The Visitor Magazine Issue 350 January 2012

Your

FREEcopy

Your local independent monthly journalP.O. Box 1, Castle Cary, Somerset. (01963) 351256

Issue 350 Christmas / January 2013

SomerSet, famous for its cider orchards, is a firm

believer in the custom of Wassailing. the idea behind

this Pagan ritual is to protect the cider apple trees

from evil spirits, thereby ensuring a good crop for the

coming season.

Wassailing traditionally takes place on the 17th

January when those wishing to participate gather at

the chosen orchard to eat apple cake, drink mulled

cider and crown a Wassailing Queen.

one of the trees is then chosen to represent all the

trees in the orchard and cider-soaked pieces of toast

are placed on it and cider is poured around the tree’s

base.

And here comes the noisy part! Shot guns are then

fired into the branches at the top of the tree whilst

buckets, pots and pans are beaten to ward off evil

spirits and to wake the sleeping trees.

With this ritual completed the evening continues

with music, merriment, food, and yes, you’ve guessed

it, more cider!

Wassail, derived from the

Anglo Saxon WES HAL -

to be in good health; whole.

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Inside features on: Coping with Bereavement; Last Minute Gift Guide;

Season’s Greetings; Shaftesbury; Vale of Blackmore.

Plus regular features on: Antiques; Business; Gardening; House & Home;

Leisure & Travel; Looking Good & Feeling Fine - A Healthy New Year;

Motoring; Pubs; Wine & Dine.

Indoor Heated

SWIMMING POOLGYM & SAUNA

● Public Swimming ● Aqua Aerobics Classes

● Private Swimming Lessons ● Baby Classes 0 – 4 years

● Private Hire ● Pool Parties

OPEN 7 dAYS A WEEkPlease telephone for further information

01258 817501e: [email protected]

w: www.dairyhousefarmswimmingpool.co.uk

dAIRY HOUSE FARMWOOLLANd, dT11 0EY

www.taylorscoachtravel.co.uk

01935 423177

HOLiDAySFriday 11th – Monday 14th January

New Year Super SaverFor only £99

3 nights DBB at rainbow Hotel

Torquay, Devon

Evening Entertainment & Dancing

Indoor Pool, Day excursions included

****************

Friday 15th – Monday 18th February

Mystery Weekend?* £145 *

A real favourite – a 3 day

Mystery Holiday,where only we know

where you are going?!!

Includes entertainment & excursions

****************

Friday 17th May – 20th May 2013

Haworth 1940s WeekendFrom £215 pp DBB

Weetwood Hall Hotel (4*) Leeds

Join us for a nostalgic weekend to

commemorate 70th anniversary of

Dambuster Raids For more info

on this holiday please call.

If you wish to be on our mailing list and receive a brochureplease give us a call on 01935 423177 - over 8 holidays

to choose from UK & Europe throughout the year.

SHOWS 2013We are taking bookings for

Priscilla Queen of the Desert

Musical at Bristol Hippodrome

Saturday 20th April – £49.50

Excellent seats for a fun show

JAnuArySunday 13th – Half Day Mystery Tour

A £10.00 • OAP £9.00

Leaving Yeovil at 11.00am

Sunday 27th – Mystery Tour

A £12.95 • OAP £11.95


FeBruAryThursday 14th

Valentine’s Day in London

A £16.00 • OAP / STuDenT £14.00


Sunday 24th – Mystery Tour

A £12.95 • OAP £11.95


We wish all our customers aVery Happy Christmas and lookforward to seeing you in 2013

Call for information or to book

01935 423177

THE VISITOR Christmas / January 2013 3

CONTENTSOur FRONT COVER is almost entirely

due to customs

ANNOUNCEMENTS & CLASSIFIED - 43

ANTIQUES & COLLECTING - 6

BUSINESS - 4

COPING with BEREAVEMENT - 8

CROSSWORD - 46

CYCLE BABBLE - 29

GARDENING - 39

HOUSE & HOME - 32

LAST MINUTE GIFT GUIDE - 21

LEISURE & TRAVEL - 28

LETTERS - 5

LOOKING GOOD & FEELING FINEA HEALTHY NEW YEAR - 30

MENTIONED in DISPATCHES - 6

MOTORING - 38

MUSIC for the MONTH - 28

PAPERCHASE - 42

PHONE-A-FIRM - 44

PUBS - 16

SEASON’S GREETINGS - 25

SHAFTESBURY - 13

THEY SAY - 20

VALE of BLACKMORE - 10

WINE & DINE - 15

Drawings by GEOFF THOMPSON

Ltd.

In Passing...

IlIkE Aachen. I like it so much that Ihave visited the city five times in asmany years. Its location in westernGermany close to the Belgian border

makes it easily accessible via Eurostar toBrussels and onward by express train, ajourney of a little over four hours from StPancras. It is an extremely old settlementdating back to Roman times but its earliestsurviving building, the Granus tower, wasbuilt around AD788 and part of itsmagnificent cathedral dates from AD805.The town hall next to the cathedral wascompleted in 1349 and has an impressivefrontage overlooking the huge market placefringed with historic houses and shops.Two-thirds of Aachen was destroyed inWorld War II but its historic centre escapedthe worst of the ravages and has beenbeautifully restored.

A visit last winter coincided withAachen’s Christmas Market. The entiremarket place and adjoining squares werecovered with hundreds of small woodenkiosks full of festive gifts, decorations andfoods, and from mid-afternoon all wereablaze with multi-coloured lights. Thecrowds were out in force, music was blaringfrom many of the stalls, beer and bratwurstwere being consumed in quantity, andeveryone seemed to be enjoying themselves– but not buying very much in the way ofgifts. As the market lasts for several weeksperhaps they were leaving their purchasestill the last minute.

Apparently the Christmas Market is aGerman tradition and all the cities andlarge towns have one. Now, it seems, theEnglish are adopting the tradition. Aholiday brochure received recently triedto entice me to ‘enjoy the FrankfurtChristmas Market, the largest in the Uk’for four days – in Birmingham! And closerto Visitorland ‘the streets and squaresbetween Bath Abbey and the Roman Bathsare filled with 130 chalets selling uniquehandmade gifts, decorations and food items’at the Bath Christmas Market.

Which is well and good, except thatevery item bought from a ChristmasMarket – or from an out-of -townsuperstore, or by mail order or throughthe internet – threatens to be one lessitem bought from our local shops which atChristmas are packed with an enormousvariety of high-quality goods and lots ofbargains. And if a purchase from aChristmas Market doesn’t live up toexpectations you can’t take it back andcomplain after the market trader has gone.The best way, indeed the only way, tokeep trade local and protect local shops, isto use them. Otherwise we’ll lose them.

And if you’re tempted to spend time ata Christmas Market, make it a realtraditional German one like the one inAachen. It’s an awesome once-in-a-lifetimeexperience, but once was certainlyenough for me.

NN.

Advertising DeadlinesFebruary edition published Thursday 31st January

Deadline Monday 21st January

Note to AdvertisersAdvertisements are accepted subject to our standardterms and conditions as printed on our rate card,available upon request. We cannot guarantee anyspecific page or position, but will always do our best tocomply with clients’ wishes.

ArtWorKArtwork & design by our production department andphotographs taken by our photographers are thecopyright of Badger Publications.

The Visitor is compiled in Quark Xpress (Apple Macintosh).Clients or agencies supplying artwork or images shouldideally send uncompressed TIFs, JPEGs or PDFs, 300 dpiminimum if actual size, or at a higher resolution if smallerthan size required, along with a hard copy print-out.For advertisement sizes see our Rate Card.

The views expressed in articles & letters contributed tothis magazine are not necessarily those of the publisher.

langport

Shaftesbury

Somerton

GlastonburyBrutonStreet

CastleCary

Wincanton

Mere

Gillingham

ilchester

Martock

ilminsterYeovil

Wells

Crewkerne

Stur. NewtonStalbridge •

Sherborne Marnhull

SheptonMallet

Frome •

PO Box 1, Castle CarySomerset BA7 7BG

Tel: (01963) 351256, 351998Fax: (01963) 350552Email: [email protected]

Website: www.thevisitormagazine.co.uk

Proprietor, Accounts & SubscriptionsHelen Dunion

Production ManagerJeff Farrow

Advertisement Manager & Features EditorMichelle Trulock

Printed by The Blackmore Press

© The Visitor Ltd. 2013(Items marked ©gt are the copyright of geoff thompson)

robert Stone & Co,chartered accountants andtax advisers in ilminsteranswers questions from smallbusinesses in Somerset

Q1. i registered as self-employed in 2005, but as ididn't have any income iignored the tax returns thetax office sent me. When theydemanded £1000 tax for eachyear, i got my act togetherand sent in the completed taxreturns, which showed no taxdue. Now the Taxman won'tcancel the tax demandsissued for the years before2008/09. What can i do?

4 THE VISITOR Christmas / January 2013

robert Stone replies:You have been caught by the tax

law here. The years before

2008/09 are 'out of time' and the

Taxman doesn't have to cancel

the tax demands for those years.

Although you may be able to

appeal for the tax demands to be

cancelled under 'special relief',

but you need to show it would be

unconscionable for the Taxman to

collect the excessive tax. This is a

very high hurdle to clear.

Q2. From 1 January 2013independent FinancialAdvisers (iFAs) are notpermitted to chargecommission, and shouldinstead charge fees for theadvice and services theyprovide. Do firms of iFAshave to charge VAT on allthe advice they give or issome advice exempt fromVAT?

robert Stone replies:The VAT man's guidance says

the IFA's advice-only services

will be subject to VAT, but if the

fee is for an introduction to an

exempt financial service, that

introduction fee will be exempt

from VAT. As an IFA you need to

sort out exactly what you are

charging for:

• General advice

• Introductions to exempt

services (such as to

authorised dealers in

securities) or

• Introductions to services

which are subject to VAT

such as discretionary

investment manager

services.

We need to d i scuss your

particular circumstances in

detai l to sort out the VAT

position.

Q3. i got divorced in 2007,but i still jointly-own myformer family home with myex-wife. We agreed she wouldlive there with my daughteruntil she finished her schoolexams. The house is nowabout to be sold. Will i haveto pay capital gains tax on myshare of the profit made?

robert Stone replies:You can escape tax on the gain

made on your former home if

all these conditions are met:

• Since you left the property

your former spouse has

occupied it as her main

residence.

• The agreement for your ex-

spouse to stay in the home

was made either under a

court order, or as part of

your divorce.

• You haven't elected for

another property to be your

main residence for any part

of the period since you

ceased living in your former

home. If you have acquired

another property in the

meantime, you need to think

carefully about which

property you claim capital

gains tax relief on, as this

relief can't be applied to two

properties for the same

period.

If you have an urgent query,

do not hes i tate to contact

Robert Stone on 01460 55661

or email your questions to:

info@thevisitor magazine.co.uk

Max Footeassociates Ltd

Chartered Certified Accountantsand

Registered Auditors

26 Lower Woodcock StreetCastle Cary Ba7 7BH

tel: 01963 351052

Business andlimited company accounts,self assessment tax returns,

VAt, Payroll,Book-keeping and training

Personal and professionalservice

Stationery, Cards andGift Wrap

Office Equipmentand Furniture

Printer Inks & Toners

Competitive Prices

FREE Local Delivery

Stockists of Lamy,Sheaffer & Parker Pens

Filofax & Collins Organisers

Mid-WestThe Stationers

2013 Diaries &CalenDars

Call at our shop ...

21 Cheap Street, SherborneTel: 01935 814225

or visit our website ...

www.midwest-office.co.uk

CAr – HOME – COMMErCiAL

Call Livingstones now on

01935 706258Your local insurance experts

Business & Professional

Grammatical no-no or twoSir, I always enjoy your monthly

magazine, reading most articles,

especially 'the end bit' where you

gleefully highlight the bloopers

f r o m l e s s w e l l p r o o f e d

newspapers. However, I have to

take issue with your magazine

on two points that perpetually

irritate me: poor spelling and

i g n o r a n c e o f g r a m m a t i c a l

correctness as follows:

First, The Pub Pages: P. A.

Baxter mentions 'a visit by a

colleague and myself to the 'Royal

Oak' in Dorchester'. Now, I'm

sure that if he had gone on his

own, it wouldn't be 'a visit my

myself to the Royal Oak, but a

visit my me to the Royal Oak.

Why is everybody so afraid to use

the word 'me'? Why would they,

for instance, say 'Myself and a

colleague visited the Royal Oak,

instead of the correct 'A colleague

and I visited the Royal Oak'?

When I was at school we were

told that the other individual or

individuals should come before

you in the sentence, out of

politeness. Perhaps it goes along

with the desire to, say, open a


door to someone accompanying

you, then go through first. Your

o p i n i o n s h e r e w o u l d b e

appreciated.

Second, the Vinney cartoon on

page 60. The character on the left

starts off with 'IF YOUR STUCk

...' Whose (possessive) 'STUCk'?

What is a 'STUCk' and how can

one possess one? Yes, it's the all

too common total ignorance of the

difference between 'YOUR' and

'YOU'RE'! The guy on the left

should have said 'IF YOU'RE

STUCk'. Similar to 'THEIR',

'THERE', and 'THEY'RE'. By the

way, I once saw the 'YOUR' and

'YOU'RE' error on a full-page

Sony adver t i sement in an

electronics periodical!

And while I'm on my high

horse , what i s i t w i th the

seemingly universal ignorance of

the comparative and superlative

der iva t i ves o f ad j e c t i ves ?

Everybody does it, including such

notables as David Attenborough,

to mention but one offender.

Sometimes, people seem to

understand the superlative but

still feel the need to add 'most', as

in an 'Escape to the Countryside'

(or similar) program, when the

presenter took the viewer to the

'most remotest house'. Now, how

can you get further than the

remotest house? How can a house

be even more out of the way than

the remotest one? The mind

boggles.

I sometimes despair of today's

education system, or is it people

just trying to be clever? There,

I've got that off my chest. Thank

you for reading it all and I would

be pleased to receive a reply.

Anthony Thorp

Email (verbatim)

Pub Pages,'Park Street'Sir, the references to 'Gangs of

Park Street' is definitely a myth.

In my youth, courting a girl from

Park street, (early fifties) it was

one of the oldest streets in Yeovil,

a quite long street with a huge

sense of community, a very

friendly place to live. There were

four pubs along the street and

y e s t h e y w o u l d b e f u l l o n

weekends but so were most pubs

everywhere and like most pubs

of the day, Friday and Saturday

was most likely ended with

someone vamping out a few cords

on an old piano, with all the

clientele singing their heads off.

My wi fe , (Yes we are s t i l l

together) will sometimes, join

with her sisters and brother

reeling off the names of all the

residents of the street as every

one knew everyone. As for the

references to sanitation, lighting

etc. it wasn't till the fifties and

sixties that sewage works and

electric lighting reached most of

the small towns and villages. Yes

we had a coal fire as did everyone

and no we did not use a candle

we had an oil lamp, much more

modern!

Gerald Masters

17 limington Rd

Ilchester

BA22 8lX

Jeremy HillFurnisHingsChurch street • Wincanton

Tel: 01963 31444Opposite the Churchfields Car Park

Extensive range of Pine & Oak Furniture includingmany smaller items to make your house into a home

Buy Online

www.jeremyhillfurnishings.co.uk

50% OFFTable Linen & Napkins

Laundered and Finished

Christmas / New YearPromotion

Puffin Cleaners17 – 18 Bond street, Yeovil

Tel: 01935 421238

Maximum discount, cannot to be used in conjunctionwith any other offer, or discount cards.

Direct sale only - not available through Agencies.

Offer ends

18th January2013

Letters to

the Editor

Brue Valley rotary isWassailing again!Wassailing is a traditional

ceremony in cider making areas,

which involves singing and

drinking the health of the apple

trees in the hope that they might

better thrive. The purpose of

wassailing is to awake the cider


apple trees and to scare away evil

spirits to ensure a good harvest of

fruit in the Autumn.

Wassailing at Yarlington

probably dates from the 17th

Century but had not been held

for many years, until it was

revived in January 2012 by the

Brue Valley Rotary Club. The

event is being held again this

year and will include music and

dance performed by the Wyvern

Jublilee Morris Men followed by a

torchlight procession to a local

orchard where the traditional

W a s s a i l c e r e m o n y w i l l b e

performed, and there will be an

opportunity to sample mulled

cider.

Everyone is welcome but please

bring some pots and pans, drums,

anything which will make a noise

to frighten away the evil spirits,

which is an important part of the

ceremony.

Attendance at this event is

FREE and everyone is welcome.

Do join us on Thursday 17th

January 2013, 7pm at the Stags

Head Yarlington.

Concert & Theatre TripsThe langport & District Red

Cross fund raising group have

advised us that due to demand, a

second trip to The Mousetrap at

Bristol Hippodrome on April 30th

has been organised. Coach from

Curry Rivel, langport, Somerton,

keinton Mandeville & Shepton

Mallet. Selling out fast. To book

contact Chris on 01458 273085

or on line at www.theatretrips.

webeden.co.uk

Martock Local HistoryGroupSarah Villiers will be giving a

talk on 'Somerset Village Schools'

on Tuesday 23rd January 2013

at 7.30pm at Martock C of E

Primary School in Elmleigh Road.

