March 2003

BEST KEPT VILLAGE COMPETITION 2003

Atherington has entered the Best Kept Village competition and judging starts anytime after May 1st. Its object is to encourage villages to improve their local environment by caring for buildings, clearing litter and promoting schemes to improve the general appearance of the area. They do not look for architectural merit, prettiness or masses of flowers but for villages which do the best they can with what they have got.

If you see any litter please pick it up and look after the roadside area around your own home. Please do not leave any litter in the playing field or churchyard. Do not forget that we are in the past winners class.

Let's do it again!

Meanwhile, on the subject of the shop in High Bickington .....

My name is Dan McDonald from Burrington. My partner Linda and I will complete on the sale of the shop in early March. It will be open from 7 am to 8 pm all week except Sundays when it will be 7am to midday. Give me a call to confirm the above.

Dan McDonald

THANKS: Tony and Margaret Squire would like to thank everyone who sent cards and good wishes following his knee operation. Our special thanks to family and friends who visited him in hospital whilst Margaret was indisposed with a virus infection - your help was greatly appreciated. Both are well and Tony continues to improve. Many thanks.

WELL DONE: Three members of High Bickington Judo Club entered the Devon Invitation Championships. Clubs entered from all over the country. Jason Jones and Daniel Pasifull just missed out for the bronze medals. Scott Pert was awarded a silver medal. Well done everyone.

CONGRATULATIONS: Nick Brown of High Bickington has been awarded the degree 2.1 B.A. Hons. Upper Division in Architecture at Plymouth University.
He is currently in practice at Bristol. He will then go on to do his Masters.

What's the difference between Ken Livingstone and Vicks Sinex?

One clears congestion and the other is a little squirt that gets up your nose!

HIGH BICKINGTON WI

Josie Maskell

Our February meeting was well attended. It was nice to have Jenny D'Olley back with us again. She thanked us for the cards of sympathy and also thanked the committee for all their help during her time as President. Names were taken for the whist at Welland and several forthcoming events brought to our notice.

The President asked members to help where they could with any shopping for anyone requiring help now the village shop has closed.

Our speaker for the evening was Alison Hurst, fund raiser for the North Devon Hospice which covers a large area including Hartland, Holsworthy, South Molton and Lynton. Alison said how delighted she was about the 'knit-in' later this month as it will raise quite a lot of money for the Hospice.

Other sources of income are from the six shops (manned by volunteers), a lottery with lots of prizes and many special events such as abseiling, and of course, legacies. Their target now is to raise one million pounds for a new unit with six beds in it (they only provide day care at present). They hope to start building in August and have it completed by Spring 2004.

Alison is absolutely dedicated to her work and said she would be delighted to show anyone around the Hospice. It is a very happy place with caring staff. There is reflexology, acupuncture and counselling readily available as well as arts and craft and a beautiful garden to enjoy. Jennifer D'Olley gave the vote of thanks.

The competition for a sunflower was won by Stella Burrows. Betty Harpum won flower of the month with a hellebore and Peggy Powell won the raffle.

Next month Peter Christie will be speaking about the Barnstaple Lace factory. Visitors are always welcome

