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Website: www.meareandwesthay.comFacebook: Meare and Westhay News

Few of us will need reminding that this November marks the centenary of theend of World War 1, the First World War, the Great War or - as my Dadamongst many others used to say with qualification - ‘World War – Act 1’.It was also referred to as ‘The War to End All Wars’ though I’m sure the ironyof this and any word “great” is lost on nobody, except of course for its scale.

Satirical map entitled “Hark ! Hark ! The dogs do bark.” by Walter Emanuel,published in 1914 by Johnson, Riddle & Co (London) and sold by booksellers for 1/-

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Meare & Westhay Village News wel-comes all and any contributions to themagazine. However it should be remem-bered that any views or comments ex-pressed are those of the individualcontributor and do not in any way reflectthe opinion of the magazine, the Editoror the Parish Council.The editorial team also wish to make itclear they reserve the right to amend, ed-it or omit any article or contribution inthe interests of legality, public decency,availability of space or any other reason.

Invoices for advertisements will be sent by the Treasurer (Mrs Ann Giles) and mustbe settled prior to appearance of the advert in the magazine. Cheques should be

made payable to “MEARE PARISH MAGAZINE FUND”

Magazine dates & contact information

None in our community today have direct connection though a greatmany of us had a link via parents or grandparents and, if not with thisone, then certainly with ‘World War – Act 2’. It is therefore appropriatethat the focus of features in this copy of the magazine is on thisimportant historical date as its impact remains with us today in oneform or another. So, there will be several articles, deliberately not in ablock but spread throughout the issue – a little bit like the significanceof this and every other war, past or present.War is a sensitive issue, not something I take lightly and I apologise un-reservedly if any of the content causes offence – that is not the intent ofthe material chosen for inclusion. - Editor

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ISSUE DEADLINE DISTRIBUTIONDecember / January 1st November 2018 30th November 2018

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● MATERIAL RECEIVED AFTER THE DEADLINE CANNOT BE INCLUDED.● A down-load copy or Meare & Westhay Village News is available from the

website: www.meareandwesthay.com

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announcements

DIAMOND WEDDING ANNIVERSARYCongratulations to Sally and Don Hill who have celebrated their 60thWedding Anniversary. They married at St Benedict’s Church Glastonburyat 10.00 on a Monday morning on 28th July 1958 and moved to Westhayon 1st April 1978.Dwight D. Eisenhower was the US President and Harold Macmillan wasour Prime Minister and the UK music read like this:

● At No 1 was The Everly Brothers with ‘All I Have to Do is Dream’and ‘Claudette’ on the B side

● At No 2 was Connie Francis with ‘Who’s Sorry Now’● At No 3 was Perry Como with ‘Magic Moments’

….. leaving Frank Sinatra at No 99 with ‘Witchcraft’

MARRIAGES● Jason Henry Richard Buckton & Rhiannon Chloe Rhodes

18th August 2018● Antoney Burrows & Lucy James

22nd September 2018

Gatwick Airport was opened the previ-ous month whilst over in the US JackKilby (along with Robert Noyce) devel-oped the first microchip, changing ourlives for ever.Films that topped the cinemas in 1958included ‘Vertigo’, ‘Gigi’, ‘Cat on a HotTin Roof’ and ‘The Big Country’ withactors James Stewart, Leslie Caron,Elizabeth Taylor and Gregory Peck.‘The Huckleberry Hound Show’ and‘Blue Peter’ both started on television in1958 as well as ‘Quatermass and thePit’ and ‘77 Sunset Strip’. A popular TVshow was ‘Candid Camera’.Meanwhile, back in Glastonbury,this event was taking place,complete with a dustbin in thewedding picture …..

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THE ROLE OF WOMEN IN WW 1

Women had been recruited into paid employment for generations before theFirst World War broke out in early August 1914 but mostly in the textile tradeor as domestic servants or nurses and teachers. The retail trade had alsoadmitted women in Victorian times. In the countryside women and girls hadbeen employed on farms as milkmaids for centuries, even as shepherdesses,and during haymaking and harvest they had done sterling work helping tobring in the crops. They usually gleaned in the fields afterwards and would beproud to show off their small sacks of grain to be ground into flour for theirfamily needs. But all this was to expand in almost unbelievable ways in 1914when war was declared. From cities, towns and villages men left to volunteerfor the army, navy and even the infant flying corps (later to become the RAF),and they left a void that had to be filled. Now women came into their own.A large number of stately homes and large country mansions were offered ashospitals for wounded officers and soldiers and so many of their servants hadleft these houses to fight that there was aneed for local women to fill their places ascleaners and aides to the nursing staff.Farms urgently needed replacements forploughmen and workers with the animals.A number of women worked in the fieldsplanting and harvesting vegetables, anearly form of what became the Women’sLand Army in WW2.Many young women applied to train asnurses. They also entered the transportindustry, becoming conductresses onbuses and even bus drivers. On therailways they worked as ticket collectors,carriage cleaners and even porters on railway stations. There was a greatneed for women to work in the new munitions factories, a dangerousoccupation which could lead to serious injuries and even death whenaccidents happened. The first policewomen were recruited during WW1, andalthough never in front line positions the first female soldiers were accepted

