2

WHO’S WHO IN THE BENEFICE

Rector The Revd. Tim Hawkings, The Rectory, Cheddar Road,

Axbridge 732261 Assistant Priest The Revd. John Angle, 14 Farthing Combe, Axbridge 733695 Readers

Pam Williams, 2 Beech Road, Shipham 843772 Sue Latimer, 9, Hippisley Drive, Axbridge 732583

Peter Rutter, 8 Beech Road, Shipham 843319

AXBRIDGE - THE CHURCH OF ST. JOHN THE BAPTIST Churchwardens Peter Smith 734601 Judith Strange 733783 PCC Secretary Carole Carey 743883 PCC Treasurer Elwyn James 733185 Organist/Choir Martin Latham 733010 Mother’s Union & Sacristan Janet Angle 733695 Messy Church & Sunday School Peter Dixon 732890 Little Angels Anne Smith 07843946949 Safeguarding Officer Margaret James 733185 Tower Captain Roy Shallish 732137 Mag. Distribution Lal Adamson 732221

SHIPHAM - THE CHURCH OF ST. LEONARD Churchwardens Trish Ashmore 843388 Margaret Howell 842201 PCC Secretary Nigel Mallett 844997 PCC Treasurer Paul Ashmore 843388 Sacristan Trish Ashmore 843388 Lenny’s Coffee Shop Jill Lewis 782845 Organist David Williams 843772

Tower Correspondent Paul Ashmore 843388 Friday Lunches Jan Agate 842607 Diney Costeloe 843907 Mag. Distribution Roger Hughes 843383

ROWBERROW - THE CHURCH OF ST. MICHAEL AND ALL ANGELS Churchwardens Sue Erasmus 843121 Adrian Adams 820058 PCC Secretary Jane Gunn 842561 PCC Treasurer Vernon Erasmus 843121 Tower Captain Adrian Adams 820058 Mag. Distribution Margaret Pritchard 852568

(Note: Unless otherwise stated the area code for all telephone numbers is 01934)

3

Farewell and Thank

You from

Andrew and Cathi

Hemming

I guess it was ironic that

my final service with the Benefice fell on St

Andrew’s day. On 30 November I finished

my time as your Curate, after 4½ years.

We left with much sadness, having made so many good friends and having

shared so much with you; early sermons,

Ordination, first Communion Celebration,

first Funeral, Wedding & Baptism,

experimental services, study courses and the

general metamorphosis of trying to make a

priest out of some questionable raw material.

Though sad, we

also felt excitement,

as it was time to

stretch my clerical

wings. As that day came to an end,

both Cathi and I

were overwhelmed

by a huge sense of

gratitude to all of

you for your love,

c a r e a n d e n c o u r a g e m e n t

through these years.

Curates are not

an extra resource

that just helps out,

but a job of work for the Benefice. Whilst

I hope you enjoyed the task, every

encouraging smile, cup of coffee, word of

advice, criticisms too, has been treasured

and used in my formation.

You will never know the time Tim devoted to regular reviews, report writing,

visits to my college and general care for us

both. I am forever indebted to Tim for the

excellent training I received at his hand, and

the wonderful example he set me in pastoral

care, not to mention myriad cups of strong

coffee. Together, Tim and all of you, made

my training a joy and made the last 4½

years a delight for both Cathi and me.

What we have particularly appreciated

about our time with you is that all three

churches are a tangible witness to the

praying, learning and worshiping community that is the Axbridge Benefice. I have not

just been trained, we have not just been

loved, our faith has been nurtured. Again,

thank you.

On 2 December I started with Wrington

Benefice; comprising Wrington with Redhill,

Butcombe and Burrington, in which I have a special responsibility for Redhill. It was the

severe understaffing of that Benefice that led

to my somewhat rapid departure, your

assistance with which Wrington is very

grateful. To start in a new post in Advent

and to be celebrating Christmas within a few weeks is a thrilling experience; thrilling

meaning ‘tighten your seat belt and hold

on—this could be a

r o c k y l and i ng ’ .

However, as with all

p regnanc ies , i t arrived on time

d e s p i t e a n y

unpreparedness on

my behalf.

We are now very

happily settled and

enjoying making many new friends.

These, we hope, will

be additional to, and

not instead of, our

friends from this

Benefice. Hopefully some of you will have

been able to come to

my official licensing

on 22 January.

As a final note, I must just say again a

huge thank you for the wonderful farewell

card signed by so many and the most generous cheque you gave us. We are still

thinking about what to do with that cheque,

but part of it has gone on a new Preaching

Scarf, with some fine embroidery, which I

will wear in fond memory of you all at my

licensing. Farewell, with much love and God’s

blessing,

Andrew and Cathi

Catch this — February 2015

4

Blooming Grooming

Professional dog grooming

Clipping and styling

Hand stripping

Ears cleaned

Nails clipped

Kind and gentle handling; all breeds catered for

Phone: 01934 710720; Mobile: 07909 763052

10 King Alfred Mews, Wedmore

P&R DOMESTIC

APPLIANCE REPAIRS

We repair most makes of

Washing Machines, Dishwashers, Dryers, Vac-

uum Cleaners & Cookers.

(Small charge for estimates)

PD LOVERIDGE

Tel: Cheddar 742527 or 01278 789132

FAST RELIABLE SERVICE

LOW RATES

NO CALL OUT CHARGE

Domestic & Commercial High Pressure Jetting

Toilets, sinks & drains unblocked

Septic tank emptying

CCTV surveys

Drain tracing & replacing

Drain relining

Drain Excavation

Root cutting

Aquablast: Hill End Farm, Hill End, Locking, Weston super Mare

Freephone: 0800 0978255

Telephone: 01934 824355

5

Catch this — February 2015

MAYOR’S MESSAGE

Unfortunately Peter Yusen

is currently unwell so

there will be no formal

message from the Mayor

of Axbridge this month.

The Editor and Magazine Team join everyone in

sending Peter our prayers and best wishes.

BISHOP’S MESSAGE

Communities are built around people.

Something we are all seeing, whether we

live in a town or a village, is that many local pubs are closing down. Currently this is at

the rate of around 31 each week. There are

now about 55,000 pubs in the UK, down

from 68,000 thirty years ago. Whether we

use them or not and whatever our view may

be on drinking, pubs support more than a million jobs in the UK and contribute

significantly to the economy of their local

area.

A recent study from Northumbria

University says more than that. A thriving

village pub it says gives a village greater community spirit and supports local social

events and businesses. The study claims

that pubs are significant in promoting

community cohesion, especially in rural

areas. That is probably uncontroversial. But

the same study also concluded that ‘village

pubs were also found to be more important to local life than the parish church’. That is

something which I might want to take issue

with.

I suppose it depends

what you mean by

contributing to local life. But I am very

clear that parish

churches are often

at the very heart of

the communities

they serve and contribute

significantly to

creating, sustaining

and developing

thriving

communities. In

many communities it is difficult to imagine what life would be like without the local

church being present and active in bringing

people together and supporting them in

every kind of need.

In Somerset new housing developments

are being planned in a number of places.

But, as developers often acknowledge,

building houses does not automatically build

communities. So one of the things that we as a diocese will need to give more thought

to in the future is: ‘how we can use the

resources that we have to turn those groups

of new houses into caring, inclusive and

welcoming communities?’

Communities are built around people.

They do not simply emerge unless people consciously value the place where they live

and strive to make it a better place for

everyone who lives there. Living and sharing

our faith in Jesus, serving our communities

and engaging with local concerns are ways in

which we can contribute to making our communities welcoming and joyful places for

all.

I enjoy visiting a pub and there is no

doubt that they can be a meeting point and

hub for local communities. That is true of

churches as well, but they are much more than that. A church is a place ‘where heaven

and earth meet’.

