Village FaceBook Group
There is a very active Stawell and Sutton Mallet FaceBook group. You may apply to join, and if you live in Stawell or Sutton Mallet and are willing to follow the group rules you will be admitted. As the group is getting rather large now we have decided to restrict members who are not villagers to those who have something significant to offer the group or who have a genuine interest in the community. If you just want to know what is going on then everything is posted here, on the website.
The fundraising for the Salvation Army which took place in the weeks before Christmas has given a real boost for families in the area. Karen Heffernan has received the following letter from Heather and John Culshaw from the Bridgwater Salvation Army team:
A heartfelt thank you for supporting and donating to our Christmas “Be A Star” Appeal. The generosity has been astounding and enabled us to provide over 500 toy parcels and 200 food hampers for local families – which we simply couldn’t have done without you!
What's Going on in January
The first Coffee Morning of 2023 takes place on 28 January and is hosted by Jean Reynolds at 5 The Old Apple Store in Stawell. Doors open from 10:00am to 12:00pm.
There is always a warm welcome, plenty of coffee and a range of fabulous cakes to ruin the New Year diet!! Do come along and spend time chatting with friends and neighbours. Funds raised are used to support the village Church.
Parish Council: There is a special planning meeting taking place on Tuesday 3 January. The agenda is published under the Organisations/Parish Council menu.
Road Closure – Ford Lane: a notification has been received of a TTRN (urgent) road closure at Ford Lane, Stawell which will commence on 9th January 2023 – 13th January 2023 (00:00 – 23:59) for a total of 5 days. This will enable Wessex water to carry out main leak repair works.
The contractor has indicated that access for Emergency Services through the site is not permitted on this occasion.
For any further information about this closure please contact Wessex Water on 0345 600 4600, quoting reference: ttro914515SE.
Please visit one.network https://one.network/?tm=132329724 where you will see the map of the affected area (in red), together with the supplied diversion route (in blue).
HUB Cafe and Film Night: January 21st is the big day for Village Hall events this months. The Cafe will be open in the afternoon from 10am to 1pm and in the evening the cinema opens for a showing of Mrs Harris goes to Paris. Full details of both events below
Doors open at 7:00pm on 21 January for a 7:30pm showing. Bar and food on sale.
Based on the book “Mrs ‘Arris Goes To Paris” by the celebrated American author, Paul Gallico (living in Salcombe at the time), the film tells the story of a widowed cleaning lady in 1950s London who falls madly in love with a couture Dior dress, and decides that she must have one of her own. After she works, starves and gambles to raise the funds to pursue her dream, she embarks on an adventure to Paris which will change not only her own outlook, but the very future of the House of Dior.
This film was praised by critics and audiences alike and achieved an excellent 94% on the Rotten Tomatoes website.
Alternative Fuel Payment
The Government has announced that Alternative Fuel Payments will be made in January to Northern Ireland customers and in February to those in Great Britain. this is a payment being given to homes and businesses who do not use mains gas for heating. This payment is in addition to the Energy Bills Support Scheme (EBSS) non-repayable discount of £400
"Warm Spaces"
The VHC is very pleased to say that after much form filling and questions beyond belief we have been granted £750.00 towards the ‘Warm Spaces’ project over the winter. This will allow us to do seriously subsidised extra VH hub cafes etc and other ‘things we have planned. Dates of these other cafes etc will be made known when we know ourselves lol. This will be from December through March
Greener Christmas Greetings
This year there will again be a display board in the porch of Stawell Church from the first week in December until New Year, where you can place one card conveying your Christmas greetings to all your friends and neighbours. We hope you will then donate the money saved to the charity of your choice so everyone benefits😊
Don’t forget to pop up to the church in December to check out who is wishing you a Merry Christmas!
December Dates
The December Coffee Morning will be on 10 December and our hosts are Charles and Tracy Casson at Walnut Tree Farm. Come along from 10:00am to 12:00pm for a drink, cake and chat.
Special Planning Meeting: The Parish Council will hold a special meeting, on Monday 12 December at 6:00pm, to consider a single planning application. The agenda is available under the Organisations/Parish Council menu.
