East Coker Society Newsletter

July 2005 – Free Issue No 119

Chair: John Sugg 863435

Newsletter Editor: Lesley Lindsay 862868

Secretary: Sarah Owen 862218

Treasurer: Keith Helliar 863700

East Coker Society News

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VE/VJ 60^TH ANNIVERSARY CELEBRATIONS

During the weekend of Saturday and Sunday 9/10 July, the village celebrated the 60th anniversary of VE and VJ Day. The various events were enjoyed by many villagers and visitors alike.

The Flower Festival at St. Michael's Church proved to be a very moving experience for all those who came to see the magnificent displays. Donations were made to SSAFA.

On Saturday, at East Coker Hall, there was a wine tasting, and a fascinating display of memorabilia by the Royal British Legion. Lunches were provided, with profits going to St. Michael's Church. A Tea Dance took place in the afternoon.

On Sunday, a special commemorative church service was held at St. Michael's amid all the flowers. Later in the day, children's races were held at the Recreation Field. About 40 children of all ages took part, and all had a great time. The races were followed by a picnic, with drinks and ice creams being served. There was also a large display of scout memorabilia to view, with some wartime vehicles.

The final event of the weekend was a peal rung at 5.00pm by the East Coker bell-ringers, to coincide with peals taking place across the country.

Our thanks go to all villagers who helped organise and run events throughout the weekend, and to those who decorated their homes with flags and bunting.

CHRISTMAS BAZAAR ADVANCE NOTICE

The Christmas Bazaar will be held in the East Coker Hall, on Saturday 19 November. Forms for stalls will be in October's Newsletter.

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

COKER 400 CLUB

The winners in the April draw were Mrs P.A. Davidge £100, Mr and Mrs Roberts £50, Mrs B. Chatwin £40, Mr D. Leng £30, Mrs C. Leng £20, Mr J.M. Phillips £15, Mr D. Mitchell £10 and Viscountess Montgomery £10.

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 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.

EAST COKER W.I.

We meet at East Coker Hall on the last Thursday of the month where members enjoy a variety of speakers and activities. This year members gained third places for cookery and craft in the group competitions at the Bath and West Show in June. Despite a long traffic delay and rain on the way a successful outing to Killerton House and Gardens was arranged to celebrate the group’s birthday.

The Autumn whist drives restart on Thursday 15 September.

EAST COKER WINE CIRCLE

The Wine Circle’s trip to the Rheinpfalz and Rheinhessen last month was a great success with a mixture of culture and a variety of liquid interludes!

While there were many highlights it was the stunning scenery and the fantastic tastings which will remain in most travellers’ minds.

An en route bonus in the Belgium city of Mons was the wonderfully colourful Sunday morning flower market. This was followed by a taste of German beer at Mendig where a tour of the volcanic caverns was of interest to those brave enough to descend the 153 steps.

Blessed with fine weather, the group enjoyed a boat trip from Boppard to the pretty town of Bacharach. Visits to the cities of Mainz, Heidelberg and Koblenz were also on the itinerary as well as a visit to the only inhabited medieval castle on the Rhein; Marksburg.

In Rudesheim members were able to ‘do as they please’, some opting to travel by cable car to savour the magnificent view while others visited the mechanical musical instrument museum or soaked up the atmosphere of the famous Drosslegasse.

The traditional last night entertainment with Derek and Penny Marpole, Doreen Bates, Hazel Love, Pearl Canham, Pam Pilbrow, Don and Nora White and Anna Shutler was a fitting climax to the ‘taste of the romantic Rhein’. Wine tastings were enjoyed at Udenheim, Nierstein and Boppard. Asbach brandy tastings at Rudesheim and Sekt at Mainz were just what was needed to keep our imbibers in top form. An audio visual presentation of the trip will be presented to the Circle by David Pryor at the August meeting.

The Circle’s next trip will be to Barrington Court House and Gardens followed by a meal and wine tasting at the Forrest and Brown Smokery at Hambridge on 13 August.

