Wells Voice January 2022

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Crib sets seen in variety of guises Nativity characters depicted in the form of vegetables, bears... and pieces of cheese Turn to page 3

Call for unwanted mobile phones Work progressing well on community mural for Wells Museum that will feature three important figures in city’s history – page 12

Green light for Wells Goes Green project Grant will fund sustainability workshops – page 12

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Lions Club supporting initiative that will benefit air ambulance Turn to page 6

How should city mark jubilee?

Suggestions invited for ways of celebrating Queen’s long reign Turn to page 10

Chess Jamboree Players pleased to have chance of competitive action again Turn to pages 36&37

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January 2022

3

n NEWS

Skye dressed as an angel at the Crib Festival with, from left, Piers Rose, Jill Deane and Sue Harding of St Cuthbert’s Church

Showcase for great variety of crib sets HUNDREDS of visitors admired the dozens of crib sets displayed at the Crib Festival in St Cuthbert’s Church.

The event had to be called off in 2020 but was back this year on the second weekend of December.

In one of the huge variety of Nativity scenes, the characters were all vegetables, in another they were bears. There was a Nativity display made from soft drink cans, and one created from pieces of cheese.

There were angels too, and an area where children could dress up in Nativity costumes.

The first such festival was held in the church in 2014 at the suggestion of Sue Harding.

“I thought it would be an excuse to show off my Nativity sets as I collect them,” said Sue, who owns more than 100.

“I never thought that it would grow but it took off. I’m thrilled.”

Money raised from the festival goes to the church and to a number of charities.

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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

FEBRUARY 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 February issue please contact us by January 19.

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 6,850 copies will be distributed around Wells and surrounding villages.

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January 2022

Hopes of restoring Bloom competitions WELLS City Council, in partnership with volunteers, aims to restore the annual Wells in Bloom competitions for Schools, Gardens and Allotments in 2022.

Wells in Bloom was originally set up 10 years ago, as an initiative by volunteers to create and maintain the floral displays in High Street and Market Place, but the impact of Covid and lockdowns meant that the baskets and planters had to be taken over by the city council Outside Spaces team.

Many people have remarked on the how good the flowers in the High Street have looked over the past two years, thanks to Andy Allen and his team.

The city council will maintain this role but would like to restore the competitions and judging

The city’s floral displays have been admired for primary schools, allotments and private gardens with the help of volunteers. People who are interested in being part of the Wells in Bloom volunteers for the judging should contact Councillor Denise Denis, email d.denis@wells.gov.uk or tel: 07812 206693.

Ideas for fundraising invited THE Wells Rocks team are turning up the tempo with plans for the Portway Annexe, composing a programme of fundraising activities that could be run in the building.

The team would like to hear of any fundraising ideas that people might have.

Suggestions can be shared at info@wellsrocks.com Wells Rocks’ Nigel Fraser recently met with the lead for contemporary music at the Wells Cathedral School, Ed Leaker.

They have started to explore how the two organisations may collaborate in the Portway Annexe, building on earlier

meetings with Strode College and local music teachers.

With part of the Portway Annexe anticipated to be abuzz with musical talent, David Miller Architects has provided Wells City Council with a specification for sound containment. This is to minimise disturbance to neighbours and other users of the building should the project get the green light. Cost estimates are now being sought by the city council.

Windows to make cheery sight WINDOWS in Tor Street and St Andrews Street will once again be lit up to show off the Twelve Days of Christmas. Passers-by can see all of ‘My True Love’s’ gifts from the Partridge in a Pear Tree to the Twelve Drummers Drumming after dark from the Wednesday before Christmas until January 5.

Organisers hope they will give people some post-Christmas cheer.

One of last year’s windows

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wellsvoice

January 2022

5

n NEWS

Unitary authority and parish elections to be held in May WELLS City Council and St Cuthbert Out Parish Council elections are being brought forward a year to May 2022 so that they coincide with elections for the new unitary authority.

The Department of Levelling Up, Housing and Communities has confirmed that elections to the new Somerset Council will take place in May. Parish council elections are planned for the same day, a year earlier than they otherwise would have been held, and councillors will then serve a fiveyear term before elections revert to a four-yearly cycle.

The Local Government Minister, Kemi Badenoch, also confirmed as part of the proposed Structural Changes Order – a mechanism that sets the legal basis for the new Somerset Council – that the new

Voters will have a chance to choose new councillors in May 2022 council would be a ‘continuing authority’.

The elections for it will take place on the existing division boundaries of the county council, and the number of councillors

will double from 55 to 110, so that each part of the county will have two representatives except for Glastonbury and Street, which will double from two to four.

For the first ‘transition’ year (May 2022 to the end of March 2023), those elected will sit as county councillors and will oversee the process to unitary.

On April 1, 2023, Somerset County Council and the four district councils of Mendip, Sedgemoor, Somerset West and Taunton, and South Somerset will be disbanded and will become Somerset Council. Those councillors who were voted in at the May 2022 elections will then sit on the new council as unitary councillors, where they will serve for the normal term of four years, after having overseen the transition year.

E-skateboarder fined by court A MAN has been fined and issued with penalty points after he was stopped by police while riding an electric skateboard in a public place.

Benjamin Cullen, of Chamberlain Street, Wells, had previously been stopped and advised by officers from the Wells Neighbourhood Policing Team that the e-skateboard could not legally be used in public.

The 33-year-old was reported for summons after officers saw him using the skateboard again on June 7, 2021, in Priest Row, Wells.

He appeared before Bath Magistrates’ Court on November 24 charged with the offences of driving without insurance, driving without an MOT and driving otherwise in accordance with a licence.

He was ordered to pay a £200 fine and costs of £124, and was issued with six penalty points.

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January 2022

n NEWS

Phones collection to help air ambulance

CITY of Wells Lions Club is supporting the Dorset and Somerset Air Ambulance’s mobile phone initiative to recycle unwanted mobile phones to benefit their essential public service.

The club has placed a secure box in the reception at Wells Town Hall where unwanted

The life-saving air ambulance mobile phones can be left ready for collection. Already many phones have been donated to support this cause.

There are an estimated 60 to 90 million mobile phones

languishing in drawers and cupboards around the UK. If these phones end up in landfill sites, their toxic components become a threat to human health and the environment. If the phones are recycled, they eliminate this threat to the environment and also decrease the strain on the planet’s resources.

Reciproc8 (https://www. reciproc8mobiles.co.uk/ recycling) are removing the component parts from the collected phones all of which helps generate funds for the DSAA. City of Wells Lions may be contacted by email on cityofwellslions@gmail.com or by telephone: 0345 833 6736. u Air ambulance wins three top awards, page 39

A Tree of Light was installed at The Bishop’s Palace before Christmas to create a place where people could recall happy memories of loved ones lost in the pandemic, in an initiative by the City of Wells Lions Club. The names of loved ones to be remembered were written on a star hung on the tree in return for a donation to the Lions. Palace Pastor Rosey Lunn was due to conduct a dedication of the tree on December 21, when the names of loved ones were going to be read out.

Club giving £1,000 to Foodbank THE Lions Club will be donating £1,000 to Wells Foodbank from the profits of a concert

by The Unravelling Wilburys at St Thomas’ Church on

November 26. There are people and organisations that the club wishes to formally thank for their support and full details will be in the February edition of the Voice.

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wellsvoice

January 2022

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n NEWS

Reporting problems now ‘hole’ lot easier ALERTING Somerset County Council to potholes or a host of other problems on the road is now easier and quicker – and progress can be tracked once a report has been made.

Gone is the need to make phone calls or send emails – thanks to a new upgraded online system with an improved interactive map, members of the public can report a problem 24/7 and the council’s Highways team will get on the case.

From potholes, blocked drains and broken manhole covers, to overgrown vegetation, damaged pavements or cycle paths, faulty traffic lights or missing markings, they can all be reported in minutes from a smartphone, tablet or computer.

The full range and how to report is available at www.

Potholes and other problems can be reported simply online somerset.gov.uk/roads-andtransport/report-a-problem-onthe-road/.

Councillor Faye Purbrick, Somerset County Council’s Cabinet Member for Transformation, said: “The new improved Report It system has been delivered by our dedicated Digital Team as part of ongoing improvements to the digital

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customer programme. Our goal is to use digital innovation to transform the way that residents engage with the council, taking away the need for emails and phone calls to our busy contact centre, unless that is their preferred way of getting in touch.

“This will save people time and enable them to report problems when it’s convenient for them, it will also free up our advisors to help the public with other enquiries.”

If it is safe to pull over, people can take a picture of the fault, then visit the Report It site on their phone, answer a few simple questions and upload the picture.

They will be sent a link which enables them to track it.

Councillor John Woodman, Somerset County Council’s Cabinet Member for Highways, said: “This is now an excellent tool to alert our teams quickly and efficiently so they can carry out repairs across the network.

“Please do take a look and make use of the system, and tell us what you think, we want to hear your feedback.”

People urged to get booster WELLS MP James Heappey has urged people in the Wells constituency to get their booster jab if they have not already done so.

With the rapid spread of the new Omicron variant, all over-18s who had their second vaccine at least three months ago can now book an appointment for a booster through the NHS website, or attend a walk-in centre.

Mr Heappey said: “I encourage all those who have not yet come forward to take up the offer of a vaccine.

“We are leading the way here in Somerset and I am in regular contact with the Clinical Commissioning Group and Somerset County Council to ensure this process is as successful as the first.” u Advice on how to remain well this winter, page 15; Message from the MP, page 28

Email: news@wellsvoice.co.uk

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January 2022

n NEWS Events coming up at library

Members of the Alliance’s Memory Cafe enjoying their Christmas meeting with live music and festive refreshments, thanks to a grant from Somerset Community Foundation

New start for dementia group

WELLS Dementia Action Alliance is making plans for the new year and they need enthusiastic members of the community to help them.

Chair, Veronica Devereux, said: “We want to start providing the much-needed support to

people with dementia and their carers that we weren’t able to offer during the lockdowns.

“Anyone interested in getting involved, especially those who are passionate about enabling people with dementia and their carers to feel supported and part

of the community, should get in touch by emailing admin@ wellsdementia.org.uk” The Alliance’s AGM will be held via Zoom on January 19, at 11am, and all are welcome. Email the address given above to get the link for the meeting.

Free New Year’s Day bus service cancelled THERE will be no vintage bus service again this year on the 376 route on New Year’s Day. With First Bus not operating any services on January 1, vintage bus enthusiasts had planned to operate a free service on the 376 route between Bristol and Wells, with connections from Wells to Glastonbury and Street, as they have in the past.

But following recent

government advice regarding the pandemic it has been decided not to run the free service. It is the second year in a row that it has had to be called off.

The service was to have celebrated a century of bus services between Wells, Glastonbury and Street. January 2022 also marks the centenary of the Priory Road bus depot which was originally opened by

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the Bristol Tramways & Carriage Company on January 21, 1922.

In addition to being a bus depot, the site also became the bus station on May 29, 1955, and was then used by the Bristol Omnibus Company until 1985 when the bus station was moved to its present site in Princes Road, the original site reverting to use as a bus depot by Badgerline and First.

A NUMBER of events for children are due to be held at Wells Library in January.

Tatty Tot stories can be heard on Saturday, January 15, at 10.30am. Children aged 2-5 are invited to listen to the adventures of the brave little dog and other stories. Lego Club, for ages 5 and up, will also take place on January 15 at 10.30am.

Read and Rhyme will be back at the library as well, when children under 5 years can join the ladies from Little Wellies Nursery for some stories and singing. These sessions will take place from 2.45pm on Thursday, January 13, and Thursday, January 27.

To book places at any of the above events, email wlslib@ somerset.gov.uk.

During the month there will also be an author talk. John Barkle, author of Memories of a Village Grocer, will be in the library on Saturday, January 22, at 11am to talk about the changing face of shopkeeping throughout his life and the many customers and characters he met along the way. He will also be selling his book, the proceeds of which go to The Children’s Hospice. To book a place, email wlslib@somerset.gov.uk as places are limited.

Board games MEETINGS of Wells Board Game Group are planned at the Globe Inn, Wells, on Wednesdays, January 12 and January 26, from 7pm-9.30pm.

Email: sales@wellsvoice.co.uk

wellsvoice

January 2022

9

n NEWS

Rotary president Wendy Ray, centre, with Mayor and Mayoress Philip and Caroline Welch, Town Crier Len Sweales and other Rotary members at the Mistletoe and Music event

Rotary event generates real festive atmosphere WELLS Rotary Club brought a buzz to Market Place at a special pre-Christmas Mistletoe and Music event.

With no Reindeer Parade again this year, visitors still had the chance to meet Father Christmas at the event on December 12, as well as buy reindeer antler headbands and mistletoe, crocus bulbs and lantern kits.

There were food and drink stalls, and music from Wells City Band, singer Helena, and Wellsbased ZZ Birmingham Band.

