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December 2000THANKS: St Mary’s Atherington made a profit of £159-62 at the Car Boot sale on October 22nd. Thank you to everyone who helped. J Brayley CONGRATULATIONS: To Gordon and Mary Weeks on their Ruby Wedding December 2nd. All good wishes. THANKS: Queenie Jackson wishes to thank friends and family for the many cards and presents received on the occasion of her 80th Birthday and also fir the wonderful party. The Royal British Legion Poppy Appeal 2000Thank you to all who gave so generously. Special thanks to Christine England and Joyce Underhill; thanks also to St Mary’s Church for collection and to Libbaton, the Stores, the Golden Lion and the Old George for having collecting tins. The amount raised was £471-75. Eileen Tucker Calling all singers....St Mary’s Church, High Bickington has now formed its own little choir. It has given us all a great lot of pleasure to be able to help lead the singing, but we would welcome more members. Please contact Glenda Tucker for more details. St Mary’s Church, High Bickington
Thank you to everyone who helped with Flowers and gave donations. To those who cleaned and polished, our church always
looks loved and well cared for. SEASONS GREETINGS AND A FIRE FREE CHRISTMAS
"Christmas is approaching - hopefully we all relax and unwind, forget our problems and responsibilities and get ready to
party. Please make sure that the flow of party spirit doesn't lead to extra dangers at home or at work," said Chief Fire
Officer Mr Young of Devon Fire Brigade. Streamers - Christmas decorations are often made of combustible materials. Never attach decorations to lights or heaters or place garlands immediately above or around fireplaces. Ash - Even in a non-smoking household, visiting, family and guests may be smokers and it is important chat ash is put into appropriate containers. Ensure that any smoking materials are extinguished properly. Beware of smokers failing asleep during the day and never smoke in bed. If you have an open fireplace but only use it at this time of the year, make sure the chimney has been cleaned and swept. Familiarisation - If you are having overnight guests who may be unfamiliar with your home, ensure that they know their quickest escape route In the event of a fire. Take particular care to ensure that any children, elderly visitors or people with disabilities can escape safely. Make guests aware of any special features in your home, for example, how the front door opens from the inside. Electricity - Christmas is often a time when extra appliances are used. As a general rule, one socket should accommodate one plug bur if you must use adapters and extension leads, do not overload them and ensure that leads and flexes are in good condition. Parties - A house or office full of people always presents more hazards than usual, particularly in the kitchen and especially if the drink has been flowing. Take extra care. Never overcrowd office spaces. This may make escape difficult as there could be too many people using, a limited number of exits. Rubbish - Be aware that with lots of cards, decorations and wrapping paper around, there are more chances to catch fire. Dispose of wrapping paper and packaging sooner rather than later. Alarms - Never take the batteries from your smoke alarm to run toys and other gifts. Buy a stock of batteries before Christmas. Remember to test your smoke alarm as usual. If you have music at your office Christmas party, make sure you can still hear the fire alarm. Candles - Never leave candles unattended and never put lit candles in or near a Christmas tree. Toys – Try training plan avoid buying toys that look as if they are made from combustible materials. Buy toys from established retailers and manufacturers if you can. Illuminations - Test Christmas lights before putting them on the tree. Make sure they are fused properly. Replace sets of old lights, especially those that are not in perfect working condition. Remember to turn them off at night and when you go out. Cooking - If leaving a turkey to cook overnight, ensure that you are familiar with the timer controls on your cooker and that the temperature is set correctly. If setting light to the Christmas pud, don't pour the alcohol straight from the bottle. Put a small amount of alcohol in a non-combustible container, such as an eggcup, and pour onto the puddings from there. Beware of adding more alcohol - if you add alcohol to a flame, you could get a 'flashback'. If you spill a drop and the tablecloth catches fire, it can be put out with water. However, this is only recommended for a very small fire. Enjoy - By following the SAFE