David Heath MP cuts the ribbon with current Mayor Colin Winder and former Mayor and Museum President Frank Foster.

Members of the Museum Committee, Town and District Councillors and Library Operations managers together with around sixty supporters of the Museum and the library turned up looking their best to welcome our MP David Heath, Minister of State for Agriculture and Food, cut the ribbon and reopen the Wincanton Library.

He was welcomed by our President, Frank Foster, who thanked him for his long-term support of our and other small local museums and the Town and District Councils which have both provided grants to supplement the funds which members of the committee have raised.

In a short speech David Heath expressed his delight that the Museum had kept going despite losing its former home and emphasised that local museums like ours are vital for showing locals and newcomers, old and young that they are living in a place rich in history where streets, buildings, artefacts and people have surprising and fascinating stories to tell. Becoming aware of where we are and what has happened here gives us a real sense of place and contributes towards our sense of identity. Without such museums we would all be much poorer.

Chris Loghlin, Senior Operations Manager for the Somerset County Library Service and Cerian Amnery, Operations Manager for Mendip, told me that this partnership with the Museum will be a first for Somerset. Such partnerships are very important at a time when libraries are under financial pressure and need to attract more people into them to see the range of services they give people access to. These go beyond simply providing books to borrow. They also provide computer access, reference material and with their friendly and helpful staff can become an important hub for the community.

Saturday marked the culmination of nearly two years work by all the members of the Museum Committee, particularly our Curator John Atkins and our Chairman Dr Terry Stanford who have been involved in closing the old Museum in the High Street, moving our artifacts into a safe and accessible place for their storage and then working with the library to secure a room and then to have it properly refurbished with cabinets and a selection of artefacts and pictures put on display.

David Heath, Frank Foster and John Atkins

As anyone visiting the new Museum will see, the room we have is small and this means the museum will be developing in a new way. Already we have a website, www.wincantonmuseum.org.uk, which is accessible to all and which keeps us up to date with the very successful talks we have been having. It could, however, become something much more substantial, developing into an online archive of our present and our past in words and images.

As well as pictures and artefacts which will be changed regularly we have also put in place a new computer. This will soon be connected to the internet, but initially it is able to show visitors slideshows of historic and near contemporary places and events in our collection of over 6,000 images and saved documents.

After the ribbon cutting – using the historic scissors used to cut the ribbon for the opening of the A303 bypass – everyone crowded in to see the new museum and then back into the library for a splendid tea with cakes and biscuits provided by Beryl Griffin and Helen Phillips.

The Museum now opens on Wednesdays and Fridays 10.00am – 1.30pm and on Saturdays 10.00am to 1.00 pm when stewards will be in attendance and the computer there for slide-shows, so do pop in for a new experience.

As the novels of Hilary Mantell and the many films exploring the period show it often seems that we cannot get enough of the Elizabethan and Tudor age with its mixture of glamour, brilliance and political and religious infighting and conflict. With this in mind Hnedrika  chose as her subject “A Glimpse of Tudor Art”.  As usual we got both a fascinating lecture and a stunning set of images.

Hendrika drew our attention to the fact that all the artists of the time were not Enlish but like Holbein came from the Netherlands and Europe and that the the subjects they were commissioned to paint were restricted to portraits of royalty and the nobility to be executed in the grandest possible way. The portaits of Elizabeth our Virgin Queen reached new hights of elaboration and richness in the amost impossible complexity of her gowns jewels and hair and in the waxen perfection of her skin, all designed to give her an icon like semi-divine aura and enhance her status in the face of the Spanish threat and the Gunpowder Plot.

Henedrika also showed us several of Holbein’s beautifully composed and executed portraits which did not only capture likeness and character with uncanny realism and sensitivity, but painted fur and velvet using the richest of colours quite perfectly.

To wet your appetite. The Ambassadors by Holbein.

