Torrington Crier May 2020 by The Torrington Crier

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May 2020 The Crier is produced 10 times a year on behalf of the community, by The Crier Community Interest Company. 5900 copies are distributed throughout Great Torrington and the rural district.

INSIDE:

May Fair Memories

Photos from the first May Fair to the present day

Community 'Thanks'

Incredible response from local businesses & volunteers

Coronavirus Support & Information Win a ÂŁ20 Y.H. Beauty Voucher Children's Drawing Competition The Trumbles of Torrington Commons...

Your Digital Devon Library Access services online

Local Interest Articles

As there is no May Fair this year, Sienna gets her winning programme cover featured here instead, well done Sienna!

All Classes Now Online! Please get in touch for details...

Read The Crier Online

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

Would you like the Crier delivered in your village?

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

About The Crier...

The Crier is produced 10 times a year by The Crier Community Interest Company, a social enterprise, and aims to support the local community and local businesses, by providing a publication in which news, events and information can be shared throughout Great Torrington and the rural district. Production costs are covered by advertising income. We would also like to thank Proportion of all grades 9-7support. (or A*-A) 37% Great Torrington Town Council for their We would be very grateful if you could please ensure you inform any advertiser of where you saw their advert.

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

Disclaimer:

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

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Bookings and Hirings at The Town & Community Hall

t’s been most unfortunate that some people have had to cancel their weddings and other celebrations at the Town Hall this year, but none of us could have predicted such unprecedented and challenging times. We are still open to take bookings for next year, and if you are interested in hiring the hall for your wedding or private function/party, just email Anne at the Town Hall on townandcommunityhall@ gmail.com and she will be happy to send you a booking pack.

Town Hall Titans & Trustees

can’t believe that it’s over a year since I started working at our Town Hall & Community Hall. It’s been a fabulous year and I think we can safely say that by working together our hall is now firmly established as a community venue for everyone in the Town and surrounding parishes to enjoy. None of this would have possible however, without the help and encouragement of my Town Hall Titans (Town Hall volunteers) and my chirpy band of voluntary Trustees – you have all made my job so much easier and I look forward to seeing you all again soon. Here’s to an even better second year with some great events and community initiatives. If you haven’t already had a Town Hall tour, ring me anytime on 07971 696 192 and I’ll organise a visit (when we’re allowed out!) – you will be surprised to see what a glorious asset and beautiful building you have right here in the centre of town. Anne Tattersall

From the Crier Team

e were saddened not to deliver the April Crier to our readers, the Goverment’s announcement on 23rd March meant that we couldn’t use our network of deliverers as usual. For those who would like to read it, it’s available on our website www.great-torringtoncrier.co.uk. We have repeated some articles in this issue, as well as the crossword. This month’s Crier looks a little different! There is no diary or ‘what’s on’ section, but I have to thank the community and Anne Tattersall in particular, for rallying around and sending in so many old May Fair photos, thank you messages, and stories to make this issue something special to read whilst life is so different for us all! For the children there is even a competition to draw characters for a special story about little creatures living on the Commons. We would also like to thank the local businesses who have continued to advertise with us, without you the Crier couldn’t continue. To ensure this issue reaches you, we have used the Royal Mail to deliver nearly 6000 copies across Torrington and the rural district, and going forward will continue to do this until the restrictions are lifted. Please continue to send in your contributions: letters, thank yous, old photos, poems, stories, anything you like! The Crier belongs to the community and will be here throughout these difficult times. We look forward to hearing from you: please email torrington.crier@gmail.com, or call 01805 603152 if you don’t have access to email and would like something included. Take care and stay safe. The Crier Team

Portrait of Torrington – Have You Still Got Yours?

n 1999 local artist Shan Miller created 24 portraits of local Torrington characters for an exhibition at the Plough. This September Shan is planning a retrospective exhibition at the Plough and would like to borrow the portraits to make this possible. If you can help, please get in touch with Shan on 01805 624384 or 07934 688965. To see the portraits please visit Shan’s website www.shanmiller. com.

A Big Thanks to Our Town Corona Heroes & Heroines!

the letters – what a team effort! espite one or two ‘negative I was heartened to see the support nellies’ and the odd ‘mood offered to our Town’s Knit & Natter group hoover’ (who I tend to ignore via an on-line messenger group. The anyway), I’d like to applaud our humour, offers of help and support has community for the way in which they been immense – be incredibly proud of have all come together during such yourselves ladies. challenging times. As with all events, To all our local NHS workers and care there are those who always go the extra workers, you are amazing. Huge thanks mile to help others and to this end I’d to all our like to do a "It’s great to see social media platforms playing a retailers few ‘shout outs’ to those positive role for a change, and to note the number of and other pouting selfies have been put aside and replaced with key workers of you who more worthy news stories and messages..." who are I’ve drawn keeping the economy going and looking inspiration from. after us all, so we have food to eat and At a recent Town Council meeting hosted by Karen Chapman and Charlotte essential items to keep us going. A special shout out to Kath Pritchard at Kirby and chaired by our Town Mayor Keeley Allin, it was great to see so many Lidl, who I observed continuing to smile despite being set upon by an extremely individuals who turned up to help the rude customer. I’m sure a lot of other Council in their efforts to mail everyone in our community, in a bid to reach out retail staff have taken unnecessary abuse, especially in light of all the selfish to our most vulnerable residents to ascertain any particular needs they may stockpiling of food and other essential items. Thanks also to our teachers who have: shopping, medication or just a social chat on the telephone. Everyone are continuing to work to ensure the was so willing to help, and then of course children of key workers are still being educated. our wonderful town posties delivered all

