Yarcombe Voices

ISSUE No. ONE HUNDRED and NINETY-ONE PRICE 60p APRIL 2016

E D I T O R I A L away at the time - suggested we would be walking around in space suits and popping vitamin and protein pills instead of When I was a child my parents' favourite pub was The Old cooking meals. So, one wonders, what will life be like in Schoolhouse in a village called Ockley in Surrey. The pub 2036; or more specifically, 'How do you envisage Yarcombe was known far and wide and there was scarcely ever a dull in 20 years' time?' That is the theme of the Friday Forum night. Tom, huge, genial, welcoming, sporting a massive takingplaceatGlebeFarmonApril1st,startingasusualwith handlebar moustache, presided over the bar. Peggy, his sandwiches at midday. Skittles, surely, will still be as much plump, cheerful wife, cooked up a storm in the kitchen, and a part of Yarcombe life in twenty years' time as they are now. Josétheheadwaiterkeptdinersentertainedwithahilarious Anyone keen to play is welcome to join the Tuesday Club at streamofjokesandantics. WhenIreachedmyteenageyears afriendlyskittleseveningwithSmeatharpeWIonApril19th IwassometimesincludedinaSaturdaynightpartyandhave at The Sidmouth Arms, Upottery. fond memories of firelight and warmth, simple but superb food, the bar crowded, the restaurant packed. Usually the Do you 'make do and mend' or throw things away once actor Oliver Reed, who lived nearby, arrived at some point. they're slightly worn and buy new? Monty Don, the Leaving his Rolls Royce parked haphazardly on the village Gardeners'Worldpresenter,wasmovingoneofhisfavourite green he'd lurch - he really did lurch - into the pub, wave a garden ornaments, a Cretan oil jar, when it slipped from his greeting to my parents (he had worked with my father on grasp smashing into fragments; fortunately he found several films) and fall onto a stool at the bar. The noise level someone who painstakingly stuck the pot together again. would steadily increase over the next couple of hours until There was considerable public interest in a recent press Reed's butler would walk through the door, and after some report that The Queen sent a handbag, in use for over sixty persuasion steer the by now near-paralytic Reed outside years, to be repaired; many people failed to comprehend and drive off with him in the Rolls Royce. why she didn't simply throw it away, others were quietly pleased that Her Majesty shared their own thrifty ways. In It was fun. Then one day Tom had a heart attack which our relentlessly materialistic society repairing instead of forced his and Peggy's retirement, and though a new throwing away is slowly coming back into fashion: there are publican arrived it wasn't the same, trade dwindled, locals now over 1000 Repair Cafés around the world from an idea took their custom elsewhere. It's a familar story; those of that sprang to life in Amsterdam in 2009. A Repair Café is a you newer to this village may not be aware that The meeting place, organised by local people, where your Yarcombe Inn used to be one of the most successful broken items can be repaired by volunteers, the objective hostelries for miles around. But now we have the PubHub being to 'reduce waste, maintain repairing knowledge and and its immediate popularity proves that a community strengthen social cohesion'. Buttons come off your coat? meetingplacesuchasthisneedstobeanessentialpartofour Someone will sew them back on. The plan is to set up a village into the future. You can find out more about the Repair Café in this Parish and you can find out more about progress of the PubHub on pages 8 and 9; meanwhile, don't the idea in this issue of Yarcombe Voices and at the stand at miss the next PubHub night on Friday April 29th. Bacon Yarcombe Market on Saturday 9th April. sandwiches from 7.30p.m., darts, table football, dominoes, evenshovehalfpennyifanyonecanfindoutwheretheboard Miranda Gudenian. that used to be in The Yarcombe Inn is hiding! George Orwell's novel 1984 prompted endless speculation about how life would actually be in 1984. One newspaper article in the Sixties - 1984 seemed light years

1 IN THE COUNTRY THE ARRIVAL OF CALLAN AND LONELY It was early in the year, a beautiful sunny morning with a thick frost and the air was so cold you could see your breath on it. I knew this because I could see Harry through my bedroom window, his cold breath giving the impression that he was a headless body walking across the back field. I could hear Mum and Dad lighting the Rayburn and knew I would have to get up from the comforting warmth of my blankets. My job was to go to the farm and collect the milk for breakfast before Dad started banging on the ceiling for me to get moving! Dad now shouted: ”Christine!”... Oh no! I knew I was in trouble when Dad used my full name. I quickly pulled on my jumper and jeans then glanced at my watch, I wasn’t late so it couldn’t be that. Again Dad’s voice came bellowing up the stairs. ”Is this anything to do with you, young lady?” Nodoubtnow,Iwasinbigtrouble-whateveritwas. IalmostfelldownthestairsinmyhurrynottoexasperateDadfurther. My eyes followed to where Dad’s finger was pointing. There at the door sat huddled together were two of the cutest little kittens you had ever seen. They were squeezing into the corner of our porch sheltering from the bitter cold of the night before. The white cat had black tips on his ears and tail and the kind of piercing blue eyes that could cut straight through sheet steel! The other kitten was the negative of the first: it had a black body and white ear tips and was much smaller. When I went up to the farm I told Harry about our visitors. Harry said that the day before two of the lads from the village had come to clear the kittens out of the barn as the farm was being overrun by feral cats. These two had obviously made a run for it. When I told mum this she agreed that we could keep the cats until the cold weather had passed. Dad having been married to Mum for twenty years knew it was always best to just go along with whatever she decided. What about names? "How about Positive and Negative?" I piped up. “No,” Mum said, "let’s wait until we’ve got to know them better." As usual Mum was right and as time went by we all realised that the small black cat had difficulty cleaning himself. He was a smelly little thing and one night decided that it was too cold to go outside, so finding Dad’s slippers he decided to relieve himself in them. The following morning the white cat looked from Dad to the black cat as if to say, ”It wasn’t me, he’s just a bad kitty.” Luckily for the kittens Dad didn’t actually put the slippers on, but from that day onward the bad black cat was called Lonely as no-one wanted to get too close to him. ThosewhohadatelevisioninthelateSixtieswillknowwhywehadnochoice but to name Lonely’s partner in crime Callan. From time to time over the years Callan would arrive at our door with another half- drowned kitten. We re-homed these kittens with family and friends. By now Callan’s reputation was growing, he was often seen walking over the fields with another saved kitten dangling from his mouth. The local farmers tried to say that Callan was the equivalent of a feline cannibal. But maybe they really knew what Callan was up to and just could not face the fact that every year they were outwitted by a white cat with black tips to his ears and tail! Christine Howard.

YARCOMBE WEATHER ~ FEBRUARY 2016 2016 2015 2014 Av. Max. temp. 8.4°C 8.0°C 8.8°C Av. Min. temp. 3.2°C 2.8°C 4.0°C Av. Overall temp. 5.8°C 5.4°C 6.4°C Rainfall 136.1 mm 68.3 mm 268.9 mm Wettest Day 6th 36.2 mm 22nd 16.0 mm 4th 33.8 mm Sunniest Day 15th 9.0 hrs approx. 21st 9.5 hrs 16th 8.5 hrs Warmest Day 1st 14.3°C 25th 13.4°C 18th 11.4°C Coldest Night 16th -2.2°C 2nd -1.8°C 14th -0.1°C Sunshine hours 83.0 hrs. approx. 104.0 hrs 97.0 hrs On Friday 5th February a blanket of stratus cloud rolled in from the south west, the pressure fell, heavy rain fell, isobars tightened and Storm Henry blew across the South West dropping 57.6mm of rain in two days. After one hour of sunshine on Sunday 7th February, Storm Imogen arrived with tighter isobars, creating much stronger winds but this time only a little light rain fell. The new system of naming storms has generated plenty of attention, although it was thought up in Victorian times by Clement Wragge. Born in the UK he emigrated to Australia where he started the country's national storm-warning service.

Page 2 In 1887 he began naming storms in his forecasts using the Greek alphabet, before progressing to South Island female names. In 1902 he started naming storms after politicians, particularly the ones that he had a grudge against, describing how the politicians were "causing great distress" or "wandering aimlessly about the Pacific". He soon left under a cloud! - and emigrated to New Zealand. During the Second World War, the US military forecasters used names of their wives or girlfriends for tropical cyclones. In 1953 America began a scheme giving storms female names in alphabetical order. This was changed in 1979 so that both male and female names were used alternatively to stave off controversy. Tony Newman.

WEATHER Were we to have no weather - If skies were always blue - How would we greet each other After "How d'you do?" No "Lovely day this morning!" No "Looks a bit like rain ..." No radio fog-warning, No "Feels like snow again ..." No fears of threat'ning thunder, No telling of tall tales Of roof-tops blown asunder By Force Eleven gales. No need to check the rain-gauge; No need to tap the Glass, Or mind the age-old adage Before we cut the grass. But though our circulation Might better be, it's true, We'd miss the conversation If skies were always blue. Imogen Hamilton.

