Wincanton’s High Street eyesore, Green Dragon Antiques, will be bulldozed to the ground shortly, predicts our resident mystic.
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Mystic Mick predicts . . .
Category: News
News and events in the Horsington area
Wanted -old books
Old books are needed for the bookstall at the Horsington Music & Craft festival, to be held on Saturday April 5th.
If you have any books you wish to donate, please tell Mardi Bennett –370273. Or drop them in at the Old Bakery, opposite the Half Moon.
First editions and rare books welcome!
Horsington Craft and Music Festival – April 5th
Fasten your seatbelts for a great Saturday in Horsington. On Saturday April 5th. .Eight bands will play at an all- day music festival, alongside a crafts fair, a model circus exhibition, children’s’ rides, the Castle Carey carnival bus and a bouncy castle. Full catering will be provided. The venue is the Half Moon pub, and its environs.
There will also be plenty of trade stands selling local crafts, art, books, jewellery, clothing and local produce.
John Samson, who has organized the festival single handed, promises a great day, rain or shine, with something for everyone.
The fair opens at 10 am and the first band starts playing at 10.30
The festival is in aid of the Horsington area defibrillator fund, and the associated VETS (Village Emergency Telephone Service), which will be used to summon the volunteers in case of an emergency.
The festival has a long and distinguished list of 23 sponsors who are supporting the event financially or practically. This includes John Samsom’s company, Somerset Mini Marquees, which is providing all the tentage and weather protection.
The band running order is:
1 pm The Dissipated Men’s Washboard band
2 pm Tom Clements
3 pm King Arthur’s Rock Band
4 pm The Defibrillators
5 pm The 2-foot Moose B
6.30 pm Theya & Band
8 pm Makeshift People Band
9 pm Rip It Up
Looks like being a great day – enjoy!
Election News
There could be a local election soon. Stop yawning at the back!
Charles James, deputy chair, of Horsington Parish council resigned after the last meeting. He told the meeting that he believes the council is ineffective, most of its members contribute little, and that it has little or no influence on planning. But he also believes it needn’t be like that!
Many people think Horsington’s Parish Council could do with a change, but for this to happen enough people have to stand in order to force an election. If they don’t then the council will go on co-opting members and it will continue as it is.
His resignation means that at least 2 people have to stand. If that happens, there will be an election.
Come on! Show some public spirit. Your parish needs you. But again, you have to move fast. Nominations close on Monday 31st March, when they have to be delivered to SSDC at Brympton Way.
Long live democracy
Farewell Charles, come back soon
The blog is dismayed that Charles James has resigned from the Horsington Parish Council.
Charles has been a real do-er. He designed and installed the sluice gates on the pond, strimmed the river banks, planted bulbs, created a beautifully-crafted notice board for the village, and organised the successful defibrillator campaign, obtaining funding from public bodies and charities. He even, despite being a non-golfer, created the beautiful base of the Horsington Open Golf Trophy, now residing splendidly behind the bar at the Half Moon.
This makes him sound like a frightful do-gooder, which he most emphatically is not!
On behalf of the village, the blog would like to thank him for his efforts, and note, thankfully, that he still intends to live here. Thanks Charles.
Milborne Port Opera wins two major awards for “Iolanthe”
Milborne Port Opera, which features two Horsington residents, has won two major awards, against stiff opposition from companies from all over Somerset, in the annual David Beach Awards for musical theatre, presented by the Somerset Fellowship of Drama.
Milborne Port Opera were nominated by a panel of experts for 3 awards, and won two – Best Chorus, and the David Beach Challenge Trophy, for the way in which they so cleverly transform the Village Hall into a theatre. Both awards were for MilbornePort’s last show “Iolanthe” by Gilbert & Sullivan, produced by Horsington’s Chris Bailward, directed by Naomi Booth, with Peter Mumford from Wincanton as musical director.
Chris Bailward commented “ We are delighted to win 2 out of 3 awards, against stiff competition. They confirm our ability as choral singers and performers and our commitment to providing great entertainment for our audiences”.
Milborne Port Opera’s next show is Gilbert & Sullivan’s “Utopia Ltd”, a comic opera about banking, finance, aristocracy, celebrity media and the mafia. It revolves around the small South Pacific island of Utopia’s attempts to turn itself into a limited company. It is one of G&S’s less well-known works, and the production team have sharpened its satirical edge with some judicious re-writes and updating. Both Chris Bailward and Richard Gaunt appear in the show.
