Wellington Bible Society Action Group will be hosting a ‘Prisons’ evening with guest speaker John Lord — an ex-prisoner — who found faith and hope behind bars. Finishing with a light supper.

The event will take place on Saturday, August 30, at 7pm at Wellington Baptist Church.

Donations for Bible Society's prison appeal. Everybody welcome.

The Wellington Basins Volunteer Group (WBVG) met on August 15 for the AGM followed by an ordinary meeting.

The chair, Jeny Vickery, in her opening remarks, thanked everyone for their ongoing support throughout the year. In particular, she thanked the Tuesday Team for their hard work every week. It was estimated that not one Tuesday had been missed in the year.

She also recalled the “outstanding” award given by the Britain in Bloom judges in 2024 which reflected the efforts made by the team. Further thanks were also given to Team2 who had helped with fund raising events.

The financial statement for the year showed that there was a healthy bank balance.

It was unanimously agreed that the whole committee should stand again for the following year.

The AGM was followed by an ordinary meeting.

The secretary reported that an invitation had been received from the mayor to join a reception prior to this year’s carnival.

It was noted that there had been sightings of rats around the ponds this summer. It was hoped that people visiting the Basins would not leave bread or other food lying around after feeding the swans. Duck food could still be purchased from Neil’s van.

The committee commented on the many photographs that had appeared on social media of the Basins area and all agreed that they shared the beauty of the area.

The meeting concluded with thanks given to everyone who had helped with the recent BBQ at the Basins. It had been a very convivial occasion.

To celebrate 110 years of the Women’s Institute, members of the West Buckland branch held an anniversary afternoon tea party.

Tea, tablecloths and plenty of sandwiches and cake were the order of the day on August 12, when over 40 members from West Buckland WI and guests from the Tone Valley group of WIs came together at the village hall to celebrate more than a century of the WI inspiring women to be their best.

The afternoon opened with a welcome from West Buckland President Christine Wombwell who spoke of the achievement of the WI since being formed in 1915 in the UK and its important role in the life of women, educating, forging new and lasting friendships and creating strong communities. She said it is an organisation we are all proud to belong to.

A quick fire quiz on the history of the WI, a display of memorabilia and key milestones in WI history added to the milestone celebration.

As well known for campaigning as cake making, members reflected on the many achievements of the WI from its formation in 1915. Originally formed to encourage women to take an active role in food production during World War 1, the WI’s influence has addressed many social issues including the 1943 call for equal pay and the 1954 push to Keep Britain Tidy.

And its relevance remains strong in 2025 with 180,000 UK members forming 6,300 individual branches.

Continuing the tradition of campaigns that matter to local communities this year sees women of the WI taking action to increase vital CPR and defibrillator skills across the UK through its Bystanders can be Lifesavers campaign. The West Buckland branch has already taken the importance of this lifesaving initiative to heart, with members undertaking training and awareness of CPR at the July meeting.

The 110th anniversary celebration heralds the upcoming 90th birthday for West Buckland WI in 2026.

The afternoon closed with President Christine cutting an anniversary cake.

West Buckland WI meets at 7.30 pm on the second Tuesday of each month at the village hall, and new members are always welcome. The next meeting is on Tuesday, September 9, and the speaker will be graphologist Christina Strang.

If you would like to visit or join West Buckland WI, contact Christine Wombwell on 01823 652863 or 07736 712273.

On Monday, August 11, our local Wellington U3A group held a monthly meeting in the rugby club. Our guest speaker was from the Co-op Estate Planning Dept, by the name of Sarah Hargreaves. Her talk was entitled ‘Tax, Care and Toyboys’.

Before she began we were asked did we mind if this talk was recorded for the Co-op.

The aim of the talk was to point us in the right direction to protect what is ours. Our homes, our savings our health and our families. To be aware of who would like to deprive of us of these things and how to look out for ourselves and our future selves both financially and physically.

Firstly ‘The Will’.

Your choice of who will inherit what and, perhaps why they will. Who will be your executors and what do you want them to do with your estate? Do you have particular objects that you want to go to particular friends or relatives? Do you know how much you are allowed tax free etcetera. All of these items were unfolded to be addressed by the attentive listeners.

Have you factored in the possible need, in the future, of care for yourself and/or partner? Finances will be required should medical or social care not be covered by the council. NHS should cover your first 12 weeks of significant health care but after that your assets will cover. Today’s cost for being in care and medically cared for stands at £1,500 per week. Where that figure will be in the next months and years nobody would like to hazard a guess.

Onto then ‘The Lasting Power of Attorney’.

Put this in place to protect your self from harm, intended or unintended, from well meaning, or otherwise, relatives or friends. Importantly you must have full faculties, equally important it must be physically known that you have full mental capacity. (So put that in place at the same time as your will possibly.) There are two types of these. One is a health power and the other is financial power and they must be correctly filled and filed with a solicitor. You will find these documents on line but, be warned, they apparently need filling out in a particular order and sequence, hence , we were told, to use the experts. Are you sure the people you use are accredited? Do your homework and don’t take anyone’s word for it. It’s your cash after all

So to draw a conclusion. You need to have your ducks in a row, so to speak. Your will, powers of attorney for health and finance, homework on the accreditation of solicitors. Many of you have already covered these items and, for those who haven’t, is it worth you sorting things out?

Many thanks to Sarah and the Co-op for the intell. This was enthusiastically received by an audience who always want to know more.

The next meeting of the U3A will be held on the second Monday of the month in the Rugby Club. The date will be September 8. Very early in the month for us this time, and it will also be a open house to welcome everyone who is interested in finding out more about us and what we do. Regulars are reminded that subs are due then and convenors will be hosting information tables for both existing groups and possible new ones.

Tea/coffee provided free but bring along your own cups please.

10.15am on September 8 at the Rugby Club, Corams Lane, Wellington.

Come along and meet us. Everyone welcome. Questions and answers provided.

Holcombe Rogus held its annual Fruit, Vegetable, Flower and Kitchen Garden Show on Saturday, August 16, in the Holcombe Rogus Village Hall.

We had a huge number of entries this year – 228! and the Men’s Apple Flan had a record number.

The overall winners, chosen by the independent judges, were:

Vegetables - Sue Morris - French beans.

Fruit - Richard Thomas - Dish of soft fruit.

Flowers/Plants - Shirley Newcombe - Vase of perennials.

Cookery - Michelle Rochester - Battenberg cake.

Art/Photography - Michelle Rochester - Black and white photograph.

Men Only Apple Flan - Dave Caton.

Largest Sunflower Head - Clemi Sharland - Hassell.

Prizes were awarded in each category as the most outstanding exhibits.

Sue Gillam and her team produced tea and delicious cakes, and Ridgeway Cider provided cider and excellent cocktails - greatly enjoyed by many, and they were able to drink their cocktails in the fantastic weather outside the hall. The hall was a colourful picture of all the exhibits and decorated with beautiful handmade quilts loaned by Abbe Ann Searle of Sampford Arundel Quilting Group.

The village hall received a donation of £300.20. Our appreciation goes to everyone who helped and supported the Kitchen Garden Show.