Edition 51 - December 1997

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CONGRATULATIONS!

Congratulations to Les Bowen [late of Valley View] who was presented with the Best Small Garden Award for individuals whose gardens were found to be outstanding by the Barnstaple in Bloom Committee.

After two years at Brunel University, Uxbridge, studying for a Diploma in Youth and Community Studies, and a year at Birmingham University, Ann Davies has been awarded a B. Phil. [Ed] degree in Community and Youth Studies. Until recently, Ann was a member of the Community Education team at Ilfracombe College, working as an Assistant Community Tutor, but has now taken over the post of Community Development Co-ordinator with NCH Action for Children in Barnstaple. Congratulations and well done!

Congratulations and best wishes to Eden who has now returned to Portsmouth University to complete the final year of his B.Sc. degree in Animal and Plant Biology.

The 6th November, at Cheltenham Town Hall, was Graduation Day for Karen Sayer, who, after studying at Cheltenham H.E. College, received a West of England University B.A. [Hons.] degree in Tourism and Human Geography.

Karen continues to live in Cheltenham where she is enjoying working for Cheltenham Council as a member of the Events and Bookings team, responsible for the organisation of literary festivals, concerts, etc. In her job, Karen deals with famous personalities, and has recently had the pleasure of meeting Michael Palin. Congratulations and keep up the good work!

Congratulations to Win White who celebrated her 100th Birthday on the 21st November!

Win, who was born in Derby, married her husband in 1917 and they emigrated to Canada in 1919, returning to England in 1926, following the loss of their baby daughter. They again settled in Derby until 1947, when they moved to Cornwall. Later they moved to Woolacombe where their daughter, Betty, met and married Reg. In 1953, Win and her husband finally came to live in Berrynarbor, and for 38 years lived with Betty and Reg. Her husband passed away in 1966. Due to Betty's ill health, Win now lives at the Pinehurst Residential Home in Ilfracombe.

On behalf of my Mother, I should like to take this opportunity to thank everyone for the lovely flowers, cards and messages sent to her on this very special occasion.

Betty

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BERRYNARBOR WINE CIRCLE

In October, Tony Summers enthralled a well-attended first meeting from start to finish on the wines from the "RIOJA" region of Spain, which he and Pippa had just visited. All the wines, both red and white, were of excellent quality and the Chairman, Alex Parke, ended the successful evening by thanking Tony and Pippa for sharing their Rioja experiences and tastings with everyone present.

Members look forward to the November meeting and it should be noted that the ever-popular Christmas Wine and Food Meeting on Wednesday, 10th December, will be by TICKET ONLY. These can be obtained from the Treasurer, Jill McCrae at Woodmead, Barton Lane [882121].

Tom Bartlett

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OLD BERRYNARBOR - VIEW NO. 50

For this Newsletter, I have chosen a postcard showing the village from Duckywell at the foot of Pitt Hill, published by J. Welch and Sons [JWS 1684] of Portsmouth c. 1908-1909. On the left we see Rose Cottage', formerly known as No. 32, Duckpool, and in the occupation of Mr W. Street when it was sold as Lot No. 63 in the Watermouth Estate Sale of 17th August 1920, with completion date 25th March 1921. Complete with large garden and orchard, the Lot fetched £290. On the right are the two cottages formerly known as Nos. 30 and 31, Ellis Cottage, and in the occupation of Mr W Sloley when they were sold in the same sale for £205.

Standing out at the top of Pitt Hill, the then newly built 'Lodge' can be seen, whilst to its left and in the following order can be seen the back view of the Chapel, St. Peter's Church and the 'Old Court', formerly known as 'Berrynarbor Cottage', and later just 'The Cottage'. The foreground is now the site of 'The Haven' and its garden.

As can be seen from this particular view, little has changed over the past century and Berrynarbor can be thankful that the Parish, District and County Councils have all worked with one accord in maintaining a 'Green Belt' around the centre of Berrynarbor, and I know most residents hope that this policy will continue into the next century.

