Thomas Kenrick Re-pointing

Re-Pointing Specialist. Building Conservation. Stone Masonry. 01749 831568 / 07746 2 1 8 0 6 2 www.Repointing .co.uk

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This Month The Editor’s Letter

Advertisers Index 48 We’re still here. In a good way, with the FTN still going Alhampton Weather 6 Benefice Prayer Pyramid 24 strong, albeit online-only for now, and in a not-so-good Breast Cancer Appeal 27 way with lockdown continuing. But there are reasons British Legion 32 to be cheerful. Census 2021 5 Christmas at 30 The snowdrops are out, even daffodils are starting to Christmas Foodbank 34 appear, days are already more than an hour longer Church Services 24 than when last we published, and birds clearly have COVID vax scam warning 11 procreation on their minds; thankfully Nature is Diary dates 4 magnificently unphased by the latest human Directory 46 predicament and continues to do its stuff. Ditcheat PC Notes 36

Ditcheat PC Support 40 EP Church Rota 39 The Ditcheat Santa visited every house in the village to From the Archives 8 much approval; Mary, Joseph and the donkey attended Gardening 28 the opening of the Crib Service; readers’ contributions Good News ! 22 to the Food Bank and Taps and Toilets fundraiser Kneelers for Ditcheat 14 helped great things happen and two youngsters Litter Heroes 34 shamed the litter louts and cleared up a hideous mess Natural World 12 by the river. (P 34) One Hundred Club 7 Picture from the Past 27 Also, the first of my neighbours have been vaccinated; News 26 things seems to be heading the right way. Rector's Note 25

Recycling sites 42 Red Cross Fund Raising 33 We also warmly welcome two new contributors – John Spicey Fish Lentils 45 Clarke has picked up the baton to continue to provide Volunteer Visiting 10 a weather report (P 6) and Roger Yeoman will be taking Wildlife Group Update 20 a look at what was reported in the local newspapers a century or more ago. (P 8)

If you are reading this do remind people we are online and the Parish can offer support if you are struggling Front cover: Hoar Frost, (P 40). Alhampton by Robbie Labanowski © 2021. Bring on the Spring!

Please send your cover photos to the editor. Margy Cockburn Tim Sanders

The Fosse Trinity News is a community magazine that is normally delivered free to all households in Ditcheat, Alhampton, and Pylle. We reserve the right to edit but welcome contributions from everyone in the community. Editorial and adverts to be received by the 10th of month preceding the issue. Contact: [email protected] or [email protected]

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Dates for your Diary

Given the current lockdown rules and with no crystal ball to predict the situation in the immediate future, we are listing events and contact numbers. The situation may change during the month, please check with the organisers for the latest information. Updates will be notified on the magazine website www.fossetrinitynews.co.uk.

Tai Chi for Health Richard 880308 James 860355 Ditcheat Badminton Club Gaye 860081 Ditcheat and Pylle Singers Di 07831 289945 Rendezvous Linda 860067 Pilates Michelle 07825 543414 Ditcheat Yoga Clare 07843 079209 Ditcheat Art Group Liz & Stewart 860755 Ditcheat Short Mat Bowls Martin 860780 Alhamptonians Louisa 860252 Ditcheat and Pylle Singers Di 07831 289945 Skittles at Ditcheat Manor House Inn 860276 Folk Dance Club Ama/Peter 672911 Men’s Breakfast Roger 860551

Need to be kept up to date with activities in the Jubilee Hall? Sign up for the monthly newsletter email, via the website. www.ditcheatvillagehall.org.uk

WANTED – FTN treasurer. Please contact [email protected].

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Census 2021 A snapshot of modern society

Households across Mendip will soon be asked to take part in Census 2021.

The census is a once-in-a-decade survey that gives us the most accurate estimate of all the people and households in and Wales. It has been carried out every decade since 1801, with the exception of 1941.

It will be the first run predominantly online, with households receiving a letter with a unique access code, allowing them to complete the questionnaire on their computers, phones or tablets.

“A successful census will ensure everyone from local government to charities can put services and funding in the places where they are most needed,” Iain Bell, deputy national statistician at the Office for National Statistics, said.

“This could mean things like doctors’ surgeries, schools and new transport routes. That’s why it is so important everyone takes part and we have made it easier for people to do so online on any device, with help and paper questionnaires for those that need them.”

Census day will be on 21st March, but households across the country will receive letters with online codes allowing them to take part from early March.

The census will include questions about your sex, age, work, health, education, household size and ethnicity. And, for the first time, there will be a question asking people whether they have served in the armed forces, as well as voluntary questions for those aged 16 and over on sexual orientation and gender identity.

Results will be available within 12 months, although personal records will be locked away for 100 years, kept safe for future generations.

For more information, visit census.gov.uk.

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Alhampton Weather – December 2020

Geoff Webber has handed the weather baton, or should I say the weather vane, to me and I must begin by thanking him for passing over all his data from the last 7 years and also for the very interesting column that he produced for FTN for so long.

As I write this my weather station is only just being erected, sitting on top of a 16ft scaffold pole, so there is somewhat of a gap from Geoff’s final readings to mine appearing. Fortunately, Charles Dowding has very kindly agreed to let me use the information from his site to fill in the gap (https://www.charlesdowding.co.uk/weather/index.htm). Although changing sites will produce small variations it is safe to say that we will all get just as cold or hot and wet as each other and the readings will show why!

Since volunteering to write the weather report I have had weather on the mind more than usual. As we all know if you are short of a topic to talk about the weather is a good place to start, but I’ve noticed it gets into the conversation of us avid dog walkers even when there is plenty else to say………. and wasn’t December wet, not that it bothered our Labrador.

The big weather event of the month was Storm Bella, which arrived immediately after Christmas Day. Much of the country experienced heavy rain and strong winds with over 100 mph recorded on the Isle of Wight. Despite the weather warnings we got away with it lightly; our maximum wind gust was only a little over 30 mph and the amount of rainfall was less than we experienced at the start of October. However, December seemed a very wet month. There were flood warnings across the county in the lead up to Christmas. Those who walk in Haddon Wood would have seen the pond fill up and the across the road at Easton Trow Bridge. Thankfully the water soon subsided. However, coming on the back of a particularly wet October, which had 50% more rain than December, the water table was already high and it gave the impression of being worse. As the table shows, apparently this December was not very different to the previous 3 years! The beauty of the weather though is the correction that follows and as I write 6

this it has not rained for 10 days, but the wind goes round to the south west tonight so the rain is on its way, again.

Given the time of the year it seems appropriate to end with a typical Christmas cracker joke: “why did the cloud fall for the fog?” ……..answer next month.

December 2014 2015 2016 2017 2018 2019 2020 >20°C days 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 <10°C nights 29 24 31 31 30 22 30 High Temp °C 12.7 15.2 13.8 13.2 13.6 12.1 13.8 Low Temp °C -5.2 2.4 -5.4 -2.6 -0.8 -1.6 -4.9 Rain mm 56.8 71.4 27 112.2 121.2 121.4 106.8 Wet days 13 20 14 19 21 18 20 Wind run 1598 4410 1016 2003 2068 1979 2142 Sun hours 90

John Clarke

100 Club

December winners:

Ball 70 £1000 Christine Sage Ball 31 £50 Audrey and Ian Goose Ball 56 £25 Chris Reed

January winners:

Ball 60 £100 Geoff and Julie Derham Ball 85 £50 Patricia Burbridge Ball 39 £25 Alison Ward

December was last draw of this year, may I remind people if they have not already paid for another year and wish to continue please let me have £60 as soon as possible. People who are new to the village – this 100 club is run to raise money for the upkeep of the church. It costs £5 a month or £60 for the year. Every month a draw takes place to draw a £100, £50 and £25 prize, in December the £100 prize is replaced with a £1000 prize.

