ISLE OF NEWS

April 2020 No. 484

ANTIQUE VALUATION MORNING COOPER & TANNER Providence House, The Borough, Wedmore BS28 4EG

Wednesday 15th April 2020 10AM - 2PM

SAPPHIRE & DIAMOND BANGLE, SOLD FOR £1,300

NO APPOINTMENT NECESSARY

We will be happy to look at any antiques or collectables you have, even if you are unsure of their value

If you have larger items that you cannot bring please contact the saleroom office for a free home visit

PLEASE CONTACT THE SALEROOM FOR MORE INFORMATION TEL: 01373 852419 EMAIL: [email protected]

(201) Editorial Having approved the April Edition of the IOW News for the production print run on the morning of Monday 16 March, I didn’t expect to be scrambling to recall it from the Printers in light of the Government’s decision to suspend all none-essential public events later that afternoon, but here I am. I hope this finds you well and discovering novel, innovative and pleasant ways to enjoy what pretty much constitutes house arrest, but as we live in one of the most beautiful parts of the UK, I can’t think of a better place to spend it. Welcome to a somewhat abridged April Edition, number 484. In some ways the wettest February since 2014 (please see Denley Brown’s Weather Report) has prolonged matters and made it seem like a long time between New Year and Easter, but now we are actually here in April with Easter Sunday falling on 12 April, the perspective seems to be that the time has passed quite quickly. So, let the annual assault upon our childrens’ dental health begin in all earnest. For most of my life I lived with the misapprehension that Easter was celebrated on the same dates worldwide, as Christmas Day is. However, some years back I set off for Cyprus the week after Easter, to discover on my arrival that their Easter was that coming weekend. I presume that is the case in many countries.

Deadline for May Edition: 1 April 2020 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 (710637) 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.

April 2020 3 I had almost stopped trying to summarise the incredible and eclectic range of social activities we have had here every month, probably easier to say what we don’t have. I am sure once things settle down, normal service will quickly resume. For the time being and until I hear to the contrary, I have left notice of all events from 1 May onwards in place. I will of course update this in the May Edition and please also see theisleofwedmore.net. At present we have an amazing range of summer attractions planned across the entire Parish, even International Cricket. The date for the IOW Summer Street Fair is confirmed as Saturday 4 July. For everyone considering booking a stall, the application form is printed inside the rear cover of this magazine. The organisers are busy planning the day and it is recommended that those local groups, charities and businesses interested in hosting a stall should book early to avoid disappointment. My sympathy goes to the organisers of all the events which have had to be cancelled, most notably; Wedmore Young Farmers Club Annual Show and the Wedmore Arts Festival, I hope they will all be back next year, stronger than ever. So, what do we have left in this Edition? Well quite a lot actually; traffic calming is coming to the Cheddar Road (you were warned), we pay testament to our two stalwarts of Neighbourhood Watch Roy Millward and Alan Blythe who take a well- earned retirement. If you want to take part in Ted’s Taters Competition, now is the time to get planting. Our guest poet this month is Sue Vowles, who kindly provides an Ode to the Lady Golfer. Clearly the May Edition will lack the usual round of reports of social activity from the regular events. Therefore may I please make a general appeal for any stories, reports, poems, perhaps something about the way you are all spending your time during this emergency. You will receive my out of office response, but I will be monitoring the [email protected] account regularly and aim to get back to everyone within a few days. In thanking all who contributed towards this Edition, I would like to make a special mention of the Chair and Committee Members of the IOW News Management Board, whose hard work and commitment year on year ensures the continued production of this magazine. A Happy Easter to all our readers and sponsors, stay safe and let us get through this by all pulling together. Also please support our excellent local traders and suppliers here in Wedmore, who all carry an incredible range of goods and foods. Bill

Front Cover Helen Jeffery took this beautiful aerial photo of Ashton Windmill and the surrounding countryside from a hot air balloon.

4 April 2020 (662)

Wastewater Maintenance Engineers Covering all of the South West DO YOU HAVE A SEPTIC TANK? Are you aware of the new Binding Rules in January 2020?

Septic Tank, Sewage Plant, Pumping Station, Drain Jetting, Tank Emptying, Rainwater Harvesting System. Service and Repairs Tank Supply, Tank Installation, Tank Emptying, Tank Inspection. All work is carried out by a British Water Accredited Engineer

FEEL FREE TO CALL FOR MORE INFO!

M: 07749 118 500 | E: [email protected] | W: www.alphawastewater.co.uk

(567) N SW ALO EEP AV S Simply the Best

CLASSES AT Fully insured chimney Cheddar Catholic Hall sweeping service for all flues, wood and solid fuel burners. MONDAY 5.30 pm & 7.30 pm THURSDAY 5.00 pm & 7.00 pm 01749 676453 Telephone Cathy [email protected] 01934 742528 or just come along (248)

April 2020 5 (407)

(242A) R.G. ALARMS & ELECTRICAL ELECTRICAL CONTRACTOR DOMESTIC, COMMERCIAL, NEW BUILDS, REWIRES, The highly skilled and EXTRA SOCKETS, LIGHTS, FAULT REPAIR, ETC. experienced family team INTRUDER ALARMS, FIRE ALARMS, CCTV for all your building requirements. Tel: 01278 780966 Mobile: 07710 692277 (122)

6 April 2020 News Wedmore Arts Festival It is with great regret that we have to announce the cancellation of the 2020 Wedmore Arts Festival due to advice issued by the Government during March. Our plan is to roll forward this year’s exciting programme of performances into next year’s Festival which will run from 8 May to 15 May 2021. Make a note of the dates! We are all very disappointed to have to take this decision but felt we had little choice. As always, we would like to thank everyone in and around Wedmore for their continued support, and look forward to meeting again in 2021. Parish Council Business I am sorry to report that two Councillors have resigned since my last update in the IOW News. Neil Ellis has stood down as Chairman and Councillor as has Laura Sampson. Neil has been a Councillor for just over five years and Laura for three years. We are all very grateful for their contributions and service during that time. Cllr Polly Costello has stepped in as acting-Chair of the Council until a new Chairman is elected in May. The vacancies have been advertised and I am hopeful that I will be able to announce replacements in the next issue. The February meeting was well attended and County Cllr. David Huxtable told members that the County Council was actively looking at ways of providing a safe route to Sexeys School, Blackford. The three Village Halls were each given a grant towards maintenance costs and members noted that a Community Right to Bid was being considered in respect of the Panborough Inn. Cllr Briaris updated members on the speed of traffic entering and leaving Wedmore via Cheddar Road. As a result of the figures recorded by the Speed Indicator Device, the area was now being monitored by the Police safety camera team. A request by the Playing Fields Management Committee for a further grant towards completing the first floor of the sports pavilion at Wedmore was deferred pending more information. Rod Pring, Wedmore Parish Council, Grant’s Lane, Wedmore BS284EA Telephone 713087, email: [email protected] Editor’s Note – Matters of Finance For many years, the IOW News has at this time invited applications from local charities and other ‘not for profit’ organisations which serve the local community and, where considered appropriate, made financial donations to them. With regret, I must advise you that whilst we remain in good financial health, the surplus balance of funds from which such donations were made are simply not available this year. In the main this is due to our ever-increasing production costs which we have striven hard to shield our sponsors from. For the first time in eight years and only the second time in 20, we have recently increased our advertisement rates, something I would challenge all other local magazines to come close to emulating. We hope our sponsors will understand

April 2020 7 and still consider the IOW News to be excellent value for money, particularly as the version of each edition posted online at theisleofwedmore.net now includes all the advertisements. Report from District Councillors Both Will and Polly attended the Axe/Brue drainage board full committee meeting and Polly presented the Environmental Sub-Committee report to the members as she is a member of the environmental committee. We agreed the annual budget, working hard to keep the council tax down whilst delivery excellent flood management in our wards. Polly met with one of the SDC Portfolio holders to discuss Homefinder Somerset and its atrocious on line application system. She is hoping to have more meetings with the officers in charge and hopefully get the archaic system up-dated in the future! Polly chaired and Will was a panel member of a licensing panel to consider a new premises license for Rovers football club, following objections. The application was granted with various conditions in place. Polly went along to the Talking Café meeting held at Nanny Ida’s and met the lovely health coaches Tamsin and Sonya. Sadly, due to the rain, no members of the public came along for a chat but we met Vivian Drake from The Filo project that trains people to host lunches in their homes for people who are socially isolated, many with symptoms of dementia…..check out the website www.thefiloproject.co.uk We are hoping to connect them with our very own health and wellbeing project in Wedmore, especially with the plans to make us a dementia friendly village. Polly also discussed setting up a menopause clinic, which the health coaches were really interested in ….watch this space fellow ladies going through this debilitating time in life!! Polly has stepped in as chairwoman of the Parish Council after the sudden resignation of the Chairman and Vice Chair, she hopes to be officially voted in as Chair in May. She has taken on all the projects that Neil Ellis was in charge of and hopefully is up to speed with the various groups and projects, but if she has missed you out please contact her at [email protected] Will couldn’t attend full council at SDC but Polly went along to represent the ward. The budget was presented by Duncan McGinty, Leader of SDC. The council tax will be going up by £5 in a Band D, 3% rise which works out at 10p per week. Full council voted in favour of the Council Tax support scheme, and the various recommendations from the executive members. Members of Green Wedmore met with Polly to talk through all the exciting future projects including the Food Forest project and the Environmental summit, Polly and Neil Ellis have worked hard with Green Wedmore to cement a good working relationship with the PC to get as many green projects and ambitions off the ground; exciting things to come. Polly attended the last SDC Grants sub-committee meeting for this quadrennial. She was pleased to have applications from local residents and all the remaining grant money available was awarded, a great result as there was £30k left in the pot. Polly and Will

8 April 2020 (156) Ace of Spades

Diane Dennis DipCFHP(Higher) FPSPract oo o Assessment and treatments for: o o o o N o

oo Expert gardening for the Isle of Wedmore at a down-to-earth price Call Rob Richley for regular o o garden maintenance or The Borough Mall one-off help: 07774 891992 Wedmore Telephone: 0134 713122 Somerset Mobile: 0788 5323 or 01934 713802 BS28 4EB Email: wedmorefootclinicgmail.com (574)

(479) Sheds • Fencing • Gates • Furniture • Decking

OPEN TO THE PUBLIC

Competitively priced and built to last – that’s the Somerlap promise

Call us today on 01278 641671 or buy online at www.somerlap.co.uk

April 2020 9 (580) (564) Rousell Plant Hire Ltd Wedmore POOLBRIDGEACCOUNTANCY LTD www.poolbridgeaccountancy.com

Bookkeeping VAT Payroll Corporation Tax and Self-Assessment All groundworks & sewage treatment plants undertaken. Contact one of the team on All machines available 01278 530115 with concrete breakers. [email protected] Please call Damien on The Forge Enterprise Centre, 3 Church 07812 134 382 Road, West , Somerset. TA9 3RN

