Torrington Crier February 2021 by The Torrington Crier

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February 2021 The Crier is produced 10 times a year on behalf of the community, by The Crier Community Interest Company. 5900 copies are distributed throughout Great Torrington and the rural district.

NO.37 COFFEE BAR

AHJ CURTIS BUILDERS A PLACE FOR EVERTHING @NO11

CAFÉ GARDENS AT CASTLE HILL

CRAFTY NEEDLES

COLLECTABILITY

NO.5 HAIR & BEAUTY

DAFFORN & SONS

DARTINGTON CRYSTAL DUANE’S CARVINGS THE GALLERY

KITCH ‘N’ CUPBOARD

EVEREST INDIAN TAKEAWAY

JAYNE POOLE PHOTOGRAPHY

JAVA GIFTS FINE FLORAL DESIGN

HAIR WE ARE

PROSEPRINTS

LILLIAN ROSE INTERIORS

R&S WARE BUTCHERS

NOT JUST TRAVEL GILLIAN FARR

SECOND NATURE AT NO 5

STEVE GLADWIN FAMILY BUTCHERS

TORRINGTON MUSEUM BOOKSHOP

HOGWASH SOAP

SAMANTHA HARDWICK LIFESTYLE COACH

TANYA’S BEAUTY STUDIO

THE PUFFING BILLY

TORRINGTON FRAMING

TOY SWAP

UNIQUE BOUTIQUE

WHISKERS PET CENTRE

SQUIRES ELECTRICAL

TORRINGTON GOLF CLUB

WILDWOOD & WILLOW

XANADU (instore only)

INSIDE 11A

Help Your Commons Join the Great Torrington Commons ‘365 Supporters Group’ & get discounts or special offers at all participating local businesses!

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Torrington Contact us&...District Community News & Events Editorial Enquiries: Becky Huxtable, 01805 603152 E: torrington.crier@gmail.com Copy deadline: Second Thursday of each month, 12 noon. We prefer all submissions and enquiries to the email above but handwritten articles can still be handed in at the Library. All articles are subject to editing, particularly those over 300 words, it is not possible to inform contributors of this prior to publication. Submission does not guarantee publication. Advertising/Accounts: Esther Williams, 01805 601964 E: torrington.crieradverts@gmail.com Costs & sizes: Small advert: 9cm wide x 5cm deep, £24 per issue. Large advert: 19cm wide x 5cm deep, £48 per issue. 10% discount for a run of five adverts. All adverts are accepted in good faith. Single adverts to be paid in advance, please. Postal address: The Crier, Castle Hill, Torrington, EX38 8AA. Website: www.great-torringtoncrier.co.uk Town Distribution: Matt Joy Rural Distribution: Sue Crane & the community Printers: Hedgerow Print, Crediton

Thank You

We would like to thank the Great Torrington Town and Lands Charity and Great Torrington Town Council, who have provided support towards the cost of using Royal Mail to deliver the Crier through the pandemic. This has enabled us to ensure that important news and information can still be shared throughout our community, when it hasn't been possible to use our normal deliverers. We have been overwhelmed by the continued support from our advertisers, and are so pleased to have been able to continue getting their businesses into 5900 homes across the area, even more important at this time. Our contributors have also continued to provide editorial throughout, and we have had many comments from readers saying how much they enjoy receiving their copy each month.

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The Crier does not warrant or assume any legal liability or responsibility for the quality, accuracy, legality or reliability of any information, product or service represented within our publication or on our web site. The information provided is for informational, educational or entertainment purposes only. Anyone using the information provided by The Crier, does so at their own risk, and by using such information agrees to indemnify The Crier from any and all liability, loss, injury, damages, costs and expenses (including legal fees and expenses) arising from such use. The Crier does not endorse or recommend any product, service or information found within said articles. The views and opinions of the authors who have submitted articles to The Crier belong to them alone and do not necessarily reflect the views of The Crier or its team. Website links from The Crier or its website are provided for convenience only. The Crier is not responsible for the content or availability of any external or 3rd party sites and does not warrant or guarantee the products, services, or information found on these sites.

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Great Torrington Commons 365 Supporters Group

hope you like the front cover of this month’s Crier. The shops and businesses on the oak tree are working with us to offer a discount or other benefit to the Commons 365 Supporters. We have had an enormous response since we launched the Shop Local campaign in November, as part of the Torrington Commons 365 Supporters initiative. We now have 36 different shops and businesses participating and our membership doubled during November and December. The aims of the project are to increase the trade in Torrington and raise funds to maintain, improve and protect the Commons. Hopefully, more and more people will apply to be a 365 Supporter and go shopping in Great Torrington. To make it as easy as possible to join we have been able to print an application

Commons News

Option 1: email Andrew Giles at vicechair@torringtoncommons.org with your name and address and he will send you an application form. You can pay by standing order or by cheque. His telephone number is 07956 366 390 if you would prefer to contact him "We now have 36 different shops directly. and businesses participating and Option 2: visit the website www. our membership doubled during torringtoncommons.org and navigate to November and December." the 365 Supporters page where you can apply online. form in this edition so that you can cut it You can also collect an application out and post to me. form from the Post Office or the Tourist The 365 Supporters just pay a £2 per Information Office. Some of the shops month donation, which can be increased also have spare application forms. with Gift Aid by 25% if you are a taxpayer Application forms should be sent to: - that’s an extra 50p added to your £2 A Giles, 62 Trafalgar Drive, Great donation! You can let us know at the Torrington, Devon EX38 7AB. application stage if this applies to you. Andrew Giles, Vice Chair You can pay £24 annually if you prefer, Great Torrrington Commons by cheque or standing order Conservators Joining the 365 Supporters group is simple:

he big Commons news right now is that by the time you read this, our new play park will finally be open! We had hoped to have a ribbon cutting type grand opening, but obviously under present circumstances that is impossible – but I hope the children of Torrington get years of fun out of it. We would like to thank Garfield Weston, The Post Code Lottery, TDC, Great Torrington Town and Lands, the Norman family, Bideford Round Table, Torrington Co-Op, Margaret Brown, Viridor, Dr and Mrs Darlington Charitable Trust, The Claire Milne Trust and The Balsdon Trust and everyone who has dropped their loose change into our collection boxes. I hope I haven’t missed anyone! Conservator Gerry Duffy, has worked tirelessly for months to bring this project to fruition and I know he will be absolutely delighted to actually see it being used. Our second new bridge is now finished. This is at the bottom of Alexander path and means that route onto the Commons is now accessible even when the old concrete bridge is flooded. The winter storms and wet soil have resulted in a number of trees coming down. These are being dealt with as quickly as possible. It’s very useful when people report such events on our Facebook page. Please look out for Andy Giles’ article on our 365 Supporter’s Club and join up if you haven’t already!

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Great Torrington Commons covers around 365 acres of land surrounding the town and is protected by the Great Torrington Commons Act of 1889. It has over 20 miles of footpaths. Up to 15 Conservators are elected on a 3 yearly basis to administer the Commons for the people of the town. Their work includes enforcement of the bye-laws, maintaining the public rights of way, the conservation of the many different environments and special measures to support some of the rarer species.

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Torrington Town and Community Hall

nfortunately, in line with the latest Covid-19 regulations we have had to take the decision to close until 31st March. We have lots of events and workshops planned for when we can start operating safely again and we will continue to update you in the Crier and on our website greattorringtontownhall.org. Knit & Natter Christmas Display We hope you all enjoyed the magnificent knitted Christmas scene the Knit & Natter Group displayed in the Undercroft. Despite the challenges of Covid, they worked flat out to get the Christmas tree, nativity scene, carol singers and elves ready to bring some community cheer to our townsfolk. The Elf on the Shelf Competition The winner of the Knit and Natter ‘Elf on the Shelf’ competition was Rosemary Purcell and I would like to thank everyone who took the time to vote on our website and the Torrington (UK) news website. Community Christmas Lunches & Dinners Huge thanks to Bev Hayler and all her team at Bev’s Catering for laying on such a delicious Christmas lunch and dinner. It was joyful to see so many in our community enjoy themselves and get in the Christmas spirit. We would also like to thank The Great Torrington Town and Lands Charity for letting people use their

vouchers towards the cost of the meal. from you if you are interested in getting Job Club involved in any way, you can email us on Our weekly Torrington Work Club has townandcommunityhall@gmail.com. been running for just over a year now Town Hall Trustees and Iain Harris, Job Club Co-ordinator and volunteer Robin Davey, have worked extremely hard to find jobs and training Angels places for those in the community who Christmas came with a heavenly host have registered with them at the Town From the realms of glory, Hall. Although we are not currently open But now we’re in to the new year, for ‘face-to-face’ meeting, Iain will be We need to find another story. working remotely from home. If you are currently seeking We must look for other angels employment please contact We can find them if we try, him on 073775 579 916. Any Not all come with haloes, local employers looking to Not all have wings to fly. recruit can also ring Iain. Planning Ahead for your You might meet an angel Special Day? In a shop, or on the street, We will now be offering You could perhaps encounter one Silver, Gold and Platinum In the next person that you greet. bespoke wedding packages at the Town Hall. If you are Maybe a neighbour who helps you out thinking of planning your big In a time of stress, day, log on to our website and see just Gives comfort and compassion what we have to offer to make it extra And their patience’s limitless. special. Visit greattorrington-townhall. org. And everybody likes to think Post Covid A guardian angel watches each move It has always been the aim of the we make, Town & Community Hall Trustees and Quietly guiding our footsteps staff to create a truly local venue that is So we don’t make a mistake. accessible to everyone in our Town and to leave a legacy for future generations And with the hope of a more settled life to enjoy. The Trustees are simply the When this year gets older, custodians of the Hall and it belongs Perhaps we should each give a word of to you, the people of Torrington, so we thanks would love to hear your ideas for events, For the angel on our shoulder. workshops etc., that you would like to attend. We can never have too many ©Stephanie Easton volunteers so we would love to hear

