervous, but once trust is gained his true loving personality emerges and he comes out of his shell. He loves cuddles, strokes and treats.

Darius is two years and seven months old. He would like to be the only pet in the household so he can have all the attention.

He is seeking an adult only home that is calm and peaceful which will help him overcome his nervousness, and thrive.

If you are looking to adopt a cat to enhance your family please consider Darius. Forget the antiquated myths surrounding black cats and give this adorable boy a second chance.

Visit stgilesanimalwelfare. co.uk/adoptions/darius where you can complete an application form.

COMMISSION AN ORIGINAL PET PORTRAIT IN VIBRANT WATERCOLOUR. www.deborahcarrel.net

Meanwhile, St Giles thanks everyone that adopted or fostered an animal in May. It

was a busy period, seeing a total of 27 adoptions, and 10 fosterings. Thank you.

EXPERIENCED SHEPTON MALLET BASED PET SITTER - Feline/Canine first aid and behaviour trained. DBS checked and fully insured. Long/short terms sits, pop in visits and 1:1 walks available. amandacatdoglady@gmail.com or 07312-270795

Owners: Elaine & Ed Tilley Lattiford, Wincanton, BA9 8AF | 01963 32104

Email: merrymeet.kennels@btinternet.com Website: www.merrymeetkennels.co.uk

us pamper your pet in our luxurious kennels and cattery. All accommodation has central heating and double glazing to keep our guests comfortable. Our dogs are exercised in secure gardens. Open for boarding 7 days per week from 09.00am. See website for details of opening times. DOGGIE DAY CARE FROM 07.30 AM

Independent family run business offering a very personal, caring pet cremation service to bereaved pet owners.

Collection Service Farewell Room Out of Hours Service provided Located in a rural countryside setting on the Somerset Dorset border Contact us on: 07900 654 440 www.companionsatpeace.co.uk

Home & Garden

Somerset gardens strike gold at Chelsea!

SOMERSET has welcomed home a number of gold medals from the prestigious RHS Chelsea Flower Show.

Florist and flower farmer Georgie Newbery, of Common Farm Flowers, Charlton Musgrove, near Wincanton, is part of the Farewell Flowers Collective, who created a funeral scene in the Great Pavilion at the show.

This is the first time funeral flowers have been arranged and displayed at RHS Chelsea in its 113-year history – and landed the garden the gold – with celebrity visitors among those taking in the development.

The news came after fellow Somerset gardener, Joshua Parker, was part of a team that secured a gold medal at the 2025 show - with the help of celebrity chef Levi Roots chickpeas - in the Gates Foundation Garden of the Future.

Joshua designed the garden alongside partner, Matt Butler, who together form Butler & Parker.

Meanwhile, ahead of the event, Georgie worked with three other florists for months to plan and create their interpretation of a funeral scene.

Featuring a willow coffin decorated with natural, seasonal and all British flowers and foliage as its centrepiece, the scene also includes a wirework sculpture of a man and his dog visiting a graveyard, surrounded by personal funeral tributes, as examples of sustainable funeral floristry now available to people wanting to pay a floral tribute to a loved one.

All arrangements on display were made using sustainable floristry techniques, free of plastic floral foam and singleuse plastic, and fully compostable.

“Talking with visitors to the installation, from Joanna Lumley and Kirsty Alsopp, to Alan Titchmarsh, made me realise how we had struck a

chord with people who want an eco alternative when celebrating the lives of their loved ones,” Georgie said.

“There were tears dashed and cathartic moments as well as stories told of lives well lived and loved ones lost.

“A florist always knows they’ve done a great job when the customer wells up with emotion when they see their flowers and making funeral flowers at Chelsea was just such another occasion for tears and laughter – death is part of life so it seems a shame to wrap it in plastic-based funeral flowers.”

Georgie Newbery has been at the forefront of the British

flowers movement for more than 15 years.

She grows and cuts up to 100,000 stems a year, used in her own arrangements, as well as by other local florists, and also sold by the ‘bucket’ to people wanting to do their own floristry, alongside her work supporting others in the industry on the practices of flower farming, as well as teaching workshops and demos to share her skills.

She added: “The ethos of Common Farm Flowers is that if we look after the invertebrates then the rest of the food chain will look after itself, so offering sustainable floristry and cut

flowers is something we have always done.

