The Braunton Community Page
BRAUNTON & DISTRICT U3A
Monthly meetings in the Parrish Hall, 1st Tuesday of the month
Next meeting is Tuesday October 7th at 10.30am, this months speaker is Stephen Powles, and his subject is hedgehogs. Entry £2 includes tea/coffee and a biscuit. Members only, new members welcome, sign up on the day. For more information on U3A activities check the Braunton U3A website.
BRAUNTON LIBRARY
Mondays 11.15-12.00 Stay & Play.
Every other Monday Crochet & coffee 2-4pm, enquire in library for details. Creative Writing second Wednesday of the month 1-3pm. £2 Wednesday’s Stay & Play 11.15-12.30. Thursdays 9.30-11am Stay & Play
Fridays 11.15 Mini Readers, Term time only. 1st Friday of the month Art Box 3.30-4.30. £1 Saturdays Playmobil 10.15-Midday for 4 year Olds plus Reading Groups please ask for details. Volunteers required to help with Library Extra opening, 2 hours a month would make a difference. Other activities and events are all advertised on our Facebook page and website
Did you know that we have a free service delivering books to your door (Braunton area) if you are unable to get to the library? If you think you or someone else would benefit from the Devon Libraries Home Library Service then please contact us on 01271812808
BRAUNTON COUNTRYSIDE CENTRE
Open 10am-4pm every day except Sunday, come in and learn about local flora & fauna. Lots to keep children, and adults interested. Entry is free, but a small donation is always welcome.
CHRIST CHURCH, BRAUNTON
Saturday 3rd October - 10am – 12 Coffee morning at Christ Church. All money raised will go towards Norah Bellot Court. www.mha.org.uk/care-support/retirement-living/norah-bellot-court Everyone welcome. Home made cakes, raffle, books and more. Community Café meets every Thursday at Christ Church 2.30- 4.30pm. Come along and enjoy a warm welcome, a cuppa and home made cake - all for just £1.50. All ages welcome. See you there.
THE BRAUNTON MUSEUM AND INFORMATION
We are back to opening Monday to Thursday 10 to 3pm and Friday 10 to 1pm. It is a free Museum but we rely on donations please. We also would like second hand paperback books please. If you would like to find out more about Braunton and area and need some information, call in and see one of our friendly volunteers.
BRAUNTON FUNDRAISING GROUP FOR CANCER RESEARCH UK
Hello everyone, This month we are planning one of our quiz evening's again. It's on Thursday 16th October at the Cricket Club. Door's open at 7pm for 7.30pm start. Tickets are £6.50 each and are available from Jackie on 814475 If you are feeling like a good fun evening out. Make a team of 4 to 6 people to play. There will be a great raffle as usual with some lovely prizes. Once again you will be helping us raise funds for Cancer Research UK. Thankyou See you there.
BRAUNTON PARKINSON’S CAFE
Second Monday of the month at the Vivian Moon Centre, Chaloners Road, Braunton, EX33 2ES - 10.30 -12noon. A Parkinson’s Cafe is specifically for people with Parkinson’s, their partners, carers, family and friends to meet together for a cuppa and a chat in an informal and relaxed atmosphere. It is organised by volunteers from Parkinson’s UK and the Rotary Club of Braunton Caen. Please join us for a chat and the opportunity to make new friends. Contact Sarah on 01271 816150 or just turn up.
THE ROTARY CLUB OF BRAUNTON CAEN MEMORY CAFÉ
Last Wednesday of the month at the Vivian Moon Centre, Chaloners Road, Braunton, EX33 2ES 2-4pm
A memory café is a friendly and informal café with a warm Rotary welcome in a relaxed atmosphere, for people with memory problems. Please come and join us for a chat, fun and refreshments, as well as making new friends. It is free of charge. Just turn up or contact Geoff on 01271 815377.
Ramblers’ Walks in October
Wednesday 1st October-Heddon Valley Circular: Meet at Jose’s Lane car park at 10.30. This is on the way to Hunters Inn, from the Combe Martin road (A399) just before the road forks for Trentishoe (Grid Ref SS635480). This is a 5.5 mile circular walk with 2 steep ascents and 1 steep descents, but is very dramatic with wonderful views.