If you wish to take part please contact me: Andrew Nicholls on 01749 860321. 7

From the Newspaper Archives

A new series looking at what the local newspapers were reporting in the dim and distant past. With thanks to Roger Yeoman.

Dorset County Chronicle - Thursday 23rd November 1837

Pennard House has this week been enlivened with true old English hospitality. Sir John and Lady Paul entertained a large family party to celebrate her Ladyship’s son, Mr. Berkley Napier’s, arrival at majority. The morning was ushered in by a merry peal of bells, guns firing, and other signs of village rejoicing. At two o'clock the whole poor of the parish of East Pennard, to the number of 400, sat down to a good substantial meal of roast beef and plum- pudding, washed down by copious libations of ale, brewed at the birth of the young squire. After their dinner, the day being remarkably fine, the young men engaged in all sorts of old gymnastic sports, whilst the fiddlers called others to join in the merry dance. At five, a large party of the connections of the family partook of an excellent dinner, and the evening concluded with a ball and supper, given to the tenantry and servants, in which the whole company joined, and concluded the evening dedicated to true old English hospitality in a manner that will long be remembered in that neighbourhood in testimony of the regard felt by the tenants. No fewer than twelve fires blazed through most of the eminences which surround the house.

Dorset County Chronicle - Thursday 23rd January 1834

In the parish of Pylle, near , Mr Portman has let out for the five years past about thirteen acres in garden allotments of from a quarter to three quarters of an acre which are cultivated by the humble tenants in a manner that elicits the admiration of all who behold it. Such has been the improvement in their condition that not one able-bodied man among them has applied to the parish for relief for upwards of 3 years past, except in case of sudden calamity or severe illness, nor has there been one defaulter in the payment of rent. A day and Sunday school have also been established for the instruction of children, whose parents will be able bring them up in industrious habits, by which their instruction will be turned to the best account; also a weekly penny club both for children and adults, the amount of which, at the end of the year, is always doubled by Mr. Portman, and appropriated to the purchase of clothes, &c. The school, we understand, is entirely supported by Mr. Portman. At , near Mells, Somerset, and at Corton, near Sherborne, he has raised many families from pauperism, and given them motives to industry and virtue. 8

Western Gazette - Friday 25th March 1887

THE JUBILEE. —On Saturday last, a public meeting was held in the Old School- room to consider what steps should be taken to celebrate the Queen's jubilee. There were present: Rev.W. M. Leir. rector (in the chair), Messrs. C Welch, J. Bown. J. Jeans. G. Corp, J. Look, T. Vincent. W. Longman, J. Francis, E. King, &c — The Chairman said he should be glad to hear any suggestion from those present to the best manner in which to celebrate the Queen's jubilee.— Mr. T. Vincent proposed that a subscription be made to give a dinner to all the inhabitants of the parish.— Mr. C. Welch seconded, and thought if there was any overplus it should be devoted towards repairing the churchyard wall, which was in a very dilapidated state. Mr. Jeanes proposed that almshouses be built in the parish. — Mr. Welch said this would be a very good thing if it could be carried out, but thought it very unlikely that enough money could be obtained in Ditcheat for this purpose.— Mr. Look proposed that a chapel-of-ease be erected at Alhampton.— Mr. Vincent said if they were not favourable to the dinner scheme, they might put a new organ in the Parish Church.— Mr. Francis proposed that water should be brought into the village, and would give £5 towards that object; and another gentleman suggested that a new wall should be built in the churchyard, and main entrance placed in the centre, and the churchyard, through which there is a footpath, made private.— Mr. Bown said all the above projects would cost money, and he thought enough could not obtained in Ditcheat but as to the dinner, he thought that a good plan, it would not cost much.— Mr. C. Welch said he estimated the cost of the dinner and tea to the children about £80, and if 40 farmers would give £2 each, that would be sufficient to defray the expenses. One or two gentlemen in the room dissented from this, and after further discussion, was decided to adjourn the meeting.

The texts have been reproduced from images published by The British Newspaper Archive © THE BRITISH LIBRARY BOARD. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED. Roger Yeoman

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10

Beware Vaccination Payment Scams

Trading Standards is warning the public to be on their guard following reports that fraudsters are sending out fake texts offering a Covid-19 vaccine in an attempt to steal bank details. The text offers a link to what call an “extremely convincing” fake NHS website. Once on the website people are asked to input their bank details to register for a vaccine.

The scam message reads ‘we have identified that you are eligible to apply for your vaccine’ and then prompts you to click on a link for further information or to ‘apply’ for the vaccine. If you receive a text or email that asks you to click on a link or for you to provide information, such as your name, credit card or bank details, delete it immediately.

Remember, the NHS will never ask for your payment details.

If you think you have been scammed, you can get advice and find out how to report it at Citizens Advice – What to do if you’ve been scammed.

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The Natural World

As we move from January into February, things are changing in nature, although it may not be very apparent. Hazel catkins have been around for a few weeks, but now they open up to unleash their pollen. Buds are coming on some trees and shrubs, and snowdrops are nearly all in full bloom, with crocuses following on behind.

On warmer days, you may well catch sight of a large lumbering bumblebee on a determined mission, going somewhere in a hurry, and you may also come across a very large, but extremely drowsy wasp. Both are queens which have hibernated in isolation: somewhere dry and away from frosts. I often find hibernating queen wasps in my wood pile. Early Bumblebee (Bombus Pratorum) The queen bumblebee, most probably an early bumblebee (bombus pratorum), left her natal nest at the end of last summer, as a young bee, was mated, and then hibernated. Now she is looking for a new home to establish a new nest. This could be a disused bird or rodent nest, or your compost heap. There she will set up home for just one season, and her life’s work will be complete. The same is true of the queen wasp. Their nest sites vary from rodent burrows to large paper structures hanging from the rafters in your loft or shed.

Honey bees are different. The whole colony has survived through the winter, and gone into a sort of torpor. They don’t hibernate but keep going at a low ebb. The queen slows down her egg laying, and stops completely in really cold weather, and the colony forms a cluster, rather like a 3D version of the penguins you see in BBC wildlife programmes. Now, the cluster is getting less dense and the queen starts laying again.

The male bees were all kicked out at the end of summer, and perished, but the workers (females) which are now in the hives, normally work themselves to death after no more than six weeks in the summer, but these will survive for up to six months from when they hatched in September last year. How on earth do they do that?

The key is in the food they eat and how they process it. For most of the summer, worker bees live on a diet of just honey, and the pollen they collect is used to provide protein for the young larvae, but towards the end of summer there are 12

fewer young mouths to feed, and they start to consume more pollen themselves. This provides them with protein, glycogen and fat, all stored in what are called the fat bodies. These are present throughout the body and, along with the other two components, mean that as the bees’ metabolic rate has slowed right down, and they aren’t doing much work, they can last all through the winter.

