Torrington Crier February 2023

February 2023

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.

Contact us...

Editorial Enquiries: Becky Huxtable, 07443 491 972

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 (please note that this is a home number not an office)

E: torrington.crieradverts@gmail.com

Costs & sizes: Small advert: 9cm wide x 5cm deep, £26 per issue. Large advert: 19cm wide x 5cm deep, £51 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: The Joy family & Esther Williams

Rural Distribution: Sue Crane & the community

Printers: Hedgerow Print, Crediton

Telephone for a free quote:

O ce: 01237 473197

Mobile 07971 173170 enquiries@atawindows.co.uk

Read The Crier Online

If you don’t normally get the Crier delivered, you can now view the latest issue and back issues online, including all adverts, which can be clicked on to visit their websites.

Would you like the Crier delivered in your village?

Volunteers collect Criers from the Library each issue and drop them off in various villages. If your community doesn’t receive the Crier but would like to, and you can help, please contact Becky on 01805 603152, torrington.crier@gmail. com, or call in to Torrington Library.

Disclaimer:

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.

Monday-Friday 9am-4pm Saturday 9am-12pm

Phone: 01237 459193

Mobile: 07494 313242

www.sheds4you.co.uk

Email: o ce@sheds4you.co.uk Unit 8, Caddsdown Industrial Park, Bideford, Devon, EX39 3DX

Drain clearing

CCTV surveys

Drain clearing CCTV surveys

Repairs/Relining

Repairs/Relining

Septic Tank and Treatment plant installation

Septic Tank and Treatment plant installation

Tel: 07794 586039 or 01271 440251

Torrington & District

Men’s Shed

We are a social organisation to help men who are retired, or otherwise at a loose end, find social contacts. Always ready to help the local community with tasks, mostly to do with wood. We are always seeking new members to join us; women members are also welcome.

We try wherever possible to use reclaimed timber donations from various sources, and would always be happy to accept any donations, please contact us if you can help.

We are always willing to consider new ideas, and value any help you can give us. We are at The Vicarage Garden, School Lane on Tuesday and Thursday mornings. Just drop in and have a look or contact Colin 07950 595 136 or Tony 07758 672 441.

Free Makaton Course

Sunday 26th February 2023 9.30-11am at Torrington Conservative Club. Please contact Hannah on 07837 525 126 to book a place.

Booklets to take home - £3 each.

Bluecoat Primary Welcome Senior Citizens for Christmas Lunch

Bluecoat C of E Primary was delighted to welcome 40 senior citizens from the local community back into school for the first Senior Citizens’ Christmas lunch since the pandemic. It has always been a muchloved event on the school calendar, so it really was heart-warming to be able to host the lunch again. The special guests were served a traditional Christmas dinner, with all the trimmings, by the school's Pupil Councillors, whilst they pulled a Christmas cracker with their neighbour. A programme of festive entertainment then followed from children across all year groups. We were also pleased to be able to visit local resident, Rita, at her home as she was unable to make it into school. Marie Dayment and pupil Alexa joined Rita for lunch and had a lovely time.

We would like to extend our sincere thanks to Great Torrington Cavaliers for their generous donation towards the cost of the event, and also to The Rotary Club of Torrington for providing transport. Thanks also to Mole Valley Farmers in South Molton for donating a rather splendid looking Christmas tree and to Xanadu, Steve Gladwin Family Butchers and Savona, for donated or discounted produce for the meal. All support is very gratefully received in these difficult times and gave a real sense of community to the occasion. We must also express our gratitude to the wonderful catering team and the team of staff who helped the event run so smoothly

Great Torrington Town & Community Hall

The weather may be cold and miserable but we are in high spirits, planning community events and carrying out some internal work to make the Hall even more inviting for our hirers.

Celia is busy working on our first Wedding Fayre, which will be held on 26th March from 11am to 3pm, with a variety of local exhibitors from all over North Devon. Check our website to book your ticket - so you can meet all the suppliers who can help you with planning your special day.

What's On?

The Bickford Centre

Hurrah - we have started the first phase of the refurbishment at the Bickford Centre and we will hopefully be finished by the time you read this. We hope to have a coffee morning early February to celebrate, look out for this. We have lost a couple of trustees this year, so if you fancy joining us that would be wonderful, we are a friendly bunch. There are only four meetings a year, although we do have a sub-committee which meets more frequently.

Our own staff will be on hand to show you what the Town Hall has to offer: from small intimate ceremonies in our Oak Room to the full works: wedding breakfast, evening celebrations, disco for up to 125! We also provide beautiful table decorations and chair covers/ sashes, plus a lit backdrop to make a stunning setting for a memorable day. Visit our website, let us know your individual requirements, and we will do the rest!

If you are a wedding supplier, please contact admin@greattorrington-townhall.org for more information.

Our ‘Mix and Mingle’ club for people with caring needs is going well, and Paula and Rosie are happy to welcome carers to show what we can offer. The session just before Christmas was a joy, with lots of beaming faces as Christmas cards and calendars were being made. This is such a worthwhile project and not only benefits the clients, but also their carers, who can have a chat with other carers over a cuppa and see all the various activities on offer. We started again this year on Monday 23rd January, with morning and afternoon sessions between 10am and 3pm. Please ring Rosie 07723 047 978 or Paula 07793 241 555.

Our very popular lunches started again on Thursday 26th January and run every other week. Thank you for your lovely comments on how much you are enjoying the food and friendly atmosphere.

The Christmas Fayre we ran in November seems a long time ago, but was so successful we are already thinking up new ideas for this year’s Fayre, plus other events we would like to run: more news on this in the next edition of the Crier. We held a very varied range of events in 2022: from drag nights to children’s discos, and dinner dances to Halloween madness! Please tell us what you would like to see at the Town Hall. We really do need your support, and remember all money raised is ploughed back into the cost of running and maintaining the building - no small task!

If you can help us for a few hours from time to time, please contact Chair Sandra on admin@greattorrington-townhall.org.

Sandra Crawley, On behalf of the Town Hall Trustees

We are also looking for volunteers to serve the hot drinks, which is a good way to meet people in a comfortable and friendly place, and after the refurbishment we shall have a lovely new spacious kitchen to work in. Finally, we are looking for a treasurer, not an onerous task, as the wonderful one we currently have wishes to retire. If any of these roles appeal, do contact me for more information.

Secretary Cathrine Simmons 01805 622409

Torrington Foodbank

Last year saw us trying to return to a normal life post-Covid. The Foodbank continued, and due to rising costs in both food and heating towards the end of last year, we saw a rise in people needing to use us.

Of course, we would not be able to function without the generosity of you all. At Christmas, despite more difficult times, we were overwhelmed by the amount of donations we received both in food and money.

We would like to thank you all for your kindness and thanks also to the Co-op, Lidl, the Information Centre and the Plough for having our donation baskets in their premises.

Please, if you are struggling, we are at the Baptist Church New Street on Tuesday and Saturday mornings 10am12 noon. You do not need to be referred and all information is confidential Torrington Foodbank

Torrington Library News

We are delighted to announce an extra opening session every Monday morning until the end of March, from 10am-1pm. Join us on our ‘Meet up Mondays’ to enjoy a free hot drink, biscuits, and a chat. Why not stay and play board games or catch up with the news.

Meet Up Mondays - Crafting with Chris 13th March 10.30am-12pm. Jan from Tarka Valley Railway, 27th February 10am-12.30pm

Bounce & Rhyme Storytime – Stay & Chat, Tuesdays (term-time only) 10.30-11am followed by Baby Self Weigh Tuesday 11.30am-4pm. Walk & Talk - Thursday 10.30am

Our popular weekly walk is open to new participants, all are very welcome to enjoy this gentle walk with lots of talk, followed by a cuppa. So, if you want to get a spring in your step why not join us!

Lego Club, alternate Saturdays 10.30am-12pm

Half term - Friday 17th February Children’s Crafting with Chris 10.30am-12pm Saturday 25th February Children’s Crafting with Chris 10.30am-12pm. Drop in events – £1 donation appreciated.

Book Quest

Parents, please ask for details of this engaging reading challenge for primary age children, supporting their reading journey.

One 2 One IT Support

If you have a tablet, laptop or smartphone you are struggling with (maybe a Christmas gift!), our volunteer Perry is here to offer support on every other Thursday morning (by appointment only). Please call on 01805 622107 to book.

Devon Home Library Service

Our Home Library Service delivers books to people unable to get to the library because of health, mobility or caring responsibilities. Dedicated volunteers can choose and deliver books to your home, including large print and audiobooks, free of charge. With so much choice, there is bound to be something to suit your interests. Whether you are an avid reader or simply like to browse the occasional books, we can help.

To receive the service or become a Home Library volunteer, ask at the library, send us an email or call 0345 155 1001.

We also offer a ‘Good Neighbours’ membership for friends, neighbours and family wishing to choose and deliver books to people not able to get to the library. ‘Good Neighbours’ membership has various benefits ensuring library services are available to all - for more details contact your local library.

Torrington Library Book Talk

Thank you to everyone who engages with this page and shares their love of reading.

Check out the group on our Facebook page @TorringtonLibraryDevon.

Follow us on Facebook to find out the latest information about library events and information. We post on our page regularly, so it is a good place to find out what’s going on

Please refer to our website: www.librariesunlimited.org.uk for up-to-date information on all our services.

For assistance with any queries please contact us by emailing torrington.library@ librariesunlimited.org.uk or via our general telephone enquiries line is 0345 155001. Libraries Unlimited is a registered charity 1170092

Tarka Valley Railway Next Stage

Interested in joining?

Tarka Valley Railway was formed in 2008, when a small band of volunteers had the dream to once again run railway services between Torrington and Bideford. In April 2018 work began on Phase 1 of the project, when Devon County Councillor Andrew Saywell cut the first sod; it runs 270 metres towards Beam Weir and has been completed, thanks to the support of our local and county councils, and our dedicated band of volunteers and members.

Phase 2 is now at the planning stage, and will take the line to the first bridge over the River Torridge. Here there will be a small platform allowing passengers to further explore the Tarka Trail and the path to the former Rolle Canal, whilst maintaining full use of the Tarka Trail for walkers and cyclists alongside.

To achieve this task, whilst continuing to maintain our rolling stock and current yard, we require more volunteers to join us by helping in whichever way they can; this can be in the form of physical work such as clearing the site for the new track, various administrative/HR tasks, or front of house duties such as helping in the shop or liaising with other organisations - there really is something for everyone! We are a friendly team of volunteers who look forward to welcoming you on board.

Why not join Jan, who will be available at Torrington Library on Monday 27th February between 10am12.30pm, if you are interested in volunteering or have any questions relating to this exciting project.

Alan Woollacott Logs

Dry, Seasoned, Barn Stored 1 pick-up load £115

Also oak posts, beams, lintels & boards

T: 01769 560666

M: 07886 465668

Commons News

Local Professional

Qualified Counsellor

Face-to-face or online sessions available

Contact for more information

07467 702 605

www.birds-willowcounselling.com

The year turns and the snowdrops are starting to peep out along Ladywash and Lady’s Island. Soon the unmistakable smell of wild garlic will be evident along the river, and the cycle starts again.

You may have noticed something going on in Sheppard’s Ham. This is the field between the haulage yard and the river, and next to the sewage works. Section 26 of The Great Torrington Commons Act 1889 provides that the Conservators may let, upon agricultural lease, any land listed in The First Schedule of the Act. This includes Sheppard's Ham, Bridge Ham, Fryer's Ham and Brent Bridge. The field has been leased out for a number of years to a farmer who took a cut of hay off it each summer. Unfortunately, the increased amount of dog fouling in the field has meant that the hay is no longer safe for cattle fodder, and so the tenant decided not to renew the contract when it elapsed. You may have seen the requests for tender that we placed in the Crier a few months ago. We have now a new tenant who wants to use the field for grazing horses. This will be very beneficial for the wild flowers and will provide another type of habitat that we haven’t had on the Commons for a number of years. The old fences which had fallen into disrepair are being mended, and a new one erected to keep the horses safe from dogs. The public footpath by the river will be unaffected, as will fishing rights by the river

We have a lot of trees suffering from ash dieback, and winter is the time we need to make sure they are safe. One large ash on Castle Hill near Barley Grove Carpark is an example which will have to be reduced, and smaller ones have already been dealt with on Castle Hill, along Rolle Road and the little woodland opposite the Puffing Billy.

If you are interested in helping manage the Commons, please contact us at clerk@torringtoncommons.co.uk We are a small friendly group, always welcoming of new faces.

Mandy Harrison, Chair GTCC

Great Torrington School Governor Vacancies

Great Torrington School needs your support! We currently have vacancies for school governors. If you are interested in becoming a governor, the school is holding an open Full Governing Board meeting on Thursday 9th February 2023 here at GTS, starting at 3.30pm. You do not need to have children at the school; you simply need an enquiring mind, and an interest in your local community. Full training will be provided, and a mentor allocated to you when you join. Places at the meeting are limited, to book, or if you would like to discuss this further, please contact Jo Pateman, Governance Professional, by email jpateman@ gts.devon.sch.uk or phone 01805 623531

Torrington RFC Youth

Aquick note to inform you about changes of the youth training times. All age groups now train on a Wednesday evening at the club.

