Round Aboutabout the Villages of Langford Budville and Runnington

RoundRound AboutAbout the villages of Langford Budville and Runnington

February 2015 1

CONTENTS

1 Welcome 2 What's On 4 A Walk Back in Time 6 Jubilee Hall 8 Langford Ladies 9 Dairy Delights 10 News from the Villages 11 Community Contacts 12 Roses are Red ... 14 A Heritage Worth Having 16 Green Fingers: Snowdrops 18 Farming Year: Pheasants 20 News from the Churches 24 Our School 26 Young Buddies 27 Night Sky 35 Magazine Info/Ad Rates 36 Bus Timetable

Welcome...

... to the February edition of Round About - and, if the cake on the cover isn’t a big enough clue - it’s the First Anniversary of the magazine! I can’t believe that a year has passed by since our first timorous steps into community magazine production. What I do know is that it has been a fascinating time as, with a good excuse to be nosy, we’ve discovered the hidden talents of those who live around us. We couldn’t have managed it without the help of a lot of people - great thanks to:  the Parish Council who have encouraged us all the way;  our regular contributors who are the backbone of the magazine;  the patient and rewarding people interviewed for our articles;  the photographers who have brightened up our pages;  our proof readers who have laboriously corrected our errors;  our sponsors and advertisers who have sustained us;  our distributors without whom you would not receive a magazine;  and last, but certainly not least, our wonderful printer Laighton Waymouth of Booksprint who gets the magazine out on time every month however late we are at pulling it all together. And one more thank you - to the group of village children who decorated a great array of cakes so I could select one for the cover. They were all delightful - the cakes as well as the children. So what do we have for you this time? A Walk Back in Time sees the village as lived in by one of our villagers nearly 70 years ago and A Heritage Worth Having reveals the amazing family of another. Roses are Red… gives you hints on the flowers you should, or should not, buy your beloved on Valentine’s Day. And if any of you get that wrong, Dairy Delights has something to help you make up for the error. As the weather is too horrible for gardening, Green Fingers enjoys snowdrops, the little flowers that don’t mind the cold and Farming Year takes a look at the history and life of pheasants, a cheerful bird now we’ve reached the end of the shooting season. Happy reading - Marilyn Lilley on behalf of the Editorial Team

What’s On

Haddons, 10.25-10.35 Runnington Mobile Library White Post 18 February 10.40-10.55am Jubilee Hall 11.00-11.20am

Police surgery Jubilee Hall 2 March 7.00-8.00pm Parish Council Jubilee Hall 9 February 7.30pm Meeting Nynehead Local Nynehead 13 February 7.30pm History Society Memorial Hall Take Art: Jubilee Hall 19 February 2015 7.30pm Cirkus Spectakular Langford Ladies Jubilee Hall 19 February 7.30pm Cirkus Spectakular Soup Kitchen St Peter’s Church 19 February 12.00—2.00pm Show: Come to Jubilee Hall 7 March 2015 7.00pm the Cabaret Easter Coffee Runnington 11 April 10.30-12.00noon Morning Church Nynehead Local History Society meet on a Friday evening at 7.30. For dates and subject contact Susie Kenward 01823 662856. Appley Cross WI meet on 2nd Tuesday each month in Bathealton Village Hall. Contact Anne Hendy for details 01823 400476.

YOGA the Iyengar way Langford Budville Jubilee Hall Tuesdays 7.00-8.30pm Thursdays 10.30-12.00noon BEGINNERS WELCOME suitable for all abilities contact Jackie Douglas

A TAKEART Production

Jubilee Hall Thursday 19 February 7.30pm

Zany and hilarious, tender and touching, this is a gorgeous show for all the family to share from an acclaimed puppet theatre company Adults £6.00 Children FREE

Tickets can be purchased online at www.takeart.org

A Walk Back In Time

You’re going to need your imagination here…

It’s the 1940s and a young boy in short trousers is taking me for a walk through his village. His name is Gerald Brewer, born in 1938 and, like all children, he loves sweets, so we’ll start by visiting a sweet shop run by Frank Salway who also sells a few groceries. It’s in a house on the corner of Whiteball Road, which is the main road in the village, and the road to Runnington.

We then head down the hill on the right and on the other side of the road we can see the blacksmith’s where wooden cartwheels are being bonded with iron rims, horses shod and farm implements such as drags and harrows made. The lane to the right of the forge that runs up to Allotment Field was called Cobbs Castle until the seven cottages along there became derelict and it became known as Rats Castle. I can’t think why.

As we walk down the road, it is very open and green with the Crown Field on the left and on the right hand side, between Heathfield Cottages and the Martlett Inn, there’s a large duck pond, orchard, wagon shed and stable block where Geoff Braddick of Ritherdons Farm raises his calves.

Past the lovely old pub is Courtlands Farm, a small holding with a little shop run by Bertha Leat. She sells sweets as well, but they’re kept in cardboard boxes under the stairs and are sometimes a bit mouldy.

