June 2002
Churchwardens: Mrs. J. H. Mannings, Mr. J. R. Wyld
The Church celebrates the martyrdom of St Alban on 22nd June.
Before Christianity became the official religion of the Roman Empire in the reign of the Emperor Constantine, beginning in 324 AD, Christians were persecuted under various Roman Emperors.
The First British Martyr
The first person to be killed for their faith in Britain was St Alban, whose death is dated traditionally at c. 304, under the Emperor Diocletian. Modern scholarship now introduces two earlier dates: the persecutions of Decius c.254 and even Septimus Severus c. 209.
The well-known historian The Venerable Bede (672 - 735) gives us the following account of the martyrdom of St Alban.
Alban was a pagan soldier in the Roman Army who lived at Verulamium, which was one of the most important and largest cities in Britain, close to modern day St Albans in Hertfordshire. Details of his personal history are not known, but by popular tradition he was known as a native Briton.
During a persecution of local Christians, a priest fled for his life and sheltered in Alban's house. Alban was very impressed with the holiness of the priest and with the faith and prayer that he shared with him. Following a brief period of instruction, Alban was baptized.
The secrecy of Alban's protection of the priest didn't last long. The Governor of Verulamium soon heard of the priest's suspected location and sent soldiers to arrest him. When Alban realized what was happening, he quickly donned the priest's long cloak, covering his face with the hood, and allowed himself to be arrested in place of the priest.
Alban's real identity became apparent as soon as his face became visible. The Governor was very angry and ordered Alban to sacrifice to the pagan gods or be killed. Alban refused to renounce his newly found Christian faith and gave the following reply, which is still used in Christian prayers today, "I worship and adore the true and living God who created all things." The Governor ordered Alban to receive the same sentence as the priest he had protected and be executed: he was beheaded.
Legends of Alban's Martyrdom
Various legends have sprung up around the story of Alban's death. Alban had to cross a river to get to the hill on which he was to be executed, and, finding the bridge full of people making their way there, he made the waters part and crossed over on dry land.
The executioner was so impressed with Alban's faith that he became converted to the Christian Faith and refused to kill him. The executioner was also killed after Alban and so he became the second Christian martyr in this country (according to this legend).
St Albans: a place of pilgrimage
Alban was buried nearby, and his grave became venerated by local people. When Christianity became legalized under Constantine a shrine was erected above his grave, which soon became a place of pilgrimage.
St Germanus of Auxere visited the site in 429. The present Abbey Church was founded by King Offa of Mercia in 793 when a monastery of the Benedictine Order was established. In the early Middle Ages, it became the most important Abbey in England. It is a splendid building, the nave of which is the second longest in the country after Winchester Cathedral.
Hugh Bonsey
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CHURCH NEWS St Julian's was a hive of activity on Saturday, 11th May when volunteers from the age of nine to ninety came to do the annual spring clean, our thanks to all who came and took part in this mammoth task. The church had a lovely smell of polish and looked very spick and span, outside the grass had been cut and the path weeded. Elizabeth Irving was the organiser of the spring clean, thank you Elizabeth. We now have a rota for the regular cleaning and we are very grateful to all who give up their time to do this. On Sunday, 12th May the Right Reverend Peter Bryan Price was enthroned as the Bishop of Bath and Wells at the Cathedral Church of St. Andrew in Wells, it was a moving but happy service attended by Jo Vening, our Reader and one Church Warden.
At our family service in May we said goodbye to Jenny and David Nixon who have left the village after many years in Wellow, a cheque was presented to them to buy something of their choice to remember Wellow by. They will be greatly missed in many ways. David's last lesson he read was rather appropriate as it started with "These were the last words of David….". We wish them well in their new home. God bless you both.
We were all very sad to hear Peter Watts had passed away suddenly at home on Saturday, 11th May. Peter, who was an active member of our community, did some of the beautiful sculptures in our church. Some of us remember him for his leading part in "The Zeal of Thine House" in St Julian's Church, and as part of the Wellow singers performing in Gilbert and Sullivan Operas. Our thoughts and prayers are with his wife Anne, children Joanne, Richard and Matthew and their families at this difficult time
Churchwardens
CHURCH SPRING CLEANING Many thanks to those kind people who came to help with the spring cleaning of St. Julian's. This historic building really benefits from the annual care and attention.
Elizabeth Irving
CHURCH OPENING Thank you very much to all those people who have agreed to open and close the Church every day throughout the summer/autumn. Simon Jenkins when choosing England's 1,000 greatest churches only included those that were open! It is good to know that anyone, either from the village or our many visitors will have easy access.