EAST COKER GARDENING CLUB

A grant of £500 from the Somerset County Council has enabled the Club to purchase and install a large electrically operated screen for the projection of slides and films in the Village Hall which will benefit all users of the Hall who present illustrated talks etc. The Club is also investigating the possibility of acquiring its own sound amplification system, so that in future it will not have to borrow a system from elsewhere.

As a result of the well-filled Hall at the Open Evening in May, the Club was able to donate a total of £750 to the Pavilion Fund.

Pleasant weather enhanced the delights of the day-trip to the Royal Horticultural Society's garden at Wisley on 25 May. The monthly meeting on Thursday, 9 June, featured an illustrated talk on the cultivation of roses by Thomas Sandy of Almondbury, South Gloucestershire. With an excellent selection of slides he covered the history of roses, which are native only in the Northern Hemisphere, the different types and their functions; also recommendations for planting and pruning.

The promised evening outing to Tintinhull on 14 July proved so popular that the waiting list had to be closed at the end of May.

Future Meetings, August to October (Thursdays at 7.30 pm in East Coker Hall)

11 August: 'Question Time', with a panel of experts from among the members

8 September: 'Yesterday, Today & Tomorrow', talk by Terry Underhill on changes in gardening

13 October: 'Lawn Care' by Brimsmore Garden Centre

Tuesday 25 October: A coach trip to Westonbirt Arboretum. Non-members very welcome

Chair: Olga Clifford Secretary: Vivienne Ford 863954. Treasurer: Catherine Denney 862294.

EAST COKER POETRY GROUP

The next meeting is on Monday 18 July, at 7.30pm, at the Helyar Arms, East Coker. Its title is 'Poetry, parodies and puzzles, with Anne Bingley, retired publisher and lifelong poetry lover. The event is free and open to everyone, just come along on the evening.

The next issue of the poetry group newsletter will be produced in August. Again, it is open to everyone. Send poems for publication to: the East Coker Poetry Group, Tellis Farm, East Coker, Yeovil, Somerset BA22 9JP, to arrive by Friday 5 August – all will be included.

Annual poetry writing competition

Thursday 6 October 2005 is National Poetry Day, organised by the Poetry Society, and to celebrate, East Coker Poetry Group is running a competition to find a new 'East Coker'. The village found fame as one of Eliot's 'Four Quartets' and since then it has proved the inspiration for other amateur and professional writers. Now it's the turn of residents, neighbours, visitors and friends of the village to put pen to paper.

The competition is open to everyone, with a first prize for over 18s of a meal for two at the Helyar Arms, and books and book tokens for younger entrants. The winning poems will feature on the poetry group website and a selection of the entries will be published as a booklist.

The closing date is Friday 23 September and the winners will be announced on Thursday 6 October to coincide with the national event. Send poems to: the East Coker Poetry Group, Tellis Farm, East Coker, Yeovil, Somerset BA22 9JP.

For more information visit www.eastcokerpoetry.org.uk or call Sue McKerracher on 863633.

ACTION MEDICAL RESEARCH

The East Coker Committee of Action Medical Research will be holding a Fashion Show on Tuesday 18 October at East Coker Hall. The clothes being modelled will be from the Kaliko, Minuet and Country Casuals departments in Denners.

So put this date in your diary now, because you will not want to miss this very enjoyable evening!

Leigh Mead

EAST COKER PAVILION FUND

VE Day Celebrations at North Coker House

After months of planning, the VE day 'Party in the Park' at North Coker House on 11 June was an outstanding success. In total around 700 people joined the revelries, setting up camp in the grounds of North Coker House to enjoy the marvellous music and nostalgic atmosphere.

Everyone joined in magnificently with the evening’s 1940s theme. There were some inspired costumes ranging from land girls, glamorous ladies, a few members of the French resistance, a sprinkling of spivs and representatives from all the armed forces. Some delicious, mouth-watering picnics were man-handled across the car park and set up elegantly on dining tables, serving dishes so elaborate they could not have been bought on war time rations!

The performers: Bertie's Big Band, Belinda Evans, East Coker School Choir and the Sherborne Jazz Quartet were outstanding, the poetry recitals were captivating and the compere, Neil Quigley from Ivel FM linked all the items together professionally. All the entertainers were fabulous and really captured the spirit of the evening.

