March 2015 1

RoundRound AboutAbout the villages of Langford Budville and Runnington

March 2015 1

CONTENTS

1 Welcome 2 What's On 4 All About Round About 5 Green Fingers: Pruning 6 Village Hall 10 News from the Villages 12 David Percy 13 Community Contacts 14 Mad March Hares 16 A Walk Back in Time Part 2 18 News from the Churches 22 Dairy Delights: Bread 23 Langford Ladies 24 Langford Budville Arch 25 The Night Sky 26 Young Buddies 27 Our School 35 Magazine Info/Ad Rates 36 Bus Timetable

Welcome...

... to the March edition of Round About. We’re Out and About with Hares this month, as you’ll guess from the cover. We’ve illustrated our article with images taken, with permission, from the work of local artist, the late Richard Pocock. March sees the days lengthening, and spring seems well on the way with snowdrops brightening our gardens, and tempting us out of doors— where we are faced with the need to shape up in the garden. Green Fingers will give you some hints! In Village News we welcome several recent arrivals in the villages, and congratulate our Bell Ringers on their recent ringing success. We also bid farewell to a former resident. Once again Marilyn goes walking around Langford Budville as it was in the 1940s, in the second half of a Walk Back in Time. And we wonder if anyone recognises where our own Arch was erected—and when? Those of us who enjoy the lovely Soup Lunches at St Peter’s church will welcome our Dairy Delights recipe this month—we feature Trevor Pritchard’s delicious bread recipe. You can find out when the next one will be from What’s on, and while you’re there, make a note of the chance to view a partial eclipse of the sun, courtesy of The Night Sky’s Keiron McGrath (weather permitting of course!) Our School had a visit from a Very Important Person - the High Sheriff of Somerset! One of the pupils has written a report for us. And there’s a March Maze for our Young Buddies too. We’ve put in a request for some new blood fo help us at Round About, but we also need to hear from you what you want to see in the magazine – what you’d like more of – or less of! If you have an interesting story to tell us, please get in touch. If you know someone else with an interesting story, ask them if they will share it with us. And if you know of a local craftsmen or tradesperson that you can recommend please pass on their details so we can approach them about advertising in the magazine. Saranne Cessford on behalf of the Editorial Team COVER PICTURE: Lepus europeaus—Wild About Britain website. This website has some wonderful pictures of British Wildlife. www.wildaboutbritain.co.uk.

What’s On

Haddons, 10.25-10.35 Runnington Wed 18 March Mobile Library White Post Wed 15 April 10.40-10.55am Wed 13 May Jubilee Hall 11.00-11.20am

Mon 02 March Police surgery Jubilee Hall 7.00-8.00pm Tues 14 April Show: Come to Jubilee Hall Sat 7 March 7.00pm the Cabaret Parish Council Jubilee Hall Mon 9 March 7.30pm Meeting Wellesley Contact Langford Ladies Tues 17 March Cinema cinema

Soup Kitchen St Peter’s Church Wed 18 March 12.00—2.00pm

Solar Eclipse Jubilee Hall viewing—see (Weather Fri 20 March 8.26 to 10.41 am Night Sky permitting) Wellington Choral St John’s Church, Society 75th Wellington - see Sat 28 March 7.30 pm Anniversary bleow Concert Defibrillator Jubilee Hall Tues 7 April 7.00pm training Easter Coffee Runnington Sat 11 April 10.30-12.00noon Morning Church Spring get- St Peter’s Church Sat 18 April Morning/lunch together Friends of St Peters St Peter’s Church Sat 9 May 2.00pm Open Day

Wellington Choral Scoiety will perform Felix Mendelssohn’s Hymn of Praise and of excerpts from Messiah at St John’s Church Wellington on Saturday 28 March at 7.30. Tickets from Nurtured by Nature, South St., Wellington or online at www.wellingtonchoralsociety.org.uk. 4

Defibrillator Awareness Training South Western Ambulance Service NHS Foundation Trust are holding another defibrillator awareness training session at the village hall on 7th April at 19:00. We would love to see more locals attend so they can be trained on the use of the village and many other community defibrillators should it be required for themselves, their families or just someone in need. The paramedics will show you the use and safety of the defib on adults and children. All are welcome, you can't be too old or too young to learn how to use a defib or advise someone else how to. Please visit www.swast.nhs.uk to find out more about the Ambulance Service, what they do and how you can help.

Nynehead Local History Society meet on the second Friday evening at 7.30. For dates and subject contact Susie Kenward 01823 662856. Appley Cross WI meet on 2nd Tuesday each month in Bathealton Village Hall. Contact Anne Hendy for details 01823 400476.

