Wells Voice August 2023

Opticians join forces as they look to future

THE city’s two independent opticians are to join forces.

Millicans Eye Centre and Mansfield Opticians will come together to form the city’s only independent opticians and will trade by the name of Millicans and Mansfield Opticians.

The proposed opening of the new practice is August 24.

The new practice will be located on the site of the existing Mansfield Opticians at 65 High Street, with the former Scribbles shop next door also being converted to create a new, larger practice.

Until that is ready, staff from both opticians will be sharing the existing Millicans site further down High Street. Those premises will close once the new practice opens.

“It’s an exciting opportunity for eyecare in Wells,” said David Millican.

“We’re looking forward to working in a bigger, better practice with more choice for

Continued on page 5

Winning design becomes part of Mosaic

BUDDING artist Maya Rowlands was delighted to see her design submission for Wells in Mosaic actually made in tiny tiles by mosaicist Ruth Ames-White.

A competition had been launched at a number of events in Wells and in local schools inviting designs in any medium, which Ruth would then adapt for inclusion in the giant mosaic.

Maya won the competition when she was at Stoberry Park School, and is now awaiting her GCSE results having completed Year 11 at The Blue School. She recently visited Ruth’s studio to see her drawing of a dog carrying a stick swimming in the moat transformed, and to see for the first time the “wow” factor of the artwork her design will be part of. Literally set in stone for many years to come. As part of her prize, Maya and a guest will also be invited to the grand unveiling event once the finished mosaic is installed.

Maya and Ruth with the dog that will swim in the moat for decades to come

Ruth is progressing well with the work and said: “I am so pleased that such a wide range

of people have shown an interest in the project. Schools and local organisations have visited the

studio, as have councillors and business people. And I have given many talks and exhibitions over the last few years to raise our profile. It will be a unique piece of contemporary public art in a city already famed for its medieval art and will be another important visitor attraction.”

A spokesperson for Wells in Mosaic added: “The Mosaic has so far been funded totally by sponsorship and donations –mostly local. But we still need to raise a significant amount to finish the project and would be delighted to hear from anyone who would like to contribute and to be part of this exceptional creation.”

See www.wellsinmosaic.org for images, progress reports and how to sponsor specific parts of the mosaic.

Choose from Masons’ Marks, Watery Wells, Feed the Birds, The Incredible Clock and Bugs and Bees (7–31 August 2023)

wells in mosaic

Cinema launching £5 summer ticket

WELLS Film Centre is launching a special £5 ticket for the summer holidays in the hope that it might help to secure the cinema’s future.

The cinema industry has been seriously affected since the Covid pandemic and although cinemas across the country saw an increase of admissions in 2022, this has not been the case so far for the first six months of 2023. With the national average down by seven per cent, the Wells Film Centre Cinema has seen a drop of 17 per cent so far this year.

For Wells Film Centre, 2022 was still 40 per cent down from pre-Covid levels and with news of a second cinema chain, Empire Cinemas, going into administration, this additional drop is cause for concern. In a bid to stabilise the decline of admissions Sally Cooper, Wells Film Centre proprietor, will be offering a special £5 ticket for the summer holidays. This will see all tickets to all shows, every day from July 28 to August 31 priced at just £5 each.

While aware that the current economic situation has caused a decline in cinema going, Sally said that the ongoing roadworks in Wells in the last nine months has had a major impact on business at the cinema as well.

She said: “The first six months of 2023 have been very disappointing, with many films showing to only one or two customers. However, I hope that

Special fundraising film night

WELLS Film Centre Cinema will be hosting a charity fundraising evening on Friday, September 8, to raise funds for Wells Vineyard Church. The film will be Jesus Revolution (12A), doors open at 6.30pm and the film will start at 7.30pm. Tickets are £12 each and include a glass of wine or orange juice.

Jesus Revolution tells the true story of a national spiritual awakening in the early 1970s and its origins within a community of teenage hippies in Southern California.

Tickets can be booked online at www.wellsfilmcentre.co.uk or in person during box office hours, daily 1pm-9pm.

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by reducing the ticket price this will encourage people to support us going forward.”

She also said how important the sales are in the sweet shop. “With many films, 80 per cent of the box office can go to film rental and VAT, so the sweet

shop is more important than ever,” she said.

The summer line-up of films for which people will be able to take advantage of the £5 offer is: Barbie, Oppenheimer, Knights of the Zodiac, Joy Ride, Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Mutant Mayhem, The Meg 2, Grand Turismo, Disney’s Haunted Mansion, DC’s Blue Beetle, Dracula: Voyage of the Demeter, Strays and Theater Camp. Terms and Conditions apply, films are subject to change, and the offer does not include Event Cinema.

Sally said that she would like to thank those who have been supporting the cinema during this difficult time, and she looks forward to seeing them and many more in the coming weeks.

For a full line-up and information visit www. wellsfilmcentre.co.uk or pop in to the cinema box office daily from 1pm-9pm or call 01749 673195.

Yourlocallegal experts

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The summer line-up of films at Wells Film Centre includes Barbie, Gran Turismo and Blue Beetle

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Pooling knowledge to counter shoplifters

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RETAILERS are trying to fight back against an epidemic of shoplifting in Wells by sharing photos and videos of suspects on a WhatsApp group for the business community.

The CCTV images are used to alert other retailers in the city to the presence of shoplifters, and by making it known that they are circulating them, act as a deterrent to the shoplifters themselves.

Wells Chamber of Commerce is leading efforts to counter the crimewave, and is taking advice from the police about the possibility of putting the images on Facebook.

“Shoplifting is prolific and it has got worse in the past two months,” said Louis Agabani, Chair of the Chamber of Commerce. “Shoplifters are becoming more confident and more daring.”

He said that the current economic pressures were driving the increase in crime, and that every shop in the city centre was a potential target. The value of items known to have been stolen range from a few pounds to hundreds of pounds.

The WhatsApp group now has about 100 members, ranging from small independents to larger businesses such as Tesco, as well as a representative of the market traders. The Chamber is working with retailers on expanding the group further, and is looking into whether the police can join it as well to have rapid access to data on incidents and the individuals involved.

Plain-clothed police officers

have been patrolling the city centre recently to try to catch offenders red-handed, and discussions are ongoing about whether this can happen more often.

The Chamber is also investigating the possibility of the city self-funding a PCSO for the Wells beat.

“We want to stamp this out,” said Louis. “We are collecting and sharing the photos, and are discussing further measures with the police.”

The group also shares information on other issues such as the use of fake £50 notes, he added.

Traders who are not already in the group but would like to join should contact Wells Chamber of Commerce by emailing wellscofc@gmail.com

A poster, above, has been designed that retailers can display to let shoplifters know that they are being monitored, and the issue is likely to be raised at the city council meeting on Thursday, July 27.

PC Dan Williams of Wells Neighbourhood Police Team said: “We have been made aware of an increase in shop theft. It saddens me to hear that businesses in Wells are suffering from this kind of crime.

“Wells Neighbourhood Police Team are working hard with local retailers to strengthen our relationship, increase the reporting of thefts and discuss ways to prevent shoplifting.

“We are increasing our efforts targeting our most prolific offenders causing harm to the area.”

New fixer to join Repair Cafe on August 5

WELLS Repair Cafe will next open its doors at Wells Library on Saturday, August 5, from 10am till 12.30pm.

In addition to the usual team of repairers skilled in mending electrical and mechanical things, a new fixer will be there who specialises in wheeled items. He will be happy to work on

bikes, skates, skateboards and non-powered scooters. Anyone planning to take one of these items is asked to get in touch in advance so that there is the right equipment ready.

Contact Amanda Phillips: repaircafe.wells@gmail.com or via the Wells Repair Cafe Facebook page.

‘We’re building a practice for the future’

From page 1

patients, offering the latest technology.”

This is his 50th year since he qualified as an optometrist. His practice was based in Chamberlain Street when he first came to Wells, and he moved to the current building in 1990. Richard Mansfield qualified as an optometrist in 1984, and opened his practice in Wells in 1995.

“I’ve known Richard for a long time and we’ve got a good relationship,” said David.

“We have successfully traded alongside each other for many years serving the people of Wells, collaborating and not competing with each other.

“Now we are joining together Wells’ two established independent practices to build a practice for the future.”

Richard will be retiring later in the year, while David will continue to work in the practice

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alongside his daughter Sam who has recently completed her optometric studies.

“We will be retaining the family ethos and service of both practices,” said David, who is also joined by his Dispensing Optometrist son-in-law Lee.

Familiar, friendly faces from both existing practice teams will be waiting to greet everyone to the new premises.

“There will be an even wider choice of ranges and brands to suit all needs and budgets, and more people will be able to take advantage of our latest technology such as the Optos retinal scanner, as well as the innovative Eyeplan eye care scheme,” said David.

Existing patients of both practices will automatically become patients of the new practice; there is no need to re-register. They will all be contacted to explain the merger in more detail.

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Richard Mansfield, left, and David Millican, whose practices are merging

Pair recall their daring Moat Boat Race

THIS year marks the 60th anniversary of the very first Wells Moat Boat Race back in 1963.

And with the 2023 event fast approaching it has prompted memories of previous events –including when water skiing on the Moat at The Bishop’s Palace was part of the entertainment.

Trevor Cook was the first person to water ski on the Moat, towed along by his friend Peter Butler in Peter’s power boat at speeds of more than 20mph.

They had a practice run a few days before the Moat Boat Race in, Trevor thinks, 1971 to make sure they could perform the stunt safely, which they decided they could, even though the boat collided with the stone drawbridge.

“We were a bit worried about whether it would work which is why we tried it out beforehand,” said Trevor, who was aged 19 at the time.

“We were probably doing about 25mph but couldn’t do anything too fancy as it was difficult to stop. We didn’t have a lot of room to play with.

“We did some water skiing on the actual day between races once we’d proved we could do it.”

A photograph of the practice run originally appeared in the Wells Journal, which Trevor thinks was probably taken by Eric Purchase.

Trevor had become proficient at the sport after he joined others from Wells who made visits to Weymouth to go water skiing.

The Moat Boat Race takes place this year on August 28, organised by the City of Wells Lions. It was originally started by St Thomas Youth Fellowship, a youth club set up by Arthur Rice after he moved to Wells as a teacher at St Thomas School on St Thomas Street, the precursor of Stoberry Park School. The St Thomas School site is now a block of flats.

St Thomas Youth Fellowship held a fete in the Recreation Ground in 1962 and raised £100, and it was suggested to Bishop Henderson, the then Bishop of Bath and Wells, that it would be better if the fete in 1963 was held at The Bishop’s Palace. Bishop Henderson agreed, and also permitted the use of the Moat for

raft races, which continued for 12 years while he was Bishop.

A group of people including Trevor cleared weeds from the Moat before the first event on Whit Monday, June 3, and the planned course was shortened so as not to disturb the swans, that he said were nesting at the time.

Peter said that the boat –which he bought for £135 at Moff Motors in Castle Cary – had no brakes, and the only way of

slowing it down was to put the propellers into reverse. But he had to maintain speed towards the end of the course so that Trevor could glide across the water and step on to the lowered grass verge near the drawbridge – which is why the collision occurred.

“The boat did clunk into the drawbridge,” said Peter, “but no damage was done.”

Peter had already secured

his place in the history of the Moat Boat Race as captain of the winning team in that first event in 1963.

He, Mike Lane and Johnny Hawkins made their raft from a 6ft log with a tractor tyre inner tube stretched around it, which proved more streamlined than other rafts that utilised oil drums; the rules were subsequently changed to prevent tractor tyre inner tubes from

Clockwise from top, Peter Butler and Arthur Rice’s son Julian in the boat towing Trevor Cook as he water skied on the Moat on their practice run in about 1971; Trevor as he is today; and a 1963 picture taken by Edward Dyer captioned on the back: ‘The Vicar of St Thomas’ presenting the Boat Race Trophy to Peter Butler, captain of winning entry ‘Z Boat’ at Dance at Wells Town Hall’

water skiing stunt

being used. But they still found their raft would not support the weight of all three of them, so Johnny Hawkins was told to wait on shore instead with swimming trunks and flippers on ready to jump in and help propel the raft.

“He dived in halfway round and gave us a push, but it didn’t make any difference to the result,” said Peter. “It was fun, it was all part of the entertainment.”

Peter, who lives in Wells, maintained his interest in power boats, going on to become a TV commentator on power boat racing. He has also been a regular entrant in the Mendip Vintage & Classic Car Tour with his 1952 MGTD, and has just written a series of children’s books, despite an operation and treatment for bowel cancer in recent years.

After completing a monotype keyboard apprenticeship with Clares Son & Co, Trevor went on

to become a car salesman. He lives in Westbury-sub-Mendip, and enjoys playing golf at Wells Golf Club.

He remembers Arthur Rice fondly. “I feel very grateful to Arthur Rice for instilling in us that it’s not about us, and to do things for other people. He gave

Mentoring charity biggest winner

direction.

“Recently I won a trophy playing golf with a colleague and it turned out to be the Arthur Rice Salver, and I was so chuffed.”

PROMISEWORKS, the local charity that trains people to mentor vulnerable children and young people, left with the largest share of money at the latest SOUP! lunch.

It received £350 after gaining most audience votes, while the three other organisations that described their work

each received £118. They were Children’s Hospice South West, Citizens Advice Mendip and Wells Foodbank.

Organisers were pleased to see so many people at the event, which took place in the Connect Centre on Saturday, July 15. Sue Ali of iDetox provided matchfunding for takings on the door.

Mike Lane and Peter Butler on their way to winning the 1963 race us goals in life and set us in the right

Pictured at the conclusion of the SOUP! lunch on July 15 are, from left: Joanna Davey of PROMISEworks; Paddy O’Hagan of SOUP! organisers Wells Independents; Sue Ali of iDetox, match-funder for the lunch; Kylie Gallagher of Children’s Hospice South West; Helen Dance of Citizens Advice Mendip; and Paul Wiltshire and Sue Marland of Wells Foodbank

Charity dissolved, but it achieved so much

The Wells-based charity Children of Chernobyl has been dissolved after 32 years in operation. Here, one of the charity’s trustees, Jo Brown, looks back at its work.

THE ‘Children of Chernobyl, Wells Area’ charity had an unusual beginning through a chance meeting in 1990 between Wells residents David and Heather Lancashire and a Belarusian journalist. He was in the UK looking to find communities to provide respite care for children from southern Belarus who had been affected by the explosion in Chernobyl four years earlier. He found a good place in Wells.

For the first visit in 1991, 30 Belarusian teenagers came to the Wells area for a month. It was a success. The main structure of the subsequent visits by Belarusian children over the years was laid in 1991. Practical support from our two main secondary schools in Wells, the Blue School and the Cathedral School, has been important to the success of the visits. Support from the people of Wells was overwhelmingly generous from the start; without this continued wealth of commitment the project to mitigate disaster in the lives of children from Belarus would not have been possible.