Sunday 5th October- Horner Wood & Dicky’s Path: Meet at 10.30 at Cloutsham Gate for an 8 mile walk on Exmoor. Waterproof boots and clothing are essential as some stream crossings will be involved. Please check our website for up-to-date information.
Sunday 12th October- Hillsford to Hoar Oak: Meet at Hillsford Bridge Car Park at 10.30. for a 9-mile walk involving 1100 feet of ascent, a visit to Hoar Oak cottage and a return via Furzehill common.
Wednesday 15th October- Withypool and Tarr Steps: Meet at 10.30. at Worth Lane car park in Withypool. This is an 8-mile riverside walk to Tarr Steps returning through fields and along tracks.
Wednesday 22nd October- Landkey and Codden Hill: Meet at 10.30 at the Millenium car park in Landkey for a 5-mile circular walk to Codden Hill returning along the Tarka Trail.
Saturday 25th October- March around Mortehoe: Meet at 10.30. at Mortehoe car park for an 8-mile walk, both inland and on the SW coast path
Remember, you are free to try up to 3 walks with the Ramblers before committing to join. All the walks are led by trained Walk Leaders but you will be expected to come suitably dressed for all weathers. For more details or last minute alterations, or to contact the Walk Leader, please see our website northdevonramblers.org.uk
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As we enter October, this month brings two things, even darker evenings and Halloween night on the 31st.
With the hour changing later this month it will start to get darker a lot earlier. Please check yours and your children’s bicycles for working lights. Too many cyclists are putting themselves in danger riding around without lights. It is an offence not to have working lights on your bikes while cycling during the hours of darkness. Please don’t let yourself or your child become another road traffic statistic.
Halloween night or as its now commonly known as Trick or Treat is becoming more popular every year with large numbers taking part in Braunton. Most young children are escorted by an adult to keep them safe but as your children get older the pressure to let them go out on their own with friend’s increases. Please consider these safety tips to pass on to them to help keep them safe.
Older children should let you know where they are going and when they will be back. If possible, make sure they carry a mobile phone.
Remind your children not to enter anyone’s house.
Make sure they can be seen and stay in well lit areas and on pavements at all times. Carry a torch and always consider road safety.
Be sensible when out in a group with other teenagers. Respect homeowners who do not want to answer their door or where the No Trick or Treat sign is displayed. Warn them of the dangers they can get themselves into regarding the ‘trick’ part. Do not throw items such as eggs or flour at people houses. Tricks can go wrong, people could become aggressive, and it could end with your child being involved in a situation they can’t deal with.
The Braunton Neighbourhood Team will be patrolling the area to make sure that everyone enjoys themselves and don't act in an anti-social manner. For those taking part, Halloween is meant to be fun. Please remember this so the evening can be enjoyed by all.
Thank You.
PCSO ANDY FRISBY POLICE COMMUNITY SUPPORT OFFICER
BRAUNTON VILLAGE
Devon and Cornwall
Police
Braunton Neighbourhood Police Team, Chaloner's road, Braunton. EX33 2ES
Telephone: 101
Email: Andy.Frisby@devonandcornwall.pnn.police.uk
We’ve all heard of the Olympics, and most are familiar with the Paralympics, but did you know about the Special Olympics?
This is an international charity which was originally set up by Eunice Kennedy Shriver (JFK’s sister) in 1968, and reached the UK by 1978.
Special Olympics is the World’s largest sporting organisation for people from 8 years upwards with Intellectual Disability. Athletes attend regular coaching sessions in various sports and are given opportunities to compete in competitions at local, national and even international level. The ethos is one of inclusion, so athletes do not have to be exceptionally skilled in their sport (although some are); the aim is to allow every participant to be the best they can be, so in competitions they compete in divisions according to ability.
Participating in sport has been shown to improve physical health and mental wellbeing, and also increases social skills and self-esteem. This is true for everyone but many people with Intellectual Disability have difficulty accessing suitable sports opportunities.