If you would like to say thank you to anyone in our community, please email torrington.crier@gmail.com or message our Facebook page @ torringtoncrier. If you don't have access to the internet, please call 01805 603152. It’s great to see social media platforms playing a positive role for a change, and to note the number of pouting selfies have been put aside and replaced with more worthy news stories and messages of support and encouragement to each other – so uplifting and hopeful. To Becky at the Crier, for her great idea of a ‘good news’ edition for the May Crier – this will be a copy to treasure for years to come. I’m sure there are loads of unsung heroes and heroines out there doing things quietly to make our community the great place it is to live in, so thank you all – I feel truly blessed to live in such a wonderful kind and caring community. Anne Tattersall

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Thank You…

'd like to say a big thank you to The Old Farmhouse Kitchen and Tearooms and the kind couple who donated their luxury afternoon tea after they could no longer attend on Mother’s Day. Due to our need to postpone our April wedding to later in the year, and with the Tearooms providing the catering, they kindly choose to put some cheer and positivity into our day! It was a lovely gesture and really brightened our day with the delicious treats. Thank you so much, and to continue the positivity we have made a donation to Freedom Community Alliance providing support for the homeless in North Devon. Many Thanks N&N

Knit & Natter Thanks…

joined this group held at the Town Hall every Wednesday morning from 10am until noon, about three months ago. I am so glad I did, as now being in isolation due to the Coronavirus it has given me so many ideas to pass the time knitting such as: cosy neck warmers; premature baby sets; twiddle muffs for dementia patients; little Easter chicks; Easter bunny and Easter duck. This has kept me occupied during this trying time and I’m really looking forward to getting back to the lovely friendly group soon, I have made and renewed many friendships there. Sue Niven

Thank You to a Kind Stranger…

have been looking for an opportunity to thank this person for a while now, and I hope this message reaches him. “On 4th November 2019 at around 7-7:30pm I was rushing to work (I look after people in their homes) and had a pretty bad fall in the lane on the way to Bluecoats School, just down from Well Street. You were walking your dog at the time, and I think I gave you both a bit of a shock. I face planted the floor and sprained my ankle quite badly (but more than anything else I was totally embarrassed). I wanted to jump up and hurry back to work as I was late, but was very shaken up and you kept me calm, helped me up and made sure I was okay. I want you to know I really appreciate your kindness and patience so thank you so much, there should be more people like you around! You know who you are, thank you. From the Editor… Perhaps if this reaches the person in question, you could send a message in to the Crier so that the person you helped knows her thank you reached you?

Thank You…

e are in isolation in St Giles in the Wood due to age and health issues, but we have our Angels who have been bringing food, wine and prescriptions. Thank you, Michelle Turner, Peter KingstonRoberts, Dawn Turner and Steve Boundy. Glenda Barnett

Thanks to Our Supermarket Staff!

would like to give a shout out to the staff at Lidl and Co-op in Torrington. They’ve been unfailingly calm, kind, and professional in a very trying time and they deserve credit and a raise! Allie

A Thank You to The Crier Team

n behalf of the Committee who are involved with the Crier, I would like express my thanks to all the team who have worked so hard to produce this month’s edition of The Crier. I am sure readers will agree it is a very special edition and I would like to thank all the people who have contributed so many positive and heartwarming stories at this difficult time. I have been involved with The Crier since 2011 and have watched how it has grown and adapted to the needs of our Community. We hope you enjoy reading your copy. Richard Rumbold Chair The Crier Committee

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May Fair Memories... 1930s Town Crier Bert ‘Whisper’ Waldron (Cynthia Crouch)

1946 May Que

1925 First Torrington May Queen Mary Heywood

1950s Town Crier Bert ‘Whisper’ Waldron (Cynthia C 1955 May Pole group from the Board School (Cynthia Crouch)

Earl

1964 May Queen and heralds (Ruth Lobbett) 1964 May Queen Anne Davis

6 1964 (Ruth Lobbett)

1964 (Ruth Lobbett)

. 1953 May Queen & Attendants (Cynthia Crouch)

een Barbara Weeks

Crouch) 1956 (Cynthia Crouch)

ly 1960s Simon Heath carried by late Mum Rona

Early 1960s at May Fair - Simon & Richard Heath

May Fair Memories...

1965 May Queen Heather Allen (Emma Barrow) 1965 May Queen Heather Allen (Emma Barrow)

1965 May Queen Heather Allen (Emma Barrow) 1997 May Queen Rebecca Harding Crowner Francesca Plows 1987 May Queen Jennie Ward

2018

2010 May Queen Primrose Hill, Crowner Beth Challice, Heralds Archie Smithson & Lewis Bolt

2018

2019

If you have any May Fair Memories to share, please email to torrington.crier@gmail.com or send via Facebook.