St John Ambulance members gave first aid demonstrations, and an iron lung – used at one time to treat patients with polio – was on display.

Rotary’s Polio Plus campaign

aims to eradicate the cases of polio that still remain in the world.

“Despite no reindeer, there was a wonderful festive atmosphere and of course the main attraction was to meet Father Christmas,” said Wendy Ray, Wells Rotary President.

“Thank you to everyone for their tremendous support, we raised a fantastic £727 for Dorset and Somerset Air Ambulance and an additional £330 from donations to the Rotary Polio Plus campaign.”

The £727 was added to more than £1,000 raised on previous occasions, and the Rotary Club was able to present a cheque for £1,794 to the air ambulance in the week before Christmas.

Michael and Jennifer Osborne of Wells Rotary Club with the iron lung that was being displayed, top; and Father Christmas by some of the tombola prizes

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Email: news@wellsvoice.co.uk

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January 2022

n NEWS

Call for ideas on ways to celebrate jubilee PLANNING has started for ways in which the Queen’s Platinum Jubilee can be celebrated in Wells.

Next year will mark 70 years since Queen Elizabeth II, the longest serving monarch in British history, came to the throne.

A number of local organisations have begun discussions on the planning and co-ordination of a programme of activities for the major day of celebration on Sunday, June 5, 2022.

They would like to hear what ideas Wells residents might have for ways of celebrating.

“We want to listen to everybody’s ideas and thoughts,” said Mayor of Wells Philip Welch, chair of the jubilee planning meetings.

“This should be a wonderful and memorable occasion for the whole city that people will tell their grandchildren about.”

Suggestions can be made by contacting Wells Voice, and the ideas will then be collated and passed on for further discussion.

Email news@wellsvoice.co.uk Thoughts put forward so far include a community picnic on the Recreation Ground, children’s displays such as dancing and a fancy dress pageant, live music, a range of displays and activities on Cathedral Green, and evening entertainment with food and drink at The Bishop’s Palace.

Initial suggestions came from Wells Rotary, which would like to see an event organised that is open to as many people as possible of all ages.

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Good causes set to benefit from grant-funding lunch FOUR organisations will have a good start to the new year if the first Wells SOUP of 2022 goes ahead as planned on Saturday, January 15.

Wells Theatre Festival, Wells Dementia Action Alliance, Project Factory and Wells Foodbank are each due to “spread their word” at the grantfunding lunch at the Connect Centre, which starts at 12.45pm, and leave with much-needed funds.

Bowley’s Garage has provided the £350 match-funding once again, which together with the £5 taken on the door from each attendee will make up the pot to be shared among the four groups and charities.

With soup provided by the Blue School from vegetables donated by Waitrose, bread rolls from Burns the Bread, red wine from Sante and white wine, beer

Jason Tunnicliffe, right, of Bowley’s Garage presents the £350 cheque to SOUP organiser Ross Young and soft drinks from Morrisons, plus flowers for the tables from Micky in Wells Market, SOUP is truly a community event.

“We are looking forward to seeing you all – Covid permitting,” said organiser Ross Young.

Launch of singing sessions for people living with dementia SOMERSET Arts Well has announced the launch of weekly Singing for the Brain sessions for people living with dementia.

Somerset Arts Well’s Community Singing Leaders Emma Wheat and Eliza Wylie say: “We are incredibly excited to be working in partnership with the Alzheimer’s Society UK to deliver weekly singing sessions for those living with dementia and their carers.

“The group will give participants the opportunity

to sing songs together, therapeutically explore musical instruments and reminisce, all whilst enjoying refreshments.”

At the time of writing, the sessions will run every Wednesday from January 5 from 11.15am-12.45pm at Seager Hall, Union Street, Wells, and cost £5 per person to include refreshments.

To register interest, contact Emma on 01749 595735 or by emailing emma@ somersetartswell.co.uk

Friend of Little Theatre passes away WELLS Little Theatre announced in December that long-standing friend, supporter, former committee member and patron, Stan Weatherhead, passed away almost immediately after collapsing on Saturday, December 4.

The announcement continued: “He was part of the group who, with Pip Rice’s leadership, saw the transition from Regal Cinema to Little

Theatre. He worked backstage on many productions. He was a furniture retailer with great expertise as a curtain maker and applied this skill to benefit the theatre on numerous occasions.

“For the last few years, he tirelessly dedicated himself to looking after his wife, Gill, who was wheelchair-bound and unable to look after herself.

She is being looked after by the authorities and her children.”

Email: sales@wellsvoice.co.uk

wellsvoice

January 2022

11

n NEWS

Grand Organ Appeal off to good start THE Friends of Wells Cathedral launched the Grand Organ Appeal in front of a large audience of invited guests on November 18.

Representatives of the Cathedral volunteering community, the congregation, the Friends, the Cathedral, the City of Wells and the County of Somerset gathered in the nave to hear more about the appeal to fund the refurbishment of the Wells Cathedral organ.

The Dean, the Very Rev Dr John Davies, welcomed the Lord Lieutenant and the other assembled guests to a special recital which was played by no fewer than five organists.

After a welcome drink, he explained that every 50 years or so the organ has to undergo a full refurbishment. The constant use since its last overhaul back in the 1970s means it is now beginning to sound very tired and at times somewhat underwhelming.

Jeremy Cole, Director of Music at Wells Cathedral, at the organ David Morgan-Hewitt, the Chair of the appeal, announced that more than £300,000 of the £2 million required to undertake this project has already been given or pledged. He went on to explain the ways in which people can help by donating to the appeal. He said: “The backbone

of our fundraising is the Regular Giving Programme but you can also give one-off donations, provide a legacy in your will or Adopt a Pipe. There are even opportunities to play the organ and hold a private recital for special occasions.”

The audience then heard

from the five organists. During an entertaining discussion, they gave their views on the Wells instrument and how it compares to others they have played, recounted their personal journeys to becoming professional organists and related some of the funniest and most vexing moments of their careers.

Following a short film explaining the many challenges with the organ at the moment, given by Harrison and Harrison who maintain the organ, the recital began. Each of the organists played two of their favourite pieces whilst a live video feed allowed those in the nave to watch the virtuosity of the passionate musicians.

Finally David Bednall entertained with one of his improvisations whilst audience members tried to identify the advent carols and popular songs hidden deep in the music.

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12

January 2022

n NEWS

Grant enables Wells Goes Green project WELLS City Council will launch a Wells Goes Green project in the new year after being awarded a grant for £3,500.

The money is coming from the Together for Our Planet initiative, run by the National Lottery Community Fund, to support communities across the UK to take action on climate change.

It will enable the council to run a series of workshops throughout 2022 focused on seven different sustainability topics: energy, food waste, growing your own food, green travel, biodiversity, RRR (reduce, reuse, recycle), and Christmas.

These workshops will feature speakers who are experts on the topic, activities, and question and answer sessions.

“They aim to help increase understanding of sustainability topics, highlight the changes that will have a difference and tackle barriers that stand in the way of change, whether that is a lack of funds or simply not knowing where to start,” said the council’s Sustainability Officer, Emma Jakins.

“They will be fun, positive events open to everyone who would like to learn more about

sustainability, and, most importantly, there will be no judgement. Anyone can come along no matter where they are on their sustainable journey.”

The first event is scheduled for February 5 at Wells Town Hall. Expected to last two to three hours, it will put the spotlight on energy. All events will be free, and more information will be given on the council’s website and Facebook page. Tickets may need to be booked in advance depending on the Covid situation.

“There will be a free activity at each event, so that people can come along, listen to our experts and create something useful,” said Emma.

“Our energy workshop’s activity will be making a draught excluder. Guests can take these items home and use the skills they learnt to help reduce cold draughts around the home.

“I would also welcome anyone in our community who would be interested in this project – for example, who would like to help run the events or would like to speak or share their community work – to contact me via my email address: sustain@wells. gov.uk.”

‘They will be fun, positive events open to everyone who would like to learn more about sustainability’ Emma Jakins, right

The group at work in Philippa Threlfall’s Black Dog studios in Wells Picture: Ann Cook

Work under way on second figure for museum mural MODELLING work on Bishop Beckynton for the community mural for Wells Museum is now completed.

As soon as the bishop was cut into pieces and drying on the shelves, the next group of eight started work on the second figure: Dean William Turner and his beautiful herbals.

Half the group is modelling up the herbals that will surround him, based on the woodcuts that appear in Turner’s Book of Herbals – the first to be written in the English language.

Meanwhile the rest of the group is elaborating project leader Philippa Threlfall’s schematic design, modelling up the head and body of the Dean himself.

He is simply dressed, reflecting

his puritan approach to the Christian faith.

In the new year a third group will meet to model up Herbert Balch, the founder of the museum, with a Mendip cave behind him. Glazing the figures will begin in early spring, introducing tone and rich colour to the whole… and more firings.

When everyone is happy with the figures they will be assembled and put into resin panels ready for erection on the museum’s wall later in the year.

There will be writing naming and dating the three figures and an acknowledgment: “Made in the year of The Queen’s Jubilee 2022 by inhabitants of Wells.” u Around the societies, page 34

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Have you fallen in love with biltong yet? The low-carb snack is a form of dried, cured meat that originates from Southern African countries.

Our delicious biltong is made in Wells using local BILTONG DRYERS silverside beef. We offer a selection of flavours that include: original, garlic, chilli and Jamaican Jerk.

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January 2022

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n NEWS

Appeal raises £100,000 within weeks SOMERSET Community Foundation (SCF) has announced that, following the appeal launch at the end of November, the 2021/22 Surviving Winter appeal has already raised £100,000 thanks to the generosity of local donors.

The team at SCF have been busy distributing funding across the county, and aim to support more than 500 vulnerable older people in Somerset with a Surviving Winter grant again this winter, helping to keep them warm, safe and well.

The annual appeal encourages pensioners to donate some or all of their Winter Fuel Payment, if they do not need it themselves.

These donations provide funding and support to older neighbours across Somerset who are struggling to heat their homes.

SCF’s Development Manager, Kelly Hall, said: “We have been astounded by the magnitude of support we’ve received for the Surviving Winter appeal so far this year. We’re hugely grateful to each and every person who has donated – and particularly those who donate year after year.

Without your support, we know lots of older people in Somerset would be suffering in silence

Glastonbury Festival organiser and long-time Surviving Winter supporter Michael Eavis is supporting Surviving Winter for another year.

Of this year’s Surviving Winter appeal, he said: ‘I’m very pleased to be donating to Surviving Winter again this year. We would be so pleased if you would consider giving some or all of your Winter Fuel Payment to the appeal. It is a simple and easy way to help people in our community who will be struggling to stay warm and healthy this winter.’ during the cold winter months.”

When the apeal was launched, Justin Sargent, Chief Executive at SCF, said: “We estimate that at least 9,000 older people households in Somerset will not have enough money to afford to

Monthly meetings of social group THE Connect-Ed free interabled board games and social group will be meeting on the last Tuesday of the month throughout 2022 at The Lawrence Centre, Wells, from 3.30pm-5.30pm.

The group is for all adults including those with mild learning difficulties, NDD or ASC. Meetings are friendly,

relaxed, and support staff are welcome. Refreshments are provided.

Covid rules apply until the government advises otherwise (face covering, sanitiser hand gel, social distancing, temperature check on arrival).

Contact Frances for more information: vaughan_spruce@ hotmail.com or 07396 000533.

Recognition for hospice volunteers ST Margaret’s Hospice volunteers were among those to be honoured at this year’s Somerset County Council Chairman’s Awards.

Sixteen individuals and four groups were presented with certificates and pin-badges by the county council’s Acting Chair Councillor Mark Keating when

the awards were held at Taunton Rugby Club – the first time they had been held since 2019 due to the coronavirus pandemic.

Volunteers with the hospice help support services across the community including therapies, counselling, and support for patients at home or at the inpatient unit.

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heat their homes sufficiently this winter. Cold weather is a prime cause of around 500 preventable deaths a year, with older people and those living in older or isolated rural homes most likely to experience the largest degree of fuel poverty.

“Thanks to the bright idea of one generous pensioner, we can make sure that hundreds of older people in Somerset are being supported to stay warm, safe and well every winter through our Surviving Winter campaign.”

To donate some or all of the Winter Fuel Payment, or to make a donation of any size to the Surviving Winter appeal, visit: www.somersetcf.org.uk/ winter to donate online, or send a cheque made payable to Somerset Community Foundation (writing SW on the reverse) to Yeoman House, Bath and West Showground, Shepton Mallet, BA4 6QN, or call 01749 344949.

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the City award was also made to Wells Branch Royal British Legion. In the citation, Wells City Archivist Dr Julia Wood related the history of the branch, which is one of the oldest in the country and this year celebrated its centenary.

She praised the outstanding dedication and service of branch members for the past 100 years, and highlighted the branch’s fundraising efforts since taking

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said: “I can think of no councillor that deserves this honour more.”

