clyst valley news april...
TRANSCRIPT
CLYST VALLEY NEWS
APRIL 2020
CB Chimneys
For All Your Chimney
Needs
Clean & Efficient Service
Brush & Vacuum Sweep
Bird Guards/Cowls, Chimney Pots
Repairs & Maintenance
STEVEN CORNISH
Tel: 01395 268046
Mobile: 07970 892085
WOODBURY SALTERTON VILLAGE HALL
Hall – Tables and chairs,
well equipped kitchen with cooker and
fridge, crockery and cutlery included in
hire.
Modest Rates
For bookings please contact:
Pat or Gill Bricknell
01395 232463
HELP WITH ALL YOUR COMPUTER NEEDS
Repairs and upgrades, Internet connection and wireless networking, virus removal, performance issues
and web page design.
www.clystvalleycomputers.com Tel: 01392 876747 Mobile: 07503 111004
Professional Female Decorators
07789 683457 / 01392 875952
Angie Pearman
at 4 Paws Owner of Crufts 2005 class
winner
Hernwood Diamond Rose
Qualified Dog Groomer Grooming for all breeds of dog
Clipping, bathing and hand stripping Call Angie on 07717284017
Or 01404 850538
The Old Milking Shed Kenniford Farm,
Clyst St Mary, Exeter.
CLYST ST. MARY VILLAGE HALL
The hall is available for hire on most weekdays at reasonable rates Excellent facilities for meetings,
exhibitions, trade shows etc. Large car park and well equipped
kitchen For details of charges and availability
contact the Caretaker
Karin Hurst 01392 873402
Chiropody/Podiatry
Rebecca Penn HcPC Reg.CH15174
Clinic/Domicillary appts Local Home Clinic with parking
daytime/evening appts
07786554462
MAKING RUGBY FUN FOR AGES 7-60
Come and join us at Bravelands, Oil Mill Lane,
Clyst St Mary, Exeter EX5 1AF
We welcome players of all abilities
Call Cheryl McGauley on 07786706546
www.exeterathleticrfc.co.uk
EXE INTERIORS & HANDYMAN SERVICES
- Painting & Decorating - Wall & Floor Tiling
- Bathroom Refurbishments - Laminate & Vinyl Flooring
- Odd jobs around the home
Tel: 0796 77 77 396
01395 233178
[email protected] www.marlowaccountants.co.uk
Friendly – Approachable – Affordable
Family run with family values UNIT 4 WOODBURY BUSINESS PARK WOODBURY EX5 1AY
Mike Dickson
Gardening
All Jobs Considered
Specialist in hedge cutting, shrub
pruning and grass
Mobile: 07985 697205
Complete Body Workout Class
Monday morning. 10.30
Clyst St. George Village Hall
Specialising in fun and fitness
Maintenance for older bodies For details, please contact
Lill Kynaston
01392 875726 / 07980 083224 [email protected]
MESSAGE FROM REV’D NIGEL MASON Dear friends, I write when the world is suffering from the coronavirus. As you know all church services have been cancelled; this directly of course affects the congregations who faithfully assemble each week for social and spiritual nourishment. But it also impacts upon couples who have planned church weddings and families and next of kin who had hoped for church funerals (now postponed celebrations of marriage and of a life in memorial services which will have to be held at an unknown future date). All the church buildings in the Mission Community are open during daylight hours (and thanks once more for those who open the doors each morning and return later to close them for security reasons). The church buildings therefore are available as open spaces for quiet meditation and individual prayer (as I shall be doing on the remaining Sundays of my tenure here – spending time at each church building with the lit Easter Paschal candle shining out and praying for the church family, for the parish and all who live here – and for our wider nation and world). One prayer the Diocese of Exeter has offered begins with the words: ‘Keep us, good Lord, under the shadow of your mercy in this time of uncertainty and distress; sustain and support the anxious and fearful, and lift up all who are brought low – Nothing can separate us from your love, Lord.’ We have two commandments – to love God and to love one another (as we love ourselves); that means care for ourselves and for each other (thus loving God). I heard a marvellous account the other day of a taxi driver picking up an elderly lady from a supermarket who was in tears after her weekly shop had resulted in not being able to buy several items which she usually bought each week. The taxi driver drove the lady to her home and then, at her own expense and time, drove round to other shops and bought the missing food items for the lady, delivering them to her! We can and do care – by offering practical help or simply a voice (telephoning and chatting); so many regular weekly events (as well as the planned celebration) have had to be cancelled and stopped – the week has suddenly become quiet. Loneliness, or worse, can threaten: it takes another person to ring and say, ‘You’re not forgotten – hello.’ And costs nothing! For Christian believers who can’t get to church: ‘Lord Jesus Christ, you said to your disciples “I am with you always.” Be with me today, hear my prayers for others and keep us safe in your care. Amen.’ Rev’d Nigel [email protected] ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ WHITE CROSS MISSION COMMUNITY
Following Government guidance around non-essential contact during the coronavirus crisis, the Archbishops of Canterbury and York have issued advice that public worship is suspended; consequently, there will be no services at any of our churches until further notice. More details are available on the Church of England website: https://www.churchofengland.org/more/media-centre/coronavirus-covid-19-guidance-hurches. New prayers and worship resources: https://www.churchofengland.org/more/media-centre/coronavirus-liturgy-and-prayer-resources. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ YOUR PHOTOS NEEDED FOR THE COVER OF THE CVN!
