AN end of season fund-raising concert was performed by Minehead Male Voice Choir in St Andrew’s Church, Minehead, on Saturday, July 19.

They have had a busy year, their silver jubilee, of fund-raising events and concerts with other choirs.

This was an evening from darkness to light as the community of Minehead is numb after the tragic coach crash involving local schoolchildren.

There was an opportunity prior to the performance for a moment of reflection and prayer.

The choir appeared immaculately dressed in blazers and ties, the blazers shed in the heat for the second half.

They have come a long way in 25 years.

There is a discipline and confidence exemplified by the singing without music.

There is obviously a huge amount of work in learning the words and music and clearly committed time from individuals to practice and learn, not just at Monday night rehearsals.

Their confidence is given by the inspirational leadership of Jackie Butterworth.

They were all looking at her all the time while she was conducting and mouthing all the words.

The note endings were particularly clear and together.

There was a control of harmony and a range of emotions displayed, from quiet and introspective to stirring crescendos and full bodied singing.

They displayed fine tone quality and diction.

This was a very varied programme with music from all over the world – Wales, Italy, France, Africa, and Exmoor!

There were changes of mood throughout.

The first half contained Welsh hymns ‘Deus Salutis’ and ‘Calon Lan’, sung in Welsh.

‘The Rose’ and ‘Love Is All Around’ reminded us of Bette Middler and The Troggs.

There were also staples of male voice choirs in a Neopolitan Trilogy, ‘Gendarmes’ and ‘Comrades in Arms’.

Jackie sang a duet with founder member Glen Baker, ‘Go now in peace’, and a solo from ‘Les Mis’ – ‘I Dreamed a Dream’.

The second half began with a group including ‘You Raise Me Up’ and ‘Siyahamba’ – a Zulu folk song.

Alan Hemley then climbed the steps from the piano to play an organ solo ‘Highland Cathedral’ written by two German composers who wanted to write a tune resembling Scottish bagpipes.

The middle section included the well-known ‘Rhythm of Life’ and Gilbert and Sullivan’s ‘Cat Like Tread’.

Some lighter moments were offered by Ivan Evans with a ‘Albert and the Lion’ story and a poem.

The concert finished with a piece called ‘Across the Harbour’ written in Porlock, and some more well-known pieces,‘Let It Be Me’ and an American trilogy.

Mention must be made of Alan Hemsley, who was an accomplished and sympathetic accompanist, and Kerry Steele, who was MC for the evening and announced the groups of pieces and was ready with some humour throughout.

‘When I Survey The Wondrous Cross’, accompanied on the organ, gave us one last big build from calm to the actual big finish by way of an encore.

The evening was an outstanding success – from darkness to light!

Bill Griffiths

WOOTTON Courtenay Gardening Club is celebrating its 20th anniversary this year, and is marking the event by inviting a very special guest speaker to come and give a talk on Thursday, July 31, at 7.30 pm in the village hall.

Ken Thompson is now retired, but for 20 years he was a senior lecturer in plant ecology at the University of Sheffield and he has written several books on ecology.

In 'No Nettles Required', he debunks common assumptions about wildlife gardening and backs up his theories with solid scientific evidence, citing projects and results from his own work at Sheffield.

It is the results of his experiments which make this talk so interesting - no fly-by-night assumptions here, just fact-based reality.

If you are interested in attracting wildlife to your garden, this is the talk for you.

Everyone welcome. Members entry free, guests £3.

Marion Jay

THE Watchet Twinning Society held its annual French Breakfast on Saturday, July 19, at the Watchet Phoenix Centre.

The weather was favourable so it was possible to eat outdoors or in, and there was a good choice of croissants and freshly brewed coffee available to locals and visitors alike.

The raffle proved very popular, and the event produced a profit of well over £100, as well as a most enjoyable morning for all concerned.

MEMBERS of West Somerset Morris will be performing at 8 pm on Thursday, July 31, at Burrowhayes Campsite, Horner, and at 8 pm on Thursday, August 7, at the The Star Inn, in Watchet, and afterwards at 9 pm on The Esplanade, Watchet.

