Few of us will need reminding that this November marks the centenary of the end of World War 1, the First World War, the Great War or - as my Dad amongst many others used to say with qualification - ‘World War – Act 1’. It was also referred to as ‘The War to End All Wars’ though I’m sure the irony of this and any word “great” is lost on nobody, except of course for its scale.

Satirical map entitled “Hark ! Hark ! The dogs do bark.” by Walter Emanuel, published in 1914 by Johnson, Riddle & Co (London) and sold by booksellers for 1/- … continued on Page 3

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1 2 … continued from Front Cover None in our community today have direct connection though a great many of us had a link via parents or grandparents and, if not with this one, then certainly with ‘World War – Act 2’. It is therefore appropriate that the focus of features in this copy of the magazine is on this important historical date as its impact remains with us today in one form or another. So, there will be several articles, deliberately not in a block but spread throughout the issue – a little bit like the significance of this and every other war, past or present. War is a sensitive issue, not something I take lightly and I apologise un- reservedly if any of the content causes offence – that is not the intent of the material chosen for inclusion. - Editor Magazine dates & contact information

ISSUE DEADLINE DISTRIBUTION December / January 1st November 2018 30th November 2018 February / March 1st January 2019 31st January 2019

● Please send all articles and advertising to: [email protected] or deliver to Manor Coach House, Main Road, WESTHAY, BA6 9TW ● MATERIAL RECEIVED AFTER THE DEADLINE CANNOT BE INCLUDED. ● A down-load copy or Meare & Westhay Village News is available from the website: www.meareandwesthay.com

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3 4 announcements MARRIAGES ● Jason Henry Richard Buckton & Rhiannon Chloe Rhodes 18th August 2018 ● Antoney Burrows & Lucy James 22nd September 2018

DIAMOND WEDDING ANNIVERSARY Congratulations to Sally and Don Hill who have celebrated their 60th Wedding Anniversary. They married at St Benedict’s Church at 10.00 on a Monday morning on 28th July 1958 and moved to Westhay on 1st April 1978. Dwight D. Eisenhower was the US President and Harold Macmillan was our Prime Minister and the UK music read like this: ● At No 1 was The Everly Brothers with ‘All I Have to Do is Dream’ and ‘Claudette’ on the B side ● At No 2 was Connie Francis with ‘Who’s Sorry Now’ ● At No 3 was Perry Como with ‘Magic Moments’ ….. leaving Frank Sinatra at No 99 with ‘Witchcraft’ Gatwick Airport was opened the previ- ous month whilst over in the US Jack Kilby (along with Robert Noyce) devel- oped the first microchip, changing our lives for ever. Films that topped the cinemas in 1958 included ‘Vertigo’, ‘Gigi’, ‘Cat on a Hot Tin Roof’ and ‘The Big Country’ with actors James Stewart, Leslie Caron, Elizabeth Taylor and Gregory Peck. ‘The Huckleberry Hound Show’ and ‘Blue Peter’ both started on television in 1958 as well as ‘Quatermass and the Pit’ and ‘77 Sunset Strip’. A popular TV show was ‘Candid Camera’. Meanwhile, back in Glastonbury, this event was taking place, complete with a dustbin in the wedding picture …..

5 THE ROLE OF WOMEN IN WW 1

Women had been recruited into paid employment for generations before the First World War broke out in early August 1914 but mostly in the textile trade or as domestic servants or nurses and teachers. The retail trade had also admitted women in Victorian times. In the countryside women and girls had been employed on farms as milkmaids for centuries, even as shepherdesses, and during haymaking and harvest they had done sterling work helping to bring in the crops. They usually gleaned in the fields afterwards and would be proud to show off their small sacks of grain to be ground into flour for their family needs. But all this was to expand in almost unbelievable ways in 1914 when war was declared. From cities, towns and villages men left to volunteer for the army, navy and even the infant flying corps (later to become the RAF), and they left a void that had to be filled. Now women came into their own. A large number of stately homes and large country mansions were offered as hospitals for wounded officers and soldiers and so many of their servants had left these houses to fight that there was a need for local women to fill their places as cleaners and aides to the nursing staff. Farms urgently needed replacements for ploughmen and workers with the animals. A number of women worked in the fields planting and harvesting vegetables, an early form of what became the Women’s Land Army in WW2. Many young women applied to train as nurses. They also entered the transport industry, becoming conductresses on buses and even bus drivers. On the railways they worked as ticket collectors, carriage cleaners and even porters on railway stations. There was a great need for women to work in the new munitions factories, a dangerous occupation which could lead to serious injuries and even death when accidents happened. The first policewomen were recruited during WW1, and although never in front line positions the first female soldiers were accepted ….. continued