U13/U14 boys: 5.15-6.30pm

U12/U14 girls: 5.15-6.15pm

U9/U10/U11 (boys and girls mixed): 6.30-7.30pm

We would like more players across all of these age groups so if you know anyone who would like to give rugby a go, please get in touch!

As always, we are on the lookout for more volunteers to help with coaching, kitchen staff, and various other roles. Please get in touch if you like to be involved in some form.

We are looking forward to a trip to watch Exeter Chiefs v French team Caste Olympique in the European Cup on the 21st January. The youth players will get to have coaching with some of the squad, players/coaches, have a tour of the facilities, take part in the guard of honour for the players on the pitch before the game, a lap of the pitch at half time and also get some players’ signatures after the game. Should be a great day!

It's surprising once Christmas has passed, how quickly the rest of the season goes, so by the time you read this there won't be much of it left, although hopefully some nicer weather to play in!

If you would like to get in touch, please contact Adrian Avery (Youth Chairman) on the email or phone number below.

Adrian, agavery81@gmail.com, 07780 665 378

Garden & Landscape

Eight stone-built holidays cottages • Pretty countryside open gardens setting• Comfortably priced • 1-5 bedrooms • Spacious indoors & out • Somewhere for everyone to enjoy. couples, families, family celebrations • Outdoor summer pool, small animal farm, games room, playroom, fast wi-fi

Torridge House Cottages, Little Torrington 07807 698 224 • www.torridgehouse.co.uk

All garden & landscape work undertaken, large & small, by experienced & qualified landscaper & designer, plus

LOGS FOR SALE

Tel: 07971533 235

Guide Dogs Volunteering - Puppy Raisers Needed!

With the start of the New Year comes the first days of new beginnings, new adventures and new experiences. This year, why not do something really special?

When we say volunteering for Guide Dogs is life changing, we’re not just talking about the people we’ll support. You’ll gain new skills; build confidence you never knew you had and have amazing experiences that you genuinely couldn’t find anywhere else.

There are around 2 million people living with sight loss in the UK. Guide Dogs, a UK-wide charity with a community team based in Exeter, supports people with a visual impairment to maintain their independence and live the life they choose. There are lots of different services on offer, ranging from volunteer-led services such as ‘My Sighted Guide’ through to the support for children and young people, access to technology, and the iconic guide dog service.

This year, we are urgently appealing for new volunteers to sign up as Puppy Raisers. This means looking after future guide dogs for the first year of their lives, socialising them and giving them a loving home. It’s a hugely rewarding role with lots of support and training on offer, plus you will meet lots of new people in your area who are also raising pups.

Many of you may think saying goodbye to your pup would be too difficult, but our volunteers say nothing beats the rewarding feeling of knowing you have played a huge part in changing someone’s life. Terry describes the moment he first said goodbye to the first dog he fostered:

“We were really attached to the first dog we fostered, Carli. However, we get to see her with her owner and that makes it all worthwhile. We went to our local centre and Carli came to greet us but immediately returned to her owner’s side as if to say ‘I’ve got a job to do’. Carli has given her owner the opportunity to go to university and live a full life.”

Sometimes, the first step can feel daunting, but if you’re volunteering with Guide Dogs, our welcoming and supportive family of both staff and volunteers are walking alongside you throughout.

Start volunteering at: www.guidedogs.org.uk/how-you-can-help/volunteering-forguide-dogs

Torrington Methodist Church

Unfortunately, due to freezing temperatures we had to cancel the ‘Light up a Life’ service two weeks before Christmas. That service was an opportunity to remember loved ones, who had died in the past twelve months and beyond. Within the worship of the Church, we had the space to remember them and to pause to reflect where we are.

To enable that to happen, but not wait another twelve months, during the Service on Sunday 5th February at 10.30am there will be an opportunity to remember our loved ones, to pause and reflect, and to light a candle in their memory.

This will happen in our regular morning worship, which on that Sunday is a service of Holy Communion. All are welcome to receive bread and wine, although there is no compulsion to do so.

We would invite you to come to the service and to participate in a way that is appropriate to you. As I said there will be an opportunity to light a candle, they will be provided.

I will also read a list of those who have died, if that is your wish. Please could you let me know if you would like a particular name read out.

Tea and Coffee will be served at the conclusion of the service.

Revd Robert Blackhall 01805 628041

Ash dieback advice

F.A.B Timber Sale

Wood available: Oak • Ash • Beech • Elm • Yew

Alder • Cherry & more!

Several Spalted planks

Large & small bits

Amazing old roots

Project ideas...

Ideal for: Resin enthusiasts • River tables

Coffee tables • Banquet tables • Benches

Shelves • Platters • Cheese boards & more!

Call for a viewing or any info: 07814 292 077 www.fabtrees.co.uk

Goodbye John & Jane Rawlinson

Wayne Hill Painter and Decorator

Fully qualified tradesman

• Interior and exterior painting

• Paper hanging

• No job too big or too small

For a friendly reliable service from a local tradesman ring: T: 01805 625238 M: 07814 147 603

It was with a heavy heart that I said my goodbyes to John and Jane Rawlinson, who have moved to Warrington to be near their son Julian. John and Jane lived in Torrington for over 30 years and were major contributors to our community in so many ways. They will be sadly missed by all who knew them.

When I took over the running of the Plough Arts Centre in 1992, John was the first volunteer to sign up and he and Jane continued to be great supporters of the Plough during their time in the town. Both Jane and John were also, for many years, volunteers at RHS Garden Rosemoor and were always happy to share their love of gardening with so many people.

During my time as a Town Councillor, John, who was a fellow Councillor, was someone I looked up to and admired. He was inspiring, objective, intelligent and very wise when offering me counsel.

John also served as a Liberal Democrat on both Torridge District Council and Devon County Council and was Chairman of both. He was a man who was humble, but direct, always serving the people of Torrington with pride, ensuring he always did what was best for our town.

John was elected to Devon County Council between 2001-2009 and he was Chair of Health Overview Scrutiny in 2004-5. He then became the Executive (Cabinet) Member for the Adult Services portfolio between 2005-2008. In his final year on the Council, he was Chairman between 2008-2009, and after he stood down, he was made an Honorary Alderman in recognition of his service to the Council and to the people of Devon. Every political decision John made was done with the utmost integrity.

I’m sure there are others who would add to Lord Burnett and wife, Lady Billie Burnett’s comments below…

“As a Liberal Democrat Councillor on both Torridge District Council and Devon County Council, John Rawlinson served his constituents for several years, always offering sound and wise advice. He and his wife Jane gave me unstinting support and friendship when I had the honour to represent Torridge and West Devon as the Member of Parliament. John and Jane continued to support the local community in many ways and were known and respected by all for their compassion, honesty, and great integrity. We wish them all the best for their future.” Rt Hon Lord (John) Burnett & Lady Billie Burnett

I would personally like to thank Jane and John for their friendship, inspiration, and all they did for Torrington and my family – be happy Jane and John, you will be sorely missed.

Anne & Chris Tattersall

MERTON GARAGE

MOT TESTING SERVICING DIAGNOSTICS REPAIRS TYRES

SALES

We offer free vehicle collection from Torrington 01805 603081

Castle Hill Work Hub

Come and join us at Castle Hill Work Hub and experience the vibrant, colourful co-working community at the heart of Great Torrington. It’s a great space to connect with like-minded people!

We have 16 hot desks and a meeting room for up to eight people, or you can hire the whole hub for up to 20 people!

We offer flexible options (bookable by the hour or the day) which of course include unlimited tea/coffee, free parking, and a warm and comfortable space now that it’s getting colder.

We are centrally located in the Castle Hill building in South Street car park, sharing the site with the Tourist Information Centre, Fork 'n' Feast café, Town Library and the Town Council Offices. Come, pop in and take a look around. For more information head to www.castlehillworkhub.co.uk.

Torrington Senior Citizens Group 2023

Happy New Year to all. Our group will be holding our AGM on Wednesday 29th March at 2pm in the Methodist Church. New and existing members are all welcome. We will be arranging our annual programme of trips and identifying officers and helpers. We look forward to seeing you.

John Pitts (Secretary)

The Bell Inn

A traditional thatched pub with a smokehouse and grill twist to the menu!

Tucked away in Monkleigh, just a few miles from Torrington, is The Bell Inn. The classic thatched Devonshire exterior, beamed ceiling and log-fired interior masks an interesting twist, as you’ll find an American-style smokehouse offering a range of delicious slow-smoked dishes on the menu!

Sally and Roy Goodger took the pub over in 2019, just before the Covid pandemic hit. Following the first lockdown, when hospitality venues were only allowed to serve customers outside, they took the opportunity to play to Roy’s BBQ passions and installed a smoker and commercial wood-fired grill, producing a summer menu of smoked and BBQ flavours, freshly grilled fish and vegetarian options.

They have since continued with this theme; with slow-smoked BBQ ribs, melt-inthe-mouth brisket in gravy, slow-cooked pork belly, home-cured salt beef and bacon, plus classics on the grill such as hunter’s chicken and a great range of burgers. The smokehouse also caters for plant-based diets with veggie burgers, pulled jackfruit and their homemade smoked 3-bean chilli amongst some of the options. Throw in a few pub classics, some freshly grilled local fish fillets and a classic Sunday roast and you have something for everyone!

Sally says, ‘The smoked meats proved such a hit when we re-opened, we knew we had to keep them coming and our smokehouse platter, with all four of our smoked meats on one plate, is a top seller and great to share. We shop locally for all our ingredients; our meat is supplied by Wares in Torrington; fish from Appledore and fresh veg from Heddens of Woodtown. We also make all our own desserts and offer ice cream from Farmer Tom. We love putting our heart and soul into the food here and seeing people enjoy it together.’

The pub opens Wednesday to Sunday; to book call 01805 625313 or visit their website. Follow on Facebook @thebellinnmonkleigh or check out the ‘What’s On’ section of their website (thebellinnmonkleigh.co.uk) to see what special events and offers they have running each week.

Please help our local businesses and 'Think Local' whenever possible.

Think Local editorial is free for advertisers! Please contact Esther Williams on 01805 601964 for more information.

New Year Spring Clean

This time of the year is often the time when we make plans for the coming year, and get around to doing those jobs we've been putting off; such as tidying the garage, clearing out the loft, tackling the overgrown garden. If you are unable to take the rubbish to the recycling centre yourself, please contact a licensed waste carrier, like myself, to remove and dispose of your items responsibly. I offer very competitive rates for all types of waste removal and I will remove any scrap metal free of charge.

Please call James on 07714 819 415 Licenced Waste carrier No. CBDU269392

From Your County Councillor…

Iwould like to start by wishing all readers a belated Happy New Year. I’m hoping that after three years dominated by a pandemic, war, and economic difficulties, we have a calmer year ahead. But we shall see…!

The Christmas and New Year period has been a busy time at Devon County Council, with a huge amount of work going on to stabilise the 2022 budget, set the budget for 2023, as well as the appointment of a new Chief Executive. Locally, it has also been very busy; as ever, I have been working on a number of highways issues, including grit bin locations and resupplying over the freezing weather we had just before Christmas. I have also got involved in discussions regarding South Street Car Park, which I will write about later.

The main developments at County Hall since the last issue have been on financial matters. In my last article, we were awaiting the outcome from the Autumn Statement and Central Government Financial Settlement. Although at the time of writing (11 January), budget preparation work is continuing, I am pleased to report that Devon’s funding settlement was better than first forecast, with additional funding for social care services coming through from the Autumn Statement, and a

more generous financial settlement in December than was expected.

I would like to thank our MP Sir Geoffrey Cox, and the other Devon MPs, who listened to our concerns and took them up with the Government. While we should be under no illusions that the financial conditions remain difficult, we are no longer looking at having to bridge a £75 million budget gap and, as a result of this funding boost, we will be able to increase the overall level of funding going into Adult Social Care, Children’s Services and Highways in the next financial year.

Draft departmental budgets are currently being set in January, and will then go through the Council’s Scrutiny Committees, before being approved at Full Council in mid-February, so I will have more information about the overall budget then.

Alongside the budget work, I am pleased to announce that the County Council appointed a new permanent Chief Executive in November, Donna Manson, who joins us having been the Chief Executive of the Highlands Council in Scotland, the UK’s largest rural authority. Mrs Manson has previously been a Head Teacher, Director of Children’s Services and latterly Chief Executive, and has a track record of turning around underperforming services and improving council finances. She has already been working several days in Devon and will start full time in midFebruary.

On more local matters, many residents

and local businesses have been in touch regarding Torridge District Council’s proposed feasibility study, on whether affordable housing could be placed in the lower half of South Street Car Park. Although the management of the car park is not under the jurisdiction of the County Council, the potential loss of half of the car park would have a serious impact on our existing on-street Highways infrastructure, and would almost certainly lead to an increase in obstructive on-street parking. After taking TDC’s proposals to the County Council’s Highways Development Management Officers, they have commented that Highways would be likely to oppose a major development like this on the car park. I have communicated this to Steve Hearse, the Chief Executive of Torridge District Council, and asked that Highway’s representations are put to the consultants carrying out the feasibility study. I too share these traffic concerns, and I also think the economic impact on the town would be disastrous. While I appreciate the very strong feelings about this, I am hopeful that the feasibility study will conclude, for both highways and economic reasons, that using this car park site is not ‘feasible’!

