A CHORAL Evensong was held in St Petrock’s Church, Timberscombe, on Thursday, June 4, the exact date of the church’s patronal festival, when the dedication of the church is celebrated.

Through the generous sponsorship of a local family who wish to remain anonymous, the Timberscombe church was able to secure a professional choir to come and sing Choral Evensong before a rapt audience where the service was led by Archdeacon Emeritus Elwin Cockett.

This is the second year the patronal festival has been celebrated in this manner, and judging from the attendance at the church, it is a form of sacred music which appeals to a wide range of audience.

It was a pleasure to hear such high quality musicians perform in a small rural church.

The parochial church council’s hope is that this sublime form of musical expression can be performed in Timberscombe every year at this time, as it would be a wonderful tradition to instil and have so many people look forward to.

A call out to the village by the team of church flower arrangers, led by Joy Booth, meant that the church was absolutely full of gorgeous scented roses from what seemed like every garden in the village, which added to the joy of the occasion.

Afterward, there was celebratory ‘fizz’ to mark the occasion, with nearly £200 donated to church funds.

Thomas Elwin, tenor, and Olivia Hugh-Jones, soprano, also performed last year, and were this year joined by Alex Jones, bass, and Emma Brain-Gabbott, soprano, with Kate Hart playing the organ.

To round off the patronal festivities, a barbecue and family fun event will be held in the church field at St Petrock’s on Saturday (June 13, between 12 noon and 4 pm.

It will include a barbecue with vegetarian options, a licensed bar, tombola, and other events.

All profits made will help toward the costs of essential church repairs including to the spire where water is penetrating the timbers above the bell tower. All are welcome.

Marion Jeffrey, churchwarden

CARHAMPTON Community Orchard will be buzzing with activity over the next few weeks with a series of events which will highlight the orchard’s special place as a focal point of village life.

Volunteers are sought to help boost this year’s crop by thinning down the apple clusters on Saturday, June 27, from 10 am to 12 noon - and learning from expert Sue Smith how to do the same with their own trees.

The orchard’s traditional summer picnic will this year be on Sunday, July 12, from 12.30 pm to 3 pm and everybody is welcome. Bring chairs and a picnic.

It is hoped that free tea, coffee, and home-made cake will result in a full house for the orchard’s annual meeting on Thursday, July 16, in the village hall, 3.30 pm to 4.30 pm, to discuss developments and activities over the past year and take on board suggestions for the future.

Butterfieles and Bugs - a free wildlife event will take place on Saturday, August 15, from 2 pm to 4.30 pm involving minibeast hunts, wildlife facts, and quizzes, and will be led by Elizabeth Atkinson, of Somerset Wildlife Trust.

Later that day, from 8.30 pm to 10 pm, expert James Penney will lead an orchard moth watch.

More than 250 species of moth have been recorded in the orchard since 2009.

It is also hoped that a detector will be available to identify species of bat.

For more information on all events, contact Elizabeth and Emily on 01643821756 or email [email protected]

THIS weekend, The Church House, in Crowcombe, is the setting for a quirky and fun exhibition by two experienced and imaginative West Somerset artists with subjects ranging from flying cutlery to scooter riding spaniels.

Jill Newton, a professional illustrator, and Jenny Barron, more usually known for her still life paintings, have created a colourful, entertaining, and unusual show which includes original artworks, prints, books, and greeting cards.

It is open on Friday (June 12) from 10.30 am until 5 pm, and on Saturday and Sunday from 10.30 am to 7 pm.

THANKS have been paid to Ingrid and Nigel Popplewell for a wonderful afternoon spent wandering around their splendid garden in Wootton Courtenay.

The rain held off and visitors thoroughly enjoyed their artistry of amazing garden design and the gentle blending of colour through floral sights and scents, not forgetting the taste buds when gazing on their veggie patches.

