Orchestra to premiere concerto in Bradford on Avon

THE Wiltshire Music Centre has been chosen to play host to the premiere of a world-famous orchestra’s performance of a piano concerto. The Academy of St Martin in the Fields will be performing at the centre in Ashley Road, being lead by Israeli pianist Inon Barnatan, the ensemble will be showing the audiences Piano Concerto No.2, The Haunted Ebb, composed by Alasdair Nicolson.

Ilminster Town Council reject 450 homes plan

Ilminster Town Council have slammed a proposal by Persimmon Homes to build up to 450 new houses on land south of Canal Way. Chairman of the Planning, Highways and Transport Committee Andrew Shearman told Persimmon’s reprensentative at the meeting, planner Jamie Grant, ‘your company does not listen to what the people of this town want’.

Thief crawls into store to steal children’s magazines

A British shopkeeper shared video of a bizarre theft where a man crawled into the store on all fours and grabbed magazines meant for young girls. Sunny Patel, owner of the Best-One store in the Knowle district of Bristol, England, posted CCTV videos to Facebook showing different angles of the Friday incident at the store.

Video shows man being kidnapped from busy bar

Police have released shocking surveillance video showing the moment a man is kidnapped by a group of men from a bar in Bristol, England. The 22-year-old victim was dragged out of the bar on December 15, 2016, before being assaulted and thrown into a car.

Colourful art showcase by school children at Ilminster Arts Centre

“Schools Go Visual” is the sixth exhibition of its kind at the Arts Centre, and is a wonderful opportunity to see the high standard of art in five nearby schools. The exhibition opens on Monday, February 13 with artworks by pupils from Chard School, Greenfylde Church of England First School, Neroche Primary School, and Swanmead School.

Jamie and Lynette Cook, of Waterrow Touring Park.

The presentation evening at Ashton Gate, in Bristol, was hosted by ITV news presenter Kylie Pentelow and featured jugglers, a presentation by adventurer Alastair Humphreys and opening address from travel journalist Alison Rice. “Whatever 2017 throws at this very special region of Britain, the award winners will excel at what they do best – offering all comers the best possible visitor experiences.”

Can You Help? Daughter of Ilminster Home Guard tracking down comrades

BROTHERS IN ARMS: STC Home Guard of Ilminster, with Geoffrey Ford in the back row, fifth from the left, and below, some of the guards’ equipment A CANADIAN woman whose father was evacuated to Ilminster during the Second World War and served in the town’s Home Guard is appealing to the public to help track down his brothers in arms. Geoffrey Ford previously lived in Orpington, London, and was evacuated to Ilminster in November 1940 as an employee for Standard Telephone and Cables .

Seven schools may team up for ‘unique’ multi academy trust

PRIESTLEY College could team up with four secondary schools and two primary schools to create a ground-breaking new multi academy trust. Penketh High, Beamont Collegiate Academy, Sir Thomas Boteler Church of England High, Bridgwater High, Penketh South Primary and Great Sankey Primary are all planning to join the sixth form to create one of the largest trusts in the north west and one of the first MATs to include a faith school.

Seven schools may team up for ‘unique’ multi academy trust

PRIESTLEY College could team up with four secondary schools and two primary schools to create a ground-breaking new multi academy trust. Penketh High, Beamont Collegiate Academy, Sir Thomas Boteler Church of England High, Bridgwater High, Penketh South Primary and Great Sankey Primary are all planning to join the sixth form to create one of the largest trusts in the north west and one of the first MATs to include a faith school.

All you need to know about the Exmoor Food Fest and the launch evening

TAKING PART: Head chef of The Luttrell Arms in Dunster, Barrie Tucker, who will be leading the launch of the Exmoor Food Festival with a stunning menu Originally the idea of Exmoor chef Andrew Dixon, the event is now organised by Elke Winzer who is also behind Exmoor4all and the Exmoor Markets which take place regularly at Tesco ‘s Minehead and other locations around Exmoor. The Dunster Food Festival will be the grand finale on the Exmoor Food Fest on the last weekend in February.

LETTER: Changes are for the good of Taunton – not politcal capital

Firstly, I will gladly join with her in praising the tremendous work of Open Door, Taunton Association for the Homeless and the Taunton Food Bank, but it is unfortunate these hard-working organisations are used for political capital. Cllr Smith talks about charity beginning at home, well, perhaps if she and the rest of the Liberal Democrats stopped putting Taunton down at every opportunity the true picture would emerge.

New Year’s Resolutions: Sorting out finances is top priority for people this year

IT is back to reality for everyone this week as we wave goodbye to Christmas and 2016 and head back to work. Except now you might have noticed you have gained a bit of weight over the holidays, your liver is hurting from too much festive partying, or you are dreading checking your bank balance after a festive splurge on the high street, so it might be time for a change in the form of a New Year’s Resolution.

Mother-of-three avoids jail for causing crash that left woman with life changing injuries

Claire Pringle lost control of her car as she overtook on double white lines on a sharp bend, swerving into the grass verge and hedge on the A358 Chard to Taunton road in the Peasmarsh area. Her car ended up at a 90 degree angle to the road, hit a car on the opposite side of the road and veered into the path of a car coming in the opposite direction, while two other cars also collided, Taunton Crown Court heard on Friday.