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June 2021 Issue 48
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Couple call time after 35 years running pub THE couple who have run The Britannia Inn on Bath Road, Wells, for 35 years are preparing to call time on their pub careers. Rob and Karen Rouse will be pulling pints and serving their home-cooked meals for the last time on Sunday, June 20. They have decided that the time is right to retire, and are now looking forward to spending more time with their grandchildren. “We’ve got mixed feelings about going,” said Rob. “It’s been our whole life for 35 years. When you live on the premises as well you literally live, eat and breathe, and drink, it.” He said The Britannia – affectionately known as The Brit – was “very tired” when they took it over in 1986, with orange plastic seats and fraying purple stair carpet fixed to the floor. Over the years they have changed the decor, installed false beams to give the lounge more character, built a function Continued on page 5
Royal approval for city’s efforts The Earl and Countess of Wessex visited Wells and heard of its community spirit Turn to page 4
Colourful displays Bunting has gone up around the city, and the bus station has been yarn-bombed Turn to pages 7 and 14
Winning chance Shoppers are in with a chance of winning vouchers again as Wells loyalty draws resume Turn to page 9
Veg challenge Rob and Karen Rouse behind the bar of The Britannia Inn, which they took over in 1986
Gardeners asked to help Wells Foodbank by donating surplus fruit and veg, or growing more Turn to page 20
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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.
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LOC AL INFORMATION 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
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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 6,800 copies will be distributed around Wells and surrounding villages.
June 2021
Resignation claims refuted by council WELLS City Council has refuted suggestions about it withholding information and lacking in transparency made by a departing councillor. Informing the council that he was resigning as a city councillor with immediate effect, Joe Parker cited concerns with aspects of the council’s proposed purchase of the Portway Annexe, for which a loan will be necessary. He said that he had presented evidence to councillors suggesting that information had been withheld relating to the Annexe, but that he had had little in the way of response. It followed requests he says he made to find out more about submitted loan application documents, including information about the business plan. In his resignation message he raised concerns, saying that he did not see it being possible to contribute anything meaningful or positive “where the opportunity to conduct proper due diligence and scrutiny is so actively and effectively denied. While I am sincerely sorry to all the residents of Wells and wish I could have achieved what I set out to do regarding local tree planting, it is not going to be possible for me to continue as a Wells City Councillor.” The city council’s Town Clerk, Steve Luck, said that any allegation of withholding information was unfounded, and
that the council is transparent and welcomes any scrutiny. He said: “We dispute any suggestion that information was withheld from the preapplication process, in fact all council paperwork was submitted to the Somerset Association of Local Councils, which handles the preapplication for a public works loan, and copied to councillors. This included all the work done by the community groups. “The actual loan application cannot be made until we get pre-approval, which I think has caused some confusion. “I consider Wells City Council to be open and transparent in all its dealings and we welcome any scrutiny.” Mr Parker was a Liberal Democrat councillor in the St Thomas’ Ward. His resignation may trigger another by-election in the ward if at least ten of the electorate request one, otherwise a new councillor will be co-opted.
Leave of absence THE minutes of the Wells City Council meeting held on April 29 report that Councillor John Osman requested via email a six-month leave of absence from Wells City Council. His request was granted. u New city and district councillors chosen, page 16
ORIENT EXPRESS CHINESE MEALS TO TAKE AWAY 22 Priory Road, Wells, BA5 1SY
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City of Wells Lions raised £200 to give to good causes with a tombola at Wells Market in May. All of the prizes were supplied by the market traders. Pictured at the Lions stall are Eve Loring, Diane Blackmore and Ian Williams
Email: sales@wellsvoice.co.uk
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June 2021
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n NEWS 15-month-old daughter Darcy to reach her goal, including walking around the Moat, The Bishop’s Palace and Cathedral Green. “I’ve been taking lots of longer walks around the city to earn the steps,” she said. Donations to the cause can be made at: www.facebook.com/do nate/677132219707314/?fundrai ser_source=external_url Emma said: “Azaylia went through so much with her illness and was so brave, absolutely such a fighter to the end, with a smile on her face the whole time, and it made me realise that if she can go through hell and still smile, then I will do what I can to raise awareness for her and others who are currently suffering. “I am doing this for her because she came into this world for a reason, to show us all we can do more to fight this disease. “She changed my life for the better and I will always do what I can to help raise awareness for blood cancer and children like her. Thank you Azaylia for blessing our lives, we will never forget you.”
Playgroup Stay & Play session STEPPING Stone Playgroup is holding an Open Day Stay & Play on Thursday, June 3, from 10amnoon. It is an opportunity to see what the preschool at Stoberry Park School, North Road, has to offer. Places must be booked in advance on 01749 677011 or stepping stonesplaygroup@ hotmail.co.uk Stepping Stones is also holding a sunflower growing competition through the summer, with a prize for the tallest. Entry costs £1.50 for a growing kit. Email ewheattuition@gmail.com
Arthritis Group meeting again THE Wells Arthritis Group will be meeting again in Wells Town Hall on Monday, June 28, at 2pm. It will be the group’s first meeting since February 2020.
Emma Hall on one of her fundraising walks around Wells
Fundraiser inspired by tragic Azaylia’s battle with cancer A WELLS woman has been so moved by the plight of a reality TV star’s baby daughter, who died recently of leukaemia, that she is determined to raise awareness of the disease in her memory. Emma Hall has started raising funds for a cancer charity that provides financial support for lifesaving stem cell donations – and has registered to donate her own stem cells to a charity that matches donations to someone in need of a transplant. She is taking part in the Anthony Nolan charity’s 310,000 steps fundraising challenge with one of her own children after following the story of Azaylia Cain. Azaylia, the daughter of former Ex On The Beach star Ashley Cain and his girlfriend Safiyya Vorajee, was diagnosed with a rare form of leukaemia two months after she was born
in August last year, and finally succumbed to the illness in April. “I have followed Azaylia’s story since she was diagnosed,” said Emma. “She made me want to do more for children suffering with her condition so I registered to donate my stem cells to a charity called DKMS in the hope that I could be a match for someone. I think it made me realise that we can all do better and we can all donate our cells easily in the hope of saving someone’s life. “She opened my eyes to her suffering and I realised that I am lucky to have two healthy children and I wanted to do more for her as her legacy.” The Anthony Nolan fundraiser challenges people to walk 310,000 steps in May while seeking donations via a Facebook page. Emma has been walking around Wells each day with her
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Royal visitors hear of key contributions THE Earl and Countess of Wessex visited Wells on May 17 to meet keyworkers, traders, councillors, volunteers, including members of the Wells Coronavirus Network, and others to thank them for their efforts during the pandemic, and to see how Wells is bouncing back. During their time in the city they visited the Connect Centre, spoke to groups of people gathered to meet them in St Cuthbert’s churchyard, and walked up High Street to the Cathedral and The Bishop’s Palace. At the Palace, the Earl heard about the changes made there during the pandemic and the ongoing work it is doing within the local community, and had a tour of the formal gardens in the company of the Palace’s head gardener James Cross.
They went on to the Arboretum, planted in 1977 for the Queen’s Silver Jubilee, where they discussed the launch of The Queen’s Green Canopy – the national initiative to commemorate the Queen’s Platinum Jubilee in 2022, which was launched that day. People in the UK are being encouraged to ‘Plant a Tree for the Jubilee’ and The Bishop’s Palace will be doing this with the help of students from The Blue School and Wells Cathedral School. Students from both schools were presented to the Earl. The Countess of Wessex joined the Earl for tea in the Undercroft of the Palace, hosted by Bishop Ruth, before they were bade farewell by the Rt Rev Peter Hancock, in one of his last acts before retirement, and his wife Jane.
CAN YOU GIVE A CAT A HOME? Number of neutered feral cats in urgent need of outdoor homes
The Earl and Countess of Wessex in conversation during their visit to Wells, which included talking to people in St Cuthbert’s churchyard and High Street – Georgie Robbins and Kate Ford of Daniels Cafe are pictured with the Earl, centre right – and a tour of The Bishop’s Palace’s formal garden for the Earl in the company of head gardener James Cross
We are looking for outdoor homes for a number of neutered feral cats who need to be relocated as soon as possible. These cats need shelter, food and a safe environment well away from busy roads, on farms, smallholdings, garden
centres or similar locations where they will be looked after. Some need people on site, others are happy to be left to their own devices. If you are looking for rodent control please call 07833 634087 for more information.
Glastonbury & Wells Cats Protection Email: gill@straymoggie.co.uk Telephone: 01749 850660 www.cats.org.uk/glastonbury
To advertise, contact Andy on 01749 675157
Wild challenge
Virtual event
WILD World Heroes will be arriving in Wells Library and online from Saturday, July 10. The library service is teaming up with WWF for a special nature-themed Summer Reading Challenge this year that will inspire children to stand up for the planet. Young readers should get down to Wells Library in Union Street from July 10 or take part online at wildworldheroes.org.uk
CHILDREN’S Hospice South West (CHSW) is asking people to take part in a Virtual Rainbow Run fundraiser on June 19 and 20 for CHSW’s Charlton Farm hospice in Wraxall. Participants can don a bright outfit and choose their own route, their own distance and can complete it however they wish – by running, skipping, walking, skating, or riding. To register, visit www.chsw.org.uk/rainbow
Email: sales@wellsvoice.co.uk
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Thirty-five years at heart of community From page 1 room with a skittle alley, added a pets corner for families, and most recently invested in sturdy gazebos when al fresco eating and drinking was being encouraged. The pub is now home to ten skittles teams and two pool teams, hosts meetings of Gorgons Carnival Club and Wells Carnival committee, hosts Royal Air Force Association meetings and lunches, hosts and supports Mid Somerset hockey teams, and supports Horrington Cricket Club. A charity committee that was set up at the pub has raised thousands of pounds for good causes with the help of the locals, and the pub has regularly won prizes in the Wells in Bloom competition for its colourful window box displays. Rob said it is the community spirit that he will remember most: “We’ve hosted fetes, we’ve
Rob and Karen have made big changes to The Britannia Inn over the years hosted entertainment nights, we’ve hosted quiz nights and bingo nights. We’ve raised thousands of pounds over the years. “We decided early on that we didn’t want to try and turn The Britannia into a restaurant. We didn’t want it to be a gastro pub. We felt that our future was
being part of the community, a traditional community pub. “We’ve had some great party nights with the locals. We’ve seen their children grow up. We’ve done their christenings. We’ve done their children’s engagement parties and their 21st birthdays. It’s been lovely. It’s been a privilege being a part of it all.”
The Britannia is owned by Wellington Pub Company, and a number of people have already registered their interest in taking over, though the appointment process takes time so the pub may be closed temporarily. Rob said that running a pub has become harder and harder over the last few years, and that there is great pressure with the overheads and the competition from the internet, from supermarkets and from larger corporate operators. He said: “It takes its toll on the independents. We haven’t got the economies of scale, we haven’t got the buying power that the coporates have. But you have to try and make up for that in other ways – with quality of service, just giving local people a community pub. “We’re going to miss the community of Wells and wish all our friends and customers a safe, happy and healthy future.”
SOLD IN MAY
Victorian & Later Effects Tuesday 8th June at 10am
[Viewing: Monday 7th June - 10am until 7pm]
An Adam, Rouilley & Co Skeleton Sold £800
Antiques & Collectables Saturday 12th June at 10am
A pair of Clarice Cliff book ends Sold £7350
[Viewing: Thursday 10th June - 10am until 6pm and Friday 11th June - 10am until 7pm]
Victorian & Later Effects Tuesday 22nd June at 10am
[Viewing: Monday 21st June - 10am until 7pm] Entries invited for all our future sales We are now open for valuations between 10am and 3pm each weekday (no appointment necessary). Free home visits available. It is also possible to attend our auctions. View the fully illustrated catalogues and bid online via www.mendipauctionrooms.co.uk and thesaleroom.com
A George V silver teapot Sold £420 Tissot pocket watch Sold £1400
Collection of die cast vehicles Sold £500
Sevres coffee can and saucer Sold £2600
Rookery Farm, Binegar, Somerset. BA3 4UL. Tel: +44 (01749) 840770 | e. enquiries@mendipauctionrooms.co.uk mendipauctionrooms.co.uk
Got News? Call 07906 499655
Email: news@wellsvoice.co.uk
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‘Thank you to those who stood by me’
FORMER Wells postmistress Gail Ward has expressed her gratitude to the people who stood by her after she was falsely accused of stealing from the Post Office. Hundreds of Post Office workers were wrongly convicted of theft, fraud and false accounting when the Post Office’s flawed computer system Horizon showed apparent shortfalls in sub-postmasters’ accounts, in what has been called the most widespread miscarriage of justice in the UK. Gail ran the post office in Priory Road but was taken to court when an audit in 2007 showed an apparent deficit of £12,000. She pleaded guilty to false accounting having been told that if she did so, a theft charge would be dropped and a prison sentence was less likely, and was sentenced to 150 hours of community service.
The Priory Road Post Office closed in 2008 and Gail and her husband Mark, a postman, had to file for bankruptcy. But after a long campaign for justice by wrongly convicted sub-postmasters, Gail’s criminal conviction and that of 38 others was quashed by the Court of Appeal in April. The Post Office has subsequently apologised for its failures and the pain caused to those affected, but Gail says that she would like a personal apology, and thinks that those wrongly accused deserve “substantial” compensation. “To all the people who stood by me, thank you. You all have my eternal gratitude,” she said. “To my amazing family, I wouldn’t have got through the last 14 years without your love and support. You were always there to pick me up during the down times. “To the people who pointed
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Gail Ward and 38 other subpostmasters had their convictions quashed by the Court of Appeal at me in the street, you should have more faith in people. Next time something like this happens it could be someone from your family. Don’t be so quick to judge. “To three fantastic ladies, Sandy Davis, Christina Borastero and Carolyn Dudden, who trusted me and believed in my innocence and gave me jobs, thank you. You gave me the chance to start rebuilding my life.” Post Office chairman Tim Parker said after the Court of Appeal hearing: “The Post Office is extremely sorry for the impact on the lives of these postmasters and their families that was caused by historical failures. “Post Office continues to reform its operations and culture to ensure such events can never happen again.”
