Timberscombe and the Covid 19 Pandemic, 2022
Title
Timberscombe and the Covid 19 Pandemic, 2022
Subject
Description
On the first day of 2022, Sajid Javid, Health Minister, warned that all people living in the UK would have to learn to live alongside Covid-19. Further restrictions, such as requirements to wear masks; school, church, shop and business closures; employees being required to work from home; taking a PCR test when travelling and so many other requirements; part of everyones lives since the 23rd of March 2020, would now be utilised "only as a last resort" (1).
Indeed on the 26th of January, all restrictions introduced to limit the spread of the Omicron variant, the third strain of the virus that had spread across the world, ended in Britain (2).
All four photographs on this page feature the people of Timberscombe gathering together, with a sense of celebration which was apt. The photographs are very different from the photographs featured at SP- 328, taken during that first year of lockdown. And doubtlessly every individual pictured in the group photographs seen here was feeling some sense of relief.
Yet no one, especially during the first months of 2022 in Timberscombe, thought Covid-19 was eradicated. Most villagers knew that on the 8th of January 2022, the number of UK deaths had reached 150,000 (3) and throughout the rest of winter and well into spring, more new cases, some quite severe, appeared here in their village---more local cases than had been recorded at any other time during the pandemic. Another reminder that covid was not over and done with came on the 20th of February, when 95-year-old Queen Elizabeth II tested positive for Covid-19. Like most, she took sensible and necessary precautions and then carried on with her duties (4).
The top photograph was taken on the 2nd of May 2022 by Anne Stamford, depicting the once-annual Duck Race, always held along a tributary of the River Aville, southwest of Timberscombe, and a short walk from Timberscombe School. Little yellow rubber ducks are floating along, that were numbered to identify each and every duckling to a sponsor that had paid to have it afloat--in hopes of claiming a prize if their duck was a finalist. The aim was also to benefit the school. The children seen in this picture had not been allowed to attend in-school classes during lockdown. Since the previous September, most had been back in school, and while parents could visit, access remained limited (5). The photograph suggests a smaller crowd than pre-pandemic duck races (and to be fair, it was also an overcast day) but it was back, an event where all parents and all children (and anyone else) could attend together.
Beginning a month to the day after the Duck Race was the Platinum Jubilee of Her Majesty, Queen Elizabeth II, honouring the 70th year of her reign, the longest of any monarch in the country's history. Various Jubilee events (pictured and described at SP-331) began on the 2nd of June, continuing until the 5th. Certainly a highlight, held on Friday, the 3rd of June, was the Jubilee Big Lunch, with long tables of food filling most all of the street (already known as Jubilee Terrace). The second photograph was taken by Dan Lloyd, a new resident with his familywho had moved to Rosemont House on Brook Street the previous April. Planning and bringing this event together was the Big Lunch Committee, including Martin Booth, Sophie Melrose, Barry Melrose, Sarah Campbell, Carl Farmer, Kayleigh Campbell-Farmer, Jessica (Jess) Plumridge, Matt Davis, Allan Sutton, Megan de Gruyter and Laurence Peuleve, all of whom had been affected by the virus--some quite directly. To each of them, this was a day to serve delicious food to lots of villagers, many of whom had not been able to sit down together for over two years and three months. At the top of the street is The Lion Inn, operating at this site since the 1600's (6) which also had to close during the lockdown. In this photograph, the door is open and inside the proprietor, Malcolm Passmore, was offering further and greatly appreciated liquid refreshment.
Of course, the main purpose of each event was to honour the Queen, who died, aged 96, on the 8th of September 2022, serving the country in her final years, during a difficult yet historic era.
The year before, on 21 July 2021, a Garden Party was able to be held at Bougham House, hosted by its owner, Kate Hart and to benefit St. Petrock's Church. It took place two days after "Freedom Day", when most covid restrictions had been newly lifted. The third photograph, taken by Gabrielle Horrobin, is a year and two days later at the second St. Petrock's Garden Party that could be held, given at Waterside by Marion and Ian Moncrieff on 23 July 2022. Just a smattering of many guests are in this photograph but they can be identified from left to right: Wendy and Edward Schofield (from West Hawkwell Farm), Brian Milligan (East Harwood), Harry Crawford, (from Pondside and only with his crisp white hat and white gloved hands, elegantly resting on his cane, visible), Tom Sperling (Berrowcote), Joyce Smith (Ford Cottage), Sheila Ridd (Hillcrest), Dan Lloyd (from Rosemont House and standing), Jim Horrobin (from Furze View, also husband of the photographer and holding their dog, Sassy, on leash), Anne Stamford (in pink), Maureen Waters (from the back, wearing a white hat and from Church Steps Cottage), Ron Oliver (from the back, Ladys Field), Owen Rush (or at least his left shoulder, from Cowbridge Mill), Jill Cawsey (apparently lifting something) and Wendy Cook (Blackball House). Wendy Cook had been part of the newly revived Timberscombe Hand Bellringers, giving their first public post-pandemic performance at the opening of the garden party.
