JANUARY 2007 Vol. 38 No. 1 40p FOCUS MAGAZINE INFORMATION Chairman John Carter, Rewe. Tel. (01392) 841237 Vice Chairman Beryl Grace, Moss Bank, School Lane, Thorverton. Secretary Jane Lane, Stable House, 2 The Glebe, Thorverton. Tel. (01392) 861062 Treasurer Barbara Uglow, 14 Cleaves Close, Thorverton. Tel. (01392) 860614 Editor Neville Lane, Stable House, 2 The Glebe, Thorverton. Tel. (01392) 861062 Email. [email protected] Assistant editors Chris Cousins & Rob Purvis Cartoonist John Morrish Printers Barrie Phillips & Peter Mason Focus deliveries John Carter, Rewe. Tel. (01392) 841237 Committee members Nominated by local organisations. At the present time Focus is produced each month except one (usually August) and is assembled by volunteers on the last working day of the month. In 2006 there will be no September edition, so this August edition will cover both months.
The Editor welcomes interesting news items, reports etc. for publication. Items for inclusion in Focus should be accompanied by the name of the originator, which may be withheld from print if requested.
Important note for contributors Items for publication, adverts, changes to adverts, Diary entries, changes to Thorverton Information lists should be sent to the Editor, preferably as plain text in an email, or as a Word doc file or a pdf file email attachment (to [email protected]) normally by the 20th day of the month prior to publication. Computer file formats: We prefer plain text files, .DOC files, .RTF files and .WPS files because our production team have software that can read such files. BMP and JPEG files are preferred for advertisements and pictures. Photographs: colour photographs, without too much dark shadow, can be printed in black/white shades (enlarged or reduced) to a reasonably fair standard.
Poster Type Advertisements: maximum size is half an A4 page.
Text for advertisements should be prepared as near as possible to how it is intended to appear. Pictures must be supplied as required on the advertisement. COMMERCIAL ADVERTISEMENTS Maximum dimensions COST per ENTRY FULL YEAR (11 entries) Half page 18.2 cm x 12.2 cm £4.00 £40.00 Quarter page 8.5 cm x 12.2 cm £2.00 £20.00 One-eighth page 8.5 cm x 5.8 cm £1.00 £10.00 LOCAL ORGANISATION and CHARITIES ADVERTISEMENTS COST per ENTRY Half page £3.00 Quarter or one-eighth page free of charge (It may be possible to reduce A4 size adverts to 1/4 or 1/8 page depending on the size of text.)
Front cover TADS Pantomime Notice
The opinions and views expressed by contributors within the magazine are not necessarily those of Focus producers and the Focus Committee. Focus on Thorverton 1 Vol. 38 No. 1 – January 2007 Editorial will be a shop and post office. There is a lot of uncertainty at the moment, but as I have said in This editorial had been going to start with a look previous editions, I am confident that the spirit is back on the happenings of the past year and a there for the village to find answers to the issues thank you to all those who have contributed to facing us. All the very best for 2007. Focus in 2006. Sadly though, just as we go to print, this is marred by the very sad news that Neville Lane Editor our cartoonist, John Morrish, has just died. John lived all of his 70 years in Thorverton - in the In this Focus same house I believe. He attended the village Letters ...... 1 school and then Tiverton School before working Thorverton Parish Council ...... 3 at Westbrick and later as postman in the village. Since his retirement John spent time gardening, Thorverton Memorial Hall News...... 4 painting and walking his dogs and, of course, in Notice Board...... 5 providing cartoons for Focus. He was a quiet, The Raddon Team Ministry ...... 8 unassuming man with a sharp sense of humour, very alert to what was going on in the village Baptist Church News ...... 10 and able to see the funny side of things. John TARTS news ...... 12 was a very talented yet modest man. He will be sorely missed. I will include a fuller appreciation South West Early Music Forum ...... 12 in February's Focus. Thorverton WI...... 13 I don't normally thank contributors through my editorials, but want to do so this month as it is Letter from South Africa 1887 ...... 14 the regular contributors who give Focus its Golf Society Players of Thorverton...... 15 backbone. At the risk of leaving someone out, I Poetry ...... 16 would like to thank Douglas Dettmer, Maurice Harrison, Phyllis Langdon, Doreen Beer, Ian 25 Years ago...... 17 Stoyle, Jean and John White, Sylvia Gregory, Thorverton and District History Society...... 18 David Harlow, Simon Ette and Shirley Hoole, Barrie Phillips, Heather Kershaw, Rob Purvis, Pets’ Corner...... 18 Jenny Garne, Jane Lane, Pat Brooks ("PB") and Sudoku ...... 19 Allison Toogood . That is a pretty lengthy list of regular contributors. The Infinite Cat Project...... 19 This may look like just another sleepy Devon Glimpses Of The Past: 1848...... 20 village, but behind the sleepy exterior there is plenty of activity (as the above list suggests). Nature Notes...... 22 Browsing through some back issues of Focus, A Holiday Find!...... 22 the covers reminded me of some of the The Good Old Days ...... 23 happenings in the village from the Cheeky Boys on January's cover, the Dairy's impending Crossword ...... 24 closure on March's, the Arts Festival on May's, Thorverton Parish Information...... 25 the Country Show on June's and July's, Morris Dancers on October's and Not the Village Shop Thorverton Organisations...... 26 on December's. I get the impression that there is Bus services...... 27 plenty to come. Certainly there are some big issues facing the village, in particular whether Diary 2007...... 28 we will have further housing and whether there Doctors’ Surgeries ...... 29
Letters Focus on Thorverton 3 Vol. 38 No. 1 – January 2007 From Peter and Meryl Woollacott, Chard plastic: PET (which is clear bottles) and Cottage HDPE (which is most other types of bottles). Unfortunately we don't have room on our We would like to take this opportunity to thank lorries to collect them all and until we can everyone for their cards and hope you all had a afford to substantially re-design all our fleet Merry Christmas. Here’s wishing you a Happy that is not likely to change. When calculating and Healthy New Year. the type needed to fill the space available we decided that collecting just milk bottles We didn’t send cards this year and in memory of would give us the right volume and this has ‘Woody’ have made a donation to a Guide Dogs proved to be the case. So I'm afraid our charity instead. decision is based on nothing more technical than that. We are actively trying to seek a Best wishes from Peter and Meryl. way of collecting other sorts of plastic bottles and have looked at on-vehicle compactors and also at shredders but nothing has yet From Rob Purvis, Campion Cottage proved to be a workable solution. We will let you know as soon as we are able to collect I recently emailed Mid Devon Community them but we don't expect it to be in the short- Recycling Limited to ask them why they only term future. However, you may be unaware accept plastic milk bottles in the recycling waste that we are now able to recycle dry cell collection, when there is obviously so much else batteries so if you put those in a little plastic made of plastic that just ends up in the "normal" bag and put them in your recycling box we rubbish collection. I was particularly interested will take those. in finding out if it was just milk bottles that they Yours sincerely, had a liking for, or whether it was the "PEHD" K J Orchard General Manager plastic of which they are made that they wanted to collect. I have noticed that other plastic bottles So, since we don't seem to leave out many around the house have the same PEHD (or plastic milk bottles, I think we will add our HDPE - the same stuff) recycle label, and empty shampoo, washing-up liquid and liquid wondered if they would collect them too. I soap bottles to the recycling collection (as long received this reply, which their General Manager as they are HDPE or PEHD - High Density has given us permission to publish: Polyethylene). Also, any used up dry cell batteries can now go for recycling. Dear Mr Purvis, Thank you for your email. Plastic bottles come in two main types of Focus on Thorverton 3 Vol. 38 No. 1 – January 2007 Thorverton Parish Council Report of the December 2006 meeting of the Parish Council
AFFORDABLE HOUSING The recent drop-in session at the Memorial Hall was well attended and the information will be used to show the need for affordable housing in the village. At the Public Session prior to the Parish Council meeting, Dame Margaret Turner-Warwick, acting as an independent facilitator, reported that many consultations have recently taken place with the Church Commissioners and their agents, Cluttons, regarding a possible way forward. This would involve a combined ‘package’ including a linked development of open market and affordable housing in addition to a shop/post office. During the meeting the Parish Council voted to support such a development in principle.
VILLAGE SHOP Graham Matthews of Thorverton Rural Services Association (TRSA) also attended the Public Session Prior to the Parish Council meeting. He updated the Council on the recent activities of the Association. Since it has not been possible to acquire a property that could be converted to a shop, the Association is now looking for a site to build a modern, sustainable, carbon-neutral shop and post office and are considering the Quarry Car Park. During the meeting, The Parish Council voted to support TRSA in principle in its efforts to provide a shop/post office in the Quarry Car Park.
PLANNING MATTERS No Planning Applications or Decisions were received to the date of the December meeting.
OTHER PARISH BUSINESS • Complaints have been received from several residents regarding speeding traffic in Silver Street. The Council has consulted the Police and the Highways Department on this matter and hopes that mobile speed cameras will be in operation sometime in the New Year – you have been warned! • Temporary repairs are to be made to the entrance to the Quarry Car Park in the hope that the proposed shop and post office development will go ahead, at which time the car park will be resurfaced. • Devon County Council have classified Lee Cross Lane as a restricted byway. This means that it is confirmed as a public right of way for walkers, horse-riders and cyclists, but that motorcycles and 4x4 vehicles are prohibited from using it unless they have private rights to access land or property along the route. The next Parish Council Meeting will take place on Tuesday, 9th January 2007 at 7.30pm. An Agenda is displayed on the Parish Notice Board prior to meetings.
On behalf of the Parish Council, I hope that you had an enjoyable Christmas and wish you happiness in the New Year.