From the Archives

Researched by Richard Lethbridge, MBE

16th December 1920 - HIGH BICKINGTON

THE recently-erected Village Hall was opened on Wednesday in last week. The idea of providing such a room has been talked of for some years but the War and other causes prevented the carrying-out of the scheme. Recently it became known that a suitable structure which had been in use in connection with Holy Trinity Church, Barnstaple, was for sale, and negotiations for its purchase were successfully carried through. The building has been re-erected on a site adjoining the North Road, High Bickington. it is of a good size, and the interior has a pleasing and comfortable appearance. On the opening day a Japanese Fair was held in the afternoon, followed by a concert in the evening. The proceedings were mainly organised by Mrs. Barton, of Little Silver, with assistance from Mr. Wm. Gooding, the energetic hon. sec., and Mr. W. Dunn. Those who gave help in various ways as follows:-
Taking entrance money, Messrs. Dunn, Goss, and R. Pidler; tea tables, Mesdames B. Cole, R. Cole, Pincombe, Slee, Goss, and Leythorne; jumble stall, Mesdames Gooding, K. Pedler, Dunn, and W. Pidler: fancy stall, Mrs. Good and Miss. Barton; fortune telling, Mrs. Barton. The following devoted their energies to obtaining entries in connection with various competitions:-
Mrs. W. Gooding, drawing for pictures; Mr. W. Good, guessing a secret word; Miss. L. Tucker, guessing the time a watch had stopped; Miss. C. Cole, weight of a cake; Mr. E. Cole, weight of a sack of potatoes; Miss. F. Slee, length of a necklace; Misses M. Dunn and S. Squire, number of pearls on a string; Miss. P. Leythorne, secret word; Miss. R. Newbery and Master Clifford Gooding, had charge of a set of stereoscopic views. The hall was quite crowded for the concert. The performers were ladies and gentlemen of the neighbourhood, and their contributions greatly pleased the audience. In addition to giving articles for disposal at the sale Mr. G. Kendrick, who has just given up possession of Nethergrove, generously gave Mrs. Barton a cheque for ten pounds in aid of the funds.

St. Mary’s Guild

Rosemary Munson

Our monthly meeting was held on Monday 10th February 2003 at the Parsonage, Miss E. Thorne's home. There were 10 members present.

Names are coming in for our outing to TRURO on the 14th April so book your places on the coach, I am sure it will be an enjoyable day.

We need new ideas for crafts for sale, any ideas will be welcome.

This was a short meeting, and it was finished with a very welcome cup of tea and biscuits.

Our next meeting will be on Monday 10th March at 2.00p.m. at the Parsonage, new friends are always welcome.

ATHERINGTON & UMBERLEIGH WI

Judith Domleo

At the February meeting Christine Allbrook gave a talk & demonstration on "Resuscitation- the Dos & Don'ts", giving us advice on what we should do in an emergency & more importantly, what we should not. The competition for a "First Aid Limerick" was won by Mary Wilson.
The flower of the month winner was Jean Lynch with a pink camellia. Refreshments were served by Petra Butcher, Joy Bruce & Christine Clements. Pam Ward was welcomed as a new member. Petra was congratulated on having her photograph chosen to appear in next years Devon W.I. calendar. Five members went to Longdown village hall to celebrate the Chinese Year of the Goat. We had a delicious three course Chinese lunch and in the afternoon we heard about the traditions of the New Year ceremonies & other Chinese Festivals. The hall was gaily decorated with red & gold banners and lanterns. We were also welcomed by a magnificent red dragon! A most enjoyable day out! Our next meeting will be at Umberleigh Hall on Tuesday March 11th at 7.30pm when Mrs Webber will be Planting a Tub for Mother's Day. Visitors always very welcome.

RULES

A boy, frustrated with all the rules he had to follow, asked his father, "Dad, how soon will I be old enough to do as I please?"

The father answered immediately, "I don't know. Nobody has lived that long yet."

High Bickington Methodist News

Hazel Pearce

The annual Women's World of Prayer Service will be held at the Chapel on Friday, 7th March at 3pm. Speaker, Mrs Sandra Juniper (nee Goss of Vauterhill), all ladies and men are welcome.

The 8-11's Children's Club have held a games evening, made salt dough items and painted them, produced heart shape paper baskets (fitted with sweets and decorated heart shaped biscuits with icing, a valentine themed evening.

An interesting Collectors evening was held by the guild on February 11th. Members' collections included china, glassware, old farm books, drawings and photographs.

Bumper Stickers

I received a letter from Grandma last week, she wrote:

The other day I went up to the local Christian bookshop and saw a 'HONK IF YOU LOVE JESUS' bumper sticker. I was feeling particularly exhilarated that day because I had just come from a thrilling choir performance following a thunderous prayer meeting, so I bought a sticker and put it on my bumper. Am I glad I did - what an uplifting experience followed.

