Mendip Times

Celebrating life onthe Mendips and

surrounding areas

FREEMendipTimesVOLUME 8 ISSUE 9 FEBRUARY 2013

Local people, local history, local places, local events and local news

IN THIS ISSUE:PPOOIINNTT--TTOO--PPOOIINNTT UUNNDDEERRWWAAYY

WASSAIL CELEBRATIONSSSSS TTIITTAANNIICC’’SS LLEEGGAACCYY

ARTS & ANTIQUES

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It’s late for Christmas but this is our Guess the Santacompetition. Which partner is this? e smart money is onDervla Nash.

It is good to let the mind wander wherever it wants. Betterthan yoga, possibly musing on the fickleness of humannature, buying groceries, woman flu (it does exist, just notwell publicised) and “Conveyancing”.

Why do different jobs generate their own jargon? Why dosolicitors use that ugly word “conveyancing”? Why not“conveying”? You don’t conveyance an object from one placeto another. To a lawyer a conveyance is a deed transferring aproperty but if a sturdy constable of yesteryear was reporting“ I was proceeding down the High Street in the normal

course of my duties when I observed the Defendant driving at high speed in a stolenconveyance”, he would have meant something entirely different.

Conveyancing is quite a large part of the average solicitor firm’s workload, an areawhere personal contacts and user-friendliness provide a good service and help tosmooth the bumps, often created by others, which arise along the way.

If you have a good local supermarket you use regularly and like the staff and service,would it make sense to send for your baked beans from an unknown source 100 milesaway? Of course not.

Well, for reasons that can make no sense for them, some people do exactly thatwith their conveyancing work, possibly the most important financial transaction in alifetime. Why? Who gains out of it? Read on next month.

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MENDIP TIMES • FEBRUARY 2013 • PAGE 3

MENDIP TIMES CONTENTS

WelcomeSNOWDROPS and daffodils had hardlyemerged when the snow descended, butthey are not the only signs of spring.Organisers are busy preparing for thefirst of the year’s big local events,Mendip Point to Point and the WestCountry Game Fair.We’ve previews of both and the

chance to win tickets to the fair, which isbeing held at the Royal Bath and Westshow ground. The Royal Bath and WestSociety stages its own 150th show laterin the year – Mary James looks back atthe society’s history.The history of a Clutton firm goes

back even further – Dawson Steeplejacksare in their 176th year and are stillclambering up churches and historicbuildings all over the West Country – wedidn’t join them!We’ve pictures from some traditional

wassailing events around Mendip and gobehind the scenes at Frome MemorialTheatre for Frome Amateur OperaticSociety’s pantomime Dick Whittington.Our guide to What’s On in the areagrows bigger by the month.We meet self-confessed “Otterholic”

Tony House and share some of hisstunning pictures and join Phil Hendy onhis journey to The Frozen Deep, themassive new cave found deep underCheddar Gorge.With all of our regular contributors

and features, we can confidently say thatspring is on the way.

March 2013 deadline:Friday, 15th February 2013.Published:Tuesday, 26th February 2013.

Editorial:Steve Egginton [email protected] Adler [email protected]:Ann Quinn [email protected] Page [email protected]: Mendip Times LimitedCoombe Lodge, Blagdon, Somerset BS40 7RGContacts: For all enquiries, telephone:

01761 463888or: email [email protected]: [email protected] and origination by:Steve HendersonPrinted by:Precision Colour Printing, Haldane,Halesfield 1, Telford, Shropshire TF7 4QQ

Copyright of editorial content held by Mendip Times Ltd. and itscontributors. No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in aretrieval system or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic,mechanical, photocopying, recording or otherwise without the expresspermission of the Publisher. The views expressed in this publication donot necessarily represent those of the publisher or its associates.

Front cover: Sarah Gould and Special Occasion at home in Cranmore.Photo by Mark Adler (see page 66).

72Behind the scenes –panto time in Frome

Plus all our regular featuresEnvironment...................................6Farming Mary James MBE..........10Valentine’s ....................................12Food & Drink...............................16Arts & Antiques ...........................24Business ........................................30Internet and Crossword ..............35Wildlife Chris Sperring MBE.......37Walking Sue Gearing....................38Outdoors Les Davies MBE ..........40

Gardening Mary Payne MBE ......42Health Dr Phil Hammond.............46Family Mendip Mum....................46Community...................................49Caving Phil Hendy........................51Charities .......................................52Property ........................................54History ..........................................56Riding Celia Gadd ........................64What’s On ....................................69

66They’re off – our guide tothe point-to-point season

7Pressing on – apple treeproject takes root in Mendip

28Ship-shape and ciderfashion – HMS Somersetgoes wassailing

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MENDIP TIMES NEWS

The original Wurzels line-up

Memories of Adgeand the Wurzels

AREPRINT of the new biography of Adge Cutler has justbeen released, after the first edition sold out in just six weeks.Adge: King of the Wurzels, by John Hudson, was launched

at a packed event in the upstairs room at the Royal Oak atNailsea where the Wurzels’ first LP was recorded in 1966.Several people who were in the room that night were at the

launch, including the Wurzels’ former manager John Miles,Adge’s brother Dave Cutler, his step-daughter Su Elliott,various cousins – and TomWhite, the hapless doorman backin 1966 who was overwhelmed by the crush of gatecrasherswanting to see the new sensations of Scrumpy ‘n’Westernmusic.Adge’s boyhood years in Nailsea and his time working on

the building site at Portishead B power station form importantchapters in the book, as do the infamous World CiderDrinking and Muck Spreading Championships in Portisheadand Weston-in-Gordano in 1967 and 1969, which did somuch to promote the Wurzels cult.Finally, the crash in which Adge died in 1974, and the

mysteries surrounding it, are examined in unprecedenteddepth.

John Hudsonsigning books

OLLY Griffin, whogrew up on a dairyfarm at KingstonSeymour, nearClevedon is aboutto embark on aconservationproject in a remotearea of Gabon, onthe west coast ofAfrica.After attending

Sidcot School, hestudied NaturalSciences at theUniversity of Bath

and during his final year was part of a group of students thatorganised and led an expedition to Madagascar.He said: “There we carried out a biodiversity survey, looking

at lemurs, birds, reptiles and amphibians. After I graduated, Iwent back to Madagascar to work for 10 months, mostly on theGreater Bamboo Lemur, of which there are only about 300 left,but was also involved with aye-aye and other criticallyendangered lemurs.”Whilst there, he applied for a masters course in Conservation

Science, which he finished recently. At the end of this month hewill be leaving for Gabon, for at least a year and a half, workingfrom a very remote and beautiful forest clearing frequented bygorillas, elephants, swamp-dwelling antelope, leopards, buffalo,crocodiles, and otters.He said: “I’ll be developing research programs, helping with

law enforcement, and monitoring ivory poaching and illegallogging. My girlfriend will also be working in Gabon, at adifferent national park, where she’ll be working with mandrill,the world’s largest monkey, which has an amazing paintedface.”Olly’s mother, Franky, was a teacher and now runs a small

retail business, and his father, Roland, was a dairy farmer andnow manages their land. He has twin sisters, Briar, a fashiondesigner in London, and Esme, a pharmacist who locums allover North Somerset. The family are mostly self-sufficient forfood, rearing their own lamb and poultry, with Roland growingmost of their vegetables.We hope to report on Olly’s work in future issues.

Africa bound

THE Mendip Hills AONB Partnership has received a grant of£205,500 from the Heritage Lottery Fund for its DiscoveringBlack Down project, which is aimed at safeguarding the futureof the Black Down and Burrington Commons.It will allow the AONB to employ a full-time project officer

for three years to work with community groups and partnerorganisations. Councillor Dawn Hill, chairman of the AONBpartnership said:“We’re delighted that the Heritage Lottery Fund has given us

this grant. Black Down is one of the most fascinating sites inthe Mendip Hills AONB and with this funding we can bring thespecial stories of the site to life and encourage people to take anactive role in caring for this special place.”

Protecting Black Down

News page 5:Layout 1 24/1/13 12:33 Page 1

CHEWTON Mendip school children, staff and parents wereamazed and delighted to discover that they have just raisedenough money in their seasonal appeal to buy a small farmyardin Africa.The project started when Jackie Laws, a Send a Cowambassador, visited the school and inspired the children bytelling them all about the work of SAC, which trains andsupports poor rural families in Africa and helps them to becomeself-sufficient.The children were also really interested to hear that everyperson given a gift promises to pass on an equivalent gift toanother family in need, the first female calf, goat kid, seeds orskills, for example.Everyone in the school then decided not to buy and send eachother Christmas cards, but to focus on raising funds to changethe life of a family in Africa with the help of Send a Cow. Allthe children made recycled seasonal messages at home in theshape of one of the animals that Send a Cow donates.As the children brought in their original and creative designsto add to the colourful display in the school entrance hall, theydonated £1. Parents and staff also donated money.Jackie Laws visited the school to receive a cheque for£471.31, thanked everyone, and said: “This is a fantastic resultand is enough money to buy two local cows, four sheep, twogoats, eight chickens, four rabbits, seeds and tools, three tiptaps and two fuel-saving stoves, which will make a hugedifference to several families in Africa.”

PAGE 6 • MENDIP TIMES • FEBRUARY 2013

MENDIP TIMES

Details: www.sendacow.org.uk or 01225 874222.

Local school buysfarmyard in Africa!

Seasonal Messages made from recycled materials, on ChewtonMendip’s Send a Cow display

Send a Cow ambassador, Jackie Laws, receives a cheque for £476from Chewton Mendip School

Children at Chewton Mendip School admiring their Send a Cowdisplay

A PRIMARY school near Shepton Mallet has receivedfunding towards a new pond which aims to provide anenjoyable yet educational environment for the pupils.Upton Noble C. of E. Primary School’s new pond was dugout by parents, teachers and children. The children are nowworking on plans to build a butterfly zone and outdoor studyareas.Mark Solomon, headteacher, said: “We have seen how ourchildren benefit from playing and working outside and ournew pond will provide endless opportunities for creative andenjoyable play and education.”The project was supported by Wessex Water. RepresentativeJody Knight is pictured with two members of the schoolcouncil.

School pond project

Environment section:Layout 1 24/1/13 10:12 Page 6

A PROJECT to teach students about theheritage of their local apple orchards iscoming to fruition.Barbra Lakin, from Shepton Mallet,has been working with five secondaryschools for more than two years as partof the Fruit-full Schools Project, whichis managed by the national schoolgrounds charity Learning ThroughLandscapes.Students have been encouraged todiscover more about their local appleheritage, celebrate Apple Days andWassails and how to bench graft appletrees. Barbra has been working withCrispin School in Street, AnsfordSchool, near Castle Cary, OakfieldMiddle School in Frome, ShaftesburySchool in Dorset and the Grange Schoolat Warmley, in South Gloucestershire.Those schools also joined forces withtheir feeder primary schools which nowboast their own mini-orchards including:Norton St Philip, Mells, Trinity,Elmhurst, Coxley, Brookside,Evercreech, North Cadbury, Lovingtonand Castle Cary.The first grafting sessions took placein 2010 using local scion wood fromtrees donated by the Somerset Rural LifeMuseum in Glastonbury, Chalice Welland a private orchard in Norton StPhilip. The secondary schools were alsoeach given £1,000 for an orchard-relatedproject.Barbra, an accredited educator for LTLwho has worked with local schools on

environmental and heritage projects for anumber of years, said: “There have beenso many brilliant parts to this project butone that sticks in my mind is of a groupof lads at Ansford. In the first year theywere apple juicing during Apple Day. Alad brought in a red bucket in which hehad made juice in his workshop.“It worked a bit but he went away toimprove it; next year he converted adustbin into an apple press; better but hewas still not completely happy. Last yearhe and his mates had an enormouswooden press that they had builtthemselves and used in a verysuccessful community apple pressingoutside the Market House in Castle Cary– all done under their own initiative –fantastic!”� Barbra is offering to donate a numberof apple tree saplings to projects whichare accessible to the public, such as

community orchards. They are all WestCountry varieties. For more information,e-mail Barbra at:[email protected]


ENVIRONMENT

For more information, visit: www.fruitfullschools.org

An apple forteacher?

Teacher David Wrathall, co-ordinator for Crispin School’ssustainable development group, removing side shoots

Grafting underway

Barbra Lakin

Students at Crispin Schoolprepare to plant the trees


DINDER, near Wells, has been described as “a lovely, traditionalvillage” – now residents are being asked for their views on whatmakes it so special.Heritage conservation experts from Mendip District Councilhave produced a draft appraisal document to highlight and protectthe community’s architectural and historical features.The draft Dinder Conservation Area Appraisal went out topublic consultation in January. The consultation period lasts untilearly February. Dinder has been designated a Conservation Areasince 1987 but this is the first time an appraisal has been carriedout on the village.The purpose of the appraisal is to define and record the specialarchitectural and historic interest of the Dinder conservation areaand to identify opportunities for enhancement and further work. Itwill provide a firm basis on which applications for developmentwithin the Dinder Conservation Area will be assessed.Councillor Nigel Hewitt-Cooper, district councillor for theCroscombe and Pilton ward, said: “Dinder is a lovely traditional

village and this appraisal highlights the features that create itsbeauty. It’s important that these features are maintained and futureplanning doesn’t have a detrimental impact on this rural village.”� The report, which includes colour photographs from some ofthe key sites in Dinder, is available to view online atwww.mendip.gov.uk Hard copies will also be available at St.Michael’s Church within the village, Dinder Village Hall and atthe council offices in Shepton Mallet. Members of the public areable to comment on the appraisal by sending letters to MendipDistrict Council, Cannards Grave Road, Shepton Mallet, BA45BT or email [email protected], clearly markingit for the attention of Robert Palmer.Once all the consultation responses have been considered, afinal version of the appraisal is expected to be adopted by thecouncil.


MENDIP TIMES ENVIRONMENT

LAST year proved to be a mostremarkable one in which we saw thewettest-ever April, June ANDDecember.Add to that the second-wettestNovember and a very wet July andSeptember as well and it made a grandtotal of 1619.1mm of rain for the yearas a whole. This was the wettest year

on record and TWICE the rainfall we had in 2009!Then along comes the New Year and what happens?Pressure rose strongly as soon as the New Year came inand the barometer went from a reading of 999mb on NewYear’s Eve to as high as 1039mb by January 3rd.This, of course, brought about a complete change in theweather pattern. As we all know, high pressure means a lotof dry weather and we have had less rain during the firsthalf of January than during the last three days ofDecember!The reason for the drier weather is because within alarge high pressure area, the air is moving generallyoutwards at low levels and has to be replaced by air from

above, the descending air causing the cloud layers to thinand break – just the opposite of what happens within a lowpressure area, of course.As well as drier weather, high pressure often bringscolder conditions in winter, which is the case as I write,and next time I might have some interesting cold weatherfacts to tell you about.

Wet and dry: from low to high pressure

with DAVIDMAINE

MENDIP

WEATHER

SCENE

The River Sheppey flowsthrough the village

What makes Dinder special?

Perfect weather on New Year’s Day for a meeting of theMendip Farmers Hunt

The village church ishighlighted in the report


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Page 9 February:Layout 1 24/1/13 10:14 Page 1

SOME farminghistory this month.The Royal Bath andWest Show celebratesits 150th show thisyear but the societywas formed longbefore that.It was in 1777 that

a gentleman in Bath put an advert in theBath Chronicle (it is still in operation)and other papers urging public spiritedgentlemen from the City of Bath to comeforward with a view to encourageAgriculture, Arts, Manufactures andCommerce, in the Counties of Somerset,Wilts, Gloucester, Dorset and in the Cityand County of Bristol.As a result 22 distinguished gentlemen

came forward and the Bath Society wasformed, which later became the BathAgricultural Society, then the Bath andWest and in 1977 the Royal Bath andWest of England Show Society.The 18th century was a time when

there were far-reaching changes in Britishfarming, mainly the enclosure of commonland and the introduction of new cropsand implements. The great innovators ofthe time were Jethro Tull (1674 – 1741)who perfected the horse- drawn seed drillthat sowed seeds in neat rows as well asthe horse-drawn hoe and Robert Bakewell(1725 – 1795) who was perhaps the mostimportant figure of the AgriculturalRevolution.He was the first to implement the

systematic selective breeding oflivestock. Those 22 gentlemen of Bath setabout writing discussion papers on manyaspects of the new farming techniqueswhich were made available to all whojoined their society. It was all about theeducation and encouragement of farmers

to try new ideas which is still the basis ofthe Royal Bath and West Show today.For instance the show brought the

Robotic milker to the Dairy Show in 2011and to the main show in 2012. There aresections at the show that explain thenewest ideas in farming and countrysidematters including bio-diversity,sustainability, organics and self-sufficiency.The first agricultural show was held at

Taunton in 1852. It would appear that thiswas for members only but in 1853 it wasopen to the public. The principle of thefirst show was the showing andcomparing of livestock, namely Devonand Shorthorn cattle, sheep, pigs, poultryand pigeons. There was an exhibition ofimplements both for sale and trial forwhich prizes were awarded. So we see anembryo of the same formula used for theshow today.

For 100 years the show followed aformula for country people only but thena secretary called Thomas Plowmandecided that the old concept of a showjust for country people would have to go.He understood that the best way to getthe general public interested inagricultural matters was to provide theopportunity for them to see farmingoperations in action.So he introduced many things we take

for granted today such as ‘jumpingcompetitions’ and working dairies. Theshow was peripatetic until 1965 when itfound a permanent home at SheptonMallet.The show did not operate in the two

world wars or the year of foot and mouthdisease but it recovered each time to beeven stronger. Here’s to the next 150years! Come and see all that it has tooffer this year on May 29th – June 1st.


MENDIP TIMES

If you know of any ex-members vyingfor this title, please contact theSomerset YFC Office on 01278

691711

Here’s to the Royal Bath and West!

With MARYJAMES MBE

SOMERSET Federation of YoungFarmers is fast approaching its 80thanniversary year. The thrivingorganisation was established in 1934.Now they are looking for the oldestsurviving YFC member.

Wanted – oldestYoung Farmer!

The 1863 show was held in Exeter

Farming page:Layout 1 24/1/13 11:53 Page 10

PRIZE money has been increased for this year’s hedgelayingcompetition organised by the Mid-Somerset Show Society.But a recently-discovered newspaper cutting from 90 years ago

shows that winning the ditching and hedging competition then waspossibly even more highly prized.First prize for both amateurs and professionals in this year’s

event has been increased to £50. The competition takes place nearCannards Grave, Shepton Mallet, on Sunday, February 24th.The competition was revived two years ago after trophies and

certificates were discovered hidden away.The old cutting from a 1923 issue of the Shepton Mallet Journal

was found by farmer Roy Trott, who lives opposite this year’svenue. It shows that the first prize for the winner in the under-20scompetition was £1/5/0; fifth place was awarded 2/6.The winner of the Champion Open Class – competitors had to

“dyke and splash 2 perches of hedge” – would receive £1/10/0.The competition took place on land next to Stomacher Farm atDownside, Shepton Mallet. Then, as now, entrance into thecompetition was free.Other advertisements on the same page included the

forthcoming programme at The Cinema in Shepton Mallet (HaroldLloyd was starring in What Do You Think) and the Mid-SomersetMotor Company in the town was promoting Morris Cowleys,Oxfords and Wolseleys. Beneath the advertisement for thecompetition was an advertisement for the Hilworth High Schoolfor Girls in the town, promising “thorough, modern education”.Roy donated the cutting to Roger Noble, organiser of this year’s

competition, who said: “It was remarkable to read about thecompetition. The cutting is another piece of the jigsaw inrecording the history of the event.”� This year’s competition takes place on land at Beard Hill Farm,courtesy of the Snelgrove family. Entries should be submitted toRoger Noble at Meadow Croft, Top Street, Pilton, BA4 4DF(telephone 01749 890614) by Sunday, February 10th. Late entriesmay be accepted.Killens are amongst the sponsors. Others include Uphill & Son,

Carter Jonas, South West Fencing and Chris Burr Contractors.