There must be a lot of budding photographers out there snapping away around our villages. After all, our neck of the woods is rather photogenic. Why not share your results with our readers? Most months we aim to put one nice pic on the magazine
cover and we need yours! So please do send in your efforts to the editor, Peter Skelton, who will choose one each month to take pride of place on the front cover. Go on! Don’t be shy! The best
PLUMBING & HEATING
LOCAL TO CLYST ST MARY Complete Bathroom Suite Installations Boiler Services, Repairs & Installations
All Aspects of Central Heating Mob: 07791100611
Email: [email protected]
All Jobs Considered
Specialist in hedge cutting, shrub
pruning and grass
Mobile: 07985 697205
Custom made Curtains and Blinds
By
Rochelles
Free measuring service Made on site in Exeter Showroom 1000’s of fabrics to choose from
Fitting service Interior styling service
Foam cut to size for boats/caravans etc
Covers made for your foam 130 Fore Street, Exeter. EX4 3JQ
01392 277921 www.rochellescurtains.co.uk
results are when you use relatively high definition settings but that’s not a must. Just email them across to [email protected] and we’ll do the rest. Simples! Thanks
WHY NOT ADVERTISE IN THE CLYST VALLEY NEWS? If you are interested in advertising in the Clyst Valley News for 2021, you can be put on our waiting list, with no obligation. Please contact the Editor, Peter Skelton, at [email protected] or on 01392 879857. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ EDITOR’S NOTE
Hello and welcome to this April edition of the Clyst Valley News. I send greetings from Coronavirus Towers as I’m now self-isolating at home. A niggling cough and general feeling of wooziness mean I need to keep myself and my family out of circulation for at least a couple of weeks. My sympathies to those of our readers in a similar predicament – and of course to those of you who are more seriously ill or simply feeling vulnerable and thrown off course by the sudden uncertainties and threats
to our normal way of life. It is truly mind-boggling how quickly our society – indeed the entire planet - has moved from apparent normality to a state where there seem to be so few familiar landmarks to provide some succour. The transforming power of a microscopic particle! In some ways it’s difficult to know how best to react to the pace of changes unfolding around us at an alarming rate of knots – and that’s because everything about the effects of this coronavirus outbreak is novel for all of us, unprecedented in living memory. So there’s a certain amount of ‘going with the flow’ in the fervent hope that it will be over one day and we will be able to begin the process of restarting our lives and our communities. No matter what are our political persuasions, one can’t help but have sympathy for the Prime Minister and the government attempting to find ways of mitigating the impact of this crisis on our country and avoiding economic collapse. It’s good that they are closely following the advice of the medics and scientists in their injunctions as to how we, the population, can try to control the spread of the virus by exerting levels of self-control and abstemiousness that may at times seem draconian but necessary. We have to remember that the measures we are obliged to take not only reduce the risk to ourselves but also to many others. I would like to pay tribute here to the staff in our NHS and private hospitals and schools who have in the blink of an eye found themselves at the sharp end of the fight with this outbreak. Our hospitals, clinics and GP surgeries have been overwhelmed by the sheer numbers of new coronavirus victims requiring urgent attention – alongside the already burgeoning numbers of ‘regular’ patients that the winter season brings to their doors every year. This is true heroism. And teachers and staff in our schools and colleges have been grappling for some time now with the uncertainties of trying to keep an educational programme going while all
around them the world is falling apart. The government’s decision to close all schools has offered a little more clarity but teachers must now meet the challenge of trying to provide some sort of education remotely to their students. We salute you, police officers, delivery drivers, charity workers, rubbish and recycling collectors and all the other many dedicated public servants in the front line. Equally worrying is the impact that the outbreak is already having on the economy – ie on small businesses and the self-employed in particular, where it is not clear how the sudden loss of employment and/or income is going to impact on living standards, even in the short term. Let us hope that the recently announced government action to provide funding and support to those in the greatest need will alleviate some of these worries. Amidst all this confusion there are already countless heart-warming examples coming to light of extraordinary gestures of kindness and goodwill exhibited by members of our communities towards those most vulnerable, especially the elderly and infirm. This is so typical of Brits in adversity. We joke about our ‘stiff upper lip’ but when it counts, we get stuck in. Alongside the wonderful initiative in Topsham (see the And Finally… section), where Estuary League of Friends and Love Topsham have come together to form the Keep Busy Topsham campaign, we’ve all heard of individuals who’ve gone the extra mile to ensure that vulnerable neighbours, who may be self-isolating, are not left alone and are helped to get vital food and medical supplies in. In many cases, they simply want to have a chat because they’re feeling lonely and frightened by what’s going on. The restrictions on social contact set out by the government can make this difficult – but there’s always the good old-fashioned telephone! My own 92 year-old mother, who lives on her own in London, has been really cheered up by calls from concerned neighbours asking how they can help. Let’s keep looking out for one another as the outbreak starts to reach its peak. I’ll conclude with an observation – probably not very original. I guess it says something about us that, even in the face of the deep divisions in our society created by the long drawn out Brexit process, plus two hard fought general elections, when it comes to the crunch, we’re able to set these differences aside and pull together. Be nice if we carried on that way post-crisis. Best wishes. Do your best to stay safe and well. We’ll get to the other side. Don’t forget to check in advance about any events advertised in this magazine. And Happy Easter! Peter Skelton ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ CLYST ST MARY
Church Services These have been suspended. Please see the notice in the White Cross Mission Community section. The church will remain open for private prayer and reflection. Coffee Mornings The March coffee morning raised £108.10. Thank you to those who supported the event by coming along to relax and chat as well
as to those who ran and contributed to the stalls and provided the coffee and biscuits. There will not be a coffee morning in April, as it falls in the Easter weekend. The May coffee morning will be held in church on Saturday 9th from 10 to 11.30 am. We look
forward to welcoming you there but please check in advance if this is going ahead. Contributions for the cake and produce stall will be much appreciated. Walking Group
Walks have been suspended because of the coronavirus outbreak until further notice.
