CLYST VALLEY NEWS
JUNE 2020
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All Jobs Considered
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Complete Body Workout Class Angie Pearman CLYST ST. MARY VILLAGE Chiropody/Podiatry Monday morning. 10.30
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MESSAGE FROM REV’D NIGEL MASON In the midst of this lockdown, whether we be isolated in our own home, a key worker, returning now to work or furloughed, the opportunity of observing the world suddenly seems new. ‘Nature is continuing to do its own thing,’ the presenter on BBC’s Countryfile programme proclaimed. And it’s true – even from my own window I can see blue tits taking food to the nest box by the conservatory; young robins and sparrows who have not yet learnt to be fearful of us being PLUMBING & HEATING nearby; and the garden now in summer bloom, with bees buzzing. All Jobs Considered ‘I know a bank where wild thyme blows, where oxlips and the nodding violet grows: Quite over- Specialist in hedge cutting, shrub LOCAL TO CLYST ST MARY canopied with lush woodbine, with sweet musk roses and with eglantine.’ Oberon’s words to Complete Bathroom Suite Installations Puck of course in Shakespeare’s play A Midsummer’s Night Dream which can make us thankful pruning and grass Boiler Services, Repairs & Installations for glimpses of God in wild flowers as well as in garden flowers. All Aspects of Central Heating But we cannot be too romantic when at this time across the world there are suffering and real Mob: 07791100611 anxieties and we all wonder when this is going to end and some form of normality shall return. Mobile: 07985 697205 Email: [email protected] We have to remain realistic and be concerned. Yet there is a need, indeed a place, for hope. ‘Who would have thought my shrivelled heart could have recovered greennesse?’ the 17th century poet and priest George Herbert wrote in his poem The Flower. But it did and he went Custom made on to proclaim, ‘These are thy wonders, Lord of love, to make us see we are but flowers that Curtains and Blinds glide…Thou hast a garden for us, where to abide.’ I have heard of folk seizing opportunity – of speaking with friends of maybe long ago, school By day pals, on the telephone or through social media; of jigsaws being completed; of dusting and Rochelles polishing; even of a book being written and completed! And all that reading! And, speaking Free measuring service personally, I have walked through the streets of Venice (a place I have visited, although that Made on site in Exeter Showroom does seem of a different age), courtesy of YouTube! And sat in the National Theatre watching great productions – all from the safety and comfort of my own home! 1000’s of fabrics to choose from William Blake experienced the darker side of life as well as the sense of the divine dwelling in Fitting service everyone and in one of his poems, The Garden of Love, wrote: ‘I went to the Garden of Love, Interior styling service and saw what I had never seen: A chapel was built in the midst where I used to play on the Foam cut to size for boats/caravans green. And the gates of the chapel were shut, and “Thou shalt not” writ over the door; so I etc turned to the Garden of Love that so many sweet flowers bore.’ Covers made for your foam I pray that all of you, and those whom you love and pray for too, are safe and well and trust in
130 Fore Street, Exeter. EX4 3JQ hope. God bless you.
01392 277921 Rev’d Nigel [email protected]
www.rochellescurtains.co.uk ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ [email protected] WHITE CROSS MISSION COMMUNITY Following Government guidance around non-essential contact during the coronavirus crisis, the Archbishops of Canterbury and York have issued advice that public worship is suspended; consequently, there will be no services at any of our churches until further notice. More details are available on the Church of England website: https://www.churchofengland.org/more/media-centre/coronavirus-covid-19-guidance- churches. New prayers and worship resources: https://www.churchofengland.org/more/media-centre/coronavirus-liturgy-and-prayer- resources. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Contributions, photos and letters to the editor for the July 2020 issue of the Clyst Valley News should be sent, preferably by email, to the editor, Peter
Skelton, at [email protected] or to 3 Brockwells Court, Frog Lane,
Clyst St Mary, EX5 1BX by Monday 15th June 2020 at the latest, please. Please note that contributions may be edited.