We are Special Olympics North Devon, founded in 2014, and are based at Tarka Leisure Centre in Barnstaple where we hold weekly coaching sessions from 1-3pm on Saturdays during term-time. We offer tennis, table-tennis, boccia and badminton, and are restarting swimming sessions at 12noon on Saturdays from 25th October 2025 with the help of some generous funding from Barnstaple Town Council and the Mayor’s charitable donation this year. Athletes are invited to contribute a small weekly voluntary donation to enable us to cover venue costs. Although we are affiliated with Special Olympics Great Britain, branch clubs such as ours are responsible for our own funding and our own staffing. Most of our current athletes are in their 20s and 30s, but some are older and have been with us since the start.
We have a small dedicated band of volunteers but would like to expand our numbers so that we can provide opportunities for more athletes. Volunteers are needed for many varied roles. At the sessions, we may just play table tennis or one of the other sports with the athletes, giving them useful practice, or we may support the coaches, some of whom are volunteers with the relevant accreditation. Other volunteers only get involved with fundraising, website development, social media profiling or supporting events such as competitions or attendance at local festivals such as Pilton Green Man. We do what we can for the athletes but we could do so much more with extra people to help!
The time commitment isn’t onerous, but after only a short while with them you will see how valuable your time is to the athletes. It is rewarding to see them achieve a goal (however small), and to share their excitement and pride when they compete.
Volunteers should be 14 or over, so any Duke of Edinburgh award participants are very welcome to join us for some sporting fun and to learn life skills at the same time, but we happily welcome anyone who would like to get involved – even in a very small way – with this worthwhile and rewarding cause. If you enjoy sports then this is a great way to give something back to your community!
You can contact Julie on 07557 388285 or email on jkemishmillssond@hotmail.com for more information.
We are the Ilfracombe Red Petticoats, a Morris Dancing Team.
We meet at Braunton Parish Hall every Thursday from 7.30 pm to 9.00 pm from October to May. Not everyone comes from Ilfracombe. We have members from Bude, South Molton, Landkey and Braunton.
We welcome new members, perhaps groups of friends, who would enjoy dancing to a live folk band, whilst learning new skills and keeping fit. Our next meeting is on 9th October.
Come and have a go! You'd be very welcome.
If you want to remind yourself how lucky we are to live here in Braunton, take yourself past the estate agents on an August morning. Push through the holiday makers looking forlornly at the pictures of houses they wished they lived in. Despite the summer traffic, we are at the heart of a place that people dream of visiting for a week and wish they could live here forever.
During the meetings with council leaders this summer we have been reflecting on the changes in the role of councillor over the years. Thanks to home-working and flexible working County Hall is far emptier than it was. This means that County Councillors are far more ability to work from within their division. This summer I’ve had meetings from Crow Point, Georgeham Rec and so-many cafes. My feeling is, if I’ve been asked to represent Braunton Rural; shouldn’t I be doing that from within Braunton? The ability to sit on a beach in Braunton and discuss phone bans in Hackney or Local Government Reorganisation in Torbay isn’t simply a pleasant(ish) way to spend the day, it’s also a massive cost saving in terms of travel time/expenses, and provides a far better work/life balance – giving greater flexibility for councillors to do council roles alongside another occupation, a work/work/life balance.
Technology has meant that it is very easy to set-up meetings with officers, decision makers and members of the public across (and beyond) the county without any of us leaving our offices. This has been hugely helpful when trying to tackle problems like highways defects or issues on the biosphere. This has been vital as it means that, even here in the “distant north”, we have direct access to our colleagues in every part of the county. In addition, the newly introduced “Members Portal” has proven to be an almost magical online cauldron where councillors toss in their ideas, thoughts and questions and somewhere deep in Exeter an army of council officers seek to provide detailed answers and solutions to our problems.
The one downside to the recent paradigm shift in technology has been the rise in AI generated communications. AI has a wonderful place in taking a first pass at data analysis or initial research. However, during one series of heated exchanges it became increasingly obvious that some parties were using AI to generate their correspondence – and that correspondence was becoming increasingly wordy and longwinded. I find the idea of reading something an AI generated email quite demeaning. Should we be expected to read something that someone else couldn’t be bothered to write themselves. Personally, I didn’t retake GCSE English five times just to allow a computer to write my letters for me. This is why, sitting on the Green in Braunton (between mouthfuls of pasty and in a slight autumnal drizzle), I added “No AIEEEEEEEmail” to my email footer. I’m hoping that more people might follow suit. Making a promise that when we communicate, it will always be me who is talking, and never a Silicon Valley bot.