The Tiger Moth display was spectacular. The tiny aircraft looped and swooped over the chimneys of North Coker House, prompting so many people to enter the raffle to win a ride in a Tiger Moth that we almost ran out of tickets! The dubious pleasure of riding in such a small plane was won by Roger Dodd.

Photographs of the evening were on display and for sale at the Church Fete at North Coker House on 2 July.

At the end of the evening in excess of £6,600 had been raised to boost the Pavilion Fund. Thank you all very much for your support!

Family Cycle Ride

The next fundraising event is the family cycle ride, which is taking place on Sunday 17 July. As last year, there will be three routes, which will set off at staggered intervals from the Pavilion. These routes include a family route for young children and their parents, a route of about 10 miles for more adventurous cyclists and a longer route again for the masochists!

To satisfy appetites and quench thirsts worked up by all that exercise, there will be a barbeque and refreshments back at the Pavilion to round off the afternoon.

Entrance is by registration form, which costs £5 per family or £2 for a single entrant. The forms include a space for sponsors for those people who wish to obtain sponsorship, and there will be a prize for the most sponsorship money collected. This event is being co-ordinated by East Coker Cockerels FC on behalf of the Pavilion committee, and forms are available from any football club member, or by contacting Emma Trickey on 864410 or Tracey White on 862887.

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

In line with the promotion of co-education in Scouting, East Coker Scout Group will accept girls into the Cub & Scout sections with effect from September 2005. Anyone wishing to join should contact the Group Scout Leader at the telephone number below.

Beaver Scouts 6-8 yrs Currently not available due to the search for a new leader.

Cubs 8-10 yrs Tuesdays 6.30pm to 8.00pm Contact Tel: 474648

Scouts 10-14yrs Fridays 7.00pm to 9.00pm Contact Tel: 426685

The older two sections now meet on a District basis.

Explorer Scouts 14-18 yrs

Scout Network 18-25 yrs

For further details on these sections please contact 474648

CONGRATULATIONS! go to the East Coker Scout Patrol who recently won the Junior Fox Trophy Challenge Hike, this is the first time East Coker Scout Group have ever won this trophy and a great achievement! Also for winning the Yeovil District Scout Five a Side Senior Football Tournament.

Waste Paper Collections

Saturday 30 July, 27 August & 24 September.

Autumn Jumble Sale to be held at East Coker Hall Saturday 1 October from 2.00pm. All donations of jumble gratefully received. REMEMBER WE WILL COLLECT. Contact Max Bugler 862186.

Thank you for your support. Jackie Glover.

EAST COKER COCKERELS

East Coker Cockerels is the new name for the football teams who played last season as East Coker Rangers Under 10s and Under 8s. For the new season, which kicks off in September 2005, the Cockerels will be fielding teams in four age groups – The Under 8s, Under 9s, Under 10s and Under 11s.

The club will be hoping that the forthcoming season will be as successful as the outgoing one. The Under 10s won their Divisional Trophy and were runners-up in the Championship Plate competition. The Under 8 teams, the Space Rangers and the Power Rangers, both acquitted themselves admirably in their friendly matches and in the U8 Challenge Cup.

The Cockerels were also invited to attend the Charter Standard Club’s Mini Soccer Festival, which was run by Somerset FA and held at the Hand Stadium, the home of Clevedon Town FC. The teams’ positive attitude and sportsmanship was noted by the referees and the representatives of the FA, As a result, the U8s and U10s were both awarded the Fair Play Award for their age groups. This was an amazing achievement, and the club is very proud of all the boys for winning such prestigious awards.

The club is expanding steadily, and in order to support this growth, an application was made for development funding from the Football Foundation. We were successful in obtaining a package which amounts to £6000 over a three-year period. This support should ensure financial stability for the Cockerels over the next few seasons.

In addition, the Club was successful in applying for grants from SSDC for new mini goalposts, and from Orchard FM Trust to purchase new equipment. A special mention should also go to Mike Bartlett of MBA Resources, who has kindly sponsored the training tops for the second year running.

Thank you to all the parents, coaches and, most of all, players. You have all been fantastic this season – Well done!

