Our Christmas double issue marks the completion of four years of The Dove. It seems only yesterday that Father Justin brushed aside feeble protests of ‘I can only do a little work for it . . .’. I said I could do some copy-editing and proofreading – so of course I ended up as Editor. But the reward, just announced, is that The Dove is the overall winner, out of no fewer than 890 entries, of the National Parish Magazine Awards 2012! Thank you for all the wonderful congratulatory messages.

This is the last issue of The Dove to embrace Batcombe, Lamyatt and Upton Noble. It’s sad to see them go, but as Father Justin pointed out last month it’s not a total divorce, and there will be opportunities for collaboration in future. We will continue to highlight any interesting events in the three parishes, and indeed in any other of our neighbouring parishes, that come to our attention.

November, and the very moving Remembrance Day parade and church service organised by the Royal British Legion will once again draw most of the population of Bruton and the surrounding villages. This year the day falls on the 11th, so The Silence really will be at 11am on the 11th day of the 11th month. Many of the other parishes also have a Remembrance Day service, Batcombe’s at 11am, Brewham’s at 10am, Pitcombe’s at 10.50am, Shepton Montague’s at 9.30am and Upton Noble’s at 9.20am.

The biggest change for many years to our Benefice is now taking place. From late November, Bruton will loose Batcombe, Lamyatt and Upton Noble, and will be reduced to six parishes: Brewham, Bruton, Pitcombe, Redlynch, Shepton Montague, Wyke Champflower (Redlynch and Wyke are not actually separate parishes but dependencies of Bruton). See Rectory Ruminations on page 3. We hope that the people of the three parishes that we are losing will continue to read The Dove, and news items and Diary dates relevant to them will still be most welcome.

What a summer – I rather think most people can’t wait to see the autumn. But it wasn’t all gloom. The Bruton Church Fête (see page 35) was highly enjoyable, and made over £2,000. This was pretty good as, in view of the forecast, there was a strong possibility that the whole thing would have to be scratched. In the event, nobody got stuck in the mud, or even very wet.

The Orchestra in a Field event at Glastonbury at the end of June (see page 15) was fun, and At the Chapel did a particularly good refreshments tent there. That weekend wasn’t too damp, either. As I write, we wait to see what the weather will do to the Bank Holiday fêtes at Shepton Montague and Batcombe. But knowing the organisers, I’m sure these events are still very well worth attending, whatever the skies throw at us.

Issue 36

This is the July/August double issue - supposedly the summer issue, though so far (early June) there’s not much of a summer to write about. During the next two months we hope you’ll find much to claim your attention as you scrutinise the Diary entries. In particular we commend the church fêtes: St Mary’s Bruton on Saturday 14 July, Shepton Montague on Saturday 25 August and Batcombe on Monday 27 August. These events are unmissable, in our view, and most rewarding in every sense. Nor should you miss Batcombe Horticultural Society’s show on 28 July, or Bruton & District’s on 18 August. And your views will be welcome at the Hauser & Wirth Open Days on 12 and 13 July about plans for Durslade Farm.

Issue 35

The Jubilee weekend is here at last, and with it all manner of celebration in Bruton and the Benefice. The Packhorse Fair on Monday 4 June is, of course, the major attraction, and we don’t need to urge everyone to make the most of all that is on offer – stalls, refreshments, music and entertainment in and around Lower Backway from 11am to 6pm. Lamyatt and Shepton Montague (with Hadspen, Bratton Seymour and Pitcombe) have their own parties (see Diary), and there are services in our glorious Benefice churches on the Sunday (see page 32) in thanksgiving for Her Majesty’s sixty years on the throne. Let’s hope the weather encourages us all to enjoy the festivities and put away gloomy thoughts on the economy.

Issue 34

There are currently important developments going on in Bruton, and you can read about them in Stuart Adlington’s report for Bruton The Way Forward (page 13), John Bishton’s on the Bruton Trust (page 15) and Roger Gallannaugh’s article about the excavations in the Abbey field (page 15). Please, do take the opportunity to look at the proposals and make your comments – the plans will have far-reaching consequences and now is the chance to make your mark on the town’s future. The various bodies are displaying their ideas at the Packhorse Fair, which takes place on the Jubilee Bank Holiday, Monday 4 June.

Issue 33

The inhabitants of this county . . . entertain a kind of indifference for the rest of the world, owing, probably, to the good opinion they entertain of their own portion of it. (John Strachey, 1737)

This is one of the splendid quotations on the walls and ceiling of the turret room in the Museum of Somerset at Taunton, which the Friends of Bruton Museum visited on the last day of February. I think we all feel it has a certain aptness! Certainly, everyone I come across in Bruton and district entertains a good opinion of their own little piece of Somerset.

Issue 32

A bit of good news this month: Bruton Library will reopen on 6 March, with the same hours as it used to have, on Tuesdays, Fridays and Saturdays (see page 13).
We urge everyone to try to use it as much as possible, so that the threat of permanent closure is seen off.

The town council has more good news. A cut in council tax, however small, is very welcome. And it is cheering to read that parking should remain free. The town council staff are NOT moving out of the Dovecote building, incidentally, though the district council people are. See page 30.

Issue 31

This new year will bring challenges and difficulties for everyone, and Bruton and the Benefice are not excepted. One major change will be the shrinking of the Benefice from nine to six churches in the summer: it is proposed that Batcombe, Upton Noble and Lamyatt move from the Bruton to the Evercreech Benefice. More about this will be announced over the coming months.