Cllr Graham M Bell (rn)
Devon County Councillor: Braunton Rural
North Devon District Council: Lead Councillor for Housing & Homelessness, District & Parish Councillor for Braunton East
Please note, as an RN, I frequently work nights and unusual shift patterns, therefore it might not be possible to respond to queries immediately. If a matter requires an urgent response, please call, message or WhatsApp on 07929159996.
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BRAUNTON PROGRAMME OF REMEMBRANCE 2025
Remembrance Sunday - 9th November 2025
Time: Arrive at 9.30am. Parade to proceed at 10.00am.
Meeting Point: Parade participants to meet at Caen Street Car Park, EX33 1AA
Parade Route: The Parade will exit Caen Street Car Park onto Caen Street, turn left along Chaloners Road, turn right into Church Street and stop at St. Brannock’s Church.
Church Service: Starts at 10.50am at St. Brannock’s Church, people attending need to be seated no later than 10.45am. Places are limited and will be given on a first come first served basis.
At 11am a two-minute silence will be observed giving guests, residents and visitors the opportunity to make their own personal silent tribute to all those who have died in service of their Country.
Parade Return: Following the Service the Parade will leave St. Brannock’s Church and proceed at 12pm left along Chaloners Road, at the Memorial Gardens the Commanding Officer 24 Commando Royal Engineers will take the march past salute. The Parade will continue right into Caen Street and return to Caen Street Car Park, where the Parade will halt and dismiss.
Additional information:
Road closures will be in place on Caen Street, Chaloners Road and Church Street during the Parade.
Thank you to Milestone Infrastructure Ltd for agreeing to oversee the traffic management.
All ex-service men and women and serving members of HM Forces along with uniformed associations are welcome to take part in the Parade. Please report to the Regimental Sergeant Major at 9.30am at Caen Street Car Park. The Parade will leave Caen Street Car Park at 10.00am.
An area of the Caen Street Car Park will be cordoned off for Parade participants to wait and line up. The remaining parking spaces in Caen Street Car Park will be free of charge on Sunday 9th November 2025.
Armistice Day—Tuesday 11th November 2025
An act of Remembrance with a two–minute silence will take place on the Village Green.
Time: Arrive 10.45am. Two-minutes silence at 11am.
Meeting Place: Village Green, Caen Street, Braunton, EX33 1AA
Everyone is welcome to attend.
BRAUNTON PARISH COUNCIL GRANTS
Parish Council grants are now open for local organisations to apply. For further details please see our website where you can download our grant policy and application form. Alternatively email us at info@brauntonparishcouncil.gov.uk
Braunton Parish Council
Clerk’s Office
Chaloners Road
Braunton Devon, EX33 2ES
Phone: 01271 812131
Email: info@brauntonparishcouncil.gov.uk
Web: www.brauntonparishcouncil.gov.uk
Facebook.com/BrauntonParishCouncil
Twitter: @brauntonparish
Hours: 09:00 - 12:00 Monday - Friday
Tracey Lovell, Clerk to the Council
Angela Corner, Senior Council Officer
Julie Spain, Admin Assistant
Meetings Calendar 2025
Full Council meetings are held in the Council Chamber and additional meetings, to primarily consider planning applications, are held virtually.
The next Councillor Surgery will be held in the Parish Hall at 10.30am on Saturday 1st November 2025.
Full Council Meeting 7pm Tuesday 14th October 2025
Additional Council Meeting 7pm Monday 27th October 2025
Aphasia affects people in different ways and no two people will have exactly the same difficulties. If you have aphasia you may have difficulty with speaking, understanding speech, reading, writing, using numbers, dealing with money and/or telling the time.
It doesn't affect intelligence, as people with aphasia still think in the It doesn't affect intelligence, as people with aphasia still think in the same way, but it does prevent people from communicating their thoughts easily. This means everyday activities like using the phone, browsing the internet, or having a conversation are a source of frustration and distress, not only for the person with aphasia, but also for their families and friends.