In the traditional gesture when an individual receives an Honorary Freedom of the City award, Cllr Kennedy presented current Mayor Philip Welch with a pair of white gloves and a wax candle. These items and a copy of the Freedom scroll will be kept in the City Archives.

At the Ceremonial Evening on December 4, a Freedom of

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COUNCILLOR Norman Kennedy received a standing ovation when he was presented with his Freedom of the City award in front of a large audience in Wells Town Hall. A city councillor for 38 years, Cllr Kennedy has twice been Mayor of Wells, and has also been a Mendip District councillor.

Councillor John Osman gave a citation that listed some of Cllr Kennedy’s achievements, and

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Presentations to Freedom of City and civic award winners

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Freedom of the City and civic award winners with the Mayor and Mayoress and other council officials

part in the very first Poppy Day on November 11, 1921.

Branch President Robin Dowdeswell and Chairman Aaron Cooper-Collett went up to receive the award, and Mr Cooper-Collett said that it was thanks to people’s generosity that the branch has remained as strong as it has.

The Wells City Council Civic Awards were then presented to individuals, groups and organisations that had been nominated by the public for their service to the local community.

Those honoured were: Citizen of the Year Award: Derek Cooper, for years of outstanding voluntary services to the city; Business of the Year Award: Daniels Cafe, for their volunteering during lockdown and free meals scheme; Community Award: Wells Coronavirus Network, for their continued support to those most vulnerable within the city; Sustainability Award: Sustainable Wells, for campaigning and raising awareness of the environmental crisis; Youth Award: James Peters, for his service to St John Ambulance; Extra Mile Award: Sasha and Trina Kenniston, for their services to the community including sourcing supplies for those in need and reuniting lost pets with their owners.

Cllr Welch then made a Civic Mayoral Award to Ross Young, who has masterminded the Meet and Greet and Wells Ambassadors schemes, describing him as “one of Wells’ most valuable volunteers”, with the plaque on the award stating that it has been presented: “In recognition of his tireless efforts to boost Wells’ visitor economy”.

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January 2022

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n NEWS

Advice on how to remain well this winter WITH Covid still very much in circulation, Somerset County Council’s Public Health team says it is as important as ever for people to look after their health this winter.

Cold weather brings with it a number of health risks, in particular it can increase blood pressure and make fighting infection more difficult, especially among older adults and other vulnerable groups.

Importantly, most winterrelated illnesses in England occur at temperatures that can appear to be quite mild and well before snow or ice might be seen – at between 4C-8C. Trudi Grant, Somerset Director of Public Health, said: “Bad weather in the winter months can aggravate existing health problems, make you more vulnerable to illness, make it easier to have accidents like slips and falls and more difficult to get out and about to collect medicines or shop for food, especially for the elderly or those with underlining conditions.

“It is important to stay healthy, especially this year, to give us the best chance against Covid and other winter viruses such as the flu. We have prepared some tips that can help better prepare people in our

Poppy Appeal hits new high THIS year’s Poppy Appeal in the Wells area has raised a new record amount. With some money still to come in, the total in the first week of December stood at £28,204.25, passing the previous record of £27,500 collected in 2019.

“I echo again my grateful thanks to all who donated and the many volunteers without whom there would be no appeal,” said Derek Cooper, the Poppy Appeal Organiser for Wells.

Money was collected through stalls in Wells supermarkets and Wells Market, tins in shops and businesses, and street collections.

Health measures include getting vaccinated and wearing a face mask, while staying active – even by taking short walks – is among other ways that people can help keep themselves well community for the change in season and to stay well.”

Top tips: 1. Make sure you get your Covid vaccine including the booster – it is the best defence against the virus and will help prevent you from becoming seriously ill with it.

2. If you are entitled to the free flu vaccination, then book it as soon as possible – it can be booked quickly and easily by contacting your GP or local pharmacy.

3. Keep your home ventilated to let the virus out, especially when you have guests, and continue to follow the other guidance to protect yourself from Covid – wash your hands regularly, wear a face mask in public places and socially distance.

4. It is important to keep warm in winter, so heat your home to at least 18C (65F) if you can, you might prefer your living room to be slightly warmer.

5. Call NHS 111 if you need medical help but it’s not life threatening, or you are not sure where to go for help.

6. Eat a wide range of vegetables, fruit (aim for between five and seven portions), protein and two portions of fish (one oily).

7. Drink plenty of water to keep

hydrated – the government recommends drinking six to eight glasses every day.

8. Keep active – regular exercise is important for your health and wellbeing – you don’t have to run a marathon, short walks can help you keep well.

9. Is your medicine cabinet ready for winter? Your pharmacist can advise you on which medicines you should have in your cabinet to help you and your family through winter.

10. To help combat loneliness try to get outdoors or involve yourself with some social activities, if possible. Even walking to the shops or walking around a park will bring you into contact with people and just saying “hello” and getting a kind word back in return will boost your confidence. If it is icy or has been snowing, make sure you have suitable footwear and someone to assist you if required.

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wellsvoice

January 2022

n NEWS IN PICTURES

Images of Wells Cathedral taken on Sunday, December 19, when the first of three Carols by Candlelight services was held. More than 3,000 candles were lit for each service, which comprised music for Advent and Christmas sung by Wells Cathedral Choir, interspersed with festive readings and poetry read by a special guest. Proceeds from the concerts will go to support the charitable work of Wells Cathedral.

Hundreds of visitors enjoyed the illuminations that lit up the inner gardens of The Bishop’s Palace on ten evenings before Christmas. The special late openings were a popular attraction again this year, as was the Christmas at the Palace event that saw the rooms of the medieval building adorned with decorations on a different theme, a visit by Father and Mother Christmas, and performances of A Christmas Carol by Wells Theatre Company.

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wellsvoice

January 2022

17

n NEWS

Cathedral appoints first female Vicar Choral NATALIE Manning has become the first woman to have been appointed to a full-time position in Wells Cathedral Choir in its 1,100-year history.

Wells Cathedral has announced that Natalie has been appointed as an Alto Vicar Choral. She currently sings in The Choir of Trinity College Cambridge under Stephen Layton, where she is also Choir Administrator.

Before relocating to the UK, she was a professional singer and high school choral director in her home town of Dallas, Texas. She graduated with a double Bachelors of Music in vocal performance and music education from the University of North Texas in 2016, during

the Episcopal Church of the Incarnation.

She moved to the UK in 2019 to undertake the Masters in Choral Studies at the University of Cambridge.

Wells Cathedral’s Director of Music, Jeremy Cole, said: “I am thrilled that Natalie will be joining the Choir as a Vicar Choral. She has a wealth of experience as a musician working at the highest level, and will be a brilliant addition to the team here. I know that the whole Cathedral community will welcome her warmly upon her arrival.”

Natalie said: “I am so excited to have been appointed the newest Alto Vicar Choral at Wells Cathedral, and especially to be

the first woman in the role in the Cathedral Choir’s long history. I look forward to arriving in Wells as its musical life emerges from the silence of the pandemic, and to be living and working among the people who make the Wells community exceptional. “ I’m so thankful for my time in Trinity with Stephen Layton, who has been instrumental in shaping my experience in the UK so far, and I’m looking forward to taking everything I’ve learned in Cambridge to my new role in Wells.”

Wells Cathedral Choir currently consists of 18 Boy Choristers, 18 Girl Choristers, and the altos, tenors and basses who comprise nine Vicars Choral and three Choral Scholars.

Pupils impress with tree-planting idea

Food maker on awards shortlist

PUPILS at Stoberry Park School in Wells have won through to the next stage in a national competition that challenges children to come up with a big idea that would change the world.

Working in small groups on what the school calls Fabulosity Fridays, the Year 5/6 pupils thought about all sorts of subjects including pollution, rubbish in the oceans and how solar power could be used.

Each group chose their own best idea and the teachers selected the overall winner, explained Assistant Head Teacher Ann Davis.

The pupils’ big idea is a robot that plants trees so that more trees can be planted faster with less labour required.

“It was a delight to see the children being so enthusiastic and coming up with such lovely ideas,” said Ann. Then the winning team made a video which will go into the South West regional finals of the

Natalie Manning has been appointed as an Alto Vicar Choral which time she fell in love with Anglican choral music while singing in her home parish,

The winning Year 5/6 pupils at Stoberry Park School in Wells with Eve Loring and Alan Sanderson of Wells Lions Club competition with the possibility of progressing to the national awards.

The competition is called Lions Roar 2021 and is funded by local Lions Clubs. It offers an

inspirational and fun learning experience, run in partnership with the education company 8billionideas, which allows children to discover how to use their imagination in new ways.

Market for nearly new baby and children’s items LITTLE Pickles Markets are set to return to Wells on Saturday, January 15.

Little Pickles Markets organise baby and children’s nearly new sales at indoor venues across the UK. The

markets offer a selection of items from maternity wear to nursery furniture, books, pushchairs, games, clothes, toys and more.

The event in Wells in January will be at the Fitness Centre at the Blue School,

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between 2pm and 3.30pm.

Priority entry tickets for slots from 2pm-2.30pm need to be booked in advance at www. littlepicklesmarkets.co.uk.

Tickets will be available on the door from 2.30pm.

FOOD producer Bigham’s, which makes chilled, pre-prepared meals at Dulcote Quarry Kitchen, has made it on to the shortlist of finalists for the prestigious Food Manufacture Excellence Awards 2022. Winners will be announced at a black-tie dinner attended by hundreds of the sector’s leading lights at the London Hilton Bankside on Thursday, February 10, 2022.

The awards showcase the highest professional achievements across food and drink categories. New this year is the Sustainability Award – recognising environmental initiatives – which was inundated with entries as the climate crisis assumes a greater profile in the wake of COP26.

“We’re delighted to be shortlisted for this award, which is recognition of the fantastic team at the Quarry Kitchen and the amazing work they do to make delicious food and contribute towards a healthier and more sustainable world,” said Richard Bain, General Manager of Bigham’s This nomination follows on from Bigham’s recent wins at the Grocer Gold awards where they were celebrated as Food Brand of the Year, as well as being awarded a Best New Product Award for their Smoked Haddock Gratin.

Email: news@wellsvoice.co.uk

wellsvoice

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January 2022

n NEWS Boxes of treats given to YMCA THE YMCA in Wells were delighted to receive a bumper 250 Christmas gift boxes for the people they support.

“The WI in Somerset have for many years donated beautiful, decorated Christmas shoe boxes made with love to the YMCA Brunel Group,” explained the YMCA’s Carol Plenty at their base in South Street.

“Every young person and adult that is supported by the YMCA receive one of these amazing boxes which are full of various Christmas treats. We are very grateful to all the WIs for their kindness.”

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With the delivery of festive gift boxes are Sharon Smith and Carol Plenty from the YMCA and Jo Stewart of Somerset Women’s Institute Feedback every year is always so positive, said Carol.

“Long may the fantastic

relationship between YMCA Brunel Group and the WI continue.”

New campaign to help older victims of domestic abuse OLDER people who are experiencing fear and harm from their partners, ex-partners or family members are being encouraged to seek help and support in a new Safer Somerset Partnership campaign that was launched in December.

The Older People and Domestic Abuse report by Safe Lives shows victims aged 61+ are much more likely to experience abuse from an adult family member or current partner than those 60 and under. On average, older victims experience abuse for twice as long before seeking help as those aged under 61 and nearly half have a disability.

Somerset, like other areas around the country, has had several domestic homicide reviews over the last couple of years involving older people abuse. Since the beginning of 2020, there have been eight deaths notified to the Safer Somerset Partnership of men and women aged 60 years and over, where domestic abuse has been a factor in their lives.

Chair of the Safer Somerset Partnership, Councillor Heather Shearer said: “Everyone should be able to live safely, free from abuse and neglect.

“As part of our new domestic abuse strategy and to implement

the services required under the Domestic Abuse Act 2021, we will be working to ensure that the specific needs of older people are identified, and services are designed accordingly.”

Safe accommodation support services that meet the needs of all victims including older people is set out as a priority in the new Somerset Domestic Abuse Strategy 2021-2024.

People experiencing domestic abuse, or worried about someone they know, can find help at www. somersetsurvivors.org.uk, or by telephoning the free confidential Somerset Domestic Abuse Helpline on 0800 69 49 999.

AVALON Community Energy, a social enterprise owned and run by its members, is seeking a volunteer director with business or organisation development expertise to join the Board in its quest to drive down carbon emissions across mid-Somerset.

The board meets six times a year, mostly online. For more information, contact Stewart Crocker: chair@ avaloncommunityenergy.org.uk Stewart said: “In response to the climate emergency, the need to drive down carbon emissions has never been more urgent or important. If this call to action sparks your interest, and you would like to have an exploratory conversation about joining our Board, please do not hesitate to get in touch with me.”

Lantern parade being planned A WELLS Lantern Parade is planned to take place on Saturday, January 29 – depending on the Covid situation at the time.