The Ambassadors

Last night 22^nd Feb was bitterly cold but the Wincanton and District Museum and History Society had an excellent turnout of people who had come to hear local historian from Frome Roger Ford on how the game of Fives came to be played here and what influence the Napoleonic prisoners had on this.  Sadly, when Roger unpacked his computer and projector he discovered he had not brought a vital connecting part and was thus unable to give what would have been a very interesting talk but which relied on the images he had to show. This was really sad for us all for he had attracted an audience both of members and some visitors who had come a long way to hear him.  We hope we can arrange another date for him to come again next year.

Salvation though was at hand for Hendrika Foster was there and was able to rush home and get her projector and computer and in her usual inimitable way present us with a fascinating lecture richly illustrated with some quite unforgettable images of the Art of 12^th Century Norman kingdom of Sicily under the rule of Roger the Second and his son William.  What was unforgettable were the mosaics depicting stories from both the Hebrew Scriptures (the Old Testament) and the Christian gospels. Certainly it was quite an eye opener to learn what an amazing collection of Norman churches are to be found in Sicily which also has a rich treasury of Greek temples and remains having been during its history a Greek colony, part of the Roman Empire, then Christian, then for some time a beacon of Muslim art and learning before being recaptured for Christianity by Roger and his Normans just when Norman William was invading England.

Next week Hendrika is off to Florence at the invitation of the British Council to present a series of lectures on Renaissance art to the Italians!

After that the museum will be open Wednesday, Friday and Saturday mornings until early September.

It has been suggested that our museum will be the smallest in Somerset but our curator John Atkins is working hard to display artifacts reflecting the life and activities of the town over the past centuries.

Stewards.We held a very successful Stewards introduction evening recently and the vast majority of opening sessions are covered.   I really am very grateful for all the offers, without your help the museum would not have been able to open.

HOWEVER there are still two dates to be filled and I would love to hear from anyone who would like to offer their services, the dates in question are Saturday 22 June and Friday 23 August.

If anyone would like to help out please contact me either on 01963 31665 or ku.oc.eciffotsopymnull@sresuort.  On all dates the museum is due to open at 10a.m., tea, coffee and decent toilet facilities are available.

Whilst Stewards are often on duty by themselves they are never alone in the building as there is always a member of the library staff on duty.  Once again many thanks to those who have already volunteered and I am looking forward to hearing from anyone else who would like to get involved.

Terry Stanford  Chairman

Chris Forester joined the Metropolitan Police in 1972 and in ‘75 found his metier in the Mounted Branch, remaining  with them for the next 28 years.  He ended his career on the training staff at Imber Court and while there he was responsible for setting up their museum. This was opened by Princess Alexandra and subsequently visited by the Queen, Princess Diana and other senior members of the Royal Family. He has developed a keen interest in Police history is an experienced lecturer and is a contributing member of the Metropolitan Police History Group.

The meeting will be in the Balsam Centre and will start with our AGM at 7pm. This will be brief and followed by refreshments and Chris Forester’s talk.

REPORT ON THE AGM AND CHRIS FORESTER’S TALK

As promised we had a brief and business-like AGM. Chairman Dr Terry Stanford reported that we have had a good year with good turnout at our monthly talks and the agreement with the Library to give us the use of the former Visitor’s Information Room has meant we have been able to have new cupboards fitted and the room redecorated making it though small, smart and attractive. Our Treasurer Jiim Longley was able to report on the healthy state of our finances and the present committee, all of whom were ready to do so, were re-elected. to face what should be an important and interesting year as we open and begin to use this new facility.

BE SOBER BE VIGILANT

Chis gave us a fascinating and amusing illustrated talk on the Mounted Branch of the Met and pointed out that its predecessor could claim to be the oldest Government funded Police in the world, starting in the 1760′s when the Bow Street Runners were a byword for corruption and incompetence. The first mounted police were there to dissuade carriages and horsemen being set upon by cutpurses as they entered London.

He went on to explain that the mounted police have been shown time and again to be extremely good at crime prevention making a very visible and mobile statement of a police presence on the streets. A dramatic recent examples of this was when they were patrolling around Heathrow when there was a terrorist threat. The incidence of crime in a notorious village they passed through on patrol dropped dramatically.