With warm best wishes,

MOOR VOICES

Cheddar’s newest

community choir, Moor

Voices would love to

welcome new members

for 2015. We are a very

friendly and supportive group that meets on

Tuesday evenings in

Cheddar and sing a range

of wonderful songs in

harmony with our folk

musician leader Issy Emeney. We can

promise you a very warm

welcome whatever your

age or experience, and

there is no need to read music as much of

the material is taught by ear. Why not come for a free taster session? If you are

interested or would like further information

please give Issy a ring on 01934 741551 or

email her at issy@emeney.com

Issy Emeney

6

AXBRIDGE PHARMACY

Your traditional-modern-independent Pharmacy

We serve…...We deliver

We can

ORDER YOUR PRESCRIPTIONS,

COLLECT THEM and

DELIVER THE MEDICINES TO YOUR

DOOR from these surgeries:

AXBRIDGE….

CHEDDAR….

WEDMORE….

WINSCOMBE….

CHURCHILL

& WRINGTON

Just phone 01934 733230 and ask

AXBRIDGE PHARMACY Open Mon to Fri 9am - 6pm

Closed Saturday, Sunday and Bank Holidays The Square, Axbridge, BS26 2AR Telephone/Fax: 01934 733230

COMPTON HOUSE

AXBRIDGE

A Grade 2 listed

Georgian House with fabulous

views across the Somerset Levels

Unique bedroom accommodation

Flexible meetings space

Private Dining Room for special

occasions

Receptions & Events for intimate

parties

Contact: 01934 733944 www.comptonhse.com

7

THE ROXY AT AXBRIDGE

The Roxy is a non-pro f i t commun ity

cinema and everyone is

we lcome. F i lm

admission charges are

£3.50 for adu l t

members and guest

concessions, £3 for member concessions and £6 for guests. For

further information please visit our website

or call us. Doors and bar open half an hour

before the published film time (which can

vary – so be careful!). For popular films it’s

almost always necessary to book, calling 07725 051523.

The Roxy and the house can be hired

for parties, meetings and private screenings.

For private bookings please call 07808

806573.

The following films will be showing on Fridays at 8.30pm in February:

6th: Svengali (15) 93 mins

13th: Calvary (15) 101 mins 20th: The Butler (12A) 132 mins

27th: Half of a Yellow Sun (15) 111 mins

WRINGTON VALE ROTARY CLUB

T h a n k s t o t h e

generosity of Business

Sponsors, the public at l a rge and C lub

m e m b e r s , t h e

Wrington Vale Rotary

Club was able to make

sixty donations to

deserving causes in the last Rotary year.

The main beneficiaries were 35 local youth

organisations; the amounts given varied

between £80 and £1000 and were

dependent on specific projects. Other

beneficiaries included the Air Ambulance,

Children’s Hospice, a Defibrillator installed in Churchill, Jubilee Sailing Trust, Philippines

Appeal, Weston Hospice to name but a few.

The current fund raising activity is to

raise £60,000 to purchase a Heartworks

machine for the use of hospitals in the

Southwest. Whilst there is not such a machine in the South West hospitals they do

exist in other major city hospitals in the UK.

Basically these machines assist in the

training of doctors and other clinical staff in

the treatment and diagnosis of major heart

problems.

Our last meeting of the year was to

entertain member’s wives to an excellent

Christmas dinner at the Burrington Inn. The entertainment was provided by a very

enjoyable male singing group called

Somernotes. The Club was most

appreciative of their varied singing

programme and of their generosity in

donating their normal fee to the Heartworks

appeal. Future speakers at the Club include the

Role of the Police and Crime Commissioner

by Sue Mountstevens on 11 February and

on 28 March there will be a New Musical

Definitive Experience at Sidcot School when

Colin Bell will be playing a repertoire of broad and comprehensive music featuring

composers Rachmaninov, Cole Porter,

Gershwin and Lloyd Webber on his Classical

Digital Piano, this will be supported by his

Tyros 4SE digital orchestral synthesizer

which can provide the backing of up to 14 orchestras with choral support!

For more information please check the

Wrington Vale Rotary Club page on

Facebook.

ROTAS AT AXBRIDGE CHURCH

Penny Cooke writes: Many of you will be aware that Kate Taylor has relinquished

producing the rotas after 25 years. She has,

over that quarter century, done an incredible

job and the rota is one of those "behind the

scenes" tasks that regularly appears as if by

magic. In reality, we all know time, effort

and considerable juggling around has undoubtedly been involved.

I am now taking over this task, but

before I start compiling the next rota, please

consider if you would like to add yourself to

the number of Sidesmen (not as onerous as

it sounds—a smile goes a long way), or readers (again not as scary, a large print

version of the lesson is at hand); I would be

grateful and pleased to hear from you.

A few extra post-service coffee/tea

makers would also be most welcome.

You can get in touch with me either at church, via email (penelope.c@virgin.net) or

telephone (01934 733304). I would very

much welcome a call.

Catch this — February 2015

8

CHEDDAR TYRE SUPPLIES Tyres & Batteries are our Business

Service is our Silent Salesman

1A Valley Line Industrial Estate

Station Road, Cheddar

Somerset BS27 3EE

Telephone : 01934 742390 Fax : 01934 743397

SPANISH CLASSES IN AXBRIDGE

Get together with friends, or on your own, to try a new language!

Pre-book 4 classes face-to-face; then claim an extra free lesson over Skype!

Tel: 01934 733878 or 07970 592421

ATTENTION FUN SEEKERS!

Axbridge Quiz Night

Saturday 7 February 2015

7pm for 7.30pm

Axbridge Town Hall Tickets £6 (includes a sandwich supper)

Please bring your own drink and glasses Teams of up to six should contact either:

Heather Hawkings (732261) or Alison Walke (732256)

9

SHIPHAM, ROWBERROW AND STAR

FRIENDSHIP CIRCLE

On Thursday 12 February

Tim Lewis and Sheila

F u r n e a u x w i l l b e

entertaining us with a talk on “Valentines”. As usual

we will meet in the George

Thiery Room at Shipham

Village Hall starting at

2.30pm. There will also be a 50p raffle.

Visitors and new members always welcome.

For further information please call Mrs Averil Long 01934 733053.

SHIPHAM, ROWBERROW & STAR W.I.

Lyn Wood writes: Our

next meeting is on

Monday 9 February in

the George Thiery room at Shipham Village Hall. Our

meeting starts at 7.30pm

and Mike Horler will give a

talk and slide show about his “Life with Shire

Horses”.

On 9 March Francis Benton will give a talk about pearls entitled “Tear of the

Dragon” and will bring a selection of pearl

jewellery which is available for purchase.

Refreshments are provided and everyone is

welcome so come along and enjoy good

company and interesting evenings. Please

contact Lyn Wood for further information about our W.I. on 01934 843620

AXBRIDGE ARCHAEOLOGICAL AND

LOCAL HISTORY SOCIETY

We have a couple of

forthcoming meetings

that are worth diarising. The first is a rare

opportunity to examine

Axbridge’s important

archive of documents

stretching back into the

Middle Ages. This archive, the property of Axbridge Town

Trust, is now stored in secure and

environmentally controlled conditions at the

Somerset Heritage Centre.

Readers may have heard archivist Sue

Berry talk in January about the documents

and some of the stories that have emerged

from them. As a follow-up, on Saturday 21

February, members of the AALHS will travel

to the Somerset Heritage Centre in Norton

Fitzwarren for a visit commencing at 2.30pm,

when Sue will display the archive, explain how the stories emerged and discuss issues

of research and conservation.

Guests are invited to join members of

the Society. Any readers of Catch this

interested in joining the visit are asked to

contact Robin Goodfellow on 01934 732874.

The other meeting of note is entitled The Archaeology of Hinkley Point.

Preparations for the building of new

nuclear reactors at Hinkley Point have

included extensive archaeological surveys

and excavations and a vast amount of

fascinating new information about the area has emerged.