I found it interesting that in my Ilfracombe collection, I have a JWS 1683, which shows the 'Old door and Tablet, Parish Church, Ifracombe', dated 4.9.1910 and shown to the right.

I also have JWS 1693 'In the Harbour, Ilfracombe', which is postmarked 1908.

Tom Bartlett
Tower Cottage, November 1997

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NORTH DEVON COMMUNITY CARE AND CARERS INFORMATION LINE
Tel: Freephone 0800 614530

Careline North Devon was born on 1st April 1997, and is a telephone service set up with the aim of simplifying the search for information. It is especially for people with special needs, their families and friends, but also anyone concerned with caring. Information is essential to all of us if we are to live life to the full. Knowing what options are available enables us to make the correct choice. In professional jargon we have been referred to as 'information navigators', but we like to think of ourselves as friendly voices at the end of the phone who care about YOU and your problem [and the call is free!]. We are open Monday to Friday, 10.30 a.m. to 3.30 p.m. PLEASE CONTACT US IF YOU FEEL WE CAN HELP.

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LOCAL WALKS - 45
"of secret valleys "here the wild trees grow." Laurie Lee

 

Entrance to Chapel Wood R.S.P.B, Reserve, Spreacombe
by: Peter Rothwell

At Spreacombe [between Willingcott and Georgeham], Chapel Wood shelters the remains of a chapel dating from about 1250 AD. Low walls map out where the chantry stood and the two-roomed dwelling of the priest. A stream almost surrounds the ruin, widening at one point to form a pool with water cress growing in it and above it is the wooded hillside.

Today Spreacombe is a quiet, secluded place. In the Doomsday Survey of 1086, the hamlet is recorded as Esparecoma, a name derived from the Old English spraeg and cwm, meaning brushwood valley.

Beside the Ancient walls grow the angular leaves of Solomon's Seal, arranged like shelves along bowed stems, which earlier in the year would have obscured from view the long. white bell flowers suspended from the base of each leaf. The botanist Richard Mabey calls Solomon's Seal one of 'our scarcer woodland plants'. Culpeper suggested its use in the treatment of bruises.

Along the edge of the field, leading to Chapel Wood, we had passed an attractive collection of wild shrubs and native small trees. There was the spindle tree [a member of the Euonymus family], indigenous throughout the British Isles but not generally common, with its green, four-sided twigs and odd pinkish red fruit capsules, deeply lobed and marked with grooves giving the appearance of little parcels, pulled out of shape where the string has been drawn too tightly.

Some were in the process of splitting open along these grooves to reveal bright orange-coated seeds. Spindle wood was noted for its toughness and was used for making small items where this strength was required, hence its alternative names of 'skewerwood' and 'pegwood'. Its young shoots were turned into artists' charcoal.

Growing together were wayfaring trees and guelder roses, both varieties of viburnum and both with beautiful berries, but their leaves are very different. The wayfaring tree has broad oval leaves, wrinkled and finely toothed; the undersides covered with white hairs earning it the name 'cotton tree'. It was also known as lithewort and twistwood because the supple and elastic nature of the young branches led to their being used instead of withy in basket making.

The clusters of flattened oval fruits are at first red, then black when ripe. They have been described as bunches of glowing coral beads that in autumn become beads of jet. On the day in October when we visited the wood, they were at the transition stage of being a mixture of coral and jet.

There was also a fine display of guelder rose berries, round, clear, translucent red; also arranged in clusters. It is said that for anyone who likes the sight of red berries in their 'most jewel-like splendour', there is nothing in winter to compare with the guelder rose. The berries are eaten with honey in Scandinavia [though uncooked they are unpalatable] and in the Cotswolds it was called 'kings crown' because coronets of the scented, creamy white flowers were used to crown the king of the May. The maple-shaped leaves are divided into three or five deeply toothed lobes, turn crimson in the autumn.

We followed the track up through the woods. Under some of the trees were groups of beechwood sickeners, a poisonous fungus with bright red cap and white gills and stem. At the summit, 450 feet above sea level at the northern boundary of Chapel Wood, is an earthwork; the remains of an ancient British hill fort, probably dating from the early Iron Age.

