West Somerset - Issue 31 - March 2023

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Parks Lane, Minehead, TA24 5NU

5 Park St, Minehead, TA24 5NQ

We are proud of our fantastic reputation for professionalism and product quality, together with excellent customer care and service.

Parks Lane Furnishers and Interiors, a family-run business since 1979, provide professional made-to-measure blinds, curtains, internal shutters and awnings to both domestic homes and commercial companies throughout Minehead and surrounding areas. We have arguably the best carpet, vinyl, rugs and luxury vinyl tiles in the area. Choose from a wide stock range of furniture, beds, mattresses, sofas and rise and recliners with FREE delivery in West Somerset.

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Clive Smith Editor

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ABOUT US

Established in 2019, Word Gets Around Magazine is an independent community magazine and family business, run by father and son team; Clive and Paul Smith.

We aim to spread the word about local events and services and to encourage our communities to use local businesses.

The more we are supported by advertisers the more pages we can grow to support the community.

We deliver direct to homes across West Somerset on a monthly basis.

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Booking deadline for the next issue is 20 th March

Spring is finally here – or is it? According to the Met Office, ‘meteorological’ spring starts on 1st March, but at Word Gets Around we’re welcoming it on 20th March – the vernal equinox.

Whichever day you prefer, there’s no doubt that this month has a definite spring in its step, with celebrations aplenty in the shape of St David’s Day on the 1st, St Patrick’s Day on the 17th and Mother’s Day on the 19th – and after all that you’ll probably be thankful for World Sleep Day on the 19th, too!

Don’t forget that the clocks ‘spring forward’ on Sunday 26th March. British Summer Time was brought in during the First World War in 1916 to conserve fuel by lengthening the daylight hours of the working day. If we kept to Greenwich Mean Time, it would be light at 3am and dark by 9pm in the height of the summer – which would do a lot for manufacturers of blackout blinds but not much for savings on electricity bills.

Let’s forget about that lost hour of sleep and look forward instead to longer, lighter evenings with more opportunities to get outside and enjoy the fresh air, dancing daffodils and all those other glorious signs of spring!

Until next time,

Hi! I’m Petee.

My friend Charlie the Chameleon is great at hiding. He’s hidden somewhere within this magazine. See if you can spot him and then visit...

www.wordgetsaround.co.uk/charlie

Green ngers… the Alan Titchmarsh column

He’s a brilliant presenter, accomplished gardener, talented novelist, and allround horticultural inspiration. This month, Alan Titchmarsh discusses the uniqueness and the survival of our gardens.

Gardening, to me, is a pursuit, rather than a mere hobby. It’s one of life’s great challenges, where you take ownership and responsibility, not just of the situation and the task, but also for the welfare of the flora and fauna all around you.

To keep a garden alive and well is an undertaking and something we accept responsibility for. In the past I may have beat myself up for something withering away and dying on me, but you come to realise this is just the circle of life, and it applies to our back gardens just as much as

it does to animals and people. Some situations will always be out of your control, and accepting that is very good for the soul.

As long as you have done everything you could have, that can generally be seen as good enough, in my book.

Of course, there is an argument to say the more complicated you make something, the more difficult it is to keep things constant. I am certainly guilty of pushing and pushing and adding so much more to an idea when I could have kept things safe and sane.

I think it’s important though to remind people, that whether

your garden is some elaborate flourish of colour and texture and shape, or just a bit of grass and some simple shrubbery, absolutely everything about it is unique.

After all, that space has its own unique history - for some, the flowers in it are a present; they may even come from another country; they might remind us of a special occasion or an event or story. We may just have spotted them in the garden centre and gone from there.

The point is everything we have is full of memories and stories. The things we put in our gardens remind us of times in our lives, and when that garden is in full colour and full blossom in May, or in its full

richness in autumn, or at some other point in the year, it creates and stimulates memories.

I have done so much in my gardens, but I don’t think I could pick one specific thing –everything has been my favourite part at some stage. And I believe the whole beauty of gardening is that it’s personal, and the freedom of choice really is with the person getting their hands dirty.

Ultimately, if you want to follow my advice and slavishly do as I say in my books, then that is perfectly fine. However, if you read something and think, ‘I don’t agree with

that, I’m doing it my way,’ then that is good too, because it has at least made you think.

Gardening is private – it’s intimate. We all have different ideas in terms of what we think of as full or minimalist, and I am passionate about people exploring their own narrative, because anybody can do this. Simply decide what you’d like to grow – perhaps something you want to eat, or smell, or just look at. Buy the seeds and do it. Don’t even worry about the process, just try it out.