On Wednesday 4 March, starting at

7.30pm in Cross Memorial Hall, Jane Hill will

talk about the discoveries that have been

made so far. As always, visitors are warmly

invited to join members of the Society. For more detail, either about the

events, or the AALHS, please contact Robin

Goodfellow.

AXBRIDGE DISTRICT TREFOIL GUILD

A Happy New Year to

everyone. Thirteen members

gathered in the Catholic

Church Rooms for the

Guild's AGM on the second

Tuesday of the year.

The Chairman, Secretary

and Treasurer were re-elected and the committee agreed to stand for another year.

The diary of events was handed out

giving a taste of good things to come. The

Chairman then congratulated Vonnie on her

award in the New Year's Honours.

Following the business of the AGM Jo Willis took the group through a series of

stretching exercises which everyone enjoyed.

Our next meeting will be on 10

February at 12.30pm in the Catholic Church

Rooms in Cheddar. This will be a Thinking

Day International Lunch following a French theme.

Anyone wishing to attend should let

Eileen (741255) or Margaret (732080) know

to assist with catering arrangements.

Catch this — February 2015

10

Fairtrade Stall at the Axbridge

Farmer’s Market on the first Saturday of every month. Do come along and support. If you’d like to help man the stall please contact Kevin Walke on 01934 732256

11

UNCONNECTED RURALITE?

Annie Gurner writes: Are you one of

the Rural un-connected?

My children call me a dinosaur! My

telephone is used for talking to people and

not taking their picture, and I like to read a

book that has real paper pages. However, since 1983 I have used a

computer for work and now for leisure; who

wouldn’t value Skype for keeping in touch

with family and friends overseas? And I was

amazed and impressed last spring by the

clever use of social media to enable flood-displaced families from the Levels to keep in

touch with their community and vice versa.

When we moved to Somerset from

silicon fen (Cambridge), we found that

Internet access was severely limited in

Lopen: broadband was so slow that we could barely download documents nor use i-

Players. Fortunately, I am married to an

engineer who realised that two miles away

there was a BT exchange with 10Mb

broadband speeds. It took him three

months and a great deal of persistence, but

eventually an engineer was persuaded (at no cost) to enable the exchange to increase the

speed to our end of the village.

We now have about 5Mb, enough for

most purposes, and we’re told that if you ask

for it, and live within a few miles of an

exchange, even faster speeds are available. The South West of England has the

highest proportion of home workers in the

UK, and in South Somerset at least 15% of

workers operate from home and are likely to

need good internet access to make a living.

It’s vital for our children doing their

homework these days and, for those without transport or the elderly, internet shopping

can be a lifeline.

Government departments increasingly

dictate that applications for benefits, car and

TV licences, should be done online. What

about the significant number of people who don’t have either the equipment or the

confidence or aptitude to learn computer

skills? This is becoming a key issue for the

older farming community where rural

payments, movement licences and animal

passports now require internet access. If you read the gospel stories about

Jesus, again and again he interrupts his

teaching programme to spend time with

people who are on the edge of the crowd, on

the edge of society. So much so that the

religious leaders complain he associates with

the ‘wrong’ kind of people. What he was

demonstrating was God’s concern for those

who are marginalised in today’s world – the

poor, the vulnerable, and now the un-connected. I’m sure he would be praying for

those working for more equal access to

services of all kinds – including

communications.

Computers for Rural People is a scheme

run by the Arthur Rank Centre (a church

charity), to help country people on a budget; they provide low cost, refurbished laptops or

desktop computers. Prices start at £140,

including all software, delivery and warranty.

Call John Bennett on 024 7685 3066 or

email: johnb@arthurrankcentre.org.uk

Annie Gurner, Rural Adviser, Diocese of Bath & Wells revgurner@btinternet.com

07765 216818

CHRISTMAS AT SHIPHAM

As always, it was standing room only at

the popular Christingle and Carols on

Christmas Eve, and at the Midnight

Communion there was a very special

atmosphere as the candles lit up the

darkened church. Thanks go to everyone

who decorated the church so beautifully and to those who helped to lead our worship.

The cash offerings this year from our

Christmas Eve and Christmas morning

services (£173) have been donated to

Alabaré Christian Care Centres for ex-

offenders & recovering drug addicts, and from the Christingle service on Christmas

Eve (£202) to The Children’s Society, helping

children in need. Thank you to everyone

who came and gave so generously to these

worthwhile causes. Your gifts will make

someone’s life much better.

Looking forward, the annual Men’s Big Breakfast is on Saturday 21 March at

Barton Camp, at 8.30am. Our speaker this

year is Graham Loader, a well-known

speaker and minister from Bristol, who will

be speaking about his life experiences. This

is a great opportunity for men from different churches to get together over breakfast for

an interesting talk and discussion. Contact

David Williams for more information (01934

843772). Mothering Sunday is on 15

March and there will be a special family

service at 10am in St Leonard’s church.

Catch this — February 2015

12

Axbridge Post

Office

Extensive range of quality greetings cards

Stationery and office supplies

Large selection of local pictures

Euros and U.S. dollars in stock

Agents for Johnsons the Dry Cleaners

Counselling Maire Campbell - Cert. CC & Dip. Pst (Relate)

Counselling for couples & individuals

Relationships - Sexual Issues Separation & Divorce - Parenting Difficulties

Personal issues

Confidentiality assured. Flexible appointment times.

All enquiries Tel: 01761 221448 / 0777 900 3168

HAMPDEN

OSTEOPATHIC

CLINIC

24a Woodborough Road, Winscombe North Somerset BS25 1AD

For appointments tel: 01934 843617

* OSTEOPATHY Janet White Danielle Crawshaw

* ACUPUNCTURE Dan Lloyd

* REFLEXOLOGY/THAI FOOT MASSAGE Polly Hall

* HOMEOPATHY Patricia Clark

* MASSAGE — HOT STONE/INDIAN Amy Chandler

HEAD & STRESS BUSTING

13

SHIPHAM VILLAGE HALL

As always, you will receive a warm

welcome at our drop-in centre that opens at 10.30am. Enjoy a cup of Fairtrade tea/

coffee (50p and top-ups free) with biscuits.

The activity usually starts at 11am and

there is no charge. A freshly cooked lunch

is served at noon to those who have pre-

booked (limited numbers - book early!).

Programme for February 2015

Friday 13th: “Flexercise” with music to start us off on our New Year Resolutions to

improve our fitness and health.

Lunch: Salmon Steaks with seasonal

vegetables

Dessert: Fruit Salad and Shortbread

Friday 27th: The Reverend Tim

Hawkings is with us today with “Tales of Old

Somerset” which I am sure will prove very entertaining.

Lunch: Steak Pie with seasonal

vegetables Dessert: Black Cherry M’lady

Contacts:

Gloria (lunch bookings) 842360

Ray 843562

Liz 843038

SHIPHAM VILLAGE HALL

Tony Davies writes: Towards the end

of the SWIG Christmas party Brenda

Moorhouse was surprised to receive a

presentation of a bouquet of flowers as a

token of thanks from the hall committee for her sterling work as bookings clerk since the

hall opened in 2005. Our thanks once again

Brenda.

Kate Meadows took over the remaining

tasks of the booking clerk at the turn of the

year. Over the last few months Kate has been familiarising herself with the operation

of a computer based bookings system and

adapting it to be able to respond to your

enquiries for future hall hires.

The bookings details for hires after 1

July last year were used to prepare the

system and we would like to thank Kate and

her husband Matt for a herculean effort to

have it ready for the New Year.

We have overcome the poor mobile reception in the village by changing to a

land line/Skype phone with an answer phone

facility. The new contact number for

bookings is now 01173 182357 and the

new e-mail address is:

shiphamhall.bookings@gmail.com.