Contributions, photos and letters to the editor for the May 2020 issue of the Clyst Valley News should be sent, preferably by email, to the editor, Peter Skelton, at [email protected] or to 3 Brockwells Court, Frog Lane, Clyst St Mary, EX5 1BX by Wednesday 15th April 2020 at the latest, please. Please note that contributions may be edited. If you experience any difficulty in receiving your copy of the CVN, please contact your local distributor, as follows: CSG & Ebford Lizzie Parkinson 01392 877249 CSM Ivor Spriggs 01392 874382 WS Debbie Jung 01395 232328
Village Hall Meeting
Our next Village Hall meeting is in the Committee Room at the Hall on Monday 18th May at 7.30 pm. (PLEASE CHECK IN ADVANCE IF THIS MEETING IS GOING AHEAD.) We are in urgent need of new members to help in the management of the Hall if we are not to lose
this important village asset. Please come along and volunteer. If committee work is not for you, we also need helpers for maintenance and repairs. If you think that you would like to get involved, please come along then. At our website www.clyststmaryvillagehall.co.uk you can view a calendar of current Hall bookings and hire charges as well as downloading hire forms and conditions of hire. We have several Saturdays and Sundays available for hire in the coming year. Anyone wishing to start a regular club should contact the caretaker for the special rates available to regular hirers. Bishops Clyst Parish Council News
Parish Council Meeting. The next meeting of the Parish Council will be held in Clyst St Mary School hall on Tuesday 14th April (Note – not Monday because of Easter) at 7.30 pm. (PLEASE CHECK IN ADVANCE IF THIS MEETING IS GIOING AHEAD.) We still have vacancies on the Council which we are keen to
fill. In particular, we are looking for people to represent the interests of the Cat & Fiddle and Oil Mill Lane areas and to increase our diversity. If you are interested, please come to the meeting and speak to the Clerk or Chairman, or email us at [email protected]. 75th Anniversary of VE Day
We are putting on a party on 8th May in Clyst St Mary Village Hall to celebrate VE Day. Come along and enjoy some dancing and a sing along with a buffet (bring your own drink). It is a ticket only event; the cost is £8.00 for adults and children aged 4-10 £4.00. Time 6 pm to late. If you would like tickets please email or ‘phone any of the following: [email protected] or call 07732 081962; [email protected]; or [email protected].
(PLEASE CHECK IN ADVANCE IF THIS EVENT IS GOING AHEAD.) Clyst St Mary Primary School
Sport has had a high profile in school in the last month and we have been very proud of the success the children have experienced. Our New Age Kurling team travelled to Barnstaple for the
County Finals and are now Devon champions. The children also excelled in the Killerton Cross Country Run and the Year 5 and 6 girls’ team have made it through to the Devon Winter Games which will be run in Paignton. In addition a group of Year 3 children attended the Well Being Festival at St Luke’s where they experienced a whole range of activities: Just Dance in the Dark, Pilates, Crash Mat Dives, Dodge Ball and Obstacle Races. Sadly the Cyclocross event was another victim of the rather challenging weather conditions we’ve been experiencing. Congratulations to Class 6 for their very successful Caring and Sharing event. They have received many lovely comments from their guests about the delicious food served and the wonderful way everyone was entertained. Whilst online safety is always at the forefront of our minds we used Safer Internet Day (11th February) to raise the profile of this important issue in our community. This year all classes have produced wonderful displays about online safety and parents were invited to attend a
briefing, updating them on the latest issues. They were then able to visit their children’s classrooms to look at and talk with the children about the online safety work they had been doing. Classes 3, 4, 5 and 6 are preparing for our Music and Dance Extravaganza to be held just before Easter and all the children are in training for our sponsored Easter Walk at the end of term. The choir has entered the Devon Performing Arts Festival and are thrilled to announce that they came second. A group of dancers are working with Premier Sport ready for their Dance Showdown Event to be held at the Barnfield Theatre at the end of the month. A busy time sadly overshadowed by coronavirus – we hope everyone in the community stays safe and that we all come through this challenge safely. Happy Easter to all. AFTER THIS PIECE WAS WRITTEN, ALL SCHOOLS WERE CLOSED BY THE GOVERNMENT UNTIL FURTHER NOTICE. Churchill’s Secret Army in Clyst St Mary
Civilian volunteers would have been part of a resistance force in the event of a successful German invasion during WWII. In 1940 the prospect of a Nazi invasion was a very real one. Britain, having lost most of its military equipment in the Dunkirk evacuation, was to all intents and purposes on its knees. The Local Defence Volunteers (LDV), later renamed as the Home Guard, had just been formed, famously armed with pitch forks and ancient weapons, and the RAF was fighting a desperate battle in the air. However, preparations were being made for the potential German
