CLAWTON CLARION February 2019 Welcome to the February 2019 edition of the Clawton Clarion. We are all still in the long dark days of winter, but St Valentine’s Day is a welcome celebration to look forward to in February. The encyclopaedia Britannica tells us that this holiday has origins in the Roman festival of Lupercalia, held in mid-February to herald the coming of Spring and fertility. At the end of the 5th century, Pope Gelasius I replaced Lupercalia with St. Valentine's Day. It came to be celebrated as a day of romance from about the 14th century through the writings of the poet Chaucer. We have started a new section of “Parish Notices” this month. Please send any good news, comments, birthday messages or welcomes to be included. This month’s puzzle is a Winter-themed wordsearch. If you would like this feature to continue, please e mail me some puzzles to be included. We are always looking for more people to help and participate in the events to keep Clawton the vibrant community that we know and love, and to maintain our village facilities. Don’t forget, the Clawton Clarion is about YOU and YOUR COMMUNITY. Please send any contributions for the next edition by 20th February 2019 [email protected] or call me, Judi Graham: 01409 271265 If you would like to receive the Clarion electronically, send me your e mail address. Dates for your Diary 6th February Women on Wednesday 7.30pm Clawton Parish Hall 11th February Inter parish walk 10.00am Thornbury Holiday Park, EX22 7BT. 13th February Whist 7.30pm Clawton Parish Hall 15th February Home from Home Coffee 10.30am 1, Memorial Cottages – hosted Morning by Rosie 22nd February Wine and Wisdom 7.30pm Clawton Parish Hall Proceeds to Parish hall Funds 27th February Defibrillator training session 7.00pm Clawton Parish Hall 4th March Parish Council Meeting 7.30pm Clawton Parish Hall Church services (Ashwater Benefice)- February/March 2019 Friday 1st 10.00am Beaworthy Church Morning Prayer Saturday 2nd 6.30pm Ashwater Church Holy Communion and Compline Sunday 3rd 10.30am Halwill Church Holy Communion and Coffee 5.30pm Tetcott Church Church tea and informal worship Wednesday 6th 7.00pm St Leonard’s, Clawton Holy Communion Saturday 9th 10.00am Bradford Parish Hall Saturday church – all ages, fun and activities Sunday 10th 10.30am St Leonard’s , Clawton Holy Communion & Coffee-supporting Ruth Jones, Youth Worker in Holsworthy College. 6.30pm Beaworthy Church BCP Evensong Saturday 16th 6.30pm Beaworthy Church Celtic Communion Sunday 17th 10.30am Ashwater Church Holy Communion & coffee with Black Torrington Benefice. 6.30pm St Leonard’s, Clawton Evening Prayer Wednesday 20th 10.00am Halwill Church Holy Communion Sunday 24th 10.30am Beaworthy Church Holy Communion and coffee 6.30pm Ashwater Church Evening prayer Friday 1st 10.00am Beaworthy Church Morning Prayer Thought for the month – Rev Jane Lucas Dear Parishioners, Greetings to everyone for 2019, I hope it will be the best for you, your families and for this parish and community of Clawton. This year heralds changes, as all years do, but this one affects the Church and parish in that I retire gracefully at the end of May. My last service will be on the 26th of May at 11am to which everyone is invited to come along followed by lunch. This January has begun with a new pattern of services, which I have to say have been well supported up to this point. The pattern reflects a willingness to do things differently and is an opportunity to welcome people into an encounter with Jesus, and to be part of something larger and bigger than just ‘our’ church. The coffee and fellowship after services is an opportunity to meet other Christians. I look forward to seeing and being with you this month. Blessings to all, Jane. Buckhorn Methodist Chapel Services will be held every Sunday at 11.00 subject to arrangement. For confirmation of services or any queries please contact Rosemary Colwill on 01409 253770 or Rita Stacey on 01409 211201 Parish Hall News – From Maralyn Bailey – Chair Our hall is well used - short mat bowls, skittles, whist, WOW group and railway club are regular users, and the committee wish to improve the facilities offered to the hirers. Recently we have had several family parties, (a great venue for the larger gatherings) along