FARMING

Hedge fund growsBy Mark Adler

Roger Noble

A scene from lastyear’s competition

The cutting from the Shepton Mallet Journal


Farming page:Layout 1 24/1/13 11:53 Page 11


A special giftJUST in time for Valentine’s Day, Erica Sharpe’s latest addition toher elegant swan collection are beautiful swan earrings echoingthe flowing movement of these graceful birds.Eric said: “Swans are believed to pair for life, so thecollection is particularly meaningful for special gifts betweencouples.”The silver earrings retail at £95 and match her swan pendantswhich were launched during the Swans of Wells public art eventlast year. Her swan diamond rings are ideal for engagements andshe is proud to have the collection registered with the FairtradeFoundation.Erica was recently selected a Designer of Excellence 2013

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Sunday March 31st Easter Sunday Lunch

On Thursday February 14thBEAH my Valentine!

MENDIP TIMES VALENTINE’S

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MENDIP TIMES NEWS

For more information, visit:www.stjsgroup/org/somer-valley-foodbank/

Time for tea

Organiser Ann Taylor (left) with club joint presidents MollieArnold and Linda Tanner

AROUND 90 elderly people enjoyed an afternoon tea partyorganised by members of Midsomer Norton and RadstockInner Wheel.The event, at the Somer Centre in Midsomer Norton, was

held to celebrate International Inner Wheel Day and featuredgames of bingo and a performance by the Jenny PeplowSingers.

Joyce Plummer, Doris Brown, Vyvyanne Perkins and EvelynBull enjoy the party

Muriel Walters was amongst thewinners during the game of bingo

THE Somer Valley Foodbank has opened with a promise to helppeople who are “really down on their luck and need hope”.Around 100 people attended the official launch of the foodbank,

including volunteers and members of the various churches whichare backing the venture.Agencies such as social services, health visitors and GPs will

issue vouchers to people who can exchange them for three days’worth of food at centres in Midsomer Norton, Radstock andPeasedown St John.The foodbank will help families, couples and single people

living within a five-mile radius of Midsomer Norton and joinsaround 300 similar concerns in the UK.The foodbank has opened with four tonnes of tinned and dried

food on its shelves. Jo Fraser, the project manager, said: “We willprovide people with enough foodstuffs for three meals a day forthree days. We are not trying to create a dependency but to helppeople in a crisis. It is not about long-term help.”The Rev. Sue Greatorex, from Radstock Churches Together,

said: “This has been in the hearts and minds of people for a verylong time. We want to provide help to people who are really downon their luck and need hope.”� The foodbank is based at a warehouse in the Midsomer Nortonarea. Food will be distributed through centres at:Midsomer Norton Salvation Army: open Mondays, 12noon-2pmThe Church Rooms, next to St Nicholas Church, Radstock: openWednesdays, 12noon-2pmPeasedown St John Methodist Church: open Fridays, 12noon-2pm

Help in a crisisBy Mark Adler

Foodbank project manager Joy Fraser with Rev. Stephen Burrow,curate at St John’s church in Chilcompton


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Update from Guy Salmon Land Rover Bristol

GUY SALMON

DURING the recent adverse weather which caused majordisruptions to travel in and around the area, Guy Salmon LandRover Bristol were there to lend a helping hand!On the morning of Friday 18th January, Dealer Principal

Amanda Binner Vaughan received a phone call from CarolynRoper of the Trauma & Orthopaedic Department at NorthBristol NHS Trust. Alongside the Trust’s own 4x4 vehicles,Carolyn was trying to secure the rental of an additional 4x4vehicle to assist them with the delivery of their TraumaConsultant on call cover over the weekend.Even though Carolyn was only looking for Guy Salmon to

either point them in the right direction or loan them a vehicleat a cost, Amanda kindly offered them the complimentary useof a Land Rover Defender straight away!”The offer of a vehicle was a great help in supporting our

existing extreme weather plans and we are grateful for GuySalmon’s assistance,” said Carolyn.“We were delighted to be of assistance” said Dealer

Principal Amanda Binner-Vaughan, “We have a fantasticproduct that really comes into its own during adverse drivingconditions and the fact we could lend a vehicle to supporthelpsuch a fantastic local requirement is fantastic, and we won’t

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Guy Salmon lend a helping hand!Carolyn and Mike Kelly, Consultant

Orthopaedic Surgeon collecting a LandRover Defender from Guy Salmon.

Guy Salmon page:Layout 1 24/1/13 12:04 Page 64

… GETTING up a bit early to make aspecial breakfast on Valentine’s Day.Refraining from saying: “I’ll just havecoffee, thanks.” Doing the washing up witha big smile.All of these recipes are either very quick

to prepare or else can be made ahead oftime and assembled at the last minute. Youcan lay a pretty tray the night before and

the Today programme will get you through the finalpreparations. I promise it will be worth the effort!

Love is . . .

With JUNEMACFARLANE


June is a former television producer. She is currently a public relations consultant in the food and drink industryand has just started a new blog: www.thekitchenscribbler.blogspot.com

DUCK EGGS BENEDICTWITH SMOKED SALMONEggs Benedict has been described as the Marilyn Monroe ofbreakfasts, so that makes it a very racy start to the day. It isusually made with a slice of ham but I think this version

with smoked salmonmakes it extra special.Duck eggs are availablelocally but, of course,you could use hen’seggs and you can makethe hollandaise thenight before, but domake your own.METHODFirst make thehollandaise. In a bowlwhisk the lemon juiceand vinegar with theegg yolks until frothy.Place the bowl over apan of just simmering

water and stir gently. Addthe butter cubes a few at a time, stirring continually. Whenall the butter is used up cook until the sauce coats the backof the spoon. Remove from the heat, but keep stirring untilthe sauce has cooled a little. If making in advance,refrigerate when completely cool and when needed warmthrough by standing in a pan of very hot water.Poach the duck eggs in simmering water with a splash of

vinegar for about four minutes. Remove and drain on aclean tea towel.Toast the muffins. Spread with a little butter and fold the

smoked salmonon top. Settlean egg on topof the smokedsalmon and veilwith thehollandaise.Sprinkle withchopped chivesand serve.

INGREDIENTS(for two)2 free range duck eggssplash white wine vinegar1 English muffin, halvedbutter for spreading4 slices smoked salmonsome chopped chives

For the hollandaise2 tsp lemon juice2 tsp white wine vinegar3 egg yolks125g unsalted butter, cubed

In Scotland these smallpancakes are calleddropscones. One of myearliest food memoriesis helping to makethem on the hotplateof an Aga. This recipewould be good forPancake Tuesday aswell – the orangesyrup is fantastic, canbe made in advanceand is great with theewes’ milk yoghurtfrom WoottonOrganic Dairy(www.wootton-dairy.com), althoughany plain yoghurt

would work.

METHODPancakes: mix together the dry ingredients, add thebeaten eggs and then the milk gradually until you have athick batter. Add the melted butter.Grease a small frying pan. Drop spoonfuls of the batter

into the pan and cook until bubbles surface. Flipcarefully and brown the other side. It will take you acouple of goes to get the temperature just right. Keepwarm while you make the rest. Serve two or threepancakes per person, with some yoghourt and a couple ofspoonfuls of the syrup.Orange Syrup: simmer the orange rind in boiling waterfor 30 seconds. Drain and repeat. Simmer the orangejuice, sugar, water and blanched rind until reduced to asyrup. Cool.

INGREDIENTSPancakes (makes about eight)125g plain flour1/2 tsp baking powderpinch of salt25g caster sugar2 eggs, lightly beatenabout 100 ml milk25g melted butterbutter for greasingOrange Syrup1 orange, the rind juliennedinto long strips1 cup fresh orange juice1 cup sugar1 cup water

DROPSCONESWITH ORGANICYOGHURTAND ORANGE SYRUP

MENDIP TIMES

Food & Drink section:Layout 1 24/1/13 13:50 Page 16


For full details of where and when to visit, entry formsand prize details contact: [email protected] or

[email protected] • 01761 241631www.stoneaston.co.uk

THE RAILWAY INNCLUTTON

17th century country inn

TEL: 01761 452444

Sunday lunch specials – roast and pudding £9.95Weekday lunch special – two main courses £9.95Coffee and cake £3.95 Thursdays 10.30am–12noon

Now booking: Valentine's Dinner andMothers Day – flowers for every Mum!

LIVE MUSIC EVERY MONTH

THE RAILWAY IS JUST THE TICKET!

www.railwayinnclutton.co.uk

DO you enjoy takingscenic photos in thecountryside, do youoften see sights thatothers miss, capture thecolours and shapes ofthe changing seasons?Well now is your chance

to take part in Ston Easton Park’s new nature and gardensphotographic competition, capturing seasonal moods andchanges around the park.There will be three winners in each season – winter, spring,

summer and autumn – and the best photographs will be used inthe hotel’s new 2014/15 charity calendar.The photographs will be shown throughout the year on the

hotel’s website, culminating in the winners being announced inNovember 2013. Prizes include luxury overnights stays,champagne dinners, family Sunday lunches, tickets to eventsand vintage afternoon cream teas.Photos should be 300dpi high res colour or black and white,

with your name, contact details, phone number, the season andinformation/background about the shot and sent to:[email protected]

Prize pictures

FOOD & DRINK



Come and join us fordelicious country bistrofood prepared by ourteam of top chefs in agreat pub setting in thelovely Somerset villageof Wrington.This February, why notcome down and try usout. We have thefollowing offers to temptyou!

� Our Famous Fish Stewfor two, plus twoglasses of house winefor £25

� Mon – ThursdayLunchtimes – Soup andSandwich for only £7

� Monday Nights Fish &Chips Night £7.95

� Wednesday NightsSteak Night – 2Aberdeen Angus RumpSteaks, chips and salad,plus a bottle of housewine for only £29.95

� Sundays – Our FamousSunday Roasts

� Sunday Nights –Gourmet Burger Night

THERE’S a new look for the new year for the popular farmers’market held at the Plough Inn in Wrington. It’s relaunching as amonthly event, with new stallholders, live music, and later times,10am-2pm so that people can browse there over lunchtime.Purchasers will automatically go in to a free monthly draw for a

hamper, made up of products from the various stallholders.The pub is also featuring food specials on market day – the first

market on Friday February 8th will have free range pork fromReal Pork of Cleeve. There will also be free coffee or teas before11am.

More choice atWrington market

Friday February 8th10am-2pm

Featuring all the best local produce including game, freerange and organic meats, fresh fish, artisan breads, cakes,cheeses, pieminister pies, homemade chocolates, delicious

veg, local pottery and crafts and many other thingsLive Music – Pub Open for BreakfastsFree Coffee & Tea before 11am

**Prize Draw for a Hamper of goodies from our stallholders at1.45pm – free ticket with every purchase!

More than just anothercoffee supplier…

It’s a New Year – time to review!!!We are your local supplier for the highestquality coffee & coffee making equipment,

With professional, helpful, friendly service andadvice. We care about our customers.

If you are looking to change how you serveyour coffee in 2013, then why not give Rob orJane a call to discuss your requirements orcome and see us at our showroom to ‘testdrive’ one of our espresso or bean to cupmachines and taste our superb, freshly

roasted coffee.

MENDIP TIMES


A FAMILY run Bristol company is rapidly expanding in theSouth West by launching its fourth restaurant within five years,despite the current economic climate. Mezze Restaurants isbusy redeveloping The Warwick Arms in Clutton, with a£400,000 makeover in preparation for its official launch inFebruary.It opened its first restaurant, Mezze at the Royal George in

Thornbury in 2008, and also has Mezze at the Ship and Castlein Congresbury.The Warwick is undergoing an extensive refurbishment with

complete renovation of the old open fire into an impressivecentral feature fireplace with a wood burning stove, a newcocktail bar, an A La Carte restaurant and a new eight-bedroomboutique hotel.Mezze spokesman, Alex Tryfonos (pictured right), said: “We

are thrilled with the rapid expansion of the Mezze chain acrossthe South West, which has regenerated the fortunes of severalold and much-loved pubs in the region.“We believe that pubs are the central hub of our local

communities and through our continued self-funded investmentwe are helping to ensure that they continue to thrive as thefocal point of these small towns.”Mezze at the Warwick Arms opens to the public on February

9th, following a series of pre-launch evenings from February5th-7th for local residents to see the transformation. An officialVIP launch evening takes place on Friday February 8th,conducted by a host of local sports stars and celebrities at 7pm.

New look for the Warwick


Traditional Fish and Chips, Sunday Roasts,Cream Teas and Ice Cream

NEW WEEKDAY TEA DEAL£1 for a cup of tea and cup cake,2.30pm-4.30pm Monday to Friday

Function andconferencerooms nowavailablefor parties,meetings and

training

RESTAURANT AND FISHAND CHIPS TAKEAWAY

12noon to 2pmand 5pm-7pmCAFE OPEN

9am-5pm midweekSaturday 8.30am-7pmSunday 8.30am-4pmfor breakfasts andSunday roasts

FOOD & DRINK



THE historic village pub, The Druids Arms at Stanton Drew, isbeing completely refurbished, after being taken over by IanHudson, the man behind Hudson Plumbing and HeatingServices.The 300-year-old pub, famous for the standing stones in its

garden, is due to reopen in time for Easter, with new kitchen,accommodation, cellar, bar and dining area.Ian said: “We are replacing just about everything, apart from

the natural beams and lovely open fire.” It will be run by JohnMills, former landlord of the Yew Tree Inn at Chew Stoke.

New look for village pub

Farm Shop: 01761 220067Tea Rooms: 01761 220172

Country shopping at its best

TEA ROOMSHot & cold mealsDelicious cream teasSunday roastlunchesFull Englishbreakfasts

North Widcombe, West Harptree, Bristol BS40 6HW

Opening times:Farm shop:Monday to Friday 9am - 5.30pmSaturday 8.30am - 5.30pm • Sunday 10am - 5pmTea Room:Monday to Sunday 9.30am - 4.30pm

Wheelchair access, children welcome, free parking, coaches by appointment

Centred around a traditional farm courtyard near ChewValley Lake – the very best in local produce and gift ideas

Plants and giftsincluding EmmaBridgwater china

Enjoy agood

Sunday roast

Local apple juice,cider andchutneys

Geoff’s fresh fishevery Friday andSaturday

SHOPEXTENDED –EVEN MORECHOICE

NEWFUNCTIONROOM NOW

AVAILABLE FORPRIVATEHIRE

VALENTINE’S DAY GIFTS

MENDIP TIMES

Thatchers Wassail

Thatchers Wassail Queen Eleanor Thatcher, with fatherMartin (2nd right), celebrated the tradition with the MendipMorris Men.

100,000 potentialcustomers within ashort distance ofyour business

Mendip Timesreduces travel costs



MINER’S lettuce, or Claytoniaperfoliata, is a new favourite saladvegetable of mine. Last autumn I planteda great variety of winter greens in mypolytunnel to harvest over the winter and,of all of them, the rapini (about whichmore next month) and the miner’s lettucehave done the best.Miner’s lettuce is native to North

America (it gets its name from being a vital source of vitaminC to miners during the California gold rush in the 19thcentury) but has been naturalised in Europe for hundreds ofyears. It grows very vigorously in our climate and hascrunchy, pretty, bluntly arrow-shaped leaves which lookreally great in a salad. I’m not sure why it’s not more popular. It seems that it can be sown at almost any time of the year

if you have a polytunnel or greenhouse, apart from the verycoldest winter months. Last year’s late autumn sowing hasgrown very well over our relatively mild winter and soon Iplan to sow more for a spring harvest.It also grows very well in partial shade, although

sometimes last year it felt hard to discern the shaded and non-shaded parts of the garden. Apparently Miner’s lettuce is alsogood cooked and the leaves do resemble baby spinach intexture, but I have not had quite enough to bother with thisyet.At this time of year, when I’m using up the last of my

chillies, this is one of my favourite salad dressings. First,blacken some mild chillies or peppers over a gas flame, and agarlic clove or two, put in a bowl and cover.Once cooled and steamed a little in their own juices, crush

the garlic and skin and seed the chillies, then chop the flesh.However much chopped flesh you have, add roughly equalquantities of crème fraiche and lime (or lemon) juice.Season generously with salt and pepper and thin down with

a little water if needed to make it pourable. This dressing isalso great as a dip for tortilla chips.

Jacob Whitson is a chef and food writer who hasworked in many of the West Country’s most prestigiousrestaurants. He is currently working on his first book, a

travelogue detailing the regional foods of Japan.

With JAKEWHITSON

Food fit for minersG A R D E N F O O D

Adrian Boots is a Landscape Ecologist, researcher andfarm conservation advisor. You can visit his websitewww.walkthemendips.com to learn more about the

Mendips and his Wild Food Walks.

Can foragers be choosers?W I L D F O O D

I LIKE cabbage, honestly I do. It’s not beeneasy as I certainly didn’t like it as a childalong with Brussel sprouts, broccoli andcauliflower. I can now say I love all of theabove even if a part of me still doesn’t trustcauliflower. So the brassica link brings me toa wild plant that, to me at least and maybe afew others, tastes similar to cabbage: ribwortplantain.

Neolithic farming greatly increased the distribution andabundance of this plant. Pollen analysis in Britain and Scandinaviaindicates that it exploded onto the scene with the increase ingrassland, the herds grazing it, and the decrease in the ‘wild wood’the ancient post ice-age forests.I suspect that whilst the accidental spread of ribwort plantain

was not intended, it would not have gone unnoticed by hunterfarmer gatherers. So it’s here to stay and a good job too as it isedible.

With localSomerset names suchas, chimney sweep,cocks and hens,conqueror flowers,lambs tail to name

but a few, it’s obvious these all refer to the flower heads of thewarmer months – no mention of the leaves in the early spring. Butthat is what we as winter foragers are after, even if there is a hintof cabbage about it.Ribwort plantain (Plantago lanceolata) is related to common

plantain (Plantago major) but has longer spear-like leaves ratherthan the larger more rounded leaves of common plantain, thus theLatin name ‘lanceolata’ for lance/spear shaped. When young, it hasrosettes of fleshy leaves, fibrous stems and as the name suggeststhere are long vertical ribs (ribwort) running the length of the leaf.This very common plant can be found in grassy areas on damp

soils, often in gardens, waste areas and verges etc. I’ve tried both ribwort and common plantain (which in my

opinion tastes less bitter but even more ‘cabbagy’ if that’s possible)in the springtime and towards the end of the year and I canthoroughly recommend you to go with picking and eating them inthe spring. The young tender leaves are best as the mature ones aretough, bitter and stringy. Gather a good handful and add to the frying pan along with thick

cut bacon for a twist on the classic Irish dish of boiled cabbage andbacon. Alternatively, try it in a tomato rich chorizo and beancasserole which adds a bit of greenery to a very red dish, then seeif you can detect ‘that’ flavour?Maybe add extra paprika just to make sure. Or try sweated down

with onions, season well and mixed into mashed potato toppedwith cheese to make champ. In essence, use both types of plantainas a substitute for greens in a dish. Love or hate the flavour ofcabbage, sorry I mean plantain, at this time of year can foragers bechoosers?

With ADRIANBOOTS

MENDIP TIMES FOOD & DRINK



AFTER two successful evenings of acoustic music at theManor in Ditcheat, their next event will be on ThursdayFebruary 7th with host Aj Webber. Once again local Irishjockey, Andrias Guerin, hopes to be there.As everyone knows after his two previous visits to the

club, he has become a firm favourite and has enthralled theaudience with his excellent songs, brilliant voice and ‘dry’sense of humour!Hilary Pavey will be the main guest of the evening and is

one of the most talented singer songwriters to emerge fromthe West Country in recent years. Tickets are only £3 andavailable from the Manor House Inn and also on the door andfood will be available from 6pm for those who wish to grab abite before the entertainment begins.

� Singer Aj Webber willbe launching her latestalbum on the same night.Called Me, the album

is Aj’s fourth and is acompilation of some ofher previous recordings.They feature several ofthe world’s most

respected musicians such as guitarist Albert Lee, pianist JeanRoussel, singer Madeline Bell and Mike d’Abo (ManfredMann) on piano and vocals. Bristol guitarist Kit Morgan isalso featured on one of the tracks.

Music at the Manor

North Road,Timsbury BA2 0JJ

Telephone:01761 479398

www.sevenstars-timsbury.co.uk

itÄxÇà|ÇxËá

Quiz NightSunday 10th Feb, 8pm start

£1 per player, 6 max per team. All proceeds are to go to CheshireHome in the hope of building a sensory room.

