Edition 127 - August 2010

Artwork: Debbie Rigler Cook

EDITORIAL

... and here we are 21 years later!

The fact that it has continued is very much due to everyone who has contributed over the years, and especially those who have committed themselves to many issues, particularly our artists, local walker and Tom, who has written for every issue, his first article being a tribute to the late Lewis Smith [1916-1989].

Nothing changes! My thanks to everyone who has contributed to this birthday issue and items for the October one will be welcome as soon as possible and by Monday, 13th September, at the latest please.

There are also several events going on in the village over the next couple of months. Firstly, the two village fetes, St. Peter's Summer Fayre on the 3rd August, and the Manor Hall Berry Revels on the 17th, and secondly ...

Coming of Age Celebrations for the Newsletter will be taking place on Saturday, 7th August, in the Manor Hall: Cream Tea and Birthday Cake for everyone in the afternoon, from 3.00 p.m., and a Murder Mystery and Supper in the evening, 7.00 to 7.30 p.m. For catering purposes, the evening will be by ticket only and numbers limited, so get yours in good time! Details are given on the posters around the village and on page 33 of this Newsletter. Please bring your own booze!

I look forward to seeing YOU at one or both occasions.

A very warm welcome to any newcomers to the village and, as always, we send our very best wishes to those who are either in or have been in hospital, or are unwell and not feeling at their best.

Thank you all for your continued support for, and hopefully enjoyment of, Our Newsletter - Happy Birthday!

Judie - Ed

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MANOR HALL MATTERS

The first important thing to say this month is " Happy 21st" to the Berrynarbor Newsletter and a big " Thank You " for all the help and support given to reporting Manor Hall Matters over the years.

  Next, comes a " Must Not Miss" date for your diary and that is Tuesday 17th August for the 2010 Berry Revels Evening Fete . . . Please come along and lend your support on the night, but meantime, howsabout turning out some of that unwanted bric-a-brac or books that are now ready for others to read and enjoy. Bring them along to Manor Hall earlier in the day! If you have any ideas for new fund-raiser stalls for the fete then please make them known, or, better still, why not volunteer to set up and run a stall that evening for Manor Hall funds.

  Decorating works to the outside of windows are now complete and I hope you think the buildings are now looking in good shape. The last lap will be some attention to the woodwork on the front porch which will hopefully be finished by the time you're reading this! 

The User Group Questionnaires are now analysed and we're beginning discussions with the various trades to cost out options to improve both the lighting and heating, as well as exploring whether grants might still be available in these difficult budget-cutting times! We're also exploring options to improve the kitchen area . . . more news to follow!

See you at the "Berry Revels"!

Colin - Chairman

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BERRYNARBOR LADIES' GROUP

Twelve members and three visitors attended the Meeting on 1st June. Tim Davis, of Harpers Mill, came along to tell us about the bird sightings in the Sterridge Valley. The "Two Tims" have for the past three years been surveying the local area in both the winter and summer as part of a four-year National Bird Atlas being organised by the British Trust for Ornithology, for which they both used to work. They have recorded 50 different species in and around Berrynarbor and the Sterridge Valley in winter and 46 species during the spring and summer. An Atlas of wintering and breeding birds will be published after the conclusion of the fieldwork in 2011 and the information it contains will contribute considerably to the conservation of bird species in Britain in the coming years.

Some birds, like the robin, wren and dunnock can be seen all year round, while the fieldfare and redwing [both thrushes] are winter visitors and the swallow, swift and willow warbler summer visitors. The majority of birds seen in gardens are, in fact, all woodland birds but as the woodlands have been replaced by housing, gardens have become increasingly important in helping the species that have successfully adapted, to survive. Birds that prefer the coniferous woodlands are goldfinches and siskins, where they both winter and breed and chiffchaffs, blackcap and whitethroat are summer visitors from African wintering grounds.

The most common birds of prey seen in the village and valley are the buzzard, sparrow hawk and tawny owl. Red kites can sometimes be seen flying over the village owing to reintroduction programmes.

Tim illustrated his talk with a disc of the various birds together with the different birdsongs, some were very melodious - but others not!

I should like to thank Tim for giving me the above information recently as I had mislaid my notes. I appreciate his assistance as he had only just come home from holiday and had lots of e-mails to answer!

Member, Margaret Crabbe, was the speaker on 6th July. She had been due to speak at our January Meeting that had been cancelled due to the bad weather. Her subject matter was the Special Constabulary, the origins of which date back several hundred years to Anglo Saxon times when the people policed themselves. In 1673 King Charles II ruled that any citizen might be sworn in as a temporary peace-officer for a special occasion, particularly when there was a threat of great disturbances.

The government passed a Special Constables Act in 1831 and this Act still forms the basis of the constitution today. There were no women special police officers in 1831 and if any man refused to serve he could be fined five pounds! Today the Special Constabulary is a voluntary, part time organisation , paying only expenses and is a closely integrated part of police forces around the United Kingdom.

It was into this organisation that Margaret joined in 1969. She gave us a very amusing insight into her experiences. After leaving college she became personal assistant to a managing director but felt she would like another interest as well. An uncle was a special constable and suggested she joined, so she went to the local police station, made enquiries and came away with an application form. After an interview with the Inspector she was subsequently sworn in at the Magistrates' Court. Her next step was collecting the uniform. She set off to the Taunton stores in her small Fiat 500 and emerged from the store with a great quantity of clothes and equipment which would hardly fit into the car.

Her first duty was at Wells Carnival and, with no training, found herself controlling traffic at a cross roads. During the first few months she heard language she had never heard before! In March 1970 she went to Canons Grove for practical training. As a female "special" she was often required to look after children, with whom she had little experience being an only child herself. The City of Wells had many royal visits and Margaret often had a grandstand view. She attended the Pilton Pop festivals which later became the Glastonbury Festival. Margaret remained a "special" until 1979 and was awarded a long service medal, which she proudly brought along for us to see, together with photos of the occasion. We all enjoyed her reminisces.

As usual the Meeting ended with tea, biscuits and chat. The raffle was won by Joyce Simpson. There is no Meeting in August. Stephen Davies from Citizens Advice Bureau will be coming on 7th September and Deri Rundle talks about Water Aid in Rwanda on the 5th October.

The Group congratulates the Newsletter on 21 successful years and thanks Judie for all her hard work putting it together.

Doreen Prater

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4

IN MEMORIAM

The village was saddened in late May and early June following the deaths of Edna Barnes, Dan Weller, Maurice Fry and Michael Bain.

EDNA BARNES

We were all sorry to learn that Edna had passed away at the end of May. A cheerful lady who supported many village events and a stalwart member of the Ladies' Group, she will be sadly missed by us all and our thoughts and sympathy go out to her son David.

In Memory of Edna

Edna of Barton Lane, passed away on Saturday, 29th May, at the Tyrrell Hospital, Ilfracombe, aged 89. Edna and her husband, Alf, moved to Berrynarbor from Chipperfield in Hertfordshire in 1980 and enjoyed their retirement together until Alf sadly died in 1986.

Edna continued to join in the various village activities and made many friends. She loved going on outings, to meetings and indulging in pub lunches and cream teas, and was very appreciative of all the car lifts that made life easier for her.