EAST COKER PRE-SCHOOL PLAYGROUP

The Summer Term is in full swing and the children have been kept very busy. During the first half of the term the children were on the look out for Dinosaurs and the Pavilion had its own dinosaur cave, dinosaur nest complete with eggs and if you heard some loud stomping from time to time, do not fear – it was the children practicing the dinosaur stomp!

A big thank you goes out to all of you who supported the Summer Fair on 14 May. Due to your generous support £900 was raised for funds which will be used to carry on providing equipment and resources for the children’s benefit.

Last month we had two wonderful visits. One day from a Fireman who spoke to and showed the children some of the equipment they use. Our other visit was from a Policeman who spoke to the children and allowed them to explore his police car. The Policeman brought with him a Police Dog and Handler and with the excellent outdoor facilities we enjoy on hand, a display of the work they do was possible – very exciting! The teachers from East Coker School class 1 & 2 kindly visited the playgroup and the children going to school in September have visited the school. The playgroup, as a whole, spent a morning at the school, and classes 1 and 2 spent an afternoon with us at the Pavilion and played on the field. The children who will join us in September have been welcomed by the playgroup for visits to familiarise themselves with the setting.

During July the children are looking forward to their Summer Outing, a Sponsored Sports event (Mums and Dads get your running shoes on!) and End of Term Parties. Next time you are in Yeovil, please have a look at Yeovil Library that is currently displaying some of the children’s work.

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 years up to 5 years old. We are open Monday to Friday during term time from 9.15am to 12 noon. On a Tuesday and Wednesday we run afternoon sessions from 1.00pm to 3.15pm. At present we are able to offer lunch cover for an extra fee, between 12 noon and 1.15pm, for children who would 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.

During the Summer Holidays, sessions will be available to children up to their 6th birthday (subject to demand). Please contact Kay Strode on the number above if you would like further information.

Looking towards the end of the year, on Sunday 13 November at the East Coker Hall the playgroup will be holding its eleventh Craft Fair from 10.30am to 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 17 July & 24 July 5.45pm Music for a Summer Evening – Two short programmes of organ music before Evensong

Sunday 4 September 10.00am Pet Service

Sunday 2 October 10.00am Family Harvest Service

Wednesday 5 October Harvest Supper at East Coker Hall. Tickets available from Doreen Bates 862706

Service for those we have loved but see no longer 30 October at 6.00pm.

The preacher will be the Archdeacon of Wells, The Ven. Peter Maurice. I will be writing to those who have been bereaved in the last year a little nearer the time but please let me have the names of other loved ones, before October 23. There is no limit to the number of names you send in but because of the numbers we usually use only one Christian name per person. Any problems give me a ring.

Monica 862834

St. Michael's Bookstall Plant Sale 2005

The Bookstall Committee would like to thank all those who contributed to the success of this event, in particular to our growers, our sellers, the coffee team, the washers-up, and of course the buyers.

The sum of £1277 was raised and will be divided three ways between St. Michael's Church, St. Margaret's Hospice and The Dorset and Somerset Air Ambulance (in memory of Murray Stoddart).

St. Michael's Church Fete 2005

Despite a mixed weather forecast the afternoon of 2 July managed to stay dry for us. Attendance was good when you take into account the competing attractions such as Wimbledon Ladies Final and the Live 8 Concert.

Our thanks to all those who nobly played music, danced, manned the stalls, served delicious teas, sold nourishing burgers, raffle tickets, plants, bric-a-brac, cakes, ice creams et al. The result of everybody's efforts and generosity raised a total of £2600. None of the above would have been possible without the generosity and support of Duncan Stoddart who so kindly allows us to use his home and grounds.

The Men's Skittles was won by Chris Burton, the Ladies' Skittles by Margaret Orton and the Children's by Lily Kelly and Rebekah Bowles. Ben Oliver won the Golf Putting and the 'Best in Show' Dog was the Rev. Burt's Border Terrier 'Beige'.