If the event goes ahead, participants will be arriving at the Bandstand in the Recreation Ground at 5.30pm for a 6pm start.

People who would like to take part can make a lantern at workshops due to take place in January, on January 8, 9, 15, 16, 22 and 23. They are being organised by Project Factory, and more details will be appearing on the website: projectfactory.uk

Musician returns to school as percussion teacher WELLS Cathedral School has announced the appointment of Old Wellensian, Kizzy Brooks, who is returning as a percussion teacher working with Head of Percussion Jayne Obradovic.

“I’m delighted to join the vibrant and talented percussion team at Wells. As an Old Wellensian, it’s so exciting to return to the school that launched my musical career,” said Kizzy, pictured right.

Having graduated from the Royal College of Music with First Class Honours and the Tagore

Gold Medal in 2016, Kizzy embarked on a career as a freelance percussionist and timpanist.

She is the co-founder of PercWorks, an online education platform for percussionists, with more than 1,750 participants and an audience of 20,000 in the first year. She regularly performs with the BBC Symphony Orchestra,

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Bournemouth Symphony Orchestra, English National Ballet Philharmonic, RTE National Symphony Orchestra of Ireland and Royal Philharmonic Orchestra.

She is also a passionate educator and tutor for the National Youth Orchestra and National Children’s Orchestra as well as holding teaching positions

at Benenden and Eveline Day Schools, Director of Percussion Ensembles for Surrey Arts, deputy percussion teacher at the Royal College of Music Junior Department and has recently led classes at the Guildhall School of Music and Drama and The Purcell School. Kizzy has also recently released her second album with band The Burning Glass, which has been featured on BBC Radio 6 Music and BBC Introducing.

She will be joining the school in January 2022.

Email: sales@wellsvoice.co.uk

wellsvoice

January 2022

19

n NEWS

Welcome return of awards and carols night Lynne Alton, the St John Ambulance, City of Wells Unit HR lead, reports on this year’s presentation and carol service evening ON December 1, the St John Ambulance, City of Wells Unit was delighted to hold their first Presentation and Carol Service evening for over two years at St Cuthbert’s Church in Wells.

Among the guests were the Lord Lieutenant of Somerset Mrs Annie Maw, the Mayor of Wells Councillor Philip Welch and our own Chief President Mrs Carole Lawrence-Parr, together with our County President Mrs Sarah Lithgow, other members of the County Priory Group and senior officers all from Somerset.

At the service, led by Canon Ian Gibson, awards were presented by the various guests to all three of the divisions

The Chief President of St John Ambulance, Carole Lawrence-Parr presenting Cadet awards within the Unit – Badgers, Cadets and Adults. As well as Badgers being able to make their

Promise, our Cadets received their certificates for all their hard work during lockdown when

we were only able to meet via online meetings. In addition, a number of our Cadets received their Bronze, Silver and Gold medals, part of their Grand Prior Award work. A number of our Adults also received their Service awards and Bars.

Part of the evening was the Carol Service and, as in previous years, the music was provided by the Wells City Band.

It was so lovely to see all our Volunteers receiving recognition for their hard work and commitment, especially over the last two years, and we were especially pleased to see so many friends and family at the event. n The Wells Unit meets for adults on Wednesday nights at the St John Ambulance Divisional HQ at Charter Way at 8pm. New members are welcome. For more information, see SJA.org.uk

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January 2022

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Christmas kickstart event just the job CHRISTMAS came early for many young people in the Wells area as they attended a ‘Kickstart Your Christmas’ jobs fair at The Bishop’s Palace in December.

The Kickstart Scheme is for 16- to 24-year-olds on Universal Credit and supplies funding to employers to create job opportunities.

The jobs fair was organised by Julia Elliot and Sue Salkeld from Wells Job Centre, who invited local young people to meet local employers, including The Wild Beer Company, Extra Mile Printing, B&M, Project Autumn, and Filbert’s Fine Foods, at an event held at The Bishop’s Palace.

And Bishop’s Palace’s Kickstart employee, Josh Dowell, who has been working as an Assistant Gardener, also made an appearance at the Jobs Fair via a short video displaying his duties within the gardens.

Next month Josh will be leaving The Palace to start a fulltime job in grounds maintenance locally.

He says it has been an inspirational journey and one he encourages others to try: “Go ahead, do it. You don’t know if you like it until you try it.”

The event has already proven to be a real success, leading to 18 second interviews for the young people who attended.

Siobhan Goodwin, Community Engagement Manager at The Bishop’s Palace, said: “It was great to see so many young people coming to meet the employers and we are delighted to have been able to support the staff at Wells Job Centre by providing a suitable venue.

“The Kickstart Scheme has certainly proved to be an incredibly positive experience for Josh so we were keen to offer another opportunity to a local young person in 2022.”

Josh Dowell, Assistant Gardener, The Bishop’s Palace

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January 2022

21

n NEWS

Wells Tappers were allowed use of the upstairs room at The Globe Inn

Brunch time at The Lawrence Centre – courtesy of Daniel’s cooks

Dancers take part in Tapathon Centre users treated to brunch TAP dancers from Wells have raised more than £840 after taking part in a nationwide Tapathon for BBC Children in Need.

The eight Wells Tappers performed two routines in the upstairs room in The Globe Inn, Priest Row, on November 21 at the same time as dancers across the country. It was an attempt to set a new world record for the number of people tapping the same routine at the same time while raising money for a good cause.

“It was really good fun, everybody enjoyed it,” said tap

dance tutor Carol Marke.

“We had a few friends and family watching, then went down for a drink afterwards.”

Mandy and Dan at The Globe were thanked for hosting the group free of charge.

Carol, who has lived in Wells all her life, has danced for 65 years, since the age of three.

Her tap class takes place every Thursday at the Connect Centre from 7pm-8pm. There are 12 members in the group, most of whom could not tap when they started. The group is for adults and more members are welcome to join.

A raffle organised by Wells Tourist Information Centre raised £123 for the Alzheimer’s Society. Centre manager Dale Bray and tourist information assistant Cherie Flynn thanked everyone who took part and bought tickets, and all those who gave prizes, especially the Swan Hotel, Wells Cathedral and Halfords Bridgwater for the top prizes. The pair wore elf outfits on the day that the winning names were drawn on December 2, in support of the Alzheimer’s Society’s Elf Day, when it encourages people to dress up as elves to raise money for people affected by dementia.

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AWARD-WINNING Daniel’s Sandwich Bar and Takeaway made an ordinary day special for 12 vulnerable people.

They brought a full English brunch for the lucky dozen at The Lawrence Centre – bacon, eggs, sausage, baked beans, tomatoes, mushrooms, fried bread and hash browns.

“We are so grateful to Georgie Robbins and her team at Daniel’s for the amazing brunch they made and delivered,” said Maggie Charlesworth, manager of the centre in Wells which provides day activities for older people including those living

with memory loss, dementia, Alzheimer’s and other health issues. “Everyone thoroughly enjoyed this wonderful treat.”

Daniel’s is an independent business in Queen Street, Wells, which also does outside catering and was voted a winner in the Wells Awards which were presented in December.

“We are always looking to support the community in any way we can,” said Georgie.

“We had the resources to provide a cooked breakfast and knew it would be something that all could enjoy.”

Philip Welch

President of Wells Rotary, Wendy Ray, right, presented 30 Christmas Gift Boxes to Sue Marland, left, of Wells Foodbank for her to distribute to adults who are in need of the Foodbank service. Rotary members had individually donated various gifts to make up these shoe boxes. One person had told Wendy that she was really struggling last year and dependent on the Foodbank; when she received her food bag, and was also given a Christmas Gift Box, it brought such cheer. Therefore Rotary members wanted to do something to spread some more happiness this Christmas.

Email: news@wellsvoice.co.uk

wellsvoice

22

n COMMERCIAL SENSE

January 2022

With Jane Bowe of Probusiness accountants

Keeping order saves time and money

SOME of us are good at being organised and some of us are not. Fact of life.

Generally, it isn’t a problem unless it adds to your stress levels to find that you keep running up against deadline after deadline; in business that can become an even bigger problem.

Some of us, however, are only disorganised when faced with things we can’t do, or even don’t want to do.

I vividly remember (and so does our younger son) my efforts to make a costume for National Book Day at his school. I am a truly dreadful seamstress, so imagine our delight when we settled on the character of Mort from the novels of the brilliant Terry Pratchett. I had a piece of black cloth and was able to make a scythe of sorts. With just a few stitches of varying sizes, a sort of pointed hood was created and we were good to go. Sadly, the school didn’t approve of our

‘If you can’t organise your daily life and your paperwork, think very hard about getting help’ choice and said son was omitted from all the photographs of the day. I still feel bad about that.

If I had only been a bit more organised…

Anyway, so it is in business.

If you can’t organise your daily life and your paperwork, think very hard about getting help.

It isn’t a good idea to spend all

day working then all evening catching up with your records.

Remember, this is your life, and it shouldn’t be of such poor quality that it affects relationships, whether with friends or family.

If you struggle to keep on top of things, do a few sums.

Look at what you earn as an hourly rate and what you need to meet your bills. Then see if there is a potential budget for administrative or accounting help – or, if you are well established enough, both. Saving money by not buying in services can be a false economy if your life is passing you by. Being permanently exhausted doesn’t help your quality of life either.

Talk with a few professionals to see who fits you best in the service they offer and the kind of people they are. We are all different, and not everyone’s approach fits your personality and style. Some folk need a lot

of… er… encouragement, while others require a very little being fortunate enough to have that organised gene.

I would also say that it’s important to look for value for money. That may seem like a nobrainer, but it’s one reason why shopping around is a good thing to do. Value for money doesn’t, however, necessarily mean the cheapest. Just be careful that you choose the best for you.

So, as we come to January and the Tax Return filing deadline, please don’t leave things until the very last minute.

(You know who you are…) It genuinely doesn’t help you or your professional to be in a rush.

Just a couple of weeks extra time can allow a little more research and perhaps uncover some potential tax savings. On that note of blatant nagging, I shall say Happy New and Highly Organised Year!

Take care.

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wellsvoice

January 2022

23

n NEWS Donations after song dispute

The start of the Morning of Action in the campaign to prevent the removal of beds from St Andrews Ward

Campaigners spread word in fight to save St Andrews Ward CAMPAIGNERS hoping to prevent the closure of the St Andrews Ward took part in a Morning of Action in Wells on December 4.

Somerset Clinical Commissioning Group has taken a decision to move the 14 beds in the ward, at Priory Health Park, to Yeovil, which those opposed to the move say will leave a hole in Mendip for people in need of mental health care.

They say that it could be difficult for family and friends to visit the ward in Yeovil, and that charities such as Heads Up would be asked to take on more work, and would need additional funding to do so.

During the Morning of

Action, the campaigners displayed banners and distributed leaflets to raise awareness and obtain support.

Emma King, one of the organisers, said: “We firmly believe that the CCG needs to invest in St Andrews Ward properly and reopen Phoenix Ward in order to provide local people with the services they need in light of the growing population and the growing need for mental health provision in the light of the pandemic.

“We handed out a lot of leaflets and had many good conversations with people, most of whom did not know about the closure and many of whom were outraged and appalled that yet

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another local service is being removed from us.”

A similar action is planned in Shepton Mallet early in the new year. Other protest events have taken place previously in a number of locations including Wells and Glastonbury.

The CCG said in April that it does not expect the relocation of the beds from Wells to Yeovil to take place until summer 2022.

A spokesperson said at the time: “The proposals will help us to provide safer and better quality care to people who need this level of mental health support across the whole of Somerset.”

A petition calling for St Andrews Ward to be saved has gained nearly 3,500 signatures.

WELLS band The Portraits have said that the two charities which received the proceeds of the version of Together In Electric Dreams they released last Christmas have both received “substantial” donations from John Lewis and their advertising agency Adam & Eve. It follows claims that the soundtrack to this year’s John Lewis Christmas advert bears striking similarities to The Portraits’ 2020 song, which they had offered to John Lewis in March 2021 for consideration for a future Christmas advertising campaign. John Lewis denied copying it, but the band say the company have made a donation to Cruse Bereavement Support and Mind.

The Portraits decided to re-release their version of Together In Electric Dreams as a dual release single with a cover of Photograph by Ed Sheeran in a bid to achieve this year’s Christmas Number One spot. The videos for the two songs feature nearly 500 photographs of loved ones lost during the pandemic.

Shared reading PEOPLE are invited to attend sessions of the Shared Reading group that meets on Fridays at Wells Library from 2pm-3.30pm.

Anyone interested can just drop in and enjoy listening to a story and poems – there is no need to book in advance and no pressure to talk or read.

More information is available online at www.thereader.org.uk

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wellsvoice

24

January 2022

n ON THE BEAT

Action on theft and anti-social behaviour DURING December, two days of action were carried out on Wells High Street and surrounding retail premises. This operation consisted of a mixture of high visibility patrols alongside plainclothed officers to tackle theft and anti-social behaviour in the area.