When it succeeds, do it again; and most importantly, when it fails, do it again too!

Celebrate spring with our selection of glorious garden-themed books.

Venetian Gardens – Monty Don & Derry Moore

Inspired by Monty’s BBC2 series, Adriatic Gardens, his latest book with Derry Moore is a sumptuous visual journey through the gardens of Venice. Starting in the heart of the city and working their way out to the Veneto, the pair celebrate the beauty of these places and tell some of their remarkable stories. With stunning colour photography throughout, readers will discover new insight into one of the world’s most beloved cities.

The Gardener’s Almanac – Alan Titchmarsh

A month-by-month treasury of gardening advice, inspiration and knowledge, along with illustrations by Alan himself, who has written more than forty gardening books, twelve novels and three volumes of memoirs. As well as what to grown and sow, find out what wildlife to spot, projects to engage in, weather notes, gardens to visit, birds and flowers to celebrate and much more…

Home Harvest: Your Pocket Card Guide to Kitchen Gardening

– Bridie Cotter & Tom Gaunt

A practical, fun and easy-to-read deck of cards by organic veggie farmers Bridie and Tom that will help you plant and grow your own kitchen garden. Divided into four sections (Gardening 101, Veggies, Herbs and Flowers), these beautifully illustrated cards will help you start your garden from scratch, offering helpful guidance and advice on everything from plant health to common pest management.

Gardens for the Soul: Sustainable and Stylish Outdoor Spaces

– Sara Bird & Dan Duchars

Whatever the location or size of your garden, a sustainable and ecofriendly ethos can be at the heart of creating a beautiful outdoor space to suit your lifestyle. From tiny spaces to larger patios, and to glean ideas, tips and inspiration, you’ll find suggestions for choosing garden elements from decor and lighting to furniture and accessories, as well as easy craft projects that add quirky personal touches.

The Little Guide to Wildflowers – Alison Davies

Discover the intriguing world of wildflowers with this handy pocket guide, with each of the featured flowers delicately illustrated by printmaker Tom Frost to capture its individual characteristics and accompanied by information about the plant and where it can be found, plus associated facts and fables. Adding to the charm of this delightful book is an interactive spotter’s guide at the back, where you can tick off each flower you find.

The English Country House Garden – George Plumptre

From the Victorian grandeur of Tyntesfield and Cragside, to the Arts and Crafts simplicity of Rodmarton Manor and Charleston, from Scampston to new gardens by Dan Pearson and Tom Stuart-Smith, and with favourites such as Sissinghurst and Hidcote alongside new discoveries, this book takes a fresh look at the English country house garden, starting with the owners and the stories behind the making of the gardens, with glorious photographs capturing the gardens at their finest moments through the seasons.

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MINEH E A D E VEN T S IN 2 0 2 3

SUN 16 APR - eat:Minehead

SAT 29 & SUN 30 APR Steampunk Festival

SAT 29 APR Minehead Victorian Steampunk Variety Show, Regal Theatre

MON 24-29 JUL The Minehead and Exmoor Music Festival

SUN 20 AUG eat:Minehead

SAT 2 SEP Minehead Bay Festival

SUN 8 OCT Minehead Seafront Triathlon

EVERY FRIDAY throughout the year Farmer ’s Market from 8:30am - 1pm

Free regular family-friendly entertainment during all school holidays

www.mineheadbay.co.uk

WINTER 2023

Gennaro Contaldo’s Easter Leg of Lamb

Introduction

When it comes to Easter feasts, you can always look to Italy for a sublime celebration of food, family and faith. This recipe for Gennaro Contaldo’s Easter leg of lamb is the perfect dish to serve to your extended brood over the long weekend.

Method

1. Preheat the oven to 200°C/ gas mark 6. Slash the lamb with a sharp knife and rub all over with salt, pepper and a little extra virgin olive oil. Push half the olives and four anchovies into the slashes. Place in a roasting dish together with wine, garlic, shallots, rosemary and remaining anchovies.

2. Reduce the oven temperature to 150°C/gas mark 2 and roast the lamb for 1 hour 30 minutes.

If necessary, cover with tin foil halfway through cooking. Baste throughout and if necessary, add a glass of hot water.

3. About 10 minutes before the end of cooking time, add the peas.

4. Remove from the oven, leave to rest for 5 minutes, place on a board, carve and serve with the vegetables and juices.

Ingredients

(serves 4)

• 1.2kg leg of lamb

• Salt & pepper

• Sprig of rosemary

• A little extra virgin olive oil

• 150ml white wine

• 300g baby onions or shallots

• 100g black olives, pitted

• 8 x anchovy fillets, roughly chopped

• 2 x garlic cloves, left whole, crushed

• 320g fresh or frozen peas

Top Tip

• If using fresh peas be sure to weigh them after they have been shelled and cleaned.