CANCELLED On the evening of 10 December you can get along to the Music and Curry event at the village hall. Music supplied by the Harlem Rhythm Cats and meat or veg curry by local chef, Matt Brooks. Someone will be calling on you to offer tickets. Details in the poster below. This event has been cancelled due to low ticket sales linked to the World Cup and Strictly clash.
The church is holding a Christingle and Gift Service on 11 December at 10:00am. They will accept unwrapped gifts, for any age, including adults. These will be taken to the Salvation Army in Bridgwater. If you can’t attend you can leave a gift at the font inside the church before the service. The Carol Service will be on 16 December at 7:00pm. The collection will be be given to the church Ukraine contact. After the service mulled wine, mince pies and cake will be served. The Crib Service will be held on Christmas Eve at 3:00pm. Everyone is very welcome to attend any or all of these services.
For several years Karen Heffernan has organised a village collection of gifts for The Salvation Army Christmas Present Appeal, This year the Village Hall Committee has joined in, to wonderful effect. Not only have a large number of presents been collected but, through donating the proceeds from the HUB Cafe and Christmas Crafts event and the recent Film Night, the amazing sum of £600 has also been donated to the Salvation Army. Well done Karen, Simon and the VH team and thank you to all who donated presents and supported these recent events.
What a great Christmas craft & hub cafe on Saturday. This was the first of the VHC ‘warm space events’ as promoted by SDC & SCC. There will be other ‘warm space’ events later in January and February. This event was just that little bit different; Instead of paying, customers gave a voluntary donation in support of the Bridgwater Salvation Army Christmas Appeal. Thanks to your generosity £449 was raised!
A message from Karen Heffernan:
I would just like to thank the village hall committee members, especially Simon and Maxine for their time and hard work running the Hub cafe on Saturday and the committee for donating the food and drink.
Everyone made such generous donations for the Salvation Army Christmas Present Fund that £449 was raised! It will go a long way to give the children in Bridgwater and the surrounding area a Christmas they wouldn’t otherwise have had.
The final date to donate actual presents is the 29th November. This then gives them time to sort gifts into age groups etc and buy things for any age group they are short of.
Thank you all, it will really make a difference.
Karen
Last year The Salvation Army in Bridgwater was able to provide almost 400 toy parcels to familes in and around Bridgwater. This fantastic achievement was greatly helped by all the donations from the good people of Stawell and Sutton Mallet.
This year there will inevitably be an even greater demand so let’s try to provide even more gifts for local children this year.
Gifts can be left with Karen Heffernan at West House, Stawell. If necessary collection can be arranged.
Suggested Gift List for Children and Young People
We believe every child deserves a new gift at Christmas so we are unable to take used or second hand items for the Christmas Present Appeal.
- 0-3 years: dolls, teddy bears, cot mobiles, baby clothes, bath toys, CDs of suitable music and nursery rhymes, puzzles
- 3-5: dolls and action figures, cars, lorries, DVDs and CDs (music and nursery rhymes), colouring sets, pencils, crayons, books, puzzles
- 5-9: educational games & toys, stationery (colouring sets, pencils, crayons, school sets), CDs & family friendly DVDs, books, puzzles, wordsearch, crosswords
- 9-12: games and toys, stationery, DVDs, books, t-shirts, hair accessories, gloves, scarves, hats
- 13-16: books, make-up and toiletries (please try to ensure non-allergic ingredients if possible), gloves, scarves, hats, t-shirts, hair accessories and gift vouchers
Important - New Bird Flu Regulations
Click on the links below to read more detail on the latest regulations and guidance regarding Avian Influenza (Bird Flu) in our area. For more detailed guidance including what to do if you find any dead birds go to www.gov.uk/bird-flu
November Happenings
Panto Trip – Early Notice: Denise Rogers is organising a visit to the Panto at the McMillan Theatre in Bridgwater on Tuesday 20th December. The event is open to children and parents in the villages. Full details are on the application/permission letters below (in WORD and PDF format)
Coffee Morning: The monthly coffee morning will be hosted by Arlette and Jon Banister at The Old Manor House, Stawell. As usual, everyone is invited to go along from 10:00am to 12:00pm on Saturday 26 November.
Drinks, homemade cakes and biscuits will be on offer in return for a small donation to church funds. For new members of the community, this is a lovely event and a great way to meet new friends and neighbours.
