East Coker Society
Newsletter
April 2005 Free Issue No 118
Chair: John
Sugg
Newsletter
Editor: Lesley Lindsay
Secretary:
Sarah Owen
Treasurer:
Keith Helliar
VE & VJ DAY 60th ANNIVERSARY
COMMEMORATION
9/10 JULY 2005
VILLAGE CELEBRATIONS
EAST COKER
SOCIETY A.G.M. – TUESDAY 10
MAY 2005
The AGM will be held in the Dampier Room, East Coker
Hall at 7.30pm. All village
organisations are very welcome to send a representative to this meeting.
VE/VJ DAY
CELEBRATIONS – PUT UP YOUR
FLAGS!
Please would villagers decorate their houses with
flags or bunting for the weekend of 9/10 July to create a nice colourful
atmosphere for the celebrations.
RECEIVE THE
NEWSLETTER VIA E-MAIL
In the future if you would like to receive the
Newsletter via e-mail, please e-mail Lesley Lindsay with your name and postal
address so you can be removed from our delivery lists. Your
e-mail address will be kept entirely
private, with no cross-referencing of other people's e-mails. We greatly appreciate delivery by e-mail as
it saves money on our printing costs.
For those already receiving the Newsletter by
e-mail, please can you e-mail Lesley
Lindsay if you change your e-mail address.
Thank you.
LITTER! LITTER!
LITTER!
It has been noticeable in recent months that the
amount of litter in the village has greatly increased. It would be helpful if villagers could look
after the verges in front and to the side of their property so that East Coker
can become a 'litter-free zone'.
Village Clubs and Organisations
EAST
COKER FLOWER SHOW
AND WINE FESTIVAL
20 AUGUST 2005
This
will be even more special as it's the 70th Anniversary of the Flower Show.
There
are classes to suit every age – Crafts and Homecraft, Flowers, Fruit and
Vegetables, Wine and Photography, and all manner of classes for Children up to
15 years of age.
A
reminder of the photography subjects: Sunrise; Springtime; Congratulations; An
East Coker Building; A Single Flower; Sport.
The Schedules are due out in the Spring and are available from the Post
Office
N.B.
The Flower Show Committee is currently looking for a Hon. Sec. from 2006. Sarah Rashley is 'caretaking' for 2005 and
will assist anyone who comes forward.
Further
information from: Sarah Rashley 428639.
WOMEN'S INSTITUTE
Meeting
on the last Thursday of the month at the village hall at
Joyce
Pryor
ACTION
MEDICAL RESEARCH
Our
next fundraising event is called 'April
Flowers Not April Showers'. This
will be a luncheon and floral demonstration by Chris Jones. He is one of the new breed of young,
enthusiastic floral designers that is helping to change the face of modern
floristry. Chris is a regular on TV,
including BBC Good Food Live and GMTV.
As an award-winning designer at Chelsea and Hampton Court, he works on
events for the rich, famous and royal.
He says," My demonstrations are a chance for people to learn new
skills and increase their knowledge, but most of all to be entertained!"
This
will be held on Wednesday 27 April 2005,
11.00am for 11.30am at East Coker Hall.
Tickets are £15, which includes Coffee and Lunch, and are available from
Leigh Mead 863466
Dates for your Diary
Saturday
2 July 2005 Black Tie and Tiara Ball,
St Antony's, Leweston, Nr. Sherborne, 7.30pm.
Tickets are £30 and are limited, so book early to avoid disappointment –
available from Leigh Mead 863466
Tuesday
11 October 2005, Fashion Show, East
Coker Hall, with clothes from Minuet, Kaliko and Country Casuals. More details in the next Newsletter.
EAST
COKER WINE CIRCLE
Members
have recently experienced great success at the County Festival, winning most
points in show as a Circle, also for an individual and best wine in show for
the first time. Members also intend to
enter the Devon Counties Show and the South West Federation Festival later in
the year.
