Spring 2012 Issue 2 Sponsored by Midsomer Norton Town Council DON’T MISS Our What’s On and Things To Do pages A GUIDE TO LOCAL LIFE IN MIDSOMER NORTON Coming soon Midsomer Norton Cinema! See inside for fi lm screenings Page 6 Church of the Holy Ghost The town’s oldest building WELCOME TO 8 Tricknology at the Skate Park Learn new tricks with Tricknology at the Skate Park 11 Business News Town Team Initiative 12 Jubilee Events to Celebrate Big Jubilee Lunch and Family Party 18 Midsomer Norton Palladium Your new community cinema 22 Norman Voake Read all about this season’s chosen ‘Nortonian’ Welcome to the second issue of Midsomer Norton LIFE. 24 The Launch of the New Identity We’ve received very positive feedback on the fi rst issue New Council logo of Midsomer Norton LIFE from both residents and local 28 More to do in our town community groups. Leisure and sharing the space 30 Twinning News Since the last issue of LIFE, Midsomer Norton has Events in Midsomer Norton become holder of the World Record for the largest 34 What’s On number of living participants in a Nativity Play – Packed calendar of events thanks to the work of the Welton Baptist Church and 36 Things To Do the Chamber of Commerce - supported by other Community activities for all 41 Merriman Theatre Company community groups in the town. It was wonderful to see the whole town come together. As a Council, we’ve Fantastic theatre group been looking at ways to get the views of residents 44 Local Recipes and build links between community groups in the Mouth watering recipes for home cooking 50 Midsomer Norton Silver Band town. We recently carried out a Town Survey in order Their winning story to investigate how residents see the town centre and 52 Schools News what issues, if any, they have with litter and anti-social What’s happening in your school? behaviour. 57 Midsomer Norton Cricket Club Introducing Henry Thomas Conveyancing Company/Commercial Family Trusts Litter is certainly an issue many of you are concerned Commercial Property Licensing Powers of Attorney about – and so in January we had a Big Litter Pick and we’ve been talking to B&NES about provision of more Agricultural Law Tax Planning Court of Protection litter bins, particularly on the new cycle path. The The next edition of Midsomer Norton Life will be in Council has also recently launched a new community June. If you would like your group to be included in Employment Personal Injury Wills and Probate grant scheme. In the fi rst round we received 14 the next edition, please contact us on 01761 437377 applications and have granted £13,000 to a wide range before the deadline : 30th May 2012 of community projects. As well as looking at delivering If you have diffi culty reading the print please contact improvements in the short term, we’ve also begun the Town Clerk for a large print copy. looking at the development of a long term vision and You can also view Midsomer Norton Life on the associated projects. Finally, in setting our fi rst budget council’s website at www.midsomernorton-tc.gov.uk we’ve worked hard to get the most out of the resources available to us whilst not increasing our precept. In the event, we’ve been able to actually reduce it this year Midsomer Norton Life is produced by Ignyte Ltd, 46 Frome Road Radstock, due to a windfall from an administrative error on the BA3 3LF Tel 01761 437377. While every care has been taken to ensure the data contained in this part of B&NES. publication is accurate, neither the publisher nor its editorial contributors can accept, and hereby disclaim, any liability to any party for loss or damage In the following pages we hope you fi nd a rich mix of caused by errors or omissions resulting from negligence, accident or any other cause. Ignyte or Midsomer Norton Town Council does not offi cially articles about the people, places and history as well endorse any advertising material included within this publication. All rights as a comprehensive diary for everything going on in reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced or stored in any Midsomer Norton. retrieval system in any form without the prior permission of the publisher. Cllr Paul Myers & Cllr Linda Dunford Mayor and Deputy Mayor of Midsomer Norton 3 MIDSOMER NORTON SHORT MAT MIDSOMER NORTON LIONS BOWLS CLUB The Radstock and Midsomer Norton Short Mat Bowls Club was formed in Midsomer Norton Lions 1997, shortly after the Somer Centre was opened. It has Club were very pleased, follow us... gained in popularity ever since that time and currently following their January has over thirty members playing regularly. They play business meeting, to every Tuesday and Friday afternoon