Honeybees have a couple of other fascinating tricks up their sleeves. If they form a huddle and stay in the hive all winter, how do they cope with going to the ‘bathroom’? Well! If there are short warm periods, they will pop out for a cleansing flight, but they can store enormous amounts of waste products for a very long period, and their abdomens expand to accommodate this.

Even more impressive is their ability to regain their youth!!! Young worker bees produce brood food to feed the larvae, but as they mature, their morphology changes and they turn to collecting food for the community which they pass to younger bees when they return home. In early Spring, some of the geriatric bees which have lived through the winter return to feeding the new larvae hatching from the eggs which the queen has started laying again. Others take up where they left off, and will go out looking for pollen, as nectar is in very short supply until March.

If you keep a look out on a sunny winter’s day, you will easily spot honeybees on winter honeysuckle, but occasionally you can catch them collecting the bright orange pollen of snowdrops.

Spring is on its way.

On a completely different topic. We have been ‘blessed’ with a sparrowhawk treating our birdfeeders as a breakfast bar, and our numbers of goldfinches have plummeted as a result. We tried all sorts of remedies including a large eye Bee on a Snowdrop painted on plastic and swivelling in the breeze, none of which worked. In the end we moved the feeders into the branches of shrubs, and this seems to have deterred it, but sparrowhawks are beautiful, and they do have to live. We have simply given the problem to our neighbours, and their birds. Several people in the area have the same problem, and sparrowhawk numbers seem to be on the increase. Beware! Stewart Gould [email protected]

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Kneelers for St. Mary Magdalene Church, Ditcheat

It was during the last Annual church clean that a group of us decided that we would like to do something about replacing the tired old kneelers in the church. Marion Rodgers, one of the group, herself an experienced needlewoman, expressed enthusiasm for the project. She has since purchased two books on church kneelers and is currently looking into the costing.

Kneelers from All Saints church, Steep. Sussex

The church has recently received a legacy from the late Mrs Nicky Hamilton who used to live in the village. Nicky was an artist and church warden from 2000- 2004 and sculpted the head of St. Mary Magdalene which now faces the altar in the chancel. We thought that the church kneelers might be an appropriate way in which to spend her legacy and her husband Nick was delighted with the idea and was sure Nicky would have been too.

We would like this to be a village project reflecting the many groups that exist in our village. For a small village we have an impressive array of businesses, clubs and community events which we thought might like to make a kneeler to represent themselves. Of course any individuals who would like to get involved would be warmly welcomed. When Covid is brought under control it could become a social event with regular opportunities for those involved to meet together. In the meantime we are just wanting to gauge the interest in the project. We will be sending a letter to each of the village groups outlining what would be involved and interested individuals could contact Marion on 01749 860864 or the churchwardens.

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An example of what could be achieved!

Jessica Leach 15

www.wheathillgolf.co.uk 01963 240667

CLARE TORDAY Learn to play golf

YOGA & ACUPUNCTURE with a PGA Professional YOGA CLASSES Ditcheat & Galhampton Green Fee & Membership Specials Clubhouse open to Everyone Village Halls

Monday 6pm Galhampton hall A. TREVENEN PASCOE Tuesday 9.15am Caryford hall BSc. (Hons) Ost. Med. ND. Thursday 9.15am Ditcheat hall OSTEOPATH

42 High Street £8 per session & max 8 people per class Please pre book via text or email Shepton Mallet Somerset 07843 079 209 BA4 5AS [email protected] Tel. (01749) 342594 www.claretordayacupuncture.com PPP/AXA and BUPA recognised

We are delighted to announce that we have moved to the utterly charming village of Alhampton.

Levant Lockdown Takeaway Collection day every Friday Email or text your order Collect from the front door between 5–6pm We have a 5* Food & Hygiene rating.

If you have any special dietary, requirements please let us know in advance.

www.levantcatering.com Corner Cottage, BA4 6PY Alhampton 01749 860414 07779 093020 [email protected]

(Discounts available to anyone feeling the pinch, please ask me). Just call or email. Stay safe and support local businesses Thank you Tanya & Co

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PHILIP SAUNDERS

PRIVATE HIRE DRIVER Based in Ditcheat Airports and Long Distance Trips

Travel in Comfort Reliable Prompt Very Competitive Rates Tel: 07855 588128

Mike Doyle Home Maintenance

All types of property maintenance undertaken including:

• Painting and Decorating • Kitchen and Bathroom Tiling • Wood/Laminate Floor Laying • Wooden Decking • Fencing • Patio Laying • Insurance Quotes/Work Undertaken

01749 860356 07876421255 e-mail:[email protected]

The Old Exchange Church Street, Somerset, BA7 7EJ All kinds of legal advice and [email protected] assistance available, both Tel: 01963 350888 Fax: 01963 351107 efficiently and economically.

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The Wildlife Group Update

Share a close encounter: This Teasel isn’t flowering green flowers. The Autumn has been so wet that the seeds left in the tubes have germinated. If you did take up “the love brown” theme from the last WLG update and left your herbaceous plants, you will have had some beautiful frost effects in the garden this Winter.

Learn your bird songs: There are four main black Corvids in the UK. Ravens, Carrion Crows, Rooks and Jackdaws. The former two are often seen singly and the latter live in groups and often in mixed flocks. Ravens and Crows can be confused, especially as size can be a difficult identifier. Bob and I once saw a pair of birds that we thought were a Buzzard being mobbed by a Crow, but actually it was a Golden Eagle mobbed by a Raven! So, Ravens are much bigger than Crows and have keel shaped tail feathers. The Raven sound to watch out for is a deep cronk-cronk, reminiscent of a dog barking; Crows say caw-caw-caw. The Raven has quietly become more common in this area, so keep a look out for them. They are magnificently acrobatic: gliding, swerving, swooping and flying upside down, especially in their courtship flights which happen in January and February. Rooks are about the size of Crows but live in Rookeries, often with their smaller cousins the Jackdaw. Both have grey on them, the bill in the Rook and the back of the head in the Jackdaw. They are a noisy raucous lot. Left is a Raven and right is a Crow. Images from Nature Mapping Program. What can we do to help wildlife? You may not think your garden is important to wildlife, but every garden is, especially when you add them all together. The concept of Hedgehog highways is really taking on. I was reading that one community took it upon themselves to ensure that each garden was connected to the other, so that Hedgehogs could roam freely for food. They can travel up to 2-3 Km a night in search of food. This tends to be especially important in village and town settings, where there are lots of fences, but do take a critical look at your garden and see if a hedgehog can get in and out of 20

it. A hole about 13x13 cm is all that is required, big enough to allow a hedgehog to pass through, but not most dogs. If you would like to give someone a present, you can get little frames saying “hedgehog gateway” which goes around the hole, either square or round and a “highway” notice to put on your garden fence to say that you are participating in the highway in your garden. Sometimes ramps are necessary to allow them access up steps. It would be great if all our villages in the Benefice would take this on.

WLG February Photo competition: Can you name this mammal? Answers by 7th February please.

Jan/Dec. photo competition winner: Congratulations to Ian Davies, who correctly Image by Jackie Dent identified the Common Sundew (Drosera rotundifolia).