Please use the new number for all your

bookings enquiries. If you have to leave a

message Kate will call you back, or reply to

an e-mail, as soon as it is practical to do so.

This will usually be after 3.30pm and within 48 hours unless there are exceptional

circumstances. You can also find information

on the hall’s facilities and charges here:

http://www.shiphamhall.co.uk/

The hall is well used not only by

residents of the village but also by many

who live within a five miles or greater radius

from the hall when they have a special event

to celebrate. Consequently the hall

committee would welcome talking with anyone who has used the hall who would

consider reinforcing our team with their

experience or opinions and/or general

assistance.

Please ring me for more information if

you might be willing to join our roster of helpers who will be paid each time they

meet new hirers to let them into the hall.

Tony Davies (Hall Secretary), telephone

01934 843951 .

SHIPHAM PLAYERS

Hurry along to Hansford’s Store, The

Square, Shipham, where there may still be

tickets left for Shipham Players Pantomime,

Mother Goose. Performances are on 5th,

6th, and 7th February at Shipham village hall, with a price of £7 for adults and £3 for

18s and under, which means a family of four

can have a great night out for just £20.

There will be songs, laughter and of course

the only seven foot tall dancing goose in

Somerset. You won’t want to miss that. Payment is by cash and cheque only

and we regret that telephone booking is not

available.

Catch this — February 2015

14

Lenny’s Coffee

Shop The Square, Shipham

For Morning Coffee and Afternoon Tea

Home made cakes Light lunches - toasties, jacket potatoes,

salads and home made soup

Opening Times Tuesday to Friday 11.00 am - 3.00pm

All welcome

See also Page 21 for Christmas lunches

C V Gower Funeral Directors

The Square, Winscombe, BS25 1BS

Tel.: 01934 842945

Independent Funeral Directors

24 hr service, every day of the year

Private Chapel of Rest

Traditional, green & non-religious

funerals arranged.

Pre-paid Funeral Plans

For free advice please phone

Lindsay Lawrence Dip.F.D.

or email: mail@cvgower.co.uk

DISCLAIMER

The Benefice of Axbridge,

Shipham and Rowberrow does not

specifically approve or endorse any

product or service offered by

advertisers or contributors and will

not be held responsible for any

errors, omissions or loss resulting

from the use of material in this

magazine.

15

SHIPHAM COMMUNITY CINEMA

We have two events in February, both

promising to push away the winter gloom,

so do come along and join in the fun. Our

very popular Film Feast is on Friday 27

February and has a distinctly Indian flavour this year. We are showing The Lunchbox

(cert PG), an exquisite, BAFTA nominated,

comedy-drama set in Mumbai.

After a welcoming glass of something

sparkling, there will be a delicious two

course meal (one being a curry option),

coffee and mints, followed by the movie – all for the price of £12 for members, and £14

for non-members. Not surprisingly, tickets

are selling fast, so don’t delay in contacting

Jane Sanders on telephone 01934 842940 to

book yours.

Our regular Friday screening is What We Did On Our Holiday (cert 12), showing

on 13 February.

This warm, witty British comedy stars

David Tennant, Rosamund Pike, Billy

Connolly, Celia Imrie and three scene-

stealing child actors. Very funny and poignant, it is written and directed by Guy

Jenkin and Andy Hamilton, the creators of

BBC’s Outnumbered.

Doors open at 7.15pm and the

programme starts at 7.45pm.

All the usual refreshments will be

available. Members pay £2, and non-members pay £4.

Full details of our programme can be

found on our website:

http://cinema.shiphamhall.co.uk

as well as on Facebook and Twitter, so do

please check us out, and we look forward to

welcoming you in February.

JOIN THE CARBON FAST IN LENT

The Diocese of Bath and Wells is

leading the South West Dioceses Carbon

Fast for Lent 2015 – 40 days to consider

what you can do to reduce your carbon

footprint and reflect on key passages from the Bible. How do you effect the planet

through the pattern your energy

consumption?

This year is a vital year for the planet

as hopefully there will be a ground breaking

agreement on the climate in Paris in

December. The particular focus for the Fast

is our use of water, which needs to be

pumped, cleaned and stored, our energy use

and the things we consume. Did you know

that it takes 11,000 litres of water to make

a pair of jeans, and 140 litres to make a single cup of coffee?

On each day of Lent except Sundays,

you can receive a daily email with an action

to consider, a bible reading and a specially

written reflection. Sign up today at: http://

ecochurchsouthwest.org.uk/carbon-fast/. There will be many other resources on

the same site. The daily actions and

readings are also available as a leaflet.

To obtain your copy please email

mission.forum@bathwells.anglican.org or

call on 01749685104. Let’s really make a difference to our

planet this Lent together!

PETER AND JANE NOTT

Peter and Jane have been Axbridge Church's CMS Link partners serving in

Bethlehem, Nazareth and Egypt and it has

been a joy to keep in touch through their

letters, visits and Blogs. Now they have felt

it right to return to the UK.

After much prayer and support they have joined a team working in a

rehabilitation centre for people on drugs,

alcohol dependency or other similar

problems.

This is a farm situation in Devon. For

Peter it will be relearning skills he learned as

a young man (e.g. driving a tractor) and Jane has many skills as a trained Councillor.

Peter was a former police officer so I

think they have much to give, alongside

their love for God, and will see people set

free from their addiction.

In their own words, they are “Loving it in rehab. The hours are long but there are

some amazing 'students' here with amazing

stories. Living in a caravan on the edge of

Dartmoor is also a challenge, but character

building; especially when the gales threaten

to blow .” Please keep them in your prayers as

they settle into new work. If you are

passing their way please do look them up:

Gilead Foundations Centre, Risdon Farm,

Jacobstowe, Okehampton EX20 3AJ or visit

the website: www.gilead.org.uk.

Catch this — February 2015

16

QUAKERS AT SIDCOT

You can discover the Peace and Power

of a Quaker Meeting on Sundays at 10:30am

(Children are welcome and have their own activities).

We also meet every Thursday evening

at 6.30pm for half an hour

You are most welcome to join us at:

The Friend’s Meeting House,

Oakridge Lane, Sidcot BS25 1LT.

For more information contact us through

www.sidcotquaker.org or by calling 843065

George House

We would like to apologise to all our customers, past, present and

yet to come, for the extended closure of our premises at

THE SQUARE, AXBRIDGE BS26 2AP

due to property renovation.

If you would like to discuss the sale

or purchase of antiques, curios or

collectables please telephone:

01934 733939 or

07979 994126.

Well everyone......we hope to open the shop before

Christmas now..don’t hold your breath! We hope you

will be able to pick up those last minute gifts and our

gorgeous lavender lotions & potions.

“And is there honey still for tea”??

The bees in our field have come up trumps this year.

We have the most delicious honey with a hint of

lavender. 01934 733939 for enquiries.

See you soon and we wish you a very Happy Christmas.

17

AXBRIDGE GUIDES

Bev Davies writes: The girls returned

to Guides after the Christmas break on 8

January. This term, we will primarily be

working on a regional initiative called

‘Cookafun’ which is based on cooking healthy

food and having fun! To this end, at our first meeting, the girls made a salad for their

Patrol to consume and tried different breads

of the world. Anything involving food goes

down well so that was a successful evening!

This was followed by a fun Bingo

evening in the Town Hall and yet more cooking on 22 January but with an

international theme. We experienced Thai

cooking and hope to have a photo for the

next magazine.

At our last January meeting, the girls

will be starting a Creative Arts evening (to be carried on into February). We will be making

a personalised “Axbridge Guides” wreath for

two of our girls to take to Ypres in Belgium to

lay in remembrance of those that died

fighting for their country. They are going in

February and Ellie (aged 14) and Alice (11)

have been given permission to read the exhortation at Menin Gate and lay a wreath

(wearing their Guide uniform).