Bed and breakfast now available – two beautiful, double en-suite bedrooms– see our website for details

Sunday roast – children under 12 eat freeOpen: Tuesday till ursday 12pm - 3pm / 6pm – 11pm. Friday & Saturday

12pm – midnight. Sunday 12pm – 10.30pm

Valentine’s bookings are now being taken. ursday 14th February:2 Course £17.00 - 3 Course £ 21.00 (includes coffee & mints). 2 sittings, 6.30 or 8.30 –

bookings only – for more information please contact us.

NEW: Every Friday from 11am till 12noon – Parents and babies coffeemorning! Changing facilities now available on site.


Open:Tuesday–Sunday

Saturdays 12noon–3pmand 6pm –11pm

Sunday 12noon–11pm

Food servedTuesday to Saturday12noon–2.30pm and

6pm–9pm Sunday 12noon–5pm

Phil and Paulinepromise you awarm welcome

THEQUEEN

ADELAIDEBLAGDON

Real ales, local cider, fine wines andlocally-sourced, home-cooked food

Dog friendlyChildren welcome at limited timesWide range of snacks, lunches andmeals, with vegetarian options

Sample menuSunday roasts £8.95 – seniorcitizens and children £7.50

(Served from 12 – 5pm)Duck apricot and brandy pate

Warm saladsJackets and salad

Local sausages, mash andvegetables

Home-made pies andtrimmings

Sweet chilli chickenPork tenderloinLamb shankSteaks

All meat and vegetables locally sourced

RESERVATIONS TAKEN ON 01761 463926

Now Booking forValentine's and Mothers Day

THE MANOR HOUSE INNE A T • D R I N K • S L E E P

VALENTINE’S MENU Traditional Sunday lunches served12–5pm from £9.25 per person

Michelin Guide 2012Eating Out in Pubs

Sunday Times 50 best pubs forthe weekend

Pie & Pint NightEvery Tuesday/Wednesday

throughout January and Februaryfrom 8th January, choice of 3 delicioushome-made pies and your choice of apint, small glass of wine of soft drink

£10 per person, booking advised.

e Manor House InnDitcheat, Shepton Mallet,

Somerset BA4 6RB

Telephone 01749 860276email [email protected]

www.manorhouseinn.co.uk

TO START Scallops in Shells with Asian Spices and Micro SaladCrab Salad with Wasabi & Cucumber SauceLobster and Crab Soup with Chilli CroutonQuenelles of Brie Mousse on Crostinis & Red Current DressingFresh Mussels cooked in White Wine, Cream, Garlic & ParsleyPan-fried Pigeon Salad, topped with crispy Parmasan & BaconCrisp & Port SyrupTO FOLLOW Salmon Wellington with Dill crushed New Potatoes and SaffronFish CreamVenison Rump on a Parsnip Rosti with Cherry & Port ReductionChicken Roulade stuffed with Sun Blushed Tomatoes on a bedof wilted Spinach with a Yellow Pepper SaucePork Fillet stuffed with Black Pudding & wrapped in smokedBacon, Dauphinoise Potato, Apple Sauce & Brandy JusPan-fried Duck Breast on a bed of wilted Greens with a richRed Wine SauceOpen Filo Tart filled with Wild Mushrooms, Lentils & Spinach,topped with a Nutty Crumble & served with a smooth CheeseSaucePUDDINGSChocolate Popping Candy Mousse served with fresh FruitCompoteBlack Cherry ClafoutisPassion Fruit Crème Brûlée

Manor Cheese Board with Biscuits, Celery & Grapes

Tea/Coffee with Home-made Chocolate £25.00 per person


WHETHER it’s for a drink, a bar meal, aquality dining experience or to stay, theHolcombe Inn can be summed up in oneword: style.That style is very much down to owner

Jules Perry’s self-taught talents in interiordesign. Each of the eight luxury rooms hasits own distinctive character and bearwitness to Jules’s attention to detail.“Rococo”, for example, is decorated in a

Baroque/Rococo style; “Pemberley” isnamed after Jane Austin/Darcy’s home andis in a truly traditional decadent style,whilst “Hunters” is a country-style roomwith antler lamps and rich wool tartans. Allbathrooms have feature baths for two, bigfluffy white towels and luxury toiletries.The AA 5* rooms make the 17th Century

inn an ideal place for Valentine’s Night or aromantic country weekend, but are alsoproving very popular for people visitingthe area on business or on holiday. The innis close to businesses on the WestfieldEstate near Midsomer Norton and is just ashort drive from the attractions of Wells,Bath, Longleat and Stourhead. It is alsoused by guests of local shooting parties.

Downstairs, the traditional bar offers awide range of real ales and local ciders,more than 20 wines by the glass, includingchampagne and prosecco.Head chef David Beazer and his team

are winning many accolades for theircooking; the Holcombe is in the Michelinpub good food guide for 2013, the GoodFood Guide and Sawdays Special Places.The menu is varied, offering mains such

as whole grilled lemon sole, homemadepie of the day, braised belly of pork andbraised daube of beef as well as theHolcombe Ploughman’s (with

Montgomery Cheddar) and Cornishfishcakes. There is also a choice ofMarshalls Elm Farm steaksNow David, who worked with

acclaimed chef Stephen Terry (who wastaught by Marco Pierre White), is about tolaunch his Spring Garden Menu tocelebrate the coming season.Jules said: “Now that all the rooms are

fully refurbished, I feel that it is missionaccomplished.“And with David in the kitchen I think

we are going to achieve even greaterthings in 2013.”


A country inn with style


Our 17th Century inn isperfect for a romantic eveningwith log fires, squashy sofasand a beautiful candelitrestaurant.

Website: www.holcombeinn.co.uk • E-mail: [email protected]

The Holcombe InnStratton Road, Holcombe, Bath BA3 5EB. Tel: 01761 232478

Valentine’s Nightat the Holcombe Inn

We have eight AA 5*individually-designed rooms –all very different in style –with luxury bathrooms, mostwith feature baths with roomfor two!

Close to the historical city ofWells, Bath, Wookey, CheddarGorge, Longleat, Stourheadand more.

Why not book one of ourbeautiful rooms for the night?

Award-winning food; we’renow also in the MichelinEating Out in Pubs guide 2013.

Wide choice of restaurantdishes and bar snacks,delicious desserts. Children’smenu available.


THIS attractive silver fruit stand is tobe sold in Tamlyns’ first cataloguedsale of the year – Antiques and FineArt on February 26th.Dating from the Edwardian era and

beautifully cast and pierced, it is acharming piece. The value of scrapsilver is such that many items like thisare being ruthlessly smelted as peoplejust send them off to huge companiesthat pay a basic scrap price for themand they become part of a silver ingot,a lovely thing lost forever.Fortunately for this little stand it will

sell for above scrap price as adecorative item. There are stillcollectors of decorative silver itemsand a burgeoning number of privatebuyers at auction keen to put theirmoney into something useful andattractive, investing in something thatwill give pleasure and more than likelybe more valuable if sold in the future.Entries for this sale are being

accepted now; there will be sections of

jewellery, ceramics, glass, paintings,furniture and decorative items.Tamlyns hold a valuation morning

every Thursday morning in theirBridgwater auction rooms and alsohold regular mornings in Weston-super-Mare, Burnham-on-Sea and

Minehead. You do not need anappointment, so if you are thinking ofselling and would like to know moreabout their sales or valuation morningscontact the office on 01278 445251 orvisit www.tamlyns.co.uk for furtherdetails.


Decorativeand valuable

MENDIP TIMES

Arts & Antiques DPS:Layout 1 24/1/13 12:06 Page 24


ARTS AND ANTIQUES

THE internet can be auseful source ofinformation and theCheshire-based ownerof this Beryl Cook oilon board paintingcertainly did herresearch beforedeciding on the bestplace to sell herpicture.Clevedon Salerooms

have an enviable record with the sale of Beryl Cook works andalso have the benefit of Fine Art Consultant Sheena Stoddard,former Curator of Art at Bristol City Gallery who curated theBeryl Cook exhibition ‘Larger than Life’ at Bristol in 2011.Titled ‘Applause’ the picture depicts Sir James Galway

receiving enthusiastic applause as he plays his flute. Measuring46cm x 56cm the picture will be offered at Clevedon SaleroomsSpecialist Sale on February 28th with an estimate of £12,000 –£18,000.If you would like your art and antiques exposed to the widest

possible audience and sold for the highest price contact themand ask to speak to one of their valuers, or alternatively takeitems to one of their Free Valuation Days.

‘Applause’ forClevedon Salesrooms

Fine Art Auctioneers & Valuers

Mid 19th CenturySmith’s Terrestrial Globe

Estimate £400 – £600

Quarterly Specialist Saleof Antiques, Fine Art, Collectors’

Items, Oriental, Watches,Jewellery & Silver

Thursday 28th Februaryat 10.30am

Viewing:Tues 26th Feb 2pm – 5.30pmWed 27th Feb 10am – 7.30pm

Online catalogue available 16th February

Tel: 01934 830111or 0117 325 6789

The Auction Centre, Kenn Road, Kenn,Clevedon, Bristol BS21 6TT

www.clevedon-salerooms.com

Beryl Cook oil –‘Applause’

Estimate £12,000 – £18,000

Edo period BuddhistZushi Shrine


Clarice Cliff ‘RedTrees & House’ pattern


To be included in the Sale:


IT’S a quirk of England’s smallest city that many people get theirfirst view of the Market Street Antiques Centre when they arrive atthe bus station in Wells.The centre is just a short stroll from the heart of the city and it is

more than worth taking a detour to discover what lies inside thegarage-style building. Look up to the sign above the green doorsto see that the owners of the centre have a definite sense ofhumour!Steve Pledger and his family decided to open the centre at the

end of last year. The family already runs Household Comforts, asecond-hand furniture shop, in South Street. Steve worked for 18

years for T. Wicks, who ran the city’s auction house in Southover,and says he relished the chance to work with antiques andcollectables once more.Market Street Antiques Centre offers a wide range of antiques,

collectables, vintage and retro items as well as modern interiors. Afeature of the centre is the wide range of cabinets which dealerscan rent to display their collections.It’s very much a family-run business; Steve’s sister, Shiralee

Francis, is usually there to welcome visitors even if they just wantto browse. Steve’s son, Ryan, also helps out.Steve said: “People are pleasantly surprised to find us in Market

Street because they think it is only residential. But we thought thebuilding would be an ideal place for an antiques centre and it iscertainly something that the city needs.”

Steve and sister Shiraleein the antiques centreDiscover Market Street Antiques

Antiques& InteriorsMARKET STREET

Market Street Antiques (find us by the bus station),9a Market Street, Wells, BA5 2DS. Tel: 01749 679956(mob: 07761 655226). Website coming soon

A hidden gem in Wells just waiting to be discovered

Antiques, Collectables and Vintage Items plus Gold and SilverwareDealers wanted for our glass display cases (rent £30 per week).

We also buy items of interest


MENDIP TIMES ARTS AND ANTIQUES

Please complete and return payment to:Mendip Times, Coombe Lodge, Blagdon, Somerset BS40 7RG.Telephone: 01761 463888 • www.mendiptimes.co.uk

Celebrating life onthe Mendips andsurrounding areas

FREEMendipTimesVOLUME 8 ISSUE 7

DECEMBER 2012

Local people, local history, local places, local events and local newsSEASON’S GREETINGS TO ALL OUR READERS

Front cover designs:Layout

1 22/11/12 17:14 Page

1

Celebrating life onthe Mendips andsurrounding areas

FREEMendipTimesVOLUME 8 ISSUE 8

JANUARY 2013

Local people, local history, local places, local events and local newsWISHING YOU A HAPPY NEW YEAR!Celebrating life onthe Mendips andsurrounding areas

FREEMendipTimesVOLUME 8 ISSUE

9

FEBRUARY 2013

Local people, localhistory, local places

, local events and local news

IN THIS ISSUE:

POINT-TO-POINT UNDERWAY

WASSAIL CELEBRATIONS

SS TITANIC’S LEGACY

ARTS & ANTIQUES

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MENDIP TIMES ARTS AND ANTIQUES


JANUARY’S sale of antiques and collectables staged byKillens at the Mendip Auction Rooms was a great success.There was some great furniture included with one of thehighlights being a Robert “Mouseman” Thompson apprenticesettle which saw competitive bidding from around thecountry, selling above its estimate at £400.This example was carved with a frog and slightly more

unusual. A slightly better example is included in their nextsale of antiques due to be held on February 9th. Otherhighlights within the sale included various items of jewelleryand silver. Items entered for the next sale include a large collection of

items belonging to the late Alan Sievewright who was aprominent opera producer. These include costume designs,theatre production notes and many signed items. Other itemsto be offered include a good collection of hand-paintedChinese snuff boxes, other oriental items, a good collection ofrecords and many other items. Commission bids will beaccepted and it is possible to bid live online through the-saleroom.com.The team at the Mendip Auction Rooms will also be

holding a new series of sales from February with theintroduction of more general sales of Victorian and latereffects including good quality modern china and glass,furniture, pictures, decorative items and collectables. Their quality antiques sales have grown and the

introduction of this type of sale will allow the sale of the huge

number of lots that do not quite make the grade of the morespecialist sales.Valuer, Gareth Wasp, said: “We turn away items which

would sell but which are not of sufficient value to go into theAntiques sales. We often turn away items that are too good tothrow away and by staging these sales we will be addressing aready demand”. The first general sale will be on February19th and entries are invited.A valuation day will be staged at The Pelican, Chew Magna

on February 27th. Alternatively, the auction rooms are openbetween 10am and 5pm Monday to Friday or free home visitscan be arranged.

More auctions planned at Mendip Auction Rooms



MENDIP TIMES

Blagdon Wassail

Blagdon Wassail Queen Jenny Nicholls from Clevedon

Martin Horler fires into the tree

Stewley Wassail

Wassail queen Lucy Carter prepares to bless one of the trees atStewley Orchard

MEMBERS of the crew of HMSSomerset and Wells MP TessaMunt were amongst the guests atthe Shepton Mallet Cider Millannual wassail ceremony atStewley Orchard, near Taunton.Lucy Carter, who works in the

mill’s financial department atShepton Mallet, was crownedwassail queen.It was a first wassail experience

for HMS Somerset LieutenantAlexandra Karavla, originally fromLondon, who was invited to use apoker to heat up the cider for thetraditional wassail ceremony.

Shotguns were fired into the appletrees to ward of “evil” spirits

Taunton Deane Morris enjoythe celebrations

Somerset Morris performed at the wassail in Blagdon, beforeorganiser Olga Shotton lead the ceremony itself in the village’scommunity orchard.

Wassail DPS:Layout 1 24/1/13 10:22 Page 28


WASSAIL

Cam Valley Morris danceat the community orchardKilmersdon Wassail

Celebrations outside the village hall

CARA Johnson-Pompey found herself a winter wassail queenwhen the annual celebrations in Kilmersdon went ahead despitethe weather.Organiser Martin Horler said he was determined that the

lunch, procession and wassail ceremonies would go aheadregardless adding: “even if was just me and Cara taking part.”Cara, 16, who lives in Kilmersdon, led musicians from the

Village Band, Cam Valley Morris and guests from the villagehall to the community orchard where the first of two ceremoniestook place.Everyone then went to The School House, home to Martin

and wife Frances, where a second ceremony was held in thegarden.

Celebration continuedat The School House

The procession led by Caraand Martin makes its way

to the orchard

Wassail DPS:Layout 1 24/1/13 10:22 Page 29

WELLS-based Higos Insurance ServicesLtd has been named Independent RegionalBroker of the Year at the Insurance TimesAwards, ending a successful 12 months forthe company.Managing Director Ian Gosden

(pictured) said: “It is testament to ourongoing dedication and passion in bringinginsurance to the high street. Our experiencehas shown customers place much value ona personal face-to-face and phone-basedservice.

“Our recent growth illustrates anincreasing desire to deal with a highlyqualified and skilled high street broker.”He said Higos plans to open four new

branches this year and intends to grow to50 branches by the close of 2018. Itreceived the same award in 2008.


Top award for Higos

MENDIP TIMES

Business section:Layout 1 24/1/13 11:47 Page 30


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View from the High StreetTHIS month we have already seen the demise of Comet andJessops and the decline into administration of the famous century-old record company ‘His Master’s Voice’. Interviewers onbusiness programmes across the channels are wondering if we arewitnessing the end of our High Streets as viable places to run aretail business.Why is it then that some High Streets are positively

flourishing? One notable exception to the trend is the Devon townof Totnes where the vast majority of shops are owned and run byindependent retailers. When questioned, it appeared that much ofthe town’s retailing success comes from a loyal local following.The people of Totnes value and support their local butcher, bakerand candlestick maker.Furthermore, there is a local currency. The Totnes Pound has

gained in popularity to such an extent that the committee behind itis thinking of issuing notes in larger denominations. Shop keepersin the town have embraced the idea by putting on special offersand discounts for those customers who use it. Local currencies aregaining in impetus and it was recently reported that the newMayor of Bristol will be taking some of his salary in Bristolpounds. Many people are very happy with their selection of High Street

shops and have no intention of deserting them for out of townshopping malls or internet buying. Why is that? Well, they like thepersonal service and the quality of goods. No horsemeat in theburgers of these burghers!

Jane Bowe

Mendip Timesreduces travelcosts

100,000 potentialcustomers just afew miles fromyour business

Business section:Layout 1 24/1/13 11:47 Page 31


MENDIP TIMES NEWS

A picture of health

MEMBERS of Farrington Gurney Primary School’s pupilforum celebrate after being presented with a certificaterecognising their achievements towards a major health award.Paul Scott, Acting Director of Public Health for Bath and

North East Somerset, presented Billy, Millie, Terri, Aidan,Ruby, Ellie and Emily with a Healthy Schools Certificate forachieving the top “green grading” in all of its categories.The accolade is a major step towards the school’s goal of

achieving the prestigious Director of Public Health Award.Farrington carried out a review of its health-related work andset new targets. Pupils have been fully involved and work onnew allotments at nearby Farrington Farm, where they growtheir own vegetables.

Deputy headteacher JuneWelch with members ofthe school forum and

Paul Scott

WESTON College has seen a phenomenal leap in applications forits Higher Education courses, bucking a national downwardstrend.Recent statistics reveal that degree applications have fallen eight

per cent nationally compared with the same period last year. ButWeston College’s applications for its HE courses beginning 2013have increased by 23 per cent.Weston College Principal and Chief Executive Dr Paul Phillips

said: “Every year, more and more students choose to study degreelevel courses at Weston College.“We have invested millions of pounds in our campuses, and our

students have reaped the rewards, achieving outstanding examresults, better graduate job prospects and we are recognised for thequality of our degree courses across the UK.”Earlier this year Weston College was given the highest rating

possible by education inspectors for top standards in its degreeprovision. The college was recognised as the top-performingcollege in the South West and ranked in the top five UK-wide.

College celebratesWeston College graduates celebrate in St John's Church

Village champion

NICK Smallwood from Lamyatt, near Bruton, has just picked up atop award – for being “truly decent”! Nominated by his daughter,Nick was one of ten finalists from across the country “whoseselfless acts of decency have had a positive impact on the lives ofothers”. True to form, he’s donated his £1,000 prize to villagefunds.At 65, Nick works enthusiastically to foster a real community

sprit in Lamyatt. Since moving to the village, he’s establishedLamyatt’s own cider business, helped run a themed film night, setup a “give-and-take” table where people can swap home-grownproduce and, last year, he masterminded Lamyatt’s impressiveJubilee celebrations.He’s now lending his support to an important initiative by

Lamyatt’s Village Hall Trust to improve its outdated communityhall. He said: “We’re just won a £30,000 grant from MendipDistrict Council – but that’s just the start, there’s a lot of workahead to raise the rest of the money we need!” Just one more thingto keep Nick busy!The award was presented by the Metro newspaper.

