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AXMOUTH PARISH NEWS & the Ax-mouthpiece

Spring 2021 50p Snow covered Axmouth and the Tramway

Can you guess which year these photographs were taken - if so telephone or email the editor. The answer - and the photographic credit - will be included in the next issue and there could be a prize for the winner !

01297 552292 Evershot Bakery bread Post Office in-store Charmouth Bakery cakes National Lottery Local Fresh Fruit & Vegetables Free to Use Cash Off Licence including chilled Machine wines, beers & ciders Newspapers & Magazines & Down House Farm Calor Gas local fresh meat Khushi Kitchen Curries Fresh & Frozen Foods SHOP & POST OFFICE OPEN 7 DAYS A WEEK MONSAT 7.30am8.00pm SUN 8.00am-8.00pm Graham & Sarah Hill welcome you to The

SHIP INN Lunchtime & Home cooked evening meals locally sourced produce Hog roast & Private functions catered for Free House Skittle alley Church Street, Axmouth Tel: 01297 21838

Come & enjoy sailing & motor boating at your local club.

Dinghy Sailing Cadet & Family Sailing Cruiser & Day Boat Sailing Motor Boating & Angling RYA Training Centre for powerboat, dinghy sailing & shore based courses Full Social Programme

Put a spring in your step... PODIATRY Chiropody Jan Hazell Hunt SRCh MChS HPS Registered

clinical foot care, Jan offers a comprehensive range of assessments, treatment and advice for all your foot related issues.

Including General nail care In-growing toenails Nail surgery Diabetes Corns and calluses Verrucae General aches and pains Biomechanical advice

29 Chapel Street Tel: 07782 405011 Axmouth Email: [email protected] DEVON EX12 4AN HOME VISITS AVAILABLE

Driving Miss Daisy

D r iving & Companion Service For anyone unable to drive but wishing to remain independent

We can hel p with hospital visits , days out, shopping trips, visiting family & friends, long or short distances Wheelchair adapted vehicle Covering SeaSe ton and the surrounding arreeas. TH A FRIEND! Ring TiTriciiaa on 07376 370809

Email:[email protected] www.drivingmissdaisy.co.uk Convenieent reliableaand pree-booked

Friendly and professional advice on Lasting Power of Attorney, making or amending your Will and Probate.

Offices in Chard, Seaton and Taunton www.lentells.co.uk

Help control the virus

The main symptoms of coronavirus (COVID-19) are :

A high temperature this means you feel hot to touch on your chest or back - you do not need to measure your temperature

A new, continuous cough this means coughing a lot for more than an hour, or 3 or more coughing episodes in 24 hours (if you usually have a cough, it may be worse than usual)

A loss or change to your sense of smell or taste this means you've noticed you cannot smell or taste anything, or things smell or taste different to normal

To protect others do not go to places like a GP surgery, pharmacy or hospital if you have any of these symptoms. Get a test to check if you have Coronavirus and stay at home until you get your result.

To protect yourself and others, when you leave home you must

• wash hands - keep washing your hands regularly • cover face - wear a face covering over your nose and mouth in enclosed spaces • make space - stay at least a metre away from people not in your household Introduction

Although the official start of Spring is the 20th March, we have enjoyed amazing sunshine in recent days, the temperature has risen and Spring has arrived early with the sight of snowdrops and colourful spring bulbs bursting forth. We have endured some pretty damp days as well in this continuing lockdown which has affected the lives of so many individuals and businesses in our community. But dry day or wet, the number of people of all ages out and about for walks and exercise is very notable, whether on foot or being wheeled. There is a steady flow of conversation and socially distanced individuals, couples who recognising friends, stop to chat, some wearing masks, some searching for a place to stop and consume the take away hot drink they have just purchased.

But lockdown has not stopped the flow of content for this issue, so many thanks to all contributors for some fascinating photographs and articles which include another chapter of Axmouth history, a view of life over the garden gate, activity in the natural world, the observations of garden life and the weather down at the Harbour mouth. Many in the village had known Ray Board very well for many years; a previous issue (Summer 2020) included details of his medal award and war service and his son, David Board, has forwarded his obituary which included the pictures of Ray with his Granddaughter and her artwork. A central theme from our community organisations, is an apology to be able yet to confirm a return to normal activity in the village, either Church, Village Hall, ACT Childrens Theatre, Axmouth Show, Axe Yacht Club and more.

We all yearn for normality to return, when we can meet our families and friends at home, extend invitations to join us for a weekend, lunch or supper, when we can go out to enjoy a drink and meal at the pub, book a hair cut, go to the gym, go shopping to replace the clothes which have disintegrated over time, book a holiday or a weekend away, or go into an essential shop or any shop without wearing a mask. But throughout this lockdown, we are so lucky to have had amazing support from our wonderful NHS, to have had the benefit of continued newspaper deliveries, fresh fish, meat and flowers from Just Fish, our local butchers and flower shops and amazing meals cooked and delivered daily by The Ship Inn. So huge thanks to all our advertisers, our local businesses and to our community for keeping the pandemic at bay and keeping us safe.

Dot Browning, Editor E [email protected] | M 07974 269585 Who’s Who in Axmouth Church

Team Rector Rev’d Clive Sedgewick The Rectory, Church Street, Axminster EX13 5AQ T 01297 792120

Team Vicar Rev’d Nicky Davies The Rectory, Rhode Lane, Uplyme DT7 3TX M 07931 413629

Clergy Rev’d Terry Barratt T 01297 598203

Lay Ministers Mrs Hilary Harron T 01297 20532

Mrs Lesley Gubbins T 01297 552608

Churchwardens Mrs Rose Tidball 11 Coombe Orchard, Axmouth T 01297 20898

Mrs Ann Harding Coombe Bank, Chapel Street, Axmouth T 01297 624323

PCC Secretary Iain Purdon T 01297 21372

Church Office for Louise Collard General Enquiries T 01297 441986

Axmouth Church is now part of the Axe Valley Mission Community a team ministry comprising 8 local churches Axmouth Parish News

St Michael’s Church, Axmouth www.axmouthcommunity.org

Rev’d Nicky writes

All of us at Axmouth Church are grateful for the support we receive from members of the community. During lockdown, as our buildings have been closed for safety reasons, we have become aware that some people are missing the opportunity to give to the Church. Post-Covid we want to be there at the heart of the community, offering support and opportunities for worship, weddings, baptisms and funerals. It is going to be a challenge for us. We can only do this with your support. If you would like to give regularly to the Church please contact me (Team Vicar) for a Direct Debit form, when your contributions can be made with the benefit of Gift Aid if appropriate. One-off payments can be made direct to our Bank account : Sort code : 30-90-37, account no : 00642991, or by cheque to Nicky, in favour of Axmouth PCC.