“Much of our flower farm is left wild and the areas we do cultivate are done so without the use of chemicals. We then apply this concept to our floristry, ensuring all our arrangements are fully compostable. It therefore made perfect sense to me to say yes to the opportunity to highlight how funeral flowers can also be arranged in a way that is kind to the environment.”

The environment was at the forefront of Joshua and Matt's Garden of the Future, which featured innovations helping farmers in the Global South as they battle the climate crisis, with the likes of chickpeas, sweet potatoes and an innovative new toilet all playing a starring role.

“The main theme of this garden is how powerful collaboration can be, and what better way to celebrate that than winning the top award from the RHS judges,” said the pair.

“We hope show visitors will be inspired by the climateresilient plants and innovations the garden is highlighting, and take away some ideas for their own gardens at home.”

Levi Roots, with Butler & Parker and others at the launch of the Garden of the Future

Picture: Gates Archive/Emma Jacobs

Georgie Newbery, of Common Farm Flowers, with the Chelsea display

• Specialists in accessible

• Free home visits and quotations

• Full design and installation service

• VAT free for those with a long-term illness or disability

• Reduced costs for over 60s & less abled customers

• From walk-in baths, easy clean wall panelling to toilet lifters & bidets

• DFG & SSAFA Grant work undertaken

“AHM were professional, efficient and understanding all the way”

Mrs Marion-Russell, November 2024

Enjoying a summer of vibrant dahlias

by Sally Gregson

AT last summer is upon the garden. The bulbs – the daffodils, tulips and the wallflowers are beginning to fade, and the return of strong colours and brilliant sunshine is a seasonal treat. Dahlias, in particular, are making a welcome return to our containers, and to the borders. And the colours are vibrant –velvet red ‘Arabian Night’; orange ‘Totally Tangerine’; and shocking-pink ‘Magenta Star’ for example. They make a strong statement, celebrating hot sunny days. They are the highlight of the summer garden. Dahlias are edible, too. Scatter the brilliant petals on salads for flavour, texture and, of course, colour. Just a few will really cheer up a tired lettuce at the bottom of the fridge. And thereby it will earn dahlias a place in the vegetable garden.

There are two, quite different methods of keeping dahlias year

on year, undamaged by frost, here in the south of England. The one is that dahlia crowns, if prepared well for frosts by covering them with piles of straw or even garden compost, need not be lifted and stored over the winter in the greenhouse. They can be left to take their chances in the ground.

And in this benign part of the world, it mostly works.

The more cautious approach is to cut back the top-growth in autumn, lift the tubers and store them in the greenhouse, lightly sprinkled with soil or spent compost and kept just on the damp side of bone-dry. These tubers should all be potted up in commercial compost enriched with slow-release fertiliser in May.

However, those crowns left in the ground, especially after a wet winter, tend to start growing much later than those that have been lifted and given protection. But it is at the expense of a few

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weeks of flower later in the summer.

It’s important, especially in this dry spring, to keep the tubers well-watered, whether in pots and containers, or in the ground. They are fleshy plants that need plenty of water, so the

compost or soil does need to be kept moist. And remember to stake them, especially those in the ground. Dahlia heads are heavy. They need support to keep their faces clean and beautiful, the better to look their gardeners in the eye.

Dahlias are the highlight of the summer garden

Home & Garden

-Tree surgery

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-Woodland and vegetatiion management

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Email: info@arbortech org uk

Tel: 07946179722

Web: www arbortech org uk

are

Get counting those sheep, snails, butterflies, birds and more during The Big Count!

PEOPLE in Somerset are being encouraged to get counting while out and about this month.

The Somerset Wildlife Trust's (SWT) Big Count initiative, which encourages as many people as possible to head outside and record wildlife in gardens, local parks, and community green spaces, runs between June 16 and 25.

Over the past three years, nearly 2,500 species records have been successfully collected through The Big Count, providing vital information about 150 different UK species.

Hosted in partnership between SWT and the Somerset Environmental Records Centre (SERC), The Big Count aims to monitor changes in both the diversity and abundance of wildlife throughout Somerset.

SERC is the main reference centre for biological and geological information for the county, holding more than 3 million data records, but it has gaps - particularly around more common species such as snails,

slow worms, and certain species of butterfly.

Information gathered during

The Big Count will help track species declines, inform conservation strategies within the county, and contribute to Somerset’s State of Nature Report.