YOUR PHOTOS NEEDED FOR THE COVER OF THE CVN! to get out into the (much fresher these days) air and clear some of the cobwebs. Let’s count There must be a lot of budding photographers out there snapping away around our our blessings: we are really privileged to have such stunning countryside on our doorstep to villages. After all, our neck of the woods is rather photogenic. Why not share your enjoy; and facilities to make our daily excursions a positive pleasure. And let’s spare a thought results with our readers? Most months we aim to put one nice pic on the magazine for the many, many other folk, particularly those living in cramped, high-rise blocks in urban cover and we need yours! So please do send in your efforts to the editor, Peter Skelton, who will sprawls, who do not have the good fortune to have ready access to the lush greenery that we choose one each month to take pride of place on the front cover. Go on! Don’t be shy! The best often take for granted. results are when you use relatively high definition settings but that’s not a must. Just email I hope you enjoy the magazine. If you’ve got any items that you think will be of interest for them across to [email protected] and we’ll do the rest. Simples! Thanks. the July CVN, then please do ping them along to me at [email protected]. Stay safe ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ and keep well. A big shout out to all the NHS and frontline workers in our communities to WHY NOT ADVERTISE IN THE CLYST VALLEY NEWS? thank you all for the magnificent job you are doing to keep us safe and sane. We owe you one. If you are interested in advertising in the Clyst Valley News for 2021, you can be put on our Best wishes. Peter Skelton. waiting list, with no obligation. Please contact the Editor, Peter Skelton, at ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ [email protected] or on 01392 879857. CLYST ST MARY ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Clyst St Mary Church EDITOR’S NOTE Just to remind everyone that the church is still locked and closed Hello and welcome to this June edition of the Clyst Valley News – our third on orders from the Diocese, but the churchyard is open for those digital, full colour version since the coronavirus lockdown forced us to of you visiting your loved ones. All the Churchwardens of the suspend distribution of the usual printed version. Please do get in touch White Cross Mission are meeting via Zoom every week so the with me with your thoughts on this means of disseminating the magazine; churches are keeping up with events and needs around our and whether you think it is a methodology we should continue with post- communities. If you need to chat or have any questions, please coronavirus. I would really welcome your feedback as we start to look on the church notice board and you will see ‘phone numbers contemplate what the ‘new normal’ will look like. for Pat Cusa and Linda Beattie. I’m truly grateful to our long list of contributors for once again managing to come up with content for the magazine at a time when most village activities have been curtailed. I’d Coffee Mornings especially like to draw your attention to Clyde Bish’s second fascinating ‘From My Front Door’ These have been suspended until further notice. local walk in the Clyst St Mary section. Lots of intriguing historical background to some familiar landmarks. Do give it a try! Much to my surprise I had a tremendous response to my request for pictures from around VE Day with the Teddies our villages and also of our socially distanced VE Day 75th anniversary celebrations. You can Here is the King with his teddy subjects waving see collages of these in the magazine. Warmest thanks to all contributors. the flags. Peppa Pig is driving the car and Action A big thank you too to Roger Norman for his splendid cover photo of Bishop’s Court, the Man is the protection man. Take care and stay former summer palace of the Bishop of Exeter. You can read more about the palace in Clyde safe. Pat Cusa Bish’s walking piece. Stalwart readers of the CVN will be aware that I have written on more than one occasion over Walking Group the years about the pleasures of cycling, especially in a part of the world where we are lucky Walks have been suspended enough to have excellent provision for cyclists in the form of dedicated trails and wider because of the coronavirus pavements to be shared with pedestrians. So it’s felt like a significant deprivation not to have outbreak until further notice. been able to get on the saddle over the past two or three months when lockdown was at its strictest. (Although I have in fact been pedalling most days – in our spare bedroom on a fairly elderly exercise bike but that’s not quite the same…) Since we’ve been allowed to venture a little further from our homes, I’ve given my trusty velocipede some much needed tlc and been Wombles out for a ride two or three times so far. Nothing too ambitious but it has been an absolute Obviously and sadly, we have had to suspend our litter picking delight and genuinely felt like a turning point in the COVID 19 story. Admittedly, the weather activities over the last few weeks - although the litter doesn’t get has been superb for cycling and to feel the sun and breeze on my face again as I work my way any less...which might lead to the question as to whether those up through the gears, moving steadily away from the village, has been close to ecstasy. going out more at this time are the mess-makers in our society?! Clearly I’ve not been alone - lots of other folk have taken to their two-wheelers too and, However, I appreciate that many of you are walking for exercise although I do sympathise with pedestrians who may feel the traffic on the trails has become and already two very kind volunteers have borrowed the a bit frantic at times, I’ve been impressed with the way both cyclists and those on foot have equipment to ‘go it alone’. If you’d be happy to do this, please let tried really hard to maintain social distancing in a polite and friendly way. I guess we’re all me know and I’ll leave the gear outside my garage for you to feeling the pinch at the moment and there’s a sort of unwritten understanding that we all need collect. If full sacks are too much for your own bins, I will arrange to get them collected from opposite the village shop. Roger Norman (01392 874597 or Table Tennis Club [email protected]) The Table Tennis Club has suspended all play for the time being but hopes to be back very soon! If anyone is interested in joining the club, please contact Pam
