Musbury Parish News Winter 2019

Home , Colyford, Combpyne, Musbury

MUSBURY DIARY - Winter 2019 CH - Church; VH - Village Hall; VHCR - VH Committee Room; S - School; SCh - Southleigh Church; CCh - Colyton Church; KO - Knap Orchard;

December

Sunday 1 Village Praise - Wreath Making CH 10.00am Monday 2 PC Meeting VHCR 7.30pm Tuesday 3 Bible Study KO 7.30pm Saturday 7 Christmas Craft Fayre VH 10.00am Sunday 8 Holy Communion BCP CH 8.00am Monday 9 Garden Club Christmas Party VH 6.30pm Tuesday 10 School Open Day S 9.00am - 12 Tuesday 10 WI Christmas Party Wednesday 11 Coffee & Chat VH 10.30am -12 Thursday 12 Election Day VHCR Sunday 15 Carol Service CH 4.00pm Tuesday 17 Bible Study KO 7.30pm Thursday 19 School Christingle Service Sch 2.15pm Sunday 22 Sung Eucharist CH 11.15am Wednesday 25 All Age Service & Holy Communion CH 10.00am Sunday 29 No Service in Musbury Joint Mission Community Service Colyton CCh 9.30am Carol Service Southleigh SCh 6.30pm Tuesday 31 New Year’s Eve Party (Ticket only) Hind 8.00pm - late January

Sunday 5 Village Praise CH 10.00am Wednesday 8 Coffee & Chat VH 10.30am -12 Monday 13 PC Meeting VHCR 7.30pm Tuesday 14 WI Talk 2.15pm Sunday 12 Holy Communion BCP CH 8.00am Sunday 19 Sung Eucharist CH 11.15am Monday 20 Garden Club Talk VH 7.00pm Sunday 26 Evening Prayer CH 3.30pm February Sunday 2 Village Praise CH 10.00am WINTer Sunday 9 Holy Communion BCP CH 8.00am Wednesday 12 Coffee & Chat VH 10.30am -12 2019 Sunday 16 Sung Eucharist CH 11.15am Sunday 23 Evening Prayer CH 3.30pm Monday 24 Garden Club Talk VH 7.00pm Village Website: www.musburyvillage.co.uk JOB CENTRE

Parish Clerk Holyford Mission Community www.holyford.org Job Description Revd Steven Martin ([email protected]) 553180 The Clerk provides administrative and clerical support to the Parish Emma Laughton (Church Office Administrator) 552307 Council and, as the Responsible Financial Officer also manages the Revd Preb John Lees (Associate Minister) 551351 Council’s finances. Linda Joy (Children & Families Worker) 07599292449 Duties will include: Jan Lees (Reader) 551351 Emma Laughton (Reader) 551400 • Managing the PCC’s meetings including preparing agendas, Revd Victoria Chester 07489882824 taking minutes, monitoring actions & decisions Charles Hill (Reader) 552141 • Ensuring planning applications are considered and submitting Revd Jeremy White (Retired clergy) 32299 responses to the District Council Revd Nigel Freathy (Retired clergy) 22303 • Managing the PCC’s finances Revd Canon Colin Preece (Retired Assistant clergy) 552154 • Dealing with a variety of correspondence & public notices

• Administering the parish allotment records ST. MICHAEL’S CHURCH, MUSBURY • Contributing to the quarterly Parish News Churchwardens: Qualities Mrs. Sue Irving, Cherry Tree House, Church Hill 552440 You will work from home and attend evening meetings about 9 times a Mr. Michael Pritchard, Knap Orchard, Combpyne Road 552297 year. You must be computer literate, have strong administrative/ Treasurer: organisational experience and be able to maintain accurate accounts. Mr. Robin Collis, Monmouth House 551105 Ideally you should be proficient in Word and Excel, be capable of working independently and have the ability to deal with a range of issues. Training is available. MUSBURY PARISH NEWS Payment This magazine is published quarterly by the Parochial Church Council of St. You will be paid for 6 hours work per week, currently at SCP 7 rate for local Michael’s, and is distributed free of charge to all households in the Parish. government staff - £10.16 per hour. The cost is borne by the PCC but is offset by advertising revenue and by a grant from the Parish Council. The Treasurer will always welcome How to apply: donations by readers. For more information or to apply please contact the Chairman, Colin The services provided by our Advertisers are commended; when using Corbett - 01297 552068 or email [email protected] them please mention the Musbury Parish News. Editors: Nick Raison, Stockers, Maidenhayne Lane 553525 ([email protected]) Jolly Sargent, Ruffles, Doatshayne Lane 552470 Advertising Manager ([email protected]) Your Parish News relies on advertising revenue from a collection of Distribution: David Antell, Hillcroft, Combpyne Road 553454 local businesses. We are looking for someone to join our small team to manage the retention & replacement of advertisers to Advertising: Nick Raison 553525 secure this income and to co-ordinate this activity with the production cycle of the Parish News. For more information please contact Nick Raison on 07740407704 And finally… Ministry Team Letter

This time it really is. Finally. From me that is. After 15 years I’ve decided it’s time to hang up whatever tools of the trade editors are supposed to have Travelling and move on. I leave the magazine in the capable hands of Jolly and so it’s to him that you should hand out your praise or vitriol in the future! Advent and Christmas is a time of travelling for many, for the distribution of gifts and reunion of families & friends and we wish all safety in their For my part I can only say that it’s been an honour and privilege to have journeys and joyful encounters with those they visit and host. been at the helm of the News for this time; it’s given me extraordinary insight into what occurs in & around this wonderful part of Devon, and has Advent itself is a time of travelling, even if not in terms of distance, but in allowed me to count many of you as friends. our readings we reflect on the journey of God’s people in preparation for the coming of the Messiah and it is an opportunity for us to examine our I’d like to say a big thank you to all who have helped this magazine go from own journey of faith as we prepare to greet the Christ child once more. strength to strength over the years. The list is long and includes of course our many contributors - be they regular or occasional - our advertisers, our At Christmas we remember the journey of Mary and Joseph to Bethlehem, production & distribution teams and many others. Most importantly, the Shepherds visiting the stable, the visit of the wise men and the flight of however, I’d like to thank you - our readers - for allowing us into your the Holy family into Egypt. homes every few months and for taking the trouble to air your thoughts & concerns with us. In our Mission Community we begin a journey as we welcome Steven and his family and look forward to his ministry amongst us. Thank you all so much. Through all our ‘travelling’ we wish you all a joyful and peaceful Christmas Farewell, and a very happy Christmas to you all, Season and continuing into the New Year that lies beyond.

Charles, Colin, Emma, Jan, Jeremy, John, Linda, Nigel, Nick Steven and Victoria

Contributor deadline for next issue Friday 14th February

When’s Enough Enough?