All About Round About

The editorial Team of Round About Magazine hosted a party on the evening of Sunday 15th February to celebrate one year of publication, and to thank all those who had contributed to the success of the magazine and without whose help the magazine would never have seen the light of day. We tried to invite everyone who had made a contribution, and hopefully did not miss anyone. On the evening we had a good turn-out and it was an enjoyable celebration. Marilyn Lilley on behalf of the editorial team thanked everyone for their contributions and presented Laighton Waymouth, our wonderful printer, with a couple of books which we hope he will find time to enjoy. The Editorial Team currently consists of Marilyn Lilley, Saranne Cessford, Laurian Cooper, Barbara Hughes and Sue Osborne. We are all volunteers and we get a great deal of satisfaction from doing the job. To our immense regret Barbara is leaving the team and we need to replace her. Now we need your help. We understand that you are busy but we really need someone to help us with our accounts which Saranne has been doing along with her other jobs. Whoever takes this on needn’t do more than keep the books, and send out invoices etc. unless they wish to do so. They need to understand basic book keeping but the excel spread sheet we use is already set up, so it would be largely record keeping. We need another person on the editorial team too: We’d welcome help from anyone with ideas, and particularly from younger people. Marilyn is stepping back for a month to concentrate on updating the Village Website, and Saranne will try and fill her shoes during that time – so please send contributions to her ([email protected]) or to the Round About email address - [email protected]. Saranne Cessford 6

Green Fingers - Spring Pruning Hints

The dilemma when pruning is to know not only HOW to prune but WHEN and WHAT to prune. A general rule of thumb is to prune summer and autumn flowering shrubs in the dormant season i.e. January through to March, and to prune spring flowering shrubs when the flowers have faded in late summer or autumn. Not quite so simple as it sounds: What about repeat flowering shrubs like roses, hydrangeas and clematis.?

Roses, other than climbers and ramblers, can be pruned any time between January to March depending on the weather, old woody stems removed and the rose cut down by about a third to a good outward facing bud. Climbers and ramblers are best pruned in the autumn after the flowers have faded.

Hydrangeas: those with the flattened head and smaller leaf (serrata) can be pruned now in March and the large mophead one (macrophylla) when the flowers have faded in late summer. Neither need hard pruning just shaping and the weak branches taken out.

Clematis are tricky as it depends when they flower. The ones that need attention now are the late-flowering varieties. Cut these back to a pair of strong buds about 1 foot from the ground.

Other shrubs needing spring pruning: Wisteria - cut to about the 2nd bud. Buddleia - cut down to a strong bud. Fuchsia can be cut down to almost ground level. Spirea - cut down to about 9inches above ground level. All the books advise one to be brave, “If in doubt cut it out” seems to be the message. So all you need is a sharp pair of secateurs and a nice warm day. Sue Osborne

Future events at the Hall

Come to the Cabaret - Saturday 7 March 2015 at 7.00pm For one night only, Changing Faces present something a little different - a cabaret evening with entertainment from a variety of local artistes. Tickets £10 include a light supper. See page 3 for contact details. Defibrillator Training - Tuesday 7 April 2015 at 7.00pm The training session will last about an hour, is free, and no previous experience is necessary. All are welcome. Please see page 3 for details. Solar Eclipse - Friday 20 March in the morning The eclipse will be a partial one within the UK. Here in the South West the Sun will be 85% eclipsed. Starting at 08.26 and ending at 10.41am it should be an impressive sight. If the weather is clear Kieron McGrath will be setting up his solar telescope in front of the Jubilee Hall and you are welcome to come along and view. See his Night Sky article on page 25

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

CirKus SpectaKular

The audience watching the Angel Heart Theatre perform the “Cirkus Spectakular” puppet show in the village hall on Thursday 19th February were indeed spectacularly entertained. We were introduced to a whole host of characters from a fictional Eastern Europe by the mysterious ring-mistress Baba Kalina. The story evolved round the hero Little Pavlo, who attempted a gruelling journey to retrieve Baba Kalina’s magic star, which had been stolen by the Raven of Rijinski. We watched Carpathian fleas perform amazing tricks, trained by Professor Vladimir, admirably assisted by Fred. Madame Minska’s Rosa the Psychic Walrus’s bad habits produced shrieks of laughter from the younger members of the audience. The X-tra Strongboy Mighty Zishe gained support by bending iron bars, helped by Beatrice. Ollo the Clown on the tight rope, Zazel Kaboom fired from a cannon and the sword swallowing Jarmilla the Amazonian were equally as entertaining. Angel Heart theatre, namely puppeteers James Richardson and David Oliver, performed with energetic skill and comic vocalizations throughout and sensitively interacted with the audience. After the show they invited all to examine the beautifully crafted puppets and to ask them questions. Credit has to be given to them and Lisa Green, puppet costume design, Carole Richardson, set design and Rachel Miller for the soundtrack inspired by Balkan, gypsy and circus music. This was an hour and a half of pure entertainment and sheer enjoyment, which the adults appreciated and which kept the children enthralled throughout. Many thanks to Zenah for organising the event.

