April 2016 - fosse trinity news

FOSSE TRINITY
NEWS
Serving the communities of
Ditcheat, East Pennard and Pylle
april 2016
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Tel: 01749 860546
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Stone, East Pennard (on the A37)
01749 860069
Higher Farm,
Sutton, Nr Ditcheat,
Shepton Mallet, Somerset
BA4 6QF
Opening hours
Mon-Sat: 7.30am to 6.30pm
OPEN ALL DAY
from 12.00 noon
Traditional pub food
Tea / Coffee
Sunday Roast
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Turn off the A371 Castle Cary to Shepton Mallet road,
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Hope to see you soon!
www.travellersrest.org.uk
2
Letter from the editors
This Month
Advertiser Index
58
Alhampton News
11
Book Group
26
Church Services
33
Diary Dates
4
Ditch’t Big Screen
27
Ditcheat Ch. Rota
55
Ditcheat Player’s
6
Ditcheat School
14
E.P. News
5
Folk Dancing
28
Garden Section
23
Letters
25
Mothers Union
42
Natural World
17
Parish news
12, 47
Parish Plan
41
Pastoral Message
35
Pylle News
7
Pylle Pageant
30
Recycling
54
Rendezvous
28
Royal Brit. Legion
43
Theatre trips
13
Village Lunch
19
Wastenot wantnot
25
Weather
38
Who's Who
56
Wildlife Group
36
The Spring Equinox has been and gone, the days have
grown miraculously longer and the only sacrificial
offerings I am aware of are the myriad chocolate eggs
cracked apart and enthusiastically eaten. Hope you all
had a really enjoyable Easter.
You will find some raffle tickets for the Fosse Trinity
Benefice draw nestling in the centre pages of this
magazine, together with a list of the impressive prizes
waiting to be won – from a flight in a light aircraft to an
evening at Glastonbury Extravaganza, and many a
hamper, evening out or massage in between. Please do
what you can to sell them; the draw is a really
important part of essential fund raising for the Benefice.
Plenty of other delights on offer as well: Moviola is
showing the acclaimed ‘Danish Girl’ (p27); The Brue
Boys will be making sure St George’s Day is melodic
(p53); there’s an Evening of Moosic in the Jubilee Hall
and the usual village get togethers – Rendezvous,
Alhamptonians, Village Lunch, Folk Dancing and Village
Walk (information in Dates for your Diary).
Here’s hoping the sun shines on you all.
Margy Cockburn
Gerry Lees
www.fossetrinitynews.co.uk
The Fosse Trinity News is a community magazine. It is financed by advertising and
donations. It is delivered FREE to every household in Ditcheat, Alhampton, East Pennard and
Pylle. We welcome any contribution from anyone in the community of any age!
The editors reserve the right to edit.
Send copy by
15th of each month to editor@fossetrinitynews.co.uk
or to The Editors, 1 Folly Drive, Ditcheat, BA4 6QH
For enquiries about advertising in the magazine, please contact
John 01749 860457 or email adverts@fossetrinitynews.co.uk
Closing date 10th of each month
3
Dates for your Diary
new entries are shaded
Every Week
Pilates (9.00)
Tai Chi for Health(10.30)
Ditcheat Badminton Club (8.00)
Ditcheat and Pylle Singers (7.00)
Diana 860224
Ellie 345222
James 860355
Di 07831 289945
Tue
Art Group – Fortnightly (10.00)
Liz & Stewart 860755
Wed
Ditcheat Badminton Club (2.00)
Ditcheat Short Mat Bowls (7.00)
Ditcheat and Pylle Singers (7.00)
James 860355
Martin 860780
Di 07831 289945
Thu
Keep Fit (9.15)
Diana 860224
Mon
April
2016
st
Fri 1
RBL Annual Dinner – Coffee Den
An Evening of Moosic & Entertainment –
Sat 2nd 7.30
Jubilee Hall
th
Wed 6 12.00
Pylle LWP at the Coffee Den
Jon 850241
Sue 860541
Joanna 838757
th
Thu 7 8.15
The Alhamptonians
Louisa 860252
Fri 8th 7.30
Folk Dancing – Jubilee Hall
Deirdre 860594
Tue 12th 10.00
Rendezvous – Jubilee Hall
Diana 860224
Royal British Legion – Charlie’s studio
Jon 850241
th
Tue 12 3.00
th
Sun 17
Village Walk
Ditcheat Big Screen presents – Jubilee Hall
Thu 21st 7.30
“The Danish Girl”
St
Georges
Day
Concert by the Brue Boys
Sat 23rd 7.00
Jubilee Hall
Tue 26th 12.30
Ditcheat Village Lunch – Jubilee Hall
Linda 860067
Anne 860444
Andrew 860261
Jessica 860205
May
2016
th
Thu 5 8.15
The Alhamptonians
Louisa 860252
th
Fri 13 7.30
Folk Dancing – Jubilee Hall
Deirdre 860594
th
Rendezvous & Plant Sale – Jubilee Hall
Ditcheat Players – Jubilee Hall
“Role Play”
Ditcheat Players – Jubilee Hall
“Role Play”
Diana 860224
Sat 14 10.00
Thu 19th 7.30
Fri 20th 7.30
4
Gaye 860081
Gaye 860081
Dates for your Diary
cont'd.
Ditcheat Players – Jubilee Hall
“Role Play”
Pylle Pageant & Fosse Trinity Draw
Stephen 830538
st
Tue 31 12.30
Ditcheat Village Lunch – Jubilee Hall
Jessica 860205
June
2016
nd
The Alhamptonians
Louisa 860252
Folk Dancing – Jubilee Hall
Deirdre 860594
Sun 12 1.00
Alhampton Open Gardens
Hilary 860615
th
Tue 14 10.00
Rendezvous – Jubilee Hall
Diana 860224
July
2016
Sat 21st 7.30
Sun 22nd 12.00
Thu 2
8.15
th
Fri 10 7.30
th
th
Sat 16
Alhampton Village Party
Gaye 860081
Louisa 860252
EAST PENNARD CHURCH
FLOWERS & CLEANING ROTA
April
May
June
Carol Stuart
Andrew Stuart
Shirley Elsebach
Horst Elsebach
Clare Hogg
Helen Ablitt
John Ablitt
Hilary Tripp
If you are a keen flower arranger, there is an opportunity to practice your
art in one of the windows in East Pennard Church. Your role would be to
decorate it just before Easter, Harvest and Christmas services.
If you are interested please contact Bridget Wadey: Tel: 860240
5
6
Pylle News
Church Flowers and cleaning
April
Wendy Billing
May
Pat Thorner
June
Jacy Wood
If the church is locked please contact the church wardens: Teresa 831419,
Hilary 830538, Carolyn Fussell 830120, or Alan Cary 07896945936, to obtain
a key.
Ladies Working Party - Joanna Miln 838757
Last month during lunch we made the final plans for the Pylle Egg hunt in
March; thank you for all the eggs you donated. Our next meeting is on 6 th
April at 12 noon in the Coffee Den. Raffle from Jo Miln.
Eggstravaganza
As I write this the Eggs-travaganza will take place next week so we are
hoping for a warm sunny afternoon and a good turnout. Thank you to
everybody who donated Easter Eggs, raffle prizes, cakes and came to help us
run the day. I’ll let you know how much money we raised for the hall in the
next FTN.
To hire Pylle village Hall: £7.50 per hour or £6.50 per hour for more than
4 regular bookings. For more information Joanna Miln 838757.
From Our Religious Affairs Correspondent
The PCC AGM will take place after the 11.00a.m. service on Sunday 10 th April.
All are, of course, very welcome. There are actually three meetings held in
quick succession – just to confuse you! – and the format is as follows:THE MEETING OF PARISHIONERS (to precede AGM)
THE ANNUAL GENERAL MEETING – AGENDA AS FOLLOWS:Apologies for absence
The Minutes of the 2015 meeting
Matters arising
Reports.
a. Proceedings of the PCC.
b. Electoral Roll
c. Financial Statement for year ending 31st December 2015.
d. Churchwarden’s Report. (Fabric, Fittings and Changes)
Elections
AOB.
Date and Time of next meeting
7
MEETING OF THE PAROCHIAL CHURCH COUNCIL (To follow AGM)
Church Spring Clean
The cleaners will be booked once again to Spring Clean the church in May. If
anybody would like to make a donation towards the cost of this please
contact Joanna Miln 838757
Pylle Pageant Sunday 22nd May Pylle church, Manor and Old Rectory
The souvenir booklet Lord Portman’s Pylle is now available and costs £3.
