ISLE OF WEDMORE NEWS
Wedmore 2021 A Summer Celebration Fayre Saturday 7 August 2021, 11 Till Late Church Street & St Mary’s Churchyard, Wedmore
August 2021 No. 497 (555) Editorial Dear Readers A hearty welcome to this the August Edition, number 497. It really does feel like things are getting back to a rather cautious normal, but normal for Wedmore nonetheless, with an array of public events planned for August and the coming months which are sure to restart the wonderful sense of community we have here. I sincerely hope by the time this Edition drops through our letter boxes, that every event contained within it will take place and not be postponed or scratched by further restrictions. I find it particularly sad to see advertisements for cream teas etc subsequently annotated with cancelation stickers, but that is probably due to the fact that I am biologically unable to refuse jam and clotted cream on scones, or cake of any variety and description for that matter. So what’s in this Edition? Well we have details of the two key events taking place this month which are the Summer Fayre on Saturday 7 August and St Mary’s Flower Festival over the weekend of 28 and 29 August. Please go along and support both, I am sure they will be great family days out. Those apart, we have an array of articles, information, reports, advice, tips and handy hints. Special thanks to two regular contributors; the mysterious Green Dandelion for yet another Crossword and to Sue Gudgeon for her delicious Courgette and Chickpea Salad recipe.
Deadline for July Edition: 1 August 2021 Contact the Wedmore News Editorial Copy / Items for Publication Bill Sutton, Culverhays, 9 Combe Batch, Wedmore BS28 4DU (710475) Email [email protected] What’s On Listings and Contact Details for your Club / Organisation Liz Henderson, 12 Church Street, Wedmore. BS28 4AB (01934 713196) Email [email protected] Photos and Features Liz Sweeney, Cheddar Road Farm House, Cheddar Rd, Cocklake (01934 244435) Email [email protected] Advertising Copy Isle of Wedmore News, The Council Rooms, Grants Lane, Wedmore BS28 4EA Email [email protected] (712160) Distribution Enquiries John Cousins at [email protected] (712565) The Isle of Wedmore News welcomes all contributions and letters. It should be noted however that the views expressed are those of individual contributors and do not necessarily reflect the views of the editors, or represent any particular standpoint on the part of the publication. Wedmore News is digital! Each edition will be published on The Isle of Wedmore Website, www.theisleofwedmore.net. If you are a contributor who for copyright reasons does not want your entry included, please make this clear when sending it to the editor. The editors also reserve the right to edit or amend any contribution for reasons of space, conformity, legibility or legality.
August 2021 3 As always, I am grateful to the many kind people who generously assisted me in putting this Edition together. Happy reading, but do keep safe. Bill Front Cover These photos of the Wedmore Street Fair and the Harvest Home procession, which my husband and I took in 2017-19, are a reminder of how everyone in the village enjoys these events. The aerial view of St Mary’s was taken by Helen Jeffery. The committees of the two events have come together to organise a Summer Fayre on Saturday 7 August, which will be a celebration with music, refreshments, stalls, games and raffles. Liz Sweeney News Parish Council Business The June meeting was held in Wedmore Village Hall and was the first face to face meeting since March 2020. It was well attended with only one Councillor absent on holiday. The members agreed to carry out some improvement work at the cemetery on Cheddar Road which will involve creating a demarcation zone between the car park and the edge of the grass and laying a layer of blue shale. It was also agreed to press ahead with plans to erect a small shed on a patch of land at the allotments in Combe Lane where allotment holders can swap and share plants and seeds, excess produce etc. Due to a recent surge of enquiries from new residents on the Wedmore Grange development there are currently no plots available to rent. Mrs Cathy Butterworth and some of her helpers will be running another ‘Health and Wellbeing’ event in the village later in the year. The Council agreed to support the project as it has previously. The exhibitions were well attended and directories were circulated to every house in the parish. Cllr Jo Keen has decided to step down after serving on the Council for just over two years. We are all extremely grateful for the work she has undertaken. The Council will now be seeking to co-opt a new member as a replacement. A current list of Councillors, together with contact details and the committees on which they sit, is posted on all Parish noticeboards and the website. Rod Pring, Parish Clerk Wedmore Parish Council, Grant’s Lane, Wedmore Somerset BS28 4EA Telephone 713087, email: [email protected] Report from District Councillors The focus in the past couple of months has very much been on the Stronger Somerset v One Somerset bids to Parliament. The four District Councils thought it important to let the residents have their say, and organised a poll. The results were as they have been on the previous occasions where SCC wanted to run the county as a unitary authority, and that was that the residents do not want SCC in control. 4 August 2021 St. Mary’s Church, Wedmore FLOWER FESTIVAL PREVIEW EVENING FRIDAY 27 AUGUST 7.00 pm
This will be a wonderful evening of flowers and music and the chance to mingle with friends whilst you enjoy a glass of wine and canapés.
During the first half of the evening there will be incidental music by local artists and our organist Liam Davies as you move around the flower displays and during the second half we shall be seated to have a recital by the talented Richard Lennox. Tickets are £15 and are limited available from 01934 712160 or [email protected] Proceeds in aid of St Mary’s Church
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6 August 2021 • 111,589 votes were received. • 72,561 Stronger Somerset, 65.3% • 38,547 One Somerset, 34.7% This demonstrates a strong cross-party feeling that has been evident all through the process. The success of the poll demonstrates to Government that Somerset residents wanted to have their say, in a referendum that focussed on them, rather than key stakeholders and organisations. The leaders of the District Councils have written to The Secretary of State, Robert Jenrick, with the poll results. Government should announce their decision by 22 July. Other big issues have been the terrible lack of collections for recycling and garden waste. Many of you have quite rightly been in touch with us regarding this and want refunds on your waste collection subscription. We want to make it very clear that we support this and also that this is in fact a problem created by the new contractor Suez. SWP have been doing all they can to sort the issues out and there have been several excuses, but this is not acceptable to any of us who pay for our council tax and services. Suez were well aware that they were taking on this contract and should be held accountable. This is not some Tory money saving ploy, as some have suggested, and this is again where politics get in the way in local authorities. SDC are not to blame and all councillors are demanding SWP and Suez come before Full Council to explain themselves. We shall continue to push for reimbursement. Will attended PC meetings and also an Axe / Brue Drainage Board Finance committee meeting. Polly chaired two Licensing Panels at Bridgwater House, for Street Trading Consent for burger vans. The Policy for Street Trading is different to Taxi Licensing and other Licensing policies, so had to be held in the office rather than remotely. The Panels were held as concerns had been highlighted by Somerset Highways, but after consideration by the Panel members, both were granted. We are always here to help if we can. Polly and Will Wedmore 2021 Summer Fayre – Saturday 7 August At the time of writing we are still very much hoping the restrictions will be lifted as promised on 19 July and we will be able to go ahead as planned. Please join us from 11am at St Mary’s Church for a summer celebration. Music, refreshments, stalls, games and raffles. A chance to get together in an outside environment and celebrate our wonderful community. Liz Burton Flower Festival St.Mary’s Church, Wedmore – Saturday 28 and Sunday 29 August (Postponed from July) St Mary’s Church in Wedmore is holding a Flower Festival. The church will be filled with many beautiful flower arrangements and there will be coffee, tea, light lunches and cream teas available each day.
August 2021 7 All are welcome between 10 am and 6 pm and tickets are £5 with free entry for children. The proceeds will go towards the upkeep of St Mary’s Church to help recoup some of the loss of income during the pandemic. For more information, please see www.facebook.com/St-Marys-Wedmore Jigsaw Appeal Wedmore Friends of Weston Hospicecare are having a stall at the Wedmore Summer Fayre on Saturday 7 August and are looking for complete jigsaws for sale. If anyone has some then please can you deliver them to Bramblings, Plud Street, Wedmore BS28 4BE Telephone 01934 712089 Theale Show – 4 September Only a month now until the Theale Show 2021 and both the schedule and the entry bookings are all live and operational at www.thealeshow.com. Please see our full-page advert in this issue of the Isle of Wedmore News for details of what to expect. And I’m pleased to say we will once again be holding the dog show, the highlight for me being ‘the waggiest tail’. So get practising dog lovers! We look forward to seeing you all on 4 September and, in the meantime, have a lovely summer holiday. Bill Woodroffe, Chair Theale Show Isle of Wedmore Good Neighbours Group The Wedmore Good Neighbours group has been increasingly busy over recent weeks as more local people have become aware of the service. Most requests have been for lifts to medical related appointments but volunteers are available for other tasks as well. Perhaps you are going away for a few days and need someone to visit and support a relative you care for? You’ve got some heavy items you’d like taking to the recycling centre? There’s a prescription to collect from the chemist? Need a lift to a local club meeting? Or you’d just welcome some company over a cuppa? If you know of someone in and around Wedmore who would welcome assistance of this kind please encourage them to call 01934 806299 and leave a message - a volunteer will contact them shortly. Please note that we’re not part of social services, or an emergency service…we’re just good neighbours! If you’d like more detailed information about the group and how it operates visit the Wedmore Health and Wellbeing website – visit www.whawb.co.uk/gns/ ‘Music Matters’ Continuing on from what was ‘Singing for the Brain’. We meet fortnightly via Zoom Tuesdays at 2.30pm. Open to supporting people with dementia, their carers and other senior members of the community who find themselves isolated during the
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10 August 2021 unprecedented Covid-19 situation. Meet, Chat, Share and Sing! Previous singing experience is not necessary, we sing for the enjoyment! Contact Maureen Campbell, trained Singing for the Brain leader and Movement Psychotherapist, by email: [email protected] Our Health and Wellbeing In consultation with Axbridge and Wedmore Medical Practice, and with the support of Wedmore Parish Council, here is this month’s item relating to our health & wellbeing. Let’s give our ‘health & wellbeing’ a boost!