Back in the day when I worked for a large company, I recall that it was not uncommon for major decisions to require rather more than a simple majority vote - often a much larger threshold of two-thirds - to ensure a decisive vote (interestingly the same threshold required for senators to impeach a US President). The logic of course was that in such situations a clear decision was necessary to avoid the risk of upsetting the status quo without good cause (and alienating many shareholders), and also to ensure that those responsible for making the change were properly empowered to do so. In other words, everything was done to avoid the matter becoming divisive and possibly risking the future of the company. Special Services & Events for the Christmas Season Over the last 3 years I’ve looked on in dismay at the cost of failing to Advent Sunday 1 December Christmas Eve follow such wisdom as evidenced by the growing divisions in our country - 6pm Mission Community 4pm Mission Community Crib Service beginning with that between the referendum outcome (which I supported) Advent Carol Service, Branscombe with the donkey, Colyton and our representatives in Parliament - and the resultant chaos & inability 8.30pm Midnight Mass, Branscombe to find a majority able & prepared to do anything meaningful….while any Monday 2 December 10pm Midnight Mass, Southleigh remaining political energy is sucked out of the system. 6pm Christingle Service with 11.30pm Midnight Mass, Colyton Primary School, Branscombe Quite where the next few months leads us will be interesting to see, but it Compline in Advent, Colyton starts barely a week from now when we are once again asked to vote. I can only encourage us all to exercise that right…which for much of our 8pm on Mondays 2, 9 & 16 Dec history was denied us. It is to be hoped that once a certain matter is put to Sunday 8 December bed our energies can shift rapidly towards mending our fractured society. 4pm Messy Church 5pm Christingle Service There… Ambulance? St Andrew’s, Colyton Not one mention of the other ‘B’ word! Come quick…some fool of a canvasser asked Brenda from Bristol about

Thursday 12 December Nick a second referendum! 1.15pm Noah’s Ark, Colyford Hall Christmas Day Sunday 15 December 8am Holy Communion, Colyton 10am Breakfast then 9.30am Holy Communion, Colyford 10.30am Breakfast Service, Colyton 10am All age service and 3.30pm Carols and Crib, Colyford Holy Communion, Musbury 4pm Carol Service, Musbury 10.30am All age service, Colyton Saturday 21 December 11.15 am All age service and Holy Communion, Branscombe 4pm Christingle, Southleigh

Sunday 22 December Sunday 29 December 11.15am Carol Service, Branscombe 8am Holy Communion, Colyton 11.15am Lessons & Carols, Northleigh 9.30am Holy Communion, Colyton 6.30 pm Carol Service, Colyton 6.30pm Carol Service, Southleigh

19h 19a

HELENHELEN G G BEADS BEADS

AtAt TheThe Old Old Reading Reading Room Room StudioStudio InstallationsInstallations & Repairs (Axminster(Axminster Road, Road, Musbury) Musbury) SatelliteSatellite Installation !"!" ArtisanArtisan Hot Hot Lampwork Lampwork Jewellery Jewellery and and UHFUHF & VHF SilversmithingSilversmithing DemonstrationsDemonstrations : Lessons: Lessons : Commissions: Commissions ExtensionsExtensions etc !"!" MultiMulti PointPoint Installation VisitorsVisitors welcome welcome but but best best to toring ring in incase case I I amam away away at at a afair fair or or lessons lessons in inprogress progress !"!"

Tel:Tel: 552482 552482 or or 07525 07525 780 780 431 431 m15m15 Email:Email: [email protected] [email protected] www.helengbeads.co.ukwww.helengbeads.co.uk

27 January 2019

Dear Don,

Thanks for coming around on Friday.

I conﬁrm that we would be happy to carry an advert for Probus in our magazine this year. We publish quarterly and distribute free to 300 or so households in Musbury. Our actual readership is rather higher than this as we know our magazine is passed around friends & family in the outlying area. In addition, and although we are primarily a community magazine, through the church it also reaches our sister parishes of Coyton, Colyford, Southleigh & Branscombe. We carry a quarterly diary on the back page of each issue, and we know our readers generally don’t throw out before the next one arrives…thus ensuring all our advertisers have a constant presence amongst our readership. This year we also expect to make the magazine available online. Our magazine is in A5 format and is laser-printed in black & white and published quarterly. We discussed the proposal for a quarter-page advert (approx 50mm wide x 70mm high ‘portrait’) in each of these four issues this year at a total cost of £50

From the information you gave me I would suggest the following19 b(actual size) might be a sensible 19g summary to include in such an advert but I await your further guidance before going ahead.

AXMINSTER & DISTRICT PROBUS CLUB

With a life of work behind you Bespoke Joinery and a wealth of personal and Carpentry experiences to share, why not join our local group of business & Tel professional individuals toThe chat TheThe 01297 24863 about common interests & GoldenGolden HindHind Mob concerns.Golden We meet monthly, host Hind FREEFREE HOUSE HOUSE talks by visiting speakersFREE andHOUSE 07816 922518 have an active social programme. Web ******* www.plumtreejoinery.co.uk E-mail Further information: Tel: 01297 32682 m17 [email protected] email: [email protected] m25

In addition, as a new advertiser, we would be happy to include in our ﬁrst issue a brief feature AXMINSTER PRINTING CO. LTD. describing your activity in greater detail. I would suggest this could take the form of the full www.axminsterprinting.co.uk description you left with me. Email: keith or jane @axminsterprinting.co.uk m21 Find us on Facebook m6 Support your local trades – I look forward to hearing from you. use a local Chimney Sweep • Printers of Private and Business Stationery: To achieve best quality including: Headings, Business Cards, Canvasses, Compliment Slips, Headed A clean chimney Cards, Postcards, Invoices, Menus, Greeting Cards, Wedding Stationery, we try to use original artwork/graphics single through to multi colour, etc. Kind regards is a safe chimney in our advertising. It would be helpful in this Chimney, woodburner and range cooker sweeping. • Well Stocked Stationery Shop: instance if we could have that for your Wide range of competitively priced stationery, for ofﬁ ce home or hobby Nick Raison Power Sweeping, Bird’s nest removal. ‘P’ logo. Many thanks. Camera Inspections, Cowls and bird spikes fitted. • Art and Craft Supplies: including card making Woodburners and liners installed. • Computer Supplies: Tel: 01297 553525 including: CD’s, DVD’s, Memory Sticks, Printer Cartridges, Bluetooth em: [email protected] Speakers, Earphones, Printer Paper, Printer Cables, Printers, etc. all at 07432 118318 or 01404 831288 competitive prices. Evening and weekend appointments available. • Full Colour Posters A4, A3, A2, A1 Thatch approved. NFU Insured. Member of The Guild of Master Sweeps. HETAS Approved Chimney Sweep. • Laminating - from Business Card to A1 size HETAS Registered Comb Binding, Rubber Stamps, Creasing, Folding, Stitching and Hole Punching. Installer. Sweep Safe accredited. WEST STREET, AXMINSTER DEVON EX13 5NU 01297 32266 Parochial Church Council

