April 2015 - Issue 5 EAST BRENT PARISH MAGAZINE (The Civil Parish of East Brent consists of East Brent, Rooksbridge and Edingworth) A voluntary non-profit publication, free to Parishioners [ ] April 2015 Issue 5 April 2015 - Issue 5 [2] April 2015 - Issue 5 Editor’s Notes It would seem that we have not had any further responses regarding the speed of traffic along the A370 through the village, which is a pity – I would have thought that this would be a bigger issue than it apparently is. However I will, as promised, approach the Highways Department with a view, hopefully, to getting a S.I.D. (speed indicator device) installed. Have you noticed that the Police Mobile Speed cameras have been on the A370 recently? Further on in this edition you will see an advert for the East Brent Village fete. For the first time for a few years this will be held on the Village Green, so keep the 6th June free in your diaries for, if the weather is kind to us, a lovely traditional village day. Last month I mentioned the National Gardens Scheme open gardens. All the gardens that are open to the public are listed in the ‘Yellow Book’, the 2015 editions are now available from some Post Offices (ask Sandy at Rooksbridge PO) and Information Centres. Similarly, and just as surprising, there were no entries for our photographic competition. We shall run the competition for another month now that spring seems to be on ‘the doorstep’ as it were, in the hope that more people will be out and about with their cameras – don’t forget, you could win a £20 garden centre voucher! All photographs submitted must be appertaining to East Brent Parish and the winner will be decided by the Editorial Team. Every month we publish the results of the village lottery, with the profit from this going towards the upkeep of the East Brent Village Hall. There are usually a few spare tickets each month and if anyone that would like one (20p/week or £4 every 5 months), please contact me and I will pass your name on to the organiser. Bill Walker ([email protected]) Editor The East Brent Parish Magazine is produced and distributed free of charge by a team of volunteers who give their free time throughout the year to ensure the magazine is published. It is intended that they will be distributed at the beginning of each month. Contributions and advertisements should be provided by the 10th of the preceding month. [3] All enquiries to : EAST BRENT PARISH MAGAZINE Address : “Aventine”, The Mead, East Brent, TA9 4JJ Telephone : 01278 760896 E-mail: [email protected] April 2015 - Issue 5 April 2015 Diary DatesDiary Dates December/January Day Date Event Wednesday 1st East Brent History Group Meeting. East Brent Village Hall 7pm. Thursday 2nd Mobile Library Stop East Brent. Telephone Box 11.15-11.40am, East Drive 11.45am - 12.10pm. Friday 3rd Good Friday Sunday 5th Easter Sunday Sunday 5th Quiz Night at the Knoll Inn - 7pm start. Monday 6th Easter Monday Tuesday 7th Carpet Bowls Club. East Brent Village Hall. 7.15pm Thursday Friday 9th Thursday Club Meeting. East Brent Village Hall. 7.30pm 10th Friday Active Living Day Centre. 9.30am - 4pm for 'The Older Generation' Lunches available. 11th Brent Knoll Bazaar & Farmers Market 10am - Noon Saturday Monday Monday Tuesday 13th School Term 5 Starts. 13th East Brent Parish Council Meeting. East Brent Village Hall 7.30pm All Parishioners are welcome. 14th Carpet Bowls Club. East Brent Village Hall. 7.15pm Wednesday 15th Harvest Home Meeting. East Brent Village Hall 7pm Friday 17th Friday Active Living Day Centre. 9.30am - 4pm for 'The Older Generation' Lunches available. Tuesday 21st Carpet Bowls Club. East Brent Village Hall. 7.15pm Wednesday 22nd East Brent Village Hall Management Committee Meeting. All Parishioners are welcome to attend and join in. Thursday 23rd Mobile Library Stop Rooksbridge. 'Little Acre' 10.30-10.50am Friday 24th Friday Active Living Day Centre. 9.30am - 4pm for 'The Older Generation' Lunches available. Saturday 25th Gracie Wickens-Sweet & The Coastline Singers are performing at the Brent Knoll Village Hall. For more details contact Mary Lawrence. 