6 and put into uniform. There had been women serving in Queen Alexandra’s Imperial Military Nursing Service since the Boer War, wearing the distinctive scarlet and grey uniforms that can still be recognised today in the modern QARANC*. In the rapid changing of front lines some first aid posts and forward clearing stations, even military hospitals, could be close to the battle fronts. In December 1916 the Women’s Auxiliary Army Corps was formed, later to be known as Queen Mary’s Auxiliary Army Corps and later still as the A.T.S. In November 1927 came the Women’s Royal Naval Service and on the 1st April 1918 the Women’s Royal Air Force came into existence. Some women even made their way to the battle areas much earlier supplying and driving ambulances, although women doctors were still refused entry into the military medical services. In 1915 the infant Women’s Institute came to this country, introduced from Canada, where it had been set up in 1896 to educate countrywomen there in domestic hygiene and home nursing as well as offering companionship. The first branches here in the UK were formed in Wales but many soon followed in and a year later the Rural Women’s Institute came into being in Scotland. They were soon helping to provide preserved fruit and vegetables and other provisions for the wider community. Some women with land developed smallholdings where girls could train in animal husbandry, bee keeping, poultry and even cows and sheep. Kew Gardens employed women as gardeners. In schools women teachers were employed in large numbers to replace their male counterparts who had volunteered or been drafted into military service. POSTSCRIPT - The First World War brought many changes to the lives of women in the UK. For almost the first time in many generations they were able to show what they were made of and how they could respond to the needs of their country. Many found an independence of body and mind they had not known before 1914. Sadly almost all those who had enjoyed their new-found work opportunities had to return to a more domestic life when demobilised men returned to the work places. But nothing could or would remain the same. Some ten years later they were given the right to vote, and when in 1939 war broke out again in Europe and later North Africa, the Middle East and Asia women responded… again. But that is another story……. * Queen Alexandra’s Royal Army Nursing Corps

7 Westhay film club changes ……. To make events simpler we’re having some changes. We will no longer serve a buffet for the Saturday per- formances, which means: ●You no longer have to book; ●The price will be reduced to £3.50 for members, £5.00 for guests; ●We can standardise the start time to 7.00pm Not having to reach a minimum number also means we won’t have the threat of cancelling future performances, something we sadly had to do for a recent film, causing disappointment for the members who had booked. The buffet also meant we had operate by a fixed finish time of 9.10pm so the start time varied depending on film length and this sometimes led to confusion. Now we can fix this at 7.00pm for both Wednesday and Saturday performances, plus standardise with a reduced price for both. To maintain compliance with our operating terms with the Motion Picture Licensing Company, all events will be operated as ‘Buy and Sell DVD’ - an opportunity for you to exchange unwanted films for new ones. We have a programme of excellent films ahead including Mama Mia - Here we go again though we can’t give a date for this one yet as the release on disk hasn’t been announced. With five years experience now, we have a fair- ly good idea of what appeals to our members but we do get it wrong occa- sionally - mostly on ‘bad language’ levels. However we try to mix the films to give as wide an appeal as we can manage whilst pleasing the majority. We always welcome new members and film suggestions - please contact [email protected] for details of membership.

Music night in meare ….. The ‘39-Ers Jazz Band’ will be holding a Music Night on Saturday 27th October in Meare Church Rooms at 8.00pm. This is a free event and is for anyone interested in giving a song or a tune or simply to enjoy a fun night of music. Please come along - it’s free and it’s fun Contact Dave Oldham on 01458-860583

8 Talk About Prostate OK now that everyone is thoroughly appalled at me for creating such a picture, at least I’ve got your attention and maybe you’ll read on. This is not just for the guys but for wives and partners too because it is to encourage awareness of prostate cancer – a rather taboo subject and one which, I know, we fellas just don’t want to discuss, even with our loved ones. But, what affects us impacts on our partners and families too. I’m raising the subject now because of two recent conversations I had with friends and it reminded me just how reticent men are to talk about this is- sue, how much fear is present and how much we’d rather ‘bury our heads’ than face the indignity of firstly admitting the issues and secondly facing the prospect of an invasive examination. However, allow me put to this in perspective: without facing this three years ago I would be dead by now. As you know, I am very much alive, still being monitored and, to the best of medical knowledge, cured of this cancer. Yes, there are consequences but they’re small compared to the alternative. Without raising undue alarm, I had no symptoms. Normal urine flow, no difficulty or noticeably increased frequency - I simply reached 60, received the ‘bowel cancer kit’ in the post as a birthday present from the NHS and felt I should have my PSA measured as a matter of course. Being asymp- tomatic, the GP was reluctant as the test is notoriously unreliable, giving almost as many false negative as false positive results. My insistence proved to be my life-saver and without urgent radical prostatectomy sur- gery I would, by now, be looking at the daisies from another direction. Sadly, there is no routine screening for prostate cancer which isn’t the fault of our health industry. The first stage, a blood test for measuring prostate specific antigen (PSA), provides an ‘indicator’ only. To repeat, it is unreliable, the level being affected by a number of factors. High read- ings put you to the next stage (yes guys, that’s the gloved finger) so ‘grin and bare it’ whilst remembering it’s no fun for the clinician either! Howev- er, low readings can provide a false negative result and means you, as the patient, have to keep awareness and report other symptoms too. As most of my working life was in pathology, I was already aware of this severity but the level of general misunderstanding on this subject con- cerned me when I was diagnosed and started telling people.

