Category: News

Some homes and businesses in Horsington now have a (comparatively) superfast broadband connection. But those who live more than 1km (just over half a mile) from the BT cabinet at the entrance to Horsington House still have to put up with the often painfully slow service.
Indeed two thirds of Horsington Blog readers say, in an admittedly small poll, that their service has deteriorated since the introduction of the superfast service at the end of September.

Residents on the Marsh and further afield have been trying to get BT to extend the reach of superfast  broadband, and resident Penny Nagle has been badgering anyone who will listen – BT, MP  David Warburton and local councillor Tim Inglefield. The latter two have been very helpful and supportive. BT has not even condescended to answer letters.

According to BT, and Connecting Devon and Somerset, the official body charged with introducing superfast, the Horsington area is now deemed to be upgraded and no further action is planned, so it is now up to residents to take matters into their own hands.

Penny Nagle has been investigating various routes with the support of Tim Inglefield.

They are  looking at whether businesses can receive a grant to install broadband infrastructure, which means that households can get it for the usual price of signing up for an Internet Service Provider.

It’s likely to be through satellite, or wifi broadband, though Penny is pushing to see if we can get Gigaclear, which is fibre optic direct into your home not using the copper wire network.

If the service is provided by WiFi, then philanthropic landowners in the area are needed to come forward to host a mast on their land   Each mast will provide line of site coverage for about 7.5 km (4.5 miles) A wifi mast  could serve  Horsington, South Cheriton, Cucklington and Stoke Trister .

We need high ground that everyone can see, and there may be a case for more than one spot.  If anyone has any ideas (churches are good!) please let Penny know, as this is the back up plan if Connecting Devon and Somerset takes too long.

If you would like to receive superfast, please email  your postcode and telephone number  to Penny at pennynagle@gmail.com. Please do this by January 1^st. The information will only be shared with Connecting Devon and Somerset.  

Useful links for more information:
Broadband availability checker  https://www.dslchecker.bt.com/adsl/ADSLChecker.AddressOutput
Wessex broadband  http://www.wessexinternet.com/HomeBroadband.

Pictures of WiFi masts – very small scale and unobtrusive when affixed to buildings -even churches.

 

The White Horse in South Cheriton will be open on New Years Eve. James is putting on a firework display at midnight to welcome in the new year.

On New Years Day the pub will be offering a delicious roast for those who can’t face  cooking with a hangover.

Make a note of the charity quiz on Sunday 17th January.

The Blog’s racing correspondent Winterborne Longjohns successfully tipped Cue Card to win the King George VI Chase at Kempton Park. Colin Tizzard’s horse pipped  Vautor in a thrilling photo finish. The price was 9/2, although better odds were available in the days leading up to the race.

Al Ferof, also tipped by Winterbourne came in 3rd at 16/1.

Had you followed the blog and  bet £1 to win on Cue Card, you would have won £4.50. An each way bet on Al Ferof would have returned £3.20.

Congratulations to Winterborne. Keep them coming!

The Editor and his team of hard working elves wish all our followers and readers an excellent and happy Christmas.

Spare a thought for the sick, the lonely and the bereaved in the best tradition of this wonderful village.

More in 2016

Ed

The Blog’s exclusive racing correspondent has sent this dispatch for the encouragement of the dwindling band of punters who see profit in horse racing.

Unseasonal weather, heavy going and uncertain form lines all make for hazardous punting unless perhaps one follows my colleague Swinley Bottom’s taste  for afternoon and early evening diversions on the all weather tracks at such unlikely places as Chelmsford, Lingfield , Southwell and Wolverhampton.

The absence of reliable information from the Harry Fry yard  has meant that our previous money making trainer cannot be profitably followed this season. Although this stables strike rate is almost a very commendable 25% with 24 winners coming from 107 runners since the beginning of September this months  impressive 8 winners from 22 runners  has only rewarded Fry’s starting price supporters with a 2.25% profit after 22 bets. As a friend of mine once so succintly pit it, Blow that for a Game of Soldiers !

Small solace too for the  followers of Kim Baileys excellent and consistently award winning Blog that so regularly provides its readers with good information, updated photographs and a good joke to start the day. So what to do ?