The charity continued for the next 32 years with most of the years seeing groups of Belarusian children, hosted by local families, enjoying a recuperative holiday. At a rough calculation there have been more than 400 children who have visited and enjoyed

Wells and the area over the years since the first visit in 1991. Many enduring friendships have grown between host families and their guests. The immune systems and general health of children who lived through the aftermath of Chernobyl 1986 have been measurably strengthened.

The children received important dental care from Richard Leworthy and his staff at Rock House Dentistry; there was a shortage of dentists in Belarus and the damaging effect of radiation on the teeth of the children had been considerable.

There have been return visits by Wellensians to the Yelsk area of southern Belarus, making the exchange of friendship richer over the years. We are sad that this has had to stop. On the evening of June 9 the current trustees, chaired by Yulia Allen, took the reluctant and emotional decision to dissolve the charity.

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has made operating impossible for the foreseeable future. The trustees have sourced a Leeds-based charity that is still able to work in Belarus for the benefit of children in need for various reasons. The trustees and membership of ‘Children of Chernobyl, Wells Area’ feel confident that the remaining funds so generously raised by the people of Wells will be put to good use for the benefit of Belarusian children (www. chernobyl-children.org.uk).

One of our city treasures is a medal given to Wells by one of the Belarusian ‘liquidators’ of the site of the Chernobyl disaster, Vitalie. In his letter, he explained that he wanted the City of Wells to be given his medal because he considered that we had been ‘liquidators’ too by caring for the health of the children affected by the 1986 Chernobyl disaster. This medal is kept in the City Archive.

The trustees paid a moving tribute to John Price at their

final meeting on June 9. John had been Chair for over ten years and had been the ‘beating heart’ of the charity. He was a generous, funny, kind man who loved the children of Belarus, some of whom he and his wife Rosie hosted for several years as well as helping to run the project. John died peacefully on April 19 surrounded by his family. We will always miss him.

I am very interested to gather and record the stories of ‘Children of Chernobyl, Wells Area’ from all who have played any part in this local project. Please respond if you can, to me at jobrown49@me.com

This is a unique Wells story that is worth telling and recording. There have been so many wonderful memories over the years. The trustees already have a rich archive which they intend to place with the Wells City Archive alongside the historic Chernobyl Liquidator’s medal.

A visit to Wells by children from Chernobyl

Eye-catching artworks set to go on show

IT’S all systems go for the exhibition of contemporary art, organised by Wells Art Contemporary (WAC) and held in Wells Cathedral from August 5 until September 2.

This year’s exhibition really is a glimpse into the global art scene with almost 3,000 entries submitted to the competition from 55 countries across six continents. The resulting 137 shortlisted artworks will be exhibited in a white-wall gallery in the Cathedral’s Cloisters.

In addition, WAC is also proud to be unveiling the Installation Show of 29 sitespecific installations that will be located throughout the Cathedral and gardens.

“Many of the installations provide a captivating reinterpretation of Wells Cathedral,” says Paddy O’ Hagan, WAC Chair.

An aim of WAC is to make art as accessible as possible. “We are

passionate about the importance of art for the community,” says Paddy. “Aesthetic experiences have a profound and positive effect on our wellbeing.”

For that reason, there is plenty happening at the

exhibition for visitors to get involved with, including three interactive works from local charities Heads Up, The Lawrence Centre and Thursday Threads, part of Creativity Works. WAC is also grateful for a major loan work from Outside In, a charity supporting artists from non-traditional backgrounds.

WAC has also teamed up with Heritage Courtyard Gallery & Studios and Wells Cathedral Chapter to provide budding artists with an opportunity to sketch the magnificent Gothic West Front of the Cathedral with professional artists on hand to help and advise. The drawing sessions will take place on the Cathedral Green between 3pm and 5pm on Sundays and Wednesdays during the WAC exhibition (bring your own

seating and drawing materials). It is free to take part but places are limited so register to join a group at https:// www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/drawtickets-648036172637

The Blue School has also come on board this year, working with WAC to provide a unique opportunity for two A-level art students, Katy Robertson and George Shaw. They have not only had experience of helping set up the Gallery Show, but are also planning a 10-minute talk about one of their favourite pieces from the exhibition, providing some context from a young person’s perspective. The schedule for these talks will be updated on the website https://www. wellsartcontemporary.co.uk

Entry to WAC is included in the Cathedral donation.

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WAC exhibits Study of a Wing 3 by Emily Lawlor, above, and Scratch and Sniff by Philip Williams, right

Pupil wins prize for her poem about how we can help planet

A Year 2 pupil at St Cuthbert’s C of E Academy Infants and PreSchool has been awarded second prize in a poetry competition that attracted more than 2,400 entries, as the school’s literacy co-ordinator, Hilary Waters, reports

BEATRICE-ANN Jarrett, aged seven, from St Cuthbert’s C of E Academy Infants and Pre-School in Wells, has come second in the Key Stage 1 section of the Somerset Literacy Network’s competition for 2023, Poems for Our Earth. 2,464 entries were received from schools all over the South West region from the Scilly Isles to Guernsey and up to Oxford.

This is such an incredible achievement and a rightly deserved award for BeatriceAnn, who has a flair for rich and imaginative vocabulary. She uses description well and conjures up a vivid picture. The judging panel loved the great alliteration and the fact that this poem makes us think about how we can help the planet.

As well as meeting the prestigious children’ poet AF Harrold on Zoom and at the prize-winner’s poetry slam at Dillington House in Somerset, Beatrice-Ann has received a copy of Kate Wakeling’s poems and a framed copy of her own prizewinning poem.

On the right is Beatrice-Ann’s poem, It’s Time to Help.

Plans for new store approved

Beatrice-Ann with the certificate she received, and a framed copy of her poem

WELLS is to get a large new Lidl store. Somerset Council has approved plans for the company to build a store on the former Travis Perkins site at Strawberry Way, next to the current store, which it will replace.

The new store will be almost double the size of the existing store, with an increase of 469 sq m sales floorspace. Additional non-sales floorspace will provide for facilities such as an in-store bakery and preparation area, a customer toilet and improved staff accommodation

The plans also include a 3m-wide cycle path running parallel to West Street that would connect to Priory Road and form part of the Strawberry Line cycle route.

Group looking for volunteers

It’s Time to Help

It’s time to make the world a big, blue balloon, It’s time to make the dirty days into beautiful days, It’s time to help the fluttering butterflies, It’s time to make the Earth a whole, wide world again. It’s time to help the cold animals in the Arctic, It’s time to pick up the lost rubbish,

It’s time to help the animals in the gardens, It’s time to stop the pollution, It’s time to help the furry, feathery birds, It’s time to help the twisted, bumpy trees in the dark forest, It’s time to pick up the pink plastic from the sandy shoreline, It’s time to clean the sparkly blue ocean.

Beatrice-Ann Jarrett

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Amusing speakers to laugh along with

ARE you game for a laugh? If so, these could be the events for you at this year’s Wells Festival of Literature – starting with the funny old mathematical world of Marcus du Sautoy.

So you never thought maths could be funny? Then you have not come across the renowned mathematician’s book Around the World in 80 Games in which he explores the link between mathematics and games.

From around the globe he looks at the origins of old and new games, from Whist to Wordle, Hopscotch to Scrabble, explores how the simplest games endure, and also how to invent a good game. It is about the mathematics of chance, gaming strategies, computer games and how mathematics and games are interconnected.

So get on board for a speaker whose book is suitable for anyone between the ages of eight and 108.

You may not have thought of the priesthood as comic either. Again, you would be wrong as the Reverend Fergus ButlerGallie proves in his mirthful memoir Touching Cloth.

It is a love letter to the Prayer Book, to Liverpool, funerals, cake tins, lager and to what the Church of England can be at its best.

The Reverend has ministered in parishes in Liverpool and Central London, has also spent time working in the Czech Republic and South Africa, and is the author of two best-sellers and numerous articles in the press.

Yet another unlikely source of humour is the world of immunology as seen by Luke O’Neill, a top immunologist

with both the wit and talent for cutting through the noise.

In his latest work To Boldly Go Where No Book Has Gone Before he delivers a spellbinding – often hilarious – history of (almost) the entirety of science.

He tells the zigzag story of how we got to this moment in human history, tackling some of the great questions of our age from Artificial Intelligence to climate catastrophe. Not much to laugh at there, you might think, but it’s the way he tells it that has already made him a best-selling science writer with his previous book Never Mind the B#ll*cks, Here’s The Science.

These are just three of the festival’s exciting line-up of speakers. For times, dates and details of how to book tickets look out for the festival brochure, out now in various venues around the city, or go online at www.wellsfestivalofliterature. org.uk

Summer Concert raises over £500

WELLS Royal British Legion has expressed its delight that the third Summer Concert in aid of the Poppy Appeal raised just over £500. The Legion was particularly pleased as selling tickets had been difficult this year for a number of reasons and take-up was on the low side.

The concert took place in the grounds of The Bishop’s Palace on Sunday, June 11.

Organisers spent the day worrying about the storms that were heading towards Wells but thankfully they steered clear.

The Warminster Military Wives Choir gave the audience a wonderful set of different songs supported by Meg Curl, aged 16, from Glastonbury, who impressed the audience and seems to have a bright future.

Derek Cooper, as part of the planning and organising group, said: “I would like to thank all the team from the Branch for their hard work and support and The Bishop’s Palace for being able to use such a wonderful setting, plus of course our two wonderful acts.”

Sleepers sponsorship invitation

LOCAL supporters of the Strawberry Line project are being invited to help fund a tunnel for the next section of the path by sponsoring the sleepers used to build it.

The path will link Erlon Lane in Westbury-sub-Mendip with Ebbor Lane in Easton, crossing under the A371 into Easton cutting and then ramping up to follow the route of the existing public right of way.

A short tunnel is being built close to Erlon Lane to allow

farm traffic to pass over the path without interruption. Fittingly, for a railway path, it will be built from 160 concrete sleepers held in a steel frame. The sleepers can be sponsored at a minimum of £10 each. Those donating £25 will receive a special silver sleeper and can have their name on a plaque on the bridge. Those donating £100 will receive a gold sleeper and an individual plaque.

For more information about the project, see thestrawberryline.org.uk

From left, Marcus du Sautoy, Luke O’Neill and Fergus Butler-Gallie

Picture: Philip Doyle

Picture: Jeff Cottenden

AMBA wins gold

Wells retailer named Best Women’s Fashion Store in Dorset, Somerset and Bristol

Summer sale

AMBA’s summer sale has started, with fabulous bargains on spring / summer stock, and amazing prices too on previous season stock. Call in and see how affordable great fashion can be.

Sparkling presentation ceremony

AMBA Wells owner Karen Bell, along with head buyer Jenny Barnes, attended the glittering Muddy Stilettos Awards presentation evening held at Hauser & Wirth, Bruton on July 6th. The prestigious awards celebrate small, independent, lifestyle businesses across the country.

Karen thanked everyone who helped AMBA win. “We really appreciate everyone who voted for us. Each and every vote counted. We value your continued loyalty. We are so lucky to be in our present location in Wells and love seeing you all.”

Follow all things AMBA on Facebook at Amba Wells and Instagram @ambawells.

Latest lucky winner of monthly draw

Since starting the loyalty scheme over a year ago, thirteen lucky customers have each won £50 shopping vouchers to spend in store. Last month’s winner Yvette popped in and with the help of her winning vouchers, snapped up a gorgeous pair of linen trousers.

Launch of imaginative dresses project

THE Mayor of Wells, Councillor Tanys Pullin, launched her mayoral year charity project The Mayor’s New Clothes at Wells Town Hall on June 29.

The project involves transforming used wedding dresses into beautiful ballgowns which will eventually be auctioned in aid of the Mayor’s chosen charities, Heads Up and Whizz-Kidz.

More than 70 people attended the launch event to see some of the wedding dresses at the start of their transformation, and study the mood boards provided by the people working on them.

Cllr Pullin said that everything she wears is from a charity shop, or preloved or borrowed, and explained that the project had started with one dress that she refashioned, which had attracted interest from others who then wanted to work on dresses as well.

Once the dresses are completed, they will be exhibited around Wells, before featuring at a fashion show in the Cathedral in January, and being auctioned off at a special gala event in the Town Hall in February.

Cllr Pullin said that if she manages to raise £150,000, then she will stay in Penniless Porch for a week to help draw attention to the plight of the homeless and people with mental health issues. She said these are issues which

she is passionate about, and that the two often go hand-in-hand. Heads Up trustee Vanessa Gordon told the audience at the launch event about the work that the mental health and wellbeing charity does from its base in South Horrington, such as creative activity workshops, and about the dress it is creating for the project.

The other mayoral charity, Whizz-Kidz, provides disabled

children with the essential wheelchairs and other mobility equipment they need to lead fun and active childhoods.

Others at the event included Karen Bell of AMBA who said that she will be turning a wedding dress into a prom dress “that some young girl can wear and feel like a million dollars”.

Judith Shorrocks, manager of the Sue Ryder charity shop in Shepton Mallet, said that her

Charity’s dress will represent suicide awareness

Heads Up describes the dress the charity will be making for the Mayor’s New Clothes Project

HEADS Up is very fortunate that Tanys Pullin, 649th Mayor of Wells, has chosen our charity as one of the charities she wishes to support during her year in office.

Tanys is very artistic and passionate; and this is clear with her vision of a fundraiser that will see many wedding dresses being upcycled and transformed into ballgowns. Designs for each dress will represent a particular theme and highlight a variety of social issues.

Heads Up is delighted that Trustee Vanessa Gordon is leading on the design and creation of

a Heads Up dress, which will powerfully represent suicide awareness.

Our project ‘Sophie’s Dress’ will have 5,983 flowers sewn on it, which will be representing the sad losses from suicide within the UK in 2021. Fifty of these flowers will be on the bodice of the dress

which will depict the suicides that happened in Somerset alone.

Hidden under the main dress will be trousers that will also be covered in flowers; once unveiled this will emanate the powerful message of how mental health can be a hidden illness.

In order to help us finance this project we are hoping to find individuals and businesses who may wish to sponsor the dress, or contribute by paying towards the cost of the flowers. Packets of flowers are £10 each, but any donation would be gratefully received. To donate please visit our Local Giving page: localgiving.org/donation/headsup-somerset/start. Please make sure you write in the message box – The Mayors New Clothes

store has a special section for wedding dresses, and she will be inviting people to create hearts that can be sewn on to one such dress for the project.

There is still time for groups, individuals and businesses to register to transform a dress, which have to be completed by October 16. The dresses must have a train (extra material can be added); any medium, material or craft can be used; and the dress must be suitable for public display.

