Focus on Ilfracombe Community News Magazine September 2018

September 2018—Vol 33 No 9

FOCUS IS AVAILABLE ONLINE AT www.focusonilfracombe.co.uk

Cover: Grant Stringer Photography, Weddings-Portraits-Family Photo-shoots - Events 07835026749 Design and IT Derek Woodcock and

ILFRACOMBE MUSEUM Open 10am-5pm Monday to Saturday throughout the Summer ANNA PARNELL 1852 — September 20th 1911 In Holy Trinity Graveyard you can find buried a wealth of fascinating characters, as those who have ever been to a ‘Dead Famous in Ilfracombe’ evening will know. Among them is Anna Parnell, whose significance is still being reassessed over 100 years after her death. And on the 22nd of this month a party from Ireland will be making the journey here to commemorate her death and consider again the contribution she made to Irish public life and to women’s history.

This is not the first time that Anna has been remembered in Ilfracombe: a tree taken from Avondale, where Anna was born - was planted in Holy Trinity Churchyard in 2002 following a ceremony attended by the Irish Ambassador, and again in 2011, the centenary of her death was commemorated. So we are quite well-acquainted with Anna here in Ilfracombe. But in Ireland she is still not so well-remembered by many, perhaps because she had a nationally renowned brother, Charles Parnell, and also because as a woman perhaps her achievements have been underplayed in history. Now, the current #MeToo movement has brought the rights of women again to the fore and coupled with the recent focus on the work of women to win the vote in 1918, it seems this is the right time to look again at Anna Parnell’s work and legacy.

Anna was born in 1852 in Avondale, Co. Wicklow to a Protestant landowning family, one of nine children. As a young woman she spent time in Paris with her widowed mother and family, and was there during the Paris Commune of 1871, a politically radical socialist city government that had a brief and bloody history. Whilst there, she and her equally able sister Fanny helped raise funds for injured soldiers in the city. In 1875 brother Charles became an MP for the Irish Home Rule party and Anna went to London at the same time as he took up his seat in Parliament.

Although supposed to be training as an artist, Anna took greater interest in debates at the Commons, and she began writing reports of events there for an Irish magazine. Charles Parnell, by 1880, was the pre-eminent Irish politician of the day, campaigning for Home Rule and heading up the Land League, an organisation that defended poor Irish tenants against the common practise at that time of being evicted by their landlords. Such was Charles’ importance that he was nicknamed ‘the uncrowned king of Ireland’, and he was the first Irishman to speak at the American House of Congress.

He controlled a powerful block of 85 Irish MPs in Parliament which effectively held the government to account during the 1880s.

Equally passionate about the Irish nationalist cause, sisters Fanny and Anna set up the Ladies Land League in Dublin in 1881 which was timely because shortly afterwards the male leaders of the Land League including Charles, were arrested and their League outlawed. Fanny raised funds in America, and Anna travelled tirelessly attending evictions, distributing funds to evicted families, campaigning and advising. In all, the Ladies Land League distributed some £60,000 of funds.

Anna was renowned as the most gifted speaker and organiser and it came as a cruel blow to find that whilst in jail her brother Charles secretly made a pact with the British government. Charles agreed to moderate his demands and disband the Land League, in return for better protection in law for Irish tenants.

This meant the end of the Ladies Land League and Anne felt betrayed. Their relationship never recovered and Anna was cast into the political wilderness without a role. Also, a year later her beloved sister Fanny died and Anna grieved deeply for her. When Charles himself died in 1891, insolvent and after a scandal involving a married woman, Anna found herself cut off from an income from the family estate. She lived under assumed names in London and southern England for years, cutting a lonely figure and only occasionally appearing publicly. Anna came to Ilfracombe to live, under the name Cerisa Palmer, in June 1910 and took a lodging in Avenue Road. A regular swimmer since her youth, it is said she would often swim from the Tunnels to Capstone and back – no mean feat and certainly unconventional for a woman at that time. But on September 20th 1911 Anna’s determined nature may have been her downfall, as she swam out from the Tunnels despite being warned that the sea was rough. The bathing attendant at the Tunnels tried to save her but she was overcome by the water and a doctor could not revive her. It was only at ‘Miss Palmer’s’ inquest, when letters addressed to Anna Parnell were found in her possession, that her true identity was realised. In spite of this at her burial a few days’ later, the only people who came were the seven locals who had known her here. She was 50 years of age. In Ilfracombe we’re proud to say that we are playing a small part in the rehabilitation of Anna’s place in history.

Get Involved: Trustees Needed!

The Museum Trust is hoping to recruit some new trustees as our numbers are dwindling. We need people who are or who are prepared to be active in their support whatever form that might take. The role of the Board of Trustees is to oversee the running of the Museum, to steer us into the future and to ensure that everything is going as smoothly as possible. It is a great opportunity to find out more about the day-to-day running, and to have a say in what happens. We usually meet every two months, on a Wednesday evening at 7pm.

If you think this would be of interest to you, please give your name to Sara or Josie. As we are now a Charitable Incorporated Organisation there is no longer any financial liability in becoming a Trustee. Thank you.

