Western Daily Press

Pc Brigade Have Just Lost the Plot ; Was the Gay Cavalier a Homosexual? I'm Asking This Because Some Self- Credited Enlightened Souls Decided to Dictate That Schoolchildren Should Be Persuaded to Use the Words 'Merry' or 'Happy' Rather Than Gay. Their Diktat Is That 'Gay' Should Only Be Used When Referring to Those People in a Same-Sex Relationship.

Was the Gay Cavalier a homosexual? I'm asking this because some self-credited enlightened souls decided to dictate that schoolchildren should be persuaded to use the words "merry" or "happy" rather than gay. Their diktat is that "gay" should only be used when referring to those people in a same-sex relationship. The Gay Cavalier I'm referring to was a drama series on BBC children's television back in the Fifties. Like the Scarlet Pimpernel, the handle was a nom de plume, so to speak; the hero...

In the Hot Seat: Michael Eavis ; the First Glasonbury Fest- Ival, Then the Pilton Festival, Was Mounted at Worthy Farm by Michael Eavis in 1970, and 1,500 People Attended.

The first Glasonbury fest- ival, then the Pilton Festival, was mounted at Worthy Farm by Michael Eavis in 1970, and 1,500 people attended. Glastonbury Festival mastermind Michael Eavis takes the West Country Life hot seat

The Butcher, the Baker and Candlestick Maker ; for Many Tourists This Small Unspoilt Market Town with Its Timeless Charm, Narrow Picturesque Streets and Hidden Courtyard Gardens Is the Glory of Gloucestershire.

For many tourists this small unspoilt market town with its timeless charm, narrow picturesque streets and hidden courtyard gardens is the glory of Gloucestershire. If you're looking for big-name stores in Winchcombe, you'll be disappointed. But if you want traditional shops, stunning architecture and the best cuppa in Britain, then it's the place to be, says Maurice Fells. Pictures: Chas Breton

Feats of Clay ; Crafted From Clay, They Were Objects of Beauty to Take the Breath Away - and When They Went Under the Hammer at Bonhams' London Saleroom Earlier This Year, a Wheel Had Turned Full Circle.

Crafted from clay, they were objects of beauty to take the breath away - and when they went under the hammer at Bonhams' London saleroom earlier this year, a wheel had turned full circle. Tina Rowe speaks to John Leach, grandson of the granddaddy of British pottery, Bernard Leach, and finds out what fires the family passion for this craft. Pictures: Steve Roberts

My Unusual 'Football' Tour ; My Heart Sank. 'Only Two Tickets Sold?' I Asked with Incredulity. My Friend Diane Lukins, Who Was On the Door, Nodded. 'Treat It As a Dress Rehearsal,' She Replied with an Attempt at Encouragement, 'but Give It Everything You've Got.'

My heart sank. "Only two tickets sold?" I asked with incredulity. My friend Diane Lukins, who was on the door, nodded. "Treat it as a dress rehearsal," she replied with an attempt at encouragement, "but give it everything you've got." By the time you read this, Harry Mottram will be performing his one-man show Dodgy Keeper at the Edinburgh Festival. Here he catalogues his weeks touring the West Country before heading up north

Petit Portions, but Perfect ; We Missed the Turning to Combe Hay, Head- Ing South Out of Bath. It's Very Easily Done, We Told Ourselves, and Promptly Took the Next Right, On the Assumption That It Would Take Us in the Right Direction.

We missed the turning to Combe Hay, head- ing south out of Bath. It's very easily done, we told ourselves, and promptly took the next right, on the assumption that it would take us in the right direction. West Country Life met the Wheatsheaf's chef, Lee Evans, earlier this year. Now Tim Davey puts him and his team to the test

Mint-Choc Sheep Anyone? ; Head South From Dunster Along One of the Old Packhorse Routes and After a Few Miles You'll Find Yourself Crossing the High, Breezy Moorland On Rodhuish Common, with Its Views Stretching Away to the Mendips and the Welsh Coast.