THIS ALSO ACTS AS AN ENTRY TICKET FOR THE PAGEANT. Those with
parts will receive a complementary copy. If you want a copy before the day
itself let me know. It is a fully illustrated, twelve-page booklet that gives you
details about what was happening at home and abroad in 1862, with special
reference to Pylle. It even tells you how to arrange for your visit to the
International Exhibition in London now that the railway service is up and
running. Our grateful thanks to the Somerset Central Railway for making all
this possible. I will have copies at The Rendezvous next month.
99-year-old Fred Bennett makes his last trip from Alhampton, where
he has lived with daughter, Daphne, and husband, Terry Osmond,
for the past few years. Fred grew up near Langport when working
horses were a common sight. His family owned a horse and trap and
he developed a love for these animals that lasted his whole life.
8
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10
Alhampton news
Several groups of diners enjoyed Burns Night in the pub, though I did feel a
little concerned for the couple who were dining upstairs with seventeen of us
on a long table next to them. However, when I spoke to them, they assured
us that they were enjoying the company. They had stumbled on the pub by
accident a few days previously and seen the notice. They commented on
how friendly everyone was and that they would certainly come again. Nice to
know we are friendly!
As I mentioned in past months we are having a change this year and giving
the fete a rest. On 16th July we are going to celebrate nonagenarians, both
local and royal, with a ‘bring and share’ afternoon. Steven and Jinny Wessel
have generously offered the use of their beautiful garden, so make that a
definite date. We had a lovely afternoon when we had something similar for
the Jubilee – just pray for fine weather, though we have got two party tents.
Another date to look out for – I understand the Alhampton Open Gardens day
is happening again on 12th June. There will be lots of publicity for it so keep
an eye out for details. Last year we had people coming from as far away as
Bath, Frome, Shaftsbury and Langport.
Many thanks to the three people who did the litter pick and collected six bags
of rubbish. If you are anything like me you totally forgot and came back into
the village as they went home – leaving me feeling very guilty. While on the
subject of litter – or one closely related – thanks are also due to the stalwarts
who gathered the rubbish which was dumped in a ditch at one of the Haddon
Wood entrances; it included a mattress which the council was persuaded to
come and take away. I find it really difficult to understand someone who
would take the trouble to have driven to the wood with the mattress etc. on
board and then dump it, when another couple of miles would have brought
them to a proper centre. Apparently lots of empty cans were included in the
pile and they can easily be recycled. Rant over but I am sure I am not the
only one who was ranting!
I understand that we have some newcomers to the village. Best wishes to
those who have left and welcome to those who have arrived. Don’t forget
that if you want to catch up on news, get to know your neighbours, or just
have a friendly chat, come along to the Alhamptonians, at the Alhampton Inn,
on the first Thursday of each month – this month April 7th. Someone is
always there from about 8.15 – come for as long or as short a time as suits
you – and you don’t have to live in Alhampton to join in!
11
Report of East Pennard Parish Council
Held on Thursday, 4th February 2016 in the Church Room
Present : Adrian Pearse (Chairman), Audrey Dyson (Clerk), Roger Cock,
Martin Dearden (Vice Chairman), Paul Heal, Hilary Tripp (Minute Secretary),
John Greenhalgh (District Councillor), Nigel Woollcombe-Adams (County
Councillor) & one member of the public
1. Apologies:
None
2. Minutes:
chairman.
The minutes of the last meeting were signed by the
3. Matters Arising:
Meeting with Glastonbury Festival:
Matthew
Golledge would like to retire from his role as coordinator. Martin Dearden
agreed to take this on.
Drain issues at Carpenter’s Yard: Still an ongoing problem.
Woollcombe-Adams said he’d see what he could do.
Nigel
Pylle Solar: The works camp has gone. While there is planning permission for
a lot more to be built, a commercial decision has been made to develop no
further at this stage.
Old signposts: It seems that the county council is looking to villages to
maintain them.
Mendip District Council has been lax about letting the Parish Council know
about planning applications.
4. Financial Report:
The precept form was posted on 7th January
applying for £2,300. There is a balance of £4,050 but cheques were required
to cover room hire, Clerk’s salary and expenses, Minutes Secretary pay and
churchyard maintenance.
5. Planning Applications:
The Lodge
A response was sent and the council approves this but has concerns relating
to vehicular access, as provision for 3 car park spaces had been included.
6. Church Room:
The Lease is still not quite ready. Paul Heal said that
they were on the cusp of signing following agreement on 2 final points –
access to toilets ( Michael Eavis is to provide portable toilets in the
12
churchyard) and restrictions over the use of the hall (wording has been
modified here).
7. Correspondence:
Heritage at Risk Register: The stone-arched bridge over the river at
Cockmill was the only item put on the list.
Councillor Nigel Woollcombe-Adams and Councillor John Greenhalgh talked
about the latest developments at the County and District Councils.
8. Date of Next Meeting:
This will be on Thursday 12th May 2016 at 7.30pm
13
Ditcheat Primary School
The children of Ditcheat Primary School have had a
super spring term. Our school council has been busy
discussing the children’s ideas and making sure pupil
voice is top of the agenda. In addition to this, our now
well-established Eco-Schools committee has had many successes leading to a
‘Silver’ award. These children meet once a week, to discuss how we can make
our part of the planet a little bit ‘greener’.
The Eco-team, which consists of staff, parents, governors and Year Three and
Four children have been busy organising and sorting out actions that will help
us to improve the environment within our school building, school grounds
and wider community. They have managed to sign off actions on the Ecoaction plan. They are now saving water by using ‘Save a flush’ bags which
reduce the amount of water flushed away in each toilet flush. They have been
busy visiting or arranging visits to places in our local community that are
doing things to be more environmentally friendly. A successful visit took place
at Wyke Farm where the children got to see how they turn animal waste into
a biofuel which creates eco-friendly energy. Our Year 3/4 children in Holly
Class will be setting off to the Bath and West show ground this April to learn
about where our food comes from in a ‘ field to fork’ learning day.
Throughout the spring and summer months, small groups of children from
each class will be maintaining raised beds within the school grounds and
looking at stages of development as their crops begin to grow.
The Eco-team children have been keeping a close eye on our paper usage
and recycling. They have tried to reduce the amount of paper we waste by
creating paper-based gifts for their families at home. From jewellery to coffee
mats made from tightly folded and rolled waste paper! You will now see lots
of different bug hotels situated around the school grounds, all made from
recycled and natural materials.
An Eco-code has been developed and shared within the school for all to
follow. This includes encouragement to save waste and energy and be
greener on their routes to school. The Eco-team has been blogging on the
EDF energy website to share its achievements with other schools.
Future actions from the team will involve litter picking in and around the park
and church in Ditcheat and thinking about more global issues such as fair
trade.
With determination and commitment the children have now achieved both
Bronze and Silver awards and are already well on their way to gaining the top
award ‘The Green Flag’.
14
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16
NATURAL WORLD
Pretty soon the weathermen will be issuing pollen warnings along with their
forecasts and all those who suffer from hay fever will be diving for the nasal
spray and various other of the manifold reliefs for the menace of pollen. It’s
called hay fever because the main culprits are grasses. It may be a nuisance
to over a million people in the UK each year, but pollen is what enables plants
to reproduce, and without it we would be sunk.
A lot of plants are pollinated by insects, but hay fever is caused mainly by
pollen which is borne on the wind. Wind pollination is a very chancy affair
indeed. Within each male flower, or cone of the yew tree, there are
approximately 50,000 grains of pollen, and on a large yew tree there are
hundreds of thousands of these cones. The female flowers of the yew tree
produce a small droplet of
liquid which will trap the
pollen grain provided the
pollen finds its way to
that female flower. The
chances of it doing so are
far less than one in a
million, and then it has to
land the right way up.
Self pollination is a
minority way of ensuring
reproduction and, in this
case, the flowers contain elements of both sexes; but the method of
pollination that we all know most about is insect pollination, and everybody
automatically thinks of honey bees. The truth is that honey bees are only one
of many species of insects including flies, beetles, butterflies, wasps and
moths that play a part in the pollination, or fertilization, of plants. As insects
visit many flowers in order to gain nectar, or pollen, or both, they pass pollen
from one plant to another, because plants that rely on insects have made
their pollen so that it will stick to the bodies of their visitors. When bees, in
particular, find a good source of food, they tend to pass the word around,
and all their friends will be visiting that one species of plant, and the chances
of a perfect pollination are increased dramatically.