Regular events at the Hall

Day Repeat Time Contact Monday Parish Council 2nd Mon in 19.30 Christine Hake; T: 400879 month [email protected] Police Beat various 19.00 PC Adrian Hooper 276 Surgery PCSO Sharon Cridlin 9511 Tuesday Pilates weekly 11.30- Claire Southcott; M: 077718 70033 12.30 [email protected] Iyengar Yoga weekly 19.00- Jackie Douglas; T: 400062 20.30 [email protected] Wednesday Art Group weekly 10.00- Susie Kenward; T: 662856 12.00 [email protected] Short Mat weekly 10.00- David Brown; T: 400510 Bowls 12.00 [email protected] Philip Gothard; T: 664724

Mobile Library every 4 11.05- NA weeks 11.20 Bridge Club weekly 14.00- Anne Harris; T: 400578 16.30 [email protected] Thursday Iyengar Yoga weekly 10.30- Jackie Douglas; T: 400062 12.00 [email protected] Red Dragon weekly 18.30- Peter Milne; T:01823 401134 Karate 19.30 [email protected] Management 1st Thurs 19.30- NA Committee in month 21.00 Friday

Zumba weekly 10.00- Caroline Ashworth; M: 07841 11.00 038141;[email protected]

Brownies Nikki Ross; T: 662734 These groups meet [email protected] weekly during term time. Guides Jill Jasper; T: 663144 Please contact their [email protected] leaders for further details. 10

YOGA the Iyengar way Langford Budville Jubilee Hall Tuesdays 7.00-8.30pm Thursdays 10.30-12.00noon BEGINNERS WELCOME suitable for all abilities contact Jackie Douglas 07919 818980 [email protected]

News from the Villages

Langford Budville Parish Council (Draft report) The PC meeting was held on 9th February 2015. A new picnic table has been purchased from Section 106 money which will be placed on the piece of ground next to the Village Hall for public use. Police Report: There were two incidents within the Parish, 1 Public Order Offence at Runnington and 1 Non-dwelling break in at Langford Budville in which the items taken were recovered. There was one planning application approval: 21/14/0014 : Replacement of single storey rear extension with the erection of a two storey and single storey rear extension at 3 Reynolds, Langford Budville. Mrs Rowe, Footpaths Officer, reported that a stile at Wellisford which was wired up has now been cut back to enable dogs to get through, There has also been improvement work done near the old kiln with new footpaths signs being installed. There was a long discussion on the upgrading of the Parish Web Site, Marilyn and Saranne who have kindly offered to update the site are to look into various options regarding the cost of the upgrade. The next meeting will be held at 7:30 pm on Monday 9 March and everyone is welcome.

The Langford Budville team of Bellringers successfully defended the Dugdale Trophy when they came first in the striking competition with an outstandingly low score of just 9 faults. The competition was held at Stawley on Saturday 14 February 2015. Their performance was highly praised by the judge. The successful Langford Budville team of ringers are from L to R :Ian Sherman, Christine Sherman, Jonathan Kimber, Jean Mathison, Paul Mainwaring, (Rose-Anne, reserve), John Hill (Conductor). 12

Welcome & Congratulations!

Runnington is delighted to welcome two new families and one very young lady to swell the population of our small hamlet. Chris and Ruth Cristodolo moved to Haddons in January and are still trying not to fall over packing cases! After many years working for British American Tobacco in many different parts of the world they moved back from Malaysia to Somerset 36 years ago and bought Chitterwell—a charming Georgian house just west of Wellington where they brought up their three children. Looking for a smaller house with a smaller garden and a good view, near Wellington and near their many friends they were pleased to find that Haddons fitted the bill. Simon and Andi Rickard and their three daughters Felicity, and twins Tabitha and Molly have come to Runnington Farm House from Ramsey Farm so are no strangers to the area. Simon works in London three days a week and Andi has the distinction of being the Scything U.K. champion, an honour she has held since 2010. She runs Scything courses locally and hopes to set them up from home . Both are Somerset born and bred. We hope they will feel very at home in Runnington. Hope Haines was born on Febuary 9th in Musgrove Park Hospital and is now happily at home at Cranham with her proud parents Rupert and Louise. With two older brothers to tease her and to play with she is in for a busy childhood. We congratulate Rupert and Louise on the birth of their daughter. Langford Budville, meanwhile, welcomes Rebekah Johnson and her 8- year-old son Fred, who recently moved into 4 Swifts. Rebekah, who is a former care worker, lived for 5 years in Wivey, so knows the area. Fred is attending the village school. We wish all the new arrivals a long and happy residence in our villages. Somerset Choices: Somerset County Council is leading development of a website called Somerset Choices, which will allow people to search for care services, products, support groups and events in their local area. The Council is encouraging care service providers and voluntary agencies working in Adult Services to register their details by April. For information please email [email protected].

