Author: Lesley Webb

Miles From Home: Evacuees in Timberscombe During the Second World War by Alan Hines

On the first weekend of September 1939, just before Britain declared war on Germany, 1.5 million British schoolchildren and mothers with children under the age of five were evacuated by train from the large cities most likely to be attacked. They were billeted in private homes in rural villages across England. That first weekend, 40 of them were placed in Timberscombe.

Some are in their nineties, yet they remember: separating from their parents, not knowing if they would see them again, boarding trains at Paddington Station in London, no one sure about where they were being taken. They remember: the young boy from the East End who was run down by a lorry on a country road, and being a boy scout under the tutelage of an elegant lady from the noble ranks, and the German plane that crashed in a nearby field. They remember the smartly-tailored villager who made an impression on each of them with his knowledge of birds and insects and the names of plants and constellations – sights in the natural world a boy from the East End of London could have never imagined.

More than 175 evacuees were brought to Timberscombe over the course of the war. Only a few are still living. In this book by Alan Hines, their first-hand accounts create an intimate portrait of a small Somerset village during wartime, its people and the evacuees who lived among them.

Ebook and paperback available on Amazon

Visit Alan’s website at: https://alanhines.com

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Police Notice

A major supplier of home meal deliveries has had their computer system damaged in a cyber attack, which means it is unable to provide food to residents across the area.

Because of this, we are asking our Watch members to check on any elderly or vulnerable neighbours to see if they have been affected and need help getting food, especially as it may take several days for the company to return to normal.

More information can be found at:

https://www.somersetlive.co.uk/news/somerset-news/wiltshire-farm-foods-cyber-attack-7261236?fbclid=IwAR38oJ7PGVtMyJg5bmPl7zq1pugF8azPlAdG8_YxRNG3P7hDu3LswpgGTiM

Gates have been left open on farmland round the village. Please would everyone be careful to close any gates they find closed. If the gate is supposed to be open it will be tied back. Thank you.

Somerset Health and Wellbeing Updates

Timberscombe School Friday News 24.06.22

Benefice newsletter 24th June 2022

Somerset Activity Sports Partnership (SASP)

Bookings for Happy Healthy Holidays Somerset are now open!

This year’s summer programme is jam-packed with fun activities ranging from sports to crafts, music, theatre, games and more. Follow the link to check out the upcoming activities that will be taking place over the Summer for children on benefits related free school meals https://www.sasp.co.uk/happy-healthy-holidays #BeActive

Somerset Mental Health Hub – Networking Event

Thursday 30 June at 10.00am – 1.00pm

Bridgwater Rugby Club, TA6 4TZ

The Somerset Mental Health Hub is the leading voice for the local VCSE organisations working in the area of mental wellbeing. The aim is to provide a space for collaboration, peer support and learning and the opportunity to share your views with local commissioners and decision-makers.

Join this live event for the chance to network with other groups and charities working to improve mental health and wellbeing in Somerset.

Please click here to find out more and register for this event.

 Community Council for Somerset (CCS)

Smart Communities Ltd – Community Review Project

The CCS is excited to launch a new Community Review project, working in partnership with Somerset Association of Local Councils (SALC). Its aim is to support and deliver 14 Parish and Town Council community plans by either initiating new or reviewing previous plans.

The lucky communities will have the CCS local expert team supporting them through the process.

Come along to one of the online welcome sessions:

• Thursday 30 June at 7pm – 8:15pm
• Tuesday 12th July at 2pm – 3:15pm

Meet the Smart Communities team and SALC team as well as an opportunity to hear from a Somerset community about the benefits of doing a Community Plan. The team will be giving further information about how to get involved and answering any questions you might have.

Please click here to book your space.

Please click here to find out more information about the project.

Help raise money for the Timberscombe Play Area by donating your used printer cartridges in the collection box at Timberscombe Post Office.

Check which cartridges are accepted here