Chris was also very interesting in pointing out that their prime role was now as always the maintainance of public order at times of emergency, demonstrations and riots and when there are large crowds on the streets for sporting occasions. He noted that attacks upon the horses were extremly rare.  Rioters did not take out their anger and frustration on the horses as they would against either police on foot or police vehicles.  The result is that breaking up or dispersing crowds with a mounted force is much more peaceful than the alternatives as seen so vividly in Northern Ireland where water cannon , rubber bullets and large deployments of police on foot and in vehicles can stir up violent resentment.

He also had amusing anecdotes and tales of misunderstandings as well as stories of trips to visit schools and the fun of taking part in big ceremonial state and city occasions. In all he argued that while at first site a mounted force looks anachronistic, a careful apprailsal of their role and effectiveness gives us good reason for maintaining a mounted force – a force that today has more women in it than men.

Friday was a dark and stormy night complete with wind and sleet, yet a turnout of around forty showed how many were interested and ready to come out.

His subject was the dramatic story of the setting up and sad demise in the 60s of the Somerset and Dorset Railway, well illustrated by an interesting collection of photographs.

Held on the evening of the day when a packed memorial service took place in the parish church for Jeff Kingaby, the fact that this talk attracted the biggest audiance we can remember, was a fitting memorial to Jeff whose tireless efforts have kept us all going.

Peter gave us a really interesting talk which attracted a good number of non-members whose great interest was railways in general and the Somerset and Dorset Railway in particular and his talk attracted several interesting questions and the revelation that there are gruops keeping sections of the track alive and there are even plans afoot to construct a new railway to cover much of the old route.  We shall have to wait and see about that.

John Baxter

Drawing on her experience of developing a Conservation Management Plan for the property on behalf of the National Trust, Judith showed us pictures not only of the nooks and crannies of this ancient property with its roots going back to manor house and village in Medieval times, but also a series of fascinating photos and stories of the Jenner family who were responsible early in the 20^th century for purchasing and restoring the property after it had been reduced from grand house to dilapidated farm buildings.  There were calves being kept in the chapel.

Of particular interest in bringing Lytes Cary alive for us were her stories of how Sir Walter Jenner had set off to serve in the Army during the First World War complete with his horse and a batman to look after him and how his wife had worked tirelessly to support the troops with extra supplies and comforts and how their daughter had set off to Wincanton to nurse the war wounded in the hospital set up here in the Carmelite monastery.  Noblesse oblige!

Her talk not only attracted good turn-out but encouraged several new members to join the Society.  This is great news as the time approaches when we will be able to set up the new Museum in Wincanton Library and there will be plenty for volunteers to do in many ways from following up a pet theme to taking a turn stewarding.

John Baxter

There are just two items of interest at the moment.                                                             1.  We anticipate signing the lease agreement and returning the documents to Somerset Council during the week of 10 /9/12.  We will then wait to hear just when we can take occupation of the premises in Wincanton Library and begin to establish a Museum.  Will keep you in touch.

 2.  Have you a story to tell?

As part of the process of promoting an interest in local history and, from their point of view, to increase their coverage, the Western Gazette has suggested that they run articles based broadly on historical aspects of Castle Cary, Bruton and Wincanton.  They envisage a monthly article shared between the above three locations on any aspect of local history be it people, places, events changes etc.  We, that is the committee, are keen to pursue this initiative and want to take the opportunity to widen participation as far as possible.  It has been suggested that local people may well have stories to tell about past life in Wincanton, who have experience of the way in which the town has changed and perhaps personal knowledge of events which have taken place or prominent people who live or have lived in the area.  If the project comes to fruition it would mean that we would endeavour to produce an article focusing on Wincanton and our surrounding area and villages.

This would be an opportunity for everyone to become involved in a project, it would not be of a repetitive nature, one off articles would be great and in addition it would assist us all to have better understanding of the town and its people.

It would just be possible for the committee, with some assistance, to take on this task but it was strongly felt that groups of people with similar interests who perhaps are as yet not known to each other or to us could get together, perhaps do some research and produce an article which would be of interest to us all.