A MEETING of Minehead Gardening Club will be held in the Catholic Hall, Townsend Road (next to the Valero garage), on Thursday, July 31, from 7.30 pm to 9 pm.

The visiting speaker, Hilary Little, will be presenting ‘Chile, High and Explosive’ and the club members’ competition is for ‘A Dish of Tomatoes’.

Guests are always welcome and the £3 entry includes light refreshments on the evening.

There will also be a raffle.

Club membership details will be available at the meeting and new members are always welcome to join in sharing the fun and love of all things horticultural.

H. Johnson

THIS week Watchet and the Quantocks Dementia Action Alliance will be enjoying its last Forget Me Not Cafe activity before the summer break.

Margaret Tatham thanked the staff at Doniford Farm, who made the annual cream tea outing such a great success.

She said: “The scones were enormous and very tasty.

“We were all served promptly despite our group being much bigger than expected.

“We shall resume meetings on Wednesday, September 3, with our train trip to Minehead, and Foxes Academy on September 17.

“But if anybody needs any help or information I am still here.”

THE Somerset Walking Club celebrated its 60th anniversary on Sunday, July 20, with a day of walks, heritage train rides on the West Somerset Railway, and a tea party in the beautiful gardens at Stogumber Station.

There were options for walks of nine or six miles, followed by cream teas and an anniversary cake.

In 60 years of walking, the club has organised about 50 walks per year, averaging eight miles each, the equivalent of walking round the earth’s circumference.

For anybody who is interested in joining the friendly group, it organises weekly walks on Sundays, alternating between long - 10 to 12 miles - and shorter five to six miles.

Contact Cherry Bird by emailing [email protected] to find out more, or visit the website https://somersetwalkingclub.co.uk.

Cherry Bird

THE garden at Elworthy Cottage is open for the National Gardens Scheme on Sunday, July 27, and Tuesday, August 5.

The garden is planted naturalistically to blend in with the beautiful West Somerset countryside.

The ornamental grasses and late summer perennials are looking good along with the many interesting trees and shrubs.

The meadow areas have good numbers of butterflies in the recent warm weather.

Pesticides are not used in the garden and all the plants are grown in peat free compost.

The garden is open from 11 am to 4.30 pm and admission is £5 with children free, and dogs are welcome on short leads.

Teas are available in aid of the Children's Hospice South West.

Elworthy is on the B3188 half-way between Wiveliscombe and Watchet.

Further details are available by calling 01984 656427 or see the garden’s website.

Mike Spiller

A NEW exhibition celebrating the creativity and perspective of young photographers from across Somerset will open to the public on August 1 in The Engine Room, Bridgwater.

The Somerset Young Photographer Showcase will present the world around us as captured through the lens throughout August.

Organised by Somerset Film, the Bridgwater-based media charity, this new exhibition features 30 images which have been submitted from photographers as young as 12 years up to 25 years old.

Speaking about the new showcase, Somerset Film’s creative director Deb Richardson said: “This is our first Young Photographer Showcase, and we were thrilled with the number and quality of submissions.

“It is a real joy to offer space to celebrate Somerset’s young creative talent.

“We hope the community will come and experience these stunning images for themselves.”

As part of the initiative, one photographer will be honoured with the Robert Richards Award, which recognises work that celebrates the environment or raises awareness of climate change.

The award is presented in memory of Robert Richards, the charity’s former chairman of trustees, who worked at Glastonbury Festival with Michael Eavis and was also a trustee for Glastonbury Abbey.

Robert was passionate about supporting emerging talent, and this is the third year the award has been offered.

All featured photographers will also attend a special private view event on Saturday, August 2, during which the Robert Richards Award winner will be announced by the Mayor of Bridgwater.

The exhibition will be open to the public from Friday, August 1, to Friday, August 29, from 10 am to 3.30 pm, but closed on Tuesdays, Saturdays, and Sundays.

For more information about the exhibition or the Robert Richards Award, visit www.somersetfilm.com.