Our Harvest this year was held at the beginning of October. The Church was beautifully decorated by our talented flower arrangers. We shared tea So, it’s that time of year again and we’ve been busy getting the shop ready together after the service. All contributions of food were given to the for Christmas. I’m sure you’ll like the range of goodies we’ve got this year. Axminster Food Bank and they were most grateful. £115 was sent to the Chocolates, advent calendars, biscuits (sweet & savoury), mince pies, Farmers in Crisis charity. wines, lager & cider. We also have ‘free-from’ mince pies, shortbread & gingerbread men. Spar also now have a vegan wine called ‘Vine & Bloom’, Remembrance Day was commemorated as usual with a short gathering now available in-store in white, red & rosé varieties. by the memorial before moving into Church for a service. Keep your eyes open in the shop for some great deals arriving before £97 was sent to the British Legion. Christmas and grab a bargain. There are also weekly deals on a ‘when it’s gone, it’s gone’ basis, so when you see something you like make sure you We have had no weddings in Musbury this year which is unusual, but we grab it, because it may not be there on your next visit! do have one booked for next year. You probably can’t fail to have noticed our new coffee machine from Do join us at our Annual Christmas Craft Fayre on the morning of 7 Smokin’ Bean. It’s proving very popular and what’s nicer on a cold morning December in the Village Hall where there will be lots of different stalls than a warming hot chocolate, tea or coffee? It’s only £2.20 a cup or go providing many ideas for Christmas presents. Our popular bacon butties large for just an extra 30p. And if you need an additional caffeine hit, we will be on sale to ward off winter chills. Our Monthly Coffee Mornings offer an extra shot of espresso for free, as well as a shot of flavoured syrup continue to serve the village with an opportunity to meet together & chat. for free. Watch out for some Christmas-themed syrups arriving soon for We were pleased to welcome PCSO Chris Bolsover at several of these; you to try. I can see this is going to be popular with competitors on the villagers found it very helpful to talk to him. Any profit made over the year Exeter Trial, which once again visits the garage as a refuelling stop will be sent to the participants' chosen charity in December. overnight in the early hours of Saturday 4 January. Julian and I will be on- site to welcome the entrants as usual. It was lovely to have a few locals We are looking forward to Christmas and all the joy that brings. Before the join in the fun last year, so if you can’t sleep, pop down to see us (although celebrations, however, we also look forward to welcoming the Rev'd Dr the Evershot lardy cake that we indulge in is not for sharing!) Steven Martin to Musbury and the Mission Community. By the time you The shop & Post Office will be open until 8pm on Christmas Eve so if read this he will have moved into Colyton, had his installation Service and you’ve forgotten anything – bread sauce, kitchen foil, cranberry sauce, his first service in Musbury. He is leading the Carol Service on 15 milk, eggs etc etc – hopefully we can help. We close on Christmas Day, December and other services before Christmas so do come along and Boxing Day & New Year’s Day, but open as normal in the interim. The meet him. On Christmas Day, we have an all-age service at 10am workshop & vehicle rental departments will be open for restricted hours followed by a short Communion Service as in previous years. over the holiday period; just ask in reception for details or check the notice that will be displayed on the reception door nearer Christmas. School will be holding a Christingle Service on 19 December to which you Christmas stamps are now on sale at the Post Office. Final posting dates are all invited. We make the Christingles with the children in school for the UK are 18th & 20th for 2nd & 1st class respectively. International final beforehand and then they receive them during the service in the posting dates can be found online or pick up a leaflet at the counter. The afternoon. PO counter is always busier in the run-up to Christmas, so help us to help ‘Open The Book’ continues under the new leadership of Sue McCullough. you by ensuring postcodes are correct and parcels securely packed and The children in Musbury School seem to love the stories we act out and ready to post. Gift cards are also available at the counter, which can be enjoy the many times they take an active part. used at a vast array of retail outlets; they’re ideal for that ‘hard to buy-for’ person (and we all have one!). In anticipation of the Festive Season celebrating our Lord's Birth, we look So, from us all at the Garage, a big thank you for all your support over the forward to sharing carols, readings and messages with you in our services last year and have a very Merry Christmas and New Year. over Christmas. A warm welcome awaits you at all times. Theresa Stockman Kay Short, Secretary We shall once again be collecting for ‘The Children's Society’ this Christmas. There Spar store manager 552711; [email protected] will be donation envelopes in the Church. Musbury Garage 552292

Bible Study Hello from The Hind

The last Bible study this side of Christmas is on Tuesday 17 December, We have had an interesting October. As many readers will know I had an very close to the big day itself! We will be discussing anything to do with unexpected holiday at the RD&E in Womford over half term! I am so Christmas and no doubt what we think of stories written in the Bible overwhelmed by all of the offers of help, good wishes, cards & gifts we covering this subject since they were composed many years after the received. We are so grateful, and I am pleased to report I am now on the event. All interesting and thought provoking stuff. What is more it will be mend. Thank you also to Ralph, Jane, Emily & Pete for holding the fort celebration festive time as well with wine nibbles and cake! and helping Adrian; we are very lucky.

When the studies start again after Christmas is a little uncertain but please We have some great events coming up: watch out for notices. Anyone is welcome to come along to these study groups, usually held at Knap Orchard on the Combpyne Road. Tuesday 24 December Christmas Draw from 7pm

Michael Pritchard Saturday 28 December The Chantry Buoys fundraising for the Air Ambulance & Curry Night . Musbury Moles Tuesday 31 December New Year’s Eve Party with Buffet and disco 8pm till late optional fancy dress this year we have gone with the theme School Disco!! Tickets available now for £10 and include Hot Beef and/or Turkey Musbury Moles has been growing in size and welcoming new children rolls with Roasties and a rum cocktail or glass of fizz on arrival. since the summer. Our in-house Forest School Programme delivered by our forest school leader has gone from strength to strength: Our Christmas Opening Hours as our normal apart from: ✴ We’ve had help from an AONB grant to resource our outdoor learning. ✴ We’ve now completed our platinum award from the Woodland Trust. Christmas Eve Bar 12pm – Midnight Food served 12-6pm ✴ We’re striving for our Eco School flag award after completing bronze, silver & gold Eco awards. Christmas Day 11.30-2pm Bar only Kitchen Closed As you can see, the Moles are really busy learning about how to make their world a better place. All the children understand about recycling and we Boxing Day Closed have many recycling points within the setting. We have been enjoying our beautiful community. We have walked towards the castle visiting the cows New Year’s Eve Ticket only event from 8pm and admiring Colonel Drake’s gardens & waterfall. The park is a firm favourite among the children and we’ve been enjoying autumn walks and New Year’s Day Bar 1-5pm New Year’s Day Roast 1-3pm morning snacks there. The children love seeing all the people in the village and learning about what makes Musbury special. January Please note that we’ll again be taking some time off away with the girls, We’re gearing up for the festive season and enjoying going outside in the which means our kitchen will be closed 2-17 January. However, during wet weather as it’s perfect for puddle jumping! The children have already this time the pub bar will be open in the evenings and Sunday lunchtimes. been asking if it will snow. Thank you for your understanding.

We continue to place the children at the centre of everything we do, Have a great Christmas and we wish everyone a fantastic 2020! enabling us to understand our children’s unique path to learning. Our environment is dedicated by the children’s interest & needs. This allows Best Wishes change and becomes a really exciting place to be. Emma, Adrian, Phoebe & Imogen Many thanks from Musbury Moles

Trees Church Flowers and Cleaning “The greatest threat to our planet is the belief that someone else will save it” As usual my grateful thanks to all arrangers who decorated the Church for Harvest, the displays of Autumn colours looked beautiful. The above quote is by Robert Swan OBE, and who might Robert Swan be many will ask? Well, he is a British explorer - now turned environmentalist Our next festival is of course Christmas, that wonderful time of holly & ivy and he is trying to persuade the powers that be around the world that the and all things green in our arrangements. Decorating will be on Friday/ Antarctic continent should be entirely left alone and not exploited for its Saturday 13/14 December, ready for the Carol Service on Sunday 15 mineral wealth by any nation. December. As usual predominately greenery with a few flowers if you so wish. The quote was at the heading of a recent Midweek Herald feature on a Rebellion Extinction gathering in Seaton. Many people of all ages held their I will shortly be preparing the rota for flowers and cleaning for 2020, so if banners up high & paraded along the sea front. What do we all think of anyone would like to join our merry band, do please contact me. Even one this publicity of trying to reduce our carbon footprint, the demise of insects, duty a year would be appreciated. possible world extinction, Greta Thunberg, children taking time off school and councils trying to become carbon neutral by 2030? Is this a subject On a ‘green’ note, we now have a green waste bin collection so please, that we let someone else worry about? when you are clearing flowers put them in this bin. Please take care not to put oasis in the green bin or any other non-recyclable matter which should In another newspaper report, the Sidmouth Herald recently published an go in the normal waste bin. The current compost bin will be removed. article saying that a top team of environmental experts have been charged with ensuring Devon reduces carbon emissions as quickly as possible and May I take this opportunity to thank you all for your continued support and wish you all a very happy Christmas. is calling for residents to submit their ideas on how to achieve this. (They didn’t say how or where to make your submissions!). A Net-Zero Task Sue Irving Force has been appointed by the Devon Climate Emergency Response 552440 Group. This all sounds rather like a ‘what to do in the case of a nuclear em: [email protected] attack’ as was planned & actioned, including in Musbury 40 years ago at the height of the cold war. Perhaps though, we need to take climate change as seriously as a possible nuclear war. ************************** However, we must not be too cynical and pessimistic about the future and live in positive hope for the next generations, our children, grandchildren Church Records and great grandchildren. The future is very exciting and many of our grandchildren will hopefully live into the next century. One wonders what the world will be like in 2100. Burial of Ashes