If you would like to support the Friends of Axmouth Church, a separate body of volunteers who raise funds for the fabric of our beautiful Church, please contact Ann or Nigel Harding for details on 01297 624323. There are many opportunities in normal times to join in fundraising events, or to help maintain the Churchyard with our regular Summer work parties. With our grateful thanks and ensuring you of our support and prayers.

New Axmouth Church treasurer needed Can you help ? We would love to hear from you if you have :

• Skills in accountancy and/or book-keeping • Good organisational skills • A desire to serve your local church and community • Some time to offer

This crucial voluntary role supports our Vicar and leadership team, charities and other aspects of church life, including maintenance of our beautiful building and future plans. You will join a friendly, welcoming and supportive team and there will be a full hand-over from the out-going treasurer. Following the closure of Axmouth Church due to lockdown, we are delighted to say that there will be Good Friday and Easter Morning services in the Church. We will however, have to continue to follow safety regulations and numbers will be limited. Please keep an eye on the website www.axmouthcommunity.org check notices on the church gates for further details. For details, please contact

Rev’d Nicky Davies, Team Vicar Axe Valley Mission Community The Rectory, Rhode Lane, Uplyme, Dorset, DT7 3TX W axevmc.com | M 07931 413629 | E [email protected] Day off - Wednesday

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Polishing the pews The doors of our Church in Axmouth are locked through this lockdown, which is sad, but we are looking forward to the day when we can open up again and welcome you inside. We are preparing for that day by making sure the inside of the building looks as fine and bright as we can manage in the circumstances. There are a lot of wooden furnishings in the Church, and we thought we would give the pews a treat by feeding them with our potent polish, made from a tried and tested recipe, with carefully measured quantities of linseed oil, turpentine, vinegar and meths. As you can see we are wearing our masks - it was a powerful mixture - and of course we are obeying the rules, with face coverings and distancing. Much of the time we were so distanced we couldn’t see each other at all as we bent down beneath the pews. All good exercise, benefitting the cleaners as well as the woodwork ! Finally the pulpit was polished with beeswax. As there was some mixture left over we came back a couple of weeks later and brushed it on the wood block flooring which was even better exercise as we bent and stretched to reach the parts that many others couldn’t. But it was done surprisingly easily, and a job well done. All that is left now is to find out when we can open for worship, and to come down again for a final hoover and dust. Our Church is much loved, and stands next to the Village Hall at the heart of the village. But it does need willing hands to keep it in good condition. All the work is done by volunteers, and when we are up and running there is a cleaning rota, with volunteers working in pairs to keep the Church looking neat and tidy. The more willing hands we have the less often the work has to be done; and it is a chance to do something practical as you work with your partner. And how we have missed that, haven’t we ? Working together and chatting with companions. Would you like to help us in this way ? If so, please contact Doris Clement on 01297 23847. Or if you would like to join the Friends of Axmouth Church and do more practical tasks out of doors, or help with fund-raising, Doris will tell you how you can do this. All money raised from fund-raising goes towards the maintenance of the Church building, and over the past few years the work done to repair and conserve the outside has been amazing. There is much more to do and there is always a lot to do to maintain an ancient Grade 1 Listed building, so we will keep you updated and let you know how you can help. Meanwhile keep safe, and keep warm. Hilary Harron | T 01297 20532

Paul Britton, Doris Clement and Hazel Webb, working together to make the pews shiny and bright. © Hilary Harron Friends of Axmouth Church By the time you read this, hopefully we will all be looking forward to better times and the summer ahead. The Church Christmas lights now seem a long time ago but not forgotten I hope. It was a wonderful display and appreciated by many people. I would like to say a big thank you to all those who contributed in any way, both financially and practically. A huge thank you to Morag and her team who struggled with on-line deliveries of lights and of course the gales. Remarkably, everything survived very well. We are hoping next Christmas to have a display both inside and outside the Church, as we now own an array of lights for the purpose ! I am very sorry to say that we will not be able to hold the Easter Mega-breakfast this year, but we have hopes to be able to organise something later in the Summer – fingers crossed !

Ann Harding T 01297 624323 ~~~~~~~~~~~

Friends of Axmouth Church Church Maintenance Just before Christmas, the water jacket in the Church boiler disintegrated making the boiler useless and leaving the Church without heating. All at the worst time of year. Replacement boilers and fitting were investigated immediately. Proposals for a replacement on a “like for like” basis were drawn up and forwarded to the Archdiocese for approval. As soon as we receive authorisation, we can press ahead with the project and prevent deterioration to the fabric of our Church.

All other maintenance is on hold because of Coronavirus and so too our restrictions on fund raising events.

Wilf Gribble Vice Chairman, Friends of Axmouth Church

Cover - The Christmas Light Display © Nigel Harding

Right - The replacement lantern at the entrance to St Michael’s, Axmouth © Wilf Gribble

Below - emerging Spring snowdrops in the Churchyard, Axmouth © Steve Bamford Replacement Lantern

For a many moons, the lantern has been missing from the arch above the double gates at the north west corner of the Churchyard but The Friends have now replaced it.