APRIL'S FOOLISH SERIOUSLY BAD POEMS I expect many of us have experienced the distressing situation in which the remote control is just one inch further away on the sofa than we can comfortably reach. Oh yes, the simultaneous nodding of Yarcombe heads could cause a minor earth tremor! The trouble is that in this day and age it really is a major problem as we’re probably breaking some Health & Safety rule if we lean over more than a few degrees to get it, and Human Rights laws no doubt preclude us from summoning the spouse from the kitchen to retrieve it, no matter how reasonable this may seem to us. Imagine my recent horror then, when I was placed in an even more perilous predicament: the footy I wanted to record was about to start and the said remote control was nowhere to be found! I apologise if this graphic description of extreme human suffering has shocked anyone, but life is desperate sometimes; however, what was worse was that at this late stage in proceedings I realised that I didn’t know how to do it manually! Such is the depth of our love affair with the remote control and wireless communication between various devices these days. Those of us old and decrepit enough to remember the 1950s can no doubt recall the days when physical exertion in the form of a little stroll to the telly was necessary to change channels, even though there were only two to choose from! But wireless devices have great appeal, if only to eliminate the ugly mass of cables previously in use. I have a particular favourite – one given as a gift many years ago and which goes some way to suggesting that I will never completely act my substantial age. It was - how can I put it - a gadget for, well, making rude noises. Think of floorboards creaking and you won’t be far off. I won’t embarrass the wife by naming the person who bought it for me, but I can say I had more fun with it than with anything else I’d known. I’d place it under a cushion and set if off from the next room after visiting friends had sat on the sofa. It had five variations of er ... rude noises which were loud enough to escape the shackles of the cushion and inevitably caused many an disgusted glance or accusation until the truth was revealed. After several test runs I became a very competent operator of this marvellous machine (which was smaller than a

Page 3 matchbox incidentally) and decided to target working colleagues. I left it in my jacket pocket on the coat stand some way from my desk and to my amazement discovered that it could be triggered from great distances, even from the toilet several corridors away! The one individual I had secretly enrolled reported great mirth and confusion each time it was activated and I even let him have a go so that I could experience it all for myself. After the first day no one had twigged what was going on and I was chuckling smugly to myself as I left the building and walked across the crowded car park, unlocking my car using its central locking system. This turned out to be a grave mistake, for it was at this point that I discovered my central locking system used the same radio frequency range as my little machine, which had now burst into action and was in full swing at a volume which must have filled the whole car park. I guess you could say it backfired on me (no pun intended). As heads turned in my direction I skilfully turned and looked accusingly at the nearest employee (pretty little Sarah from Accounts if I remember rightly) and would’ve got clean away with it if I hadn’t burst out laughing like a naughty schoolboy. Time for some bad stuff: Even Sitting Takes Effort I used to exercise a lot and play a bit of sport, And I was pretty healthy then - at least that's what I thought. I'd go to football training and I'd tackle like a pro, Then have a game of squash next day and bop to Status Quo. These days the exercise I do - the only one I dare, Is groaning as I lower my fat bum into the chair!

A Wee Bit Spaced Out Crazy Times Two I yearn to be an astronaut, A mate of mine gets in a muddle. In aptitude tests I score nought. His whole world is one crazy bubble. But what makes me sadder, Though he's schizophrenic, Is that my weak bladder, He’s quite photogenic, In spacesuits, might catch me out short! So he makes a very nice couple.

Do You Believe In Global Wobbling? Some people worry far too much about this Global Warming. I know it's not a trivial thing but it just starts me yawning. They fret about the temperature and running out of gas. They don't like CO2 and think the sun's losing its mass. I thought about this as I had my 90-minute shower. How can the sun run out of juice? It runs on solar power!

It seems pretty clear that these poems are going from bad to verse, but don’t expect me to apologise. I’m sorry, but that’s just the way I am! Making poems as bad as these requires a mind that is almost insane, but I no longer question my sanity. The last time I tried, it replied and was obviously a lot smarter than I was. Peter Tarrant.

YOUR GARDEN IN APRIL Well, everybody, here we go again, it is all go this month. We have had a bit of a dry spell at last and so I hope you have got on with the digging plus you want to get Mr Hoe busy because the weeds are a real nuisance already with all the wet weather we have had. I was round Charlie Chardstock's yesterday and he has got his polytunnel full of stuff, he was potting on the tomatoes plus he has got some tomatillos and New Zealand spinach that he saw on the TV last year. You can make a sowing of this spinach outdoors from May. Charlie was given the seeds by his granddaughter Amy for a Christmas pressie, they are Suttons. He says tell the readers it said on TV to scrape the side of each seed a bit and soak overnight before planting, it will get going in approx 10 days. Yes, folks, the Rabbit has got the chillies going in the polytunnelalso,plusthelettuce,radishes,etc. HeisgrowingchillieApachevariety,itisagood cropper says Charlie, plus Fiesta and Hungarian Hot Wax varieties and you can keep them. It is time to get the second early potatoes in, plus maincrop a fortnight later. Make a sowing of the beetroot, carrots, leeks, radishes, Swiss chard, summer cauliflowers, spring onions, peas, etc. Get the broad beans seedlings in that have got going. There are a a lot of slugs around this year, a lady who shall remain nameless said to me, "What is best method to get rid of these off my veg patch?" Well, my Granddad would put fresh cabbage leaves on the ground in the evening and the slugs hide under these so you can get rid of them in the morning,itworksatreat,usyoungsterswouldgetthejobofpickinguptheleavesandweused to catch dozens of them this way. It is time to feed the roses plus get some muck or compost round them. If you thin out the

Page 4 flowering stems of the phlox, lupins and delphiniums you will get bigger flowers. It is a good idea to cut back the lavender, don't cut into old wood or you've had it. It is a good month to plant the evergreens i.e. hedges. Make a sowing of the summer bedding, half-hardies like lobelia and petunias on a windowsill or propagator is best, you can use the seed compost or the multi-purpose. The hardy annuals can be sown outdoors in prepared soil, you want to make sure they don't dry out if we have a dry spell. Make a sowing of the sweet peas and plant out the ones you have sown in the autumn. Well, a lot of folk have been mowing their lawns already; it is time to give a spring/summer feed but there is a good amount of moss in a lot of lawns this spring and a moss killer combined with fertiliser is a good one to sort this out. Leave for a couple ofweeksthenyouneedtorakeoutalltherubbish,itisahardtaskandyouwillwantacuppaortwotokeepyougoingIreckon. Don't forget to pick up your potatoes for the Potato Dig at the Flower Show from Joan, plus the youngsters can do this also.

Happy gardening, everybody! A Yarcombe Gardener.

It has been suggested by several people that it would be an excellent idea for Yarcombe to have a Repair Café. At the VILLAGE MARKET ON SATURDAY 9th APRIL you will be able to discover more about this most worthwhile scheme. What is a Repair Café? It is explained by Darrell Holmes who wrote the following article for The Parishes' Paper and for Postscript, the Kilmington village magazine. We are most grateful to him for permission to publish it here. - The Editor. Everyone knows we live in a throwaway culture. When something breaks, it’s usually easier to buy a new one than mend it. The numerous little corner shops in towns and cities that mended televisions, hoovers and irons closed down long ago. Instead we throw these items in the wheelie bin and go to the shop or online to buy a new one. When I was little my Mum used to darn our socks (she taught me how to do the same), but nowadays our socks also find their way to the bin when they start to show signs of wear. Other clothes also often suffer the same fate when a small tear appears; we usually prefer to ditch rather than stitch. According to 'War on Waste' champion Hugh Fearnley-Whittingstall, in the UK we throw away seven tonnes of clothes every ten minutes! How could this be different? The answer is 'Repair Café'. Lots of people have forgotten that they can repair things themselves or they no longer know how. Knowing how to make repairs is a skill quickly lost. Society doesn’t always show much appreciation for the people who still have this practical knowledge, and against their will they are often left standing on the sidelines. Their experience is never used, or hardly ever. The Repair Café changes all that! People who might otherwise be sidelined are getting involved again. Valuable practical knowledgeisgettingpassedon. Thingsarebeingusedforlongeranddon’thavetobethrownaway. Thisreducesthevolume of raw materials and energy needed to make new products. It cuts CO2 emissions, for example, because manufacturing new products and recycling old ones causes CO2 to be released. TheRepairCaféteachespeopletoseetheirpossessionsinanewlightand,onceagain,toappreciatetheirvalue. TheRepair Café helps change people’s mindset. This is essential to kindle people’s enthusiasm for a sustainable society. But most of all, the Repair Café just wants to show how much fun repairing things can be, and how easy it often is. It requires a team of volunteers. Folk who want to give it a go, to glue, fiddle, twiddle and stitch to make broken things work again, others who can make the drinks, have a chat while 'customers' have their items repaired. When a broken item is mended, a small donation can be given to cover costs of the Repair Café. The first Repair Café began in Holland in 2009. Now they are spreading all over the world and there is a possibility one may start in Kilmington if there is enough interest. It would meet every month and draw people not only from the village but from the wider community too. In the Axe Valley there is surely an army of folk who have great skills going unused and a mountain of broken things that could be mended. Repair Café could be a way to link those two piles of resources. In this way, we could start making a positive impact in slowly turning our throwaway culture to a 'repair culture'.