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and put into uniform. There had been women serving in Queen Alexandra’sImperial Military Nursing Service since the Boer War, wearing the distinctivescarlet and grey uniforms that can still be recognised today in the modernQARANC*. In the rapid changing of front linessome first aid posts and forward clearing stations,even military hospitals, could be close to the battlefronts. In December 1916 the Women’s AuxiliaryArmy Corps was formed, later to be known asQueen Mary’s Auxiliary Army Corps and later stillas the A.T.S. In November 1927 came theWomen’s Royal Naval Service and on the 1st April

1918 the Women’sRoyal Air Force cameinto existence. Somewomen even made their way to the battle areasmuch earlier supplying and driving ambulances,although women doctors were still refused entryinto the military medical services.In 1915 the infant Women’s Institute came to thiscountry, introduced from Canada, where it hadbeen set up in 1896 to educate countrywomen

there in domestic hygiene and home nursing as well as offeringcompanionship. The first branches here in the UK were formed in Wales butmany soon followed in England and a year later the Rural Women’s Institutecame into being in Scotland. They were soon helping to provide preservedfruit and vegetables and other provisions for the wider community. Somewomen with land developed smallholdings where girls could train in animalhusbandry, bee keeping, poultry and even cows and sheep. Kew Gardensemployed women as gardeners. In schools women teachers were employedin large numbers to replace their male counterparts who had volunteered orbeen drafted into military service.

POSTSCRIPT - The First World War brought many changes to the lives ofwomen in the UK. For almost the first time in many generations they wereable to show what they were made of and how they could respond to theneeds of their country. Many found an independence of body and mind theyhad not known before 1914. Sadly almost all those who had enjoyed theirnew-found work opportunities had to return to a more domestic life whendemobilised men returned to the work places. But nothing could or wouldremain the same. Some ten years later they were given the right to vote, andwhen in 1939 war broke out again in Europe and later North Africa, the MiddleEast and Asia women responded… again. But that is another story…….* Queen Alexandra’s Royal Army Nursing Corps

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Westhay film club changes …….To make events simpler we’re havingsome changes. We will no longerserve a buffet for the Saturday per-formances, which means:●You no longer have to book;●The price will be reduced to £3.50for members, £5.00 for guests;●We can standardise the start timeto 7.00pmNot having to reach a minimum number also means we won’t have the threatof cancelling future performances, something we sadly had to do for a recentfilm, causing disappointment for the members who had booked. The buffetalso meant we had operate by a fixed finish time of 9.10pm so the start timevaried depending on film length and this sometimes led to confusion. Now wecan fix this at 7.00pm for both Wednesday and Saturday performances,plus standardise with a reduced price for both.To maintain compliance with our operating terms with the Motion PictureLicensing Company, all events will be operated as ‘Buy and Sell DVD’ - anopportunity for you to exchange unwanted films for new ones.We have a programme of excellent films ahead including Mama Mia - Herewe go again though we can’t give a date for this one yet as the release ondisk hasn’t been announced. With five years experience now, we have a fair-ly good idea of what appeals to our members but we do get it wrong occa-sionally - mostly on ‘bad language’ levels. However we try to mix the films togive as wide an appeal as we can manage whilst pleasing the majority.We always welcome new members and film suggestions - pleasecontact fred.giles@btconnect.com for details of membership.

Music night in meare …..The ‘39-Ers Jazz Band’ will be holding a MusicNight on Saturday 27th October in Meare ChurchRooms at 8.00pm. This is a free event and is foranyone interested in giving a song or a tune orsimply to enjoy a fun night of music. Please comealong - it’s free and it’s funContact Dave Oldham on 01458-860583

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Ta l k Ab o u t Pr o s t a t eOK now that everyone is thoroughly appalledat me for creating such a picture, at least I’vegot your attention and maybe you’ll read on.This is not just for the guys but for wives and

partners too because it is to encourage awareness of prostatecancer – a rather taboo subject and one which, I know, wefellas just don’t want to discuss, even with our loved ones. But,what affects us impacts on our partners and families too.I’m raising the subject now because of two recent conversations I had withfriends and it reminded me just how reticent men are to talk about this is-sue, how much fear is present and how much we’d rather ‘bury our heads’than face the indignity of firstly admitting the issues and secondly facingthe prospect of an invasive examination. However, allow me put to this inperspective: without facing this three years ago I would be dead by now.As you know, I am very much alive, still being monitored and, to the bestof medical knowledge, cured of this cancer. Yes, there are consequencesbut they’re small compared to the alternative.Without raising undue alarm, I had no symptoms. Normal urine flow, nodifficulty or noticeably increased frequency - I simply reached 60, receivedthe ‘bowel cancer kit’ in the post as a birthday present from the NHS andfelt I should have my PSA measured as a matter of course. Being asymp-tomatic, the GP was reluctant as the test is notoriously unreliable, givingalmost as many false negative as false positive results. My insistenceproved to be my life-saver and without urgent radical prostatectomy sur-gery I would, by now, be looking at the daisies from another direction.Sadly, there is no routine screening for prostate cancer which isn’t thefault of our health industry. The first stage, a blood test for measuringprostate specific antigen (PSA), provides an ‘indicator’ only. To repeat, itis unreliable, the level being affected by a number of factors. High read-ings put you to the next stage (yes guys, that’s the gloved finger) so ‘grinand bare it’ whilst remembering it’s no fun for the clinician either! Howev-er, low readings can provide a false negative result and means you, asthe patient, have to keep awareness and report other symptoms too.As most of my working life was in pathology, I was already aware of thisseverity but the level of general misunderstanding on this subject con-cerned me when I was diagnosed and started telling people.