Businesses that would like to get involved but cannot work on a dress themselves can sponsor a dress, and they will be paired with a group that can facilitate its creation. Cllr Pullin is also happy for groups to make an appointment to visit the Mayor’s Parlour in the Town Hall for coffee and the chance to colour a dress with felt pen, and be part of her “crazy dress project”. Email reception@wells.gov.uk

Donations to The Mayor’s New Clothes project can be made by bank transfer: Tanys Pullin – Mayors New Clothes, sort code 209940, account number 33890732, or by leaving an envelope at the reception desk at Wells Town Hall.

For more information, contact Cllr Pullin: T.pullin@ wells.gov.uk or 07976 756108.

The ‘Sophie’s Dress’ design

Mayor Tanys Pullin addresses the audience at the launch event; and Judith Shorrocks, manager of the Sue Ryder shop in Shepton Mallet, which is taking part in the project, with volunteers Kelly Buxton and Eloisa Tomlin

Star sensory garden destined for charity

By Emma James

JODIE Chan, a Somerset-based gardener, is still on cloud nine after exhibiting her design for a Pocket Sensory Garden at the RHS Hampton Court Palace Garden Festival in July.

She is now fundraising in order to bring a smaller version of her award-winning garden entitled Touching the Senses to Heads Up. The charity, operating from South Horrington, helps people with their mental wellbeing, including supporting people with dementia and their carers.

Jodie switched career paths during lockdown and left behind her sedentary lifestyle in order to unleash her creativity and be close to nature. After retraining in horticulture, she found work

as a gardener at Clare Hall, a dementia care home in Ston Easton, near Wells. She took inspiration from the pleasure the garden gives the residents.

Jodie says: “Many of the elderly residents have mobility issues and dementia, and I wanted to enhance their experience of the outdoors. I noticed those who struggled with sight still enjoyed touching the plants, so I set about creating a highly tactile garden that could be accessed at wheelchair height.”

She submitted a design for a 12 sq m sensory garden believing it to be a useful training exercise and not expecting to be selected to exhibit.

Hampton Court’s Pocket Sensory category was created to encourage and nurture new talent. With no hard landscaping, the brief required designs to be achievable and inspirational for all. Jodie, along with nine other successful entrants in the nationwide competition, set about bringing her design to life.

The five-strong build team included Sallyanne Shallcross, a volunteer gardener at The Bishop’s Palace in Wells. The two became friends as parents of children at The Blue School and share a love of plants and gardening.

Touching the Senses is described as “a low-maintenance and drought-resistant garden, offering easy access to touch the highly textural plants.” It

features “a sea of breezy grasses punctuated by architectural globes of spiky succulents and bright button-like flowers.”

More than 1,200 plants were used, including 1,000 succulents, with the globes requiring approximately 150 hours of work. The team’s efforts were rewarded with many enthusiastic reactions, with several visitors online picking it out as a highlight of the show.

Jodie is already thinking about her next show garden and has a few ideas bubbling away. She says: “I want to up my game, now. It’s a bit of a bug. I can definitely see the addiction. Chelsea is the Holy Grail but, maybe, eventually…”

In the meantime, she is reflecting on the experience of Hampton Court: “It was really full-on and intense, in a lovely way. It was wonderful to be surrounded by people who have the same passion for growing as you. And there were ten of us, so ten amazing connections have been forged. It was super-hard but being able to realise my creativity was fantastic.”

Heads Up Operations Manager Michelle Payne says: “We are so excited to have elements of this sensory garden coming to our outdoor space. Our gardens are particularly important to our visitors and they provide a huge therapeutic benefit. We are really looking forward to having such an eyecatching and tactile display. It can’t help but lift the heart.”

Donations to help bring the garden to Heads Up can be made by going to www.gofundme.com and searching for Jodie Chan.

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Jodie Chan, left, and Sallyanne Shallcross working on the Touching the Senses garden at the RHS Hampton Court Palace Garden Festival

Fundraising is under way to bring a smaller version of the sensory garden to Heads Up

‘I set about creating a highly tactile garden that could be accessed at wheelchair height’

‘Something wrong with his mouth’

JUNE 3 was a typically busy Saturday at our Shepton practice. We had seen our fair share of dogs with dodgy tummies, cats with scratches, and rabbits feeling run down. In amongst these were the routine booster vaccinations.

In the diary for the afternoon I saw that Bob the Miniature Schnauzer was coming in with “something wrong with his mouth”. When he arrived, it was obvious there was a problem. He was drooling and he really didn’t want to close his mouth. It was obvious that he was going to find a physical examination of his head uncomfortable, so first I concentrated on getting a really thorough history from his concerned owners. They told me Bob had been out in the garden with them for a little while. It was a hot, sunny day and he hadn’t been rushing about so an injury was very unlikely. He had had no recent injuries and isn’t prone to scavenging or chewing up things he finds. But he had been snuffling in the long grass under a tree immediately before the problem started. I think we all started suspected a bee sting at this stage.

Bee stings are quite common in dogs, especially around the muzzle. Very gently I lifted Bob’s head and had a good look around his lips, face, eyes and gums. And there it was. A whole bee sting,

still stuck in his tongue. Poor Bob, it was really painful and every time he closed his mouth his tongue would have touched the roof of his mouth and made it worse. He was being very calm considering his predicament.

I used an anaesthetic spray to numb the surface of his tongue, waited a couple of minutes, then used tiny forceps to gently remove the sting. It really was well attached with its barbs. I don’t think many dogs would have let me do this without a bit of sedation, but Bob was incredibly brave and stoic. Perhaps he had realised he needed a bit of help, because as soon as the sting came away he looked much more comfortable and could close his mouth.

As in people, we need to be extra cautious with stings around the face in dogs. If the face and neck swell as a result of the sting then it can cause problems breathing, so we take no chances. I gave Bob an injection of corticosteroids to stop him getting an anaphylactic reaction to the bee sting, then sent him home with antihistamine tablets to take for the next couple of days.

I shall never forget the satisfaction of finding and removing that sting, and I suspect Bob felt the same way.

People can view a video of the bee sting being removed on our Facebook page: https://www. facebook.com/WellsVets

Polly Cornwell

Roads to be closed for gas pipes work

WALES & West Utilities is currently working to upgrade gas pipes in Wells.

As part of the work, it has been agreed with Somerset Council that traffic management will be in place, as follows:

n A road closure on St Cuthbert Street, from its junction with Portway to its junction with Priest Row (July 10-September 1).

n A one-way system on High Street, which will be reversed between Priest Row and Queen Street (September 4-October 20).

n A road closure on Priest Row, from its junction with High Street to its junction with Chamberlain Street (September 4-October 20).

Access will be maintained for residents and emergency vehicles and motorists are advised to allow extra time for travel.

Simon Lee of Wales & West Utilities is managing this work. He said: “While most of the gas network is underground and out of sight, it plays a central role in the daily lives of people across Wells. Whether it’s heating

your home, making the family dinner or having a hot bath, we understand how important it is for your gas supply to be safe and reliable and there when you need it. We know that working in areas like this is not ideal, but it really is essential to make sure we keep the gas flowing to homes and businesses in the area, and to make sure the gas network is fit for the future. We’ll have a team of gas engineers on site throughout the project to make sure our work is completed as safely and as quickly as possible while keeping disruption to a minimum.

“This work is essential to keep the gas flowing to local homes and businesses today, and to make sure the gas network is ready to transport hydrogen and biomethane, so we can all play our part in a green future.”

If there are any questions about the work, contact the Customer Service Team on freephone 0800 912 2999. Alternatively, contact them on Twitter @WWUtilities or Facebook.com/WWUtilities.

The bee sting seen before it was removed from Bob’s tongue

The start of work as gas pipes are upgraded in St Cuthbert Street

Work starting on revamp of city sewers

WORK to give Wells’ sewers a £140,000 revamp is about to get under way.

More than 260 metres of the city’s underground pipework is being revitalised as part of Wessex Water’s continuing programme to ensure the resilience of the foul water system for decades to come.

The work, which will see robots replacing disruptive drilling to complete the majority of the project, will insert a new liner inside the pipes, which reduces the risk of leaks and potential sewer collapses, helping to prevent the escape of wastewater and infiltration of ground water.

Instead of taking many months to complete and being carbon-intensive, the scheme is expected to be completed within six weeks, with the robots making their way along the

pipework to complete the work and make connections.

Wessex Water project manager Dan Kelly said: “This project can help to protect the environment because relining the pipes will make sure the sewers are sealed, preventing foul water escaping.

“It also stops groundwater from getting into the system, which can lead to flooding or storm overflows automatically discharging into rivers or the sea if the system becomes overwhelmed.

“By using ‘no-dig’ techniques we can minimise the impact of this work on local communities as much as possible.’’

The project will take place in a number of phases, mainly in the west of Wells, between Monday, July 24, and Friday, September 1, says the company.

Temporary traffic signals

will first be in operation along Bishopslea Close for excavation work between July 24 and Friday, July 28.

Between Monday, August 7, and Friday, August 18, no waiting cones and signs will be in place on Keward Walk, outside St Cuthbert’s Academy, and in the footway between Keward Walk and Jocelyn Drive, with access maintained for pedestrians and residents.

Then from Monday, August 14, to Friday, August 18, temporary traffic signals will be back in place along Bishopslea Close to allow the sewer to be relined.

From August 14 to August 18 there will also be temporary traffic signals on Jocelyn Drive, from the Osmond Drive to Keward Avenue junctions for excavation in the footpath.

Jocelyn Drive will then be

closed between Monday, August 21, and Friday, August 25, from the Keward Close to Keward Avenue junctions as the pipe is relined.

A signposted diversion, using Glastonbury Road, Strawberry Way and Burcott Road, will be in operation.

Then from Tuesday, August 29, to Friday, September 1, temporary traffic signals will be in operation from Osmond Drive to Keward Avenue junctions on Jocelyn Drive for the footpath to be reinstated.

Wessex Water has written to customers and businesses near the locations affected in Wells to inform them about the work being carried out.

This summer alone, the company is spending more than £2 million relining nearly 7,500 metres of sewers throughout its region.

Retiring union figure honoured for his ‘outstanding contribution’

AT their June meeting, held at The Lawrence Centre in Wells, Mendip Trades Union Council delegates and supporters honoured their chair, National Education Union activist Robin Head, who is retiring in August after a teaching career of nearly 40 years, including 19 in Somerset.

The following testimonial was signed by all those present: “We, the undersigned delegates and supporters of Mendip Trades Union Council, wish to record our thanks and appreciation for

the outstanding contribution made by Robin Head, both as Mendip TUC Chair, and as delegate from the National Education Union, to the work of our council. Robin’s chairing has been warm, inclusive, engaging and efficient; his delegate reports have been detailed, his enthusiasm for the increased industrial strength of education workers infectious. With his move to Portsmouth and his approaching retirement from teaching, we wish Robin all the best for the future.”

Tracks laid down at Peter Gabriel’s studios

A Wells-based guitarist has recorded at Real World Studios, report the Wells Rocks team in their latest update

RICK Payne’s latest compositions have been recorded at Peter Gabriel’s amazing studio complex near Bath. Rick, working with Nigel Fraser as producer and engineering lead, spent a day laying down tracks for Rick’s forthcoming album. Rick both performed with and conducted a string quartet of session musicians. Rick and Nigel have been developing the compositions and arrangements at the Wells Contemporary Music Centre in the Portway Annexe, and with workshops at the Bath School of Music and Performing Arts.

Real World Studios was selected for the recordings as

it has both The Wood Room, an ideal space for recording a string quartet, with an adjacent booth for recording quieter guitar parts in, and an amazing selection of microphones to work

with. It also has an international reputation and amazing support team. The 12-hour session flew past. The elated Rick and Nigel then ended the day with a walk around the extensive grounds and shared a bottle of Malbec before returning to Wells the next morning.

It is intended that the compositions will form part of a show that will be premiered in Wells in 2024. Rick and Nigel would like to involve more local musicians in the project and will be holding auditions for the string quartet next year. The competition will be strong, the Gloucestershire-based session players all loved the music.

Synth Club

The Wells Rocks Synth Club will be meeting again on Thursday, July 27, in the Portway Annexe.

The session will run from 7pm to 9pm. If you are keen on creating new tones with synths, or just curious about what they can do, why not pop along and see if it is for you?

Wells Djembe Circle

This drumming group grows from strength to strength. Chrissie’s latest project is to add a marimba to the percussive instruments available. A marimba is an instrument with wooden bars that are struck by mallets. There are resonator pipes below each bar. These amplify the harmonics to produce a rich, warm sound. Chrissie is keen to add this because as well as adding a new timbre to the group, it will also enable people who may not be able to sustain drumming for a whole session to take part.

Rick Payne recording in The Wood Room at Real World Studios

Mendip TUC Secretary Dave Chapple presents Robin Head with the signed testimonial, together with a facsimile of A Somerset Miners’ Association strike notice from 1925

Picture: Kate Pearce

Parking charges to rise by 10 per cent

SOMERSET Council will be introducing new parking charges across the county following a review which aims to give consistency and cover inflationary costs.

During August, there will be an overall 10 per cent rise in parking charges across Somerset, including in the council’s car parks in Wells – though this will vary from car park to car park, in some the increase will be slightly above or below 10 per cent, as the new fee will be rounded up to the nearest 10p.

Parking season tickets are also being increased by a similar percentage in the measures agreed at the council’s Annual Budget Meeting.

To provide support for residents, on-street parking permits in residential areas are not increasing.

Before the council’s review of parking charges there was some inconsistency across the county – in some cases parking charges have not increased for years.

The council says that the new charges recognise and allow for inflationary pressures and will ensure it can meet its transport objectives without increasing additional demand on its budget.

Somerset Council’s Service Director for Infrastructure and Transport, David Carter, said: “We are always reluctant to increase charges, particularly during the cost of living crisis.

“However, with inflation running at 10 per cent we have to recover our costs of running the service.

“Any revenue generated will be ring-fenced and put back into meeting transport and highways objectives.”

ERIC

Handsome chap in need of a home

This very handsome fellow is ERIC, an 18-month-old, neutered male, microchipped, vaccinated and treated for fleas and worms. In his previous life Eric was living with 3 other cats and all were house cats only. This didn’t sit well with Eric and he found it hard to settle and have any space for himself. Consequently he took to challenging the other cats. He needs a settled home well away from busy roads so once settled he can get out and about and live the life of a normal healthy young cat. He is a very affectionate and gentle cat who loves human attention. He would be happy to live with older children who would handle him respectfully. Yes we know he needs to lose weight. He was comfort eating in his last home. He is much happier now and eating normally and has already lost a bit of weight. Please phone Emma on 01749 346104 or complete our online application form to offer Eric a loving home.

Glastonbury & Wells Cats Protection

Charity No: 203644 (England & Wales) and SCO37711 (Scotland)

On Saturday, July 1, Heads Up opened up its doors and invited the local community to have a look around and gain greater understanding as to the services that they provide. As part of the open day there were various stalls and refreshments, which helped raise £397.43. Heads Up is hoping to make this an annual event and has thanked everyone who visited.

