A big change for the Diocese of Bath & Wells: the Bishop, the Rt Revd Peter Price, is retiring at the end of the month. Everyone in the Diocese is invited to the farewell service for him in Wells Cathedral on 22 June, followed by a picnic (see page 15). Do read his farewell message on page 3, too.
The summer programme of activities really gets going now, with a Community Lunch on 23 June (page 15), a wildlife hunt in Brewham churchyard (page 19), and a new children’s swimming club (page 21) as well as an adults’ golf society (page 17) being set up. The concert of Baroque music originally scheduled for 9 June is postponed to 7 July (page 25), and will be a delightful experience in Sexey’s Hospital’s 17th-century chapel.

The compilation of interviews for the Bruton oral history archive is under way, and the organisers could do with more interviewers – there are lots of people eager to tell their stories of past life in Bruton, and it’s a pity not to tap this invaluable resource. Interviewing is quite straightforward (I’ve done it three times), training is given in the use of the simple machinery, and it’s a most worthwhile project. Contact Jenny or Steve if you fancy having a go (page 29).
Keith Taylor, Chairman of the Trustees of the British Soldiers Fund in Cambridge, Mass., USA, knows a great deal about the Ames family, which emigrated to the States from Wyke Champflower in the 17th century. He writes about a visit to the French village of Champfleur on page 15.
The chopping down of the old plum tree in Riverside Walk, at the east end of Lower Backway, has elicited a major reaction. We have tried to report impartially on what happened – judge for yourself on page 22. Elisabeth Balfour