Ern Taylor’s cottage is next to the farm and he works at Bere Farm and keeps poultry in the ruins of some cottages nearby known as Stuckey Pitts.

Next door to Ern’s cottage is the Post Office which includes a shop and carpentry business. It is owned by Dolf Stephens, and his wife and her

sister, Miss Twyford (from the Twyford Sanitary Ware family) run the shop. Once a week Gerald visits the shop with two rabbits caught by his father and in return the ladies give him enough cigarettes to keep Harold Brewer supplied for the coming week.

The sisters are both very, very large. So large in fact that when they go for a drive in their tiny Austin 10, one sits in the front to drive and the other has to sit in the back on the far side of the car so they both have enough room. Miss Twyford is a bit of a character, walking through the village draped in West of England hessian sacks with a black cat draped around her shoulders.

Gerald tells me cheeky story: the ladies hang up their washing in the orchard we passed earlier and each pair of their drawers stretches between two trees. The children have great fun playing hide and seek between these undergarments.

Beyond the Post Office we pass Croxhall, an elegant house owned by the Fox family who own the woollen mill in Tonedale. Gerald has been told that the flat roof on the house is meant to catch water, but reckons the owners use it for sun bathing.

The house has a very large garden and next to it is the vicarage and library. Rev Swainson banned Gerald from the building when he was 8 years old for hitting Lillian Brown over the head with a library book.

There’s a derelict old cottage next door which is used to store faggots of wood which are used as straddles, bundles of wood laid on the ground under hay or corn ricks to stop them getting damp. Gerald and his friends collect twigs for the faggots from the common for Bill Braddick and as a reward he takes them to Weston-super-Mare for donkey rides.

As we cross the road and head back up the hill to take a closer look at St Peter’s Church, Gerald remembers something important – he’s forgotten all about choir practice and disappears through the church door like a rabbit down a hole. We’ll have to continue our walk later.

Marilyn Lilley after a long, long chat with Gerald Brewer We’ll walk around the rest of the village next month.

News from the Jubilee Hall

Hedge planting on the Crown Field Shortly before Christmas pupils from Class 1 at the village school, assisted by members of the village hall committee and several helpers, planted over 500 hedgerow whips on the low bank alongside the footpath across the Crown Field. You can see the photos on page 25. The whips included among others, hazel, hawthorn, blackthorn, crab apple and were donated by the Woodland Trust in commemoration of the First World War. Each whip had to be staked and covered with a plastic spiral to protect it so the children and all the helpers were kept busy on a cold but dry morning. A few more whips will be needed to finish the new hedge and once this is done a stock proof fence and field gate will be erected beside the hedge to complete the Crown Field footpath project. It is hoped to put in place a small notice to inform users of the path that the hedge is part of the First World War remembrance. Exterior lighting at the village hall The Trustees have been successful in their bid to Viridor Credits for a grant to install exterior lighting at the Village Hall. Presently two temporary floodlights have served this purpose but lighting around the hall itself has been minimal. The new scheme will involve bollard lights to the main car park, floodlights for the rear courtyard and lighting at the main entrance. The lighting is being designed to reduce light pollution as much as possible and LEDs will be used to minimise power consumption. The Trustees are presently in discussion with electrical contractors to finalise the details and it is hoped that installation will begin soon.

Future events at the Hall

Circus Spectakular - Thursday 19 February 2015 at 7.30pm Another excellent Take Art Production. Adults £6, children FREE. Angel Heart Theatre’s originality, exquisitely crafted puppetry and their big- hearted performances have been inspiring adults and children in the UK since 2008. See page 3 for contact details. Come to the Cabaret - Saturday 7 March 2015 at 7.00pm For one night only, Changing Faces present something a little different - a cabaret evening with entertainment from a variety of local artistes. Tickets £10 include a light supper. See page 3 for contact details. Regular sessions at the Hall A number of groups and fitness classes meet in the Jubilee Hall on a weekly basis. These include: Art Group, Bridge Club, Brownies, Guides, Short Mat Bowls, Iyenga Yoga, Pilates, Zumba and Karate. For futher information, see contact details below.

The Jubilee Hall is an ideal venue for a wide variety of events including wedding receptions, parties and dances, shows and concerts, club and society meetings, fetes and community events, conferences, meetings and training days * Main Hall seats up to 200+ theatre style, 150 at tables - hire £10-£12 hr * Comfortable Committee Room with seating for 30 - hire £5 hr * Large, well equipped kitchen - hire £4 hr * Spacious foyer and cloakroom * Gravelled patio + grassed terrace * Easy access and parking for 40+ cars * Full bar/entertainment licence * Hiring Fee reduced for local users For booking availability visit www.langfordbudvillevillagehall.org.uk call Lynne Moore on 01823 400665 or email [email protected]

Langford Ladies

Our January meeting held at the Martlett where we had feasted on a 2 course meal, splendidly hosted by Terena and chef Bruno. After the meal all 16 of us put our heads together and came up with the programme for the meetings for this year. Once again, we have a varied programme including a visit to Coombe Sydenham, a demonstration of portrait painting by Tilly Willis, a BBQ, live screening of Sleeping Beauty at the Wellesley cinema, a farm supper and a skittles evening etc. For our next meeting, we agreed to support the Take Art "Cirkus Spectakular" family show on Thursday 19th.February in the village hall. (see page 3) Langford Ladies usually meet on the third Wednesday of the month and welcome new members. We are a very informal group and there is no obligation to come along every month - just come when you can for a good night out! Please contact Jean Marshall for further details [email protected] or 01823 400012.

