Passing the Pencil …… To be more accurate, it’s more like ‘Passing the Keyboard’ as, from the next issue, you will have a new editor for the Parish Maga- zine - one who, I’m sure, will pay more attention to correct grammar and spelling than myself. I’m pleased that Caroline Sanderson from Meare has volunteered to take over the role and, like all fresh blood, will bring good new ideas of her own. There’s been a long succession of folk who have done this for the community and I have gained in- creased respect for every one of them. It is both a social and socia- ble role and I’d like to thank all who’ve been patient with my blun- ders of bin-days, my lack of local knowledge (after all, I’m an immi- grant from Hampshire) but especial- ly for confusing Church and Chapel in my first issue. I’m sure Caroline will do much better. The parish magazine is important as it is the single communication path that is open for everyone, on the Internet or not. However, by nature of being printed material, by the time it comes through your door it is at best one month, at worst three months behind current time. This puts pressure on contributors to get event …… Continued on page 3 Facebook: Meare and Westhay News Website: www.meareandwesthay.com 1 2 details correct and doesn’t accommodate change or events that are or- ganised after the copy has gone to the printers. This is where the Parish Website (www.meareandwesthay.com) has a dynamic advantage and Steve Edwards in Meare does a great job keeping it both informative and up-to-date. We also have the ‘near live’ Facebook page that definitely has growing usage. There is an ‘un-sung’ army of volunteers who stick 660 copies of the mag- azine through your doors and I want to thank you for what they do for us: ● Alan Wren ● Jess & Chris Evans ● Pat Adlam ● Alison Whitcombe ● Jo & Rob Franks ● Roger Padfield ● Anne Brown ● Kathy Griffiths ● Sandra Dyga ● Anne Walsh-Waring ● Les Keen ● Shirley Rogers ● Cath Peters ● Marie Davis ● Sue Fuller ● Chris Bennetts ● Mary Balch ● Chris & Freya Sharp ● Muriel Baker ● Sue King ● Janet Westover ● Nicky Martin MAGAZINE DATES & CONTACT INFORMATION ISSUE DEADLINE DISTRIBUTION June / July 1st May 2019 31st May 2019 Aug / Sept 1st July 2019 31st July 2019 ● Please send all articles and advertising to: Caroline Sanderson (Editor) at [email protected] ( 01458-860295 ) ● MATERIAL RECEIVED AFTER THE DEADLINE CANNOT BE INCLUDED. ● A down-load copy of Meare & Westhay Village News is available from: www.meareandwesthay.com ADVERTISING RATES Meare & Westhay Village News welcomes Rates are per annum - six copies all and any contributions to the magazine. Outside Back Cover (Colour) However it should be remembered that any views or comments expressed are 1/8 Page 1/4 Page those of the individual contributor and do £36.00 £66.00 not in any way reflect the opinion of the Inside Front or Back Cover (Monochrome) magazine, the Editor or the Parish Council. 1/8 Page 1/4 Page The editorial team also wish to make it £33.00 £60.00 clear they reserve the right to amend, edit Inside Pages (Monochrome) or omit any article or contribution in the interests of legality, public decency, avail- 1/8 Page 1/4 Page 1/2 Page Full Page ability of space or any other reason. £27.50 £49.00 £92.00 £180.00 Invoices for advertisements will be sent by the Treasurer (Mrs Ann Giles) and must be settled prior to appearance of the advert in the magazine. Cheques should be made payable to “MEARE PARISH MAGAZINE FUND” 3 ANNOUNCEMENTS - ANNIVERSARIES - Congratulations to Jean & Ivan Hill (Westhay) It was 1959 and Harold Macmillan was our Prime Minister, Eisenhower was in charge of the US and Khrushchev was the first Russian president ever to pop-in for a visit there. Maybe Khrushchev was trying to explain why Luna 2 had crashed on the Moon’s surface or boast that Luna 3 was sending pictures from the far side. That was also the year when Xerox also had a major launch: the first commercial copying machine. One in three families owned a car in Britain though not everyone could afford the newly introduced Aston Martin DB4’s, or even British Motor Corporation’s Mark 1 Mini. Other newly available cars included the Triumph Herald and the Se- ries 1 Sunbeam Alpine and, with inflation running at just 0.9%, it was a good time for a newly popular Hire Purchase agreement. If you couldn’t afford a car then you had the option of the new Royal Enfield ‘Airflow’ - with built-in all-weather protection at prices to “suit all pockets”, so the advert