Village Hall Gardner either by telephone (07714 097220) or by email at We are in urgent need of new members to help in the [email protected]. management of the Hall if we are not to lose this important village asset. If committee work is not for you, we also need FOR THE TENNIS, SHORT BOWLS AND BADMINTON CLUBS PLEASE LOOK OUT FOR helpers for maintenance and repairs. If you think that you NOTICES IN SUBSEQUENT ISSUES OF THE CVN AS TO WHEN ACTIVITIES WILL would like to get involved, please get in touch. At our RESUME. website www.clyststmaryvillagehall.co.uk you can view a calendar of current Hall bookings and hire charges as well as downloading hire forms and conditions of hire. We have several From My Front Door – Again (Another Lovely Local Walk) Saturdays and Sundays available for hire in the post-coronavirus period. Anyone wishing to Although the recent slight relaxing of the start a regular club should contact the caretaker for the special rates available to regular hirers. lockdown rules allows driving to a place to exercise, there is still a lot of history - both Clyst St Mary Primary School natural and man-made - to discover whilst Well, we are still graced by the beautiful sunshine walking our local footpaths and still-quiet that is helping us through these difficult times so we lanes. This walk goes out to explore hope you are all managing to enjoy it. Sowton village using the original path At school learning opportunities for the children via our online systems and face to face for the connecting it with Clyst St Mary, making a children of key workers remain in place. Plans are being made for the safe, wider opening of small detour on the return trip. It is about the school on 1st June, or whenever is deemed safe, so local residents can look forward to once 5.5 km (3.25 miles) long but as it is more seeing bigger numbers of parents in the playground at drop off and pick up times and the Ray Steer-Kemp greater sense of normality that will bring, despite the social distancing that will apply. primarily a there-and-back walk you could turn round at any time. As before, within the Ever since lockdown began we have been posting daily challenges on our website for children directions I have included some brief notes. (If you would like further detail I would and families to participate in at https://www.clyststmary.devon.sch.uk/daily-challenge/. Do recommend Clyst St Mary by Jean Axford or the more recently published Not Forgotten. There take a look and feel free to join us! We would love to see photos of your participation. Please is also the internet and the Westcountry Studies Library when it reopens.) email to [email protected]. In the week running up to VE Day each challenge built towards The walk starts at the lower car park in Frog Lane. Opposite the car park and to the right is a VE Day Party and you can see pictures on our VE Day webpage, Clear Water Court. This name echoes the name of our river, Clyst, meaning clear-flowing https://www.clyststmary.devon.sch.uk/ve-day/ including photos of the ‘growth’ of the Clyst St stream in Saxon. Mary VE Day tank produced by our 3D printer which was kindly donated by our PTFA. [See 1. Turn left on leaving the car park, walk up the road. also the pictures later in this magazine. Ed] Frog Lane is quite aptly named for much of the left-hand side was marshland before the We wish our entire community well and hope that life will continue to improve for us all. In pumping station was installed to prevent flooding. The terrace of houses on the right is Tugela the meantime let’s carry on looking for silver linings and making positive memories to take into Terrace, named after a battle during the Boer War involving local-boy-made-good Redvers the future, whatever that may hold. Take care! Buller. On the left just before the road turns, number 33 is named Toad Hall - a quite appropriate name. Clyst Valley Pre-School Where the road turns right it follows the route of the Roman road to Dorchester. This road Although we are closed due to the current would have forded the Clyst somewhere on a line from the Travelodge site to where you are situation we do hope to re-open in June. The standing. staff and committee are working hard to make 2. Continue forward where the road bends right then follow the footpath left and cross the stile. sure that we can continue to offer a safe and The tree overhanging the stile with the triangular leaves is a rare Black Poplar. It is a male tree. stimulating environment for our children and their (You may find it surprising to learn that trees (and other flowers) can be single sex, but it is not families. We were rated Ofsted Outstanding at our latest uncommon. Another example is holly - so if you have a holly bush which has never produced inspection and welcome children from 2 years 8 months to berries, it may be a male one.) school age. We offer high staff to children ratios, whilst 3. Cross the small wooden footbridge and continue to and cross the next stile. The stream to accepting 30 Hours funding and tax-free childcare. your right is the mill leat - but more about the mills on your way back. For the moment let us Places are available in September across the whole week concentrate on the hedge behind the stream. Dr. Max Hooper of the Nature Conservancy and we suggest that you take a look at our website suggests that if you count the number of different types of trees or shrubs in 100 metres of a www.clystvalleypreschool.org. You can contact us via the natural hedge and multiply by 100 you will get a good estimate of the age of a boundary feature. link, where we will answer any questions you may have. Give it a try.