Often as people cannot express themselves or make themselves Often as people cannot express themselves or make themselves understood, they may withdraw from social activities and are usually unable to return to work.
The frustration of knowing what you want to say but struggling to say it, as well as the loss of your former identity and sense of purpose, can lead to a downwards spiral of depression and social isolation.
These feelings are often further exacerbated by the lack of wider These feelings are often further exacerbated by the lack of wider understanding of aphasia which, as an invisible disability, can provoke impatience, misunderstanding and frustration in others.
Say Aphasia aim to change that
Group Details (Barnstaple):
• When: Every 3rd Monday of the month - 2pm - 3.30pm
• Where:
Licketysplit Cafe The Square Barnstaple EX32 8LS
• What it is: A welcoming social drop-in for adults with aphasia (or other acquired communication disabilities) to meet others, build confidence and reduce isolation. Groups are run by people with aphasia, for people with aphasia.
Volunteers Needed
We’re also looking for friendly volunteers who can:
• Welcome attendees
• facilitate conversation
• Help with refreshments
• Assist with simple admin or setting up the room No experience is required, full guidance is provided, and volunteers usually help once or twice a month. It's a meaningful, rewarding way to support adults rebuilding communication and social confidence.
Dogs Trust Ilfracombe - Dog of the Month Limpet
Limpet is a four-year-old Italian Cane Corso looking for a home at Dogs Trust Ilfracombe.
Limpet is a softie with a heart full of love. He adores belly rubs and lounging around, either soaking up rays in the summer or in front of the fire during the winter months. He is affectionate, loyal and goofy, and happiest when he is snoozing next to his favourite person.
While he’s not a particularly active boy who likes long hikes, he does enjoy gentle strolls where he can enjoy sniffing at his own pace. Limpet is vocal around other dogs, although he can make doggy friends, he’s much more relaxed on quiet, rural walks. He thrives on mental stimulation and loves to do tricks for treats and play scent games. He also enjoys a game of tug with his toys.
Limpet is looking for a home or a foster home. He needs a calm, adult-only environment with adopters who understand the quirks that come with his breed. He will need to be introduced to any visitors to the home initially, but he is a smart boy who never forgets a friend and a treat!
Limpet is looking to be the only dog in the home and a home without cats or small pets. He’s housetrained and content being home alone for a few hours at a time. If you’ve got a limpet sized hole in your life, then he’s ready and waiting to fill it!
Visits to Dogs Trust Ilfracombe are now by appointment only. If you would like to apply to adopt a dog, please fill in the online application form and, if a match is found, the organisation will arrange an appointment for you to meet them.
For more information about Limpet or any of the other dogs awaiting their forever homes, please visit www.dogstrust.org.uk/ilfracombe.
HIDDEN MESSAGE Onomatopoeia
August’s answer was:
“Music is a higher revelation than all wisdom and philosophy”Ludwig Van Beethoven
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Handsome young Buddy is approximately 2 years old and is looking for a quiet home with lots of love and attention. He is a bit reserved at first, but soon warms up as confidence grows, to wanting to sit on your lap! He has been a little rough around the edges with a flea allergy, but this has now been treated and the fur growing back nicely. So if you are looking for a friendly and handsome lad, to make your house a home, Buddy would love to comply! As always with CP cats he has been Vet Checked, Vaccinated, and treated against fleas and worms. The standard adoption fee of £85 per cat applies.