We were privileged to be offered a lantern, albeit dismantled, by Bob and Shelagh Mercer of Yawl Farm, Yawl. So step forward Bryan Davis who volunteered to carry out a total refit; all parts were stripped, cleaned, re- assembled, soldered and painted. The electrics were repaired including rewiring and a new LED bulb. Finally, new polycarbon sides were fitted. A truly professional renovation with time and parts all donated by Bryan. Then disappointment. When we tried to fit it in place, the iron square bracket was a little too small. Immediately, Tony and Sally Hinton came to the rescue by manufacturing and fitting a new painted bracket and the lantern was then fixed in place. The lantern matches other street lights in our village and those in other parts of East Devon such as Sidmouth. For the Church Festival of Light, the lantern was connected and lit, and how special that occasion was. Permanent electrics have been connected and the lantern will light up at the same time as the tower lights.

Many thanks from The Friends to Bob and Shelagh, Bryan, Sally and Tony for their generous donations.

Wilf Gribble, Vice Chairman Friends of Axmouth Church

Raymond Board 13 March 1924 - 24 December 2020

Raymond Board was born at the New Inn, Marshwood, Dorset on the 13th March 1924, the eldest son of Edgar and Florence Board. He attended Marshwood, Axmouth and Seaton schools and then went on to work at Axminster Carpets where he used to cycle to from his home in Axmouth when he left school. On the 18th September 1939, he joined the Royal Navy at the age of 15 ½ years old. On the 28th August 1940, he joined the newly commissioned cruiser HMS Kenya in Glasgow, a ship he would serve on throughout the whole of the Second World War. HMS Kenya’s first job was escorting a convoy to Freetown, Sierra Leone. It was the first of many convoys that HMS Kenya would participate in. The early part of 1941 saw dangerous minelaying expeditions and then HMS Kenya was one of the ships hunting the BISMARCK and after the sinking, looking for Bismarck’s auxiliary ships. September 1941 saw her do her first convoy to Malta and she then sailed to Iceland for convoy duties for the Russians. The convoy sailed on the 16th November in very cold freezing conditions. Ice had to be constantly chipped from the upper deck to keep down topweight and her guns turned every few minutes to prevent them from freezing up. HMS Kenya went as far as 74 degrees north (possibly a record at the time) and amidst severe snowstorms but the convoy did get through. Christmas Eve 1941, saw HMS Kenya set sail for a raid on Vaagso, Norway with 6 other ships. The object of the raid was to destroy German installations and dislocate communications. A landing party of Marines from the ships caught the Germans by surprise and the perfect raid was a success. However enemy aircraft were quickly employed and HMS Kenya was hit twice by returning shore battery fire, causing slight damage but no casualties. Before the raid HMS Kenya was given a camouflage colour all over of Mountbatten Pink and she was then affectionally known in the fleet as The Pink Lady. She was repainted to her original colours later on in the war. 30th June 1942 saw HMS Kenya leave Scapa for what was described as the greatest convoy battle of the war. 9th August was the start of three days and nights with no sleep as the convoy battled to reach Malta. Kenya was hit by a torpedo on the 12th August, but she staggered on and on the 13th August, the convoy finally reached Malta and if it had not, the course of the war would have been different. The escorting force sailed for Gibraltar on the 14th August and for 8 hours were attacked by enemy bombers with no casualties. From Gibraltar, the ship sailed on to Scapa and on arrival on the 25th August, was cheered into the harbour. In December 1942 the torpedo damage was repaired and HMS Kenya sailed to Plymouth. Time was short there as she was quickly put back to escort convoy duties from Gibraltar. 25th April 1943 saw Kenya join the Eastern fleet where she would carry out convoy duties, take part in the Burma campaign and other duties in the Pacific and Western Australia. When the end of the war was announced, HMS Kenya was sailing between Freetown and Casablanca, finally arriving back in Sheerness, Kent on the 13th May 1945. HMS Kenya had completed 266,103 miles from 1940-1945 and had crossed the Equator 22 times and escorted 16 convoys. Raymond was very proud to have served on THE LADY and he also served for 3 months on HMS Belfast in 1948. Raymond served at various shore bases from 1945 onwards and it was at RNAS Yeovilton that he met his future wife, Betty Davies, who was a serving Wren there. They were married on the 14th March 1953 and on the 22nd September 1953, their eldest son, David, was born. Raymond left the Navy on the 20th March 1954 and went to work for a removal firm. During this time the family lived at Stedcombe Manor Cottages, with his father and mother, who worked on the Stedcombe Estate. Raymond, wife and son then moved into 3 Brook Terrace, a newly built terrace house in 1956 - a house where he was to live for the rest of his life. A second son, Adrian was born on the 28th February 1956. Raymond then rejoined the Royal Navy on the 2nd January 1957 and after 2 shore bases joined his third ship, HMS GAMBIA from 29th 0ctober 1958 to 30th May 1961. There followed 5 more shore bases including HMS Heron at Yeovilton, where he was the Camp Postmaster. He finally left the Navy on the 23rd May 1969 after 22 years of service. A job as a bus driver followed and he retired in 1989 after being a Kiln operator in Colyton. HMS Kenya was adopted by the City of Derby in 1941 and an HMS Kenya Association was created for all sailors who served on her up to her decommissioning in 1958. Ray and Betty went to many HMS Kenya reunions across the country, meeting up with friends, but numbers dwindled over the years and in 2019 in Derby the last ever Kenya Dinner was held. Ray was the only surviving member from her service during the War. Raymond enjoyed retirement with Betty and they often went on coach trips abroad and in the British Isles. Another passion of theirs was going to see the Band of the Royal Marines perform in concerts. Raymond was a keen gardener and was delighted when one year, he won the best front garden award given on a local Flower Show day. His wife Betty passed away in 2008, but he carried on with life, being well known on the local bingo circuit, where he would catch up with the local gossip,and keep his friends amused with his humour and forthright views and always bemoaning his luck at lack of winning. Ray was not afraid to call a spade a spade, and people liked him for that, though that would occasionally ruffle a few feathers ! He also enjoyed going back to Malta on holidays with a bunch of local sailor friends and wives, and they were all given a splendid time by the locals who never forgot their help during the War. Ray also enjoyed a couple of cruises, especially one to the Norwegian Fjords with a good companion and friend. Tragically, his youngest son Adrian died in 2016. Ray was a keen motorist, who would often be seen most Sundays washing his car beside the brook in the village, but unfortunally ill health made him give up driving when in his 90’s. That meant a certain loss of individuality - going to bingo, shopping, seeing friends etc. His son David would drive Ray to some bingo’s and doing the shopping. Ray especially enjoyed going out to Sunday lunches with David, and his partner Janet with a ride around the countryside afterwards. Trips to Otter and Kings Nurseries were also a regular trip for garden items and of course lunch out. He always cooked his lunch for 12.30 religously every day, but with his walking getting more difficult, he opted for lunch being delivered by Carmel’s Kitchen in Colyton,and looked forward to Juliette and Carmel who delivered, to have a natter and catch up on any gossip going. He was also delighted when his 3 great grandchildren who visited the house and Ray always used to say that Kieran the oldest, made some of the best cups of tea ! Harry and Bella always enjoyed going to Grandad Board’s to play in the garden and see the horses in the field at the rear and Bella especially would always draw pictures for him which he so cherished. Ray really enjoyed watching snooker on TV and liked to watch the occasional football match on the box as he called it. He suffered from Type 2 diabetes which meant great difficulty walking in the last couple of years. So although he didn’t get about as much as he would have liked, having a buggy helped, so too did son David coming down most days to help and also neighbours popping in to see him. Ray will be sorely missed by his family and friends.