A much more sombre picture is presented at SP-328, taken on 27 March 2020, just a few days after the beginning of the first UK lockdown, decreed because of the overwhelming onset of Covid-19. The photograph depicts the locked front doors of St. Petrock's. On each side of the doors are flowers that were to have been part of a funeral for Eric Lucas, who had died of cancer on 10 March 2020. He and his wife, Pat Lucas, had moved to Somerset from Scotland. An avid bellringer, Mr. Lucas had rung in many of the local churches and had publicly named Timberscombe as "his ringing home" (7). With the closing of St. Petrock's Church--for the first time in its long history--during those earlier and frightening days of the pandemic, there was nothing to do but leave the flowers at the door.
The final photograph seen is of the Timberscombe Bellringers. It was taken inside The Lion Inn by Malcolm Passmore, on a Thursday evening, 18 August 2022. Thursdays had always been the practice night for Timberscombe's bellringers, often followed by a visit to the pub. Neither had been possible during the lockdown and even after the easing of Covid-19 restrictions, the Timberscombe ringers had not returned to their tower. Now that they could, Pat Lucas decided she wanted to pay for their drinks on this evening. From left to right, Gwynnie Poole, Kate Hart, Allan Sutton, Alan Hines, Martin Booth, Ken Powls and Tower Captain, Elisabeth Powls. They all raised their drinks to finally make a toast to Eric Lucas that they had not been able to do before.
Indeed on the 26th of January, all restrictions introduced to limit the spread of the Omicron variant, the third strain of the virus that had spread across the world, ended in Britain (2).
All four photographs on this page feature the people of Timberscombe gathering together, with a sense of celebration which was apt. The photographs are very different from the photographs featured at SP- 328, taken during that first year of lockdown. And doubtlessly every individual pictured in the group photographs seen here was feeling some sense of relief.
Yet no one, especially during the first months of 2022 in Timberscombe, thought Covid-19 was eradicated. Most villagers knew that on the 8th of January 2022, the number of UK deaths had reached 150,000 (3) and throughout the rest of winter and well into spring, more new cases, some quite severe, appeared here in their village---more local cases than had been recorded at any other time during the pandemic. Another reminder that covid was not over and done with came on the 20th of February, when 95-year-old Queen Elizabeth II tested positive for Covid-19. Like most, she took sensible and necessary precautions and then carried on with her duties (4).
The top photograph was taken on the 2nd of May 2022 by Anne Stamford, depicting the once-annual Duck Race, always held along a tributary of the River Aville, southwest of Timberscombe, and a short walk from Timberscombe School. Little yellow rubber ducks are floating along, that were numbered to identify each and every duckling to a sponsor that had paid to have it afloat--in hopes of claiming a prize if their duck was a finalist. The aim was also to benefit the school. The children seen in this picture had not been allowed to attend in-school classes during lockdown. Since the previous September, most had been back in school, and while parents could visit, access remained limited (5). The photograph suggests a smaller crowd than pre-pandemic duck races (and to be fair, it was also an overcast day) but it was back, an event where all parents and all children (and anyone else) could attend together.
Beginning a month to the day after the Duck Race was the Platinum Jubilee of Her Majesty, Queen Elizabeth II, honouring the 70th year of her reign, the longest of any monarch in the country's history. Various Jubilee events (pictured and described at SP-331) began on the 2nd of June, continuing until the 5th. Certainly a highlight, held on Friday, the 3rd of June, was the Jubilee Big Lunch, with long tables of food filling most all of the street (already known as Jubilee Terrace). The second photograph was taken by Dan Lloyd, a new resident with his familywho had moved to Rosemont House on Brook Street the previous April. Planning and bringing this event together was the Big Lunch Committee, including Martin Booth, Sophie Melrose, Barry Melrose, Sarah Campbell, Carl Farmer, Kayleigh Campbell-Farmer, Jessica (Jess) Plumridge, Matt Davis, Allan Sutton, Megan de Gruyter and Laurence Peuleve, all of whom had been affected by the virus--some quite directly. To each of them, this was a day to serve delicious food to lots of villagers, many of whom had not been able to sit down together for over two years and three months. At the top of the street is The Lion Inn, operating at this site since the 1600's (6) which also had to close during the lockdown. In this photograph, the door is open and inside the proprietor, Malcolm Passmore, was offering further and greatly appreciated liquid refreshment.
Of course, the main purpose of each event was to honour the Queen, who died, aged 96, on the 8th of September 2022, serving the country in her final years, during a difficult yet historic era.