For further information please contact; T; 0345 3714203 E; barnstaplecats@hotmail.com W; www.cats.org.uk/barnstaple f; barnstaplecatsprotection
Reg charity; 203644 (England & Wales) SC037711 (Scotland)
For more details on any club or event please ring the relevant number
Dance / Fitness / Diet Classes:
Dancing Feet Academy of Dance - 816213
Salsa & Flamenco Dance Lessons with Mercedes - 269146
Yoga with Jules - 07813 874121
Yoga with Simone - 07860 604698
Cardio Kick! - 07876 406077
Toddler Groups:
South Street Baby Group - 07776 261541
South Street Toddler Group - 07776 261541
Noisy Nippers @ South Street - 07776 261541
St Brannock’s Babies & Toddler Group - 07980 915660
Paratroopers Fitness for 3 - 5 yr olds with Laura - 07775 182391
Tag Rugby for Years 2, 3 and 4 with Laura - 07775 182391
Chatty Paces Running Group - Start at the Athletics Track - 07980 342144
Chakra Dancing 07471 894200
Hypno Yoga for Pregnancy and Birth with Kristina - 07907508624
Women's Meditation and Relaxation Circle with Kristina - 07907508624
Paula Harrison Yoga - yoga@paulaharrison.eco - 07917 365318
Private/group yoga and somatic movement classes - 07738014383
Pilates, Yoga, Soundbaths and Over 60s sessions sue@sensegreaterpeace.co.uk
Clubs:
Braunton Original Badminton Club - 374419 or 890185
Braunton Art Group, meet on Thursdays at the Vivian Moon Centre at 1.30pm - 4pm. New members of all abilities are welcome. Tel: 07466 381 770 or email: oldhamstreamways@btintenet.com or just pop in and see us at work.
Braunton Bridge Club - 07734 219859 www.bridgewebs.com/braunton
Braunton Camera Club - Meet on Monday evenings contact Chairpersons 07812753361/01271883306
Braunton Judo Club - bjc@otani.co.uk
Vivian Moon Community Centre Coffee Morning - 815924
Rotary Club of Braunton Caen. www.brauntoncaenrotary.co.uk
Rotary Club of Braunton - www.brauntonrotary.org
Empathy - need some company - See www.brauntonchurch.org
Air Cadets 722 Chivenor Squadron - 07920 091557
Aikido Club - 01769 560605 or 861243
Braunton Army Cadets - 07970 082963
Croyde Surf Lifesaving Club - 890101
Croyde Surf Club www.croydesurfclub.com
Braunton Karate Club - 07736 936738 unionkaratedo.com
Georgeham and Croyde Art Group - 890215
Braunton Twinning Organisation - 549828/814532
Braunton Tennis Clubwww.clubspark.lta.org.uk/brauntontennisclub
Georgeham and Croyde Garden Club - 07989841432
Natural Dog Club monthly meeting - 01271 624602
(2nd Wednesday of every month)
Fireball Beach Volleyball - 07583738712 www.fireballbeachvolleyball.com
Church Services (Sundays unless stated)
Beaver Colony - 816780 Scouts (1st Chivenor) - 07826385553
Braunton Sea Scouts - 871374
Braunton Rainbows - 816340
Braunton Brownies - 816340
Braunton Guides - 816340 Cub Scouts (1st Chivenor) - 07826385553
Beaver Scouts (1st Chivenor) - 07826385553
Braunton Caen Rotary Memory Café (last Wed 2-4pm) - Stan 816340
Braunton Lodge of Freemasons - 07947 183919
See Hear Centre, Barnstaple - 01271 373236
Braunton Bowling Clubwww.brauntonbowlingclub.co.uk - 812121
Braunton BMX Club - www.brauntonbmxclub.org.uk
Braunton Youth Club - www.brauntonyouthclub.co.uk
South Street Evangelical Church. (currently meeting at Christ Church) 4pm. Tel: 07879 773085
Coastal Community Church - Tel: 813515
(Currently meeting at Sticklepath Primary School, Barnstaple at 10.30am) Life GroupThursdays at 10.30am in Braunton. www.coastalcommunitychurch.org.uk Christ Church Braunton. 10.30am, Wednesday 10.30am. Tel: 07775 804439
Our Lady Star of the Sea at Ilfracombe is now the mother church of the parish. For information please phone 01271 863563
St Brannocks C of E Church (Braunton). 9.45am, Wednesday 10am. Tel: 813367
St Augustine's (Heanton). 11am. Tel: 815795
St Anne’s C of E Church (Saunton). 11am. Tel: 813367
St Marys C of E (Croyde). 9am. Tel: 890616
Croyde Baptist Church. 10.30am. Tel: 07969 969 664 www.croydebaptist.co.uk
St Georges C of E (Georgeham). 10.30am. Tel: 890616
Christian Science Society Barnstaple 11am Wed 6.15pm Tel: 323741 www.christiansciencenorthdevon.co.uk