Nick outside LamyattVillage Hall

MEMBERS of Orchardleigh Golf Club ended 2012 on a highafter raising almost £10,000 for charity.Outgoing club captain Mike O’Shea joined ladies captain Liz

South to present cheques to their chosen charities for their year:Dorset and Somerset Air Ambulance received £9,170.00. Fromeand District Cats Protection League received £737.90.The cheque to the air ambulance was the biggest single

donation in 2012, said Nick Pearce, its fundraiser.

Nick Pearce (kneeling, left) from the air ambulance and PamCoward (seated, second right, from the Cat Protection League)receive their cheques from club officials

Cheque these out!


Norton Radstock College ad:Layout 1 24/1/13 10:06 Page 1


MENDIP TIMES LETTERS

Dear Mendip Times,I am very aware and, indeed concerned, to see that in variousfields around Frome there are numbers of horses that appear to beabandoned to their fate. No sign of a rudimentary shelter; certainlynot a nice weatherproof horse blanket and no evidence of anyfodder being provided, bearing in mind that the grazing at thistime of the year is sparse, to say the least.I have been informed by one of the horse welfare charities that

until these animals show obvious signs of distress – lameness orvisible ribs, nothing can or will be done.Apparently this situation pertains up and down the UK and

seemingly no action is being taken to provide these animals with ahalf decent quality of life. While we condemn third worldcountries for their treatment of animals and beasts of burden, inthis respect, we are not much better ourselves.I understand that the various animal sanctuaries are

overwhelmed by abandoned or neglected horses and ponies andthe situation is dire. As a member of the public all I can do is tofeed two local horses with carrots and apples from time to timeand to lobby my MP, write letters and generally make a nuisanceof myself.In an ideal world, local and central government should take this

problem on board and get it sorted!Janet Turner

Frome

Dear Mendip Times,Many people in Holcombe will have noticed the dozen or soenthusiasts who have been scouring the village over the last threeyears uncovering its history.We have been chatting to villagers, sleuthing through archives

locally and at Taunton, deciphering leases and property deeds,walking the fields looking for Roman remains, staring down holes,

wading through streams,scrabbling up banks, slidinginto ditches, being rescuedoff stiles, crawling throughattics, lunching in the pub,measuring humps andbumps, helping out thearchaeologists at the oldchurch, collectingphotographs and memories,taking photographs,squeezing on to sofas,cramming into chairs,sharing welcoming cups oftea, munching on gypsy

creams, jotting down comments, writing up notes, looking atstones, looking under stones, peering at artefacts, discussing findsand getting in experts.Well, we are now writing it all up into a book. If you have

anything photos or stories which you think others would love tohear, please still contact us as we would like to hear from you.Please phone Joyce Jefferson on 01373 832845.

The Holcombe History Group

Dear Mendip Times,Splash of Purple is an annual fundraising campaign in aid ofPositive Action on Cancer. PAC provides free, professionalcounselling to anyone affected or bereaved by cancer and otherlife threatening illnesses. Adult counselling services are offered inFrome, Bath, Warminster and Trowbridge and support for youngpeople and children is provided in local schools.This year’s Splash of Purple takes place on Friday, March 1st

and Saturday, March 2nd. We encourage local businesses, schools,community groups and individuals to join us in raising money tosupport those living locally affected by cancer.PAC receives no government or NHS funding but is committed

to offering all counselling free of charge. Therefore we rely uponvoluntary support from individuals, local businesses, communitygroups and grant making trusts. It costs PAC £45 to deliver eachcounselling session and currently the charity offers 56 sessionsevery week.On Friday, March 1st we are holding a fundraising quiz night in

Frome to support the Splash of Purple appeal. On Saturday, March2nd our pop-up book shop will be open in the Westway Precinct inFrome. Stop by and pick up a bargain – both new and second handbooks available. Also on Saturday, March 2nd a team of PACvolunteers will be in the Westway Precinct selling cakes to raisemoney for the Splash of Purple appeal.Details of all other activities being organised in the local

community will be published on our website and Facebook page.The Fundraising Team,

Positive Action on Cancer,2AMarket Place, Frome, BA11 1AG.

01373 455255www.positiveactiononcancer.co.uk

Members of the history group on a field trip for their previousbook, about Leigh-on-Mendip

Joyce Jefferson with the group’sfirst book, about Stoke St Michael

Staff at Mendip District Council raised almost £1,500 for PAC, their2012 charity of the year. Pictured (l:r): Maddie Hillman, the coun-cil’s Modern Apprentice who helps with fundraising, Kelly Hall,PAC Fundraiser and Stuart Brown, the council’s Chief Executive.For 2013 the council has chosen to support two charities, HappyLandings Animal Shelter based in Pylle, near Shepton Mallet, andChildren’s Hospice South West (photo courtesy of GPMunns)

Letters page:Layout 1 24/1/13 11:48 Page 1

INTERNET CROSSWORD

The Mendip Mindbender

Answers on Page 74

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Submitted by IT for the Terrified:The Old Cowshed, Station Road, Cheddar BS27 3AG

01934 741751 www.itfortheterrified.co.ukWe run a range of courses including, e-Bay, digitalphotography and genealogy. We also offer individualtraining, either one-off sessions or a series, at a pace tosuit you; a session lasts 2 hours and costs £10. See our

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WINDOWS 8 is the“new kid on theblock” and most newcomputers come asWindows 8. But thelook and setup of W8is completely different

and works in different ways. If this is your first computer,then it’s no disadvantage whether it’s different or not, but ifyou have used a computer before, it does take a little gettingused to – especially the mouse gestures, but it’s worthpersevering. If you have an older computer and want toupdate, it is relatively inexpensive, but it’s a good idea tocheck whether your computer can cope. Otherwise, might bebest to let the system settle down first.

The Start screen consists of Tiles which you can just tap ona touchscreen, or click with a TouchPad or mouse. Thisarticle assumes you are using a mouse or touchpad, but theprinciple is the same for all – just tap instead of click.

One of the main differences is that you have to have aMicrosoft Account in order to use Windows8. It’s a very quickand simple process – you just need to give a name andpassword.

When you first open your computer, you go to the Startscreen, which has Tiles of the most commonly used Apps(programmes). Click on one, and it opens a new Window andwill remember what you last viewed. You can move or changethe Tiles and can have the Photos Tile displaying a slide showof your photos if you wish. You can personalise this view –move, resize, change the look etc.

If you want to get back to the Start screen there are anumber of ways, but one of the simplest is to simply press theWindows key on the keyboard, which will display yourCharms (yes, I know, a new bit of jargon!) on the right sideof the screen. When you hover over any of these charms, youget a box displaying the time and date and your wirelessaccess and the amount of battery available.

W8 comes with Internet Explorer 10, which is alsodifferent! However, if you open it from the Desktop view (useone of the tiles), it has the familiar look, but no Start button,so click on the Internet Explorer icon on the taskbar at thebottom of the screen.

To Shut Down the computer,go to your Start screen; moveyour mouse to display theCharms and click on Power andclick on Shut Down. And Sleepor Restart is in the same place.

If this all sounds a bit tricky,why not book a 1:1 session and let us help you with your firststeps/clicks/taps on W8?

ACROSS1 Territory has young women

to make history on it (4,5)6 Sombre admission of loadsa

money (5)9 Mother has doctor with

nothing but dance (5)10/26/25 Said to draw a veil

over the hunt in Somerset &Dorset? (9,3,9)

11 Ocean got very hot –battered fish? (4-5)

12 Was found attractive – butfailed in the end (3,2)

14 Boys in blue reported inrural area (5)

16 Tongue has transformed aposition of authority (9)

18 I say straw provides meansof going up in the world (9)

21 Make demand for preciseamount (5)

22 Sports are naturally playedsomewhere suitable (5)

23 You could fall for my idealagricultural set up (5,4)

25 See 1027 A cereal . . . produces oak

trees? (5)28 Helped . . . and abetted? (5)29 Being a nuisance having

lost your wicket – justtesting! (6,3)

DOWN1 Stop Donald’s pals walking

– not effective anyway! (4,5)2 Count dish on vehicle (6-5)3 Become inedible – bangers,

for example! (2,3)4 Painter with soft pencil has

pieces of furry animals (7)5 Wretched person said to

keep putting needle in (2-3-2)

6 Use oven to make space for6ac? (9)

7 I, for example, have nothingabout me (3)

8 Find ourselves in with ex-Radio 1 DJ, and lived to tellthe tale (5)

13 Gave Ada a dose, odd howshe became extinct (4,2,1,4)

15 Chose me a darker version(9)

17 Little cafe is neatest I’mpersuaded (9)

19 Toff ran all over the place –what an insult (7)

20 Do silly movementssubstantially (7)

22 Living like sailors – and ina muddle! (2,3)

24 Possibly earn what you longto include (5)

26 See 10 Across

Crossword page:Layout 1 24/1/13 12:08 Page 1


MENDIP TIMES

Tony is always available to give illustrated talks on his beloved otters and other wildlife observed while river-walking inSomerset. You can contact him through the Somerset Wildlife Trust 01823 652400.

WATCHING young otters play in water is‘magical’. Did you know that females cangive birth to six or more kits butinvariably only two or three survive toteenage status growing on to become1.25m (4 feet) long if a male and slightlysmaller for females?Almost made extinct in the 1970s

through pesticides and other factors theotter’s return is still very tentative.Volunteers check for signs of spraint (poo

which actually smells quite pleasant) padmarks, fish scales, inedible parts ofcrayfish or sometimes the 10cm highsand castles they build to mark theirterritory or made by “holidaying” otters.Recordings are sent to the Somerset

Records Office and give a goodindication of their numbers, which alsogives a very good indicator of thecleanliness of our rivers. But sadly theyare also keen to hear about “road kill”

otters.These are sent to Cardiff University

who study the causes of death in ottersand other wildlife, one being a “BileFluke” prevalent now in some of ourfreshwater fish weakening otters’ health.Water is cold and fish are hard to catch;

fit otters work hard already to live inconditions like our recent floods so it’svery hard for unfit ones. New surveyorsare always welcome.

Tales from the river bank

Both kits at about eightmonths old, the male kiton the right with a largerhead

Young female aboutnine months old, with

rounder nose

Female with eight-month-old kit

THESE are some of the photos taken by Tony House from Frome, who freely admits to beinga “Confirmed Otterholic”. He organises local volunteers who survey monthly for otters onbehalf of Somerset Wildlife Trust’s Otter Group.

Otter page:Layout 1 24/1/13 10:30 Page 1

AS I write this, in mid-January, a blizzard isin full swing outside.February, of course, is likely to be cold too,

but hopefully by the end we will have somewarmer temperatures to accompany thelengthening days. Amphibians will be on themove and we should be hearing some earlybird song.Some birds, such as the faithful robin, have

probably been singing all winter, but now thesong begins to change slightly. Known to have a song for eachseason, the robin’s song now starts to transform and is deliveredwith more power and enthusiasm as it anticipates the comingspring.Robins are not alone; as early as January the song thrush will

sing in the early morning. This once very common bird hasdeclined in number by such an extent that it is now a Red Listedspecies, indicating a national population decline of more than 50%in recent years. When I was growing up this was a commongarden bird, popular with gardeners, mainly because of its appetitefor slugs and snails, but also for its uplifting song.I used to enjoy watching with wonder as song thrushes smashed

their way through snail after snail on their favourite anvil stone inour garden. Scattered around this stone were the multi-colouredfragments of probably hundreds of snail shells. The song of thesong thrush is easy to recognise because it is similar to itsmelodious cousin, the blackbird, except that it has a distinctiveway of repeating each note.Tawny owls, which have been quite vocal for the last few

months, should start to become quiet this month, especially if theweather is mild. I am often contacted by people concerned thattheir local tawny owls have disappeared because they havestopped hearing them at night. In fact this can be a good sign,indicating that they have now begun nesting.Birds such as the sparrowhawk and buzzard, which we would

normally associate with breeding as late as May, will in fact be onthe build-up to breeding even now, displaying to each other andeven nest building. Often the males of both species will begin tobuild several nests during late winter, leaving the female to choosemuch later which one to finally lay her eggs in.Lots of other birds will soon be thinking about nest site

selection, so now is a great time to get your your nestboxes up.February half term is National Nestbox Week, so there are lots ofnestbox-building events going on for you to take the children orgrandchildren along to. If you are looking for plans of how tobuild your own box, go to the National Nestbox Week website:http://www.bto.org/nnbw/make.htmIf you already have boxes up in your garden this is your last

chance to get them cleaned out ready for the coming spring.Continue to feed the birds this month too as it’s probably one ofthe leanest times of the year for them, and also the time they needto start building up their body condition ready for the strenuousnesting season to come. Some, such as the dunnock, may evenstart nesting during February, possibly even laying eggs before theend of the month if it’s mild enough.By the end of February winter visitors like fieldfares start to

congregate on farmland ready to move back north for the spring,and we can start to anticipate the arrival of the summer visitors.So, there’s lots to look and listen out for on Mendip this monthfrom early bird song and gatherings of migrant birds, to earlyspring flowers and displaying sparrowhawks!� The Hawk and Owl Trust is running an event on Saturday,February 16th from 10am to 4pm entitled ‘Wildlife on yourDoorstep’. There will be nest box building, guided walks, owlpellet dissection, displays and bookstalls and there will belocally produced food and drink available. The Venue isJacklands Fishing Lakes, Jacklands Bridge, Tickenham BS216SG. I will be there with some live owls for people to meet andphotograph as well. For more information please contact KeithLapham on 01934 824008.

WILDLIFE

Chris Sperring is Conservation Officer for the Hawk and Owl TrustContact him on 01275 849287 or via [email protected]

By CHRISSPERRINGMBE


Phot

ogra

phy

byCh

risSp

errin

g

Looking forward to spring

Wildlife page:Layout 1 24/1/13 10:31 Page 1

THIS is a dream of a dry walk from theformer brewing village of Oakhill in EastMendip in beautiful country using tracksand quiet lanes and some paths which arelargely mud-free. Enjoy a walk with fewstiles, good views and pass some of thehistoric remains that are woven into thefascinating past of this part of Somersettwo miles north of Shepton Mallet. Passthe site of the former home of one of the‘architects’ of the Mendip landscape wesee today – John Billingsley. There areups and downs on the way but nothingtoo strenuous. Find a very popular pub inOakhill for the start or finish. It is a goodcircle for dogs too.

PARK: In the village hall and recreation

ground car park, on the northern edge ofthe village. From the main A367 inOakhill, turn into the High Street andthen right up Zion Hill. It levels out andshortly find parking on the right.

START: Turn left from the car park backtowards the village. Pass the entrance toOakhill Manor. Many people willremember the miniature railway openedhere in the 1980s by the owner of theManor, Walter Harper. Among theengines, which towed thousands ofpeople during their time there, was a‘Pacific’ replica locomotive called RobinHood. Oakhill Manor closed its doors tothe public in 1985. The miniature railwayharked back to the village’s own railwaybuilt in 1904 to serve the OakhillBrewery, taking beer barrels to theSomerset & Dorset Railway at nearbyBinegar. The railway had a 2’6” gaugeand operated two 0-4-0T locomotives,the ‘Mendip’ and the ‘Oakhill’, whichwere painted in an olive green livery.Oakhill Brewery was founded in 1767

by Jordan and Perkins and grew in famebecause of its natural spring water whichwas used to produce Oakhill Stout. Adisastrous fire in 1925 though saw itsdemise. Soon go left down Dean Lanewalkway to reach Zion Hill. Turn leftdownhill to the High Street in Oakhill.

1. OAKHILLHere cross into Fosse Road oppositepassing the Oakhill Inn. Among thecottages you pass on the left were once abakehouse, a butchers with a slaughter

house opposite (now CobblestoneCottage) and a small iron foundry. Thepark-like countryside on your left wascreated as a setting for a Georgianmansion, Ashwick Grove. Come to FosseCottage, the former lodge to AshwickGrove and beneath which lies the RomanFosse Way. Turn left along what wasonce a tree-lined drive to the Grove.However, as you will see, only thoseoaks on the left of the avenue are stillthere. Go through a gate and straight onalong the left side of fields, with the lineof oaks on your left, going throughanother gate en-route. In the far corner,cross left over a stile and along toanother stile. Drop downhill on a grassytrack. At the foot, turn right on a drivetowards the site of Ashwick Grove, nowa collection of homes where once stood agrand 18th century mansion.

2. ASHWICK GROVEIt had fashionable gardens, two lodges,stables, coach house, cottage, walledgardens and a grotto. It is famous as thehome of agricultural pioneer, JohnBillingsley (1747-1811). He encouragedthe enclosure of rough upland Mendipand the drainage and enclosure of muchof the Somerset Levels. His GeneralView of the Agriculture of the County ofSomerset, 1797, gives an understandingof the farming landscape of the areaduring a very dynamic period. “Thefamiliar landscape of the main Mendipplateau with its wide straight roads,grass-bound and grey-walled, itsscattered farmhouses each with a


MENDIP TIMES

A dry walk in brewing country

With Sue Gearing

Walking DPS:Layout 1 24/1/13 10:20 Page 38

sheltering windbreak of trees is alandscape that Billingsley did much tocreate” wrote local historian Robin Atthillin his book, Old Mendip.John Billingsley was a founder member

of the Bath and West AgriculturalSociety, but also a vigorous entrepreneurand engineer on other fronts. He ownedthe Oakhill Brewery and the developmentof his business created the village ofOakhill as we see it today. He was anactive force in the local Turnpike Trusts,the development of the Kennet and Avoncanal, the Somerset Coal Canal, and theDorset and Somerset Canal. He was alsoassociated with the important local textileindustry.Go through a wooden gate near the

main house, past a wooden stable andthen the most sensible way, and onewhich is increasingly used, is to go leftup the drive. The official right of way isstraight on, through another wooden gate,close by a low modern extension, then onto garaging and left winding up the driveto join the other one near the top. Followthe drive out to the main road.

3. MAIN ROADTurn right for a couple of minutes andthen cross the road to a choice of publicfootpaths on the other side. Take the paththat forks right across the field and find astone and pipe stile tucked between ametal gate and a water trough. Thisbrings you onto a lane. Go straight on(left). At a junction keep straight onavoiding left and then right turns. Passcottages and continue on, soon bendingleft downhill and then right, still on thelane.

4. CROSSROADSKeep straight on at a crossroads towardsGurney Slade. At the next T junction,turn right towards Nettlebridge and thenalmost immediately turn left towardsGurney Slade again. In the area on theright was Moorwood, once one of twocollieries in the Nettlebridge Valley, partof the Somerset Coalfield. It closed in1932 due to faults and water. It had arope incline and a narrow gauge railwayto take coal to the Somerset and Dorsetrailway sidings at Moorwood. Drop downto an area known as Moon’s Bottom andthen climb gently out.

5. T-JUNCTIONReach another T-junction and turn righttowards Stratton-on-the-Fosse. Climb andturn left at the next junction towardsChilcompton, and shortly, left again on

Coalpit Lane. At this junction there aregood views across the countryside.

6. COALPIT LANEContinue to the entrance drive toBlacker’s Hill Farm and turn left alongthis. Once over a cattle grid, pass part ofthe outer bank to the Iron Age Fort ofBlacker’s Hill.

7. HILLFORTThis promontory hill fort is designated asa Scheduled Ancient Monument. Roughlyrectangular, it covers 15 acres andoriginally had two ramparts and twoditches, but on the west and south sides itwas defended by the steep drop. Furtheron, is a chance to go left into the hill fortover a stile if you wish. But our walkcontinues on and at the entrance to thefarm, take the grassy track on the leftside. Go through a gate and immediatelytake the path left in woods along the edgeof a valley.

8. WOODSContinue on down and reach a tarmacdrive. Turn left for a few yards with amillstream flowing on the left to a T-junction with a lane. Go right and climb

uphill and then level out walking inGurneyslade Bottom.

9. QUARRYPass a very active, large limestone quarry.Shortly, turn left on the public footpathup Grunters Lane. It bends right and thenbecomes a rough path. It is mainly goodunderfoot with some parts a little softafter a lot of rain. Continue on this all theway to another lane by the entrance toRookery Farm.

10. LANETurn left. Follow the lane on, over acrossroads (Badger’s Cross) still towardsOakhill. You now have just over threequarters of a mile back to the start. Reachanother junction.

11. POUNDOpposite this is Ashwick Pound, whichpredates 1632. You can either turn righton the lane back to the car park or go intothe recreation ground behind the poundand turn right along the edge of the recall the way to the car park.