David Board

Granddaughter Bella drawing with her Grandfather and the artwork he treasured. © David Board

Afternoon Assizes

A watery winters sunlight Flickers through the trees The seasons un-gloved hand Having stripped them of their leaves Leaving only a lonely Robin To sing his crisp clear tune Stopping me briefly in my tracks On this chilling afternoon.

The day now drawing swiftly to a close As the blanket of darkness descends Streetlights stutter into life Daytime at its end Woodsmoke creeping from a chimney Hangs low in the evening calm Filling my nostrils, clouding my view Keeping someone safe and warm.

High up in the treetops Black covered heads clear their throats Parliament has been divided As they go to cast their votes. Screaming out their opinions They circle with intent Quieter now as they settle down To learn of the punishment.

Written after my walk up Stepps Lane late on a cold afternoon in February 2021.

Malcolm Henty E [email protected]

The Ax-mouthpiece

News from your local clubs and organisations

Axmouth Parish Council

As you all know, the Parish Council is looking for new members, so far, without any success !

Right in the middle of our campaign comes the farcical You Tube insight into the workings of Handforth Parish Council ! Don’t worry, Axmouth meetings (so far at least) are not like that. They are more like a social gathering of people who have one thing in common – an interest in the village and parish surrounding it. It is apparent through local social media that there are many of you who wish to have your say, so why not join the Council and comment where it really matters and where you could have some real influence. Meetings are only once a month, excluding August and December and rarely take more than about an hour of your time. Interested ? Contact any of the existing councillors or our clerk, who keeps us in order and on the straight and narrow !

In the meantime, we continue to hold our meetings by way of Zoom, not ideal but it does allow us to keep abreast of things and ensure our points of view can be made.

We know many of you are concerned about traffic matters, particularly speeding vehicles, and I can tell you that with support of our County and District Councillors and evidence from our own traffic count, Axmouth is currently being considered by Highways for a 20 mph speed limit. Furthermore there are plans afoot for electronic speed awareness signs to be installed in the village.

Despite lockdowns, planning applications continue to come to our attention. We take into consideration their impact on our residents and environs before making our recommendations to the planning authority. Applications for grants by local organisations have not stopped either and we support those where we are able. It is now five years since the Village Show committee donated the defibrillator (located at the Village Hall) to the community and they have, generously, maintained it throughout this period until now. However, going forward, the Parish Council will accept this responsibility and ensure this valuable asset remains available should it be required.

The Village Show, of course, has been much missed and we look forward to a time when it and many of the other local social occasions can resume, including the reopening of our two village pubs ! Hopefully, by the time this report is published, things will already be moving forward toward normality ! Talking of social occasions, have you seen your neighbours recently, are they ok ? Why not check - just to be sure ?

In the meantime nature pushes ahead, the cold snap nothing but a fairly recent memory, with the spring flowers bringing some colour into our lives. Some of the daffodil bulbs we planted a few years ago have refused to push through, so we will have to plant more in the autumn – something to look forward to ….....

Ken Steven, Chair Axmouth Parish Council T 01297 22747

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Axmouth Village Hall

Again very little has happened with regard to the Village Hall since the last magazine article. The Tuesday evening food distribution continues and some minor maintenance items have been carried out.

However, following on from the government announcement regarding the Covid 19 response plan, we do see some light at the end of the tunnel. There will be some limited opportunities, possibly from 17th May to open up for exercise classes or meetings of up to 6 people (Rule of 6). It looks as though at the moment, we will not be able to open until 21st June at the earliest for something near normal operations. Hopefully we wil then see the return of our regular groups. Our hope is that we will be able to put on some entertainment in the second half of the year, some in conjunction with the Friends of the Church. Stay Safe Graham Mather | T 07802 625228 The Ship Inn, Church Street, Axmouth

Winter Takeaway Menu

Monday to Saturday 12pm - 2pm then 5.30pm- 8pm Sunday 12pm - 3pm then 5pm - 8pm

Starters Garlic bread £3.00 add cheese £3.50 Dusted calamari with chilli and galic aioli £5.00 Butterfly king prawns with sweet chilli dip £5.00 Fresh mushrooms sauteed in garlic butter and cream £5.00