ALL SAINTS' CHURCH CLOSWORTH

Family Services

Summer has only just arrived, but we are thinking of Harvest Already! Closworth normally celebrate Harvest at Evensong on the second Sunday in September this year being 11 September, the Family Harvest Service will be on Sunday 18 September at 10.00am. I am hoping to be fully mobile then. Non-perishable gifts of food will be sent to one of the homes for the needy afterwards. There will be no family service in August due to holidays and days at the beach!

Monica 862834

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

ALL SAINTS’ CHURCH SUTTON BINGHAM

Coffee Morning at The Anchorage, Coker Marsh on Saturday 3 September, 10.00am to Midday

Once again Kay Biggin is opening her beautiful garden for a coffee morning in aid of All Saints Church, Sutton Bingham.

There will be the usual stalls – including cakes and plants, and a raffle; and a marquee will be provided in case of rain.

Sunday Services

Sunday 25 September Harvest Festival Evensong 6.30pm

Other services 1st and 3rd Sundays of the month.

Village News

EAST COKER PARISH COUNCIL

BUNFORD LANE INQUIRY at which consideration of Keyford was reopened

A public local inquiry before Ms Susan Turner, an Inspector appointed by the Office of the Deputy Prime Minister, into modifications to the South Somerset Local Plan was held from 7-16 June. From 14-16 June this public inquiry had before it the District Council’s proposal to provide general employment land and a business park at Bunford Lane on a site starting opposite the Council Offices and extending partway up Bunford Hollow.

The Bunford Lane proposal was brought forward by the District Council following our referendum (held on 18 September 2003) and their subsequent rejection (at full council) of the Keyford site in East Coker.

The Inspector however extended the Bunford Lane inquiry to consider alternative sites, including the East Coker Keyford site. This allowed the objectors to the Bunford site, who included Wessex Farms Trust (the potential developers of the Keyford site), to put forward again all the details of the proposed Keyford development unopposed.

Paragraph 2 of the Inspector’s Ruling on Scope of Inquiry dated 14/06/2005 stated:

The Keyford site was rejected by the Council on the basis that there was a better site for the provision of employment land. The proposed allocation of Bunford Lane site has generated objections from supporters of other sites, including Keyford. I consider that it is necessary in the interest of fairness and natural justice that the alternative sites referred to as part of duly made objections should be considered at this Inquiry.

As the inquiry was into the Bunford site, no-one who was NOT an objector to the Bunford Lane development was allowed to speak against the Keyford proposal. This included East Coker Parish Council.

On 15 June, your Parish Council wrote to the Inspector on hearing of her decision to extend the inquiry, asking to be allowed to make representation. She ruled that this could not be allowed as the Parish Council was not an objector to the Bunford site.

Therefore, East Coker, yet again, has been denied a voice on this matter.

The Parish Council is currently considering what options are available to it.

Those of you who are concerned at the denial of representation, may like to write to:

David Laws, MP for Yeovil, House of Commons, London SW1A 0AA

The Chief Executive, District Council, The Council Offices, Brympton Way, Yeovil BA20 2HT

Planning Inspectorate, Temple Quay House, 2 The Square, Temple Quay, Bristol BS1 6PN

Office of the Deputy Prime Minister, 26 Whitehall, London SW1A 2WH

Stan Turner, Chairman, East Coker Parish Council

ABBEYFIELD UK

Are you of pensionable age and keen to keep your independence but looking for companionship and help in an emergency? If so Abbeyfield could be just what you are looking for.

Abbeyfield House is an attractive detached house with a pretty garden and is within walking distance of Yeovil Town centre. With comfortable bed-sit accommodation for nine residents (mostly ensuite), main meals are provided and a stair lift is installed. Respite stay can be considered.

Abbeyfield rents are competitive and existing personal care or Social Service arrangements can in most cases continue.

For further information please contact Joe Waite, House Manager 475768

NOTES FROM THE OBSERVATORY

Summer Solstice 21 June 2005

The late Spring and early Summer months had no great weather events to mark their passing. Rain fell on only 9 days in March; April was a little wetter with 17 days of rain. May was fairly dry with 10 rain days. So far, up to the 21st of the month, June has seen rain on only 3 days. Rainfall for March, April & May was 184.7mm (7.24ins)

The wettest spell was on April 17/18 when 21.4mm (0.84ins) fell overnight. A thunderstorm in the small hours of 27 April rumbled on for much of the night, heralding a warm finish to the month.