May Fair Memories

wanted to share my May Fair memories. I was never part of May Fair as an attendant, May Queen or Carnival Queen, but I got to play a very different part, something many people will never get to do. I was very proud to work with the dress maker on three occasions, to create the theme everyone so eagerly waits to see. It is such an exciting role and shows such a different side to the event we all love. Woodland fairies (2010), Royal Wedding (2011) and Our Cavalier Town (2018) - my three favourite May Fair themes. Keeley Allin

While it has been a worrying time, I would like to reassure Crier readers that Devon County Council is doing all that it can to support the people of Devon during this pandemic. First, DCC has set up a dedicated coronavirus advice website - www.devon.gov.uk/ coronavirus-advice-in-devon/ - and I would recommend all readers who are ‘online’ should take a look at it. Throughout this crisis I have been sending regular updates to our Town and Parish Councils and sending as much information as possible to share within our communities. Within the County Council itself, a huge amount of work is going on and DCC is working closely with the NHS, the emergency services and the District Councils to protect the vulnerable, the old and the young. Already at the time of writing, hundreds of extremely vulnerable people have

students, college leavers, retired health professionals and people who are not working. The first cohorts began their would like training at the start of April. Members of to start the County Council’s own staff have also this article registered to be redeployed from nonby thanking critical services to support frontline care everyone in roles. Torrington Rural DCC has also decided to increase for the part you the amounts it pays to care providers, are all playing so that they can pay their care workers to help beat the significantly more per hour and hopefully coronavirus. improve recruitment. From the Town In schools, teachers and staff of nearly and Parish 170 schools across Devon are working Councils to the over the Easter Holidays to provide community and voluntary groups, to care and support for the children of key you as individuals and families – the workers like Doctors and Nurses and local response to this virus has been people working in food distribution. incredible and we should all be proud of For key workers, a new on-demand the part we’ve played. subsidised taxi service called ‘Key Cars’ I am an optimist and I believe we is being trialled by DCC to replace will beat this virus if we follow the "From the Town and Parish Councils to the bus services that have been guidelines from the Government temporarily withdrawn during the community and voluntary groups, to you as crisis. The taxis will provide key and stay at home as much as possible, leaving only for local food individuals and families – the local response to workers with lifts to work for a shopping, exercise and collecting this virus has been incredible and we should all subsidised flat fare. medicines or supplies for selfThe County Council has also be proud of the part we’ve played." isolating residents. When out, introduced two new grants to please observe the social distancing been contacted by County and District support communities with the COVID-19 rules as well. If we continue to do this, staff as part of the ‘shielding’ effort to Prompt Action Fund. The first grant is then we will overcome this virus. ensure everyone who has to stay home for up to £500, with the second for up But while we live with this pandemic, for 12 weeks receives essential food, to £5,000. Both have been introduced I know it has been incredibly difficult medicine and additional care if they live to provide help for local organisations for many people, particularly for those alone and do not have family or friends and voluntary groups to safely support members of our communities who are to support them. vulnerable people in their communities having to self-isolate. While we must Work is also underway throughout the and tackle the economic and social stay at home as much as possible, if County to provide temporary beds for impacts of coronavirus. you are fit and able bodied then please people being discharged from hospital Finally, on-street parking enforcement do consider volunteering in your area to to help free up ward space for more has been re-deployed to keep our key help support vulnerable residents and intensive care facilities. DCC is working road routes clear and Highways will those in self-isolation. I’ve volunteered closely with our hospitals to ensure that continue to carry out essential safety myself and have collected prescriptions anyone who can be cared for in their repairs in order to maintain the local for people in Langtree and Torrington. own homes, in residential homes, or in network for key workers. Each Parish is responding according to these temporary facilities, can be safely If I listed everything DCC is doing this their local needs but if you are unsure discharged with proper support. article would run to several pages! But who to contact then get in touch with Hundreds of people across Devon I hope this gives a broad overview of your local Parish Council, or Torrington have also helped answer the County the work the County Council is doing. Town Council if you live in the Town, or Council’s call to help care for Devon’s Like many of you, apart from collecting myself, and we will signpost you in the most vulnerable residents by becoming prescriptions and food, I’m working from right direction. Healthcare Assistants, a vital role to home but am still available to contact. As well as local efforts, you support social care providers and the You can ring me on 07886 446 560 or can also sign up to the NHS NHS during this pandemic. At the time email andrew.saywell@devon.gov.uk. Volunteer Responders scheme of writing around 600 people have Andrew Saywell as well - www.goodsamapp.org/ registered their interest; including NHSvolunteerresponders.

From Your County Councillor…

Temporarily closed, please check the website & social media for updates. Please stay safe.

Hear Ear!

I’m self-isolating with my hubby And I thought we had things made, When suddenly he piped up saying “Darling I’ve lost my hearing aid.” I’m sure that this sound’s trivial To those not in the know, But I suspect that there are many Who can appreciate my woe. Though I enunciate each word carefully, I’m sure he hears in predictive text For he comes back with nothing relevant It really makes me vexed. So..., I repeat what I’ve just uttered, And it really is a pain When he cups his right ear and says to me “What’s that you said again?” I think I might try sign language Take lessons off the TV set I’ve watched so many newscasts lately But it’ll be difficult, I bet. Now we are only a few weeks out Into this living hell, And when you’re not sure what your partner says It doesn’t bode very well. He says “Can’t you speak louder? I’m standing in the hall, Turn around and face me Don’t talk to the kitchen wall.” There was a time in days gone by And this was no mean feat, When he’d come in from outside and shout “I can hear you half way up the street!” Those halcyon times were long ago, But when Covid 19’s finally turned around I bet the very next day he’ll say to me “Guess what I’ve just found!”