Mains Baby back pork ribs in a bbq sauce with chips and salad £12.00 Fillet of salmon with a sweet chilli glaze served with new potatoes and vegetables £12.00 Belly pork served with mash and gravy £12.00 Chicken escalope with leek sauce and mash £12.00 Local lambs liver and bacon with onion gravy and mash £10.00 Steak and kidney pie with chips and peas £10.00 Chicken and ushroom pie with chips and peas £10.00 Fish pie with fresh vegetables £10.00 Beef lasagne with chips and peas £10.00 Sausage and mash with onion gravy £10.00 Scampi, chips and peas £10.00 Cottage pie with vegetables £10.00 Beer battered cod, chips and peas £11.00 10oz gammon steak with pineapple, chips, onion rings, peas, mushrooms and tomatoes £12.00 10oz rump steak with chips, onion rings, peas, mushrooms and tomatoes £15.00 Burgers Beef burgers served with ships, onion rings and salad : Cheese and Bacon or Goats cheese and red onion chutney £10.00 Chicken burger topped with cheese bacon and BBq sauce, served with chips and salad £11.00

The Ship Inn, Church Street, Axmouth

Home cooked locally sourced produce currently delivered to your door - a wonderful choice from All day Breakfasts, Sunday Roast Choices, Naughty but Nice Selection and Yummy Deserts

Tel : 01297 21838

Axe Yacht Club

Following the re-development of the Clubhouse over the 2019/20 winter, the Club is keen to take full advantage of the new facilities. The summer of 2020 whilst somewhat restricted, did allow a number of activities to go ahead, but sadly our Family & Cadet sessions were curtailed. We are hopeful of better things for the coming season, everything is poised for re-opening as soon as Boris gives the word !

The Harbour mouth has seen some changes over the last few weeks, a strong run of easterlies caused a considerable build-up of shingle in the entrance, diverting the channel to the west. Fortunately, following a combination of spring tides and heavy rain the bar was soon cleared. Interestingly the scouring effect briefly revealed the old wooden piles from Hallett's pier of 1809. Nigel Daniel, Commodore AYC

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Axmouth Village Show 2021

It was so sad not having the show in Coombe Field last year, but it is better to keep everyone safe and help the NHS. The Show committee have decided that the show will not take place again in Coombe Field this July. Instead, there are going to be four competitions that will take place in July.

1. Scarecrow in your garden 2. The tallest Sunflower 3. Best front garden 4. Best Wildlife garden

The competitions will be open to anyone in the village (and its supporters for item 1 & 2). Further details will be advertised in the bus shelters in May, and will also be available from Sandra on 01297 23872 or Georgie on 01297 23865.

We will just be having the May plant stall again instead of a full coffee morning, where we will be giving away free sunflower seedlings. The plant stall will take place in the bus shelter at the bottom of Stepps Lane on Sunday May 2nd between 10am and 1pm; all proceeds to the show. There will also be a raffle. Any donations of plants or prizes can be given to Paul, Sandra or myself. Covid rules should be observed.

The Show Committee are committed to making sure that the show still continues, and we all look forward to the time when we can enjoy returning to good times in the marquee in Coombe Field. We would once again like to thank everyone that supports the Show.

Penny Sweetland, Chairman T 01297 625208 | www.axmouthshow.co.uk

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ACT | Axmouth Childrens Theatre

As we come towards end of February and into March, it will be exactly one year since we had to shut our doors due to Covid 19. What we all thought was to be a short break has turned into one of major proportions. But with the new vaccines being rolled out and with lockdown measures finally appearing to be taken more seriously by most people, there does seem to be at last a light at the end of a very long dark tunnel. So maybe in the not too distant future we will be able to resume again The Village Hall Committee have confirmed that we will be able to do so when permission is granted by HM Government. When we suspended operations last March, we had children attending from eight different schools, quite an achievement for us at ACT. How many of them will be returning we will have to wait and see - we certainly do not want to lose any of them as they are a very talented group. Obviously some will have moved up to senior schools, some will have moved into exam years and some may now have totally different interests. With that in mind anyone new to the village who has children in the eight to sixteen year old bracket who would be interested in getting involved with ACT, then full details of what we get up to, including past performances, and a form to apply for membership can be found on our website. Keep safe everyone.

Malcolm Henty, Chairman / Director, ACT E [email protected] www.axmouthchildrenstheatre.org.uk Over the Garden Gate

As I write, Boris is about to announce details of some freedom for us all. Who knew we could miss our families and friends quite so much ! To date, a few snatched conversations while dog walking, the odd exchange on bin collection days or weeding is about all to be had but after a pretty wet winter, the on off cold snaps, gardens are awake and Snowdrops galore adorn the graveyard wall behind the Church. Daffodils and the odd Primrose herald Spring and the Daphne shrub on my patio is in full bloom, giving a glorious scent that drifts across the gardens nearby. Birds offer up their joyful song at dawn and dusk – no lock down for them; they fear nothing and are ever hungry around the feeders and lift our spirits every day. Bullfinches and Greenfinch have been spotted in local gardens together with more Blackbirds than I’ve seen at one time – 15 all in one tree but only a couple with yellow beaks.

Thank you to those dog owners and walkers who are picking up their dog poo, but to those who are not, please carry a bag, bend down and pick it up ! If you are in a farmers grazing field – pick it up because sheep and lambs can become very ill if dog mess is left.

Plant swaps and offerings are still happening; check out the Facebook Axmouth Together for news, views and information, Seafood Platters from Axmouth Fishermen at Just Fish in Harbour Road and stunning photos of the recent storms which transformed the harbour mouth. Burns Night was actually celebrated by some - remotely of course - with Haggis, neeps n tatties and whiskey too ! It seems our lovely Axmouth folk are resourceful when it comes to traditions. Many of us have continued enjoying meal deliveries from the Ship Inn who have introduced a ‘naughty menu’ alongside traditional offerings and weekend breakfasts.

The Parish Council meet via Zoom, so if you have any Council issues, traffic calming complaints or ideas, then do write or contact them and East Devon District Council to air your views - parish opinions do matter.