After you have crossed the stile face the bridge ahead, then turn half right. On the skyline you names of the fallen could appear on Anglican church memorials so this wayside cross was built will see a single flat-topped tree and to its left a spire and chimneys. These belong to Bishop's to house the tablet. Court, originally the summer palace (and escape from disease outbreaks!) of the Bishop of The drive to the right leads to Bishop's Court. The Court Lodge is Grade II listed - and so are Exeter. Built (or perhaps altered) by Bishop Branscombe in 1268, it was in use as such for 300 the Gatepiers! The house behind you with the chequer-board brick is December Lodge. Surely years. The Bishopstock Festival featured as the final location in the TV marathon blues not another lodge for Bishop's Court? The drive to the right of the building by the road sign transmission of 1998 to end ‘A Perfect Day’. leads to the Old Rectory you have seen through the trees so perhaps it was the lodge for the 4. Continue forward on the raised path, crossing the bridge over the River Clyst. Walk on to a Rectory. It is not listed so it may be a more recent lodge - built in December perhaps? second smaller bridge. This is the original bridge over the River Clyst. If you look to the left If you fancy a wasted journey walk 50 metres up the lane to the right of the Memorial to the you can see a ditch which marks the river's natural channel. Part of the Clyst to the north of pink house and look at the plaque on the gatepost. (I did warn you!) the Old Causeway was straightened to help with flood prevention early in the 20th century. 8. Now it's time to turn back, retracing your route past the church and through the farmyard. 6. Cross this bridge and follow the path on through a small gate built into the main gate. At At the end remember to take the left track. The right track was originally another footpath the next gate the path bends to the left of the wire fence to a stile. Cross the stile and continue which led to Moor Lane. It was a registered footpath when the motorway was built so a culvert along a wide track. You will notice how fine the soil is here. The River Clyst has not always which carries a stream under the carriageways had a raised walkway built into one side to followed its present path, meandering back and forth across the valley bottom, depositing maintain the route. (The path is no longer open.) fertile silt, labelled alluvium on geology maps, along its path. Hence the lush meadows along 9. Go back through the two small gates, turning right after the second one, then back over the our walk. Lucky cattle! stile and along the footpath. 7. This track turns left through another small gate by the side of a larger gate. Continue on but It is worth remembering that in days gone by you had to be buried in your parish church. So if stop by a field entrance on the left. The water course you have been following on your right is you lived on the side of Clyst St Mary village street opposite the school your parish church was the tail-race of a mill leat. But where is the mill? If you look to your right you can see a small St Michael's at Sowton. Picture a funeral procession travelling along this path, the coffin being bridge with a tall building adjacent to the leat. This would be an ideal place for a mill. The carried by six bearers... building looks like the original mill building in Clyst St Mary, now demolished, so perhaps it 10. After crossing the small then larger bridge over the river turn left to visit the weir. On the was. way listen out for (or possibly spot) reed warblers. You may see the abandoned remains of a 8. At the end of the track pass through yet another small gate by a larger one. The track leads swan's nest just before the weir. The swans had begun nesting a month ago but the river level through a farmyard, past the maybe-mill and on to a lane. Continue along the road to the rose and flooded the nest. junction ahead. The mill leat starts to the right of the weir. It was important that the water level was regulated You have now reached the village of Sowton, a name of Saxon derivation meaning South so a spillway was incorporated to drain excess water if the level became too high. The wood Settlement. (So nothing to do with pigs.) But in the Domesday Book it is recorded as Clist behind the mill leat is rumoured to house a Holy Well. Fomison (perhaps because it was held by Richard Fomicun of Gloucester - and the scribe 11. Follow the mill leat, cross over the stile and continue on the path back to the wooden bridge. couldn't spell!) On the way up the village street you will pass a number of Listed Buildings - The right-most of the new dwellings ahead of you is built on the foundations of the old mill. Sowton abounds in them - but we will make our first stop by the church. On your right the There is no record in the Domesday Book of a mill here but there are references by the 12th building next to the row of - you've guessed it - listed cottages is the Village Hall, but was century with it variously named as Clyst or Clist or the Lord's Mill. In the 13th century costs for originally the school. Although education was compulsory from 1880 it was not free. For repairs are recorded in the Estate accounts. It was originally a corn mill which later became a example, local labourers' children were charged 1d per week (but if you weren't from the parish saw mill. The new dwelling is aptly named Mill House, with a rather larger replacement to the the fee was doubled!) Even as late as 1923 there was only one teacher, with the infants being original cottage, retaining the name Mill Cottage. taught by a senior pupil. 12. Climb back over the stile and head back down Frog Lane to your car park starting point. Turning round we face the church, dedicated to St Michael and All Angels. The church was [Grateful thanks again to Clyde Bish who researched and compiled this delightful walk. Ed] rebuilt during the ecclesiastical revival of the mid-19th century. The son of John Garret of ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Bishop's Court decided the design - High Church ecclesiological, influenced by the Tractarians. CLYST ST GEORGE AND EBFORD This result was a rare design which is now a Grade I Listed Building. You will have noticed a Commonwealth War Grave plaque from WWII. If you enter by the lychgate - a memorial to Church Services Sarah Garratt - and walk round the left side of the church and up through the churchyard you All services have been suspended. Please see the notice in the will come on the left to a granite memorial to Sgt Maurice Frederick Causley of the Devonshire White Cross Mission Community section. Regiment, who was killed on 1st March 1941 in a motorcycle accident on the Honiton Road, age 22. He is named on the Pinhoe War Memorial. CSG Parish Council Chairman’s Report June 2020 As you approach the road junction (having passed a listed telephone box!) look up to the left. Ebford now has a defibrillator, thanks to the efforts of Ebford The large building within the trees is the Old Rectory. Residents Group, and in particular Cllr Dominic Hazell, Anna At the junction you will come face to face with an impressive memorial. This is the Sowton War Smith and the owners of Orchard End, Jill and Paul on whose garage it is mounted. Also Ian Memorial, unusual because it lists the names of all who served in the Great War, not just those White and Richard Barwick (RBL) who organised the electrician. The defibrillator is fully who died. It is probably for this reason that the monument is located here. It seems that the operational; its use is self-explanatory and won’t shock a patient if not needed. It is located in memorial tablet was intended for the church but the Bishop of Exeter decreed that only the