The Post Office chief executive, Nick Read, said: “I am in no doubt about the human cost of the Post Office’s past failures and the deep pain that has been caused to people affected. “The quashing of historical convictions is a vital milestone in fully and properly addressing the past as I work to put right these wrongs as swiftly as possible, and there must be compensation that reflects what has happened.” More cases are being investigated for potential wrongful convictions, and the government has launched an inquiry into the prosecutions. Gail, who now works at the Pound Superstore in Market Street, said: “I feel relieved that this part of the case is over. Having some people believe for 14 years that you are a criminal is not an easy thing to bear. “I would like a personal apology from the Post Office, not just the general one they have come out with so far. Them just saying ‘lessons will be learnt’ is not good enough. If I and all the others had been listened to all those years ago it wouldn’t have come to this. We knew the computer system was faulty. Now we know that they knew as well, but still chose to prosecute innocent people to preserve their own positions and defend Horizon. “I definitely think we all deserve substantial compensation, not out of greed but for everything we lost. I have got my reputation back, but we still went bankrupt through no fault of our own.”
Public meeting about Barn, in Barn AN informal public meeting on how best to use the Bishop’s Barn when it is returned to Wells control by Mendip District Council will be held at 6pm on Wednesday, June 9. The idea is to share ideas and the meeting, which is organised by Wells City Council, will take place in the Barn itself. Members of public need to register their attendance in advance, due to Covid regulations and social distancing,
by emailing reception@wells. gov.uk or phoning Wells Town Hall on 01749 673091. The Bishop’s Barn and Recreation Ground were given to the people of Wells in late Victorian times by the Bishop of Bath and Wells. They were transferred to Mendip in 1974. In March this year Mendip agreed to return them to Wells City Council and this is expected to happen in the summer.
Email: sales@wellsvoice.co.uk
June 2021
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All things bright and buntiful
Bunting has appeared around the city as part of the Wells Community Bunting Project to brighten the streets and provide added cheer as lockdown restrictions are eased. Pictured on the left putting up bunting in High Street are John, Alex (up the ladder), Tom, Kirstie and Denise. Above is some of the bunting in Market Place, and on the right, bunting strung up in South Horrington.
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Email: news@wellsvoice.co.uk
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The wreath-laying ceremony at the Wells War Memorial to mark 100 years of the Royal British Legion
Wreath laid during ceremony to mark Legion’s centenary A WREATH was laid at the Wells War Memorial on May 15 to mark 100 years since the founding of the Royal British Legion. Members of the Wells Branch gathered in St Cuthbert’s churchyard to mark the occasion, which included the lowering of the Legion standard and a blessing from vicar the Rev Sam Denyer. This year is also the 100th anniversary of the founding of the Wells Branch, which was formed in July 1921, and is
therefore one of the oldest in the country. Wells Mayor Philip Welch, who was at the ceremony on May 15, said: “The dedicated volunteers who run the Wells branch of the Royal British Legion deserve heartfelt respect from the city for all the support they have given local veterans since the branch was founded only weeks after the national organisation a century ago.” A number of events have been organised for the centenary,
The wreath is placed by President of Wells Branch Robin Dowdeswell
including a 100th Anniversary Evensong at Wells Cathedral on Sunday, June 6, from 3pm4pm. Evensong will be sung by the Kingsbury Singers. Those wishing to attend must book with the Cathedral in advance on 01749 674483. A week later there will be an evening of music and celebration at The Bishop’s Palace in honour of 100 years of the Wells Branch. The 100th Anniversary Concert will take place on Sunday, June 13, from 7pm-9pm, and will feature the Yeovilton Military Wives Choir. They will be performing within the ruins of the Palace’s Great Hall with a special guest performance by The Grey Dogs Jazz band. Attendees are welcome to take their own camping chairs or picnic blankets as well as refreshments. The Bishop’s Table will be serving refreshments until 7pm. Doors open at 6.30pm and close at 9.30pm. Tickets are £15 adult, £10 child, available from The Bishop’s Palace (bishopspalace.org.uk). If any Legion members require assistance getting to the Palace they should speak to Geoff Procter on 01749 678244. A new Wells Branch centenary logo (above) has been designed by Jim Parfitt. A pin badge version is planned which will be available to buy to generate funds for the branch. The branch has also announced that it has a new chaplain, Jeremy Hellier. He served as an Army Chaplain during the Cold War, and although retired from full-time ministry, he currently serves as the Honorary Chaplain to the Port of Bristol. He lives in Wells.
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wellsvoice
June 2021
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WELLS LOYALTY
RD W E L L S LO YA LT Y C A
SHOPPING SCHEME
AMBA WELLS
Elizabeth Walker with her prize vouchers in Wells Market Place
Winners delighted as draws resume THE Wells Loyalty League draws have resumed now that businesses are able to trade more normally and the high street is busy again. The winning name drawn out in May was that of Beryl Fricker, who will receive five £10 vouchers to spend in businesses run by league members. She said: “I am delighted to have won and I look forward to deciding where to spend the vouchers.”
Mayor Philip Welch with May’s winning card drawn from the envelope of completed cards held by Councillor Stewart Cursley, chair of Wells City Council’s Finance Committee
The special shopping scheme is designed to reward loyal shoppers in Wells and provide a boost for local businesses. Shoppers can collect a loyalty card from participating retailers, which the traders will stamp with the value of the purchase. When there are £100 worth of stamps on the card it can be dropped into a box at the Town Hall. Elizabeth Walker, a flute teacher at Wells Cathedral School, was one of the early draw winners, and she collected her vouchers in May. A big fan of the Wells shopping experience, she said: “I am thrilled to be the recipient of vouchers to spend in local shops. As a visiting music teacher at Wells Cathedral School, I travel to Wells every week in term time to teach the flute and I enjoy snatched moments in between pupils, where I have, for a number of years now, explored the fabulous local cheeses, purchased wine and shopped for clothes at some of the city’s unique shops with their personal and local style.”
Wells loyalty scheme members Amba, Basil Powell, 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 Grape and The Good, The Laundry, Whiting & Son.
Here at AMBA Wells, we are delighted to be part of the renewed Loyalty League. And we have loved having the first two winners spend their vouchers with us. After 17 years in Priory Road, we are so lucky to find ourselves in the beautiful Market Place. As a small independent womenswear retailer, we value local support and the Wells community, and our fellow Market Place retailers in particular, have welcomed us in our new home. Our Loyalty League winners chose from our ever-changing selection of fabulous brands which, at the moment, include Rundholz, Crea Concept, Yaya, Mama B and American Vintage. We like to keep our brand selection fresh and are regularly introducing new brands. This season, Nero Giardini footwear from Italy has been so well received, and we have welcomed the return of N & Willow’s great
u Amba Wells, 17 Market Place, Wells, Somerset BA5 2RF T: 01749 677676 E: info@amba-wells.co.uk W: www.amba-wells.co.uk
WHITING & SON Whiting & Son has been serving the community of Wells since we were established at 68 High Street by J A Whiting in 1936. Originally an ironmongery business that also provided Bed & Breakfast on the premises, the shop has been enlarged over the years, and we now have sections for china and cookware, decorating, housewares, paint and electrical items, ironmongery and tools, and gardening and lighting. In fact, we have almost everything that you could need for your home – with some items now available to purchase on the website. It is still a family business, and is run by the third and fourth generation of the same family. As well as the Wells store, we also have a shop in Sherborne, Dorset. We place great value on customer service, and we have knowledgeable staff who will be able to offer advice on products and their application. SPONSORS
To join the scheme, contact Robert Powell (robert.powell2@btconnect.com), Rob Bevan (rob@protec-wells.com) or Louis Agabani (louis@bishopseye.com)
Got News? Call 07906 499655
basics, loungewear and one size knits. We are open Monday to Saturday, 10am until 5pm. (And some Sundays too!) New deliveries arrive weekly and are posted on our social media platforms, Amba Wells on Facebook, and @ambawells on Instagram. You can also join our email list where we keep you up to date on new arrivals, priority sales offers and events. Call us with any enquiries on 01749 677676 or pop in and say hi.
Chalmers HB and Wells City Council
We believe that we’ve got something unique to offer. Our popularity and success on the high street over so many years is proof of that. We are proud to be carrying on the tradition of quality products and excellent service first established by J A Whiting all those years ago. There is access to the Wells store from High Street, or from Union Street car park at the rear. We are currently open from 9am5pm, Monday to Saturday. u Whiting & Son, 68 High Street, Wells, Somerset, BA5 2AL T: 01749 686950 E: info@whitingandson.co.uk W: www.whitingandson.co.uk Two members of the Wells loyalty scheme will be featured regularly in Wells Voice. A list of all the businesses currently participating in the scheme is given on the left
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Memories of a much-loved Rotarian who ONE of Wells Rotary Club’s most popular members, Roger Brooke, has died aged 81. Born in Chingford, Roger was evacuated to Tavistock in North Devon with his mother, twin brother and elder brother. After his National Service in the RAF in Singapore he joined the Midland Bank and became a manager in North Wales in 1974. He then moved to Clevedon in Somerset in 1980 to a managerial post in a training branch in Bristol. He stayed in Clevedon for 23 years. After he retired from the bank he worked retraining exservice men in finance. He and Chris, his wife, moved to Wells 16 years ago and joined Rotary. Wells Rotary was represented at his funeral on May 4 at the Mendip Crematorium. He had asked for donations to be made to the Dorset & Somerset Air Ambulance instead of flowers. He has left a wife, Christine, two daughters, Laura and Katie, and five grandchildren. Here, some of those who knew him share their memories. ROGER Brooke joined Wells Rotary Club in 2005, after being a member of Clevedon Round Table and 40+ Club for many years. His past career in banking quickly led – as he said “to nobody’s surprise” – to his appointment in 2007 as honorary treasurer of our club, a post which he carried out with great diligence and humour until the end. He was very involved with
financial matters Rotarian. I will miss his outrageous waistcoats that brightened up every party. I will miss his laugh and his smile and his good humour and his willingness to help in any situation. And I will miss him as Santa Claus at the annual Reindeer Parade. I will miss him as a good friend. On a final note, his daughter told me that in his typical style as he was in hospital on that final visit he said, “What an ignominious way to die!” That was total Roger, much loved and much missed. Sharon Haigh
Roger Brooke ‘s annual presence in the sleigh as Father Christmas in the Rotary Reindeer Parade was a major contribution to the success of the day young carers, and also presided annually as a benevolent Santa Claus in our Reindeer Parade. He was presented with a Paul Harris Fellowship to recognise his faithful service to Rotary and to the Wells Club. Never one to complain, when an earlier infection recurred recently with severe physical effects he bore considerable pain stoically, settling his affairs and, during his last days, ensuring that the club’s accounts could be passed on in good order to his successor. We send our deepest
sympathy to Chris and their family at this difficult time. Bob Haigh Secretary of Wells Rotary WHAT a wonderful guy. I will miss seeing him on the pavement in Wells waiting outside a charity shop for Chris and talking with everyone who passed by. She was the queen of charity shopping and he was her faithful attendant. I will miss seeing him behind the bar at the Charity Boules tournaments. I will miss his help with funding questions and thorough knowledge of
ROGER was committed to helping children. Whilst a member of the Community Committee in Wells Rotary Club, Roger was the driving force behind supporting fundraising efforts for young carers. He helped to organise a very happy day for them at Brean Sands and Funfair which enabled the children to forget their responsibilities and to have fun for a short time at least. In order to ensure continuous funding he arranged charitable status for the group and became its chairman for a number of years. His annual presence in the sleigh as Father Christmas in the Rotary Reindeer Parade was a major contribution to the success of the day. He loved to be part of the fun greeting children and adults with a cheery wave and smiles. Many may not know that he also answered the many children’s “Father Christmas” letters that came to
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June 2021
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was Father Christmas at Reindeer Parade him, although I suspect he had a little help with that from his fairy helper Christine. But having fun was not confined to children. We came to expect him to light up every party or event with his sparkly waistcoats, and those who were lucky enough to be invited to his home to see his Christmas grotto each year will have been mesmerised by twinkling lights and moving musical figures. He had of course his serious side, being the treasurer of the club for many years, but I will remember him as someone who always greeted me with a smile and sent me away smiling. He will be missed. Wendy Lucas ROGER was my “alter ego”, on Reindeer Parade day. Or was it vice versa? We performed our annual act of being “Santa”. He did his act on the sleigh ride around the city. A performance I never saw. He took the cold job whilst I was sitting in the warm doing the morning shift in The Swan Grotto giving children their presents. Then with amazing precision we swapped identities. He took over in the afternoon, and was glad to come inside in the warm. Our only meeting on the day was to shake hands on the swap. I will miss him and all this. (Also his waistcoat at Christmas.) David Read Roger volunteered alongside Adrian Clifford and others to run the bar for the boules tournament each year, that the Wells and Avalon Rotary Clubs organised. I never had to worry when Roger and Adrian
Roger Brooke with his wife Christine
had picked the short straws as they were both retired bank managers, so they knew how to add and cash up at the end of the very long day. Roger always arrived looking the part with a smile on his face and you knew he would be able to cope with anything that was thrown at him, hopefully not literally. Also, I shall always remember when he did the magnificent job of changing identity for the Reindeer Parade each year and using my office in the Crown Hotel to do his superman transformation from Roger into Father Christmas. You really felt he enjoyed his day bringing so many smiles to all the children, who were convinced he was the real thing. Adrian Lawrence ROGER was our fabulous Rotary Father Christmas. I remember, as the resident Rotary photographer, waiting patiently, like all the children at the Reindeer Parade, for him to appear in full regalia, as he mounted the sleigh, pulled by the magnificent live reindeer, I am yelling, “Roger, look at me” (I needed to get a great shot) “Roger! Roger!” when I heard this child ask his mother if Roger was Father Christmas’ first name! The parent poked me in the back and said “Really”. I was very embarrassed but didn’t care, because I got the photographs I needed of this great gentleman who the children loved and he loved being their Father Christmas. Carole Knowles I WILL always remember Roger as Father Christmas and the magic he created for my grandchildren and the other children who saw him. Roger was such a nice fellow, a real gentleman; he will be missed by everyone. David Randon REINDEER Parade: I was stewarding in the High Street crowd eight deep, the parade had passed. Suddenly a dear old lady popped up. She was very disappointed she had missed the parade. I quickly found her a viewing point, chatted to her and said: “If you wave at Father
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club meeting I gave Roger a P45 brown envelope to take to the Job Centre. Lovely memories. Peter Preston ROGER was so good to us last year checking up on us and helping us to buy bread and milk at the first lockdown. Lysbeth Ballantine
Roger in a trademark cheery waistcoat Christmas on his return journey he will put something in your stocking.” She looked at me for about half a minute and then said in a withering voice: “I have not come to wave at Father Christmas. I have come to enjoy the lovely reindeer.” At the next
I HAVE known Roger for a number of years, principally as members of Wells Rotary Club. Whilst president of the club in 2005/06 I firstly came to realise the commitment and passion Roger had for young carers in the area. Roger was able to clearly and simply advocate the critical roles they play and the need to provide opportunities for breaks for carers. Roger played a key role in the support for young carers over the years, just for this achievement Roger had my respect. Stewart Cursley
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June 2021
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Conservation work starts on West Front A PILOT programme of conservation work has begun to the much-admired West Front of Wells Cathedral, famed for its medieval carvings and architectural significance, to help safeguard its future. With the scaffolding now in place, Cliveden Conservation is carrying out the first phase of works to clean and repair the stonework and sculptures to the central top tiers of Christ in Majesty, The Apostles and The Order of Angels. Each stage of the project will be carefully documented including details of cleaning and mortar trials to establish best practice and inform future conservation to the whole of the West Front. Dating back to circa 12201250 with sculptural decorations in-situ since circa 1240, the West Front has undergone several notable interventions to protect and secure the statues and architectural elements. The most recent intervention during 197487 established the basis of the
Scaffolding erected for conservation work at Wells Cathedral ‘lime method’, a major milestone at the start of the Lime Revival in the Seventies. “It is a huge privilege to be up close to such architectural brilliance and to see one of the most talked about ‘building limes conservation projects’ in person,” said Berenice Humphreys,
Senior Project Manager for Cliveden Conservation. “This is such a rare opportunity to carefully examine the fragile limestone sculptures and supporting architecture; every step of the project will be vital in securing the future of the magnificent West Front.”