We are delighted that Wedmore Parish Council has agreed to fund a number of initiatives this year to boost our health & wellbeing. The first is the updating, re-printing and distribution of the Health & Wellbeing Directory, which was last published in summer 2019. This contains information about all our clubs, societies and organisations in our area. Having the information to hand about what’s available to make life more meaningful has never been more important, now we can socialise again. If your club, society or organisation can enhance our health & wellbeing in one of the ways pictured above, then let us know, so we can include it in our Directory. Phone Cathy Butterworth on 01934 712775. Until the new Directory is available you can access the latest version online at www.whawb.co.uk/directory If you want to attend a meeting or club event, but need transport or someone to go with, contact the Isle of Wedmore Good Neighbours on 01934 806299, as they may be able to help. So, let’s be sociable again, but safely! Our health information and data: changes are planned by NHS Digital NHS Digital published in May 2021 the following information about the proposed changes to the way our data held by GPs are managed. “Respected voices across the clinical, academic, research and patient spectrum have welcomed the introduction of a new service from NHS Digital, which will more efficiently collect primary care data and make it available for better planning of healthcare services and for use in medical research. NHS Digital has been collecting data from GPs to meet bespoke data requests for these purposes for over ten years through its trusted General Practice Extraction Service (GPES). This system is now being replaced with their new General Practice Data for Planning and Research (GPDPR) service, a broader general-purpose collection which will enable faster access to pseudonymised patient data for planners and researchers.’ You can find out more online by searching for GPDPR changes or click the links on our Health & Wellbeing website www.whawb.co.uk.
August 2021 11 NHS Digital has also published more information about the reasons for sharing this data with other organisations, as follows. ‘The data held in your GP medical records is shared with other healthcare professionals for the purposes of your individual care. It is also shared with other organisations to support health and care planning and research. If you do not want your personally identifiable patient data to be shared outside of your GP practice for purposes except your own care, you can register an opt-out with your GP practice. This is known as a Type 1 Opt-out.’ This Type 1 Opt-out form must be completed and delivered to your GP practice by 25 August 2021. The new system will be starting on 1 September 2021. To find out more and access this form to opt out search for the GPDPR Transparency Notice or click the links on our Health & Wellbeing website www.whawb.co.uk. For more information about all the health & wellbeing matters in this month’s Wedmore News go to www.whawb.co.uk and click on the latest Wedmore News entry. Cathy Butterworth On behalf of Wedmore Health & Wellbeing Project The 20th Wedmore Real Ale Festival: 10 – 12 September 2021 It’s only a couple of months until we open the doors to this year’s festival. We will be celebrating our 20th festival this year and, after having to cancel last year, this year will be extra special. With other ale festivals cancelling again this year, our festival is also likely to be the largest real ale festival in the South West in 2021. As previously mentioned, this year’s festival will be brought forward a week and will be held on Friday 10 – Sunday 12 September when we will be returning to the glorious Glebe Field, Manor Lane, Wedmore, BS28 4EQ. There will be live music on Friday night from the Birmingham-based ska band, BEE SKAS. Then, throughout Saturday afternoon and evening Cross the River, Kindred, Mantawrays and finally ABBA Revival, the number 1 tribute act for the Swedish supergroup. As well as live music we will have DJ Enhance ending both nights with dancefloor fillers. Food will be available throughout the festival, and, in addition to having over 100 barrels of ale and cider on tap, we are also delighted to announce that GinJar will also be offering up their fine selection of locally made gins. Most of our sponsorship opportunities have already been taken, but if you would like to be a festival sponsor, email Sarah Love at [email protected] with your details and she will be in touch. If you would like to volunteer during the festival, either to help us to set up in the mornings, during the festival or to break down on the Sunday afternoon, then please contact Mike on 07794 781 975. Helping at such a social event is always popular and really doesn’t feel like work at all. Speaking of voluntary work, we are delighted to announce that we were nominated and short-listed for The Queen’s Award for Voluntary Service this year. This award
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14 August 2021 is the highest accolade given to volunteer groups across the UK and represents a tremendous achievement for the festival. The excellent work and enormous benefits the festival achieves was very much admired by the assessors and it was clear that the festival plays a vital role in supporting our local community. A huge thank you to everyone who has been involved with the festival over the years who have all played a part in us gaining this recognition. As ever, we are looking for prizes and lots for the Sunday afternoon’s raffle and auction. If you have an item / service / promise that you wish to donate, please contact Sam Brown on [email protected]. Our raffle and auction is always a huge fundraiser, and your contributions will make a real impact to local worthy causes. This year more than ever, charities and other not-for-profit organisations need our support to carry on their vital work. Please also rest assured that we will be following all government guidelines, as and when these are announced/ updated, to ensure that we are a Covid-secure festival. To keep up to date with the final details for this year’s festival please like our Facebook page @wedmorerealalefestival, follow us on twitter @WedmoreRealAle or go to our website www.wedmorerealale.com. Stay safe and stay healthy. Alan Page Wedmore Real Ale Festival Wedmore Arts Festival – What a Weekend they’ve Planned! Wedmore Arts Festival returns to the village in September with a wonderful weekend for everyone: Friday 24 September • Simon Weston opens proceedings at 12 noon with an inspirational talk in the Village Hall, followed by ‘meet the speaker’ lunch in Beggars Roost. • Where is Mrs Christie? 7.30pm – one woman drama in the Village Hall (She’s been missing for years!) Saturday 25 September • Children’s Film Show. 10 am, Village Hall. • Poetry Buzz Workshop with poet Tara Arkle. 12 noon, followed by ‘meet the speaker’ lunch in Beggars Roost. • Mad Hatter’s Tea Party – puppet show with puppet-making. 2pm and 4.45pm, Village Hall. • Dave Hankin Big Band - In Full Swing. 7.30pm, St Mary’s Church. Sunday 26 September • Improve your photography – a Walking Workshop with Tony Chau. 11am from the Village Hall.
August 2021 15 • Organ Recital by Liam Stott. 12.15pm, St Mary’s Church. • Talking Books – three authors on where stories come from. 4pm. Village Hall. • Tickets for all events go on sale on Tuesday 24 August. • Priority booking for Friends starts Tuesday 17 August. And it’s not too late to become a Friend! See the website: wedmorefestival.co.uk, or phone 01934 807229 Patrons of the Wedmore Arts Festival: Kate Adie, Henry Blofeld, Peter F Hamilton, Mark Hamlin, Michael Morpurgo, Admiral Lord West. wedmorefestival.co.uk, 01934 807229 Biodiversity: What on Earth is It? The recent announcement by Natural England to downgrade its evaluation of the environmental condition of the Somerset Levels to ‘unfavourable declining’ will have come as a shock to many people. The decision follows water quality monitoring which has revealed that phosphate levels are three times higher than they should be causing biological harm and producing algae and duckweed that is harmful to wildlife. Without urgent action these problems are likely to increase with an adverse effect upon fauna and flora. The primary sources of phosphates are agricultural activities and water industry discharges. The Somerset Levels are home to tens of thousands of birds, rare plants and insect life. Positive steps are needed to recover nature in this unique landscape, to maintain and increase biodiversity. We know well the threats posed by global heating, that the climate emergency really is an emergency demanding urgent and dramatic action in order to reduce the chances of hundreds of millions of lives being lost prematurely by the end of the century. Less well known is the accompanying and related threat of global biodiversity loss. Biodiversity is the variety of all living things on Earth, and how they fit together in the web of life, bringing oxygen, water, food and countless other benefits. Over the past few decades, England’s ‘green and pleasant land’ has become one of the least biodiverse countries in the world, languishing in the bottom 10 per cent. Bearing in mind our gentle climate with plenty of rain and relatively, no extremes of cold and heat, this is surprising. A combination of factors is to blame: intensive agriculture, urbanisation, road building, pollution and climate change have all played a part. The statistics are alarming: for example, more than 40 million birds have disappeared from our skies since 1970, 41 per cent of all our animal species are declining and one in ten is threatened with extinction. Some readers will be old enough to recall how, during the summer months, your car windscreen and headlights became splattered with the corpses of dead insects. How times have changed. You may rejoice that your car is now cleaner, but the implications of the decimation of the UK’s insect population are serious. The current situation has been described as ‘Insectageddon’, which might sound a little sensationalist until you appreciate the crucial importance of insects for the health of life on Earth.