9 I had several people telling me: “Oh my uncle/father/cousin had that and it didn’t kill him” plus that classic statement: “You die with prostate cancer, not because of it”. Go tell that to Bob Monkhouse, Telly Savalas or, more recently, Fred Dibnah, Geoffrey Hughes and Dennis Hopper. Even if you don’t recognise the names at least recognise that earlier diagnosis may have prevented their death from this eminently treatable cancer and ce- lebrity status or access to private medicine afforded them no protection. Don’t let this article cause unnecessary alarm. It is true that a great many men have non-malignant enlargement (commonly called BPH or BPE) which is ‘benign’ and leads to the myth that this is not a serious con- dition. The malignant form can run in parallel so don’t ignore symptoms or fall into the trap of thinking: “I’ve got the benign form, that means I can’t get the malignant form” – that’s simply not true. But, my story isn’t yours; nor is a friends’ or relatives’. Their condition, its stage, appropriateness from the range of treatment options (if any is need- ed at all) will be yours and appropriate to you. The medical services are the experts, accessed either through your GP or by contacting Prostate Cancer UK on 0800 074 8383 for advice. Good natured but unwittingly given misinformation (including excess Internet browsing) can cause not only tremendous anxiety but increased reluctance to take further action. However, if you’re on the path for treatment then talking to others who’ve either been there or are currently involved can be invaluable. It certainly helps to share experience in both practical ways and moral support out- side the scope of the medical services. My personal experience: fantastic service from the NHS. I’m not going to pretend treatment is painless mentally or physically but I’m here to tell the tale and to support others if I can be of non-medical help.

(Editor - 01458-860489 [email protected])

Some FACTS FROM PROSTATE CANCER UK ● Around 1 in 8 men will get this at some point in their lives; ● It is THE most common cancer affecting men in the UK; ● Mainly affects men 50+ average age between 65 and 69. Due to certain genetic links: ● You are two and a half times more likely to develop it if your father or brother has been diagnosed; ● Your risk may be increased if your mother or sister have been diagnosed with breast cancer.

10 In addition to the wreath laying ceremony and reading of names be- side the War Memorial at 11.00am on 11th November, there will be a church service plus dedication of the wooden gates in St Mary’s church. The following events will also occur to raise both awareness and funds for the Royal British Royal Legion Poppy Appeal which continues to support ex-service personnel and their families.

ongoing Make your own poppy by knitting, crochet or felt to add to the growing collec- tion on the old Village Cross in St Mary’s churchyard. These will be left as a reminder until next year which marks the 75th anniversary of D-Day. You can either attach these yourself (at your own risk) or leave them in an envelope in the church for Elizabeth Norris to attach. When attaching please use wool or a biodegradable material to avoid litter or a choking hazard for wildlife.

There will be a fundraising Poppy Tea Party run by Charlotte and Elizabeth Norris at Meare School Hall on Sunday 28th October from 2.00 until 5.00pm with re-enactors and vintage vehicles.

On the eve of the Armistice The Bird in Hand are host- ing a special showing of that wonderfully satirical musi- cal “Oh ! What a Lovely War” from 7.00pm. It is open to everyone, no charge is made but it is another opportu- nity to make donations to the Poppy Appeal.

There is an opportunity to sponsor a ‘Silent Soldier’ - a life-size silhouette made from rigid plastic which you can display outside your house or business. For details contact: Charlotte Norris on 01458-860865 or 07866- 080194 or [email protected]

11 Diary dates - October & November 2018

MEARE & WESTHAY FUNDRAISING TEAM Sunday Breakfast (08.30-11.00 Meare Church Rooms) October 14th MEARE & WESTHAY LADIES SOCIAL CLUB 'Marie Antoinette’s Guide to Farming’ Thursday 18th October Talk by Sarah Harris 7.30 at Meare Manor Friday Skittles 7.30 at the Ring o’ Bells (Ashcott) 16th November MEARE CHAPEL (Regular Events) Sunday Sunday Morning Service & Sunday School From 11.00 Sunday Sunday Evening Service From 18.30 Monday Make Do & Mend (Downstairs) 10.00 - 12.00 Wednesday Bible Study & Prayer Meeting (Downstairs) 19.30 - 21.00 Thursday Meare Minis Baby Group (Upstairs) 09.00 - 12.00 Friday Youth Club - to be advised T.B.A. MEARE PARISH COUNCIL Monday Parish Council Meeting (19.30 Meare Manor) 15th October Monday Parish Council Meeting (19.30 Meare Manor) 19th November

MEARE PRIMARY SCHOOL Friday Inset Day 26th October Monday Start of Half Term Holiday 29th October Friday End of Half Term Holiday 2nd November Monday Inset Day 5th November

MEN’S SHED (Regular event) Tuesdays 10 The Tanyard, Leigh Road, STREET 09.00 - 13.00

MISCELLANEOUS 39-Ers Jazz Band - Music Night (Meare Saturday 27th October Church Rooms from 8.00pm) Poppy Tea Party (Meare School Hall, in Sunday 28th October aid of Poppy Appeal - 2.00 till 5.00pm) Oh, What a Lovely War (Film at the Bird in Saturday 10th November Hand in aid of Poppy Appeal - 7.00pm)