Cathedral Architect Nick Cox and Clerk of the Works, Jez Fry, who are responsible for the regular monitoring and inspection of Wells Cathedral, initiated the programme of conservation work. The Rev Canon Dr Rob James, Canon Chancellor and Keeper of the Fabric, said: “The West Front is one of the glories of English architecture. It tells important elements of the Christian story as well as being awe-inspiring. “The repairs and investigative work carried out over the next few months are vital for conserving this jewel for future generations. The Chapter of Wells Cathedral is most grateful to the Wells Cathedral Preservation Trust for funding this phase of the work.” The programme of conservation work will continue through the summer to complete in time for Wells Cathedral’s big reveal of the Antony Gormley sculpture in August.
Service to community earns cafe owner special medal A SOMERSET Medal has been awarded to Andy Childs of the Wookey Hub cafe and grocery store. He is one of a number of people announced as the first ever winners of the Somerset Medal, which has been launched by Somerset County Council to thank a select few of Somerset’s many unsung coronavirus heroes.
The nomination for Andy read: “Andy Childs has provided relentless service to his community through the Wookey Hub in Wookey. He is the only social contact many vulnerable and lonely people had through the pandemic. He provided door-to-door food deliveries and hasn’t had a day off in months. Deserves a medal for all he has done.”
Councillor David Fothergill, Leader of the County Council and a member of the judging panel, said: “It was humbling and immensely heartening to read so many stories of how people have responded so positively to the coronavirus crisis, putting others’ wellbeing first and foremost. On behalf of all the judges I would like to thank everyone who put forward
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a nomination, and I would thank all the nominees for their incredible efforts. Awarding the medal shines a light on those who have done so much for their communities during the past very challenging year.” The winners were announced to coincide with Somerset Day. They will receive their medals later this year when Covid restrictions allow.
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June 2021
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Friends offer support from a distance WHO would have dreamed that Donald Trump would have played a part in introducing two new Friends to the Wells Festival of Literature? Last year, Richard Gibson and Rheinhard Unger from Florida realised they would be reluctant to remain where they were for a second Trump term. Top of the shortlist for their new country of residence would be England; top for home-town – Wells. Neither had ever visited the city but Richard, a retired English professor, knew plenty about Shakespeare, Jane Austen, Agatha Christie… The latter had even introduced him to the attraction of “old cathedral cities”. The closest he had been to Wells was Stonehenge, but he understood only too well how the city stood “in an area of immense, multi-
layered history and antiquity – in the old Prehistoric, Celtic, Roman and Anglo-Saxon heartland; near Stonehenge, Glastonbury, Avebury, Winchester, Salisbury and Bath… Jane Austen, King Arthur, RD Blackmore, King Alfred and Thomas Hardy country…” What’s more the couple appreciated that Wells has all the facilities of a small, vibrant city (pubs, restaurants, festivals) but is also near a large city with access to major hospitals etc; and close enough to London for weekend culture trips – but far enough away never to be swallowed up into a bigcity suburb. One extra – and totally unexpected – attraction of Wells was a memory from something Richard had seen when young: “a beautifully illustrated article on Wells Cathedral – with photos of individual facade
Wells Cathedral’s scissor arches statues as well as the entire West Front – angels, saints, knights, etc. Then over the page… the astounding scissor arches soaring up from floor to ceiling… both Medieval and Modern in appearance”. Richard still finds the scissor arches astounding – “one of the world’s most beautiful and grand inventions mothered by necessity… and those folks on the front seem like a marvellous welcoming committee”. In 2020, therefore, Richard
and Reinhart joined the Friends of Wells Festival of Literature, and enjoyed several livestreamed events from across the pond. The political impetus to move may now have faded but the cultural remains, and the couple were amongst the first to sign up for 2021 membership. Whether travel restrictions allow them to visit Wells in person this year or not, they can be confident of enjoying every event online and of knowing that their subscription to the Friends scheme will be used to promote a love of literature in tomorrow’s generation and to fund local educational projects in this part of Somerset and beyond, aka that area of “immense, multi-layered history and antiquity”. If there any other unexpected stories from Friends or future Friends of Wells out there, people are invited to share them with friends@ wellsfestivalofliterature.org.uk
A miniature work of art seen in a previous exhibition
Showcase for miniature paintings THE Hilliard Society’s Annual Exhibition will be returning to Wells Town Hall this June. The exhibition of miniature paintings and other work had to be cancelled last year because of the pandemic. It will be back this year from Saturday, June 5, to Saturday, June 12 (closed Sunday, June 6), from 10am-5pm. Organisers say that artist members and others have submitted some wonderful work and that they are very excited about the exhibition. Special Covid arrangements
will be in place, including a separate entrance and exit to the exhibition, and stewards will help to ensure that visitors are spread out between the display cases. For those who are not able to attend the exhibition in person, it will be available to view online from June 5-12. Paintings can be bought during this period by calling the sales line on 07821 325598. After June 12, paintings will be available to buy online from individual artists’ pages on the website at www. hilliardsociety@aol.com
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Spring clean leaves city spick and span ‘The fish and birds can once more enjoy the stream adjacent to Lidl as again it has been cleared’
Organiser Celia Wride reports on the latest litter pick around Wells THE Wells Spring Clean on the weekend of May 7, 8 and 9 was a great success – despite a ‘little difficulty’ with the weather, but we prevailed. We welcomed some new members to our fold which is always gratifying, and their names are now on my list so there is no escape, a little bit like Alcatraz. We collected about 40 bags of rubbish and in answer to the orange bags questions on the Wells Noticeboard: the colour of the bags denote that it is an official litter pick or it has been done by an Id Verde employee
and has not been fly-tipped. The colour the first year I started about four years ago was a bright green, and I think next year’s colour will be a kind of… I can’t say, otherwise that would give the game away. The favourite tipple in some parts of Wells would appear to have changed from empty bottles of cabernet sauvignon to 70cl bottles of malt whisky, but Thatchers the cider makers can heave a mighty sigh of relief as their ‘Haze’ cider is still a firm favourite. There were no exciting finds, like the safe that was found a year ago, and it was so disappointing to see so many discarded masks – sometimes it is a little disheartening to see stuff dropped out of car windows the day after we finish, but we carry on and make Wells as spick and span as we can. The fish and birds can once more enjoy the stream adjacent to Lidl as again it has been cleared, and a special thanks to the ‘team’ who use hoists and ropes to get stuck in. Wells is so very lucky to have such volunteers. So, the next litter pick will hopefully be in September, but
Lou Bailey piling up his bags at Glastonbury Road
City councillor Jasmine Browne litter picking on Cathedral Green with her children. They found lots of discarded masks around Wells and small bits of plastic while they were out, but the children enjoyed taking part. remember the Town Hall has kit which you can book out to use, as long as you return it. And they also have small children’s tabards and pickers if you are organising a group event. We need to get the message across… Thanks to all the volunteers who took part and surprisingly
it wasn’t as bad as I feared, but “what lies beneath” I ask myself, as everything is growing and hiding little delights which will only be revealed when the grass is cut or the autumn comes. u Big increase in fly-tipping, page 33
SITUATIONS VACANT
Chief Executive
We are a charity and a registered provider of social housing for 33 older people in the centre of the City of Wells. We are seeking to recruit a suitably qualified Chief Executive to lead the organisation and its small team of part-time staff. As well as ensuring a professional service to our residents the CEO will be assisting the Board in developing our housing for future generations. 15 hours a week. Salary : £42-£45k (fte) For an application pack and form please contact: financeofficer@wellsalmshouses.org.uk
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Closing Date for Applications: 7 June 2021 For more information about CWA: www.wellsalmshouses.org.uk
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Wells bus station has been yarn-bombed, as was planned back in the autumn of 2019, before the pandemic struck. The ‘yarnies’ worked hard to produce some beautiful work which has been stored in a Tincknell container and can now be unveiled. People are being invited to show their appreciation by making a donation online on the Facebook fundraiser at @WellsBigKnit or leaving money in collection boxes located in the Ye Olde Sweet Shoppe and the Town Hall reception. All donations are being divided between Heads Up and Alzheimer’s Somerset.
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June 2021
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Cygnet named Peter in tribute to bishop TRIBUTE has been paid to Bishop Peter by naming one of the cygnets at The Bishop’s Palace after him. Peter is one of the four names chosen from the hundreds of suggestions made after members of the public were asked for their ideas. It honours Bishop Peter, who has taken early retirement following treatment for acute myeloid leukaemia, and was laying down his crozier at a service on May 22. The other winning names are Angel, after Sergeant Angel in Hot Fuzz and also because of the spiritual connection; Liberty, after The Liberty, and the release back to freedom after lockdown; and Hitch, because one cygnet always wants a lift on its mother’s back. The first of this year’s cygnets hatched on May 2. Movement on the nest was spotted at about 9am that day by two Swan Cam watchers, who notified the Palace. The arrival was duly confirmed by Moira Anderson, who cares for the Palace swans. The current resident swans, Grace and Gabriel, created a nest adjacent to the moat and by the door to the office of The Palace Trust, the charity that runs The
Stoberry Park, Wells, Somerset BA5 3LD www.stoberryhouse.co.uk
Let us host your special event Our beautiful house and gardens provide the perfect location for a celebration – a stunning and romantic setting for teas, wedding receptions and anniversary parties, as well as a peaceful and intimate venue for memorials of life. Allow us to arrange and cater for you and your guests, whatever the occasion.
The cygnets taking to the waters of The Bishop’s Palace Moat Bishop’s Palace, so staff were able to keep a close eye on the activity in the nest. Grace laid six eggs, though two of the cygnets did not survive. The tradition of swans on the Moat at The Bishop’s Palace is thought to go back to the 1850s when it is likely that Emily Eden, the daughter of the Bishop of Bath and Wells, the Rt Rev Lord Auckland, first taught the swans to ring a bell at the Gatehouse for food.
Ready to welcome visitors again THE owners of Stoberry House and Garden, Tim and Frances Young, are looking forward to welcoming visitors again for garden visits and teas in the Orangery. They are already seeing an increase in bookings at their unique location in Stoberry Park, Wells, for celebrations such as anniversaries and birthdays, and memorials of life. “As we emerge out of lockdown, like so much in life with all the negatives that this has thrown at us, positives are definitely there,” said Frances. “Here at Stoberry House and Garden, we have embraced the joy of small family weddings. So now we feel very confident when making the arrangements
Stoberry House & Garden
A hot air balloon above the gardens at Stoberry House for other celebrations, wedding anniversaries, birthdays and so on. “It is also lovely to utilise outdoor space and even in the recent turbulent weather, it has given us so much pleasure seeing people enjoying the garden.”
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Luxury Cream Teas Our Summer Cream Tea menus start at £15.50 per person (Minimum of two people for all menus) Our most popular Cream Tea menu: £25 per person Plain or Fruit scone presented with clotted cream and strawberry jam ~ A slice of cake of the day ~ A slate of Shortbread: Flaked Almond – Pistachio – Salted Caramel – Chocolate Drops ~ Sandwiches – choose four varieties from the following selection: Chicken and Mayo Chicken with Balinese Mayo Smoked salmon trout Ham with English mustard Cucumber and Cream cheese Egg and cress Somerset Brie and Grape Somerset Cheddar and Chutney (please enquire regarding any special requests) ~ Served with a pot of tea or coffee ~ Afternoon Tea made without Gluten available for a supplement Add a glass of bubbly to any menu – £7 a glass We may need to exchange some items due to availability Sorry – no dogs allowed Enjoy your Afternoon Tea in the Orangery (subject to availability) All teas and garden entry must be pre-booked by appointment Take a leisurely stroll around the garden TO BOOK: Contact Stoberry House by phone 01749 672906, or email: stay@stoberry-park.co.uk
wellsvoice n NEWS
16 WELLS VETS
June 2021
New city and district councillors chosen An X-ray revealed an issue with Jessica’s hips; surgery resolved the problem, and she was soon back on her feet
Hip surgery has Jessica jumping for joy Name: Jessica Age: 2 Likes: Living the high life Dislikes: Genetics WHEN we first saw Jessica, the beautiful British Shorthair, she had been intermittently lame for a few weeks, despite her owner’s attempts to rest her. We were concerned that her right hip was sore, with some muscle wastage and abnormal movement. As an indoor-only cat her owner was sure she hadn’t suffered any trauma but, because of her age, we felt that she might have a congenital joint abnormality. We planned to take some X-rays and treat her with pain-killers in the meantime. Jessica’s X-rays showed that she was suffering from a genetic condition affecting the development of her hip joints, in which the top part of her thigh bone (femur) starts to dissolve. This means that the ‘ball’ of the ‘ball-and-socket’ hip joint breaks away from the rest of the bone. Both Jessica’s hips were affected but her right was worse, having already fractured. The treatment of choice in Jessica’s case was surgery to remove the abnormal part of the
THERE are three new Conservative councillors and one new Wells Independents councillor following the Wells City Council by-elections on May 6. Conservative candidates Tanys Pullin, Sebastian Johns and Tracy Leach were successful in the Central, St Cuthbert’s and St Thomas’ wards respectively, while Sarah Powell of the Wells Independents was elected to fill the other vacancy in the Central ward. Tanys Pullin was doubly successful as she was also elected as a Mendip District Council councillor in the Wells St Thomas Ward. Conservative Mark Shelford was voted in as the new Police and Crime Commissioner for the Avon and Somerset Police area. He received 34.4 per cent of first preference votes and was elected after second preference
New councillors, clockwise from top left, Tanys Pullin, Sebastian Johns, Tracy Leach and Sarah Powell votes were counted, beating Labour’s Kerry Barker. He replaces Sue Mountstevens, who had served as PCC since the post was created in 2012. u Letter, page 18
LOCAL BY-ELECTION RESULTS WELLS CITY COUNCIL
femur. This would eliminate the cause of pain and, amazingly, her body would then go on to stabilise the limb with scar tissue, forming a ‘false joint’. The plan was to perform the surgery first on her right hip, giving her time to recover the use of that leg before operating on the left. Jessica underwent her surgery and after a few days her owner reported she was like a different cat. She was much more comfortable on her right leg but was kept rested until her second surgery, which went very well. Once Jessica was fully recovered she was more active than ever and seemed delighted that she could finally jump up onto high surfaces!