2023 looks set to be another busy year and I hope it does truly bring peace and prosperity for all our communities.

As ever, if there are any DCC issues you’d like to raise with me you can contact me on Facebook facebook.com/ cllrsaywell, ring 07886 446 560 or email andrew.saywell@devon.gov.uk.

Tarka Valley Railway News

If you have visited the Puffing Billy recently, you will have seen the latest acquisition to our fleet. The arrival of BR Class 143 DMU on November 16th was the culmination of many weeks of behind the scenes planning, and hard work, by the team to prepare the site. Number 143617 used to work regularly from Barnstaple so many of you may have ridden on it in the past. Many thanks to GWR for making this possible and to Allelys Heavy Haulage in achieving the challenging transportation from St Philip’s Marsh depot in Bristol to Great Torrington. This is a tremendous step forward towards restarting passenger services from Torrington Station for the first time since 1982, and it is fitting that its arrival was in the very month of the 40th anniversary of the last train.

Weekly news, photos and full details of our activities can be found on our Facebook page plus our website (www.tarkavalleyrailway.co.uk) and we are now on Instagram as tarkavalleyrailway so do check us out.

On behalf of our team of volunteers, I would like to wish you all a Happy and successful New Year.

Robert Martin, Tarka Valley Railway

Thank you & Welcome…

Iwould like to take this opportunity to personally thank our retiring Town Clerk, Karen Chapman and welcome our new Town Clerk, Jennie Smithson. Karen worked tirelessly for our Town Council and always went way beyond her call of duty. I was privileged to work with Karen on many community projects, and was always impressed with her philosophy that working in collaboration with businesses and other community groups was undoubtedly the best way forward for Torrington.

You will be sorely missed Karen, but it’s great to know that your mantel has been passed on to Jennie Smithson, another true local girl with Torrington at heart in all she does.

Enjoy the next chapter of your life Karen and Jennie, all the very best in your new post – you will be fabulous!

Anne Tattersall

Parish Church

We were delighted that Fr Steve Turner, our new Vicar was licensed by the Bishop of Crediton, on January 4th in St Michael’s, to work in Torrington, Frithelstock, Little Torrington and Taddiport. We welcome him, his wife Katy and daughter Emily, and hope that they will enjoy their new life here in North Devon. Fr Steve is keen to meet and get to know as many people in the town and villages as possible. If you should see him, please introduce yourself (if he does not greet you first!) You will be welcome at our service on Sunday mornings at 10am at St Michael’s. Next month he plans to write something in the Crier and, when a service planning meeting has been held, the times of services in all the churches will be published.

Torrington RFC

Everyone at Torrington Rugby Club hopes you all had a good festive season, and wishes you every happiness for the forthcoming year.

To start, we have had a change of coaches as Zerren Bell has left the head coach’s position. He has been replaced in the interim by his former assistant and long-time club stalwart Mike Wigley. Our thanks go to Zerren for his efforts, and best wishes for his future in rugby

December was not kind to us, as the weather scuppered plans to host Crediton 3rds at Donnacroft. This was planned for the 10th, but the playing area was frozen and it was too dangerous to play on. This fixture was then rescheduled for the following weekend. Not a decision that proved popular with the squad, as many had planned other activities in line with the time of year. However, in true Torrie spirit, a squad of sorts was assembled to enable the game to go ahead. This was not to be so, as the weather had beaten us once again and, despite the improvement in temperatures, there were several areas of the pitch that remained too frozen to be safe. So it was a relief that the fixture was deferred to 21st January. The cold snap didn’t stop its work there though. As the temperatures rose to above freezing, the damage done showed itself with several burst pipes in the changing rooms and the main clubhouse. Water was seen flowing out of the main door and we were alerted to the fact that there was a load of grief awaiting us. Again, the Torrie spirit shone through, with industrial dehumidifiers being quickly deployed to start the drying out process. Thanks Pav, aka Carl Owen, long-time clubman.

The damage was assessed and huge thanks go out to Wayne Rowcliff, for his quick work to rectify the problems.

We were then able to safely host

League leaders Old Plymouthians and Mannamedians in our first fixture of 2023. A fine squad was ready for action, with several players returning after long layoffs through injury.

On a soggy pitch Torrie quickly scored, with Adie Guppy crossing the whitewash.

The conversion was unfortunately missed and OPMs replied with their own try shortly afterwards. They then converted two penalties to sneak into the lead. However, not to be outdone, Torrie replied with Guppy successfully kicking a penalty to narrow the gap 8-11. This was how the game ended despite the best efforts of both teams to score further points. A cracking result, given the difference in positions in the table, and a magnificent start under Wig’s tenure as head coach.

A vote of thanks is also headed Ollie Kennealy’s way, for sorting out our persistent problem with the floodlights. Although we are unable to play under them (there aren’t enough), they are invaluable on training nights.

So, with the clubhouse and changing rooms sorted out, we welcome you back to Donnacroft and Torrington RFC for another year. Although home fixtures are a bit thin on the ground for the foreseeable future, with a run of away games to see out our league season. However, there is the Devon Junior Shield competition to look forward to, with Buckfastleigh away being our first opponents.

As always, we welcome new, old, or returning players to train: Thursday evenings from 6.30pm.

The clubhouse is also available for hire. Go to our home site torringtonrfc. rfu.club or email trfc1985@outlook.com for further information.

C’mon Torrie!

Respect, Sportsmanship, Discipline, Enjoyment & Teamwork Mark Waterson

Torrington & District Historical Society

The group started 2023 by welcoming members and visitors to a fascinating talk, with lots of nuggets of information from Michael Griffiths-Jones on ‘Pre-History in the Torridge Valley’. Who knew that lump in the road just outside Torrington on the B3232 was a Bronze Age burial mound?

We are looking forward to our February meeting, on Monday 13th February, when Ian Harrison will be talking about the Rolle Canal; from the milk factory to Rosemoor. The Rolle Canal Society has done a lot of restoration in the area, and it will be interesting to hear about it and maybe visit in the near future. Certainly many of us follow the path of the canal on our regular walks around town. We meet at the Methodist Church at the top of Mill Street and welcome visitors at a charge of £3. If you would like to join a meeting please let Pauline know at pallen123@btinternet.com or 01805 623089. We look forward to seeing you.

Maggi Rogers

Christian Aid Lent Lunches

The next Lent Lunch will be held on Friday 6 March at the Baptist Church, between 121.45pm with a choice of homemade soup, rolls, cheese, chutney, and a cup of tea or coffee for £3.50. These lunches are hosted by the Baptist, Holy Family, Church of England and Methodist Churches. Please see below for the dates and venues of the next four lunches. All are welcome, so please come along and help support the work of Christian Aid.

Fri 13 March: 12-1.45pm at St Michael’s Parish Church, cost £3.50. All are welcome.

Fri 20 March: 12- 1.45pm at the Methodist Church (hosted by The Holy Family). Cost £3.50. All are welcome.

Fri 27 March: 12 noon-1.45pm at the Methodist Church (top of Mill St). Cost £3.50. All are welcome.

Torrington Christian Aid Committee

Thanks from Woodland Vale

Woodland Vale Care Home in Torrington North Devon is a residential home and day care centre for people over 65 who have Dementia. Our objective and values are to provide the best support and care for people living with dementia, alongside their families. We also support people from our local community coming out of hospital to regain skills and confidence before going home.

During December we asked local businesses to help us support our residents by donating a prize for our raffle. 100% of the money would go to the residents to enjoy activities such as, choirs and singers visiting the home and the purchasing and using of sensory equipment.

The whole team and residents at Woodland Vale would like to thank the following Torrington businesses, and the people of Torrington, for their support and kind donations which help to improve the lives of the people in our care.

Co-op; Inside 11a; Collectability; Duffy’s Home Hardware; Hog Wash Soap; Java Gifts; Kitch n cupboard; Lillian Rose Interiors; Mel’s Crafts; No 5 Hair & Beauty; No 37 Bistro; PCC Group; Petroc College Barnstaple; Rollins Plumbing and Heating; Soulful Healing; Toyzone; Tanya’s Beauty studio; Torrington Jewellers; Torrington Cavaliers; Waghorn Wheels; Wares; Whiskers Pet Centre.

All at Woodland Vale

Great Torrington Commons 365 Supporters Group February 2023

The Conservators are responsible for making sure that the Commons are in the best possible condition so that they can be enjoyed by the whole population of Torrington, the surrounding villages, towns and all the visitors who come here from far and wide. To pay for the maintenance and improvements and to protect the Commons, we need to raise the funds. Last year it cost just over £64,000 to do this and through a range of fundraising events and income from various sources, we managed to achieve this amount. But we must keep it up. Just over two years ago we introduced the Torrington Commons 365 Supporters group. This has been a great success; it has raised just over £5,000 in each of the first two years. Supporters that are tax payers can also fill in a Gift Aid form to enable us to get another 25% on their donation.

Most of us are either a short walk or drive away, and once you are there you can enjoy nature at its best. Our rangers are out every day working to keep the Commons in the best condition possible.

You can buy a copy of the Tree Trail map for £1 from the Post Office in the Tourist Information Centre, Collectability, Whiskers pet shop, Greedy’s Burger van or the Puffing Billy. The trail starts and finishes at the Old Bowling Green, it is a great walk and very educational. We have recently introduced some new collection boxes in the town shops. You can donate coins or notes to help us, including foreign currency. So please look out for our boxes when you are in town.

Please, consider applying to be a Commons 365 Supporter if you can, the funds will be used to continue our goal of maintaining, improving, and protecting the Commons. As a Commons supporter you are also able to be a Town supporter by using your membership card to get a discount or other benefit when you shop at the participating businesses.

The 365 Supporters just pay a £2 per month or a £24 annual donation which can be increased with Gift Aid by 25% if you are a taxpayer. You can let us know at the application stage if this applies to you.

Joining the 365 Supporters group is simple: Option 1. Visit www.torringtoncommons.org and navigate to the 365 Supporters page where you can apply online and pay by PayPal or standing order annually or monthly. You can also print an application form to post in with a cheque. Option 2. Email vicechair@torringtoncommons.org or phone or text 07956 366 390 and I will get an application form to you. You can also collect an application form from the Post Office. Some of the shops in town also have application forms.

Andrew Giles, Vice-Chair, Great Torrington Commons Conservators

“I keep seeing on the news that my bills could be going up soon. It’s making me really worried especially as I spent more on Christmas than I should have done. How can I get my spending back on track in 2023?”

Lots of people are asking themselves this very question just now, but there are lots of things you can do to be more in control of your money and be better prepared for the future.

paid the correct wage.

"Would you like to help people resolve their problems? Demand for our services is increasing dramatically and is likely to continue to do so for some time."

1. Be very clear about exactly how much money you have coming in and going out each month and be realistic about what you really need for essentials like food and travel.

2. Set yourself a budget that you can stick to. You may find our budgeting tool useful to help you.

www.citizensadvice.org.uk/debt-andmoney/budgeting/budgeting/work-outyour-budget/

If any of your bills do go up during the year, you can go back to our budgeting tool at any time, create a new plan and stay in control.

3. See if you can reduce any of your living costs. www.citizensadvice.org.uk/ debt-and-money/help-with-debt/dealingwith-your-debts/reducing-your-regularliving-costs/

4. Make sure you are getting all the income you are entitled to. www. citizensadvice.org.uk/debt-and-money/ help-with-debt/dealing-with-your-debts/ check-if-you-can-increase-your-income/ - this will show you if you are entitled to support such as benefits or government grants. It will also tell you if you are being

5. As credit or store card bills land on the mat it is perfectly understandable that these debts add to your worries, but the priority has to be paying your rent/mortgage, energy bills and Council Tax as failing to pay these has serious consequences. The following links give advice about which bills you need to prioritise and support available to help pay these and other bills. www. citizensadvice. org.uk/debt-and-money/help-with-debt/ dealing-with-your-debts/work-out-whichdebts-to-deal-with-first/ www.citizensadvice.org.uk/debt-andmoney/budgeting/budgeting/get-helpwith-bills/

When you have planned how to cover your priority bills, the budgeting tool can then help you plan on how to repay credit/store cards and overdraft charges. Here at Citizens Advice Torridge, North, Mid & West Devon we have a specialist team of people to help with debt problems and money management. Visit our website, www.ruraldevoncab.org.uk and click on ‘Get Advice’. Alternatively, you can ring our free, local Adviceline on 0808 27 87 999.

Would you like to help people resolve their problems? Demand for our services is increasing dramatically and is likely to continue to do so for some time. We rely heavily on our volunteers and are always keen to recruit more. We give full training and ongoing support so if the idea of working with us appeals to you please email recruitment@ruraldevoncab.org.uk and find out more!