• Keep an eye on your lamb while it is in the oven to ensure it doesn’t dry out. Resting is also essential to maintaining the tenderness and moistness of your meat.

OPENING TIMES: 12pm - 2pm Tues to Sat lunch times 5pm - 8:30pm Tues to Sat evenings.

We have a specials board that changes regularly. Please ask a member of staff for current specials. Any allergies please don’t hesitate to call and ask.

100 YEARS

Wembley Stadium in London opened (as the British Empire Exhibition Stadium, commonly known as the Empire Stadium). It was demolished in 2003. The new Wembley Stadium opened on the same site in March 2007.

90 YEARS

The first modern sighting of Scotland’s Loch Ness monster was reported in the Inverness Courier

70 YEARS

New Zealand mountaineer Edmund Hillary and Sherpa Tenzing Norgay became the first people to reach the summit of Mount Everest.

The coronation of Queen Elizabeth II at Westminster Abbey, London. This was also the first event where the British TV audience (20 million) was greater than the radio audience (12 million).

50 YEARS

1.6 million British workers took part in a oneday general strike to protest against the government’s pay restraint policy and price rises.

50 YEARS AGO (1973)

• The average price of a property in the second quarter of 1973 was £8,144 (c. £92,000 at today’s prices). This compares with an average UK price of £296,000 today.

• Chart-toppers in the music singles charts included “Can the Can” by Suzi Quatro and “Rubber Bullets” by 10cc.

• Sir Edward Heath was Prime Minister (Conservatives), staying in office until 1974.

40 YEARS

Around 70,000 anti-nuclear weapons protesters formed a fourteen-mile human chain in Berkshire, England. They linked the U.S. airbase at Greenham Common, the nuclear research centre in Aldermaston and an ordnance factory in Burghfield.

The first cordless telephone went on sale in Britain. British Telecom’s Hawk could be used up to 100 metres (330 feet) from its base station.

30 YEARS

The recession of the early 1990s was officially declared over in Britain as new figures that showed the first economic growth for more than two years.

25 YEARS

The world’s first solid-state portable digital audio player (MP3 player) went on sale in Japan. The MPMan F10 could hold 8 songs (32 Mb version) or 16 songs (64 Mb version). It was not a commercial success.

British woman Diane Blood, who won a two-year legal battle over her right to be inseminated with her dead husband’s sperm, announced that she was pregnant. The baby was born in December. A second was born in July 2002.

Tenzing Norgay and Edmund Hillary. Jamling Tenzing Norgay, CC BY-SA 3.0

MPMan F10 by Michele M. F, CC BY-SA 2.0

Top Tip

If you don’t have biscuit cutters in the shapers you require, simply draw or print the ones you need and cut out the dough around them.

Royal Pastry Chef’s Spiced Easter Biscuits

Introduction

Back in 2020, Queen Elizabeth’s royal pastry chefs released the family’s sacred ‘Spiced Easter Biscuits’ recipe. What better way to honour her late Majesty, than by baking these delightful and delicious Easter treats?

Method

1. Preheat the oven to 170°C/340°F/gas mark 3 then mix together the flour, bicarbonate of soda and spices in a bowl. Add the diced butter and mix until it reaches a crumb-like texture.

2. Add the sugar, then once combined add the egg and golden syrup. Mix until a dough is formed.

3. Roll the dough to a thickness of 5mm then use biscuit cutters to cut into desired shape such as

Ingredients

Biscuit base:

• 350g plain flour

• 5g bicarbonate of soda

• 10g ground ginger

• 5g cinnamon

• 125g unsalted butter

• 175g light soft brown sugar

• 1 egg

• 60g golden syrup

Icing:

• 2 egg whites

• 600g icing sugar

• Food colouring of your choice

Easter eggs, chicks or bunnies. Place the biscuits on a non-stick mat or baking paper and bake on the middle shelf for 12-15 minutes until they are golden in colour. Leave biscuits to cool completely before decorating.

4. Add 1 egg white to 600g of icing sugar and beat until smooth. Spoon mixture into a piping bag - the icing should pipe smoothly and be able to hold when piped as a line – and pipe around the edge of the biscuits.

To cover all the biscuits with icing add extra egg white to thin the mixture. Decorate and enjoy!

