Editions 121 - August 2009
Artwork: Isabelle Fogg - A resident in the 50's and 60's
EDITORIAL
With this issue, the Newsletter moves into its 21st Year! It has come a long way since Issue No. 1. It has doubled in size and from stencilled and roneo printing and minimal pictures of poor quality, it now sports coloured pages and photographs of a vastly improved quality. Over the years only a handful of articles have been repeated and no two covers have been the same.
Talking of covers, this issue's is 'A corner of the village from a pencil drawing by Isabelle Fogg'. It shows St. Peter's from Silver Street, with Briar Cottage and the old shop, and Brookside. Isabelle lived at Orchard House in the '50's and '60's and now you need to read the article 'A Further Coincidence' on page 22!
The promised long, hot, summer is still awaited! Yes, we've had some glorious sunny days, even lasting a week or so and some almost too hot, but there has also been some torrential rain - the Valley Open Gardens nearly drowned under deluges.
Out with the Newsletter are the Schedule and Entry Forms for the Horticultural and Craft Show [except for the far-flung readers]. Please give this event your continued support and don't forget the Berry Revels on 4th August and St. Peter's Summer Fayre on the 18th.
Included are two important notices. One gives Notice of the Public Local Inquiry to be held on the 8th September at the Manor Hall at
10.00 a.m. regarding the Footpaths at Watermouth; the other gives preliminary details of a Village Happening to take place on the 3rd October, for which fuller details will follow. Please make a note of these events and their dates.
We welcome any newcomers to the Village and hope you will be happy here, and wish all those currently 'under the weather' well and hope you will be feeling better very soon.
Sadly, the supply of Brian's Crosswords will shortly be coming to an end. Can anyone help? Are you a crossword compiler and puzzle producer? If so and you could assist in keeping the 'Corner' going, please do get in touch with me.
As always, I must thank everyone who has contributed to this issue. With the next one - October - the evenings will be drawing in again and autumn with us. Items for same can always be handed in as soon as possible but by MONDAY, 14TH SEPTEMBER, at the latest please. Thank you.
I'm beating the shops and advertisers to declaring that Christmas is coming! So, remember if you are considering purchasing cards in the not too distant future, you can send your messages to friends and neighbours [with donations to the Manor Hall and Newsletter] via the December issue of the Newsletter. In the meantime, enjoy, hopefully, some summer days.
Judie - Ed
1
BERRYNARBOR LADIES' GROUP
The
June Meeting was held in the Manor Hall on Tuesday 2nd when the Secretary,
Marion Carter, took the Meeting in the absence of both the Chairman and Vice
Chairman.
It
was reported that the outing on the Stuart Line Cruises along the River Exe on
12th May had been enjoyed by all and thanks were expressed to Janet Gammon for
making the arrangements.
The
speaker was Brenda Farley who came to talk about Talking Newspapers for the Blind. This began in North Wales in 1970 from an
idea in
The
vote of thanks was given by Rosemary Gaydon, the raffle won by Ann Williams and
the meeting ended after tea and biscuits.
Before
the Meeting on 7th July, Fenella Boxall spoke to members about the Beaford Arts
Centre and the possible workshops for various arts in the village. The
plan is to create a new tradition for the village based on Bishop John Jewell
who was born at Bowden Farm. It is
envisaged to hold a party on the 3rd October, which will tie in with the Harvest Services, and
with a parade through the village.
The
Meeting was then reminded of the Berry Revels taking place on Tuesday evening, 4th
August and St. Peter's Church Summer Fayre on Tuesday evening, 18th August, and
a request for cakes, raffle prizes and bric-a-brac for both events.
Darryl
Birch continued the afternoon by talking about the ecology of Wistlandpound Reservoir. It was
commenced in 1950 and dams a major tributary of the River Yeo. The land surrounding the reservoir was
originally open moorland and now has extensive
Mr.
Birch was thanked by Rosemary Gaydon and the raffle was won by Janet Gibbons. With all business done, everyone adjourned
to "Miss Muffets" for a cream tea!
On
Tuesday, 1st September, Peter Christie will be talking about 'Unexplained Mysteries'
and on the 6th October, Roger Groos will be joining us to tell us about his
subject - reflexology.
Marion
Carter & Doreen Prater.
2
IN MEMORIAM
Look
upward for the sky is not all cloud
Look
forward, think not of the dismal shroud;
No lane
has not a turning, and no road
That
leads not somewhere to a warm abode.
Take
courage, if the day seems rather long
The
cooling dew will fall at evensong.
[From
the Chapel at
SALLY BARTEN
"Nothing is so strong as gentleness
Nothing is so gentle as real strength"
Although
she had not been well for some time, it was still a shock to us all to hear
that Sally had died peacefully on Sunday, 7th June. Everyone was saddened by the passing of a
lovely lady who had given so much to our village, the village she loved.
Her
funeral on the 15th June was a joyous celebration of her life, with the bells
of St. Peter's ringing out a happy peal, the full church decorated with country
flowers and cheerful music and hymns, but there was not a dry eye when at Sally's request,
'Danny Boy', was sung so beautifully by Bobby - a very poignant moment.
One
person to whom Sally meant a lot was Shaun Cooper, and unable to attend her
funeral he wrote:
'Dear Wendy, Rachel, Janet and
Sally's friends,
I
am so sorry not to be with you today to remember and celebrate Sally's
life. You are all in my thoughts and as
Sally often said to me - they can only be positive thoughts!
Whenever
I think of Sally, I see someone who was a genuine 'giver', someone who was
always interested in you, wanted you to enjoy life and was always there when
needed.
I
am sure wherever her spirit is now, it will continue to inspire us to live life
to the full and face challenges head on.
In
1985, Sally mobilised Berrynarbor and its unique community spirit to rally
round to help me to fight, win and recover from a cancer scare.