Bideford District Photography Group

Well, the holiday season now seems just a distant memory and January saw the judging of the ‘Happiness’ competition. Apart from the joy of just using their cameras, members came up with some very inventive interpretations of the subject.

Moving on, February has the usual full programme including:

7th February Judging of the 'Bideford' competition.

14th and 28th February are both members’ nights with the usual mix of challenge images, members presentations and general banter.

21st February we have a talk: ‘An evening with John Perriam’. John is member of the prestigious Exeter Camera Club, a very engaging speaker and an ever inventive and excellent photographer.

Moving into March we will discover just how inventive members can be with the judging of the ‘Creative’ competition on March 7th.

Another date for the diary is March 21st, with a talk ‘Svalbard and the Russian High Artic’ by Chris Marsham

So, there is a good mix coming up to serve the membership, whatever their tastes.

Anyone wishing to come along is welcome, please come over and make yourself known to one of the members. We really are a friendly bunch so do come and have a chat.

Or for further information email Tim at sanderst99@gmail.com or enquiries@bidefordcameraclub. co.uk or see the website bidefordcameraclub.co.uk.

Commons Events

Our main fundraising project this year is to raise money to renovate the Waterloo Monument on Castle Hill. It was erected in 1818 according to the plaque, and it is a listed monument and needs to be done within the rules. We are working on plans to raise the money during the year and will let you know how we are doing in future editions of the Crier.

The car boot sales will be starting on April the 2nd this year, one month earlier than usual, we will also have sales on most of the bank Holidays. The Commons stall raised just over £4,000 last year and it’s becoming a major source of our fundraising activities. We sold items that had been donated to us from all over North Devon and we’re still collecting items such as books, cds and dvds to restock for this year, so please get in touch if you would like me to come and collect them from you. I have been

Bluecoat Choir Sings at Exeter Cathedral

On the evening of Friday 25th November, Bluecoat C of E Primary School choir were invited to take part in the Teacher's Rock fundraiser, ‘A Night of Mystical Music in the Nave’ at Exeter Cathedral. They performed alongside schools from across Devon, as well as their own individual performance in front of an audience of around 400 people.

The children have rehearsed once a week since the start of September. They chose the song ‘You are the Reason’ by Callum Scott, a mellow tune suited to the acoustics of the venue and the children's voices. Evie said, “Performing at Exeter Cathedral was great fun; we were singing our hearts out!” Elsa said, “It was really exciting singing in the Cathedral”.

All the children had a fantastic time and did the school proud - they are excited to see what comes next!

Image: Tom Hurley www.devondigital.co.uk

to every street in Torrington collecting the donations and as far as South Molton, High Bickington, Barnstaple, Fremington and quite a few times to Bideford, plus lots of the surrounding villages.

You can contact me on 07956 366 390, or email vicechair@torringtoncommons. org

Every penny is used to help us maintain, improve, and protect the Commons.

Andrew Giles, Vice-Chair Great Torrington Commons Conservators

Torrington Historical Society

Torrington Historical Society meets on the second Monday of the month at Methodist Church Mill Street. 7pm for 7.30pm. Visitors welcome, cost £3.

* Monday 13th February 'The Rolle Canal Torrington to Rosemoor ' Ian Harrison.

* Monday 13th March 'The Braddick Family (part 2)' Sharon Snell.

Cedek Water Treatment Services

Central Heating & Plumbing services

Boiler Service/Installations/Maintenance Work

Legionnaires Control Specialists

Barn dried logs for sale mixed load

Trailer of 200 + £60 bag of 15 + £6

Free local delivery when you spend over £25!

Free Quotations

01805 625645 email: cedek.co@virgin.net

Mobile: Chris 07857 767 579 Steph 07791 019 464

Natural Gas & LPG Registered

Free delivery 10 mile radius of Great Torrington

Phone Nick 07990766298

GREAT TORRINGTON TOWN Your Council, Working for YOU

From Your Mayor… 2

022

was an interesting year, one where we all adapted to living with Covid-19 whilst trying to return to the normality of public events and holidays; social distancing and mask wearing was no longer required, and in many ways, we returned to the lives we have previously known. There were some momentous historic events and during the summer we experienced unprecedented temperatures here in the United Kingdom. The war in Ukraine shocked us all, and many local doors opened to refugees, who were warmly welcomed into our community.

We celebrated the historic 70-year reign of Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II in June with the Platinum Jubilee, and then sadly marked her death at the beginning of September, which was followed by the proclamation of the accession of King Charles III.

The much anticipated first Great Torrington May Fair and Carnival for three years was a resounding success, and the community welcomed the

return of the fair and realised how much we had all missed it. As Chair of the Committee, I pass on my personal and sincere thanks to the small group of dedicated people, who put so much time and effort into making this key event in our town calendar a reality each year. Sadly, this year, those same volunteers are becoming overwhelmed by the sheer volume of tasks, and are in need of new volunteers to come forward and support this event. We hope that our latest meeting will have attracted some more people willing to lend a hand. New people bring new ideas and new skills and with the right support May Fair will be celebrated in our community for many years to come.

At the end of last year, I was invited to the Rugby Club’s annual President’s Dinner and later that day I presented winners medals at the Great Torrington Police Amateur Boxing Club home show at the Great Torrington School Sports Hall which was a well-supported and lively event. Congratulations to all those who took part, the club goes from strength-to-strength thanks to their dedicated team of organisers and supporters and is a huge asset to Great Torrington.

The delivery of the new (to us) twin coach diesel railcar (DMU to Rail Buffs!)

at Tarka Valley Railway was a great day. It is planned to be running short trips as soon as we can organise trained personnel, so watch out for details, and do come down and see for yourselves.

2023 started with the licensing service for Father Steve Turner, as the new Priest in Charge at St Michael & All Angels, whom I was privileged to welcome to our wonderful community, on behalf of the town. I’m sure Father Turner will fit in to our town beautifully, and I wish him, his wife Katy and daughter Emily well.

This was closely followed by some very positive news that the much-missed Black Horse is under new management, and it is hoped they will be ready to open for drinks in February, and the kitchen will follow in due course. First things first!

We are hoping that the History Alive event, which was postponed last year, will go ahead this summer, more information to follow as plans are finalised. A lot of hard work went in to the organisation of this event and it will be lovely to see it happen after such a long wait.

Here’s looking forward to another exciting year ahead in Great Torrington.

Cllr Doug Smith Mayor of Great Torrington

We watch September Bideford with the Barnstaple supported Gang” tradition kind the Fair formal finished, It was frock’ ‘South We day and that won silver). traders hard Great the to find – our Our

Merton 01805 603924

www.themaltscoop.co.uk/info@themaltscoop.co.uk

Personally Supervised by Andrew & Janice Gist 01805 622364

Excellent home-made food served every day 12-2pm/6-9pm Great selection of wines, real ales, ciders Open fire and snug rooms

Another Helen

TORRIDGE VALE SOCIAL CLUB

Families Welcome

Cash Bingo on Mondays • Darts • Pool

Skittles • Snooker • BT Sports & SKY

Large function room for parties/weddings

Karaoke every 3rd Saturday of the month

Plus other entertainment

Contact Sharon 01805 622543

TOWN COUNCIL NEWS

Sydney House Car Park

At the December meeting of the full Council, members of Great Torrington Town Council decided they would like to communicate to both Torridge District Council, and to Sir Geoffrey Cox KC MP, local feeling about the proposed feasibility study being undertaken by Torridge District Council, regarding the potential for part of Sydney House car park to be developed for affordable housing. A letter has been sent to the CEO of Torridge District Council and to Sir Geoffrey Cox.

A summary of the main points are as follows:

Members feel strongly that it is vital that no further parking capacity is lost in Great Torrington, as the town has already lost New Street car park and School Lane car park in fairly recent times. Parking in the town is an ongoing issue, and the loss of part of Sydney House car park would exacerbate the situation.

The proposal to reduce car parking further is in direct contradiction to Point 7.4 of the Neighbourhood Plan, which states that ‘The number of town centre car parking spaces will be maintained or increased’. In fact, parking is mentioned in several points of the Great Torrington Neighbourhood Plan, adopted by referendum by the people of Great Torrington in 2021, and adopted by a Full Council Meeting of Torridge District Council 2nd August 2021.

Members have received many letters from concerned residents and a petition in the town shops has gathered many signatures. Members feel that not only will the loss of town centre parking have a negative impact on on-road parking, it will also have a detrimental effect on potential trade in the town.

Jennie Smithson, Town Clerk

12 Days of Christmas Window Spotting Competition Winner

We are pleased to announce that the winners of the ‘12 Days of Christmas’ Window Spotting competition were Poppy and Tilly Coates! They were presented with their prize by Assistant Town Clerk Charlotte Kirby, just before Christmas.

A huge thank you to the Knit and Natter group for the hard work which went into knitting all 78 festive creations. We are sure you agree, they all looked beautiful as they adorned the various shop windows.

Commons Allotment Charity Grants & Precept Grants 2023/2024 Budget

The Town Council has allocated its Commons Allotment Grant Funding (£6,840.00) as well as Precept Grant Funding (£21,400.00) for 2023/24. 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 2023 – 31st March 2024 for ad-hoc urgent funding requests.

At the January Town Council Meeting Members agreed a budget for 2023/24. The precept arrangements reflect an increase of 1.43% on the Town Council element of your council tax bill in respect of 1st April 2023 – 31st March 2024.

The increase of 1.43% equates to an increase of £1.22 per annum for a Band A property and £1.43 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.

Jennie Smithson (Town Clerk)

GREAT TORRINGTON TOWN COUNCIL NEWS

First Place Winners: Devon Wildlife Community of the Year Awards!

Great Torrington Town Council is delighted to announce that it has been awarded first place in the Devon Wildlife Community of the Year Awards, Town & Parish Council category, for the work its volunteers have undertaken to manage Jubilee Wood and Meadow. Cllr Gill Clayton, Chair of the Town Council’s Environment Committee, and Alan Williams, volunteer coordinator for Jubilee Wood and Meadow, attended the awards ceremony on Tuesday 6th December 2022 in Exeter, and were presented with a certificate and a selection of guidebooks as the prize. The judges were very impressed with the breadth of activities undertaken in Jubilee Wood to support and protect Devon’s wildlife. The Town Council would like to thank Alan Williams, his team of volunteers, and everyone in the community who has helped shape Jubilee Wood over the last few years, for all the hard work put into this beautiful oasis on the edge of town.

Abbeyfield

Please come and join us at our ‘Coffee, Cake and Chat morning’, on the third Friday of each month, which is proving popular. We would love to see you here at Glen Tor, Villa Road, anytime between 10.30am and 12 noon, on February 17th. All we ask is that if you have any cold, flu or Covid symptoms, you give it a miss, to keep the residents safe.

We welcome everybody, especially anyone who would like some company, as well as old friends and neighbours. It is a lovely warm and friendly house! We hope to start our usual fund-raising events in 2023, and will be planning the dates for our Spring Coffee Morning and Summer Garden

Message of Thanks

We hope you all had a happy Christmas! We would like to take this opportunity to thank the Cavaliers, who alongside our dedicated technicians Andy and Colin, spent one Sunday morning before Christmas erecting the Christmas tree and the lights, and then another Sunday morning in the New Year taking them down. We all enjoy the lights and they make a lovely festive centre piece for the town, so we all very much appreciate the time and work of this small team in making it happen.

We would also like to thank Andy Winsbury for collecting the fabulous tree, which was supplied by Stacey’s Trees in Holsworthy.

Party, very soon.

We have a vacancy for another resident, and the Friday morning events would be a great opportunity, for you to find out more about Abbeyfield for yourself or a loved one. Alternatively, you can always contact the House Manager on 01805 623605 for more information.

Jennie Smithson (Town Clerk)

Jennie Smithson (Town Clerk)

From Your District Councillors…

We hope you all had a lovely Christmas and New Year. In terms of the council, I’m sure most of you will have seen Torridge District Council making the national headlines with Cllr Brenton’s notice of motion, with the suggestion of using a cruise ship as a form of emergency housing off Middledock at Appledore. It will certainly be interesting to see what officers come back with, in a report to the next C&R meeting!

In terms of saving South St car park from housing development, the petitions continue to take signatures in the local shops, and it was great to have Anne Tattersall and Yvonne Matthews talking on behalf of Torrington residents at the December Full Council meeting. They certainly made their feelings heard and spoke very well. We have been calling for the council to remove it from the list of sites, but have been told by the Chief Executive that the council will not make a further decision until after the May elections! So keep up the pressure great people of Torrington!

The C&R committee is also considering future funding for The Plough, following the £25,000 grant to them a couple of years ago. The Plough was recently recognised by its great work by the Arts Council England, and was awarded National Portfolio Organisation Status. We hope that TDC will be able

Greetings from the Futures Group

It’s been a busy couple of months on a number of fronts, but all our current projects are happily continuing apace: updates to the website - onegreattorrington.uk, with some new features (see a refreshed Civil War Trail page); a wellreceived town calendar and further heritage boards in place. Huge thanks to many residents and organisations for their input into these projects, absolutely the unsung heroes of this town.

