March 2001

CONGRATULATION & BEST WISHES: To Joan and Terry Brayley of Atherington who celebrate their Ruby Wedding on March 11th.

DR ARMSTRONG: Will be retiring shortly – any donations please to Maurice Ridd, Moorland View, High Bickington – thank you.

THANKS: I would like to thank all the people in High Bickington who did so much to help me whilst Greta was so poorly, giving me lifts to the hospital and giving me tasty meals. Thank you to all who enquired for Greta and who sent get well cards and presents and who remembered her in their prayers.

Thank you to all those who have shown me so much kindness and sympathy since her death. Thank you for attending her cremation and her thanksgiving service and for all your donations. About Ł400 was contributed to be shared between the High Bickington surgery fund and the South Molton Community hospital, a truly wonderful amount.
I don’t know how I would have managed without all the kindness and concern shown. Thank you all once again.

Syd Squire

More Inspection success for High Bickington’s School

During the Autumn Term 2000, High Bickington Church of England Primary School had the Denominational Education part of its most recent OFSTED Inspection.

The main areas on which the inspection and subsequent report focussed were:

Collective Worship
Provision for Spiritual and Moral Development of the pupils
The school’s ethos.

The Inspector concluded her report as follows:

“High Bickington Voluntary Controlled Primary School is a beacon of learning within an increasingly rurally deprived area of North Devon. It is terribly restricted by it’s land-locked position and numerically small, old classrooms but, despite this, it manages to represent both Christ the teacher and Christ the carer to the wide community which it serves. Its fundamental aim, which it is rightly proud to claim it achieves, is that children ‘go out differently from how they come in’.

High Bickington is an excellent example of a Voluntary Controlled school which would be able to grow and thrive even more with new, purpose built buildings appropriate to a 21st Century curriculum.”

Tesco Computer Vouchers & Books for Schools Tokens

High Bickington School is again saving these tokens. Last year we were able to purchase over 80 books and a deal of software for our computers, from which our children benefited greatly. Boxes for both schemes are placed in the school corridor. Also Karen at the village shop has kindly agreed to have a box to collect any Books for Schools tokens. Thank you Karen.

If you have either vouchers to spare please don’t throw them away – hand them in. If you are unable to get to the school or shop please let anyone at the school know and they will be collected from you. Both schemes help the education of our children so please help save them. Thank you.

GLENDA TUCKER IS APPEALING....

To the readers of Ramblings for help in her research for the Wedding Reunion. Does anyone know of the whereabouts of the following couples:

Arthur James Ninian Moody married Margaret Irene Davis - 16.7.1947
Phillip Hugh Gammon married Cynthia Mary Pettei - 27.1.1962
Anthony Charles Dennis married Jeanne Catherine Whitlock - 1.4.1967
Dudley Penton-Smith married Margaret Joslin - 4.4.1970
Steven Albert Davey married Hillery Goodman - 10.5.1986
Lewis William Pugsley married Nicola Margaret Down - 29.7.1989
Jeremy Charles Cradwick married Catherine Margaret Brown - 21.10.1989
Andrew David Priddle married Jean Margaret Turner - 28.10.1989
Gerald Brian Jefferys married Lindsey Anne Halpin - 9.6.1990

DEVON COUNTY COUNCIL PRIMARY SCHOOLS
PIONEER NEW TEACHER TRAINING PROGRAMME

A GROUP of Devon primary schools are pioneering a new way of training the teachers of tomorrow which could help attract people from Devon who cannot attend a traditional college course but who genuinely want to teach. The schools have got together with Devon County Council and the Teacher Training Agency to run a one-year course for graduates as part of the Government's range of teacher training provision.
Students will have the chance to experience day-to-day life in a school while undergoing training at the same time.
At the end of the year's course they will have a recognised national qualification.
North Devon schools involved are Newport in Barnstaple, Southmead in Braunton, Georgeham, Highampton and West Down in Ilfracombe.
The course will cater for up to 22 trainees and will begin in September 2001. Students will be eligible for a Ł6,000 grant during their training year.