The girls and their parents are taking

their Grandmother to help find the grave of

her great-Uncle so this will be an emotional

journey and as Guide Leader, I feel very proud and honoured indeed for the girls to

have included the Axbridge Guides in their

journey.

SHIPHAM, ROWBERROW AND STAR

HISTORY SOCIETY

Jill Smith writes: Once again the

weather and time of year yielded a very small

turnout on 9 December to hear Mark Bullen’s

latest talk entitled My Life in Customs &

Excise in 24 Objects or “A Quick Romp

through a 37 year career”.

It might have sounded like a really stuffy and boring evening – but it was

absolutely the opposite. Mark is able to turn

even the worse scenario’s into an amusing if

not hilarious event.

The prelude to his talk gave us the

background of his life from leaving Durham University in 1973 with a 2.1 in Russian,

applying for a job at North Staff Polytechnic

to teach Russian; getting the job and then

having the course and employment cancelled

before he even got started.

So on 8 October 1973 he joined HM

Customs & Excise at their Investigation

Division in New Fetter Lane in London.

Mark joined the VAT Intelligence

Research Team and, at a time before

computers, very early uncovered a £10,000 VAT fraud.

For transport he bought a Vespa scooter

and, unauthorised, followed a suspect van

from Brixton to Clapham – through red lights

etc. he was not trained for this sort of work,

and received a good bollocking from the

Officer in Charge! With another incident the surveillance team moved into a “closed for

repairs” ladies toilet to observe a block of

offices opposite – it sounded very exciting

but actually was a complete waste of time.

And so Mark continued regaling us with

his romp through his life working in different areas with totally entertaining and incredibly

funny tales along the way. Certainly if any

society is looking for a speaker able to laugh

at himself then Mark is certainly the

character for you.

Our next speaker on Tuesday 10 February will be Martha Perriam who will

talk to us about Brean Down Fort which

should be very interesting. We look forward

to seeing you all during 2015.

AXBRIDGE MOTHERS’ UNION

A Happy New Year to all who read this

from all the members of Mothers' Union. It seems a long time since the last

report. A wonderful morning was enjoyed at

the home of Kate and Mike Taylor on the

occasion of the Christmas Coffee Morning at

the beginning of December. The decorations

were, as usual, beautiful and the fellowship great. Money was raised for charity and MU

funds.

The January meeting was an enjoyable

talk by Sue Irvin, 'Anything I can do – you

can do!' which she delivered whilst making a

beautiful flower arrangement. She then kindly gave the arrangement to be raffled.

The next meeting will be 11 February

at 2.30pm in the Church Rooms and will start

with the AGM. This may sound boring but

will provide an opportunity for you to come

along and find out more about Mothers'

Union, what they do and what they stand for. Following the AGM Hilary Hughes will speak

of the various knitting projects. Please think

about coming to this.

Catch this — February 2015

18

Susan O’Brien—your local Cambridge Weight Plan consultant

If you would like help with slimming, why not give me a call so I can help you man-

age YOUR weight.

Mobile, flexible appointments available

Tel: 07749 302652 Email: obriensusan11@gmail.com

Axbridge Town Hall

Thinking about a fundraising event, gig or party? Axbridge Town Hall is a great venue for your event

Reasonable hire rates are available

For further information contact Sarah Emery on: 07748 561114

or email: sarah@emerybs26.fsnet.co.uk

You can also check online at:

http://www.axbridge-tc.gov.uk/trust/TownHallBookings.html

Axbridge Methodist

Church Services

Every Sunday at 11am

Minister:

Revd. Carol Chaplin

Tel: 01934 852897

SHIPHAM COMMUNITY CAR SCHEME

For Shipham, Rowberrow & Star residents

Coordinator for 2014:

Sue Hucker on 844176

19

COFFIN LANE CAMPAIGN

Local Campaigners Light the Way

The Coffin Lane Campaign group held a

Torchlight Procession on Wednesday 19

November to highlight the perils of walking

along the A371 Cross Lane in the dark. Recent accidents at the notorious A38

crossroads blackspot had focused attention

on just how dangerous this route is, even

for those in cars.

There was an excellent turnout, including local MP Tessa Munt, who marched

with the campaigners and also stayed for

the meeting afterwards, and Don Aldridge,

footpath expert from The Ramblers’

Association.

Tess Gill, campaign coordinator, said, “There is a clear need for a safe, surfaced

path suitable for families with buggies,

cyclists and the disabled. At this time of

year it gets dark early and the dangers of

walking on Cross Lane are increased. Even

with many of us wearing hi-visibility jackets

and carrying torches, it was alarming how some drivers didn’t seem to care how close

they got.”

A meeting followed at the Lamb pub,

Axbridge, where the walkers were joined by

Axbridge residents, including councillors

Mike Taylor and Barbara Myerson representing Axbridge Town Council. The

meeting heard that earlier in the day,

county councillor John Denbee and senior

officials from Somerset County Council

Highways Department met with the

representatives of the campaign to discuss their proposals.

It was agreed that work should be

done to see where a pedestrian/cycle

crossing near the A38/A371 junction could

be located. Once this is clarified, councillor

Denbee would submit the Campaign

proposals for funding under the Small

Improvement Scheme expected to be

available early next year. A lively discussion then took place as to the best

location for the crossing and it was agreed

that all options should be explored.

“We would encourage anyone who has

witnessed an incident at the A38/A371

crossroads or going up Cross Lane A371 to

report it to the police,” said Tess Gill, “As it is only so-called injury incidents that are

recorded by Somerset County Council.”

Further information on the campaign is at

www.coffinlane.com

Public Rights of Way consultation

Somerset County Council Draft Public

Rights of Way consultation currently under

way and is inviting the public to comment

on their Draft Rights of Way

Improvement Plan 2.

Consultation is from 10 December 2014 to 10 March 2015 and if you are

interested in commenting or gaining further

information please visit the website:

http://www.somerset.gov.uk/policies-

and-plans/plans/rights-of-way/

(Scroll down to the draft plan and

questionnaire).

This is an opportunity for all of us who

care about our footpaths, bridleways, cycle

paths etc. to have our say on the future of

these routes.

Obviously, as a local footpath campaign group, we are engaging with this

consultation and would encourage our

supporters to make their voices heard by

filling in the questionnaire.

Campaign Progress

We have secured access for a section

of footpath/cycleway on the corner at the

junction of the A38/A371; clearance work

has been carried out and further work will

be done shortly. This is ongoing, so

volunteers would be most welcome! You can get in touch with us via our

website (www.coffinlane.com) or facebook

(www.facebook.com/coffinlanecampaign) or

email (coffinlane@gmail.com) and can now

follow us on Twitter @TessGill154

Catch this — February 2015

20

Axbridge

Church Rooms

Available for hire

£11 per session. Special rates for weekly or monthly

bookings.

churchoffice@uwclub.net

PETER EVERETT

Registered Osteopath

PETER EVERETT

Registered Osteopath

Practice Premises

12 Woodborough Road

Winscombe

BS25 1AA

Churchill Surgery

‘Mendip Suite’

Pudding Pie Lane

Churchill

BS40 5EL

To make an appointment to be seen at

either address please call:

01934 844764

21

SHIPHAM GARDENING CLUB

Sally Herring writes: Our first

meeting of the year is on Thursday 19

February at 7.30pm in the George Thiery Room, Shipham Village Hall.

The subject of the talk is "Life on the

edge;the Somerset wetlands".

Talks have been arranged for every

monthly meeting except during the summer

months when there will be two outings.

We will be pleased to welcome new members and visitors for whom there will be

a charge of £2. Annual membership is

£7.50.

Refreshments are served at meetings.

Come along and join us; there will be

something of interest for everyone and good company.