Darrell Holmes.

AN INSPECTOR CALLS: A man whose word I trust told inspector was horrified, he protested loudly, thus causing me that he was present on a dairy farm at milking time more cows to lift their tails and perform. "This is dreadful." whenamanfromTescoarrived. Wearingawhitehat,white he said, "we can't allow this to happen where food is being coat and white gumboots he'd come to inspect the milking. produced." "Well," said the cowman, "it's something that It wasn't long before some cows, as cows will, especially happens on every dairy farm every day and I don't know when a stranger appears, lifted their tails and dunged. And what you or I or anyone else can do about it." while out on grass, cows, as we say, can be very 'loose'. The Humphrey Phelps.

Page 5 ☆ ☆ ☆ ☆ ☆ ☆ ☆ ☆ ☆ ☆ ☆ ☆ ☆ ☆ ☆ ☆ ☆ ☆ ☆ ☆ ☆ ☆ ☆ ☆ ☆ ☆ ☆ WORDS OF INSPIRATION THEN the same day at evening, being the first day of the week, when the doors were shut where the disciples were assembled for fear of the Jews, came Jesus and stood in the midst, and saith unto them, Peace be unto you. And when he had so said, he shewed unto them his hands and his side. Then were the disciples glad, when they saw the Lord. - John chapter 20 verses 19 and 20. THIS above all - to thine own self be true, and it must follow, as the night the day, thou canst not then be false to any man. - William Shakespeare, who died 400 years ago on the 23rd April. THE reason why Englishmen are the best husbands in the world is because they want to be faithful. A Frenchman or an Italian will wake up in the morning and wonder what girl he will meet. An Englishman wakes up and wonders what the cricket score is. - Dame Barbara Cartland. ☆ ☆ ☆ ☆ ☆☆ ☆ ☆ ☆ ☆ ☆ ☆ ☆ ☆ ☆ ☆ ☆ ☆ ☆ ☆ ☆ ☆ ☆ ☆ ☆ ☆ ☆

Could You Spare A Few Coppers? loudly, "No it ain't, it's the Legion. Where's Ma? Go and find her, Georgie." "If you could just do a few streets?" asked the organising secretary. "It is the annual house-to-house appeal for the At which a small boy appeared, to call upstairs, "Ma, it's a Orphanage. You just drop these small printed envelopes in lady wants some money." the letterboxes one evening and call for them (well-filled, I was thankful to find "Ma" had my envelope ready in her we hope!) in a few days." handbag, and didn't hand me the milk, coal or grocery So it came about that one evening, armed with my money! collector's badge and a bundle of envelopes, I set off. My Authorised collectors for any genuine organisation route lay in the council house district of our town, with just always carry a badge or document showing their authority. a few large houses on the outskirts. I'm afraid I thought my Also they are in most cases supplied appeal in the poorer district would with facts about the home, orphanage, not meet with much response, but etc., for which they are collecting, and how wrong I was! Even the poorest are usually most willing to supply homes had a copper for the information. The envelope system is "orphinige lady," whilst it was at used so that all donations are one of the largest houses where the anonymous - the collector hands in to hostessofagroupatteaonthelawn her organisation the envelopes sealed received my envelope with a as she received them. Of course, if for gracious "Oh, but certainly," and any reason a person cannot or prefers returned it, smiling beneficently, not to contribute, a polite "No, I'm open and quite empty! sorry ..." is much easier to receive than Although such work is often a a slammed door. thankless task, I learned much that Looking back, the houses I Ishallrememberinfuture,whether remember with gratitude are those I am the caller or called-upon. For where I received a friendly smile, and instance, many of the large where I was not treated with suspicion orphanages and other such bodies as a "cadger". And long after I have are still dependent on voluntary forgotten the weary trudging I shall contributions and are not state- remember one small, grubby little boy aided. The very fact that they need whowatchedmedepositingenvelopes to appeal for money means that a in each letterbox for some time and great deal of work must be done finally trotted up to me. "What's them voluntarily, often by women like myself in their spare time. packets for?" he asked. It does help if people remember this, and if an envelope is left to be called for later, to see that it is not put in the back "Well, people put pennies in them for little boys and girls of the kitchen drawer and promptly forgotten. Of course, with no Mummy or Daddy," said I. collectors always carry spares, but one dear old lady on my "Oh, 'ave you put one in my 'ouse over there?" round insisted on hunting for the original envelope, which she had "just put somewhere handy" - a loss of fifteen "Yes" (preparing to move on). preciousminutesforme! Theenvelope,readynearthedoor "Goody goody!" he yelled, dashing off to his home. "I ain't with even a copper or two, returned promptly with a smile, got no daddy!" makes the job so much happier for both parties. Gladys Knowlton. At one house a young girl opened the door, and on my request for the envelope returned to the back room, saying, (From the Deanery magazine of June 1950. This series of "Dad, it's the rent lady." Dad, on peering out at me, said occasional articles is kindly provided by Geoffrey Berry).

Page 6 AND REPORTS PERSONAL NOTICES

50th Wedding Anniversary

Congratulations to Tony and Francie Spiller on the occasion of their Golden Wedding Anniversary which they celebrate on the 23rd April. From their five children and spouses, twelve grandchildren and two great-grandchildren.

OUT AND ABOUT WITH ONE OF OUR DEPUTY ROVING REPORTERS

SUPPORTING THE CHILDREN'S EUROPE - IN or OUT? HOSPICE SOUTH WEST The Friday Forum has tackled quite a few contentious 17th February was the date of our annual Charity Lunch issues, but probably none more than the topic for March whencrustybreadandtastysoupwasservedto38lunchers. which was, ‘Europe – In or Out?’ After sandwiches, coffee The choice was between mushroom (made by Rosemary andcake,CliffordSochonintroducedthesubjectwithashort Abel) and vegetable (made by Caroline Ford), followed by history lesson going back to the original idea of the EEC and coffee and tea with a delicious cookie baked by Jane Jones. the referendum of 1975. A coin was tossed for who should speak first, so Brian Smith gave his reasons why it now ThisyearwesupportedtheworkoftheChildren’sHospice would be better to be out of Europe and then Ken Wilcox South West, a charity for which in the past the Yarcombe spoke for staying in. Melody Makers had raised nearly £10,000. So, many of the people had already given generously over the years. The Then it was over to small groups who talked about the manager of the CHSW charity shop in Honiton, Lynne Milne, various points of view before having an open forum which gave a short talk about the work of the hospice movement Clifford just managed to control! For once we overran the and how her shop raises much needed funding to support one hour allocated as there was so much to say. Discussion the three children’s hospices in the South West. This is the continued informally over more coffee for some time. 25th anniversary year of the first hospice at Little Bridge Wasadecisionreached? Weremindschanged? Wedonot House in Fremington, so it was a very good time to support know, but we do know that it was good to discuss this very the work. There are now two others - one in Wraxall, North relevant topic in a friendly way. Somerset and one in Porthpean, St Austell giving much needed care and support to sick children and their families. The date for the NEXT FORUM is 1st APRIL at 12 noon for sandwiches, when the topic under discussion will be The profit from the lunch plus donations added up to HOWDOYOUENVISAGEYARCOMBEIN20YEARS'TIME? being able to give a cheque for £250. Lynne was so thrilled when she received it and gave heartfelt thanks to everyone Mary Smith (writing in the absence of the Roving Reporter who will be home from New Zealand shortly). who contributed.

Doctor: "What is the most that you have ever weighed?" Patient: "Three years ago I weighed just over eighteen stone." Doctor: "And what is the least you have ever weighed?" Patient: "Seven pounds and twelve ounces."

Page 7 Saturday night was a ‘bright and tight’ silent disco. The Yarcombe & District weekend also included sport, public speaking, debating Young Farmers' Club competitions and the drama competition. This is where we representedDevonandcame2nd. Wenowgoontorepresent After winning the East Devon round of the Annual Drama the South West Area, alongside the winners Somerset YFC, Competition, Yarcombe YFC went on to represent East at the Southern round held at the Bacon Theatre in Devon in the County round on the 14th February at The Cheltenham on Sunday 20th March. Good luck to cast and Palace Theatre, Paignton. They performed against everyone involved for the next round. other winning clubs of Devon. Fantastically, WE WON!! Two of our members, Will Dyer and Morris Burrough, are taking on the challenge of the We then had our re-run of our drama ‘Tower to Tower’ Cycle Ride along with fellow performance at Axminster Guildhall on Sunday Somerset YFC member Josh Fincham. The 28th February. It was lovely to perform our challenge involves cycling 600 miles from The winning show in front of local people. Following Eiffel Tower in Paris to The Blackpool Tower. They the performance we held an Auction of Promises; are setting off on the 1st May from Paris and are set to items included were one cake a month for a year, a cream arrive in Blackpool on the 4th May in time for the National tea for two and a floral bouquet. The auction raised a YFC AGM weekend. Will and Morris are raising money for brilliant £1,709 for our charities this year. A massive Cystic Fibrosis and any sponsorship would be greatly THANK-YOU goes to Will Wallis of Greenslade Taylor Hunt received. Please contact our Chairman or Secretary for for auctioning off all the items for the sale, to the companies more information. and members who donated items for the auction and to everyone who helped out on the day. For more information about Yarcombe & District YFC and our upcoming events, please do not hesitate to contact our The South West Area activities weekend was held Chairman Martin Phillips on 07846 786205 or our betweenthe4th andthe6th MarchinWeymouth. Atotalof43 Secretary Kate Burrough on 07513 573235. members went up for a fun-packed weekend and all had an enjoyable time. The first night was a black tie event and the Alice Quick, Press Secretary.