You may have visited our ‘Come meet us’ table which we had with local PCSOs handing out crime prevention advice and guidance leaflets, not to mention the freebies, including anti-pickpocket jingle bells and personal safety panic alarms.

Wells Neighbourhood Policing team worked in conjunction with Mendip District Council CCTV and also the Mendip District Council enforcement officers, allowing us to take positive action.

This operation allowed us

News from the local policing team with PCSO Coral Forde to engage with members of the public, as well as providing that extra reassurance to our local stores during the festive period.

An informal ‘Come meet us’ event was held at Wells Town Hall for local store owners /

managers and employees to share their concerns, and from that we are now looking at how we can create an open channel of communication between stores and police including the implementation of a Shop Watch scheme.

For further information and to find out how the operation went, keep an eye on our social media pages for our next ‘Come meet us’ event.

You asked, we acted: It has come to our attention that some members of the public feel they are missing certain information we share on our social media posts and Wells City pages.

In order to ensure information reaches as many people as possible, please see the crime summary table below

of all calls for Wells City and Wells Rural received between September 1 and November 30.

Crime volume Violence against the person........139 Theft........................................................54 Public order offences........................44 Arson and criminal damage...........37 Burglary.................................................22 Sexual offences...................................18 Vehicle offences..................................14 Misc. crimes against society.............6 Drug offences........................................2 Robbery...................................................2 Fraud.........................................................1 *Please note: Information shown in the table is based on data recordings, and is subject to change on review.

For further information or to discuss any concerns you may have, please visit https://www. avonandsomerset.police.uk/ your-area/wells-city/

Appointment of force’s first female chief constable SARAH Crew has become the first female Chief Constable of Avon and Somerset Police, 27 years after she joined as a new recruit. Sarah was confirmed in post at a meeting of the Police and Crime Panel on November 25, three weeks after she was named as Police and Crime Commissioner Mark Shelford’s preferred candidate following a rigorous selection process.

It follows her appointment as Temporary Chief Constable in July.

During her policing career, Sarah has taken on roles

New chief constable Sarah Crew including head of intelligence, lead officer for Bristol CID and commander of South Gloucestershire policing area,

before taking on the role of Deputy Chief Constable in 2017.

Sarah said: “It will be the greatest honour of my life to serve the wonderfully diverse communities of Avon and Somerset as Chief Constable.

“I don’t underestimate the privilege and responsibility this role carries with it and I’m wholly committed to delivering the outstanding policing our communities want and deserve.

“Policing is at a watershed moment; there’s nothing more precious than the founding principle of policing by consent,

and we must work tirelessly to earn and keep the public’s trust.”

Sarah, who is the National Police Chiefs’ Council lead for rape and sexual assault, said her dedication to policing stemmed from a drive for fairness and equality – and her determination to stand up against the bully.

As part of her national portfolio, Sarah has overseen the introduction of Project Bluestone in Avon and Somerset Police – a pioneering evidence-based approach to transform the way police respond and investigate rape and serious sexual offences.

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wellsvoice

January 2022

25

n NEWS Members of the Wells loyalty shopping scheme

Mendip District Council Leader Councillor Ros Wyke opens the market, above, with help from Town Crier Les Sweales. Also pictured are chainsaw artist Matthew Crabb and Mo Scott, inset right

Strong support for Christmas markets SHOPPERS were able to browse the stalls of 100 traders at the two ‘Christmas in Wells’ festive markets in December.

Stalls stretched through the Market Place and on the Bishop’s Palace Green, and there was music and entertainment on offer too.

Leader of Mendip District Council, Councillor Ros Wyke and Wells Town Crier, Len Sweales cut a ceremonial ribbon to officially declare the market open on December 11.

Cllr Wyke said: “I was honoured to open this year’s Christmas market and was

pleased to see such support for our stall holders and local businesses.

“Organising these markets has not been an easy task, especially with Covid restrictions being reintroduced. However, I would like to thank Wells City Council, The Bishop’s Palace, local community groups and Mendip staff for their support, as without them the market would not be possible.

“On behalf of everyone at Mendip District Council, I wish you all a happy Christmas, and a new year full of hope and good health.”

Wells pharmacy opening times WELLS pharmacy opening times from December 27-January 4: n Boots Pharmacy, High Street: December 27: Closed; December 28: Closed; December 29: 09:00-13:15, 13:45-17:30; December 30: 09:00-13:15, 13:45-17:30; December 31: 09:00-13:15, 13:45-17:30; January 1: 09:00-13:15, 14:1515:00; January 2: Closed; January 3: Closed; January 4: 09:00-13:15, 13:45-17:30. n Boots Pharmacy, Priory Health Park: December 27: Closed; December 28: Closed;

December 29: 08:30-18:30; December 30: 08:30-18:30; December 31: 08:30-18:30; January 1: Closed; January 2: Closed; January 3: Closed; January 4: 08:30-18:30. n Tesco Pharmacy, Tucker Street: December 27: 09:00-13:00; December 28: 09:00-13:00; December 29: 08:30-19:00; December 30: 08:30-19:00; December 31: 08:30-19:00; January 1: 9:0012:00, 13:00-15:00; January 2: 10:00-16:00; January 3: 09:0013:00; January 4: 08:30-19:00.

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Amba, Basil Powell Shoes, Bishop’s Eye, Brownes Garden Centre, Gallery Jewellers, London House, Mansfield Opticians, Microbitz Computers, Millicans Eye Centre, Peter Douglas of Wells, Protec, Rock House Dental Practice, Roly’s Fudge Pantry, Ron Thompson Carpets, Runway, Scribbles, Studleys Jewellers, The Changing Room, The Crown, The Grape and The Good, The Laundry, Whiting & Son. To join the scheme, contact Robert Powell (robert.powell2@ btconnect.com), Rob Bevan (rob@ protec-wells.com), Louis Agabani (louis@bishopseye.com) or Alison Luck (luckalison127@gmail.com)

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wellsvoice

January 2022

n NEWS Dates for next Book passes on Wells litter pick lessons learned THE next Wells community litter pick will take place on January 28, 29 and 30, 2022.

There is a loyal core of pickers but new people are always welcome.

Deborah Woolven-Orrett will be distributing kit – high vis jackets, pick-up sticks, gloves and sacks – from the Town Hall on the mornings of Friday, January 28, and Saturday, January 29, between 8.30am and 9.30am.

If interested in joining the team, contact Deborah on deborahwoolvenorrett@gmail. com.

SOUTH Horrington resident Helen Bratton is a stroke survivor, an addict in recovery and a single mother with two children.

Having sought help herself, she began training as a life coach in 2019, and now helps other people to deal with problems in their lives.

She has just released a book, Life’s Biggest Lesson: Creating A Life with Joy and Happiness, in which she shares her personal experiences as she bids to offer guidance to others. More details at www.helenbrattonrecovery. coach

Holiday let plan for former pub THERE are plans to change the derelict Three Wells pub – previously The Camelot – at Polsham to a mixed-use site providing two holiday lets and a cafe/shop, with accommodation for a staff member above the cafe.

The pub, which stopped trading in 2017, was recently sold at auction, and a planning application has been made to Mendip District Council on behalf of new owners Abu Taher and Mubin Ahmed. Planning documents say that the cafe/ shop would provide light meals and basic provisions for holiday makers, and would also be available to the general public.

In a separate planning application, it is proposed to station five log cabin mobile homes in the car park area to the south of the pub building.

Strode College apprentice Thomas Bailey, of Wells, has won an award at the Bristol & Bath Apprenticeship Awards. Thomas studies at the college but also works as an Apprentice Commis Chef at the Swan Hotel in Wells. He won the Outstanding Apprentice of the Year (Hospitality, Travel & Customer Service) award for his role at the Swan. The awards were presented at a ceremony at Ashton Gate Stadium, Bristol, on November 25.

Shop welcomes New leader of unwanted gifts business group AFTER Christmas, the Blue Cross shop in Wells will be accepting unwanted gifts, that will help in the charity’s work with pets in need.

“All pre-loved and unwanted items help change the fate of the thousands of homeless, abandoned sick and injured pets cared for by the charity every month,” said Blue Cross Retail Operations Manager David Palmer.

A NEW Executive Director took the helm at Somerset Chamber of Commerce on December 1 aiming to ensure it remains the voice of business in the county.

Emma Rawlings joins the chamber from her role as Chief Executive of charity Swindon Domestic Abuse Support Services. She will also be familiar to many as a former director at the Ammerdown Centre, in Radstock.

Got News? Call 07906 499655

27

Legal guidance with Chubb Bulleid

Parental responsibility – what is it, who has it?

By Natasha Rowe

THE concept of parental responsibility can represent two ideas: one, that parents must behave dutifully towards their children. The other, that responsibility for bringing up a child belongs to parents, not the State.

In the absence of an agreed list, it is suggested that parental responsibility comprises at least the following: l Bringing up the child. l Having contact with the child. l Protecting and maintaining the child. l Disciplining the child. l Determining and providing for the child’s education. l Determining the child’s religion. l Consenting to the child’s medical treatment. l Consenting to the child’s marriage. l Consenting to the child’s adoption. l Vetoing the issue of a child’s passport. l Taking the child outside the United Kingdom and consenting to the child’s emigration. l Administering the child’s property. l Naming the child. l Representing the child in legal proceedings. l Appointing a guardian for the child.

Who has parental responsibility?

Married mothers and fathers.

Where the father and mother were married to each other at the time of the child’s birth, they each have parental responsibility.

Female spouses and civil partners.

A mother’s spouse or civil partner who is a parent by virtue of assisted reproduction treatment who is at the time of treatment a party to a marriage or civil partnership or who later enters into a marriage or civil partnership with her after the commencement of the treatment and before the child’s birth, will, together with the mother, each have automatic parental responsibility.

Unmarried mothers and fathers.

Where the father and the mother are not married to each other at the time of the child’s birth, it is only the mother who has parental responsibility for the child at the time of the child’s birth.

The most common way for the father to later acquire parental responsibility is by subsequently marrying the child’s mother or by being registered on the child’s birth certificate.

Unmarried mothers and female partners.

As in the case of mothers and fathers who are not married to each other, the mother, but not her female partner has parental responsibility for the child.

A woman who is neither a spouse or a civil partner of the mother can acquire parental responsibility by becoming registered as the child’s parent, by making a parental responsibility agreement with the mother or by obtaining a parental responsibility order. n Natasha Rowe is a Family Law Solicitor with Chubb Bulleid, who have offices in Wells, Street and Somerton.

Phone 01749 836100.

Offices in Wells, Street and Somerton Tel: 01749 836100

Personal legal services for you, your business and your family www.chubb-bulleid.co.uk

wellsvoice

28

January 2022

n MESSAGE FROM THE MP

I had to weigh up multitude of things I AM writing this a couple of days before the school holidays, and a couple of days into the big push on booster vaccinations.

I know the acceleration of the Omicron variant has been alarming for everyone. It has very much taken scientists and the Government by surprise, due to how rapidly it is spreading.

It was a difficult end to the sitting of Parliament, with so many differing views on the measures introduced by the Government. I had to weigh up a multitude of things, and I could not in good conscience vote against measures which would help manage the infection rate.

Our NHS is stretched as it is, with a backlog of treatments, and any increase in pressure during the winter months would be detrimental to my constituents.

While there is some evidence this variant may be milder, the rate of infection means that

News from Wells MP James Heappey even if this is the case, hospital admissions will increase. I also voted to support the introduction of proof of vaccination or a negative lateral flow test for certain large events. This is not a ‘vaccine passport’ as has been billed, but another way to curb the infection rate, and to give peace of mind for both attendees and organisers.

It is important to also note

that the vote in Parliament was one which we may look back on as being cautious, but it may help avoid further restrictions and I know in good conscience that it protects my constituents, and our fantastic NHS workers.

I am so pleased that the booster programme has been accelerated at such pace. I have been working with local stakeholders to help constituents get their jab here in Wells, but as Armed Forces Minister, I am also so proud of our military who are once again stepping up to help.

There is no doubt the Prime Minister’s target is ambitious but with the amount of people booking in, and the rate at which we are leading the way here in Somerset, there is definitely reason to be optimistic.

I have found it challenging to not be able to attend all the wonderful services and festivities that usually take place for two

years running as I know how wonderful this city is at hosting brilliant events, and I also know how difficult it will have been to have to cancel so much once again.

But I think it has been the right thing to do, until the booster jabs begin to reflect in the numbers. We do – of course – need to learn to live with Covid over the next few years, but we do also need to protect the NHS so we can all get the treatment we need. Winter was always going to be challenging, but every day we are learning something new.

By the time you read this the festivities will be over, but I do hope that, despite all the challenges, everyone had a Merry Christmas and I am sending all my wishes to you for a muchimproved 2022.

To all my constituents – Happy New Year!