Head south from Dunster along one of the old packhorse routes and after a few miles you'll find yourself crossing the high, breezy moorland on Rodhuish Common, with its views stretching away to the Mendips and the Welsh coast. Ice cream made from sheep's milk? Chris Rundle meets a farmer who looked to the future by finding inspiration in the distant past. Pictures: Fran Stothard

Mendip Walking Festival

Join Sue Gearing and other experienced walk leaders and Mendip experts at this year's Walking Festival, on the Mendip Hills, on Saturday and Sunday, September 6 and 7. The programme of walks for the Gorgeous Mendip Walking Festival has something for everyone. The dozen walks, which are circular, range from one to 13 miles.

A Walk to Cap Them All ; Summer Just Wouldn't Be Summer Without a Coastal Walk, and This Is One of the Best - Along the Spectacular Jurassic Coast, East of Charmouth, in West Dorset, and Taking in the Highest Point Along the Coast, Golden Cap.

Summer just wouldn't be summer without a coastal walk, and this is one of the best - along the spectacular Jurassic coast, East of Charmouth, in West Dorset, and taking in the highest point along the coast, Golden Cap. It may be undulating underfoot, but Sue Gearing heartily recommends this coastal walk exploring Dorset's wild and rugged Jurassic coast

Pushing the Boat Out ; the 37th Annual Edf Energy Bristol Harbour Festival Is Bringing the City to Life This Weekend, with Live Music, Stalls and Street Theatre to Enjoy, As Well As Three Spectacular Tall Ships Moored in the City.

The 37th annual EDF Energy Bristol Harbour Festival is bringing the city to life this weekend, with live music, stalls and street theatre to enjoy, as well as three spectacular tall ships moored in the city. As Bristol's harbour festival gets in to full swing, David Clensy looks at the maritime fun you can have in the city this weekend

The Tarr Farm Inn at Tarr Steps On Exmoor ; This Is a Real Day Out. The Tarr Farm Inn Is Among the Great Pubs of Exmoor, and Is Handily Placed for the Tarr Steps, a Medieval Stone River Crossing That Is One of the National Park's Proudest Treasures. In a Deep Valley of Lush Woodland, Itself a Nature Reserve, This Place Most Definitely Justifies the Journey.

This is a real day out. The Tarr Farm Inn is among the great pubs of Exmoor, and is handily placed for the Tarr Steps, a medieval stone river crossing that is one of the National Park's proudest treasures. In a deep valley of lush woodland, itself a nature reserve, this place most definitely justifies the journey. From Dulverton, you take the B3222 as signposted to Tarr Steps. It's about four miles travelling north-east before you get to the left-hand sign to the steps and pub. Don't take any...

Today's Tipple ; in Summer, Freshness Is the Key to the Appeal of Dry White Wine. If the Soupy Ripeness of Chardonnay, or the Perplexing Blandness of Pinot Grigio, Seem to Pall a Bit at This Time of Year, Sharpen Up the Palate with a Refreshing Style Sauvignon Blanc.

In summer, freshness is the key to the appeal of dry white wine. If the soupy ripeness of Chardonnay, or the perplexing blandness of Pinot Grigio, seem to pall a bit at this time of year, sharpen up the palate with a refreshing style Sauvignon Blanc. Turn to grassy flavours for a refreshing change, says Ned

Where the Going Is Always Good ; On Lansdown Hill, Above Bath, at the Site of the Civil War Battle of Lansdowne, There's a Memorial, Erected in 1720, to Sir Bevil Grenville, Who Died a Royalist Hero During the Fighting. There Is Also Bath Racecourse - at 780ft Above Sea Level, the Highest Flat- Racing Course in Britain - and Next Door to It My Destination, Lansdown Golf Club.