What do you call a flock of sheep tumbling down a hill? A lambslide.

Crossword EGG

LAMB

BIBLE

CHICK

TULIP BASKET BONNET

EASTER RABBIT

SPRING

DAFFODIL

CHOCOLATE

HOT CROSS

BUN

Cadbury’s make 500 million Creme Eggs every year. If you piled them on top of each other, it would be 10 x higher than Mount Everest.

What proof is there that eating carrots is good for your eyesight? You don’t see rabbits wearing glasses do you?

A WINDOW ON WILLITON PART 2.

Last month’s article ended in Long Street and before we move from it I should mention that the Hole family’s photographic business had its studio in Long Street.

It spanned three generations until the last Hole retired in 1974. The first one Henry H.Hole, who was one of the longest serving tradesman of his day, started in 1856 and died, aged 63yrs in 1900. Once the business was established the firm had three studios in Williton, Watchet and Minehead. Many archival photos of Williton and surrounding area were taken by them.

The earliest Wesleyan Methodist meetings in Williton took place in the home of John and Mary Stoate in Fore Street which was licenced for worship in 1810. Then in 1883 a new Chapel and Schoolroom were built in Tower Hill designed by the Lancashire born architect Robert Curwen, who designed a number of Wesleyan Chapels and built by J.Chibbet and Sons.

The Chapel was officially opened in 1884.These handsome sandstone buildings makes a big statement and are listed. The chapel has three stained glass windows, two of which commemorate the dead of the last two World Wars. The chancel has a pointed arch carried on marble columns and a gallery carried on cast iron Corinthian columns. The Schoolroom was used not only for Sunday School and the Band of Hope but for sales and concerts given by The Williton Choral Society. In 2003 the Chapel was modernised to make it into a community centre and has since been sold. The Methodists continue to meet in Williton.

The open space at the end of High Street with seats on was called Bellamy Corner because there once stood houses on the site in which there was a jewellery business run by a man called Bellamy. He closed down in the 1940s.

Moving on to Gliddons premises in Bank Street which was formerly an agricultural Engineers and Workshop. This was the most important C19 industrial operation in Williton .John Gliddon founded the Swain Street Foundry in Watchet in 1833 which ran until 1946.The area on which they stored their agricultural machinery was the one time auction market site. In the Mediaeval period the settlement was essentially agricultural with a large number of small farms. Quarrying of building materials supplemented the agricultural economy in historical times.

The attractive former Police Station built in 1858 designed by John Norton included not only the Superintendent and Sergeant’s accommodation but cells and a courtroom. Later it incorporated the library. Recently it was put up for sale. Sadly its blue light with heritage glass and the word police painted on it was recently removed despite it being a listed building. Finally modern blue glass was re-instated in the lamp minus ‘police’. Seems someone thought it might be be mistaken as still being a functioning Police Station despite no official notice outside or even a

plaque with’ The Old Police House ‘ on it! This is how our heritage gets lost.

Dragons form an essential part of West Somerset folklore. St Caradoc was said to have tamed a dragon which had menaced King Arthur’s people around Carhampton, while a dragon that had allegedly crept from the Quantocks and menaced the area as far as Williton was finally slain at Norton Fitzwarren.

It was in the Saxon period that Williton emerged as a distinct settlement. Some say it acquired its name from the Willet stream formed in the C12 by the joining of two streams, one from Stream and the other from Doniford which runs behind the church. The main settlement was around where the Parish Church stands but over time has migrated north-east. This area still has a timeless feel about it. In the C10 there was a Royal hunting lodge and chapel there and so as a Royal administrative centre it must been of some status.

The spelling of the name has taken many forms. As far back as The Domesday Book in which three properties are registered with different village spelling- Wellutune,

Bellamy Corner at the far end. The shop on the corner was Churchill’s Saddlery.

Welletone, Willetone. Later in AD 1207 Radulphus de Wileton is recorded as having paid one mark for a marriage licence. Other variations ranged from Willington to Widiton, Weleton,Wyletone, Welwetone and Guillitone (probably a french spelling as G was pronounced W). In 1535 on one map the church is shown as being in Wyllyton! So take your pick!

It is likely that there was a wooden building with thatched roof erected as a place of worship for the Saxon kings and their knights when they came to the Royal Hunting Lodge. The first record of a chapel on the present site was one founded by Robert Fitz Urse. He was the brother of Sir Reginald Fitz Urse who in C12 owned the Manor House, which stood on a site SW of the church beyond the cottages in front of the stream.

