Good morning, Mendips! Half-term is in full swing, the clocks have gone back, and the zombies of Glastonbury are limbering up for Saturday. Today we've got a rather grand volunteer job for anyone who fancies carrying a mace, local heroes honoured at county level, and the story of a witch who was turned to stone and then turned a profit. Plus two busy days of half-term fun. Let's go.
Featured Event
🧟 Glastonbury Zombie Walk — Saturday 31 October
Every Halloween, Glastonbury High Street gets a little more… undead. The free Zombie Walk returns on Saturday 31 October, raising money for Children's World, the town charity that runs creative workshops and events for children, particularly those with additional needs.
Things get going from 5pm on Magdalene Street, with entertainment from the Glastonbury Dragon Drummers, Glastonbury Morris Dancers, Devito's Circus, Amanda Perry, and Dante and Morgan from the Children's World Youth Committee. At 6.30pm the Town Crier officially releases the zombies, and the procession shuffles its way up and down the High Street. Anyone can join in, and the event runs until 7pm.
No costume? No problem. Head upstairs at the Crown for free face painting and costumes, courtesy of Children's World. Roads close from 4pm to 8pm, so plan your journey and allow extra time. It's free, but do bring a few coins for the donation buckets. And if the kids can't wait until Saturday, Devito's Circus is also putting on Halloween Spooktacular shows at Glastonbury Town Hall on 29 and 30 October.
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🎩 Wells Is Looking For A New Serjeant-at-Mace
Fancy a gown, white gloves and a hat, all supplied? Wells City Council is recruiting a new Council's Serjeant-at-Mace. The volunteer role means carrying the Mace into six council meetings a year, joining civic processions and welcoming official guests, with a small expenses allowance. Interested? Send a one-page letter to the Mayor, Cllr Denise Denis, by 14 November.
You’ve noticed it’s Halloween week . . . .
🏅 Wells, Street And Shepton Heroes Honoured At County Awards
Some familiar local names were celebrated at Somerset Council's Chairman's Service to the Community Awards at Taunton Rugby Club. Winners included Sounds Joyful from Wells, Karl and Allison Hudson from Street, Charlie Pattison from Shepton, the Meare Ladies Group, and Paul Ash from Walton. Every winner was nominated by their own town or parish council. Well deserved, all of them.
One of the delights of my working week is that my office window overlooks Chew Valley lake. The slightly alarming thing now, however, is that it’s looking like someone has pulled out the plug. We can see more of the sandy shores than ever before, and I think if your dinghy capsized now, you could just get out and walk.
Wessex Water says its reservoirs are on average as low as 25% capacity. Further south in Devon, Wimbleball reservoir is struggling to hold 15%.
Although hosepipe bans persist locally, we aren’t yet on the critical list - and Wells is, of course, blessed with its own supply. The clue is in the name. Just remember to welcome any really soggy weather we get through the winter. We really need it before El Nino comes back with a vengeance next summer.
Paul
English Lessons from the
Uxbridge English Dictionary
Bouffant – Shout disapproval and make booing noises when you see a horrible typeface.
Cellulite – What electricity companies pretty much do.
Cogitate – Pensioner's art gallery.
Decorator – Punch a normally skilful public speaker after they go on a bit too long.
Parish – Sean Connery's favourite French city.
Reply and send me your linguistic gems. I’ll publish the best.
Worth Planning For
🎆 Illuminate the Night — Thursday 5 November, Bath & West Showground
Bonfire Night with the volume turned up. Illuminate the Night takes over the Bath & West Showground near Shepton Mallet on Thursday 5 November, from 4pm to 9pm. Alongside a big fireworks display there are laser shows, LED robots, fire breathers and roaming mascots, plus a funfair, bars and plenty of street food. It's pitched at all ages, so it's a good shout for families who want a bit more than a few rockets in a field, and with things under way from 4pm there's time to enjoy the fair and grab some food first. Tickets are sold online. Prices weren't shown on the listing when we checked, so have a look before you go. Wrap up warm.
