Wells Voice November 2022

Music night raises £2k for skatepark project

A SPECIAL concert at Cedars Hall in October with Jack Bessant, one of the founding members of rock band Reef, has raised thousands of pounds for Wells Skatepark.

Jack Bessant and The Cheddar Experiment Band, including Julian Bath (K-Passa), Damon Reece (Massive Attack, Spiritualised), Oli Lee, Blues legend Spex, Betsy Beard and Vince treated the audience to their mix of rock, country and chilled out surfy blues, with a mesmerising support from Betsy Beard. There was a good turnout with more than 200 tickets sold and £2,000 raised.

“We were really excited to see so much support for the project, the turnout was fantastic and the band made it a really special night,” said Adrian Smith, a Wells Skatepark Community Group Trustee.

Young skaters were collecting change on the night and raised more than £90.

Cash help hope as carnival returns

Bloom winners receive awards

day’ at food festival

Loving memories

wellsvoice

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Christmas fancy dress parade

WELLS Rotary Club is organising a Christmas Parade in December that will feature Father Christmas being ridden around in the city’s new trishaw.

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The annual Reindeer Parade was a highlight of the festive calendar, but now that the reindeer can no longer travel to Wells, the Rotary Club is innovating with a new style of parade, which will mainly comprise of children in fancy dress.

Djembe drummers will be playing at the Bandstand before the parade sets off from the Recreation Ground at 10.30am on Sunday, December 18, led

by more musicians, heading alongside the Moat and through the Bishop’s Eye to the Market Place. Father Christmas will be in the procession, seated in the trishaw, and Mayor and Mayoress Stewart and June Cursley will judge the fancy dress entries before awarding prizes.

There will be stalls in the Market Place, music from the Pop Rock Pub Contemporary Choir, the Grey Dogs Jazz Band and ZZ Birmingham band, circus performers from Wookey Hole and a solo act from Flying Seagulls.

As always, there will also be plenty of mistletoe for sale.

DECEMBER DEADLINE

To ensure your news or letter is included in the December issue please contact us by November 9.

COMPLAINTS

Despite our best efforts, we sometimes get things wrong. We always try to resolve issues informally at first but we also have a formal complaints procedure. If you have a complaint about anything in Wells Voice, contact the Editor using the details above. We aspire to follow the Code of Conduct of the NUJ (National Union of Journalists), which holds journalists to a high standard of behaviour. Further details of the complaints process can be found on the Wells Voice website, or can be obtained by contacting the Editor.

PUBLISHER’S NOTE: Wells Voice is independent. We cannot take responsibility for content or accuracy of adverts, and it is advertisers’ responsibility to conform to all relevant legislation. We cannot vouch for any services offered. Opinions are not necessarily those of the editor. Wells Voice is distributed each month to residents. Feedback is always welcomed – email news@wellsvoice.co.uk. This month 7,100 copies will be distributed around Wells and surrounding villages.

Garden goes silent for hour a day

THE Bishop’s Palace’s ‘Quiet Garden’ has become a Silent Space for the last hour of each day, when visitors are being encouraged to enjoy the peace and quiet and the calming effect it can have.

The initiative was originally piloted in 2016 by the Silent Space charity, which encourages parks and gardens open to the public to reserve an area for silent reflection. There are now almost 70 gardens in the UK running a silent space.

Community Engagement Manager at The Bishop’s Palace,

Siobhan Goodwin, said: “We are proud to be joining Silent Space, a registered charity that encourages gardens open to the public to set aside a quiet place for people to enjoy the restorative benefits of connecting with nature.

“For the last hour of each day we are encouraging our visitors to turn off their phones, put down their cameras and enjoy the benefits of silence. Our Quiet Garden seemed the obvious location and this new initiative started on October 10 – World Mental Health Day.”

New call for unwanted jewellery

THE banners and boards are up outside Yeovil Hospital announcing that the new Breast Cancer Unit is coming soon. The fundraising total for it now stands at £2,203,667, but just under £300,000 still needs to be found to reach the target of £2.5 million.

Once more the Yeovil Hospital Charity is reaching out to the Wells community

which has been so supportive of this appeal. It is still collecting unwanted and broken jewellery and watches which so far has raised more than £100,000, and the charity would like to keep this going to raise the final monies of the target. Anyone who is able to donate is asked to contact Jane, Breast Cancer Unit Appeal supporter, on 07879 697037.

Email: sales@wellsvoice.co.uk

The Quiet Garden at The Bishop’s Palace, Wells

By Philip Welch

CARNIVAL’S spectacular sights and sounds were stilled by Covid for two years.

But they will be back filling Wells city centre on Friday, November 18, and one of the highlights will be the special Bridgwater Carnival Jubilee cart that wowed crowds at June’s Pageant in London.

“It will be so good to be back,” said Wells Carnival President Maurice Day.

“We can promise you a great show and ask people to still bring cash for your donations.”

All the local carnival clubs will be there but the overall number of entries will be 74 rather than the pre-Covid 100 as some clubs from other parts of Somerset have closed.

During the pandemic they were not able to fundraise and meanwhile costs have risen.

Here are examples of some of the annual costs of Wells Carnival for 2022:

n Insurance £1,700 n Road closures £1,400 (paid by carnival for this first time this year)

n A bill from the police is also expected for the first time this year n Renting halls and feeding judges and stewards £500/£600 n Barriers £800 n Radios £750

“To help cover rising costs the programme will now be £2,” said Maurice. “Please buy one.

“We are very grateful to our sponsors and supporters like Unwins Funeral Directors and

The Bridgwater Carnival Jubilee cart in Trafalgar Square, top; Maurice Day (right) with Derek Cooper at Wells Carnival; and the QR code that can be scanned to be taken to a page for making donations to the carnival

Tuckers Fish & Chips but we need more.

“If you are interested in becoming one of our sponsors please email me at m.day455@ btinternet.com or phone me on 07383 978470.”

A QR code has been created to make it easy for people to donate as well. Scan the QR code on the left to be taken to a web page for donations to Wells City Carnival.

A website has also been set up at www.wellscitycarnival.co.uk which will be updated with news relevant to the city’s procession, and should include a diagram of the route nearer the event.

One thing that worries the five-strong committee behind Wells Carnival is that recent arrivals in Wells may not know to keep parked cars off the carnival route and, in Maurice’s words, “will try to drive through carnival to Tesco for a pint of milk”.

Sadly two great carnival characters will not be here to share the spectacle on November 18. Freeman of Wells and carnival secretary Nancy Dodd and Martin Coppell, chief marshal for 20 years, have passed away.

Wells in Bloom winners collect awards

MORE than 80 people gathered in Wells Town Hall on October 14 for the Wells in Bloom Presentation Evening. Dozens of awards were

handed out to businesses and individuals in what was a highclass competition, with entrants praised for the standard of their gardens, allotments and business

premises in an especially challenging year because of the hot, dry weather.

The competition was back in 2022 for the first time in three years after being halted by the pandemic. This year’s awards were organised by Councillor Denise Denis, and the certificates and trophies were handed out by Mayor of Wells Councillor Stewart Cursley.

This offer cannot be extended beyond 30th November 2022

The charity will offer vouchers to help with neutering costs of cats whose owners are on low income or income support. We are repeating the special price we offered in our last campaign. Owners will pay £5.00 per cat and the charity will pay the balance and also microchip your cat for free. Offer open to residents in Glastonbury, Wells, Street, Cheddar and Shepton Mallet and surrounding areas. Contact a volunteer for your voucher: Julia on 07833 634087 Emma on 07717 837040 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.

He said in his closing address: “Well what an evening, with a fantastic range of gardens and inspiration. Hopefully a lot of people who are here tonight will be inspired to enter the competition again next year.”

For the first time there was

AWARD WINNERS

Commercial Gold: The Lawrence Centre; Silver Gilt: Fletcher Garden Club; Silver: The City Arms; The Globe; Bronze: The Quarter Jack; Wells Health Centre; The Crown.

Front Garden

Gold: Jean & Bill Mackay, The Liberty; Silver Gilt: Jennie Turner, Portway; Silver: Steve & Josie Wood, Welsford Avenue; Bronze: Theresa Perkins, Henderson Place.

Patio

Gold: Christina Costello, The Forge; Silver Gilt: Colin Westley, Bath Mews; Silver: Janet Ravenscroft, Tor Street; Bronze:

an award for Wildlife Friendly Garden, and that went to Patricia Parfitt. The judges said in their comments about her garden: “The ‘stand out’ feature of this garden was its sustainability and wildlife friendly nature. Every corner encouraged wildlife in some form; the pond had newts, there were bug hotels, baths and tables to encourage birds as well as a homemade hedgehog run. There were areas of ‘no mow’ and there was good evidence of companion planting to support beneficial organisms.”

Certificates of the winners who were not at the presentation ceremony can be collected from the Town Hall.

April Bennett, Portway; Barbara Buckley, St Andrews Mews.

Back Garden

Gold: Jean Fairburn, Chamberlain Street; Silver Gilt: Steve & Josie Wood, Welsford Avenue; Silver: Jennie Turner, Portway; Bronze: Sheena Loveday, St Thomas Street; Patricia Parfitt, Mary Road; Lesley Frey, Mountery Close; Mr & Mrs King, Kennion Road; Jo Brown, South Street.

Allotments

Burcott Road: Gold overall: Helena Grant; Barnes Road: Gold overall: Diana Keane; Bishop’s Palace: Gold overall: Michael Bauer.

Some of the winners with their trophies and certificates at the Wells in Bloom Awards ceremony in Wells Town Hall

Sweet shop perfect venue for book launch

WELLS couple Thomas and Rebecca Moore have published a new children’s book.

The Garden of Sweets was launched in October with an activities morning at Wells Library, and readings at Ye Olde Sweet Shoppe in Wells, when they dressed as characters from the book.

It is the second in the Secret Slide series of picture books for two to ten-year-olds that follow the adventures of Noah, Max and Tabby – named after their three children – through different worlds that they can only get to by sliding down the secret slide.

Thomas, who is a herdsman when he isn’t writing, comes up with the stories, and Rebecca is the illustrator.

“We try to incorporate myth and legend as well as history into our books, to keep these legends alive,” said Thomas.

“Since our last release we

Rebecca, left, and Thomas Moore in Ye Olde Sweet Shoppe with Rebecca’s sister Mandi Slight. They are dressed as Queen BonBon, Captain Redbeard and Moon Witch, characters that appear in The Garden of Sweets

have been heavily touring schools and festivals, taking part in wellbeing weeks and doing many classroom visits as well as assemblies.

“Our school visits and wellbeing appearances are totally free because this is our passion and storytelling should be readily available to everyone.

“We were at Ye Olde Sweet Shoppe in Wells on our launch day because who doesn’t love a sweet shop, and we try to support local businesses as much as possible in our adventures.”

In the first book, The Secret Slide, the children find the entrance to a secret world, and are thrown headfirst into an adventure that will help save the dreams of all children.

In The Garden of Sweets, they take a second trip down the secret slide to a world of chocolates and candy, but they soon notice something is missing – the sweets.

There is more information about Thomas and Rebecca and their books on the website thesecretslide.co.uk, including details of a poetry competition that invites children to write a poem about their favourite sweets. The winner will get a signed copy of the new book. The closing date is November 30.

Charities take chance to explain their work

Mid Somerset Oxfam Group Chair Jenny Williams reports on The One World Fair that took place recently in Wells Town Hall

THE One World Fair, organised by Mid Somerset Oxfam Group (MSOG), returned to Wells for another successful year on October 8.

The One World Fair showcased local and national charities which shared the common theme of working for a fairer and better world for everyone.

The more than 30 charities that took a stall and spent a busy day talking with the crowds of visitors to the Fair included, to mention just a few, Amnesty

International, Brain Tumour Research, Bristol Refugee rights, CAFOD, Christian Aid, Elim Connect Centre, Healthwatch Somerset, Mendip Trades Union

Council, Mothers Union, Shared Interest, Sustainable Wells and Wells Labour Party.

Some charities were raising funds, and others were informing and enthusing visitors with their projects and causes. As one visitor said: “I didn’t consider myself to be narrow minded, but talking with all these organisations about the amazing work that they do has certainly made me think more deeply about the wider world.”

Everyone was happy to be back again after the inevitable two-year gap, and there was a constant happy buzz of activity as visitors moved around the stalls, and stopped off for tea and cake or some of the Oxfam

Diner’s delicious home-made lunches.

The Mid Somerset Oxfam Group organises a number of fundraising activities during the year, including Pub Quizzes, Sponsored Walks, Book Sales and Street Collections; it will also respond quickly when emergencies befall other nations, for example when they held a snap street collection that raised £700 for the DEC Pakistan Appeal.

The One World Fair raised just over £1,200; it will all go to Oxfam, with £500 earmarked for the DEC Pakistan Appeal. MSOG is deeply grateful for the generosity of their stall holders, supporters and visitors.

Wells Cathedral Choir are pictured beneath Luke Jerram’s Gaia artwork, which is on display in the Nave of the Cathedral until November 10. The internallyilluminated, slowly spinning representation of the Earth measures seven metres in diameter and features detailed NASA imagery of the Earth’s surface. Wells Cathedral has organised a Stewards of the Earth project centred around the artwork that seeks to encourage visitors to reflect on the planet, environmentalism and climate change, and will feature stalls and displays, Tuesday evening talks, and half-term felting workshops for children.

The One World Fair showcased local and national charities

Concert boost for skatepark

From page 1

Wells Skatepark Community Group has said a big thank you to Jack and the band for their time and support, Tom Ronan for organising the event and Cedars Hall who were very generous in their support.

Thanks was also offered to Wells Skatepark Community Group Trustee Will Punter for capturing some great photographs of the evening.

Wells City Council continues to consider three possible sites for the skatepark’s permanent home which includes the current site, the Recreation Ground and land by the leisure centre.

People who would like to stay up to date with the latest news, help to fundraise or support the project in other ways can get in touch by emailing wellsskatepark@gmail. com or following the group on Instagram @wells_skatepark

Helpline needs more support

THE Wells Community Network

Helpline that has been a huge help to many people in the area in the past two and a half years is urgently seeking more volunteer co-ordinators or it may have to close. The service was set up when the Covid pandemic started and is still used by some the most vulnerable people in the community. The Helpline assists with booking appointments and transport for vaccinations, and making pharmacy and shopping deliveries.

More volunteer co-ordinators are now needed to pass on phone requests to other WCN members and deal with any problems that might arise. If interested, email wcncoregroup@gmail.com or call 01749 467079.

u Conference report, page 13

Jack Bessant with young skaters, top, and on stage

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New chapter opens in Goodfellows story

By Emma James

FOR those of you who have been lamenting the closure of Goodfellows restaurant in Sadler Street, never fear! This acclaimed Wells eatery has been re-born and is already welcoming customers old and new at its latest location, 7B St Thomas Street.

Owners Adam and Martine Fellows have been planning their new venture for a long time and knew their next step would be to open a cookery school offering courses and demonstrations. However, the stunning venue can also seat 20 and Adam is keen to assert that, above all, 7B is a restaurant.

Fully booked for the launch on October 7, customers were able to appreciate the familiar Goodfellows style with trademark open kitchen in a beautiful new setting.

“We are open for lunch and

dinner on Thursday, Friday and Saturday,” explains Adam. He and Martine are joined by Renaud Lecerf, front of house,

and Elliot Cullen in the kitchen.

During the lockdowns, Adam and his team started offering take-away lunches on Sunday. This move proved a great success and continued after the lockdowns were lifted. Goodfellows@7B will carry on this service due to popular demand.