Monday Christopher Streat
Tuesday Simon & Claire Veysey
Wednesday Joyce Mannings
Thursday Martin Horton
Friday Iris Shellard
Saturday Sue Wilford
Sunday Colin & Jill Tremellen
FROM FOOTMAN'S COTTAGE Last August Joyce Mannings was kind enough to write a very generous "obituary" to our stay in Wellow. This brings to mind Mark Twain's famous cable from Europe to the Associated Press - "The Report of my death was exaggeration". This time though it is actually happening, we are off to Stone Allerton in darkest Somerset and we move in on 20th May. Having lived in Wellow for nearly 16 years we shall be very sorry to leave our many friends and the village. We have been very happy here but the time has come to move to pastures new. We do hope to see our many friends over at Stone Allerton and of course we shall be returning from time to time to Wellow.
David and Jenny Nixon
THE QUIET GARDEN AT ST JULIAN'S WELL Our garden will open for a time of reflection on Thursday, 6th June from 10.30 - 3.30. The day will be led by Revd Paul Richardson, who last year looked at the lives of some of the Celtic Saints. Come for all or part of the day, bring packed lunch. Those of all faiths or none are welcome.
Colin and Jill Tremellen 833506
MANOR CLOSE SONGS OF PRAISE Do come and join us in the Community Hall at 3.30 pm on Sunday, 9th June, 21st July and 1st August. Enjoy a cup of tea and a chat afterwards.
Pauline Priddy and Jackie Smith 833296
THE ANNUAL PARISH MEETING & ANNUAL MEETING OF THE PARISH COUNCIL took place before the ordinary monthly meeting on Monday 20th May 2002. Richard Whittington was re-elected Chairman and Chris Hurdle as Vice Chairman. A full list of sub-committee and Subject leaders will be displayed on the notice board.
Planning The recent planning application for the Signal Box has been refused. During the ordinary monthly meeting the reply to a letter written to the Ombudsman was read stating that under at the Local Government Act 1974 complaints cannot be investigated if made by an authority constituted for public service. Other ways to progress with this matter were considered.
There were no objections to applications 02/00792/LBA by Mr and Mrs Pike, White Ox Mead.
Parking is now a serious problem with complaints from Parishioners particularly in the areas near The Manor, School and corner at West End by Y Not Cottage. The Parish Council asks everyone to park thoughtfully. It has been advised that no more white lines will be added unless they are consulted.
B&NES has written re closure of A.36 later this year. Concerns will be forwarded to B&NES as extra traffic may have a serious effect on the condition of Hinton Hill.
Joyce Morphew, Clerk 833947
GOLDEN JUBILEE PARTY A number of events have been arranged for everyone's enjoyment on Tuesday, 4th June. Starting at 4 pm with the Great Wellow DUCK race and finishing in the Square with Live Music and a Bar-B-Q. Every one should have received a flyer by now with all the details and timings of events. Tickets for the Grand Raffle will be available from the Parlour Shop/Fox & Badger and of course on the night. The draw will take place at 8.00 pm. Book a DUCK in advance from the Parlour Shop in Wellow's answer to the Grand National. In addition there will be a Treasure Hunt plus Pony & Trap rides through the village. In the Fox & Badger an on going Skittles competition will be held.
Help the village to be festive by decorating the front of your house or garden. Prizes will be given.
In case of WET weather (hopefully not) the Party will be held in the Village Hall. However it will be bring your own Drink/Food.
Please Note a DIVERSION has been applied for on the afternoon/evening of the 4th June. The road will be blocked from George House/Fox & Badger to The Manor House/ Mill Hill. For any offers of help or further details please contact:
Libby Kerr on 833589 or Anthony Weale 830492
COME TO A TASTER EVENING (with food) on Thursday, June 13th at 7.30 pm to watch Wellow Riding for the Disabled in Action and join in with our friendly group of volunteers. We are seeking new recruits to help us in our voluntary work on behalf of disabled riders. We should like to emphasise however, that no previous experience of dealing with horses is necessary. We should love to hear from you and see you on the 13th. For further information please contact
Carole Woods 834160
CRIME NEWS I'm Steve Carrow, Village Policeman (now called Beat Manager); I cover ten villages and am based at Radstock.
Wellow has been victim to more crimes than has been the norm, with The Parlour Shop having had two visits from unwelcome persons recently.