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n Wells Central: Sarah Powell (Wells Independents) 318 – Elected; Tanys Pullin (Conservative) 191 – Elected; Sean Sloan (Conservative) 162; Amanda-Jane Bayley 151; Jennifer Williams (Labour) 149. n Wells St Cuthbert’s: Sebastian Johns (Conservative) 534 – Elected; Caroline LowndesNorthcott (Wells Independents)
397; Eileen Webber (Labour and Co-Operative) 262. n Wells St Thomas’: Tracy Leach (Conservative) 603 – Elected; Denise Denis (Wells Independents) 579; Adam Fyfe (Labour) 377. MENDIP DISTRICT COUNCIL n Wells St Thomas’: Tanys Pullin (Conservative) 887 – Elected; Adam Fyfe (Labour) 642.
Lodge gardens opening to public THE gardens at Milton Lodge, on Old Bristol Road, Wells, are being opened on June 6 and July 4, from 2pm-5pm, as part of the National Open Garden Scheme (NGS). There will be home-made teas and plants for sale on both occasions. Tickets can be bought through the NGS website, www. ngs.org.uk, or visitors can just turn up and pay on the day. Admission is £5 (children free). Only cash can be accepted on the day.
A view of the gardens at Milton Lodge
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June 2021
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Actors sought for teen drama premiere A CALL has gone out for actors of all ages to take on roles in a semi-professional world premiere of the groundbreaking new audio immersive adaptation of the teen novel Feed by M T Anderson as part of the Wells Theatre Festival in October. Feed tells of identity crises, consumerism, and star-crossed teenage love in a futuristic society where people connect to the internet via feeds implanted in their brains. For Titus and his friends, it started out like any ordinary trip to the moon – a chance to party during spring break. But that was before the crazy hacker caused all their feeds to malfunction, sending them to the hospital to lie around with nothing inside their heads for days. And it was before Titus met Violet, a beautiful, brainy teenage girl who has decided to fight the feed and its omnipresent ability to categorise
The head which houses the binaural microphones that will be used to record Feed human thoughts and desires. Feed will be cast from a mix of professional actors and from volunteer performers from Wells and the surrounding area. It will be recorded using a binaural microphone and technology which replicates the way ears pick up sound. At a live performance, the recording of Feed will be played to audiences through headphones giving them an extremely realistic 3D spatial experience and the feeling that
they are part of the play, totally immersed in their own unique interpretation of this dystopian future, one that eerily resonates with the present. Ros Johnson, Artistic Director of the Festival, said: “We are so excited to be bringing a world premiere adaptation of this extraordinary and powerful novel. I can promise the audience a unique and thrilling experience. “We are looking for young actors to play the teenagers but there are also parts for older actors to play parents and teachers. I am also hoping that some of these actors will join the ensemble cast as singing fairies and sprites in A Midsummer Night’s Dream which we are staging in front of the Museum of the Moon in the Cathedral.” People interested in auditioning for either or both productions should email Ros@ wellstheatrefestival.org.uk
A Midsummer Night’s Dream will be staged in front of the Museum of the Moon, seen here in Ely Picture: James Billings Cathedral
Music Summer Schools We offer five different courses during July and August. Choose from Wind, Brass and Percussion, Piano, Jazz, String or Composition.
Enjoy an inspiring week of masterclasses, ensembles, workshops and individual tuition by world-class tutors in stunning surroundings.
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June 2021
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Arrival of Gormley work a step closer ANTONY Gormley’s new sculpture, named DOUBT, has come a little nearer its arrival in Wells with a donation from Wells businessman Louis Agabani. Louis, the owner of wine bar The Bishop’s Eye in Market Place, is well aware of the problems businesses have encountered because of the pandemic. “We opened on July 4, 2020. We wanted to offer a place where women in particular would feel comfortable, but since then we have only been able to trade for five months,” he said. “Most businesses in Wells are struggling, many have lost a lot of money and the pandemic has discouraged local shopping.
Now that we are able to open again we are really pleased that our clientele is returning and it’s lovely to see the number of younger people who feel at ease here. “We need to reinvent the High Street in Wells. Times are hard for small independent shops and the demand for bricks and mortar premises has declined. However, all the cafes have benefited from the closing-off of the Market Place during the pandemic and we hope this will continue. Small independent shops that offer, for example, creative opportunities, are doing well. “Eighty per cent of Wells’ income comes from tourism, so it is absolutely critical
GLASTONBURY & WELLS CATS PROTECTION
NEUTERING CAMPAIGN
From 15th April 2021 to 31st August 2021 the charity will offer vouchers to help with neutering costs of cats whose owners are on low income or income support benefits. We are repeating the special price we offered in our last campaign. Owners will pay £5.00 per cat and the charity will pay the balance and, also microchip your cat for free. This offer is open to residents in Glastonbury, Wells, Street, Cheddar and Shepton Mallet and surrounding areas. Contact a volunteer for your voucher:
Julia on 07833 634087 Emma on 07717 837040 Holly on 07855 075962 Gill on 01749 850660 A neutered cat is a happy and healthy cat so be a responsible owner and phone for your voucher. Pedigree cats are not eligible and vouchers will only be issued for participating vets.
Glastonbury and Wells Cats Protection Reg Charity No: 203644 (England & Wales) and SCO37711 (Scotland)
www.cats.org.uk/glastonbury
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Louis Agabani with Kirstie Harris, centre, and Emma Lefevre from Project Factory CIC that tourists return. We have continued to see visitors from other parts of the UK, people who usually travel abroad and are taking the opportunity to explore parts of the country that they are unaware of. Some people are getting to know Wells for the first time, the kind of people who would usually travel to Egypt or the Far East, and they are amazed at what we have to offer here.” Louis thinks that the installation of DOUBT – due to be placed in a niche on the West Front of the Cathedral to coincide with the August bank holiday weekend – will encourage tourism and economic regeneration in Wells and the wider Mendip area. “We need to offer an experience that is more than just shopping, and I think the arrival of Antony Gormley’s sculpture
is going to be really exciting,” he said. “The Cathedral is the most photographed building in Wells and to have a work by a worldfamous sculptor installed on the West Front is going to be amazing.” Emma Lefevre, from Project Factory CIC, which is organising fundraising to cover costs associated with the Gormley project, said: “We are really grateful to Louis that he is encouraging sponsorship from local businesses with his very generous donation to the Antony Gormley project. “There are lots more opportunities for businesses who are interested in sponsoring the project, to be found on our website www.projectfactory.uk, or contact us direct on hello@ projectfactory.uk. We would love to hear from you.”
n LETTERS
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Honoured to be voted onto council I WAS very honoured and touched to be voted onto Wells City Council as Councillor for the Wells Central Ward. I would like to thank all who voted for me and those who helped with the leafleting and campaigning but also the many words of support
and congratulations I have received since. I am excited to be joining the city council and will try my best to serve the people of Wells. Please contact me with any concerns, suggestions, or issues you might have. You can contact me on s.powell@wells.gov.uk Sarah Powell Wells Independents
Email: sales@wellsvoice.co.uk
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June 2021
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n NEWS
Fun on menu at community celebration THERE will be stalls, storytelling, a fete, food, music and theatre at a Community Day planned in Wells in July. The Wake Up Wells Community Day: The Big Picnic will build on the success of the first Wake Up Wells Community Day in 2019 that was held in Wells Cathedral. The forthcoming event, taking place on Saturday, July 24, from 11am4pm, will again see activities in the Cathedral, and also this time on Cathedral Green and at The Bishop’s Palace. The day will be a chance to get out – as long as lockdown restrictions allow – to spend time with friends, family and the community, and an opportunity for people new to the area to find out what is on offer here. The event is a collaboration between Project Factory and the Rotary Club of Wells, the Fresh ’n’ Good Collective, Wells Spring Music Recovery and the Heritage Partners: Wells Cathedral, The Bishop’s Palace and Wells and Mendip Museum, among others. Project Factory was awarded a National Lottery Community Fund grant back in 2020 for a second Community Day, which has not been possible until now.
The Wake Up Wells Community Day in Wells Cathedral in 2019; a National Lottery Community Fund grant has been awarded for a second event One of Project Factory’s directors, Kirstie Harris, said: “Building on the success of the first day, we are hoping that this day will be a real celebration of what’s on offer in the community and a fun-filled family day. “There will be a number of performances and theatre across all the venues; stalls and craft in the Cathedral; a family day of theatre and storytelling in The Bishop’s Palace, and a Summer Fete on Cathedral Green, with music and some fun have-a-go stalls.”
Carolle Skeates, right, shows her cushions to Sally Dempsey of Heads Up
Cushions from curtains for charity UNWANTED curtains are being turned into cushions for sale to raise money for Heads Up. Doing the work is Carolle Skeates, one of the trustees at the South Horrington-based mental health charity, which has had a difficult time because of Covid. Carolle said: “Because of lockdown and being bored and wanting something useful to do, I decided to get my sewing machine out of mothballs, not
having used it for 30 odd years. I put an advert on Facebook’s Wells Community Notice Board page asking if anyone had any curtains they no longer wanted and explained about Heads Up. “I received enough to make about 50 cushions, so am now in the process of making them and have so far raised over £50.” Anyone who would like some can email Heads Up: info@ headsupsomerset.org.com.
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Project Factory and Wells Community Network are supporting a Big Picnic on the day: a chance for people to take or buy their own food, to celebrate and thank the community for its support. They are working with
local organisations to ensure that those families that need a complimentary lunch can get one. A picnic lunch of a Ploughman’s and Pud provided by the Sustainable Wells Fresh ’n’ Good Collective can be ordered in advance and donations will be gratefully accepted. The collective, all volunteers, are passionate about local food so everything for the picnic will be coming from local suppliers, whether it be the cheese, bread or pickle. “Mendip Community Police will also be there bike marking. So bring your bikes, leave your cars at home, bring a picnic and enjoy the relaxed atmosphere of the day,” said Kirstie. There is more information about the Community Day on the Project Factory website: www.projectfactory.uk or on Facebook: @projectfactorycic
NATURAL PETS OF WELLS 18 Queen Street, Wells, BA5 2DP 01749 673513
As well as a full range of treats, feeds and accessories for your pets – all at sensible prices – we also sell a huge selection of top quality wild bird feeds and feeders
Feeding the birds at this time of year is important while there are still no berries, grains or bugs around for them to eat. They are busy nest building and egg laying so will soon have many mouths to feed.
Email: news@wellsvoice.co.uk
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June 2021
n NEWS
Challenge to grow produce for Foodbank
GARDENERS are being asked to help Wells Foodbank by donating surplus fruit and veg and by growing larger crops if they have space. During the coronavirus pandemic, more people than ever are turning to the Foodbank for help and it is important that enough fresh food is provided to help everyone in need. The Veg Patch Challenge is an opportunity for growers to pass on spare produce to such people. Sue Marland, Senior Pastor of Wells Vineyard, said: “If you’re planting fruit and veg crops, please think about growing a little more this year to share with Foodbank clients. “Every week the local supermarkets donate fresh produce which supplements the tins and packets that shoppers give, but we also buy additional fresh food to ensure all Foodbank clients can receive a balanced and healthy diet.
Wells Foodbank would welcome fresh-grown food to pass on to people in need
“It would be fantastic to be able to provide fresh homegrown food – and what better way of using up a summer glut that might otherwise go to waste.” The idea came from Wells Lions President, Rod Major, who said: “We all know people who struggle to use up crops in the summer and we thought it would be a great use of spare produce if it could be given to the Foodbank. “Many people in need would be delighted to receive fresh, healthy food in their food box and it would be wonderful to see homegrown food going to such a good cause.” Sue said: “Many people in the community are facing unprecedented financial hardship and we need to ensure there is enough food in our stores to provide to everyone who needs it. “We are teaming up with
Let’s Do It Wells! to help get the message out to all local gardeners and allotment holders. Even children might like to take part, by planting a container with beans or tomatoes.” If people are able to set aside additional space in their gardens and allotments, they should email or message the Foodbank to let them know what they are
‘Many people in need would be delighted to receive fresh, healthy food in their food box’ planning to grow. Emails can be sent to info@wellsvineyard.com or message via Facebook. Details of how to donate surplus fruit and vegetables will be provided in due course. People who are not able to grow their own food can still help by donating food or cash in the usual way.
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Dot McCarthy with the unusual tulip, also shown inset
Tulip’s appearance springs a surprise KEEN gardener Dot McCarthy has been left astonished by a three-headed tulip that has sprung up in her garden. Dot planted several tulip bulbs in a planter in the garden of her home in Somerleaze Close, Wells. All have emerged with a single flower head apart from one, which has three heads on one stem, and another head on a separate stem growing from the same bulb.
“I’ve never seen anything like it,” said Dot. “When the buds first came out I thought it might not be a tulip bulb I’d planted, it might be something else. “It would be interesting to know if anyone else has ever seen anything like it.” Dot bought the bulbs through an Ideal World TV programme. She said: “I do enjoy gardening. It’s been a godsend with lockdown.”