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18 August 2021 ‘If we and the rest of the back-boned animals were to disappear overnight, the rest of the world would get on pretty well. But if the invertebrates were to disappear, the world’s ecosystems would collapse.’ Sir David Attenborough Bees, wasps, butterflies, moths, flies, and a whole host of other important pollinating insects turn flowers into food in the form of fruits, nuts, berries and seeds for humans, birds, animals and also other invertebrates. Some invertebrates help to clear and clean up the environment by eating away fungi and bacteria, or decaying and dead matter, including things which we would find unpleasant or unhygienic, from rotting animal carcasses and faeces to forest and garden leaf matter, turning it into compost which helps to nourish the soil. Some species of invertebrates are brilliant aerators of soil as well as creating it. In other words, invertebrates not only help us to grow food crops through pollination, they help create and maintain soil quality. This is important for growing in agriculture, as well as in gardens and allotments. Then there is the rest of the food chain to think of in terms of ‘who eats what’. Invertebrates feed on other invertebrates, but they are also a vital source of food for birds, fish and animals. Some of these are in turn eaten by many humans. When faced with huge problems like biodiversity loss and climate change, it is easy to feel powerless and to become despondent. However, there is still hope. Many of us feel that simply doing nothing is not an option. We can all examine our lives and ask what changes we might make. Where biodiversity is concerned, those of us who are lucky enough to have gardens can make them more welcome to a greater variety of wildlife: allow some wild areas to develop - don’t be too tidy; have an area of unmown grass; grow a mix of trees and shrubs; choose flowers which attract pollinators; dig a pond; make your own compost; feed the birds. Visit the recently opened Food Forest community woodland, Worthington Wood on the northern edge of Wedmore where encouraging biodiversity is the key aim. Rupert Bullock Music in Mind is Coming Back! September is the time for tea, cake and music! Are you feeling isolated after all this time at home? Can we tempt you out? Perhaps you have memory problems but would like to come along to a friendly group and share some music and chat - along with a cup of tea! Music helps as there is no pressure. We are having an open session on Monday 6 September 2.15 – 3.30pm in the Masonic Hall in Wedmore. Why not join us – it is free! Music in Mind is run by Stella Moore (Music Therapist) - and some very important volunteers. If you know of anyone who might like to come or you would like more information/help with transport, please contact 01934 732282 or [email protected]
August 2021 19 Wells Festival of Literature 15 – 23 October 2021 Tickets on sale soon! Last year the Wells Festival of Literature was one of the few events to feature ‘people, actual people!’. Speakers and audiences alike appreciated WFL’s efforts in making that happen, especially as they also offered live-streaming so that those who were unable to make it to Cedars Hall in Wells didn’t miss out. This year, road-map permitting, the plan is to have all the speakers on stage in person but, with their 2020 expertise firmly under their belt, the team will also be offering all events as live-streamed options. So, if you can’t be in the auditorium itself, don’t worry. The Festival’s wonderful speakers will address you in the comfort of your own home! Gyles Brandreth, Natalie Haynes, James Naughtie, Sathnam Sanghera, Jonathan Dimbleby, Lucy Jago – these are just a few of 32 plus people who will be coming to Wells with an extensive range of incredibly varied stories, opinions, questions, answers, suggestions, facts, fiction... and more. Tickets go on sale on Monday 6 September with priority booking (for Friends) starting the week before – on Tuesday 31 August. The full programme will be on the website shortly as well as in the distinctive brochures which are available locally from mid-August. www.wellsfestivalofliterature.org.uk. TV Licensing – Over Age 75 Policy Changes In August 2020, there was a policy change to the TV Licence for those over 75 and free licences were no longer funded by the government from this date. However, anyone aged 75 or over and receiving Pension Credit is now eligible to apply for a free TV Licence. Since then, more than 9 out of 10 of these households have now made arrangements for a free or paid licence or updated us on changes in their circumstances. We are enormously grateful for the high level of support that over 75s customers have shown for the licence fee. As we have now reached a situation where over 75s households are in line with the general population, in early July TV Licensing is writing to customers they are yet to hear from to explain the extended transition period we put in place due to Covid will end on 31 July 2021. The letter will include information about the simple steps to take to get set up and make clear that advice and support are on hand should people need it. TV Licensing will be hosting Zoom meetings for community groups and charities to get up to speed with the latest updates and what this will mean for your clients. In the meeting we will cover: • TV Licence basics • Over 75 policy change • Flexible payment plans • Concessions • Vulnerable customers • Supporting materials available
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22 August 2021 Please note: This meeting is available for staff and volunteers of the community groups so they can relay information to their service users. We can arrange this for any date and time that suits you so please get in touch if you are interested. To Book: Email [email protected] or call 07756 215298 To ‘Bump or Shake,’ is that the Question? OUCH! I felt a sudden stab of pain in my shin that momentarily halted any form of movement. In the split second that followed, as I fell back into the chintz chair in the corner of the vestry, a sort of annoyance welled up within me. This was the third time that I had managed to do that. I had arrived early, ahead of a funeral, to make sure things were set up as the family had requested and to greet the funeral director’s ‘advance guard’, who was coming with a CD player to connect to our sound system. Amidst my haste, I had forgotten to close the safe door, which in turn meant that the door of the cabinet that houses the safe jammed when I tried to shut it, with my shin taking the brunt. On inspection there was no sign of blood, just a pinkish patch that indicated the early stages of bruising. As sat in the chintz chair frantically rubbing the black pinstripe material of my funeral suit, I heard the door open at the far side of the vestry, followed by the slow shuffling of feet in my directions. I thought at first it was the organist, but as I looked a short balding man in his late sixties stepped into the soft sunlight beating through the windows. His black tie was respectfully knotted against the backdrop of a well starched white shirt; his shoes shone, and the soft gabardine material of his overcoat hung well on a slim frame. All of which concealed a smart suit, waist coat and a fabulous fob watch on a gold chain. ‘Ello, ‘ello, ‘ello’,’ said a Somerset voice, ‘you must be Sam, right? I’m Albert from the undertakers.’ He then stepped forward and proceed to do something that scared the life out of me: he held out his hand, as if to shake hands. I was temporarily stunned, no one had offered to shake my hand in almost 18 months! Bump elbows, yes, but never to shake hands. Therein lies a difficult truth. Although most people have had a double dose of a vaccine and are, therefore, afforded a degree of protection, it does not remove the fear of coming back into close contact with our fellow human beings. All this is made more protracted by the emergence of variants, so that perhaps the key question is not whether to bump elbows or shake hands, but rather, how can we help countries that cannot afford to vaccinate? As former Prime Minister Gordon Brown wrote last month, ‘No one is safe anywhere, until everyone is safe everywhere.’ If our free society is unable provide for
August 2021 23 those countries, then we may always be haunted by the spectre of whether to ‘bump or shake’. As it was, Albert and I shook hands, after which I reached for the bottle of hand sanitiser on the side, taking some for myself and then offering some to him. Whilst he was rubbing his hands together, he said, ‘I’ve got this CD player, where’d you want it plugging in?’ ‘Oh, through here,’ I said, moving toward the vestry door, trying to close the safe cabinet as I hurried along. At which point a blood curdling scream echoed through the church, as I fell backwards again into the chintz chair grasping my leg in pain! Rev. Sam Healey, Curate for the Isle of Wedmore Benefice Lendology As we are gradually coming out of pandemic measures; meeting up with friends and families, we may find that households could be struggling financially with more things on which to spend our money. With so many hours spent at home, it has been easy to spot all those ‘little’ jobs that need doing around the house, but money could be tight. That is where Lendology and Sedgemoor District Council could help. We provide low interest loans to help homeowners to undertake essential repairs to their home. Whilst we are still in the summer, it pays to plan ahead. Keeping homes safe, warm and ready for autumn and winter is key to good health across Sedgemoor. A loan from Lendology can ensure homes are fully prepared for cold and wet weather – be it repairing a leaky roof, funding an efficient heating system, fitting good insulation to keep bills down, or ensuring electrics are safe and up-to-date. There are a variety of home repairs and improvements covered under the scheme. A recent Sedgemoor homeowner who received a loan funded by Sedgemoor District Council and delivered by Lendology CIC said: ‘Everything from the initial survey to the communication and help we have received has been excellent’. If you need to repair your home, it couldn’t be simpler to apply for a home improvement loan. Just contact the team at Lendology direct on 01823 461099 or visit their website www.lendology.org.uk One for the Road We were due to play at Cheddar Ales on 26 June but this has been postponed again until 25 September. The Band has two further local gigs; The New Inn - 7 August, as part of the Harvest Home / Street Fair festivities and, the Sand Cider Festival - 28 August.