Adam says: “We were forced into doing take-aways because of Covid. We would have gone under if we hadn’t done it. Sometimes we were catering for 120 people and I loved it. But I must confess, when we were able to open again, it was a great feeling being able to put things on a plate. I just love service and the interaction that it brings.”

Adam has two cookery demonstrations planned before the end of the year for up to 16 people: ‘Autumn Flavours’ and ‘Christmas Cheats’. Participants will be welcomed with a glass of wine and will be able to enjoy

a two-course demonstration followed by a three-course dinner.

Delighted with his new kitchen which was designed by Spillers, Adam explains that there are four work stations. “People coming on the cookery courses arrive at 10am. We’ll have a coffee and a chat and then get to work. They can invite a friend or partner to lunch and will be able to take home some of the food from the day. I want to be flexible so I’m happy to tailor-make a course for a group of friends.”

After 18 years in Sadler Street, Adam says the first few weeks after leaving were very strange. At the moment there is a lot to do at 7B: “Once there is a bit of rhythm and things settle down a bit, we are hoping for a better work-life balance.” But there is certainly no reduction in Adam Fellows’ enthusiasm for food and cooking.

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An inflated Puffer fish

Adam Fellows at 7B St Thomas Street, which is both a cookery school and a restaurant

Restaurant dream turned into reality

By Emma James

HEAD Chef Rob Howell’s dream of opening a restaurant in his home town of Wells is to become a reality.

Currently based at Root in Bristol, Rob’s hardworking and loyal team has ensured that the restaurant continues to be popular and busy.

Consequently, owners Josh Eggleton and Luke Hasell feel the time is right to open a second Root and have found the perfect premises in Sadler Street, which was previously the location for Ensemble restaurant, and before that The Old Spot. They say: “The site has been home to some great restaurants before us and we feel incredibly fortunate to be in such a fantastic location in the heart of the city, with views of the Cathedral. We feel a great weight of responsibility to get this right and offer something special in Wells.”

This handsome young man is MILO, a two-year-old ginger and white male who is looking for his new forever home. Milo has a very sweet, dopey personality and will never fail to make you smile. He’s playful, friendly and just loves company. He’ll be your little shadow! He does have quite a sensitive stomach and is on a special diet to help with this, but he doesn’t let this slow him down and he uses his litter trays perfectly. He absolutely loves his food and is always very eager at dinner time! He would be best suited as an only pet in a home that’s away from any busy or main roads, with lots of green space for him to explore and play in. He would be fine with older, respectful children. If you think yours might be the perfect home for this special boy, please visit the Glastonbury and Wells Cats Protection branch website and fill out an application for him, or contact Nikita on 07867 140339 or at nikita@straymoggie. co.uk for more information.

With Rob and his wife and manager Meg at the helm, the new restaurant – which it is hoped will be open in a few weeks’ time – will celebrate Somerset’s finest produce sourced from the surrounding farms, market gardens and dairies.

Rob explains that his team’s aspiration is “to create a welcoming, comfortable and relaxed environment”.

A frequently changing menu will offer a good selection of small sharing dishes, with a strong emphasis on seasonal ingredients. A few meat and fish options will appear on the menu, also being sourced sustainably from Somerset and the South West.

Born and bred in the city and a student of Wells Blue School, Rob began his career at the age of 13 in The Cloisters cafe, later working for Adam and Martine Fellows at Goodfellows where he

became skilled in pastry, bread and seafood.

After more than 15 years’ experience working abroad and across the country, Rob and Meg made the decision to settle back home in Wells.

Encouraged by the success of the Bristol restaurant – which opened in 2017 – Rob’s first cookbook, Root, was published last year with glowing endorsements from Tom Kerridge, Hugh FearnleyWhittingstall and Angela Hartnett among others.

Rob’s ambition has not only been to open a restaurant in Wells. He also hopes to contribute to the community through food and hospitality and would love to be able to visit schools and encourage young chefs to follow in his footsteps.

He says: “We are so grateful for this opportunity and are excited to get started.”

Rob Howell is currently based at Root in Bristol

Vintage year for food and drink showcase

THE tenth anniversary Wells Food Festival was the biggest and best yet. In glorious weather, thousands of people descended on the heart of Wells to see, taste and buy the vast range of food and drink on offer.

Almost 200 traders provided culinary delights to enjoy on the day or to take away, and there were activities throughout the day that all proved popular, as well as music on the Bandstand.

Festival director Jon Abbott said: “We were overwhelmed by the attendance this year. It felt like our busiest to date, and this was matched by comments from traders who appeared to have had an exceptional day with several completely selling out by the afternoon.

“Our activities went really well with a great attendance

Pilates with

AWARD WINNERS

Best Cheese: White Lake; Best Non-Alcoholic Drink: Henny & Joe’s; Best Alcoholic Drink: Honey’s Cider; Best Cooks’ Ingredients: The Culmstock Chilli Co; Best Snacks & Savouries: Billies & Tong; Best World Street Food: Omaggi; Best UK Street Food: Smokehouse on the Hill; Best Breads, Cakes & Desserts: The Barley Sugar Bakehouse; Best Preserves: Louise Bees; Best Confectionary: Gilbert & Swayne; Best Start-Up: Forage & Combe; Best in Show: The Culmstock Chilli Co.

for the English Wine tastings. Headline sponsor, Charlie Bigham, was a brilliant host for the Cooking Competition which

Pilates

featured Wahaca founder and chef, Thomasina Miers.

“Meanwhile, the children’s cookery sessions with Fun

Kitchen were busy and the Children’s Trail around the festival proved exceedingly popular, resulting in hundreds of prizes being given out by the sponsor Mogers Drewett. All in all, a really successful and celebratory 10th anniversary.”

The judges had a difficult task choosing the best in each of the categories. Billies & Tong from Wookey Hole won the Best Snacks & Savouries Award, impressing the judges as a local family-run business “who are extremely passionate about both the process and the product”.

The Best in Show winner was The Culmstock Chilli Co from Devon. They “wowed the judges with knowledge, the provenance of the product, local sourcing and the stunning stand with a beautiful display of chillies”.

From left, Sonia Bird from Probusiness with Gerry and Natalie Koen of Billies & Tong; Lucy Frost and Kate Robbins on their Go Fudge Yourself stall; and Jacqui Hobbs of White Lake being handed the winner’s certificate in the Best Cheese category by Charlie Graupner-Tremaine of Taylor Wimpey

Charlie Bigham awards Best in Show to The Culmstock Chilli Co

Consultation about rewilding proposal

A consultation exercise is going to be carried out regarding Tor Hill Lane proposed rewilding site. Maddy Milnes of Sustainable Wells explains more

AS part of a rewilding pilot project involving Sustainable Wells and Wells City Council, a consultation exercise will be carried out between Saturday, October 29, and Saturday, November 5.

This will comprise of hard copy surveys delivered to local people living adjacent to Tor Hill Lane (Bekynton Avenue, Kings Road and Creighton Close) while also collecting views through online surveys and by talking to local people who visit the area during the consultation week.

There is increasing public concern about the state of wildlife and a growing sense of urgency to do something positive to help Nature in the local area. Insects are dying off in vast numbers through a wide range of attacks on their lives and habitats which include pesticide and herbicide use and inappropriate land management.

We can all help by improving the biodiversity in our local area and through creating more safe places for insects and wildflowers wherever we can, including in our gardens, roadside verges and public green-spaces. Mendip District Council and Wells City Council have stopped using Glyphosate on public land, however, ground maintenance

Photographer’s photos fill book in personal tribute to Queen

LOCAL photographer Jason Bryant has brought out a new book full of photographs celebrating the life of HM Queen Elizabeth II, and showing scenes that followed her death and at her funeral.

‘The Queen and I’ is A4, in full colour and has 100 pages. The front page picture was taken during the Queen’s visit to Wells in 2002, and the book has various pictures of the Queen taken by Jason in the past 20 years, including her last visit to Somerset in 2019 when she visited Paul Nicholls Racing Stables in Ditcheat, near Shepton Mallet.

“There are over 100 pictures in it taken following her death as I was one of the accredited funeral photographers with fixed point locations on The Mall and at Wellington Arch for both processions,” said Jason.

“I was working in London at the Mercury Music Awards when the Queen’s death was announced. The awards ceremony was cancelled minutes before it was due to start, which enabled me to be at Buckingham Palace early the next day before thousands filled The Mall.

“There are pictures of the flowers at Buckingham Palace, Green Park and at Windsor Castle, also the queues along the Thames for the lying in state.”

The book was printed by St Andrew’s Press and is on sale at Basil Powell Shoes in Broad Street, Wells, priced £15, or direct from Jason – email jasonbryantjasonbryant@gmail.

com

grass-cutting practices have been difficult to change and often leave habitats devastated.

We seek to shift the balance within grass-cutting contracts in favour of wildlife habitats, while also recognising there is sometimes a lack of consensus on how these areas should be managed.

We aim to bring the majority of people along with us by reflecting their preferences in the plans for the area as much as

possible. Our vision is to create Nature-friendly environments with a rich mosaic of wildlifefriendly habitats, which the majority of local residents support and many will enjoy.

If you would like to take part in the survey you can find further details on the Sustainable Wells website: www.sustainablewells. org.uk or please come along on November 5 when we are on site (by the wooden bridge) between 1pm and 4pm.

The book has has 100 pages that are packed with pictures

Tor Hill Lane will be the subject of a consultation about rewilding

Tree of Light will be chance to reflect on lives of loved ones

CITY of Wells Lions in conjunction with The Bishop’s Palace have again this year organised a Tree of Light in the ‘free area’ of the Palace grounds.

It is an opportunity for members of the local community to sponsor a star in memory of a loved one and reflect on their lives.

Christmas is a sad time for many families as they remember those who are no longer with us. More than ever, with Covid infections on the rise again, it can be a time to reflect on those lost due to this disease.

Application forms for a star with a loved one’s name are available at The Bishop’s Palace ticket office, and donations may also be left at the ticket office. Application forms are available at the Wells Tourist Information office as well.

Those who wish to make a donation by bank transfer should email cityofwellslions@gmail. com for BACS details. For email requests, ensure your name, address and telephone number are included and the name(s) of the loved ones that you wish to remember. If making a BACS payment, use the reference ‘TofL’ followed by your surname.

A star decoration with the loved one’s name will be hung on the tree, and the loved one’s name will be listed next to the tree. Those who sponsor a star will receive a Memory Card in memory of their loved one.

Last year’s Tree of Light at The Bishop’s Palace

Working for benefit of community

THE City of Wells Lions Club meets on the second Monday of each month. Lions clubs are groups of men and women who identify needs within the community and work together to fulfil those needs. Visitors are welcome to attend the monthly meetings but should contact the club first as the venue can

The Bishop’s Palace Pastor, Rosey Lunn, has agreed to give the dedication at 4.30pm on Tuesday, December 20, when the names of all the loved ones will be read out. The ceremony will be by the tree unless the weather is inclement, when the dedication will take place in the Bishop’s Chapel. The ceremony will be videoed and made available to sponsors via YouTube.

change each month. For more information or to get involved with the City of Wells Lions Club, contact Secretary Ian Williams via email: cityofwellslions@ gmail.com or call 0345 833 6736 to speak with President Alan Sanderson. For information on Lions Clubs International visit the website at www.lionsclubs.org

This Lions project is for the benefit of the community, with all proceeds used to support other groups and organisations within the local area. The Lions are grateful to everyone who has contributed to this project, and particularly The Bishop’s Palace for their support in allowing the Tree of Light to be placed on the right-hand side of the path as visitors enter the Palace.

Award for being great neighbour

A WELLS woman who does a huge amount to help other people has won a BBC Radio Somerset Make a Difference Award.

Maria Gregg was named winner in the Great Neighbour category for the support she gives her neighbours, as well as the homeless, the Royal British Legion, and Ukraine. She is also a Wells Community Network volunteer.

“I never expected to win, I was just so grateful that I was shortlisted out of hundreds of people from Somerset but it is the icing on the cake,” she said.

“The award to me belongs to all of our neighbours. We are a very friendly bunch and we all support each other.”

Among the ways that Maria helps her neighbours are cooking meals for them, and organising street parties.

The winners in the different categories received their awards at a ceremony at the County Cricket Ground in Taunton.

Special service

THE annual Marie Curie and Macmillan service of remembrance will return to Wells Cathedral on Sunday, November 20, from 3pm-4pm, to honour and remember those who have been loved and lost to illness. Everyone is welcome and there will be complimentary refreshments after the service.

More from Riona: 0787 6748717 or riona.houghton@ mariecurieorg.uk

Conference hears of community action

FIFTY people attended the first Wells Community Network (WCN) conference to hear a range of speakers explain more about their organisations and discuss local initiatives.

Chair Philip Welch told those at the conference, held in the Town Hall Ballroom: “We wanted to bring together key organisations in the Wells area as we believe we can achieve more working together.”

Karen Deverell, a WCN trustee, began by explaining the help that is being provided for Ukrainian refugees who have ended up in the area, followed by Claire Chettoe and Vicki Payne telling the conference about the WCN helpline, and the work of its network of volunteers.

The helpline has had more than 4,000 calls since it was set up in March 2020, helping more than 700 members of the community, and is still receiving calls for help now. Twenty-four people were helped in August alone.

Nicki Hall announced that an order has been placed for a trishaw for Wells following a successful fundraising campaign. When it arrives, people will be able to book a ride so that those who might struggle to get out can enjoy an outing and a chat in the fresh air.

Volunteers are still needed to pilot the trishaw, and fundraising continues through a GoFundMe page to buy a second trishaw.

The contribution of WCN volunteers as marshals at vaccination centres at West Mendip Hospital and now St Thomas’ Church Hall was described by Carol Mohide, who also explained the work to transform and maintain the garden at Wells Health Centre, which she said had received some great feedback.

Karen Polly, Managing Partner at the Health Centre, told about the challenge of trying to balance delivering the services expected of a general practice while running what is also a business, especially as the population of Wells grows and the demands of patients are growing.

The Health Centre’s Dr Jonathan Bench said that he has been a GP in Wells for more than 30 years and in that time the job has changed almost beyond recognition. He said that the breadth and complexity of medical treatments is increasing all the time, and while the ageing demographic is a sign of success, it adds to the demands on the system.

The pandemic has increased the pressure on the NHS even further, and this has a knock-on effect on GPs, he said.

Wells police officers Dan Williams and Darren Pearson told the audience that they have been trying to be more visible to the public, patrolling the city on their bikes, and more proactive. A tool marking event was organised to try to counter a spate of thefts from vans, and they have deployed a car breakin ‘capture car’ which led to an immediate arrest.

Other successes have included tracing two people in an investigation into graffiti around Wells; one admitted to 17 offences, and the other to 36.

PC Pearson said that police have acted against a group of Romanians who have been travelling by bus from Bristol to beg in Wells. They are warned to stop, he said, and given information on where they can get help, but some have been

arrested. One had a rucksack full of food and £600 in small change.

Theo Butt-Philip, a county councillor for Wells and a city

councillor, talked about the local government reorganisation that will see a new unitary authority for Somerset start work next April. He said that will just be the start of several years of shaping that organisation and devolving powers elsewhere.

On the issue of planning, he speculated that there might be four planning committees established based on the existing district council areas.

City councillor Louis Agabani said that the reorganisation represents an opportunity for Wells, which lost a lot of assets in 1974, and it would be good if the city council could make decisions about, for example, the use of the Market Place.