Events coming up at Wells Library

AUGUST events at Wells Library: Repair Cafe at Wells Library

Items that need mending can be taken to the library on Saturday, August 5, from 10am-12.30pm. The Repair Cafe fixers will have a go at repairing most things, either on the spot while people watch to learn the skills, or they will take it away for mending.

Lego Club

Booking is highly recommended for Lego Club which is on Saturday, August 12, at 10.30am. For ages 5 and up. Email wlslib@ somerset.gov.uk

HSBC Community Pop-Up

Following the recent closure of Wells branch, HSBC will be in the library from 9.30am-12pm

on the following dates in August: Wednesday, August 9, and Thursday, August 24. No need to book, just drop in.

IT Help

There is good news for people who need some assistance with their tablet or smartphone. The library already runs free IT Help sessions on Wednesdays at 10.30am and 11.30am, and from August 3 it will have two free sessions on Thursdays as well, at the same times – 10.30am and 11.30am. So that will be four free IT Help sessions per week at Wells Library. Get the help required by emailing wlslib@ somerset.gov.uk to book a free one-hour session.

Help with Somerset Council issues

CUSTOMERS who need inperson help or advice from Somerset Council will now find support at every Somerset library.

Staff in Somerset’s libraries are trained to provide digital support to help customers selfserve when needed. From July, they have also been able to set up virtual, face-to-face meetings on the spot so people can speak directly to a member of the Customer Service team. If a customer has a complex question or issue, the advisers will be able to pass the enquiry on to the right specialist to help.

Customers will also be able to take documents that can be

digitally uploaded and sent to the appropriate Somerset Council team.

Customer Access Points were initially set up in seven libraries in April when Somerset Council came into being, replacing Somerset County Council and the four district councils, Mendip, Sedgemoor, Somerset West and Taunton, and South Somerset.

Now, after a successful trial, it is being extended to all Somerset’s libraries.

The support will be provided during library opening hours, which, in most cases, includes weekends. The virtual meetings will only be available Monday to Friday from 8.30am-4.30pm.

Inspectors give school ‘good’ report

STAFF and students at The Blue School are delighted to have had it confirmed by Ofsted that they remain a ‘good’ school in all aspects.

Following an inspection that took place in the middle of May, the inspectors were impressed by the standards the students achieved and the strength of the school’s approach to their personal development and welfare. After a detailed review by inspectors, they identified that students at The Blue “are happy and safe and they achieve well”. This is because, “Teachers care deeply about pupils’ academic progress and their well-being.”

The inspectors looked in depth at a number of areas of the curriculum and described it as “broad and academically rigorous” with “…a significant focus on creative and practical subjects”. Students are well supported from “an ongoing drive to bring the most effective

teaching practices into the classroom”.

The Blue School was recognised for building a

rounded education for children. The inspectors stated that, “Pupils’ wider development sits at the heart of The Blue School’s

ethos.” This was demonstrated in the large number of students engaging in additional activities, such as mentoring other students or taking part in the Duke of Edinburgh’s Award.

In summary, students were described as “proud” of their school and staff feel equally “proud to work here”.

Headteacher, Mark Woodlock, said: “We are delighted to have received such a positive endorsement of our work. It is a just reward for the efforts our students make, the work that our staff put in and the achievements that this collective endeavour generates.

“At The Blue, staff and students continue to work together to serve the needs of all families in and around Wells. Our success is built upon the strength of that partnership and we remain committed to ensuring that continues for future generations.”

From left, Blue School art department head Shilen Tanna, Mayor of Wells Tanys Pullin, student George Shaw and teacher Paul Crocker pictured with some of George’s artwork at the school’s Summer Show, which celebrated the A-level Design and Technology, Fashion and Textiles, Product Design and Fine Art final outcomes

Theatre Festival hailed a great success

WELLS Theatre Festival organisers have reported that the 2023 Festival was a great success and that it will be back next year.

Highlights of the festival included a fast-paced, hilarious performance of Grimm Sisters by the ever-popular Scratch Works Theatre Company, who braved the rain to delight an audience of young and old in The Bishop’s Palace Gardens. The Exeterbased theatre company promised to be back again next year.

Wells was honoured by a now rare personal visit by Holocaust survivor Eva Schloss, who attended a performance of John Still’s highly acclaimed play about her experience as a Holocaust survivor. And Then They Came for Me was performed to enthralled audiences in Cedars Hall. The play tells the story of how Eva, now in her 90s, met Anne Frank at school in Amsterdam, and how later she, like Anne, was sent to Auschwitz.

At the centre of the programme of professional theatre and performance is the Wells Community Theatre production which this year was Shakespeare’s As You Like It, which was staged on the

Palace’s South Lawn. The show received widespread praise –one audience member took to Facebook to proclaim: “Last night’s production of As You Like It was highly entertaining and enjoyable… It was a great evening.”

Elsewhere the Festival put on a free children’s show – Sand Dragon – for children from Avalon School, and anyone out and about in the centre of Wells would have been treated to some wonderful street theatre from AKA’s Fashion Police.

Festival favourite I found My Horn played to enthusiastic audiences in Cedars Hall and this year Jasper Rees, who co-wrote the play adapted from his own memoir, A Devil to Play, was also in town.

Also performing at Cedars Hall were Opera in a Box, with Mozart’s Machiavellian feast, Don Giovanni. Opera in a Box is a South West-based company

with members living in Bristol, Taunton and Wells itself.

Director Shane Morgan said: “It was a terrific show with a lovely audience.”

Ros Johnson, Artistic Director of the Festival, said: “We were delighted with how the Festival went and relieved that the post-pandemic effect on ticket sales which we experienced last year seems to be over. But none of this would have been possible without the support of our wonderful sponsors – Chalmers HB, Cooper and Tanner, Basil Powell Shoes, Just Us Agency, Mendip District Council, St Andrews Press, Wells Chamber of Commerce, AVACAB Taxis, Wells City Council and Paul Clegg.

“We are also very grateful for the support of the Maria Bjornson Memorial Fund and The Project Factory. We are looking forward to being back next year.”

Scratch Works Theatre Company brave the rain during their performance at Wells Theatre Festival

Nestled between Shepton Mallet and Frome, All Hallows is a one

a kind Prep School welcoming children ages 3 to 13.

PRP Contemporary Choir won two trophies in the Beat the Street challenge

Singers stay one step ahead

PRP Contemporary Choir were delighted to receive not one, but two trophies from the popular Beat The Street challenge that saw people of all ages getting out and about in Wells and Shepton Mallet to improve their physical fitness.

This sociable (and apparently very competitive) group of singers donned their trainers and took it upon themselves to increase their daily steps. Team PRP just pipped the Blue School staff to the post, winning their

category both on average and overall points.

“PRP Contemporary Choir is a really sociable group and this was the perfect opportunity to get out and about together. It was such fun and we can’t wait for the next one,” said Choir leader Emma Wheat.

PRP were also awarded £300 in sports vouchers which they donated to the Wells Welcome Hub which has been used to purchase sports equipment for young refugees in Wells.

Search for part-time caretaker

RESIDENTS who live in the former Mendip Hospital building at South Horrington are encouraging anyone who might be interested to apply for the job of caretaker.

The building and grounds are maintained by FirstPort Property Management, who employ a part-time caretaker to co-ordinate repairs to the building and respond to queries from residents, but the post has been vacant since the previous caretaker left more than 18 months ago.

Stoberry House & Garden

Stoberry Park, Wells, Somerset BA5 3LD www.stoberryparkgarden.co.uk

A WONDERFUL SETTING FOR EVENTS OF ALL KINDS

“This job would be perfect for a local person, preferably with some knowledge of building and maintenance work, who might enjoy supervising the care of our wonderful building and grounds,” said Charles Burkitt of South Horrington Leaseholders’ Association. “We feel sure that there must be plenty of suitable candidates in the area who would be interested.”

The caretaker would be responsible for 130 properties. More details at horrington.org/ caretaker

New strength and balance class

AGE UK Somerset has announced the launch of Get Strong Get Steady, a new strength and balance class, in Wells. Get Strong Get Steady classes will help people transition from seated to standing exercises, whilst also helping to strengthen specific joints. The programme can help prevent falls, improve balance, and rebuild strength.

The classes are held at Wells Town Hall and cost £5 per session. Participants will need to complete a short health questionnaire before starting a class. To find out more, contact Age UK Somerset’s Falls Prevention team by calling 01823 345614 or emailing fallsprevention@ageuksomerset. org.uk

SPECIAL OCCASIONS

We would be pleased to welcome you for lunches, dinners, weddings, anniversaries, birthdays and other special occasions you may wish to celebrate. Please note these are for a minimum of eight people.

CELEBRATIONS OF LIFE

Stoberry House, set in 26 acres of parkland, is a beautiful setting in which to celebrate the life of a loved one. We can host a reception for family and friends following a funeral, with a number of catering options.

GARDEN

The garden is open by appointment every Wednesday and Thursday, and visits can also be arranged at other times by appointment. Please call us on 01749 672906.

CREAM TEAS

(Minimum of two people)

Our cream teas start at £16.75 per person Our most popular cream tea menu is £28.75 per person Our luxury cream teas are £38.75 per person All teas must be pre-booked by appointment. Teas also include garden entrance.

GIFT VOUCHERS

A wonderful present. We do Stoberry Gift Vouchers for all our teas, starting at £50.

TO BOOK OR FIND OUT MORE: Go to our website at www.stoberryparkgarden.co.uk, call us on 01749 672906 or email events@stoberry-park.co.uk

Showcase for environmental work in Wells

WE Love Our Environment.

That was the message given to the public visiting the Portway Annexe on July 1 at a community event to show what is being done in Wells to promote and protect the local environment.

A giant puppet, Gaia, met people on the streets and the new trishaw (purchased by Wells Community Network) was on display at the front door, attracting people to come and see what was going on. About 100 people dropped in to meet the 15 organisations representing Wells Environment Network on the day.

There was a buzz in the main hall as people chatted to the various organisations, and a talk from Jo Stevenson (Lead Community Gardener at The Bishop’s Palace) who gave tips on gardening for pleasure and produce, whilst a Cycle Safety Talk from Councillor Edric Hobbs gave good advice

07442 499390

01934 416171

to people who maybe feel less confident on the busy roads of today. Sustainable Wells offered Repair, Repurpose and Revive workshops throughout the day, as well providing two delicious soups at lunchtime.

There was a glimpse of The Mayor’s New Clothes project with two of the stunning repurposed wedding dresses on display. And visitors saw how children see the world in the display of posters designed by children from four local schools (Coxley, Croscombe, St Cuthbert’s and St Joseph and St Teresa’s) in the Climate and Environment Posters Competition. Of the 40 posters selected by local artists Chris Lee, Edgar Phillips, Fiona Campbell and Gill Sakakini, four winners were chosen on the day

by a People’s Vote – and can be seen on the Wells City Council Facebook page and website at www.wells.gov.uk

The Mayor of Wells, Councillor Tanys Pullin, opened the event which had been organised by Councillor Denise Denis. The organisations involved on the day were Sustainable Wells, Wells and District Wildlife Group, Somerset Council, The Bishop’s Palace, The Blue School, Mendip Hills Environmental Land Management, Wells Bus Users Group, Strawberry Line Supporters’ Group, Somerset Wildlife Trust, Centre for Sustainable Energy, Wells u3a, Wells Cathedral, Sustainable Food Somerset, Wells City Council and Wells Community Network.

Almshouses set to welcome visitors

THE residents of the City of Wells Almshouses will be opening their Chapel, Guildroom and gardens, normally closed to the public, for Heritage Open Day on Saturday, September 9, from 11am to 4pm.

Refreshments including savouries and cakes will be served in the Guildroom or garden by Bubwith House, and the Somerset Flutes will be playing in the Chapel, a new event for 2023. They will play a variety of folk, classical and modern music, between 12pm and 1pm. The almshouses will

also be hosting the Simply Uke! ukulele band again this year.

Chair of Trustees Stewart Cursley said: “Everyone at the almshouses enjoys the open days and we will be delighted to welcome visitors again during the Heritage Open Days week.”

Everyone is welcome to go along and look at these historic dwellings, some of which date back to the 15th century, and to walk around the beautiful gardens and talk to the residents and volunteers. A walking guide will be supplied for information on the history. Entry is free.

Some of the attendees at the event, with the new trishaw visible on the right, above; and the giant Gaia puppet that greeted visitors, left

Pianist expresses gratitude

WELLS Blue School student Kyle Blake has expressed his gratitude for all who helped make his piano recital on July 5 such a success.

He said: “First of all, I want to thank everyone at St Cuthbert’s Church for letting me perform in such a beautiful place, and for being so accommodating and generous. Thank you to Anna Tumanova for the introduction and for kindly representing Wells Welcome Hub. Thank you to Framptons Ltd, the Tesco Wells Community Champion, Fosso Lounge, Rugantino, The White Hart, The King’s Head, Flapjackery, Burns the Bread and Somerset Cheese Company for donating raffle prizes. It was because of these generous prizes that we were able to raise £1,147.45 for Wells Welcome Hub.

“Thank you to everyone who came to the recital and donated to this important cause. I never would have imagined so many people would turn up. Thank

you to everyone from the Blue School Music department who came to support me. Thank you to my family for helping with everything and for the endless support they have given me.

“And lastly, I would like to thank my piano teacher, Ting Randle, for always believing in me and keeping me motivated. I could not have done this without her.”

Ting said: “The concert at St Cuthbert’s Church was such a delightful event. The church was packed and Kyle received a standing ovation for his recital. He has been such a brilliant pupil and I feel privileged to have been able to teach him these past five years. He is already a very fine pianist and I wish him every success with his studies at the Royal Welsh College of Music and Drama in September.”

LOCAL charity Somerset Sight is recruiting volunteers to befriend visually impaired people on a regular basis.

It has been supporting sight impaired people across Somerset for more than 100 years and in 2019 won the Queens Award for Voluntary Service.

One of the services it offers is the Volunteer Visiting Service, where volunteers are matched locally with a sight impaired person for regular visits for company and support and to alleviate their loneliness and isolation. The charity offers full training and support, and pays all reasonable out of pocket expenses, including mileage.

For more information about becoming a volunteer, contact Somerset Sight on 01823 333818 or email admin@somersetsight. org.uk

Kyle Blake at the piano with Anna Tumanova, left, and Ting Randle

Wells Blue School students turned on the style at the Year 11 Prom at Wookey Hole. They dressed to impress for the big night out, which included a chance to enjoy some of the Wookey Hole attractions such as Crazy Golf and the Hall of Mirrors, a buffet, and music.