So let’s all, including the large land owners and the National Trust think 25 October 2019 Jane Kessler about whether it is possible to squeeze another tree in our gardens, hedges or fields and it does not need to be a mighty oak but could easily be a small ornamental one or perhaps a fruit tree such as an apple. This is Funeral the time of the year when trees should be planted. 11 November 2019 Jean Hotston By the way, Seaton has an Environmental Action Group and have already been offered 400 native saplings by some unknown organisation in the town!

Read Easy Helping adults to read

Axminster & Seaton Read Easy is one of 29 groups that have been established nationwide since Read Easy UK was formed in 2011 in Dorset. Our local group (which now stretches to Chard, Sidmouth, Honiton & Lyme Regis!) was created in 2014 in response to the needs of those in East Devon who struggled with reading and, consequently, often with life in general. Around 5% of adults in England have literacy levels well below those expected of a 9 year old and about 16% are 'functionally illiterate' having literacy skills at 11 or below and would not pass an English GCSE. Many areas of employment are not open to them with this level of literacy and they may also struggle to support their children with reading & homework, or perform other everyday tasks.

We have, since then, coached over 60 adults who have wanted to improve their reading skills. Some have come to us with very poor skills while others have had no confidence in their reading ability which is very life limiting. However, all have benefited from free, flexible, friendly, one-to- one tuition and it is so rewarding to help someone acquire self belief as their skills improve. It is hard to imagine how vulnerable people can be if they are not able to read everyday notices, instructions, letters, prescriptions etc and many develop a variety of strategies to hide their lack of skills.

At present we are working with 24 readers across the region from those in their 20s to those in their 60s. We are seeing not only reading skills but also life skills improving, often quite dramatically in some cases, as their self esteem and confidence grow.

Do look at the website www.readeasy.org.uk for stories of changed lives and a link to our Facebook page. If you know anyone needing help with their reading or would like to join our team of coaches please call me or send me an email

Sheila Abdy 552847 em: [email protected]

19f 19c

• Evershot Bakery bread • Post Office in-store • Fresh Fruit & Vegetables • National Lottery including local growers • Free to Use Cash Machine • Off Licence with chilled wines, • Woodland View & beers & ciders Colyton Butchers Local • Newspapers & Magazines Fresh Meats • Dry Cleaning & Shoe Repairs • Khushi curries SHOP & OPEN MON-SAT 7.30am8.00pm SUN 8am-8pm 01297 552292

Family Funeral Directors & Monumental Masons • Full range of Cars & Vans including automatic cars, Lutons with tail-lifts & 9-17 seater minibuses 01297 W. G. Potter • European Travel Specialists William Potter House, West Street, Axminster 01297 34283 • Special weekend rates 553700

AND DON’T FORGET Overmass & Chapple THE WORKSHOP...... Chapple Court, Queen Street, Seaton 01297 20644 • Class 4 & 7 MOT Testing Ofﬁces also at Bridport, Honiton & Ottery St. Mary

HAPPY DAYS HELEN G BEADS at Ride the Beer Heights Light Railway At A relaxing mile-long journey through tranquil gardens. The Old Reading Room Indoor and Outdoor Play Studio Children can let off steam, whatever the weather, inside our Installations & Repairs (Axminster Road, Musbury) multi-level Play Station & outside in the adventure play areas. Satellite Installation !" Artisan Hot Lampwork Jewellery and Stunning Views Across Lyme Bay UHF & VHF Silversmithing Sea views over the village of Beer as far as Portland Bill. Extensions etc Demonstrations : Lessons : Commissions Peco Model Railway Exhibition !" Multi Point Installation Visitors welcome but best to ring in case I Marvel at the beautifully crafted model scenes in various am away at a fair or lessons in progress scales and gauges. !" Open every day Tel: 552482 or 07525 780 431 For special events including m23 Theatre in the Gardens throughout the summer m15 Email: [email protected] visit our website: www.pecorama.co.uk m2 www.helengbeads.co.uk m15 BEER • DEVON • EX12 3NA • Tel: 01297 21542

m12

m18 Read Easy Helping adults to read

Sheila Abdy 552847 em: [email protected]

Musbury Plant & Craft Sale and Show School Matters News from Musbury Primary School We have made the following advance bookings at the Village Hall for both The children returned full of enthusiasm for their learning and made a very events in 2020 so you can plan your gardens and allotments in good time: positive start to the new term. We have adapted our curriculum offer to include regular Forest School sessions for all pupils and have been Plant Sale investing in stock for our school library. Main Hall Children have represented the school in gymnastics, dance, swimming, mountain biking & netball throughout the term. As part of our history project, we went around the village, asking about the types of buildings, Friday 8 May 4.30-7.30pm why certain features existed and what this tells us about the past. Saturday 9 May 7.30am-1pm On Tuesday 10 December we will be holding a community open morning Musbury Village Show from 9am until 12 noon. Class 2 will be creating Christmas Decorations using needle & thread and Class 1 will be joining in with their own activity. We would like to invite any members of the community into school to Main Hall and Committee Room support the children with these projects. Furthermore, on Monday 9 December from 1pm, we will be hosting a Stay and Play toddler session in Friday 14 August 4.30-7.30pm the school hall. This session will be led by our Early Years Teacher Mrs Wilcox. For either event, please contact the school office to confirm your Saturday 15 August 8am-5.30pm attendance (552297 or email [email protected]) Mr T Nield Head of Teaching & Learning This year also sees the return of the Garden Charm Competition to be held in June.

So, time now to look at catalogues in the comfort of your own home and prepare for Spring!

Valerie Nicholls (552131) em: [email protected]

