So Somerset

Memorial service for tsunami victim

Piers Simon, 33, from Chilthorne Domer near Yeovil, died when the tsunami hit the café where he was breakfasting with friends on the island of Phi Phi.

His father, Henry, 58, said: "Our memories are of a son who made us proud, alongside his brother."

Luke Simon, 30, an English teacher in the city of Chiang Mai, found his brother after co-ordinating the search.

Piers' body was discovered on New Year's Eve, identified by photographs and his passport.

Ben Seyfried, a friend of Piers', managed to scramble onto the roof of a building.

"We heard people screaming, and then someone started shouting 'water come, water come'," remembers Ben.

"We ran out of the back of the café, and I could hear crashing and cracking noises, as the water crushed the trees and ripped off roofs.

"It built up to a roaring noise. We saw some bins and climbed on them to climb on a roof, but the bin collapsed as the water reached me, and I was washed 20 metres down the street.

"The water was filthy and full of blocks of concrete, corrugated iron, fridges - it was like being hit by a car."

Ben eventually climbed onto a roof, by which time he had lost sight of Piers, who he never saw again.

Piers' family is holding a memorial service on Monday 17 January.

Louise Willgrass

Sian Dawson, the Conservative Prospective Parliamentary Candidate for Bath, has also lost a close member of her family in the tsunami disaster.

Her cousin, Louise Willgrass, was one of the first British victims to be identified. She was killed while on holiday with her husband and children in Phuket.

Sian explained to Kate Salisbury how the family were preparing to spend the day on the beach when the wave struck. Louise had gone into a supermarket to buy sun cream, while her husband and children waited outside.

You can listen to the interview by following the link at the top of the page.

David Hayball

A man from Chard has expressed his relief at his brother's escape from the tsunami.

Alan Hayball explained to Simon White how he found out his brother David had survived. You can listen to Simon's interview by following the link on the right-hand side of this page.

David Hayball, who lives in Khao Luk near Phuket, told Andrew Enever the story of how he and his wife had lived through the tsunami.

You can listen to Andrew's interview by clicking on the link to the right. As you might expect given the scale of the disaster, the sound quality of the phone line used for the interview is quite poor.

Mark Kennedy

Mark Kennedy, a computer programmer from Bath, told the BBC how he had been reading a book in his cabana hut on the beach in Aragon Bay in Sri Lanka, when he saw water coming underneath the door.

He said: "The door was suddenly pushed inwards by the force of water and I ran into the shower area at the back of the cabana.

"But the building collapsed, trapping me underwater. I am not sure how long I was under there for, maybe about 30 seconds."

"I said my goodbyes. But somehow my head popped up to the surface. I was determined to live after that."

"I found myself in a raging torrent of water. But after a while I realised palm trees were holding back the bulk of the water. "

He clung onto a tree until the water receded to reveal a scene of devastation.

Mark, who said he suffered "mainly cuts and bruises", was rescued by a Sri Lankan army helicopter.

Follow the links on the right-hand side of this page to get the latest information from BBC News.

Numerous events are being organised around Somerset in aid of the disaster appeal fund.

We have put together a list of just some of the ones we know about. You can add yours to this page by using the form below.

If you would like to contribute to the disaster fund directly, follow the link on the right of this page to find out how you can make a donation.

Wednesday 5 January

Ashley Residential House in Langport is holding a bring-and-buy sale and coffee morning at 10.30am.

Thursday 6 January

Bradsons Event Services is raising money at Wincanton Racecourse. They will be getting people to fill out Gift Aid forms when they contribute, so that 28% tax can be claimed back and added to the donation.

Saturday 8 January

There will be a fundraising event at Porlock Village Hall from 10.30am.

Meanwhile, you can treat yourself to a full English breakfast at Pitney Village Hall (between Langport and Somerton) from 7 until 10am, served by waiters in dinner jackets!

Flags were at half mast on Wednesday 5 January

1st Wellington Scout Group and Wellington Rotary Club are holding a joint coffee morning between 10am and 12pm at the Scout HQ on Fore Street in the town. There will be a cake stall and raffle, and any donation of cakes or prizes can be made on the day.

They are also filling special disaster boxes with specific household items. These Aquaboxes can also be used for storing and cleaning water. You can donate items by contacting Steve Altria on 01823 666295.

Trull and Staplehay are holding a bumper bring-and-buy sale at Trull Memorial Hall from 10am until 2pm. The hall will be open from 9am to receive goods, or you can leave items at Trull Stores prior to Saturday.

Sunday 9 January

St Mary Magdalene Church in Taunton is holding a Concert of Music from 8pm. Four local young professional singers - Alison Kettlewell (mezzo), Naomi Harvey (soprano) Stephen Crook (tenor) and Stephen Faulkes (bass) - are being accompanied by Joyce Clarke (piano).

Joining them is violinist Miranda Lisk who is being accompanied by Brendon Ashe plus members of the acclaimed choir, AMICI.

The programme includes well-known repertoire from opera and oratorio plus solo items from the instrumentalists and choir members. The evening is being compered by Robin Bush, the local historian and raconteur.

