SOMERSET NEWS: First-ever Somerset Day is on Monday

SOMERSET County Council is marking the inaugural Somerset Day on Monday (May 11, 2015) with a series of events.

To kick start the celebrations, the Somerset Flag will first be raised outside County Hall in Taunton.

Council staff will then be invited to take part in a ‘Somerset Bake Off’ competition at County Hall by submitting cakes and/or cupcakes with a Somerset theme - either using Somerset produce or depicting Somerset landmarks.

The cakes will be judged on a number of criteria including innovation and creativity, flavour and taste and technical expertise.

After winners are announced, the cakes will be available for sale with all proceeds raised going towards the Chairman’s Charities – Somerset Trust for Arts & Recreation (STAR) and the National Autistic Society.

The name of the county’s new community flood support boat will also be revealed on Somerset Day, after a competition which saw the public submit over 100 possible names.

The new boat will be stored at Maunsel Lock Canal Centre and will give groups of disabled people the chance to enjoy Bridgwater & TauntonCanal when not being used for emergency flood support.

May 11 was chosen to be Somerset Day by public vote, organised by Passion for Somerset, a group of local businesses.

Back in 878 on May 11 Alfred the Great, King of Wessex, gathered “all the people of Somerset” to march against and defeat the invading Danish Army. By the time of his death he had become the dominant ruler in England and is the only English monarch to be given the title “The Great.”

PHOTO - RIGHT: Alfred the Great.

The festivities will end in an evening civic event at the Museum of Somerset hosted by Somerset County Council’s chairman, Cllr David Fothergill.

A buffet dinner will be available including refreshments generously sponsored by Thatchers Cider and DJ Miles tea with entertainment provided by Somerset Morris Dancers.

An opening address will be given by the Duke of Somerset, Patron of Somerset Day, followed by an illustrated and insightful talk on King Alfred’s Somerset by Tom Mayberry, chief executive of the South West Heritage Trust.

The evening will conclude with a charity auction including prizes of a year’s supply of DJ Miles tea, a ride in an Ariel Atom and a tour of the factory, sporting memorabilia including a signed cricket bat and shirt courtesy of Somerset County Cricket Club and a tour of the Quantock Hills with the ranger team.

A few last remaining tickets for the evening are still available at a cost of £20 per head, which includes a buffet dinner. For more information or to reserve your ticket, email ltawse@somerset.gov.uk or phone 01823-356859.

PHOTO - ABOVE: The date of May 11 for Somerset Day was voted for by the public in a vote organised by A Passion for Somerset group.

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