Tanya’s Holistic Beauty & Nails Studio

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News from The Plough

s I write this, in mid-January, we are all getting used to a third national lockdown. The trustees of The Plough had already made the decision before Christmas to close down for the first three months of the year, so we were a couple of weeks ahead of the Prime Minister on that one. We did manage to open for most of December and hosted a number of live events. Customers really appreciated the covid safety steps we had taken, and they felt safe and reassured. It was an emotional experience and it meant so much to people to be able to have a night out and enjoy some live music. We had customers so overjoyed to be at a gig that they were actually in tears. It will mean a lot to everyone when we are able to re-open again. It’s important to us to support local performers, so it was really great to host Big Al and The Wild Strawberries, and also Nick Wyke, Becki Driscoll and Liz Shakespeare. We were also pleased to support local artists and makers with our annual Christmas Craft Fair, which was a great success. Thank you to everyone who made these events happen, and to all of you who came out and enjoyed them. If you are a local artist or performer and you are putting your work online – maybe with live-streamed shows or an online gallery – we’d be happy to give you a little boost on our social media channels. Let us know if you’d like that. We hope to re-open for films, workshops and live events in April, depending on the lockdown arrangements. Keep an eye on our

website (theploughartscentre.org. uk) and social media channels (Facebook: /theploughartscentre; Twitter: @plougharts; Instagram: @plougharts) for updates. One thing that we’re very excited about is our Open Air Theatre Festival, which will include 40 opportunities to enjoy professional theatre in the great outdoors, at 15 North Devon venues from June - Sept. These events should be clear to go ahead, with social distancing in place if necessary, once we are out of lockdown. Over 2,500 people enjoyed some hastily-arranged open air theatre in 2020, so we are confident that even more people will want to enjoy an open air show in 2021. Details will be announced soon via our website. The Plough International Poetry Prize 2021 In case you missed our big announcement on 19th January, The Plough International Poetry Prize is open for entries and this year we’re thrilled that Roger McGough is the judge for the prize. The closing date for entries is 31st March 2021. More details, and an online entry form, can be found at theploughartscentre.org.uk/poetry-prize.

Gallery news Don't forget that you can see films about past and upcoming shows on our Facebook page, where we interview artists and show examples of their work. While our gallery is closed, our Gallery Director Peter Stiles is showing his own paintings at a brand new gallery in Braunton (www.studiokind.org.uk) headed up by local artists Laura Porter and Richard Gregory. When it's not open to visitors the show can be experienced via impressive 360-degree virtual scan technology which is available via the website. Expect bright colours, awkward shapes, geometric footballers and blue skies in a show of new paintings all completed over lockdown.

Atlantic Rest Natural Burial

tlantic Rest Natural Burial was established in 2014 by husband and wife team, Tom and Sheridon Rosser. Penlow Field is located on the North Cornwall and North Devon border just off the A39. Both natural burial and ashes burial are offered at Atlantic Rest, in an environmentally friendly way. Natural burial is the term given to a burial area that creates habitat for wildlife or preserves existing habitats. Burials take place using a biodegradable coffin or shroud. Ashes burials take place using a biodegradable urn. Trees and wildflowers are planted each year. Plots are available for burials or for interment of ashes and you can secure a plot in advance if you wish to make your arrangements now. Atlantic Rest Natural Burial is a member of the Association of Natural Burial Grounds (ANBG) which assures best practice at their member sites. They have also won three awards since opening, two from the ANBG; firstly for runner-up of the South West People’s Award and secondly as winner of the same award in 2019. They are also Silver award winners of the natural burial section of the long standing ‘Cemetery of the Year’ Awards. To view the site or to request a leaflet in the post - phone Sheridon Rosser on 01288 381836. Further information along with photographs and videos can be found on their website at www.atlantic-rest.co.uk.

Make Do & Mend… My 2021 Challenge

have a confession. I am a hoarder of clothes. I always assumed this was due to my love of fashion design but the real reason is they never quite fit properly. Some clothes are an inch too big here and an inch too tight there. Some hems are too long, sleeves too short or necks too high. Some items I think I’ll fit back into… I’m still waiting! Yet, I keep all these clothes knowing there was something I once loved about them and I am a believer that clothes should make you feel wonderful, but that only comes with the perfect fit. So, I hem trousers, remove silly sleeves, replace zips and repair holes. I recreate favourite tops in that bigger size, create an item in that fabric you bought 15 years ago because I understand that getting comfortable clothes which you love and look great in, is one of life’s challenges. If you are like me with clothes you don’t wear because something’s not quite right, why not go through your wardrobe and dig out those items that, with a little adjustment or repair, could again become your favourite clothes. It’s my 2021 challenge to have a wardrobe of clothing with no holes, buttons missing or hems too long and I want that for you too. So why not drop in those items so I can help you feel great in 2021 in every item of clothing you wear? Toni Alexander at The Green Door, South Street, Torrington

Finding a Better Way Forward in 2021

ith further restrictions, and for many, increased pressures around home, family and work, 2021 may seem to have started off on the wrong foot. It is at these times, when we need to better nurture our mental health, that we often do exactly the opposite, and become ever more frantically entangled in habitual negative thought patterns. It has been shown that Mindful Meditation can help decrease depressive symptoms, anxiety, and stress, as well as increasing selfcompassion and promoting physical health. Mindfulness provides the tools needed to step back from intense negative emotions, identify them, and accept them instead of fighting them. This allows mindful thinkers to better regulate their emotions, leading to better coping and management of stress, anxiety and depression. It is OK to say: ‘I’m not OK’. In these days of restricted gatherings, I am offering small group or one-to-one online Mindful Meditation courses at flexible and negotiable times to suit your individual circumstances. A trained practitioner with over 30 years of meditation practice, registered and listed with The Mindfulness Teachers Register, I am committed to helping you find a way to negotiate the pressures and expectations of these difficult times. For more information, follow the link in my advert or email me, James Murray, at info@gentlemind.uk or phone 01769 302007 or 07866 545 978.

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Pilates Classes Online 24hrs a Day!

ell what can I say? Here at LB Movement the last year has kept me on my toes. Within four days of the first lockdown I took all my Pilates classes live online. Not only did I have to learn new technology skills, I then personally coached my lovely clients on how to get ‘live online’. Oh how we laughed! So here we are almost a year on and we are still successfully teaching classes live online and loving it. It has kept us sane, connected, healthy and laughing. In August I started to build an online library to ensure those who had returned to work, or couldn’t make classes, could continue to enjoy their Pilates class, at a time to suit them. This library of classes is available 24hrs a day and access is unlimited. All for £15 per month, that’s 50p a day. I am also adding techniques, tips and chats about which exercise suits your posture type. It is as important as ever to look after ourselves, both physically and emotionally, in the coming months and here at LB Movement I will do my best to keep you smiling and moving. You can check out my Pilates classes and online library at www.lbmovement. co.uk. Or email lou@lbmovement.co.uk, you can also find us on Facebook and Instagram. So stay safe, healthy and keep moving. Louise Bond LB Movement

North Devon Hog Roast

anish the winter blues... We are OPEN at our home town of Great Torrington on Friday 5th February! Outside Torrington Town Hall 5pm - 7:30pm. Every 20th customer will receive a free hog Roll on us! Why not treat yourself to a nice hog roast meal on a cold evening to warm yourselves up? We can’t wait to see and serve all the lovely people of our home town of Torrington again, and surrounding villages. We always like to support our local community, so will be donating 5% of our profits to the Town Hall. Card or cash accepted.

New Physiotherapy Clinic Opens in Torrington

fter over 25 years working as a Chartered Physiotherapist within the NHS and the Ministry of Defence, Anna is delighted to be opening ‘Anna Squire Physiotherapy’ in Torrington. Setting up in business in Torrington is of particular pleasure to Anna, as both her father and grandfather ran their business – Squires Electrical – in the town. Anna graduated from the University of West of England, Bristol with an Honours Degree in Physiotherapy in 1995 and spent the first four years of her career working for the Royal Devon & Exeter NHS Trust. This gave a solid grounding in all areas of physiotherapy. Anna then specialised as a Musculoskeletal Physiotherapist and took on senior physiotherapy roles both within the NHS and the MoD working in the UK and abroad. Through these roles Anna gained extensive experience, successfully managing and treating a vast range of spinal, joint, nerve and muscular problems in people of all ages. Responsibilities included training students and supervising junior physiotherapists. As well as her clinical work, Anna was also heavily involved in research and achieved a distinction from the University of Plymouth for the Postgraduate Certificate in Clinical Research in 2019. With her vast amount of experience behind her, Anna felt that now was the perfect time to set up in private practice. Anna Squire Physiotherapy offers hands on treatment and rehabilitation for conditions such as: spinal pain, ‘sciatica’, joint problems, soft tissue and muscle injuries, sports injuries and post-operative rehabilitation. For a more detailed list of conditions treated please visit: www. annasquirephysio.co.uk In line with other medical professional services Anna Squire Physiotherapy is still able to offer assessments and treatments during this current lockdown. If you would like to discuss your particular problem, or to see if physiotherapy can help please call Anna on 07398 193247 or email info@annasquirephysio.co.uk.

