Torrington Crier May 2024

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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.

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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

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What’s On at The Town Hall

Welcome to May Fair!

In rural Britain, May Day celebrations were associated with the fertility of spring and the start of summer. The seeds of the new crops had been planted, farm labourers were given the day off, and they made the most of it! Torrington has fully celebrated this holiday since 1554, with the procession of attendants and the crowning of the May Queen, maypole dancing, Round the Tree race, funfair and carnival. The May Fair committee work tirelessly to keep this wonderful and important tradition going.

Follow us on social media for more information, and the May Fair committee will publish details of all events.

LUNCH CLUB

Thursday Lunch Club restarted in April, with Rosie’s delicious fish pie and cherry cheesecake to tempt our tastebuds! It’s not really a club –everyone is welcome. The next dates are 18th April, 9th May, 23rd May and 6th June, when we’ll be having a D-Day commemoration lunch. When the sun is shining there will be tables outside!

BOOGIE IN THE BUNKER

Torringtones’ meet on Wednesday evenings from 7-8.15pm at the Town Hall, come along and try. Follow Rhi and Tom on Facebook for more details.

THE ENGLISH PSYCHIC COMPANY

These popular suppers and afternoon teas sell out very quickly! Book now for the next event on 14th June. A two-course meal with two readings. Call Lorna to book 07788 756 773.

PRIVATE EVENTS

The Town Hall is central to the celebrations, and we are so excited to take part and are looking forward to welcoming the Mayor and Civic Guests, participating in the formal declarations in the Great Hall on May Fair morning.

Our ‘Tavern in the Town’ will be open throughout offering eight real cask ales, draught cider and lager, and a range of wines, spirits and soft drinks. We’ll have tables inside and out and you’ll be warmly welcomed by Jim from the Globe and his team.

On Carnival Day there will be music throughout the town, and the Town Hall will be hosting a drumming workshop from 2pm followed by a ‘Stomp’ session. Sounds like excellent fun for all the family.

Preparations are going well for our commemoration dance on 8th June. The fabulous Hummingbirds are singing, and our swinging DJ will play all the wartime classics for you to dance to. A NAAFI buffet and 40’s cocktails will be available. A 40s dress code is appreciated; you won’t recognise the Town Hall! £15 per ticket, entrance free for past and present Armed Forces.

SWING DANCING

As well as Boogie in the Bunker our good friends Neil and Kerry from Step into Swingtime are joining us in holding monthly dances at the Town Hallentrance free!

Want to learn how to dance these smooth, swinging moves? From 30th April they will be teaching a beginners’ class at the Town Hall from 7.30pm for 4 weeks. No experience necessary. Call 07722 321838 for more details.

CHOIR

Singing is so good for us and our ever-popular community choir ‘The

If you would like to book the Town Hall for your private event, whatever that happens to be, contact us on 07944 639 739 or admin@greattorringtontown-hall. org. You’ll be well taken care of! All proceeds go towards upkeep & maintenance of the Town Hall.

Parish Church

The church building is now open again between 10am and 4pm from Monday to Saturday, and from our service at 10am until about noon each Sunday. It will not be open on Bank Holidays. On May Fair Day we will be serving refreshments, as we have done in earlier years and there will be an exhibition about the Commons, as well as floral decorations. There is plenty of room to sit for a rest from all the activities in the Square and shelter from the sun (hopefully!)

You are always welcome to join us at our Sung Eucharist on Sundays and stay for tea or coffee and a chat afterwards.

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

Round the Tree Race

Friday 3rd May - Let’s make this one to remember!!

The ‘Round the Tree’ Race event is a community fun run held on the Friday of the May Fair festivities. It is part of the legacy and cultural heritage of Great Torrington May Fair, which can be enjoyed by young and old.

For various reasons, there is a large shadow cast on the future of this run, unless we can get the community behind it and see it return to its former glory.

Our objective is simple: We want to ensure a sustainable event by significantly increasing participation.

So, we need you, the residents of Great Torrington and the surrounding areas, to spring into action! Dust off those running shoes, get out in the fresh air and look to run the race this year. Maybe you want to run in fancy dress, gather up a team of work colleagues or friends to complete the run together, or just run by yourself and be proud to say you have taken part in Round the Tree! It does not matter about the speed of your run, enjoyment, having fun and feeling proud to have completed the course is the message we want to spread.

Please sign up, get involved and make the 2024 ‘Round the Tree’ one to remember. Use it, or lose it. Together, we can make this a vibrant and special event, accessible and open to all.

Peter Coates, Chairman

May Fair 2024

Refreshments will be available

Thursday 2nd to Saturday 4th May at St Michael’s and All Angels Church. Town churches will be open for prayers and rest.

May Fair Day Thursday May 2nd

8:45am - Torrington Silver Band will play around town

9am - Bells from St Michael and All Angels Church

Festivities & Entertainment to be held in The Square

9:45-10am - United Open Air Service

10:05-10:25am - English Country

Dancing by Years 3 & 4 children from Great Torrington Bluecoat Primary School

10:30-11am - Floral Dancing for all. Year 2 starting and joined by Years 3 & 4

11:15-11:35am - Littleham Howlers

11:40am - Torrington Cavaliers

12 noon - Proclamation of May Fair & Crowning of May Queen

1:15pm - Lunch break

2-2.30pm - Littleham Howlers

2:45-4:15pm - Torrington Cavaliers

4pm - Grand Draw

7.30pm - Torridge Cup Final at the Vicarage Field

Wheelchair Users

Any wheelchair user/disabled person who wishes to come and see the May Fair celebrations, is advised to be in the Square by no later than 10:15am. We do try and keep seats for disabled persons outside the Green Lantern, which are allocated on a ‘first come first served' basis. Due to health and safety

regulations, it is very difficult to get wheelchair users/disabled persons in the Square after 10:15am.

Friday 3rd May

Round the Tree races for all ages over 11 years of age. Start from the Square from 6:45pm. Organised by

the Torrington Amateur Athletic Club. Registration at 6pm.

Saturday 4th May

Fancy Dress Music Festival Entry by postcards, only available from shops and pubs around the town, or on the day. The Fancy Dress Parade will start at 6.30pm, from the entrance to the Pannier Market. All welcome.

Fancy Dress Music Festival with Parade

Saturday 4th May

Roll up, roll up because Torrington has something a little bit different in store for you on Saturday 4th May! Along with the traditional May Fair program on Thursday 2nd and Roundthe-tree race Friday 3rd, Torrington will be having its first Fancy Dress Music Festival with parade on the Saturday.

What to expect

Get your ticket

Tickets (looking like a postcard with map on one side and music schedule on the other) will be sold for £2 in the booth in the town centre, along with draw tickets in the lead up to May Fair. They will also be sold in town in the same places as the May Fair programs.

Food & Drink

Please support our local pubs, takeaways and events locations as well as food wagons that will be in the centre of town. The Town Hall, The Cabin and The Plough will be selling a range of drinks, so you won’t get thirsty.

As a fundraiser, we will be selling reusable May Fair ‘festival’ cups to use over the few days. We hope this will be great memorabilia as well as reduce plastic waste.

Locations

You will find a range of music in 10 locations around the town, including: The Torrington Arms; The Royal Exchange; The Football Club; The Plough; The Unigate Club; The Conservative Club, The Cabin; The Town Hall and the bandstand in the square.

Music

We are delighted by the support of our local musicians, who are donating their time and talent for your entertainment, so please show your support and appreciation and donate generously.

These include Torrington Silver Band; Black and Gold; Dixie Faux; Arslan Muzika; John Golightly; Calypso Jack; Ange Duffy Wilson; The Nutsacks; Rosa Rebecka; Steam Rocket; Reclamation; Billy Collingham; Jax & Pete; Adam Cumbers; The Oh No’s; African drumming workshop and Stomp percussion workshop as well as The Hoodoo Man; The Torringtones and the Bone Idols; Teachers Rock and the Abbey Road Choir; Stevie Ray Latham; Ploughcapella; Jack the Lads; Headrush; Absent Minds and Big Al and the Wild Strawberries.

They will all be performing from 2pm onwards in our locations. Details of acts and timings will be found on our Facebook page, on your ticket and in music locations. Some timings have slightly altered since printing the program, so please check on posters around town.

Fun for the family

We challenge you to tick off our list of things to do. This is a list available on our Facebook page, including collecting a stamp from every location, buying a festival cup, going to the fair, listening to music you’ve never heard before and finding characters to have a photo with throughout the day.

Fancy Dress Parade

The Fancy Dress parade will start

at 6.30pm from the Pannier Market. Torrington Silver Band and The May Fair entourage will lead the first lap around the Square, up to the fair and back down the Pannier Market. They will then go on the bandstand along with the Mayor, to judge the nine categories and award cups. These include Best Family entry; Best Children’s Group; Best Adult Group; Best Overall Entry; Best Adult Individual; Best Children’s Individual; Largest Group Entry; Best Double Act and ‘Carnival Queen’. The parade will be continuous until all cups are awarded. We welcome you to line the streets, pull up a chair and enjoy the festivities. If you would like seating it will be available from the Town Hall.

Torrington has a unique history of costume and fancy dress, as demonstrated in the walking carnival last year organised by The Cavaliers. We are building on this enthusiasm and creativity. We understand the disappointment for some for not having a traditional carnival, but hope this event will encourage more to participate and come forward and help organise next year. This May Fair and events have been organised by a handful of dedicated volunteers that have tried their very best, so please be kind and if you have constructive suggestions on how to make the events even better, please come to a meeting.

Thank you to all who are involved and we can’t wait to see you in your costumes.

May Fair & Carnival Committee

Microsuction Ear Wax Removal

in Torrington

We are the only Ear Wax Clinic in Devon that doesn’t charge for a follow up appointment Call

Great Torrington Commons

Our car boot sales have been delayed a bit. The ground at the Old Bowling Green was too soft at the beginning of April and, at the time of writing this article on April 10th, it is still raining. If we allowed cars onto the grass they would get stuck in the mud and Big Al would not be happy with me if that happened. It doesn’t look great for the next two weeks either. Once they do start they will run until the last Sunday in September. Sellers can arrive from 7am and the cost is cars £7 and vans £12, this is the same price as the last three years. Buyers can come along from 8am. The hot food van will be there of course and Hockings ice cream will arrive about 11am.

On March 30th we were at the Tarka Valley Railway open day. It was so busy that we sold out of our famous ‘Water, Wine or Maybe Cider’ lucky dip stall. We raised £217 on the day which included eight of our brand new teddy bears.

On May 4th and 5th we will be at Rosemoor, and on May 11th we will be at the Castle Hill Creatives craft show in the gardens. We will be doing our famous lucky dip at all of these events.

Last month I went around the town to pick up our collection boxes. Whiskers had the most money in at £105.12. Other highlights were the Post Office with £20.06, Torrington Refill Store £45.26, Toyzone £27.65, Duffys £15.28 and Greedys Burger van with £45.70, we would like to thank all the shops and their customers for their help towards looking after your Commons.

The Dartington Crystal shop has now raised £2,241 and we can only hope that with the spring and summer months

Call or message Matt on: 07808 056 473 or email mferry8@yahoo.co.uk

Friendly professional lawn mowing and general garden maintenance.

Cutting, pruning, planting and weeding.

Garden waste removal service also available.

ahead, that this amount should rise considerably.