Kate West, Parish Clerk Telephone: 01392 861560, email: [email protected] Focus on Thorverton 4 Vol. 38 No.1 – January 2007 Thorverton Memorial Hall News
Saturday Market & Big Breakfast
Jane King has started a “Nearly New” stall at the Market. If you have any new or nearly new items of clothing or fashion accessories which you would like to sell on a 50/50 basis, please contact Jane. Licensing Laws 100 Club Draw Winner for December £500 – No 56 Geoff White As many of you will be aware new licensing £100 – No 60 Fred Granger laws came into operation in November 2005. £50 – No 92 Jean White What most people are unaware of, however, is exactly how these affect them. Draw Winners for December were: Turkey Dinner Heather Kershaw Loopholes such as including a drink in the cost Fruit Box Megan Pearn of the ticket or with a draw ticket have now been Tin Shortbreads Heather Kershaw closed and it is illegal to do either of these unless Body Shop Bag Anji Hartnell Todd you are either on licensed premises or have obtained a Temporary Event Notice (TENS). A TENS can be obtained from Mid Devon District Burns Night Council who must receive the application at least two weeks prior to the event. Back by popular demand, the Burns Night celebrations will take place at the Memorial Hall th The Hall now has a premises license with a on Saturday 27 January at 7.00pm. Premises Supervisor, John White, who is responsible for all events where alcohol is sold. A traditional Scottish Piper will pipe in the Haggis and there will be competitions, Music It is essential that the Committee is aware if you and Scottish Dancing. intend holding an event at which alcohol is to be sold or exchanged for tickets etc. The Committee Tickets can be obtained from Sarah Addicott now organise all bars themselves, as they are (860818). Don’t delay getting your tickets as ultimately responsible for policing such events. they are selling like “hot haggis”! For your £10 you will be served a two-course meal. A tot of Whisky is also included in the price of the ticket. Bingo The Bar will be open for other drinks during the course of the evening. The last weekly Bingo for the time being was held at the Hall on 19th December. The numbers If you have any queries please contact Sarah attending have been dropping over the last few who will be delighted to speak to you years so the Committee decided earlier in the year to stop after the Christmas Bingos. There 100 Club will, however, be some “speciality” Bingos so watch out for dates. The Committee would like to take this opportunity to thank all those who Jane is now selling the remaining numbers, so have helped out over the years by setting up, please contact her or see her at the Market if you clearing up, selling books/tickets at the Bingo would like to join the 100 Club. and, most importantly, those of you who have attended. We hope to see you again for three sessions starting on March 13th. Focus on Thorverton 5 Vol. 38 No.1 – January 2007 Notice Board THORVERTON MEMORIAL HALL THORVERTON MEMORIAL HALL Following last year’s success another SATURDAY MARKET Burns Night
Saturday 27th January 2007 7.00pm Saturday 13th January at
9.30 - 11.00am Thorverton Memorial Hall
Breakfast Bar, Books, Preserves Traditional Scottish Piper Fruit & Veg, Plants, Cards, Draw Bric-a-brac, Toiletries, Competitions, Music & Scottish Dancing Cakes, Jewellery etc. Tickets £10.00 to include 2 course meal 100 Club Draw and a tot of whisky Ring Sarah Addicott on 01392 860818 Reg. Charity No. 203778 for tickets and details
Reg. Charity No. 203778
Thorverton Arts Exchange
At Arts Exchange meetings we share our enthusiasms for writing, music, painting, film, craft etc. with one another. Usually there is a theme to our choices, but occasionally an individual member will take responsibility for a whole evening. The meetings take place in members’ homes at 8.00 p.m. The next six meetings are:
Jan 11th Weather 25, The Glebe Feb 8th Letters Stable House Mar 15th Time Cubberley House April 5th Consequences Ockero May 10th Mysteries Pynes House June 7th Movement Campion Cottage New members are always welcome. For further information contact Claire Cousins at Cubberley House, The Berry (860438) Focus on Thorverton 6 Vol. 38 No.1 – January 2007
Not the Village Shop Need a light bulb, battery or pet food? Nothing in for dinner? Run out of paracetamol, tea or biscuits? Pocket money to spend? Or looking for the essentials of life locally good bread and milk?
The temporary shop −−− in the yellow and white van – is up and running in The Berry near the Church.
Opening hours:
Monday to Friday 7.45 - 11.45 am 3.15 – 6.45 pm Saturday 7.45 - 11.45 am
For newspapers, greetings cards, stationery… please continue to go to Thorverton Post Office in the quarry car park.
Stephen Toogood
Church Week Planning Meeting
The planning meeting for this year’s Church Week will take place in the Exeter Inn on Thursday, 18th January at 7.30 pm
The organizing team is keen to receive new suggestions and recruit new helpers. So, if you are bursting with creative ideas or would just like to assist with the running of this festive week, please come along to the meeting and have your say.
If you’d like more information please contact Tina Ayre on 860434
Allison Toogood awaiting your custom. Focus on Thorverton 7 Vol. 38 No.1 – January 2007
Thorverton Church Consort Thorverton Junior Consort
Practices (on Thursdays) are usually in church Practices (on Mondays) are usually in school from 7.45 to 9.00 pm from 3.30 pm
January January Thurs 4th Practice Sat 13th 5 pm in church Practice Thurs 18th Practice Sun 14th 10 am “Come to the Inn” Service with Drama February Mon. 15th Practice Thurs 1st Practice Mon. 29th Practice Thurs 15th Practice February Mon. 12th Practice March Mon. 26th at 1, The Glebe Practice Thurs 1st Practice March Thurs 8th Practice Mon. 12th Practice Thurs 22nd Practice Mon. 26th Practice April April Mon. 2nd Practice Weds 4th Practice Mon. 30th Practice May May Thurs 3rd Practice Mon. 21st Practice Thurs 31st Practice June June Mon. 11th Practice Thurs 14th Practice Mon. 25th Practice Thurs 28th Practice July July Thurs 19th Party Thurs 12th Practice Thurs 19th Party Sun 22nd 5 pm Practice
Thorverton Church Flower Club Mobile Library Service
Flower Festival – June 15th -- 17th 2007 Thanks to the co-operation of the Parish Council After a gap of 5 years, we have decided that we the Mobile Library will in future operate would like to put on a flower festival next year in Thorverton Church. from the Quarry Car Park
Please come to our next meeting if you would on Wednesdays from 2.55 to 3.15 p.m. like to take part in helping with flower arranging, stewarding or refreshments. The meeting will Devon Library Services take place in the Church on Monday 8th January 2007 at 2.30pm.