Before
each chemo treatment, I would always receive a little card from Sally at the
hospital, either in Barnstaple, Exeter or Birmingham - she seemed to know
exactly where I would be - with an inspiring message and most important of all,
a piece of Devon heather. That piece of
heather from her garden, wrapped in aluminium foil, would follow me around the
hospital reassuring me that I had a little luck on my side.
Then
when I returned home to recover from each session, I would pop down to see her
and we would talk, just talk about stuff that I couldn't say to anyone else in
case I should worry them. Sally would
simply listen and offer a perspective that helped me face the next treatment,
operation or problem with a little more courage.
Courage
is a word that isn't used very much today and without unique people like Sally,
there would be even less of it.
Thank
you Sally for your luck and I hope that one day I can pass it on to someone . .
.
Shaun
Like
Shaun, our thoughts are with Sally's family, but especially her three daughters
Wendy, Rachel and Janet and the grandchildren.
3
THANK YOU
Pat at Fuchsia Cottage has sent this letter from
her mother, Rose Perry.
I should like to take the opportunity
through your wonderful newsletter to say 'Thank You' to everyone in
Berrynarbor who has sent me their kind thoughts and best wishes following
my accident at home in March. After
surgery and many weeks in hospital, I am now at home and making slow but sure
progress.
I always love my visits to Fuchsia
Cottage and your beautiful village and enjoy reading all about village life in
your newsletter. It brings back wonderful memories of my
childhood growing up in the
Withington
in rural Gloucestershire with my brother Ted.
My parents, Mary and Walter Heyden, ran the small village shop and my
father was also the village postman, verger, bell ringer and member of the
church choir. In fact he contributed so
much to village life that he was awarded the B.E.M. by the Queen in
1967.
I shall always remember
that very special day as I accompanied him to
I left the village at 14 [we left
school early in those days] to work at the Russian Embassy in
Millionaire's Row, Kensington and later on married my husband, Ernest. We moved to the
Following my parents' death,
I visited the village infrequently.
Then my brother, who had also moved away, died seven
years ago and Pat, Maureen, my three sons and I went back to scatter his
ashes in the village we both loved.
We stayed at The Mill Inn, where
for so many years my father had spent his evenings drinking a pint by the
inglenook fireplace after his long working days. We visited the church and stood proudly at
the stone wall plaque installed in his honour and generally walked down memory
lane with me telling my children all the tales of my childhood. We returned once more last year and,
health permitting, I hope to visit both Withington and Berrynarbor again in the
near future,
Thank you again for all your best wishes
and excellent newsletter.
Rose Perry,
The British Empire Medal [BEM] rewarded both civilians
and military personnel for 'meritorious service'. The recipient was still entitled to wear
the BEM if promoted to a higher grade of the Order of the British Empire. The BEM replaced the Medal of the Order of
the British Empire for Meritorious Service in
December 1922.
The medal no longer forms part of the British honour system. It is silver and has a red ribbon with three
vertical, grey stripes. A British
Empire Medal for Gallantry was also awarded from 14th January 1958 until its
replacement with the Queen's Gallantry Medal in 1974.
4
ST. PETER'S CHURCH
The
rain cleared for the Pig Roast held on Saturday, 27th June, at South Lee Farm -
a great village evening thanks to the
generosity of the Gubb and Clarke families, and so many others, not forgetting Gary and his fellow musicians. Once again the response was over-whelming
and over £800 has been added to the Bell Fund.
Friday,
3rd July, saw us back in church for the Concert given by Ilfracombe Male Voice
Choir. Their varied programme was most
entertaining and the choir's own enthusiasm added to the atmosphere. Donations at the end amounted to £111.
Before
these last events, a special Thanksgiving Service was held on Sunday, 21st
June, for the restoration of the Tenor Bell.
Drinks and nibbles followed kindly provided by Jean Ede - thank you
Jean.
Over
the past two months, other charities have not been forgotten. Collections for Christian Aid made through
the churches in Combe Martin and Berrynarbor amounted to £811 this year - quite
an increase on 2008 - and £41 has been forwarded to the African Mercy Ships
from donations at the Pentecost Songs of Praise.
St.
Peter's Summer Fayre will be held in the Manor Hall on Tuesday, 18th August,
starting at
Friendship
Lunches will continue through the summer and we shall meet at The Globe on
Wednesdays 26th August and 23rd September from mid-day. Everyone welcome.
Looking
forward, the Harvest Festival will be celebrated the first week-end in
October. More details next time.
Mary Tucker
5
HATCHED
An
Elaine
and John [Fanner] are delighted to announce the safe arrival of their fifth
grandchild, a daughter for Elise and Paul in
Sue
and Alan Richards and Don and Edith Ozelton are delighted to announce the
arrival of a grandson, Tyler James,
to Karl and Louise on the 8th July, weighing 6lbs 11oz. All are doing well!
Jan
[Gammon], and her son Martin and his wife Simone, are very happy to announce
that Elexaus, a sister for Tom, Ben
and Alex, arrived safely on the 9th July weighing 9lbs.
Our
congratulations to all the proud grandparents, parents and, of course, a warm
welcome to the little ones.
6
A FURTHER COINCIDENCE
Orchard House -
The
internet is full of surprises. My
husband, Peter, and I were amazed to find my name on the Berrynarbor Newsletter
site and quickly pressed buttons to discover what it was all about.
A
piece entitled 'A Coincidence' was published in the April 2008 issue. The writer [Ivy White's daughter] had been
reading about Orchard House in the October 2007 edition. Soon afterwards she went to Abergavenny
Market, in
Peter
and I met while we were students and in 1953 I came to stay at Orchard House
for the first time. Peter's parents,
Charles and Isabelle, had bought the house on retiring and moved there from
Charles
Fogg [1890-1963] and Isabelle [1892-1973] were very happy living in the
village. Charles was on the Parish
Council for several years and was largely responsible for establishing a path to
Isabelle
had been a teacher in
Peter's
career in chemistry as a researcher and lecturer took us to various part of the
I
took the photograph of Charles and Isabelle outside Orchard House when we were
staying there in 1961.