I would like to thank everyone who has donated books, CDs, DVDs, records, cassettes, jigsaws and LEGO to us. We have also received foreign coins and lots of maps. The Dartington Crystal shop will be selling books only, and all the other items will be sold from our car boot stall. You can drop off items in the shop or you can contact me Andrew Giles 07956 366 390 and either deliver to my home or arrange for me to collect them from you.

We are so grateful to Dartington Crystal for letting us use the space. They have told me that the shop and café have been busier due to the amount of local people that are going there.

Webbers are continuing to sell our brand new teddy bears, and 25 have found new homes so far. You can also

buy them from the Tarka Valley Railway shop on any Thursday and one Saturday per month. They would make a great birthday present at only £5 each.

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 the website www. torringtoncommons.org and navigate to the 365 Supporters page where you can apply online. Here you have the option of paying by PayPal or standing order annually or monthly. You can also print an application form to post in with a cheque.

Option 2. You can 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

Library News

The Secret Book Quest - our fun reading challenge for young readers. How to take part: Simply visit the library and speak to a member of staff. Children will receive their very own Secret Book Quest journal and the first sticker in their collection. Then browse the library to find the first book (of 50) to start the quest!

services and activities:

• FREE membership - Why buy books when you can borrow!

• Books, including large print

• Audio books, newspapers, Which?

Magazines, eBooks, eAudio, ePress

• Computer use (2 hrs FREE daily for members)

• WiFi printing,

• Photocopying (A4)

• Home Library Service

• Baby Self Weigh

• Bounce & Rhyme

Sign up to the Secret Book Quest Interactive website for games, puzzles and stories at tsbq.co.uk.

Libro’s Friends

This is our new reading adventure for under 5s.

Sign up, choose books from our lovely selection and on return collect a sticker. Ask staff for details.

Coming to the library is an adventure and we want it to be fun. Remember joining Devon Libraries is free! Members can use any of our libraries, borrowing, returning items, enjoying events and activities wherever it is most convenient. Your local library offers a range of

• Children’s Book Quest Reading Challenge

• Torrington Walk & Talk

• 1-2-1 IT support

We are here to help!

May half term event - 31st May Clay faces 10.30-11.30am - £2.

Booking advised. Castle Hill Community Garden.

Bounce & Rhyme Storytime Stay & Chat

10.30am Tuesdays (term time only). Our lively sessions for babies, toddlers and their grown-ups clearly dispel any assumptions that libraries are quiet places! Come along, join the fun and stay after to play and chat. We have a lovely selection of toys especially for play after this event.

Baby Self-Weigh Tuesdays 11.30-4.30 is available each week after bounce & rhyme.

1-2-1 IT support with our volunteer Perry, every other Thursday by appointment only. Help with your laptop, tablet or smart phone.

Torrington Walk & Talk every Thursday morning at 10.30am.

A gentle, social walk starting from outside the library followed by a cuppa in the garden pavilion. New walkers are always welcome – enquire within!

Facebook: @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 and share it with your friends.

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 Librariesunlimited.org.uk

Torrington Baptist Church

We will be having a Light Lunch on Tuesdays at 12.30pm until about 2.30pm. There will be a suggested donation of £2. Anyone looking for lunch and some good company is welcome.

Nourished Drop-in

Torrington

Breastfeeding and infant feeding support Thursdays 10-11.30am

Early Nourishment CIC invite you to come along with your baby, toddler or preschool child. There are lots of toys to keep children happy and a range of refreshments.

Our breastfeeding support is provided by accredited peer supporters and breastfeeding counsellors. However, we support all parents with all feeding queries without judgement or expectation. You don't need to have a problem either, just come for a cuppa and chill.

Our Torrington drop-in is held at the Torrington Children's Centre at Bluecoats School. We will provide refreshments if you can bring a travel mug.

How can you help me?

We can support you with: breastfeeding latch issues; sore nipples; coping with night feeds; bottle feeding; expressing; returning to work; breastfeeding twins (we have three peer supporters who’re twin mums!); tandem feeding; breastfeeding in pregnancy; milk supply worries; weight gain issues; introducing solids and much more!

We hope to see you soon, follow us on Facebook Early Nourishment Community Interest Company, for regular updates.

Independent Annie

Making Life Easier for You

No transport to do all those day-to-day appointments that crop up such as hospital visits, shopping, visiting friends and relatives and last-minute emergencies?

A few years ago when my mum was diagnosed with Vascular Dementia and I was working full time, I often found it hard to get time off work for medical appointments and I would worry about her going out into town on the bus, but she still loved getting out and doing things she enjoyed. I felt mean if I tried to put her off going, but equally I really worried about her while I was at work. I can remember asking a friend to take her out for a coffee while I was away, this gave me the knowledge that she was getting out, but the reassurance that she was safe. This is what I am aiming to give other families – I treat all my clients as if they were my mum.

I worked in Pharmacy for over 30 years and then moved to Patient Transport for 4 years before moving on to work in the Eye Department at NDDH, which I have enjoyed. However, I was struck by how many people struggle to get relatives to appointments both because of transport issues and life getting in the way, such as school runs, work etc. This is where the idea behind ‘Independent Annie’ came from, helping people get out and about with confidence.

I offer a door-to-door chargeable service both long and short distances; I can help my client get ready to leave the house or care home and when we get home, I make sure they are settled and even make a cuppa if they fancy! If someone is in a care home and is entitled to free patient transport but the home is unable to offer a chaperone, I am more than willing to meet patient transport at the hospital, accompany the client into the appointment, stay with them until transport returns and offer a feedback service on the visit, so you know what was said.

My client’s safety and security are most important to me, my Citroen Berlingo is a wheelchair accessible vehicle and is fully insured, I am DBS checked and can provide references as required.

I love meeting people and wanted to start my own business that would make a difference to people who find getting out and about difficult. I have a friendly and cheerful manner, so please give me a ring for a no obligation quote, to find out if I can help you or your loved one.

Karen Lewington 07881 535 058; answer phone: 01805 625179

Email: info@independentannie.co.uk

Core Rehabilitation & Massage

We can help you with:

*Pelvic floor issues/women’s health

*Core Rehabilitation for chronic muscular pain or weakness

*Pilates & Hypopressives

*Massage & Mobility

For more information or to book please contact: 07939 656 082

lizzie@completecorecontrol.com www.completecorecontrolandfitmummy.co.uk

Unravelling the Procrastination Puzzle

Understanding its Roots and Navigating Towards Productivity Procrastination – a word familiar to many, an experience shared by most. It's that feeling of putting off tasks until the last minute, grappling with impending deadlines. But what if procrastination isn't merely a lack of willpower? What if it delves deeper, into the realms of emotional wellbeing and mindset?

Recent insights suggest procrastination might be more profound than mere laziness or time mismanagement. For some, it could be a response to trauma, a coping mechanism honed through past stress or anxiety. When tasks trigger overwhelm, procrastination offers temporary relief, albeit at the cost of perpetuating avoidance and stress.

When inundated with work or responsibilities, it's natural to seek escape. Procrastination becomes a shield against confronting deeper issues like fear of failure or perfectionism, amplifying the burden over time. As deadlines loom, pressure mounts, hindering focus and productivity.

How do we liberate ourselves from the procrastination cycle? It begins with acknowledging its roots and tackling them head-on. Rather than viewing it as a personal flaw, understanding procrastination as a signal of underlying emotions - be it fear, perfectionism, or unresolved trauma - allows for intervention and transformation.

Emotional wellbeing serves as a cornerstone in managing stress and

staying focussed. Neglecting emotional needs fosters procrastination as a coping mechanism. Prioritising self-care and seeking support fosters resilience, empowering individuals to navigate life's challenges more effectively.

Embracing a growth mindset, centred on learning and progress, counteracts perfectionism and fear of failure - the driving forces behind procrastination. Setbacks become opportunities for growth, not evidence of inadequacy.

Practical strategies offer a roadmap to combat procrastination. Breaking tasks into smaller steps, setting realistic goals, and practicing self-compassion foster progress. Celebrating milestones reinforces confidence and momentum, paving the way for increased productivity.

Procrastination's complexity lies in its ties to emotional wellbeing and mindset. By unravelling its roots and implementing targeted strategies, individuals can break free from its grip, fostering productivity and fulfilment. Remember, it's not about perfection; it's about progress and resilience amidst life's challenges. If you need support in breaking free from procrastination and want to find and release the triggers that may be causing this, I invite you to book a no obligation 30-minute nurturing call. I will share with you tools and techniques that can help navigate your way to peace and calm.

Samantha

Hardwick – Emotional & Physical Wellbeing Practitioner & EFT Master Trainer www.samanthahardwick.com

Country Ways – Wedding, Event & Holiday Venue

Open Day Saturday 29th June 2024

If you are looking for a stunning location to celebrate your special day, host a memorable event, or enjoy a relaxing holiday then you will love Country Ways, a family-run business nestled between High Bickington and Torrington, offering a unique and versatile venue for weddings, events, holiday cottages and so much more.

Country Ways is the dream come true of Tracey and Peter and their four sons, who moved to Devon in 2019 to make this their forever home and create an enduring business in the area. Since then, they have made huge investments and continue to upgrade every aspect.

One of the most exciting features is the brand new and bespoke event space that can seat up to 120 guests. This spacious and elegant barn is the perfect setting for any occasion, whether it is a wedding, birthday, corporate gathering, retreat, or a pop-up event, with stunning views of the North Devon countryside.

Another highlight of Country Ways is the ‘little village’ of six cottages that can accommodate up to 28 guests. These cosy and charming cottages are ideal for a holiday, a weekend getaway, or a group stay.

Country Ways is a beautiful location with a truly family-orientated feel and we are delighted to announce that we are holding an open day on Saturday 29th June 2024, to celebrate the official opening of the new event space and to showcase our amazing venue. We would love to welcome you to join us, including those ever special ‘paw guests’.

We look forward to meeting you and being part of you making memories that last a lifetime.

Please follow us on Facebook and Instagram for our latest news and event information and contact us to book your place for the open day.

www. country-ways.net; Facebook @cw.northdevon; Instagram @countryways_ devon

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.

Personal

THE MILK CART

The UK’s first solar-powered, mobile vending machine, selling wholesome milk from the Squire family’s farm!

Open & on location 7am-8pm as follows:

Monday & Friday - Caddywell Lane

Tuesday, Saturday & Sunday - South St Car Park

Wednesday - The Pill Car Park, Bideford

Thursday - Langtree Village Hall

Dispensing whole milk, £1.30 per litre

Bottles £1.50 each or bring your own

Torrington Commons win Government Countryside Stewardship Funds

Waterloo Monument restoration to go ahead

When the Torrington Commons were gifted to the residents of Great Torrington, they were given the right to graze their livestock. Historically, sheep roamed but due to no fencing being allowed on the Common and its increasing use for public recreation, Torrington Commons have not been grazed since sheep were removed in 1981.

In the absence of grazing, the character of the Commons has changed over time, leading to a reduction in meadowland and the spread of scrub and woodland. With the support of the Devon Wildlife Trust and Natural England, the Great Torrington Commons Conservators submitted a maintenance plan to the Government’s Rural Payments Agency. Interventions were proposed to increase biodiversity of the meadows, protect and enhance the remaining grassland parcels and prevent their reversion to woodland.

