Community News

Staff to share in £2.5 million takeover of RGB

RGB Building Supplies has been acquired by Grant & Stone, becoming part of what’s said to be the largest independent builders merchant group in southern England.

The company will continue trading as RGB Building Supplies across Devon, Cornwall and Somerset, and its head office will still be located in Barnstaple.

The firm says ‘customers will continue to receive the same high standards of service and will not see any changes when visiting their local branch’. They believe the acquisition will allow RGB to further add to and improve its offering.

RGB South Molton

Proceeds of more £2.5 million from the sale will be shared with RGB’s 350 employees as a reward for their commitment, long service, loyalty and support.

Retiring RGB Chairman Colin Worth, who has worked for the business for 54 years, said, “We are extremely proud of the RGB team and wanted to say thank you for everything they’ve done. We look forward to growing the company with them.”

Kevin Fenlon, company CEO , added, “This partnership is exciting and will deliver great things. RGB and Grant & Stone are completely aligned in our ambitions for the company and how we achieve them. We also believe in product excellence and outstanding customer service.”

The show must go on

As things stand with the planned easing of Covid-19 lockdown restrictions, at least three Devon country shows plan to go ahead.

First is the Devon County Show at Westpoint, Exeter from July 2nd - 4th, then the Mid Devon Show at Knighthayes, Tiverton on July 24th and finally the local North Devon Show at Umberleigh, scheduled for August 4th.

New local produce shop, created out of lockdown

The Naturemade Store in South Molton has been opened out of the demand for healthy products, highlighted during the pandemic.

During lockdown, Lucy Bowden and Esme Brown delivered milk and produce to their regular customers around the area, and found they were continually being asked for other items

‘Naturemade in Devon’ started in Bish Mill in 1979, initially as a goat dairy and then producing vegan and vegetarian foods, distributing to wholefood and health stores around the country. They have now set up shop in the premises where their previous venture Treasured Things was based in South Street. “We all need to pull together and provide local food choices to local people, and are now very excited to be able to offer our own produce along with whole/healthy foods,” said Esme.

They’ll stock local milk and dairy produce, and freshly baked bread alongside a range of health food products and takeaway coffees.

Memories of Rosie’s rural North Devon life published

At just a few months short of her ninetieth birthday, Rosemary Wedlake has published her autobiography. It’s the story of a true Devon country girl - from her early years in Shebbear to her married life on Bourne Farm in Chulmleigh, the town where she and her husband Richard still live.

In her singular style, the author describes rural life in North Devon and Torridge through the eyes of one who has lived it to the full.

This unique social history, written by one of the area’s most treasured characters, treats the reader to a tractor-ride through the last one hundred years!

When her brothers went off to fight in the

1939-45 war, ‘Rosie’ from the age of ten, stayed at home and helped on the family farm - and she couldn’t have been happier; it became her life. She says she loved every aspect of farming, and could deliver a breached-birth lamb, rescue a cow from a ditch, plough a field and mend machinery!

Under the expert tutelage of her disabled father there was little she failed to learn about agriculture. Of an evening her mother would use her teaching skills to ensure Rosemary lacked nothing in the way of an education.

Rosemary (pictured opposite) became an expert horse-woman, and her love of hunting, shooting, fishing and farming gradually gave way to hilarious talks to WI Groups and other Associations across

Author and ‘country girl’ Rosemary Wedlake Devon on her experiences... including her amazing hat and fashion collections, her ‘artefacts’ and her incredible zest for life! Her flower arranging talent is often on display at Chulmleigh Old Fair and other local events.

This is a substantial 274 page hardback, A4 sized book is packed with photographs, both black and white and full colour. It is available £25 from Chulmleigh Post Office or the Mole Avon Country Store at Crediton.

Funding for road improvement

Government funding has been confirmed for a £2.2 million road safety scheme on the A3123 in North Devon. As part of the improvement scheme, a four-arm rural roundabout will be constructed at Lynton Cross, along with upgrades to road markings along the route.

Prime Minister phones school over horse race!

PM Boris Johnson phoned the head teacher of Chulmleigh College... to ask him to allow 14 year old pupil Margot Scudamore to watch her father Tom, a leading jockey, on TV while at school!

Tom Scudamore was racing in the Cheltenham Gold Cup in March, and because of lockdown restrictions his daughter Margot, herself an aspiring jockey, couldn’t travel to see him race live.

The ministerial intervention came about after a social media post about Margot missing the races was spotted by an MP.

It was reported in the Daily Mail that head teacher Michael Johnson (no relation to Boris!), told Margot the Prime Minister had phoned, and said if her work had been good during the lockdown her and classmates should be able to watch Cheltenham races.

Dad Tom told the Mail, “Michael said he told the PM her lockdown work had indeed been good and her teachers were all happy!”

Margot herself has had a winning start to her horse racing career before Covid halted the season.

Tom Scudamore and daughter Margot

Recycling badge for Guides

Devon’s Guides, Rangers, Brownies and Rainbows now have the chance to be recognised for helping to protect the environment with the launch of the new Recycle Devon badge.

The new award (below) aims to encourage groups across the county to reduce, reuse and recycle.

TV star’s message to local bake off champ

Comedian and star of TV’s popular ‘bake off’ series Tom Allen (far right), sent a surprise message of congratulations by video to Lee Symons from South Molton (right) for winning a local baking competition.

Special Olympian Lee, aged 17, baked a cake in tribute to the late Captain Sir Tom Moore (right) in the event run by Braunton Ability Football Club.

Tom Allen, who is known for his sarcastic critique of bakers on TV, told Lee, “What an incredible cake you did, even I couldn’t find anything wrong it! You guys are doing amazing things at the moment, so well done and congratulations.”

You can read more about Lee’s voluntary work for South Molton in Bloom on page 24.