Eco thought for the month: Avidly reading “Your Somerset” as I do, in the part about recycling, I came across the figures for food waste. If we all (UK) cut out food waste for one day, it could do the same for climate change as planting half a million trees. Apparently, each year UK households throw away a shocking 4.5 million tonnes of edible food. Food accounts for about ¼ of the contents of Somerset’s rubbish bins, this can be recycled and saves CO2 from being released into the atmosphere. Producing food is very costly in time, energy and resources. Paradoxically we have cheap food, but please don’t waste it, treat it with the respect it deserves and recycle the rest.

Contact information: Bridget Wadey email: [email protected], or phone: 01749 860240. You can follow our activities by: • joining our email list; see above, • through the Fosse Trinity News (FTN) parish magazine • The FTN website: www.fossetrinitynews.co.uk

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The Good News Pages

The perfect counter to the unremittingly gloomy obsessions of mainstream media – broadcasting the wonderfully positive side of our community

Ditcheat Santa Thanks His Elves

In what was a bit of a bleak year, the Elves of Ditcheat spread some much appreciated cheer by delivering a bag of treats to every house in the village.

When Santa delivered Christmas Cheer Bags to each house in Ditcheat in December, he was not alone and his thanks go to the many who helped to make this happen.

To the Sponsor Elves, Geoff Broom for the baubles, Paul Nicholls Racing for the satsumas, balloons, sweets and cards and Jan Robson for the festive bags,

To Charlie Barber and the Elves at Barbers for providing and packing the cheeses just the right size for the Bags.

To the young Elves at Ditcheat School for drawing their Christmas pictures.

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To the Mince Pie Elves, Bridget, Hilary, Jane, Jess, Kate, Kim, Kirsty, Linda, Liz, Lynda & Vee, who between them gave their time, ingredients and skills to cook 340 mince pies.

And last of all the Elves (or were they Reindeer!), who delivered the Bags, Kate, Geoff, Lynda, Gerry, Vee, Jan & Anne.

So many to thank and Santa hopes that he has not forgotten anyone. With best wishes for a Happy New Year and here’s hoping 2021 will bring Good Cheer to All.

Santa and his Admin. Elves, Anne, Hilary & Lynda (the Bossy Ones!).

‘I would just like to say a grateful thankyou to the village Santa for the Christmas goodie bag that really showed the true meaning of Christmas. Not only was I touched by the kind gesture, it made me smile, which is not so forthcoming these days, as there are no visitors to smile at!

It was just a really thoughtful thing to do, so thank you all the people that contributed to the contents and a special thank you to the young person that drew Rudolph – well done! Kind regards, Sybil Critchley.’

‘The Ditcheat Santa delivered a lovely box of goodies. It was a real surprise and whoever thought of it is wonderful. I just want to say thank you very much. Mrs Norton, Lintern Close.’

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Services for February 2021

Due to the lockdown all services will be via Zoom

Sunday 7th 2nd Sunday before Lent 10:00am Zoom Service *

Sunday 14th Sunday before Lent 10:00am Zoom Service *

Wednesday 17th Ash Wednesday 7:00pm Zoom Service

Sunday 21st First Sunday of Lent 10:00am Zoom Service *

Sunday 28th Second Sunday of Lent 10:00am Zoom Service *

Services for early March 2021

We anticipate that these will continue to be via Zoom but please check noticeboards and websites for any changes

Sunday 7th Third Sunday of Lent 10:00am Zoom Service *

Sunday 14th Fourth Sunday of Lent, Mothering Sunday 10:00am Zoom Service *

* Contact Church Wardens for access codes for ZOOM services

Benefice Prayer Pyramid The Prayer Pyramid is a small group of people within the benefice who will receive prayer requests for people in need of any kind. The requests remain

confidential within this small group.

Lynne Hughes 860654 and Jessica Leach 860205 (Ditcheat Church wardens) have agreed to receive prayer requests.

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A further word from Lily!

Hello everyone,

I haven’t written for a while – been rather busy. You know how it is. Of course there was Christmas which was very quiet in our household – just as I like it. It was just the three of us, but we did have some Zoom meetings with the daughters and other relatives. I usually made a brief appearance to the delight of the grand- daughters. But Christmas was nice because I got two new toys which made noises – a Slug and a Cow; well, replacements really because I step on them to make them sound and as I am 35 kg they tend to lose their squeaks, and that’s no fun!

I guess I must be the only one who likes lockdowns! Well it means I have my people around most of the time which suits me very well. I still go out for two walks each day, once with each of my folk when they are doing their daily exercise. But what I really like is sleeping while there is some good television programme going on in the background. ‘Escape to the Country’ is very soporific don’t you think?

But I am sorry for those of you who are on your own, or getting lonely, and of course, like many, I am getting quite an old lady now – 12 on 2nd April. I do see some of my friends when I am out walking – I am talking about the people, not the dogs, because I prefer them. I make sure we socially distance and start barking if any of those animals get too near. Not that I worry because dogs don’t get Covid; but I have just had my annual vaccination for other diseases. It is very important so make sure you get your jab when it’s your turn.

I usually come upstairs to the study on Sunday mornings for Zoom church* but again I go to sleep on the nice Moroccan carpet – it is so relaxing. Mind you, I gather one or two other people have been spotted asleep! But importantly more dogs are joining in now so that’s good.

I hope to see you in the Spring.

Lily xx

*Zoom Church continues throughout February at 10.00 am each Sunday. As I write this, on the last occasion (10 January) it was a record with 47 people on 29 computers. Graham 25

Pylle News

Church Flowers and Cleaning FEB Teresa Rossiter MARCH Jo Miln Volunteers needed to join the rota. For details please ring Hilary Tudsbery-Turner on 01749 830538. Your help would be greatly appreciated.

Church

The church is currently closed due to the pandemic but a key is available (easily located!) for those wishing to drop in. Do ring Hilary Tudsbery-Turner on 01749 830538 to get the most up to date information as far as future plans are concerned or check in the church porch. Please contact Hilary T-T or Alan Cary 0789 694 5936 to obtain a key.

Ladies Working Party

Again, everything is on hold at the present moment but under normal circumstances the Working Party meets on the first Wednesday of the month for lunch at The Den. Please watch this space for further information. (Meals are not be pre-ordered so you just turn up at mid-day and order whatever you like.)

Village Hall

Once again everything is on hold as a result of Covid 19. BUT ... We have a small committee which meets twice a year to ensure that the hall is safe, insured and that plans are in place for hiring, cleaning and maintenance.

We need another two volunteers to help us. It is not an onerous task and if you would be interested in helping please contact Barbara Cary 01749 860438 or Jo Miln 01749 838757 for more information.

Our next meeting will be held in March, if circumstances allow, and if you would like to come along and meet us, we would be very pleased to see you.

Just to remind you - the charge for booking the hall is £8.50 per hour (£7.50 per hour for 4 or more bookings). Any bookings that have already been made will be charged at the old prices.

For more information and to book the hall please contact Joanna Miln on 01749 838757 or [email protected].

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A Picture from the Past

Our next picture will appear when hard copies of the magazine are once again a viable proposition. If you have an old photograph that you feel could do with an outing please ring Stephen on 01749 830538.