invasion. There were at least two groups of civilian volunteers being gathered together to help resist the initial stages of any invasion. One, the Auxiliary Units, were patrols of six – eight men, made up of those who knew their local surroundings intimately such as farmers, gamekeepers and farm workers. They were highly trained to act as guerrillas and blow up transport, ammunition dumps, assassinate high ranking Germans, anything to slow down the German advance. They would have disappeared to secret underground bunkers as soon as the Germans entered their area and come up at night to hit their targets. Each man had to sign up to the Official Secrets Act and told their nearest relatives and friends nothing of their role with most going to the grave without ever saying a word. We have evidence of patrols across Devon, including Newton Poppleford and Sidbury (more here: https://www.coleshillhouse.com/devon-auxiliary-units-and-obs.php). The second group were trained as spies, who could identify German patrols, vehicles, formations and ranks. These too signed the Official Secrets Act and told no one of their role. Messages containing the information gathered would then be sent via runners to civilian wireless operators who would have forwarded the messages to Royal Corps of Signals or ATS women in underground bunkers in key areas, who would have then sent the information on to the regular army. This group of civilians, separate from the Auxiliary Units, were known as Special Duties and recruited doctors, pub landlords, Girl Guides and Scouts, anyone who could walk around villages and towns without attracting suspicion. We know that there were civilian wireless operators in a house near Pinhoe, one in the attic of the Hare and Hounds pub
near Sidbury, and an underground wireless in West Hill (more here: https://www.coleshillhouse.com/specialdutiesbranch/sds-bunker-locations.php). However, there is also evidence of a wireless set somewhere in Clyst St Mary. The team at the Coleshill Auxiliary Research Team have been looking at evidence and believe there might have been a set in The Maltsters Arms and have heard stories of the ‘Spies in The Maltsters’. The team is now looking for any information of stories in Clyst St Mary during WWII that might shed some light on this highly secret network, especially any information on The Maltsters and particularly if anyone knows who was the landlord during the war years. If anyone does have any information, please contact Andrew Chatterton on [email protected] or on 07855 524981. NB FOR THE TENNIS, SHORT BOWLS, TABLE TENNIS AND BADMINTON CLUBS BELOW, PLEASE CHECK IN ADVANCE IF ACTIVITIES ARE GOING AHEAD. Anyone for Tennis?
Some of us play tennis every Friday morning at a private court in CSM (no fee). If you’d like to join us, please ring Janice on 01392 876858 or Martyn on 01392 874948.
Exeter Nomads Short Mat Bowls Club Our regular Club Night is every Friday from 7 until 10 pm approx at the Village Hall. The game is suitable for all ages from 9 to 90! And for ladies
and men, girls and boys alike. New members are always welcome so if you would like to try the game please contact Robert or Richard Ivings on 01392 210268 or just turn up. Table Tennis Club
New Year, New Challenge! Kick-start 2020 by joining the Clyst St Mary Table Tennis Club. We meet every Thursday in the Village Hall, 4 – 6 pm. The very minimal membership cost of £20 per 10-week session includes full use of club
equipment and refreshments. For further information please contact Pam Gardner by email at [email protected] or on 07714 097220. Clyst Valley Pre-School
We are an Ofsted 'outstanding' pre-school offering a friendly, stimulating and welcoming environment for children from 2 years 8 months to school starting age. We offer high staff to children ratios and accept Universal and 30 Hour funding. If
you are interested in a place for your child please get in touch on 01392 876615 or at [email protected]. AFTER THIS PIECE WAS WRITTEN, ALL SCHOOLS WERE CLOSED BY THE GOVERNMENT UNTIL FURTHER NOTICE. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
CLYST ST GEORGE AND EBFORD Church Services
All services have been suspended. Please see the notice in the White Cross Mission Community section. The church will remain open during the day for private prayer and reflection.
CSG Parish Council Chairman’s Report: April 2020
The coronavirus pandemic is moving very fast at the moment, so please keep safe, following guidelines. Many in the Parish are over 70 so I am sure you will be looking out for them, helping if needed at this difficult time. Darts Farm has made a generous offer of home deliveries, to locals who need it. Thanks. Obviously the coffee mornings are cancelled until further notice. The Parish Wikipedia entry is misleading! I wonder if we have anyone interested in local history who could rewrite it? They do like you to put a source for any facts you quote (something to do whilst stuck at home!). John Manser [email protected] 01392 874861 Norman’s Weather Report
February treated us to a return of English monsoon conditions, with also the strong winds of Storms Ciara (days 9 and 10) and Dennis (15/16); the latter providing two inches of rain. The total for the month here at Ebford was 156 mm (six inches). Well above the 20-year average of 68 mm. However, February 2007 (177 mm) and also February 2014 (165 mm) were similarly about two and a half times the average.
Earlier in the month the two days before the arrival of Ciara were fine and calm, showing the better conditions that can be associated with the lengthening days of February. Norman Cann .Lady Seaward’s C of E Primary School
The children at Lady Seaward’s have had a very busy couple of weeks! On Thursday 5th March the children celebrated their love of reading by dressing up as their favourite character from a book. There were many brilliant costumes and the staff were very impressed with the effort that the children had put into making their costumes. Parents and carers then enjoyed a parade at the end of the day where they got to see all the amazing costumes on display.
