October 1999
WELCOME: To Atherington, a new daughter for Stephanie and Martin of Prospect Cottage. Her name is Harriet
Elizabeth, a sister for Josh and Phoebe.
THANKS: May I thank everyone in Atherington for their efforts in achieving a result of 86 points. After a difficult
start, we did well. It was good to defend our title in the Past Winners Section. I understand we have two more years to
win before dropping back to the Small Villages Group. Look out next year!
Margaret Squire
Ed. The results of the Best Kept Village Competition appear elsewhere in this months Ramblings.
COUNCIL FOR THE PROTECTION OF RURAL ENGLAND (Devon Branch)
Best Kept Village Competition - Village of the Year Award
ATHERINGTON
Atherington is a very pleasant small village which manages to look like a community of buildings round a central point
despite the fact it has a heavily used road right through the centre of it.
I found no litter and the whole central area was very well cared for - well mown greens and suitable flower beds add to the
attraction.
Properties, both private and commercial, were well looked after and it was nice that so small a village could maintain its
shop/post office/salon.
A pity to find fault but
one garden wall, right in the centre, was high with weeds
the back entrance to the churchyard was very weedy and the drain from the Church hall completely blocked
the paths to the churchyard badly needed the attention of a hoe, and
in the playing field the rubbish bin had not been emptied for ages and was surrounded by nettles and other rubbish
the surface under some of the play equipment was a bit doubtful and I found it impossible to fasten the gate as I left.
Despite all that Atherington gives the impression of being a happy, cheerful place much loved and cared for by those who
live there,
Final mark 86
HIGH BICKINGTON MILLENNIUM CELEBRATIONS
How do YOU - the villagers of High Bickington - wish to celebrate the year 2000?
Do you:
a) Feel that it has been over-hyped and is a waste of time and money?
Or
b) Want to celebrate this new Millennium with your family and fellow parishioners to make it 'a year to remember'?
If you answer is b), please read on:
Since the Millennium Committee was set-up, we have striven to think of events that could be held throughout the Year 2000,
encompassing all age groups within the Village.
At present our timetable is as follows:
We start our events in Autumn 1999 with the planting of 2000 bulbs in the hedgerows by Taw Valley Gardening Club.
JANUARY
It was thought that people would probably have already made arrangements for January 1st so we have planned events to run
throughout the year.
FEBRUARY 18th - 20th - PHOTOGRAPH EXHIBITION
Display of local areas throughout the last Century from Barnstaple Archives.
More recent photographs taken by Avril Stone of local landmarks and familiar faces (see if you are one of them!).
MAY (prov) 13th - MUGS/TIME - CAPSULE VILLAGE PHOTOGRAPH
There will be a presentation of mugs to local children (aged up to 18 on 31.12.99). We have a list of 119 children,
but if you are worried that your child may not be on that list, please contact any member of the Committee.
We are hoping to bury a time capsule followed with a short blessing. We hope that the School children will play a major
part in this.
After the short blessing, Avril Stone will be taking a photograph from the top of the Church of all the people there.
We hope that as many people as possible can attend.
JUNE 4th - SENIOR CITIZENS’ TEA PARTY AT 'LITTLE SILVER'
JULY 9th - TUDOR ENTERTAINMENT EVENING
An evening of Tudor entertainment with music and poetry to be held in the Church, with supper after.
AUGUST (DTBA) - YOUNG PEOPLE'S STREET PARTY
Food, games and entertainment for the Young People of the Village.
SEPTEMBER 9th - VILLAGE CELEBRATION
A Barn Dance with food and drink.
As you will see, we have tried to cater for the majority of age groups within in the Village, bearing in mind resources and
monies available to us.
Any comments, good or bad, will be gratefully received.
We have also been promised 2 'boundary stones' which, when engraved, will be placed at either end of the Village.
Christmas cards are available to buy from Avril Stone.
Jane Gibson, Peter & Sharne Worrall, Beverley Short
ST MARY’S GUILD
Rosemary Munson
At our meeting on Monday 13th September we had 13 members present at Miss Eileen Thorne's home, for which we thank her.
A report was given on our very successful Flower Festival (more about it in
a report by Mrs. Sally Webb) I would like to say thank you to everyone who
supported and helped in any way.
Our next project is the Christmas Fayre. I can hear you all saying already!! but it soon comes around. The date is
Saturday 20th November for your diary. We will all have to get our needles clicking and our sewing machines out. We are
always so well supported..
We welcomed a new member Mrs. St.John. We are always pleased to see new friends.
Our next meeting will be on Monday 11th October at Miss E. Thorne's home The Parsonage at 2.00 p.m.