Pollen is so widespread that it is reckoned that every square centimeter of the
UK has at least 5000 pollen grains on it. So when you dust the sideboard
next, remember that you have probably moved about 36 million pollen grains.
That’s a tremendous amount of pollen.
17
Pollen has been with us for a long time and scientists who study it
(palynologists) are frequently asked to identify traces of dust from the clothes
of crime victims, or suspected perpetrators. As pollen grains vary so much in
their shape and size, it is often possible to tell exactly where the pollen came
from, but also at what time of year it was acquired. That way criminals can be
associated with a particular place, at a particular time.
Pollen deteriorates very slowly indeed and archaeologists studying the pattern
of habitation in Shetland thought that the only fuel for fires was peat, but, as
charred wood was found in old fire pits, they realised that some of the first
settlers de-forested the islands and used the wood to keep warm. Only then
did they turn to peat, but they also cleared the land of trees so that they
could grow wheat. They know this from pollen found at certain depths in the
soil and around human settlements. As the quality of soil was depleted, they
grew a crop that needed less nourishment, and turned to barley, which was
also realised as a result of finding the pollen. Unfortunately, barley isn’t a very
good food product. It is much better known for brewing beer. So we have
absolute proof that the inhabitants of Shetland took to drink a very long time
ago. Carbon dating allowed them to tell that one set of remains dated from
1149, but pollen samples found in the nasal area of the skeleton told them
that the person died in July of that year.
Pollen can also be used for identifying the origin of honey, but a lot of
commercial honey producers filter out as much of the pollen as they can to
stop the honey from setting. This masks the origin of the honey, but some
unscrupulous companies, far, far away from the UK, add pollen from a
favourable source and then claim that the honey comes from another part of
the world altogether. Even more unscrupulous people simply add pollen to
corn syrup, claiming it to be the one thing that it isn’t – honey. There is one
easy test to foil them though. Light shone through honey will bend (refract) in
one direction, and through corn syrup will deflect in entirely the other
direction.
Stewart Gould – somertonbees@btinternet.com
18
VILLAGE LUNCH
The Village Lunch is held on the last Tuesday of the month
in the Jubilee Hall at 12.30pm.
Menu for 26th April
Turkey, Ham & Leek Tangle
Salmon Pasta Bake
Lentil Moussaka
~~~~~
Selection of Puddings
~~~~~
Tea or Coffee.
£4.00 per person.
If you would like to come let either Jessica Leach (860205) or Vee Lees
(860542) know by the previous Wednesday, (20th ).
There will be a raffle as usual - any prizes will be welcome.
19
Letter from St James the Least of All
On the perils of small study groups
The Rectory, St. James the Least
My dear Nephew Darren
So, you are about to run an Alpha course in your parish; I am sure your
bishop will be delighted. I remember him from my Oxford days. He was just
starting his course as a gangly undergraduate when I was finishing my
doctorate on Eusebius.
I recall him as a keen rugby player who took early morning dips in the Isis,
who led intense discussions on Saint Paul’s theology of “the body” over cups
of cocoa in the evenings in his rooms and who spent his holidays laying paths
for the National Trust in the Lake District while lodging in Youth Hostels. He’s
exactly the sort of person who will empathise with your ministry – hearty,
enthusiastic and overflowing with compassionate intensity. We were not close
friends.
We tend not to go in for those sort of things here at St. James the Least of
All, preferring matters a little more relaxed and understated. If we ever do
hold discussion groups (and they are a regrettable necessity during Lent),
they always start with a good lunch, finishing with coffee and one of Mrs
French’s excellent Madeira cakes. Once we have removed from the table,
those who manage to stay awake will start to tackle the chosen topic.
However, we always seem to veer off to discussing more interesting matters,
such as why Col. Chorley is never allowed to sing solos in the choir any more,
or who moved Mrs Cholmondeley’s flower arrangement from the font the
previous week. Apparently she has given notice that her weekly contributions
on the plate will be much reduced unless an appropriate apology is received.
These matters may not seem as important to you as deciding what the “white
stone” in Revelation 4 is all about, but let me assure you that to members of
our congregation, knowing why the second verse of the National Anthem is
no longer sung at our Remembrance Services is of pivotal importance.
At 2pm we wake up those who have enjoyed an hour’s slumber and totter off
home, knowing we have once again done our bit for faith in the parish.
I am sure your own group will also return home after your sessions - even if a
digestive biscuit and weak tea is all that has been offered – invigorated and
braced to tackle the heathen in the parish. We all take our pleasures in
different ways.
Your loving uncle,
Eustace
20
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22
Gardening
This is a favourite time in the garden, particularly when the sun shines as it
has today. The soil is warming up and the seedlings are ready to be planted
out. There is a lot to do this month, not least on the vegetable patch.
Early potatoes that have been chitting for the last few weeks can be planted
out during the first half of the month and the maincrop in the second half.
Beetroot, broad beans, carrots, Swiss chard, cauliflower, kohlrabi, lettuce,
leeks, radish, turnip, spring onions, peas and perpetual spinach can all be
sown outdoors and this list is by no means exhaustive. Onion sets can be
planted outside, plus any other seedlings you have started off in the
greenhouse. The more delicate crops such as courgettes, marrows, melons,
squash, pumpkins and sweetcorn can also be sown. Cover with fleece if it is
still getting chilly at night. Pot on tomatoes once they develop their first true
leaves.
Brussel sprouts, calabrese, kale, summer cauliflowers, French and runner
beans and lettuces can all be sown in a cold frame or sheltered spot.
Keep things cool in the greenhouse but ventilate on warmer days. Prick out
seedlings as soon as they are large enough to handle and plant up into a
larger pot or tray. Increase watering of indoor plants as the days lengthen
and give them a feed once they show signs of new growth.
Weeds in both the vegetable patch and borders will need to be kept under
control.
Plant out evergreens, perennials, container grown climbers and late summer
bulbs. Put supports in place for perennials and also in the veg patch for peas.
They might look a bit unsightly to begin with but the foliage will soon cover
them. Remove the faded flowers from daffodils and tulips but leave the
foliage to die back naturally.
The ground should be warm enough to sow seeds, such as cornflowers,
nasturtiums and love-in-a-mist where you want them to flower. This can be
quite good fun if you want to make patterns in the ground.
Prune back silver-leafed shrubs, such as lavender and curry plants. Take off
2.5 – 5cms of growth using shears. This will help the plant retain a good
shape and prevent it from becoming ‘leggy’. Be careful not to cut into the
woody part of the stem. Cut back other spring flowering shrubs, such as
Kerria japonica, once it has finished flowering.
23
I mentioned it last month, but look out for self-sown plants, such as
helleborus, aquilegia, alchemilla, foxgloves and primroses. Just dig them up
and move them to where you would like them to grow. If you have too
many, pot them up and donate them to the Ditcheat Fete. I am sure they will
be well received.
Continue to rejuvenate clumps of perennials and grasses. Established plants
can become very congested which means they do not produce as many
flowers. If you dig them up and divide them you will create new, healthy
plants. Remove any old growth and dead material and then replant. The
clumps can be cut with a spade or an old kitchen knife.
If you want large flower spikes on your delphiniums, thin the number of
shoots as soon as you can. Leave about three shoots on a two-year-old plant
and up to six on an older one.
This is a good time to apply a mulch to the borders to help retain moisture
and suppress the weeds.
Continue to tie in climbers such as honeysuckle and clematis. If you haven’t
cut back the Salix and Cornus (dogwoods) then do so now and use the
cuttings for plant supports (as mentioned above).
Check roses for suckers and tear them away from the parent plant rather
than cutting. Tie in rambling roses as near to horizontal as possible. Spray
with a combined fungicide and insecticide.
Plenty of lawn mowers were fired up yesterday in the lovely sunshine. Now is
a good time to look at what can be done to improve the lawn. Remove large,
deep-rooted weeds such as dandelions and re-seed any bare patches. Rake
out the moss with a spring rake and put to one side to use in hanging
baskets. The latter could be prepared now to give them plenty of time to
establish before putting them outside in May. Add a slow-release fertiliser
into the compost when you are planting up.
Happy gardening.
Seen in a West Country church: Whenever I see a little church, I
always pay a visit. So when at last I’m carried in, the Lord won’t say
‘Who is it?’
24
Thank you…
Grateful thanks to all those volunteers who helped with the annual litter
pick on Saturday 12th March. Approximately 25 bags of litter were collected
from the verges around the Parish. Thanks also to those people who try to
keep the Parish free of litter throughout the year so we can all enjoy a tidy
environment.
Hilary Clark (on behalf of the Parish Council).