I was stopped at a red light at a busy junction, just lost in thought about the Lord and how good he is and I didn't notice that the light had changed to green. It is a good thing that someone else loves Jesus because if he hadn't honked I'd never had noticed. I found that lots of people loved Jesus. Why, while I was sitting there, the man behind me started honking like crazy, and then leaned out of his window and screamed 'FOR THE LOVE OF GOD... , GO - GOD, GO - GO - GO Jesus Christ - GO! What an exuberant cheer leader he was for Jesus. I just leaned out of my window and started waving and smiling at all these loving people who were all honking and shouting. I even honked my horn a few times to share in the love.

There must have been a man from Florida because I heard him telling something about a 'sunny beach'. I saw another man waving in a funny way with only his middle finger stuck up in the air. When I asked my teenage grandson in the backseat what he meant, he said that it was probably a Hawaiian good luck sign or something. Well I've never met anyone from Hawaii so I leaned out of the window and gave him a good luck sign back. My grandson burst out laughing, even he was enjoying the religious experience. A couple of people were so caught up in the joy of the moment that they got out of their cars and started walking towards me. I bet they wanted to pray or ask what church I attended but this was when I noticed that the lights had changed, so, I waved to all my brothers and sisters and drove through the lights.

I noticed that I was the only one to get through the junction before the lights changed again and I felt kind of sad that I had to leave them AFTER ALL THE LOVE WE HAD SHARED. So I slowed the car down, leaned out of the window and gave them all the Hawaiian good luck sign one last time as I drove away.

Praise the Lord for such wonderful people.

Grandma

POEM FOR MARCH

The Miracle

Come, sweetheart, listen, for I have a thing
Most wonderful to tell you - news of Spring.
Albeit Winter still is in the air
And the Earth troubled, and the branches bare,
Yet down the fields to-day I saw her pass -
The Spring - her feet went shining through the grass,
She touched the ragged hedgerows - I have seen
Her finger-prints, most delicately green;
And she has whispered to the crocus leaves,
And to the garrulous sparrows in the eaves.
Swiftly she passed and shyly, and her fair
Young face was hidden in her cloudy hair.
She would not stay, her season is not yet,
But she has reawakened, and has set
The sap of all the world astir, and rent
Once more the shadows of our discontent.
Triumphant news - a miracle I sing -
The everlasting miracle of Spring.

John Drinkwater [1882 - 1937]

BARTON MEADOW RECREATIONAL AREA COMMITTEE

A further update...

Planning:
Detailed planning is now almost ready to be presented to Torridge District Council. Full permission has been approved from High Bickington Parish Council.

Grants:
Unfortunately our grant application for Ł40,000 from ‘Better Play’ was unsuccessful. Although extremely disappointing, it was good to know that we made it through to the last four. We are still waiting to hear the result of our application to the ‘Local Network Fund’ for Ł7,000. Our lottery grant for Ł79,000 was submitted just before Christmas.

Fund-raising:
‘200 Club’ tickets will be up for renewal in April. Members of the Committee will soon be appearing on your doorstep! If you have not purchased a ticket in the past but would now like to do so, please contact any member of the Committee who would be delighted to help.

Thank you to everyone who has supported us throughout the past year. We can’t do it without you.

A customer in a bakery was carefully examining all the rich-looking pastries displayed on trays in the glass cases. When an assistant approached him and asked, "What would you like?" he answered, "I'd like that chocolate-covered, cream-filled doughnut, that jelly-filled doughnut and that Danish."

Then with a sigh he added, "But I'll have an oatcake."

A city is a large community where people are lonely together.