Elspeth Holmes – Tel: 860535 or email [email protected] Focus on Thorverton 8 Vol. 38 No.1 – January 2007
The Raddon Team Ministry
¡ ¢ £ ¡ ¤ ¥ ¦ ¡ § ¨ ©
! " # !
¢ ¦ § ¢ § ¤ ¡ ¢ $ § ¢ % & & ' ¥ ( ¡ ¢ ) ' § * ¢ £ § + ¢ ¢ ¨ & ¦ ¢
, - . / - 0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 7 4 9 : ;
K L M N O P Q < = >
V r s t a r u u v w x r w y l a k z { {
K R S T U Q ? = >
V r s t a r u u v w x r w y ^ z | }
= >
V W X V Y Z V r s t a r u u v w x r w y a z ~ @ A
= >
[ \ ] ^ _ [ ` ^ a b c \ ` m u x s t ` x V r s t a r u u v w x r w y a z @ A
d e f g h i g d f j e d { { B C D E
= >
W k ^ _ [ k b [ \ ` x r ] r ¡ ¢ @ A
= >
c \ ] \ Z r w x w £ k t y l a k z { { @ @ F @ G
H H >
l c Y Z k m _ c n ` k \ o \ W w x ` x l ¤ x ¥ a ¤ s ¦ § ¨ ¡ © ¡ ª « ¬ ¡ ¬ ¢ ¡ F A I
> ®
G I ` ^ _ o \ a Y [ _ [ ` x ¯ x ` u x s ° r Y s s Y £ ¥
J H >
F A I k _ p ^ q Z _ c \ \ w x w £ k t y l a k z { {
± ² ³ ´ ² µ ¶ · ¸ ¹ º » º ¼ ½ ¾ ¿ À
Á Â Ã Ã Ã ê ë ì ë í î
Ð Ñ Ò Ó Ô Õ Ó Ð Ò Ö Ñ æ ç è é æ æ é ï ð ñ ò
Ä Å Æ
× Ø Ù Ú Û Ø Ü Û Ý ó ô õ ö ÷ ø ù ú û õ ü ù ý þ ô ÿ ¡ ô ¢ ¢ £ ö õ ô ö ¤ ¥ ¦ § §
Å Æ
Ç È Û Ý Þ Ù Ú Û ß Ù à Ü á Ý ß þ ô ÿ ¡ ô ¢ ¢ £ ö õ ô ö ¤ ¡ ¦ ñ ò
Å Æ ¨
Ç È á Ý Þ Ý ú ô £ © ø ù ú û õ ü ù ý þ ô ÿ ¡ ô ¢ ¢ £ ö õ ô ö ¤ ¡ ¦
 Ã
É Ê Ð Ñ Ò Ó Ô Õ Ó Ð Ò Ö ý ! § § " # $ % &
Å Æ
Ç Ç Ë Ç Ì à Ú Þ â Ý Ü þ ô ÿ ¡ ô ¢ ¢ £ ö õ ô ö ¤ ¥ ¦ ' ( ) % * $ + $ ,, - . ñ . / % 0 * & $
Í Æ
ËÎ È Ï à ã ä å × á Ü 1 û ù ö õ ö 2 3 ú 4 ù ú ¤ 5 ¡ 3 ¦ § §
6 7 8 9 7 : ; < = > ? @? A B C D E
F G H H H t u v u w
U V W X Y U Z X [ \ ] V Z o q r s [ q q _ [ b x y y
I G H H H t u v u w
[ Y W ^ V \ o q r s [ q q X x z {
G H G H v v v v G H v
J K _ ] ` a b c Y ] d Z b V e V c r s Z | } ~ | Z | } ~ | Z r |
G H
J K b Y ^ X f a Y ] V
G H
J K Z X Y e V [ ` U Y U
¡ ¢
L M N O g h i j k l j g i m £ ¤ ¥ ¦ § ¨ © ª « ¥ ¬ © ® ¤ ª ¦ ¥ ¦ ¯ ° ª ± ² © ª ³ ´ µ ° ¶ ·
G H ¸
J J P J Q ] V W V · ¹
G H
J J P J Q n b X Y U b \ U V º » ¼
R H À ¢ ¢
PS K T o n p o ` a ½ ¾ ¿ Á ¿
R H
PS K T U V W X Y U Z X [ \ ] V Z ½ ¾ » ¼
Â Ã Ä Å Ã Æ Ç È É Ê Ë Ì Í Ì Î Ï Ð Ï ÑÒ Î Ò Ó Ô Õ Ë ÑÍ Ï ÑÎ Ï Õ Ì Ö Ì × Ø ÙÌ
Ú Û Ü ô ô
ÿ ¡ ¢ £ £ ¤ ¥ ¦ ¥ § å é ¨ © © å æ ç è é ê ë æ ì í é î ï î
Ý Û Ü ô
ÿ ¡ ¢ £ £ ¤ ¥ ¦ ¥ § ñ ¨ ð é ñ ë ò é ó ò î
Û Ü ô ô
Þ ß ¦ ¦ ¥ ¡ ê £ ¦ ¡ ¢ í ¦ !" # ç ì å ð æ ó
Û Ü ô ô
Þ ß ò î õ ñ ë ò í ñ ó æ î í $ ¦ ¥ í ¦ % ÿ ¡ ¢ £ £ ¤ ¥ ¦ ¥ § ñ ¨ © ©
' Û Ü
é ë ö ñ ÷ è ë æ î í ¦ & õ © ( ) ) Þ ß
ô ô ô Û Ü
í ñ ë ï î ç ò ë ò ÿ ¡ ¢ £ £ ¤ ¥ ¦ ¥ § ¨ * * Þ ß
ô ô Û Ü
æ î õ î ÿ ¡ ¢ £ £ ¤ ¥ ¦ ¥ § ¨ Þ Þ à Þ á
ø ù ú û ü ý û ø ú þ + , - . / 0 1 2 ù . 2 3 4 . 0 0 5 , 6 . , 7 4 8 - . / 4 1 , 9 2 : 0 1 ; © © â ã ä
! < = < = ! = > ? @ A B C D " B < E
Focus on Thorverton 9 Vol. 38 No.1 – January 2007
F G H I J K I L M N O P Q R S T O U V W S X Y Z O [ \ ] O ^ O _ Q `
a b c t u v w x y z t w t
n n
d b c t { | } ~ z t
n n
b c x u t t
e f n n
b c ~ | { t z y ~ t t
e f m n ¡ ¢ n n
g h i j £ ¤ ¥ ¦ £ j j § ¨ © £ ¨ ª « ¬ ® ¯ ° ± £ § ² ³ ³
| x { z ~
k l m n ¡ ´ µ ¶ · ¸ ¹ º » ¼ ¹ ½
w t ¿ y ~ | ~
k k o k p m n ¾ m ³
À u u { ~ t u {
p q n ¡ Á µ ¶ m n  ¢ ´ ¾ Ã
r ~ t w y u { y v ~ ~
o s l q n Ä µ ¾ ¡ m µ µ ¶ m à ¶ ¶ ¡ ¶
r ~ w t { } { y ~
o s l q n ¾ m ³ ³
Å Æ Ç ÈÉ Ê Ë Ì Í ÇÎ Ë Ï Ð Ñ Ò Ó Ô Õ Ó ÖÖ × Ø Ù Ú Ñ × × ÖÛ × Ü Ò Ù Ý Ó Þ Ô × Ó ß Ô × Ö à Ù â ã Ò ä Û å Ó æ Ó ç Ô Ó è Ô × ç Ù ä Û Ò Ø ä Û ß ã Ø ÖÛ × Ý Ó ç Ô Þ Ñ × Ø æ ç ä × Ñ × Ó ä Û é × × ê
á
ë ì í î ï î ð ñ í ò ó ô í õ ö ô î ï î ð ñ í ò ó ô í
÷ ø ù ú û ü ý þ ÿ ¡ ¢ £ ÿ ¤ ¥ ý ¦ ¢ § ¨ û © ¨ û © ü £ ÿ ¤ © ¤ ¢ ¥ ý ¦ ¢ § ¨ û ©
ø ù ú û ü ý þ ÿ ¡ ¢ £ ÿ ¤ ¥ û £ ¦ ¨ û © ü ¢ ¢ ¥ ý ¦ ¢ § ¨ û ©
ü ¢ £ ÿ ¤ £ © ¢ § ¥ ý þ ¦ § ¨ û ©
!
" # $ % & ' ( ) * + , - + . * / 0 1 & 2 . 3 - 4 / - 2 4 & 5 * 6 . ) - ' * / . ) 7
8 8 9 : ; < = < > ? @ A B CD E ? < FF G < HI J H K < E FL KM LN ; D HB < O P 9 Q HE = @ M D R H G < I = < D S < H KM F ; < = D S S @ M : < D G
O T 9 : ; < = < > = KU ; D HS J @ FF < HI V E E @ U KD F < Q KM KE F < H KM F ; < = D S S @ M : < D G W P 9 N D M @ M J H@ X < E E @ H Y KU ; @ CD E R H G < I = < D S < H KM F ; < = D S S @ M : < D G
f k b
Z o 9 J H < ` < M S D H a \ @ ; M Q D p E @ M 9 Q H h A a m ; < p p D HS Z [ 9 : ; < = < > \ @ ; M ] < M F@ M Z 9 Q HE \ D M < N @ @ c
k k
q o 9 Q HE r D C Q KCCE 9 : ; < = < > m A < m ; < p p D HS [ [ 9 Q HE ] H KS B < F ] @ ^ D CC Z 8 9 Q HE \ A CKD ? D C C < M
k b d
8 T 9 Q H ? D > KS J < H H@ FF _ 9 : ; < = < > V CD M m KG G @ M S E 9 : ; < = < > N ; H KE e A B ; < E 8 [ 9 Q H ? D > KS ] @ ^ D CC
d u f g
9 : ; < = < > e D H@ CS v ; K F F a 9 Q HE h i a M M < F ; j < < ; M < H q s 9 Q HE r D C < H K < t A KM M _ [ 9 Q HE V M M D ` < C ] HD M M < a
k l k b b
9 Q HE m A < n @ M B H KS B < Z 9 Q H \ @ ; M m D M S X@ HS 9 Q H N ; H KE N @ @ c
k } ~ } k } b k } ~ } k } ~ } ~ ~ k } ~ } ~ } } }
w x y z { | z x x z z x y z { x _ z x { | { x | x y
¡ ¢ £ ¤ ¥ ¦ § § ¥ ¨ £ ¦ © ¢ ª « § ¬ ¬ ¦ ¬ ¥ ® ¢ ¨ « ¯ ° © ¨ ° ¦ ¨ ¬ ¦ ¢ ± ¦ « ² ¬ ¯ ¥ ¨ ³ « ° ¥ ¥ ª ¯ ¥ ¤ ¥ ¨ ¥ ´ µ ¦ ¨ ¬ ¨ ¢ ² ¯ ® ¦ ¨ ¬ ¬ ¦ ¶ · ¸ ¹ º » ¼ ½ ¾ ¿ ÀÁ ½ ¼ § ¨ ¦ Â
ª ¦ ° ¢ ¬ « ¦ ² ¯ « ² Ã ¦ ¨ ³ ¥ ¨ ¬ ¦ ² ® ¢ ¨ « ¯ Ä ® ª ¥ ¢ ¯ ¥ ¨ « ² Å Æ ¬ ¥ ³ ¥ Ç ¥ ² È ¥ ª ª ¦ ² É Ê Ë Ì Í Î Ï Ð Ñ Ê Ò Ð Ê Ó Ã ¦ ¢ ¨ ¨ ¢ ² Å ¥ ¢ ª « § ¬ ¬ ¦ ¬ ¥ Ô ½ ½ Õ ¹ º » Ö × Ø»
Ù
× Ú Ú · ¸ À × ¸ ¢ ¬ Ã ¦ ¨ ³ ¥ ¨ ¬ ¦ ² ¦ ² ¬ ¥ ª ¢ ¯ ¬ Û ¥ È ² ¥ ¯ È ¢ £ ¦ § ¬ ¥ Â ¦ ² ¬ Ä ® ª ¥ ¢ ¯ ¥ ¨ « ² Å ¡ ¢ ¨ Å ¢ ¨ ¥ ¬ Ã © ¨ ² ¥ ¨ ÜÛ ¢ ¨ ¤ « ° Ý ¦ ² É Ê Ë Ì Í Î Ï Ð Ñ Ê Í Þ Ê
ß
à á
â ³ ¥ ¨ £ § ¥ ¤ £ ¥ ¢ ¨ ¯ Ä ² ¥ ã ¬ « ² ¥ ¢ ¨ ª £ Î Ê Ê Ò Ä ¬ ¥ ä © ¨ ° â ª ¥ ° ¬ ¦ ¨ ¢ ª Ç ¦ ª ª § ¦ ¨ ¥ ¢ ° ® ¢ ¨ « ¯ ¥ ã ® « ¨ ¥ ¯ ¢ ² È ¢ ² ¥ ¤ ¨ ¦ ª ª ¢ ¯ ¬ ¦ å ¥ ® ¨ ¥ ® ¢ ¨ ¥ È Ó
Ù
· ¾ ¾ ½ ¸ æ Ú ½ Ú ç ½ ¾ ¼ Ô è × Ô À ¼ è æ × ¾ ½ Ú º À ¸ × ¸ æ è ½ ¾ × ØØ Ú · ¼ æ ¾ ½ º é é Ø» ê × ¾ Ú ½ Ú ç ½ ¾ ¼ è À é ë ¬ ¥ ¨ ¥ « ¯ ² ¦ ¢ © ¬ ¦ Â ¢ ¬ « ° ° ¢ ¨ ¨ £ Ü
¦ ³ ¥ ¨ Ó ì ¥ ¤ Â ¥ Â å ¥ ¨ ¯ ¢ ¨ ¥ ¢ ª ¤ ¢ £ ¯ ¤ ¥ ª ° ¦ Â ¥ Ó µ ¦ ¨ È ¥ ¬ ¢ « ª ¯ Ä ® ª ¥ ¢ ¯ ¥ ¯ ¥ ¥ ² ¦ ¬ « ° ¥ ¯ ¬ ¦ å ¥ ® ¦ ¯ ¬ ¥ È « ² ° © ¨ ° ® ¦ ¨ ° ¥ ¯ È © ¨ « ² Å í ¢ ² © ¢ ¨ £ Ó
à ¦ ¯ ¥ ¦ ² ¬ ¥ Ç ¦ ª ª ² ¥ ¥ È ¬ ¦ ¢ ³ ¥ å ¥ ¥ ² å ¢ ® ¬ « î ¥ È ï ° ¨ « ¯ ¬ ¥ ² ¥ È ¢ ² È ¬ ¦ å ¥ ¥ « ¬ ¥ ¨ ¨ ¥ ¯ «È ¥ ² ¬ « ² ¬ ¥ ® ¢ ¨ « ¯ ¦ ¨ ¨ ¥ Å © ª ¢ ¨ ° © ¨ ° Å ¦ ¥ ¨ ¯
¢ ¬ ¬ ¥ ® ¢ ¨ « ¯ ° © ¨ ° ¦ ¨ È ¢ © Å ¬ ¥ ¨ ° © ¨ ° Ó ¡ ¥ Â å ¥ ¨ ¯ « ® « ¯ ¢ ¤ ¢ £ « ² ¤ « ° å ¢ ® ¬ « î ¥ È ä ¨ « ¯ ¬ « ¢ ² ¯ ° ¢ ² «È ¥ ² ¬ « § £ ¬ ¥ Â ¯ ¥ ª ³ ¥ ¯ ¤ « ¬
¬ ¥ ª « § ¥ ¢ ² È ¤ ¦ ¨ Ý ¦ § ¬ ¥ ä © ¨ ° ¦ § â ² Å ª ¢ ² È « ² ¬ ¥ ª ¦ ° ¢ ª ° ¦ Â Â © ² « ¬ £ ë « ¬ « ¯ ¢ ª ¯ ¦ ¢ ¨ ¥ ð © « ¨ ¥ Â ¥ ² ¬ § ¦ ¨ § © ª ª ® ¢ ¨ ¬ « ° « ® ¢ ¬ « ¦ ² « ² ¬ ¥
ñ ² ² © ¢ ª ò ¢ ¨ ¦ ° « ¢ ª ä © ¨ ° ¡ ¥ ¥ ¬ « ² Å ¢ ² È ¥ ª ¥ ° ¬ « ¦ ² ¬ ¦ ° © ¨ ° ° ¦ © ² ° « ª ¯ Ó Focus on Thorverton 10 Vol. 38 No.1 – January 2007 Calling all young actresses and actors
Come and help re-enact the days after Jesus’ birth in a drama: “Come to the inn” at Thorverton Parish Church, Sunday, January 14th. 10am at the FAMILY SERVICE.
