PUMPLET NUMBER 70

October 2019

Welcome to the fourth edition of Parish Pumpings. I have received some excellent contributions this time, of which

several are about our community history which I hope you find interesting. I am continuing with the same format

and, as before, welcome any feedback or suggestions as to how it can be improved.

Forthcoming Events.

We are all inundated as Christmas approaches with events, so thought an early Bicknoller advice may be of some

assistance. Some community organisations are still reluctant to send me anything, so please do not consider the few

mentioned by any means a complete list, of course.

Bicknoller Village Hall.

Halloween Fancy Dress Supper and Dance. FRIDAY November 1st 2019 starting at 7.00 p.m.

Hosted by Nigel Williams,

this will be a lively and fun evening for all ages.

Please makea special effort to wear fancy dress, and there will be a bar, raffle and prizes for best costumes.

AGM. Our AGM this year will be on Tuesday 12th November commencing at 7.00 p.m. in the Village Hall.

After the formal business, and speakers, you are invited to stay behind and join us for cheese and wine.

Christmas QUIZ. We are planning to repeat our very popular QUIZ night, hopefully before Christmas, more details to

follow.

British Legion.

As many of you know, we havea strongly supported group here for the Quantock branch in Bicknoller, and Chris

Waters has asked me to print the attached for your information;

Key dates are Tuesday 10th November 10.45 a.m. Remembrance Day Service at St Etheldredas church, West

Quantoxhead andthe AGM at The Bicknoller Inn, on Tuesday 19th November.

Bicklifts.

Dave Simpson of BVHC has kindly allowed Bicklift to piggyback on its AGM by holding its own brief AGM at the same

venue, and immediately after, the Village Hall AGM business is concluded.

ThereforeBicklift AGM will be held at about 7.30 p.m. on Tuesday 12th November at the Village Hall.We hope

drivers and passengers will be able to join us as we want to canvas your views on several key areas.

Artists in our midst.

This issue, for the first time, no one has come forward, so please don’t be shy. Your neighbours want to learn more

about you and your work.

Local History.

I am pleased to say that I have now received several fascinating insights into our community history, and plan to

share this with you in stages over the next few issues. We have received this interesting record by Mr St John Couch

from Mary Ter Braak and I am very grateful to her for allowing us to publish this, and in stages, as it is quite

extensive. It is published verbatim and has not been edited by us at all, but is produced in excerpts, which have been

thoughtfully prepared by Mary. I hope you find it interesting and that it provides some depth and insight into our

wonderful locality.

In addition, do you know where this lovely picture is hung, when Mr Couch and others shared their knowledge with

the Bicknoller community, with their Talk of Many Things?

Whilst on local history, I have been lenta few pictures of years gone by, which I hope you find interesting, from

Marian Greswell, which she is happy for me to share with you. See how many faces you can recognise and where the

pictures were taken. My thanks to Marian for these and please send me any comments or feedback.

1977?

Those parishioners receiving printed copies who would like to see an enlarged version, please ask. Those on email

can simply enlarge to view more closely.

Local Wildlife

Nature Notes from Avril and Eddy Allen

Avril and Eddy have reported that the colourful moth found in Combe Close, was, in fact a Jersey Tiger Moth. Two

more, we understand have turned up in a Trendle Lane garden, as well. A young grass snake was seen in our pond,

and it’s time now to look out forthe Dormouse.

They feed on hazel nuts, mostly and have been seen around the Village Hall. Signs are hazel nuts, with a hole at the

top, with a smooth ridge, and teeth marks around the edge. Tawny owls will soon be calling, establishing territory

forthe new season.

© woodlandtrust.org.uk

Readers Corner.

This edition, I am pleased to say that I have receiveda great contribution from Gary Sears who is an accomplished

and avid reader. I am hoping he and our other contributors will continue to keep us posted!

Review of "A Very English Scandal" by John Preston.I am not such an avid reader as some people and certainly my wife reads far more than me. She said, "read this, I think you will like it". I was dubious, the cover didn't jump out at me and nor did the title. However, I started to read all about the Jeremy Thorpe affair and the eventual trial at the Old Bailey. A lot of the action took place in and around this area. I couldn't put the book down. It was meticulously researched and it read like a wellplanned crime thriller. At the end of the book I was of the distinct impression that "The Establishment" closed ranks. Considering the facts and the information put forward in the book, it is remarkable that Jeremy Thorpe was found not guilty! Well worth reading!

Bicknoller Village Hall refurbishment.

A Committee member has proposed that the community thinks again about the refurbishment project, and that it

should be far more radicaland forward thinking.The Committee agreed that his concept should be put to the

Community at the AGM before going anyfurther. Obviously, it puts our current approved plans on hold which is not

good news, given the pressures on grant funding.Some other new ideas have emerged, however, which, irrespective

of how we proceed,justify community discussion. One is to integrate the shop into the Village Hall and use the little

barn for storage, instead. The current storage of the Marquee and other Community assets is not workable froma

Health and Safety or practical aspect, so needs updating, no matter what.Please put November 12th in your diary

7.00 p.m. at the Village Hall, to contribute to this rethink. The Committee need and invite your input.