HIGH BICKINGTON PARISH COUNCIL

Clerk: Myc Riggulsford, Dadland High Bickington Umberleigh Devon EX37 9BS

High Bickington Parish Council Meeting - Wednesday 12 February 2003

Present: Peter Tucker (Chairman), Stan Maskell, Mike Leatham, Alan Clemens, Roger Keen, Stan Parker, Cllr John Rawlinson (from item 7), Myc Riggulsford (clerk)
In Attendance: Derek Jones (chairman Barton Meadow Recreational Area Group) 9 members of the public.
Apologies for Absence: Tim Webb (Vice-Chairman) David Brown (chairman HB Project 2000)

Village Plans:
Mike Leatham reported that he attended a planning meeting at County Hall, Exeter on 10 January 2003 with High Bickington Project 2000, Torridge District Council and Devon County Council. Six working groups will be set up to develop the themes identified in the Parish Plans and report back within 3 months.

Peter Tucker reported that he attended a progress meeting with John Burnett MP and other parties on 10 January 2003. Devon Education Authority has entered into negotiations to buy the school site at Little Bickington Farm in the near future. John Burnett has been asked to find the funds to take the next stage of the Parish Plans forward and he is negotiating with the Regional Development Agency on our behalf. The Parish Plans are progressing and hopefully will be brought to the Parish Council for approval at the next meeting.

Ken Burford presented the Barton Meadow Recreational Area Group's suggestions for the amenity area following discussions with the District Planning Office. The amenity area measuring approximately 100m x 50m has been levelled and grassed and now needs development. Since it is amongst gardens the residents feel it should not be a hard fenced rectangle, but would benefit from softer landscaping. The group proposes an area at the bottom (Atherington) end for children up to age 12 years, with equipment such as swings and climbing equipment, protected by a 3ft dog proof fence, and trees on the bank, with a maintenance gate for equipment and a self closing gate for pedestrians. It would incorporate an area with seating and a willow tunnel. Some step levelling of the site may be required due to the slope on the land, and any excess soil will be turned into mounds on the edge of the amenity land away from the road. The middle area will be suitable for football or other ball games, with a small shelter to the side.

The top area of the amenity ground (nearest the dividing bank from the hall land) will be developed for the teenage group with a skateboarding, roller blading or BMX activity area. The kidney shaped area will be tarmaced (less noisy) in red or green, made into a hollow and curved, incorporating a quarter pipe and 3 or 4 pieces of equipment (the users are currently being consulted about preferences). Sound reducing equipment will be installed and the surface will have two embedded sound absorbing layers. A netball post area will be installed at one end. The boundary of the amenity area will have trees and bushes to provide wind protection. Running right round the whole amenity area and through the mounds created by soil will be an adult's track with occasional climbing, stretching and balancing equipment. All the equipment will be plain wood to blend in unobtrusively.

Derek Jones, chairman of the Barton Meadow Recreational Area Group, said that the proposals were developed from the consultation report and findings. One grant application has been turned down, but the group is waiting for a Lottery Fund decision. The development will be phased with the play area for younger children the priority. The group now needs to apply for planning permission, the application will come to the Parish Council for final approval before submission.

The Parish Council thanked the Barton Meadow Recreational Area Group and resolved to support these plans in principal, proposed Roger Keen, seconded Stan Parker, carried unanimously.

Clerk reported that the interim Vital Villages payment of Ł2,000 has now been received from the Countryside Agency, which has accepted the work done so far, providing funds to complete the Parish Plans and publish them. The final payment will come once the Plan is published. Chairman reported that he has negotiated the parish's contribution down to Ł1,500 from Vital Villages funds to Devon County Council for the work done on the exhibition boards, which will form the basis of the Parish Plan. Payment of this sum was proposed by Mike Leatham, seconded by Alan Clemens and agreed unanimously.

Matters Raised by the Chairman
Peter Tucker said that following the discussion about the shop closure notices on the parish notice board and in the parish magazine he has had 3 offers of assistance with urgent shopping and an offer to obtain pharmacy items. No people with urgent needs have come forward requesting help. Mike Leatham confirmed that there were no requests for help to Ramblings, and clerk has received no requests. Vice-chairman Tim Webb was asked to look into possible grocery deliveries, and in his absence he submitted a report via clerk to confirm that there are 4 or 5 delivery options if the situation worsens. These have not been pursued yet due to the Parish Council's wish to support the shop sale as the best option, but will remain open.