Dairy Delights: Valentine Pancakes

Sponsored by Gundenham Dairies Ingredients ½ pt cream batter (3 eggs, 1 tbsp sugar, 3fl oz single cream, 1 tbsp milk, 4 oz self-raising flour, 2oz butter) Red food colouring 1 oz flour 4 oz sugar 3 egg yolks ½ pt milk 1 tsp rosewater ⅛ pt double cream, half-whipped Pink decorations such as rose petals, sprinkles, or grated chocolate, or chopped pistachios Method Add a few drops of food colouring to batter and make 12 x 6” pancakes and keep warm. Put flour, sugar and egg yolks in a bowl and beat until fluffy. Heat milk to boiling and add immediately to egg mixture. Heat in bowl or saucepan over hot water until mixture thickens to coat the back of a spoon. Stir in the rosewater. Divide between pancakes, fold or roll up and arrange on serving dish. Spoon the cream over and decorate with desired topping. Barbara Hughes

News from the Villages

Langford Budville Parish Council (Draft report) The Parish Council meeting was held on 12 January 2015. PCSO’s Steve Hill and Pearl Hine kindly attended the meeting and read the report: Rural areas have been targeted recently with non-dwelling breaks, including sheds and outbuildings. Everyone was reminded to secure sheds and outbuildings and be diligent and report anything suspicious to 101 or the Beat Team. Colour, make, model and registration numbers of suspicious vehicles are extremely useful. Please note the change of your Beat Teams telephone numbers: PC Adrian Hooper: 07889 658015; PCSO Sharon Cridlin: 07889 655302 Mrs Rowe (Footpaths Officer) has listed all the stiles in the Parish which are difficult to access with dogs. It is hoped that Taunton Deane’s Footpath Officer can walk the routes and offer advice on how to approach the problems. This has been discussed at many PC meetings and hopefully now the problem stiles have been identified a solution can be found. There was one planning application which the PC supported: 21/14/0014 Replacement of single storey rear extension with the erection of a two storey and single rear extension at 3 Reynolds. The deep drain on the B3187 at Gundenham is to be reported to Somerset Highways and the broken sign post at Sandy Lane, Runnington has also been reported to Taunton Deane. The next meeting will be held at 7.30pm on Monday 9 February in the Jubilee Hall and everyone is welcome to attend. Christine Hake, Parish Clerk

Focus on Footpaths A plan to ensure Somerset makes the best use of its public rights of way is out for consultation. Somerset County Council maintains over 6,000km of footpaths, bridleways and byways, and is consulting on an ‘improvement plan’ which will set out how the council develops the rights of way network with partners and private landowners. The consultation ends on 10 March and the full document is available at local council offices and libraries and online at www.somerset.gov.uk/ROWIPConsultation.

Community Contacts

Parish Council Chairman John Cottrell 01823 663675 Vice Chairman Gerald Brewer 01823 400780 Reg Hendy 01823 400476 Kieron McGrath 01823 663080 Roger Poole 01823 400567 Parish Clerk Christine Hake [email protected] Churches Team Vicar The Rev Alan Ellacott 01823 669824 [email protected] Reader Sandra Lee 07585 743886 Church Wardens: Langford Budville Lynn Wyatt 01823 400245 Runnington John Houghton 01823 661323 Alison Toogood 01823 667808 Jubilee Hall Chairman Keith Moore 01823 400665 [email protected] Vice-Chairman Roger Marshall [email protected] Secretary and Margaret Brown 01823 400510 Booking Clerk [email protected] Treasurer Pam Farr [email protected] Primary School Head Teacher Keith Sharpe 01823 400483 [email protected] Police Beat Officers PC Adrian Hooper 276 adrian.hooper@avonandsomerset. police.uk tel: 07889 658015 PCSO Sharon Cridlin sharon.cridlin@avonandsomerset. 9511 police.uk tel: 07889 655302 13

Roses are red, violets are blue… … but what are they saying to you?

Floriography, the language of flowers, was a subject somewhat developed by Queen Victoria, so any of the multitudinous meanings which can be found are a mixture of folk/religious traditions and Victorian invention. Red roses of course mean love but if the thorns are there, it signifies the blood of Christ. Violets in general mean modesty, blue violets faithfulness and white “shall we chance it?” If you are thinking of giving that red, red rose to your beloved on St.Valentine’s Day, you could just be a little more adventurous. How about camellias; pink for desire, red “you are the flame in my heart”, white “you are adorable”. Or hyacinths; blue for constancy, white for loveliness, purple for forgiveness but not yellow – oh dear, that is for jealousy! Beware yellow carnations too which signify rejection and disdain. But other carnations pass; solid colours mean “yes” and striped “no”; white means pure love. Yellow seems to bring mixed messages; daffodils speak of unrequited love, “You are the only one” and new beginnings. Narcissi tells of desire; primroses “I can’t live without you”.

