Nempnett's refurbished hall of fame

Nempnett villagers outside their newly reopened hall Photo by Sophy White

Nempnett Thrubwell now has a wonderfully refurbished hall for its 180 residents to enjoy. For many years, the only community asset (apart from the Church) has been the village hall, a small Victorian building given to the village in the 1880s but which, due to lack of funds, had been closed by the previous trustees about 40 years ago, since when it had lain unused, unloved and rapidly failing into an advanced state of disrepair. However, the transformation shown in the photographs has been achieved in the last five years by this small community.

They purchased land for a car park, and rasied funds through a busy schedule of fund raising activities including dinner dances, open garden days, car boot and plant sales, village walks and bingo nights. With the help of generous grants from amongst others the Harry Crook Foundation, Biffaward and Defra, over £150,000 was raised and a final appeal to villagers for additional funds to complete the project was met by an exceptional and generous response. The hall was formally opened on Saturday July 15 when the oldest resident in the village was asked to turn the key to open the front door to the Hall for the first time in 40 years.

The occasion was celebrated by a Hog Roast and social evening for villagers and donors. The village hall is already in great demand with bookings for a wedding reception, 80th birthday party, a 25th wedding anniversary, and a small conference already received, as well as meetings of the Parish and Parochial Church Councils, and the village Harvest Supper. One new and regular event will be a monthly Nempnett Night when villagers can get together informally for a drink and a chat, for people of all ages. The Hall is a two storey building and the lower Hall will incorporate a small Heritage Centre with displays of life in Nempnett Thrubwell in years gone by including the art of Cider and Cheese making, and will be available for visits from local schools and other organisations.

Churchill School team visit NASA

Amber Hartley Watts with two astronauts

A team of pupils from Churchill School (Amber Hartley Watts, Joseph Plumb, Rebecca Voisey and Thomas Watson-Folle) has just spent 12 days in the US at NASA's Florida and Houston bases, having won a national competition, Edge Into Space. It was heavily covered by the BBC - it made the morning news three times last week, including them watching the landing of the Shuttle and at the controls of a Shuttle. The team from Churchill was put forward by the school to enter a national science competition. 1000 schools entered - they had to come up with an invention that would be useful in space. The Churchill team was one of ten that won the prize. They developed the idea of a space suit that exercises your muscles in zero gravity (otherwise you get muscle wastage), and which could also work for stroke, coma patients, MS etc. For more detail about the competition see www.edgeintospace.com

Barrow Gurney festival success

A performance at Barrow Festival

All events at the Barrow Gurney Festival were well attended this year. Poetry, music, comedy, paper plays for the children, talks on trees and travel were equally absorbing and appreciated. The weather was perfect for the Strawberry Tea and events on the village green. On the Sunday we celebrated the Patronal Festival of St Mary and St Edward with Choral Evensong in Barrow Gurney church. Festival goers found it a pleasure to renew acquaintances at all the events and welcome new patrons to the Festival. Make a date now of the dates of next year's festival: Thursday 14 June to Sunday 17 June 2007 with James Bowman on the programme. All enquiries to Richard Burningham on (01275) 472950. If you would like to join our mailing list please contact Richard.

Two die in Red Hill crash
Police have identified the man and woman who died in a road traffic collision on the A37 at Red Hill, near Clutton, on July 14. Russell Shapcott, age 48, of Brislington, was the rider of a BMW motorbike involved in the crash,and he died at the scene. His pillion passenger, Gillian Andres, 53, of Brislington died later at the Royal United Hospital, Bath. The collision happened at 10.55pm, Friday July 14. A Ford Escort was travelling south on the A37 towards Clutton when it was involved in a collision with a BMW motorbike which was travelling in the opposite direction. Police are appealing for anyone who witnessed the incident to contact the Collision Investigation Unit via the force non-emergency number 0845 456 7000 or by contacting Crimestoppers.

Green project at Wrington School
2020 Vision Energy will be starting construction on the straw bale insulated classroom at Wrington Primary School next week, and are encouraging volunteers to sign up to help. The build will take place over the summer holiday period, with the finished classroom ready for the new term. Volunteers have already come forward to help with the project, but further help is still required. 2020 Vision Energy are asking the local community to volunteer over the summer period,

Monday to Friday between 9am-5pm. The project will act as a demonstration site for 2020 Vision Energy, showing how traditional construction methods can help improve the temperature both in summer and winter in the old prefabricated classroom. As well as the straw bale insulation, new under-floor insulation has been installed to maximise the benefits in the classroom. As well as providing environmental and energy improvements, the demonstration site will act as an educational focus for children to learn more about the benefits of insulation and other energy efficient measures and the impact this has on the environment. If you would like to volunteer to help this innovative scheme, then please contact 2020 Vision Energy, project managed by Sustain, on 01934 863650.

Bishop Sutton raises the roof
Work is due to start on replacing the roof of Bishop Sutton's Holy Trinity Church, with the help of a £64,000 grant from English Heritage, but another £17,000 needs to be raised to complete all the work that remains to be done. It is also hoped a new heating system can be installed in the building, which is Grade II Listed.

The church launched its 'Raise The Roof' appeal in May and has been greatly encouraged by the financial support given or pledged since then. Grants have also been received from the Historic Churches Preservation Trust, Friends of Somerset Churches and Chapels and Allchurches Trust Ltd. Churchwarden Liz Metcalfe said: "Although work is due to start on the roof in July a considerable sum is still needed in order to pay for the work in full. The churchwardens and PCC are arranging fund raising events but more donations and pledges from the good folk of Bishop Sutton are going to be needed if we are to fulfill our financial obligation. A loan for the balance will have to be sought and this of course, will incur interest and therefore swell the amount needed. So, the church treasurer will be delighted to receive donations and pledges throughout the summer and can be contacted for more information. Work is due to be completed at the end of September so time is of the essence!"

Fundraising events so far lined up include a bridge lunch on August 4, and a flower festival in September. The church's 'Raise the Roof' brochure gives more details of the restoration appeal. For a copy, or to make further enquiries, please call Margaret Irwin on 01275 332319 or Liz Metcalfe on 01275 332851.