October 2018—Vol 33 No 10
FOCUS IS AVAILABLE ONLINE AT www.focusonilfracombe.co.uk
Cover: Grant Stringer Photography, Cover: Grant Stringer Photography, Weddings-Portraits-Family Weddings-Portraits-Family Photo-shoots - Events Photo-shoots - Events 07835026749 07835026749 Design and IT Derek Woodcock and Design and IT Derek Woodcock and
ILFRACOMBE MUSEUM Open 10am until 5pm Monday to Saturday until October 27th Some of us will have spent the later part of the summer frantically getting children ready for their return to school, and this brings to mind memories of purchasing school uniform at one of our longest-standing High Street stores, Pedlar’s. We have just been donated some 1940s uniform from Ilfracombe’s Adelaide Girls’ School, and it was interesting to find that the labels inside read ‘Chas. N Pedlar’s, Ilfracombe.’ I myself can remember being kitted out with uniform for my first year at Ilfracombe Comprehensive School, upstairs in Pedlar’s school-wear department! So we have chosen a photograph of Ilfracombe High Street which shows no 27, Pedlar’s store, prominently displayed, their shop awnings advertising their role as ‘Household Stores’ and having a Clothing Department. This photo dates to the 1930s, but before the embankment on the right was demolished to widen an increasingly busy High Street. The uncertain fate of many national retailing chains, such as House of Fraser, has been in the news recently, and there’s no denying that high streets are having a tough time. So it is heartening to walk along Ilfracombe’s High Street and see independent shops supported, and none has lasted as long as Pedlar’s, now 96 years old this year!
Pedlar’s in the last example in our town of a department store, once a fairly common feature of most towns, in fact Ilfracombe in its grand heyday had four such stores. It was founded by Charles Nicholas Pedlar in 1922. Charles was born in Swimbridge in 1881 and had come to Ilfracombe to his uncle William Pugsley’s house furnishing store, which at that time incorporated two premises, the old numbers 21 and 22 High St. Later on in 1911, the numbering was altered and 22 became today’s 27. Charles took over number 22 himself and renamed it Chas. N Pedlar. He modernised the china and glassware departments, and sold furniture and carpet too. In 1937 the Victorian shopfront was swept away and a modern three-bay entrance was added, and after Charles’s son Charles Glanville Pedlar took the reins in 1946, a series of extensions and re-organisations improved the shop interior, including the addition of the school-wear department in 1956. The building that Pedlar’s occupies is called Worcester House, and predates even the days of Pugsley’s stores. It was built around 1878 by the Glyde family, china and glass merchants from Barnstaple. They also had a shop at the Promenade on the seafront, and were no doubt taking advantage of the huge demand for ‘fancy goods’ and souvenirs amongst the town’s hordes of visitors. Worcester House was built at a time when Ilfracombe was growing rapidly both in numbers and prosperity. By 1878 the three most important improvements to the town had been established – the Ilfracombe Hotel, the promenade pier, and the railway. The town was beginning to eclipse many other resorts in the south-west of England in its refinement and facilities. So the High Street traders were not slow to take advantage of the increased trade, and many of the older, smaller premises were transformed into brand new retail spaces. Worcester House is itself on the site of a much older building, the Moon Inn, which had been run by the Conibear family since the 1850s. George Conibear was the final landlord of the inn, and his son John, born there in 1855, worked as a postman in Ilfracombe, dying at the good age of 75 in 1930. We have a photo of the Moon Inn, and it shows a slightly ramshackle little two-storey tavern, looking very out of place next to the spacious new shops either side. In actual fact it also shows how old our High Street really is – many looking at it would be mistaken for thinking it is a Victorian creation. But a glance at the 1840 Tithe map of the High Street shows lots of long, narrow property strips running down to what would have been the Wilder meadows behind, each with a modest frontage on the High Street to take advantage of passing trade. This type of land use is known as ‘burgage’ plots and dates back to medieval times, when Ilfracombe was a small port and the High Street was the only main road that connected church and harbour. Even when properties are rebuilt, the existing boundaries are usually left intact, so giving us a clue to our town’s much older history.
