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December 2018 Issue 18
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FREE EVERY MONTH for people and businesses in Wells and district Advent windows to light up street Festive scenes will be revealed one by one in novel way of counting down to Christmas Turn to page 3
City’s newest pub Work to transform hotel will be completed in early December Turn to page 5 Wells Lions and Rotary clubs have jointly funded visits by hundreds of schoolchildren to Wells & Mendip Museum to see the trench and other First World War exhibits 100 years after the war’s end. Wells Cathedral School pupils were the latest to visit, on November 19, and are pictured above by the Harry Patch Memorial with representatives of both clubs, museum volunteers and Mayor of Wells Councillor Celia Wride. REMEMBRANCE: Pages 20-22
Vandals cost taxpayers £30,000 in past year THE cost of vandalism in Wells in the past year has been put at nearly £30,000. Money from taxpayers is having to be used to repair frequent damage to public facilities, and to deal with graffiti. Now the city council is urging members of the public to let the police know if they
witness acts of vandalism in a bid to bring it under control. “Wells City Council budgets are under strain due to the amount of vandalism and graffiti in Wells,” said the council’s responsible financial officer and open spaces officer Steve Luck. “At the bus station toilets and ticket office the city council has
spent nearly £9,000 on repairs to locks, glass and fitments. “The skateboard park suffers from fires being set on the wooden ramps, broken glass and graffiti, added with damage to the Wells in Bloom planters, Christmas lights and Continued on page 4
Carnival dazzles Crowds out in force to enjoy this year’s spectacular event Turn to pages 12&13
Shopping offers Free car parking and discounts on the day among incentives to get people to shop in Wells on Small Business Saturday Turn to pages 24&25
GIVE A GIFT THIS CHRISTMAS THAT SHOWS YOU REALLY CARE
Moogoo skincare gift sets for those who have sensitive skin
Microwaveable Bagpuss and microwaveable reindeer with added lavender for hours of warmth
SALE! Don’t miss our Cosyfeet sale of discontinued lines in store now
HAPPY CHRISTMAS TO ALL OUR CUSTOMERS
Pop in and see us at 32 St Cuthbert Street, Wells, BA5 2AW•01749 670765•www.oakvillecarecentre.co.uk
The team at Kingfisher would like to wish all of our customers a Merry Christmas and Happy New Year
8 Mill Batch Farm, East Brent, Near Highbridge, TA9 4JN Tel 01278 760616 and 14a Broad Street,Wells, BA5 2DN Tel 01749 671431 hello@thekingfisherfamily.com www.thekingfisherfamily.com
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Advent windows will be ‘visual delight’ A WELLS community is taking part in an Advent event with a difference this Christmas. Twenty-four residents in St Thomas Street will be illuminating a window in their homes one day at a time from December 1 until all are lit up on Christmas Eve. Each window will display a specially created Christmas scene. “There are an array of window themes to look forward to,” said organiser Shirley Offer. “It will be a Christmas treasure hunt. Everyone chose their own themes and Advent numbers at an evening to plan the event in October. We thought we would struggle to find enough windows but we had more than enough people to take part, which really shows the strong community feel in the street.” A new window will be illuminated each day at 4pm. Maps are available on posters in the street to tell visitors which window is being lit for the first time, as well as on the St Thomas Street Advent Windows website, Facebook and Instagram pages. “We can’t wait to see
everyone’s windows,” said Shirley. “From an alpine village scene to snowflakes, angels, stars and a partridge in a pear tree, there’s going to be real visual delight for visitors. “Tourists, schoolchildren, bus users and market day visitors will be uplifted just by passing
Shirley Offer has organised the Advent Windows display that will see 24 windows in St Thomas Street lit a day at a time
through the street. It’s going to be a stop and stare event.” There is also going to be a fundraising element – people are invited to post donations through the letterboxes of participating doors, with money raised going to the Elim Connect Centre in Wells and St Thomas’ Church. “During any St Thomas Street event, it’s always important that the wider community benefits,” said Shirley. “At our planning meeting the group decided any money donated through participating Advent Windows letterboxes would mainly go to the Elim Connect Centre as well as a small amount to St Thomas’ Church, both worthy causes.” She added: “We want people to feel invited, excited and involved to see all the windows from 4pm each day. “Please join us in our unique celebration of the Advent period in Wells.”
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Calendar captures beauty of Wells IN 2017 J Salmon Ltd, a well known publisher of postcards and calendars, closed down its publishing operation. This meant a Wells calendar for 2019 would no longer be available – until, that is, an independently owned card shop in the city stepped in to produce its own. Isabella Thomas, joint owner of Absolute Cards in Wells High Street, has selected 12 of her favourite images to make a 2019
Wells calendar entitled Beautiful Wells which, she says, is a celebration of the beauty spots of the city through the seasons. Pictures include the Cathedral, The Bishop’s Palace, Guinevere the swan from the Swans of Wells, a 1948 Bristol bus in Market Place, and two views of Vicars’ Close. The calendar is available in the shop now priced £7. The 12 images are also available as greetings card and notelets.
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2 courses from only £18.50 Christmas Lunch - 2 courses £18.50 3 courses £22.50 Christmas Dinner Sunday to Thursday 2 courses £20 - 3 courses £25 Christmas Dinner Friday & Saturday 2 courses £25 - 3 courses £30
For full menu go to: www.ancientgatehouse.com or to book call: 01749 672029
Email: news@wellsvoice.co.uk
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wellsvoice
December 2018
www.wellsvoice.co.uk CONTAC TS Editor and publisher Andy Vallis andy@wellsvoice.co.uk 07906 499655 01749 675157 Advertising sales@wellsvoice.co.uk 01749 675157 Editorial news@wellsvoice.co.uk 07906 499655 01749 675157
Find us on Facebook: www.facebook.com/ wellsvoice Follow us on Twitter: @wells_voice View every issue online at issuu.com/ wellsvoice A member of the Independent Community News Network
LOC AL INFORMATION
JANUARY DEADLINE
Wells City Council www.wells.gov.uk 01749 673091 Police www.avonandsomerset.police.uk General inquiries: 101 Emergency: 999 Fire www.dsfire.gov.uk General inquiries: 01392 872 200 Emergency: 999 NHS www.nhs.uk Urgent calls: 111 Emergency: 999
To ensure your news or letter is included in the January edition, please contact us by December 12.
YOUR VIE WS Letters for publication can be sent by email to news@wellsvoice.co.uk. We reserve the right to edit letters.
COMPL AINTS Despite our best efforts, we sometimes get things wrong. We always try to resolve issues informally at first but we also have a formal complaints procedure. If you have a complaint about anything in Wells Voice, contact the Editor using the details above. We aspire to follow the Code of Conduct of the NUJ (National Union of Journalists), which holds journalists to a high standard of behaviour. Further details of the complaints process can be found on the Wells Voice website, or can be obtained by contacting the Editor.
PUBLISHER’S NOTE: Wells Voice is independent. We cannot take responsibility for content or accuracy of adverts, and it is advertisers’ responsibility to conform to all relevant legislation. We cannot vouch for any services offered. Opinions are not necessarily those of the editor. Wells Voice is distributed each month to residents. Feedback is always welcomed – email news@wellsvoice.co.uk This month 6,650 copies will be distributed around Wells and surrounding villages
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A juggler and a musician entertained guests at a relaunch night in November at Ask Italian in Market Place, Wells. The restaurant has undergone a makeover and now has a new menu. General manager Ryan Alford, in the white shirt, is pictured with fellow members of staff on the relaunch evening.
Vandalism costing taxpayers £30,000 From page 1 general graffiti in the city. The damage costs are rising – as much as £30,000 of council tax payers’ money is being spent this year. This also reduces the new projects the city council can undertake.” The council says it works closely with the police to combat vandalism, but is asking for more help from the public to monitor and report what is happening. Mayor of Wells Councillor Celia Wride said the constant damage at the bus station toilets – which includes putting glue in the locks, breaking off tiles and damaging cisterns – is a “blight”. “Somebody must be noticing what is going on there, in both the men’s and the ladies’ toilets – there is no difference between the sexes – and unless this stops more drastic security and surveillance steps will have to be taken,” she said. “Someone knows who is doing this mindless damage and should report matters to the police. The vandalism will only carry on increasing and there are other areas in the city like the skateboard park and the Recreation Ground and just general graffiti on street walls and street furniture, and even to the public benches themselves, which all adds up to nearly
£30,000 to remove and repair. Can I ask people to be on the lookout for those doing these anti-social acts and report it to the police? I want my rates to be used for positive and useful activities not to pay for other people’s wanton behaviour.” Neighbourhood police inspector Mark Nicholson said that several people responsible for criminal damage earlier in the year have been identified and dealt with or are in the process of being dealt with. He added: “Looking forward we have been working more closely with agency partners to prevent a repeat of similar incidents. “We do rely on the public to work with us, be our ‘eyes and ears’ and report anti-social behaviour so that it can be dealt with. Anyone with information should call 101. “However, we do prefer to deal with such matters at source and prevent such incidents from happening.” The local beat team say that there has been more graffiti in the skate park recently and a bus shelter in Portway has had its glass smashed. They suggest that if members of the public see an incident in progress, they call 999 so descriptions of offenders can be provided and passed to response officers.
Email: sales@wellsvoice.co.uk
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December 2018
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New pub takes inspiration from past WORK is under way to create Wells’ newest pub on the site of what was one of its oldest. Sadler’s Brasserie restaurant at The White Hart hotel in Sadler Street is being converted into a “good old-fashioned pub” that will be open in time for the Christmas season. Only in its recent history did the 15th century White Hart become a hotel – previously it was an inn, so now the clock is being turned back. The project is being carried out by design and building company Concorde BGW, which has won numerous awards for its work on bars and restaurants. “One of my loves is pubs,” said Concorde BGW director Guy Bostock. “We want to create a destination pub. It will be a good old-fashioned pub with good oldfashioned food.” The pub will have timber floors, and the bar will be made
Work on the transformation of The White Hart out of timber panelling from an old library. The interior will be enhanced
by a hand-picked selection from the Concorde BGW warehouse in Doncaster that is full of
interesting objects accumulated over the years. The front of The White Hart is being repaired and repainted as part of the project. Other changes will include a new reception desk and a new dining room at the back. “We’re not doing anything structurally,” said Guy. The work inside and out should all be completed by early December. The White Hart is one of the Sleeping Bear Hotels chain. Managing director Tudor Hopkins said: “Lucy and I are delighted to be partnering with Guy at Concorde BGW in bringing The White Hart back to its historic roots as a classic oldfashioned inn. “We hope that those who can remember it as one of the oldest pubs in Wells will enjoy returning to us in December and seeing the changes we have made.”
Christmas changes to GP rota THE Improved Access scheme for patients in Wells and the surrounding area means that there is access to a GP every weekday until 8pm and on Saturday mornings. The rota of practices on duty will be slightly different in the month ahead due to the Christmas and New Year bank holidays, so that on some days there will be no practices open, while on others there will be extra clinics. The full rota is: n W/b December 3: Monday, Wells Health Centre; Tuesday, Grove House Surgery; Wednesday, Park Medical Practice; Thursday, Oakhill Surgery; Friday, Wells City Practice; Saturday, Wells Health Centre. n W/b December 10: Monday, Grove House Surgery; Tuesday, Park Medical Practice; Wednesday, Oakhill Surgery;
Thursday, Wells City Practice; Friday, Wells Health Centre; Saturday, Oakhill Surgery. n W/b December 17: Monday, Park Medical Practice; Tuesday, Oakhill Surgery; Wednesday, Wells City Practice and Wells Health Centre; Thursday, Wells Health Centre; Friday, Grove House Surgery; Saturday, Park Medical Practice. n W/b December 24: Monday, Oakhill Surgery; Tuesday, no surgery open; Wednesday, no surgery open; Thursday, Grove House Surgery and Wells City Practice; Friday, Park Medical Practice; Saturday, Wells City Practice. n W/b December 31: Monday, Wells City Practice; Tuesday, no surgery open; Wednesday, Grove House Surgery and Wells Health Centre; Thursday, Park Medical Practice; Friday, Oakhill Surgery; Saturday, Park Medical Practice.
Special event to mark end of war A CELEBRATION to mark 100 years since the end of the First World War is being held at The Britannia Inn, Bath Road, Wells, on December 22. There will be a singalong of
war songs, with a finger buffet, from 6pm to 7pm followed by a disco from 8pm until midnight. A donation of £3 per person is requested, with all proceeds going to the Poppy Appeal.