01278 784184 Friday 24th Farmers Market. Burnham On Sea High St 9am - 1pm Tuesday Thursday 28th Carpet Bowls Club. East Brent Village Hall. 7.15pm 30th Mobile Library Stop East Brent. Telephone Box 11.15-11.40am, East Drive 11.45am - 12.10pm. “Progress, of the best kind, is comparatively slow. Great results cannot be achieved at once; and we must be satisfied to advance in life as we walk, step by step.” - Samuel Smiles [4] April 2015 - Issue 5 Magazine Advertising Rates Advertising in this Parish Magazine is one of the most cost effective ways of promoting your business. We are volunteers, the magazine is non-profit making so we just need sufficient revenue to cover our outgoings. Our charges reflect this and, furthermore, our readers like to use local businesses so, when they need something, they look to their parish mag first of all. Annual 9 editions One off charge Leaflet/flyer charge wef charge wef 01/04/15 insertion 01/05/2015 B/W only Black&White Full page £200 £180 n/a £25 130 x 180mm ½ page £125 £112.50 £24 130 x90mm ¼ page £75 £67.50 £12 60x90mm 1/8 page £45 £40.50 £6 60x45mm Unfortunately, we are unable to offer any more colour advertisements at the moment but please let me know if you are interested in colour advertising. If you want to advertise, just contact me and, if you want a professional ad created for you, for a small additional charge, I can arrange your artwork as well. Judith Webb, Advertising Editor. Tel. 01278 760219 E-mail: [email protected] Pub Quiz Results from 1/3/2015 As usual a happy evening of laughter and fun coupled with cheesy chips and a few drinks... Everyone in good spirits and here are the results.... 1st team was Hopalongs with 105 points. 2nd team was Tasty Pippins with 100 points 3rd team was Church Road Mafia with 99 points 4th team was Wits End with 95 points 5th team was 5 Go First with 94 points 6th team was Against the Wall with 89 points 7th team was World Wide Web with 86 points. An amazing £181.10 was raised for St Mary’s Church and all the Hopalongs had a bottle of wine ; unfortunately one of their team unsuccessfully tried to open the black box. Next time it will contain £75 so let’s hope there will be several teams again then on April 5th at 7pm in the Brent Knoll Inn. Kathy Quinnell. [5] April 2015 - Issue 5 [6] April 2015 - Issue 5 Thursday Club Thursday Club began the New Year with a very interesting talk by Jo Richardson entitled ‘A Trip to the Stars’. For this particular talk it was agreed that partners would be invited and as a result we had 2 male additions to our evening. Jo admitted this was the very first talk she had given to an adult audience, usually aiming her talk to groups of children, we recommended she didn’t make too many changes as most of us had to admit to a very limited knowledge of space! She illustrated her talk with some beautiful photographs taken by her husband from the back garden of their property in Bleadon – bought for the express purpose of installing a telescope. We all enjoyed a very interesting and informative evening and hopefully now know rather more than we did previously! Our February talk was entitled ‘The Peoples Most Favourite Profession’ and was given by Peter Tucker a retired estate agent. He regaled us with some very entertaining stories of his experiences, including a ghost story! I think what impressed us all the most, and what he fully intended to convey, was his genuine concern with finding the right properties for his clients. He took time to get to know people and was at pains to ensure the properties they were shown were suitable. We all agreed we were very sorry to hear he was retired as we would all have been very happy to place our properties with him, or use his services to find the right house should we be looking to buy. By the time you read this, we will have already had our March meeting, so I am including a list of forthcoming speakers for the year. We are always delighted to welcome occasional visitors for our £2.00 non-members fee bearing in mind we are a club primarily for ladies. So if you fancy the look of anything on the list below, please do come and join us. We start at 7.30, listen to the speaker or take part in the planned activity, and then we finish with tea and cakes and a raffle. The evening is usually over by 9.30. March 12th – Training Guide Dogs for the Blind April 9th – Anecdotes from a Hotel Inspector May 14th – Indoor Curling (activity) June 11th – An Account of a London Marathon Run 2014 July 9th – Brought Up afloat (at sea) August 15th – Skittles at Brent Knoll Inn September 10th – The Battle of Sedgemoor October 8th – My Story of the Isle of Lundy November 12th – Tales from a Somerset County Copper December 10th – Christmas Meal Janet Nurse Another “Where is it” Again this is in a prominent position somewhere in the Parish. Last month’s answer on page19 [7] April 2015 - Issue 5 NS GARDEN SERVICES Nick:- Telephone 07813037742 KLC SUPPLIES Kindling/Logs/Coal Keep warm with Somerset’s Leading Supplier Tony 07817420132 David 07815810194 Email: [email protected] Web: www.klcsupplies.co.uk [8] April 2015 - Issue 5 East Brent Village Hall Has two rooms available for hire. Suitable for functions and meetings. Charges include cost of heating and use of well equipped kitchen. (cooker extra) ENQUIRIES TO : BETTY GRIFFIN 01278 760754 OR JANET NURSE 01278 760205 Sudoku 004 Was Puzzle No. 003 too much for you? The solution is shown here. No. 004 is shown below perhaps you can complete this one! Good luck—Ed. 2 9 7 5 8 4 2 8 8 3 6 4 9 2 5 5 6 7 6 5 3 8 9 8 5 1 4 7 9 2 3 1 4 3 5 7 6 2 5 6 9 3 8 6 9 7 5 1 2 3 8 4 3 5 2 4 8 4 3 8 6 1 6 9 7 7 1 5 9 2 5 3 6 2 7 8 4 1 9 9 2 4 1 3 6 8 7 5 1 8 9 4 5 6 2 3 7 9 6 9 2 6 8 4 7 1 7 2 [9] The objective is to fill the 9×9 grid with digits so that each column, each row, and each of the nine 3×3 boxes contains all of the digits from 1 to 9. The puzzle setter provides a partially completed grid, for which there is a unique solution. April 2015 - Issue 5 [ 10 ] April 2015 - Issue 5 This Month’s Recipe Easter Biscuits By Yvonne Sandiford Fan Oven 180°C or Conventional Oven 375°F Ingredients: 1lb self-raising flour. ½lb butter or soft margarine. ½lb caster sugar. Pinch of Cinnamon. 4 drops ‘Oil of Cassia’ (from Boots the chemist). 4 drops ‘Essence of Lemon’. 4 ozs currants. 2 egg yolks + white of 1 egg. Method Beat the butter and sugar to a cream. Stir in the egg yolks, lemon essence and oil of cassia. Add flour and fold in the egg white. Knead the dough and then cut into shape. Bake on a baking sheet until pale brown colour. To prevent the biscuits from breaking, remove from baking sheet very carefully. Sunday Tea Party – 19th April 2015 Are you 75 or over and living alone? Would you like to be treated to delicious sandwiches and cakes in the home of a Brent Knoll villager? After yet another convivial tea party in March, the next Contact the Elderly monthly tea party will be held on Sunday 19th April from 3pm. If you need a lift, a volunteer driver will collect you and return you home safely. To book your place at the tea party - or to volunteer as a driver or occasional host - please contact me. Kim Wilcox, Village Agent [email protected] or 07943 555 519 [ 11 ] April 2015 - Issue 5 [ 12 ] April 2015 - Issue 5 Elizabeth is Missing by Emma Healey Maud's best friend Elizabeth has gone missing but she can’t find anyone who will take her seriously. Maud knows that Elizabeth is missing because she keeps finding notes she's written to herself that say so. To prove it, Elizabeth's house is empty and Elizabeth’s unpleasant son appears to be engaged in a house clearance. We are given the impression that Elisabeth’s son must have had something to do with her disappearance. The book is written in the first person, narrated by Maud who has been having trouble with her memory lately. There are two timelines woven together. The present day story is the mystery of Elizabeth’s disappearance, and the parallel tale is of the unsolved disappearance of Maud's much loved sister Sukey 70 years before. Sukey had been married to Frank, who was a sinister character and a black-market racketeer. Sukey was also very friendly with Douglas, the lodger at Maud’s house. Then there was The Mad Woman! The interweaving of the past and present moves both stories forward seamlessly. Emma Healey succeeds brilliantly in telling a story from the point of view of someone with dementia. It could have been grim reading but it is a light-hearted and gently humorous story. Whilst the author cleverly expresses the frustration and anger felt by Maud and also by her loving and long-suffering daughter Helen, Maud’s memory lapses are dealt with like gentle and loving teasing. When Maud goes to the Police Station to report Elisabeth’s disappearance, she doesn’t understand why the policeman already knows about it. Maud’s behaviour and thought processes make sense in this novel, and creates a sense of sympathy and understanding in the reader. Where is a good place to grow marrows? It could have been grim reading, but everyone in the group agreed that this was a beautiful book, ‘Like a jewel in a treasure chest’. The author was awarded the Costa First Novel Award in 2014; it is easy to see why. Wendy Kingdom - For East Brent Reading Group Bridgwater Mobile Library Dates and Times East Brent. Rooksbridge. The Mobile Library will stop at East Brent Telephone box (TA9 4HZ) between 11.15am and 11.30am and at East Drive, off Strowlands (TA9 4JQ) between 11.35am and 12.00pm on the following dates: 2015 - 5 March, 2 April, 30 April, 28 May, 25 June, 23 July, 20 August, 17 September. The Mobile Library will stop at Little Acre (BS26 2UG) between 10.30 – 10.50am on the following dates:2105 - 26 February, 26 March, 23 April, 21 May, 18 June, 16 July, 13 August, 10 September. [ 13 ] April 2015 - Issue 5 [ 14 ] April 2015 - Issue 5 An Indian Experience Some years ago, our daughter was in India working for a charity for six months which gave us the excuse to celebrate our Silver Wedding Anniversary somewhere exciting and unusual. We spent a month travelling the length and breadth of this extraordinary country and E was able to join us for about 5 days. We had arrived in Elephant Valley in the Eastern Ghats (one of 25 World Conservation sites) after an 8 hour drive by road from Kochin in Kerala where we had been washing elephants in the river. But, to go back a few days, it was some 24 hours after leaving home that we made it to Kanchipuram, E’s village and the silk centre of India, on our wedding anniversary. We enjoyed a memorable evening with the surprise of a cake and a true understanding of what “service“ meant. A request for G&Ts had taken some 25 minutes to materialise because the waiter had been despatched to purchase gin somewhere in the village. drank tea and selected our purchases from the most stunning array of beautiful silks, cost us the princely sum of about 30 pence. The constant cacophony of horns, beeps and parpparp (a la Toad!) as you place your lives in the hands of these extraordinarily skilful drivers, is an experience not to be missed. Any rules of the road which might exist are totally ignored as bicycles, cars, rickies and buses, not to mention cows, horses and oxen – and of course, people of all colours, sizes and descriptions – combine to create a chaotic movement along roads full of potholes. No one loses their temper and somehow, we emerge unscathed from another death defying journey. The following morning, we enjoyed our first temple experience. As we emerged from the novelty of being blessed, prayed for, daubed with both red and white, decked with strongly scented flowers, we were 1400 rupees (about 14 pounds) poorer and we agreed with E's contention that we had indeed been very badly ripped off! At least we learned a lesson and it was an extraordinary 1300 year old temple, the focal point of so many people’s lives. Having slept so soundly on our first night, we had had no time for breakfast before our car arrived at 9am to pick us up so this morning was G’s first experience of a true Indian breakfast including Idli, a type of rice dumpling served with hot curry sauce and coconut, garlic pickle. I contented myself with beautiful fresh fruit as did E, who was delighted to avoid the normal curry breakfast. G was in seventh heaven with curry for breakfast, lunch and dinner. That evening, an auto rickshaw ride was negotiated to E’s favourite silk shop and the return 3 mile journey, including an hour’s wait whilst we The next part takes us to Kerala, a totally different and exciting part of the whole experience…. [ 15 ] April 2015 - Issue 5 EAST BRENT METHODIST CHURCH EAST BRENT METHODIST CHURCH Minister: To be confirmed Stewards : Mrs. Jill Legg (01278 751417) APRIL 2015 SERVICES 10.30 a.m. (unless shown) 5th Easter Sunday/Holy Communion Revd J Plumb 12th Morning Service Mr J Trebble 19th Morning Service Revd P Davis 26th Morning Service Mr T Hunt VESTRY DUTY Mr Andrew Gilling FLOWER ROTA 5th Mrs V Rawles 12th Mrs J Legg 19th Mrs J Hicks 26th Mrs M Green THE LINK VILLAGE FELLOWSHIP meets on Tuesday 14 April when Mr Paul Temple will speak on Missionary Outreach & Tuesday 28 April when Revd Stephen Marr’s topic is “Building Bridges”. All meetings take place in the Methodist Hall and commence at 2.30 pm. Everyone welcome. An Amazing Day for East Brent First School & East Brent Pre-School 'Both staff and pupils of East Brent First School and East Brent Pre-School dressed up as characters from traditional stories. We had an amazing day completing lots of activities based around different stories. We ended the day with a fabulous story session where everyone in the school shared those activities and stories with parents, grandparents and each other.' [ 16 ] April 2015 - Issue 5 THE PARISH OF THE THREE SAINTS WORSHIP East Brent St Mary's Church E Eucharist - Holy Communion - Modern and traditional music AW All-sorts-Worship - No holy communion - Modern music, relaxed AW-E All-sorts-Worship + Eucharist - Modern music, relaxed Lympsham St Christopher's Church EP-S Evening Prayer-Said (Book of Common Prayer) Traditional language / no music IW Iona Worship - Variety of prayer, stillness, reflection, song from the Celtic tradition Day MIDWEEK WORSHIP Time Where Tuesday 