Covid jabs are on target via our wonderful local NHS. Many of us will have some protection prior to the 2nd jab but several people have said we still need to take care when shopping and enjoying fresh air. It is easy to become complacent, assuming everyone is following hygiene rules.

Vicki Spence-Thomas | T 01297 792023 Axmouth - Past & Present - February 2021

This series of articles looking back at our village history has relied heavily on the research carried out by local historian Graham Myers. So, it’s fitting to look at the history of Haven Cottage – for many years, Graham and Nora Myer’s home.

Up until the early twentieth century, Haven Cottage sat in splendid isolation on the corner of Chapel Street and Kemp’s Lane. The open brook ran along in front of the cottage at the bottom of the garden. To the rear on Higher Lane stood Hawkesdown Farm, which after a period of dilapidation was sadly destroyed by fire in May 1887.

Earliest photograph Haven Cottage at the turn of the 19th century – viewed from the bottom of Coldwell Lane

Haven Cottage has seen some changes over the years. The earliest photograph of the cottage seems to be around the late 1800s and reveals a mixture of construction methods. The main body of the building appears to be made of cobb, whilst the forward right-hand side is built using local stone. It would also appear the stone portion may have been added onto the original building, indicating it would have originally terminated in a half hip thatch over the bedroom window – a one up, one down?

Haven Cottage at the turn of the 19th century – viewed from the bottom of Coldwell Lane - watercolour by John White

Axmouth Tithe Map 1842

The Axmouth tithe apportionment from 1842 shows the cottage in the corner of plot 204. It was listed as pasture and named Hayes. This name lives on in the neighbouring property Sunnyhayes. At the time Haven Cottage was owned by the estate, with John Hothersall Hallett as the incumbent lord of the manor. Axmouth coastguard James Cordey with his wife and family were the tenants. It would seem appropriate that Haven Cottage was linked with Haven Farm, but the tithe apportionment has it grouped with Broomhill Farm, now long gone. Over the years, many local families have been associated with the cottage: Hoyle, Start, Critchard, Beasley (Rene’s uncle) and Ostler (Nick’s parents).

In 1962, Harry & Freda Myers bought the property, which then passed onto Graham & Nora in 1976. The cottage was renovated in 1980, re-roofed and the extension built.

Haven Cottage in the1950s

Haven Cottage in 2021

The Myers’ sons took over Haven Cottage when Nora passed away, then in November 2018 Nancy and Alan bought the cottage. Subsequently, it has been sympathetically renovated, keeping its character as an individual village cottage. During this time, an oven in the beer-stone wall next to the fireplace was uncovered. One item in the cottage construction, however, still poses a question. There is a small block of lime stone, close to the garden gate, with inverted arrows – the marks continue to be a mystery. There may be a connection with the old Preventive Waterguard (coastguards). A single broad arrow head was the old Admiralty symbol, of which the coastguard was part of during the nineteenth century. right Re-discovered bread oven © Nancy Yeoman

Nigel Daniel E [email protected] The Natural World Axmouth to Lyme Regis Undercliffs National Nature Reserve Winter is our busy period across all the nature reserves and the Undercliff is no exception. This is the time when we undertake any of the scrub clearance or tree work that needs to be done before the bird nesting season starts in the spring so this is a summary of goings on in the Axmouth Parish part of the reserve. Working with East Devon Countryside Team staff, we have made repairs to the steps on the coast path that drops down into Goat Island and surfaced them with rammed chalk which should, with luck make the going easier. A new viewpoint has been installed at the top of the cliff just before Goat Island on the South West coast path and overlooking the chasm left from the Bindon landslip. This involved clearing scrub from the cliff edge and installing a safety fence. Our goal is to provide some information about the great Bindon landslip of 1839 with 19th century photographs, with new photographs taken from the same vantage that show the successional evolution of the chasm over the last 120 years. We will install a bench soon as well, and hope that the viewpoint will add value to the visitor experience. Buddleia removal efforts have continued at Haven Cliff with some extensive stands removed from very steep slopes by our intrepid contractors. This is part of a wider habitat restoration ambition for Haven Cliff that will see some formerly extant areas of herb-rich grassland restored and cleared of scrub and invasive species. I was disappointed to find a load of smashed bottles and crockery dumped at Haven Cliff and surprised that someone had taken the considerable effort to take them up there just to smash them against rocks. It has been impressive to witness some powerful ocean swells generating big waves on the reserve this winter - quite the natural spectacle itself! A noticeable change has been the regrettable cancellation of all our volunteer tasks whicht really highlights just how much great work our volunteers do for the National Nature Reserve. We hope to resume at some point this year and would welcome anyone from Axmouth locally who would like to see more of the nature reserve and get involved. Rob Beard, Reserve Manager Above - Undercliffs National Nature Reserve before the new viewpoint. Below - the new viewpoint taken from exactly the same position. Photograph © Rob Beard

My Garden Diary – November 2020 to January 2021

Weather permitting, each morning between 11 and 12am I take my coffee into the garden as I still have a window of sunlight between the tree at the top of the hill. There is plenty to watch – there is a Squirrel, a Crow, a Seagull and Pheasants that peck about under the feeders and Goldfinches, various Tits and Robins that come to the feeders. One morning I noticed long strands of cobwebs floating through the air; they drifted around until they hit something when the tiny spiders ran up and went onto the plant. A strange thing is going on with my red Dahlia; it was late flowering because of a lack of water and is still flowering now but the flowers are yellow or pale orange. I’ve got more flowers now than in the Summer especially Nasturtiums and Fuschias. I also have wild flowers – Mullein and Furitory still flowering, which is nice. One day I noticed Blue Tits going in and out of a nesting box that I can see from the kitchen, so after a while I went to investigate with the aid of a mirror and saw insects moving around, so I assumed that was the reason. On clearing some plants for winter, Foxglove, Angelica and Dahlias that have hollow stems, I cut them into lengths and put them in my bug corner.