Stop Press: November Film Night
Good to see the return of the Village Cinema.
On Saturday 26 November Top Gun – Maverick will be showing on the big screen in the Village Hall.
Doors open at 7:00pm for a 7:30pm start.
All the usual offerings…hot dogs, ices, tea coffee and the bar will be open.
Hope to see you there.
Music in St Michael’s Church, Othery
Saturday 26 November at 7.30pm sees the welcome return to the village of talented, classically trained tenor, Gregory Steward. Gregory will be singing a varied repertoire from musicals, opera and classical pieces including some music to get us in the mood for Christmas.
Tickets cost only £10 and will include a drink at the interval. All profits from this event will go towards repairs to our church organ.
For tickets please contact Isobel 01823 698119 or email epadamson@hotmail.co.uk. Tickets will also be available at the door
Always a great event. The HUB Cafe in November includes the chance to browse and buy items produced by a wide range of local crafts folk.
Get along and shop for Christmas as well as enjoy good company and great coffee, tea and food.
Parish Council: The agenda for the November meeting of the Parish Council is now available
Pointless Quiz
Are you a fan of Pointless? Why not come along to the Village Hall on 19 November to have a go.
Get a team of up to four or just come along and join a team on the night.
Remember ….. the lowest score wins!!
Bring your own drinks and glasses but refreshments will be available. 7:30pm start.
Details from Ruth 722914 or Tina 723606
A new group using the Village Hall
A new venture begins in the village hall. I believe there are a couple of places still in the puppies and youngsters group and also in the 3Rs group.
Good luck in your new venture.
New Youth Club Hoodies
The Youth Club Hoodies have arrived and the children look great in them. Thank you to the residents of the village who have sponsored these. The children have designed the logos on the back, front left breast and left sleeve. They have also written thank you letters to the residents for their kindness and said why they enjoy coming to the Youth Club. They give the club an identity and being red, will be easy to spot!
For news about what the group have been up to check out their page under the “Organisations” menu.
Postcard Exhibition - fundraising
The recent Phone Box Postcard Art Exhibition raised a fantastic total of £391 for the Bridgwater Food Bank.
A big thank you to all the organisers and all those who submitted a piece of art to the exhibition.
Fixed Payments for Oil Heating Consumers
I’ve had the following notification passed on to me which should interest the many users of oil for heating in the village. I went to the UKIFDA website to check this and discovered that the site has lots of information that would be of use to oil consumers.
UKIFDA, the trade body for the liquid fuel distribution industry, has met with the government to discuss the most efficient way of getting the £100 fixed payment announced on 19th September to heating oil customers.
Given the highly competitive nature of the heating oil market, customers have the ability to purchase from a number of different distributors and outlets. Consequently, they are likely to hold multiple accounts, which makes the fixed payment distribution challenging to deliver without duplication.
Inevitably this will take some time, so we strongly recommend that customers do not wait if they need heating oil. We are working closely with the government to find a solution and ensure that heating oil households receive their £100 as soon as possible.
October Occurences
The Children In Need Countryfile Ramble is this Sunday.
Meet at the Village Hall at 2:00pm
If you’d like to know the route in advance, here is a Children In Need Walk – MAP
Cream Teas are available afterwards
The first event of a busy month is the HUB Cafe and Art Exhibition on the 8th October. As always the doors open from 10:00am until 1:00pm and all the usual hot and cold drinks and food will be on offer. This month there will also be an exhibition of lots of work completed by the village Art Group over the last year. The group meets every Thursday evening at 7:00pm and anyone who fancies exercising their creativity is very welcome. Several of us in the group had never done anything artistic since our schooldays so no matter how talented (or not) you might think you are there will be a warm welcome if you want to come along.
Harvest Service: This event begins at 10:00am on 9 October at St Francis Church in Stawell. Non- perishable food items can be left in the church by the font. These will be forwarded to Bridgwater Foodbank.
The Children in Need Countryfile Ramble takes place on the afternoon of Sunday 9 October. There are full details lower down this page. The walk begins at 2 pm from the Village Hall and takes you on a 3-mile round route out of Stawell to Sutton Mallet and back to the hall for a cream tea. This is a fundraiser for Children in Need so a recommended donation of £5 each would be gratefully received.