Wedmore Gardens We offer a friendly, professional and reliable gardening service throughout Wedmore

and the surrounding area. A high standard of sincere, Our gardening expertise covers a dignified and caring service, offering advice and support range of garden tasks, including: on all aspects of funeral arranging. • Garden Maintenance • Planting Here to help, • Pruning 24 Hours a day • Mowing & Hedge Trimming Telephone: 01278 794 304 Hamid & Juliette Kouidri Tel: 01934 710070 Office and Chapel of Rest at: 10 Church Street, Highbridge, Email: [email protected] TA9 3AF Web: www.wedmoregardens.co.uk (591) (668)

10 April 2020 Traffic Calming on the Cheddar Road In mid-December 2019, the Parish Council completed a six-month speed monitoring exercise on the Cheddar Road (B3151) at the approach to Wedmore. Despite this section of road having a 30-mph speed limit, speeds of over 50 mph have been recorded with worrying frequency. Based on the 85th percentile ‘standard’ for assessing speeds, we have consistently seen excesses of up to 8 mph, which represents a doubling of the likelihood of vehicle-related accidents. In the September 2019 edition of the News (and we make no apologies for repeating it again) drivers were informed that the average risk of severe injury for a pedestrian struck by a vehicle is as follows: 10% at an impact speed of 16 mph 25% at an impact speed of 23 mph 50% at an impact speed of 31 mph 75% at an impact speed of 39 mph 90% at an impact speed of 46 mph Despite these sobering statistics and police speed enforcement now in operation at this location, during the six-month monitoring period over 26,000 vehicles were still recorded travelling in excess of 45-mph! Thus, we have concluded that some additional traffic calming measures are necessary in order to make the stretch of road from the village to the village cemetery much safer for pedestrians, local residents, cyclists and other road users. The Parish Council is now in discussions with local residents, our County Councillor and to arrive at an appropriate traffic calming scheme. This will then be discussed with Somerset Highways who have a responsibility to consult widely within the community regarding any proposed scheme. In the meantime, the Parish Council would welcome any comments or input from residents or interested parties, which should be addressed to Councillor Dr Dennis Briaris via the Parish Council offices or email: [email protected]. Wedmore Neighbourhood Watch Village Leaders’ Dual Retirement The smooth operation of Neighbourhood Watch in the village of Wedmore and its immediate surrounding hamlets has been in the capable hands of local octagenarian Village Co-ordinator, Roy Millward for the past 25 years, assisted for the past 12 years by his Deputy, Alan Blythe, who, whilst not quite as mature, intends to ‘hang up his boots’ at the same time as Roy during early March this year! Roy originally saw a need for Neighbourhood Watch Police alerts to be circulated quickly at a time when messages could only be transmitted by physically posting them through neighbours’ letterboxes or laboriously ‘cascading’ them down a series of linked phone callers to ensure that local residents were kept up to date. Indeed, when Alan started to assist Roy in 2008, he recollects that circulating alert posters and Police Newsletters took him all of 90 minutes and covered a walk of around of some 2/3 miles - NOT really practical or efficient if crime incidents follow the day on day or even trying to circulate multiple alerts in one day!

April 2020 11 In recent years the advent of electronic communications via emails has meant that local NW Co-ordinators can receive and transmit alerts from Police HQ to their individual local residents in a matter of minutes and the latest trend towards direct communication from Police HQ to each local co-ordinator means that - apart from the task of finding, appointing and replacing co-ordinators to cover each patch - the role of the Village Co-ordinator (and his Deputy!) is not as onerous nor crucial as it once was. We have indeed been fortunate in Wedmore to enjoy a relatively crime-free existence in recent years, but modern crime doesn’t stand still and we still get many Police alerts detailing local burglaries and online scams, which are justifiably worrying to many local elderly residents; without regular Neighbourhood Watch alerts, crime trends and particular current threats would go largely unnoticed and make us all even more vulnerable to criminal exploitation. So Neighbourhood Watch IS still relevant AND necessary in the Police’s unceasing commitment for our protection from crime and our future security. Roy and Alan are hoping for a largely trouble-free departure from their ‘headline’ village-wide roles, but will still function as local NW Co-ordinators on their immediate patches. The Eco-Resilience Sub-Committee Wedmore Parish Council has formed an Eco-Resilience sub-committee. It is chaired by Shaun Thorogood and also includes Jacky Farley and Emily Mulliner. The aims of the sub-committee are: • To ensure that the Wedmore Parish Council’s Green Charter’s values and measures are carried out. • To raise awareness and engagement of local issues possibly caused by climate heating.

12 April 2020 RACHELLE mobile hairstylist hairstyling in the comfort of your own home

for appointments please call:

07866 732760 01934 750947

(559) (542)

HEALTH & FITNESS CLASSES

National Proficiency Test Certification Wedmore Village Hall and public liability insurance cover. Wednesday Work Outs * Pruning * Felling * Tree removal/ CORE STABILITY 10.30 - 11.30am (PilogaFit - Please bring an exercise mat) * Dismantling * Stump Grinding * * Crown Lifting/ Reductions * TAI CHI for Health & Vitality 12.15 - 1.15pm For a free, no obligation quote contact Drop in - Pay as you go - Just £5 per class Chris Hood NPTC Cert ND Arb John Beasley Personal Trainer, Exercise Referral & Lower Back Pain Specialist - Member REP’s Tel: 07738 678874

01749 672482 Email: [email protected] www.pilogafit.co.uk www.taichi24.co.uk www.tree-surgery-somerset.com (634) (584)

April 2020 13 (637)

(658) (657) LINDA THOMAS

NUTRITION LINDA FOR THOMAS BODY AND MIND

NUTRITION FOR BODY AND MIND

Are you fed up with health problems such as: Are you fed up with health problems such as: Digestive Issues Fatigue Digestive Issues Fatigue Aches Aches and and pains pains Low Low Mood Mood Skin SkinComplaints Complaints AnxietyAnxiety

Find out how Nutritional Therapy can help you Find out how Nutritional Therapy can help you  Personalised Nutrition Plans for your Individual Needs  Personalised Local, Professional, Nutrition Experienced Plans for Practitioner your Individual Needs  Local, Achievable Professional, Changes Experienced for Real Results Practitioner  AchievableCall for Changes a free, confidential for Real Results discussion today Tel: 07768 803198

Call for a free,Linda Thomas confidential BSc DipNT BANT discussion CNHC today RegisteredTel: 07768 Nutritional 803198 Therapist www.lindathomasnutrition.co.uk Linda Thomas BSc DipNT BANT CNHC Registered Nutritional Therapist www.lindathomasnutrition.co.uk

14 April 2020 • To list and prioritise possible projects to focus on locally, e.g; water butts, insulation etc • To work with the Wedmore Green group, District Council and particularly in regard to taking the village of Wedmore to Zero Carbon. • Reducing fossil fuels used by any council property or services and also private individuals. The Eco-Resilience sub-committee has a desire to be inclusive of any ideas or projects the parishioners of Wedmore have. If anyone would like to submit ideas to address sustainable issues please contact [email protected], your ward councillors or your MP. Wedmore First School Launches ‘Save our Pool’ Crowdfunding Initiative The Wedmore First School Parent Teacher Association (PTA) has launched a fund- raising initiative in an attempt to commission urgently needed repairs to the Wedmore community swimming pool located on the school grounds. The pool is desperately in need of quite costly maintenance work before it can re-open this summer with specialists advising that it cannot open until this work has been undertaken. The pool, which is a valued community asset, provides facilities for the school children from reception to year 4 to learn to swim, and socialise. Additionally, it is open throughout the summer holidays for local people to use for a small entrance fee, providing a valuable facility for those who may not otherwise be able to access a pool. It is bookable for children’s parties and also utilised by the school’s ‘out of school holiday club’. A crowd funding page for donations to the ‘Save our Pool’ fund has been set up. If you would like to donate, this can be done via the web link below, or alternatively, via cheque payable to ‘Wedmore First School PTA,’ our address is Blackford Road, Wedmore BS28 4BS. Please indicate the donation is for the ‘Save our Pool’ fund. Thank you. www.justgiving.com/crowdfunding/wedmore-community-pool Nicole Rossiter May Day in Theale – Friday 8 May We in Theale are planning a fun village event on the Bank Holiday of Friday 8 May from 3pm into the evening. There will be lots to do for all the family. For the younger people Jan Tomes, our local celebrated potter, will help you to make a piece of pottery. Also you can guess the weight of last year’s Theale Flower Show award-winning pumpkin, and collect a planted-up seed from this pumpkin, with thanks to Amanda Carver and Trevor Prideaux. For the adults, you can collect your free fuchsia plug. All of these can be nurtured and made ready to enter in the Theale Flower Show on 5 September. For a sneak preview of the classes in our September show and what classes you can make a start on at our May Day event, for example making something useful from re-cycled items, go to www.thealeflowershow.com and also on www.theale.ws Our celebrated Theale Thespians will be performing a specially written piece, which

April 2020 15 will bring tears of joy! There will be other ‘happenings’, including Maypole dancing and Boules. Of course there will be refreshments during the afternoon and then the famous Green Man pub will be open in the evening. There will be music all the way, including an ‘open mic’ session during the evening. So join us in Theale Village Hall and in the delightful adjoining orchard (with thanks to Anne and Dave Bodley) to make this special Bank Holiday special! For more information go to www.theale.ws or contact Phil Butterworth on 01934 806157, [email protected] Theale Show – Ted’s Taters in a Tub Competition! It’s time to start thinking about your potatoes, if you want to enter the grand ‘Ted’s Taters in a Tub’ competition at the Theale Show this September. This is what you need to do: Potatoes to be grown in a maximum of 25 litres of soil / compost. Any variety or number of seed potatoes may be used. Changing or replacing the growing medium is not permitted. Haulms to be cut. Then on Show Day, on 5 September there will be the Big Dig at 5.00pm! Each competitor will be required to turn out the container when asked to do so by the judge. The judge will weigh the crop of potatoes. The prize is for the competitor with the heaviest crop of potatoes in the container. The prize will be £5.00 and a novelty trophy. So don’t delay, plan to plant today! There is more information about how to grow potatoes successfully in containers on the world wide web! Remember you need to register your entry by 9pm on Thursday 3 September 2020. Go to www.thealeflowershow.com for details about how to make your entry and about the Show. Cathy Butterworth, Show Secretary, Theale Show 01934 806157, cb@ theconsultant.org Wedmore Open Gardens Saturday 6 June With much regret this event has been cancelled, the Organizers wish to thank all who stepped forward and offered support. Wedmore Guides Need Your Help! Wedmore has had an active Girl Guiding unit in the village for over 94 years providing fun and life skills for girls between 10 and 15 years on a weekly basis during school term time. The current leadership team are very keen to continue this fabulous opportunity for our local girls but need some help to do so.