The Victorians would have appreciated mimosa for chastity or sensitivity and forsythia for anticipation. They made little posies called “tussie- mussies” in which each plant had a meaning: bluebells for humility; snowdrops for consolation and hope; dogwood for love undiminished by adversity; cyclamen for resignation or timid hope; anemone “forsaken”. You could save expense and offer ivy, since it speaks of affection and fidelity (often in bridal bouquets with myrtle, emblem of married love) then brighten it up with dandelions for faithfulness and happiness…

Alternately, splash out on orchids for refinement, love and beauty, also symbolic for the Chinese of many children! Religious meanings flourish; lily-of-the -valley means sweetness, humility, virginity, symbol of new life in Spring and the Advent of Christ, emblem of the Virgin Mary. Many flowers have a variety of meanings, just take your pick! But beware that if the bouquet is withered, the message is rejected love!! Laurian Cooper

A Heritage Worth Having

I’ve been known as Gareth David MacLatchy for all legal and official purposes since 30th January 1953, when I was officially adopted by Dr Reginald MacLatchy and his wife Esta, having lived with them since December 1949, in The Manor House, Westcote Barton, Oxfordshire. However, my real parents, who split up in 1947/8, were Vadim Vadimovitch Narishkin and his wife Mary Dawn, nee Evans, and I was their second son, born in 1945, but I never knew my elder brother, Niall, as he died in infancy in 1944. My parents’ engagement photo - 1940 My grandfather, Vadim Alexandreivich Narishkin, was born in 1894, the illegitimate son of Tsar Alexander III who died in 1894. However, before he died, by an imperial ukase he acknowledged my grandfather and gave him the patronymic Alexandreivich, allowed him to adopt his mother's family name, and granted him the privileges of the nobility.

My grandfather - November 1916 In effect my grandfather was the half-brother of Tsar Nicholas II, the last of the Romanovs, and the uncle of the Tsarevich, Alexi, and his four sisters, the Grand Duchesses Olga, Maria, Tatiana and Anastasia. Nicholas II, his wife, family and servants were executed together in July 1918 in the basement of the house in Ekatarinburg where they had been under house arrest, by the Bolsheviks at Lenin's order. My grandfather was Chamberlain, and Master of the Horse to Tsar Nicholas II before the Great War, when he enlisted as a Squadron Commander in a regiment of Cossak cavalry, where he served until Tsar Nicholas II the cessation of hostilities. He then left the military

and returned to St. Petersburg as a private citizen. My father, Vadim Vadimovich was born there in 1918, as was my aunt Maria, the following year. Because of the Red Terror unleashed by the Bolsheviks, my grandfather decided to flee to England in 1923, where my uncle Fiodr (Theodore) was born in the same year. My grandfather moved the family to Headington, Oxford, upon obtaining a lectureship in foreign languages at the University, and the family lived there for nearly twenty years. My grandmother, Elizaveta Timotyevna Narishkina was instrumental in establishing a Russian Orthodox Church in the area during this period. She was buried in the Russian Orthodox section of Headington Cemetery, subsequent to her death in 1945. My Uncle Theodore is also buried there, after his death in action in 1943, in a grave next to hers. He was only 20. My grandfather, my father and my uncle all joined up at the outbreak of WWII; my grandfather a Sergeant in Uncle Theodore - 1940 the Royal Artillery Territorials, my father a subaltern in the Royal Northumberland Fusiliers, and Uncle Theodore in the Royal Air Force Volunteer reserve. My grandfather was transferred and commissioned as a Lieutenant in the Intelligence Corps, because of his language skills. He was seconded to the Nuremburg trials as a translator, with the rank of Acting Major. This was where he met his second wife, whom he married at the My father -1940 beginning of 1946. My Aunt Vera was born to Vadim Vadimovitch Narishkin them in 1947. In that year, he left the Intelligence Corps and relocated to Geneva to work in the fledgling United Nations Organisation. Sadly he died of Hodgkin's Disease in 1953, and his widow continued the work he had started in the UN. I found Vera on the internet in 2013 and went to visit her in Geneva that September. She let me have a lot of memorabilia of my grandfather and family. At last I had found my roots. A heritage worth having. Gareth MacLatchy (Mac)

Green Fingers - Snowdrops

Fair Maids, Candlemas Bells and Death Flowers are just some of the names given to a much loved wild and garden plant, the common snowdrop.