The following week the children raised money for Sport Relief. They came to school in sporty clothing; this ranged from a skier to football and rugby kits. Children from Year 6 also raised money for this amazing charity event by running games during their lunch and break times which the other children could participate in. The children raised in excess of £100.00 AFTER THIS PIECE WAS WRITTEN, ALL SCHOOLS WERE CLOSED BY THE GOVERNMENT UNTIL FURTHER NOTICE.
Clyst St George Parish Hall
All our users will be aware that we have taken the decision to close the Hall until further notice. It is a regrettable decision but our main priority is to keep our Hall users safe. For the villages of Clyst St George and Ebford there are groups set up to care for the vulnerable members who will now be in isolation. The Ebford Residents Group is happy to receive any
requests for help and they can be contacted by email to [email protected] and for Clyst St George residents Claire Marks is organising assistance and she has an advertisement on the Clyst St George and Ebford Facebook page. Furthermore the Estuary League of Friends is arranging assistance for local residents and Darts Farm is taking orders for food delivery. We are extremely lucky that we live in an area where there is so much support for and within the local community. Pamela Diffey, Chairperson Greetings Cards
We are always grateful to receive cards (except Christmas ones) for remaking and they can be left in the church which is normally open between 9 am and 5 pm each day. Visitors will also find boxes of made up cards for sale covering birthdays, get well, sympathy, new home, thank you, anniversary, etc as well as
cards with no message or wording suitable for any occasion. Do call in and enjoy a few quiet moments browsing and perhaps buy a card. Linda Wilkerson (01392 873699) Nature Garden Clyst St George has a delightful nature garden by the side of the parish church. The aim of the garden is to grow local Devon indigenous plants and trees and to encourage a Devon meadow with local wild flowers. Should you wish to help develop this ‘green’ facility, you can come along on the first Saturday of every month from 9.30 to 11 am. (PLEASE CHECK IN ADVANCE.) Little Dragons Pre-School We are pleased with the outcome of our Ofsted inspection in April 2018, where we were judged to be ‘good’. We still have a few spaces for children so do come and visit and meet our highly experienced staff team. We are based in Lady Seaward’s School and open four days a week, from Monday to Thursday 8.45 am ̶ 3.15 pm during school term times. For more information please telephone Elly on 07939 995486 (in school hours), email [email protected] or visit our website www.littledragonsclyststgeorge.com. AFTER THIS PIECE WAS WRITTEN, ALL SCHOOLS WERE CLOSED BY THE GOVERNMENT UNTIL FURTHER NOTICE. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ WOODBURY SALTERTON
No Church Services It is with great regret that we accept the instructions of the Archbishop of Canterbury that there will be no services in church during the coronavirus crisis. This is especially sad for Christians as it means we cannot celebrate Easter. The church will remain open for private prayer and reflection. Rev’d Nigel Mason. We are also very sad that we will not be able to say a proper thank you, farewell and all good wishes
on his new post to Nigel. We are so very grateful in this church for his ministry and great kindness to us all and his support of the school.
Monthly Coffee Mornings These have been suspended until further notice.
An Act of Kindness from Schoolchildren The children in Class 1 were discussing with their teacher, Mrs Jennie Tweedy, the news that due to the coronavirus outbreak people over 70 years are having to stay at home and the effect that this would have on some of their own family members. Then they started to think about their neighbours and the conversation led to thinking about who their neighbours were. The children came up with the idea that they would like to make some cards, with pressed flowers on the front with the message inside ‘We are thinking of you and send our love, thoughts and best wishes’. I was asked to suggest
some possible recipients. Here is the card that they sent to me. Katharine Wheeler. Scarecrow Challenge
This popular annual event will take place on Sunday 14th June from 2 pm in the Glebe Field (coronavirus permitting!). Please put this date in your diaries. The theme this year is People in History – from Caveman to Spaceman! Scarecrow Event Quiz. By popular request I have been asked to run a summer quiz as a fundraiser for our church. I connected it to the Scarecrow Challenge, hence the title. Copies of the quiz cost £2. If the Scarecrow Challenge is able to go ahead in
June I will have some for sale then but I am also selling them now. Please ‘phone or see me if you would like to support this. Thank you. Katharine Wheeler, 01395 23200. Woodbury Salterton C of E Primary School
Spectacular Scientists. Woodbury Salterton School entered a competition and
were lucky enough to win a day of science fun with Wonderstruck. The day included
a demonstration of some amazing science tricks including shooting rockets,
exploding Rice Krispies and propelling a four-wheeled vehicle carrying one of the
children along the Village Hall floor. The children also built their own rockets in small
teams which they tested in the Glebe Field. Some went so far they had to be retrieved from the
next field! Later they used kits to build wheeled go-karts propelled by motors and finished the
day by holding a competition to see whose was the fastest.
In another lesson Class 2 investigated the composition of different types of sand; thanks to Mrs and Mrs Rorke for the samples. They also continued on their curriculum theme of Rocks, Rumbles and Relics by making volcanic explosions. After watching a demo, the children came up with their own scientific questions that they wanted to investigate such as – ‘If we add more vinegar will the explosion be bigger?’ They then wrote a prediction, and carefully planned their experiment so that everything stayed the same except for the one item that they changed. Class 1 donned lab coats and became coastal creature scientists. They looked carefully at the creatures and discovered how the mackerel, squid and lantern fish have special features to help them survive in the sea. Class 1 are learning all about bread. So far they have investigated the different ingredients, tasted lots of different types of bread and made their own butter. The nursery children have also had fun playing with dry and then wet flour and are looking forward to making their own bread over the next couple of weeks.