🏛️ Abbot Extraordinary — Wednesday 4 November, Glastonbury Abbey
Ask most people to name a great abbot of Glastonbury and you'll get blank looks. Walter de Monington deserves better. Abbot from 1342 to 1375, he rebuilt much of the core monastic complex, steered the community through the Black Death, collected books, backed the arts, and left the abbey stable and financially secure. Yet he's largely forgotten today. Dr Tim Hopkinson-Ball, Chair of the Glastonbury Antiquarian Society and author of books on the abbey's history, puts that right in this one-hour talk at Abbey House, 7pm to 8pm (doors 6.30pm). Tickets are £6 and numbers are capped at 40, with tea, coffee and Abbey cider on sale beforehand. A treat for history lovers. Book early.
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Halloween Week in Mendip
The Witch Who Built a Tourist Industry
Every good Somerset legend needs a villain, and Wookey Hole has a cracker.
A cautionary tale (allegedly)
Long ago, so the story goes, a bad-tempered old woman lived in the caves. She soured the milk, blighted the crops and cursed any couple foolish enough to fall in love. The Abbot of Glastonbury sent a monk, Father Bernard, who blessed a scoop of River Axe water and flung it over her. In an instant she was turned to stone.
And there she stands to this day in the first chamber, the Witch's Kitchen. If you squint, you can make out a hooked nose, a pointed chin and perhaps a bonnet. Admittedly, you need to squint quite hard.
The witchy rock formation
Then science got involved
In 1912 the archaeologist Herbert Balch dug up a skeleton in the caves. Beside it lay goat bones, a dagger and a polished alabaster ball, which looked suspiciously like a crystal ball. The "real witch" had been found, and the newspapers were delighted.
Later analysis was less obliging. The finds weren't a single burial, and most of the bones seem to belong to a man aged 25 to 35.
The witch who pays the bills
Wookey Hole has never let facts spoil a good story. In 2009 it advertised for a resident witch at £50,000 a year, pro rata. Applicants had to cackle convincingly and not be allergic to cats. More than 3,000 people applied.
The truly remarkable bit
Behind the pantomime, the real story is far stranger. Most Mendip caves are carved from limestone. Wookey Hole begins in Triassic "puddingstone", a cemented rubble of pebbles laid down over 200 million years ago.
The River Axe flows straight out of the hillside here after its underground journey from the Mendip plateau. In 1935, men in brass diving helmets first pushed into its flooded passages here, making Wookey the birthplace of British cave diving.
Nearby, in the Hyaena Den, Ice Age hunters and cave hyenas took turns to shelter, leaving behind the gnawed bones of mammoth and woolly rhinoceros. Outside, England's last handmade cotton paper mill still stands. Deep inside, the caves' steady 11°C is used to mature Cheddar.
Cheddar cheese, enjoying the cave climate at Wookey
She's back for Halloween
Unsurprisingly, the witch is the star of October. Until 1 November, new projections tell her story on the cave walls. Children can follow a pumpkin trail, the Witch herself makes appearances, and the Monster's Ball Circus Show runs daily.
The Halloween night "Wookey After Dark" event has already sold out. Clearly the witch hasn't lost her pull. Father Bernard's holy water may have turned her to stone, but it was never going to stop her selling tickets.
