HOME Start, West Somerset, which offers help and advice to parents with young children, has been awarded £7,899 from the NFU Mutual Agency Giving Fund.

The money was presented to staff at Home Start’s Alcombe headquarters by Neil Brand, NFU Mutual Williton and Rooksbridge agent.

A Home Start spokesperson said: “Neil Brand met the staff, trustees, and some of our clients and got to see how the team work in the local community.

“We are very grateful for the amazing help from NFU Mutual.

“This money will make such a difference to the families that we support.”

MINEHEAD Gardening Club will be meeting in the Catholic Hall, Townsend Road, next to the Valero garage, on Thursday, September 25, from 7.30 pm.

The visiting speaker will be Jackie Williams, from Exmoor Bee Keeping Association.

The club members' competition is for 'A Dish of Potatoes'.

Guests are always welcome and the £3 entry includes light refreshments on the evening, and club membership details will available at the meeting.

New members are always welcome to join in sharing the fun and love of all things horticultural.

A HOLY Cross Day service was held at Holy Cross Chapel, in Watchet, with biscuits to match.

Last Sunday was Holy Cross Day, an infrequently remembered but important occasion for Watchet because of the historic chapel in Market Street, with its wonderful view of the harbour below.

A special church service was held and at the end special cross shaped biscuits were given out to mark the day - biscuits made by Andrew Tatham, who conducted the service alongside the Vicar of Watchet and Williton the Rev Mark Philips.

The biscuits were much enjoyed by the congregation who included visitors from France and Sussex.

It followed a recent service at the Holy Well, St Decuman’s, while next will be a Harvest Festival.

To find out more, look at the website on A Church Near You or call Mark on 01984 639669.

THE annual Carhampton Flower and Produce Show was opened up this year to non-members who lived in the parish of Carhampton and Blue Anchor.

The change resulted in an extra 10 entrants taking part, which was welcomed by organisers.

Despite a difficult growing season, there was a good display of produce and plenty of entries in all the other sections.

On show day the weather was fine, and it was well attended with the tea room proving to be busy

The club thanked all the judges, exhibitors, stewards, caterers, and other helpers, without whom there would not be a show.

Cup winners

Overall, Christine Paine. Landlords Cup for fruit & vegetables, Jonathan Greenhow. Cookery and preserves, Mave Kedward. Flower cup, Christine Paine. Gerald Bellamy Cup for Vegetables, George Lukins. Gordon Perry Cup for Fruit, Dave Hutchins. Wines, Ian Albutt and H Potter. Handicrafts, B Magill. Photography, Mave Kedward. David & Greta Thrush Floral Art Cup, Janice Peters. Louise Miles Pot Plant Cup, Dave Hutchins and Christine Paine. Brett Jones Fuchsia Cu, J Greenhow. Rose Trophy, Dee Mayo and Diane Troye. Onion Cup, George Lukins. George Hensley Cup for Runner Beans, Dee Mayo.

Best exhibit rosette awards

Fruit, J Greenhow. Vegetables, Jim Moon. Flowers, Diane Troye. Flower Arrangement, Janice Peters. Pot plant, Christine Pane. Preserves, Mave Kedward. Cookery, Y Patterson. Photography, D Pearce. Handicrafts, B Magill. Wines, H Potter.

Class results (1 2, 3 order)