Breast Cancer Unit Appeal

In March 2019, Hospital Charity launched an appeal to raise the funds needed to build a £2 million dedicated Breast Cancer Unit right here in Yeovil. We have secured over £1,636,719 so far, however building work will only start when we have enough money.

During this current time, as like many charities, our fundraising events have had to be postponed or cancelled, making fundraising quite challenging. With that in mind, to help the appeal raise the much-needed funds, we are asking people if they might like to look in their jewellery boxes for any unwanted jewellery, broken pieces of jewellery and watches, which they may like to donate.

If you would like to support the appeal through donating any unwanted or broken jewellery, please contact Maggie Hague, Breast Cancer Appeal Volunteer, on 01963 250108.

If you’d like to find out more about the appeal, please go to www.yeovilhospital.co.uk/yeovil-hospital-charity or call Sarah Cherry, Community and Events Fundraiser, on 01935 383020.

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Gardening

Despite having woken to freezing conditions this morning, the greenhouse is already full of little seedlings just waiting to offer flowers and vegetables in the spring. Snowdrops have been up in the garden since December and I can’t wait to find out what bulbs I actually planted last autumn. The borders are showing leaves of all sorts of shapes and sizes emerging from the ground.

Most of the work this month is about getting things ready for the spring

• Prepare seed beds and warm up the soil by covering with fleece or polythene. • Organise your seeds by sowing dates. This is such a valuable thing to do. Find a box and file your seed packets by the month they need to be sown in. This will also help you identify what is missing and give you plenty of time to order. • Get sowing once you have identified what can be sown in January and February. • Give the herbaceous borders and vegetable patch a good weed getting as much root out as possible. • Check over your tools • Chit seed potatoes in a light, cool and frost-free place. • Apply a general-purpose fertiliser to tree, bush and cane fruit and mulch with well-rotted compost. • Take a good look at the borders and think about what to fill those gaps with and indeed what could do with cutting back. • Prune back Wisteria and cut back shrubs such as Cornus and Salix which are grown for their colourful winter stems and prune winter-flowering shrubs and heathers.

Ornamental grasses can look particularly untidy at this time of year. Cut back the dead stems to ground level but be very careful not to damage any new green shoots which will be emerging from the ground. Other grasses might not need cutting back but simply tidying up by running your fingers through the leaves to remove old thatch. If unsure, check the variety on line using any of the following:- www.rhs.org.uk; www.crocus.co.uk; www.shootgardening.co.uk. All of these sites offer comprehensive information on how to look after plants in your garden. The latter, Shoot, offers a service called Hobby Planner from £59 per year. This offers the following:-

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• Visualise your garden and organise your planting with our Hobby Planner used by 1000s of garden lovers. • Stop killing plants and save money with the right plants in the right place • Tailored garden advice and monthly plant care reminders to your email inbox

Huge apologies to those of you who do not have access to the internet. I know how infuriated my mother (90 years old) gets when told to look things up on line!!!

Summer would not be summer without Sweet Peas and these can be sown now in a cold greenhouse or on a windowsill. The roots are very long so it is best to use a deep root container. The containers are readily available in garden centres. I spent many days over the holiday reading Chiltern Seeds Flower and Vegetable catalogues. There are pages of Sweet Pea suggestions. This year I have gone for old varieties with strong scents. Incidentally, I strongly recommend these seed catalogues. The selection is amazing, particularly for vegetables.

Scent is really important in my garden and at this time of year it benefits from Lonicera fragrantissima and Sarcococca confusa. Both have amazingly strong scents and the former is so delicate to look at, see image. Daphne odora ‘Aureomarginata’ will be the next to grace our gardens with its beautiful, heady scent.

Dahlias can be purchased and started off in pots or trays before potting on later this month. Lilies are also worth investing in. I had some left over from a job a couple of years ago and now I wait excitedly for them to come up each year. They look so regal and the scent is quite intoxicating.

A couple of other things to think about. Force Rhubarb for an early crop and cover outdoor strawberries with cloches to encourage an earlier crop. Try not to walk on lawns when it is frosty.

It is usually around end of January to the beginning of February that garden centres start stocking small plug plants. It is really worth having a look. Once purchased they can be potted on and provide a really good display for hanging baskets and borders at half the price you would pay in May/June.

If you need any help just get in touch. Happy Gardening. T: 860850 W:janefollis.com

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Christmas at Ditcheat and East Pennard Churches

Just before lockdown hit us, we celebrated Christmas in the benefice churches. In style, though not in the usual style: no singing (at least from the congregation); no mulled wine; sitting apart and having had to book.

But we did our best to be festive and gather together - not too closely - for our traditional Carol, Crib and Christmas Day services.

Robbie Labanowski 2020

Our carol services were made special by beautiful singing from the Ditcheat & Pylle Singers. Covid could not spoil the beauty of candlelight or the treat of take away mince pies!

Anthony Worner 2020 30

Mowgli the donkey made his traditional appearance at the Crib service ridden and escorted this year by our own little Mary and Joseph.

Robbie Labanowski 2020

On Christmas Day, Graham led a service both at Ditcheat and East Pennard.

Thank you so much to all who helped to make these Christmas celebrations so meaningful despite, or perhaps because of, current obstacles.

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East Pennard and District Royal British Legion

You will recall that I ended my article in the December/January FTN by saying I would let you know the outcome of 2020 Poppy Appeal.

Well, I’m afraid I still don’t have the figures yet because, due to restrictions within the Tier system, we have not been able to meet up to count the money received from the boxes at the static locations. I will, of course, let you know the figures once they are available.

You will all be aware of Captain Sir Tom Moore’s efforts in raising an incredible amount of money in aid of NHS charities - £38.9 million (with Gift Aid). Since then, he and his family have set up the Captain Tom Foundation, and the Legion has been chosen as one of its four charity partners. The Head of Philanthropy at the Legion, says: ”The Foundation’s mission is to inspire hope where it is needed most. It is an honour to have their support.” You can find out more at www.captaintom.org.

Preserving Remembrance and helping new generations to learn about the Second World War generation is vital. And as schooling looks very different this year compared with the past, it’s the perfect time to roll out resources that have been developed by the Legion, together with the National Literacy Trust, to help children explore their shared heritage of Remembrance and understand its relevance today. One such resource is the Book Club, which is focused on Bali Rai’s novel Now or Never: A Dunkirk Story. Book Club materials include films of interviews with veterans – perfect for children to explore Remembrance. The Legion also has strong links with youth group organisations – a partnership with Girlguiding has developed resources for all ages, from Rainbows to Rangers, to help them discover the links between their own experiences of these unique years and those of the Second World War generation. More work is in the pipeline with the Scouts and Cadets.

Having watched the senior royals on Remembrance Sunday at the Cenotaph, one of their number had a new rank. HRH The Princess Royal, President of the Legion’s Women’s Section, turned 70 on 15th August. To mark the occasion, she has been promoted to the roles of General in the Army and Air Chief Marshal in

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the RAF. Senior royals are treated as though they are members of the Armed Forces and are awarded ranks accordingly.