I should like to express my deep and sincere thanks to everyone who gave my mother care and kindness over the years - carers, doctors, nurses, neighbours and friends. I should also like to thank all those who sent letters, cards of condolence and made donations to Arthritis Research. Thank you all.

David Barnes

DAN WELLER

We were shocked and saddened to learn that Dan had passed away on the 3rd June, and our thoughts have been with Margaret at this time of sorrow.

Thanks to Judie's hard work producing our delightful Newsletter, I have this opportunity to say thank you for all the wonderful warmth and support which surrounded me and helped me cope at such a sad and stressful time - Never to be forgotten.

Margaret

MAURICE FRY

Maurice's sudden death on the 3rd June, just short of celebrating his 90th birthday saddened us all.

Our thoughts are with his wife Joan and daughters Margaret and Angel, his five grandchildren, six great-grandchildren and his one great-great-granddaughter.

Maurice and Joan, with their daughters, moved to Sloley Farm, which Maurice farmed for many years, from Brendon in 1958. When he had to give up farming, in the early 1980's, due to ill health, he and Joan moved into Little Oakland, the bungalow they had built next to Sloley.

In his leisure time and retirement, Maurice turned his hand to wood-working, making tables, chairs, stools and other pieces of furniture. He also enjoyed riding and until comparatively recently, he could be seen, accompanied by his niece Elizabeth, riding up the Sterridge Valley to the woodland at Woolscott Cleave.

His funeral at St. Peter's was attended by his family and many friends and neighbours.

Joan and the family would like to thank everyone for their kind messages and cards and for attending Maurice's funeral. Especial thanks to the Rev. Keith Wyer for a beautiful service and Brian Baker for the funeral arrangements.

MICHAEL BAIN

It was sad to learn that Michael, of Longsawte, Newberry Close, had passed away in the North Devon District Hospital on the 6th June aged 64 years. For many years, Michael, with his parents, ran the Foxhunters Inn at West Down, later moving to Europa Park in Woolacombe. Sadly missed by all his friends, Michael's funeral took place at the North Devon Crematorium on the 11th June.

BETTY DUDLEY-WARD

Following the service taken by the Archdeacon of Barnstaple, David Gunn-Johnson, at St. Peter's on the 18th July, the Rev. Margaret Howard conducted a lovely service in memory of the late Betty Dudley-Ward, followed by the interment of her ashes.

Betty, fondly known in the village as 'Matron', having been Matron of the Susan Day Home in Ilfracombe, lived here for 40 years before moving to a residential home in Longhope, Gloucestershire, near to her niece Lucille.

Members of her family were joined by friends and neighbours to say their final farewells. A wonderful 'carer' of both the young and elderly, it is fitting that Betty rests beside the children's playground, with a view over the Chapel to her home beyond.

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ST. PETER'S CHURCH

The month of June ended on a sad note as we said farewell to Rector Keith expressing our appreciation of his 18 years' ministry with us at the presentation party in the Manor Hall and his last service in Combe Martin, when the church was full. We wish Keith and Christine every happiness in their retirement.

The churchwardens and PCC are now making every effort to keep the church and services running as normal during the interregnum and rely on your support.

Over the past few months there have been many charity and fund raising events in the village and as always, people have given very generously. The Christian Aid collection in Berrynarbor raised £93, with an additional £45 from the collection at the Christians Together service on 27th June. In the event, this well-attended service was led by Reader Mike Taylor and the preacher was Philip Young from the Baptist church. The total collection for Combe Martin and Berrynarbor came to £519.45.

Members of the PCC spent a pleasant few hours at the lych gate on Gift Day. To date £610 has been given and donations are still coming in. It is still not too late to return your envelope!

And don't forget to come along to the Summer Fayre on Tuesday, 3rd August, 6.30 p.m. at the Manor Hall.

Looking ahead we anticipate celebrating the Harvest Festival on Sunday, 3rd October, with the Supper on Wednesday, 6th October. Friendship Lunches at The Globe will continue during the summer and will be held on Wednesdays 25th August and 22nd September.

Happy 21st Birthday to the Newsletter - see you on the 7th August.

Mary Tucker

Keith's Farewell

Combe Martin and Berrynarbor came together at the Manor Hall on Saturday, 19th June, to say farewell to our Rector Keith, and wish him well for his retirement.

The Hall was full and the tables literally 'groaned' under the weight of the delicious food, kindly provided by the ladies of both parishes. After enjoying the savouries and sweets, Stuart Neale spoke on behalf of everyone, thanking Keith for everything he had done for us all over the past eighteen years and wishing him and his wife, Christine, health and happiness in their new life ahead.

Stuart unveiled Keith's present - a beautiful engraved silver chalice and communion plate and a cheque for £1,725, and flowers were given to Christine thanking her for her support. Keith responded in his own humorous inimitable way, bringing, as always, a smile to faces - he will be sadly missed.

Keith's last service at St. Peter's - at least for twelve months - was taken on the following day, Fathers' Day.

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COMBE MARTIN MUSEUM

During August Steve Eddy, from the Exmoor Zoo, will be running:

Children's Activities:

• 9th August - Playing with Fire - Pyrography
• 17th August - Something for Nothing - Recycling
• 23rd August - Animals in Danger

Sail Loft Talks, 7.30 p.m.

• 2nd August - Kester Webb, The Valley of the Rocks, Lynton
• 6th September - Steve Mulberry, National Trust on the North Devon Coast
• 4th October - Moose Boyer, The Shops of Combe Martin

In Living Memory - a new series of talks when local villagers relate memories of the past.

• 15th September, 2.30 to 3.30 p.m., Una Parsons: Memories of a Community.

For further information and full details: Call at the Museum or ring 889031

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21 YEARS OLD!

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OUR ADOPTED PUPPIES
Letter from Pebbles

As you know, I am a Labradoodle and we 'doodles' just love people! I have to learn how to ignore them until I am allowed to say hello, even when people are smiling at me. It just seems like bad manners but I know I can't race over to people once I am partnered with someone in a wheelchair. My puppy parent is teaching me to check with her before I do my wiggle, wiggle, wiggle, licky, lick, lick hello!

I am learning the taskwork quite quickly and have impressed everyone with my picking up skills, particularly with small items - it is my speciality! We were in a shop recently and I was just settling down when I noticed a teeny weeny plastic size marker that goes on hangers on the floor. Being a tidy girl, I gently picked it up and gave it to my puppy parent. Both she and the shop assistant smiled and said I was very clever!

Part of being an assistance dog is the ability to sit quietly in public places, such as restaurants, so I am being taken regularly to all sorts of noisy places to make sure I am well behaved. I always am, except at a birthday party where I decided to join in when they all sang 'happy birthday'!

Pebbles

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WEATHER OR NOT

According to the Met Office, 2010 has been the driest first six months of the year since 1929. Our records don't go back quite that far, but it has certainly been our driest start to the year with only 321mm [12 5/8"] up to the end of June. The next nearest was in 2006 when we had 389mm [15 5/16"]. At the other end of the scale, the most rain that we have recorded in the same period is 1003mm [39 5/16"] in 1994 - that did go on to be a very wet year.

