Community news from across West Somerset

A MINI Atlantic 85 inshore lifeboat made a fund-raising trip with a difference along Minehead sea front last week.

Built of papier mache and other recycled materials, it made the run from the Jubilee Café to the harbour by road with its builder and skipper, 13-year-old schoolboy Arlan Sri Paran, at the helm.

Recently moving from West Sussex where he also raised money for local lifeboats, Arlan is now busy boosting funds for Minehead RNLI with his hand-built Atlantic 85.

Donations collected during his sea front ‘voyage’ have raised more than £250 toward his £300 target.

Arlan spent months building his lifeboat, which has lights and realistic outboard motors with propellers that turn.

He said: “Every pound we can raise makes a difference in keeping lifeboats crewed and ready to respond.”

Arlan’s previous lifeboat fund-raising has included completing a sponsored mile-a-day challenge which raised more than £150.

He plans to take his lifeboat to other local events, including Porlock Carnival, to raise money for RNLI funds.

Arlan said after his first run: “It was an amazing turnout.

“Thank you so much to everybody who gave a wave and a cheer or who dropped some spare change into the donation bucket.”

A Minehead RNLI spokesperson said: “So much thought, creativity, time, and hard work has gone into bringing this brilliant little lifeboat to life - all with the goal of helping raise money for the RNLI.

“Arlan has done an absolutely brilliant job.

“His hard work and enthusiasm are truly appreciated.”

Arlan has an online fund-raising page for anybody who wants to support his campaign.

MEMBERS of Minehead and District Choral Society are back in action next week with rehearsals for Karl Jenkins’ ‘The Armed Man’ and Vivaldi’s ‘Gloria’.

Rehearsals will be held weekly in St Michael’s Church Hall, Alcombe, starting at 7 pm on Tuesday, September 8.

The choir will be preparing for its autumn concert taking place in November.

A spokesperson said: “New members are always welcome and are encouraged to turn up to rehearsals for a free, no commitment, trial.

“Experience is not essential but a passion for music and an ability to hold a note is helpful.

“We look forward to seeing members old and new there.”

CLASS results for Timberscombe Show 2026 (in 1,2,3 order) were:

Vegetables and Fruit

Runner beans - A Heard, G Horrobin, M Ruffell. Dwarf Beans. M Ruffell, J Booth; Carrots - A Heard, A Heard, J Horrobin; Potatoes - A Heard, J Booth; Beetroot - A Heard, A Heard; Rhubarb - N Jones; Large Tomatoes - A Heard, A Heard; Truss Tomatoes - A Heard, G Horrobin; Vase of Herbs - M Ruffell, G Horrobin, P Bennett; Cucumber - A Heard; Courgette - M Ruffell; Onions - A Heard, A Heard; Shallots - A Heard, A Heard; AO Pod - M Ruffell; AO Leaf - G Horrobin; Longest Runner Bean - J Booth; Heaviest Onion - A Heard; Heaviest Potato - A Heard; Oddest Shaped Veg - A Heard; Dessert Apples - A Heard, A Heard; Cooking Apples - G Horrobin; Plums - M Ruffell; Soft Fruit - J Horrobin, P Bennett; Best in Section - A Heard, Oddest shaped Veg.

Flowers

Sweet Peas - K Attwater; 6 Cut Flowers - No places awarded; Clematis - N Jones; Dahlias - No places awarded; Pansies/Violets - N Jones, Highly Commended; Hydrangeas - G Horrobin, S Leggatt, Highly Commended; Best Single Flower - M Leggatt, R Lamacraft, N Jones; Best Single Leaf - R Lamacraft, N Jones, P Bennett; Weed Exhibit - R Lamacraft, Highly Commended; Pot Plant - K Attwater, R Lamacraft; Best in Section - G Horrobin, Hydrangeas.

Floral Arrangements

Arrangement with Garden Flowers - K Attwater; Foliage Only - J. Booth, R Lamacraft, 3= Gabrielle Horrobin/R Lamacraft; Miniature Arrangement - J.Booth, R Lamacraft, R Lamacraft; Best in Section - J Booth, Miniature.

Domestic

White Bread - R Lamacraft, R Lamacraft; Wholemeal Rolls - R Lamacraft, R Lamacraft; Plain Scones - Z Heard, C Wheeler, P Bennett; Chocolate Cake - R Lamacraft, R Lamacraft; Tray Bake - J Booth, S Winter; Decorated Cup Cakes - R Lamacraft, R Lamacraft; Jam Rings - R Lamacraft, M Moncrieff, S Leggatt; Quiche - R Lamacraft; Any Jam - S Leggatt, R Lamacraft, S Rae; Marmalade - R Lamacraft; Fruit Curd - R Lamacraft, M Moncrieff; Chutney - G Horrobin, R Lamacraft, A Heard; Best in Section - J Booth, Tray Bake.