☆ ☆ Congratulations YFC! ☆ ☆ We send many congratulations to 'Yarcombe & District' on their success in the Devon round and South West area round of the YFC Drama Competition. Good luck, Yarcombe YFC, in the Southern round in Cheltenham!

YARCOMBE PUBHUB PROGRESS UPDATE – WITH MERV EDGECOMBE AND LESLEY PIDGEON It is six months since the idea of a pop-up-pub for Yarcombe was launched at the heavily attended village meeting to discuss the loss of the Yarcombe Inn, its designation as an Asset of Community Value by East Devon District Council and what the community was to do whilst its uncertain future was being resolved. In January the Yarcombe PubHub finally came to life with a highly successful Devon-style Burns Night in the Village Hall attended by over 70 revellers followed in February by a general pub night to discuss ideas for the future. It, too, saw over 60 villagers pack into the Hall for a lively night which resulted in a catalogue of ideas for future events, the first of which was a special Easter Saturday family event in March with an egg hunt, ventriloquist act and pizzas for youngsters whilst Mums and Dads could enjoy themselves in the bar. So what is the future of the pop-up PubHub? How does it intend to grow and develop going forward? What are its aims and ambitions and what does it need to be successful? Its twin driving forces, Mervyn Edgecombe and Lesley Pidgeon, discuss these issues in 'interview-style' and how they see its progress so far: Q. What is your verdict on the PubHub so far? A. We think it has got off to a terrific start and the enthusiasm for it is massively encouraging. Already we are starting to see new faces appearing at the pub nights and ideas are coming in from all sides of the community so we’ve clearly struck the right note with it. We’re taking it slowly to start with by having PubHub nights just once a month, always on the last Friday. However, if things start to take off then this will have to be reviewed. Q. How do you intend to take it forward and what does the future look like? A. The key thing is to always make PubHub nights compelling and attractive – not to just the usual suspects or any one group

Page 8 but to everyone so that young and old alike feel it is ‘their’ pub and it offers something for them. We will sometimes have special events such as Fish and Chip Van Nights, summer BBQs, Gourmet Pizza Van Nights, maybe a Cinema Night or a Tapas Evening but equally important will be regular simple and straightforward pub nights when locals, couples, families and friends can meet up to share good times and have some fun over a drink or three. We’ve started talking to local groups and organisations, from the Young Farmers to the Childrens Fund, to find what it is they’d want from the PubHub and we’re setting up Twitter and Facebook accounts so that we can get feedback from as wide a following as possible so that we get it right and come up with what everyone wants. Hopefully, before the year is out, we will stage a mini Beer Festival, with locally produced artisan beers and cider which will give us a platform to attract punters in from a much wider catchment area and really spread the word that the Yarcombe PubHub is something special and not to be missed. We don’t want to fail for lack of ambition!! Q. That all sounds exciting but what about the constraints and handicaps you are facing? A. Well,tobehonest,thereareafairfewandwe’rejusthavingtodealwiththemaswegoalong.Firstisourvenue–theVillage Hall is hardly the most conducive venue for a cosy, warm pub ambiance but thanks to the help of a small band of volunteers (the Nuts and Bolts Team) we’ve overcome the problem by deploying garden gazebos and yards and yards of white garden fleece through the roof girders on PubHub nights to mask the stark, bare brick atmosphere of the hall. We’re operating on ashoestringbudgetsoitsthebestwecouldmanagebutitworkedbrilliantlyandeveryonelikesit–theyusuallycan’tbelieve its actually the hall they’re in!! Licensing is another issue we’re having to face but we’ve held very successful meetings with the EDDC and it looks very likely that the PubHub will soon have its own continuing drinks licence so that it is not compromising that of the Village Hall Committee. Thethirdmain handicap isvolunteersandhelperswiththeproject. Thereisonly a small handful ofactivepeopleinvolved at the moment and we’d love to have a good supply of volunteers who could pitch in with all the behind the scenes stuff. Its not so much serving and working behind the bar on the night or dressing the village hall – although that would be useful – but helping us turn ideas into reality. Tracking down outside caterers, finding good beer suppliers, helping produce and deliver flyers and posters are all the sort of things which take up the time and require hours and hours of phone calls and driving about the area. Oh, and we could do with more ideas for more nights – we never want to run out of ideas!! Q. Finally, can you see, one day, the PubHub replacing the Yarcombe Inn? A. That is a politically loaded question and one which should be directed at the Parish Council and Village Hall Committee rather than ourselves!! We are simply looking after the entertainment side of matters whereas they are the people who decide on village finances and future policy and it is the Village Hall Committee who decide on what happens on their land. Suffice to say, we firmly believe that the PubHub can become an established entity within the community of Yarcombe and its extensive parish with a strong and widespread following. We hope that if it takes off and we get more volunteers then it will be able to open more nights a month. And then, if that happens, who knows? Already people have suggested that perhaps we can grow out of the Village Hall and into a purpose built building on the tennis court behind or that a PubHub unit can be created at the front of the Village Hall. These are all exciting ideas for the future – first let’s have a successful and fun summer and see where that takes us.

Yarty Gardening Club Hitchcock is talking on AQUILEGIAS. The meeting is in the VILLAGE HALL AT BISHOPSWOOD at 7.30p.m. Also The new year got of to a good start with 25 members we have a self-drive day visit to CADHAY HOUSE AND assembled to hear an enjoyable illustrated talk by Michael GARDENS at Ottery St. Mary on 19th MAY. Visitors are Pollock on vegetable growing. Mr Pollock worked for many most welcome – why not come and give us a try? A year’s years as an advisor and researcher in general horticulture membership is now £12. and was Deputy Director of the Royal Horticulture Society's Mary Gusterson. gardens at Wisley. He emphasised the importance of good compost and soil pH levels and recommended the provision of shelter with hornbeam and beech giving good protection on nursery beds. Preparation of the seedbed to suit different crops was emphasised. F1 hybrid seed, although more expensive, give good results. He gave members a detailed description of how to grow a wide range of vegetables including cultivation, fertilisers, weed and pest control. Our NEXT MEETING is on APRIL 21st and David

Page 9 OTTERFORD PARISH LITTER PICK - 6th MARCH Our thanks to Whitbread plc (who own Costa Coffee) for the donation of litter-pickers and hoops. 24 Pickers (and 2 Base Team) collected 64 sacks of litter, 5 tyres, 7 hubcaps and miscellaneous items. After sorting, 604 drinks cans, 653 plastic bottles, 98 glass bottles, and assorted metal were recycled. If our Litter Picks were episodes of Star Wars …….. Episode 6 would be ‘Return of The Litter Lout’. At the end of the last Pick in November 2015 we wondered if we had turned the corner, after collecting much less litter than ever before. Now we know that Episode 5 was ‘A False Hope’. Prior to this Pick the Parish Council considered whether we should ‘Clean For The Queen’ – a project encouraging volunteers to undertake a major national clean up to commemorate the Queen’s 90th birthday in 2016. Whilst any additional litter picking is commendable and to be encouraged we felt the hype, the celebrities/politicians photo-shots, and the lack of practical (and preferably financial) support meant it was not for us. Rather we will continue to pick for us! Yet again almost every road in the Parish was cleared – and we have offers from various people who will collect litter from everywhere else in the coming days. In two hours our twenty-four volunteers – including eight new faces - collected 64 sacks of litter, and a range of other things including seven hub caps, five car tyres, rubble, old carpet, odds and ends of scrap metal, and redundant road signs. Thisisaconsiderableincreaseonthe38sackswecollectedatthelastPick in November 2015. What is staggering is that just about all this litter has accumulated since that last Pick four and a half months ago. As ever, a substantial amount of litter came from food wrappings - the largest single amount again was from McDonalds (including 53 drinks cartons) – but we also had wrappers and cups/bottles from Burger King, KFC, Tesco, Sainsburys, Morrisons, Asda, Waitrose, Pepsi Cola, Costa Coffee, and Marks & Spencer. Still on ‘as ever’, we collected more Coca Cola Group plastic bottles and drinks cans than from any other manufacturer. We also continued to collect a noticeable number of Red Bull cans and Lucozade bottles. And two changes this month: we picked up 127 plastic milk bottles – mostly the4pintsize. WhoonearthdrivestotheBlackdownHillstodumpmilkbottles? And a sudden surge in Tesco Apple drink cans – 47, all found in just one location! Who, locally, likes Tesco apple drink? One final statistic – 62 different people have participated in our six litter picks, an average of 25 per Pick. The Parish Council now owns sufficient litter-pickers, vests and hoops to kit out all volunteers – thanks to major donations from Litteraction and Whitbread plc. We have bought kitbags, sharps boxes, dog waste bags and first aid kits – and continue to fund the after-Pick refreshments. We are grateful to McDonalds Taunton and Taunton Deane Borough Council who, in the past, have loaned us some equipment and continue to supply refuse sacks. But we are disappointed not to have received a reply from Screwfix Taunton and McDonalds Taunton regarding sponsorship for additional items – now principally some temporary road signsandalitterbinforthelaybyatthetopofCorfeHill. AndtheCocaColacompanytolduswe'donotfitwithinitsoverall community investment priorities' when we sought grant funding. According to their website, one of the four issues it focuses on is ‘community recycling’!! Kindly provided by Steve Horner. RECYCLING - SUMMARY OF ACHIEVEMENTS TO DATE

