Keinton Mandeville
Thursday 2nd February – Keinton Mandeville/Barton St David
Walk Leaders: Keith & John L
A pleasant walk across Somerset fields and farmland views of course of the Mendip Hills and The Tor but from a different vista
Report
Today 18 walkers set out, having stood attentively listening to the history of some of the places we were going through, following the leader in a yellow high Vis jacket. The road was busy, but we all crossed safely and very shortly there was a consultation with the back marker in an orange high vis jacket. Was it this path we took?
Well, that was to be the theme – the comedy duo leading us across fields, very muddy lanes, along minor roads – and some not quite so minor in single file – but always with a lighthearted quip.
Coffee was finally taken at the Church of Barton St David, which we were assured would be open, but someone didn’t know how to open the protective mesh gate for keeping the birds out. Once the Church Warden had been alerted, we found we could get in.
What a beautiful, simple airy Church. It is the only one in Somerset with an octangle tower – an attractive feature. Recently re-decorated by a local painter it looked fresh and cared for. The ladies of the parish had embarked on a Millennium project to re-cover the old leather kneelers and had made an excellent job of so doing. The theme for the new covers was taken from the hymn “All things bright and beautiful” and each pew had a different verse represented – birds, flowers, insects all beautifully stitched. There was a portrait hanging up high of St David with his harp as another feature.
Also, in the Church was a tablet flanked by American stars and stripes flags, commemorating Henry Adams, born in the parish 1583, but a founder of New England in 1638 and later his two descendants were to be 2 presidents of the USA namely John Adams and John Quincy Adams.
Coffee consumed and off we set, with a photo opportunity of one of our taller men talking to a beautiful white horse, who was sticking his head out over his stable door to greet us. But who is this in the lead? Yellow leader seems to have been demoted and orange leader taken over for the walk across another field and along the lane, but then he seemed to be demoted back to be tail end Charlie and yellow leader took over again – what teamwork.
Finally, back in Keinton Mandeville we walked the pavements back to the Quarry Inn where we were served an excellent lunch by a multi-tasking David, who was taking payments for food and drinks serving up food ready from the kitchen, answering the phone and generally doing the work of at least two – well done sir. To conclude one of our members, who shall remain nameless, but we all know who she was, decided she could not resist the salted caramel ice cream from Marshfields dairy – but only one spoon was supplied – so those around ribbed her and drooled enviously. Great fun – thank you to leaders - Yellow and Orange.
Report by Patsy