There will be parts for all ages. Come dressed as an angel, shepherd, (and lamb) or child of Bethlehem. For help/advice with what to wear contact Stella Barron 860007, Karon Murphy 861056 or Hillary Dovel 860803
If you would like a speaking part contact Mary Thomas 860730 as soon as possible. We will all learn songs to sing and there will be recorders playing and guitars too, with “shakers and rattles.”
REHEARSAL At church on Saturday, January 13th. 5 – 6pm. Parents please stay with younger children. CHILDREN OF ALL AGES WELCOME Baptist Church News her the amazing news that she was to be Christmas meditation the mother of Israel’s Messiah, King, Son of God and Saviour. No explanation was At this season of the year mums and dads given her as to the mechanics of the (with grandparents not far behind) love to operation - only that the overshadowing watch their little darlings take part in power of the Holy Spirit would be at nativity plays. On occasions it is the work within her. Her final reaction is unscripted moments which are the most exemplary - “I am the handmaiden of the memorable - such as when a little boy Lord. May it be as you have said.” who longed for the part of Joseph was instead chosen to be the innkeeper. He It is to Mary’s encounter with her older got his revenge when Mary and Joseph cousin Elizabeth - who was also knocked on the door of the inn. Instead expecting a miracle baby - that we owe of the traditional “no room” he replied the Magnificat, which someone has heartily, “Yes, there’s plenty of room, described as the last Old Testament psalm come right in.”! and the first New Testament hymn. This spontaneous outburst of praise is full of Behind the traditional trappings there is OT reminiscences but also of new the reality of Christmas. Take Mary, for combinations which are the fruit of instance, a teenage girl engaged to Mary’s meditation on her experience. Joseph, the village carpenter, an older man her parents had chosen for her. There must still have been many fears in Living as she did a sheltered life in her Mary’s mind - the village gossip which village up in the hill country of Galilee would inevitably follow once her she was flustered when an angel brought condition was known, the possibility of Focus on Thorverton 11 Vol. 38 No.1 – January 2007 violence against her, and Joseph’s God is always close by us whatever reaction. happens In the Old Testament God was with The future husband too was wondering Adam and Eve in the Garden, what to do about the situation. Being a He was with Abraham, and even called decent and honourable man, his instinct him His friend, He was with Moses and was for a discreet divorce in order to the Israelites. And as believers, God is in avoid shame for his intended. His us-and He’ll keep growing in us as long dilemma was resolved when he too as we let Him, and because he lives in us, received an angelic visitation which we have access 24/7 to His limitless brought him the same assurance as came power! What more do we need?. to Mary. Remember when the Angel appeared to Mary and she said “may it be done— “You are to call his name Jesus” was part according to your word—lets make this of the message to them both. “Jesus” is our prayer for the New Year. the “Joshua” of the Old Testament and means “God saves.” This name At the time of writing we have had our encapsulates the role of the Christ-child - first attempt at carol singing, for this “He shall save his people from their sins” Season, when we had an afternoon of the angel adds to Joseph. carols and mince pies, in our schoolroom, a most enjoyable afternoon. Thank you to So essentially Jesus was designated from all who supported us, it was good to see the first as the Saviour. What is he to you. save us from? Anything that binds us, We had a very brave lady who gave us a enslaves us, holds us in captivity. Here fine rendering of “Stille Nacht”, (Silent behind the tinsel is the real thing: Night) which reminded me of a story during WW1 as Germans and British “Unto you is born this day, in the city of were in their bunkers, the Germans David, a Saviour which is Christ the started singing “Stille Nacht”, when the Lord.” British sang “O come, all ye faithful”. Immediately men who had been shooting Maurice Harrison, Minister at each other joined in singing the same carol together, the Germans singing the It seems strange to be writing this report words in Latin (Adeste Fideles) to come out on January 1st, when we have not had Christmas yet. I trust you have all The Baptist Church wishes all its readers had a wonderful Christmas, and will be a very Peaceful and Healthy New Year, looking forward to a New Year-a New and welcomes all to any one of our Year full of Hope. With all the bad things services, on any Sunday morning. that happened in 2006, we must never forget that there is hope for the future, God has always promised us that. Phyllis Langdon, Church Secretary Many many times in the Bible, we are reminded of this, and also the fact that Focus on Thorverton 12 Vol. 38 No.1 – January 2007 TARTS news led by Heather - the church is well worth a visit - with lunch at the excellent Lamb Inn in Sandford (with a now-thriving village shop) and back via the lovely rolling countryside to the north through Brembridge Farm.
January walks - we meet at the Bell Inn:
By popular demand we are reintroducing Thorverton Amblers & Ramblers Society midweek afternoon walks either Wednesday or Thursday. Details will be in the Old Post Office Here we are at the end of an excellent year’s window. Heather has kindly offered to organize walking, and looking forward to 2007. Twenty this: of us had an excellent Christmas dinner at the • The first is on Thursday 4th January. th Thorverton Arms on Friday 15 and a very Meeting time to be announced. merry time was had by all. • Our first short Saturday walk is on 6th
nd January, 4/5 miles, led by Mary, with a The 2 December walk was led by Ray around pub lunch. Meet at the Bell at 9.30 Rackenford with a lunch stop at the Stag Inn • Meeting at the Exeter Inn on 11 th January (new owners, good food…). Only a half-hour’s to arrange future walks - if you can make drive away - or it would have been if some local it please come along and join us. All hadn’t turned around the Rackenford sign! - ideas welcomed. while waiting for the “lost” carload, we checked out the village shop which seems to be in crisis If you need any information please contact through lack of village support (take note!). Simon on 01392 861349. On Saturday 16th, 14 of us and 2 dogs finished off 2006 with a short walk from Upton Hellions South West Early Music Forum alto, tenor and 2 bass parts which was Voices and Viols Workshop (Thorverton thoroughly rehearsed by Tim to ensure a th Church, Saturday 18 November) confident approach by the balanced choir. This was followed by the also 6-part “Herr, nun On a sunny but crisp autumn day (at least the lassest du deinen Diener" SWV 432 - a little church was warm), around 40 members of more demanding, and in which the parts were SWEMF gathered in the delightful church of interwoven to good effect by the singers and St.Thomas, in the idyllic Devon village of instrumentalists. Thorverton, to sing 3 Heinrich Schutz motets to the accompaniment of 4 viols and a lute. The day After a too-brief lunch break, when several of was admirably directed by Tim Jones, who, until the choir invaded the local hostelry and enjoyed recently, was on the staff of Exeter University's a good "fuel stop”, for the rest of the afternoon, Music Department (soon to be no more!) and we were faced with the more difficult German was also organist at the aforesaid church, so was Magnificat - "Meine Seele erhebt den Herren.” very familiar with the acoustic help the church This is set for 2 4-part choirs, singing more or could give. He had made the long journey from less antiphonally throughout, and most singers the North of England, where he is now based at found that coping with German pronunciation, the Royal Northern College of' Music. the tricky notation, watching the ever patient conductor, and listening to the other parts, was The morning began, after very welcome quite a difficult task. However, by breaking the refreshments, with "Selig sind die Toten, die in music up into manageable and learnable chunks, dem Herrenn” SWV 391 - set for 2 soprano, Focus on Thorverton 13 Vol. 38 No.1 – January 2007 we managed to sound adequate, and even principally Mary Thomas, who had put so much sometimes admirable. into making this annual event such a success. Book early next year if this is held again, to At the end of the afternoon (and well done to ensure a place! Tim for ensuring that we finished dead on time!) a small but appreciative audience gathered (in Report by Ken Law the choir pews) to listen to the musicians performing, from the nave, these 3 pieces of Mary Thomas adds: Thank you Marjorie and early music to a reasonably high standard, Sybil for keeping us supplied with hot drinks ending with the triumphant sounding "und von during the day, and thanks, too, to our splendid Ewigkeit, Amen” at the conclusion of the audience of 30 people who came to listen to our Magnificat. efforts. It was good to see Tim again. Here’s to next year! Congratulations must go to Tim for his expert and informative direction, and to the organisers,
Thorverton WI I regret that I failed to include the WI report in December’s Focus, so include it here followed Mary Stevens won both the flower and fancy by the report for January. Apologies to the WI cake competition. Ann Stamper, June Lee, for the omission - Ed. Paddy Milford and Cynthia Sharples won the draw. Report of November meeting Report of December meeting On November 6th Elspeth Holmes gave us a very interesting talk on flower arranging. By Without giving calories a second thought we all tying bundles of bleached willow together, tucked into a very enjoyable buffet supper at our decorating it and then adding lights we December meeting. With taste buds satisfied we discovered that a very effective Christmas tree then searched our brains for answers to a quiz, could be made almost instantly. Pine kernels which was all about Devon. The winning table sprayed with glitter and placed on a dowel were managed to get 17 out of 20 answers correct and also effective. Jasmine and honeysuckle were were rewarded with a prize. We entered into the used as a base for a wreath as it is easy to wind time of year by finishing the evening with a in a circle. It is best done on the day it is cut but, game of pass the parcel, the winning lady being should this not be possible, it can be kept in a Barbara O’Connor. sealed black bag for a couple of days so that it remains pliable. As it dries the colours change Mary Stevens won flower of the month and, with from green to brown and then it can be decorated Sybil Tulloch snapping close at my heels, I won as required the competition for the decorated parcel. The draw was varied and won by several lucky Flower arrangers are trying to help the ladies. environment by finding alternative ways that do not involve oasis. To this end we were shown a On behalf of all the W.I ladies I wish you all A design that had been created without the use of Happy and Prosperous New Year. oasis. It consisted of green glitter sticks, pipe cleaners, red baubles and red roses and looked Sylvia Gregory attractively different. Focus on Thorverton 14 Vol. 38 No.1 – January 2007 Letter from South Africa 1887