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WIDE RANGE OF CHRISTMAS GIFTS FOR PETS
A WARM WELCOME AWAITS YOU IN OUR LOCALLY OWNED, INDEPENDENT PET SHOP AT 18 QUEEN STREET We stock a large range of feeds and treats, including many raw and natural items, plus a wide selection of accessories for all your pets Large selection of wild bird feeds also stocked OUR PRICE PLEDGE
If you buy from us then find the identical item within a week for less in any other specialist pet shop in BA5, we’ll refund you the difference
Natural Pets of Wells 18 Queen Street BA5 2DP 01749 673513
Email: news@wellsvoice.co.uk
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Businesses strike gold in tourism awards TWO businesses in the Wells area have struck gold in the Bristol, Bath and Somerset Tourism Awards. Pickwicks cafe in Broad Street, Wells, and The Cross at Croscombe both won the top award in their category, Age Friendly Tourism Business of the Year and Bed & Breakfast and Guesthouse of the Year respectively. Wells Cathedral won Silver in the Access and Inclusivity category, while Wookey Hole Caves’ Wild Wookey Adventure Caving received Bronze in the Tourism New Business Award. The Full Stop Cafe at Bookbarn International at Hallatrow won Silver in the Cafe/Tearoom of the Year category. “We were entered by a customer – it’s a mystery who it was,” said Alan Hicks, who has run Pickwicks with his wife Jayne since 2012. He said the Age Friendly award was a
Rawlings from BBC Radio Bristol and former Bath and England rugby player Phil de Glanville. Terri Chichester, owner of The Cross at Croscombe, said: “There are many fantastic, independent B&Bs and guesthouses in Bath, Bristol and Somerset, so to be named the best is a huge honour. “I would like to thank everyone who has supported me over the past four years. It has been hard work but great fun. I am delighted to play my small part in attracting visitors to this beautiful part of the country.” A spokesperson for Wells Cathedral said: “For the second year running we are absolutely delighted to have won an award. “Wells Cathedral works hard to try and ensure that everyone is able to visit, and that when they do, they feel welcome and enjoy coming to this wonderful place of worship that is also one of the West’s top tourist attractions.”
Alan Hicks behind the counter at Pickwicks testament to the cafe’s staff, who are encouraged to develop a relationship with customers. “If you say ‘Is it a cup of tea and a teacake today?’ people like that,” he said. “Our oldest customer had a birthday party here two weeks ago – he was 102.”
Alan added that Pickwicks holds a Talking Cafe every Thursday at 10.30am that is open to anyone who would like to go along to engage in conversation and make friends. The awards ceremony took place at the Apex Hotel in Bath and was hosted by Laura
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To advertise, contact Andy on 01749 675157
Email: sales@wellsvoice.co.uk
Launch Party Open Day The White Hart has returned to its historic roots and been transformed into a glorious traditional pub by award winning designers We will be serving mulled wine and mince pies from 12noon -11pm on:
Thursday 6th December We hope you will pop in, meet the team, and see Wells newest oldest pub. Tudor & Lucy Hopkins
RSVP
Launchparty@whitehartwells.com
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Two more shops open doors in city centre
TWO new shops opened in Wells in November. Mountain Warehouse welcomed its first customers on November 3, and Roly’s Fudge Pantry opened on November 9. Store manager at the Mountain Warehouse store in High Street is Steve Horsey, who was previously assistant manager at the Clarks Village outlet and has been with the company for nine years. “We’re excited to come to Wells for the first time, especially with the new-style store, the first one in the area,” said Steve. The new concept is for the stores to be more open and airy, and aesthetically pleasing for customers, he said. The shop stocks outdoor wear, ski wear and casual wear, with a wide range of clothing suitable for festivals and camping trips.
“From Glastonbury to Switzerland, we’ve got everything people need,” said Steve. As Wells Voice revealed last month, Roly’s Fudge Pantry in Market Place will offer a wide range of fudge including special Wells fudge, and customers and passers-by will be able to watch fudge being handmade in the shop window. “We’re absolutely delighted to open in Wells,” said co-owner Sarah Orton. “I hope our pantry will add a lovely bit of theatre to the high street and will be a great addition to the Market Place. “Thank you to the people of Wells who have given us such a lovely reception and made us feel very welcome. “And clearly Wells Voice really works because we have had our first corporate order as a result of the story.”
New Purpose-Built Vets Practice Wells Vets is a new branch surgery of Shepton Veterinary Group, independent vets since 1922 Wells Vets will be a dedicated small animal only practice Brand new purpose-built practice Healthy Pets Club, to spread the cost of routine healthcare Experienced team Appointments available 6 days a week & 24/7 emergency service Free customer parking Opening Hours Monday - Friday 8.30am - 6.00pm Saturday 8.30am - 10.30am 24-Hour Emergency out of hours service provided at main practice in Shepton Mallet. Call 01749 343 955 for assistance
01749 678 420
www.sheptonvets.com
To advertise, contact Andy on 01749 675157
Top, Mountain Warehouse sales assistant Sab Lucas, store manager Steve Horsey and supervisor Kerry Andrew; and above, Sarah Orton in Roly’s Fudge Pantry on opening day
Choir in Christmas celebration THE Wells Good Afternoon Choir Christmas celebration will take place on Tuesday, December 11. St Cuthbert’s C of E Junior School Choir will be special guests at the event, being held at Wells United Church, Union Street, from 1.30pm-2.45pm. All are welcome to attend,
and admission is free. A retiring collection will be taken for the Hope for Tomorrow charity Bumble Chemotherapy Bus. A total of £2,000 is anticipated from the choir’s 2018 events. Led by Grenville Jones, it meets on Tuesday afternoons at the Seager Hall from 2pm-4pm.
Plant-based dining experience A POP-UP restaurant at the Good Earth Cafe in December will be offering a plant-based sixcourse tasting menu. The food will be prepared from scratch with no animal products, artificial preservatives or refined sugars.
The Pachamama pop-up will be at the Good Earth in Priory Road, Wells, on Saturday, December 8, from 6.45pm until 10pm. For more details, email pachamamacuisine@gmail.com or call 07980 084710.
Email: sales@wellsvoice.co.uk
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December 2018
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Highways experts to take joined up approach to tackling problems WELLS has so many traffic and parking issues that rather than deal with them individually, Highways experts are going to come up with an overall plan for the city. “Wells will be one of the first two locations in Somerset that will be treated to a programme of works for the whole location,” the city’s county councillor, Tessa Munt, told the PACT (Partners and Communities Together) meeting in the Town Hall on October 30. She said that residents had highlighted 34 different roads with her where they felt something needed to be done. The whole of Wells will be reviewed by the county council’s Highways team in the next few months, she said. At the meeting, resident Richard Ashman said that motorists turning right at the bottom of Bristol Hill into College Road were creating a danger. Cllr Munt said it was one of the issues that would be looked at, and she had asked the Highways department to investigate the possibility of creating a mini roundabout at that junction. Other residents asked for more speed humps to slow traffic on Lethbridge Road, 20mph signs on Jocelyn Drive, and speed humps and 20mph signs on Wand Road. Ray Bennett said he was worried about traffic accelerating at high speed along St Thomas Street. He said: “It’s seriously dangerous. Sooner or later someone is going to get killed on that street. Something has to be done.” PC Darren Pearson said that he had been there with a speed gun and never actually caught anyone speeding. The meeting heard that the Speed Indicator Device will be sited on St Thomas Street soon.
Trader Peter Culley raised the issue of anti-social behaviour in lower High Street by a group of teenagers who were not attending school. PC Pearson said that some had been excluded from the Blue School and efforts were being made to find another school for them. It was said that they were being allowed to spend a lot of time in Subway, and being given free food there, and PC Pearson said he would be calling at Subway to discuss the situation. Police were thanked for taking drugs sniffer dog Fred to the Blue School to tackle what was described as a “drugs problem” at the school. “Fred will be appearing again in Wells. We’re working with the
County councillor Tessa Munt school and the headmaster,” said PC Pearson. Figures produced by PC Pearson showed that in the previous three months, the most crimes in Wells had been violence against the person (68), followed by theft (55), public order offences (34) and arson and criminal damage (33). There were 130 anti-social behaviour calls in the same period, the most being in Whiting Way (11). He said that one male had been reported for summons for graffiti at the skate park, and two juveniles will be dealt with by community resolution for spray painting there.
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Invention wins Josh £30,000 A YOUNG businessman who grew up in Wells has won £30,000 in this year’s UK Disabled Entrepreneurs 2018 awards, run in partnership between easyJet founder Sir Stelios Haji-Ioannou’s Stelios Philanthropic Foundation and the Leonard Cheshire charity. Josh Wintersgill, who was diagnosed with a Spinal Muscular Atrophy at 18 months old, went to St Cuthbert’s, Wells Central and Wells Blue schools. He has created an invention to help disabled people with physical reduced mobility get on and off planes more easily, coming up with the idea for Able Move based on his own experience of being manhandled on and off planes. “Having to be manually lifted on to an aircraft is daunting, unsafe, painful and undignified,” he said. The Able Move is an in-situ transfer sling combined with a
Josh Wintersgill with Sir Stelios, top right, and the winner’s cheque, and sitting on his Able Move invention cushion allowing someone to be manoeuvred from a wheelchair to plane seat with their safety, dignity and comfort intact.It can also be used on other methods of transport such as cars, trains and boats. “It is a simple solution to a complex problem, with the ability to change lives,” said Josh, who now lives near Bristol and is a cyber security manager for a technology firm. He plans to reinvest his £30,000 into product development and to help cover patent and marketing costs, including attendance at disability and charity events.
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Email: news@wellsvoice.co.uk
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December 2018
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Wells Rotary Club have raised £3,500 for Heads Up in the last couple of years. Here their president Piers Rose presents the latest £500 to Bridget Harvey, manager of the mental health charity at South Horrington, watched by other Rotary members.
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Memorial clock may take place of one of Town Hall windows A NEW memorial clock is being planned to go up on the front of Wells Town Hall. Thirty sponsors will be invited to donate £100 towards the cost of the clock and have the name of a loved one being honoured recorded on a plaque in the Town Hall. Members of Wells City Council’s finance and general purposes committee were enthusiastic about the clock project at their meeting on November 8. They agreed in principle to underwrite the contribution needed to record the names of the two councillors who have died this term, Chris Briton and Danny Unwin. The clock would replace the centre round window on the front of the Town Hall if the full council back the proposal. Committee members also agreed to a suggestion from Councillor Harvey Siggs to examine the possibility of creating a balcony on the flat roof outside the Parkes Room. “It can be opened up when there’s a wedding and so on if it’s properly balustraded,” said Councillor Siggs. “I see this project as making the room far
more useable and therefore far more lettable and it will pay its way back.” The matters were raised during a debate about the draft budget for 2019/20. The issue of vandalism at the bus station toilets was discussed and more money has been allowed for to cover the cost of damage. Councillors agreed to reduce the hospitality budget to £1,000 – it was increased last year from £1,800 to £2,000 but went largely unspent – and to earmark £3,000 for a shelter at the coach station for the meet and greet teams. The council will be buying grit now that it will no longer be provided by Somerset County Council, and three trees that are suffering from ash dieback will need to be cut down at a cost of £1,000 each. The proposed precept as a result of the budget will be in the region of 6.5 per cent, or an extra £5 on council tax bills. The draft was approved and was due to go forward for consideration at the next full council meeting on November 22.
Email: sales@wellsvoice.co.uk
wellsvoice
December 2018
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n NEWS
Trader wins national acclaim
Vodafone drops plans for mast
“I love this market, it is like a little family. All the traders and the market manager are all so helpful and supportive. A lot of my customers have been coming to me for over four years, it is lovely to catch up with them and I enjoy looking after them. “There are a lot of people out there still who are still too scared to eat out, or enjoy festivals, as the fear of becoming ill is too much. “One festival I went to I met a lovely family with two twin sons in their teens with a lot of allergies. I was able to provide them lunch and it was the first time they had eaten out as a family in over 18 years. I meet young children who have never eaten sausages roll in their lives, and people that burst into tears as they are so pleased to have such a choice knowing that all my food is 100 per cent gluten/ wheat-free, and cooked by a coeliac.”
VODAFONE has withdrawn its planning application for a 15m mast at Wells Service Station on Bath Road, Wells, after Symonds Forecourts withdrew permission for a mast to be sited there. An appeal by Vodafone against the refusal of permission for a mast on land nearby was turned down by Mendip District Council earlier this year. Ward councillor Roy Mackenzie has suggested that land on the slopes below Tor Woods would be a better location for such a mast. “We hope that the proposals being put together by Cllr Roy Mackenzie for an alternative site will be given a proper hearing now,” said Bath Road resident Deborah Pottinger. “We’re grateful for all the work he is doing on our behalf to situate a mast away from our homes and in a location that many more residents would find acceptable.”
WELLS food trader Mandy Evans has added to her list of accolades by being placed in the top seven in the country in this year’s FreeFrom Eating Out Awards. Mandy takes her Gluten Free Gourmet vans and gazebos to local shows, festivals and markets where she caters for coeliacs and people with food allergies, and can be found once a month at the Wednesday market in her home city of Wells. She has previously won awards at the Burnham-onSea Eat food festival and been placed second in the Wells Food Festival Street Food category, and has now been shortlisted in the Street Food category of the 2018 FreeFrom awards. “I never dreamed that I would have been shortlisted to the last seven for a national award. This is amazing for a small sole trader like myself,” she said. “I started the business because I understood the fear of eating out. Everything in life is built around food, birthday parties, family get-togethers, lunch with a friend, even going to a food festival with the family could be a nightmare. “Coeliacs have been scared and felt excluded for so many years. I wanted to change this
Mandy Evans takes her vans to local shows, festivals and markets so about four years ago I started selling cupcakes on the Wells market. I was astonished by the feedback and how grateful people were to be catered for. “Everything I cook is always done in a gluten/wheat-free kitchen. Being a coeliac myself I understand that one crumb could make someone very, very ill.” A lot of the food Mandy makes now is savoury, such as Cornish-style pasties, sausage rolls, feta cheese and spinach and Portuguese tarts. In the last year she had added a vegan option, and makes her own dairy-free cheese. “I always do Wells market on the first Wednesday of every month,” she said.