Illustrations by: Paul Swailes

Sue H

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MANOR HALL MANAGEMENT COMMITTEE
Your Village Hall needs YOU!

One grant application has already been submitted and others will be sent shortly. We therefore have to start planning to raise the village's share [£30,000] of the total cost [£80,000] of the proposed improvements to the Hall. The Management Committee are asking all villagers and groups who use the Hall to treat 1998 as fund raising year for the Manor Hall, because whether we are successful or not with our grant applications, we need to start building up some reserves to carry out repairs/improvements which will be necessary in the near future. A programme of planned events will be published shortly and we should like everyone in the village to support as many of these events as possible. As yet, the position of Fund Raising Co-ordinator has not been filled, so there is still time for interested persons to contact Brian Mountain on 883032.

It was pointed out that village hall management committees should be representative of all groups using the hall. We therefore contacted all user groups not currently represented and we are pleased to say that most have now appointed a representative to the Management Committee.

As usual we shall be organising the Charity Distribution of Christmas Cards [10p each] around the village, with all proceeds this year going to the improvement fund. The posting box will be in the Post Office [thanks to Alan and Nora] from Monday, 8th December, until 10.00 a.m. on Saturday, 20th December, after which, at 10.30 to 12.00 noon on that day, we shall be holding a SHERRY AND MINCE PIE morning [coffee will also be available!] in the Hall. So come along - meet your friends, have a chat and buy a raffle ticket.

The Management Committee would like to take this opportunity to wish all Berryites a peaceful Christmas and an equally peaceful 1998 [except at fund raising events!!]

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SPECIAL PARISH MEETING

The Manor Hall Management Committee has made grant applications towards the cost of improvements to the Manor Hall, totalling £180,000. If these applications are successful, the local community will have to raise one-sixth of the cost - £30,000.

The Management Committee has asked the Parish Council to consider a one-off increase in the Parish precept next year to assist in raising this sum. As this would affect all Council Tax payers, the Parish Council has decided to call a special Parish Meeting on TUESDAY, 30TH DECEMBER, at 7.00 p.m., in the Manor Hall, so that local residents can have the opportunity of expressing their views on this proposal, whether for or against. Details of the improvements will be displayed at the meeting, and will be explained by the Management Committee.

The current Parish precept is £4,800, and the apportionment of that sum over the different property Bands is shown below. Also shown, is the apportionment for the total Council Tax payable in 1997/98, and the effect of a one-off increase in precept at levels of £1,000, £5,000 and £10,000.

A vote will be taken at the meeting, and an increase in precept next year, specifically for the Manor Hall, will only be approved by the Parish Council if there is a majority in favour, and only at a level agreed by the meeting.

If you wish to express your view, as a Berrynarbor Council Tax payer, and to vote on the issue, please be at the meeting.

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LETTER FROM THE RECTOR

The Rectory
Combe Martin

Dear Friends,

How can you tell that Christmas is nearly here? Well, apart from all the Christmas decorations and gifts in the stores, the answer is: they are selling Hot X buns in Tescos! I kid you not. They are selling Hot X buns in packs of four. I suppose they will sell Christmas puddings at Easter next year! What a crazy mixed up world we live in. I suspect that the motive for selling food normally associated with Good Friday is that the bakers want to increase their profit. It seems as if Christmas has really lost its uniqueness and message. The directors of the big companies just seem to see Christmas as a "Big Profit Time", with late-night shopping in the hope of getting people to spend more and more money. Christian ideals are not part of their scene - only money and profit. What was it Jesus said, 'You cannot serve God and money"?

Christmas time is a time for the giving of presents, as tokens of our love for others. I suspect that most of us will give gifts to members of the family, and hope to receive some small tokens in return. For parents, the pressure from the TV and the media is enormous to spend a fortune on toys for their children, because this item is what 'all the children are getting for Christmas' and you wouldn't want to disappoint them now, would you? But how many of us will be giving presents to people who are worse off than we are, with no hope of receiving a gift in return? Will we be making a gift to the homeless? [Jesus was born in a stable]. Will we be making a gift to the hungry or thirsty in this country or overseas? ['In that you did it to the least of these my brethren, you did it unto me', said Jesus.] This is the Christian spirit. It is the spirit of giving and not getting, of loving neighbour and not just self and family.