I can also report that our Public Electric Vehicle Chargepoints are also to be installed very shortly.

Forthcoming Events.

Cool dark nights, warm log fires remind us of imminent autumn, good company, mulled wine and Halloween…..

Do not missour Halloween Fancy Dress Supper Dance, hosted by Nigel Williams and his music on

Friday evening November 1st, from 7.00 p.m. till late.

Farm Walk and Gardens visit Report.

On 18th September, a small group of us attended a Farm and Garden visit to Oliver Dowding and Charles Dowding

near Shepton Mallet. Oliver is a leading organic farmer, a trustee of the Soil Association, and has developed

interesting farm products such as wheatgrass and broccoli juices, apart from his renowned range of Dowdings

Ciders. His brother, Charles Dowding is,these days, a celebrity very well known for his ‘No Dig’ work, TV appearances

on Gardeners World etc, and for his many publications about no dig and organic gardening methods. His website is

at https://www.charlesdowding.co.uk/and he also writes in Gardening Which and other publications.

Further to this, I will be giving a short presentation on ‘SOILS from beginning to end’ after the Bicknoller Flower

ShowAGM on Thursday 24th October that starts at 7.00 p.m.

1st attachment(provided by Mary terBraak

THEST.JOHNCOUCH TAPES

dictatedbyMr St.JohnCouchin1975

Thesetapes(6) werefound in a box underthestageof Bicknoller Village Hall by KeesTerBraakand typed up by MrsMary terBraak.

To you who arelistening “Greetings” - thetimehas cometo talk of family treesand apple trees- would you like to join mefor a walkaround theparish of Bicknoller ..............

Wearrivedin Bicknoller atabout 11o’clockon themorning of Monday 10November1910,having spent theweekendin Stogumber vicarage.Myfatherhad commencedhis ministry on theprevious Saturday afternoon when hehad walkedoverto bury Widow AnneJennings, thegrandmotherof that kind little friend weknow and love by thenameof Jenny.Wecamein a horse drawn wagonettethrough Vellow and up thelane now known as Church Lane.The village wasthen verymuch smaller than it is today and there wasonly a minimal amount of recentbuildings.

The most easterlypoint of theparish is just beyond Halsway Cottages,adjoining themain road to Crowcombewherethestreamflows down a little ??? and then crossesunder theroad.Therewereno buses along that road in 1910,nor in factuntil 17yearslaterand privatemotor carswereas rareas white blackberries. Letus assume wehad setout fromCrowcombein a horse drawn vehicle.Wewill stop atthe top of Chilcombe Hill, with Upcott Lane on our left and thecottagenow known as Hilltop Cottageon our right.Therewealight and continue therestof our tour on foot.

Weopen a little iron gateby theroad side and walkup a gardenpath which is coveredin slate slabs froma Brendon Hill Quarryand flanked on eitherside in summertimeby tall sentinels of sunflowers and hollyhocks. Therewefind John Gadd, his wife,son Charles and daughter Anne,who wealways knewas Nancy.John wasa skilled stonemason, assisted by Charles,both veryskilled indeed and Bicknoller still has manyexamples of their fine craftsmanship.John wentabout on a tricycle,not veryfast but pacewasn’tso important in those days. Wego on down Chilcombe Hill and cometo thecottagenow known as Old Forge. In 1910it wasa walk-in forge.Therelived thereEdward and AnneDibble and theforgewasworkedby their son Billy.

Annetook in laundry workfor 20yearsto myknowledge. She always did myfather’ssurplices and washed and starchedcollars for us both.This cottagebearsa sad distinction in that it is theonly home in theparish fromwhich eachof thetwo world warstook a life.WalterDibble in thefirst and Dennis Barber in thesecond. Walterhad brothers who servedand survivedbut Dennis wastheonly son of his mother who adored him. Whenon RemembranceSunday it has fallen to meto readtheroll of those “who shall grownot old” it seemsappropriate though poignant that it should beIwho should readit because,with theexception of RogerNewtonHeelwhose parents cameto Woolston when Imyselfwason service overseas,Iknewthemall and rememberthemall clearly.All valiant hearts.

In thestorehouse of mymind areperfectcoloured prints of themall, prints which agecannot whither nor custom stale their infinite variety.WalterParsons of theblacksmith’s cottagein Woolston, home on leave fromtheregulararmy,standing tall and erectoutside thechurch gateaftermorning prayer,resplendent in

thescarlettunic and bravetrappings of theCold StreamGuards.Campbell Gordon of Thorncombe Manor House,home on vacation from,Ithink, Oxford University,eating strawberriesand creamata gardenfete on thevicaragelawn, bearing overtheshoulders of his well-tailored jacketan ornamental lacecollar which hehad purchased froma prettystall holder with whom hehad beenflirting outrageously.Dennis Barber,a fat baby blowing bubbles in his pram.

