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Deborah Triff accompanied her 89 year old father, Brian Cromwell Wall, on a visit to Great Elm on an ancestor hunt.

 

Their family story in this locality concerns the handsome house, Glenthorne, and the Great Elm web site provides fascinating accounts of their family.  It was Brian’s ancestor, John Hamden Wall, who built Glenthorne and Deborah and Brian’s trip was made special by the warm welcome they received by the present owners, Stephen and Sarah Bradshaw.

 

Their trip was also made memorable by their discovery of family graves in the churchyard as John Hampden Wall, his wife Adelaide and two of their children were buried there. They were delighted too, to find a second grave for Joseph and Eliza Biggs who are Brian’s great great grandparents on his maternal side.

 

The photos show Deborah and Brian’s visit to locate the graves.

 

FROME OPEN ART TRAIL AND FROME HIDDEN GARDENS

Great Elm is the place to be for both art and garden lovers when two beautiful new venues open their galleries and gardens for Frome Open Art Trail and Frome Hidden Gardens.

FROME OPEN ART TRAIL: JULY 2nd TO 10th

Arthaus, at Junefield, Great Elm, BA11 3NY. 
(venue 4  –  see map below)
Open every day from 11.00 – 5.00pm.  Tel: 01373 812366

Two galleries and a sculpture court in the garden at Junefield are the glorious setting for the works of five artists. Parking on roadside and near village hall.

Brian Baxter has sold over 700 works, some of which are to be found in public collections, such as that of the House of Lords. His contemporary wildlife paintings and landscapes are shown alongside works by prize winning sculptor and abstract artist, Lynn Baxter.

Their ceramics can also be enjoyed alongside the powerful hand-built ceramics of Ros Seegobin. Ros’s works, and the extraordinary textile art of Jenny Waller and photography by Rob Waller, make this a richly diverse show.

Art cards and plants will also be for sale.

Tyning, Great Elm BA11 3NY, (venue 5  –  see map below).

Open each day except Monday and Tuesday from 11.00 – 5.00pm, Tel: 01373 2229825

The works of three artist will be on display. Great Elm resident, Colin Jacobs, will show his remarkable stone, steel and bronze resin sculptures. He has exhibited widely both in the UK and abroad.

Hand-built ceramics by Heather Stone and raku ceramics by the talented Peter Foreman all promise a fascinating exhibition.

Carol Lee will supply delicious home baking.

FROME HIDDEN GARDENS July 8th – 10th, 11.00 – 5.00pm

Tyning is also part of the 42 gardens participating in this annual programme.
A coming together of different planting areas, seating and sculpture designed to offer a rich sensory experience.

There will be a chance to sit and enjoy the garden with tea/coffee/cake – the proceeds going to charitable causes. Plants will be for sale

Parking – opposite Tyning (see signpost). Come and enjoy!

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Ash dieback – a meeting with Hanson’s Landscape Architect (17th March, 2022)
Click here for details

5 ALIVE – Parish magazine
Covering the 5 parishes – Buckland Dinham, Chantry, Great Elm, Mells and Whatley
Editor – Peter Corbett.
To view magazine – February 2023

Hanson offers support to the community
Local charities and communities within 3 km of Whatley quarry are able to seek assistance from Hanson either in the form of financial aid, materials or volunteer help.
Great Elm is within 2 km of Whatley quarry and therefore qualifies.
The criteria is that initiatives support
Education, skills and well-being
Protecting/enhancing the environment
Promote the community and heritage of the East Mendips
Further information and an Application form can be found on the Hanson’s “Supporting the Community” webpage

Great Elm talk
On February 27th (2020) our church conservation architect, George Chedburn RIBA  provided a masterly illustrated talk on his work restoring and conserving ancient buildings. Around 250 churches in Somerset alone have gained new life and increased purpose through his expertise. His talk gave an overview of some of these and centred on the history of St Mary Magdalene Church and its potential for thriving through the provision of new facilities and an expansion of its important role as a community resource.

Ros and Lynn thanked George for freely devoting his time, Anand for baking fresh rolls, Judy and Jim for facilitating, and the sixty people who shared in the event.  Cash donations of over £319 were raised in support of the church.

The future of Great Elm church is at risk.
A summary of the meeting held 25th November  – Click here

Deaths
For announcements of recent deaths in the village – please Click here

Flower Festival; 21 -22 September, 2020
Folk really went to town decorating the church; themes were “Harvest based” inline with the festival involving all five parishes “Celebrating Harvest with flowers, music, crafts and more…”.
We shouldn’t mention names as bound to miss out someone, although exceptions are Ros Seegobin who masterminded the event and showed tremendous enthusiasm throughout; also for Liz Anderson “The Floral Cellist”, who gave two recitals of cello playing.
A special Sunday service started with the arrival and blessing of the Harvest Torch by Clive Fairclough (which went round all the 5 parishes) and continued with songs, poems and readings led by Anthea Kemp.
Also thanks to Annah McKinlay-Fox who held a taster workshop for future art courses in the village hall.

Here are a few images of exhibits etc (thanks to Lynn & Roger)

Of course, the “cow” was evident to all. Many folk and children had a hand in painting.

Summer BBQ – Sunday, 30th June

A great event with 58 folk turning up and indulging in BBQ fare ably cooked by Anand and friends. Sitting around on the village green chatting with other villagers was a great way to spend a lovely sunny Sunday afternoon. It was also an opportunity for newcomers to meet their neighbours. The village hall committee would like to thank all those who helped out, either bringing those marvellous salads and puddings or helping clear things away afterwards.

Coffee, Cakes & Plants – Saturday 25th May

Judy’s Coffee, Cakes and Plants event at the Village Hall was a great success, helped by weather conducive for sitting outside and chatting. Many thanks for all those who contributed cakes and help; and all those who came to enjoy. We raised the grand sum of £250, which will go towards church maintenance.

Village Green tidied up

Bryan Eley’s cleanup has now become an annual event. Armed with strimmers, mowers, rakes and forks he descends on the triangular green (near the road) and attacks daffodil debris and cow parsley and what’s more removes it all on his trailer.

Library in the Village Hall porch

New books added on the 4th May – library always open (useful for all insomniacs ).

Litter Pickers

An intrepid team of litter pickers spent an hour on Saturday (13th April) and collected a haul of rubbish from kerbsides through the village. Not many fag packets this year; mainly plastic bottles and metal cans.
Left to right – Jim, Judy, Sandie, Brian and Ricardo
(sorry Veronica for not being in photo; you set off picking down Elm Lane never to be seen again)

Church yard cleanup

A couple of hours on Sat, 6th April. That’s all it took for a gang of willing hands to give the church yard a spring clean. Many thanks to Sally, Ian, Judy, Ricardo, Roger and Christiane, and Jim (who took photo).

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