Heather Fogg
7
WEATHER OR NOT
The
first few weeks of May didn't show much promise of being the beginning of a
scorching summer. Strong and cold
easterly winds predominated to start and eventually gave way to south-westerly
gales which brought heavy showers and continued cold , despite the change of
direction. It remained cool with
maximum temperatures ranging between 13.7 Deg C and 19.5 Deg C until the 29th, when the
temperature shot up to 25.5 Deg C. The
total rain for the month was 86mm [3 3/8"] with 21mm [7/8"] falling
on the 14th. This was fairly average
and 5mm [5/16"] more than last year.
Much of the month was breezy with a maximum gust of 31 knots on the
8th. Chicane recorded 142.66 hours of
sunshine, which was more than 2006 and 2007, but down on last year.
The
first few days of June were glorious with temperatures up to 24.8 Deg C, but this
ended abruptly on the night of the 5th when the rain started. By the end of 24 hours, we had measured 36mm
[1 7/16"] though compared to other parts of the country we got off
lightly. After that it picked up again
and the rest of the month was pretty dry with a total rainfall of 58mm [2
5/16"], which was nothing out of the ordinary. Temperatures stayed below 21 Deg C until the
last week when they started to climb, peaking at 26 Deg C on the 30th and only
dropping back to 16.5 Deg C overnight.
Although there was a lot of talk about heat waves and scorching
temperatures, most Junes since 1994 have had maximum temperatures which have
exceeded 26 Deg C. The minimum temperature
of 6.4 Deg C on the 8th was about average.
Winds were light for most of the month with a maximum gust of 20 knots
on the 17th. Again the sunshine hours
at 173.9 were down on last year although they exceeded 2007.
In
the first six months of this year we have recorded only 419mm [161/2"],
making it the second driest first half of a year since our records began in
1994. For the same period in 2006, we
recorded only 389mm [15 5/16"] and that went on to be our driest year.
Simon and Sue
8
CLAUDE'S GARDEN
It
was lovely to see a group of people drawing or painting benefiting from the
recently restored Garden in early July.
A question revealed that this art group of 10 were from Portishead in
She
had reconnoitred the village a month previously and had visited the Shop. When she had said disappointedly that there
was nowhere for them to sit, she was directed to Claude's Garden.
Unfortunately,
scattered showers curtailed their activity and they headed for shelter and
sustenance at Miss Muffets Tea Room for their elevenses. I gather a few repeated this exercise at
lunchtime.
The
afternoon 'class' resumed and a donation was made for Berrynarbor in
Bloom. This was a great example of our
community gaining and working as one: a
shop recommendation, usage and appreciation of a local amenity and trade for a
local business. A good day for many -
including the artists - we hope!
Judith - Flowerdew
9
A
In
1995 I made a film of the village helped by my friend, Andy Marangone - a local
lad who had left the village, drawn by the city lights of
Not
much physically has changed in the village since then, but a few of the film
stars have left us to live up above.
I've been asked quite a few times if I have any copies left or was I
intending to make any more - I always found an excuse to say 'No'!
I've
been badgered again so shaking off my 'Mr. Grumpy' image, I in turn badgered
Andy and we have copied the film to
10
FAREWELL
It is sad to report
that Mary and Brian Shillaker have now finally left Rockton and moved to be
with their daughter and family in Stogursey near Bridgwater. They say they will 'miss all the lovely people
we got to know and please give our regards to everyone'. They are already busy working on their new
garden, which is large, with both a flower garden and vegetables. The only drawback is that they have had to
wire fence the vegetables to keep the rabbits out!
We
will miss them and send them our very best wishes and hope they will be really
happy in their new home.
11
BERRY IN BLOOM & BEST KEPT VILLAGE
We
have had some lovely weather over the last two months with extremely hot and humid days. The
hanging baskets and tubs have loved it and the village is looking at its best. Claude's Garden is now tidy with its new
railings and gate, just like a village green, although not all village greens
have such a lovely view! The planting
to the side of the shop is also complete
and should fill out by next year. We have planted mainly scented climbers on the
fence and trellis with lavender and roses.
The idea is to mask any nasty
whiffs from the septic tank and the public toilets!
The
first
The 16th July is the date for the
judging of
We
must thank the art group who were in Claude's Garden and made a donation of
£20.00 to
12
GOOSEBERRY
CRUMBLE
Gooseberries
have such a short season but when they come there is often a glut. This is another of those 'could be a cake,
could be a pudding' recipes.
Sponge
Mix
4oz\110g Margarine
or butter
4oz\110g caster
sugar
4oz\110g
self-raising flour
2 large free range
eggs
Crumble
Topping
4oz/110g
self-raising flour
2oz/50g margarine
or butter
2oz/50g Demerara or
granulated sugar
1-tablespoon water
1lb gooseberries
topped and tailed (uncooked)
Desiccated coconut
Prepare the crumble mix first. Rub
the margarine in to the flour until it looks like fine bread crumbs, stir in
the sugar. Add the water, just enough to make the
crumble a little sticky.
Make
the sponge by either creaming the fat and sugar with a wooden
spoon, adding the eggs one at a time with a little flour with each and finally
folding in the rest of the flour. Or,
put all the ingredients in to a food processor and beat well.
Line
and grease either an 8 1/2 inch loose bottom cake/flan tin or a Pyrex dish approximately
2inch deep. Put the sponge mix in to
your chosen tin/dish, top with the gooseberries, and then cover with the
crumble mix. Finally sprinkle over some desiccated coconut.
Bake
for approximately 1 1/4 hours at 160 Deg C /325F/gas mark 2. Test
to see if cooked by pushing a skewer in to the centre of the cake. If it comes out sticky cook
for a little longer.
Serve
hot or cold with custard, cream, clotted cream or ice cream. It is also lovely drizzled with a very little
undiluted elderflower cordial for that quintessential
English gooseberry and elderflower summer taste - Mmmm!