Lower Lane opposite Ebford Cottage, on the garage wall, and is very obvious, being round and Little Dragons Pre-School green. We are pleased with the outcome of our Ofsted inspection in April 2018, where we were judged The Parish Council continues to meet by Zoom so that we can keep paying the bills and keep to be ‘good’. We still have a few spaces for children so do come and visit and meet our highly up to date. Our County and District Councillors usually join us, so any questions about services, experienced staff team. We are based in Lady Seaward’s School and open four days a week, do contact one of your Councillors. from Monday to Thursday 8.45 am ̶ 3.15 pm during school term times. For more information VE Day 75 was celebrated in Clyst St George and Ebford but with distancing. Drive/front garden please telephone Elly on 07939 995486 (in school hours), email [email protected] or parties; with bunting, tea, scones and even some alcoholic drinks to round off the day. There visit our website www.littledragonsclyststgeorge.com. was sharing of memories and, thanks to the good weather, we all had an enjoyable day. NB ALL SCHOOLS ARE CLOSED UNTIL FURTHER NOTICE. John Manser [email protected] 01392 874861 ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
WOODBURY SALTERTON Norman’s Weather Report The New Vicar Zooms In! April showers were very slow to arrive this year and the first half of the month Morning Prayer has been held weekly for churches in the continued the near drought of the second half of March. The first significant and Mission Community via the Zoom platform. Rev’d Nigel useful rain, 9 mm, fell on Friday 17th and was followed by two cool, cloudy days Mason has been leading the Wednesday sessions and on 11th which minimised any evaporation. However, before that any garden planting or May Jill Dupain (Administrator) invited our new Vicar sowing had been carried out with a watering can close at hand! Rev’d Bill Lemmey and his wife Daphne to join in. Rev’d Bill However, what might have been a very dry April was mitigated by three wet days led the worship. This was the first opportunity many had at the very end of the month, yielding 22 mm, almost an inch of rain. So April’s total here at had to see and hear our new Vicar. Ebford was 33 mm (1.3 inches), rather less than our 20-year average 0f 49 mm or about two inches. No predictions would be at all sensible for the month of May! Norman Cann Monthly Coffee Mornings Clyst St George Parish Hall These have been suspended until further notice. All our users will be aware that we have taken the decision to close the Hall until further notice. It is a regrettable decision but our main priority is to keep our Hall users safe. What About a Quiz? For the villages of Clyst St George and Ebford there are groups Before the lockdown started I had begun to sell a summer quiz in an effort to raise some more set up to care for the vulnerable members who will now be in funds for our church. I named it The Scarecrow Event Quiz because I was connecting it to our isolation. The Ebford Residents Group is happy to receive any annual Scarecrow Challenge in June. requests for help and they can be contacted by email to [email protected] and for Clyst Sadly this is unlikely to take place which means a loss of fun to the village and a financial loss St George residents Claire Marks is organising assistance and she has an advertisement on the to the church of around £500. If you would like to have a go as a diversion in these difficult Clyst St George and Ebford Facebook page. Furthermore the Estuary League of Friends is times, I can send the quiz by email or by post. Copies cost £2 and there is a £10 prize for the arranging assistance for local residents and Darts Farm is taking orders for food delivery. We best entry. Entries to be in by the end of June. You can telephone for a copy on 01395 232009 are extremely lucky that we live in an area where there is so much support for and within the or request one by email at [email protected]. Payment for same could be made by cheque local community. Pamela Diffey, Chairperson made out to Woodbury Salterton PCC or by bank transfer to the church’s account 30- 93- 14, account no 02863238, Lloyds, Exeter. Woodbury Salterton PCC account. Greetings Cards Thank you to those who have already supported it. I even had an extra £10 donation from Mrs We are always grateful to receive cards (except Christmas ones) for remaking Margaret Taylor in Exeter because she said she had so enjoyed having something different to and they can be left in the church which is normally open between 9 am and 5 which to put her mind. pm each day. Visitors will also find boxes of made up cards for sale covering I have been spending the lockdown in planning out my usual autumn quiz for the church. birthdays, get well, sympathy, new home, thank you, anniversary, etc as well as Entitled Britain in Bloom, it will come out in October. Thanks. Katharine Wheeler cards with no message or wording suitable for any occasion. Do call in and enjoy a few quiet moments browsing and perhaps buy a card. Linda Wilkerson (01392 873699) Scarecrow Challenge SUSPENDED UNTIL FURTHER NOTICE This popular annual event was planned to take place on Sunday 14th June from 2 pm in the Glebe Field The theme this year is People in History – from Caveman to Nature Garden Spaceman! However, because of the coronavirus lockdown, it is unlikely to be taking Clyst St George has a delightful nature garden by the side of the parish church. The aim of the place, sadly. Please check on the latest position. garden is to grow local Devon indigenous plants and trees and to encourage a Devon meadow with local wild flowers. Should you wish to help develop this ‘green’ facility, you can come along on the first Saturday of every month from 9.30 to 11 am. (PLEASE CHECK IN ADVANCE.)