David William Percy

2 July 1938 – 5 February 2015 Passed away peacefully, aged 76 David William Percy was born on the 2nd of July, 1938, in Wellington. The only child of William and Audrey Percy, he spent his childhood until early adulthood living in Langford Budville, attending the village school, and serving as an altar boy at St Peter’s. David had many childhood escapades on Langford Common with his friends. He loved the English countryside and continued a life-long interest in nature and observing birdlife. He went on to Wellington School on scholarship, leaving at 16 to work in a bank, before doing National Service in the navy. After National Service, he resumed his career in banking which took him all over the world, before retiring to Australia. Yet he always loved England and the Somerset countryside the most, and called it his home. David loved going to the pub for a pint and some crisps. He was fond of many English beers and, of course, cider. David enjoyed doing a bit of gardening, particularly taking care in pruning the roses. He always loved walking and would happily walk for miles, setting quite a pace as well! He also enjoyed cycling with his children when they were younger.

David passed away peacefully 5th February 2015 and is survived by his wife Anne, four children (Jonathon and Jill, by his first marriage to Sue, and Claire and Sara by his second marriage) and two grandchildren. The funeral service for David was held at St. Peter’s Church in Langford Budville on Wednesday 18th February. After a lifetime of travelling, David has made his final journey and returned to his home of Langford Budville. (By coincidence, David appears in the school photo accompanying A Walk Back in Time on p. 16 —Front row, far right))

Community Contacts

Parish Council Chairman John Cottrell 01823 663675 Vice Chairman Gerald Brewer 01823 400780 Reg Hendy 01823 400476 Kieron McGrath 01823 663080 Roger Poole 01823 400567 Parish Clerk Christine Hake [email protected] Churches Team Vicar The Rev Alan Ellacott 01823 669824 [email protected] Reader Sandra Lee 07585 743886 Church Wardens: Langford Budville Lynn Wyatt 01823 400245 Runnington John Houghton 01823 661323 Alison Toogood 01823 667808 Jubilee Hall Chairman Keith Moore 01823 400665 [email protected] Vice-Chairman Roger Marshall [email protected] Secretary and Margaret Brown 01823 400510 Booking Clerk [email protected] Treasurer Pam Farr [email protected] Primary School Head Teacher Keith Sharpe 01823 400483 [email protected] Police Beat Officers PC Adrian Hooper 276 adrian.hooper@avonandsomerset. police.uk tel: 07889 658015 PCSO Sharon Cridlin sharon.cridlin@avonandsomerset. 9511 police.uk tel: 07889 655302 15

Out and About: Mad March Hares?

The hare which you might chance to see around our fields, is the Brown Hare Lepus Europaeus, one of the three genus in the UK. The other two are the Mountain Hare Lepus timidus, (in Scotland, Isle of Man and the Peak District) which turns white in winter, and the Irish hare Lepus timidus hibernicus, which unlike the preceding two, can trace its ancestry back to at least 30,000 BC, before the last Ice Age, and has distinct genetic characteristics. The brown hare was introduced to England possibly by the Romans or earlier, after the flooding of the English Channel cut off Europe. Have you been lucky enough to spot brown hares boxing? Not two males in dispute as you might expect, but a female telling a lusty male to get lost! Hares are very fertile and the doe (or jill) may have up to four sets of young a year. Gestation is 52 days and lactation 6 weeks. The leverets are born already fur-covered and with eyes wide open, better to survive in their nest - called a form – which is no more than a shallow depression in a grassy field. Should you find leverets in the grass, leave them alone since the mother will be back at dusk to feed them. Wild grasses and herbs are their preferred diet. They actually produce soft, lozenge shaped faeces, the result of getting the grass to ferment in part of the gut known as the caecum, which are then re-ingested to extract the maximum amount of nutrients. The final product of this double digestive system are currant like pellets. (This system is known as caecotrophy.) Hares neither hibernate, nor carry much fat on their bodies for harder times, making them less palatable than the rabbit for the table. It is a good thing they can reproduce readily since the genus is in decline. The obvious hazards are loss of hedgerows (food /cover)

and the effect of farm machinery; although they can run at 45mph, they have a habit of “sitting tight” when danger approaches. If silage can be made from the centre of a field outwards, it gives them time to escape to the next field. More importantly, there is no close season for shooting them. 40% of the entire national brown hare population can be shot in East Anglia during February and March, leaving of course the new born leverets to starve. The Hare Preservation Trust would like to see them awarded Protected Status. So what are the differences between hare and rabbit? The hare is larger, faster, has longer ears than the wild rabbit (in theory they can reach the end of his nose), lives above ground , not in a group. Not visible, but they have jointed skulls, unique among mammals, and have 48 chromosomes as opposed to the rabbit’s 44. Rabbits of course live in burrows, in a group and their young are blind and hairless. Finally, in many cultures, hares are associated with the moon and fertility, an animal sacred to the gods of love, like Eros and Aphrodite. Laurian Cooper