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wellsvoice

January 2022

29

n FROM THE TOWN HALL

Support very much in spirit of Christmas TO be or not to be? That is the quandary as I write this column.

This issue of the Voice will be printed before we know whether new Covid restrictions will prohibit the festive lunch we are planning for the vulnerable and lonely at Heads Up, the mental health charity at South Horrington, on Christmas Day. Volunteers have stepped forward to help, Griffiths butchers, Daniel’s Cafe, Wells Cathedral School, the big supermarkets in Wells and individuals are donating the food, drink, presents, Christmas crackers and festive tablecloths.

Wells Golf Club’s catering manager is ready to cook and slice the turkey, professional chef Paul Jeffreys will cook the rest; Philip Watson, a Wells man who can’t get back to his job in Australia is set to play Santa in an outfit loaned by Wells Rotary and Sue Walker has offered to provide the festive music. The irrepressible Sharon Haigh also deserves a mention in dispatches for all the help she has given me in organising the event.

Above, the Macmillan fundraising team at Wells Film Centre get ready for West Side Story; left, lots of visitors to the Crib Festival at St Cuthbert’s Church stood in this Nativity scene for a photo. Tenyear-old Abbie is playing Mary The support and generosity has been heart-warming – and very much in the spirit of Christmas.

n LETTERS

It has also been a profound pleasure to see the kindness of Blue School and Cathedral School students who have made Christmas cards for all the residents of care homes in Wells.

Shoeboxes of Christmas gifts have also been donated for people in need of support from the Connect Centre, Wells Foodbank and The Lawrence Centre charities. Thank you all.

As to Christmas Day at Heads Up, I will report what happened in the next issue of the Voice. n Meanwhile, a West Side Story screening at Wells Film Centre on Friday, December 10, raised £577 for the Mayor’s Charity – the Wells branch of Macmillan Cancer Support – which brings the total raised so far to just over £11,000. And more events are being planned. Thank you to the Macmillan volunteers who helped with the raffle and collecting donations.

Philip Welch Mayor of Wells Email: p.welch@wells.gov.uk

Email news@wellsvoice.co.uk

Reality is that COP26 has just kicked can down the road I WAS initially encouraged to read James Heappey’s ‘Message from the MP’ in December’s Wells Voice. In it he writes, “Climate change and the environment are topics of great importance to my constituents here in Wells.”

But given this concern for matters of such clear importance locally, I find it very surprising that he refuses to engage with constituents who are members of Extinction Rebellion; exactly the people, from absolutely all walks of life, who care most about nature and the future of their children and grandchildren on this fragile Earth. In a letter to a constituent ‘explaining’ his reasons for cancelling three times a Q&A meeting about the Climate Emergency in Axbridge last month, he says it was because he realised that members of Extinction Rebellion might be present.

As a member of Extinction

Rebellion and a constituent of James Heappey, I take exception to the fact that he won’t enter into a debate, which we have been seeking for months, with some of his constituents. All constituents have a democratic right to be heard at a meeting with their parliamentary representative, whatever organisation they may belong to.

I had prepared questions to ask him and was very interested in his replies – one such was: what measures is his government taking to protect the residents of Somerset from the inevitable floods which will occur by a 1.5 degree of warming? The recent IPCC report said that there will be a one to two meter sea level rise with 1.5 warming.

He says in Wells Voice that the 1.5 degree target, while challenging, is still very much alive. Experts, however, from the government’s own Climate Change Committee have said

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that, were countries to keep their promises made at COP26 in Glasgow, which on past form is highly unlikely, we would be on target to hit 2.7 degrees.

Mr Heappey also praises the fact that now 90 per cent of countries are on track to agreeing to ‘net zero emissions’ by 2050 and attributes this to our government’s ‘leadership role’. He neglects to say that net zero is not zero but a complicated and deceptive calculation which includes ‘carbon offsetting’ by buying carbon emissions from other countries, planting trees, future technological inventions and other green washing schemes, while allowing the continued burning of fossil fuels. But all scientists agree the only way of saving life on Earth is by ceasing immediately all fossil fuel exploration, a measure our government (and the other rich countries in the Global North)

would not agree to at COP26.

He lauds ‘plans to reduce coal’ while omitting to mention that it is the poor, underdeveloped Global South which depends on it, while the rich Global North, responsible for the Climate Emergency we find ourselves in, is relying on gas and oil for its energy sources and there’s no mention of a plan to reduce these.

So, rather than ‘a step in the right direction’ COP 26 is just another case of kicking the can down the road to another failed COP, as with all the previous 25 COPs. Finally, I would like to invite our MP, whose salary is paid by our taxes, to enter into a debate on the measures needed to prevent further harm to life on Earth and in particular in Somerset, with whichever of his constituents chose to attend.

M Sorrell A Wells constituent

Email: news@wellsvoice.co.uk

wellsvoice

30

January 2022

n NEWS

Quiet start for first electric collection truck A GREEN rubbish collection revolution is quietly underway for the Somerset Waste Partnership (SWP) as it takes on its first electric collection truck.

After a successful threemonth trial in the Bridgwater area, an electric refuse vehicle has been bought and will be used on routes across the county.

Mendip District Council is covering the up-front costs, with all district partners paying the borrowing costs and benefitting from the truck operating across Somerset.

It is remanufactured from a diesel vehicle with a 300KW battery. It looks much the same as a diesel but is far quieter and has had good feedback from drivers and crew at SWP’s collections contractor, SUEZ. Running the electric truck will save around 38 tonnes of

Members of the Somerset Waste Board inspect the new vehicle carbon annually compared to the diesel version. Thanks to being a refurbished truck rather than a new-build, it has also saved tonnes of carbon in its manufacture.

Whilst more expensive to buy

than a diesel truck, running costs will be around £8,000 less each year.

As it makes is way around the county, it will establish which routes could be suitable for electric vehicles. Range limits

mean electric vehicles will not work in all areas, but with some of its fleet due to be renewed in 2024, SWP wants to know which rounds could be suitable for a greener electric vehicle.

Mickey Green, Managing Director of Somerset Waste Partnership, said: “When we’re encouraging people to reduce, reuse and recycle to limit their carbon footprint, it’s important that we challenge ourselves as well.

“We want to take carbon out of our own operations and these initiatives are important further steps in that direction.”

Leader of Mendip District Council, Councillor Ros Wyke, said: “The council is delighted to be able to support this initiative financially, to help deliver one of our key priorities – a greener, cleaner Mendip.”

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wellsvoice

January 2022

n NEWS

31

Focus on health with Bluebird Care

We all need help at times

By Jenny Atkins

Opening night at The Loft Lounge & Bar

New dining and party venue opens A NEW dining and party venue has been opened in Street by Mark Tobin, who will be known to many as General Manager of the Swan Hotel in Wells.

Mark’s new business venture, The Loft Lounge & Bar, is a converted former theatre and cinema that opened under its new guise on November 18. It incorporates Marion’s Bar, a cocktail and Prosecco bar on the balcony of the main auditorium.

Mark said: “I am delighted to have been given the opportunity to bring the building back to life again. Since it was built in

1920 and opened in 1921, the property has always been an entertainment venue. On its 100year anniversary I am honoured to bring a dining and party destination venue to the people of Street. I will be working very closely with the local community to offer something exclusive and unique for people of all ages to come and enjoy. Whatever the occasion or celebration there will be a warm welcome for everyone at The Loft.”

Mark will continue working at the Swan alongside his own business.

Looking forward to coming projects Mathilda Bale of Sustainable Wells outlines some of the new projects lined up for 2022 SUSTAINABLE Wells were really excited to receive the Sustainability Award from Wells City Council Civic Awards in December. Thank you to the People and City of Wells for nominating us and granting us this award, and congratulations also to all the other award winners.

We really want to tell you about our new projects for 2022.

We are taking part again in the Somerset Food Trail, which was a huge success in 2018 and we hope will be bigger and better in July 2022.

We are also collaborating with Wells City Council to open a Community Garden, and are working with local groups to create rewilding and wildflower areas in the city, to encourage the return of wildlife to Wells.

And lastly, to assess the success of rewilding and meadow planting, we are organising the first Wells Bioblitz. This will be a citizen science project, where everyone will be invited to identify wildlife to help us create a catalogue of local biodiversity.

For all these projects, we are actively looking for volunteers.

If you would like to take part, or have a project you would like our help with, please be in touch by emailing at suswells@gmail.com

Got News? Call 07906 499655

IT can be a daunting feeling knowing that you are not as able as you used to be. We all try do what we can and sometimes don’t like to ask for help when perhaps we need it. Asking for help can be surprisingly hard, even when it’s only for some minor difficulty.

Doing so is an admission that you aren’t perfect, which can lead to feelings of weakness or inadequacy.

Sometimes coming to realise you’re on your own and wanting to do something can be a frightening experience. Reaching out is the step to take on accepting you need or would like support, it can be truly difficult to swallow your pride and accept that you can’t solve this problem on your own.

Everyone has different needs and there will be a service out there that will suit you. Social services will have information on companies in the area with an understanding of the services they provide. You may know the service from an advert you have seen and you are welcome to contact the services yourself. Don’t feel you have to do this process on your own, ask friends and family their thoughts and support to access these services. Working together can relieve some of the pressure.

Within the care industry members from the services are likely to come out and visit to ensure the service they provide is what you’re looking for. The idea of coming out to see you also allows you to

set up your individual care plan.

This is where your likes, dislikes and preferences can be noted so when your care professional comes around they will gain an understanding of how you would like to be supported and cared for. No one comes into your home to take away your independence, the service is to promote your independence and just lend that helping hand or provide company and support through daily tasks which will have positive effects on your health and well-being.

Being isolated and feeling trapped in your home is not a good quality of life, which is why our care professionals choose the career they do. Enabling and supporting people to maintain independence, feel comfortable and remain living within your home are all aims of services providers like us deliver.

Care professionals work through the week and skills vary. There are services to support domestic, shopping tasks, personal care tasks, preparing meals, overnight care and enabling attendance at social events and access into the community.

So when you begin to find little tasks becoming more difficult there are services who are able to support. Services promote and encourage your independence, your care package is about you. Care professionals are ready to support you to maintain your quality of life.

As we all know, there is no place like home. n Jenny Atkins is Care Manager of Bluebird Care (Mendip), email CMMendip@bluebirdcare.co.uk, phone 01749 372197 or 01458 570015.

01749 37 21 97

wellsvoice

32

January 2022

n ADVERTISEMENT FEATURE

Property update: 2022 to open new doors

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As we end the year in such a unique situation, waiting for those picture-perfect moments when the sun is out and blossom is on the trees could mean you are missing out on potential buyers; and with so much competition right now, being savvy about the moment might just be the key to your next dream home!

Wondering why? l Demand still outweighs

Cathy Morris-Adams: ‘Being savvy about the moment might just be the key to your next dream home’ supply, so great prices are still being achieved. l With the conveyancing process taking slightly longer than usual due to the demand on the market, many parents looking to take up scholarship opportunities and ensure a place at their desired school, are

starting their search earlier than usual to ensure that they are able to move to their new home in good time. l The ongoing pandemic and potential restrictive measures mean people are still looking to find property with space to work from home and enjoy the outside.

If you are considering selling your house, it is important that you get the right advice from agents who are local, know the local market and take the time to accompany you on your property journey to ensure you’re well placed to find your next home.

Top Tip: Ensure your Agent has both a sales and lettings team, who work hand in hand, meaning they are well equipped to help with every eventuality as the sales progresses. n Should you wish to learn more about Lodestone Property’s thoughts on the current market, find out what your house could be worth or simply receive advice on the best move for you, Lodestone Property have selling and letting experts across Somerset and Dorset who can help. Find out more at www.lodestoneproperty.co.uk

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wellsvoice

January 2022

n IN DAYS GONE BY

33

With Clare Blackmore

Court treated parents very differently

IN 1616, in the reign of James Market Place in Wells upon a I, orders were given at the market day about two of the Wells Court of Sessions that the clocke in the afternoon”. records of the sessions be placed In 1630 an order was made in a “strong and convenient against the mother of a child room” adjoining the Cathedral “born in East Wells in the parish that should be “fitted up as of St Cuthberts. The mother to a record room, and that two be whipped at Wells about the justices be appointed annually to market and the reputed father we make sure that the records are do leave him to the judgement of well disposed of for the better the church in that cause to deal preservation and safe keeping of with him as in their discretion the said records”. shall seeme meete.”

The records remained In July 1632 an order was and multiplied, and stayed passed against “one of the Vicars’ untouched by the Rebellion or of the Close” to pay eight pence Monmouth’s Invasion, and in weekly “for the maintenance of a In 1800 a House of Commons select committee heard from the Wells Clerk 1800 a select committee of the base child born in East Wells in of the Justices that ‘the records are well kept in a room at Wells’ House of Commons appointed the parish of St Cuthberts”.