Handicraft

Sewn Article - T Wright; Upcycled Fabric Article - T Wright; Patchwork - L Davidge; Knitted Baby Garment - S Rae, J Smith, J Smith; Other Knitted Item - J Smith, J Smith; Crochet Item - J Strickland, J Strickland; Sands Blanket Knitted - J Smith, M Moncrieff, S Leggatt; Sands Blanket Crochet - M Moncrieff, M Moncrieff, S Leggatt; Any Other Knit/Crochet Toy - J Strickland, J Strickland; Cross Stitch/Tapestry/Embroidery (Peoples choice) - S Rae; Any Other Handicraft - S Leggatt; Limerick - M Bennett, M Bennett, A Thornton; Anniversary Card - R Lamacraft, R Lamacraft; Poster - M Bennett, R Lamacraft, R Lamacraft; Decorated Pebble - N Jones, N Jones, R Lamacraft; Best in Section - J Smith, Sands Blanket Knitted.

Artwork and Painting

Oil Painting - 1= T Wright/R Lamacraft, R Lamacraft; Water Colour - T Wright, G Horrobin, T Wright; Picture Other Medium - G Horrobin, A Gillard (11 yrs); Sculpture - R Lamacraft, R Lamacraft; Best in Section - T Wright, Oil Painting.

Photographs

Timberscombe Village 2026 - G Horrobin, M Bennett, M Leggatt; Favourite Thing - P Witt, S Witt, M Leggatt; Timberscombe Church B/W - M Leggatt, P Witt, R Lamacraft; Made of Stone - P Witt, G Horrobin, M Booth; On the Wing - P Witt, S Knightley, G Horrobin; Best in Section - Martin Leggatt, Timberscombe Church B/W.

Children’s Section

Class 85 Curriculum Work Flowers - Lucas, Nela, Minty; Class 86 Curriculum Work, Studied Subject - Georgia O’Keefe; Flowers - Amelia, Mollie, Daisy; Little Oaks My Home/Family - William, Aiden, Maeve; Best Child’s Exhibit – Amelia; Runner-Up Best Child’s Exhibit - Lucas.

THE next Watchet beach clean and litter pick is being held on Saturday (September 5) from 10 am to 11.30 am.

Volunteers are asked to meet on the West Street beach slipway and to wear suitable footwear and gardening gloves.

The organisers will provide litter pickers and sacks.

A spokesperson said: “We will be picking up litter along the beach, coast path, and around the town.

“After about an hour, all those taking part are invited back to The Sanctuary, in Swain Street, where all that is collected will be sorted and refreshments served.

“Come with friends or as a family group.

“All under-16s must be accompanied by an adult.”

Anybody who wants to join the event should email to [email protected].

The spokesperson said: “If you have a little extra time on the day to help with setting up or sorting what is collected we would love to hear from you.”

OLD ink cartridges are being collected to help raise funds for Timberscombe Playing Field.

Empty or unwanted original ink cartridges can be left in a collection box in the village Post Office.

A spokesperson said: “Old cartridges are worth a surprising amount of money when sent off to recycling companies, and it helps Timberscombe Playing Field to raise much needed funds.

“The cartridges must be originals, branded ones, ie, HP, Cannon, Brother, etc, not ‘compatible’ ones.

“But, almost all makes are worth something.

“Just drop your cartridges in the box in the Post Office and we will sort them.”

SOMERSET Council and its recycling site operator Biffa have extended a limit of one appliance per household for fridges, freezers, and other cooling appliances at the county’s 16 recycling sites until the end of September, and could be continued even longer.

This restriction has been caused by a continuing national shortage of UK reprocessing capacity.

Residents are asked to hold off taking such appliances to recycling sites if they can be safely stored, to help ease pressure until reprocessing capacity increases again.

Appliances such as fridges, freezers, and air-conditioning units need specialist treatment because they contain refrigerants and other materials which must be handled carefully.

MORE than 30 Minehead young carers and their parents were treated to a day out on the West Somerset Railway (WSR) on Thursday (August 27).

The day, organised by the Rotary Club of Minehead and supported by the WSR, saw the group board a specially reserved carriage, pulled by the steam engine ‘Bradley Manor’ for the trip to Bishop Lydeard.

There, they were shown around the station museum, the signal box, and engine sheds before enjoying party games and a picnic in a nearby park.

A spokesperson said: “This was an opportunity for the kids to forget about their daily tasks and just enjoy the day in each other’s company.

“The parents also enjoyed meeting others with similar problems.

“The train returned to Minehead in the late afternoon and everybody went home with a smile on their face.

“Minehead young carers are often overlooked and take on many household tasks and act as unpaid carers for their families.

“The Rotary club understands the important role these young people play and lets them know they are appreciated.”