There is a gap between this letter and the last; Sometimes when I run down - get tired like - we think my Great Grandfather may have joined don't pan out straight - I take my flesh and blood the police as many men did when they left the away for two or three days. Here's an account of army - gold digging may have been filling in one. time. There is one letter to go but it runs on from "Left Camp"- to every place is a camp - went the last one. I'm including this now as it relates over mountains two days North by north-east to Christmas. plenty of game on mountains, no people of any kind. On second day entered a deep valley, at Two days northwards from Jamestown alluvial foot crossed a track running east and west - digging. probably Delagoa Bay road at North of Valley January 10th 1887 found broad and rapid river flowing NW by SE. 2 Crocodile - returned 4th day. This is the fifth You see I am right in the Gold country in fact successive day I had not seen a white man. just at this moment I have left off digging to make the bread and having an hour or two to I enjoy those tramps - generally for game as spare started this letter. meat is scarce - this polite style of writing hardly suits me must go on as I speak now. I don’t know how I can make you understand my End of page - have a smoke - position or our surroundings. Perhaps I had better describe our home. You will notice the finished the smoke- Tell you about Christmas hills are all round us, in fact we are on a hill with day regular gathering of the clans at our show. a great valley below. The hut I built myself. We Give you some of the names – “Yankee Dan” – have to do everything as little or nothing that is “Pennyweight-Billy” - Ginger – “Crib” - Taffy used in ordinary civilised life is to be had - we Thomas, Nuggetty Brown and some others . can just get enough food out once a week by We were going to have a good spread and all donkey to keep us going without troubling about agreed that roast Beef and a Plum Pudding was luxuries. Of course the life is pleasant taken all the thing - I volunteered to make the pudding if round. Sometimes I should like to get a good anyone could find the plums -Old Nuggetty dinner with wine, see a play, speak to a pretty Brown recalled he could get some currants so we woman or hear a band. Our prospects are pretty sent him off - the other things we had. good - but it is sheer luck gold digging - I might The currants came and I mixed the show round - unearth at any moment a mine of priceless value it looked sun shiney lovely - I showed it to the for or I may go on and for years hardly paying chums and they agreed - with one or two tuck or expenses. suggestions. Chuck in a bottle of Kango Brandy said Dave and in it was chucked - to an artistic I am writing by a candle which is supported by a eye it looked sloppy and I said so. Says piece of stone with a piece of gold in it - the someone else “Seems to me sorter wants some stones of our fire are of gold - sounds rich flour” - & where the blazing Moses are we going doesn't it - we work pretty hard of course to get flour from. Said I. although not too arduous. Plenty of shooting on Yankee Dan gave it as his opinion that a pudding the mountains - law cases occupy our time - we wanted flour in it specially a Christmas pudding. make our own laws - diggers' law, and try and hang or rather shoot men if they offend - I shot a Who’s making this pudding - seems to me the native last week for stealing - a white man was whole Show is - I reckon it will prospect all right given 20 paces to get away with his life while we but to please some of ye I will put in some emptied our revolvers at him for attempted mealie meal as there is no flour nearer than murder, but these things are rare as we are so Australia.– “That’s right lad.” So the pudding scattered and never meet in numbers unless was made & grand it was - a trifle hard - heavy something unusual yanks round. - one chap said but grand but the greatest Focus on Thorverton 15 Vol. 38 No.1 – January 2007 success was the sauce - a white wine sauce - white wine mind you. I made that as everyone The dinner was good - in the open air about said there ought to be a sauce so we had one - I sundown - later on we piled up the logs and had never tasted anything like that sauce before and songs round the camp fire with milk punch and so all the diggers said. We all had a cut in at it grog - at one or two we finished up with a but all good things have some little hitch - Old shooting match and then to bed curled up in the Nuggety said for a Christmas it wasn’t sorter blankets round the fire - really a very good corickt to have a cold sauce over a hot pudding Christmas taking the quartz all round. and the chaps guessed that was right - and it End of page - another smoke seemed reasonable - so we heated it a over the fire - you will hardly believe me - you will finished smoke. Can't write much more tonight, hardly imagine my disgust when my sauce - the it is getting late nearly 9 generally in bed at best thing out the fields - slowly and surely sundown and have to go over the hills tomorrow turned into a kind of Batter pudding as firm as a will write again soon rock - the whole thing remains a mystery to this WFS day. The only conclusion to come to is that a white wine sauce is not the right thing for Four years after he wrote this letter he was shot Christmas - or if so you must eat it cold. dead from his horse while carrying messages.
Golf Society Players of Thorverton
Since the last Focus the GSPOT competition Shortest drive (an air shot) Garth Pearce. results are : The next dates are Boxing Day, New Year’s Sunday 26th November Day. (fancy dress optional and headaches permitting), Friday January 12th and Sunday This was played at Waterbridge Golf Club as January 28th. Newton St Cyres was closed. Anybody interested in joining us will be more Winner Andy French. than welcome, just turn up at the Exeter Inn at Runner up Scott Hasler 12.30 lunchtime on Friday, or 10 30 am. on Sunday and both Boxing Day and New Years Shortest Drive Fred Phillips Day.
Friday 15th December David Harlow Joint Winners Rob Flatt and John Mann Focus on Thorverton 16 Vol. 38 No.1 – January 2007 Poetry Christmas Bells I am again grateful to Doreen Beer for providing a poem appropriate for the time of year - a time I heard the bells on Christmas Day when we look forward with optimism, hoping for Their old familiar carols play, a better future - Ed. And wild and sweet The words repeat New Year Of peace on earth, good-will to men! And thought how, as the day had come, New as a babe’s first breath The belfries of all Christendom Upon the air, Had rolled along New as untrodden snow, The unbroken song New thought - new care. Of peace on earth, good-will to men! Till, ringing, singing on its way New as dawn’s waking light, The world revolved from night to day, As day unknown, A voice, a chime, New as the fledglings flight, A chant sublime New seed - new sown. Of peace on earth, good-will to men!
New as a page unmarked Then from each black, accursed mouth By careless hands, The cannon thundered in the South, New as a friendship born, And with the sound New hopes - new plans. The Carols drowned Of peace on earth, good-will to men!
New as love’s stirring flame, And in despair I bowed my head; Untarnished, bright; 'There is no peace on earth,' I said; New year come in 'For hate is strong, And set the world aright. And mocks the song Doreen Beer Of peace on earth, good-will to men!'
Spellchecker Then pealed the bells more loud and deep: 'God is not dead; nor doth he sleep! Eye halve a spelling chequer The Wrong shall fail, The Right prevail, It came with my pea sea With peace on earth, good-will to men!' It plainly marques for my revue Miss steaks eye kin knot sea by Henry Wadsworth Longfellow Eye strike a quay and type a word And weight four it to say Weather eye am wrong oar write It shows me strait a weigh As soon as a mist ache is maid It nose bee fore too long And eye can put the error rite Its rare lee ever wrong Eye have run this poem threw it I am shore your pleased two no Its letter perfect awl the whey My checker tolled me sew Anon Focus on Thorverton 17 Vol. 38 No.1 – January 2007 25 Years ago Focus January 1982 Formation of a Parish Emergency Committee. As part of the Local Authority Emergency Organisation for Devon the Parish Council has If God Should go on Strike been required to form a Parish Emergency How good it is that God above has never gone Committee. on strike, The “steering” Committee from the Council Because He was not treated fair in things He comprises volunteers Audrey Pile, Martin didn’t like. Summers, John Uglow, and myself as Chairman. If only once He’d given up and said, “That’s it, The undermentioned have kindly accepted I’m through”, invitations to become “Heads of Sections” under “I’ve had enough of those on earth, so this is the County Scheme, as indicated. Tony Carbines what I’ll do”. had earlier volunteered for training as the Home Defence Advisor and is available to the Parish “I’ll give My orders to the sun-“cut off the heat for technical advice on Civil Defence matters. supply”. Our task is to create in the village a band of And to the moon--give no more light, and run public spirited people ready, as far as is possible, the oceans dry. to deal with emergencies ranging from domestic Then, just to make things really tough and put accidents to nuclear war. the pressure on. We aim to set up our organisation by the end of Turn off the vital oxygen till every breath is 1982 after which we will review it annually and gone. report accordingly to the County Emergency Officer. You know He would be justified , if fairness was Each of the 12 “Heads of Sections” will need the game, recruits during the coming months and For no one has been more abused or met with volunteers for this will be both welcome and more disdain appreciated. Than God. And yet He carries on, supplying you The Parish Council are anxious to provide more and me detailed information on the scheme to any With all the favours of His grace, and everything interested parishioners and to this end I shall be for free. glad to respond on request. Reference was also made to this subject in “Focus” for July last. Men say they want a better deal, and so on strike they go. Fire-A.Fice. But what a deal we’ve given God, to Whom all Buildings-J.Coe. things we owe. Warnings-E.Holmes. We don’t care who we hurt to gain the things we Welfare-E.Aird. like; Food-E.Gay. But what a mess we’d all be in, if God should go Information-R.Hartnoll. on strike. Communications-R.Edworthy. Anon. Transport-D.King. Rest Centre-M.Summers. Billeting –D.Langdon. Fuel-K.Maynard. Water-A.N.Other. Walter Hill Chairman. Focus on Thorverton 18 Vol. 38 No.1 – January 2007 Thorverton and District History Society From the examples of her family research it was Due to the cancellation of the programmed interesting to see how people’s occupations have speaker three members of the society each gave changed over the last two hundred years – a short talk on their particular “historical” hobby. hatters, weavers and fullers are long-forgotten Barrie Phillips, whose hobby is collecting and occupations. conserving vintage wirelesses, opened the Beryl cautioned against believing all you read; evening with a talk on Guglielmo Marconi, with with many women dying in childbirth, husbands emphasis on his early experimental work in the re-marrying were often economical with the West Country. truth regarding their age! An Italian, with an Irish mother (of the Jameson Whilst in the past geographical mobility was less whisky family) young Marconi was fascinated common than today, proximity to Parish and by science and Hertzian wave theory and County boundaries and local movements can succeeded in transmitting a signal across the lead to complications and loss of trail. orange grove at his home in Pontecchio. Having Despite initially believing she had no local failed to attract the interest of the Italian connections, Beryl discovered one of her authorities, he came to England in 1896, then the ancestors had been born in Exeter, and it seems world’s leading maritime nation. very likely that Devon may feature at some point Determined to exploit his ideas he quickly in the ancestry of many of us. obtained introductions to people in authority in Our final speaker was David Massey, whose the Post Office, Army and Navy. knowledge of the GWR and the Exe Valley line Accompanied by slides and original soundtrack, appears to be encyclopaedic. the talk traced Marconi’s experiments leading to He outlined the sequence of events involved in sending a signal from Poldhu across the Atlantic the building of a railway from public meeting to Newfoundland in 1901, the formation of and raising finance, through surveying often in public service broadcasting and later the creation hostile territory, to placing the necessary of a worldwide wireless communications legislation before Parliament. network. He described his frustrations in trying to obtain a On his death in 1937 he was given a state funeral map of the Exe Valley line culminating in a visit in Rome and wireless stations across the world to the House of Lords. fell silent in tribute to “The Father of Wireless”. He felt that many of the schemes proposed, such Next, Beryl Coe gave a fascinating talk on as a line from Newton St Cyres via Thorverton researching her Family Tree. to Silverton would not have proved to be She outlined numerous sources of family economical. information now available to the general public Such was the unrestrained enthusiasm for including, Census results, Parish Registers, railways that several of the routes proposed Devon Record Office, West Country Studies struggle today to maintain even a skeleton bus Library and numerous Websites. service. Barrie Phillips
Pets’ Corner From Molly – Hi, my name is Molly Uglow. I live in Broadlands with my mate Paris, Marbles, Bill, Coco, Tabitha, Wesley, Tia and some quite nice Humans. I am now 14¾. .I don’t venture down in the village much now, with my hips the hills are too much, but I still love the woods and fields. Wanted to say hi to my friends and wish them a Happy New Year! Focus on Thorverton 19 Vol. 38 No.1 – January 2007 Sudoku
Complete the grid so that each row, each column and each 3 x 3 block contains each of the digits from 1 to 9.