As many of you will already know, for 35 years Richard Pocock combined his work as a full-time teacher of art and design at King’s College, Taunton, with an equally demanding career as an artist printmaker, working latterly from his garden studio at Higher Houses, Runnington. He had a lifelong fascination for wildlife and the natural world which was reflected in his work. In this respect, he was particularly interested in hares which he often depicted in his coloured etchings and other prints and the beautiful and complex print ‘The Names of the Hare’ - small details of which are reproduced here – was one of his finest as well as his final work, which he completed while suffering from the cancer which sadly took his life in April 2009. Jo Worth (Pocock) 17

A Walk Back In Time - part two

We’re back in the 1940s again and at St Peter’s Church where we last saw Gerald Brewer heading off for choir practice. We meet again in the churchyard but of course he doesn’t know that in years to come his grandparents, parents and three brothers would all be resting there. We head off to the right around the corner into Langford Lane and immediately arrive at Hillview the cottage where Annie Broom has taken in Lillian Brown, Gerald’s library book victim, who is one of the many evacuees in the village. Across the road Aubrey Hutchins lives with his wife. He so likes a drink that to recover he takes a snooze under the lime trees opposite the entrance to Langford Court – Gerald knows because he and his friends enjoy burying him in leaves as he sleeps! Around and beyond Aubrey’s home as far as the Crown Field are allotments, which are served, very conveniently, by public toilets. They have large tanks above them that are filled with water piped from the many wells in Wells Mead at the top right corner of the Crown Field. But it’s time to head a little way down Butts Lane which forks off to the right to visit Mounslow House and Mr Richards’ parrot which sits outside. The bird knows some very naughty words so the boys have great fun teasing it. Back on Langford Lane we pass an old thatched cottage before we reach the school Gerald attends with his sister and three brothers. He’s taught by Mrs Montacue and his Aunty Iris teaches the infants. Holywell Lake School has closed so its children come here as well and catch a lift home on the tail boards of the quarry lorries heading off to refill at West Leigh quarry. Circled, Gerald and his friend Lillian Just after the school there’s another large cottage, Brockney House, then further down the road Rose Cottages, a row of five small terraced homes. Ernest Jones lives in the first and his brother Gilbert in the third, but it is Ernest who is the most exciting to the children as he is a wheelwright and undertaker. Everyone in the village knows when someone has died because they can hear the tub, tub, tub of the saw bench as he makes the coffin. It is then delivered, complete with the body, by motorbike

with the coffin balanced at an angle in the open top side car. Fortunately the final journey of the deceased from home to church is made with much greater dignity on a beautifully painted four handled, two wheeled bier. On the opposite side of the road, running down from the allotments, there is first an orchard, then two large gardens owned by the Jones brothers. In the further one there’s a cow pen and milking parlour, from where milk is delivered around the village. Down now to the T-junction with Ritherdons Lane on the left and Reynolds on the right. We go left first, although the road is covered with mud and cow dung which eats the stitching in Gerald’s shoes and is the despair of his mother. The first property is partly mediaeval and Gerald knows it as Ritherdons House although it’s been called Langford Court for some time now. Further up the hill, on the bank to the right, is Higher Ritherdons, thatched and the prettiest house in the village and a little further up, on the left, Ritherdon’s Farm which is the dairy farm owned by Bill Braddick. We retrace our steps to the T- junction and carry straight on along Reynolds. On the right is a terrace of three 19th century houses. Reg Stone lives in the middle one and owns the excellent vegetable garden across the road. On the bank to the south of the garden there is a big tank on stilts which is filled with water that is piped from a well above Ritherdons Farm and serves this part of the village. Next along the road there used to be a pair of thatched cottages owned by Gerald’s grandfather, William Brewer. He had a little shop there that sold ice creams but wouldn’t tell anyone how he kept them cold. But the secret is out – he had an underground ice pit. He built a pair of houses in his back garden, one for his daughter Gladys and the other for Harold, Gerald’s father. Gerald was born in the house at 1.00am on 3 February 1938, after his father had peddled like mad to Nynehead to fetch the midwife. I hope she had her own bike! Gerald has the privilege of being the oldest person in the village who has lived here all his life. And he hasn’t forgotten a thing. Marilyn Lilley