The earliest mention of the flowers in this country is from the 16th century but they did not become common until the 18th century. The common snowdrop or Galanthus nivalisis is most often found in gardens and woodlands but there are 20 species known to science and at least 1500 hybrids. They hybridise easily so galanthophiles are always on the lookout for new variants. When in flower, under normal conditions, they can last for a month or more. The green swelling at the top holds the seeds which fall to the ground when the flowers fade. The seeds contain a substance which is attractive to ants and this helps in their distribution, flowers will form in the 3rd or 4th year. Snowdrops are also propagated via bulblets which form around the main bulb. The fragrance of snowdrops is attractive to early bees. Snowdrops and snowflakes are different, the latter flowering from March to May and having broader leaves. Illustration c.1885 Measuring from 5-30cm in height they thrive in sloping conditions with humus rich soil and dampness, so are ideal for growing in this area of Somerset, as we know from the displays on the triangle. Originally snowdrops found in the wild come from central and southern Europe, northern Turkey and the Caucasus. Today bulbs collected from the wild in these areas are a source of income for many villages and, in the Ukraine, has lead to them being placed on the list of Rare and Disappearing species.

Snowdrops were called Fair Maids because the petals look like white skirts and they were named Candlemas Bells because they were usually seen in flower on Candlemas Day 2nd February. It was also thought to be unlucky to bring snowdrops into your house which is how they came to be named Death Flowers, maybe from the frequent cultivation in graveyards and cemeteries or their association with winter. Although as the plants and bulbs are poisonous this may be another reason for the association, and a wise superstition as they might be confused with shallots. Kew lists the name “Flower of Hope” because of its association with the end of winter. In medicine galantamine has been extracted from snowdrops and used to treat Alzheimer's, neuritis and neuralgia. During the 19th century Snowdrop Bands were formed to encourage working- class girls away from the temptations of prostitution. The Bands were similar in function to Temperance organisations. Members carried cards with snowdrops on them and pledged to avoid indecent literature and wicked thoughts. They had “white suppers” when all the food was pale coloured such as potatoes, milk, jellies and cakes with white icing. Yum! Barbara Hughes

Farming Year: Pheasants

One of Britain's most colourful and easily recognized birds, the pheasant - or to be more precise - the English or Ring Necked pheasant, has a history as exotic as itself. Introduced by the Romans the name pheasant is a corruption of the Latin PHASIANUS, which in turn is derived from the Greek PHASIANORNIS COLCHIS meaning the bird of PHASIS, the name of a river in the ancient province of COLCHIS which lay just eastward of the Black Sea. It is thought that the Argonauts may have brought the original stock back to Greece on one of their voyages. What is more widely agreed is that the Romans brought the pheasant family to our shores during their occupation of Britain. Many different varieties of pheasants are found throughout the world, other than in very cold climates as they can only thrive in temperate or tropical climates. The English or Ring Necked pheasant can be found throughout Western Europe as well as in parts of Asia and China. Their preferred habitat is wooded agricultural land - as is only too obvious when meeting them in the middle of a Somerset country lane. They feed on berries, acorns, and insects, especially ants and ants eggs, and are very fond of all sorts of grain, doing much damage to the farmers’ crops. This year has been a good year for food with the abundance of berries. The male pheasant leaves all the hard work of incubating the eggs and rearing the chicks to the female, preferring to confine himself to mating, feeding and looking extremely handsome. The hen bird is much less handsome and conspicuous than the cock with a shorter tail and sober colouring. Pheasants make their nest of dry leaves and straw hidden from predators’ eyes in long grass, high weeds or under hedges, the hen protecting the eggs until they hatch. The chicks learn to pick up their

own food very soon after hatching much quicker than most chicks. A clutch of eggs varies in size from about six to a dozen they are olive brown or greenish in colour. The wild pheasant will rest on the ground at night during the summer months but during the winter they are more likely to fly up into a tree to roost. The pheasant population in this country has increased greatly during the last seventy or eighty years with the growth in popularity of Game Shooting, a thriving activity in the U.K. with most shoots relying on reared birds to supplement the wild stock. Shooting as a field sport has existed for about three hundred years although there are records of pheasant being killed by snares, nets and crossbows in Henry 1st’s reign, 1100 - 1135. A Game Keepers’ main role is to preserve and protect the wild life habitat of the birds and to ensure that healthy birds are reared in a safe environment before being released in to the country side.

The birds that survive the shooting season (1st October to1st February) remain free in the wild to breed and contribute to the wild stock. As well as providing a popular sport pheasants are excellent to eat. I expect everyone has their favourite recipe. I prefer them casseroled rather than roasted which can make the meat rather dry. Casseroled with red wine added to the stock and some mango chutney added makes a delicious dish. But first comes the plucking, rather a chore and liable to cover the kitchen (or where ever you are) in feathers, but providing the birds are well hung - a week or two after being shot depending on the weather- it is not too bad. Removing the crop and inners is best not described! Though not native to this country pheasants have added to the richness of the countryside in many ways and we should be grateful to the Romans for introducing them. Susan Osborne