Hope. The value this half term is ‘hope’ and in these uncertain times this seems very apt. The
children were visited by Livi, the Families’ Worker from Christchurch,
Woodbury who spoke about God’s promise to look after us and that this
can give us hope and help us in times of worry. The children considered
things that grow, like a sunflower and how this plant does not have
worries because God has a plan for it. Livi gave the children a sunflower
to watch it grow so as it grows taller it will remind us that if we have hope,
we will not need to worry. Creation Station worked with Years 4 and 5 on this theme. The
children thought about the hopes they have for the future and created time capsules to keep
them in. The time capsules were then collected together to create a mobile that we have
hanging in our classroom. Ann-Marie from the ICE Team came to speak to the children about
the value of hope in the story of Noah. She spoke about the symbol of the dove and how this
represents hope and that a rainbow is a symbol of God’s promise that such a flood will never
happen again.
40 Acts. This half term, we have been running a 40 Acts club on Monday lunchtimes. The
weekly activities have been chosen by some Year 6 pupils from the 40 Acts of Kindness
chart. The children have been considering all the things that they are grateful for. Two Year 6
children led collective worship and the girls explained why we have Lent and inspired the other
children to participate in the 40 Acts of Kindness. One of the acts the children chose to focus
on was to be generous with their words and pay compliments to each other. The children
enjoyed writing a compliment in a letter either for someone in school or for someone special
and to leave this written compliment for them to find as a surprise. Why not join in and try this
act of kindness yourself? It will make both you and the receiver of your compliment feel really
happy!
Courageous Advocacy. Continuing on this theme the children have been thinking of love for
others; Class 1 have been thinking about the message Jesus gave us to ‘love our
neighbours’. They thought about who our neighbours are and have some written prayers in the
class reflection space. The School Council and Ethos Group led collective worship on the theme
of ‘why it’s a good idea to support charities’. They talked about our plans to raise money for
Christian Aid at our Easter Coffee Afternoon, our Sport Relief fundraising efforts and our
successful toilet twinning project last term. We have now received two plaques showing our
toilets which are on display in school. The Year 6 children were invited to be delegates at the
Devon Schools Fairtrade Conference and met Sarah and Ernest who are cocoa farmers from
Ghana. They talked about their farms and the work involved in growing and harvesting cocoa
pods. The children learned about the challenges faced due to environmental factors, in
particular the effects of global warming. The children learned about how Fairtrade helps to
ensure that farmers are paid fair prices for their cocoa beans and puts a stop to child labour.
The children were presented with a sapling to plant, which will grow into a bird blossom tree.
After watching Newsround and reflecting on current affairs around the world, the children in
Class 2 asked if they could organise an event to raise money to sponsor a koala in Australia.
They decided to hold an Australian non-uniform day, a cake sale and an art competition in
order to raise vital funds to help the koalas affected by the bushfires. We are very proud of their
initiative and their willingness to want to help others. What great agents of Christian advocacy
they are!
Our theme this year for World Book Day was to come dressed as a
word. What fabulous costumes we had! We thought about words we
could use to describe reading. There was a long list including: fun,
adventurous, imaginative, interesting, mysterious and inspiring.
For more information about our school visit our website or better still
book a school tour.
AFTER THIS PIECE WAS WRITTEN, ALL SCHOOLS WERE CLOSED BY THE GOVERNMENT UNTIL FURTHER NOTICE. Village Hall Activities
The committee of Woodbury Salterton Village Hall would like to thank the Parish Council for the grant they supplied for the replacement of the front door of Woodbury Salterton Village Hall. The Hall is a great asset to the village and is a great space for community and private events. We have a few regular groups open to all; please pop in and say hi: community coffee
morning, first Monday of the month , 9 to 11.30 am; Woodbury Salterton parent and toddler group, Monday mornings, 9 to 11 am; Woodbury Salterton WI, second Wednesday of the month, 7.30 pm; whist, third Tuesday of the month, 7.30 pm. (PLEASE CHECK IN ADVANCE IF THESE ACTIVITIES WILL BE GOING AHEAD.) Women’s Institute
The Speaker for our March meeting had to cancel two days before our meeting so President Gill Bricknell expressed heartfelt thanks to Andy Lewis for stepping in at such short notice. He gave a talk with slides on Sustainable Gardening - managing our gardens in an environmentally friendly way. Andy has just
completed a three-year course at the Royal Horticultural Society and obtained his Masters qualification. He has worked as Head Gardener on a private estate and is now working for the National Trust. Andy outlined many of the measures that he and the National Trust are taking. Mowers powered by Aspen2 fuel, a machine which burns weeds in paths rather than using spray, battery charged blowers and hedge cutters (renewable batteries), non-chemical sprays, peat-free compost, wooden plant labels, hazel, birch or willow twigs instead of bamboo canes to support plants (no need then to tie them up as they attach themselves to the twigs), Slug Gone wool pellets and biological control of pests like white fly. He also told us which local garden centres stock some of these products. Members also enjoyed his lovely photos of flowers and plants. WI activities have now been suspended due to the coronavirus outbreak until further notice. Whist Drive
This has been suspended until further notice.