News from the Churches

Dear Friends I don't know about you but I find the simplest jobs like renewing your car insurance or renewing how you pay the electric or gas bill fraught with unexpected problems - like what exclusions have been incorporated in my car insurance this year? Why it has gone up or how do I find out what gas/ electric tariff I'm on and is it the best one to switch to this year? Why do I have to have a contract, why can't I pay the bill like I used to? As far as I'm concerned technology in communication whether computer or phone is far too complicated. I had a conversation last month with somebody about my phone bill and had to ask if they could speak slower as I could only understand every fifth word or so. Where are you speaking from I enquired 'Bangalore' was the answer! Sometimes I wonder if I should have a cheaper breakdown cover for the car, but you just never know when you'll need it. So whatever we are renewing needs careful thought and attention, not taking the unread small print for granted. Easter is such a lovely time on the church year lifting us up out of short days and cold nights. It's a time to begin again. New growth in the garden is signs of new hope and posies of flowers for Easter, lambs and chicks help remind us that hope is just around the corner and bright days to come. The great Christian Festival of Easter, the resurrection of Christ and all its significance points us in the direction of hope, of a real hope that is eternal. In Easter we are encouraged to enjoy ourselves, to have a spring clean, perhaps come out of a semi hibernation, stretch our limbs and get back on that bike you'd put away for the winter. More people phone up about baptisms and wanting to plan a wedding. If there was ever a reason to be converted from being a non believer to being a believer Easter is it. It's the message that's important to us but like so often is the case it's the messenger that puts us off. I couldn't help but smile when, some time ago, we'd had the themes for Christmas well and truly gone over so I thought I'd talk to the school children about the conversion of St. Paul (25th Jan) and what conversion continued opposite 20

Church Services Rota

Langford First Second Date Runnington Budville Reading Reading

1 March 10.00am 10.30am Genesis Romans HC Service Morning 17. 1-7,15-16 4. 13-25 8 March 9.15am Join Langford Exodus 1 Corinthians HC Service Budville 20. 1-17 1. 18-25 15 March 10.00am 6.00pm Exodus Colossians Mother’s Mothering Mothering 2. 1-10 3. 12-17 Day Sunday Sunday Family Service HC Service 22 March Join with 9.15am Jeremiah Hebrews Runnington HC Service 31. 31-34 5. 5-10

Holy Week 30 March 10.30am HC 31 March 10.30am HC means from a spiritual sense. “Hands up”, I asked “if you know anyone who's been converted”, A little boy puts his hand up, '“I’ve been converted”, he said. “How old are you” I asked, “eight” he said. “How did this happen”, I asked, “would you like to share your story with us?” “Well.....”he said, “we were playing rugby and I was in defence but my teacher said I was rubbish in defence so I should play in attack instead. So I got converted!” All the teachers smiled and we had a laugh to ourselves. However if you want to change this year, as the days lengthen and the suns warmth smiles on your head, open your hearts and minds to new possibilities and who knows, the message of Easter and its story about a conversion from death to life may put a glow in your hearts and a smile on your face too. Alan (East Group vicar) 21

Notes from St Peter’s

2015 started with us discovering that the Church has a leaky roof which makes our fund raising efforts even more important. We do not want our beautiful new paintwork spoiled. Our January Soup Lunch raised £168 and February £181. Please come to our next Soup Lunch on Wednesday 18 March and help us raise even more. The funds we have raised so far this winter have gone towards the refurbishment of the steps leading from the upper to the lower churchyard and are a great improvement and much safer than those they have replaced. All the rest will go towards the roof repairs. We are also holding our Spring Get Together again, this year on Saturday 18 April - coffee, lunches and plants will all be available. Our Mothering Sunday Service will be at 10am and there will be posies for the mothers and refreshments. Our Annual Parochial Church Meeting will be on 29 March in the Church at 11.30am. The Church Electoral Roll is now being updated and if you are not already on it and are interested in who represents you on the Parochial Church Council (PCC) we urge you to join. (Only those on the Roll are eligible to vote as to who serves on the PCC). Forms are available from Lavinia Elvy (400924) or in the Church. During Easter Weekend we will have Memorial Lilies in the Church. If you wish to donate towards them in memory of a loved one, please contact either Sarah Nutt (401261) or Lyn Wyatt (400245) with your donation and the name of the person you wish remembered. Sarah Nutt

SOUP GLORIOUS SOUP and glorious puddings - all homemade! Please join us at St Peter’s Church Soup Kitchen Wednesday 18 March - 12.00 - 2.00pm £5.00