NEW BRIDGE OPENING CEREMONY WENT WITH A SWING

A SWING band from Pilton Community College was just one of the attractions to mark the official opening of the new pedestrian and cycle bridge across the mouth of the River Yeo at Barnstaple on1 February.
The new Ł700,000 swing bridge extends the popular Tarka Trail and provide a safe and continuous off-road facility for the benefit of walkers, wheelchair users and cyclists. It will also be of benefit to local commuters who wish to walk or cycle from Braunton to Barnstaple.
At a special ceremony a plaque was unveiled by Devon County Council Chairman Fred Symons before a bottle of champagne was broken on the bridge and it was officially opened to the public.
Devon County Council architects and bridge engineers produced a striking boat design for the steel and timber bridge which is 3m wide and has a 2m clearance above high water level. An inaugural crossing led by Leader of Devon County Council Brian Greenslade included wheelchair users, cyclists, runners and walkers.
The scheme has been jointly funded by the European Community through their Agricultural Guidance and Guarantee Fund, the South West of England Regional Development Agency, the Millennium Commission through Sustrans and the Landfill Tax Credit scheme together with Devon County Council's own funds. The bridge is only the latest example of an extensive programme of ongoing improvements for pedestrians and cyclists in Barnstaple which, together with the planned Barnstaple Western By-Pass and the Downstream Bridge, will help provide solutions to the longstanding congestion problems in the town.

DRIVERS URGED TO TAKE ACTION OVER ROAD DEATHS IN DEVON

DEVON County Council is urging drivers and motorcyclists to improve their attitudes on the road, particularly to speed, or Devon will lose the benefit of being one of the safest places to travel in the country.
Figures for 2000 show that road deaths in the county were 32 per cent higher than in 1999, with 50 deaths on the roads - the highest since 1991.
Of those 50 deaths, 29 involved car occupants, 12 motorcyclists, five pedestrians and four cyclists. Of all the deaths, 16 occurred on trunk roads or the motorway, which the Highways Agency has responsibility for.
Initial investigations of the fatal crashes would suggest that many have involved drivers, particularly motorcyclists, travelling too fast for the conditions. Road safety professionals also highlight a number of other driving characteristics that need tackling in Devon including:

Close following or 'tailgating', which reduces the margin of error and leads to shunts causing painful neck whiplash injuries
Mature motorcyclists lacking appropriate skills to cope with powerful machines, leading to very serious injury
Abuse of speed limits, particularly in urban areas, that threaten the safety and quality of life of residents, children, pedestrians and cyclists. A child hit at 30mph has a 50-50 chance of surviving.

Important road safety legislation is currently being considered by Parliament. In line with its Road Safety Strategy, 'Tomorrow's Roads - Safer for Everyone', the Government is putting forward proposals to stiffen certain sentences and make available more opportunities for police and local authorities to increase detection of speeding by allowing some revenue from fines to finance increased use of cameras.

DEVON WINS TOP MARKS FOR ITS LIBRARY PLAN

DEVON County Council has been ranked among the top 73 local authorities in the country for its library service planning. Devon's overall plan has been assessed as "good" which is the highest mark. A further 71 authorities were judged as "satisfactory" while five were poor.
Devon County Council has also received "good" judgements for:

Its plans to develop the use of information technology in libraries
Its plans to improve access to libraries for all sections of the community through the promotion of the service, reader development, charging policies and services for children and other groups

There was a "satisfactory" rating for consultations with the public over the type and standards of service provided.
Devon County Council provides 56 libraries across the county as well as 11 mobile libraries.
Every year there are 4.5 million visits to library premises and 5.5 million items are issued annually. The service costs 17p per head a week to provide. But these days libraries are about much more than books. Devon has been awarded lottery cash from the New Opportunities Fund to ensure that every member of its library staff will receive training over the next three years to ensure they are able to help people make the best use of ICT facilities.
The county has also been allocated Ł1.3 million of lottery money to improve its ICT network and provide more public access PCs. Already there are 120 PCs available for the public to use in the county's libraries.
All English library authorities are required to submit Annual Library Plans to the Department of Culture, Media and Sport.
Visiting your library is the third most popular activity in the UK after visiting pubs and restaurants and driving for pleasure, and more popular than attending football matches.

