Shapwick News November 2017 Issue 275

See inside for more photographs and a write up on the St. Mary’s Flower Festival.

Shapwick Starlets WI Sue Sellick Such an interesting speaker this month, Laura Carpenter who is a Medical Herbalist runs clinics in Tiverton and Wellington. Herbal medicine is the use of plant based medicines to restore and maintain health. It is the oldest form of medicine in the world with over 80% of the world's population using herbal medicine as their only form of medicine (WHO statistic). Did you know that Thyme reduces coughs, Rosemary is a memory booster and relieves headaches and Cinnamon balances blood sugar and soothes coughs? We were all inspired to go home and make onion syrup which is useful if you have a cold and will definitely be ready to ward off the next one with Fire Cider! Half a teaspoon a day will do the trick. Clove oil is poisonous but clove buds can be used to make a mouth wash. We will no doubt be inviting Laura back another time as we were all keen to learn more. Our Driftwood workshop was very successful, a full house, and we all came away with 'one we have made earlier'. It is surprising how difficult it is to decide on the perfect pieces of driftwood and shells and there was lots of swapping going on. And so much cake, what is not to like? Shapwick Starlets Roadshow kicks off on Tuesday 7th Spectators enjoying the recent 20:20 match. November, meeting at 7.30pm in the King William Inn, Catcott for our first Knit and Natter event. Please come along as this is open to anyone who fancies a drink and a chat, and you don't even have to be able to knit! Our November meeting is on Tuesday 14th November when we will be having a Christmas craft evening. And of course there will be mulled wine and mince pies. St Mary's Flower Festival Friday 22 - Sunday 24 September 2017 Helen Wade Thursday 21 September was an important, if a little nervous day, for the seventeen

flower arrangers who were to put into action their plans for the Festival of Flowers in St Mary's Church Shapwick. For the early arranger, the first challenge was to transfer from the car all the foliage, flowers and accessories to augment the theme, in torrential rain! Inside a flurry of activity to remove furniture and clear windows in readiness for the transformation from a still beautiful open space to one of hubbub, expectation, amazement and even more beauty on the theme of "....We Give Thanks For..."

Displays: 'Our Wonderful World', 'A Cup of Tea', 'Trees', 'Memories', 'Bread', 'Needle & Thread', 'Birth of a Baby', 'Bees', 'Love', ' Garden', 'Harvest', 'Fishermen', 'Sunshine', 'Her Majesty - Our Queen', 'Farming', Countryside' encapsulated just some of the things for which it would be good to give thanks for every day - especially living here on the .

By 2pm on Friday all was ready and by 2.15 the first visitors began to arrive - as did the cakes...more cakes...and yet more!! For the three days we were open, we were truly blessed to see more visitors than ever - and so many were able to stay awhile, sit, look, chat and enjoy refreshments in all I can say was a true village community event which, I am delighted to say raised over £900.

On Saturday evening forty-seven of us also had the pleasure of hearing our vicar Rich relate some of the marvels of the universe through his eyes as a previous astro-physicist and then a glimpse of his passion as a photographer for birds and wildlife - as well as enjoying a two course supper together.

On Sunday morning there was another opportunity to give thanks again and worship our amazing God at a Patronal Harvest Service.

Words are small - so the words 'thank you' do not adequately express the thoughts of the writer to ALL the people who put into this weekend part of themselves: the flower arrangers; presenter; cooks and cake makers; stewards; washer-uppers; cleaners; gofors behind the scenes; the myriad of workers who put on an event of which I was proud to be a part. Hi folks, On Monday, many people noticed that there was an eerie atmosphere around, with a strange light and a strong wind blowing. It would have made a great opening for a disaster movie – or a prelude to an alien spaceship landing! In reality the red light was caused by dust dragged up from the Sahara by Hurricane Ophelia, and obscuring the Sun. This set me thinking… how often do we let things obscure our view of God’s Son? Sometimes it may be genuine theological issues: why does God allow suffering, for example? (as with the hurricanes last month). Or it may be our own experiences which, for one reason or another, have led us to a negative impression of who God is. I don’t for a moment want to underplay that. The red sun over on Monday. Photo: Len Copland / Western Gazette However, sometimes it’s more minor stuff: maybe we allow the busyness of our own lives to obstruct our view. Even church stuff can get in the way: we’re so busy that we don’t allow time for the most important thing, which is to develop our relationship with God. And yes, even vicars can be in danger of letting church stuff get in the way! But if, as I believe, the good news of God’s Son is the most important reality that we should be engaging with, then – where we easily can – we should make time to get a clearer view of him. Every blessing, Rich Tweedy [email protected]

Village Hall News Claire Brown The Village Hall Committee are proud to announce that they have attained Hallmark Level 1 Award. The Hallmark scheme is a community buildings nationally recognised awards scheme developed by the Community Council for Somerset Having Hallmark accreditation demonstrates that the Hall's management committee is managing its charity well. This is important to the individual trustees, the community as a whole and those organisations considering the approval of a grant application. Hallmark promotes the good management of Village Halls through a quality standards scheme which is backed up by a system of peer visitors. Hallmark 1 is concerned with the administration and management of the hall.  it gives Village Hall Trustees confidence that they are running their Hall in the correct way  it provides funders and other organisations interested in Village Halls with a benchmark for well managed community facilities.  it is acknowledged by Charity Commission. If you would like to hire the hall please contact us: Nerina Scott 01458 210329 or [email protected].