OS Explorer Map, 142, Shepton Mallet and Mendip Hills East,ref: 633 474 – 5.6 miles, about 2.5 hours walking

WALKING

The Oakhill Inn, Tel: 01749 840442

Walking DPS:Layout 1 24/1/13 10:20 Page 39

I AM writing this halfway throughJanuary and I cannot believe how fast thismonth is going. The orchard work for thiswinter is well under way and beganbefore Christmas with my annual visit toTrenderway Farm in Cornwall.Trenderway Farm is located between

the fishing villages of Looe and Polperro.As well as running a high quality bed and

breakfast business, self catering holiday accommodation,wedding venue and various other events, there is the farm.Beef cattle in the form of South Devons are the passion of

both Yaron and Jaquie who own and run this expandingenterprise. Mix in a few free-range hens, ducks and othertraditional farmyard animals and you have the recipe forCornish heaven.As well as these other enterprises, they have close on 2000

young apple trees, the fruit of which will produce their ownbranded apple juice. Over the past few years I have beenhelping them with the pruning and development of the trees.This project was started by another ‘Mendiper’, KeithGoverd, an ex-Long Ashton Research Station man and now a‘guru’ of all things “appley”.As well as doing the pruning, I run a two-day course on

fruit tree care and practical pruning at the farm, which seemsto be going down rather well west of the Tamar. The farmwebsite is well worth a look at, so tap “Trenderway Farm,Cornwall” into your search engine and take a look. Anaccount of the two-day course can be found by looking atHedgecombers.com, a site run by Jane Sarchet whoparticipated in the course (enter orchard course in the sitesearch).I’ve just completed the second year of an orchard

restoration project near Collumpton in Devon. No secateurswork here though, as some of these trees are mightyveterans. Achieving the balance between fruit productionfrom a long-standing traditional cider orchard and enhancingits wildlife and landscape value gives me a huge amount ofsatisfaction. It is however extremely hard work, with 12-hourdays and a lot of physical exertion required on the pruningsaw.Wild birds there are in plenty in these old orchards, from

the small insect eaters such as the blue tit franticallysearching the cracks of the tree bark, to the greater spottedwoodpecker with its distinctive “machine gun burst”hammering, as it excavates the dead wood in search of ameal. Very few fieldfares in the orchard this year, perhapsit’s due to the weather. Wet it has been, but cold it has not;perhaps there is plenty of other food available for them.As with woodland habitat, it’s standing dead timber that

will provide some of the best feeding and habitat, sowherever I can I will leave a dead tree ‘headed’ back lookinglike a hallway hat stand.

I was so, so lucky with the weather again this year inDevon. When you look at the amount of rain that we had, Ifelt sure that it would be a wet and cold job this year. Myluck held last year as well and, as with this year, it wasn’tuntil the job was completed did the weather change for the

worst. Food intake was as high as ever on this year’s pruningwork. Lots of energy food in the lunch box and as muchliquid as you could carry was the order of the day.If you are thinking of getting to grips with your apple trees

this winter, here are a few tips to help you:� As a general rule don’t remove any more than 25% ofliving wood from the tree in any one year. You can shock thetree if you take out too much� First remove any dead wood, you don’t need to includethis in your 25% calculation� Next remove any split/damaged branches, or anything thathas become diseased� Then take out branches that are crossing and rubbing.By now you should be reaching your 25% target, but if you

have low branches that are causing you problems with themower etc. it may be worth seeing if you have some capacityleft to include them. I prefer complete branch removal wherepossible, as it lets more light and air into the tree. I telleveryone that the heart of the tree is not in the branches, butthe roots.Sometimes like us they need a hair cut, but unlike us, they

can look the younger for it. Don’t forget the cups of tea andbacon sandwiches, which are an essential part of the wholeprocess.For the next couple of months my focus will be on the

orchards and specimen apple trees in the country houses.Come spring, I hope that the sight of apple blossom will fillthe landscape and its heavy perfume will drench the earlymorning air of the orchard. Once more, I hope the air will befilled with the sound of bird song from the branches and thelazy buzz of pollinating insects amongst the blossomclusters. Somerset is after all “The land of the summerpeople” and not all the orchards are in Devon and Cornwall.Don’t forget to put Good Friday into your walking calendar

as we start to plan for this year’s Arthritis Research UKsponsored walk ‘somewhere’ on the Butcombe Brewery PubTrail in the Mendip Hills. Details to follow later.Finally I have to confess that I have lied! I promised

Wayne Cullen of Oakhill Tree Surgeons that I would notshow anyone the picture of him sitting in the small trailerthat is towed behind the pruning air compressor. Waynetravelled back to the farm across the fields every night sat inthis trailer with all our equipment. My picture shows himtucked up “as snug as a bug in a rug” against the elements atthe end of another hard day’s work in Devon.

MENDIP TIMES OUTDOORS

With LESDAVIES MBE


I’m always happy to hear from you, so drop me a line at [email protected]

West Countryman’s Diary

Wayne in the Worth Farm trailer

Outdoors page:Layout 1 24/1/13 12:09 Page 1

IT’S been a winteryfew weeks here in thevalley with the coldweather finallychasing away thesoggy autumnshowers.Despite the weather

our organic farm isfull of activity. Calving began in July andwill continue through until March. Acrossour Holt and Yoxter herds 269 cows havealready calved so our farms are brimmingwith new life. With 124 cows still to givebirth our herdsmen are being kept busy!At this time of year we also prepare our

fields by returning vital nutrients to thesoil. We spread liquid slurry which iscollected from our organic farms. Amachine separates the solid and liquidelements and the solids will be stored andtipped on the fields later in the year whenthe weather is warmer. The remainingnutrient rich liquid makes the idealfertiliser.Once the slurry is spread we will sow

winter oats, the first crop of the year. Theoats will be fully grown in July and willbe harvested and stored to feed ourpedigree British Friesian herd throughnext winter.Whilst the first signs of spring may still

be a little while off on the farm, in ourdairy we have come up with somethingthat we hope will put a bit of a spring inyour step.Our new limited edition 0% Fat Lemon

& Poppy Seed yeogurt is perfect whenyou fancy a bit of extra flavour without

the guilt. With a squeeze of zesty lemonjuice and a scattering of poppy seeds, it’sa delicious, yet virtuous treat that won’tbreak your healthy new year resolutions!And if you do want to treat yourself to

something a little extra why not make itone of our Lemon and Poppy SeedCupcakes. We’ve used our 0% Fat Lemon& Poppy Seed yeogurt in place of butterso these deliciously moist yet lightcupcakes are guilt free.But don’t take our word for it; why not

give them ago yourself . . .

By TOM DEPASS

Tom de Pass is head of communications and events at Yeo Valley, a family-owned farming and dairy processing businessbased in Blagdon, and will be bringing us a monthly report on their activities. The Holt Farms organic farming operation

has 1250 acres on the Mendip Hills and in the Yeo Valley beside Blagdon Lake. www.yeovalley.co.uk


Yeo Valley springs in to life!

YEO VALLEY

Ingredients:• 120g Yeo Valley 0% Fat Lemon &Poppy Seed Yeogurt

• 120g sunflower oil• 120g caster sugar• 200g self-raising flour• 3 medium free range eggs• 2 tsp baking powder• 1 lemon, juice and zest• 1 tbsp poppy seeds

For the icing:• 250g Yeo Valley Unsalted Butter• 250g icing sugar• 2 tbsp of Yeo Valley 0% Fat Lemon& Poppy Seed Yeogurt

Method:1. Mix cupcake ingredients and spooninto a muffin tray lined with cases.

2. Bake at 165°C for 15-20 mins.3. For the icing, blend the icing sugar in

a food processor and then add thebutter in cubes.

4. Blend on high into a thick paste, thenadd the Yeogurt and whizz untilsmooth.

5. Spoon into a piping bag with a starnozzle attachment and chill for about30 mins.

6. Pipe the icing onto the cooledcupcakes, finish with poppy seedsand a thin wedge of lemon.

Yeo Valley page:Layout 1 24/1/13 10:36 Page 1

MANY gardens are not designed as awhole, they tend to evolve and in thatprocess develop layout and planting faultsthat make them difficult to manage. Alittle thought may reveal the mistakes andminor corrections can make a gardenmuch more labour-saving.You may recognise some of the common

problems from the following questionsand brief solutions.Do you have narrow grass paths? These too easily become

a single track route that becomes compacted and discouragesgood grass growth. Over the years the path tends to getnarrower as the edges are tidied up. Replace the grass with ahard surface, or add stepping stones into the grass to take thewear.Do you have young trees growing in a grass area? Planting

trees in grass is a recipe for poor tree establishment anddifficult mowing. It is well known that young trees competewith the grass and this hinders growth. The grass also tendsto grow longer against the trunk and if the mower does nothit the tree, out comes the strimmer which stands a goodchance of damaging, if not killing, the tree by cutting thebark. A one-metre diameter circle that is kept grass-freegives the tree the best chance and this can simply beachieved by spraying the grass with a contact herbicide.Alternatively incorporate the trees into a border.Do you have to clip the edges of your lawn where it meets

the flower? The edges of beds where they meet the lawngives the greatest scope for garden improvement and reducedlabour input. Plants in the border often flop onto the lawnand annoy the person with the mower; alternatively the grassis killed or damaged and repairs are needed. Add to this, thesummer-long chore of manning the edging shears andneatening up the edges with a half-moon.This is an area of the garden that needs serious

consideration. The answer is to install a mowing strip, this isan edging of paving, bricks or sets laid such that the mowercan run over the surface when mowing the grass (see pictureabove). The size of the units used depends on the scale of thegarden and border but once installed it saves hours of input.Do you grow vegetables or have an allotment? We are all

encouraged to grow our own vegetables these days and in myopinion the magazines and television programmes have madeit look far too easy. The appalling weather this year mustsurely have tested many new gardeners’ resolve to start anallotment. Turning a vegetable plot into a bed system willreduce the labour input considerably.Each bed should be approximately 1.2m (4 feet wide) by a

maximum of roughly 4m (12’) long. This enables the averageperson to reach across the bed from each side anddiscourages one from walking across the bed. Once initiallyprepared there is less need to dig the beds and there is littleor no compaction. Organic matter can be spread on thesurface in the autumn and allow the worms to drag it in.Do you grow lots of plants in pots? Container plants are

very labour intensive particularly if you prefer terracottapots. These are porous and lose water through the sides,therefore needing more frequent watering. Lining the interiorsides of the pots with a bottomless carrier bag will help

considerably, as will using a water retaining gel for summerpots and applying slow release fertiliser granules to avoid theneed for regular liquid feeds.Do you have weeds? We all have weeds, but perhaps we

could manage them more effectively. Annual weeds, such asgroundsel and chickweed, must never be allowed to seed anda 5cm (2”) layer of mulch will effectively prevent weedseeds germinating because they are kept in the dark.Perennial weeds, such as ground elder, couch grass andbindweed, need more drastic action and should be treatedwith a glyphosate based herbicide once there is plenty of leafarea to absorb the chemical. It sounds drastic, but it issometimes worthwhile spending one season killing perennialweeds prior to planting a new area or renovating an old bed.Do you need to stake your herbaceous perennials? Many

perennials can be encouraged to need no staking, by givingthem the “Chelsea Chop”. This involves waiting until aboutmid to late May and then cutting the growth they have madeback to say 150mm (4”). The new growth will be shorter, butmay flower a week or so later than normal.Do you grow plants that regularly get pests and diseases?

Hostas and delphiniums get eaten by slugs and snails,Michaelmas daisies go down with mildew, Solomon’s Seal isattacked by a sawfly and lilies are routinely attacked by thedisgusting lily beetle. There are plenty of other plants that donot get regular “nasties” so try to avoid the problem plantsand use the “goodies” instead.Do you have areas of grass that are difficult to mow? If

you cannot mow your lawn without stopping to deal withawkward corners and tight curves then do away with thegrass in these areas and plant them up as part of a border.Areas of dense shade, where the grass refuses to grow well,can simply be planted with shade tolerant plants or coveredwith a layer of bark mulch.If you have answered “yes” to any of the above questions

then take measures to rectify the situation and give yourselfmore time to do the bits of gardening that you enjoy, andlook forward to a glorious show this year.Sherborne Garden in Litton will be open for their display

of snowdrops and hellebores on Sunday 17th and Monday18th February (11am-4pm).


With MARYPAYNE MBE

Less effort for more effect

Amowing strip

MENDIP TIMES

Gardening section:Layout 1 24/1/13 12:13 Page 42


F E B R U A R Y G A R D E N T I P S� Harden off forced Hyacinth bulbs (acclimatise them) after

they have finished flowering. Then plant them out in thegarden where they will thrive and flower for many yearsto come.

� When snowdrops finish flowering lift crowded clumps,carefully divide them and replant immediately. Snowdropshate to have their roots broken so be careful!

� Dahlia roots can be started into growth under protectionnow. This will produce new shoots that can be rooted toincrease your stock.

� Trees that have lost their leaves can be pruned now. Cutout dead, diseased and damaged wood. Thin outovercrowded areas but avoid removing too much in oneyear.

� Check that climbers are securely tied to their supportsand check that old ties are not constricting older thickerstems

� Prune Clematis this month. Those that flower after mid-summer should be cut back hard (they only flower onnewly-grown shoots) but those that flower before mid-summer should be more lightly pruned to about 75cm.

� Put plenty of well rotted manure around your roses. Givethem a liberal dressing of Toprose fertiliser as well.

� Sow early lettuce seed under protection. Plant out later forreally early crops. Vaila-Winter Gem or Tom Thumb aregood tasty varieties to grow now.

Courtesy Cleeve Nursery

PAM and John Southwell, who have regularly opened theirSherborne Gardens at Litton for the NGS over the past 30 years,will do the same this year, holding their Snowdrop Days onSunday February 17th and Monday February 18th.They were presented with a tree and plaque from the NGS in

recognition of this achievement and are pictured with GrahamGuest, assistant county organiser, who said : “Over the 30 yearswe reckon they have raised in excess of £30,000.”Pam and John moved to Sherborne Gardens in 1962 and

started opening their gardens in 1982. They have been openingthem regularly ever since and were awarded a gold edged silvertrowel after 20 years.The gardens will be open from 11am-4pm on the two days,

with £4 entrance for the NGS, and teas and coffees available.They will also open on other days, if requested. Details: 01761241220.

Gardeners’ achievement

YOU ARE WELCOME TO VISIT US AND SEE OUR SHOW MODELS – OPEN 7 DAYS A WEEKTHE TIMBERYARD • SHUTE SHELVE • CROSS • NEAR AXBRIDGE

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Pots full of homegrown colourfor your Spring garden!

Seed Potatoes, Onion Sets and Dahlia Tubers

GARDENING



Other GardensOpen for the NGS

To see more gardens openfor the NGS, see The Yellow Book, or Local CountyLeaflet available from local Garden Centres. Or go to:

http://www.ngs.org.uk

NGS GARDEN OF THE MONTH

Snowdrops at EastLambrook Manor Gardens

EAST Lambrook Manor is renowned for its display of manyvarieties of snowdrops. This was initiated by the legendaryplantswoman and gardening writer the late Margery Fish.She was a voracious plant collector, no less so with

Galanthus, or snowdrops as they are better known, of whichshe amassed over 80 varieties in her iconic cottage garden atEast Lambrook Manor which she and her husband Walterstarted to create 75 years ago in 1938.Successive owners of the garden have nurtured her

collection, so that now the garden opens on February 1steach year for everyone to enjoy the display, which is mainlyto be found in the ‘Ditch’ and Woodland Garden. A specialraised bed in the nursery also allows some of the choicervarieties to be seen close-up.The wood-burning stove will be blazing away in the

Malthouse to welcome visitors who pop in for tea and cakeand the nursery will be selling Galanthus, other spring bulbs,Hellebores and herbaceous plants, all grown in peat-freecompost.The most recent owners, Mike and Gail Werkmeister, took

over in late 2008 and reserve several days each year towardsraising money for NGS charities including a ‘snowdrop day’in February (Sunday, February 3rd this year) when, weatherpermitting, they should be in full swing.NGS opening details: Sunday, February 3rd, Saturday, May18th, Sunday, July 14th between 10am and 5pm. Admission:£5.50, concessions £5.00, child free.Contact Information: Mike & Gail Werkmeister.

Telephone: 01460 240328Email: [email protected] • Website:www.eastlambrook.com. Postcode: TA13 5HH

ANOTHER busy year is inprospect for Pennard Plants,based in the village of EastPennard, near Shepton Mallet.Acceptance at all the major

flower shows – includingChelsea, which is celebratingits centenary – brings with itthe problems of designing andsubsequently building differentdisplays for each.The nursery’s theme running

through all the shows this yearwill be “Grow it, Pick it, Eatit” and they will be attemptingto show gardeners that growingto eat does not just meanplanting rows of carrots and

potatoes, but that there is adiverse range of plants thatcannot be ignored, from skirret,an old English root vegetable,to sea kale, a most delicioustreat during the winter.And from edible flowers

such as nasturtium andmarigold to brighten up yoursalads to yacon, an Andeanroot vegetable which has thetaste of pear. Many of these areornamental too so grow in theflower border but give valuablefood too.Meanwhile Pennard Plants is

making final plans for itseighth Somerset Potato Dayand Seed Fair on Saturday,February 10th. This year it isbeing held at TheConstitutional Club in StationRoad, Castle Cary inconjunction with The MoatGardens, who will beproviding refreshments.There will be 80-plus

varieties of seed potatoes forsale by the tuber, heritage andheirloom seeds, onion sets,rhubarb crowns, fruit trees andbushes and lots of free adviceon Growing your Own.Admission is free.

Pennard’s busy yearPennard Plants display at Chelsea Flower Show in 2011

8th Annual

The Constitutional Club, StationRoad, Castle Cary, BA7 7PFRefreshments and Bar

http://www.pennardplants.com

10th February – (10.30am–2.30pm)80 plus varieties of potatoes forsale by the single tuber, onionsets, shallots, garlic, HeritageSeeds, fruit trees, rhubarbcrowns and much more.

ADMISSION FREERefreshments by Friends of the Moat Garden

Lowarth Gardenand Landscape DesignChelsea Flower Show Silver Gilt medal winner

� Beautiful, practical gardens� Inspiring planting� High quality hard landscaping� Treehouses and other structures� We aim to exceed yourexpectations

Please contact usto arrange a free consultation

Alistair BarlowMobile: 07971 264261Tel: 01373 812031

Website: www.lowarth.com

MENDIP TIMES

01935 850848www.queenthorne.co.uk

CONSULTATION • DESIGNCONSTRUCTION • PLANTING

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GARDENING


FROM time-to-time the children think theysee ghosts. Often this coincides withinsomnia and a little voice will cry out: “Ican’t sleep . . . I think there is a ghost inmy room.”I am then able to reassure them that this

is unlikely as our house was built just overten years ago. Before then the only livingcreatures seen in the vicinity were cows.No-one has claimed to see ghostly cattle,as far as I know.However, as we pulled into our drive the

other evening, eldest child was heard tosay: “Ooh I just saw a ghost walking downthe neighbour’s drive. It was a man with ahat and a stick.” I gently suggest this was

someonewalkingtheir dog.It is toolate.Middle

childinsists thatghosts arerife in thelocal area

and that she’s seen several apparitionsinside and outside the house. Youngestchild is adamant that he’s seen a ghost atthe after-school club (this isn’t the firsttime he’s told this tale – my personal beliefis that it’s the caretaker). I don’t want themto be frightened so I stand firm in myscepticism.“It’s all right Mum,” says eldest child

wisely. “You don’t need to be scared. Ithink most ghosts are friendly. In fact Ihope to be a ghost one day. It would becool.” What ambition!Maybe I should not be so quick to

dismiss the wanderings of theirimaginations. For instance, this morningwhile youngest child was eating hisbreakfast, he insisted I come and look atthe wolf reflected in his mug!“Not now,” I ranted. “We’ve got ten

minutes until we leave the house and youhave to brush your teeth, pack your bag,put your shoes and coat on and finish yourtoast.”“But I can’t finish my toast because you

haven’t seen the wolf yet.” He wasn’tgiving up easily.And sure enough, the reflection of his

toast in his mug looked exactly like a wolf,complete with pointy snout. It really did!