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26 August 2021 Reports and Society Updates Green Wedmore Our next meeting will hopefully to be held ‘in person’, restrictions permitting, at Worthington Woods. Please come along and join us at 7.30pm on Monday 26 July. As usual, there will be a summer break, so no meeting taking place in August. At our September meeting, we will be holding our AGM. We will be inviting people to stand as Chair and Secretary, so if you are interested in either of these roles, or would like to have a chat about what they entail, please contact [email protected] or come and talk to us on our stall at the Summer Fayre on 7 August. We thank our current Chair and our Secretary for all their work. Zero Carbon Action Group Updates: Carbon/Nature Wild for Wildlife in Wedmore is starting design work to include the Wildlife Trust’s ‘Wild Belt theory’ into the work for Wedmore and help turn people’s gardens and land into ‘Wild Belts’. Food The Close To Home Cook Book will be ready to launch this summer. Many thanks to all involved and all the community groups and businesses who have supported this project. Packed full of delicious recipes to help us eat more seasonally, reduce food miles and support our local producers – please do buy a copy to help us raise funds for ongoing Green Wetmore projects. Transport Following the successful parish bike ride that took place in May, look out for a repeat of this event in September. Energy The Wedmore Solar Challenge scheme is really taking off and we are delighted to see so much interest from residents wanting to switch to greener energy. So far over 150 people have enquired and asked for info from either Green Wedmore or Sunlit Solar, 23 site surveys have been carried out, with 20 more booked. Eight installations are booked and confirmed. This means we already have over 30KW of solar panels confirmed through this scheme – more than Frome’s Solar Street Scheme and more than Bruton’s – an amazing achievement for such a small village! For more info see www.greenwedmore.co.uk/Zero-Carbon/Green-Wedmore- Solar-Challenge-1000.aspx Green Wedmore have secured 50 free panels to install on a community building and talks have started with the Bowls Club to fill their entire roof with solar. This will be a great help for them and a great visual display to spread the word.
August 2021 27 Wellbeing Worthington Woods continues to develop and offer a place of peace and calm within the village. Flora and fauna is thriving and the paths have now been cut a little wider following visitor feedback. Please go along and visit – through the five-bar gate off the village car park. Liz Burton St Mary’s Church 100 Club The lucky winners this month are Mrs Lois Burn and Mrs Sue Smith. Liz Bull Wedmore Gardening Club As you know, we have not been able to hold meetings so far this year, or in fact for over a year now, due to the continuing Covid restrictions. We are hopeful that the planned trip to Forde Abbey on 4 August by cars will go ahead. If you receive this August Wedmore News before the 4th and would like to go, please contact Andrea West (712161) so that lifts can be organised. As guidelines stand at the time of writing (end June) the meeting scheduled for Tuesday 28 September will go ahead. Mary Payne will be speaking on ‘Minimum Effort for Maximum Effect,’ which sounds wonderful! Mary is an experienced and interesting speaker with a wealth of knowledge and information on all aspects of gardening. Definitely an evening not to be missed. Meetings are held in the Masonic Hall with a 7.30pm start and, of course, refreshments will be served after. Members and guests are very welcome to join us for this first exciting meeting in a long time. Club50 The organisers of Club50 have decided that rather than try to organise coach trips and meetings during the summer and autumn, we will re-start with a Christmas Lunch on 15 December. It is regrettable that we cannot start sooner but so much is ‘in the air’ with ever- changing Covid rules. Hopefully by December things will have settled down. We will keep you updated through the Isle of Wedmore News and we hope to see you all for a Christmas celebration. For newcomers to the village, Club50 is a social club originally with 50 members hence the name. We organise monthly meetings with tea and a speaker during the winter in the Masonic Hall. Then from April to October we have a monthly coach trip. Wedmore in Bloom We were sorry we couldn’t go ahead with our planned cream tea on 4 July, which was cancelled due to the government extending Covid lockdown restrictions. However, we are looking forward to holding a fundraising coffee morning on Saturday 21 August hosted at 5 The Lerburne. It will run from 10am until 12 noon and we hope the weather will be good
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30 August 2021 for cakes, coffee and seeing friends. All the tubs and troughs around the village are now in full bloom and the WIB watering brigade were helped by the rain in June and July. If you would like to join our friendly group of volunteers do come along to The George on the second Saturday in the month at 9.30am. We have a range of tasks to do keeping the tubs and troughs and areas around them tidy. We follow this with coffee and a chat. Inner Wheel Club of Wrington Vale We’ve just congratulated ourselves on our increase in technical know- how. Who knew at the start of this pandemic that we’d all become experts at Zooming? Let’s face it – without Zoom our Clubs would have achieved a lot less than they did. So thanks to whoever thought that one up.
August 2021 31 For our final meeting of the current year we enjoyed a lovely presentation by Ian of the Great Western Air Ambulance Charity (GWAAC) crew. His talk was not just informative but full of humour – well you have to have a sense of humour in that job. Providing emergency medical assistance when access is difficult, their description is: Swoop and Scoop! Based in Almondsbury they can reach anywhere in our region within 20 minutes by flying at 150 mph. In this way they deliver the patient to the most appropriate hospital for their needs. All this is in one helicopter – affectionately nicknamed the Lime Green Life-Saving Machine! - plus three Critical Care Cars in support. Total missions in 2020: 1,726. President Nic Lucas will be supporting GWAAC in the coming year. The evening ended with our AGM. The committee were thanked for their work in this difficult year and we are all looking forward to meeting up again soon – in person!
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34 August 2021 Our year has come to an end with a Mad Hatter’s Tea Party and it was suitably crazy! The weather was a friend for once and the sun shone. One of our members, Emma Phillips, was kind enough to open her garden so 30 of us could have a final fling with most of us wearing silly hats. Many of these were available to buy for only 12/6p! We had cards by super-snapper Joan Metherell, bird feeders from Kate, a book stall, a plant stall and the obligatory teas and coffees. Mostly it was all only by donations which will be divided between Read Easy and GWAAC but Joan’s home-made cards contributed over £150. Well done Joan and thank you! The grand total raised has yet to be confirmed but is over £300 so far. Wendy Welham Cheddar Valley U3A The Great Cheddar Safari Who knew there was a jungle full of creatures in Cheddar? U3Aers do! Recently, following a fiendishly clued route around the village, they discovered hitherto unknown creatures. Among them; ‘hip hip hooray a creature on display’ revealed a Hippopotamus. Followed by ‘the Fire Station with no siren but a hooter’ - an Owl Many testing clues later, intrepid explorers spied Elephants! At the ‘dog end’ - a stony stare greeted the survivors. We all live locally, we all have a good laugh, while we learn. Do join us. If you’re retired or just reached that point where you’ve time on your hands, why not find out more about us at our website: u3asites.org.uk/cheddar-valley. Cheddar Vale Lions Club How About a Good Cuppa Tea? Wyvern Coffee Co and Cheddar Vale Lions Club have teamed up to bring you the Lions Breakfast Tea! This beautiful Ceylon has a malty and sweet finish with notes of slightly burnt caramel. Cheddar Vale Lions Club are a staple of the community, their work is simply amazing. All profit from the Lions Breakfast Tea goes directly to the Cheddar Vale Lions to help fund their projects.