from 2:30pm until hear of the success of 4:30pm. their Christmas activities. The club has two teams playing in the Mendip Short Despite a number of WHEN IT COMES TO SELLING OR LETTING... Mat league and have entered teams into a number of the carol floats having other competitions that have been organised by various to be cancelled due to clubs in the area. In addition to this, the club play bad weather, the club around four friendly matches a month both home and received their best results ever. Providing enjoyment away. The club caters for all levels of skill and are always and raising funds to help those in need is just a part of ...WE GIVE IT SOME! looking for new members. Anyone wishing to try the the organised events that are run by the members. game can come along to one of the sessions where they In November the first lady member Margaret Small, will receive a warm welcome. Telephone 01761 418400. aided by fellow Lions, volunteered to run their Christmas Supermarket draw with gift voucher prizes of nearly £300 for the local people to win. In December, GIRLGUIDING CELEBRATES WORLD Lions Phil Kendon, Rex Gregory, Trevor Hipwood, THINKING DAY Margaret Small, Trish House, Rosine Geare and others The Norton-Radstock West District Guides, Brownies contributed to the success of the carol float trips which and Rainbows gathered together on 22nd February for did make it out between the beginning of December their annual celebration of World Thinking Day. An Art and Christmas Eve. Competition was held on the theme of ‘We Can Save Also in December musical director Heather Hill Our Planet’ and the winners were from 1st Midsomer presented the popular Christmas Concert led by the Norton Guides, 4th Midsomer Norton Brownies and Somer Valley Singers and baritone Peter Setton. The 1st Norton-Radstock West Rainbows. The girls are concert raised £150.00 which was then doubled by the pictured with Mrs Janet Robins, President of the District club and put towards rehydration tablets. Following who presented them with individual prizes and the this event was the annual Christmas dinner which was challenge cups which they won for their Units.. well attended by the Lions and their friends. The annual FOR ALL OF YOUR SALES & LETTINGS NEEDS! Christmas card was signed by the Lions and raised a donation for Hope for Tomorrow Cancer Fund. President Richard Munden would like to thank all of the members for their efforts over the last months and year and for the ladies of Lions for their forbearance of Lions commitments by their husbands. But without the support of the public as well, the work undertaken would not have been possible. For any further information please contact Barry Rogers on 01761 414140. Looking for solar GARAGE DOORS JUST A FEW REASONS TO CHOOSE BARONS PROPERTY CENTRE energy to reduce Repair or new, we can provide the right solution that suits you. your electric bills? Unit 2, Second Avenue, Westfield Industrial Estate Midsomer Norton, Radstock, BA3 4BH T : 0117 303 5030 Contact us on 01761 419999 for honest, expert For a free quote, www.baronsproperty.co.uk Based in Radstock advice or to arrange your no obligation site survey. Showroom at Midsomer Norton, BA3 2AD contact us on 124 High St, Midsomer Norton, Bath, BA3 2DA 01761 435770 t: 01761 411411 f: 01761 419401 e: [email protected] Trading Standards Approved www.sdsgaragedoors.co.uk www.eclipsesolarsouthwest.co.uk 4 The link with Downside Abbey ensured that a very sympathetic restoration was carried out. Abbot Edmund Ford engaged the services of CHURCH OF THE HOLY GHOST world famous architect Sir Giles Gilbert Scott – the man who designed the iconic red telephone box. He planned the restoration and conversion of the building. As well as taking the roof off and ...Midsomer Norton’s rebuilding it using many of the orginal timbers, Scott made a number of changes to the building oldest building including a new main entrance doorway and also a window in the south wall, the tracery being modelled on the original window above the At 600 years old, the Church of the Holy Ghost in entrance. Midsomer Norton is the town’s oldest complete The richly carved guilded tabernacle of the church building – tucked away behind Casswells in the dates from 1794 and once stood on the High High Street. Altar Chapel in the Bavarian Embassy in Golden Built by the Augustinian monks of Merton Priory as Square, London. Other furnishings include Flemish a Tithe Barn in the 15th century, its original purpose examples of The Stations of the Cross dating from was to store the harvest from the grange lands the 18th century as well as Jacobean panelling which the monks held in Midsomer Norton.