Stephanie Easton

Torrington Library News

e may be closed but library staff are working hard behind the scenes. Follow us on our Facebook page #TorringtonLibraryDevon for information of our online services and regular updates and activities. We are maintaining our Saturday library activity clubs - Lego and Craft - on alternate weeks, so check in for the weekly theme and join in, sharing creations on our page. This is a bit of family fun (grown-ups not excluded), the rainbow theme in April produced some lovely submissions. Many of our fellow libraries are running live Story Times and Bounce & Rhyme singing sessions, and these are all advertised on our page and free to enjoy. Join the Digital Library You can join the library online by visiting www.devonlibraries.org.uk/web/arena/ join-thelibrary. Once you have completed the online joining form, you will be given a temporary library card number which will enable you to access our digital library immediately. As and when our libraries re-open we will process all temporary memberships registered during the closure period and we will issue a library card to you. If you already have a library card but require the PIN for your account you can click on the 'Forgot PIN' option to get a PIN reset sent to your registered email address. Digital Library We have a huge selection of titles available for you to borrow in our Digital Library and new titles are being added every week. * Download and stream free eBooks, eAudioBooks and eMagazines on your tablet, smartphone or home PC. For eBooks and eAudioBooks at Overdrive, over 3500 new titles have been added: https://librariesunlimited.overdrive.com * We now have 1,000 unlimited use eAudiobooks through RB Digital: https:// devon.rbdigitalglobal.com * A selection of eMagazines is available here on RB Digital: https://devon. rbdigitalglobal.com * Access eAudiobook titles via the app or website for BorrowBox: https:// fe.bolindadigital.com/wldcs_bol_fo/b2i/mainPage.html?b2bSite=6345 * Access the ‘Reading Well’ collections on our digital platform. * Visit our Online Reference resources: https://www.devonlibraries.org.uk/web/ arena/referenceonline * Access to Ancestry Library Edition has been temporarily extended to Devon Library members at home, courtesy of ProQuest and its partner Ancestry: https:// www.devonlibraries.org.uk/web/arena/protected/profile Our libraries are creating fun online content and live streaming events. Check out individual library Facebook pages for more information. For assistance with any queries please contact us by emailing torrington.library@ librariesunlimited.org.uk or our general telephone enquiries line is 0345 155 1001.

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The Thriller dance was fun. We were invited to a village o begin, a few comments fete out in the country and regarding last month’s chapter. before leaving to perform had You may have heard that the a practice run in New Street Bohemians’ Queen Tribute Act has been attired in full Thriller costumes. postponed by our friends at Rosemoor, but we are actively seeking an alternative Passing motorists slowed to watch and were intrigued, but date once the virus problems have cleared. This is a postponement and not luckily there were no accidents. The drive to the fete was a cancellation. Discussions are ongoing equally interesting, particularly within The Cavaliers regarding the Mayflower Bonfire scheduled for August, when stopping to ask locals the way. I think we frightened and it has been decided to postpone a few! it until August 2021. More updates will When I say ‘dancers’ of follow. course nothing could be further "All amateurs, left footed and with from the truth! All amateurs, no sense of rhythm; our teachers left footed and with no sense of rhythm; our teachers often often despaired with us during despaired with us during rehearsals and it took months rehearsals and it took months for us to ‘perfect’ a four-minute for us to ‘perfect’ a four-minute routine." routine. How they do it on Strictly is beyond me! On a lighter note, I thought it might Of course, I couldn’t write be fun to look back on some of our past Lots more information can be found on about our dances without May Fair antics and jog some happy our website www.torrington-cavaliers and mentioning good old Alan Stacey, who memories. In 2005, Cavaliers performed was with us from the start. He’s hung up we would welcome your feedback. the ‘Sailors’ Hornpipe’ on May Fair More next time morning in the square. This led to a new his ballet clogs now but was always the Ace star of the show. Always one or several tradition and every year since members steps behind the rest, like Cpl Jones from have got together with other themed Missing Visiting Gardens? dance routines including Morris dancing, Dad’s Army, and inevitably losing his wig or having another wardrobe malfunction Have you got pictures of plants in Michael Jackson’s Thriller, Swan Lake during the action. He certainly kept the your garden? Ballet, YMCA, Grease, tributes to onlookers laughing and at the same Why not join the Torrington ABBA, Bowie, Elton John, Mary Poppins time frustrating the rest of us!! Bless his Gardeners Facebook group and post chimney sweeps (we called ourselves cotton socks. pictures of the favourite plants from SWEEPZ), Egyptian Sand Dance Perhaps, assuming there is little action your garden to share with others. The and a couple more, but unfortunately with The Mayflower, I can hark back to group is also a useful place to ask some of the May Fair celebrations after some of the May Fair afternoon races for garden advice as we have a Kew the events have dulled my memory and carnivals we have laid on in the next trained gardener on hand and ready to somewhat. However, most are on issue… assuming I can remember them! offer advice. YouTube if you care to take a look.

