ON Thursday, September 25, we hosted a tea with the Mayor for some of the sponsors of Chard’s Urban Slide – we were able to show them a video made free of charge by Chard’s very own film-maker Jonathon Warner – this is available to view on warnervision.co.uk

Later that evening I attended the annual meeting of Chard Hospital League of Friends – the Mayor is honorary president.

The group provides support for the hospital by raising money and buying extras for patients.

It needs new members – if anyone is interested in helping our local hospitalcontact either myself or Cllr Tony Prior via the town council offices.

On Sunday, Andy and I attended the launch of Chard’s very own girls and boys charity calendar.

This is an amazing group of local people who have taken cancer on and given it a great big smack.

As we have both been touched by this horrible disease in our families we were inspired by these lovely people.

The calendar is available from Tigerfly Photography, Better Buy Local and Mikes of Ilminster. Get out and buy one for Christmas pressies – all my family are getting one.

Carnival has started and it was the children’s turn on Saturday this week.

There were lots of entries despite the rain first thing in the morning but the clouds passed in time for the procession around town led by our very own carnival royalty and Stuart Cumming, our town crier.

It was a very high standard this year and picking the Mayor’s Plate award was hard. I was swayed by the baby in the suitcase of Generation’s entry This Time Next Year complete with yellow three-wheeler and grandad.

This has got me really looking forward to the full procession next Saturday – bring out your pennies and support all our fantastic entries. A marching band will be at the front of the main procession this year – can’t wait. Keep away rain.

My fortnight finished with the first Silver Sunday in the Guildhall. Deputy Mayor Garry Shortland and I hosted a free afternoon tea for local over-65s, giving people chance to talk with each other and ourselves.

Stuart, the town crier, was there to give a little cry about Chard’s history – quite a few puns I notice but he is a crier we can all be proud of.