16 April 2020 (654)

Suzie Beale Personal Trainer Conditioning Strength Cardiovascular Nutrition Weight Management

I offer tailor-made plans and enjoy working with people of all ages, abilities and fitness levels. My personal experiences and enthusiasm mean that I am committed to helping people achieve their goal. [email protected] 07494471500 (656)

Septic tank Sedgemoor District Council fund a emptying home improvement loan scheme for homeowners and landlords*. Sewage treatment We understand the expense of plant installations maintaining your home. We want to help you to take the stress out of funding repairs, improvements or Drain unblocking adaptations to your home. We see you as an individual, not a Cctv drain survey credit score. For a free, no obligation home visit or more information: Avalon Waste Contact Wessex Resolutions CIC on Management Ltd 01823 461099 or visit www.wessexresolutions.org.uk 01458 850155 *Subject to eligibility [email protected]

(653) (638)

April 2020 17 (455)

(237) (096) C.V. Gower & Son INDEPENDENT FAMILY FUNERAL DIRECTORS DAMAGED YOUR VEHICLE? CALL

WESSEX † All localities covered † 24 hr. Service every day ON 01749 870990 † Distance and Overseas Funerals † Pre-paid Funeral Plans WESSEX BODYWORKS Unit 9 Lodge Hill Industrial Estate † Private Chapel of Rest Westbury-sub-Mendip † Green Funerals arranged For all your Vehicle Body Repairs Resprays, Restoration and For FREE advice on all matters Welding Specialists relating to Funerals contact MOT Preparation and Insurance Repairs Undertaken Lindsay Lawrence on 842945

18 April 2020 We would love to recruit some willing volunteers to join us in running the unit – you don’t need a particular skill set, just a willingness to muck in and have some fun. It doesn’t even need to be every week…just a commitment to come and give us a hand with craft/cooking/games trips and camps. Go on, there is a Girl Guide in us all. Come and join us to ensure that we can continue to run this brilliant unit in the village. Please just give me a call for a chat if you are interested – or pop into the village hall on a Wednesday evening 7pm-8.30pm to see what we get up to. Elaine Tilling Wedmore Guides – Unit Leader, 01934 713650 Our Health and Wellbeing In collaboration with and Wedmore Medical Practice and Wedmore Parish Council here is this month’s item relating to our health and wellbeing. News from our GP Practices Since 1 July 2019 our GP practices have been working in a slightly different way. This is in response to new guidance from NHS in their Long-Term Plan, updated in August 2019. Groups of GP practices have come together to work in Primary Care Networks (PCN). Our North Sedgemoor PCN comprises of the GP practices in Highbridge, Brent area, Burnham and Berrow, Cheddar, Axbridge and Wedmore. Dr Ed Ford,Chair of Somerset Clinical Commissioning Group said: ‘The Primary Care Networks will give our GP practices the ability to be flexible in creating multi-disciplinary teams which are tailored to respond to local needs and issues.’ For example, this may mean that we could be offered an appointment for specialist services, eg counselling or physiotherapy in another location. If we do see a practitioner in another practice he/she will have access to our records electronically, so there is continuity of care. Dr Joey McHugh from Axbridge & Wedmore practice is the Clinical Director of our North Sedgemoor PCN. Meaningful conversations and planning ahead A benefit of the PCN is that services can be provided according to local need. For example, a new project is being launched in North Sedgemoor PCN to enable people to discuss their wishes and plan their future care needs. This is known as ‘advance care planning’. This process is akin to taking out an insurance policy, but relates to our health and social care. Initially this opportunity for advance care planning is being offered to people with a known health condition, so if there is a time when they are unable to say what they want, their wishes are known and can be complied with, as far as possible. For example, a diagnosis of dementia would be a good time to consider advance care planning. However it is hoped that advance care planning will be widely accepted and commonplace for us all, as none of us know what the future might hold. Perhaps the most important thing is to have meaningful conversations with those close to us about what is important to us in life. Many people write a ‘bucket list’ – things we want to do or achieve before we ‘kick the bucket’.

April 2020 19 Marie Curie is managing this advance care planning project, as they have expertise in supporting people with life-limiting illnesses and their families. A volunteer will support the person to discuss their wishes and help devise an ‘advance care plan’, with support from a healthcare professional. If you are interested in learning more about becoming a volunteer please link with Julia Bearne [email protected], & Sandy Haskings [email protected], who can arrange training. Axbridge and Wedmore Medical Practice Talking Cafes In response to community need, Axbridge and Wedmore Medical Practice will set up ‘talking cafes’ in Axbridge and Wedmore once the existing ban on none-essential public meetings is rescinded. The Health Coaching team are really excited to be launching Talking Cafés in the area. The aim of the Cafés is to have a time and space where local people can come together, make friends and chat to a Health Coach about activities, support groups and services in their community. Nanny Ida’s on Church Street Wedmore will host the Café in Wedmore on the second Thursday of each month. Likewise, The Almshouse Tea Shop in The Square, Axbridge will host the Talking Café on the last Wednesday of each month. The Practice really appreciates the community support already received in the setup of our health initiatives and hopes it continues so we are able to provide a support base within our communities.

For more information about all the themes go to www.theisleofwedmore.net/health. You can also follow us on Facebook @wedmorehawb

20 April 2020 (277)

DO YOU HAVE TECHNOLOGY PROBLEMS?

JAMDEGA CAN SOLVE THEM !!

Contact Jamdega to see how we can help you. Jamdega Making tech easy

call us: 01934 289089

e-mail us: [email protected]

www.jamdega.co.uk

For the home and business we can support you with following and much more WiFi Smart Assistants Device Set Up Somerset Sports Therapy Fitness Clinic Internet Smart TVs Smart Home Connectivity Tech Support Smart Anything! We are now open in the heart of Wedmore Jamdega offers a variety of services to help you have greatWe technology are a bespoke that works. clinic and fitness hub where you can come to, relax and be treated for sports related injuries, chronic Remove the hassle and forget the struggle, let Jamdegapain, sortrestricted the tech. and tight muscles, poor posture and rehabilitation, everything that you will need is under one roof. It may be that you have a chronic niggling back ache, sore and tense shoulders, an old sports injury, or have a busy lifestyle and just want to reach your (680)fitness goals and improve your fitness levels.

Treatments that we offer are sports therapy and soft tissue therapy, sports(681) and remedial massage, injury treatment, Somersetrehabilitation, Sports fitness Therapy classes, personal Fitness training, Clinicspinning and Pilates. In the heart of Wedmore

We are delighted to now offer Restorative Yoga classes which will be held every Thursday afternoon at 1pm, with Sarah Frost. Please contact Sarah on 07742145128 or [email protected] to book your place.

We are a bespoke clinic and �itness hub where you can come to andBookings by appointment only be treated for sports related injuries, chronic pain, restricted [email protected] tight muscles, poor posture and rehabilitation, everything that youwww.somersetsportstherapy.co.uk will need is under one roof. It fb. somersetsportstherapyfitnessclinic may be that you have a chronic niggling back ache, sore and tense shoulders, an old sports injury, 07747798508 or have a busy lifestyle and just want to reach your �itness goals and improve your �itness levels. The Cottage @ The George Inn Treatments that we offer are sports therapy, soft tissue therapy, sportsChurch and Street,remedial W massage,edmore injury BS28 4AB treatment,Our evening rehabilitation, Spin personalclasses training, are spin classes and PilatesBookings classes by with appointment Tabitha Morton. only. now open for booking. [email protected] www.somersetsportstherapy.co.uk �b. somersetsportstherapy�itnessclinic 07747798508 The Cottage @ The George Inn, Church Street, Wedmore BS28 4AB

April 2020 21 (026)

CHEDDAR ROAD, CLEWER

Come in and choose your own fresh VEG, FRUIT & FLOWERS or have your order made up for you and delivered locally.

Seeds, perennials, Spring and start of Summer bedding.

Range of compost & grow bags

Opening Times Monday to Friday 9:00-17:15

Saturday 9:00-13:00 14:00-17:00 01934 742881 [email protected]

(684)

Opening times HAVE ANTIQUES TOMonday SELL? to Friday 9:00-5:15 Saturday 9:00-1:00 2:00-5:00 WE OFFER FREE HOME VISITS AT YOUR CONVENIENCE, PLEASE CONTACT OUR SALE ROOMS OFFICE TO BOOK A 9 carat gold charm AN APPOINTMENT bracelet, sold for £440

The Agricultural Centre, Standerwick, Nr Frome, BA11 2QB Tel: 01373 852419 Email: [email protected]

(666)

22 April 2020 Wedmore by Lamplight If you value this popular village event and would be able to help in any way be it in marketing, publicity, creativity, hands on or have any ideas please contact Heather Hector by e-mail: [email protected] Music in Mind – Group for People with Dementia and their Carers With regret, all planned sessions in April and May are cancelled, we will resume as soon as we get the green light to do so. Stella Moore,Registered Music Therapist, HCPC 01934 732282 Rileys Cove Duo at New Inn Sadly the planned appearance of Rileys Cove, the acoustic duo playing live at the New Inn, has been postponed until further notice. Coffee Morning / Plant Sale for Cancer Research My annual May Coffee Morning will be on a different date this year - the May Day Bank Holiday has changed, so my Coffee Morning / Plant Sale for Cancer Research UK will now be on the Spring Bank Holiday Monday, 25 May 2020. 10am -12noon - tea, coffee, cakes, crafts, plants, plants and more plants. Stook House Farm, Littlemoor Road, Mark. TA9 4NL. One and a half miles from Mark Church. Hope you see you there. Lynne Duckett The Wedmore 40 / 30 – Sunday 5 July This is a 30, 40 or a combined 70-mile charity bike ride which has been running since 2018. There’s also a family-friendly 12-mile ride too. Event HQ is the Post & Wicket and the routes pass through iconic landmarks like Cheddar Gorge and the . The volunteer organisers very kindly chose the hospice alongside St Mary’s Church to support. This year, Weston Hospicecare’s events and communications are working closely with the volunteers in a bid to attract 400 riders. Riders can sign up online via https://register.primoevents.com/ps/event/ Wedmore40302020. For further information, please visit www.westonhospicecare.org.uk/wedmore-40-30 Allerton CC v Lashings World X1 – Friday 10 July From 12.00 noon. This event is fundraising for the Allerton CC pavilion project – aiming to replace the current facility. We are hosting a celebrity lunch in a marquee at the club. The Lashings World XI squad will come to Allerton for a lunch in a marquee at the club followed by a T20 game against Allerton CC. There will also be a free coaching session with the stars for local school children in the morning.