The man who makes no mistakes does not usually make anything
Not only does beauty fade, but it leaves a record
upon the face as to what became of it
When you come to the end of your tether, tie a knot, and hang on
ST. MARY’S GUILD FLOWER FESTIVAL
£3.163-98 WAS THE FANTASTIC TOTAL WE RAISED AT THE FLOWER FESTIVAL TOWARDS THE REPAIR AND UPKEEP OF THE CHURCH CLOCK.
On behalf of the Guild I would like to thank everyone most sincerely for their dedication and the hard work that they put
in to ensure the Festival would be a success. The Ladies who arranged the flowers; our Sponsors both financial and
material; our carpenter and sign maker; our Printer; helpers in the refreshment hall and on the craft and plant stalls; all
those who so generously supplied goods; plants and food for the stalls – especially one gentleman who grew over 80 plants
and 15 bunches of pinks to be sold; those who held fund-raising events; those who made and contributed raffle prizes; the
demonstrators in the hall; stewards for the church; the people whose gardens we raided for greenery – the list is endless.
Without the help and support of all these and others we would not have achieved this magnificent sum. We were very lucky
with the weather which obviously brought a lot of visitors to the village but it was all the individual help and support we
had that made all the difference.
With the money we raised we have covered the cost of repairing and renovating the clock. We have a three year maintenance
contract to keep the clock in good repair and we also hope to install lighting to illuminate the clock face so it can be
seen in the village after dark.
Last but not least I would like to thank the hard working committee led by Eileen Tucker, the Chairman, Eileen Thorn and
Sarah Reeves who have given up many hours of their time to ensure that the Flower Festival would be a success.
Thank you all again for your help and support – it just goes to show what a small community can achieve!
Sally Webb, Treasurer, Flower Festival Committee
TAW VALLEY GARDENING CLUB
Now that the summer is turning into autumn and our garden visits are over for another year, this months meeting was held
in the village hall, at High Bickington. Members gathered for a talk by Tom Martin of Landkey on cacti.
Most of us approached this meeting certain in the knowledge that cacti growing was something for the specialist and
certainly not to be entered into lightly by us “amateur” gardeners.
Now we all know how wrong we were! Mr Martin, bubbling over with enthusiasm for his hobby, and a life time of experience
- he has been growing cacti for over 30 years - converted us all within minutes after starting his talk. His specimen
plants were exquisite and beautifully presented. He told us how cacti originate only from either Africa or the Americas,
and he showed examples of plants, the size of a hens egg, that had taken twenty years to grow. I would be surprised if
those of us who listened to Toms talk will leave the next garden centre without a cacti!
Next months talk should be just as exciting as it is to be given by Roger Stuckey and is entitled “Beginning with Alpines”.
Roger is one of the Countries leading experts on alpines and the meeting is to be held in the Hall on the 20th October at
7.30 p.m. All members and friends are welcome. Anyone who would like to know more about the best gardening club in North
Devon should contact Barry Checksfield.
Shirley Hill
HIGH BICKINGTON PARISH COUNCIL
A meeting of the Council took place on 8 September attended by seven Councillors and 11 members of the public.
Mr Webb gave a resume of his meeting with the solicitors in connection with the Barton Meadow amenity land and a further
meeting attended by all councillors was to be arranged. A letter had been received from Mr Lawrence of Devon County
Council subsequent to the traffic calming meeting and a reply would be made.
Other matters discussed included:
A Christmas tree for the village. Annual Matching Grants.
Planning applications at Rose Cottage & The Cottage.
The planning applications at Lee Barton had been approved by Torridge District Council. Traffic speed on the A377 at
Kingford
Best Kept Village (results reported elsewhere).
The next meeting will take place on 10 November.
PAUSE FOR THOUGHT
Today many people are saying, 'what in the world is happening?'; 'where are we all going?'; ‘what is it all about?' I was
exactly the same, I went to work each day, I paid the mortgage and the bills, I did my best to look after my wife and
children; and I kept thinking there must be more to life than just this!
In 1977 I became a Christian and I started reading the Bible. To my surprise I found I was reading a book that actually
made sense of the world I was living in (and still does)! For the first time in my life I didn't have to say ‘what is it
all about?’ I had already learned the following facts:-
1) God actually loved me and wanted a living relationship with me.
2) Although I had done many wrong things in my life, God wanted to forgive me.
3) Jesus Christ had died on a cross for me! He had suffered for all my wrongdoing instead of me; and that by
believing in Him I could know God and receive His gift of everlasting life.
4) Jesus had paid the price of my sins so that I could walk free.
This is the greatest act of love that you or I will ever know! This is what I call good news, in a world beset by bad
news.
Look at these two verses in your Bible:
John 3:16 For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not
perish but have eternal life.
