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November 2002St. Mary's AtheringtonThe Harvest Service, supper and auction were all well supported and our thanks go to everyone who helped, the church flowers looked beautiful, the supper table was full of delicious food and the goods for sale were varied. Richard Beer returned to the village to be our auctioneer and the supper and auction raised the sum of £437 towards the repair of the church windows. Many thanks once again for your support. We hope you enjoyed the evening as much as we did. PCC We have included the poem below, which was beautifully read by Jessica Brayley, at the Harvest Festival Service in Atherington: A harvest mouse me, under a pew, ATHERINGTON & UMBERLEIGH WIJudith Domleo At the October meeting Penny McRoberts gave us a demonstration using unusual Apple Recipes, such as Loveapple Soup, Apple Muffins & Vienna Pork Steaks with Apple Crust etc. All very "mouth watering"! The competition for an Apple Recipe was won by Judith Domleo. Flower of the month winner was Jean Lynch with a red Dahlia. Refreshments were served by Beryl Troup, Ruth Thomas & Cheryl Barrett. Birthday plants were presented to Jane Kneil, Wendy Waldon & Petra Butcher. We held a dance at Umberleigh Hall with Joe Kift and we raised £225 for Cancer Research. Refreshments were provided by members. Two members went on the Bat Day at Arlington Court. We enjoyed afternoon tea on arrival and then went with the National Trust Warden to the newly opened Bat Cave where there are "hidden cameras" to observe the Lesser Horseshoe Bats. Fascinating little creatures! Five members went to the Jazz Day with Simon Banks at Bradworthy Hall. Simon is a brilliant piano and clarinet player with a great personality. Six members attended the Autumn Council Meeting at the Queens Theatre Barnstaple. We were welcomed by the Deputy Mayor of Barnstaple. Mr Richard Berg-Rust gave a report on the Peninsula Medical School. The first students started this autumn and our Chairman Tania Haycocks is on the Foundation Board. Liza Giffen spoke on the Womens Library in London where the Archives of the N.F.W.I. are now kept. Carolyn Cripps OBE spoke about the Childrens Fire & Burn Trust. Sadly, 1000 children a week get burnt or scalded. The Resolution "Salt In Food" was passed when the meeting urged food manufacturers to reduce gradually the amount of salt in their products, giving clear label statements of the actual salt content, together with the recommended upper limit of daily intake for children and adults. The guest speaker was Norman Willis who was General Secretary of the T.U.C. from 1984 - 19993. A very "colourful" character and a most amusing speaker. The next meeting will be our Annual Meeting on Tuesday 12th November at 7.30pm in Umberleigh Hall. Look forward to seeing you all there! Visitors very welcome. Amusing signs Sign in a London department store: Bargain basement upstairs. In an office: Would the person who took the step ladder yesterday please bring it back or further steps will be taken. Thought for the month…Last month Rev John told us about the St Mary’s Choir and their plans to sing through the hymn book. Brave indeed. But it got me to thinking about favourite hymns, and why they are favourites. Is it the words, the tune, or the fact that most, if not all a congregation will know it and the volume will rise to spine tingling levels? The following is my particular choice… Love divine, all loves excelling, …but why?