Black opal, diamond, calibré emerald and sapphire brooch

S Sold for £5,200

Free Valuation D ays - Held at the salerooms

Every Monday (except bank holidays) 10am - 1pm & 2pm - 5pm

Appointment Necessary

Some very different layouts lined up for model railway show

THIS year’s Railwells model railway exhibition will take place in Wells Town Hall on August 12 and 13. Railwells 2023 includes Scalefour Southwest and special sections for The EM Gauge Society and The 2mm Association.

In spite of the very hot weekend, last year’s show was well received, and to build on this, Railwells this year has some compelling exhibits.

in 1904 is Bridgwater in 7mm.

The exhibition caters for experienced modellers as well as those starting out and interested in learning more. There are two layouts unfinished that will show how someone else builds a layout, and visitors can ask questions and discuss what they need to know.

There is a range of demonstrators who might not be working in the scale other people wish to, but the experiences they pass on can be invaluable.

The trading mall will have lots of things that will keep projects on the right track. As well as items being looked for, there might be discoveries that were not. The Scalefour, EM Gauge and 2mm society membership secretaries will be in attendance over the weekend for any questions people might have.

The Shambolics team won Wells Rotary club’s 21st Boules Tournament, held The Bishop’s Palace on Sunday, July 16, beating Never Mind the Bouleocks in the final. It is the second year running that The Shambolics have triumphed. They are pictured receiving the trophy from Wells Rotary President Angela Cussell, who thanked The Bishop’s Palace for the use of the grounds, the Panama Jazz band for providing entertainment and Rotarian Chris Borrison and his team for putting on the event.

Support for marginalised

GENEROUS fundraisers raised £700 at a garden party at Wells Cathedral to support people in Bangladesh who are marginalised due to their ethnicity, caste, disability or sexuality.

cause. We were pleased to know that we could make a difference through this Christian Aid project.”

Of the 14 layouts booked to attend some are very different and well worth visiting the show to see such as Sandsifters in P4, a layout built on a surf board; Port Jubilee, a 2mm layout built as an oval just 2ft by 10in; a Somerset & Dorset layout Foxcote New Pit in 2mm; Ryton Road started out in EM by the late John Spencer and now converted to P4; and lastly another S&DJR layout set

For full details of the show go to www.railwells.com where in the week before the show the exhibition programme will be available to download.

The opening times are: Saturday, August 12, open 10.30am-5pm; Sunday, August 13, open 10am-4.30pm.

Admission: adults £8, unaccompanied children up to 17 years £5, accompanied children age 14 and under free, wheelchair-bound free.

Photos tell story of 2023 festival

from Basil Powell Shoes at 1-5 Broad Street, Wells.

The 100 colour pages have no words, just pictures by Jason Bryant of the Glastonbury Festival taken this year.

The book costs £20 and has a limited print run; it did sell out last year.

The page design was by Rowan Adams and it was printed by St Andrews Press of Wells.

The event was in support of Christian Aid’s Community Partnership project, called Empowering Left Behind Communities, which supports the rights of minority groups as they seek to tackle discrimination. It provides training, community engagement work and support to civil society groups as they engage with government at all levels.

Organiser Adrian I’Anson said: “Despite some showers, we all had a great time, enjoying tea, cake, music and a quiz whilst raising funds for this important

David Hart, Christian Aid’s Church Engagement and Fundraising Officer for Somerset & Dorset, said: “The project brings in matched funding from the EU – for every £1,000 raised in this project the EU will add a further £5,000, so it’s a great way to have a big impact.

“At Christian Aid we work to help all people live a life free from poverty with dignity, equality and justice, but in Bangladesh large numbers of people in minority groups are denied that right.

“We are very grateful to all who supported Wells Cathedral’s Garden Party and in doing so will bring help to these people.”

Exhibitors at last year’s Railwells

Bike ride completed and £7,000 raised

ON Friday, July 7, Angela Cussell (Wells Rotary President), Richard Cussell (Rotarian), Fiona Bevan and Jeff Bevan set off on a 414-mile charity bike ride from Wells to Durham to raise money for emergency first aid in Wells. They were accompanied by support crew John and Rachel Lover who not only carried bags and provisions but were available in case of a breakdown or emergency. The money raised will be primarily used to provide emergency first aid training in Wells and to supply the city with equipment to support this initiative. Any excess funds will be donated to the charities supporting this project and other Rotary projects. Here is Angela’s diary of the bike ride.

DAY ONE: We set off at 7.30am from St Cuthbert’s Church in Wells to do more than 70 miles to Gloucester, which was one of

the hardest days because of the hills getting out of Wells.

DAY TWO: This was more than 62 miles and hard going not only with the hills but also battling through the rain for 80

GLASTONBURY & WELLS CATS PROTECTION NEUTERING CAMPAIGN LAST CHANCE!

This offer cannot be extended beyond 31st August 2023

The charity will offer vouchers to help with neutering costs of cats whose owners are on low income or income support. We are repeating the special price we offered in our last campaign. Owners will pay £5.00 per cat and the charity will pay the balance and also microchip your cat for free. Offer open to residents in Glastonbury, Wells, Street, Cheddar and Shepton Mallet and surrounding areas.

Contact a volunteer for your voucher:

Julia on 07833 634087

Emma on 07717 837040

Gill on 01749 850660

A neutered cat is a happy and healthy cat so be a responsible owner and phone for your voucher.

Pedigree cats are not eligible and vouchers will only be issued for participating vets.

Glastonbury and Wells Cats Protection

www.cats.org.uk/glastonbury

per cent of the ride. One rider fell off their bike (they are OK) and had to be driven to the nearest bike repair shop as the gear system had broken. We were all back on the road within an hour thanks to our trusty support crew.

DAY THREE: A nicer day due to the fact that there were fewer hills although it was tough because we were cycling along narrow canal paths, gravel tracks and bridle paths so there was a lot of off-road which we are not used to and it is not easy on a road bike. Most of our ride was brushing past overgrown brambles and stinging nettles which isn’t fun when you are wearing cycle shorts and a T-shirt. One cyclist’s bungee snapped and wrapped itself around the bike wheel and chain, and just to add to our fun we were chased by a thunderstorm for the last two miles to our accommodation.

DAY FOUR: A shorter ride, just over 47 miles. It was a lovely route with proper cycle tracks (mostly). At the end of the day it was nice to be able to spend some time tending to our aching muscles before the next day’s ride.

DAY FIVE: Our longest day which was more than 80 miles and mainly on very busy roads with many lorries hurtling past us at speeds which caused gusts of wind strong enough to lift our helmets off our heads – fortunately we had them strapped on tight and the

only thing it did do was blow off a helmet rain cover. There were not many hills which was good, just another wet day. At this stage our muscles were wondering what was happening, but our minds were going strong and loving the challenge (well, for most of us).

DAY SIX: Today was a good day, 53 miles and very hilly but we had the wind behind us which was great. One person got stung by a pesky wasp a few times on the knee but cycled on.

DAY SEVEN: Our last day! What’s not to like? Thirty-three miles left until we reach Durham Cathedral! We set off like excited schoolchildren. The route was made up of nice cycle lanes through fields and woodland. We arrived at our destination definitely feeling like we had just cycled 414 miles. We also felt proud that we had nearly doubled our mileage since the last charity ride we did from

‘I would like to take this opportunity to thank everyone who has donated to this great cause. You have all been so generous.’ Wells to Paris in 2018 as it was only 250 miles. I say this because we are not pro cyclists which is what makes this a challenge, in fact Richard Cussell’s idea of a cycle ride is a couple of times in the summer to the pub. So I would really like to thank him for joining us on this ride.

I would also like to take this opportunity to thank everyone who has very kindly donated to this great cause. You have all been so generous and I am amazed to say that to date we have raised more than £7,000. Wow! A great big thank you from Wells Rotary.

If you do work in Wells and would like to hear more about or have training in emergency first aid please do contact me at AC.WellsRotary@gmail.com, and if you would like to know more about this great cause please type this link (www.bit.ly/ wellsdurham) into your web browser or email me for more information.

The triumphant team at Durham Cathedral

Reg Charity No: 203644 (England & Wales) and SCO37711 (Scotland)

School opens new playground

A NEW playground was opened at St Joseph and St Teresa’s Primary School in Wells in July at a special assembly to which families and friends of the school were invited.

In the current academic year, £25,000 was raised for new playground equipment through a range of fundraising activities and grants.

Each class carried out a sponsored fundraiser, which included a reception class reindeer run, a wreathmaking workshop, an Alice in Wonderland themed tea party, a Halloween danceathon, and an ‘I’m a student get me out of here’ themed activity course.

There was also a Christmas disco and an Easter Bakesale.

More contributions came from the team of about 40 parents (current and previous families connected to the school) who steward at Glastonbury Festival each year, and from

grants including the Tesco blue coins scheme.

Karen Theedom, co-chair of the school’s PTFA, said: “We were a new PTFA at the start of the academic year, so

are incredibly proud of our achievements. A huge thank you to all of the children and their families and carers who have supported all the activity to raise this money over a year.”

Gratitude for Aid generosity

THE Christian Aid street collection in Wells on Saturday, May 20, collected £392, and Christian Aid Week in Wells and area raised altogether £3,560 from all sources, including house-to-house.

Wells Christian Aid committee has said it is very grateful both to all who worked to raise this money and to all who gave so generously.

Running festival back next May

ORGANISERS of Wells Festival of Running, which took place last year on Sunday, September 11, have announced that the event will be taking a break this autumn.

This will allow organisers to return to the traditional spring edition of the races. The scheduled date for 2024 is Sunday, May 26.

Headteacher Teresa Harvey opening the playground

Fletcher House | Wells BA5 1TN

Schools receive prizes for Bloom entries

AWARDS were handed out to this year’s Wells in Bloom Schools winners at The Bishop’s Palace on July 5.

Mayor Tanys Pullin, who presented the prizes, first thanked the Palace for hosting the awards and displaying the wheelbarrow entries, Brownes Garden Centre for sponsoring the prizes, judges Linda Thomas and Jennifer Owen, Wells City Council’s Outside Spaces team and Town Hall Manager Kevin Westwood for their contributions, Chris Lee for his help with tickets and banner designs, and organiser Councillor Denise Denis.

Cllr Denis and the judges said they appreciated that it had been a difficult year for schools, with time, financial and staffing pressures, and challenges from the weather of an extremely wet spring and a very dry May/ June. As a result, there were fewer entries than in previous years,

own home

but those that had entered were rewarded for their efforts with certificates and garden vouchers from Brownes Garden Centre.

Cllr Denis added her thanks to the volunteer judges Linda and Jennifer (Goldfinch Floral Studios).

The 2023 winners were:

Wheelbarrow Category

Best Edible: Croscombe Primary; Best Floral: Rockers and Rollers Nursery; Best Wildlife Friendly: Horrington Pre-School; King’s Coronation: Explorers Nursery. Gardens & Allotments

Best Edible: Wookey Primary; Best Floral and Best Wildlife

Friendly: joint, St Cuthbert’s Junior and Chewton Mendip.

Trophies

Parkes Shield: Wookey for best overall garden; Cup: Croscombe Primary for most innovative wheelbarrow; Cup: Horrington Pre-School for Best Wildlife Friendly garden.

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Some of the awards are displayed after the prize-giving ceremony in the Undercroft at The Bishop’s Palace

Week of activities was such great fun

Year 9 Blue School students

Megan Ham, Lily Knowles and Theon Moyse are leading members of the Newspaper Group, which has produced a newspaper – the Blue School Times – for Year 9 students each term. Here, they report on the school’s recent Enrichment Week.

IN July every year the Blue School timetable is collapsed and we have an Enrichment Week.

A week of fun, filled with activities. There are over 40 activities offered of which 13 are external trips.

Each student in Years 8 and 9 can choose two activities each day in school or go on an external day trip.

During this week, Year 7 camp takes place in the Forest of Dean. Whilst there, students take part in a variety of activities such as kayaking, bushcraft, and archery. Then when back in school, Year 7 students can

choose two activities to take part in each day.

Year 10 students spend the week experiencing the world of work and Year 12 students attend workshops focussing on life after sixth form. Also, during this week, the Year 9 language trips to France and to Spain take place. These help students to develop a sense of culture, and

an appreciation of new kinds of food, and everyday living.

Each enrichment activity is organised and led by a member of staff; they get to enjoy the week as much as we do! The activities at and around school include roller skating, rocket science, film-making and creative writing at The Bishop’s Palace to name just a few. Every

student’s day is fun-filled and enjoyable. Some of the off-site activities were held locally, such as golf at Wells Golf Club, tennis at Wells Tennis Club, riding at Divocky Stables, and a walk in the local countryside. There were trips to Bristol for a Bristol City FC Media Day, a visit to the aquarium, and a boat trip. Then, further afield, students visited Longleat, Cadbury World, and Splashdown!

Students really enjoy this week because of the freedom we are given to choose our own activities. We also get to make new friends and mix with students in other year groups who have similar interests to us. Every student is extremely grateful to the teachers who have provided us with such a wide variety of activities and opportunities.

We hope all future Years have as great an Enrichment Week as we did this year!

Lily Knowles, Theon Moyse and Megan Ham

Safety tips for people taking a trip away

THIS summer has been fantastic for my regular cycle patrols. Being out on the bike makes it easy to engage with the Wells community. It is always a privilege to speak to so many of you about the lovely weather we have been experiencing and what your concerns are about the area.

Despite living in what I think is the most beautiful area in the world, all of us crave a trip away.

With many of us taking a well-earned break I wanted to share with you some top tips for keeping you and your home safe.

Upon leaving your home:

l Lock up! Make sure your house is secure as well as any outbuildings and vehicles.

l House alarms should be set.

l Hide your valuables, do not leave laptops etc on display near windows or in your vehicle. Hide all tools from the garden as these could be used to break into a property.

*Including

l Do not advertise your absence. It is very tempting to post comments and photos on social media about you being away. This could give criminals the green light to pop round.

l Make your home look occupied. Get the support of your community. Speak to your trustworthy neighbours, someone you trust could stop post piling up? Put the bins out? Put lights on in your house? Maybe they could use your parking space? Wells has an active Neighbourhood Watch. If there isn’t one in your road, why not set one up?

While on your holiday:

l Read the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development office (FCDO) travel advice for the destination you are travelling to. It provides essential information and will highlight any scams, security risks, or other forms of criminal activity aimed at tourists.

l Pickpockets and other criminals target busy area so keep your passport, wallet and other valuables safe – not in your back pocket.

l If there is a safe in your room, use it. Ask at reception if you can use the hotel safe.

l If you use a taxi, make sure that it is a properly licensed official cab.

l Be wary of unsolicited offers of help from friendly locals, many

Enjoy exotic blooms of Hollyhock Trail

I HOPE Wells’ residents are enjoying the annual (and somewhat shortlived) Hollyhock Trail around the centre of Wells. From South Street to St Cuthbert’s; from the bus station (car park areas) to the Moat (check the fence next to the fields); even in Waitrose spare space to cheer their delivery drivers – these wonderfully exotic blooms have thrived and colonised spare space for the last four summers. I delight in the surprise they supply each year.