Dig the Castle project September 22October 8 2023

Since our last information release concerning the ‘Dig the Castle’ project, we have been inundated with requests from locals to help and get involved, thank you to all of you for your support, we will be getting in contact when we have further information.

Also, we will soon be hoping to contact local groups and organisations to see if you would like to become involved; either coming along to just see what’s taking place in September, or possibly getting involved with the actual digging process, watch this space.

We are continuing our quest for financial help; the project operation has many legal and essential costs to commit to, before even putting a spade in the ground!

show a continued commitment to The Plough, with some regular core funding. A relatively small amount of regular core funding would really help our fantastic arts centre, and would help them secure future funding from external sources too. We won’t make any comparisons with The Burton in Bideford, but they

We are currently seeking someone who would be able to document the project on video – a most useful addition to the project outcome and something we can (hopefully) use to produce more interest, especially if we are able to continue digging next year. If you are that person please do get in touch.

Please note that this is being administered by a small band of working volunteers, so communications and contact can be intermittent!

The project now has a logo which will be used to help publicise it, for which more information can be found at: onegreattorrington.uk/digthecastle

For more information on the castle project please contact: torringtondigthecastle@outlook.com.

receive a significant amount of funding from the District council on a regular basis…

Cllr Cheryl Cottle-Hunkin, Cllr.cottlehunkin@torridge.gov.uk, 07495 367 801

Cllr Chris Bright, Councillor.bright@ torridge.gov.uk, 07936 325 909

"We are currently seeking someone who would

Torrington in Bloom

We held our AGM on the 13th December, which was well attended. The Committee continues in much the same manner, with Barry Cubitt as Chair, Dave Squire Vice Chair, Paul Watson Treasurer and Pat Stark as Secretary.

In the absence of the Chair, due to sickness, Dave Squire read the report in which he thanked all those committee members who have worked extremely hard on projects, such as the Secret Memorial Garden and Castle Hill Gardens (which was 1646). He also thanked Val Knight for keeping the planters in the Town Square looking spectacular (the Surfinia Petunias stood the hot weather magnificently and seemed to flower forever). Paul Ballard and ‘yours truly’ were also thanked for growing and supplying many plants for various planters and beds around the town which enabled us to keep costs to a minimum this year and is much appreciated.

Pat Stark, our Secretary, was thanked for her minute taking and organising meetings, and Paul Watson, our Treasurer for his continued research into suitable funding sources. Talking of funding, we have been extremely fortunate in that the monies from the now defunct Horticultural Club were donated to TIBA and this means we once again have a healthy bank balance. This money will be put to good use; with the new project of renovating the flowerbed outside S&G Carpets being a beneficiary (the club used to maintain and plant it over a number of years before Covid brought activity to a halt).

Special thanks were made to RHS Rosemoor for their continued support, both in supplying plants and mulches, but also for enabling their apprentices to undertake work, especially in Rack Park. Further days are being set aside in early spring for continued renovation and planting.

We were happy to have our County Councillor, Andrew Saywell, as a guest at our meeting. He was delighted with the work that TIBA does around the town and will continue to support us at County level.

Our Town and District Councillors were also thanked for their continued support, including the Town Lands Committee and Rotary. Our two Town employees, Colin and Andy, were given special thanks for their assistance over the past year.

Jo and Sue were thanked for their work in the Secret Memorial Garden (they grow many plants from seed, too) and to Paul Ballard and Pete who have supplied/built cold frames, refurbished greenhouses, and the new shed.

All in all, TIBA has had a very successful year and thank you to everyone who supports us in all their various ways.

Cherry Hammon

Bideford Music Club Concert

Maja Horvat - violin and Roelof

Temmingh - piano will be performing for the Bideford Music Club at 7.30pm on Wednesday, 1st March, 2023, at St Mary’s Church Bideford. Tickets cost £15 on the door, (cash or cheques only - no cards), students and children come in free.

These two talented young musicians bring with them a repertoire of both classical and modern composers. We are to hear works by Beethoven and Schumann, Messiaen and Boulanger so be prepared to be delighted with their musicianship and their powerful desire to communicate through music of many kinds.

As well as chamber recitalists, they are both recognised as soloists, having worked with orchestras in Europe, the US and beyond. They are both graduates of the Royal College of Music, London where Roelof won the prestigious Tagore Gold Medal for being the best student on any course. He also composed a piece presented to HRH the Prince of Wales. Maja earned an accolade as “One of the most talented, truly charismatic violinists I have come across, with a rare personal voice and a huge passion for music and the violin” (Professor Daniel Rowland). A sparkling duo, well worth hearing.

Fleur’s Gardening Forum

Christmas Gifts of Plants & Bulbs

Many of us will have received lovely pots of bulbs and other plants for Christmas, but what do we do when they have died down?

It is a shame to discard them - here are a few tips so you can enjoy them for longer.

Bulbs, corms and rhizomes, etc: with one or two exceptions, these can all be planted in the ground outdoors. With Narcissi, allow the foliage to die back, then remove bulbs from the pot, clean and store until autumn, then plant out. Or, you can repot them, keep cool until they start to grow away, and once the flower buds start forming, bring them inside. The exception is N. ‘Paperwhite’ which should continue to be grown in pots.

Dwarf Iris (I. reticulata/ I. danfordii) are very hardy bulbs; plant out as soon as they finish flowering if the weather is mild. They prefer a sunny position and welldrained soil, so mix in grit or sharp sand when planting. They can also be repotted, as above, to make a lovely container display.

Amaryllis hippeastrum – these big, blowsy bulbs are not hardy, but can be kept for many years by a careful regime of repotting, feeding, and allowing the bulb to make plenty of summer foliage. They can be kept outside during the summer in a sheltered position. Once they have finished flowering, remove the main stem, and allow the foliage to grow on. Continue to water carefully and keep in a cool position indoors, or a greenhouse/conservatory which is frost free. Once the foliage has died away, the bulb can be repotted in a good, free-draining compost, keeping the top/neck of the bulb proud of the compost. You may need to be patient because these bulbs will have been ‘forced’ into flowering out of season, so can take time to settle in.

Cyclamen bought as houseplants are not hardy; they are usually cultivars of C. persicum and now come in all colours. They do not like warm, dry conditions, preferring a humid atmosphere and good drainage. Water them from the base only when they start to look a bit droopy, and the pot feels light when lifted. Remove any spent flower stems and yellowing leaves. Feed regularly with a houseplant feed. Once the plant has completely died back, cease watering, and allow the corm to dry off (again, keep it in a greenhouse in the shade, if possible, certainly somewhere cool). After a few weeks, you should see signs of regrowth; repot in fresh compost and begin to water carefully. Watch out for vine weevil maggots!

Ferns mostly prefer a humid atmosphere and not hot, dry positions, so a north or east-facing room is ideal. Water regularly but don’t allow them to become waterlogged. They will need repotting as they grow. Most ferns can be kept outside during the summer and can benefit from being rained on (or sprayed with rainwater if kept indoors) from time to time. Many are quite happy as garden plants.

Hellebores are hardy perennials and the most likely cultivar you might receive is H. niger (the Christmas Rose) because this is usually when it flowers. After Christmas, harden them off and plant outside in a sheltered, fairly shady position –under deciduous shrubs is ideal. Other Hellebores should be kept outside.

You may have received a basket of various miniature plants, which are frequently unnamed but usually consist of a conifer, a hebe, a kalanchoe (which has often been sprayed with glitter, ugh!), fern, anything really. These tiny plants can be repotted separately to make an attractive houseplant display, although many of them are perfectly hardy to be planted outside, once they have reached a suitable size, either as a potted display or in the garden.

Fleur

Organic & Wholefood Buying Group News

On order collection day our mini social is proving popular - we're enjoying trying different dishes made by other members, along with drinks and a jolly good chat. We tend to be busy with collections from 11.30 till about 12.15, but after that we're freer to socialize. If you'd like to find out more about what we do, who is who and how it all works, then please do feel free to come along around midday. You'll find the dates and other information on our website, please see the link at the end of this article. Collection day is held at Torrington Rugby Club, EX38 7BT, so there's plenty of parking and it's easy to find. Getting into the swing of ordering with us takes a little application to begin with, but it soon becomes second nature!

Wellbeing Tip: Buckwheat is a highly nutritious, delicious and versatile glutenfree pseudo-grain and has absolutely nothing to do with wheat! It makes economic sense to buy it through the Buying Group, by sharing a 5kg bag with other members, especially if like us, you make delicious flour-free buckwheat bread, using just the groats.

Here is an excerpt from ‘Healing with Whole Foods’ by Paul Pitchford, on the healing properties of buckwheat: “Neutral thermal nature, sweet flavour, cleans and strengthens the intestines and improved appetite. Rutin, a bioflavonoid, found in buckwheat, strengthens capillaries and blood vessels, inhibits haemorrhages, reduces high blood pressure and increases circulation for the hands and

Torridge Walk & Talk

Anice way to get fit, make friends and enjoy yourself!

Every Tuesday and Wednesday, with a variety of walks for all levels. Just turn up and join in for free.

Full details on our website torridgewalkandtalk.co.uk or call Steve 01273 421528.

feet. Rutin is also an antidote to x-rays and other forms of radiation.

If toasted, buckwheat is known as kasha and becomes one of the few alkalizing grains. Commercial kasha is thoroughly toasted and is dark reddish brown; by choosing raw (untoasted) buckwheat (which has an almost white colour); one can choose to toast it less or not at all for the warmer seasons.”

Buckwheat has many uses, I like it mixed with oat groats as a porridge and use it to make lovely flour-free bread,

1. Set the groats to soak in a large bowl, the water should cover the groats by 2". Cover and leave to stand for 24hrs at room temperature

2. Rinse the starch out of the groats, drain well. Blend/process with the salt to a batter consistency in stages, adding just enough of the water at a time to keep the food processor moving well. Do not over blend – some texture is good. Return batter to your large bowl, cover and leave to stand for a further 24 hrs at room temperature.

3) Grease 2 2lb loaf tins well. Pour in batter and bake at gas 6, 200 for 20 mins, then reduce to gas 4 for the remaining 40 mins+. Your loaf is done when it sounds hollow when you rap on the base of the tin. Cool in the tin for 15 mins or so, then carefully turn out on to a rack to complete cooling. When completely cold, cut in to slices and freeze.

but you can also serve it with roasted veggies or make dumplings, risotto or burgers - a quick internet search will provide plenty of ideas.

Easy buckwheat groats bread recipe: 6 cups of buckwheat groats

660ml filtered water

1/2 tsp salt

Sunflower seeds or pumpkin seeds to taste.

Method:

My tips: I coat the base and sides of the tins with sunflower seeds which give extra crunch to the crusts.

Sometimes I add layers of seeds or dried fruit and spice as I fill the tins. That way you can easily make two different loaves with one batter. Olives, rosemary and pine nuts are also a very delicious addition.

Upcoming grocery final order dates:

9th Feb, 9th 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/email mary@marycrailwellbeing.co.uk

OWBG Website: owbg.jimdofree.com

Facebook: Organic & Wholefood Buying Group. Email: owbg@protonmail.com www.marycrailwellbeing.co.uk

Great Torrington Calendar 2023

We are so incredibly pleased with the response of the 2023 town calendars; over £1000 has been raised for projects around the town - amazing! If you have not yet bought yours, there are still some available to

- NOW £4 - from Torrington Museum, Collectability, The Refill Shop, Whiskers Pet Centre, Fork'n'Feast, Unique Boutique and Duffy's Hardware Store. A HUGE thank you to those who have purchased one or a few; to traders and shops for selling them for us; to photographers for graciously sending in their photos, and for the Town Council's support. If you have any feedback then please let us know - gt.futuregroup@ gmail.com. Shall we do another for next year? Keep taking photos around town and we will see what we can do...

Ian

Great Torrington Futures Group

A J Installations

Alistair McMillan specialising in Aerial, Satellite and TV Installations

Got equipment you can’t use properly?

We offer a friendly step-by-step instruction service

With over 35 years’ experience in the North Devon area Phone Ali on 01805 804626 or 0797 781 00 88

Torrington-Roscoff Exchange Group (TREG)

On behalf of our members, I would like to wish the community of Great Torrington and surrounding areas a belated Happy and Healthy New Year; these are trying times for many and I hope the year ahead will bring some kind of comfort and peace to everyone.

Dormant Status

Microsuction Ear Wax Removal Available in Torrington

New private ear wax removal clinic covering Torrington & North Devon

No more waiting weeks, we can sometimes accomodate same week appointments & occasionally same day!

Call 07367 116 468 or visit our website www.devon-ear-clinic.co.uk

4 Well Street Torrington EX38 8EP

Light of the World

Following a lengthy period of uncertainty by the Roscoff Group, a meeting was held by them to determine the way ahead with regard to future exchange/twinning. In the wake of Brexit, Covid and an ageing membership, they were finding difficulty maintaining a cohesive group to meet the aims of exchanging with us. Albeit a small group in comparison to ours, they are not ready to hang up their boots yet and are actively looking for ways to reinvigorate their membership. For the reasons above, the Roscoff group has officially declared a ‘Dormant Status’ until further notice. Unable to actively exchange with Roscoff, we, TREG, have also officially declared a ‘Dormant Status’, but live in hope that we can continue exchanging with Roscoff in the future.