On the dancefloor at last year’s Night of Nostalgia fundraiser
Another nostalgic music night FOLLOWING the success of last year’s event, Tina Blackwill is organising another fundraiser for Marie Curie at Wells Town Hall. A Night of Nostalgia 2 will feature songs from the Twenties, Thirties and Forties with singer Lin Phelps and The Silver Levels jazz band. There will be a free
drink on arrival, a best dressed competition, a raffle, nibbles and a bar. The event will take place on Saturday, March 23, from 7.30pm-10.30pm. Tickets cost £10 and are on sale at the Town Hall, or email tina.blackwill@ live.co.uk or call 07450 367805.
Got News? Call 07906 499655
Email: news@wellsvoice.co.uk
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December 2018
n WELLS CITY CARNIVAL
Large crowds give generously during dazzling spectacle CONDITIONS were perfect for this year’s Wells Carnival which brought a bumper number of spectators out on to the streets. It helped to ensure a good collection on the night, with the total topping £12,000. There were hardly any holdups to delay the procession, and those watching said the standard of entries was exceptionally high. One sad note was the absence through illness of chief steward Martin Coppell, who is battling cancer. Gorgons suffered the misfortune of a mechanical issue with the tractor on the line up. Despite the efforts of the ground crew and the help of other clubs, they were unable to get it fixed in time for the start of the carnival. It meant the crowds were denied the chance of seeing their Engine Room entry, based on the Titanic’s engine room, but club members were applauded as they walked the route instead. Wells Carnival’s honorary president, Maurice Day, said: “A committee diminished through illness worked very hard to bring it all together. There were tears and tantrums as usual but it came to a successful conclusion. “The crowds were great and gave us very few problems. It was all over by ten o’clock and the town was flowing freely by 10.30. “My personal thanks to all the
people that helped us on the day – you all know who you are and I really appreciate your input. “From Wells Carnival committee, it’s time to wish you all a Merry Christmas and thank you for contributing to the magnificent £12,500 for local charities.” Globe CC had something special to celebrate in their 5oth year, winning the Local Feature category. “2018 marks the 50th anniversary of Globe Carnival Club, presenting our best cart yet, Captain Morgan’s Revenge,” said Ben Golden, the club’s vice chairman and road crew captain. “While the engineering wasn’t as complex as in previous years, the movement was bigger and had a greater impact than anything we’ve done before. “With the cart packed with pirate paraphernalia, smoking cannons, lanterns, rats and sharks circling the sinking ship under a stormy sky, the Kraken takes hold and brings the ship down as the motley crew dance the hempen jig. “It was an enormously fun theme to play, and coming first in our home city of Wells in the Local Feature class made all the hard work very worthwhile. We’re all extremely proud to be part of Globe for this highly enjoyable and successful year.”
n LETTERS This carnival was for you, Martin AFTER months of preparations, the Wells Carnival was the city’s biggest community event success, firstly with kind weather, some of the best carts for years, huge crowds, excellent marshalling and no hold ups. Sadly one person was missing, Martin Coppell, Mr Carnival himself, due to being in hospital, and to say from
all his colleagues, including myself on behalf of the Charter Fair in the Market Place, and Shaun and Krystal Rogers the fair operators, we all wish you a speedy recovery. This carnival was literally for you, Martin! Richard Green Honorary member of the Showmen’s Guild of Great Britain
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Mendip Vale’s entry took inspiration from the Moulin Rouge
Captain Morgan’s Revenge was a winning entry for Globe
Gorgons CC members walked the route in Wells after mechanical trouble with their tractor
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December 2018
13
n WELLS CITY CARNIVAL
A picture taken by Rose Atkinson of the Cobra cart in Wells High Street
absolute cards 14 High Street Wells
m se fro choo
Over 4,000 designs: Q uentin Blake Loads of humour local views
2019 Wells calendar helium Balloons filled only with pu pure helium! Gift wrap, Gift Boxes and Bags Cake sparklers and ice fountains Lily-Flame candles full range of birthday and occasion cards on display all year round!! open every december day up to christmas independently owned
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December 2018
n NEWS
Move to bigger premises as demand grows
City Decorating Supplies owner Mike Tucker in the Union Street store space for stock, have entrances front and back, and will be convenient for customers who have parked to shop at Tesco next door. Its position on the corner of Tucker Street and Princes Road
will also make it more visible. Mike said: “We’ve always been Wells’ best kept secret.� City Decorating Supplies sells a wide range of paints, wallcoverings and associated products – their aim is to
provide everything necessary for decorating under one roof. The paint range will be expanded further in the larger store, with the business becoming an Annie Sloan chalk paint distributor. “We try to provide anything associated with decorating,� said Mike. “We’re probably unique in having all these products under one roof that you can walk in and get. “We don’t sell on the internet. Our customers like to be able to come in and talk to us and get personal help and advice.� He will be taking on two new members of staff when the new store opens, and is inviting people interested in the part-time positions to drop in a CV at the Union Street shop. “Our customers feel we are a business that can be trusted,� he added. “It’s about building a long-term relationship.�
P GU MA RIC AR TC E AN H TE E
WELL known paint and wallpaper supplier City Decorating Supplies is moving to bigger premises in Wells. The family-run business will be relocating from Union Street to the former Higos building in Tucker Street. Owner Mike Tucker said: “We’re the Tucker family moving to Tucker Street. We’re coming home in a way.� Work is underway to adapt and refurbish the new showroom and shop ready for an anticipated opening in the week starting December 3. “Due to our success and customer demand we’ve outgrown our present commercial premises,� said Mike. “We’ve been looking for somewhere else for a while but we wanted to stay in Wells as we love the city and have been well supported.� The new store will have more
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December 2018
15
n NEWS
Employees collect money by barrow load to help homeless A WHEELBARROW was pushed around Wells Market during a marathon challenge that raised more than £500 for homeless charity Crisis. Employees from Fromebased company DIY Doctor – some of whom live in Wells – and Foundations Up Construction took part in a 50/50 challenge that saw them push a wheelbarrow 50 miles in 50 days to collect donations. They completed the challenge by pushing the barrow through the Frome Independent Market in November to help raise funds and awareness about the work of Crisis, which includes taking in homeless people and giving them a meal, showers and a bed for the night over the festive period.
DIY Doctor is a home improvement website and Foundations Up Construction its building arm. As two companies that help people make their homes even nicer, they felt it was important to stop and consider people who have no home at all. Mike Edwards, founder of the two companies, said: “Most of us are lucky enough to have a roof over our heads, and in our busy lives it is easy to forget that there are others less fortunate than ourselves – we’re doing the Crisis 50/50 Challenge to try to make a difference to these people.” Donations can still be made at https://crisis-5050challenge-2018.everydayhero. com/uk/diydoctorandfuc
Matt with the fundraising barrow
Waste collections pushed back THE schedule for waste collections is unchanged on Christmas Eve, but with no pickups on December 25 and 26, collections that week will be two days later, including Thursday on Saturday and Friday on Sunday, December 30. With New Year’s Eve pickups as usual but no service on New Year’s Day, that week’s collections will be one day later, including Friday on Saturday. All services resume from Monday, January 7. There will be no garden waste collections from December 24 to January 4. Recycling sites follow usual schedules, except all sites will close at 4pm on December 24 and December 31. As usual, all sites will be closed on December 25 and 26, and January 1. More information at www. somersetwaste.gov.uk
Classic Film & Television
Cathedral carol service invitation THE public are invited to the Sing for Somerset carol service in Wells Cathedral on Saturday, December 15, at 7pm. Admission is free, no tickets are required and doors will open at 6.15pm. Sing for Somerset features a festive mix of traditional and contemporary music conducted by Laurence Blyth, featuring the Mid-Somerset Orchestra, Somerset Voices choir and
organist Matthew Redman. Carol sheets will be provided for all to join in the festivities, and early arrival is recommended to avoid disappointment. The retiring collection will benefit the work of Somerset Community Foundation. For more information, visit www. somersetcf.org.uk, email info@ somersetcf.org.uk or call 01749 344949.
D PRESENT N A T S A P S T IF G S CHARACTER TELEVISION DVD D N A M IL F H IS CLASSIC BRIT ETING CARDS E R G R E T C A R A H RETRO C S GS AND WALLET A B , S K C A S K C U R E STOCKISTS R A W T IF G D E S N LICE
Wait for world record verification AN attempt to create a new world record saw 359.6kg of sauerkraut being made at this year’s Wells Food Festival. Sauerkrautathon organisers
now have to submit written, photographic and video evidence to the Guinness World Record organisation, then wait to see if the new record is accepted.
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6 QUEEN STREET, WELLS, SOMERSET BA5 2DP 01749 676700 SHOP@BRITELLY.COM
ON WE SU ’RE DE NDA ALS CE YS O O MB D PE ER URI N ! NG
The Sing for Somerset carol service takes place this year on December 15
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December 2018
n NEWS
Welcome awaits for those on their own
FOR many people, their people in. Christmas least favourite thing is all about sharing, about Christmas is be it food, warmth, Brussels sprouts, corny presents or simply the Christmas songs and time to have a chat, so packed shops. community events at Companionship But for nearly a this time of year is very at Christmas million older people, important to us. their least favourite thing “We’re really about the festive period is feeling looking forward to getting alone. Companionship at Christmas The Abbeyfield Wells Society underway in Wells. Our doors is doing something about that by are always open to those on their taking part in Companionship at own.” Christmas, opening the doors to For the two weeks, there will Abbeyfield House in New Street be daily coffee mornings – with from Monday, December 10, mince pies – or two-course until Sunday, December 23. lunches for members of the Isobel Panton, who runs community to show them there Companionship at Christmas for is always an alternative to being The Abbeyfield Wells Society, on their own. said: “We love making friends To register a place and get here at Abbeyfield and we are all involved in the festivities, call excited to welcome some new Isobel on 01749 679049. #companionshipatchristmas
www.abbeyfield-wells.co.uk
Last year’s Nativity festival at St Cuthbert’s Church
Showcase for best of festive season SPARKLING Stars, Beautiful Angels and Nativity Crib Sets from around the world will be displayed throughout St Cuthbert’s Church, Wells, from Friday, December 7, to Sunday, December 9. With dressing up for children – perfect for that special card for Grandma – music, mulled
With: The Mid Somerset Orchestra and Somerset Voices
BEnEfiTTing ThE wORk Of SUPPORTED BY
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Registered Charity No. 1094446 Company No. 4530979
WellS CaThedral Saturday 15 december, 7pm doors open at 6:15pm (No tickets required)
wine, seasonal refreshments and a bumper raffle, there will be all the ingredients for a special ‘feelgood’ Christmas visit. The church will be open from 10am-4.30pm, and 11.30am on the Sunday. The festival will end with Wells City Band providing joyous music in the church with Christmas carols and songs.
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December 2018
17
n NEWS
Return of popular Christmas Market THE popular Wells Christmas Market will be back in December for its third year. Following the success of previous years, organisers Mendip District Council say the Wells Christmas Market is fast becoming one of the mustvisit markets in the build up to Christmas. More than 100 traders will fill Wells Market Place with festive stalls, offering a range of gifts, crafts and food and drink produce, giving shoppers and visitors to the city the chance to pick up some last-minute gifts and indulgent treats The Wells Christmas Market will open on Wednesday, December 19, and will run until Saturday, December 22, from 9am-4pm each day. Sponsors Lilley’s Cider will be at the event selling their range of cider and gifts and serving mulled cider from the chalet based near the Bishop’s Eye.
Wells Christmas Market will run this year from December 19-22 Councillor Nigel Taylor, Portfolio Holder for Neighbourhood and Community Health Services, said: “Last year’s Wells Christmas Market was a massive success, we are delighted to be bringing back this
popular market again this year. “Once again the market will have a festive feel, with Christmas music and seasonal refreshments available to help get shoppers in the Christmas mood.”
Father Christmas is making a special stop in Wells to join in the festive fun, and will be attending daily. Children stopping by to meet Father Christmas will be treated to a choice of sweets or fruit, which have been donated by Wells supermarkets Tesco and Morrison’s. Wells Blue School, Wells Cathedral School and the Wells Choral Society will be providing music throughout the event, filling the Market Place with Christmas carols. Free parking is available in Mendip District Council owned car parks in Wells for the duration of the Christmas market, from December 19-24. Free parking is limited to three hours at Union Street and South Street car parks. For more information on the Wells Christmas Market and other Mendip markets, visit: www.mendip.gov.uk/markets
WELLS
CHRISTMAS MARKET DECEMBER 2018 WEDNESDAY 19TH SATURDAY 22ND
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#wellschristmasmarket MENDIP’S VERY OWN FATHER CHRISTMAS WELCOMES YOU! Wells City Council
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We look forward to sharing our exciting new events calendar and our stunning new refurbished Clubhouse with you in Spring 2019
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December 2018
n NEWS Call goes out to local cat-lovers
The Bishop Jones team in their 1950s finery
Fifties night has funds rock ‘n’ rolling in for charity DANCING the night away has raised £600 for a Wells charity. “My partner and I love the 1950s,” said Michele Bishop, owner of Bishop Jones chartered accountants and tax advisers of Wells. “We go to classic truck festivals and dress up inad:Layout 1950s Glastonbury Abbey clothes.”
