There may still be tickets left, if you can not read the information below, click on the image and it will increase in size! these plays are always sold out before they start so if you want to watch this great farce please do follow the guide for obtaining tickets below: thanks
At the end of this month – Sunday 30th October – the very popular Cooked Breakfast is back to support The Village Hall & Field Committee!
Tickets are still available for this and doors open from 8.30 am until 10.30 and suits YOu and anyone you wish to bring along! It’s a great way to meet your neighbours of village folk and get a really scrummy choice of “Full English”, that is Bacon, sausage, egg, tomato, mushrooms, baked beans and toast with a choice of Jam or marmite washed down with a refreshing glass of Orange Juice & Tea or Coffee! The cost for this full breakfast is just £6. No washing up, bring the family and enjoy the atmosphere knowing that you are helping to keep our Village Hall funded and it will be great to see that brand new kitchen put to use!
The next morning event at the Village Hall is a Coffee Morning on November 15th and this will be held from 11am until 1pm
There will also be a selection of home made cakes and second hand books will also be on sale!
Finally, at the Hall, the annual Christmas Lunch is being held on Sunday 4th December
I’m letting you all knwo early as space is strictly limited for this meal and if you would like to attend, you must book early to avoid disappointment! Details of how to are to again call Tracy on 221243 or from Nov 1st, tickets can vbe purchased at the Post Office. the cost of a ticket for one person is £13 – this will include what is says in the image above.
There is a mulled wine reception, chat with friends, neighbours and family before you will be seated for your 3 course Christmas Festive Meal, it’s a new menu this year (so new I don’t know what just yet but once I hear I will let you all know).
Prices are held to last year’s, and there will also be carol singing and that all imprtant Licensed Bar. This event always fills up so, as I said… book early to avoid disappointment!
I also just updated the parish council pages and added a stunning new image of the Chew Valley on the home page, if anyone wants some more images of the Chew Valley I took recently during those few ,rare summer-like days, I have some amazing images of the fields and lake in glorious Autumnal sunshine. It almost warms me seeing the images now that the days are getting darker and chillier! See you at the Breakfast Morning at the Village Hall!
OK, I have been rather busy and the last thing I wanted recently was to look at a damned screen, but the site and blog needs updating so here is what I have so far!
The Harvest Supper, there is a flyer on the front page, but in case you’ve come here first, then you can still get tickets for this popular event from the village Post office or the Ring o’Bells pub. As usual there will be a licensed bar selling ale and wine as well as entertainment after the meal by members of the 1982 Committee! I was looking forward to going but unfortunately I’m away that weekend with a prior appointment so that’s one extra ticket that can be snapped up! This is one event that always sells out so please do get your tickets early to avoid disappointment!
Below is a Press Release from the Mendip Hills AONB
Monday 5th September 2011
Click on the links below and they lead to some useful pages for those that may not know about these services provided free of charge by BANES council.
The 1st would be aimed at the elderly or those that use electric blankets as we start to think about the impending autumnal and winter months, it’s best to be prepared in advance and the council are proding FREE tests of current electric blankets that are in use, espeically if they are getting on in age!
CLICK HERE FOR THIS FREE ADVICE
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The 2nd concerns our younger generation as the Bikeability Cycle Training is available for September and again, it’s FREE so for all the full details on these courses – plesse CLICK HERE
Let anyone you know who may benefit from these be aware of these services, I will try to forward any other useful info I get from time to time.
Regards!
Ivan.
This isn’t entirely focussed on Compton Martin to start with but was a general urgent letter delivered to all the parish councils in the BANES council area as it’s a Highways issue that might affect us all if something isn’t sorted. The below letter is copied and concerns the recent thefts of manhole and gulley drain hole covers on our roads which could have drastic consequences for those driving in the darl and unable to see missing covers because of theft!