A sudden violent windstorm disturbed the village briefly on the afternoon of 21 May lasting only a few minutes. May, like April, also finished with a warm spell with a shade temperature of 24.2C (75.6F) on the afternoon of 27 May. But the hottest day so far this year was on 19 June when the mercury reached 24.2C (81.0F) with a high humidity which made the day an uncomfortable one.

This year so far, butterflies have been sparse. An early Holly Blue appeared on 8 May followed by a Speckled Wood on the 9th. Strangely, no Orangetips have been recorded. The large and striking caterpillars of the Mullein Moth have been reported feeding in large numbers on Moth Mullein Verbascum Blattaria.

I received a report of Swifts flying over the village on 6 May and Housemartins in large numbers about the same time. Reports of Slowworms, the legless lizards, have been welcome. These delightful and beneficial creatures are the earliest of the lizards to emerge from hibernation in March.

The Greater Spotted Woodpecker has been a frequent visitor to my bird feeder. A juvenile and mother have been feeding on my nut-holder while a robin has learned to wait below for the crumbs that fall from their beaks.

A badger has been digging up my lawn and pushing plant troughs over in a search for worms. I am always pleased to receive reports of wild-life sightings for incorporating in these notes.

The village is blessed with many attractive stone walls. These bear an interesting range of plants. The most frequently found is Ivy-Leaved Toadflax, also known in Somerset as Hens & Chickens. Although this plant is now widespread, it arrived in England in the seventeenth century. Another plant growing on our walls is Pennywort, or Umbilicus, widespread in the South West. Geoffrey Grigson in his "The Englishman's Flora" relates that the name is derived from the silver penny of former years, not the copper coin of present days. Valerian brightens the walls in summer.

This year, the sky at night in the summer will not have many features to observe. Saturn and Jupiter will soon disappear in the west. Mars will be an early morning object in the Southern sky. The constellation Cassiopeia, in the shape of a large W, will be in the Northern sky while in the south Arcturus will be a bright star prominent for several months. Meanwhile the full moon will be low at transit for July then will climb to a high of some 63 degrees in December.

Francis Cloke 862496

BONFIRES

Just a reminder, now that summer is here, to think of your neighbour before lighting a bonfire. The best time for this is after 6.00pm and not over a weekend if possible. Thank you.

BUS THREAT

Passengers on the 212 Dorchester to Yeovil Bus received a shock when they were greeted by an official from the First Bus Company with the news that the service was to be withdrawn at the end of July. After overcoming their disbelief that they were to lose such an excellent and popular service, many of them went into action in various ways.

One regular passenger started a petition where she got every passenger from each bus she was on that week to sign it. Another telephoned the bus company and the Dorset County Council to find out what was happening. Another telephoned the Western Gazette. Others wrote to various local councils. The Dorset and Somerset County Councils sent sympathetic replies, saying that other bus operators were being approached. Somerset was looking at the possibility that the 56 bus which runs between West Coker, North Coker and Yeovil might extend its service to East Coker. It is understood that the situation should be clarified by the end of June.

Meanwhile residents of East Coker who depend on a bus service for getting into town (unless they are offered a lift by a kind friend or are prepared to pay for an expensive taxi) are faced with the prospect of being cut off from the shops, their studies at the College, and their jobs. It is ironical that a situation such as this prompts more people to get a car at a time when the Government is worried about the increasing congestion on the roads.

P.S. The good news, received on 2 July from a member of the South Somerset County Council, is that the First Bus Company has decided to continue the 212 service until the end of the year when it is hoped that negotiations will result in another company taking over the route.

The other report is that the 56 Bus, serving West Coker, North Coker and Yeovil, will be replaced by a 'Nippy' bus which will respond to people's requests.

Sally Jackson

NEXT ISSUE

The next issue of the Newsletter will be in October 2005. Copy, please, to Lesley Lindsay, Little Meadow, Coker Marsh, East Coker or e-mail Lesley or to the East Coker Post Office & Stores by Friday 23 September 2005.

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