Sarah Hodson, Museum Manager 01271 863541

Your local community magazine Focus is supplied free by your Advertisers, please support them.

The Focus

Focus is available from the beginning of the month and can be obtained FREE from Kingsley Printers and many shops and outlets in Ilfracombe, West Down, Woolacombe, Berrynarbor and Combe Martin.

Deadline: 10TH OF THE PRECEDING MONTH email kingsleyprinters@xlninternet.co.uk or take or send to Kingsley Printers, 52 High Street, Ilfracombe EX34 8LU 01271 863131 Accounts: Cheques should be made payable to FOCUS and sent or taken to Kingsley Printers.

Editor: Dave Lane Proof Reader: Don Lawson Distribution: Pete Marnell Advertising and Content: Contact Erica Castle for advertising rates 07984 282 442/ericacastle25@gmail.com

ILFRACOMBE ROTARY CLUB CHALLENGE YOU so that we can identify you and your team payments. You can make donations as often as you wish. This application TO ENTER OUR CHARITY SPINATHON!

form should be posted as soon as possible along with any advanced cheque payments so that we can send you your entry confirmation and sponsorship forms.

Send to: John Stainer, 7 Croftswood Gardens, Ilfracombe EX34 9PR. or email to john.stainer@spinathonrotaryilfracombe.org.uk 01271 862236

We challenge you, your friends and work colleagues to enter, or you can enter as a business or organisation and take part in our Charity Spinathon and support local charities.

This team/individual event is being held on Saturday, 13th October by kind permission of Studio 20, High Street, Ilfracombe between 10am and 5pm.

Entrants with heart conditions, high blood pressure or a condition requiring the avoidance of strenuous activity should check with their doctor before taking part.

Minimum age of any rider is 14yrs and must be a minimum height of 150cm.

Download your application form from our Web site now! www.spinathon-rotaryilfracombe.org.uk Registered Charity No. 1037348

Each team will consist of a MAXIMUM 4 persons who will cycle for a total of 50 minutes, each person cycling for 12 and a half minutes, but 10 mins for children in a family team, with the adults splitting the balance of minutes required equally or an individual entry riding for 50 minutes. For each ride time slot, Rotary will appoint a Marshal who will ensure correct timings, record the distance of each rider at the end of their ride and give a signed certificate of the team/individual record to the Event Administrators.

The team in each category that cycles the furthest will win their category prize. Each team entry requires a minimum sponsorship/payment of ÂŁ100 with a cheque payable to Ilfracombe Rotary Club to be deposited with our Club by 6th October unless sponsorship of that amount has already been paid via mydonate.bt.com, ensuring that your name and team details and rider ID are recorded in the message box. This is vital. Hopefully sponsorships will be much higher than the minimum ÂŁ100.

Teams are urged to use the mydonate.bt.com for their donations as no deductions are made other than for a small charge that may be made by Card Companies. Go to www.mydonate.bt.com and enter our Charity No 1037348 in the Charity search box and it will take you to our Charity page so that you can donate. Please ensure that you enter your name, team number and rider ID in the message box when you have them. This is very important

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EVENTS 4 ILFRACOMBE It seems all we do is talk about the weather these days (a good Ilfracombe tradition!!) but as the majority of Ilfracombe events take place outside the weather can be a big factor in their success. After a scorching few weeks which were in fact much too hot for many, the week approaching South West Birdman started hot and dry then got gradually wetter & wetter although not necessarily cooler. It didn’t seem to make much difference to the public enjoyment of Birdman which is one of the town’s most iconic and popular events with locals and holidaymakers alike. 2018 organiser on behalf of Ilfracombe Round Table Marc Newland said “Well, it was the wettest Birdman ever, but the crowds still came with over 10,000 turning up with smiles to have a good time. The show went ahead and luckily the rain bated off for the jumping. Sponsorship and income revenues are currently coming in, so it is a little early to predict any profits just yet”.

Whatever the weather we are already looking forward to Birdman next year!

Ahoy there Mateys! The 2018 Sea Ilfracombe Maritime Festival on 1 & 2 September is set to be the biggest and best yet!

Twice the size of last year’s (taking over the whole of Ropery Road car park), with a massive music marquee and new for 2018, a covered craft market. FREE family fun all weekend, including; Captain Coconut & his giant bubble machine, mermaid story-telling, sandcastle and pavement art competitions, Punch & Judy on the beach, sizzling seaside food & drink stalls and loads of water action with Y-Sail, Sea Cadets, Sea Angling and, for the first time, an RNLI live rescue demo! Watch out for Jack Sparrow and chums causing mayhem all over Combe!