Sarah has spent three years

researching many old village

PASTiMES of SherborneWe pay top prices for old toys - any condition

Trains • Cars • Lorries • Soldiers • Etc.Britains * Dinky * Corgi * Hornby

Meccano * Tri-ang * Etc.Shop Open Mornings 9.30am - 1.00pm

Monday to Saturday

tel: 01935 816072 Mob: 07527 074343HOME VISItS BY ArrAngEMEnt

3 Westbury, Sherborne, Dorset DT9 3EH

open: tuesday, Wednesday, Friday, Saturday 10.00am - 5.30pm

Quillon House Antiques16 HigH StrEEt, Bruton

H 17th/18thC. oak andCountry Furniture

H Arms & Armoury

H Equestrian Paintings

H Valuations undertaken

H AntiquesPurchased 01749 812269

CompLiments

of the

season

to aLL

Early 18th century Delft DutchCharger with Peacock pattern

in blue and white – £395

dAiry HouseANtiques

station road, semley, shaftesburyDorset sP7 9An

tel: 01747 853317 • www.dairyhouseantiques.co.uk

mon – sat 10am – 5pm, sun 11am – 4pm

SuNday MarKET 1st Sunday Each MonthApproximately 3 miles north of Shaftesbury just off the A350

signed Semley Industrial Estate

GIFT T

OKENS

BeaminsterAntiques,Vintage& Collectables Fair

Saturday 12th January

Public Hallbeaminster, Dorset

9.30am – 4.00pm

small Furniture * textileschina * Glass * silver

Jewellery * books * Pictures etc.Homemade refreshments

✽ Next Fair – Saturday 2nd February ✽

Bookings & Enquiries

Meadow Fairs 01297 24446

Gold & SilverJewellery Wanted

Best prices paid for wedding rings,

pendants, chains, bracelets,

and broken items, etc.

Phone Jenny Martin Castle Cary

01963 350733

Antiques & Collecting

Contemporary Lladro limited edition large porcelain group,

‘Rutting Stags’ £500. Just one of many interesting items available

from Quillon House Antiques, Bruton.

THIS CHRISTMAS, if you are

fed up with the run of the mill

chain-store goods and are

looking for something a little

different, a visit to one of the

antique shops on this page

m a y s o l v e a l l y o u r g i f t

problems.

From jewellery, paintings

and prints to textiles, clocks

and furniture - the choice is

endless. Make someone happy

this Christmas by giving them

a truly unique gift.

Mentioned

in

Dispatches


ANDREW BARCLAYTTRRAADDiiTTiiOOnnAAll FFAAMMiillyy BBuuTTCCHHeeRRSS

45 High Street, Wincanton, Somerset BA9 9JUTel: 01963 34880

All our meat is NAturAlly reAred andsourced locAlly where possible

Beef - from Local Farmers Lamb - from Charlton MusgrovePork - from tisbury and Sampford Farm

Free Range &Barn Reared

eggs

DAily DeliVeRieS TO THe SuRROunDinG AReA

Order Now For Christmas & The New Year✔ Delicious Well-Hung Mature Beef ✔ Succulent Pork & Lamb

✔ Tasty Turkeys ✔ Geese ✔ Ducks ✔ Chickens

✔ Home Cooked Hams

WE STOCk A FULL SELECTiON OF GAME ...

Venison Pheasant Partridge Duck Pigeon rabbit

orders taken for our Meat at North cadbury Village stores

We would like to thank all of our customers for their support during theyear and wish them a Merry Christmas and Happy New Year!

Our OwnDry-Cured Bacon

• green Back

• green Streaky

• Sweet Cure green

• Apple & Oak WoodSmoked Back andStreaky

Large Selectionof Cheesesincluding ...

AWArD WiNNiNGMontgomery

Mature Cheddarand ...Keen’sMatureCheddar

Try Our TastyHomemade Sausages

with Pork

• gloucester Old Spot

• traditional Pork andCaramelised Onion

• Wild Boar & Cranberry

... to name a few!

Annamma’s Cuisine ...Homemade authentic

Southern Indian Curry Saucesmade locally by a delightful Indian Lady

WaDMaN'S

WOrLD FAMOUS CrEAM

from their Jersey Herd

school log books and archives and

talking to many people who can

remember the 'best years of our

lives' (for some!). The results of

her research will be delivered in

her very entertaining style.

Sarah can answer almost any

question on education, and she

will jog your memories about

some of the old ways of teaching

(both good and bad!), and that

many 'new' teaching techniques

are in fact the oldest, such as the

use of phonics in the 17th century

(AD).

light refreshments served from

7pm. Admission/membership £2


Contacts: Will Aslett, Tel: 822

159 or eMai l : c f t -pas le t t@

s u p a n e t . c o m o r o r F e r g u s

Dowding, Tel: 822 202 or eMail:

[email protected]

Make sure you stay safe thisChristmasWith the festive period nearly

upon us, South Somerset District

Council is urging its residents to

stay safe this Christmas and book

taxis in advance of their evening

out.

When the party is over and you

need to get home, remember

these guidelines about council

licensed taxis:

Hackney Carriage Vehicles

have a white sign attached to the

rear of the vehicle displaying the

vehicle plate number and also

have a plate displayed in the

front window.

Hackney Carriages can ply for

hire from designated taxi ranks

and can pick up passengers who

flag them down.

Private Hire Vehicles have a

yellow sign attached to the rear of

the vehicle displaying the vehicle

plate number.

Private Hire Vehicles can only

be booked in advance through an

operator.

Never get in to a taxi that does

not display an appropriate plate

at the rear. It is not insured and

may not be licensed. Ensure that

the driver is displaying a council

approved driver’s badge. For your

own safety, always take a council

Appleby & ChildsAppleby & Childs are members of

The National Association of

Memorial Masons. Established

in 1886, Appleby & Childs are

y o u r l o c a l i n d e p e n d e n t

Monumental Masons. With over

125 years of service throughout

Somerset and parts of Wiltshire

a n d D o r s e t , t h e y p r i d e

themselves on excellent customer

service and have a fantastic

reputation for quality. All work is

guaranteed for 5 years and

insurance policies are also

available. The showroom features

a wide range of memorials in

various materials and finishes

and is open Monday to Friday

9am-5pm. Home visits can be

arranged on request.

A. J. Wakely & SonsFormerly Wakely Brothers

limited, the business has been

renamed A. J. Wakely & Sons to

reflect the strong family ties.

Established over 100 years it

is a privately owned independent

Funeral Directors that has built a

reputation over the decades for

delivering a quality and dignified

service.

A . J . W a k e l y & S o n s

understands that everybody has

different requirements and offer

totally bespoke funerals including

more unusal services, such as

woodland burials, motorbike

hearse and horse drawn funerals

to name but a few.

A. J . Wakely & Sons are

available 24 hours a day, 365

days a year to offer guidance and

help at what is an unfamiliar and

distressing time for families.

Branches at Sparrow Road,

Yeovil; 16 Newland, Sherborne

and Carrington Way, Wincanton.

Mark JalesMark Jales Independent Funeral

Directors ltd., has been trading

for a year in December 2012

providing excellent dedicated care

and service to families in Wells

and the surrounding areas.

Mark Jales has over sixteen

years experience as a funeral

director and believes passionately

in the independent market. He

looks after every family and

directs every funeral personally,

whether it is a simple affair or a

lavish one. Tasteful, simple

coffins are provided suitable for

b u r i a l o r c r e m a t i o n ;

environmentally green funerals

right through to large American-

style caskets. Mark believes in

keeping costs down as much as

possible and believes they are the

most competitive in the area.

They do not add on extra mileage

charges. For example, if a funeral

takes place in Yeovil, Crewkerne,

Chard, Wincanton, Frome, or

Bruton there is no extra mileage

charge, you get the same service

at the same cost as you would in

W e l l s . T h e y b e l i e v e i n

transparency and are confident

that they provide the highest

level of service at the most

reasonable level of cost.

From the moment of your first

call they will look after you with

dignity and respect, catering for

your every requirement and

inform you of costing throughout.

They also provide the services

of a stonemason and pre-paid

funeral plans are available.

Mark Jales offers a 24-hour

service and can be contacted on

(01749) 679796. Visit: www. mark

jalesfuneraldirectors.com for more

information.

A. J. WAkEly & SonS ltDindependent Family Funeral Directors

• golden Charter

Pre Paid Funeral Plans

• 24 Hour Service.

• Private Chapel of rest

Brochure upon request - contactClive Wakely Dip F.D. M.B.i.E.

the old Police Station, Carrington WayWinCAnton BA9 9JS

tel: 01963 31310

Mark Jales independent Funeral Directors ltd.Of Wells & Castle Cary

Cremations ~ Burials ~ Headstones & Memorialsinternational repatriation

Reg. 7704329

Office & Chapel: 22a Priory road, Wellssomerset, Ba5 1sZ (UK)

Tel: 01749 679796 (Wells) 01963 358003 (Castle Cary)Fax: 01749 670405

Email: [email protected]: www.markjalesfuneraldirectors.com

Coping with BErEavEmEnt

Mentioned

in

Dispatches

Perrott Hill School Choir.

licensed vehicle – the driver and

vehicle have both been vetted.

Always ensure the meter is

used in a hackney carriage. The

meter shows the maximum by

law that can be charged for the

journey from pick up to drop off.

Operators are perfectly entitled to

charge below this but cannot

charge more.

Nigel Marston, licensing

Manager at South Somerset

District Council said, ‘Don’t let a

good night out be ruined by an

unlicensed taxi. Always book in

advance or make sure you have

the number of several local taxi

firms stored in your mobile phone

before going out.

Before getting in a taxi ensure

the driver knows the destination

and always sit in the back. Make

sure that you’re picked up and

dropped off somewhere familiar

and well lit, however if you feel

uneasy with the driver ask him to

stop at a busy, familiar place and

get out.’

Councillor Peter Seib, portfolio


ho lder for Regulatory and

Democratic Services said, ‘Never

get into a taxi that doesn’t have

the proper plate at the back. The

driver and the vehicle will both

have been vetted in a council

licensed cab.’

For more information on taxi

licensing or how to stay safe this

Christmas, please contact South

Somerset District Council on

01935 462462 or ssdc@south

somerset.gov.uk

Perrott Hill Choir Tripto romeA Perrott Hill school choir, led by

the Director of Music Trevor Barr,

had a very successful five day visit

to Rome this year. The city was

particularly busy as thousands of

pilgrims had travelled to Rome to

attend the Papal Audience which

took place on the same day that

the choir sang for Mass at St

Peter’s Basilica.

Trevor Barr said, ‘This was an

experience that the children will

never forget and I suspect that they

will be talking about it for years

to come’. During their time in

Rome the Choir also sang at a local

school and enjoyed visits to the

Castle of the Angels, the Coliseum

and the Vatican Museum.

On their return to Perrott Hill

the choir recorded a CD of music

for Advent and Christmas and

performed a carol concert at the

magnificent Forde Abbey.

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Mentioned

in

Dispatches

Get into the Festive SpiritGillingham Imperial Silver Band

w i l l b e C a r o l i n g a r o u n d

Gillingham (evenings) from the

17th to the 21st December.

The band will be out around the

town playing carols door to door,

collecting funds to help the band

over the coming year. They are

always really pleased with the

donations and generosity and

feedback of the town, and would

like to take this opportunity to

thank everyone, and they look

forward to seeing you again this

year. For more information on

where they are playing each

evening, look at their Facebook

page, where they will endevour to

keep you informed.

On 24th December what better

way to start the festivities than by

enjoying a festive tipple in the

company of friendly people, with

the band playing carols in the

corner? Visit The Walnut Tree Inn

at Mere, soak up the atmosphere

and just relax, before what is for

many, the hectic days ahead.

Carols at The Walnut Tree will

start at approximately 8pm.

Competition WinnersThe winner of the Wincanton

Competition in last month’s

issue was Mrs A. Dunford of

Evercreech, who chose to spend

her voucher at Papertrees, the

o f f i c e shop , bookshop and

newsagents at 33 High Street.

The winner of the ‘Like’ Our

Facebook Page draw on page 7

of the December issue can be

viewed on: facebook.com/the

visitormagazine from 18th

December.

Somerset Waste Partnership‘Sort and save time’ is the call from

SWP to help Christmas collection


crews shift all the county’s extra

recycling and rubbish. Take a

second or two to separate different

materials roughly within their

kerbside collection boxes. This

makes each pick-up much more

efficient for collectors, especially

with hundreds of extra tonnes of

recycling to take over Christmas.

Collection crews place the dozen

or more materials picked up at the

kerbside for recycling into different

compartments on the vehicles by

hand. Rough segregation of items

will allow them to collect even

more at their busiest time of the

year. With tens of thousands of

recycling and refuse collections

every working day – almost 20

million a year – even a few seconds

saved per collection quickly adds

up.

SWP Managing Director Steve

Read said: ‘It is easy to organise

recycling collection boxes by

roughly separating glass, paper,

foil and the rest.

‘Plastic bottles and cans mixed

together are Ok, as these are

automatically sorted at depots, but

it really helps if all other materials

are roughly grouped together.

‘Saving seconds at each of our

customers’ 240,000 homes would

make a big difference, ensuring

we can collect more and offer a

better service.’

As well as separating materials

for recycling, SWP advises:

*No broken glass in recycling

boxes – wrap carefully, put in

refuse.

*Flatten cardboard, and take

the tops off bottles and jars.

*Rinse out cans, bottles and jars;

bag and scrunch up foil together.

*keep textiles, from clothes to

sheets, dry in bags (not black

sacks).

*Do not squash or pierce

aerosols, which should be empty.

As well as extra materials to

collect from the Christmas gifts

and celebrations, there will be

changes in collection dates. Visit:

www.somersetwaste.gov.uk for

more information.

email: [email protected]

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• All Makes of Vehicles Petrol & Diesel • MOT Testing

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• Exhaust Systems & Batteries • Brakes & Clutches

• Welding Repairs to a High Standard

• Qualified Technicians • Fully Equipped Work Shops

• All Work Guaranteed

Open Monday – Friday 8.15am – 5.00pm, Saturday 9am – 1pm

Phillips Hill, Marnhull, Dorset • 01258 820244www.guysautomobileengineers.co.uk

Established Over 65 Years

Hair & Beauty SalonMarket Cross

SturMinSter newton

tel: 01258 473123

Merry Christmas to all our Clients

SaVE 10% OFF aLL BEauTy TrEaTMENTS... with New Beautician CLaIrE HEaLy

through JaNuary & FEBruaryMust be booked by 31st December

ghdStraightenerin gold, redor silver

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Mentioned

in

Dispatches

Vale of

A well known landmark - Sturminster Mill in the Vale of Blackmore.

Guys of MarnhullGuys of Marnhull is a well

established family run firm.

Today it is run by proprietor

Richard Guy. Formerly Skoda

and Mazda franchise holders

they now concentrate on the

sale of quality second hand cars,

p l u s t h e f u l l y e q u i p p e d

w o r k s h o p o f f e r s a

comprehensive servicing facility

on all make of cars. A courtesy

car can be provided whilst your

car is being serviced. It is a

MOT testing station and a

Unipart Car Care centre. So if

you are planning to travel over

the festive season why not get

your car serviced and have a

trouble free journery?

Enzo’sEnzo ’ s Hair & Beauty are

pleased to welcome beautician

Claire Healy to their team.

Claire offers a complete range

of beauty treatments including

Hopi candling and hot stones.

She will be available full-time,

including all day Saturdays and

late night by appointment.

There is a 10% discount off any

treatment with Claire during

January and February if booked

by 31st December.

E n z o ’ s h a s a h o s t o f

Christmas gift ideas including

ghd hair straighteners and

hairdryers at discounted prices,

plus gift sets from Jessica Nails

and Jane Iredale cosmetics.


Hanson’s Fabrics There are plenty of gift ideas

at Hanson’s - sewing machines

to suit all abilities and budgets,

natural light lamps, crafts, craft

books, sewing boxes and so

much more. The knowledgeable

a n d f r i e n d l y s t a f f w i l l b e

pleased to help if you have any

queries.

looking forward to the New

Year there is a wide choice of

one day workshops from curtain

making for beginners and make

your own cushions, through to

jewellery making, introduction

to rag rugs and make your own

lingerie!

Why not call in for a Sew

What’s New brochure.

Noah’s Ark Pet Shop Why not come and spoil your four

l e g g e d , f u r r y , f i n n e d a n d

feathered friends this Christmas

- we have a wide range of toys,

treats and foods in stock, or to

order, for all types of pets. We

also have a wide range of foods

and accessories for poultry and

wild birds.

We would like to wish all our

customers past, present and

future a very Merry Christmas

and a Happy New Year and to

say thank you to you all for your

continued support over the last

year!

You will find us on Bridge

Street, Sturminster Newton or

call us on 01258 472205.

30%OFFSpECTaCLES

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Station Road, GillinghamTel: 01747 831010

3 Market PlaceSturminster newton

Tel: 01258 473992

LOw prICES QuaLITy SErVICE

*aLL fRames are priced including single vision lenses.please ask our staff for full offer details.

aNd

NOAH’S ARK Pet SHOPPet Foods, treats, toys, Accessories and

Health & Hygiene for all your Furry, Four-Legged,Finned & Feathered Friends

1 Retsel House, Bridge Street, Sturminster Newton, DT10 1AW 01258 472205

Vale of

TOPOGRAPHY has dictated that

most of Shaftesbury’s expansion

has been eastwards from Castle

Hill, site of the original Saxon

burgh founded by king Alfred in

AD888. First to come was the

abbey, established east of the

entrance to the burgh, then in

medieval times a town started to

develop beyond the eastern edge

of the abbey precinct. In recent

t i m e s m o s t o f t h e n e w


development has been on land

beyond what is nowadays the

busy A350. Where once there

were fields on the eastern side of

the old town there are now acres

of late 20th century housing,

schools and the other trappings of

a thriving modern town, together

with longmead Industrial Estate

and the nearby Wincombe

Business Park. Both are worth

exploring, for there you will find

Homemaker Ltd, Longmead Industrial EstateShaftesbury, Dorset, SP7 8PL

Tel: 01747 851476

www.myhomemaker.co.uk │ Also branches in Bath and Warminster

WOODBuRneRSWe can refurbishyour woodburner

★ Reconditioning ★ Reglazing ★ New Ropes etc.