The WI to the Rescue! Collective Worship. Each week our school celebrates collective worship and we share this An appeal went out from the RD&E through our website to help our children have a sense of connection even though they may be Hospital to the Devon Federation of WIs at home. We thought you might like us to share two of these acts of worship with you. Firstly for headbands for their staff. The masks we want to tell you about a Christian prayer initiative called ‘Thy Kingdom Come’ that runs that have to be worn were causing every year between Ascension and Pentecost. The children were told a story about a Princess irritation and soreness over the ears so a pattern was named Aurelie and looked at some pictures of tiles that are part of the Pater Noster Church in sent for a headband which tied on and had buttons each Jerusalem. The tiles all say the same thing but in different languages. side over which the mask tapes could be hooked. Over 150 years ago, a French princess called Princess Aurelie There was a speedy response from WI members and (who had been born in Italy) moved to the Holy Land. Whilst soon the hospital had received 1500. Then a further she was there, she started her own collection of special words, appeal went out for another 500 for use in community which were all written in different languages. She had a good hospitals. start with her collection as she could speak fluent French and Forty-one headbands were sent from Woodbury Salterton WI. These were made by Gill Italian. The princess loved these words so much that she had her Bricknell, Brenda Randle, Katharine Wheeler, Ann Short, Carole Shortland, Valerie Davieson, favourite words painted on to beautiful ceramic tiles with Debbie Jung and Jenny Kemp. flowers around the edge. In total, she had 39 copies of her favourite words written in 39 different languages on huge tiles, Woodbury Salterton C of E Primary School which are now part of the Pater Noster Church in Jerusalem. A Message from the School Team. We would like to say thank you to our Her favourite words were the words that Jesus taught his children and their families for all of your support during the challenging last disciples when they asked him how to pray which we can find few weeks. We all hope you had a lovely half term and we are looking forward in Luke Chapter 11 verses 1 – 4; we know this as the Lord’s Prayer. to seeing you all again soon. Please see our website for a short video reminding Princess Aurelie’s favourite words were the words of the Lord’s you all to live life in all its fullness in these strange and difficult times and to Prayer. Tourists from all over the world visit the tiles today; at enjoy doing the things that are special to you: https://www.woodbury- the spot where Jesus taught the prayer to his disciples. In salterton.devon.sch.uk/category/latest-news/ addition, today there are even more languages. The princess Phased Re-opening. Following the Prime Minister’s announcement governors have met with believed these were the words of God’s Son, Jesus. She repeated our Executive Head Teacher Mrs Gray to discuss the measures that she and Mrs Milford our them many times every day. She wanted everyone to know the Head of Learning will have to put in place to ensure the safe and phased return of more of our words and she wanted everyone to know about Jesus. children. This has involved a significant amount of work to ensure thorough new risk There are nearly 7000 languages in the world and during the ten assessments and staff training are in place to follow the policies and procedures required by days between Ascension Day and Pentecost Christians across the both the Government and Local Authority. At the time of writing this piece it is hoped that this globe join in prayer. 21st May is Ascension Day, which is when work will inform our decision about when and how to re-open safely in a phased and well Christians remember the day that Jesus said goodbye to his considered way. School continues to be open to a small group of children of frontline workers disciples and ascended into heaven. It is the start of the Thy with our curriculum delivered via directed home learning posted on our website and in home Kingdom Come initiative when Christians pray for others each day learning packs for those children unable to access the internet. We thought we would share a for ten days. The children were encouraged to complete some of glimpse of school life with you this month. the activities on the Thy Kingdom Come website as part of their Themes for learning have included ‘The Body and Castles’; on our website there are some home learning and send them into school with the intention of excellent examples sent in by the children of work completed at home. Several children built making a special Thy Kingdom Come book to share with each models of some amazing turreted structures and learned about why and how castles were built other when they are back at school. and where there are castles in our country and around the world. ‘The Body’ topic stimulated As we reached the end of this half term, in our act of collective learning such as finding out about the digestive system, listening to stories such as Funny Bones worship we gathered as a virtual school and said this prayer we want to share with you: ‘Father, and drawing pictures of the body. We are very proud of your efforts and determination in your we thank you for each child in our school. We thank you for the joy they bring and the gifts and approach to working at home. abilities that you have given to each one. Please will you bless them and watch over them. Grant Mental Health Awareness Week 2020. This year’s theme was kindness during the week them strength, patience and kindness at his time. Will you grant them understanding and running from 18th to 24th May. This theme is particularly apt as we have seen all over the world endurance as they face any challenges that they have? Please protect them from anxiety and that kindness is prevailing in uncertain times. We have learnt that amid the fear, there is also worry. We ask your blessing on each family that they are part of, praying that you will draw community, support and hope. The added benefit of helping others is that it is good for our own them close to you and each other. We thank you for loving each one of us. Amen’ mental health and wellbeing. It can help reduce stress and improve emotional wellbeing. Kindness could transform our schools, places of work, communities and families. Let’s shape a Whist Drive society that tips the balance in favour of good mental health, for all of us, but especially for This has been suspended until further notice. those who are most vulnerable.