Cavaliers’ Column Chapter 3

May Fair Raffle

ue Harrison and the May Fair Committee would like to thank all the businesses who have contributed, or agreed to contribute towards the May Fair Raffle. We would very much like to keep these for when the May Fair does go ahead, even if it is next year. Obviously Sue will return the chocolates as they have an expiry date and some of the vouchers may need adjusting. We are so lucky to live in such a generous community and we would all like to thank the businesses below for being so generous. Please contact Sue Harrison should you wish any of the prizes to be returned and not kept until the May Fair next happens. May Fair Raffle Prizes Vouchers: Torrington Charcoal 14” Pizza Exp 31/7/20; Toyzone Voucher x1; Toyzone Voucher x1; R&S Ware £20; Gladwin £10; Market Cafe ‘Get Stuffed Breakfast’; Jayne Poole Expires 31/12/20; The Plough event tickets; Jewel in the Town £10; Torrington Jewellers £10; Goddess Lashes 50% off; Tanyas Beauty Studio exp. Nov 20; Torrington Framing £20; Ian’s Hairdressing £15; Squires £5; Instant Images £10; Lions Coffee House £20; Not Just Travel £50; Black Horse 2 Sunday Roasts; Taffs 2 Fish and Chip meals; Hair We Are £20 Exp Oct 20; Obsessions Dry Cut Voucher Exp Mar 20; No 37 Soup and scones for two. Alcohol and Chocs: M and S 2 bottles of wines 2 boxes of chocs but they exp June 20; Con Club Bottle of rum; Football Club bottle of gin; The Cavalier bottle of prosecco; Webbers bottle of prosecco; Lidl 2 bottles of wine; A&J Opticians bottle of wine; Co-op chocs exp June 20; Spar chocs exp Oct 20; Granny Potts chocolate bouquet. Other Prizes: Gallery doorstop; Kitch’n’cupboard cushion; Whiskers two bird feeders; Lloyds pharmacy perfume and nail varnish, Weleda lip balm pack, socks tights; Kenwyn scented pomander; Duffys 6 crystal glasses; Dartington vase; Crafty Needles sewing kit; Mandie Gibson beauty pack; Java Gifts tote bag; Hogwash beauty pack; WildWood 2 pictures; Inside 11A wallet purse.

Virtual May Fair!

embers of the community expressed their upset on Facebook regarding the cancellation of May Fair, and Anne Tattersall started a Facebook conversation looking for ideas on how Torrington could come together to mark May Fair during the lockdown. The idea of a 'virtual' Mayfair was suggested and quickly a Facebook event was set up, you can find it here www.facebook.com/ events/253299925845379/. The event is still evolving and we would love to hear ideas from the community. Suggestions so far include creating your own Maypoles in your gardens, dressing up; playing the May Fair music, decorating windows and a mass 'clap' like the events on Thursdays for keyworkers. If you’re interested, please join the Facebook group, if you aren’t on Facebook, then perhaps ask a friend or relative to keep you updated.

Cancellation of May Fair & Carnival 2020

t is with careful reconsideration and deep sadness that, in light of more recent developments in the COVID-19 pandemic, we have taken the decision to cancel May Fair and Carnival 2020. We had previously postponed the event until July, but with more recent updates and with the schools now closed and ongoing uncertainty, it is simply not a feasible option. Please be assured this was not an easy step to take, but safety must come first. We are and will continue to be in contact with the local schools in the hope that a scaled down event for those children involved may take place later in the year. However as I am sure you will understand, it will very much depend on external circumstances. Arrangements with the dressmaker are still ongoing so that the May Queen and her entourage will have their outfits. The cover design winner is featured on the front of the Crier, and the back cover winner is pictured above. We want to thank everyone for your understanding at this incredibly difficult and unprecedented time. We will continue to keep you all updated. Keeley Allin Mayor of Great Torrington & Chairman of the May Fair & Carnival Committee

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GREAT TORRINGTON TOWN C Your Council, Working for YOU From Your Mayor…

iven the current situation with the Coronavirus pandemic, my update this month is in a slightly different format: I would like to take this opportunity to say a lot of ‘thank yous’. Firstly, I’d like to say a massive thank you to our amazing staff at Great Torrington Town Council. Karen, Charlotte and Kerry have been working extremely hard since this situation has occurred, and have set up help for so many vulnerable people in our community; for shopping, picking up prescriptions, social phone call or all three! Our two technicians, Colin and Andy, have also taken the time to list the many local businesses providing help during these difficult times, and support the work of our new team of volunteers as and when needed. The Town Council is one great team, and a team that works very well together. I would like to also extend thanks to those community groups who came along to our initial meeting in March to give their thoughts and provide help. Your ideas and offers of volunteers are invaluable and the Town Council could not have provided this help without you

all. From this meeting and the hard work of the Town Council came so many volunteers, eager and willing to help those in need. I cannot express enough my gratitude to you all, and from speaking to many who have asked for support, your help is so gratefully received by them too. I knew Great Torrington would pull together; we always do. To get the offers of help out to those who need it, we had to coordinate the delivery of over 2500 leaflets at very short notice. Our local Royal Mail workers very kindly offered to do this for us on their local rounds. On behalf of the Town Council, I would like to say a huge thank you. Without your help, many people may have been waiting longer to have the reassurance of help delivered through their door. Our local traders who have been allowed to remain open have been working extremely hard to ensure we can get the essentials that we need, and I am sure I speak on behalf of everyone when I say thank you to you all – I hope out of all this darkness, will come a new appreciation for shopping locally. I’d also like to thank all at Lloyds Pharmacy too: I’ve heard from many how busy it has been and I know how much of a reliedupon service you provide to the local community.

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I think we can all agree that it has been a very strange few weeks and there could still be more to come, but it has proven that the community spirit in Great Torrington cannot be dampened and we will always pull together when people are in need. Thank you to everyone who has made our community so special during these unprecedented times. Please do not hesitate to contact me. Keeley Allin, Mayor of Great Torrington Email: cllr.allin@greattorringtontowncouncil.gov.uk Phone: 07783 711 500

GTS & Jubilee Wood & Tree Planting

n one of our drier days, approximately 60 pupils from GTS walked to Jubilee Wood and spent an hour or so planting approximately 60 trees, which they had sourced, at Jubilee Wood. It was great to see the young people enjoying being outside, digging, planting and securing the trees. It is also lovely that the school now has a link with Jubilee Wood as we would very much like this area of land to be used by the local schools in the future as part of their learning activities.