So organising a rock ’n’ roll night at Wells Rugby Club proved an ideal way to help Macmillan Cancer Support. “This is a great charity,” said Michele before she presented the £600 raised to Mark Tobin, of its7:17 WellsPM and district 7chairman 9/19/18 Page 1 branch.
“It is always an honour to receive funds from local individuals and businesses who have kindly worked hard to raise money for the charity,” said Mark. Now Michele wants to make a 1950s retro night an annual event in September.
THE Cats Protection charity would like to hear from catlovers who would be interested in volunteering at their Glastonbury & Wells branch. The branch, which is run entirely by volunteers, is currently looking for volunteer cat fosterers as well as Trap, Neuter and Return volunteers. Cat fostering is hands-on cat welfare work looking after felines on a short-term basis, either in cat pens in a garden or in a spare room in the home. The branch also needs volunteers who can spare a few hours a week to help prevent feral colonies breeding out of control. The charity runs a scheme to humanely capture the cats before transporting them to a vet to be neutered and released back to their colony. Anyone interested in the roles should email bsuwewni@cats. org.uk or call 01825 741995 for more information.
Firm encourages its staff to get active WELLS-BASED firm Tincknell Fuels has chosen the British Heart Foundation as its charity to support, and in November pledged to donate a specific amount for every delivery and every service performed throughout the month. Fundraising activities have included walking tours at lunch breaks and a virtual mountain challenge to see how many steps staff members can take each day, and therefore how many mountains they can climb over the month. Other activities include the managers spoiling staff with their now annual tea making duty – at a cost – bingo, a savoury day, a breakfast day and a cake day, the ultimate aim being to promote healthier living through the workplace with all the extra walking people are doing. At head office in Wells lots of healthy pledges have been made, from losing weight to drinking more water every day. Managing director Rob
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Tincknell Fuels staff on a walking tour of Wells Ormond said: “We are all touched by the heartbreak of heart and circulatory diseases, and raising funds for the British Heart Foundation helps research that gets us closer to cures and treatments. “Being active helps reduce your risk of developing a heart or circulatory condition, as well as having a stroke, type 2 diabetes, obesity and osteoporosis, and here at Tincknells we have definitely been more active this month.”
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December 2018
19
n NEWS
How to cut plastic use at Christmas
Visit www.bowleysgarage.co.uk
Westfield Road Trading Estate, Wells BA5 2HS
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u MOT testing u Servicing to all makes and models u Engine diagnostics and fault finding u Fully equipped vehicle repair workshop u Air conditioning servicing and repair
WELLS mosaic artist Ruth talented people beavering away Ames-White had a surprise visit making beautiful things from to her studio from Glastonbury clay, china, wood and in Ruth’s Festival founder Michael Eavis. case, ceramic tiles of amazing He wanted to learn more detail and design. about the Wells in Mosaic “I’m looking forward to project to build a sixseeing the finished Wells metre diameter guide to wells in mosaic in Mosaic project on the heart of the city. the Recreation Ground It will be a walkable in the city with great map made from half a anticipation.” million little pieces of the See the website toughest quality mosaic. wellsinmosaic.org for more “Ruth’s studio is one of Wells’ detail. little secrets,” said Michael. “The city has lots of tiny u Latest SOUP! lunch funds streets with extraordinarily handed out, page 32
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A professional, family-run garage focusing on customer satisfaction and traditional values, within walking distance of the city centre
Festival founder in surprise visit
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Bowley’s Garage
Ruth Ames-White in her studio with Michael Eavis
S
“SINGLE-USE” has been named Collins Dictionary’s word of the year 2018. It is a tribute to the volume of people involved in the plastic-free movement across the world that the word has achieved dictionary status. Single-use refers to items that are used once and thrown away and it’s certainly going to be difficult to avoid doing that now that Christmas shopping has hit us, but here are some suggestions. Look for presents and decorations made of other materials; wood, metal, glass, textiles and paper, all of which are preferable to plastic. You can also continue to refuse plastic bags. Try to avoid using commercial wrapping paper because not only does this frequently come wrapped in plastic, it is often not paper we can put in our recycling boxes. The manufacturers coat paper with plastic to give it metallic and glitter finishes. Instead you can buy loose sheets of wrapping paper, but you do need to check how it has been finished. There are also alternatives to wrapping paper so I’m going for anything that can be recycled, reused or if it finds its way to landfill will rot down quickly. I will be using brown paper
but there are people who wrap in old maps, wallpaper and in newspaper and magazine pages, especially if the articles on the page are relevant to the person receiving it. I’m going to try to avoid sticky tape and instead I will tie my parcels the old-fashioned way with string, raffia and narrow strips of frayed cotton fabric. If I don’t have any of last year’s cards left to turn into gift labels I’m going to buy a sheet of card and make my own and personalise them by drawing and painting. All of these items can be purchased in Wells to support local businesses. Please, whatever you do, avoid glitter whether it’s on cards, wrapping paper or presents. Glitter is made up of tiny pieces of plastic and we now know that this is getting into the food chain. The card can’t be recycled so will end up in the landfill and the glitter scattered. If you can’t do without glitter there are now alternative glitters which are plant-based available online. On the subject of cards, after Christmas when you are taking down your cards please remember instead of putting them in the recycling box you could drop them into our local charity Heads Up in Upper Breach in South Horrington, where they are made into new Christmas cards which are sold to raise funds.
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Maggie Sutton from the Plastic Free Wells team suggests ways of avoiding plastic this Christmas
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December 2018
n REMEMBRANCE
Hundreds pay their respects
Dan Vidler stands in front of The Somerset Poppies at The Bishop’s Palace after the display opened to the public on November 11, and the poppies lit up at a special preview evening the night before
Lynn Weare, right, and Maria Mena in the Wells City Practice garden
Poppies bloom in surgery garden POPPIES brought a splash of colour to the Wells City Practice garden thanks to reception supervisor Lynne Weare. Lynne spent two weeks creating the poppies by cutting and painting plastic bottles, and placed them in the garden with the help of Maria Mena and Tristan Martin, a receptionist and former GP at the practice respectively. “I saw what a friend had made
using recycled plastic bottles and lids and thought it would be a good idea to join in remembering all those that sacrificed their lives for our freedom, and to those still struggling with the unseen scars of war today,” said Lynne. “I started the project hoping I could make and plant 100 poppies but several plastic bottle donations later I found it had snowballed into over 200.”
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HUNDREDS of people gathered near the War Memorial in St Cuthbert’s Churchyard for the two-minutes’ silence and wreath-laying ceremony on Remembrance Sunday, and lined High Street to watch the annual parade and salute. Another ceremony was held at the Harry Patch Memorial outside Wells & Mendip Museum where the first wreath was laid by Benjamin Jones, whose great-great-great-uncle was Harry Patch. Also in attendance was Alicia Williams wearing the medals of her great-great-greatgrandfather Ted Edwards, who fought at the Somme. It was her grandparents, Alan and Margaret Williams, who instigated the memorial to Harry Patch. At 11am on Remembrance Sunday, the last of nearly 8,000 poppies made by nearly 4,000 local schoolchildren were planted at The Bishop’s Palace. Each poppy represented a Somerset serviceman, or someone who served in a Somerset regiment, who lost his life in the First World War. As he surveyed the poppies, project organiser Dan Vidler, a teacher at Coxley School, said: “It’s a powerful feeling to know they are in their rightful place. Visually it’s exactly what I pictured, but it’s much more than just a visual experience. It’s an incredible feeling. People are being moved by it and how it looks.” More than 800 people attended a Requiem service in Wells Cathedral in the afternoon, during which poppy petals bearing the names of departed loved ones fell from the Nave roof. The Dean of Wells, Dr John Davies, said: “My own memories of Remembrancetide were the deep silence on 11/11/18 at 11am. Then the fall of poppies after the moving Requiem. The poppy displays moved many. There were also seminars, a play, a County gathering, bells, a lone piper, a Cloister exhibition, a concert, and much rich music.”
From top, members of the Royal British Legio a wreath is laid at the War Memorial in St Cut silence before their game in Wells, all picture
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December 2018
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21 MORE ON PAGES 22 AND 23
Town Crier Len Sweales recites the poem by Feral, who is pictured to his right, along with Mayor of Wells Councillor Celia Wride
Big Issue seller’s poem made public WELLS Town Crier Len Sweales gave the cry of a war poem that had been written by a Wells Big Issue seller. Stephen John Wilde – also known as Feral – was inspired to write the poem by the actions of his grandfathers, who both fought in the Second World War. One was wounded at Dunkirk but was active throughout the war, becoming a Regimental Sergeant Major. The other was wounded on the Rhine and was later involved in the liberation of concentration camps at the end of the war. The cry took place in Market Place on November 10.
Wiz bang wallop off we go Where we’re going, I don’t know
SOMME NEVER RETURN By Feral – a travelling man
They went off young, came back old Each with a story to be told So would never speak again But all of them came back as men.
Too scared to look over the top Watching shadows drop, drop, drop
on Wells committee at the Harry Patch Memorial outside Wells & Mendip Museum; thbert’s Churchyard; and Wells City FC and Frome Under 8s holding a two-minutes’ ed on Remembrance Sunday
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The smell of cordite up my nose Keeps me on my nifty toes Brown figures lie and moan, Then I realise I’m on my own Keep on running I say to myself But my legs have gone and so’s my health A sharp pain as I hit the earth A white light as I see my birth It’s silent now as I lay still Never to return to my village hill Mum will cry and so will Dad And they will say he was just a lad
Visitors look at some of the work by schoolchildren on display in Wells Cathedral Chapter House to mark the First World War centenary
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December 2018
n REMEMBRANCE
The parade along Wells High Street on Remembrance Sunday
School trumpeters take part in 26 services FIFTEEN trumpeters from Wells Cathedral School took part in a record 26 Armistice Day and Remembrance services across the region, to commemorate the fallen, on this year’s particularly poignant centenary of the 1918 Armistice. School musicians, specialist, special provision and general, aged from 10 to 18, played The Last Post and Reveille at moving services in churches, cathedrals, concert halls and primary schools in and around Somerset over the Remembrance weekend. Wells head of student performance, Paul Denegri, himself a trumpeter, played at memorial services at Henton, Wookey and at the Armistice Day Assembly at Milford
Wells Cathedral School pupils who took part in Armistice Day and Remembrance services Infant School in Yeovil over the weekend. He said: “It is an honour and a privilege for these musicians to play at memorial services in their
local communities. The Last Post is a difficult and emotive piece of music, and must be performed with the utmost respect. “We are very proud that
so many in the community have asked for Wells pupils to contribute to such significant services on such an important day.”
Audience pack chapel for recital of songs and poems THE City of Wells Almshouses Chapel was the setting for an event commemorating the 100th anniversary of the Armistice on November 3. The trustees arranged a recital of First World War songs and poems to a packed audience preceded by sherry and shortbread in the Guild Room. Performers from near and far sang songs – some familiar, some less so – and readers presented poems by Charlotte Mew, Wilfred Owen, Siegfried Sassoon, Rupert Brooke, AE Housman and John McCrae, while Bryn Whitcomb read his own poem Sorry, Tommy. The musicians were Ana
The commemoration event in The City of Wells Almshouses Chapel Maria Rincon, who travelled down from London, and Somerset residents David Costley-White and Julian Walker. The readers were
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almshouse resident Jean Brand and trustees Andrew Fawcett and Chris Vigar, with chairman of the trustees Nick Wilson providing an introduction and
thanks. When asked to sing an encore, Ana Maria and David sang It’s a Long Way to Tipperary and the entire audience joined in the chorus. A healthy retiring collection will go to the Royal British Legion and to the fund for renovating the chapel. Almshouse resident Margaret Milnes, who attended, said: “I thought it was wonderful. The singing and readings were wonderful. Visitors I spoke to were amazed at the decorations made by the almshouse residents. It was such a privilege to listen to such excellent performances in a small, intimate environment.”
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wellsvoice 23 n NEWS Three new councillors start work
December 2018
n REMEMBRANCE
Record sum raised by Poppy Appeal THIS year’s Royal British Legion Poppy Appeal has raised a record amount in Wells. Within five days of Remembrance Sunday the total had reached £28,500, already £1,000 up on last year’s record-breaking total. “With 10 months still to go to the end of the legion’s financial year we know there will be much more money to come in,” said Wells Poppy Appeal organiser Derek Cooper. “Thank you to the public for your amazing donations and generosity.” This year’s Poppy Appeal came as the nation marked 100 years since the end of the First World War. Derek said that the Royal British Legion in Wells had been overwhelmed with the hard work of so many to make the commemoration special. He thanked the city council, mayor, town clerk and Town
Hall staff; St Cuthbert’s Church for the November 11 Civic Service and over £1,000 collected in donations; the carnival committee for manning road closures; Dan Vidler and all involved in the Somerset Poppies project; Wells Cathedral for events there including the Garden of Remembrance sponsored by Sally Cooper at Wells Film Centre; city churches, schools and businesses; the hundreds of people who manned supermarket stalls and collected in High Street; the market manager; and more than 100 shops that had collecting tins. “I must also thank the eight or so people on my hard-working committee who have been with me all the year planning and ensuring things happened – you know who you are and you are all amazing,” said Derek.