Dedicated
wine makers have now formed a forum, meeting in members’ houses so that the
main meetings can continue as a social event having interesting and amusing
speakers as well as two commercial wine tastings a year. The trip to Germany 11 – 19 June has proved
very popular for those who would like to visit the Rhein region without the
hassle of organising it themselves. Due
to unforeseen circumstances we do now have three vacancies for anyone who would
like to join us. Please contact Joyce
Pryor as soon as possible, if you are interested, as hotels have to be
confirmed by the middle of April.
David
Pryor
EAST
COKER SHORT MAT
BOWLS
We
meet every Tuesday evening 7pm – 10pm and Friday afternoons 2.30pm –
4.20pm. If you are interested and would
like to know more about our club why not come along one evening or afternoon
and meet us? We are a very friendly club
and have competitions and visits from other clubs. Any age and gender over 15 years.
For
more information ring me George Dudden – Club Captain 864222
East Coker Short Mat Bowls Club presents
‘The Yetties’ in concert in aid of The Pavilion Fund at East Coker Hall on
Friday 6 May. The concert starts at 8.00pm and the tickets
are £7.00. These can be obtained by
telephoning 863227, 864222, 864174 or in East Coker Village Shop.
Margaret
Robins – Secretary of East Coker Short Mat Bowls Club
COKER
400 CLUB
Winners
in the January draw were:- Mrs J. Best £100, Mr K.Mclver £50, Mr R.Neate £40,
Mr A.Leng £30, Miss J.Hambly £20, Mrs C.Hunt £20, Mr M.Chapman £20. Mr M.Cripps
£10, and Mrs R. Waite £10.
EAST COKER
ROYAL BRITISH LEGION
The Royal British Legion will be holding an
exhibition of memorabilia on the morning of Saturday 9 July in the Dampier
Room, East Coker Hall, to coincide with the VE/VJ village celebrations. If anyone has some memorabilia they would be
happy to lend, please would they contact John Field 862649
EAST COKER
GARDENING CLUB
This
success story began when Muriel Pilton wondered how she could face the winter
months after the death of her husband in the autumn of' 1999. Discussing the options ahead she said to a
neighbour that it was a pity that East Coker had not got a gardening club. Word of this reached Sue Hounsell in the shop
who remarked to Muriel "I hear you are starting a gardening
club". Muriel was quite taken aback
as she had not thought of this. However
Sue promised her full backing to the idea and consequently an exploratory
meeting of 17 people was held in the Dampier Room to set up the new club.
Robert
Allwood was the speaker at the first official meeting and, looking round at the
group of enthusiastic women, said, "Where are the men?” The men, perhaps, were cautiously waiting at
home to see if there really would be a club, Muriel having been told firmly
that "It won't last!" This
seemed almost possible when the speaker for the December meeting failed to
materialise. Christine Mead gallantly
stepped in and gave a delightful presentation of Christmas flower
arrangements. From then on the club
never looked back.
Now
the club has a flourishing membership of over 75 men and women. Meetings are held in the East Coker Hall on
the second Thursday in each month and cover a wide range of topics, though
dealing mainly with plant cultivation.
But there are also talks on such related subjects as Butterflies,
Bee-Keeping and Botanical Drawing.
Outings
are arranged to gardens and to special events, like the Hampton Court Flower
Festival. A three-day trip to Cornwall,
visiting the Lost Garden of Helligan and the Eden Project as well as two
specialist gardens, was a successful innovation in March this year.
In
April 2002 Kathryn Sturtridge started a club newsletter, called 'Propagation'
giving membership news, details of, open gardens and other events, articles on
special plants and topical gardening notes, etc. She continued this until the autumn of 2004,
when Sarah Rashley took over and carried it on as 'Snippets'.
The
Club is affiliated to The Royal Horticultural Society and the Gold Club of
Castle Gardens and Brimsmore. Discount
is available at North Perrott Garden Centre on production of a membership card.
Muriel
Pilton, the first Chairwoman, is now the club's President. It is thanks to her courage in overcoming her
diffidence, and to the hard work and perseverance of Sue Hounsell, her
spokeswoman and supporter, that we have a lively gardening club in East Coker
today.
