Thursday 28th August

Thursday, 28 August 2025 06:00

A Marston Magna man who fell ill on holiday has died. A film of Yeovil’s fundraiser for famine relief is being screened tonight, forty years on. A South Somerset contestant has been ranked fifth place at the World’s Strongest Man (Natural) contest...and more.

A Marston Magna man who fell ill on holiday has died. Alan Kirby, who was 67, passed away at a hospital in Athens after being diagnosed with a chest infection and suspected cancer whilst on holiday at the beginning of July. He was unable to return home for medical treatment as he hadn’t declared a benign tumour on his travel insurance form, believing it not to be relevant. Alan’s family raised £9,500 in the hope of flying him back to the UK. They say the money raised will now go towards his cremation.

Forty years on from Live Aid, and 17 bands coming together that summer to create Yeovil’s own fundraiser for famine relief in Ethiopia, a film of the event is to be screened at the town’s Quicksilver Mail tonight. The film, which hasn’t been seen in four decades, serves as a time capsule of the day, held at the then Johnson Hall, now the Octagon Theatre. Band members who took part in 1985 will be in attendance.

An Ilminster taxi service is expanding its business after a successful launch at the beginning of the year. West Country Cabs was started by Crewkerne-born Dan Runcieman and as the business has grown, he has taken on four new staff members, including a new driver and three assistants for SEN (Special Educational Needs) school runs. Mr Runcieman has ambitions to grow the business further in the coming months and years.

A Chard man is set to row 100 km to raise funds for the town’s community hub. Andrew Webb’s challenge will take place at LIFT Gym in Crewkerne in November but Webb will be hosting live training sessions at Chard Tesco this Saturday from 10 am and again in October. The funds raised will support the hub’s services, including food support, groups and activities, and community care.

It’s official, one of the world’s strongest men comes from South Somerset. Gareth Penn ranked fifth place at the World’s Strongest Man (Natural) contest in Galway at the weekend. The competition differs from others in that its focus is on healthy eating and strength training over extended periods, with no use of drugs allowed. Penn worked as an Avionics Electrician for 18 years before following the dream of running his own gym with his wife, Linsay. GMP Fitness Strength on Yeovil’s Pen Mill Trading Estate.

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Friday 31st July

Devon and Somerset Fire and Rescue Service says July has been its busiest month ever for emergency calls. Police have recovered a 1970s Austin Mini pick-up stolen in Shepton Mallet. A specialist spinal injuries service at Yeovil Hospital has treated three hundred patients in its first year... and more
Thursday 30th July

The Environment Agency has declared a drought across Somerset as the hot weather takes its toll on the county's water supplies. Police are appealing for witnesses following a fatal road traffic accident near Crewkerne. A bowls player from Yeovil has won a silver medal at the Commonwealth Games in Glasgow...and more
Wednesday 29th July

Police have arrested two suspects in connection with a series of moped thefts in Chard. A combine harvester has been destroyed in a farm fire at Forton, near Chard. A bowls player from Yeovil has won a silver medal at the Commonwealth Games in Glasgow... and more
Tuesday 28th July

The former Beales department store in Yeovil could be brought back into use as part of a wider masterplan for the future of the town. A yellow heat health alert is in place across Somerset from nine o’clock this morning until nine o’clock on Friday morning. A Somerset farmer says this year is the driest on his land since 1976... and more
Monday 27th July

Gooch and Housego, based in Ilminster and one of the town’s biggest employers, has been sold in a multi-million-pound deal to an American private equity firm. A father who shook his four-week-old baby to death at a house in Chard has been sentenced to life in prison. A doctor who works for the Dorset and Somerset Air Ambulance is one of five people to have jointly set a new world record for rowing around Great Britain... and more
Friday 24th July

Avon and Somerset Police are warning people to watch out for scammers posing as Amazon. The CEO of the company that provides Somerset's recycling is warning of a major incident if people continue to put used batteries in waste bins. A former Yeovil pub could be demolished to make way for a major hotel expansion.
Thursday 23rd July

The West Country is officially one step closer to being declared in drought. Somerset Council says it's remodelling its service after a children's home was closed following an inspection. A new McDonald's planned off the M5 at Bridgwater could create up to 120 local jobs... and more
Wednesday 22nd July

Two men have been jailed for stealing electrical items and cash from a property in Yeovil. Somerset Council has defended its use of Yeovil’s new performance area in The Triangle, in Lower Middle Street. Tintinhull Primary School, near Yeovil, has won a top national award for outdoor play... and more