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MARWOOD HILL GARDENS

The Gardens are currently full of colour with the astilbes making a stunning display. Come and see for yourself! The Tea Room and Plant Centre are open from 10.00 a.m. to 5.00 p.m.

'Tea Room Treats' - the second printing of our Recipe Book giving the recipes of some of the scrumptious cakes made in our Tea Room, is now available at £3.50 - a lovely little gift for friends and family!

All day on Friday, 24th September, we'll again be taking part in the Macmillan Biggest Coffee Morning, and hope you will drop in to support this very worth while cause. Admission to the Tea Room only is free.

Looking a long way ahead - but it's never too early to think about it - we shall again be providing Christmas Meals, especially for groups, and in October we plan to hold some craft type workshops. Look out for details in the next Newsletter or visit our website: www.marwoodhillgarden.co.uk

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THE DIAMOND DOVE [Geopelia cuneata]

Whilst having breakfast in our conservatory on the 17th July, we were suddenly amazed at seeing a small bird, extremely beautiful and with a long tail that we could not recognise. It was feeding on the ground with the sparrows. During the day we took photographs and fed it on the lawn with very fine bird seed mixture. We searched through our bird books but other than our own belief that it looked as if it was part of the dove family, could not find it. However, that evening, with the help of a friend's book of World Birds, we discovered that our little bird was a Diamond Dove!

The diamond dove is a resident of Australia, non-migrant, likes a habitat of lightly wooded, semi-arid or arid grassland near water and can be found widespread across Australia. This tiny [19-24cm], long tailed dove weighs just 30 grams, with a grey head and neck that offsets a red eye ring, and its wings are sprinkled with white spots. Flocks of 20-30 can be seen feeding on the ground on grass seeds, as well as other vegetable matter and even ants. Their calls are slow and mournful and the flight style is strong and direct. The flimsy nest is built from interwoven grasses and twigs and holds two, white eggs. Chicks are usually feather and are able to fly within two weeks of hatching.

As, surprisingly, our 'diamond dove' hasn't a ring on either of its two small legs, we think it may have escaped from a private collection and if anyone has lost such a bird, or knows of someone who has, they should contact us.

Nearly everyone who visited our garden as part of the village Open Gardens was able to see this small, delicate and beautiful bird.

Tom and Inge Bartlett
Tower Cottage, Berrynarbor, EX34 9SE [01271] 883408

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MUST GET SOME WHEELS!

Most young people when they reach their late teens want to get mobile. In my case, due to financial restrictions, I was not able to afford an old banger, like my contemporaries, so I had to look elsewhere. Electric bicycles were not invented but there came on the market what were called 'clip ons'. These 'clip ons' were engines that were fitted to ordinary bicycles.

If I remember correctly, the first was the mini motor. This was a complete motor with a built in petrol tank that fitted over the rear wheel. It had a cable to the handle bars where there was a grip which when pulled into place clicked so as to hold the engine with its roller down on the back tyre. In wet weather, the roller was inclined to slip and it was hard wearing on the tyre.

Other versions were the Cyclemaster which had the engine built into the back wheel, thus avoiding wear and tear on the tyre. Then there was the Velocette or Velo Solo which fitted on the front. I think this had the roller type drive. So far, they were all two-stroke engines requiring a mixture of petrol and oil. Speeds were roughly up to about 30 miles per hour - you had to have a speedometer! The Cucciolo was made by the Italian firm Ducati - I believe cucciolo is Italian for 'little pup'. The Lohan was diesel and fitted like the Cucciolo.

I soon exchanged my mini motor for the Cucciolo. This was a superby 4-stroke machine which fitted below where the pedals usually were. It had its own free wheel built in and two pre-elected gears. The engine was cast in aluminium and had an oil sump which took about a pint of oil. I was very pleased with this but was soon wanting more speed! The answer came to me if I had a fixed wheel sprocket on the back wheel, then I could have a 3-speed Sturmey Archer on it. with gears 1 and 2 on the engine and the three gears on the back, it made all the difference. So 6 gears in all and I could climb any hill or alternatively go up to 40 miles per hour! With no special springing and only bicycle brakes, I was playing with danger. Eventually, due I think to shock inertia, the cycle frame broke, although it was repaired with a slide on piece of tube welded in place.

I must mention that to use any of the 'clip ons' you had to take a motor cycle test and had to display 'L' plates until you passed. The licence was about 17 shillings [85p] and insurance about £2.

On having a word with a collector of these 'clip ons', I learned that they are now worth up to £3,000 depending on the make and condition, etc.

Tony Beauclerk - Stowupland

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CROSSWORD CORNER
Brian Wright

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TREV'S TWITTERS

Sing-a-long-a-Trev

The following is a song remembered from campfire sing-songs of long ago. Each verse is sung to a different tune, finishing on a rousing 'Rule Britannia'.

The Tale of an Egg

Clementine

I learnt this song from my dear mother, who said she first heard it sung by a clergyman, which rather shocked her, I think. I believe it to be a parody on the rather slushy sentimentality of late Victorian days, but have no idea who the poet was.

Wikipedia says: Clementine is an American western folk ballad usually credited to Percy Montrose [1884] although it is sometimes attributed to Barker Bradford. It is believed to have been based on another song, 'Down by the River Liv'd a Maiden' by H.S. Thompson [1863]. The miner forty-niner refers to the 1849 Gold Rush.

Little Brown Jug

This is another from my mother. I have no idea who wrote it or when, but it sounds traditional.

Little Brown Jug is a song written by Joseph Winner in 1869. It was originally published by Eastburn, Winner's middle name. A drinking song, it remained well known as a folk song into the early 20th century and like any songs that refer to drinking alcoholic beverages, it enjoyed new popularity during the Prohibition era. In 1939 Glenn Miller recorded and broadcast his swing instrumental arrangement of the tune with great success.

Trev

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GLEN MILLER 1904-1944

The music of Glen Miller and his Orchestra has become inextricably associated with the Second World War and the mood, spirit and social history of the era. The recordings which have been preserved are taken from the CBS radio starring Glen Miller and sponsored by Chesterfield Cigarettes, which were broadcast from 1939 to 1942, and naturally cover a substantial chunk of the war years. The recordings admirably capture the flavour of the period.

 

Ad on page 27 of May 16, 1942 Billboard magazine,
Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons

Born in Iowa in 1904, Miller was brought up in the rural environments in Nebraska and Missouri. He acquired a trombone in his teens, and played in the high school orchestra after the family removed to Colorado. He became immersed in the new dance band music and by the time he graduated in 1921 he was bent on becoming a professional musician.

He started touring with various small bands and then landed a job with Ben Pollack's group in Los Angeles, moving with the band to New York in 1928. He worked with the Dorsey Brothers outfit in 1935 and then put together an American orchestra for Ray Noble. Glen Miller became known, and his success with a new routine and use of a musical approach in which the clarinet shared the melody line with the tenor saxophone formed the central sound of a Miller band for ever.

The radio was king in the 1940's and recordings of that period very much serve to recreate a bygone era, where families sat round the radio, glued to their regular bit of entertainment and news, and able to hear the very biggest stars of the day.