Despite the above situation, TREG will continue to be an active social group and stage events throughout the coming year for the enjoyment of members, friends and anyone who wishes to participate; keep your eye on Facebook and local advertising. Already, some members have independently booked their trips to Roscoff in August, to meet up with our Roscoff friends and attend the Onion Festival on the 19th/20th. We are all doing our best to keep this exchange/twinning going.

2022 Christmas Lunch. 22 of our members enjoyed a fabulous Christmas lunch at the Torrington Arms on the 3rd December. The food was delicious and plentiful. The service was excellent and a huge thank you to Annie, Vicky and all the staff. Brittany Ferries 50th Anniversary Celebration. Four of our members attended a reception and dinner on-board the Brittany Ferries Flagship, Pont-Aven, on Monday 2nd January. This was exactly 50 years to the day that the ‘Kerisnel’ sailed from Roscoff to Plymouth, carrying a cargo of cauliflowers, onions and no doubt other produce. In 1974 Brittany Ferries established the passenger route from Roscoff to Plymouth. The celebration was attended by several hundred twinners from Brittany and the South West of the UK. It was good to meet up with six of the Roscoff group and the Lady Mayor of Roscoff. An enjoyable evening was had by all and a huge thank you to Brittany Ferries for the privileged invitation.

For any enquiries, please contact: Chris Cocks (Secretary) 01805 623068, or Nick Roberts (Chairman) 07779 118 690.

Nick Roberts

Iwonder if Christmas is over for you now there are Easter eggs in the shops? I still have four Nativity sets on my piano! I love early Februarydespite the darkness and cold of winter, it begins with a festival of hope for Christians - Candlemas, the Presentation of Christ in the Temple in Jerusalem, celebrated on 2nd February. The baby Jesus, seen by shepherds watching in the fields and a few wise men watching the stars, was now recognised by two others, Anna and Simeon, both watching for the coming of the Messiah, believing they would see him before they died.

Simeon took the baby in his arms thanking God that he had seen the ‘light to the Gentiles and glory of Israel’. Anna told all those in the courtyard that the Saviour had come. (Luke 2).

Around the world this is the day when people still bring their candles to be blessed, so needed to light winter homes. And they eat pancakes!

Were the shepherds, magi and elderly worshippers of God in his Temple right? Was Jesus really the Saviour of the world? Is there still hope in our troubled world? If true, Jesus is coming again to establish his kingdom. I love these words from the carol ‘Mary’s Child’ ‘Hope of the world, Mary’s child, you're coming soon to reign: King of the earth, Mary’s child, walk in our streets again.’

If you want to know more do speak to one of the leaders of the Churches in Torrington. I will always be happy to talk on the phone or in the Door of Hope.

Kathy Luck 07702 589 799

The welcome banner in thick organise anything. In this age of countless litigation, our town hall is in

will be taken from funds set aside for the project, which would have included

• Adult Bikes • Child Buggies

• Child Bikes • Services

•Tandems • Repairs

• Disabled Tag-alongs • Wee-Hoo

Village Hall

A Roborough Diamond Jubilee Club has been formed to raise funds for any decision regarding the future position of Christmas tree, the

Does the word ‘diet’ make you think about being controlled and restricted?

At my Torrington group, we’ve ditched the diet mentality to focus on making enjoyable, sustainable lifestyle changes that work in the real world. It’s a switch from ‘I shouldn’t’ to ‘I want to’, because Food Optimising is all about choice –and it puts you back in control.

ACUPUNCTURE ACUPUNCTURE

Can help with a variety of health issues

Discover the difference at my supportive group on Wednesdays at Castle Community Centre, Torrington, at 5.30pm or 7pm or call Tracy on 07787 010 400.

The Well St Clinic, Torrington, on Fridays

With registered practitioner Lynne Parkyn MBAcC 07795 073966 for appointments or enquiries

The Crier Prize Crossword

The winner of this month’s crossword will receive some weighing scales and a box of Hifi bars. 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 issue’s prize is Catherine Knight. The winner for this issue will be picked at random from correct entries. Deadline for entries is Thursday 9th February and the solution and winner will be in the March issue.

Hello, I'm Tracy! I love having pancakes for breakfast and taking long country walks with my dog at the weekends! Best of all I'm doing my dream job as a Slimming World Consultant. As a member myself, and someone who has been overweight in the past, I know exactly how it feels to take that first scary step into the unknown and not look back, probably just like you.

Now I am sharing my journey with the amazing members in the Torrington group, and what a wonderful bunch of people they are! There is amazing support in our welcoming and friendly group and the plan is so easy to follow, I can promise you that you will never be hungry. Get a free week when you sign up for six weeks or two free weeks when you sign up for 12 weeks. Find out more on Facebook: Slimming World Torrington with Tracy, contact me on 07787 010 400 or just come along on Wednesdays, 5.30pm or 7pm at Castle Community Centre, Torrington.

STUART STACEY CARPET & VINYL FITTER

ACCESSORIES SUPPLIED REFITS UNDERTAKEN

REPAIRS & RESTRETCHS MEASURING

MANY YEARS OF EXPERIENCE

01805622967 or 07767024688

Fabulous Freddie checking in for the first time in 2023. After the excitement of the Christmas and New Year celebrations, it does seem to be a little miserable, especially with the dreary weather so far – much-needed rain however! Still, brighter days are no doubt on the horizon.

Many of our supporters will know about the issues we experienced in 2022, with regard to our planning issues and the amendments we had to make to the kennels. It was especially pleasing therefore, after 12 months of uncertainty, to receive the formal approval for the removal of the time constraint on Christmas Eve – a fabulous Christmas present for all us rescue dogs. While we can now go back to opening the centre, it is going to take some time before we can be fully operational and accommodate the number of rescue dogs that we used to, due to finances: our reserves have obviously been very much depleted. This is really very disappointing, as already this year we have seen a dramatic increase in the number of requests to take dogs in, and it is heartbreaking as we know that most other rescues are full to capacity too. Aunty Lynne says there is a real national crisis in the rescue world and she has been invited to attend an all-party Parliamentary Dog Advisory Welfare Group at the Houses of Parliament, Westminster on 23rd February, to discuss the current sad state of the UK rescue sector.

Many rescues like K9Focus work closely with local authorities to take in the ever-increasing number of stray dogs, but sadly there is no official funding support for rescues and so this will be high on the agenda. Let’s hope

• Wedding Receptions

• Conferences and Meetings

• Parties and Celebrations

• Badminton and Short Mat Bowls

• 24/7 Gym

• Yoga, HIIT and Flex Classes

something positive comes out of the meeting to help all rescues, so that more dogs like myself get a second chance of a loving home.

Talking of a loving home, I now have my feet firmly under the table in Aunty Lynne’s house and, although I have spent six years in kennels, she says I have adapted well, which shows that with patience and understanding most of us rescue dogs can adapt. I still have some guarding issues, but I’m much better now around food as I know that no one is going to take it away – I still like to run off with tea towels though, they are my favourite thing!

As we head into 2023 we are already thinking about all the fundraising events we need to run to get the rescue back on its feet. We are planning our usual dog shows, with the first one being our Valentine Show at South Molton Pannier Market on Sunday 12th February at

12 noon. This show was run for the first time last year and was extremely popular. Full details of the event can be found on our Facebook page (www. facebook.com/K9focus) or, of course, you can always email lynne@k9focus. co.uk for details. Hope to see you there. We are in desperate need of volunteers to help us run these shows, and so if you are able and would like to get involved with your local dog rescue, then please do call us on 07971 461 806 – our dogs need you! We also have many collection days planned at local shops and, again are desperate for people to help. Most people who volunteer support want to walk the dogs, but it is fundraising where we really need your help. Our volunteers are brilliant and give up so much of their time, but we are a small team and we simply need more bodies.

While the rescue was unable to take dogs in on-site during the latter part of 2022, we still did manage to find homes for six dogs, together with other rescue placements for a further eight dogs, which is really pleasing, although I miss being able to play with them on-site. We also rehomed four cats – not sure what I would have made of those mind you!

Lastly, before I sign off, I would like to thank everyone for the massive amount of presents received for Christmas, which of course I did share with other less fortunate dogs. Hope to meet some of you in February, and in the meantime keep warm and snug.

Licks & woofs, Freddie

1st Torrington Scouts

During the second half of the winter term the Scouts held an open evening. Young people who were interested in joining came along and had a go at lots of different challenges. The Scouts did all the planning and ran the mini games on the night, as well as looking after the Beavers who helped out. At the following meeting they created Christmas crafts to sell at our Christmas Fair, this was a messy but fun. The following week the Scouts played indoor archery, this was made into a competition between the two patrols to see who could score the most points, and it was a close competition. They then got one last camp of the year in the Scout Hut, our Christmas camp. They all helped to cook a roast dinner and took part in mini games to earn more patrol points. The camp was definitely one to be remembered as it snowed, we then had to go out for a walk in it. To finish the term off the Beavers, Cubs and Scouts all took a trip to the pantomime in The Queens Theatre Barnstaple, they were all very well behaved and enjoyed the show, especially the part when they got ice cream!

For the second half for the winter term the Beavers completed their Cooking Badge where they made mini pizzas, mini chocolate cheesecakes and smoothies. After all the fun of making it all, we then sat down and enjoyed eating it all. The following meeting was then

Bucks Mills Lime Kiln Works Confirm Precarious State of Old Structure

The safety works at Bucks Mills Lime Kiln have been completed by Torridge District Council, as part of plans to stabilise the listed structure and manage the immediate health and safety risk identified by engineers. The footpath from the village to the beach has also been reopened.

The works, undertaken by Gilpins Demolition Ltd, were arranged following a recent routine inspection of the kiln, which revealed significant movement in sections of the stonework. A subsequent Geotechnical Engineer inspection recommended the removal of a section of the upper kiln, identified as the main area of concern. Engineers were mindful that hot weather followed by very wet conditions were the precursor to previous slippages and damage at the kiln in 1990. The precarious state of the kiln was evidenced during the works where only a small amount of contact was needed to topple large sections of the structure. Due to safety concerns the works included the use of a remote demolition robot and long reach excavator.

The works included reducing the overall height of the structure by approximately two metres, with the internal fill material graded back to form a more stable slope designed to mitigate future risk to beach users. A selection of walling stone has been retained on site for reuse, which will reduce maintenance costs in the future, and meant expensive disposal was not required in the meantime. Future plans for the site include the implementation of aesthetically designed safety fencing and walling and continued maintenance to the seawall and slipway.

Given the kiln’s listing and historic significance, Devon County Councils Historic Environment Team and Historic England were involved in the planning and an archaeological survey was undertaken by South West Archaeology, to ensure the features of the structure were recorded prior to and during the removal of material.

indoor archery which all of the Beavers had fun taking part in; they all improved during the hour getting more accurate by the end. To finish the year off they then made Christmas decorations to take home, this was a fun end to the year.

As always, we desperately need help and support within the hall committee and the groups themselves. If you can spare even an hour please can you contact the Group Scout Leader, Jordon via email on jordon.whitear@gmail.com

february events at the plough

The Plough’s February Line-up is Here!

As always, we have lots of fantastic events, workshops and films right here, in the heart of Great Torrington!

***STOP PRESS - ‘An Evening with Michael Morpurgo’ - check our website for incoming details!***

For those fascinated by the history of the Bideford Witches, Anne Jackson will be hosting a free talk at the start of the month, (exhibition running until 18th February), when she will be joined by Nick Smirnoff with a series of songs and electronic tracks (largely inspired by Anne’s work and research). Continuing with this Witchcraft theme, NTLive: The Crucible will be screened in the Theatre.

Our February films are: ‘A Man Called Otto’ with Tom Hanks; a special 70th Anniversary, digitally remastered edition of the classic film ‘Roman Holiday’ starring screen legends Audrey Hepburn and Gregory Peck; 'Fisherman’s Friends: One & All'; cult French movie ‘La Haine’; ‘The Oil Machine’ which explores our economic, historical and emotional entanglement with oil by looking at the conflicting imperatives around North Sea oil; ‘Empire Of Light’ with a stand-out performance from Olivia Coleman; family holiday fun with ‘Puss In Boots: The Last Wish’; French

court-room drama with ‘Saint Omer’, critically applauded for its original and bold storyline; and ‘Whitney Houston: I Wanna Dance With Somebody’ which delves into the star’s trailblazing life and career.

On February 4th we continue our comedy line-up, with Edinburgh Comedy Award ‘Best Show’ nominee Glenn Moore, one of the best joke writers of his generation. Expect a ’comedy masterclass’ (The Times) and a high-energy barrage of the most jokes you've ever heard humanely fit into one stand-up show.

We have lots of live music for you, from intimate Gallery Gigs with The Back Kitchen Boys and Linda Moylan to standing gigs with Martin Harley, Los Pacaminos (feat. Paul Young), Moscow Drug Club (a valentine’s cabaret style gig with optional pre-show meal), Abba Tribute Band ‘Take A Chance On Us’ and local up-and-coming talent The Kahunas + Sam Green.