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I had several people telling me: “Oh my uncle/father/cousin had that and itdidn’t kill him” plus that classic statement: “You die with prostate cancer,not because of it”. Go tell that to Bob Monkhouse, Telly Savalas or, morerecently, Fred Dibnah, Geoffrey Hughes and Dennis Hopper. Even if youdon’t recognise the names at least recognise that earlier diagnosis mayhave prevented their death from this eminently treatable cancer and ce-lebrity status or access to private medicine afforded them no protection.Don’t let this article cause unnecessary alarm. It is true that a greatmany men have non-malignant enlargement (commonly called BPH orBPE) which is ‘benign’ and leads to the myth that this is not a serious con-dition. The malignant form can run in parallel so don’t ignore symptoms orfall into the trap of thinking: “I’ve got the benign form, that means I can’tget the malignant form” – that’s simply not true.But, my story isn’t yours; nor is a friends’ or relatives’. Their condition, itsstage, appropriateness from the range of treatment options (if any is need-ed at all) will be yours and appropriate to you. The medical services arethe experts, accessed either through your GP or by contacting ProstateCancer UK on 0800 074 8383 for advice. Good natured but unwittinglygiven misinformation (including excess Internet browsing) can cause notonly tremendous anxiety but increased reluctance to take further action.However, if you’re on the path for treatment then talking to others who’veeither been there or are currently involved can be invaluable. It certainlyhelps to share experience in both practical ways and moral support out-side the scope of the medical services.My personal experience: fantastic service from the NHS. I’m not going topretend treatment is painless mentally or physically but I’m here to tell thetale and to support others if I can be of non-medical help.

Some FACTS FROM PROSTATE CANCER UK● Around 1 in 8 men will get this at some point in their lives;● It is THE most common cancer affecting men in the UK;● Mainly affects men 50+ average age between 65 and 69.

Due to certain genetic links:● You are two and a half times more likely to develop it if

your father or brother has been diagnosed;● Your risk may be increased if your mother or sister have

been diagnosed with breast cancer.

(Editor - 01458-860489 fred.giles@btconnect.com)

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On the eve of the Armistice The Bird in Hand are host-ing a special showing of that wonderfully satirical musi-cal “Oh ! What a Lovely War” from 7.00pm. It is opento everyone, no charge is made but it is another opportu-nity to make donations to the Poppy Appeal.

ongoing

There will be a fundraising Poppy Tea Party run by Charlotte and ElizabethNorris at Meare School Hall on Sunday 28th October from 2.00 until 5.00pmwith re-enactors and vintage vehicles.

In addition to the wreath laying ceremony and reading of names be-side the War Memorial at 11.00am on 11th November, there will bea church service plus dedication of the wooden gates in St Mary’schurch. The following events will also occur to raise both awarenessand funds for the Royal British Royal Legion Poppy Appealwhich continues to support ex-service personnel and their families.

Make your own poppy by knitting, crochet or felt to add to the growing collec-tion on the old Village Cross in St Mary’s churchyard. These will be left as areminder until next year which marks the 75th anniversary of D-Day. You caneither attach these yourself (at your own risk) or leave them in an envelope inthe church for Elizabeth Norris to attach. When attaching please use wool ora biodegradable material to avoid litter or a choking hazard for wildlife.

There is an opportunity to sponsor a ‘Silent Soldier’ - alife-size silhouette made from rigid plastic which youcan display outside your house or business. For detailscontact: Charlotte Norris on 01458-860865 or 07866-080194 or charlottenorris0@googlemail.com

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MEARE & WESTHAY FUNDRAISING TEAMSunday Breakfast (08.30-11.00 Meare Church Rooms) October 14th

MEARE CHAPEL (Regular Events)Sunday Sunday Morning Service & Sunday School From 11.00Sunday Sunday Evening Service From 18.30Monday Make Do & Mend (Downstairs) 10.00 - 12.00Wednesday Bible Study & Prayer Meeting (Downstairs) 19.30 - 21.00Thursday Meare Minis Baby Group (Upstairs) 09.00 - 12.00Friday Youth Club - to be advised T.B.A.

MEARE & WESTHAY LADIES SOCIAL CLUB

Thursday 'Marie Antoinette’s Guide to Farming’Talk by Sarah Harris 7.30 at Meare Manor 18th October

Friday Skittles 7.30 at the Ring o’ Bells (Ashcott) 16th November

Diary dates - October & November 2018

MEARE PARISH COUNCILMonday Parish Council Meeting (19.30 Meare Manor) 15th OctoberMonday Parish Council Meeting (19.30 Meare Manor) 19th November

MEARE PRIMARY SCHOOLFriday Inset Day 26th OctoberMonday Start of Half Term Holiday 29th OctoberFriday End of Half Term Holiday 2nd NovemberMonday Inset Day 5th November

MEN’S SHED (Regular event)Tuesdays 10 The Tanyard, Leigh Road, STREET 09.00 - 13.00

MISCELLANEOUS

Saturday 39-Ers Jazz Band - Music Night (MeareChurch Rooms from 8.00pm) 27th October

Sunday Poppy Tea Party (Meare School Hall, inaid of Poppy Appeal - 2.00 till 5.00pm) 28th October

Saturday Oh, What a Lovely War (Film at the Bird inHand in aid of Poppy Appeal - 7.00pm) 10th November