Undoubtedly a great sing, and definitely one to get a congregation buzzing. It is, however, those wonderful words that do it for me. They speak of God’s
love in an infinitely better way than any sermon I’ve yet managed! By the way, my spine really tingles at the end… Changed from glory into glory, Love Divine… surely worth a pound or to for St Mary’s. Every Blessing, Rev Mark From the ArchivesResearched by Richard Lethbridge, MBE
HIGHBICKINGTON, DEVON MR. WILLIAM COLE will Sell by Auction, at the Golden Lion Hotel, Barnstaple, on Friday, the 9th day of July next, at 3 for 4 o'clock punctually (subject to such Conditions as will be then read), in Lots - A FREEHOLD MESSUAGE, BARTON, FARM and LANDS, CALLED LEE BARTON, containing 140a. 1r. 6p. of Arable, Meadow, and Pasture Land, in the occupation of Mr. James Harris with a Labourer's cottage, called Lee Cottage, occupied by Mr. Wm. Turner. For particulars, see printed handbills and for further particulars, apply to the Auctioneer, Unicorn Hotel, Southmolton; or to MESSRS. CROSSE, DAY, AND CROSSE, Solicitors, South Molton Dated 29th May, 1880
9th June, 1921 The bell-ringers had their annual outing last Saturday, and spent a most enjoyable time. They travelled to Exeter in a motor char-a-banc, via Southmolton, Tiverton, and Cullompton, and rang peals at each of the three places. At Exeter they were given permission to try the splendid peal of ten belonging to St. Sidwell's. At Cullompton, they also met with a peal of ten, while at the other two places they found heavy peals of eight bells. The homeward journey was made by way of Crediton. The anniversary of the United Methodist Sunday School was commemorated on the Sunday and Monday. On Sunday the services were conducted by Rev. C. G. Weetman, Circuit Minister. On Monday there was a public tea, followed by a platform meeting. At the latter Mr. W. B. Slee was chairman, and addresses were given by Rev. J. W. Bowler, Circuit Minister and Mr. Wm. Gooding. POEM OF THE MONTHTreats
Mouthwatering was the tuppeny glass of pop,
Mouth watering was sherbet with a liquorice straw,
"Stop me and buy one" the caption and calls
Now with SUCH unbridled choice at their feet Robert Domleo 20th August 2001 High Bickington Methodist NewsHazel Pearce Mr John Hawkins led the Harvest Thanksgiving Services. During the morning the children presented their gifts and sang a song. Many thanks to all those who helped to decorate the church and clean up afterwards, and swell the congregations at both services. After a light buffet supper following the Sunday evening worship, the harvest produce was laid out on the tables and baskets provided for donations. money raised from the gifts will be given to charity. The Children's Clubs re-started after the summer break. The 5-7's have made coloured window decorations and autumn leaves place mats. The 8-11's have held two games evenings, Mr Robert Domleo gave a talk on the Aqua boxes which are brought by fund-raising from the rotary Club, and filled with tools, clothes etc, which are sent of to third world countries in times of crisis. The evening finished off with the children glass painting window decorations. Our thoughts and prayers are with Mrs Beryl Crudge who has had a hip replacement, also with Betty and Arthur Rouse, Mrs Doris Pidler and Mrs Hazel Keen. The November Family Service will be lead by Rev Mark Noakes on Sunday 17th November at 11am. Make a note of the date for the annual Christingle Service in the parish church, this will be December 1st at 6.30pm. Our Carol Service led by the young people will be held on Sunday December 22nd at 6.30pm. All are welcome to these special services. ST MARY'S, HIGH BICKINGTONSt Mary's Harvest Thanksgiving service was held on Tuesday 1st October at 7pm. Mr Geoffrey Cleverdon of Hatherleigh gave the address and led the prayers. The ladies of the P.C.C. prepared an excellent supper in the church hall afterwards. Mr Richard Tucker excellently auctioned the produce raising a total of £180, which was donated to Bethany House and the Barnstaple Poverty Action Group. Roger Keen P.C.C. Secretary Here are some actual words found in church newsletters 1) Don't let worry kill you. Let the Church help. 2) Remember in prayer the many who are sick of our church and community. 3) The rosebud on the altar this morning is to announce the birth of David Alan Belzer, the sin of Rev. and Mrs. Julius Belzer. 4) Tuesday at 4 pm there will an ice cream social. All ladies giving milk please come early. 5) This being Easter Sunday, we will ask Mrs. Lewis to come forward and lay an egg on the altar. 6) A bean supper will be held on Tuesday evening in the hall. Music will follow. 7) At the evening service tonight, the sermon topic will be "What is Hell?" Come early and listen to our choir practice. 8) Weight Watchers will meet at 7 pm at the First Presbyterian Church. Please use large double doors at the side entrance. 9) Scouts are saving aluminium cans, bottles, and other items to be recycled. Proceeds will be used to cripple children. 10) The associate minister unveiled the church's new campaign slogan last Sunday: "I Upped My Pledge - Up Yours." OLD TYRES SAVE FOOTPATH Imaginative use has been made of old tyres to save a footpath (part of the popular Two Moors Way) from erosion in a joint project by Devon County Council and a team from the British Trust for Conservation Volunteers. Recycled car tyres were tied together to form a 'mattress', then filled with stone and buried beneath the surface of the path. The British Trust for Conservation Volunteers run many volunteer projects to improve countryside access, community sites and wildlife habitats. For more information about projects in Devon contact 01392 666460. HIGH BICKINGTON YOUTH JUDO CLUB - 50 MEMBERS HAVE BEEN GRADEDThe Club has a membership of 70 and we now have a waiting list JUNIOR GRADES