25
Canon Selphy CP400, a compact photo printer which prints photo sized
(6" x 4") prints. The snag is that it is only compatible with Windows 98,
2000 and XP and as we have upgraded our computer we can no longer
use it. It is in working order, has instruction manual and paper and ink
are still available to purchase.
Contact: Anne 860444
WASTE NOT, WANT NOT
A big thanks to Sally Atkins and her helpers for organising the bingo evening,
together with thanks to everyone who attended. On top of having a fabulous
evening a total of £275.50 was also raised!
We look forward to seeing everyone back for Christmas Bingo.
Watch this space.
Eleanor
DITCHEAT BOOK GROUP
Barbara Kingsolver’s The Poisonwood Bible
Review by Clare West
This is a superb epic novel, set in post-colonial darkest Africa. It tells the story
of an American missionary family which, in 1959, move from their
comfortable home in the USA to the remote village of Kilanga in the Belgian
Congo. As they endure isolation and poverty they experience hardship and
suffering, but most of the family find ways of adapting to African village life
and customs. Eventually a sudden tragic death tears them apart, and we
follow their individual stories as they split up and take different paths in life.
The father, Nathan Price, is an evangelical Baptist minister and WWII
veteran whose sole aim is to ‘save Africa for Jesus’. He is so blinkered that he
is prepared to sacrifice his wife and daughters on the altar of his beliefs. He
tries to escape the demons from his past by force-feeding his version of
Christianity to a culture he neither knows nor understands. His sermonizing
voice rings loudly through the novel, but the author does not allow him a
narrative voice, probably because she has absolutely no sympathy for him.
Neither have we.
The mother and her daughters are the ones who tell us their story, in
alternating chapters. Each character is very different, and we can see the way
they develop as time passes. Rachel, the eldest daughter, is the most
obstinately American, desperate to return to ‘civilized’ Western life. Leah is
dutiful, conscientious and seeks to support her father. Adah, speechless for
most of her youth, is cynical, sensitive to language and loves palindromes.
The youngest, Ruth May, is carefree, laughing and sociable. When she dies
unexpectedly, her mother takes it badly and spends half a lifetime racked
with guilt.
There are so many powerful issues raised by this novel – colonial
oppression, domestic and religious tyranny, political repression and
corruption, racism and sexism. Whose fault is all this? How should we
protest? How can we make a difference? Can we right these wrongs? Should
we Westerners go on feeling ashamed of our past actions forever?
But perhaps Africa itself, not guilt, is the reason why Kingsolver wrote
this book. Every word, every phrase, every page glows with descriptions of
African sights, sounds and language. We are right there, hungry and
exhausted, in the dirt and the mud, fearfully watching out for a cobra or a
green mamba, and we are learning a heck of a lot from this very ancient
corner of the world. For example, the Congolese term ‘muntu’ describes how
all life is connected in some way. Through her death, Ruth May, young as she
is, realizes she is ‘muntu’ and a part of everything around her. She wants her
mother to understand this, forgive herself and live in peace. Her spirit reaches
out from the darkness to her mother, saying, ‘Move on. Walk forward into the
light.’
26
27
The Rendezvous
Tuesday 12th April
Ditcheat Jubilee Hall
Coffee, cakes, bread, pies, handicrafts
Enquiries: Diana 860224 or Linda 860067
Ditcheat Fol k Dance Club
D
F
in the ubilee Hall
Caller Peter Bolton
with Rough Round the Edges
Entrance £
i nc l ude s li ght re fre shme nt s
Deirdre
Ama
28
PHILIP SAUNDERS
PRIVATE HIRE DRIVER
Based in Ditcheat
Airports and Long Distance Trips
Special Nights Out
Travel in Comfort
Reliable
Very Competitive Rates
Tel: 07855 588128 or 07774 234858
Prompt
Mike Doyle
Home Maintenance
All types of property maintenance
undertaken including:







Painting and Decorating
Kitchen and Bathroom
Tiling
Wood/Laminate Floor
Laying
Wooden Decking
Fencing
Patio Laying
Insurance Quotes/Work
Undertaken
01749 860356 07876421255
e-mail:mad-doyle@hotmail.co.uk
Thomas Kenrick
Re- pointing
Re-Pointing Specialist. Building Conservation. Stone Masonry.
Alhampton 860929 Mob 07746218062
www.Repointing Somerset.co.uk
29
30
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Holbrook House: Dinner for 2
Mulberry: Wallet
Octagon Theatre: Tickets
Glastonbury Festivals: Extravaganza Tickets
RNAS Yeovilton: Air Day Tickets
Royal Bath & West Show: Family Ticket
Manor House Inn: Dinner for Two
Paul Nicholls Stables: Signed Picture
Kilver Court: Family Membership
Jon Thorner’s: Vouchers for Shop/Den
Fleet Air Arm Museum: Children’s tickets
Avalon Vineyard: Organic Wine
Royal Canin: Pet Products
Fosseway Garage: MOT
Strode Theatre: 4 Tickets
Charlie Bishop Photographer: Wildlife Print
Wraxall Vineyard: English Wine
Holbrook House: Spa/Beauty/Massage
Brownes Garden Centre: Plant
Orchard Pig: Cider
David Stokes: Flight in Light Aircraft
Traveller’s Rest: Meal for Two
Wincanton Races: Tickets to Premier Enclosure
Joanna Miln: Print
Barber’s: Cheese/Cool Bag
Clarks Shoes: Voucher
Lovingtons: Ice Cream
Shepton Cider Mill: Case of Cider
Theatre Royal Bath: Theatre Tickets
Alhampton Inn: Meal
Storm Hair & Beauty: Hairdressing/Beauty
Various Hampers
Please send counter foils/money to Alison Ward
Treasurer, The Willows, Ditcheat, Shepton Mallet BA4 6QY
31
Accounts
Payroll
VAT
BARTLETT, GOODING
& WEELEN
Bookkeeping
Tax/Self-Assessment
Management Accounts
Old Bank House,
High Street,
Castle Cary
www.hs-accounts.co.uk
e-mail: info@hs-accounts.co.uk
Tel: 01749 860857
Tel. (01963) 350888
All kinds of legal advice
and assistance available,
both efficiently and
economically.
32
CHURCH SERVICES FOR APRIL
Sunday 3rd
9.30 a.m.
11.00 a.m.
Sunday 10th
11.00 a.m.
2nd Sunday of Easter
Parish Communion at Ditcheat –
Revd. Canon Graham Hendy
Morning Worship at East Pennard –
Revd. Canon Graham Hendy
3rd Sunday of Easter
Parish Communion at Pylle Revd. Canon Graham Hendy
Tuesday 12th
10.00 a.m.
Sunday 17th
8.30am
11.00 a.m.
Sunday 24th
9.30am
6.30pm
Midweek Benefice Communion at Ditcheat Revd. Canon Graham Hendy
4th Sunday of Easter
Book of Common Prayer at Ditcheat –
Revd. Canon Graham Hendy
Parish Communion at East Pennard –
Revd. Canon Graham Hendy
5th Sunday of Easter
Parish Communion Alhampton –
Revd. Canon Graham Hendy
Ringers Service for All Three Parishes at Pylle –
Canon Graham Hendy
CHURCH SERVICES FOR THE FIRST SUNDAY IN MAY
Sunday 1st
9.30 a.m.
11.00 a.m.
Thursday 5th
7.30pm
6th Sunday of Easter
Parish Communion at Ditcheat –
Revd. Canon Graham Hendy
Morning Worship at East Pennard –
Revd. Canon Graham Hendy
Ascension Day
Benefice Communion at Alhampton –
Revd. Canon Graham Hendy
33
ST MARY MAGDALENE, DITCHEAT
On behalf of the PCC, we would like to thank everybody who has made a
donation to our appeal in last month’s FTN. The dry rot repairs in the chancel
have now been completed and everything has been put back in place; the
cause of the problem is still a bit of a mystery but we are undertaking further
investigation and preventative measures to hopefully eliminate the risk of any
further outbreaks. Our application for a grant toward re-covering the south
transept roof has been submitted and, although we understand that there
have been applications in excess of the funds being made available by the
government, we are optimistic that our application will be successful; the
decision will be made at the end of June.
The donations we have received so far are witness to the generosity of our
community and the desire of so many people to protect our heritage and
contribute towards the maintenance of this historic building. For those who
are interested, a description of the church and its contents takes up two
pages in the Buildings of England by Nikolaus Pevsner, the renowned scholar
of architectural history. If you have yet to make a donation, it’s not too late!