The big event this month takes place on the evening of 22 October. A three-course meal, using some of the finest local produce, will be served and entertainment will be by the amazing and talented “Trip for Biscuits”. This seven-piece band plays music with a 1920s “Gatsby” feel but their repertoire runs from the 1920s to the present. Not sure if there are still tickets – check with Denise Rogers. Further details are available lower down this webpage.
the coffee morning in October will be hosted by Nick and Alison Dunsby at Clock Barn. All are very welcome to what is always a lovely chance for a catch-up and chat with friends and neighbours. The date for your diary is 29 October and will rune from 10:00am to !2 noon.
Clare is now running a yoga class on Tuesday as well as on Fridays.
Commemorative Service
There will be “An Official Commemoration Service of Holy Communion” marking the death of Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II” at 10 a.m. at St Francis chapelry this coming Sunday, 18th September.
The Chairman of Sedgemoor District Council will be making a local proclamation at 1600 hrs on Sunday 11 September in King Square, Bridgwater. The local proclamation ceremony marks the formal Proclamation to the people of Sedgemoor District Council to mark the beginning of our new King’s reign.
Anyone wanting to attend to observe this historic moment will be welcome to attend.
Prayers for Queen Elizabeth II
Although the church is always open for those wishing to visit, on Saturday, 10 September at 5:00pm there will be a special opportunity for people to come together to offer prayers and share personal tributes to the late Queen Elizabeth II.
Everyone is welcome
It's starting to happen again in September
Parish Council Minutes. The minutes of the quite busy September meeting are now posted here under the Organisatons/Parish Council menu.
Who Cares For Carers? If you regularly look after someone in an unpaid caring capacity, this may be a family member or friend, Somerset Carers can support you with advice and guidance.
Caring for another person is very rewarding, but can be overwhelming and lonely at times.
Somerset Carers can help with:
- Linking you to groups & events in your area
- Finding information that will help you and the person you are caring for, tailored to you
- Guiding you through financial support you may be eligible for & assisting you with applications
More Information at Somerset Carers.
Spreading hope on World Suicide Prevention Day: In preparation for this year’s World Suicide Prevention Day on 10th September, Somerset County Council’s Public Health team are asking members of the public to share quotes, lyrics or poems that have helped them to get through difficult times in their lives.
Contributions will be compiled into a digital ‘Book of Hope’, together with signposting to local mental health services and support. The project will be unveiled at an event ‘Walk For A Life’ at Somerset County Cricket Ground on Saturday 10 September.
The event aims to raise awareness of suicide in Somerset and is supported by partners including Somerset Foundation Trust, Open Mental Health and Stepladder. On the day, attendees will walk a route through Taunton Town Centre in memory of all those impacted by suicide within the County. They will then end the walk at the Somerset County Cricket Ground, where a number of local partners and stakeholders will be on hand to offer information and advice.
Parish Council: The next meeting is on Monday, 5 September at 7:00pm in the Village Hall.
HUB Cafe: At last we see the welcome return of the rather wonderful HUB Cafe. Put 10 September in your diary and come on down to the Village Hall. Doors open at 10:00am and stay open until 1:00pm. For newer villagers, this is a well-attended event where we get together for a chat with friends and neighbours while enjoying a good cup of coffee from the new machine plus loads of different food and drink options.
Secret Postcard Art Exhibition: There is still time to create a tiny masterpiece. All the details are in a post further down this page but you need to submit your work to an organiser by 21 September and the exhibition runs in the Telephone Box Library from 24 September to 7 October.
Coffee Morning: This month the coffee morning will be hosted by Tina and Paul Swift at Carisbrook House. The event runs from 10:00am to 12:00pm on 24 September. Again, a lovely, well-attended occasion where everyone can chat with friends and neighbours. This month the collection will be going to the MacMillan Cancer Trust.
Harvest Supper: This annual event takes place on the evening of 24 September but there is plenty of time to attend the coffee morning as well. The village hall doors open at 6:00pm for a 7:00pm sit down for the harvest supper’
Tickets £12 (Adults), £7 (Children U12yo) from Ruth 722914, Richard 722284, Janet 723844
Bring your own drinks and glasses
Raffle to Support Bridgwater Food Bank
BYO drinks and Glasses
Quiet August
August, when many people are away on holiday, is always a quiet month in the shire. However, one event that takes every month without fail is the:
Church Coffee Morning: This August your hosts are Anna and Ralph Sealey at Cape House, Stawell. Doors are open from 10:00am until 12;00pm on 27 August .