NEW aNd RECONdITIONEdWOOdBURNERS ON SaLE

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GARDen MACHineRy & STOVeS

01747 851021 www.benjohnsonmowers.com

17d Wincombe Business Park, shaFtEsBury, sP7 9QJ

FOr trEAtMEnt OF ALL SPOrtS & rECEnt InjurIES

• Low Back Pain • Whiplash

• Neck Pain • Tennis Elbow

• Leg Pain • knee Pain

• Fitness instruction • Hip Pain

Christine Worrall MCSP

Tel: 01747 850328 • [email protected] Visits – Treatment Available 8am – 8pm

MOTCOMBe PARK PHySiOTHeRAPy& SPORTS inJuRieS CliniC

Westfields, New road, Shaftesbury SP7 8QH

PhysioFirst

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ntre

Most Health Schemes Accepted

Restored to its former glory is the elegant Grosvenor Hotel,

a former coaching inn.

t h e s h o w r o o m s o f s o m e o f

Shaftesbury’s premier businesses.

What’s often overlooked by

visitors is that the town also

expanded southward. Admire the

panoramic view across the

Blackmore Vale from the top of

Gold Hill or from Park Walk and

you will scarcely spot the small

subsidiary settlement of St James

tucked along the foot of the

Greensand promontory on which

you are standing. Its origins lie in

the medieval period when the

a b b e y h a d e x p a n d e d t o

accommodate more than 100

nuns and employed many people

to cater for their needs and care

for their estate. What the abbey

lacked, indeed what most of the

hilltop settlement lacked, was a

plentiful supply of water, and

that’s what was available at St

James. Surviving street names –

laundry lane and Tanyard lane

– recall the services provided to

the abbey from here, and the

building of St James’s church

testifies to a significantly large

population in the 12th century.

So it’s an interesting place to

explore and if you don’t feel fit

enough to face the climb back up

Gold Hill, drive out of town along

Bimport (the B3091 Sturminster

Newton road) to the bottom of the

hill and turn left into St James’s

Street. After a short distance the

road widens and there is usually

ample kerbside parking. From here

it’s just a few yards to the bottom of

Gold Hill, rarely photographed


because it lacks the panoramic

backdrop, where some of the pretty

cottages date from as early as the

16th century. Nearby is the

popular Ye Olde Two Brewers Inn,

now the only remaining pub in St

James. I know next to nothing

about its history, but it’s an

unpretentious free house full of

‘olde-worlde’ charm and has a very

tempting menu if you’re in need

of sustenance.

Longmead Industrial EstateShaftesbury, Dorset Sp7 8pL

Tel: 01747 851476 • Fax: 01747 [email protected]

www.myhomemaker.co.uk

pick up a genuine bargain from stock at Homemaker

One stop shopping for allyour electrical needs!

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01258 472395

Swans Yard, off the High Street,

is home to a variety of art and

craft shops and a cafe grouped

around a small square.


A stroll westwards along the

street reveals countless stone-built

cottages of different periods, some

quite grand with mullioned

windows but most very small. For

centuries St James was one of the

poorer areas of Shaftesbury, with

one block of cottages even being

known as Poor Row, but in recent

decades most homes have been

thoroughly renovated or rebuilt

and it is now what the estate

agents call a ‘desirable location’

with the properties ‘much sought

after’. They are right! See if you

can spot the former Hand in Hand

pub which closed in the 1950s – it

was on the right-hand side not far

beyond the modern St James

House flats – and the Fox and

Hounds, also closed in the 1950s,

on the corner of Tanyard lane.

look out, too, for Andrew’s Yard

with its cottages grouped round

an old water pump. Andrew was

James Andrew, owner of the yard

around the end of the 18th century

when the cottages were built or

rebuilt.

St James’s Church stands at the

end of the street. It’s not the

original small church built in 1138

with a tower added in 1660. Much

of this was swept away when the

present larger church was built in

mid-1860s and sited around 30

yards to the west of the medieval

building. But if you like browsing

round old churches I suspect you’ll

enjoy this one.

If you enjoy browsing round the

shops – or if you’re still looking for

last-minute gifts – you’ll need to

return to the top of the hill. The

town centre still retains a bustling

High Street where long-established

independent retailers offering high-

quality merchandise – and service

to match – far outnumber the

soulless chain stores and cheapjack

traders. The retail core stretches

from Salisbury Street in the east,

through Angel Square and along

the High Street to The Commons,

then back along Bell Street, but

sadly the road alterations designed

to make this busy area more

pedestrian-friendly have not

proved very successful. So keep a

watchful eye open for the traffic.

When I visited the town a few

weeks ago it appeared to be

thriving despite the economic doom

and gloom. Workmen were busy

p u t t i n g u p t h e C h r i s t m a s

decorations, so by the time you

read this the town centre will be

GArdeN MAcHiNery

Shaftesbury

01747 851021

GArdeN

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power

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● Mowers ● Garden Machinery

● Garden Tools● ATVs

17d Wincombe Business Park

sHaFTesBUrY sP7 9QJwww.benjohnsonmowers.com

Season’s

Greetings

to all our

customers

Rarely photographed, because it lacks the panoramic backdrop, is the view up Gold Hill.

ablaze with colourful festive lights

from mid-afternoon. Here you’ll

find a good range of fashionable

ladieswear, clothes for men and

boys, home furnishings, jewellery,

chocolates, local-interest books,

wines and spirits, locally-produced

food and drink and gifts galore.

If it’s local arts and craftwork

you’re seeking, head for Swans

Yard, off the High Street, which

is home to a variety of art and craft

shops and a café grouped around a


small square. The concept,

according to the Swans Trust

which manages it, is to provide a

focus for craftspeople and artists of

all ages and abilities and recreate

Shaftesbury’s past reputation as

a focus for artisan excellence – a

reputation dating back to the

heyday of its famous abbey

founded by Alfred the Great when

the town was in its infancy more

than a thousand years ago.

Roger Richards.

Turkey Left-OversHAVE YOU ordered your turkey?

Are you looking forward to your

traditional Christmas lunch with

all the trimmings? Are you

already wondering how to ring

the changes with the left-overs?

Well ... let me make a suggestion.

How does lasagne with fennel

and turkey sound to you? This

recipe uses sheets of lasagne

which are softened in hot water

and then stuffed with a tasty

mixture of fennel and turkey and

covered with a cheese sauce. The

recipe serves 4.

Ingredients

3 tblsps olive oil

1 large fennel bulb, trimmed and

chopped finely

1 large red pepper , cored ,

deseeded and chopped finely

8 sheets of ‘no-pre-cook’ lasagne

3 large cloves of garlic, chopped

1 heaped teaspoon ground mace

1lb turkey, minced

1oz butter

1oz plain flour

1 pint milk

4 ozs mature Cheddar cheese,

grated

Parmesan

Salt & black pepper

Method

1. lightly oil a rectangular

overproof dish.

2. Put the olive oil in a large deep

frying pan over a medium

heat.

3. Add the chopped fennel and

pepper, stir to mix. Cover and

leave to cook for 10 - 15

minutes, stirring occasionally.

4. Fill a large bowl with hot water

and add a few drops of olive

oil. Put the lasagne sheets into

the bowl and leave for around

8 - 12 minutes until soft

enough to bend.

5. Remove sheets and drain

separately on a flat surface.

6. To the softened vegetables add

the garlic and stir for a couple

of minutes.

7. Increase the heat then stir in

the mace and then the minced

turkey. Continue to stir over a

high heat for about 8 minutes

until thoroughly combined.

Season to taste, then turn

mixture into a bowl.

8. When mixture is cool enough to

handle, spoon mixture into the

centre of each lasagne sheet,

then roll the pasta loosely

round the filling.

9. Place the filled rolls in the dish,

join side down.

10. Now make the sauce using

the easy all-in-one method.

Put the butter, flour and cold

milk in a saucepan, place over

a medium heat and with a

wire whisk stir continually

until the sauce comes up to a

simmer. Continue to cook,

stirring, for 5 minutes, then

remove from the heat and add

the grated cheese. Season to

taste.

11. Pour the sauce over the pasta

rolls and sprinkle over the

parmesan cheese.

12. Bake in a pre-heated oven

190°C, 375°F, Gas Mark 5 for

35 - 40 minutes, until golden

on top.

We shall be open Mondays as from 7th January

Colin, Sandra & Louise would like to wish customersold and new a very happy Christmas!

The BarBer Shopparsons pool, Shaftesbury

01747 852850

Festive Fayre ... Fruit & Veg Boxes Dairy Produce Preserves

Christmas Cakes and Puds Local Wines and Ciders Christmas trees - traditional and nordman Fir

OrDErS TAkEN for FrESH TUrkEySGeese - red Meats - Hams - Hampers

open aLL DaY Sunday 23rd December • Christmas eve 8am – 1pm • Closed 25th, 26th & 27th December

open Friday 28th & Saturday 29th December 10am – 1pm • Re-open Wednesday 2nd January

Just off the B3165 at the top of Bower Hinton

Tel: 01935 827743

Bower Hinton Farm Shop -Martock

Excellent ValueChristmas Trees

A popular pub tucked away near the foot of Gold Hill is

Ye Olde Two Brewers Inn.

Wine & Dine

STRANGE, is it not, when onefinds oneself at a pub after manyyears and i t i s d i f f i cul t toremember what it had looked likeat that previous visit? So oftenpubs can be subjected to corporatevandalism over the years and theplace loses all character. Luckily,this does not happen so oftenwhere there are caring owners,and i t was at just such anestablishment that a colleagueand I were lucky enough to visitrecently. It was at a Good BeerGuide regular, the ‘Bird in Hand’at Henstridge, on the A357 just


South of the A30 crossroads.S o m e y e a r s a g o I h a d t h epleasure o f p lay ing in theSturminster Newton SkittleLeague, and this was our homealley. No small amount of timehas passed s ince then andspeaking to the son of the owners,Owen tells me his parents havebeen there for an incredible 32years, and in fact the locals likethem so much they even threw asurprise party for them to marktheir thirtieth year. Seriousrespect! I decided on a simple pubfavourite of a ham and cheeseploughman’s, whilst my colleaguewent for a chilli potato. Beer onoffer was the ever-popularButcombe, and Greene King IPA.The latter is a mere 3.6%ABVwhich surprisingly was once thechampion beer of Great Britain,as voted for by the CAMRA panela t t h e G r e a t B r i t i s h B e e rFestival. I say surprisingly, forwhilst it is a pleasant light bitter,it is not something one wouldseriously enthuse over. Needlessto say, the pint served to me wasin tip-top condition. The day ofour visit was a cold one, andalthough the pub has a largewood-burner, its great mawremained empty and cold. In factwe were told it was actually sometime since it was last used. Agreat shame, for I am sure the

very fact that there is facility,once word gets around that this isa lovely pub with fine fare, goodbeer and a friendly welcome, ablazing log fire brings a glow toeveryone’s face and would attractmore custom. Will we visit again?Yes, of course, and let us hope

that there will not be the timespan there was this time, afterall, whilst some places changeenough to pop our happy memorybubble, this establishment is onethat has remained true to itsh e r i t a g e - a n d t r u e t o i t scustomers.

NNEEWW YYEEAARR’’SS EEVVEEEnjoy a 4 Course NYE Dinnerwith Champagne on arrival

Dance the night away to your favourite old

school years music - and carriages at 2am

FREE taxi for each booking within an 8 mile radius!

NNEEWW YYEEAARR QQUUIIZZ NNIIGGHHTTThursday 24th January, 7.30pm

in aid of Happy Landings Animal Shelter

BBUURRNN’’SS NNIIGGHHTTSunday 27th January

with

3 Course Burn’s Dinner

Whisky & Piper

£29.50

www.manorhouseinn.co.uk

~ The ~

ManorHouse Inn

DitcheatNr. Shepton Mallet BA4 6RB • Tel: 01749 860276

AcouSTic NighTThursday 10th January from 7.30pm onwards

Tickets £3 per person available from theManor house inn or on the door.

Due to the resounding success of our first night withAcoustic at the Manor, A.J. Webber and friendswill be continuing their monthly performance.

Guests to be announced.

Pie & PiNT NighTevery Tuesday / Wednesday throughout January

and February ... from 8th January.Choice of 3 Delicious Homemade Pies and

your choice of a Pint, Small Glass of Wine, ora Soft Drink - £10 per person.

Booking advised.

NeW YeAR’S eveLimited spaces still available.

Please contact us for further information.

The

PubPages

B E E R &S K I T T L E SP. A. BAXTER

Vinny pays a visit to the recentlyre-opened Railway Hotel in Yeovil.

W e h a d t h e p l e a s u r e o fsampl ing more beers f romAmerican craft brewers of late,mainly thanks to my Godsonliving in Atlanta Georgia with hisfamily, and our friends payingthem a visit. The beers sampledof late were all stouts; not justordinary stouts, but two wereIMPERIAL stouts, and oh boy,the flavours they have are justincredible. The first I have toreview here is from the HighlandBrewing Company – of NorthCarolina, complete with a piper infull highland regalia on the label!Take a look at their web-site fordetails of the beers they have,although this one, a Black MochaStout, is served in a 1 pint 6 fluidounce bottle, and no mention oft h e a l c o h o l b y v o l u m e .Apparently this is to discouragedrinkers buying strong beers just


to get drunk. Can anyone confirmthis? This is described as their‘most robust beer’ with ‘a maltybody, large chocolate flavor (sic)black with a clean finish andmoderate hop flavor’ (sic, again)Well the Americans may not beable to spell, but they can producegood beers. The next two were,to say the least, mind-bogglinglybeautiful beers in every respect.The first, from the MendocinoCompany, Saratoga Springsweighing in at 10% ABV was inthe ‘rich old style’, whilst thesecond, ‘Storm King’ from theVictory Brewing Company ofDowningtown Pennsylvania, wasa mere 9.1% ABV(!) My readermay recall us having more thanone of their ‘V12’ beers (yes, 12%ABV) and relating the poetic waythe beer was described on thelabel. They managed it on thisone too. Allow me to quote:‘Emerging from the deepestshades of darkness, a rollingcrescendo of flavors (sic) burstforth from this robust stout. Thethundering hoppy appeal ofStorm King subsides into themellow subtleties of roasted malt,exhibiting an espresso-like depthof character in its finish …’ etc.,etc. Clearly brewed by those witha passion for producing the verybest! I have to say that we foundboth beers outstanding, and so I

would not like to choose one overthe other. I’ve said it before andI’ll say it again; these beers areseriously challenging the Englishat their own game, and some ofthe European styles they produceare already ahead of theirc o u n t e r p a r t s . W a t c h o u teveryone; the Yanks are coming!

The official CAMRA organ

‘What’s Brewing’ plops onto ourdoor-mat every month and thesubject that every issue seems tohave is the one about the dangero f l os ing yet more pubs torecession and uncaring pubowners. For the latter, the trendwould always appear to beperpetuated by the big Pubcos,about whom an independent

Mark & Isabel welcome you to the

Crown & Victoria InnFarm Street, TInTInhull

nr. Yeovil BA22 8PZ

Miss the rush! Book your Christmas Partyin January - some dates still available

ChrISTMAS DAY luncheon £75 • Children £37.50 (under 12 years)

Open Boxing Day - lunchtime & evening

new Year’s Eve - full a la carte menu

Open new Year’s Day

Wednesday 2nd Jan. 70s Dinner Party2 Courses £12 (70s attire optional)

Tuesday 8th Jan. Quiz night

AA rOSETTE AWArD 2013 for CulInArY ExCEllEnCE

(Also for 2009 – 2010 – 2011 – 2012 – 2013)

Delicious Award Winning Food served every day lunchtime and evening

Traditional roasts available Sunday lunchtimes

Beautiful Gardens • real Ales Ample Parking • Ensuite Accommodation

Fax: 01935 825786 • Email: [email protected]

www.thecrownandvictoria.co.uk

Bookings Tel: 01935 823341

Chris & Jill welcome you to the ...

Royal oakover Stratton, South Petherton

Tel: 01460 240906

A Charming Country Inn

Offering delicious home-cooked Food ...

lunchtime special2 courses - £8.50 (Tuesday to Saturday)

surf, Turf, swine & Wine nightTWo Rump Steaks, or TWo Beer Battered Haddock

or TWo Gammon Steaks, or Any Two with aCarafe of Wine ... £19.95 per couple (Booking Advised)

Open FOr BOxing day lunch

✴ Open new year’s eve ✴Full Menu available

Visit our website for full menu details: www.the-royal-oak.net

Chris, Jill and Staff would like to thank all their customers for their support duringthe year and wish them all a Very Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year!

Wednesday & Thursday special

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financial organisation estimatedthat they charge twice the rentthey should to their tenants. Whythere are so many brave peoplethat take these things on is a bitof a mystery to me, after all, theysurely do not go in withoutindependent advice or a contractof strict terms and conditions?So many times we hear aboutkeen couples who take a pub,build up the trade, only to havetheir lords and masters doublethe rent, which results in them

The

freehouse

Shaftesbury Road, Mere, Wilts

01747 861220“Good food - good wines - good times”

Enjoy a Choice of 4 Meats,at least 8 Varieties of

Fresh Vegetables,Giant Yorkshire Puddings and more!

Sunday Carvery

Return of

THE BIG QUIZ... come on down - it’s not Mastermind

Monday 14th January

LOOK OUT for ...

Spectacular Food & Drink Offersfor January and February

on our website: www.walnut-tree-inn.co.uk

Find us on Facebook

Walnut Tree

WINTER SavERSAVE £5 OFF 2 Main MealsMonday to Saturday Anytime

Sunday After 6pmWith this Voucher - Offer Ends 28th February

Terms and Conditions ApplyExcludes Christmas Menus & Light Bites

$ $

OPEN ALL DAY ...From Monday 17th December through to Tuesday 1st January

Sunday 23rd December: Christmas Raffle, 7.30pm

Christmas Eve: Carols, Mince Pies & Mulled Wine, 6pmDonations to Julia’s house Games from 9pm

Christmas Day: Open for Drinks from 11am

Boxing Day: Roast Beef or Gammon - £8.95

New Year’s Eve: Party including FREE BUFFET

maggie, mike & staff wish all their customers a Very merry christmas and a happy 2013

Sunday Lunches 12noon ‘til 3pm and 6pm ‘til 9pm £8.95Monday to Saturday - £5 Lunches

Quiz every Thursday Charity Quiz first sunday of the month

Maggie and Mike welcome you to

The Dolphin InnPeacemarsh

Gillingham, sP8 4hB 01747 822758

Bookings Tel: 01935 881473

Mark, Helen and Staff ...