NOV 13 APR 14 NOV 14 MAR 15 OCT 15 MAR 16 TOTALS AV/PICK DRINKS CANS 163 393 347 837 311 604 2655 443 > Coca Cola* 39 67 95 178 53 117 549 92 > Red Bull n/c n/c n/c 97 35 63 195 65 > Tesco Apple n/c n/c n/c n/c n/c 47 47 47 PLASTIC 190 432 359 760 266 653 2660 443 BOTTLES > Coca Cola* 19 86 54 109 46 75 389 65 > Lucozade n/c n/c n/c n/c 22 38 60 30 > Milk n/c n/c n/c n/c n/c 127 127 127 GLASS BOTTLES 19 92 70 158 41 98 478 80 COSTA – Cups n/c n/c n/c n/c 21 24 45 23 # COSTA – Lids # n/c n/c n/c n/c 15 32 47 24

Costa Coffee cups and lids not recycled – included in the table for ease.

A clean house is the sign of a broken computer.

Page 10 Meanwhile down at County Hall footway and carriageway boxes for CD&S falls further and further behind, fibre cabling, jointing and desilting bearing in mind that the two counties works in existing duct, required for are now the only area in the United new customer connection”. Kingdom that has not managed to put a This is just one positive sign that Phase2roll-outprogrammeinplace. It perhaps there is a realisation that was devastating to learn this week that BROADBAND Yarcombe and Upottery are not very, there have been further delays in very remote and perhaps works need BROADSIDE inviting tenders for this work and even to be put in hand to provide this area of The roll-out programme for superfast if sensible progress is made contracts East Devon with a decent Broadband Broadband in Devon and Somerset is cannot possibly be placed until early speed, something the incompetent ever changing; for the last two months 2017. It is my view that Connecting politiciansinCountyHallareincapable IhavereportedinthiscolumnthatEast Devon & Somerset are simply not of organising. Devon District Council had declared competent to organise this essential Steve Horner. UDI from County Hall and were going it service and like a failing school or alone. However,Ihavejustreceivedan hospital should be put into “Special (In his capacity as a private citizen and email from Councillor Phil Twiss who Measures“ and their activities ratepayer in East Devon). organised directly by Central is in charge of this programme at The STOP PRESS! ... STOP PRESS! .... Knowle explaining that the Government. bureaucrats in Whitehall have found It has been reported to me that Road works on Yarcombe Hill begin ways to stop this attempt to bring a BroadbandspeedsinYarcombevillage next week. It would appear BT will decent Broadband speed to East have recently improved, probably as a begin work to string fibre optic cable Devon; I am also aware that the result of BT tweaking equipment in the down the road into Yarcombe village Mandarins in Whitehall have to new Upottery Exchange, and I learn on existing telegraph poles. Fingers conform to EU state Aid Rules and in all that there will be roadworks on the crossed we may have a high speed probability it was the heavy hand of A30/7-mile straight junction to permit Broadband connection in the village Brussels that halted this initiative. “Safe Access to Underground BT by the end of this year. - SH.

... JUBILEE HALL 100 CLUB ... JUBILEE HALL 100 CLUB ... THE WINNERS OF THE MARCH JUBILEE HALL 100 CLUB DRAW WERE: £25 ★ Philip Bearne £15 ★ Jackie Woolcott £8 ★ Diane Frost ... JUBILEE HALL 100 CLUB ... JUBILEE HALL 100 CLUB ...

CH AND CH ERS CHUR APEL MATT

Church & Chapel Useful Phone Numbers PAUSE FOR PRAYER The Parish Church of St John the Baptist: Simon Holloway, Priest in Charge 01297-35433 or 07986274393. Anne Mills, Pause For Prayer will continue at Assistant Priest 01404-861430. Joan Berry, Lay Reader Maggie Lane's house, 8 Drake's Meadow, 01823-601386. Churchwardens - Mary Smith 01404-861541. from 9.40 - 10.00a.m. each TUESDAY Geoffrey Berry 01823-601386. The Baptist Chapel: Thelma Clarke 01404-861267. MORNING. There is a prayer board in Yarcombe & Marsh Pastoral Team: Dennis and Rosemary Abel Church for anyone to write a prayer 01404-861774. Rebecca Bell 01460-234002. Joan Berry request which will be included in the 01823-601386. Lin Box 01404-861400. Diane Frost Pause for Prayer time. Please come and 01823-601103. Miranda Gudenian 01404-861387. Maggie Lane 01404-861401. Tony and Heather Newman join a formal time of prayer, followed by 01460-234739. Barbara Salter 01404-861465. Doreen Parris a cup of coffee. 01460-62502.

Page 11 RECLAIMING EASTER FROM THE EASTER BUNNY YARCOMBE CHURCH FAMILY SERVICE 11AM SUNDAY 3RD APRIL, CRECHE FOR TOTS

Churchyard Cutting Rota Week beginning: April 4th - H. Derryman & J. Pidgeon The Churchwardens and PCC April 18th - T. Coombes & M. Symes would like to invite all those on May 2nd - G. Dyer & D. Dyer the Church Electoral Roll to join us for light refreshments at the ANNUAL PARISH MEETING at 7.30p.m. on Tuesday 26th April in the Village Hall.

Date for your Diary! Birthday Songs of Praise at Yarcombe OUT & ABOUT WITH ANOTHER OF Baptist Chapel on May 8th, 11a.m., with OUR DEPUTY ROVING REPORTERS Maggie's Mix and the Allsorts. More details in next month's Voices. Mothering Sunday Service at Stockland EachyeartheMotheringSundayServicealternatesbetween the churches of Stockland and Yarcombe. This year the servicewasheldatStocklandon6th March. Itwasgoodtosee that eight childrenwhousuallyattendtheFamilyServicesat Yarcombe came along and joined in. Mr. David Perkins, the headmaster of Stockland C. of E. Primary Academy, prepared appropriate thoughts about ‘famous mothers’ from the Holy Bible for some of the children to read. The children also led the prayers and ably assisted with percussion instruments the accompaniment of Kathy Laing and Bryan Drew for the hymns and songs. The children then sang a song in honour of their mothers, guided by Angela Whitton. Maybe if you were eavesdropping on this service you would have thought that a nursery rhyme was being sung but you would be wrong! It was a hymn that was adapted to April Flower Fairies - be sung to the tune of ‘Sing a Song of Sixpence’. The children’sabilitieswereacredittotheirparentsandtothose 2nd & 9th - Sonia Boyd who are trusted with their education. The service was 16th & 23rd - Charlotte Nally concluded by the children distributing posies firstly to their parents and then to everyone else in the congregation. 30th - To be confirmed Joan Berry. Sonia Boyd, 01404-861343.

Page 12 Yarcombe Baptist Chapel - Something Different for your Diary Ican’trememberfromwherethephrase“DaretobeDifferent”came. However,itwastheMontyPython crew who often said: “And now for something completely different!” Here at the Baptist Chapel, we are doing quite a lot of different over the next few months. This year, our AGM will follow the Communion service on APRIL 3rd. Hopefully, that will save folk a little oftheirprecioustimeastheyhaveonelesseventtoattend. ThenonMAY21st wewillbehostingaCOFFEE MORNING from 10.30a.m. till 12 noon. We’ve not done one of those for a while, so we would love to welcome folk to join us for a cup of coffee, something nice to eat and a time to chat. Then for the really different! Our usual Saturday for a fund raising event is the second one in August. ThisyearthatisAUGUST13th. WewillbehostingaBARBEQUEfrom6.00pmintheChapelgrounds. There will be stalls and competitions to amuse or frustrate depending on what one chooses. Then from 7 to 8.00p.m. we will gather in the Chapel for a musical evening, A SUMMER SING. Maggie’s Mix will feature largely along with a number of guest musicians. There will be plenty of opportunity to join in a jolly good sing. There will be further details nearer the time, but when you are updating your diary, you might like to note: May21st CoffeeMorning 10.30to12noonandAugust13th 6.00p.m.BarbecueandASummerSing. Thelma Clarke.