The most common local crime has been the theft from garden sheds, outbuildings or garages. Wellow and other nearby villages have had several such crimes over previous months. The most recent in Wellow were overnight of the 26th/27th April (this is written on 19th May), when two High Street properties had thefts from rear outbuildings. Garden equipment and power tools were stolen, and are the normal targets.
Here is some basic advice with regard to securing these outer buildings.
Sheds are often of light construction and are easily forced open. Treat them like the shell of the house, try to make the burglar take more time and make more noise. If you are unable to adequately secure them with mortice locks, use padlocks or lockable bolts. Windows should ideally be secured by window locks. Windows can even be covered with external ply boards and firmly secured with mushroom headed bolts through the fabric of the walls.
Garages are particularly vulnerable so make sure windows are fitted with locks. Garage doors should be lockable or secured by padlocks. Where there is another access door into the garage, a simple method of security for up and over doors is to drill a hole in the top channel above the wheels and insert a padlock into the hole, thereby keeping the door closed during forced entry.
May I also suggest you secure tools and garden implements with locks, postcode property prominently and permanently.
The village does not have a neighbourhood watch currently I believe one would assist the village in crime prevention. If you would be interested in helping to set up a scheme in Wellow please contact me. Combe Hay, Hinton Charterhouse and Freshford currently have schemes whereby there is an overall co-ordinator with several other contacts within the village covering small areas, so that information can be cascaded out without one person having too big a workload. I think Wellow would need a similar scheme, so the more that help the easier it would be.
Contact numbers: Radstock Police Station 01225 842666. My voicemail: 01225 842496 then 72300. Please note these numbers are not always manned but messages can always be left.
DUCKLINGS AT MILL HILL currently hatching a number of ducklings in Mill Hill & we are looking for a good home, with a pond if any one is interested please call us on 833291 .
Ali & Dave
LUNCH CLUB will be on Thursday, 27th June at 1.00 pm in the Village Hall, hope to see you there.
Janet Earp and Marian Osborne 832561
FROM THE PAST During the latter part of the 19th century, Fullers Earth clay was brought from the Hayes on a trackway and stacked "behind Dr Thompson's" (Bath Hill House). The "church paths" which exit to the road at this point, were in such a state that the Fullers Earth Co. was obliged to erect a bridge. At about the same time, Mr King, farming from the Manor House, had erected a stile further up the Hayes which was too high and had effectively prevented Mr and Mrs Pobjoy, of White Ox Mead, from attending Divine service. The Vicar also advised Mr King, that he must not plough up the church paths in any of his fields and that the paths be left 4' wide".
But all was still not well and Bath District Council became involved. After a visit, the District Surveyor made his report to the Council. "The bridge appeared to be safe, but the approaches were unsatisfactory. He had seen Mr Keevil, representing the Fullers Earth Co. on the matter; who had offered to do what work was requisite to the path and approaches. The bridge had cost £40 to put up and he thought it was strong enough to bear 10 tons. The Surveyor was asked to see that work was carried out." Many of today's public footpaths still lead to the church.
GH
RAY'S HALF MARATHON The fundraising efforts of Wellow's popular village postman Ray McKeegan has seen St Julian's School funds boosted by £1000.
Ray ran in the Bath Half Marathon in March, collecting sponsorship from villagers and parents of the school for his efforts.
Ray said, "I've been overwhelmed by the generosity of villagers in support of their school. I'd like to thank Kwik Kall of Gay Street, Bath for providing the sponsorship leaflets free of charge and to Peter Downey of Ref-Link U.K, who rounded the final total up to £1000 and to everyone who sponsored me and wished me good luck."
Head teacher Sarah Jones said: "We're absolutely thrilled by the tremendous support Ray has received from parents and villagers and the fantastic sum of money he raised. I think that the backing he received from the people in Wellow show how popular he is and in what high esteem they hold him."
FROM RAY I would like to take this opportunity to say a very heartfelt thank you to everyone for the fantastic sponsorship and support I received for the recent Bath Half marathon. Having reached the grand total of £1,000 for St. Julian's School this sets the target to be beaten next year. Again may I say many, many thanks to everyone.
Ray Postman
WINNERS OF THE WELLOW VILLAGE HALL 150 CLUB PRIZE DRAW FOR MAY 2002
1st Prize No. 8 £32.00 Mrs. P. Brigden
2nd Prize No. 80 £13.00 Mr. C. Street
3rd Prize No. 129 £ 7.00 Mrs. J. Nixon
4th Prize No. 50 £ 5.00 Mrs. L. Bray
Thank you for your support
B. Messer Chairman
VILLAGE HALL Between 20th June and 2nd July please contact 01225 8333458 (instead of 832561) for any queries about bookings.