Programme
for May to July
Thursday 12 May 7.30pm – Open Charity Evening: Speaker: Nigel Davies,
Head Gardener at Mapperton – ‘Through the Seasons’. Proceeds in aid of East Coker Pavilion
Fund. Tickets: Members, £2.50,
Non-members, £3.00, available from the Secretary or Treasurer or at the door.
Saturday 14 May – Gardening Club stall at Bubspool Plant Sale.
Wednesday 25 May – All day outing to RHS garden at Wisley. This is fully booked but it is worth asking
if there is a last- minute cancellation.
Thursday 9 June 7.30pm – Speaker, Thomas Sandy on ‘Roses’
Thursday 14 July 6.30pm – Tour of National Trust garden at Tintinhull
conducted by the Head Gardener, Floyd Summerhayes.
Chair:
Olga Clifford Secretary: Vivienne
Ford 863954. Treasurer: Catherine Denney 862294.
EAST
COKER VILLAGE HALL
CHARITABLE TRUST
Those
of you who regularly use the Village Hall will have noticed improvements which
have been made over the last year. Some
areas of the Hall have been redecorated, new flooring laid, the doors to the
main hall re-hung, a ramp and handrail installed. Not least, the security system has been
improved, providing a secure entry system for users of the Hall. All of these improvements have been made
through the efforts of the Committee Members, all of whom give their time
voluntarily to ensure the community continues to benefit from this major
asset. There is an ongoing programme for
maintenance, redecoration and improvements to the Village Hall. Keep an eye out for these, and let the
Committee know what you think. All
compliments and suggestions will be happily received by the Committee.
East Coker Village Hall Charitable Trust
AGM
The
Annual General Meeting of the Trust will be held on 18 May 2005 in the Dampier
Room of East Coker Hall, commencing at 7.30pm.
The committee of the Trust is made up of elected, co-opted and
representative members.
Any
organisation that wishes to have a representative on the Committee must submit
a written application to the
Secretary, Mrs H Styles, 21 Mill Close, East Coker BA22 9LF, to arrive no later than 6.00pm Saturday, 30 April
2005.
EAST COKER PLAYERS
May Production
– 7.30pm Saturday 14 May at East Coker Hall
The East Coker Players will be presenting a one-off
evening of entertainment. 'Months of
Merriment' courses through the months of the year offering song, dance, verse
and skits with something for everyone.
During the interval supper of a ploughman's with a
glass of wine or soft drink will be served, followed by a one-act play, 'Season
of Goodwill'. This previously sold-out
event will once again be produced by Hazel Love and performed by a host of well
known local talent.
Tickets are £6.50 in advance; book early to avoid
disappointment.
Debbie Searle
863091
Casting for December Pantomime –
Robinson Crusoe and The Pirates
The
Players will be performing their annual pantomime in December and would like to
invite anyone from 6 years upwards to join us.
We are always seeking new members, not only those who wish to act and
sing, but also musicians, creative people to help with costumes or backstage or
anyone who just has an interest in joining us.
If
you feel you would like to come along and see what's on offer we would be very
pleased to see you at the first casting for Robinson Crusoe and The Pirates on
Monday 6 June at 7.30pm at East Coker Hall.
We are a very friendly and relaxed group so why not give it a go; fun
guaranteed!
For
further information call Nora White
477897
EAST COKER
POETRY GROUP
Burns Night
22
guests sat down to dinner in the Apple Loft at the Helyar Arms for Burns
Night. They gathered for an evening of
Scottish poetry to mark the great man's birth date. Haggis was consumed and in the usual
traditional style, was piped in by bagpipes.
Forthcoming events:
Monday
9 May (to be confirmed), 7.30pm, Apple Loft, The Helyar Arms, ‘Journeys’, with
Sally Jackson
Moving On
Catherine Simmonds’ poetry evening on 27 February,
entitled ‘Moving On’, featured an audio piece about the working life of a horse
logger and farrier, and a selection of her own poems.
Two poems that were particularly well received were
‘South of Howmore for Dad’ and ‘Sheets in Rain’.
