County show back in May

The Devon County Show is returning to its traditional May dates, after being moved to later months for the last couple of years due to the pandemic.

It runs from May 18th to 20th on the showground at the Westpoint Arena, Clyst St Mary near Exeter.

This year, for the first time ever, the Devon County Show is to host the ‘Festival of Heavy Horses’.

“We’re helping to ensure the preservation of these majestic, kind and loving beasts for the future,” said festival organiser Diana McFeat, who lives in North Devon.

“We want to show everyone that they are not just an ancient relic of our past, but a truly versatile horse of the future.”

The festival will feature 16 horses representing different breeds including Shires, Clydesdales, Suffolks, Percherons and Canadian Belgians - the world’s largest breed of draught horse that can stand at a magnificent 20 hands.

Owners will be on hand demonstrating the breeds’ expertise across a range of disciplines in the main arena across the three days of the show. These will include the pulling of drays and carts.

Alongside the traditional farming and countryside exhibits, the Devon County Show is playing host to the qualifying rounds to find ‘Britain’s Fittest Farmer of 2023’.

Lisa Moore, show manager, says, “Although it’s about having fun, we’re delighted to be hosting a competition that raises awareness for the need for both mental and physical fitness which will help to ensure a healthy farming future in Devon.”

Info & tickets: devoncountyshow.co.uk

What’s On - May 2023 pages 9 - 16

Please contact event organisers before attending, as details are subject to change

1st - Early May Bank Holiday

3rd - 7.30pm Coronation Quiz Night for Over & Above Charity - Umberleigh Village Hall (advert page 12)

4th - 7am to 10pm polling stations open for local elections in North Devon

5th - 8pm First Friday Jazz with the Moon Jazz Band at Swimbridge Jubilee Hall - entry £12, licensed bar: firstfridayjazz.co.uk (advert page 12)

6th - 8.30am Special Coronation market at South Molton Pannier Market with extra family attractions

6th - Coronation of King Charles III and Queen Camilla at Westminster Abbey

7th - Coronation Concert at Windsor Castle and local ‘Big Lunch’ events (adverts p. 10 & 14/story p. 20)

7th - 10am Big Coronation Flea Market at South Molton Pannier Market

8th - Coronation Bank Holiday and local ‘Big Help Out’ events

9th - 10am CommuniTEA- new drop in service from One South Molton at the town library (ends 11.30am)

9th - 10am u3a Coffee Morning at Filleigh Village Hall, speaker Jon Webster, the Royal Horticultural Society

10th - 6.45pm Citizen of the Year Dinner - Assembly Rooms - tickets £9 South Molton Rotary Club shop

12th - 7.30pm (doors open 6.45pm) Chulmleigh Rural Cinema presents ‘Empire of Light’ (15) - tickets £5 or £4.50 members, refreshments available, screening at Chulmleigh Pavilion

13th - 3pm South Molton Community Welcome Group charity screening of ‘Paddington’ at the library £5

15th - 7.30pm Bingo at Chittlehampton Village Hall (info 01769 540036)

18th to 20th - 7.30am Devon County Show, Westpoint, Clyst St Mary: devoncountyshow.co.uk

18th - 10.30am Parkinsons Café for sufferers & carers at South Molton Library: 01769 572380 (ends 12pm)

19th - 7.30pm Exmoor Voices Choir perform at Chulmleigh Pavilion: chulmleighsociety@outlook.com

20th - 12pm Open Mic/Acoustic Sessions, Coaching Inn, South Molton: southmoltonacoustic@proton.me

20th - 2pm Tea Dance at South Molton Methodist Church Hall - everyone welcome (ends 5pm)

21st - 10am Charity classic car & bike meeting at Kings Nympton Parish Hall (advert page 9)

21st - 10am Salvage Fair at South Molton Pannier Market

24th - 7.30pm Jonathan Edmonds, ‘History of West Buckland School’ Filleigh Village Hall, Weston Room

26th - 2.30pm South Molton Keyboard & Light Music Club concert with David Ingle, Methodist Church Hall

28th - 11am Roar on the Moor classic scrambler racing at Yarde Gate, North Molton (advert page 12)

28th - 3pm Memorial Trophy - charity football match at Chittlehampton Football Pitch (advert page 12)

29th - Spring Bank Holiday

Crowning a new king and queen pages 18-22

When the Coronation of King Charles III and Queen Camilla takes place on Saturday, May 6th, many local people will reflect on the time when they visited Exmoor (pictured opposite), to celebrate the 70th anniversary of the UK’s national parks.