To keep you all informed, we have suffered a spate of gully and manhole cover thefts within the last 24/48 hours. Could you please make your Parish Councillors aware of this issue and ask they keep an eye out. Should they come across anyone doing anything to highway apparatus, gully covers etc and the operatives are not in either Banes or Atkins marked vehicles, wearing Banes/Atkins high viz clothing after 4pm they are more than likely not
official Council operatives and their activities should be reported to either Council Connect or the Police.I have reported these thefts to the Police and they are letting all their area officers know to keep an eye out for any
inappropriate activities. I am sure you are aware that these covers are cast iron and are expensive to replace.
I have also received a note about the mendip AONB Rangers and this is featured below:
Deadline for applications is Friday 17 June.
I’m sure many of you are well aware and have seen the gradual refurbishment and rebuilding of the Rag Well half way up Highfield Lane. I asked why it was called the Rag Well and didn’t really get any firm responses… and perhaps there are those that can help me so I can relay that information here. Was it something to do with an old tradition where those that appreciated the fresh spring water collected there left rags on the tree? It would be nice to find out why it was called that and also when it was 1st used by residents in the area until its gradual decline. Images below show a few refurbs from the winter until the present day in the large image at the bottom. Any help in completing the history of this well would be greatly appreciated… thanks.
1st images show the uncovering and remedial work to the stones. Taken in February this year.
The wet road and the excess spring water flows underneath Highfield lane out into the field overlooking Compton Martin
A temporary pipe was placed for the excess water flow (below), & the final image at the bottom shows the finished pointed stonework and the rag well easily accessible on Highfield Lane as it is today!
I have plenty of images for those who love to see nature at it’s best this year. many of you will know that Long Wood, near Charterhouse has an amazing trail that allows you to appreciate the beauty of the bluebells and the overpowering scent of wild garlic that makes this a “must see” every year. If you haven’t been to Long Wood, I have some images below that were taken on Easter Sunday… hope you enjoy them, click on the thumbnails below to enlarge them.
With this fantastic Spring we really are seeing a alot of colour in our gardens and countryside, it’s such a feel good factor after the bleak winter! Everything has bloomed earlier this year so if you want to see the magnificent bluebells (say, at Long Wood), get there now before they disappear for another year.
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I received a note from Natasha Clements of Bristol Water to add about “Slug Pellet” awareness from recently. Check out the image below:
We are launching a Slug Pellet Awareness campaign in the catchments of Blagdon Lake and Chew Valley Lake in light of the water quality issues we have been having with slug pellets that contain the active ingredient metaldehyde. Both of these lakes have had high levels of metaldehyde in the past few years and this poses particular problems in terms of removing this pesticide through our water treatment processes. We have been working with local agricultural users but we also feel there could be a contribution from local domestic usage, so we would like to raise awareness amongst local gardeners in these catchments.
Please be aware, if you haven’t read the latest minutes from the AGM Parish Council meeting that thieves are always operating in the area, now looking for scrap metal, and that’s not just lead roofing at the church, so if you see anything suspicious, take a note of their description and vehicle registration and inform the police. It was summised that possible ganfgs from eastern Europe may be responsible, so anyone lurking that may fit that description, young men not known to the village, please pass on any information possible that can help stop these needless crimes.
& on a brighter note, I am about to find a few images of the Rag Well, which has been carefully restored over the winer months, see my next post for that.
If anyone has any information about the forthcoming Village Fete, any literature/posters, please do contact me at the usual webmaster address so I can place this on the front of the website right now, thanks!
I had checked the forums and was shocked and upset that it had been attacked by malicious and persistent spamming bot software. There were 1000′s of registrations from Russia, China and Ukraine, these pariah internet states are a pain! So I have just blocked the country IP addresses as well as disable the forum and place a redirect to the front page of the site. So this site is no longer available on recognised IP addresses of those countries so you can’t see this in Russia now (to be honest, why would you?). I know it doesn’t stop the bad guys completely, but it makes life a little more difficult for them.
These are the pitfalls of providing a service as I had spent over 2 hours trying to sort this out before giving up and removing the forum completely. I’m sorry about that, I will look at a better system if you want it but for now you can leave a comment here, the software on blogs is far better and can spot spam a mile off so anyone genuine can leave a comment and I will moderate it.