PRACTICE spell out in this code you will have a Safe and Merry Christmas. The first year of the new millennium is almost past. As we approach New Year's Eve most of us will be giving some thought to the traditional annual compulsion of making resolutions. Research shows that the most popular choices are giving up smoking, losing weight and getting filter. There are however some choices which are not so hard to achieve which will benefit individuals and families alike." Said the Chief Fire Officer of Devon Fire Brigade. "Spending a small amount of time thinking about safety in the home, like the other more popular resolutions, is a lifetime's investment. Each year several hundred people die and many more are injured in their homes." Be Prepared For Fire:
In closing Mr Young said: "The first year of the new millennium has been a fresh start for us all. Our aim is to help create safer communities. Prevention is better than cure. There is more than one way to fight a fire and your resolution can help us succeed." ATHERINGTON & UMBERLEIGH WIJudith Domleo November was the Autumn Group Meeting held in the Baptist Church Hall in Atherington (Umberleigh Hall is unusable owing to the floods at the beginning of the month. The river Taw was actually going over the bridge at Umberleigh). After the ordinary business was completed the election of the committee took place as well as the ballot for President. The result was President Mary Wilson; Secretary Judith Domleo and Treasurer Mary Burgess. Other committee members Eileen Chambers, Margaret Squire, Rose Peters, Jean Lynch, Wendy Waldon, Carole Hurst and Ann Harrison. Birthday plants were presented to Margaret Squire and Andrea Smith. We had a delicious Bring & Share Supper and afterwards Mary Wilson gave an illustrated talk of her life in the Sudan in the early seventies. None of us recognised Trevor!!? To celebrate the 80th Birthday of the Devon WI there was a concert by Jack Gibbons playing Gershwin at Barnstaple’s Queens Theatre. Several members enjoyed this brilliant pianist. He has been described as “The Gershwin pianist of our time.” Members went on a day visit to the Historic Gloucester Docks. We had a trip down the Gloucester and Sharpness Canal with a commentary on the interesting buildings and scenery that line the route. The Robert Opie Collection at the Museum of Advertising and Packaging was a nostalgic journey back through the memories of childhood and we concluded with a visit to the beautiful Cathedral. Ten members enjoyed the Autumn Group Meeting at Tawstock. We had a fascinating talk on the history of “Punch & Judy”, with a show to finish and of course there was a delicious supper! We travelled down to Plymouth for the Autumn Council Meeting at the Guildhall. A resolution “To Reduce the Level of Duty on Biodiesel”, was passed. The guest speaker was Canon John Eley “The Clerical Capers of the Cooking Canon”. He looks at life with his feet firmly on the ground whilst giving a quizzical glance to heaven! Two members went on a visit to “The Dome” an experience not to be repeated! It certainly looked fantastic from the outside when it was lit up at night. The next meeting will be on Tuesday, 12th December at Atherington Baptist Church Hall when Richard Chapman will give an illustrated talk on Long Distance Walks in Americas National Parks. Visitors very welcome. WI Carol Services:
Exeter Cathedral 2.15pm We wish everyone a very HAPPY CHRISTMAS From the ArchivesResearched by Richard Lethbridge HIGH BICKINGTON, DEVON
TO BE SOLD, by Public Auction, at the 'Golden Lion Inn,’ High Bickington, by Mr. STILING, Auctioneer, on Wednesday the 7th
day of February next at 3 o’clock in the Afternoon, the Fee-Simple and Inheritance of all that Messuage, Tenement, and
Farm called Little Silver, Situate in the Parish of HIGH BICKINGTON, and now in the possession of Mr. JOHN DOWN. August 8th 1864 HIGHWAY - James Pike, of High Bickington, was charged with leaving a horse and cart on the turnpike road, on the 29th ult. – P.C. Bending stated that on the evening of the 29th he found a horse and cart on the turnpike road in High Bickington: there was no one in charge. He took it back to the blacksmith’s shop, when defendant came up. – Defendant said he left the horse and cart in charge of John Jeffery, the blacksmith, whilst he went to the other smithshop. – John Jeffrey stated that the horse and cart was left in his charge, whilst engaged about his work the horse moved off up the village, and a boy named Slee brought it back. – The Bench thought the case a very trifling one, and defendant was let off by paying a fine of 6d, and the expenses 9s. December 15th 1864 TRESPASS. – Samuel