As a committee we would be only to keen to facilitate the above suggestions in any way thought appropriate and we could certainly assist in preparing and editing articles,  photographs etc.

Thhis is about all we know of the project at this date but anyone expressing an interest could initially do so be contacting me and we will see how far we can get.

Lytes Cary Manor  near Somerton  the National Trust tells us is “ an intimate medieval manor house with a beautiful Arts and Crafts garden where you can imagine living. Originally the family home of Henry Lyte, where he translated the unique Niewe Herball book on herbal remedies, Lytes Cary was then lovingly restored in the 20th century by Sir Walter Jenner. The garden rooms contain a magical collection of topiary and herbaceous borders, while tranquil walks on the estate take you along the River Cary.”

Wincanton District Museum and History Society have asked one of our newer members who has come to live here, Judith Teasdale to give our next talk. This will be  on Friday 14^th September in the Balsam Centre, 7.30pm. As usual entrance is £6 for visitors and free for members. Refreshments are always provided at the end adding to the friendly social nature of these occasions.

 Judith Teasdale is a landscape architect who specialises in work on historic sites, occasionally straying into the buildings too.  She frequently undertakes commissions for the National Trust and, in 2009, she was asked to write a Conservation Management Plan for Lytes Cary Manor in Somerset.  To do this, she needed to explore parts of the manor house, its outbuildings and the wider agricultural estate that visitors rarely get to see.  In her talk, she will share her journey ‘behind the scenes’ with us, describing the history of these less visited parts of Lytes Cary Manor and of some of the people who have lived there.

Since coming to live in Wincanton Jeff almost immediately became Secretary of the Museum  and it has been his relentless energy , efficiency and friendly manner which has been responsible for enthusing others and keeping the show on the road during a testing time when it almost looked as if the Museum might fold.

What Jeff has done here during the past eight years in some ways replicates his time living in Morchard Bishop in Devon for twenty-six years. There he was responsible for founding the Bowling Club and launching a town magazine which is now a thriving web-magazine.  While there he also wrote and published three books on the town. They also arrived with their five children.  They now have thirteen grandchildren and six great grandchildren.

Jeff has written a short but fascinating biography, entitled JFK, his initials!  In it he describes vividly his childhood in the East End and as an evacuee “billeted” with a variety of families both well-off and poor during the Second World War. His words evoke a tough and dangerous world and amazingly resilient people.  It is hard to believe a couple could see such changes within one life-time.

After the war Jeff did National Service for a compulsory two years and was shipped out to serve in Malaysia and Hong Kong.  On returning he soon met and married Molly in 1951 and rather reluctantly joined the police in St Albans.  In 1963 he moved from the Hertford Constabulary to the Met.  There he was able to pass the necessary courses and clearly showed considerable ability for he was promoted steadily, ending up as an acting Chief Inspector in Greenwich. In the course of his service he also had one particularly narrow escape.  In 1976 he was confronted by an IRA gunman who had already killed a train driver and had fired at the police. He aimed at Jeff at point blank range, only to discover he had run out of ammunition.  Jeff was highly commended and received the Bow Street Medal.   He then chose to take early retirement in 78 at the age of 47.  This  gave him the opportunity to leave the city with his family and settle in Morchard Bishop with the intention of living as he says, “the Good Life, ” which clearly they did.

JEFF and MOLLY HONOURED

The sun forgot to sulk and the rain to fall giving us a lovely sunny afternoon on Saturday June30th for the Museum and History Society Garden Party Cream Tea. As last year this was held in the grounds of the Meeting House thanks to the generosity of the Wincanton Quakers.

In addition to Society members, the  mayor, councillors and other supporters had been invited and there was a turnout of just under forty and everyone enjoyed the opportunity to socialise and tuck into the delicious home-made scones and cream.

The real focus of the afternoon however was for our President, Frank Foster, to make a presentation to Molly and Jeff Kingaby for all their work supporting the Society ever since they moved here some eight years ago. Jeff remains on the Committee but has now retired from being Secretary, a crucial role which he has carried out with tact, efficiency and enthusiasm.