Wendy
13
THIS FARMING
Saturday,
18th July, was a very special day - we were celebrating Ron's 93rd
Birthday. By
Ron
would like to take this opportunity to thank everyone involved with the
celebration, but especially Jan and Nobby, Shane and all the staff at Lee
Lodge, Tom and Barbara, his daughter Sheila and her husband Tony, all his
friends and villagers, in fact everyone who came to enjoy the special evening
with him.
He
has now been at Lee Lodge for just over twelve happy months and he thanks
everyone there - staff and other residents - for the care and friendship he
enjoys every day. Like Ron, those who
enjoyed a great evening also thank everyone involved and send Ron best wishes
and many happy
returns.
14
FINDING FAMILIES
In
the June issue, Linda Melhuish was seeking information about the Vaggas
[Ackland or Cutcliffe] family and Richard Sloley his Sloley relations. Lorna and Marlene have kindly come up with
the following information which makes interesting reading.
"Burial of
George, son of George and Sussanna Vaguires 31.8.1761".
The
Cutcliffe's were an important family in
From Baptisms:
1550
1553 Johan daughter of John
Cutcliffe
1567 Matthew Cutlie [?] of
Yellston [Yellaton Farm]
1568 Joane Cutlyfe
1571 Julian Cutleth ye
daughter of Robert Cutleth
1572 Humphrey Cutfly ye son of
John Cutley?
4.3.1824 Elizabeth Richards m. John
Cutcliffe
Joyce
Songhurst also
tells us that her mother, Ivy nee Adams, who lived at Knackers Hole, married
Frederick Ackland. I
have found a little more information about the Sloley family that Richard, from
Tavistock, is researching. Church
records show the Sloley family have been in and out of Berrynarbor for a long
time.
The
farm, I think, is an ancient homestead.
Like Hammonds and Chichesters [next door and opposite] it seems to have
taken the name of ancient occupiers, who probably farmed these places for
generations. Until fairly recently, my
own Richards family farmed
In
the church records previous to 1746, there are entries where the writing is
difficult to read but could be that of the Sloley line. The first clear name is that of Henry Sloley
who married Mary Clark on 11.2.1746. In
1752, a Catherine Sloley died.
The
1861 census records:
William Sloley Head Aged 44 Cattleman on farm born
Ann Sloley Wife Aged 44 born
Mable A. Daughter Aged 9 born
Richard J. Son Aged 7 born
Alfred Son Aged 5 born
Edith Daughter Aged 3 born
William Son Aged 1 born
The
inscription on the grave near the top gate in the churchyard reads: "In loving memory of William Sloley died
Sept 1946 aged 90".* The dates do not tally with the census, but census record
dates were not always correct. This
William Sloley was Bet Richards grandfather and her father was called
Alfred. Alfred's brother moved to near
Tavistock.
Lorna
Richard
has confirmed that the Sloley who moved to Tavistock was his great-grandfather,
Dick. He remembers him as a small child
as a very tall, former Royal Marine.
Marlene, Ivy White's daughter, also has connections with the Sloley
family. From her research:
*William
Sloley married Ann Norman in May 1880 in
William
and Ann's Diamond Wedding was recorded in the North Devon Journal on
"Mr. and Mrs. William Sloley, of 61, The Village, Berrynarbor, celebrate their diamond wedding on
Wednesday, having been married 60 years.
They are both 84 years of age and were born in the parish of
Kentisbury. They had a family of eleven
children, eight of whom are still living.
Mr. and Mrs. Sloley have lived in Berrynarbor for forty years. Mr. Sloley, who started work at the age of twelve,
has seen many changes. He is also one
of the oldest bell-ringers and still loves to pull the ropes. Our readers will wish them every happiness on this anniversary."
William
died in September 1946 and Ann in January 1949. 61 The Village is where Bet Brooks lives
today.
William's
sister, Mary Ann, married Charles Harding Huxtable and their daughter, Rosie,
married Fred Bray. Their daughter was
Ivy White who was my mother. So,
William Sloley was my Great Great Uncle!
Marlene
15
BIRDS
"Come pretty one, come pretty one,
Come, come, come, come.
Come to my garden and whistle and hum
Come to my window and pick up this crumb.
Come pretty one, come pretty one,
Come, come, come, come."
We
all enjoy the sight and sound of our little feathered friends in our gardens
and most of us encourage them by putting out nuts, seeds and other
titbits. At Barn Cottage our chief
'clients' are blue, cole, great and occasional long-tailed tits. We also have occasional nuthatches, jays and
spotted woodpeckers. We used to have
green finches, but these seem to have disappeared. Less welcome are the jackdaws [because less
colourful?] but they only seem to take the odd nut before flying off. The odd magpie appears not to take
anything. I must not forget our two
resident robins [we have had more] who come to our picnic table for the crumbs
we put out for them.
It
is also a delight to hear the song of the blackbird, though we shall shortly be
paying for it in soft fruit.
We don't begrudge them their share,
so long as they leave a reasonable amount for us! "And what about the
thrushes?" I hear you ask.
Sadly, we have no residents, just the odd one passing through. Why they shun our garden is a mystery, as I
am sure we have as many snails and slugs as anyone.
Over
the years, two small episodes come to mind.
I was once watching two robins squaring up to each other over a peanut
on the ground between them. While they
were debating who should have it, down flew a blue tit, picked it up and flew
off with it!
On
a hot summer's day, I was in the workshop with the door and window wide open. In through the window flew a
blue tit with a sparrow hawk in hot pursuit.
The latter appeared to catch a wing against the window-frame, as it
perched on a shelf looking slightly dazed and giving me a marvellous
close-up. The tit made good its escape
through the door. After blinking a few
times, the hawk recovered itself and flew off through the window. I like to think it survived many months
longer.
I
wonder if any other readers have bird stories to contribute?
