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On January 24 1965 Sir Winston Churchill died at the age of 90 and Somerset together with the rest of the country joined in the mourning. Prayers were said for Sir Winston and his family in churches of all denominations and at Wells Cathedral a muffled peal was rung and a memorial service held with the address given by the Bishop of Bath and Wells, Dr E.B. Henderson.
The residents of the Cheshire Home were taken to R.A.F. Colerne in 1965 as special guests of the station to see the Battle of Britain celebrations. The Home had of course been founded by war-time bomber ace Group Captain Leonard Cheshire. The main highlight of the event was a three hours flying display including giant V bombers, Lightning and Hunter fighters and a Gnat aerobatic team. The Cheshire Home was also in the news that year for the excellence of its pottery. The pottery class had been started two years previously by Mrs Mollie Herbert and the group was now receiving special orders for items such as vases, bowls, costume jewellery, ear-rings and brooches.
L/Cpl Roger Gardener from The Hook proved himself one of the leading marksman of the day. The 24 year old was the best individual shot at the Somerset Light Infantry event at Yoxter and also reached 12th. place in the Territorial 50 at Bisley.
Mrs Daisy Adams from 20, Lansdown View hit the headlines for quite a different reason. Her cyclamen plant was over 40 years old and it was claimed that it was the oldest such plant in the area. The plant had regularly produced a record number of red blooms and had first been owned by Mrs Adams’ mother-in-law.
Many former pupils of Timsbury Secondary Modern School will no doubt remember Judith Paren who was the art teacher there. In 1965 the 26 year old was chosen as one of only three artists to exhibit their oil paintings in the Bath Society of Artists’ second weekend show. Her twelve oil paintings included scenes from a holiday on the Isle of Skye. Meanwhile at the local Primary School the Timsbury W.E.A.was thriving and it announced a course of twenty lectures on the history of North Somerset. The course was arranged through the University of Bristol Department of Extra-Mural studies.
In 1965 Timsbury actor Alan Moore who I have mentioned in this column before was awarded a two-year acting course at the prestigious Bristol Old Vic School. He was also granted a TWW scholarship made available by the generosity of the Independent Television service for South Wales and the West. In a theatre school which took about twenty male students a year out of more than two hundred applicants Alan’s successful application was quite an achievement.
A well known village couple celebrated their golden wedding in 1965. Mr and Mrs Bill Hasell lived next to South Road Methodist Church although they were both regular members of the congregation at Tabor Church. Mr Hasell was an excellent sportsman in his day and many will recall the many hours he spent umpiring for Timsbury Cricket Club.
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