Dog Training Classes at Taddiport Village Hall

Puppies, Teenagers and Adult Classes for all skill levels Trainers formerly from Puppy Gurus Nurturing the bond between you & your canine companion through force free, positive training For more information please call Rachael: 01409 282814 thehavendogcentre@gmail.com

COUNCIL NEWS Coronavirus Taskforce Team

This Notice was prepared on 07.04.20 ince the last edition of The Crier was published the Town Council has been working closely with representatives of a number of organisations across the town, to pull together a Coronavirus Taskforce Team. The aims is to support those members of our community who are self-isolating and do not have family/friends or neighbours locally who can help them with everyday activities such as picking up prescriptions and essential shopping. As the seriousness of the coronavirus pandemic began to hit home in midMarch, the Town Council started work on a plan to establish a volunteer group to help the community during the pandemic. By Thursday 19th March, we had done the following: * Developed a ‘Do you need support?’ leaflet to be delivered to every household in the town (2,666) asking people who are self-isolating to contact us if they require any help during the situation. * Worked with Anne Tattersall to put together a list of ‘essential’ shops in the town and other useful organisations together with their contact details: this list would also be delivered to every household. * Put a call out to local organisations to identify volunteers to help us implement our plan. On Friday 20th March, Town Council employees printed and folded nearly 5,500 leaflets ready to be distributed

across the town starting Monday 23rd March. We would like to say a HUGE thank you to the local Royal Mail team who very kindly offered to deliver all the leaflets for no charge. Over the weekend of 21st/22nd March we were inundated with offers of help from volunteers. We have now established a volunteer taskforce comprising nearly 50 people, and are still receiving offers of help on a daily basis. The Town Council would like to extend a heartfelt thanks to everyone who has put themselves forward for this project. In the two weeks since the first ‘Do you need support?’ leaflets landed on doormats across Great Torrington, we have been contacted by over 90 households asking for help with either collecting prescriptions, collecting and delivering shopping for essential goods and social phone calling. The Town Council has been busy working to match volunteers with these households and, at the time of writing, volunteers have already done an enormous amount of work delivering prescriptions and essential shopping. In addition to these practical activities, we have put some households in touch with volunteers who can give them regular friendly phone calls during the period of self-isolation. We are currently issuing visors, kindly made by Matt Whittaker, face masks arranged to be made by Colin Porter and created by Toni Alexander and Helyne Jennings, which have been made

available to our wonderful volunteers. Our local traders have adapted incredibly well in very short time frames and we have fruit and veg, butchers, bakers and grocery stores all working flat out to feed the community. They have set up new systems allowing people to phone in, order and pay over the phone and either deliver direct to homes, or bag up shopping for collection by a volunteer. Our local health centres and pharmacy have also worked incredibly hard to ensure medications are ready for collection. We are also conscious that friends and families are taking care of those living close by, and some more informal ‘support’ schemes have started up across the town and in the surrounding parishes. Within a matter of 2-3 weeks the whole town has mobilised to support those most in need in our community at this very challenging time. This project is testament to the incredible community spirit we have in Great Torrington and we would like to say a huge thank you to everyone who has helped with this initiative so far. If anyone reading this article is in need of any support with the activities mentioned and hasn’t already been in touch, please do not hesitate to call the Town Council on 01805 626135 or e-mail at admin@great-torringtontowncouncil. gov.uk Karen Chapman, Town Clerk

Coronavirus - Essential Local Suppliers & Useful Organisations Great Torrington Town Council Essential Suppliers in Great Torrington – as at 2/4/2020 Name of Business

Phone Number

Delivery Card orders? offered?

Cost to Deliver

01805 622900

Yes

N/A

01805 622496

Yes

Free

01805 622709

No giles.stacey@btconnect.com - checked daily Yes

Additional information Deliveries after 2pm. Click and collect service offered: orders taken over the phone and customer pays on collection (contactless card payment advised) with time slot to pick up. Currently looking at a card system to take money for orders over the phone

Number 37 (Deli) Duffys Home Hardware Xanadu (Groceries) R&S Ware (Butcher) Whiskers Pet Shop

Yes

Free

Orders must be over £5

01805 622191

Yes

Free

Delivers within Great Torrington daily

01805 622859

Yes

Free

Yes No Yes

No No Yes

N/A N/A Free

Orders must be over £5 Now taking orders and payment over phone for customer collection. They will bring orders to the car if parked outside. New opening hours from 20 Mar 2020: 7am to 8pm.

Yes

Orders must be over £10

Yes

Yes £1.99 Yes to vulnerable people in Torrington Free

01805 622178 01805 622174

No No

Yes No

Free N/A

Orders must be over £4 and paid for on delivery

01805 624565 01805 643053

Yes Yes

No Yes

N/A Yes

Home baked cakes/bakes, all dietary requests considered

01805 938946

Yes

Free

Free delivery within a 6-mile radius of Great Torrington

Spar (Groceries) 01805 624222 Co-op (Groceries) 01805 622267 Squires Electrical 01805 622185 John Patts (Green Grocer) Sandfords (Bakery) Green Lantern (Bakery) Lloyds Pharmacy Steve Gladwin (Butcher) Fanny’s Kitchen Fine Floral Designs (Florist)

01271 830088

01805 622189

torrington@spargcl.co.uk

Orders can be placed via the website: johnpatts.co.uk/products info@sandfordsbakery.co.uk - checked daily

Now taking orders and payment over phone for customer collection. A time slot can be arranged from Rural or other areas for collection, can park outside of the shop for quick collection, cash can still be used in the shop.

