Thomas Kenrick Re-pointing Re-Pointing Specialist. Building Conservation. Stone Masonry. 01749 831568 / 07746 2 1 8 0 6 2 www.Repointing Somerset.co.uk 2 This Month The Editor’s Letter Advertisers Index 48 We’re still here. In a good way, with the FTN still going Alhampton Weather 6 Benefice Prayer Pyramid 24 strong, albeit online-only for now, and in a not-so-good Breast Cancer Appeal 27 way with lockdown continuing. But there are reasons British Legion 32 to be cheerful. Census 2021 5 Christmas at Ditcheat 30 The snowdrops are out, even daffodils are starting to Christmas Foodbank 34 appear, days are already more than an hour longer Church Services 24 than when last we published, and birds clearly have COVID vax scam warning 11 procreation on their minds; thankfully Nature is Diary dates 4 magnificently unphased by the latest human Directory 46 predicament and continues to do its stuff. Ditcheat PC Notes 36 Ditcheat PC Support 40 EP Church Rota 39 The Ditcheat Santa visited every house in the village to From the Archives 8 much approval; Mary, Joseph and the donkey attended Gardening 28 the opening of the Crib Service; readers’ contributions Good News ! 22 to the Food Bank and Taps and Toilets fundraiser Kneelers for Ditcheat 14 helped great things happen and two youngsters Litter Heroes 34 shamed the litter louts and cleared up a hideous mess Natural World 12 by the river. (P 34) One Hundred Club 7 Picture from the Past 27 Also, the first of my neighbours have been vaccinated; Pylle News 26 things seems to be heading the right way. Rector's Note 25 Recycling sites 42 Red Cross Fund Raising 33 We also warmly welcome two new contributors – John Spicey Fish Lentils 45 Clarke has picked up the baton to continue to provide Volunteer Visiting 10 a weather report (P 6) and Roger Yeoman will be taking Wildlife Group Update 20 a look at what was reported in the local newspapers a century or more ago. (P 8) If you are reading this do remind people we are online and the Parish can offer support if you are struggling Front cover: Hoar Frost, (P 40). Alhampton by Robbie Labanowski © 2021. Bring on the Spring! Please send your cover photos to the editor. Margy Cockburn Tim Sanders The Fosse Trinity News is a community magazine that is normally delivered free to all households in Ditcheat, Alhampton, East Pennard and Pylle. We reserve the right to edit but welcome contributions from everyone in the community. Editorial and adverts to be received by the 10th of month preceding the issue. Contact: [email protected] or [email protected] 3 Dates for your Diary Given the current lockdown rules and with no crystal ball to predict the situation in the immediate future, we are listing events and contact numbers. The situation may change during the month, please check with the organisers for the latest information. Updates will be notified on the magazine website www.fossetrinitynews.co.uk. Tai Chi for Health Richard 880308 James 860355 Ditcheat Badminton Club Gaye 860081 Ditcheat and Pylle Singers Di 07831 289945 Rendezvous Linda 860067 Pilates Michelle 07825 543414 Ditcheat Yoga Clare 07843 079209 Ditcheat Art Group Liz & Stewart 860755 Ditcheat Short Mat Bowls Martin 860780 Alhamptonians Louisa 860252 Ditcheat and Pylle Singers Di 07831 289945 Skittles at Ditcheat Manor House Inn 860276 Folk Dance Club Ama/Peter 672911 Men’s Breakfast Roger 860551 Need to be kept up to date with activities in the Jubilee Hall? Sign up for the monthly newsletter email, via the website. www.ditcheatvillagehall.org.uk WANTED – FTN treasurer. Please contact [email protected]. 4 Census 2021 A snapshot of modern society Households across Mendip will soon be asked to take part in Census 2021. The census is a once-in-a-decade survey that gives us the most accurate estimate of all the people and households in England and Wales. It has been carried out every decade since 1801, with the exception of 1941. It will be the first run predominantly online, with households receiving a letter with a unique access code, allowing them to complete the questionnaire on their computers, phones or tablets. “A successful census will ensure everyone from local government to charities can put services and funding in the places where they are most needed,” Iain Bell, deputy national statistician at the Office for National Statistics, said. “This could mean things like doctors’ surgeries, schools and new