Email: sales@wellsvoice.co.uk
wellsvoice
June 2021
n NEWS
Advertisement feature
Becoming a Host Family is rewarding and enjoyable
The entrance to the Almshouses chapel from Chamberlain Street
Keen backing for chapel proposals PLANS to refurbish the chapel at Bubwiths Almshouses in Priest Row were given enthusiastic backing by members of Wells City Council’s planning committee at their meeting on May 6. The plans propose the reordering and refurbishment of the chapel, including replacing solid oak doors on either side with new oak framed glazed doors, putting up a traditional hanging sign above the door on Chamberlain Street, and internal works to include the replacement of the pews with new seating. Committee chair Councillor Adrian I’Anson said he thought the project was exemplary, and Councillor Jasmine Browne said that she thought the proposed changes will add value to the city. Councillor Jenny Rust said: “I think it’s really good. I like the way they are hoping to open up the entrance from Chamberlain Street. You have no idea as you walk past. I like the way that with the glass doors you’ll be able to see through and then through the glass door at the other side as well.” There was also strong support for the conversion of the former Rock House dental surgery at 81 High Street into a house. Cllr Rust said she thought it was an exciting and interesting restoration project. Councillor Philip Welch agreed, saying: “Having been there many times in various guises, it was a right rabbit warren before. I think they are doing a great job restoring it as a lovely house.”
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The committee did recommend refusal of two of the other planning applications that they considered. Crest Nicholson has applied for permission to replace a tarmac footpath with tarmac and hoggin at land off Glastonbury Road. Cllr Browne said she had looked up what hoggin was, and it is a mixture of gravel and clay, which she did not think would be a suitable surface. She said: “I would object on the grounds that it’s not suitable for wheelchairs, bicycles, pushchairs, families and so on walking around the estate.” Councillor Louis Agabani and Cllr Rust also voiced concerns, and the committee recommended refusal on the grounds that it would fail to provide proper access for a wide variety of users. The committee also recommended refusal of plans to demolish a house at 20 College Road and replace it with a new one, on the basis of a failure to present accurate plans, and a Design and Access Statement which fails to reflect the current position. They also noted the outcome of an appeal by Morrisons against refusal by Mendip District Council of three signs at their store in East Somerset Way. The appeal has been allowed and consent granted for the signs, which will be nonilluminated, on the side of the store visible from Palace Fields and Constitution Hill.
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PIPPA’S Guardians provides Guardianship services to international students studying at boarding schools across the country. They find supportive and caring families who can offer a welcoming home for students during their school holidays. Marina and Stewart Fung live in Essex and have been a host family for 3 years. “We initially saw a flyer for Pippa’s Guardians on a local noticeboard, I decided to get in touch since we have a spare room and have both always been keen travellers and love experiencing other cultures. We relish any opportunity to meet people from other countries as we feel that this exchange enhances everyone’s life, the chance to earn some money in doing so was also appealing. We have young children who have also benefited from the experience, they also really enjoyed playing football with an older child and taught each other some English/Chinese too!” Ben Hughes, Managing Director for Pippa’s Guardians,
explained: “The families we look for are welcoming and are interested in other cultures. Having children of similar ages helps but isn’t the most important thing as we have many successful host families who have no children, younger children or indeed older children who have left home. Internet access is very important, and each student will need their own bedroom with a desk or somewhere quiet for homework. Being part of a family and experiencing day-to-day family life enhances students’ study and plays a part in improving their English language.” Becoming a host family can be a rewarding and enjoyable experience for the family too; providing the opportunity to really make a difference to a student whilst they are studying here in the UK, in many cases a very long way from home. If you are interested in hosting a student, please contact hostfamilies@pippasguardians. co.uk
Supportive and caring Host Families required for international students from September 2021 Mid term holidays, Up to 6 weekends a year, Daily rate and expenses paid To find our more about this rewarding and enjoyable opportunity, call 01684 252757 or email hostfamilies@pippasguardians.co.uk www.pippasguardians.co.uk
wellsvoice
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June 2021
n NEWS
Call to all interested in contemporary music
Nigel Fraser writes on behalf of the community group that is exploring the possibility of setting up a contemporary music centre in the Portway Annexe A COMMUNITY group has formed to establish a contemporary music centre in Wells. The recent vote by Wells City Council to purchase the Portway Annexe has motivated the team to develop the idea further and demonstrate that there is demand in Wells for more contemporary music facilities. The aim is to provide space for a range of activities associated with developing music skills and providing opportunities for people to enjoy music together – could this include you? The Portway Annexe Community Group’s ‘Vision’, featured in last month’s Wells
Voice, hinted at what may be possible. The Portway Annexe has huge potential for lots of uses for the community. The proposed Wells Contemporary Music Centre could provide an affordable-touse rehearsal/music technology facility, a drum practice room and a shared use audio/visual
Above, the Portway Annexe wing that might host the Wells Contemporary Music Centre
‘The centre could provide a rehearsal facility, a drum practice room and a studio’
studio. There may also be opportunities for performances in the beautiful hall within the Portway Annexe. Several offers of equipment have already been received along with some sponsorship. A detailed proposal is being submitted to the newly formed city council Portway Annexe Committee for consideration. You can find more information at www.wellsrocks.org. If you think you may want to use these facilities as a pupil, teacher, parent and child, a band, or someone who enjoys watching live music, please respond to the forthcoming Wells City Council community consultation on the Portway Annexe. We need your support to demonstrate sustainable demand and make this happen. Please also register your interest on the www.wellsrocks.org website. Thank you.
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wellsvoice
June 2021
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n NEWS
Annexe committee gets down to business FOR some the thought of another committee being established by Wells City Council may not be something that fills them with excitement. But for those interested in the development of the Portway Annexe, this one may do just that. The inaugural event for the Portway Annexe Committee (PAC) was held on Wednesday, April 28. The council has so much work in hand and this combined with associated increase in the number of committees means meetings are no longer fixed to the traditional Thursday evening sessions. The PAC elected Sarah Briton as chair and she is keen to get on with the work. “The Portway Annexe Committee exists to assist the city council in its decision to retain the Portway Annexe in public ownership,” said Sarah.
A glimpse inside the currently empty Portway Annexe. This room has soundproofing in place “This means developing robust business plans that take account of residents’ views through reliable public consultation. “The committee is a little
under strength but I hope some of the newly elected councillors will join.” The PAC has already established two working groups to develop Public Consultation
and Business Plans respectively, with a further two groups to ensure residents living near the Annexe and community groups can contribute their views. There are two non-voting places at the PAC reserved for local residents or community groups representatives. “The working groups are underway with Louis Agabani facilitating the one for Community Groups, and Rachel Humphreys the group for local residents,” added Sarah. “Adrian I’Anson is facilitating for Public Consultation and for the moment I am the facilitator for the Business Plan. “Anyone who wants to know more is very welcome to contact us. All the details are available through the Wells City Council website or by ringing the Town Hall on 01749 673091, between 8.30am and 1pm.”
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June 2021
n NEWS
Chief Constable opens new police station THE Avon and Somerset Neighbourhood Policing team for Wells have moved to a new station at Burcott Road where they will be co-locating with Devon and Somerset Fire and Rescue Service. The ‘Hot Fuzz’ swan sculpture, which was gifted to Avon and Somerset Police in 2012 by the film’s director, Edgar Wright, has migrated to the new station at Burcott Road along with the team. The new Wells police station was officially opened by Chief Constable Andy Marsh on April 28. Chief Constable Marsh said: “This is an exciting time for local policing and we are pleased to be joining our colleagues from Devon and Somerset Fire and Rescue Service at the Burcott Road site. South Western Ambulance Service NHS Foundation Trust also use the site as a social standby point so the move to the new station truly reinforces our commitment to serving our communities and continuing to work alongside our local partners.” The old police station at Glastonbury Road was originally
From left: DSFRS Chief Fire Officer Lee Howell, DSFRS Watch Manager Tom Bridgman, ASP Neighbourhood Sergeant Simon Lancey, ASP Chief Constable Andy Marsh, ASP PCSO Supervisor Hannah Hood, SWASFT County Commander for Somerset Steve Boucher built in the 1950s and had become costly to run with high ongoing maintenance fees. Chief Inspector Sharon Baker said: “Whilst we are sad to say goodbye to the Glastonbury Road site, it is fantastic to see the iconic swan move with us. The old site was just too big and no longer fit for purpose and the new station at Burcott Road will
better meet the needs of modernday policing. I’m pleased we have been able to find such a great new location in the city, enabling us to still deliver policing services for the population of Wells from the heart of the community. “The move to the new police station will not affect the number of police officers and PCSOs
working in the area who will continue to be out and about in the local community.” Lee Howell, Chief Fire Officer for Devon and Somerset Fire and Rescue Service, said: “Having emergency services working from the same station with their complementary skills can only be a positive for the community and further improve local safety.”
n ON THE BEAT
Spirit of beautiful, resilient city unbroken AS we begin our descent towards the further easing and potential ending of lockdown restrictions, the Wells Neighbourhood Policing Team would like to extend our thanks to the people of Wells for their continued support, positive attitude and astonishing community spirit. The past year we have mourned for loved ones lost, longed to see friends and family and wept at the closing of our pubs and shops, but this has not broken the spirit of our beautiful and resilient city. Our communities have become stronger with each and every one of you doing your bit to keep neighbours safe and looked after. We would like to thank the Wells Coronavirus Network and their volunteers for
News from the local policing team with PCSO Samuel White their amazing work bringing vulnerable members of our community their much needed
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supplies. We would also like to thank the Elim Connect Centre for their continued work with our homeless and vulnerable community. 2020 and the beginning of 2021 has been a challenging year for everyone, including us. We have had to adapt to a completely new way of policing with brand new laws and legislation in order to keep you and your loved ones safe and to reduce the demand on the NHS. We have also had to adapt to our new station located on Burcott Road; although the station is smaller it allows us to be more streamlined, efficient and closer to the city centre and we are settling in nicely. Over the past six months only eight Covid penalty notices were issued in Wells which is a
fantastic result in comparison to our city’s population. As pubs and beer gardens open up once again, please be mindful of how much you’re consuming, respect local residents by keeping the noise down and make sure that you get home safely. If you have drunk please ask a friend to walk you home, take a taxi or make use of our local bus services. Under no circumstance should you drive. We encourage people to now take the time to reflect on the past year and remember what is important in your lives. Please continue to follow the government guidance and keep yourselves safe in order to maintain a safe and smooth transition back to normality. Wells, you have done yourselves proud.
Email: sales@wellsvoice.co.uk
wellsvoice
June 2021
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n NEWS Out to welcome visitors to Wells
Chamber Town Hall meeting
THE Wells Ambassadors are now out and about meeting and greeting visitors to the city on a daily basis. This new initiative to help Wells recover from the Covid lockdowns is the brainchild of Ross Young, who said: “In 2017 we launched Meet & Greet for tourists arriving at the Coach Park in Princes Road which has been a great success, winning Wells the ‘Coach Friendliest Destination’ accolade at the Coach Tourism Awards 2019, and we are shortlisted for 2020, to be announced this October. “Ambassadors are an extension of this as we felt all visitors should be welcomed,
WELLS Chamber of Commerce held a well-attended AGM by Zoom on April 26. During the meeting, Judith Ludovino of TelePA was elected Chairman, and Mike Tucker of City Decorating Supplies became the Vice Chairman. Jonathan Orchard of Old Mill will continue as Treasurer. The chamber’s first in-person meeting for more than a year will take place in the Council Chamber in Wells Town Hall on Monday, July 5, at 6pm. “Everybody is looking forward to it,” said Judith. “All businesses are welcome. We are hoping to do some socialising in local hostelries afterwards.”
Wells Ambassadors Adrian I’Anson, Ross Young and Ruth Bowles in the Market Place with leaflets for visitors given maps and told of the many attractions this wonderful city has to offer. “The response and feedback has been brilliant.” Twenty volunteers have come
forward so far but Ross is looking for more. If anyone wishes to volunteer or find out more, visit www.letsdoitwells.com or contact Ross on ross-young@ hotmail.co.uk or 07721 523487.
Teams stand down after going extra mile SOMERSET County Council’s gritting teams are standing down after travelling the equivalent of nearly three times around the world this winter. The fleet of 23 gritters were needed on 66 occasions when freezing temperatures were forecast, treating around 900 miles of road each time to help prevent ice forming with 1,842 route actions in total. This included additional gritting to ensure safe passage to vaccination and testing sites. The team covered 70,200 miles during the 2020/21 season, a significant increase from previous years when they covered 44,000 miles in 2019/20 and 32,800 miles in 2018/19.
A gritting lorry out on the road Picture: Richie Greene Photography
The lowest road temperature was recorded at -6.1 degrees in the Mendip Hills on February 10, 2020. During the season, more than 7,500 tonnes of salt was used – with additional salt ordered
to maintain stock levels. April’s unseasonably cold weather meant the season had to be extended by two weeks due to persistent cold temperatures. This was all done under strict Covid-19 protocols with shielding and self-isolation providing the team with an extra challenge. The team ensured additional gritters and routes were sourced and implemented on the network to assist with journeys to vaccination and testing centres across the county. Furthermore, two weather stations were replaced as the council continues to invest in infrastructure to support more accurate weather forecasting and decision-making.
Councillor John Woodman, Cabinet Member for Highways and Transport, said: “In a challenging year, our highways team have done a terrific job throughout the winter, often working long, unsociable hours to help keep our roads safe for essential journeys, like key workers and our emergency services. “The team of almost 100 people worked together to ensure our network was safe and were ready to respond wherever and whenever bad weather hit, going the extra mile to ensure people could safely travel to vaccination and testing sites. “I’d like to thank them on a job well done.”
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wellsvoice
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June 2021
n NEWS
Financial company moves office to Wells
A FIRM that specialises in arranging mortgages has opened an office in Wells. James & Co Financial Services has relocated from Pensford to Market Chamber in Queen Street, where it has the top two floors of a building that was once home to a greengrocers, and a studio for Radio Bristol. The company was originally started in 1994 by practice principal Trevor James at his home in Farrington Gurney, before moving to Whitchurch in Bristol, and then Pensford. “It became obvious that there was more potential being in Wells,” said Trevor, who is a big admirer of the city. “Whenever we visited Wells, my wife said how friendly everyone was,” he added. His wife, Virginia, looks after the company accounts. Matthew Clark is a protection consultant, while David Sinclair
From left, Virginia James, Matthew Clark, Trevor James, David Sinclair and Susy Sinclair
is a mortgage consultant and his wife Susy is responsible for the administration. David and Susy have lived in Wells for 13 years, and both their children went to the Blue School.