Would like to sincerely thank all

their customers for their unwavering

support throughout the year and for all their

hard work in the many charity fund raising

events.

Wishing you all the very happiest of Christmases

and a happy and healthy New Year!

The Lord NelsonRectory Lane

Norton Sub HamdongOOd FOOd - gOOd Beer - greaT aTmOsphere

MerryChristmasEveryone

The

PubPages

leaving – and the pub remainingempty until someone else is braveenough to take the place on again(and the owners getting noi n c o m e f r o m i t u n t i l t h a thappens) . According to aninsolvency trade body quoted in arecent ‘What’s Brewing’ a thirdof all pubs could be in danger ofgoing under. Over the yearsCAMRA has become a moreorganised, and more acceptableo r g a n i s a t i o n w i t h i n t h emainstream and even becomerecognised as the most successfulconsumer group in Europe. It iscertainly not greed that motivatesits members to do what they do;more a passion for something inwhich that they truly believe andshould be kept. That does not justencompass the beer of course, asa good drinking establishment,


be it in the middle of a city or themiddle of the countryside, is partof our way of life – our heritage ifyou will. For the first time in thispast twelve months, CAMRA hashad a stand at the Conservative,L a b o u r a n d L i b e r a l p a r t yc o n f e r e n c e s i n B r i g h t o n ,Manchester and Birmingham,and were putting their concernsdirectly to Ministers, Councillorsand M.P’s . Of particular interestto those people with the powerwas the good work carried out byCAMRA in helping communitieswith their pubs, so if you thinkyour village or community shouldbuy their local, take a look atmycommunityrights .org orcontact CAMRA direct. It’s notjust about the fact that the pubmight be lost though, is it? The‘Pub is the Hub’ as we so oftenhear, and now it is the time tomake more use of the facility, asbarely a week goes by withouthearing of a shop or Post Officec l o s i n g i n a v i l l a g e – b u tsomewhere a pub opens thefacility on its own premises. NowI hear of so many communitycentres for the elderly beingclosed. Surely then it’s time forthese older folk to meet up attheir pub. Well it is, isn’t it?

H a p p y N e w Y e a r ; a n dremember, it may be the best

New Year Resolution you’ll evermake - and will stick to, to try

just a few of the great beers we

have to drink in this country.

IN YEOVIL ... we are pleased toreport that The Railway Hotel

has re-opened after a brief closureand we welcome landlord Markwho tells us food is now available,including Sunday Lunch ... atThe Great Western you cannow enjoy a good pint and a readof The Visitor Magazine ... Stormwill be live at The Quicksilver

Mail on New Year’s Eve ... aChristmas Quiz at The Castle

West Coker on Sunday 23rdDecember ... due to demand theDecember Jazz Night is sold outat The Foresters Arms, EastCoker ... Doombar proving ap o p u l a r g u e s t a l e a t T h e

Halfway House Inn, ChilthorneDomer ... authentic Thai Buffeton the 9th January at The Rose

& Crown Bradford Abbas ... andin Montacute, The Phelips

Arms do a very nice sea bass.Nudging on to Norton Sub

Hamdon at The Lord Nelson

we learn that landlord Markplays golf like he does cricket -very badly ... Norman’s Conquestat 7% is a popular tipple at The

Muddled Man, West Chinnock

Sean & Suzy welcome you to the ...

MontagueInn

Shepton Montague nr. BrutonTel: 01749 813213

✴ Festive Opening ✴Christmas Day Lunchtime

Boxing Day LunchtimeNew Year's Eve Evening

New Year's Day Lunchtime

Like Racing?Check out the Package for

Wincanton Races at The Monty ...Brunch at The Monty

Premier enclosure Ticketfollowed by early Supper back at

The Montague Inn - only £30Booking is essential - 48 hours noticeNext Race Day Saturday 5th January

2 course Lunch Deal £10 - Mon - Sat

Simple Supper nights - Tuesdays

Steak nights - Mondays

your hosts, Mick, Jean & Garry wish all their customers a very Happy Christmas ...

The Muddled Manlower Street, West Chinnock

Christmas Day - Open for Drinks11.00am – 1.30pm

Boxing Day - Bubble & Squeak Buffet - £1512.30pm – 4.00pm

Saturday 29th December - Curry Buffet - £10.5012.30pm – 2.30pm and 7.00pm – 9.00pm

Burns Night Supper - Friday 25th JanuaryCock-A-Leekie Soup * Haggis, Neeps & Tatties * Tipsy Laird

... or Cheese & Biscuits (Vegetarian Haggis available if pre-booked)

HoMe MADe DAiLy SPeCiALS • ReAL ALeS • SkiTTLe ALLey • BeeR GARDeNS

Tel: 01935 881235

Function Room available for your corporate presentations / business meetings - call to book

Home-Made FoodServed 7 Days a Week

Real Ales - GardenSkittle Alley - Live Music

Dinnington, Nr Hinton St. George SomersetTel: 01460 52397 • Email: [email protected]

Weekday RoaSt LuNcH offeR £4.75 or £8.95 per Couple

Great Value Steak NiGHt Wednesdays TWO 8oz Rumps + Bottle of Wine £22.95

fReSH fiSH from Beer every friday

SuNDay caRveRy (Choice of 3 Meats) £8.95

DockS caRoL SeRvice christmas eve 12 Noon

New years eve “tHe comic StRip” ... bookings now being taken

Saturday 26th January BuRNS NiGHt ceLeBRatioN2 Course Menu just £10.95

"The Docks" which is featured in Camra's Good Pub Guide is well known for the qualityof its cask ales and food. There are no pool tables, loud music or fruit machines,

just a warm and friendly atmosphere where the locals will engage you ingood old fashioned conversation - translators are available!

The Rose & CrownBradford Abbas • Tel: 01935 474506Saturd

Saturday 22nd December: ‘REAL DEAL’

Sunday 23rd December: Christmas Quiz Night all proceeds to Musgrove Park Hospital

Friday 28th December: ‘ELViS 56’ tribute

Saturday 5th January: No FixED ABoDE

Wednesday 9th January:... eat as much as you like buffet – £18pp (bookings only)

Sunday 13th January: opEN JAm SESSioN – no electrics

Saturday19th January: BLACk mAgiC WomAN – back by popular demand

Sunday 27th January: Quiz Night

Merry Christmas & Happy New Year to all our Customers

A few spaces still available for ChRiStmAS DAY LuNChEoNadults & children over 12 only £49.45 (bookings only)

B&B

AROUND THE

H O U S E S

The

PubPages

That when it comes to spellingand grammar, Jilly Smith is onthe ball, and we apologise forthe error in last month’s Vinny.

That a super-efficient Miss MillieFeakins of Stalham became herbrother’s PA, on the occasionof his fourth birthday.

T h a t S a n d i e B a r r a t t o fWincanton wishes DavidBarratt of Rhosgadfan a happysixtieth birthday.

That ewe will shortly see Sheepflocking to the windows andgardens in Chiselborough.

That after the recent spate of badweather it is difficult to imaginethat the South Petherton Duckrace needed assistance from thefire brigade earlier this year.

That a large bag of peanuts hasnow replaced the Kitekat atJohn Hamblin’s of Yeovil.

That Mr and Mrs Eddie Venn ofChiselborough now know thatthere are two park and ridesat Taunton.

That North Cheriton has a lot ofstile - an awful lot of stile - butit gets you nowhere.

That with no street l ights,Mathew Hann of Chiselboroughis hoping Santa Claus willb r i n g h i m a t o r c h t h i sChristmas, after his recentstroll led him to walk in to aparked car!

That regular helper at the LordNelson - Alice Hutchings ofNorton Sub Hamdon wasrecently awarded apprentice ofthe year in catering.

That a certain lady from NortonSub Hamdon had to use herSat Nav to return from Yeovil.

That John Cornick of the 'Rams'skittle team in Yeovil hasdiscovered that he could scoremore pins ... by not turning upfor the evening.

That Cambridge’s Norman Leekshas been to see the new filmrelease of Les Miserables, butcouldn ’ t make out whichcharacter was Les!

That dur ing the run-up toChristmas, the two hours freeparking in Sherborne’s short-stay car-parks has been justthe ticket, according to someshoppers.

That our pub pages Vinny hasrecently been renamed Vinney,or are you just trying to catchus out AT?

That Glastonbury’s Richard Jonesis a gene-ius when it comes tomulled wine.

That Bruton has recently beenreplicated - in gingerbread!


. . . l o v e l y n e w f i r e i n t h erestaurant to keep the dinerssnug at The Royal Oak OverStratton ... come and join in theCarols at midday on ChristmasEve at Dinnington Docks,Dinnington ... New Year’s Daycharity walk starting at 10.30amfrom The Manor Arms, NorthPerrott, all welcome, please wearthe correct footwear and clothing- in aid of the Church Roof ... inH a s e l b u r y P l u c k n e t t t h eChise lborough cont ingentenjoyed Duck Confit and a veryboozy Christmas pudding at The

White Horse ... ‘characters thatride horses’ is the New Yearfancy dress theme a t The

Wyndham Arms, KingsburyEpiscopi ... children can enjoy aChristmas party on ChristmasEve at The Bakers Arms ,Martock ... and who will benominated for an Oscar at themovie-themed fancy dress party

at the Bakehouse Restaurant atThe Brewers Arms , SouthPetherton this New Year’s Eve.

Moving on to Mere where youcan beat the winter blues withmoney saving offers for the NewYear at The Walnut Tree ...there is still time to buy yourraffle tickets for the ChristmasDraw - taking place on the 23rdDecember at The Dolphin Inn,P e a c e m a r s h a n d a t T h e

Phoenix they do a very goodfrothy-coffee according to Philipof Scenes.

Cantering on to Castle Carywhere The Bay Tree has re-opened in South Street ... see theNew Year in - in style at The

George Hotel ... take advantageof the ‘free taxi for each booking’on New Year’s Eve (within an 8mile radius) at The Queens

Arms, Corton Denham ... Racing

Packages are now available atThe Montague Inn, SheptonMontague ... and due to thesuccess of the musical eveningrecently held at The Manor

House Inn, Ditcheat, anotheris planned. And finally ... it justremains for us here at The

Visitor to remind readers to‘support your local pub’ and tothank all our landlords andlandladies for their continuedsupport throughout the year.M a y y o u a l l h a v e a j o l l yChristmas and a peaceful ,healthy and prosperous 2013.

Pete Lambden & Staff welcome you to .....

168 Hendford HillYEOViL

BOOkiNgS

01935 424721

“Once bitten twice shyi keep my distance but you still catch my eye

Tell me baby, do you recognise me?Well it’s been a year, it doesn’t surprise me”

FiRST PeRSoN to tell me the abovesong gets a free drink. Last monthannette Stuckey of Ilminster was thefirst with ‘nothing about me’ by Sting.

Season’s greetings to you both, gotlots to tell you about so let’s crack on!

Got to say a big thank you to all whocame to help me celebrate my birthday.The music, the drink and the companymade for a super evening.

This month we have to give one of ourregulars a specia l ment ion. Rayo’donnell, fresh from finishing his firstnovel (50 Shades of Ray) has decided toread another one . The reason for hishonourable mention is because after anevening of chatting, drinking, andthrilling us all with his anecdotes oldand new, Ray got a taxi home. Thefollowing morning, a little fluffy aroundthe edges, Ray decided to walk with apurpose to The Preston Hotel, to collecthis car. After a few minutes of fruitlesssearching around the car park Rayremembered that he had been at TheQuicksilver and his car cold and forlornwas waiting for him there! Strong stuffthat Blackthorn eh Ray?

Don’t forget that Mad-dog McCreais here on the 21st of this month andSnake davis is here on the 22nd. Thisyear we will be open on Christmasday for a fantastic 4 course Christmaslunch. Places are limited but we dohave a few spaces left. Ring for a menu,we would love to see you here.

new year’s eve tickets are nowavailable. We have SToRM playing.They are simply the best rock coversband in the area.

I would like to thank all my staff,family customers and friends forhelping me get through a difficult year… Friends are like tea bags: you don’tknow how strong they are until they arein hot water . And a couple of myfriends (you know who you are)certainly came through for me this year.T H a n k y o u . a v e r y m e r r yChristmas to you all.

And finally, a woman goes to theDoctors in Glasgow, worried about herhusband’s bad temper and threateningmanner. The Doc’ asks “What’s theproblem, Janet?”. The woman says:“Weeell Dr. Cameron, i dinae know whatto do. every time ma hubbie comes hamedrunk, he threatens to slap me aroon’The Doctor says.”Aye, well … i have areal good cure for that. When yourhusband arrives home intoxicated, justtake a wee glass of water and startswishing it in your mouth. Just swishand swish but don’t swallow it until hegoes to bed and is sound asleep. “Twoweeks later she comes back to the doctorlooking fresh and reborn. She says“Doctor that was brilliant! evrae timema hubbie came hame drunk, i swishedwith water. i swished an’ swished, and hedidnae touch me even once! Tell meDoc...whit’s the secret? How’s the waterdae that?” The Doctor says “Janet, it’sreally nae big secret. The water doesbugger all - its keeping your mouth shut,it’s that that does the trick …”

TooT TooT!!!

The Halfway House Inn Country lodgeCHIlTHoRne doMeR nr. yeovIl

Tel: 01935 840350 • Fax: 01935 849006www.halfwayhotelyeovil.com

Delicious Sunday Carvery – £7.95

Beautiful Lakes & Garden ideal Wedding Venue

Dining? why not stay the night?Reduced Rate Accommodation for Diners – 20 ensuite Rooms

Full Menu neW yeaR’S eve

ReAL ALeS • FuNCTioN RooM • LAke & GARDeN • Proprietor: Paul T. Rowsell FBii

The

PubPages

They Say

a2B Mobility of MartockIf you are having trouble gettingout of your chair a rise andrecline armchair could be just theanswer. At the press of a buttonthe chair will gently tilt so youc a n g e t u p w i t h e a s e , o ralternatively the foot rest willextend and rise so that you canput your feet up. They areavailable in a choice of styles andcolours at A2B Mobility pricedfrom just £450.

A2B have a full colour brochureof living aids which can make life


easier for the less able, such asgrippers to undo jars, longhandled scissors to cut toe nailsand magnifying ‘sheets’ to makereading the paper easier.

A2B have a wide range ofscooters - new and used, and offeron-the-premises servicing.

Why not call in and discussyour requirements?

Heavy Horsesexperience daysPurchase a gift voucher for afriend or family member so that

t h e y h a v e t h e c h a n c e t oexperience the thrill of working agentle giant.

Swainsford Heavy HorsesExperience Days are designed togive participants a taste ofhand l ing , harness ing andworking with a heavy horse.Participants will learn how toharness a horse to pul l animplement and to have thepleasure of driving a heavy horsein a cart.

Swainsford Heavy Horses - 10horses which are Percherons andColoured Draft ranging in agefrom 1 year to 21 years.

The courses are held on thefarm at Broadwater Farm, Mere,Wiltshire close to the Dorsetborder.

The days are suitable foranybody over the age of 13 andcost £100.00, this includes lunchand refreshments. Discounts areavailable for two or more peoplebooking together or for additionaldays. For further information ontheir courses or to book orpurchase a gift voucher visitwww.workinghorses.co.uk, [email protected] orcontact Richard Branscombe on01747 860879.

Units 1 & 2, great Western Road, Martock

07917 145839SALES - SERVicE - REpAiRS

Monday - Friday 9.30am - 5.00pm

Saturday 9.30am - 12noon

Other times by appointment

Have a Cracker

of a Christmas

mmeerrrryy cchhrriissTTmmaass

Christmas Gifts

Cosyfeet Slippers

Triwalkers £89

Rollators £99

... and more!

Beat theWinter RainhAve A CAnopy

FiTTeD onyouR SCooTeR

... from £400

Stairlift Hire... from £25 per week

For a CompleteRange of

Mobility Items

Scooters

Rise & Recliners... from £450

Living Aids

On the PremisesServicing

Closed from Fri. 21st Dec.

Re-open Wed. 2nd Jan.

Wheathill Garden Centre Plenty of christmas gift ideas

Books, Tools, Stationery, Bronnley Toiletries etc.

christmas Decoration Department

Good Choice of CHRiSTMAS TReeSHolly Wreaths & House Plants

Bird Tables and Feeders

Plus Good Range of Bird Food★ don’t forget to visit our TeA rooms for delicious fAYre ★

Wheathill Lane, Milborne Port, DT9 5EYTel / Fax: 01963 251500

oPeN: 9am – 5pm Monday – Saturday and 10am – 4pm Sunday

ThAnks To All our cusTomers for Their supporT AndWishing Them All A VerY merrY chrisTmAs

Email: [email protected] • Website: www.workinghorses.co.uk

Plenty of gift ideas for all the family at Wheathill Garden Centre in

Milborne Port, from books and stationery to tools and toys. Not forgetting

festive house plants of course, such as poinsettias and cyclamen.

PapertreesPapertrees offer an excellentchoice of books for all ages andtastes - some current ly onpromotion at half price.

If you can’t decide there isalways a book token to the valueof your choice.

Diaries and calendars are instock for the coming year. For thehome office there is an extensive


range of stationery and officerequisites - anything not in stockcan be o rdered f rom the i rcatalogue for prompt delivery.

Readers will be pleased tok n o w t h a t t h e r e w i l l b e anewpaper de l ivery serv iceavailable in Wincanton in then e w y e a r - j u s t c a l l i n o rtelephone Papertrees with yourrequirements.

Crossroads Pet SuppliesLook after the wild birds thiswinter - at Crossroads PetSupplies on the Sherborne /Yeovil causeway. They have anextensive range of birdseeds andfeeders at very competitive prices.