TES AN DIARY DA D INFORMATION

Our February order of 39,150 litres attracted a price of Church Bell Ringers 22.95ppl + 5% VAT but since then oil prices have risen by Required nearly $6 a barrel at the time of writing. The bargaining power of bulk buying ensures that oil No experience necessary, just a companies offer a cheaper price. If you live in Yarcombe, willingness to listen and learn. Marsh, or nearby villages you can take advantage of this by Enjoy the challenge of ordering every month, just occasionally, or merely once a participating in an ancient and year. For details please contact me, Colin Stewart, at rewarding art. Men and women, [email protected] or phone 01297-792538. boys and girls, come and sit in on one of our weekly (Alternatively, contact Miranda Gudenian at practice evenings to get the flavour of what's [email protected] or 01404-861387). involved. You'd be very welcome. For details please 'phone Graham Wadey on 01404-881811. PARISH COUNCIL MEETINGS 2016 Here are the dates of the rest of this year's Parish Council BULK BUY HEATING OIL meetings. Everyone is welcome to attend them. They are I am now taking oil orders for April. Please submit your held in the Jubilee Hall at 8.00p.m. ● 4th April ● 16th May orderstomebythedeadlineofthe25thAPRILrequesting AGM and Annual Parish Meeting ● 6th June ● 4th July ● 5th either a specific amount or if requesting a "top up" an September ● 3rd October ● 28th November. estimatedamountwithaminimumorderof500litres. Iwill acknowledge receipt of your order; please provide full address, post code and telephone number.

Page 13 IT'S PUBHUB NIGHT! Friday 29th April, Yarcombe Village Hall Pop-up Bar open 7.30p.m., Bacon sandwiches served from 7.30p.m. Just a 'normal' pub night this time for PubHub night. Pub games in the background such as darts, table football, dominoes, possibly shove halfpenny. Come along and join us! Any ideas, offers of help and any enquiries to: Mervyn - 01404-861818 or [email protected] or Lesley P. - 01404-881634 or [email protected]

Stop press .... New Parish Clerk appointed Churchinford & District Village Hall’s Yarcombe Parish Council Meeting Cinema Club presents on There was a Police report this month of two separate Wednesday April 6th: incidents involving car drivers – neither driver was from 12A Yarcombe. The Lady in the Van Showing at 2.30p.m. & 7.30p.m.: Alan Bennett's The Community Land Trust has been formed and the magnificent stage play filmed with Maggie Smith in the title group is still looking for new members to join the project. role, supported by a wealth of UK treasures. It tells the NeighbourhoodPlan–hopefullyyouhaveallhadachanceto mostly true story of Mary Shepherd, look at this and there is still time to comment. an elderly lady who lived in a TheFirstAidtrainingcoursewasasuccessandenjoyedby dilapidated van on Bennett's all who were able to attend. And as ever at this time of year driveway for fifteeen years. there was considerable discussion on the state of the roads; the Parish Council hope to work closely with Devon Wednesday April 27th: Highwaystotryandgetsomeoftheseproblemsattendedto. Carol 15 The Parish Council have appointed a new Clerk, Showing at 7.30p.m.: Based on the Sarah-Jane Martin, and I wish her all the best in her new novel by Patricia Highsmith, this is role. the story of a love affair between two women in 1950s New Vanessa Smith, Clerk, [email protected] York. A quote from the Cannes Film Festival: 'The film we have chosen to award is more than a movie, it is a moment in PARISH FOOTPATHS history. The story is treated with respect and significance.' Performances are electric and the recreation of the period If anyone finds a problem with the Parish paths then mesmerising. please contact me, Maggie Tomkinson, on 01404-861786 or email [email protected] Churchinford Village Hall will open at 2.00p.m. for the afternoon showing at 2.30p.m., and at 6.45p.m. for the evening showing at 7.30p.m. There will be a bar in the THE CRAFT CLUB meets every Monday evening. Entrance charge is £5, payable at the door. Before between2.00p.m.and4.00p.m.intheJubileeHall. theeveningperformancedonotforgettoorderyourfishand If you are interested in joining please phone Pat chips from the York Inn (01823-601333), bring them to the Bright on 01404-861460 - or just come along! Churchstanton Room and enjoy a drink at the Hall's bar.

Page 14 reservations; no fines. Books are delivered by trained and security-checked volunteers from the Royal Voluntary Service who will treat your confidentiality as a priority. For information phone 0345 155 1001 or email [email protected] MOBILE LIBRARY - The Library Van stops near the VillageHallcarpark,Yarcombefrom2.00p.m.to2.30p.m.on WEDNESDAY 20TH APRIL. Please do come and see what a useful asset a mobile library is.

EMMETTS FARM with sandwiches & coffee Several local residents have asked to view Emmetts and as we are now completing the refurbishment we have decided to hold an OPEN DAY when I wish I HOW DO YOU anyone interested can come along and see the could talk finished property. The date will be SATURDAY the about ...... ENVISAGE 9th of APRIL from 10.00a.m. to 4.00p.m. YARCOMBE Mervyn, Jackie and Darren Woolcott. IN 20 YEARS’ TIME?

IllustrationsinYarcombeVoices:WearegratefultoBillSandersonand This England magazine for use of illustrations; others originate from the late Don Tapster. Every effort has been made to acknowledge the source of illustrations; any inadvertent omission will be rectified in Come & Have the next issue if notification is sent to the editor. Friday 1 April Your Say! at 12.00—1.30pm The Tuesday Club At Glebe Farm 19th April, 7.30pm, (next door to the Village Hall) Contact Mary or Brian on The Tuesday Club is holding a FRIENDLY 01404 861541 to book lunch! SKITTLES EVENING with Smeatharpe WI at The Sidmouth Arms, Upottery, starting at 7.30pm FROM MONKS TO THE MILLENNIUM and followed by by Ruth Everitt refreshments. Anyone is Now available in pdf format to download to your welcome to join us, please computer. Please send a cheque in the sum of £7 forward names to Doreen made out to Yarcombe Voices, to The Beacon, Yarcombe, EX14 9LU. Please include your email Parris, 01460-62502. address as well. Thanks go to the Everitt family who have generously suggested that all proceeds from THE MOBILE LIBRARY SERVICE the sales of Ruth's book on the history of the Parish be donated to Yarcombe Voices. We have something for everyone: access to books, audio books, large print and DVDs. Membership is FREE, no ID needed. There is no charge for borrowing books, and there's SHORT MAT BOWLS a great choice. Non-fiction, large print and children's books Thursday afternoons 2.30 - 4.30 and evenings can be reserved FREE. You can reserve books online and collect them from the Mobile Library. Children have extra 7.00 - 9.00 in the Village Hall. All equipment fun joining the Book Track and Summer Reading Challenge. provided. Pay as you go (£2.50/session There is something to offer everyone on board so why not including coffee). Come and have a go! hop on and take a look? THEHOMELIBRARYSERVICE:Lovereadingbutcan'tget to your library? The Home Library Service can bring books and CDs to your door for FREE. The service provides a wide choice of titles; large print books, audio books and CDs; free

Page 15 Yarcombe Jubilee Hall Thank you to all those who supported our March Market. We look forward to giving you a warm welcome again when you join us at our ☆ ☆ S P R I N G V I L L A G E M A R K E T ☆ ☆ in the Village Hall on Saturday 9th April, 10a.m. - 12 noon where you can buy from a variety of stalls and enjoy a coffee and a slice of cake with friends. Perhaps take home one of Lesley's tasty Hot Pies or Gillian's quality Cakes. Visit Derek and Dawn's stall, they will be selling Hilltop Rare-Breed Pork, Scotch Eggs, Pork Pies and Sausages. There will be Fresh Local Vegetables from Mrs Rabjohns; Fresh Farm Eggs, Cheese and Clotted Cream from Christine; Cakes, Puddings and Bakery from Gillian Broom; Louise with her Quality Honey; Jemma's famous Tasty, Crafted, Country Jams and Preserves; Claire's Strong and Healthy Plants and Flowers. Many CRAFT STALLS including Sheila's Cards, Books and Children's items; Ian's Metal Work and Art; Robin's Bird and Flower Boxes; Second-hand Book Stall, etc. Brenda will be back with her Bric-a-Brac stall. Repair Café stand. Hot Pie Stall ~ Refreshments ~ Raffle ~ 100 Club Draw By buying from your successful village market you are helping to sustain your Village Hall. Future Markets : Second Saturday in the month: 14th May, 11th June, 9th July. Buskers and new stalls always welcome; help with running stalls available. Contact John Carter on 01404-861353. Please let us know if you would support any other products being on sale.