The UK's largest cycle race, The Tour of Britain, returns to Devon this September and Stage 2 of the race will take place on Monday September 3, starting in the UK's newest town, Cranbrook, in east Devon and finishing in Barnstaple. On the way the cyclists take in Ilfracombe and you can cheer the racers on as they come through the town. The race will arrive along the main road from Combe Martin direction and will then go along Portland Street, High Street, Church Street then up St Brannocks Road. ETA could be any time between 2 & 3 but remember this is a race so it depends how fast the cyclists are going plus other factors such as the weather and those timings could easily change. Other road users should be prepared for delays and pedestrians and vehicles please both be aware of fast moving cycles in this area. Anywhere along High Street and Church Street & especially around the War Memorial roundabout will be a good place to watch. After Ilfracombe the race goes to Woolacombe, Georgeham, Croyde, Braunton and on to Barnstaple. www.tourofbritain.co.uk/stage-two-timetable The following weekend on Saturday 8 September it will be Ilfracombe Bike Show. This event is organized by North Devon Motorcycle Action Group and sees literally hundreds of motorcycles old and new and of all descriptions descend upon Ilfracombe Seafront. This event is free for the public and anyone with a bike can join in for a donation of a few pounds.

There are trophies for the winning bikes in a number of categories.

If you have picked up your copy of FOCUS before the end of August don’t forget that there is a busy Bank Holiday weekend ahead…Carnival, run by Ilfracombe Lions will be on Sunday 26 August. The parade will take the usual route from Brimlands Car Park (by the Rugby Club) via Hillsborough Road, Portland Street, High Street, Wilder Road to the Harbour (Rotary Car Park) via The Seafront. Mini Madness is on Monday 27 August – expect the minis to come noisily through the town any time between 3 & 4. Ilfracombe Beer, Food and Music Festival at The Landmark will be on across the whole of the Bank Holiday Weekend. That will also be the last weekend of bands on the bandstand in Runnymede Gardens – the Two Rivers Ensemble will play 2 – 4 on Sunday weather permitting.

More details on Ilfracombe and North Devon events can be found at www.visitilfracombe.co.uk - follow the links to ‘What’s On’ then ‘Ilfracombe Events’ for Ilfracombe or ‘More Events’ for North Devon. Smaller events can be found on the ‘Ilfracombe Diaries’ also accessed via visitilfracombe.co.uk and up to the day information can be found on the Visit Ilfracombe Facebook page. If you have an event that you are putting on in 2018 or 2019 then why not get in touch. We may be able to provide support, equipment etc. and tell the Ilfracombe community about it here.

To contact Events 4 Ilfracombe email events@visitilfracombe.co.uk or call 01271 863001. You can also leave a message for us at Ilfracombe Tourist Information Centre at the Landmark on The Seafront. Why not join us?

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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 ILFRACOMBE TOURIST INFORMATION CENTRE

We have a vacancy for two people as part of a job share who are able to communicate clearly, efficiently and effectively by email, phone and verbally, with good literacy and numeracy skills, the ability to access and utilise information online.

Organised, self-motivated with an eagerness and willingness to learn new things, flexible and adaptable as required to work approximately 13 hours a week each including weekends.

Working alongside volunteers, in a small friendly office, promoting Ilfracombe, selling gifts and tickets, finding and giving visitor information and stocking gifts and leaflets.

Apply in writing with CV to Marie Mason, Tourist Information Centre, The Landmark, The Seafront Ilfracombe EX34 9BX or by email to:marie@visitilfracombe.co.uk To start end of September.

Brookdale Church, Ilfracombe EX34 8DB Thursday 13th September 1pm until 3pm

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PLEASE SUPPORT YOUR LOCAL ADVERTISERS

SHAMMICK ACOUSTIC

Our September Open Night on Saturday 8th sees featured artists Winter Wilson joining us for the evening. Kip Winter and Dave Wilson have a fine repertoire of self-penned songs telling stories of everyday life, with tight harmonies, and accompanied with guitars, accordion, flute and/or banjo. Full-time professional musicians for the past six years, they have an increasingly notable presence on the folk scene.

However, Open Nights are mainly about whoever comes along, with anyone and everyone having a chance to ‘sing, say or play’ whatever takes their fancy. 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 to come along, and although encouraged to participate, they won’t be pressurised to do so – you’ll be just as welcome if you just want to join in with choruses and/or just listen. 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.

Colum Sands at The Pack ‘o Cards Saturday 22nd

September’s concert on Saturday 22nd presents the very best in original songs. Colum Sands, one of the famed Northern Irish musical family, is a universally acclaimed songwriter, having performed in over thirty countries around the world. Not only that, but he often discovered that some of his songs had arrived before him, taken up by other performers such as Andy Irvine, Tommy Makem and Liam Clancy, and Roy Bailey.

His songs and stories observe the minute and often humorous details of life, and he’s not afraid to quietly point out the absurdities and results of historical and political happenings throughout the world, from Northern Ireland itself to Berlin and Israel.

With his touring, both solo and sometimes with the family band, and no less than nine albums to his credit, one wonders how he finds time to do anything else, but indeed he does. For many years he presented Radio Ulster’s Folk Club programme, as well as broadcasting a series of programmes on Radio 2, and a series for RTE Radio, plus a Radio 4 documentary tracing the work of early folk music collectors in Ireland. In addition he has produced countless albums for other songwriters and for traditional singers, been short-listed for a Grammy nomination, and been received the Living Tradition award for services to Folk and Traditional Music.