Nature Watch Musbury Garden Club

The berry crop this year is fantastic. Hawthorns are laden with dark The Garden Club will be about to meet (9/12) for a Christmas session with crimson haws, there are plenty of sloes, our cotoneaster & holly are both a difference.....a Murder Mystery put on by Moonstone Theatre Company. weighed down with scarlet berries, and the apple crop has likewise been The parts are all played by the company, and all the audience has to do is very heavy (in the orchard at Trill branches broke under the weight of fruit). eat, drink and try to work out “whodunnit?!” Although tickets will have been Some would claim that this presages a hard winter but it is hard to know allocated, there may be spare tickets still going, so do contact Val on how the plants could forecast nine months ahead at the time when they 552565 now if you would like to join us. flowered & the fruits set. It is much more likely to be a result of the warm weather than we had in May. ✴ The evening starts at 6.30pm with a welcome drink (prosecco or soft) Doubtless the heavy berry crop will be eaten by birds during the winter. ✴ Murder Mystery starts at 7 pm. Redwings and Fieldfares have already arrived from Scandinavia although I ✴ Finger food buffet in interval by Damon Ralph have yet to see either here; there are plenty of reports from Dartmoor. In ✴ Raffle in aid of Hospicecare at Home & ARC at the end of the evening the last few days, however, Blackbird numbers have suddenly increased and this morning there were at least five in the garden where there have NB Please bring any other drinks & glasses you need been just one or two over the past weeks. Many of these are probably birds from continental Europe moving here to avoid the harsher winters, but we The first two sessions of the new Garden Club season were talks by Ken also know from ringing returns that birds from eastern England move to the Basterfield of Blackbury Honey Farm on ‘Pollinating Insects’ and Will West Country for the winter; between 2003 and 2006 a colour-ringed Livingstone, formerly Head Gardener at River Cottage on ‘The Organic Blackbird spent each summer in Thetford, Norfolk, and each winter in a Kitchen Garden’. Newton Abbot garden. The gale in early November brought down a large oak in a hedgerow near Coming up in January we have a talk with a difference, from Pam our house. I went to look at it with an eye to possible firewood but found Simpson, an Art & Design Historian. It is on ‘Dutch Flower Painters and that the trunk had just a few inches of sound wood on the outside while the Landscape Painting'. Pam has worked in London Art schools for 30 years, whole of the middle had the consistency and appearance of rather dry dark and now runs courses and study days in Bridport and Lyme Regis. Do join brown cheese. This is caused by one of the few fungi that can feed on oak us on Monday 20 January. heartwood, which is normally very hard and strong and very resistant to decay but not to these fungi. These heartwood-rotters often produce large February’s talk on Monday 24th is by Becca Flintham. ‘Water, Water saddle-like fruiting bodies on the outside of the trunk, and beneath these in Everywhere’ looks at climate change and how it brings gardeners extra dry weather one can often see a dusting of minute reddish-brown spores. challenges in the form of not enough water - or too much when it does Some of these fruiting bodies are hard and solid and last for several years. arrive! How can we garden in more water-wise ways, both for ourselves Perhaps one spore in a billion will find a suitable place to settle and grow in and for wildlife and the environment? Becca is an environmentalist, and an uninfected oak tree. works with children and adults on a range of projects. Canada Geese, probably introduced to this country by Charles II in 1665, remained fairly scarce until the middle of the 20th Century. Since then they You don’t have to be a gardener, or even have a garden to come along to have increased enormously and winter totals on both the Exe and Taw/ Musbury’s Garden Club – everyone is welcome. All meetings are at the Torridge estuaries exceed 1,000. Here we have fewer, but earlier this Village Hall, and each session starts with refreshments from 7pm, before autumn I counted over 150 on the Axe Estuary and they now regularly flight the talk at 7.30pm. You can become a member for the season for £5, and noisily up and down the Axe Valley, perhaps heading for Chard Reservoir pay £1.50 per session, or come along at any time and pay £2.50. or for the moist floodplain grasslands further up the valley where they graze on the grass. Opinions differ as to whether they are or a not a good We look forward to seeing you in the New Year. thing; they are aggressive in the breeding season and may drive off or even kill other waterfowl. However, this spring I saw one being seen off in Sue, Val & Karen no uncertain terms by the swans on Lower Bruckland Ponds, so they don’t always get it their own way!

Seaton Wetlands have been busy with winter birds in recent weeks. Musbury and Whitford WI There are large numbers of Teal (I have counted over 150 on Black Hole Marsh alone), and they have now been joined by Wigeon and a few We held our Annual Members Coffee Morning in August. This was followed Shoveler. Shelduck are starting to return but have not yet built up to the by ideas for the next year’s programme and a Ploughman’s Lunch. Not a numbers that we shall see in March-April. All the ducks are now in their bad way to spend a morning! new plumage after their autumn moult and are looking very smart. Waders have been scarce but Seaton Marshes (the area entered from the small Any visit to the circus was eagerly awaited when we were children and car park by the sewage works behind Seaton football ground) are now most of us dreamed about being the ballerina pirouetting on a white horse flooded and the Black-tailed Godwits and Curlew seem to have moved or the principal highwire acrobat twirling by her teeth high above our heads. there; there were 70 godwits last week as well as plenty of Curlew, Teal So, we eagerly awaited the arrival of our September speaker who was and Wigeon, with a few Shoveler. going to tell us about the History of the Circus. His car, however, had other In the Boshill Cross area there are several Cattle Egrets; these are ideas and like that of the clowns’, broke down! He has promised to come white birds with yellow (not black) beaks that often associate with cattle. next year for a repeat attempt. They bred in Devon for the first time in 2017 but are still a rarity in the county. Not all white egrets with cattle are Cattle Egrets; our local Little Harvest supper is always a pleasure as we have a bountious spread of Egrets also sometimes feed with them. Finally, in the last week or two homemade soups and crumbles. there have been several Black Redstarts around the Axe Yacht Club; I’m afraid I can’t enlighten you about what the Ten Steps to a Green Old there are rather dull grey robin-like birds with a chestnut-red tail that is Age are as I was not there. However I can say that we will be having a constantly flicked. They often sit on the roofs of the buildings. wonderful Birthday Celebration at The Mariners in Seaton on 19 November when we will be 72 years young.

Food will again make an appearance on 10 December when we hold our Christmas Party. As is customary, two of Santa’s elves with their sacks of goodies will be joining us.

Before she moves from the area Carolyn will be sharing some of her Weather Watch ‘Treasures from my Travels’ at 2.15pm on Tuesday 14 January. iiuyWeather Watch August was a changeable and often showery month with heavy rain on 8th At 2.15pm on Tuesday 11 February will be a Social Time (details to be & 16th, and a pleasantly warm and sunny spell towards the end. The total announced) and at 7.30pm on 10 March we shall be having ‘An Audience rainfall for the month was 86mm - very close to the 15-year average. The with Lady Katherine’ courtesy of Rosemary Griggs. first half of September was mostly warm and sunny but with very heavy rain on 9th (39 mm). We left for Scotland on 19th and the following Monday We would be delighted to meet you at any of our monthly meetings. We (23rd) the rain began and from then on almost every day was wet. The are your local WI and without new blood our group will not flourish. Please total for September was 145mm; this is the wettest September I have contact either Lesley or Valerie if you’d like further details. recorded in 15 years of measuring. (I may say that the rain did not get beyond southern Scotland; on the north west coast we had a delightful Jean Fullerton two weeks with only two wet days!). Here, the wet weather continued into October, with 25mm of rain on both 12th and 30th and a total for the month of 179mm. Again, this is the largest October rainfall I have recorded although 2013 ran it very close. A very strong wind on the morning of 2 November brought down trees and branches in several places. The wet weather seems likely to continue for a while and the Met office long range forecast is for a wetter than average winter (the Met Office winter starts on 1 December!). Mike Lock