The Town Council has the contact details for many other shops and businesses in town so please contact us on 01805 626135 or via email: admin@great-torringtontowncouncil.gov.uk if you would like us to share these with you. They are also published on our website: www.greattorringtontowncouncil.gov.uk

Name of Organisation

Samaritans

Contact Details https://www.gov.uk/government/organis ations/public-health-england Latest information and advice on Coronavirus Website: www.citizensadvice.org.uk Phone: 03444 111 444 Help with Universal Credit: Helpline 0800 144 8444 (Mon to Fri, 8am to 6pm) www.citizensadvice.org.uk/helptoclaim/# Provide a wide range of advice across a number of topics, including h-our-help-to-claim-service providing guidance for Universal Credit claims Mental health charity providing wide-ranging information and support to Website: www.mind.org.uk Phone: 0300 1233393 those feeling depressed or anxious Website: www.anxietyuk.org.uk Phone: 0344 477 5774 National charity helping people with anxiety Website: www.samaritans.org Provide support and information to anyone having a difficult time or if Phone: 116123 you are worried about someone else

SHOUT

Helpline for anyone feeling anxious, worried, stressed or feeling isolated. 24/7 service: free confidential advice

Clarity Counselling

Mental health charity in Barnstaple providing services and support to people experiencing mental health and emotional issues

Public Health England

Citizens Advice MIND Anxiety UK

Great Torrington Foodbank

Cruse Bereavement Care Devon covers all areas in our county, they are taking referrals for telephone and online support for anyone who needs bereavement support. There are also downloadable support leaflets on the website and helpful information for people to read. The Moorings @ Devon offers out of hours mental health support to anyone aged 16+ in the Devon area Opening times: 10am til 12noon: Tuesdays at the Baptist Church; Saturdays at Castle Hill Building

Encompass Southwest

Offering a community helpline, which will offer advice on claiming welfare benefits, housing, debt management and partnering with Mind to offer support around anxiety.

Age UK

Booking 1.5 hr phone session to form fill for Attendance Allowance

Cruse Bereavement Care Devon The Moorings @ Devon

Contact details for other useful organisations How they can help

Text SHOUT to 85258 Website: www.claritynorthdevon.org.uk Phone: 01271 267474 Email: clarity.northdevon@yahoo.co.uk Website: www.cruse.org.uk Freephone National Helpline 0808 808 1677 or Devon Helpline (limited opening times) 0300 330 5466 Email: devon@cruse.org.uk Phone: 07850927064 Email: devonbarnstaple.mhm@nhs.net Phone: Shirley Bere: 01805 623887 or Dave Martin: 01805 623175 Website: www.bpag-encompass.org.uk Phone: 01271 371499, Mon-Fri 9am3pm Phone: 0333 241 2350 Email: infoandadvice@ageukdevon.co.uk

HMRC Torrington Health Centre Castle Gardens Surgery

Transitions, Wiser£money partnership

Jobcentre Plus RABI: Royal Agricultural Benevolent Institution The Farming Community Network

Helpline for self-employed: 9am - 6pm Monday to Friday GP Surgery GP Surgery

0300 4563565 01805 622247 01805 623222 Website: www.navigatecharity.org.uk/services/mo ney-debt-advice/ Provides free and confidential money and debt advice in rural Torridge Email: enquiries@wisermoney.org.uk Phone: 01823 299050 Mon-Fri 8.30am and West Devon for those that cannot access mainstream advice to 4.30pm services. New benefit claims: 0800 055 6688 Universal Credit and Employment and Support Alloance claims: 0800 328 5644 All offices are currently closed - please use the contact details provided Income Support claims: 0800 169 0350 Phone: 0808 281 9490 Email: info@rabi.org.uk Website: www.rabi.org.uk Offer help, advice and grants for individuals linked to farming Phone: 03000 111 999 Email: help@fnc.org.uk Supports farmers and families through difficult times. Phone helpline Website: www.fcn.org.uk only.

GTTC & Men’s Sheds ‘Great Torrington Repair Café’

‘Bring it, fix it, don’t throw it away!’ ost people have probably heard of repair cafés as they have been happening all over the country. The idea is to tackle the growing issue of waste and change the throwaway attitude many of us have had towards household items, by providing a cheap and easy way for them to be fixed. On February 15th Recycle Devon and Devon County Council ran a repair café event in the whole of Devon called ‘The Big Fix’ and here in Great Torrington we thought it would be a good time to hold our first one. Men’s Sheds, together with Great Torrington Town Council, organised a repair café, which was held in Torrington Pannier Market. It matched people with broken/damaged items to skilled people who have expertise in fixing things. Men’s Sheds are a superb resource: a lovely, sharing group who connect and support their community in many creative and skilful ways; the focus being mending and continuing to use items, rather than throwing them away. Councillor Gill Clayton said, “We have been meaning to look into running a repair café and Devon Recycling and Devon County Council’s initiative, The Big Fix, spurred us into action; we are delighted to do this together with Men’s Sheds. For this first repair café, we started small to gauge interest, and, we are happy to report the event a success as we fixed brooms, mended a clock, a spinning wheel, a hair clip and a clapper board! We also repaired clothing and material items. We now hope to run future repair cafes. We would also like to thank the cafes in town that supported this initiative by offering half price coffees to repair café customers.” Watch this space for future dates, and if you have a skill, (‘we particularly need a qualified electrician who can mend electrical items and then PAT test them) can spare a few hours once in a while and would be available to volunteer for a future Repair Café, please contact Cllr Clayton via Great Torrington Town Council.