When at the King’s Court in France Sir Reginald overheard King Henry, who had been drinking heavily, say one evening “Who will rid me of this turbulent priest ?” referring to his one time friend and now arch enemy, Thomas a’ Becket , the Archbishop of Canterbury, he conspired with three other knights to do just that.

As leader he directed them each to ride separately to the French coast and told them where they should meet up on the other side. Together they rode to Canterbury Cathedral where they murdered Thomas a’ Becket on the altar steps on 29th December 1170.

The repercussions of their action was enormous not just on the Fitz Urse family- Reginald was no longer allowed at Court- the King had to make a worthy act of repentance and the history of Williton Church was changed. Reginald in contrition for his action handed the Manor House over to his brother Robert and the Knights Templar and left.

Robert feeling that he too should atone for his brother’s sin gave arable land and property to St

Decuman Church in Watchet as well as an acre of land for a dwelling where the Chaplain of Wileton Chapel could live. From then until 1902 St Peter’s became a chapelof-ease, as part of the parish of St Decuman.

The chapel was originally dedicated to All Saints but appears to have become St Peter in the 1700’s. Its main body of nave and chancel is Mediaeval. There may be remains of Robert’s chapel under the present day structure. The south aisle was added in 1810-12 and incorporates some Elizabethan windows that had been in the original south wall of the nave.

The church was restored in 1856-9 when the vestry and north aisle were added. The roof was renewed and the bells rehung in a tower with a small spire, which sadly did not last long as it was blown down in a violent storm. A wooden bellcot housed the bells until a stone was built in 1896. The octagonal font, dated 1666, is of particular interest as it is made from Watchet alabaster.

Williton once had five crosses in various locations. Quite why, it had so many is not known but the remains of one still stands on Glebe land opposite the north door of the church.

That land is known as ‘Chapel Green’. The story goes that the cross was vandalised by a raiding party which rode this way to Orchard Wyndham during the Civil War.

For the archaeologists The Battlegore Bronze Age Burial Chamber, a scheduled ancient monument is fascinating. It consists of three round barrows and possibly a long chambered barrow. George Grey excavated the site in 1931 and found a large urn containing cremated remains of a human in one of the barrows. Various bronze items have been found in the vicinity, such as a broken dagger,a rapier, a spearhead and a winged axe.

There is so much more to Williton than meets the eye and much that I have not touched upon like the Station with its LB’s, The Orchard Wyndham Estate , Coxes Newsagents and Free Press founders, all of which would warrant an article on their own. There are many other interesting buildings and tucked away areas to explore but hopefully you may have been inspired to visit and see for yourself.

The Hole photography studio in 1870 based in Long Street

Compiled by Sally Bainbridge on behalf of Minehead Conservation Society.

BRAIN TRAIN

Fill in the grid so that each row, column and 3x3 box contains the numbers 1 through to 9 with no repetition.

Across

1. Pale yellowish-green colour (4)

3. Unconsciousness induced by drugs (8)

9. Musical setting for a religious text (7)

10. Famous American battle, Davy Crockett’s last (5)

11. Offensive against an enemy (5)

12. One of a kind (6)

14. Changeover (6)

16. Disease of the skin (6)

19. Hindu or Buddhist mystical or magical text (6)

21. Vertical pipe in a building (5)

24. Sign of the zodiac, the Ram (5)

25. Protective shoe-coverings (7)

26. Put aside for a special purpose (8)

27. Form of charge imposed and collected (4)

Down

1. Ball game played with long-handled racquets (8)

2. Priory residents (5)

4. Counting frame (6)

5. American raccoon (5)

6. Act passed by a legislative body (7)

7. Native of Edinburgh, for example (4)

8. Acid found in milk (6)

13. Room in a church where a priest prepares for a service (8)

15. Slanted letters (7)

17. Migratory shorebird of the sandpiper family (6)

18. Armed fight (6)

20. Weapon that delivers a temporarily paralysing electric shock (5)

22. Person held in servitude (5)

23. Wild animal’s den (4)

“Dreamt” is the only English word that ends in the letters “mt”. McDonald’s introduced drive-through service due to the military. Alfred Hitchcock was frightened of eggs. The fuller the fridge, the more energy-efficient it is. There’s a LEGO bridge in Germany that you can walk across.

If you have any questions regarding moving into Wyndham House, please do not hesitate to call a friendly member of the enquiries team.

A hole lot of flavour going on

Celebrating 75 years of Rowntree’s iconic mint, the Polo.

The original Polo mints arrived on shelves in 1948, and very quickly, Britain was hooked.

Distinguishable simply by the hole in the middle, they were low cost, compact and offered maximum impact.

