Recently we looked after a funeral service for a gentleman, who lived and worked on the same farm in Dorset for 40+ years. During our arrangement meeting, it was suggested to the family, that his final journey should be via the farm, the family were thrilled with the idea that their beloved dad / grandad could leave from his 'home' for one final time. The family arranged to have a photographer along the farm driveway to capture these lovely photo's** of the gentleman's final journey to Bridport Cemetery, even the sun was shining.

There are no rules to play by when arranging a funeral service for a loved one, whether that's arranging an alternative form of transport, or planning a route that passes by a special place, we will make the necessary arrangements to ensure your loved one's funeral is as unique as the person that has passed away.

**Photo's provided by the family and permission given to share

So the day arrived, my first Ultra, Ham Hill to Lyme Regis. 50K, the weather wasn't so great at the start, however it did clear and conditions improved.
Again stunning scenery along the route. Thoroughly enjoyed this tough race, it made a change from manning the aid station  at Lamberts Castle, which I have done for many years.

This year I wanted to try something new, a challenge, so I decided that I wanted to run an Ultra, that is a distance race over and above marathon distance so usually about 50K, so training began in earnest. Most Ultras are multi terrain so it was suggested that I complete the Hellstone Marathon as a good training run. It was tough however the views were spectacular, as you can see. 

So with Covid restrictions lifted to enable the return to racing, I decided to try the Cub for the first time, this is a much shorter race to the Grizzly consisting of a 9 mile multi terrain course, starting at Seaton seafront through Beer and on to Branscombe and back again.

Our 8th year memory tree raised a total of £410.00, which is being divided between the Dorset & Somerset Air Ambulance and Local First Responders. Thank you to all those who so generously donated during this difficult time. 

Our 7th year Memory Tree raised £420.00, this has been shared between our 3 chosen charities, Somerset MIND, Chard and Crewkerne after Stroke Group and Sweet Surprise of Ilminster

This is our 7th year of providing a Memory tree for those who have lost a loved one and wish to remember them. 

This years charities are Somerset Mind, Chard and Crewkerne after Stroke Group and Sweet Surprise of Ilminster. 
We chose Somerset Mind as one of our Charities to help and show support for all those who may have struggled with their mental health during lockdown. We also chose to support a local group in Chard and Ilminster where our funeral home's are located.

Before National Lockdown was announced by the Government Racing events were still permitted.
The annual Grizzly charity fundraising event, luckily was scheduled to take place prior to any announcements.
This years event was called 'hills a plenty'  a grueling 20 mile off road race, starting in Seaton passing through Beer, then over the cliffs to Branscombe, across the beach and a loop around the countryside, back to the beach up the steep steps and returning to Beer to finally finish at Seaton seafront.

Our 6th year memory tree raised a total of​ £403.50 for the Musgrove Babies Appeal.
Your generous donations enabled us to donate towards the completion of a second private room for families
​who are going through the trauma of baby loss.
This will enable  a family to spend quality time together in more private surroundings, whilst still being able to receive high quality professional care from the midwifery team.

This is our 6th year of providing a Memory tree for those who have lost a loved one and wish to remember them. 

This years charity is Musgrove Babies Appeal. 
The Maternity Unit and its existing facilities were built just after the war in the 1940s and currently welcomes over 3,000 new babies
​in to the world per year. The current facilities are in need of modernising, expanding and upgrading since their original construction.
The refurbishment project will focus on improving flow, capacity and providing a better patient experience for mums during and after their pregnancy.

Two of our bearers Steve and Francis snuck off to enjoy a well earned Ice Cream following a funeral service.  Surprisingly, they didn't miss their mouths.....on this occasion.

This years memory tree raised £403.50 for Somerset Sight.

This is our 5th year of providing a Memory tree for those who have lost a loved one and wish to remember them.
 
This years charity is Somerset Sight a charity working with visually impaired people across Somerset.
They provide immediate help and support to enable visually impaired people to lead a more independent life. Giving them confidence to live independently, improve emotional wellbeing, to feel less isolated. The resource and rehabilitation unit at Northfield House, Taunton is open Monday to Friday demonstrating and giving advice on the latest equipment available to the visually impaired.
They also offer courses for people to learn how to adapt to life without sight.
The Mobile Advisory Service visits more than 40 towns and villages around Somerset.
Other services provided by Somerset Sight are emotional support services, volunteer visiting, support at hospital eye clinics and providing monthly social clubs in Somerset. The charity is currently supporting over 3,000 people across the county.
In 2019 Somerset Sight will be celebrating 100 years, their current fundraising campaign is the centenary brick appeal, to improve Northfield House to enable them to provide first class facilities offering more space for consultations, to be able to provide more training sessions for braille and  technology equipment and more sight loss training and more support throughout the community.
The charity is hoping to create a commemorative brochure of the work and families helped over the last 100 years. So do please get in touch if you or a family member has received help from the charity, formerly known as Somerset County Committee for the welfare of the Blind, The Somerset County Blind Association Committee and The Somerset County Association for the Blind.

This year our memory tree raised a total of £508.52 which has been donated to the Somerset branch of Mind.

This year donations for our memory tree stars are for Mind.

Barry enjoying promoting and collecting on behalf of Chard Rotary Club at this years Carnival.

Well we did it.
38 miles from Yeovil to Taunton Hospice. A very enjoyable day despite the numerous hills. Everyone was so helpful and welcoming. Thank you to our cycling buddies Teresa Coombes and Martin Lloyd.

Claire, Anne Taylor and Mary Gale represented the Inner Wheel Club of Chard at the Party in the Park, they were promoting their club as well as selling jewellery and accessories made out of recycled magazines and can ring pulls for the charity Purple Community Fund. 

Although wet and windy a great time was had. 

Barry has joined the voluntary group which is trying to get a number of defibrillator's installed around Chard to enable the community access to life saving equipment in an emergency. 

Both Barry and Claire hope to cycle the 38 miles from Yeovil Hospice to Taunton Hospice on Sunday 6th August. 

They have been out on 1 practice cycle so far and hope to raise funds for the great cause that is St. Margaret's Hospice. 

Although Barry handed over the Presidential responsibilities of Chard Rotary Club to Robin Williams, Claire decided to stay on for one more year as President of the Inner Wheel Club of Chard. 

Inner Wheel District 20 have volunteered at the School in a Bag tea tent for 2 years now. Pictured is Claire with other local Inner Wheel members during their shift this year. 

Quad Kids in a annual sporting event for local Primary Schools held by Rotary at Holyrood Academy. Both Barry and Claire enjoy helping out with the howler throwing.