PESHAWAR SCHOOL APPEAL

Just before Christmas Taliban gunmen

stormed a school in Pakistan and shot dead at least 141 people, mostly children, in the

worst attack to hit the country in years. The

shock was felt around the world. Officials

said 132 of the victims at the army-run

school, in the north western city of

Peshawar, were children, some as young as 12, while nine others were staff members.

All seven attackers were also killed.

Bath churches have a link in Peshawar

and have been working to bring aid to

victims of the suicide bombing of All Saints

church there since the tragedy in 2013. The

Bath-Peshawar partnership team are now preparing to help survivors of the recent

school attack, which is close to the church of

All Saints. They have agreed to give the

benefit of their own experiences and share

the lessons of the post trauma counselling

and plans are being drawn up to bring urgent medical supplies, counselling and

support to the bereaved.

Revd Alan Bain of St Philip and St

James church, who set up the Help and

Hope project says, “The continuing atrocities

in Pakistan have got to end. Meanwhile we are doing all we can to help and have seen a

tremendous transformation after the All

Saints tragedy. A Christmas celebration for

the orphans of the blast was held and it was

a treat to see the delight in their faces even

though they live in one of the most

dangerous places in the world.”

Qamar Rafiq, a Pakistani national who

lives in Twerton and heads up the team in

Pakistan said “Peshawar is full of sad people.

There is no joy and lots of fear. We are

teaching the victims to see the fear as a

challenge to be overcome. Many children have eating and sleeping disorders and are

afraid to go out, but the counselling sessions

have made a real difference and many have

now returned to school, but because some

of their friends were killed in the attacks it

could set us back again.”

As an aid to focus attention on the tragedy of Peshawar, Bath Abbey have

provided a space in their prayer chapel for a

display of the work and opportunity for pray

and reflection on the tragedy.

Donations for the appeal can be sent to

St Philip and St James Church, 35 Frome

Road, Bath. Telephone: 01225 835228.

AXBRIDGE ACTIVE LIVING

Priscilla Chard writes: Welcome to

Axbridge Active Living for 2015. At the

time of writing we are unsure about a

speaker for Wednesday 4 February and

Wednesday 4 March. However we can

announce this programme: 18 February: Roy Fisher will be

talking about Isambard Kingdom Brunel

18 March: Nick and Carol

talking about “Training of Canine

Companions”.

1 April: Easter Bonnet making

The cost remains at £2.50 (including

tea and cake). Please contact Vicky Brice on telephone

number 07884 2644033 for further

information.

Catch this — February 2015

22

FORWARD EVENTS 5-7 Feb Shipham Players Pantomime

Mother Goose (Village Hall) 7 Feb Axbridge Quiz (7pm for 7.30pm)

18 Feb Ash Wednesday Benefice service 8pm

1 Mar Civic Awards, Axbridge, 3pm

7 Mar Axbridge coffee morning (Town Hall) 15 Mar Ship. Mothering Sunday Svce 10am

21 Mar Men's Big Breakfast (Barton Camp,

Winscombe, 8.30am)

28 Mar Earth Hour: Candlelit Concert at Axbridge Church, 8.30pm

11 Apr Axbridge Beetle Drive (6.30pm)

12 Apr Shipham APCM 11.15am

9 May Somerset Singers Summer Concert:

Faure Requiem, St Cuthbert's Church 13 May Jonathan Vaughn Organ Concert

Cheddar Church 7.30pm

14 May Ascension Day LMG Event

Wedmore Church 6.30pm 16/17 May Shipham History & Memorabilia

Exhibition (Shipham Church; in

conjunction with Shipham History

Society) 21 Jun Father's Day Event

Kings of Wessex School 9.30am

27 June Axbridge Fête

10 Oct St Leonard's Quiz Shipham Village Hall 7.00pm

12 Dec Longwell Green Orchestra

Christmas Concert Shipham Church

If you have any future events that

you would like to see included

please send them through by email

to the Editor:

catch.this.magazine@outlook.com

Further information is also available

at the following websites:

www.stjohnthebaptistaxbridge.org.uk

www.shipham.org.uk

www.axbridge-tc.gov.uk

AXBRIDGE HUSTINGS

On 7 May this year we shall be asked

once again to elect our Parliamentary repre-

sentative from the Wells Constituency. I

can happily say that I have voted in every

General Election since 1970; and for almost

every party over that period! I am truly po-litical, but not “party political”. I have al-

ways tried to cast my vote for the best local

candidate as I judged it.

That judgement has become more diffi-

cult to make over the years as political par-

ties exert more pressure on their MPs to fol-low a party line, rather than allow free-votes

on issues. Once, long ago, I could make my

judgement by attending a meeting in a local

hall and by asking candidates, face-to-face,

where they stood, personally and with con-

viction, on matters that concerned me and others. We expected to get answers, and

usually did!

To bring back that face-to-face oppor-

tunity, I am in the process of organising a

“hustings” event in Axbridge Town Hall

(Monday 13 April 7.30pm). This not on

behalf of any candidate or party. All pro-spective candidates will be invited to attend,

once they announce their intention to stand

for election. This enterprise is entirely my

personal contribution to local democracy. I

shall arrange for an independent chairman

to control the meeting and to ensure that it will not become an imitation of “Prime Min-

ister’s Questions”!

I am pleased to say that at this stage,

five declared Prospective Parliamentary

Candidates for Wells have agreed to speak

from the same platform and to answer

questions from us - the electorate. The candidates who have agreed to attend are

Jeff Bolter (UKIP), Jon Cousins (Green Par-

ty), James Heappey (Cons.), Chris Inchley

(Lab.) and Tessa Munt (LibDem).

Because of the limited space available

in the Town Hall there will have to be a tick-eting system (at no charge). I anticipate

that each participant candidate will receive a

small personal allocation whilst the rest will

be distributed as fairly as can be arranged

(by ballot/public draw). If you would like to

be put on a list for ticket distribution, then please let me have your contact details

(phone number/email address) as soon as

possible.

My details are Paul Passey 01934

733373 paul.passey@yahoo.com

SAVE THE CHILDREN LUNCHES

Kate Baldock writes: the next dates

for lunches will be 6th and 20th February,

at 12.30pm in Shipham Village Hall.

23

BENEVOLENT GLANCING

Diane Kotelnikoff of North Wooton

writes: Those of us working in pastoral care

for the elderly know the value of even a

single telephone call a day to an older person

(or indeed, any person) living on their own.

Taking part in a telephone circle is also a useful way for a person who can no longer

get out into the community to continue to

show love to their neighbours.

There’s an awful lot of loneliness in our

society. My son went out to Sierra Leone

with VSO earlier in the year (just before the Ebola crisis) and what really struck him about

the different way of life there wasn’t to do

with poverty or lack of plumbing or internet,

it was the fact people were never alone - life

was lived in community. (This has ironically

made the spread of the Ebola virus so much worse than it would be our individualistic

culture).

In the Global West many people have

limited face-to-face contact with others on a

daily basis: many people live alone, work

from home or deal with the world from

behind a screen. Do you remember what it was like to

have a loving grandparent look at you with

love in their eyes - as if you were the most

wonderful thing in the whole world? Can you

remember what that felt like - calming,

peaceful and cared-for? Hold that thought. Buddhism refers to the practice as

‘benevolent gazing’. Ann Morisy also speaks

of the importance of ‘soft eyes’. To me it’s

an extension of my prayer list to every

person I pass by. It’s pretty simple: looking

people in the eye, smiling and asking God to

bless their day. You can do it walking along a road and bestow your glances on walkers,

joggers and car drivers. Once in a while

someone will smile back, but you touch their

life whether they do or not. People do notice

because (look around!) very few people walk

around smiling beatifically these days. Richard Rohr, the American Franciscan

theologian and contemplative often mentions

how he once found himself in a local

superstore just smiling at the ‘Tide’ boxes

(Tide is a popular US clothes detergent in a

sunny orange box). Being a Franciscan he also stresses the need to be in communion

with all nature: start by focussing on a rock

in all its created glory, then a small creature,

and then God’s masterpiece in front of you.