Sabbath day upon coming from in April 1614, Robert Cullinge to enquire in to the state of the The courts in the 1600s dancing”. of West Pennard, a tailor, public records in the country believed that women bore In 1627 in the reign of Charles appeared before the court as the heard from the Wells Clerk of the greater responsibility for I, a “mother of a base child” reputed father of a base child the Justices that “the records engaging in illicit behaviour at the Wells Sessions who had and was ordered to pay the are well kept in a room at Wells. and therefore should receive the recently given birth was ordered churchwardens of the said parish There is no catalogue and nor greater punishment for immoral by the court “when she be found £3 10s to “provide a stock for the could it be made in under a behaviour, and that men should strong and able of bodye againe child and to discharge the parish year.” pay for their supposed misdeeds be whipped about the open of responsibility for its care”.

In 1858 the Shire Hall at economically.

The mother, Johan Brodripp, Taunton was built and the was ordered by the court “to records were removed from keep the child without receiving Wells to Taunton. any allowance from the parish, In 1905 the county council except in extreme necessity”. had the foresight to give a grant “The said Johan shall for her to the Somerset Record Society part be conveyed to Wells on to collate some of the Orders of the next market day and there the County Sessions, making be stripped from the shoulders them available to the public. to the waist and whipt about the Many of the orders made at market until her back be bluddy the Wells Court were concerning No need for an expensive care home for an example to others to avoid “base children” and it is the like offence.” interesting to read the different Stay independent at home with your own live in carer In July 1617 at the Wells treatment of men and women by No for an expensive care Sessions, Nicholas Ruddick, the the court.

Manyneed people want to stay in home their own home as they get olde “reputed father of a base child”, In general the father was No need for an expensive care home Stay independent at home with your own need for an expensive care home live in carer was ordered to pay eight No pence fined and made a weekly No need for a Stay independent at home with your own want live into carer weekly from the birth of the payment, often on a Sunday Many people stay in their own home as they get older Stay independent at home with your own liveaninproviding carer Care has been live in carers since 198 No need for expensive care home child, “whereof pence beFeatherbed paid in the parish church after the No need for an expensive care home Many people want to stay six in their own home as they get olderNo an expensive expensivecare care home Stay independent at Noneed need for for an home to KatherineMany Canker, the mother, service, and excused any corporal people want to stay in their own home as they get older We believebeen in only the very care affordable co Stay independent at home homebest with your your ownat livean in carer carer Stay independent at with own live in Featherbed providing live in carers since 1986 for support of the child and two Care has Stay independent at home with your own in carer punishment on the grounds that Stay independent home with your own livelive inpeople carer Many want to stay Featherbed Care has been providing live in carers since 1986 Many people want to stay in their own home as they get older pence to the overseers of the We believe in onlyMany the people very best at in antheir affordable he had been censured in the wantcare to stay stay own home homecost as they get older older Many people want to in their own as they get Many people want to stay in their own home as they get older Featherbed Care has been providing live in carers since 1986 We believe in only the very best care at an affordable cost poor of St John’s in Glaston to Ecclesiastical Court and made Wehands believe in only the very best care at an affordable cost remain in their to make public penance regarding his Featherbed Care Care has has been been providing providing live live in in carers since since 1986 1986 Featherbed Care has bee Featherbed carers up the stock for binding the said behaviour.

Featherbed Care hasthe been providing liveat in an carers since 1986 We believe believe in only only very best care care affordable cost Featherbed Care has been providing live in carers since We believe in 1986 only the v We in the very best at an affordable cost child an apprentice”.

A sum of money was paid by We believe in only the very best care at an affordable cost We believe in only the very best care at an affordable cost In this case the order was the father to the mother to keep made for both mother and the child and a “stock” given to father to be “whipped through local authorities for “binding the the High Street of Glaston until said child an apprentice”, and their bodies be bluddy and “the known mother of the child there shall be during the time shall nourish it and breed it up for a two brochure Call for a brochure today of their Call whipping fiddlestoday until it shall be able to serve a 0117 9860710 0800 111 4885 playing before/ Freephone: them in regard master”.

0117 9860710 / Freephone:for 0800a 111 4885 brochure today Callfeatherbed@featherbedhomecare.co.uk for a brochureCall today Email: featherbed@featherbedhomecare.co.uk to make known their lewdnessEmail: In the Quarter Sessions Call/ for for a brochure brochure today today Call for a brochure today Call a 0117 9860710 Freephone: 0800 111 4885 0117the 9860710 / Freephone: 0800 111for 4885 www.featherbedhomecare.co.uk Call a brochure 0800 today111 4885 in begetting the child upon held at Wells under James I 0117 9860710 9860710 Freephone: www.featherbedhomecare.co.uk 0117 9860710 Freephone: 0800 111 111 4885 4885 0117 //// Freephone: 0800 0117 9860710 Freephone: 0800 111 4885 Email: featherbed@featherbedhomecare.co.uk Email: featherbed@featherbedhomecare.co.uk Email: featherbed@featherbedhomecare.co.uk featherbed@featherbedhomecare.co.uk Email: Email: Call for a brochure today Call fo Email: featherbed@featherbedhomecare.co.uk www.featherbedhomecare.co.uk www.featherbedhomecare.co.uk www.featherbedhomecare.co.uk www.featherbedhomecare.co.uk 0117 9860710 / Freephone: 0800 111 4885 Deadline for the February edition: January 19 www.featherbedhomecare.co.uk 0117 9860710 / Email: featherbed@featherbedhomecare.co.uk Email: featherbed

Care in your own home

Care in your own home

Care in your own Carehome in your own home Care Care in in your your own own home Care ownhome home Care in your

in y

01749 349007

Got News? Call 07906 499655

www.featherbedhomecare.co.uk Email: news@wellsvoice.co.uk

www.feath

wellsvoice

34

January 2022

n AROUND THE SOCIETIES WELLS CIVIC SOCIETY SENSIBLE, but not succumbing; cautious but undaunted: these sentiments sum up the Wells Civic Society, as was evidenced by a good turnout for the annual meeting in December. Numbers were, undoubtedly, further swelled by the unexpected delight of a guest appearance by local ceramicist, Philippa Threlfall.

Following the meeting, Philippa, accompanied by her highly professional pictures, took the stage for a fascinating threequarters of an hour, illustrated History On The Streets as seen through her long experience of creating textured clay ceramics.

Locally, she is, of course, best known, first, for her Tesco mural, which is beautifully based on the map of Wells of 1735. If you can believe it, this work dates back to 1991, the year of Tesco’s opening.

That was Philippa’s own major work – the Tesco mural is about 4m x 2m – but it was very much a community initiative in 2012, the year of the Queen’s Diamond Jubilee, when she first designed but then led an army of east Wells novice volunteers to complete a giant crown, about 2m x 2m, which sat high and proud on a gable wall in an ideal location, directly visible to all who walked down St Thomas Street.

But even some members of the knowledgeable civic society audience were not quite aware of Phillipa’s national reputation and the vast scope of her work, often at prestigious sites. These number public buildings, municipal spaces, hospitals, schools, banks, building societies, private housing and commercial offices. The range of her subjects is equally wide; one might exemplify this via her mosaics of basket makers from Athelney to Concorde’s jet intake. Perhaps the main points are, though, that they all convey a sense of history highly relevant to the location, each is a story, and in many cases she has converted a boring, blank wall into something extremely attractive and interesting.

But, back to the local: Philippa’s current project is one that again interests the civic society. In conjunction with the current re-styling of the museum garden into a lovely space, she is working once more with volunteers on a mural on

Top, Philippa Threlfall, who spoke at the December meeting of Wells Civic Society, with her mural of Wells; and above, members of the u3a Geology group at Kilve on one of their study trips one of those blank walls which will depict: Dean William Turner, a peppery Dean of Wells in the 1500s and father of English botany; Bishop Bekynton of Wells in the 1400s and munificent benefactor of the city; and Herbert Balch, geologist and a founder of Wells Museum in the 1890s.

Philippa’s easy, confident, conversational style, through which a dry humour not infrequently peeped, allied to her knowledge and expertise, had certainly captivated the audience.

The next meeting of the civic society will, as always, be on the second Wednesday of the month, which is January 12. But there is a change. With a nod in the direction of winter, the meeting will start at the earlier time of 7pm. It will be in the Wells Museum, Cathedral Green. The guest speaker is to be announced because the society is not yet making detailed arrangements too far in advance because of the Covid situation. More details

To advertise, contact Andy on 01749 675157

will be posted in the local press, also at www.wellscivicsociety. org.uk or email chris.f.winter@ btinternet.comchris.f.winter for further information.

Richard Hanks WELLS U3A INTEREST groups are still going strong within Wells u3a despite all the difficulties put in front of them. Even when they are unable to meet in person they have kept in touch with each other by email or Zoom. Below are just a few of our groups that have some news that gives an idea of the variety of subjects that people can join in with.

Talks – We’ve had some fascinating and varied talks via Mirthy Talks. There is a varied programme lined up for members in the coming months which started on December 9 with William Shakespeare in London, by Andrew Warde. In January, we are looking forward

to a talk on the Brinks-Mat Gold Bullion Robbery, by Ian Brown, the biggest robbery in UK history, which ended with the tragic killing of PC John Fordham at the hands of Kenneth Noye. More talks have been booked through to May. Poetry Appreciation – When the first lockdown happened early in the year it was decided to carry on using email. After two experiments that didn’t work at all, we settled to the system we use now. We stuck to the dates that were arranged before Covid struck. Members send their choice of poems to everyone on either Saturday or Sunday, then we all comment on Monday.

There are only limited places in this group but get in touch if you think this is the group for you.

Table Tennis – We have been unable to play in our normal venue, the Methodist Hall in Southover, since March. Some members have been able to play at the Blue School under quite severe restrictions regarding numbers, cleaning and distances.

During the summer and autumn a few brave souls managed to get some play in an outside setting, competing with the wind as well as the bat and ball adding a new dimension to their skills. When we eventually return to some sort of normality we would welcome newcomers. Call Terry Brook on 01749 679846 if interested.

Painting For Pleasure – Of course it’s been impossible for us to paint together during these interesting times and yet this does not stop us visiting other places as we immerse ourselves in holidays, flowers, faces and images. We do share these amongst ourselves and comment with positive opinion and enquiry. We can absorb a few new members once we start again at St Thomas’ Church Hall.

Opera Group – As they are quite a large group it has not been possible to meet during the lockdown times. To keep in touch the group leader sends out a weekly newsletter with details of any radio or TV programmes which might be of interest to the group. Feedback is informal by telephone or email. When Covid restrictions are lifted we hope to meet again in Wells Town Hall.

Making Music – Have found it difficult to meet since March but the leader has dropped emails to the group from time to time, and suggested things that the members might wish to

Email: sales@wellsvoice.co.uk

wellsvoice

January 2022

35

n AROUND THE SOCIETIES play, but they are going to have to wait for a better situation as regards Covid before they can meet again.

Scrabble – Sadly nothing is happening with this group but the leader reports: “We can’t meet, we aren’t ‘Zooming’, but we are hoping to be able to start again some time in the new year.”

To contact any of our groups, and there are many more, go to our website. The website also has useful information about staying safe during the pandemic; particularly staying safe online and avoiding telephone scams.

Go to https://u3asites.org.uk/ wells/home Ann Brown with the help of group leaders WELLS FLORAL ART CLUB CLUB members met at St Thomas’ Church Hall, Wells, for their annual meeting on Tuesday, November 23. This was the first meeting in two years. When the business was completed the committee served the members with tea and homemade cakes. Members were pleased to be together again and are looking forward to a full year of demonstrations and practice classes in 2022.

The first demonstration is due to be on Tuesday, January 11, when we will welcome back a long standing friend of the club, Pam Lewis. Pam is a national demonstrator who has won many competitions and is a codesigner of Salisbury Cathedral Flower Festival. She was also a great support when we held the Flower Festivals at The Bishop’s Palace, Wells.

Pam’s demonstration is entitled Winter Gems. It will be held in St Thomas’ Church Hall, Wells, at 2.15pm.

Later in the month, on Tuesday, January 25, there

Wells Floral Art Club’s next demonstration is entitled Winter Gems. Pictured is a hellibore, or Christmas rose.

Wells Culture Club members on their night out at the Swan Hotel will be a practice class which is open to all whether a complete beginner or an experienced flower arranger. Why not come along? Same place, same time.

Everyone is welcome.

Jenny Jones WELLS CULTURE CLUB THE very unique members of the Wells Culture Club gathered together for their annual ‘Night on the Tiles’ at the Swan Hotel.

Having no rules or regulations, but simply by word of mouth, the long-standing luminaries of these bohemians included local historian Clare Blackmore, whose brainchild this group was, along with fellow founder Richard Green of the Wells Charter Fairs and honorary member of the Showmen’s Guild of Great Britain, with his fiancée Susie Santer, who was made most welcome by all.