On Lansdown Hill, above Bath, at the site of the Civil War Battle of Lansdowne, there's a memorial, erected in 1720, to Sir Bevil Grenville, who died a Royalist hero during the fighting. There is also Bath Racecourse - at 780ft above sea level, the highest flat- racing course in Britain - and next door to it my destination, Lansdown Golf Club. At Lansdown, near Bath, Ian Pemble finds a fine old club with a refreshingly modern attitude

Plot Lines with David Clensy ; Summer Is Finally Here, Beating Down On the Allotments, Scorching the Grass and Bringing Any Brave Toilers Out in a Sweat. In This Weather, If You're Not Up There Every Day Without Fail, There's a Good Chance of All Your Crops Being Destroyed.

Summer is finally here, beating down on the allotments, scorching the grass and bringing any brave toilers out in a sweat. In this weather, if you're not up there every day without fail, there's a good chance of all your crops being destroyed. So evenings are the busy time now, with people pottering around with watering cans.

Cultivate a Good Crop ; There Is a Great Temptation When Your Fruit Trees 'Set' a Good Crop to Leave Them and Look Forward to a Bumper Harvest. It's Human Nature, After All, but Could in Fact Lead to Disaster.

There is a great temptation when your fruit trees "set" a good crop to leave them and look forward to a bumper harvest. It's human nature, after all, but could in fact lead to disaster. A big crop leads to branch breakage and that in turn can lead to disease and so down the slippery slope you go.

Sweet Treats ; My Ice-Cream Maker Was Probably My Best Kitchen Investment. It's Not a Fancy, Light- Fantastic, Top of the Range Model, Just a Bowl Kept in the Freezer, Then Plonked On Top of the Motorised Base. I Can Listen in Wonder As It Whirrs and Groans and Magically Churns the Contents Into the Best Ice Cream This Side of the Italian Border.

My ice-cream maker was probably my best kitchen investment. It's not a fancy, light- fantastic, top of the range model, just a bowl kept in the freezer, then plonked on top of the motorised base. I can listen in wonder as it whirrs and groans and magically churns the contents into the best ice cream this side of the Italian border. It's been in frequent use for about 20 years and, probably because of its sheer simplicity, shows no sign of wearing out, breaking down or simply opting for retir...

Stars of Stage and Screen

The beautiful and historic West Country has been used for filming for many years. Here's a chance to test your knowledge. 1. A classic 1952 Ealing comedy starring Will Hay was filmed here. Can you name it and where it was filmed?

Playing the Hospital Waiting Game ; This Morning I Went for My Pre-Operation Check-Up, Before Surgery On My Bad Knee. I'm Sure I've Told You About My Bad Knee. I've Told Everyone Else.

This morning I went for my pre-operation check-up, before surgery on my bad knee. I'm sure I've told you about my bad knee. I've told everyone else. For people-watchers like me, there are rich pickings to be had in hospital waiting rooms. I'm very early for my appointment but the waiting room is almost full, probably because everyone except me seems to have someone with them. There's about four different people to see in this procedure, and I'd been sitting there only a couple of minutes when...

Rspb Update with Tony Whitehead ; the Weather Is a National Obsession, No Doubt Because Here On the Edge of Europe, Facing the Atlantic, It's Something We Get a Lot of, and in All Sorts of Varieties.

The weather is a national obsession, no doubt because here on the edge of Europe, facing the Atlantic, it's something we get a lot of, and in all sorts of varieties. I suspect, if birds could converse, their conversations, too, would include much squawking about the weather, for their lives are intricately linked to climate.

Look Out for the Labels ; John Lewis Fans Will Have Noticed a Certain Frisson of Excitement About the Department Store's Cribbs Causeway Branch in Recent Months - and We're Not Just Talking About the Way Customers Are Loving the Yummy Patisseries - All Baked Inhouse, of Course - at Its Swish New Espresso Bar.

John Lewis fans will have noticed a certain frisson of excitement about the department store's Cribbs Causeway branch in recent months - and we're not just talking about the way customers are loving the yummy patisseries - all baked inhouse, of course - at its swish new Espresso Bar. Britain's favourite retailer has just celebrated its 10th birthday at The Mall, Cribbs Causeway, with a facelift. Susie Weldon takes a look around the shiny new John Lewis store