It is not unfair to say that 2017 has been something of a distressing year for international news stories, with mass-shootings, political tension and the effects of multiple natural disasters never far from public consciousness.

However, in the greater Norton Radstock area, this year’s local news has been infinitely more positive, with numerous fundraising ventures, academic and sporting achievements, and more inclusive arts and music events starting up. Here’s what happened in your area:

In January, building work began on a new, state-of-the-art Construction Skills Centre at Bath College’s Somer Valley Campus in Radstock, which was ready for students in September. The site was visited by the new West of England Mayor, Tim Bowles, with the West of England Combined Authority announcing recently that it will work with colleges, councils and businesses to help the construction industry fill the estimated 82,500 jobs that will be created by 2036.

Thanks to a major grant awarded for £12,000, Radstock Museum began a relaunch in February with a name change to Somerset Coalfield Life at Radstock Museum, and has seen great success as a result of subsequent work. The award was a real coup, as there was just £72,000 available to fund projects across the whole of the UK.

In March, Writhlington student, Lucy Bush, was chosen for a Pride of Somerset Award in recognition of her passion and dedication to competitive riding. Lucy is hoping to compete at the 2020 Olympics for the GB Paralympic Riding team, and trains regularly with GB Gold trainer, Nina Venables.

It was a successful month for Writhlington students, as members of the school’s Orchid Project celebrated winning the top prizes at the 2017 International Orchid Show in Westminster. In July, Tallis Inger-Flecker, who is part of the Orchid project, became Young Gardener of the Year for her age group in a National competition organised by the Royal Horticultural Society.

Eleven-year-old David Knowles took home three major trophies for trampolining this year. In March, he was crowned British Schools Gymnastics Association National Trampoline Champion in Newcastle; in May, David brought home a Bronze medal from the BSGA National Tumbling Championships in Stoke-on-Trent; and in December, he was crowned the South West Trampoline Champion (Under-11 Male) at the South West Closed Championships in Bath University.

March also saw a team of 160 runners take on the Bath Half Marathon for local charity, Time is Precious, with Westfield resident, John Reynolds, running a full 150 miles in 36 hours to help raise awareness.

In April, Paulton Rovers’ U18s won their final Somerset Floodlit Youth League Match against Keynsham Town, and were crowned champions of Division One North. We said a sad farewell to Stephen Shipley, founder of The Journal, who passed away after a long and courageous battle with ill health on 17th April. His funeral took place on 3rd May, with Fosseway Press closing as a mark of respect. We also said a very sad goodbye to a dear and recently retired colleague of ours, John Appleton, who also passed away a few days later.

Also in May, 100 brave spinners took part in a ten-hour ‘Spinathon’ at Southgate, Bath, raising £11,000 for the Forever Friends Appeal and the hospital’s pioneering new Cancer Centre. Charlie Bullock, a pupil at Norton Hill School who plays for Bristol City Academy Under-13s, won Players’ Player of the Season at an award ceremony at Ashton Gate.

In June, this year’s ‘Railway Rocks!’ event raised over £2,000 for the Go Blue for Lucia campaign, which donated money to the Teenage Cancer Trust, CLIC Sargent, The Rainbow Trust and Children’s Hospice South West. The 2017 event was particularly poignant, in the year that inspirational fundraiser, Lucia Robinson, would have turned eighteen. Lucia was instrumental in fundraising for the charities, wanting to help other young people and families in need.

Later that month, the now-annual Midsomer Norton Pride LGBTQA+ event took place at the Town Hall, with a ‘Filth and Fame’ theme that took inspiration from Hollywood.

The event included performances from international drag stars, Cheddar Gorgeous and Anna Phylactic, and local band, Verdisa.

In July, councillors, residents and community groups in Peasedown St John celebrated news that, after a long campaign, The Green between Frederick and Albert Avenues has received Government protection. After facing the threat of closure, Camerton Community Hall bounced back in July, when fundraising allowed for refurbished dressing rooms and a new PA system to be installed. The Committee showed their gratitude by throwing a Halloween party in October for the entire village, with ‘Buffy the Vampire Slayer’ star, Anthony Head, as a guest judge.

Radstock resident, Andrew Stammers, completed a gruelling 100-mile cycle challenge, raising nearly £800 for Brain Tumour Research. Celebrating twenty years of its supported housing service in 2017, SWALLOW, the local charity supporting teenagers and adults with learning disabilities, is now offering the opportunity of independent supported living at the new housing development at Beecham Place, Midsomer Norton.

Later in the month, the sun shone on this year’s M-Fest and Midsomer Norton Fayre Day, as the town’s revellers enjoyed a fantastic afternoon of live music across two stages in the High Street. Crowds grew throughout the afternoon, as residents enjoyed a wide range of music, including The Publicans, The One Tones, and Centrefolds.