Accompanying them were former Editor of the Wells Journal and currently the Mayor of Wells Philip Welch and his wife Caroline Welch, while also there was Ian Ames-White of Wells in Mosaic whose wife Ruth was unable to attend.

Chris Winter, the Chair of the Wells Civic Society, was also in attendance with her partner Ian Robertson, while making up the small group were Siobhan Goodwin from The Bishop’s Palace, and local historian and terracotta specialist Philippa Threlfall.

The Culture Club had its origins in Team Blackmore, and later changed its name to its current format, with

Got News? Call 07906 499655

each individual sharing each other’s interests, making for spontaneous social and informing visits in and around Wells for which the unique group is now widely renowned.

A big thank you was paid to Max and his team at the Swan, not only looking after us, but very busy with a sell-out weekend at the hotel, which after such a long, bleak period of time was a welcome return to reality.

WELLS WI ANOTHER hybrid meeting this month, with plenty of members in the meeting room at the museum and others joining via Zoom. President Anne reminded people to book for our Christmas meal at Rugantino’s, traditionally enjoyed in January when life is quieter. She thanked members for their contributions to this year’s charity – three overflowing cars full of essentials and Christmas treats were delivered to Wells Foodbank.

December’s board games evening is cancelled, to protect each other from Covid risks, but it is hoped to organise an outing to the Bath Soft Cheese company in the new year.

The shortlist of resolutions has been announced. Details will be emailed to members who will be able to read about them and choose the one they would most like to see adopted as a national campaign. As last year, votes will be collected by email. Also, at a local level, we are exploring how we might support VOICES, a Bath-based charity that works with people who have been

affected by domestic abuse.

Our speaker this month was Steph Hiller who told us about her raw chocolate-making.

After initial training, her efforts experimenting with different flavours and proportions were rewarded when she won three Great Taste Awards in 2015.

Steph told us that cacao beans grow in the equatorial belt and that she buys hers from a co-operative of South American growers who farm to organic and fair-trade principles. She told us how the shade-loving trees are often grown under banana trees, and that the large pods ripen with jewel-like colours. They are harvested with machetes twice a year, each pod yielding 40-60 beans that are dried in the sun.

Commercial chocolate makers roast their beans, to intensify flavour, but the high temperatures destroy the nutrients. They also sell the cacao butter by-product to the cosmetics industry, and replace it with cheaper vegetable oil.

Steph passed round some raw beans, inviting members to crack them open to see the nibs inside, and try some rich cacao butter on the backs of their hands. Steph uses a granite grinder to process the nibs, it takes two days to achieve a smooth result. She sweetens the bitter product with coconut sugar which contains additional trace minerals, and adds foodgrade essential oil flavourings, some of which are very expensive and of varying intensity. Finally she tempers the chocolate by manipulating its temperature, heating it to 42 degrees, taking it down to 28 then back up to 35. This stabilises the molecules and makes it shiny with a good snap. To some bars she adds dried fruit, or crunchy coconut clusters. Finally some pieces of actual chocolate were sampled, but not until Steph told us to close our eyes, put in on the back of our hands to inhale the fragrance, and only then put it in our mouths to melt slowly, savouring the sensation and guessing the different flavours.

A sensual evening! And a great Christmas gift idea.

Our next meeting is due to be held on January 4 at Wells Museum. More information on our Facebook page https://www. facebook.com/Wellssomersetwi Veronica Howe u More reports on page 36

Email: news@wellsvoice.co.uk

36

n AROUND THE SOCIETIES

wellsvoice n SPORT

WELLS & DISTRICT GARDENING CLUB ONE of the engaging characteristics about Christmas is that it is swiftly followed by the New Year. The battered baubles and tatty tinsels have been exiled to a corner of the loft and the tree has left a trail of needles from behind the radiators to the recycling centre. Now, in January, we can look forward with nary a backward glance to a more optimistic future.

The Roman god Janus guarded the gates of heaven by looking both ways and has given his name to the month. The French revolutionaries renamed it Nivose, the snowy month, whereas the Saxons used to call it Wulf-monath, when the wolves threatened. Our gardens may be briefly enhanced by a bit of snow but we can ignore the wolves for the present until this rewilding business gets out of hand.

While we resist the urge to leap out of the armchair and get stuck in, what is required now is a bit of planning. And not just the usual mid-winter musings; something more radical must be done to counteract the isolated grimness of the past months.

Those of us who have gardens are lucky, revolution is at the end of the fork.

What we need in the borders is a lifting of the spirits, a bit of pizazz, some celebratory fireworks. Out go those genteel rain-washed pastel shades and let’s give the African marigolds, the bright scarlet salvia splendens, dazzling delphiniums, shasta daisies and begonias galore a chance to brighten up the landscape. A sort of throwing away of the horticultural masks.

Or, one could invest in a monochrome design. A white garden was fashionable at one time, appealing to penguins and polar bears, but would be improved by a spot of colour. A yellow garden gives too jaundice a look while a red garden would enrage bulls and retired colonels. The time has come to do something silly in the garden and cheer ourselves up. It may involve a little effort but it is fun planning it all.

The Gardening Club will be meeting this year and a start is scheduled for February. This, with a dose of caution. In the meantime, on behalf of all members, I wish all those who have an interest in gardens

January 2022

Players enjoy thrill of competing again CHESS

Barrington Court white garden with temporary addition large or small, a healthy and productive New Year.

Pip Harwood WELLS MEN’S BREAKFAST WELLS Men’s Breakfast welcomes men of all ages to a good English breakfast and a talk by a guest speaker. We meet on the first Saturday of every month except August (unless it coincides with a bank holiday).

There is no formal membership – just book in by answering the monthly email, or by telephone.

Meetings are at the Connect Centre and start at 8am, ending at about 9.30am. The cost is £10.

Our January breakfast is scheduled for Saturday, January 8 (Covid permitting). Please note that this is a week later than usual due to the first Saturday being New Year’s Day. Our speaker will be Geoff Dickson, who previously gave an excellent talk on the Battle of Rorke’s Drift. This time, he will be giving a lively account of the part played by the 13th London Brigade in the First World War. If you are interested, send an email to wmb.bookings@btinternet.com or telephone 01749 675312.

ON Saturday, November 27, Wells Chess Club hosted it first Chess Jamboree. Clubs across Somerset had been invited to send teams of six to compete in a fun three-round team event at the White Hart Inn in Wells.

The players came from a Trowbridge, Wellington, Yeovil, Sedgemoor and South Bristol as well as Wells fielding a full team of six. The usual Somerset Chess League has been on hold for two years and while online chess has been thriving, everyone has missed the excitement of playing over the board. The jamboree also coincided with the start of the Chess World Championships in Dubai which added to the buzz of excitement around the day.

Unfortunately, Storm Arwen swept through the country on the morning of the jamboree. One team and a few other individuals were unable to attend but we still welcomed 24 players to Wells for the day. With the change in numbers some teams merged

into four teams of six players.

Despite the two-year hiatus there was a friendly intensity to the atmosphere as everyone settled down to play. Scores were fairly even after the first round, but Wells took the lead with a strong second round of 5.5 from six points. However, after lunch it was the combined ‘Ronins’ made up of Sedgemoor, South Bristol and extra Wells players who took six from six and won the day. There were plenty of interesting and dynamic games to watch and lively conversation between players who had not competed in a long time. Everyone enjoyed the day immensely and plans are in place for a follow up jamboree in February.

Wells Chess Club has seen a growth in membership over lockdown and is keen to welcome anyone who would like to join.

They meet at The Globe Inn on Wednesday evenings. Juniors at 6pm and adults from 7.30pm.

They can be contacted via their Facebook page.

HENTON AND DISTRICT GARDENING CLUB THE new year begins a series of varied and interesting talks by expert speakers including Matt Biggs and Anne Swithinbank.

Our January 19 talk is by Katherine Crouch who will help us to expand our plant stock with The Self Seeding Garden.

The evening begins at 7.30pm in Henton Village Hall (B3139).

We welcome new members and visitors and there will be coffee and a raffle. More information on our website at https:// hentongardenclub.weebly.com including Covid arrangements.

To advertise, contact Andy on 01749 675157

Action from the Tribute Somerset Premier of South West Division game at Charter Way on November 27 between Wells 1st XV, in black and white, and Minehead Barbarians, which Wells won 20-17

Email: sales@wellsvoice.co.uk

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January 2022

37

Invitation to give ladies choir a try THE Cantabile Ladies Choir rehearses on Thursday evenings at the Connect Centre in Wells from 7.45pm-9pm.

Musical Director Tracey Hansford says that new members would be very welcome to join from Thursday, January 13, 2022 (restrictions permitting). Weekly subs are £5 per session.

“If your new year’s resolution is to join a choir then why don’t you come along?” she said.

“We are a friendly bunch, we sing some great repertoire and we would love to welcome you in January. Our next concert will be on July 4, 2022. Why don’t you give us a try?”

For more details email Tracey on tchansford@outlook.com

Two January walks THE next Somerset Health Walks in Wells are due to take place on January 11 and 25. The

Scenes from the Chess Jamboree, including top, Wells players Chris Strong (left) and Matt Goatcher about to pit their wits against each other

GOLF THE Men’s Turkey Trot 4bbb event at Mendip Golf Club in November saw 98 competing. As usual competition was fierce with only 4 points covering the top 15.

After a triple count back on 43, Hugh Glanfield and Chris Roe finished 4th, Tom Chapman and Philip Leadbeater 3rd and Dan Allen and Myles Carpenter 2nd, leaving Peter Kivi and Chairman of Competitions Ryan Sainsbury as the winners with 44 points.

Forty-four Ladies played in the 9-hole Bowmaker. The winners on 42 were Chris Atkinson/Sue Needham/Jinhee Page/Susy Rudkin.

Mendip are delighted to announce that former County and Mendip Ladies Captain Fran Davies has now become President of the Somerset Ladies Golf Association and will told this position for a two-year term.

A full start sheet of 100 played in the Seniors’ Turkey

Trot event. Held as a Shot Gun start there were 20 prizes on offer and following the golf, the clubhouse was full with Steve and his team looking after the catering and drinking needs of the competitors whilst the results were worked out. The overall winner with 38 points was Jim Boyd.

The Seniors Order of Merit results have been announced.

183 Seniors registered at least one score during the season in an Order Of Merit event, with the result in doubt right up to the final event. The deserved winner was Martin Myers with 103 points reflecting his consistency over the season.

The Mendip Mixed Team concluded their fixtures with a visit to Farrington. Wins for Mendip came from new pairing Penny Oliver and David Jukes and Pippa Brown and Clive Copp, with Louise and Antony Scott gaining a half. However victory went to the home team 7.5-2.5.

Got News? Call 07906 499655

Chat with Gormley TICKETS have gone on sale for an appearance by sculptor Antony Gormley in the CHATs series at Cedars Hall.

Gormely, whose new work DOUBT is installed on the West Front of Wells Cathedral, will be in conversation with Professor Stephen Bann on April 3, from 7pm-9pm. More details at tickets.cedarshallwells.co.uk

Table tennis nights WELLS Table Tennis Club meets on Wednesdays at the Seager Hall, Union Street, Wells, from 6.30pm-9.30pm. For more details, email paulhambleton2@ btinternet.com

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January 2022

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Dorset and Somerset Air Ambulance Chief Executive Officer Bill Sivewright was presented with a Lifetime Achievement Award

Air ambulance wins three top awards DORSET and Somerset Air Ambulance (DSAA) came out winners in three categories at this year’s National Air Ambulance Awards of Excellence which were held virtually on December 4.

The life-saving charity had been shortlisted as a finalist in five categories altogether.

Doctor of the Year Dr Phil Hyde, DSAA’s Medical Lead, was awarded Doctor of the Year. His clear vision of how patient care works better if it is properly ‘joined up’ is the driving force behind some extraordinary achievements over the past 18 months. These include driving an innovative project to support paediatric time-critical, inter-hospital transfers in collaboration with the regional paediatric transport services, leading DSAA’s efforts to support the rebalancing of pressure on critical care units across the country at the height of the Covid-19 pandemic and championing the development of a national clinical audit of pre-hospital critical care to evidence and support its future development.

Innovation of the Year A collaboration between DSAA, Southampton Oxford Retrieval Team (SORT), Wales and West Acute Transport for Children Service (WATCh) and Bristol Children’s Hospital Trauma Team Leaders was awarded Innovation of the Year for formally supporting the time-critical interhospital transfer of paediatric patients in the South West region. This new capability has taken five years to develop and mature and is the first of its kind in the UK. Lifetime Achievement Award The prestigious Lifetime Achievement Award was presented to DSAA’s Chief Executive Officer (CEO), Bill Sivewright for his contribution to the work of DSAA and the air ambulance community over the past 11 years. His inspiring leadership has enabled DSAA to become one of the most innovative and highly respected air ambulance charities in the country.

Got News? Call 07906 499655

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