Services include: House sitting • Dog walking • Equine care • Emergency cover Contact Isabel on: Tel: 07989 995935 Email: isabelspetsitting@gmx.co.uk Visit: www.isabelspetsitting.co.uk

Recommended Reads

know that it will be February when young man you read this but Happy New Year to still in his you all. I expect that since you read thirties. He this column, you are all keen readers and also wrote must have received several new books ‘Beartown’ a for Xmas. story about a I confess that I put a couple of juvenile ice‘Christmassy ones’ on my Kindle before hockey team Xmas, just to get me in the mood. in an isolated Last Christmas a friend recommended town in North ‘Twelve days of Christmas’ by Trisha Sweden. Ashley and I just loved it, so I decided Sounds to try another title ‘ The Christmas uninspiring I know, but it really is not at Invitation’ for this year’s treat and was all. It is a modern tale of a teenage party not in the least disappointed, this may when something goes awfully wrong in fact become a ritual with a new title for one young woman and the guilty every year. I do like a little romance and party is the star of the local junior icefrivolity to get me in the mood. Charles hockey team. How do the townspeople Dickins just won’t "He also wrote ‘Beartown’ a story react? Who will cut it, in spite of they blame? A about a juvenile ice-hockey team in moral dilemma the lovely depiction an isolated town in North Sweden. only too common. of Christmas Day Sounds uninspiring I know, but it I have Frederik at the end of ‘A Christmas Carol’. really is not at all. It is a modern Backman’s latest Anyway onward book ‘Anxious tale of a teenage party when and upward. It is something goes awfully wrong for People’ and can’t now the New Year wait to get stuck in. one young woman and the guilty and we are still My current book party is the star of the local junior is borrowed from social distancing ice-hockey team. " so we have time to the library and delve into our Xmas is ‘The Switch’ gifts. I am a big fan of Victoria Wood and by Beth O’Leary. This is Beth’s second was given a copy of her autobiography book, her first book ‘The Flatshare’ was ‘Let’s do it’, I haven’t started it yet so written on the train during her commute will keep you posted. I also was give to work and was so successful that the latest offering by Swedish author she is now able to write full time. It is Frederik Backman, you may already be delightful so far, so I will hurry to finish it a fan of this very clever author, his first and you can all borrow it. book was ‘A Man Called Ove’ a lovely Bookworm story of an elderly man living alone in a Swedish town, very well observed by a

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Torrington in Bloom

he weather over Christmas and New Year has not been conducive to gardening; the soil was waterlogged and then came some hard frosts. However, our various gangs have been as busy as possible during any lulls in the weather and have been tidying up and keeping an eye on things. Now February has arrived, spring is just around the corner and all the hundreds of bulbs that were planted throughout the autumn and winter should start to poke their noses through the good earth and start to show their colours. If these bulbs have survived winter’s onslaught, we should be seeing snowdrops and a lot more narcissi flowering, especially in Rack Park and in the town planters – wherever we can fit them in! A lot more wallflowers have kindly been given to us by Rosemoor Garden as well as even more bulbs, so I expect you will see the results of their generosity over the next few weeks and months. Please don’t allow your doggies or children to squash all these lovely flowers underfoot, let everyone enjoy their individual beauty and don’t we need something colourful to fill our lives at this time! We were hoping to hold our AGM this February, but now we are in another complete lockdown; this may yet be postponed again. We shall have to wait and see. Cherry Hammon

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Tarka Valley Railway News

Barney

Dear Editor In response to your articles over the last two months regarding ‘does anyone remember Barney’, I remember him drinking in the New Inn (Admiral Vernon) more than other pubs. It brings to mind the time a young lady reporter from a radio station came to interview him about his job as a drover, one of the questions she asked him was ‘what was the most difficult task he had to do?’. Well, being Barney, and seeing she was a little naïve, he told her it was ‘droving a swarm of bees all the way to Barnstaple Market’, which she took as true! Maurice Cockwill Dear Editor I have read with interest the replies you have received regarding Barney. I can remember Barney as a short, fat, happy little man with a very weathered face. I agree with Derek about him drinking at the Black Swan, rather than the Black Horse. I lived in New Street, and can remember him coming through New Street with the stock, on his way to Torrington Station where they would be loaded into the cattle trucks to be taken to their destination. We had an excellent working sheepdog at that time called Larky, and Barney would call for him to help get the animals down to the station. The tale goes that during one such drove, one of the cattle messed over an impatient lady’s car, whereupon she wound down her car window and shouted at Barney in a rather posh voice, “Look what that animal has done to my car, what are you going to do about it?” His reply was, “Well Missus, if nobody claims it within a fortnight, ‘tis yours,” and continued on his way. Margaret

Little Torrington WI

e wish that 2021 will bring better things for all of us. In the meantime, most members of Little Torrington WI are meeting using Zoom. We are trying to keep in touch with those members who are not able, or do not wish to meet this way. All members received a meeting in a bag in early December. Mary led the session creating Christmas trees using leaves from the garden and it was a great

success (see our Facebook page). In December too, Kate Greaves from the Library talked to the Book Club about the changes wrought by being a charity and the need for volunteers to help the summer 2021 Reading Competition. The painting group held a paint and glitter party, and the craft group and coffee morning provided more opportunities to socialise in these distanced times. In January our speaker is from Marie

Rod Garner t is with great sadness that we have to report that Rod, one of the stalwarts of the Tarka Valley Railway, recently lost his fight with cancer. He was one of the original members whose dream was to re-create the railway at Torrington. He was our main PR officer; wrote books on the line, dealt with the council on matters relating to our lease, communicated with the railway press and other media. He was also a regular ‘hands on’ worker and was at his best talking to the public and visitors to the carriage where he could often be found in the ‘shop’. His dream was achieved shortly before his passing, when our loco Progress was started and with Rod and his wife as happy passengers, they travelled by rail up to the bridge. Many of our volunteers turned up to watch this momentous event. He will be much missed and our thoughts are with Anita and his family. Rest in Peace Rod. Rob Martin Tarka Valley Railway

Curie Nurses and in February Nick Dooley from Barnstaple Astronomical Society will be introducing us to the night sky. Lockdown may be in place but Little Torrington WI will not be kept down! Please look at our Facebook page which will tell you more about the WI. If you would like to join us ring our Secretary, Linda, on 01805 603442. Sally Ramsden

Private Herbert John Cannon

erbert Cannon was born in Kilmington, Somerset in 1881. His parents, Luke and Fanny had both been born in Somerset at North Brewham and Witham Friary, respectively. Herbert was the middle of five children. On the 1891 census, Willie, 17, and Mabel, 14, were older and Kate, 6, and Alfred, 1, were younger. Herbert was 9 at this time and attending school. Their address is recorded as ‘Border Cottage’, Hammer Street, Wincanton. By the turn of the century, the 1901 census has the family moved to Gloucester and their address as 9 Church Road, Westbury Upon Trym. Like his father, Herbert is working as a ‘general labourer’. Other than the two older children who have now moved out, very little has changed in the household. The 1911 census shows the first evidence that I can find of Herbert moving to Devon. At this point he is living at ‘Sunnyside’, Beaford, where he is a boarder with the Petherick family. He was employed as domestic chauffeur at that time. The following year Herbert would marry local girl, Florence Ashplant. They would have two children; Austen, born in 1914 and Herbert, born in 1916. After being served with a conscription notice, reports from May 1916 show that he appealed to the Exeter Tribunal to avoid this on domestic grounds. He would have been 34 at the time. The appeal was upheld till the end of July. Shortly afterwards, the family moved to Great Torrington at 5 Well Street. Herbert enlisted with the Army Service Corps in the 706th Motor Transport Company as a Private; his service number was M2/201186. The unit would serve on the Macedonian front of Salonika campaign. This theatre is considered one of the lesser known conflicts of the First World War. Between 1915 and 1918, troops from Britain were sent to join a multi-national force to fight against the Bulgarian forces and their allies in the Balkans region. Disease and the severe conditions were a big a test as the enemy. The 706th acted as a supply column for the Serbian army between June 1916 and March 1919. Herbert contracted pneumonia whilst on service in Serbia and passed away on 9th November 1918. He is buried at the Chela Kula Military Cemetery in Serbia. The inscription on his headstone, which was chosen by his wife, reads: “UNTIL THE DAY BREAKS AND THE SHADOWS FLEE AWAY”. As well as on the Great Torrington War Memorial, Herbert is also remembered on the Beaford Roll of Honour. I have been unable to trace any descendants of Private Cannon, but I believe that some relatives will have the name ‘Jefferson’. Please contact me if you have any further information, you’re welcome to call on 07583 607434 or email michael. mnewcombe@gmail.com. Michael Newcombe

Cavaliers Column Chapter 10 (With apologies to John and Yoko) And so that was Christmas And what have we done? No torchlight procession, No May Fair fun. No twinkle toed dancing No fiftieth celebrating, No kiddie’s giveaway and cider in barrels No communal sing along Black Horse carols No Mayflower Bonfire to gladden our hearts No marquees erected or New Year disco dance. No Pass Around the Grog was sung And how we miss our friend - Steve Young. So goodbye twenty twenty we’re glad that you’re done And we’ll hit the ground running in twenty twenty - one. The Cavaliers wish all our helpers, supporters and the good people of Great Torrington a healthy and prosperous New Year. More next time “All for One and One for All.”