The family pet too is wellcatered for - beds and leads,Christmas stockings and treats,hutches and bedding can all befound here!

Plenty of free parking outsidethe door too.

33 High Street • WincantonTel: 01963 32356 • www.papertrees.co.uk

Books - the perfect Christmasgift for all the family ...

New Christmas stock now in

HaLF PRICE BOOKS nATionAL Book TokenS

Stocking Filler Toys & Games • Full Range of Stationery for Home and Office

open: Monday – Friday 7am – 5pm, Saturday 7am – 2pm, Sunday 7am – 12noon

merry chrisTmas

TO all Our cusTOmers

WHO I AM

★ nEWSPaPER DELIvERY SERvICE ★From Monday 7th January ... call for details

More than just mobilephone specialists

Mobile Broadband Solutions Phone unlocks Small Business Tariff Checks Repairs Accessories Home Phones Fully Fitted Hands-Free Car kits Tablets - wifi & 3G ebooks Senior Phones - big buttons

plus of course an extensive range

of ... sim-free mobile phones!

Street Cellular, 5 the Bayliss Centre, Street • 01458 841741website: www.streetcellular.com • email: [email protected]

Wishing

You a

Merry

Christmas

Flowers say so much!“Merry Christmas” - “Happy New Year” - “Thank You”...

BOuquETS • aRRanGEMEnTS • PLanTS

As an extra treat why not add a Box of Chocolates or a Teddy?

andrea’s of yeovil78 Middle Street, Yeovil BA20 1LT

FReePhoNe: 08000 92 93 50Telephone: 01935 706526

Dog tired of high prices?visit

CROSSROaDS PET SuPPLIESsuppliers of

• pet Foods • Bird & pigeon Seeds• Full range of Toys, Hutches, Accessories

... all at competitive prices

Ample FREE pARkiNg outside the Door

Find us at Forward Garage on the main A30 between Sherborne & yeovil

Tel: 01935 411859 .

‘settling old scores’Limited edition Print - 16" x 13"

by JoNAThAN WALkeR£105 framed

others available by the same artist

Water Street, Martock • Tel: 01935 823254www.martockgallery.com

open: Monday – Friday 9.00 – 5.00, Saturday 9.30 – 4.30

Andrea’s Florist of Yeovil will

send flowers through Interflora

locally, nationally and

internationally, just call

01935 706526.

Neigh-bourhood Watch, limited edition print by Mary Herbert 10”x10”

£75 framed, available from Martock Gallery, Martock.

Ward & SibleyWard & Sibley Jewellers of Yeovilare open ‘til late on Thursday20th December and on Sunday2 3 r d f o r y o u r l a s t m i n u t epurchases. A traditional familyrun business you are sure to finda gift to suit your requirements -from an extensive range ofwatches through to a stunningrange of jewellery to suit mostbudgets. Ward & Sibley offer arepair service, engraving andvaluations. Sally and Steve wishtheir customers the complimentsof the season.

elegance Beauty ClinicIf you're stuck for a gift this yearp o p i n t o E l e g a n c e B e a u t yTherapy Clinic where they haveeverything from stocking fillersto luxury gifts.

Starting at £1.75 red, silver orpink glitter nail files and make upbags to match at £4.99. Make upjewels £4.99 are not only anattractive present but hold foureye shadow colours. If you wantsomething a little bigger the heartt o h e a r t p a l e t t e h o l d s 4 9shimmering eye shadows, 6 lipglosses, 6 blushers and 3 powdersfor only £12.99.

Black and white vanilla candlescome in sets of three for £3.99 oron a stone tray for £5.99.

Tisserand have gift sets from£10 to £14 in three differentfragrances wild rose, lavenderand essential oils and he-shi canoffer something a little differentwith their silver and gold selftanning sets at £33 and £42.

Of course if you can't findanything to suit gift voucherscome in any value and are alwaysa welcome gift.

Have beautiful Christmas!

acorn MusicAcorn Music is an IndependentMusic Store stocking thousands of


CDs, everything from rock, popand jazz to classical folk andblues.

For musicians there is a rangeof guitars, ukuleles and recordersp l u s a w i d e s e l e c t i o n o faccessories including drum sticks,strings, straps, picks, leads,tuners, gig bags stands and musicbooks.

If you have outgrown your ownCD collection and are looking tomake some space at home, AcornMusic purchase good quality CDcollections and will arrange forcollection.

For fur ther in f o rmat i ontelephone 01935 425503.

Beautiful Gifts for Christmas ...

Ward & SiBley The Jewellers of YeovilThe Casket, 103 Middle Street, Yeovil • Tel: 01935 474065

... whatever your taste or budget

cUSTOMERcAR pARk AT

REAR OF SHOp

LATE NigHTTHURSDAY

20th Decemberuntil 8pm

OpEN SUNDAY23rd December

Established1983

ÉléganceBeauty Therapy Clinic

“have a Beautifulchristmas”

Full Range of Beauty Treatments

Stocking Fillers & Gifts

... from under £2

GiFT VouCHeRS

Sandie BarrettM.B.A.B.Th.C. • C.I.D.E.S.C.O.

A Ladies Only Salon8b Church Street, Wincanton

(01963) 34115

Music Books - Guitar accessoriesukuleles - Recorders

Drumsticks

Still stocking the Widest Range of cDs for miles aroundclassical - Jazz - Folk - Blues - Rock and lots more

AcORN VOUcHERS MAkE iDEAL giFTS

CD and DVD Collections in good condition bought for CASH Collection Arranged

Follow us on Facebook at facebook.com/acornmusic

Pictured left:

New lines have been introduced at

Jazziez of Crewkerne this

Christmas including personalised

jigsaws from £8, Placemats and

coaster sets (4) from £20,

Doorhangers from £5 plus of

course their usual selection of

mugs and sweatshirts etc. - turn

your photo into a gift this

Christmas.


Mike’s MusicSituated in the George Precinct,Crewkerne’s Mike’s Music is afamily run business that catersfor all guitarists’ needs, with awide range of guitars to suit allabilities and styles - includingsecondhand Gibson and Epiphone

guitars. Mike also teaches theguitar.

Proving very popular thisseason are Ukuleles as more andmore schools introduce them into their musical curriculum. Giftvouchers are available - an idealpresent.

The Music store in Town

entry Level Clarinets, Flutes,ukuleles, violins and AccessoriesSheet Music, Music Books & Gifts

✴ Merry Christmas to all our Customers ✴

The George centre, crewkerneTel: 01460 77728 • www.mikes-music.co.uk

Guitars & tuition

Mike’s Music MayflowersYour local Interflora Florist

For a super selection of fresh cutflowers & plants visit us at ...

2a High Street, GIllInGHaM

... or why not order by phone or website?

Tel: 01747 824424www.mayflowersofgillingham.co.uk

all majorcredit cards

accepted

High Street, Gillingham

Tel / Fax 01747 824050email: [email protected] • www.scenes-online.co.uk

Full Range of Artist MaterialsFor the pRoFESSioNAL or AmAtEuR ARtiSt ...

Acrylic - Watercolouroil - easels - paintsBrushesBooks etc.

It is always a pleasure

to receive flowers unexpectedly,

whatever the occasion ... for local,

national, or international

deliveries, contact

Mayflowers at 2a High Street,

Gillingham.

Pictured left: Scenes of Gillingham have a

comprehesive range of books on arts and

crafts - an ideal Christmas gift.

Turn your photograph into a work of art with a canvas wrap from

Camelot Photographic of Wincanton. A warm welcome awaits

from Zibi Kopyto, pictured, who has recently joined proprietor

Graham Hiscock to assist with photographic processing.

Say you saw it in The Visitor


Golden PlaiceFISH & CHIPS

Opening HOurs

Tuesday-Saturday 12.00noon-1.45pmand 5.00pm - 9.00pm

2 Station RoadCastle Cary, Somerset

BA7 7BUTel: 01963 350566

Fred & Kim would like to wish all oftheir customers a very Merry Christmas

and a Happy New Year.

The

Natterjack innFreehOuse - resTauranT - accOmmOdaTiOn

kate, Adrian & Staff thank youfor your continued custom and wish

you a very happy Christmas anda prosperous New year!

evercreechJunction

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TONY’SFISH & CHIPS

opeN: Tuesday to Saturday Inclusive

12.00 – 2.00 • 5.00 – 9.30

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Closed: Sunday 23rd, Monday 24th,

Tuesday 25th and Wednesday

26th December

opeN: thursday 27th, Friday 28th and

Saturday 29th December

Closed: Sunday 30th, Monday

31st December and Tuesday 1st January

re-opeN: wednesday 2nd January

Wishing all of our Customersa Happy Christmas andProsperous New Year

Tel: 01458 272532The Triangle, Pye Corner

Somerton, Somerset

Sandra WhiteMobile

HAirDreSSerWould like to thank her clients

for their support during the year.

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Wishing all our customers compliments of theseason and looking foward to seeing you in 2013

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Famed for fine food, real ale and excellent accommodation

Thanking all of our customers and friendsfor their continued support

A veRY MeRRY chRiSTMAS from Tom, Ann & Staff


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Open as usual until Saturday22nd December

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Complimentsof the season to all

advertisers, newsagents,delivery people, readers

and contributors, and bestwishes for a healthy and

prosperous New Year!

ANDREW M. kNigHTRegistered Osteopath

Serving Castle Cary andSomerton for 25 Years

at

Manor Lodge, castle caryTel: (01963) 351477

also at

SomertonWednesday & Friday

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kingsmead Business ParkGillingham, Dorset

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Wishing all ofour customers a

Happy New Year

The david HallON FRIDAY 18th January at8pm Phi l Beer , the mul t i -instrumental half of the WestC o u n t r y ’ s a w a r d - w i n n i n gacoustic duo, Show of Hands, willbe appearing at The David Hall,South Petherton.

Phil has played music all ofhis life and been a professionalmusician since 1975. In the last


36 years, he has played in toomany bands and line ups to listful ly and lost count o f thenumber of record projects he hasbeen involved in! The mostnotable sessions in his careerrange from the Rolling Stones’album Steel Wheels and MikeOldfield’s live album Exposed toalbums by The Albion Band,with whom Phil toured for the

best part of the 80s – and notforgetting the large catalogue ofShow of Hands albums.

In recent years, Phil Beer hasbeen in demand as a recordproducer as well as a studiomusician and he continues totour full-time with Show ofHands. In addition to this heavyschedule, Phil also finds time toplay a limited number of soloshows and is currently engagedin producing a major new soloalbum, his first for several years.

Tickets: £16.00 full, £15.00concessions can be purchased atN & D News, St James Street,South Petherton and reserved bycalling 01460 240 340 or by e-mailing: [email protected] or paid for via thewebsite www.thedavidhall.org.uk

Tom ThumbTHIS YEAR Shaftesbury ArtsCentre’s Music & Drama Grouppresents the pantomime Tom

Thumb, written by Paul Reakesand directed by Sue Cadmore.

This traditional panto with itswell-loved characters and fun-filled fast-moving storyline willkeep the audience spellboundwith its surprising twists andturns. Follow tiny Tom Thumbon his quest to save his belovedprincess from the wicked gianta n d h i s e v i l h e n c h m a n ,Slugslime.

Running from Wednesday 23rdJanuary until Saturday 2ndF e b r u a r y , w i t h m a t i n e eperformances on 26th & 27thJanuary and Saturday 2ndFebruary, this is a panto for all

the family to enjoy.To book: www.shaftesburyarts

centre.org.uk or telephone theBox Office: 01747 854321.

Georgie PorgiePudding and ...!Christmas will soon be over andthe prospect of long winter nightsloom ahead. Well, the North

Cadbury Panto Group promisea n e v e n i n g o f s m i l e s a n dsunshine to brighten up theJanuary evenings with theirproduction of the Paul Reakes’pantomime, Georgie Porgie. PaulReakes is a local playwright withan international reputation forh i s h i l a r i o u s s c r i p t s a n dtraditional pantos, so it will beno surprise that Paul’s reworkingof this classic nursery rhyme willhave you rolling in the aisles.

Georgie Porgie is a simple storyof confusion and magic. Braveyoung Georgie challenges a wickedwitch for being cruel to a ratherremarkable cat. He is rewardedby a spell which condemns him tokiss every girl he sees. (All in the

best possible taste!).Anger and confusion reigns, not

helped by the contribution of thedame, Georgie’s good-hearted butbumbling mother. Sit back whilethe mayhem unfolds before you.

You can see Georgie Porgie atNorth Cadbury Village Hall onThursday 24th, Friday 25th andSaturday 26th of January. Thechaos begins at 7.30pm eachevening.

Tickets cost Adults £7.50, Child£5.00, Family (2 adults and twochildren) £20.00 and are availablefrom:

Ted’s Shop, North CadburyRosie’s Tearoom, North CadburyNorth Cadbury Primary School,Reception

December

21st Mad-doG McCRea - Quicksilver Mail, yeovil

22nd Snake davIS - Quicksilver Mail, yeovil

22nd Real deal - Rose & Crown, Bradford Abbas

26th THe Ray JoneS Band - Wyndham Arms, kingsbury episcopi

28th TIM PITMan’S Christmas Show - Natterjack, evercreech Junction

28th elvIS Tribute - Rose & Crown, Bradford Abbas

31st SToRM - Quicksilver Mail, yeovil

January

5th no FIXed aBode - Rose & Crown, Bradford Abbas

13th oPen JaM SeSSIon - Rose & Crown, Bradford Abbas

19th BlaCk MaGIC WoMan - Rose & Crown, Bradford Abbas

An AdVeRT in The pub pAgeS enSuReS A FRee MenTiOn heRe

MM uu SS II CCFF

OO RRTT HH EE

MMOO

nnTT HH

So, you think you know yourpop music, do you?

By John osborne • Answers can be found on page 43

1. With which instrument do you associate Phil Collins?

2. Who sang the theme to the Bond film ‘For your eyes only’?

3. Who had a 1982 No.1 with ‘The Lion Sleeps Tonight’?

4. The Beatles founded which record label?

5. in what year did e.L.o. have a hit with ‘evil Woman’?

6. ‘Make you Feel My Love’ is an Adele hit, but who wrote it?

7. ‘ernie (The Fastest Milkman in the West)’ was a No.1 hitfor whom?

8. We associate kevin Rowland with which band?

9. How do we best know Marvin Lee Aday?

10. Lyric; ‘you better stop, look around, Here it comes, here itcomes, here it comes, here it comes …’

bonus QuestionJosh Groban’s debut album went double-platinum, but

in which year was it released?

great Quotes in music (61)“... you watch Jimi Hendrix literally reinvent the instrument. He was

playing from somewhere else. He was really a kind of hybrid, andi can’t even begin to imagine where he came from” - Steve Vai

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Leisure & Travel

PanToTIMe

Kitchen Essentials, Castle CaryThe George Hotel, Castle CaryAnsford Academy, Reception

I f y o u a r e l o o k i n g f o r aChristmas present for friends orrelatives that is a bit differentthen tickets to Georgie Porgie


might be just the thing. NorthCadbury Village Hall is a lovelyvenue, both warm and welcoming.A great night out is guaranteedfor all.

For more details contact SteveC r a g g s o n : s t e v e c r a g g s @biomass1951.fsnet.co.uk

Get your New Year off to a great start at the ...vILLaGE PanTO

Georgie PorgienORTH CaDBuRY vILLaGE HaLL

January 24th, 25th and 26th, 2013Tickets ★ Adults £7.50 ★ Child £5.00 ★ Family £20.00

Ring: 01963 440184

Leisure & Travel

Cycle-Babble • Cycle-Babble

As THe CuRTAINc o m e s d o w n o n asimply fantastic yearof cycling for GreatBritain, Cycle Babbletakes a look back on at r u l y h i s t o r i c 1 2months to bring youits top ten Britishcycling moments of2012:

10. lizzie armitstead's silverlining under london's cloudsTwo days after the London 2012O l y m p i c G a m e s o p e n i n gceremony Britain secured itsfirst cycling medal thanks to awonderful performance fromL i z z i e A r m i t s t e a d i n t h ewomen's road race. The heavensopened over the streets o fLondon but Armitstead lit upthe Mall entering the finalmoments of the 140km racealongside Marianne Vos of theNetherlands. In the end theDutch phenomenon proved toostrong but Armitstead hadstarted Britain's medal rush.Echoing her words in the post-race press conference – this wasvery much a silver won, not agold lost.

9. JTl prospers in Tour ofBritainSince its relaunch in 2004, theTour of Britain had not beenwon by a home-grown rider.That all changed in 2012 whenJonathan Tiernan-Locke tookthe overall win thanks to a greatride in Wales on stage six. JTL'swin crowned a breakthroughyear for the Devon rider whoalso triumphed in the TourMéditerranéen, Tour du Haut-Var and the Tour Alsace. Nextyear Tiernan-Locke will beriding for Sky.

8. Bradley makes history IGiven what was to come later

in the year you could be forgivenfor forgetting that BradleyWiggins had already madecycling history before the Tourde France even started. Wigginsstarted the year in scintillatingform, winning the season's firstsignificant stage race: Paris-Nice. He then went on to winthe Tour de Romandie and theCritérium du Dauphiné. Norider had ever won those threeraces in the same year. Hugelyimpressive. And his year wouldonly get better.

7. Cavendish the undisputedking of ParisB y h i s o w n r e m a r k a b l estandards Mark Cavendish hada relatively quiet 2012. For anyother rider his haul of 15 wins(including 3 TDF stage wins)w o u l d r e p r e s e n t a h u g e l ysuccessful 12 months . ButCavendish is not any other riderand 2012 did not see all he canoffer. One 2012 Cav moments t a n d s o u t t h o u g h : h i sextraordinary fourth TDF stagewin on France's most famousavenue where he was, again,untouchable. The Tour's finalstage sprint on the Champs-É l y s é e s i s r o a d - r a c i n g ' su n o f f i c i a l s p r i n t w o r l dchampionships, and Cav hasfour to his name now.