Sue
McKerracher 863633 or
sue@eastcokerpoetry.org.uk
EAST
COKER PAVILION FUND
50/50 Auction
This was a fundraising event for the Pavilion Fund,
which was very well supported by people from the village, and by people from
further afield in Somerset and Dorset who came to spend their money and take
home a bargain. There were plenty of
varied items. Many of the items raised a
lot of interest, and were the subject of some hotly contested bidding. The committee would like to thank Chris
Flower from Lawrence's Auctioneers for his invaluable advice and for acting as
auctioneer for the evening.
The buyers and sellers alike were fortified by some
excellent refreshments laid on by Bridget Sugg and her team. The auction raised in excess of £1000 for the
Pavilion Fund.
‘An Evening
of Taste’ with Lesley Waters
The tickets for this superb evening sold out before
they were printed, such was the attraction of watching the entertaining
television chef, Lesley Waters, in action.
Lesley certainly did not disappoint. Her effervescent approach and her undoubted
expertise kept the audience captivated.
We were treated to a demonstration of seven dishes, including garlic,
buttered scallops with saffron risotto, chillied crab naan breads with mango
salsa, seared peppered beef with butter bean pate, roasted root vegetables in a
bag and a hot plum pudding. Andrew
Kindness from “Kindness with Wine” talked to the audience about the four wines
he had chosen to complement Lesley’s dishes, and which were provided for
everyone to taste.
After a delicious supper of quality meats, cheese,
pies, salads and tangy chutneys, supplied by Goose Slade Farm, Lesley hosted a
surprise “cook off” between two contestants chosen at random from the
audience. The “lucky” pair, Sara Strong
and Roger Dodd, were asked to make an omelette under Lesley’s guidance. To tumultuous applause, the competition was
declared a dead heat. Both Sara and
Roger won a copy of Lesley’s latest book.
The Committee are still counting the pennies, but
we reckon the event has raised in the region of £2,000 for the Pavilion
Fund. Copies of the recipes demonstrated
on the night are available from Committee members at a price of £2.
1940’s V.E.
Musical Extravaganza – Saturday 11 June 2005
East Coker Pavilion Committee proudly presents an
evening of 1940’s music to celebrate the 60th anniversary of Victory
in Europe, taking place on Saturday 11 June in the grounds of North
Coker House. You are invited to come
along in 40’s costume, with your picnic, and listen to the marvellous musical
treats we have for you, which include Belinda Evans and Bertie’s Big Band. Gates open at 6.00pm and music starts at
7.00pm.
There will also be vintage vehicles and, subject to
availability, a fly-past of vintage aircraft.
For tickets, or further information, please contact
Robert Mead on 862972 or Bridget Sugg on 863435. Tickets cost £15 for adults (buy 9 tickets
and get the 10th free!) and £5 for children under 16.
East Coker
Pavilion Fund Committee
Chairman Robert
Mead Vice-Chair Bridget Sugg
Secretary Paula
Downes Publicity Officer Emma Trickey
Young People
EAST COKER
SCOUT GROUP
Waster Paper Collections Saturday April 30, May 28 and June 25.
Spring
Jumble Sale to be held at East Coker
Village Hall Saturday 16 April from 2.00 pm.
All
donations of jumble gratefully received. REMEMBER WE WILL COLLECT. Contact Max Bugler 862186.
EAST
COKER RANGERS FOOTBALL
CLUB
Under 10 team
East Coker Rangers have enjoyed a fantastic season,
finishing top of their division. The
players have all matured tremendously, and have worked together to achieve some
great results. Congratulations, boys!
Under 8 teams
This season, we have run two Under 8 teams, the
Space Rangers and the Power Rangers. The
teams have played many friendlies against teams such as Cary Rangers, Merriott,
Avishayes and Lyde. They have always
played enthusiastically and they have won many matches. However, more important than the results,
perhaps, is that they have gained a lot of experience, and have had a lot of
fun.