12 REFUSE COLLECTION Wednesday Refuse Collection & Recycling 3rd October Wednesday Garden Waste & Recycling 10th October Wednesday Refuse Collection & Recycling 17th October Wednesday Garden Waste & Recycling 24th October Wednesday Refuse Collection & Recycling 31st October Wednesday Garden Waste & Recycling 7th November Wednesday Refuse Collection & Recycling 14th November Wednesday Garden Waste & Recycling 21st November Wednesday Refuse Collection & Recycling 28th November ST MARY’S CHURCH - Morning Prayer every Thursday at 9.00am Sunday * Harvest Festival - from 11.00 14th October Sunday Matins at St Mary’s Church - 11.00 21st October Sunday * Remembrance Day Service - from 11.00 11th November Sunday Matins at St Mary’s Church - 11.00 25th November Friday Tea & Coffee with Hosted Post Office 09.30 - 12.30

ST MARY’S GUILD - Meare Church Rooms 19.30 (7.30pm) Thursday “Tasmania” Talk by Ian Williamson. 4th October Thursday “Lifeboats.” Talk by Fred A’ Court 1st November

WESTHAY FILM CLUB - Fixed start time 19.00 (7.00pm) Saturday Maudie 6th October Wednesday The Happy Prince 24th October Saturday All the Money in the World 3rd November Wednesday Breathe 21st November WESTHAY SCHOOLROOMS Saturday Cafe Westhay - from 10.30 6th October Saturday Harvest Supper - from 20.00 13th October Saturday Cafe Westhay - from 10.30 3rd November YOGA (Westhay Schoolrooms) Tuesday Every Tuesday 18.30 - 19.30 Thursday 1st & 3rd Thursday of the Month 18.30 - 19.30 Thursday 2nd & 4th Thursday of the Month 18.20 - 19.20

13 Personal notes

14 Community Support Volunteer Service

● Do you have a couple of hours to spare on a flexible basis? ● Would you like to volunteer in your community? ● Could you support our patients and their families in their own home? If the answer is yes, we need you! What is our Community Support Service? It is a home visiting service delivered by trained hospice volunteers and oper- ates across . How does the service work? Volunteers offer their time depending on their availability, usually this involves a visit once a week for a couple of hours during normal working hours Monday to Friday. Volunteers are assigned a patient who they support over eight visits, by the end of this time, many patients feel much more confident about living with their illness. Volunteers will use their own cars to visit patients. However it is not necessary to be a car owner, we welcome volunteers who would be willing to walk, cycle or use public transport. Travel costs are reimbursed. What can a Community Support Volunteer do? The support provided is built around supporting patients achieve identified goals. Everyone’s needs are different but the sort of things you can help with include: ● Helping patients find relevant information about benefits and other services ● Accompanying patients to a GP, hospital appointments, shopping ● Taking patients out for a drive or walk ● Talking about planning ahead ● Spending time with patients so that carers, family or friends can have a break Volunteers are not able to provide medical or personal care. Training and support. Full training and ongoing support provided How can I apply or find out more? To learn more about this rewarding role, please contact Katie Baker by: emailing [email protected] or calling 0845 070 8 9 10 (option 2)

15 MEARE PARISH - REMEMBRANCE It is with grateful thanks that Alan Difford, who sadly died last year, put together a list of the men who enlisted for both WW1 and WW2 and published this in the book he wrote together with Gloria McClurg (Meare - Its place in history from early days). It is appropriate to reproduce here the list for 1914-1918. Those who died during the war are in bold font. The Roll of Honour is mounted on permanent display in St Mary’s Church and includes 1914-1919 names.

16 There are 195 names listed here, 31 lost their lives but others will have been affected by injury both mental and physical with impact lasting possibly throughout their lives.

Inconsistencies Between War Memorial & Roll of Honour These things happen as a result of human error though there are other reasons why names are added at later dates. However, in cross-checking the War Me- morial, Alan Difford’s undoubtedly well researched list and the Roll of Honour on display in St Mary’s Church there are the following that I’d like to highlight: ● Arthur Payne is listed on the War Memorial indicting that he was died in ac- tive service; this is not marked on the Roll of Honour. ● John H.G. Francis, Alfred Ward and Claude York are on the original list of names engraved on the War Memorial but their names do not appear on the Roll of Honour. ● Frederick G. Vowles is listed on the Roll of Honour with a red cross indicting that he was killed/died in action; however, his name does not appear at all on the War Memorial. The following names have been added to the War Memorial but do not appear on the Roll of Honour: Frank Davis . Solomon Difford . Albert Ham

Most popular forenames: William wins with a total of 18 but Harry comes second. So, there you have it: ‘Wills’ and ‘Harry’ are still in fashion !

