150 years ago - August 26 1871

* The favourite game ‘Kiss in the Ring’ was indulged in for a considerable time at a picnic in Watchet promoted by Court West Somerset of the Ancient Order of Foresters.

* A Cutcombe woman of 21 died through accidentally poisoning herself by taking arsenic in mistake for simple brimstone.

* A hare was captured in one of the bedrooms of the police station in Williton.

* For their annual treat, the children of Williton Baptist Sunday School were taken to a highly situated field called Laverscombe (Larviscombe) ‘at which place pleasant scenery and fresh breezes may be enjoyed’.

100 years ago - August 27 1921

n On Lifeboat Day in Minehead, the ‘George Leicester’, mounted on her massive carriage, was drawn through the streets by six sturdy horses preparatory to the launching. Coxswain W H Martin was in charge, and Mr T K Ridler, hon secretary of the local RNLI, accompanied the crew.

* The census return for Great Britain showed there were two million more women than men. The population of Minehead had risen by 1,663 since the previous census, but the urban area now included Alcombe.

* Entries for Wiveliscombe Flower Show reached a record 500. Mrs Gerrard won the prize for table decoration.

* The Agricultural Wages Board confirmed the proposal to cut farm workers’ wages by six shillings a week. The minimum wage would be 42/-.

50 years ago - August 28 1971

* Mr Albert Heard had more than 60 blooms on a tiger lily growing in his garden in Liddymore Road, Watchet. Mr Heard, who gained nationwide acclaim for his rose ‘Quantock Star’, said the normal number of blooms was 30.

* Nettlecombe was the wettest place in the county in July with a rainfall of nearly three and a half inches – two and a quarter of which fell in 20 minutes on July 27.

* Army chaplain the Rev Keith Ellwood was to be curate-in-charge of Bicknoller.

* With an attendance of 5,000, Dunster Show was hailed as one of the most successful in recent years. Supreme Champion was five-year-old bay gelding Budget owned by Lt Col and Mrs A B Cootes, of Ashton, near Exeter.