The solution to this puzzle is on page 27.
The Infinite Cat Project The Infinite Cat Project is simply just good fun. browse the web site. The web site has links to The words of its creator describe it purrrfectly: "It all began innocently enough when a visitor to an Apple forum posted a picture of his cat, Frankie, contemplating the beauty of a flower. Shortly afterwards another user posted a picture of his cat bristling at the image of Frankie on the monitor. I decided this was too much fun and advanced the concept as The Infinite Cat Project which is, simply, cats regarding cats regarding cats in an electronic milieu. If you like this web site then thank your lucky stars that the world is populated with cats, Macs, and people with wayyyy too much time on their hands." (I think an "Apple forum" is either a place where apples Willow observing Smokie observing…. can meet to chat, or an online discussion group for owners of Apple computers). Anyway, the other cat-related sites, such as web site www.infinitecat.com is the place to go www.cutyboy.com - run by a cat who can to see this marvel of website wizardry. apparently speak Gujarati, Persian (his mother- If you want to get your cat onto the web, tongue), Malayalam, English (he was born in the then why not start here. Cute cats, Fat cats, Thin UK), Arabic (now that he is living in the UAE) cats, Hairy cats, and mostly web browsing cats and French; and knows his numbers up to 20. can all be seen here. Our cat Willow is there - I particularly like the section on Today's number 1351. To participate in this project your Tautology - e.g. "Can placebos cause side cat must have access to a computer, and effects? And are the side effects real?" someone willing to take their picture while they Rob Purvis Focus on Thorverton 20 Vol. 38 No.1 – January 2007 Glimpses Of The Past: 1848 The Baptist minister, Rev Thomas Gauntlett, the attempted to pledge at Mr Helmore's the death of whose wife was Glimpsed in 1846, with pawnbroker. The next day she was committed to an infant daughter to care for, as soon as the County Gaol for the trial. The outcome of decently possible married in Honiton in 1848 a the trial has not been discovered but Elizabeth's widow with a daughter of similar age. After a absence from the 1851 census of Devon suggests still shorter delay the landlord of the Dolphin, that she may well have been transported as part William Babbage, who had lost his wife in of the attempt to reduce the considerable March 1847 married, at Exeter Cathedral, a imbalance between numbers of men and women cousin of the Thorverton Malletts in February in Australia. 1848. A most unusual marriage in this year, also in Exeter, was that of William Townsend and Big changes took place at Raddon Court Barton Elizabeth Mugford. What was unusual was that after the departure of the Reynolds family. In he was the eldest son of the family that farmed April tenders were invited for the erection of a Stevenstone, in Upton Pyne, while she was the Farm House and Buildings, and in August the daughter of a Thorverton labourer -- this at a Western Times reported: We have had the time when yeomanry-aglab unions were even pleasure of visiting this beautiful estate, and rarer than nowadays. Furthermore, one of her viewing the improvements now in course of sisters married an Old Harrovian landowner at completion by the liberal and public-spirited Upexe, while another married a foreigner, each landowner, J.H.Hippisly, Esq., of Shobrook without parallel in the parish records. There must Park. The improvements consist of a most have been something very special about the complete system of thorough draining, the Mugford Girls. erection of a good dwelling-house for the tenant, Mr Lowcock (the celebrated ploughman), and a Three Thorverton tradesmen, including a relative range of farm buildings, which if not unequalled, of the new Mrs Babbage, found themselves in will not be surpassed by anything of the kind in court at Cullompton for weights and measures the county. Mr Ware of this city is the builder. offences. John Manley, baker, was charged with The plans of the farm buildings were made by having a 7 lb weight, 3 drachms deficient. He Mr Lowcock, the tenant, and having been pleaded that he was not aware of the deficiency adopted and prepared for the builder by Mr and had had the weight checked recently by an Heyward, the architect, they will in all essential inspector, and the bench, considering that it was respects be followed out. … Raddon Court not an "aggravated" case, fined him only 6d and Estate, one of the finest farms in the county for expenses. Joseph Lake, harness-maker, was felt situation and soil and size, had, from peculiar to have been let down by somebody supposed to circumstances, been left in very bad condition by have fixed a deficient weight and was let off, on the late occupant. It is now very far recovered, payment of the expenses. In contrast Mrs and farmed in a style of completeness, which Babbage's relative, John Mallett, miller, for a shows that it is in the hands of a gentleman who number of offences was fined 12 shillings and combines the requisite skill with adequate expenses. The defendant complained that it was capital. The crops of wheat, barley and oats are a very hard case, but was peremptorily stopped very superior - but we must leave these matters by the bench, who stated that they had dealt very for another opportunity... Subsequent events leniently with him, and would not permit their would show the penultimate sentence to have judgment to be afterwards questioned. He been ill-advised - but we must leave these seemed dissatisfied at his speech being cut short matters for another opportunity. … At a meeting of the Netherexe Farmers' Club a In more serious trouble was Elizabeth Burridge, silver tankard and a silver salver were presented charged with robbery from the house of Mr to the Secretary-cum-Treasurer, Thorverton's Scott, butcher, of Thorverton. Mr Scott had left Vestry Clerk, Mr T.B.Row. Mr Row returned the front door of his house open on his leaving thanks in a brief and modest speech... When he for Exeter market, and the prisoner who had undertook the duties of their secretary seven formerly been a servant in his family, took years since, it was because he thought it the duty advantage of the opportunity, entered and stole of every man to make himself useful to his fellow six silver dessert spoons, six table spoons, six tea creatures. He believed that societies like these spoons, and other valuable articles, which she were a public benefit, and he had endeavoured Focus on Thorverton 21 Vol. 38 No.1 – January 2007 to carry out its objects to the utmost of his was "Bridgeman's" in Jericho Street. Mr ability. He !rusted that he had given satisfaction Radmore's connection with the cottage was that - (cheers). The health of the chairman was then it was he who leased it from the Dean and proposed by Dr Coleridge, who clearly didn't Chapter and sub-let to Mr Garland. Mr Wippell's find attendance at the Farmers' Club as connection is unclear. He himself was about to inconsistent with the dignity of his religious leave Perry and had put his Superior Stock up for calling as attendance at the Tiverton Agricultural sale, namely: 70 ewes with their lambs; 50 fat and Labourers' Society dinner would have been sheep; 30 ewe hogs; 7 rams; 20 superior young in 1843. The chairman then replied in what was dairy cows, some of which have calves, and the described, somewhat obscurely, as a frank and remainder are forward in calf; 2 three-year-old yeomanly speech. heifers in calf; 5 fat heifers; 2 two-year-old heifers, and 2 two-year-old steers; a brown Although in post for nearly ten years by now, Dr hackney mare 15 hands high; 2 excellent cart Coleridge was still designated the new vicar by horses; 1 sow in pigs; and 6 store pigs. the unforgiving editor of the Western Times in ……Refreshments on the table by Twelve o’ yet another attack on his high Tractarian views. Clock, which will be removed at half-past One; The. criticism this time was that he had sent a immediately after which time the Sale will butter stamp, with the sign of the Cross on it, to commence. Since Mr Wippell was only moving the farmer who supplied the butter for his table. the short distance to Bickleigh Court, it's perhaps There were also complaints that the secrets of surprising that he sold the stock rather than the Confession were not remaining secret, taking it with him. though there were two conflicting explanations for this, either that the Confessor's wife told all Thomas Kingdon and Son continued to advertise the stories or alternatively that the penitents as imaginatively and syntactically shakily as themselves, in the lightness of their hearts, after ever the produce of their Devon County having been duly shrived, told their neighbours Nurseries at Chapel St Martin.. Their what a lot of sins they had disposed of Champagne was claimed to be as good as anything in France, proof of which was the plain Meanwhile the Rev Walrond Whitter, the fact. that it is most liberally patronised by the popular curate who might have had the living clergy. Their Champagne Cider was presented as instead of Coleridge but who had had to leave a most healthful and invigorating beverage, the parish, was now in court as a bankrupt. Yet particularly for the inhabitants of the United this did not prevent him from occupying the Kingdom, from a large portion thereof, like Lord rectory at Bridford, still as a curate, at the later Byron, born bilious, dare not drink malt liquor. census of 1851. The lengthy advertisement came down to earth again at the end: A Foreman Wanted on the In March appeared a newspaper notice for a Farm, to look after the flock, sow the corn, and cottage to be let, lately in the occupation of Mr make himself generally useful. A Cottage will be Garland, surgeon. It contains a parlour, and provided, rent free, and liberal wages given. dining-room, 4 bed-rooms, kitchen, etc., etc., a two-stalled stable. There is a lawn in front, and Ian Stoyle altogether it is a very comfortable residence. Excellent fishing close at hand. Apply to Mr Wippell, Perry, or to Mr Radmore, Easton. This Focus on Thorverton 22 Vol. 38 No.1 – January 2007 Nature Notes
Liz tells me that back in September at the Casa If you are out and about around 7.15 to 7.30 in in Majorca she observed flocks of bee-eaters and the morning have you heard the dawn chorus? starlings. Liz was standing beside a fig tree when Not as noisy as springtime but several species of one flock of bee-eaters settled in the tree. The bird is singing. bee-eaters were probably on the way back to their winter quarters in Africa. The red admiral butterfly is still making the odd appearance on sunny days. I visited Bernaville I’ve not seen the sparrowhawk or merlin since Nurseries on 28 November and saw one flying September, but Doreen Beer has seen the around in the shop. The shop assistant who sparrowhawk several times in November down served me said they had several in the building. in the village. On one occasion it was on the ground with, she thinks, a dove clutched in its If we get a prolonged cold snap possibly in the talons. second half of January and into February carry your binoculars and look out for lapwings in the Across the valley to Silverton and an unusual fields off Raddon Lane. You may hear them first visitor has been raiding a garden pond, a by their call ‘pee wit’ another name by which kingfisher! they are known.