In the autumn of 1944, with the Allied Forces secured in France, the Glen Miller Band was scheduled to do a tour of the bases over a six-week period. Miller was to go ahead and arrange the music and other details of the trip, and on 15th December 1944 he boarded a single-engined Noorduyn Norseman monoplane at RAF Twinwood at Clapham, Bedfordshire, to fly to Paris.

The aircraft disappeared over the English Channel and was never found.

A great loss to music, Glenn Miller was at the height of his career and only 40 years of age.

Walter

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WEDDING

St. Peter's Church on the 29th May saw the wedding of Sue Wright and Stuart Neale. Sue was attended by a fellow golfer and flower arranger, Barbara [Clatworthy], and Bobby [Bowden] was Stuart's Best Man. Following the service, the reception was held in the Manor Hall. Their honeymoon holiday was spent on the Greek island of Kefalonia where they enjoyed swimming on the beautiful beaches used during the filming of Captain Corelli's Mandolin. Now home again, they are busy sorting two homes into one!

We wish them both every happiness.

Sue and Stuart would like to take this opportunity to thank everybody for their kindness, but especially Keith Wyer - they feel very privileged that their wedding was the last he conducted before his retirement - and the choirs of both St. Peter's and St. Peter ad Vincula, who sang during the signing of the register.

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TALL NETTLES

Tall nettles cover up, as they have done
These many springs, the rusty harrow, the plough
Long worn out, and the roller made of stone;
Only the elm butt tops the nettles now.

This corner of the farmyard I like most:
As well as any bloom upon a flower
I like the dust on the nettles, never lost
Except to prove the sweetness of a shower.

Edward Thomas

Judy Jones

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OPEN GARDENS AT THE NORTH DEVON HOSPICE
Saturday and Sunday, 4th and 5th September, 11.00 a.m. to 4.30 p.m.

In 2009, our 25th anniversary year, we were delighted to open our gardens to the public for the first time under the National Garden Scheme. With our 5 acres of beautiful grounds, and being the first hospice in the country to do this, there was considerable interest from the community and we welcomed over 500 people over two week-ends.

This year we have a new addition in the shape of our Physic Garden. The ornamental garden is unique in the country as it is dedicated to plants and herbs that have medicinal values. As well as this, we have a Mazzard cherry orchard, a kitchen garden, two ponds, a rose garden, beautiful lawns, winter borders and a Retreat Garden for quiet contemplation.

Cream teas and other refreshments will be available at our Terrace Cafe which overlooks our gardens, and there will be a plant sale and the chance to share tips with our Kew-trained gardener, Colin Porter.

Entry is just £3.00 and we hope that many visitors from Berrynarbor will come and join us at some time during the week-end. We look forward to seeing you!

BIKEY'S BASH FOR NORTH DEVON HOSPICE

A very big thank you to everyone who was involved in any way, those who were able to come and those who generously donated. That, and the beautiful weather, all made for a fantastic event. I was able to report at that time that £613 had been raised, but further donations have brought it to over £700!

Thank you to Alan and Issy who work so hard in the planning and on the day. All the other willing helpers, Sharon, Chris, Marion, Margaret and friends and neighbours who live on Berrynarbor Park who help so much in setting up. It all makes for a great tribute to Brian [Bikey].

Di Hillier

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NEWS FROM OUR COMMUNITY SHOP AND POST OFFICE

You may already know that our Chairman, Sandy Anderson, has accepted a job in Brussels, initially for 3 months, but maybe longer. He's been a fantastic and inspiring leader and we shall all miss him, but wish him well in his current venture. Meanwhile, Tony Kitchin has agreed to fill in, at least for the first few months, and the Committee thank him for this.

Berry in Bloom 'girls' have done a splendid job with our fresh herb troughs, which have now grown to wondrous heights and actively want people to use them! Use them for meat sauces, to enhance casseroles, to add to salads and for many food decorations. So, come on - chase chives, pick parsley, savour sage, gnash nasturtiums - any other alliteration?

A notice board now faces you as you walk towards the shop door giving an update on the latest goodies, very often local fruit and vegetables. It's worth taking a look on your way in. And, thinking of 'local', we are constantly on the look out for local products, and having some success. If you find a local food that you think might be of interest, do have a word with Anita or Debbie.

Plants and books donated by you are helping funds, so thank you to anyone who has given either.

We get many compliments from visitors about the quality and reasonable pricing in our shop, which is good. If you haven't been in recently, why not call? You may have a pleasant surprise.

Happy shopping!

PP of DC

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QUICK QUOTE

The mind is like a parachute.
It does not work if it's not open.

Frank Zappa

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CAN YOU HELP?
CATS PROTECTION ARE LOOKING FOR A HOME FOR SKITTY

My name is Skitty and I am four years old. I've been here in Berrynarbor with my foster mum for almost two months now. I came back into the care of Cats Protection, as the last home I went to sadly didn't work out for me. I was originally homed with my mum, who has settled very well into her new life, but unfortunately, as there were other cats already living there as well as several large dogs, I was unable to feel safe and secure and spent most of my time hiding under the kitchen table. It was felt best that I came to live here so that I could have some space to myself and some peace and quiet.

Although when I first arrived here I was very frightened of everything, I have slowly begun to settle down and am beginning to gain a little bit of confidence. I now feel able to leave my bed and sit outside on the shelf in my pen. My foster mum watches me every day and has seen me washing myself and scent rubbing, all good signs that I am behaving as a normal little cat should. She also spends lots of quiet time stroking me and talking to me whilst I am in my bed. I'm getting used to this now and I purred for her for the first time two weeks ago. I'm a very clean girl, and will use my litter tray when I think that nobody is watching me. I also prefer to eat my food when I think that I am by myself.

I am looking for a very special home. It needs to be somewhere very quiet and away from busy roads. My foster mum thinks that I also need to be with people who understand that I need patience and time to continue to help me to trust and feel secure. This means that I will need to be the only pet in the household, and that any children that I live with are old enough to understand my needs. At the moment, because I am adapting to change, I am a proper "mum's girl" and I tend to get worried when my foster dad comes in to feed me. My foster mum thinks that this is because I just need to get used to one thing at a time before I can feel happy. She is also confident that given time to settle I will make a very loving and loyal little companion.

Could you be that special someone for me?

Please speak to my foster carers if you think that you could help me. Contact Denny on [01271] 882724. Thank you.

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AMBROSE BIERCE 1842-1914

 

Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons

The other day I took some time off to do more digging into the Devil's Dictionary, that interesting publication by Ambrose Bierce, who was also known as 'The American Swift'. The caustic and cynical definitions survive the test of time and continue to bring delight to those readers who prefer dry wines to sweet, sense to sentiment, wit to humour and plain English to slang.