MENDIPMUM

A little imaginationgoes a long way . . .


MENDIP TIMES

Memories of dad

For Dr Phil’s DVDs, books and tour dates go to www.drphilhammond.com

MY dad – an athletic, non-smoking Australian – died of a heartattack at the age of 39. Or so I thought for a quarter of a century. In1994, I discovered the truth. He took his life with cyanide. I wasonly seven when he died, and had no idea that he suffered fromdepression.I’ve got a memory box of his achievements (a scholarship as one

of Australia’s outstanding physical chemists, captain of theAustralian Universities’ basketball team, Cambridge Blue, PhD,brilliant teacher, loving husband and father), but nowhere amongst

the photos and newspaper cuttings is any hint of his periodic despair.My memories of him are only fond ones and he certainly wasn’t depressed all the

time. His attacks seemed to be precipitated by illness, over-work and an inability to say‘no’. When it overwhelmed him, he locked himself in his laboratory in Perth and wrote atwo-word note: “Forgive me”.My mum found him and thought he’d suffered a heart attack. It was only after the

post-mortem that she found out the truth, by which time my brother and I had been toldhe’d had a heart attack and the perceived wisdom was to leave it that way until we were“old enough to take it”.We moved to England and my mum later remarried one of the happiest men I have

ever met. She always expected me to ask difficult questions about my father, but I’drationalised the version of events I’d been given and just got on with life. Dad hadwanted to be a doctor and that was one of the reasons I chose medicine. I had my heartchecked out, but lived with the nagging fear that it might pack up in mid-life. Instead ofreverting to abstinence and vegetables, it turned me into someone in a hurry to get thingsdone and reckless as a result.As well as holding down the day job, I became a fierce campaigner for a reduction in

junior doctors’ hours and started writing comedy. There was something gloriously,inappropriately funny about roaming the wards like a Zombie, doing all sorts ofdangerous things to patients you hadn’t been properly trained to do.Much less funny if you happened to be a patient. In 1990, Tony Gardner and I formed

a double-act called Struck Off and Die and blew the whistle at the Edinburgh Fringe.Junior doctors were knackered, dangerous and hungry: “The reason we draw the curtainsaround a patient’s bed when they’ve died, is so the doctor can raid the fruit bowl withoutanyone noticing.”Radio 4 gave us three series and we attracted record numbers of complaints to the

Broadcasting Standards Council. I decided to go all out for career ruin by writing acolumn for Private Eye to wash all of the NHS’s dirty linen in public. In 1992, I brokethe story of the Bristol heart scandal which later became the subject of a huge publicinquiry that I was summoned to give evidence to. All very stressful but I reasoned thatmy heart was going to pack up at 39 so I may as well cause as much trouble as I canwhile I’m here.When I found out about dad’s depression, I was puzzled that I’d piled a lot of pressure

on myself as a doctor, comedian and journalist but never gone under. The children ofthose who’ve committed suicide struggle to understand why those who loved them haveleft them, feel guilty that it was somehow their fault and are fearful the same thing mayhappen to them.The perceived wisdom now is to tell children the truth from the outset, in small steps

they can understand. But in a high profile death such as that of footballer Gary Speed,the media dictates the pace of events. My mother never meant to take so long to tell methe truth, but she may well have done me a favour.Depression is a horrible illness and any man who threatens to harm himself often will.

For those left behind, there are excellent charities likeWinston’s Wish to help children come to terms with it.Real men get depressed but with help they also come outthe other side. Depression and failure are part of life,particularly when we’re stuck in recession, and we mustprotect ourselves and fine-tune those antennae to pick itup in others.

By Dr PHILHAMMOND

Health section:Layout 1 24/1/13 12:55 Page 46


THERE is no better way to banish sluggishness than withcolonic hydrotherapy and a healthy eating plan, according toAlison Finn of Caring Colon Cleansing. It can help you kick-start your new year’s resolutions for a healthier, moreenergetic you.Colonic hydrotherapy has long been used very successfully

to help treat IBS, diverticulitis, IBS and constipation. But youdo not have to have a bowel condition to benefit from thetreatment. Alison says cleansing and nourishing the bodyenables a healthier, happier you to emerge from winter!

Banish sluggishness

Special Offer for FebruaryColonic Hydrotherapy

Tel Alison 07552 178268Email: [email protected]

Special Offer for February1st treatment half price£37.50 instead of £75

* In cases of accident or injury it is advisable to seek advice from a GP. These treatments are anadjunct to core osteoarthritis treatments.

Call now for more information:

01749 674 716Email: [email protected]

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Offerprice:£19

IS THE WINTER MAKINGYOUR BACK, NECK OR

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If you are suffering from any of these you may haveARTHRITIS orWear &Tear in your spine or joints.Here atWells Chiropractic & Osteopathy Centre, we use treatmentmethods that research proves help reduce the symptoms ofarthritis.To find out whether we might be able to help you we offera full consultation, spine and joint examination,MyovisionScan and verbal report of findings, all for only £19 (with noobligation to start treatment).

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SUE Mountstevens, the Police and CrimeCommissioner for Avon and Somerset,will be visiting Wells in February todiscuss local issues and concerns as wellas her policing priorities.Ms Mountstevens will be the guest of

the force’s Somerset East district and willvisit Wells police station before attendingthe open session at Wells Town Hall, onMonday, February 11th, from 10am-12noon.The commissioner will later visit South

Somerset as part of her ongoing tour ofthe force area. People are beingencouraged to share their local policingpriorities by taking part in the Police &Crime Plan consultation atwww.consultation.avonandsomerset.police.uk or by visiting the commissionerwhen she is on the road in February.Ms Mountstevens wants to hear from as

many voices as possible includingresidents, community groups, businesses,young people and particularly victims ofcrime to ensure the plan addressespeople’s policing and community safetyneeds. She said: “It is really importantthat residents tell me what is important tothem so it becomes our Police and CrimePlan. Everybody who makes up Avon andSomerset whether they live or work in thearea will all have a view and I want tohear from them.”Meanwhile, Ms Mountstevens has

welcomed the appointment of the force’snew chief constable, Nick Gargan. Theappointment was approved by the Policeand Crime Panel after Mr Grogan, 46, the

Chief Constable of the National PoliceImprovement Agency (NPIA), was putforward as the preferred candidatefollowing a rigorous and open interviewprocess by the commissioner.Ms Mountstevens said: “I am delighted

the Police and Crime Panel has agreedthat Nick is the best person for the job.He was an outstanding candidate in avery strong field and I am proud that wehad such great interest. I am lookingforward to working with him to providethe best possible police service for thecommunities of Avon and Somerset.”The panel heard that Mr Gargan is an

experienced chief officer who has beenworking on a national level and has beeninvolved in Ministerial High LevelWorking Group on Value for Money. Hewas the Association of Chief PoliceOfficers (ACPO) Lead on intelligence aswell as holding roles with Thames Valleyand Leicestershire Constabulary.Mr Gargan said: “I am very proud to be

the next Chief Constable of Avon and

Somerset it is a super force that has madesuperb improvements. I’m delighted tostep in and continue that improvement.We now face the challenge of building onthat success in a tough financial climate.“It is a big job but there is an excellent

team at Avon and Somerset Constabularyand I look forward to working with themand the Police and Crime Commissioner,Sue Mountstevens. I am confident thattogether we will continue to reduce crimeand provide an excellent policingservice.”Mr Gargan is due to take up his role on

March 1.� Ms Mountstevens is also asking forpeople to tweet their policing priorities at#ourplan.To take part in the onlineconsultation for the plan visit:http://www.consultation.avonandsomerset.police.uk/aspola/plan-consultation-13-14/consult_view You can also pick upprinted surveys from local libraries or call01275 816377. The consultation closes onFriday, February 22nd.

COMMUNITY

Your chance tomeet policecommissioner


Nick Gargan and Sue Mountstevens

When the going gets tough . . .…YOU can rely on some good old community spirit to helpmotorists stranded in the snow on the A37 at Gurney Slade.Vehicles ground to a halt in the blizzard conditions and

drivers were facing the decision about whether to abandonthem when villagers stepped in to save the day.Gary Ford and Nigel Matthews rounded up their friends Jo

Cowling and Mark Kerton and used their 4x4 vehicles to dragbetween 20 and 30 cars up the hill to safety.Nicky Robertson, one of the drivers who was rescued, said:

“People were out of their cars and standing around notknowing what to do. Everyone was amazed when these guysturned up out of the blue and organised everything.“Without them we would probably have been stuck in the

village all night.”

The rescue begins

Community page:Layout 1 24/1/13 12:15 Page 74


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ENGINEERS will compete against the clock to “strip” tractors topieces at the 2013 Agricultural Machinery and Equipment Showon Wednesday, February 6th at the Royal Bath and WestShowground.The tractor stripping competition – organised by Lackham

College – is one of the highlights of the free, one-day show.Old Mill accountants will be hosting an informative talk called:

“Can I or should I buy some agricultural equipment to reduce myyear end tax bill?”Technical Manager Dr Peter Shipton, from Kingshay, will be

giving a talk on soil management with particular reference toaction following the wet conditions.Tradestands already booked include JCB Agriculture, Knight

Farm Machinery, Vaughan Agri, Redlynch AgriculturalEngineering and John Shepherd Feeders.� The entire show is held undercover. It runs from 8.30am until4pm.

Beat the clock

Motoring page:Layout 1 24/1/13 11:51 Page 1

THE Frozen Deep in Reservoir Hole, foundlast August in Cheddar Gorge, is the largestknown chamber in any UK cave. I wasfortunate to be able to see it for myselfrecently and, despite what I had heard, I wascompletely unprepared for what I saw.Our trip took three and a half hours and

was one of the most arduous I have been onin a long time. The entrance crawl is a low

creep infested with cave spiders. This leads to MoonmilkChamber, with white tufa on the walls and a chance to standupright.Beyond this is a 40m descent through cemented boulders,

aided in places by handlines. A scramble down leads to GrandGallery, a bedding passage strewn with boulders and with asmall stream. A short climb up past some fine stalagmites leadsto Great Expectations, where the diggers worked their way alongthe side of a slip fault.Before long, Hard Times is reached, and the going gets tough.

Starting out pleasantly enough as a low crawl, we came to ashallow puddle with a gravel floor which was hard on the knees.Some contortions took us up and down through constrictions,and then a long flat-out section.Parts of this were held up with some iffy-looking scaffolding

and it was with great relief that we clambered up past somewhite formations to enter Resurrection. This is a lofty chamberwith sparse but beautiful stalactites on the ceiling and flowstoneon the walls. Crossing the boulder floor we climbed up theboulder slope at the far end to an awkward climb over a largeboulder jammed in the rift.This rock was originally attached to the wall, but it was

thought to be unsafe, so it was moved. Unfortunately, instead offalling down, it fell across, and so became an obstacle toprogress. Having hauled ourselves up over this, we came to thehead of a ladder pitch, WISh You Were Here. This is an easy 10metre climb, split into two by a platform, placed to keep cavers

away from some loose boulders in the wall. Then clamberingover boulders leads directly into The Frozen Deep itself.The first thing that grabbed our attention was a group of tall

white formations in the distance. The second thing was that thebackground could not be seen. The combined power of all ourlights failed to illuminate the far wall of this vast undergroundspace.Most of the floor consists of angular rocks, which makes

progress slow and difficult. Paths have been taped through thechamber so that all the features can be seen without causing anydamage to them, although constant care must be taken. There aretwo short metal ladders to negotiate as well.Our first objective was to view the largest free-standing

formations. There are two columns, each about four metres high.One is only about three centimetres thick at the point where thestalactite joined up with the stalagmite and it has a fine whitecurtain attached to it at the top.The east wall of the chamber is a fault plane, more than 30

metres high. At one end, a flowstone cascade descends to joinwith a group of stalagmites at its foot. There are stalactites andstalagmites, rocks covered in splash stal, and curtains hangingfrom the walls and ceiling. Most are pure white, although someare tinted in pale shades of brown and yellow.There were several bats in the chamber and they must have an

alternative entrance to that engineered by the diggers, as judgingby the amount of guano, they have been there a long time.Martin Grass, our guide, pointed out a bat skeleton preservedunder a layer of flowstone.The route into the chamber has a counterpart at high level

along the same wall at the far end. This has been pushed backabove Hard Times, so it is possible that had the diggers started ata higher level, they might have made their discovery a lotsooner.At the far end of the chamber, 75 metres away, there are also

passages running off at each corner. These are parallel to thoseopposite and are probably aligned along a parallel fault.Subsequently the area between these passages has been alteredby sub-water table erosion and collapse, to form The FrozenDeep.One passage at a high level, High Country, is heading back

towards the Gorge, but the other, Dingley Dell, descends steeplyto a sump which has not yet, in view of the recent wet weather,been dived to a conclusion. The water level here fluctuates, sohopes are high that a connection can be made with theunderground river which flows underneath Gough’s Cave toemerge at various places in the lower Gorge.Our tour of The Frozen Deep took us a good hour and then we

began the climb out. This took us another hour, by which timewe were pleased to be able to change by the roadside, in lightdrizzle, before making our way to the Hunters’ Lodge Inn forsome rehydration therapy.Three days later my legs were still aching from the

unaccustomed exercise, but it was an unforgettable evening andwell worth the effort. Cavers will be able to visit this discoveryin the spring, but unfortunately it is unlikely that it will ever beaccessible to non-cavers.

With PHILIPHENDY

Phil is a member of Wessex Cave Club and has been caving for the last 44 years. Still active, his main interest is in diggingto try to find new caves. He has published a caving cartoon book and collaborated on the recently-published Swildon’s

Hole – 100 Years of Exploration.


Exploring the Frozen Deep

CAVING

Chris, Nicky and Phil

Pho

togr

aphy

by

Phi

lHen

dy

Caving page:Layout 1 24/1/13 11:36 Page 74

MENDIP TIMES


Mountain adventurefor charityHead for heights: Hannah Pittmanis heading to Everest

UNIVERSITY student Hannah Pittman, from Burrington, isaiming high in aid of a children’s charity.Hannah, who went to Backwell School, is taking part in an

expedition in May to the base camp on Everest. She will be joinedby fellow students from Glasgow University, where she is in herfinal year studying anatomy, on the 15-day hike to 5,520 metres.Hannah said: “I have been skiing since I was a child and have

been on several summer walking holidays in the French Alps. Ihave always had a love for mountains and I have always fanciedthe idea of climbing one of the world’s bigger mountains so whenI read about the expedition to Everest Base Camp I jumped at thechance to get involved.”She is raising money for Childreach International, an award-

winning charity that works with local communities in developingcountries such as Nepal, Cambodia and India to help children gainaccess to healthcare, education and child rights and protection.But first she and the other students must each raise £2,500 in

sponsorship. To donate, visit:https://mydonate.bt.com/fundraisers/hannahhikeseverest or £3 canbe donated by simply texting ‘UNLOCK 110483’ to 70007.

Nice weather for ducks!Scarlett (left)with otherwinners inthe race

Rosie, Cheyenne and Harvey Ganes with their entries in the duckrace

Barbara Cade gathers up the ducks at finish line

IF you are an older person living in the Glastonbury area, youmight be interested in attending a Lunch Club on a regular oroccasional basis or having a regular visit from a Befriender.The Lunch Club is held every Monday at Monmouth Close in

Glastonbury and runs from 10am – 3pm with a hot lunch served at12.15. Members enjoy games, craft, sing-a-longs and the companyof others.They also enjoy regular visits from entertainers and speakers.

The weekly cost is only £6. Befriending benefits both the personbeing befriended and the volunteer who acts as the befriender.Glastonbury Live at Home, set up by Methodist Homes in 2012,

runs both these services with the assistance of six dedicatedvolunteers, managed by Peter Baker, the Community ServicesManager, based at Willcox Close in Glastonbury.

Help for elderly

Details: www.justgiving.com/lee-anne-sperring

MILD weather attracted a good crowd to support the annualCroscombe Village Duck Race.More than 100 plastic ducks – many decorated by their owners

– were released into the River Sheppey from Skew Bridge.Scarlett Fowler won prizes for the best-decorated duck as well

as the first decorated duck to reach the finish line.The event, organised by villagers Robin and Barbara Cade,

raised more than £100 for Croscombe primary school.

Charity section:Layout 1 24/1/13 10:28 Page 52

CHARITIES


THE Community Bus, a converted double-decker based inRadstock, which allows parents and children to meet up and playin the villages and estates around the area, is in desperate need ofmore management committee members.Teresa Simpson the Chair of the Community Bus said: “We are

extremely relieved that in this financial climate we have securedthe project for another three years. The bus provides a vital serviceto many isolated families and is greatly valued by local people.“We have a great staff team of three and a wonderful family-

friendly vehicle. Our current issue is attracting some newmembers to our management committee to help with thestewardship of the charity. We have four trustees and this is simplynot enough.”

Catching the bus

Details: www.thecommunitybus.org.uk or contactMelanie Clarke on 01761 419557.

HINKLEY Point power station’s painters have donated £715of Sainsbury vouchers to the Bridgwater-based children’scharity bibic, which supports disabled children and theirfamilies.The charity is happy to accept any donations of vouchers,

new or used toys and games.

Painters’ gift

Details: Simone Joyce 01278 684060 or [email protected]

bibic CEO Geoff Cummins being presented with the vouchersby Station Director Mike Harrison and his team of BalfourBeatty Painters at Hinkley Point B.

LOCAL musician, Heather Hill, conducts The Somer ValleySingers ladies’ choir and also runs a youth singing group calledSt John’s Musical Youth.In November 2011 her niece Rachael gave birth to triplet boys

at just 25 weeks into her pregnancy. The boys, Max, Harvey andLucas were tiny and as a result spent many weeks in StMichael’s Hospital, Bristol before being allowed home.Consequently, both of Heather’s groups decided that their

next events would be fundraisers for the hospital’s charity, Cotsfor Tots, as well as St John’s church, Midsomer Norton.Between them, the two groups donated £700 to Cots for Totsand £750 to St John’s Church.St John’s Musical Youth is for children from age six upwards

and they meet at St. John’s Church Hall on a Wednesday nightfrom 5.30pm until 7pm. The Somer Valley Singers welcomeladies from the age of 16 and practice at the RadstockMethodist Church on a Thursday from 7.30pm to 9pm.

Cots for tots

New members to both groups are very welcome.Details: Heather 01761

LOCAL quiz teams raised £963 for two charities, in eventsorganised by Derek Clarke, landlord of the Waldegrave Arms inChewton Mendip, which attracted 18 teams on each of two nights.He’s pictured (centre) with Dave Broadway, one of the team

captains, the managing director of Radstock company CFH, whopledged to match the total money raised.One of the charities supported, the Optic Nerve Hypoplasia

charity, was nominated by Waldegrave Arms regular DonnaNorris, whose grand-daughter suffers from optic nerve hypoplasia.The other was The National Blind Children’s Society.

Charity quiz

Charity section:Layout 1 24/1/13 10:28 Page 53


MENDIP TIMES

Property DPS:Layout 1 24/1/13 13:43 Page 54

HOUSE sales across the South West look set to continue toincrease as chartered surveyors’ expectations for the coming threemonths remained positive, says the latest RICS housing marketsurvey.Some 37 per cent more surveyors predicted transactions to rise

rather than fall over the next quarter. This positive outlook comesat a time when confidence has been growing that the market insome parts of the country may now be over the very worst.In tandem with this, prices held steady during December. With

prices forecast by RICS to rise by two percent during 2013 itseems that the market in some areas of the country may havestarted to bottom out.However, surveyors in the South West continue to have a

negative view of the price outlook between now and March, witheight per cent more predicting further drops over the followingthree months.With transactions expected to increase, the number of homes

coming up for sale significantly increased with demand fromwould-be buyers also increasing. During December, a net balanceof 50 per cent more surveyors reported an increase in new buyerenquiries.Across the UK, London once again bucked the overall trend and

saw significant increases in prices, while the NorthEast and Wales saw the biggest drops. Notably,prices in the West Midlands stabilised last month;this represents the first time in over two and a halfyears that prices have stopped falling in the region.