Maintaining Torrington Commons currently costs some £70,000 per annum, for which the Commons Conservators rely upon grant income and charitable donations. In response, the Rural Payment Agency has agreed to contribute over £6,000 annually towards conserving the nature of Torrington Commons and its wildlife, for the next 10 yrs.

The Agency has also offered capital grants towards hay cutting, the planting of wildflower plugs in Reeds Field and Clarkes Meadow, harrowing and wildflower seed spreading in Tantons Plain. In addition, funds are available to launch the restoration of the Waterloo Monument on Castle Hill. The public will be asked to cooperate where these capital works are going on. Restoration of the Monument will require the erection of scaffolding and, in restoring the three wildflower meadows, walkers will be asked to temporarily keep to designated footpaths and keep their dogs on leads, whilst also picking up their dog poo.

Details of the Conservators’ Countryside Stewardship application and the work involved are available on the Great Torrington Commons Website - www. torringtoncommons.org. Anyone with concerns about the work should write to the Clerk to the Great Torrington Commons Conservators, Castle Hill, Torrington, Devon, EX38 8AA.

David Nudd Conservator

Torrington Senior Citizens Group I

n March we held our AGM for 2024. We have kept our prices the same: £6 membership; £10 member trips; £15 for guests. Our programme of events is as follows:

Tuesday 14th May - Wells

Tuesday 18th June - Brixham

Tuesday 16th July - Minehead

Tuesday 17th September - Dartmouth

Tuesday 12th November - Truro Christmas lunch Saturday 30th November at Langtree Village Hall. Our pamphlet for the year has been widely distributed. We are always keen to welcome new members to our group. Further info from Beryl 07870 812 744; John 07986 586 799 or Jax 07932 023 606.

Beaford Village Hall Market & Café

Beaford Village Hall Market & Café is held on the second Saturday of the month 10am1pm. Grab yourself a coffee and a bacon roll, and see what the market has to offer. The stalls vary, but we regularly have: The Body Shop, Usborne Books, Linda's handmade cards, Beaford Ladies Group, local honey, Spencer's Glass, Sam's Household and Stuff and others. Free car park! Follow Beaford Village Hall on Facebook, and follow us to keep up with all of our events!

From Your County Councillor…

Ihope all readers of The Crier were able to enjoy a peaceful break over the Easter period. It is hard to believe we are coming into May already. Summer, and I hope more summer-like weather, will soon be with us!

It continues to be a busy time at Devon County Council, despite the Easter Holidays, and work remains ongoing on a number of matters, including Devolution, restructuring and modernising of services, highways and more besides.

At the time of writing the devolution consultation remains open until the 12th April. Feedback during the consultation so far has been interesting, but thus far more in favour than against. We know that Torrington Rural is a special area with enormous potential, as is the whole of Devon with its businesses, people and towns and villages. But we face fundamental challenges that impact our productivity and the ability to grow.

Historically and currently, our productivity lags behind the UK average and requires a 30% increase to close the gap. Public spending per person has historically trailed the rest of the UK. Social mobility and opportunities for our young people are a particular area of concern – with young people having to leave the area due to a lack of available housing and/or attractive employment opportunities. There are significant challenges with skills and educational performance in some areas, and our rural, urban and coastal areas do suffer from high levels of poverty.

I believe, and the County Council believes, that the proposal for a Devon and Torbay devolution deal and the

setting up of a Combined County Authority will help us address these challenges.

The new Combined Authority would have direct control of adult education with the potential to create up to 50,000 new training and retraining opportunities by 2030. The Combined Authority would work with businesses and education leaders to create stronger, more joined up relationships between employers and schools, colleges and universities to provide the skilled workforce our local economy needs for the future.

Over £16 million of funding from Central Government will be given to Devon. The first tranche of funding, to be invested in new jobs, homes, skills and businesses; to accelerate Devon and Torbay’s transition to a net-zero economy; capitalising on the County’s world-leading expertise in green science and technology, and building on recent initiatives locally such as the new Maritime Innovation Centre at Appledore. There would also be a stronger partnership with Homes England, working closely with district councils in Devon like Torridge, to create a joint action plan for affordable housing schemes for local people, as well as reducing homelessness. The proposal includes additional land assembly and compulsory purchase powers and would facilitate greater community land trustled delivery. To give a tangible local example, I happen to believe that if we had had a devolved settlement in Devon like this, it would not have taken 30 years for the old dairy here in Torrington to have been demolished… there would have been better opportunities for us to draw down funding to have had that site regenerated sooner.

Other functions will include joined up local transport planning by Devon County Council and Torbay Council, improving the efficiency and co-ordination of public transport. There is also an ambition to introduce a single ticketing system for public transport passengers. Locally, we

have again started to see improvements to our local public transport with the reintroduction of a Sunday bus service to Bideford from Torrington. Bus passenger numbers are also finally showing an improvement, following a sharp fall during the pandemic. Proposals to re-open local railway lines will also, I believe, get a better hearing under a devolved settlement than not.

From 2025 the government is also offering to transfer responsibility for planning and delivery of the UK Shared Prosperity Fund to Devon and Torbay, engaging with Devon’s district councils, to support high growth, local business sectors as well as funding town centre enhancements. Again, all things that I think we should welcome.

Fundamentally, devolution re-sets our relationship with London and central government. We are no longer some far away council, it gives Devon access to corridors of power and funding opportunities that as separate town, district and county councils we do not currently get. This will be the start of a journey for our area and Devon as a whole, but one that I believe is an exciting opportunity and one that I hope we will welcome.

This arrangement will also, I hope, allow us to draw down more funding over time for existing day-to-day services, such as highways. I know I talk about highways a lot in my articles, and I will do so again in more detail next month as I know it is a high priority for my residents. But I do want to briefly highlight the ongoing work to modernise and restructure the County Council is freeing up additional funding for highways, and I will report on this in more detail in the next edition.

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.

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Great Torrington, North Devon

Fabulous Freddie checking in with all the latest K9focus news.

Well the weather certainly wasn’t kind to us at the beginning of April, and although being a Labrador I love the water, I really got a little fed up of getting covered in mud; so here is hoping the month of May will bring brighter weather.

I for one, also hope it will also bring brighter news for my friends at the rescue who are still being inundated with enquiries to take dogs in. It is so very stressful for all the team as they simply do not have the resources to help everyone, and it’s especially hard when there are genuine reasons for a dog being surrendered. Each month I seem to hear them say the same thing: too many dogs, together with insufficient kennel space and funding, and I wonder when it will all end. What happens to the dogs that the rescue can’t take in and are not as lucky as me presses on my mind! Last month saw an increase in the number of dogs just being abandoned, tied up somewhere and left to their own fate. I wonder if this is just down to owners who don’t care, or people being desperate for help with nowhere to go – either way it’s a very sad situation. I hear Aunty Lynne taking call after call each day, and telling me that the people have tried all the local rescues and can’t find space. In 2014 I published this poem, asking people to really carefully consider the training and commitment needed when taking on a dog, and to thoroughly research the breed, in the hope that this would lead to less dogs being surrendered – sadly things have not improved.

Do I Go Back Home Today?

When my family first bought me, to live

within their home

They cuddled and they pampered me, and groomed with brush and comb. Then played with me, and laughed with me, and showered me with toys I do so love my family, and all the tiny girls and boys.

The children loved to feed me and give me special treats

Even let me sleep with them - all cosy in their sheets.

I used to go for lovely walks, several times a day

Often they fought to hold my lead, I'm so very proud to say!

They used to laugh and praise me, when I played with that old shoe

But I didn't know the difference, between the old one and the new.

The kids and I would grab a rag, and for hours we played tug

So I thought I did the right thing, when I chewed that bedroom rug.

They said that I had lost control and would have to live outside I didn't really understand this, though I really really tried!

The walks they stopped one by one, they said they had no time I wish that I could change things, I wish I knew my crime.

My life became so lonely, shackled to a chain

I barked and barked continually, I thought I'd go insane.

So they took me to the rescue, but were embarrassed to say why

They said I'd caused an allergy, then said their last goodbye.

If only I'd had training, as a tiny little pup

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I wouldn't have been so hard to live with, when I was all grown up.

”You only have one day left", I heard the kennel girl say Does that mean I have a second chance?

Do I go back home today"?

Moving on to brighter news, one lovely little stray called Orion (who was abandoned and left tied up in Bideford) has now adopted a human and has gone to her new forever home. What a sweet little girl she was and Aunty Lynne was so taken with her that she nearly adopted her – not sure I would have been happy with that though, as the couch really is

only large enough for me!

Many of the dogs that are coming into rescue are entire, need dental work and/ or booster vaccinations. With veterinary costs at an all-time high (neutering average £325, dental work average £550, booster vaccinations £65) it is easy to see why the volunteers continue to work throughout the year organising fund raising events. The Easter Bingo was a great success, raising just over £1600, which gave an amazing boost to our finances and, of course, our first dog show of the season is on 27th May at the Braunton May Fair, which hopefully will be as successful.

Just before I sign off for the month I wanted to woof out loud some good news: K9focus has been voted the Best South West Animal Rescue Charity for 2024 by Luzlife magazine. Of course I am not surprised at all!!!

Woof & Licks, Fabulous Freddie

How Many Pubs are there in Torrington?

There are fewer pubs in Torrington than ever before. Those that remain are the Cavalier, Royal Exchange, Torrington Arms, Torridge Inn and Puffing Billy. Other venues where an alcoholic drink can be obtained at certain times are the Plough Arts Centre, and the Unigate and Conservative clubs.

The Black Horse in the town square is one of the few remaining ancient houses of half-timbered construction in the towns of North Devon. During the Civil War, it is believed that both Lord Ralph Hopton, commander of the Royalist army trying to defend the town, and Sir Thomas Fairfax, general of the victorious Parliamentarian army at the Battle of Torrington in 1646, used the Black Horse as their headquarters at different times.

This historic building was forced to close during Covid. It opened briefly last year, under new management, but closed again at Christmas.

The Globe was a commercial and family hotel and posting house during the nineteenth century and all coaches between Plymouth and Barnstaple, and from Exeter to Bideford, called there. It was considered a much higher class establishment than the Plough Inn next door and it has been a fine building. Now it needs a lot of money spent on it to restore it to something like its former glory.

The Plough was a public house from about 1750-1910, and this is where the name of the arts centre originated. When the building was converted into a drill hall, fine oak panelling was removed and

installed in the Mayor’s parlour in the Town Hall.

The Cavalier in Well Street was formerly called the Hunters Inn. Its name was changed in 1996 when there were celebrations in the town to commemorate the 350th anniversary of the Battle of Torrington.

The Torrington Arms in New Street was previously known as the Railway Hotel, as it was the nearest public house to the railway station, before the Puffing Billy opened in the old station building after the railway closed.

The Torridge Inn, at the bottom end of Mill Street, is an attractive building of cob and thatch which probably dates from the seventeenth century. As well as selling 'fine beers and wines' it offers authentic Thai cuisine.

Old directories from the nineteenth century show that there were at least

sixteen public houses in Torrington at that time. In 1878 a referendum was held to close pubs on Sundays and, after a majority vote in favour, a 'coffee tavern' was opened in the square in 1880 under the auspices of the local temperance movement.