If the seed is saved (each plant produces hundreds each year) and simply scattered on

may be genuine, others may not. It may simply be a way to lure you into a false sense of security.

l If you are the victim of a crime, report the matter to your tour operator and the local police immediately. Follow the advice and instruction of the staff or local authorities.

Most holidays go ahead without incident, but accidents can sometimes happen. Even minor incidents can spoil your holiday, so I hope these tips and advice help ensure you have a happy holiday and return home safe and sound.

Wells Police are dedicated to keeping you safe, we rely on the public telling us what they have seen and heard; that information allows us to target action and disrupt crime.

We are seeing increasing reports of suspicious behaviour and crimes on social media forums. We are not seeing the same information being relayed to us, we may be missing opportunities to react to crimes and concerns.

There are a number of ways you can report to us, online, calling 101, via Crimestoppers anonymously or by speaking to one of your local officers either in person or ringing them direct.

I feel so fortunate to live and work in such a great city and look forward to seeing you all when out and about on patrol.

poor soil or in cracks in cement, their determined effort to germinate is astonishing. All hail to the Alcea – aka hollyhocks!

Christine Costello Wells

The latest from the local policing team with PC Dan Williams

Hollyhocks by St Cuthbert’s Church

‘Posts on social media about you being away could give criminals the green light to pop round’

PUPILS from 37 schools across Somerset, Bath, B&NES and North Somerset have smashed a world record.

To celebrate the 10th birthday of the Bath and Wells Multi Academy Trust, more than 70 pupils – two from each school –gathered at St Georges Primary in Weston-super-Mare on July 6 to link 1,889 school jumpers in a spectacular display.

A schools trust in Gloucestershire had set a record of 1,570 in 2019.

The schools gathered jumpers from lost property and parents offered unwanted jumpers and they were all transported to St Georges for the record attempt.

The event was part of a weeklong celebration of the Trust that included a special service in Wells Cathedral.

Wookey Theatre Group raised £3,500 with six sold-out performances of Andrew Lloyd Webber’s Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat in Wookey Village Hall. The funds will help the village hall refurbishment and continue to support the theatre group.

n IN DAYS GONE BY With Clare Blackmore

Expense records paint rich picture of past

IN Wells & Mendip Museum

Library there is a wealth of local history and information from electoral registers to censuses, from street histories across the city to general histories of the Cathedral, Palace and of Wells itself.

One book that is fascinating and that I return to again and again is the Manuscripts of the Dean and Chapter.

Among the reports of the Dean and Chapter are expense records for the maintenance and care of the Cathedral across the earliest times from amounts of stone collected from local quarries, specifically Doulting, to the costings for mending the robes and vestments of the staff of the Cathedral from the Vicars Choral to the choirboys. The incidental costings recorded in the two volumes paint a picture of maintaining, running, and administrating this wonderful building. These are just a few of

the entries which reflect the day to day.

1327

• A runner to carry writs 1s 6d, his boy, 6d

• John Cole to carry Chapter letters to York 2s 6d

• William de Pencrich 2 journeys to Stoke-sub-Hamdon 5s 8d

1343

• A pan for coals 6d

• Illuminating 15 letters 1s 3d

• Key for cloister door 7d

• 56lb wax 1l 2s 4d

• Mending coffer 4d

1372

• 1lb of cumin

1390

• Margery Skynnere of New Street left half a sheep which was sold to John the Tailor for 6d

• 3 carriages from Doulting 3s

• Plumbatory (workshop for plumbing or leadwork). A carpenter for the great door for one week 2s 6d

• Spikes and labour 11d, board nails and hatch nails, lock and key, oak plank 2s 2d

1391

• Paid to the Bishop, rent of the chapel over the gate in Torre Lane, 1lb of cumin. (There are passages in the Bible that reference cumin as one of the spices used for currency for paying taxes and debts because of its high value.)

1392

• Torches for the high altar 9s 4d

• Iron basin for the coals 1s

• Wine for the altars 38s 6d per gallon

1394

• Master of the schools 26s 8d

• Organ keeper 6s 8d

• Clock keeper 10s

• 3 bags of white leather 9d

• Horse keeper 2s

• Wine for auditors 9d

1400

• Chrism oil (oil mixed with fragrant spices) fetched from

• Servant of Sir Gilbert Denys for canons’ venison from Pucklechurch 2s

• Grease for bells 1s

• To Geoffrey the runner for

journeys to Burnham, Bristol and Exeter 12s 5d

• Buckram, silk and taffeta for mending vestments and copes 1s 8d

• Red wax for sealing 7d

• Six girdles of white thread for vestments 4d

1407

• Fetching oil for chrism from Exeter 2s 8d

• Key for the door of the great organ 3d

• Three yards of red buckram and three yards of green taffeta for copes and tunic for the tabular and choristers.

1408

• Two torches for the high altar weighing 69lbs, for the making 1l 11s 8d

• Mending a silver candelabra 2s 5d

• Fetching holy oil from Sherborne 2s 5d

• Sawing wood and making three ladders 12s 10d

• Washerwoman for mending and washing vestments 6d 1416

• Making a cope of white cloth of damask with golden stars on the Orpheys (ornamental band or border on the front of ecclesiastical garments) 4l 5s 0d 1417

• Walter Vagelar for keeping and playing the organ 10s

• For 12 little horns for the lantern in the nave and a lock for the great chest of bread for the poor 1s 4d

1430

• Mending a bucket for holy water 2d

• 2lb of rush candles 2d 1439

• Six priests’ girdles 2d

• Cleaning the great candlesticks in the choir 1s 2d

1454

• Silk and silver thread for vestments 6d

• 74 ells of white Flemish cloth for 12 albs 2l 3s 11d

• One load of wood to make ladder and rungs 3s 0d

• Mending a foot stool in the choir to as good as remaking 1s 6d

• Mending a holy water vessel 1s 8d

1461

• Board nails 4s, hatch nails 7s 6d, lead nails 6s 0d

Deadline for the September edition: August 9

Records show that money was spent on items such as mending a silver candelabra, red sealing wax, and cumin

Legal guidance with Chubb Bulleid

Dwelling or not a dwelling for Stamp Duty Land Tax?

By Fiona Barnwell-Diane

Exciting times for Wells City Band

Tanya Flagg provides the latest news on Wells City Band

WELLS City Band has an exciting few months ahead. On August 5, we will be playing at the Glastonbury Extravaganza and this will also be the premier of our new maroon ties, taking our uniform back to the original colours after many years of wearing green. We are delighted to be bringing the band back to its roots in the history of Wells.

In July the Brass Academy held their annual Showcase Concert. It is great to see the talent arising to ensure that the future of the band is secure. Thanks to generous grants we have been able to purchase new instruments for some of the Academy Band, and we have also had kind donations of preloved instruments for our beginners.

Brass Academy rehearsals will begin again in September and we have spaces available for both beginners and intermediate players. For more information

contact wcbbrassacademy@ gmail.com

On Sunday, September 24, at 7.30pm, we will be holding a Memorial Concert in St Cuthbert’s Church in honour of the legendary trumpeter John Wilbraham. John was an inspirational teacher and phenomenal performer, who retired to Wells at the end of his professional career. He played Principal Cornet with Wells City Band during his time living in Wells, and 25 years after his death we want to show our respects to him and all he did for the Band.

Early Bird tickets purchased before September 15 are £10 (£8 concessions). After this date they will be £12 (£10 concessions) and can be bought on the door if space allows. To purchase tickets contact Jane Hill, janehill546@ aol.com or phone 01749 675668. If you prefer to buy them online look out on our website or Facebook page for online ticketing information.

STAMP Duty Land Tax is a complex tax and often legal advisors will find themselves being required to provide advice to clients on the subject despite not being specialists in that area.

The subject of whether a dwelling could ever be nonresidential is one which has been explored recently by the Firsttier Tribunal case of Amarjeet Mudan and another v HMRC [2023] UKFTT 317.

In this case, the taxpayer was arguing that the property which had been vandalised and needed a lot of renovation works including rewiring, new pipes, new boiler and other elements meant it was not suitable for use as a dwelling and as such nonresidential rate should apply.

However, the First-tier Tribunal disagreed and following HMRC’s guidance, stated that unless the dwelling was for example at high risk of collapsing then the dwelling would be residential.

HMRC’s guidance further states that unless the dwelling needs repair work which cannot be undertaken safely due to asbestos for example or there is a high probability of walls collapsing or other hazards are present which would cause a local authority to issue a prohibition notice, then the dwelling would still be classed as suitable for use a dwelling and

therefore subject to residential rates.

The same guidance notes details that substantial repairs to windows, floors, a roof, unsafe electrical wiring, flood damage or damp proofing being needed for example would not detract away from the ability for that dwelling to be considered suitable for use as a dwelling.

The effect of this means

that whereas somebody may deem a derelict house, which needs extensive work, as not suitable for use as a dwelling, in fact HMRC would potentially disagree and a higher rate of tax would most likely be payable on the purchase of a rundown residential property.

n Fiona Barnwell-Diane is a Solicitor with Chubb Bulleid, which has offices in Wells, Street and Somerton. Phone 01749 836100.

‘Whereas somebody may deem a derelict house, which needs extensive work, as not suitable for use as a dwelling, HMRC would potentially disagree’

Anna Roderick, Cecily Murray and Oleksandr Panov, front row, were presented with music folders and their uniform tie at Wells City Band Brass Academy’s Summer Showcase Concert, to mark their graduation from the Beginners section to the Academy Band. They are pictured with Brass Academy leaders John Turner and Tanya Flagg.

Foodbanks support campaign launched

SOUTH West legal and financial planning firm Mogers Drewett has launched a campaign to help struggling families during the school holidays by supporting local foodbanks.

The firm is currently accepting donations of long-life food items, cleaning products and toiletries at its offices in Wells – at Bishopbrook House, Cathedral Avenue – Bath and

holidays put further pressure on budgets that are impossible to balance, and we are preparing for a spike in demand from families this August.

“We are asking for donations of child-friendly long-life products and toiletries such as children’s toothbrushes and toothpaste, tinned tuna, tinned meals, healthy snacks and squash.

“Although our clients are referred to us by agencies such as the Jobcentre, we receive no government funding to support our work and depend on donations and occasional grants to fund our vital work.”

Grant to restore cemetery pond

A cheque for Wells Foodbank that followed the Christmas collection Sherborne. The much-needed donations will go to foodbanks local to the firm’s offices which have seen increased demand for help.

Sue Marland, senior pastor at Wells Vineyard Church and manager of the city’s foodbank, said: “Many of our clients have young children and rely on free school meals. The school

Sean McDonough, managing partner of Mogers Drewett, said: “Our local foodbanks do such fantastic work to help struggling families, particularly at this time of year. So we wanted to do our bit to support them and the local communities they serve.

“We are asking people to pop into one of our offices and donate whatever they can spare to help local people in crisis this summer.”

He added: “This latest campaign follows our successful Christmas collection on behalf of local foodbanks when our staff also raised £1,000 for these amazing organisations.”

THE Mendip Hospital Cemetery, just off Hooper Avenue in Wells, is a three-acre site where 3,000 souls of the Somerset and Bath County Pauper Lunatic Asylum, then the Wells Mental Hospital and latterly the Mendip Hospital are now buried.

It is nationally unique in that it still has the original layout, original planting of Yew and Cypress trees and its cast iron grave markers.

Until this year it also had a thriving pond full of wildlife, pondlife and associated planting. Unfortunately, the lining which was installed by volunteers in 2000 has sprung a leak and the pond is now dry.

Local garden volunteers

came to the rescue and caught and rehomed the aquatic life of tadpoles, newts and frogs and offered to reinstate the pond when needed.

The Friends of the Mendip Hospital Cemetery applied to the Wessex Water Foundation for a grant and have just heard that the grant application has been successful: “We are delighted to announce that we have been awarded a grant from the Wessex Water Foundation Environment Fund. This grant will support our work to replace the old pond liner and reinstate the wildlife pond.”

Work can now start with local volunteers to get the project completed.

Headteacher shares candid insights in new book

LOCAL headteacher Brian Walton has celebrated the publishing of his honest account of the highs and lows of school leadership.

Wells resident Brian has worked in education for more than 30 years in Bristol, London and most recently as the head at Brookside Academy, Street. Lessons From the Head’s Office started life as a series of weekly blogs and shares his insight into what has worked and not worked when confronted with challenging situations, teams and parents. It also looks at managing wellbeing and how headteachers, often a lonely job, can find their own support network.

Brian said: “I hope that fellow headteachers and aspiring school leaders find my honest and practical account and advice reassuring.

“Being a headteacher is a rewarding job that requires determination, flexibility and a careful understanding of the people you work with. I enjoy writing and as there are very few books about headship from someone who is still doing the job I hope my readers enjoy, as well as learn from, my experiences.”

Brian was joined by colleagues, friends and family for a launch at The Pressoir, Wells. The book is available on Amazon.

Brian Walton with a copy of his book at the launch event in Wells

Mayor of Wells Tanys Pullin, left, and Wells MP James Heappey, third left, help cut the ribbon to mark the opening of the Charlton House Hotel in Shepton Mallet under its new ownership. The hotel is now a Montigo Resorts property and is undergoing refurbishment.

MESSAGE FROM THE MP

Our schools continue to do a great job

I WRITE this just before our schools break up for the summer holiday at the end of the academic year – I want to take the opportunity to thank all the people who work so hard to teach our children, and wish them a well-earned break.

I know the last few years have not been easy and it is a tribute to the dedication and hard work of staff and pupils that, despite all the difficulties, our schools and the children in them continue to thrive.

Last week, my team and I said farewell to two pupils from the Blue School who had joined me for work experience, spending three days in Westminster and two days in the constituency. I was thoroughly impressed by how they conducted themselves, their thoughtful consideration

Thoughts of Wells MP James Heappey

of far from straightforward issues, the seemingly fearless way they threw themselves into their roles and the hard work required. They are a credit to the school and I hope they gained as much from their experience as I did from meeting them.

My experience with these two pupils matches what I see when I visit schools around the patch – Head Teachers, of schools of every size from the Blue School to the smallest village primaries, have a can do attitude and are determined to do the best they can for the children at their schools.

This is transmitted to the staff – not just teachers but all the other roles that are vital to the running of a school –and from them to the pupils themselves.

I am pleased that the government has accepted the pay recommendations of the School Teachers’ Review body –it would not have been right, after years of claiming that we had to follow its findings, to say that this year we were not going to do so and it is right that, as the unions have accepted, the pay increases are funded and have not asked schools to find savings from budgets already stretched by inflation and the substantial increases to the local authority’s de-delegated budget.