We do have news of a major event coming in October. Tickets will be limited and go on sale soon.
An Evening with "Trip for Biscuits" and a Three Course Meal
The Village Hall Committee are pleased to announce a very special evening of entertainment on Saturday 22 October.
The 7 piece Trip for Biscuits are unique – they play in the 1920s/Great Gatsby style but their repertoire covers the 20s to the present. -music like you never heard it before.
Check out their music at Trip for Biscuits – The Music!
Local chef, Matt Brooks of The Old Tannery, will be producing a gourmet three-course meal using the best of local produce.
Starter: Roast Squash and Chilli Soup
Main: Slow roast Oaklands goat shoulder or Slow cooked pork, pommes Anna, greens & salsa verde
or Grilled king oyster mushroom, pommes Anna, greens & salsa verde
Dessert: Dark chocolate mousse, fruit compote, feuilletine
Maxine and Denise will be coming round to sell tickets very soon. Tickets will be £30 per head (non-refundable). Ticket numbers are limited.
Wow..it's July already'
Children In Need Countryfile Ramble
Very early notice so no excuses for not getting this one in your diary.
Denise Rogers is organising Children in Need Ramble on 9th October . It is open to ALL – Families, children, dogs (on leads), friends, visitors. It’s a gentle 3 mile route across the fields. The hall will be open for Cream Teas.
Denise asks those people who take part to donate £5 each with the proceeds going to the Countryfile Children in Need Appeal. Dogs on leads at all times are welcome Should you have any questions please email me or call in – denise.rogers40@btinternet.com (Holly Tree House, Stawell).
MOMSS: The August digital edition of MOMSS is now available. It can be found under the Organisation/Church menu under the
July Coffee Morning: The hosts this month are Sue and Steve Bramble at Walnut Tree Barn, Stawell. As usual, the event runs from 10:00am to 12:00pm on 30 July.
Cream Tea Donations: The following report on the recent Cream Tea event comes from Richard Graham.
Almost half the village attended this on a glorious day. Galyna Tryndy, the Somerset coordinator for aid to Ukraine, attended. With donations before, during and after, the donations jar had an incredible £500 in it that has been given to her. Subsequently she has told us that a van is going out this week and next week with supplies. People are very generous, thank you.
All the cream tea supplies were donated as well and so just over £200 was made for church funds which are mainly used for the diocese to support incumbents; training, salary, pension, and housing.
Many thanks.
Richard Graham
Cream Teas
The Church is hosting a Cream Tea event on 16 July. The Village Hall doors open from 3:00pm until 5:00pm.
Cream teas and other goodies will be available. Cream Teas £3 per person.
There will also be a collection jar for medical supplies for the Ukraine. Donations of money have already started to come in from generous villagers. If you cannot attend the Cream Tea event please do still consider donating; you can give your donation to Leanne Graham or another member of the church committee
The person in charge of the organisation that donations will go to will be attending the event and she would love to talk to you about her work, how your donation will be spent, and the current situation in Ukraine. She is Ukranian and maintains close contacts in the country.
Secret Postcard Art Exhibition 2022
Sat 24th Sept-Fri 7th Oct in the Stawell Telephone Box
Everyone, of all ages, living in Stawell or Sutton Mallet, is invited once again to create a masterpiece on a postcard.
Your work will be exhibited anonymously as part of an amazing display in the telephone box. You may use any medium – any type of paint, wood, collage, charcoal, crayon, ink, photography…whatever you like. The only limit is that it is postcard sized which means it should be about 10 x 14 cm.
After the exhibition entries will be sold off to raise funds for the Bridgwater Food Bank.
Entries should be complete and handed in to an organiser by Wednesday 21 September. For further details please contact one of the organisers:
Margaret Williams: mewilliams8@hotmail.com
Jackie Lusty: jackie_lusty@hotmail.com
Kay McDonald: mcdonald.kay@googlemail.com
Parish Council: The minutes of the latest, July, Parish Council meeting are now available. They can be found under the ‘Organisations/Parish Council’ menu.