What is a Repair Café? Find out more at the Village Market on 9th April!

Flower Show Potato Dig and your crop of potatoes so why not have a go at nurturing a seedpotatotofruition. Thisyeartherearenewtrophiesfor Geraniums - 30th July 2016 each of the Potato Dig classes. The trophies are in the form ✿ The one class in the Flower Show that can be prepared of hand trowels and have been kindly donated by Diane well in advance is the Potato Dig. Now is the time to plant Frost and John Quick. your SEED POTATO to grow for this year's Show. They will ✿ ThechildrenarebeingencouragedtogrowGERANIUMS be available from Joan Berry (01823- 601386) between the FROM PLUG PLANTS for our July show. These will be 20th MARCH and 3rd APRIL or can be collected from the available from Julie Rich (07967 965208) email: porch at the Parish Church on the mornings of Sunday 20th [email protected]. Please contact Julie who will be and 27th March and 3rd April. happy to let you have a plug plant to grow on in pots no Your potato needs to be planted in a bag, bucket or largerthan12inchesindiameter. Itwasencouragingtosee container (preferably no larger than 24” x 24”) which can howmanypotsofmarigoldswehadlastyear,soitwouldbe be easily handled so you can bring it to the Village Hall on tremendous if we could have even more young ones taking Show day. The contents will be 'dug' and weighed during part in this class to produce a colourful display at the Show. the afternoon. Let's hope for fine weather as it can get pretty messy Veronica Wadey, Flower Show Secretary. in the rain! The Potato Legislation to silence Lawn Mowers Dig is open to The EU may have permitted the British Government to opt adults and out of the tampon tax (luxury item according to Brussels), children. The but readers should be aware that so far no such exemption 'diggers' are has been granted for the incoming regulations covering the always eager silencing of lawn mowers. From January 2017 all lawn to unearth mowers whatever their age must be fitted with silencers to

Page 16 comply with EU legislation on noise abatement (section my own tools and lawn mowers, I can do stripes or normal 11618912/6151512). Silencers will cost between £10 and grass cutting, weeding, pruning, hedge trimming and any £25 depending on the cc/w of the machine, are relatively other general tasks ....just ask and I will do it. I have 3 years' easily fitted and are already available for sale in the UK. experience in gardening. I am qualified in tree felling and A. Stulte. pruning. IamalsoqualifiedasacarpenterandIlovemaking things from trees and also things for the garden from reclaimed materials. I have just completed a project in Winsham where I had to renovate a concrete cow shed - you may laugh - into a 4- bedroom eco-passive house of which I did 75 percent by myself and also to a timescale as Grand Designs were filming the project from start to finish (photographs available for anyone to view). So if anyone would like a chat or a home visit to meet me Rosemoor and to discuss anything you require from my services then Outing to RHS Rosemoor Garden please call me on 07751 346214. Kind regards and best 'They’ tell us Spring has sprung – personally I didn’t think wishes to you all, that Spring came until 21st March but now it is supposed to James Lindsay-White. start on the first day of March. Believable if it was warm and drybutnotsoeasytogoaheadwithasthedaffodilsflowered U-GROW I MOW: GARDEN & in January and it is freezing cold and raining yet again. Still, the Yarty Gardening Club remains very positive that indeed HOUSEHOLD MAINTENANCE. HEDGE Spring will come and that Summer will follow in due course TRIMMING, LAWN MOWING, WEEDING, – they don’t say which year though! ODD JOBS, MAINTENANCE WORK, TREE Thinking of the Summer, the Yarty Gardening Club has an FELLING & PRUNING outing on 21st JULY to ROSEMOOR RHS GARDEN. One can Phone James on 07751 346214 often say, ‘I have been there’ but being an RHS Garden it is Or email [email protected] changing all the time and well worth the visit. We are inviting non-members to join us on the outing, which will leave Buckland St Mary at 9.30am and return about 6.00pm. This is a ‘first come, first served’ invite so if you would like to join us please give me, Edwina Wakley, a call on 01460-234477 or email at [email protected] for more details and to reserve your seat. It looks like being a great day.

New Business ... New Venture ... U-GROW I-MOW Stockland & District Gardening Club Just wanted to introduce myself to all who read Yarcombe Voices. I am James and I work with Joanne the Carer who SPRING PLANT SALE lives in Drake's Meadow, Yarcombe. I do odd jobs and fix with Cake Stall & Bric-a-Brac things and do gardening for a couple of her clients. I understand from a lovely lady who Joanne visits that your Saturday 7th May, 2.00p.m. gardener, Luke, has recently left the area and that a few of Victory Hall, Stockland. you are looking for a replacement. Please bring donations of plants, etc., after I live just outside Chard, just by Cricket St. Thomas estate 10.30a.m. Summer Show schedules will be and I have a few clients that I visit on a weekly and monthly available. basis for gardening, odd jobs and call-outs when the elderly ones have no electric or water and want someone they can rely on to come and have a look as soon as possible, even in the middle of the night, just to reassure them all is well. VISIT TO HISTORIC CADHAY HOUSE I am trying to build my business and the chance to help & BEAUTIFUL SPRING GARDENS at and do gardening for all concerned in this area would be a Ottery St.Mary on 19th May. Phone great opportunity for me. I am trustworthy, loyal, reliable Edwina Wakley on 01460-234477 if and friendly and cheap at only £10 per hour. I work days, you'd like to come. (Self drive visit). evenings and weekends, so whichever would suit. I have all Page 17 Transport Solutions for Devon Devon Wheels 2 Work can help people that live or work in Devon to travel to employment, training and education. We provide a motorcycle and scooter rental scheme to help anyone aged 16 and over to meet their transport needs. Our fleet of insured, taxed and maintained 50cc and 125cc vehicles which are available across the whole of Devon.

CAN YOU HELP? In order to take advantage of the scheme you need to be aged between 16 and 65, live and/or work within Devon, WANTED: My Father is giving me his MGC GT for and have a provisional driving licence and Compulsory restoration (1970 reg) but I can't afford to do it up yet and Basic Training Certificate. The rental cost of the bikes haven't got anywhere to put it. I am wondering if any local includes tax, insurance, maintenance, servicing and a six- farmer may have an empty barn that I could rent a space in weeklysafetycheckonthemachine. Ourmobileworkshops to put it. Once it is placed, it could be there for 3-5 years by mean that we are able to provide this service wherever you which time, hopefully I will be able to restore it.....it hasn't are in Devon. moved from its present location in 30 years!!! If you can Devon Wheels 2 Work is entering it's 15th year, and will help please phone me on 01404-861234. celebrate ten years as a Social Enterprise in 2016. For more information please contact us on 01409-253942 or [email protected] or visit our website Community Bus: Your views please! www.devonwheels2work.co.uk The Churchinford & District Shop & Post Office now covers We subsidise the motorcycle rental scheme through our the post office Outreach Service at Yarcombe. There have motorcycle showroom and workshop in Holsworthy. We been multiple inquiries about the chance of groceries to stock a comprehensive range of helmets, clothing, Yarcombe and another potential service includes the accessories, used motorcycles and other motorcycling possible introduction of a community bus service from equipment. Our workshop is open to the general public and Yarcombe to Churchinford once a week, returning after can provide servicing, repairs and MOTs for all makes and approx 1-2hrs (to be agreed), which would enable access to models of motorcycles. the shop & PO and while waiting for return journey people could enjoy the coffee shop. Surveys have been available on the Yarcombe outreach days to gauge interest, but if you would like to comment on this or put your name forward in support please contact: Ruth at Churchinford Shop & Post Office 01823-601026, or email Stop press ....! [email protected] Stockland & Churchinford & District Community Shop Yarcombe Pre-School Before you go to town, try the Churchinford Community Shop. Over 2000 items in stock and competitive pricing! Daily Come and join us for Easter fun at the deliveries of quality Fresh Fruit & Vegetables; Dairy, Bread, Stockland Easter Country Market Cakes, Sandwiches & Pasties. Fresh Local Meat, Free at Stockland Village Hall on Saturday Range Eggs; Beers, Wines & Ciders . News and Stationery. 26th March, 10a.m. - 12 noon Over 25 local suppliers. Post Office open Mon - Fri 9a.m. - 5p.m. Easter Treasure Hunt, Pet-a-lamb Mail, Banking, Withdrawal and Deposits, sessions, Design-an-Egg Health Lottery, Bill Payment. Colouring Competition Mini Rural Information Centre Why not enjoy a Coffee/Tea and Treat offer in our coffee shop with indoor and outdoor seating. FREE use of Community Computer and Wi-Fi Book Exchange, Local Art, Pottery and Cards Open Mon - Fri 8a.m. - 6p.m. Sat 8a.m. - 2p.m. Sun 10a.m. - 12 noon FOR SALE Churchinford & District Community Shop SPINNING WHEEL, New Zealand Type. Churchinford, TA3 7DJ. Tel: 01823 601026 Together with CARDERS, LAZYKATE, Spare Email: [email protected] Spools. £75. PHONE DAWN CARTER www.churchinfordshop.co.uk 01404-861353.