Maintenance
Alan Clemens reported no incidents and accidents at Barton Meadow. Chairman reported that topsoil has been dumped on the village hall site at Barton Meadow, and asked residents to report any fly tipping activity to the Parish Council.

Clerk reported an email from former resident Mike Jay suggesting that the recycling pavilion should have been relocated to the Parish Council's car park behind the church. Council has considered this, and the access is unsuitable, the main village is now serviced by regular collections, and Council does not want to encourage outlying parishioners who currently use the recycling pavilion to drive into Barton Meadow, increasing traffic in the centre of the village. Unless a better site comes up (for instance at Little Bickington Farm) the Playing field is the best current venue. Mike Leatham noted that the signs indicating brown, green and clear glass and cans are missing from the new facility.
Chairman reported that Keith Snell is doing an excellent job maintaining the bus shelter, and proposed he be awarded the first half of the honorarium at the next meeting.

Parish Clerk
Clerk reported that advertisements for a new clerk have been published on the parish noticeboards and in the North Devon Journal. Chairman said that 3 people have already requested information, and others may still come forward before the closing date of 28 February 2003. The finance sub-committee has discussed the clerk's terms and conditions, and notes that the clerk regularly contributes hours well over and above the paid amount. Increasing the hours will present a problem for the forthcoming year since the precept has already been set, but ways of reducing the workload or increasing the time available may have to be found. At the moment the post pays 171 hours, but holiday allowance of 4 weeks a year should be paid, reducing the hours available to 156, which is slightly over 3 hours a week. Chairman said that in the future Minutes could need to be shorter, and work will need to be prioritised, with some inevitably not getting done. Peter Tucker suggested that in the future working with other local Parish Councils may spread the workload, avoiding duplication of effort, and the internet may help with model plans of action. Sample new job description and contract based on the Burrington contract were circulated and agreed. For interviews in early March the sub-committee of Chairman, Vice-chairman, Mike Leatham and clerk were proposed by Stan Maskell, seconded by Alan Clemens, appointed unanimously.

Council Tax 2003-2004
Cllr John Rawlinson presented a discussion paper and addressed the reasons why Devon County Council may need to increase Council Tax by 18% in the coming financial year. This rise will be in spite of an appeal to government for more funding, which resulted in Devon County Council being given Ł500,000 less, leaving a shortfall of Ł32.5 million.

There are four main problems:

Devon County Council will lose Ł18 million because the government base their figures on property prices, not on income. Therefore Devon County Council loses out to the equivalent of a 9% rise in Council Tax.
The very poor settlement for Highways Maintenance - the assessment is based on less than a tenth of the county's network. Devon has the largest road network in the country, nearly 8,000 miles. Devon County Council faces a Ł8 million loss in our road maintenance budget, and already has a backlog of Ł140 million.
The impact of the transfer of nursing care funding to central government.
The absence of a sparsity factor in the Environment, Protective and Cultural Services Block, which in the past compensated Devon County Council for the extra costs of providing services to our sparsely populated and isolated communities.

After resource equalisation, Devon received a 6.7% increase in allowances from central government compared with a 7.3% increase for other Shire counties. The government helps Local Authorities by using the Revenue Support Grant, which was 47% in 1985 but by last year it had dropped to 28.1%. The County cannot use financial reserves to make up the shortfall since they have already been used as a solution in the past. In 1989 the reserve balance was Ł39.125m, by 1998 these had fallen to Ł1m. In an emergency Devon County Council would be in trouble. By March 2003 it is hoped that the balance will be back to Ł8m.

A zero budget would mean reductions in spending of Ł73m which means cuts in services of 12% (Kent to keep its rise down to 12.5% has cut 300 jobs). Devon County Council also has statutory obligations for education, grants, and the levies of outside bodies such as Flood Defence, Fire Authority, National Parks.