Enjoy some more of the gems from this remarkable book -

• Actually :  Perhaps, possibly
• Auctioneer :  A man who proclaims with a hammer that he has picked a pocket with his tongue
• Court Fool :  The Plaintiff
• Dentist :  A conjurer who, putting metal into your mouth, pulls coins out of your pocket
• Envelope :  The coffin of a document; the scabbard of a bill; the husk of a remittance; the bed-gown of a love-letter
• Erudition :  Dust shaken out of a book into an empty skull
• Forefinger :  The finger commonly used in pointing out two malefactors
• Frog :  A reptile with edible legs
• Ghost :  The outward and visible sign of an inward fear
• Habit :  A shackle for the free
• Hospitality :  The virtue which induces us to feed and lodge certain persons who are not in need of food and lodging
• Illustrious :  Suitably placed for the shafts of malice, envy and detraction.
• Impiety :  Your irreverence toward my deity
• Influence :  In politics, a visionary quo given in exchange for a substantial quid

Walter

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The excessively dry weather has kept the 'blooming' team very busy, especially with watering! All the tubs and planters have been planted up, some for the second time this year because of a few disasters! We have been busy weeding, cutting back and litter picking, yet there still seems a lot to do. We are waiting for the judging of Britain in Bloom on the 13th July. Our fate with the Best Kept Village judging has probably already been decided as the judging for this competition is on going. We hope that the village does well and that all the villagers and visitors enjoy our efforts,

The two Open Garden events have now taken place. June the 20^th was the turn of the Sterridge Valley and luckily the weather was glorious, the teas truly scrumptious and the gardens were looking lovely. Then on the 18th July, 12 of the village gardens were open and despite rather poor weather, the event was well attended and the delicious teas, rather like the hokey cokey, were served in and out and shaken all about! Fortunately, the weather cleared in the evening for all garden owners and helpers to enjoy a BBQ at The Lodge and the annual game of giant Jenga!

Thanks to everyone involved in the two events which raised a sum of over £700.

On a lovely day, the Britain in Bloom judges appeared to be impressed with the village, which looked lovely. We now await the result and their comments.

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This cake proved very popular at the Sterridge Valley gardens open. It's very moist and zingy with a summery taste of elderflower. If you want to make it look really pretty, find some elderflower blossoms to sit on top before serving.

First prepare a 23cm/9inch spring-form or loose bottomed cake tin. Grease the tin and line with baking parchment.

Beat the butter and sugar in an electric mixer until pale and fluffy. Sift the flour, salt and baking powder together, and gradually add the egg to the butter and sugar, beating well after each addition. If it starts to curdle add a little of the flour. Using a large metal spoon, fold in the rest of the flour and the almonds and then stir in the zest and the elderflower cordial. Spoon the batter into the prepared tin and bake in a preheated oven at 170C Deg /340 Deg F/gas mark 3 1/2 for 50minutes, or until a skewer inserted in to the centre comes out clean [test after 45 minutes]. If the surface is getting too brown, cover with foil.

Leave the cake in the tin and while still hot pierce all over with a skewer to make holes. Stir the sugar and lime juice together until the sugar is half dissolved. Add the 4 tablespoons of cordial and pour slowly over the cake allowing the syrup to slowly sink in to the holes. Leave to cool completely in the tin, remove carefully - the cake will be a bit moist - and sprinkle liberally with icing sugar.

Lovely!

Wendy Applegate

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ARE YOU KEEPING FIT?

You might have noticed recently a lot of very fit ladies walking round the village with a glazed, but determined, look on their faces. That look of determination is due to them concentrating on their pelvic floor muscles! This is just part of a strict fitness regime they have been following throughout the year.

Look closer and you will also notice their fabulous six packs, washboard stomachs, ram rod straight backs and a definite spring in their step. That is because they have been attending the Pilates based keep-fit workout in the village, every Wednesday morning in the Manor Hall. As the summer progresses, you will notice them disporting short sun frocks and 'itsy bitsy teeny weeny' bikinis, polka dotted as well as striped!

And, of course, they will be rejoining in the autumn term to maintain the body beautiful should their waist lines have increased a millimetre over the summer! Classes will be restarting on Wednesday, 8th September, at 9.00 a.m. Come along, no special gear needed except to wear loose clothing, and join in and share the pain - no, the fun!

Taken by a well qualified and experienced tutor, for more details please ring Valerie on [01271] 343944.

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RURAL REFLECTIONS - 45

Early spring had seen its wooded paths lined with the bright sunshine flowers of lesser celandine. As the strips of yellow faded, so its woodland floor became carpeted with bluebells. The advent of summer had then seen the pinks of herb Robert, hedge woundwort, red campion and foxgloves take hold.

All are wild flowers seen year in and year out upon the Cairn. The same could not be said, however, for the twayblade. With no one alive today having ever witnessed it anywhere upon the area's 28 acres, the orchid had passed into folklore history. Only one person, in fact, could lay claim to spotting it -Joan Robertson, the Cairn's Devon Wildlife Trust Warden between 1974 and 1995.

The orchid's name is derived from its characteristic two broad leaves [tway blades] which grow at ground level. The small flowers, which grow to between 30cm and 60cm high, are usually green. Had Joan mistaken the orchid for a species of grass? Unlikely, hers was a reliable source of information, especially if to do with the Cairn. So it came as no surprise when the orchid was rediscovered by Cairn Conservation Carer volunteers whilst undertaking a wildflower survey in early summer. After an absence of at least fifteen years, the Cairn and the orchid had once again been reunited.

Reunions of a different sort will of course be part of the events taking place on Saturday 7th August when the Berrynarbor Newsletter celebrates its 21^st birthday. Like any celebration, it will bring together both strangers and acquaintances, in particular reuniting people with connections past and present with the village or the Newsletter. I look forward to seeing you there and may I take this opportunity to congratulate the Newsletter on its coming of age!

The Newsletter's birthday party is to take place in the Manor Hall, a venue which has been and still is frequently used for village occasions. One such event was the Berrynarbor Craft Fayre. Last year Judie kindly invited me to have a stall where I could promote my book, "A Doorstep Discovery - Twelve Months on the Cairn", which I had recently written. At the event I was pleased to meet up with Farmer Fred, a fellow rural-tale- teller who wrote for Combe Martin's Shammickite magazine. We spent the day discussing countryside stories, including those I had written in my book.

Farmer Fred asked if I had contacted Aubrey Dyer who, having lived in Slade for many years, would no doubt have many a tale to tell about the Cairn. I told him I had indeed been in touch and that many of Aubrey's stories had been included in the book. Farmer Fred went on to say how he hadn't seen Aubrey for over 60 years, yet within hours of the remark the two were reunited once more when by chance Aubrey walked into the same fish and chip restaurant where Farmer Fred was eating!

I was saddened to hear of Farmer Fred's recent passing. He brought great pleasure to many people through the amusing tales he told of his time as a farmer and I should like to dedicate this article to him. "Fred" was not, of course, his real name; and, in the end, many people no doubt knew who he actually was. But then, for Joe, secretly letting on to people that he was the "Farmer Fred" of the Shammickite magazine gave him as much pleasure as writing the articles themselves!

Stephen McCarthy

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MOVERS AND SHAKERS - NO.28

DAVID TREHANE
[10th October 1909 - 22nd April 2000]

Market Gardener, Nurseryman and Pioneer of British Blueberries

Blueberry Pie according to our American cousins is THE ultimate pudding [think of mother's apple pie!]. We British never saw them before 1960 - and then only a few did! Now that has all changed, because of the enterprise of the Trehane family, and blueberries are now in every supermarket, let alone our own village shop. They are available all year round: May onwards is covered by Spain, Portugal and Italy; then France puts in an oar followed by Holland, Britain and Poland. Our English crop is available from July to September. From October to April, the southern hemisphere takes over: Argentina, Chile, and increasingly, Australia and South Africa.