Our schools are not perfect –in particular the county’s SEND provision is still not at the standard it needs to be – but they do a fantastic job and I hope everyone involved with them has the fantastic summer break that they have well and truly earned.

‘I hope everyone involved with our schools has the fantastic summer break that they have well and truly earned’

n WHAT’S ON

Displays of quite different kinds taking place at Palace in August

THE Bishop’s Palace in Wells will be bringing the summer holidays to a dramatic close over the August Bank Holiday weekend by joining forces with medieval re-enactors and combat specialists Bowlore Medieval.

Encamped in the stunning ruins of the Great Hall on August 26, 27 and 28, visitors will discover the historical re-enactment group and medieval weapons experts who will be hosting lively displays throughout the day, with demonstrations and choreographed combat.

Longbows will be used as well as pallaxes, dane hammers, alchion and langmesser to name but a few.

The Black Dog, Bowlore’s weapons and armour tent, will also give visitors to the Palace the chance to get a glimpse of medieval life, and members of the Bowlore troupe will be on hand throughout the day to share their expertise and answer questions.

For visitors who prefer a more

gentle experience of the Palace, there will also be a chance to see a breathtaking display of floral art with Wells Floral Arts Club’s Flower Festival; a celebration of their remarkable 70th anniversary which will be held at the Palace from August 10-13. Drawing inspiration from fashion and national events since the 1950s, the Flower Festival at

Rejuvenating day of music

PEOPLE in need of a de-stress this summer could consider treating themselves to some metime with a difference.

Time Out to Tune In is a day of reviving and rejuvenating music-making sessions, for which no previous musical experience is required, at Wells Methodist Church, Southover, Wells, on Saturday, August 5, from 11.30am-4pm.

There will be a chance to take part in an informal harmony singing session, create African rhythms in the djembe drumming workshop and become immersed in the sound of gongs and singing bowls in the Sound Bath.

The day is fully catered and costs £45.

the Palace promises to be a real feast for the senses.

Entrance to the Medieval Weekend and Flower Festival is included with general admission to The Bishop’s Palace and Gardens, including 12 months of re-entry (some event days excluded).

More at www.bishopspalace. org.uk

People Trust us with their Funeral Arrangements So Can You!

To find out more and to book a place, visit www. emmawheatmusicco.uk

Board game nights

WELLS Board Game Group will meet at The Quarter Jack, Priory Road, Wells, on Wednesday, August 2; Wednesday, August 16, and Wednesday, August 30, from 7pm-9.30pm.

Bowlore Medieval will be giving weapons displays

n WHAT’S ON Rivalry and rifts in tempestuous play

WELLS Little Theatre’s production of The Tempest will run over four nights in September.

The world is out of kilter. Political unrest and an unsettled climate make for troubled times. People are out of kilter, too. Sibling rivalry and family rifts cause heartache and uneasy souls.

On an island full of strange sounds and wondrous sights, a father and daughter struggle to survive.

Then one day, their longlost enemies sail into view on the horizon. Surrounded by a furious sea, the reunited foes are forced to confront their pasts and themselves.

The show dates are September 13-16. Tickets are on sale on the website: www.wellslittletheatre.com

TAI CHI

Wells Blue Sports Centre

Mondays

6pm – 7pm

£5 per class

Bob 07791 291886

Church tower open on August Sundays

EACH Sunday in August from 2pm until 5pm, the magnificent tower at St Cuthbert’s Church will be open and visitors can climb up to see the bells and to enjoy the amazing views over the city and surrounding countryside.

PILATES AND BARRE

TUESDAYS

Pilates 9.15am

Pilates Seated Seniors 10.30am

WEDNESDAYS

Barre 5pm • Pilates 6pm

THURSDAYS

Pilates 9.15am • Barre 10.30am

FRIDAYS

Pilates 9.15am

Location Wells Town Hall. Small, mixed ability classes. To apply, contact Sally at: zest2zen@gmail.com

production is Uncle Vanya, in the “fresh”, acclaimed 2020 adaptation by Conor McPherson that combines both humour and soulful insights from this turn of the 20th-century theatre classic. Meet by Croscombe Village Hall. Free entry – donations welcome. Indoors if rain. For further information: 07771 814270 / www. croscombevillagehall.org.uk

Folk club meetings

MR Punch’s Folk Club meets once a fortnight on a Friday at Theale Village Hall, BA5 1PN, from 8pm. Traditional and contemporary music, song and verse. Mostly open mic, with new performers always welcome. More at punchsfolkclub. yolasite.com

Kids Go Free This Summer

19 July to 3 September

From 19 July, Brunel’s SS Great Britain are welcoming children 16 years and under for free when you book tickets online.

Tickets for the tower tour are £5 for adults and £2.50 for children (from 8-16).

To add to the enjoyment, home-made cream teas and cakes will be available.

Booking for the tower tours is required by contacting the Parish Office at office@stcuthbertswells. co.uk or 01749 676906.

‘Fresh’ adaptation of Uncle Vanya

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THE annual open-air theatre production by local students in Croscombe is Uncle Vanya by Chekhov and takes place on Sunday, August 27, at 1.30pm and 4.30pm.

Audiences were wowed by their performances of Shakespeare’s Twelfth Night in 2021 and last year by a contemporary translation of Moliere’s Tartuffe. This year’s

Highlights this summer include a brand new family food trail, AR binoculars and a cricket display. ssgreatbritain.org/summer

Pub music events

FREE folksong and music sessions are being organised in friendly traditional pubs.

The Wells Folk Sessions take place on the second Monday of every month at Queen Victoria Inn, Priddy, 9pm till late; and the fourth Wednesday of every month at City Arms, High Street, Wells, 8.45pm till late.

All are welcome at the music nights to sing a song, play a tune or just listen and enjoy. More from Richard: 01761 412797, richardlm397@gmail.com

Picture: Greg Trezise / Emma Lanfranchi

Dave Palmer is Prospero, top, in the production of Shakespeare’s The Tempest at Wells Little Theatre; and the view from the top of St Cuthbert’s Church tower, which will be open each Sunday in August

n WHAT’S ON Sikhs returning for joyful celebration

THE joyful annual celebration of the friendship and partnership of Rotary and KhalsaAid is coming to Wells again this year on Saturday, August 5.

The Meet the Sikhs event will take place on Cathedral Green from noon to 4pm and include the popular turban tying and delicious vegetarian food and colourful traditional dancing – all free. There will also be an opportunity to see what Rotary has been doing for disasters around the world with Water Survival Box and a chance to try packing one.

Organisers say it is great fun and truly rewarding, and Wells Rotary will welcome people most warmly.

Tickets on sale for latest adult panto

SOMERSET’S only touring adult panto group is making a return following its previous sell-out success. The Glastonbury And Street Pottymouth Squad (GASPS) will bring more rudeness to six venues across Somerset in January – including Wookey Hole Caves – with its adult pantomime, Snow *hite, Rotten to the Core.

It follows the success of this year’s show, Sinders, which toured the county, sold out weeks before opening night and helped raise £7,000 for Glastonbury and Street Musical Comedy Society.

The new panto will tour West Pennard, Cossington, Somerton, Weston-super-Mare, Wookey Hole Caves and Glastonbury from January 24.

Tickets, which start at £16.50, are on sale on GASPS’ website: www.gspottymouth.co.uk

Back in September

WELLS Scottish Dancers begin a new term on September 14. The Scottish country dancing group’s classes are held on Thursday evenings from 6.30pm to 8.30pm at the Blue School Sports Centre, Wells. All ages (over 18) are welcome, no experience is necessary, and no partner is needed. However, a reasonable level of mobility is required for this lively and sociable activity.

To learn more about Scottish dancing or to register

ALMSHOUSES OPEN DAY

Saturday 9 September 11am – 4pm

Free entry

Beautiful gardens and medieval homes to visit as well as the Guildroom and ancient chapel.

Tasty savouries and cakes available.

Somerset Flutes playing from 12pm-1pm and popular Ukulele band playing between 2pm and 3pm.

The almshouses are on two sites, one in Priest Row and the other at the back of St Cuthbert’s churchyard.

interest in joining, call Ann on 01934 740065 or email ann. wellsdancers@gmail.com

Pageant exhibition

WELLS & Mendip Museum’s new exhibition The Pageant of 1923: A Celebration of Community continues until August 12.

The Wells Pageant took place 100 years ago in July 1923. It was designed to raise funds for a women’s hall, and the Museum’s founder and first curator Herbert Balch played a key role in planning and scripting the event. The people of Wells came forward to play the parts of Druids, Romans, Saxons and Tudors, and were captured on camera by local photographer Bert Phillips.

A selection of his images are on display alongside some of the very few objects associated with the Pageant which survive in the Museum’s collections.

Irish Set Dancing

IRISH Set Dancing takes place on Thursday evenings in Dinder

Village Hall from 8pm-10pm, from September to June. Beginners are welcome, and no partner is necessary.

£3 including refreshments. More information from Paul Harper: 01458 210051 or paulharper@btopenworld.com

Social Dancing

SOCIAL Dancing (Ballroom, Sequence, Latin) takes place every Friday evening at Henton village hall near Wells, BA5 1PD, from 7pm to 9pm.

People do not have to be good, simply go along and join in. The cost is £6 per hour, and refreshments are provided. For more information, call 07769 603937.

Sing-along sessions

GOLDEN-OLDIES sing-along sessions for older people take place on the first Wednesday of each month at the Methodist Church Hall, 24 Southover, Wells, BA5 1UH, with Al and Annie Whitley. From 2.30pm3.30pm, with tea and coffee from 2.15pm.

Essential Mindful Exercise Core & More Functional Fitness Classes

www.healthtaichi.co.uk www.pilogafit.co.uk

John Beasley 01749 672482

Seated exercise

SEATED exercise classes are taking place in Seager Hall, Union Street, Wells, every Tuesday afternoon at 2.30pm.

Carrie Hemmings is delivering the Love To Move sessions, which involve movement to music while sitting down. The cost to take part is £4 per person and £1 per accompanying carer.

For more information, contact Carrie: 07818 303956 or email lovetomovemendip@ gmail.com

Health Tai Chi

PilogaFit

Top, the Meet the Sikhs event will include turban tying, dancing – and free food; and above, many faces from last year’s tour of the adult panto Sinders will make a return for the new production

Kids Go Free This Summer at Brunel’s SS Great Britain

THIS year marks 180 years since the SS Great Britain was launched into Bristol harbour –changing global travel forever.

To celebrate, Brunel’s SS Great Britain are welcoming children 16 years and under for free this summer when you book tickets online. Highlights include an exciting new food trail – ‘Birthday Banquet Blunder’ –where families can follow a series of clues hidden throughout the ship. The trail will teach children about the food that passengers would have eaten on board.

Iona Keen, Head of Interpretation at Brunel’s SS Great Britain, said: “The new ‘Birthday Banquet Blunder’ family trail is a fun way of showcasing the sights, sounds

and smells of a Victorian voyage. And there’s a culinary twist to tie in with our 180th anniversary this summer – families can help solve party preparation blunders, all based on real life events that happened on board the ship.”

Visitors can also step back in time by peering through a pair of augmented reality binoculars that will transport them to 1843. Created by Zubr, a leading augmented reality studio based in the South West, the experience will allow visitors to see the ship and the floating harbour as they were 180 years ago.

Book a visit between July 19 and September 3 to redeem the ‘Kids Go Free This Summer’ offer. Terms & conditions apply. ssgreatbritain.org/summer

n AROUND THE SOCIETIES

WELLS U3A

WELLS u3a have been enjoying the good weather in June and July.

In June the Local History Group enjoyed a day trip to Minehead on the West Somerset Railway. The group were taken by coach to Bishops Lydeard, where they boarded the steam train to Minehead in a specially reserved carriage. Once in Minehead everyone had the chance to enjoy the wonderful weather, and find somewhere to lunch before returning to Bishops Lydeard on the 2.30pm train. On the return journey most enjoyed a cream tea as the Somerset countryside passed by, then were met by the coach for the return journey to Wells.

The wildflower walks group have taken advantage of all the wildflowers around at this time of the year. After a walk at the end of May up on the Mendips at Priddy, the group enjoyed a sunny walk on Ivythorne Hill not far from Street and saw four species of orchid: Greater Butterfly Orchid, Pyramidal Orchid, Common Spotted Orchid and Common Twayblade Orchid. Bee Orchids can also sometimes be seen at this location. Many other wildflowers were spotted on this walk including Bird’s Foot Trefoil, Salad Burnet, Black Medick, Ribwort Plantain, Cock’s Foot Grass and Quaking Grass, to name but a few.

The latest walk in July took several members of the group to Westhay Moor Nature Reserve where in the highlight of the walk by the lakes along the drove and also amongst the peatlands, the group was able to spot the round-leaved Sundew, which is an insect-gathering plant, tiny and red laying amongst other plants and grasses, so easy to walk on and not even noticed unless you are with a knowledgeable leader like Pat.

The Out and About Group spent a very informative day near to home, visiting firstly Burcott Mill and after a welcome coffee and cake the group had a guided tour of the flour mill with the waterwheel in action producing the stoneground wholemeal flour using the same methods and machinery that were employed 150 years ago. Lunch was then enjoyed at the Ring O’Bells in Wookey before moving on to Court Farm, a treasure hidden away up a drive away from sight

of the road. Here the group enjoyed a guided tour and cream tea in the beautiful gardens, provided by the present owners, Stuart Morre and his wife. The house, a Grade II listed building, is a former Episcopal manor house dating from the 13th century. With the help of a plan of the building, Stuart pointed out how the house evolved over the centuries.

The house has been continuously occupied by a range of inhabitants from bishops to tenant farmers who have carried out piecemeal adaptions within their respective budgets. It has now been brought up to date by recent occupants using traditional materials and conservation skills, taking care the designs are planned to have minimal impact on the standing archaeology, character and aesthetics of the building.

The Out and About group also had an exclusive visit to Stoberry Park, welcomed by Frances Young, where they were able to wander around the immaculate gardens created over the years by Frances and her husband. The visit also included a beautiful homemade cream tea in the conservatory of the house.

This is just a tase of outings and outdoor activities organised by Wells u3a. The walking groups are always popular along with the cycling groups which includes ‘easy riders’ if you are not into a long cycle ride, with electric bikes welcome. If you want to discover what else is on offer just go to their website https://u3asites.org.uk/wells/ home. New members welcome any time.

Ann Brown

WELLS & DISTRICT GARDENING CLUB

“I WILL now amuse the Fleet with a signal.” So spoke Nelson on the poop deck before the great naval battle commenced. Not everyone below nor those above decks was amused. Admiral Collingwood aboard HMS Royal Sovereign grumbled, “I wish Nelson would stop signalling. We know well enough what to do.” It was, of course, the most famous message sent in naval history, viz. “England confides that every man will do his duty.”

