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February 1998Readers LettersDear Friends of the Village,
Keep smiling - Summer is on the way! St Mary's GuildRosemary Munson Our meeting in January was attended by eight members. Our next meeting is on Monday, February 9th at 2.00pm at Miss Cole’s. St Mary’s: Atherington and High Bickington | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 1st | 8.45 Holy Communion HB | Hebs 12.18-end | ||
| Epiphany 4 | 11.00 Holy Communion A | John 4.19-26 | ||
| 8th | 9.30 Holy Communion HB | Proverbs 3.1-8 | ||
| 9th before Easter Septuagesima | 6.30 Joint Meeting in Methodist Church | 1Cor 2.1-10 Luke 8.4-15 | ||
| 15th | 8.45 Holy Communion HB | 2Kings 5.1-14 | ||
| 8th before Easter | 11.00 Holy Communion A | 2Cor 12.1-10 | ||
| Sexagesima | 6.00 Informal Worship HB | Mark 7.24-end | ||
| 22nd | 11.00 Holy Communion HB | Hosea 14.1-7 | ||
| 7th before Easter | Yarnscombe followed by coffee | Cols 1.18-23 | ||
| Quinquagesima | 6.00 Informal Worship HB | John 8.2-11 | ||
| 25th Ash Wednesday 7.00pm HB Readings and Prayers to begin Lent | ||||
| I'm looking for Hazel! Woodland owners - do you have any hazel growing in your woodland that might benefit from coppicing? I will be pleased to offer free advice on restoring derelict coppice in return for usable hazel rods. Please telephone: David Venner Garden and Countryside Services |
Rainfall in High Bickington in 1997 (Station no. 394082)
Our thanks to Geoffrey Rowden who has sent details of the rainfall last year.
| Month | Millimeters | Inches | Month | Millimeters | Inches |
| January | 13.6 | 0.54 | July | 27.5 | 1.08 |
| February | 139.5 | 5.50 | August | 157.1 | 6.19 |
| March | 26.6 | 1.05 | September | 30.8 | 1.21 |
| April | 25.2 | 0.99 | October | 84.9 | 3.34 |
| May | 135.7 | 5.34 | November | 164.5 | 6.48 |
| June | 77.0 | 3.03 | December | 98.0 | 3.86 |
A total of 980.5mm (38.60 inches). Geoffrey writes ... “ About 4 inches higher than 1996. It fluctuates so much over the years. Anything from about 50 inches to a low of 34 inches last year. We had 50 inches in 1994 but the last 3 years have been under 40 inches.
Atherington and Umberleigh WI
Judith Domleo
We had a social evening at our January meeting After the business we enjoyed a game of “Call My Bluff” organised by
Di Drummond, followed by a delicious “Bring and Share Supper”. The evening concluded with a good sing-song with Mary
Burgess on the keyboard. A good time was had by all!
We are collecting toothbrushes, toothpaste, flannels and combs for an orphanage in Eastern Hungary, please bring them to
the February meeting or give them to who is! We are joining in “The Great North Devon Hospice Knit-In” on Wednesday,
February 18th, 2.30pm at Seckington House. We will be pleased if you can join us or sponsor us.
Eight members went by train to the WI Carol Service at Exeter Cathedral. A member read one of the lessons and the address
was given by the Dean of Exeter - the Very Reverend Keith Jones. Lunch was enjoyed at Hansons and we also had time to do
some Christmas shopping. A good day out!
As a follow up to the Bristol trip in the summer when we had a conducted tour of the Bristol Old Vic Theatre, where we saw
the scenery being painted for the production of the pantomime “Aladdin”, we visited the theatre again for a matinee
performance. It was excellent and we thoroughly enjoyed it. Oh yes we did!!
Birthday plants were presented to Di Drummond, Gillian Campbell and Edna Ford. The next meeting will be at Umberleigh
Hall on February 10th at 7.30pm when the speaker will be Pat Shallcross on “School Nursing”. Visitors are very welcome.
HIGH BICKINGTON UNITED METHODIST and ANGLICAN CHURCHES
The “Blessing of the Plough” Service was well attended on Sunday, 11th January. The leaders were Rev. Marilyn Tricker
and Rev. Hugh Pollock. Lessons were read by Margaret Bolt and Nina Thomas. The address was given by Robert Domleo.
Plough team members were Peter Tucker, Andrew Tucker, David Manning and David Pearse. The collection of £44-70 went to
the NSPCC (National Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Children).
The February United Service will be at the Methodist Church on Sunday, 8th February at 6.30pm. Rev. Marilyn Tricker will
be the Speaker. A warm welcome to everyone.