MOMSS: The July, digital edition of the magazine is now available under the ‘Organisations/Church’ menu.
Ruth Peberdy: Those of you who know Ruth will know that she has been waiting for an operation to improve her mobility for some time. Her brother has asked for an update to be posted here. Ruth had her operation at the weekend and her surgeon is very pleased with the outcome. She is standing and walking already so the outlook is good. Her family wish to thank all her friends and neighbours who have been supporting Ruth through recent times.
Parish Council Meeting: the July meeting will take place on the 4th. The agenda is available under the ‘Organisations/Parish Council, menu’
June Events and News
Clearly, the Jubilee celebrations are the big events of the month, year, decade… and all the details are given below. The latest update is that on Saturday evening, at the hog roast, there is a live showing of the Platinum Party Concert from Buckingham Palace. This will now be followed by a showing of the film Darkest Hour. This finishes at 1.00am and the bar will be open throughout! This is obviously dependent on there being people who want to stay and watch it.
Coffee Morning: The June coffee morning will be hosted by Rachel and Roy Fortune at 6 Manor Court on 25 June. As usual, the event will run from 10:00am until noon. Drinks and delicious home made cakes will, of course, be on offer. This is a great way to meet friends and neighbours old and new so do drop by.
Parish Council Audit: Four public documents relating to the 2021/22 audit of the Parish Council accounts are now available under the Organisations/Parish Council menu.
MOMSS. The colour, digital version of the magazine is now available under the Organisations/Church menu
The Queen's Platinum Jubilee 2022 Celebrations
Car Parking on Sunday: Looks like the Sunday afternoon street party will be a popular and memorable event. Please can anyone who parks in the VH car park please move their vehicle for Sunday as the VH committee has asked so there is space for everyone to have a great time.
“All cars MUST be removed from the VH car park by 10 am on the Sunday 5th June for the ‘Street party’ There are now over 100! people attending and with the bouncy castle and skittle alley there can be NO vehicles at all please.”
Having listened to the concerns and issues raised by members of our community in respect to the forth coming Beacon event, it has been agreed that this will now take place on Richard Graham’s hill where all the other Beacon events have taken place.
This will then allow it to be a proper Beacon and not just a bonfire to celebrate this historic event.
However, all wood used for this Beacon must be free of all metals ie screw, nuts bolts & nails. So we need all hands on deck this coming Sunday at 3pm to help remove all the metal from the wood stored at the village hall. Please bring your pliers, hammers & gloves etc.
Light refreshments will be provided.
Unfortunately, the Glastonbury Woodfire Pizza van will no longer be able to attend on Thursday 2nd June to unforeseen circumstances, however there will be hot food available from the kitchen.
Thursday 2nd June
Bar open for drinks from 7 – 11pm
Hedge Monkey Ale on draught
Hot food available from the kitchen
Choir to sing “A Life Lived with Grace” 9.15pm
Lighting of the Beacon 9.45pm
Then return to the hall for celebratory drink to HM
Saturday 4th June
Bar open for drinks from 7.30 – 11pm
Hog Roast £5 purchase on the night from 8pm. Please book Veggie Burgers in advance with Denise Rogers.
(NO TICKET REQUIRED)
Platinum Party at the Palace streaming live from 8 pm on the big screen
Sunday 5th June
2.30pm – onwards at the Village Hall
Afternoon bring & share tea party with Pimms
Bouncy Castle (2 – 12 years only)
Skittle Alley – Ice Creams – Bar open
Tickets £1 – in advance from Denise Roger 07557336321
Sunday 5th June
10.00am in the Church
All Age Worship in part to celebrate the faithfulness of HM Queen Elizabeth II over 70 years.
Several people are arranging flowers in different parts of the church. All welcome.
Yay...it's May!
It’s wonderful to see the new leaves and blossom on the trees around the village. May is a beautiful month.
Parish Council: The agenda for the June 6 meeting of the Parish Council is now published under the Organisations/Parish Council menu
The colour edition of this month’s MOMSS is now available under the ‘Organisations/Church’ menu.
A reminder to yoga fans that the Friday morning sessions now take place every Friday and move to a 10am start time. Tuesday evening sessions take place most weeks – check out the calendar for dates.