Inns that no longer exist include: the Newmarket, West of England and Rolle Arms in South Street; the Admiral Vernon, Malt Scoop, New Inn and Old Inn in Well Street; the Black Swan and the Star in Potacre Street; the Rising Sun and the Setting Sun opposite each other in Cornmarket Street; the Plymouth Inn, Greyhound, Nelson and Canal Tavern in Mill Street, and numerous pubs in New Street, including the Glovers Arms, Ring of Bells, Tradesmens Arms and White Hart (which was the badge of Richard II in the fourteenth century).

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Organic & Wholefood Buying Group News

We have changed the way new members join and how our newsletter is sent out, so please, if you have any difficulty with either of these; do reach out to us either by phone or email, details below. We're always delighted to welcome new active members to enrich and diversify our group, which is about so much more than saving money on organic food and ecological products! We have many skills, talents and depths of knowledge to share, and we enjoy celebrating our different approaches as well as those we have in common.

Our little market is very popular; offering handmade organic ferments such a kimchi, sauerkraut and a range of other delicious krauts, fermented chutney, mustard, preserved lemons and cashew nut cheese. We also offer free kinesiology testing for a range of liquid probiotics that really benefit people and pet health, along with probiotic cleaning and gardening products. There are handmade snacks, treats, body care products and sometimes some eggs for sale.

Wellbeing Tip:

This tip was written for spring cleaning time in April, but naturally it's still relevant at any time of the year…

Studies show that our interior environment is actually often more polluted than the outside world, and a large part of this pollution of our homes is due to the toxic ingredients in many commercial cleaning products. Advertisers exploit our lack of knowledge

about the microbial and bacterial world, leading us to believe that unless we are content to run risks to our health, we must wage a constant war on these unseen enemies.

The truth of the matter is that it's a question of encouraging microbial balance, so that helpful microbes simply crowd out the harmful ones. At OWBG you can harness the power of probiotic cleaners, so the microbes keep gobbling up dirt and dust for 72 hours after you've sprayed them on to any surface! The microbial world is a fascinating subject, the focus of much research with exciting new understandings and practical applications to be had. You'll find more details about our microbial supplier on our website, link below. Human and pet probiotics and cleaners are available from me each month on our collection day, just email, address below.

useful in tiny quantities for particular cleaning jobs. Commercial dishwasher powder is made from unhealthy ingredients which, of course, leave a residue, so for those with a dishwasher, it's a relief to find a non-toxic powder that does the job and is environmentally friendly and economical too. Another product in this range that I love is their laundry liquid, beautifully and subtly scented and just 25ml does an 8kg wash. For further details of all these, please see our website, link below.

As ever, you're always welcome to come along to our order collection day social each month. It's an ideal way to find out more, have your questions answered over a cuppa and a share of whatever goodies we've all brought to share. The dates and details are all on our website.

Mary

Happily there are now some really excellent cleaning product ranges available too – the range that we offer at OWBG comes from a family business based in Somerset. They only use natural organically certified ingredients, their products are completely palm oil free and of course non-polluting and ethical. One of my favourites from this range is their castille soap, lightly scented with either citrus, lavender or mint essential oils. It's wonderful for the hands, a real pleasure to use and also

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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 01237 421528.

Abbeyfield

We will be very pleased when the greenhouse is up and ready to use. Like many gardeners the recent weather has prevented us getting out into the garden!

We would love to see you at our informal coffee mornings on the third Friday of each month, anytime between 10.30am and 12noon, at Glen Tor, Villa Road. There is always plenty of coffee and tea on offer, not to mention good cakes!

A date for your diary: our summer fundraiser will be a Mad Hatter’s Tea Party, on July 20th. More information next month.

Our House Manager would love to hear from you if you would like to join the residents for a very reasonably priced lunch, one day, or if you are interested in our accommodation for yourself, or a loved one. We currently, have a room to let. Join us at the coffee morning or call the house on 01805 623605.

GREAT TORRINGTON TOWN COUNCIL NEWS

From Your Mayor…

Representing Great Torrington as Deputy Mayor and Mayor over the past few years has been a most memorable time for me.

During my time as Deputy Mayor, we experienced the devastating worldwide pandemic - Covid 19. A time that is etched in all our memories. I was proud to be a part of Great Torrington Town Council who, even ahead of the Government’s announcement that the country would enter lockdown, had initiated a community support scheme to help vulnerable members of the community. This service was a lifeline to many in our town, at a time of great anxiety and uncertainty.

During my first year as Mayor, it was a huge relief to everyone - especially the Cavaliers - that the burning of the Mayflower replica was able to take place during the August Bank Holiday weekend of 2021. After the period of lockdown and isolation the event was an opportunity for the community to come together, and the Cavaliers excelled themselves once again in providing an outstanding evening of entertainment.

It was an honour to be Mayor for the return of the annual May Fair celebrations in May 2022. The town had missed this event for two years and the

community welcomed it back with great excitement and the sun shone on the day, which is always helpful.

In contrast, later that year in September 2022, it was with immense sadness that we learnt of the passing of our Sovereign, Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II. Coupled with the passing of His late Royal Highness Prince Phillip the previous year, this represented the end of an era, and the town joined the rest of the country and the world in mourning the loss of our longest reigning monarch. It was an honour as Mayor to lead the moment of reflection and the Proclamation of King Charles III in the Town Square.

The Coronation of His Majesty King Charles III was cause for much celebration. The Town Council held a cream tea at the Town & Community Hall for around 100 members of the community, and Torrington Silver Band provided entertainment in the sunshine for members of the public. The May Queen attended the cream tea with her entourage and delivered cream teas to some people who were unable to leave their houses to attend. It was a privilege to attend Great Torrington Bluecoat School to distribute Coronation Badges from Great Torrington Town Council to the children, and also to attend Bluecoat Nursery and Little Frogs Pre-School, to donate commemorative books for everyone to enjoy.

Margaret Noble has in recent years been brought to our attention as a significant local historic figure. Born in Ireland she lived in Great Torrington for several years before she moved first to London, then Calcutta, where she established a school for girls in 1898, a thing unheard of in India at the time. She was given the name Sister Nivedita, and I was honoured to take part in the unveiling of a statue in our cemetery to celebrate the 150th anniversary of her birth on October 22nd 2022, and last year I was invited as a guest to the unveiling of another statue in her memory in Wimbledon.

I must thank my Mayor’s Chaplains Reverend Robert Blackhall and Father Steve Turner for their support over the past few years, it has been a pleasure to work with you both.

I would encourage everyone eligible to explore the possibility of volunteering as a town councillor. It’s a wonderful opportunity to put something back into the community; if you have ideas and think you could make a difference, please do take that positive step and volunteer. In this my final Crier piece, I’d like to take this opportunity to thank all those Councillors, officers, and residents who have supported me at every turn. My life is richer thanks to my experience on Great Torrington Town Council.

Cllr Doug Smith

Mayor of Great Torrington

Your Council, Working for YOU

Notice of Great Torrington Mayoral Introduction Ceremony

For Information:

The introduction ceremony for the Mayor of Great Torrington Town Council will be held on Wednesday 22nd May 2024 at 7pm at Great Torrington Town & Community Hall.

Members of the public are very welcome to attend, but we do need to know numbers for refreshments, so if you are planning to come along, please let the Town Council know by 5pm Tuesday 15th May 2024. Contact us on 01805 626135 or e-mail admin@great-torringtontowncouncil.gov.uk

Correction from April article Great Torrington Town Councillors: Mayor Cllr Doug Smith, Deputy Mayor Cllr Phil Cloke.

Cllr Allin, Cllr C Bright, Cllr L Bright, Cllr Brown, Cllr B Callaghan-Martin, Cllr M Callaghan-Martin, Cllr Ford, Cllr Hewitt, Cllr Isaac, Cllr Maisey, Cllr Mills, Cllr Parish.

We currently have two spaces on Great Torrington Town Council and welcome representatives from members of the community.

If you would like to represent your community and put yourself forward for the voluntary role of Town Councillor - please call 01805 626135 or email admin@ great-torringtontowncouncil.gov.uk and we will check through the qualifying criteria.

Dementia Friendly Community Working Group

To help improve awareness of dementia and memory loss within the community, the Great Torrington Dementia Friendly Community Working Group is continuing to offer regular Dementia Awareness Sessions which are open to all.

Come along to our next session at the Town Council’s offices on Wednesday 29th May 2024 between 2-3pm to learn more about dementia and memory loss and how an increased understanding can make a huge difference to those amongst us living with dementia. If you would like to come along to this session, please contact the Town Council on 01805 626135 or admin@great-torringtontowncouncil.gov.uk to book your place.

Vacancy for a Town Beadle

Great Torrington Town Council is active in keeping the traditions of the town alive. One of those traditions is to have a small team of civic role holders which includes a Beadle, Town Crier and Mace Bearers. These roles support the Council at various functions throughout the year. We currently have a vacancy within the team for a Town Beadle.

Duties would include accompanying the Mayor to various functions as well as taking part in events within the town. In order to carry out the role of Beadle, you would need a car, be willing to obtain the appropriate insurance and be happy to drive and accompany the Mayor and Mayoress/ Consort to functions. The Beadle is provided with a mileage allowance, a small honorarium, plus a uniform. Some of the duties will involve evening and weekend work.

If you are interested in becoming the Beadle for Great Torrington Town Council, give us a call on 01805 626135 or contact us by email: admin@ great-torringtontowncouncil.gov.uk before Tuesday 23rd April 2024.

Great Torrington Town Council News

Annual Town Meeting

Thursday 21st March 2024

This years’ Annual Parish Meeting was very well attended by Councillors, grant recipients and members of the public.

The Deputy Mayor, Cllr Phil Cloke, gave a summary of the 2023/24 year to date, detailing activity of the Town Council and its partnership with organisations over the past year.

Summaries were also given by the Chair of Environment Cllr Keeley Allin, Chair of Policy & Finance Cllr Sue Mills, and Chair of Planning, also delivered by Cllr Phil Cloke in his role as Chair of the Planning Committee. The Town Clerk summarised the annual budget and the comparison between 2023/24 – 2024/25.

Following the presentations, questions were invited from registered electors. Topics raised included dog fouling, the impact residential development may have on local infrastructure and services, and industrial development needs in the area. At the end of the formal part of the evening, refreshments were served and visitors were encouraged to view the various displays available, and take the opportunity to speak with Councillors, staff, and other community representatives.

Thank you to Sandra Brown from Devon & Cornwall Police, Darren Parish from Torrington Fire Station, Adrian Avery from Torridge District Council, Chris Ward who is one of our Jubilee Wood volunteers and everyone who attended. Also, big thanks to the Town Hall for hosting the event.

We had more members of the public attending this year which was really pleasing. It would be great to see even more people there next year: the Annual Parish Meeting provides a valuable opportunity to engage with the first tier of local government and have your voice heard – so please do look out for the date in March and come along.

Town Tidy

Why not join us for our next Great Torrington Town Tidy on 28th April 2024 as we get ready for the May Fair celebrations. We will be focusing on the town centre but if you aren’t able to meet us and would like to join in, please just do an area outside your own house, or near where you live. Many hands make light work, and it will all help to make our town look its best for our special celebration weekend. We will have some litter pickers available or bring a brush, shovel, bin bag, gloves and trowel etc., and get stuck in. We will meet under the Town Hall at 10am to get started; hope to see you there!