Cole, of High Bickington, was summoned, on the information of the Rev. Septimus Palmer, rector of that parish, charged with committing a trespass by entering and being upon certain land belonging to Mr. Palmer, in the above parish, on the 1st inst., in search of game. – Henry Richards, farmer, stated that on the first December, about four o’clock in the afternoon, he saw defendant go into Mr. Palmer’s field with a gun; there was a corn rick in the field and he saw defendant fire at some partridges which were feeding near the rick; witness observed defendant pick up one bird and put it into his coat pocket; he then went forward and spoke to defendant. – The Bench considered the charge clearly proved and it was fortunate for defendant that the summons had been taken out for trespass, as if he had been summoned for killing game he would have been liable for a penalty of £5. They (the Bench) considered it an aggravated offence, and fined him the full penalty of £2, and 15s, for costs. High Bickington Church of England Primary School
Christmas Production It is with great reluctance that we have to stage the evening performances of our Christmas production out of the village. The problem is one of success because there are just too many children to all squash into the Church Hall. To do justice to all the hard work the children have put in, and to ensure that everyone can have good views of their own children, it is necessary to try a new approach. We hope everyone appreciates that we have taken this step in order to do the best for the children of High Bickington. Village people who do not drive will still have an opportunity to see the production on the Wednesday afternoon. Times and Venues are as follows:
Monday 11th December 7.00 Evening Performance at Burrington Village Hall Programmes can obtained from Mrs Seaward at the school office from Friday 1st December and cost £2.00. Pre or post-performance refreshments are included in the price. Jackie Rudman SHORTMAT BOWLSAfter a most enjoyable evening on 12 November, when Sir Ian Amory presented The Pertwee Bowl for Best Kept Village – Past Winners Group – we had our first taste of Shortmat Bowls. This was followed up by meeting, each Wednesday at 7.30pm, in Atherington hall. Around a dozen people have attended what has proved to be a thoroughly enjoyable evening. Anyone interested would be most welcome to join us. THANKS: On behalf of ‘Traidcraft’, Life for the World Trust and the Meeting Point we would like to say thank you to all who helped and supported us at our Sale of Christmas Goods on Saturday 18th November. Sales of ‘Traidcraft’ goods amounted to £374.93p, Life for the World Christmas cards £120.00p and books/food and drinks etc. £60.00p. Thank you all so very much. David and Carol Brown THE HIGH BICKINGTON RE-CYCLING FACILITYThe shed we use to collect household waste is becoming unhygienic and is currently being used by one or two irresponsible persons simply as a tip. Unless we start caring for our recycling shed we are going to lose this facility on the grounds of it becoming a health hazard. A few simply applied rules will prevent this. Flatten your empty tins and milk cartons (washed) before depositing them. Remove newspapers from the carrier bags in which they were brought and stack then carefully so they do not slide off the shelf onto the floor. The developing practice of dumping sacks of household waste for others to sort out for you must stop. Please inform your children, if it is they who carry your waste to the shed. Thought for the month...Don Chitty Atherington Baptist “Christmas is for children”, we often say, as though to give the reason for our bustling and busy days leading up to Christmas, or, to excuse the commercialism and expense that dominates it all. Maybe, it simply hides the fact that we are all children at heart, and really do enjoy the festivities! Christmases may be remembered with great pleasure or disappointments. We look back at the love and sacrifices, the PERSONAL choices our parents made, the pleasure the gifts gave. I recall two Christmases that thrilled me to bits. Receiving on one occasion a small encyclopaedia type book that was read avidly over and over again! Another time, waking up to find a real leather football on my bed! The ‘street’ enjoyed that present I remember! Christmas is PERSONAL! God’s GREAT LOVE and SACRIFICE included all of us. There are no age barriers! God gave His Own Son – ‘The Word became flesh and lived among us’ John 1:14 that we should know His true PEACE and JOY. Matthew 2:20.23 explains the heart of this great message of forgiveness by directing us to the ONE who saves. “His Name shall