Closing remarks from Lord Lieutenant of Somerset Annie Maw brought an end to the conference, which lasted just over three hours, including a buffet lunch provided by Daniels Cafe.

Karen Polly and Dr Jonathan Bench were among the speakers at the Wells Community Network conference at Wells Town Hall

join us for a classic

Thoughts about Covid –and a thank you to Wells

March 23rd, 2020: a day I remember very well...

Following on from the completion of our showroom refurbishment and our doors opening again on January 6th, 2020, we saw an upturn in

enquiries for both kitchens and bathrooms. Following one of those kitchen enquiries, we were going to present the design and quotation to our prospective customer on that fateful day: should we be closing? should

Craft your ideal living space.

It all begins with an idea. Maybe you want a big rainfall shower head. Maybe you want a practical and sociable island in your kitchen. Or maybe you just want to brighten up and refresh what you have. Whatever it is, we are here to help you every step of the way.

we be travelling? should we be cancelling the presentation? The presentation went ahead but both of us were wondering where it would lead... The value of their savings had dropped by a third; we didn’t even know if we would survive being closed, so could we actually fulfil what we were presenting?

In the end we were furloughed for six weeks; but trying to keep in touch with customers, and with the odd job going ahead, meant that we had to start working again so that we could invoice the work that did happen. And we still haven’t stopped. The amazing thing has been that as we have all been fighting Covid and coming to terms with how it is affecting each of our lives, we have continued to become busier, and this brings me to the main reason for writing this...

Thank you, Wells. For your support and for your business. We really appreciate how you have asked us to get involved to make your homes a better place. And we have really enjoyed doing it.

As I take a moment to write this, it is at a time when we lay the foundations for our future. I am taking on a new employee whom I hope will make it possible to increase our capacity and pave the way for another employee next year. In spite of the economic uncertainty, I am feeling optimistic. We have proved over the last couple of years how resilient we as humans are. We realise that we have to continue; we have to find the positives; we have to always believe in hope; and we have to do that as a community.

I am grateful to be situated in Wells and to have you as a customer. Thank you.

Now. I must get the front of the shop painted...

Graham Lake, owner of Mercia Kitchens and Bathrooms

Great interest in seeing mural unveiled

ON September 24 a large crowd was in attendance to see the unveiling of the ceramic mural in the garden of Wells & Mendip Museum. This was made over the last year by 25 volunteers from the local neighbourhood.

Before appearing on the wall the three figures, Bishop Beckynton, Dean William Turner and Herbert Balch, went through many stages: preparing the clay, modelling, firing in kilns, glazing, assembling into panels and final installation, and all were accomplished by different groups of people. Children from Stoberry Park School made tiles to surround the descriptive panels.

The volunteers and their partners were amongst the audience as three contemporary personages stood beside the mural as the tarpaulin fell and the mural was revealed. The Rt Rev Ruth Worsley, Bishop of Taunton; the Very Rev Dr

John Davies, Dean of Wells; and Chris Jewell, Somerset’s famous cave diver, one of the team that rescued 12 boys and their football coach from a cave

in Thailand in 2018, had all kindly agreed to come for the occasion, wearing clothing that represented their vocation.

A special exhibition Making

the Mural has been put together which will run in the Museum until December 17. Ann Cook, a professional photographer but in this case yet another volunteer, took photographs at every session as the mural was being made.

Showing every stage as the work evolved, these are shown together with descriptive texts and portraits of the volunteers. Quotes are included by the different people involved saying what it meant to work cooperatively in this way.

Philippa Threlfall, the leader of the project, said at the opening that the photographs will remain as much a part of the Museum as the mural itself. She suggested that people today would be really interested to read about a group who had made a community work a century ago. Now an archive has been made for the future which can be seen in the years to come.

CALLING ALL

Here’s a chance to showcase your business to a wider audience – and perhaps collect a well-merited award.

Entries have opened for the Somerset Business Awards 2023, organised by Somerset Chamber of Commerce. There are 14 award categories to enter including the new Apprentice of the Year award, offering something for every business.

The closing date for entries is November 25, 2022. For more information, go to somersetbusinessawards.org.uk

Good luck!

GET IN TOUCH Wells Chamber of Commerce and Tourism promotes the interests of the city and its businesses. Find out more by calling Sean Sloan on 01749 673388.

Pictured at the opening ceremony, from left, are Bishop Ruth, the Very Rev Dr John Davies, Chris Jewell and Philippa Threlfall Picture: Ann Cook

Sustainability at heart of two forthcoming events in Wells

TWO events are planned for the first weekend of November with sustainability at their heart.

On Saturday, November 5, Sustainable Wells’ Repair Cafe will be open from 10am until 12.30pm at St Thomas’ Church Hall. Everyone is invited to take broken items for volunteer fixers to mend. The fixers will tackle most things from vacuum cleaners to toys to knitted clothes. Drinks and homemade cakes will be available.

More repairers and helpers are always needed, so people who can spare some time or who have any questions are asked to contact Amanda Phillips (avjphillips@gmail.com).

As a bonus, this time the Repair Cafe will be visited by Fixy the reuse van. Fixy has been kitted out with repair equipment by Somerset Waste and travels round the county promoting the goals of reducing, reusing and repairing as important ways to save money, materials and the planet.

Fixy also acts as a collection point for broken and unwanted tech, which is then wiped, refurbished and donated to people in need. At the Repair Cafe on November 5, Fixy will be delighted to accept unwanted or broken mobile phones, computers, games consoles,

Fixy the reuse van will be at the Repair Cafe on November 5

routers, hard drives and digital cameras along with their power cables, adaptors and chargers wherever possible.

There is another opportunity to give away unwanted items of all kinds on Sunday, November 6, when Sustainable Wells will be holding a Freecycle event from 1pm-2.30pm.

This event is like a car boot sale except that everything is given away free to someone who would like it. This is a marvellous opportunity for people to have

a clear-out or to find something they need.

The Freecycle will be held in the car park beside the Good Earth. Cars should use the entrance off Princes Road. Everyone is invited just to turn up; there is no need to book. If people have things to give away, they should arrive by 1.30pm.

Unwanted items must be taken away afterwards by their original owners. For more, contact Marianne Sorrell: marianne.sorrell@me.com

Volunteers sought to lead exercise classes

LOCAL charity Age UK Somerset is searching for people who would like to become volunteers and lead Flexercise sessions for older people in Somerset.

They are offering full training – with the next training session being held in Wells on Wednesday, November 9.

With more exercise classes returning post-lockdown and the Ageing Well service expanding to give more older people the opportunity to be more active, the charity needs more volunteers to help deliver classes.

Flexercise is a chair-based exercise session which uses fun props to get people moving in a relaxed, informal way.

The training is free for future volunteers and, once trained, the volunteers will lead their own sessions close to their local area.

The Ageing Well deputy manager, Julie Bolton, said: “If you have a passion for improving the health of older people and can spare an hour a week to volunteer with us, then please get in touch. No previous experience is necessary but a background in leading or talking to groups is advantageous.”

As well as potential volunteers, the Flexercise workshops are also open to carers from nursing and residential homes, helpers in day care centres, and, officers or ‘active’ residents from sheltered homes, at a small charge.

After the training, participants will have all the necessary skills to run their own in-house sessions.

Age UK Somerset is dedicated to improving the well-being of local older people. For more information on volunteering with them contact the Ageing Well Service on 01823 345626 or ageingwell@ageuksomerset. org.uk

Another award for estate agent

ESTATE agency Roderick

Thomas Estate Agents, which has a principal office in Wells, has been awarded the Gold Award for Lettings, winning a place in the Best Estate Agent Guide 2023.

It is the third accolade for the independent Somerset agency in less than 18 months. In April 2021 and April 2022 the agency won The British Property Awards Gold Award for best customer service.

Trees donation

HOUSEBUILDER Persimmon

Homes, which is currently building homes at Foxglove Heights in Wells, is marking its 50th anniversary by donating 1,550 trees to The Queen’s Green Canopy, helping to celebrate and honour the life of Queen Elizabeth II. This represents a donation of 50 trees for each of the operating companies – including four regional businesses based in the South West – and head office.

Ben Mickleburgh from Wells has made his international debut on the catwalk for Burberry during their 2023 spring summer collection show. Ben was scouted at the NASS Festival at The Showground, Shepton Mallet, in July and within two weeks he was asked to do a photo shoot for Elite models of London specifically for Burberry. After several meetings he was selected for the London Fashion Week show and walked the catwalk on September 26 in an event that was livestreamed by Burberry across the globe.

Christmas market excitement

TRADERS have begun signing up for the Christmas market being held in Wells on December 17.

Mendip District Council is telling shoppers to save the date

so that they can visit the festive showcase it is hosting.

Up to 100 stalls are expected to fill the Market Place and the Bishop’s Palace Green, offering seasonal gifts and local food and

drink. There will also be live music and other entertainment at the traditional ‘Christmas in Wells’ market that will operate from 9am-3pm.

“I’m very excited that

our much-loved Christmas market is returning to Wells,” said Councillor Simon Carswell, Portfolio Holder for Economic Development.

“Anything that brings extra footfall into the city will be welcomed by the whole business community in Wells.

“It’s a busy time of year and I’m sure that the atmosphere will be wonderful. I’m certainly looking forward to attending and stocking up on gifts.”

Expression of interest forms for traders are live on the council’s website. Traders who would like to be a part of the ‘Christmas in Wells’ experience can express their interest at: www.mendip.gov.uk/ christmasmarket

Members of the public can stay up to date with all the market news at www. mendip.gov.uk/markets or by following the Facebook and Instagram pages at @ WellsChristmasMarket

The Wells Christmas market will extend throught to the Bishop’s Palace Green

Free festive car parking dates announced

WELLS shoppers, visitors and businesses can enjoy free parking during the run up to Christmas and on New Year’s Day.

It will be free to park a car in all Mendip District Councilowned pay and display car parks including in Wells for one week during the holiday period, from Saturday, December 17, until Saturday, December 24.

New Year revellers have reason to celebrate too as the council is providing free parking all day on Sunday, January 1. This is to encourage drivers who park vehicles in car parks on New Year’s Eve to use alternative and safe methods of transport to get home.

Small Business Saturday has not been forgotten, with a fee-free day planned at selected car parks on December 3. Anyone visiting the area on the first Saturday in December will find charges suspended across the following car parks: Union

Street in Wells, Cranhill Road in Street, St John’s car park in Glastonbury, Great Ostry in Shepton Mallet and the Cattle Market in Frome.

Councillor Simon Carswell,

Portfolio Holder for Economic Development, said: “Once again we are delighted to offer free parking as a festive gesture of good will, and we hope it will go some way to making a difference to families this holiday season.

“It is important that we acknowledge the pressures facing many residents and businesses as the cost of living crisis deepens, especially at this time of year.

“Our focus here is on our town centres and their communities, to lift the barriers that might stop bringing people into them, whether that’s to support local retail or food businesses by buying gifts or treats from our high streets, or just to allow residents to come together, meet family and friends, and soak up the atmosphere of our town centres at this festive time of year.”

Residents are asked to note that although parking is free, all

other terms and conditions of car parking within the relevant car parks remain. To ensure everyone has a fair chance to enjoy this offer, motorists should:

n Check the time limits. ‘Free parking’ may not mean ‘free parking all day’. Maximum time limits still apply in all short stay car parks. Check, and do not overstay.

n Do not park in disabled bays. Disabled parking bays are for blue badge holders only.

n Park responsibly. Stay within the parking bay markings, and do not park in hatched lined areas, for safety reasons.

Penalty charges will be issued for those who breach the conditions. There is an appeals process, details of which can be found on the parking ticket.

For more information on Mendip car parks, visit the website: www.mendip.gov.uk/ paydisplay

Councillor Simon Carswell and Leader of Mendip District Council Councillor Ros Wyke at South Street car park in Wells in 2021

Acclaimed stained glass artist set for move to new studio

By Philip Welch

VISITORS like Queen Consort Camilla and Poldark star Aidan Turner are impressed by Edgar Phillips’ artwork.

Another fan is Emily Eavis who gives Edgar space at Glastonbury Festival each year to display his iconic Wings and The Moon.

But they would have been amazed to see inside his studio –provided they could find it.

For Edgar works in what was a tiny guardhouse tucked under the battlements of a remote corner of the Bishop’s Palace gardens in Wells.

And you have to pay an entrance fee to access the gardens.

“I have made many stained glass windows and sculptures that are dotted around the world – Glastonbury Festival, Ibiza, Los Angeles from my little studio at the Palace,” said Edgar.

There he also founded Wells Theatre Company, and in the grounds and building of the Palace directed and acted in promenade productions of Lear and Hamlet, as well as creating a Dickens Christmas Carol musical reading which has become a staple of the festive season in Wells.

“Hilariously, I also got cast in Poldark as a prisoner and a most noble lord in The Huntsman when they filmed on location in the Palace’s Undercroft,” he said with a smile.

“During lockdown when the Palace was closed I switched to working as a support worker specialising in brain injury and upon my return to the Palace

Chance to make stained glass window and soothe the soul

EXPERIENCE Days provide a safe and reassuring environment in which to learn about the history and art of stained glass. Participants work one-to-one (carers welcome) with artist Edgar Phillips in his studio to create their own stained glass window and take it home.

Included is a People’s Ticket giving access to the Palace for a year enabling participants to benefit from the beautiful gardens and the Palace’s wellbeing programmes.

“I recommend this to anyone

struggling with mental health issues or physical disabilities,” said Isis Devine after her Experience Day.

“At school I was never good at art and never believed I could create something like this beautiful stained glass window.

“I struggle with anxiety but Edgar was so calm and supportive. I had a lovely day.”

n You can apply for an Experience Day through your service provider or directly through the contact form at edgarphillipsartist.co.uk

I wanted to combine my two worlds of art and mental health, so the Stained Glass Experience Days were born.

“Working with the charities Mind in Somerset, Heads Up and Spark I have distilled my passions into bespoke creative days for individuals of many different backgrounds including those affected by mental health, disability and health conditions, and members of the neurodiverse community.”

Edgar has been awarded multiple Open Mental Health

grants to provide these days free to participants and the project has been such a huge success he is now having to leave the Palace and moving to a new, custom-designed studio at the Portway Annexe community centre in Portway Avenue, Wells, which has better accessibility for participants.

“I will say my goodbyes to the Palace at Christmas,” said Edgar, “and I will be running the Experience Days in the Portway Annexe from January 2023.

“Thank you to Rosie Martin who first invited me to the Palace, the wonderful staff and members of the public who have made my time so memorable. Also, thank you to the palace’s new CEO Jan Wallwork-Clarke for giving me time to seamlessly transfer to my new residence.”

Isis Devine and Edgar Phillips with the stained glass window she made

Queen Consort Camilla looks ready to fly with Edgar’s Wings on a visit to The Bishop’s Palace

Edgar presents Aidan Turner with a stained glass window depicting a stag, the symbol of St Aidan

The deadline for the December edition of Wells Voice is Wednesday, November

‘I have distilled my passions into bespoke creative days for individuals of many different backgrounds’

Chance to join Rec management group

LAST August, Mendip District Council handed back the Recreation Ground and Bishop’s Barn to Wells City Council.

Councillors Sarah Powell and Theo Butt-Philip were elected as lead and deputy lead to head this new venture. Councillors and officers from the Open Spaces team have rolled up their sleeves and people passing through the Recreation Ground might have seen some groups with high viz clothing, busy cleaning up footpaths, weeding, or lopping off lower branches to make it more accessible for those using the ground.