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REFUSE COLLECTIONWednesday Refuse Collection & Recycling 3rd OctoberWednesday Garden Waste & Recycling 10th OctoberWednesday Refuse Collection & Recycling 17th OctoberWednesday Garden Waste & Recycling 24th OctoberWednesday Refuse Collection & Recycling 31st OctoberWednesday Garden Waste & Recycling 7th NovemberWednesday Refuse Collection & Recycling 14th NovemberWednesday Garden Waste & Recycling 21st NovemberWednesday Refuse Collection & Recycling 28th November

YOGA (Westhay Schoolrooms)Tuesday Every Tuesday 18.30 - 19.30Thursday 1st & 3rd Thursday of the Month 18.30 - 19.30Thursday 2nd & 4th Thursday of the Month 18.20 - 19.20

ST MARY’S CHURCH - Morning Prayer every Thursday at 9.00amSunday * Harvest Festival - from 11.00 14th OctoberSunday Matins at St Mary’s Church - 11.00 21st OctoberSunday * Remembrance Day Service - from 11.00 11th NovemberSunday Matins at St Mary’s Church - 11.00 25th NovemberFriday Tea & Coffee with Hosted Post Office 09.30 - 12.30

WESTHAY FILM CLUB - Fixed start time 19.00 (7.00pm)Saturday Maudie 6th OctoberWednesday The Happy Prince 24th OctoberSaturday All the Money in the World 3rd NovemberWednesday Breathe 21st November

WESTHAY SCHOOLROOMSSaturday Cafe Westhay - from 10.30 6th OctoberSaturday Harvest Supper - from 20.00 13th OctoberSaturday Cafe Westhay - from 10.30 3rd November

ST MARY’S GUILD - Meare Church Rooms 19.30 (7.30pm)Thursday “Tasmania” Talk by Ian Williamson. 4th OctoberThursday “Lifeboats.” Talk by Fred A’ Court 1st November

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Personal notes

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● Do you have a couple of hours to spare on a flexible basis?● Would you like to volunteer in your community?● Could you support our patients and their families in their own home?If the answer is yes, we need you!What is our Community Support Service?It is a home visiting service delivered by trained hospice volunteers and oper-ates across Somerset.How does the service work?Volunteers offer their time depending on their availability, usually this involvesa visit once a week for a couple of hours during normal working hoursMonday to Friday.Volunteers are assigned a patient who they support over eight visits, by theend of this time, many patients feel much more confident about living withtheir illness.Volunteers will use their own cars to visit patients. However it is not necessaryto be a car owner, we welcome volunteers who would be willing to walk, cycleor use public transport. Travel costs are reimbursed.What can a Community Support Volunteer do?The support provided is built around supporting patients achieve identifiedgoals. Everyone’s needs are different but the sort of things you can help withinclude:● Helping patients find relevant information about benefits and other services● Accompanying patients to a GP, hospital appointments, shopping● Taking patients out for a drive or walk● Talking about planning ahead● Spending time with patients so that carers, family or friends can have a

breakVolunteers are not able to provide medical or personal care.Training and support.Full training and ongoing support providedHow can I apply or find out more?To learn more about this rewarding role, please contact Katie Baker by:

emailing community.support@st-marg-hospice.org.ukor calling 0845 070 8 9 10 (option 2)

Community SupportVolunteer Service

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MEARE PARISH - REMEMBRANCEIt is with grateful thanks that Alan Difford, who sadly died last year, put together alist of the men who enlisted for both WW1 and WW2 and published this in thebook he wrote together with Gloria McClurg (Meare - Its place in history fromearly days). It is appropriate to reproduce here the list for 1914-1918. Those whodied during the war are in bold font. The Roll of Honour is mounted onpermanent display in St Mary’s Church and includes 1914-1919 names.

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There are 195 names listed here, 31 lost their lives but otherswill have been affected by injury both mental and physical with

impact lasting possibly throughout their lives.

Inconsistencies Between War Memorial & Roll of HonourThese things happen as a result of human error though there are other reasonswhy names are added at later dates. However, in cross-checking the War Me-morial, Alan Difford’s undoubtedly well researched list and the Roll of Honour ondisplay in St Mary’s Church there are the following that I’d like to highlight:● Arthur Payne is listed on the War Memorial indicting that he was died in ac-

tive service; this is not marked on the Roll of Honour.● John H.G. Francis, Alfred Ward and Claude York are on the original list of

names engraved on the War Memorial but their names do not appear on theRoll of Honour.

● Frederick G. Vowles is listed on the Roll of Honour with a red cross indictingthat he was killed/died in action; however, his name does not appear at all onthe War Memorial.

The following names have been added to the War Memorial but do not appearon the Roll of Honour:

Frank Davis . Solomon Difford . Albert Ham

Most popular forenames: William wins with a total of 18but Harry comes second. So, there you have it:

‘Wills’ and ‘Harry’ are still in fashion !