Christmas is a family time. How much time will we find to spend with our families, I wonder? Family time should be a time of mutual enrichment and development. A time of fun and joy. A time for just being together and enjoying each other's company. Do not forget that you are also a member of the Christian family, God's family, and that we should spend time together worshipping and loving God, 'who so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, to the end that all who believe in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.' [John 3:16]

That is God's Christmas gift to us in his son, born at Bethlehem, and alive for ever more. Please note that God's motive is 'love' for the world, in other words, us! This involves 'giving' - a positive outward expressing of that love. It cost Him, His Son, that we might experience the very life of God Himself. This is just part of the great Christmas Message.

A Happy and Joyful Christmas to You All,

Your Friend and Rector,

Keith Wyer

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ST. PETER'S CHURCH

Harvest Festival - thank you to everyone who brought gifts of flowers and produce to the Church for Harvest Festival. The Church was beautifully decorated and came alive with the colourful displays. We enjoyed a well-attended service on the Sunday and, although there were not quite so many of us as usual for the Supper on the Wednesday, the atmosphere was so friendly and relaxed. Thank you once again to all who helped in anyway - a real team effort. The evening raised £120 for the Children's Hospice, about half of this coming from the auction of produce.

Remembrance Day Service - A muffled peal of bells summoned us to the Church on Sunday, 9th November, for a dignified Remembrance Service which was sensitively led by the Rev. Andrew Jones. The lesson was read by Dennis Collins and the Last Post and Reveille sounded by Bugler, Ivan Clarke. Wreaths were laid at the War Memorial on behalf of the Parish Council and St. Peter's Church. The collection for the Earl Haig Fund amounted to £83.00.

Heating - the new heaters have been installed in the Church and are working well. Some £2,000 towards the cost was raised from events held during the year and the remainder, just under £5,000, came from PCC savings.

Christmas Services - A warm welcome is extended to all members of the village to join us for our services over the Christmas season and we look forward to seeing you all.

• Wednesday, 17th December, 6.30 p.m. - Carol Service
• Sunday, 21st December, 10.30 a.m. - Family Service
• Christmas Eve, 11.30 p.m. - Midnight Mass
• Christmas Day, 10.30 a.m. - Family Service
• Sunday, 28th December, 10.30 a.m. - Sung Eucharist

We are all invited to the Christingle Service to be held in Combe Martin on Sunday, 14th December at 3.00 p.m.

The Church will be decorated on Christmas Eve. Please get in touch with Betty Davis if you would like to make a gift or donation. Collections from the Carol Service and the Midnight Service will go to the Church of England Children's Society.

Mary Tucker

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ILFRACOMBE COLLEGE - VILLAGE COURSES, SPRING 1998

Sally Baddick will continue her Keep Fit and Movement classes on Wednesdays, 10.30 to 11.30 a.m. in the Manor Hall, recommencing after Christmas on 14th January. Although this is the only course run in the village, there is a wide selection of courses held in Combe Martin, either at the Community Centre, St. John's Hall or the Wild Pear Centre, these include:

Open Sessions, Help with Maths, All Round Body Workout, Tai Chi Chuan, Yoga and Relaxation and Craft Club. There are one-day 'Specials' - Food Hygiene, 28th February; Glass Painting, 11th February; Batik, 19th March and Curtain Workshop, 26th February.

For more information or details on these courses, or for a brochure offering the full range of courses, please contact Ilfracombe College on 864171.

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26

PREPARATIONS

et if his majesty, our sovereign Lord,
Should of his own accord
Friendly himself invite,
And say 'I'll be your guest tomorrow night',
How should we stir ourselves, call and command
All hands to work! Let no man idle stand!
Set me fine Spanish tables in the hall,
See they be fitted all;
Let there be room to eat
And order taken that there want no meat.
See every sconce and candlestick made bright,
That without tapers they may give a light.
Look to the presence: are the carpets spread,
The awning o'er the head,
The cushions on the chairs,
And all the candles lighted on the stairs?