But quite apart from all that, he is warm, witty, moving and funny as a performer, and whether performing to three or three thousand people, makes everyone feel as if they were sitting in his living room. Through the weaving of his songs, he has a gift of breaking down cultural barriers through choice words and eloquent music. We are delighted to welcome him to Shammick Acoustic.

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.

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FOCUS YOUR TRULY LOCAL COMMUNITY MAGAZINE PRODUCED IN ILFRACOMBE BELFRY BANTER

Once again I put pen to paper to update one and all.

Whilst we have witnessed a great deal of activity from visiting ringers, some on holiday and other organised visiting bands, the long standing problem of attracting new recruits to our tower to learn the art remains doggedly with us. Once again we are deeply grateful to the continuing support given by Berrynarbor ringers both on practice nights and most importantly for Sunday services.

On a sad note, our previous long-standing Tower Captain Stan Sprague passed on after a long debilitating illness.

Stan served the tower dutifully and for a considerable period of time. We have decided to mark this achievement by erecting a memorial plaque in the ringing room.

Plans are afoot for the necessary re-decoration of the ringing room as this is badly needed.

On a pleasant note we are pleased to have welcomed Ellie from London currently with Country Cousins in Ilfracombe—a very helpful addition to our ranks albeit short term.

Holy Trinity ringing practice Holy Trinity is every Wednesday 7pm-8.15pm. Contact Don Lawson, Steeple Keeper 01271 866392.

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 01271 866315 8

PLEASE SUPPORT YOUR LOCAL ADVERTISERS

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Community Announcements ILFRACOMBE & DISTRICT COMMUNITY MINIBUSES run a Ring and Ride service into Barnstaple town centre and supermarkets on alternate Thursdays and Fridays picking people up from their homes for £4 return. If you have mobility problems and would like to get out more, come along and make new friends. Leaflet of all our services available from Shirley Jones 01271 863630.

CAPSTONE LADIES CLUB (apologies from Focus for omitting this report last month) We have made donations to Focus and Ilfracombe in Bloom and have had a thank you from North Devon Hospice for a donation made on behalf of one of our speakers. The July meeting was an afternoon out to the Naked Cake. The Christmas Meal will be at the Golf Club and we will be collecting £5 deposit at the October meeting. Our speakers are Dave known as Bob and Jodie from the Coastguards. All members are volunteers and are responsible for anything which may happen on the sea and up to the high water mark, also any problems on the beach or the Coastal Path. The police use the Coastguards for local knowledge eg a missing person and they can also be called to medical situations. The equipment they have enables them to have rope access to all the cliffs here including the use of stretchers when needed. This involves a large team on the cliff top to ensure the safety of the rope technician. The search for a missing person can be because of injury or even because the person does not want to be found. Coastguard teams are having to deal with more mental health issues and have to keep up to date with modern technology. The only animal they will rescue is a dog and this is because it is likely that the owner will probably try to rescue the pet and maybe get into trouble themselves. The team in Ilfracombe is down to eight members from all walks of life and they are keen to hear from more volunteers willing to be part of this valuable service.

Diana Wood

TORRS LADIES

We were back at Brookdale for our August meeting and our guest was Bob Hancock from our Ilfracombe Fire and Rescue. He gave a very interesting and informative presentation in which he showed us the problems and dangers in our homes and how to keep ourselves safe.

Members related some of their own experiences. Shirley thanked Bob for a very interesting talk.

I am looking to arrange next year’s programme so would be glad of any ideas for speakers for 2019 with contact numbers please.

Also, as at least one of our committee members is coming off the committee, we are looking for some replacements for next year. Your help is needed, it’s your club and it won’t run itself.

The lunch club ladies went to the Golf Club on the 21st of the month.

September’s meeting will be a quiz with Shirley, always a fun afternoon a good time to get the old brain cells rattling.

The meeting is on Monday the 10th September starting at 2pm in Brookdale Church Hall.

Jenny Hodson

to their husbands!

The quiz at the George & Dragon Pub in Fore Street was packed on a very warm evening. Once again Jon had set some interesting and challenging questions. At half time break we had a ‘tasting quiz’ of cheeses from around the world. Excellent!!

We raised a staggering £300. So thank you to all who supported either of these events with cakes and raffle prizes. Special thanks go to Jon the Landlord, Gail for selling raffle tickets and to Ann and Danny for giving us free range of their lovely garden and house.

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 2.00pm at the Durrant House Hotel, Bideford. The lectures will continue on the second Tuesday of each month until May 2019 – in December the lecture ILFRACOMBE FLOWER CLUB will be preceded by the AGM, starting at 1.30pm.

Visitors are very welcome - a donation of £5 will be What a fantastic result from our two recent fundraising events! Ann Wall ace kindly opened her delightful requested.

Mortehoe garden for morning coffee and cakes. A group of For more information about joining or our programme about 25 enjoyed wandering around admiring the unusual please contact Pamela Selman 01271 866661 or shrubs, plants and vegetable garden before enjoying a Lornie Yewdall 01271 858206.

