Every little helps West Somerset economy

THE latest television advertisement for supermarket giants Tesco has provided a financial fillip for the West Somerset economy.
The Crier can reveal the production was filmed on location in West Somerset in mid-March.
The advertisement, for a new range of low-cost clothing being sold by the firm, shows a woman riding on horseback through woods to attend a reception.
It was filmed on Crown Estates-owned land using secluded areas of Croydon Hill, between Dunster and Timberscombe.
A crew of more than 60 people was involved in the shoot, which took two days and also used two helicopters for aerial shots.
Most of the crew stayed in Minehead, many of them in the Gascony Hotel, in The Avenue.
However, there was no sign of actress Prunella Scales, who has become the face of Tesco’s television advertising.
Instead, the woman on horseback was thought to be a model named Amber Bird.

• Our photograph shows some of the film crew shooting the advertisement on Croydon Hill. Photo by Mark the Photographer, ref M030187. Order image reprints online at http://www.tcpbymtp.co.uk/.

New kitchen is finishing touch for village hall

THE final stage of the refurbishment of Timberscombe Village Hall has been completed with the installation of a fully-equipped kitchen.
It includes two ovens and a commercial dishwasher, meaning the hall is now able to cater for a wide variety of public and private functions, including weddings and parties.
Timberscombe Village Hall Committee thanked West Somerset Council’s Rural Initiative Fund for a grant of £7,749 which made the project possible, and H.D.Lynch, of Minehead, for designing and fitting the kitchen to a high standard.
District council ward member, Councillor Roger Webber said: “The council is delighted to help community projects like these.
“As well as providing modern facilities so that halls can build on their successes, it also gives local people a social centre at the heart of their rural villages.”

• Our photograph shows village hall committee chairman Tony Webb (left) and former chairman Mrs Wendy Hellewell receiving a cheque for £7,749 from Councillor Roger Webber. Photo submitted.

Steam train footplate pass eBay auction for charity

A RARE opportunity to ride on the footplate of a West Somerset Railway steam train is being offered in an internet auction for charity.
The eBay auction, which will start on December 1 and run for 10 days, could be a once-in-a-lifetime experience for somebody not already connected with the railway.
Photographer Mark Stothard, of Timberscombe, is auctioning the WSR footplate pass to try to raise at least £1,000 for West Somerset charity CLOWNS.
Mr Stothard said: “My family are indebted to CLOWNS for the help they gave my daughter Kyla when she was little and I want to do all I can to support them.
“I am a steam train enthusiast and when I heard how CLOWNS was losing a lot of grant money from local councils and would struggle to continue delivering their services, I came up with this fund-raising idea.
“As I understand it, these passes hardly ever go outside the confines of the WSR and their staff and volunteer members, so this really could be somebody’s chance of a lifetime to experience riding on a steam engine footplate.”
Mr Stothard approached WSR general manager Paul Conibeare, who agreed to donate the footplate pass for the auction.
Mr Conibeare said: “I was very pleased to be able to support CLOWNS like this when Mark came up with the auction suggestion.
“We all know what terrific and valuable work CLOWNS does with needy young families in communities right across West Somerset.”
CLOWNS co-ordinator Kathy Morton said: “We are facing a real funding gap due to Government cut backs and we need all the help we can get
“Mark’s offer to organise the auction was very welcome and we will put the money it brings in towards continuing our services, which we know are welcomed and valued by the people we help.”
The eBay auction item can be found by following this link: http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=330057216930

• Our photograph taken on a WSR steam engine shows Kyla Stothard with Kathy Morton and Paul Conibeare. Photograph by Mark the Photographer, ref M1117008. Order photo reprints online at www.tcpbymtp.co.uk.