17 18 NOTICE BOARD

19 20 Prompts to get tested for prostate cancer

Hearing a programme on Radio 4 about Bill Turnbull and others prompted me to have tests for prostate cancer. Now I too have been diagnosed with a malignant form though thankfully this has been caught at an early enough stage. - Westhay

Former BBC Breakfast presenter Bill Turnbull has revealed he has been diagnosed with prostate cancer. The 62-year-old said it was found in November and cancer has spread to his legs, hips, pelvis and ribs. Turnbull told the Radio Times he wanted to encourage people to get tested, saying: "Maybe if I'd got it earlier and stopped it at the prostate, I'd be in a much better state." He said he had put long-term aches and pains down to "old age". The interview was conducted by Sian Williams, Turnbull's former colleague on the Breakfast sofa, who had a double mastectomy for breast cancer in 2014. Turnbull said in his interview he had had prostate tests when he was aged 40 and 50. But he said he was "cross" for having prided himself on not visiting a GP in four years and only sought help when his pains could no longer be alleviated with pills. The father of three said after being diagnosed the "first few days were proba- bly the worst days of my life .The GP said, 'It's clear you have prostate can- cer and that it's spread to the bone'. And all of a sudden you're in this dark chasm." He added: “it saddens me that I'm not going to be around as much as I thought with my wife and family... I realised if things progress as they do on average, I can't plan beyond 12 years". He said he was diagnosed while recording an episode of The Great Celebrity Bake Off for Stand Up To Cancer on Channel 4. "I had the disease and didn't know it," he said. Extracts reproduced from the BBC Website - article dated 6 March 2018. Others sufferers currently campaigning to increase aware- ness following their own surgery include Stephen Fry and Billy Connolly with Bill Bailey helping in a campaign called Men United V Prostate Cancer

21 Breakfast at Meare Church Rooms from 8.30 till 11.00

‘An Evening with Michael Eavis’ in July raised £901 toward the new Village Hall.

Photo shows Michael together with a group of the Village Hall Committee members

Prize donations for the bingo would be greatly appreciated. Contact: [email protected]

THERE ARE MANY WAYS TO HOLD OR JOIN EVENTS RAISING FUNDS TO HELP SUPPORT THOSE WITH PROSTATE CANCER ORGANISED THROUGH www.prostatecanceruk.org OR CALL 0800 0748383 This number also gives access to Specialist Nurses

22 St Mary's newsletter Meare had their own "Who do you think you are" moment in the summer. The BBC1 television programme which helps celebrities to explore their fami- ly history often shows people travelling all over the world to trace their ances- tors. In July a mother and daughter from British Columbia in Canada took a few days from a business trip to London to come to Meare to see the village and farm where a great grandparent on the Hayes side of the family had set off in the early 1900’s for a new life in Canada. They were delighted at the warm welcome and response that they received from our local historians and residents of Stileway who showed them the original farm and cottages where the Hayes family lived, and St Mary's Church and hall where they met more villagers and joined in the Friday Post Office coffee morning. In the church they were able to go back another generation of their family and see the 1887 brass plaque by the reading lectern. This shows Hubert H Hayes as a churchwarden when the Queen Victoria Jubilee Memorial plaque was commissioned and the stone Parish Cross was moved from the church to its current position near the churchyard gate and the wall , marking an im- portant event in the history of Meare. We hope to hear more about the Hayes family tree when other relatives visit in the autumn and know that our Cana- dian visitors valued a new sense of who they were and where they belonged. Other visitors to the church also write comments to show that they experi- ence its beauty and peacefulness and find as one person says "surely the Lord is here". Dates: ● Sunday 14th October - 11.00am Harvest Festival with children's choir, followed by a ‘Bring and Share lunch in the Church’. Please bring along any non-perishable gifts for the foodbank. ● Sunday 21st October - 11.00am Matins at St Mary’s Church ● 11th November - 11.00am Remembrance Sunday service with laying of the wreath at Meare War Memorial followed by service at St Mary's and dedication of the new wooden gates as a memorial to WWI and II soldiers who died overseas. ● Sunday 25th November - 11.00am Matins at St Mary’s Church It is hoped to hold a Christmas Fair on Saturday 24th November

Churchwardens

23 So, when did World War I begin … and end ? You can almost take your pick on dates and challenge answers in any pub quiz. Of course it has to depend on which country is asking the question. Here are just some of the dates to prove it isn’t a straightforward answer: - was it: ● July 28th 1914 when Austria declared war on Serbia? ● August 1st 1914 when Germany declared war on Russia? ● August 3rd 1914 when German declared war on France ? ● August 4th 1914 when Britain declared war on Germany? ● August 23rd 1914 when Japan declared war on Germany? - or maybe: ● May 23rd 1915 when Italy declared war on Germany and Austria? - or even: ● April 6th 1917 when USA declared war on Germany – and finally won it according to Hollywood. - or possibly: ● June 28th 1917 when Greece declared war on all the Central Powers? ● August 14th 1917 when China declared war on Germany to take its seat at the post-war bargaining table? However, the record for last entrant goes to Romania against Germany on 10th November 1918 – yes, one whole day before the General Armistice. To be fair to Romania, they did enter on the Allied side in 1916 though were over-run by the Central Powers and entered their own peace negotiations. If the ‘start’ date isn’t easy, how about the end? Again, take your pick: ● November 11th 1918 when General Armistice was declared? ● June 28th 1919 when the Treaty of Versailles was signed? ● January 10th 1920 when the Treaty took legal effect? The first armistice (the one that started 11th November 1918) expired after thirty-two days (on 13th December) but was extended pending peace negotia- tions until 16th January 1919. It then received a second extension for just one calendar month before then being prolonged until January 10th 1920 which is the official end of World War I. OK, lets go for the generally accepted dates: 28th July 1914 to 11th November 1918 though many War Memorials do show 1914 - 1919.

