What was happening in Burnham and Highbridge in years gone by?

CARNIVALITIES from Highbridge, Burnham and Bridgwater celebrated the end of carnival season in style with their annual presentation evening at the Ritz Social Club.

Trophies were presented to the winning clubs and individual entries in Burnham and Highbridge carnival.

The prestigious Phil Harris memorial trophy for Best in Procession going to the Gremlins for their entry, Robot Attack.

A NEW business was welcomed into Highbridge at an open evening by Councillor Des Roach, chairman of Sedgemoor District Council.

William Hayley Engineering LTD was involved in the manufacture of steel framed industrial buildings and steel fabricating.

The company had launched just six weeks before and had a new managing director, William Hayley who had years of experience in the engineering industry.

KISKA the guide dog, who had never put a foot wrong for her owners retired after eight years because of her failing sight.

The pooch handed over the leash to 18 month-old golden retriever, Valiant and started a well earned retirement as a pet for a family on Berrydale Avenue.

Owner Den has been blind for 16 years and said he would miss his beloved dog.

20 YEARS AGO December 20 1996

POLICE Officer Andrew Bush was reunited with the woman he saved using the kiss of life just two years before.

Gitta Phillips, 28, thanked PC Bush for the lifesaving action he took after her car plunged off the M5 into a water filled ditch near Sedgemoor Services in July 1994.

PC Bush was presented with a Giancarlo Tofi award at Taunton Police station.

He had already received recognition from The Royal Humane Society for his efforts.

SEDGEMOOR District Council's tourism staff were looking forward to the holiday season after taking deliveries for the 1997 guide to the area.

The 56 page document showed photographs and information showing the attractions and beauty of Sedgemoor.

A total of 55,000 copies were printed, a ten percent increase on the previous season.

KIND HEARTED members of the Burnham Institute handed over a cheque for £200 to the Burnham and Highbridge Gateway Club.

Club leader Ann Lawrence went to the institute's premises to receive the cheque which was a boost to the funds of the BAY club based group which helps adults with learning disabilities.

10 YEARS AGO December 21 2006

A WHOLE village finally revealed the secret it has been hiding for the past few months as a surprise party in Lympsham waved goodbye to its postman of 20 years.

The undercover operation was launched by the parish council and required everyone in the area to keep quiet over plans to raise enough money to buy Dave Gregory a season ticket for his beloved Manchester United.

TENS of millions of pounds were to be spent rebuilding Bridgwater’s secondary and special schools to make them “fit for the 21st Century”.

Somerset County Council learned from the Department for Education it had been successful in its search for funding, following a bid for between £80-£100million.

The enormous cash award would see the town’s four secondary schools – Haygrove,Robert Blake, Chilton Trinity and East Bridgwater– as well as special schools Penrose and Elmwood demolished and replaced withstate-of-the-art 'schools of the future'.

CREW members of Burnham’s lifeboat station were getting to grips with the new life-saving vessel during a series of sea manoeuvres.

The D-class Puffin would provide valuable back-up to the town’s number one boat the Staines Whitfield, and included a hightech GPS receiver, oxygen, first aid and flares.

It also boasted a top speed of 27 knots.

Lifeboat operations manager Martin Cox said: “We are pleased to welcome Puffin to our station.

“It is exciting to at last receive our own D-class lifeboat, and the increased performance will be of great benefit during emergency call-outs.”