All proceeds from the concert are being donated to the Rotary International ShelterBox Charity. Tickets cost £10, and you can get them from:

Wednesday 12 January

From 12 January (until at least Friday 28 January) residents of Bath and North East Somerset can make donations to the tsunami appeal via their weekly Green Box collections or at local recycling centres.

Friday 14 January

Schools in the Somerset County Council area are holding a non-uniform day on Friday 14 January to raise funds for the tsunami appeal.

Students are being invited to pay £1 to wear their normal clothes throughout the day. With more than 70,000 children in Somerset County Council's schools, it's hoped that around £70,000 could be raised for disaster funds.

Rotarians from Wiveliscombe raise thousands

Some pupils are also going to be raising funds in other ways, such as silent reading and walking around the inner perimeter of the school.

You can find out more about the mufti day by listening to BBC Somerset Sound's interview with John Rose, Acting Executive Head of Lifelong Learning at Somerset County Council, at the top of the page.

An evening of live music, organised by Under One Sun, takes place at the White Horse in Stogumber (near Williton) from 8pm. The line-up includes:

Taunton Wine Circle is holding a whist drive at 7.30pm at Stoke St Mary Village Hall. There will be a raffle and small supper amongst other things.

Saturday 15 January

More than 30 shops in Clevedon are holding a day of fundraising. The organisers of the South East Asia (SEA) Day, Adrian and Ginny Apps, have persuaded traders to pledge to donate a percentage of their day's takings, or to hold a collection in their shop that day.

1st Wiveliscombe Scout Group are holding a coffee morning and bring-and-buy sale between 10am and 12pm at the Scout HQ on Old Brewery Road in the town.

Stogumber Village Hall is hosting a fundraising day from 10.30am with stalls, fun and games, and refreshments. The day will finish with the village's annual wassail from 6.45pm.

Wells Action, the City of Wells Lions, Wells Rotary, and the Wells and District Community Centre are supporting the Rotary International Aquabox project.

The Community Centre (the white building on the Portway) is open to receive donations of household items for Aquaboxes between 9am and 6pm on Saturday 15 and Sunday 16 January.

If you live in any of the following areas, you can also leave your items for the appeal in a black bin-liner outside your house for collection by volunteers:

Volunteers are also being sought to help with collecting, sorting, and packing donations at the Community Centre.

Tuesday 18 January

'Mount Everest' ladder climb in Bridgwater

Staff at Taunton's Musgrove Park Hospital are being urged to "get healthy" and help raise funds for medical aid in Sri Lanka.

Trish Hilton, Dietetic Manager at Taunton and Somerset NHS Trust, hopes that 10 per cent of the hospital's 3,500 employees will take part in her Seven Healthy Challenges appeal.

Participants are being asked to choose one of seven ways to make themselves healthier, and to stick to it seven days a week for seven weeks.

Any staff unable to make it to the launch will be able to pick up the details and a sponsorship form from the staff restaurant.

Wednesday 19 January

Thirteen local musicians are playing at a special concert at Somerset College of Arts and Technology on Wellington Road in Taunton from 7.30pm.

The line-up includes:

The concert is open to the public with free admission and a suggested minimum donation of £10 to the Tsunami Disaster Fund. All of the money raised will go to the appeal.

Friday 21 January

Party Pieces - a concert at North Curry Parish Church near Taunton - takes place from 7.30pm. Tickets - adults £5 and children £2.50 - are available at the church on the night.

Saturday 22 January

The Fitness Factory (near Clarks Shopping Village) in Street is holding a body combat and aerobic workout from 11am until 12pm. The class costs £4.50, and all money raised will be going to the tsunami appeal.

A coffee morning is being held at North Curry Village Hall at 10.30am.

Sunday 23 January

A Hunger Lunch is being staged at North Curry Village Hall at 12 noon. This is followed by an auction of paintings by local artists at 1.45pm.

The concluding event of North Curry's weekend of fundraising is Lights in a Garden, when people will be invited to sponsor a candle and enjoy warming winter drinks in Queen's Square.

Saturday 29 January

4th Glastonbury Scout Group is holding a table top/boot sale, with games, cakes and refreshments between 10am and 2pm at the Scout Hall on Benedict Street.

It costs £3 to reserve a table and £3 per car. The group is raising funds to buy and fill Aquaboxes.

There's a fundraising coffee morning at Merridge Village Hall from 10am to 12.30pm. Admission is by donation and there will be cake, bric-a-brac and jewellery stalls.

Friday 11 February

Watchet Carnival Club presents hard and funky house at The Anchor in Watchet from 10pm until late.

Guests include Paul Booker and Madame Screech. Resident DJs are Phil 'House' Martin, Martin S and Kate.

Admission is £3. You can get more information on 07974 321180.

Friday 18 February

Who's Next?, a Who tribute band based in Frome, are organising a benefit concert at Frome Football Club.

The line-up also includes SOS - an ABBA tribute band also based in Frome - and Hey Bulldog, a Bristol band specialising in sixties and seventies music.

Tickets are priced at £3.50 in advance and £4.50 on the night. You can get advance tickets from Raves from the Grave, Frome Reclamation, Frome Football Club, or from Jamie Wilkins, the event's organiser, on 01373 453926 or 07739 808936.

Saturday 19 February

There'll be a soup lunch at Charlton Adam Community Hall from 12 to 2.30pm with live music by local children and a raffle.