24 25 Meare Chapel the church - a building of living stones Over the years, I have found that many confusions occur because people have different understandings of what a word means. Sometimes during a conversation, it becomes apparent that even though we are using the same terminology we might be talking about two completely different things. The most common confusion comes when we talk about ‘the church’. To many people ‘the church’ is the building; often very ornate, with a spire, and bells (if you’re lucky). To others ‘the church’ might refer to a big religious organisation such as the Catholic Church or the Church of England. The latter interpretation can often become problematic especially when ‘the Church’ hits the headlines with some scandal and all local chapels and Christian groups are tarred with the same brush. The Bible’s understanding of ‘the church’ is very different. In the Bible the church isn’t a physical building, indeed, in the early days ‘the church’ didn’t have any official buildings, it met in peoples’ homes or out in the open. The New Testament was originally written in Greek and the word ‘church’ trans- lates as ‘the gathering’. I find this to be very helpful as it helps us to under- stand that the church isn’t the building but the people inside. This is one of the reasons why we do not meet at ‘Meare Evangelical CHURCH’ but at ‘Meare Evangelical CHAPEL’. We want there to be a distinction between the church and the building. The Bible is wonderfully descriptive of what ‘the church’ is like and it gives us some wonderful examples. Firstly, the church is described ‘as a body’. Listen to 1 Cor 12:12, “For just as the body is one and has many members, and all the members of the body, though many, are one body, so it is with Christ.” We are being told here that the church is like a body made up of many different parts and the writer goes on to tell us that each individual part of that body, that church, has a useful and vital role to play. Someone may be the mouth speaking comforting words, someone may be a helping hand pro- viding practical help, someone else might be the compassionate heart. The church together makes one body. And together they serve and help each oth- er. The writer tells us that when the church works together it creates harmony and those involved support each other: “And if one member suffers, all the members suffer with it; or if one member is honoured, all the members rejoice with it.” Secondly, the apostle Peter describes the church in this way: “You are living stones that God is building into his spiritual temple.” The church is God’s spiritual temple, and what the writer is saying by this is that the Spirit of God ….. continued

26 dwells within it and works through His church, just like He did through the physical Temple in the Old Testament before Jesus Christ offered the perfect sacrifice once and for all on the cross. One of the most beautiful things about the church is that the church is open to all kinds of people. You do not have to try and be somebody else before you can come to church. The Bible tells us that you can come as you are and through receiving Christ in faith you can become a part of that Temple made up out of living stones, and to become grafted into the body. God has made you in a wonderful way and has given you unique gifts and talents. There is a place for you in the church that meets at Meare Chapel. The people that make up the church in Meare are not perfect and God doesn’t require us to be perfect. All God asks us to do is to come to Him and to recognise the fact that we aren’t perfect but to accept that Jesus Christ was. On the cross, Jesus made it possible for imperfect people like us to come to God because He took all our imperfections on Himself so that nothing stands in our way from know- ing a perfect God. On Sunday mornings in October/November, we are going to be looking at what it means to be ‘the church’. Everyone is welcome to join us as we ex- plore this topic together as the body of Christ, and what its purpose is in the world. - Meare Chapel

27 28 Somerset Heads the League Table Somerset heads the league table when it comes to ‘Thankful’ (or ‘Blessed’) Villages with a tremendous nine from which all service personnel who went to the so called ‘Great War’ came back ‘alive’. With five each, Lincolnshire and Yorkshire are joint second in the list of thirty-one ‘Thankful Villages’ in the whole of the . All were in England and Wales with none listed for Scotland or the whole of Ireland (which was not divided at that period). Of course, ‘alive’ means just what it says and does not infer that service per- sonnel were not injured, nor does not imply they didn’t take part in active com- bat. Sadly, it doesn’t mean that injuries incurred (both physical and mental) were not life-long and in no way diminishes the impact of war on these com- munities. So, although these villages have no ‘memorial’ to those who died, there are lists of those who went to war displayed in at least some of the vil- lage churches, including Shapwick. Meare Parish has both a memorial to those who died and it lists all of those who went to take on a combat role in both WW1 and WW2 ‘Thankful Villages’ in Somerset

It is worth mentioning that Stocklinch and Wooley had another run of ‘good fortune’ in WW2 when all of their combat personnel returned home making these two of only fourteen ‘Doubly Thankful Villages’ in the United Kingdom.

29 Close encounters of the plastic kind Staff and pupils at Meare Village Primary School have been celebrating after another successful end of term performance in July. ‘Close Encounters of the Plastic Kind’ is the story of an alien civilization helping humankind improve the Earth’s environment. The concept for the production originated from the school’s science week. After learning about the issue of ocean plastic from workshops with environmentalist and author Sarah Roberts (author of ‘Somebody Swallowed Stanley’) the children decided that they wanted to raise awareness of these issues, so the school staff for the performance wrote an original script.

Filmmaking and live music are always an integral part of the school performances, with the children singing a selection of songs by Johnny Cash, The Beatles, Patti Page, Louis Armstrong and others. A spokesperson for the school has said, “Making films as well as acting and singing in an end of year performance has offered opportunities for all children to participate.” Meare Village Primary School staff would like to express their appreciation to parents and the local community who always support their creatively ambitious projects with filming locations and costume designs. A special thanks to Down House in Meare for allowing the school to use their pool for filming.

