One year ago

May 24, 2006: TWO former mayors resigned from Ilminster Town Council after members refused to reconsider controversial plans for a one-way system in Ditton Street, the News revealed. Norman Campbell and Dave Gooding stepped down from the council claiming the authority should have responded to strong public feeling against the traffic system by putting it back on the table for discussion.

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Five years ago

May 22, 2002: FIREFIGHTERS joined residents in Victoria Square, Crewkerne, on Friday to stem a tide of pouring sludge which caused flooding damage to several homes. Residents were deluged with mud as it slid down from nearby fields in the hammering rain of the early hours. About ten homes were caught in the mud bath, causing considerable damage inside and out.

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Ten years ago

May 21, 1997: LINE dancing, the latest craze, took to Chard streets as part of an attempt to make the Guinness Book of Records as the biggest learning event ever. At Ilminster, the dancing was at Swanmead School, and numbers were verified by chairman of governors Roger Swann. At Chard, Mayor Dave Hill did the official count, helped by chairman of CRESTA John Cotter.

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25 years ago

May 27, 1982: IN the rabbit section, on the first and third days of the Devon County Show, the award for the best English Lop was won by Windwhistle Stud's under five-month doe 'Windwhistle Emily'. She was also best Ladies Fancy Exhibit, and second in Fancy Doe, Fancy Challenge and Fancy Breeders classics. Based at Purtington, the stud is owned by Jennie Richards and Monica Smith.

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50 years ago

May 25, 1957: THE Wilts United Dairies, based at Chard Junction, set another world record on Tuesday. Employees set out at midnight in an attempt to beat their own previous record of 74 tons produced in a single day. Their record was broken at 3.30pm when it was announced that 76 tons had been produced. At 4.30pm it was 80 tons, and by work end at 5pm, the total output was 86 tons.

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75 years ago

May 21, 1932: A VISIT was paid to Ilminster and Whitelackington during the Whitsuntide weekend by the Bishop of Taunton, the Right Rev G.A. Hollis. He celebrated Holy Communion at 8am in Ilminster, before visiting Forde Abbey in the afternoon. In the evening, he preached at Whitelackington before staying for the remainder of the weekend at the Ilminster Vicarage.