John 3:36 Whoever believes in the Son has eternal life, but whoever rejects the Son will not see life, for God's
wrath remains on him.
Please read them carefully. Which one applies to you? Verse 16 or verse 36? Please don't reject Jesus. Don't leave it
too late!
Rev. Derek Rowles, Umberleigh Christian Fellowship
Thought for the month
Don Chitty, Atherington Baptist
Watching the monstrous combine harvester climb the hill reminded me of how equipment has changed but not the purpose. The
muzzled oxen ploughing, the hand sickle and winnowing fans of Bible days are gone. The reaper and binder of our childhood
are only a memory! However, the same hard and diligent work is required in every age, to prepared the ground, sow the
seed, care for it and eventually gather in the harvest.
Gathering in the crops safely is a time of great joy and satisfaction. We experience the same pleasure in collecting
fresh vegetables and fruit from our gardens. There is special delight in picking blackberries and gathering nuts - a lost
joy to many!
The joy of the farmer has been the result of diligence and -- faith. Nothing is guaranteed. We are subject to so many
circumstances beyond our control. Yet ever showing the kindness of a giving God. “… Seedtime and harvest .. shall not
cease.” (God gives the increase!)
The prophet Isaiah was well aware of this when he liken the joy in receiving the coming Messiah (Christ) with the joy of
gathering in the harvest. Isaiah 9:3. Here is God's most precious gift. Jesus the Lord of the Harvest!
The fruit of the field is safely stored. Summer is passing and Winter approaches. Light gives way to darkness! Heat to
cold! But we are ready!
Isaiah speaks of the same readiness in our spiritual lives. The joy of knowing Jesus as our friend and saviour in
preparation for this life and the greater harvest to come. Jesus is the Light of the world! We may know His light in
our darkness. Enter the joy of His salvation. Are we ready for His coming when He gathers His harvest?
From the archives
Researched by Richard Lethbridge
THE HIGH BICKINGTON SCHOOL MAGAZINE 1928
Editor - F. Rawle. Std. VII
General Manager - J. Cooke. Std. VII
Committee - A. Eastman, M. Bolt, R. Tucker, Std VII
(Adevertisments)
W. HARRIS and SON,
Carpenters, Decorators, Undertakers, Implement Agents
HIGH BICKINGTON AREA, DEVON
VISIT
S. NAYLOR and SAVE YOUR SOLES
HIGH STREET, HIGH BICKINGTON
FOR
All Kinds of Presents
Stationery, Books, and Leather Goods, Toys, Tobacco, etc.,
COME TO
F. BULL
POST OFFICE, HIGH BICKINGTON
OBTAIN YOUR
Bread, Confectionery & Groceries
All at Lowest Prices from
W. H. WONNACOTT.
HIGH BICKINGTON
OUR POSTERS
We have many different posters in school connected with our History and some with our Geography. One is resplendent
with smart figures, for it contains among others Drake, Raleigh, and Captain Cook. We have two posters connected with our
Geography, they are about Australia and New Zealand. They look ever so pretty. We put them on the wall. Mr. Marcom very
kindly got them for us and were very pleased, so we are trying to keep them clean. They will be as long as we don’t throw
water at them in tending the flowers.
FLORENCE WONNACOTT, Standard V
ATTENDANCE
Our school attendance chart has been kept up for some time. Each class has been trying to reach the top of the list every
week. With regard to the District Attendance we have not kept as well to the top of the list as we did last year. In this
past year we have been first once, second twice, third three times, fourth twice, eight once, and tenth once. We hope
next year we shall come to the very top of the list more regularly, although one must admit our record of being within the
first four out of eighteen on no less than eight times out of ten is a good achievement.
Contributed by GWENDOLINE PARKER, Standard VI
COLLECTION OF GRASSES
Last Spring previous to the hay harvest we collected different kinds of grasses and stuck them in books. We could not out
the names of them so sent them to Seale-Hayne Agricultural College. A little afterwards we received a letter with a list
of their names and a letter to say they had great difficulty themselves in finding out the names but that if we had any
difficulty in finding out any of the names of flowers or grasses or leaves they would help us again with pleasure.
Contributed by FRED LEMON, Standard V
GIFTS GIVEN TO THE SCHOOL
Mr. Parker went to India for seven years and when he came home he brought King Cobra’s skin into school and told us some
of his adventures, and gave this skin as a present to the school, because he used to go to our school. Albert Eastman
presented the school with a piece of honey-comb. He made a case and put it in it, afterwards we put it upon Miss
Newberry’s shelf.. He has now left. Sidney Squire gave the school three balls which are very useful to us. He was a
good school fellow and did not leave before he was fifteen.