- Meare Village Primary School

30 Revised police enquiry office hours From 3rd September 2018 the opening hours of police en- quiry offices in Somerset will be changing, following a review of the service across Avon and Somerset. Alongside im- provements in the police estate and the need to make signifi- cant savings, the changes reflect the low footfall in some areas at certain times of the day. Our priority is to have enquiry offices across the force area open at the times that our communities need them. Somerset area commander, Superintendent Mike Prior, said: “Next month there will be some changes to our enquiry offices across Somerset to make sure we are open at the times that we are needed the most and that we con- tinue to be visible in our communities. We are committed to keeping our neighbourhood police officers based in their local communities.” From 3 September the enquiry office opening hours in Mendip will be: ● Frome: Monday-Friday, 9.30am-5pm ● Street: Monday, Tuesday, Thursday, Friday, 10am-2pm ● Wells: Monday-Friday, 10am-6pm Police can be contacted 24/7 online at: http://www.avonandsomerset.police.uk/contact or by phone: ● 999 if it is an emergency or a crime is happening now; ● 101 if a crime has happened in the past or if you have an enquiry. There is also a yellow phone positioned on our police stations, where you can call our communications centre on 101 for free. Telephone banking fraud warning

Telephone Banking Fraud is a scam which is becoming increasingly commonplace. The fraudsters do not actually scam their victims online, but use the telephone to do so. Here’s how it works: ● Social Engineering Being manipulated by strangers into doing something or giving away confi- dential information. ● Banking Failing to follow the advice on how to keep online banking safe. ● Fraud - learn how it’s done Learn about the many types of online fraud and how to spot them. ….... continued

31 You receive a call from somebody who claims to be from an organisation you trust, such as your bank or the police. They inform you that there is a safety or security problem associated with your bank account or payment cards, and you need to take some kind of immediate preventative action, which normally involves confirming your confidential login details. However, the person on the other end of the call is not your bank or card issuer, but a fraudster. You may also be asked to give your cards to a courier sent by the ‘bank’ or ‘police’ to ensure that they have been stopped, or for evidence. This is known as ‘Courier Fraud’.

The Risks ● You provide your account details and answers to security questions to fraudsters; ● Your bank account is emptied and/or cards used to their limit; ● You could become a victim of identity theft because you have revealed confidential financial and personal information.

How to Avoid Telephone Banking Fraud ● A bank or payment card company will never ask you to transfer money out of your account to another that you do not recognise, so hang up immediately. ● If you do think that the call may be authentic and you choose to call your bank or card issuer, call the number on your bank statement or other document from your bank – or on the back of your card and NOT a number given to you by the caller or the one you were called from. ● Never provide financial or personal details to a caller, but call back on a number you know to be authentic. Many scammers have the ability to spoof authentic num- bers to fool you into thinking that they are genuine.

If you have been a victim of Telephone Banking Fraud report it to Action Fraud by calling 0300 123 20 40 or by visiting www.actionfraud.police.uk

32 Clerks report

NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN

That a vacancy has occurred in the office of Councillor in the Parish of Meare, as a result of the resignation of Councillor Cowell. To be able to stand as a candidate for co-option as a Parish Councillor, you must: ● Be at least 18 years old on the day of your nomination. ● Be a British citizen, an eligible Commonwealth citizen or a citizen of any other member state of the European Union or have indefinite leave to remain in the United Kingdom . ● You are, and will continue to be, registered as a local government elec- tor for the parish of Meare from the day of your nomination onwards. ● You have occupied as owner or tenant any land or other premises in the parish area during the whole of the twelve months before the day of your nomination. ● Your main or only place of work during the twelve months prior to the day of your nomination. ● You have lived in the parish area or within three miles of it during the whole of the twelve months before the day of your nomination. ● You are able to receive and send emails under your own email address (not a shared email address) or accessible by a third party. ● You are able to be available to attend monthly Parish Council meetings on a Monday and on a regular basis (usually third Monday of the month). Except for August and December. ● You are willing and wish to get involved and take on Parish Coun- cil projects and other village matters. Nominations must be with the Clerk by 5pm on Wednesday 10th October 2018 in writing to 9 Glastonbury Road, Meare or by email to Sheila Brown (Clerk to the Council): [email protected] Please include a few words about why you would like to become a member of the Council and what you feel you can contribute. This is a voluntary position