Trev
Illustrated by: Paul Swailes
16
LETTER FROM THE RECTOR
The Rectory,
Combe Martin
Dear Friends,
At the railway station or the bus
station I used to hate the words "All change!" Having made oneself comfortable in the seat,
and having just started a good book, everything was thrown in the air. Out we got, onto a draughty station platform,
sandwiches in one hand and suitcase in the other, to wait yet again for another
train. And, of course, the inevitable
rush to secure the best compartment and the seat by the window.
Prices in the supermarket are "all
change" as well with precious little change from a ten pound note! The cost of things, especially petrol, is "all change"
and one feels the security we once had is being undermined all the time. It's the same in the church. "All change" seems to be the
message from the Diocese in the way we run our parishes. Is nothing sacred?
In periods of uncertainty and change, it's
always worth hanging on to the fundamentals. Take my train journey for instance. The
reason for my journey was to reach my destination - for a holiday or trip out. As
long as I reached my destination it really didn't matter if I changed trains
once, twice, or even more frequently. Yes,
it was inconvenient, but there were other considerations of which I knew
nothing.
It's the same with changes in the
church. What really matters? We can change or even get rid of clergy and
bishops, because the real foundation is God and his love for us as revealed in
Jesus. That's what the church
building and the congregation stand for. Yes, it is easier to have the care and
oversight of a clergy person, but even if there were no clergy, we would still
be expected to show God's love for the world.
It may be "all change" in the
world but in our community we need to hang on to the values that unite us. We need to maintain that caring, concerned
attitude which some would describe as good neighbourliness, and others would
describe as the love of God shown in practical concern. And it is this attitude
that the world needs to learn from us, so that we can, in our own quiet way,
change the world for the better.
And of course, the one thing that
doesn't change is God and his love for us as revealed in and through Jesus. Now that's the real foundation!
With all good wishes,
Yours Friend and Rector,
Keith Wyer
17
NEWS
FROM THE PRIMARY SCHOOL
We
are nearly at the end of another year - the time has flown by but when I look
back at everything that we have done since September, it is not surprising that
our feet don't seem to have touched the ground!
We
have been lucky enough to enjoy three whole-school trips this term. In June we all went to RHS Rosemoor for a day
of exploring the grounds and taking part in workshops on a range of science topics.
Last week we all went to watch the
The
whole school have also visited the beautiful Tinnerdy Farm. Tinnerdy's owner - Capt. Nick L'Deau - has
encouraged a wonderful array of different habitats and ecosystems in the valley
and a postbox trail for the children to find their way around. All
the children have spent half a day at the farm in small groups and Nick has
guided them through the history of the property and was on hand to answer the
many questions about the flora and fauna.
The children had a great time and we very much hope we might be able to visit Tinnerdy
again at a different time of year to see how the habitat changes with the
seasons [and as Alfie pointed out - "everything
will look different so we can have the fun of finding the postboxes all over
again - especially the one with chocolate hidden in it."]!
Our
oldest children have had a particularly busy half term since their tests. They
have been on a residential trip to Dartmoor, enjoyed a day at Ocean Fest, had
an end of Year 6 treat on Exmoor [sponsored by the Round Table, to whom we are
very grateful] and this week are undertaking Bikeability training. You will probably have seen them out on the
local roads learning to cycle safely following the Highway Code.
Not
to be left out, the younger children have taken part in a Tri-golf Festival
held at Ilfracombe Golf Club with other local schools. Class
1 have visited the police station and have just finished their swimming lessons
- nearly all of the children were swimming without arm bands which is quite
impressive for 4-6 year olds!
We
should all like to say a huge thank you to the parents who helped to transport
children to various trips over the year helping us to keep the cost down for
everyone. We are also very grateful to the
I
am sure you will all be as proud as I am to hear that without exception the
children of Berrynarbor Primary have conducted themselves impeccably whilst out
and about this year. I have had many messages and e-mails
over the year complimenting our children on their polite manners and good
attitude.
Our
Sports took place on a beautiful afternoon at the end of June. All
children took part and many family and friends came down to the field to
support us. The
As
many of you know, both Christina Barrow and I will begin our Maternity leaves
in the Autumn term.
We have been lucky enough to
appoint Tania Slade and Amy Lewis to teach while we are away. Both Tania and Amy will start at the
beginning of term so there will be some overlap between us but by starting the
term with their new teachers, I am sure the children will have the continuity
they need to make a great start to the year.
We
shall end our year with our Summer Fair on Tuesday evening and then our Leavers'
Service on Friday afternoon when we will say a fond farewell to Paige, Aimee, Lucy,
Julia Fairchild who
has served as a
Over
the summer holidays we shall be making some improvements to our school grounds
and buildings. Our caretaker, Mr Colton, will be rebuilding
the steps to Class1, the windows in Class 1 will be replaced, the kitchen floor
will be renewed and a new servery fitted and we are hoping to have the external
windows repainted. We have also been advised that a number of
trees in our playground need to be pollarded.
It is with regret that we will see some beautiful trees reduced in size
and we'll certainly miss the shade they provide. However, following a comprehensive tree survey
conducted on behalf the local authority recently, we
have been told that there is no other way of ensuring the safety of the
children and neighbouring properties in any future inclement weather.
Sue Carey - Headteacher
In
spite of dubious weather, the Summer Fair was another successful evening, raising over £1,750.
Congratulations to all concerned.
We
thank all the staff at the school for the exceptional support, encouragement
and care they take of their pupils, and wish Christina and Sue healthy and
happy maternity leaves - we'll look forward to hearing about the safe arrivals
of their little ones. Ed.
18
RUDYARD'S KETTLE
The
first thing many of us do in a crisis is to switch on the kettle. A hot, soothing cup of tea shared with
friends, or taken alone, never fails to lift
the spirit. Rudyard Kipling obviously
knew how it felt to be without tea, when he wrote:
We had a
kettle, we let it leak:
Our not
repairing made it worse,
We
haven't had any tea for a week . . .