transport routes. That’s why it is so important everyone takes part and we have made it easier for people to do so online on any device, with help and paper questionnaires for those that need them.” Census day will be on 21st March, but households across the country will receive letters with online codes allowing them to take part from early March. The census will include questions about your sex, age, work, health, education, household size and ethnicity. And, for the first time, there will be a question asking people whether they have served in the armed forces, as well as voluntary questions for those aged 16 and over on sexual orientation and gender identity. Results will be available within 12 months, although personal records will be locked away for 100 years, kept safe for future generations. For more information, visit census.gov.uk. 5 Alhampton Weather – December 2020 Geoff Webber has handed the weather baton, or should I say the weather vane, to me and I must begin by thanking him for passing over all his data from the last 7 years and also for the very interesting column that he produced for FTN for so long. As I write this my weather station is only just being erected, sitting on top of a 16ft scaffold pole, so there is somewhat of a gap from Geoff’s final readings to mine appearing. Fortunately, Charles Dowding has very kindly agreed to let me use the information from his site to fill in the gap (https://www.charlesdowding.co.uk/weather/index.htm). Although changing sites will produce small variations it is safe to say that we will all get just as cold or hot and wet as each other and the readings will show why! Since volunteering to write the weather report I have had weather on the mind more than usual. As we all know if you are short of a topic to talk about the weather is a good place to start, but I’ve noticed it gets into the conversation of us avid dog walkers even when there is plenty else to say………. and wasn’t December wet, not that it bothered our Labrador. The big weather event of the month was Storm Bella, which arrived immediately after Christmas Day. Much of the country experienced heavy rain and strong winds with over 100 mph recorded on the Isle of Wight. Despite the weather warnings we got away with it lightly; our maximum wind gust was only a little over 30 mph and the amount of rainfall was less than we experienced at the start of October. However, December seemed a very wet month. There were flood warnings across the county in the lead up to Christmas. Those who walk in Haddon Wood would have seen the pond fill up and the River Alham across the road at Easton Trow Bridge. Thankfully the water soon subsided. However, coming on the back of a particularly wet October, which had 50% more rain than December, the water table was already high and it gave the impression of being worse. As the table shows, apparently this December was not very different to the previous 3 years! The beauty of the weather though is the correction that follows and as I write 6 this it has not rained for 10 days, but the wind goes round to the south west tonight so the rain is on its way, again. Given the time of the year it seems appropriate to end with a typical Christmas cracker joke: “why did the cloud fall for the fog?” ……..answer next month. December 2014 2015 2016 2017 2018 2019 2020 >20°C days 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 <10°C nights 29 24 31 31 30 22 30 High Temp °C 12.7 15.2 13.8 13.2 13.6 12.1 13.8 Low Temp °C -5.2 2.4 -5.4 -2.6 -0.8 -1.6 -4.9 Rain mm 56.8 71.4 27 112.2 121.2 121.4 106.8 Wet days 13 20 14 19 21 18 20 Wind run 1598 4410 1016 2003 2068 1979 2142 Sun hours 90 John Clarke 100 Club December winners: Ball 70 £1000 Christine Sage Ball 31 £50 Audrey and Ian Goose Ball 56 £25 Chris Reed January winners: Ball 60 £100 Geoff and Julie Derham Ball 85 £50 Patricia Burbridge Ball 39 £25 Alison Ward December was last draw of this year, may I remind people if they have not already paid for another year and wish to continue please let me have £60 as soon as possible. People who are new to the village – this 100 club is run to raise money for the upkeep of the church. It costs £5 a month or £60 for the year. Every month a draw takes place to draw a £100, £50 and £25 prize, in December the £100 prize is replaced with a £1000 prize. If you wish to take part please contact me: Andrew Nicholls on 01749 860321.