Cllr Keeley Allin

Lord Clinton

It was with great personal sadness that I heard of the passing of Lord Clinton. He and his wife had always been champions of Great Torrington, and the area will be a poorer place without him.

My sincere condolences to Lady Clinton and their son Charles.

Cllr Doug Smith, Mayor

May Fair Proclamation

2024 Thursday 2nd May

The official May Fair

Proclamation is read out in three locations around the town on May Fair day, shortly before the arrival of the May Queen and her entourage in the town square.

Prior to this there is a short proclamation ceremony which this year will be held in Great Torrington Town & Community Hall. During the ceremony the Mayor and visiting civic guests make short speeches, and people in attendance are offered a small glass of cider for the toasts, and small sweet treats - traditionally known as fairings. Members of Great Torrington community are very welcome to attend the ceremony, so if you would like to come along, please let us know by Thursday April 25th so as we can cater accordingly.

Call on 01805 626135 – email admin@great-torringtontowncouncil. gov.uk.

D Day 80 - June 6th 2024

The commemoration of the 80th anniversary of the D Day landings is on Thursday June 6th. There is a national programme of events and Great Torrington will be joining in with these where possible. The Town Crier will begin the day with a proclamation at 8am in the Town Square. The bells of St Michael & All Angels will be heard as part of the

national ‘Ringing Out for Peace’ initiative at 6:30pm.

We are working with the Cavaliers to organise the lighting of a beacon on the evening of 6th June and would like to encourage all members of the community to come along to this. We would especially like to invite veterans of all conflicts based in Torrington to attend this event, so if you or anyone

History Walks Weare Giffard

Unfortunately, this is likely to be the last year these walks will be available, led by me. There are three walks, and a brief outline of each is below; each is around 1.5-2 hours. Walks this year will be ‘by demand’ i.e. if sufficient numbers show an interest and register, a date mutual to all will be arranged. When registering, please indicate the walk number. Thanks. Walk 1. Parish Church to the Old Corn Mill

This walk will start at the Church and cover: why Weare Giffard?; the River Torridge; the church and graveyard; a sad ‘industrial’ grave; external of WG Hall; our piano entrepreneur; the lost pub; the village school; Robert Smith war artist; the Quay; The Fortescue Arms; The Riddle of the River – novel; ‘Weare Mills Orchard’; the park; the Weare Giffard ‘Rat’; the Old Corn Mill including its mill leat and race.

Walk 2. The Cyder Presse to Chopes Bridge

This walk will start outside of the pub and will cover: why Weare Giffard?; the river; Tavern Gardens; a village shop; a (very) ancient track; the first school – 1671; the Methodists; the Old Forge; Murder most foul; where is Stoney Bridge?; The first ford above Bi-de-ford; Why Vine Cottage?; the old tucking mill; an ancient bridge; the mill leat aqueduct; Weare Giffard’s role in the film ‘Tarka the Otter’; Henry Williamson’s 12 Oak Field.

Walk 3. Berry Castle, Iron Age Hill Fort

This walk will start at Foxes Cross, Huntshaw (directions to attendees), and will cover: a tour of the actual settlement (hill fort); putting it into its context of the nearby Roman marching camp and will cover all aspects of this site and period – to the best of our current knowledge, and especially that of your guide! Plus a very recent LIDAR find!

General

The walks will all be either a Saturday or Sunday and will start at either 10.30am or 2.30pm, with day and time being decided by sounding out the availability of registered attendees. A small donation of £5 will be requested, this to go towards other W.G. history projects, e.g. oral history recording. If the 2.30pm time is chosen, there is a strong possibility of finishing with a cuppa and cake in the leaders’ garden!

If showery, we walk, if tipping down we postpone.

Annery Kiln and Sea Lock area is covered by The Rolle Canal Society: Saturday 6th July 2.30pm, meet at Annery Kiln. See their website for other Rolle Canal walks over the spring and summer.

To register and for further information

Register interest by 7th May 2024 please. Email or ring Keith Hughes keith_ willows@talktalk.net or 01237 475168. Please give walk(s) number(s); day and time of preference, together with both an email contact and tel. number.

you know is a veteran, please do make contact on 01805 626135 or admin@greattorringtontowncouncil.gov.uk to discuss attending. Torrington Silver Band will be playing before the beacon is lit between 8-9pm to mark the anniversary of this important date in our history. Please see posters and social media nearer the time for further details.

The Eagle is 40!

2024 is a landmark year in the life of ‘The Eagle’, the monthly newsletter published in the parish of Yarnscombe. Our first issue was circulated around the parish in 1984 – so that means we are celebrating our 40th anniversary. In the age of social media and technology we are encouraged by our villagers’ enthusiasm to continue contributing articles and read about what is going on in the parish. We also have regular contributions from our Parish Council, St Andrew’s Church and Village Hall: the latter includes upcoming events taking place in the village. Businesses local to the parish are also able to advertise.

“Back in the day” we had a pool of typists who individually produced each page on manual typewriters and the occasional use of correction fluid(!). These pages were then collated together and printed using a Gestetner machine, with stencils and a hand drawn cover. As the years have gone on, and with the invention of the computer, we have been able to continue increasing the content of the newsletter and are even able to include pictures!

We, as a small parish of approx. 180 residences, located on the outskirts of Torrington, are hugely proud of this achievement.

Sharron Newberry

The Eagle Co-Editor yarnscombe.eagle@gmail.com

TORRIDGE VALE SOCIAL CLUB

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Karaoke every 3rd Saturday of the month

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1st Torrington Scouts

Cubs have had a busy half term and the weather hasn’t held us back with our adventures.

We started off with gardening, learning about tool safety and their purpose, and planting their own sunflower seed to take home to nurture ready for a sunflower race.

Cubs camped at the hut with the Bideford 1st, filled with activities and cake, a lovely walk on the commons, a picnic and play in the park. This was followed by glass painting at Dartington Crystal, orienteering, jacket potatoes for dinner, an attempt at star gazing and, finally, a movie before sleep. The morning was bacon rolls, cereal, more cake and games before home.

The Beavers continued with their International Badge, trying foods from around the world and learning how to say hello/goodbye in lots of different languages. Their following meeting was very crafty and they made cards and yarn flowers for Mother’s Day.

Scouts planned their meetings and attempted to make some music: it was simply a lot of noise, but fun. Next was their code of conduct and this involved getting them to think about how they treat others and what’s expected of them as Scouts. The following week we walked the Torrington Heritage Trail; this was a lovely short walk with lots of questions to get them reading the key information. The evening was finished off with chips, definitely a big win! They were out and about again the following week on a scavenger hunt with a twist.

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

Home Repair Loans from Torridge District Council

Owning a property is an asset but it also comes with its fair share of expenses. From essential upgrades like roof repairs, new electrics, and boiler replacements to bathroom and kitchen renovations, the need for financing can be a significant challenge. You may even want to reduce your carbon emissions by installing solar panels and batteries or investing in other renewable energy measures.

Did you know that Torridge District Council offers a loan scheme ranging from £1,000 up to £20,000 with a 4% fixed interest rate, regardless of the amount you borrow or the loan term? This initiative aims to provide homeowners with accessible financing solutions for essential property improvements and renewable energy measures.

Torridge District Council works closely with Lendology CIC, who understand the challenges homeowners face when funding property repairs and adaptations.

As a B Corp, social enterprise and council-funded lender, Lendology CIC disrupt traditional lending practices by providing accessible financing solutions with decisions made by people, for people.

Lendology CEO, Emma Lower, said: "As a social enterprise lender, we're committed to supporting rural communities. While we may not have a large marketing budget, we rely on word of mouth to ensure everyone can live in a home they're proud of."

With 15 years of experience working across Devon, we're experts in understanding the needs of homeowners. Don't wait any longer to address those persistent property issues. Apply now or find out more at www.lendology.org.uk or call us on 01823 461099 and take the first step towards a safer, more comfortable home.

Representative Example (4% fixed interest rate, Representative 4.2% APR). Loans are subject to status and are typically protected by a Title Restriction. Borrow £5,000 over 60 months, £92.08 monthly repayments. Total amount repayable = £5,544.96, including £20 fee for registering the Title Restriction against your property at the Land Registry. The £20.00 fee is only payable if a loan is agreed by Lendology and you decide to proceed with a loan. We do not charge interest on the fee. A Title Restriction means that you may not be able to sell your home without our permission unless the loan is fully repaid. Missing payments could affect your credit rating and ability to obtain credit in the future.

They had to decipher clues to find out answers, lots of fun.

The group needs your support, even if it’s only an hour a week or something

behind the scenes. For more information, please contact our Group Scout Leader Jordon on jordon.whitear@gmail.com.

Rolle Canal News

Exciting New Project Starts at Ridd Inclined Plane

After many months of planning, the Rolle Canal Society has started work on its latest project to restore the inclined plane at Ridd. In heritage terms, this is an important part of the Rolle Canal and the Society is keen to conserve what remains of the structure. The plane is a superb example of Victorian engineering and innovation. Rather than constructing traditional (and expensive) locks, the incline enabled the small tub boats to negotiate a 40 foot variation in the level of the canal. This was achieved by hauling the tub boats on iron rails up a 1 in 6 slope from the base of the incline, to a pound at the top from where the canal ran at the same level all the way to its source at Darkham Weir.

The proposed restoration will involve excavating a small section of the canal bed, repairs to the old stable building, delineating the original docking bays at the base and top of the incline, clearing vegetation on the incline and improving access to the viewing chamber of the wheel pit. We hope to carry out some limited archaeological work to better understand the layout and dimensions of the docking bays and the canal infrastructure at the base of the incline.

The Society has been involved in detailed negotiations with the Environment Agency and Devon County Council who own land around the incline. Both agencies have been very

supportive of the project and we are grateful for their assistance in helping us to take it forward. The project has also been supported by the south west branch of the Inland Waterways Authority, which has awarded a generous grant of just over £12,000 to the Society for the proposed conservation works.

We have also been fortunate to receive grant funding from the Co-op, which has chosen the Society as one of the charities to be supported through its Community Fund.

On 13th March an enthusiastic team of volunteers gathered at Ridd to start work on clearing the area at the base of the incline and around the stable building. This had become overgrown

Annual Massed Bands Concert

Torrington Silver Band is delighted to welcome the return of the annual Massed Bands Concert, with our friends from Bideford Town Band and Appledore Band. The concert will take place on Sunday 19th May, 2:30pm, at RHS Garden Rosemoor. This year is especially exciting as it will be the first Massed Bands Concert since 2019, and marks the event’s 20th year. Tickets are available online from Massedbands.

co.uk. Be sure to purchase your tickets early as it is always a popular event, the last time we hosted the concert at Rosemoor it was a sell out! The ticket includes entry into the gardens at Rosemoor from 12pm.

Our Drum Corp is always looking for new recruits, whether you are an experienced drummer or a beginner we would love to hear from you. The Drum Corp is made up of a wide range

in recent months and the site looked badly neglected. However, after several hours’ determined effort, we had successfully cleared most of the vegetation, opened up the access and burned a huge amount of brash and brambles. When the project is complete, the restoration will give the public a much better understanding of the working of the incline and preserve this fascinating feature of the canal.

If you are interested in learning more about the project, please come along to the Ridd guided walk which will take place at 2.30pm on Sunday 12th May starting from the car park at Annery Kiln.