The
bottom is out of the universe.
Another
man of note who was fond of a good cup of tea was William Gladstone, the 19th
Century British Prime Minister. He had
this to say about his favourite brew:
"If
you are cold, tea will warm you. If you
are too heated, it will cool you. If
you are depressed, it will cheer you. If
you are excited, it will calm you.
PROVERBIALLY . . .
Music
gives a soul to the universe, wings to the wind, flight to the imagination, and
life to everything. Plato gave us
that.
The
art of conversation is the art of hearing as well as being heard.
William Hazlitt wrote those wise
words in 1826.
It
has been well said that the person who never made a mistake
never made anything. Nobody
likes to make a mistake, but one way of looking at it could be that if you make
a mistake today, you will be wiser tomorrow.
Nothing
is as easy as it looks. Everything
takes longer than you think. If
anything can go wrong, it will. Murphy's Law.
You
don't stop laughing because you grow old.
You grow old because you stop laughing.
The
beginning is the half of every action - Greek.
Between
saying and doing many a pair of shoes is worn out - Italian.
Watching
squirrels gambolling about and digging up the nuts they buried earlier in the
year, makes one think that we human beings can be in possession of good things
too. We can keep stored all the special
and important moments in our lives and bring them out again when we feel
downhearted.
Some
years ago a painting by the famous French Impressionist
Henri Matisse was put on display in
Walter
19
CONGRATULATIONS!
Congratulations
to Katrina Parkin, daughter of Julie and Michael of Bowden Farm, who has
graduated from the
Happy
Birthday! Congratulations and best
wishes to the 'Mrs. Reading Lady', Ursula, who celebrated reaching her
20
NEWS FROM OUR COMMUNITY POST OFFICE
Despite the lashing rain and high winds,
everyone who came to the car park on Saturday 4th July enjoyed tasting the
various offerings at the Local Food Launch. The Plunkett Foundation was
represented by David Geeves, their local marketing consultant - who got wet
with the rest of us! And thanks to those who braved it back so that
the north Devon Journal had some people to photograph. We haven't so far seen a marked increase in
local sales, but as these already represent almost a third of all sales, it is
not too surprising.
Talking
of local sales, our attempt to buy local standard milk hit problems, and due to
village pressure, we are now back with Robert Goodman. Organic milk and milk products remain with the
original suppliers.
After a hiccup, the 'Recipe of the Week'
is again in action and you can pick up a copy in the coffee area. If
anyone has a favourite recipe that they would like to share - using items
available in the shop - please let me know - Telephone 883758 or e-mail: pam.parke@eclipse.co.uk .
We are still looking for someone willing
to work on one Sunday morning in four. Please
get in touch with Anita if you think you can help.
And
[almost] finally . . . when your summer visitors arrive, do send them to the
shop. Most visitors are so surprised to
see the vast range of products on sale and rarely go out without having bought something!
There are often comments, too, about
how reasonably priced a lot of items are. Which reminds me that Anita
wants to remind you that if you want any particular item - cheese, clotted
cream or cakes for instance - she can usually get it for you for the next day.
And fruit and vegetables still have a 10%
reduction when ordered in advance.
Hope we have the hot summer that was
promised us and then the ice creams and cold drinks will have a bumper year!
PP of DC
21
MOVERS
SIR
GILES GILBERT SCOTT - ARCHITECT
Notable works: Battersea Power Station, Liverpool Anglican
Cathedral and . . . the G.P.O's Red Telephone Box
"In
this day of mobile 'phones," I wondered, "Does anyone use telephone
boxes?"
I
was heading for the village telephone box to take a photograph for our
Newsletter and was beaten to it by an elderly couple wanting to use it!
Thirty or so years ago, these boxes
were so much in use that very often one had to queue to get in, whilst the
occupier whispered to a loved one, rang for a doctor or chatted with a
friend. Now mostly they stand unloved
and if like the one at Berry Down Cross, very
neglected. Fortunately, Nora looks
after ours, voluntarily, as Royal Mail has apparently abandoned it!
Even
so, it will be a long time before the kiosks are forgotten. People have bought redundant ones for their
gardens, in
So
why did I need a photograph? Well,
nearly a year ago I saw in the press that the
So
who was Sir Giles Gilbert Scott? Born
on
Sir George Gilbert Scott designed,
amongst other things, St Pancras Station and the Albert Memorial. He even made it to Barnstaple where he
renovated the Parish
Sir
Giles' father was another George, commonly known as Scott Jnr.
He was very gifted as a young man, designing a series of churches in
Sir
Giles admired his grandfather as a brilliant architect, but loved his father's
work and said that he was a true artist.
In the early 20th century he himself had a reputation of combining
modern and historical ideas in his designs.
When commissioned as a consultant to make Battersea Power Station more
attractive, he chose exterior bricks to give detail to the plain walls and
designed the four corner chimneys to represent classical columns. It remains the largest brick building in
Perhaps
his best-known work is Liverpool Anglican Cathedral. In 1902, a competition was launched for a
"Design for a 20th Century Cathedral." He worked on his ideas in his spare time and
was surprised to be chosen as one of 5 architects to get through to the second
round. He was even more surprised to
win the following year at the age of 22 years.
This project, interrupted by World War I was ongoing for the rest of his
life. The cathedral was consecrated
in1924, but not finished until 1980, 20 years after his death. He had a lot of other contracts of course,
and between the wars worked on churches and other buildings around the country.
His
design that everyone knows, however, is the red telephone box. In 1924 the Royal Fine Arts Commission
invited him as one of 3 architects to design a 'friendly' rather than 'intimidating'
public telephone kiosk. At that time he
was a trustee of
He
was a great admirer of this architect who had designed a Portland Stone
mausoleum for his wife in St Pancras' Old Churchyard in
Whilst
working in
Sir Giles was working on designs for
the Catholic Church of Christ the King in
PP of DC
22
PARISH
COUNCIL REPORT
The
Council, chaired by Councillor Richard Gingell, met on the 14th July.