The target for Education spending in Devon is Ł304.952m, but Ł20m of that goes on paying for school transport - Devon has the largest financial commitment to school transport of any county in the UK but the government seems unable or unwilling to recognise this fact. On the surface the education settlement for Devon has been a good one - 7.2% but the settlement has to meet the following commitments:

Teacher pay award - 2.9%
Increased pupil numbers - Devon is bucking the trend of falling rolls
Increased Early Years provision li>Increased SEN costs
Full year effect of full-time education of excluded pupils, who are now entitled to receive 25 hours a week, in the past pupils were lucky to get 5 hours.
Increased transport costs
Legacy of 2002 pay awards
Reduced Standard Fund for schools
Meteorological Office move to Exeter. The 450 extra pupils on the roll will not be counted until January 2004 and not funded until January 2005, so the county has to subsidise these students for 1.5 years.
Increased cost of Maternity

All this means is that of the 7.2% real terms growth there is something near 2% growth available to schools

According to Cllr Rawlinson, there is one small piece of good news. The settlement is for 3 years, so we do therefore know what our settlement is until 2005, and Council Tax rises should be no greater than the rate of inflation - unless we demand improvements in services.

Clerk read out a submission from Stella Burrows, who attended the Police Liaison Committee in Barnstaple on 3 January 2003. A proposal from this meeting (and others in Devon) recommended a rise in the community charge for policing from approximately Ł1.46 per week per household to Ł2.00 per household.

Audit
Clerk reported that the Audit form for 2001/2002 accounts has now been accepted, signed and returned by District Audit. It now has to be advertised for public inspection at a convenient location for a period of two weeks, and costs of copies decided. Advertisement to be on parish noticeboards and Audit form to be available at the Chairman's residence, North Road Farm for the next two weeks (17-28 February 2003) and thereafter from the Clerk, hard copies at a cost of 10p per page (totalling 60p) plus post and packing costs on request: this resolution proposed Alan Clemens, seconded Roger Keen, agreed unanimously.

Concurrent Function Grant 2003/2004
Notification from Torridge District Council that the 2003/2004 Concurrent Function Grant contribution approved for High Bickington is Ł339.

Planning
Application No 1/0090/2003/27/0005
Single storey garage, extension, garden store & balcony on kitchen
At: 14 Fairways Drive, Libbaton, High Bickington
For: G Rabbetts, 14 Fairways Drive, Libbaton, High Bickington EX37 9BS
The Parish Council supports this application: proposed Mike Leatham, seconded Alan Clemens, carried unanimously

Application No 1/0169/2003/27/0042
Improvements to roofs of existing outbuildings
At: Hope Cottage, High Bickington
For: Mr & Mrs A Coxon, Hope Cottage, High Bickingtonbr> The Parish Council is concerned about foul water drainage running off the property into adjoining property 'Devonia' at the back of Hope Cottage, which may be made worse by the installation of a pitched roof on the outbuilding. The Council also has concerns about the appropriate character of the proposed glass roof within a listed area: proposed Roger Keen, seconded Stan Maskell, carried unanimously.

Application No 1/0165/2003/27/0011
First floor extension to form bathroom & en-suite facilities
At: 1 Barton Meadow Road, High Bickingtonbr> For: Mrs J Sanders, 1 Barton Meadow Road, High Bickington EX37 9AN
The Parish Council supports this application: proposed Alan Clemens, seconded Mike Leatham, carried unanimously.

Previous Applications
No 1/2046/2002/27/0062: Conversion of disused shop & garage to dwelling at adj. Candar House, High Street, High Bickington: Granted by Torridge District Council
No 1/2230/2002/27/0038: Extension at rear of property, conversion of garage to play room, adapting area of garden to parking for 2-4 cars at Holly Cottage, Mill Road, High Bickington: Granted by Torridge District Council
No 1/2046/2002/27/0062: Extension to dwelling and garage at Little Lufton, North Road, High Bickington: Granted by Torridge District Council
No 1/2103/2002/27/0003: Provision of new stove with hearth and part external flue at Smallmarsh Farm, High Bickington: Granted by Torridge District Council

Removal of hedges at field east of Nethergrove House
Investigated by Torridge District Council Planning Enforcement Officer, creation of new access was considered permitted development.