Marian Osbourne
CHARITY QUIZ NIGHT - THURSDAY 13th JUNE There was a record of 11 teams entered at last month's quiz evening where £112 was raised and this was donated to the National Osteoporosis Society. Well done to all who contributed.
This month the Charity Quiz Night is being held, as usual, at The Fox & Badger but please note that it is being held on the 2nd Thursday of the month ie 13th June starting at 8 O'Clock and not the 1st Thursday. Last month's quiz winners "The Westenders" requested that this month's donation be presented to Wellow teenager, Megan Holland, as a contribution towards her fund raising for the Community Project and Expedition to Rajasthan, India that she is making between 20th July and 18th August 2002. Entry is still only £1.50 per quiz team member with a maximum of 6 people in a team.
Richard Holland
THE PARLOUR SHOP We now have new arrangements for the supply of daily newspapers, which mean that the papers will be available as soon as the shop opens at 9.00 am, and that we can supply any paper or magazine you would like. Returning unsold copies is a problem though, so we can only carry a few papers for casual sale. We hope that customers will put in regular orders, not necessarily for every day but as it suits them. Several people in the village, for instance, order Saturday newspapers from the shop and so enjoy reading them over a leisurely breakfast without having to get the car out. We hope the new scheme will work and that we can keep this service going.
More drama! The shop has been robbed again, this time on a Friday afternoon (10th May) by a "customer" who snatched the notes when the till was opened to deal with his purchase. Alex Martin, who was on duty at the time, made a gallant attempt to stop him (the dent in the till is there to prove it!) and had the presence of mind to pursue him and take the number of the getaway car. We are glad to report that, as with a previous "hold-up", an arrest has since been made. And having installed the window bars to prevent break-ins, we are taking steps to protect the till - and the volunteers - more effectively. The best deterrent, of course, is to have a steady stream of legitimate customers coming through the shop; this kind of thief like the place empty! We think that, if you do come in, you'll find some particularly delicious things to buy.
Marian Osbourne
WELLOW AND DISTRICT HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY To Celebrate the Golden Jubilee A GARDEN PARTY FOLLOWED BY A FLOWER POWER DISCO FRIDAY, 14th JUNE Here's how the evening is planned; from 6.00 - 7.30 pm the Garden Party, with drinks and nibbles, will be held in WELLOW HOUSE GARDEN by kind permission of Sue and Andrew Chivers, this will be followed by the FLOWER POWER DISCO starting at 7.00 pm and ending at 11.50 pm in Wellow Village Hall, dancing to the Tramps Disco. Please bring a picnic and drinks to the disco and dress will be 'Sixties'. Admission to both events will be by ticket only. Please Note, if you are coming by car please park in the Village Car Park as there will be no parking space at the Village Hall.
Garden Party - Members and guests of members £2 each (profits will be donated to a charity of Sue's choice).
Flower Power Disco - Members, who are welcome to bring a party of guests, £6 each.
Ticket Sales; available from 4 committee members throughout the length of the village;
Dr Graham Moore: Brook Lodge, Tel: 832659
Joyce Morphew: Wellow Farm, Tel: 833947
Sue Chivers: Wellow House, Tel: 832778
Shirley Betts: Dawnrise, Tel: 833683
VISIT TO JAMES ARBUTHNOTT'S GARDEN, THURSDAY, 27th JUNE. This is a follow up visit to the illustrated talk given by James last year. His wonderful walled garden in Worcester is full of climbers, shrubs and natural brick Follies. Members and their guests are strongly advised to go and need not have attended the talk to appreciate its full splendour. The cost will be £15 per head inclusive of the coach fare, entrance fee and a guided tour of the gardens. The coach will leave Wellow Square at 10.30 am and the journey will take approx. 2 hours. Bring a packed lunch with you and we are hoping also to make a stop at a local hostelry en route. Please return the booking form to Joyce Morphew (as above) ASAP and not later than June 18th.
JUNIOR GARDENING CLUB, SUNDAY, 16th JUNE 10.30 am - 12 noon. Come along, see what's growing and have a fun time with Lisa and friends. Helpers always welcome. Contact Lisa Layzell-Davis Tel: 309007.
Mari Bartholomew
PARISH NEWSLETTER Please may I have all copy for the Newsletter by the 20th June. It can be left in the shop or delivered to me at St. Julian's Well. If you have email that would be very helpful and even better if you could send it Times New Roman, font size 12!
Thank you very much.
Jill Tremellen 833506 email julians.well@virgin.net