The year before, on 21 July 2021, a Garden Party was able to be held at Bougham House, hosted by its owner, Kate Hart and to benefit St. Petrock's Church. It took place two days after "Freedom Day", when most covid restrictions had been newly lifted. The third photograph, taken by Gabrielle Horrobin, is a year and two days later at the second St. Petrock's Garden Party that could be held, given at Waterside by Marion and Ian Moncrieff on 23 July 2022. Just a smattering of many guests are in this photograph but they can be identified from left to right: Wendy and Edward Schofield (from West Hawkwell Farm), Brian Milligan (East Harwood), Harry Crawford, (from Pondside and only with his crisp white hat and white gloved hands, elegantly resting on his cane, visible), Tom Sperling (Berrowcote), Joyce Smith (Ford Cottage), Sheila Ridd (Hillcrest), Dan Lloyd (from Rosemont House and standing), Jim Horrobin (from Furze View, also husband of the photographer and holding their dog, Sassy, on leash), Anne Stamford (in pink), Maureen Waters (from the back, wearing a white hat and from Church Steps Cottage), Ron Oliver (from the back, Ladys Field), Owen Rush (or at least his left shoulder, from Cowbridge Mill), Jill Cawsey (apparently lifting something) and Wendy Cook (Blackball House). Wendy Cook had been part of the newly revived Timberscombe Hand Bellringers, giving their first public post-pandemic performance at the opening of the garden party.
A much more sombre picture is presented at SP-328, taken on 27 March 2020, just a few days after the beginning of the first UK lockdown, decreed because of the overwhelming onset of Covid-19. The photograph depicts the locked front doors of St. Petrock's. On each side of the doors are flowers that were to have been part of a funeral for Eric Lucas, who had died of cancer on 10 March 2020. He and his wife, Pat Lucas, had moved to Somerset from Scotland. An avid bellringer, Mr. Lucas had rung in many of the local churches and had publicly named Timberscombe as "his ringing home" (7). With the closing of St. Petrock's Church--for the first time in its long history--during those earlier and frightening days of the pandemic, there was nothing to do but leave the flowers at the door.
The final photograph seen is of the Timberscombe Bellringers. It was taken inside The Lion Inn by Malcolm Passmore, on a Thursday evening, 18 August 2022. Thursdays had always been the practice night for Timberscombe's bellringers, often followed by a visit to the pub. Neither had been possible during the lockdown and even after the easing of Covid-19 restrictions, the Timberscombe ringers had not returned to their tower. Now that they could, Pat Lucas decided she wanted to pay for their drinks on this evening. From left to right, Gwynnie Poole, Kate Hart, Allan Sutton, Alan Hines, Martin Booth, Ken Powls and Tower Captain, Elisabeth Powls. They all raised their drinks to finally make a toast to Eric Lucas that they had not been able to do before.
Creator
Anne Stamford /
Dan Lloyd /
Gabrielle Horobin /
Malcolm Passmore
Dan Lloyd /
Gabrielle Horobin /
Malcolm Passmore
Date
2 May 2022
3 June 2022
23 July 2022
18 August 2022
3 June 2022
23 July 2022
18 August 2022
Contributor
Language
English
Identifier
four photograph s of Timberscombe events during 2022, at the time of Covid-19 / the Timberscombe School Duck Race, 2 May / Jubilee Big Lunch, Jubilee Terrace, 3 June /
St. Petrock's Garden Party, Waterside, 23 July / a toast to Eric Lucas, The Lion Inn, 18 August
St. Petrock's Garden Party, Waterside, 23 July / a toast to Eric Lucas, The Lion Inn, 18 August
Acquisition Date
2022
2022
2022
2022
2022
2022
2022
Acquisition Method
Gift
Category
EVENTS / Timberscombe
PEOPLE: Named / Timberscombe
PEOPLE: Named / Timberscombe
Condition
Good
Condition Notes
entered by Tom Sperling
Condition Date
2022
Dimension Type
W X L
Dimension Units
cm
Dimension Value
to be entered
Institution Name
St. Petrock's History Group
Notes
(1) British Foreign Policy Group Timeline, bfpg.co.uk (2) Chroniclelive.co.uk, by Ariane Sohnrobi Shiraz, Harry Thompson and Sophie Finnegan (3) gov.uk (4) npr.org (5) Timberscombe Church of England School , Moorland Federation Outbreak Management Plan 2021, updated January 2022 (6) VictoriaCountyHistory.ac.uk (7) "News From the Dunster Branch", March 2020, Bath and Wells Diocesan Association of Change Ringers, contributed by Elisabeth Powls
Storage Location
St. Petrock's History Group Archive
Storage Date
2022
Storage Notes
St. Petrock's History Group PHOTOGRAPHS
Item Reference
SP-330
Technique
Copies
Citation
Anne Stamford /
Dan Lloyd /
Gabrielle Horobin /
Malcolm Passmore, “Timberscombe and the Covid 19 Pandemic, 2022,” St. Petrock's History Group, accessed April 24, 2024, https://stpetrockshistorygroup.omeka.net/items/show/3593.
Comments