Here's a round of up stories through the years from this week's paper (October 1).
Annie took to the skies at 93 years old
A TAUNTON woman had her first aeroplane flight and foreign holiday - at the age of 93.
Annie Wilson said she enjoyed it so much she might plan on retiring to the sun!
Mrs Wilson, lived at Murley House Nursing and Residential Home, returned from a week in Cyprus with her daughter Sheila Palmer in 2000.
They stayed with Mrs Wilson’s grandson and his wife.
Sheila said: “I think I may have opened a new chapter in her life as her other grandson lives in Massachusetts, USA. It might now be a care of ‘have passport, will travel!’”
Mrs Palmer - pictured with her mother right - said the trip went extremely well. They took with them a walking frame and wheelchair and the only problem was a lack of disabled access in some places.
On the plane they had a champagne breakfast, presentation chocolates and a photo with the captain.
Mrs Palmer said: “She couldn’t believe waking every day to a clear blue sky with glorious sunshine.”
Unique ‘Troll’ trial car given its first run out
THIS week in 1980 a little green ‘Troll’ was leaping around the sides of stone quarries and doing ‘wheelies’ on steep tracks on the hills around Minehead.
The brainchild of champion trialist Peter James, The Troll was the only car of its design in the world.
“The only way I could get the car I wanted for this sport of trials racing was to dream up the vehicle myself,” Peter, a qualified engineer, explained.
He sat down at the drawing board and within 18 months had designed and built The Troll, an aluminium vehicle built around an MG engine.
On its trial runs in West Somerset the car showed amazing ‘up-and-go’ and handled bumps well despite its light framework.
Driving instructor teaches in modified Morris Minor...
A TAUNTON-based driving instructor ditched his Ford Fiesta in 2010 for a modified Morris Minor 1000.
Graham Rant, who runs Classic Driving School, had the 30-year-old car rebuilt with dual controls and a host of other modifications so it could be used for his pupils’ lessons.
The work was done by Tim Lang, of car restoration centre Tim Lang Classics, in Taunton.
Mr Lang stripped the car, improved its strength, electroplated, primed and painted it.
He also fitted modern brakes, a five-speed gearbox and tinted windows. Nostalgic Mr Rant said the Morris Minor is not only ‘different’ to teach with but surprisingly effective as a car for learner drivers.
Award for first-class courage
THIS week in 1990 bravery awards were presented to the Taunton Deane Post Office staff for their courage.
The honours went to Blagdon Hill sub-postmaster John Bryant and his wife Mercedes, to Peggy Wotton of the Wellington branch, and to Max Saunders from the Taunton East Reach office.
The awards were given after three potential raids were seen off without any money being taken or injuries caused.
Mr and Mrs Bryant were confronted by a hooded raider with an imitation gun in December, Peggy Wotton locked herself in her office when a robber threatened to ‘blow her away’ and Mr Saunders saw off a masked gunman that same year.
Coffee mornings raise thousands for cancer charity
COFFEE mornings across Taunton raised thousands for Macmillan Cancer Support in 2015.
Stephen Deacon, the store manager at Marks and Spencer’s in Taunton, said: “It went very well. We had an exercise bike donated to us and then people did half an hour each on the bike to raise money.”
Katherine Moore organised an independent coffee morning at Creech St Michael village hall, raising £1,650.
Katherine, who held a second coffee morning in Crewkerne on the Saturday, said: “I would like to say thank you to my team for their help.”
Gary Edwards, clinical lead at Sherford Manor EMI Residential & EMI Nursing Care Home in Wyvern Road, Taunton, said: “It was very successful. We’re still counting but we think we have raised about £100.”
The Bathpool Salon’s coffee morning managed to raise £267.40.
Protests against Hinkley C
PROTESTERS wearing badger masks chained themselves to the entrance of Hinkley Point B power station in 2010.
Anti-nuclear campaigners from the Stop Nuclear Power Network arrived at 7am to blockade the access road in protest at EDF Energy’s consultation into its plans for a third station.
A group spokesman said: “What kind of democracy is this if the most important question – whether we want to expose ourselves and coming generations to nuclear danger and radioactive waste – is not part of the consultation?”
Protesters wore badger masks as they claim a third station would lead to the destruction of wildlife habitats.
EDF insists it is a “valued part of the community and local economy,” and the “overwhelming majority” of local residents support the plans.
David Eccles of EDF said: “We have just concluded our stage two consultation and have engaged with a very wide range of stakeholders so that their comments can inform our plans.”
Somerset County Council was set to contact EDF Energy to complain about a “lack of detail” in its proposals for Hinkley Point C.
Comments: Our rules
We want our comments to be a lively and valuable part of our community - a place where readers can debate and engage with the most important local issues. The ability to comment on our stories is a privilege, not a right, however, and that privilege may be withdrawn if it is abused or misused.
Please report any comments that break our rules.
Read the rules here