with christenings and some after funerals teas. To enquire about booking the hall, please ring Sue Bailey our caretaker/booking secretary on 254891. However, we need more committee members or helpers to assist with the general running of the hall, extra hands will always be welcome to set up for and help at events. We are basically seven members, along with an outer circle of people who will help but do not like meetings!!! Just contact Ruth or myself to get details of our next meeting, we usually have a meeting every three months. The Defibrillator is now installed at the Parish Hall – many thanks to all fundraisers including Anita Fisher and the Parish Council. A training session has been arranged for 27th February at 7.00pm in the Parish Hall We would encourage as many people as possible to attend - although we hope their services will never be needed. We have plans to tarmac the outer apron of the car park and hopefully provide a new disabled bay along with side access to the hall. This will all happen once some drainage issues have been addressed. Our management committee have planned the year's events. Friday February 22nd will be our first wine and wisdom. Please book your table with Maralyn on 271315. We aim to have an event every six weeks or so, once the dates have been “firmed up” we will publish details in the Clawton Clarion. Women on Wednesday The next meeting is on Wednesday 6th February 2019 at 7.30 p.m. in Clawton Parish Hall. The speaker is Mary Cole who will be talking about Vintage Underwear. Visitors are welcome. We look forward to seeing you there. Parish Notices We would like to welcome new families to Clawton at Moor Barn Park, Ivy Cottage and Wits End. We look forward to meeting you at Clawton events George Axford would like to thank everyone for their good wishes and generous donations towards his fundraising for the Cardiac department at Derriford Hospital in Plymouth through the British Heart Foundation. A fantastic total of £1300 has been donated. Winter Time Wordsearch S I V A H R M D X E F A T G S X F A Z Y X K V R I C L O L D Q A L A G D G H R A T I A O K F W E O C T Q E C H Z C D V K R A N Z W G P N A R J Z F E D A M T B P L N W E Y F Z I S M C F I C A G Y P C W H H D L W S W N C S A M T S I R H C W B C N E Q V U A J L F R O Z E N J H O T J H A U I B O O T S T T P I W S C N M A Q A C H H C U Y P L K O R O S M A O K F J A O R E L O R J S X I L F P Z I Z T K T Y P F A E G D E L S R O T S M M Y P W G S G O L H Find the following words in the table above BLIZZARD FIREPLACE JACKET SNOW BOOTS FROST JUMPER STORM CHILLY FROZEN LOGS THAW CHRISTMAS GLOVES SCARF VALENTINE COLD ICE SLEDGE WASSAIL Clawton Parish Council News The next meeting of the Parish Council will be held in the Parish Hall on Monday 4th March 2019 at 7.30pm. All are welcome to attend. Please send any matters for the attention to the Parish Council to the parish clerk, Sally Whitehead via [email protected] Minutes and Agenda are available on our village web site: www.clawton.org.uk Report from Chairman – Paul Grafton The full minutes will be available on the village website and notice boards Airband Broadband: 35 residents attended the presentation on 4th January. Two masts have been installed and a third is in progress. It looks like all except about 11 households will be able to receive the signal. Several different data packages will be available from Airband though the pricing differs from area to area so we don’t yet have the final information for Clawton. Residents should express interest via the Airband website if they have not already done so. It is anticipated that connections will begin around April this year. See further information. Parish Hall Telephone Line: If more than 30% of eligible households sign up to the Airband service a free broadband line will be provided, so the current contract will not be changed at this time. Horsewatch, Neighbourhood Watch and Speedwatch: Awaiting information from PCSO Mark James regarding the response to the article in December’s Clarion calling for volunteers. Crime Report: Nothing in Clawton but a couple of instances of caravan theft and burglary in surrounding areas. Defibrillator: Now installed and working, on the external wall to the right of the Parish Hall entrance.