6. Trott eliminates all enroute to omnium goldLaura Trott became the darlingof the London Velodrome on thef ina l day o f rac ing on theOlympic boards, claiming goldin the 6-event omnium. The 20-year-old Trott had started theevent well and finished the firstday sharing top spot with theUSA's veteran racer SarahHammer. But day two saw herfinish behind Hammer in botht h e s c r a t c h r a c e a n d t h eindividual pursuit. So Trottwent into the final event, the500m time trial, needing to beatthe American by two places.

Roared on by the crowd shefinished top of the pile whilstHammer could only finish 4th.Trott had her omnium gold.

5. Queen vic secures finalcrownLondon 2012 was the f inalappearance of Britain's Queenof the track, Victoria Pendleton.The event started ominously forPendleton with a disqualificationin the team sprint for her andteam-mate Jess Varnish. ButP e n d l e t o n p u t t h a tdisappointment behind her inemphatic style the next day,winning the keirin ahead ofC h i n a ' a G u o S h u a n g a n densuring her fantastic careerwould end on a high.

4. kenny sprints to victoryOne of the major talking pointsin the run-up to the OlympicGames was who would get thenod to ride in the men's sprint.Jason Kenny or Sir Chris Hoy?In the end it was Kenny who gotthe call and with it came a heapof pressure. Fail to win gold andhe would be forever the riderwho denied Sir Chris his shotat three London golds. But failKenny did not. He stormed togold without dropping a singlerace. In the final he defeatedGregory Bauge, the rider manyconsidered the overall favourite,prompt ing the Frenchmanhimself to ask Kenny how he didi t i n t h e p o s t - r a c e p r e s sconference.

3. Sir Chris rises once againThe final Olympic event in theLondon Velodrome was themen's keirin and it was fittingthat the Olympic curtain shouldbe brought down by Sir ChrisHoy. Hoy had been part of themen's sprint team that hadstarted Britain's track gold-rushfive days earlier and now thegreat man brought it all to aclose with yet another gold. Theatmosphere in the velodrome

had been incredible all week butwhen Hoy crossed the line infirst place, to become the onlyBritish Olympian with six goldsto his name, CB felt the buildingshake to its very foundations.

2. Women's three in adifferent leagueIn track cycling the width of atyre or a hundredth of a secondoften comes between glory oranonymity. For once that wasn'tthe case in the Olympic women'steam pursuit where the Britishtrio of Joanna Rowsell, DaniKing and Laura Trott weresimply operating on a differentplane than everyone else. Theyrecorded a world record in eachof the three rounds, includingthe final where they smashedthe USA, winning by over fiveseconds, a massive margin atthis level. Such a display ofcomplete and utter superiorityhas rarely been seen.

1. Bradley makes history IIOnly one event could top thisyear's amazing achievements.In July Bradley Wiggins becamethe first rider from these shoresto win the Tour de France. In98 editions of the race the bestresult of any British rider hadbeen fourth (Scot Robert Millarin 1984 and Wiggins himself in2 0 0 9 ) . T h e n , i n t h e 9 9 t h ,Wiggins took the yellow jerseyo n s t a g e s e v e n a n d n e v e rrelinquished it. Wiggins wonboth time-trials and rode wellin the mountains, consolidatinghis position at the top of theclassification. He stood in Parison top of the podium lauded byt h e w o r l d ' s m e d i a . T h emagnitude of Wiggins ' wincannot be overstated for his isan unprecedented triumph inthe world's toughest race. Noless a judge than Sir Chris Hoyknows it; he called Wiggins' win‘the greatest achievement by anyBritish sports-person ever.’

Giles Belbin.

Seasonal Survival!‘Tis the season to be jolly – andstressed and over indulged!Christmas is my favourite time ofthe year (the lights, the music andyes, I admit, I’m not impartial tothe odd pressie and pudding!) sowhy do I sense I can hear some ofyou bah humbugging right now?It is a great shame that such abeautiful, spiritual time of the yearhas turned into a commercial farceand that many of us find this timeeither lonely or stressful. As usualthough, there are many herbalhelpers and super supplementsthat can get us through – bothphysically and emotionally - so thismonth we're taking a break fromthe 'superfoods' series to focus onseasonal survival.

Oats – Also found under itsbotanical name Avena Sativa. Agood nervine used to treat debilityand anxiety. Oats contain alkaloidsknown to exert anti-anxiety effects.Especially useful as a restorative inchronic conditions. Oats are alsoused to help manage withdrawalsymptoms from tobacco, so bearthis one in mind for the New Year’sresolutions.

Vitamin B5 - Also known asPantothenic acid. B5 supports theadrenal glands in producingcorticosteroids and so has becomeknown as the anti-stress vitamin.Try a B complex that’s high in B5


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st. John’s Wort – One of themost popular remedies for mild tomoderate depression, St. John’sWort has been nicknamed ‘Nature’sProzac’. Can also be used tomanage anxiety, Seasonal AffectiveDisorder and support the nervoussystem during the menopause. St.John’s Wort interacts with manyother medications by increasingthe activity of certain liver enzymes(leading to substances being brokendown too quickly) and so shouldonly be used alongside orthodoxmedicines under the guidance of apractitioner.

Vitamin D – Well where do Istart? This vitamin is forever beinglinked to positively help onedisorder or another. Once upon at ime i t was general ly onlymentioned in reference to bonehealth (rickets is a Vitamin Ddeficiency disease) but now it isincreasingly being used for a wholehost of problems including immunefunction, pain management and asan anti-depressant. As most of theVitamin D we get is produced inthe skin via the action of sunlight,it is no surprise that lack of thisnutrient has been implicated incontributing to the ‘Winter Blues’.A popular supplement to takethroughout the winter.

T r y p t o p h a n & 5 H T P –Tryptophan is an amino acid whichi s a p r e c u r s o r t o 5Hydroxytryptophan, or serotonin,the feel good neurotransmitter. Hasbeen used with some success in thetreatment of depression, anxietya n d i n s o m n i a a s w e l l a sfibromyalgia, tension headachesand migraines. It should be takenaway from other protein containingfoods as they will compete for

absorption and doses will varydepending on what you are using itto treat. Pop into your localh e a l t h f o o d s t o r e f o r m o r einformation.

Dandelion – A fantasticcleansing herb for the liver andkidneys. As a digestive aid andliver tonic, use a root based product.Dandelion supports digestion bypromoting bile flow and can be usedas (my favourite) coffee alternative.Dandelion leaves are wonderful forwater retention, acting as adiuretic. Being naturally rich innutrients they do not deplete thebody of minerals such as potassiumlike many other diuretics.

enzymes & Probiotics – If yousuffer from indigestion and bloatingat the best of times, then you maywell benefit from the use of a gooddigestive enzyme and/or probiotic.E n z y m e s b r e a k d o w n a n dassimilate the foods we eat. If theyare lacking we can feel the effectswith digestive disturbances whichcould in turn lead to us not gettingthe full benefit of the nutrients inour diets (or for that matter thesupplements we take). Probioticsare the friendly bacteria thatinhabit our intestines and form avaluable part of our immunity,protecting us from harmful bacteriaand fungi.

Centaury – A bitter herb usedto encourage the body to producedigestive juices before a meal. Ifthese juices are not produced atthe right time or in the rightamount, reflux and heartburn canresult. I have seen this herb workwonders for heartburn but wouldalso recommend that a suffererinvestigate whether certain foodsare the culprits or indeed pooreating habits – such as not chewingfood thoroughly or eating on thehoof.

Chromium – The slimmer’sfriend. If you have a sweet toothand are dreading being around allthose tasty Christmas treats, this is

the mineral for you! Chromiumforms part of the Glucose ToleranceFactor which is involved inmanaging blood sugar levels,helping to eliminate those peaksand troughs that trigger sweetcravings.

Milk Thistle – No article onseasonal survival would becomplete without mentioning MilkThistle . This is a key l iverp r o t e c t i v e h e r b t h a t h a sdemonstrated the ability to preventliver destruction and stimulate newcell growth to replace damagedtissue. The liver bears the bruntof our detoxification process and isa much abused organ. A good herbto take over the festive season tohelp with the extra burdens.

On a separate note entirely Iwould just like to mention thathealthfood stores are gearing upfor Christmas now with a greatselection of festive foods. There aresome wonderful ranges of ‘freefrom’ goodies available includinggluten free, wheat free, dairy freeand sugar free.

I’ll be back in the New Year withmore on family health. Until then Iwish you all a Happy, HealthyChristmas!

Jenna Evans.

All available from Ceres NaturalFoods, Yeovil. Always check witha health professional before youstart taking any supplements.

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Give yourself the edge andwin the battle against Fluthis winterThink of a virus as a seed, lookingfor fertile ground to grow. You canreduce the likelihood of acquiringand germinating an infection byprotecting yourself and nurturingyour immune system.You can alsor e c o v e r b e t t e r , w i t h o u tcomplications, if you do fall ill.

There has been controversy aboutthe flu vaccine in the news recently.Who should have it? What are therisks and benefits? This is a debateto be had elsewhere, but whateverchoice you make, remember thereare plenty of simple, naturalstrategies to follow which help youresist attack from this season’sinfections.optimize your vitamin dlevels:Most people lack optimal levels atthis time of year. A strong body ofresearch is suggesting that VitaminD3 supplements are a good strategyfor avoiding numerous healthproblems.avoid Sugar and ProcessedFoods:Sugar impairs the function of yourimmune system. Beware of highfructose corn syrups but be waryof artificial sweeteners too!optimize your Gut Flora:Replace those sugars with healthyfats and probiotic foods which canimprove the function of yourimmune system. Probiotic, lowsugar yoghurt is a source.Get enough Rest:It becomes harder to thrive if you're

tired. Equally, if your body is overlyfatigued it will be harder for it tofight the flu.Have effective Tools toaddress Stress:If stress is high then your body willbe less able to fight off illness. Get Regular exercise: Boosts your immune response andrelieves stress. Take a Good Source ofanimal-Based omega-3 Fats:Essential omega-3 fats are widelyresearched, have huge benefits andused to feature more in the naturaldiet. Oily fish are also a great source– SMASH = Salmon, Mackerel,Anchovy, Sardine & Herring!Wash your Hands:To decrease your likelihood ofspreading and catching a virus.Studies show that hand washersget less infections. Antibacterialsoaps are unnecessary, they maycause more harm than good. Asimple chemical-free soap is fine.And of course, cover your mouthand nose when you cough or sneeze. use natural antibiotics inyour daily cooking:Examples include garlic and oil oforegano. These work like broad-

spectrum antibiotics againstbacteria, viruses, and protozoa iny o u r b o d y . A n d u n l i k epharmaceutical antibiotics, they donot appear to lead to resistance. look after your physicalhealth:Including your spine and itsnetwork o f nerves . We areb i o l o g i c a l , m e c h a n i c a l ,neurological machines. Maintainyourself in tip-top condition,rather than wait for symptomsto appear. An old bike functionsbetter if taken care of, so do you!

Ben Gait,

Mendip Chiropractic.

Indoor heated SwimmingPool, Gym & SaunaGet fit in 2013 at Dairy HouseFarm swimming pool, gym andsauna. The water is heated to aluscious 30° and the chemicalBromine is used as a gentleralternative to Chlorine.

The gym is well equipped with

two commercial treadmills pluscross trainer, exercise bike, rowingmachine and weights. Pay as yougo or memberships available.

Their popular Aqua AerobicsClasses take place Tuesdays6.30pm – 7.30pm and Fridays10am – 11am. All levels welcome.

For further information pleasesee the advert on the inside frontcover or telephone 01258 817501 oremail: info@dairyhousefarm. co.uko r v i s i t : w w w . d a i r y h o u s efarmswimmingpool.co.uk

56 london Road Clinic56 London Road Clinic offers awide variety of treatments thatcan cater for a vast array of healthproblems. With free parking closeb y a n d a c a l m i n g c l i n i c a lenvironment it is an ideal placeto help you get where you wantto be. We believe that Physicalhealth enhances Psychologicalhealth and here at 56 LondonRoad Clinic we strive to make yourtreatment as individual as youare. If you have any questionsabout what we can offer or whatwe can do to help don’t hesitate toring on 01963 251860.

Take Charge of yourHeating!With hard-pressed families facing

huge energy bills this winter, the

national Heating Helpline urges

households to take charge of their

heating system by keeping it

under control.


New research shows that

national incomes fell by 13% this

year compared to the start of the

recession four years ago. The last

news that hard-pressed families

needed to hear was the current

round of price rises by the Big 6

energy companies, with some

going up by an inflation-busting

increase of 11%. This takes the

average dual fuel bill to around

£1,300 year – a big chunk of

household budgets. Faced with

these spiralling fuel bills Heating

Helpline, the free consumer

advice service operated by

B & E S , t h e B u i l d i n g &

E n g i n e e r i n g S e r v i c e s

A s s o c i a t i o n , i s u r g i n g

homeowners to take charge of

their heating systems to save

money.

As the Helpline points out;

8 4 % o f d o m e s t i c e n e r g y

consumption is used for heating

and hot water, with 60% alone

used on heating. Taking charge

of your heating system is now a

top priority and will help keep

energy use, and bills, down. Here

are the top 5 tips for taking

charge of heating in your home:

1. Turning your room thermostat

down by just 1ºC could save

over £100 a year and you will

never notice the difference.

2. If you have an adjustable

thermostat for your hot water

you should set it to no hotter

than 60°C (140°F). Any higher

is a waste of energy and could

scald; much lower and there

may be a risk of harmful

bacteria forming.

3. Turn down the radiators in any

spare rooms; why pay for a

warm space with nobody in it?

4. Replacing your old manually

operated thermostat with a

m o d e r n p r o g r a m m a b l e

electronic one will provide far

greater control over your

home’s heat by giving you the

EST SINCE 1957

• Specialists in renovation and restoration of older properties

• Extensions & alterations undertaken.

• Specialists in barn conversions

• Purpose built joinery, doors, windows, etc.

ALL WORK GUARANTEED

TEL: NORTH CADBURY 01963 440931Yard Office adj. Orchard Leigh, Long Street

Galhampton, Yeovil, Somerset

BUILDING CONTRACTORS

COCK & SON

Thanking all our friends and customers for theirsupport over the years and wishing them all

a Merry Christmas and a Healthy andProsperous New Year

Bryan G. Paulley LtdDomestic / Commercial Installations / ReplacementsSuppliers of Tanks, Fuel Stations, Temporary Tanks • Free Site Survey / Quote / Advice

Registered Waste Hauliers • Commercial Boiler Removal • 24 Hour Call-Out

Tel: 01963 363870 • Mob: 07836 [email protected] • www.bgp-oiltanks.co.uk

House&Home


ability to set precisely when

the heating comes on and at

what temperature.

5. Installing thermostatic radiator

v a l v e s ( T R V s ) t o e v e r y

radiator (they cost a few

pounds each) means you will

be able to manage the heat in

each room.

The Heating Helpline website

is packed full of money saving

tips and also has an easy-to-use

search facility to find local

reputable registered heating

engineers. Visit www.heating

helpl ine .org .uk or cal l the

Helpline free on 0800 810 8303.

Take Steps Now to avoidCondensing BoilerBreakdowns in Cold WeatherThousands of homeowners have

discovered that their condensing

boiler suddenly shuts down in

extremely cold weather – the

Heating Helpline explains why

this occurs and what steps

homeowners can take to avoid

this.

In the past three years the UK

has experienced extended periods

of extremely cold weather with

sub-zero temperatures. Will this

winter be any different? No one

knows, but one of the unforeseen

developments of these extreme

temperatures has been the

HIDER HEATINGSpecialists in Installation & Service

All Types of plumbingCentral Heating Systems, Boiler Replacement

Landlord Safety Checks and Servicing Gas and Oilestablished over 40 years

Rely on us for all Plumbing & Heating NeedsSpecialist in Bathroom Designs including all Tiling & Electrics

www.hiderheating.co.uk

Tel: 01935 426209 • Mobile: 07836 77315211 Hillgrove Avenue, Yeovil, Somerset

Reg. No. 700

House&Home

Don’t let your precious heat escape through draughty windows and

doors. You’ll find an excellent choice of replacement windows and doors

at Somerton Windows in Somerton.

widespread breakdown of modern

condensing boilers. Since 2005 it

h a s b e e n m a n d a t o r y f o r

households to have condensing

gas boilers installed both in new

bui ld s i tuat ions and when

replacing or upgrading their

boiler. Now it is estimated there

are eight million condensing

boilers in homes across Britain

and that tens of thousands of

these homes have been left

without heating over the last

three winters as these boilers

have shut down without warning.

Blane Judd, Chief Executive of

B & E S ( t h e B u i l d i n g &

Engineering Services Association)

who operate the free consumer

advice service the Heating

Helpline, comments, ‘Condensing

boilers recover a great deal more

of the heat produced when gas is

burned with the result that some


of the by-products of combustion

– water vapour – condense inside

the boiler and have to be disposed

of, typically through an extra pipe

linked to the property’s waste

water drainage system. In some

cases it has been necessary to

route this pipe along an outside

wall of the property.

‘The design of such modern

condensing boilers includes a

safety system which shuts down

the boiler in the event that the

condensed water starts to ‘back-

up’ inside the appliance. What

has happened during the extreme

sub-zero weather the UK has

experienced over the past few

winters is that the condensed

water has frozen in the external

pipework, stopping the flow, and

the safety systems within the

appliance have then shut the

boiler down.

‘It is fair to say that when

condensing boilers were being

developed in the 1980s the

heating industry believed that it

was entering a world where

winter temperatures were rising

and expected to rise still further.

It had been many years since the

last seriously cold winter and the

weather experts were warning of

We can deliver to your area inc. Castle Cary,Bruton, Sherborne, Wincanton etc.