Contributions to our Treasurer, Alison Ward, at The Willows, Silver Street,
BA4 6QY, will be most gratefully received.
Many thanks.
The Churchwardens
Anthony Sutcliffe, Eleanor Yeoman
34
Jesus meets us where we are
The first week in April means sailing on the Broads in Norfolk for our
daughter, Lindsay, and her husband Nick. It is where they met and have been
going each year for over twenty five years to enjoy being part of ‘Bitternes
Afloat’, a Christian Sailing Holiday Week for young people. When Margaret
and I lived in South Walsham, the crew would come to worship with us on
the Sunday, which meant over seventy in a small village church. We would
also be invited to have supper with them in the local village hall where they
would have teaching about the Christian faith. It was such an opportunity for
these youngsters to see that ‘Jesus meets us where we are’.
As I thought about this theme of Jesus being available to us in whatever
circumstance we find ourselves, I recalled some of the times after His
Resurrection where this was so. Firstly we find Mary in the garden,
bewildered after she finds the tomb empty, suddenly hearing her beloved’s
voice saying ‘Mary’. She knows without doubt it is Jesus. He had met her
where she was. Then, in the evening of that same day, two grieving disciples
find that they have been joined by their Master, although not recognising him
until they sit down to supper together! On another occasion, the disciples find
a cooked breakfast awaiting them on the sea-shore. The chef was Jesus.
Again and again, Jesus came to them, just where they were.
It is no different today. We can’t experience Jesus as his disciples did, in
human form, yet he still meets us wherever we are. He wants to play a part
in our lives, to create a relationship with us, to become a friend, to be
appreciated. ‘You’ll never walk alone’ is so true once you commit and believe
that Jesus is our Resurrected Lord.
So, as you enjoy time in the great outdoors, pursue your ambitions, return to
work after a relaxing break, plan your holidays, escape with a book, care for
your families, play games on your computers, study for exams, spend time in
your garden and many other occupations, remember that ‘Jesus meets us
where we are’.
Graham Hendy
Two television aerials met one day and fell madly in love with each
other. Eventually they decided to get married and booked the local
Church. Apparently the service was not up to much but the reception
was excellent!
35
The Wildlife Group Update
New!
We will be at the Rendezvous on April 12th. At Ditcheat Jubilee Hall
10.00am. If you can, come and have a chat about improving your garden for
wildlife. Some wild plants for sale to start your wildflower lawn.
Owl Prowl
We had a very good turnout for our Owl Prowl, and met Chris Sperring, in the
car park of Stockhill Wood. Chatting was difficult, as it was so dark at the
beginning, that you couldn't see who was around! The evening turned out
fine and got clearer, allowing the full moon to light our way.
Chris has an extraordinary ability to mimic the calls of owls and dying wood
mice! We started by trying out long eared owl calls, then turned to tawny
calls. The tawny owls were about, but shy and quite distant. This didn't
detract from a very enjoyable evening of discussion and pointing out some of
the needs and threats that face our native owls. The most important
development in woods to help wildlife in general and owls in particular, is to
allow verges, instead of planting the trees close to the edge of the tracks.
This encourages the wood mice and voles that owls live on.
With lovely views of the moon, Chris pointed out constellations, nebulae and
galaxies, with fascinating facts and figures to boot.
Most people went home after the walk, but our car stopped off spontaneously
at the Hunters Lodge Inn which we were very impressed with: a pub as they
used to be, warm, welcoming, no music or carpets, but great beer.
Tips:
Spring is an important time to continue feeding the birds. They are at their
lowest ebb after the winter and are starting the breeding season and laying
eggs. Cleaning bird baths and feeders is important to help prevent the spread
of bird pox.
Meeting up:

May - Woodland walk with nightingales
13th (reserve date 17th) evening
36
Contact information:
Bridget Wadey: email: thewildlifegroup@btinternet.com or 01749 860240
You can follow our activities by:



joining our emailing list; contact Bridget see above
through the FTN news (www.fossetrinitynews.co.uk), there is
usually a monthly update on the Wildlife group
or www.ditcheatchurch.co.uk, this site publishes our meetings
and activities as they happen. The Wildlife Group has its own tag
Photo Quiz:
Thank you Rafe for
this lovely photo. Can
you guess what it is?
March Answer:
Goldfinch on Teasel
head
37
Ditcheat weather
Well … That was winter! As many of you will have no doubt already seen, this
winter was one of the warmest and wettest on record. This description
applies to the UK as a whole of course. There are always regional differences
and as far as my data goes 2013 - 2014 would seem to have been warmer
and definitely wetter overall.
Our February started warm, with continued low pressure weather systems
from the Atlantic. On the 6th heavy rain fell for most of the day, my personal
record for rainfall was broken with 40.4mm - almost half of February’s rain.
Paul Nicholls’ yard at Highbridge was flooded, resulting in horses being
evacuated from their stalls. The second half of Feb was much drier with rain
only recorded on 3 days.
High pressure brings colder drier weather and the temps. dropped
accordingly, frosts were seen on 7 mornings. Oddly we had another day
similar to one in January where the daytime temp. was very high (14.6) and
the nighttime temp. was also high (10.6), in fact 10.6 would have been the
3rd highest daytime temp.
Another benefit of high pressure systems are clear days, this Feb was very
sunny compared to recent months. The solar PV system generated 191Kwh,
almost double the figure for January.
Wind speeds dropped towards the end of the month and varied between the
North and East. Current forecasts still talk of colder weather for the next
couple of weeks, but who can tell!
Feb
Max Min
>10c
deg c deg c days
< 0c rain
nights total
wet
days
wind
run
miles
2016
14.6
-2.9
8
7
83.6
15
2040.3
2015
11.1
-3.2
3
11
69.0
14
1416.6
2014
12.5
0.2
9
0
149.6
28
2741.0
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FIONNA ROBERTS
BAHons RSHom PCH
CLASSICAL HOM0EOPATH
Clinics in East Pennard & Wells
01749 890636
fionna@fionnaroberts.co.uk
http://www.fionnaroberts.co.uk/
MARK WHITE
Furniture & Cabinet Maker
Furniture & cabinet making
Kitchens & kitchen fitting
Bespoke joinery
CRAFT MEMBER
01458 834151 07890235660
www.markwhitefurniturecabinetmaker.com
CHINNOCK TAXIS
Male or female driver
Contracts
Child Booster Cushion (x2)
8 & 4 seater vehicles available
£10 million public liability
IAM Certificate Holder
Doctors
Daily Hire
Airports
Seaports
Railway Stations
Regular customer
discounts
Phone: 01749 831408
Mobile: 07703068878
www.chinnocktaxis.co.uk
Glastonbury Driver – Mark - 07585686327
39
40
DITCHEAT PARISH PLAN – WILDLIFE & CONSERVATION GROUP
The Seasonal Changes Diary
By the time you read this swallows should be arriving and Spring is really
getting under way.
As I write this, 11th March, I noted, among the garden birds, a pair of siskins
yesterday which presumably were passing through as I have not seen them
since, a pair of greenfinches which are a rarity for me these days and the
possible sighting of a marsh/willow tit. This latter is a bit tenuous but I shall
keep a lookout. The other day I thought I heard the beginnings of a Blackcap
limbering up into song. All in all things are hotting up.
Daffodils are in bloom generally now which is still early but I note that where
there are a lot of them together there are patches of open ground. Taking a
closer look reveals that there are bulbs pushing up leaves at the more normal
time, and that they will not be rushed by seasonal variations, eminently
sensible in my view.
The garden is beginning to wake up from its winter slumber, or is it more cat
napping than a full hibernation. snowdrops and snowflakes abound and
celandine is commencing its brief colonising of the edges to the lawn. Our
neighbour’s pond has had a copious quantity of frogspawn delivered almost
overnight. Will it last or will the frost get to it? blue tits are looking at the nest
box with a bit more purpose, and a couple of robins have been seen
disappearing into a neighbour’s conically shaped conifer. The hole in the tight
foliage is theta shaped i.e. it is an oval opening but has one leaf across the
middle of it. It looks like it is a barrier rail so may be easier to guard!
I am still looking for a volunteer to help me patrol the lanes to identify plants
in the verges!!
Please let me know your findings and I can add them to the diary.
Jan
Robson,
contact
me
on
01749
860444,
or
annejan@robson2.plus.com
email:
Seen in a parish magazine: Next Sunday the choir will give a recital,
after which the church will be closed for repairs.
41
St Dunstan's and District Mothers' Union
On Mothering Sunday, the children were given daffodil posies and a Mothers'
Union book mark for their mothers and friends.