To take part, people can download a free Information Pack and ID Guides from www. somersetwildlife.org/bigcount-2025 and upload observations made between June 16 and 25 to The Big Count 2025 project on iNaturalist.

No specialist knowledge is

required to take part, and observations can be submitted from anywhere in Somerset.

Becky Fisher, head of engagement at SWT, said: "The Big Count is an amazing opportunity to get outside and learn more about your local wildlife.

"You can give a little or a lot of time to tell us what you’ve seen close to home.

"This year we’d like it to be bigger and better than ever before so as well as taking part yourself don’t forget to share with your friends, family, neighbours and colleagues.

"From sharing on your

neighbourhood chat group, to sending a photo to your best friend of what you’ve spotted, or even adding it to the work noticeboard, there’s lots of ways you can inspire others to take part."

Ellen Phillpot, SERC manager, added: "The data collected through The Big Count 2025 is absolutely critical. As we begin to further investigate the state of Somerset’s nature, we need more data records to accurately assess species trends across the county. Work on our Somerset State of Nature report identified a lack of records for common terrestrial mammals; due to this we have added the red fox, rabbits and hares to this year’s count.

"Records collected here will help in identifying population sizes and help direct our conservation and survey efforts."

People can sign up for the SWT Big Count now at www. somersetwildlife.org/bigcount-2025.

People

being urged to count wildlife, from foxes to snails, during The Big Count Pictures: SWT/

Groundworks Specialist. Domestic and Commercial

Somerset pub among 10 best for summer! Food & Drink

APUB near Chard has been named among the best places for a pint and something to eat in the sunshine.

New analysis of digital trends and sunlight data has revealed the UK’s top 10 best pubs for drinking and dining this summer.

“We know Brits are eager to find the best pubs around, with the keywords ‘best pub near me’ being searched 33,100 times in the past month,” said a spokesperson from holidaycottages.co.uk, who carried out the analysis.

“‘Beer garden’ also has 60,500 searches in the past month (April to May), and further increased by more than 170% during the recent heatwave.”

In a bid to help holidaymakers find the best pubs and beer gardens beyond their local, regional experts at holidaycottages.co.uk analysed and combined ratings from TripAdvisor and Untappd ratings, as well as the number of sunlight hours each area received to reveal the greatest pubs nationwide.

And The Cotley Inn, at Wambrook, near Chard, makes the list – securing sixth place in the top 10.

Brewery, St Austell, Cornwall

Hicks Bar is located in St Austell Brewery’s Visitor Centre, 300 metres from St Austell Railway Station.

2. The Boathouse, Falmouth, Cornwall

Perched above the harbour with sweeping views of the Fal Estuary, The Boathouse is a popular local spot offering rotating cask ales, fresh seafood, and a laid-back atmosphere.

3. Rigg and Furrow, Acklington, Northumberland

Tucked away on a working farm in the Northumberland countryside, the Rigg and Furrow is a hidden gem that’s earned cult status among craft beer lovers, with a rating of 4.9 on TripAdvisor, the second highest in the rankings.

4. The Joiners Arms, Llandeilo Ferwallt / Bishopston, South Wales

A village gem, this pub is a true local favourite with a fantastic range of drinks –evidenced in it holding the highest Untappd rating out of all pubs ranked – including fruity ciders, crisp lagers and real ales from local breweries.

5. Bayards Cove Inn, Dartmouth, Devon

Just steps from the waterfront in historic Dartmouth, Bayards Cove Inn blends centuries of character with award-winning hospitality.

Cobbs

Wholefoods

Brunel Precinct, Somerton 01458 274 066

Hay-fever?

Cobbs have a large range of local honey to help relieve Hay-fever symptoms! We also offer effective non drowsy herbal and homeopathic remedies to help ease the many symptoms that Hay-fever can cause. Come in for a chat and tailor made remedy plan.

6. The Cotley Inn, Wambrook, Somerset

Tucked into the Blackdown Hills National Landscape, The Cotley Inn is the epitome of a modern country pub with its rustic charm and seasonal food.

7. The Chemist Inn, Saundersfoot, Pembrokeshire

Perched above the beach with stunning views of the Pembrokeshire coast, The Chemist Inn is a hidden gem that blends coastal charm with fantastic pub fare.

8. The Thatch, Croyde, Devon

Situated in the picturesque village of Croyde, The Thatch is true to its name, with its quaint thatched roof and warm, welcoming village-pub feel, capturing the essence of coastal living. Just a short walk from

the bay, this pub is a favourite with surfers, walkers, and holidaymakers.