Tara Finn - Orange belt 3 green stripes PRIMARY GRADES
Shona Ardy - White belt 3 blue stripes HIGH BICKINGTON WIJosie Maskell Our October meeting was our 79th Birthday and we were welcomed by Rosemary Munson who presided over the meeting owing to Jennifer D'Olley being unwell. We were down on numbers as several other members were absent to illness. Names were taken for the Autumn Group meeting on October 23rd at Lovacott and Quiz at Ashreigney. Having only received the Schedule in September for the Autumn Show at St John's Nursery we decided not to enter, there being too little time to prepare. Six members enjoyed their visit to Step by Step at South Molton and their hands on approach to patchwork. Two cushions are now in the making and a return visit to Step by Step for further instructions will take place soon. Muriel Moore was then introduced to us - her hobby being writing poetry. Her poems covered many subjects most of them being humourous but she also read us a very poignant poem about the foot and moth crisis. She was thanked by Rosemary Munson for giving us a most enjoyable evening. Jennifer Gooding kindly made us a delicious pavlova which went down well with a glass of wine. The competition for a hand written poem was won by Rosemary Munson who also won the raffle and the flower of the month with a clematis. Next month it is our A.G.M. and members were asked to bring a plate of refreshments please. We wish all members who couldn't be with us this time a very speedy return to good health and hope to see them at our November meeting.
|
| 2002/2003 | 2003/2004 | |
| PCC (church hall) | £30 | £35 |
| PCC (churchyard) | £40 | 45 |
| Barton Meadow RAG | £100 | £110 |
| The Meeting Point | £30 | £45 |
| HB Pre-school Playgroup | £100 | £110 |
| HB Play Area Group | £35 | £40 |
| WRVS (meals-on-wheels) | £50 | £80 |
| Methodist Youth Club | £30 | £50 |
| HB Playing Field Assoc | £100 | £110 |
| HB Youth Judo Club | - | £50 |
| Libbaton Juniors (golf) | - | £50 |
| Ramblings | £30 | - |
| Total | £545 | £725 |
Parish Precept for 2003/2004
The parish precept for the financial year 2002/2003 will be £3,150.00. Revenue and expenditure estimates for 2003/2004 were referred to the finance
sub-committee for recommendations at the November Parish Council meeting. Although finances are healthy, Chairman Peter Tucker drew attention to the need
to build up reserves to cover expected legal and administrative costs which are likely to be incurred once a site for the proposed Village Hall is agreed,
which may necessitate an increased precept.
Date of Next Meeting
Cllr John Rawlinson will be attending the next Parish Council meeting at 7.30pm on Wednesday 13 November 2002 and will be happy to address matters raised
by Parish Councillors or members of the public, all residents and visitors will be welcome.
Myc Riggulsford, Clerk to the Parish of High Bickington
BARTON MEADOW RECREATIONAL AREA COMMITTEE
Chairman: Derek Jones, Vice-Chair: Steve Alford, Treasurer: Helen Carn, Secretary: Bev Short
What has been Happening? … A Further Update.
Things have gone on apace since our last update to Ramblings. The amenity land at Barton Meadow is now looking green and resplendent and the children have spent the Summer using it to it’s full advantage playing football, tennis and rounders – and even a few ‘older’ children have joined in (albeit complaining of aches and pains the next day!).
Two of the major play equipment companies have visited the area – Lappsett and Wickstead – to give quotes on various equipment. These were available for the public to see when we held our Consultation Exercise with devon@play on 6th July. We were delighted with the turnout on the day with 12 adults and 35 children attending - representing 32 families from the area. Results from our questionnaire have been collated and are as follows with comments given.
Would your family use the area?
Yes - 30
No - 2
Age range:
Under 5 - 14
5-11 - 38
12-16 - 12
Over 16/adult - 71
4 preferred options given:
As a green area for ball games - 25
Picnic area - 12
Play equipment area - 27
Skateboard area - 18
Junior football area - 17
Net/basketball net area - 7
Fitness training circuit (adult) - 7
BMX track - 5
Other suggestions:
- “Smooth perimeter path for rollerblading/skateboarding. Kids seem to like the rugged adventure areas that allow climbing, swinging, abseiling on wires etc. Enclosed areas to contain dog walking and fouling which is easier to treat and manage. Lots of these in London parks which are very successful, especially where there is open playing areas/green”.