be called Jesus – For He shall save His people from their sins”. Then again, “His Name shall be called IMMANUEL” “GOD WITH US” God is WITH US because HE IS FOR US – that humble birth in Bethlehem, “a baby born under the shadow of the cross” is love beyond compare. So personal! With those astonished shepherds who just had to see Jesus for themselves, may we desire Him, trust Him for forgiveness, and enter into the blessing of his family. May you know God’s Peace and Joy this Christmas and for the Coming Year. LITTLE BICKINGTON FARM PROJECTAvril Stone For those readers who have not yet heard of this project either on the grapevine or by a letter, I have been volunteered to keep the subscribers of Ramblings informed of its progress. On 12th September 2000 a public meeting was held in the Church Hall, High Bickington. It was good to see the hall almost full of people interested in the future of Little Bickington Farm. Mr. Keith Brown, a member of the Community Council of Devon was there to explain to the assembled company the offer the Devon County Council had made to the Parish Council. This was that when the present tenants leave the farm it could be made available the people of High Bickington Parish to develop with whatever projects they wish, provided those projects are sustainable and viable. A lively meeting proceeded with concerns for the present tenants of the farm and the possible ideas for the property. Being a suspicious lot we could hardly believe that the offer had no hidden agendas. However, at the end of the discussion a unanimous show of hands voted that the village should hold an appraisal to ascertain the needs – requirements – desires of the residents of High Bickington Parish. At the conclusion of the evening Mr. Brown asked for volunteers for a committee to manage the organisation of the project. On 5th October, the first meeting of this committee was held. The management structure was decided and the officers elected. Another meeting on 23rd October saw the attendance of Mr. Keith Brown and Miss Sarah Tarragon who is an advisor on appraisals and funding. It was also decided that an exhibition should be arranged to show the community what the scheme had to offer and to stimulate interest and ideas.
Do we need a new school? – Low cost housing? – Community Centre? – Cottage Hospital? – Ten pin bowling alley? Or even a
Belly Dancing School for the over 80’s!!! It is now up to you to put on your thinking caps and come up with some viable ideas for this once in a lifetime offer. Watch this space and I will keep you updated with the progress of the now named High Bickington Project 2000. HIGH BICKINGTON WIJosie Maskell Our October meeting was our AGM. It was well attended and we have a new member. Stella Burrows gave a report on the Autumn Council Meeting at Plymouth, all who went enjoyed the day very much. The Group Meeting at Tawstock was surprisingly different with a Punch & Judy show for entertainment. Dates were given for the Carol Service at Exeter Cathedral, the Quiz at Chawleigh and the forthcoming Environmental Quiz. A ballot took place for President – Jennifer Gooding continues for a further year. The committee remains the same with the addition of Jennifer D’Olley. Cups were presented to Jean Checksfield who tied with Jenny Gooding for most competition winners. Rosemary Munson won the flower of the month cup. The President, Secretary and Treasurer all gave their reports on this last year. Margaret Bolt was our speaker for the evening. She brought just a part of her wonderful collection of souvenir china from North Devon. Each little piece she showed us had a story behind it and there were several items that originated in High Bickington. Some of the older pieces with pictures on them showed us how many changes there have been in the villages over the years. We all enjoyed looking at the collection more closely afterwards. Non committee members supplied us with a lovely supper – thanks to all of you. The competition for a piece of souvenir china was won by Josie Maskell. The flower of the month by Jean Checksfield and the raffle by the President. We entered the WI competition at the Autumn Show held at St John’s Garden Centre – the theme being ‘The London Eye’. We came third with 77 points. Next month is our Christmas meeting and Doreen Stevenson will be demonstrating party food. Visitors are very welcome. Don’t forget a present for under the Christmas tree. This year the prettiest wrapped gift will win the monthly competition. We wish everyone a very Happy Christmas and a Healthy New Year! POEM of the MONTHfrom The Setting Sun Then comes the winter, like a hale old man JAMES HURNARD (late 19th – early 20th century) Readers LettersThanks from an Australian in Atherington I am writing a doctoral thesis on the Lisle Letters written in the 1530s. Lady Lisle was a Grenville of Stowe, near Bude, and was the second wife of Sir John Basset of Umberleigh. After Sir John died, she married Arthur Plantagenet, Lord Lisle. Lord Lisle was Henry VIII's Deputy in Calais from 1533-1540. Lord Lisle was implicated in a treasonous plot against the King in 1540 and was imprisoned in the Tower of London where he died two years later. Honor Lisle returned to Tehidy in Cornwall where she had spent much of her girlhood years. She died there and was buried with her first husband in St Mary's Church in Atherington, on the lands that she owned. In October 2000, my husband and I travelled to Atherington to see some of the places that Lady Lisle lived. Sir John Basset is buried in the Atherington Church with both his wives. His first wife was Elizabeth Dennis (not Ann as indicated in local literature) and his second wife was Honor Grenville. The Grenville cost of arms is 3 horse combs and can be seen on a mantelpiece held in the Barnstaple Museum, as well as in some local coats of arms in the church and surrounds. We were very lucky to visit Umberleigh Barton which stands on the site of the original manor house that Lady Lisle owned. There are still the remains of the 16th century chantry chapel in which she was originally buried before the chapel was destroyed in 1800 and remains moved to St Mary's. The original door of the manor house is in the grounds of Watermouth Castle near Ilfracombe. We also visited Frithelstock where the remains of Frithelstock Priory are privately owned. When Henry VIII dissolved the monasteries, all the monastic lands were sold to the nobility and gentry. Lord and Lady Lisle were the first non-religious owners of Frithelstock Priory which they bought from the King after two years of lengthy negotiations and which is situated just near the local pub. Lady Lisle had a famous weir, situated some two and a half miles up river from Umberleigh Barton. Many times she sent gifts of local salmon from her weir to King Henry VIII as well as locally caught quails from the surrounding woodlands. Many villagers tried to help us find the site of the famous weir, but it is not longer there. Perhaps the famous fishermen of days gone by still fished at her weir. We had a fantastic time in Atherington and Umberleigh. Many of the photographs which I took will be seen in lectures and talks I will give to students and colleagues at the University of Melbourne. I would especially like to thank those people who were so very generous with their time and interest in speaking to me about the Lisles and letting me see some of the local ruins: Sue Letchford, Jo and Chris Hart, Lorna Squire, Heather and John Andrews, Heather at the Rising Sun, The locals of Atherington and Frithelstock who gave me clues about the weir and who pointed me in the right direction of all the wonderful things to see.
Thank you again, High Bickington SchoolIn November Class 3 thought about Armistice Day. They expressed what they had learnt in a series of letters and poems. We would like to share a few of the poems with you. WORLD WAR 1 - by Melanie High Bickington Methodist NewsHazel Pearce The Annual Christingle Service will be held on Sunday December 3rd at the Parish Church 6.30pm. All are welcome to this special annual service. Our Carol Service, led by the young people, will take place on Sunday December 17th at 6.30pm in the Methodist Chapel. Tea and mince pies to follow again. All welcome. Everyone is welcome to a short Christmas Day Service at 10.30am by Rev Marilyn. David Grant from Morchard Bishop led the November Family Service. His theme was encouragement. We only wish we could remember his little sayings, such as ‘Employ a teenager, while they still know everything’ and ‘Live long enough so you can be a pain to your children’. Congratulations to Judy Down and Fiona Stewart who have both celebrated special birthdays, it is common courtesy not to reveal a ladies age, but we only gave two birthday bumps to Fiona! Quote from a younger Sunday School pupil who realised Fiona had reached the age to vote, said ‘now she can buy fireworks and cigarettes’! The 5-7’s Childrens Club have made colour by number pictures while the 8-11’s have had a visit from P.C. Theobold who spoke on communication. The children enjoyed speaking on the police radios. A blessed Christmas to all. High Bickington United Anglican and Methodist ChurchesA Service of Remembrance was held on Sunday, November 12th at 10.50am at St Mary’s Church. Preacher, Rev John