On Wednesday, February 25, Harptrees History Society is delighted to be welcoming Dr Jo Edwards to talk about her research into “local legend” Hannah More, who spent many years living at Barley Wood in Wrington, now a wedding venue. She is buried at All Saints, Wrington, where there is a bust of her in the south porch.

Hannah More is acclaimed as a person of value by various communities throughout Bristol and Somerset – there are schools, parks, housing and streets named after her.

She is best known for her work as an educational philanthropist, which included opening schools in local villages such as Blagdon, Cheddar and Shipham throughout the 1790s.

Less is known about More’s role in the abolition movement and how her activism was received by the local communities and political and church elites.

Dr Jo Edwards is an historian and currently chairman of the Trustees of Nailsea Tithe Barn, where More also opened a school. Her talk aims to bring forward the importance of Hannah More’s work and its ongoing impact in Somerset.

The society meets in West Harptree Memorial Hall, BS40 6EG. Booking opens for visitors, who are very welcome with a donation of £3, on February 11. Just email: [email protected] with subject line ''February 2026”.

Mendip Male Voice Choir ended a successful season of Christmas concerts with its annual Christmas Concert at St John’s Church Midsomer Norton on Saturday, December 20.

The concert was a sell-out, rounding off a run of five concerts since the beginning of December, which helped a number of good causes to raise funds in the process.

“A sell-out audience enjoyed a wonderful evening that included Christmas readings by local actor Emily Pennant-Rea, audience participation in an amusing adaptation of The 12 Days of Christmas, and the Choir itself with pieces that showed our talent at its best”, said choir chairman Richard Luscombe, “None of this would have been possible without the exceptional skills of our accompanist Dominic Irving, and of course the inspirational leadership of Kate Courage, our musical director, who had even composed a completely new piece for the Choir this year.

“Not only have we delighted audiences with a varied and entertaining repertoire, but our performances have also helped raise funds for a range of good causes, including the church funds of St Mary’s Timsbury, Henton Christ Church and St John the Baptist in Chilcompton, as well as Children’s Hospice South West and Prostate Cancer UK. It is particularly special at Christmas to know that our concerts have benefited so many.”

“We absolutely loved your concert and I know the whole audience thought it was amazing”, said the organiser of the concert at Henton Village Hall near Wells on December 6: “We raised £515 towards Henton Christ Church revitalisation fund and an additional £160 on the table sale”.

The choir also raised £168 at the Bath Christmas Market on 8th December for Children’s Hospice South West, with further funds raised to support the choir’s charitable work at the annual Christmas concert. This included the proceeds from the raffle totalling £240, donated to Prostate Cancer UK.

The choir sang to a packed St Mary’s church at Timsbury to start its Christmas season on Monday 1 December. This concert included a world debut for, “O Holy Child”, a carol written for the choir by Musical Director Kate Courage.

On 13 December, the choir sang at a concert in St John’s Church Chilcompton, helping to raise funds to revitalise the heating in the church. Some members of the choir also joined Westfield Voices at Tesco Midsomer Norton on 12th December to sing carols in aid of Children’s Hospice South West. This resulted in £517.50 raised for three vital childrens’ hospices in Devon, Cornwall and Somerset.

“What a magnificent festive season we enjoyed across the county, with many audiences. Our varied programme was commented on by many, who said it was 'joyous, Christmassy and great fun'”, said Musical Director Kate Courage, “We loved singing in all sorts of different spaces, from Henton Village Hall to Bath Christmas Market and the glorious St John's church in Midsomer Norton where you feel you've stepped into a Victorian Christmas. The men were in fine voice and, with the addition of five new pieces this season, our audiences had lots of new delights and old favourites to keep them entertained. Onwards and upwards into 2026!”

Following the Christmas and New Year break, the choir resumed rehearsals at the Midsomer Norton Methodist Centre, High Street, Midsomer Norton, Radstock, BA3 2DR, beginning on Monday, January 5, at 7.30pm, when the choir will begin work on its spring 2026 concerts.

The choir continues to attract new members and would welcome male voice singers interested in joining the choir at its Monday rehearsals. Current members are spread across east Somerset and west Wiltshire. The choir can be contacted via its website: www.mendipmen.co.uk/ or just turn up on a Monday evening at the Methodist Church in Midsomer Norton before rehearsals start.

THERE are a number of forthcoming Chew Valley Local History Society Meetings at the Millennium Hall, Chew Magna.

Doors open 7.15pm. Further information is available on all events from Robin Cade on 01275 333450 or email [email protected]

Wednesday, February 4 – The local Antiquary Henry T Ellacombe 1790-1885.

Deacon Lester Yeo introduces us to the life of the social reformer, engineer, local parish priest, public speaker, architect, bellringer, horticulturist, musician, craftsman, author and designer. He designed the Ellacombe apparatus once apparently common in local churches.

Highly qualified geologist, Dr Mike Watts’s talk, on Wednesday, March 4, is called ‘Has the Earth moved for you? ’The founding fathers of British geology, the antiquary John Strachey and William Smith, of Sutton Court, Stowey, ultimately changed the world forever, leading to our modern understanding of how the Earth works. Their work enables the Chew Valley landscape and its history to be placed in its global context.

Friday, April 17, is the 70th Anniversary of Queen Elizabeth 11 visit to open the Chew Lake. We are inviting everyone interested to join us on the afternoon of Sunday, April 19, to celebrate this unique event in the Old School Rooms, Chew Magna.

Full details will be available in the coming weeks, but we are asking anyone with pictures of the valley before the lake and /or pictures and memories of April 17, 1956, to let us borrow them for the day.

These can be sent by email to [email protected], given to Moira at Chew Magna post office, or by letting Robin know your preference. Complimentary admission and VIP acknowledgement, subject to availability, will be gratefully arranged for those who attended the opening, or the Queen’s journey from Bristol, or are able to lend us information.

In January Brian Edwards told members of the Whitchurch Local History Society about the history of Whitchurch’s United Reformed Church with some background on the Non-Conformist movement in the Bristol area.

On February 27 we will welcome Richard Stride with his presentation on ‘The Civil War in Bristol’.

The committee is looking into possibilities for holding one or two afternoon talks later in the Spring. Details will be published when finalised.

A spokesperson said: “We welcome anyone to our programme of talks or events, and also anyone wishing to come along just for individual talks. The evenings begin at 7.30pm.”

The society meet at the United Reformed Church on the main road though the village. For more information about the society, membership and its events, contact the secretary, Geoff Gardiner, on 01275 830869 or at [email protected]

Chew Valley Gadget Busters are here to help with digital devices.

Having difficulty using the Green Buses, WESTLink App or website to book a ride? Or do you have problems using your laptop, iPad, tablet, phone or digital camera? Or maybe you want to make video calls, send photos or use WhatsApp to contact your friends and family, but don't know how.

Chew Valley Gadget Busters are holding face to face sessions, thanks to The Queens pub in Chew Magna on February 11 and the Stoke Inn, Chew Stoke on March 11. So do visit Gadget Busters who are here to help.

Either book an appointment by e-mailing [email protected], or turn up on the day. We hold one, two-hour sessions each month, from 12.30pm to 2.30pm on a Wednesday, alternating between Chew Magna and Chew Stoke. It costs £3 per appointment, all of which will go to charity.