In April 2014, Trevor Beebee completed a survey of reptiles and aphibians in the village. That survey is now available...

Click to read the survey

Thanks Trevor!

Some time ago St. Lawrence School PTA sent out a newsletter, requesting parents to think of ideas to help with fundraising. Local mum, Victoria Jones tried making Golden Syrup Rice Crispy cakes (which would not set and looked as flat as if they had been sat on) but then hit on that simple yet elusive idea...

After working in the entertainment industry, offering laundry services for several years, Victoria realised that through her company Swift Laundry, which offers a laundry service to the community, she I could sponsor the school PTA. She has pledged to give 10% of every sale generated within Westbury-sub-Mendip and surrounding villages to the PTA. Victoria says, "This is a far more productive use of my time. I am much better at laundry than making cakes!"

To help the school PTA while meeting all your laundry needs, contact Victoria at swiftlaundry.com (tel: 01749 870136) and quote: STL10.

August Bank Holiday Sunday 2012 saw the 3rd Anniversary of The Book Exchange celebrated with the usual Tea Party in The Square. This year we were pleased to welcome Phyllis Curtis who was accompanied by Jan Ward. Phyllis thoroughly enjoyed the interlude. Also able to attend were family visitors of Lyn & Rob Dolby & Jan & Ray Fisher.

A grand tea was provided and everyone had a lovely couple of hours.

In April 2012 The Book Exchange was priviledged to have a visit from NBC (America).  This was part of a UK tour taking in  unusual places in England. It was broadcast coast to coast on American TV after the Olympics and this short film can be accessed via the home page of our village website.

On April 1st 2012, NBC came to Westbury to film in the village. They were on on a nationwide tour of Britain to film an assortment of locations which the Americans would deem to be quirky, but which are typically British. The episodes went out across America just after the Olympics as an affectionate tribute to our country.

You can see the video 

Police were called after reports a man had been shot in the village just after 2230 BST on Sunday. He died after they arrived. Officers discovered a second body in a nearby churchyard shortly afterwards, and a shotgun was recovered.

Police sealed off St Lawrence Church and neighbouring property Westbury House.

The force spokesman said "At 10.39pm on Sunday a call was received by police from someone reporting that a man had been shot at a house in the village. Police attended the scene but the man died shortly after the incident."

There will be no further information posted on this site. For further information you are advised to visit the BBC News website or other news websites. If you have any information,you are urged to call 0845 456 7000

The tea party in The Square this year celebrated the first anniversary of the Book Exchange.

The neighbours once again enjoyed a delicious picnic in The Square organised by Andrew Buchanan, and with no major decision to be made this year,  there was much talking, eating and drinking.  A good time was had by all.

Will this become an annual event?

Picture by Jan Fisher 

Last weekend (17-Apr-10) the website was hacked and had to be taken down. It's now back but as a result of the time spent restoring and checking things we're a bit behind on getting some of the latest articles live.

All the best

Ben

On Friday 20th March 2009 the Google Streetview car was spotted in Lodge Hill taking photographs for its controversial website that allows people anywhere in the world to get a view of the street where you live.

Finally, on Thursday 11th March nearly a year later, the guys at Google have released the images showing a lovely spring day in Westbury-sub-Mendip to all the world.

BT has awarded a special prize of £500 to Westbury-sub-Mendip Parish Council for the conversion of the decommissioned phone kiosk in The Square into The Book Exchange.

The Parish’s entry into a nationwide competition organised by BT so impressed the judges that they decided to reward our efforts with £500 which will be used for the benefit of the community.

Special thanks go to the many villagers who were featured in the photo that accompanied the competition entry. Without your help this would not have been possible.

Since its introduction, many other items have joined the wide selection of books in the kiosk. DVDs, CDs , videos and audio tapes have appeared – mirroring the services available from a regular library. So do come along with your old books etc and return home with something different to enjoy. It is all free!

Details of how the money has been spent will appear in a future edition of The Pew and in the meantime The Book Exchange is yours to use.

Bob Dolby

An archive of all posters that have ever adorned the telegraph poles of the village has been started on the website in the gallery.

Please submit your posters to the This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it   so people visiting the site know what an active village we live in.

On Friday 20th March the Google Streetview car was spotted in Lodge Hill taking photographs for its controversial website that allows people anywhere in the world to get a view of the street where you live.

It's not known when the photographs will be available on the web but when they are they'll show a lovely spring day in Westbury-sub-Mendip to all the world

The Market Place is the place for advertising your items for sale, services, lost & found, etc. Adverts will normally be displayed for a month after which they will be automatically removed, although you can ask for other display periods if you wish.

It is now free for local businesses to place a banner advert at the top of the website.

A group from the Village Singers were treated to a tour of the upper levels of Wells cathedral organised by Malcolm Mogford. Weak hearts and nerves were overcome and the fascinating tour culminated in beautiful views from the top of the main tower.

View some of the images in the Photo Gallery.