News from Runnington Church

On 5 February we joined with Nynehead for choral evensong, sung by In Ecclesia at Nynehead Church. In Ecclesia is a chamber choir which specialises in singing sacred music, from the sixteenth century up to the present day, particularly within the liturgical setting. It sings for services at small rural churches and larger urban churches as well as, once a year, for the weekend services at one or more of England's great Cathedrals. Laurence Blyth conducted, Simon Forrester played the organ, and the choir gave a precise and sensitive performance of the Radcliffe Responses, the Stanford Canticles in B-flat and Philip Stopford's lovely anthem Do Not be Afraid. There was a large congregation and excellent refreshments were provided afterwards in the Orangery at Nynehead Court. In Ecclesia's programme for the rest of the year includes evensong in Chipstable, St John's Wellington, Exeter, and Stogumber; a concert in Milverton; and services at York Minster, Holy Trinity Taunton and St Mary Magdalene Taunton. Their full programme can be seen on their web site: www.inecclesia.org.uk. Perhaps Langford or Runnington should consider inviting them along some time in 2016? John Houghton

CHURCH NOTICES Easter

Sunday 15 March Coffee Morning The Mothers’ Day Service at Runnington Church 6.00pm will be followed by Saturday 11 April tea and cakes. 10.30am - 12 noon Easter Sunday 5 April Cakes, plants & produce books and raffle Please note that Family Communion will be at In aid of renovation 9.30am. of the church path

Dairy Delights: Welsh Country Loaf

Sponsored by Gundenham Dairies Recipe from Trevor Pritchard Three generations ago my family lived and farmed in North Wales, at a place called Planwydd Mawr, near to Llanaelhearn on the side of The Three Rivals on the Caernarvonshire Peninsular. You might ask what has that to do with a bread recipe? Well quite a bit. Grandfather coming from a very large family, which had to be fed, learnt how to make a loaf of bread and the following recipe shows you how to do this.

There is a slight variation from my grandfather’s recipe, but those who have been to St Peter’s Soup Kitchen will have tasted how good this is with home made soup. Ingredients 250g organic wholemeal bread flour (extra strong) 125g organic rye bread flour 125g organic malted grain bread flour 2 teaspoons soft Westcountry butter 1 teaspoon salt 2 teaspoonfuls soft dark brown sugar 10g quick acting dried yeast

Method Place all the ingredients into a large bowl and quickly mix together with your hands. Add 325mls of fresh water to the mixture and again mix until you have a ball of dough, quite therapeutic. Take the ball of dough out and place on a board or clean table lightly dusted with wholemeal bread flour and for the next ten minutes work the dough with dusted hands until it becomes elastic and pliable. The dough is then placed back into a clean bowl, covered with a tea towel, to rise for about 30 minutes until it has doubled in size. Then take all of the dough out of the bowl and shape it to the shape you want and place it on a baking tray. Place in a warmed oven at 180°C, 350°F, gas mark 4 for 30 minutes. Then turn oven up to 200°C, 400°F, gas mark 6 for 10 minutes when your bread will be ready. Remove and place on a wired tray to cool. You can use a mixer with a dough hook instead of mixing in a bowl. Bread flower doesn’t need the pounding it used to get years ago. The great thing about this recipe is that it’s fairly quick and you know what’s in it! It is a slight variation from my grandfather’s recipe, but those who have been to St Peter’s Soup Kitchen will have tasted how good this is with home made soup. Come and try it yourself at the next Soup Kitchen. Absolutely wonderful bread! ML

Langford Ladies

On 19 February we joined a large number of families at CirKus SpectaKular in the Jubilee Hall and a full review of this brilliant puppet show can be read on page 7. Zenah arranged for us to meet David and James, the puppeteers, prior to the show for soup, pudding and a chance to find out the background to their angel heart theatre. Many thanks to Zenah for organising the whole event which was a joy. On Tuesday 17 March we’re visiting the ballet - the live broadcast of Swan Lake to be precise - at the Wellesley Cinema. This will be very popular so please pre-book your own tickets as soon as possible direct with the Wellesley and if you want to join our group, we’ll be in the stalls.

The Langford Budville Arch

Arch construction has a long tradition. The Romans were master builders, and triumphal arches were often erected to record a military victory or glorify an individual, a tradition we have carried into modern times, e.g Wellington Arch or the Arc de Triomphe. Then there are the celebration arches erected for a monarch's jubilee for instance, or as in the case of High Wycombe, an arch made of chairs built when Queen Victoria was due to pass through the town. Commemorative or memorial arches record those fallen in battle or war. Hitler planned to build the biggest arch ever seen in memory of the 1.8 million who died in the WW1, but it never got further than the plans. Today the record for the biggest arch is held by Kim Il Sung of Korea, built in 1982. Here in Somerset arches have been erected in Wellington near High Path in 1908, and near the mills at Tonedale in 1953 to celebrate the Coronation. Both arches were connected to Fox Bros. The former arch was decorated with wool to reflect the major industry in the area. Which brings us to our very own Langford Budville Arch. Looking fairly similar to the 1908 Wellington arch it may have been constructed around that time, but for what purpose? No one seems to know. Some notes with the picture mention the Somerset Agricultural show and that this picture was originally a postcard. With very little background detail, the vagaries of photography at that time or taken on a foggy day we've no idea where our arch was situated. You, dear readers, may have the key to the puzzle. Answers on a postcard please to Round About! Barbara Hughes 26