Sara Hodson, Museum Manager 2
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EVENTS 4 ILFRACOMBE Events 4 Ilfracombe are pleased to announce a one off major event for Ilfracombe to mark the 100 year anniversary of the end of the First World War. This event ‘World War One Celebrate and Commemorate’ will take place in Ilfracombe over the afternoon and evening of Saturday 10th November, the day before Remembrance Sunday. The event starts with a ‘Living Letters’ photo on Capstone Hill. For those who haven’t come across these pictures before, they are a photo of Ilfracombe residents making up a word or series of letters by standing in pre-marked areas on Capstone whilst a photographer takes a picture. These photos have been taken for more than 100 years marking every major national event (like jubilees) and in 2018 we will be recreating the PEACE picture taken in 1918. The collection is held in Ilfracombe Museum and will be on display during November. Everyone is welcome to take part, just turn up on Capstone by 12.15 (at the latest) for the photo at 12.30 on Saturday 10th November. Then from 1pm in The Landmark Pavilion early 20C handicrafts for children of all ages hosted by Make The Move. Come and learn how to knit, sew, scrapbook and other activities of the day. At 4pm the entertainment starts with turns from Small Pond Productions, La La Voices and others. During the afternoon from midday to 5pm there will be exhibitions and stalls in the Landmark Foyer showing Ilfracombe 1918 to today. A soup kitchen will also be serving from 1pm – an excellent way to warm up with soups modern and old, all tastes catered for! For those who remember our 2014 event ‘1914 -2014 Ilfracombe Says Thank You’ we will be recreating the soldier wall in The Landmark Rendezvous Café with picture plaques of the Ilfracombe volunteers who did not return from the war. Ilfracombe Museum will be open from midday to 5pm as part of this event with displays and exhibitions from WW1. There will be no entry charge to the museum on 10th November. Between 6.45pm and 7pm the activity moves outside. Firstly a tribute to the animals of the war followed by a spectacular sound and visual presentation ‘Ilfracombe Remembers 1914 -1918’ presented by CJH Associates. This presentation is unique in its design and its delivery, a once in a life time visual experience. CJHA will be projecting onto the outside cone of the pavilion, at the Landmark Theatre and will tell a local story of Ilfracombe’s involvement in that war; the ladies of the town waving the men off, the hardships that everyone left behind had to endure, the jubilation when the war finally ended. We pay a tribute to the brave volunteers that came back and we also pay a very moving finale to the men that didn’t come back. Chris Horrell of CJH Associates, himself a descendent of Ilfracombe WW1 veterans, said “The technology we have used in putting this production together is world class, using the latest projection mapping and ‘after effects’ only usually seen in action movies. The Landmark building itself has been a major challenge because of the conical shape. For us to wrap a full size moving image halfway around that building will prove to be a complete show-stopper and our town, for one night, will be proud of the fact that we put on a moving tribute to rival any tribute of this kind anywhere in the world! In doing so I hope we have done Ilfracombe proud.” Whatever the weather this will be a one off event not to be repeated. So if you want to experience it you have to be there. This event is supported by grants from Ilfracombe Rotary, Ilfracombe Lions, North Devon Council, Devon County Council and a major grant from the Heritage Lottery Fund. There is therefore NO CHARGE to attend this event…it’s all free! Don’t forget on Sunday 11th November the 100 year anniversary of the 11th hour of the 11th day of the 11th month. Please observe the 2 minutes silence. Muster outside The Landmark for the parade from 10am. Ilfracombe will once again say Thank You in Runnymede Gardens at 10.10am. The Remembrance Day Parade will leave the Landmark at 10.30am followed by the blessing at The War Memorial and the service at Holy Trinity church. All welcome. More information will be announced on an ongoing basis on Events4Ilfracombe Facebook and you can also find schedules on www.visitilfracombe.co.uk or call in to the Tourist Information Centre (TIC) in the Landmark. You can call the TIC on 01271 863001. You can contact Events 4 Ilfracombe on events4ilfracombe@gmail.com Help requested for this event: Can you knit or crochet? If so we are looking for volunteers to knit & crochet poppies for a display. Either email us for the pattern or call in to the Tourist Information Centre, Library, Museum or Eileen’s Up Town Styles for a hard copy. Do you have any old local or family soup recipes that we can use for the soup kitchen? Do you have any stories or artefacts from Ilfracombe during the First World War that you would like to share?
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FOCUS YOUR TRULY LOCAL COMMUNITY MAGAZINE PRODUCED IN ILFRACOMBE
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It started in Ilfracombe with Games Galore Tuesdays 1.303.30pm in the Lantern Centre, then came the Expansion Thursdays 5.30-9.30pm at the Naked Cake on the Esplanade and now we have High Street café Dice and a Slice open Friday to Monday from 11am until late evening! The Internet maybe a marvellous resource but it’s now becoming obvious that many people are starting to move back from online digital games on computers and phones to the real thing, realising the importance of socialising by sitting down with family and friends discovering the fast increasing market of new board games as well as reexploring those from our childhoods
At Dice and a Slice there is no obligation to play. You can bring in your own game and use the space and only pay a game fee if you use any of the 400 games currently owned by the café. Some games are for sale and giant out-door games such as giant jenga and connect4 can be hired. Dungeons and Dragons is played on Tuesday nights with a free introductory course on the first Tuesday of the month Tuesday night Dungeons and Dragons and Thursday night Warhammer starting next month? Donations of games are welcome especially those for younger children but please take care they do not contain lead paint. From 11am until 4pm home-schooled children play for free, £2 for accompanying adults. Under 12’s play for free and ages 12 to 18 pay £3. No unaccompanied children under 16 are allowed. Seniors are charged £2.50.
Mac and Carole McGill opened Dice and a Slice on September 14th but Mac will only be around for 6 months of the year as for the last 28 years he’s The variety of board games available and their benefits are been working six vast. Games can be educational, involve luck and chance, months on and six teach social skills, strategy, perseverance, patience, team months off on an work and more. Emergency Rescue and Response Vessel based in Lowestoft. The venue can be hired by arrangement on Wednesdays and Thursdays and available for parties and groups. From October Dungeons and Dragons will be played on Tuesday nights and Warhammer on Thursdays, see the Dice and a Slice Facebook for updates. Website to follow. Asking for a quote to finish Mac said: ‘I accidentally ate a bag of Scrabble tiles… my next poo could spell disaster!’