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August 2021 37 What’s On in the Parish August 2021
4 - Wed Wedmore Gardening Club trip to Forde Abbey 7 - Sat Wedmore 2021 Summer Fayre 11.00am St Mary’s Church One For the Road The New Inn 14 - Cheddar Flower Show 14th - 18th August 21 - Sat Theale Community Cafe 10.00am -12noon Theale VH 27 - Fri Flower Festival Preview 7.00pm St Mary’s Church Sand Cider Festival 5.00pm - 1.00am Ashgrove Farm Sand 28 - Sat Flower Festival 10.00am - 6.00pm St Mary’s Church Sand Cider Festival 12 noon - 1.00am Ashgrove Farm Sand 29 - Sun Flower Festival 10.00am - 6.00pm St Mary’s Church 30 - Mon RNLI Winscombe and District car boot sale 9.00am - 12 noon Winscombe cricket club
REGULAR WEEKLY EVENTS MONDAY Pilates 6.30pm Blackford VH Tabitha 07977 362817 Pilates 7.45pm Blackford VH Beavers 6 - 7pm Scout Hut + Bill Belshaw 01934 712438 Yoga with Anna MacGregor 6.30pm Wedmore VH Anna MacGregor 07587 703883 Bridge Club 7.00pm via Zoom Steve Pedrick 01934 712852 Scouts 7.15 - 8.45pm Scout Hut + Bill Belshaw 01934 712438 TUESDAY Chair Yoga 10.00am Wedmore VH Jo Willis 07552 711101 Little Lambs 9.15am - 11.15am Little Lambs + Jane Bewick 01934 713745 Tuesday Club 10.30am Wedmore VH Angela Mills 01934 712607 50+ Dance Class 10.00am Wedmore VH Rhian Weston 07854 594268 Cubs 6.30 - 7.45pm Scout Hut + Bill Belshaw 01934 712438 Yoga with Anna MacGregor 7.00pm Wedmore VH Anna MacGregor 07587 703883 WEDNESDAY Rainbows 4.30pm Wedmore VH + Gail Millard 01934 713922 Brownies 6.15pm Wedmore VH + Sue Moreman 01934 710278 Guides 7.00pm Wedmore VH + Elaine Tilling 01934 713650 Pilates 9.15- 10.15am Blackford VH Tabitha 07977 362817 Pilates 10.30 - 11.30am Blackford VH Tabitha Tai Chi 12.15 - 1.15pm via Zoom John Beasley 01749 672482 THURSDAY Pilates 9.15- 10.15am Blackford VH Tabitha 07977 362817 Pilates 10.30 - 11.30am Blackford VH Pilates 1.30 - 2.30pm Wedmore VH Michelle Reynolds 0782 5543414 Wedmore Dance Group 10.30am Wedmore VH Nikki Pryn 07519 630365 Ballet Classes 4.00pm Bristol Ballet Centre + bristolballetcentre.co.uk Cubs 6.30pm Scout Hut + Bill Belshaw 01934 712438 FRIDAY Tots and Tinies 9.15am Wedmore First School + Steph Ewens 07939 077560 Wedmore Art Group 2.00pm Masonic Hall + Jim Collett 01934 712663 + Not taking place during school holidays 38 August 2021 The Wyvern Coffee Co shop is situated in Cheddar Gorge, where they have just celebrated their first-year anniversary. The ‘Lions Breakfast Tea’ went on sale Friday 18 June and the Cheddar Vale Lions were on hand to help launch the new team venture. Needless to say, the Cheddar Vale Lions are really excited about the tea, plus it is a first for Lions Clubs in the South West. Due to Covid, Cheddar Vale Lions Club has not been able to plan the usual fundraising activities, so any extra funds are always welcome, particularly when such a great opportunity is offered to the Club. With the support from such an amazing local business, the Club can look forward to carrying on with their Community Service projects. For more information contact: [email protected] or via the website www.cheddarvalelions.org.uk
Lion President, Keith Cook, and Lions Jan Clark, Marion Adcock and Lyn Wood celebrating the launch with Tom Anderson and Marcus Chaplin outside the Wyvern Coffee Co shop
Photos of the Lions Breakfast Tea
August 2021 39 Outstanding Young Hero from Wells Receives Award in Memory of Princess Diana Poppy McGhee, aged 16, from Wells, has been recognised with the highest accolade a young person can achieve for social action or humanitarian efforts – The Diana Award. Established in memory of Diana, Princess of Wales, the Award is given out by the charity of the same name. Poppy was nominated for this award by Mendip Rotary. Poppy is an exceptionally talented violinist, using her talents to bring joy to the lives of children with disabilities. Poppy held her first concert at age 10, when she raised £720 for The Amber Trust, a charity which funds music opportunities for blind and partially sighted children. Poppy has since held many performances, raising thousands of pounds, including hosting a virtual concert during the first lockdown which raised over £2,000 for ‘Amber’. During performances, Poppy is easily able to connect with visually impaired children and is noted for her ability to ‘light up the room… the smiles on the children’s faces say it all’. She is already the holder of a national Rotary Young Citizen Award. There are 12 Diana Award Judging Panels representing each UK region or nation and a further three panels representing countries outside of the UK. Each panel consists of three judges; one young person, an education or youth work professional, and a business or government representative. The panels have an important main purpose: to determine which nominations from each UK region/nation/country will receive The Diana Award. The Cheddar Flower Show Summer Challenge, 14 – 18 August Flower and Scarecrow Trail in Cheddar More than thirty-five scarecrows and many delightful gardens will be seen on the Flower and Scarecrow Trail in Cheddar from 14 to 28 August. ‘We have been pleased with the enthusiastic response to our first Flower and Scarecrow Trail,’ said Chris Sims,
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42 August 2021 Chairman of Cheddar Flower Show Committee. ‘It promises to be a lovely way to celebrate summer and our gardens this year, in place of our traditional indoor Flower Show. We hope many local people and visitors will enjoy finding the scarecrows and appreciating the garden displays.’ Trail Maps are available, nearer the time, at Cheddar Library Lobby, Katie-Boo, Extra Mile Printing and W.C. Maunders Ltd, all in Cheddar, and also by contacting Cheddar Flower Show Facebook Page, or email [email protected] There will also be a Virtual Showcase during August when the Cheddar Flower Show Facebook Page will be opened up so that people can post photos of anything they have made or grown, such as craft, cookery, flowers, or artwork - anything of which they are proud. No prizes, but plenty of admiration and compliments! Somerset Choral Society Re-Starting This Autumn Somerset Choral Society is pleased to announce it will recommence Communal Rehearsals and activities in September in preparation for a concert in Axbridge Church on Saturday 27 November. Their term will begin with a ‘Come and Sing Vivaldi Gloria’ on Saturday 4 September starting at 10.00am and lasting to 2.30pm. The venue will either be Axbridge Church or Shipham Village Hall, TBC. Registration will be at 10.00am with tea and coffee provided and rehearsing will be from 10.30 to 12.00 noon with a lunch break to 1.00pm (bring your own lunch) and a second session from 1.00pm to 2.30pm, ending with a short performance of the work. Singers from the Society and any other choirs in the area will be welcomed so come and try out Somerset Choral Society and see whether you like choral singing; the fee will be £10 for the day and will include provision of a score, although singers are encouraged to bring their own scores if they have one. For more details or to register to take part please contact Sarah at [email protected] or tel no: 01934 742134. Look out for posters during August that will provide more details. The first formal rehearsal of the Autumn Term will be on Wednesday 8 September at 7.30pm in the Catholic Church Community Hall (BS27 3HX), and thereafter every Wednesday evening between 7.30pm and 9.30pm. The music this term will be ‘The Vivaldi Gloria’ and ‘The Pergolesi Magnificat’ in preparation for the Autumn Concert in Axbridge Church on Saturday 27 November at 7.30pm. Membership fees will remain at £55.00 for the term and will include one ticket for the concert. Budding Young Photographers Click Away in Local Competition The Space, a Cheddar Valley based charity providing support to children and young people in the area, was delighted to celebrate its first photography competition in Mental Health Awareness Week where this year’s theme was ‘nature’. Doreen Smith, Operations Director for The Space, said ‘We were absolutely delighted with the number of entries from young people aged 4-18 years. The standard was quite breath-taking, and our judges had a real challenge choosing winners and runners up in our two categories.’ August 2021 43 Thanks must go to our judges from the Arts Quarter, Jim Skinner from the Rotary Club of Mendip and Tim Lethaby of Cheddar Nub News and our sponsors Hillier Garden Centre Cheddar, BCYC at Cheddar Watersports and The Gorge Outdoors for providing prizes. We will look forward to running the competition next year.