DISABLED PEOPLE HAIL SUCCESS OF SCHEME TO PROMOTE INDEPENDENT LIVING

A PILOT scheme to bring greater independence to disabled people in Devon by helping them to arrange and pay for their own care packages is being hailed a major success by its users.
The Direct Payments scheme which began in January 1998 is now enabling 40 Devon residents with physical impairments to take control of the care and support they need themselves with the support of social services.
The success of the scheme so far means that Devon County Council Social Services will now be looking to expand this option to more clients.
The radical scheme, which was first put forward by disabled people in the Independent Living movement, means that money available for the care of an individual is paid directly to the disabled person. This means each individual can arrange and manage the exact assistance they require instead of it being purchased on their behalf by social services.

COUNTY COUNCIL BACKS DEVON PENSIONERS

SENIOR members of Devon County Council went to London at the beginning of February to call on the Government to give pensioners a better deal.
An all-party delegation of councillors met senior officials at the Department of Social Security to present the evidence they gathered on the plight of Devon's 242,000 pensioners.
They were joined by Alan Wynn-Jones from Devon's Better Government for Older People Panel.
Devon County Council has already backed a resolution calling for a new way of determining pension increases.
The authority believes that a new formula which takes account of both prices and earnings is needed, particularly during periods of low inflation and rising incomes.
The council's decision followed a detailed report by the Overview Scrutiny Committee which gathered evidence on the plight facing Devon's pensioners during what is believed to be the first investigation of its kind by any local authority in the country.
The investigation was launched in the wake of widespread public concern over the Government's 75 pence per week pension rise.
The Overview Scrutiny Committee took evidence from a number of pensioners' groups as well as organisations such as the Benefits Agency and Devon Welfare Rights Unit.
The Overview Scrutiny report highlighted the need directly to target help at older pensioners aged 80 and over who are also likely to be the poorest.
Research carried out by the County Council shows that on average 12 per cent of Devon's pensioners rely on income support, but for pensioners over 80 this increases to 25 per cent.
Evidence was given to the DSS officials about the Minimum Income Guarantee and the need for a higher basic pension, welfare rights and benefit take-up campaigns, pensioner statistics in Devon and the Government's assessment of Devon's spending needs and pensioners in residential care.
Devon has a higher than national average pensioner population - 23 per cent compared with 18 per cent for the UK. The number of pensioners in the county is forecast to rise considerably to 286,000 by 2011.

PARENTS URGED TO CHECK CHILD CAR SEAT SAFETY

DEVON County Council Road Safety Group is encouraging parents to think about the safety of their children when travelling by car - and to take steps to ensure that their child's car seat is fitted properly and safely.
As a service to parents across the county - and in support of a Government campaign to raise awareness of the issue - road safety fieldworkers set up drop in centres where seats were checked and advice given.
This free service between February 5 and February 9 was hosted by garages across Devon. Road safety fieldworkers, who worked alongside colleagues from the police and the garages, have been trained to spot inappropriate or poorly fitted safety seats and offer advice on suitable seats and techniques for installing them properly.
Previous checks by Devon County Council officers have indicated that a high percentage of car seats are improperly fitted and could prove dangerously ineffective in the event of a crash.