Wild blueberries had been gathered by Native Americans for centuries: juice was used to relieve coughs - and as an excellent dye for cloth and baskets; dried blueberries were added to soups and stews and also crushed and rubbed into meat for flavour; tea made from the leaves was thought to be good for the blood. When the Pilgrims from Plymouth were finding it hard to survive, their neighbours, the Wampanoag Indians, taught them how to grow corn and how to gather native plants to supplement their food. One of these was blueberries!

Our year-round berries were originally cultivated from the wild in New Jersey by Elizabeth White, whose family owned a cranberry farm. She could see the commercial potential of the wild blueberries in the surrounding woods and also realised that those picked from different patches had variations in size, taste and shape. She didn't have the expertise to hybridise these but knew a man who did, Dr Frederick Colville, a United States Department of Agriculture botanist who had published papers on experiments with blueberries. And so, with a team of eight trusted workers who marked bushes with what they thought had the biggest and best-flavoured berries [and were paid $2 for each bush selected,] a new industry came into being.

So how did blueberries travel from America to Britain? Well, it's all down to David Trehane. Now, until a recent article in the Daily Telegraph, I confess I'd never heard of him, nor of The Dorset Blueberry Farm, but having spoken to his daughter Jennifer who wrote the article, and son Jeremy, who has added a successful PYO to the enterprise, I have not only bought two plants from them [Berrynarbor blueberries in our shop next year?!!] but can write with some confidence about this extraordinary entrepreneur and pioneer, who brought us not only blueberries, but also celeriac, aubergines and peppers. In the early 1960's he became increasingly interested in camellias. He collected them from America, Australia, New Zealand and Japan - but that's another story!

David Trehane was born at Charlton just outside Shaftsbury on 10th October 1908. His father was the first member of his family to become a farmer, the family business until then being wine importing. David got his degree in horticulture at a very early age, having gone to Reading University at just 16. There he met Joan Whitehouse, who he finally persuaded to marry him! He found a post in Berkshire, but when his father needed him to help with fruit and vegetables, he went and had to wait another 20 years to get back to his real love - shrubs.

By then, he was farming 120 acres as a market garden, selling to shops in the Bournemouth area, but was always looking for new ideas. In 1951, he saw an advert in a horticultural magazine, The Grower, placed by Dr Suckling of Lulu Island, British Columbia, offering 80 blueberry plants free as a "cheer-you-up-after-the-war" gift. He was one of only four to take up the idea, and the only one to continue to grow them commercially. All it cost was carriage of £1.2s.6d [now £1 12 1/2 p], or as the minister of Agriculture and Fisheries wrote "a few shillings either way"! These plants took well in the free-draining acidic soil of Dorset and a few years later, in 1957, a decision was made to grow them commercially. A thousand plants arrived on the Queen Mary and David and his daughter, Jennifer, planted this pioneer crop. The first harvest was in 1960 and a year later, the crop was sold to high-class grocers at very high prices. Each punnet had a little recipe book attached to show customers what to do with them.

In 1968 David Trehane retired to Cornwall, handing over management to Jeremy, his son, who expanded the blueberry-growing area to 8 acres. Now, David's grandson, supported by Jennifer, has taken over the mantle of responsibility, and expanded the plantation to 30 acres. The target over the next 5 years is for a harvest of 150 tonnes per year.

The family's entrepreneurial skills have also continued. In 2000, the estate suffered a vicious 3-minute hailstorm just before harvest, resulting in a reduction in quality of 60% of the crop. Some would have thrown the damaged fruit on the ground at harvest time, but not the Trehanes! They turned the fruit into pies, cookies, cakes, jams and juice, and used Farmers Markets to sell their "spoils", which they continue to do every weekend along the south coast.

David Trehane died on 22nd April 2000 aged 91. The results of his life's work continue for all of us to enjoy, and for his family to continue to develop.

I am grateful to Jennifer and Jeremy Trehane for all their helpful information. If you would like more advice or information on blueberries, go to www.dorset-blueberry.com. Plants are available all year round.

PP of DC

PS. Why not pick up a leaflet in our shop on recipes for blueberries?

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94 YEARS YOUNG!

At 94 you are permitted to spread your birthday over a couple of days, so Ron did! Family, friends and neighbours visited him at Lee Lodge on the 14th and 15th July to celebrate the occasion and enjoy the goodies kindly put on by the staff for him.

Ron would like to thank everyone for coming, from the village, Combe Martin and Ilfracombe, and for the many cards - 80+ in all - and presents. He had a lovely time seeing everyone and was so pleased that his daughter Sheila and her husband Tony were able to be there too. He would also like to thank the party of children from the Primary School who came to sing 'Happy Birthday' and deliver the many cards they had made.

But most of all Ron would like to thank the staff at Lee Lodge, not only for the wonderful spread and cake they provided and the welcome given to all his visitors, but for looking after him so well. He is very happy and at home with them all. Happy birthday Ron and a Happy Birthday, too, to Ursula. Bless you both.

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CROSSWORD SOLUTION

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ECHO

On 12th June 2010, a charity event for the Evelina Children's Heart Organisation [ECHO] was held at South Lee Farm and what a brilliant time was had by all! Our youngest son, Sam, has a form of congenital heart disease called Pulmonary Atresia with VSD. He is treated at the Evelina Children's Hospital in London and ECHO is a charity that supports the families of heart-children treated at the Evelina. 

Finding out your child has a heart condition is a shocking and devastating experience but ECHO offers information, friendship and moral support at times when parents feel alone, isolated and desperate, or when they have immediate worries and concerns and need guidance or advice. They also support the children themselves as they grow into their teenage years and beyond, helping them take the first steps towards independence in their lives and in their attitude towards their heart condition.  As well as this, ECHO buys toys and equipment for the cardiac ward for the children to enjoy during their hospital stays. 

We were touched by the kindness and generosity shown by everyone involved in making this evening possible. A total of £1000 was raised which I know will make such a difference to ECHO and they will be delighted, as are we.  We should like to take this opportunity to thank all who supported the event and to say some personal thanks for such hard work and generous donations: to Michael Bowden and the bell ringers; the Berrynarbor Broadcasting Company [BBC]; Gary Songhurst and the brilliant Elderly Brothers who entertained all with their fantastic music; Ivan Clarke and family for the yummy pig roast; Lorna Bowden and Bett Brooks who did a sterling job with the raffle and, of course, to Chris and Barbara Gubb, without whom the evening would not have been possible.  Thank you one and all who came and supported us and ECHO; we are honoured to be part of such a wonderful community.