House prices rise

HAB Housing and English Rural Housing Association havejoined forces with Chew Magna Parish Council and a locallandowner to bring forward the largest and most innovativehousing development seen in the parish for many years.The development, next to Cleeve House on the Winford

Road, will deliver nine affordable homes for localhouseholds. Hab Housing was formed in 2007 by thetelevision presenter Kevin McCloud and this is its first ruraldevelopment.Chew Magna Parish Council Chairman, Jon Wheatley,

said: “To finally see nine affordable homes being deliveredfor the village is fantastic. To see them as part of thehousing development being proposed by HAB is beyondanything we could have hoped for.”Kevin McCloud said: “We are delighted to be working in

such a beautiful village and with such a vibrant community.We are determined to deliver a truly outstanding project andare particularly excited at the prospect of providing homesfor people who have a long association with Chew Magnabut can no longer afford to live there.”Anyone in need of an affordable home who is either

living, working or has close family connections to ChewMagna, is encouraged to fill in the English RuralRegistration of Interest form.This can be downloaded from the parish council website

www.chewmagna.org.uk, picked up from the Village GreenSpace at the Old Mill, or requested from English Rural on01934 811713 [email protected].

Affordable homesin Chew Magna

Wrington North Somerset BS40 5SATel: 01934 864300

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WEST END NAILSEADetached cottage with outbuildings,garden and orchards amounting to approx.1 acre. The cottage requires somemodernisation and has planning consentfor extension. Set well back from road,pretty cottage garden, 2 orchards, workingWell.

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Property DPS:Layout 1 24/1/13 13:43 Page 55

AFTER 176 years in business, Dawson Steeplejacks, based atClutton, has recorded a first – although it’s made or restoredcountless weathercocks, adorning churches and cathedrals all overthe country, it has just made its first weatherstork!The order came from a customer, who saw them while on

holiday in Estonia, where having storks nesting on your roof isconsidered good luck.The current head of the family firm, David Dawson, aged 78,

said: “She thought it would keep the seagulls off her roofs inCornwall.”He’s the fourth generation of his family involved in the

company, which started in Yorkshire during the reign of KingWilliam IV, but moved to Clutton to build chimney stacks across

the North Somerset coalfield, before demolishing them againwhen the mines closed.At the same time the company became more involved in

ecclesiastical work and now looks after towers and spires oncathedrals, abbeys, palaces and grand houses all over the country.David said: “I started when I was 14 taking down the spires of

churches in Bath damaged during the war. I remember at St.Andrew’s the spire had acted as a chimney and the heat was sogreat the bells had melted.”Three generations of the Dawson family are still involved in the

historic business, which continues to thrive, with clients includingthe National Trust and Trinity House!David said: “It’s fair to say you need a good head for heights,

but you do get used to it.”Weathercocks were first fitted in the fifth century as a watchful

eye of the Almighty, being the first to rise in the mornings and thelast to roost at night. One of the oldest in our area is at KeynshamChurch and dates from 1655.

By Steve Egginton

A head for heights

David and grandchildren Gemma and Dan with atraditional weathercock and the weatherstork!

MENDIP TIMES

David Dawson with one ofthe company's originallorries, a 1929 Chevrolet

David's son Ian highabove Bath Abbey

David's daughterTina working on St.Mary's Bridgwater


History feature:Layout 1 24/1/13 10:10 Page 56

HISTORY


NANCY was born eight months afterher father, Frank Maybery, died onApril 15th 1912 when the Titanic sankafter being torn apart by an iceberg. Ofthe 2,223 passengers, 1,517 died.Nancy, who lives at Quaker-run

Sewell House in Winscombe had twoparties to celebrate her 100th birthdayand said: “I was overwhelmed to see somany people including my 95-year-oldcousin Douglas and one-year-old greatgrand-daughter, Kitty Nancy Baxter. Itwas wonderful.”Her daughter, Alison Clayton, of

Weston-super-Mare, said: “I wasdelighted when I visited Sidcot andfound two school year photographs, onewith my mother as a pupil and the otherof me when I was there in the 1960s.”Nancy said: “My mother rarely talked

about the Titanic, and its aftermath,when families had to fight forcompensation. She told my daughterRuth and I that she had had apremonition on the night of the sinking.She dreamt she was drowning and washolding the two girls up to be saved.

When she woke she thought she sawFrank at the foot of her bed.”During World War Two Nancy

worked in London hospitals, and metStanley Pimley, when he was home onleave from the army. They married in1947 and Alison was born in 1949. Thefamily moved to Crewkerne, to take onthe Red Lion Hotel and son Roger wasborn in 1950.Stan died suddenly in 1956 when the

children were just six and seven. Nancymoved back to Winscombe to live withdaughter Ella, and returned to work as aphysiotherapist in Weston.

Nancy re-married Irwin Woodheadwhen she was 63. They were bothlongstanding members of SidcotFriends Meeting. Irwin died in 2003.To celebrate the milestone Sidcot

School headmaster, Iain Kilpatrick, isto offer a £50 book voucher to theSidcot action group Environment for aGreener Environment (SAGE).He said: “So many of Nancy’s family

have attended Sidcot School, wewanted to mark her birthday with aprize that will benefit the school’senvironment action group.”

L to r: Ella Maybury (Nancy's mother and wife of Frank who died on the Titanic), NancyMaybery and her sister and brother-in-law Ruth and Japhet Fox

Memories ofthe TitanicFormer Sidcot School pupilNancy Woodhead, whosefather drowned on theTitanic, has celebrated her100th birthday.

Nancy (left) and her sisters Joyce and Ruth Maybery at Sidcot School

Nancy and daughter Alison Clayton

History feature:Layout 1 24/1/13 10:10 Page 57


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Homes section:Layout 1 24/1/13 14:00 Page 58


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MENDIP TIMES •JANUARY 2012 • PAGE 60PAGE 60 • MENDIP TIMES • FEBRUARY 2013

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MENDIP TIMES JACKSONS


LAST month one of my new year wishes was for the weirdweather we’d had in different areas of the country to stop –hopefully that’s now a distant memory too, but as a result ofhow awful it had been we decided to run a special offer throughJanuary and February, offering free delivery on our coreproducts, like garden fencing panels and gates, to try to helpthose of you who’ve found you are facing an unexpected fencereplacement at, what is probably one of the worst times of the

year for unexpected expenditure, just after Christmas! You canfind full details on the offer, on your local page on our web sitejacksons-fencing.co.uk/bathlocalI would like to remind any of you out there that have an

interest in garden design that there is still time to register yourinterest in our Show Gardens competition – this is our 4thAnnual Garden Design Competition – where the prize is tohave your design built – the lovely garden shown at the topright of this page is one of the winning 2012 designs; NaturalReflection by Alison Coxhead. The design features our popularnew Woven panels – full details about the last three yearswinners, the products used and on how to enter can be found onyour local page. One of the best things about running the competition is

finding other companies to partner up with us, by allowing theirwonderful products to be included in the garden designs. Onesuch is Chilstone of Tunbridge Wells, (www.chilstone.com)they’ve been involved since the beginning of the competition,so their handmade architectural stonework and gardenornaments including: urns, fountains and sundials, have featuredin the show gardens. Chilstone have very kindly offered a prizefor our Free Prize Draw, you can win one of their Bird Baths –see below for details.

[email protected]

Jacksons Fencing – news,topical treats and more . . .The Christmas festivities are just a distantmemory as we spring forward in anticipation oflighter evenings – yes I know it’s only February,but it does you good to start dreaming aboutyour garden and planning for spring right now!

Natural Reflections, by Alison Coxhead, one of the winning 2012Jacksons Show Gardens

W I N A C H I L S T O N EB I R D B A T H !

To be in with a chanceto win thisdelightful, handmadestone Chilstone BirdBath, simply log on toyour local page, addressbelow and follow theeasy instructions on howto enter. The draw closes31.3.13. Previous PrizeDraw winners are postedon the web page.To enter go to:www.jacksons-fencing.co.uk/bathlocal


MENDIP TIMES JACKSONS



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KEEPING a horse through the winter is oftenhard, but the recent snowy and icy conditionshave made it very difficult for many localhorse owners. For the snow to have arrivedon the ground so soon after the weeks ofheavy rain, this winter seems like a long onealready.Obviously the main priority for horses is

water, shelter and food, and if they are outand the weather turns bad it is essential to make sure the ice on thewater is broken regularly so that they have access at all times.Getting to the fields is often not easy as the lanes can become

treacherous and which is why so many horse owners are reliant ontheir four-wheel drive vehicles when the weather becomes bad.Horses can withstand a fair amount of cold, especially if they

are rugged up and have enough food, and many would still preferto be out than in.In fact, horses that are kept in, and then restricted to their stables

for 24 hours a day due to icy yards and frozen fields and arenas,are probably as much in danger of ill-health as those living out.Horses guts are quite sensitive to change and so if you know

that your horse’s exercise is going to be severely restricted it isessential that you cut down their intake of cereal foods or elsethere are a couple of worrying conditions that may occur.Azoturia is a very painful condition which affects a horse’s

muscles and normally occurs when a fairly fit horse is restricted toits stable for a day or more, but without decreasing the levels ofprotein in the diet. When the horse then starts to move, there is toomuch glycogen in the system which causes a huge build up oflactic acid in the muscles.This makes the muscles (particularly across the hind quarters)

become very stiff and sore and if this occurs the veterinarysurgeon will need to be called. Once a horse has suffered thiscondition once it does tend to reoccur and correct management isessential.Also, the lack of movement and change of diet can cause colic

in a horse which is another condition that can be very serious.Symptoms of colic can vary from stamping the ground, kicking atthe belly, pacing the stable or trying to get down and roll. If colic

is suspected it is again better to ring the vet and get their advice orbook a visit as this can quickly become quite serious and in somecases fatal.Another cause for concern will be just the general behaviour of

horses that have been shut in and not had much exercise due tosnow and ice. Take care when going out again for the first timethat your horse is not ‘over fresh’ and may start to misbehave. Ifpossible once the going is suitable, then try and turn your horseout for a bit, or put him on the lunge for half an hour beforeventuring out on the roads for the first time.The lack of work at this time of year does not matter for the

average horse owner, but for those who are aiming at eventing orracing then lack of fitness can put back the start to the competitiveseason as well. There are many all-weather gallops and indoorarenas around the area and so if you have transport for your horsesit is possible to keep going most of the year round.For me, although I am very lucky where my horse is kept to

have a horse walker and an arena, I am definitely looking forwardto the spring this year, and feeling some sunshine on my backwhile out riding! It seems a long way away at the moment.

MENDIP TIMES


With CELIAGADD

The snow must go on: Scarlett and Joseph, who live at Bodden,near Shepton Mallet, helping their mum at a nearby stables

Snowy start to 2013

February 2013 show datesSunday 3rdJunior BS at Badgworth Arena,AxbridgeUnaffiliated show jumping atKing Sedgemoor EquestrianCentre, GreintonWednesday 6thLower evening show jumping atBadgworth arena, AxbridgeSaturday 9thMid Somerset Riding Clubunaffiliated dressage at CamelHill Farm, Sparkford

Sunday 10thSenior BS at Badgworth Arena,AxbridgeMid Somerset Unaffiliated showjumping at Camel Hill Farm,SparkfordWednesday 13thHigher unaffiliated show jumpingat Badgworth Arena, AxbridgeSaturday 16thQuantock Riding unaffiliateddressage at King Sedgemoor EC,Greinton

Sunday 17thUnaffiliated dressage bySedgemoor Events at KingSedgemoor EC, GreintonBlackdown Mendip Riding ClubDressage Day at RDA CentreBristol BS10 7QT schedules onwww.blackdownmendiprc.co.ukWednesday 20thLower unaffiliated show jumpingat Badgworth Arena, AxbridgeSaturday 23rdBritish Dressage at Badgworth

Arena, AxbridgeUnaffiliated dressage atCannington College ECUnaffiliated dressage atPontispool Farm, NortonFitzwarrenUnaffiliated dressage at KingSedgemoor Sunday 24thJunior BS at Badgworth Arena,AxbridgeWednesday 27thHigher show jumping atBadgworth Arena, Axbridge

Riding section:Layout 1 24/1/13 12:26 Page 64

A STRONG ride by Paddy Brennan tookthe elegant grey Chartreux to victory inthe Higos Insurance Services SomersetNational Handicap Chase at Wincanton.The race is widely seen as an indicator

of potential Grand National contendersand Brennan told Racing UK that inChartreux – who won by a neck – ownerRoger Brookhouse might have one of hisown in the future.In the previous race, the Higos

Insurance Services Platinum HandicapChase, Brennan and trainer Tom Georgeenjoyed victory with Ballyallia Man.Higos sponsored the entire card atWincanton, which featured six races.� School pupils enjoyed an educationalday at Wincanton which has joined forceswith Racing to School, run by the BritishHorseracing Education and StandardsTrust (BHEST).

The programme supports 10,000children each year, including many whoare disadvantaged, to practice theirNational Curriculum subjects in theunique environment of their localracecourse, trainer’s yard or stud.The pupils, from Abbeyfield School in

Chippenham, took part in a range ofnumeracy, science and literacychallenges using the racecoursefacilities. They also met Racing toSchool’s Jockey Ambassador SamTwiston-Davies, who won the first raceon Master of the Sea.


RIDING

By Mark Adler

Chartreux leaves the rest feeling green

Neck and neck – the Somerset Chase turned into a close encounter

Higos chief Ian Gosden congratulatesChartreux jockey Paddy Brennan

Abbeyfield pupils with Sam Twiston-Davies


MENDIP TIMES


TRAINEE accountant Sarah Gould could be causing some turfaccountants to reconsider the odds they offer in the 2103 Pointto Point season.When Sarah isn’t hard at work at Old Mill in Shepton

Mallet, she spends all her time with her horses in the yard atthe family farm at Cranmore.Sarah, 20, has lined up four contenders to challenge for

honours in the coming months and hopes to be a regularfixture in the winners’ enclosures up and down the country.Horses have been her passion since she was a youngster and

joined Wylye Valley Pony Club, racing ponies beforeprogressing to hunters. Sarah and her family, who run a beef andsheep farm, have always been big supporters of Mendip FarmersHunt and will be making a special effort to be represented at theSton Easton point to point meeting in March.Sarah says her relatively young age does not seem to bother

other trainers, such as Chloe Roddick, from Wellow, ornational hunt trainer Caroline Keevil, who freely offer adviceand encouragement.

Sarah said: “Training is still more of a hobby for me at themoment because I want to concentrate on my work at OldMill.“But there is a real buzz and adrenalin about training a

winner, even though it is all about teamwork in the end.”That team includes her younger sister, Lucy, 17, who will be

riding for Sarah once more. Lucy said: “I do get more nervousriding for Sarah but it’s not that different from riding foranyone else.”This season has seen the formation of a racing syndicate

called Withy Wood Racing Club which will help towards thecosts of entering meetings. The club has two of Sarah’s horses:No Excuses and Camp Kerala. Sarah’s other two contendersare Special Occasion and Own Line.

by Mark Adler

Special occasion is on the cards

Sarah with SpecialOccasion

HORSE RACINGCome to the Mendip Farmers

POINT TO POINT RACESSUNDAY 24th MARCHSton Easton, BA3 4DH

• Children’s entertainment• Tote • Bar • Trade StandsFirst Race 12.30pm

Tel: 01761 241339

Sarah (left) and Lucy with thefour pointers for 2013


THEWessex Area Point-to-Point season kicked off at thebeginning of January with the Larkhill Racing Club fixture.A total of 23 meetings are scheduled in Wessex, culminating in

the Weston & Banwell’s evening fixture on Wednesday, May 15that Cothelstone. The Mendip Farmers meeting will be held onSunday, March 23rd at Ston Easton.Chloe Roddick has a strong team at Wellow, near Bath,

including Wadebridge winners Mahonia (a likely candidate for theAintree Foxhunter), Combehay and Mike Sheppard’s prolificSericina, a runner-up at Wadebridge and likely to benefit from arecent wind operation. Bonvilston winner Dear Villez, who will besuited to long distance hunter chases, also returns.Charles Whittaker has eight pointers to run from his yard at

Gare Hill, near Frome. Dual 2012 winner Pertinent, StarburstDiamond, Now Listen to Me, who was third in his single 2012hunter chase outing, and Towcester hunter chase winner PistoletNoir return. Newcomers to the stable include Ruapehu, the winnerof two Irish points last season and in contention when the tackslipped at Barbury Castle, and the top-class Cheltenham Festivalwinner Taranis, who may be aimed at Larkhill’s Coronation GoldCup.Sarah Hawker, from Rode, will campaign three or four horses

this season. Lidjo De Rouge is joined by Solaise Express, who hasbeen placed in two hurdle races for Sarah’s husband Richard, andthe interesting ex-Willie Mullins-trained Jayo, the winner of sevenraces in Ireland.Bruton owner-trainers Rose and Sam Loxton will race again

Oslot, who landed a Bratton Down ladies’ open before a superbsuccess in a Stratford hunter chase in June.

Horses for courses

For a free colour leaflet detailing all the meetings in the Wessex area, send an SAE to Gill Armstrong, Pantiles,Penselwood, Wincanton, Somerset BA9 8NF

Some of the local contenders inthe 2013 Wessex Area Point-to-Point Season compiled by BrianArmstrong and Bob Bracher

Action from last year’sSton Easton fixture


RIDING


MEMBERS of BristolRugby’s 1st XV squadenjoyed a tour around theShepton Mallet CiderMill, home to Blackthorn,one of the team’ssponsors.Players and officials –

including chief executiveSteve Gorvett – wereshown around theproduction lines at themill, the biggest of itskind in the region andone of the biggest in theUK.The squad had returned

from a trip to NorthernIreland where they hadbeaten Ulster Ravens 8-14 in the B&I Cup.

THIS might not be for the faint-hearted, butfundraisers are being sought to join fourBath Rugby legends on a sponsored cycleride from John O’Groats to Lands End inJune.Danny Grewcock, Lewis Moody, David

Flatman and Andy Beattie will tackling thejourney in aid of the Bath RugbyFoundation.

The foundation enhances the lives of young people throughsport, with a particular focus on those with social and otherdisadvantages. It aims to impart the values of camaraderie,loyalty, discipline and respect found in rugby.The foundation motivates, raises self esteem and confidence,

and improves life skills in young people by impactingpositively on educational achievement and social interaction.Funded through donations, sponsorship and fundraising, the

foundation provides opportunities for organisations andindividuals to fulfil their community, charity and volunteeringobjectives.The lads will be setting off on Saturday, June 8th and aim to

reach Lands End on June 16th. People can join them for thefull journey or there are some shorter options: Ludlow–Bath

(93 miles), on June 14th; a four-day challenge (JohnO’Groats–Carlisle 423 miles) on June 8th–11th and the fiveday challenge (Carlisle–Land’s End 539 miles, June 12th–16th.Closer to home, there are some more cycling challenges:

you may like to join the Foundation on June 22nd and June23rd for road rides of 20, 30, 60 and 100 miles around theBath area. Volunteers to help on the days are also beingsought.� For further information about any of the above fundraisingevents please contact [email protected] or visit:www.bathrugbyfoundation.com

Fancy a challenge or two?

By PAMBURKE

Pam Burke is Community Public Relations Officefor Bath Rugby

Lewis Moody, Danny Grewcock, David Flatman and Andy Beattie,who will be cycling from John O’ Groats to Lands End on behalf ofthe Bath Rugby Foundation

Scrum for mill tour

Bob Chaplin (centre), the mill’s orchard and fruit manager, welcomesthe visitors from Bristol Rugby

Community work expandsYOUNG soccer players are being given the chance to learncoaching skills thanks to a partnership between Blackthorn Ciderand Bristol City Football Club.Blackthorn, City’s Principle Partner, has extended its sponsorship

to include the club’s charity, Bristol City Community Trust. It issponsoring the trust’s Coaches Education Programme, providingbursaries for participants who might otherwise be unable to takepart. The trust recently set up a partnership with its local job centreand is now extending the scheme into Weston-super-Mare.