April 2020 23 In case you aren’t familiar, the Lashings World XI are a touring side of former international cricket stars (England, WI, India, Pakistan, Australia) including Courtney Walsh, Curtly Ambrose, Charl Willoughby, Chris Lewis, John Embury, Martin Bicknell, Devon Malcolm https://lashingsworld.com/our-legends/ we are awaiting our final team confirmation, but we have confirmed that Henry Blofeld will be attending, and providing live match commentary! The match in the evening will be open to the public, with early bird tickets for £5, or £10 on the gate. We will have a and food available on site. Parking in an adjacent field. Spectators can bring their own seating. The match is expected to finish around 8pm. The celebrity lunch is £700 for a table of 10 VIP guests, which includes a 3-course catered lunch and four bottles of wine. The lunch will include entertainment and a chance to meet the stars. We have some tables left but currently have 230 guests confirmed. Our hosted tables of 9 with a star are sold out. Contact information: Email [email protected] to book tickets or a table. Or call 07966 528 273. Club address: Allerton CC, New Road, Chapel Allerton, BS26 2PA St Mary’s Church Flower Festival – Saturday 11 and Sunday 12 July On the weekend of 11 and 12 July, there will be a Flower Festival in St Mary’s when we plan to fill the church with a large number of wonderful arrangements of beautiful flowers, most of them depicting ‘What’s On In Wedmore,’ showcasing the many clubs, societies and businesses that make up this well-known and important village. If you, or your club, society or business would like to help by either arranging flowers or giving a donation towards the cost this will be hugely appreciated. Your contribution will be acknowledged next to the arrangement and in the programme. All proceeds from the Festival will go towards the upkeep of our lovely medieval church. Nearer the time we will also be looking for help with providing refreshments of coffees, light lunches and cream teas as well as appealing for greenery for the arrangements. For more information or offers of help please contact Heather Hector 01934 712478 or Sarah Wilcox 01934 712342. Wedmore Harvest Home – Friday 21 August Some info on this year’s Harvest Home event, with more to follow soon: 12.30pm Luncheon for Ladies and Gentlemen over 16 years We will let you know when tickets are available to buy. As always these can be bought from Arthur Gadd on 01934 713063. There will be no door to door ticket sales this year, please buy through Arthur, the Paper Shop (Wedmore Village Store) or Hectors Farmshop. BYO wine for the tables.

24 April 2020 (651)

April 2020 25 (330) (004) N C TUCKER BUILDING CONTRACTOR New patients are very welcome

www.wedmoredental.co.uk [email protected] 01934 713013 ALL ASPECTS OF Wedmore Dental Practice BUILDING WORK The team behind your smile UNDERTAKEN

Jennifer Morecroft - GDC 112769 Practice Principal – B.D.S ( U.BRIST ) MFGDP

Peter Sedgwick - GDC 55821 Practice Associate – BDS (U.BRIST) DPDS (U.BRIST) Steel Framed Buildings Sally Cantwell - GDC 2213 Dental Hygienist – EDH Conservatories Jane Fellows - GDC 3540 Dental Hygienist – EDH Renovations, etc.

Preventative, conventional and advanced cosmetic treatments Tel: 01934 712020 or 07771 562255 (Mobile)

Wedmore Dental Practice, Coronation House, The Borough, Wedmore, Somerset BS28 4EG

(387)

26 April 2020 4.45 pm Childrens’ Tea Children under 16 years of the of Wedmore are invited, free of charge, to enjoy sandwiches and cakes. Entertainment also included! Tickets can be bought from the Paper Shop or from Arthur Gadd. Evening Entertainment This year Headlining is The Leylines!! We also have the local band ‘One for the Road.’ Along with DJ Olly from Enhanced Entertainment. As normal, there will be food and drink available. Bring ID, as if you are lucky enough to look under 25 ID will be required. IT for the Terrified Are you Terrified of Tablets? Or irritated by iPads? Or Stumped by Samsung? Then why not give us a ring and see if we can help? IT for the Terrified provides help with using tablets, smartphones, cameras, computers, and similar devices on a one to one basis. Each informal session of two hours costs £10 and is tailored to meet the individual’s needs, in a relaxed and friendly way, using their own equipment. Our volunteer trainers can help with most subjects and fully understand that the use of modern technology can be daunting to the newcomer. We can cover android ‘phones, android tablets and iPads, iPhones, Windows and Macs. If you are a beginner getting started or have some experience and need help with something new, please telephone us 01934 741751 as we will need to book an appointment for you. We meet at Cheddar Village Hall next to St Andrew’s church, Church Street, Cheddar, BS27 3RF. Appointments are essential and cost £10 for a two-hour session, but please ask if there is more than one of you or you have any other requirements. Check out our articles in the Mendip Times magazine – free in your area or on www.mendiptimes.co.uk.

Contact us at I.T. for the Terrified: 01934 741751 (usually goes to a answer phone – please leave a message) www.itfortheterrified.co.uk [email protected]

Usually using Cheddar Village Hall, Church Street, Cheddar, Somerset, BS27 3RF Registered Charity No. 1130308: Company No. 06779600 Or if you have any basic skills to share, please get in touch Wedmore Real Ale Festival 2020 After last year’s fantastic fundraising feat of £19,000 for 17 local beneficiaries, Wedmore Real Ale Festival has now raised a staggering £205,221 since the festival began back in 2001! With our 20-year anniversary on the horizon, we are busy planning this year’s milestone festival, which will take place on Friday 18 – Sunday 20 September. After the huge success of our new venue last year, we will be returning to the glorious spot at Glebe Field, Manor Lane, Wedmore, BS28 4EQ.

April 2020 27 Whether you volunteered to help, took up one of our sponsorship opportunities, donated an auction or raffle prize or simply turned up and drank ales in 2019, you made a valuable and much-appreciated contribution to our fundraising efforts last year. So many, many thanks for your support and we hope that you, your loved ones, colleagues and everyone else you know can join us again this year. If you would like to support the festival by sponsoring a barrel of beer or cider, then James Turbitt would love to hear from you. Just email [email protected] with your details and James will be in touch. We are also currently appealing 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 great fundraiser, so your contributions will make a real difference to local worthy causes. If you would like to volunteer during the festival either to help us to set up in the mornings, during the festival or to clear up 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. 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 brand new website www.wedmorerealale.com. Alan Page

28 April 2020 (370) (524)

MLB HYPNOTHERAPY If you think your life could be better, you’re right, it can!

Anxiety & stress - Sleep disorders - Fears & phobias - Panic attacks N Duckett Tree Surgery

www.nduckett-treesurgery.co.uk

 All aspects of tree work undertaken  NPTC qualified Michelle Louise Balson  RGN, DSFH, AfSFH, MNCH (Reg), CNHC Fully Insured

 11 Years’ Experience  Hedge Cutting Registered Nurse &  Garden Clearance Solution Focused Hypnotherapist  Stump Grinding Wedmore Surgery & Hampden Osteopathic Clinic, Winscombe

07792042388 [email protected] MLBHYPNOTHERAPY.CO.UK [email protected] [email protected] 07887902557

(535) (647)

April 2020 29 (599)

(682)

30 April 2020 A Day in the Life Are you a local professional or someone involved in running a local organisation in the Isle of Wedmore? Would you like to share some of the things you do or perhaps raise awareness of your organisation? Please contact Liz Sweeney by email, [email protected]. Focus on Businesses The Music Pantry – a fusion of music and good food When I walked into The Music Pantry it felt a bit like entering someone’s sitting room. This is the kind of intimacy that Heather Brumby and Liam Howard are aiming to create with their restaurant-cum-music venue on The Borough in Wedmore. Heather grew up in Weston- super-Mare before moving to Westhay and then . She first worked in the motor industry then for North Somerset Council, supporting young people to find positive activities and commissioning services for them. She said that she found this very rewarding as it entailed listening to what the public needed and becoming an advocate for them. In 2014 she got married and, as she was a vegetarian, she found it difficult to find caterers to provide the kind of tasty buffet with plenty of variety that she wanted. She therefore decided to do the catering herself. It was so successful that a friend asked her to do the catering for her wedding. Heather found she really enjoyed creating menus and so, just over two years ago, she asked a friend who has a café in Weston-super-Mare if should could do a pop-up café, with plant-based menu and music every Sunday. She called it The Music Pantry. It went from strength to strength so she considered looking for permanent premises and giving up her day job which had become more challenging owing to budget constraints. She persuaded per partner Liam, who is a song writer and musician, to

April 2020 31 join her in the venture. They looked for premises in Glastonbury but then the café in The Borough (formerly The Dining Room) became available. Liam said that he has always been heavily into music as far back as he can remember and aspired to be some kind of performer. However, he studied IT and remained in this type of job for 10 years while still being obsessed with music. The fact that he was made redundant was the impetus for him to form a band - ‘Liam Howard and the Truthseekers’ - and to write over 100 songs. The band has played all over the South West and he has also played with other bands. Living off music entirely is not easy as it is difficult to get gigs, especially for a band playing original songs. His sister works in the care sector and persuaded him to try it out. He now works helping adults with learning disabilities and really enjoys it. The Music Pantry opened in December 2019, initially from Thursday to Sunday. The opening hours will be expanded in April when Heather will be working full-time at the restaurant. Heather cooks the plant-based menu and prides herself on her creativity to produce tasty and healthy meals. The Music Pantry meals are suitable for the whole range of consumers from vegans to those who only occasionally eat a wholly plant-based meal. The Sunday roast is one of the most popular meals. Heather’s mother makes the desserts, cakes and pastries and also helps Liam in front of house. In addition to greeting customers, Liam takes care of the music and entertainment. There is a big screen at one end of the restaurant showing music films and videos. When I went there, Elvis was singing. Thursday evening is ‘open mic’ evening. Heather told me that she prefers to do ‘bowl food’ for these sessions – for example curry, chowder or pasta – so that people can stand up and move around if they wish. The first ‘secret session’ took place recently - an intimate concert with Liam’s band and a meal. Liam intends to organise one of these sessions once a month using his contacts to invite local bands. Heather and Liam have many ideas for other activities – for example talks and art exhibitions. They will also organise customised private functions. What came across in my discussion with Heather and Liam was their high level of enthusiasm and lots of ideas, but also the realisation that they need to be flexible and to listen to customers to create a successful business. They said they aim to reach the point where customers have complete confidence in the choice of music and food at The Music Pantry and can thus turn up to an event knowing that it will be an enjoyable experience. Liz Sweeney Do You Run a Business in the Parish? Then how about telling our readers more about yourself? Who are you? What is your business? Are you from the Wedmore area? If not, where did you come from? What motivated you to start, take over or carry on the business? If you would like to share your story, send an email to [email protected] or [email protected] and I will contact you for a short interview. Liz Sweeney

32 April 2020

“A name you can trust or secast ea serces”

 Accident Claims  Divorce and Family  Attorneyships & Ct. of Protection  Employment Advice  Commercial Property  Moving Home, Conveyancing  Commercial Litigation  Probate & Estate Services  Disputes & Debt Recovery  Wills, Trusts & Tax planning