The Parish Council Annual Meeting, followed by the Annual Parish Meeting take place on Monday 9 May, beginning at 7:00 pm. The agendas are available under the @organisations@ menu.
There is a Hub Cafe at the Village Hall on 7 May. Doors open for 10:00am and lovely food’ drinks and good company are available until 1:00pm. If you haven’t been along to a HUB Cafe before you are guaranteed a great welcome and can drink some great coffee, or other drink of choice, along with hot sausage, egg or bacon baps or butties..to be followed up with a slice of one of a beautiful array of cakes.
The Church Coffee Morning is to be held on 28 May and will be hosted by those wonderful people at Willow Cottage 
Don’t forget to check out the details for the planned Jubilee events early in June
Spring into April
Village Hall Car Park: Please could all cars be removed from the car park by Saturday evening. There is a private event taking place on Sunday
Church Coffee Mornings: The April Coffee Morning will be held on 30 April. the host will be Denise Rogers at Holly Tree House.
For future reference, the dates and locations for the rest of the year are:
28th May – Brian & Janet Scowcroft, Willow Cottage
25th June – Rachel and Roy Fortune – 6 Manor Court
30th July Steve and Sue Bramble , Walnut Tree Barn
27th August Ralph and Anna Sealey, Cape House
24th Sept Tina and Paul Swift, McMillan Cancer Trust
29th October Nick and Alison Dunsby, The Clock Barn
26th Nov Jon and Arlette Banister, The Old Manor
10th Dec Margaret Hudson, 3 Church Farm Close.
Yoga Update
From the start of May, Clare Jones will be leading the Friday Yoga sessions in the village hall.
All the dates, times, and details are on the poster.
Valerie will continue to lead the Tuesday evening sessions.
MOMSS: The latest, colour, digital edition of MOMSS is now available under the “Organisations/Church” menu
Finally, after a two year hiatus we have the long awaited return of the ……Easter Bingo and Lamb Bonanza!
Come along to Stawell Village Hall on Saturday 9th April for an evening of good-natured competition and fun, with seasonal refreshments.
Doors open at 7pm, eyes down at 7.30pm.
Thanks go to Graham and Jill Fry who have donated a leg of lamb for the Bonanza – other prize donations can be dropped off with Tina Swift or left by the font in Stawell Church.
Come along and bring the family – anyone can play!
March Happenings and News
Parish Council Meeting: The agenda for the meeting of the Parish Council, scheduled for 4 April 2022, is now available on this website.
Road Closures: I have been informed of two planned road closures in the villages.
The first closure will be of Stawell Road out beyond the Hideaway Caravan park and the Billicombe Lane junction. It is planned for the 11-14 April. The reason is “.. to clear blockages in carriageway on behalf of BT Openreach”. The link gives a map showing the location of the planned works. https://one.network/?tm=127106295
The second closure should begin on 14 April and last for 5 days and is for the same reason. This time the work is in Sutton Mallet and will close the road from just past the church to Godfreys farm. Here is a link to a map of the location. https://one.network/?tm=127102256
HUB Cafe: As promised, social events in the village will be starting again in March. The first of these,that I’m aware of so far, is the long awaited return of the HUB Cafe on 12 March in the Village Hall.
Lent Lunch: Come along and share a lunch of homemade soup, bread and cheese with friends and neighbours. All proceeds go to charity. 12-2pm in the village hall on Saturday 19 March.
MOMSS: The March edition is now published (under the Organisations/Church menu).
Village Hall Minutes: The latest minutes are now published….and in a bit of a catch-up we now have all the 2021 minutes too!
Parish Council Minutes: The March minutes are now published
February News and Events
Recycle More
I think we all got our new blue bags today. We’ve had leaflets through our doors but it might be helpful to cover the main changes here.
The new collections begin on March 2nd 2022
Our collection day changes to Wednesday.
Recycling will be collected every Wednesday.
Rubbish in normal bins will only be collected once every three weeks. Check out the calendar below.
Watch the video below for guidance on what goes in which box/bag
If your question isn’t covered here, you can check out the information at https://www.somersetwaste.gov.uk/recycle-more/
Parish Council Minutes: THe minutes of the February meeting are now published under the ‘Organisations/Parish Council’ menu
The February MOMMS has probably dropped through your letterbox but there is a digital edition posted under the “Organisations/Church” menu on the site. Always good to see the colour version of the cover art.