Village Hall Activities across a sharp right-hand bend it may be safer to cross to the left-hand side of the road and The committee of Woodbury Salterton Village Hall cross back after the bend.’ would like to thank the Parish Council for the grant they It goes on to point out that large groups (troops, etc) should walk on the left with people in supplied for the replacement of the front door of yellow jackets back and front - probably not appropriate for most of us! Woodbury Salterton Village Hall. The Hall is a great Thank you and safe walking! asset to the village and is a great space for community Kind regards. and private events. We have a few regular groups open Roger Norman, Clyst St Mary to all; please pop in and say hi: community coffee --/-- morning, first Monday of the month , 9 to 11.30 am; Woodbury Salterton parent and toddler Dear Peter group, Monday mornings, 9 to 11 am; Woodbury Salterton WI, second Wednesday of the Ethan’s Marathon Effort month, 7.30 pm; whist, third Tuesday of the month, 7.30 pm. My son Ethan has just completed today 104 laps at Clyst St George Cricket (PLEASE CHECK IN ADVANCE WHEN THESE ACTIVITIES WILL RESUME.) Club. He has raised over £1600 for NHS charities. He started this on 5th May on his tenth birthday, originally wanting to raise £500 and do 100 laps as per ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Captain Tom Moore. Then it was suggested he do 104 as equivalent to a LETTERS TO THE EDITOR marathon so he changed it. Plus also raising what his initial target was. He has completed this challenge wearing his Royal Marine Cadets combats Dear Peter including the heavy boots. This is the link to his progress on JustGiving: Bridging the Gap https://www.justgiving.com/fundraising/jenny- I saw the photo of the abandoned bridge that was published on the front of dean3?utm_source=Sharethis&utm_medium=fundraising&utm_content=jenny- the May issue of the newsletter. It was described as a cattle bridge; however, dean3&utm_campaign=pfp-email&utm_term=07ea5f3397b94bf4a496b6c4b0b913a4. All cattle have always refused to cross that bridge. According to my father, the donations very welcome. bridge was used by Bishop’s Court estate when they owned all the surrounding Thank you for reading. I thought it would be nice for the area to know that there have been farmland. Before my grandfather bought our farm he was a tenant of the some positives coming from the younger generation. estate. The estate owned the shooting/hunting/fishing rights to the land. They Kind regards. used the bridge to access the woodland on our farm for shooting/hunting. Jenny Dean, Clyst St George My father can remember the hunt crossing the bridge with their hounds and [Well done, Ethan! Ed] horses, and when the first panel collapsed he can remember riders unsuccessfully trying to --/-- make their horses cross the gap in the bridge. It was the Garratt family that owned Bishop’s Dear Peter Court, and during that period they were the Masters of the East Devon Hunt. Withybed Memories Hope this is of interest. Kind regards. During a recent COVID-induced clear out I discovered these Andrew Mortimer, The Barton Sowton photos. They were taken of the weir on the Clyst in the mid- --/-- 80s. With so many people now using the footpaths by the Dear Peter Clyst I thought people might be interested in some of the Clyst St Mary Flood Scheme recent history of what I knew as Withybed. After many doubts, this looks really promising. Now the CVN In the 1940s and probably before, it was a popular picnic is online, you might like to include this picture. place for local families. At that Kind regards. time there was also a path on Chris Scanes, Clyst St Mary the Sowton side of the river --/-- with a grassy area by the weir and no brambles! I am told that my Dear Peter first visits were on the back of my father's bike. I don't remember Walking Safely that, but one of my earliest memories was of sliding down the As more of us are walking on roads without upstream side of the weir and getting into deep water! pavements at present, guidance from the As a teenager I spent many happy hours there with my friends, Ramblers website and at that time there was a pool just round the bend in the river (https://www.ramblers.org.uk/)might be above the weir. The river was much less silted up and we even useful and hopefully make things safer for both had a diving board! I can remember diving off the riverbank and pedestrians and drivers: trying to reach the riverbed. ‘Different rules for walkers apply when there is no pavement depending on the size of your Kind regards. group. Small groups should keep to the right-hand side of the road so you can see oncoming Liz Whittaker, Clyst St Mary traffic. Keep close to the side of the road and be prepared to walk in single file. If you come ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
AND FINALLY… The Exeter Forum Meetings of the Forum have been suspended due to the Exmouth and District U3A Monthly Meetings coronavirus outbreak until further notice. Meetings have been suspended because of the coronavirus crisis but will resume as soon as it is safe to do so. Look out for our announcement and stay safe! Keep Busy Topsham: Responding to the Crisis by Pulling Together
Two community organisations are working together during the coronavirus crisis to provide essential information and inspiration for Cryptic Quiz on Devon Towns and Villages people in and close to Topsham. They are Estuary League of Friends - a
hugely respected charity based in the town - and Love Topsham, a group by Barbara Scales of volunteers running a community interest company focused on encouraging local business See how many you can work out… and initiatives.