For advice or information ring Tim or Heidi or call in and see us

sAND &GRAvEllarge and

small loads

WARM

WIsHEsFoR

CHRIsTMAs

Trade enquiries Welcome

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Professionally Made To Measure Curtains, Blinds etc.OrderS NOW TakeN FOr The NeW Year

Supply your own Fabric or choose froma Superb range of Fabric Books

Curtain Poles and Tracks - haberdasheryribbons, Threads, Cushions, remnants, Linings etc.

Season’s Greetings to all Our Clients

OPeN: Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday 9.30am - 4.00pm. Thursday ClosedFriday 9.30am - 3.00pm. Saturday 9.30am - 12.30pm

3a Church Street, Wincanton

Melody 07883 089 333

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KEvAN DAvIsPlumbing & Heating Ltd

4 Fairview Terrace, Castle CaryTelephone: 07976 741029Reg. No. 177361

House&Home

This traditional Range cooker by SMEG, TR4110p in cream, is just

£1,899 at Homemaker of Shaftesbury, just one of the many

cookers on display at discount prices.

global temperature increases and

certainly not predicting the long

periods o f sub-zero winter

temperatures we in the UK have

endured recently. External

pipework routes were therefore

considered acceptable as it

enabled more installation options,

particularly when retrofitting in

existing properties.

‘Of course there is nothing

worse than being in the middle of

a period of sub-zero temperatures

with a central heating system

that doesn’t work. I f these

extreme winters are here to stay


the best advice we can give is to

take preventative measures. We

recommend that any household

that has a condensing boiler seeks

professional advice from a local

Gas Safe Registered installer.

The favoured options the heating

engineer is likely to take will be:

* Where possible, have the

condensate pipework re-

routed inside the property

and connected to the

JW TILING & BATHROOM INSTALLATIONS

ExCEllEnT RESUlTS aT vERy ComPETITIvE PRICES!

Call James: Daytime 07976 372909

Evening 01963 359630

Professional & Fully Qualified Tiling Service

• Stone

• Ceramic

• Porcelain

• Wet Rooms

• Under Floor Heating

Complete Bathroom Installations

• Supply

• Electrics

• Carpentry

• Plastering

• Plumbing

sEWING MACHINE sERvICE CENTRERepairs & Servicing To All Makes - Domestic & Industrial

Collection and Delivery Available

Embroidery Engineering ServicesSuppliers of Computerised

Embroidery Machines

Telephone: 01963 350068 • Mobile: 07947 725315Email: [email protected]

UniT 8, Torbay indUsTrial EsTaTECasTlE Cary ba7 7dW

Season’sGreetings

For the best in sound & vision

Your local dealerWide range of televisions, Blu-ray & DVD Players & recorders

MOSt With 5 Year WarrantY • COMPetitiVelY PriCeDPrice includes local delivery, installation and removal

of old appliance - excellent after sales service

rOBertS raDiOS always in stock

simon and his team wish all their customers the compliments of theseason and thank them for their support during the year.

Greenhill, Sherborne, Dorset DT9 4EW • 01935 813451

Your Local Television and Audio Specialist

On the Premises Workshop for repairs & Servicing

Panasonic TV

5 Year

WarrantY

ACFWindoWS

ANDY FELTHAmUPVC REPlaCEmENT

wINdowS, dooRS,

CoNSERVaToRIES,

woodEN FRamEd wINdowS,

FaSCIa BoaRdS, CladdINg,

gUTTERINg, alUmINIUm

wINdowS & dooRS ETC.

The old Well Houseshepherds Hill, Buckhorn Weston

GillinGHam, dorset sP8 5HX

Tel / Fax: 01963 371715mobile: 07802 393344

House&Home

Acclaimed as the modern, clean and

green way to heat your home, no one

foresaw that condensing boilers

would be prone to breakdown in

extremely cold weather.

Gary Huke, South West Area Manager for Panasonic, pictured with Simon Beard of Godden & Curtis of Sherborne

drawing the winning prize draw entries. The Visitor readers who won first prize of a Panasonic TV were Mr & Mrs

A. Cake of Sherborne. The runner-up prize of a Roberts Radio went to Mrs. R. Groves of Melplash, Bridport.

property’s internal drainage

system.

* Have ‘trace heating’ fitted to

the external pipework to keep

it warm.

* Change the external pipework

to one with a larger diameter

– some research suggests this

can reduce the risk of freezing

and pipe blockage.

‘Some proprietary products

have also come onto the market

specifically designed to overcome

the problem’.

A n e a s y w a y t o l o c a t e a

qualified, reputable gas installer

is to use the Heating Helpline

website at: http://www.heating


helpline.org.uk or call them on

0800 840 4069.

Issued on behalf of (B&ES).

In winter good lighting inyour kitchen is essentialLighting is very important within

the kitchen and it should be

g i v e n l o t s o f c a r e f u l

consideration, when you think

about the different things we do

within the kitchen you can

understand why.

There are three main types of

lighting - task, ambient and

feature lighting and getting the

balance right to suit your needs

is very important. If a kitchen is

well lit it can transform the room.

If you are building a new

property or new extension then

consider getting as much natural

light as possible into your new

kitchen with big patio doors.

Some even fold all the way back

to let loads of natural light in to

the room, or maybe consider roof

lights. Even if you are just

revamping your old kitchen, think

about adding these before you

start. If neither is possible then

declutter window sills and remove

curtains and thick blinds, and

replace with something which

All Visitor area covered

01749 346658

• All Types of Blinds Supplied

domestic & Commercial

• Excellent Prices first time, no gimmicks

• Conservatory Roof Specialists

INTU and PERFECT FIT Blinds - ideal for conservatories,

glazed doors, tilt ‘n’ turn windows. No holes,

no screws, just style

• Internal Shutters and External Awnings

JOHNHAMBLIN

Specialists in therepair and restorationof antique furniture

We also offer the following services

• repairs to all types ofFurniture - inc. Flood Damage

• Bespoke Furnituremade to order

• French Polishing

• re-leathering of Desk tops,Bureaux, etc.

• Dining table tops refinished

We have many years experience inthe trade and assure you thatyour furniture is in safe hands

Cabinet Makers • antique Furniture restorers

[email protected]

UNIT 6, 15 OXFORD ROADPEN MILL TRADING ESTATE

YEOVIL, SOMERSET, BA21 5HRTel: 01935 471154

New Year – New KitcheN!Let us design yourdream kitchen■ Contemporary or modern

■ Call in at our showrooms

■ Over 10 different displays plus a wide

choice of granite and quartz worktops

No obligation quotations

✴ KitChen refurbishments alsO available ✴

to discuss your requirements call adam

01935 849559or visit our showroom

www.apkitchens.co.uk

AP Kitchen Solutions, Northover, Roman RoadILCHESTER BA22 8LD

SJH Carpets, Tythings Commercial Centre, Wincanton 01963 824418

Open Monday - Friday 9am - 5pm, Saturday 9am - 1pm

Also at: High Street, Tisbury 01747 871178 (closed Wednesday) Wincanton

Add STYLE toyour home

Stripes, spots, patterned or plain ...we have a carpet to suit you

and your budget!

Carpets from £6 per square metre

Natural Flooring ★ VinylsFloor Tiles ★ Wood ★ Laminates

FOr all YOur FlOOrinG requireMentS

House&Home

For the ultimate in chic styling, shutters are perfect in

a contemporary kitchen.

Say you saw it in The Visitor

allows light to come through the

window during the day.

T a s k l i g h t i n g i s a v e r y

important element in the kitchen

most cooker hoods have really

good lighting built in them so

that you can keep an eye on hot

pans whilst cooking. Think about

the areas you will use to prep

food and maybe fit good under

unit lighting in that area. Good

lighting in the ceiling is very

important and with so much

choice around you should be able

to get something to suit your

needs and style.

Believe it or not you can even

get lighting to fit within some

drawers!

A n d f i n a l l y y o u c a n g e t

changing coloured glass which

can really enhance the mood

within your kitchen.

Pop into your local Intoto

Showroom in Yeovil and see some

of their ideas.

Spring cleaning your kitchenIf you’re feeling energetic after

the Christmas break then maybe

it is a good time to give the

kitchen a spring clean. Without

giving the kitchen a regular clean

it can soon become a health

hazard. You could either spend

a couple of days giving the whole

kitchen a blitz or you could do a


cupboard or drawer a day.

Firstly make sure you have all

the cleaning products that you

will need. It’s a good idea to get

all the washing up done and

packed away. Then you can begin,

by tidying all the things from the

worktops and then cleaning the

toaster, kettle etc. and pack them

back out of the way. You can then

m a k e a g o o d s t a r t o n t h e

cupboards and drawers; it may

be a good idea to do one at a time,

unless you are thinking of

changing your kitchen around.

Check dates on food products,

throwing away any out of date

products. Once everything is out

give the cupboard a good wash

out with hot soapy water and dry

with kitchen roll. Before you pack

everything back check if you’ve

used things such as pots, pans

and china, if you’ve not used it

i n t h e p a s t y e a r t h e n y o u

probably won’t use it again. Do

you need it or is it just cluttering

the cupboard or drawer. If it’s in

good condition then your local

charity shop might take it, if it’s

chipped or damaged then throw it

away. Work methodically through

the kitchen cupboards and

drawers. The oven, fridge, freezer

and washing machine will also

n e e d a g o o d c l e a n . O n c e

everything is sorted, cleaned and

packed away, the ti les and

worktops will need a good scrub

and then dry off with a cloth. If

you do this ‘spring clean’ once or

twice a year and a general clean

every week your kitchen should

stay looking good. Try and get

into the habit of putting things

back when you’ve finished with

them as this keeps the kitchen

looking tidy, another way is to

get rid of all the magnets etc. on

the front of the fridge, which are

usually holding lots of pieces of

paper, magazine cuttings etc.

Alternatively, if you think you

may need a new kitchen pop into

Intoto Kitchens, Yeovil and have

a look around.

Sandra Fox,

Intoto Kitchens,

Yeovil.

01935 472100Higher Preston Farm, Preston Road

YEOVIL, BA20 2ET (Just down from ASDA)www.kitchen-updates.co.uk

mudford

Ilchester Retail Park

Houndstone

Town Centre Kitchens & Updates Town Centre

Preston Road

Zoe’s Hair ASDA

Recomendations - The vast majority of our customerscome from recommendation by happy customers

Quality - all our kitchens are of the highest quality

Choice - we have over 400 Kitchens to choose from.a dedicated granite Room & Replacement door department.

Value - all our Kitchens are competitively priced

Design - we design your kitchen the way you want itbased upon your individual requirements

Installation - we have some of the finest Kitcheninstallers and associated trades to be found locally

Experience - Together we have over 500 years experience

Showroom - You can visit our 2500 sq ft showroomon Preston Road Yeovil - FREE oFF Road PaRKINgoPEN 6 daYS a wEEK

Honesty - good old fashioned honest prices ...No ‘permanent sales’, ‘free fitting’ or other over-usedsales gimmicks

Why noT puT uS To The TeST?

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RepaiR SeRVice★ all makes of TV repaired

★ on the premisesworkshop

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★ Estimates

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Full Range oF panaSonic TVS

in STock FoR Sale ... do call in

H.R. HodgeOpen Monday - Friday 9am - 5pm • Saturday 9am - 1pm

38 st. James streetsouth Petherton TA13 5bW

01460 240645

Spoilt for ChoiceOver 300 Sample Boards

Floor and Wall Tiles

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Professional Fitting

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FREE Local Delivery

Commercial & Domestic

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Cary Tiles Ltd, Unit 6

Torbay Industrial Estate

Torbay Road, Castle Cary

Somerset BA7 7DW

Tel: 01963 359388

Open Monday to Friday 9am - 2pm

Saturdays 9am - 1pm

After hours by appointment only

Cary Tiles Ltd

House&Home

DEPENDING ON when you are

reading this article ... I hope

Christmas will be (or has been)

all that you wanted. Now is the

time to sit down and think about

those New Year resolutions that

we all make, and sometimes keep.

Now to spoil those New Year

feelings with a warning to all

readers. I have heard several

instances of late where people are

being conned out of their hard

earned monies. The basic scheme

is along the following lines. A

person places an advertisement in

a motoring magazine in the

‘wanted’ section for some parts

needed to keep their old vehicles

on the road. Someone will ring

in response to the advert claiming

to have the vital part which they

are willing to sell. A deal is

struck. The seller then insists

that the money be electronically

transferred into their bank before

the goods are despatched. This is

usually accompanied by a story

that this must be done quickly

as they are going away for a little

while. The buyer, anxious to get

the parts, duly does as he is

requested. He then waits for

delivery, waits some more, and

then waits a little longer before

real is ing that he has been

scammed and the goods never

appear. The offenders rely on our

gullability and human kindness.

The money has gone and with no

means to trace the culprit. The

police can do little in these cases


and if they could then they would

be overwhelmed with the number

of these offences being committed.

I have no advice to offer, other

than t o avo id th i s t ype o f

transaction. You have been

warned.

Club events continue even

through the winter months.

During January the Wessex

Veteran and Vintage Section has

its AGM and a Quiz on its club

night on the 14th. The Somerset

Section has a New Years Meet on

the 1st at Huntworth, followed

by a film night at its club night on

the 3rd, and on the 13th they

have their Frostbite Run which

starts at Polsham. The Dorset

Section also has a New Years Day

Run on the 1st, which starts at

Sturminster Newton. Their club

night is on the 9th at Pulham,

and is followed on the 13th by

the January Winter Run from

Stalbridge. As usual get more

details by ringing 01935-872528.

I have not mentioned the

subject of Ethanol in petrol of late

because nothing much has been

happening. But now a ray of hope

in the form of some common

sense is beginning to emerge.

Early next year the government

had planned the gradual increase

o f E t h a n o l f r o m 5 % t o a

maximum of 10%. This is all in

t h e n a m e o f a g r e e n e r

environment. At last the powers

that be have recognised the fact

that even 5% has been causing

considerable problems for many

vehicles. They now realise that

only 20% of vehicles on the road

can tolerate the increase to 10%.

I n a d d i t i o n t h e y a r e n o w

c o n c e r n e d t h a t t h e r e i s

insufficient Biofuels available to

make the increase anyway. It has

also been realised that most

vehicles will not run cleanly and

correctly on the 10% Ethanol and

so make them less efficient and

more pollutant. The government

are now having talks with petrol

retailers and other interested

bod ies t o adv i se the l a te r

introduction of the 10% policy.

From early next year you may

see petrol pumps bearing the E10

logo which denotes the 10%

Ethanol. My advice would be to

avoid these pumps unless you

have a fairly new vehicle which

has been designed for this fuel.

How long this delay will last is of

course unknown at this time.

I have spoken before of how

nice it can be riding our old bikes

this time of year when climatic

conditions allow. Recently the

Dorset Section had a Winter Run

from Gillingham. A cold day but

clear and sunny the weather was

kind to us for once. Because there

are few events to go to at this

time of year it meant that a good

entry was a certainty. In the end

36 entrants turned up for a very

pleasant ride around some of

Dorset, Somerset and Wiltshire.

My picture this month shows a

general view of the starters

assembling at the Garden Centre

at Gillingham. Warm coffee at

the start and a nice lunch at the

conclusion meant a good day was

enjoyed by all. In the foreground

is a very rare Vincent Black

Knight which was built at a time

when many manufacturers were

trying various forms of machine

enclosures, all designed to keep

the rider clean and dry. Today

all manufacturers produce models

incorporating the same ideals.

I am lucky enough to own two

Sunbeam motorcycles. Sunbeams

were always a high quality

product slightly above the mass

produced items. They were made

in a factory in Wolverhampton

w h i c h w a s k n o w n a s

Sunbeamland. It came to my

n o t i c e t h a t 2 0 1 2 w a s t h e

centenary of the first machines

p r o d u c e d b y t h i s f a c t o r y .

Sunbeam had been a maker of

good class pedal cycles for many

years before making the leap to

mechanised transport. Later

Sunbeam also made cars and

continued for many years before

the car division was sold off and

later became part of the Rootes

Group empire. The motorcycles

were renowned for having good

solid innovative engineering and

superb black enamel paintwork

and this became the envy of many

manufacturers. In around 1931

the giant concern of ICI bought

out the Sunbeam company, not

that they were interested in

making motorcycles, but because

they wanted the technology

behind the enamelling process.

Sunbeam continued making

machines until 1939 when war

efforts dictated other work. After

the war the factory could not start

up again and eventually the

Sunbeam brand was sold off to

the BSA conglomerate. Later BSA

made a few machines badged as

Sunbeams and later still a few

awful scooters were made bearing

the Sunbeam name. A rather

ignominious end for a once

famous marque. Many motorcycle

manufacturers first produced

bicycles before making powered

two wheelers and most started

business in the ten years before

World War One which means

many of these famous makes are

all having centenary celebrations.

Rod Hann.

A company built on an excellent reputation

Yeovil Auto Tuning• Repairs and Servicing Specialists • MOT Testing • Engine Tuning• Brakes, Clutches, Gearboxes• Competitive Rates• Professional, Reliable, Friendly Service• Specialising in VW T4 + T5 Vans• Revo Engine Re-Mapping (VW & Audi Group)

Alexandra Road, YeovilTel: 01935 426515 / 01935 411946

established30 Years

1982 – 2012

Season’s Greetingsto all our customers

BREWERS GARAGE LTDAiR CONDiTiONiNG • DiAGNOSTiCSTyRES • MOT SERViCiNG • REPAiRS

Telephone01935812720

Western Ways Yard, Bristol RoadSHERBORNE, Dorset DT9 4HR

Merry Christmasand a happy 2013to all of ourcustomers

GlIDERolGARAGEDooRs

G.H. SALES. Tel: 01935 891414

All garage doors are different, so asa roller door specialist, (I don’t

replace windows, etc.) I can survey, quote andinstall to your requirements and make the mostof your garage opening, as generally no frame

is necessary. With the option of automatedoperation with remote control, a top quality

garage door need only be a phone call away.