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THREE new councillors have started work in Wells wards. Liberal Democrats won both seats being contested in by-elections in the St Thomas’ ward on October 25 following the death of Danny Unwin. Tom Ronan was elected to Mendip District Council and Caroline McKinnell to Wells City Council. In a joint statement they said: “We’d like to thank everyone who voted in these by-elections, and our amazing team of volunteers who campaigned alongside us so we can represent local residents. We look forward to meeting you all over the next few weeks and months.”
Philip Welch of Wells Independents was co-opted by councillors at a Wells City Council meeting on November 1 to represent Wells Central ward following the resignation of Alison Gibson. He said: “I can promise everyone that I will work hard to represent the people of Central ward, alongside my new colleagues, foster fresh thinking and close teamwork with community leaders throughout the city. In particular, I would like to use my experience in the media to help create a regular, productive dialogue between the city council and Wells residents.”
Annual performance of Messiah HANDEL’S greatest Oratorio can be heard at Wells Cathedral on Saturday, December 8, at 7pm. In their annual performance of Messiah, Wells Cathedral Oratorio Society will be joined by soloists and some of Europe’s
finest period instrument musicians in the Music for Awhile Orchestra. The concert is expected to sell out so the advice is to book early at wcos.org, on 01749 834483 or at the Wells Cathedral Shop.
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December 2018
n SMALL BUSINESS SATURDAY
No pecking order as far as HMRC concerned Jane Bowe, a director of Wells acountants Probusiness, looks ahead to Small Business Saturday with some words of advice for small business owners THERE is an old holly tree outside our kitchen window in which we hang a number of bird feeders. These days, we mostly put out sunflower hearts and fat balls as they seem to be sufficient to attract all the birds in our area. We have a family of goldfinches and a greater spotted woodpecker who regularly visit… but I digress. Amongst our visitors is a healthy looking great tit. He is very keen to ensure that his breakfast is always readily available. On days when the feeders are empty, he does the round tapping all the metal feeders with his beak. This continues until they are refilled.
Now, you might be beginning to wonder what this has to do with Small Business Saturday? Well, it struck me when I was watching him determinedly hammering away, that he is a bit like the HMRC who are continually knocking at our doors trying to ensure that we pay every last coin into their coffers. Believe me, its officers aren’t just doing this with very large companies and organisations, but with very many small and medium-sized enterprises as well. This can and does include tiny businesses, sometimes with just one careful owner. I have met many an anxious small business owner who has unwittingly come up against the might of HMRC and become the subject of an unexpected investigation into their business affairs. The problem for some
small business owners, the vast majority of whom have no idea that they are not compliant with legislation, is that ignorance is no defence. This means that HMRC can penalise any of us for not keeping within the letter of the law. For a small business, this is most often worrying and unhealthily expensive and can even jeopardise the future of the business. In this day and age when the government is trying its hardest to gather in every penny of available tax, and when HMRC looks into every corner, whether for a business’s millions or a widow’s mite, I can categorically say that each and every small business owner needs to be very thorough and extremely careful. The very best path to take is to ensure that
all ‘i’s are dotted and ‘t’s crossed. If you have chosen to go it alone and not to use a professional such as an accountant to assist you, then please take the time to read up on all relevant rules and regulations. Sometimes it can be helpful just to take an hour of professional time to get good advice to help you to keep safe. If you don’t have all the information at your fingertips you are much more vulnerable. So, from one small, local business owner to all others out there, happy Small Business Saturday, and my very best wishes for a successful and positive year ahead. Oh, and if you do have a persistent Great Tit like ours, my best advice is, keep your feeders full! Take care.
It’s always good to keep the larder stocked for our regular visitors. Some visitors are regular as clockwork so you have to plan for their arrival. In business we have to ensure we have enough to keep the taxman happy. Why not give Probusiness a call for some pointers to ensure nobody goes hungry?
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01749 677989 ò0 mail@probusinessuk.com Ø m www.probusinessuk.com w b i k Ö
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December 2018
n SMALL BUSINESS SATURDAY
Good reasons for shopping locally THERE will be free parking in the Union Street car park in Wells on Saturday, December 1, to encourage people to shop in the city on Small Business Saturday. Wells shopkeepers will be offering other treats and incentives such as discounts on the day and glasses of bubbly. Wells Chamber of Commerce & Tourism is keen to promote Small Business Saturday, which is backed by the Government and aims to get customers to spend their money in independent, local businesses. “This year we are encouraging small businesses to get involved by inviting people into their premises with some kind of promotion or offer,”
wellsvoice 25 With Rosie Stevens n BUSINESS VIEW Embrace spirit of Small Business Saturday to grow your business
said Wells chamber president Michael Johns, who runs The Laundry fashion store with his wife Theo in High Street. “At The Laundry we will be serving chocolates and Prosecco from midday onwards,” he said. “Small Business Saturday is an important day in the calendar as it can be used to kick-start the Christmas selling period.” American Express launched Small Business Saturday in the US in 2010. The first one in Britain took place in 2013, and it is estimated that shoppers now spend more than £700 million with small businesses on Small Business Saturday, held each year on the first Saturday in December.
THE number one topic of conversation I have with SMEs and local hirers is around how they can ‘compete’ with the bigger corporations when it comes to attracting the best staff. My advice. Don’t. Embrace what you can offer and package it in such a way that attracts people to want to work for you. We are lucky in Somerset to have a number of globally operating businesses housed here, that provide a busy job market and our economy with a massive boost. But thinking locally and ‘shopping small’ could provide a strategic move for a candidate. Here are my three top tips for encourage candidates to ‘shop small’ in their next career move: n Salary. Don’t compete if you can’t afford to. Corporations will always be able to pay more, and if the size of a pay check is a key deciding factor for the candidate – perhaps a corporate
environment is more suited to their ambitions. n Progression. In a small business, you can offer regular contact with the decision makers of the business. For a candidate with ambition, that is priceless. n Flexibility. Without the constraints of familiar procedure, SMEs are in a much stronger position to offer flexibility, which 59% of employees in the UK state as being the most important benefit an employer can offer. So in the spirit of Small Business Saturday, I encourage you to think about what you can offer as a small business that will encourage candidates to think locally and ‘shop small’ when it comes to their next career move. Rosie Stevens Mployable. Take control of your hiring rosie@mployable.co.uk www.mployable.co.uk
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26
December 2018
n NEWS
Special award for community servant Karen YMCA Mendip chief executive Karen Deverell has received a special national award for her service to the local community. Karen was presented with the Red Triangle Award at YMCA’s National Youth Awards on November 2 after being exclusively chosen by judges for her outstanding support and commitment to her community. The Red Triangle Award is a special award which is submitted without the nominee’s knowledge and the winner is announced as a surprise at the awards ceremony, held this year at London venue 8 Northumberland Avenue and hosted by TV presenter Miquita Oliver. It is one of two distinctive awards where winners are chosen by judges and is not part of the public vote like the remaining 11 award categories which are up for grabs each year. Karen was praised by judges for working tirelessly to build a sustainable organisation, but never losing focus on the importance of young people. “I was really touched to be chosen for this award. It has been an immense privilege to work for the YMCA,” said Karen. “I was motivated to work
Karen Deverell after receiving her Red Triangle Award with young people 24 years ago and they are still the reason I enjoy my work today. Watching young people who have come to us often in chaos, feeling lost and with no sense of purpose, then start to engage, grow and achieve, has given me tremendous job satisfaction. “I have though achieved nothing without fantastic colleagues, trustees and volunteers alongside me, everything we have developed in Somerset has been as a team. “The YMCA has given me so much more than I have given it.”
YMCA Mendip, which has an office in South Street, Wells, has more than 100 accommodation units and provides homeless support services and youth and community work across Mendip and South Somerset. Youth Matters is the organisation’s national awards programme that celebrates the skills and achievements of young people from across the country and also recognises the work that YMCAs deliver every day. Michelle Payne, marketing & fundraising manager, said: “It is so important people get the
recognition they deserve; and we were thrilled that Karen received the YMCA Red Triangle Award. “But as Karen said in her speech, it’s all about teamwork; and that quite rightly also includes the support we receive from outside of the organisation. “Karen has been an integral part of YMCA Mendip for just over 24 years; with 17 of those years being CEO. “Karen, along with many other dedicated staff and trustees, have helped the charity to be responsive to the ever changing needs of local people and ensure that the organisation continues to provide the vital services it does to some of the most vulnerable within our community.” Wells City Councillor Maureen Brandon said: “When I was a Mendip District Councillor my portfolio included working with the YMCA and Karen Deverell. It was clear to see that Karen was supportive of every young person in her area who was in need of help. “Mainly, due to Karen’s untiring enthusiasm and devotion to the work involved, I became very supportive of the work undertaken by the YMCA and still follow the ongoing progress.”
Free workshops for people with long-term health issue ARE you living with a long-term health condition? Would you like to become more confident in managing your long-term condition, learn about ways to help cope,
manage stress and fatigue, try out new things and get support and tips from people in a similar situation? Health Connections Mendip is organising six free workshops
At the Heart of England’s Smallest City City of Wells Town Hall Various rooms to hire for: Conferences, Seminars Fairs, Shows, Exhibitions, Marriages, Receptions, all types of Meetings and Local Group Classes Very reasonable rates
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for people living with a longterm condition. The friendly, supportive workshops will take place on Mondays, from January 14 to February 18, at Wells Town Hall, from 1.30pm-3.30pm.
There will be free tea or coffee and light snacks. Booking is essential. Contact Health Connections Mendip on 01373 468368 or email mendip. healthconnections@nhs.net
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wellsvoice
December 2018
27
n NEWS
Favourites to fore in Christmas concert WELLS-BASED choir The Chorus of Disapproval is performing a Christmas concert at St Thomas’ Church on December 15. The concert starts at 7.30pm and will include festive favourites and the chance to enjoy a glass or two of mulled wine. The Chorus of Disapproval is a mixed voice community choir that started life in June 2012 and now has more than 50 members from Wells and the surrounding area. It is conducted by both Verity Stoffell and Andrew Brooke, two Somerset secondary school teachers who decided to launch it during a chat over coffee in a school music office.
The Chorus of Disapproval members at a rehearsl The choir rehearses every Monday during school term time at Stoberry Park Primary School in Wells, from 7.30pm to 8.30pm, and has two concerts a year. Members do not need to
audition or to read music, and the repertoire is very mixed, from the Beatles to Benjamin Britten. To find out more, call Andrew on 01749 673375 or email ABrooke@educ.somerset.gov.uk
Festive cheer at Bishop’s Palace THE Bishop’s Palace will be offering plenty of Christmas cheer to visitors this December. The Christmas at the Palace festivities from December 8-22 will see the interior decorated with seasonal greenery and foliage, a roaring log fire in the Entrance Hall, an array of Christmas trees, and a Family Trail through the Palace & Gardens, leading to a traditional nativity scene at the end. There will be Christmas carols, mulled wine, mince pies, and a chance to meet Father and Mother Christmas on December 8 and 9, 17 and 18, and 22. As part of the Christmas at the Palace event, a Winter
Witch in spirit of things with offer to officiate at wedding THE Witch of Wookey has offered to officiate if ghost-loving Amethyst Realm decides to go through with plans to wed her free spirit fiancé at Wookey Hole Caves next spring. Bristolian Amethyst has been promised the white wedding of her dreams in the caves, where she claimed on ITV’s This Morning programme that she heard her phantom-lover propose. Caves director Daniel Medley is unfazed by stories of supernatural infatuations. “Amethyst Realm is not
the first and won’t be the last person to experience out-of-body sensations at the caves,” he said. “They have been recognised as a crossover point to the spirit world since the Stone Age, a place where people can connect with long-lost friends and relatives no longer with us. “Amethyst is said to be planning a wedding in the countryside and the Witch of Wookey is perfectly qualified to officiate as the couple ‘Jump the Broom’. “If Amethyst’s ghost-lover has indeed been attracted to the
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caves’ remarkable aura then the Witch of Wookey is a powerful lodestone to commune with the departed – and she would be happy to help them with rewording the ‘till death us do part’ clause.” Wookey Hole Caves is hoping to have a new function room in place when Amethyst weds the man of her dreams. The new mill hall, which formerly housed the Clown Town exhibition, is being enhanced to create a weddings and functions venue as part of the resort’s £5 million investment programme.
Flower arrangements take shape Flower Festival, showcasing the NAFAS South West Area Competitions, will take place from December 7-9. Visitors will be treated to fantastical and elaborate floral displays, the largest of which will be up to two metres high. The Medieval Undercroft of the Palace will be filled with designs on a pantomime theme, while other rooms will be based on the concepts of Winter Fantasy and A Christmas Carol.
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wellsvoice
28
December 2018
n ON THE BEAT
Simple measures can ensure elf and safety WITH Christmas fast approaching it is the time of year that we should all start thinking about elf and safety. Although it ‘tis the season to be merry’, remember, that extra drink is not worth it. We’ve seen the effects of drink and drug driving – they are devastating. We just want everyone to have a safe and happy Christmas. Christmas parties and family gatherings are often helped along with lots of alcohol. Simple personal safety measures can help keep you safe such as drinking within your limits, alternating with soft drinks. Preplan your way of getting home after a night out by booking a taxi or having one of your party as a designated driver. Some pubs and restaurants offer reduced price non-alcoholic drinks for the driver. Don’t leave drinks unattended. Be careful about accepting drinks from a stranger.
News from the local policing team with PC Rowan Hawkins If you meet someone new at a party, avoid going home with them or inviting them back to your home/accepting a lift from them. It’s safer to arrange a second date in a public place to get to know the person better.