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FOCUS YOUR TRULY LOCAL COMMUNITY MAGAZINE PRODUCED IN ILFRACOMBE
Flu & You! **September UPDATE** Please be aware that this supersedes earlier information issued by the practice. We offer influenza vaccination to the following groups: Patients aged 65 or over or Patients aged who are aged under 65 with any of the following problems: ▪ ▪ ▪ ▪ ▪ ▪ ▪ ▪ ▪
Asthma or another chronic chest complaint Heart problems Diabetes Kidney disease Liver Disease Neurological Disease A pregnant woman A carer If you suffer from a serious illness and have a reduced ability to fight infection For patients who are at risk the best action is to have a flu vaccination every year. In August 2018 Public Health England (PHE) published their revised guidance regarding the National Influenza Programme for 2018/19 for Health Practitioners. This sets out the preferred options to the At Risk Groups. It has advised that there will be a change from the 2017/18 guidance whereby all over 65’s should now be offered the adjuvanted trivalent influenza vaccine (aTIV) vaccine as opposed to the quadrivalent influenza vaccine (QIV) which was administered last year. Due to supply issue the surgery has not been able to reserve enough of the aTIV vaccine but we have managed to reserve adequate QIV. Following PHE guidelines we are therefore required to inform you of this and if you are in the over 65 categories ensure you have an informed choice to be vaccinated with the QIV vaccine or seek the aTIV vaccine through another source such as the local pharmacy. If you choose to be vaccinated at the Surgery with the QIV vaccine we will ensure that your appointment remains in place. If you would rather seek your vaccine via an aTIV supplier we would be grateful if you could let us know. If you require more information about the 2018/19 National Influenza Programme prior to deciding you can visit the NHS Choices Website here: https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/vaccinations/who-should-have-flu-vaccine/
We will not be sending out letters to all patients to help minimise waste and impact on our environment; it also helps to reduce administration at the practice. You may receive a personalised text message on your mobile promoting the service if you’ve given us permission to do so; just follow the instructions given in your message. If your contact details have changed in the last year please update us so that you can take advantage of this service. As you can appreciate, in a practice our size, we have thousands of patients to vaccinate. The most practical and effective way to do this is to hold Saturday clinics at Ilfracombe Medical Centre where we can have multiple nurses working. We also have car park attendants working on these days to ensure the smooth running of the car park. The dates for these flu clinics will be on Saturday 29 September 2018 and Saturday 13 October 2018 Please telephone the surgery numbers are at the bottom of this advert, after 11am (to avoid the busiest times) to book your appointment. We will be holding flu clinics especially for children and further adult clinics at our branch surgeries. These dates will be confirmed for October and November and in line with vaccination deliveries. If you are unable to leave your home for medical reasons we can arrange for a District Nurse to administer your flu vaccination at home. 01271 863119 or 01271 863840 or 01271 882406 or 01271 870276
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PLEASE SUPPORT YOUR LOCAL ADVERTISERS THE ROYAL BRITISH LEGION
Ilfracombe Branch ANNUAL GENERAL MEETING Friday 12th October At the Sandpiper Inn, The Quay 7.30-8pm All old and new members welcome
Encounter Church, Ilfracombe High Street has recently refurbished rooms to hire for meetings, business functions etc. Modern, efficient folding doors enable both large rooms to be divided into 4 for multi-use. Facilities include own entrance, toilets and a drink making station. Also Large TV screen for presentations and audio facilities. Rates: ÂŁ10 per hour plus opening and lock-up fee. Further information and bookings phone 01271 862426
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SHAMMICK ACOUSTIC The nights are drawing in and the joys of autumn are here – which for some of us is a relief! What could be better than getting together with like-minded people to share songs, music, poems and stories in a friendly and informal atmosphere. If this appeals to you, come along on Saturday 13th to the Pack o’ Cards in Combe Martin. Open Nights are about anyone and everyone having a chance to ‘sing, say or play’ whatever takes their fancy, or just to listen and join in with the odd chorus if you prefer. If you’re a musician and you don’t want to play solo, there’s often a chance during the break for a bit of a jam session. Anyone is welcome, and although encouraged to participate, they won’t be pressurised to do so. It’s held in the 'museum' of the pub, so there's no need to compete with bar noise. There’s no admission fee, although the pot is passed around for contributions to the club’s expenses.
