Midsomer Norton Judo Club
Through The Years
In 1962 to early 1963 Mr Eric James ran the Thicket Mead youth club and Judo was introduced as part of club activities. The club instructor at this time was the late Mr Charles Carpenter also known as Charlie to his friends and along with Eric James held sessions at Radstock Road School in Midsomer Norton. One of those attending at the time was John Comer who is now the current secretary of the club. It ran for a short time, but due to a lack of attendance by the youth club it was opened up to the general public. Attending these sessions were Terry, Roy and Colin Taylor having practised Ju-Jitsu at home, wanting to try their hand at Judo. Later on during 1963 Terry Taylor and Eric James formed the Midsomer Norton Judo Club and continued to hold sessions at the Radstock Road School with Charlie taking instruction.
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In those early years the club entered teams into the Western Area League on a home and away basis visiting Swindon, Plymouth, Bristol, Cheltenham and Bridgewater. They also trained Sunday mornings at the Dock Labour Board Club in Bristol. The club was successful throughout the years having a membership of up to 200 junior and senior players entering and supporting county and western area events. The club has had to change venues for their Dojo seven times starting with Radstock Road School, Stones Cross Chapel, Midsomer Norton High Street School, Somervale Secondary Modern School, St Chad's Orchard Community Hall, The South Wansdyke Sports Centre and present date the Somer Community Centre.
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| Mr Terry Taylor throwing his brother Colin Taylor. | Mr Colin Taylor practicing with Neil Adams. | Mr Roy Taylor also throwing Colin. Must be brotherly love? | |
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The three brothers Terry, Roy and Colin Taylor (Nice hair). | ||
Over the years the club has been involved in fundraising for a lot of charity organisations such as, The St Johns Ambulance, Jumbulance Vehicle Fund, The Heart Foundation and carried out Judo demonstrations around the area supporting other organisations. Below are some pictures of different fundraising advents that the club has done.
Fundraising Pictures
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In this picture some of the parents from the club and senior members are presenting a cheque to a member of the Jumbulance Vehicle Fund after a sponsored Jumbulance pull. |
| In this picture some of the Junior members presenting a cheque to Cameron Chislett after the juniors members had done a sponsored skip to help Cameron go to the paraplegic games. Cameron was entered into the shooting advent. Cameron was the former secretary of the club. |
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Here some of the Senior members are presenting Cameron with a cheque after the senior members done a sponsored run form the Budokwai judo club in London to Midsomer Norton judo club. This was to help pay for a brace for Cameron. |
| One of our senior members on the sponsored run from the Budokwai judo club to Midsomer Norton judo club. |
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Two of our senior member done a parachute jump raising funds for the Heart Foundation. |
| Charlie and some of the clubs senior members participating in a demonstration in the centre of Midsomer Norton. |
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Members and Committee
At present the club has 86 Junior and Senior players, players from both Juniors and Seniors represent Somerset county in competitions.
The clubs committee at present are;
Chair Man : Colin Taylor
Treasurer : Pam Taylor
Secretary : John Comer
Other members are Roy Taylor, Cheryl Comer, Mark Comer, Jackie Cornick, Kelly Taylor, Chris Moss and
Steve O'Donoghue. Each person has their own job within the club.