Sarah, John, Charlie and Sam Gubb

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NEWS FROM THE PARISH COUNCIL

Berrynarbor Parish Council would like to congratulate the Berrynarbor News on its 21st Birthday.  Councillors appreciate all the work which is done to ensure that each edition is prepared, printed and goes out on time, and for the valuable way it keeps villagers in touch with what is happening, or has happened, especially those who are not able to get out and meet folk quite so much these days.   The importance of a publication such as this is valued and sincere thanks go to Judie for all her time and effort over the years in this connection.  Judie - we hope you will continue to infinity - and beyond!

It cannot have escaped villagers' notice that we have been experiencing enormous problems with the company who have supplied and the contractors who installed the Play Area.   It would not be an understatement to say that it has been a nightmare from start to finish with the Parish Council repeatedly contacting the manufacturers, arranging 2 site meetings with the South West Representative, and two very strong letters being sent by the Parish Council to the manufacturers.   I won't bore you with the details, suffice to say that the matter continues to be ongoing with negotiations now taking place regarding the finished product and compensation for all the hassle caused, disruption to village life, lack of amenities for residents and visitors, failure to clear rubbish away and reimbursement for sand and turf purchased by the Parish Council in an effort to speed up the completion when it was found that the area was far from satisfactory.  Councillors would like to thank everyone for their patience over the months and wish to assure everyone that everything that could be done to speed up the completion was done.  It is realised that this was a major project for the village and one which should have been celebrated and we are truly sorry that it did not work out as we had hoped and planned.   We do, however, hope that people are enjoying the new facilities and that the problems encountered since the beginning of the year will soon be a distant memory.

This is a good place to advise that there is a vacancy for a Parish Councillor on the Parish Council, following the resignation of Ann Hinchliffe.   We are a friendly team who meet on the second Tuesday of the month at 7.00 p.m. in the Penn Curzon Room of the Manor Hall. The Meetings usually last for approximately 2 hours.  If you are interested and would like to know what the role involves, please contact me and I shall be pleased to answer any questions.   If you are interested and haven't got any questions, please send a letter to me either by post or e-mail saying you would like to be considered for co-option.   It's important that you don't give the letter to a Councillor as this would prevent them from taking part in the voting process.   We very much hope that the Council will soon be up to full strength again.

Sue Squire
Parish Clerk.  01598 710526
susan.squire@virgin.net

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34

LOCAL WALK - 121

Lady Smile

When we had last descended Trentishoe Down to reach the hidden path called Ladies Mile, the steep slopes had been blackened by recent fire, making it bleak and forbidding. But now it was transformed. The fresh green 'croziers' of the new bracken were pushing through the peaty soil and between them, a mixture of milkwort, tormentil and bedstraw, around which flitted small heath butterflies. Among the small heaths were a few green hairstreaks. I had come to this rough terrain in mid-June especially in the hopes of finding these small butterflies. When landing on a flower, it perches with closed wings and it's the hind wings which are the attractive part of this butterfly. They appear to have been shaded in by a soft green chalk.

 

 

Green hairstreaks are on the wing for a relatively short time and if I have not seen one by the end of June, I know I am likely to have to wait 'til the following year. Last year I went over the Torrs where one or two green hairstreaks can usually be found in June but I searched in vain. Some way off we had noticed a lady walking her dog, stoop to take a photograph. Later, as we completed our circuit she caught us up and told us that she liked taking photographs of insects. It was a new hobby We mentioned we'd been looking out for green hairstreaks. She showed us the photograph she had taken of a butterfly that afternoon and asked us what it was. It was - of course - a green hairstreak!

As we approached Ladies Mile the hill became steeper and it was easier to go down backwards on all fours as one slid on the gravelly stones underfoot. In this sort of situation I start to wonder why it is possible to walk up a steep path with confidence but going down there is a fear of slipping and falling. Yet it is the same hill. There is probably a logical explanation or maybe it is psychological after all - irrational trepidation.

Reaching the path through the narrow strip of woodland, we were rewarded by brief glimpses of a pair of grizzled skippers, difficult to see as they darted among the leaves in the dappled light and shade, with their chequered pattern of black and white. The caterpillars feed on the leaves of wild strawberry and various members of the rose family.

In a little sunny clearing, by a glowing copper beech, we found a small flock of the scarce pearl-bordered fritillaries, a butterfly we had never seen before. They were attracted to a patch of slender thistles. With their bright orange colouring, they have the pattern of black spots and veins on the upper wings typical of the fritillary family.

On the hind wings, however, there is a row of pearl-like patches. The pearl-bordered fritillary is a butterfly of woodland and scrubby coastal grassland where gorse is regularly burnt back [swaling]. The eggs are laid on violets. The butterfly has declined severely since the 1950's. It is found more in Wales and the south-west. May and June are the special months for spotting these three small, special varieties of butterfly. Several paths radiated out from the clearing. We took the one that led up towards the road and Holdstone Down. A bullfinch crossed the path and hastily disappeared. Overhead were swallows and larks. Somewhere a wren sung its incredibly loud pure song.

Illustrations by: Paul Swailes

Sue H

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JOHN WILLIAM GARRATT [1865-1946]

Many of the photographic postcards that I've used to illustrate my 'Old Berrynarbor' articles were the work of John William Garratt.

He was born on 6th July 1865 in Chariot Street, West Leeds, and died at the age of 81 on the 31st October 1946 in Bristol. His father, William Leonard Garratt, was a County Court clerk and his mother, Jane, was formerly Booth.

 
  Station Road, Ashley Down, Bristol

We can assume that Garratt lived with his parents, probably in Leeds, until he was 21 years old. At the age of 26, he married Mary Jane Eccles, who was 27, at the Parish Church of All Saints, Heaton Norris, Lancaster, in the Registration District of Stockport.

John and Mary Jane moved to 'Stepleton View', 9 Station Road, Ashley Down, Bristol, in 1899, and according to the Bristol Trade & Residents Director, the occupiers of 9 Station Road were:

• 1898 Alfred Gregory
• 1899-1902 John William Garratt
• 1903-1904 John William Garratt, Artist
• 1905-1947 *John William Garratt, Photographer

* As already stated, Garratt died in October 1946, so the entry was not amended!

 
  Horfield Barracks, Bristol

Their daughter, Alice Mary, was born on the 23rd September 1908, at home, and she was still living with her parents at 9 Station Road in 1939, when she would have been 31 years old. John William Garratt was an accomplished photographer and all of his real photographic [RP's] postcards are sought after by collectors all over the UK. He would carry his large tripod and glass plate cameras in his motorcycle's wicker-work sidecar as shown in this picture of him with his daughter Alice outside Horfield Barracks, Bristol.

Garratt has left a permanent photographic record and is known to have taken and published approximately:

• 1800 postcards of the Bristol area
• 130 postcards of Cliff College, Calver, Sheffield
• 180 postcards of Berrynarbor, Devon
• 50 postcards of Bath
• 12 postcards of Saltash
• 6 postcards of Ilfracombe and 6 postcards of Woolacombe

 
  Cliton Park, Bristol

In my collection I have a single six-view postcard of Bedruthan Steps, Cornwall, which is numbered 29, and a single view postcard of Murhill North East Somerset/Bath also numbered 29!

Garratt was a master at composing his photographs always attempting to include children and adults. We should remember that in those early days, he had to get participants to stand absolutely still for up to two minutes whilst he took the photograph on large, glass plates - no rolls of film or digital cameras in those days!