Advent Lunches The lunches arranged by the United Churches are well supported and enjoyed. A profit of £95-10 was
donated to the High Bickington Old Stables Surgery Fund. Thank you to everyone who came or helped or donated gifts.
HIGH BICKINGTON V.C. SCHOOL NEWS
The Autumn term certainly ended with a flourish to full houses at our Victorian Music Hall and a well attended service
in church to celebrate Christmas with “Heaven invites you to a party”.
We all enjoyed entering into the spirit of Christmas past, present and future, first with a visit to Killerton House,
Exeter for a Victorian Christmas. We were met by “Mr Soames” who gave us a conducted tour of a beautifully decorated
house and invited us to choose cards and presents for his family. We sat around a roaring log fire in the Music Room and
listened to ghost stories and played Victorian parlour games - a truly memorable day!
Our own entertainment included extracts from “Oliver” and “A Christmas Carol” as well as a variety of popular songs of the
period. Thank you to the parents and governors who joined in so enthusiastically. The real meaning of Christmas took a
modern slant with an adaptation of Graham Kendrick’s musical party.
Congratulations to everyone who gained Swimming Awards at the end of term.
5 metres - Katharine Reeves, Patrick Tucker
10 metres - Jason Jones, Megan Saunders
20 metres - Alice Alford, Erika Beer, Eddie Hedges, Louise Lambourne, Brittany Lohse
50 metres - Charley Galbally, Ricky Galbally, Daniel Lambourne, Joshua Lohse, Thomas Phillips, Lauren Reeves,
Kim Short, Peter Short, Samantha Short, Krista Walker
National Curriculum Award - Clare Alderman, Lauren Beer, Charley Galbally, Ricky Galbally, Joshua Lohse, Eleanor
Lunn, Joshua Phillips, Thomas Phillips, Lauren Reeves, Kim Short, Peter Short, Samantha Short, Krista Walker
Bronze Swimming Challenge - Lizzie Cooper, Rosie Hedges, Mark Lambourne, Hannah Lohse, Laura Phillips, Thomas Sanders
Silver Challenge - Melanie Pert
Gold Challenge - Stuart Hutchings, Gemma Pert, Amalia Watson
Congratulations to everyone, including the staff of South Molton Pool who were such a help and inspiration.
This term we are really stepping back in time and are looking at the ancient Greeks. We plan to visit the British Museum in London in March - I’m afraid it’s as near as we can make it to Greece!
Finally congratulations to the High Bickington Pre-School Playgroup on their excellent report following their OFSTED inspection in December. The school and playgroup work together very closely together and two such positive OFSTED reports within the space of one year can only augur well for the education of children of High Bickington.
When We Came To Week (continued)
by Margaret Bolt
Children’s treats and birthday parties of fifty years ago seem very tame to today’s standards. No “theme” parties, McDonalds, swimming at Cascades, “sleep-overs”, hired videos or take-home party bags then.
FROM THE ARCHIVES
Researched by Richard Lethbridge
North Devon Journal, 21st January 1932
It was in 1926 that the late Sir Adolph Tuck Bart., foresaw that the time was opportune for bringing back into popular
favour the celebration of St. Valentine’s Day by means of the interchange of Valentine cards, which was eagerly awaited by
the public, especially those who still had memories of St. Valentine’s Days in the good old days.
Following on this work of their late managing director, the famous firm have each year that has ensued, produced a
collection of Valentine cards in conformity with the taste of the day. The result has been to make St. Valentine’s Day a
living thing once again and an occasion or, possibly in certain cases, an excuse for both youth and age to interchange
those messages that have always been associated with St. Valentine’s Day.
It is accordingly with pleasure that we have examined specimens of Messrs. Raphael Tuck and Sons’ latest Valentine cards.
Frankly, used as we are to the high quality of everything that the firm produces, we are amazed at the variety, beauty
and ingenuity which characterise the new series. Many of them are most attractively “boxed”, and all of them are
triumphs of artistic effort. It is no wonder the 14th of February - St. Valentine’s Day - is once more becoming a
popular date which more and more people are entering in their diaries (or fixing in their minds) as an occasion not to
be allowed to pass by without sending one or more of these altogether charming reminders to favoured recipients.
We predict for these cards a record sale this year. They are irresistible.
May 10th 1935
At the monthly meeting of the Women’s Institute, the President being in the chair, it was decided to try to form
classes for cramming, plucking, and dressing poultry for the table. Thirty garments are to be sent this month to the
Durham distressed area for the Personal Service, League Games finished the afternoon.