Contributed by THOMAS WONNACOTT, Standard VI
ATHERINGTON & UMBERLEIGH WI
Judith Domleo
At our September meeting Ivan Huxtable gave an illustrated talk and demonstration on the growing of Dahlias and how to
present them for showing. He brought several varieties to show us the difference between decorative, cactus and pompom
dahlias. He was ably assisted by Richard Lethbridge who also showed us a video of Ivan’s dahlia garden and the many
cups and trophies he has won. Now we know all the ‘tricks of the trade’ - watch out for the dahlia class at the
Umberleigh Flower Show next year! Speaker’s hostess was Eileen Chambers.
The competition for ‘A Pretty Vase’ was won by Barbara Down. The Flower of the month winner was Margaret Squire with a
nine inch Giant Yellow Decorative dahlia (larger than any Ivan bought to show us!!).
The WI were thanked for the flowers and cards received by Mair Pluckwell on her Golden Wedding Anniversary and Judith
Domleo on her Ruby Anniversary - both on the September 3rd. Jennifer Gooding was congratulated on becoming a VCO
(Voluntary County Organiser). She will be able to help us with our problems and queries when needed!
We provided lunch for 34 members from Silverton WI who were on their way to Rosemoor. We arranged a dance on August Bank
Holiday Monday at Umberleigh with Joe Kifts band. The refreshments we provided were very much enjoyed. Two members
went on the Sidbury Heritage Trail on a lovely sunny afternoon. A local historian gave a short introductory talk and
then there were guided walks around the beautiful village. The day finished with a delicious tea provided by Sidbury WI.
Birthday plants were presented to Jean Petts, Mary Martin, Cynthia Blows, Margaret Arnold and Christine Clemens.
Christine received another birthday present by winning the Denman Bursary draw for a weekend at the college next year.
The next meeting will be on Tuesday, October 12th at 7.30 pm at Umberleigh Hall. There will be a wine-making evening with
Quay House Brews from Exeter. Visitors most welcome.
HIGH BICKINGTON WI
Josie Maskell
We met at the Church Hall for our September meeting. Our President welcomed members and a visitor after the summer break.
Various forthcoming events were brought to our notice and we were asked to put our names down on any we wished to attend.
It was decided that we would enter the St John’s Autumn Show this year, the theme being “Bonfire Night”. Stella Burrows
has compiled a letter about our concerns about the BST hormones in milk, it will shortly be sent to our MP.
Our speaker for the evening was Mr Richard Chapman who showed us some beautiful slides of his walk of The Two Moors Way
from Ivybridge to Lynmouth. He and a friend covered 105 miles in five days and how they enjoyed it in spite of the
weather turning wet on the third day. His enthusiasm for the wonderful scenery, churches and inns made it a most
interesting and entertaining talk. Jean Checksfield gave the vote of thanks.
The competition for “Something found on a walk” was won by Jean Checksfield with a George III coin. Greta Woolacott won
flower of the month with a lovely fuscia and Eileen Lansly won the raffle.
Our next meeting will be on 6th October, we will be having a sugar craft demonstration. Do come along, we are always
pleased to welcome new members.
High Bickington Methodist News
Hazel Pearce
Sunday and Monday October 3rd and 4th Our Harvest Thanksgiving service on Sunday will be led by Rev Ilson at 11am and
at 6.30pm, Rev Brant. Continuing on Monday evening at 6.30pm with a service led by Rev J Matkin, followed by a Bring and
Share Supper at 7pm and a short auction of produce. A warm welcome to all.
Saturday November 13th Eisteddfod - entry forms available shortly from Shirley Pidner. There will be classes in
handwriting, photography, art work, various crafts, cookery, flower arranging etc. This is open to all children in
the Sunday School and High Bickington School catchment area.
Children’s Clubs re-started after the summer break and made most of the warm September sunshine to visit the play area.
Congratulations to Fiona Stewart, Rosie Venner and Laura Clarke on their excellent exam results.
HIGH BICKINGTON PARISH COUNCIL
Best Kept Village
In the CPRE Best Kept Village Competition, High Bickington scored 82 marks.
The judges commented that the village had the feel of a “real Devon village” with little litter and good maintenance.
Positive comments were made about the village hall and churchyard. Some individual properties were felt to be a little
untidy and weeds in gutters and path edges were especially commented upon.
The judges felt unable to comment properly on the Barton Meadow estate as building work was obviously still under way.
Adverse comments were made on the judge’s difficulty in getting through the gates to the playing field.
The judges liked the lack of use of chemical weedkillers but did not like weeds. They would prefer everyone to get out
their hoes for next year please!
Go to November 1999 issue