Funeral Directors David, Bob, Carla & Jack 31a Portland Street, Ilfracombe EX34 9NL 01271 866332 support@adwilliams.co.uk www.adwilliams.co.uk Local Independent Family providing a Personal Service 24 hours a day
October’s concert on Saturday 27th presents musical hall songs of yesteryear with guest artists Cosmotheka. The duo of brothers Dave and Al Sealy lasted for more than a quarter of a century as Cosmotheka, named after the music hall in Marylebone, West London. They made a huge name for themselves as performers of music hall songs, working initially on the English folk scene, but also doing countless radio shows and numerous TV appearances with the likes of Roy Hudd, Bob Monkhouse and Chas & Dave, as well as on ‘The Good Old Days’. Their act took them all over the world, from Port Stanley to Oman, Hong Kong to the Rocky Mountains. Sadly, Al passed away in 1999, but Dave continued to pursue a solo career, with a rich, rob-tickling mix of songs, stories, original titles and monologues. More recently he has been joined forces with his son, Dan, to recreate some of the old musical mayhem for which the original duo was so famous. Dan, of course, grew up with the songs, but has his own take on the material. An accomplished professional musician in his own right in the rock group Ocean Colour Scene, his guitar skills and dry wit introduce a compelling new dimension to the collaboration. He and Adam Barry are also members of folk band, Merrymaker, formed in 2016, and are achieving considerable success with more contemporary themes and original material. As Cosmotheka though, they have picked up the trail from comedy giants like Gus Elan, Harry Champion and the rest, leading to a ‘sweet Saturday: a bellyful of “Boiled Beef and Carrots”, a bellyful of ale, and a bellyful of laughs at some of the greatest songs ever written. For Cosmotheka, these absurdly comic masterpieces are no longer yesterday’s – they are today’s! A number of local or visiting performers will, as usual, be there as support artists, as well as enjoying being part of the audience. Shammick Acoustic takes place at The Pack o’ Cards, High Street, Combe Martin from 8 p.m., with doors opening at 7.30. Tickets for the concert are £7 in advance from Shammick Acoustic, from the Pack o’ Cards, or Pets’ Pantry, High Street, Combe Martin, online via www.wegottickets.com/ShammickAcoustic, or £8 at the door. Shammick Acoustic is a not-for-profit organisation. More information can be found on the website at www.shammickacoustic.org.ukcontact Tom or Barbara Brown on 882366, or by e-mail at contact@shammickacoustic.org.uk
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FOCUS YOUR TRULY LOCAL COMMUNITY MAGAZINE PRODUCED IN ILFRACOMBE
TLC COMMUNITY SHOP 3 Portland Street, Ilfracombe. Donations of furniture, household goods, books, clothes, bric-a-brac etc needed. Please drop into the shop 10am-2pm Monday to Friday or phone to arrange collection
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Have you ever thought about learning to dive? Learn to scuba dive with us! We're excited to announce that our next Try Dives take place on 26th September and 3rd October 2018. If you enjoy your Try Dive, our Ocean Diver course starts in November 2018. The course runs weekly (normally on Wednesday evenings) and includes theory and practical sessions in the pool. Once you’re trained you’ll be able to get into the sea on one of our regular weekend diving trips. Interested in a Try Dive or this course? Send us a message on Facebook (look for ‘Ilfracombe Dive Club’) or call us on 07887 990 674 and we’ll send you more details. 9
Community Reports ILFRACOMBE & DISTRICT COMMUNITY MINIBUSES
is looking for occasional paid minibus drivers. If you would like to help out and have D1 on your driving licence, please contact Allan Day on 07966599757 for a chat. TORRS LADIES
We started the meeting with the formal items on the agenda, which included Our Chairman Shirley reminding everyone that the Christmas lunch is a week later than usual this year on 17th December. Shirley also asked that members make sure they put their names down on the list at the next meeting if they would like a ticket to the lunch. Barbara gave out the birthday flowers and we sang Happy Birthday to the recipients. The lunch club decided to meet at Giovanni’s for our outing in the 18th and I invited any members interested to join Ann and myself for the senior’s swimming session at the local pool on Thursday’s. The official business done it was on to the afternoon’s ‘entertainment’. Shirley had organised a quiz. Teams of 45 attempted to answer the questions or at least some of them. We eventually arrived at a winning team then relaxed with tea and biscuits. Thank you, Shirley, always a fun afternoon. Next month our guest is Sara Hodson from Ilfracombe Museum. Sara will be bringing along some interesting objects from the Museum to tell us about. That is on Monday 8th October usual time 2pm at Brookdale Church hall. Visitors always welcome. Jenny Hodson
ILFRACOMBE FLOWER CLUB