Thanks for understanding.
I have been asked to make you all aware of the following announcement for those that are interested…
Blagdon Rainbow Guides [the nearest Rainbow Unit to Compton Martin] currently has a few spaces for girls aged 5 and 6 yrs old. We meet once a week on a Monday 5.15 – 6.15pm during term time. Rainbows have lots of fun playing games, making crafts, going on trips and our very popular sleepovers. Coming up in March is our Winter Wonderland Sleepover and in May a Trip to Legoland along with all the usual fun and games in our spring and summer term. If your daughter is interested in joining us please contact Tigi on 0777 163 2774 for more details.
website: BLAGDON RAINBOWS
I am forwrding a press release I have received today.
IMPORTANT: Please pass on or advise to any elderly neighbours or those you think may be at risk etc.
PRESS RELEASE – Police warn of “blue dye” bogus callers.
Police are warning people across the force to beware of bogus callers, as criminals take advantage of the increase in burst pipes and water mains caused by cold weather.
Over the last week, a number of offences have been reported to police across the force where bogus “Waterboard” and Dyno-rod officials have tricked their way into homes before stealing cash, purses and wallets.
Darren Taylor, acting sergeant on the Bristol Doorstep Crime Team consisting of police and Trading Standards officers, said: “Offenders have been knocking on doors, unfortunately targeting elderly and more vulnerable people, and claiming they are fixing water leaks and burst pipes in the road.
“A common theme in these offences is that victims are being told that there is blue dye in the water, and they need the victim to run the kitchen taps to check the system.
“If someone knocks on your door and you hear these things, alarm bells should start ringing.
“There is no longer a Waterboard – it is a term used only by bogus callers. Water companies also never put dye into the water.
“Since the formation of the Bristol Doorstep Crime Team and Avon and Somerset’s work to tackle doorstep crime with the national Operation Liberal, we have reduced distraction burglaries and rogue trading offences by around 60% in the city.
“In turn there has been a substantial increase in the number of crimes being detected with more offenders being identified and locked up than ever before.
“We want to further drive down these offences and warn people of what to look out for so that we stop people from becoming victims in the first place.”
The Bristol Doorstep Crime Team is a partnership between Bristol CID and Bristol City Council Trading Standards. This joint enterprise has been investigating distraction burglary and Rogue trading in the city for 18 months.
Acting Sergeant Taylor said: “If you are visited by someone requesting access and you have not reported a water leak then do not let anyone into your home.
“You do not need to run your taps.
“Be wary of unknown, unscheduled callers – just because they have a plastic id card and a boiler suit it does not make them genuine.
“A genuine official will understand and will happily make a future appointment or provide credentials to confirm their identity.”
If you believe that you have seen or been visited by these offenders then please report it to the police on 0845 456 7000. If you have any information that may help catch these offenders call 0845 456 7000 or Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.
Top tips for staying safe
Always make sure visitors to your home are who they say they are by asking to see their identification.
Do not use any telephone numbers provided by the caller, as they may be bogus.
Always use a number from your utility bill or a phone book.
‘Water Boards’ no longer exist, it is an obsolete phrase used only by bogus callers.
Ensure that if you do let somebody in to your home, that you close the door behind them – distraction burglars often work in teams, where one will distract you while another sneaks in through the insecure door.
Always close and lock the back door before answering the front door.
LOCK: Keep your front and back doors locked, even when you are at home.
STOP: Before you answer, stop and think if you are expecting anyone. Check that you have locked any back doors and taken the key out. Look through the spy hole or the window to see who it is.
CHAIN: If you decide to open the door, put the door chain or bar on first.
CHECK: If someone who looks official calls at your door, always ask for their identity card; do they look like the person on the card? If you do not have a chain, ask for ID to be put through the letterbox and remember there’s no such thing as the water board.
Visit the Force website on www.avonandsomerset.police.uk
Here you can also sign up to receive local news and alerts, Crimestoppers appeals and job details direct to your inbox at http://www.avonandsomerset.police.uk/Interactive/