Today, Tuesday 27 October
Half-Term: Taking Time — 10.30am–3.30pm, Wells Cathedral. Make and decorate your own mini sand timer, plus time-themed Wells Art Contemporary installations to explore. Free with Cathedral entry, just drop in. More info
Halloween at Wookey Hole — daily until 1 November, Wookey Hole. Witch projections in the caves, a pumpkin trail and the Monster's Ball Circus show, included in the standard ticket. More info
Half Term Family Activities — The Bishop's Palace, Wells. Garden trails, a kids' multimedia tour, crafts and the Dragon's Lair play area, all included with admission (until 1 November). More info
Spooktacular Halloween at Shoemakers — 10am–4pm, Shoemakers Museum, Street. Halloween trails, workshops and storytelling (until 1 November). More info
Family Activity: Batty Bat Bunting — 11am–1pm, Abbey Museum, Glastonbury Abbey. Bat-tastic bunting making, included with admission. More info
Half-Term Stay and Make — 11am–1pm, Yeast Scrapstore, Dyehouse Lane, Glastonbury. Mask making and autumn and Halloween crafts. Suggested donation £5 per family. More info
Farmyard Fun – Petting Zoo — Somerset Rural Life Museum, Glastonbury. Free with Museum Unlimited, otherwise normal admission. More info
Wild Tribe 'Tuesday Takeover' Market — The Assembly Rooms, Glastonbury. A "magical market" (times not listed). More info
Halloween Ghost Tour — from 6.30pm, Shepton Mallet Prison. After-dark Halloween tours of the old jail. Booking
The Nineteen Club (Cribbage) — 7pm, The Shipham Inn, Shipham. Monthly cribbage night.
Manon (Royal Ballet, screened) — 7.15pm, Strode Theatre, Street. £13–£18. Booking
Autumn Words & Song — 7.30pm, The Waldegrave, East Harptree. £7, advance only. Booking
Chilcompton Gardening Club — 7.30pm, Chilcompton Village Hall. Talk: "Off the Beaten Track" by Andrew Tolman. Free to members, £3 guests.
Tomorrow, Wednesday 28 October
Half-Term: Taking Time — 10.30am–3.30pm, Wells Cathedral. Discover the Cathedral's astronomical clock and make a 2D version with moving hands. Free with Cathedral entry. More info
The Enchanted Wardrobe — 10am–3.30pm, Wells & Mendip Museum. Step inside a magical wardrobe for an audio journey through Mendip history, from the Ice Age to today, then imagine the hills in 2036. Free. More info
Half-term fun continues — Halloween at Wookey Hole, family activities at The Bishop's Palace and Spooktacular Halloween at Shoemakers Museum, Street (all until 1 November). Wookey Hole · Bishop's Palace · Shoemakers
Needle Felting — Somerset Rural Life Museum, Glastonbury. More info
Fun Dance Class — 5.30–6.30pm, Chewton Mendip Village Hall. Mixed styles with high and low impact options. £10 drop-in. More info
Magique – Magic and Illusions Show — 6.30pm, The Mill, High Street, Wells. More info
Halloween Ghost Tour — from 6.30pm, Shepton Mallet Prison. Booking
Punk Rock Factory — 7pm, Cheese & Grain, Frome. £29.50. Booking
Adult Performance Company — 7.30pm, Chew Magna Baptist Hall. Weekly drama group, beginners welcome. Free, booking required. Booking
Waiting For Godot — 7.30pm, Strode Theatre, Street (until Saturday 31 October). £16–£17.50. Booking
Bad Apples (15) — 7.45pm, Strode Theatre, Street. £5–£8.80. Booking
🌡️ Wells BA5 Weather — Week of 27 October
After a soggy, blustery weekend, Tuesday is still showery with gusts up to around 45mph, so hang on to your hat. From Wednesday it calms down nicely, with sunny intervals and mostly dry days through to Halloween, though the nights get chillier. (Met Office forecast as at Saturday 24 October; days marked BETA are less certain.)
Tue 27 — Light showers, 13°C / 9°C, 60% chance of rain
Wed 28 — Sunny intervals, 15°C / 8°C, 40%
Thu 29 — Sunny intervals, 14°C / 11°C, 10%
Fri 30 — Sunny intervals, 15°C / 9°C, 30%
Sat 31 — Sunny intervals, 14°C / 7°C, 20% (BETA)
Sun 1 Nov — Sunny intervals, 12°C / 6°C, 10% (BETA)
Mon 2 Nov — Sunny intervals, 12°C / 5°C, 10% (BETA)
Contact Mendy the Mendiplodocus
Paul Branston, Editor
Hi, I'm Paul Branston and I publish the Mendiplodocus every morning, Monday to Friday. Each issue goes out to a growing base of thousands of local residents who want to keep up to date with events and local news. If you have events or news to share or you have a local business to promote, please get in touch.
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