Over the years, the product that has evolved hugely, with fruit, lemon, spearmint, ice, butter mint and gummies varieties, and always backed by smart marketing. For instance, on April Fool’s Day 1995, they announced that “in accordance with EEC Council Regulation (EC) 631/95, they would no longer be producing mints with holes”.

And to flip the concept somewhat, the launch of Polo holes the

following year leaned on the false notion that, previously, all the holes had been popped out of the mints and discarded!

The rock-hard nature of the sweet is achieved by compressing it at extreme high pressure - around 75 kilonewtons. That’s the equivalent weight of two fully-grown elephants.

Perhaps part of our love affair with the humble Polo comes in the fact it has always been a British product. To this day, the sweet is produced at the Rowntree’s plant in York. The facility is able to make up to 22,000 sweets per minute –that’s equivalent to over 1.3 million packs a day!

West Somerset National Trust Association

And although the British public’s attitude towards confectionary has changed significantly over the years, our love affair for the humble mint has never waned. It seems certain the Rowntree’s favourite will saunter its way towards its centenary, as fresh and satisfying as it was way back in 1948.

Don’t suffer in silence

The ability to hear is one of our most important senses, enabling us to connect to and make sense of the world. It’s the brain’s main connection to what’s happening around us and our hearing is always on duty, 24 hours a day, every day. It’s a sense we tend to take for granted, yet ear problems can develop at any time due to blockages or infections. Here, we look at some of the common causes of ear discomfort.

Earwax build-up

Earwax is produced inside your ears to keep them clean and free of germs. This usually passes out of the ear harmlessly but sometimes too much wax can build up and lead to blocked ears. It’s a very common problem and can often be treated with overthe-counter (OTC) drops.

Some people naturally produce a lot of earwax leading to regularly blocked ears. Other factors that can increase the risk of too much wax building up include:

Producing naturally hard or dry earwax

Having narrow or hairy ear canals

Getting older, as earwax becomes drier with age

If you have a build-up of earwax, you may experience symptoms such as: earache, hearing loss, tinnitus, itchiness, vertigo or develop an infection.

Pressure in your ears

Your sinuses and ears are closely connected so when you have sinus congestion, this can lead to pressure in your ears. Having clogged sinuses can lead to pain, dizziness, and a muffled sensation. Treating the congestion in your sinuses is the first step.

Try using a nasal saline decongestant spray or hold a warm, moist muslin cloth to your face – this can help to ease the pressure and discomfort. Drink plenty of fluids too, as staying hydrated can help to keep nasal mucus thin.

Swimmer’s ear

Despite the name, you don’t need to have been in the pool to get this! It has the medical name otitis externa and is an infection of the ear canal. Swimmer’s ear is usually caused by bacteria, although it can sometimes be brought on by a virus or fungus. Symptoms include itching in the ear, pain, and trouble hearing (sound may seem muffled as your ear canal swells). You might also experience fluid draining out of the ear. Prescription ear drops are the most common treatment for this condition.

Hearing loss

This often develops gradually with age, although it can also be caused by repeated exposure to loud noises. General signs of hearing loss include misunderstanding what is being said to you, asking people to repeat themselves or regularly watching TV with the volume turned up higher. There are a number of treatment options and recommendations will depend on the cause of your hearing problems.

Who to ask for help?

A sudden change to your hearing is likely to need an appointment with your GP. But if you have ongoing problems such as regular earwax build-up, or you have gradual age-related hearing loss, then it’s worth visiting a specialist.

Do you suffer with blocked ears?

Exmoor Ear Care offer a mobile Microsuction service to remove ear wax in the comfort of your own home.

To book an appointment or for more information please call Selina on: 07814 638768

Email: exmoorearcare@hotmail.com www.exmoorearcare.co.uk

Hi there! For those of you in the community that I haven’t yet met, my name is Selina. I grew up here in Minehead and for the past 12 years have and continue to work as a Registered Nurse in West Somerset, where I also live with my husband, raising our two daughters and excitable Labrador!

“My dad has struggled with his hearing for years, now thanks to Selina he can actually hear me! Thank you for a professional and friendly service x”.

L. Hodder

I love my job and the opportunity to meet and care for patients in the locality. In recent years, within my professional capacity I became aware of a lack of services available that promote ear care and more specifically microsuction across West Somerset and Exmoor and decided to establish Exmoor Ear Care which aims to provide people with a local and convenient service that can help reduce ear wax and hearing loss. Whilst it is a beautiful area to live and work, the lack of available services and poor transport networks can often mean that

“Excellent service, such a lovely lady, so very, very pleased with the results, would highly recommend Selina to everyone. Thank you very much”.