DEVON COMMUNITIES TO BENEFIT FROM ROAD REPAIRS PROGRAMME

COMMUNITIES across Devon look set to benefit from a further Ł1 million investment by Devon County Council to improve roads and pavements in their areas.
Devon County Council's Cabinet - the Executive Committee - has earmarked Ł1 million to fund a continuation of the Council's Street Recovery Programme in 2001/2002.
The Executive has set the Environment Directorate's target budget for 2001/2002 at Ł56,942 million. Although it is too early to establish the final proposed details of this budget, which will be discussed by the Executive Committee on February 12, the target budget includes proposed funding to continue the Street Recovery Programme.
The special programme was launched last March by the Council to tackle the decline in the condition of roads in Devon, particularly focusing attention on smaller communities and villages where the main streets or pavements need repair or resurfacing.
Communities across the county are already starting to benefit from the targeted investment in local repairs.
Devon has more miles of road to look after than any other area of the country and their condition are vital to road safety, public transport and the local economy.

DEVON CHOSEN TO PILOT 'CARE DIRECT' PROJECT

DEVON County Council has been chosen as one of six local authorities across the South West to pilot Care Direct - a new one-stop gateway to information about social care, health, housing and social security benefits.
The Government's new initiative, announced on 2 February, will include a single national telephone helpline linked to a local Care Direct helpdesk, based within Devon County Council Social Services, to provide practical assistance to help people access local services.
It is intended that these local 'gateways' will be augmented by a 'befriender' scheme involving older volunteers. The Care Direct helpdesks will also be supplemented by on-line facilities which will, in time, allow clients to access the same information that is held at the call centre.
The six pilots in Bournemouth, Bristol, Gloucestershire, Plymouth, Somerset and Devon are expected to begin operation from October 2001.
These pilots will be extended in 2002/03 to cover the remainder of the South West region before being rolled out across the country.

DEVON HEALTHY SCHOOLS' PROGRAMME SET TO SUCCEED

A PIONEERING programme aimed at helping Devon schools give their pupils the best "education for life" is set to get a national seal of approval next week.
Devon County Council has been working closely with North and East and South and West Devon Health Authorities for the past 18 months on a partnership involving a whole range of personal, social and health education needs for young people. It includes drugs prevention, sex and relationship education, healthy eating, fitness and good citizenship. It follows many years of joint working by education and health to promote these issues in schools.
Now the Healthy Schools project is being assessed for national accreditation.
Devon has received Ł64,000 from the Government to give the programme a boost and has been able to apply for other grants for specific initiatives. North and East Devon Health Authority is paying the salary of a healthy schools co-ordinator for its area.

LAUNCH OF NEW "GREEN" WEBSITE FOR SCHOOLS

DEVON'S schools are now able to access a new website aimed at boosting children's knowledge of the environment and improving their health.
The new website has been developed by Devon County Council's education advisers and the Centre for Energy and the Environment at the University of Exeter.
http://www.ex.ac.uk/cee/better
Is now available for all schools to use. It offers teachers a number of classroom activities which they can use to integrate transport and the environment with the National Curriculum.
They can learn how to navigate around a website, extract information from it, carry out a travel survey, calculate the pollution their travel to school produces and investigate ways of reducing pollution from the school run.

ATHERINGTON & UMBERLEIGH WI

Judith Domleo

Mrs Sylvia Willis was our speaker at the February meeting. She spoke movingly of the work and loving care at the North Devon Hospice day care Centre at Deer Park, Newport, Barnstaple. They give special help for people who have been told that they have cancer or other serious illness, and provide care for patients in their own home. Her talk was illustrated with a video of Deer Park.

The North Devon hospice is a registered charity and their services are free to patients and their families. It costs Ł770,000 a year to run the hospice. They depend heavily upon voluntary donations and support from local people and organisations to continue their work.

Refreshments were served by Christine Clemens, Petra Butcher and Andrea Smith. Speaker’s hostess was Ruth Phillips. The competition for a Money Box was won by Mary Wilson. Flower of the month winner was Jean Lynch with snowdrops. Birthday plants were presented to Barbara Down, Beryl Troup, Marian Howard, Mary Wilson, Rose Peters and Ann White.