- “Seating area to encourage all generations. Basketball nets. Possibly goal posts for football area. Possibly a few trees to make a shaded area”.
- “Some permanent planting. Seats”.
- “Crazy golf”.
- “The Village hall site. If no Village hall, it must be stressed to the Parish Council that this site is not to be used for housing and it must be tarmaced out for a car park and skateboard park”.
- “Some form of shelter/seating”.
- “Seating and tables”.
- “Trampoline and den area”.
- “Car park for the area. Adult facilities could be developed at the football pitch”.
- “Fence around bottom for youngsters’ area”.
- “To have the area fenced in so that it’s safe from the road and balls don’t hit cars”. li>“I think it might be nice to try and incorporate a segregated area for small children with equipment on but keep an area designated for the older children (but not necessarily with equipment on as the older children can utilise the area at the Playing Field”.
- “Adjacent car parking”.
- “Trees, seats, pond wildlife”.
- “I would like to see it be used for all our outdoor games and what goes on in the village to keep it as a village”.
- “Use wooden equipment where possible”.
- “The green area should be big enough for junior football. Clumps of deciduous trees should be planted to form a sheltered camping area (ash, sycamore, chestnut?). The play equipment area should be fenced off. Use the mound at the top end to form a ‘mountain’ grass hill for children to climb up and slide/roll down”.
- “Rest and relaxation area for all”.
- “Amenities for the children are urgently needed and this land is ideal for outdoor activities”.
General Comments:
- “A good idea to have an area for children to play safely. Also by giving them some form of interest in the site they will look after it and take pride in the area”.
- “Willing to help with fencing or construction”.
- “The area will need to suit all ages. Being a teenager’s parent they definitely need something to occupy them”.
- “I am very worried that the children will get knocked down playing in the road”.
- “This is a much needed amenity for the children of High Bickington”.
- “Thanks to all who have given time, trouble and money to move this forward”.
- “The area should be away from road area with no parking on Barton Meadow across from houses”.
- “Use local suppliers where possible (see RGB advert in ND Journal 4/7). Safety wood chippings – Nexfor (cheap), not rubberised matting”.
- “A water tap should be provided if possible near the picnic area”.
- “It is important to keep the heart of the village alive. Any green area encourages this by it’s use”.
Conclusion from Consultation Exercise - devon@play:
“The Barton Meadow Recreation Area has enormous potential to be a valued and important amenity to the village of High Bickington. The task now is to
narrow down the ideas brainstormed in the consultation into a workable plan and within a practical budget. The area evidently needs to meet a broad age
range of needs and compromises will have to be made. Pieces of equipment might be selected based on the ability to appeal to the widest possible age
range. Landscaping can create the possible hiding and meeting places children need in what is a very overlooked site, as well as to continue to support
their evident interest in colour and wildlife. A landscape architect would provide useful ideas in putting together all the needed elements to the site as
well as an assessment of it’s maintenance requirements”. (A copy of the full document can be seen by contacting any one of the Committee members as above).
Armed with the facts from the Consultant Exercise with devon@play, quotes from both Lappsett and Wickstead, petitions from some of the older children for a skateboarding area (with ideas and designs) and all manner of other important facts and figures, two grant applications have been sent off (pending result – fingers and toes crossed!), with the largest grant application to follow in the very near future. This has taken a lot of hard work and planning.
With grant applications weighing heavily on our minds, we debated whether or not we would have ample time to plan the Village Fete this year. However, knowing how supportive the Cricket and Athletic Clubs are, we decided to go ahead and this was held on the 31st August 2002, not the 24th as planned last year (Congratulations Lorraine and Ben!). The weather was extremely kind to us and we were heartened by the terrific turnout. Richard Lethbridge, MBE kindly agreed to open the Fete for us this year. There were the usual stalls and attractions, BBQ, Bar and tug-of-war etc. Many thanks go to all who helped on the day. Without their continued support this annual event will not take place. A profit of over £1200 was raised to be divided between the Cricket Club, The Athletic Club and Barton Meadow Recreational Area Committee.
A big THANK-YOU to everyone for their continued support – we can’t do it without you!