News, Views and Events
from
Bishops Lydeard, Bagborough, Cothelstone & Cotford St Luke Editor:Bob Fletcher
Bob Fletcher
Dene Lane House
Tithill Lane
Bishops Lydeard TA4 3LY
Tel:01823 433826
E mail:Triangle Editor
Read or Download May 2009 Magazine
What a difference a month makes! It is still cold, but the snow has gone and
the snowdrops are in full display.
The meetings to explain the proposed developments at Bishops Lydeard and
Cotford St Luke have been held during February. Have you looked at the
proposed plans and made your comments to Taunton Deane Borough
Council? (by the 28th February). Remember, although the development may
not take place immediately, the decisions will be taken following this
consultation and may well affect you in years to come.
Triangle is not a profit-making publication, and any surplus funds are donated
each year to local clubs / societies, to benefit our villages. This year,
donations have been made to Bishops Lydeard Scouts, St Mary’s Bell Tower
Emergency Lighting, and the West Bagborough Players.
If anybody has any pictures of our villages from yesteryear, I would be
delighted to publish them in future editions.
From our Police Community Service Officer
There has recently been an increase in thefts from sheds and rural outbuildings
in the locality. The summer is coming and thieves are on the lookout for
gardening and DIY items to steal. I know you know what we are going to say to
you, that is “look after your property”. Make sure it is post coded and marked
with your own personal mark which will ensure we can identify the property as
yours and return it to you if we recover it whilst doing warrants etc. After you
have used the item i.e. the lawn mower, hedge trimmer or other garden tool, put
it away straight away as the opportunist thief may be just around the corner
waiting for you to go inside your house to get a cup of tea or answer the phone
allowing them to steal the item. It only takes a few seconds. Consider securing
the property in the shed using a strong chain, a good lock and an alarm if
possible - it will make life difficult for the thief and alert you if the alarm goes off.
You can purchase a suitable alarm at any good DIY store.
Finally, please report anything suspicious to us using the 0845 4567000
number. If you can get a car registration number all the better and if you see
somebody acting suspiciously write the description of that person down straight
away, make a note of their clothing, colour of hair and anything distinctive about
them. This can help us no end. If you are in a Neighbourhood Watch scheme,
contact the organiser who will ring around the rest of the watch members accordingly.
If you are going away let somebody know so they can keep an eye on
your property, switch on a light for you after dark and take the milk in if it’s left
for a time outside your door.
Please don’t have nightmares as Nick Ross on Crimewatch used to say, just
think about how we can stop these crimes together and if you wish to discuss
any issues please contact us on the above number and we will get back to you
as soon as we can.
From your Neighbourhood Beat Team
PC 3155 Andy DAVIES, PCSO 9273 Sue THOMPSON
ROYAL BRITISH LEGION (Women’s
Section)
The January meeting was held at the Church Centre after a
break in December.
As a January custom, no formal procedure was in order, apart
from a few comments by the Chairperson, Mrs Saunders.
A nice tea followed, provided and served by the committee. A few games of
bingo was enjoyed by all the members. Names were taken for entries of photographs
for the annual competition.
New members welcome. Margaret Oaten
01823 430080
Ash Priors and Halse WI
The Institute’s New Year’s Lunch had to be
cancelled in January, owing to the bad
weather, so everyone was pleased to hear
at the February meeting that it had been
rearranged for the beginning of March. This
is to be held at Oake Manor Golf Club.
A change of speaker brought us Pat Chittenden and her husband, to show us slides
and talk us through their beautiful garden at their home at Lawford, Crowcombe.
Pat explained to the meeting that with some careful planting your garden can keep
on flowering well into the Autumn. The slides showed us a lovely garden that has
been added to in stages over the last twenty years. Pat opens the garden each year
under the National Garden Scheme and it would be well worth a visit - but don't all
rush there this year as it won't be open - they need time to reorganise it and do
some work in their cottage but hopefully it will be open in 2011.
Forthcoming events and outings were discussed which include a trip to the ballet at
the Hippodrome in Bristol, an evenings entertainment with a 'Mama Mia Sing Along'
and a Spring meeting with Combe Florey WI looking at the history of pop music.
Future outings under consideration are a trip to the Naval College at Dartmouth and
a visit to Robert Wiseman’s Dairies at North Petherton. If you would like to join us
you would be most welcome.
Carol Barker - Minute Secretary (Tel 01823 430643)
"OVER 55'S — FRIENDLY CLUB"
Our first meeting of the New Year was on the 20th
January and we were all pleased to congratulate Janet
Dawson, who had become a great grandma that day
(she doesn’t look old enough!!)