Page 18 Yarcombe Post Office ~ Free cash withdrawals from selected banks ~ A selection of savings accounts ~ Pre-order foreign currency ~ Mobile phone top-ups ~ Car tax ~ Travel insurance ~ Postage ~ Bill payments ~ Cheques and cash deposits with selected banks ~ Gift cards Open every Tuesday 10a.m. - 12 noon

NEED A LIFT? LIKE A FRIENDLY CHAT? NEED ANY HELP? Do you need a helping hand? Then the YARCOMBE & MARSH GOOD NEIGHBOURS' SCHEME is just a phone call away TELEPHONE THE CO-ORDINATOR JUDITH DAVID ON 01404-861685 WHO WILL PUT YOU IN TOUCH WITH A 'GOOD NEIGHBOUR'

BUSINESSES & SERVICES

FOR ADVERTISING FEE DETAILS PLEASE CALL 01404-861387 OR EMAIL [email protected] ADVERTISEMENTS IN YARCOMBE VOICES WILL ALSO BE INCLUDED ON THE VILLAGE WEBSITE

A.G. LONG & SON, PURPOSE MADE JOINERY RETTER'S GARAGE (Tom Retter) BESPOKE DOORS, WINDOWS, STAIRS, CLASS 4 MOT TESTING FROM £45. KITCHENS, WARDROBES, CABINETS, ETC. MOT TESTS ALSO AVAILABLE WEEKENDS 30 YEARS EXPERIENCE. AND EVENINGS. LOCAL COLLECTION AND TONY LONG 01404-861307 DELIVERY SERVICE. SERVICING AND or visit us at aglongjoinery.com REPAIRS. PRE-1960s SAFETY CHECKS AVAILABLE. TYRE SALES/REPAIRS. ------Phone 01460-66744 or 07436 793158 WESTERN BOILER SERVICES FOR SERVICING email [email protected] and MAINTENANCE of YOUR BOILER, AGA or ------RAYBURN. OIL TANK CHECKS and REPLACEMENT. Please phone 01278-431451. KING ELECTRICAL, FOR ALL YOUR OFTEC REGISTERED. ELECTRICAL NEEDS. QUALIFIED, REGISTERED ELECTRICIAN, FLEXIBLE ------WORKING HOURS, 24/7 EMERGENCY COTTAGES, CATS & CANINES : CALLOUT, FREE NO OBLIGATION I OFFER A SERVICE OF DOG WALKING, QUOTATIONS AND ALWAYS HAPPY TO HOUSE/PET SITTING and GENERAL ANIMAL HELP OUT OVER THE PHONE. CARE FOR PEOPLE OUT AT WORK ALL DAY Call 01823-970113 or 07714637592 or AWAY FROM HOME FOR LONGER or email [email protected] PERIODS. Please contact CHRIS HOLMES on ------01404-861795 or mobile 07999-547037 email [email protected] Yarcombe Voices is printed by Chard Digital Print. 01460-66211

THE DEADLINE FOR RECEIPT OF ITEMS FOR THE MAY MAGAZINE IS: THURSDAY 14th APRIL. Please be kind enough to 'post' items in the box provided in the Parish Church, or send to the Editor at The Beacon, Yarcombe, EX14 9LU. Tel : 01404-861387. Items can be sent by e-mail to [email protected] Whilst we very much welcome all contributions to this non-profit making magazine, we take no responsibility for views expressed within the pages. Views expressed are not necessarily those of the Editor. No part of this magazine may be reproduced without permission.

Page 19 FOR QUICK REFERENCE Sunday 20th March - Sunday 3rd April, Seed potatoes available for the Great Potato Dig (page 16). Saturday 26th March, Stockland Easter Country Market, Village Hall, 10 - 12 noon (page 18). Saturday 26th March, Pub-Hub Easter Saturday Eggstravaganza, The Jubilee Hall, from 5p.m. Tuesday 29th March, Pause for Prayer, 8 Drake's Meadow, 9.40 - 10a.m. (page 11). Thursday 31st March, Short Mat Bowls, The Jubilee Hall, 2.30 - 4.30 & 7 - 9p.m. (page 15). Friday 1st April, Friday Forum, Glebe Farm, 12 noon - 1.30p.m. (page 15). Monday 4th April, Craft Club, The Jubilee Hall, 2 - 4p.m. (page 14). Monday 4th April, Maggie's Mix, The Baptist Chapel, 7p.m. Monday 4th April, Parish Council Meeting, The Jubilee Hall, 8p.m. (page 14). Tuesday 5th April, Pause for Prayer, 8 Drake's Meadow, 9.40 - 10a.m. (page 11). Wednesday 6th April, Handbells Group, The Jubilee Hall, 6.30 - 8.30p.m. Wednesday 6th April, Cinema Club, Churchinford Village Hall, 2.30p.m. & 7.30p.m. (page 14). Thursday 7th April, Short Mat Bowls, The Jubilee Hall, 2.30 - 4.30 & 7 - 9p.m. (page 15). Saturday 9th April, Village Market, The Jubilee Hall, 10a.m. - 12 noon (page 16). Saturday 9th April, Open Day at Emmetts Farm, 10a.m. - 4p.m. (page 15). Monday 11th April, Craft Club, The Jubilee Hall, 2 - 4p.m. (page 14). Monday 11th April, Maggie's Mix, The Baptist Chapel, 7p.m. Tuesday 12th April, Pause for Prayer, 8 Drake's Meadow, 9.40 - 10a.m. (page 11). Wednesday 13th April, Handbells Group, The Jubilee Hall, 6.30 - 8.30p.m. Thursday 14th April, Short Mat Bowls, The Jubilee Hall, 2.30 - 4.30 & 7 - 9p.m. (page 15). Monday 18th April, Craft Club, The Jubilee Hall, 2 - 4p.m. (page 14). Monday 18th April, Maggie's Mix, The Baptist Chapel, 7p.m. Tuesday 19th April, Pause for Prayer, 8 Drake's Meadow, 9.40 - 10a.m. (page 11). Tuesday 19th April, Tuesday Club Friendly Skittles Evening, The Sidmouth Arms, Upottery, 7.30p.m. (page 15). Wednesday 20th April, Mobile Library in Yarcombe, 2 - 2.30p.m. (page 15). Wednesday 20th April, Handbells Group, The Jubilee Hall, 6.30 - 8.30p.m. Thursday 21st April, Short Mat Bowls, The Jubilee Hall, 2.30 - 4.30 & 7 - 9p.m. (page 15). Thursday 21st April, Yarty Gardening Club, Bishopswood Village Hall, 7.30p.m. (page 9). Monday 25th April, Craft Club, The Jubilee Hall, 2 - 4p.m. (page 14). Monday 25th April, Bulk Buy Oil deadline (page 13). Monday 25th April, Maggie's Mix, The Baptist Chapel, 7p.m. Tuesday 26th April, Pause for Prayer, 8 Drake's Meadow, 9.40 - 10a.m. (page 11). Tuesday 26th April, Annual Parish Meeting, The Jubilee Hall, 7.30p.m. (page 12). Wednesday 27th April, Handbells Group, The Jubilee Hall, 6.30 - 8.30p.m. Wednesday 27th April, Cinema Club, Churchinford Village Hall, 7.30p.m. (page 14). Thursday 28th April, Short Mat Bowls, The Jubilee Hall, 2.30 - 4.30 & 7 - 9p.m. (page 15). Friday 29th April, PubHub Night, The Jubilee Hall, 7.30p.m. (page 14). Tuesday 3rd May, Pause for Prayer, 8 Drake's Meadow, 9.40 - 10a.m. (page 11). Wednesday 4th May, Handbells Group, The Jubilee Hall, 6.30 - 8.30p.m. Thursday 5th May, Short Mat Bowls, The Jubilee Hall, 2.30 - 4.30 & 7 - 9p.m. (page 15). Saturday 7th May, Spring Plant Sale, Victory Hall, Stockland, 2p.m. (page 17). Thursday 19th May, Outing to Cadhay House & Gardens (page 9 & 17). Sunday 21st May, Coffee Morning, Yarcombe Baptist Chapel, 10.30a.m. - 12 noon (page 13).

APRIL SERVICES YARCOMBE BAPTIST CHAPEL 3rd April at 11a.m. - Thelma Clarke. 10th April at 11a.m. - Songs of Praise led by Jon Robinson. 17th April at 11a.m. - Rev. Nigel Freathy. 24th April at 11a.m. - Café Church with Peter Taylor. YARCOMBE PARISH CHURCH 3rd April at 11a.m. - Family Service (page 12). 10th April at 11a.m. - Holy Communion. 17th April at 11a.m. - Mission Community Holy Communion at Yarcombe. 24th April at 6p.m. - Evensong.

PubHub Night in Yarcombe Village Hall on Friday 29th April. Bar open 7.30p.m. Bacon sandwiches, pub games. Come and join us!

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