Both teams have taken part in the Yeovil and
District League Under 8 Cup competition, and have acquitted themselves
remarkably well, with the Space Rangers poised to progress to the next
round. The tie of the competition came
on 20 March, when the teams had to play each other! It was a hard-fought contest, which the Space
Rangers eventually won 3-2.
Off the Pitch
We have enjoyed some superb social events, notably
the Quiz Night and the Race Evening, which were both held at the Foresters
Arms. Thank you Alan and Lisa for your
hospitality.
The club were also delighted to learn that we had
won a football strip in a recent Western Gazette competition. Look out for our photograph in future
editions!
We would also like to thank East Coker School for
the use of their facilities, and their continued support.
Emma Trickey
EAST
COKER RANGERS U12’S
The team which plays at East Coker Recreation
ground on Sunday mornings, goes from strength to strength having secured the
first division title in the Yeovil & District League, undefeated, with four
games to play.
A Division One Cup final awaits, and on Sunday 20
March East Coker Rangers beat Wincanton Town 3-1 (a Jordan Reeves hat trick) to
repeat last season’s achievement of playing and hopefully winning the
prestigious High Holborne Shield, with the final to be played at Huish Park the
home of Yeovil Town Football Club.
The East Coker Rangers team is drawn from a
majority of boys who attended East Coker County Primary School – i.e. Joe
McDougall, Jordan Reeves, William Lane, Darren Andrews, Sam Hall, Mikey
Parrott, Tom Nitti, Dougie Dearl-Davies.
The remaining team members are: Calum Gundry, Jamie Burt, Anthony
Herrin, Jake Hobbs & Ryan Trevett.
The origins of the East Coker Rangers team go back
to 2001, when Steve Hall started the Under 10 team for two seasons. Andrew McDougall took over in August 2003 to
run the U12 team. Steve returned in
August 2004 and they now currently run the team jointly. The East Coker Rangers team is seeing the
benefit of the “East Coker” boys having played together not only since the
start, but under Iain Crabtree’s coaching at school.
So Youth football is alive and well in the
village!!! Come and Support Us! Our last remaining fixtures are as follows:-
10 April Away v Gillingham Town 1 May
Home v Gillingham Town
8 May Div 1 Cup Final v Merriott Youth or
Wincanton Town
Date to be announced – High Holborne Shield
Final at Yeovil Town Football Club v Pen Mill
For information: Please contact Andrew McDougall on
862826 at 5 Broadacres, East Coker.
GYMNASTICS CLASSES
Pre-school and After-school classes for children
from walking to 7 years by former International Gymnast and GB Coach. Classes are held at East Coker Hall on
Thursday mornings. £3.50 per class. Limited spaces so please contact K B
Gymnastics 01460 240031
EAST COKER
PRE-SCHOOL PLAYGROUP
In a whirlwind of activity, the Spring Term has
flown by at The Pavilion. The children
have looked at the Seasons of the year and made a wonderful wall display
showing a tree through the seasons. The
Chinese New Year, Shrove Tuesday and Mothering Sunday have been celebrated and
the children are creating their Easter Bonnets for an Easter Bonnet competition
and Coffee Morning as I write this. All
the different types of transport have been looked at, created, explored and
recorded, including ways of moving items from one place to another, making a
display of different kinds of transport and completing a graph of the ways the
children get to playgroup to name a few.
East Coker Pre-School Playgroup is registered with
Ofsted and the Early Years Development and Childcare Partnership, and follows
the Foundation Stage curriculum. We
provide a warm, friendly, stimulating and safe environment where children can
blossom and grow, learning and developing happily through play based
activities. There is funding available
through Nursery Education Funding when children become eligible. Children are
able to attend from 2½ up to 5 years
old. We are open Monday to Friday during
term time from 9.15am – 12 noon. On a
Tuesday and Wednesday we run afternoon sessions from 1.00pm – 3.15pm. At present we are able to offer lunch cover
at an extra fee, between 12 noon – 1.15pm, for children who’d like to bring a
packed lunch.
To secure a place on the waiting list for your
children please contact Kay Strode after 6.00pm on 872126. It is best to get your child’s name down
early on the waiting list because places are limited.