Judy Keyworth cuppa and a slice of the delicious cakes on offer. £100 was the final sum after some ladies bought slices to take home

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Community Announcements MONDAY Befriender Coffee Mornings 10.30am-12noon for over 65s at Encounter Church. Drop in for tea, coffee and homemade cake.

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.

WEDNESDAY 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 the Tyrrell Hospital 2.30-4pm.Teacakes and tea to finish. Contact Rachel for a programme 07818 650 566.

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

Table Tennis Friendly Group for the slightly more mature meet Thursdays 2pm-4pm at Ilfracombe Table Tennis Club, Fore Street. Bats etc provided.

Ladies who enjoy singing meet Thursdays in the Guild Room beneath Emmanuel Church 2-3pm. Contact Beryl for details 01271 866582.

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.

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.

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Community Announcements Sunday 23rd September Studio Theatre car boot sale on the seafront. Sellers 9am, buyers 10am-4pm. £8 per car.

Buyers free. Contact Julie 01271 867076.

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.

Wednesday 3rd October Ilfracombe Pensioners Club meet at the Osborne Hotel 2-4 pm when Julian Tippett will talk and show slides about his Italian Walks. See 5th September for details.

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.

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: £10 per hour plus opening and lock-up fee. Further information and bookings phone 01271 862426

Saturday 1st September Ilfracombe Farmers Market at The Lantern Centre, High Street. 10am-12.30. Fresh, local and organic produce and craft. Refreshments. New traders welcome. 01271 864621 for information.

Sunday 2nd September Cairn Conservation Carers meet for Orchid Path maintenance. All help welcome.

Tools provided. Meet at the Walks notice board on Cairn road at 10am.

ILFRACOMBE CHARITY BOOK SHOP

6 Church Street, Ilfracombe 01271 862020 In September this year we will be supporting the ReGen Link Ilfracombe for their very supportive work with our over 65’s, local and district residents.

Wednesday 5th September Ilfracombe Pensioners Club meet at the Osborne Hotel 2pm-4pm for a flower arranging demonstration and talk by Sweet Williams.

Entrance is £2 to include refreshments and raffle.

Community minibus is available for £2.50 return for those with mobility difficulties. Contact Shirley Jones on 01271 863630.

Please support us if you can, with either a book donation or purchase for this very worthwhile cause.

For further details regarding Regen Link and the support they give, please contact Rachel at the following address

Friday 7th September Royal British Legion Ilfracombe Branch monthly meeting at the Sandpiper Inn, The Quay, Ilfracombe 7.30-8pm. All old and new members welcome.

Ex service and non-service personnel very welcome.

Rachel Holmes, Director of Regen Link, Encounter Church, 74 High Street, Ilfracombe 07818 650 566

Model Railway Exhibition Saturday 8th September 10am-4pm Landmark Theatre Free Admission Combe Rail, Ilfracombe Model Railway Society, Ilfracombe Museum, West Somerset Railway, Lynton & Lynmouth Railway, Braunton Museum, Dartmoor Railway, Bideford Railway Centre, Instow Signal Box. Sunday 9th September Studio Theatre car boot sale on the seafront. Sellers 9am, buyers 10am-4pm. £8 per car.

Buyers free. Contact Julie 01271 867076.

Tuesday 11th September Ilfracombe Access Group is having a meeting at the Lantern at 2pm. New people needed. Please attend.

MUSEUM EVENTS SEPTEMBER Tuesday 11th September Ilfracombe History Forum Coffee morning 10.30am until 12.30pm. Cost is annual ticket to museum (£7.50) giving free entry for rest of the year plus £2 for refreshments. New members welcome.

Wednesday 12th September 7.30pm until 9pm – Evening talk ‘Wine through the Ages’ by wine historian David Rowe, including tastings, £5. Advance bookings only.

Sunday 16th September Cairn Conservation Carers meet for birdbox cleaning. All help welcome. Tools provided. Meet at the Walks notice board on Cairn road at 10am.

Wednesday 19th September Ilfracombe Pensioners Club meet at the Osborne Hotel 2-4 pm when Musical Memories entertain. See 5th September for details.

Saturday 22nd September Shammic Acoustic Colum Sands in concert Pack o’ Cards, High Street, Combe Martin 8pm.

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WHAT’S ON AT ILFRACOMBE LIBRARY? Saturday 15th 10am Mischief Makers finishers’ event at Embassy Cinema – don’t forget to finish the challenge and come to pick up your tickets from Saturday 8th!

Every Thursday 10.45-11.15 Bounce and Rhyme FREE Every Friday 10-10.45 Boogie Books only £1 per child Saturdays 1st, 8th, 15th and 22nd, Lego Club 10-12 FREE Saturday 29th Craft Club returns! 10-12 FREE Wednesday 5th Get Creative adult craft group 10-12 Friday 7th 6pm Peter Christie talk – Prostitution in Victorian North Devon £2. Please book at the library.

Friday 28th Film Club, 6-8.30, book your place at the Library.