But it was not his last. Before a shot was fired, Nelson’s final command was, “Engage the enemy more closely.” A slogan in fact adopted right across the services in subsequent battlegrounds.

Some gardeners regard their cultivated patches as some sort of battle zone. Pests to be exterminated, weeds to be eradicated, stripes on the lawn and all under the thumb of the householder. Others take a different approach. One of the most popular speakers to the Gardening Club has been the botanist and lecturer at Oxford and former Director of

the Oxford Botanic Gardens, Timothy Walker. One of his talks is entitled ‘On top but never in control’. Which seems to me to sum up what most of us meet when we pick up the garden fork. Yet all is not lost, I tell myself. Many of us have adopted and adapted Nelson’s advice this year and have “engaged with Nature more closely”. The garden has matured, I tell myself. Apart from the usual amounts of soapwort, enchanter’s nightshade and wood avens, there have been one or two interesting encroachments. Yes, the grass has grown long and straggly and a few brown butterflies flutter through it. Ragwort, complete with those handsome wasp-striped caterpillars of the equally handsome cinnabar moth, has infiltrated the border. What is more, my wife called it a splendid addition to the planting scheme, so there it stays. Were it an introduction from the slopes of the Nepalese mountains and sold in garden centres, we’d be queuing for it.

The lovely shrub rose Souvenir de St Annes with its pale pink translucent blooms has been surrounded by a circle of nipplewort. (You didn’t expect that, did you?) A bit of a colour clash but we had to wait to see what happened. All these gatecrashers have made the garden more interesting and we might pay for it later though I’m happy with the ragwort as there are not many horses grazing in the Bath Road.

If we can stop worrying about the garden, let Nature do what Nature does (within reason, of course), we can leave the anxieties to others in August and visit other people’s plots. We next meet as a club in the Town Hall on September 14 at 7.30pm to hear the award-winning journalist and gardener Sally Nex.

Pip Harwood

WELLS ROTARY

THE Wells Rotary Presidential handover took place at Anton’s in Wells on Monday, July 3, when Alan Webb handed over to Angela Cussell after his fantastic year as president. During Alan’s year Wells Rotary had raised funds to buy a minibus for Heads

Continued on page 44

Wells u3a members enjoying a cream tea on the West Somerset Railway

Picture: Maureen Boylan

Senecio jacobaea in the border

n AROUND THE SOCIETIES

From page 43

Up, helped with the rebranding and joining of the East and West Mendip Way and so much more.

Before Alan handed over to Angela he awarded Bob Haigh the Paul Harris Fellow award to show thanks for his loyal service in Rotary and long service as club Secretary. This award is the highest form of recognition a Rotary Club can bestow.

We were honoured to have District Governor Stewart Gilbert attend our meeting and Mayor Tanys Pullin, who talked about her amazing wedding dress project during her year as Mayor.

President Angela Cussell is already up and running with her project which is to support the people of Wells and its visitors. It is Angela’s mission – with the help of Wells Rotary and St John Ambulance – to train as many people (for free) as possible in the Wells high street in emergency first aid. In doing this it will enable them to have the knowledge to assist anyone who falls outside their shop or office and give them the confidence to assess if an ambulance is required or if it is safe to move them off the road/floor to a warm, safe place. This will also reduce unnecessary calls to 999 and take undue pressure off A&E, but the biggest benefit will be to the person who has fallen because they will not have to wait for hours for assistance.

It is important for as many local businesspeople and staff members as possible to sign up to this project for it to work. We believe it is human nature to help someone if they fall and this training will enable them to do it with confidence as we will be giving them the tools to work with and step-by-step instructions to enable them to help.

We will be having a meeting (to be arranged) to discuss the training process and answer any questions, there will be no pressure to commit so please sign up for the initial meeting to find out what is involved by emailing AC.WellsRotary@ gmail.com

ST THOMAS WOMEN’S FELLOWSHIP

UNFORTUNATELY our speaker for the July meeting was unable to come, but we were very lucky

that Mike Chipperfield was willing and able to more than adequately fill in for us.

He spoke of his 30 years in the Metropolitan Police Force. From his beginning with them at the training school through various sections he had us both informed and amused with his time there. He started on foot, progressing to motorbikes and on to the traffic section in different parts of London. His duties went on to include Royal Protection, meeting several members of the Royal Family. It was so interesting to hear of the friendships that existed then and to know that some of his fellow police officers stay in touch still. It was a long career that was both interesting and for the most part enjoyable.

We meet again in August when we have organised an afternoon meeting with a cream tea for members to enjoy.

Pat Dyer

WELLS FLORAL ART CLUB

CLUB members and visitors met on Tuesday, July 11, to welcome Beverley Clay, an area demonstrator from Cardiff. Her demonstration was entitled Out of My Garage.

Like many others, she spent lockdown looking at what was at the back of her garage and bringing some of them back into use. The first design was done in a watering can and using a mixture of florist flowers, white carnations and garden flowers from a local grower to give a very pleasing fountain-shaped arrangement.

Next, a wooden base of oak

was complemented by some oak leaf branches to which were added purple garden grown hydrangeas and yellow roses. This was followed by a modern take on a traditional garden look and achieved by using bamboo cut into lengths and filled with test tubes into which were placed a mixture of seed heads, herbs and garden flowers.

Large green chrysanthemum blooms and pink penstimons were the feature flowers in a design on a wrought iron stand 1980s style. For her final design to avoid using floral foam Beverley used a terracotta vase to hold a range of garden foliage to support tropical strelitzias and purple liatris. Pat Squire gave the vote of thanks and Jenny Bodenham and Sandra Gibby served the teas.

This was our last demonstration before the summer break. This doesn’t mean we will be putting our feet

up in August for 2023 is our Platinum Anniversary and we will be holding our celebration at the 70 Anniversary Flower Festival in The Bishop’s Palace, Wells, from August 10-13. We will be supported by three National Demonstrators and Area Demonstrators who will each depict a decade in flowers beginning with the 1950s. Standard venue admission prices apply.

Who would have thought that when a few ladies met in the Star hotel in 1952 our club would still be thriving? And a shift back to the basics they used is now being revived because of climate change. Club members will be on hand to answer questions if you would like to join us in the autumn.

Our meeting will be on Tuesday, September 12, at 2.15pm when National Demonstrator Michael Bowyer MBE will be demonstrating Autumn Approaches. It’s at St Thomas’ Church Hall, Wells, BA5 2UZ.

Jenny Jones

WELLS TUESDAY WI

A LOVELY sunny June enabled our groups to get out and about. Blooming Fun visited Wellfield Barn Gardens and Stoberry Park Gardens, both within our beautiful city. Our Walking Netball group have been enjoying playing in the evening sunshine, often followed by a very sociable glass of Pimms on Debbie’s lawn. The Short and Easy walking group had a fabulous walk along the new section of the Strawberry Line path. A group entering the Charity Boules competition at The Bishop’s Palace met up to learn how to play, in for a penny! The Crafties group enjoyed an evening learning the art of Quilling, led by Sharon, the president of Keinton Mandeville WI.

At our monthly meeting on July 4 we were treated to a very entertaining talk on caving and cave rescue by Martin Grass, the chair of Mendip Cave Rescue. The rescue team was founded in 1936 and is the second oldest rescue group in the country. The Mendip Hills conceal the largest underground river system in Britain. It was very fascinating to get a glimpse of what, unbeknown to us, might be beneath our feet as we walk

Beverley Clay was the demonstrator at the Wells Floral Art Club meeting in July

Alan Webb hands over to new Wells Rotary President Angela Cussell

n AROUND THE SOCIETIES

around Wookey Hole, Priddy and Cheddar. The Rescue team are all volunteers from the caving community and have carried out 530 rescues in their 87 years, mostly human, but have been called out to rescue three cows. A team of cave divers from Mendip Cave Group were included in the British rescue effort, who successfully rescued the 12 young footballers trapped in the cave in Thailand in 2018.

Looking forward, the Mayor of Wells, Tanys Pullin, has invited our WI group to be involved in her Mayor’s New Clothes project. We have a plan for all members of our group to add to the dress; we will all be making a very simple yellow flower at the beginning our September meeting, under the guidance of Helen Sanderson and Claire Axten.

We will not be holding our usual monthly meeting in the museum in August. Instead we have invited Wells Monday WI to join us on the Cathedral Green on the evening of Tuesday, August 1, for a bring a sharing plate social and a simple boules tournament for anyone who fancies a game.

Janette Billington

CITY OF WELLS PROBUS

ROGER Dollins was inducted and welcomed as the latest member of the City of Wells Probus by the Chairman, Stan Gibby, at their meeting on July 11 at the Wells Golf Club.

The brilliant speaker and geology scholar, Stephen Thompson, delivered a gripping learned tale of the geological journey of the Mendips starting some 4.5 billion years ago in the Antarctic region to the present day to where we now know the Mendips to be. In moving through from the distant Phanozoic eon to the postCambrian period to the present day, the Mendips went through many transformations, rising at one time to over 4,000 feet and enduring storms of 100 years duration.

Members were mesmerised by the speaker’s profound and immediate command of his topic, made so stunningly interesting through his enormous enthusiasm and enquiry for the Mendips’ geology, and his fascinating collection of rock samples.

Nine-year-old performs with notable prowess

A NEW name to remember at Mendip Golf Club in the future. Tildee Rocker-Cook, daughter of Competitions Chairman Rob Cook, recently played in a Somerset Minis Tournament at Tickenham. Nine-year-old Tildee has only been playing for a year and found the greens like putting on glass, something that she had never encountered before. Despite this she scored 50 over the 9 holes finishing 3rd on count back to girls two and five years older.

Next month’s meeting on August 11 will see Victoria Northwood of the Wells and Mendip Museum talk about her special project, Search and Learn.

Enquiries about membership of the City of Wells Probus may be addressed to the Secretary, via tonyshepherd@mbzonline.net

MENDIP FIBROMYALGIA SUPPORT GROUP

WE are pleased to be welcoming new members so we now represent those who are of all ages and are not now just women.

Our July speaker was Colin Price who captivated us with his talk and slides about the railway in and around Wells. We were fascinated looking at the beautiful landscape that now is covered with homes and office buildings.

Our next meeting will be on August 2 which will be organised without a speaker with members taking part.

On September 6 we have the return of Andy and Kate Bluffield as we fell in love with their amazing dogs. We have asked them back to share their new puppy and to also talk about horses and keeping chickens.

For more information about our group (that also covers long Covid) do contact Tanya Flagg: tanya@mendipfmsg.org

Mendip’s Open Mixed Bowmaker attracted a good field and saw clear winners being a team from Romsey/Chilworth with 87 points, 7 clear of the second team who came from Oake Manor/Honiton, with the third placed team from Cricket St Thomas a further 5 shots back with 75.

Best Mendip team were David and Christine Jukes playing with Louise and Tony Scott.

Mendip’s Jubilee Cup event saw 123 entrants and some very low scoring in almost perfect playing conditions. The overall winner was young Alec Roberts who continues to see his handicap dropping, who had a net 65. The overall gross winner was Scott Butland with a 71. Division 1 went to Kevin Keene with a 66. Division 2 was won by a resurgent Chris Bryant with 68 and Division 3 went to T J Buckland with 66.

The Seniors Rosebowl County foursomes event saw a fine win 4½-½ over Saltford which takes them through to the quarter finals. Wins from Simon Brand/ Simon Wynn, Ian Hall/John Ellis, Gar Quin/David Jukes and Bryan Lewis/Chris White

Chance to play

BADMINTON

WELLS City Badminton Club plays every Wednesday from 8pm-10pm at Shepton Mallet Leisure Centre. New members with some playing experience welcome. Contact Chrissie Allen: 07971 340591.

with the half coming from Team Captain Steve Davis/Ian Perkins.

Thirty Ladies played in the Centenary Plate Medal. Winning with a fine score of net 72 was Lynn Cox. The Ladies Alliance B Team visited Clevedon but were defeated 4-10, with wins coming from Jenny Merrett and Fran Davies. The A Team however had a storming win over Wells 12-2 with wins from Ellen Reakes, Aimee Sawyer, Marian Speed, Lynne Vowles, Jenny Merrett and Elaine P Richardson.

The Somerset Girls County Championships were held at Worlebury. A fine 64 points over the 36 holes saw Mendip’s young Connie Cox win the Stableford Trophy, and Ffion Richardson came 5th in the Gross event. Connie has worked so hard this year on her game and is now playing off 8.7.

Weekly meetings

TABLE TENNIS

WELLS Table Tennis Club meets every Wednesday at the Seager Hall, Union Street, Wells, from 6.30pm-9.30pm.

For more details, email paulhambleton2@btinternet. com

Fifteen-year-old Connie Cox, winner of the Somerset County Girls Stableford event

GOLF

City of Wells Probus Chairman Stan Gibby, right, with Stephen Thompson, the speaker at the July meeting

Each row, column and square (9 spaces each) needs to be filled out with the numbers 1-9, without repeating any numbers within the row, column or square.

For younger readers

NOTE After feedback from readers, we have made The Fiend SLIGHTLY easier! Find the

holiday words in this word search puzzle.

Summer Holiday Word Search

Announcement of new appointments

SOUTH West legal and financial planning firm Mogers Drewett has announced several new appointments and created a new people development role following a year of record growth.

The firm, which has offices in Wells, Bath, Sherborne and Frome, has seen turnover increase by 10 per cent across its teams during the last year. This has allowed Mogers Drewett to invest further in its people with the appointment of experienced employee development and coaching specialist Ben Morris as head of people and performance. Ben joins Mogers Drewett from international law firm DAC Beachcroft where he was head of employee relations.

Also joining Mogers Drewett as a partner is experienced residential property lawyer Robin Phillips who previously spent 28 years at Mowbray Woodwards and then Stone King following the merger of the two firms.

Mogers Drewett has also recruited four trainee solicitors across the firm. The new trainees are Scarlet Clemens, Harry Durston, Charlotte Padfield and Daniel Cockhead. Mogers Drewett is part-funding their law school studies as part of an initiative to attract and develop young talent.

Five gain promotion

Jacqueline Bird, Shobee Chant, Stephen Nicholls, Gemma Wilton and Emma Wiltshire, who have 28 years’ combined experience, were congratulated by the firm on their new positions.

Jackie, Stephen and Shobee work in the Conveyancing department, Gemma in the Family department, and Emma in Dispute Resolution. Four of the group are based in the Wells office, and one in Frome.

Recruitment of COO

SOMERSET financial firm Old Mill has appointed Adil Taha as its new Chief Operating Officer (COO) to help with its growth plans and develop its operational infrastructure.

The role of COO is a new one at Old Mill, making Adil’s appointment a key strategic hire for the firm, which has an office at Cathedral Avenue, Wells.

Adil has extensive experience in leading operations and executing strategy to achieve high growth within a range of sectors including private equity, legal and investment banking.

Walkies

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COMPUTER SERVICES

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