It
was noted that Councillor Andrea Davis had been appointed to the Cabinet of
Devon County Council as member for Children's Health and Wellbeing. She is the only cabinet member from the
Enquiries
were made about the garden area adjacent to
The
erection of a fence round Claude's Garden had been completed and the grass area
cut. The work to continue this for next
season would be put to tender in the autumn.
Trees in the vicinity of Lee Lodge had been inspected and the owners
contacted.
Of
late there had been a spate of vandalism, particularly damage to vehicles
parked in the area outside the Shop, and incidents of petty theft. Residents are asked to be vigilant and to
report any suspicious behaviour.
The
Parish Council will be meeting on the 11th August and 8th September, and all
villagers are welcome to attend -
23
The
Cockerel
Ivor Richards, who lived at Moules Farm, kept a fine
cockerel. It had large spurs on its
legs and strutted on the road outside the farm as though it owned it! Woe betide anyone who got in his way. The cockerel would charge at their legs and
had even been known to draw blood.
Behind
the farm was a field, called Hospital Field [local legend has it that it was
the burial ground many years before for donkeys and horses]. Being very flat, it was ideal for playing
cricket and many a visitor was challenged to a game up there.
One day, the boys were walking home
after such a game, and as they got close to the farm they spied the dreaded
cockerel. One lad picked up a stone and
threw it quite close to it to scare it, but to no avail, it kept coming towards
them. Arthur [who we met in the Ghost
story in the April issue], was with the boys and he picked up a stone and threw
it, hitting the cockerel on the leg, which broke.
Well,
the noise and commotion brought Ivor on the scene, at
which the lads all began denying that they had thrown the stone, but Arthur
said: "All right, I'll pay for the bu**er, it was worth
it"!
Strawberry
Time
The
boys had gathered at Billy Smith's to decide how to spend the day. It was decided that bird nesting would be
the order of the day and so they set off to the glen between Glen Lee and Hill
Barton, going the long way round which took them up the lane behind Middle Lee.
Along
the fields below
Morna's family ran a market garden from Glen Lee and the
strawberries would be put in punnets before being
sent to market or Morna would sit outside Woolworth's
in
The
strawberries looked large, red and delicious.
How the boys' mouths watered!
They signalled to each other to keep quiet and went on their way. Once out of earshot they agreed that a visit to the garden was a
must!
When
it was time to go home after their day of fun up in the glen, they returned the
same way, pushing through the hedge and in to the garden. The smell of the ripe strawberries . . . oh,
how delicious they were. There was also
a row of peas, all plump and ready for picking, just waiting to be eaten. They, too, went down a treat!
Feeling
full and contented, the boys made their way home, agreeing that a return visit
would be a wonderful experience. So, at
dusk, a few days later, they made their way up the lane and through the hedge
again. They had only picked a few
strawberries when one of the boys let out an almighty scream. He had put his hand down to pick a
strawberry and had caught it in a gin trap which been tilled to catch thieving
varmints, both two or four legged! It was very lucky that the boy's father was
a trapper and had taught him how to deal with traps because his accomplices
fled the scene leaving him to fend for himself.
Illustrations by: Paul Swailes
Marlene
24
HORTICULTURAL & CRAFT
Schedules
and Entry Forms for the Show, which this year will be held on Saturday, 29th
August, in the Manor Hall, are included with this Newsletter. Extra copies are available from the Shop,
Sue's of Combe Martin, The Globe and the Sawmill Inn.
Open
to residents, and non-residents and visitors, we hope that everyone, including
all the youngsters, will try to put in at least one entry - more
preferably! But do come along on the
day of the Show, from 2.00
p.m. to view all the exhibits, to take part in the raffle
and auction.
If the 70 plus spuds sold earlier
are all growing well [let's hope they are], we are going to be very, very busy
on the morning of the Show, weighing and sizing them all up! Bring your potatoes, still in the pot but
minus any foliage, along to the Hall, either on Friday evening, from
So,
LOTS and LOTS of entries please, and lots of
visitors for the Show, Prize Giving and Auction.
Yvonne, Vi, Janet, Pip, Tony & Judie The
Organising Group
25
LOCAL
'Let there be cuckoos, a lark and a dove .
. . ' [song - Nat King Cole]
When
in May 2005 I heard the cuckoo call from woods in the
Last
year I heard it in the valley only once, briefly and distant. This year I did not hear it at all in the
village. In fact I did not hear it
anywhere else either and I miss it;
those strange evocative notes that mark the passage from Spring into
Summer.
A
decade earlier while walking along the River Barle
from Simonsbath in May, we had witnessed six cuckoos between Wheal Eliza and
I
now think it unlikely that we shall ever see anything like that again. It's hard to like the cuckoo with its
ruthless behaviour; laying its eggs in
the nest of a meadow pipit or dunnock then leaving
the host bird with all the work of rearing and feeding. The baby cuckoo shoving out of the nest the
surrogate bird's own eggs or newly hatched young.
Nevertheless,
the prospect of its absence from our countryside in the future is to be
regretted. The cause of the cuckoo's
decline may lie in its Winter quarters in
But whatever happens, I shall always
associate the path along the River Barle and the
grandeur of its scenery with our close encounters with Cuculus
canorus. Of
Illustrations by: Paul Swailes
Yet
on one occasion the highlight of the day took place right at the beginning of
our walk as we were leaving the elevated National Trust car park at Simonsbath.
Slowly
and unobtrusively down the steep bank at the edge of the tarmac came a fawn
bird with stripey markings on face and head, about
half the size of a partridge. It
matched the colour of the dead beech leaves covering the bank.
We
stood intrigued as it continued towards us and then crept round the edge of the
car park. From its shape and general
appearance it was obviously a game bird of some kind, but what exactly?