9. The Commercial Inn, Glossop, Derbyshire

Earning 4.8/5 stars on TripAdvisor, the joint-third highest rated in our dataset, this traditional community pub cements its place as a British favourite.

10. Queen’s Head, Bramfield, Suffolk

This cosy gastropub dates back to the 1540s and preserves its original features, such as its wooden beamed ceiling, exposed fireplace, traditional serving hatch and pine tables, as well as boasting a large walled garden perfect for summer.

n For more on The Cotley Inn, at Wambrook, log on to cotleyinnwambrook.co.uk.

PENDRA’S FISH & CHIPS

1 Parrett Close, Langport, TA10 9PG Tel 01458 250519

All parties order catered for Opening Hours

Tuesday: 11.45am - 2pm 4.30pm - 8.30pm

Wednesday: 11.45 am - 2pm 4.30pm - 8.30pm

Thursday: 11.45am - 2pm 4.30pm – 8.30pm

Friday: 11.45am - 2pm 4.30pm - 8.30pm

Saturday: 11.45am - 2pm 4.30pm - 9.00pm

Sunday: Closed Monday: Closed Bank Holiday Mondays: Closed

The top 10 best pubs in Britain for summer:

1. Hicks Bar at St Austell

Family cider firm scoops top show prize

ASOMERSET cider maker is enjoying the sweet taste of success after picking up a top award at the recent Royal Bath and West Show.

A sweet cider made by Alan Berry and his son Mark, of Blackmore Vale Cider, near Templecombe, was voted The People’s Choice in the Orchards and Cider Exhibition at the show, which ran last week.

More than 1,000 showgoers voted in the competition, which gives participants the chance to taste and pick a winner from six ciders.

Blackmore Vale Sweet was the clear

winner, with Silly Cow Medium, by Paul Courtney of Courtneys of Whimple in Devon, the runner-up.

“We’re just really, really pleased to have been given what amounts to a vote of confidence by the people who matter most – our customers, both present and future,” said Alan.

“The winning cider was at the drier end of the sweet category, made from 80 per cent Dabinett apples and 20 per cent Bramleys, from our own and other Somerset orchards.

“The public do tend to favour sweeter ciders – hence the Dabinett’s – but they

also seem to enjoy a bit of bite, which is what the Bramleys provide.

“It should really be my son Mark who gets the credit, as he looks after the cider business, while I concentrate on the apple juice. We’re only a small business, producing 4,000 to 5,000 litres of cider a year, but we’re very proud of the quality of our products and to win this accolade means a lot.

“It was particularly gratifying that when our local MP, Sarah Dyke, was given the chance to tale part in the People’s Choice, she chose our cider and told me how much she had enjoyed it.”

Makeover plan for popular restaurant

APOPULAR Somerset restaurant is set to get a makeover – if plans are approved.

Nuova Italia, in Church Street, Ilchester, could be set for a “more attractive, open design” if plans submitted to Somerset Council are approved.

The application, submitted by Boon Brown on behalf of the restaurant, detailed a range of changes proposed, including making the venue more easily accessible for wheelchair users.

“The current doorway is also not wide enough for the large wheelchairs and as a result, certain customers are forced to use the side door, negotiating the outdoor seating. This design

will provide a much more inclusive restaurant," it said.

“The proposed changes do not create any additional floorspace, and aside from the visual changes, will not create any additional impacts.”

Bi-fold-style doors would “improve the attractiveness of the restaurant”, the plans said, while improving access for those using wheelchairs.

It added: “The current doorway is also not wide enough for the large wheelchairs and as a result, certain customers are forced to use the side door, negotiating the outdoor seating. This design will provide a much more inclusive restaurant. The

proposal will likewise have no impact on highway safety or residential amenity.”

For more details, and to comment, visit somerset.gov.uk, reference 25/01143/FUL.

Sudoku 3D puzzle

Cryptic crossword

Across

7 Line in good article mostly showing development (6)

Place 1 to 9 once into every black-bordered 3x3 area as well as each of the 54 rows indicated by the coloured lines. Rows don’t cross the thick black lines.

