Wells WI
It was another full house at the March meeting when more than 80 ladies attended a rock-themed evening at the Wells and Mendip Museum.
Veteran Glastonbury Festival co-ordinator, Mark Cann, gave a captivating insight into the history and development of the festival, from its humble beginnings as a blues weekend in 1970 when the ticket price was �1, including free milk, to its evolution into one of the most famous music festivals in the world, covering 900 acres and attracting a crowd of 150,000.
As founder, Michael Eavis's, "right hand man", Mark's involvement with the festival spans nearly 30 years. To illustrate his talk, Mark showed a short extract from award-winning director, Julien Temple's, 1996 documentary, Glastonbury, The Movie, giving those who have yet to experience the festival a flavour of its unique atmosphere. Mark also revealed some fascinating behind-the-scenes facts about the philosophy and culture of the festival, its commercial aspects and the logistical practicalities of producing a live music event on such a vast scale.
Offering a slightly different interpretation of the evening's theme, traditional sweet-makers, the Cheddar Sweet Kitchen, gave a presentation about the ancient craft of confection. Producing a range of hand-made sweets including toffees, fudges, peanut brittle, lollipops, boiled sweets and, of course, rock, the Cheddar Sweet Kitchen is the only independent sweet-making process in action. Established in Cheddar in 1980, the factory currently welcomes more than 160,000 visitors each year, making it one of Somerset's top tourist attractions.
Cheddar Sweet Kitchen supplies Fortnum and Mason, the National Trust and Highgrove, as well as a wide network of farm shops and garden centres nationwide. Wells WI members were delighted to sample some of the tempting produce as hand-made sweets were offered for sale during the break.
Next month the Wells WI will enjoy a Vicars and Tarts evening. Celebrated Bristol-based chocolate workshop, The Chocolate Tart, will lead a discussion about all things chocolate, and invite members to bring along a sample of their favourite chocolate recipe. The best entry will win a prize.
Following the chocolate indulgence, the Rev David Osborne, Rector of Pilton, Croscombe, Dinder and North Wootton, will share his experience of life as a rural vicar and how it compares to clerical life as portrayed in the popular media.
Details of the Wells WI meetings are available on the Wells WI Facebook page, where members can chat online, take part in discussions, suggest new talk topics and view photos of past events. Annual membership to the Wells WI costs �30.
The April meeting will take place at 7.30pm, on Tuesday, April 5, at the Wells and Mendip Museum. For further information please contact Clare Stephen on 01749 678339 or candlwellswi@btinternet.com.
Harriet Warburton
Theatre Bolton Wanderers Radio 1 Paul Myners Local government Manchester City
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