150 years ago - September 30 1871

* The chairman at Williton Petty Sessions warned parents who were summoned for not having their children vaccinated under the 1867 Act ‘not to kick against the pricks’. One father said he would rather live in a free land – like America.

* A venison dinner was held in Minehead to mark the birthday of the lord of the manor Mr G F Luttrell, Mr and Mrs Thristle catered for the company at the Feathers Hotel.

* Harvest home was celebrated in Withiel Florey. After a church service, there was a feast in the home of the churchwarden, Mr Tarr, provided at the expense of the patron of the living, Mr Lethbridge, and a local landowner, Mrs Cornish.

100 years ago -October 1 1921

* Mr Gerald Lysaght, of Chapel Cleeve, who was experienced as a yachtsman, signed on as helmsman on theQuest, Sir Ernest Shackleton’s ship, which left Plymouth for Antarctic exploration.

* Provision of a war memorial recreation ground in Watchet was finally agreed. A 99-year lease was granted with an option of purchase of the freehold at £150 per acre.

* Watchet Town Band was in need of new instruments. It was particularly necessary to replace two cornets which had been played for over 30 years.

* Williton’s water supply stopped because of an air lock in the Tower Hill reservoir.

* Mr H G Maidment, a member of Withycombe parish church choir, was presented with a silver teapot on the occasion of his marriage to Miss Elsie Hole, of Dunster.

50 years ago - October 1, 1971

* Monk Wood, Stogumber, consisting chiefly of hazel and elm, was saved from the axe by Williton RDC. Nearly 140 local people had signed a petition to Secretary of the Department of the Environment Peter Walker to prevent felling

* Bomb experts were called to Court House, East Quantoxhead, for the disposal of an exploded shell found under a hedge

* Stogumber Chrysanthemum and Dahlia Society awarded its top prize for chrysanths to Mrs Mary Bryant, of the village post office. She took the title from her father-in-law, Fred Bryant.