A very small number of people get even

one benevolent glance each day - infants and

toddlers hopefully get many, cute kids, lovers

- that’s about it.

Now, go back and remember how good

that felt. What if everyone could feel like that at least once a day? What if we all could

make that happen? Great news – we can.

By being a conduit of creation love and

building the Kingdom every day. We are the

eyes and hands.

The religious and peace activist Sr. Mary

Evelyn Jegen SND who died earlier this year, once said, “Paying attention to what is before

us is a way of prayer, even a definition of

prayer. We know by faith that God is

everywhere. Benevolent glancing is relishing

God by being attentive to what is before us”.

As we start this New Year, let us all ‘relish God’, benevolently focussing on what

is before us.

DOG DAYS

Dog days

Fog days

Hazy days

Lazy days

Days of fruit and wine.

And Autumn gaily waltzes in

On Summer’s slow decline. *

Swallows fly

Say goodbye,

Squirrels bound

Hazelnuts found

Cones fall beneath the pine, And Autumn gaily waltzes in

On Summer’s slow decline.

*

Conkers clack

Starlings are back

Dahlias glow,

Butterflies show their colours bold and fine

And Autumn gaily waltzes in

On Summer’s slow decline.

*

How will it end?

This ‘Indian time’. With rain or frost?

brown leaves tossed

by wind from colder climes

And winter’s hand tight grasps the land,

From Autumn’s sad decline?

© 2014 Sheila Eastland

Catch this — February 2015

24

Catch this — February 2015

THE BENEFICE OFFICE

The Church Steps, The Square,

Axbridge BS26 2AP

Email: churchoffice@uwclub.net

Rectory telephone: 01934 732261

The office, in the Church Rooms, is open on

Friday mornings from 9.30am to 12.30pm

CATCH THIS ORGANISATION

Deadline: 15th of each month

Copy to: catch.this.magazine@outlook.com

Adverts to: Kevin Walke 01934 732256

catch.this.advertising@hotmail.co.uk

Editor: Kevin Walke 01934 732256

catch.this.magazine@outlook.com

Correspondents:

Shipham Julia Bradshaw 844954

Rowberrow Sue Gunn 842223

Axbridge Paul Passey 733373

Robin Hood and Babes in the Wood Mendip Players is delighted to be performing

its annual Pantomime Robin Hood and Babes in the Wood on the evening of Friday 6 February with both a matinee and evening performance on Saturday 7 February in Draycott and Rodney Stoke Memorial Hall. Evening performances start at 7.30pm, matinee at 2pm.

Watch in excitement and suspense as the story unfolds. The wicked and greedy Prince John is desperate to become King, but King Richard’s children stand in the way of him and the throne of England. So he orders them kidnapped and killed. Can Robin Hood and his Merry Men, as-sisted save the day? A fun-filled traditional pan-tomime with plenty of audience participation.

It promises to be an evening you won’t want to miss, so save the date now! Tickets will be available from Gillian (01934 741413) and Dray-cott Post Office in January 2015. Tickets £7.50 and £4. There will be a bar and raffle at each per-formance. For further details call Vicky (742477).

Coffee Morning Axbridge Town Hall

Saturday 7 March 9am until noon

The stalls will include Jewellery, Scarves, Bags and Crafts

so come and relax, browse the stalls and have a drink whilst taking a break from the Farmers’ Market outside

25

CHEDDAR VALLEY FOOD BANK

A TIME OF REFLECTION

Sue Albone writes:

This Christmas saw the

first anniversary of the

C h e d d a r V a l l e y

Foodbank. We have come a long way since its

concept two years ago. Back in October

2012 I first questioned was there a need, in

our area, for a food bank? I am humbled to

admit that I knew nothing about their

operation at that time so I met with Revd.

Sharon Crossman who in 2011 started and continues to operate the Highbridge &

Burnham Foodbank. The following month,

with husband John, we both started to

engage with the residents and listen to their

questions and build awareness at every

Farmers Market in Axbridge Square. The following January I met with the Cheddar

Valley Churches to reach out further to our

church communities as well.

The past two years has been a time of

meeting the challenge of vital fundraising,

giving presentations to Parish Councils and many groups including three Rotarian

groups. Engaging with the general public

and through the media wherever possible, to

break down misperceptions about how our

Trussell Trust Foodbank operates.

Now I feel there is a real improved

level of awareness where we live. The Cheddar Valley Foodbank has been able to

help over 260 individuals and families in the

past year with food. Their visits have also

given us a valuable insight into the real

issues many people face, especially low

income families; so many of these have come from behind closed doors on finding

themselves in real need of help and support

during a sudden crisis.

With your help of donations of food and

funds, as well as volunteering, there is vital

food support available for those in our communities whilst their problems are being

resolved and their dignity restored once

more. The existence of foodbanks including

our rural one will be with us for the

foreseeable future I believe.

I have recently recognised, with much

prayer and consideration that it is time for me to step back from the foodbank and let

the operation and committee grow with

fresh blood and new ideas in 2015. My

original vision has come to fruition, with

much love and support of prayers by so

many and my husband John by my side so

often, for which I thank you.

It is now a time of reflection for us as we enter 2015. There is always a need to

be heard and a need for support within our

communities and no doubt we will rise to

this calling when the time comes.

SHIPHAM FOODBANK COLLECTIONS

Dave Rogers writes: A huge thank

you to everyone who has donated food to

the boxes located in Shipham Church and

school.

Cheddar Valley Foodbank activities are

consistent with the national trend of Foodbank needs and usage (see graph

below), increasing year on year as the

depression and latterly changes to, and

delays in paying benefits have impacted on

the need for Foodbanks.

If you haven't yet made any donations,

please consider buying just one extra tin,

packet or jar of non-perishable food with a

good sell-by date and placing it in one of the

boxes. A full list of suggested items can be

found on the Shipham Parish Website at

www.shipham.org.uk (follow the link for

the Foodbank). There are also lists placed

with the boxes in Shipham Church and

Shipham school. It is not a question of targets but

rather more a case of meeting a need which

continues to increase. Can you make a

regular donation to help meet this need and

to help local families in crisis?

We look forward to the continuing donations from existing supporters and

hopefully from new contributors.

Catch this — February 2015

UK figures for Trussell Trust Foodbanks

26

SOMERSET LOCAL ACCESS FORUM

Would you like to improve and

develop the paths and public

green space network in

Somerset? The Somerset Local

Access Forum is recruiting new

members now. Do you enjoy and/or have

expertise and experience in

walking, horse riding, cycling

and driving on Somerset’s Public Rights of

Way network? If so, this could be your

opportunity to make a real contribution in Somerset.

You could be part of the team that

helps develop and improve Somerset’s

public paths and green space to benefit

matters such as land management,

recreation, health, equality and diversity, disabled access, planning, transport,

economy, conservation and tourism.

The Forum has helped to shape the

development of Somerset’s Rights of Way

Improvement and Action Plan and helped to

develop the County’s innovative Community

Paths Partnership – a scheme to enable willing volunteers to get actively involved

helping us to maintain and improve

Somerset’s rights of way network.

There are now vacancies for new

members to represent the following

categories:

public green space for recreation and travel;

land, especially with open access or public

rights of way;

-related interests

e.g. tourism, health, disability or transport.

The Forum meets twice a year with

additional training or working groups as

required. Certain expenses or allowances

can be claimed.