I must thank the late Alan Richardson for obtaining copies of various Birth, Marriage and Death Certificates for John William Garratt.

Tom Bartlett
Tower Cottage

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NEWS FROM THE PRIMARY SCHOOL

We said goodbye to Miss Vickery on the last day of term. She has been the temporary KS2 teacher during Mrs. Carey's absence, and we should like to thank her for her contributions to and support of our school.

Mr. Trefor Jones has been appointed Years 3 and 4 teacher from September and we welcome him to our school.

The School Fete took place on the 16th July and despite the weather turning to heavy rain half way through the evening, our PTA raised a magnificent £1,300! Thank you to everyone who came along to give their support.

Our End of Year Service took place in the church on the last day of term. This is a special time when we say farewell to our Year 6 leavers and wish them well in the next stage of their education. A memorable occasion for everyone.

Many of our children are learning to play a musical instrument. We now have three teachers - Mrs. Barrow, Miss Collingham and Mrs. Jones - offering music lessons which can take place in school either during or after the school day. So far our teachers are able to provide lessons for piano, keyboard, oboe, saxophone, singing, music theory, recorder, clarinet, violin, cello, viola and flute.

Stowford Farm Meadows have once again kindly offered us the use of one of their fields for our Wild Night Out. We are starting the new academic year off with this exciting opportunity.

We consider swimming to be an important skill for all children in our school. Unfortunately the school is unable to pay the full cost of the lessons and so we have to ask for parental contributions. Our lessons go beyond the National Curriculum requirement and our children swim more often than many other schools. In an attempt to minimise the cost further, we have booked swimming lessons for all children in the Autumn Term. A coach has been booked to shuttle children between school and the pool, giving us a total saving of more than 25% on transport compared to last year.

Looking well ahead, once again the whole school will be going to see Aladdin at the Queen's Theatre in Barnstaple in December.

Enjoy the pictures children in Class 1 drew of the hanging baskets they saw whilst walking around the village.

Mary-Jane Newell, Acting Head-Teacher

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NEWS FROM THE GLOBE & SAWMILL INN

Quiz Nights at The Globe have now finished for the summer but will resume on Sunday, 5th September at 8.30 p.m.

Both pubs are now open ALL DAY from 12.00 noon, serving food from 12.00 to 9.00 p.m. The last day for All Day Opening will be on Monday, 30th August, after which our usual opening hours will be 12.00 noon to 2.30 p.m. and 6.00 to 11.00 p.m.

We are now serving a range of coffees, such as Latte, Cappuccino and Cafe Mocha, made with freshly ground coffee beans.

We are offering FREE SQUASH for kids during our afternoon sessions at The Globe this summer, so between 2.00 and 5.00 p.m., bring the kids to play in the playground whilst you relax with a latte ... mmmlush! A jug of squash is free with purchases over £3.00.

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AT-A-GLANCE DIARY

HORTICULTURAL & CRAFT SHOW

Saturday, 28th August 2010

Schedules and Entry Forms for the Show to be held on Saturday, 28th August, in the Manor Hall, are included with this Newsletter. Extra copies are available from the Shop, Sue's of Combe Martin, The Globe and the Sawmill Inn.

Illustration by: Debbie Cook

Open to residents, non-residents and visitors, we hope that everyone, including all the youngsters, will try to put in at least one entry, but more preferably! Importantly, no one is looking for perfect items, just the enjoyment of joining in this village event. Remember, just because you have ticked a class on the entry form, it does not mean that you have to submit an entry - so, go on, tick as many as you can! Whether you enter something or not, do come along on the day of the Show, from 2.00 p.m. to view all the exhibits and to take part in the raffle and auction.

How are your spuds and sunflowers going? Hopefully OK. Bring your potatoes, still in the pot but minus any foliage, and your sunflower head placed in a jar or vase, along to the Hall, either on Friday evening, from 7.00 to 8.30 p.m. or Saturday morning, from 9.00 to 10.30 a.m. Please make sure your pot or jar is clearly labelled with your name and stating if you are a junior. Your haul [and pot] may be collected for later consumption during the afternoon, and your sunflower! Uncollected potatoes will be deemed free to auction.

So, LOTS and LOTS of entries please, and lots of visitors for the Show, Prize Giving and Auction. See you there.

Yvonne, Jack, Pip, Tony, Linda and Judie
The Organising Group

---

As mentioned in the June Newsletter, Linda, together with her family, have agreed to take on the running of the Show from the present group, so this long-standing and special village event looks set to continue. Thank you Linda, Tracy and Darren. However, they are anxious that it does not become a 'family affair' and would like to hear from one or two people who would be happy to join them. They are prepared to do the admin. donkeywork but hope to have other people to put in ideas, etc. If you think you could help, please do contact Linda on 883322, she would love to hear from you!

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OLD BERRYNARBOR NO 126

Berrynarbor Sewing Group

This very early and fantastic photograph of the Berrynarbor Sewing Group was taken c1890-95, and in the front row, the pretty young lady, third from left, is Blanche Bowden. Sadly Blanche, who had married William H. Bowden in 1899, died on the 25th March 1900. She was only 21 years old and died just one week after giving birth to her daughter, Blanche Pretoria, on the 17th March.

Blanche Pretoria, who married Sidney Dummett, was born and lived all her 94 years at South Lee until her death on the 15th November 1994. Blanche and her mother are both buried in St. Peter's churchyard, just a short distance from the top north gate opening on to Barton Lane. William Bowden remarried and his second wife, Florence, died on 11th November 1930 aged 55 years.

 
A few of the group 120 years later!

The second picture shows Blanche Dummett with young Sonia Duckett [nee Stoddart] and their dog, Bounce, at South Lee Farm.

I am indebted to Sonia, who in 1948-9, having first been scrubbed, was brought by train from a Church of England home in Wales to Ilfracombe Station by Miss Hurst, the matron of the home. From there, they took a taxi to South Lee, Berrynarbor, where Sonia, then about 3 or 4 years old, was fostered by Blanche Dummett. Miss Hurst returned two days later to check that all was well. Sonia tells me that she had the most wonderful childhood here in the village with memories of choir outings to Woolacombe beach then tea in the Red Barn, carol singing around the village. She also remembers Mrs. Cowperthwaite and Miss Richards as her teachers at the Primary School, and Harry Graves mending shoes and pulling out milk teeth with strong boot thread!

The third picture is of the wedding of Ron Dyer and Gladys, daughter of Violet Toms, 1956, grouped on the cobbled steps by the lych gate at St. Peter's. From left to right: Sonia, bridesmaid and best man unknown, Ron, Gladys, Ruby Draper and a young Sheila Toms [daughter of Ron and Gladys]. Behind Sheila is William Bowden with his third wife holding her hat whilst talking to Mrs. Toms, the bride's grandmother.

I wonder if anyone knows the family name of Blanche Bowden, also the missing names on the Wedding photograph. Please let me know if you do.

* the missing names from the wedding were provided in Edition 128. See here.

Tom Bartlett
Tower Cottage, July 2010
e-mail: tomandinge40@gmail.com

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Artwork: Debbie Rigler Cook

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