On Friday, at the Day School, Mrs, Barton (“Little Silver”) presented Jubilee cups and saucers to each child, together
with a bar of chocolate, a gift from herself.
On Friday the Skittle League teams were entertained to supper in the Church Hall. Mrs. Clifford Gooding and Mrs. A.
Tapscott were the convenors, assisted by the skittlers’ wives. Mrs. J. A. Aitkens (“Nethergrove”) presented the cup to
the Barton Hall team.
High Bickington was en fete on Saturday to welcome home the “Bluebirds” with the League Championship Cup and the
Braunton Challenge Cup. In the afternoon they played the rest of the League at Braunton and won 5-1. When the
char-a-banc arrived in the village, it was met by an advance guard of very small “Bluebirds” in football togs,
who attached a rope to the ‘bus and pulled valiantly. Mr. Strode precede them with his radiogram, and outside the
Golden Lion the rest of the population had gathered. The whole crowd then proceeded, with much hearty shouting and
cheering, round the village, and back to the Lion, where the cups were filled and passed around. Dancing in the road
followed.
The village was gaily decorated for the Silver Jubilee, and the church bells rang merrily. A well-attended service was
held by the Rev. G. A. B. Jones, Mr. R. W. Pitman was at the organ. A meat tea was served in the Schoolroom. All
arrangements were in the capable hands of Mrs. A. J. Heales and her committee. The school children were entertained
to tea by Mrs. Aitkens, and then enjoyed an exciting paper chase and treasure hunt. Folk dancing followed in the
school playground, sports were followed by a social in the Church Hall. A whist drive was held, and at 10 o’clock
there was a display of fireworks in a field near the village. A short dance brought a happy and memorable day to a close.
ST MARY’S CHURCH, ATHERINGTON
The Joint Carol Service, held on 21st December was a great success. The collection amounted to £80, in aid of Forrest
Hill, Bideford, a small hospital for the mentally ill. It was lovely to see a Christmas tree in the Church this year.
My thanks to the ladies for their time decorating the Church with beautiful flowers throughout the year.
Thanks to Richard Beer for his help with the Whist Drive tables at Christmas. Thank you Richard.
Shirley Shapland
ATHERINGTON PARISH COUNCIL NEWS
The Millennium is fast approaching and the Parish Council is looking for suggestions as to how we as a parish can mark the occasion. Any ideas or offers of help would be gratefully received. Please notify Lesley Beer in writing at Chapel Cottage, Atherington.
Thanks: Lynne Maud would like to thank everyone who gave to her collection for Imperial Cancer Research. The total amount collected was £63-61. Thank you all for your generosity.
Collections taken at the 1997 Services:
| Old Stables Surgery | £ 40-00 |
| The Francisco Rojas School Trust | £ 50-00 |
| Bible Society | £104-16 |
| Childrens Hospice (South West) | £ 34-00 |
| Bibles for High Bickington School Leavers | £ 45-00 |
| British Legion Poppy Appeal | £ 64-00 |
| The Childrens Society | £ 92-10 |
| TOTAL | £ 429-26 |
The Rector would like to say a very special thank you to all those who, in any way, made our two churches so
lovely with flowers and decorations for the Christmas festivities.
Also thank you to the many who did other things like cleaning, putting up the oil lamps, welcoming visitors, sidesmans
duties, ringing the bells, reading lessons, doing refreshments and playing the organ.
The Rectory, High Bickington, Hugh Pollock
I find it very sad to think of North Road Chapel closing down. Little of its previous history is known to me but I can say that I have always enjoyed a warm welcome and the hand of friendship on the occasions I have been able to share in the worship. If from time to time the members of the Chapel are able to share with us at St Marys they will e very welcome.
BACK TO BASICS It often seems that Christianity is viewed in terms of ancient buildings.
No building no worship. But for some hundreds of years the folk who followed the Lord Jesus must have met in the open-air
or gathered in someone’s home. By “back to basics” I mean that discipleship of the Lord is not dependent on buildings or
large numbers. The Lord Jesus said, where two or three are gathered together in my Name there I am in the midst. What is
essential to life of Christian Disciples is the same as was practised in the early church.
“And they continued steadfastly in the Apostles doctrine and fellowship, and in breaking of bread, and in prayers.”
Acts 2:42. What has not changed is the commitment of the members of the North Road Chapel to the Lord Jesus. And I gladly
remind them of something else that has not changed: God’s love for each one of them.
“Jesus Christ, the same yesterday, and today, and for ever.” Hebrews 13:8
Dogs and the Churchyard Please will dog owners note that there is no objection to them walking their dog through the Churchyard as a pathway, with of course the normal expectation that if the dog messes it would be cleaned up by their owner. However to let the animal loose in an open space is not acceptable; it is after all set aside as a place of memorial so your help in this would be appreciated.