The show runs at the Milborne Port Village Hall from April 23-26, the week after Easter. Tickets from boxoffice@milborneportopera.co.uk Telephone 07926 983585.
Help for Somerset flood victims
A three-pronged bid to help flood-hit home-owners and communities has been unveiled by Somerset County Council. We trust the Parish Council will pursue any opportunities to improve drainage and flood protection in Horsington and the Marsh which this scheme will help, although inevitably most of the money will probably go to those who live on the Levels
The Council is proposing more than £250,000 in new funding to help those hit by floods. It comes on the back of £300,000 of funding towards schemes that help prevent flooding in the first place.
The proposals will see:
- A £50,000 grant to help people suffering hardship after flooding at home
- £200,000 in grants available for flood schemes
- £300,000 available to work in partnership with other agencies to begin to dredge key rivers including the River Parrett (But probably not the Bow Brook -Ed)
- A commitment to lobby Government and Environment Agency for extra flood prevention funding for Somerset.
“Cabinet member David Hall said “Last year we also made £200,000 available for individuals and communities to bid for funding to help prevent flooding. This year we are considering the same again with a further £200,000. These small grants can make a huge difference, and we are keen to ensure that Parish Councils and Community Groups are directly involved to ensure maximum benefit to their areas.
“We have already put aside £300,000 for river dredging. This money will be made available to the Environment Agency and we are working with others to boost this fund. This work includes lobbying Government and Government agencies for additional contributions.”
Somerset County Council says it is committed to ensuring everyone who may be eligible for emergency relief grants can access emergency funds swiftly. They are also encouraging anyone who wishes to help those most affected by the floods to donate. Donations can be made via the Community Council for SomertetSomerset website www.somersetcf.org.uk or call us on 01749 344949.”
Katherine Armstrong Chief Executive of the Community Council for Somerset (CCS) said: “Our Village Agents are out in communities and will reach as many clients as possible who have and are affected by the floods. Visit our website to see if you have an agent near you or pass on our details if you know someone who may benefit from our support service. Visit: www.somersetrcc.org.uk/work-village-agents-project.php
Details of how to apply for an emergency flood relief grant are available on the Somerset Community Foundation web-site www.somersetcf.org.uk.
Music and craft fair in April to raise funds
Diary note for April: John Sansom is busy organizing the Horsington Music and craft fair, which will take place at the Half Moon on Saturday 5th April from 10am till late.
The event will feature a variety of craft and other stalls with the music festival featuring 6 , yes 6, live bands and an open mic competition.
All proceeds from this event will go towards the defibrillator and VETS funding so please do support it.
Craft stands are available at £6 per table, so get knitting! Entry tickets are £3 in advance (available from the Half Moon or John Sansom) or £5 on the day.
With John’s enthusiasm this promises to be a memorable day, one to put in your diary. All enquiries to John on 370178.
Defbrilator needs your help (and money)
There will be a meeting in the Half Moon on the 20th February at 7.00pm on the progress of the defibrillator to be fitted into the Telephone box at Horsington and to provide information regarding the defibrillator and the VETS system (Village Emergency Telephone System).
This is your chance to get involved!
Volunteers are needed to transport the defibrillator to the causality and operate it.(familiarisation will be given). Some volunteers have stepped forward, but more are needed. Medical or first aid experience is an obvious advantage.
Without the support of the residents THIS WILL NOT SUCCEED so please do lend your support. Tthis is a vital piece of life saving equipment which you may be grateful for one day.
Please do attend. Contact details; Charles James 371166
Funding for the defibrillator to date has been solely from a community development grant and the voluntary (and generous) contributions and fund raising from private individuals. No funding has been requested from the parish council.
Charles James would like to thank all those who have kindly donated towards the defibrillator – without your generosity we would not be at this stage – thank you!
Curry Night is back at the Half Moon
Our restaurant critic writes: One of the good things about the winter is” Ruby Tuesday” at the Half Moon. For those not acquainted with rhyming slang, “Ruby” is Ruby Murray – curry – geddit?
This year Andrew Tarling has excelled himself, taking the art of Indian cuisine to new heights. The beef vindaloo was hot, beautifully spiced and served with rice, poppadoms and an onion bhaji.
The other diners enjoyed Indian butter chicken and lamb passanda, and declared them to be excellent.
Terrific value at £10 for two. Extra poppadoms and onion bhaji at an additional charge.
Curry night is every Tuesday. There is normally a communal table for those who wish to meet their neighbours and have a chat.
The Half moon is now on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/pages/the-half-moon-inn-horsington/231368486886616