Our meeting is being held a week later this month, too late for print. Thursday
17th March, St. Patrick's Day, we meet in Butleigh Church Room at 2.30pm.
Our guest speaker, the Head Verger at Wells, will speak about his work in the
Cathedral and members will be given the opportunity to ask questions.
The next meeting, Thursday 14th April, will be held in Baltonsborough
Church Room, 2.30pm, when Mrs. Mary Masters will talk about her life as
Secretary to the Bishop.
All friends very welcome.
Jill Done.
42
East Pennard Royal British Legion
Another meeting at 3pm, and yet again we are left with the thought: “why,
oh why, didn’t we do this before?” It is so much nicer, and safer, to go out
and back in the daylight and, maybe it is just my imagination, but the
atmosphere in the meeting seemed a little lighter, a little more jovial, more
positive. Well, maybe that is stretching things a little too far, but,
nevertheless, we will be continuing to meet at 3pm for the foreseeable future.
As I write, we are fast running up to the service to commemorate the life of
James White on 14th March 2016 in Ditcheat, exactly 100 years to the date of
his death in Belgium. The picture I left you with last month was somewhat
confusing and with very little information about James himself. Let’s try and
sort the family out first. James’s Dad was not simply Thomas White, but
George Thomas White. In the 1871 census he was aged 19 and living as a
lodger in Baltonsborough with the Bush family who were blacksmiths. In the
1881 census he was 29 years old, married to Lucy aged 25, there were no
children and they lived in West Lydford with a street address of The Cross
Keys. He was a blacksmith and even today the house next to the pub is the
Old Forge. Skipping the 1891 census where we got our confusing information
from last month, to the 1901 census, the family was still together. George
was 10 years older, but Lucy, rather lady-like, has only aged by 6 years ( but
that ties in with her age in 1881 ). William, Henry and James were still there,
having aged appropriately, but had been joined by two sisters, Maria and
Dorcas. There was no mention of Mary but she would have been 19 by then
and could easily have left home. George Thomas White must have died
sometime between 1901 and 1910 because Lucy was a widow when she
married Robert Hill in 1910. It is too easy to get distracted so having sorted
the family out let us get back to James White.
James White was born in Corton Denham in 1890. We cannot explain why he
was born in Corton Denham because the family were well established living in
West Lydford. Maybe Lucy went to stay with a relative for the birth, but
James grew up in West Lydford and lived there until at least 1901. However,
by 1911 James, who by now was 20, was boarding in Redfield Road,
Midsomer Norton, and working as a mason’s labourer. At some stage, James
moved on to work for the GWR because in his enlistment papers he is down
as a ‘packer on GWR’. He also spent some time in the Territorials because he
had to purchase his discharge before he could enlist in the regular army. He
signed on for 3 years. From these papers we know James hadn’t completed
any apprenticeship, he hadn’t been married and he hadn’t been to prison. He
actually enlisted on 7th September 1914, in Swansea, in the Duke of
Cambridge’s Own ( Middlesex ) Regiment, Football
43
Battalion and became a member of a machine gun section. His number was
G/4525. On his medical form he was described as having ‘ good physical
development ‘, was 5 feet 5 inches tall, weighed 117 pounds, had grey eyes
and dark brown hair. Why he enlisted in the Football Battalion we do not
know; is it too simplistic to suggest he was a good footballer? He spent just
over one year in this country, presumably training, before being sent to
France in September 1915 to join the BEF ( British Expeditionary Force ). He
landed in Boulogne on 2 September. On the 3rd March 1916 the Battalion
went by train to Ypres, eventually taking up their positions in the trenches in
Sanctuary Wood (rather ironic don’t you think?). The reports were of very
heavy snow. James was killed in action on 14th March 1916. His total
service was one year and 189 days. He is Remembered with Honour in the
Sanctuary Wood Cemetery.
The story is not quite complete because we do know that Lucy Hill (his Mum)
signed for receipt of his Victory Medal on 3rd February and his War Medal on
9th November (no year stated) and his Step Father, Robert Hill, signed for his
1914-15 Star on 15th July 1920. These acknowledgements were sent from
the post office in Ditcheat, which, if you remember, was run by the Bartlett
family who also lost a grandson during the War.
Back to the present, it is my sad duty to inform you of the death of our oldest
branch member, Mr Fred Chinn. Fred joined up in 1937 in the RASC and saw
action during WW2, being part of D Day 4 and, later, Operation Market
Garden. After demob in 1946 he joined the Baltonsborough branch of the
Legion in 1949 before switching to the East Pennard branch in 1972. In 1975
he became the branch standard bearer, and carried out these duties until
1994, aged 77. During this time he also served as the Deputy County
Standard Bearer and the County Standard Bearer. Fred was awarded
certificates “in appreciation” and “in recognition” of his outstanding work for
the Legion in 1983 and 1986 respectively. He devoted an enormous amount
of time and energy in support of the Legion, not only for carrying out his
duties of standard bearer for nearly 20 years but, together with his wife, by
helping out at fund raising events and keeping in touch with fellow
members. Fred was the classic Legion member and in recognition of his 54
years of outstanding Legion service he was awarded National Life
Membership and the Legion Gold Badge. He will be very sadly missed; it is
the end of an era.
Not much routine branch news this month I’m afraid. The dinner will
probably have come and gone by the time you read this; hope you enjoyed
it. Our next meeting will be held in Charlie’s studio at 3pm on Tuesday 12th
April 2016.
44
A. TREVENEN PASCOE
BSc. (Hons) Ost. Med. ND.
OSTEOPATH
42 High Street
Shepton Mallet
Somerset
BA4 5AS
Tel. (01749) 342594
PPP/AXA and BUPA recognised
45
46
Précis of the draft minutes from the Ditcheat Parish
Council (PC) meeting held on the 10th March 2016.
PRESENT: Chairman – Councillor Evans (CE); Councillors Clark (HC), Hutton
(RH), Clifford (SC), Hughes (LH) and Yeoman (RY).
IN ATTENDANCE: Miss P Griffiths, Clerk to the Parish Council.
DISTRICT COUNCILLOR’S REPORT – At the last full council meeting on 25th
February, it was agreed to set the Council Tax for 2016/17 based on an
increase of 1.75% with an additional precept of 1.25% to help fund the
Somerset Rivers Authority. The increase in the Mendip tax is the first since
2009/10. The Joint Procurement of Services project is still on schedule to be
signed on 31st March; the proposed oversight and management
arrangements have been agreed.
CODE OF CONDUCT – CE declared a personal interest in Item 027/16 c) 3)
and 4) as recipient of the payments; RY declared a personal interest in Item
032/16 one of the suggestions proposed for a possible location for a car park
is on land adjacent to that his son owns.
MATTERS ARISING - from the meeting held on 28th January 2016.
Post Office Home Service – The Clerk reported that Mr Phypers, the Sub Post
Master at Mells, had mistakenly been under the impression that there was
little interest in the scheme. The Clerk informed him that this was not the
case but that in order to ascertain how much support there was likely to be
for the scheme the PC needed to have all the relevant information and
literature to give to parishioners. Mr Phypers had indicated that he would
contact Post Office Counters (POC) again to get the precise details of how the
scheme would work. CE reported that he had spoken to Chris Newcombe at
Barbers who confirmed that the POC had contacted the Barbers about
running a Post Office function from the existing farm shop but that it was not
a viable proposition.
Alhampton village records – LH reported that it appeared that the documents
held by Chrys Henning (CH) were not originals or primary documents but
copies and/or notes taken from original documents. CH and LH thought that it
would be a good idea to have a series in the FTN to raise awareness of the
information available and possibly something on the PC website. LH
confirmed that CH would contact the FTN. CH had indicated that she would
retain the documents for the time being.
Intervention limits pertaining to Speed Indicator Devices (SID) - the Clerk
reported that the Traffic Engineer responsible for the SIDs had responded
stating that there is no automatic next step when intervention limits are
exceeded. The purpose of the SIDs is to provide information and it is up to
the relevant local council whether parish or district, the police, the road safety
unit and/or the highways department instigate any action. The Clerk will
contact the police, SCC and the road safety unit to ask how often the mobile
speed cameras are deployed in the area and if that could be
47
increased. It was agreed that, should the opportunity arise for another walk
about with the Highways Department, to include the site in the tour of the
parish.
Jubilee trees – it was noted that the additional trees have been planted.