2.30pm St Mary-E Wednesday 10.00am We are sorry for the inconvenience caused when on occasions worship is cancelled or a venue is changed - there will be a notice on the church building door St Christopher-E SUNDAY WORSHIP Theme 8:00 am 10:00 am 11:00 am 6:30 pm Other April 5 Easter Thanksgiving St Christopher-HC St Christopher-E 12 Easter 2 St Michael-HC St Mary-E 19 Easter 3 St Christopher-HC St Michael-E PLEASE NOTE : Reflections on Palm Sunday - 29th March (Churches together) Apologies for the incorrect details in last month’s edition. Note that this will be held 4:00 pm at Brent Knoll Methodist Church not at East Brent Methodist Church. Who’s who in the Parish of the Three Saints Priest-in-Charge Reverend Simon Lewis The Rectory . 3 Ash Trees . East Brent . Somerset . TA9 4DQ T: 01278 760496 E: [email protected] Parish Administrator Mary Ford Church Office . Church Road . East Brent . Somerset . TA9 4HZ T: 01278 769082 E: [email protected] Office open: Tuesday & Wednesday: 10.30am-3.30pm Churchwardens St Christopher, Lympsham Gwen Hatton: T: 01934 750416 E: [email protected] Jim Hanmer: T: 01934 750076 E: [email protected] St Mary, East Brent Katherine Quinnell: T: 01278 760031 E: [email protected] St Michael, Brent Knoll Frances James: T: 01278 760287 [ 17 ] April 2015 - Issue 5 [ 18 ] April 2015 - Issue 5 Remembering WW1—Muffled Bells Bell will be Rung Name Date of Death Village War Memorial April 10 NURSE, Len 10/04/1916 Brent Knoll 23 POPLE, Charles 23/04/1917 East Brent 30 CREES, Bertram Frank 30/04/1915 East Brent 1 CHARMAN, Edgar 01/05/1917 Brent Knoll 8 COOMBS, Arthur 08/05/1915 Brent Knoll 9 HARRISON, Albert 09/05/1915 East Brent 12 FISHER, Ernest 12/05/1917 East Brent 13 HUSTON, William B 13/05/1915 Brent Knoll 13 JANES, Arthur Charles 13/05/1915 Lympsham 27 FISHER, James 27/05/1918 Lympsham 31 PERKINS, Morton 31/05/1918 Brent Knoll May EAST BRENT VILLAGE FETE SATURDAY 6th JUNE 2015 1pm start New Society Jazz Band Lisa Jane School of Dance Stalls, Games & Raffle Where was it? This carving is at the base of our unique East Brent War Memorial. New item on page 7. [ 19 ] April 2015 - Issue 5 JAMIE BALSON BUILDING SERVICES EXTENSIONS AND RENOVATIONS FOR A PROFESSIONAL SERVICE 01278 641149 07968868508 [email protected] [ 20 ] April 2015 - Issue 5 Lottol Beauty Mobile Beauty Therapist based in Rooksbridge Trained by some of the big names in Beauty such as Sienna X, Lash-Is, SalonSystem, Salon Services & Caflon Offering Quality Specialist treatments using Premium Products 07599560672 [email protected] Bill Beebee There once was a man named Bill Beebee Who was in love with a girl called Phoebe. He said - I must see What the wedding fee be Before Phobe be Phoebe B Beebee.” Rick Just to Remind You that the General, District & Parish elections are on 7th May 2015 [ 21 ] April 2015 - Issue 5 The Iris Restaurant a fabulous, fresh and vibrant restaurant in the heart of the countryside, set in the grounds of Rookery Manor hotel and spa Open Daily for Breakfast, Lunch, Afternoon Tea & Dinner Lunch & Afternoon Tea served between 12noon & 5pm Why not celebrate with us and join for Sunday lunch 3 Courses only £19.50 Evening Restaurant eat from our freshly produced seasonal á la carte menu or from our chefs daily table d'hôte booking is advised last table available at 9pm Please call and Quote Manor11 to enjoy 15% off any Evening Meal or Sunday Lunch for Nov, Jan or Feb please visit our website at www.rookery-manor.co.uk for menu's Phone 01934 750200 opt. 1 Terms and conditions apply, this offer has no value. All offers are subject to availability and excluded some dates [ 22 ] April 2015 - Issue 5 EAST BRENT PARISH HISTORY GROUP East Brent Parish History Group Meeting 4th March 2015 “A Housemaid at Glastonbury Abbey” – A talk by Kay Wych We were very fortunate to have a visit from Kay and her husband. Kay began by stating how fortunate she was to have the best job in Somerset. She related how she became a 14th century Kitchen Maid at Glastonbury Abbey before the renovation of the Abbot’s Kitchen. It was after the renovation that she became a tour guide. At 12, Kay gave up wanting to be a ballet dancer and decided she would be like her mother – a secretary. She was taught Pitman’s Shorthand and went to college. After a while she began working at the Moreland’s sheepskin factory and joined a drama group in the hope of improving her diction and colloquialism. She became noticed at the Strode Theatre and mentored by someone later to become a Professor at Columbia University. Kay concentrated on Medieval Theatre but needed to develop her