Local News Tuesday 27th June

Tuesday, 27 June 2023 06:00

By Steve Haigh

A former Somerset-based Royal Marine is calling for better mental health support for ex-military personnel. A new website has been launched designed to get farmers to share their experiences through tough times. A disabled Ilminster woman is preparing to take part in a charity fundraising climb of the tallest mountain in Wales...and more.

A former Somerset-based Royal Marine is calling for better mental health support for ex-military personnel. Mark Ormrod was speaking about the years that have passed since he lost three of his limbs in a landmine explosion serving in Afghanistan aged twenty-four. He’s hoping that by speaking out, more help will be provided to service personnel and to others who live with mental health issues.

A new website has been launched designed to get farmers to share their experiences through tough times. Rupert Cox is the co-ordinator of the website ‘Farmerados’ and says it’s much needed.

An event’s been held to mark the first year of operations at iAero in Yeovil. The building in Bunford Lane is a ten-million-pound purpose-built research, design and innovation facility, supporting the aerospace sector in the South West. It opened in early 2022 and was delivered by Somerset Council in partnership with Leonardo UK and the Heart of the South West.

Somerset Council is celebrating winning an award for its partnership work delivering children’s homes. The Council and its partners – Homes2Inspire and Somerset NHS Foundation Trust – were presented with the ‘Innovation in Partnerships’ prize for their Homes and Horizons project at the Municipal Journal Awards held in London. It was given for delivering ten family-sized homes for children, together with launching a new therapeutic education service, aimed at increasing young people’s life chances through improved mental health and wellbeing.

A disabled Ilminster woman is preparing to take part in a charity fundraising climb of the tallest mountain in Wales. Tina, who suffered a life-changing back injury in a riding accident, will be pushed, pulled, and carried in her wheelchair up and down the 1,085-meter-high Yr Wyddfa mountain this Saturday, July 1st, raising money for the spinal cord injury charity, 'Back Up'.

More from News

Friday 13th March

The first of the new medium lift helicopters being built by Leonardo in Yeovil for the RAF will be delivered in 2031. Somerset Council has launched a public consultation on planned new charges at its two hundred public car parks. More women in Somerset are said to be taking up walking football... and more
Thursday 12th March

A Yeovil headteacher says he’s concerned about plans to stop giving school holiday food vouchers to families on low incomes. The owner of Yeovil Town is calling on fans to be patient as he continues his overhaul of the National League side. A high voltage fault is being blamed for plunging 1700 homes into darkness in the Ilminster area... and more
Wednesday 11th March

Plans have been submitted to convert two properties in Yeovil into houses of multiple occupation. A new court date has been announced for a Yeovil man charged with attempted murder. An engineer who has worked at the Leonardo factory in Yeovil for 40-years has won a top industry award... and more
Tuesday 10th March

Police say a fire at the former Oscar Mayer food factory in Chard was started deliberately. Yeovil College says it would have been adversely affected had Leonardo not won the contract to build new medium-lift helicopters. A seven-foot dragon will be visiting towns and villages in our area during the next few weeks to promote Somerset Day... and more
Monday 9th March

Two Wildcat helicopters from 815 Squadron at RNAS Yeovilton have arrived in Cyprus to help protect RAF Akrotiri from further Iranian drone strikes. New figures show that 40 people were killed on Avon and Somerset’s roads in the last 12-months. A Somerset man has been recalling the day 60-years ago when he was a passenger on the last train on the Somerset and Dorset Railway... and more
Friday 6th March

Defence Minister Luke Pollard has been explaining why it took the government so long to confirm a contract for the Leonardo in Yeovil to build new medium lift helicopters for the RAF. Police are investigating a break in at a pet shop in Ilminster. Somerset Council is to stop using red ink on council tax reminder letters... and more
Thursday 5th March

Two military helicopters from RNAS Yeovilton are being sent to Cyprus to help bolster UK’s defences amid the US-Israel war with Iran. Yeovil Town Council is seeking legal advice over the closure of the hyper acute stroke unit at Yeovil Hospital. Flood warnings have been lifted on the Somerset Levels... and more
Wednesday 4th March

A man has died in a fire in Wincanton. Somerset Council is planning further cuts of twenty-one million pounds to help balance its books. A campaign to raise £30,000 for a minibus has been launched in Chard... and more