News in Radstock

In his latest column for Radstock Nub News, the Mayor Rupert Bevan writes:

As the twinkling Christmas lights are revealed between banks of November fog, Christmas is definitely on the way in Radstock, as with every other settlement in the country.

The foodbank collection up at Radstock Town Football Club today (Saturday November 28) was totally overwhelming.

Several tables worth of cans, long life food and personal care items were donated following an appeal by the club organised by the new Miners' Manager, Ryan Child.

Two events on Saturday to kick off some festive cheer in Radstock.

Firstly, up at Radstock Town FC at Southfield will be collecting for the local foodbank - and you can get to meet the team.

Cancer counselling charity We Hear You (WHY) is hosting a Virtual Christmas Fair this Saturday 28th and Sunday 29th November. 37 small local businesses have signed up to take part and will be donating 10% of all purchases made during the fair.

Fundraising Officer Helen White says "Our annual Christmas Fair in Frome Town Hall is another in a long list of cancelled events in our fundraising calendar. We're delighted that so many local businesses have come forward and made it possible to run what we think will be an amazing virtual event. As the saying goes, 'when you buy from a small business, a real person does a happy dance'. On this occasion you can add that a small local charity does a happy dance, too! As always, every penny raised will go towards our free professional counselling service, offering children and adults facing cancer or a life threatening condition the opportunity to talk it through with an expert listener."

Radstock Co-operative Society have marked the end of a year-long charity partnership with cancer counselling charity We Hear You (WHY) with a donation of £750.

"Our year with Radstock Co-operative Society has been fantastic and we're so grateful for their support and in particular for their very generous donations of £1,000 in August 2019 and £750 last month. It's been great to have the opportunity to hold bucket collections in store and receive donations of cake and refreshments for our festive events in 2019. And a big thank you to all the shoppers who have dropped change in our in-store collection tins throughout the year."

With Christmas being unlike any other this year lots of wonderful groups are getting together (or not together) to celebrate in some unique ways.

It might be a challenge, with coronavirus keeping us distancing from anyone not in our three bubbles, but there are still some inventive ways to join in celebrations.

The new tiers have been revealed for restrictions following the lifting of the national lockdown, and Bath and North East Somerset (B&NES) has been placed into Tier 2.

This means that Radstock will be subject to High Alert restrictions from the beginning of Wednesday December 2.

A popular, rural primary school near Radstock has been chosen to be part of a selection panel for the Royal Society Young People's Book Prize.

The annual competition aims to promote literacy in young people and to inspire them to read about science.

People living in Peasedown St John are being given the opportunity to find out more about carers' rights, thanks to a new partnership.

The Peasedown Community Trust has teamed up with Carers UK to mark Carers' Rights Day today Thursday 26th November.

The Radstock MP writes:

Recently, the Head of External Affairs for Devon County Council, Peter Doyle, who is overseeing Connecting Devon and Somerset (CDS), wrote to me with an update and highlights from the local broadband programme.