The Candar, Ilfracombe EX34 9DS 01271 862388

FOCUS YOUR TRULY LOCAL COMMUNITY MAGAZINE PRODUCED IN ILFRACOMBE The Morris Dancing Mayoress. Diary by Mayoress of Ilfracombe Amanda Gartshore It’s turning out to be a busy summer for the Mayoress and because the weather has been so lovely I have been able to leave my packamac at home. Early in the month the Mayoress made two appearances at All Things Morris – firstly to present the prize at the Food Festival and then to help the Mayor present the prize for the best vintage Morris. A week later we were invited to join the Ilfracombe Bowling Club to celebrate their 125 th anniversary. Established in 1893 this is the oldest sporting club in Ilfracombe. We joined members and their guests for lunch and then watched the bowling. There was fierce competition on the pitch and despite its genteel reputation, it turns out that this is neither a quiet nor gentle sport.

As I learn more about this job, I thought it was worth sharing some important lessons all those aspiring Mayoresses out there so they know what they’re letting themselves in for.

First lesson – expect to push yourself out of your comfort zone. For me this was dancing, in public, with assorted Morris dancers at All Things Morris, a sort of ‘Strictly Combe Dancing’. I haven’t danced since my night-clubbing days in the late 1970’s. When it became apparent that there was no getting out of it I put my fears to one side. I didn’t fall on my face and it turned out to be fun, even being snogged by sweaty Morris men covered in red, green and black face paint.

Talking about comfort zones, a valuable second lesson is about speech making. Normally Mayoresses don’t make speeches, but acting on behalf of the Mayor one day I was asked for a few words. I distinctly remember the conversation leading up to this. It went:

‘Will I be expected to make a speech?’

‘No’, said the Mayor.

So I didn’t prepare anything. Luckily I’m no shrinking violet.

I enjoy public speaking but in my experience, prepared speeches are usually the best ones. I quickly came up with an all-purpose speech formula which will be handy for all future events in the Mayoresses calendar. Any aspiring Mayoresses would be wise to do the same thing. See me for details.

Third lesson – always wear comfortable shoes because you’ll be on your feet longer than you think. Don’t be tempted by those 6 inch heels, even though they make you look fabulous.

Humour is an important quality for any Mayoress. Our fabulous town Cryer Roy Goodwin who is never normally stuck for words, recently introduced me as ‘Mandy Partridge from Australia’. Well it was a very hot day and we had a good laugh about it.

Lastly, at all events you can expect to meet lovely people who are genuinely pleased to see you and want to make you feel very welcome. I’ve met holiday makers in Ilfracombe who think the Mayor and Mayoress have turned out especially for them. And why shouldn’t they.

Photo top right: Amanda and the Town Crier 13

HORSES TO MOTORS CHANGES by Neil Holloway Ilfracombe’s change to mass market tourism was kick started by the opening of the branch line from Barnstaple in 1874, previously tourists had arrived by boat or horse carriage to take the air and enjoy the unique environment. Horse drawn carriage excursions were popular entertainment for Victorian holidaymakers with a number of operators. The two most prestigious were Copps and their big rivals Colwill’s who used matching grey horses to pull their coaches. The main town centre stables were in Northfield Road with reports of over 100 horses being stabled. Northfield Road also housed a firm of local coachbuilders Ellis, based in what is now Robert Evans Car Repair workshop which still shows a history of previously being an agricultural building. There is still a local link to Ellis Coachbuilders via the recently retired head of Ilfracombe Academy Art Department and towering second row for Ilfracombe Rugby Club Malcolm Wilkinson. His mother Beryl only recently deceased was the daughter of Fred Ellis. The man who headed FA Ellis Builders which Ellis Coachbuilders became once motor vehicles made horse drawn coaches redundant.

The First World War pushed forward the improved reliability of motor vehicles. In the 1920’s and 30’s the motor vehicle proved a useful addition to rail transport for Ilfracombe businesses. New garages were built, some to service motorised coaches such as the Blue Coaches base opposite the Old Police Station in Wilder Road now occupied by Excel Embroidery and Red Coaches based opposite the ‘Dilk on the now boarded up site. Others were built for private vehicles. Not all garages were newly built as were The Scarlet Pimpernel and the Alpha corner garage, later Polkenhorne’s now rebuilt as Regency Court in Church Street. At one end of the town was Knills, based at the end of St Brannock’s Road just before the Station Road junction with roadside petrol pumps topped with glass bowls in which paddles swirled when petrol was pumped. Some garages were converted from stables and carriage bases. Northfield Road until recently contained three garages, two owned by Robins and one owned by Putts.

Another conversion was Hancocks in Rope Walk now Ropery Road possibly the earliest transport business in the town with reputed haulage links to the time when Barnstaple merchants contracted Ilfracombe carriers to horse cart haul important goods landed in Ilfracombe when Bideford Bar blocked a Barnstaple docking. In time specialist haulage businesses would develop. Hancocks with their distinctive green livery and base near the harbour combined haulage with a garage business until purchased by the Southern National Omnibus Company. Their garage building was extended and used as the main bus service depot until reorganisation in the 2000’s, the site is now the community owned Ropery Road Car Park.