Four members went to the County Semi-final Whist at Shirwell and Mary Martin was the winner going into the final at Willand in April and Judith Domleo is a reserve. Shirwell WI gave us a delicious tea as usual !! Four members went to an illustrated lecture on ‘Vienna’ City of Art and Music at Blundells School, Tiverton. Dr Andrew Barlow, Head of Music, gave an excellent talk on the many composers of Austria including Haydn. Mozart, and Strauss. He gave us a marvellous rendering of Jerusalem played as a waltz! Dr Barlow’s wife gave an illustrated talk on the beautiful buildings and art treasures of Vienna. An excellent day which we hope to follow up with a visit to Vienna next year.

Ten members joined our President, Mary Wilson, for a sponsored knit at her home Bartridge House. All proceeds are for the North Devon Hospice Centre at Deer Park. A report of the grand total will be in next month’s Ramblings which we hope will be in excess of Ł200. Several members have appeared in the Umberleigh Pantomime ‘Dick Whittington’ and very good it was. Oh yes it was! Well done girls! We had three visitors who all went home as members. A warm welcome to Ruth Thomas, Chris Harris and Jane Kneil (who was a member 20 years ago!), and we hope you will enjoy your membership with us.

The next meeting will be on Tuesday, March 13th, 7.30pm at Umberleigh Hall when Dos and Dave Rodgers will be making pottery and we will have an opportunity to have a go! Everyone welcome.

High Bickington United Anglican & Methodist Churches

The United Service on Education Sunday was held in the Methodist Church on February 11th at 6.30pm. The Leader was Rev Marilyn Tricker. Readers were Robert Domleo and Tim Webb. The address was given by David Worden from Chulmleigh Community College. The collection of Ł61 went towards computers for the Meeting Point.

The next United Service will be at the Methodist Church on Sunday, March 11th at 6.30pm. Everyone very welcome.

Poem for March

THE LAMB

Little lamb, who made thee?
Dost thou know who made thee,
Gave thee life and bade thee feed
By the stream and o’er the mead;
Gave thee clothing of delight,
Softest clothing, woolly, bright,
Gave thee such a tender voice,
Making all the vales rejoice?
Little lamb, who made thee?
Dost thou know who made thee?

Little lamb, I’ll tell thee;
Little lamb, I’ll tell thee:
He is called by thy name,
For He calls Himself a lamb.
He is meek, and He is mild,
He became a little child.
I a child, and thou a lamb,
We are called by His name.
Little lamb, God bless thee!
Little Lamb, God bless thee!

William Blake (1757 – 1827)

From the archives

Researched by Richard Lethbridge

11th June 1884

DRUNKENNESS ON LICENSED PREMISES

George Hurford, now of Atherington, but a native of Payhembury, was summoned by P.C. Hockridge, of Chittlehampton, for being drunk at the New Inn, at Chittlehampton, on the 3rd of June last. The P.C. in his evidence said about 9.15 on the evening in question, he was on duty in the village with P.C. John Rose, of Southmolton, when he was informed that there was fighting at the New Inn, and on going there he found among many others Hurford with his face besmeared with blood, and drunk. On enquiring of the landlord (Taylor) what the row was, he replied “nothing.” The constable then asked, if so, how came Hurford’s face in the state it was, and drew the landlord’s attention to the fact that Hurford was drunk. At 10 o’clock the constable saw Hurford helped out of the house and taken away by a comrade, the defendant being totally incapable of finding his way home. - The evidence was corroborated by P.C. Rose, of Southmolton. - John Cornish a porter at Umberleigh Station, stated that he picked up the defendant lying across the road near the Rolle Arms from ten to half past the same night in a helpless state of drunkenness and took him to his lodgings and helped him upstairs. -The defendant in his defence stated that he was sober when he went into the New Inn at 7 o`clock: that he drunk about 3 pints of beer: that he supposed he drank a little more than he ought to have done: and that when he got out into the fresh air it took effect upon him. Mr H K Thorne, of Barnstaple, who appeared for the defendant (Taylor, the landlord) in the next case, asked the Bench to reserve judgement until they heard the subsequent case, which they accordingly did.