David said that he is pleased now to be working in the city, and in offices that are ideal for the company while being a bit different. “We fell in love with the
building, which is a bit quirky,” he said. “We are not only in the mix of Wells but in an interesting building.” The main areas of business for James & Co are mortgages for house purchases, remortgages, buy-to-let mortgages, let-to-buy mortgages and equity release mortgages. They can also arrange the life insurance that goes with a mortgage. They will be putting up signs in the windows and by the entrance to make their presence more obvious, and will be getting more involved with the local community as lockdown measures are lifted. David already shares some of the photographs he takes while out walking around Wells on the Wells City Community Notice Board Facebook page. “I love Wells – the people are lovely and every day you appreciate what you’ve got,” he said.
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wellsvoice
June 2021
n NEWS
Legal guidance with Chubb Bulleid
Group’s gatherings set to start again AS with so much over the last year, the monthly Sustainable Wells gatherings that seemed so normal, so interactive, so empowering and thoughtprovoking, have been sorely missed by members of the group. Organisers are looking forward to re-starting these in July – on Monday, July 5 – and further information about the venue and topics for discussion will be announced later, including on the Sustainable Wells website: sustainablewells. org.uk In the meantime, and since gatherings of 30 people outdoors are now permissible, a picnic has been organised so that people can meet socially, discuss ideas and swap information. This will take place on Cathedral Green on Sunday, June 6, at 2pm. Those attending are asked to take their own tea and biscuits, coffee and cake, water, beer, champagne, or whatever – as long as it’s environmentally friendly, of course.
Getting a Repair Cafe date in the diary is still not likely at the moment, but if there is something that needs repairing, the fixers will be very willing to take a look. Email juliebentleywright@hotmail. co.uk or call 01749 675490. Anyone who would like to be on the list of repairers would be very welcome. The aim is to build a comprehensive list of clever people who can mend stuff. There has also been discussion about a date for a ‘Freecycle’ event. If this is something that people would welcome, or would like to help organise, they are invited to contact Sustainable Wells. There is a good online facility in the locality: The Shepton Mallet, Wells & Street Group. Sign up at https://groups. freecycle.org
Foundation takes on equine fund THE Trustees of Horseshoes and Handprints (H&H) have closed the charity and handed over the reins to Somerset Community Foundation (SCF) to manage the fund in the future. Horseshoes and Handprints was a charity established in 2013, supporting children and young people with special educational needs and disabilities, particularly those with autism, who live in Somerset, east Devon or north Dorset and would otherwise not be able access equine facilitated therapy sessions. Kirsty Campbell, Programmes Manager at SCF, said: “We’re absolutely delighted to be looking after the Horseshoes and Handprints Fund going forward, and wish the team all the best in their next endeavors. “The Horseshoes and Handprints Fund will open to applications in September 2021. These grants will cover 50 per
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An equine therapy session cent of the cost of equine therapy sessions, up to a maximum of £250. If you would like to find out more about the fund and how to apply in the meantime, please do get in touch with us directly.” Visit www.somersetcf.org.uk/ apply-for-a-grant/Grants-forIndividuals or call 01749 344949 and ask to speak to Kirsty.
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Difficulties for first-time buyers, and schemes designed to help FIRST-TIME buyers have been an unfortunate casualty of the Covid-19 pandemic. It is no secret that the housing market is an unfriendly place for people who do not already own a home or have large amounts of savings to use for a deposit. However, the pandemic has made things worse. There are now two Stamp Duty deadlines if you want to buy a house in 2021: l June 30, 2021 – to take advantage of the tax break on purchases up to £500,000, you must complete by June 30. l September 30, 2021 – if you do not complete by June 30, you will still be able to receive a tax break on purchases up to £250,000 until September 30. Before the original Stamp Duty holiday was introduced, first-time buyers were already exempt from Stamp Duty on purchases worth up to £300,000 on properties worth up to £500,000. This first-time buyers’ relief is just one of the ways the government is trying to help first-time buyers get over some of the overwhelming hurdles to home ownership. But it also means that, in many parts of the country, the Stamp Duty holiday only benefits the wealthiest first-time buyers who probably would have been able to buy anyway. In the South West, average house prices are nearly £275,000 and the average deposit is over £42,000. So the average first-time buyer here would not benefit from the Stamp Duty holiday but are still expected to stump up a huge deposit. Other issues caused and exacerbated by the pandemic, such as job insecurity, lack of house building, reduced availability of low-deposit mortgage products and rapidly rising house prices caused the number of first-time buyers in 2020 to drop by an estimated 14.5%. The government has always argued that it is committed to “turning generation rent into generation buy”, having helped “681,000 households purchase a home since 2010 through government-backed schemes
including Help to Buy and Right to Buy”. The main way the government helped first-time buyers during the pandemic was to extend the Help to Buy scheme several times over 2020. Originally, home buyers had until March 31, 2021, to complete their Help to Buy transactions, but this deadline has now been extended to May 31. A new Help to Buy scheme also started on April 1 as scheduled. On March 3, 2021, at the same time as the Stamp Duty holiday extension was announced, the Chancellor Rishi Sunak also announced a new Mortgage Guarantee Scheme to start from April. Its purpose is to encourage mortgage lenders to introduce more high loan-to-value products. High loan-to-value mortgages all but disappeared during the coronavirus pandemic and firsttime buyers – the main consumer – suffered the most. Although many lenders have started to bring back 90% mortgage products, 95% mortgages (which were common before the pandemic) are still hard to come by. This has priced many buyers out of the market. Under the new scheme, the government has agreed to back 95% mortgages, making them lower risk for mortgage lenders. This will allow buyers to buy any home worth up to £600,000 with a deposit of just 5%. Many major lenders have signed up to the scheme, including Lloyds, NatWest, Santander, Barclays and HSBC. Buyers are still required to pass all other mortgage lender affordability checks and stress tests and should always seek advice from an independent mortgage broker or financial advisor to ensure they get the best deal. The scheme is currently scheduled to run until December 2022. n For expert advice, please contact our friendly and highly experienced conveyancing solicitors in Wells, Street or Somerton. Phone 01749 836100.
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June 2021
n NEWS
Springs, Severn and the stories of stones WHILE it was not possible to run all the events originally planned for GeoWeek in the Mendip area, organisers did manage to run some events, in Covid-secure groups of six. GeoWeek is an initiative that seeks to introduce geoscience to as many members of the public as possible. The ‘Springs of Wells’ visit began in the Bishop’s Palace gardens where the springs flow out, after which Wells is named. A piece of rubber tubing, water and dye was used to show how the wells work and how their sources have been dye-traced. The group then visited Tor Woods to see the evidence that springs were flowing in a similar way, 200 million years ago. Maybe these are the longestflowing springs ever recorded. There was a great visit to
Doulting quarry, one of the oldest and longest-worked quarries in the UK. Jurassic limestone from the quarry was readily cut and carved and so was used to build parts of Wells Cathedral, Glastonbury Abbey and many buildings across the Mendips. People who live in a stone-built house will probably find the corner stones and the window and door surrounds are pale yellow or buff-coloured Doulting stone. There were then visits to the 12th-century Doulting Church and the 15th-century tithe barn in Doulting village, both built of the local stone, and St Aldhelm’s well, a spring flowing from the Doulting stone at its boundary with the underlying clay. The ‘Net-zero’ visit was to Sand Point near Westonsuper-Mare, overlooking the
There was investigation of the rock structure to see if it was suitable for carbon capture and storage, and consideration of whether the nearby outcrop of basalt lava rock might be used to remove carbon from the atmosphere by spreading on local fields for enhanced weathering, and a range of other options. The conclusion was that there are big issues, with no easy answers. As part of GeoWeek, the ‘Stoned Team’ was out and about Demonstrating the springs of Wells, ‘stoning’ houses in Wells and the top, and the ‘Stoned Team’ – Doug Mendip villages. Robinson and Chris King – with The ‘team’ of Chris King the owners of a ‘Stoned’ home, and Doug Robinson visited Rowland and Christine Barter stone-built homes by prior No need for an expensive care home arrangement to tell the story of Severn estuary. Two separate the stones to the owners, and Stay independent at home with your own live in carer groups were welcomed to award them a ‘Stoned’ certificate. discuss the potential impact of Many of the local buildings No need for an expensive care home Many people want to stay in their own home as they get older the government ‘Net-zero by have stones from four different care home 2050’ target on the local area. yneed independent at home with own live in carer geological periods, telling 200 for an expensive careyour home There was discussion about million years of Earth’s history. No need for an expensive care home ur own live in carer eople want to stay in their own home as they get older how a rise in sea level might endent at home with your own liveaninproviding carer They are continuing beyond Featherbed Care has been live in carers since 1986 No need for expensive care home No need for home home as they get olderNo an expensive expensivecare care home Stay independentimpact at home with your carer this year, which was the region, what aown tidallive inGeoWeek Noneed need for for an an expensive care home want to stay in their own home as they get older We believebeen in independent only the at very care affordable barrage cost electricity generating Stay independent at homebest with your your ownat livean in carer carer officially May 1-9, so anyone who Stay with own live in bed Care hasStay providing live in carers since 1986 independent at home home with your own in carer Stay independent home with your own livelive inpeople carer Many want to system stay inmight theirmean ownfor home get like older the as they would their stone-built home ve in carers since Many people wantcare to stay stay in their their own home home as they they get get older older eve in only the 1986 very best at in an affordable cost Many people want to own as to be ‘stoned’ too, free of charge, Many people want tocarers stay in their as as they get get olderolder estuary, and how the Welsh coast Many people stay insince theirown ownhome home they been providing live into 1986 ere athas an affordable cost want wind turbines might affect the should contact Chris at: chris@ only the very best care at has an affordable cost Featherbed Care been providing providing live in in carers since since 1986 1986 Featherbed Care hascoastlines been providing live in carers earthlearningidea.com. since 1986 in the future. has been been live carers Featherbed Care Featherbed Care has providing live in carers since 1986 We believe believe in only only the very best care carelive at an an affordable cost Featherbed Care hasthe been providing in affordable carers since 1986 We in very best at cost We believe in only the very best care at an affordable cost We believe in only the very best care at an affordable cost
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June 2021
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n FROM THE TOWN HALL
Open Gardens at le Carre’s former home THE GARDENS and grounds of a famous spy thriller writer will be opened to the public for a one-off event. John Le Carre bought Coxley House with the proceeds of his bestseller The Spy Who Came In From The Cold, which was later made into a film. His experiences working for MI5 and MI6 helped with his writing. He converted one of the cottages in the grounds into a studio where he worked and his secretary made her home in another. Le Carre lived at Coxley House with his family in the 1960s and ten years previously had lived in a cottage at Pilton. Now the current owners of Coxley House will be hosting an Open Gardens event in its extensive grounds on Sunday, June 13, from 2pm-5pm in aid of the Wells Branch of my Mayor’s Charity. It is the Wells branch of Macmillan Cancer Support whose chairman Mark Tobin said: “All the money we raise is spent locally and we are grateful for Philip’s support.”
Above, part of the Coxley House grounds; left, John Le Carre; below left, Coxley House is Grade II listed and off Stoppers Lane in Coxley; John Le Carre’s book Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy was made into a BBC TV drama starring Alec Guinness
The vaccine is winning the fight against Covid but we have been losing the war on other potentially fatal conditions. One is cancer. As many as 50,000 people in the UK are believed to have cancer which has not yet been diagnosed because of the disruption caused by Covid-19. Macmillan rely almost entirely on public donations to provide its vital support to people with cancer but has suffered a huge drop in income as a result of the coronavirus pandemic. On Sunday, June 13, cakes, tea, coffee, soft drinks and gentle entertainment will be on offer. Entry will be £5 for adults and £10 for a family. Free parking will be provided. I hope you will be able to join us. Mayor of Wells Philip Welch Email: p.welch@wells.gov.uk
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n IN DAYS GONE BY
June 2021
With Clare Blackmore
When rent could be paid with red roses SCRASEBASE is a vast database of Wells property histories based on the groundbreaking research carried out by historian Tony Scrase. It summarises Tony’s detailed history of virtually every property in the heart of the city of Wells, which is based on records of local individuals and estates including those of the city corporation, the Dean & Chapter and the almshouses, dating back to the 1200s. Having looked through this vast and totally fascinating resource, I noticed many points of interest, one of them being the rents paid on properties throughout the city. A peppercorn rent is a nominal rent that was paid to legalise a rental contract and there are examples all over the country of nominal rents being paid since the 13th century, such
Tony Scrase pictured two years ago with then Mayor of Wells Celia Wride after becoming the first recipient of The Council’s Award in recognition of his service to Wells over many years Picture: Kevin Westwood
as in Bath, where the university’s main campus is rented from the city council at the rent of one peppercorn a year, and each year one peppercorn is presented by the treasurer of the university to the chairman of Bath and North East Somerset Council. In Wells there are many examples of this nominal rental practice. n In 1214, Walter de Dunheved, Knight, grants the property at No 8 St Thomas Street, then Biestewelles, to Adam de Hereford. De Hereford is to pay rent of a quarter pound of cumin. n In 1216, Walter de Lechlade was granted the property at approximately modern 8 St Thomas Street by John Fortis, Chancellor, who bought it from John de Hereford. The rent was half a pound of cumin, a columbar (a pigeon cot) and a pair of white gloves. n About 1216 to 1270, during the reign of Henry III, Nicholas Bataille grants to John Galston, goldsmith, a lease on a house in St Cuthbert Street, about modern 10, for a rent which is a pair of white gloves annually or their value of half a penny, also paying 6d per annum to the Bishop. n In 1270, in Priest Row, Pryston Row, approximately number 10, David De Modbury and his wife Alice are granted a lease on this holding by Agatha de Wokey, daughter of Thomas de Wokey and widow of Thomas Malherbe, at an annual rent of 25/- and one red rose.
