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October 1998
APOLOGIES: For our item last month on the birth of daughter Polly Anne. Firstly to to Cathy (Jay) because her
name is spelt Kathy and also to Andrew, because his name is spelt Mark! THANKS: Lynne Maud would like to thank everyone who gave to her collection for the imperial Cancer Research Fund. The total amount collected was £51 - thanks to everyone for their generosity. THANKS: Audrey and James Winter thank all those good friends who sent congratulations on their Diamond Wedding Anniversary. We hope to re-visit High Bickington in the not too distant future. THANKS: The family of Vera Seatherton would like to thank everyone for kind cards, letters of sympathy and flowers they received. Also thanks to Rev. Hugh Pollock, the organist, Mr D Pidler and the bearers. Thanks also to Dr Ben Armstrong at High Bickington surgery, everyone at the Church, Baptist Chapel, Whist Drives and Luncheon Club and everyone she knew in Atherington including all on the bus to Barnstaple. Thank you to everyone who helped make her life an enjoyable, happy and wonderful one. Thanks also for donations received in her memory at this sad time. THE GREAT UMBERLEIGH PANTOMIME - 1999Believe it or not, the dates have already been set and the pantomime next year will be “Frankenstein”. So make a note now; the show will be over two weekends and on both Friday and Saturday - the 19th/20th and 26th/27th. That’s four performances plus a matinee on Saturday 20th only. For the moment - that’s all folks !! Calling Campanologists everywhere:Bell Ringing practice will commence on Thursday, 1st October at St Mary’s Church, High Bickington at 7.30pm. Please do try and learn to ring ! Roger Keen. P.C.C. Secretary Calling Waste Paper Collectors everywhere:The will be a waste paper collection on Tuesday, November 3rd at about 10.00am by the bus shelter in High Bickington. Please do not leave paper there overnight. Thank you to everyone who continues to support this worthwhile recycling effort for charity. If you need more details ‘phone Margaret Bolt Calling Film Buffs everywhere:South Molton Film Society started five years ago through the interest of a local group of enthusiasts in quality cinema. It began with a single showing of the recent Australian classic “Strictly Ballroom”. Since then it has increased its’ popularity and membership gaining the accolade of being voted the UK’s BFFS “Best New Film Society” for 1997. We are a non-profit making, voluntary society and would welcome new members. Any enquiries to Arthur Symons or Phil Norman. Calling the Friends of Umberleigh School everywhere:A Social Evening and Race Night is to be held on Friday, 16th October at Umberleigh Hall. The first race will be at 8pm! There will be a supper provided, a bar, raffle and lots of fun! Entry is £2-50 per person which includes the food. All proceeds to go towards computer software for the school. Do come and join us. Further information and tickets are available from Veronica Crabb or Chris Allbrook. ST MARY’S CHURCH, ATHERINGTONThe Coffee Evening held at Langridge Farm on Friday, 11th September raised over £300 for the Churchyard Fund. Eileen and Martin would like to thank everyone who helped and gave draw prizes and donations. High Bickington Methodist News - Hazel PearceSunday & Monday, October 4th & 5th Our Harvest Thanksgiving Service will be led by Rev J Bates at 11am and at 2pm by Mrs A Martin. Continuing on Monday evening at 6.30pm with a Service led by Rev Marilyn, followed by a Bring and Share Supper at 7pm and a short auction of produce. A warm welcome to all. Sunday, November 1st Family Service led by Derek Summers of South Molton at 11am. This will be followed by a Home-made Soup and Sweet family meal. All are welcome, numbers for the meal to Judy Down by October 25th. Saturday, November 7th Eistedfodd entry forms available from Shirley Pidner (560618) also form the shop or the school. There will be classes in handwriting, photography, art work, various crafts, cooking, flower arranging etc. This is open to all children in the Sunday School and High Bickington. The judging will take place from 9-11am. Open to the public from 12 noon. At 4pm a short Thanksgiving Service and presentation of certificates will take place. A warm welcome to all, come and see the childrens’ talents and hard work. THANK YOU: The High Bickington Honiton Lace Class would like to thank you all for your support at the Craft Show and helping us to raise £200 in aid of the Children’s Hospice South West, with a special thank you to: George & Dot for their generous donation, Jenny for the cream tea, Daphne for the original idea and all who helped to make the afternoon a success. GRATEFUL THANKS: From Jean Tapscott to everybody including the helpers, givers, donations and buyers who supported the combined Jumble Sale. £200 was the result with £100 going to the Surgery for an H.P. Monitor and £100 going to the Dodds and Tucker Charity, both donations being gratefully received. Jean would like to say a big thank you to daughter-in-law, Julie, to son, Philip and to grandchildren, Claire, Marie, Katie, Jessica and Timmy, who really enjoyed it. Also thanks again to all concerned.