Killer Sudoku Pro

8 Outlandish old, old movement based on instinct (6)

9 Learner in bay swimming in skilful fashion (4)

10 Bear deal for breakdown – with the ability to be understood? (8)

11 Fib? It easily changed what’s possible (11)

14 Take out on a current basis? (11)

Down

1 Anger I expressed in concert producing difficulty (7)

2 A Western railway is amiss (4)

3 US singer, posh bass, angelic-looking figure (6)

4 Put about sale of goods (6)

(11)

(11)

5 Frolic largely and another of a sentimental kind? (8)

6 Set of contestants in playing area (5)

18 Six in this way featuring in a formal statement offering guidance (8)

(4) 20 Follow second unionist

19 Wise man beginning to savour maturity (4)

20 Follow second unionist in Peru after revolution (6)

21 Article’s top feature in football? (6)

Killer Sudoku Pro Place numbers 1 to 9 once each into every row, column and bold-lined 3x3 box. No digit may be repeated in any dash-lined cage, and all the digits in any cage must add up to the value shown in that cage.

12 Most foolish inventions found in random list (8)

13 Experienced type taking in good reel (7)

15 Cold inept person gets nearer (6)

16 Regular pattern, something followed by metrical experts? (6)

17 Element first off showing hatred (5)

19 South-western sailor gets mop for cleaning

A Western railway is amiss (4)

US singer, posh bass, angelic-looking figure (6) 4 Put about sale of goods (6)

Frolic largely and another of a sentimental kind? (8)

6 Set of contestants in playing area (5) 12 Most foolish inventions found in random list (8)

Experienced type taking in good reel (7)

Cold inept person gets nearer (6)

Regular pattern, something followed by metrical experts? (6) 17 Element first off showing hatred (5)

South-western sailor gets mop for cleaning (4)

Motoring with David Young

Apologies in advance if this makes anyone feel old. Or alternatively, if you were born after May 1975, congratulations on being a young whippersnapper.

In mint condition: Five decades of the classic Volkswagen Polo

Which must mean that if you were born in May 1975, you’ve either just turned 50 or you’re a Volkswagen Polo. Or both.

When VW launched the Polo in early May 1975, even those involved probably wouldn’t have imagined that this compact little hatchback would still be going strong five decades, six generations, and more than 20 million sold worldwide.

When the Polo was launched in the spring of 1975 it was the third model in a new watercooled Volkswagen line-up intended to succeed the legendary Beetle.

Long before it became the global bestseller that would shape the direction of the compact-class car, the Polo was just a strikingly angular small car that followed the Passat (1973) and Golf (1974) on to the market.

Volkswagen’s simple idea of a compact hatchback has since been perfected and expanded over the following 50 years.

And if six generations of development teaches us anything, the lesson must be that Volkswagen seems to know what it’s doing.

The Polo has come in many guises in that time too.

What began life as a simple three-door vehicle in 1975 has gradually evolved into a

versatile hatchback, a stylish coupe, a sporty G40, a roomy estate, a notchback with the name Derby, a CrossPolo with a rugged off-road look, an ultra-efficient Polo BlueMotion or, of course, as an extremely successful Polo R WRC with four World Rally Championship titles to its name.

Each subsequent generation of the Polo has gone on to offer more space, more comfort, more efficient engines, and more of

the latest technology.

When it began life as a basic car with a 40bhp engine, the Mk I Polo offered enough space for four people plus luggage, very much concentrating its efforts on economy, value, and practicality.

That first generation of the Polo was produced until 1978 when it received its first mid-cycle update, the updated version remaining in production until 1981. More than 1.1

million vehicles were produced, including the Derby notchback version with an increased load compartment, built from 1977 to 1981.

In September 1981, Volkswagen unveiled the MK II Polo with a completely redesigned body. This squarebacked Polo, affectionately nicknamed “Breadvan” due to its estate-like body, went on to enjoy the longest European production life of all the Polo models.

Originally a small estate with generous space, in 1987 it also became the first Polo to offer a diesel option.

The Mk II Polo was also the first to receive the performance treatment with a fastback coupe version with a more powerful engine coming along in 1982, as well as the limited-edition Polo Coupé GT40 that was the most powerful Polo to date when it also launched in 1987.

The completely revamped Mk III followed in 1994 with a new body, chassis and engines. The Mk III Polo saw a lot of firsts before it was phased out.

The first five-door Polo, the first to feature the latest safety systems such as airbags and ABS, the first to be offered as a ‘proper’ estate, and, in the shape of the slightly strange but now highly sought after Polo Harlequin - the first multicoloured car that wasn't a DIY job involving random body panels sourced from the local scrap yard.