Tony Nicholls

of ages and abilities, with relaxed and friendly lessons delivered by senior drummers: Howe Concert Hall at 7pm on a Tuesday evening. If you would like more information or to arrange coming along to see us in action, then send a message via our Facebook page or get in touch with the Band secretarysecretary@torringtonsilverband.com.

Torrington Silver Band

Workplace ‘Banter’ Could Cost Businesses £159k

Keeping an eye on the culture and ‘banter’ in your workplace could help you avoid a tribunal and hefty fine, says Tracy Madgwick of Crafnant HR.

In a recent tribunal case, a female solicitor who had been paid less than a male colleague for five years and endured a ‘campaign of victimisation’ when she complained, was awarded £159k.

Helena Biggs made a claim against her former employer for sex discrimination, victimisation and unfair dismissal.

"It’s not

to

or other discriminatory comments in a workplace environment. As this recent case shows, that can be a very costly mistake. It’s important to ensure everyone in your business knows where that line is regarding what is and is not acceptable - and if you’re not sure, err on the side of caution. Make sure you have a robust grievance procedure in place and that all your employees know where it is and how to use it.”

Tracy adds:

acceptable

make sexist or other discriminatory comments in a workplace environment. As this recent case shows, that can be a very costly mistake."

When she found out she had been paid less than her male colleague for the last five years, she raised the issue with her manager.

The tribunal heard details of discrimination and victimisation spanning the solicitor’s tenure at the firm, ultimately resulting in her being dismissed from her role. The tribunal judge ruled that she had received unequal pay and suffered unlawful sex discrimination, harassment and victimisation, and awarded her a total of £158,860.41, saying “What is described as banter or jokes can still be offensive.”

This is an extreme case, but, as Tracy points out, it’s an important lesson for all business owners to ensure the culture in your company is supportive and inclusive:

“It’s not acceptable to make sexist

“We all want to work in an environment that feels safe and inclusive, and making sure everyone knows what is and is not acceptable is a key part of this. The law now states that employers have a duty to be proactive in preventing sexual harassment and must have a policy addressing this. Organising staff training and making sure everyone is familiar with key policies are important - but so is making sure your policies are followed correctly in the event a grievance is raised. Failing to treat your staff fairly can end up costing you money as well as valuable employees.”

Crafnant HR is an independent HR consultancy based near Torrington offering a full range of HR support to businesses. For more information please contact on her on 07899 665506 or email tracy@crafnanthr.co.uk

Torrington & District Historical Society

The Society recently held its AGM and it was a good opportunity to reflect on the past year. We have had a great range of speakers, including Antony Jeffries a former manager at The Torrington Creamery who provided cream for our mince pies, as well as giving a fascinating talk about the history of the factory. We were able to welcome descendants of Robert Sandford, who began the enterprise at the end of the 19th century, as well as many exemployees and others from the town who were interested. We joined in the History Alive event, with an exhibition of gloving in the town and took part in the ‘Dig the Castle’ archaeological dig during the summer. Members were also invited to several trips, including a visit to Cross House where we admired the architecture and learnt about the history and renovations of the building, undertaken by the present owners. Last summer also saw members making bread in a reproduction bronze age round house at Newton St Petrock. Our committee was re-elected and this is an opportunity to thank them for the hard work involved in organising all the talks and events, and producing such a varied programme. This summer members are invited on outings including a look at the portraits and renovations in the town hall, another visit to the ‘Dig the Castle’ site with an insight into some of the finds, and a cream tea and village walk at Weare Gifford.

The Society will resume its programme

Drain clearing

Drain clearing

CCTV surveys

CCTV surveys

Repairs/Relining

Repairs/Relining

Septic Tank and Treatment plant installation

Septic Tank and Treatment plant installation

Tel: 07794 586039 or 01271 440251

May Events at RHS Rosemoor

Great Hobby Weekend, Saturday 4th - Sunday 5th May

of talks on Monday September 9th at the Methodist Church Hall at the top of Mill Street. We meet at 7pm for tea, coffee, and a natter and talks begin at 7.30pm. Visitors are always very welcome £4 per session or membership is £15 per annum. Our talks are advertised in the Crier, on our Facebook page and on posters in the town. Please contact Pauline on 01805 623089.

Torrington Baptist Church

Services on Sunday mornings at 10.30am followed by refreshments.

Everyone is welcome to join our friendly, growing fellowship, as we seek to glorify God in our worship.

Torrington Methodist Church

Awarm welcome from Torrington Methodist Church EX38 8AL, top of Mill Street. Sunday Worship 10.30am at Church. Evening Worship 6.30pm via Zoom email sarahrichards185@gmail.com to request the link. Join us for our Bacon Butty Coffee Morning 10am-12pm, third Saturday every month.

Our premises (various rooms, incl. wifi, projector) are available to hire, see website or phone Sheila 01805 622949. Blessings from us all, hope to meet you soon.

Supported by Atkins Ferrie Wealth Management

Explore a world of human curiosity and creativity and learn about special interests ranging from croquet to crochet, birding to boating, genealogy to ornithology. Get hands on and try out a variety of skills and challenges and speak to passionate enthusiasts about their pastimes. You can also buy and browse from exhibitors offering specialist tools, materials and starter kits to enjoy at home. So broaden your horizons, challenge your brain and engage with a new community! Evening Walkies, Wednesday 8th May, 6-8:30pm

Enjoy the early evening light in our gardens with your best furry friend. Admission £8 adults, £4 children - advance booking essential.

Plant Heritage Spring Plant Fair, Sunday 12th May

Find a unique addition for your garden from Devon nurseries specialising in rare and unusual plants.

Rosemoor Live - Frances Tophill Talk and book signing, Friday 17th May, 1:30pm

Gardener, writer and presenter Frances Tophill talks about her life and work and her latest book, 'A Year in a Small Garden', following her progress as she creates her new garden in a terraced house in Devon. Working in a small space, the book documents her journey to bring life to her garden, including tips and tricks for you to achieve similar results in whatever spaces you have at home.

Tickets £15/£20*.

Rosemoor Live – Liz Shakespeare Talk and book signing, Saturday 18th May, 1:30pm

Join author Liz Shakespeare as she launches her latest book. Delving into the history of North Devon, Liz is known for her ability to breathe new life into the true stories of the past… Lucy Jones becomes embroiled in a scandal set in Torrington in 1879, culminating in the burning of effigies by a crowd of three thousand people and making national news. Tickets £10*.

Summer Half Term – Family Gardening Festival, Saturday 25th May – 2nd June Plant the seeds of a lifelong adventure with plants with creative family activities and outdoor fun.

Members go free except for ticketed events, please see* www.rhs.org.uk/rosemoor

Slimming World Groups at Torrington’s Castle Community Centre

Wednesday

9am & 10.30am

Debbie Summers 07796 945 039

• Kitchens

• Custom built furniture

• Storage solutions

07949 041 799 Sammoircarpentry@gmail.com

• Decking/Fencing

• Cladding

• Timber repair

• General home improvements

• External painting

The Crier Prize Crossword

The winner of this month’s crossword will receive free membership to Slimming World and a 6 week course Please send completed crossword with contact details to The Crier, Castle Hill, Torrington, EX38 8AA, or email to torrington.crier@gmail.com. The winner for last issue is. The winner for this issue will be picked at random from correct entries. Deadline for entries is Thursday 9th May and the solution and winner will be in the June issue.

Garden & Landscape

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

LOGS FOR SALE

Tel: 07971533 235

Feel-good Fixes this Spring

As winter turns to spring, power up your body and mind with these mood-boosting tips from Slimming World, and you’ll be ready to step into the season feeling better than ever!

Prioritise you. While we can often feel under pressure to put everyone else first, they’ll only get the best of us if we show ourselves a bit of TLC, too. Doing something that makes you smile, will give your spirits a lift. When you feel good, not only do you have more energy to help others, but you’ll also feel more inclined to stick to your weight loss goals, too. Feed your mood. What you eat can really affect how you feel – we all know what it’s like to get hangry (angry because we’re hungry)! Slimming World members find making the most of our Food Optimising plan, by eating filling platefuls of tasty and nutritious food if they’re hungry between meals, and enjoying a little of what they fancy with a snack, is just the ticket to successful weight loss.

Saffron joined Slimming World in January 2024 and lost 12.5 pounds in her first week! She had tried many different weight-loss plans before joining Slimming World Torrington. After losing 2 stone 6.5 pounds, in her first 8 weeks, she has more energy and feels less breathless. Saffron says: “At first, I was so surprised at the variety of food I was eating while losing weight! No food is banned, there’s so much you can eat freely whilst losing weight. I've not only invested in my health, but found myself saving both time and money.”

Debbie, Slimming World Consultant Torrington, is so proud of Saffron for her commitment to be a fitter and healthier lady and her dream weight.

Your Award Winning Local Park!

The RHS

Rosemoor apprentices and the Torrington in Bloom volunteers have come to the end of another year of hard work and creativity in Rack Park. Back in July we were judged for the SW in Bloom “It's Your Neighbourhood” awards and, I'm really proud to say, that we won an Outstanding award!

From Your District Councillors…

In addition to this, and for the first time, we were entered for a Pride in Parks award, winning a five star award! So watch out for the special plaque to be fitted to the park’s main entrance.

What has been particularly enjoyable during our work days is the interaction, encouragement and appreciation by lovely members of the community passing by, it really is appreciated.

Projects and improvements this year have included 1400 daffodil bulbs planted into the grassy slope leading up from the lower gate, an amazing spectacle over the early spring period. We have enlarged the top two borders, fitted new wooden edging and planted a large and lovely selection of plants and flowers across the park, all very kindly funded by the Torrington in Bloom committee. Our tree planting has continued with the addition of three birch trees and a weeping ornamental pear tree along the top grass strip.

So, all in all, a fantastic team community effort, not forgetting the Town Council team and even members of the public, all dipping in to help out.

We are always open and very welcoming to new volunteers, if you fancy getting involved, come along to Castle Hill Gardens on a Wednesday and have a chat with one of the volunteers.

It's your park, so just enjoy it!

Richard Wilson, Horticulturist RHS Garden Rosemoor

Work continues at Appledore’s Middle Dock to prepare for the construction of the Appledore Clean Maritime Innovation Centre. Due to funding limitations from central government and spiralling costs in the building sector, plans have had to be scaled down to keep the project on budget, but in a recent report officers gave assurances that effects on the operation of the site would be minimal. The centre is set to make a significant contribution to developing the blue economy of Northern Devon.

At Full Council on Monday April 8th councillors voted to join the North Devon Railway Development Alliance. It is hoped that this group will have greater power to lobby central government for the re-establishment of a rail link between Bideford and Barnstaple, and for improvements to the existing Tarka Line. This move is in accordance with the council’s newly adopted Strategic Plan, which was changed to specifically include working with partner organisations to ascertain the viability of and appetite for such a project.

We thank the May Fair Committee for their work in preparing for this year’s celebrations and wish everyone a funfilled May Fair and Walking Carnival.

Cllr Doug Smith, Councillor.smith@ torridge.gov.uk, 07970 636 199

Cllr Lauren Bright, Cllr.laurenbright@ torridge.gov.uk, 07595 659 310

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

may events at the plough

The Plough Brings Ukrainian Student’s Play to Life

Plough Youth Theatre (PYT) student Kateryna Rudiakova came, on her own, to the UK as a Ukrainian refugee. At the time, she was only 14 years old. She won a place at Kingsley School based on her academic achievements in the Ukraine. However, her family were unable to join her in the U.K. She decided to write a highly personal play about her experience of becoming a refugee, entitled ‘The Best Life’.