The Night Sky

The highlight of this month will be the solar eclipse taking place on the morning of 20th March. The eclipse will be a partial one within the UK. Here in the South West the Sun will be 85% eclipsed. Starting at 08.26 and ending at 10.41 it should be an impressive sight. If the weather is clear I will set up a solar telescope in front of the village hall. You are all welcome to come along and view. Mercury - Very low down in the south-east at dawn. Unlikely you will be able to see it. Venus - Shining brightly in the evening sky you can't miss it. Mars - Still visible at sunset in Pisces. Unfortunately it's so small that telescopes won't reveal any detail. Mars will be close to Uranus on the 11th. Jupiter - The second brightest planet after Venus, Jupiter can be seen high in the sky throughout the month. It's in the constellation of Cancer, the crab. Saturn - Unfortunately rather low down in the sky at dawn in Scorpius. The views should improve at the end of the month. Uranus - Difficult to see and lost from view by the end of the month. Neptune - Not visible this month. Full Moon - 5th March, Last Quarter - 13th March, New Moon - 20th March, First Quarter - 27th March. Kieron McGrath - www.scsastro.co.uk

Young Buddies

Q. When do monkeys fall from the sky? A. During Ape-ril showers!

Q: Can February March? A: No, but April May!

Q: What do you get when you pour hot water down a rabbit hole? A: A hot cross bunny.

Our School

High Sheriff Goes to School

On Thursday 12 February the High Sheriff of Somerset, Mr Richard Lloyd, visited Langford Budville Church of England Primary School. The children were fascinated with all the duties and facts he had to tell them and the children asked some very good questions too. Below is a report of the visit by one of the pupils: Some of the things he told us I thought were amazing,’ quoted Mr Sharpe Headteacher. Mr Lloyd told the children about when he awards ‘Bravery Awards’ to people who have done good deeds and been brave. One of the awards he gave was to a man who jumped into the water and saved a baby from drowning, the buggy the baby was in was blown into Watchet Harbour. He wore a dark blue velvet outfit with pressed steel buttons on it, he also carried a sword. He attends Royal visits in Somerset and wears his uniform on these occasions. He also has to sit next to the High Court Judge, just in case the Judge is attacked during his decision. In his spare time he likes fishing, playing sports and doing gardening, he didn’t tell us which his favourite is. He also sits in the Control Room and watches how the Police, Fire Brigade and Ambulance services are doing. He has his own charity called Crimebeat. I liked his visit, it was amazing. Jae Veysey-Milton – Year 6

As usual please look at our web site for further information: http://www.langfordbudvilleprimaryschool.co.uk . Keith Sharpe - Head teacher—Langford Budville C of E Primary School 29

Cider Barn - for Bed & Breakfasts or Cider Barn - rent it for family get togethers! Come and stay in our wonderful, beamed Barn, full of character in peaceful hamlet near River Tone. Four bedrooms and three bath/shower rooms, large kitchen, huge open, beamed reception area with gallery room above, flexible bedroom arrangements. Wonderful, peaceful, sunny, uplifting atmosphere. Come and chat to me about it. Louise Bancroft - 01823 665533/07835 960704 [email protected] www.runningtonciderbarn.co.uk

Housework, laundry, ironing, D.I.Y, dinner parties, function catering, service support, carpet cleaning, mobile beautician, painter, plumber, mobile mechanic, gardener, electrician, help with lambing, help with horses, Spring cleaning, event support, on a regular basis or ’as and when’ you need it- you name it we do it! Established since 2007- fully insured and reliable help - no retainer required. Contact Denise Masters: 07773070219/0800 756 6425 http://need-some-help.com E:[email protected]. Whatever you need, if we can’t help, we probably know someone who can!

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

MICKEY LOVELL Chimney Sweep

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

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

Telephone: 01984 248759 Mobile: 07806 800208

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

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

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

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

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

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

Magazine Information

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

Advertising Rates

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

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

Bus Timetable - Service No 10

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

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

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

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

* SCH = School Days only

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Langford Budville, Wellington, TA21 0QZ 01823 400262

Closed all day Monday and Tuesday lunchtime