33 Parish Council Rules PUBLIC PARTICIPATION AT PARISH COUNCIL MEETINGS: Meetings of the Parish Council are not public meetings but members of the public have a statutory right to attend meetings of the council as observers. They have no legal right to speak unless the Parish Council Chairman authorises them to do so which involves the meeting being closed, minuted as such and then the meeting being reconvened and minuted as such after the speaker has finished. However, as part of its community engagement, Meare Parish Council has a ten minute public speaking slot for public participation prior to the meeting when members of the public, who have booked this slot with the Clerk, can speak to the Council on any matter that concerns them. Members of the public are not allowed to be involved in the decision-making of the Council. The Council cannot make any instant decisions at the behest of members of the public on items that are not included in the agenda. The matter can be put on a future Agen- da, at the discretion of the Council. Members of the public are welcome to stay for the Council meeting after the public session as observers, but will not be able to join in the discussion unless invited to do so by the Chairman. Members of the public may be excluded by a resolution of the meeting for specific items which need to be discussed in confidence (e.g. staffing mat- ters, tenders for contracts, some legal issues). Neither Councillors nor the Clerk should be put under pressure to respond immediately to comments made under public participation. Members of the public do not have a right to force items onto the Council Agenda A question raised by a member of the public during a public speaking session shall not require a response and there should be no debate or discussion between the Council and the public. If the issue is on the Agenda then it will be discussed under the appropriate item. Members of the public are therefore requested to leave their contact details with the Clerk before leaving the Council meeting if they wish to receive a reply to their query. All persons present will act respectfully towards every other person present and will not act in a manner that demeans, insults, threatens or intimidates him or her. All statements, questions and responses, challenges to statements, complaints or criti- cisms must be made politely. All statements, questions and responses must be related to the facts of the matter and not be personal in nature. There should be no reference to personal views on any per- son. Please note that offensive or threatening behaviour will not be tolerated. If a member of the public interrupts the proceedings of any meeting the Council reserves the right to curtail the contribution of that person and exclude a disorderly person. Meeting Dates: ● Monday 15th October 7.30pm at Meare Manor ● Monday 19th November 7.30pm at Meare Manor

Clerk to the Council

34 35 VILLAGE CONTACTS & Useful numbers Bird in Hand Pub 01458-860859 Childline 0800 1111 Domestic Violence Hotline 0808 2000 247 Highways Faults 0300 123 2224 (Mon-Fri 8am-6pm / Sat 9am - 4pm) [email protected] Home Library Service 0845 3459 177 Meare Church Rooms (Bookings) 01458-860432 (Bookings - Ruth Baker) Meare Independent Evangelical Church 07452-954951 (Steve Neal) Meare Manor 01458-860449 07870-773537 (during sessions) Meare Moles (Nicola Lynham) [email protected] 01458-860228 Meare Village Primary School (Headmistress - Mrs Jan Fellows) 01458-860368 Meare & Westhay Ladies Social Club [email protected] Council 0300 303 8588 Mind 0300 123 3393 07731-624182 Parish Council [email protected] 01458-860537 Parish Paths Liaison Officer [email protected] Police non-emergency 101 Railway Inn 01458-860223 Samaritans 116 123 01458-860265 (Gloria McClurg) St. Mary’s Guild (Secretary) [email protected] 0845 6010 939 Street Light Faults Please give Light No & Postcode 01458 443940 Street Men’s Shed [email protected] Western Power (For Power Cuts) 0800 6783105 01458-860489 Westhay Film Club [email protected] Westhay Schoolroom (Bookings) 01458-860853 (Bookings - Anne Moss) Richard Brown (Secretary) Westhay Schoolroom (Secretary) [email protected] 01458-860155 Village Oil Buying Group [email protected] Village Poppy Appeal Organisers 01458-860865 / 07866-080194 or (Charlotte & Elizabeth Norris) [email protected] Yoga Classes (Steph or Bridge) 07764-935167 / 07712-897498

36 PARISH COUNCILLORS CHAIRMAN Chris Crysnal, Main Road, 01458 860393 [email protected] Bennetts Westhay, BA6 9TN 07885 637779 CLERK Sheila Tuesday & Thursday [email protected] 0773 1624182 Brown 8.30am – 3.00pm MEMBERS Anthony 2 Stileway, 01458 860538 [email protected] Baker Meare, BA6 9SH 07899 924465 Paul 19 Downs Orchard, [email protected] 01458 860597 Bradley Meare, BA6 9SQ Colin Pilgrimsway, Stileway, 01458 860309 [email protected] Foster Meare, BA6 9SH 07734 753113 Rosie Steps Farm, Church [email protected] 01458 860000 Lander Lane, Meare, BA6 9SP Alvin Violet Farm, Church [email protected] 01458 860277 Neale Lane, Meare, BA6 9SL Samantha 1 Millbatch, 01458 860109 [email protected] Perry-Welch Meare, BA6 9SY 07786 352871 Roger Home Farm, Chapel 01458 860575 [email protected] Stacey Lane, BA6 9TQ 07767 621798 Michael Knight’s Cottage, [email protected] 01458 860602 Turner-Welch 19 Oxenpill, BA6 9TQ Janet 11 The Levels, [email protected] 01458 860770 Westover Meare, BA6 9SE

Anyone interested in receiving information about planning applications in the parish, please send your email address to [email protected] and you will be kept informed of new, approved, withdrawn and applications going to appeal. Applications will also be put in the magazine (subject to printing deadline) on the Parish Website and on the Meare & Westhay Facebook page.

ANY RESIDENT OF THE PARISH REQUIRING DEFIBRILLATOR TRAINING PLEASE CONTACT SHEILA BROWN [email protected]

37 Local pharmacies

BOOTS GLASTONBURY TESCO 39 High Street Feversham Lane Wirral Park Rd GLASTONBURY GLASTONBURY GLASTONBURY BA6 9DS BA6 9LP BA6 9NR 01458 831211 01458 833666 01458 769503

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