Just past theOld Forgeyou cometo thejunction of themain road with Chilcombe Lane into which we’ll turn for a fewmoments. Afewyardsup it on theleft lies a cottage,now thehome of Bob Grantbut then of a Grandfield, Ithink his Christian namewasErnest.ErnestGrandfield wasthemail cartdriver.This was a two wheeledbox strap,horse drawn of course,painted in bright scarletwith theRoyal Mail insignia.I’m not surewhetherhedroveall thewayinto Taunton orwhetherhestopped atBishops Lydeard,whence themail bags wererelayedto Taunton - Ithink it wasthelatter.Yetyou could post up to 7.30p.m. and the incoming mail reachedthevillage at5.30a.m. and wasdeliveredto our home before7a.m. All this cost a 1 penny stamp. Within a yearortwo a motor mail wassubstituted which ran betweenMinehead and Taunton picking up ordelivering as thecasemight beatthevarious villages along theroute.Itwasa large vehicle which madea good deal of noise and you could hearit fromthetimewhen it startedup to leave thePost Office,now White’sMeadow (recentlyan antiques shop).

Nowwewalkon to thejunction with Church Lane,as it is now called ………….. (to becontinued)

2ndAttachment(provided by Chris Waters)

An introduction to the Royal British Legion, Quantock Branch

Wearealocalgroupwithmembers acrosstheQuantockarea,notjustfromBicknoller. Wehavea

smallbutveryhard-working Committee whichmeetsregularlyduringtheyear,andthisCommittee

arrangesourtwomainfund-raisingeventseachyear: aCoffeeMorningintheSpring,andabig evening event

intheSummer. TheCoffeeMorning wasagreatsuccess on18thMay;wehadlotsof

visitors,andalovelyatmospherewasenjoyedbyall.

Thisyear thesummereventon4thAugustwasaSummer BuffetSupper,whichagain, wasareal

success.Anabsolutely deliciousBuffetsupper,whichincludedafabulousrangeofpudsandcheese

andbiscuitswasenjoyedbyallwhoattended,andonceagainavery happyatmosphere prevailed,

whichmadeforanothersuccessfulevent.

Nextyearwehopetoarrangeasocialeveningtoincludeapresentationbyaremarkable ex-

ServicemanwhoisactuallyabeneficiaryoftheRBL—publicitywillbecirculatednearerthetime.

Fundswe raisewithour eventsare distributedeachyearwhen we meetfor our AGM. AttheAGMwe

alwaysdirectagenerous donationtoRBLDunkirkMemorialHouse,theRBLcarecomplexatBishops

Lydeard.Inadditiontoour fund-raisingevents,wealso organisethePoppyAppealfor our area—and

thefundsraisedbythePoppyAppealareprocessedseparately, andgostraighttoHaigHouse,our

HeadOfficein London.

OurAGM2019istobeheldatTheBicknollerInnonTuesday19thNovember,andwehope

tobeabletoenjoyFishandChips togetherafterwards,ifthiscanbearranged—please phoneme,

ChrisWaters,on01984656223ifyouwouldbeinterested inFishandChips, andIwillconfirm the

detailswithyou.

OurBranchRemembranceDayServicethisyearistobeheldatSt.Ethedreda’sChurch

WestQuantoxhead,at10.45amonSunday 10thNovember,andwearehopingtoarrangefor

anyonewhorequires lunchafterwardstoenjoyaCarverylunchatTheBicknollerInn—again, please

phoneLeeFunnellon01984656200orChrisWaterson01984656223, andwewillconfirmthear- rangements.

Weareveryfortunate indeed tobeabletorelyonthehelpandsupportofsomanygoodpeople,

membersandnon-members alike,whenwearrangeourevents. Anyhelpatall,beitphysicalhelp

withparking,furniture moving,cooking,orwhatever, isalwaysgivengladlyandwithouthesitation,

andwearealwayssograteful.Withoutthisamazingsupportwewouldnotbeabletofunction.

Membership oftheRBLisopentoanyonewhobelievesthatweoweagreatdealtoourServicesfor

thesacrificestheyhavemadeandcontinuetomakeonourbehalf. Youdonothavetobeex-

Servicesyourselfto joinand showyoursupport.Ifyouwouldliketoknowmore,pleasejoin,cometo

oneofourevents,(whichare alwayswellpublicised),orcontactusformoreinformation.Youwillbe

surprisedtodiscover howmuchtheRBLdo!Forinstance, have youheardofSomerset LegionHouse

inWeston-Super-Mare? Thisisawonderfulfacility,runasaluxuryhotel,toproviderespiteforall

servingandex-serving personnelandtheirfamilies, anditisfree,althoughofcoursedonations are

warmlywelcomed!

TheMembershipfeeiscurrently£18per year(effectivelyonly£1.50per month),andthiscontributes

tohowmuchtheRBLspendseachyearsupporting servingandex-serving personnelandtheirfami-

lies.In2017alonethiswasover£57M.

FormoreinformationonanyaspectoftheRBL,particularlyifyouareinterestedinjoiningus,please

contactChrisWaters,BranchSecretary,on01984656223orMartinCox,Vice-Chairman,on01984

656224,orLeeFunnell,ourChairman,on07854172710.