Housing and Planning Bill –The email from Hastoe confirmed that they will not
offer any of its rural affordable homes for the Right to Buy. Furthermore,
Hastoe are currently lobbying as the bill goes through parliament to table
amendments which will prevent Hastoe and other providers from being forced
to offer homes for the Right to Buy.
Brook House Inn – new access: RH reported that the owners of the pub had
confirmed that they had no current plans to complete the new access. Litter
pick – HC reported that preparations for the litter pick had been made. Signs
by the car parking for Haddon Wood - The Clerk will follow up with HH.
PLANNING - It was agreed that no representation at the Planning Board to be
held on 16th March at which the planning application 2015/2852/FUL Queens
Arms, Wraxall will be considered, was required. It was noted that planning
permission has been granted for the following: Owley Farm, and Ditcheat Hill
Farm.
It was noted that since the site on land east side of the A37, opposite the
Lodge, has been cleared and a new access has been formed off the Class 4
road to Ditcheat, next to the reservoir, and a new entrance has been formed
to The Lodge on the west side of the road and that planning permission has
been granted under application Ref. 2015/2978. The Planning Enforcement
Section will therefore undertake no further action in respect of this issue. The
PC remain concerned that the hardstanding on the land opposite The Lodge
and access on to the Class 4 road to Ditcheat has been formed however do
not appear to have permitted rights arising from the planning consent as
these matters were not included in the application. The Clerk will write to the
planning department.
FINANCE - Changes to the smaller authorities’ local audit – it was resolved
not to opt out of the external audit arrangements that Smaller Authorities’
Audit Appointments Limited (SAAA) is putting in place.
The balance of the current account as at 1st January is £9,442.34 with total
balance of £13,852.72 in both accounts.
Resolved: expenditure detailed below is approved and the cheques signed:
Tony’s Garden Services for grass cutting on 12th February 2016 - £65.00;
Habitat Aid for the additional trees - £176.00; Mr C Evans for materials for
repair to footpath – sand from Bradfords £57.49 and scalpings from Bateman
Ltd - £147.32 =Total £204.81; Mr C Evans for equipment for cleaning safety
matting in the playground - £14.82; Clerk’s salary for period 1st Jan to 31st
Mar 2016 = £656.91; HMRC for PAYE/NICs for same period = £164.20.
The payment to Namesco Ltd for website renewal = £65.99 was noted.
PLAYGROUND - Replacement of the safety matting – The amended
quotations for all three areas of safety matting in the toddlers’ play area from
48
the two suppliers were discussed. It was resolved unanimously to ask Vita
Play to proceed with the resurfacing of the toddlers play area with the darkest
of the Rhyno mulch™. The Clerk will investigate the possibility of obtaining a
grant for the work for resurfacing the safety matting area under the larger
children’s multi-play equipment.
HIGHWAYS - Speed limit through Alhampton – the Consultant Engineer at
SCC will arrange for speed samples to be taken in the actual built up areas of
the villages of Ditcheat and Alhampton to determine whether a full speed
survey is justified. The engineer indicated in his email that he envisaged that
whilst all other roads in the parish are derestricted, meaning that vehicles can
travel up to 60mph, it would be difficult to do so and having checked the
accident statistics, which revealed no incidents to have occurred in the last 5
years, considers the current limit appropriate. The Clerk will respond
expressing the concern of the PC that whilst it is unlikely that vehicles can, or
would, travel through the parish at 60 mph, in some areas lower speeds were
still too fast for the road layout and conditions.
New matters for report include the following: Pothole on the left side of the
road going from Ditcheat towards Arthurs Bridge about 20m away from a
recent repair.
FOOTPATHS, BRIDLEWAYS AND RIGHTS OF WAY.
The absence of the stile and boards to cross the ditch on path SM 6/33 (path
that crosses Jacobs Lane) - this work will be completed in the near future
when the Bristol gate referred to below is delivered.
Replacement of stile with a Bristol gate on footpath SM 6/32 – the Clerk
reported that the gate would be delivered soon. CE confirmed that he had
spoken to Mr Barber who confirmed that he would arrange for the gate to be
installed to replace the stile as soon as labour is available.
Trip hazard on the concrete footpath alongside the trees by the fencing of the
playground – RY will cut back the concrete prior to CE laying the tarmac. Path
by newly created car park by the farm shop – CE reported that sides of the
path have been repaired with paving slabs.
Rights of Way activity log – All councillors will forward information on any
activity undertaken in 2015/2016 on any footpaths in the parish as soon as
possible to the Clerk. The Clerk will also check with the Friends of Haddon
Wood as to what work has been done on the Rights of Way footpaths in the
wood.
CAR PARKING IN DITCHEAT VILLAGE – RH explained that he asked for this
matter to be discussed by the PC to ensure that, following on from the Local
Plan consultation process, any decisions taken now did not compromise any
future possibility of resolving the ever increasing problem of lack of car
parking in Ditcheat village. RH suggested three possible sites which may in
the longer term, should funding become available, be suitable – subject to the
landowners’ co-operation and consent/permission from the relevant
authorities. It was agreed that an informal approach should be made to the
49
planning department at MDC with regards to the Lintern Close site which is
owned by MDC. CE will draught a simple plan for the Clerk to forward to the
planning department.
THE POSSIBLE PROPOSAL TO CHANGE KERBSIDE SERVICE COLLECTIONS –
LH expressed concern about how the possible changes to the kerbside waste
collections as detailed in the recent newsletter from Somerset Waste
Partnership (SWP) would work. The proposal suggests that recycled waste
would continue to be collected weekly but that the residue waste would be
collected every 3 weeks. LH had concerns that this may not be practical for
people in multi-occupancy buildings, elderly and/or disabled residents or who
have little or no storage. SC reported that a pilot of the proposed service
model had been done in Wiveliscombe and deemed successful and well
supported. The Clerk will contact SWP expressing the PC’s reservations about
the scheme and to ask what consideration has been given of the impact of 3
weekly recycling on those who cannot, or will not, recycle.
SOMERSET DAY CELEBRATIONS ON 11th MAY 2016 - noted. The Clerk will
forward the information regarding Somerset Day to Ditcheat School which
may be interested in getting involved.
FEEDBACK FROM COUNCILLOR ATTENDING ‘THE RENDEZVOUS’.
LH reported that two general matters were raised – one was that large HGVs
were continuing to drive on and cause damage to the road verges; the other
matter was about the sign at the Brook House Inn which appears to cause
some difficulty to some drivers, however, the sign has been in place for many
years.
DATE OF THE NEXT FULL MEETING – 21st April 2016 AT 7.30 pm in the
Church Room. FOR INFORMATION: The agenda for all meetings is
displayed on the website www.ditcheatparishcouncil.org.uk and the notice
boards in the parish i.e. Alhampton, Ditcheat, and Sutton at least 3 working
days prior to the meeting.
Camelot U3A will hold its monthly meeting at the Caryford Hall on Friday 29 th
April 2016 at 2.30pm. Tom Burr, a long-time resident of Castle Cary, wellknown to many, will talk on
“The Hoares of Stourhead, what each generation contributed to the
house and landscape”.
Tom worked for the National Trust for many years , being based at Stourhead
in his role as officer for the Wessex Region.
All are welcome, members and visitors.
There will be no monthly meeting at the end of May but we will be holding an
Open afternoon and Enrolment session on Thursday 9 th June.
50
51
MARK CURTIS
ROOFING & BUILDING
www.markcurtisroofingltd.co.uk
Tiling/ slating/ flat roofs/ lead work
Loft conversions
Listed building & restoration specialist
General building
WE OFFER A COMPLETE ROOFING SERVICE FROM
SCAFFOLDING TO BUILDING
WHITE CHIMNEYS
ALHAMPTON
SHEPTON MALLET
SOMERSET
BA4 6PZ
01749 860898
Mobile 07702820794
Email mark@markcurtisroofingltd.co.uk
52
Is this apisdn umop or am I just standing on my head? 53
Residents in Somerset could see changes to
their recycling and refuse collection service in
the next few years if plans by the county’s six
councils go ahead.
Proposals for extra recycling materials – plastic pots, tubs and trays; Tetra Pakstyle cartons; small electrical items; household batteries – to be collected weekly
would see far less in rubbish bins.
With the potential for so much material to be collected for recycling each week,
the councils, working through their joint Somerset Waste Partnership (SWP), have
been exploring whether the refuse collection frequency could be reduced to three
weekly.
This move would save millions over the coming years, holding down council tax
rises and funding other vital services.
With food waste continuing to be collected weekly and steps to help families with
children in nappies, SWP says extensive trials have demonstrated that those who
recycle well will manage without problems
Trials of three-weekly collections with the extra recycling achieved significant
success, with much more recycled, far less rubbish and an overwhelming majority
of those taking part backing the new system.