As I have mentioned before, 2021 is the centenary of the Legion, and it has been decided that the Legion needs to have a new brand. There are a number of reasons for this including reduction in the number of logos used by the Legion which causes confusion. Another reason is because, with so many people now using mobiles or tablets to access the Legion, the logo becomes illegible when used on these channels at a smaller size. As part of the new branding, we will now be known as the Royal British Legion, the capitalizing of “the” is not now required as it is considered unnecessary. The Membership crest is not, however, changing.

So, as with everybody else, we are continuing as best as we can, looking forward to better times, whenever they return. Charles Evans

Red Cross Fund Raising

To help raise funds for Langport & District Red Cross Group whilst our usual openings are suspended I have written up the story of my year teaching in the bush of Jamaica. With chapter titles including Rule Britannia in the Blue Mountains, How Not To Make Tea, Another Lovely Funeral, Mirror on the Ceiling, Five in a Bed, Gold Teats, The Gut Buster, Taking a Machete to a Banana, There’s a Crocodile Behind You, and Birthday Suits in Hedonism, laugh along with the author and his wife as they fall in love with Jamaica and its peoples.

This is now available as an e-book or a paperback from Amazon. Just type in Total Experience Corner under Books and it should come up. In advance I thank you for your support. If you enjoy reading it please tell all your friends. If you don’t..sorry!!

Chris Cox

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Christmas Foodbank Collection

We received this letter on Jan. 6th.

Dear Fosse Trinity Parishioners,

I'm writing on behalf of the Somer Valley Foodbank management team to extend our profuse thanks to you all for your extremely generous monetary gifts during recent months and also for the abundance of food, toiletries and cleaning products you have so kindly donated, both during the Autumn and in the lead up to Christmas.

The number of requests for supplies from both individuals and families has been exceptional in all of our four Distribution Centres recently and the look of relief and gratitude on the faces of all the recipients, even with masks on, has to be seen to be believed!

With heartfelt thanks from us all, and every best wish for 2021 Elizabeth Maggs Somer Valley Foodbank

Litter Heroes

Two young lads, Connor Legresley and Nathan Jelly, knocked on my door around lunchtime. They said they'd been down to the ford at the end of West Lane and found a load of rubbish dumped in the hedge. They wanted to do something about it. I found them a wheelbarrow and they left their bike and scooter in my garden and went off.

Mike went down in the car a little later to see how they were doing and if they needed any help. He brought back some stuff and they brought the rest of the mucky stuff, including two large creosote containers in the wheelbarrow. What was left of the creosote they had poured into the one container. It took them a long time and they were quite hot and sweaty when they got back.

We thanked them on behalf of the community and sent them on their way with a very small treat each and a note to their mums to tell them what great guys they'd been.....

And they hadn't had any lunch!

Nice to know we have young folk like this in our village. Chrys Henning 34

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Draft Minutes Of The Virtual Meeting Of Ditcheat Parish Council Held On Thursday 7th January 2021

PRESENT: Chairperson – Councillor Evans (CE) and Councillors – Hutton (RH), Dando (JD), Hughes (LH), Clark (HC), Derham (JDr), Harrison (HH) and James (RJ). IN ATTENDANCE: Miss P Griffiths – Clerk to the Council. PUBLIC PARTICIPATION – there were no members of the public in attendance. APOLOGIES FOR ABSENCE. County Councillor Hewitt Cooper, District Councillor Greenhalgh (JG) and PCSO Dury had sent apologies for absence. COUNTY AND DISTRICT COUNCILLORS REPORTS – The briefings from County Councillor Hewitt Cooper (NHC) and Council (MDC) were noted and are available on the Parish Council (PC) website. The matters covered in the report from NHC included information about: • COVID-19 Pandemic restrictions. • Infection rates of COVID-19. • Somerset Coronavirus (COVID-19) support helpline number – 0300 790 6275. • Vaccination programme roll-out against COVID -19. • (SCC) support of vaccination programme. • High speed broadband – update. • One Somerset Pledges: Somerset County Council has set out ten clear One Somerset pledges in the proposed move to a single Unitary authority. • 2021 Primary School Places. REPORT FROM AVON & SOMERSET CONSTABULARY - there were four incidents which had occurred in the parish: 7th December – Wraxall Hill - police stop a vehicle for no insurance and recover the vehicle. 12rh December – Wraxall Hill - police called because a large piece of wood in the road was causing an obstruction which was removed. 13th December – Wraxall Hill - police stop a vehicle and make an arrest for drink driving. 28th December – Wraxall Hill - report of road works in a dangerous position, police attend site, however road was found to be clear. CODE OF CONDUCT – Declarations of interest and dispensations - None. MINUTES - The minutes of the meeting held on 10th December 2020 were approved. It was resolved that the minutes will be signed at a later date. MATTERS ARISING - from the meeting held on 10th December 2020. a) Gate closer for gate into the infants play area – CE confirmed that the gate closer has been fitted. b) Update on dog waste bins – It was agreed to purchase dog waste bins X 2 – one for the bus shelter in Ditcheat and one to be sited next to the church steps in Ditcheat. An additional litter bin will be purchased to be sited by the

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bench on Ditcheat Hill. The Clerk will circulate the contact details for councillors to report if the bins in Ditcheat are overflowing. c) Ditcheat Community Orchard and Climate fund application – RJ reported that he was proceeding with the grant application and confirmed that he had been in contact with two of the District Councillors involved in climate change matters at MDC in order to garner support for the use of the land, which is owned by MDC, as a community orchard. The Clerk reiterated the point that the land was owned by MDC who are also responsible for the maintenance of the area and that any grant would need to cover any ongoing costs. The volunteer group would need to agree with MDC what would happen to the land in the event that the group was no longer able to carry out its commitments. There should be no expectation that the PC would automatically take over responsibility for the area until agreed formally by the PC. Any involvement of the PC either for financial or other support would require the matter to be brought before the PC for formal agreement. PLANNING The response of the Parish Council to the two consultation documents: 1) The Planning Charging Schedule including the Pre-application Advice and Planning Performance Agreement Service; and 2) The Local Validation List were confirmed and will be submitted by the Clerk. The following planning applications were considered: 1) Listed Building Consent - Installation of boiler and flues, The Manor House, Wraxall Road, Ditcheat. Ref: 2020/2499. Outcome: Recommend approval. Reasons – The Manor House needs a new system, and the location of the boiler and flue will be hardly visible. 2) Variation or Removal of Conditions - Variation of condition 3 (European Protected Species Mitigation Licence) and 6 (Loft Space Provision for Bats) of permission 2019/1477/LBC, The Manor House, Wraxall Road. Ref: 2020/2483/VRC. Outcome: Recommend approval. Reason- the variation of the conditions appears to be appropriate. 3) Full Planning application - Erection of 1no 4/5 bedroom dwelling house, extension of curtilage following the demolition of existing dwelling house, Ditcheat Hill Farm Bungalow, Ditcheat Hill. Reg: 2020/2393/FUL. Outcome: Recommend approval. The application is remarkably similar to the previous application for the same site which the Parish Council supported. It was noted that permission has been granted for the following: 1) Erection of single storey side extension on West elevation, Brancott House, Wraxall Road, Ditcheat. Ref: 2020/2270/HSE. 2) Replacement of C20th window, Amberwell, Alhampton. Ref: 2020/2211/LBC. FINANCE a) Balance of accounts as of 31st December 2020 £21,765.05. The verbal report from the Clerk confirmed that this figure included the reserve accounts. 37