Details of two other collections, held earlier, are: Red Cross Week: Local collection: £29-15, Area collection: £1,043-67. Alexandra Rose Day: Local collection: £43-84, Area collection: £536-65. From the Archives - Researched by Richard LethbridgeRichard writes: In this months contribution I have Doris Pidler’s wedding day. Thank you Doris for allowing us to share your big day. From the North Devon Journal, 9th September 1937. WELL KNOWN COUPLE WEDDED AT HIGH BICKINGTON Pidler - Gooding Merry peals were rung on the bells of High Bickington Church yesterday, when the marriage was solemnised of Mr. Herbert Pidler, only son of Mr. and Mrs. R.A.G. Pidler, of “Dadlands”, High Bickington, and Miss Doris Mary Gooding, only daughter of Mr. and Mrs. W.Gooding, of “Alanstyne”, Fremington. Rev. S.G. Jenkins performed the ceremony at High Bickington Methodist Church. Mr. R. Slee. brother-in-law of the bridegroom, was best man. The bride, given away by her father, was charmingly attired in ivory fanfare satin, with a wreath and veil, the latter being lent by a friend of the bride (Mrs. Hill of Bideford). She carried a sheaf of Harris lilies. Bridesmaids were Miss Viola Mills (friend of the bride) and Miss Olive Blackmore (cousin of the bridegroom), who wore pink floral georgette, with blue sashes and shoes, and head-dresses of silver leaves. They carried bouquets of pink carnations. A page-boy, Master Graham Gooding (nephew of the bride) was dressed in a white satin blouse, with blue trousers. The bride’s mother wore a midnight blue cloque ankle-length dress, with a spray of pink carnations, and a velour hat to match; and the bridegroom’s mother was in brown floral dress with a fawn tailored coat, and velour hat to match. Mrs. C.T. Gooding (sister-in-law of the bride) was at the organ, and played, among other suitable music, the Bridal March from Lohengrin and Mendelssohn’s Wedding March. The hymns were “Love divine” and “O perfect love”. The bride’s gift to the bridegroom was an oak writing bureau; a china cabinet was the bridegroom’s gift to the bride, and he gave the bridesmaids necklaces and the page-boy a gold tie-pin. The usher was Mr. C.T. Gooding (brother of the bride). A reception was held in the High Bickington Church Hall, after which the happy couple left for their honeymoon, at Bournemouth; the bride travelling in a powder-blue two-piece, with a white hat. Over l00 presents were received from relatives and friends, and included an oak, 8-day clock (inscribed) from the High Bickington Ringers, of which the bridegroom is a member. ATHERINGTON & UMBERLEIGH WI - Judith DomleoThe September meeting was held in Umberleigh Hall, when JANE WILLIAMS explained the work of the WRVS Emergency Services. She spoke very movingly of the task of clearing all the flowers and mementoes after Princess Diana’s funeral in London. The competition for a “Pretty Cup/Saucer” was won by Barbara DOWN. Flower of the month winner was Mary WILSON with “Hibiscus”. Refreshments were served by Margaret SQUIRE, Beryl TROUP and Wendy WALDON. Speakers hostess was Rose PETERS. Birthday plants were presented to Eileen CHAMBERS, Pearl ARSCOTT, Jean PETTS, Christine CLEMENS, Mary MARTIN and Cynthia BLOWS. Do not forget our “Invitation Dance” on Saturday, 17th October with the theme “Shades of Autumn” at Umberleigh Hall. If you enjoy dancing do come. The next meeting will be on Tuesday, 13th October, 7.30 pm at Umberleigh Hall when the speaker will be Robert NELSON explaining the works of the Royal British Legion Poppy Appeal. Visitors very welcome. ‘FRIENDS’ As the nights lengthen and we are confined to our homes by inclement weather, spare a thought for those who are unable to get out and about whatever the weather. By becoming a ‘Friend’ you could bring a little sunshine into their lives by paying them a visit with a few kind words, or maybe taking a trip out together for coffee or afternoon tea.