For details about upcoming events at The Plough Arts Centre, please see the diary page. All event tickets can be purchased via www.theploughartscentre. org.uk or via the Box Office on 01805 624624.

Your Plough Arts Centre

Plough Visual Arts

Running up until the 18th February we have two linked shows. The first, a showing of the extraordinary tapestries by Anne Jackson, exploring the witches of Bideford, famously - the last witches executed in England. Downstairs we have the photographs of Amanda Macormack, who spent six months capturing images of Fremington FC’s female teams. Amanda said, “I wanted to show the strength and resilience of the girls' sport at grassroots level. I got much more than that. There have been many exciting moments but the quiet, off pitch scenes have also provided some beautiful images telling the story of what grassroots sport is all about.”

On Saturday 25th February through to the end of March, we will be showing ‘Compost’, an exhibition of new sculptures by Laura Porter, who has recently completed her MA in Sculpture at University of the Arts London. The work addresses materiality, shifting structures and labour, explored through the production of a new material; made from recycled clothing. Downstairs there is an exhibition sponsored by the AONB featuring artists from the Hartland Peninsula including Merlyn Chesterman, Maria Stewart-Wilson, Lydia Duncan and Jennie Wright

february at the Plough

Weds 1 Feb

10.30am-4pm until Sat 18 Feb Exhibition: Tapestries from ‘The Witchcraft Series’ by Anne Jackson FREE 2.30pm Talk: ‘The Witchcraft Series’ Bideford Witches & Beyond with artist Anne Jackson FREE

2pm & 7.30pm Film: A Man Called Otto £5 Matinee/£10 ‘Minestrone Matinee’/£7.50/£6.50 Supps £4 (for GT residents)

Thurs 2 Feb

2pm & 7.30pm Film: A Man Called Otto £5 Matinee/£10 ‘Minestrone Matinee’ /£7.50/£6.50 Supps £4 (GT residents)

4.30pm Plough Youth Scripwriters £20 for half term

7.30pm Plough Storytelling Circle at ThePlough@StAnne’s, Barnstaple £2 inc refreshments

7.30pm Tour: Barnstaple Town & Workhouse Haunted History Tour at ThePlough@StAnne’s, Barnstaple £14.50 inc refreshments

Fri 3 Feb

2pm & 7.30pm Film: Roman Holiday (digitally remastered) £5 Matinee/£10 ‘Minestrone Matinee’/£7.50/£6.50 Supps £4 (for GT residents)

Sat 4 Feb

10.15am/11.30am/1pm Plough Youth Theatre (from 3yrs-18yrs) Contact: sam@ theploughartscentre.org.uk

10.30am Creative Writing Workshop (Adults) with Lizzie Bauer £15

3pm NEW Plough Youth Creative Dance (8-18yrs) Contact: sam@ theploughartscentre.org.uk

8pm Live Comedy: Glenn Moore adults only all tickets £13.50

8.15pm Gallery Gig: Rosa Rebecka £12/£10 Supps

Mon 6 Feb

7pm Workshop: Moon Circle at ThePlough@StAnne’s, Barnstaple £12

Tues 7 Feb

10.30am + every Tuesday term time

Workshop: Plough Prism. For adults with additional needs + their carers £3.50

1.30pm + every Tuesday term time

Workshop: Motion Dance. For adults with additional needs + their carers £3.50

7.30pm + every Tuesday term time

Community Choir: Ploughcapella. Contact Alison: alising.co.uk £75/£65 Supporters (per term)

Weds 8 Feb

2pm Film: Fisherman’s Friends: One & All £5 Matinee/£10 ‘Minestrone Matinee’ £4 (for Great Torrington residents)

7.30pm Film: La Haine (French with subtitles) £7.50/£6.50 Supps £4 (for GT

residents)

7.30pm Gallery Gig: The Back Kitchen

Boys £10/£8 Supps

Thurs 9 Feb

2pm Film: Fisherman’s Friends: One & All £5 Matinee/£10 ‘Minestrone Matinee’ £4 (for GT residents)

4.30pm Plough Youth Scriptwriters £20 for half term

7.30pm Workshop: Deep Rest Healing Meditation at ThePlough@StAnne’s,

7.30pm Tour: Barnstaple Bygone Brothel at ThePlough@StAnne’s, £14.50 inc refresh

7.30pm Film: The Oil Machine £7.50/£6.50 Supps/£5 Adv £4 (for GT residents)

8pm Open Mic: Open Mouth Music & Poetry. Suggested Donation £4 waged, £2 unwaged

Fri 10 Feb

2pm Film: Empire of Light £5 Matinee/£10 ‘Minestrone Matinee’ £4 (GT residents)

Sat 11 Feb

10.15am/11.30am/1pm Plough Youth Theatre (from 3yrs-18yrs).

3pm NEW Plough Youth Creative Dance (8-18yrs).

8pm Live Music: Los Pacaminos (featuring Paul Young) £22/£20 Supps

8.30pm Live Music: Moscow Drug Club (optional pre-show Valentines meal)

£15/£12 Supporter/£20 2-course meal

Weds 15 Feb

11am Film: Puss In Boots: The Last Wish £5 Matinee/£10 ‘Minestrone Matinee’ £4 for GT residents/£1 Kids Meal Deal (ts & cs apply)

2pm Film: Empire of Light £5 Matinee/£10 ‘Minestrone Matinee’ £4 (GT residents)

6pm Live Music / Exhibition: Scalpel Part of ‘The Witchcraft Series’ FREE

7.30pm NTLive Theatre: The Crucible £15/£12 Supps or Group Bookings

Thurs 16 Feb

11am Film: Puss In Boots: The Last Wish £5 Matinee/£10 ‘Minestrone Matinee’ £4 for GT residents/£1 Kids Meal Deal (ts & cs apply)

2pm & 7.30pm Film: Empire of Light £5 Matinee/£10 ‘Minestrone Matinee’ /£7.50/£6.50 Supps £4 GT residents)

7.30pm Tour: Barnstaple Town Centre Haunted History Tour at ThePlough@ StAnne’s, Barnstaple £14.50 inc refresh

Fri 17 Feb

11am Film: Puss In Boots: The Last Wish £5 Matinee/£10 ‘Minestrone Matinee’ £4 GT residents/£1 Kids Meal Deal (ts & cs apply)

8pm Live Music: Abba Tribute ‘Take A Chance On Us’ £20 Standing/£22 Seated

Sat 18 Feb

10am Workshop: Italic Script at

ThePlough@StAnne’s, Barnstaple £45

10.30am Creative Writing Workshop

(Adults) with Lizzie Bauer £15

11am & 2pm Film: Puss In Boots: The Last Wish £5 Matinee/£10 ‘Minestrone Matinee’ £4 GT residents/£1 Kids Meal Deal (ts & cs apply)

7.30pm Tour: Barnstaple Bygone Brothel Tour at ThePlough@StAnne’s, Barnstaple £14.50 inc refreshments

8pm Live Musical Theatre: Joe Stilgoe: 100 Years Of Theatre £21.50

Tues 21 Feb

10.30am + every Tuesday term time

Workshop: Plough Prism

1.30pm + every Tuesday term time Workshop: Motion Dance.

7.30pm + every Tuesday term time

Community Choir: Ploughcapella.

Weds 22 Feb

2pm Film: Saint Omer (French with subtitles) £5 Matinee/£10 ‘Minestrone Matinee’ £4 for GT residents

7.30pm Gallery Gig: Linda Moylan £12/£10 Supporter

Thurs 23 Feb

2pm Film: Saint Omer (French with subtitles) £5 Matinee/£10 ‘Minestrone Matinee’ £4 for GT residents

4.30pm Plough Youth Scriptwriters £20 for half term

7pm NT Live Theatre: Othello £15/£12 Supps or Group Bookings

Fri 24 Feb

2pm Film: Whitney Houston: I Wanna Dance With Somebody £5 Matinee/£10 ‘Minestrone Matinee’ £4 for GT residents

7.30pm Live Theatre: Victorian Gothic at ThePlough@StAnne’s, £10/£9 Supps

8.30pm Live Music: The Kahunas + Sam Green £12/£10 Supps

Sat 25 Feb

10am Workshop: Fruit Basket Willow Weaving at ThePlough@StAnne’s, £60 10am Workshop: Pottery at ThePlough@ StAnne’s, Barnstaple £50 + £10 materials + £5 glaze

10.15am/11.30am/1pm Plough Youth Theatre (from 3yrs-18yrs).

3pm NEW Plough Youth Creative Dance (8-18yrs)

8pm Film: Whitney Houston: I Wanna Dance With Somebody £7.50/£6.50 Supps £4 for GT residents

Tues 28 Feb

10.30am + every Tuesday term time Workshop: Plough Prism.

1.30pm + every Tuesday term time Workshop: Motion Dance.

7.30pm + every Tuesday term time Community Choir: Ploughcapella.

BESPOKE PICTURE FRAMERS

BLENDING CONTEMPORARY STYLES WITH TRADITIONAL FRAMING METHODS

CALL US FOR A FREE QUOTE OR VISIT US AT OUR WORKSHOP

STIBB HOLLOW FARM, LANGTREE, TORRINGTON, EX38 8LP

TEL: 01805 601777 www.blackdogframing.co.uk

Or message us @Facebook: BlackDogFraming • Instagram #BlackDogFraming

How Long has Torrington had a Silver Band?

According to the silver band’s website, ‘whether we’re taking part in national competitions, playing in local carnivals or holding concerts, our combination of fun, enthusiasm and hard work shine through for all to enjoy.’ Last year the band celebrated its seventieth anniversary with a special concert in October. Players, past and present, performed a repertoire of pieces that are significant to the band.

The band welcomes experienced players, but equally welcome are those who want to come and learn. There is a thriving junior section made up of both children and adults and, when a player is good enough, he or she can graduate as a fully-fledged member of the senior band. Learners are taught at present by Terry Hutchings and Myra Allin.

The band features at local annual events, such as the May Fair ceremony and Carnival and the Remembrance Day commemoration. The players put on concerts during the year and play for weddings and birthday celebrations, and take part in civic parades, fêtes, competitions and festivals all over the South West. In June last year they put on a special concert to celebrate the Queen’s Platinum Jubilee. There have been some memorable trips to Roscoff with the twinning association. Band members are proud to represent Torrington wherever they go and feel they are lucky to receive so much support from the people of the town.

The band started back in 1952, when members of ‘Fred Karno’s Band’ and

former members of the Town Band had a meeting at a café in the town and decided to form a band together. Thus the Torrington Voluntary Silver Band was born, and permission was granted to use the instruments that had been put into trust at the start of the Second World War. The band went from strength to strength and had many successes, culminating in playing at the Royal Albert Hall in the National Finals in 1984. In 2002 the band came together to celebrate fifty years and recorded a CD ‘In the Mood’.

The band purchased the former Howe Church building in Castle Street in February 1996, with funding through an Arts Council Grant for £91,000 and additional monies from various local donations and band funds. In total, the entire project to provide the Torrington Silver Band with its own permanent premises, in which to practise and perform, cost in the region of £120,000. After extensive renovations, it was officially opened during May Fair in 1998. The hall can be hired for groups of up to 150, and also the kitchen for an additional cost.

Terry Hutchings has been a devoted

servant to the Silver Band for many years. He joined as a lad of ten and, since then, has taught many people to play an instrument, has been Band Master and is now Musical Director. He shares conducting duties with Nick Megson and Emma Marsh.

Many generations of Torrington youngsters have taken the opportunity of learning to play a musical instrument (with free use of an instrument), which they may not have had the chance to do at home or at school. There are a number of local families who have found that playing in the band has been a happy activity for all the family to enjoy. Many ex-band members, who have moved away, come back to join in the music-making and merriment at May Fair.

Moira Brewer

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

Blackberry Farm Shop

* Open 7 days a week, & s�ll producing our home cooked food

* Please order in advance & use our fully contactless collec�on or delivery service.

* Product range: now includes general groceries, household items, toiletries beer, wines & spirits.

* Delivery service now reaches out to those who are isolated or wan�ng to stay at home.

For full details & a stock list:

Call 01409 261440 • Email: lizzy@lizzyslarder.co.uk or Visit our Facebook page Blackberry Farm Shop

Stay Safe everyone. Lizzy’s Larder, Blackberry Farm Shop, Milton Damerel, Holsworthy, EX22 7NP

Bayonet Charge

Bayonet Charge

Standing. Standing. Waiting for the call. Attaching our bayonets

In English, Year 9 have been hard at work studying the poetry of WW1. Before exploring the poem Bayonet Charge by Ted Hughes in preparation for GCSE, pupils were given some words from the poem and shown a video clip of men ‘going over the top’. They used these stimuli to write their own Bayonet Charge poems and here we have four wonderful examples:

I handed in my beloved things to give back to my children; I think about my family back home, longing for their touch.

Is this the end?

Everyone worriedly walking up to the ladder,

I put my hand on the slippery ladder, Looking at my officer - silence!

The whistle echoed throughout the trench; my heart stopped.