VILLAGE HARVEST SUPPER The GriffinDora Watkins Villagers enjoyed a traditional supper recently at the Village Hall, Shapwick’s only pub—The Griffin—was built in 1856 near and an auction was held afterwards to raise funds towards the Shapwick Station, two miles from the village. Why was it two Hall. Thanks go to the Village Hall Committee girls for organising miles away? - because the two owners of the village estate the evening, to the many villagers who supported the event, and living in the Manor and Shapwick House would not have either to George Dunster and Elliott Campion who once again proved to the pub or the railway built on their land. be very able-bodied waiters! It was closed and pulled down when the railway closed in the 60s. The name changed several times—The Griffin, The Railway Shapwick Parish Council Hotel, The Railway Inn, The Griffin’s Head and finally, back to the PARISH COUNCIL VACANCY TO BE FILLED BY CO-OPTION Griffin. In the 1970’s Shapwick House Hotel took on the role of If you are interested in being co-opted onto the Parish Council please can the village pub at the weekends opening its bar and big hall for you let the Clerk know by 10th November 2017 dances with a live band on Friday and Saturday nights and Mal Sue Williams – 9 Orchard Way, 210749, [email protected] Daron a country and western singer on Sunday nights. It drew people from all over the area. There have been an increasing number of Now the village hall holds occasional pub nights and the cricket complaints to the PC about the amount of dog club invites the village to their new pavilion on Friday evenings, mess on our village footpaths. Please be Perhaps one day there may be another pub—next time not so considerate and bag it and bin it!! far away.

Areas particularly affected are Mill Lane, Vicarage Lane footpath and the back access PC Website - www.shapwickparishcouncil.org.uk pathway to Church Road. MAKE YOUR OWN CHRISTMAS WREATH What’s On in Lite Bite Lunches at Shapwick Village Hall The next lunch is on Shapwick Saturday 2nd December 2-5pm 20 November 12:30pm-2pm St Marys Church. St. Mary’s Church To reserve a place call Nerina Scott on For further information please Come and join us for the 01458-210329 contact Helen on 210885 last tea and cakes for £15 per person (including refreshments) 2017 All proceeds in aid of Shapwick Village Hall Next Parish Council Meeting Friday 24th November The Pavilion @Shapwick 3—5pm 21 November 7.30pm Village Hall Pub Nights—Friday evenings from 6.30pm

Church Services November Village Hall Quiz Night Sunday 5 November – All Saints With Fish and Chip Supper 9.00 Catcott Holy Communion (BCP) Friday 24th November 10.30 Informal Worship 10.30 Edington Family Communion 7.00pm 6.30 Shapwick School Praise ‘n’ Prayer Max 6 per team -Tickets: £10 per person Saturday 11 November – Remembrance Day 10.50 Catcott War Memorial Nerina 210329 or Claire 210784

Sunday 12 November – Remembrance Sunday 10.00 Shapwick Café Church followed by Communion at 11.45 COME AND JOIN US 10.45 Remembrance Service

Sunday 19 November – 2nd before Advent FOR SINGING ROUND THE CHRISTMAS TREE 10.30 Catcott Matins (BCP) ON THURSDAY 7TH DECEMEBER AT 6.30PM 10.30 Informal Worship 6.30 AshcottHoly Communion (CW) Bring a light

Sunday 26 November – Christ the King Mulled Wine and Minced Pies for £1 towards Church Funds 9.00 Shapwick Holy Communion (CW) 10.30 Burtle Family Communion Children’s competition: Create a Christmas Card (up to A3 size) 4.00 Chilton Polden Christingle 4.30 Edington Evensong (BCP) Ages : UP to 7 years, 8-11 years and 12-16 years

LIBRARY VAN : 7 NOVEMBER Useful Contact Details

10.55—11.15am Cricket Pavilion Parish Council - Clerk -Sue Williams 01458 210749 Clubs [email protected] Village Hall - Secretary Claire Brown 01458 210784 Cubs—Adam Smith 07508 468173 [email protected] Cricket Club—Martin Baker 01458 831131 Hall Bookings—[email protected] or 01458 210329 Friends of Shapwick Church—Jane Walker 01458 St. Mary’s Church - Jan Jones 01458 210804 210137 Edington Doctors Surgery 01278 722077 Prescriptions 01278 723459 Pilates—Lita de Alberdi 01458 446883 Hospital 01278 436555 Shapwick Runners— www.shapwickrunners.co.uk District Council 0845 408 2540 WI – Sue Sellick 01458 210357 0300 123 2224 Yoga—Mel Blackshaw 07812 667911

Published by Shapwick Parish Council. Edited by Sue Williams NB Copy for the next Issue of the News should be sent to: Sue Williams by 20th Novemberor to [email protected]

There is no guarantee that all material submitted will be used - publication is at the Editor’s discretion and articles may be amended or condensed. We do not print anonymous contributions but are prepared to include items under a pen name, if so desired, on condition that we are given the name and address of the author(s). Opinions expressed are those of the author and are not necessarily those of the Editor nor Parish Council.