BRIDGWATER is a town whose calendar of events is tipped in favour of the winter months.

With Bridgwater Fair, Carnival Concerts, Carnival weekend and Snowflakes all in fairly quick succession, the second half of our review of the year was bound to be packed, and that’s without all the other news that filled August to December.

Without further ado, let’s have continue our Review of the Year 2018 where we left off:

JULY

AMID the feel-good factor of England’s World Cup success and a heatwave there was a lot happening in Bridgwater in July.

Residents on the new estate in Kings Down were shocked when armed police were spotted carrying out a raid where a 28-year-old man was arrested on behalf of Hertfordshire police.

Bridgwater couple Sue and Matt Weston showed a glimpse of the potential of the River Parrett after taking their speedboat for a spin from Combwich up to Bridgwater.

In the same month Bridgwater lost the Areva factory out near North Petherton which had been tasked with creating a drone for Facebook, but plans were unveiled for the new services, homes and employment park near Huntworth at Junction 24.

In other news July also saw the return of the popular Newt Fest and motorcycle club the Hoonigans went above and beyond to help a young autistic teenager have an evening to remember, escorting him to the Elmwood School prom.

AUGUST

There was a lot of positive news for the area in August too with Spaxton Community Shop being nominated for Village Shop of the Year, a very successful Bridgwater Flower Show held in the Town Hall, local metal detectorist 30-year-old Ben Bishop discovered an Elizabethan ring near Glastonbury thought to be around 500 years old and worth between £7,500 and £10,000.

The Rage Against The Rubbish and IWA canal clean-ups were picking up steam with nearly 50 volunteers joining a litter pick which turned up a skateboard, shopping trolley, and even a CD player.

August also saw Cossington couple Piers and Rachel Dyer more than £2,000 for Mary’s Beat with a 900 mile cycle ride from Somerset to Le Mans in France and back.

Plans were submitted to demolish the historic Penlea House off Rhode Lane to build new flats.

SEPTEMBER

September was a month marred by tragedy with a multi-vehicle crash on the M5 between Bridgwater and Taunton claiming the lives of two people and injuring several others.

There were a lot of positives however with the new Community Hub on the upper floor of Angel Place opening, and the success of Canoeing For A Cure; where a team of valiant volunteers paddled canoes from Taunton to Bridgwater, carried the canoes on foot back the 14 miles along the canal and then paddled the route once more over a gruelling 15 hours.

The team raised more than £9,000 for Brain Tumour Research inspired by terminally ill Bridgwater police officer Jim Murray.

Bridgwater Fair once again drew thousands to St Matthew’s Field late in September.

Work began on the much-anticipated revamp of Holford Village Hall and plans to use Trinity Hall as a base for cycling charity On Your Bike were consulted on.

OCTOBER

October was a big month for Bridgwater. Not only did we have the astonishing Carnival Concerts with the Gremlins CC’s Mad-Max inspired song scena taking home the top prize, but it was also the month the new bridge was installed over the River Parrett on what will become the Colley Lane Southern Access Road which it is hoped will help alleviate some of Bridgwater’s traffic problems.

October also saw one of Bridgwater’s most successful sportsmen, mixed-martial arts fighter Mark Godbeer, bow out of the UFC, retiring from professional fighting with an impressive 13-4 record.

Bridgwater was also in a state of shock late in October as news broke of the death of Tyrone Mulinde, a 20-year-old man from London who was found dead following an incident at George Street in Bridgwater.

Two people have been charged with his murder with court proceedings ongoing.

A consultation event was held into plans to build 675 homes in Wembdon.

NOVEMBER

Carnival once again dazzled the thousands of people who attended, with a surprise victory for Marketeers CC incredible Dickensian-themed effort, after two of the favourites, Renegades CC and Gremlins CC both suffering technical faults.

November was also the month the Bridgwater Mercure Hotel officially opened, with Somerset cricket legend Marcus Trescothick doing the honours and cutting the ribbon for the four-star hotel based at Eastover.

Bridgwater held a moving Remembrance Parade in King Square with hundreds of people showing their respects on the centenary of the end of the First World War.

It was also announced that the theatre at Bridgwater Arts Centre would be closing for six months in the New Year for urgent roof repairs to take place,while elsewhere the beautifully restored Castle House on Queen Street was unveiled.

After backlash from residents over parking fines being issued to motorists who left Bridgwater Retail Park but returned within two hours, the owners U-turned and scrapped the policy.

At the end of the month was the Snowflakes Christmas Lights Switch-On complete with the official unveiling of the new lights for the Town Bridge.

DECEMBER

More fresh in the memory will be the stories from December.

Long-serving town clerk Alan Hurford was sent off in style with a ride in a Morgan organised by the Bridgwater branch of the IWA.

Network Rail bosses faced a grilling from Huntworth, Moorland and Fordgate residents over plans to close Huntworth Lane for 20 weeks while the ageing railway bridge is replaced.

Poor Wadham Close resident Chevaugn Povey was left furious after Sanctuary Care left mess in neighbours garden for three months which she said led to an infestation of mice in her home.

And Bridgwater Foodbank thanked the people of the town for their generous donations to help those in need throughout the year and particularly over the Christmas period.

As you can see it has been another event-filled year for Bridgwater and with plenty of exciting things on the horizon for 2019, be sure to stick with the Bridgwater Mercury to keep up with all the latest.