William Taylor (landlord of the New Inn, Chittlehampton), was charged by P C Hockridge with selling intoxicating liquors and permitting drunkenness on his premises on Tuesday the 3rd of June last. P C Hockridge repeated the evidence he had given in the previous case, adding that when he called the landlord’s attention to Hurford’s drunken state and that he should report him for permitting drunkenness, Taylor replied, “I do care a d___, you can report me tomorrow if you like; you have no business in my house, and when I want you I will send for you.” P C Rose corroborated the evidence. George Hurford, the defendant in the previous case, gave evidence, stating that he was sober when he went into the New Inn, and that he was supplied by the landlord and others with beer, but he did not consider when he came out that he was very drunk. Mr Thorne addressed the Bench in defence, and called the following witnesses on behalf of the defendant. Wm. Taylor (the defendant), George Lock, ------- Mannington, William Macey, and John Clarke, whose evidence tended to show that the row was only a “friendly scuffle,” and that they did not consider that Hurford was drunk. The magistrates considered both cases proved, and fined Hurford 3s 6d and costs, Ł1 3s 6d, remarking that they (the Bench) would have fined him more heavily had the costs been lighter. Taylor, against whom a previous conviction of Ł2 10s and costs was put in, for selling intoxicating liquors on Sunday in Sept.,1882, was now fined Ł5 and costs, Ł1 2s, together Ł6 2s. his license to be endorsed.

Thought for the Month

Don Chitty Atherington Baptist

March already! Gardening experts tell us we should be well into preparing our soil and certainly having our seed requirements well in hand!
No doubt we would agree had we been given a favourable autumn and early spring, in fact, by now feeling well pleased with our progress so far! BUT! Such continuous rain has made it practically impossible even to clear the winter stuff let alone prepare the soil. Whatever plans we make, or expectations we may have we know the weather rules – and we need a great ‘dose’ of patience and endurance.

Experience tells us that whatever the climate conditions there are always surprises in store. Some things do well, and others fail, and no two years are the same. There is always fruit for our labour. Hard work and patience is rewarded.

James in the Bible likens this to our faith. He reminds of “how the farmer waits for the precious fruit of the earth, waiting patiently for it.” He reminds us that our faith in Jesus Christ faces ‘trials’ of all kinds, in order for it to be tried and tested. God is preparing His people as He has always done, to ‘bear fruit’ that will be for his glory. Life is the very arena in which our faith is proved to be genuine or otherwise, and where it is strengthened as we look to the Author and Finisher of it.
Just as the gardener waits for the right time and expects better things, so, the lord is preparing His people for something better. What a joy to trust Him and prove Him faithful and gracious and a rewarder of all who patiently wait on Him.

HIGH BICKINGTON WI

Josie Maskell

Our February meeting was well attended. Two of our members are through to the Whist finals. Final arrangements were mad for the Sponsored Knit in at Jane Gibson’s on 21st February. The competition for the Spring Group meeting on 4th April was discussed. This year it has an Easter theme with a knitted rabbit, Easter biscuits and a Spring Flower arrangement. Patterns for the rabbit and recipe leaflets were available for those interested in “having a go”. We have been given Ł5 from County Headquarters with the idea of making more money so ideas are needed. We were all asked to turn our cupboards for our forthcoming Jumble Sale on Saturday, March 10th.

The business finished, our president introduced our Speaker for the evening – Mr Bradley, a glass restorer who works part time at home and some days at Dartington Glass. He did his design course at North Staffordshire University and among some of the slides of his work were some of his set pieces of his coursework. These included a unique set of musical instruments including a saxophone, clarinet and trombone and a tenor horn. Apparently, a Jazz player from Edinburgh bought these to display on the walls of his club. The various objects Stephen has made are far too numerous to mention. He is also a silversmith and really enjoys restoring or making items made of these two materials.