Nothing firm has yet been agreed but the decision must be made in the next two
months in time to order replacements for the ageing fleet of recycling vehicles.
Changes, if agreed, would be introduced in stages over at least two years.
But SWP is confident this is a practical, sustainable and cost-effective solution to
help residents recycle more, waste less and save money.
SWP also hopes that the kerbside collection changes will happen alongside an end
to landfilling rubbish in Somerset, with waste processed elsewhere to extract
materials or burn it for power.
Increased recycling and reduced landfill are an environmental and economic winwin and will help keep Somerset among the top recycling areas in the UK.
A study of what people actually throw away shows that around 50% of the
existing average Somerset rubbish bin is food or other materials that can already
be recycled in present kerbside collections, while around another 10% of the bin
could be taken to recycling sites.
Landfilling Somerset’s rubbish costs £12 million a year.
What the proposed new service would collect each week
Food waste
Kitchen towel Newspaper and magazines
Directories and other paper
Cardboard
Beverage cartons (Tetra Pak etc.)
Glass bottles and jars
Food and drink cans
Aerosols
Aluminium foil
Plastic bottles Plastic pots (yoghurt etc.)
Plastic tubs (margarine, ice cream etc.) Plastic trays (fruit etc.)
Textiles Clothes
Shoes Small electricals
Household batteries
54
Ditcheat Church Rota
Rota for
April
May
3rd & 10th
17th &24th
1st & 8th
15th & 22nd
29th
Flowers
Brasses
Emma Cobb
Louisa Oborne
Anne Robson
Hazel Rowlands
Vee :Lees
“
Sally Atkins
Barbara & Ian Rounsevell
Margaret Shylan
“
Cleaning Rota
April
Sat 2nd / 9th
Jessica Leach
Sat 16th / 23rd
Barbara & Iain Rounsevell
Church Rooms
Pat Dando
May
Wed 11th
10am ANNUAL CLEAN
Sat 21st & 28th
Maria Thring
Church Room
Eleanor Yeoman
Jessica Leach (860205) for flowers and brasses. Vee Lees (860542) for
Church Cleaning. Pat Dando (860448) for Church Room Cleaning.
55
Who's Who ?
FOSSE TRINITY BENEFICE
Interim Priest
Reader
Fosse Trinity Advisory Committee
Fosse Trinity News Editor
Fosse Trinity News Advertising
Fosse Trinity News Distribution
Mothers' Union
Safeguarding Person
Children's Society
Canon Graham Hendy
677003
Jean Halford
860422
Jean Heal
860452
Margy Cockburn
860611
John Greenhalgh
860457
Lesley Dunn
860746
Anthony Sutcliffe
860541
Eleanor Yeoman
860337
Yvonne Stokes
01458 851480
Bridget Wadey
860240
Jo Curtis
860898
ALHAMPTON
Chapel Warden
Church Council Secretary
Neighbourhood Watch
FTN Correspondent
Jo Curtis
Louisa Oborne
Lynne Hughes
Louisa Oborne
Prayer Pyramid Co-ordinator
{
EAST PENNARD
Bells - Tower Captain
{
Churchwarden
Church Council Secretary
Church Room Hire
Parish Council Chairman
Royal British Legion Secretary
United Charities Chairman
Verger
PYLLE
Bells - Tower Captain
{
Churchwarden
Church Council Secretary
Ladies Working Party (Chairman)
FTN Correspondent
Village Hall hire and keys
Mervyn Buckley
Jean Heal
Susie Dearden
Carol Stuart
Audrey Dyson
Adrian Pearse
Jon Dickens
Adrian Pearse
Ray Higgins
860898
860252
860654
860252
01458 440180
860452
860502
860587
860317
890216
01458 850241
890216
860339
Joe King
Hilary Tudsbery-Turner
Teresa Rossiter
Stephen Tudsbery-Turner
Joanna Miln
Joanna Miln
Joanna Miln
Email contacts are on page 58
56
890357
830538
831419
830538
838757
838757
838757
DITCHEAT
Art Group
Badminton Club Secretary
Bees – Swarms
Bells - Tower Captain
Bells - Correspondence/Bookings
The Other Book Club
Church Council Secretary
Church Room Hire
Churchwarden
Community Car Service (ADEPPTS)
Conservative Party Contact
Country Dancing
Cricket Club
Ditcheat Big Screen / Moviola
Ditcheat School
Friends of Ditcheat School (FODS)
Ditcheat Players Chairperson
Fosseway Garden Club
Jubilee Hall Chair
Jubilee Hall Hire
Keep Fit
Neighbourhood Watch
Parent & Toddler Group
Parish Council Chairman
Ramblers
Rendezvous
Saturday Stitch
Short Mat Bowls
Skittles
Village Lunch
Wildlife Group
GENERAL
Community Police
{
Liz & Stewart Gould
James Bairstow
Stewart Gould
Roger Yeoman
Ben Look
Gail Dyke
Louisa Oborne
Pat Dando
Anthony Sutcliffe
Eleanor Yeoman
Joyce Marsh
Elizabeth Crossley
Deidre Pezaro
Nick Mann
Anne Robson
Richard Reid
Katy Bryant
Gaye Volk
Barbara Cary
Linda Wyburn-Mason
Anne Robson
Diana Cook
Jim Dando
Pippa Clapham
Charles Evans
Linda Wyburn-Mason
Diana Cook
Sally Yeoman
Martin Edgar
Shirley Derby
Jessica Leach
Bridget Wadey
860755
860355
860755
860304
860257
860189
860252
860448
860541
860337
860493
860245
860594
812304
860444
860329
860329
860081
860438
860067
860444
860224
860448
860329
860336
860067
860224
860304
860780
07939198030
860205
860240
Lucy Bagnowiec
Guy Dury
Please help us keep this information up-to-date.
Email editor@fossetrinitynews.co.uk with any changes.
57
101
101
Index of Advertisers
Accounts, Hayley Spencer
32
Art Gallery, Studio 13
15
Buildings, Timber Frame, W Latta
10
Clothing, Rose & Lyons
21
Computing, Stable Computers
10
Curtains, covers etc, Helen Bushrod
2
Decorating, Ray Ackerman
45
Driver, Philip Saunders
29
Electrician, Ian Lester
32
Events, Pennard House
32
Events, Sparkford Hall
46
Fencing
39
Flowers, Margy Cockburn
10
Food, Gould's Cheddar
59
Food, Jon Thorner's
Back
Funerals, Connock
45
Funerals, Trotman Funeral Directors
16
Furniture, Joinery & Kitchen, Mark White
39
Furniture Restorer, Piers Keating
10
Garage Doors, SDS
45
Garden Design, Jane Follis
15
Gardening, Rob Carling
10
Gardening, Jeremy Dodd
21
Heating Services, Warm Welcome
29
Hire Shed
2
House Maintenance, Repointing
Home Maintenance, Mike Doyle
Jewellery, Fosse Beads
Keep Fit, Pilates
Manor House Inn
Medical, Holistic Therapy
Medical, Homeopathy, Fionna Roberts
Medical, Osteopath, Trevenen Pascoe
Motoring, N E Motors
Music Tuition, Piano, Alison Bower
Odd Jobs, Alistair Gillard
Oven cleaning, Ovencor
Plumber, James
Removals & Storage, Armishaws
Roofing, Mark Curtis
Soft Furnishings, Jude Herlihy
Solicitors, Bartlett, Gooding & Weelen
Solicitor, J Derbyshire, Purely Probate
Stone Walling, Yenstone
Taxi, Tony Chinnock
Tennis coaching
Transport, ADEPPTS
Travellers Rest, Stone
Tree Surgeon, M Parsons
Tree Surgeon, Jody Osborne
Tree Surgeon, Noel Radford
Printed by Parish Magazine Printing
Toby persistently sang flat
Who's Who ?
Fosse Trinity News Editor
Fosse Trinity News Advertising
Fosse Trinity News Distribution
Ditcheat Parish Council
Community Police
Email addresses
editor@fossetrinitynews.co.uk
adverts@fossetrinitynews.co.uk
distrib@fossetrinitynews.co.uk
ditcheatparishcouncil.org.uk
Lucy.Bagnowiec@avonandsomerset.police.uk
guy.dury@avonandsomerset.police.uk
58
29
29
9
55
51
21
39
45
16
16
2
15
16
40
52
15
32
21
22
39
46
2
2
16
59
59
Seasoned
Logs
Charcoal
59