Kateryna’s script is powerful, honest and passionate and focuses on life, love and separation at a time of war. She has co-directed the production alongside PYT Facilitator, Michele Borsten.

Kateryna was interviewed on both ITV West Country News and BBC Radio Devon to talk about her experience and how she came to write ‘The Best Life’ before it was premiered at the Plough Arts Centre in March. After the performance, many talked about how they were deeply moved by Kateryna’s story and her bravery. If you missed it there will be another chance to see it at Barnstaple’s Fringe Theatrefest on Thursday 27th, Saturday 28th and Sunday 29th June at The Gallery, Queens Theatre.

Kateryna says, “The Best Life reminds us of the huge but transparent issue that many have forgotten about. The madness and pain of war, locked in Roksolana’s teenage heart, make us both cry and laugh, and her sincerity about her family that remained in Ukraine makes us live through the fear together with her.”

We are incredibly proud of Kateryna and the brilliant PYT students who brought her play to life.

The Plough Arts Centre

Visual Arts

We have two exhibitions at the Plough in May, running from Saturday 11th May to Saturday 15th June 2024. Preview: Saturday 11th May 2024, 2pm.

Karen Howse and Stephanie Lamb

Karen Howse has been a visiting artist at Dunsland and this exhibition is a gathering of her drawings, monoprints and experiments made over the five years she has been re-visiting this NT Parkland. Dunsland in North Devon has an intriguing history: an absent house, ancient 700 year old Sweet Chestnut trees with heavy limbs spiralling towards the sky and rare lichens that thrive in its undisturbed microclimate. This exhibition is mostly a story of the artist’s correspondence with these trees and an open ended experiment in how drawing in a place can bring us closer. Drawing is used as a tool for listening, inviting other ways of being, knowing and responding.

Stephanie Lamb says "With drawing at its heart, my work is both representational and abstract, moving between the allegorical, the mythical and the natural worlds perpetually reinterpreted. Recent world events, both environmental and political, however, have presented questions about the nature of my work and what it means: how do we make sense of these events through our work, how can we find our voice and how can we make a difference?"

Please note, a 5% fee will be applied to all bookings 01/05

2pm The Plough Arts Centre Film: King For A Day (cert: tbc)

7.30pm The Plough Arts Centre Film: King For A Day (cert: tbc) 02/05

7.30pm: The Plough@StAnne’s, Poetry/ Spoken Word: Plough Storytelling Circle

7.30pm The Plough Arts Centre Film: The Plough Arts Centre Dune 2 (12A)

7.30pm The Plough@StAnne’s, Haunted History Tour: Barnstaple Town and Workhouse Haunted History Tour 03/05

2pm The Plough Arts Centre Film: All Of Us Strangers (15)

7.30pm The Plough@StAnne’s, Music/Spoken Word: Robyn Hode - his life and death

7.30pm The Plough Arts Centre Film: All Of Us Strangers (15) 04/05

10am The Plough@StAnne’s, Workshop – Visual Arts: Terracotta Pots for your garden Pottery Workshop

10am The Plough@StAnne’s, Workshop - Visual Arts: Seascape in Acrylics

8pm The Plough Arts Centre Music: This is Merseybeat 07/05

7pm The Plough@StAnne’s, Workshop - Visual Arts: Dog Soap Making Workshop 08/05

2pm The Plough Arts Centre Film: The Holdovers (15)

7pm The Plough Arts Centre Theatre: NT Live ‘Nye' 09/05

2pm The Plough Arts Centre Film: The Holdovers (15)

7.30pm The Plough Arts Centre Film: The Holders (15)

8pm The Plough Arts Centre Music: Plough Open Mic Night (in the Gallery) 10/05

2pm The Plough Arts Centre Film: Oppenheimer (15)

8pm The Plough Arts Centre Comedy: JACKIE FABULOUS - FULL CIRCLE 11/05

10am The Plough@StAnne's, Workshop – Visual Arts: Seascape in Watercolour

10.30am The Plough Arts Centre Workshop: Plough Writers

8pm The Plough Arts Centre Talk: Post Office Scandal - the inside story 15/05

2pm The Plough Arts Centre Film: Oppenheimer (15)

7pm The Plough Arts Centre Film: NTLive

‘The Motive and The Cue’ (15) 16/05

2pm The Plough Arts Centre Film: Back to Black (15)

7.30pm The Plough Arts Centre Film: Back to Black (15) 17/05

8pm The Plough Arts Centre Theatre: ‘The Passion of Living Spit’ by Stu Mcloughlin 18/05

10am The Plough@StAnne’s, Workshop - Visual Arts: Small Trug Willow Weaving Workshop

10.30am The Plough@StAnne’s, Workshop – Visual Arts: Coasts Print Making Workshop

7.30pm The Plough Arts Centre Film: Back to Black (15)

8pm The Gallery at The Plough Arts Centre, Music: Billie Maree 22/05

2pm The Plough Arts Centre Film: Perfect Days (PG)

7.30pm The Plough Arts Centre Film: Perfect Days (PG) 23/05

2pm The Plough Arts Centre Theatre: NT Live ‘Nye'

7.30pm The Plough@StAnne’s, Haunted History Tour: Barnstaple Town Centre Haunted History Tour 24/05

8pm The Plough Arts Centre Music: Lady Nade, Daisy Chute, Hollie Rogers - Lady Nade 25/05

8pm The Plough Arts Centre Dance: The Oggle Band Celidh 29/05

2pm The Plough Arts Centre Film: Godzilla v Kong: The New Empire (12A)

7pm The Plough Arts Centre Theatre: NT Live ‘Nye' 30/05

2pm The Plough Arts Centre Film: Godzilla v Kong: The New Empire (12A) 31/05

1pm Dance Studio at The Plough Arts Centre: Imùlè Theatre Drumming and Agbo Play Workshop.

2pm The Plough Arts Centre Film: Where is Heaven (12A)

4pm The Plough Arts Centre Theatre: ‘Native Wit’.

7.30pm The Plough Arts Centre Film: Where is Heaven (12A)

7.30pm The Plough@StAnne’s, Haunted History Tour: Barnstaple Bygone Brothel Tour

8pm The Gallery at The Plough Arts Centre, Music: Rakes Adrift

All Shines Window & Exterior Cleaning

Windows • Guttters • Soffits

Gutter Clearance • Roof de-moss

Render & K Rend Soft Wash

Conservatories • Patios • Block Paving

01805 938502 07711 079 577

Torrington in Bloom

DTotal Property Services

� Property Maintenance � Renovation & Extensions � Patios & Decking \/ Roofing

espite the awful weather, our Wednesday Gardening group of volunteers continue to work at keeping the gardens at Castle Hill, the Secret Memorial Garden, Rack Park and beds, borders and containers looking neat and tidy and colourful for all who visit our lovely town. Let’s hope we get some proper warm spring sunshine soon!

Torrington in Bloom attended the South-west in Bloom Spring Seminar on 21st March and we were delighted to be awarded a 5-star certificate and plaque for Rack Park, which we entered into the Pride in Parks award for the first time. Rack Park had already received an ‘Outstanding’ certificate in the It’s Your Neighbourhood category, so we have achieved ‘double tops’ in 2023. I am sure you will all agree that it was a well-deserved award and we must thank our volunteers and the apprentices from RHS Rosemoor for their hard work. Further to our appeal in last month’s Crier for people to open their gardens for our joint venture with the Rotary Club of Torrington, we are still seeking gardens. The open day is on Sunday 16th June, which is a bit earlier in the season, but please don’t be put off by this date. Gardens can be of any size, front or back, or both, formal or informal. Please contact Stephen Saywell of the Rotary Club, or me on 01805 625788.

We are still looking for keen people who would like to volunteer and who enjoy fresh air to come along to our Wednesday group to see what we do. We meet in Castle Hill Gardens (the old 1646), enter via the side gate in the car park every Wednesday (there is also tea and cake for elevenses!). You don’t need to be an ‘expert’ gardener to help out.

Newton Tracey Cricket Club

We welcome new members of all ages for the 2024 season.

Our senior teams play in the Devon League on Saturdays and we have two Sunday sides.

Our youth section will have representation at under 9s, 10s, 11s and 13s. Youth training will be on Wednesday evenings from late April. We also run the English Cricket Board approved programmes, Allstars and Dynamos, starting mid-May

Any queries please contact Graham Moore 07760 197 550.

� Pvc Fascias & Guttering

� Painting & Decorating

Bathroom Specialists

Little Torrington WI

April’s meeting was our WI Women of the Year guest speaker, Becky Walford, Kings Harbour Master and Port Safety Officer for Portsmouth Harbour. Becky’s talk was a fascinating insight into her ocean sailing career, working with the Clipper Yachts and then Joint Services Sailing, taking her around the world with numerous ocean crossings.

Next month’s meeting will be our annual meeting, with committee nominations. All members are welcome on the committee and it’s a great way to get involved. Little Torrington WI does it differently. All members are on the committee and they must opt out if they do not want to be nominated. It is also a bring-and-buy plant sale.

There is also an extra activity in May, a Tarka Pottery workshop on Tuesday 21st

The Water Watch group, part of the Water Forum project with other Devon WI, has successfully submitted its winter results. The picture so far across Devon is pretty bleak, as many other rivers are considered in poor health. The Little Torrington group is monitoring the river on a monthly basis, as well as looking at the health of the tributaries running into our part of the Torridge.

If any of the above sounds of interest please contact Jen 01805 622433.

Tarka Valley Railway News

After much work and effort by our team of volunteers, we were ready with fingers crossed for a dry and bright day on Easter Saturday - our Easter Eggspress event; the first running day of the year. I am delighted to say that the weather was on our side and many visitors paid us a visit. Our DMU 143617 carried a total of 617 passengers during the day. The Easter Bunny was very excited to meet everyone. Many thanks to all who came to see us, and enabled us to raise the splendid figure of almost £2,000, to fund our current and future projects.

Our next event is fast approaching, the “May Fair Special” on 4th and 5th of May. We would be delighted to see you there.

Despite our focus on event preparation, work has continued across the site. The brake van now has a nice new roof, the per way team have been fettling the new track panel and the trolley shed repair continues apace.

Finally, special thanks go to Stuart at Tarka Digital for sponsoring our poster printing and providing us with smart new green hi-vis jackets for our platform staff.

Our Facebook and Instagram pages have latest news and regular updates, plus our updated website has much more information. Do check it out: wwwtarkavalleyrailway.org.

Robert Martin, Tarka Valley Railway

Cherry Hammon Torrington in Bloom

The Mission

Year 9 have been working hard finessing their creative writing skills. Here are some more exceptional responses to the ‘1917’ task, where pupils wrote in response to a powerful clip from the film.

The Farmhouse

Shattered glass filled the dusty wood panelled floor. In the corner, a well-kept doll staring back up at me – its hair still neatly brushed. I wandered up to a perfectly straight, rectangle hole. What would have been (before the war started) a window. Beaming through the rectangle was a calm summer’s day with the fresh smell of damp grass. A glimmer of hope spread across my mind before my fellow soldier Tom crept into frame. As I looked away my eyes had to readjust to the darkness of the dingy farmhouse interior.