News from the Churches

Bishop’s letter Communities are built around people Something we are all seeing, whether we live in a town or a village, is that many local pubs are closing down. Currently this is at the rate of about 31 a week. There are now about 55,000 pubs in the UK, down from about 68,000 thirty years ago. Whether we use them or not and whatever our view may be on drinking, pubs support more than a million jobs in the UK and contribute significantly to the economy of their local area. A recent study from Northumbria University says more than that. A thriving village pub it says gives a village greater community spirit and supports local social events and businesses. Pubs it claims are significant in promoting community cohesion, especially in rural areas. That is probably uncontroversial. But the same study also concluded ‘that village pubs were also found to be more important to local life than the parish church’. That is something which I might want to take issue with. I suppose it depends what you mean by contributing to local life. But I am very clear that parish churches are often at the very heart of the communities they serve and contribute significantly to creating, sustaining and developing thriving communities. In many communities it is difficult to imagine what life would be like without the local church being present and active in bringing people together and supporting them in every kind of need. In Somerset new housing developments are being planned in a number of places. But, as developers often acknowledge, building houses does not automatically build communities. So one of the things that we as a diocese will need to give more thought to in the future is: ‘how we can use the resources that we have to turn those groups of new houses into caring, inclusive and welcoming communities?’ Communities are built around people. They do not simply emerge unless people consciously value the place where they live and strive to make it a better place for everyone who lives there. Living and sharing our faith in Jesus, serving our communities and engaging with local concerns are

continued opposite

Church Services Rota

Langford First Second Date Runnington Budville Reading Reading

1 February 10.00am 10.30am Malachi Hebrews HC Service Candlemas 3. 1-5 2. 14-18 Service with Ruth Cook

8 February 9.15am Join Langford Hosea 2 Corinthians HC Service Budville 2.14-20 3. 1b-6 15 February 10.00am At Nynehead Deuteronomy 2 Corinthians Family Service 6.00pm 5. 12-15 4. 5-12 Special Evensong with Ecclesia Choir followed by refreshments 22 February Join with 9.15am Genesis 1 Peter Runnington HC Service 9. 8-17 3. 18-22

SMILE: First Wednesday each month at St John’s Church SMILE happens after-school on the first Wednesday of each month at St John’s Parish Church, Wellington. It’s fun, free and for especially for children and families (anyone under the age of 12 accompanied by an adult). Each month the furniture is re-arranged, creating space for Bible stories, wacky games, creative craft and prayer activities, all run by the SMILE team. Mum, Dad, Granny or Granddad can enjoy a cuppa and a chat or get involved in the programme – it’s always a lot of fun for all of us! Refreshments are served from 3.15pm and the programme kicks off at around 3.30pm, finishing at 4.30pm. 4Th Feb , 4th March, 6th May .For more info. speak to one of the SMILE team at St John’s, visit www.wellingtonteamchurches.org.uk or call Deanery children’s worker. ways in which we can contribute to making our communities welcoming and joyful places for all. I enjoy visiting a pub and there is no doubt that they can be a meeting point and hub for local communities. That is true of churches as well, but they are much more than that. A church is a place ‘where heaven and earth meet’. With warm best wishes, +Peter Bath and Wells 23

Notes from St Peter’s

Thank you to all of you who donated items for our Christmas gift to Women’s Aid. We had a lovely mix of items for both the adults and children and we were asked to pass on their thanks to you all for your generosity. Our Christmas Soup Lunch was well attended as was our first Soup Lunch of the year in January raising a total of £516.00 between them. The prizes in our Christmas Draw were all won by people who live within our parish - again thank you to all who bought tickets. It raised a grand total of just under £500. These monies will be put towards the repair of the roof which unfortunately has started to leak and is marking our newly redone paintwork. Our Christmas Services were all well attended and we hope to see some of you during the coming year. Several members of the Parochial Church Council attended a meeting with the Diocesan Advisory Council in the Church to discuss the re- ordering of the Church to include a loo, kitchen area and more space for a circulation area which would entail the removal of some of the pews. It was extremely positive and also informative. Our next move is to have our Church architect draw up some provisional plans for consultation. As soon as this is done we will keep you all informed and ask for any ideas or comments you may have. Our next Soup Lunch will be on Thursday 19 February and you are all very welcome – it is just a get together to have lunch and a gossip. Sarah Nutt SOUP GLORIOUS SOUP

and glorious puddings - all homemade! Please join us at St Peter’s Church Soup Kitchen Thursday 19 February 12.00 - 2.00pm £5.00

News from Runnington Church

Christingle Service It may seem unseasonable to be reporting on Runnington's Christingle Service when Spring is around the corner - but with no January edition this was the first opportunity to write about this service. The Christingle Service is always popular and this year was no exception. On Sunday 14 December, as the light outside was fading, the lights inside the church were shining out with the message of Christmas. The congregation of adults and enthusiastic children joined in the service led by Martin Perry. There was no shortage of offers to help with placing the nativity figures in the crib and lighting the advent candles. Each child went up to the altar to have their Christingle lit and blessed to signify the light of Christ in the world. Grouped round the altar, they sang Away in a Manger much to the delight of their parents. The hazards of a Christingle Service were avoided - no one got burnt or forgot to blow out their candle, and no one ate the sweets on the Christingles which represent the fruits of the earth - always a temptation! A collection was taken in aid of the Children's Society which raised £86.72. Susan Osborne Easter Coffee Morning Runnington Church Saturday 11 April 10.30am - 12 noon