Notification of Proposed Alverdiscott to North Tawton 132kV overhead line (wood pole construction): Western Power Distribution.
The Parish Council considered the proposed electricity power line plans which pass through the parish near Natty Cross, Ebberley Cross and Sherwood Green. Report and plans included in Councillors information pack for consideration and comment.

Outstanding Matters
Clerk reported that the Police liaison visit will be organised following the Parish Council meeting with new Torridge District Council Chief Executive Trevor Smale, scheduled for 12 March 2003.

Any Other Business
Stan Maskell reported that the hedge going down Atherington Hill needs cutting - Stan Maskell to report this to Atherington Parish clerk.
Mike Leatham reported that the pothole outside Old Park has been filled.
Roger Keen reported that North Road from outside the Malthouse bungalow through the village needs repair.

Date of Next Meeting
Wednesday 12 March 2003 at 7.30pm in the Church Hall, with Torridge District Council's new Chief Executive Trevor Smale. All residents and members of the public are invited.

Myc Riggulsford, Clerk to the Parish of High Bickington

A drop of ink may make a million think.

After all is said and done, more is said than done.

Ability is what you're capable of doing...
Motivation determines what you do...
Attitude determines how well you do it.

HIGH BICKINGTON YOUTH JUDO CLUB

CLUB GRADINGS

CLUB INSTRUCTORS
Bob Otto 3rd Dan
Dave Weir 2nd Dan
Richard Pincombe 2nd Dan
Andy Angell 1st Kyu

64 Members have been graded

JUNIOR GRADES

Tara Finn - Green belt
Abby Harper - Orange belt 2 green stripes
Rebecca Collingwood Burke - Orange belt 2 green stripes
Sarah Crabb - Orange belt 1 green stripe
Guy Newton - Orange belt 1 green stripe
Olivia Finn - Orange belt
Lucy Leatham - Yellow belt 3 orange stripes
Lisa Pidner - Yellow belt 3 orange stripes
Emma Domleo - Yellow belt
Sarah Aldridge - White belt 3 yellow stripes
Thomas Allbrook - White belt 3 yellow stripes
Katie Brown - White belt 3 yellow stripes
Chloe Rowe - White belt 3 yellow stripes
Jason Jones - White belt 2 yellow stripes
Daniel Pasifull - White belt 2 yellow stripes
Michael Down - White belt 1 yellow stripe
Charlie Finn - White belt 1 yellow stripe
Christopher Pearce - White belt 1 yellow stripe
Ross Pearce - White belt 1 yellow stripe
Phoebe Pidner - White belt 1 yellow stripe
Harriet Pincombe - White belt 1 yellow stripe

PRIMARY GRADES

Shona Ardy - White belt 1 brown stripe
Scott Pert - White belt 2 green stripes
Ben Ainger - White belt 1 green stripe
Daniel Finn - White belt 1 green stripe
James Jenkins - White belt 1 green stripe
Chloe Jones - White belt 1 green stripe
Alexander Urwin - White belt 1 green stripe
William Brown - White belt 3 orange stripes
Chloe Pidner - White belt 3 orange stripes
Joe Warburton - White belt 3 orange stripes
Alison Down - White belt 2 orange stripes
Danny Pearce - White belt 2 orange stripes
Martyn Short - White belt 2 orange stripes
Josie Gordon - White belt 1 orange stripe
Oliver Harper - White belt 1 orange stripe
Jessica Ravenhill-White - White belt 1 orange stripe
Erin Beer - White belt 3 red stripes
Indianna Beer - White belt 3 red stripes
Ben Tanton - White belt 3 red stripes
Ollie Campbell - White belt 2 red stripes
Alex Cotton - White belt 2 red stripes
Billy Hull - White belt 2 red stripes
Georgina Phillips - White belt 2 red stripes
Matthew Walker - White belt 2 red stripes
Robyn Walker - White belt 2 red stripes
Benjamin Wiskin - White belt 2 red stripes
Harry Brown - White belt 1 red stripe
James Brown - White belt 1 red stripe
Isabel Domleo - White belt 1 red stripe
Charlie Harding - White belt 1 red stripe
Christopher Harding - White belt 1 red stripe
Tom Hull - White belt 1 red stripe
Sophie Jenkins - White belt 1 red stripe
Ashley Maris - White belt 1 red stripe
Christopher Maris - White belt 1 red stripe
Lesley Milton - White belt 1 red stripe
Benenice Phillips - White belt 1 red stripe
Alisa Snell - White belt 1 red stripe
Ben Snell - White belt 1 red stripe
Laura Stacey - White belt 1 red stripe
Kara St John - White belt 1 red stripe
Yeen Wichaisri - White belt 1 red stripe