Ace

Torrington RFC

adly, the light at the end of the tunnel turned out to be the Covid-19 train coming in the opposite direction! We are firmly back to square one in the race to get playing again. Our junior section had returned to socially distanced training within Government and RFU guidelines and how disappointing for them to have to stop yet again. Torrington RFC keeps rolling on and off the pitch with much activity helping out in the community. The winter weather doesn’t help much with people not getting out as much as they would like to. BUT! We have an answer to that. The ‘Round Torrington Lockdown Treasure Hunt’. Our Vice Chairman, Freddy Ware, with helpers, organised a treasure hunt around town with clues being hidden at various locations for participants to find. Prizes were donated by Belinda Cockwill and BP/M&S garage Torrington. Many thanks for their kind donations. The winners were Lisa Crockford, Joe and Delilah Sands, Charlie Hoare, Harry and Freddie North and Ethan and Oliver Thorne. We will be organising another treasure hunt very soon to occupy those itchy feet. Entry forms can be collected from Whiskers Pet Shop or downloaded from Torrington Rugby Club’s email TRFC1985@outlook.com. Give it a go and win something for yourselves. Another off-field event has been the installation of a defibrillator at the clubhouse. This is a much valued asset to not only Torrington RFC but also Torridgeside Football club and the wider

community of Hatchmoor and Burwood. This was made available to us at no cost courtesy of the Charity Jay’s Aim. Jay’s Aim was set up after the tragic death of James (Jay) Osborne who died suddenly and unexpectedly while exercising, from an undiagnosed heart condition known as ARVC (Arrhythmogenic Right Ventricular Cardiomyopathy) This condition and others like it are not well known, and neither are the symptoms. Once diagnosed, these heart conditions can be managed and monitored by medical professionals. Our thanks go out to local electrician Clark Bonfield who donated his time and materials to connect this to the clubhouse.

Pictured is Torrington RFC Chairman Phil Hearn with two of our younger players proudly showing off the newly installed Jay’s Aim defibrillator. Torrington RFC Juniors Report So, we’re back to square one. All for the greater good though. It was good to get a few training sessions in before we broke up for

Christmas. It was nice, too, to have the opportunity to hand out last season’s awards as well as some Christmas gifts. We were all looking forward to organising some games against other clubs for the first time this year, only to be stopped again. It’s nothing that can’t wait though; we all need to make sure we are fit and well, before returning to play, hopefully in the spring. If anyone has children or knows of children who would like to play, boys or girls, please feel free to contact the Youth Chairman, Adrian Avery, by email agavery81@gmail.com or 07780 665 378. From our Club Chairman Torrington Rugby Club is always on the look-out for more volunteers to help run the club. We are a family friendly organisation, working hard to provide a fantastic rugby club for the town. You don’t have to play rugby to join us. The key areas we need help with are: • Match days • Social media • Website management • Facility hire • Club functions Please contact Club Chairman, Philip Hearn, for further details. Email trfc1985@outlook.com or call 07788 417 626. In the meantime Stay safe. Protect the NHS. Save lives. Respect, Discipline, Teamwork, Sportsmanship and Enjoyment C’mon Torrie! Mark Waterson

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Get Together Friends

e are sad to report that Joan Sussex passed away on the 11th January. She was one of our original members when we started ‘Get Together Friends’ a few years ago. If my memory serves me right, in about 2012, but I’m sure I’ll be corrected if I’m a fraction out. Joan enjoyed her bingo, monthly lunches and the occasional day trip out. She will be missed. At the risk of getting a tad morbid because of our enforced coronavirus break, April might be a good time to have a ‘roll call’ so that we can assess the possibility of tentatively starting up again later this year. That, of course, depends on whether or not the Government’s latest vaccination plan goes smoothly and all senior citizens have had at least one dose by the middle of March. Plus, of course, if the dreaded ‘R’ number has fallen dramatically and is staying comfortably well below one right across the country. It would be nice to have something to look forward to. Let’s not get too far ahead of ourselves, there’s still a long way to go. Stay healthy, keep warm, exercise daily. Look after yourselves. Marcia Fuller & Val Copp

Fleur’s Gardening Forum Re-wilding Your Garden

hat exactly does ‘rewilding’ mean? What it shouldn’t mean is doing absolutely nothing and allowing your garden to become totally overgrown; my own garden, if left to its own devices, would very quickly be taken over by ivy, bramble and nettle scrub, with hazel and hawthorn seeding all over. It would not be a ‘haven for wildlife’ in the truest sense of the phrase but an impenetrable mess where probably only rats and mice would truly thrive. The two small ponds would quickly become choked with weeds and leaves and probably not be such a good place for amphibians and insects to survive successfully. Rewilding also means growing plants that are native to these islands, whether as border perennials, meadow flowers and bulbs, mixed in with your usual favourites, and now is an excellent time to browse those catalogues and websites for ideas. However, do be careful when purchasing packets of ‘scatter and grow’ mixtures as this way of planting is easier said than done, and you will need to prepare your planting site first by removing vigorous weeds and grasses so that they don’t smother your little seedlings. If you are going to sow directly into the soil, it’s a good idea to mix the seeds with some sharp sand first because you will be able to better control the rate of scatter – you don’t need to sow thickly and the sand will be a marker for you. Rake over the area lightly after sowing to cover the seeds. Another idea is to

sow a few seeds in trays to plug any gaps that will become apparent. A word of warning, you may not see much flowering of any perennial plants until the following year. Be careful also about packets of mixed seeds, some are not what they seem and the pretty pictures can be deceptive. Not only that, some packets contain very few actual native flowers and are often advertised as bee/insect friendly, which indeed they are, and look very attractive once in full flower. If you want a truly native wild flower garden you will have to seek out specialist nurseries, of which there are plenty but make sure they sell British grown seed. You must also be prepared for your wild area to change year on year, as some annuals may disappear altogether and some vigorous perennials will try to take over, so you will have to manage this by thinning and moving plants around to fill gaps. Read up about which wild flowers grow best in the region and in a given situation, ie, hedgerow blooms, woodland specialists, meadow lovers, so that you can achieve the best possible results. Managed rewilding is the way to get as diverse a mixture of wildlife into your garden rather than doing absolutely nothing. Now we are all in yet another full lockdown, you have the perfect opportunityâ&#x20AC;Ś! Fleur

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GREAT TORRINGTON TOW From Your Mayor…

hope you all had a happy and healthy New Year and an enjoyable Christmas, despite the restrictions. I would like to thank all key workers who worked during the Christmas period in our hospitals, nursing homes and other sectors. You have all been there for people who may not have been able to see their family and I am sure they are all very grateful. We now find ourselves in another lockdown due to rising cases of Covid-19. At the time of writing this, we have been fortunate to have relatively low numbers of cases in Great Torrington. I am sure that it is thanks to everyone playing their part to keep our community safe. I would therefore like to thank all our essential shops for continuing to step up to serve our community and to ensure that everyone has exactly what they need, as well as our ‘non-essential’ shops who have had to close once again to help towards keeping our town safe. In the weeks leading up to Christmas I was delighted to hear that many local traders were busy and felt very well supported by the community. It seems that people really embraced the ‘shop local’ message! I would urge you all

to continue this during these next few weeks and, once we can shop a little more normally again, to continue to support all of our local traders. We have so much to offer in Great Torrington and I for one cannot wait until more of our shops are open again. With various vaccines now approved, there is the beginning of a ‘light at the end of the tunnel’. I have heard of a number of people in our town being called up for their vaccines, along with many of our nursing home staff and residents. This is a great step for everyone in our town and I look forward to a time when more of us can be vaccinated. However, for now, we must remain vigilant as there is still a long way to go. Business at the Town Council remains open! However, the office remains closed for face-to-face interaction, but we can still be contacted either by phone, email or via our website/Facebook pages. We are currently working closely with TTVS who have various services available for anyone needing help in these uncertain times. Please do not hesitate to get in contact if you need anything. Cllr Keeley Allin Mayor of Great Torrington cllr.allin@great-torringtontowncouncil. gov.uk 07783 711 500

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Message of Thanks

e hope you all had a happy Christmas despite the challenges of Covid19. After such a tough year, Members were enthusiastic to ensure that the Christmas lights and tree were put up to bring a bit of sparkle to the town centre. The Town Council would like to take the opportunity to thank the Cavaliers, who took charge of erecting these Christmas lights, along with the Christmas tree. In normal times these tasks all take a huge amount of effort, but even more so this year as additional Covid19 guidelines needed to be adhered to. The Town Council is sincerely grateful for the ongoing help of the Cavaliers in this matter. We would also like to thank Andy Winsbury, who collected and delivered the Christmas tree right on time for being dressed and erected.

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WN COUNCIL NEWS Your Council, Working for YOU Great Torrington Neighbourhood Plan

n early 2014 Great Torrington Town Decision Statement was signed on 3rd Council embarked on a journey to December 2020. create a Neighbourhood Plan. We We have to wait a while for a are excited to report that we have, at referendum as one cannot take place last, some light at the end of the tunnel. until May 2021 at the earliest (due to Throughout the past few years Covid19 restrictions on any election various Councillors have led this project, activity). However, once a decision involving engaging with members of the statement has been signed, the public and various agencies to establish Neighbourhood Plan can be used as a plan which clarifies priorities of the a tool and a benchmark for all future town and, in particular, reference to planning decisions up to a referendum ongoing development. date, and after if it is accepted at The plan needed to adhere to referendum. numerous technical This plan has "We will report further as and requirements and been a long time when we know the date of the has experienced coming! It has referendum, but would encourage involved a number delays waiting for you to read the current plan which of past Councillors the finalisation of the Torridge and who have faithfully can be found on the Council’s North Devon Plan, led and worked website..." various scrutiny hard on it. The exercises and then delays enforced due Town Council would like to formally to Covid19 restrictions. thank previous councillors, Roger Darch, At the Town Council’s November Alan Williams and Ruth Funnell, and our Council meeting, Members voted to current Cllr Gill Clayton as well as Maria approve proposals agreed by Torridge Price, Planning Consultant, for all of District Council’s Members on 2nd their hard work over the years. November. These proposals agreed that We will report further as and when the Great Torrington Neighbourhood we know the date of the referendum, Plan proceeds to referendum, at a date but would encourage you to read yet to be determined. In addition, that the current plan which can be found Torridge District Council publishes the on the Council’s website or via this above decisions and associated reasons link, greattorringtontowncouncil.gov. in a formal Decision Statement. This uk/2020/12/16/neighbourhood-plan/

Our New Councillor

he Town Council is excited to welcome our newest member to the Council; Cllr Phil Cloke who was co-opted onto the Town Council in December. Cllr Cloke came to Great Torrington (from Bude), 43 years ago to teach at the old White's Lane Primary School and then the newly built Junior School. Cllr Cloke immediately involved himself in the community: he taught May Pole dancing for May Fair, was a founding member of the Torrington Players, was in the Twinning Association, and even played a few games for the newly formed rugby club. Cllr Cloke went on to become a Primary Headteacher for 27 years: 5 years at Bradford, and the remaining 22 at Fremington. During this time, he continued to live in Great Torrington and his two sons, Nick and Tim, attended the town's schools. Cllr Cloke was also a keen member of Torrington AAC, and wore the green and white vest when completing a couple of London Marathons, Great North Runs and inevitably the Round the Tree races! An event which he later found easier to compere! Cllr Cloke considers it an honour to join his youngest son Tim (a town Mace Bearer) working with the town council in representing our wonderful town as a councillor. He has assured the Town Council that he will do all he can with his fellow councillors and the wider community to provide the very best for the town.