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46 August 2021 Axbridge and District Museum in King John’s Hunting Lodge Hopefully, we are open! This summer, as well as our permanent displays, we are hosting a special display of some of the work of the students of Axbridge First School. Thanks to the Coop’s Community Fund, the museum has been able to support the school’s recent ‘Romans’ project with resources that the students could handle and study – coins, pottery, costumes, books and more. Their work will be on display throughout the summer holiday. All visitors are welcome and admission to the museum is, currently, free. However, please visit our website before you plan your trip, to check that the museum is open, and the opening hours. Axbridge & District Museum in King John’s Hunting Lodge, Axbridge Square www.kingjohnshuntinglodge.co.uk Twitter: KingJohnHuntingLodge@AxbridgeMuseum RNLI Winscombe and District Branch Car Boot Sale – Bank Holiday Monday 30 August Following the successful ‘Pop-Up Sale’ in Winscombe on Saturday 10 July, the Branch is planning another outdoor event on Bank Holiday Monday, 30 August. This will be an RNLI Car Boot and Table Top Sale for Cars and Small Vans only; bookings will not be accepted for large vans, trailers or pick-up trucks due to the limited space. The Sale will take place at the Winscombe Cricket Club Car Park between 9.00am and 12.00 noon and, as an outdoor activity, will not be affected by the Government decision on 19 July. In addition to the car boot and table sales, there will be refreshments, including beverages, hot dogs and cakes. For details about booking a pitch please contact Allan Cooper by e-mail on [email protected] by Saturday 21 August as numbers of pitches will be limited. Car parking for attendees not taking a sales pitch will be on the lower end of Winscombe Rugby Club Car Park by kind permission of the Rugby Club Burnham-On-Sea Rescue Summer is now upon us, so rescue activity increased in June for our four Somerset lifeboat stations with a total of 21 shouts (Burnham-on-Sea – 3, Minehead – 6, Portishead – 6 & W-s-M – 6). On Tuesday 15 June both Burnham lifeboats were each launched twice to assist a small speedboat, with three persons on board and one in the water, obviously out of control. On the first occasion, it was low tide with the speedboat aground in mud south of Brean Down, so two of the lifeboat crew assisted three persons through the mud to shore while the third member stayed with the casualty. Later that evening the lifeboat crews recovered the casualty and brought the speedboat back to Burnham. Letters to the Editor Dear Editor I would like to join the ‘conversation’ regarding street lighting in Wedmore (Green Report June edition). As someone who walks through the village regularly on my way to work at 4.30am, I find the lighting far from excessive. In some places it is inadequate. Pavements contain all sorts of traps from dog fouling to broken glass. At times it is necessary to walk in the highway to be safe. I see all types of wildlife - foxes, badgers August 2021 47 and the occasional deer, the birdsong is ever present. I also meet, from time to time, two- legged ‘wildlife’ which is not always so pleasant and I would prefer more lighting for this! As far as energy is concerned, although relevant, surely with the advent of more energy efficient properties in the village, more solar panels and the eventual coming on stream of Hinkley C this should not be a problem. Stargazers I have sympathy for and light pollution does have an effect, although low cloud would usually be more of a problem in Wedmore. Yours, Christopher West. Weather Report for June 2021 Location: Chestnut Farm, Snake Lane, Theale Rainfall: Monthly total 45.6mm (1.8in) Long-term (28yr) June average 60.8mm (2.4in) Wettest day (27th) 16.9mm (0.7in) No of dry days 15 Total for last 3 months (Apr - Jun) 148.8mm (5.9in) Year ending 30 June 2021 934.9mm (38.8in) Long-term annual average 856.6mm (33.7in) Temperatures: Maximum (13th) 27.8 °C (82.0 °F) Minimum (22nd) 6.7 °C (44.1 °F) Number of air frosts Nil Monthly average maximum 20.8 °C (69.4 °F) Long-term average maximum 29.1 °C (84.3 °F) Monthly average minimum 12.0 °C (53.6 °F) Long-term average minimum 7.1 °C (44.8 °F) Comments: Winds mostly from the northern quarter, strong at times. Observers: Anne and Dave Bodley Poets’ Corner Vera’s Verse The Blackbird The Blackbird has a beautiful song. We can listen to him all the day long. He sings until the sun goes down. He returns to his blackbird partner at night. And there we meet an astonishing sight. She has brown feathers. Vera Banwell 48 August 2021 (636) M.G. CONSTRUCTION
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50 August 2021 The Crossword: Number 49 By greendandelion
ACROSS: DOWN: 1 Swim between licensed premises (3-5) 2 In Shakespeare’s hometown (4) 6 What could be on your mind during this swim (4) 3 Make reference to the view (4) 9 Harry spends the working day behind the wheel (6) 4 Unsettled yet glorious second half (7) 10 He was head over heels in, more ways than one, giving 5 Jo Swinson’s easy going with display about a rodent Muscadet to Sebastian (8) (7,8) 11 Strangely rarer beef and unfinished rib can be found 6 Have a son tailing groups of men (7) off the coast of Queensland (7,4) 7 Sweet sounding mad beauty whose raison d’etre is to 14 Swimmers’ races with lots of cheap car entries is get at the colonel on the phone (10) nothing to the French (5,5) 8 Discharge from meeting with the dead experiencing 15 Tea time conversation (4) very short interruption (9) 16 Satisfied Portuguese assistance (4) 12 Mum and dad will always prove versatile (9) 17 Intuition was around before Physics (10) 13 Evil words belie how they can be used to edit (10) 19 Help in recall was a daft idea to note before getting 17 Supplication Edward gathered (7) angry (4-7) 18 Assistant to parish priest fails to finish or looks after 22 Judge the press to return a load of baloney (8) museum exhibits (7) 23 Refreshment maker from Lord Grey’s portmanteau (3,3) 20 Low perch (4) 24 Little Penny, a friend of the flowerpot men (4) 21 French speaking sea horse (4) 25 Shark in the field at harvest time (8) Answers at the rear of publication.
August 2021 51 Thought for the Month - August 2021 Have you missed being in a crowd? Have you forgotten what it is like to be with a big group of people? Have you missed seeing familiar faces at events, just stopping and spending time with others in a large gathering? I certainly have. One of the many unwanted by-products of the pandemic and the restrictions to which we have all become used is the shearing away of those various community and village celebrations that help mark the year and the passing of the seasons – Harvest Home, Wedmore Street Fair, Theale Flower Show, Wedmore by Lamplight, school Sports Days. I have missed those occasions and have felt curiously unrooted without them. How good then to see so many of those opportunities returning and the chance to gather out of role together, just to celebrate being a community and enjoy each other’s company. In fact it is as if the cork has been suddenly unstopped and a positive flood of celebrations is bubbling out in August and early September. Wedmore Harvest Home and Street Fair are combining for a Village Fayre on 7 August, Blackford residents are holding a village party on 15 August, St Mary’s Flower Festival brings colour and scent and beauty to the church on 28 and 29 August. That same weekend sees Allerton Harvest Home and the Sand Cider Festival, while Theale Flower Show is on Saturday 4 September and Wedmore Real Ale festival the weekend after that. For me, underpinning all such events there is always a spirit of thankfulness, thankfulness for each other, thankfulness for our communities, thankfulness for those on whom we depend. That spirt of thankfulness has to be the framework around which everything else is fixed, otherwise any celebration simply becomes an exercise in corporate self-indulgence. For a spirit of thankfulness pushes our horizon from beyond ourselves and helps us realise our dependence first of all on others and secondly, and most importantly, on our Father in heaven. It leads to a humbler and less egocentric life. Perhaps this year, of all years, that spirit of thankfulness is more important than ever. There are many people who have helped us as individuals and as communities through this last 18 months. Clapping for Carers was an early sign of that thankfulness – may it be a spirit we never lose. At the Wedmore Village Fayre there will be an opportunity to express that thanks. A ‘Thank you Wall’ will be in St Mary’s. Please use it to write your thanks to those people and groups who have been important to you through our times of lockdown and trial. Almost thirty years ago sitting in a simple whitewashed Methodist chapel in the Indian city of Bangalore I heard some words in a sermon that have stayed with me ever since – ‘An attitude of gratitude leads to a life of beatitude’. May we all lead ‘thank you’ lives. The Revd Richard Neill Vicar of The Benefice of The Isle of Wedmore
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The Garden in August (Editor’s Note: This article was first published in August 2007 and is reproduced here by kind permission of Mrs Yvonne Hutchinson). It is hard to believe that I am already writing about August when we seem to have had relatively little summer so far. You can, believe it or not, start planting spring flowering bulbs now; narcissi (which include all forms of daffodil) are usually the first to go in and they make quite good root growth whilst the soil is still warm. If you want to have bulbs flowering in pots indoors you need to get them in about three months
August 2021 55 before you want them to flower. They may need periods of dark, cool conditions before bringing them into a warm room, so look at the specific instructions when you buy them. In the fruit garden, early apples and pears will be ready to pick and eat; often early maturing varieties do not keep well, so eat then pretty soon after picking. It is usually safe to complete hedge-trimming tasks now, as birds will have completed their nesting season. If you have lavender hedges, do not be tempted to cut them back too hard into old wood as a large proportion of the plants are unlikely to shoot again should you do this. Herbaceous borders should still be flowering now after the lull we frequently experience with them after mid-summer; they often need staking late in the season so keep an eye on this. Now is the time to consider sowing many species of hardy annuals to flower next year; you will need to consult the seed packet to see exactly which ones. Many biennials and perennials can also be sown early in the month. If your lawn is showing signs of wear now after the heat of the summer (I jest), now is the time to consider patching it up or treating it with weedkiller and / or fertilizer. In the rose garden, blackspot can worsen now and should be treated with the requisite fungicide, unless of course you are an organic rose grower, in which case all you can do is pick off all the infected leaves and take them well away from the roses (I think we have had this conversation before). Shrubs that flowered in the spring should have been pruned as soon as flowering was over, to give them the maximum amount of time to grow new flowering wood for next year. Cuttings of this wood can be taken now; deutzias, philadelphus, buddlejas, berberis and many others will root well if the cuttings are stripped of leaves from their lower half and inserted in a narrow slot in the ground made with a spade; the addition of some sharp sand to the soil around them will often increase the rooting percentage. The vegetable garden should now be producing crops of onions, beetroot etc. and it will soon be time for Harvest Festival, so save those big marrows. You can sow your last batch of lettuces now and also think about putting in over-wintered onions and spring cabbages. If you can find a seed-company catalogue with a chart showing which varieties to sow and when, this can be very useful, especially with brassica crops. The various kinds of cabbages, cauliflowers, broccoli, sprouts etc, between them can be sown just about all year and with the constant arrival of new varieties, makes knowing when to sow what quite a minefield. As all serious gardeners in the Wedmore area should be considering entering one of the excellent local flower shows, such as Weare or Theale (the latter obviously if they occur on the same day). On that contentious note, I have conveniently run out of space. Adrian Hutchinson
