The High Sheriff of Somerset is full of praise for the volunteers working to help Wells through the Covid crisis.

Thomas Sheppard visited the city on Friday to learn more of the history of Wells and meet people who have helped in the last 12 months, for example with food banks and vaccination.  

“I am bowled over about how smoothly the vaccination programme worked,” he said.

“On behalf of Somerset I say thank you. So many people have relied on what you have done.

“It is the people who make the difference. All those I have met today are doing something important to help the community and have given it a tremendous fillip as we negotiated the Covid crisis.”

His visit was arranged by the Mayor of Wells and the first stop was a brief tour of the historic town hall where the High Sheriff was intrigued by the cells in the basement (only used for storage now) then went to the Wells Foodbank off Jocelyn Drive.

There Sue Marland showed Mr Sheppard how to pack their food parcels and explained how they provided 9,000 meals a year before Covid and that rose to 43,644 meals in the first six months of 2021.

Sue Marland explains to the High Sheriff how they pack food parcels at the Foodbank

Next stop was the Connect Centre where Sharon Edmonds, the administrator, showed the High Sheriff around the building and introduced him to staff at the charity.

Rachel Inman from their Outreach team explained the extensive work they do with the homeless and said the police in Wells were very supportive of their work.

Sharon told Mr Sheppard about the meals they provide for the homeless and vulnerable and introduced him to Kean, their chef, who had cooked 3,000 meals during the pandemic.

Then it was across Chamberlain Street to the Wells Almshouses for a fascinating tour by Shirley Watt, one of this charity’s trustees.

Welcome to St Cuthbert's Church

St Cuthbert's Church is an iconic and beautiful building but is often overlooked and even mistaken for Wells Cathedral.

To make it better known the church held a Welcome to St Cuthbert's event on Sunday. More than 50 people came along to be greeted with tea and cakes then shown around the church.

The tower was open for those ready to clamber up the 166 narrow steps. Sadly the splendid views were obscured by rain and grey clouds.

The Mayor climbed to the top, as the photo shows, while the Mayoress stayed dry in the belfry to watch bell-ringers display their skills.

The event was one of the re-opening activities funded by the Culture Recovery Grant.