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GREAT TORRINGTON TOWN COUNCIL NEWS Commons Allotment Charity Grants and Precept Grants 2021/2022 Budget

he Town Council has allocated its Commons Allotment Grant Funding (£4,811.80) as well as Precept Grant Funding (£26,000.00) for 2021/22. A full list can be viewed on the Town Council’s website. As per last year, Members decided to keep a small pot of reserve grant funding to be made available during the period 1st April 2021-31st March 2022 for adhoc urgent requests for funding. At the January Town Council Meeting Members agreed a budget for 2021/22. The precept arrangements reflect an increase of 1.93% on the Town Council element of your council tax bill in respect of 1st April 2021-31st March 2022. This year has been a challenge as the tax base (total number of band D equivalents) has reduced compared to 2020/2021. The Tax Base is calculated by considering a number of factors, but the main reason for this reduction is because Torridge District Council (TDC) anticipates a considerable reduction in collection of council tax due to continued Covid19 issues in 2021/22, compared to the budgeted council tax to be collected for 2020/21. Essentially Torridge Council is anticipating less council tax to be collected in 2021/22 because of increased claims for local council tax support and the difficulties of some residents making payment arising from having reduced income (furlough etc). If we had asked TDC for the same amount of funding as we did for last year, there would still have been an increase of 1.78% due to the decline in the tax base. The increase of 1.93% equates to an increase of £1.60 per annum for a Band A property and £1.87 per annum for a Band B property compared to last year. (Town Council element of increase only). Full details of increases for all Bands will be available on the Council’s website in due course. Karen Chapman (Town Clerk), Great Torrington Town Council

You are Never too Young to Make a Difference

ast year the Town Council received a letter from a young man, Elliott Ashelford age 5, requesting the provision of litter bins along lower Caddywell Lane. The District Council provided a bin and a delayed opening ceremony, (Covid19 restrictions), took place in early December. Elliott was joined by the Mayor and the Beadle, along with his mum, dad and younger brother, Reece. Elliott proudly cut the ribbon to officially launch a newly positioned litter bin at the end of Lower Caddywell Lane. It was great to receive this representation from someone so young in our community and we commend Elliott for his enthusiasm to help make a difference in his community!

Jubilee Wood

espite the restrictions we lived with last year, volunteers continued to be busy at Jubilee Wood. As we headed towards autumn, we saw the installation of a new land drain at the Stonemans Lane gateway, so as to accommodate more of the water coming down the hill when there is heavy rain. This should now help prevent the path and steps being washed away and reduce the amount of mud at that point. In addition, gravel was put down to help stabilise the path. Monitoring of this situation will be continued. There were struggles cutting the grass, due to inclement weather conditions,

"We are hoping to invite the Bluecoat School down next year to ‘adopt’ the area - and maybe plant a few additional trees." which may mean that the longer grass will hinder the growth of flowering plants. The team has tried to rake out the thatch and sow seed, but we are not sure how effective it will be. We are hoping to have success at the School Lane end as we managed to strim the long grass there. Volunteers have sowed the wildflower seed into pans and will plant out the resulting individual seedlings during this year. The Town Council Technicians cut the grass triangle in the middle of the site, and as a result the team was able to plant out approx. 80 ‘Bluecoats’ trees. We are hoping to invite the Bluecoat School down next year to ‘adopt’ the

Community’ working groups), receiving applications and awarding grants to e thought it might be helpful to give a reminder regarding local organisations, lobbying where appropriate, managing allotments, which tier of Council is responsible for main services within the providing Christmas lights and bunting, events organising, footpaths and verge community of Great Torrington. maintenance under contract, providing Devon County Council snow and road wardens, overseeing Education and schools, highways Jubilee Wood/Meadow and statutory including potholes, tourism signs, gritting, social services, child protection, issues in relation to administration and finance of a Town Council. libraries, recycling centres, waste GTTC endeavours to work with the management, and trading standards. above authorities, voluntary groups Your local County Councillor is Andrew and individuals where possible, when Saywell. the outcome is for the benefit to Torridge District Council the community of Great Torrington. Rubbish collection and recycling, Examples of these collaborations over council tax administration and collection, the past 12 months include working with housing, planning applications, car Devon County Council on an ongoing parks, electoral services, sport and project to improve signage. Working leisure, housing benefit and council tax with Torridge District Council on opening support, business rates administration and collection, environmental protection, up the town centre post lockdown. economic development, street cleaning, Working with local volunteers from the community at Jubilee Wood, and the fly tipping and licensing. Local District community through the GTTC Covid19 Councillors are Cllrs Chris Bright, support group. The list goes on, but Margret Brown, and Cheryl CottleHunkin. All of these District Councillors Members are keen to be involved in local matters which do actually, ‘make are also Town Councillors. a difference’ to the town in one way or Great Torrington Town Council another. (GTTC) In more normal times, the Mayor also GTTC is responsible for grass and represents the town and attends a large hedge cutting, town maintenance, number of events throughout the year including benches, bus shelters, and as well as endeavouring to keep good the town clock. Acting as consultees relations with our local neighbours and for planning matters, maintenance of those within the community, as and GTTC owned parks (Trafalgar Drive, when possible. Greenbank and Jubilee Close), and A list of Town Councillors is held on facilitating and participating in working groups for the benefit of the community, the Town Council’s website along with contact details. There is also a list in (for example, ‘The Marketing Working the notice board at GTTC offices, Castle Group’ and the ‘Dementia Friendly Hill.

Which Council Does What?

area - and maybe plant a few additional trees. It was lovely to have more people offer to help plant out these trees, which widens community involvement. Ground has also been levelled for a new pathway to the first bench, which we hope to install in the New Year. Alan Williams managed to secure plants from the Woodland Trust, so we will see more trees and shrubs being planted in 2021. In addition, we are looking to improve footpaths, including the addition of steps to improve accessibility, and have an ongoing programme of sowing and planting wild flowers to improve biodiversity and make the meadow more attractive. During last year we estimate approximately 200 hours of volunteering took place at Jubilee Wood, and the Town Council would like to say a big thank you to Alan and his team of volunteers for all they have done, and continue to do at Jubilee Wood. Please note that all of this work has been done in accordance with Covid19 precautions.

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writing, 13th January, just over 200 per 100,000), and at district level, Torridge also has one of the Happy New lowest coronavirus infection rates Year to all in the entire country, along with readers of North Devon and West Devon, The Crier. While with infection rates just over 100 I know we are all per 100,000. hoping 2021 will turn In Torrington and in our rural out to be a much communities we have seen some better year than 2020, local cases being recorded, starting the year but thankfully numbers remain with a new national low. Having asked the County lockdown is understandably a blow. But Council’s Director of Public Health I want to pay tribute to the amazing work for an analysis of local cases, and efforts of everyone in Torrington he has confirmed that most Rural; from our doctors and carers, to infections are being recorded teachers, businesses and volunteers, in the working age population. who have all worked so incredibly hard to These infections have been keep us safe. caught in the workplace and then in turn I want to assure readers that Devon passed on to the rest of the household, County Council stands ready to help however we are not seeing any evidence those who are most badly affected by the of wider community spread so far. lockdown. The Council has relaunched Nevertheless, infections have been its Covid-19 Prompt Action Fund, to help rising and while the main growth has groups and communities support those been in the south and east of Devon, we in need. DCC are also working with the must not become complacent. Please Devon Community Foundation to fund do follow the latest guidance and stay at food provision projects. You can find home, only leaving if you absolutely have out more information online here: www. to. When you do go out, don’t forget to devon.gov.uk/coronavirus-advice-insocially distance, wear a face covering in devon/document/covid-19-fund/ and here indoor public spaces and keep washing devoncf.com/apply/community-foodyour hands regularly. programme-2/ It is likely that the new variant of The County Council will also, from coronavirus is here, and this strain January, start to set up rapid community is much more infectious than before. testing sites in Devon. This will initially Where there have been outbreaks – for start in the harder hit areas of the county example in a workplace – the number but will be rolled out across Devon in of infections subsequently recorded has February and March. Community testing been much higher. As we wait for the will help to find individuals, particularly vaccine, we must keep up our efforts to key workers, who have Covid-19 but do keep the virus at bay. not have symptoms and need to isolate However, there is good news to report and who may inadvertently be spreading and that is that Torrington Rural residents the virus. aged 80 and over, as well as care home While I am under no illusions that residents and staff, have now started to January and February are going to be be vaccinated, with the first doses being difficult months for our community, we administered before the New Year. By can be proud of the efforts we have put now, at the time of writing, thousands in locally to keep the virus at bay and my of people in Devon have already been message to everyone is ‘thank you, and vaccinated. please, keep up your efforts.’ Vaccination hubs are up and running It is thanks to your efforts that Devon at all four acute hospitals in Devon, has one of the lowest coronavirus vaccinating hospital staff and over infection rates in England (at the time of 80s, inpatients about to go home and

From Your County Councillor…

outpatients. Primary Care Networks (groupings of GP surgeries) have set up 16 vaccination sites, with four more due to be opened imminently. Due to the complexities of storing the Pfizer vaccine, the initial local vaccination sites have been at Holsworthy, Barnstaple and Okehampton. However, now that the Oxford vaccine has arrived, I know from discussions with one of Torrington’s GP Practices that they are looking at rolling this out more locally so people do not have to travel long distances to get their jab. The NHS in Devon is confident they have the workforce in place to undertake the vaccine and I want to thank everyone involved in this life-saving work. Progress has, so far, been good but it is worth stressing that this is a huge logistical exercise, very much dependent upon the speed and rate of vaccine supplies. I know our GPs are working as hard as they can to get through their patient lists so please do be patient, the NHS will contact you when it’s your turn to be vaccinated. Throughout this pandemic we have been a resilient community, please continue to follow the guidance and stay safe. If you need any help or support on an issue please don’t hesitate to contact me on 07886 446 560 or email andrew. saywell@devon. gov.uk.