Our last founder member Joyce Hammond died peacefully in her sleep at the Susan Day Nursing Home in August. Her funeral on September 6th at Pip & Jim’s was a celebration of her life. The overall theme was her love of flowers, reflected in the choice of hymns and music. She will be sadly missed. The Summer has been a hot and busy time. Some members were involved at the Carnival Flower Festival at Combe Martin, followed the week afterwards by the RHS Rosemoor Flower Show. On Thursday seven members assembled to deck the Amdiga Shelter in the herb garden to the Tale of Jeremy Fisher. We used white, blue and yellow flowers including Carnations, Erynguim, September flower gladioli and hydrangeas to reflect the natural scene by the pond. 3,300 visitors attended on the Friday and each shelter was judged by popular vote. We came second beaten by a few points by Chumleigh who did a lovely and colourful interpretation of Jemima Puddleduck. The following week some of us were at Arlington Church Flower Festival—the theme being Our Green and Pleasant Land with texts taken from Jerusalem. Jenny Dellow organised this event and over £700 was raised for Church funds. Our AGM is on Tuesday 9th October, 7 for 7.30pm at Brookdale Avenue Church Hall. Subscriptions due £17 annual membership. Chris Stockwell is retiring from Committee after many, many years service to the Club. If anyone is interested in joining this very friendly and relaxed Club, we have fun and a laugh whilst enjoying the art of arranging flowers. The first Workshop on Tuesday 23rd October is a Halloween arrangement. New members always welcome. Further details ring Sue Neale on 01271 883893. Sue Neale
THE ARTS SOCIETY NORTH DEVON
The 2018-19 programme of eight monthly lectures will begin on Tuesday 9th October 2018. The lecture is The Magnificent Maya and Dr Diana Davies who studied at The Institute of Archaeology, London, will be telling us of her year travelling in Central and South America. She visited the Maya site at Palenque in Mexico which inspired her to learn everything she could about the Ancient Maya, a civilisation that people here in the UK know very little about. The lecture will start at 2pm at the Durrant House Hotel, Bideford. The lectures will continue on the second Tuesday of each month until May 2019 – in December the lecture will be preceded by the AGM, starting at 1.30pm. Visitors are very welcome - a donation of £5 will be requested. November lecture Emperor Qianlong 1736-1795. One of China’s greatest and most fortunate Emperors, becoming Emperor at the age of 25 and ruled for 60 years. Lecturer David Rosier. The Lecture will be held at The Durrant House Hotel on Tuesday 13th November 2018 at 2pm. Visitors always welcomed, a small donation of £5 will be requested. For more information of this and other lectures please go to www.tasnorthdevon.org.uk For more information about joining or our programme please contact Pamela Selman 01271 866661 or Lornie Yewdall 01271 858206. Judy Keyworth North Devon Relate Barnstaple by appointment Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday daytime and evenings. Contact 0300 7729 681 or via the website www.relate-ed.org.uk
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Dates for your Diary MONDAY Befriender Coffee Mornings 10.30am-12noon for over 65s at Encounter Church. Drop in for tea, coffee and homemade cake. Ilfracombe Bridge Club meets at West Down Parish Hall every Monday 2pm-5pm. Cost £2 per session including tea, coffee and biscuits. Contact 01271 889393. St John Ambulance Badgers aged 7-10 years meet Mondays in the Trinity Rooms 6pm -7.30pm. Contact Chrissie Morrison 07932 441 602 for details. Ilfracombe Chess Club meets at the Wellington Arms in Ilfracombe High Street from 7pm. All welcome. Contact Bob Lock 01271 862662 for details. Second Monday of every month Sunflowers Book Reading Group meet at Grass Roots Café, Ilfracombe High Street from 10.30-11.30am. Collect your book then talk about it the following month and pick up a new title. TUESDAY 361 Energy CIC Clinic 10am-1pm Transform4Work, Unit 1 The Candar, Ilfracombe 01271 599361. Games Galore Is a social group for people who enjoy playing board games. Meet Tuesdays in the Lantern Centre Club Room 1.30pm until 3.30pm. Cost £2 per session. Call Irene 07588 359 834 for more details or just pop in. Musical Memories is a social singing group for people with Alzheimer's, dementia and memory difficulties plus their carer/companion. We meet every 1st and 3rd Tuesday in the month at the Vision Centre, Slade from 2-4pm. Come and join us for a singsong and some fun. Ample parking. Contact Hazel 01271 863944 or Margaret 882927. St John Ambulance Cadets aged 10-18 years meet Tuesdays in the Parish Church Trinity Rooms, 7-8.30pm. Contact Sue Ayre 07980 182 317. Ilfracombe Male Voice Choir for gentlemen who enjoy singing, meet every Tuesday at 7.15pm in the Guild Room Emmanuel Church on the seafront. Contact Jan Cross 01271 866215. Royal Antediluvian Order of Buffaloes Capstone Lodge 4027 (Buffs) meet in the Lodge Room at 7.45pm. Lapsed members especially welcomed back. Contact Brian (Secretary) 01271 373137.
Ladies who enjoy singing meet Thursdays in the Guild Room beneath Emmanuel Church 2-3pm. Contact Beryl for details 01271 866582.
WEDNESDAY Ilfracombe U3A Bridge Group meet at Brookdale Church Hall on alternate Wednesday’s 6.30pm-8.30pm. Call 01271 889393 for actual dates. Cost £2 per session including tea, coffee and biscuits. Watercolour Workshop every 2nd Wednesday of the month at Lee Memorial Hall, Lee EX34 8LN. Refreshments provided. Bring your own lunch. Contact Brenda Keeble 01271 267583 for details. Ilfracombe Church Bellingers Holy Trinity Church ringing practice 7-8.15pm Wednesdays. Contact Tony Watts Tower Captain 01271 867350. New members welcome. THURSDAY Befrienders Activity Afternoon for the over 65s meet Thursdays at Encounter Church 2.30-4pm.Teacakes and tea to finish. Contact Rachel for a programme 07818 650 566. Table Tennis Friendly Group for the slightly more mature meet Thursdays 2pm-4pm at Ilfracombe Table Tennis Club, Fore Street. Bats etc provided.