knowledge of history to understand if “Henry Vlll came before the Romans or not!!” as she put it. She later got involved in Somerset’s pre-history with various archaeology groups. This made up the “3 seeds in her pot” of subsequent life – Drama, History, Archaeology. She was then encouraged to become a part-time tour guide at the Abbey and developed a persona as Alyce Cleeve, a Tudor kitchen maid. As Alyce, she formed a family whose head was a weaver and 3 brothers who were all “Fullers”. In-role, as a Tudor kitchen maid in 1538, Kay then began to tell how she was affected by Henry Vlll’s dissolution of the monasteries. As “Cromwell’s Man” her husband then entered the scene - we had all forgotten about him at the back of the hall. Alyce Cleeve, kitchen maid was then out of a job. We were taken through how the last Abbot of Glastonbury (Richard Whiting) was removed to London and later returned to Glastonbury with two of his monks, John Thorne and Roger James, where all three were fastened upon hurdles and dragged by horses to the top of the Tor. Here they were hanged, drawn and quartered. Kay’s talk was informative, stimulating and at times funny and we were pleased to have her tell us all about Alyce Cleeve. Visit Glastonbury Abbey and you might meet her! Future meetings – Meetings are held on the first Wednesday each month at 7:00 pm in the Village Hall. The next meeting will be on 1st April which will be a General Meeting. I am pleased that on 6th May, John Strickland will return with a further talk on the S&D Railway route from Highbridge to Glastonbury. In July, there will be a talk on Medal Collecting with some reference to the Parish’s Servicemen. You don’t have to be a regular member of the History Group to come and listen to these talks or attend any meeting. [ 23 ] April 2015 - Issue 5 PAW PRINTS CATTERY Adam Popham Director A M P Electrical (SW) Ltd “Home from Home” Domestic/Commercial/Agricultural local Electrical contractor at The Mallards, Edington Road, Burtle, Nr Bridgwater TA7 8NX Tel: 01278 722252 All aspects of electrical work undertaken in a courteous, friendly and professional manner Fully licensed with choice of luxury large heated chalets Cat loving family run with flexible opening hours Quiet country location 4 miles from A39/6 miles from A38 Email:[email protected] www.pawprintscattery.co.uk Collection and delivery service available Mark, Somerset, 07738221754 [ 24 ] April 2015 - Issue 5 East Brent Parish Council Meeting 2nd February 2015 Planning Applications One application received: 24/15/00002. Land to the rear of Yew Tree Cottage, Bridgwater Rd East Brent. The application was discussed at length and the PC recommended approval. Agenda Item 1. The Chairperson, Mrs Valerie Rawles, welcomed Mrs Elaine Oliver to the position of Parish Clerk, she also thanked Mr Martin Shobbrook, the retiring Clerk, for all his past work with and for the PC. Item 2. Confirmation of Minutes. The minutes of the meeting of 5th January 2015 were accepted and approved unanimously. Item 3. Matters Arising. 1. Parish Magazine. Cllr Walker reported on: the Parish magazine re VAT, a management committee, a bank account, and the possible threat to magazine deliverers from loose dogs on some premises. Cllr Webb reported on advertising income and Cllr LloydJones commented on the PC budget for the magazine. 2. Defibrillator. Cllr Webb stated that an official opening for the device in front of the Medical Centre will be arranged when the defibrillator casing and surround have been completed. Cllr Webb further reported that the V.E.T.S. (Village Emergency Telephone System) is still to be fully tested and that information regarding the scheme will be promulgated soon. 3. Playing Field off Pill Road, Rooksbridge. Cllr Lloyd-Jones gave an update of progress to date including: the dropped curb, the new CE of the South West Housing Assoc, costs and availability of a football goal, gates, benches, signage and grass cutting. 4. East Brent Village Green. Cllr LloydJones reported that SDC had cut back growth around the car park and adjacent children’s play equipment area, but still had a tree stump to remove and two benches to install. 5. Appointment of new Parish Clerk. Cllr V Rawles (Chairperson) thanked the outgoing Clerk, Mr Martin Shobbrook, for all his hard work and professionalism during his time as Parish Clerk and wished him well for the future. Mrs Elaine Oliver was welcomed as the new Parish Clerk. 6. Grass cutting & Parish maintenance contracts. Cllr Lloyd-Jones advised on the payment terms and costs. 