The Horsington Blog

Was it a co-incidence? A sign announcing “Pub Quiz Bank Holiday Sunday” appeared at the entrance to the village a few hours after the Blog’s lament that The Half Moon seems to have dropped the traditional Bank Holiday Quiz. Certainly there was nothing at the New Year or Easter.

But now, it seems, the quiz is back, and will be welcomed by the many local teams who vie with each other for the coveted winners title. Let’s hope Andrew continues to allow us to exercise our brains at Bank holiday time. It will round off the cricket nicely.

Pub Quiz
8.30
Bank Holiday Sunday
Teams of 4-ish.

The cricket season looms. Pads and boots are being whitened, trousers pressed and bats oiled. Yes, it’s time for Horsington’s annual match against the famous Tabard Pilgrims, a pub touring side from Chiswick, West London, the former home of at least two Horsington residents.

The match takes place on Bank Holiday Sunday, starting at 2 pm, at the cricket ground next to the village hall.

Horsington’s captain Christian Bennett has selected a team he believes can trounce the London invaders. His side features a number of erstwhile hockey players, so we should see some big hitters. Charlie Mann, with his “interesting” bowling action is in the team, along with Nick Mattravers and the two Lane brothers.

Horsington has won only one game out of the series, now in its seventh year. Will 2017 be the year the tables are turned?

Any  cricketers seeking a game should contact Andrew Tarling at the Half Moon to see if there are any vacancies to fill – on either side.

Spectators are very welcome. The match always attracts a good crowd, and a thrilling finish is usually guaranteed. This is relaxed, informal village cricket at its best.

There will be the usual post match gathering, with food and a pub quiz at the Half Moon.  Get a team together and join the fun.

Charles James, the brains behind the pond, reports:

The pond is near completion, we await the wildlife information board from the suppliers then all is done.

I spotted this morning a pair of fledgling Grey Wagtails on the side of the pond, it would appear that they have nested around the pond.

The RSPB put the Grey Wagtail at Red status, which means they have the highest conservation priority (species needing urgent action).

Species receiving Red status are either globally threatened or have shown a 50% decline in UK breeding population over the last 25 years so it is encouraging to see them breeding here.

It was also pleasing to see our local children playing in the dipping pond over the weekend.

Horsington Manor has been put on the market with an asking price of £5.5 million. The price includes over 100 acres, a swimming pool, tennis court and a solar farm. A further 90 acres of agricultural land is available for purchase separately. Strutt &Parker and Knight Frank are jointly handling the sale. 

See an important comment on this post

If you enjoyed Patrick Mileham’s talk on the Battle of Waterloo last year, this one’s for you. North Cheriton’s former soldier, military historian and university lecturer will talk about the Battle of Arras, fought in France 100 years ago.

The battle of Arras was fought by 23 British, Australian and Canadian divisions against the Germans from 9 April to 16 May 1917. At the same time the battles for Vimy Ridge, north of Arras, and the first and second battles of the Scarpe, and Bullecourt were also raging,

Our speaker will question the story -forwards and backwards, for conscripts and volunteers, soldiers and commanders, statesmen and civilians – and delve into that spirit which eventually collapsed and that spirit which prevailed.

Very interesting!

Friday 19th
May @ 7.30pm
St John’s Church
Horsington

Suggested Donation £8 inc Refreshments
For information:
Tel 01963 371478

Congratulations to Hayward Burt,  the Tory Candidate in the by election to replace the late Tim Inglefield. In a simple 3-horse race he polled 70 per cent of the votes and was a clear winner. Last time round the Tories, with 2 candidates, polled 59% cent of the votes.

South Somerset District Council – Blackmore Vale Ward

Somerset County Council 
Source: Somerset County Council

William Wallace holds Blackmore Vale with an increased vote of 495 . His total was  1905. The turnout was 40%.

Somerset Tories  improved their majority on the council, but John Osman, Council Leader, lost his seat in Wells

Somerset County Council (gain/losses in brackets)

Conservatives 35 (+4)

• Liberal Democrats 12 (-2)
• Labour3 (-)
• Independent Group 3 (+1)
• Green Party 2 (+2)
• UK Independence Party 0 (-3)

The Conservative Group now has an overall majority of 15 seats.

Blackmore Vale – County Council

Blackmore Vale Ward by election – South Somerset District Council. – conservative win for Hayward Burt.
The Blog congratulates William Wallace on his increased majority on a higher turnout. And Hayward Burt on his first victory in Somerset.

Hauser & Wirth  at Bruton are staging their Somerset “Sound of Silent” festival, to celebrate 100 years of music and movies.

The festival kicks off next Friday 12 May at 6.30 pm with a screening of Eisenstein’s  masterpiece  “Battleship Potemkin” on a big screen with a live accompaniment of original music. This a rare chance to see this very famous Russian film from the Soviet era.

https://www.hauserwirthsomerset.com/events/thesoundofsilent

Horsington resident Penny Nagle’s new company Where West Begins is behind the other screenings in the festival, which runs from the 12- 14 May.  As you can see, many of these screening are particularly suited to young people, particularly those who want to learn about how films are made.

“Singin’ in the Rain” – Sunday 14 May at 11am – “the greatest musical of all time” + Professor Millie Taylor talking why it’s so great. Millie Taylor is Professor of Musical Theatre at Winchester University and author of several books on the subject including “Musical Theatre, Realism and Entertainment”.
http://wherewestbegins.org.uk/event/singin-in-the-rain-prof-millie-taylor-hauser-wirth-somerset-may-13/

Charlie Chaplin’s “The Circus” with circus skills workshop from Frome’s Circus AllStars  – Saturday 13 May at 2pm.  Everyone gets very excited about juggling feathers and then collapses laughing in a heap in front of a 90 year old black and white movie.  It’s an amazing thing to see.  http://wherewestbegins.org.uk/event/charlie-chaplin-circus-1928-u-circus-stars-circus-skills-workshop-hauser-wirth-somerset/

Bruton’s Youth Cinema Foundation’s workshop with Yeovil’s Castaways Theatre Group on making film followed by a screening of “Bugsy Malone” Sunday 14 May at 2.30pm.  http://wherewestbegins.org.uk/event/bugsy-malone-hauser-wirth-somerset-may-14-castaways-theatre-group-youth-cinema-foundation/

Where West Begins also stages films at Wincanton Town Hall and the newly refurbished Westlands Centre, Yeovil. Full details on their very comprehensive website.