E. Goodwin

some people struggle to access the right health care. Exmoor Ear Care not only runs clinics in local pharmacies in Minehead and South Petherton but also offers appointments within your own home meaning that access is quick and convenient. Since launching the business in 2022 I have already been able to support many people and I am proud to share the testimonies below and look forward to creating more links within the local community and offering professional ear care and assurance.

“Now the boy can’t say ‘I didn’t hear you mum!’ Thank you Selina! Registered Nurse, professional & caring - highly recommend”.

C. Bowman

Saturday 4th March we have an afternoon viewing of ROALD DAHL’S MATILDA THE MUSICAL (CERT PG) starring Emma Thompson as the abominable Miss Trunchbull.

To coincide with International Women’s Day on Wednesday 8th March we bring you MARY CASSATT: PAINTING THE MODERN WOMANExhibition on screen.

The Regal welcomes back CLEVERLEY EVERLY & THE 60s TRIBUTE SHOW on Friday 10th March Recreating the fabulous music of the Everly Brothers. It’s a musical trip down memory lane.’

Saturday 11th March a morning showing of CAMELOT (1967 VERSION – CERT U) The story of the marriage of England’s King Arthur to Guinevere. All proceeds to go to the Regal Theatre support fund.

Friday, 17th March 2023 Somerset Opera’s production of GILBERT AND SULLIVAN’S THE GONDOLIERS bubbles with good humour and joyous melody.

Sunday, 19th March 2023 when THE FUREYS make their eagerly awaited return to the stage of the Regal Theatre. One of Ireland’s all-time most acclaimed and influential folk, traditional and middle of the road bands.

TURANDOT Wednesday 22nd March - LIVE from The Royal Opera House. When life hangs in the balance, can love conquer all? Puccini’s score is rich in musical marvels (featuring the famous aria ‘Nessun Dorma’).

THE MAN IN PLOT 46 – Thursday 30th March –Saturday 1st April. Barnstormers present this brand-new play based on the story of operation Mincemeat. A British soldier was laid to rest in a small Spanish cemetery who had died when the plane in which he was travelling crashed into the Mediterranean Sea. Or was he?

Tickets for all events may be booked in advance online at www.regaltheatre.co.uk/whatson or from the Box Office (Tel 01643 706430) between 9.30am and 12.00pm Monday - Saturday; or by telephone only from 1.30pm to 4pm.

Minehead and the First World War:

On Thursday, 23rd March local historian Geoff Lloyd will be giving an illustrated talk on Minehead Families in the First World War at Methodist Church Hall, The Avenue, Minehead, 7.30p.m.

Geoff is well known for his involvement, with Ian Davidson, in the publication of several books on Minehead, telling the stories of those who went away to fight and those who served in what later became the Red Cross hospital.

Geoff says, ‘We quite rightly celebrate the heroism of the men who went away and the devotion of the women who served in what later became Minehead hospital. But what was the impact on those left behind and on the town of Minehead?’

New research for this illustrated talk gives an insight into the lives of the 230 families of those who served, along with a look at the longer term impact of the war.

Tickets at £5 -or £3 for Friends of the Museum and can be reserved by contacting the museum at mineheadmuseum@btconnect.com or calling 01643 704683.

Melodious Music for Minehead Museum!

On Saturday 1st April the Minehead Male Voice Choir will be putting on their first concert of 2023 in Minehead, especially to support Minehead Museum and its quest to secure new premises.

The concert will be in the Methodist Church, The Avenue, Minehead, starting at 7pm.

Tickets are £8, or £6 for Museum Friends, and will be on sale in the Museum from March 25th; or can be reserved in advance by contacting mineheadmuseum@btconnect.com or calling 01643 704683.

Beach Hotel Complex | The Avenue | Minehead | TA24 5AP

Feel Good Films at the Regal Theatre

Camelot, 11a.m. Sat 11th Mar ’23

On Saturday 11th March at 11 a.m. the Regal Theatre Minehead is screening the third of its now monthly Saturday Morning Matinees of classic vintage films, with Camelot.

This is the story of the initially blissful marriage of King Arthur to Guinevere .... but trouble starts, when she has an affair with his knight, Lancelot.... the rest is history of course!!