Our next fundraising event will be our Summer Fair
held at The Pavilion on Saturday 14 May in the afternoon. There will be a variety of stalls, refreshments,
a Raffle, plus Bouncy Castle and many other exciting things to do. We look forward to seeing you there.
This year will be the eleventh annual Craft Fair
the Playgroup has held. It will be on Sunday 13 November at East Coker Hall;
from 10.30am – 4.00pm. Stalls are
available for the Craft Fair please contact Mrs Miller
on 422871 for details.
The Churches
ST. MICHAEL'S
CHURCH
Services
Sunday 1 May – Rogation Sunday – 10.00am Procession
around the village
Thursday 5 May – Ascension Day – 6.00pm Eucharist
Sunday 15 May – Pentecost
St Michael's
Bookstall Plant Sale – Bubspool House – 14 May 2005 – 10.30am – 12.30pm
We are hoping for the usual marvellous support in
the growing of plants etc for this year's event. Please come along and enjoy coffee and
biscuits in the garden.
Many thanks John Darling
Open Gardens
Saturday 18 June 2005
We are planning to hold this event again. There will be a marquee on the Vicarage lawn
and some light refreshments will be available.
If anyone in the Parish is interested in having an open garden, would
they please let me know.
Roger Burt
862125
St Michael's
Church Fete – Saturday 2 July 2005 – 2.00pm – 4.30pm
To be held at North Coker House, East Coker. Many stalls and attractions. All welcome.
ALL SAINTS’
CHURCH SUTTON BINGHAM
Sunday
Services
1 May, 5 June, 3 July –
9.00am. Holy Communion.
15 May, 19 June, 17 July
– 11.30am. Holy Communion.
EAST COKER
CHRISTIAN FELLOWSHIP
A warm welcome awaits
you at the end of Burton Lane. Services
as follows:
Sundays:- Sunday Club for 4 – 12 year olds 10.00am
except 2nd Sunday in the month which has a Family Service 10.30am The Lord's Supper 11.30am Bible Study 6.30pm. Other events announced weekly.
Contact us on 422594/862980 or 863735
THE MID WEEK
MEETING
St
Michael's Church East Coker Christian Fellowship warmly invites you to our Mid
Week Meetings at East Coker Hall. From
April until June, Chris Jervis, Chaplain at Canford School, will be preaching a
series from John's gospel.
Wednesday
20 April, 7.00pm – ‘Seeing and Believing’
Wednesday
18 May, 7.00pm – ‘Truth on Trial’
Wednesday
15 June, 7.00pm – ‘Already and Not Yet’
Do
please join us for this series and bring your friends with you. There will be
refreshments after each meeting.
THE
MILL CHURCH
A warm invitation goes out to anyone who would like
to join us in any of our meetings or activities.
Sundays 10.30am – 12 noon East Coker School
Monday evenings (alternate) 7.45pm – 9.30pm 'House
to House'. An informal evening for
eating together and prayer.
Tuesdays 10.30am – 12 noon East Coker Hall. 'Little Wheelers' – Our Parent and Toddler
group.
Tuesdays 7.00pm – 9.00pm. 'Bridges' – an evening for young people. This
is usually crowded and fun.
Thursdays (alternate) '9HPT' – Our after school
Sunday school including tea.
There is much more going on, both at home and
abroad. Do contact us on 863262 if you
would like any more details.
Village News
HATS
FOR MEDECINS SANS
FRONTIERES
A big
thank you to everyone who has knitted woolly hats for babies – the response has
been marvellous.
Sue
Copley 862738
NOTES
FROM THE OBSERVATORY
Vernal Equinox – 20 March 2005
A
mild and relatively dry start to the year gave a promise of an early Spring. January
rainfall was 56.13mm (2.21 ins) compared with 138.7mm (5.46 ins) last
year. February was even drier with
26.92mm (1.06 ins). In 2004 February's
rainfall was 65mm (2.56ins)
There
were 14 days of rain in January and only 9 rain days in February. Towards the end of January a colder spell
gave five frosty mornings.