Our School

In December our Christmas performance was about the very popular carol - Silent Night. We retold the story of how the carol came to be written and first performed in Austria in the 1800's due to the fact that the mice had eaten the organ bellows and no music could be played. We then moved forward in time to the First World War and showed how the carol became very important in the truce between the English and German soldiers in the trenches. We performed the carol in English and German and the atmosphere created was very special and moving. Spring Term 2015 – we started the term with the theme of ‘New Beginnings’ as we came back to school after the Christmas holidays. Whilst it is not a new school year we can all consider what new things we need to work on, our New Year Resolutions. As part of the teaching and learning process that is used in school , children are very much involved in understanding what it is they are learning. They have clear targets to work towards and this helps them to see the context of what they are doing. In KS2 the children are learning about Light in Science and through lots of practical activities they learn all about the physical processes involved. The theme is about the Romans and their impact and legacy in Britain. We research and use lots of information to try and piece together what it was like in years around AD43. In Religious Education they are learning about the beliefs and customs of the Jews . Whilst we are a Church of England Primary School it is important that the children have an understanding of other major faiths. In KS1 the children will be learning about plants and growing seeds. The understanding of growing plants for food is very important and the class garden produces all sorts of things. In History they will be finding out about significant people: authors, inventors, explorers and so on. In Geography it is about people and where they come from and where they move to. The school currently has 40 pupils on roll and there is always a lot of activity. Last term we were part of the hedge planting on the footpath to the Village Hall and it will be good to see this develop over time. We would like to thank Josh Wedderkopp for organising this. As usual please look at our web site: http://www.langfordbudvilleprimaryschool.co.uk for further information. Keith Sharpe - Head teacher—Langford Budville C of E Primary School 26

The children perform ‘Silent Night’ in the church shortly before Christmas ...

… and being the English and German soldiers who took part in the Christmas Day truce during WW1, by playing football and exchanging gifts

Lots of little hands make light work as the children help to plant a new hedge alongside the footpath

Young Buddies

Q: What's an ig? A: A snow house without a loo! Q: What vegetable was forbidden on the ships of Arctic explorers? A: Leeks!

Did you know that human body has 206 bones? Wow, that’s a lot! Can you recreate it on the woodland floor using fallen twigs, leaves, seeds and bits of bark like our friend Trev the skeleton here?

The Night Sky

The Night Sky in February Orion the Hunter now rises just after dark, with his two dogs in tow. Canis Major, dominated by the brightest star in the sky, Sirius, and Canis Minor and its main star, Procyon. By midnight Orion is at its highest in the sky, due south. If you know where to look you should be able to see Comet Lovejoy. In mid January it was bright enough to be seen with the naked eye. By February it has reduced in brightness but should be visible with binoculars. Mercury - The first planet from the Sun will be visible in the dawn skies from the 15th onwards. On the morning of the 17th the planet will be to the left of the crescent Moon. Venus - is an "Evening Star" in the west. It moves higher in the sky as the month progresses. Mars - the fourth planet, is fainter than Venus, but the two approach each other in the sky and by the 20th they are less than one degree apart. A lovely sight to behold. Jupiter - the Solar System's largest planet, is at opposition. This means that it is opposite the Sun. It rises at sunset and sets at dawn. It can be found shining brightly on the border of Leo and Cancer. Saturn - the famous ringed planet, is in Scorpius. She rises in the east around midnight and is high up in the sky at dawn. Uranus - will be three degrees above the Moon on the 21st in Pisces. Neptune - Not visible this month. Full Moon - 2nd February. Last Quarter 12th February. New Moon 18th February. First Quarter 25th February. Kieron McGrath - www.scsastro.co.uk

Cider Barn - for Bed & Breakfasts or Cider Barn - rent it for family get togethers!

Come and stay in our wonderful, beamed Barn, full of character in peaceful hamlet near River Tone. Four bedrooms and three bath/shower rooms, large kitchen, huge open, beamed reception area with gallery room above, flexible bedroom arrangements. Wonderful, peaceful, sunny, uplifting atmosphere. Come and chat to me about it.

Housework, laundry, ironing, D.I.Y, dinner parties, function catering, service support, carpet cleaning, mobile beautician, painter, plumber, mobile mechanic, gardener, electrician, help with lambing, help with horses, Spring cleaning, event support, on a regular basis or ’as and when’ you need it- you name it we do it! Established since 2007- fully insured and reliable help - no retainer required.

Contact Denise Masters: 07773070219/0800 756 6425 http://need-some-help.com E:[email protected].