Carvosso, readers Tim Webb and Betty Rouse, prayers Robert Domleo. The collection of £124-25 went to the Royal British Legion Poppy appeal. The next United Service will be the Christingle Service on Sunday, December 3rd, 6.30pm at St Mary’s Church. Everyone welcome to this lovely service. AtheringtonA group of villagers will be carol singing around the village on Saturday, 23rd December. We would be pleased to have others join us. Starting at the Square and finishing at the church hall where we will partake of a bring and share supper and the infamous Ang and Mau Punch. Anyone is welcome to join us in the Hall even if they do not want to sing. 6.30pm – Carol singing - 7.30pm – In the hall. SURPRISE - SURPRISEWhen Queenie Jackson arrived home after a week in Teignmouth with her grandson and his family she thought she was going out to dinner. Little did she know that over 60 people were waiting in Atherington Hall to help her celebrate her 80th birthday. The party took the form of “This is your Life” and after being greeted by friends and neighbours with a rousing rendition of “Happy Birthday” the celebrations were started by Andrea Smith who introduced Queenie’s family – her sisters Joyce, 86 and Lily, 76, who had travelled from Middlesex with Lily’s daughter and son-in-law, her niece and husband from Lincoln – 2 daughters, a son-in-law, 5 of her 12 grandchildren, 8 of 19 great grandchildren and finally her two sons, both of whom travelled from Australia. Queenie’s eldest son, Robert, had not been home since 1972 when he emigrated, originally to Zimbabwe, and Brian has visited once, 15 years ago. Although Queenie has been to Australia several times – the last time, five years ago, her daughter Madeline had not seen Robert in 28 years and most of the younger members of her family had never met either of Queenie’s sons. The evening continued in true party fashion – good food, wine and company. An open letter to the people of Atherington... I have lived in this village for 21 years and always knew what good people you are but the friendliness shown to my mother on the occasion of her 80th birthday has proved that your kindness goes beyond measure. Mum has been here for five years – deciding that the time had come to move near to my sister Madeline and me. You have all shown her kindness from day one. My thanks go to you all for making her feel at home – it wasn’t easy to leave your home town at the age of 75. In particular my thanks go to Margaret Squire and Judith Domleo who drive mum to various events, also to Andrea and Rita for their help in preparing for the party, Ken for his electrical skills and everyone who offered and brought food and finally to everyone who kept the secret about the party. ...with gratitude from Maureen Beauchamp Below we have reproduced copies of letters between Atherington Environmental Group and the County Environmental Directorate...
Date 23-08-00
Copies to :- Environmental Action Group
Atherington Parish Council This is a partition conducted on behalf of those residents of Atherington who feel very strongly about the excessive volume of heavy trucks through this village, the air pollution, noise, damage to the road surface and damage caused to listed buildings from vibration of 40 ton plus vehicles is completely unacceptable and cannot be tolerated. We feel there is surely a case for weight and length restriction to be imposed at the very least, to bring the Best Kept Devon Village in the year 2000 back to a more environmentally acceptable place to live. The following residents in this village expect urgent council action to resolve this problem. (Names and addresses supplied)
Heavy Vehicles in Atherington In recent years the highway maintenance budget has been very much reduced so that the damage to the road surface you mention due to the heavy vehicles has been a problem which has been difficult for the County Council to address. We have, however, recently submitted a bid to Government for funding through the Devon Travel and Transport Plan for a significant increase in highway maintenance to help us catch up on the backlog of this work. Another objective in that bid is that a Freight Quality Partnership should be set up in North Devon which will, we hope, enable us to work in partnership with the haulage industry to try to address the sort of problems you have highlighted. If you would like to give details of particular problems in Atherington, then I would be happy for myself or colleagues to look at these issues in detail. I have copied this letter to Councillor Pollard and the police for their information.
Yours sincerely,
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