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In 1270, the annual rent on a property in Priest Row – approximately number 10 – was set at 25/- and one red rose n In 1299, the property at 25 East Liberty is acquired by two vicars, Hugh de Lymington and Robert de Chedynfold. They are to pay 18d per annum to the “Chief Lord” and to give 4lb of Frankincense to the Cathedral at Christmas. n In 1304, Henry le Eyr and his wife Sabrina grant a property in Touckerstret to Agnes, the daughter of John le Maurkant and his wife, at the rent of one rose to be paid at the nativity of St John the Baptist (June 24). n In 1317, a property in Chamberlain Street (approx 23) is shown as being held for life by William le Veal and Sir John Surreye, vicar, costing half a mark a year each plus the cost of torches at the Chapel of the Virgin at 10/- per year. n In 1326, the Bishop grants Michael de Eston a plot of land in St Andrew’s Street for use as a garden, but the Bishop is to retain the fruit from the medlar tree. n In 1336, part of 4 Portway, described as being at the western end of St Cuthbert Street on the north side, Richard Curteys the Elder grants this holding to his younger daughter, Margery, for one red rose per annum. n In 1339, John Abraham and his wife Christinna, daughter of Thomas de Brydeport, and her heirs are granted a property in Southover by Thomas de Brydeport. The rent is one rose a year for Thomas’s life. n In 1354, New Street, part of modern number 3: The Dean and Chapter granted to Stephen de Hulle a canon house for his life for which he is to pay 40d per annum and two large wax candles daily. n In 1391, 25 The Liberty: John Wareyn makes a final gift of all his lands and rents to Thomas
Byngham, Ralph Berners, Robert Rugg and Robert Sloo on condition that they re-convey to him at the nominal rent of one rose. n In 1395, John Wareyn, canon, grants a tenement, approximately the modern 32 St Thomas Street, to his nephew, Thomas Kyngesbury, a clerk. The rent was set at 1d per annum or a rose. n At another property in Byestwall Street (St Thomas Street), a property owned by Thomas Turold is leased to Sir Walter de Wyk for two and a half pence per annum with a clove of gillyflower. n In 1397, a property described as a tenement opposite the church and by the vicarage in St Cuthbert Street, owned by Nicholas Chritisham and his wife Matilda, is rented out to Alice, the widow of Matilda’s brother William Churchstighele, the payment being “one red rose at midsummer”. n In 1454/55, the accounts show that the rent for a property in Grope Lane (now Union Street) is due at 13/4d but that in lieu of rent one silver belt had been received. n In 1489/90, John Pyton, baker, is granted the lease on a tenement in the High Street owned by the corporation for which the rent is 20/- a year. In addition to this, Pyton is required to bake the bread for distribution to the poor on St Catherine’s Day (November 25) as provided for in the will of Thomas Tanner. Tony is very generously allowing the Wells City Archives to create ScraseBase and share his research through it, and it will eventually be released online for free consultation by members of the public.
Email: sales@wellsvoice.co.uk
wellsvoice
June 2021
n NEWS
Focus on health with Bluebird Care
Caution urged with relaxation of rules SOMERSET’S residents are being encouraged to enjoy new freedoms like hugging and socialising indoors, with the further easing of lockdown rules – but to do so carefully. Rules were relaxed on May 17 to enable people to socialise in limited numbers, hug loved ones, and visit pubs and restaurants indoors. But with Somerset still seeing high numbers of Covid-19 cases in some areas, the county’s public health leaders are calling on residents to remain on their guard while enjoying the new freedoms. Director of Public Health Professor Trudi Grant said: “Somerset is in a good position as we move into this latest phase of lockdown, with a relatively low number of cases overall. “We know it has been a tough year for everyone with limited social interaction. However, we all want the positive trend to continue so we can get back to normal and that means we still have to act sensibly to reduce the risk of spreading the virus. “There are a number of things people can do in order to limit the chances of the infection spreading as society starts to open up again. “When welcoming family and friends back into homes, let fresh air in too. The message of hands, face, space, and fresh
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Trudi Grant: ‘We still have to act sensibly’ air is especially important when mixing indoors. “Science still indicates that along with washing our hands regularly and wearing face coverings in enclosed public spaces, keeping your distance from others is an important measure in preventing the spread of coronavirus.” People are being reminded that they should be testing for coronavirus twice a week. Anyone in Somerset can access free, regular, ‘lateral flow’ (rapid) Covid-19 testing. There is more information at somerset.gov.uk Anyone who is showing symptoms of Covid-19, or has tested positive using a ‘lateral flow’ test kit, should immediately self-isolate and should book a confirmatory PCR test online or by calling 119.
Keeping up your independence By Jason Higgins
Why is independence so important? Retaining independence benefits older people in many ways. It can help their physical and mental health, boost their confidence and selfesteem, and improve their sense of purpose and quality of life. It can help them feel useful, which is especially important if they tend to fear they’re a burden on loved ones. Giving someone the independence to do one thing can boost their confidence and radiate into other areas of life. For example, instilling in them the confidence to go to the hairdressers alone could make them more aware of their own abilities, and mean they want to start doing other things independently, too. How can I help? There are many ways to promote independence, and this will need to be tweaked according to the person’s abilities, which may fluctuate over time. Small things go a long way in this instance. For example, make sure they choose their meals and activities, or if they’re going for a walk, let them choose the route. Promoting independence doesn’t just mean stepping back with physical tasks. It’s important to give elderly people as much input and control over their lives and the decisions that affect them as possible. It’s important to not only promote independence, but to help your loved one maintain that level of independence, too. Helping them maintain their independence means giving them the tools they need when you’re not there to help. It could mean
providing transportation for them to get to appointments or arranging for home care. Living independently at home For most older people, independence is largely tied to being able to stay in their own homes. There are many care options available for those who need extra support, such as live-in carers, or regular visits from care support workers, as well as the care and support of family and friends. It’s also important to ensure the house helps to promote independence as much as possible. Perhaps that means installing a handrail in the shower, adding a chair to the kitchen or installing a chair lift. It may just mean moving items to more accessible cupboards. Knowing when to step in to help Promoting a person’s independence is a fine balance of knowing when they really need help, and when they need to do something independently. And of course, there will be times when you need to step in. Maintaining independence requires the person to be selfconfident, healthy and happy. This is why it’s important to ensure they’re getting involved in activities and staying physically active and engaged with others. Support and advice If you need advice on the capacities of a loved one, or are looking for advice on home adjustments, there are many places you can go for help. Contact your local authority’s social services, search for local charities, or look at the resources available at national charities, including Age UK and Age International. n Jason Higgins is Care Manager of Bluebird Care (Mendip), email CMMendip@bluebirdcare.co.uk, phone 01749 372197 or 01458 570015.
Radio DJ turns to property sales A VOLUNTEER DJ for community radio station Glastonbury FM is turning her talents to property sales by joining Meyers Estate Agents as an associate. Wells-based Sara Benham regularly gives up her time to broadcast a radio chat and music slot called the Big Air. She has also been a Wookey Hole Caves tour guide and a Ghost Tour Guide at Shepton Mallet Prison. She will now be responsible for helping the Meyers team market houses in Street, Glastonbury, Wells and Shepton Mallet. She said: “The past year has been tough for many people. I
Sara Benham tried to start an event business at the beginning of 2020 but like many others, lockdown forced me to change my plans. Having been an estate agent in the past, I ultimately decided to go back to what I know.”
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June 2021
n MESSAGE FROM THE MP
I have been impressed with bounce back I DO hope there is a point very soon where these columns can be less about Covid, and more about other pressing issues in our community. However, at the time of writing we have just moved to step three of the Government’s roadmap out of lockdown and so it seems only right to speak about that. I know a lot is being said about the new variant but the straight race between vaccination and the virus is still on. It is right that nothing is ruled out but we are winning that vaccine battle with those over 36 years old now able to book their jab. Once again, here in the West Country we are continuing to see a low prevalence of the virus and extremely high take up of the vaccination programme which is reason to be optimistic. I know so many local
News from Wells MP James Heappey ‘There is no reason we cannot continue to make progress. However, we must remember to remain vigilant and be prepared for any eventuality’
businesses – in the hospitality sector in particular – have been desperate to fully reopen (especially after the questionable weather we have experienced over the past month) and have put so much in place to be Covid-secure. Over the past few weeks, I have visited a number of businesses, schools and vaccination centres to see how the community is adapting to the reopening of society and the economy. I have been incredibly impressed with the bounce back following such disruption, and also the desire to get back to normal. The efficiency of the vaccine centres is second to none and the volunteers are the heartbeat of the operation. If we can maintain this pace, there is no reason we cannot continue to make progress. However, we must
remember to remain vigilant and be prepared for any eventuality. I can assure you that Ministers are working tirelessly to increase the level of the vaccine rollout, as well as testing to try and avoid any delay. This was never going to be simple but the key point to remember is that the chance of getting seriously ill with coronavirus when you have had the jab is extremely low. Therefore, if you are called up – please do not hesitate in booking your vaccine. I have had mine now and am very much looking forward to receiving my second dose very soon indeed. I hope everyone has enjoyed getting out and about a bit more and that all the businesses have enjoyed a successful first couple of weeks – we are well and truly getting there.
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wellsvoice
June 2021
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n NEWS
Surge in fly-tipping during pandemic By Daniel Mumby
Local Democracy Reporter FLY-TIPPING incidents in the Mendip area have increased by more than 40 per cent compared to when the first national lockdown started. New statistics released by Mendip District Council show an alarming rise in the number of fly-tipping incidents being recorded since the coronavirus pandemic took hold in early 2020. There has been an especially sharp rise in the amount of black bin waste being dumped and in large-scale fly-tips where multiple tonnes of waste are deposited in one place. The council has called on residents to help it bring perpetrators to justice and issued advice about waste disposal for both residents and local companies. There were a total of 169 recorded incidents of fly-tipping in March 2021. This includes large-scale “special clearances” in particularly problematic areas such as Gypsy Lane in Frome, where every tonne collected is counted as a separate incident. In March 2020 there were 119 recorded incidents – marking a rise of 42 per cent since the pandemic began. The vast majority of the flytips were on highways, with only a handful being left on councilowned land. The largest single component of fly-tipping is black bins bags filled with household waste, with the number of incidents rising from 19 to 48 – a jump of more than 150 per cent. Fly-tips involving ‘other household waste’ also rose from 53 incidents to 60 incidents – a rise of 13 per cent. The amount of construction
There has been a sharp rise in fly-tipping in the Mendip area Pictures: Mendip District Council
waste being dumped has also more than doubled, with 14 incidents being recorded in March 2021 compared to only six incidents in March 2020. Some types of waste were flytipped less than in the previous year – such as tyres, garden waste and white goods. However, the number of special clearances jumped from just three in March 2020 to 25 in March 2021 – a spike of more than 700 per cent. The council said it was keeping its enforcement policies under regular review and asked the community to help its officer catch fly-tippers. A spokesman said: “Flytipping is an environmental crime and we will take enforcement action wherever possible, as we don’t want to just clean-up after the criminals – we want to catch them too. “Communities have an important role in this, and we would urge them to play their part and help us. “If residents spot a fly-tipping incident, please report it to us as soon as possible – call our customer service team on 0300 303 8588 or visit www.mendip. gov.uk/streetclean.” The council has also issued
Local interest in Lake Poets book STUART Andrews, honorary librarian of Wells & Mendip Museum, has written a new book: The Lake Poets in Prose: Connecting Threads. In spite of the title, it contains much of local interest as the socalled Lake Poets – Wordsworth, Coleridge and Southey – had established their reputations as
Somerset poets before they left for the Lake District. The book focuses on their prose, particularly in the case of Coleridge and Southey who relied on their journalism for income, while Wordsworth was moved to write a long pamphlet attacking British government conduct of the Peninsular War.
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advice for residents and businesses seeking to dispose of waste, to ensure they do not get fined for using unauthorised contractors. The spokesman added: “If you have waste that needs to be disposed of, please choose a registered waste carrier. “Don’t be tempted by ‘cash in hand’ deals, cold callers or
‘white van man’ offers. You could be fined up to £5,000 if your rubbish goes on to be fly-tipped without your knowledge. “Ask to see a copy of the company’s waste carrier registration certificate, and ask where your waste is being taken. Ensure you have an official receipt and take note of the registration number of the vehicle taking your waste away, along with the waste carriers licence number. “You can check whether your waste carrier is registered by calling the Environment Agency on 08708 506506 or visit www. environment.data.gov.uk/ public-register/view/searchwaste-carriers-brokers to check instantly online. “Fly-tippers don’t care about the environment or communities – but residents do, and so do we – that’s why working together is the smartest way to tackle the tippers.”
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wellsvoice
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June 2021
n AROUND THE SOCIETIES WELLS U3A WEDNESDAY, June 2, is a big day for all u3a organisations (University of the Third Age) throughout the country to make people aware of the organisation and the fact it is an organisation for all, where people can get together with like-minded people and share ideas, and most importantly, make new friends. Wells u3a will have a stall in the market where the general public can come and chat to discover what is available to join in Wells. Also to enjoy a free cupcake and purchase for only £5 a recipe book compiled and illustrated by our members, the idea of Liz Lee and assisted by Norman Hodghton. It is titled ‘Recipes Tried and True’ as all the recipes are tried, tested and loved by each of the contributors. As lockdown eases more groups are able to meet up again in person such as cycling and walking, but groups requiring halls and meeting rooms are waiting until July when these places are able to welcome people inside again. Plans are going ahead for the Garden Visits group and the Out and About Group for the summer months when the locations open up again to welcome visitors. Meanwhile 14 groups are continuing to meet on Zoom including our new group Life Sciences. This group evolved from the Cosmology group and hope to explore ideas generally in the area of biology, chemistry, and the physics of cells. Their first meeting started off with a presentation on the immune system to be followed up with viruses and vaccination, being most topical in this present time. Art Appreciation have continued with some interesting studies of Turner’s Harbour of Dieppe and the following month a study of Constable’s The White Horse and are looking forward to Holbein’s Sir Thomas Moore, all on Zoom before meeting in person in a hall in town in the summer. The monthly talks that welcome all members have also continued via the internet with Mirthy Talks. In June we are looking forward to a talk by Jenny Brown, A Journey Through Namibia, which will also be online. We hope to return to meeting in person in the museum in September with a live speaker.