The Mk III Polo was also the first to feature those three

magical letters – GTi.

When the MK IV Polo came along in 2001, it boasted a new design and was significantly longer and wider than its predecessor.

The increased space also came with a range of new engines, including economical three-cylinder engines and a powerful turbocharged powertrain in the Polo GTi.

Safety features such as front and side airbags, power steering and ABS now became part of the standard equipment list too.

The Mk IV Polo also saw the introduction of the CrossPolo in a robust off-road look and the Polo BlueMotion with CO2 emissions of only 99 g/km.

The Mk V Polo, which celebrated its world premiere in March 2009, was longer again than its predecessor with a design characterised by clean lines.

Five new engines complemented the model range, including a new Polo BlueMotion and an updated version of the Polo GTi.

To harness some of the thrills of VW’s rallying success, the Mk V range also included the most powerful Polo yet, the 220bhp Polo R WRC Street variant.

Which brings us neatly on to the sixth-generation Polo, the one you can walk into a VW dealer and order today.

The Mk VI Polo, introduced in 2017, was the first to be based on VW’s modular transverse matrix (MQB) platform, allowing the introduction of optional features from higher vehicle classes.

These include automatic emergency braking (Front Assist) with city emergency braking system and pedestrian monitoring, lane change system with blind spot monitor and adaptive cruise control.

In 2021, the Polo was comprehensively revamped with

a sharpened body design and new optional features including matrix LED headlights.

For the more performanceminded driver, a new 200bhp Polo GTI with a powerful two-litre turbocharged petrol engine was also included in the line-up, followed in 2023 by a limited-edition special model Polo GTI Edition 252 with exclusive equipment to mark the 25th anniversary of the Polo GTI.

And to prove the Polo isn’t going anywhere just yet, it’s worth noting that Volkswagen has already produced more than 2.5 million units of the Mk VI to date.

Yes, the Polo is highly likely to disappear eventually as the drive towards electrification opens up new design possibilities for every carmaker. But in the meantime, it’s highly unlikely that the latest in a long line of successful VW Polo models will leave you anything other than pleased with your choice.

Motoring

Police Q&A on speeding enforcement

WHENEVER the police are seen, speed gun in hand, on roads in Somerset, there are some who voice their discontent. A range of negative responses inevitably follow, from claiming speed enforcement is ‘just a cash cow’, to whether officers are breaking the law because ‘I didn’t see them’.

Now, in a bid to clarify the rules and reasons behind speed enforcement – and to myth-bust some common misconceptions – Avon & Somerset Police have issued a question-and-answer document responding to some of the most common queries.

Why do you carry out mobile speed enforcement?

A: Excess speed is a lead contributing factor in fatal and serious collisions, with higher speeds directly causing more severe injuries. Mobile enforcement helps prevent harm by encouraging safer speeds and

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deterring dangerous driving.

Shouldn’t the police be focusing on more serious crime?

A: Road collisions are one of the leading causes of sudden death and serious injury in the UK — more so than many other types of crime. Every 17 minutes, someone is killed or seriously injured on our roads – and speed is a factor in over half of fatal collisions. Mobile speed enforcement helps reduce this harm and protect the public.

Are there rules you must follow when enforcing speed limits?

A: Yes. Our officers follow national operational guidance from the National Police Chiefs’ Council (NPCC), ensuring that all enforcement is fair, consistent and legally sound.

Don’t speed enforcement vehicles have to be visible, and with warning signs that

enforcement is being carried out?

A: No. There’s no legal requirement for enforcement vehicles to be visible or for warning signs to be used. While some national guidance encourages visibility, we can lawfully use unmarked vehicles where needed – particularly where previous visible enforcement hasn’t reduced speeding.

Do you enforce 20mph limits?

A: Yes. We enforce both 20mph limits and zones, especially near schools and in residential areas where pedestrian risk is higher.

Is speed enforcement just about making money?

A: No. The aim is to change driver behaviour and prevent collisions. Any money recovered from speed awareness courses is reinvested into road safety education and enforcement – not into general policing budgets.

How are locations for speed enforcement chosen?

A: Locations are chosen using evidence from collisions, community concerns, and data from previous enforcement and Community Speed Watch. We focus on places with proven speeding issues and high collision risk. Can you carry out speed

enforcement at night or in the dark?

