Compton Martin Blog

Mondo Enduro coming to Compton Martin

admin — Thu, 15 Mar 2012 00:34:42 +0000

Hi! Below is a flyer for the evening presentation at the Village Hall on 24th March.
Anyone still wanting tickets please refer to the flyer below, thanks!

Rosemary Preston – will be much missed!

admin — Fri, 02 Mar 2012 15:59:13 +0000

As I’m sure most of you know by now, there was yet more sad news of Rosemary Preston who passed away last Friday, with her family at her bedside. Rosemary was a well-loved and active member of the village community, a most kind and gracious person, and always lots of fun. As with Peggy and Mavis, we’re very saddened by her loss and will miss her greatly. Our thoughts are with Chris and the rest of the family in this time of grief.

Chris wanted to let everyone know the details of the funeral. It will be next Tuesday 6^th March 2012, at 2.30 at St Michael’s, with a wake afterwards in the Village Hall. Nothing has been mentioned about flowers or donations at this time…

New farce by the Compton Martin Players

admin — Mon, 14 Nov 2011 09:04:08 +0000

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

Latest News for Compton Martin in October

admin — Fri, 21 Oct 2011 16:21:38 +0000

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!

News Updates in September

admin — Sat, 10 Sep 2011 10:53:18 +0000

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 5^th September 2011

Work experience in the Mendip Hills Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty (AONB) – Volunteer Project Assistant

Are you looking to gain work experience as a student or to assist a change of career?

The Mendip Hills Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty (AONB) Unit is recruiting for its Volunteer Project Assistant role.

Working alongside the AONB Project Officer you will be assisting with a wide variety of projects in the Mendip Hills AONB.

The AONB Unit created the Volunteer Project Assistant role two years ago when a mature student from Bridgwater College approached the AONB for 30 days work experience and stayed two years. The student, who has gone on to paid employment, was awarded a Somerset County Council staff award for his work with the AONB Unit including assisting with site surveys, fixed post photography and other project related work.

This post is ideal for a student studying a land management course or similar or someone who is looking to change careers and needs work experience.

The post is one day per week (Wed or Thur) based at the AONB Unit offices at Charterhouse Centre, Nr Blagdon. For further information and application form CLICK HERE

Deadline for applications is Friday 23^rd September 2011

Helpful tips and news from The Council

admin — Sat, 13 Aug 2011 13:37:15 +0000

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.

Latest news and updates in the area

admin — Tue, 10 May 2011 16:40:47 +0000

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.

Our Neighbourhood Police Team Number is 0845 456 7000 but I guess if you see anything suspicious then don’t hesitate to call 999!

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I have also received a note about the mendip AONB Rangers and this is featured below:

Mendip Hills AONB Young Rangers: Recruiting now!

The Mendip Hills AONB Unit is recruiting 15 young people between the ages of 11 to 14 to join its new two-year Young Ranger
programme starting this September. The scheme provides a fantastic opportunity to find out about protected landscapes through a variety of activities that take them out and about in the Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty (AONB).

The Young Rangers meet one Saturday per month (except August and December) and have an overnight camp each year.

Participants will have the opportunity to learn about the special qualities of the Mendip Hills, participate in a number of outdoor activities and have the potential to gain a number of recognised qualifications such as First Aid, navigation and the John Muir Award.

The cost of the scheme is subsidised by the AONB Partnership and a number of parish councils have made contributions this year including City of Wells, and Compton Martin. Places on the scheme are provided at a charge of just £50 for the two years. This includes all activities, camps and Young Ranger uniform.

Sarah Jackson, Mendip Hills AONB Manager said Working with our partners such as the National Trust, Somerset Wildlife Trust and Wells Museum we are able to offer a diverse programme which provides a unique experience to a group of young people who we hope to inspire to have a continuing interest in the Mendip Hills. The Mendip Hills AONB is promoting the scheme through local schools who have pupils aged 11-14 but also encourage young people to contact the AONB directly.

For further information contact Andy Mallender at the Mendip Hills AONB on 01761 462338 or email amallender@somerset.gov.uk to find out more.

Application forms are available from the Mendip Hills AONB website HERE

Deadline for applications is Friday 17 June.

The Rag Well

admin — Tue, 26 Apr 2011 10:13:22 +0000

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!

April updates & such

admin — Tue, 26 Apr 2011 09:44:47 +0000

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!

Forums are removed for now…

admin — Thu, 17 Feb 2011 17:01:26 +0000

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.