Apples – culinary J Greenhow, J Peters, S Heesom. Apples – desert S Heesom, G Bloomfield, B Magill. Pears – D Hutchins, J Greenhow, N Tickle. Plums – D Hutchins, S Heesom. Blackberries – J Greenhow, B Magill, L Parker. Raspberries – D Troye. Any other fruit – D Hutchins, J Moon. Beetroot – E Feldberg. Cabbage – D Hutchins. Beans – runner D Mayo, N Tickle, Lukins. Leeks J Greenhow, E Feldberg. Courgettes – D Troye, N Tickle, G Lukins. Sweetcorn – D Mayo. Onions – spring or autumn sown – G Bloomfield, H Potter, J Greenhow. Onions – pass through 3” ring – J Lukins, G Lukins. Peppers – J Moon, L Parker. Potatoes – white kidney – H Potter. Potatoes – coloured kidney. Squashes – D Troye. Shallots – culinary G Lukins, J Greenhow. Shallots – pickling G Lukins, G Bloomfield. Tomatoes – outdoor J Greenhow. Tomatoes – outdoor cherry B Magill, J Greenhow. Tomatoes – indoor J Moon, D Mayo, N Tickle. Tomatoes – indoor cherry L Parker, J Moon, D Mayo. Heaviest marrow – G Bloomfield. Collection of any vegetables – G Lukins. Pair of any vegetable – J Moon, J Greenhow, G Lukins. Longest runner bean – J Greenhow/N Tickle. Bunch of 5 culinary herbs – E Atkinson, D Heesom, K Patel. Dahlias – cactus M Kedward, C Paine, J Moon. Dahlia’s – decorative D Troye, J Moon, C Paine. Dahlias – ball type J Moon, N Tickle, C Paine. Dahlias – vase of C Paine, D Troye, J Moon. Gladioli – large flowers C Paine. Gladioli – C Paine. French or African marigolds – C Paine, D Hutchins, J Lukins. Roses – hybrid tea D Troye. Roses – floribunda or polyanthus D Mayo, M Kedward. Sweet peas – C Paine. Hydrangeas – ordinary D Heesom. Hydrangeas – D Heesom. Annuals – D Heesom, K Patel, D Hutchins. Herbaceous perennials – D Hutchins, C Paine, D Mayo. 5 fuchsia blooms – E Atkinson, J Greenhow, J Peters. Pot plant – foliage D Hutchins, C Paine. Pot plant – in bloom up to 5” pot – D Hutchins, W Turner. Plot plant in bloom over 5” bloom – C Paine, D Hutchins. Orchid – C Paine, D Hutchins, D Mayo. Geranium – C Paine. Fuchsia – S Bloomfield, J Greenhow, C Paine. Cactus or Succulent – D Hutchins, D Mayo, C Paine. Arrangement in a shoe – J Peters, M Kedward, C Paine. Arrangement in a basket – C Paine, J Peters, M Edward. Arrangement featuring water – J Peters, Y Patterson, C Paine. Arrangement in a cup and saucer – M Edward, J Lukins, J Peters. Pot of jam – soft fruit M Edward, D Mayo, H Potter. Pot of jam – stone or top fruit M Kedward, D Mayo, K Thom. Pot of jelly – D Mayo, N Tickel, H Potter. Pot of lemon curd – N Tickle, H Potter, E Jupe. Pot of marmalade – H Potter, J Moon, M Kedward. Pot of chutney – J Moon, J Lukins, K Cheesman. Pot of pickles – M Kedward, T Grant. Victoria sponge – L Parker, N Tickle, K Cheesman. Fruit cake – T Grant, M Kedward, N Tickle. Carrot cake – Y Patterson, M Kedward. Chocolate brownies – Y Patterson, M Kedward. Flapjacks – K Thom, E Feldberg, M Kedward. Savoury scones Y Patterson, M Kedward, T Grant. Quiche – M Kdward, T Grant. Photo of family life – M Kedward, S Heesom, J Peters. Photo of a bird of birds – M Kedward, T Grant, D Pearce. Photo of a sunset – D Mayo, T Grant, M Kedward. Photo of flower or flowers – D Pearce, K Thom, M Kedward. Picture of a farm animal – T Grant, J Norton, K Cheesman. A cushion – B Magill, H Potter, J Peters. Knitted or crocheted scarf – B Magill, S Smith, H Potter. Bottle of Rose wine – I Albutt. Bottle of homemade liqueur – H Potter, K Thom, D Mayo.

THE new West Quantocks Repair Café (WQRC) has its first outing in Watchet on Saturday, September 27, from 10 am to 1 pm.

Based in Watchet Community Centre, on the memorial ground off Doniford Road, everything is about making repairs to items

Volunteer repair experts will be available to help make all possible repairs free of charge.

Tools and materials will also be on hand.

Anybody visiting the repair café can take along their broken items from home, such as toasters, lamps, hair dryers, clothes, bikes, toys, crockery.

Anything that is broken is welcome and can more than likely be repaired as the repair café specialists have much of the know-how.

They aim to repair:

The Somerset Fixy Van will also be based outside, to which any digital equipment such as mobile phones and tablets can be taken along to have repaired or recycled.

WATCHET Community Cinema is showing ‘The Penguin Lessons’ in Watchet Community Cinema, Knights Templar School, on Friday, September 26.

In the divided Argentina of 1976 a disillusioned Englishman (Steve Coogan) called Tom Michell goes to work in a boys’ school but unfortunately struggles to keep his class under control.

However, he finds his life transformed when he rescues an oiled penguin from the beach.

When horrific conditions in the local zoo prevent him from rehoming it there, Tom decides to adopt and names it Juan.

When he begins to take Juan into his lessons it leads to a marked change in the behaviour of his pupils.

Although set against the backdrop of the country’s brutal dictatorship, this film shines with warmth and charm through Coogan’s touching bond with his rescuee and its sincere moments deliver a heartfelt, uplifting story.

Doors open at 6.30 pm and the film starts at 7 pm with tickets at £4 available on the door

For more information call Anne on 07557 734795.