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NOTICE BOARD

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Prompts to get tested for prostate cancer

Former BBC Breakfast presenter Bill Turnbull has revealed he has beendiagnosed with prostate cancer. The 62-year-old said it was found inNovember and cancer has spread to his legs, hips, pelvis and ribs.Turnbull told the Radio Times he wanted to encourage people to get tested,saying: "Maybe if I'd got it earlier and stopped it at the prostate, I'd be in amuch better state."He said he had put long-term aches and pains down to "old age".The interview was conducted by Sian Williams, Turnbull'sformer colleague on the Breakfast sofa, who had a doublemastectomy for breast cancer in 2014.Turnbull said in his interview he had had prostate testswhen he was aged 40 and 50. But he said he was "cross"for having prided himself on not visiting a GP in four yearsand only sought help when his pains could no longer bealleviated with pills.The father of three said after being diagnosed the "first few days were proba-bly the worst days of my life .The GP said, 'It's clear you have prostate can-cer and that it's spread to the bone'. And all of a sudden you're in this darkchasm." He added: “it saddens me that I'm not going to be around as muchas I thought with my wife and family... I realised if things progress as they doon average, I can't plan beyond 12 years".He said he was diagnosed while recording an episode of The Great CelebrityBake Off for Stand Up To Cancer on Channel 4. "I had the disease and didn'tknow it," he said.Extracts reproduced from the BBC Website - article dated 6 March 2018.

Hearing a programme on Radio 4 about Bill Turnbull and othersprompted me to have tests for prostate cancer. Now I too havebeen diagnosed with a malignant form though thankfully this hasbeen caught at an early enough stage.

- Westhay

Others sufferers currently campaigning to increase aware-ness following their own surgery include Stephen Fry and

Billy Connolly with Bill Bailey helping in a campaign calledMen United V Prostate Cancer

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Breakfast at Meare Church Rooms from 8.30 till 11.00

Prize donations for the bingo would be greatly appreciated.Contact: teresa123parker@googlemail.com

‘An Evening withMichael Eavis’ in Julyraised £901 towardthe new Village Hall.

Photo shows Michaeltogether with a groupof the Village HallCommittee members

THERE ARE MANY WAYS TOHOLD OR JOIN EVENTS

RAISING FUNDS TO HELPSUPPORT THOSE WITH

PROSTATE CANCERORGANISED THROUGH

www.prostatecanceruk.orgOR CALL

0800 0748383This number also gives access

to Specialist Nurses

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St Mary's newsletterMeare had their own "Who do you think you are" moment in the summer.The BBC1 television programme which helps celebrities to explore their fami-ly history often shows people travelling all over the world to trace their ances-tors. In July a mother and daughter from British Columbia in Canada took afew days from a business trip to London to come to Meare to see the villageand farm where a great grandparent on the Hayes side of the family had setoff in the early 1900’s for a new life in Canada.They were delighted at the warm welcome and response that they receivedfrom our local historians and residents of Stileway who showed them theoriginal farm and cottages where the Hayes family lived, and St Mary'sChurch and hall where they met more villagers and joined in the Friday PostOffice coffee morning.In the church they were able to go back another generation of their familyand see the 1887 brass plaque by the reading lectern. This shows Hubert HHayes as a churchwarden when the Queen Victoria Jubilee Memorial plaquewas commissioned and the stone Parish Cross was moved from the churchto its current position near the churchyard gate and the wall , marking an im-portant event in the history of Meare. We hope to hear more about the Hayesfamily tree when other relatives visit in the autumn and know that our Cana-dian visitors valued a new sense of who they were and where they belonged.Other visitors to the church also write comments to show that they experi-ence its beauty and peacefulness and find as one person says "surely theLord is here".Dates:● Sunday 14th October - 11.00am

Harvest Festival with children's choir,followed by a ‘Bring and Share lunch in the Church’.Please bring along any non-perishable gifts for the foodbank.

● Sunday 21st October - 11.00am Matins at St Mary’s Church● 11th November - 11.00am

Remembrance Sunday service with laying of the wreath at MeareWar Memorial followed by service at St Mary's and dedication ofthe new wooden gates as a memorial to WWI and II soldiers whodied overseas.

● Sunday 25th November - 11.00am Matins at St Mary’s Church

It is hoped to hold a Christmas Fair on Saturday 24th November

Churchwardens

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So, when did World War I begin … and end ?You can almost take your pick on dates and challenge answers in any pubquiz. Of course it has to depend on which country is asking the question.Here are just some of the dates to prove it isn’t a straightforward answer: - was it:

● July 28th 1914 when Austria declared war on Serbia?● August 1st 1914 when Germany declared war on Russia?● August 3rd 1914 when German declared war on France ?● August 4th 1914 when Britain declared war on Germany?● August 23rd 1914 when Japan declared war on Germany?

- or maybe:● May 23rd 1915 when Italy declared war on Germany and Austria?

- or even:● April 6th 1917 when USA declared war on Germany – and finally won

it according to Hollywood. - or possibly:

● June 28th 1917 when Greece declared war on all the Central Powers?● August 14th 1917 when China declared war on Germany to take its

seat at the post-war bargaining table?However, the record for last entrant goes to Romania against Germany on10th November 1918 – yes, one whole day before the General Armistice.To be fair to Romania, they did enter on the Allied side in 1916 though wereover-run by the Central Powers and entered their own peace negotiations.If the ‘start’ date isn’t easy, how about the end? Again, take your pick:

● November 11th 1918 when General Armistice was declared?● June 28th 1919 when the Treaty of Versailles was signed?● January 10th 1920 when the Treaty took legal effect?

The first armistice (the one that started 11th November 1918) expired afterthirty-two days (on 13th December) but was extended pending peace negotia-tions until 16th January 1919. It then received a second extension for just onecalendar month before then being prolonged until January 10th 1920 which isthe official end of World War I.OK, lets go for the generally accepted dates: 28th July 1914 to 11thNovember 1918 though many War Memorials do show 1914 - 1919.

