A lot of my time recently has been taken up with hospitals and medical appointments for me and my family.
Along with many other people, it makes me so grateful that we have our wonderful NHS in this country and even more importantly, a fantastic service from our nearby RUH, our own local hospital and of course our fabulous Frome Medical Practice (FMP).
We’re particularly lucky in that FMP is extremely interested in our community and has so many things to offer. Apart from a warm cup of coffee at the cafe on a winter’s morning, they run many groups for physical and mental health, they support their health workers who operate within our community and they have done an extraordinary amount in the town to reduce loneliness and isolation.
Health is something we often take for granted if we’re lucky to be in good health. There are lots of things we can do in our daily lives, like walking and cycling activities, yoga groups, meditation, sports clubs and even more social options like learning a new skill, learning more about nature or joining one of our craft sheds. All these things get us out of the house, allow us to escape into another world and offer a wonderful way to connect with new friends. The Discover Frome website is a great place to find information about groups near you – or to advertise them, if you run one!
Two recent events showcasing our wonderful community happened on the same day at the town hall at the end of January: a tech amnesty from Somerset charity Donate IT and a wonderful ‘mammoth mending day’ with Everyone Needs Pockets.
These events didn’t just save waste and repurpose goods in a sustainable, responsible way – they also brought people together with an important shared purpose, with a far-reaching benefit. Donate IT collected over a tonne of unwanted digital equipment and cables, which will be refurbished and passed on, or recycled responsibly and the mending day gave clothing a new lease of life that might otherwise have ended up in landfill. Incredibly productive, great fun and a great way to socialise, especially for those new to Frome.
It’s very easy to slip into winter’s clutches, wanting to stay warm to avoid the cold and rainy weather, but hopefully it won’t be too long before we see the first signs of Spring. My tulips and daffodils are already poking through which is a sure sign it’s on its way.
One of the town events I look forward to at this time of year is the lighting of our beautiful Valentine lamp at the top of Catherine Hill. This year you can make a day of it, by enjoying crafts, crepes and a ‘pancake dash’ in the town centre, before you make your way up Catherine Hill for a celebration around the beautiful, unique Valentine lamp, with our new lamplighter Eddie Young. Please come and join the festivities at 5.30pm on Saturday 14th February.
Talking of festivities, if you’re thinking of organising a gathering with your neighbours in 2026 and you need to close your road for it, please let Frome Town Council know the date by 23rd March and you can avoid a £200 admin fee from Somerset Council.
Did you also know you can borrow lots of useful equipment for a street party from the Council? There are tables and chairs, games, gazebos and more. Just ask.
Frome Neighbourhood Network is a great source of information and information to get celebrating with your street, too. So why not get your thinking caps on and start planning your party!
Cllr Anita Collier