Then we went on to have a fascinating talk by Clem
Pryor on Canals. Clem, an ex-craft teacher, has the
ability to capture an audience and you could have heard a pin drop during his
talk. He began by telling us how he first became interested in canals and canal
art. He was lucky enough to meet a lady called Liz, who was a professional
canal artist on the Leeds to Liverpool canal. She kindly gave him five lessons in
canal art painting. Clem, at this time, was still teaching and he thought this
would be an interesting project for his students. However, only 2 years after
learning all about it, the school closed down (he was by then only 57). At this
point, the Inland Waterways rang him to offer him a job teaching all about canal
art – then they mentioned the word ‘voluntary’ – not quite what Clem had in
mind.
History of the Canals. In 1750, the Duke of Bridgewater, who was wealthy and
generous, owned several factories and a coal mine. His problem was how to
transport the coal from the mine to the factories - with horses and carts, it
proved to be a very slow process. At this point he went to Venice where he was
amazed to see a canal – an inland waterway. He realized that this was what he
needed and on returning home he met a man called James Brindley, who
couldn’t even read or write. He was asked by the Duke to build the first canal.
James proceeded to work out how to build a canal, locks and even an
aquaduct, and the first canal was built just outside Manchester. This obviously
took several years, but the Duke was delighted that he could now transport
20-30 tons of coal at a time. To begin with the barges were horse drawn.
No one had any interest in building more canals until the early 1800’s, when
canal mania set in. Over 300 miles of canal were dug out by hand. The loading
of the boats was very critical – if not balanced correctly they could easily turn
over. With horses they only travelled 10-12 miles per day. By the early 1900’s
powered engines (steam or diesel) came onto the boats which meant they
could go further – thus being away longer.
At this point the men’s wives got fed up with them being away so much and
decided to move onto the boats, together with their children, living in a space of
10’ x 7’. If they had a ‘Butty’ boat they had a little more space. There was very
little light in the living accommodation and living conditions were very primitive.
The wives began helping with the steering and they were expected to work
from sunrise to sunset – 7 days a week, or they didn’t get paid.
There were accidents with children falling overboard, so toddlers were tied to a post
for their own safety. Children became adults at the age of eight! The wives were
largely responsible for the decorations which began to appear – painting roses on
the ceilings, inside the doors and any clear space. They began painting with their
fingers, then a ‘bashed’ twig from a hedge. Sometimes labourers from Yugoslavia
helped with the digging of the canals and it was they who gave the wives the idea of
painting castles, (an Englishman’s home is his castle!) but not English castles –
European castles.
Clem then proceeded to give a demonstration of painting roses and other flowers. It
is leisure boats that are now keeping our canals open and Clem still paints on the
boats. He also brought along some samples of the jugs, bowls and coal scuttles that
he has painted.
A very interesting talk and I’m sure we could have all listened to him for another
hour. By the time this is published we will have had our AGM and been to the Ice
Show – news of both of these next month. The March meeting is on 17th March with
a quiz or beetle drive. The programme for the summer outings should be available
by then. Please ring me to book.
Margaret Davis – 01823 430699
Pro-Active Lifestyle Water Activities Club
Unfit, disabled, recovering
from an injury, overweight, or
just want to have some fun?
We can help you!
We are an aquaerobics club called P.A.L.S., or Pro-Active Lifestyle Water
Activities Club. We used to meet at Aquasplash in Minehead, but when it closed
we moved and now meet at the swimming pool at St. Audries Holiday Camp,
West Quantoxhead. We support each other whilst trying to overcome all of the
above. Our age range is 18 to 80, male and female, and we would love you to
join us.
Each PALS session is an instructor led aerobics class choreographed to specific
music. It is usually performed in chest-deep water which is good news for those
who either don't know how to swim or don't like deep water! The class will give
you an excellent workout that will improve the fitness of your heart and lungs as
well as toning the body.
Because the buoyancy of water supports you and reduces the jarring on your
joints, water work-outs are particularly good if you:
* suffer from arthritis * have knee or hip problems
* have a bad back * are overweight
* are recovering from an injury * have heart problems
We are proud that, recently, we were able to buy a poolside chairlift to allow our
more disabled members to be lowered safely into the pool.
We have vacancies in our Monday and Friday sessions. Membership of the club
costs £12 per year and £3 per session, which you attend. We also aim to meet
socially once per month.
If you would like to know more about how to join, call our Liaison Manager,
Peter Wellstood on: 01643 863544.