A Coronavirus Laugh On BBC lunchtime news the announcer said, ‘Anyone over 70 with underlying health problems or pregnant is advised to stay at home.’ ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
AND FINALLY…
Exmouth and District U3A Monthly Meetings Thursday 9th April, 10 for 10.30 - 11.30 am at Exmouth Pavilion. ‘Exmouth Coast Watch’. Speakers: John Cox and Hugh de Souza. Visitors welcome. Call Jan on 01392 223130. PLEASE CHECK IN ADVANCE IF THIS EVENT IS TAKING
PLACE. Keep Busy Topsham: Responding to the Crisis by Pulling Together
Two organisations in Topsham are working together during the coronavirus crisis to provide essential information and inspiration for local people, and especially those in need of support during self-isolation. The two are Estuary League of Friends - a hugely respected charity based in the town; and Love Topsham, a group of volunteers who run a community interest company focused on encouraging local business and community-based initiatives.
Estuary League of Friends, who normally work with local social care services to provide help and support to the elderly, are co-ordinating the volunteer effort across the town to help all people in self-isolation or who are vulnerable. Love Topsham are working alongside on communications and other initiatives through their website www.lovetopsham.co.uk, which will serve as a one-stop-shop where the town can find up to date help, guidance and positivity amidst the current crisis. So if Topsham people want to know how to volunteer to help, what shops are doing local deliveries or takeaways or where you can go to get the latest advice for your business, www.lovetopsham.co.uk is the place to find out, and the site will be updated daily. Many of the town’s independent shops are pulling together in unique and supportive ways too, so if people need help with pet care or online yoga to help stay fit at home, they can look on the website to find local businesses supplying just that! But there’s more…
• The two groups together are aiming to provide those in self-isolation with a Keep Busy Topsham pack consisting of items and treats to keep people occupied and feeling cared for, which may include magazines, puzzles, books or jigsaws.
• There’s also a special project aimed at uniting the whole town, which is hoped to become a symbol of how the community fought and overcame the virus. It’s an uplifting project for those in self-isolation to Keep Busy and create a piece of Topsham-related work; whether a piece of art, a sculpture, a poem, a photograph or a model, whatever appeals, and these will be displayed in the town in the early autumn when, hopefully, the difficult times have gone. More details about this are on www.lovetopsham.co.uk too.
‘Self-isolation doesn't mean you’re forgotten or on your own - it means you’re protecting yourself and loved ones. It’s not to be feared. Everyone in our community has a different level of fitness but all of us - everyone - can play a key part when we need help and a boost to morale,’ explains Rachel Gilpin, Chief Executive of Estuary League of Friends. And Jo Berman from Love Topsham adds: ‘The overwhelming priority is to keep everyone safe and reassured during a worrying time. We’re channelling volunteers to Estuary League of Friends whilst encouraging residents to still shop locally without leaving their homes. Community spirit is absolutely bursting at the moment. Innovative ideas and offers of help are pouring in! The website provides a central reference point for everything going on in town at this really challenging time.’ Those needing support or keen to volunteer should contact Estuary League of Friends at [email protected]. or call 01392 879009. For anyone who has a Topsham-based service and who would like to be listed online during the crisis, please contact Love Topsham at [email protected].
P0etry Corner Spanish Guitar By John Smith
Fountain of liquid notes Springing and spouting Into the sunlight of rhythm And the sparkling droplets Falling into a pool of melody. Then the sunlit passion Coaxed forth by fingers of feeling Into the vibrancy of life itself, Rising and falling like a grandee’s Extravagant programmed cascade. This music can only be born in sunshine, The fulgent thrusting form Filling winter’s Northern day With caressing promise of warmth And indulgent summer to come. ©John Smith
Coronavirus Update: Force Cancer Charity FORCE Cancer Charity regretfully announced on Tuesday 17th March the temporary closure of its Support and Information Centre in Exeter. The charity will continue to offer telephone and video call support to local people affected by cancer. The decision to close its Support Centre in the grounds of the Royal Devon and Exeter Hospital was taken after consultation with clinical staff at
the RD&E. It follows the first reported cases of coronavirus/Covid19 at the hospital. All support services at FORCE’s weekly outreach centres in Okehampton, Tiverton and Honiton were also stopped with immediate effect but chemotherapy treatment will continue as normal in all three towns for now. People with cancer who are undergoing active chemotherapy or radiotherapy treatment may be among those at particular risk from coronavirus. FORCE will be regularly updating its website - www.forcecancercharity.co.uk - with news of how to access whatever support is available. THE NUMBERS YOU MAY NEED: FORCE Cancer Nursing Team 01392 406151; psychological and emotional support 01392 406168/406169. The Exeter Forum
Meetings of the Forum have been suspended due to the coronavirus outbreak until further notice.