If you have the time, experience and enthusiasm to make a valuable and

constructive contribution to the work of the

Forum, an application form and person

specification is available to download at

http://www.somerset.gov.uk/get-involved/

community/somerset-local-access-forum/ or from:

Local Access Forum Secretary

Somerset County Council Rights of Way

Maintenance and Development Team,

County Hall, Taunton, Somerset TA1 4DY or

contact them by telephone on 01823

356018/356264. Alternatively you can

email SLAF@somerset.gov.uk

The closing date for return of completed application forms is Friday 27

February 2015. For an informal discussion

about the work of the Forum, please contact

Lisa Portman (01823 356264) or Emma

Parsons (01823 356018).

GOD AT WORK: LATEST MANNA

Every day , ou r

chaplains, over 100 of

them paid and unpaid,

share God’s love in our

communities. Quietly,

and without need for recognition or praise,

they do not wait for

people to come to our

churches; they take

the church to them. In

our schools and

un iv e rs i t i e s , ou r hospitals and hospices, our town centres

and businesses, our industry and armed

forces, they are sometimes described as the

‘public face of God’.

In the latest issue of Manna we look at

who they are, what they do, and perhaps most importantly, why they do it.

There are stories from the high street

in Taunton, police cells in Bridgwater,

Academy classrooms and hospital wards in

Bath. We hear how chaplaincy offers care,

space, support and prayer to around 15,000

students and 2,500 staff in the University of Bath in our Interview. There’s a moving tale

of how our Street Pastors share love without

judgment, and we discover how one parish

took a bold step in breaking from tradition

to create, quite literally, their own pilgrim in

our Parish Profile. Make sure to pick your copy up from

your local church, or read it online at

www.bathandwells.org.uk/manna and let

these stories of thriving spiritual life amidst

our increasingly secular society lift your

spirit this winter, and perhaps inspire you to join them.

Email manna@bathwells.anglican.org if

you can’t find a copy.

Catch this — February 2015

27

The Directory for Axbridge, Rowberrow and Shipham

Axb. ACTIVE LIVING Vicky Brice 07884264033 Axb. ARCHEOLOGY & LOCAL HISTORY SOCIETY Robin Goodfellow 732874

Axb. BELLRINGERS Roy Shallish 732137

Axb. BROWNIES Liz Foster 732935 Axb. CAVING GROUP Alan Gray 01761 52288

Axb. CHAMBER OF COMMERCE Pat Filer 733078

Axb. COMMUNITY ALLOTMENT Dave Maclay 733221 Axb. COMMUNITY THEATRE (drama group) John Bailey 733547

Axb. CRICKET CLUB Phil Saunders 732354

Axb. CYCLING CLUB Jennifer Trotman 733306

Axb. FAMILY GROUP (young family support) Anne Beech 732109 Axb. FIRST SCHOOL ACADEMY (C. of E.) Secretary 732391

Axb. FRIENDS OF AXBRIDGE CHURCH Penny Cooke 733304

Axb. FRIENDS OF AXBRIDGE MUSEUM Kate Browne 733208 Axb. GUIDES Bev Davies 732168

Axb. INDEPENDENT WOMEN Patricia Clarke 733658

Axb. LITTLE ANGELS (mother & toddler group) Ann Smith 07843946949 Axb. METHODIST CHURCH Rev. Carole Chaplin 852897

Axb. MUSEUM TRUST Kate Browne 733208

Axb. PAGEANT ASSOCIATION John Kendall 732103 Axb. ROXY CINEMA Juliet Maclay 733221

Axb. ROYAL BRITISH LEGION Brian Winder 01278 785696

Axb. SAXONS JUNIORS (football) Pete Thomson 733218

Axb. SAXONS VETERANS (football) Stuart Butlin 734626 Axb. SEA CADETS Baz Hamblin 733939

Axb. SINGERS (mixed choir) Stella Moore 732282

Axb. SPORTS AND SOCIAL (fundraising) Pauline Ham 732062 Axb. SURGERY Reception 732464

Axb. SUSTAINABLE AXBRIDGE NETWORK David Parkin 733762

Axb. TOWN COUNCIL Town Clerk 07884 264033 Axb. TOWN HALL (booking) Sarah Emery 07748 561114

Axb. VOICES PROJECT (recording oral history) Maggie Tur 732855

Axb. YOUNG ACT (junior drama group) Wendy Mace 734603 Benefice CHOIR Martin Latham 733010

Benefice MOTHERS’ UNION Janet Angle 733695

Rwb. BELLRINGERS Adrian Adams 820058 Rwb. FRIENDS OF ROWBERROW CHURCH Maggi Fiske 842321

Shp. ACTIVE LIVING Gloria Tyson 842360

Shp. AFC (football) Steve Dodd 843660

Shp. AFC VETERANS (football) Ian Shaw 842114 Shp. ART GROUP John Moorhouse 842272

Shp. BABY & TODDLERS Becca Wilson 853646

Shp. BADMINTON Ann Bracegirdle 843233 Shp. BELLRINGERS Lynne Binnie 744480

Shp. BROWNIES Sally Hansford 842879

Shp. CALLIGRAPHY Sue Waterhouse 01278 722793 Shp. COMMUNITY CAR SCHEME Don Hurrell 842717

Shp. COMMUNITY CINEMA Norma Scanlon 842845

Shp. CUBS Dave Peake (Akela) 844612 Shp. FIRST SCHOOL Secretary 843485

Shp. FRIENDSHIP CIRCLE Avril Long 733053

Shp. GARDENING CLUB Jenny Humberstone 843149

Shp. GUIDES Jenny Hill 742480 Shp. K@CH (church for children) Christine Prince 844909

Shp. KEEP FIT Lorraine Beer 842764

Shp. LENNY’S COFFEE SHOP Jill Lewis 782845 Shp. PARISH COUNCIL (clerk) Samantha Peake 844612

Shp. PLAYERS (drama group) Daniel Jeffery 744882

Shp. PRE-SCHOOL Administrator 844511 Shp. SAVE THE CHILDREN LUNCHES Jan Agate 842607

Shp. SCOUTS Paul Bradshaw 844954

Shp. SEW & SEWS Barbara Hillier 843984 Shp. Shipham, Rowberrow & Star History Society Jill Smith 842291

Shp. VILLAGE HALL (booking) B. Moorhouse 07740 991338

Shp. WOMEN’S INSTITUTE Sandra Newton 843464 Shp. YOUTH CLUB Paula Barrow 843577

Local Food Bank (Cheddar Valley) Matt Dumelow 07992 309369

Local RNLI Ann Hart 852258

28

SERVICES IN FEBRUARY

Sunday 1 February: Candlemas

8.00am SHIPHAM (Holy Communion)

10.00am AXBRIDGE (Parish Communion)

10.00am SHIPHAM (K@CH)

4.00pm ROWBERROW (Evensong)

Sunday 8 February: Second Sunday before Lent

8.00am AXBRIDGE (Holy Communion)

10.00am SHIPHAM (Parish Communion)

10.30am ROWBERROW (Matins)

6.30pm AXBRIDGE (Iona Style Eucharist)

Sunday 15 February: Sunday before Lent

8.00am ROWBERROW (Holy Communion)

10.00am AXBRIDGE (Parish Communion)

10.00am SHIPHAM (Together in Worship)

Wednesday 18 February: Ash Wednesday

8.00pm AXBRIDGE (United Benefice Communion)

Sunday 22 February: Lent 1

10.00am SHIPHAM (Parish Communion)

10.00am AXBRIDGE (Parish Communion + Prayers for Healing)

4.00pm ROWBERROW (Evensong)

Sunday 1 March: Lent 2

8.00am SHIPHAM (Holy Communion)

10.00am AXBRIDGE (Parish Communion)

10.00am SHIPHAM (K@CH)

4.00pm ROWBERROW (Evensong)

Midweek Communions in February

10.30am 4 February Rowberrow

10.00am 11 February Shipham

10.00am 18 February Axbridge

11.00am 25 February Axbridge Court

Evening Prayers of Compline

9.00pm 14 February Axbridge