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Meare Chapel

Over the years, I have found that many confusions occur because peoplehave different understandings of what a word means. Sometimes during aconversation, it becomes apparent that even though we are using the sameterminology we might be talking about two completely different things. Themost common confusion comes when we talk about ‘the church’.To many people ‘the church’ is the building; often very ornate, with a spire,and bells (if you’re lucky). To others ‘the church’ might refer to a big religiousorganisation such as the Catholic Church or the Church of England. The latterinterpretation can often become problematic especially when ‘the Church’ hitsthe headlines with some scandal and all local chapels and Christian groupsare tarred with the same brush.The Bible’s understanding of ‘the church’ is very different. In the Bible thechurch isn’t a physical building, indeed, in the early days ‘the church’ didn’thave any official buildings, it met in peoples’ homes or out in the open. TheNew Testament was originally written in Greek and the word ‘church’ trans-lates as ‘the gathering’. I find this to be very helpful as it helps us to under-stand that the church isn’t the building but the people inside. This is one ofthe reasons why we do not meet at ‘Meare Evangelical CHURCH’ but at‘Meare Evangelical CHAPEL’. We want there to be a distinction between thechurch and the building.The Bible is wonderfully descriptive of what ‘the church’ is like and it gives ussome wonderful examples. Firstly, the church is described ‘as a body’. Listento 1 Cor 12:12, “For just as the body is one and has many members, andall the members of the body, though many, are one body, so it is withChrist.” We are being told here that the church is like a body made up ofmany different parts and the writer goes on to tell us that each individual partof that body, that church, has a useful and vital role to play. Someone may bethe mouth speaking comforting words, someone may be a helping hand pro-viding practical help, someone else might be the compassionate heart. Thechurch together makes one body. And together they serve and help each oth-er. The writer tells us that when the church works together it creates harmonyand those involved support each other: “And if one member suffers, all themembers suffer with it; or if one member is honoured, all the membersrejoice with it.”Secondly, the apostle Peter describes the church in this way: “You are livingstones that God is building into his spiritual temple.” The church is God’sspiritual temple, and what the writer is saying by this is that the Spirit of God

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the church - a building of living stones

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dwells within it and works through His church, just like He did through thephysical Temple in the Old Testament before Jesus Christ offered the perfectsacrifice once and for all on the cross.One of the most beautiful things about the church is that the church is open toall kinds of people. You do not have to try and be somebody else before youcan come to church. The Bible tells us that you can come as you are andthrough receiving Christ in faith you can become a part of that Temple madeup out of living stones, and to become grafted into the body. God has madeyou in a wonderful way and has given you unique gifts and talents. There is aplace for you in the church that meets at Meare Chapel. The people thatmake up the church in Meare are not perfect and God doesn’t require us tobe perfect. All God asks us to do is to come to Him and to recognise the factthat we aren’t perfect but to accept that Jesus Christ was. On the cross, Jesusmade it possible for imperfect people like us to come to God because He tookall our imperfections on Himself so that nothing stands in our way from know-ing a perfect God.On Sunday mornings in October/November, we are going to be looking atwhat it means to be ‘the church’. Everyone is welcome to join us as we ex-plore this topic together as the body of Christ, and what its purpose is in theworld.

- Meare Chapel

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Somerset heads the league table when it comes to ‘Thankful’ (or ‘Blessed’)Villages with a tremendous nine from which all service personnel who went tothe so called ‘Great War’ came back ‘alive’. With five each, Lincolnshire andYorkshire are joint second in the list of thirty-one ‘Thankful Villages’ in thewhole of the United Kingdom. All were in England and Wales with none listedfor Scotland or the whole of Ireland (which was not divided at that period).Of course, ‘alive’ means just what it says and does not infer that service per-sonnel were not injured, nor does not imply they didn’t take part in active com-bat. Sadly, it doesn’t mean that injuries incurred (both physical and mental)were not life-long and in no way diminishes the impact of war on these com-munities. So, although these villages have no ‘memorial’ to those who died,there are lists of those who went to war displayed in at least some of the vil-lage churches, including Shapwick.Meare Parish has both a memorial to those who died and it lists all of thosewho went to take on a combat role in both WW1 and WW2

It is worth mentioning that Stocklinch and Wooley had another run of ‘goodfortune’ in WW2 when all of their combat personnel returned home makingthese two of only fourteen ‘Doubly Thankful Villages’ in the United Kingdom.

‘Thankful Villages’ in Somerset

Somerset Heads the League Table

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Close encounters of the plastic kind

Filmmaking and live music are always an integral part of the schoolperformances, with the children singing a selection of songs by JohnnyCash, The Beatles, Patti Page, Louis Armstrong and others.A spokesperson for the school has said, “Making films as well as actingand singing in an end of year performance has offered opportunities for allchildren to participate.”Meare Village Primary School staff would like to express theirappreciation to parents and the local community who always support theircreatively ambitious projects with filming locations and costume designs.A special thanks to Down House in Meare for allowing the school to usetheir pool for filming.

- Meare Village Primary School

Staff and pupils at Meare Village Primary School have beencelebrating after another successful end of term performance in July.‘Close Encounters of the Plastic Kind’ is the story of an aliencivilization helping humankind improve the Earth’s environment.The concept for the production originated from the school’s scienceweek. After learning about the issue of ocean plastic from workshopswith environmentalist and author Sarah Roberts (author of‘Somebody Swallowed Stanley’) the children decided that theywanted to raise awareness of these issues, so the school staff for theperformance wrote an original script.