b) The Clerk reported that due to a misunderstanding the grant from Viridor was in fact £4,123.00 not £4,623.00 as originally thought. A further payment to Vita Play to cover the shortfall of £500.00 will be issued. c) The budget was confirmed as £11,390.00 and the precept for 2021/2022 was set at £11,390.00. d) The request for a grant from Citizens Advice Mendip was considered and it was resolved that, in the light of the current Covid-related extraordinary circumstances, the Parish Council Policy on Requests for Charitable or other Financial Donations should be amended to the extent necessary to allow a one-off grant payment of £200 to Citizens Advice Mendip. The Clerk will amend the policy for consideration and adoption at the next meeting. Approval of Parish Council payments and authority to sign cheques for the following: 1) Miss P Griffiths – Clerk’s salary for 1st October to 31st December 2020 - £719.34 2) HMRC for PAYE/NICs for 1st October to 31st December 2020 - £180.00. 3) Miss P Griffiths – Clerk’s expenses for 1st October to 31st December 2020 - £22.05. RESOLVED: that the above expenditure be approved, and the cheques issued. The payments to the following were noted: Somerset Playing Fields Association for annual subscription - £15.00. Vita Play Limited for safety matting in playground - £924.60. PLAYGROUND The trimming back of the hedge in the playground which runs alongside some of the properties in Lintern Close – CE will look at the situation further and talk with the relevant owners of the properties who may be affected by the cutting back of the hedge/trees. Any matters of report – CE reported that the paving slabs in the gateway will be re-laid/replaced when the weather improves. HC reported that the large rubbish bin had been removed and that all litter was now being placed in the litter bin in the fenced off area. HIGHWAYS Update on items/matters for repair previously reported: The problem of water flowing down the road from Higher Farm down towards Lower Farm in Sutton – despite further investigation by Water this has become a hazard due to the very cold weather with the water freezing causing treacherous driving conditions; The sign indicating that road unsuitable for HGVs by Moff Motors on the A371; The potholes in Back Lane, Ditcheat; The large pothole on Ditcheat Hill on the left going from the Toll House towards Ditcheat village. Still awaiting repair.

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FOOTPATHS, BRIDLEWAYS AND RIGHTS OF WAY. a) Update on matters previously reported: Stile on bridge on footpath SM 6/31; Post on kissing gate on footpath SM 6/14; Stone stile on footpath SM 6/8. These matters are still outstanding - the Clerk will report them again. Action: The Clerk. b) Any new matters for report - none.

CLERK’S REPORT AND CORRESPONDENCE. Correspondence – the Clerk will circulate the ‘RR’ folder of correspondence received. Reports/items for information: The dates of the meetings for 2021/2022 were noted. All Councillors were reminded to advise the Clerk as soon as possible if they were unable to attend any of the meetings. The Clerk reported that the Cary Carers voluntary organisation were happy to provide help and support to parishioners in Ditcheat. Further details will be on the PC website when available or from the Clerk to the PC.

DATE OF THE NEXT MEETING – 18th February 2021, or sooner if urgent business necessitates, at 7.30 pm to be held remotely due to COVID-19 unless otherwise advised.

A Planning meeting will be held remotely on Thursday 28th January at 7.30 pm.

East Pennard Church Flowers & Cleaning Rota

February Elly England Bridget Wadey March Clare Hogg Renate Rodd April Cathy van den Bosch Bridget Wadey

Message to the Rota Team: Although there are no Church services in January and February at East Pennard, due to Covid-19, we will still be cleaning the church as it continues to open for private prayer.

We are looking for public-spirited people to help out with the flowers and cleaning. Any enquiries phone Bridget, church flowers and cleaning organiser: Tel. 860240.

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Ditcheat Parish Council Support

www.ditcheatparishcouncil.org.uk

As previously I would ask that you all think about your neighbours and others in the parish who may be new to the parish or not be aware of the support that is available. I attached a ‘Notice for Neighbours’ which you can use to give to anyone in the parish who you are concerned about and/or who may need help and not know who or how to get in contact. Pam Griffiths.

Notice for Neighbours

Dear Parishioner

Ditcheat Parish Council has a support group in place to provide information and help to those people who need it, either because you live alone/are ill/are self-isolating/are caring for someone else.

Please contact the Clerk to the Parish Council, Pam Griffiths, either by email: [email protected] or by telephone 01749 860443/07739514209 if you would like to receive the newsletter and/or need support.

Support may include shopping for essential foods/medicine; collecting prescriptions; walking a dog; posting a letter; assistance with keeping in touch with your family or just to have a friendly telephone chat.

The Clerk will keep your details confidential and will only, with your permission, pass on the necessary information in order that you can receive the assistance that you need.

The Parish

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W.J.TROTMAN FUNERAL DIRECTORS (incorporating Oswald Clarke Funeral Directors of Bruton) Ashdene, Cranmore, Shepton Mallet Somerset BA4 4QQ Telephone: 01749 880271

A family run business for over four generations. Private Chapel of Rest Pre-Paid Funeral Plans Available

STABLE COMPUTERS

Supply of New Computers and Accessories – all set up and ready for you to use…

Broadband and Router Installation…

PC and Internet Problems Solved… Virus and Spyware Removal…

For all your computing needs telephone

Daren on 01963 441229

Yenstone Walling

Dry Stone Walling and Landscaping

All types of stone walling undertaken.

Patrick Houchen – DSWA member.

Reliable, professional service from a family business. 01963 371123 www.yenstonewalling.co.uk 41

Recycling sites stay open for essential use

Somerset Waste Partnership (SWP) plans to keep the county’s 16 recycling sites open on standard winter hours for essential use during the latest COVID-19 national lockdown. Government guidance - gov.uk/guidance/national-lockdown-stay-at-home - has clarified that people can visit recycling sites as they are an essential service.

SWP is asking people to only visit sites if the trip is really necessary, for example because waste cannot be safely kept home or disposed of through kerbside recycling and rubbish collections. Recycling sites already have measures in place to protect the public and staff, including: • Do not visit if you have COVID symptoms or have been asked to shield • Maintain social distance • Wear gloves and consider wearing a mask • Maximum two people per vehicle from the same household • Site staff cannot assist with unloading • Vehicle and trailer permits continue – somersetwaste.gov.uk/apply-for-a- permit

Staff will monitor site user numbers and control vehicle flow if necessary; visitors are asked for their understanding and patience.

SWP is also highlighting government guidance on how to dispose of personal waste if you have COVID symptoms or live in a household with someone who does.

Personal waste, such as tissues, facemasks and disposable cleaning cloths, should be double-bagged in black sacks, kept separate from other waste in the home for 72 hours, and then be added to your rubbish bin outside your home for the usual collection.

All residents are asked to maintain a social distance from collection crews. They should wash hands and disinfect container handles before and after putting out recycling boxes and bins.

For latest lockdown information, visit somersetwaste.gov.uk/coronavirus and follow @somersetwaste on Twitter and Facebook.

