Yesteryear

100 years ago

At the Glastonbury police court on Thursday, a Sharpham man wascharged with failing to comply with the provisions of an ordercompelling him to maintain his wife and two children.

Defendant, who admitted that he had failed to pay the sumdemanded weekly, said that he was unable to do so, and was sent toprison for three weeks.

A man from West Pennard was summoned for allowing four horses tostray on the public highway on June 16.

Defendant pleaded not guilty to allowing them to stray, butadmitted that they were out, having broken through the fence. PCPriddle proved the case.

Defendant said that he had turned then in the field, and was onthe way to look for them when the constable brought them in.

He had kept the horses for a long period, and had never beforehad a complaint of that kind made against him.

50 years ago

Glastonbury magistrates imposed fines totalling Pounds 5 on a manof Glastonbury on Monday for failing to pay National Insurancecontributions as a self-employed person and for failing to returnhis insurance card to the ministry.

It was stated that a sum of Pounds 34 7s. was owing to theministry, but a check to cover this amount was paid into court.

He was said to have been fined Pounds 3 for a similar offence in1959.

Butleigh Fete has the reputation of bringing rain, but this yearthe weather was perfect, with just enough cloud to prevent the heatfrom becoming too great, and no rain.

The proceeds of this year's fete, which was once again held inthe beautiful garden at Butleigh House, were to be given to the NewOrgan Fund.

The stalls were soon besieged by an eager crowd of buyers and thecoconut shie and "Mr Krushev" attracted a more or less continuousrain of missiles. Stickers-up were kept busy at the skittles, andthe roundabout was in more or less a perpetual motion.

There were races for children and tea and refreshments were ingreat demand.

25 years ago

A musical treat not to be missed is due to take place at StJohn's Church, Glastonbury, on Saturday, July 26.

Das Junge Bach-Collegium chamber orchestra from Osnabruck, WestGermany, comprising of some of the finest music students from allover Germany, will be performing a Handel Overture and Suite fromAlcina, Bach Cantata No 170, and Oboe D'amore Concerto in A majorand a Handel Concerto Grosso.

Television personality Tom O'Connor visited Meare at the weekend.

Gloria McClurg, warden of the village's sheltered home scheme, isthe national secretary of Tom's fan club.

She invited Tom to meet her elderly residents when she knew hewas in the area. Mrs McClurg once took part in his quiz show NameThat Tune and won the Pounds 1,000 jackpot.

Residents at the home presented Tom with a painting ofGlastonbury Tor, which he said he would hang in his billiard room.

10 years ago

After winning 25 awards and nominations for their pantomime DickWhittington last year, Strode Productions are preparing to hold aworkshop and auditions for their December 2001 show Aladdin and hisWonderful Lamp.

The director will again be Barry Squance who said: "We werethrilled by everyone's comments and the accolades received for DickWhittington, we have already put together the same production teamand are now preparing to get the cast and chorus in place."