There have been many ideas being exchanged on the opportunities which Wells City Council and the people of Wells can take to improve the Recreation Ground and Bishop’s Barn for the benefit of all. At the initial meeting, all agreed that they wanted to open The Bishop’s Barn for use as soon as

possible, so that everyone can experience this special historic building.

Councillors and officers have discussed what initial work can be done and once permission has

been given and quotes have been sought, the possibility of opening this grand building once more will soon follow.

However, beyond that, help is needed. A Wells Recreation

Ground management group will be formed.

This will comprise of four councillors, two permanent members from the public with voting rights, one living next to the Recreation Ground and one from the Wells area. Other co-opted members will also be needed as and when their expertise is required.

“Have you got experience in architecture, conservation, fundraising, project management, landscaping? Have you got a vision for the Bishop’s Barn and / or the Recreation Ground?” said Cllr Powell.

“The possibilities are endless, the task is great, but so rewarding, are you up for the challenge?

“If you are interested in being part of this group, please email s.powell@wells.gov.uk with your name, address and contact details and we will get back to you.”

There is a desire to open The Bishop’s Barn for use as soon as possible

Somerset Poppies being planted again

HUNDREDS of metal-stemmed poppies will once again be planted at The Bishop’s Palace and Gardens in Wells this year, in time for Remembrance weekend in November.

Originally 7,986 poppies were made by local school children in 2018 – one to mark each life lost of servicemen from the county of Somerset during World War One – but some were sold to raise money for SSAFA and the Wells Branch of the Royal British Legion.

After the original Somerset Poppies project finished it was agreed that the Palace should retain 2,000 poppies in order to continue to display them inside the grounds, as they had been taken to the hearts of the local

people of Somerset. Each year they have moved to a different location in the gardens and this year the poppies will be on display from November 5-20 on The Bishop’s Palace moat bank.

The poppies are to be put in place by Dan Vidler, who

conceived the idea for the 2018 centenary, with help from staff and volunteers from the Palace.

A Remembrance Service will also be held on site at the Bishop’s Chapel on Friday, November 11, to which all are welcome.

Support urged for Poppy Appeal

THE Royal British Legion’s annual Poppy Appeal will run from October 29 through to November 12.

As tribute is paid to those who have served and sacrificed during Remembrance this year, the Legion hopes the public will show their support to all the Poppy Appeal collectors. Without its partners, volunteers and the public, the Legion would not be able to continue supporting serving and exserving men and women, and their families.

As in its previous 101 years, the Wells Branch will support the appeal with Poppies available

in retailers and public offices throughout the city. This year its volunteers will be in Tesco, Waitrose and Lidl on most days, and it will also run a stall at the Saturday markets (October 29, November 5 and November 12). There will be contactless payment machines available at Tesco, Lidl and the market as well.

Some additional stores have a direct arrangement with the Legion and will support the appeal centrally. The Wells Branch will also be supporting local schools with collection packs.

People can also donate via the Legion’s website at britishlegion.

org.uk/get-involved/ways-togive/donate

If anyone would like to volunteer to assist the appeal they would be most welcome.

If anyone requires a wreath this year, they will be available at the market stall, or contact the Poppy Appeal Organiser directly via wellsrblpoppyappeal@gmail. com to arrange for one.

Remembrance Sunday is on November 13 when the annual Remembrance Civic Service will be held at St Cuthbert’s Church, with wreath-laying at the Cenotaph at 11am after the service, followed by the march up High Street to the ceremony at the Harry Patch Memorial at Wells & Mendip Museum.

CAN YOU HELP US TO BRING SONGS & SMILES To the lives of older isolated people?

We are recruiting a new part time person, based at our Radstock office. We’re calling the post Music Assistant, but it’s a lot more than that

Read all about our Charity (now in its 19th year) on www.golden-oldies.org.uk yes we ’ re a small charity but we make a BIG difference to peoples lives

Electric vehicle facilities go live

ELECTRIC vehicle charging points (EVCPs) are live and ready to use in three Mendip car parks, as installation works are completed. Three charging points are now available to use in South Street Car Park and Union Street Car Park in Wells and Great Ostry Car Park in Shepton Mallet, which can service a total of 18 electric vehicles between them.

Other Mendip car parks will soon see their EVCPs go live in the coming months. Mendip District Council and partners, EB Charging, are installing 43 22kW Alfen chargers in 13 councilowned car parks this autumn.

Councillor Simon Carswell, Portfolio Holder for Neighbourhood Services, said: “We promised to deliver electric charging points in our car parks and here they are. These charging stations are such an important resource for our towns and city. They will help residents feel confident to make the switch to greener electric vehicles and are a real draw for visitors who can plan their journeys in the area, knowing that there are facilities available.”

Installation service for new Bishop

THE Installation of Bishop Michael as the new Bishop of Bath and Wells will take place at Wells Cathedral on Saturday, November 12, at 3pm. The service is ticket only, but will also be livestreamed to the Bath and Wells Facebook page.

Could you be the person we ’ re looking for?

Full details are on our ‘Goldies’ website www.golden oldies.org.uk

The Somerset Poppies seen at The Bishop’s Palace last year

New Cancer Support Group welcomed

CANCER diagnosis and care took a big hit during the pandemic as the NHS had to concentrate on Covid, and cancer charities’ fundraising was curtailed.

Sadly the effects of this are still being felt so the launch of a new Cancer Support Group in Wells is particularly welcome.

It is led by Estelle Gray on behalf of the NHS practices in the city, Street and Glastonbury.

“Every Monday it will meet from 11am-3pm in Wells’ Portway Annexe where the manager Alex Westwood has been super supportive,” said Estelle.

“With the help of the NHS’s Primary Care Network and the charities Heads Up and Macmillan we will build support for people who have a current cancer diagnosis, those who are in remission, and to the carers/ family members/friends of people with cancer.”

To register interest in

attending call 01458 553025. People are also welcome to drop in on the day.

Heads Up’s Service Director Bridget Harvey said: “This resource is badly needed and most welcome.”

Philip Welch represented

Macmillan at the event and said the grant that the charity has given to the new Cancer Support Group will be money well spent.

n On a more personal note, Estelle told guests at the launch on a Monday morning that she

was still in a state of shock from the Friday before. Her boyfriend had said casually: “Let’s meet on Wells Cathedral Green for a coffee after work,” then arrived in his best suit with appropriate gifts to propose marriage. Estelle accepted.

Grant will pay for electricity

A SIGN of the times. £350 of the grant money awarded at Wells Independents’ latest SOUP! event will be used to top up the electricity meters of formerly homeless young people who have been found accommodation by the Wells branch of Mendip YMCA.

This was the pledge from Carol Plenty at the Connect Centre after her presentation to the 55-strong audience was voted the winner of half of the total grant money that was handed out to four Wells-based charitable groups.

The others, who came away with their share of the remaining £350, were: Somerset Arts Well

which runs the Singing for the Brain music sessions at Seager Hall; the Making Space Wells craft organisation; and Wells Community Shed.

Wells Carnival President Maurice Day thanked the SOUP! team for the £350 they won at the June event.

“We are indebted to the Bishop’s Eye cafe for the matchfunding,” said SOUP’s main organiser, Ross Young.

The next SOUP! will be on Saturday, January 14.

Any local charities or projects benefitting Wells can apply to present at SOUP! during 2023 at www.wellsindependents.org/ soup

Everyone a winner: YMCA manger Carol Plenty, Jo Coomber of Somerset Arts Well, Steve Whitby from Wells Community Shed and Rachel Humphries and Claire Axten from Making Space Wells at Saturday’s SOUP!

Celebrating the launch with tea and cake are, from left, Jane King of Heads Up, Philip Welch representing Macmillan Cancer Support, Bridget Harvey of Heads Up, Estelle Gray, the Health Connector based at the Vine Surgery in Street Beth Hughes, and Liz from the Portway Annexe

Replacement service for part of 126 route

A REPLACEMENT bus service for part of the 126 route began operating on October 10.

Somerset County Council is funding a replacement service after the 126 service from Wells to Weston-super-Mare was withdrawn by First West of England.

New operator Libra Travel is now providing the Somerset County Council leg of the 126 service between Wells and Axbridge and also serving the Blue School at Wells during term time.

The council is also funding evening weekday D2 journeys at 8.10pm and 10.10pm from Frome to Bath and 9.10pm and 11.10pm from Bath to Frome. First West of England is continuing to provide daytime, Saturday evening and Sunday journeys on the D2.

Somerset County Council’s Lead Member for Transport and Digital Councillor Mike Rigby

said: “We’re delighted we’ve been able to step in and keep these lifeline services running.

“We know how important they are to local people and since the announcement that they were going to be withdrawn our team has been working really hard to find a solution to keep some of the routes running.

“We’ll continue to do all we can but we can’t stress enough that people need to support their services to ensure they are maintained.

“In March Government funding runs out again and many of these services will be under threat – we’re working hard to ensure they continue but we need people to use them.”

Somerset County Council and the Somerset Bus Partnership have launched a campaign to get more people onto buses.

In recent months a number of services have been withdrawn in the county by operators and

Somerset County Council has stepped in to save as many as it can, including the 3 service Bishops Hull to Taunton, 30 Frome Town Service and the 68 Yeovil to Barwick and Stoford.

The cost is high to maintain services with funds coming from the Bus Recovery Grant from the Government which has been extended to March 2023.

The new service has been welcomed by Wells Bus User Group, which had been campaigning to save the 126, including holding a public rally at the bus station, putting up posters and starting a petition.

It said that pressure now needs to be put on North Somerset Council for an Axbridge to Weston-superMare service, and it has written in support of the connections needed to West of England Combined Authority and Somerset County Council.

Wells MP James Heappey also organised a petition in support of the 126, and he said: “This is a great victory for residents along the Cheddar Valley. I’m hugely grateful to everyone who signed my petition and utterly delighted that the route has been saved.”

Space to discuss death and dying

THE recent death of Queen Elizabeth has prompted many people to think about how they would like to be remembered and what funeral or remembrance ceremony, if any, they would want.

But talking about death and dying with loved ones can be very difficult.

People spend a great deal of time talking about and planning for birth but very little thinking about the other certainty in their life, their death and the death of those they love.

Grave Talk is a safe cafe-like space where people can talk about these big issues over a cup of tea and slice of cake. The special Grave Talk cards make it easier to start talking and listening.

St Cuthbert’s Church, Wells, will be hosting a Grave Talk cafe on Friday, November 4, from 4pm-5.30pm. All are warmly invited to attend. There is no need to book, just go along, but anyone who needs more information can contact Patsy Barrow on 01749 679296.

Road closed for work on sewers

WESSEX Water is relining sewers at Bleadney, between Wells and Wedmore, from Monday, October 24, until Friday, October 28, to help maintain their condition for what is thought to be at least another 50 years.

A section of the B3139 Wells Road, near Wookey, will be closed to through traffic during the project, with access maintained for residents and emergency vehicles and diversions in place from both Wedmore and Wells.

The Libra Travel 126 bus at Wells Bus Station

Judge Rinder opens play area

ON Saturday, October 8, Croscombe held its Harvest Market; the villagers also welcomed none other than barrister and TV personality Robert Rinder, better known as Judge Rinder, to open their new village playground.

A long-time friend of one of the residents, Judge Rinder came to support what he described as a fantastic local community and project.

The playground was redeveloped using funds donated by the National Lottery, Mendip District Council and Michael Eavis, alongside fundraising efforts from local community events including Croscombe’s famous charter market.

The parish council is now working on a Phase 2 development which will include more playground equipment, a scooter track and shelter/seating area to make the space a meeting hub for all villagers. Fundraising

Barrister and TV personality Judge Rinder gives the thumbs up for the new play area in Croscombe, which he opened on October 8. Fundraising is now starting for a Phase 2 development.

is about to start and donations are desperately needed to get this next phase off the ground.

People are invited along to the next Croscombe market

on Saturday, December 10, when there will be plenty of Christmassy stalls – and hopefully a visit from Father Christmas.

Day promoting trade unions

THE Mendip Trades Union Council is organising Somerset’s first ever Solidarity Day for local workers who are interested in finding out how joining a trade union can help them.

Community campaign groups and charities from all over Somerset will have stalls, and they and individual trade unions will take part in talks and discussions throughout the day.

The event will take place at The Cheese and Grain, Market Yard, Frome, on Sunday, November 13, from 11.15am5pm.

Trainees start

SOUTH West financial firm

Old Mill has taken on 26 new trainees this autumn, including William Slade, Jessica Millington and James Norman who all join the Wells office as trainee accountants.

SENSE

Service – it’s the key to success

APART from this being a particularly good shot, I venture to suggest, of Archibald Bowe, taken by his friends at Pupz’n’Pawz in Meare, there is a sound business reason for me including this picture (right). Firstly, I hope it will put a smile on your face, and secondly, when he is available to do office duty, Archie has the knack of offering a great ‘meeting and greeting’ service to clients and visitors to our offices who may be ever so slightly anxious. This is most definitely an added extra for clients who enjoy dogs. He is also very discreet and stays out of the way when clients aren’t happy around canines.

Why is this relevant? Well, given the current uncertainty in our economy, every small business is going to need to find something special to offer. One aspect of any business, whether to purchase goods or services, which will keep us going back time and time again and will

encourage us to recommend that company, is the quality of the service we receive. Excellent service means that we will recommend that company to, let’s see, on average around six people.

If, conversely, we are given slapdash, disinterested service, we will tell as many people as we meet not to use that particular company. Indeed, the number of times we tell people NOT to use a company when we are unhappy, vastly outnumbers the times we will recommend a good one. Worth thinking about, isn’t it?

Now none of us is perfect, and no matter what one’s best intentions, there will always be mistakes made and customers lost because of that. However, if you are to blame (and we should all be big enough to admit that, even though it is painful), it’s always a good idea to minimise the damage by sending an apology – even if the customer has already taken their trade

elsewhere – and offering to put right any ‘wrongs’ which may have occurred. It has been observed that companies who work like this stand a far better

chance of keeping disgruntled clients or attracting them back in the future because of the good experience they had when things went wrong.

We recently chose a removals firm – not because of their price quote – but because of the way they were prepared to work around the needs of an elderly and more vulnerable person who was moving with us. Their attitude to people spoke volumes, and their kindness made our experience easier.

I am sure we aren’t alone in that. So, in these turbulent times, we all need to do our utmost to keep our small businesses busy, and one sure fire way to keep custom is to offer the best service we possibly can.

No matter who you are or how many staff you do (or don’t!) have, look after your customers, and their loyalty to you may just be the thing that helps your company to survive and thrive during the tricky times ahead –oh, and an Archie will always help!

Take care, and may 2023 be kind to you all.

With Jane Bowe of Probusiness accountants

Archie can be a real asset

Lord-Lieutenant’s work celebrated

WELLS Cathedral hosted a special Evensong service on October 9 to give thanks for and celebrate the work of Somerset’s Lord-Lieutenant Annie Maw, who retires at the end of the month. One of her final duties as Lord-Lieutenant was to help plant a Field Maple tree on behalf of the County of Somerset earlier in the day in the Cathedral’s Camery Garden, as part of the Queen’s Green Canopy initiative.

Mrs Maw, who has been

Lord-Lieutenant of Somerset for nearly eight years, said: “It has been the greatest honour of my life to serve the monarchy and the people of Somerset in this role. It truly has been an immense privilege.

“Eight years really have flown by and they have given me so many joyous memories.”

