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Back in what now seems the dim and distant past, a group of us were sitting in the bar of the Royal George discussing various village issues. In fact it was September 1991, the Open Weekend festivities had just finished and we were discussing how to distribute the proceeds. The subject came up of how to inform the village of our decisions. One of the ideas put forward was to produce a Newsletter. Brave words! Who was going to do it? Who was going to pay for it? Who was going to distribute it?
After a few more pints the logistics of this proposed exercise seemed easier; we could do anything couldn't we?
Being a member of the Parish and the Commemoration Fund Committees I was tasked with getting things off the ground. So, at the next P.C. meeting the subject was broached and, thankfully, received with enthusiasm. Gilbert Berry, then a member of the P.C., agreed to edit any material we might receive if the Commemoration Fund could find copy and help fund the first issue. It was also agreed that we would try and produce four newsletters a year.
So back to W.C.C.F. Committee. An extraordinary meeting was held in April 1992 to discuss logistics. The committee decided that the proposed newsletter should be their responsibility with Douglas and Edna Riant and myself responsible for obtaining news. Gilbert would then put this into a readable form.
The first Newsletter appeared in June 1992 on pink paper, all we had available at the time, 600 copies, hand fed, one at a time into the original photocopier housed in the store room at the Recreation Club, subsequently delivered to every house in the village by willing volunteers.
The reaction from the village seemed to be favourable and the amount of copy increased to the point that it was obviously not going
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to be enough to produce a letter only four times a year.
It was then decided to approach the Parish Council for a grant to help to buy a new photocopier, one that at least had an automatic paper feed! This was duly done and a new copier was bought by the W.C.C.F. and housed by Doug Riant at his home.
Because of the increasing popularity of the newsletter, we decided that it should have a name in order to make it unique to West Coker. A competition was organised to help in the quest for a new name and from the many entries one was received saying simply 'THE ROPEWALKER'. This seemed to say in two words exactly what stood West Coker apart. The name was adopted and is now part of West Coker speak!
And so it has continued, The Ropewalker has been produced on a monthly basis since 1993. Gilbert very competently edited each edition until he moved in 1998. We had to make a decision as to how we were going to continue because Doug and Edna Riant were also moving from the village. Luckily for us, June Leveridge and Tim Hurford agreed to take over and Tim was responsible for the new layout and enjoyed his involvement. Sadly, life was not to be so kind to Tim and he lost his battle against cancer.
Nigel Leveridge then stepped into the breech and helped to continue what had now become a West Coker institution. The W.C.C.F. helped with a loan to fund a new computer on which The Ropewalker is now produced and we have reached this milestone of 100 issues.
After 10 years the Ropewalker is still funded entirely by your donations, the local advertisers, and if there is a shortfall by the W.C.C.F. It is produced entirely by volun
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