From Your District Councillors…

ell, what a year we have had and now we find ourselves in lockdown once again. It’s a very tough time for everybody and we hope people are coping as well as they can and are reaching out for help if they need it. In March last year, it was agreed that TDC councillors would pool together £1000 each from their community grants, which could be used as funding aid for Covid. However, we were informed near the end of the year that this funding hadn’t been used, and so TDC have reissued the £1000 to councillors to use once again to support "TDC’s Chief Executive Steve Hearse community projects. Both Cllr updated us at the beginning of the 2021 Bright and Cllr Cottle-Hunkin have lockdown saying that car parking money in their councillor grant pots, charges will continue in TDC car along with many other councillors across the District, so if you know a parks but in a ‘more pragmatic and community group who are in need less punitive’ nature, recognising that of funding, please feel free to pass individuals needs are affected by the this info on! pandemic." At the full council meeting in December we approved a much needed review of the current Local Plan, badminton, table-tennis, squash, a gym, so we can improve some areas, such and fitness studios, which will all be as the housing land supply, to greater inclusive and accessible to all. emphasise the climate emergency, Unfortunately, over the Christmas to assess site viability and affordable break we found out that TDC’s scheme housing, while also preparing to tackle to develop Isaac’s Yard in Bideford the upcoming planning reforms. wasn’t picked by central government for TDC full council also approved a loan the Future High Street Fund, which was of £100,000 to Atlantic Racquet Centre a disappointment as a lot of work has to enable them to complete the final been put into this. However, it is now a phase of their build, allowing greater ‘shovel ready’ project which we’re still usage of all of their facilities. As well as hopeful can take place at some point. tennis, when complete the centre will TDC’s long-awaited draft carbon plan offer a variety of other activities including was agreed by the climate emergency

working group at the beginning of January and is being put to full council in February. TDC’s Chief Executive Steve Hearse updated us at the beginning of the 2021 lockdown saying that car parking charges will continue in TDC car parks but in a ‘more pragmatic and less punitive’ nature, recognising that individuals' needs are affected by the pandemic. Parking enforcement will still be in place and everyone is expected to purchase tickets as normal, but please get in touch if you experience any specific problems and we may be able to help. In terms of the new government business support grants, we were told at the beginning of January it would be a number of weeks before payments of the £4,000, £6,000 and £9,000 grants will be processed, as TDC is waiting for the final guidance from central government. Please take care of yourselves and your neighbours, and we hope things will improve for everyone over the next few months as we see the rollout of the vaccine. Hopefully the end is in sight and summer 2021 is one to look forward to (fingers crossed). Cllr Cheryl Cottle-Hunkin, Cllr.cottlehunkin@torridge.gov.uk, 07495 367 801 Cllr Chris Bright, Councillor.bright@ torridge.gov.uk, 07936 325 909

Methodism in Torrington

ethodism had a struggle to become established in Torrington and Methodist preachers faced considerable intolerance and persecution in the district in the 1790s. An appointed Methodist preacher, Richard Drew, was given permission to preach in a courtyard in Taddiport but he was interrupted at once by Henry Stevens of Cross House, a local magistrate, who pulled the preacher down off the chair on which he was standing. This encouraged the crowd to give the preacher some rough treatment and he was thrown into an old quarry pit, urged on, it is said, by Stevens. Learning that his persecutor was a magistrate, Richard Drew appealed to Henry Stevens to protect him from the violence of the people and informed him that it was, in fact, his duty to do so. Feeling he had no alternative, Stevens ordered the people to leave the preacher alone and he walked on, unmolested, to the common on the north side of Mill Street where he addressed a large congregation. After this, shaken and exhausted, he went up to the town and rested for the night at the Globe Hotel. Henry Stevens was reported to the Court of the King's Bench (by the Wesleys) and he was so mortified by proceedings against him that he left the neighbourhood and Cross House remained unoccupied for some thirty years. This action stemmed the tide of intolerance in the Torrington area for a time. In about 1808 a preacher, William Beale, who had been appointed a

missioner in the Bideford circuit, came to Torrington to preach in a room in a cottage in Mill Street but he and his congregation were interrupted by a hostile mob gathered out in the street and the preacher had to take refuge in another place. Again, the result was determined by legal action and some of the rioters were bound over to appear at the next Quarter Sessions for the county. The next time William Beale came to Torrington, some forty years later, he had the pleasure of preaching in the roomy and comfortable Wesleyan Chapel at the top of the same street in which he had been persecuted on the previous occasion. The interests of Methodism remained at a low ebb for many years, and it wasn't until 1833 that Richard Drew again visited Torrington and was able to inspect a new chapel built the previous year on a piece of land at Windy Cross, with plentiful seating and schoolrooms attached, which served as a place of worship for the combined Methodist and Wesleyan congregations. The Register of Baptisms began in 1841. In 1874 a

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minister's residence and garden was provided alongside the chapel. This is now a private house with its entrance in Villa Road. Extensive refurbishment of the Methodist church began in 2000, and included the removal of old pews and the building of a new play school. It was reopened by the oldest member of the congregation on 16th June 2001. In the past, there had been railings along the front wall which had been dismantled because they made the church look rather unwelcoming. For the same reason, the solid front doors were replaced with glass-panelled ones so people could see inside the church and feel more inclined to enter. The current Methodist minister is the Rev. Robert Blackhall. Moira Brewer

Property Market Musings

elcome to 2021 and the optimism that is brought about by the beginning of a New Year. Yes this year will be different to many before but, with the advent of two vaccines being rolled out nationally, there is light at the end of the tunnel. Did we estate agents get a crystal ball for Christmas to help predict the market for 2021? Nope and we certainly did not last year. Nobody would have predicted the market we experienced during 2020.

"Very much in the forefront of buyers’ minds is their life/work balance, as before it used to be work/life balance. " In the words of football commentators, it was a game of two halves. Well actually more of 1/3rd 2/3rds! Right up to the close down for the festive period, viewings were still being booked, properties were being appraised, offers being made, sales being arranged, exchanges happening and completions taking place. This was a most welcome way to round off a fast and frantic year for the property market, be it sales or rentals. What is most evident now is the change in buyers’ search criteria: be it a local mover or for those coming from further afield to enjoy the delights that await living close by Great Torrington. Very much in the forefront of buyers’ minds is their life/work balance, as before it used to be work/life balance. Covid is changing the way we look at how we spend our lives, and maybe this is for

the better. Communities seem to be coming together and, once again, many neighbours are helping each other. This can only be positive for the lifestyle dream, to sell to out of area buyers searching for a semblance of belonging that so many big cities and larger towns appear to have lost. Demand remained strong for the core family home throughout the year, as was seen during the first lockdown, as those searching online had this style of home very much in their sights. Once the market opened up and viewings could take place, the market continued to gain pace and, by the end of the year, the number of transactions was well ahead of forecast, up significantly on the previous year and an annual price growth of 5-6% has been seen. This was fuelled by the urge to escape to the country and embrace the wonders of new technology, to carry on working at a distance for many. This trend I do see continuing through 2021 and homes with definite office space, be it a cabin in the garden, a kitted out fourth bedroom or study, will create strong demand. Also being thrown into the mix is well planned garden space for kids to play, BBQs to be lit, and outside dining to be had, as we get used to the new social distancing rules. Now we are in lockdown the property industry is still open for business with the latest guidance saying that carrying out activities related to buying, selling, letting or renting a residential property are reasonable excuses to leave home. Throughout last year we as agents

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Bluecoat Say 'We'll See You This Year'

n 'normal' times, Bluecoat C of E Primary School would have welcomed the Senior Citizens of Great Torrington into school for their annual Christmas Lunch in December. They were so disappointed that this could not take place due to the current circumstances, as it is one of the highlights of the school calendar for them all. Rest assured the school has not forgotten them and are grateful to the Torrington Cavaliers for their kind donation, which usually helps support the cost of the Christmas meal. They plan to use the donation towards a Senior Citizen's spring/summer afternoon tea instead. There have been many things that have had to work slightly differently this year due to COVID and the school would like to celebrate how resilient the children, families and staff have been. As with all schools, they've not experienced a year like it before and have faced and overcome many challenges, so they would like to thank the school community for their ongoing support.