Is this the end?

I clambered out

I couldn’t believe my eyes, the luscious emerald, green grass, about to be filled with massive deep craters; I looked back to see my friend just behind me.

I ran through barbed wire with it pricking my arms.

Is this the end?

The machine guns roared, the British soldiers shouted, and the bayonets teeth ginned.

Me and my fellow comrades ran like a car in pursuit.

Soldiers dropping like grenades in the sky.

Then it hit, I was down…

This is the end.

A Bayonet Charge

The sun is shining Blistering on our faces Generals are yelling Assigning our places Before we know it There’s the final command “10 more seconds!”

Until no man’s land

9 men loading bayonets

8 men praying to their god

7 men placing their bets

6 men saying “we’ve already lost”

5 more seconds ‘til the closing sound

4 more breaths ‘til war breaks out

3 more men gripping their ladders

2 more whispers ‘til lives are shattered

1 whistle blown

Cries of fear or bravery

You could never really tell Charging to Germany Praying all goes well One by one we were all shot down Falling like grenades hitting the ground That is my bayonets charge And many others too I was deceived by this war And so were you.

And then the crashing stops… A silence louder than the guns… A peace more horrifying than war… Ashen deaths -heads surround me… Will this be my swansong?

And then something fills the silence, A crashing in my ears. The trepidation in my heart, More thunderous than shell fire. Will this be my swansong?

The silence ticks by, a countdown To my death, The pallid faces of My ghostly comrades wait. The silence is broken. This will be my swansong.

A sharp, shrill note echoes through The ranks. We lurch forward, Up and out the trenches Into the quagmire beyond. This will be my swansong.

The wind howls in mourning, the chaos Is complete, my comrades turned To spectres, haunting this living nightmare.

The wild hunt will feast tonight. This is my swansong.

Bullets whiz, hairs widths away. Somehow dodging, or perhaps I, Just don’t feel the sting Of metal biting flesh. This is my swansong.

Thomas Green, Year 9

Moore-Stevens Hall for Hire

Peters Marland, 4 miles from Great Torrington

Our hall provides a lovely environment for smaller gatherings, suitable for fitness classes, children’s parties, fundraising events, coffee mornings, meetings, training & community events.

Capacity for 60 people seated. Wifi, projector & large screen, separate kitchen area. Disabled access & WC, EX38 8QG.

To book the hall please contact Mrs Pittman on 01805 601892. Hire cost from £7.50 per hour.

Holly Stone, Year 9

Until my luck runs out, until My time is up, until… One bullet strikes home. A darkness. Then white, like feathers… My swansong is complete.

Inca Lowson, Year 9

Bayonet Charge

The eerie silence rips my ears, I do not want to let slip any of my fears, My clumsy hands holding a gun, I want nothing but for it to be done, The bayonet charge.

The scrambling, the climbing and the screaming, Leaves nothing but Tommy’s bleeding, The battlefield covered in blood, As I stare down the face of my lifeless bud, The bayonet charge. I jump down into the fog, And breath in 2 lungs full of smog, More Tommy’s around me but cold as ice,

To be back at home it would be oh so nice, The bayonet charge. I tell my legs to run, They do not want in on the fun, I am at the enemy line, But for me there is no more time, The bayonet charge. Bayonet charge they shouted to me, If I had only known what it would be, I would not have gone out with so much zest,

But in the end I tried my best, My last bayonet charge. James Balman, Year 9

WILLS POWERS OF ATTORNEY TRUSTS INHERITANCE TAX ADVICE

The Silence of The Battle

PHILIP W TAYLOR LLB LEGAL CONSULTANT

Free initial consultation & estimate, no obligation.

Low rates (no VAT). Free home visits in EX38 area. Evening & weekend appointments available.

Contact me for a free consultation.

Telephone: 01271 858482 or 07766 714503

Email: philipwardtaylor@outlook.com

The noisy clamouring of hooves fills the air, challenged only by the distant rifle-fire and flares exploding overhead. The horse keeps up a fast pace, causing his vision to blur where the bare ground began to merge underneath his hooves. He lifts his gaze to avoid obstacles, jumping over a decaying log of a fallen tree and narrowly clipping himself on the rotting wood. Joey takes no notice of the echoing booms’ shells churning up the ground with no remorse. Nothing seems to shake him out of his determined trace, not even the squeals of flares as they are released into the sky, nor the explosions that ignite to fill the otherwise inky blackness with unnatural vivid orange and red hues. The horse, however, does stumble eventually from the persistent shaking of the ground, jolting him off course and causing him to break his fast pace as he trips into a shell crater. The bottom oozes with thick mud, filled with murky brown water from the rain that is now beating down all around.

Joey carries on, never disrupted by the merciless, icy winds that slap at his face or the pelting of freezing raindrops that are beginning to numb him. The rain obstructs his vision, clouding his path and causing him to not to see it before he feels it. The wire. It tears at his skin; shredding into him and forcing him to crumple. The horse lies in a heap like a fly tangled in a spider web of razor blades.

The horse does not stop thrashing; his writing limbs only cause the barbs to dig deeper into his skin. But the horse has no more energy and eventually admits defeat, stilling his legs, but he carries on whinnying. The terrible sounds, filled with pain, continue. It could be the heartbreak of leaving his friend behind. It could be the unbearable sensation of his skin being penetrated. It could be the desperate hope of someone hearing him and being freed.

The ground still rumbles, and fires still lick up tress, or crawl along the ground, but the horse still does not get up. Previously he had closed his eyes in a moment of fatigue to shield himself from the brightness overhead, but now he exhaustedly pries open one eye to take in the scene before him. The soft glow of flares emerging over the horizon illuminates the darkness, as well as the serenely white moon. The explosions that come after these moments of artwork are less enjoyable than they are just overwhelmingly bright. The searing pain from the wire has been momentarily soothed, and the horse still whinnies in the hopes of being freed. He realises that saviour will never come. Plagued by exhaustion, he lets the hazy darkness seep in, lets the sleep penetrate his mind, and, finally, lets his body go limp.

The heartless wind does not stop. It batters against Joey, whining and whistling, messing up the tattered brown mane of the lifeless horse. The guns do not stop. The sharp shrill of a bullet piercing the air interrupts the silence that had rested upon the tangled, mangled body. The flares do not stop. The fiery red explosions emerge from the depths of the lonely darkness and weak light are scattered upon the chestnutbrown hair. The rumbling does not stop: the shells carry on bombarding the already crater-filled ground, causing the wire to shake and dig deeper and causing the horse in the rain-soaked mud.

But the clamouring of hooves did stop.

Isla Hammersley, Year 9

For all your quality bespoke wooden gates, garden furniture & timber needs, inc all fencing materials.

Dry Seasoned, Ready-to-Burn logs Now available!

Do come down and see us at Victoria Sawmills, Merton EX20 3EG, 01805 603429 www.torridgegates.co.uk

On the same topic, pupils then looked at a clip from the film War Horse and wrote a piece of descriptive prose based on the scene. Here is Isla’s fantastic response:

Gammaton Cross Residents Win Review of Proposed Site of Double DC/AC Converter Station

Xlinks have announced that following feedback from their public information days, the viability of potential alternative sites for the Double DC/AC Converter Station will be re-evaluated. Their previous proposal required the use of a 54-acre greenfield site south of Gammaton Cross, requiring a 65-metre wide access corridor from East The Water. Xlinks states that the old showground site at Webbery is being reconsidered, but other possible sites are not named.

As a result, Xlinks are extending their project timeline. The company now plans to submit a planning application for the Devon project to Torridge DC in spring 2023, with a view to starting construction in 2025 and completion in 2030.

Residents arranged a meeting at Alverdiscott Village Hall on Friday 9th December, to share their concerns with Sir Geoffrey Cox, MP for Torridge and West Devon. The attendance was more than 80 people, and after the meeting he stated that “It is important that alternative sites with less impact on these small rural villages and hamlets should be closely considered”. He added, “I have written to the Chief Executive of Xlinks to this effect and I am meeting with the company’s representatives this week, when I shall be making the same representations”.

Stephen Edwards of Moorview House at Gammaton Cross told us, “The potential noise, pollution, disruption and destruction of the local farm land and scenescape, both during years of construction and after, has already blighted our lives. Our homes and businesses, which we have saved for all our lives, are under threat. The stress and anxiety caused is already having an effect on our physical and mental health. Our lives have been put on hold as we are unable to make any future plans. We urge Xlinks to reconsider the location of the converter stations to an area that is not so populated”.

Linda Hellyer, County Councillor for Bideford East Division said, “I am delighted that Xlinks have listened to feedback from the general public, and to our MP, Sir Geoffrey Cox. At first this seemed like a David and Goliath battle, with individual residents up against huge business interests. Thankfully, Xlinks have listened, and have now agreed to investigate other more suitable sites. They have also postponed this going before planning at Torridge District Council until the spring. I sincerely hope that when this item does go before the planning committee, that the councillors are aware of the groundswell of public concern about this project”.

Patrick Smith, spokesperson for Gammaton Cross residents said, “The Gammaton Cross site has not yet been rejected by Xlinks and Torridge District Council have yet to acknowledge our concerns, so we must all remain vigilant to this very negative and destructive threat to our living environment and ongoing welfare”.

Property Market Place Musings

So, what has been happening since the end of 2022 drew to a close? First off there is positive news on the mortgage front, with interest rates continuing to fall away from the heady rates of 6.5%, and more in some cases: now headline rates are showing from 3.65% fixed for five years, depending on the amount being borrowed and the financial status of those applying etc. Overall mortgage lending is down, and lenders are competing for business, so seeking advice from a truly independent whole of market broker could provide some welcome news.

There has been some realignment in property values over recent months but, as I mentioned in my last article of 2022, anyone who has bought a home over recent years will have seen a healthy increase in its value, so therefore are still ahead of the curve, against maybe those that bought in the middle to latter end of the last year. If interest rates remain unchanged going forward for a few months, we could we be back into a more stable market, where people are buying and selling for the right reasons and not just going for a quick profit. Stock levels are increasing weekly, so there is more choice for buyers. Home hunters are starting early this year, with many focussed on moving sooner rather than later. If the ’white stuff’ stays away, the market will be in full swing probably a few weeks earlier than expected, so plan accordingly and don’t wait for the traditional spring market, as many buyers

will have bought by then. Another positive is the time that Torridge District Council takes to produce a local search, is now down to 15 working days, which will help speed up the legal process. Little gains like that, and others amongst all those involved in the transaction process, should help reduce the time it takes to move away from 1820 weeks as mentioned in my last article.

The rental market continues apace, with not enough stock to satisfy demand. In recent days we have seen an interesting move/trend, call it what you like, where people who have been using homes as Airbnbs over recent years, are now enquiring about the opportunity for long term rentals. I would suggest this has been brought about by the airline/ holiday industry opening up more, and the return of cheap flights to warmer climates being sought. Flying to Greece from Bristol, costing less than a tank of fuel, is tempting! If these ex-Airbnb properties do come to the market, then it will help ease the pressure in some small way, but we still have a long way to go. For those looking to enter the rental market and become landlords, a steady return can be made, with many tenants looking for long-term homes, which again is positive as it helps keep the community alive and vibrant.

Great Torrington and its surrounds is high on many people’s list for the quality of life it offers, so expect demand to stay strong going forward.

Adrian Hardwick, Webbers Local Director

The Emergence of Colour in Winter

Winter is often seen as a bleak time in the gardening calendar but there’s actually a surprising amount of colour about when you look closely enough. For me, one of the best sources of colour at this time of year is from very early flowering plants with underground storage organs such as bulbs or corms.

One of the most obvious choices are snowdrops, which are often seen as heralding the arrival of spring. One of my favourites to grow is simply Galanthus nivalis AGM, the common snowdrop, since this will naturalise freely and looks fantastic en masse. If snowdrops are of interest to you, we have a ‘Celebration of Snowdrops’ event at Rosemoor at the beginning of February with free guided walks.

Another fantastic plant for this time of year is Crocus tommasinianus AGM, one of the earliest flowering Crocus, with different shades of dark to light purple due to natural variation. Just be aware that if left unchecked, over several years it can become a bit weedy due to its habit of self-seeding, so this plant often works very well in meadow areas.

An additional favourite for this time of year is Eranthis hymalis AGM or winter aconite. This plant produces swathes of pretty yellow flowers once established and grows better under trees in Devon. The plants need reasonably good drainage, and the trees fulfil this need by soaking up much of the excess moisture.

Other choice plants include Cyclamen coum AGM which have very beautifully shaped pink flowers and arguably the most interesting leaves of all the plants named here. If left to multiply naturally, in a few years you will end up with a carpet of pink across the garden, partly due to the fact that the seeds are distributed by ants.

Tom King Horticulturist Crocus tommasinianus AGM ©RHS/Carol Sheppard

Meet, chat and enjoy some company for the day

• Purpose built hall

• Freshly cooked meals

• Local transport available

• Over 60’s

• Dementia Friendly

• Wide range of daily activities

offer something for everyone in the local community. With great value memberships on offer or PAYG we will ensure you reach your goals & enjoy the journey.