7. Roadside concrete planters. Cllr Rawles offered to seek advice from Somerset County Highways re the positioning of said items. 8. Field adjoining Cemetery. Martin Shobbrook on behalf of Cllr Bowden proposed that from 2016 a Farm Business Tenancy be created rather than continue with a grass keep auction each year. There will be further information for the May 2015 meeting. 9. Financial Matters. The list of proposed payments was approved unanimously. 10. Matters of Report. The following items were reported: Traffic speed on A370, vehicles travelling the wrong way in the Brent Rd one way system, planning application comments by EBPC not included on SDC system, approved minutes on PC website, new play equipment in Orchard Close. Next Meeting – 3rd March 2015. [ 25 ] April 2015 - Issue 5 [ 26 ] CPL April 2015 - Issue 5 The Lee-Enfield Rifle Near Enfield lock, beside the River Lee Navigation in North London, was the site of the Royal Small Arms Factory. It was founded in 1804 and it was where the British soldier’s ‘best friend’, the .303 Lee Enfield rifle was manufactured. conversion at the Enfield factory. Over the years improvements were made to the original weapon when different inventors systems were tried – amongst these were Martini & Henry, Lee & Burton and Lee & Metford. Prior to that model, muzzle loaders were made at the factory for the army in the Crimean war. The distinct disadvantage of the 1857 muzzle loader for the soldier was that he had to stand upright in the heat of a battle to ramrod the ball and powder charge down the barrel – so presenting the enemy with a simple target! In 1885 a ‘rifle’ type weapon emerged that was reliable under the severest of battlefield conditions which included rain and mud. This model was invented by a Scot named James Paris Lee in 1861 in America, he had converted the famous Springfield muzzle loader with a breech loading system just prior to the American Civil war, and worked for the gun-makers Sharp & Remington. Lee’s later experiments resulted in the invention of the famous ‘bolt action’ rifle which was produced at the Enfield factory and became known worldwide as the ‘Lee Enfield Rifle’, the Mark 4 version of which was used in the 1st & 2nd World Wars. New technology was needed and so an advert by the War office invited gunmakers and inventors to submit plans for converting the Enfield pattern muzzle loader, of which there were considerable numbers, into a breech loader; calling for accuracy, velocity of a bullet, recoil, rapidity of fire and to overcome fouling due to exposure to the weather. The cost of all of which must not exceed £1.00 per firearm. From the 50 applicants, eight were chosen and went on to develop the The ‘Rifle’ is named for the spiral pattern inside the barrel that aids projection of the bullet and increases velocity and accuracy. Ian Torrance MARITAL MISUNDERSTANDING? How men and women record things in their diaries? Wife's Diary: Tonight, I thought my husband was acting weird. We had made plans to meet at a nice restaurant for dinner. I was shopping with my friends all day long, so I thought he was upset at the fact that I was a bit late, but he made no comment on it. I asked him if it was my fault that he was upset. He said he wasn't upset, that it had nothing to do with me, and not to worry about it. When we got home, I felt as if I had lost him completely, as if he wanted nothing to do with me anymore. He just sat there quietly, and watched TV. He continued to seem distant and absent. Finally, with silence all around us, I decided to go to bed. About 15 minutes later, he came to bed. He fell asleep; I cried. I don't know what to do. I'm almost sure that his thoughts are with someone else. My life is a disaster. Husband's Diary: A two-foot putt... Who the hell misses a two-foot putt? [ 27 ] April 2015 - Issue 5 Kitchen, Bedroom & Bathroom Installations www.markkitchensandmore.co.uk T e l : 0 1 2 78 6 4 1 5 16 Mo b : 0 7 8 66 7 4 4 99 5 [ 28 ] April 2015 - Issue 5 THE KNOLL VILLAGES It takes fifty years to be accepted in a village - so they say. But does it take so long? I do not agree. I have now lived in a village community for 50 years and have felt "one of them" for most of that time. This is a tribute to the parishioners with whom I have lived and worked for many years. presented to her. But for me, from that moment I wished to 'always live in the country' - and I have. I think that the memory of being hustled off the grass by an irate park keeper in London's Regent's Park when picking little daisies may have had something to do with my wish. In August, 1922, a family consisting of father, mother