Cameowork is another branch of his work, he tells us the Japanese are very keen on cameos and some of his best customers. People come to him from far and wide either to purchase a beautiful item from him or bringing him a well-loved antique to have restored by him. His enthusiasm and love for his crafts was very apparent and made for a most interesting and entertaining evening.

The competition for an item of glass was won by Peggy Stinton. The flower of the month, a Scilla, by Jean Checksfield and the raffle by Joan Toop. Our March meeting is in the Church Hall on 7th March and the speaker will be Mark Shaddick speaking on Fire Safety Precautions. Anyone wishing to join us will be most welcome.

Anglican and Methodist churches of High Bickington

Have you ever wondered why the Bible is full of stories rather than theology? And why did a Galilean Jew called Jesus make such an impact on the whole world? And why did Jesus’ followers not give up when they knew he had died?

An exciting new Lent course is starting on March 6th that tries to answer these questions and many others. Each week we will be looking at Bible stories from the Old and New Testaments in order to see how they affect the way we live today.

The course will be interesting, practical, informal and fun! And, of course, there will be time for coffee and a chat afterwards. How can you afford to miss it?

Tuesdays from March 6th at 7.30pm in the Meeting Point. Be there!

ST. MARY'S GUILD

Rosemary Munson

We held our meeting on Monday 12th February and we welcomed another new member that is two in two months, perhaps we can carry on and welcome another in March.

A report was given on the proposed outing to the Eden project on the 23rd April. We are still taking names though some may have to go on a waiting list, as it gets nearer the time we usually have one or two drop out.
We need to think about new crafts to make for the North Devon show and our other projects; we would welcome new ideas.

Our next meeting is our Annual Meeting on Monday 12th March at 2.00p.m. to be held at Miss E. Thorne's home the Parsonage, look forward to seeing anyone who would like to join us.

High Bickington Methodist News

Hazel Pearce

February began with a family service with a difference led by Michael Harris a young man who is an accredited schools evangelist.
The boys were intrigued by all the hi-tech equipment and we all listened to the story of Daniel in the lion’s den – told as never before. Rev Marilyn leads our next family service on Mothering Sunday.

On March 2nd the annual Women’s World Day of Prayer service will be led at 3.00pm by Mrs Lorna Ward, speaker Mrs Ruth Carvosso. We had a good number last year so please come again this year.
Everyone welcome – men as well as ladies.

March 11th at 6.30pm the United Service will take place in the Chapel

April 7th Saturday, 6.30pm at Exeter, Fiona Castle wife of the late Roy Castle has offered her services for a talk etc. to fund raise for the Fransisco Roja’s school. Tickets Ł5 to include light refreshments, may be booked through Margaret Bolt – a chance to see and hear a courageous Christian lady.

During the past month the 5-7’s Club have visited Week Farm to see the lambs and iced valentine heart shapes on biscuits, while the 8-11’s have held a quiz evening, took part in a court scene with a magistrate, made salt items and painted.

The Eisteddfod takes place on March 17th. Entry forms from Shirley Pidner. Open to all children at High Bickington School or who attend the Methodist Sunday School. Classes in craft (many will be completed in Youth Club evenings), writing, cooking and printing. Give it a go, it’s fun.

When we came to Week

by Margaret Bolt

People

Knowing probably 95% of people in Burrington parish in 1946, and almost every child, it would be a daunting task to write even a brief memory of each one. Some I can recall vividly, others hardly at all but all recalled with pleasure, which I hope any relatives remaining will share with me.

The lane at Hacknell was maintained by the council almost as far as the house. For some reason their responsibility ended at the bottom of Sandpark where in the past there had been a gate, one of at least three blocking the lane; others were at each end of Hamlyns Moor - only the gate posts remained at that time.