Professional ironing service Collection and delivery to your door Two day turnaround £9.00 per hour* Weekly, fortnightly, monthly and ad-hoc customers welcome Tel: 01823 672629/ Mobile 07940768716 Email: [email protected] Web Page: www.theironlady.org For more info and customer reviews see our facebook page: 'The Iron Lady ironing service' * Typically about 6/8 shirts/blouses/formal trousers or 2/3 bed sets or 15/18 adult jeans/t-shirts or 20/25 children's items

MICKEY LOVELL Chimney Sweep

Clean and Efficient 01984 624283 25 Southgate Wiveliscombe www.iansbikeservice.com TA4 2NG

We service & repair oil-fired Somerset boilers, AGA & Rayburns Oil Fired Services & General Plumbing

Telephone: 01984 248759 Mobile: 07806 800208

Wellie Cabs Your local courteous cab company covering this area and further afield

Special rates for local one way journeys between 8.00am - 5.00pm Langford to Wellington or Milverton £7.00 Langford to Wivey £9.00

Call Lloyd on 01823 400769/07780 677778 [email protected]

WELLINGTON NEWSAGENTS Do you read newspapers and magazines? Would you like them delivered to your door first thing each morning?

If you like a simple life, we’re the people for you. You can pay your bill through online banking and make any changes to your order by email or through our web site.

Jim and Helen Thorne 01823 663107 15 Fore Street, Wellington, TA21 8AA email: [email protected] www.wellingtonnewsagents.co.uk

Magazine Information

Editorial team: Marilyn Lilley - co-ordinator/designer; Laurian Cooper; Saranne Cessford; Barbara Hughes; Susan Osborne We would really like to receive your feedback on the community magazine, as well as your thoughts on the sort of articles of local interest that you would like to see. To contact us please email: [email protected] heading your email: Articles, Feedback, Advertising, Small Ads, etc. Our final copy dates for the next two editions are: March Edition - 19 February 2015; April Edition - 21 March 2015 Cover photograph by Marilyn Lilley RA printed by Booksprint, 01823 662531, [email protected].

Advertising Rates

This magazine is distributed free of charge to around 300 households in and around the villages of Langford Budville and Runnington.

6 editions 1 edition Commercial Mono Colour Mono ¼ page £30.00 na £7.00 ½ page £60.00 £100.00 £13.00 A5 page £100.00 £200.00 £25.00 Sponsorship of articles for a six month edition period is also available, as well as special rates for non-commercial advertising. Small Ads - Non commercial For Sale items: Under £10: up to 4 lines free; additional lines £1.00 each. Over £10: 50p a line for first 4 lines, additional lines £1.00 each. Wanted items: £1.00 per 2 lines.

Bus Timetable - Service No 10

Langley Marsh - Wiveliscombe - Milverton -Wellington Operated by First Buses

MONDAYS TO FRIDAYS from 28/7/14 (except Public Holidays)

OUTWARD Sch* Langley Marsh, Three Horseshoes 07.25 09.35 11.35 Wiveliscombe, The Square 07.30 09.40 11.40 Milverton, Milverton Square 07.40 09.50 11.50 Screedy, Spring Grove Cottage 07.45 09.55 11.55 Langford Budville, Martlet Inn 07.50 10.00 12.00 Wellington, Post Office 08.00 10.15 12.15

RETURN Wellington, Post Office 10.55 12.55 17.20 Langford Budville, Martlet Inn 11.10 13.10 17.30 Screedy, Spring Grove Cottage 11.15 13.15 17.35 Milverton, Milverton Square 11.20 13.20 17.40 Wiveliscombe, The Square 11.30 13.30 17.55 Langley (Northgate), Langley Corner 11.35 13.35 18.00

* SCH = School Days only Christmas Service: Last operating day will be Wednesday 24 December, restarting on Monday 29 December. No service on Thursday 1 January as a Bank Holiday. Otherwise the timetable will remain the same.

If the timing of your journey is critical, please check with Customer Services at First Buses on 02380 714800.

Harvey & Wade Ltd Hand Crafted Kitchen Furniture Finest Quality Kitchens without the Designer Price Tag

Showrooms in Taunton and Honiton 33 Bridge Street, Taunton, Somerset, TA1 1TQ - Telephone 01823 338800 38 High Street, Honiton, Devon, EX14 1PJ - Telephone 01404 41655 Website: www.harveyandwade.co.uk Email: [email protected]

The Grange Home from home When the difficult time comes to leave your own home. Abbeyfield The Grange, Wellington provides an affordable, sociable, and caring place to live. We have rooms to make your home in, near to Wellington town centre, with car parking for you and your visitors. Please come and visit for a cup of coffee and a chat. You are welcome to come and meet us and look around our very sheltered family style home and garden. Our residents have the privacy of their own ensuite accommodation, combined with the companionship of others, home cooked meals and the security and support of the dedicated house staff.

Rooms available, call Lesley tel: 01823 664945 13 Wellesley Park, Wellington, TA21 8PT

THE MARTLET INN FREE HOUSE a good old fashioned village pub with a warm welcome from Terena and Bruno and great food

Award winning chef Extensive menu, steak board and daily specials Traditional Sunday lunches Homemade puddings Senior Citizens' lunches Wed, Thurs and Fri Large car park

Langford Budville, Wellington, TA21 0QZ 01823 400262

Closed all day Monday and Tuesday lunchtime