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MARK CURTIS ROOFING & BUILDING www.markcurtisroofingltd.co.uk

Tiling/ slating/ flat roofs/ lead work Loft conversions Listed building & restoration specialist General building

WE OFFER A COMPLETE ROOFING SERVICE FROM SCAFFOLDING TO BUILDING

1 MANOR COTTAGE ALHAMPTON SHEPTON MALLET SOMERSET Mobile 07702 820794 BA4 6PZ Email [email protected]

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Fish with spiced lentils

Prep:10 mins Cook:15 mins Easy Serves 4

Ingredients 1 lime, cut into quarters 3 tbsp sunflower or vegetable oil 1 onion, chopped 1 tbsp medium curry powder (we used Schwartz Spicy Bombay medium crushed curry spices) 1 tbsp tomato purée 400g can green or brown lentils, drained, rinsed, then drained again 2 tbsp mango chutney, plus extra to serve 4 white fish fillets

Method

STEP 1 Finely chop one of the lime quarters, including skin. Heat 2 tbsp oil in a medium saucepan then fry onions over a medium heat for 5 mins until softened and starting to colour. Add the curry powder and tomato purée then fry for another min. Tip in 200ml water, lentils, mango chutney and the chopped lime then bring to the boil. Simmer for 5 mins or until thickened.

STEP 2 Heat remaining oil in a frying pan. Season the fish with salt and pepper to taste then fry for 5 mins, turning halfway, until golden and cooked through. Add a squeeze of lime to the pan and to the lentils then serve together with naan bread or chapatis on the side. bbcgoodfood.com

Who's Who ? FOSSE TRINITY BENEFICE Interim Minister Canon Graham Hendy 677003 Reader Emeritus Jean Halford 860422 Fosse Trinity Advisory Committee Jean Heal 860452 Fosse Trinity News Editor Margy Cockburn 860611 Fosse Trinity News Advertising Geoff Broome 860270 Fosse Trinity News Distribution Tony Fagan 860377 Mothers' Union Yvonne Stokes 01458 851480

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Safeguarding Officer Hilary Tudsbery-Turner 830538 Children's Society Jo Curtis 860898

ALHAMPTON Chapel Warden Ditcheat Churchwardens Church Council Secretary Vacant Neighbourhood Watch Lynne Hughes 860654 FTN Correspondent Louisa Oborne 860252

EAST PENNARD Bells - Tower Captain Andrew Stuart 860587 Jean Heal 860452 Churchwarden { Robert Wadey 860240 Church Council Secretary Carol Stuart 860587 Village Hall (Old Church Room) Hire Anthea Darby 01458 850240 Parish Council Chairman Adrian Pearse 890216 Royal British Legion Secretary Charles Evans 860336 United Charities Chairman Adrian Pearse 890216 Verger David Stokes 01458 834486

PYLLE Bells - Tower Captain Joe King 890357 Hilary Tudsbery-Turner 830538 Churchwarden { Carolyn Fussell 830120 Church Council Secretary Stephen Tudsbery-Turner 830538 Ladies Working Party (Chairman) - FTN Correspondent Stephen Tudsbery-Turner 830538 Village Hall hire and keys Joanna Miln 838757

Email contacts are on page 48

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DITCHEAT Art Group Liz & Stewart Gould 860755 Badminton Club Secretary James Bairstow 860355 Bees – Swarms Stewart Gould 860755 Bells - Tower Captain Roger Yeoman 860304 The Other Book Club Gill Wetherall 860562 Church Council Secretary Vacant Church Room Hire Pat Dando 860448 Lynne Hughes 860654 Churchwarden { Jessica Leach 860205 Community Car Service (ADEPPTS) Joyce Marsh 860493 Country Dancing Ama Bolton 672911 Ditcheat Big Screen / Moviola Ruth Pearce 860046 Ditcheat School Victoria Withers 860329 Friends of Ditcheat School (FODS) Charlotte Lilley 860329 Ditcheat Players Chairperson Gaye Volk 860081 Fosseway Garden Club Barbara Cary 860438 Jubilee Hall Chair Linda Wyburn-Mason 860067 Jubilee Hall Hire Anne Robson 860444 Jubilee Hall Website TBA Mendip District Councillor John Greenhalgh 860457 Neighbourhood Watch Jim Dando 860448 Parish Council Chairman Charles Evans 860336 Rendezvous Linda Wyburn-Mason 860067 Saturday Stitch Sally Yeoman 860304 Short Mat Bowls Martin Edgar 07486 437624 Village Lunch Jessica Leach 860205 Wildlife Group Bridget Wadey 860240

GENERAL Community Police Guy Dury 101

Please help us keep this information up-to-date. Email [email protected] with any changes.

A copy of the FTN, plus updates on village

activities, local support etc. are available at: www.fossetrinitynews.co.uk

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Index of Advertisers

Accounting, Hayley Spencer 45 Keep Fit, Clare Torday Yoga 16 Broadband, Voneus 35 Medical, Osteopath, Trevenen Pascoe 16 Computing, Stable Computers 41 Mobility, Sutton Stairlifts 2 Dining, Lavant Catering 16 Mowing, Kevin Bushrod 49 Dining, The Manor House Inn 43 Music, Guitar Lessons 17 Driver, Philip Saunders 19 Odd Jobs, Alistair Gillard 2 Electrical, ARL Electrical Services 17 Oven cleaning, Ovencor 17 Events, Pennard House Back Roofing, Mark Curtis 44 Finance, Lendology 17 Solicitor, J Derbyshire, Purely Probate 49 Funerals, Trotman Funeral Directors 41 Solicitors, Bartlett,Gooding & Weelen 19 Garage Doors, SDS 18 Sport, Wheathill Golf Club 16 Health, Heal and Sole 2 Stone Mason, Thomas Kendrick 2 Heating Services, Warm Welcome 19 Stone Walling, Yenstone 41 Home Maintenance, CH 18 Transport, Adeppts 23 Home Maintenance, Mike Doyle 19 Tree Surgeon, Jody Osborne 49

Legal Declarations The opinions, beliefs and viewpoints expressed by the various authors and contributors to this magazine do not necessarily reflect the opinions, beliefs and viewpoints of the Fosse Trinity Benefice Parochial Church Councils, their officers or the FTN Editorial Team and no responsibility can be taken for the information given or views expressed in this magazine. In particular, no liability is accepted in relation to the contents of any third-party advertisement.

The FTN Privacy Policy may be found on the FTN website (http://www.fossetrinitynews.co.uk/) and is also available from the editor on request.

The FTN website is archived by the British Library every six months and added to the UK Web Archive (https://www.webarchive.org.uk/). This will ensure that the magazine will be digitally

preserved for future generations. The British Library assumes no rights to content in archived

websites and original rights’ holders retain 100% of their copyright; there is also a ‘notice and take down’ policy whereby content can be removed if requested.

Who's Who ? Email addresses

Fosse Trinity News Editor [email protected] Fosse Trinity News Advertising [email protected] Fosse Trinity News Distribution [email protected]

Ditcheat Parish Council ditcheatparishcouncil.org.uk Ditcheat Village Hall ditcheatvillagehall.org.uk Community Police [email protected]

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LOP Mowing Contractor www.lopmowingcontractor.co.uk Kevin Bushrod Competitive pricing on mowing large areas of grass. Rolling. Tine and chain harrowing. Lawns, orchards and paddocks. Grass collected or mulched. Shed/fence panel picks and deliveries etc Tel: 01749 860546 / 07930 306465

North Brewham, Bruton, Somerset

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