Visit our local offices at Cheddar Road, Wedmore

www.johnhodge.co.uk | 01934 713030 | [email protected]

WESTON-SUPER-MARE | BRISTOL | CLEVEDON | YATTON | WEDMORE

(431)

(592)

April 2020 33 (685)

REFLEXOLOGY & INDIAN HEAD MASSAGE IN WEDMORE Feeling tired, stressed or anxious? Want to reduce pain, especially from arthritis? Suffering from ongoing medical conditions? Need relief during cancer treatments? Lift your mood and get a feeling of wellbeing Come and experience the benefits of these holistic treatments Find out more Contact Wendy Rider on 07935 275451 or email [email protected] Practising from Essence Beauty, Church Street, Wedmore BS28 4AB

(430)

34 April 2020 Reports and Society Updates St Mary’s Church 100 Club Two more lucky numbers to announce this month. The first is ticket number 31 for Mr David Eccles, the second number 78 for Mrs Sue Record. Congratulations to both. Wedmore WI Our February meeting was well attended and Jill welcomed a new member. We were reminded of the Road Show at in March and seven members will be going. It is our turn to serve tea and coffee at the Cheddar Country Market in April and several members agreed to help. Our Wedmore WI tablecloth is out of date as it is some time since new members signed it. Their names will be embroidered on it as a permanent record of their membership. Our speaker was Linda Wright, a flower arranger who kept us entertained as she produced six totally different arrangements in a variety of containers. She started off with a simple bunch of tulips in a small ‘fishbowl,’ another was a deceptively simple design in a pink flowerpot, this consisted of four twigs and 10 pink roses. As she demonstrated we all joined in with her commentary and picked up flower arranging tips that we can use ourselves. As a bonus the floral arrangements were raffled off at the end of the meeting. Diana Rocky Green Wedmore Events All events including the regular monthly meetings at the Swan are cancelled until further notice. Club 50 All excursions for the year are at present suspended until further notice. The Friends of St. Mary’s The ‘Pisces Challenge’ Skittles Dean’s splendid fruit and veg box was won by Wedmore’s naughtiest boy who does not eat his greens. He donated the hamper to Weston Hospicecare! It was a good evening all round - brief but informative AGM, fun skittles and well-done New Inn landlord Alex for excellent fish and chips. Accounts and Projects With lots of members, fruitful events and kind donations there is a very positive balance in the accounts - this despite purchasing new benches for the churchyard, refurbishing the doorway lamps and contributions towards interior lighting. On the other hand, purchase of projection equipment to enhance future events, contributions to works to the window protective grilles, to stonework and to the down pipes will make a dent. Other projects to buy a new St George’s flag, refurbish the Tucker Cole

April 2020 35 memorial stone and help the ringers with work to the bell mechanisms will also reduce the balance.

Future Events • Street Fair one-armed bandit on 4 July • The Wedmore 40/30 on 5 July (300/350 riders expected this year) • August Bank Holiday 31 August Tower Tours day • The Clash of the Choirs on 10 October Members The more the merrier! Join us to raise money to maintain and enhance St Mary’s as an all-village community centre. See www.tinyurl.com/friendsofstmarys or call David Hopkins 01934 710149 Wedmore Opera Goers Forthcoming Events • 21 May to Stratford for Comedy of errors • 25 June to Birmingham to see Don Quixote ballet by Carlos Acosta • 10 September to Stratford for Winter’s Tale • 27 September to Cardiff to see Barber of Seville • 14 March 2021 to Cardiff to see Der Rosencavalier Tickets are available from 712515.

36 April 2020 THE BOROUGH MALL

WEDMORE

The Borough Mall offers an ideal destination for gifts, furnishings and materials, post office, hairdressing, beauty, chiropody, fresh fish, shoes, bags, ladies fashion, handmade jewellery and a deli offering coffees and lunches.

We also have to let from time to time offices and industrial units in the parish of Wedmore

LIVE LOCALLY | SHOP LOCALLY | WORK LOCALLY [email protected]

Tel: 01934 713130 (answerphone) (519)

(480)

benjamin+beauchamp architects www.b2architects.com

April 2020 37 (398) (612) MARK GRIFFITHS AJ Aspects All aspects of wood floor renovation PLUMBING AND • Floor laying, herringbone, plank, borders HEATING • Sanding, wood stains, hard Gas Safe registered wax oils and laquers (190721) • Dust free sanding

All work undertaken Reliable, friendly service at reasonable prices CITY & GUILDS QUALIFIED Fully insured, CARPENTER & JOINER all work is guaranteed MOBILE 07568 545553 HOME 01278 652004 3 Pilcorn Street, Wedmore Tel: (01934) 712446 EMAIL: [email protected] Mobile: 07971 648691 [email protected]

Wedmore Bed & Breakfast

Orchard Farm, Cheddar Road, Cocklake, Wedmore, Somerset. BS28 4HS www.thesomersetsausagecompany.co.uk Bringing a taste of the West Country to Wedmore [email protected] 01934 712311 A food gem in the heart of Somerset offering a fabulous array of local Artisan HALF PIGS for your FREEZER Cheese, Charcuterie and Deli goods and gift hampers Gloucester Old spot Pork from our own “Orchard Farm” Cocklake. Fully licensed Café and Garden serving delicious home-made Food including light Cut bagged and delivered Bright Spacious Bedrooms with private lunches and cakes £115 Each bathroom. Pretty garden. Peaceful and HOG ROASTS Andrea Brenner at Pumpkin also provides high quality outside catering, including relaxing. Just a stone’s throw from canapés, buffets, catering for dinner parties and weddings DIY - Cooked and delivered for you to carve. Wedmore’s amazing pubs and shops. Whole or Half. Wedding Cheese Cake specialists The Full Monty - Cooked, Delivered and carved For great rates and more information with all the trimmings. Monday to Saturday 8.30am to 5pm 07557 912 468 Also available catered B.B.Q’s The Borough Mall, Wedmore, BS28 4EB www.pumpkinwedmore.co.uk 01934 713 289 ( please call for prices) [email protected]

(380) 38 The Dining Room April 2020 Wedmore 01934 710080 At Roderick Thomas we have over 35 years experience in promoting & selling properties. Open 7 days a week, serving local and home produced good quality food. We have professionally qualified valuers and are registered with the Royal Institute of Chartered Surveyors. We are open for morning coffee, light lunches and afternoon teas. The dining room is available for private parties, also outside catering for all types of events. We offer a unique service, putting a very strong emphasis on high quality marketing materials and frequent communication with buyers and sellers. We are also fully licensed, so why not have a glass of wine with your lunch We pride ourselves on being friendly, approachable and professional and believe that these or Prosecco with afternoon tea! qualities lead to the high number of sales we are achieving.

Forthcoming events Opening times Please contact us if you are considering selling for a no obligation conversation. Pre Opera Supper Monday to Saturday 9.30am - 4.00pm th Wells Castle Cary Wedmore Wednesday 8 July 2015 Sunday 12.00pm - 3.00pm Tel: 01749 670079 Tel: 01963 351993 Tel: 01934 710220 Friday 10th July 2015 [email protected] [email protected] [email protected] Saturday 11th July 2015 Wedmore 5.00pm onwards 01934 710080 www.roderickthomas.co.uk Wedmore Gardening Club On Tuesday 25 February, Christopher Smith from Pennard Plants gave an interesting talk on ‘The Edible Garden’. We thought this would be about vegetables as Pennard were specialists in heritage seeds, but having changed direction now grow only edible plants. Flowers from viola, cornflower, calendula, rose and magnolia petals - maybe scattered on salads or used to make a syrup - as well as the many well-known plants, including fuchsia, whose berries we eat, as well as dahlia tubers. Jean Windridge Isle of Wedmore Society Meeting – Thursday 27 February Our scheduled Speaker unfortunately had to cancel his talk so we were very grateful for one of our own members, Lester Durston, who at short notice agreed to give us a talk entitled ‘ A short Journey in Oman’. Lester has travelled to many out of the way places in the world with his late wife Kate and Oman, situated at the southern end of the Arabian Peninsular, is probably one of the more civilized and up-to-date countries that they have been to. Oman is 25% larger than the UK, but with a population of only 4.2 million people. Sultan Qaboos, who was largely educated in Britain, came to power in 1970 and continued in power until his death in January this year. He was based in the capital Muscat and was well thought of but had no children so has passed power over to a paternal cousin. Oman is surrounded by The United Arab Emirates, Saudi Arabia and to the south west by The Yemen and although it borders on many volatile countries it has remained peaceful and well ruled and relies on its oil production.The country is a mixture of coastal ports, the Hijar Mountains and the vast Wahiba Sands (desert area). It is spotlessly clean with friendly people and has an increasing amount of foreign visitors and for UK travellers is only about six hours flying distance. The weather is mainly dry and hot. Lester gave us an interesting talk accompanied by some excellent slides and I am sure we all went away with a greater understanding and recognition of this wonderful holiday destination. Chris Edwards Cheddar Vale Lions Club News It was a great pleasure to attend the Thinking Day Event run by the Axbridge District for Girl Guiding at St John the Baptist Church on Thursday 27 February. The theme of Diversity, Equality and Inclusion was demonstrated though a variety of presentations from Guides, Brownies and Rainbows in the district. During the service, Lion President Keith Cook of Cheddar Vale Lions Club was invited to present three of the Guides, one from Wedmore and two from Cheddar, with Gold Lions Young Leaders in Service Awards. This award is presented for achieving at least 100 hours of service to the

April 2020 39 community in a period of 12 months. Between them Sarah Moreman, Isla May Parker and Clarissa Dawkins have clocked up 392 hours of service, so are very well deserving of their awards.