If you think you could become a ‘Friend’ or you are in need of a ‘Friend’ please contact the co-ordinator, Mrs L Tucker. When We Came To Week (continued) - by Margaret BoltIn my last article I referred to a “tallet” thinking everyone knew what and where this was! It is only when questioned that we realise some words are local. A tallet is a loft in the roof space above a shippen or bullocks’ house, used to store hay and straw to feed and bed the animals underneath. Much manual labour was needed to fill the tallet, everything had to be pitched through the tallet’s hole at Hacknell and Week. (Tallet’s hole - an opening in the wall which could be closed by a door or shutter when not in use). The hay or straw was used as needed by pitching down into open racks (we pronounced this as RECK) against the wall or down into the “feeding paths” then up in to the racks in front of the cows. Access for workers (and children) was either by ladders fixed to the wall at convenient places or up stone steps, outside at Hacknell but inside at Week. It was not unknown for a calf or sheep to go up these solid stone steps into the tallet. Going up was fine but many a tale could be told of getting them down again. Free range hens were very partial to “stealing their nests” in the hay and straw, laying in the darkest corners, and maybe not discovered for months, until some unwary person stepped on the eggs, the resulting smell is one of the most unpleasant I have ever known. Even so it was a wonderful place for children to play, no present day dangers of bales toppling down. Litters of kittens were also well hidden by their crafty mothers until weaning time, when they would be proudly displayed, and brought for their share of the twice daily milking feedtime. Another earlier article about Mrs Gracey’s Christmas parties revived memories for Cecil Crocker. It was his task each year to transport the tree from Northcote Manor to the school by horse and cart, escorted by the estate carpenters. After setting up the tree, they found it necessary to visit the Barnstaple Inn across the road to quench their thirst, but not Cecil, he had to stay with the horse and wait - and wait! And here is a timely warning of the dangers of eating unknown fungi, from the 1928 diary of Miss Kathleen Joslin, then of Boutchland Farm. On August 14th Aunt Polly Dillon of Pavington (Mrs Joslin’s sister) came to tea at Boutchland but by the 16th she was very ill. Two doctors came. Ern Webber came for Mrs Joslin and a stream of relatives were with here day and night. As well as Joslins, Percy, Herbert and Bessie Babbage are mentioned - Mrs Dillon was Polly Babbage from Ley Farm. The following are some of the dairy entries: On 21st - “Aunt Bessie and I washed eight sheets” Then she began to recover: September 1st - “Auntie is heaps better, it is only weakness now. Daily visits continued until September 8th. Thank you to all kind people who say they enjoy these homespun articles and for sharing their memories with me. I write with a child’s eye view, without the aid of diaries, etc. so bear with me. If any older readers have clearer recollections of over fifty years ago, I am very glad to hear them. HIGH BICKINGTON - RECYCLING PAVILIONThe amount of recycling material deposited in the playing field pavilion in 1997/98 was 9.604 tonnes, an increase of just over 24%. Well done everyone. Could you please ensure that plastic bottles and cans are crushed before depositing in the pavilion as this takes up far less room. Also please remove bottles etc. from carrier bags and deposit them in the relevant containers. BEST KEPT VILLAGE COMPETITION - HIGH BICKINGTONHigh Bickington scored 85% in the competition. The comments of the judges were:
“A delightful village which has all the makings of the Best Kept Village if the commitment of the majority was shared by
all.