The council road man was Walter Miller who lived in Barton Road. He kept the water tables clear and gutters cleaned out on a regular basis, so we children would meet him when we travelled to and from school and never passed without asking him "What's the time please, Mr.Miller?" just to see him take a watch on a chain from his waistcoat pocket, click open the case and hold it out sideways almost at arm's length, for he was very cross-eyed and this was his only way to see the watch face. We were fascinated and amused by this and lucky he didn't swipe us with his shovel, but he was never other than long-suffering and polite.

Several members of the Smith family I remember for their dry sense of humour and fun. Miss Annie Smith is mentioned elsewhere as a collector of funds for various causes. She had a way all her own of describing events humorously, an inbuilt understanding of broad Devonshire dialect was a very necessary asset to appreciate the humour.

Charlie, another member of the Smith family, lived on his own at Kingsland Cottages; his nephew Sidney joined him in later years, after we were at Week. There being little difference in distance from Burrington to Red Post by way of Town Bridge or Forches Cross, I sometimes returned past Charlie's hoping to see his wind-powered animated figures in motion in the long narrow roadside garden. He must have spent many hours making these working models from odds and ends. One I remember in particular was of a man and woman sharpening knives on a grindstone, he bobbing up and down offering the knife to the stone, she, turning the handle.

Also in this garden was a small shed where he kept all kinds of treasures, at least I thought they were treasures. There were brightly coloured bead work purses, mats and patterned bead samplers, small native dolls and a tin of foreign coins, plus other things I have forgotten. I understood them to be First World War souvenirs. How times have changed now - a middle aged man inviting a little girt into his garden would be treated with great suspicion, not the innocent friendship it was, with not a word or action out of place.

There were numerous stories of Charlie's "luck" at having pheasants and rabbits drop dead in front of him, mostly told by him in the first instance. One was of him looking through a hole in the hedge, gun at the ready, when the police constable came up behind him saying "I've caught you this time, Charlie. What do you see through that gap"? "You have a look, sir, I can't see nort (nothing)". He had spotted the P.C. in the distance and outfoxed him.

Charlie Heales, a gamekeeper at Northcote, lodged with Mr.& Mrs. Reg Murch at Week Cross, after being demobbed, before marrying and setting up home at Hill Sampson. Charlie was a tall, long legged middle aged man, who decided that the easiest way to measure the bedroom for new lino was to pace it out, a normal pace being three feet; unfortunately, his was nearer four feet, so the roll of lino arrived several feet short!

Charlie became progressively more crippled with arthritis as he became older, needing two walking sticks to get around on his feet but surprisingly, managed to ride a bicycle for many years to give his continued loyal support to the Barnstaple Inn. From Hill Sampson to Burrington was a fairly easy cycling road as far as Town Bridge, near the village, where he dismounted with great difficulty. On the return journey he needed to walk as far as Whiteoak using his bike for support. One Sunday evening after the church harvest festival service, our family were on their way home, when they came across Charlie, knelt in the road, with his sticks laid in one direction and bike in another, having come to grief trying to remount. Five year old Norma Kingdon also in our m, viewed the scene with a puzzled expression before commenting "What a funny place for Mr. Heals to say his prayers".

Before Charlie and Amy Heales moved into Hill Sampson, the Jewell family came there in approximately 1938; Arthur Jewell was a woodsman on the Northcote estate, a quietly spoken, kindly gentleman, his wife Beattie and daughters, Linday and Christine, lived with him as well as Raymond Mayne, a Bristol evacuee and Mr. Herbert Bindon who had Red the blitz in London.

Christine, their youngest child, maybe five or six years older than me, was an easy target for teasing by her friends. Having been for a day to Barnstaple, she remarked that Barnstaple was a mouldy place - she would rather be home in Devon!

(continued next month)

Go to April 2001 issue