Estuary League of Friends
PLEASE CHECK IN ADVANCE WHETHER EVENTS AND ACTIVITIES LISTED ARE TAKING PLACE. Home Help Services. Home Visits: At Estuary League of Friends we provide cleaning, ironing, help with
your laundry, and general housework. We offer this service daily, weekly, fortnightly or monthly. PA Visits: We have two fully insured self-employed PAs who can provide full personal care. We can arrange an hour slot throughout the day. They provide this service in the comfort of your own home, or if you prefer we have two spacious shower rooms at our community hub in Topsham. Running Regular or Occasional Errands: Provide a list of your shopping needs whether from the local shop or supermarket and we will collect for you. We can also collect prescriptions and help with banking, sorting mail and completing forms or paperwork. Sitting Service: This is a subsidised scheme for carers, which enables them to have daytime or evening breaks from their caring responsibilities. We can take the person you care for, for a walk, visit or drive. Independent Living Services Transport/Hire of Minibus, Wheelchair Hire and Other Similar Equipment: Taking people to medical appointments or other appointments with wheelchair transport if required. We ask for a small donation towards cost of transportation for every request. Vehicle/equipment hire rates to be agreed on booking. Shopping - One to One and Fortnightly Trips: If you need a helping hand, company or transport to local shops or supermarket we can help and accompany you. Repair Café. Repair café at Nancy Potter House on Saturday 25th April, 10 am – 12 noon, fixing all manner of electrical items, from lamps, coffee grinders and electric weighing scales. The repair café will continue to be held on the last Saturday of each month. Do you have any items to be sewn or buttons to be attached? Come in and see our seamstress who will share her skills with you, but NO ZIP REPAIRS can be done! Get Crafty. Come along on the first and third Tuesday of every month and get crafty. Join us in making cards and tags from recycled Christmas cards. Taking place in the Weston Room at Nancy Potter House from 10 am to 12 noon. It is free to Topsham WI members, £2 to non-members. Alternatively, if your child would like to make a model aeroplane or a creation from beads, we are holding a craft morning for them on Friday 3rd April from 10 am till 12 pm, limited spaces at £5 each. Please call 01392 879009 to book. If you are planning ahead, we are holding a craft event on 13th May. If you would like to book a table for £5 to sell your items please contact us on 01392 879009. Limited tables available! Dementia Friends. Please join us on 22nd April at 2 pm in Nancy Potter House where we are holding a dementia awareness session. It aims to give people an understanding of dementia and the small things you can do that make a difference. Heavitree Strummers. A first at the hub! Come along on Friday 3rd April at 10.30 am to our café to hear a local ukulele group. Claire’s Nail Clinic. Foot Health Practitioner Claire has a clinic at the hub on Wednesday 8th April from 9.30 am to 3.30 pm where she can help with many foot care issues. Please call her directly on 07526 002700 to book an appointment. Good Old-Fashioned Jumble Sale. This will be held in Nancy Potter House of Wednesday 15th April, 10 am to 3 pm.
Monthly Giggle If you ever get cold, just stand in a corner for a bit. They are usually around 90 degrees.
I used to be very proud that my children referred to me as Spiderman, thinking that this was either due to my physique or my crime fighting abilities. I was very disappointed to find that it was actually
because I can’t get out of the bath.
I went to a seafood disco last week…I pulled a mussel.
I have a few jokes about unemployed people but it
doesn’t matter. None of them work.
From the 1890s to the 1930s there weas a light railway which ran along the Severn estuary from
Weston-super-Mare through Clevedon to Portishead. It was called the Weston, Clevedon and
Portishead Light Railway.
The three towns were also served by the Great Western Railway, via branches off its main line.
At Portishead the Great Western and light railway shared the same station but at Clevedon and
Weston there were separate
stations for the two railways.
The story is told of a lady in
Clevedon wanting to travel to
Portishead. She should have
gone to the light railway station
but by mistake she went to the
Great Western station instead.
The lady asked the clerk in the
booking office for a ticket to
Portishead. The clerk replied,
‘I’m sorry, madam, you’ve come
to the wrong station. This is the
GWR. You need to go to the
WC&P.’ First published in The Economist, 13th March, 2020 | By Kal
A bear goes into a pub and asks, ‘I’d like a…….beer, please.’
The barman says, ‘Why the large pause?’
‘I’m a bear.’
What’s the difference between a good joke and a bad joke timing.
A piece of rope walks into a pub. The barman says, ‘Oi, aren’t you that piece of rope that was
in here last night giving it all that? You’re banned, mate – get out!’
The rope leaves but has an idea. He ruffles his hair a bit and then ties himself into a knot. He
re-enters the pub. The barman notices him again and says, ‘Excuse me but aren’t you that
piece of rope who was in here a few minutes ago? I thought I told you to clear off!’
The piece of rope looks taken aback by this and announces proudly, ‘No sir. I’m a frayed knot.’
Wills | Powers of Attorney
Probate |Trusts | Inheritance
Clyst St George Parish Hall
Versatile space and lighting with well appointed kitchen.
Disabled access and toilets. Hearing loop.
WiFi PA system with overhead projector.
A medium size hall and a small meeting room are available separately or together.
Ideal for up to 100 personevents. Parking for 20vehicles.
For further information contact the Booking Officer
07834 234546 [email protected] www.devonvillagehalls.co.uk/clyststgeorge
THE OIL BOILER EXPERT
07799 012404
Personal Specialists... Wills
Probate
Powers of Attorney
Trust Creation
Inheritance TaxPlanning
Disputed Wills & Estates
Conveyancing
To discuss a home visit contact: Charlie Siegle on 01392 455555
The Forum, Barnfield Road, Exeter
www.kitsons-solicitors.co.uk
01392 925 926 [email protected]
www.baytreesolicitors.co.uk
SDM Plumbing & Bathrooms Ltd Bathroom design &
installation Wall & floortiling Showers fitted, service to taps & toilets, outside taps fitted. Radiators moved or
replaced.
Trading Standards Approved CRBchecked Contact Steven Medlock BEng (Hons)
07779020426 / 01395 268958
www.sdmplumbing.co.uk
Resurrection of Christ by Raphael (1502)