Guides Presented with Young Leaders in Service Gold Awards Bev Davies, Cheddar Guide and Ranger Leader, also received special award. A very surprised Bev was awarded the Silver Oak Leaf for her 21 years of outstanding commitment to Girl Guiding and the development of the new ICE programme, by Sarah French, Deputy Region Chief Commissioner for . We are delighted that Bev has received this honour. She is a long standing supporter of Cheddar Vale Lions youth projects and was awarded a MJF for her services to the community in 2016. Wedmore Women Wheelers We are a recently established cycling group catering for women of all ages and cycling abilities. The group usually meets on a Sunday morning outside The Post and Wicket, Wedmore Sports Centre at 10am. There are often rides on weekdays too. Many members of the group are new to cycling or haven’t cycled for many years. In April there will be some easy 5-mile rides for anyone new or starting again. Our rides are led by a club representative and no-one is left behind. Rides vary in length and are mostly on the gentle terrain of the Somerset Levels. The routes are regularly risk assessed for your safety. The group usually stops for refreshments and a chat during a ride. We are a friendly group of ladies and look forward to welcoming you on a ride. More information can be found on Facebook,

40 April 2020 Open 7 days a week: Mon to Sat – 10am to 4pm & Sunday – 11am to 3pm We are next door to Ollie’s Cafe/ Bristol Road , Somerset TA9 4HJ Email: [email protected] Call: 01278 760 800

www.thefrockshop.agency (352)

(467) Karen Larsen MCSP, BSc Hons Physiotherpy The Surgery St Medard Road Wedmore BS28 4AY [email protected] Wedmore Physiotherapy 0751 5532808 Treatment of • Back and neck pain • Sports Injuries • Joint problems and arthritis • Orthopaedic rehabilitation • Acupuncture • Work station assessment

Recognised by Insurance Companies,HPC registered,Home visits available,Please call for further information Www.wedmorephysiotherapy.com

April 2020 41

(587)

u oro gh B Nick PoPle B PaiNtiNg, DecoratiNg & B B e o reStoratioN ServiceS S i a d ut t u all iNterior aND exterior y S work uNDertakeN Barbara Francois BABTAC call for free eStimate 01934 712010

Mobile: 07743 563 510 www.boroughbeautystudio.co.uk

Tel: 01934 713 415

eMail: [email protected] Open Tuesday – Saturday address: BlackforD SomerSet 7 Borough Mall, Wedmore, BS28 4EB

(007)

(667) (013) Redwood Joinery

RATCLIFFE

• Windows • Doors • Bi-Fold Doors BROS • General Bespoke Joinery DUNNICKS MEAD 01278 685010 WEDMORE’S [email protected] M.0.T. www.redwoodjoinery.co.uk STATION 26A Vicarage Road, , TA7 8DX TEL 01934 712170

42 April 2020 (384) Nigel Annett’s PIANO

Buildings Repair & LESSONS Maintenance Service Liz May CARPENTRY Cert Ed Music Dip PAINTING, ETC Songwriting & Recording

For friendly advice on all those small jobs the larger builder doesn’t want Established in 2002 Telephone 100% pass rate NIGEL ANNETT on 01934 713219 01278 783709 Over 40 years ’ experience Mobile 07814 284477 (357) (384)

Wedmore iT Expert Advice in Plain English

For all your computer related needs. Home and business calls welcome; no job too large or small.

PC or Mac, tablets and smartphones (Apple or Android), home assistants (e.g. Alexa or Google). Virtual reality and bespoke PC gaming systems, and all other computer peripherals.

If you are having problems with your broadband or other suppliers, we can help with that too.

For businesses we can help with all aspects of IT: procurement, support, project management, security, cost/benefit analysis, improving network performance, data compliance and disaster recovery planning.

For a prompt, reliable and friendly service please call: Peter Holmes on 01934 733361 or 07876 652200 or email: [email protected] Or visit our website: wedmoreit.co.uk

Proud to have been serving the local community since 2000.

(323)

April 2020 43 Instagram, the club’s website: wedmorewomenwheelers.weebly.com/ or by [email protected] Local RNLI News On Saturday 1 February the RNLI Folk Night in St James’ Hall featured singer, songwriter and acoustic guitarist Jez Lowe who treated us to another evening of top quality folk music with excellent vocals and brilliant guitar playing; this produced a profit of £1,200. On Tuesday 24 March at our AGM in Winscombe Cricket Club our Chairman Allan reported that in 2019 there had been 30 separate events: nine collections at supermarkets/garden centres; four fair / fete type events; four charity card/souvenir sales events; four RNLI Meetings; eight Branch organised events including two Folk Nights and two Supper Nights; and attendance at the very first Wells Emergency Services Day. Our Treasurer Steve reported a profit in 2019 of £22,978. Local Launches in February Six launches (Minehead – 2, Portishead - 3 and W-S-M – 1). Minehead Lifeboat Station has just taken delivery of a brand new D Class Lifeboat constructed at the RNLI’s own inshore lifeboat centre on the . The cost of £52,000 was part funded by the station’s fundraising committee that raised all the money from the Minehead community within six months. The new boat will be known as Exmoor Belle – the winning name chosen after a competition among pupils at Minehead Middle School. Cheddar Vale Lions Popular Jumble Sale Despite , our supporters turned out to support the annual and very successful Jumble Sale which was held in Cheddar Village Hall on Saturday 15 February. They were queueing at the door by 1pm, an hour before the opening! Hundreds of donated items were displayed and the majority either sold on the day or, at the end, delivered to local charities or organisations to sell in aid of their causes. On the day Cheddar Vale Lions took over £405 to support their charitable work in the local community. The pictures show the Lions Club members preparing for the day’s sale and members of the public delving into the many bargains. Inner Wheel Club Wrington Vale Race Night Well a fun time was promised and by the looks of it, that’s what they all had! Racing Night on 21 February was a great success with four pedigree mounts ridden by jockeys of National Hunt standard (!) in a packed and exciting race card. Our picture shows President Angie leading the field – I think. Difficult to say with any surety as the horses didn’t actually move but that of course was the whole point! No point-to-point (sorry I couldn’t resist the pun) in staging the races outdoors in this weather so he/she who peddles fastest wins the race. The overall winner was presented with her Gold Medal (as opposed to a Gold Cup – some other racing venue had already filched that idea!) Having come first in

44 April 2020 her own race, this intrepid jockey took on all the winners of the other five races and beat them all. Her only handicap was that the time-keepers were all male. Nuff said! To finish off this mad-cap evening there was a game of ‘Hands On’ which requires those taking part to stand and place their hands on either their heads or their tails. The flip of a coin determines which group are knocked out and sit down while the flipping continues until only one person is left standing. As crazy as it sounds, there was one winner who received a bottle of something alcoholic. By this time of the evening nobody cared what they won – it was all about the taking part! It’s early days to be saying how much the event made but there will be an update at some time with details of the charity donations, one of which will be to President Angie’s particular favourite - Carriage Driving as part of the RDA - and then the rest to Inner Wheel charities.

April 2020 45 (661) (659) Peter the Painter PREMIER FABRICATION LTD M OFFERING: M • Wrought iron decorative and ornate gates (both  HOMES INSIDE AND OUT electrical and manual)  GARDEN FURNITURE • Bespoke handrails  SHEDS • Ornamental railings  FENCES • Custom-made staircase  FREE QUOTES

Tel: 01934 756633 Unit 8, Labourham Business Park, Draycott Road, Cheddar, Somerset BS27 3RP

(494)

46 April 2020 (557B) (602) Jane Hicks Creative Gardens Creative Gardens Jane Hicks Creating beautiful Jane Hicks Creative Gardens Creating beautiful outdoor spaces CreatingCreating beautiful beautiful outdoor spaces outdoor spacesoutdoor spaces Spaces to relax, spaces to Spaces to relax, spaces to Spacesentertain, to relax, spaces spaces to enjoy, to entertain, spaces to enjoy, Spaces to relax,entertain, spacesspaces forspaces family. to to enjoy, spaces for family. entertain, spacesspaces Uniqueto enjoy,for garden family. spaces designed to perfectly fit Unique garden spaces spaces for family.Uniqueyour lifestyle. garden spaces designed to perfectly fit designed to perfectly fit your lifestyle. Unique garden spacesTel 01934 440014your lifestyle. Westdesigned End Farm, Poolbridge to perfectly Road, Blackford fit BS28 4PA EmailTelyour [email protected] 01934 lifestyle. 440014 www.janesgardens.co.ukTel 01934 440014 West End Farm, Poolbridge Road, Blackford BS28 4PA EmailTel [email protected] 01934 440014 www.janesgardens.co.ukWest End Farm, Poolbridge Road, Blackford BS28 4PA Email [email protected] www.janesgardens.co.uk West End Farm, Poolbridge Road, Blackford BS28 4PA (643) Email [email protected] www.janesgardens.co.uk

Your Local Specialist Cleaning Service • CARPETS & UPHOLSTERY • CLASSIC & ORIENTAL RUGS • LEATHER RESTORATION TRUSTED INSTALLERS OF • CURTAINS & BLINDS Solar PV, Battery Storage, • Professionally and reliably cleaned Electric Lighting & Power • Family safe and Eco friendly products • All work fully guaranteed and insured 07929 105 882 | 01458 834 936 • We take pride in the service we provide rogerselectricians.co.uk • A local company for local people Call for a free quote today! Tel: 01934 235 855 Proud to be part of Rogers Restorations Ltd www.copperbeechcleaning.com

(642)

April 2020 47 (674)

MARVELLOUSLY FRESH WHOLE MILK, GENTLY PASTEURISED AT NEW GROVE FARM, BLACKFORD. NON HOMOGENISED TO KEEP ITS DELICIOUS FLAVOUR AND FABULOUS NATURAL GOODNESS LOOK OUT FOR OUR GRAND OPENING EVENT – follow us on facebook and Instagram #coombesmicrodairy!

The Valley Smokehouse Ltd. At Wheatsheaf Inn Stone Allerton Established 1989  Kitchen Store selling our own smoked food and local produce.  Coffee Shop serving Tea and Coffee.  Pre-order Service available for your dinner party; smoked fish, smoked meat, charcuterie, parfaits, terrines, artisan bread, cheese, desserts and cakes. Give us a call on 01934 712346 to discuss requirements. Kitchen store open; Tuesday – Friday 10.00 am – 5.00 pm Saturday 10.00 am – 12.00 pm Coffee shop open; Tuesday – Friday 10.00 am – 3.00 pm Saturday 10.00 am – 12.00 pm

(676)

48 April 2020 Weather Report for February 2020 RAINFALL Monthly total 113.4 mm (4.46 ins) 30-year average 54.3 mm (2.14 ins) Wettest day (16th) 20.0 mm (0.79 ins) No of dry days 10 Last 3 months (Dec - Feb) 293 mm (11.54 ins) Year ending 29 Feb 2020 987 mm (38.85 ins) 30-year annual average 805 mm (31.67 ins) TEMPERATURES Maximum (16th, 23rd) 12.5 °C (54.5 °F) Minimum (5th, 28th) -1 °C (30.2 °F) Number of air frosts 2 Monthly average maximum 9.9 °C (49.8 °F) 30-year average maximum 8.7 °C (47.8 °F) Monthly average minimum 3.3 °C (38.0 °F) 30-year average minimum 1.9 °C (35.6 °F) COMMENTS Wettest February since 2014, when the total was 127 mm (5 ins). Very mild with little frost. Denley Brown Poetry Section Vera’s Verse for April

Thank you for our Friday treat, Your cakes are really delicious to eat. It’s good to know that we can share Our latest news with people who care. We can keep in touch with an old friend or two, And be introduced to someone new. Vera Banwell

April 2020 49 An Ode to the Lady Golfer

With a wiggle of her bottom and a shuffle of her toes She hits her ball and watches where it goes It flies down the fairway with the greatest of ease Clearing all the bunkers and skirting round the trees

She plays a gentle wedge to land upon the green Then looks for her opponent but she’s nowhere to be seen She sinks the perfect putt and the crowd cheer with glee For she has secured Burnham’s victory!