Perfume the chambers, and in any case
Let each man give attendance in his place.'
Thus, if the King were coming, would we do;
And 'twere good reason too;
For 'tis a duteous thing
To show all honour to an earthly king,
And after all our travail and our cost,
So he be pleased, to think no labour lost
But at the coming of the King of Heaven
All's set at six and seven;
We wallow in our sin.
 
Christ cannot find a chamber in the inn.
We entertain him always like a stranger,
And as at first still lodge him in the manger.

Anon
[early 16th century]

Illustrated by: Paul Swailes

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Buy your
CHRISTMAS CARDS
and support your local
CHESHIRE HOME

12p each from
Eunice Allen, Bali-Hai, Sterridge Valley
call or 'phone 882491

Birthday and other Cards - 25p each

WANTED

Eunice would be delighted to collect
All old Greetings Cards [of any kind] for Recycling

28

GLOBE NEWS

The Children's Hospice S.W. benefited by £65 as a result of the annual Pumpkin weekend. Thank you to everyone who entered into the spirit of the event - from tiny seeds large pumpkins ... and what a whopper grew in the Luckham garden! Congratulations to William and Rachel on surpassing their last year's heavy-weight champion - this year's 'heaviest' weighed in at 114 lbs! Congratulations to them too for their delightful pumpkin pictures below. 'Pumpkin Bunkin' won Jacqui and John Weaver the Best Dressed Award and Ashley Lane successfully defended his title when for the second year his pumpkin reached the bottom of Pitt Hill first.

The inevitable rounders match followed with Phil's team suffering a crushing defeat at the bat and hands of Ann [Davies] and her team.

Christmas Opening:

• Christmas Eve - Carols in the Car Park, 7.30 p.m. Christmas Draw, 9.30 p.m.
• Christmas Day - 11.00 a.m. to 1.00 p.m.
• Boxing Day - Quiz Night
• New Year's Eve - Sixties' Party until 12.30 a.m.

Phil and Lyn, hot on the line from Granada, send everyone their
very best wishes for a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year.

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SEASONAL RECIPE
Christmas Fruit Cake

Directions:

1. Sample the whisky to check for quality!
2. Take a large bowl. Check the whisky again, to be sure it is of the highest quality!
3. Pour one level cup and drink. Repeat.
4. Tum on electric mixer, beat one cup of butter in a large fluffy bowl. Add one tsp sugar and beat again.
5. Make sure the whisky is still O.K. Cry another tup.
6. Turn off the mixerer.
7. Break two eggs and add to the bowl and chuck in the dried fruit. Mix on the turner. If the dried fruit gets stuck in the beaterers, pry it loose with a drewscriver.
8. Sample the whisky to check for tonsisticity.
9. Next sift two cups of salt, or something. Who cares?
10. Check the whisky.
11. Now sift the lemon juice and stain your nuts. Add one table. Spoon. Of sugar or something. Whatever you can find.
12. Grease the oven.
13. Turn the cake tin to 350 degrees.
14. Don't forget to beat off the turner.
15. Throw the bowl out of the window.
16. Check the whisky again and go to bed.

Anne Bailey

Thanks Anne for the tip!
Bad luck, Brian, no cake again this year!

 
Illustrated by: Paul Swailes

31

CHRISTMAS COLOURNG COMPETITION

Included with this issue is Christmas scene at Holly Tree Cottage, especially, and very kindly, drawn by Debbie for children of all ages, even those who left childhood behind them many years ago, to colour or paint during the long winter evenings!

 
Illustrated by: Debbie Cook

There is NO age limit and prizes will be given for ALL age groups. You are only asked to make sure that on the back of your entry you put your name [in block capitals], address and age, and if you don't want to divulge secrets, please just put 25+! Entries should be handed into the Post Office or Chicane by Monday, 12th January at the latest. Lots of prizes, let's have lots of entries please!

P.S. Additional copies of the picture may be obtained from the Post Office or Chicane.