FORCE ATTEMPTED MURDER OF THE RECTOR IN MUSBURY! Musbury Heritage – Stories from our village history Many of you will have heard of us but few will be aware of the full scope of the service we strive to offer. Today very little happens in Musbury to command the attention of the national newspapers, but in the middle of the 19th century…. FORCE is all about supporting local people living with cancer. We are George Tucker became Musbury’s rector in 1822 at the age of 24. By passionate in our belief that professional support - face-to-face, close to 1855 he would have been very familiar with the village and its people, but home and free of charge – is what everyone affected by cancer deserves. this would not have prepared him for what happened on the morning of 12 We recognise that people need all sorts of help when a cancer diagnosis August. He left his home (Monmouth House) at 11am with his daughter rocks their lives. Jane, to go to Church. They proceeded up Church Hill and as they passed one of the houses, they heard a gunshot. A resident had discharged his FORCE offers physical, emotional, psychological and practical support to shotgun directly at them! patients but we recognise that their families and carers also suffer so we’re This is part of George Tucker’s witness statement at the court case held in here for them too. December 1855: - Whether it’s advice on how to tell your child that mummy or daddy isn’t going to be looking or feeling like they usually do for a while, getting “Shortly after leaving my house, the way to church is up a lane past the prisoner's information on what money you might be able to claim when you can’t work house. I recollect on that day arriving opposite the prisoner’s house. My daughter was a little in advance. There is a blank wall opposite the prisoner’s house; the or simply taking an hour for a relaxing complementary therapy session, road is about twenty feet broad; there is no porch at prisoner’s door. My attention FORCE is here to help. was drawn by the discharge of a gun. I was walking about three feet from the wall, and my daughter was about a yard before me. The discharge came from Capt. We have a Cancer Support and Information Centre in Exeter and we also Harvey's door. Capt. Harvey was the name the prisoner went by. He came to offer support and information and fund the delivery of chemotherapy once reside there about the Lady day previous to the 12th of August. I knew the gun a week in Honiton, Okehampton, and Tiverton. was fired by the prisoner, because I saw him standing at his doorway with the gun in his hand, and saw the smoke issuing from the door. I then saw him aim We fund local research and buy equipment to improve patient care at the deliberately at my head. and I turned myself round, and received the charge in my RD&E. head & neck. I then turned myself back, and saw the prisoner go into his house, and shut the door. After that I returned to my house as well as I could, but with considerable difficulty.” All of this is done without NHS or Government funding. We rely completely on voluntary donations from the communities we serve. George Tucker was seriously injured; his daughter less so; the bullet grazed her head and continued to embed itself in the wall opposite. We are very keen to spread the word as widely as possible about the all Although they both survived the attack, this dramatic story ends rather the things that FORCE can offer. So, please remember we are here and sadly in court. It is evident that Capt. Harvey was not of sound mind. He please don’t hesitate to get in touch with us should the need arise. was acquitted on the grounds of insanity and would be “confined during her Majesty’s pleasure” and not released unless cured. Many thanks. This story does leave some interesting unanswered questions: -

Kay Jeffery, Fundraising Assistant FORCE Cancer Charity • which house on Church Hill did Captain Harvey live in? 01392 402875 • is there evidence of the shot damaging the wall opposite? • when did Monmouth House become the Rectory? Any comments on the above would be very welcome. Full transcripts of the initial reporting and the court case can be read at www.musburyheritage.co.uk. It’s a fascinating read!

Martin Minter Musbury Heritage ([email protected])

Co-op Chooses Arc Axminster Heaven’s Above

Sign up – Select Arc! WWinter is closing in fast, with a few clear & frosty nights. This time of year brings the return of some constellations which many know and are easy to locate in the southern skies. We are delighted that Arc Axminster has been chosen to benefit from the First we have the constellation of Taurus with the beautiful seven sisters Co-op Local Community Fund; we’re incredibly grateful for this opportunity near the top, as well as the crab nebula for those with telescopes, at the to make a real difference in Axminster. end of what looks like two long arms or maybe the bull’s horns. On 12 December the full moon can be found right near the crab nebula, although To help us raise vital funds, we’ll be relying on Co-op members. When a the brightness will make it hard to view much of Taurus that night. There is member buys selected products or services from the Co-op they earn a also an open triangle of stars called the Hyades, with the bright star five per cent reward for themselves, with a further one per cent for local Aldebaran. Rising just after that is the constellation of Orion with its big causes like ours. red star in the top left corner and the nebula hanging off the three belt To make this happen Co-op members must choose a cause by going stars. Even in binoculars this is a wonderful sight. For those with larger online www.coop.co.uk/membership. We really hope that people will visit telescopes there are also the flame nebula and the horsehead nebula the website and choose to support Arc. If you don’t actively choose arc near the belt and the bright blue star, Rigel in the bottom right corner. online, Arc will not receive the ‘extra 1%’ If you’re not a member and would Around 13-15 December you can also see the Geminids meteor shower, like to support Arc, you can join at your local store or online at although the full moon so close by is going to limit the amount of dimmer www.coop.co.uk. meteors you’ll be able to see. This is followed around 4-6 January by the Many thanks in advance! Quadrantids meteor shower; this can be seen in the north in the space between Ursa Major, Bootes & Hercules. Although meteor showers are generally named after the constellation the radiant is in, the constellation of Quadrans Muralis no longer exists, (Mural Quadrant, created by the Arc provides easily accessible, flexible, local counselling and French astronomer Jerome Lalande in 1795.) psychotherapy at the heart of the community. The service supports the personal recovery of local patients On 10/11 December at around 4.30pm, in the south west constellation of registered at Axminster Medical Practice who are seeking help Sagittarius, we have a good show of the planets Venus, Jupiter & Saturn. through times of profound change, trauma and loss. At this time Mars & Mercury are both morning objects, but for those with larger telescopes, Neptune will be in Aquarius and is setting around 11pm, and for night owls, Uranus will be in Aries and sets around 3.30am.

Our independent team If you’re interested in visiting the NLO and maybe looking through one of the historical telescopes, our opening times for the next three months are:

Sat 7 Dec 7.15pm What is Star Hopping? Sat 14 Dec 7.15pm The Geminids Meteor Shower Sat Jan 4 7.15pm Quadrantids Sat Jan 18 7.15pm Winter Constellations Sat Feb1 7.15pm How solar system bodies are named Sat Feb 15 7.15pm What is a Star? Sat March 7 11 – 5 British Science Week Kate Kay, Chief Astronomer NLO

Friends of St Michael’s Village Hall

The Friends was set up two years ago. Our aims are to raise funds to help Thank you to all who supported our events at the Village Hall, the weekly preserve the fabric of our beautiful church for the benefit of the whole activities & the one-off events. The hire charges are £9/hr (main hall), £7/ community and to raise awareness of the historic role the building has hr (committee room) & £14/hr (entire hall), very competitive compared to played over the centuries in the life and heritage of the village. similar halls locally. If you would like to hire the hall please email Sarah on [email protected] In October we held a fund-raising event in the church, with soprano Kipper Our AGM is on Monday 10 February at 7.30pm. We’d like to welcome Chipperfield singing musical arrangements from a wide selection of newcomers and would particularly like to hear from anyone interested in Shakespeare plays…by 15 composers ranging from Henry Purcell becoming our new Secretary (please call Debbie on 35898). (1659-1695) to William Walton (1902-1983). The concert was well-attended and the sale of tickets (including a glass of wine) contributed to the funds 100 Club To join the 100 Club email Mary on [email protected] for preserving the building. We are looking for other suggestions and opportunities for raising funds. September winners 1st prize £30 Diane Atthaws (23) Early in 2020 we will be holding an Annual General Meeting. We would like 2nd prize £20 John Burfit (67) to encourage more people in Musbury to join the friends. The church does 3rd prize £10 Margaret Platts (47) attract visitors from further afield with family connections with the village – October winners including Drake family descendants in the USA and elsewhere. Anyone 1st prize £15 Mike Lock (35) interested in joining should contact Rosie Houldsworth on 2nd prize £10 Paul Tipping (4) [email protected] or myself. 3rd prize £5 Ann Brock (11) November winners Andrew Kennon 1st prize £15 Martin Minter (49) 2nd prize £10 Trina Kemp (39) Secretary em: [email protected] 3rd prize £5 Terry Atthaws (19) The recent Ceilidh was a fabulous success and we thank ‘The Crooked Trill Farm Furrow’ for their great contribution to a fun evening. It was so nice to see Winter Market so many locals up enjoying themselves. This would not have been possible without the tireless efforts of the committee; thank you all. If this magazine reaches you in time, our popular Winter Market returns on The Committee is pleased to advise that they will be donating a Saturday 30 November (11am - 4pm). defibrillator for the village. We’ll have a selection of products available from all of our farm enterprises, plus mulled apple juice & mince pies hot from the Old Dairy Kitchen. Axminster Foodbank Stalls will include: Health & Wellbeing Centre, Chard Street, Axminster • Trill Farm soaps & natural beauty products • Gotland Sheepskins & Blankets We really need your help, especially as the days shorten & Christmas • Trill Farm Garden salad & winter vegetables draws near. Often we find ourselves short of UHT milk, rice, biscuits, • Preserves from the Old Dairy Kitchen tinned tomatoes, tinned custard & rice pudding, tinned meat, tinned • Trill Farm lamb potatoes and corn. It would also be so good to be able to give out those • Beautiful mugs, bowls & vases produced by Ali Herbert Ceramics extra treats that many of us take for granted at Christmas, like puddings, • Mead produced on the farm by O'Hagans Meadery cakes, chocolates, nibbles etc - and which help to give a more festive feel. Freshly baked sourdough from Hand to Mouth Bakery • A number of families depend on us as well as young & elderly people Gift vouchers & courses for 2020 • living alone, and toys, crafts or other presents for all ages (new or in The perfect opportunity to do your Christmas shopping. The Old Dairy excellent condition) would undoubtedly be gratefully received. Kitchen will be open for Farm Lunch at 1pm so why not make a day of it? In anticipation of your generosity, very many thanks… We look forward to seeing you! Sheila