Mohammed Saddiq, who is Executive Director of Operations at Wessex Water, will succeed as HM Lord-Lieutenant of Somerset at the end of October.

Coins to go to children’s charity

THE Wookey Hole visitor attraction has named the lifesaving national Children’s Air Ambulance (TCAA) their first official Charity of the Year.

Coins collected from Wookey Hole’s wishing pool will be donated to the charity, with more than £2,045 from the wishing pool given so far.

Other initiatives include stations with QR codes placed around the site, collection tins and options for the public to add a donation to their food or hotel bill.

TCAA flies critically ill babies and children from one hospital

Legal guidance with Chubb Bulleid

How credible is a witness?

By Carla Jones

to another for specialist care in clinically designed helicopters.

Help for people with food issues

A GROUP that offers support for people with eating disorders has begun meeting once a week at the Portway Annexe, Portway, Wells.

Overeaters Anonymous can help those for whom food is a

problem. There are no fees, no weigh-ins and no diets.

Meetings are held in the Cursley Room at the Portway Annexe every Tuesday at 7pm. To find out more, call Ed on 07498 119862.

WHEN most people think of witnesses giving evidence under oath, they picture a battle of wits with barristers decked out in wigs and gowns – perhaps more typically associated with the drama of a criminal court room.

However, similar rules apply to witnesses in civil cases and many people do not realise when starting a claim for, say a breach of contract, that ultimately they may find themselves sitting in a familiar scene. Giving evidence under oath and feeling like the barrister is trying to trip them up at every turn.

Because many civil cases will turn on witness evidence, a solicitor needs to assess how credible a witness is likely to be when the time comes. That will be factored into the tactical approach to the case and assessment of likelihood of success.

The question of credibility is one which may initially seem straightforward but is often anything but. It is not simply a case of deciding: “My client is telling the truth so there’s no problem”, because the pressure of a court environment can make the most honest and straightforward witness stumble and second guess themselves, which in turn could undermine their credibility in the eyes of a judge.

Credibility, unlike honesty, is subjective. The concept of credibility also involves elements of reliability of recall – how well can the witness really remember a conversation that took place two years ago?

We, as humans, have not yet

invented a foolproof way to test honesty (don’t believe what you read about lie-detector tests), so we rely on a judge’s view as to someone’s credibility. Judges in a civil court will make findings of fact, meaning that they may well decide that Witness A is telling the truth or not, as the case may be. An imperfect system, but the best we have for now.

So, generally speaking, what makes a witness seem credible?

In reality, it is very difficult to say. Perhaps just how someone speaks or carries themselves or a sort of evidence-giving X-factor, but there are some key points that judges will take into account when determining credibility:

n Is there any independent evidence, in the form of documents or records that tie in or support what the witness is saying?

n How well does the witness stand up to cross examination? When challenged does the evidence change and if so, how drastically?

n Does the witness seem overly emotional, angry or upset when giving evidence?

n Does the witness have any motive for misleading the court?

n Does the witness appear to speculate or fabricate?

The above, plus many less tangible factors, are likely to lead to a judge’s overall impression of credibility. Witnesses should think carefully when agreeing to give oral evidence in court and parties to litigation must appreciate the inherent risks that come with witness evidence and the question of credibility.

n Carla Jones is a Partner with Chubb Bulleid Solicitors, a local firm who have offices in Wells, Street and Somerton. Phone 01749 836100. Website chubb-bulleid.co.uk

in Wells,

and

01749

Personal legal services for you, your business and your family

Lord-Lieutenant Annie Maw at the Evensong service in Wells Cathedral

The Children’s Air Ambulance mascot, Blade, at Wookey Hole’s wishing pool

Chapel project can move to next stage

Wells Almshouses trustees are looking forward to the renovation of the Chapel after getting the go ahead for the project

THE City of Wells Almshouses are delighted that the renovation plans for the Bubwith Chapel have been approved by Mendip District Council.

The process took many months, mainly due to the unique nature of the medieval chapel with its Victorian pews, its ancient purpose and history and other special features. A compromise was reached regarding all outstanding issues and now the trustees will finalise the submission to the Heritage Lottery Fund to continue the fundraising process.

Something in the region of

£45,000 has already been raised through various charitable grants, the Isle of Wight Coastal Path walk of one of the trustees which raised more than £5,000, and other smaller donations.

Whereas the Chapel will remain primarily a place of worship, the plans will allow for it not only to be secured in a safe and pleasant condition for future generations (there is much fairly urgent work to be done to preserve the building in a good state), but also to make it a comfortable and flexible space for use by the local community as we all continue to recover from the effects of the pandemic.

The trustees are very grateful to Mendip District Council Conservation and to Historic England for their help and patience in the consent process.

Plan consultation period extended

MORE time is being allowed for the public to give their views in the Wells Neighbourhood Plan consultation.

A new Assessment of the Local Green Spaces listed in the Plan is now on Wells City Council’s website along with the Plan and associated documents: www.wells.gov.uk. As well as being available there, paper copies are available on request from the Town Hall.

To take account of the inclusion of the new Assessment, the consultation period has been extended to November 10.

Many people have already responded and many have attended the public meetings. Anyone who has not yet responded to the Plan or who wishes to comment further should email wellsnplan@gmail. com or write to the Town Hall, Market Place, Wells.

lodestoneproperty.co.uk

Beacon Hill, Doulting

Baltonsborough

East Horrington

Central Wells

ON THE BEAT

Lucky to have been posted here

MY name is Matthew Reed and I am delighted to have been appointed as the Neighbourhood Policing Inspector for the Mendips. It’s an area I know and love and feel incredibly lucky to have been posted here.

Next year will mark my 20th year in the police service and I am as keen and dedicated as when I first started. I have experience in various fields, including Response, Traffic and CID. In cricketing parlance, I think you’d call me an ‘allrounder’! My team deals with such a wide range of issues, that I think this will allow me to provide effective support, enabling it to deliver an outstanding service to the public. And since starting, I have been so impressed by the genuine care and dedication my team put into serving the community.

My team, and the police service more generally, is only as good as the relationship it

News from the local policing team with Neighbourhood Policing Inspector Matthew Reed

has with the public. On our part we must work to build on trust and confidence by working to the highest standards and responding effectively to your needs. This is my commitment to you, but to achieve it, I need your help. My ask of you is to

engage with my team to let them know of any information or concerns you may have about crime or antisocial behaviour. Our contact details can be found on our webpage: Search ‘Avon Police Wells City’. Reporting non-emergency incidents and crimes online is also an effective method of keeping us informed: www.avonandsomerset.police. uk/report. I promise, all online reports get reviewed, and acted upon where appropriate.

As I settle into the role, I am beginning to set the priorities for the team. My policing ethos concentrates on prevention through problemsolving and focussing on the people and issues that cause our communities most harm. We update our social media and webpages regularly so you can see what we are working on.

We are here to serve you, so whatever you need from us, please get in touch.

Advice to help cut energy use

MENDIP District Council has launched a campaign to help residents reduce their energy bills and carbon footprint.

The Somerset Energy Saver is a free, online hub with advice for residents on how to make energy-saving changes to their home. The campaign helps to raise awareness of the range of measures available – whether through small, free-of-charge changes, or bigger adjustments to properties, such as installing different types of insulation and exploring alternatives to oil and gas heating.

It provides information on financial assistance available to eligible residents in Mendip, to help make the bigger energysaving measures to their home. It also offers advice on Energy Performing Certificates (EPCs) and provides answers to commonly asked questions.

For more information, visit: www.somersetenergysaver.co.uk

BY

With Clare Blackmore

Visitors turned up noses at the bells and smells of Wells

WELLS, our beautiful, peaceful, fragrant city was not always so.

A visitor writing in 1899 complains about the daily noise:

“The incessant barking of dogs, attempts at blowing a coach horn mingled with the raucous shouts of vendors of fish, the braying of the Salvation Army and the piteous cries of the animals as they are forced through the butcher’s shops in the High Street to the all-tooadjacent slaughter houses.”

It is told that two ladies arrived late and tired one night in Wells on the Great Western

“On hearing that the chances were against the quieting of the bells, they gave notice, but came back an hour later begging that they might retain their rooms, as, until they had gone into the city in daylight, they had no idea what a charming place Wells was.”

Another visitor to the city in November 1873 who stayed in Vicar’s Close writes:

“I and my daughter Angelina have recently been on a visit to your little city and must say we are, both of us, disappointed at finding it so offensive and neglected a condition as to roads, streets, nuisances etc.

“Angelina, although only in her sweet seventeenth year, is full of fun and lyrical talent has composed the following ‘lay’ which will express our feelings.”

With its filth and mud and smells –Slushy in rain

And dusty in sun, And the bells, bells, bells –The everlasting bells, The battering, clattering, Hammering, stammering, Overweening, quite unmeaning – bells.

And old bones

Where King Dirt reigns supreme, crowned with vermin and maggot

That “Lovers Walk” once was a very sweet spot, Where daffodils lined and forget me not, But now donkeys browse on the thistles and nettles

Line and came to rooms in the Vicar’s Close:

“It was dark when they travelled from the station and they saw nothing of the city, were too weary to enjoy their evening meal, unpacked their cases and went wearily to bed.

“Next morning, they came down to breakfast very cross and tired-eyed asking their landlady if the clocks and bells of the Cathedral could not be stopped, as the noise had kept them awake all night, otherwise they could not stay in Wells.

Oh Wells, Wells, Wells What a charming story your chronicle tells, Of your antique beauty in olden times, When melody ruled your Cathedral chimes, And there were then no ruthless bells, With their swinging and ringing And banging and clanging Such as we now have to endure Without any softening or care, In slippery, sloppery modern Wells,

Now ancient Wells was a very good place, But modern Wells is a downright disgrace With its ventilators to stifle one’s nose, And its perambulators to knock off one’s toes, With its bumpkins in gaiters, whose awkward elbows Stick out in the crowds of gabies*

Hustling ladies and babies, Into each pouring streamlet that flows, From old Bishop Beckington’s garden, Which, once were pure, but now are filled

With the vilest stuff that was ever distilled, From back slum or mews, dead rats or dead mice, With fish guts. Old lemons and blood,

Sticks and straws, bits of paper and mud,

To defile sweeping skirts, which o’er them may scud, Or even a short Dolly Varden*

They say Nightingales once warbled in Union or Grove, Where street Arabs now swarm, filthy and ragged, Flinging stones,

And the path is all strewn with old bottles and kettles.

So, Wells, Wells, Wells, You’re the greatest of modern tourist sells, For as one arrives by the Cheddar Vale, You look very nice in the twilight pale, And now I must tell you plain and flat, That your bells and your smells, Your bad road and your aboded, Of idleness, rudeness and dirt, Make a tout en semble which quickly dispels

Every charm you might have, every flag you might flirt, Will leave you unless you get up a good spurt, Of cleanliness quickly.

So goodbye and adieu to thee, dear dirty Wells,

If you had but one musical patriot Cit*

Who would muffle your bells, and sweep you a bit, Who would teach some good manners to bumpkin and brat, Who would mend your bad ways and “reform and all that”

I gladly acknowledge that you would be

The most charming small spot in this “West Countree”

Wells Cathedral’s bells are the largest set of ten in the world. Pictured is the ‘tenor’ bell, the largest Wells bell, weighing three tons. It is seen in its up position (ready to ring) and down position (safe position). The bell was cast in 1877 and tuned to the note of C.

‘Now ancient Wells was a very good place, But modern Wells is a downright disgrace’

So now take these truths as a nod and a wink from, Angelina.

(* Gabies: a stupid or foolish person; Dolly Varden: a woman’s outfit; Cit: a derogatory term for a town dweller)

As one traveller to Wells said in the 1920s when visiting the city, “Bells go with Wells, rhyme with it, time with it, chime with it.”

A letter to the editor of the Wells Journal in 1871 also complains to the Inspector of Nuisances employed by the City Council that:

“Dear Sir, now that so much is being done and said respecting the nuisances of Cholera and the absolute necessity of ‘setting our house in order’ I trust that the attention of our newly appointed Inspector of Nuisances will be directed to the abominable stench arising from the Tallow Candle factory at the bottom of Union Street which is, at times unbearable.

“I would also suggest that occasional visits are employed by this gentleman (unexpected and unannounced) to the yards and stables of the inns of the city, especially where pigs are kept, and also to the slaughter houses of the butchers in the High Street, “Yours a concerned Citizen.”

fires, dung heaps and generally keeping the streets clean.

Before paving or tarmac when the road surfaces were just dust and after rain, mud, they were also employed to water the streets when they were dry and scrape the mud when wet.

There were many complaints to the Council as to the standard of the scavenging done:

“Efficient scavenging forms a very important part of the sanitary organisation of the city and I must say that it is very imperfectly performed,” reported the Medical Officer of Health, Dr Purnell, in 1877.

“The ashpits, some of them containing many kinds of decomposing filth, are emptied very irregularly, especially from houses in crowded localities. If such heaps were allowed to remain festering during the summer months untold health issues will occur.”

A tourist from Suffolk wrote to the editor of the Wells Journal in 1883:

“At noon yesterday as I was walking around your pretty, I cannot say sweet or pleasant city, I was struck by the number of household utensils, arranged at intervals along the kerb of the pavement. Boxes, coal scuttles, battered pails all holding an unpleasant mixture of cinders, ashes, vegetable refuse and household garbage.

“They serve as traps to the unwary walkers, are unpleasant to the eye, offensive to the nose, injurious to good health, repugnant to all ideas of decency and good taste.

“Is your Town Council powerless to alter this unhealthy practice which strikes a stranger so unpleasantly to your beautiful environs and ask your scavenger to remove this refuse by a reasonable hour? At any rate when I go home, I shall have the satisfaction of knowing that there are some things not so well done in Wells as in Suffolk.”

What our customers say:

Introduced Services

An illustration of a Victorian scavenger, who scraped and swept to keep the streets clean

Wells City Council employed a “Scavenger” whose responsibility it was for “Scraping, sweeping, cleansing and scavenging the streets, lanes, alleyways, passages and places” of household rubbish, ashes from

Much of the scavenger’s scrapings were put on land rented from Captain Sherston at the rear of the then Railway/ Sherston Hotel at the bottom of Southover, and there were frequent complaints about the smell and dirt emanating from the site.

In 1898 the council decided that they would undertake the scavenging of the city with their own men and horses and would no longer employ a scavenger.

“It has been so refreshing to deal with a business that listens to its customers and delivers a personalised service above and beyond expectations. I have unfortunately had to arrange 3 funerals in the last decade and Rod and the team have been head and shoulders above what I have experienced before. I’d have no hesitation in recommending Wells Funeral Services.”

- James M.

“I would like to say how professional Rod and his team are. From our initial meeting through to the Funeral Service, every process was made as easy as possible. What could have been a very stressful experience was made less so by the way Rod and the Celebrant, Nicky paved the way for myself and my family. I would highly recommend Wells Funeral Services.” - Liz R.

Rod Major Business Owner

Good to have spirited debate with students

I AM writing this column when our politics is at a point which is providing a host of challenges across the country. I think it is fair to say the Liz Truss premiership has not got off to the start anyone would have wanted as Prime Minister, and it is clear mistakes have been made. The Prime Minister has apologised for this.

The newly-appointed Chancellor, Jeremy Hunt, has some extremely difficult decisions to make in the coming weeks. However, his appointment seems to have calmed the markets, and it is now down to the parliamentary party to get behind the Prime Minister to provide stability.

