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.