The things we ladies do to while away the time when being held up by the men on the course at the weekend! Sue Vowles

Letters to the Editor Dear Bill, I have grave doubts about whether the (so far only proposed) isolation of people over seventy is a good idea - I think it’s more likely a very bad one. I am 77 and run my 35 acre small-holding including a sizeable state-of-the-art boxed beds system on my vegetable patch; I also run our family investment business. In other words, I still work, and by so-doing provide work for other local people. My good friend Roger Wilkins is over 70, but remains very important to the local supply chain, not only for his famous cider, but also delicious local cheeses, local butter and pickles etc. Further away, when I was in my twenties in the Midlands my best friend was Anthony Bamford, now Lord Bamford. He’s also in his seventies. But he still runs the JCB empire, and I see has been asked by the Prime Minister to start making respirators. Is he to be locked away, or should he continue running his successful business for the good of us all? Kindest regards, Trev Trevor Hunt

50 April 2020 (639)

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)

(482) J.C. BETHELL FENCING SERVICES DOMESTIC AND STOCK FENCING Working with Somerlap Timber products Shed bases and decking Hand Rails 07855 763 506 OR 01934 710 708 [email protected] (388)

April 2020 51 Heritage Upholsterers Prop: Mr C. Purvis B.A. ALL TYPES OF UPHOLSTERY AND LOOSE COVERS 30 years experience * All work guaranteed Vole Road, Mark, Somerset, TA9 4NY Tel: 01278 641213 Mobile: 07767 865299 (385)

(683) ‘BOOMING AREA OPPORTUNITY’ Very Exceptional Renovation Project

Bridgwater Town Centre / Castle Conservation Area. Freehold Residential Property - Derived from a Row of Three Historic Cottages. Many Other Nearby Properties Listed - Some Displaying Blue Plaques. Will Exchange / Part Exchange for any suitable Freehold Property type/s and / or Land within the Isle of Wedmore.

Tel: 01278 455662 “anytime” - (All Above Subject to Vacant Possession on Completion)

www.thesomersetsausagecompany.co.uk E-Mailwww.thesomersetsausagecompany.co.uk [email protected] J.P.Baker & Sons Ltd. E-Mail [email protected] 01934 712311 Tel 01934 712311 ( FAMILY BUTCHERS ) ½ Pigs for your freezer Gloucester Old1/2 Spot Pigs pork fromfor ouryour own “Orchardfreezer Farm” Cocklake. THE BUTCHERS COTTAGE , CHURCH STREET ,WEDMORE Cut , bagged and delivered SOMERSET . BS28 4AB Gloucester Old Spot£115 pork from our own “Orchard Farm” Cocklake. Purveyors of quality meat and game Hog Roasts Cut , bagged and delivered D.I.Y - Cooked and delivered for you to carve. Whole or half Home-Made Award Winning Sausages £115 Local Wedmore Lamb & Beef The Full Monty – Cooked, delivered and carved with all the trimmings. Home Produced Gloucester Old Spot Pork Also Hogavailable, Roasts catered B.B.Q’s (Please call for prices) (221) “Local Rural Produce, D.I.Y - Cooked and delivered for you to 52 carve. Whole or half April 2020 just as it should be” The Full Monty – Cooked, delivered and carved with all the trimmings.

Tel Jim or Mike on 01934 712311 Also available, catered B.B.Q’s ( Please call for prices) The Crossword: Number 36 By greendandelion

ACROSS: DOWN: 1 Free a retired European legislator before time (6) 1 Restriction of space to counter turn (7) 4 Material inquiry after the lady (6) 2 One wide of the crowd (5) 9 Work hand in glove with a yankee (4) 3 Retirement suit (7) 10 Drove an artic (badly) into a dive (10) 5 Shanghai kid offers form of self-defence (6) 11 Arms, go wild at the height of sexual pleasure (6) 6 Creature worship as minimal reform (9) 12 ...... or canned go wild (8) 7 Postman is on before Ms. Fitzgerald at this joint (7) 13 Holy Boris! this is no way to behave (9) 8 Her chocolates were selected by pupils (13) 15 Czech lager sorted out a speech defect (4) 14 Well thought of South American country replaced before 16 Idiot ordered in gym (4) the board (9) 17 Celebration sounds like Robin’s company before the nd 16 Disparages defective de-icers (7) of lent (9) 18 Make things easier to work a rope around fifty-one (7) 21 Kentish tactic making one very excited (8) 19 Any one of those on the left (7) 22 Vegetable the French stick to eating first (6) 20 Indo-European languages included in vital Icelandic 24 Give no credence to question (10) grammar (6) 25 Engine room fiddler (4) 23 Einstein and rocket scientists as a group (5) 26 A number in school reek (6) 27 Might be the archers or soundly spelt Answers at the rear of publication.

April 2020 53 Thought for the Month Dear Friends, It is the end of February as I write this, the 29th no less, that extra day given to us every four years. As I look out of the window it is raining again. It has felt this winter as if it has never stopped raining; and avoiding deep mud when walking the dog has become well-nigh impossible. It must have been a winter of great challenge to our local farmers. Further north from here along stretches of some of the great rivers in England and Wales families and businesses are facing the devastation of flooding for the second or even third time within a few years. It must be soul destroying. And yet, God willing, by the time that you read these words, the mud and endless rain may well be but a memory. I hope that things are warmer, drier and that we will have instead a carpet of spring flowers and be surrounded by trees in bud. Spring can slip in to our lives remarkably quickly. In the Old Testament of the bible, ‘The Song of Solomon’ or the ‘Song of Songs’ as it is sometimes known, is a beautiful little book which uses a conversation between two lovers as a way of exploring the love of God for us and our love for him. The conversation is full of fertile, spring-like tones. Here is a passage that is often used at weddings:

My beloved speaks and says to me: ‘Arise, my love, my fair one, and come away; 11 for now the winter is past, the rain is over and gone. 12 The flowers appear on the earth; the time of singing has come, and the voice of the turtle-dove is heard in our land. 13 The fig tree puts forth its figs, and the vines are in blossom; they give forth fragrance. Arise, my love, my fair one, and come away. ‘For now the winter is past, the rain is over and gone.’ May it indeed be so!

We are lucky in the northern hemisphere to be able to celebrate Easter in springtime. The glories of the rebirth of creation, as nature emerges from its slumber and new life breaks out all around us, are mirrored by the glories of the central claim of Christianity – Jesus who slumbered in the tomb cannot be contained even by death. Easter is the crown of the Christian year and joy rightfully abounds. You will be welcome to share that joy at any of the church services. Hopefully wellies and umbrellas will not be needed! Revd Richard Neill

54 April 2020 (611) (002) J Auto Services Ltd SERVICING FOR ALL MAKES OF CARS

Bodywork M.0.T. Valeting Service Recovery

BROOKSIDE GARAGE • BLACKFORD Telephone 713249 Mon–Fri 8.30–5.30 Sat 8.30–1.00

Members�of:� Coronation�House� The�Borough� Wedmore� Somerset �BS28�4EG

ABTA no. L4233

(345)

April 2020 55 LOVELY 2 BED 2 BATH APARTMENT (481)

SITUATED CLOSE TO BENALMADENA – COSTA DEL SOL A-Tanks 15 MINUTES FROM MALAGA AIRPORT Suppliers of septic tanks, Sleeps up to 6 - Free Wi-Fi – air con - sewage treatment systems, Satellite TV & garage space Large terrace with fabulous views pumping stations, of the Med and mountains cesspools, silage effluent Large Swimming Pool and separate and many other tanks paddling pool within a child safety area Close to the Golf Course where the We can also offer Spanish open has been played installation And within easy walking distance of local beaches restaurants and bars For free consultation Very Close to a large excellent Supermarket & shops. contact Don Baker No transport needed as there is a local bus service and taxi rank opposite 01278 455655 for further information please call Gilly or Vern on 01934 710122 [email protected]

Mobile 07398 349131 (321) www.a-tanks.co.uk David Ford Aerials

o All types of TV aerials plus extra points o Freesat, Sky and European/ Motorised dishes o Discreet and careful installations o FREE call out and quotations o Quality installations for over 21 years

Please call DAVID FORD on either TEL: 01934 742444 MOBILE: 07740 946385

(543) (606)

56 April 2020 HECTOR'S FARM SHOP For quality meats, game and poultry traditionally butchered.

We also sell You can also goats milk, get your bird food gluten free burgers and pet food and sausages from us.

Try our pork pies, handmade sausages, faggots and burgers. Local cheeses, milk, cream, butter, freshly baked bread, cakes, juices and Miles tea and coffee. 01934 712384 www.hectorsfarmshop .co.uk

(029)

(351)

Sunday Lunch 1 Course £10.95 2 Course £13.95 3 Course £17.95 Open to the public 7 days a week

* Breakfast * Lunch * Booking Essential * Function Rooms available for hire TEL : 01934 713649 [email protected] www.wedmoregolfclub.com

April 2020 57 Tasty Morsels – Recipes for You Salmon Steaks Poached in a Court Bouillon I’m going to get a bit ‘cheffy’ here, but really it’s all very simple. And a court bouillon can be used to poach many things, including white meat. 1. Firstly you slice quite finely the Holy Trinity of aromats; onions + carrots + celery. If you want to show off you can call this mixture a ‘mirepoix’, because that is what it is. All you cooks will know it well, as it is used to flavour many stews, soups, joints etc. And it is well worth noting that the longer your intended cooking time, the larger the pieces should be cut. Many chefs would proportion the component parts as 50% onions, 25% carrots and 25% celery, but this is down to individual choice.

2. Now we have to turn the mirepoix into a court bouillon, which, having put it into a saucepan, you do a few simple additions: • Either a glug of wine or lemon juice or a couple of slices of lemon. • A bouquet garni consisting of 2 bay leaves + thyme + parsley. • Some whole black pepper corns. • Sufficient water to cover the salmon. 3. Bring the saucepan to the boil and simmer for 20 minutes. Turn off the heat but leave the pan in situ for 10 more minutes.

4. Bring the saucepan back to the boil, put the salmon steaks into simmer for 4 minutes. Turn off the heat but leave the salmon in the court bouillon for a further 4 minutes. Discard the court bouillon, it has done its job.

5. If she is feeling energetic, my wife does a lovely and light lemon sabayon to further flavour the salmon, but that complicates things a bit. Or you could of course have the more usual hollandaise sauce. As an accompaniment, we usually enjoy french beans and new potatoes, or mashed potatoes when new aren’t in season.

6. Any left-over salmon we enjoy as a bar nibble the following evening, in my case with Coleman’s horseradish sauce, our home-made horseradish being too hot for this purpose.