Will Writing & Estate Planning
If you do find yourself alone with someone you don’t know well, make sure that someone knows where you are and who you’re with. Pay attention to your instincts. If you feel uneasy about someone, there may be a reason. After spending time, effort and money to find the perfect gift here are some hints and tips to stop the items being stolen: n When you are out shopping keep purses and wallets out of sight as much as possible. Keep bags close to you with zippers and poppers fastened so handbag dippers don’t have easy access to your purse or wallet. If you need to put items into your car while out, store them out of view in the boot and not on display on seats. Keep the receipts with you. n Secure your ho ho home: keep doors and windows secure so that you are not an easy target for thieves. Keys should be kept out of sight and not left in doors or in view of windows. Make your house look occupied by leaving a light on when you go out, and consider using an electronic timer. Don’t leave Christmas presents under a tree if it is
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visible from windows or doors. n Burglars and robbers know that a lot of households will have new, and often expensive, items in their homes following the December holidays, especially new tech items such as tablets or laptops, mobile phones, games consoles and much more. In many cases, residents make it easy for thieves to figure out which homes to target by putting the empty boxes that identify their new gifts in plain view with their other rubbish. Avoid being an easy target for post-holiday thieves, don’t leave boxes for new electronics and other items outside your wheelie bin. If you are not reusing the boxes then think about breaking down the boxes to fit in your wheelie bin or store hidden from view until collection day. n Mark your valuables with your postcode. Take pictures of valuable items and make a note of serial numbers. n Register your property securely and free of charge on the national property marking database www. immobilise.com Happy Christmas from your Beat Team.
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NOT many of us keep a canary on the windowsill or a parrot in a cage these days but most do see birds in the gardens and are aware of and appreciate their presence throughout the year. We may chase the pigeons off the lettuce patch or the jackdaws off the washing line but we also take delight in the songs of the blackbirds and chaffinches in spring and summer. Bird boxes and bird tables are regular features of the garden landscape. Garden centres are stuffed with displays of all the paraphernalia for caring for birds. Birds in the Garden is the title of the next talk at Wells Gardening Club. Postponed from September, this is the rearranged event which welcomes Chris Sperring OBE back to good health. Chris is one of the West’s leading naturalists and
conservationists. Conservation officer for the Hawk & Owl Trust, he is a regular broadcaster, writer and notable photographer. His talk is guaranteed to be informative and entertaining; certainly not to be missed. All are welcome to Wells Town Hall on Thursday, December 13, at 7.30pm. Visitors £3, children free. Refreshments. For more details, tel: 01749 679182. Pip Harwood WELLS CIVIC SOCIETY WELLS Town Crier Len Sweales will give a talk entitled The Crier’s Story at the next meeting of Wells Civic Society, which will also be a Seasonal Celebration with refreshments. The meeting takes place in the Conference Room at Wells & Mendip Museum on December 13 at 7.30pm. Visitors and guests are very welcome.
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wellsvoice
December 2018
29
n NEWS
Family panto with a touch of magic SOMETHING magical is brewing at Wells Little Theatre as the company prepares for its annual family pantomime. This year the group is performing Aladdin, whisking the audience away to ancient China where the evil magician Abanazer is trying to get his hands on the Magic Lamp. Can Aladdin and his friends
From left, Deanna Symes as So Shy, Chloe Mason as Jasmine, Alice Coton as Aladdin and Niamh McGrogan as Cracker
save the day without getting in trouble with the Emperor’s police force? Can he win the heart of Princess Jasmine in the process of trying to save his family and all the folk of Old Peking? Will the Genie’s magic save the day, or just make things worse? One thing is for sure, they can’t manage a Happy Ever After without a fantastic audience to keep the panto magic going strong. This is a traditional family pantomime – written by Vicky Orman and directed by Sharon Edmonds – so there will be plenty of fun for everyone. Tickets are available online from www.wellslittletheatre.com or call 01749 672280 for box office opening times. The pantomime runs from December 15-22.
Service remembers loved ones TERMINAL illness charity Marie Curie held a special service of remembrance in Wells on November 18. People were welcomed to Wells Cathedral to remember loved ones, and during the service took time to celebrate their memories of friends and family who have died, with a special Book of Remembrance. The Dean of Wells, Dr John Davies, gave a special sermon that reflected Marie Curie’s work
in Somerset in caring for people at the end of their life. After the service supporters shared stories of loved ones with clergy over a cup of tea with mince pies donated by local bakery Burns the Bread. Marie Curie’s Somerset Community Fundraiser Riona Houghton said: “The service was deeply touching. It was moving to see people from Wells remembering those they have lost.”
The headteacher at Stoberry Park School, Michael Hawkins, has visited Wells Vets to study the contribution pupils made to the new practice’s logo. During the summer term the team from Shepton and Wells Vets visited local schools to talk about vets and animal health, and provide a donation towards buying science books. Children from the schools took part in drawing a picture of their pet or an animal so that it could be turned into a mosaic of the new Wells Vets logo. Apart from Stoberry Park, schools that took part were Coxley, Croscombe, Horrington, Priddy, St Cuthbert’s, St Joseph and St Teresa, St Lawrence and Wookey Hole.
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Oxypod recognised installer A successful conference in Wells was arranged by The Lawrence Centre and Creative Care to encourage delegates to further develop their creative approaches to their interactions and communication with those living with dementia. Dr Cathy Wernham, a research and dementia specialist from RICE (Research Institute for the Care of the Elderly), gave a glimpse into future treatments and validated widely practised techniques in dementia care. Workshops led by arts therapists – such as the singing workshop , above – showed ways of creating a sense of well-being and contentment.
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The Russets Care Home
Getting to know you “It’s a privilege to work with the older generation. They give me back more than I could ever give them.” Sally O’Doherty, Activities Coordinator
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wellsvoice
December 2018
31
n NEWS Art gallery offers inspiration with unique range of Christmas gifts
Audience members at one of the talks
Much to enjoy in new surroundings THE Wells Festival of Literature finished on a high note with the delightful Dr Hannah Fry, eminent mathematician and presenter of radio and TV programmes which make science interesting, relevant and fun. A mixture of laughter, tears, awards, rewards, bemusement and amusement entertained a wide audience – wide in age (600 primary school children to nonegenarians) and wide in geographical provenance (the majority from Wells, but others from Edinburgh, Oxford and Armagnac in France). Among the 38 authors, best-selling doctor, Adam Kay, portrayed both the tragedies and humour of life in the medical profession; Sir Max Hastings gave festival-goers the dark days of the Vietnam War; Shrabani Basu told about the intriguing relationship between Queen
Victoria and her ‘Munshi’ Abdul; and Oliver Bullough talked about the terrifying story of ‘Moneyland’, the name he has coined for the nebulous place where all laundered funds, dishonestly obtained, reside. The talent was more impressive than ever, both at Write Up! Speak Up! and in the poetry, short story and children’s authors’ competitions. Of significant importance was the new venue, Cedars Hall, the state-of-the-art concert hall, funded partly by the Government to be a centre for the community. Hosting the Wells Festival of Literature fulfilled that criteria and enabled the smooth running of the whole event. The staff could not have been more helpful and made it a more enjoyable process for the large team of volunteers who organise the festival each year.
AN art gallery aims to make Christmas shopping that little bit easier by offering some unique gift inspiration. Curate your Christmas at Andelli Art, at South Horrington, showcases 20th century and contemporary art together with handpicked and unique pieces from Somerset makers; including jewellery by Mags Maxwell and Penny Price, studio pottery by Jessie Alcaraz, blankets by Howe farm rare breeds and bespoke Andelli Art candles in collaboration with Cahn Aromatherapy. Alongside 20th century Scandinavian paintings will be works by Brian Rice, Olivia Gill, Jason Line, Victoria Ball and Lydia Needle amongst others. “Whether you’re buying on a budget or splashing out on someone special, we’ve a gorgeous collection of art, homewares and jewellery to help you find the perfect piece for
A painting by Peter Gross, one of the artists and makers featured in Curate your Christmas your nearest and dearest,” said gallery owner Ellie Jones. Curate your Christmas runs from December 1-22, open Tuesday–Saturday, 10am–5pm.
Number of illuminating art talks ART historian and lecturer Joanna Cobb has lined up a number of talks in Wells over the next few months. She will be giving a oneoff lecture at Seager Hall in December, 100 years since more than eight million women and five million men were able to vote for the first time. Making new worlds? will commemorate the contribution of artists to the Great War and to the suffrage debate. The lecture will take place on December 10, starting at 7.30pm. Another Talking Film evening will take place at Wells Film Centre on Monday, January 21,
at 7pm, when Joanna will discuss the new Mary Queen of Scots film before the film is screened. Bookings can be made at the cinema. She will launch her new lecture series in Wells on art and artifice in Tudor England on February 7. The lecture on Hans Holbein and his successors will be followed by lectures on Tudor style in action (March 21) and the Tudor legacy in art and the media (April 25). All will take place at Seager Hall at 2pm. For more information on the lectures, contact Joanna on 01458 832178 or ericjoanna@ waitrose.com
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1–22 DECEMBER OPEN TUES–SAT 10AM–5PM 20th Century and contemporary art, jewellery and homewares www.andelliart.com
‘Haresfield’ by Victoria Ball
Email: news@wellsvoice.co.uk
32 SITUATIONS VACANT
wellsvoice n NEWS
December 2018
Wells City Council Required for immediate start on a short-term contract:
COUNCIL WORKER (Duties may be physically demanding) Hourly rate £9.50 Flexible hours, variable shifts, to include weekends. Core time 30 hours, additional hours by arrangement. For further details contact the Town Hall Manager, Kevin Westwood 01749 673091 www.wells.gov.uk St Cuthbert (Out) Parish Council
DEPUTY PARISH CLERK St Cuthbert (Out) Parish Council has a vacancy for a Deputy Parish Clerk for 25 hours per week, to start at the end of January. This is an exciting opportunity to work with our Parish Clerk and forwardthinking team of enthusiastic Councillors. Previous Parish Clerk experience is desirable and training for continuous professional development will be provided. Applicants should be IT skilled and familiar with social media, be able to undertake project work and provide support to the Parish Clerk. The Council offers an attractive salary, pension scheme, flexible working and supportive team. Closing date for applications is 4th January 2019. Please send your CV and covering email to: parish.clerksco@yahoo.co.uk
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SOUP! lunch MC Paddy O’Hagan, Ruth Ames-White of Wells in Mosaic, Helen Loring and Linda Bolton of Mendip MS Society, Helen Bown and Stella Jefferies of STAR, and Kevin Russell of Horrington Cricket Club
Good causes all winners at lunch LUNCH-GOERS decided that Somerset Trust for Arts and Recreation (STAR) deserved the lion’s share of the money after listening to Stella Jefferies talk about its work with young people in need at the latest SOUP! lunch. The charity left the Connect Centre with a cheque for £350, while the other good causes which put their case – Horrington Cricket Club, Wells in Mosaic and Mendip MS Society – all received a cheque for £118. The Swan Hotel matchfunded the amount raised on
the door from people paying £5 for lunchtime soup and rolls. The soup was made by Wells Blue School pupils, and other contributions came from Waitrose, Burns the Bread, Morrisons, Sante Wines and market flower-seller Micky. The SOUP! lunches are organised by Wells Independents, who would like to give more good causes the opportunity to pitch for funds. Applications can be made online at wellsindependents.org/soup/ The next lunch will be at the Connect Centre on January 12.
Day sessions at Afternoon of farm and trips carols and cake ADULTS with learning disabilities are being offered supported day sessions and trips with experienced qualified staff by a family business at Panborough, near Wells. Rosebud Farm offers a wide range of activities such as arts and crafts, woodwork, gardening, dance, drama, music, life skills, marketing, CV writing and understanding bills. It also offers day trips such as Wookey Hole Caves, Christmas markets, reindeer ranch experience, zoos, cities, and more. More information is available at myholidayplace.co, or email info@myholidayplace.co or call 01934 713840.
A CAROLS and Cake afternoon at St Cuthbert’s Church promises to put people in the Christmas mood. Now in its third year, the event brings together the talents of the Swan Singers and the Cathedral Song Squad under the direction of Tricia Rees-Jones. There will be a variety of Christmas music including opportunities for audience participation, topped off with home-made seasonal refreshments. The event takes place on Sunday, December 16, at 2.30pm. Tickets are available from the Parish Office or on the door and cost £6 for adults and £1 for children, to include the refreshments.
Email: news@wellsvoice.co.uk
wellsvoice
December 2018
33
n NEWS
Chance for say on health provision WELLS residents have a chance to chance to have their say on how they would like health and care delivered at a dropin session at the Town Hall in December. The event will let members of the public give their views on Somerset’s new health and care programme Fit for my Future. This sets out how Somerset Clinical Commissioning Group (CCG), Somerset’s NHS Trusts and Somerset County Council plan to work together to support people with their health and care needs, while ensuring Somerset’s health and care system is sustainable for the long-term. Dr Rosie Benneyworth, Director of Strategic Clinical Services Transformation at Somerset CCG, said: “I’d like
to encourage as many people as possible to come along and find out why we need to change, talk to staff to learn more and share their thoughts on our new emerging health and care proposals so far.” A number of services are under review as part of the programme. These include mental health, maternity and children’s services and urgent and emergency care. The session in Wells will be held on Thursday, December 6, from 6pm-9pm. People who are unable to attend an event but would like to have their say can complete an online survey at http:// www.somersetconsults.org. uk/consult.ti/fitformyfuture/ consultationHome
A cheque is handed over from money donated during a day to celebrate the Southover area of Wells
Celebration day funds shared out MONEY raised during a day in June to celebrate the Southover Verdery has been divided between Wells & Mendip Museum and Parkinson’s UK. The event, on St Etheldreda’s day, revealed the findings of a group of local historians and people who have at some time lived in the Southover area and have been researching its history.