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New Northam Burrows Visitor Centre

Garden Therapy

ew designs for the exciting new Northam Burrows Visitor Centre have been given the green light by plans committee following a unanimous decision to approve the latest design drawings for the centre. The plans mirror a revised approach to the build which will see the modular sections for the new café built offsite. The modifications mean that the centre can be delivered in time for its planned opening in June 2021, without jeopardising the timelimited grant funding for the scheme. The new facility will be a focal point within the 254-hectare Country Park and will sit within a designated AONB (Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty), UNESCO Biosphere and designated SSSI (site of special scientific interest). The project will transform the existing building, which has stood largely unchanged since it was built in 1984. The interior will boast enhanced exhibition spaces, a multi-purpose education room and an accessible changing room facility, as well as a small shop and offices for the rangers. The new café will sit to one side of the complex with panoramic views, outdoor decking and seating as well as an all-important food and beverage outlet, which the old building wasn’t able to accommodate. Additional toilet facilities will also be incorporated into the unit. The project has already been funded by a £1.2M grant of Coastal Communities funding and, as well as improved educational facilities, will create new job opportunities at the complex. The wooden cladding, non-reflective roofing and other materials have all been chosen to minimise the impact of the building within the sensitive natural landscape. It’ll also be bursting with energy efficiency upgrades, which will reduce the environmental impact compared to the older and now less efficient structure. The next steps will involve a decommissioning of the existing offices and ancillary spaces with building work due to commence on the site early this year. The new designs were supported by the AONB and Natural England, with the officer report noting the AONB welcomed the “enhancement the centre will bring to the visitor experience”. Lead Member for Leisure – Councillor Cheryl Cottle-Hunkin said: “I am so pleased and excited about the new Burrows Visitor Centre plans which have been unanimously approved by councillors of the plans committee. This will be a fantastic upgrade for visitors to the Burrows to enjoy, it will allow us to offer so much more in the way of education facilities, as well as a unique location to refuel with food and drink, which many people have often requested. It is so nice to have something positive to look forward to in 2021 after all the uncertainty so many people have experienced lately as a result of the coronavirus pandemic. It will be a significant part of our celebrations next year and a welcome boost for the local economy.”

he events of last year has changed many things, not least our appreciation of the natural world. Interest in gardening rose in 2020 as we all became more aware of its benefits to physical and mental wellbeing and as an antidote to the chaos around us.

"People without easy access to a green space are more likely to suffer from depression and anxiety than those living within walking distance to a park, garden or other natural environment."

Long before the appearance of Covid 19, the RHS was at the forefront of research studying how gardens and gardening affects human health. Nature has such a life enhancing effect that it has been likened to a vitamin, Vitamin G (Green), vital to keep our bodies healthy. People without easy access to a green space are more likely to suffer from depression and anxiety than those living within walking distance to a park, garden or other natural environment. Just a short exposure to nature can

North Devon Arts Society Live Lectures

n February 9th at 2pm the title is ‘Fake News: Spin and Propaganda in Art’ with the lecture given by Dr Geri Parlby. Membership is now £25, covering the months up to and including May. Further information at: tasnorthdevon. org.uk.

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Torrington Library News lower stress and anxiety, improve mood and lower blood pressure and heart rate. Gardening can increase confidence levels; marginalised groups, such as young offenders, report increased feelings of self-worth and belonging while engaged in horticultural based activities.

"Just a short exposure to nature can lower stress and anxiety, improve mood and lower blood pressure and heart rate." Studies have shown that getting your hands dirty is good for you; microorganisms in the soil help to make our immune systems more efficient. Many scientific studies show a clear link between childhood exposure to microbes in the soil and higher immunity rates as adults, an excellent reason for the kids to help in the garden. While we all wait for a ‘new normal’, try to get out at least once a day and reconnect with nature. A walk in the woods or next to water help soothe the mind, digging the soil or just planting a window box will help your mental and physical wellbeing. Make it a habit for life, and you are sure to feel the benefits. Sheila Dearing Garden Technical Services Officer

oing to press the Library is closed for Lockdown #3 but library staff are working hard behind the scenes. Follow us on our Facebook #TorringtonLibraryDevon for information of our online services and regular updates and activities run by us and other libraries. Our Facebook page also offers the popular Book Chat group so why not check it out. Join the Digital Library You can join the library online by visiting Devonlibraries.org.uk. Once you have completed the online joining form, you will be given a temporary library card number, which will enable you to access our digital library immediately. As and when our libraries re-open we will process all temporary memberships registered during the closure period and we will issue a library card to you. If you already have a library card but require the PIN for your account you can click on the 'Forgot PIN' option to get a PIN reset sent to your registered email address. Access our Digital Library - www.devon.libraries.org.uk We have a huge selection of titles available for you to borrow in our Digital Library and new titles are being added every week. * Download and stream free eBooks, eAudioBooks and eMagazines on your tablet, smartphone or home PC. * Access the ‘Reading Well’ collections on our digital platform * Visit our Online Reference resources www.devonlibraries.org.uk/web/arena/ referenceonline * Access to Ancestry Library Edition has been temporarily extended to Devon Library members at home, courtesy of ProQuest and its partner Ancestry * Devon libraries are creating fun online content and live streaming cultural events. Check out individual library Facebook pages for more information. For assistance with any queries please contact us by emailing torrington.library@ librariesunlimited.org.uk or our general telephone enquiries line is 0345 155001. Keep safe everyone and keep an eye on our Facebook page or Devon Libraries website for updates. Kate G, Kate C, Becky & Michelle

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Organic & Wholefood Buying Group News

ockdown again, but of course we remain committed to enabling anyone interested in supporting their own health to access a vast range of organic and wholefoods at wholesale prices. We continue to offer monthly group ordering from a long established UK wholefood cooperative, with a choice of over 5000 lines of groceries and household goods. On collection day we stagger individual collection slots so personal distance requirements are respected, with the goods placed outside under tarpaulins if the weather is wet. We also have a buddy scheme, which means members who live in the same area can easily team up and take turns at collecting, minimizing travel and time. We've also invested in a heavy duty sack barrow suitable for rough ground, which makes delivering goods to vulnerable people lighter work. So you may encounter us trundling up to town on the Commons! January saw the launch of our streamlined online ordering system, enabling members to see exactly which products are available to share and the level of interest in their own share offers. The system ingeniously saves huge amounts of time and emails, thanks to the hard work of the core group, particularIy our IT expert, Richard. As I write we're preparing final orders for January and will naturally take on board members’ feedback. Our aim is to

make ordering as easy and accessible as possible for members, whilst not being too time consuming or onerous

for the back office team. Our system uses sophisticated online techniques, yet doesn't require members to be especially technically adept – we provide straightforward step by step instructions and help is always available. Wellbeing Tip: Mental and physical health are inseparable and given the challenges we're all dealing with at present, it's especially important to look after our mental health and wellbeing. Our emotions and mental orientation influence our physical wellbeing and the integrity of our immune system to a far greater degree than most of us ever realize. But this works both ways; what we eat also has a significant impact on our emotions and mental wellbeing. It's a two way street. So our choice of foods

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07795 073966 for appointments or enquiries can help us to keep in balance – or not. The chart below shows which food groups keep us in easy balance. We all know that a short seesaw is easiest to balance, the longer it is, the more difficult. So everyday foods are best chosen from between fish and local fruits and nuts, with less frequent smaller amounts taken from between potato and honey and poultry and miso on the chart. Sugar, coffee, alcohol, chemicals, eggs and salt are the items most likely to throw us off balance. This is a big subject, hard to address in a short article, but I hope I've given you some useful insights and food for thought. Next grocery final order date: 11th February Next body care final order date: 11th March * How do I join? Via our Facebook page or website, full info on the website! * What does membership cost? Free * What if I need advice or have questions? Ring 01805 623 307 or email mary@marycrailwellbeing.co.uk. OWBG Website:owbg.jimdofree.com Facebook: Organic & Wholefood Buying Group Twitter: Follow us @owbg1 or #owbg Facebook: Mary Crail Biofeedback & Wellbeing www.marycrailwellbeing.co.uk

reddie here reporting for the first time in 2021 - it only seems like a moment ago we were all getting ready for Christmas! Here at the rescue we find ourselves closed again due to lockdown, which is so disappointing as it means that all my canine friends will have to stay with me a little longer as we are unable to find them new homes. I know Aunty Lynne is really worried, as it also means that all our income has once again stopped, but she said for me to thank everyone for their very kind donations throughout December which will keep us all safe for a couple of months at least. I would especially like to thank Jane at Whiskers Pet Shop, Torrington, who has supported us all year with treats (yummy) and her customers who continue to donate – it really has helped us. Thanks also to everyone who also took part in our Christmas Auction which raised a fantastic £406! We will be running a Valentine Auction and so if anyone has any unwanted Christmas presents that they would like to donate, could you please let us know by emailing lynne@k9focus.co.uk and Aunty Lynne will contact you to discuss as we are unable to take any donations, or have visitors here at the centre currently. Hopefully when lockdown is eventually lifted there will be lots of people looking to give our young Missy a home, but she will need a rural home where she

can live outside, as strangely she really doesn’t like being inside and gets very stressed. She is getting braver and happily walks out with Stewie, Aunty Pat’s dog, but for some reason she is really scared of me – can you imagine that! Nessa the German Shepherd is still in a foster home and I am told she is lovely, but really doesn’t like other dogs and so is reactive when out. She will need a home that has experience of German Shepherds, and preferably somewhere again quite rural. My other friends here, Bertie the Bassett Hound and Poppy the Beagle, will also be looking for their new home and you can see all my friends on our Facebook page at www.facebook.com/K9focus. Some sad news this month as one of our sponsor dogs Dolly, has been quite poorly and has been diagnosed with Cushings Disease. Dolly came to the rescue last year with her brother Timmy, when sadly their owner died. As they were both quite elderly Aunty Lynne took them in on our 4EverFoster scheme, which is a scheme that ensures that older dogs can still be cared for as they are often more difficult to find homes for, due to the potential cost of vet treatment. Fortunately for Dolly and Timmy a foster home was found for them, and they live

very happily sitting comfy in front of the fire which they love. Dolly is going to need ongoing monthly medication which is very expensive (£82 per month) and so we are looking for sponsors who might want to donate towards this. If you would like to sponsor her then please email Aunty Lynne, and in return you will receive regular updates and pictures. As a sponsor you will also receive updates on all our other dogs in the sponsor scheme which include the lovely Sam and Buster who both have epilepsy and are also on monthly medication. While we have had to put our fund raising events on hold some of our supporters have found ways of raising funds for us, and you may have been following my friend Buster, who adopted Kay Mayne a few years ago, and is doing a virtual walk from Lands End to John O’Groats. They are now well on their way and have raised over £600 so far - a fantastic achievement - especially for Buster who is normally a couch potato. You can follow their journey in this link www. justgiving.com/fundraising/kay-mayne1 That is about all the news from the centre this month and just leaves me to ask everyone to keep to the lockdown rules so that hopefully, as we move into March, we may return to some form of normality and that we will once again be able to welcome visitors to the centre here at Torrington. Signing off with woofs & licks. Freddie

