News, comment and gossip for Horsington, the Cheritons and surrounding villages in Somerset
“Utopia” at Milborne Port Village hall seems to be going down very well, judging by the comments.
Thursday was a sell out, and Friday is fairly full. But there are still tickets for the last night on Saturday, which is often regarded as the best night.
This is probably your only chance to see this rarely-performed comic opera.
Go to original story to see all the comments -Ed
Due to popular demand, Tuesday curry nights at the Half Moon will re-start on Tuesday 29 April and continue until Andrew decides to do something else. The curries get better and better, and, at a tenner for 2, this represents stunning value.
Ten teams lined up for the Half Moon’s Easter Sunday Quiz, well organized by the Blackmore Vale Lions. Victory –their second consecutive one – went to the Ted Banks Appreciation Society, who came from behind to win by 2 points. Is there any limit to the towering intellect displayed by these giants? We shall see. The next quiz is over the bank holiday at the end of May.
The Blog has been going for four years, and we’ve had a few laughs (Really? -Ed)
One of our readers has discovered the Flipboard app, which allows you to consolidate material from diiferent parts of the internet in one handy place.
He has put together a collection of our April Fool stories to save you the trouble trawling back through the archive. You didn’t really believe them, did you?
If you click the link from a phone or a tablet, when prompted “get the App”. say yes. It looks great.
The Parish Council is looking for one new member and co-option will take place at the meeting of the Parish Council to be held on Thursday 8th May 2014 at 7.30pm at St Margaret’s Village Hall, Horsington.
Anyone from Horsington or South Cheriton wishing to be considered for co-option onto the Parish Council should contact the Clerk Mr D Chapman, 7 Slades Hill, Templecombe,
Somerset BA8 0HF.
Or email horsingtonpc@hotmail.co.uk
Telephone 01963 370527 by Friday 2ndMay 2014
Other than Balthazar King, (which I had at 20-1!- Ed) this years Grand National brought very little joy and even less profit to us all on Saturday. Except perhaps to those of you who had been fortunate enough to follow this column’s advice to back Peter Hobbs’ runners on an each way basis and who were rewarded with a gratifying 12/1 winner in Duke of Lucca.
So onto better things with other horses and courses. This country’s most promising young trainer, Harry Fry from Seaborough, just south of Crewkerne, is sending two horses up to Scotland on Saturday. Mendip Express is likely to start favourite at 10/1 or thereabouts for the Scottish Grand National at Ayr while on the same afternoon and at the same meeting Bold Chief , a winner last time out , is likely to start at a somewhat shorter price in the three mile chase at 5.05pm.
This same yard has a number of entries for Wincanton on Sunday and should be supported if they run Fair Dreamer and Vauban du Soleil in the 2.50pm , Presenting the Way in the 4.30 and or Oscars Lad in the 5,05pm race. While Sir Ivan may run in the bumper at 5.40pm.
Proper flat racing is usually believed to start with the Craven meeting at Newmarket on Wednesday of the following week from where I shall expect my ever hopeful colleague Swinley Bottom to have gleaned some useful insights into likely future winners when he makes his debut before the Horsington Blog’s faithful readers later in the month.
He hasn’t mentioned Mrs Badger, so it seems that she is probably a non-runner. Many of our readers, (including the editor) are possibly more interested in this match than in the four-legged wonders -Ed.
The award-winning Milborne Port Opera’s next offering ”Utopia Limited” (April 23-26) will delight anyone who believes our present situation has been caused by the antics of bankers, politicians, financiers and the absurdities of health and safety bureaucrats.
Gilbert and Sullivan’s comic opera is a satire about finance, royalty, bankruptcy, celebrity media and the mafia. It revolves around the small South Pacific island of Utopia’s attempts to turn itself into a limited company – with the help of British management consultants. En route, it also takes a swipe at the British Empire, overseas aid, The Lord Chamberlain (plays were censored by him right up to the 1968) and courtship rituals.
The Milborne Port production team have sharpened its satirical edge with some judicious re-writes and updating, which makes it as relevant today as it was to Victorian audiences. In fact it will leave you with the feeling that nothing much has changed.
It is one of G&S’s less well-known works. “ Utopia Limited” is Gilbert and Sullivan’s penultimate collaboration, and it the only G & S opera which has yet to be performed by the Milborne Port company.
Utopia stars its regular singers, including Horsington residents Richard Gaunt, playing the King of Utopia, and Chris Bailward.
Musical director Caroline d’Cruz conducts the talented orchestra. Stand by for a cracking evening.
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.
Visit Utopia and meet its citizens on www.visitutopia.co.uk
More about Milborne Port Opera on www.milborneportopera.co.uk
STOP PRESS
Horsington has been a great supporter of the MPO over the years, and this year is no exception. The Half Moon is running a minibus/coach to Utopia on Thursday 24th April. It will run from Wincanton via the Cheritons, Horsington, Templecombe and Henstridge. Cost will be £18 per head including admission ticket, interval drinks and canapés. A bargain start to the “season”.
Details and bookings from the Half Moon 01963 370140
Good morning ma’am, we are always happy to hear from you-Ed.
Dear Mr Editor,
I have been following your new racing correspondent Winterbourne Longjohns with great interest, and not inconsiderable profit, and I wonder if there is some way you could introduce me to him. My late husband (my third, alas) was a noted point-to-point rider in his day, and there was nothing he liked better than a joyous gallop over the jumps. But I digress!
Perhaps he knew Winterbourne Longjohns? There is nothing I would like more than to sit with your esteemed tipster and reminisce about the good old days at Goodwood, Badbury Rings and Charlton Horethorne over a glass of two of something special. I should also like an opportunity to reward him for the good fortune he has brought me.
Do you know who he is? Could you perhaps furnish a photographic likeness of him?
Yours, fondly,
Amelia Badger (Mrs)
Winterbourne is a very private man. When I say he shares a postcode (well part of it) with Her majesty the Queen, you will surely understand that we have to be discreet. However he does make the occasional foray into Somerset, often for the Wincanton race meeting associated with your good name. He asks whether you are perchance connected with that great brewing dynasty responsible for Badger ale?
A positive answer, he assures me, may result in a rapid take up of your kind invitation.
Meanwhile, here is a picture of Winterbourne Longjohns, not taken in the Royal enclosure at Ascot.
Winterbourne Longjohns writes:
I understand Phillip Hobbs is s very optimistic about all his Aintree runners today( Friday) and tomorrow and Wishful Thinking (Melling Chase, 1505) is perhaps the most likely of all.
It lost- Ed
Racing results from Winterbourne Longjohn’s tips
Thursday 3 April
12:15 Maisons-Laffitte (France), Orienteer, WON odds 3.3/1
2.00 Aintree, Actival placed 8/15 LOST
3.05 Aintree, Rock on Ruby, 2nd, odds 10/1
17.35 Taunton, Polelamico, WON, odds 12/1
Garton Star ,Non-Runner
Winterborne Longjohns reports:
Rock on Ruby denied Aintree prize by a head after running a wonderful race at 10/1. I had backed it earlier in the day at 15’s and was almost counting my 0000-‘s ! Magari. Polamico went in at Taunton at 12/1 somewhat unexpectedly however Orienteer did the business for us in France at a gratifying 33/10.