Visitors shared in teatime treats and had fun, social, and community time together in a relaxed and flourishing garden, an enjoyable village occasion in support of All Saints’ Church roof fund.

Speaking for the village, Greta and Alan Gardner said: “You both gave so freely to us all through your shared passion for gardening and we were enriched by it.

“Long may we be inspired to tend our little plots in such harmony with nature.”

THE extraordinary career of acclaimed filmmaker and charity patron Julien Temple is being celebrated by Somerset Film with a new free exhibition and a special anniversary screening of his documentary ‘Glastonbury’ in The Engine Room, Bridgwater.

Mr Temple lives near Holford, not far from a derelict silk mill where he famously shot an iconic music video for Bryan Adams’ ‘(Everything I Do) I Do It for You’, which spent 16 weeks at number one in the UK charts in 1991.

The exhibition, ‘Julien Temple – A Life in Film’, runs until Friday July 17 and showcases a collection of film poster artwork and video highlights spanning Temple’s iconic career in film, documentary, and music videos.

The exhibition coincides with the 20th anniversary of his landmark documentary ‘Glastonbury - The Mud, The Music, The Madness’, which captured the spirit, history, and chaos of the world famous festival.

It is open Mondays, Wednesdays, Thursdays, and Fridays from 10 am to 3.30 pm and offers visitors an opportunity to explore the visual world of one of Britain’s most influential directors, whose work has chronicled decades of music, youth culture, and British identity.

As part of the celebration, Somerset Film will also host a special screening of ‘Glastonbury’ on Saturday, June 27, at 7 pm, plus a question and answer session with Julien himself.

With 2026 marking a fallow year for Glastonbury Festival, the screening offers audiences an opportunity to relive the unforgettable music, mud, and mayhem that has defined the festival for generations.

Released in 2006, Temple’s acclaimed documentary combines more than 35 years of archive footage and performances from legendary artists including David Bowie, Radiohead, Morrissey, and Coldplay, capturing the unique atmosphere and cultural significance of the festival.

MINEHEAD and District u3A will be hosting a coffee morning on Thursday, June 18, in the Methodist Church Hall, Watchet, between 10.30 am and 12 noon.

The occasion provides an opportunity for people to go along and mingle, chat, and enjoy the friendly atmosphere.

A spokesperson said: “A warm welcome awaits everybody.

“The coffee morning is open to both members and visitors.”

THE West Somerset Morris will be returning to Minehead on Thursday, June 18.

Members will be dancing at the clock on the sea front at about 8 pm, before moving on to The Old Ship Aground, near the harbour, for more dancing. at about 9 pm.

THE next Amble not Ramble will be held on Wednesday, June 17, at The Parks, in Minehead, meeting outside the Sainsbury Hall at 10.30 am.

Amble not Ramble is a gentle walking group for people with dementia and/or mobility loss.

Walks are on easy terrain and last no longer than an hour.

Organisers ask that participants are accompanied by a carer where appropriate.

A spokesperson said: “We always finish with a cup of tea or coffee.

“We walk whatever the weather.

“For more information, ring 07550 014828.”

A WEST Somerset pilates tap dancing team has raised £1,175 for the Roy Castle lung cancer charity.

Lucia Forte, owner of Balance Point Pilates, based in Minehead and Dunster, supports a different charity each year.

In the past, Ms Forte has been sponsored to undertake a challenge.

This year, some of her clients have helped her out.

A group joined Ms Forte to learn a tap dancing routine to join other tap groups nationally on Bank Holiday Sunday for the annual Roy Castle Foundation ‘Time to Tap’ fund-raiser.

With the exception of Ms Forte, the group were either complete beginners or had not danced for many years.

The team had been practicing since Easter, and on the big day joined the charity organisers with other groups from across the country via Zoom.

Ms Forte said: “Thank you so much to everybody who donated and supported the Balance Point Tappers.

“With your help, we raised £1,175, an incredible amount for this very good cause.”

Some of the team now have the tap dancing bug.