There has been another interesting sighting off Happy New Year. Thorverton Bridge where Lin and Alan Balkwill saw a pair of goosander in the river. Jenny Garne 2 Lower Poole, Raddon, tel 860875
A Holiday Find!
Just like home –‘Jenner PO’ on Highway 1, San Francisco, USA
Photo by Chris Pollard Focus on Thorverton 23 Vol. 38 No.1 – January 2007 The Good Old Days The next time that you are washing your hands Hence the rhyme, " peas porridge hot, peas and complaining because the water temperature porridge cold, peas porridge in the pot, nine days isn't just how you like it, think about how things old." used to be. Sometimes they could obtain pork, which made Here are some facts about the 16th Century: them feel quite special. When visitors came over, Most people got married in June because they they would hang up their bacon to show off. It took their yearly bath in May and still smelled was a sign of wealth that a man could "bring pretty good by June. However, they were starting home the bacon." They would cut off a little to to smell, so brides carried a bouquet of flowers share with guests and would all sit around and to hide the body odour. Hence the custom of "chew the fat." today of carrying a bouquet when getting Those with money had plates made of pewter. married. Food with high acid content caused some of the Baths consisted of a big tub filled with hot water. lead to leach into the food, causing lead The man of the house had the privilege of the poisoning death. This happened most often with nice clean water, then all the other sons and men, tomatoes, so for the next 400 years or so then the women and children and last of all the tomatoes were considered poisonous. babies. By then the water was so dirty you could Bread was divided according to status. Workers actually lose someone in it. Hence the got the burnt bottom of the loaf, the family got expression, "don't throw the baby out with the the middle, and guests got the top, or "upper bath water." crust." Houses had thatched roofs, thick straw piled Lead cups were used to drink ale or whisky. The high, with no wood underneath. It was the only combination would sometimes knock the place for animals to get warm, so all the cats and imbibers out for a couple of days. Someone other small animals (mice, bugs) lived in the walking along the road would take them for dead roof. When it rained it became slippery and and prepare them for burial. They were laid out sometimes the animals would slip and fall off the on the kitchen table for a couple of days and the roof. Hence the saying "it's raining cats and family would gather round and eat and drink and dogs." The floor was dirt. Only the wealthy had wait and see if they would wake up. Hence the anything other than dirt. Hence the saying "dirt custom of "holding a wake." poor." The wealthy had slate floors that would England is old and small and the local folks get slippery in the winter when wet, so they started running out of places to bury people. So spread thresh (straw) on the floor to help keep they would dig up coffins and would take the their footing. As the winter wore on they added bones to a "bone-house" and re-use the grave. more thresh until when you opened the door it When reopening these coffins, 1 out of 25 were would all start slipping outside. A piece of wood found to have scratch marks on the inside and was placed in the entrance, hence the expression they realised that they had been burying people a "threshhold." alive. So they would tie a string to the wrist of the corpse, lead it through the coffin and up Getting quite an education, aren't you? through the ground and tie it to a bell. Someone In those old days they cooked in the kitchen with would have to sit out in the graveyard all night a big kettle that always hung over the fire. Every (the "graveyard shift") to listen for the bell; thus, day they lit the fire and added things to the pot. someone could be "saved by the bell" or was They ate mostly vegetables and did not get much considered a "dead ringer." meat. They would eat the stew for dinner, And that's the truth...Now, whoever said that leaving leftovers in the pot to get cold overnight history was boring! then start over the next day. Sometimes stew had As relayed to Lewis Jones food in it that had been there for quite a while. Focus on Thorverton 24 Vol. 38 No.1 – January 2007 Crossword Focus Christic January 2007 The solution is on page 27
ACROSS DOWN 1 Bird is a kind of orange mixed with hints of tan 1 The grand one's very tricky, especially if one's and sable. (4,6) a triskaidekaphobe! (4) 6 Nearly perfect thought. (4) 2 Garbled section in reviews. (7) 9 Mary Thomas gets several to sing and selects 3 Evita, say, presides over noisy party game.(7,6) the best. (5) 4 Shaken about film shot into space. (8) 10 Rigid and immobile, Tom takes a pick-me-up. (9) 5 Jots down some Greek letters. (5) 12 Young male bird takes pains to avoid small 7 Study and sit back - first time in his chair? (7) retriever. (6,7) 8 Cat and eel race about and pick up speed. (10) 14 Determined to find the answer a second time? (8) 11 Head into hotel for traditional meat dish. (4-2-3-4) 15 Unpleasant taste came from the rabbit terrine. (6) 13 Advanced in development and of great value 17 American Indian in church for a depiction with company's investment. (10) of Christ's nativity? Quite the reverse. (6) 16 Shakespeare's alcohol is 'tickle-brain', contains a 19 Judged to have offended, showing this. (8) type of medicine. (8) 21 Roger Price in a muddle - gets the bird! (7,6) 18 A man of importance in the theatre. (7) 24 Failure to notice extrasensory perception? (9) 20 Display on centre stage with me around. (7) 25 Formally speak in Old English about 22 Message received and understood by Reg or despicable person. (5) other man. (5) 26 Place is a real mess by the sound of it. (4) 23 Win with regularity? (4) 27 Race to follow something happening. (5,5) Focus on Thorverton 25 Vol. 38 No.1 – January 2007 Thorverton Parish Information (Please notify any changes to the Editor.) AIR AMBULANCE EMERGENCY - QUOTE NATIONAL GRID REFERENCE RECREATION GROUND - SS 923019 MEMORIAL HALL FIELD - SS 926020 Bottle Bank Situated in Bullen Street Car Park. Bus services See inside back cover Carers' Support Group Anne Higman, Wyndham House Surgery, Silverton. 860034. Meetings - 3rd Wednesday of month, Wyndham House, 2.30-4.30 p.m. Church (C of E) The Revd. Douglas Dettmer, The Rectory, Thorverton. 860332 Readers Nicholas Orme, Mrs.Rona Orme, Cob Corner, Brampford Speke. 841521 Church Wardens Peter Colebrook, Ockero, Thorverton. 861019. Edwin Greed, Fortescue, Netherexe. 841231. Consort Mary Thomas, 1 The Glebe, Thorverton. 860730. P.C.C. Treasurer Royston Kershaw, 25 The Glebe, Thorverton. 860419. Friends of Thorverton Parish Church Trust Emmie Aird, Kirkfoard, The Berry, Thorverton. Church (Baptist) The Revd. Maurice Harrison, 01884 258599. Secretary Phyllis Langdon, 860932. Services, notice board or Focus. County Councillor Cllr. Mr. M. Lee. 01363 772671. District Councillor Cllr. Mr. T. H. C. Noon. 01884 855352. Doctors Amanda Woods & Jon Wride / R. Leete, A. O’Brien, J. Stead & B. Stanley. Surgery times: see below. Electricity (Western Power) Report a loss of power: 0800 365 900 Bill Enquiries: 0800 365 000 Street lights 0870 556 1851 Friends of Thorverton & Silverton Surgeries Christine Walker, 881501 Gas Emergency 0800 111999 Leonard Trust Chairman: R. Hughes. Secretary: Mrs. E. Hughes, 3 Dinham Mews, Exeter EX4 4EF Library (Exeter Mobile) EVERY WEDNESDAY, 2.55pm to 3.15pm in the Quarry Car Park Newspaper Reporter (Express & Echo) Jane Ristic, 53 Silver Street, Thorverton. 860054 Parish Council Chairman Cllr. Mike Shelton, Parish Clerk Mrs Kate West, Great Pit Stables, Silverton. 861560. Parish Council Meetings 2nd Tuesday of month, at Baptist Church Schoolroom, 7.30 pm. Parish Allotments Contact the Parish Clerk - 861560 Parish Council Notice Board Situated in School Lane, opposite the Thorverton Arms. IMPORTANT!