Yesteryear

100 years ago

A well-patronised dramatic entertainment in aid of the CheddarBaden-Powell Boy Scouts was given in Cheddar Church House.

The well-received programme consisted of a play entitled A CoupleOf Scamps, followed by the screaming farce entitled The Area Bellewhen the several characters were creditably impersonated by MrsStatham, Miss Beryl Willis, Dr and Master Openshaw and Mr FM Willis.

An interesting feature of Axbridge Board of Guardians at theworkhouse was that the out-relief dispensed during the pastfortnight showed a decrease of nearly Pounds 150, as compared withthe corresponding period of last year.

The difference arose through the large number of out-paupers whohad availed themselves of old age pensions.

Although it was mentioned that in a few cases old folks who hadapplied for pensions had since desired to be again placed on thePoor Law out-relief list, the clerk presented a return showing thatno fewer than 282 former recipients of Poor Law relief hadrelinquished parish pay in favour of pensions.

Hints for the home - rice has a finer flavour if washed in hotwater instead of cold before cooking.

Tinned and bottled fruit should be kept in the dark. A drycupboard is the best place for it.

Pieces of linen saturated with pure rectified spirit, placed uponthe temples of a sleepless patient, will often bring relief.

50 years ago

Cheddar Horse and Pony Show and Gymkhana cannot be held thisAugust because the organisers, after making inquiries, have beenunable to find a showground.

Public support had gradually dwindled and although the horseclasses were dropped last year in favour of an attractive children'spony show and gymkhana, there were very few spectators.

Mr CE Stark, chairman since the show's inception, said that MrAllan G Brice, of Froglands, had, with reluctance, declined to makehis field available.

The Rev A R Janes, who until recently was vicar of Woolavington,near Bridgwater, is returning to Somerset as chaplain to StMichael's Home, Axbridge.

Mr Janes was ordained in 1923 and after holding appointments inLancashire and Derbyshire, served with the Universities Mission toCentral Africa from 1930 to 1937.

The new vicar of Winscombe, the Rev W L Jones, conducted thefuneral service at Winscombe Parish Church of Miss Edith Dunster, ofThe Court, Winscombe, who passed away aged 74 years.

A popular member of the Winscombe Tennis Club, Miss Dunster hadbeen in the village for 14 years. She had lived with two sisters ather present address but they pre-deceased her in recent years. MissDunster had been a nurse in Lancashire.

25 years ago

Axbridge has hit back at critics of a Pounds 24,000 scheme for acycle walkway along the former railway line between the town andCheddar.

Axbridge's deputy mayor, Councillor Huw Griffith, called commentsmade by Cheddar parish councillors on the scheme "ill-advised" andhis view has been backed by parent Ian Keen.

Councillor Griffith said: "It is my belief it will be aconsiderable asset. I am concerned we should show enthusiasm for theproject and we should not let some people in Cheddar have it alltheir own way."

Police are investigating a mini crime wave which has hit theCheddar Valley.

Thieves raided S and H Jones Engineering Services, RedcliffeStreet, Cheddar, and neighbouring firm DDC Engineering for thesecond time in two weeks. The first time thieves got away with toolsand a safe but the second time fled with gloves and coffee.

Travellers camping illegally in Cheddar will be given a helpinghand to leave the village provided they promise to quit the county.

Somerset County Council made the offer to the travellers withinhours of a judge at Bristol County Court granting them a possessionorder for the former county highways' depot.

The families have been given until Monday to move from the sitethey occupied following an eviction order on Shipham Hill Quarry.They will be given petrol and some limited technical assistance,including spare parts for their vehicles, following an assurance theconvoy moved on.

10 years ago

Cheddar 0 Castle Cary 2

Cheddar's poor run continued when they were beaten by a strongCastle Cary side, whose victory strengthened their promotionchances. The game was a scrappy affair, mainly due to the swirlingwind and extremely uneven Bowdens Park pitch that made the passinggame both sides enjoy playing almost impossible.

Pantomimes are, in the main, aimed at a young audience, but apanto with a difference hits the stage at Cheddar Football Club nextmonth.

Throbbing Hood And His Bunch Of Hairy Men, the seventh annualperformance by Cheddar Renowned Adult Pantomime, is a version ofBabes In The Wood which is not for the easily offended, warn theorganisers.

A usual cast of suspects known to the regular audience appear andthe original script is written by Tim Richens.

Police are appealing for information after one of their vehiclesalmost collided with a jet ski which was thrown from the back of avan.

Police were carrying out a routine patrol on the A38 towardsCross when they became suspicious of a G-reg white Ford Transit van.As they followed the van the back doors flew open and a blue andwhite Tiger Shark jet ski was thrown out, narrowly missing thepolice car.