WATCHET Bowling Club was the venue for a Tickled Pink Tea Party held in aid of raising funds for the Beacon Centre, in Musgrove Park Hospital, Taunton, and the charity Breast Cancer Now.

There was a lovely afternoon tea, a table quiz, a raffle, and lots of laughter.

The only stipulation for attendees was a dress code requiring them to wear something pink.

The room was decorated beautifully and even the entrance was festooned in pink balloons.

The event, organised by Judi Bennett, raised more than £550, which will be split between the two organisations.

WIVEY Cares is really excited to announce that it is opening a second weekly-run group, called Hub & Grub, starting on October 8.

It will run every Wednesday at Wivey Rugby Club from 10.30 am to 2.30 pm and anybody from 18 years to 100-plus years of age is welcome.

Make new friends, meet up with old ones, share your hobby with others - for example, play games, cards, knit together - and then enjoy a wholesome home-cooked lunch.

The venue is fully accessible and offers free parking.

Anybody who cannot make it there under their own steam, or by using Wivey Link, should let organisers know so they can organise transport.

The provisional schedule is as follows:

Wivey Cares trustee Valeria Coots said: “Please tell us what activities you would like us to offer.

“We are also looking for people to fill the post-lunch activity slot, giving a talk or demonstration, making music, or leading a singalong.

“If you are a budding quizmaster who can get the brain cells going, a bingo caller, or a magician, get in touch.

“And of course, volunteers.

“If you would like to help at the group please get in touch with our co-ordinator.”

The session costs just £7 and booking is recommended and will help the catering team.

Email Tamzin at [email protected] to book a place or call her on 07508 331661 with any questions.

The group will post updates on Facebook and on its website.

Anybody who knows of somebody who may like to attend should let the organisers know and they can contact them directly.

Ms Coots said: “This is a new project we have been able to undertake because of your generosity during our fund-raising week.

“We will be creating a warm space over winter offering food and company.

“If it is well used, we plan to keep it going throughout the year.”

ONE of the talks that has attracted the most interest at this year’s forthcoming annual Dulverton Exmoor Literary Festival is about the book ‘The Salt Path’.

The book was written in 2018 and describes the story of the author and her husband’s 630-mile walk along the South West Coast Path, having found themselves penniless, homeless, and her husband with an incurable life-limiting illness.

The story was released as a major motion picture earlier this year, starring Gillian Anderson and Jason Issacs, and filmed almost entirely on Exmoor.

The book’s author, Raynor Winn had been invited to attend the festival and was to be top billing for the event.

However, she pulled out of attending all festivals and events when an article appeared in The Observer which looked into various aspects of the story and questioned the accuracy and veracity of many elements upon which the book was based.

The investigative journalist who researched and wrote the article is Chloe Hadjimatheou and she will talk at the festival about her findings.

The festival, which is to take place from Friday to Monday, November 14 to 17, also lets attendees hear about Margaret Thatcher, with Iain Dale and Jonathan Dimbleby, understand Hannah-Bourne Taylor’s fight to save our swifts, and celebrate literary legend Jane Austen’s 250th birthday with Jessica Bull and Helena Kelly.

Now in its fourth year, there is something for everybody at this year’s event, including a literary lunch with author, columnist, and MasterChef judge William Sitwell at Tarr Farm Inn.

A VISIT by Father Christmas to meet guests at the Butlin’s holiday resort in Minehead is being prepared by his elves.

The Butlin’s elves are preparing to transform the Minehead resort into a festive wonderland for the most magical time of the year decked out with glittering walkways and Christmas trees galore.

The big man himself is already piling his sleigh with presents, getting ready for the 4,000-mile trip from the North Pole to visit guests on his nice list in the Father Christmas Express Delivery.

Included in the price of all festive breaks, the 30-minute immersive experience will take families on a surprise-filled journey in a magical lift to the Father Christmas Festive Grotto.

Before setting off on the unforgettable trip, children will have the chance to write their Christmas wishes lists and send them to Father Christmas.

He will be waiting as the doors to his grotto open with special gifts, ready to read everybody’s Christmas lists.

Guests can also ring in the New Year at Minehead, leaping into 2026 with a staycation like no other, packed with live music, huge parties, and firework displays included in the price.

But before then, Spooktober breaks begin and the final spooky touches are being put on the Minehead resort for its Halloween makeover.

Families will need to squeeze the scariest Halloween costumes into the suitcases as every October break has a schedule of spooky-themed parties, activities, and entertainment, perfect for a range of ages and exclusive to Spooktober breaks.

From the Skyline Gang’s Monster Buster show and Billy Bear’s Boneshaker Party to Scarily Silent Discos and the Halloween Welcome Party, these are just a few of the spooky shows and activities included in the price of all breaks.

The best of Saturday night television will be headlining Studio 36 on all October half-term breaks, all included in the price.

For the final time this year, guests can experience the hugely popular Meet The Stars of the Gladiators, and have the chance to snap a picture with their favourite superhumans, and unmask mystery celebrities in The Masked Singer Live’s new show for 2025.

Breaks during half term finish with a bang as guests can enjoy a fireworks display, all included in the price.

For those brave enough, enter the Scareground, Butlin’s classic fairground has been transformed for all Spooktober breaks and are open even later for rides in glowing neon lights and fog after dark.

‘THE Sitwell Connection’ is the theme for Dulverton’s The Barle Singers’ autumn concert at 7.30 pm on Wednesday October 8 in All Saints’ Church, Dulverton.

The programme includes Constant Lambert’s setting of Sacheverell Sitwell’s poem ‘The Rio Grande’ and excerpts from Façade, by Sir William Walton, underscoring verses by Edith Sitwell.

Both composers were influenced by the developing jazz scene and the dance rhythms coming from Latin America, so the music is vibrant and exciting.

The choir is accompanied by Gary Cooper, who has transposed the orchestral pieces to the piano, and the conductor is Steven Pugsley.

Entrance is free, with a voluntary retiring collection.

FARMER and author Victoria Eveleigh will present an illustrated talk about her book 'Exmoor Farms' on Wednesday (October 1) in the Methodist Hall, Minehead, starting at 2.30 pm. Admission is £ 4.

It is presented by the West Somerset National Trust Association, and all are welcome.

A WEST Somerset petrol station manager who started when the business opened in 1980 has retired after 45 years in the job.

Les Woodward, now aged 69, can still recall his first day at work in Williton on a Bank Holiday weekend when it was so busy the station ran out of fuel.

Williton Service Station, in Fore Street, was started by former Taunton County Stores managing director Hugh Duder.

Mr Woodward, who had previously worked on building site and with Williton Motors, used to manually put fuel in customers’ vehicle when he started the job.

Today, it is self-service fuelling with payment made in the kiosk, which also doubles as a convenience store.

Former autocross and rally driver Mr Woodward now plans to organise motor club events and work on his own car, and the home he shares with his wife of 35 years Denise, who worked as a cashier in the filling station.

Mr Woodward owes his life to Denise, who performed CPR on him until paramedics arrived after he collapsed at home one Sunday morning in 2015.

An air ambulance flew him to hospital where he was put into an induced coma before recovering.

The couple, who met at work, have a grown-up son and daughter, Robert and Natalie.