Neighbourhood Watch: Here are a couple of links to advice from Avon and Somerset Police as a result of some incidents reported in the region.
Investment Scams on Social Media
Village Hall Events…coming soon. The committee have been listening to villagers and sense a continued reluctance to mix with larger groups, It has been decided to launch a full programme of events In March. This will certainly include a Film Night and HUB Cafe. There are also early plans to celebrate the Platinum Jubilee later in the year.
Road Closure change: The date for a closure of the A39 above the village has changed. The road will now be closed from 21 February for 5 days (9:30-15:30hrs) and for 5 nights (18:30-07:00hrs) from 28 February. This is for resurfacing works.
LINK to the council notice.
January Goings On
Parish Council: The agenda for the next meeting, to be held on 7 February, has now been published. The agenda can be found under the “Organisations” menu.
The deadline is just nine weeks away for anyone wishing to stand for election to a local council in May . There is a press release giving full details here.
Two Somerset and Avon Police Crime Reports
I have received two reports concerning break-ins in the local area. The first concerns a shed break-in over in Cossington where a ride-on lawnmower was stolen. The second relates to a series of break-ins into houses. None so far are on the Poldens but none are that far away so it is useful to be forewarned and the report offers advice to residents. Worth a read. The reports are available at:
A39 Road Closures
You may have seen the road closure signs on the A39. Here are the details.
The County Council will be undertaking urgent works to remove trees suffering from Ash Dieback next week on the A39 Puriton Hill – from the Bath Road junction (Silverfish) to the Ashcott Pipers Inn A361 Junction.
The road will be closed to all traffic between the hours of 09:15 and 15:30 weekdays from 10th Jan to 14th Jan 5 days.
The Diversion route will be signed. (There are currently 3 illumined advance warning signs at the M5, Silverfish junction and the Ashcott – Pipers Inn A361 junction.
Village Advent Calendar Trail
A big thank you to everyone who took part in the village advent calendar trail event. Thanks also to Clare who generously gave gift bags to all the children taking part. Thanks also to everyone who contributed and bought maps to the decorated windows and fences. The event raised £223 for the Bridgwater Food Bank.
We went out on Christmas Eve to view all the windows and I took photos of them all. Unfortunately quite a few suffered from camera shake (No – I hadn’t partaken of too many festive drinks) but here are the ones that didnt come out too fuzzy.
Stepping Out do Bakeability
Fresh homemade loaves, baked to order every Wednesday, starting 12th January.
£2.00 for a crusty white loaf. Different types of bread to come later.
Please fill in the order form attached. You can return it to Stepping Out at Stawell Village Hall or email it to us at bread.steppingout@gmail.comPlease order by 12 noon on Monday.
Bread can be collected from the Village Hall on Wednesdays between 1.30 and 2.30 or we can deliver to addresses within walking distance of the hall. On the first Wednesday of the month it will be delivery only.
Each Wednesday except the first of the month, we will also be running a small café selling hot and cold drinks and cake so why not stop for some refreshments when you pick up your bread.
Regular Groups - restart dates
The Art Group restarts on Thursday 6th January. we meet at 7:00pm in the Hall. Everyone is welcome to come along and give art a go.
Yoga dates for January are: Tuesdays – 11th and 25th at 7:15 – 8:30pm and, Friday 7th, 14th and 28th at 9:15 – 10:30am
Short Mat Bowlers restart on 5th January and Zumba has a first session at 9:30am on Thursday 6 January.
The Stawell Runners group never stopped…hardy souls that we are. We go out for a run, jog, walk/run … depending on our level of fitness at the time each Sunday at 10:00am meeting a few minutes earlier for a warm-up.
Avian Influenza Prevention Zone
Heart of the South West Trading Standards Service has advised that as of 5pm on the 3 November 2021 an Avian Influenza Prevention Zone was declared across Great Britain. This means that all bird keepers in Great Britain (whether they have pet birds, commercial flocks or just a few birds in a backyard are required by law to take a range of bio-security precautions. Click Here for details of all the precautions to be taken.