I had a bumper crop of apples this year from a tree Juliette grew from a pip at Primary School and the Squirrels are clearing them away. They must be stashing them somewhere as they couldn’t possibly eat them all, so in years to come we will be surrounded by apple trees. One morning when feeding the birds, I saw a tail in the dewy grass about 3” wide so I assumed it was a Hedgehog but once it got to the path, I couldn’t see where it went. But another day when putting things in my compost heap, I saw a corresponding size hole in the heap, so I assume its there for the winter !

I’m still clearing things, with the help of robins and blackbirds as the plants finish flowering and the Camelia bush in the garden is covered in flowers. I’ve seen a Crow in the trees opposite pecking at an apple so they are being spread even further. There was a Black Cap on the feeders one morning but I thought they went away for the Winter. The weather has got very cold so I have been putting mixed seeds on a table for the Pigeons and Blackbirds as they don’t get much from under the feeders as there are now quite a few Pheasants, but I noticed Sparrows and Chaffinches were using it as well, so I’ll keep it up for now.

There were three squirrels on the table one morning – I had 6 babies through the summer so I think they are coming home in the cold. I found a dead one in the road and saw a very small bird darting about in the back garden but by the time I got my binoculars it had gone. Later in a very cold snap, I found a dead Goldcrest so it must have been that. I also found dead Tits and a Goldfinch in the cold weather. There are loads of birds around in the cold so I fill the suet and sunflower feeders every day. On my way to Karen’s on Christmas Day, I saw a newly born lamb in the fields going to Boshill.

January 2021 – a new year dawns with a lovely sunrise but it’s very cold, the birds are getting through a lot of suet pellets and I have to take hot water to defrost the bird bath and pond each morning. I have one bright spot in the garden, the Mimosa is in flower, the Nasturtiums have finally succumbed and I have cleared them away but they have been flowering right up until now, such brave things. I have noticed a lack of Goldfinches in the cold, I assume they have retreated to the woods, but I still have various Tits, Spotted Woodpeckers, Nuthatches, Chaffiches, Sparrows and Dunnocks. As the month has progressed and it’s got a bit warmer, the Pheasant males are showing off to the females, the Goldfinches have returned and I try to do something in the garden each day. I am only feeding suet pellets and sunflower seeds at the moment as I have found the peanuts and mixed seed go mouldy in the wet weather as they aren’t consumed as much, but I do now have a new challenge, the three Squirrels ! I was given a feeder you stick to the window for Christmas and I put it on the kitchen window, so I could see it when having breakfast. It was visited by Robins, Blackbirds, a Spotted Woodpecker and various Tits which was lovely to watch.

Entering the kitchen one morning I saw a Squirrel in the feeder. I couldn’t imagine how it had got there. I had to go outside to shoo it off as banging on the window didn’t work. The next morning the feeder was broken and the food gone. I thought I wouldn’t replace it but during the morning there was a succession of birds looking for food. I felt sorry for the Blackbirds as they weren’t getting much from under the feeders because of the Pigeons, Seagulls and Pheasants, so I dug the damaged feeder out of the bin, glued it back together and put it in a different position on the window and filled it with pellets. By the time I came in there were already birds feeding. I don’t have a computer so I asked my daughter to order me a new one online as I don’t know how long this bird feeder will stay together. When the new one came I put it in a different place on the window and all went well for a few days until I saw the Squirrel scaling the joint between the two windows and getting to the feeder, so I broke up the old feeder and with a tube of Super Glue put sides on the new one. That didn’t work as they jumped from the pillar to the roof of the feeder and then in. It had now become war and I don’t want to encourage young to feeders like last year when they caused havock. So my quest is ongoing. One afternoon at the latter end of January I noticed a huge influx of birds at the feeders, in fact as it started to get dark, the feeders were empty. I didn’t refill them as there was still food in the form of solid suet feeders; overnight it got very cold and we had a little snow.

As long as its not raining I still have my coffee in the garden each morning. Nearing the end of January, sitting there, suddenly I was in the sunshine. The sun was just getting over the top of the trees at the top of the hill so made me think that Spring was on its way and I hoped the plants would respond to the warmth. I sat there listening to the birds singing, the Woodpeckers tapping on a tree and the sun shining on the Mimosa which is now in full flower - everything was just wonderful.

The last weekend in January, I spent all weekend watching my garden for the garden birdwatch and saw 22 different species. I spent some of the time sitting in my car so I could see the 2 feeders on the end of the shed which I fill every day, so I reckoned they must have made lots of visits. I was amazed at how busy it was with mainly Chaffinches, Dunnocks and Sparrows. They were flitting about between the adjacent hedge, the Buddleia bush and the feeders making it very difficult to count them so in the end as there were usually 8 birds on a feeder at a time, I put that down for each species. Over the weekend I also saw a Coreen Woodpecker and a male Bullfinch, which is my favourite bird. I think the colours and markings are lovely and then best of all a Sparrow Hawk. I often see it swoop through the front garden and circle the pole feeder but this time it landed on the birdbath - it was great seeing such a beautiful bird so close. It brought to an end an interesting 3 months and with the bulbs poking their heads above ground, I can only hope for more interesting and warmer months to come.

Jane Chapman Sunny Stepps

Le Jazz, Music and Cabaret …..

There will be music and more, there will be tea, scones, wine and canapes, but there must be warmth and sunshine too down in the garden at Old Harbour House.

As soon as regulations allow, two concerts are planned and full details for booking and tickets will hopefully be included in the Summer issue.