NEW LIGHTS FOR ATHERINGTON CHURCHYARD These are not quite finished as the re-furbished lamp set on the wall is still to be completed. They are very effective and a real benefit. We think it will be fitting to have an official opening fairly soon so a proper thank you can be expressed to all who have helped with the new lighting scheme and to celebrate with a party! Watch this space.
CONFIRMATION Later in the year The Two Rivers Team, of which we are a part are holding a combined Confirmation Service in Atherington Church. If there is anyone, of any age, in the parishes who wishes to be confirmed or talk about the possibility will they please contact Hugh.
HIGH BICKINGTON METHODIST NEWS
Hazel Pearce
Our thanks to Lorna Ward, who led both Sunday Morning Services either side of Christmas and to all those who took part.
Members enjoyed unwrapping presents in a Christmas Stocking, prepared by Lorna, with the theme “things are not always what
they seem”.
The theme of this years Annual Carol Service led by the young people was “A Christmas Welcome”. The younger children
acted out the nativity story, while the older children told the story through narration and songs. Our thanks to all
who supported the children. There was a packed Chapel and Schoolroom. The collection amounted to £85.07 for National
Childrens Homes. Rev. Marilyn Tricker led a short informal service on Christmas morning, when members talked about
their special and unusual Christmas presents.
A lively Sunday School party was held on January 17th. Games were played, presents unwrapped and food demolished by the
children. The Children’s Clubs re-started after the Christmas break on Tuesday, January 13th. The 5-7’s have made
thank-you letters, while the 8-11’s made calendars.
A party of children and adults enjoyed a visit to the Queen’s Theatre for the Pantomime “Jack and the Beanstalk”.
Congratulations and well done to all the staff and committee at High Bickington Pre-School Playgroup on their highly commendable nursery inspection report. The report expressed that “the group has established a calm and caring environment where children can work and play together, knowing their achievements and opinions are valued. It was found that the quality of each of the educational provisions met with the desirable outcomes”. Ofsted recommends that the provision be inspected again within 2-4 years. A full copy of the report is available in Class 2 of the school. Special thanks go to Carole Saunders and Sarah Underhill for all their hard work during the past year.
HIGH BICKINGTON WI
December meeting: Wednesday, 3rd December saw a good gathering at the Church Hall. Our President, Eva Burke,
welcomed a new member - Jean Checksfield who has come to live in the village. The minutes from the last meeting were
read by Brenda Woods and approved. In November the Competition Cup was won by Joyce Underhill and the raffle by Eva.
The “knit in” will take place again in 1998, details later.
We spent a very enjoyable evening watching Eileen White with her flower arranging skills. She creates superb
arrangements so quickly. A vote of thanks was given to Eileen by Stella Burrows. Excellent refreshments were
then provided by Christine England and Eileen Landsley. We decided to give the three arrangements (which Eileen
White kindly gave to us) to three ladies of the village. One was sent to Doris Pidler, one to Freda Squires and one
to Roz Pollock who has not been well lately. We hope they enjoyed them. The Competition was won by Joan Toop with
Josie Maskell second. The Raffle by Stella Burrows, Margaret Bolt and Christine England.
January meeting: Our meeting at Mrs Stella Burrows home was well attended, and we welcomed a visitor who we
hope will be joining us. After the business of the evening we had an enjoyable and fun evening with Stella demonstrating
the making of various breads. I think we were all going home with new ideas.
Refreshments were served by Mrs Jane Gibson and Mrs Jean Checksfield. The refreshments included the different breads
which were enjoyed by all.
Our next meeting is at 7.15pm on February 4th at 24, Fairview, Libbaton when Mr Ian Gibson will speak about the Duties of a British Consul. The competition will be - Nursery Rhyme Book. Visitors are welcome and the hostesses will be Mrs Munson and Mrs Saunders.
SORRY: To those of you who regularly send in items for Ramblings if your item did not appear in January - this is because a number of items were received too late for inclusion. We have included them this month.
THANKS: We would like to say thank you for the cards, flowers and get well messages which we received after Joans
recent operation and hoping to be out and about very soon. They were very much appreciated.
Joan Fuller
KEEP IT QUIET, BUT ..... On March 1st it is postman Richard Lethbridge’s 40th birthday and on behalf of everyone we wish him all the very best.
THANKS: From Norah Maynard to the kind person who swept up the leaves in front of her house and garage.
RAMBLINGS: Welcomes contributions from our readers - so if you’ve got something to say or something to share then let us put it in print for you.