Trevor Hunt

58 April 2020 Sport Reports Isle of Wedmore Golf Club Apparently the wettest February in the UK was 1990 but as the golf course was not open then this must be the wettest month the club has experienced. All of which bought a soggy end to the two competitions which run from November to February, the Winter Stableford Leagues. Players choose the three best results from the four rounds to give a cumulative score with the highest total winning. Storm Dennis was the culprit for the final round of the Club Winter Stableford League with many competitors choosing to avoid the wind and rain altogether whilst even some who started decided to settle for the scores achieved in the first three rounds. There are always exceptions though and this time the exception was Mark Earwaker, scoring 37 points to win division 1 by a huge margin from Graham Sugg with Alan Richardson third. There were some respectable scores in division 2 won by Geoff Fisher on 35, just a point ahead of Ian Robson with Jonathan Raeside, Jay James and Brian Fry all finishing on a praise worthy 29. Division 3 was won by James Wilde with 25, one more than Nigel Young with Pete Beavan third. Overall these scores made little difference to the league standings. Mark Earwaker’s score moved him into a tie for fifth place on 112 alongside Stuart Bishop and Jon Thompson. Jay James was one better than this in fourth with Pete Beavan 2 points better in third, one behind runner-up Nigel Jones. Clear winner though was Dave Bedford with a total of 118 equating to 10 shots below handicap. The Ladies Section in this round was won by Jane Prosser with a more than respectable 27 points. This was not enough though to make any impact on the three juniors who led the league from start to finish. Abi Moore took third place on 84, Beth Williams was runner-up on 107 but the clear winner was Megan Wilde with 114 which would have placed her well up the field amongst the men. Storm Ciara cast a windy pall over the final round of the Seniors’ Winter League but 69 players still braved the gales and hail trying to improve or secure their positions in the League and several did just that. Best scores of the day came in division 1 with Phil McMahon winning with 37 points, the only player to match and indeed beat his handicap. Steve Sage finished second on 35 which was enough to improve his league total points to 105 putting him in fourth place overall. Terry Clark was third on 34. John Hogan won division 2 on countback from Roy Tomlins after both scored 34 with Terry Simpson a point behind in third. David Griffiths came out on top in division 3, scoring 33 points to finish a point ahead of Axel Knutson with Ken Lohmann a further point behind in third. None of these scores affected the leaders in the cumulative league. Mike Garbutt was unable to improve his total of 106 but had done enough to secure third place. Neither David Nelson nor Roger Griffin played the final round but they had already taken the top two places based on their performance in the first three rounds. Roger totalled 107 points to finish runner-up but still finished 3 points behind David, a more than worthy winner with 110. Tony Biggs

April 2020 59 CHEDDAR TYRE SUPPLIES Car, Commercial, Agricultural and Motor-Cycle Tyre and Battery Specialists On-Vehicle Balancing for Car or Commercial

1A VALLEY LINE INDUSTRIAL ESTATE STATION ROAD, CHEDDAR, SOMERSET, BS27 3AG TEL: 742390

(145) (622)

(625) (636) Dimity M.G. CONSTRUCTION But  &…. Creative So Furnishings  BuildingM.G. CONSTRUCTION & renovation &…. Dimity Button  Roo�ing, carpentry Creative Soft Furnishings è  Paintingè , tiling Exclusive Continental single and èGroundworks with digger  BathroomèHard landscaping & kitchen �itting double width fabrics on the roll Roofing & carpentry SCCCCS Gardening,è fencing Affordable bespoke making up service – my fabric or yours.  èKitchen installation Groundwork.Fully 074470464 insured Landscaping 41 Measuring Service  30 years experience How to Make workshops 10 The Borough Mall, Wedmore BS28 4EB Email: [email protected] Tel: 01934 708953 www.dimitybutton.co.uk Fully insured Opening hours: Tuesday-Friday Tel 07447046441 10am -4pm, Saturday 10am-12.30pm Email [email protected]

60 April 2020 (414) GERALD HELLIER

ORNAMENTAL IRONWORK FOR YOUR HOMES & GARDENS GATES – RAILINGS CURTAIN POLES WEATHER VANES SECURITY GRILLES FIRE BASKETS are only a few of the items made WELDING & FABRICATION JOBS ALSO UNDERTAKEN CHEDDAR NURSERIES SHARPHAM ROAD, CHEDDAR Gerald Mobile: 07970 633859 Landline: 01934 742886 www.helliersironwork.co.uk (635)

Richard Williams WINDOW CLEANING

 Friendly, reliable and local!  Wash and Reach up to 50ft.  Windows, doors, conservatories.  Solar Panels.  Gutters cleaned, cleared and repaired.

 Very competitive prices  Free quotes  Discount for OAPs

PRESSURE WASHING, DRIVEWAY & PATIO CLEANING, SOFT WASHING

Mobile: 07872 937403 or 01278 671918 Email: [email protected] (646)

April 2020 61

HAMPDEN No time for home and OSTEOPATHIC garden maintenance? CLINIC

All aspects of interior and exterior 24a Woodborough Road home maintenance undertaken Winscombe BS25 1AD including painting, decorating For appointments tel: 01934 843617 and repairs. www.hampdenosteopaths.co.uk

No job too small Affordable, friendly and reliable OSTEOPATHY Janet White Sebastian Partono

ACUPUNCTURE Dan Lloyd Call : (mobile) 07842 093426 (office) 01934 710038 NUTRITION Linda Thomas

SPORTS MASSAGE Jackie Ashdown

REFLEXOLOGY Hannah Woodward

(605) (537)

Wedmore Bed & Breakfast

Bright, spacious bedrooms with Prowse private bathroom. Pretty Garden

Antiques and Interiors

Celebrate nostalgia in all things useful & beautiful

Our new venture… come to see

our cabinets in Peaceful and relaxing …just a stones throw The Treasure Chest Tea Shop – ! from Wedmore's fantastic pubs and shops. – For great rates and more information

07557 912 468

(645) [email protected] (585)

62 April 2020 Church News ‘On a Wheel and a Prayer’ On Tuesday 21 April, 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: - Maxine Ingrouille Kidd of Manor Lane Wedmore who died on 19 February aged 61 and whose funeral was at St Mary’s Church on Tuesday 10 March Holy Week and Easter Services Due to Government guidelines there will be no public acts of worship in the Parish of Wedmore during April. Axbridge and Wedmore GP Practice Surgery Opening Times Wedmore Surgery Mondays and Fridays ...... 8.30 am to 6.00 pm Tuesdays, Wednesdays and 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. 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, April 2020 63 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 All Routine trips on the Wedmore Community Bus are suspended until further notice. The bus is also available for private hire. It can be booked by contacting Jo Keen, 710759 Crossword 36 Answers Across: 1. Exempt 5. Damask 9. Abet 10. Jackknifed 11. Orgasm 12. Ordnance 13. Boorishly 15. Lisp 16. Dope 17. Merriment 21. Ecstatic 22. Legume 24. Disbelieve 25. Nero 26. Stench 27. Serial Down: 1. Embargo 2. Extra 3. Pyjamas 5. Aikido 6. Animalism 7. Kneecap 8. Schoolteacher 14. Reputable 16. Decries 18. Relieve 19. Numeral 20. Italic 23. Genii

(670)

64 April 2020 Cottage by the Sea

Dale, Pembrokeshire

Cosy 3 bed Cottage near the Sea. Fantastic Coastal Walks and Water Sports. In walking distance to an Award-Winning Pub. Sleeps 6. Contact Sarah for details on; 07713163424 Email – [email protected]

(640)

(644)

April 2020 65 Wedmore Street Fair – 2020 Booking Form

C/O Gareth Gosling, Applewood, Mutton Lane, Wedmore BS28 4DS or [email protected]. I/we would like to book a stall at Wedmore Street Fair on Saturday 4 July 2020. Registered Charities £17, local groups & societies £22 , commercial stalls £40. I do/ do not require a table at an additional £3.

Name:______

Organisation:______Brief description of stall (i.e type of product; tombola; games etc):

______

Address:______

______

______

Tel no: ______

Email address (obligatory for receipt & stall details:): ______

I have made payment by BACS or enclose a cheque for: £______made payable to ‘Wedmore Street Fair.’ BACS to WSF account: Sort code 30 91 84 Account Number 24297168.

Signed:______

Wedmore Street Fair are taking steps to be more environmentally friendly. We will be providing recycling bins for visitors and we would encourage stall-holders to consider their single-use plastics – i.e. carrier bags, cutlery, cups etc and use recyclable options where possible. Thank you for your co-operation.

66 April 2020

As we head to Easter Forget the rain and politics - now is the time to make the move. You want a house in the country with character, views, land and an orchard.

We have just the place in Mudgley at £550,000

• A detached house • Lots of living space • 3 bedrooms, bathrooms plus • Scope for more rooms • Fabulous views • Mature garden • 1.5 acres orchard paddock • No chain • Works needed • Guide Price £550,000

Call to View and if you're thinking of selling - talk to us.

We have a fresh and new approach to selling with a unique service with commission rates starting at 0.5% plus vat

Call and let us explain why we believe we're the best estate agency in the region.

Tel:01934 710 220 or email me personally: [email protected]

Roderick Thomas Chartered Surveyor

(548) CHAPEL ALLERTON £1,295,000 COCKLAKE £435,000

An attractive period property in a charming rural position. There is also a detached two A deceptively spacious bungalow built in 2012. Features include under floor heating bedroom two bathroom holiday cottage, further barns, outbuildings and 18 acres of throughout and a biomass boiler with a lucrative tariff. Open plan sitting/dining area land. Three receptions, a modern kitchen breakfast room, four bedrooms and three and kitchen, utility area and shower room. Three double bedrooms and a family bathrooms. Ample off road parking and planning for a detached garage. Chain free. bathroom. Rear garden backing on to fields with views. Ample parking and chain free.

THEALE £495,000 WEDMORE £595,000

This attractive three bedroom barn conversion was renovated around 18 years ago to Recently extended and improved to a very high standard including a ground floor a very high standard, whilst retaining charming original features. Sitting room, dining extension which created a wonderful open plan kitchen, breakfast and dining area. room, kitchen, family room and utility. Master bedroom with en suite. Open garage. Triple aspect sitting room, four bedrooms, shower room and a bathroom. The good Attractive front courtyard garden and a level rear garden with further parking. sized rear garden has a large patio area. Integral garage and off road parking.

● charlesbarnard.co.uk ● cbsignaturehomes.co.uk Wedmore 01934 710 510 ● Wells 01749 677 177 ● Shepton 01749 342 341 Wedmore 01934 710 510 ● Wells 01749 677 177 ● Shepton 01749 342 341

(555)

charlesbarnard.co.uk ● cbsignaturehomes.co.uk Wedmore 01934 710 510 ● Wells 01749 677 177 ● Shepton 01749 342 341