Bio appointment

Tim Mead, MD of Yeo Valley, with The Queen Photo Iain Smyth
Her Majesty The Queen and His Royal Highness The Duke of Edinburgh paid a visit to Blagdon last week. The royal party arrived at Yatton Station and then visited Yeo Valley in Blagdon, winners of The Queen's Award for Sustainable Development. They met members of staff involved in the production of the company's dairy products, and some of their cows. The Queen received bouquets from children from Ubley and Blagdon schools.

Palace invite for James

James Sage and a prize pig
James Sage from Hinton Blewett is a very busy young man. He is currently County Chairman of the Young Farmer' Clubs and is steward of the pig section at the Mid Somerset Show. He has been keeping pigs for the last 4 years and just in the last year has started showing his stock.

He now keeps pedigree British Saddlebacks and enjoyed a tremendous start to the showing season. His first show was the Royal Bath & West Show where three young pigs he bred in January were super stars. Two of his gilts took first and second prize in their class. The boar won his class and went on to win the breed championship with the gilt being placed as reserve. These championship wins qualified the boar for the British Pig Association, Pig of the Year competition at the Great Yorkshire Show in July. He also qualified for Young Pig of the Year to take place at Hatfield later this month.

This boar is quite exceptional as James said "He is the only pig to have qualified for Pig of the Year and Young Pig of the year in the country". James had a very difficult decision to make as the pigs were to be judged on the same day as an invitation to a Royal Garden Party at Buckingham Palace. As he said "Should I miss the opportunity to take part in the pig of the year or should I forgo the once in a lifetime invitation to the Palace. It was a tough decision made much easier by my fellow pig exhibitors. They kindly offered and showed my pigs for me whilst I travelled from Harrogate to London on the train".

The week of the Great Yorkshire show was a prime example of the busy life James has whilst being County Chairman. Friday evening a hog roast with his own club, Wells and Glastonbury, a family wedding in the Midlands on Saturday and then driving his pigs to Harrogate on Sunday. Tuesday travel to London and then late on Thursday evening drive back to Somerset with his pigs. The showing, county chairmanship is in addition to a full time job.

Ember return to Litton

Ember
The Old Down Acoustic Club, based at The Kings Arms, Litton is delighted to welcome back the brilliant female duo Ember on Wednesday August 1. Over the past five years the unique acoustic magic of Ember has delighted audiences all over the world.

The success of their music centers around the miraculous blending of two very different voices: that of Welsh songstress Emily Williams, who also sails through the mix with her violin and sets up chunky rhythms with her nylon-strung guitar, and that of Rebecca Sullivan of Utah who fingerpicks a sparkling steel-string, and breaks out the harmonica for a song or two. Engaging and humorous performers, Emily and Rebecca build a natural repartee with the audience - in true troubadour style.

They will be appearing as the Club's 'Wednesday Special' Guest Spot which happens on the first Wednesday of every month. The Club (no membership required) runs an Open Mic night every Wednesday of the year. It has enjoyed lots of great acts from all over the UK for these 'Wednesday Specials' when the entrance fee is remarkably only £2.00. For more information ring Cathy Judge on 01761 241235 or Johnny Francis 07766442490 or go to www.theolddownacousticclub.co.uk

Scarecrow trail at Compton Martin

Sue Lipscombe from Cod Steaks usually makes tiny props for the Oscar - winning Wallace and Grommit films. But Sue is now making something much bigger: a super scarecrow for the Compton Martin Scarecrow Trail to be held over the August Bank Holiday weekend. Pete Budd, of the Wurzels, will make everyone jump when he fires a crow scarer to open the trail at 10.30 am on Sunday August 26, and on Monday 27 he will pick the best scarecrow to be found around gardens, fields, and more surprising places. Over the weekend, Compton Martin will be asking visitors to find the scarecrows, take part in a competition, buy souvenirs and enjoy good food and drink.

Proceeds are for village hall improvements. The village headcount will increase over the Bank Holiday weekend when not only scarecrows invade the village but scarecrow-hunting visitors. Make it a family day out in Compton Martin, walk the Trail, try a scarecrowman's for lunch (better than a ploughman's) a cream tea or even a glass of Scarecrow Ale.

When the oil runs out

More than 50 people came to see the documentary 'The Power of Community' at the Memorial Hall in Wrington on July 2. The film was preceded by a 10 minute presentation about the concept of Peak Oil and how this will affect our lives as oil becomes a scarce and expensive source of energy. The documentary shows how Cubans coped with their own Peak Oil event when, following the fall of the Soviet Union, they suffered almost immediate massive reductions in imports of oil, oil based products such as pesticides, fertilisers and other industrial materials.

Following the film and a coffee break for discussion there was a further presentation on actions being taken worldwide to find solutions to Peak Oil and specifically to the Transition Towns movement that has recently been taking hold in growing numbers of communities in the UK and beyond.

A steering group is being set up to continue the process of raising awareness to Peak Oil and Transition Wrington and further events and activities are already being planned for the next months. Proposed events include: Permaculture, An introduction to Permaculture - Sarah Pugh . Shared Space, Putting people at the centre of our village - Phil Parker. Your home, Energy and renewables. Workshops/Open Space Sessions. Produce it, trade it, eat it. Food and horticulture in Wrington. For further information contact Phil Neve 01934 862810

Harptree father and daughter's half marathon
Mike Gwyther, of East Harptree, and his daughter Jenny Gwyther-Brown, are running the Bristol Half Marathon on September 9 for The West of England MS Therapy Centre. The Centre provides vital therapies, advice and support for people with MS, like Don Gwyther, (Mike's father and Jenny's Grandfather).

It is a charity that solely relies on donations as it receives no government funding. It is the first time Mike and Jenny have entered a half marathon or run 13 miles, neither had been running seriously before.

"We have been training together since January for this and every Tuesday we have been out running, come rain or shine, to be ready for the 9th September" said Jenny. As part of their training they have also been going on shorter runs in and around their own villages. If you would like to make a donation or support Mike and Jenny then please visit: http://www.justgiving.com/mikeandjennygwyther