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27 Timsbury lads were the toast of the village in April 1984 when they returned from a trip to Holland with their own version of the European Cup. The under-13 soccer side managed by Martyn Adams had taken part in a 4-nation tournament in Rotterdam and they beat teams from Germany, Denmark and Holland. The captain of the winning side was Aaron Dix who was later to hold the same position in the Timsbury Athletic senior team.
Timsbury Theatre Group’s production of Breath of Spring won the most highly commended award in the Rose Bowl competition for local amateur drama run by the Bristol Evening Post. It was the second time the Group had been successful in the competition, the previous occasion being 5 years earlier with Agatha Christie’s The Hollow. The producer for both plays was Bobby Gander from Bath.
The felling of a giant sycamore tree in the garden of a bungalow at Somerset Folly became the centre of a controversy between the parish and Wansdyke District Council. The tree over 40 feet high and estimated to be over 100 years old had a preservation order put on it 10 years previously but the owner of the property claimed that 2 tree surgeons had said it was rotten in the centre and should come down.
12 year old Naomi Russell received her Queen’s Guide award from District Commissioner Hazel Bolwell. To get her badge Naomi had to work at a variety of subjects earning her woodcraft, homemaker and hostess, world friendship and art and craft emblems. She also did community service with the local Sunday School, lifesaving, fire-fighting, first aid and emergency help. Meanwhile the Timsbury Guide Company learnt that they had won the £450 top prize in a national adapt and cherish competition.
It was also a lucky time for Elizabeth Chivers from Lansdown View. She came away from the Gateway supermarket in Midsomer Norton with goods worth £168 having won a supermarket dash in a draw organised by Radstock and Midsomer Norton Lions’ Club.
The Archdeacon of Bath, the Venerable John Burgess dedicated 6 windows at St Mary’s Church as part of the restoration work. It had been possible due to £1800 being raised and plans were afoot to repair the church walls and to re-open the entrance at the back of the church where there was a gate which once provided a private entrance for residents of Timsbury Manor. After the dedication there was a Sung Eucharist with music arranged by Philip Evry and items from the Paragon Singers of Bath.
Timsbury Horse Show bemoaned the lack of teenage riders at its annual event in August 1984. There were lots of seniors and tots taking part but entries’ secretary Liz White said that they were concerned about the small number of teenagers involved. A British Showjumping Federation official commended the organisers of the event saying that during the day there had been some of the best jumping he had seen for many weeks.
2 Timsbury brothers, Adam and Julian Tavener of Kingwell House were hard in training for the rowing event at the head of the river race on the Charles River, Boston, Massachusetts. The two were representing the Bristol Ariel Rowing Club and had received a grant from the British Sports’ Association. The race in the USA was said to be equivilent to the English Boat Race.
Timsbury Irregulars quiz team reached the final of the Bristol Evening Post K.O. quiz. The team comprising of Phil Davison, Dennis Edwards, John Fosdike, Maurice Jenkins and Sheila Matthews beat the Nat West Bank team by 27 pt-24. It was a notable scalp as the bank side were the holders and unbeaten for 2 years.
Somerset captain Brian Rose was the principal guest at the annual dinner and dance of Timsbury Cricket Club. The main speakers were local radio commentator Phil Tottle and former Gloucestershire cricketer and Bristol Rovers footballer Harold Jarman. My father received a silver salver from club vice-chairman Martyn Jeffs in recognition of his years of service to the club while Nick Crocker was voted clubman of the year.
Finally 2 of Timsbury Athletic’s most loyal supporters were recognised at the football club’s presentation night. Brothers Jim and Bill Hawkins who had missed few matches for 20 years received a pair of F.A. pens from Lionel Smart who was chairman of the F.A. Charity Cup committee. Paul Ingram was voted first team player of the year and chairman Andrew Hayne was clubman of the year.