- PLANNING APPLICATION NOTICES ARE DISPLAYED HERE. Pension Service PO Box 93, Plymouth PL6 5WJ. 0845 60 60 265 Police Central Switchboard 24 Hours: 0845 2777444. Post Office Portacabin (TCT Ltd) Quarry Car Park, Thorverton EX5 5NG. 860455 Mon. Tue. Thurs. Fri : 9 am.-1.00 pm., 2 pm.– 5.30 pm. Wed. : 9 am.-1.00 pm. Sat. : 9 am.-12 noon Sun. closed Chair: John Whiteside, Raddon Barton, 861133 Business Manager: Jill Blewett, Faircop, Jericho St, Thorverton Company Secretary: Heather Kershaw, 25 The Glebe, 860419 Public Telephone Kiosk Opposite the Church, outside the Bell Inn, Dinneford St. School (C of E Primary) Head Teacher: Angela Thavarajah 860374. School Governors Chair: John Iffla 01392 851943 Clerk: Jane Ristic, 53 Silver St. 860054 School P.T.F.A. Chair: Carolyn Johnson, Hillside, Bullen Street, Thorverton. 860584 Secretary: Marie Thomas, 01884 855275 Treasurer: Di Baker, 860426 South West Water 24 Hour Emergency: 0800 169 1144. Helpline: 0800 169 1133. Thorverton Millennium Chair: Dame Margaret Turner-Warwick, Pynes House, Green Trust Silver Street 861173 Hon. secretary: Shirley Hoole. Tiverton Volunteer Centre 28, Gold Street, Tiverton EX16 6PY. Judy Seymour, 01884 255734. Focus on Thorverton 26 Vol. 38 No.1 – January 2007 Thorverton Organisations
Amateur Dramatic Society Chair: Ray Morrish, 841786. Secretary: Lisa Browning, 31 Silver Street, Thorverton. 860609 Meetings - Last Wednesday of each month at the W.I. Hut. Art Group Barrie Phillips, Crossmead, School Lane, Thorverton. 860529 Meet Fridays during term-time at the Memorial Hall, 9.30 am-12.00. Arts Exchange Claire Cousins, Cubberley House, The Berry. 860438. Monthly meetings in members’ homes at 8.0 pm. ( see Diary) Association Football Club Chairman: Lewis Jones, Ivy Cottage, Thorverton. 861064. Secretary: David Gregory, 2 The Orchard, Brampford Speke, 841803. Bowls Group Chair: Roy Clark, 860927. Secretary: Ken Maynard, 3 Bullen Street, Thorverton. 860661 Bridge Circle Graeme Culshaw, 3 The Glebe, Thorverton 860203. Meets 1st/3rd/5th Fridays at the W.I. Hut from 7.00 p.m.. Brownies’ Leader Marjorie Maynard, Bullen St. Thorverton. 860661. Meet Fridays during term-time at the W.I. Hut, 5.30-7.00 pm. Church Flower Club Meetings as advertised. Cricket Club Chair: Charles Kislingbury, Arley House, 19 Church St, Silverton. 860270 Secretary: M C Denford, 14 Moorlands, Tiverton EX16 6UF 01884 255076 Fixture Sec: J Meredith, 190 Mincinglake Rd, Exeter EX4 7DS 01392 272504 Focus Magazine Chair: John Carter, Rewe. 841237 Editor: Neville Lane, 2 The Glebe, Thorverton. 861062. Secretary: Jane Lane, 2 The Glebe, Thorverton. 861062. Treasurer: Barbara Uglow, 14 Cleaves Close, Thorverton. 860614. Focus deliveries – John Carter, Rewe. 841237 Friends of Silverton & Thorverton Surgeries Coffee Mornings in The Royal British Legion Club , Silverton held on the LAST THURSDAY of every month except December. Golf Society Players of Thorverton Contact David Harlow. 860724 History Society Chair: Bill Stamper, Dunelm, Raddon, Thorverton. 860214 Secretary: Phyllis Langdon, Ferndale, Bullen Street, Thorverton. 860932. Website
Crossword and Sudoku solutions
Solution to this month’s Sudoku Solution to this month’s crossword
Bus services Turner’s Tours (bus 678) Mon-Fri. 10.09 from The Berry and the Baptist Chapel. Return 13.35 from Exeter bus station, Stand 5. Cook’s Coaches (service 355), Stagecoach (service 55B) Mon-Sat (except Bank Holidays) To Tiverton 9.02, 11.02, 13.02, 15.02, 17.32, 18.11 (55B) from The Berry and Broadlands. Return from Tiverton bus station. 9.40, 11.40, 13.40, 15.40, 18.05. To Exeter 8.00, 10.05, 12.05, 14.05, 16.05, 18.30 from The Berry and Broadlands. Return from Exeter bus station. 8.40, 10.46, 12.40, 14.40, 17.10, 17.50 (55B). Timetables for the 355 service are available at the Post Office. Stagecoach 55 service runs every half-hour in each direction along the Exeter-Tiverton road, stopping at the Thorverton turn. Please consult Stagecoach 55 Group timetable for details of this service. Stagecoach free service to Somerfield’s, Broadclyst, from Broadlands on Tuesdays 14.00. Stagecoach offers a variety of concessions for regular commuters, shoppers, children, students and jobseekers as well as one-day unlimited-use Explorer tickets. Further details from Stagecoach: 01392 427711 or 01803 664500 or www.stagecoachbus.com or www.devon.gov.uk/devonbus. Devonbus Timetable Information: call Traveline 0870 608 2 608 Timetables available at the Post Office Focus on Thorverton 28 Vol. 38 No.1 – January 2007 Diary 2007 Please notify FOCUS Editor of additions or changes. (Email: [email protected] or phone Neville Lane on 861062)
JANUARY 2007 Sat 6th TARTS short walk, meet at The Bell, 9.30 a.m. Mon 8th Planning Meeting for the Flower Festival in June, 2.30 p.m. in the Church. Tue 9th Recycling collection. Thu 11th Arts Exchange, Weather, 25, The Glebe, 8 p.m. Ladies Group Christmas Dinner Fri 12th Thorverton Art Group (TAG) term starts, Memorial Hall from 9.30 a.m. Sat 13th Saturday Market, Memorial Hall, 9.30 – 11 a.m. Thu 18th Church Week planning meeting, Exeter Inn, (contact Tina Ayre on 860434) Fri 19th Sinbad, Memorial Hall, 7.30 p.m. Sat 20th Sinbad, Memorial Hall, 2.30 p.m. and 7.30 p.m. Mon 22nd Recycling collection. Fri 26th History Society AGM and Paul Rendell Sat 27th Burns Night, Memorial Hall, 7 p.m.
FEBRUARY Mon 5th Recycling collection. Thu 8th Arts Exchange, Letters, Stable House, 8 p.m. Sat 17th The Neil Maya Quartet Contemporary Jazz, Thorverton Memorial Hall, 8 p.m. Mon 19th Recycling collection.
MARCH Mon 5th Recycling collection. Sun 11th The Lord Mayor’s Grand Military Concert, Great Hall, Exeter University, 7 p.m. Tue 13th Mothers’ Day Bingo, Memorial Hall, Eyes down at 7.30 p.m. Thu 15th Arts Exchange, Time, Cubberley House, 8 p.m. Mon 19th Recycling collection. Tue 20th Easter Bingo, Memorial Hall, Eyes down at 7.30 p.m. Sat 24th Casino Night, Memorial Hall Tue 27th Easter Bingo, Memorial Hall, Eyes down at 7.30 p.m.
APRIL Thu 5th Arts Exchange, Consequences, Ockero, 8 p.m.
MAY Thu 10th Arts Exchange, Mysteries, Pynes House, 8 p.m.
JUNE Thu 7th Arts Exchange, Movement, Campion Cottage, 8 p.m. Sat/Sun 9th/10th Country Show Fri-Sun 15th-17th Flower Festival, Thorverton Church
JULY Sat 7th Rain or Shine Theatre - Outdoor Shakespeare Twelfth Night, Thorverton Memorial Hall (evening performance - time TBA) Focus on Thorverton 29 Vol. 38 No.1 – January 2007 Doctors’ Surgeries
THE EXE VALLEY PRACTICE Dr AMANDA WOODS and Dr JON WRIDE The Surgery, The Berry, The Surgery, 3 Coach Road, THORVERTON EX5 5NT SILVERTON EX5 4JL Tel: 01392 860273 (24 hours) Tel: 01392 860176 (in surgery hours) Fax: 01392 860654 Fax: 01392 861598 Surgery Hours Mon. 2.30 - 4.30 Mon. 9.00 - 11.00 Tue. 3.30 - 5.30 Tue. 9.00 - 12.00 Wed. 10.30 - 11.30 Wed. 3.30 - 5.30 Thu. 3.00 - 5.00 Thu. 9.00 - 11.00 Fri. 9.00 - 12.00 Fri. 3.00 - 5.00 The Surgeries are OPEN at the following times Mon. 8.30 - 12.45 & 2.00 - 6.00 Mon. 8.45 - 12.30 Tue. 8.30 - 12.45 & 2.00 - 6.00 Tue. 8.45 - 12.00 Wed. 8.30 - 12.45 & 2.00 - 5.00 Wed. 3.00 - 6.00 Thu. 8.30 - 12.45 & 2.00 - 6.00 Thu. 8.45 - 12.30 Fri. 8.30 - 12.45 & 2.00 - 4.00 Fri. 2.00 - 6.00 Surgery in STOKE CANON Village Hall – 2.00pm on last Thursday of every month. Please let us know in advance if you will be attending. REPEAT PRESCRIPTIONS (Monday – Friday) Please note that 48 hours notice is required for ALL repeat prescriptions. Repeat Prescription line: Tel: 01392 861622
WYNDHAM HOUSE SURGERY, Fore Street, SILVERTON www.wyndhamhousesurgery.co.uk Dispensary Hours: Monday to Thursday 09.00 – 6.00 Friday 09.00 – 5.00 The dispensary is CLOSED between 1.00 – 2.00 p.m. daily.
Dr Richard Dr Anthony Dr Jonathan Dr M LEETE O’BRIEN STEAD BAILEY
Monday 8.30 - 11.00 8.30 - 11.00 8.30 - 11.00 3.00 - 5.30 3.00 - 5.30 Tuesday 8.50 - 12.00 8.30 - 11.30 3.00 - 5.30 2.30 - 5.00 Wednesday 8.50 - 12.00 8.30 - 11.30 2.30 - 5.00 Thursday 8.30 - 11.00 (early appts at 8.50 - 11.30 Stoke Canon) 4.00 - 6.00 Friday 8.30 - 12.00 8.50 - 12.00 Rota for Dr on Rota for Dr on afternoon afternoon surgery surgery Focus on Thorverton 30 Vol. 38 No.1 – January 2007