boasts. Was it the launch of Mattel's Barbie Doll in 1959 that caused Cliff Richard to sing about a Living Doll or prompted Bobby Darin to join in with Dream Lover? Who knows, but Connie Francis spotted any Lipstick on Your Collar and Buddy Holly said It Doesn’t Matter Any More. At the cinema you had a choice of the gorgeous Audrey Hepburn very nicely sporting a habit in The Nun’s Story, butch Charlton Heston as Ben Hur, or curvy Marylin Monroe in Some Like it Hot. But if you didn’t fancy going out you could ‘strap-on your six guns’ for a ‘cowboy-fest’ with a non-stop choice of Bonanza, Lara- mie or Rawhide starring a young Clint Eastwood as Rowdy Yates, all of which started that year together with Juke-box- Jury presented by David Jacobs. If you were too young for all of this then maybe you’d have enjoyed the first episodes of Noggin the Nog. However, for two people it was ro- mance and marriage when, on Satur- day 28th March 1959, Jean and Ivan Hill were wed and now celebrate their Diamond Wedding Anniversary. BAPTISMS ● Akeyliah Baker - Sunday 27th January 2019 4 DEATHS Angela Margaret Mary Ganfield (nee Ling) 1944-2019 Angela passed away peacefully on 22nd January, surrounded by her loving family, aged 74. She was born in Taun- ton, was raised and lived her whole life in Meare enjoying village life. She enjoyed participating in and supported as much as she could over the years. Angela's family would like to express their heartfelt thanks for the kind messages of sympathy and for the many cards that they have received. Also to thank the many people who attended Angela's service at the Meare Chapel and joined them to celebrate her life. She was loved beyond measure, leaving us all with such wonderful memories and will be deeply missed. Donation requests for Beacon Centre (Musgrove Park Hospital) and South- mead Hospital Charity. Ivor Whitcombe Ivor passed away at Critchwell Court (Frome) on 15th February after a long ill- ness. He was 83 years old, son of Gor- don and Susan Whitcombe of Millbatch and spent all of his life around Meare. Ivor’s funeral service took place on 12th March at St Mary’s Church, Meare, followed by cremation. Cynthia Beryl Bennetts (late of Cornwall) Passed away at St Benedicts Nursing Home (Glastonbury) aged 93 years. The service and cremation took place at Sedgemoor Crematorium on 19th February and the Wake was held at the Bird in Hand (Westhay). Cynthia grew up in Derby, married a Cornishman and lived some sixty years in Truro before moving to Somerset to be close to her family. 5 VILLAGE REVELS At the beginning of the 19th century revels were held in many Somerset villag- es to celebrate the end of Winter and the onset of Spring. At first they were religious festivals with people going to a service and then for a meal but by c.1825 most of the revels had become dens of iniquity. There was excessive drinking, gambling and stick fighting. Large sums of money changed hands and it was said the winner of a stick fight had enough to pay for his property. The clergy and some parishioners who did not like the scenes at the revels started friendly societies or men's clubs. In the Meare Book the Rev. Tuckey states that the Meare Friendly and Benefit Society was set up in 1843 to provide financial help for labourers in time of illness. Pictures exist of Mr Rob- ert Tucker of the Manor leading many men through the village to a service at the church. The first recorded revel held at Westhay was in the Spring of c.1910 and in the illustration taken from an early post card will be seen several men in cos- tume on horseback and in the background a number of carts and horse drawn wagons. The revel was held in the field at the rear of the Bird in Hand and known as Dov. This photograph has 1908-1910 written on the back: With the onset of WW1 the revel lapsed at Westhay and was not revived until the mid 1930’s. On a day in early June a decorated arch was put up over the gateway into the same field as used earlier and the villagers were encouraged to decorate their house with flags and bunting. The day before the revel a large marquee was erected between the gate and the river bank and decorated inside with flags and bunting. Long trestle tables and chairs were set up ready for the luncheon the next day. Photograph from 1938 labelled as ‘Baker’ 6 Soon after 10.30 on Revel Day horse drawn floats, costumed riders on horse- back, decorated bicycles and pedestrians in historical or topical dress would arrive in the field for judging at 11 o'clock.