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From 3rd September 2018 the opening hours of police en-quiry offices in Somerset will be changing, following a reviewof the service across Avon and Somerset. Alongside im-provements in the police estate and the need to make signifi-cant savings, the changes reflect the low footfall in someareas at certain times of the day.Our priority is to have enquiry offices across the force area open at the timesthat our communities need them.Somerset area commander, Superintendent Mike Prior, said: “Next monththere will be some changes to our enquiry offices across Somerset to makesure we are open at the times that we are needed the most and that we con-tinue to be visible in our communities. We are committed to keeping ourneighbourhood police officers based in their local communities.”From 3 September the enquiry office opening hours in Mendip will be:

● Frome: Monday-Friday, 9.30am-5pm● Street: Monday, Tuesday, Thursday, Friday, 10am-2pm● Wells: Monday-Friday, 10am-6pm

Police can be contacted 24/7 online at:http://www.avonandsomerset.police.uk/contact or by phone:● 999 if it is an emergency or a crime is happening now;● 101 if a crime has happened in the past or if you have an enquiry.There is also a yellow phone positioned on our police stations,where you can call our communications centre on 101 for free.

Revised police enquiry office hours

Telephone banking fraud warningTelephone Banking Fraud is a scam which is becoming increasinglycommonplace. The fraudsters do not actually scam their victims online,but use the telephone to do so. Here’s how it works:● Social Engineering

Being manipulated by strangers into doing something or giving away confi-dential information.

● BankingFailing to follow the advice on how to keep online banking safe.

● Fraud - learn how it’s doneLearn about the many types of online fraud and how to spot them.

….... continued

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You receive a call from somebody who claims to be from an organisationyou trust, such as your bank or the police. They inform you that there is asafety or security problem associated with your bank account or paymentcards, and you need to take some kind of immediate preventative action,which normally involves confirming your confidential login details.However, the person on the other end of the call is not your

bank or card issuer, but a fraudster.You may also be asked to give your cards to a courier sent by the ‘bank’ or‘police’ to ensure that they have been stopped, or for evidence. This isknown as ‘Courier Fraud’.

The Risks● You provide your account details and answers to

security questions to fraudsters;● Your bank account is emptied and/or cards used to

their limit;● You could become a victim of identity theft because

you have revealed confidential financial and personalinformation.

How to Avoid Telephone Banking Fraud● A bank or payment card company will never ask you to

transfer money out of your account to another that youdo not recognise, so hang up immediately.

● If you do think that the call may be authentic and youchoose to call your bank or card issuer, call the numberon your bank statement or other document from yourbank – or on the back of your card and NOT a numbergiven to you by the caller or the one you were calledfrom.

● Never provide financial or personal details to a caller, butcall back on a number you know to be authentic.Many scammers have the ability to spoof authentic num-bers to fool you into thinking that they are genuine.

If you have been a victim of Telephone Banking Fraudreport it to Action Fraud by calling 0300 123 20 40

or by visiting  www.actionfraud.police.uk

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NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN

That a vacancy has occurred in the office of Councillor in the Parish ofMeare, as a result of the resignation of Councillor Cowell.To be able to stand as a candidate for co-option as a Parish Councillor, you must:● Be at least 18 years old on the day of your nomination.● Be a British citizen, an eligible Commonwealth citizen or a citizen of any

other member state of the European Union or have indefinite leave toremain in the United Kingdom .

● You are, and will continue to be, registered as a local government elec-tor for the parish of Meare from the day of your nomination onwards.

● You have occupied as owner or tenant any land or other premises in theparish area during the whole of the twelve months before the day ofyour nomination.

● Your main or only place of work during the twelve months prior to theday of your nomination.

● You have lived in the parish area or within three miles of it during thewhole of the twelve months before the day of your nomination.

● You are able to receive and send emails under your own email address(not a shared email address) or accessible by a third party.

● You are able to be available to attend monthly Parish Council meetingson a Monday and on a regular basis (usually third Monday of themonth). Except for August and December.

● You are willing and wish to get involved and take on Parish Coun-cil projects and other village matters.

Nominations must be with the Clerk by 5pm on Wednesday 10th

October 2018 in writing to 9 Glastonbury Road, Meare or by emailto Sheila Brown (Clerk to the Council):

meareparishcouncil@gmail.comPlease include a few words about why you would like to become amember of the Council and what you feel you can contribute.

This is a voluntary position

Clerks report

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Clerk to the Council

Parish Council RulesPUBLIC PARTICIPATION AT PARISH COUNCIL MEETINGS:

Meetings of the Parish Council are not public meetings but members of the publichave a statutory right to attend meetings of the council as observers. They have nolegal right to speak unless the Parish Council Chairman authorises them to do sowhich involves the meeting being closed, minuted as such and then the meeting beingreconvened and minuted as such after the speaker has finished. However, as part ofits community engagement, Meare Parish Council has a ten minute public speakingslot for public participation prior to the meeting when members of the public, who havebooked this slot with the Clerk, can speak to the Council on any matter that concernsthem.Members of the public are not allowed to be involved in the decision-making of theCouncil.The Council cannot make any instant decisions at the behest of members of the publicon items that are not included in the agenda. The matter can be put on a future Agen-da, at the discretion of the Council.Members of the public are welcome to stay for the Council meeting after the publicsession as observers, but will not be able to join in the discussion unless invited to doso by the Chairman. Members of the public may be excluded by a resolution of themeeting for specific items which need to be discussed in confidence (e.g. staffing mat-ters, tenders for contracts, some legal issues).Neither Councillors nor the Clerk should be put under pressure to respond immediatelyto comments made under public participation. Members of the public do not have aright to force items onto the Council AgendaA question raised by a member of the public during a public speaking session shall notrequire a response and there should be no debate or discussion between the Counciland the public.If the issue is on the Agenda then it will be discussed under the appropriate item.Members of the public are therefore requested to leave their contact details with theClerk before leaving the Council meeting if they wish to receive a reply to their query.All persons present will act respectfully towards every other person present and willnot act in a manner that demeans, insults, threatens or intimidates him or her. Allstatements, questions and responses, challenges to statements, complaints or criti-cisms must be made politely.All statements, questions and responses must be related to the facts of the matter andnot be personal in nature. There should be no reference to personal views on any per-son.Please note that offensive or threatening behaviour will not be tolerated. If a memberof the public interrupts the proceedings of any meeting the Council reserves the rightto curtail the contribution of that person and exclude a disorderly person.Meeting Dates:

● Monday 15th October 7.30pm at Meare Manor● Monday 19th November 7.30pm at Meare Manor

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VILLAGE CONTACTS & Useful numbersBird in Hand Pub 01458-860859Childline 0800 1111Domestic Violence Hotline 0808 2000 247Highways Faults(Mon-Fri 8am-6pm / Sat 9am - 4pm)

0300 123 2224mendiphighways@somerset.gov.uk

Home Library Service 0845 3459 177Meare Church Rooms (Bookings) 01458-860432 (Bookings - Ruth Baker)Meare Independent Evangelical Church 07452-954951 (Steve Neal)Meare Manor 01458-860449

Meare Moles (Nicola Lynham) 07870-773537 (during sessions)info@mearemoles.org.uk

Meare Village Primary School 01458-860228(Headmistress - Mrs Jan Fellows)

Meare & Westhay Ladies Social Club 01458-860368carol.brown100@btinternet.com

Mendip District Council 0300 303 8588Mind 0300 123 3393

Parish Council 07731-624182meareparishcouncil@gmail.com

Parish Paths Liaison Officer 01458-860537a.wren786@btinternet.com

Police non-emergency 101Railway Inn 01458-860223Samaritans 116 123

St. Mary’s Guild (Secretary) 01458-860265 (Gloria McClurg)41@gloriamcclurg.plus.com

Street Light Faults 0845 6010 939Please give Light No & Postcode

Street Men’s Shed 01458 443940brianbastable123@hotmail.co.uk

Western Power (For Power Cuts) 0800 6783105

Westhay Film Club 01458-860489fred.giles@btconnect.com

Westhay Schoolroom (Bookings) 01458-860853 (Bookings - Anne Moss)

Westhay Schoolroom (Secretary) Richard Brown (Secretary)richardbrown5069@btinternet.com

Village Oil Buying Group 01458-860155mike_balch@hotmail.com

Village Poppy Appeal Organisers(Charlotte & Elizabeth Norris)

01458-860865 / 07866-080194 orcharlottenorris0@googlemail.com

Yoga Classes (Steph or Bridge) 07764-935167 / 07712-897498

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PARISH COUNCILLORSCHAIRMAN

ChrisBennetts

Crysnal, Main Road,Westhay, BA6 9TN chris@baysystems.ltd.uk 01458 860393

07885 637779

CLERKSheilaBrown

Tuesday & Thursday8.30am – 3.00pm meareparishcouncil@gmail.com 0773 1624182

MEMBERSAnthonyBaker

2 Stileway,Meare, BA6 9SH biffbaker@gmail.com 01458 860538

07899 924465PaulBradley

19 Downs Orchard,Meare, BA6 9SQ p_bradley6@btinternet.com 01458 860597

ColinFoster

Pilgrimsway, Stileway,Meare, BA6 9SH colinjfoster@aol.com 01458 860309

07734 753113RosieLander

Steps Farm, ChurchLane, Meare, BA6 9SP madaboutspaniels@hotmail.co.uk 01458 860000

AlvinNeale

Violet Farm, ChurchLane, Meare, BA6 9SL violetfarm@btconnect.com 01458 860277

SamanthaPerry-Welch

1 Millbatch,Meare, BA6 9SY sam.perrywelch@gmail.com 01458 860109

07786 352871RogerStacey

Home Farm, ChapelLane, BA6 9TQ roger.stacey@virgin.net 01458 860575

07767 621798MichaelTurner-Welch

Knight’s Cottage,19 Oxenpill, BA6 9TQ mturnerwelch@gmail.com 01458 860602

JanetWestover

11 The Levels,Meare, BA6 9SE mail@janwestover.co.uk 01458 860770

ANY RESIDENT OF THE PARISHREQUIRING DEFIBRILLATOR TRAINING

PLEASE CONTACT SHEILA BROWNmeareparishcouncil@gmail.com

Anyone interested in receiving information about planningapplications in the parish, please send your email address to

meareparishcouncil@gmail.com and you will be keptinformed of new, approved, withdrawn and applications going to

appeal.Applications will also be put in the magazine (subject to printingdeadline) on the Parish Website and on the Meare & Westhay

Facebook page.

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Local pharmacies

TESCOWirral Park Rd

GLASTONBURYBA6 9NR

01458 769503

GLASTONBURYFeversham LaneGLASTONBURY

BA6 9LP01458 833666

BOOTS39 High Street

GLASTONBURYBA6 9DS

01458 831211

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