This week in history - From our files

29/6/1898:

  • 40 people have been poisoned after eating ice cream: 2 died
  • Adverts of the time: Woollatt’s wonderful pills + Holloway’s pills and ointments; “Splendid tonic for weak people”
  • Several convictions for bigamy, attempted suicide, fraud and arson
  • Dedication festival at the parish church - St John the Baptist

28/6/1939:

  • Cinema showings of “men with wings”, “flight into nowhere” and “the Lady’s objects” (front cover news)
  • Wellington school speech day with new headmaster Mr A.J Price
  • Potato disease (eel worm disease) followed drought and caused crop failure

02/7/2003:

  • Year 5 students at Wellington school put on a show
  • May cut plans for women’s loos at the Rockwell green pavilion for lack of money 
  • Moulin Rouge themed wedding held
  • Prince of Wales (now the king) visits Sheppy’s
  • £1 coin causes £300 of damage to the Nynhead ride on mower
  • Milverton Church fete raised around £2,100
  • Mark Dyer challenges C of E views on homosexuality on radio 4’s moral maze
  • Courtfields prom
  • Kingsmead students (around 60) walked 30km on Dartmoor for bronze DofE
  • Man hangs himself after his partner leaves him 

26/6/2020:

  • Armed forces day poems and pictures from children @ local primary schools
  • Older and lonely phone calls: Age UK helped people in covid
  • Prep school prepared to welcome back everyone 
  • Lockdown measures are being gently eased 
  • Surplus food from Morrisons in Minehead are being delivered to local schools to ease the transition back to school