Tickets are just £3.00 each and the Box Office is open 9.30am to 12.00pm Monday to Wednesday, Friday and Saturday - or call 01643 706430; on-line booking is also available for most shows at: www.regalboxoffice.co.uk

Ginger George

West Somerset’s Top Cat - The word on the street

Pride before a fall

I spent a pleasant weekend chatting to an old cat, who is nearly 22. He was telling me that he remembers when the housing estate where we live was all farm fields, and how things have changed. He was the king cat back in the day, but then there wasn’t as many cats around. There were a few down the farm and a gang from the farmworker’s cottages. He recalled the day he fell down an old culvert by the farm, that was filled with cow slurry. It took him weeks before he got the smell out of his coat. It’s been fenced off now to keep people away.

Of course, I just had to investigate it for myself as we are so curious us cats. The next day I wandered over, passed the ‘Keep Out’ signs. I walked around being extra carful where I put my feet. It did look a bit dodgy, so I decided not to temp fate and made my way back to the park where I bumped into Blackie. He was looking a bit apprehensive, so I asked him what the matter was. He confided in me that a new cat has appeared on the scene, a large black cat and apparently, he’s been bullying all the other cats in the area. I’ve not noticed this cat before but apparently he’s looking to take over my leadership. What’s more, he comes from another village, but he wants to spread his wings a bit.

I put the word about I was up for a challenge, if he was brave enough to take me on. Sure enough, it didn’t take long for the word to get to him and he accepted my challenge. I told Blackie to mention to him that I’m always having a kip in the long grass down by the farm and to met me there the next day at noon.

You don’t have to guess where I went. I tested out the ground and found a nice grassy patch to settle in. A hour later he turned up. Like most bullies they lack brains and put their efforts into brawn. Before we could get into eye contact, I taunted him. “Is this right that you want my leadership, you flea

ridden mutt? You couldn’t fight your way out of a paper bag”, I shouted. His posture changed into a attack mode, his tail swishing side to side. He looked like he meant business. I of course kept calm and passive, “Come on Big Boy do your worst” He looked mad, and immediately bolted towards me and leapt into the air, front paws stretch out, claws extended. I had to take evasive action, so I stepped back about a foot uncovering the hole in the grass I was covering. He suddenly disappeared down the hole and didn’t come back up. I have no idea what was in that hole. Shall I rescue him I thought…… nah?. Didn’t see him again I have to admit.

CHILDREN’S PUZZLES

Egg 1 = piece 6 Egg 2 = piece 5 Egg 3 = piece 1 Egg 4 = piece 2 Egg 5 = piece 3 Egg 6 = piece 4

CROSSWORD

Across: 1 CHICK, 3 LAMB, 5 HOTCROSSBUN, 6 EASTER, 9 DAFFODIL, 10 BASKET, 12 SPRING.

Down: 1 CHOCOLATE, 2 BIBLE, 4 BONNET, 7 TULIP, 8 RABBIT, 11 EGG.

Across: 1 Lime, 3 Narcosis, 9 Cantata, 10 Alamo, 11 Onset, 12 Unique, 14 Switch, 16 Eczema, 19 Tantra, 21 Riser, 24 Aries, 25 Toecaps, 26 Reserved, 27 Levy.

How many telemarketers does it take to change a light bulb? Only one, but he has to do it while you are eating dinner.

In a freak accident today, a photographer was hurt when a huge lump of cheddar landed on him. To be fair, the people who were being photographed did try to warn him.

Rooms available for hire in an historic 16th Century house with a secret garden.

What do you call a Frenchman wearing sandals?

WORDWHEEL:

MANHANDLE

Down: 1 Lacrosse, 2 Monks, 4 Abacus, 5 Coati, 6 Statute, 7 Scot, 8 Lactic, 13 Sacristy, 15 Italics, 17 Curlew, 18 Battle, 20 Taser, 22 Slave, 23 Lair.

Suitable for interest groups, hobby classes community groups, business meetings, social events & private functions.

What do you call someone who always states the obvious? Someone who always states the obvious.

Philippe Flop.

My three favourite things are eating my family and not using commas.

Competitive rates, exible bookings, modern kitchen, WIFI & Garden

Why not arrange a viewing ? cherryburroughs@talktalk.net

WEBSITE: townsendhouse.weebly.com

You need to be careful when it’s raining cats and dogs. You might step in a poodle.

I hate my job – all I do is crush drinks cans all day. It’s soda pressing.

Farmer isaac

It hurts me to say this, but I have a sore throat.

Somebody has invented the cold air balloon. Can’t see it taking off though.

Ol’ Ned were telling I, that his varther were 95 and ‘e don’t use glasses. Cor ‘ee must ‘ave gud eyesite then. No, ‘ee don’t use glasses cuz he drinks straight vrom the bottle.

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