The Radstock Mayor writes:

Well, that was quite a week, temperature wise and the later thunderstorms were inevitable, I suppose.

The Summer holidays are under way and for those parents and guardians who are looking for activities to entertain the younger members of their progeny, you might be interested in the programme of music and entertainment provided by Evolve, an arts-based organisation that has proved popular in Radstock and is back this August. See www.radstock-tc.gov.uk for further details. They are laying on some refreshment for the parents as well.

Holidays are going to be difficult this summer and even travelling to France will no longer be the doddle it was a couple of years back. The alternative is the British seaside. Before the arrival of cheap flights, this what most people did, of course and resorts like Blackpool and Skegness would play host to thousands of holidaying hopefuls. The railway station in 'Skeggy' bears testament to former popularity; I have seen photos of damp day-trippers sheltering from the rain, enduring the cold East wind which 'blows through you, not around you.' The best part was getting there by steam train and arriving at the multi-platformed terminus. Nowadays only a quarter of it remains in use.

At least two members of the world's plutocracy have made it to outer space and it has been suggested that Mars will be colonised at some point. But at minus 80 degrees Fahrenheit , I'd rather endure the climatic vicissitudes of the English seaside resort.

Rupert Bevan