Games Galore the expansion! Table top games, Thursdays 5.30-9.30pm at the Naked Cake Café, The Promenade, Ilfracombe. £1 per head. Contact Irene 07588 359 834. Ilfracombe Youth Band Blazing Sounds play on the Bandstand from 7.45pm every Thursday in September. New members welcome. Contact Bandmaster Emma 01271 867713 www.blazingsounds.org.uk FRIDAY Ilfracombe Model Railway Club meet every Friday 810pm above Pearce’s Undertakers, Wilder Road. £2.50 pw. New members welcome. Various gauges. Contact David Watts 01271 864677. SATURDAY HOLY TRINITY GRAVEYARD GROUP meet in the graveyard from10am for gardening. Contact Erica 07984 282 442. All are welcome to come along and see what we do.
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Dates for your Diary Ilfracombe Food Network Weekly Pop-up Store intervening goods and products which would otherwise be disposed of every Saturday 9-10am at Belle’s Place, Lee Place, Ilfracombe. Bring a carrier bag and pay as you choose. Volunteer your time, skills or pop a monetary donation in the bucket to Belle’s Place. All welcome.
EVANS BODYSHOP Car Body Repairs est.1949 6a Northfield Road Ilfracombe 01271 862889
Waste Not Café every 2nd Saturday of the month at Belle’s Place 11.30-1.30pm. Pay as you can. Food is donated from local supermarkets and shops which would otherwise go to waste.
Insurance repairs MOT and rust repairs
Saturday 29th September Ilfracombe Yacht Club Worlds Biggest Coffee Morning 10am-1pm in aid of Macmillan Cancer Support.
Low bake oven facilities—No VAT
Monday 1st October Ilfracombe Baptist Church Women’s Fellowship 2.30pm. Studying Elisha. Contact 01271 864052.
Wednesday 31st October Ilfracombe Pensioners Social Wednesday 3rd October Ilfracombe Pensioners Social Club meet in the Club Room at The Lantern 2Club meet in the Club Room at The Lantern 2-4pm. Julian 4pm. Shirley will give a presentation about Bridgwater Tipett will give a talk with slides of his Italian walks. Carnival. See 3rd October for other details. Entrance is £2 to cover refreshments and a raffle. The Community minibus is available door to door for people with mobility problems £2.50 return. Contact Shirley Jones on 01271 863630. Saturday 6th October Ilfracombe Farmers Market at The Lantern Centre, High Street 10am-12.30pm. Fresh, local and organic produce and craft. Refreshments. New traders welcome. 01271 864621 for information. Monday 8th October Ilfracombe Baptist Church Women’s Fellowship 2.30pm Crafts. Contact 01271 864052. Saturday 13th October Shammick Acoustic Open night Pack ‘o Cards, High Street, Combe Martin 8pm. Monday 15th October Ilfracombe Baptist Church Women’s Fellowship 2.30pm. Elisha – Miracles. Contact 01271 864052. Tuesday 16th October ND Archaeological Society meet at the Castle Centre, Castle Street, Barnstaple at 7.30pm. A talk by Henrietta Quinnel Iron Age Devon and It’s Hillforts. Members no charge, visitors £2.50. Wednesday 17th October Ilfracombe Pensioners Social Club meet in the Club Room at The Lantern 24pm. There will be a presentation about the Ilfracombe Food Bank, members will bring contributions. See 3rd October for other details. Monday 22nd October Ilfracombe Baptist Church Women’s Fellowship 2.30pm. Crafts. Contact 01271 864052. Friday 26th October Spooks & Sparks at Ilfracombe Rugby Club. Gates open 6.30pm, 10pm finish. Halloween themed firework even with bonfire, barbeque, performers, live music from Falling Apart, disco, bar, bouncies, fancy dress competition. £3 adults, £2 children under 16, 4 years and under free. All proceeds to Ilfracombe Rugby Club. Saturday 27th October Shammick Acoustic Cosmotheka in concert, Pack ‘o Cards, High Street, Combe Martin 8pm. Monday 29th October Ilfracombe Baptist Church Women’s Fellowship 2.30pm. Elisha - Miraculous Healing. Contact 01271 864052.