The Methodist church was the centre of the open day, attended by more than 350 people. Plans are being made to continue the project and a similar event may be held in 2019 or 2020. Anyone wishing to get involved with the project is asked to contact Mary I’Anson by emailing iansonmary@gmail. com
Tanith appointed guild’s manager THE Somerset Guild of Craftsmen has appointed Tanith Tothill as its new part-time manager. “Many people will know Tanith from the Wells Trading Post, but she is now looking after contemporary crafts rather than old antiques,” said guild member John Candler. “We are incredibly lucky to have Tanith joining us.” Now in its third year in Wells, the Somerset Guild of Craftsmen shop in Broad Street displays the work of some 50 local craftsmen.
The guild shop in Wells “All of them produce craft of exceptional quality and design,” said John. “If you love Somerset, love her Somerset craftsmen.”
MAKING NEW WORLDS?
Conflict, comradeship, empowerment and the arts A lecture by Joanna Cobb MA to commemorate the contribution of artists to the Great War and the suffrage debate 100 years to the week after millions of men and women were able to vote for the first time
Monday 10th December 7.30pm-9.30pm, Seager Hall, Wells
For more details or to reserve a place, contact Joanna on 01458 832178 or ericjoanna@waitrose.com Or come along on the night. All welcome Tickets £10 to include fully illustrated lecture, handout and light refreshments
Got News? Call 07906 499655
OPEN HOURS: 10 am - 4 pm, Monday to Saturday
The Somerset Guild of Craftsmen, 23a Broad Street, Wells
www.somersetguild.co.uk
Email: news@wellsvoice.co.uk
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December 2018
n WHAT’S ON December 1 n Small Business Saturday. Free parking in Union Street and offers from independent traders in Wells. December 2 n Music from Ant Noel and the Peabody Drakes, The Venue, South Street, 7pm. December 3 n Wells U3A Singing for Pleasure Group meeting, Seager Hall, Union Street, 2.30pm. All U3A members welcome. n Wells Fountain Poets open meeting, Loaf, 38 Market Street, 7.45pm for 8pm. Featured poet Rachael Clyne will read from her new collection Girl Golem. As usual there will be an open-mic session: no need to book in advance. Ffi: Ama on 01749 672911. December 4 n Modern Calligraphy festive workshop, perfect for beginners, Loaf Bakehouse, 7pm-8.45pm. £35. To book: www.mirabellemakery. com/workshops December 5 n Health Walk in and around Wells, meet Pickwicks Cafe 11am, with Ruth/John. 60-90 minutes. n Action on Hearing Loss free hearing assessment, Wells Library, Union Street, 9.30am-noon. December 7 n Wells Natural History & Archaeological Society talk by David Dawson: Two hundred years of Mendip archaeology. Also mulled wine and mince pies. Wells & Mendip Museum, 7.30pm. Members free, visitors £2. n Deck the Halls Winter Flower Festival, The Bishop’s Palace. Until December 9. n Nativity Angel and Stars Festival, St Cuthbert’s Church, Wells. Until December 9. 10am-4.30pm; 11.30am on Sunday, December 9. December 8 n Croscombe Christmas Market, Croscome Village Hall BA5 3RA,10am-2pm. Festive food and drink, crafts, artisan gifts, refreshments and lunches, Father Christmas and live music. Win a hamper. Contact Mary Cadogan 01749 572875. n Christmas at the Palace festivities, The Bishop’s Palace. Until December 22. n Somerset Film at The Engine Room Sounds of the City workshop, Wells & Mendip Museum. Chance for members of the community to help capture the sounds of Wells to be played at
n DECEMBER 8: Midsomer Norton & Radstock Silver Band Christmas Concert. The band return to St Thomas’ Church, Wells, BA5 2UZ, at 7pm with a Musical Feast of Seasonal Favourites. Tickets, £7, include complimentary Winter Warming refreshments and are available from Queen Street Deli, DH James Photographic Suppliers and on the door. Wake Up Wells community day in Cathedral on Jan 26. Free. Book a place at https://www.somersetfilm. com/diary/ December 9 n Wells Rotary Reindeer Parade. Entertainment in Market Place. Parade starts at noon. n Santa will be in his grotto at Swan Hotel, Wells, from 11am-3pm. Tickets £5 on the day to include a present. December 10 n Lecture by art historian Joanna Cobb MA, Making new worlds?, to commemorate the contribution of artists to the Great War and the suffrage debate. Seager Hall, Wells, 7.30pm. To book contact Joanna on 01458 832178 or ericjoanna@ waitrose.com, or go along on the night. Tickets £10 to include handout and refreshments. December 11 n Wells Circle Dance, Methodist Church Hall, Southover BA5 1UG, 7.45pm-9.30pm. £4. All dances taught, no experience or partner needed. Contact Rowena: 01749 679300. n Wells Writers Group, The Globe Inn, Priest Row, 7pm. n Wells Railway Fraternity AGM followed by quiz, Wells Town Hall, 7.30pm. Non-members £4. More details: Andrew Tucker, 01749 830695. December 12 n Wells Board Game Group, Cheese Yard Cafe, West Horrington, 7pm-9.30pm. n Wells Christmas Fair in aid of St Margaret’s Hospice, Wells Town Hall, 10am-3pm. December 15 n Giant Christmas Craft Fair, Wells Town Hall, 10am-4pm. n Sing for Somerset Carol Service, Wells Cathedral. Free, no ticket required, doors open 6.15pm, service starts 7pm. December 17 n Wells U3A Singing for Pleasure
To advertise, contact Andy on 01749 675157
Group meeting, Seager Hall, Union Street, 2.30pm. All U3A members welcome. December 19 n Wells Christmas Market, Market Place. Until December 22. n Health Walk in and around Wells, meet Pickwicks Cafe 11am, with Ruth/John. 60-90 minutes. REGULAR EVENTS Every Monday n Wells Breakaways Short Mat Bowls Club, meet every Monday except bank holidays, Kennion Hall, Blue School, from 6.45pm. Four mats available, try for three weeks for free, beginners welcome, equipment available, refreshments. n Zen meditation, The Drawing Room, 4 Heritage Courtyard, Sadler Street, 7.45pm. Drop in. Suggested donation £5. Mats and cushions provided. Tel: Paul 01749 670193. Every Tuesday n Soda Art Group, 1.30pm3.30pm, Learning and Skills Centre, Portway. Special welcome for people with a disability. Tutorials, chances to exhibit, and expeditions out for workshops. More from 01749 673755 or 673334. n Wells Good Afternoon Choir, Seager Hall, Wells, 2pm-4pm. ‘Singing in the Afternoon’ with Grenville Jones. Everyone welcome. gac@grenvillemusic.co.uk n Smashup badminton for all abilities with music and your mates. Ages 11-18. Wells Blue Sports Centre, 7pm-8pm, £2.50 per session. n Zumba Gold. Lower impact, easier steps, Wells Leisure Centre. 10.45am-11.10am, £5 a session. Tel Jacqui 07870 544551 or just turn up. n Latin-based cardio dance exercise, Wells Cathedral School dance studio, 6.45pm-7.45pm. Tel Jacqui 07870 544551 or just turn up. n Don’t struggle with your mental health difficulties alone. Come along to SEO Mental Health peer support group, Connect Centre, Wells, BA5 2BE, 2pm-3.30pm. £3 suggested voluntary donation to cover costs. n Wookey Choirworks (ladies choir), 7.30pm to 8.30pm, Wookey Primary School hall, no auditions, singing for fun, £4pw. Contact wookey.choirworks@gmail.com n Pilates mat class 9.15am, Wells Town Hall. First class free. Prebooking essential: zest2zen@gmail. com, 07946 310877. n Life Drawing, The Drawing
Room, 4 Heritage Courtyard, Sadler Street, 7pm-9.15pm. Tutored class with life models, £12 inc tea. Tel Molly 07793 387848 or Paul 07918 731137. Every Wednesday n Wells Market, Market Place, 9am-4pm. n Wells Table Tennis Club, Seager Hall, Union Street, 6.30pm-9pm. n Mendip All Drummers community djembe (African hand-drumming) group. Meet at Croscombe Village Hall, Fayreway, from 10am-1pm. Beginners and learners welcome; drums available. £4 per session. Ring Charles on 07881 304609 or just turn up. n Wells Kettlercise, Town Hall, Market Place, 6pm. First class free. Pre-booking essential. Contact Sally Ann Frampton, zest2zen@ gmail.com, 07946 310877. n Pilates class, Wells Town Hall, Market Place, 7.15pm. First class free. Pre-booking essential: zest2zen@gmail.com, 07946 310877. Every Thursday n Knitting and Natter, Wells Library, 1.30pm-3.30pm. Learn knitting, crochet and cross-stitch. Open to men and women, no need to book. n Tai Chi For Health & Vitality, Westbury Village Hall, 12-1pm. Any age or ability. Drop in, pay as you go, £5. n Mid Somerset Wargamers, Seager Hall, Wells, 7pm. Role play and board games. Members must be 18 or over; juniors (12 or over) can attend with adult member. facebook.com/ groups/1395072510738529/ n Pilates mat class, Wells Town Hall, 9.15am. First class free. Pre-booking essential: zest2zen@ gmail.com, 07946 310877. n Life Drawing, The Drawing Room, 4 Heritage Courtyard, Sadler Street, 1.30pm-3.30pm. Tutored class with life models, £12 inc tea. Tel Molly 07793 387848 or Paul 07918 731137. Every Friday n Wells Country Market, Seager Hall, Union Street, 10am-noon. All home-cooked food plus craft and produce table. n Live music, The City Arms, High Street, 8.30pm. n Wells Refugee Aid collection at Wells Town Hall, 10am-11.45am. Collecting donations in Wells for refugees around the world, distribution via RAFT in Taunton. Quality warm clothes, waterproof
Email: sales@wellsvoice.co.uk
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n WHAT’S ON PILOGAFIT Pilates Yoga Fitness Fusion for Spine & Core Stability Connect Centre Mondays 5.30 - 6.30pm Thursdays 9.30 - 10.30am St Thomas Church Hall Wednesdays 5.30 - 6.30pm Drop in - Pay as you go - £5 John Beasley 01749 672482 www.pilogafit.co.uk www.taichi24.co.uk
PILOGAFIT Additional exercise class SS&L Building - Portway Avenue Free Parking Fridays 12.15 - 1.15pm Details as above shoes, blankets and sleeping bags always needed. n Pilates class, Wells Town Hall, Market Place, 9.45am; and seated and standing Pilates class for older adults, 11am. First class free. Pre-
10am-11am, £3 per session. Every Sunday n Zen meditation, The Drawing Room, 4 Heritage Courtyard, Sadler Street, 7.15am for 7.30am. Drop in. Suggested donation £5. Mats and cushions provided. Tel: Paul 01749 670193. First Sunday of each month n Irish Set Dancing at Dinder Village Hall, BA5 3PF. Workshop 11am-1pm, £3. Bring and share lunch 1pm-2pm. Ceili 2pm-5pm, £3. For more details, call 01458 210051. First Tuesday of each month n Wells WI, Wells & Mendip Museum. Start 7.30pm. Visitors welcome. n Wells Carers Group, Wells Fire Station Community Room, 10.30am-noon. Third Friday of each month n Goldies Sing&Smile in Wells, Elim Connect Centre, Portway, 1.30pm-2.30pm. We’re not a choir but we love music. We sing along to popular hits of the Fifties onwards and socialise together. £2 donation requested.
booking essential: zest2zen@gmail. com, 07946 310877. n Zumba Gold at St Thomas’ Church Hall, Wells, 10am-11am and 11.30am-12.30pm. £5 per session (second class free if you stay for it). More details from Carole-Anne on 07484 216900 / 01278 722292. n Tai Chi for Health class, Connect Centre, Wells, BA5 2BE, 2pm3.30pm. Very gentle exercise, can be done seated if necessary. Suitable for all. Everyone welcome. £3 donation. n Wells and Wookey Scottish Dancers, Wookey Village Hall, 7.15pm-9.45pm. All abilities welcome. For more information call 01749 672672 (all day), 01749 677548 (daytime), 01749 672805 (evening) or go to wellsscottishdancers.btck.co.uk Every Saturday n Wells Market, Market Place, 9am-4pm. n Pay and Play badminton for all abilities, teenagers and adults, Wells Blue Sports Centre, 9am10am, £3 per session. n Badzone – Wells Junior Badminton Club for all abilities – ages 7-15. Wells Blue Sports Centre,
DISABLED ACCESS IN ALL 3 SCREENS CR
OPEN 7 DAYS A WEEK
WE WOULD LIKE TO WISH ALL OUR CUSTOMERS A VERY MERRY CHRISTMAS AND A HAPPY NEW YEAR
DECEMBER FILM RELEASES
Third Saturday of each month n Knitting lessons for children, Wells Library, 11am-1pm. Equipment supplied. Booking required: 0300 123 2224. Third Sunday of each month n Gorgons Carnival Club quiz, Britannia Inn, Bath Road, Wells. Quiz starts at 7.30pm, teams of up to four people, £2 a player. There is also a raffle. More information from Shelly Ford on GorgonsCC@aol. com or 07894 078999. First and third Mondays n ‘Clickety Click’ knitting group, Wells Methodist Church Hall, Southover, 10am-noon. First, third (and fifth) Wednesdays n Open Mic Night, The Globe Inn, Wells, 7.30pm. More details on 01749 678998.