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On a less cheerful note...

Mark Norman

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KING JOHN'S CHRISTMAS - A.A. Milne

King John was not a good man
He had his little ways.
And sometimes no one spoke to him
For days and days and days.
And men who came across him,
When walking in the town,
Gave him a supercilious stare,
Or passed with noses in the air
And bad King John stood dumbly  there
Blushing beneath his crown.
 
King John was not a good man,
And no good friends had he.
He stayed in every afternoon .
But no one came to tea
And, round about December,
The cards upon his shelf
Which wished him lots of Christmas cheer,
And fortune in the coming year,
Were never from his near and dear,
But only from himself. 
 
King John was not a good man,
Yet had his hopes and fears.
They'd given him no present now
For years and years and years.
But every year at Christmas,
While minstrels stood about,
Collecting tribute from the young
For all the songs they might have sung,
He stole away upstairs and hung
A hopeful stocking out.
 
King John was not a good man,
He lived his life aloof;
Alone he thought a message out
While climbing up the roof.
He wrote it down and propped it
Against the chimney stack:
'To All and Sundry - Near and Far
F. Christmas in particular'
And signed it not 'Johannes R.'
But very humbly, 'Jack'.
 
'I want some crackers,
And I want some candy;
I think a box of chocolates
Would come in handy;
I don't mind oranges,
I do like nuts!
And I should like a pocket-knife
That really cuts.
And, oh! Father Christmas, if you love me at all,
Bring me a big, red india-rubber ball!'
 
King John was not a good man -
He wrote this message out,
And gat him to his room again,
Descending by the spout. 
And all that night he lay there,
A prey to hopes and fears.
'I think that's him a-counting now,
[Anxiety bedewed his brow.]
'He'll bring one present, anyhow -
The first I've had for years.'
 
'Forget about the crackers,
And forget about the candy;
I'm sure a box of chocolates
would never come in handy;
I don't like oranges,
I don't want nuts,
And I have got a pocket-knife
That almost cuts.
But, oh! Father Christmas, if you love me at all,
Bring me a big red india-rubber ball!'
 

King John was not a good man
Next morning when the sun
Rose up to tell a waiting world
That Christmas had begun,
And people seized their stockings,
And opened them with glee,
And crackers, toys and games appeared,
And lips with sticky sweets were smeared,
King John said grimly: 'As I feared,
Nothing again for me!'
 
'I did want crackers,
And I did want candy;
I know a box of chocolates
Would come in handy,
I do love oranges,
I did want nuts.
I haven't got a pocket-knife -
Not one that cuts.
And, oh! if Father Christmas had loved me at all,
He would have brought a big red india-rubber ball!
 
King John stood by the window,
And frowned to see below
The happy bands of boys and girls
All playing in the snow.
A while he stood there watching,
And envying them all ...
When through the window big and red
There hurtled by his royal head,
And bounced and fell upon the bed,
An india-rubber ball!
 
And oh, Father Christmas,
My blessings on you fall
For bringing him
A big red India-rubber Ball!
 

Illustration by: Paul Swailes

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BERRYNARBOR POST OFFICE STORES
Christmas Information

With Christmas approaching rapidly, we have stocked up with items which we hope will bring Christmas cheer and enjoyment. We have cakes, puddings, mince pies - all with delicious ingredients - sweets and other stocking fillers, as well as cards and wrapping paper for your parcels.

Don't forget to place your orders for bread, cream, vegetables, etc.

Christmas Eve is on Wednesday and we shall be closing as usual at 1.00 p.m., but please call in if you can and join us for a sherry during the morning.

We shall be:

• CLOSED [no papers] - on Thursday, Christmas Day
• CLOSED [no papers] - on Friday, Boxing Day
• OPEN as usual - from Saturday, 27th December to Wednesday, 31st December
• CLOSED - from 1.00 p.m. on Thursday, New Year's Day

We take this opportunity to thank you for your support and custom and wish everyone a very happy Christmas and New Year.

Nora and Alan

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A MERRY CHRISTMAS

and a

HAPPY NEW YEAR

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