Finally, thirty Midsomer Norton Sixth Form students travelled to the French Alps in the summer holidays to tackle a four-day expedition as part of their Duke of Edinburgh Gold Award. The students worked in self-sufficient teams, navigating their way on foot along the high mountain trails in that region.

In August, students from Writhlington and Midsomer Norton celebrated another excellent set of A-level and GCSE results. Mark Everett, Executive Headteacher, Writhlington School, said: “In a period of change and challenge within the exam system, I am extremely pleased that the hard work and effort from the students and staff has paid off for them. I wish them all the best in the future.”

The month also saw Chilcompton Sports Club pay host to the first-ever Chilcompton Fringe Festival, which was declared officially open by none other than Glastonbury Festival founder, Michael Eavis.

In September, six Midsomer Norton teenagers who paid a chance visit to Clifton Observatory, and ended up helping to save the life of a woman in distress and aiding a police officer, were given a civic award for their bravery and kindness. Paul Myers, Mayor of Midsomer Norton, said: “This group of young people are a credit to our community. I was keen that the Town Council recognised on behalf of the town the actions of this group.”

September also saw Midsomer Norton win the West of England Premier Cricket League’s Bristol and North Somerset Division in dramatic fashion at Withies Lane, leapfrogging Winterbourne with a polished performance in a 26-run victory, with a crowd of 200 erupting on the boundary.

Later that month, twelve Sixth Form students and three members of staff from Writhlington School and Mendip Studio School took part in the National 24-hour Three Peaks Challenge, where they beat their target time and fundraising goal to raise money for England and Wales Mountain Rescue.

October marked the ninth anniversary of the first Peasedown Party in the Park meeting. Since then, the organisation has brought in a massive £77,002.52 to the village through its events. After running his way across America, Kilmersdon’s Jim Plunkett-Cole (aka Jim Gump) returned from the US, and has been visiting local schools in the area ever since with a new initiative to inspire children and their families to be active every day.

Following the infamous 7–0 defeat at the hands of Norwich City in 2009, Paulton Rovers faced Sutton United at home in October, in the fourth Qualifying Round of the FA Cup. Despite scoring two goals, Rovers’ Cup dreams were not meant to be, exiting the tournament after a 3–2 defeat.

Students and teachers at St Mary’s CofE Primary School, Writhlington, celebrated the opening of their teaching block, which enabled the school to expand from 140 school places to 210. The Chair of B&NES Council, Councillor Cherry Beath, and the Honourable Andrew Jolliffe performed a ribbon-cutting ceremony, which was followed by a tour of the new facilities.

Towards the end of the month, Paulton’s Labour Councillors, John Bull and Liz Hardman, began a campaign to save the Library at the Paulton Hub, which could be one of the local library branches in danger of closing in 2018 if no volunteers or community organisations are found to run them.

In November, Clandown’s Dave Plummer ran the New York Marathon for the RUH Chaplaincy Remembrance Fund. The accomplished runner was in the top 40% of finishers in a fitting tribute to his late wife. Well done, Dave.

29 fundraisers have raised over £58,000 for The Forever Friends Appeal by completing one of the world’s most iconic trekking trails, the awe-inspiring Inca Trail in Peru. The group included hospital staff and locals from Midsomer Norton, Clandown, Paulton and our very own Journal Editor, Becky Brooks.

On 30th November, a house fire on Redfield Road, Midsomer Norton, left a young family homeless and coming to terms with the loss of their beloved dog. The community rallied round with a JustGiving page set up and generous donations of £2,520 at the time of writing. Other friends and organisations have also supported them with local events.

In December, regulars from the Tucker’s Grave Inn, Faulkland, waved a sad farewell to Glenda Swift, who has retired from the business, where she also lived, after 33 enjoyable years of work. New landlady, Sue Gait, has signed the paperwork and moved into the premises to become the third consecutive landlady for the Tucker’s Grave.

A team of students from St John’s CofE Primary School, Midsomer Norton, appeared on national television for ‘Top Class,’ a quiz intended to find the UK’s smartest school on CBBC. The team battled it out in the heats in September, before advancing through the Semi-Finals and winning in the final round against Hollymount Primary School from London in December. Congratulations to them!

Everyone at The Journal would like to wish all of our readers and advertisers a very Happy and Prosperous New Year, and to thank you all for your support in 2017.

We are a small team who live locally, and you will often see us out and about (if you don’t know us already!), with a camera in hand. We set all of the adverts and design the paper ourselves, all in-house, week in, week out, delivering 16,000 copies across the area.

This year, we have welcomed two new members of staff as our team grows; Stan Bull, in Editorial, and Katherine Macbean, in Advertising. The paper goes from strength to strength and we are really excited about 2018 – advertisers, please get in touch to find out about our new features! You can also visit our office on the Midsomer Enterprise Park.

The Journal began over thirty years ago, run by a very dedicated bunch of local people and we continue to carry on in this way today. So get in touch with your stories in 2018, and advertisers – let us know how we can help you in this brand New Year!

Becky Brooks, Editor