Estuary League of Friends, which delivers social care services primarily for the elderly, has its 1. Queen of Scots goes before a Devon river…………………………………………….. base at Nancy Potter House in Topsham. In addition to serving that town it covers Countess 2. Welsh instrument at shallow river crossing…………………………………………. Wear, Ebford, Exton, Clyst St George, Cat & Fiddle Park and Clyst St Mary, Ringswell Park, 3. This bird of prey has its own place of worship………………………………………. Digby and Sowton and The Rydons. 4. Scooter rider vs rocker gets interred Complementing all of that there is the activity of Love Topsham, working on communications but in the present tense……………………………………………………………………… and in particular its website www.lovetopsham.co.uk which is serving as a one-stop-shop for 5. Female pig weighs heavy……………………………………………………………………. help, guidance and positivity. Check out the town calendar on the site for activities for the whole 6. It led the wise men and they were a bit annoyed…………………………………… community too - and they are still going on, even in lockdown, via Zoom, Facebook Live or 7. Green vegetable goes before ancient form of punishment…………………… other platforms. 8. Sounds like what the bee produces before 20 hundredweight……………… More detailed news in next month’s magazine. 9. Monarchs crown?……………………………………………………………………………..
10. You may do this if you hurt your leg against 14 pounds…………………………. P0etry Corner 11. The start of the place where cup finals are held
finishing with what a dog may do with a bone………………………………………. Overlord 12. County drinks fortified wine………………………………………………………………. By John Smith (of Clyst St Mary) 13. The highest place for the faker?…………………………………………………………..
14. Former orifice for dentist………………………………………………………………….. He struts the tended ground But Overlords can only rule the land 15. Tool clergyman used before missing the i…………………………………………….. As if he owns this place With consent of our acknowledgement 16. Place with lots of pubs?…………………………………………………………………….. (Which I suppose he does) And you who are seignior of my plot 17. Well known for making headgear……………………………………………………….. And I seem just mere steward Have my small welcome on fork or spade 18. Do chocoholics live here?…………………………………………………………………… Of this his ancient field. Where you sweet robin deign to perch. 19. Tree followed by men’s clothing shop………………………………………………….. ©John Smith 20. Stream follows the first part of the fruit……………………………………………… Dressed in bright red waistcoat 21. Precious metal weighs a lot!……………………………….………………………………. Marking as Overlord 22. Attached to a place for sitting……………………………………………………………… His colour of the warrior brave 23. Fruit comes before what sounds like a barrier…………………………………….. Shouting to all creatures near 24. A wee dram before the monster?………………………………………………………… I am master, so just beware. 25. Sounds like a shortened version of a young person going before the estuary minus the river………………………………………………………………………. No fair-weather friend this, [T hanks again to Barabara for compiling this. Answers on the next but one page. Ed] No absentee landlord missed, Even in frosty days so quiet He still checks his land And deigns to feed upon this ground.
Small wonder his sense of ownership So strong. His ancestors lived here long Before we Johnny-Come-Latelys Did arrive. They knew this land And passed the knowledge down.
Lockdown Laughs My overweight parrot died today. I was upset but it’s a huge weight off my shoulder. I saw absolutely disgusting behaviour on the beach The today...I saw a man and a Countryside woman having an Code argument in front of loads Respect of kids...Suddenly the Protect Enjoy woman smacked the guy in the head and it all kicked Respect other people • Consider the local off...There was a massive community and other brawl and someone called people enjoying the the police. This poor outdoors • Leave gates and property constable turned up on his as you find them and own and took his batton to follow paths unless wider the man but the guy access is available managed to snatch it off Protect the natural him and began assaulting environment • Leave no trace of your visit the constable and his wife. and take your litter home Then out of nowhere a • Keep dogs under crocodile crept up and stole effective control all the sausages... Enjoy the outdoors • Plan ahead and be prepared Patient: Doctor, doctor, I think I’m a bridge. • Follow advice and local Doctor. Oh dear! What’s come over you? signs
Patient: Four lorries and a number 6 bus!
Produced jointly The government has with Natural advised local councils to Resources Wales save money on lollipop www.gov.uk/natural-england men and women by moving all schools over to the other side of the road.
My plumber seems to haave connected my combi boiler to my toilet. I’ve been having hot flushes ever since.
Last night I got so drunk that when I got to the bottom of the stairs, I took off my shoes, coat, top, trousers and underwear. Then I crept upstairs very quietly, so as not to wake the kids or my other half. It was only when I got to the very top I realised I was still on the bus home.
Answers to the Cryptic Quiz on Devon Towns and Villages 1. Mary Tavy 2. Harpford 3. Hawkchurch 4. Modbury 5.Sowton 6. Starcross 7.Chardstock 8. Honiton 9. Kingswear 10. Lympstone 11. Wembury 12. Devonport 13. Topsham 14. Exmouth 15. Axminster 16. Beer Thanks to Lesley Hockin, Andy Price, Mike Fernbank, Love Topsham, Paul 17. Luton 18. Cadbury 19. Ashburton 20. Cranbrook 21. Silverton 22. Seaton 23. Appledore 24. Totnes Dunn, Trupti Desai, Rob Snow, Pat Cusa, Mary Gibbs and Kathaarine Wheeler 25. Teignmouthl
Clyst St George Parish Hall
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Thanks to Joe Dunn, Anna Smith, Ray Steer-Kemp, Roger Norman, Pat Cusa, Paul Dunn, Steve Tasker, Stuart Bird, Christine Chittock and Rob Snow