-Difficult I know but supporting local trainers might be the answer. Fry has only one possible runner at Wincanton. SIR IVAN, who tailed off at Newbury last time out while four other possibles with much better form are at present entered at Kempton . My own inclinatioin is to look long and hard at anything trained by CUE CARD’s South Somerset  handlers, the father and son Tizzard team  ,and also at anything coming from Frys near neighbour Anthony Honeyball of Potwell Farm, – nice name !- near Beaminister.

As for my own principal bets this Christmas, I am nominating CUE CARD on the King George at Kempton ,and AL FEROF, surely outstanding value at 18/1,  SIZING GOLD and HEATHFIELD  in the Paddy Power Chase and finally DON POLI for the Lexus chase at Leopardstown.

On New Years Day I am advised by my social secretary, not Mrs Badger incidentally,  that I am invited to lunch with Willie Mullins sister on board the narrow boat Ariadne. Lets hope something comes of this. Apologies for the late appearance of this bulletin but our editor has been incommunicado for some now,  probably recovering from his overindulgence in Lidl;s 2014 Chianti, a real snip at £7.49p a bottle  and a strong recommendation which he so so selfishly witheld from my readers in my last racing newsletter.

We find Lidl’s £4.50 Chianti, now no longer available sadly, to be so good, that we need not look further afield. Their Barolo at a tenner a bottle also looks like an excellent buy. -Ed.

There was hardly a centimetre to spare in Horsington Church this afternoon for a very moving memorial service for Jane Jones, who died on the 7th December.

The Blog will publish a longer tribute to the much loved and respected Jane soon. If you have any anecdotes or remembrances to contribute, please email the editor at editor@idnet.com.

The White Horse at South Cheriton has been serving a delicious Christmas dinning during December, and there are still ten days left to enjoy it. The cost is £22 per person, but you have to pre-order. 01963 370 394. or jameskingcole@hotmail.co.uk

If you’re stuck for a last minute Christmas present for the person who has everything, then why not give a Half Moon Double Up voucher?

Buy a voucher for £12.50 in December, and enjoy £25 worth of food and drink in January. It’s a simple as that! The voucher must be used for a meal, with or without a drink. NOT valid Sundays or Mondays.

Available from the bar now.

We are sure you know this already, but . . . .

On Christmas Eve it’s carols and mince pies at the Half Moon from around 8pm. The Horsington Chamber Orchestra has been practicing madly. We hear there are some new ones this year. And the Horsington Symphony Orchestra will be making its debut. All Welcome.

On Christmas day the pub is open during the lunchtime session from 12 noon until 2 pm. Come and spill something down that new  jumper from marks and sparks.

On Sunday 27 December the Half Moon has its Quiz of the Year with a special mystery guest Quizmaster. Teams of 4 or more, usual rules. 8pm.

Andrew, Philippa and family look forward to welcoming everyone over the Christmas season.

 

Regular activities (Village Hall unless stated).
Mondays         Pilates 6pm
Tuesdays         Upholstery 10.30 am , Badminton 8pm,
Wednesdays  Adult tap dancing 10am
Thursdays      Art 10.00
Fridays            Art 10.00

Other Events
Wed 2nd    Music Night  Half Moon Inn 8.30pm
Wed 2nd    Father Christmas visit  Half Moon Inn 8.45pm
Thurs 3rd  W.I .  Christmas Party  Village HALL 7.30pm
Thurs 3rd  Father Christmas  White Horse, South Cheriton 7.45pm
Sat 5th         Horsington Christmas Fayre. Gartell Light Railway 11am-3pm
Sat 5th        Defibrillator Fund Bake Off Competition White Horse Inn
Mon 7th      Ladies lunch Group  Crown & Victoria, Tintinhull
Tues 8th     North Cheriton Gardeners Society North Cheriton Village Hall 7.30pm.
Wed 9th     Film: Woman in Gold  King Arthurs School 7.30pm
Thur 10th  Parish Council Meeting.  Village Hall 7.30pm
Sun 13th    Wincanton Choral Society Winter Concert King Arthur’s School 7.30pm
Thur 24th  Carols by Candlelight St John’s, Horsington 6.00pm    

St John’s Church services

6th December        9.15am Holy Communion with Sunday School
13th December       11 am Morning Prayer
20th December       9.15am Holy Communion
Christmas Eve         6.00pm Candlelit Carols
Christmas Day        9.15am Holy Communion
27th December       10.30am United Service Henstridge Parish Church