A: Yes. Our enforcement equipment is fitted with infrared technology, allowing us to detect speeding and capture registration plates even in total darkness.

What happens if someone deliberately blocks or obstructs a speed camera?

A: Deliberate obstruction of an officer or camera can be a criminal offence. Under the Police Reform Act 2002, obstructing a designated person in the execution of their duty can result in prosecution and up to 51 weeks’ imprisonment.

Are there rules about where enforcement vehicles can park?

Yes. Police vehicles engaged in operational duties are legally exempt from certain parking restrictions. Locations are always risk assessed to ensure safety.

Is there an allowance before speeding penalties apply?

We follow national operational guidance that sets enforcement thresholds starting at 10% + 2mph of the posted speed limit. This is not an official allowance or ‘safe margin’ – it’s a technical threshold used to ensure consistency and account for equipment calibration.

Wetland site could cut farm pollution

PLANS have been submitted to create a new, 25-hectare wetland site between Bridgwater and Street.

Wessex Water has applied to Somerset Council to create an integrated constructed wetland (ICW) at Shapwick in a bid to improve water quality and biodiversity.

application said.

“Creation of an ICW has been included as part of Wessex

Water’s obligations under the Water Industry National Environment Programme (WINEP).

capture silt and coarse sediment, as well as leaching out phosphorus within the pesticides and fertilisers used on adjacent farmland and from upstream final effluent discharges.”

The firm announced the £5 million project in April, which it says will cut harmful nutrients in water on the Somerset Levels and Moors.

“At present, water flowing off the Polden Hills, and adjacent farmland enters the ditch systems with elevated levels of phosphorus and other nutrients accumulated from upstream farming practices and discharges of final effluent associated with upstream water recycling centres (WRCs),” the

“The ICW is an innovative nature-based solution for water quality improvement and for protecting and enhancing ecosystems within the downstream river catchment within the Somerset Levels and Moors. The primary objective of the ICW is to improve the quality of the water flowing into the Mill Brook and ultimately into the Somerset Levels and Moors Ramsar site and SPA.

“The wetland cells will act as natural interceptors that will

Equestrian

As part of the scheme, two arable fields next to the Hawk and Owl Trust Visitor Centre will be landscaped to create a wetland feeder cell, four wetland cells and an outlet channel to the Mill Brook, with the northern field regraded using

excavated material and seeded to create a “low-nutrient, species-rich grassland”.

Access to the site will come from Station Road, the plan said, though no alterations are proposed.

Work could get underway in spring 2026 and is expected to take around seven months, working between 7.30am and 5.30pm, Monday to Friday.

For more details of the scheme, see somerset.gov.uk, reference 43/25/00009.

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Woodland/copse preferred, but other types considered.

Probably 0.2 to 1 acre range. By semi-retired farm hand/groom, for wood-craft countryside solitude. Absolutely no development at all. Track/road access preferred. By private treaty, open to offers & discussion.

Please call 07926 149027, evenings best.

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Somerset land sales continue to boom

APLOT of land in North Somerset sold for more than £30,000 above its estimated price.

The sale, of a 4.25-acre plot at Churchill, North Somerset, pictured, saw the hammer come down at £106,000 during the latest Greenslade Taylor Hunt (GTH) property auction held at the Aldwick Estate, near Bristol.

A number of lots were sold prior to the auction, with seven lots going under the hammer – all bare agricultural land.

Among “excellent” prices achieved was the Churchill plot, with a sale price £36,000 over its £70,000 estimate, as well as 1.28 acres of land with planning consent for a stable block and equestrian use at Dundry, near Bristol, going for £54,000.

Auctioneer, Robert Baker, said: “It was good to see some excellent prices achieved at auction once again and demonstrates that bare agricultural land prices are maintaining recent high levels, with strong local interest in all lots.

“We had numerous bidders in the room, online and on the telephone which meant there was competitive bidding from start to finish.”

GTH is now looking preparing for the next auction, scheduled for Thursday, June 26, at The Shrubbery Hotel, Ilminster.

They are also inviting entries for the auction at Batch Country House, Lympsham, on July 23. Anyone considering selling property or land by auction can contact the auction team on 0117 203 5577 or 01935 423474, or via robert.baker@gth.net or Jamie.batt@gth. net.

Home welcomed some esteemed visitors!