MOTORING

VINTAGEMotor Cycling

The Winter GardenerT H E Y E A R I S T U R N I N G ,

thankfully! The winter solstice

marks the shortest day and the

longest night and I can start to

look forward to spring. Don't get

me wrong, there are so many

wonderful things to enjoy in

winter; OK maybe not the cold

wet grey days that spread a

gloomy feel like a thick layer of

peanut butter. I do not like

peanut butter - never have, but

that's just me. I love cold bright

sunny days when being outside

is just an absolute joy. Winter

walks in this part of the world

are a treat and should be made

the most of as the pressure of

gardening is so much less. Yes

there's always plenty to do and


with short days you have to get

on with it, but as plant growth

has stopped the gardener has a

fighting chance to make progress.

The so i l shou ld a lways be

carefully considered. In these

parts there are a range of soil

types from thin clay over chalk,

deep Kimmeridge clay, well

drained medium heavy loams and

light sandy soils. Wet clays

should be treated differently to

sands; they need to be left alone

when wet. In an ideal world, a

veg garden on clay would have

been cleared in November and

left rough dug for the frosts to

break down. This year past, the

constant wet weather has meant

that there were few days dry

enough to achieve that end, so

we are probably all in the same

boat. I am hoping for a few days

over the Christmas break to get

to grips with the garden as a

w h o l e a s p r e p a r a t i o n a n d

maintenance carried out now will

help lighten the spring work load

when it comes.

Plant of the monthShort days need plants with

impact! Coloured stem from

dogwoods and willows contrasting

with the stark white trunks of

the Himalayan Birches. Dark

green foliage of Portuguese laurel

and Skimmia. Winter flowering

plants often have strong scent for

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GARDENING

GARDENING MONTHLYby Richard Cumming

Orchard Park


the simple reason that if they are

insect pollinated then they have

to work hard to attract the few

insects that are about. Viburnum

x bodnantense 'Dawn' is a classic

example although deciduous it's

fragrance fills the air. Hamamelis

mollies and other hybrids are less

blatant but none the less add to

the scent of a shrubbery. These

witch-hazels need an acid soil and

can be susceptible to late frosts in

the early years but have great

autumn colour as well as the

early flowers. Mahonia japonica

has bright yellow 'Lily of the

Valley ' scented flowers, and

Daphne odora can flower in

January - that's a great plant,

not too big and dif f icult to

propagate but once established

grows well with little attention;

but its the heavenly fragrance

that gets you. A plant you might

walk past without noticing, then

you catch the scent and it drags

you back to find it! Most of these

plants tolerate shady conditions

partly as a result of how they

have evolved, taking advantage of

conditions that many bright

showy sun loving summer plants

wouldn't even contemplate. A bit

like spring bulbs that grow in the

shade of deciduous trees. They

flower early, do their thing then

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GARDENING

Pictured left: whilst you are doing

your Christmas shopping at

Wheathill Garden Centre,

Milborne Port - why not pick up a

festive wreath to decorate your

door this Christmas!

But one of the real joys of

winter is the humble snowdrop, it

pokes its head up with pure white

or white and green flowers to

entrance the winter gardener.

Galanthus nivalis is the common

snowdrop and either planted as a

bulb in October or transplanted

as a growing plant 'in the green'

after flowering in late February

or March.


Jobs for the monthClear the rubbish and shift the

clutter! A clean start to the year!

That is right at the top of my list

along with mend the fence (we

have a new puppy so the fence is

rising on the priority list!) mend

the garden shed, clean and

sharpen tools , and get the

greenhouse ready. I have given

up overwintering too many plants

under glass as I find it more

productive to rest it, clean it

thoroughly and make an early

start with veg showings in

January and February. My

gardening priorities have changed

a bit over the years. Target this

y e a r i s t o m a k e t h e p l a c e

manageable and enjoyable with a

section of really worthwhile

productive ground. Food is

expensive and I love the whole

concept of eating things you have

grown yourself so I want to

dedicate a good chunk of my

gardening time to that.

Pruning deciduous fruit and

ornamental trees and bushes

should be carried out in the

dormant season provided it is not

really frosty as a fresh cut surface

can be vulnerable to cold damage.

The exceptions with fruit are

members of the cherry plum, peach

and apricot family (Prunus) which

shouldn't be touched until early

summer when cuts can heal

quickly without the risk of air-

borne fungal spores infecting them.

Lawns are best left alone on

frosty days but allow time in

February and March to trim

edges and possibly repair worn

bits with a roll or two of turf. I

would also plan to aerate the

lawn with a fork and brush in

grit sand to help the drainage.

Constant wet this past year has

allowed moss to get hold in many

places.

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GARDENING

Weeding is feasible if you can

get onto the ground without

sinking in; perennial weeds

should be lifted with a border

spade or fork so that the roots


come as well.

P l a n t i n g c o n t i n u e s f o r

deciduous trees, shrubs and

hedging provided the ground is

neither frozen or waterlogged.

Don't leave holes dug ahead of

planting; best to dig, plant and

b a c k f i l l s t r a i g h t a w a y t o

preserve the warmth in the soil.

Evergreens are best left until

the soils starts to warm with

the excep t i on o f tubs and

planters and you can start

these at any time of the year

with a n ice p lant f r iendly

potting mix - perhaps the usual

multi-purpose compost with a

little John Innes loam-based

compost and coarse grit mixed

in to give body and drainage.

T h e r e a r e s o m a n y g r e a t

co lour fu l winter p lants to

choose from that will enhance

the entrance to the house and

the patio or terrace, and pots

can be moved easily to sheltered

places if the weather turns bad.

PaperchaseSINCE OCTOBER Gillinghamhas had its own magazine,Gillingham Matters, publishedby the Blackmore Vale Magazine

team in Stalbridge. It followsmuch the same format as theBVM except that its page sizeis A5 instead of A4 and it comesout monthly rather than weekly.And of course it’s considerablyslimmer with just 48 pages. Itspurpose, according to BVM

editor Fanny Charles, is to ‘coverwhat’s been happening in andaround the town, and provide aguide to what ’ s on and adirectory of local traders,services and businesses’, andjudging by the first two issues itwill do the job very well.

The town’s population hasgrown immensely in recentyears, but the residents havenot been well served by theWestern Gazette. There mustsurely be suf f ic ient localadvertisers wanting to reachthis large potential readershipt o s u s t a i n a v e r y l o c a lpublication, although I seem torecall that several years ago LizFricker tried her hand atproducing a free monthlycommunity magazine calledGillingham News. It’s a long

time since I saw a copy andassume it folded, but if anyonec a n m a k e a s u c c e s s o f aG i l l i n g h a m c o m m u n i t ymagazine it’s the BVM.

Another Visitorland town thatcan boast its own communitymagazine is Bruton. When The

Dove first appeared in February2009 I commented in thiscolumn that ‘it must be a hugeact of faith to launch a newc o m m u n i t y m a g a z i n e ,dependent on advertisingrevenue, in the depths of arecession’ and added that‘stylish sums up the entiremagazine – the design, thetypography, the layout and thecover photographs all oozeelegance; the proof-reading isexemplary; the printing is crispon good quality paper. In otherwords, it’s not a cheap job, butyou can pick up a free copy fromcountless shops, offices and pubsin and around the town. So whois the brave publisher? Noneother than the dear old Churchof England in the shape ofBruton and District Benefice.’

When it was first launchedthe A5 magazine ran to 32pages. Over the past four yearsit has grown to 64 pages andhas just won the 2012 NationalPar ish Magaz ine Award ,beating 890 entries from acrossthe country. It continues tocarry plenty of community news,events listings, a pub andrestaurant directory and featurearticles, so it is very much morethan just a church magazine,and despite the recession itseems to be succeeding inattracting enough advertisers,including some from outside itscirculation area, to pay the bills

of what is clearly not a cheapproduction.

The publishers of The Dove

are a group of enthusiasticvolunteers whose considerableskills are reflected in them a g a z i n e ’ s s u c c e s s . T h epublishers of Gill ingham

Matters are part o f a b ignewspaper group – for someyears Trinity Mirror andcurrently Northcliffe Media,which in Visitorland also ownsthe Western Daily Press, Bristol

Evening Post, Western Gazette,the titles in the Mid-SomersetNewspapers’ series and theirvarious freebies. Northclifferevealed in November that itsstable of regional and local

papers is being sold to a newventure called Local World,which will also include theregional newspapers of IliffeNews and Media, publishers ofthe Cambridge News. Whilemonopoly of ownership doesn’tnecessarily mean monopolycontrol of views expressed andadvertising rates charged, it’s aworry at the back of my mind. Ijust hope that it doesn’t lead toany significant changes to thec o n t e n t o f t h e p o p u l a rBlackmore Vale Magazine.

A headline on page 2 of the1st December issue of theWestern Daily Press announced‘20p’s worth of added value inthe Daily Press’. The small

Alan Dodge BSc

for all your tool hire requirements includingMini Digger hire and Garden Machinery

higher Farm, Sutton, ditcheatTel: 01749 860199 • mob: 0777 163 2221

Fill in the grid with the numbers 1 to 9 so that each row,

each column and each 3x3 block contains

all the numbers 1 to 9.

sudoku byT.M.

GARDENING

theendbit...

print, written by editor TimDixon, revealed that the price ofthe Saturday issue of the paperwas rising from 80p to £1 withimmediate effect, in other wordsa massive 25% increase. Theclaimed ‘added value’ was thatt h e W e s t C o u n t r y L i f esupplement would be ‘printedon high quality paper, stapledand tucked inside the Daily

Press’ and the Tesco vouchercompetition would continue.The weekday issues continueto cost 50p. Interesting, then,to see splashed on the frontpage of the 8th December issueabove a photo of the WestCountry Life cover the words‘Weekend magazine free inside’.I suppose it depends what youmean by ‘free’.

I was intrigued by this storyin the paper’s 6th Decemberissue concerning a BristolU n i v e r s i t y s t u d e n t w h odisappeared without trace in1965. According to the reporthe was ‘Ross Evans, a brightyoung medical student – knownto his fellow undergraduates asRoss’. It’s reassuring to knowthat medical students in the60s could recognise a colleague’sn a m e ; I t r u s t t h e y w e r esimilarly good at recognisingsymptoms.

Finally, an email from areader taking us to task for notspotting and correcting agrammatical error in a cartoonon page 60 of the DecemberVisitor. ‘You are always verycritical of errors in the Western

Gazette or Western Daily Press

but now the phrase ‘Pot andKettle’ comes to mind,’ shestates, adding that ‘Regardless ofthe source of this cartoon theonus is on the editorial staff toc h e c k t h e s p e l l i n g a n dgrammar’. Quite right – we arered-faced with shame andapologise wholeheartedly. Helensays she’ll do her utmost toprevent it from happening again.

Chronicler.


Westland ZooHERE WE GO AGAIN, dear

readers, the festive season and

another New Year.

Our Zoo animals have been

busy - out and about in the county

and getting into all sorts of

situations. Steve Atwell, the

retired Sea Lion and very popular

market trader is back on the

scene. He was spotted at Toffee &

Sweets corner in the Yeovil

Market triangle. He said he’d not

been too well of late and went to

see his doctor complaining of

headaches and knobbly knees.

After a thorough check-up the

doctor said ‘I can’t find much

wrong with you Steve, I think it

could be the drinking’. ‘O.K. then’

said Steve ‘I’ll come back when

you’re sober’.

Terry ‘the laughing hyena’

White from the Flight Shed &

Erecting Shop still retains his

sense of humour ... he walked into

the Yellow Wagtail recently with

a huge lump of tarmac under his

arm and asked for a pint of lager

... and one for the road.

D o r s e t ’ s M a d M i k e , t h e

excitable Chimpanzee from DMC,

was nominated for the job of

Police Commissioner but declined

as he had lost his whistle and

truncheon at the Fancy Dress

Ball.

Graham, the sideways walking

Hermit Crab, decided to do a bit of

ice-fishing as he had read all the

books on the subject and was very

keen. He found a nice bit of ice,

dropped his tackle (Whoops),

made a nice circle in the ice and

dropped his line. Just as he did so

he heard a voice whisper ‘You will

not catch any fish in there today’.

With not a soul in sight he asked

‘Is that you God?’ ‘No’ said the

voice, ‘it’s the ice-rink manager’.

Finally, I wish you all a Merry

Christmas and Happy New Year

and Best of Luck to Agusta

Westland for 2013.

Woody Woodpecker.

Solution to December

sudoku

Answers topop music quiz

on page 281. Drums

2. Sheena Easton

3. ‘Tight Fit’

4. ‘Apple’

5. 1976

6. Bob Dylan

7. Benny Hill

8. ‘Dexey’s Midnight Runners’

9. ‘Meatloaf’

10. ‘19th Nervous Breakdown’by the rolling Stones

bonus Question – 2001

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Security

PhOne - a - FirM

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FEbRUARY DEADlINEMonday 21st January

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Flat Roofing • Tiling • slatingGRP Roofing

All New Work Fully Guaranteed

For further information & estimates contact allan Carey

01963 33528 / 07885 723915

MDS Builders

• Complete Refurbishments• Extensions• Landscaping• Painting & Decorating

Tel: Gillingham 01747 822692Mobile: 07594 524602


www.mdsbuilders.org

“a professional service fromone who cares”

are you adenture wearer?

Denture repairswhile you wait ...

TERRY NEW DENTAL

01458 210039

Home visits a speciality

Denturesto make you

smile again!


Across1. Winged insect has swallowed

nothing very softly: non-rigid. [6]4. Coal-fired ship has Master

confused around the east. [7]9. Quite a disturbance: firm first

mentions movement. [9]10. Checking other portion to find

gold in mould. [5]11. Quiet mat? Don't know sign. [5]12. Cast tear with grief around old

room-heater. [4-5]13. E.g. BA, developed from type of

fine crack (headless). [7]15. Tiny, put back in mine with bird.

[6]17. Corner after first ball? Pretty

near the hand! [6]19. Ten in lacy halves with property

of hiding. [7]22. Sing about evil woman: That's

making a change! [9]24. Thread through, concerned with

Adam's wife. [5]26. First class about liberal with an

excuse. [5]27. Red planet broken up and put

back in bed. [9]28. The French man at the wedding

has space for his feet. [3-4]29. uN returned diaper without

hesitation; money owing! [6]

Down1. Blooming well if such a change

was made. [7]2. Dormer, minus 500, leaving just

the shell. [5]3. Go "ping" around irish loch on

an arable farm. [9]4. Hot spot where uN are kept by

retaining band. [7]

5. Struggling to manage orientalruler. [5]

6. Roving martini, go around. [9]7. Limo with heat adjusted inside

somewhat? [6]8. Pie, containing very strong first

liver and tripe. [6]14. Working out how e-railings

might be altered. [9]16. Please come in, thanks,

fashionable. [9]18. Saying "two farm animals

beneath last gate". [7]19. use LPG to get lifts. [3-3]20. Eyed lid and gave way. [7]21. Sicken under donkey attack. [6]23. Capital air in company. [5]25. Old art, brought back for more.

[5]

Solution to Crossword 314

THE WiNNER of our Crossword 314was Mrs. V. Barrett of Shaftesbury, whochose to spend the £10 voucher atThorngrove Garden Centre, Gillingham.

Prize Crossword No. 315Set by Frank Butler

Correct entries are placed in a hat and the winner is the first namedrawn. The prize is a £10 voucher to spend with any one advertiser in thisissue of the Visitor - please do not forget to state your choice ofadvertiser and your name and address.

SEND COMPLETED ENTRIES TO:

The Visitor Crossword, P.O. Box 1, Castle Cary,

Somerset BA7 7BG to arrive by Monday 21st January.

1 2 3 4 5 6 7

8

9 10

11 12

13 14 15 16

17 18 19 20

21

22 23 24 25

26 27

28 29

Fires/Chimneys

PhOne- a -FirM

yourguide

to localservices

Plastering

East Lydford 01963 240185

or Mobile 07811 211586

Removals

highly Competitive RatesRegular london Runs

Short / long Term Storage

01747 860543 / 07969 736011

FREEPHoNE

0808 108 8366www.rdsremovals.co.uk

SANDPITSHEATING & HOME STORE

High Street, Curry Rivel, Langport 01458 251476

Multifuel Stoves ... over 200 on display

Chimneys Relined ★ Full Installation ServiceHETAS • OFTEC • GAS SAFE

✴ Chimney Sweeping Service ✴Showrooms Open: Monday to Friday 8am – 5.30pm

and Saturday 8am – 4.30pm

Email: enquiries@sandpitsheatingcentre.co.ukwww.sandpitsheatingcentre.co.uk

LogS For SaLeSeasoned

trailer loads ★ free local Delivery

bags available for Collection

ring chris

07773 497188

Logs Your Advert

THIs sPACEcosts just

£14.40 + vATper month

To PlACE YoUR ADvERT

Tel: 01963 351256

Paving

FEbRUARY DEADlINEMonday 21st January

SANDPITSHEATING & HOME STORE

LARgE

CAR pARk

AT REAR Of

pREmISES

SHOWROOmS

OpEn

SIx DAyS

A WEEk

CLEARVIEW STOVESThe leading manufacturers of clean

burning wood stovesBritiSH MAde and a unanimous hit with our many customers.

Over 300 Stoves, Cookers and Fireplaces on display withmany working models • Full installation Service

HIgH STREET, CuRRy RIVEL, LAngpORTtel: 01458 251476 • www.sandpitsheatingcentre.co.uk

Warm wishes to all our customers thisChristmas – and a happy 2013

Timber BuildingsMaintenance, Buildingand Renovations

Nigel Lee and Neale Gearwant you to know ...

■ We undertake building work,renovations and barn conversions

■ We supply quality bespoke timberframed buildings

■ We offer a maintenance serviceon timber buildings such as garages,loose boxes, and workshops

■ We are pleased to haveThe National Trust, Millfield Schooland Somerset County Councilamongst our clients

Sparkford • Yeovil • Somerset • BA22 7LH

Tel: 01963 440414Visit our website: www.sparkford.com

to see our extensive range or call in to discuss your requirements

Documents

The Visitor Magazine Issue 350 January 2012