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58 August 2021 Sport Reports Isle of Wedmore Bowls Club The weather was somewhat mixed during June with virtually all matches going ahead often in a mixture of rain and sun, hot and cold. At West Blackwell the IOW Ladies captained by Trish Newell arrived in pouring rain and agreed to play a shortened game. Halfway through the sun came out and Trish and team celebrated by recording a narrow victory 35 - 34. Meanwhile in the Weston and District league the men’s team captained by Steve Young has so far played nine matches, winning eight and are currently (end June) sitting top of the table with 92 points of a possible 108 and with a positive shot difference of 281. Keep it up chaps! On a more downbeat note the Somerset County league has announced that the league is cancelled for this year for Covid-related reasons. It seems too early but we are already putting together the playing programme for the Indoor Winter Season which starts on 1 October. We hope to hear that all Covid restrictions (some still in place at time of writing) will have been lifted by then. Anyone interested in finding out more details of our plans going forward, existing members or those wishing to join in this great social game, are invited to contact Steve Young on 01749 870987 or email him at [email protected]. Full coaching is provided and there are plenty of opportunities to play on the excellent indoor IOWBC rinks. As a result of our Spring Bonanza campaign for new members we are delighted to welcome 50 new outdoor members to our club all of whom have had taster and coaching sessions and we have already spotted some excellent talent and budding champs. Huge thanks are due to Stuart Fisher who directed the campaign with great drive and enthusiasm and the splendid coaching team (you know who you are!) for making this all possible. Peter Gower Isle of Wedmore Golf Club For once the weather in June behaved itself for the Club Championship which was played over two days in glorious weather. Day one reduced the field to the 32 best gross scores and at this stage Jim Vearncombe held a one shot lead over Josh Barwell with several others just a further shot or two behind. After the front nine of day two Josh had moved into a one shot lead over Richard Macarthur with Jim one of the chasing group 5 back. It was one of these, Laurie Olive who upped the pace with birdies on two of the next four holes to take a one shot lead over Richard which he maintained with level par golf over the last seven holes to become the new Champion and holder of the Jackson Cup. This was despite a birdie from Richard on the penultimate hole to secure runner-up place ahead of Josh in third. Jim Vearncombe took the prize for best gross on day one with Sam Chapman winning the prize for day two. There is also a nett prize for the Directors Cup. A sparkling 65 from Ian Robson led the way on day one but in a very close finish he was edged out by a single shot by
August 2021 59 Rich Vowles who carded a 69 on the second day which together with 67 the first day left him 4 under handicap for the weekend. Mark Earwacker took the prize for best nett score on day two with a 66. It had been a busy week as the Ladies had also held a Senior Ladies Open Bowmaker early in the week. The Ladies also enjoyed the warm weather, posting some excellent scores. Best of all were home team Hazel Gough, Carol Pinks and Deidre Wheadon with 83 points to take the overall winners’ prize. Ali Mantell, Marlyn Jackson and Ann Dixon were just a point back to win best home team prize while Betty Norman with Beryl Richards and Eileen Parnell from Brean were another point back taking best visitors’ prize. Liz Thomas, Sue Hares and Pauline Brixey were second best visitors with Prue Witter, Marion Warren-Smith and Janet Robson taking the equivalent home team prize. The following week the Ladies were playing for not one but two trophies with prizes in the monthly medal thrown in as well. Shirley Gooding was winner of the main trophy, the Summer Bowl, awarded for the best gross score in the Medal. Her score of 83 not only won the trophy but also equated to a nett 72 which gave her third place in division 1 of the medal. First place went to Ange Webber who beat Mandy Vearncombe on countback after both scored 71. The second trophy on offer was the putting trophy which went to Sue McDonald whose 26 putts also helped her to a nett 69 to win division 2. Wendy Lucas was two shots back in second with Claire Biggs a further shot back in third. There were two more 69s in division 3 with Ange Tanner beating Liz Sweeney on countback and Carol Horsley just a shot behind in third. There were lots of close finishes in the Club Medal at the weekend. Closest finish was in division 1 with three players all on 67. Tom Smith took first place ahead of Mike Garbutt and Graham Sugg on countback. Trevor Marshall was one shot better, winning division 2 with 66, one better than Tony Rymall with Mike Cowie third on 70. Round of the day though, was in division 3 with Chris Donald recording a 61 to finish 6 clear of Greg Cox who beat Terry Simpson to the runners-up spot on countback. There was not a large field in the Ladies Section Laurie Olive (on left} receiving the Jackson Trophy and Rich Vowles with the Directors’ Cup following but two excellent scores with Mandy their wins in the Club Championship. Club Captain Vearncombe on 67 just holding off Dave Skelton made the presentation. Nicola Stevenson on 68. Players were up early on the following Sunday for a 6.30 am start in the triangular match between, Ladies, Seniors and Men. This clearly put the men off as they recorded just 223 points putting them 50 points behind the Ladies but the Seniors, who get most of their sleep during the day anyway, triumphed with 279. Back in January the traditional Captains Drive-in had been a victim of the second (or was it the third?) lockdown. So as they were up early anyway Ann Dixon, Dave Skelton and Clive Warren-Smith took
60 August 2021
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62 August 2021 the opportunity to drive-in and, in the process, raise £238 for their charities at the cost of Clive’s ball which disappeared into the pond on the left of the fairway. Shot of the day in the Ladies Stableford was an eagle 2 on the fifth from Mary-Lou Denny but this was not enough to get her into the prizes. Liz Hill had 39 to win division 1 by a clear 3 points from Sue Chambers with Ann Dixon third on 35. A close finish in division 2 saw Fran McMillan winning on 35, just one better than Joan Peck who beat Carol Pinks on countback. Best score of the day was in division 3 won by Janet Gilbert with 44 points, 5 clear of Margaret Rogers with Angela Tanner a further point back in third. In the Club Stableford Mark Earwaker scored 40 to win division 1 by a point from Peter Blackwell with Mathew Pinsent another point back in third. Jeff Griffiths was another to score 40 with Ian Robson just a single point behind and David Poyner in third. Scores were even closer in division 3 with Adrian Pinsent winning on countback from Michael Jarrett with both scoring 36, Nigel Day was a point behind in third. Emily Harris won the Ladies Division on 38. This was 2 ahead of Shirley Gooding with Sandy Bedford taking third place. Next month it’s Open Week and all the excitement that brings. Tony Biggs Church News ‘On a Wheel and a Prayer’ On Tuesday 17 August, the vicar will be conducting the next ‘cycle prayer pilgrimage’, cycling around the different villages and hamlets that make up the Benefice of the Isle of Wedmore that our churches serve, stopping at various points and praying for the particular communities. Details of timings can be found in the churches and you are welcome to join him at any of the stops. Parish Registers Funerals Our condolences go to the family and friends of: Hubert Duckett, of Blackford who died on 13 June 2021 aged 96 and whose funeral took place at Holy Trinity, Blackford church on 12 July 2021. Weddings Congratulations to Robert and Claire (nee Cornelius) Nimmo who were married in St Mary’s Church on Wednesday 5 June. A Pilgrimage to the Holy Land It is always very moving to make a pilgrimage to the Holy Land and our vicar, Revd Richard Neill, together with the rector, from St Andrew’s Cheddar, Revd Stuart Burns, will be leading pilgrims from across the Cheddar Valley there next year. Would
August 2021 63 you like to join us? There is so much to see and experience and learn together. We invite you to come and know this for yourselves, whether you are new to the Holy Land or have been many times before; there are always new sights and sounds to reflect upon. Reading the gospels will never be the same again and by visiting the Holy Land we are standing in solidarity with our brothers and sisters there too. To have the chance to meet the ‘living stones’, the local Palestinian and Israeli Christians who are the ongoing, living church in the region, is humbling. Our pilgrimage will include events in Our Lord’s life and ministry which took place in Jerusalem and the surrounding area and further north in Galilee. We invite you to journey with us and to share in this great opportunity to see those places we read of the Scriptures. The tour is a full-board basis and dates are 31 January to 9 February 2022. If you would like to join this pilgrimage to Jerusalem and Galilee with others from across the Cheddar Valley – contact Revd Richard Neill on 01934 713566. Or email for more information [email protected] Church Services Every day excluding Sunday there is Morning Prayer online at 9 am on our Facebook page www.facebook.com/St-Marys-Wedmore-384215139101196/. Holy Communion is celebrated most weeks on Wednesday morning at 9.45 am As restrictions continue to be lifted in line with government guidance we hope that by August congregational singing will be permitted once more and social distancing will no longer be required. But please do check the website and Facebook pages for further information. Our worship will also continue to be offered online. At least one of our Sunday services each week is recorded and you can join in via the St Mary’s YouTube channel. Links for all the above and details of services both online and in churches can be foundwww.achurchnearyou.com/church/10871/. St Mary’s Church, Wedmore Holy Communion is celebrated most weeks on Wednesday morning at 9.45 am Sunday 1 Trinity 9 10.30 am Informal Service 6.00 pm Start the Week Sunday 8 Trinity 10 10.30 am Parish Communion 6.00 pm Start the Week (Taizé style) Sunday 15 Blessed Virgin Mary 8.00 am Communion (BCP) 10.30 am Morning Praise 6.00 pm Start the Week Sunday 22 Trinity 12 10.30 am Benefice Communion Sunday 29 Trinity 13 See Allerton Holy Trinity Church Sunday 1 Trinity 9 9.00 am Parish Communion Sunday 8 Trinity 10 9.00 am Sunday Breakfast Sunday 15 Blessed Virgin Mary 9.00 am Parish Communion Sunday 22 Trinity 12 6.00 pm Zoom online Evening Service Sunday 29 Trinity 13 See Allerton 64 August 2021 A1 Gardening ad.qxp_Layout 1 17/02/2021 11:02 Page 1
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66 August 2021 Christchurch, Theale Sunday 1 Trinity 9 11.00 am Parish Communion Sunday 8 Trinity 10 11.00 am Morning Praise Sunday 15 Blessed Virgin Mary 11.00 am Parish Communion Sunday 22 Trinity 12 11.00 am Morning Praise Sunday 29 Trinity 13 See Allerton Allerton Church Sunday 1 Trinity 9 9.00 am Family Service Sunday 8 Trinity 10 9.00 am Parish Communion Sunday 15 Blessed Virgin Mary 9.00 am Morning Prayer Sunday 22 Trinity 12 9.00 am Parish Communion Sunday 29 Trinity 13 10.30 am Benefice Communion Bagley Baptist Church Bagley is open for Sunday morning service at 10.30am. Also available to catch up via our Bagley Baptist -You Tube channel. Communion is usually shared on the 1st Sunday of the month. Many fellowship groups are available to access online and meeting at the church - home groups, gatherings, prayer meetings, youth groups and more. Please get in touch, we would love to hear from you. Contact: (01934) 710779 / 712812, or email [email protected] Crickham Baptist Chapel Sunday School on Sunday morning at 10.30 am, Evening Service at 6.30 pm.