As I write this in midOctober, I am fresh from visiting The Blue School politics students. On a day where

Thoughts of Wells MP

Heappey

political news was happening as we were in discussion (Jeremy was appointed mid conversation), it was brilliant to see young people so engaged in current affairs. It is especially important at the moment, as we are living in such tough times –

not only domestically but across the world.

I was – quite rightly – faced with some questions about the current economic situation, and the Government’s decisions, and I very much enjoyed having debates about a host of different issues. However, I was also asked about the situation in Ukraine and how this affects the United Kingdom, including threats to us as a nation.

I felt this was extremely pertinent, as the geo-political situation is impacting so many countries. However, the challenges are stark with the war in Ukraine still being at front and centre of so much in the MOD –and rightly so.

It has now been more than eight months since the invasion, and we are committed to supporting the country

with weaponry, and of course supporting those who are still living in the most dangerous areas.

I know many young people are worried about what all this means for the future of our country and the relationships with other nations, but NATO is committed to stopping Russia.

It was so good to have such a spirited debate, and it is one of the greatest privileges as an MP to be able to take part in discussions about what is going on in the world, the UK, and – of course – Wells. I found the Q&A hugely valuable, and I hope the students did too.

There is no doubt the next few weeks and months will be tough, but I hope we can bring the focus right back to delivering for the British people as that is what we have been elected to do.

Attendance at two significant events

I AM writing this item on Sunday, October 9.

As Mayor of Wells, June and I have visited two events today, both of which are significant for Wells.

Firstly, the amazing Wells Food Festival was celebrating its 10th anniversary. Over this period the event has grown far larger than was initially dreamed of. Year on year more and more exhibits have come to the festival to display and sell their wonderful products. It was a pleasure to walk round Wells and see the fantastic variety of goods on show.

During all this time the festival team has been run and organised by a host of amazing unpaid volunteers. It was estimated that over 15,000 people came to sample the delights on offer.

The food festival is now a nationally recognised event and it will continue to additionally publicise the attractions of Wells as a tourist destination.

I congratulate the food festival for its success over the last decade, and am confident that it will continue to prosper and grow in future years.

In the afternoon we attended Evensong at the Cathedral which marked the retirement of the Lord Lieutenant of Somerset Annie Maw.

During the eight years that she has been in post Annie has always been a keen advocate for Wells and I am sure she will continue to visit the city.

Present at the Cathedral today was the next Lord Lieutenant Mohammad Saddiq, and I have invited him to return for a visit to our beautiful city.

The retiring collection was divided between the Cathedral and the charity Somerset Supports Ukraine.

The service was followed by tea and biscuits which gave people time to mingle and give their own special thanks to Annie.

At a previous luncheon, on behalf of us all, I presented Annie with a clay version of the City of Wells coat of arms.

Councillor Stewart Cursley Mayor of Wells

Glastonbury Festival founder Michael Eavis has made another visit to the studio of artist Ruth Ames-White to see how the Wells in Mosaic is progressing. Ruth said she was delighted at his continuing interest in the project to create a walkable mosaic map of the city centre from an estimated three-quarters of a million tiles.

Breakfast menu discount offer

THE Bishop’s Eye eatery and wine bar in Wells Market Place has launched its autumn menu with new additions to the breakfast menu.

To celebrate the launch, Bishop’s Eye is offering 20 per cent off the normal price of dishes on the cooked breakfast menu between November 1 and 14.

“From a tiny kitchen, the team has been working very hard, and they have created some great new dishes,” said owner Louis Agabani.

Scrambled eggs and smoked salmon on crumpets, bacon sandwiches and the BLT are

all now available. Louis said: “Growing on our reputation for excellent, award-winning coffee and wonderful cakes, and the old favourites, Somerset cheese and charcuterie boards and the smoked fish boards, we are developing our breakfast menu to create an all-day offer.”

Leave Recreation Ground just as it is

I SEE from October’s Wells Voice (‘Talks on possible new site for skatepark’) that the Recreation Ground is once more under threat.

This invaluable green space with its beautiful surroundings should not need what feels like a constant battle to keep

developers away: and it should not be necessary to remind people the land was gifted to the citizens of Wells as a public amenity by Bishop Hervey in 1897.

As one of the owners of the Recreation Ground I am sure I am not alone in wishing to preserve this well-loved open space exactly as it is.

Arthur Billington By email

Two Bishop’s Eye breakfast choices

Gilbert & Swayne were winners of the Best Confectionary category at Wells Food Festival, and Mayor Stewart Cursley is pictured handing over the winner’s certificate

Email news@wellsvoice.co.uk

Consultation on proposed locations for bike racks

MENDIP District Council is asking residents for their thoughts on proposed locations for new bike racks across the district.

A consultation is open until November 4 on potential locations in Wells, Shepton Mallet, Glastonbury, Street, Frome and Mells.

After requests from residents for safe places to lock up bikes, the council applied for money from Somerset County Council’s public health fund and received £50,000 to spend on the project.

The new bike racks, to be placed primarily on local authority land, will feature a unique design. They will complement the multi-user path

Bikes on the new path at Dulcote

project and encourage more cycling in the district.

The proposed locations for Wells that are under consideration are the bus station, the football club, St Cuthbert’s Junior School and the Strawberry Line at Dulcote.

Councillor Liz Leyshon, Portfolio Holder for Corporate Services and Projects, said: “We know that being able to secure bikes safely and conveniently is a priority for many. It’s important that residents tell us the best locations, so communities have easy access to secure lock-up spots when exploring our district.”

Have a say at: https://forms. office.com/r/vV5aigAbTa

Funding for work on Strawberry Line

AT a recent meeting of Cabinet, Mendip District Council unanimously agreed to allocate £200,000 to fund the construction of two new sections of the Strawberry Line.

The money will enable the charity, Greenways and Cycleroutes, to work with local landowners to build two multi-user paths: one in Shepton Mallet, south of the playing fields, and the other at Westbury-sub-Mendip, between Station Road and Erlon Lane.

The council also secured

access via a 50-year, permissive path lease agreement, which ensures long-term right of access for users.

An additional 2.3km of dust surface standard path will be created, and works are expected to be completed by the end of 2022.

Councillor Ros Wyke, Leader of Mendip District Council, said: “We are another step closer to completing the Somerset Circle, and I’m thrilled that Mendip communities will soon benefit from the additional paths.

“It will encourage more people to get outside, explore the area and enjoy our beautiful landscape.

“I must applaud the many landowners, communities, volunteers and parishes for their perseverance and dedication. It is satisfying to know that our joint efforts will soon come to fruition and that we will leave a legacy for Mendip.”

As part of its corporate priorities, Mendip District Council is working to develop sections of the Strawberry Line

New CEO starts preparing for unitary council

THE new Chief Executive Officer of Somerset County Council took up his new role in October.

Duncan Sharkey began by convening the most senior officers from Somerset’s five councils to focus on immediate actions needed to create a resilient new unitary council, which he will head, from April 1 next year.

He joins from the unitary Windsor and Maidenhead Borough Council, where he has led the team since January 2019.

Bill Revans, Leader of Somerset County Council, said: “I know I speak on behalf of all Somerset County Councillors in welcoming our new Chief Executive. Duncan will lead our

Duncan Sharkey and Bill Revans at the Mendip District Council offices officers through the transition to the new unitary Somerset Council and the crucial work that follows, transforming services for the better. There’s no escaping today’s financial realities, but we must stay focused on our positive vision for a fairer, greener and

more prosperous Somerset.”

Mr Sharkey said: “It’s exciting to lead the team in Somerset at such a pivotal moment for the county. We are about to create one of the largest unitary councils in the country and we’re going to do it in a way that strengthens relationships with local communities and strengthens our ability to fight for a fair deal for Somerset nationally.

“There are big economic challenges too. Council budgets are hit hard by inflation, we have to get that under control so we can be there for people who need our support. With the team I have around me, I know we can succeed.”

with the aim of connecting communities, reducing car travel, cutting carbon emissions and promoting active lifestyles in the district.

The Strawberry Line is part of the Somerset Circle which, when completed, will form a 76-mile traffic-free circuit.

A new section of multi-user path was opened at Dulcote earlier this year, thanks to collaboration from multiple organisations, groups, councils and volunteers, including funding from the district council.

Law accolade

LAW firm Mogers Drewett has announced that a record number of its lawyers have been featured in the new Legal 500 UK 2023 Guide, a guide to law firms and solicitors in the UK.

Some of the firm’s Wells staff have been recognised in the new guide, and Jonathan Cheal of the Agriculture team has been named in the ‘Hall of Fame’ again this year.

Managing Partner, Sean McDonough said: “We pride ourselves on the quality of our people at Mogers Drewett and are delighted to have doubled the number of our experts to be recognised by the Legal 500 this year. We are very proud of everyone recognised this year.”

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Fund ready to help keep people warm

THE Somerset Cost-of-Living Crisis Appeal, run by Somerset Community Foundation (SCF), has raised more than £100,000 since its launch two months ago.

The appeal is raising money to fund local charities and community organisations supporting those in most urgent need during the cost-of-living crisis. Donations have come from local individuals, charitable trusts and businesses, including £50,000 from Somerset County Council.

The charity is now offering grants to local charities with the funds raised to date and has launched the Warm Somerset Spaces Fund.

Charities and community groups across the county offering ‘warm spaces’ to people experiencing fuel poverty this winter are invited to apply for a

grant of up to £1,000. Grants will help fund dozens of community spaces to stay open longer over the winter months, helping to keep vulnerable people warm, safe and well.

Funding will be awarded weekly to help charities respond rapidly to the cost-of-living crisis.

Any community group or charity wishing to apply for funding, or those wishing to donate, can find out more at www.somersetcf.org.uk

Somerset Community Foundation is a charity that helps people in Somerset change the world on their doorstep by funding local charities and inspiring local giving and philanthropy. Since it was founded 20 years ago it has awarded more than £20 million in funding.

AGM hears of work carried out at hospital cemetery

THE Friends of the Mendip Hospital Cemetery held a very successful AGM in the chapel chaired by Peter Jaggard.

Peter reported on the hard work and success of the year, with more visitors from all over the country, families reunited and finding the graves of their forebears, a huge amount of work being done on the landscape and the grounds including dealing with Ash Dieback and limbs from trees blown off during storms, and a new Dutch Barn shed installed.

The cemetery has attracted more volunteers to help with the gardening and further research into the histories of some of the nearly 3,000 patients buried there. Repairs have been made to some of the memorial stones, hedges cut and the woodland copse restored with a new path made through the trees.

This special site has been

recognised as being of national importance as it is the only asylum cemetery in the South West with its original plans, planting, a surviving chapel and the original grave markers.

The site is now closed until the spring but work will continue throughout the winter on the grounds, the chapel and the research.

All this work is done entirely by volunteers and is funded by visitor donations.

However, anyone who is part of a local history, art or social group who would like to book a guided tour in exchange for a donation to preserve this important site can visit the Facebook page: Mendip Hospital Cemetery, or website: Friends of the Mendip Hospital Cemetery, and this can be arranged.

Email Blackmore.clare@ btinternet.com or Petejaggard@ hotmail.com

Campaign offers lower-cost wills

PEOPLE in Wells looking to get their wills written can take advantage of a money-saving charity will campaign.

Throughout November, law firms across the country are volunteering their time to write basic wills in exchange for donations to Will Aid. The suggested donations – £100 for a single will and £180 for a pair of mirror wills – are lower than most normal solicitor fees.

Firms taking part in the annual campaign in the Wells area include Chubb Bulleid, which raised £4,335 last year.

All money raised during Will Aid is shared between ActionAid, Age UK, British Red Cross, Christian Aid, NSPCC, Save the Children, SCIAF, Sightsavers, and Trocaire.

To book a will appointment this November, call 0300 0300 013 or visit www.willaid.org.uk

The chapel at the Mendip Hospital Cemetery

n WHAT’S ON

Gifts galore at Christmas Artisan Market

THE popular Christmas Artisan Market returns to The Bishop’s Palace in Wells on November 5 and 6 (10am-4pm).

Visitors can head along to the medieval site to get their Christmas shopping started with a bang as the medieval rooms of the Palace, upstairs and downstairs, will be filled with a variety of enticing stalls.

There will be the opportunity to purchase hand-made and unique gifts that could be the perfect solution for those difficult-to-buy-for friends and family, whilst also supporting local small businesses from the South West.

As well as plenty of gift

Earlier date for Crib Festival

THIS year’s Crib Festival at St Cuthbert’s Church, Wells, is taking place earlier than usual so people are being urged to add the date to their diary.

It will take place from Friday, December 2, to Sunday, December 4, from 10am-4.30pm (Sunday 11.30am-4-30pm).

Many unusual and muchloved Nativity sets will be on display, and sets from the wider community will be welcomed.

Organisers are inviting people to get in touch if they have a set that can be borrowed. “It may be one that your children have made or one that you bought abroad,” they say. “Just write a few words on a card about your set and what it means to you.”

There are stewards on duty throughout the festival, which as usual should be an uplifting display of music, colour, stars and angels.

There will be seasonal refreshments, creative crafts, a raffle and a photographic opportunity for parents to take that special Christmas picture

of their own little angels. Entry is £2.50, children free, re-entry free.

For further details, contact the Parish Office or ring Jill on 01749 675477.

Tickets on sale for Wizard of Oz

TICKETS are on sale for The Wizard of Oz, being performed at Wells Little Theatre from December 10-17.

The audience can follow Dorothy, Scarecrow, Tinman and Lion on their journey

through Oz in the 1987 musical version, based on the novel The Wonderful Wizard of Oz by L Frank Baum and the 1939 film.

Tickets are £13 for adults and £11 for children, available on the website wellslittletheatre.com

inspiration, there will be decorations, cards and live musical performances. And if all the shopping leaves visitors in need of refreshment, the Bishop’s Table cafe will be serving seasonal drinks, including the always popular flavoured hot chocolate.

The event is in aid of The Bishop’s Palace and tickets include the Artisan Market and free access to the Palace gardens. Available at a special reduced price (Adult £8, Child 5-17 £4, Under 5s and Palace Members free), they can be purchased by telephone on 01749 988 111 or online at www.bishopspalace. org.uk

ABBA tribute concert night

TICKETS are now available for the ABBA Re-Björn concert at St Thomas’ Church, Wells, in November.

ABBA Re-Björn are a fulltime professional ABBA tribute act that tour all over the UK and Europe. They have performed in front of royalty, high-profile celebrities, at festivals, weddings, and many other events and occasions.

City of Wells Lions Club are bringing them to Wells on Friday, November 11, with proceeds being donated to the Elim Connect Centre and Lions local charities.

ABBA Re-Björn are said to be the most authentic sounding tribute to one of the greatest and best-loved bands of all time, with their Swedish accents, tight harmonies, high energy performance, replica costumes and audience participation aplenty.

The original foursome won the Eurovision song contest in 1974 and just kept going with a string of hits including Waterloo, SOS and Dancing Queen.

Tickets for the concert at St Thomas’ Church cost £17.50 each and are available at Wells Tourist Information Centre and The Globe Inn, or for BACS purchases, contact lionswellsevents@gmail.com.

The concert will start at 7.30pm with doors open at 7pm. There will be a licensed bar.

Concert marks 150th anniversary

THE English composer Ralph Vaughan Williams celebrates his 150th birthday this year and the Wells-based Swan Singers, under the direction of Tricia Rees-Jones, will be performing a concert on Sunday, November 6, to mark this anniversary.

The central work in the concert will be Vaughan Williams’ Mass in G minor for

double chorus and soloists. Around this will be works by friends, pupils and teachers of Vaughan Williams, including Holst, Wood and Hadley.