MENDIP TIMES SPORT


THREE local football sideshave edged closer to apossible place in theSomerset FA Premier Cupfinal.In the quarter finals to be

played in February, BishopSutton have a home tieagainst Bridgwater Town(Tuesday, February 26th, k/o7.30pm). Paulton Rovers hostLarkhall Athletic (Tuesday,February 26th, 7.45pm)whilst Frome Town musttravel to Taunton Town FC onthe 27th for a 7.45pm start.In the other quarter final,

Bath City host neighboursOdd Down (February 26th,7.45pm).

Cup finalbeckons

Sport section:Layout 1 24/1/13 11:43 Page 68

THE West SomersetRailway resumesrunning its trainservices for the half-term holiday onFebruary 9th and thenbegins its build-up ofservices towards theEaster holiday period.

At the end of March the railway stages its very popularSpring Steam Gala with “guest” steam engines speciallyhired in including one built in the USA and a Great WesternSteam Railmotor dating from the Edwardian era which onceran between Yatton and Clevedon.

For those looking for a “package” day out the popular“Dunster Castle Expresses” which combine a steam journeyfrom Bishops Lydeard to Dunster station, coach link andvisit to the 1,000-year-old castle runs as a one-off on March9th and then every Saturday and Wednesday from March30th to November 2nd.

The railway runs for 20 miles through the Quantock Hillsand along the Bristol Channel between Bishops Lydeard(four miles from Taunton and Minehead). Other possibledestinations to explore include the ancient harbour town ofWatchet and Cleeve Abbey at Washford, while CrowcombeHeathfield and Stogumber stations are ideal start points forwalking in the Quantocks.

All aboard for a new season!

PREPARE yourself for more side-splitting jokes and merrimentthis half-term when The Pirates arrive at the Fleet Air ArmMuseum. Every day from Monday 11th to Friday February 15ththere will be some fearsome family activities.

Children are encouraged to wear fancy dress. They’ll beshown how to draw a pirate map in ‘blood’ using a quill penand make a variety of pirate accessories including cutlasses,telescopes, hats and eye patches.

Then from Wednesday February 20th –Sunday February 24ththe museum will be displaying the Bloodhound SSC jet androcket-powered car. The car will be displayed in Hall Four,where the Fairey Delta Two, the first aircraft to travel at morethan 1000mph, is also on display.

Pirates on parade


WHAT’S ON

What's On section:Layout 1 24/1/13 12:31 Page 69

THIS year’s Westcountry Game Fair will offer the ultimatecountryside experience for visitors, whatever their interests:from fishing and shooting to keeping poultry and growingvegetables!

The fair is amongst the first of the great regional game fairsin the calendar and will return to the Bath and WestShowground at Shepton Mallet on Saturday, March 9th andSunday, March 10th. The event will celebrate 18 years ofentertaining the public and creating a platform for countrysidetraditions and issues to be promoted and supported.

The fair is supported by the British Association for Shootingand Conservation and experts from the organisation will be onhand to offer advice on everything from gundog training toclaypigeon shooting. BASC has joined forces with Bristol andWest Working Gundog Club, who will be running a trainingclinic, plus there will be a mobile vet on hand to offer advice on

gundogs and their welfare.Terrier and Lurcher shows will be back on both days of the

event. Full schedules and details on classes are available todownload from the organiser’s website: www.contour.uk.net.The Family Dog Show will also return.

Meanwhile, Terry Large, chairman for the Campaign forFalconry, who began flying falcons at a young age and becamea master falconer by the time he was a teenager, will be puttinghis skills on display with a series of flying demonstrations.There will also be a chance for visitors to get up close andpersonal with the birds at the indoor display area.

The Somerset Smallholders Association will have a majorrole at the show providing a friendly, practical and educationalinsight into rural activities. They will provide displays and offeradvice on a variety of activities including goat and poultrykeeping to growing vegetables. There will be a selection ofstalls and demonstrations including hurdle making, poultry,blacksmith artist, alpaca products and more. Another featurewill be a “community farm” with rabbits, donkeys, ponies,sheep, pigs, chickens and many other animals.

The show also hosts a countryside shopping village with morethan 250 traders offering guns, shooting accessories, fishingequipment, gifts, clothing, paintings and prints, food and muchmore.� You can keep up to date with everything happening at theshow by visiting the website www.contour.uk.net or joiningtheir Facebook group and following them on Twitter. Forexhibitor enquiries, please call 01392 421500.

ANYONE who thinks shooting is a hobby just for men shouldreconsider: Somerset Lady Guns is a thriving club for novicesthrough to experienced guns.

Somerset Lady Guns are part of the Devon and Somerset LadyGuns, a BASC affiliated club supported by Country Sports SW.The club has 32 members who enjoy shooting. Practice takesplace once a month at various shooting grounds across the regionincluding at Mendip Clays, near Wells.

Members have also achieved the BASC safe shot award whichis an assessment to ensure they demonstrate a confident and safeuse of shotguns in a field-based situation.

Country Sports South West is one of six regional projects in theSustainable Rural Tourism programme and part financed by theEuropean Agricultural Fund for Rural Development.

As a group, Somerset Lady Guns meet up for other shooting-

related events throughout the year and have a thriving socialcalendar. The monthly practice sessions take the format ofshooting 50 clays followed by lunch, for £40.

Game, set and hatch!

Somerset Lady Guns

For more information, meet some of the members on the BASC stand or contact Debbie Ironside-Smith viawww.countrysportssouthwest.co.uk

Join the gun girls

WIN A DAY AT THE GAME FAIRTHE Westcountry Game Fair promises to be a fantastic dayout for all the family and Mendip Times is offering threelucky readers the chance to enjoy a visit for free.

We have teamed up with Contour Exhibitions, theorganisers of the event, to offer prizes of three family tickets(two adults and two children) – each worth £29 – in our easy-to-enter competition.

The tickets are valid for either day of the game fair,Saturday, March 9th or Sunday, March 10th at the Royal Bathand West Showground, Shepton Mallet.

To enter, please answer the following question: who isorganising the section of the fair where will you be able tomeet some farmyard animals such as pigs and sheep?Please send you answers on a postcard to:Westcountry Game Fair Competition,Mendip Times, Coombe Lodge, BS40 7RG.

Entries must be received no later than Friday, February15th. Prizes will be awarded to the first three correct answerschosen. The editor’s decision is final.


MENDIP TIMES GAME FAIR



The WellswayHarptree Hill, West Harptree, BS40 6EJ

01761 221382 • [email protected]

Wednesday 20th March 20136:30pm – 10pm

Pop along and join us for an evening ofpampering and retail therapy

Enjoy taster sessions from local therapists and shopfrom a variety of stalls. Licensed bar, tea and coffee.

Free admission.Fundraising for NRAS (National Rheumatoid Arthritis Society)

Now in our21st year

Wells Film Centre, Princes Road, Wells, BA5 1TD

COMINGUP:Hyde Park On Hudson (12a)Starts Friday, 1st FebruaryBeautiful Creatures (cert tbc)Starts Wednesday, 6th FebruaryWreck-It-Ralph in 2D and3D (PG)Starts Friday, 8th FebruaryCirque Du Soleil WorldsAway in 2D and 3D (PG)Starts Friday, 15th February� Book in person� Online 24/7 @www.wellsfilmcentre.co.uk� Over the ’phone: 01749 673195

STON Easton Park has announced theline-up for its literary lunches this spring.Times columnist Ben Macintyre (left),author of the bestseller OperationMincemeat, will be talking about his newbook Double Cross on March 22nd.

On April 26th the guest author is Catherine Bailey, author ofthe Sunday Times bestseller, Black Diamonds. Tickets at £39include two-course luncheon and wine on arrival.

Literary lunches

Details: 01761 241631

WHAT’S ON

WONDERFULWILDFOODWALKSwith Adrian BootsPut a spring in your step and join Adrianon a fantastic wild food foray. Enjoy thevibrant colours of spring whilst findingsome of the season’s best offerings fromWild Garlic to Jelly Ear mushrooms!

Meet on 24th March, 9.30am atBarleywoodWalled Garden for tea andcoffee, finish approximately 1.30pm.£35 per person including tea or coffee onarrival at the garden.

To book your place, please call: 01761 462162

www.walkthemendips.com


THE production by Frome AmateurOperatic Society capped a hugely-successful 2012 for the theatre and set thetone for the coming months ahead.

But, 30 years ago, the theatre’s veryexistence was under threat – there wereplans to demolish the building and buildhomes on the site.

However, a group of people in Fromewere determined that the theatre shouldnot become a memory in its own rightand launched a campaign to keep it open,using it as a theatre and assembly roomsfor community purposes, staffed byvolunteers.

Today, the Memorial Theatre and

adjoining Assembly Rooms attracthousehold names from the worlds oftheatre and music as well as hostingproductions by groups such as FAOS,which is their home for rehearsals andperformances.

The theatre was built in the 1920s as amemorial hall to those who fell in theFirst World War. It was used for dancesand other events and seating was installedin the 1930s as cinema became ever morepopular and when the hall became knownas The Grand Cinema.

However, audiences began to decline inthe 1970s and 1980s and the complexbegan to deteriorate. Mendip District


MENDIP TIMES

Eight performances of the pantomime Dick Whittington and his Cat played to sell-outaudiences at Frome’s Memorial Theatre, attracting audiences from across Mendipand further afield. Mark Adler reports.

A real community theatre

Humphrey Barnes (centre) with some of the theatre volunteers

Tom, Dick Whittington'scat, was played byLottie Ball

The FAOS cast

King Rat(AndrewCarpenter)with theRatlings



THEATRE

The trust is seeking sponsors to help replace its 50-year-old seating. At £100 per seat, each will have the sponsor’s

personal or family name, club or business titlepermanently acknowledged. For more information, visit:

www.fromememorialtheatre.org.uk

Council offered to buy the site from the trustees and it was thenthat the battle to save the complex began.

Among the original campaigners was Humphrey Barnes whobecame chairman of the organising committee at that time andis now still chairman of the trustees. He is an enthusiasticamateur actor and has just played Alderman Fitzwarren in theannual FAOS pantomime “Dick Whittington”.

He said: “It took us ten years to get the complex back up andrunning.

“Its strength today lies in the 120 volunteers who bring withthem a wide range of skills and experience, whether that’sbackstage, maintenance, stewarding or in the box office.”

Today the theatre still hosts the town’s annual RemembranceDay Service. The foyer has a permanent displaycommemorating the town’s fallen of two World Wars and otherconflicts.

MEMORIALTHEATREFROME

For information on future presentationsVisit fromememorialtheatre.org.ukOr find us on Facebook

Pre-show meals available – check websiteor Box Office 01373 462795 (24hr) fordetails

Christchurch Street West, Frome, BA11 1EB

Saturday 23rd February at 7.30pmFOR ONE NIGHT ONLY

(Frome Rotary Club’s Variety Concert in aid ofCritchill School and Harry's Hydro) • Tickets £10

Friday 1st March at 7.30pmCOLIN FRY

Tickets £17/Conc £16

Saturday 16th March at 7.30pmHM BAND OF THE

ROYAL MARINESTickets £16

Saturday 23rd March at 8.00pmRUSSELL KANE

Tickets £17.50

Andy Tawse as the Sultan of Morocco Steve Huggins playedDolly Dumpling

Dick Whittington (Dora Bishop) andKing Rat (Andrew Carpenter) with

Fairy Bowbells (Tabitha Cox)


T h e M e n d i p T i m e s W h a t ’ s O n G u i d e f o r F e b r u a r yWednesday January 30th“Mud, mud, glorious mud” – a tribute to Flanders and Swan by musicians Tim Lewisand Sheila Furneux, the Friends of Weston-super-Mare Museum, 2.30pm at the museum,Burlington Street, Weston, BS23 1PR.Friday February 1stOpen Mic Night at Redhill Village Hall, 8pm, all welcome. Hosted by Jerry Blythe,admission free.Saturday February 2nd – Sunday February 3rdSomerset Vintage & Classic Tractor Show at the Royal Bath & West Showground,Shepton Mallet. Around 250 tractors on display. All proceeds to charity.www.somersettractorshow.co.ukSaturday February 2ndCharity concert, Richie Hall, Wells, featuring Somerset counter tenor Iestyn Davies inconversation with James Jolly, in aid of Wells Cathedral School Foundation’s appeal tobuild Cedars Hall performing arts centre. Tickets £10, from 01749 834483 [email protected] Rahtz –Archeologist – a day conference to celebrate his life and work inSomerset. The Kings of Wessex Academy, Cheddar, BS27 3AQ. Contributions fromseveral local archaeologists. Tickets £15 (£10), in advance please. Details:[email protected] or 01823 278805.Tuesday February 5thWeston-super-Mare Film Society, “The Apartment” (PG), to be screened at the WinterGardens, 7.45pm, £3/£4.50 non-members.Wednesday February 6thYeo Valley Probus Club meeting – a speaker from The Samaritans, talking about theirwork, 10.30am at Backwell Bowls Club.Thursday February 7thWells Evening Society – Henry Purcell – England’s greatest composer, with ColinBooth, 7.30pm, Wells Town Hall.Prickles Hedgehog Rescue Quiz Night at The Riverside Inn, Cheddar. Arrive 7pm for7.30pm start. £6.50 includes supper. Max team size 6 – prizes for the winners! Bookingadvisable: 07806 744772.Friday February 8th“Southern Ocean Challenge and the RNLI” – a talk by Graham Wills with previouslyunseen film of the Southern Ocean. Chew Valley Sailing Club, BS40 8XN, 7pm for 7.30includes light supper. Tickets £7.50 from 01275 472639, in aid of the RNLI.“Holyest Erth” opening evening of an exhibition of handmade books and prints ofGlastonbury Abbey, with light refreshments, 6 – 8pm. RSVP by February 5th:[email protected] or 01458 832267. Exhibition open February 9th – May12th.Saturday February 9thFrome Society for Local Study – Sam Moorhead: The Ashworth Memorial Lecture onThe Frome Hoard – the largest pot of Roman Coins found in Britain, Assembly Rooms,Frome, 2.30pm.“The Archaeology of the Severn Estuary and Beyond”. A day conference presentingthe most exciting recent discoveries, 9am – 4.30pm at the Strode Theatre, StrodeCollege, Street, BA16 0AB. Tickets £15, include buffet lunch and refreshments. Book at:www.tickets.strodetheatre.co.ukClapton Village Hall, 10.30am to 1pm, jewellery making class, £8 per person, includesjewellery making kit, tuition and refreshments. Details: Ainslie 01761 411234.Sunday February 10thFrome Potato Day and Seed Swap, 10am – 3pm at the Cheese and Grain, MarketYard, Frome, BA11 1BE. For details of speakers and other information:www.fromepotatoday.org.ukTuesday February 12th“The Great Crane Project” a talk for The Mendip Society by Amy King about thisunique bird. 2.30pm at The Wells Museum, Cathedral Green, Wells, BA5 2UE.“Persepolis and the empires of ancient Persia”, a talk by John Osborne for theMendip Branch of NADFAS at the Bath & West Showground. Details 01749 76-0652 [email protected] James Church, Winscombe Pancake Races at the Community Centre PlayingField, Sandford Road, 3pm, followed by tea in the church hall. Please bring a frying pan.Wednesday February 13thNailsea & District Horticultural Society: talk on Scree and Gravel Gardening, by DonEveritt. United Reformed Church, Stockway North, Nailsea at 7.30pm.Wells Civic Society, Chris Goodchild and Gayle Pennington on the development ofWookey Hole Caves, 7.30pm, Wells and Mendip Museum.

Friday February 15th“Spinning &Weaving – keeping the tradition alive”.A talk for The Mendip Societyby Janet Maher. 7.30pm at The Church Hall, Tweentown, Cheddar.Saturday February 16th“Wildlife on your doorstep” with Chris Sperring and his owls, nest-box building, owlpellet dissection, wildlife walks etc. 10am -4pm at Jacklands Fishing Lakes, JacklandsBridge, Tickenham, BS21 6SG. Admission free but you may need wellies! Organised bythe Hawk and Owl Trust.Valentines Supper Night with live music from Robb Dee. 8pm at Redhill Village Hall,free admission, all welcome.Sunday February 17thFeltmaking Workshop, 10am -4pm, St Edmunds Community Hall, Glastonbury. Cost£45 including materials. Bookings: Jennie Loader, 01458 834071.Sunday February 17th and Monday February 18thSnowdrop Days at Sherborne Garden, Litton, 11am-4pm, £4 for the NGS, tea andcoffee available. Other times by appointment, tel 01761 241220.Tuesday February 19thMid-Somerset Decorative & Fine Arts Society talk by Peter Webb on “Twentiethcentury artists I have known” 11am at Caryford Hall, Castle Cary. £6 at door. Details01963 350527.Wednesday February 20thYeo Valley Probus Club meeting; a talk by Graham Hackett about the RAF Operationsagainst the Mau Mau in Kenya in the 1950s, 10.30am, Backwell Bowls Club.Thursday February 21stOld Station Millennium Green, Winscombe agm with illustrated talk and pictures fromthe village from the 1960s to 2000 by Bunty Tracy and Don Overton, 7.30pmWinscombe Community Centre, all welcome.“Household appliances of a bygone age”. A talk for The Mendip Society by PeterLamb. 7.30pm at St James’ Hall, Woodborough Road, Winscombe.Friday February 22ndBragaTanga, a Cornish band playing an esoteric mix of instruments and world folkmusic, 7pm at Hornblotton Village Hall. Tickets £10 from 01963 240282 [email protected] and soft drinks available, bring your own booze.Trad Jazz / Mainstream with Dave Martin’s Jabbo Five, 8pm -11pm at TimsburyConygre Hall. Tickets £8 on the door, donation to Bath Stroke Group. Bar and foodavailable. Details: Kate, 01761 471245 or www.mendipmusic.comSaturday February 23rdThe Badke Quartet performing three glorious string quartets for Churchill Music! 7.30-9.45pm, St John the Baptist, Church, Church Lane, Churchill. Tickets £13.50 (U-25’sfree) from 01934 852919.Somerset Wildlife Trust, East Mendip Group winter walk to King Alfred’s Tower, withEve Tigwell, 10am.Wednesday February 27th“Somerset Women”, a talk by Jane de Gruchy, archivist at Somerset Heritage andLibraries service, for the Friends of Weston-super-Mare Museum, 7.30pm at themuseum, Burlington St, Weston. BS23 1PR.Somerset Wildlife Trust, East Mendip Group, badgers with Adrian Coward, RugbyClub, Gipsy Lane, Frome, 7.30pm.Thursday February 28th“Bees and Bee-keeping”, a talk by David Maslen for Chew Valley Wildlife Group at7.45pm, Chew Magna Millenium Hall, £2.50 includes refreshments“Turbulent times, dynamic business – a banker’s perspective” – talk for the NorthSomerset Rural Business Forum by Humphrey Richards, Head of Agriculture South &West, Lloyds Bank, 7.30pm at The Winford Manor Hotel, BS40 8DW. Non-memberswelcome, cost £5. Details: Sue Pritchard,07767 008662.Friday March 1st“Exciting new Perennials and Hellebores”, an illustrated talk at Cleeve Nursery, 7.30– 9.30pm. RHS recommended event hosted by Alan Down. Tickets £6 members, £8non-members, includes glass of wine.Tuesday March 5thWeston-super-Mare Film Society, “Late Bloomers” (PG). To be screened at the WinterGardens, 7.45pm, £3/£4.50 non-members. Contact: 01934 834866.“Klimt and the Viennese secession – “A kiss for all the world”, a talk by DouglasSkeggs for the Mendip Branch of NADFAS at the Bath & West Showground. Details:01749 760652 or [email protected] March 6thCheddar Valley Railway Walk Society agm and talk Mendip Hills Through the Ageswith Les Davies, The Oak House, Axbridge, 7.30 pm, admission free all welcome.Saturday March 9thGala Concert at Wells Cathedral starring soprano Dame Felicity Lott with WellsCathedral Choir. Organised by Wells Rotary and Cathedral Chorister Trust in aid of theTrust and Help for Heroes. 7pm. Tickets from £10 to £25: 01749 672773.Wednesday March 20thLadies Pamper Evening at The Wellsway, Harptree Hill, BS40 6EJ. Taster sessions,stalls, refreshments and licensed bar. 18.30 to 22.00. Free admission. Details: 01761221382 or [email protected]

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