Crafty members of Alcombers and Minehead WInspirations WIs have been busy since Christmas designing and creating crochet and knitted toppers for some of Minehead post boxes. We have received many favourable comments from local residents, shops and visitors.

Have you seen the latest? Inspired by the Salt Path film and a lazy sunny afternoon on the beach. Look out for the seagull pinching a chip!

Being a WI member is a great way to make friends, have fun, and learn new skills. Why not call in to the Beach Hotel on Monday, August 7, or August 21, 2pm to 4pm to meet the topper makers!

On Saturday, June 21, we had the pleasure of attending the Minehead Male Voice Choir concert in aid of St Peter church funds Williton. The choir in the capable hands of the conductor Jaquie Butterworth produced some lovely melodies despite a few members absent. The balance was brilliant considering the shortfall of tenors and their diction was enhanced by the good acoustics of the church.

Conductor - Jackie Butterworth.

Accompanist - Alan Hemsley.

MC Ivan - Evans.

The concert started with a Welsh hymn called Rachie which was very moving. Melodic and sung very much with feeling.

We had some solo performances from Jackie who sang an operatic piece called Don't be cross. From the operetta Obersteiger. Such a talented singer.

Bill Spill played two well known songs on his Ukelele, Sweet Georgia Brown and When I'm 64. A few tapping feet and enjoyed by all.

Alan played a solo piece on the keyboard. Panis Angelicus (bread of an angel). Played with great feeling and very moving.

The evening was expertly mc'd by Ivan who shared some funny stories that had some laughing in the aisles.

A superb selection of songs all sung with warmth and feeling.

The evening came to an end too soon. The finale which again was very moving and rousing remained in a lot of people's mind as I could hear people humming it on the way out!!

When I Survey The Wondrous Cross and Jackie joined in the last verse and Allan played the mighty organ What a night we all had. Wow Wow Wow

Many thanks to all and for the refreshments afterwards. Long may they continue.

The West Somerset Morris is out and about.

They will be performing at All Things Morris in Ilfracombe on Saturday, July 5, at Porlock Weir from 8pm on Thursday, July 10, at Carhampton fete on Saturday, July 12.

Keen gardeners will be showing off their green-fingered talents as they take part in the annual Porlock Open Gardens Weekend.

This year’s event, which takes place on Saturday, July 12, and Sunday, July 13, from 2.00-6.00 pm, will give visitors the chance to explore twenty gardens of all styles and sizes in Porlock village. Visitors can enjoy refreshments, purchase plants and explore new gardens which would not typically be open to the public.

Porlock Information Centre Manager Deborah Stanyon said: “There’s a wonderful variety of gardens including large wild gardens and gardens featuring unusual trees and shrubs. You can also view terraced gardens, gardens with ponds, gardens with water features and gardens with stunning views over the sea and moorland.

“Please do come along and see the gardens but also take time to visit the many unique shops, pubs and tearooms in Porlock”

The maps have been kindly sponsored by Eduardo’s Pizzeria and Richard Little Family Butchers.

Proceeds from the event will go towards the running of Porlock Information Centre.

Weekend tickets cost £8 per person – sorry but no dogs are permitted - and are available from Porlock Information Centre, Spar and Porlock Home and Hardware.

The Carhampton Climate Group hosted a very interesting morning on June 14 on ‘Planning better housing for the future’.

Over 30 villagers gathered in the village hall to hear two speakers: Vernon Hughes of The Campaign to Protect Rural England (CPRE) and Chris Winter, a local property developer specialising in small developments, including affordable housing.

Both spoke of the great need for more good quality social housing and for better engagement with local communities in identifying what housing is really needed. Well-designed new developments would take account of both social and environmental factors, yet large developers, who build most new housing, tend to put profit before quality.

To reach government targets for new housing the present planning system needs to change. Vernon proposed better use of brown-field sites and holding developers to account over the need to preserve areas of importance to nature. Chris spoke of the constraints facing developers wanting to build good quality housing – for example, the bureaucratic, costly and complicated planning requirements that must be completed even before applying for planning permission.

After a break for coffee and home-made cakes, the morning concluded with a panel discussion when the two main speakers were joined by Brenda Maitland-Walker, Chair of Carhampton Parish Council.

Participants raised a range of interesting questions, indicating the importance of these issues to our local community.

For more information about the Carhampton Climate Group email [email protected] or phone Susan Mew on 01643 821209.

The Group’s next public meeting will be on Saturday, September 27, at 10am in Carhampton Village Hall when the topic will be ‘plastic’.

Paul Askew, was a prolific painter, he travelled far and wide across counties photographing and later painting, in black and white acrylic.

Paul valued his counselling so much that when he passed away he left over 400 paintings to Lighthouse Counselling, to be sold to raise money to subsidise counselling for others. We believe that Paul was neurodiverse, although not diagnosed, and that the he was able contact to the world around him through his paintings.

Lighthouse Counselling, Watchet, are holding an sale of his art on the weekend of August 30 and 31 at Roadwater Village Hall. He had previously, in his lifetime, sold some of his paintings at a local gallery.

Please check out the Facebook page, Paul Askew Paintings, and Instagram, paulaskewpaintings, that we have created in his memory, featuring some of his work.