Axbridge and Wedmore GP Practice Surgery Opening Times
Wedmore Surgery Mondays and Fridays 8.30 am to 6.00 pm Tuesdays, Wednesdays & Thursdays 8.30 am to 1.00 pm Telephone 01934 712774
Axbridge Surgery Monday to Fridays 8.30 am to 6.00 pm Telephone 01934 732464 Please note the surgeries are closed on Bank Holidays.
August 2021 67 Contact our Clinical Team through our Website We can also be contacted, in your own time, through our website, with a member of our clinical team replying to you by the end of the next working day. You will be asked to complete an online form. This is useful for non-urgent conditions. We will then contact you and let you know the best action to take. www.axbridgeandwedmoremedicalpractice.nhs.uk Improved Access Appointments
Axbridge Surgery Tuesdays 6.30 pm to 8.00 pm During these a Nurse/HCA/Phlebotomist will be available for routine appointments outside normal surgery times. These appointments are provided, but not exclusively, for those patients who find it difficult to attend during normal surgery hours. Please note, these hours may be subject to change depending on the availability of clinical staff. Please visit our website or visit/ telephone the practice 732464 or 712774 for changes to opening hours. You can also obtain 24-hour general medical advice by telephoning NHS 111, or visit the NHS 111 website. During improved access appointments the front door will be locked. Please ring the video doorbell for access. Access will only be granted to patients with pre-booked appointments. Surgery telephones are not manned during extended hours. Wedmore Community Bus - The Friendly Bus Private Hire Service Providing the government roadmap for relaxation of Covid-19 restrictions continues as planned, we will have resumed the normal private hire service of the Wedmore Community Bus on Monday 21 June. Scheduled services resumed in May. Safeguarding everyone’s health will be a priority and we will fully comply with any remaining social distancing guidance. • On weekends the bus is available for private hire throughout the day and in the evening. It is also available by arrangement on most Mondays • On Tuesdays to Fridays it is available for private hire after 3.30pm and in the evening. • Each private hire comes with a list of volunteer drivers for the hirer to approach. • The bus has seats for a maximum of 16 passengers. It is often booked for weddings, club outings etc.
68 August 2021 To make a booking please contact us by email at [email protected] New Volunteer Drivers Needed The community bus has vacancies for volunteer drivers for Scheduled Services on Tuesdays to Fridays and/or Private Hire as described above. Driving the bus is: • not a big commitment. Many volunteers are only available occasionally but they still make a valuable contribution. Volunteers are only timetabled to drive at times when they make themselves available and rarely drive more than once a month. • very rewarding, as it provides an important service to many local residents. • great fun, as the bus is a friendly place where there is normally a happy buzz of conversation and plenty of laughs. • not difficult. All drivers are given free training by an approved Somerset CC trainer. This is provided before the volunteer starts driving and is repeated every four years. Volunteers do need to have category D1 on their driving licence but this should be available on all licences gained before September 2008. They will also need to undergo a DBS check (Disclosure and Barring Service) which we will arrange at no cost to the volunteer. Interested? If so please contact us either by email on [email protected] or telephone David Knight on 01934 712388. For further details of the Community Bus and its services go to the Wedmore website at theisleofwedmore.net under Local Directory/Wedmore Community Bus or email us on [email protected] Bus Timetable Tuesday – Taunton Leaves Wedmore car park around 09.30 am, departs Taunton 2.00 pm. Back around 2.45 pm. Call Angeline Duckett 01934 712631 after 6pm & before 6.30 pm the evening prior. Wednesday – Bridgwater Leaves Wedmore car park around 09.30 am, departs Bridgwater 1.00 pm. Back around 1.45 pm. Call Angeline Duckett 01934 712631 after 6pm & before 6.30 pm the evening prior.
Thursday – Weston-super-Mare Leaves Wedmore car park around 09.15 am, departs Weston 1.40 pm. Back around 2.45 pm. Call Carol Ayliffe 01934 713471 after 6pm & before 6.30 pm the evening prior.
Friday – Street Leaves Wedmore car park around 09.30 am, departs around 1.30 pm. Call Carol Ayliffe 01934 713471 after 6pm & before 6.30 pm the evening prior.
Private Hire Call Jo Keen 01934 710759
August 2021 69 MLB HYPNOTHERAPY If you think your life could be better, you’re right, it can!
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Michelle Louise Balson RGN, DSFH, AfSFH, MNCH (Reg), CNHC
Registered Nurse & Solution Focused Hypnotherapist Wedmore Surgery Hampden Osteopathic Clinic, Winscombe Cowan House, Weston Super Mare
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(647) (388)
A unique Day Nursery delivering exceptional care Babyroom – Nursery – Pre School – Holiday Club
Our highly qualified team ensures that the individual needs of every child is met Education funding available for 3-4 year olds Forest School, Gardening, Music & Dance, Cookery 01934 713527 www.littleowlschildcare.com Wells Road Wedmore BS28 4SA Ofsted 2010 “Children have developed good language and nu mber skills and show a passion for exploring and investigating their world.” “These skills will help support their future learning” (483A) Crossword 49 Answers Across: 1. Pub-crawl 6. Pint 9. Potter 10. Besotted 11. Barrier reef 14. Lemon soles 15. Chat 16. Paid 17. Prescience 17. Aide-memoire 22. Mediator 23. Tea bag 24. Weed 25. Thresher Down: 2. Upon 3. Cite 4. Arrears 5. Liberal Democrat 6. Possess 7. Nutcracker 8. Severance 12. Relatives 13. Bowdlerise 17. Pleated 18. Curator 20. Bass 21. Mare
70 August 2021
Draycott Wedmore Axbridge
Cocklake Crickham Wedmore
Mark Stoughton Wedmore
All these properties were sold in and around Wedmore in one month. I am a Chartered Surveyor and Estate Agent and have been selling all types of properties for a good many years. If you’re considering selling I’ll be delighted to give an opinion of value and a quotation of charges – entirely without charge or obligation. Call me on 01934 710220 or email me directly on [email protected] Roderick thomas
(548)
(201)
Building Plot, Wedmore Guide Price £395,000
Theale Guide Price £280,000
Cooper and Tanner are located in the heart of the village and are the local property experts. We are happy to advise you on the sale or purchase of your home. If you are considering moving do call us to book an appointment to discuss your options.
OUR OFFICES
Bridgwater 01278 455255 Glastonbury 01458 831077 Street 01458 840416 Castle Cary 01963 350327 London 020 7839 0888 Warminster 01985 215579 Cheddar 01934 740055 Shepton Mallet 01749 372200 Wedmore 01934 713296 Frome 01373 455060 Standerwick 01373 831010 Wells 01749 676524