AN NHS Somerset outreach service for veterans is relocating from Minehead to Watchet in a bid to attract more attendees.

The NHS Somerset Armed Forces team is to start holding its monthly sessions in Watchet’s Phoenix Centre, in Harbour Road.

The next three sessions are planned for January 29, February 26, and March 16, when veterans are invited to ‘come and have a brew and banter’.

Dedicated Armed Forces link workers will attend to provide support along with representatives from a number of charities and other organisations.

They include the Soldiers’, Sailors’, and Airmen’s Families Association (SSAFA), Royal British Legion (RBL), Help for Heroes charity, village and community agents, Somerset Activity and Sports Partnership (SASP), the Department for Work and Pensions, homelessness charity Arc Inspire, and the community interest company ARK at Egwood.

Veterans are also being asked to provide their thoughts via an online survey on how the outreach service could be improved.

Outreach officer Teri Underwood said: “If you come along to any of our outreach sessions, we would be interested in hearing your feedback.

“Do they meet your needs, is there something else we could be doing/providing, what would you like to see in 2026?

“We want to provide what you need, so please help us improve.

“We want to make sure the service meets your needs, but we need your views and input to make that happen.

“Please be honest as this will help to shape the service into what is needed.”

Comments can also be emailed to [email protected].

THE annual Carhampton Wassail is taking on a new lease of life in collaboration with the four generations of the Moores family now running the village’s Butcher’s Arms public house.

Carhampton Community Orchard and the Butchers Arms will be creating a Wassail double-act from 6.30 pm on Saturday (January 17), which is the old Twelfth Night.

People are invited to meet in the orchard for 6.30 pm for the traditional wassail ceremony, led again this year by MC Jo Mallinson.

The ancient tradition is said to help with securing a good crop of apples next year with the time-honoured ceremony of cider-soaked toast and libation, for the good spirits, guns to scare away the evil spirits, and song.

Free draughts wll be available for all from Roland’s hot cider cup, or a non-alcohol alternative.

The wassailers will then move on to the reopened Butchers Arms to view a new exhibition of historic photographs and artefacts from both the wassail and the pub.

They can also taste a slice of something home-made and apple-related and hear cheerful barn dance tunes, and perhaps join in a few seasonal songs with Brian Heaton, Ruth Gasperini, and Keith Jones - while enjoying a drink or two.

THE February and March dates have been arranged for the Wivey Folk Dancing group, which meets in Wiveliscombe Community Centre.

They are the second and fourth Tuesdays of the month from 8 pm to 10.30 pm.

February 10 will see Robert Blackborow with his own music and a short annual meeting will be held during the tea break.

On February 24 it will be club night club callers with a bring and share supper, which needs to be cut and plated ready to eat.

Zena Roberts and Chris Toyne will be there on March 10, and Simon Maplesom and Jeroka on March 24.

The £4 entry includes tea or coffee.

A spokesperson said: “We look forward to welcoming our regulars and anybody who would like to join us for an enjoyable evening of dancing to live music with experienced callers.

“There is always a good range of dances to suit all.

“No experience or partner needed.”

RESIDENTS in Timberscombe with worries about money can turn to a local charity set up to work for the prevention or relief of poverty.

Timberscombe Community Fund (TCF) can help if, for instance, parents need to buy school clothes for their children, or a person’s washing machine has broken down and they cannot afford a repair or replacement.

TCF was created to give short-term help to Timberscombe residents in need of financial assistance, by distributing grant money which does not need to be repaid.

The fund is not designed to replace State-funded organisations but can be used as a short-term fix until other organisations can be accessed.

All applications are in strict confidence and will only be shared with the charity’s trustees, who decide on the grants.

Anybody in the village in need of financial assistance can contact the parish council clerk by emailing [email protected] or they can call the Good Neighbours number 07391870332.

THE next in a series of Sunday afternoon performances in the Yarn Market Hotel, Dunster, by aspiring young musicians will feature Ginevra Dobson on February 1.

The hugely talented vocalist will be performing was offered a place in Exeter Cathedral Choir at the age of six years and sang there for more than five years under the direction of Timothy Noon, attending Exeter Cathedral School.

In her final year, Ginevra shared the Smith prize for girl chorister solo work, and she is now a music scholar in Blundell’s School, Tiverton, performing in its wide range of musical ensembles.

Her solo performances have included Bach St John Passion, in Exeter Cathedral, and Mozart’s Requiem and Vivaldi’s Gloria in Blundell’s Chapel.

Ginevra was one of the winners of the 2023 Two Moors Festival Young Musicians competition and is part of the Blundell’s School Hurford Trio who reached the final of the 2025 Pro Corda Festival.

Yarn Market Hotel owner Antony Brunt said he was delighted to welcome back Ginevra, who will perform a selection of pieces on the theme ‘Music through time’, which takes guests from the elegance of Baroque music to much-loved modern classics.

Mr Brunt said: “Our aim is to support emerging artists and give audiences the chance to enjoy high-quality live music in the heart of historic Dunster.

“The Westcountry has some wonderful talent, both vocal and instrumental, and we should be supporting them in any way we can.

“They all spend countless hours in practice and rehearsals, always trying to improve the standard of their performance, and the least we can do is to support them.”

The performance includes a Champagne or Somerset apple juice reception from 4.30 pm and the recital lasts for about one hour with tickets starting at £15.

THE first Amble not Ramble of the year meets on Wednesday, January 21, at 10.30 am in the Quay West car park Culvercliff, Minehead, just past the town’s harbour.

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

The walk will be a maximum of one hour with a very friendly group who always welcome newcomers.

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

The group asks that vulnerable adults should be accompanied by a carer.

More information or directions to the walk start can be obtained by calling Emily on 01643 821756 or emailing to [email protected] ,or people can just turn up.

DUNSTER Village Gardens Trust will be holding its annual meeting at 2.30 pm on Monday (January 19) in the Dunster Tithe Barn, when tea and cake will be served.

Secretary Barbara Bryan said people were asked to go along and support the village’s wonderful gardens.

The volunteer-managed gardens, off Church Street, were once part of the walled Dunster Castle gardens but over the years fell into a ruinous state.

They were bought by local people in 1980 after a public fund-raising appeal when the National Trust put the site up for sale.

The gardens, which contain a black mullberry tree which is more than 200 years old, can be hired for special events.

LOCATED right at the back of Watchet store Albert’s Ardware, in Swain Street, is Maria Morgan in her boutique ‘Maria’s Casual Wear’.

It is a shop full of unusual clothes, scarves, and shoes, as well as a lot more, in a surprisingly small area.

Now, Maria has joined the Watchet and the Quantocks Dementia Action Alliance and is proudly displaying her dementia-friendly certificate.

The alliance’s Margaret Tatham said: “Maria has already demonstrated her support by helping with fund-raising at our quiz and advertising our activities.”

Anybody who would like to join the alliance, which aims to spread information about dementia and other memory problems, as well as running a fortnightly social group in Watchet, The Forget Me Not Cafe and another group in Stogursey, should call Mrs Tatham 07973638030 or email [email protected].

Mrs Morgan launched her boutique at Easter of last year with her husband Ieuan helping to design and build the shop’s interior.