Short Mat Bowls Axminster Hospital We have started playing this season’s matches and both teams have had League of Friends mixed results, winning some, losing some and one or two draws. They haven’t played each other yet, but will be soon, which will be fun! Despite little change at the Hospital this month the LoF helps wherever By the time you read this, we will have returned from our trip to Manor possible to keep our Hospital vibrant and an asset to the community. House Hotel. Fifteen club members are booked in and look forward to Carols in Conybeare are once again being organised by Mervyn Symes. some quality time together. We are also celebrating 25 years of Short Mat This is usually a lovely afternoon with musicians, singers and patients Bowling in Musbury. Some readers may remember the Club opening up enjoying traditional Carols and Festive songs. The afternoon is usually back in 1994. Founder members included Ted Soper and his family and the rounded off with tea & mince pies (courtesy of Tesco’s Store). Pomeroy family. Have you been a member at some time over the last 25 years? We have a Christmas lunch booked at the Hind to continue our Axminster Hospiscare@Home nursing continues to flourish; it never fails celebrations with those members unable to join us at Manor House Hotel. to astound me how wonderfully the H@H nursing team remains so We wish our two teams all the best for the rest of the season and thank positive and knows its patients so well. Every nurse & patient is very Christine Pomeroy and Julie Smalley for their leadership. special. We all appreciate this service, and will work hard to keep it in our Even though our membership has increased, we are still happy to district through the generosity of our community. welcome new members. No experience is needed. Tuition is given and Please remember that our service is fully funded by the League of Friends woods are available to borrow. The first three sessions are free. of Axminster Hospital. Donations made to the Axminster LoF We are always being told what a friendly club we are so why not come Hospiscare@Home are ring-fenced for that purpose…whereas donations along and find out for yourselves to ‘Hospiscare’ may go elsewhere in the Hospiscare organisation. Kay Short, Club Secretary The Coffee Morning on Thursday 31 October organised by Gillie George, 552711; [email protected] Jeanette Weard & Hazel Cross was a great success despite the weather, raising over £400 for the LoF via bacon rolls & a grand raffle. Well done to all involved and thank you to those who supplied prizes for the raffle. Personally I would like to thank the wonderfully generous people of Musbury who donated the surplus produce from gardens & allotments to aid in my jam & pickle making. Last year we raised over £500 and are on target for a similar amount this year. Thank you Musbury growers. Septic Tank Owners A reminder that we will be represented at the upcoming Christmas Craft One of the country’s best-kept secrets appears to be new laws which come Fare and the regular monthly Coffee Mornings in the Village Hall. Just the into force in January, requiring the owners of septic tanks to obtain a time to top up with those jams & pickles to support the LoF! licence from the Environmental Agency. It is highly likely that the EA will Looking to the New Year, Emma & Adrian have promised us another Quiz use this as an opportunity to require owners to upgrade their septic tank Night at the Hind in Musbury, which I’m sure will be every bit as good as outfall. Furthermore, if this happens to be close to a running water course the last one. Watch this space for details! they could require its replacement with a Klargester sewage treatment plant or somesuch, costing several thousand pounds. If you would like to adopt us as your chosen charity we would be delighted. If your organisation is having an event, fair, fete or anything else It is probable that - for affected properties - solicitors will now be asking for we would be glad to come along and raise funds ourselves. EA licences in connection with house transactions, without which many Wishing you all a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year. sales are likely to fall through. Given that many of us in & around Musbury are not on mains drainage you may want to check this out, particularly if Ann Veit - Hon Secretary you are contemplating selling! 552376 em: [email protected] Nick

affordable housing in your rural community. Parish Council As well as a useful guide and starting point for anyone living within a New Parish Councillor countryside village community, it’s also a valuable insight - for everyone - At the October meeting the Parish Council was pleased to welcome the into what community actually means and how we could all work to addition of a new Councillor… Matt Craker. promote it. Matt was born in Beer and spent his first 23 years there before moving to Colyford and subsequently Colyton prior to his move to Musbury in 2018. He is married to Devon Climate Emergency Michelle and they have two boys aged 27 & 15. Matt runs an electrical contracting business and 2019 sees his 30th anniversary as an electrical engineer. Devon Carbon Plan process launched Apart from being a keen amateur builder, Matt enjoys singing in his spare time as Residents called on to give their ideas part of a Shanty group and is also a keen cyclist in the fair weather as part of a team of four! The Devon Climate Emergency Response Group, chaired by Phil Norrey Matt & family were overwhelmed with the welcome they received in Musbury; it and comprising public & private sector organisations, has appointed a became quickly apparent that this would be a happy place to put down their roots. Net-Zero Task Force to deliver a Devon Carbon Plan. It’s chaired by He hopes to be a positive addition to the parish and is looking forward to working Professor Patrick Devine-Wright (don’t we all wish we had such a name - with the community. Ed), a leading climate expert, and includes experts drawn from Allotments environmental, economic, health & academic organisations.

All I want for Christmas is – an allotment? Apart from reaping the rewards The Task Force has issued an invitation, a ‘call for evidence’, to all Devon of some fresh home grown produce there are many benefits to spending residents to submit their ideas about how Devon can reduce carbon time tending your allotment. A physical work-out can help to maintain good emissions as quickly as possible. It will be conducting a series of hearings gait & balance and, so they say, help with cognitive decline! to help gather views, evidence & data that will be used to develop We have two allotments now available for rental, one is full and the other a recommendations for the Devon Carbon Plan. two-thirds sized plot, both located in a prime well-draining position at the top of the site. If you are interested in venturing into the delights of being See more at: an allotment holder, please contact the Parish Clerk for more information. www.devonclimateemergency.org.uk Sandbags www.devonclimateemergency.org.uk/category/media-releases Looks like the wet inclement weather is not showing any signs of easing. If www.devonclimateemergency.org.uk/devon-carbon-plan you are in need of sandbags to help protect your property against localised flooding, please contact Cllr Paul Smith on 552225. Parish Footpaths A plea from the landowners to walkers >> Please remember to shut the gates when enjoying a ramble along our footpaths and keep to the line of Next Parish Council Meetings Monday 2 December the path as recorded on the definitive map (OS map 116). Walkers failing to Amanda Hill, Clerk Monday 13 January do this have led to cattle escaping, causing damage to the natural habitat. 553348 Monday 2 March (all at 7.30pm at the village hall) It’s all about Community Remember: all agendas & minutes are on Available to buy or read for free online, this colourful www.musburyvillage.co.uk/parish-council/ book follows on from The Prince's Countryside Fund 2018 research,’Recharging Rural’, which looked at the challenges & opportunities of living in rural areas. The guide is a compilation of expert advice, real life examples, hints, tips, & tricks, and covers everything from setting up a committee to options for getting