The Hancock lorries were a common sight right through to the sixties continuing a long history of haulage by working a twice weekly contract to carry coal to the Hele gasworks from the Cove goods wharf landed by an unlikely Welsh coal freighter ‘The Eilian’, a three mast schooner albeit with auxiliary engines. The coast was loaded into giant steel reinforced wicker baskets which were then packed onto the lorries. To maintain sight lines drivers stood on the roofs of their cabs to signal positioning to the crane drivers, a resulting feature of all Hancock cabs were the flattened cab roofs.

The route to Hele provided a weekly bonus for some of the less well off households who congregated at the top of Fore Street to witness successive heavily laden lorries mount the kerb in order to make the tight turn into Portland Street. The tilt from the kerb causing spills from the baskets onto the street to be rapidly collected by the bucket and shovel equipped onlookers!

EVANS BODYSHOP Car Body Repairs est.1949 6a Northfield Road Ilfracombe 01271 862889 Insurance repairs MOT and rust repairs Low bake oven facilities—No VAT 14

FOCUS YOUR TRULY LOCAL COMMUNITY MAGAZINE PRODUCED IN ILFRACOMBE Lifesaving medical units rushed to Western Uganda by Rotary A recent delivery of essential medical equipment was couriered from North Devon to a remote Hospital in Western Uganda. When the Ilfracombe Rotary Club’s International team discovered that the Kagando Hospital in Kasese were short of the life saving oxygen concentrators they quickly fund raised and with the generous grant from the Devon and Cornwall Rotary Foundation, funds were able to buy the robust and specially designed units.

These units are in fact made in Bratton Fleming by Diamedica who make specialist medical equipment suitable for harsh conditions of remote areas and third world countries.

The joint local project has promptly enabled this remote hospital to save lives particularly the lives of small babies and their mothers.

International Chairperson Nigel Vince said that it was particularly rewarding to have been able to identify this urgent need and then to be able to use local sources to supply such appropriate equipment so quickly that when it arrived was put straight to use and as a result started saving lives. Also, it was a privilege to have worked alongside the local Rotary Club of Kasese and our local supplier. Such simple yet important projects like this makes belonging to Rotary International incredibly inspiring and fulfilling.

The photo shows the two essential Oxygen concentrators being unpacked at Kagando Hospital alongside two local Rotarians are Canon Dr Benson Baguma the hospital Director and with the stethoscope is Dr Kemigisha the emergency doctor.

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FOCUS YOUR TRULY LOCAL COMMUNITY MAGAZINE PRODUCED IN ILFRACOMBE We will report the gory details later in the year. If you fancy an expedition of your own, how about joining our Exmoor ponies in a Dark Skies Event on a night-time walk on the moor followed by hot chocolate and marshmallows at the Centre and a talk by the Natural History Society.

Wednesday 24th October 6.30pm – 9pm. Booking is recommended. £3 adult. £2 child.

News from the Exmoor Pony Centre, Ashwick, Dulverton TA22 9QE Tel 01398 323093

We have welcomed two new people to our team this month. Kirsty is our new office manager having replaced Claire who, sadly, had to leave us for personal reasons.

Kestra has re-joined us (you may remember her from a year or so ago when she helped with the pony rides) and is now busy setting up local fundraising groups to help with There are cream tea activity days every Thursday throughout August and all the usual riding events and activities at the Pony Centre. treks. Details for dates and booking are on our website.

We all have our fingers crossed for a good result from We would love to see you.

Minehead Tesco and their Bags of Help Scheme. So far, the tokens are mounting up nicely and with a bit of luck we Website www.exmoorponycentre.org.uk Facebook:www.facebook.com/TheExmoorPonyCentre will soon be able to make much-needed access Email: info@exmoorponycentre.org.uk improvements to our interactive pony area. Thanks to volunteers, we have now completed the fencing for the field shelter paddock where Roger and Kate, our two elderly ponies, live.

The riding ponies are working hard giving rides on activity days and visiting some of our followers who are unable to come to the Centre. Tom has been making his regular visits to care homes and thoroughly enjoys being made a fuss of by the residents. The hot weather has meant an early start to the day for ponies and riders alike as most of the exercising is being done at 4am to beat the heat. Of course, the rain was bound to come sooner or later and it was just our luck that on Sunday’s open day the heavens opened and we had torrential rain. Unsurprisingly, there weren’t many visitors that day!

We now have some lovely travel mugs in our online shop – just the thing for taking with you to shows and on treks.

They could be useful for our intrepid staff and volunteers who are taking part in the Three Peaks Challenge in September to raise funds for the Centre. Will they survive?

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FOCUS YOUR TRULY LOCAL COMMUNITY MAGAZINE PRODUCED IN ILFRACOMBE

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Susan Elizabeth Garwood 18

th

October 1948 – 2nd July 2018

The Dead Famous in Ilfracombe project, created to bring history alive has been cut short. Many histories of the dead famous buried at Holy Trinity Church have been researched for Focus and portrayed in the Graveyard by local actors as the work of Sue Garwood whose own life was suddenly cut short on July 2 nd 2018.