The concert is at St Cuthbert’s Church and starts at 5pm. Tickets are £10 and will be available at the door or by contacting the parish office at office@ stcuthbertschurch.co.uk

A small version of the large Nativity displays that can be seen in Poland

The Artisan Market will take place on on November 5 and 6

ABBA Re-Björn

n WHAT’S ON Activities at library in coming month

THE following events will take place at Wells Library in November:

n Police Beat Surgery: Meet one of the local PCSOs at Wells Library on Wednesday, November 2, from 12pm-1pm. No appointment necessary.

n Wells Rhyme Time is every Friday at 10.30am – take preschoolers along for rhymes and stories. Email wlslib@somerset. gov.uk to book a place.

n Tai Chi Taster Sessions: Monday, November 14, and Monday, November 28, at 10.30am. No need to book, and free. Held outside in the courtyard, weather permitting.

n Lego Club is on November 19 at 10.30am, for ages 5 and up. Book a place by emailing wlslib@ somerset.gov.uk

n IT Help: For some assistance with a tablet or smartphone, book a free one-hour session on a Wednesday morning at either 10.30am or 11.30am and get the help required. Email wlslib@ somerset.gov.uk

Painting group put work on display

WELLS Painting Group is holding its 2022 exhibition in Wells & Mendip Museum in November.

The group was founded in 1969 by popular local artist Pauline Phillips. After meeting in the Blue School for many years, the group moved to St Thomas’ Church Hall where it meets regularly. Group members paint a wide and varied range of subjects in all mediums.

The exhibition will be open from Tuesday, November 8, to Saturday, November 19 (excluding Sunday, November 13, and Monday, November 14), from 10am to 4pm.

The paintings are for sale and there will be cards available to purchase. Admission is free. For more information, call 07779 259190.

Special evening with cricket great

MERV Colenutt is bringing former England cricket captain Graham Gooch to Cedars Hall in Wells on Thursday, November 17, for an evening with one of England’s greats.

The former Essex and England captain will be chatting about his career and the stories within the game, followed by a Q&A session hosted by Merv Colenutt, with questions from the audience in advance which

At the Hear t of England’s Smallest City

City of Wells Town Hall Various rooms to hire for: Conferences, Seminars

Fairs, Shows, Exhibitions, Marriages, Receptions, all types of Meetings and Local Group Classes

Very reasonable rates

For Prices and Bookings contact the Town Hall Manager Tel: 01749 673091. e-mail: thm@wells.gov.uk Website: www.wells.gov.uk

can be sent to mcolenutt8@ gmail.com

The questions will be read out on the evening, which starts at 7.30pm and finishes at approximately 10pm. Book tickets at cedarshallwells.co.uk

Festive fundraiser

WELLS band The Portraits with special guests will be giving a Christmas Fundraising Concert for Wells Contemporary Music Centre on Friday, December 2, at 6pm.

Tickets for the concert at Portway Annexe cost £10, to include mulled wine or juice and a mince pie. They are available at theportraitsmusic.com/live

Tenor in concert

PROFESSIONAL tenor Gregory Steward is giving a concert at Henton Village Hall on Thursday, November 3, at 7.30pm.

The programme will include romantic and popular songs from Les Miserables, Carousel, South Pacific and West Side Story, and will also include The Impossible Dream, O Sole Mio, Nessun Dorma and more.

Tickets are £12 to include refreshments from Gregory on 01458 211197 or email gregorystewardtenor@gmail.com or on the door. Under 18s free.

Fiery fiddle music

BLAZIN’ Fiddles, a group of contemporary fiddle players from the Highlands and Islands of Scotland, will be appearing at Wells Cathedral on Thursday, November 10, at 7.30pm.

Fiddlers Jenna Reid, Bruce MacGregor, Rua Macmillan and Kristan Harvey will be joined by Anna Massie on guitar/fiddle and Angus Lyon on piano for what is described as a musically intoxicating evening for all.

Tickets start at £10. More details at wellscathedral.org.uk

Folk club meetings

MR Punch’s Folk Club meets once a fortnight on a Friday at Theale Village Hall, BA51PN, from 8pm.

Traditional and contemporary music, song and verse. Mostly open mic, with new performers always welcome. More at punchsfolkclub.yolasite.com

Angel workshop

THINKING about Christmas decorations yet? There is a chance to make a delightful paper angel such as that pictured below to add sparkle.

There will be a workshop session from 9.30am to 12.30pm on Saturday, November 19, at St Cuthbert’s Church. The cost is £5 and includes refreshments and all materials.

Places will need to be booked beforehand by contacting the church office on 01749 676906 or office@stcuthbertswells.co.uk

Reading group

PEOPLE are invited to “be part of a bigger story” by attending sessions of the Shared Reading group that meets on Fridays at Wells Library in Union Street from 2pm-3.30pm.

Anyone interested can just drop in to enjoy listening to a story and poems. There is no charge, no booking needed and no pressure to read aloud or talk.

The Bishop’s Eye by Wendy Lovegrove, one of the Wells Painting Group artists

Former cricketer Graham Gooch will be appearing at Cedars Hall on November 17

A paper angel decoration

Gallery to show pair’s work in first exhibition since lockdowns

A2 Gallery in Wells High Street is hosting an exhibition of ceramics and botanical drawings by Somerset artists Michael Boulton and Paul Griffin.

Michael has exhibited nationally and trained in London and in Sussex with Kyra Cane. He uses the wheel to throw the porcelain and stoneware, which gives him a sense of immediacy and freedom. He now lives in Somerset where he opened his studio during Somerset Art Weeks.

Paul currently lives in

Somerset where he creates his beautiful botanical drawings. He has exhibited his work in London and the South West. He trained at Kew Gardens with acclaimed botanical artist Lucy Smith, and with leading botanical artist Ann Swan at West Dean College of Arts and Crafts.

“Michael has been showing at the gallery for a few years now,” said Simon and Beata, the owners of A2.

“We are very pleased to be exhibiting the work of these Somerset artists in our first

Lively programme of music

TRIO Paradis will be performing their latest Cafe Concert at St Thomas’ Church, Wells, on Monday, November 7.

Travelling With the Gypsies will feature a lively programme of music by Dvorák (Songs My Mother Taught Me, movements from Dumky Trio), Bartók Romanian Dances and Haydn’s Gypsy Rondo, along with various Czardas.

The Cafe Concerts take place at the church on the first Monday of each month (FebruaryDecember). The cafe is from 10.30am, and the concerts start at 11am and last about 50 minutes. There is no need to book, and entrance is by paywhat-you-feel donation.

“If anyone would like to bake

and bring a cake for the cafe, that would be wonderful,” said concert organiser Jacquelyn Bevan. “You can contact us at trioparadis@icloud.com, or it’s fine just to turn up and surprise us.”

The trio are Jacquelyn (piano), Lisa Betteridge (violin) and Linda Stocks (cello).

exhibition after emerging from Covid lockdowns.”

They added: “We are looking forward to once again being able to accommodate temporary exhibitions, and invite the public to see the wealth of talented Somerset artists, as well as art from further afield.”

The work will be on show at A2 Gallery from November 12-19, Monday-Saturday 10am5pm. Evening viewing Saturday, November 12, 6pm-9pm, when the artists will introduce themselves and their work.

Choirs and City Band in concert

WELLS City Band will be taking part in a concert heralding the start of Christmas at Cedars Hall on November 25.

The concert will also feature the Wells Good Afternoon Choir and the Cheddar Valley Good Afternoon Choir.

More information and tickets at cedarshallwells.co.uk

November board group meetings

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

n DO YOU WANT YOUR EVENT TO STAND OUT?

If you want to ensure your event is included and gets attention, we will print it with a colour background like this from just £7 + VAT. Find out more by emailing sales@wellsvoice.co.uk

The exhibition

and botanical drawings by Somerset artists Michael Boulton

Paul Griffin

seen

Gallery in Wells High Street from

Trio Paradis Picture: Martin Veal Fromedia

n AROUND THE SOCIETIES

WELLS U3A

AT the end of September, an evening reception was arranged at the Museum to welcome new members into Wells u3a. The chair, Susan Revell and members of the committee greeted the new members with a glass of wine and a finger buffet. Several group leaders were on hand to explain details of their groups and encourage members to join them.

Many members of the Wine Appreciation Group spent a beautiful sunny evening visiting Fenny Castle Vineyard. They were given a very in-depth talk by the owner James Cummings on every aspect of the vineyard from its purchase to planting, picking and making the wine. This is done entirely by James and his wife Jill with a bit of help with picking the grapes when local people are brought in to help with this task, which has to be done quickly before the crop spoils. The evening concluded with a tasting of their white, rose and sparkling wines and a chance to purchase the fruits of their labours. They also produce a variety of ciders.

On September 23, 35 members of Wells u3a went on a holiday to Lancashire and Cheshire staying in Wrexham with a full itinerary of places to visit, and were lucky with the weather again this year. The trip started with the engineering marvel of Pontcysyllte aqueduct, designed by Thomas Telford. A very brave few of us even walked across it, parallel with the canal and passing boats.

The next morning was spent in Chester and in the fine weather, all felt they could have spent longer there. We had an excellent guided tour by coach around Chester and to neighbouring Eccleston church. In the afternoon we visited the National Inland Waterways Museum, a collection of narrow boats and exhibition halls, near the Manchester Ship Canal which was featured on a video in the museum.

Day 3 was spent at the new RHS Bridgewater Garden, with a series of gardens in many different styles. The gardens set within the original walled garden are very extensive and therefore not many of the party explored the further reaches of woodland and lake, before they set off for the Anderton Boat

Lift, another engineering marvel. It isn’t working at present as it failed its latest safety check, so they were unable to experience the lift by boat themselves, but they did enjoy a ‘bateaumouche’ trip along the River Weaver to Northwich where they were told about the town sinking into its own underlying salt mines.

Their only wet day started at Crosby, where the incoming tide was just reaching the Anthony Gormley statue men on the beach, Another Place, with Liverpool container port cranes in the distance. As the rain started in earnest they were thankfully able to avoid getting wet by either taking advantage of the Hop-on Hop-off bus trip around Liverpool’s attractions, or to spend a pleasant afternoon at the Royal Albert Dock along its colonnaded walkways past numerous restaurants and museums.

The final day was spent at Westonbirt Arboretum, in sunshine.

Wells u3a continues to be very active and welcomes new members all the time. If you would like to learn more about the great variety of groups available go to https://u3asites.

org.uk/wells/home to find out more or just google Wells u3a. Ann Brown and Liz Lee

WELLS ANALYTICAL PHILOSOPHY SOCIETY

OVER the past 12 years or more, a participating audience of about 25 has gathered in the lecture theatre of Wells Museum, on the first Monday morning of each month at 10.30. We have discussed topics ranging from the perils of religion to ethical theory, from the nature of personal identity to scientific method, from French Existentialism to the foundations of mathematics, from abortion to Machiavelli. Everyone is welcome and no prior familiarity with academic philosophy is expected.

Our next debate, on November 7, asks Why Read Literature? Leavis Revisited. Just pop in for a friendly taster, or contact Alan Hobbs on alanchobbs@gmail.com for further information. The topic for each month will be posted a fortnight in advance on the Wells Library noticeboard.

Alan Hobbs

WELLS TUESDAY WI

A FEW members brought along Christmas shoebox gift contributions to the October meeting, but our main focus will be helping the Wells foodbank in January, which can be a hard time.

The skittles team won through to the next round of the competition. One member offered to book group tickets for the panto Cinderella at Strode Theatre, and the cinema group enjoyed Mrs Harris Goes to

Paris. Sue is collecting unwanted bras to be recycled for UK breast cancer charities and African women. At Wells Food Festival several members enjoyed a wine tasting, and two invited to judge the preserves stalls were very impressed by local producers’ nut butters, honey products, fermented pickles, drinks and sauces.

Our speaker was Jim Hardcastle from Avon and Somerset Search and Rescue, an independent charity whose team of 40 highly skilled volunteers help the police find and rescue people from cliffs, water and 1,800 square miles of land including hills, gorges and quarries. With no central base, volunteers have access to four vehicles and two rope stores. Each is issued with three jackets but provide all the rest of their own kit, bringing to each callout enough to be self-sufficient for eight hours.

Jim described how as Incident Controller he plans a search using the high-tech equipment in the control vehicle. A system combines statistical data from previous searches with information about the missing person and details of the local terrain to enable the team to calculate probable direction of travel and improve chances of locating and rescuing the missing person. We learned that the dementia sufferer missing from a care home typically behaves very differently to someone intent on suicide, or a climber or walker in difficulty.

Hundreds of people apply to join the service and of the 20 selected each year to undergo rigorous training for six to 12 months in core competencies, only about four make it to the end and spend 18 months as trainees. The high dropout rate is due to the time commitment required, hard to balance with family and work, and the demands of the training.

Teams often work in cold, dark, muddy conditions and we heard about a search for a murder victim made difficult by snow. The multi-functional stretchers used to rescue people from difficult positions are cumbersome to carry. Rescuing a climber from a cliff near Bristol Airport required closing the airport to enable a Sea King helicopter to winch the person to safety – they were given a five-minute window in which

Top, James Cummings of Fenny Castle Vinyard with members of the Wells u3a Wine Appreciation Group; and above, the welcome party for new members at the Museum

n AROUND THE SOCIETIES

to achieve the rescue. In some high-risk situations police divers or drones are called in. Decisions taken might later have to be justified to a coroner.

Searches can attract unwelcome attention, so the police can call off the press and spectators so rescuers can recover bodies in privacy. Sadly, it is often a case of recovery rather than rescue and cases can be traumatic for volunteers who are able to access counselling provided by MIND for emergency workers.

Avon and Somerset Search and Rescue depends on fundraising, but the sometimes sensitive nature of their work can mean clients and families are not always able to contribute. We were so moved and impressed by Jim’s talk that we had a spontaneous collection and raised a further £160 to add to his speaker fee. Information about ASSAR including how to donate can be found on their website https://www.assar.org. uk/donate/ Veronica Howe

WELLS NATURAL HISTORY & ARCHAEOLOGICAL SOCIETY

THE next meeting of the Wells Natural History & Archaeological Society will be at Wells & Mendip Museum on Friday, November 4, at 7.30pm.

Andy Davis will give a talk entitled: Personal Experiences of Watching Birds at Chew Valley Lake for Sixty Years.

Andy, as you can see from the title of his talk, has been a frequent visitor to Chew Valley Lake since he was a schoolboy. His involvement in bird watching also extends to being an editor of the Avon Birds Report in the past.

COXLEY & DISTRICT WI

FIRSTLY, we were very pleased to welcome Brenda, Gwen, Joanne and Sian as visitors.

Then we had a go at making Christmas cards (and optional other greetings cards). Some of these techniques were quite complicated. This effort was led by Margaret A and the craft group. We all got to take home at least one card of our own making. We did excel ourselves as the results were very good. Many thanks to the craft group, especially Margaret A, who was invaluable in achieving this outcome.

The next craft group meeting will be at Peggy’s on November 16. Not necessarily card making.

Hilary reminded us that the first round of the WI skittles was to take place at the Street Inn on October 5.

She also reported on the walkers group, who walked to Dulcote last month. The Littern walk was postponed to October 28 due to a poor weather forecast.

It was discussed and decided that this year we would again collect items for YMCA Christmas shoe box gifting.

Names were taken for the WI Carol Concert at Wells Cathedral on December 7.