ASOMERSET house

which welcomed a host of VIP guests – including the likes of cricket legend Sir Don Bradman and playwright Noel Coward – is up for sale.

Hillam – a five-bed property, in The Grove, Burnham on Sea – was once owned by writer Ben Travers, who wrote a litany of critically-acclaimed plays, novels and screenplays, enjoying huge success in the 1920s and beyond.

It is now being offered for sale, marketed by House Fox, with an asking price of £895,000.

It was Travers who welcomed such illustrious guests to the house, which he sold in the 1950s. He passed away in 1980.

According to the property listing, the likes of Bradman and Coward even left messages on the walls of the house – but they have since been covered up.

As well as five bedrooms, the property also boasts a panelled billiards room, installed by Travers, four reception rooms and a kitchen/breakfast room, as well as a swimming pool.

The actual billiards table from the house was donated to Burnham and Berrow Golf Club when Travers sold Hillam in the early 1950s.

Recruitment

Countrymen’s Club Manager (Part-Time)

Location: Rylands Farm, Holnest, Sherborne, Dorset

Salary: £15.50 - £17.00 per hour, 21–28 hours per week (must include Tuesdays and Thursdays).

Closing Date: Monday 16 June 2025 (late applications considered)

Countrymen UK is a small, hands-on charity helping older men overcome isolation through meaningful, farm-based activities. We are seeking a practical, compassionate Manager to lead our Dorset project and its future development. You will manage staff and volunteers, plan outdoor sessions, ensure compliance and necessary fundraising and marketing activities, and maintain positive relationships with carers, funders and partners. We are looking for someone who is organised, confident with people, and enthusiastic about rural life. Experience in health, social care, or working with older adults is a plus. A car owner/driver is preferred. This is a rewarding role offering flexibility, purpose, and the opportunity to grow the charity.

To apply or find out more, please contact Julie Plumley – Trustee at julie@futureroots.net or telephone on 01963 210789

All completed applications to be sent to: julie@futureroots.net

More detailed information about our work is available on our website at www.countrymenuk.org together with the Job Description. Please read the Job Description before submitting an application

Church Community Engagement Officer

Freelance / part-time

St Catherine’s Church in Drayton, near Langport, has secured a National Lottery Heritage Fund grant for the replacement of part of its roof. We are looking for an enthusiastic, creative, and self-motivated person with a “can-do attitude” who ideally has relevant experience who can lead on the organisation around a number of wider community events. You must have great organisational, teamworking and communications skills and will work hard to get things done within an agreed budget. If you’d like to find out more details, ask any questions or wish to submit an expression of interest please email stcatherinedrayton@gmail.com

GOODS VEHICLE OPERATOR’S LICENCE

Wessex Internet Ltd, of The Old Laundry, Ranston, Blandford, DT11 8PU is applying to change an existing licence as follows. To add an operating centre to keep 2 goods vehicles a 0 trailers at Steart Hill Farm, Steart Hill, West Camel, Yeovil, Somerset, BA22 7RF. Owners or occupiers of land (including buildings) near the operating centre who believe that their use or enjoyment of that land would be affected, should make written representations to the Traffic Commissioner at Quarry House, Quarry Hill, Leeds, LS2 7UE stating their reasons within 21 days of this notice. Representors must at the same time send a copy of their representations to the applicant at the address given at the top of this notice. A Guide to Making Representations is available at www.gov.uk/government/publications/a-guide to makingrepresentations-objections-and-complaints goods vehicleoperator-licensing

Items For Sale

ALUMINIUM EXTENDING LADDER. 20ft. £40 only. Can deliver locally. 01460 220081

Deadline to place your advert for the July edition is Friday 30th June 2025.

Advertising

Ruth White - Advertising Manager ruth@somersetleveller.co.uk tel: 07714 289418

Editorial

Paul Jones - Editor in Chief newsdesk@somersetleveller.co.uk tel: 01963 401177

Sales Director

Debi Thorne - Sales Director debi.thorne@blackmorevale.net tel: 07714 289409

Publisher

Lloyd Armishaw - tel: 01963 401177

: www.somersetleveller.co.uk

Editorial deadlines are the Wednesday the week before publication. Display ads must be booked by Wednesday the week before publication, with final copy submitted by the Friday. Classified ads may be accepted after this, however these will be subject to space. CLASSIFIED ADVERTS: adverts@somersetleveller.co.uk

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