Sue was born on October 18th 1948 at the Royal Naval Hospital in Portland, Weymouth.

Her father was in the army which meant a lot of moving about. Wherever they went Sue immediately made friends, a skill she continued throughout her life. The family moved to Libya when she was four where she spent many happy hours on the beach. She learned to swim and took horse-riding lessons. Another favourite pastime was playing the African drums belonging to her Sudanese nanny with whom she built a very loving relationship.

When Sue’s father finished his tour of the Middle East and was posted back to the UK, Sue was subjected to some serious schooling at prep school in Cheltenham. During the school holidays while cycling around the villages, Sue met a lady called Mrs Elliot who was to become a great influence in her life. Mrs Elliot was a bit of a recluse and had a large number of dogs. Sue spent many happy days helping with grooming and mucking out and became completely smitten with Mrs Elliot’s poodles, a breed of dog Sue lived with throughout her life.

After prep school Sue boarded at Edgehill College, Bideford. At first she thoroughly enjoyed it and joined in all the activities but soon became bored with the lack of freedom and regimentation and could not see the point of studying for exams. This came to a head when she flatly refused to go back on the train after half term and her father had to take her back to school by car. However, she promptly hitched her way back home and there she stayed. She was sent to the local grammar school but this too became a bore so eventually she was allowed to leave as soon as legally possible.

Without qualifications Sue made her way in life living in Derbyshire and Lincolnshire working in hotels, dog kennels, auction rooms, farming and managed to persuade one employer that she was a very efficient secretary and without any hesitation made up her own shorthand and typed all his letters using two fingers. She became a very proficient potter, writer and later on, a property developer in France. The latter she did with great skill and managed to negotiate through the local French bureaucracy with the only two words in French she know.

Sue met and married Mick in 1993. They lived in North Muskham, Nottinghamshire, building a huge extension on their bungalow and developing the garden. Sue became Mick’s Secretary in his transport company Transvan Ltd. She started a project with local teenagers and founded an annual pram race to give them something to do. At this time Sue became interested in pottery and stained-glass decorating. They also bought a house in Newark which the couple completely refurbished and also bought a flat. When that project was over, Sue’s feet were really itchy and she found a house on the coast in the South of France. Then sold it to move inland to Antignac to renovate their next house then back to PortLeucate and from there to a house in the Pyrenees Mountains. They sold the house they kept in Muskham, stuck a pin in a map and arrived in Ilfracombe in November 2007. They renovated a bungalow in Elm Gardens on the Torrs and did the grounds. At this time Sue discovered Ilfracombe didn’t have a History Group so started one. They also refurbished a cottage in Hele Bay as a holiday let which they sold when they moved to Higher Slade.

Sue joined the museum team as a desk volunteer in 2013 and in 2014 became one of the key organisers of the town’s First World War commemoration and march. Sue loved the idea of using the museum’s archive of soldiers’ stories and letters to recreate the departure of Ilfracombe’s volunteers in 1914. She worked with the community and especially the youngsters to get them to ‘Adopt a Soldier’ so that the name of every one of the 166 fallen men was carried during the march – the poignant highlight of a very moving day. Sue also worked with Jane Dendle to bring the men's’ stories to life in their book For Those That Come After Us, with Sue taking up the story of the Belgian refugees that Ilfracombe welcomed in 1914. In typical Sue style she went further, tracing the living relatives of a Belgian soldier buried here and meeting those relatives in Ilfracombe. She also set about getting the overgrown Holy Trinity Graveyard tidied up so that the war graves could be visited and set up the Graveyard Group which lovingly tends the graves to this day. Sue also organised the permanent mosaic memorial to Ilfracombe’s WW1 soldiers in Runnymede Gardens using stone she said represented to her the rugged heart of Ilfracombe.

Sue became a museum trustee in 2015 and went on to serve as Chair. In that time, her abiding passion became the future of Ilfracombe museum. At every opportunity she had, Sue would be looking out for contacts and networks that could benefit the museum in some way – to go to a meeting and see Sue ‘work the room’ was a sight to behold! Sue and Museum Manager Sara Hodson worked together on a successful bid for £50,000 Coastal Communities money to be spent on the building, new galleries and future ideas. Part of this money involved looking at ways to improve the museum and Sue trail-blazed a new project, leading the trustees in drawing up designs for an exciting new extension to take them into a sustainable future. She then tirelessly promoted these plans to councillors and the community and even organised for the then government minister Penny Morduant to visit the museum during the project with our local MP. Sara says, ‘At the museum I think it’s true to say that we all feel we want more than ever to see this extension project come to life, not only because we need it, but also as a lasting legacy to Sue’.

Many thanks to Sue’s sister Hazel, Sara at the Museum and Mick for contributing information towards this article.

Sue’s husband Mick Garwood, would like to thank all those who generously donated money to the Museum Extension Fund at Sue’s funeral and memorial service. A total £1,247.50 was donated to the fund that Sue set up. Sue's £10K churn is still in the Museum and will continue to receive donations.