Dot Browning T 01297 624216 | M 07974 269585 E [email protected]

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Ecobricks It is hoped that the collection points for Ecobricks will resume once the pandemic regulations alow. www.ecobricks.org

Medical Facilities

Seaton Hospital Scallwell Lane, Seaton EX12 2SU T 01297 23901

Seaton & Colyton Medical Practice 148 Harepath Road, Seaton EX12 2DU T 01297 20877

Townsend Medical Centre 49 Harepath Road, Seaton EX12 2RY T 01297 20616

My Dentist 16 Fore Street, Seaton EX12 2LA T 01297 20170 Axmouth Harbour

These last winter months and wet days have given way more to sunshine and Spring weather, and a dramatic change to the Harbour entrance with a huge mass of shingle banked against the harbour wall, and exposing at low tides the old wooden piles from Hallet’s pier in 1809. The weather and access means that the fishermen always check the conditions at the Harbour mouth before they venture out. The tides and wind direction can change the position of shingle and sand bars each tide but some consider the weather to be the biggest factor stopping the fishing, rather than the shingle. Many have not been able to take their boats out of late but more of the 14 registered fishing boats are planning to go out in the days ahead though boats can only exit the Harbour with care to avoid the hazards of shifting shingle and the wooden piles visible in the photograph below. The Axmouth fishermen are governed by rules and regulations from the various organisations controlling the fishing waters and activities. Now with Brexit, the rules and paperwork have made their working lives significantly more complicated. The organisations include Devon and Southern IFCA, DEFRA, MMO, Natural England and local authorities. What is also surprising is that the rules and regulations governing fishermen based in Devon, are not the same as the rules and regulations governing fishermen based in Dorset. This may well be the case all around the UK. The Lyme Marine Reserve is a protected area; there is a view that it was organised without consultation or rather by a single vocal voice but not from Lyme Bay !

Price and selling Being able to sell locally is a real benefit. With a fresh fish shop in Seaton - Just Fish - both supplying bait and purchasing the catch of five of the fishermen, the amount of admin and paperwork is reduced, so too the need to drive to North Devon and Brixham Fish Market. Interestingly, often the fishermen have ‘sold’ their catch before they return to shore, as mobile phones enable buyers to contact direct and confirm the orders.

Brexit While the assumption that there was meaningful dialogue between fishermen and their representatives and government, the result post Brexit has proved to have a different outcome. “The Government completely let the side down. We had a poor settlement regarding restricting EU boats - they are doing exactly the same as before Brexit but also impeding exports of fish and shellfish. If the UK had stopped or seriously reduced the EU fleet fishing our waters this would be the greatest conservation measure ever taken in UK history as it would take many years to bring the English fleet up to EU capacity, if ever!” (E584)

Fishing Quotas and Regulations The amount (weight) caught varies and in the case of Cod has ben limited to 30kg per month for the last 8 months but fishing is seasonal, so some catch is only available fresh though available frozen all year round; some catch occupies a very niche market. There are restrictions governing ‘berried’ Lobsters or Crawfish (those carrying eggs) which have to be immediately returned to the sea. It is possible to apply a V notch to identify a breeding lobster; with Lobsters carrying some 20,000 eggs, the percentage of eggs which survive is very low. Once hatched on the sea bed, they stay with the plankton for 4-6 weeks until they begin to look like Lobsters at which time they tend to return to deep water. Ice, lobster and crab storage facility The facility was financed by grants from the Dorset and East Devon Fishermen’s Local Action Group (FLAG) and Blue Marine Foundation and enables all catch to be safely stored at the correct temperatures. The blue lighting makes a less stressful transition from the seabed particularly for the lobsters and the catch remains fresh for far longer.

Extent of fishing P975 and E94’s fishing areas in earlier days stretched from Exmouth to Portland; now their greatest distance tends to be from Sidmouth towards Charmouth. They prefer particularly when the weather is poor, to go to the furthest point, then work their way back to Axmouth but fishing regulations don’t allow this and if they venture out of Devon into Dorset, then the rules for fishing are different. Traditional fishing grounds have now been taken over by Conservation Authorities - what is possible off Dorset is not the same as what is possible off Devon. Boat length regulations vary ; up to 15 metres for Devon, up to 12 metres in Dorset !

Contributors - John Wallington/Outcast E584, Gavin Ziemann/Ventura P975, Charles Ziemann/ E94, Just Fish

Photographs - February 2021 views of the estuary with the buildup of shingle blocking the harbour mouth incuding the wooden piles from Hallet’s pier in 1809. Photographs © Nigel Daniel Seaton Computer Consultant Computer Repairs & Upgrades Computer Tuition Refurbished laptops available No call out fee Website: www.seatoncomputerconsultant.co.uk Email: [email protected] Tel: Esther on 01297 23187 based in Axmouth Axmouth Caravan & Camping Site prop. Sue Adams (nee Webber)

Tel: 01297 24707

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{ÊEÊÈÊ,ÛiÀÃ`iÊ7ÀÃ «Ã ! >ÀLÕÀÊ,>`]Ê-i>Ì !!! (01297) 23881 Axmouth Parish News & the Ax-mouthpiece

Spring Content With thanks to all who have contributed articles, information, dates and advice, IT help and proof reading to produce this issue and also to all advertisers. Sadly there is no calender of dates due to the pandemic and requirement for social distancing. Inevitably, the content is a little different and hopefully there will be more information on upcoming events and dates in in the Summer issue.

Photograph credits © We are grateful to Steve Bamford, Rob Beard, David Board, Gill Crowe, Nigel Daniel, Wilf Gribble, Hilary Harron, Malcolm Henty, Nancy Yeoman.

Copy for inclusion The editorial team would be grateful if all articles, dates etc could be submitted by the copy dates (included below) to prevent delays and possible omissions to Dot Browning Old Harbour House, Axmouth Harbour, EX12 4AB T 01297 624216 | M 07974 269585 E [email protected]

Advertising For all advertisement enquiries and size options please contact Vicki Spence-Thomas T 01297 792023 | E [email protected]

Proof reading and delivery With thanks to Eileen Mather for proof reading and to all the volunteers for distributing the magazine throughout the community.

Copy & print deadlines for 2021 Copy Date - 16th February Publication - March Copy Date - 17th May Publication - June Copy Date - 16th August Publication - September Copy Date - 15th November Publication - December