and three children moved from a London suburb to one of the villages at the foot of Brent Knoll. My father, George Hudson, a city business man, had decided for health reasons to make his home and living 'in the country'. He had purchased a village store with a sub-Post Office. Before buying the business he had looked at several others but was so much more attracted to the area around the Knoll. Also, as he said, for a cockney it was on the main Great Western Line to London! I can well remember his excitement when he described the countryside around the hill to us all. Several visits had to be made during the transfer of the business. On one of these trips a retired Methodist minister had asked some children to collect wild flowers for father to take back to London with him. Mother was delighted when the box of fragrant flowers was opened and On the day of our move to this entirely new way of life I can only remember the arrival at a little country station. A kindly porter met us. Oil lamps hung on posts and a large number of milk chums - the old-fashioned variety wider at the base seemed to cover one platform. These were awaiting transport back to London. Our arrival at 'home' was filled with excitement. The windows were like church windows - typical of many houses in the area. Mother was extremely worried for, although the house pleased her very much, it as yet had no bathroom. The previous owner told her 'it was good enough for we' and he had brought up a family. My father - bless him - bought a second-hand bath from the vicarage. He was told with awe that 'it had been used by the late Archdeacon'. This was rigged up in a shed that had an outside drain, an oilstove and a drum with a tap, and 'hey presto', mother had a bathroom. Rosa Chivers (1972) EAST BRENT HARVEST HOME—158th Anniversary Year This year’s Harvest Home will take place on Friday, 28th August 2015. Please put this date in your diary. The Committee meet on the third Wednesday each month at 7:00 pm in East Brent Village Hall. We are now planning for this year’s event and are looking for new recruits to assist this “Somerset Institution” now in its 158th anniversary year. All are welcome so please do get involved. Colin Loader [ 29 ] April 2015 - Issue 5 USEFUL NUMBERS Brownies 01278 760655 Day Centre – June Jessop 01278 792208 Doctor. Brent Area Medical Centre – East Brent 01278 760313 Pre-School, East Brent – Emma Allen 07849062469 East Brent C of E First School 01278 760490 Environment Agency Floodline 0345 988 1188 Hugh Sexey Middle School – Normal Enquiries - Absence line for pupil 01934 712211 01934 714290 Kings of Wessex Academy – Normal enquiries Email: [email protected] - Absence line for pupils Email: [email protected] 01934 742608 Village Hall – East Brent (Info & bookings- Betty Griffin) 01278 760754 Parish Council Chairman – Val Rawles 01934 751108 Parish Council Clerk – Mrs Elaine Oliver 01278 684279 01934 745304 Parish Council Website – http://eastbrentparishcouncil.org.uk/ Sedgemoor District Councillor – Andrew Gilling 01934 750580 Sedgemoor District Councillor – Bob Filmer 01278 760760 Somerset County Councillor – John Denbee 01934 712304 Email: [email protected] Member of Parliament – Tessa Munt Email: [email protected] 01934 710748 Police. Brent Beat Manager – PC1916 Pete Wills – PCSO - Pauline Dixon – PCSO – Tracy Grobbeler Emergency Only 999 Non -Emergency -101 Rooksbridge Post Office – Sandy & Danny Lawrence 01934 750221 Editor - East Brent Parish Magazine [email protected] 01278 760896 Advertising Editor – East Brent Parish Magazine [email protected] 01278 760219 POSTAL SUBSCRIPTIONS and ADVERTISING FOR SALE The East Brent Parish Magazine is delivered free to all properties within the Parish which includes East Brent, Rooksbridge and Edingworth. Outside the Parish, it can be delivered by post by taking out a Postal Subscription at a cost of £14 per annum. This cost includes delivery to U.K. and Northern Ireland addresses only. Please contact the Editor for subscription costs in other parts of the world. E-mailed copies can be sent free of charge (.pdf). Advertising rates and details are shown elsewhere in this Magazine. If you wish to advertise, please contact the Advertising Editor. PLEASE NOTE : If you have (or know anyone who has) previously paid for Postal Subscriptions or Advertising which have not been fulfilled, please contact the relevant Editor with details. It is our intention to meet all previous commitments in this respect. [ 30 ] April 2015 - Issue 5 [ 31 ] April 2015 - Issue 5 [ 32 ]
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