Book club will now take place on November 4 at Peggy’s.

Flower of the month was won by Ursula, second Jenny and third Margaret R.

Next month, Jennifer Collins will be talking about flower pressing.

Ursula Dann

WELLS MEN’S BREAKFAST

BORIS Johnson planned while still Prime Minister to make a celebratory announcement at the Queen’s Platinum Jubilee that pounds and ounces would be returning to the UK.

The November speaker at the Wells Men’s Breakfast on the morning of Saturday, November 5, would not have approved.

For Howard Burnett is an expert on Trading Standards who would regard a return to Imperial measures for our food and drink as a retrograde step bringing cost and confusion.

Howard will tell the audience stories from his career in Trading Standards in the Connect Centre. He will give a brief talk after the

‘full English’ breakfast is served at 8am and take questions with the meeting ending by 9.30am.

To book a seat at the breakfast you need to ring 07376 715671 by noon on the Thursday prior to the meeting and respond to the instructions you will hear on the ansaphone.

SOMERSET WILDLIFE TRUST

AS I write, the trees outside my window are well into their autumn colours and by the time you read this, the Wells Area Group of SWT will have completed the programme of outdoor activities for 2022.

The long hot spell that we experienced earlier in the year meant that the timings of some of our nature walks turned out to be somewhat awry, meaning that they didn’t coincide with the species we were hoping to see. Nevertheless, such is the rich natural environment around Wells that there was usually something else of interest.

We have one more talk to go at the museum which will be at 7.30pm on Tuesday, November 29. Nick Gates is co-author with Benedict Macdonald of a book called Orchard – A Year in England’s Eden.

This book is a lyrical account of an ancient English orchard from January to December, celebrating the extraordinary range of animals and plants it supports.

This makes it one of the richest ecosystems left in Britain with many seldom-seen species such as lesser spotted woodpeckers thriving in an oasis surrounded by empty, chemical fields and flailed hedgerows that seem to constitute our English countryside in the 21st century.

Yet this is a working

orchard; an ancient tradition of collaboration between people and nature making traditional orchards a unique example of simultaneous agriculture and conservation.

Nick is a naturalist, photographer and wildlife producer who has created content for the BBC, National Geographic and ITV. He has a passion for conservation and rewilding, and for inspiring people to care for the natural world. He will talk about how this book came about and the wildlife encounters that both he and Ben had during their time exploring the orchard.

He will also have copies of the book for sale – which should make excellent Christmas presents.

If you would like to join us for this event, please book in advance with Jean Mantle: jaye. mantle@btinternet.com or telephone 01749 677600. We ask for a donation of £5 per adult –under 16s are free.

Eric Lewis

THE PORTWAY ARTISTS

WE meet every Tuesday afternoon from 1.30pm-3.30pm at the Portway Annexe in Wells. The group had a busy month in October as we took part in Somerset Art Works Art Weeks.

Our exhibition, held in St Cuthbert’s Church, was well supported and our members were lucky enough to have above average sales.

Our friendly group welcomes anyone of any age and ability for a very reasonable weekly fee (which includes a hot drink and biscuits). Just pop in and see us or ring Enid on 01749 938309 or Peggy on 01749 675098.

WELLS CIVIC SOCIETY

THE Annual General Meeting of the Wells Civic Society will take place at Wells Museum on November 9 at 6pm.

Nominations for the election to the committee are welcomeemail chair@wellscivicsociety. org.uk

The AGM will be followed at 7pm by a talk by Andrew Buchanan on Westbury’s Romano-British Villa. All welcome.

u More reports on page 44

Andy Davis will give a talk on birds to the next meeting of the Wells Natural History & Archaeological Society. Pictured is a Cattle Egret.

Wells Men’s Breakfast’s next speaker will be Howard Burnett

n AROUND THE SOCIETIES

ST THOMAS WOMEN’S FELLOWSHIP

UNFORTUNATELY our speaker for the October meeting had to cancel at short notice due to a health problem. Our Secretary came to the rescue with film of Naan-kusee in Namibia which is a wildlife reserve which works to protect both the animals and the indigenous people. Alison speaks from personal experience as she has spent time there on three previous occasions, and is also going again this year. It was so interesting to see the environment she will be working and living in and learn more about their achievements.

At our next meeting on November 2 we will be welcoming Mike Chipperfield speaking and showing slides entitled Motorcycling Around America. Members’ family and friends are being invited to this evening, and we look forward to seeing them.

Pat Dyer

WELLS & DISTRICT GARDENING CLUB

My love’s an arbutus By the waters of Lene

IT doesn’t seem quite the thing to have strawberries so late in the year but they are still available all along the Cheddar Valley. And, oddly, in the garden.

Arbutus unedo or Strawberry Tree makes a handsome ornamental addition in the garden, evergreen with clusters of white flowers coinciding with attractive red fruits which are edible according to your taste. Whether a lady love, however “slender and shapely”, would be flattered at the comparison is open to debate. Poets and songwriters do tend to get carried away.

Decades ago, when the strawberry season was confined to a few weeks in high summer, I remember singing about a

Strawberry Fair along with a hundred other short-trousered lads, crammed together beneath the gas-mantles in a room filled with double desks and inkwells. We were a pretty scruffy lot, grazed knees and knuckles, scuffed shoes and ink-stained fingers. The headmaster took charge of things, a man who loved his music and we humoured him. Singing these incomprehensible songs was better than arithmetic. So we belted out “Ri-fol Ri-fol Fol-deriddle-li-do” with dutiful gusto and total bemusement. We cried “Cherry Ripe”, we blew away the morning dew, urged someone to drink only with their eyes, and what the wraggle taggle gypsies were up to remained forever a mystery. Romantic poets have much to answer for.

In fairness, though, what these ditties generally had in common was a connection with the natural world. And that remains, especially in our gardens. One extra word. Mrs English in a fur coat was the pianist. Every morning she would summon the school to assemble by thumping out ‘English Country Gardens’ on the old upright piano behind the blackboard. An abiding memory.

We are fortunate to have in Wells one of the West Country’s finest gardens open to visit all the year round. That, of course, is the Bishop’s Palace Garden. James Cross, the Head Gardener with his team of staff and volunteers, has transformed the 12 acres into a pleasure ground for everyone. We are delighted to welcome James to our next meeting to give us a talk.

Thursday, November 10, James Cross: The Garden of the Bishop’s Palace, Wells Town Hall, 7.30pm.

Members £1, visitors £3, everyone welcome. Details: 01749 673244.

There will be refreshments and it will be a chance for us all and folk new to the area to hear a bit about the past and future of this splendid place.

Pip Harwood

WELLS FLORAL ART CLUB

ON Tuesday, October 11, members and guests met for a demonstration by Caroline Cooper entitled The Language of Flowers. Caroline is one of our newest demonstrators, studying

throughout lockdown and finally taking her area test just a year ago.

Her first arrangement was a hand-tied bunch of green Prada carnations, kangaroo paw and completed with peach roses and entitled Gratitude. This was followed by an arrangement in a copper pot of yellow and green spider chrysanthemums representing truth. The next design was a crescent of white calla lilies and carnations, called Ardour. An all-round arrangement followed full of sunflower and agapanthus, representing adoration and loyalty. Finally, Caroline arranged flowers in milk churns. Rich autumn foliage and bronze chrysanthemums formed the backdrop for dark red roses representing Love. Non Hobson gave the vote of thanks and Lynn McDonald and Anne Parsons served the teas.

Club chairman, Isobel Cameron reminded everyone that tickets are still available for our Open Meeting at the Little Theatre, Wells, on Tuesday, November 8, at 7.30pm, doors open at 6.30pm. Alan Beatty, international demonstrator and judge, will present Quintessentially Christmas. Contact Gill on 01749 870389 for tickets at £15 each.

Later in the month, on Tuesday, November 22, we will hold our Annual Meeting in St Thomas’ Church Hall, Wells, at 2.15pm followed by afternoon tea served by the committee.

Finally, on Tuesday, December 13, we will hold a practice class, time and place as above, on a Christmas Arrangement. If anyone wishes to join us please contact Isobel for details. Tel: 01749 709625.

WELLS RAILWAY FRATERNITY

THE second meeting of the Wells Railway Fraternity season of monthly meetings started with Andrew Tucker welcoming the speaker Nicolas Wheatley whose presentation was entitled: The Final Journey, the Untold Story of Funeral Trains.

Nicolas introduced himself as long-time railway enthusiast with connections to several Heritage Railways and currently the Gloucester and Warwickshire Steam Railway. Additionally, some of his ancestors were railwaymen. He has an MSc in Funeral Trains in England and Wales.

He started with a question; is a corpse a passenger or freight? The answer being: Special Freight. The first funeral trains ran in the 1840s and on the mainline continued up to the present day. They have catered for Royalty and eminent persons through to paupers. The trains come in two categories, first: functional, examples being: those of monarchs and Sir Winston Churchill where the body was transported to the funeral service and then to the burial site; and the ceremonial, such as those run by today’s Heritage Railways where, for example, long-time volunteers are honoured by their coffin having a trip along the line before being taken to the cemetery or crematorium.

Amongst the many things he told of were the Necropolis Railway which ran trains from Waterloo Necropolis station to Brookwood Cemetery in Surrey up to 1941 and at one time was carrying about 4,500 coffins a year. The train carrying the largest number of coffins at one time was that which brought back the victims of the R101 balloon disaster in France. The first royal funeral train carried Princess Sophia of Gloucester in 1844, and the last coffin to be carried on the mainline was that of Jimmy Knapp, the RMT trade union leader, in 2001.

Andy Ball proposed a vote of thanks.

Wells Railway Fraternity meets on the second Tuesday of the month in Wells Town Hall at 7.30pm and has a diverse range of programme of talks. New members and guests are always welcome.

November’s presentation will be by Mike Walker entitled: Cuba During the Sugar Harvest.

Demonstrator Caroline Cooper

Arbutus unedo or Strawberry Tree

Action from the Toolstation Western League Division One game at the Athletic Ground on September 24 between Wells City 1st XI, in blue, and Gillingham Town, which Wells won 4-1 with goals from Tom Hill, Charlie Crook, Adam Wright and Craig Herrod. Wells City are currently top of the table having lost just two league games so far this season. Their next home league game is against Hengrove Athletic on October 25 (ko 7.30pm).

Junior championships won by player in his first competition

MENDIP Golf Club’s Junior Club Championships saw 15 competitors playing a mix of Medal, Stableford and 9 hole events. The six youngest competitors, some of whom were playing a competitive event for the first time, were playing for a new trophy, the Geoff Fisher Trophy for Golf Development presented by the family of a late member. The inaugural winner was Danny Comber, one of those playing a competition for the first time. Danny is a regular attendee of Alex Todd’s junior coaching sessions. The Stableford was won by new member 11-yearold Logan Down. Sam Hughes won the Stableford with a net 71 after count back from Owen Roach, and the Gross event saw a win for Junior Captain Thomas Richardson with Owen Roach second.

Ninety-nine Seniors competed for the Centenary Trophy. After a close fought affair, Derek Strudwick emerged as the winner with 42 points. Rob Stanton won the Veterans

prize with 40 points. Bryan Lewis won the Seniors Past Captains Trophy this year.

Mendip held their annual Finals Day for the various Club KO competitions. The Jim Thame Foursomes saw a win for Paul Smith & Andy Parfitt who beat Joe Reilly & Jordan Vaughan 3 &2. This means they

retained the trophy having also won it in 2021. In the Rickards Scratch Cup, Chairman of Comps Ryan Sainsbury beat Wayne Black 1 up. The Anderson Goblet, the scratch cup for the 11+ handicappers, saw a win for Charles Whittaker who beat Spencer Pocock 4&3.

The Harry Bowles Seniors KO was won by John Scott who beat Clive Copp 1up. The Hodder Cup, a 4BBB, saw the father and son combination of Phil & Matt Bendall beat Simon Jefferies & Trevor Messenger 2&1.

In the Ladies Fanstone Cup, Chris Down beat Susy Rudkin 2&1, and in the Corson Cup, Anne Collins beat Louise Scott.

The Final of the Hospital Plate saw a win for Past President Colin Davies beating Simon Grant 1 up. Interestingly the Trophy, originally named the Casualty Cup, was actually donated by Colin and it appears to be the first example of a trophy being won by the person who donated it.

The Ladies Vyvyan Clare Trophy was won by Jan Fukuyama.

Winners of club finals decided

BOWLS

THE finals days of the City of Wells Bowls Club competitions for this year have been completed. They took place on September 4, 10 and 11, and the 2022 champions are:

Club Open: Trudy Bishop; Men’s Championship: Alan Whitehead; Florence Cup: Heather Willerton; Men’s Novice: Tony Denning; Men’s Two Wood: Bob Trenchard; Ladies Novice: Sheelagh May; Somerville Handicap: Tony Denning; Alice Salmon Cup: Heather Willerton, Steve Parke and Lewis Palmer; Hayward Triples: Bob Trenchard, Geoff Eley and Martin Strudwick; Connock: Heather Willerton and Pam Green; Pavey Pairs: Graham Creasey and Lewis Palmer; M & C Pairs: Tony Denning and Franco Rossi; COVID Cup: Alan Whitehead and Franco Rossi; Kennedy Cup: Emma Morley and Peggy Eley.

Good reaction to running event

ATHLETICS

WELLS Festival of Running organisers are pleased with how this year’s event went, and will be carrying out a full review before planning next year’s races.

Race director Nick Stevens, of Wells City Harriers, said: “We had just under 700 entries across the four races. Our own Christian Green won the senior 10k race with a record time of 33 minutes dead, and the record was broken in the women’s race too by Sophie Nicholls. I had lots of positive comments about the good atmosphere and friendly marshals.”

Weekly table tennis

TABLE TENNIS

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

Danny Comber, winner of the Geoff Fisher Trophy

GOLF

Walk ends with plaque unveiling

walk

taken place along the 50-mile length of The Mendip Way to celebrate the 50th anniversary of the designation of the Mendip Hills as an Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty (AONB).

The route was split up into sections and walked on a sunny weekend of October 8 and 9 by more than 40 people from organisations responsible for its upkeep and promotion, including members of the AONB service, local Rotary clubs and Walkers are Welcome groups, the Mendip Ramblers, and The Mendip Society.

The relay was also a chance to mark the late Queen’s Platinum Jubilee in recognition of the West Mendip Way being devised by local Rotary clubs for the Silver Jubilee. In more recent years, the East Mendip Way has been waymarked and maintained by the Mendip Ramblers.

Two groups kicked off the relay from either end of The Mendip Way – one setting out from Uphill Sluice in Westonsuper-Mare along the West Mendip Way, with another group leaving from the Cheese & Grain building in Frome along the East Mendip Way.

Two relay batons – crafted out of a local Ash tree that had been felled due to Ash Dieback disease – were carried by both groups who ended up meeting in Wells, where both the West and East Mendip Way routes join.

People joined together outside the Wells & Mendip Museum for a speech by Les Davies MBE and Sue Gearing and the unveiling of a new plaque to mark the joining of the two routes, and to raise the profile of the route and the organisations working together.

Alan Webb, President of Wells Rotary, said: “The plaque was the work of my colleagues at Wells Rotary in obtaining planning permission and having a design that was appropriate for the iconic building that is the Museum. The design reflects the plaque on the Cheese & Grain in Frome which marks the end of the walk. My thanks go to the Trustees of the Museum who were very supportive of us in this project. A very pleasing result.”

Sue Gearing and Les Davies unveil the new plaque at Wells & Mendip Museum