Thanks to everyone who helped. Special thanks to the High Bickington in Bloom Committee for all their hard work. The
wonderful flowers in Poplar Terrace were much appreciated. The Rectory, High Bickington - October 1998On her death-bed, American authoress Gertrude Stein is said to have asked, “What is the answer?”. Then, after a long silence, “What is the question?” It’s in the Book. Don’t start to look in the Bible for the answers it gives. Start by listening to the questions it asks. By asking our day-to-day questions of immediate relevance we tend to lose track of the questions that always matter, questions of life and death, of meaning and purpose and value. To lose track of such in-depth questions as these, is to lose track of who we really are in our own depths and where we are really going. Try these Bible questions.
Christians together in High BickingtonThe next meeting is on Monday, October 12th at 7.30pm at Fisherton Farm, the home of Bob and Judith Domleo. The September meeting was again well attended. Next time it is the turn of Umberleigh Christian Fellowship to be responsible for leading. If you have thought about coming but not yet been able to make it, why not make October the month when you come along. The format is very informal. We normally have some singing; a short Bible study; and some prayer – all followed by a chat over coffee. TAW VALLEY GARDENING CLUBThis was our first meeting after the Summer break, we were a bit “thin on the ground” but never the less had a jolly good evening. We discussed how we as a Gardening Club could celebrate the Millenium and came up with a couple of ideas which will be put to the main committee for High Bickington Millenium Celebrations. This was followed by an informal ‘swopping of information’ on garden pests and identification, a “brainstorm” on ideas for where we could visit next year and finally a fun quiz. A good tip emerged from this chat, if you have trouble with slugs eating hostas, put holly leaves or sprigs under them apparently it keeps them at bay! The next meeting will be held in High Bickington Village Hall and will comprise of a talk by Ivor Huxtable on Dahlias. I for one am certainly looking forward to that! It will be on 21st October at 7.30pm. Anyone wishing to know more about the Gardening Club should contact Sharne Worrall THANKS: Stan and Josie Maskell would like to thank all their kind friends in High Bickington who sent such lovely cards and good wishes on the occasion of their Ruby Wedding Anniversary. Special thanks to all who joined with us in our celebrations and helped make the day so enjoyable. ROYAL BRITISH LEGIONIf anyone has any recall of the Atherington and Umberleigh branch of the Royal British Legion could they please contact Di Drummond HIGH BICKINGTON WI - Rosemary MunsonOn September 9th for our first meeting after the summer break, we travelled to Eggesford Garden Centre where we were welcomed by Joan. We were quite a large group and before it got too dark we looked at the outside plants. Most of us found something we couldn’t resist! Joan meanwhile had made us a cup of tea and we had a short business meeting. Jonathon then talked about the shrubs and perennials they had picked out. There were some nice heathers, large and small, and some, like Winter Chocolate, which changed colours with the seasons. There were Skimmias and Viburnums, Mahonias, Clematis, Hollies, Pyracanthus, Eunonomous, Conifers. Eucalyptus and many, many more. We all wanted to get a plant after this! It was all most enjoyable. Eva thanked Jonathon and Joan for enlightening us about these plants. Don’t forget the Group Meeting is on October 21st at Harracott. The next meeting is in the Church hall at 7.15 pm on October 7th, when it will be our 75th birthday. ATHERINGTON PARISH COUNCILWe have received a letter from North Devon District Council on the subject of Fuel Poverty and the need to improve Energy Efficiency. Extracts from their letter are as follows: As you may know, the government is very keen to address the issue of fuel poverty and to improve energy efficiency generally. In an effort to contribute to that, the North Devon District Council has resolved to make available, by way of grants, a sum of money to enable occupiers of dwellings who cannot afford to heat their homes because of poor insulation, to carry out improvements. These grants are for insulation work and improvements of heating systems, up to the value of £1,000. There are further grants of up to £2,000, for those householders that qualify for works of repair to an existing dwelling. Both grants are available to people over 60 years of age or anyone in receipt of specified forms of benefit, i.e. Income Support, Job Seeker’s Allowance, Family Credit, Housing Benefit, Council Tax Benefit, Disability Working Allowance. The full text of the letter is shown on the notice board next to the Church Hall.
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