Get in touch To have your local events and activities included in these listings, email brief details to: news@wellsvoice.co.uk
STATE OF THE ART 3D
PRINCES ROAD, WELLS, BA5 1TD
01749 673195
wellsfilmcentre.co.uk
UPCOMING EVENT CINEMA
THE NUTCRACKER - ROH BALLET GIRL IN THE SPIDERS WEB (15) - FROM 7TH MONDAY 3RD DECEMBER 7.15 TH AQUAMAN 2D & 3D (cert tbc) - FROM 12 ANTONY & CLEOPATRA - NT ST MARY POPPINS RETURNS (cert tbc) - FROM 21 THURSDAY 6TH DECEMBER 7PM BUMBLEBEE 2D & 3D (cert tbc) FROM 28TH A CHRISTMAS CAROL - SIMON CALLOW HOLMES & WATSON (cert tbc) - FROM 28TH TUESDAY 11TH DECEMBER 7PM JANUARY FILM RELEASES: THE FAVOURITE (15) FROM 4TH STAN & OLLIE (PG) FROM 11TH BOX OFFICE NOW OPEN
CBEEBIES CHRISTMAS SHOW SATURDAY 15TH DECEMBER 2PM ANDRE RIEU NEW YEARS CONCERT SAT 5TH 7PM & SUN 6TH 4PM JAN’19
PLUS MANY MORE, A WORLD OF CINEMA AWAITS! Got News? Call 07906 499655
Email: news@wellsvoice.co.uk
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n THE PROPERTY MARKET
December 2018
With Roderick Thomas of Roderick Thomas Ltd
Brexit and the housing market
DO I start with a gnashing of teeth? Whether you’re a Leaver or a Remainer, a Conservative, Labour or Liberal supporter, you’re probably pretty unhappy with the current Brexit stalemate (as I write on November 19). Mrs May is struggling on but there’s not much light at the end of the tunnel – or should I say either side of the Chunnel? Concentrating selfishly on my interest in the property market, I believe the uncertainty is having
Despite Brexit I’m betting it’ll go very quickly! It’s in a beautiful quiet rural area just out of the village of Moorlinch a few miles west of Street. It really is a fabulous period house with a “wow” wing attached. Lots of great living space, five bedrooms, mature gardens, a copse and paddock. Price guide £875,000. If you’re looking for a country property I’ll be surprised if you don’t fall in love with this one.
an impact on the market in Somerset but not as much as I’ve expected. We’ve less “lookers” but still plenty of “buyers” and many are making up their minds very quickly. In the last couple of weeks several houses have been sold within literally a few days. We’re putting several houses onto the market this week including a very special country property. It’ll be interesting to see how long it takes to sell.
CLIFTON 01179 734464 CASTLE CARY 01963 351993 WEDMORE 01934 710220 WELLS 01749 670079 Mobile 07791789954 www.roderickthomas.co.uk rdt@roderickthomas.co.uk The country property has lots of great living space, and mature gardens. Pictured left is the sitting room, and right the copse
To advertise, contact Andy on 01749 675157
Email: sales@wellsvoice.co.uk
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December 2018
37
n TAKE A BREAK For serious sudoku fans
SPOT THE DIFFERENCE
Each 4x4 box, every row and every column must contain the numbers 1-16, with each used only once. Can you crack it?
13 5 7 16 15 8
1
E
6
L
O T
E
N
E
S
I
H
U
C
M
I
2
E
3
7
P
P
E L A H
A W 4
TXT PERT
7
2 1
SPOT THE DIFFERENCE
8
T
6 is M, N or O 7 is P, Q, R or S 8 is T, U or V 9 is W, X, Y or Z
6
N
1 5
T
3
A
4
5
3
G
2
SOLUTIONS U
1
EASY for children
A
2 is A, B or C 3 is D, E or F 4 is G, H or I 5 is J, K, or L
Down 1 6878264 (7) 2 2433824 (7) 3 74686 (5) 4 94253 (5) 6 5969 (4) 7 784 (3)
SUDOKU
Each horizontal row, each 2x2 square and each column must contain all the numbers 1-4.
Y
Across 1 6423 (4) 3 729 (3) 5 26835673 (8) 8 624 (3)
© www.123rf.com/ profile_zakowski
A
This month: Animals
The numbers point you to the letters on a phone keypad
The answers are below – but no peeking until you have finished!
N
TXT PERT
There are 10 differences between these two pictures – can you find them all?
X
6 16 5 11 15 16 3 8 2 6 7 4 10 11 13 15 12 16 1 15 16 3 6 5 8 2 14 7 11 12 11 6 1 5 10 3 13 8 14 3 5 1 12 13 16 11 15 12 13 3 16 10 14 15 6 8 2 14 4 12 1 6 9 12 8 6 14 2 7 1 8 15 14 5 4 10 13 4 14 12 1 7 3 11 3 9 1 13 14 12 4 8 10 4 13 5 1 12 16 2
N
3 6 4
8
6 1 15 5
H
7 9 10
G
THE FIEND
WANTED
All Old / Vintage Fishing Tackle Reels, Rods, Cased Fish, Angling Books Collector pays cash. Will collect
Call Nigel on 01934 520543 www.doorexpresssouthwest.co.uk
Got News? Call 07906 499655
or email nigel164townsend@btinternet.com
Email: news@wellsvoice.co.uk
38
wellsvoice
wellsvoice
n NEWS IN BRIEF
COMPUTER SERVICES Keward Park Glastonbury Road Wells BA5 1QE 01749 674466 07713 598226
www.wellsvoice.co.uk
LOCAL SERVICES
December 2018
For all your computing needs
To advertise in our local services section from as little as £16.25 per month, contact Andy by calling 07906 499655 or 01749 675157, or emailing sales@wellsvoice.co.uk
Wide variety of computers and accessories in stock – visit our extensive showroom at Keward Park. Expert advice on computer repairs, with a call-out service for local businesses and residents.
PAINTING AND DECORATING
PAINTING AND DECORATING
NICKI AND JON HANDY PEOPLE
PAINTING & DECORATING REPAIRS & MAINTENANCE KITCHEN RENOVATION FURNITURE REPAIRS PLUMBING TILING
www.nickiandjon.com
Nicki Wetton info@nickiandjon.com Jonathan Wetton TEL: 07707 059188
FUEL INSTALLATIONS
www.wellscope.co.uk
STEVE CRABB Interior and exterior painter and decorator with over 20 years’ experience Free quotations For a professional job call Steve on: Mobile: 07738 240002 Tel: 01749 677071 Email: stevencrabb@hotmail.co.uk
TREE SERVICES
PARSONS
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Fully insured and City & Guilds trained
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AERIALS
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To advertise, contact Andy on 01749 675157
Tutoring and help
Contact: Sara Tambling 07801 368628 learning@wellstutors.co.uk www.wellstutors.co.uk
Fuel poverty campaign SOMERSET Community Foundation has launched this year’s Surviving Winter campaign, which encourages people to join the growing number of contributors who donate some or all of their Winter Fuel Payment to help local people living in fuel poverty. Last year, more than 500 older people living in fuel poverty in Somerset were helped to keep warm and better connected through the winter months, thanks to pensioners and other local donors who gave to Surviving Winter. To donate to Surviving Winter, visit www.somersetcf.org.uk/winter or call 01749 344949.
Library building retained SOMERSET County Council has confirmed that Wells Library will be one of 19 library buildings it retains. The decision was made at a Cabinet meeting that invited communities to submit expressions of interest to set up Community Library Partnerships to try to save the remaining 15.
Cockerel painting course ARTIST and teacher Gemma Lane will be running a course at The Bishop’s Palace in January on the art of painting a cockerel using acrylics. The evening course will be held on consecutive Wednesdays starting on January 9, from 7.30pm-9pm. The total cost is £60 with all materials included apart from the acrylic paint. More details at greenfoxworkshops.com or by calling 07532 327810.
Festive open afternoon A WINTER Wonderland Jingle & Mingle open afternoon is being held at Wells Cathedral School on Thursday, December 6, for parents who would like to have a look around the school’s provision for children aged two to seven. The event will take place from 1pm-3pm and will include food, music, crafts and a visit from Santa. Attendance must be confirmed by calling 01749 834441 or emailing admissions@ wells.cathedral.school.
Toilets acclaimed again WELLS pub The Quarter Jack in has been acclaimed for the quality and standards of its toilets in the Loo of the Year Awards 2018. The Wetherspoon pub in Priory Road received a platinum rating – the highest award possible – for the second year in a row.
Email: sales@wellsvoice.co.uk
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December 2018
39
n SPORT
Bisgrove nets twice to help steer Wells to another win JAMES Bisgrove turned in a man of the match performance in Wells City’s 3-1 win over Sherborne Town. Two goals from Bisgrove and a strike from Charlie Crook secured all three points to keep Wells in the top five of the Toolstation Western League Division 1. Tim Moxey, who enjoyed a number of seasons as manager at Wells FC, presented Bisgrove with his bottle of bubbly. The victory followed two other wins in November, against Oldland Abbotonians (2-1) and Corsham Town (3-2), and a 5-4 defeat at Longwell Green Sports. Wells City Reserves have struggled to make an impact in Somerset County League Division 1, a string of defeats leaving them at the bottom end of the table. In contrast, after suffering the disappointment of relegation last
James Bisgrove receives his man of the match award from Tim Moxey after two goals against Sherborne season, Wells City A team have rebuilt and started this season brightly. Four wins from their opening six games saw them up to third in Mid Somerset League Division 1, and a comfortable first round victory in the Dimmock Green Cup has seen them safely through to the next
Golf competition keenly contested
round of the competition. They hosted a very strong Peasedown Albion Reserves team on November 3 and got off to a bright start when Keir Wallace won a 50/50 challenge and beat a defender before unleashing a shot into the top corner from 25 yards out. Peasedown equalised from the edge of the area shortly before half-time after Wells failed to clear their penalty area. A cagey second half saw opportunities for both teams to take the lead but it was Peasedown who took their chance 15 minutes from time, when a misplaced header from the Wells midfield fell kindly for Peasedown inside the penalty area, leaving the impressive stand-in keeper Adam Laing with little chance.
MEMBERS of Belrose Golf Society, based in Wells, joined with golfers from West Wilts Golf Club in a Texas Scramble competition at Woodlake Park Golf Club to raise money for two charities, Prostate Cancer and the South West Children’s Hospice, cancer having personally affected several members of the society both past and present. The eventual winners were Terry Williams and Jack Hayes with a net score of 67. Three other groups were separated from the best score of the day by tenths on the handicap system. The society thanks the 40 golfers who played and sponsors of the day Gatenby Services, TePe, United Rentals, Higos and I Facility. Altogether, £2,360 was raised, to be divided between the two charities. A special thank you goes to Kevin Keene of KNW van and car hire who was the auctioneer on the day.
Positives to take from performance in three-point defeat for 2nd XV WELLS 2nds suffered a narrow defeat at home to Chew Valley 3rds on November 17, going down 34-31. Chew started strong and Wells simply gave them too much respect, allowing them the time and space to run freely. Chew’s number 8 among others carried well and they soon built a healthy lead. Wells woke from their slumbers following a few big hits from Jordan Crook and some good carries from Seb Gripper. Wells looked dangerous when the backs had good ball, the combination of Thompson, Greenman and Attwood was always likely to cause problems. Wells ended the first half with just the one score from the ever impressive Lewis Cohen, trailing Chew by three tries. In the second half Wells finally fronted up and took it to the opposition, Greenman capping a good performance with a try. The returning Andy Perrin went over from a few metres out following some
dominant forward play from the entire Wells pack. Harry White’s kicking for goal was sublime and man of the match Cohen finished the day off with his second try. Wells continued to camp on Chew’s five-metre line but couldn’t get the decisive final points to take the win. Many positives will be taken from this performance and with such a young side, Wells will only improve. n Wells Ist XV lost 44-12 at Old Richians on November 17, and went down 64-31 at home to Chipping Sodbury on November 3, but showed great spirit in both games. Liam Barlow, who had an outstanding game both in defence and attack against Old Richians, scored both Wells tries. James Phillips, back after two seasons, scored all of Wells’ four tries against Chipping Siodbury, to at least give them a consolation bonus point. Oskar White added the four conversions plus a penalty to give him five kicks out of five.
Got News? Call 07906 499655
FULL WINTER MEMBERSHIP With Wells Golf Club Available from £82 until March 2019 Full membership benefits include full access to our 18 hole Parkland course , practice facilities, national reciprocal golf , discount on food and beverages, and active golf and social diary events . Contact us to arrange a tour of the course , plus, a courtesy round of golf.
secretary@wellsgolfclub.co.uk 01749 675005
Email: news@wellsvoice.co.uk