A Committee is a group of people who individually can do nothing, but as a group decide that nothing can be done.

Ode To A Pill

Little Pill! Here in my Hand.
I wonder how you understand
Just what to do, or where to go
To stop the ache that hurts me so.
Within your covering, lies relief.

You sink in regions there below
As down my throat you quickly go.
But! What I wonder little Pill!
How do you know where I am ill?

Just how do you really know?
Exactly where you have to go?
I've got a Headache that is true
My broken ribs need attention too.

So how can anything so small
End my aches in no time at all.
Do you work alone or have a crew
To do the good things that you do?

I'm counting on you Mighty Strong,
To get in there where you belong.
Don't let me down and please don't shirk,
To do your undercover work.

So down my throat be on your way
And end my aches another day.
Don't take a wrong turn is my plea
I can't take another 'til after three!

Devon calls for scientific all clear before commercial use of GM technology

Devon County Council is calling on the Government to ban the commercial implementation of genetic modification technology until scientific evidence - including that from farm-scale trials - has shown there are no harmful effects on humans, animals or the environment.

The County Council's Cabinet - the Executive - has endorsed the existing policy of the Council's catering service, Devon Direct Services, not to supply food labelled as genetically modified in any of the Council's establishments, including schools and residential care homes.

Thought for the month...

Rev Mark Noakes

Size doesn’t always matter. Although the world often says to us that success and power comes through greatness, and more is better, small things can often turn out to surprise us with their effect.

In fact I quite like the smaller things. Being a sentimental the ‘cute’ness of a puppy or kitten does not pass me by. In the gardening line it is Bonsai that draw my attention. The idea of a mighty and majestic oak, with all its regal overtones adorning my coffee table is wonderful. As a child I much preferred the microscope to the telescope.

In life too, a small note or a quick call can transform someone’s day. The smile of a baby can melt the hardest heart while the smile of a politician brings unease. And, of course, there is the atom, the most powerful tool at man’s disposal.

With the Christmas festivities drawing to a close, you may have begun to take down the cards and decorations. It's over for another year. Maybe, during the festivities something made you think, even for just a moment, of the nativity scene that adorned many of those cards. A proud, if exhausted mother, a father, a scattering of shepherds and a trio of sages. Maybe a few angels and the odd lowing cattle. And that small baby.

As the year begins to roll on, don’t forget that little baby. Small as he is, he grows up to be the greatest surprise the world has ever known. He makes a big difference, and this year I hope he can for you.

Found in some patient's medical records ...

By the time he was admitted, his rapid heart had stopped, and he was feeling better.

Patient has chest pain if she lies on her left side for over a year.

On the second day the knee was better and on the third day it had completely disappeared.

She has had no rigors or shaking chills, but her husband states she was very hot in bed last night.

The patient has been depressed ever since she began seeing me in 1983

Discharge status: Alive but without permission.

She slipped on the ice and apparently her legs went in separate directions in early December.

The patient was in his usual state of good health until his aeroplane ran out of fuel and crashed.

When she fainted, her eyes rolled around the room.

Go to April 2003 issue