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ILFRACOMBE’S LOST BEACH by Neil Holloway Few areas in ‘Combe have escaped significant change over the centuries, the Cove seeing possibly the most wide ranging. In the 1800’s, whilst the north harbour side was for promenading and viewing the comings and goings of inner harbour craft, the south side of the harbour was commercial, full of noise, with boats being unloaded and good transferred to carts or taken for storage in the two story warehouse. The wharf crane was put to good use by Crang the timber merchants, white wood yard later being extended to become Devon Trading builder’s’merchants. Towards Larkstone was Ilfracombe’s shipyard. When in the 1850’s standing at the end of Quay Head, looking slightly north across the entrance to the inner harbour when ship building was in progress, you would have seen a wooden barrier enclosing South Beach which as at high tide a flooded vally. Behind the barrier, a makeshift dry dock, remove the barrier and the finished boat could be sailed out on a high tide. The long term shipbuilder was Charles Dennis, a ship’s captain and pillar of the Congregational Church for many years, this is an unlikely combination. A breakaway group from the Methodists, Congregationalists were also anti alcohol, sea captains were usually not. Boats up to 200 tons were built on a regular basis until the 1870’s. Smaller cutters and yachts continued to be built at the western end of the Cove until Edwardian times. By the time the nearby rope manufacturing worships of Ropery Road were gone being replaced by boarding houses built in the modern style. When the local authority replaced ‘Jacob’s Ladder’, the wooden zig zag 100 step structure which was used to access Larkstone Pleasure Gardens and Hillsborough, with the current roadway and parking, South Beach was filled in completely. At least the crabbing pots maintain an element of commerce o the south harbour side. This photograph is dated 1851 by Ilfracombe Museum. The ship would therefore almost certainly have been the Kossuh (later renamed the Maggie) built by Charles Dennis and completed in 1852.
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FOCUS YOUR TRULY LOCAL COMMUNITY MAGAZINE PRODUCED IN ILFRACOMBE
SUNDAY 14TH OCTOBER
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FOCUS YOUR TRULY LOCAL COMMUNITY MAGAZINE PRODUCED IN ILFRACOMBE Diary by Mayoress of Ilfracombe Amanda Gartshore
Birdmen, bicycles and minis
August and early September have been great months to be in Ilfracombe. Many of our big town events, Ilfracombe carnival, Sea Ilfracombe Maritime Festival and the Annual Mini Grand Tour, happen at this time of year. There were plenty of visitors left in town to enjoy them and despite some threatened downpours, the weather didn’t spoil anything. Except Birdman. Poor Birdman. The squally weather didn’t stop people jumping off the pier in fabulous costumes but brave spectators were very damp by the end of the day. This is also the season when the Mayor and Mayoress are busy attending Civic Services with other Mayors, Mayoresses and Consorts. What is the collective noun for a group of Mayors? You’ll have to read to the end to find out. You can tell when there is a Civil Service in town. A group of invited Mayors and their Consorts dress in their finest complete with chains of office, and sometimes a splendid hat, attend a church service and a reception (or sometimes a reception without a church service) and proudly bristling with civic pride. A procession of Mayors can be impressive. As the assembled Devon Mayors and their consorts processed to the lovely church in Appledore for the Northam Civic Service recently, we heard “Look Mummy! It’s the Queen!” from two excited children. If you could have measured the civic pride at that moment it would have been off the scale.
I’d like to think that the riders noticed our enthusiastic welcome for the nano-seconds that it took to speed past the War Memorial but I suspect they didn’t. Nonetheless it was another opportunity to feel pride in our town which, contrary to a rumour that I overheard, cost the town nothing except for the contributions of the amazing and ever-willing Ilfracombe volunteers. Note to the organisers, next time we’d love to host the stage finish at the foot of the Capstone.
Another day, another church service and another opportunity to wear the Mayoral bling. The Mayor and Mayoress attended the Sea Ilfracombe Maritime Festival service at Pip and Jim’s last Sunday. Hello again to the Mayoress Diary readers that I met before the service who made me very welcome. Did you know that the congregation of Pip and Jim’s pray for every single boat in Ilfracombe harbour by name, twice a year as the boats are craned into the harbour in spring and craned out again in the autumn. I’m not religious but I am touched by the spirit of community and inclusiveness this demonstrates. Last week we saw the Tour of Britain cyclists whizz through Ilfracombe on the second leg of the tour. Were you there? Did you enjoy the anticipation, the build-up, the sheer speed of the riders and their entourage? Did you hear the near collision on the way out of Ilfracombe? On her podium surrounded by flags, the Mayor could have conducted the last night of the proms. Instead she led the cheering and flag waving from the assembled spectators.
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So what do you call an assembly of Mayors? A chain gang.
FOCUS YOUR TRULY LOCAL COMMUNITY MAGAZINE PRODUCED IN ILFRACOMBE we were really touched by the interest and good wishes of the shoppers, may of whom stopped to talk, ask questions and wish us good luck.