Turning, a new angle appeared in front of me. Grand wooden stairs centred between the two half destroyed walls- previously a hallway. Although they were no longer very grand. Chips of dark wood stuck straight up as if been zapped by lightning. Remaining patches of carpet still hanging onto a single rusty nail and 3 stairs up a crater making it nearly impossible to reach the second floor I snuck out the door to see what Tom had been inspecting. Nothing much he told me. Scanning around me, I spotted a cluster of metal buckets lurking under a brick shelter. My pace quickening, I went over to investigate. All around shiny steal buckets scattered the floor. Empty. Searching, in desperate need of liquid I popped off the lids- nothing. About a metre away from the rest: a loner. Sat there by itself as if pushed away from the group. I grabbed the icy cold handle ripping it apart from the body. Inside, just as I had hoped, lay a fresh batch of cows’ milk. Still cold since it had been conveniently left in the shadows. I stuck my grubby hands in, fingers first, palms second and tasted the milk. Quenching my first just right, I indulged my hand for another sip, this time scooping it with my palms to achieve the maximum amount. Fiddling around with my pack, I reached in for my flask putting the rim against the bucket so I could pour.

A bellowing rumble started to get closer; louder. My heart began to thump. Looking down I could almost see my chest jolting back and forth. I scrambled up, rapidly trying to fix on the lid of my flask. It dropped. Luckily, I had got it on enough for it to only leak a few droplets. The floor started to vibrate. The thing I had been dreading finally showed itself.

Skye Holloway, Year 9

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Charred trees towered all around them, blocking the view of the desiccated wasteland of no man’s land. They lumbered on, a field emerging through the line of trees, the lush green of the untouched grass contrasting with the sooty black of the forest. Bees buzzed amongst the pastel flowers, rabbits hopped around, birds sang, all oblivious to the horror just around the corner. Tom kept walking, William trudging along beside him. He looked grim. “I expect you’ll be getting a medal then, saving a soldier’s life” he said. If Tom remembered rightly, William had lost his medal while fighting. He asked him. “Lost it? No, I traded it for a bottle of wine. They’re worthless.” Tom disagreed, but he was too tired to retaliate. After a while, they came across a farmhouse, its cherry orchard blocking their way. The walls around it were destroyed, bricks everywhere. Inside, the trees were beautiful, pink blossom carpeting the floor. As they got closer, they saw that they were chopped down, their trunks left there to rot. Tom said, “Mum’s got a cherry orchard back home. Me and Joe would spend the whole day picking them for her.” He felt a sudden pang in his stomach. Joe. He was the reason he had volunteered to deliver this message. He would do anything, anything in the world to save his life. To see him again.

They stumbled over the tree trunks, until they came to see the farmhouse again. From closer up they could see that it was abandoned, its walls falling

down, its roof caving in. They crept forwards, eager to see what was inside, but at the same time apprehensive. What if someone still lived there? What if it was a trap? They looked through the shattered window: A broken doll, its pinafore dress ripped to shreds; a cracked China teapot; a dead rat, its body mangled; but no food. They stepped inside through the fallen down door, and slowly walked into another room. Nothing. Just an empty dining room, all its furniture gone. After thoroughly searching the rest of the house, they walked out, defeated. Tom turned around to look at the orchard. The charred treed towered behind it.

“I will save you, Joe” He thought, turning back. “But I still have a long way to go.”

Ella Williams, Year 9

My Hell-Broth

Shining tears of a toad, Don’t be shy, chuck in a load.

A large tuft of wolf hair, Spider’s skin found in its lair.

Venom of snake, wing of bat, Tongue of cow and teeth of cat.

Tongue of snake and slugs diced, Thick human finger that’s been iced.

Whale skin – grated, scorpion legs –ripped, Tarantula fangs – torn, badger toes –clipped.

Holly Cooper, Year 9

Year 9 have also been delving into the play Macbeth and exploring the role of the three witches. After analysing the witches’ famous ‘double, double, toil and trouble’ spell, pupils wrote their own ‘hellbroths’: prepare to be revolted!

The hell broth

Eye of a pregnant goat

Rotten rabbit’s furry coat.

Dead pigs’ trout, maw and gulf

Toenail of an alpha wolf, Resurrected mammoth foetus, Bogey of a troll named Jesus.

Double double toil and trouble

Bang bang boil and bubble.

Dung beetle’s salty tears

Crushed by its greatest fears

Leprechauns ginger beard hair

Reflecting of the rainbow air

Abandoned baby’s cry Left on a curb to die.

Double double toil and trouble

Bang bang boil and bubble.

Skye Holloway, Year 9

My hellbroth

Chop off an elephant’s ear, In the cauldron, preserved for years. Guts of a worm that was dug deep, We will make sure you can’t sleep. Grind up a shark’s tooth, In the cauldron, blown up like poof.

Wobble, wobble, boil and bubble, My hellbroth causing trouble.

Scale of a mermaid, tail of a rat, Poison of a snake, ear of a bat. A hamster’s eye, a parrot’s wing, Time to make sure we make you sing. Tigers blood, toe of a baboon, Don’t stir too much or it will go boom.

Wobble, wobble, boil and bubble, My hellbroth causing trouble.

Freya Northover, Year 9

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Fleur’s Gardening Forum

The Wonderful Wallflower

Ithink we rather take for granted one of the most beautiful spring/summer flowering plants grown in our gardens for centuries. The wallflower is quintessentially one of the classic cottage garden plants - the old varieties are richly scented and easy to grow (try ‘Fair Lady’ mixture). Wallflowers used to have the Genus name Cheiranthus, and those ‘perennial’ cultivars were known as Erysimum, but most are now referred to as the latter. This is because most wallflowers are really perennials and very hardy, although for years they have been referred to as ‘spring bedding’, grown as biennials and planted out in the autumn to over-winter before flowering their heads off the following spring, after which they were discarded to make way for the ‘summer bedding’. Some species, such as C. allioni (the Siberian Wallflower) are very hardy, and there are also alpine species, equally tough.

There is some controversy as to how wallflowers came to these islands; some believe seeds probably arrived stuck to a traveller’s shoe or clothing many hundreds of years ago, but the oldest form is now considered to be a native. True to its common name, the wild form was usually found growing in gaps in old walls or on very stony soils, hence it is an extremely tough, hardy plant.

Wallflowers form part of the Cruciferae/Brassicacae family: the Cruciferae part means cross-shaped and refers to the petals which are four in number set in the form of a cross. Because they are related to brassicas they can also suffer from the same diseases, especially club root, and they may be susceptible to cabbage white caterpillar attack, so watch out!

To grow wallflowers from seed is easy; sow seed in early summer, either into trays or in a seed bed and once they start to grow away, prick or thin them out, discarding weaker seedlings. Then, in late summer or early autumn, plant them into their final position in your garden. They love full sun and alkaline soil, but will grow almost anywhere and dwarf cultivars can be grown in pots. If some plants look a bit ‘leggy’, pinch out the growing tip to encourage lots of the side shoots and more flowers in spring. In spring, once wallflowers are flowering, trim them by deadheading; this will also encourage side shoots that will lengthen the season. Later in the year, you may need to shorten them to lower side-shoots and these trimmings can be propagated as cuttings.

The best part of growing wallflowers is their scent and bees love them! So, don’t throw them out when they have ‘gone over’, keep them growing for a few years and save some money!

Pause for Thought

May Fair excitement! The May Queen and entourage are chosen, rehearsals are in full swing, dressmakers are creating, and the small army of committed volunteers are all working hard behind the scenes towards this very special event in our lovely town. What a spectacle it will be and it is open for anyone to attend!

This reminds me of one of Jesus’s parables; the “Kingdom of Heaven” is like a king who prepared a wedding banquet for his son. The King sent out his servants to tell those who had been invited to come, but they refused. He sent more servants, with a message that a feast was awaiting them, again the guests refused, instead going about their daily business, or even manhandling the servants.

The king then told his servants to go into the streets and invite anyone they could find to the banquet. The servants did this and gathered all they could find, good and bad and the wedding hall was filled with guests.

Jesus told this parable to explain that the Kingdom of God is open to everyone. You do not need any special invite! No matter your background or your current circumstance, Jesus stands at the door, he does not push His way into your life, but the invitation to all is if you knock, he will answer. Simple as that! If you would like to explore this or know more about a relationship with Jesus and would like to chat with someone about this, why not call Kath on 07702589799.

Property Market Place Tips

Top tips to attract buyers this spring Spring is the season of renewal, where potential buyers look for a fresh start in a new home. Here are some top tips on how you can attract buyers this spring to get your dream move started. Have a spring clean One of the best ways to attract buyers at this time of year is by having a spring clean. This gives you the opportunity to declutter your home and remove any unnecessary items that may distract buyers, which can help them envision themselves living in the property.

It also helps to create a fresh and inviting atmosphere that can appeal to buyers. When buyers see a clean and well-organised space, they are more likely to believe that the home has been well cared for and is worth the asking price.

Make renovations and improvements

Making renovations to your home before putting it on the market can significantly increase its appeal. Buyers are often looking for a move-in-ready home that is modern and functional. By renovating key areas such as the kitchen and bathrooms, you can show buyers that your home is up-to-date and ready for them to settle into.

Renovations can also help you make the most of the space in your home. Knocking down walls, adding built-in storage, or updating the layout can create a more open and inviting environment that buyers will love. Installing triple-glazed windows, adding insulation, or upgrading to eco-friendly

appliances can also help attract buyers who are looking to save money on their bills.

Decorate your home

Re-decorating your home can help it stand out in the property market and attract buyers. Whether it's adding pops of colour with fresh flowers, updating your decor with light and airy fabrics, or applying a coat of paint to your interior walls, simple changes can make a big impact when selling your home.

By using light and neutral colours, incorporating comfortable furniture, and adding personal touches, you can make your home feel warm and inviting. Remember, buyers are looking for a place to call their own, so creating a space that feels like home can make all the difference in attracting the right buyer.

Use high-quality photos

Another effective way of catching the eye of potential buyers is by taking and selecting high-quality photos for your property listings. Blurry, poorly lit photos can turn off potential buyers and lead them to scroll past your listing without a second thought, so it is crucial that you find an estate agent whose listings contain strong images that stage properties impressively.

Natural lighting can also play a crucial

role in making your property more appealing to buyers. Bright, natural light can make a space feel inviting, spacious, and welcoming. By opening up your curtains or blinds, it is easier to capture stunning images that showcase your property in the best possible light. Kerb appeal

First impressions matter, especially when it comes to selling a property. Potential buyers usually form an opinion of a property within seconds of seeing it. A well-maintained and aesthetically pleasing exterior can make your home stand out from the competition and create a positive first impression. Trimming hedges, mowing the lawn, and planting colourful flowers all help make your front garden look inviting, while a fresh coat of paint can give your property a new lease on life. As the front door is the focal point of your property's exterior, making sure it looks smart can have a significant positive impact on the first impressions of potential buyers.

Adrian Hardwick, Webbers Local Director

Fleur

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Come & join our Just Fun & Inflatable Fun sessions this summer, which take place every day.

Come & join our Aquafit classes, which take place every day from Monday to Friday. For more information, please see our website www.activetorridge.co.uk & select your chosen centre.

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