Then, as The Prince of Wales and The Duchess of Cornwall, the royal couple joined hundreds of guests at a ‘big picnic’ at Simonsbath on July 17th, 2019. At the time he said, “These places of exceptional landscapes and precious natural habitats provide opportunities for us all to find peace in beauty, enhance our health and wellbeing and explore our links with nature.”

“My own visits never seem to last quite long enough, and I always leave yearning to return as soon as possible.”

The future King and Queen have made several visits to North Devon in recent years, including Barnstaple, Braunton and Bideford.

Continued on page 20

Make your party ‘green’

Recognising the King’s and Royal Family’s support for the environment and green causes, North Devon and Torridge Councils have teamed up with local charity Plastic Free North Devon to produce some ‘top tips’ to help event organisers ensure a celebration that doesn’t damage the earth.

Suitable for any size of gathering, from afternoon tea with the neighbours to a party for the whole community, they’ve produced a handy guide to reducing and eliminating single-use plastic, preventing litter, increasing recycling, and supporting local shops.

“We know that people in North Devon are concerned about their local environment, and keen to take action to protect it and the planet. These top tips offer a simple way to host a celebration for the King and keep it green with just a little preparation and planning,” said Claire Moody, CEO of Plastic Free North Devon.

Sustainability and Climate Officer at North Devon and Torridge Councils, Donna Sibley, added, “We’re hoping our communities will rise to the challenge of making different choices and showing the rest of the country what a ‘Green Coronation’ looks like.”

The tips are aimed at jogging people’s memory into thinking about how they might collect food waste or provide recycling collection points. Purchasing drinks in cans or glass as opposed to single use plastics, getting people to bring their own cups, and using alternatives to plastic straws are further examples of easy ways to help the environment without affecting people’s fun and enjoyment.

You can find out more information by scanning the QR code above, or go to the website: northdevon.gov.uk/coronation2023

A royal party 120 years ago - a grand dinner at South Molton Pannier Market to celebrate the coronation of Edward VII in 1902. Part of the exhibition ‘Right Royal Occasions’ running at The Museum of Barnstaple and North Devon until July 8th, marking the Coronation of King Charles III

Continued on page

Documenting your Coronation celebrations

Locally, the Coronation of King Charles III and Queen Camilla will be screened in South Molton Assembly Rooms, and Kings Nympton and West Buckland village halls on Saturday, May 6th. There will be community lunch parties in North Molton, Chulmleigh, West Buckland, George Nympton and Chittlehampton on Sunday, May 7th - see the what’s on section and social media for more information - plus special markets in South Molton on both the 6th & 7th.

Please help Molton Monthly record this historic occasion by emailing us your photos of celebrations from the royal bank holiday weekend - a selection will be published in the June magazine. Whether it’s a tea party with friends, relatives and neighbours or a big community event, we’d love to hear from you (email address below).

The Coronation of King Charles III will take place at Westminster Abbey on Saturday, May 6th. A Coronation Concert will be performed at Windsor Castle on Sunday, May 7th, along with local ‘Big Lunch’ events. Monday, May 8th is a special bank holiday, with ‘Big Help Out’ charity and community initiatives.

Key Coronation information:

Email your Coronation photos to: info@moltonmonthly.co.uk

Get your ‘Big Lunch’ kit for street parties: edenprojectcommunities.com/the-big-lunch

Plan a ‘Big Help Out’ in your community: thebighelpout.org.uk

Find out the latest Coronation information and to access the official toolkit: coronation.gov.uk

Locals make their mark in rugby

South Molton’s Emma Sing has been in winning form for England’s Red Roses in the Women’s Six Nations rugby internationals.

The student, who plays her club rugby for Gloucester Hartpury, scored three conversion kicks in the 59-3 win against Wales, plus two in the 68-5 victory over Italy (pictured right) and also took to the field against Scotland.

Meanwhile, Molton Monthly’s own Ashleigh Rollins, who delivers the magazine to you in Bishops Nympton, has played her final game for the under-18s Devon County girls’ team. They came from behind to beat rivals Cornwall 22-15 at the end of March.

“Getting the chance to play for Devon is an incredible experience, after the year I’ve had with injuries, it was a good way to end my final year as an under 18,” said Ashleigh (pictured opposite page).

“Starting the game was difficult, we went 10-5 down in the first half. Cornwall made some hard hits and strong runs, but something about Devon you should know is that we never give up!”

Ashleigh says she’s now looking forward to new challenges playing women’s rugby at a senior level.

“Watching the six nations has been so inspiring, as I watch Emma Sing run out for England, it makes me realise that I could one day do the same. Rugby has been my life for years, and it will forever hold a place in my heart as I continue through life,” added Ashleigh.