Co-op Chooses Arc Axminster Heaven’s Above

Our independent team If you’re interested in visiting the NLO and maybe looking through one of the historical telescopes, our opening times for the next three months are:

Friends of St Michael’s Village Hall

19d 19e

m12

m18 19f 19c

AND DON’T FORGET Overmass & Chapple THE WORKSHOP...... Chapple Court, Queen Street, Seaton 01297 20644 • Class 4 & 7 MOT Testing Ofﬁces also at Bridport, Honiton & Ottery St. Mary

• Repairs, Servicing & Diagnostic Testing to all makes of Members of the National Julian & Karen Hussey Dip FD NAFD cars & light commercial vehicles 01297 Association of Funeral Directors • Tyres at VERY competitive prices 24hr Digniﬁed, Professional & Caring Service • Wheel Alignment Specialists 552292 Prepaid Funeral Plans m8 www.funeraldirectors.uk.com Recommended by The Good Funeral Guide & The National Death Centre m19 Seaton Wetlands have been busy with winter birds in recent weeks. Musbury and Whitford WI There are large numbers of Teal (I have counted over 150 on Black Hole Marsh alone), and they have now been joined by Wigeon and a few We held our Annual Members Coffee Morning in August. This was followed Shoveler. Shelduck are starting to return but have not yet built up to the by ideas for the next year’s programme and a Ploughman’s Lunch. Not a numbers that we shall see in March-April. All the ducks are now in their bad way to spend a morning! new plumage after their autumn moult and are looking very smart. Waders have been scarce but Seaton Marshes (the area entered from the small Any visit to the circus was eagerly awaited when we were children and car park by the sewage works behind Seaton football ground) are now most of us dreamed about being the ballerina pirouetting on a white horse flooded and the Black-tailed Godwits and Curlew seem to have moved or the principal highwire acrobat twirling by her teeth high above our heads. there; there were 70 godwits last week as well as plenty of Curlew, Teal So, we eagerly awaited the arrival of our September speaker who was and Wigeon, with a few Shoveler. going to tell us about the History of the Circus. His car, however, had other In the Boshill Cross area there are several Cattle Egrets; these are ideas and like that of the clowns’, broke down! He has promised to come white birds with yellow (not black) beaks that often associate with cattle. next year for a repeat attempt. They bred in Devon for the first time in 2017 but are still a rarity in the county. Not all white egrets with cattle are Cattle Egrets; our local Little Harvest supper is always a pleasure as we have a bountious spread of Egrets also sometimes feed with them. Finally, in the last week or two homemade soups and crumbles. there have been several Black Redstarts around the Axe Yacht Club; I’m afraid I can’t enlighten you about what the Ten Steps to a Green Old there are rather dull grey robin-like birds with a chestnut-red tail that is Age are as I was not there. However I can say that we will be having a constantly flicked. They often sit on the roofs of the buildings. wonderful Birthday Celebration at The Mariners in Seaton on 19 November when we will be 72 years young.

Food will again make an appearance on 10 December when we hold our Christmas Party. As is customary, two of Santa’s elves with their sacks of goodies will be joining us.

Nature Watch Musbury Garden Club

So, time now to look at catalogues in the comfort of your own home and prepare for Spring!

Valerie Nicholls (552131) em: [email protected]

Stockers Maidenhayne Lane Musbury Axminster Devon EX13 8AG

27 January 2019

Dear Don,

Thanks for coming around on Friday.

From the information you gave me I would suggest the following19 b(actual size) might be a sensible 19g summary to include in such an advert but I await your further guidance before going ahead.

AXMINSTER & DISTRICT PROBUS CLUB

HELENHELEN G G BEADS BEADS

Tel:Tel: 552482 552482 or or 07525 07525 780 780 431 431 m15m15 Email:Email: [email protected] [email protected] www.helengbeads.co.ukwww.helengbeads.co.uk

m5 Lyme Street, Axminster Tel: (01297) 35888 Axminster’s local chippie where the best costs less! Opening Times Lunchtime Mon-Sat: 11.30-2.00 Evenings (7 days): 4.30 - 9.00 m3 Beverley Moorem4 ITEC. EMBODY Complementary Therapist THE SANCTUARY New Grange, Lyme Road, Axminster, Devon EX13 5BH Tel: 01297 35727 Mob: 07768 977996 www.bevmoorethesanctuary.co.uk m12 Trees Church Flowers and Cleaning “The greatest threat to our planet is the belief that someone else will save it” As usual my grateful thanks to all arrangers who decorated the Church for Harvest, the displays of Autumn colours looked beautiful. The above quote is by Robert Swan OBE, and who might Robert Swan be many will ask? Well, he is a British explorer - now turned environmentalist Our next festival is of course Christmas, that wonderful time of holly & ivy and he is trying to persuade the powers that be around the world that the and all things green in our arrangements. Decorating will be on Friday/ Antarctic continent should be entirely left alone and not exploited for its Saturday 13/14 December, ready for the Carol Service on Sunday 15 mineral wealth by any nation. December. As usual predominately greenery with a few flowers if you so wish. The quote was at the heading of a recent Midweek Herald feature on a Rebellion Extinction gathering in Seaton. Many people of all ages held their I will shortly be preparing the rota for flowers and cleaning for 2020, so if banners up high & paraded along the sea front. What do we all think of anyone would like to join our merry band, do please contact me. Even one this publicity of trying to reduce our carbon footprint, the demise of insects, duty a year would be appreciated. possible world extinction, Greta Thunberg, children taking time off school and councils trying to become carbon neutral by 2030? Is this a subject On a ‘green’ note, we now have a green waste bin collection so please, that we let someone else worry about? when you are clearing flowers put them in this bin. Please take care not to put oasis in the green bin or any other non-recyclable matter which should In another newspaper report, the Sidmouth Herald recently published an go in the normal waste bin. The current compost bin will be removed. article saying that a top team of environmental experts have been charged with ensuring Devon reduces carbon emissions as quickly as possible and May I take this opportunity to thank you all for your continued support and wish you all a very happy Christmas. is calling for residents to submit their ideas on how to achieve this. (They didn’t say how or where to make your submissions!). A Net-Zero Task Sue Irving Force has been appointed by the Devon Climate Emergency Response 552440 Group. This all sounds rather like a ‘what to do in the case of a nuclear em: [email protected] attack’ as was planned & actioned, including in Musbury 40 years ago at the height of the cold war. Perhaps though, we need to take climate change as seriously as a possible nuclear war. ************************** However, we must not be too cynical and pessimistic about the future and live in positive hope for the next generations, our children, grandchildren Church Records and great grandchildren. The future is very exciting and many of our grandchildren will hopefully live into the next century. One wonders what the world will be like in 2100. Burial of Ashes

Bible Study Hello from The Hind

Parochial Church Council

When’s Enough Enough?

And finally… Ministry Team Letter

Charles, Colin, Emma, Jan, Jeremy, John, Linda, Nigel, Nick Steven and Victoria

Contributor deadline for next issue Friday 14th February

JOB CENTRE

December