Liz Lee with a copy of the u3a cookery book Local History group had a fascinating talk in April by Ian Keyes who is an experienced researcher and speaker and is an expert on the historic mills of Shepton Mallet. Wells u3a are still looking for people willing to lead groups, some of which are established and others to start a new group. Spanish and German would be a very useful addition to all the other groups we have on offer. Established groups that need a new leader are: Wild Flower walks, Painting, mixed media and Singing for Pleasure. Please get in touch if you are able to help via our website www. u3asites.org.uk/wells/home Ann Brown WELLS & DISTRICT GARDENING CLUB LAST year a robin nested in my garden shed – a common enough occurrence and replicated in countless forms and places every springtime. Each garden, so they say, has its very own robin and each garden has its own robin story. Whether you are grubbing around or out for a walk it is a bird that seems to stop you short and command attention. Leafing through an old Victorian set of bird books by the Rev F O Morris published in 1860, I came across anecdotes and reports on robins sent in to Morris by his friends and fellow naturalists from which the following are drawn. Mr Jesse gives an account of a robin building its nest in a myrtle bush which had its place in the front hall of a large house in Hampshire. This did not prove popular among the residents and instructions were given for its removal. Undeterred, the bird eyed up a cornice in the drawing room and started building there, thus bringing more disapproval and objection. Again the
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offending nest was disposed of. Even for a third time this pair were not going to be easily thwarted and soon discovered a brand new gentleman’s shoe on a shelf in the same room. Here nest construction was permitted to continue, until of course the shoe would be required for use when the nest was carefully transposed to an old shoe lined with oak leaves and placed in position. Truce was declared, harmony restored, windows left ajar, eggs hatched and young raised. The old domesticated birds became very friendly with the owners. The same correspondent gives an account of a friend in Surrey in 1850 who was due to relocate to Worthing. A waggon was loaded but since there was a delay in departure it was housed in an open barn. While it was there, a pair of robins nested in the straw and hatched their eggs just at the moment when the removal began towards the south coast. As the waggon trundled down the highways, one robin stuck tight to the brood and belted off into the hedgerows and back to the nest to feed the hungry mouths. And back again home as the driver took care not to disturb this welfare, a distance of over 100 miles. Now a bit of history. William IV had part of the mizzen mast from the Victory standing in his garden when he lived in Bushy Park in London. As history this bit of timber was significant, enhanced by the story that Nelson himself was standing next to it when mortally wounded. Added to this is the hole left by a shot passing straight through the mast. Finally as a fly on extra in the drama along comes a robin and builds a nest and rears its young in the middle of Nelson’s mizzen mast. Eventually the mast was
An illustration of a robin taken from Morris’ A History of British Birds published in 1860
brought indoors and ended up in the Armoury at Windsor Castle. A modern postscript to this anecdote is a very recent report that this mast is now on display at HMS Victory, Portsmouth. All this underlines the fact that gardens are now open and the gardening club will be starting to visit local ones and each others’. Pip Harwood WELLS WI WE are beginning to make tentative plans to return to real meetings at Wells Museum later this summer. The walking netball players are looking forward to returning to the proper facilities of an indoor sports hall, rather than attracting attention playing in the park. One of the book groups has grown so big it may be necessary to divide it into two smaller groups. Members were reminded to let the membership secretary know of any changes to personal details so she can ensure information held on the national database is correct and members get their monthly magazines. The main event in May was the welcome return of Frances Carlaw, aka The Pearl Lady. Bewitched by her grandmother’s pearls as a child, Frances has travelled the world in pursuit of her passion, buying pearls that she strings in traditional fashion on knotted silk, a skill she used to teach at Denman, the WI college. She told us pearls can be divided into three categories: Simulated, which are really glass beads with a pearly varnish (very smooth – real pearls feel a bit grittier when held against your teeth). They were very popular with the post-war twinset and pearl brigades, when trade with pearl-producing countries in Asia was difficult. Now most are made in Majorca and Jersey. Real, or natural, pearls are formed inside the bodies of mussels and oysters in seas and rivers, mainly in South Seas of China, Japan, Tahiti, Australia and New Zealand. Only 1 in 10,000 oysters will contain a pearl, and the chances of finding it are 1 in 2 million. As Frances said, considering how a whole shipwreck can be lost on the ocean bed, the chances of finding a small pearl are remote.
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June 2021
n AROUND THE SOCIETIES
Holly Collings and Anne Minns from the Wells Amnesty International Group talk to former prisoner Ali Aarrass on a live linkup on May 15. The Wells group had campaigned for the release of Ali for eight years after he was imprisoned in Morocco, where he says he was tortured. He was released early in 2020, and lives in Belgium. For information on the Wells Amnesty Group email jjrendel@yahoo.com or call 01749 345355. Accordingly, they are more valuable than diamonds. The Japanese Mr Mikimoto pioneered the science of culturing pearls in the late 19th century. Contrary to popular belief, pearls are not formed by a grain of sand in the oyster. Instead, they form as a result of an oyster’s self-defence mechanism when they react to the invasion of a parasitic worm by enclosing it in layers of bodily material that then calcify to form the pearl’s characteristic nacre, made of the same substance that gives crystal its sparkle. We saw photos of pearl farmers stimulating the natural process by inserting tiny beads into molluscs – they only have a 30 second window in which to do this without causing harm. We learned that perfume and hairspray wreck the lustre of real pearls, so scent should be applied behind the ears, and that we should wear them regularly, so they are polished by our skin oils. New women are always welcome and can attend as guests before deciding to join. More details are on our Facebook page https://www.facebook. com/Wellssomersetwi/ Veronica Howe MID SOMERSET OXFAM GROUP THE Six of the Best Quizzes run by the Mid Somerset Oxfam Group (MSOG) have
wellsvoice n WHAT’S ON
come to a cliff-hanging result, with our three winners being within one point of each other. Congratulations to joint firsts David Cloke and Tim Williams and third Lynne Morgan, and to all of our contestants for their willingness to keep going and to accept the judges’ decisions as final. The quiz took £420 and with a very generous additional donation raised £470 for Oxfam. Following the wild success of the Six of the Best Quizzes, MSOG is now offering a second raft of fun diversions. This time we’re calling it The Famous Five – five quizzes, with the same format. And the quizzes will be just as enjoyable. Starting at the end of June 2021, MSOG will email a quiz to all paid-up contenders, then four more at monthly intervals. MSOG will ask participants to contribute £10 for the privilege of taking part and will then set aside 20 per cent of the total contributions for the 1st, 2nd and 3rd prizes when the quiz comes to an end in early November. For information and instructions about how to enter Oxfam’s Famous Five Quizzes, head to MSOG’s website www. midsomersetoxfam.co.uk. The idea of raising funds in this way has come about because the Covid-19 pandemic and its resulting restrictions have trashed MSOG’s calendar. The group has had to cancel street collections in Frome, Street and Wells, quiz nights at The Britannia Inn in Wells, its annual carol singing, and its flagship event, the One World Fair in October 2020. Much else besides. Thousands of pounds normally transferred to Oxfam GB have been lost because of these necessary cancellations. The Famous Five Quizzes will never come near to filling this fundraising hole, but it is the best we can do for the present. Like all charities in these trying times, Oxfam is desperately trying to fill large fundraising gaps in order to fulfil its overseas programmes. Oxfam works in Yemen, Syria, Ethiopia, South Sudan and over 70 other countries that are having to contend with food shortages, poor water supplies, health crises and – of course – Covid-19. MSOG recognises its responsibilities. And we thank everyone who supports Oxfam and all humanitarian charities. Jenny Williams
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35
Creativity and well-being will come together at The Bishop’s Palace
Photography with a difference at Palace FOUR Mindful Photography sessions will take place at The Bishop’s Palace in June. Accredited Mindfulness Meditation teacher and Natural Mindfulness guide Alison Sackett will provide an introduction to the basic concepts of mindfulness, and offer support in the exploration of creativity. Those attending should gain some new ideas and tools with which to improve their own well-being. A device on which to take photos is required, though no fancy equipment is necessary, in fact the simpler the camera or phone camera, the better. Sessions will run on Friday, June 11 and 25, and Sunday, June 20 and 27, from 10.30am12.30pm. Each session costs £30 per person. More at www. bishopspalace.org.uk n The Garden Festival will return to The Bishop’s Palace this year from July 2-4, with stalls, speakers, music and more. Tickets are £12.50 adult and £6.50 child.
The Somerset-based Bluebirds Theatre Company will introduce the audience to all the weird and wonderful characters from The Ring Cycle with a mix of opera and pop, and a heavy dose of comedy. This outdoor show is intended to appeal to all ages and is performed from The Bluebirds’ own theatre stage on wheels, The Popera House. The story features the love story of Siegfried and Brunhilde and their epic quests. Along with full-size performers, there will be a fair few pint-size ones as The Bluebirds bring their puppets onto The Popera House stage. Due to Covid restrictions ticket numbers are limited and in advance only from www.takeart. org/whats-on
Artist Stewart Geddes
Solo art exhibition A SOLO exhibition by Bristolbased artist Stewart Geddes will take place at the Andelli Art gallery in South Horrington from June 26 to July 11. Stewart’s second exhibition with the gallery will feature paintings created over the last 15 months in what is described as his expressive, energetic and vibrant style. The gallery in Upper Breach is open Wednesday-Sunday, 10am-5pm.
th Tai Chi Heal
The Reduced Ring Cycle will be performed from The Popera House
Concise Ring Cycle THE Reduced Ring Cycle is coming to Croscombe Playing Field on Saturday, June 26, at 7pm in an imaginative reworking of Wagner’s entire Ring Cycle in just an hour and a quarter.
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36
June 2021
n SPORT
The Wells City Ladies squad with club officials and sponsors
Wells Ladies unbeaten on way to title FOOTBALL WELLS City Ladies restarted last July with Tracey Hartnett as the manager, Julian Coppell as the coach, Steve Vowles as the team’s physio, and Emily Brown as the captain. Playing in Division 3 of the Somerset County Women’s League, their first match was
in September 2020, which they won, and going into lockdown in November they were at the halfway mark with five wins out of five. The league resumed in April this year and they won three more matches, making it eight wins out of eight. They then drew the last match on Sunday, May 2, against Cheddar Ladies 2-2, making them undefeated
champions and winners of the division. Wells City Ladies play their home matches on the main pitch at Wells football club, and Tracey said: “Everyone at the club has made the new team feel really welcome and we would like to thank the club’s chairman Steve Loxton. We would also like to thank our kit sponsors
Georgie Robbins and Kate Ford at Daniels Cafe & Sandwich Bar, Wendy at Wendy’s Hair & Beauty and Matt Hartnett at Go Fudge Yourself.” Training is on Tuesday nights from 6pm-7.30pm at the football club at Rowdens Road. All ladies over 16 are welcome. Telephone Tracey on 07898 751243 for more details.
Three golfers achieve hole-in-one in three days at Wells GOLF
Chris Strickland
Bill McCollum
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THREE golfers achieved hole-inones in three days at Wells Golf Club in April. First, Chris Strickland aced hole 10, and two days later Bill McCollum managed a hole-inone on hole 5 and Cliff Hopkins a hole-in-one also on hole 10. It has been a successful return to golf at the club, with many new members and visitors playing plenty of golf. A new ‘Get into Golf’ initiative to make golf more accessible to ladies and girls got underway with 23 ladies given free coaching and enjoying a glass of fizz.
Cliff Hopkins
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wellsvoice
June 2021
37
n SPORT
Juniors back in numbers CRICKET WELLS Cricket Club juniors are back bigger and better than ever. Despite the rain trying its best to interrupt play, the club has managed to start its most comprehensive summer programme for many years. The return of Girls cricket to Wells CC has been fantastic with a team entering soft ball competitions in the next few weeks. The U9 and U11 squads have welcomed a lot of newcomers with some already making their debut in Sunday morning fixtures.
The U13 squad have chalked up some wins in their league with a stand-out team performance in the cup v Bridgwater CC progressing them through to the next round vs Broadway & Horton. The U15s, U17s and U19s have yet to start fixtures due to the weather, but some have made their 2nd XI debut in the senior league with great success. Training sessions and fixtures will run throughout the summer term and new members are being accepted. Contact wellscricketclub@hotmail.com to get involved.
New club chair as play resumes TENNIS PLAYERS are returning to social tennis with the prospect of competition later this season at Wells Tennis Club. New club chair, Colin Blatchford-Brown welcomed the prospect of a busy and vibrant season with many new members who have stayed with the club during a year of closures. “I started playing tennis at Wells a few years ago now, starting out with the Rusty Rackets coaching sessions. Wells Tennis Club is a very friendly club, and it is my pleasure to help out in the role as Chair this year,” he said. “It’s an exciting time now we are back playing tennis, with a growing membership, plenty of coaching opportunities for adults and juniors of all standard with our professional coach Kevin Durney, as well as social sessions and planned tournaments for
Coach Kevin Durney with junior Mark Preston this summer. If you’ve been thinking about getting involved or just want to give it a try, get in touch with our friendly team. Take a look at our website and our Facebook page.” Wells Junior Mark Preston represented Somerset in the under-14s inter-county competition on Sunday, May 2. Playing in the second position he won a singles rubber and narrowly missed out on a second in a tie-break. In doubles with partner Harrison Ingham-Cooke they won the rubber in a close match tie-break.
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Cup winner finally crowned AT long last the final of the Harry Bowles Cup, the Mendip Golf Club Seniors’ main KO Cup, took place, having been held over from 2020. This saw a win for John Ellis who despite being 5 down with 7 to play, kept his nerve and finally beat Norman Squire on the 18th green. 134 men competed for the Jock Callaghan Trophy. Division 3 went to Sam Wells with a net 69. Division 2 was won by Michael Rokitowski with a net 72. Division 1 went to Tom Beck with a net 70. The overall cup
winner was Neil Onslow, playing off 6 who scored a fine net 69. 20 pairs of Ladies played in the Coronation Foursomes event. The winning pair were Margaret Allen and Margaret Hawker with 31 points. Mendip held its first Open event of the season, a 3-person men’s bowmaker. Blessed with a very welcome sunny day, 99 competitors took part with over two-thirds of the field visitors. First prize for the Visitors went to a team from Cricket St Thomas with 75 points. 1st Members prize with 72 points went to Martin Myers/Andy Parfitt/Ian Stolworthy.
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Wells Stars with coach Henry Hunt after their win against North Petherton
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38
June 2021
n TAKE A BREAK
Each row, column and square (9 spaces each) needs to be filled out with the numbers 1-9, without repeating any numbers within the row, column or square.
For younger readers
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info@bubbles-and-suds.co.uk www.bubbles-and-suds.co.uk
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01458 258188
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Window Cleaning Conservatory Cleaning Fascia & Soffit Cleaning Gutter Clearance Solar Panel Cleaning
WANTED
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Theme: Sport
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© www.ActivityVillage.co.uk - Keeping Kids Busy
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How many words of 3 letters or more can you find using the letters below? Words are formed from adjoining letters. Letters must join in the proper sequence to spell a word and may join horizontally, vertically, or diagonally, to the left, right, or up-and-down. No letter square, however, may be used more than once within a single word. You may use plurals if available. Score 1 point for each 3 letter word, 2 points for 4 letter words, 3 points for 5 letter words and so on. Score an extra 2 points for every fBritish wildlife themed word that you make!
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9 5 3
British Wildlife Boggler Puzzle
10
The FIEND
All Old / Vintage Fishing Tackle Reels, Rods, Cased Fish, Angling Books Collector pays cash. Will collect
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June 2021
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