Although
Candlemas (2 Feb) was mild and cloudy, giving a hint, according to folk-lore,
of no return of winter, the period from 21 Feb to 7 March was decidedly
wintry. East Coker was lucky to escape
the snowfall which disrupted life in the Eastern and Northern counties. In that period there were 15 frosty mornings
in the village. Then suddenly all changed with warm South-westerly winds lifting
temperatures to summery levels. On 19
March the shade temperature reached 17.8C (64F)
More
folk-lore says that
"A wet March makes a sad
harvest" but "March dry, good rye"
A
thrush began to sing on 12 January. Mole
heaps were thrown up on 13 January, while the first ladybird appeared on 15
January. Frogs became active in early
February leaving masses of frog-spawn in my pool on 11 February. Celandines flowered from early February. Hazel bushes hung out their long catkins in
the coldest weather. The very mild days
of late March brought the first butterfly, a bright yellow Brimstone into the
garden on 16 March while a correspondent reported Small Tortoiseshells flying
on the same day.
Birds
have been reluctant feeders throughout the winter months. Although blackbirds have returned to feed on
the ground, the nut-feeder remains almost free from the usual greenfinches,
blue-tits and great-tits but I was pleased to see a coal-tit on the feeder
recently. Other correspondents have
reported a similar lack of garden visitors. There have been several sightings
of Britain's smallest bird, the Goldcrest, in the village recently.
A
good show of daffodils brightens up the village. This year many blooms are supported on very
weak stems which bend easily in the wind and rain. I wonder why?
I
have received reports of a strange green fungus growing on moss. This growth has been described as
"squashed grapes". In my
garden a curious jelly-like fungus or slime-mould grows between the cracks of
crazy paving. I cannot identify either.
Can anyone help?
In
the early summer sky Saturn, just below Castor & Pollux, will be moving
west but still well visible in the south or south-west at bedtime. Jupiter will appear in the south-east and
slowly move west, still to be visible in May and June.
The
moon's orbit, slowly changing on an 18 year cycle, is moving into a position
which will give some extremes of high and low full moons for the next few
years. In January the full moon was 63
degrees above the horizon. June's full
moon will be only10 degrees high.
December's full moon will stand at 67 degrees. Moon watchers will experience the optical
illusion of seeing June's full moon as larger than usual as it hangs so low in
the southern sky.
Francis
Cloke 862496
THE PATHWAYS
PROJECT
For over a year now a multi-agency group has been
meeting to consider the needs of young people in the parish of East Coker. This was convened by Denise Dunford, from the
District Council, and has involved the Parish Council, Community Development,
the local constabulary, housing association and others. The group was particularly interested in
encouraging/supporting the activities of the Mill Church, who have been working
with young people here for many years.
Recently the church has been involved in working
with around 40+ young people, including some in their teenage years. Over the past 15 years the Mill has run
children's activity weeks and a youth club.
You may also be aware of 'Little Wheelers' parent and toddler group run
in association with other churches. In
fact, many young people in this area have been involved with church-run
activities provided by the churches of East Coker.
It is clear that some young people sail through
their teenage years but others need some help.
There are ways to offer such help – such as mentoring, homework clubs,
evening and recreational activities etc.
The Mill is hoping to develop these things under the title of 'The
Pathways Project'.
A major need for this project has been a suitable
base, where young people can feel secure and at home. This has proved difficult, despite much
support and encouragement from the multi-agency meeting – until recently, that
is. Mr and Mrs Timmis have now very generously offered to donate some land
which they own in Tellis Cross to the project.
It is envisaged that the venue for the ‘Pathways
Project’ should be in keeping with the surrounding village and grant funding is
currently being sought to purchase an attractive log cabin.
This will take some time to complete and regular
updates will appear in this newsletter.
NEXT ISSUE
The next issue of the Newsletter will be in July
2005. Copy, please, to Lesley Lindsay,
Little Meadow, Coker Marsh, East Coker or e-mail Lesley Lindsay or to the East
Coker Post Office & Stores by Friday 24 June 2005.