THE first Christmas Tree Festival was staged by the junior church at St Decuman's, Watchet, in 2008, with 15 trees, but now in 2025 there will be 50 trees adorning the church.

There has once again been a wonderful response to take part by so many youth, charitable, and social organisations within Watchet and Williton.

This also includes Croft House and Williton Hospital with ‘The Den’ and Watchet Gardening Club joining for the first time.

It is so encouraging for the organisers that 11 of the scouting and guiding units are participating besides playgroups and the three local schools.

It adds up to the biggest numerically supported community event of the year which is the start of the Christmas season in the town.

The event runs from Friday November and Saturday, November 28 and 29, from 10 am until 4 pm, and on Sunday, November 30, from 11.45 am until culminating with a Christingle service at 4 pm where Christingles are provided for all.

This year’s theme is ‘Sounds of Christmas’ giving a wide scope for the decorations on the 50 illuminated trees which no doubt will cover among other subjects drums, bells, trumpets, crackers, various carols, singers, animals, Ho Ho Ho’s, and many very original ideas.

There will be refreshments including soups at mid-day on Friday and Saturday, plus the Rainbows in the outside tent with bacon rolls and hot dogs on Saturday from 10 am until 2 pm or later.

The now famous ‘£1 every ticket wins’ tombola, raffle, a huge array of jigsaws (many unopened), books, bottles, cakes, gifts, Christmas decorations, toys, etc, will cover the stalls while there will be an opportunity for those who wish to become Friends of St Decuman’s.

A highlight for many will be to be inside the church as the re-wiring and new heating system is in use for the first time.

During the Advent and Christmas season the trees will remain in St Decuman’s until January 6 and lit for all services.

Besides the sponsored dedicated lightings of the church tower, there will also be a large illuminated star shining from the top of the tower.

Further information is available by calling 07891688448.

LOTS of repairs done, lots of people came, the café was very popular, and there were very few cakes slices left at the end of the latest Carhampton Repair Café.

The proof is in the figures, 42 repairs seen - six advice given, only three not able to be repaired.

Weight 43.341 kg saved from landfill/binning, donations £161.30, and café profit £77.50.

The donations and café profit be will be used to pay for the insurance and hall hire.

The varied publicity worked with printed posters and use of both Dunster and Carhampton village newsletters and a Free Press preview as well as advertising the event on social media and local village websites.

The next bi-yearly Carhampton Repair Café is on May 15, from 10 am to 12 noon in the village hall.

Of course, there are other repair cafés before that date.

Porlock, Watchet, and Minehead now all have their own monthly repair cafés, so Carhampton is just one of several.

Repair Cafés are very popular and rightly so.

After all what’s not to like?

In a morning people get their repair done and get to eat cake, while it is done.

The Fixy van was also in attendance, collecting small digital devices for reconditioning and redistribution, and promoting tech re-use and recycling across the area.

Minehead Eye and Excom, in Friday Street, Minehead, are local drop-off places.

THIS month Amble not Ramble meets on Wednesday, November 19, at 10.30 am at Blue Anchor sea front at The Driftwood end.

The walk is completely accessible for people in wheelchairs and with any type of walking aid.

The path is definitely on our side…. whether the weather is or not, remains to be seen.

But, as we have found in the past there is something wonderful about walking into the teeth of the gale.

It is both challenging and invigorating in the way that walking in November can be, especially if, as in previous years, we get the waves crashing below us.

Amble not Ramble is a walking group specially designed for people with memory loss, lack of mobility, and or just loss of confidence, or indeed anybody who enjoys a relaxed pace when walking.

The walk will be a maximum of one hour.

We are a very friendly group and always end the walk with tea and coffee, this month from the café, so some money would be useful.

Amble not Ramble walks are run by Minehead Dementia Action Alliance which aims to help people and their carers live well with dementia.

We ask that vulnerable adults be accompanied by a carer.

For more information or directions to the start, call Emily on 01643 821756 or email [email protected] or just turn up.

We walk whatever the weather.

Emily Feldberg

Set in the shadowy confines of a Victorian London townhouse, debut director Helen Tompson clearly had a vision to draw us into the heart of the characters’ paranoia and deception.

The set, designed by Barry West, effectively established the atmosphere of the play, cleverly combining elements of comfort with an underlying sense of unease.

He somehow managed to make the Manningham home feel both inviting and full of secrets, thanks to odd corners and quirky angles that made you wonder what, or who, might be lurking out of sight.

One of the great touches was the projected rooftop, where lights came on and off as Mr Manningham went about his mysterious business on that spooky top floor.

The lighting, designed by Guy Morgan, played a huge part too, every time somebody turned on a light upstairs, the gaslights downstairs would flicker and dim, just right for keeping everybody on edge.

The sound by Chaz Hardiman tied it all together, with heavy, gloomy music (no more than a low, unsettling hum) that amped up the tension at just the right moments.

Altogether, the set, lighting, and sound worked hand-in-hand to create a suspenseful atmosphere, setting the stage perfectly for the actors to tell their gripping story.

The story follows the fragile Bella Manningham, whose life at first appears to be comfortable and secure under the watchful eye of her husband, Jack.

Yet, as the evening hours draw in and the gaslights flicker, Bella is increasingly tormented by inexplicable happenings, missing objects, and Jack’s constant insinuations that she is losing her mind.

Hannah Norman portrayed Bella with exceptional skill, convincingly conveying the character's inner turmoil of self-doubt, fear, and paranoia while maintaining focus throughout her performance.

Graeme Kelly’s interpretation of Jack Manningham was appropriately measured, presenting a cold and arrogant demeanor in response to his wife's distress, which heightened the play’s tension as the evening progressed.

The arrival of the enigmatic Detective Rough, played by Mike Fuller, throws the household into chaos, challenging Jack’s account and offering Bella - and us, in the audience - a glimmer of hope amid the oppressive dread.

His bottle of whisky and occasional jovial manner lifted the tension, but never for long.

The interplay between Bella’s vulnerability and growing courage, Jack’s chilling control, and Rough’s steadfast resolve ensured that the tension continued to build right up until Manningham’s final comeuppance at the end of the play.

This was particularly satisfying to watch as Bella reveled in turning the torment back on to her manipulative, abusive husband.

The director allowed no space for any sympathy toward the male characters in this production!

The three key characters were ably supported by Rachael Stuart-MacRae and Lucy Allenby.

Rachael played the feisty and rather mouthy maid Nancy who had her sights firmly set on Jack (lucky escape for her there!), while Lucy played the quieter and rather mysterious housekeeper Elizabeth, giving her just the right amount of intrigue to keep us on our toes.

There was also a cameo role for Richard Banner, appearing as the constable at the end who was tasked with arresting Jack Manningham and taking him out into that gloomy Victorian night.

This play, rich in period detail and emotional depth, demonstrated once again Barnstormers’ commitment to innovative amateur drama at the Regal.

Director Helen and producer Patrick Daley led a skilled team, with cast members Rachael and Lucy creating excellent period costumes and Exmoor Emporium supplying authentic props and set dressing.

The production made a strong impact, delivering a thought-provoking and entertaining evening.

Lynn Pearson

SOMERSET Council is asking residents, organisations, and professionals to share their views on how work to support those affected by domestic abuse should be delivered in the years ahead.

Its consultation runs from November 10 to January 26, after which public feedback will help to shape and develop the authority’s Somerset Domestic Abuse Strategy.