Luckily
in the
After
a while we relocated the bird, which had climbed to the track above, and the
Ranger confirmed that it was a quail [Coturnix
coturnix] a rare Summer visitor to
The
quail is the smallest European gamebird. We did not hear it utter a sound but its trisyllabic call is supposed to resemble the phrase 'wet my
feet'. It usually remains hidden so we
were fortunate to see it out in the open and this will probably turn out for us
to be yet another 'one-off' wild life experience.
Soon
afterwards I happened to be given an old poetry anthology in which I found a
poem called 'Quail's Nest' by John Clare.
In it the poet describes coming across a quail and her nest and
wondering what it could be. His
curiosity is satisfied when he meets a shepherd and tells him what he has
seen. The shepherd, 'knew and said it
was a quail's'.
The
poem seemed to closely echo our own unexpected meeting with the quail and our
inability to identify it without the expert knowledge the quail and our
inability to identify it without the expert knowledge supplied by the park
ranger 'standing in' for John Clare's shepherd.
Sue H
26
VILLAGE BAND HAPPENING
beafordarts
As you know, the Community Shop and
Manor Hall have been working with Beaford Arts to bring performing arts to the
village. Beaford have now secured
funding from 'Awards to All' to create a series of free musical and artistic
events. Berrynarbor has been privileged
to be selected as one of only three rural communities in
So, what exactly is the Village
Band? Acclaimed artists and musicians,
Tim Hill and Dan Fox* will bring their street band Tongues of Fire, 'a 5-piece
riot of reeds, brass and percussion' to make a joyful noise in
Berrynarbor. Their music draws
inspiration from the sounds of church, village, street, circus and gypsy
life. This will be combined with making
and sharing food and delighting young and old alike with a series of workshops,
processions and musical performance.
The workshops will include creative art, as well as producing a
specially commissioned piece of music that everyone can join in.
On the day there will be a street
carnival, feast, concert and dance, all to the sounds of the Tongues of Fire,
the church bells, the village choirs and school orchestra. The concept is to create a new village
tradition with everyone participating.
The linchpin for the event is the Bowden
Screen, which we hope to recreate on the day.
As you probably know, John Jewell - Bishop of Salisbury - was born in
the village at Bowden Farm. A wooden
screen, dating from his birth in 1522, was found at the farm and now forms part
of a display in
The screen consists of ten panels and it
is proposed that each sector of the village, e.g. the Primary School,
our
dynamic village is revealed. The panel
will be displayed outside on the day and eventually placed in the church for
more permanent viewing.
I have contacted different groups in the
village but look forward to hearing from anybody else who would like to join
in. The more the merrier for what
should be a fabulous day of fun.
So, if you have any ideas or
suggestions, and more importantly want to help, please contact me on
882675. The more input, the better this
event - your event! I look forward to
hearing from all of you.
Fenella
* Check out their website: www.tongues-of-fire.co.uk.
27
OLD BERRYNARBOR NO. 120
The
two views of
The
first around 1919 or earlier shows the almost enclosed harbour at high tide
with two sea-going ketches and what appears to be a sailing dinghy. Gerald Walters of Combe Martin informs me
that the ketches were the 'Olive and Mary' and 'Lady of the Isles'. Note that at the time there is no
development of the harbour and headland at all.
The
second and later picture shows two sailing ketches, but the one on the left is
already being dismantled and broken up.
A large tent or marquee can be seen and this was probably for one of the
Boys' Brigade Camps, which were often held at Watermouth [see View No. 97,
October 2005].
Note the Martello shaped tower which
appears in both pictures. This must surely
be the oldest surviving building or structure at Watermouth. Indeed, the Reverend John Swete, [1752-1821], producer of 'The Illustrated
Journals: Travel in Georgian Devon'
between 1789 and 1800, refers to the structure as follows:
"The
restrospective view of Watermouth as I ascended the
northern side of a steep hill was extremely pleasing - the Cove, and the rocky
headland were beheld in high perfection, and the little Edifice about midway on
the latter [now seen sideaway], exhibited its Portico
more conspicuously than it had done when viewed from the House. I had conceived this Building which wore the
semblance of a Grecian temple, to have been erected for the purpose of
recreation, imagining that it had a room which commanded the whole extent of Sea,
and all the Beauties which were comprised within the little circle of
Watermouth; in this however I was wholly
mistaken, for I learnt from the Servant, that it was a Dove house and had been
erected as an object merely from the House."
This picture, again showing the
tower, is an artistic view entitled 'Watermouth seat of [blank] Davie Esq.' is
dated 1796, well before the construction of today's Watermouth Castle, which
was commenced in 1820 and completed in 1840.
My
father, Thomas L. Bartlett, B.A., M.B.O.U. [Member of the British
Ornithological Union] was both a historian and ornithologist and until his
death in 1973 was the Chairman of the Selborne
Society and Editor of the Selborne Magazine. The Selborne
Society, founded in 1885, existed at that time : to perpetuate the memory of Gilbert
White; to protect places of interest and
natural beauty; to conserve Britain's
heritage of wild birds, animals and plants; to encourage the study of Natural
History and to campaign for small Educational Sanctuaries near built-up areas.
In
the Summer 1968 issue of the Selborne Magazine, my
father wrote:
"Since 1905, when from the top of the
old Lorna Doone coach I saw a great
"Accordingly after studying the
'Outline Development Plan for the Coastal Strip, Ilfracombe to Combe Martin'
displayed at the County Hall, Exeter, I have suggested that the County Planning
and Education authorities should consider registering the Tower illustrated on
the cover of this magazine and a few acres round it not only as a site of
outstanding natural beauty but as one of Special Scientific Interest which
could be adapted as a field centre, observatory and museum, to give school
children and others a greater interest in Devon's natural history and a deeper
concern about its conservation.
T.L.B."
Tom Bartlett, Tower Cottage, August 2009
e-mail:
tombartlett40@hotmail.com.
28