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The Crier Prize Crossword The winner of this monthâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s crossword will receive a 6 week Countdown course with Slimming World. Please send completed crossword with contact details, to The Crier, Castle Hill, Torrington, EX38 8AA, or email to torrington.crier@gmail.com. The winner of last issueâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s prize is Obadiah Partner-Heath. The winner for this issue will be picked at random from correct entries. Deadline for entries is Thursday 11th February and the solution and winner will be in the March issue.

Come out of Lockdown Slimmer with Slimming World! At Slimming World we know how important it is to our members to be there for them every week, so we have never closed in the past year and what a year it's been. Instead we have been doing our 'at home' virtual service. This has been amazing, as it's kept our members in the safety of their own homes, whilst still getting the help and support they need from me and the rest of the group, virtually, via Zoom. My Torrington members are incredible and as I write this, I have just given out two three stone awards this week! If you are thinking of joining, then why wait until lockdown ends? Come along now and go into spring/summer feeling fantastic! Lisa Tucker 07515 256 965

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Dispelling The Myth…

There’s not a lot to see in a garden during the winter! ou may think that there is not a lot to see in a garden during the winter months, but nothing could be further from the truth as RHS Garden Rosemoor proves, and remains open to pre-booked visits. The winter is a wonderful time to enjoy a walk round the 65-acre garden. There is a surprising amount of colour from early camellias and snowdrops,

incredible fragrance from plants like mahonia and daphne, interesting textures from our ornamental grasses collection and the bark of ornamental cherry, acer and silver birch trees, together with great structure from tightly clipped yew hedges and trained fruit trees. It is perhaps the best time of year to see the multi-coloured stems of many types of plants including the Cornus group, commonly known as dogwoods, or the young growth of the many varieties of willow (Salix). Plus it’s a great time to see the National Collection of hollies located here at Rosemoor,

Devon County Council Launches Covid-19 Fund to Help Communities

evon County Council has launched its third round of COVID-19 Funding to help provide valuable support to organisations working in communities that have been affected by the coronavirus outbreak. The scheme launched in January and grants of up to £700 are available. The funding aims to help voluntary and community groups to tackle the social and economic impacts of the virus outbreak and help those who are most vulnerable in their communities. The funding can be used to address issues such as: • Safe deliveries of essential goods and services to people who are isolating or vulnerable, for example food and medicine. • Supporting people to access online information and services. • Starting virtual support groups to help people who are isolated to stay connected and to improve mental health and wellbeing. Applications are accepted from constituted and not-for-private-profit voluntary, community and social enterprise (VCSE) sector groups and organisations, town and parish councils, charities or businesses or a combination of such groups working together. For more information about applying, the application form and the terms and conditions visit the Devon County Council website . If you are having trouble applying or for other help and support, please email COVID19FUND@devon.gov.uk with the subject ‘SUPPORT’. If your application is for food provision please use this link and submit an application to this fund: http://devoncf.com/apply/community-food-programme-2/ You can find the latest coronavirus advice in Devon on DCC's website. many laden with berries too. Winter is a time when Rosemoor displays its bare bones; as some of the foliage recedes, the garden appears in quite a different way; structural elements of the garden are more evident - trees and shrubbery more dramatically show off different bark textures. Examples include the striking white bark of the ‘Himalayan Silver Birch’ – Betula var. jacquemontii or the rippled stems of the ‘Tibetan Cherry’ – Prunus serrula. Catch the garden on a frosty morning and see the ornamental grasses looking silvery

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and feathery. Snowdrops will come out and be ready to delight from mid-January to midFebruary. Other winter colour and scent is also provided by daphne, viburnum, mahonia, and helebores to name a few. The Winter Garden at Rosemoor in Devon is always a treat and one of the most beautiful sights in all seasons. For more information rhs.org. uk/rosemoor. All visits need to be booked online, please, until COVID-19 restrictions are lifted.

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Moretto Da Brescia’s Portrait of a Man

With marble pillars and gold arches A noble man stands proudly in front of a window Overlooking a vast countryside of rolling hills and bushy trees The sky Is as grey as a bad dream. The gentleman, He is wearing a cloak of silk And a very peculiar shoe An army hat perches on his head Like a bird perching on a branch He's just standing there Gazing into the distance. What is he thinking about? Could it be about his family back home, Or about his job I'm Unsure He looks troubled. Guilty? He looks like a child who's done something wrong at school And doesn't want to tell his parents There’s so much going on I can't process it Then I'm sucked back into Reality That was A truly profound experience

Taking his Year 7s on a remote imaginative journey in their Riley Cooke drama lesson, Mr Pluckrose asked his class to choose a Jan van Eyck’s The Arnolfini Portrait painting from a virtual tour here is this big house with white big walls and ivy growing around it with of the national gallery and stained glass windows and a flower pot on the ledge of the window. Inside, the house has velvet walls and a spiral staircase with oak wood floor and if write a monologue based on it. you go upstairs there is a women with an emerald green robe on who is 9 months The lesson is based on a script pregnant and is about to soon give birth. Standing next to her is her tall husband called Art Heist. The thieves who has mystery in his eyes he is excited but also nervous to see his new baby be describe what they love about born but he has no expression on his white pale face. They have a brown fluffy but the paintings they want to musky dog who is tiny and delicate he always looks happy whenever the portrait steal and imagine themselves artist comes because he knows that there is always a little treat in his pocket. in the paintings as they get The picture makes me feel mysterious when I look at it because I want to find out lost in their admiration for about the backstory of this picture and what has happened. Isabelle Stubbings them...

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Claude Lorrainâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Seaport of the Embarkation of the Queen Sheba

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There is a seaport in the village. There are people getting out of the boats onto the land. Or leaving the port it could be either. And the blue of the water go perfectly with the yellow sunset. I think "What is behind the frame and outside the frame." Like there is something more outside the frame. Like there is something very important going out or coming in. I can see that something big is about to happen. I turn and watch the boats flowing in or out. I cannot quite make out what is going on. I can see everything that is going on the boats. Can you? Every person there. Every ship coming or going. And then for a second I see. What is that in the distance? I rub my eyes again and again yet it is coming and going. Then I think is the frame covering something important. How could they just hide it from me? Why are they making me intrigued? I look back at the building on the right. The people at the top watching out. Then the colour of the sea. Soon it will mean something. Won't it? There is all the stuff hidden behind the frame. And there is now no more. No more answers. The colour. The People. And then what is behind the frame I still wonder. Olivia Paiano

Year 10 have been working hard on A Christmas Carol in their English lessons. In their first week of remote learning, Mrs Tillier set her class the challenging task of writing in the style of Dickens himself. I think Fran could pass as a 19th century writer! Writing in the style of Dickens

eter always was a little weaselly. It was not hard to tell that if someone were going to go bad it would be him. His narrow face, bitter eyes, neat hair, scrawny body and shrivelled mouth were almost too obvious that I wonder how nobody noticed. Yes, Peter was a weasel all right. Mind you, I never really understood, myself, quite what makes a weasel such a bad thing. I am sure they are perfectly polite creatures, which makes me curious as to the man who felt himself so inclined as to use it as an insult. Perhaps a last ditch attempt to devastate a man he quarreled with? Or, maybe, a grudge against a particular weasel that became a generalisation of all weasels. It also peaked my interest as to why a stoat is never used in impolite conversation. Well, I am assured that the man was well within his rights to use such a phrase and I will continue to use it regardless because Peter really was such a weasel. Did the others suspect that Peter would be a weasel? Of course not. Despite the sneaking around and not being able to look anyone in the eye, even with him making odd comments when the matter of the future popped up or going off his favourite chocolate after 18 years, no one was any the wiser. One would think that after nine years of friendship someone would realise something was not right, perhaps when you look at it that way Peter was within his rights betray them! Oh yes, Peter was a weasel. Just as skies are blue; grass is green and the sun is hot, I can scarcely imagine what manner of creature I may refer to that boy as besides a weasel. The matter of his oblivious friends brings me back to the point of which I am here, telling this story. Because it is important for you to know that if I were in Peter's place too I may be disposed to betray my friends too. Possibly, not to that extent but I would definitely consider it. If, that is, my friends were Peters too. For there was no denying that if anyone did not belong somewhere it was Peter with them. I can see no logical explanation as to why they befriended him in the first place and yet they did. I can also see no logic as to how they had come to acquire everything Peter had not. For where he was short and lanky they were tall and muscular. Where he was shy, they were charismatic. Where he was generally over looked, the spotlight always seemed to be on themâ&#x20AC;Ś Frances Crocker , Year 10

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