News from the Exmoor Pony Centre, Ashwick, Dulverton TA22 9QE Tel 01398 323093
Activity Days have finished now until Halloween, but the Wed 24th October 6.30 – 9pm. Join our Exmoor ponies in Pony Centre is still open to visitors at the usual times. Do come and say hello, and see the ponies before their winter a Dark Skies Event on a night-time walk followed by hot chocolate and marshmallows at the Centre and a talk by holidays. the Exmoor Natural History Society and David Brabban. As I mentioned last month, three of our people have taken Booking is recommended. £3 adult. £2 child. This is a part in the Three Peaks Challenge! Linzi Green, Maria family event and we hope lots of people will join in the Phillips & Kestra French climbed Ben Nevis, Scafell Pike evening’s activities. and Snowdon on 12th, 13th & 14th September WITHOUT Thursday 25th October - Halloween Activity Afternoon - 12 using a specialist company to guide and drive them. You can read their stories and donate to support this challenge midday - 3pm In addition to our usual activities there will be a spooky and our ponies at MMT by logging on to Just Giving and Halloween Trail. Follow the trail and claim your treat. searching for Moorland Mousie Trust. Next month we will find out how they got on. Website www.exmoorponycentre.org.uk Facebook:www.facebook.com/TheExmoorPonyCentre We would like to say a huge thank you to another Just Email: info@exmoorponycentre.org.uk Giving fundraiser, 11 year old Sophie Candish, who (accompanied by her mother) has roller-skated 50 miles from Bristol to Bath and back to raise funds for our ponies. An amazing achievement. Thank you, Sophie. It’s not too late to support these fundraisers, should you wish to do so. Pascoe, seen in the photo with Lydia, is progressing well with his training to become a riding pony. He seems to be completely fearless and not bothered by anything on the road, though his curiosity almost got the better of him the first time he met a bull. He is a real character and a great favourite with everyone at the Centre as he just loves all the attention. We are eagerly awaiting the results of our Tesco Minehead’s Bags of Help appeal which finished at the end of August. Some of our volunteers spent a day in the store handing out leaflets and talking to people (and, of course, watching to see which bin the tokens were going in to) and
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FOCUS YOUR TRULY LOCAL COMMUNITY MAGAZINE PRODUCED IN ILFRACOMBE The Minis and Ilfracombe The first time we came to IIfracombe was in1995, and we turned up with 50 Minis and parked them all in front of the Old Pavilion and we raised £50. They were the good old days when you could get from Westward Ho! to IIfracombe without meeting a set of traffic light lights, now impossible, that seems like a lifetime ago, no forms no paperwork and no licenses, unlike today. This year we took 250 assorted Minis into IIfracombe and like every year the welcome we got was incredible, sometimes it makes you think you have done the Monte Carlo Rally, instead of the 50 miles from Westward Ho. After 23 years we are getting good at what we do and this year we were only a few minutes late arriving and nearly made it on time. When you think we have 250 Minis travelling in a convoy, that cannot be bad planning, but that is only possible because of our motorbike marshals. I can tell you all the Mini owners love coming to IIfracombe because of the crowds that come out to see us; it makes you feel so welcome. On the Tuesday after the event, we paid £21,366 into the CHSW Bank account and by the Wednesday that had risen to over £23,000, by the end of the year it will be a lot more. We have now raised over £500,000 for the Children’s Hospice South West and along the way we have also supported lots of other Charities who help us to put the event on, so Thank You for your support over the years which has helped to make the North Devon Grand Tour legendary.
WHAT’S ON AT ILFRACOMBE MUSEUM Thursday 25th October at 7.30pm until 9pm, evening talk HMS Montagu Dive Survey Project 2018 with Graham Scott, Wessex Archaeology Please note this is a change of date. £3 per ticket. Wednesday 24th October 10.30am until 12.30pm. Children’s activity morning. Cost £2.50 per child. Saturday 27th October Last day of full time opening. Tuesday 30th October – Winter Museum hours begin. Tuesday to Friday 10am until 1pm. Thursday 29th November – Crafty Ladies Christmas coffee morning at the Museum 10am until 12noon.
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COULD YOU BE A SCHOOL GOVERNOR? WEST DOWN AND BERRYNARBOR PRIMARY SCHOOLS NEED YOU! We have vacancies on our team of volunteer Governors within our Federation of two schools. Would you like to help us continually improve our schools and what we offer? Can you commit some time and effort in this important community role?
What is the commitment? • A desire to improve outcomes for all children at our school • 5 – 8 hours of your time per month • Availability for 1 or sometimes 2 meetings per month, usually in the evening • Reading and thinking about information sent to you • A willingness to ask questions, share your views and listen to others • An interest in developing as a governor
Are any special skills needed? No – full training is available. The most important thing is your commitment and time, but we would also really like to hear from people with skills in any of the following: • • • •
Finance, business and HR Data and statistics Strategic management Communication, research or PR
However – this is not an exhaustive list!
HOW DO I FIND OUT MORE? We currently have vacancies for co-opted (community) governors at our schools. Each term-time month (not April, August and December) you’ll be sent information on a number of areas - school performance, development and issues to read and reflect on, before coming to a governor meeting where we’ll discuss these things together. Our aim is to help the school deliver the best possible experience and outcomes for our children. If you’ve got particular skills or interests you might also look at a particular aspect of the school in more detail, such as the school buildings, finance, school meals, different areas of the curriculum, HR, IT, sport, music and so on. If you’d like to express an initial interest please email Natalie Stanbury, Clerk to Governors, who’ll supply you with more information stanburyn@westberryfederation.org.uk or phone 01271 882252 (works from home). Or, if you’d like an informal chat with an existing governor, please contact Sian Barten on 01271 862222 (home). For more information about our schools please visit our website www.westberryfederation.org.uk We are looking for new Governors to be able to start in mid-November – please express your interest by Friday 2nd November 2018.