Dog Fouling

he Town Council is mindful that there have been numerous reports of dog fouling over these past few months. It is both sad and shocking that a minority of dog owners consider it unnecessary to ‘pick up’ after their dogs, or do pick up and leave a bag lying on the floor, or hanging from a tree. Dog owners who don’t bag and bin their dog’s mess are breaking the law as well as seriously letting the community down. Torridge District Council’s Environmental team take dog fouling seriously and will prosecute offenders. However, for them to be able to pursue an incident they need evidence. To that end, they wish to hear from anyone who is aware of, or has witnessed individuals who do not pick up and bag. Torridge do ask for the reporter’s name and address and whether they are willing to give a witness statement and attend court if necessary. However, incidents can also be reported anonymously giving locations, times, a brief description of what was seen, gender and appearance of dog walker and description of dog. If anyone is aware of incidents/trends, such as roughly the same time and place each day, please contact Torridge District Council and report accordingly. Contact details are; e-mail environmental.protection@torridge.gov.uk, telephone 01237 428700 or write to Torridge District Council, Environment Protection, Riverbank House, Bideford, EX39 2QG. Karen Chapman, Town Clerk

Devon Charity Sets Up Vital Covid-19 Helpline to Help Communities

COVID-19 helpline has been launched by the charity Devon Communities Together to provide vital support for parish and town councils and the Devon Village Halls Community Buildings networks as they pull together their resilience plans to help support their communities. Advice is available in a number of areas including protecting the isolated and vulnerable, guidance on community transport, and small registered charity grants. It is also supporting organisations and individuals who are setting up local Covid 19 networks of volunteers, and acting as a signpost for those who are looking to volunteer their time, but are unsure of whom to approach. The charity’s CEO Elaine Cook said: “Town and Parish Councils are playing a vital role in supporting their local communities at this difficult time working to co-ordinate, support and in some cases manage the many people who are coming forward to volunteer their help. The charity has already received many enquiries, ranging from help with leading a community response to village hall closure and employment advice. People can support Devon Communities Together by setting up a direct debit, with every penny helping to put more resource in to supporting the helpline and volunteering. The helpline is staffed 9am to 5pm on weekdays for the foreseeable future, free phone 0808 1963390 or email info@devoncommunities.org.uk. Please also visit Devon Communities Together’s community resilience web page www.devoncommunities.org.uk/ coronavirus-information.

the project, which would have included

• Adult Bikes • Child Buggies • Child Bikes • Services •Tandems • Repairs • Disabled Tag-alongs • Wee-Hoo

A Roborough Diamond Jubilee Club has been formed to raise funds for

the future position of Christmas tree, th

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Commons News

o matter what is going on around, Torrington Commons carry on. The spring flowers are blooming beautifully, the birds are nesting, and the leaves are opening. The bluebell carpets in Furzebeam wood will be out this month and the starry white wild garlic flowers will cover the riverbank. The dog bins are still being emptied (and repaired) and the paths cut to allow people to pass safely. We thank the vast majority of people for being considerate and giving workers and other users at least two metres (6’) of space. You can wave and smile and say hello from this distance! We are asking at the moment that all dogs are kept on leads to minimise any need for contact. We have asked all our wonderful volunteers and the Friends of the Commons to stand down for the time being, so please be extra careful about taking litter home with you. Our fundraising for the refurbishment of the playpark is going ahead, and we have secured almost the full amount needed. Obviously, we will not be able to start work this spring, as was anticipated, but as soon as it is safe, we will be moving ahead with this project. We’d like to thank Rose and Perry at Prose Prints for their continued support and yet another generous donation from the sale of their lovely cards and artwork to help with the upkeep of the Commons. As many of our normal streams of income will be much depleted this year all donations are greatly appreciated. We are very pleased to welcome Kim Insull on to the board of the Commons Conservators and we have some more

07795 073966 for appointments or enquiries applicants in the pipe line. We still are far short of a full board though, so please contact us if you feel you would like to be involved in the care of the Commons. Please look after your Commons. During this difficult period the Great Torrington Commons Conservators will be carrying out essential work only on the Commons. This includes keeping paths open and verges strimmed so people can pass at a distance of two metres. Rangers will be wearing fluorescent jackets so you know who they are. Please respect the workers and keep a safe distance of at least two metres (six feet). The playpark is now closed in line with government guidelines. The car boot sales will not be running from the 1st May. We will update with news on when they will re-open as soon as we know more. The Old Bowling Green will remain closed until further notice. We need to maintain the safety of the Commons for the safety of all. Please help us to help you by respecting and protecting this space for you all now and in the future. Please follow all current government guidelines on safe public social distancing, and keep your dogs on the lead to help prevent unnecessary contact. Please ensure that dog waste is picked up and preferably taken home, alternatively put in one of the designated dog bins. If you are intending to ride a horse on the Commons please use the designated horse paths only. This is imperative for the safety of all users. If you have any concerns regarding the Commons please report by email

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1st Torrington Scout Group

ife at the scout group has changed due to Covid-19, with all group meetings suspended until further notice. Cubs and Scouts can continue working towards badges by completing an online form submission. This will be verified to prove the required elements have been undertaken. If you need this link please email jordon.whitear@gmail. com or look on the Facebook pages. Scouts are continuing their meetings by using Zoom. A scavenger hunt was organised and their finds were pictured on WhatsApp and points awarded. This proved to be a good laugh and the Scouts all enjoyed seeing each other virtually whilst in lock down. Other challenges for the Scouts have been making an indoor camp and sleeping in it for one night. Also, a challenge of creating a virtual campfire has been achieved by some. We are still interested to hear if you would like to be a part of Cubs or Scouts, though any hut meetings will be postponed until the lockdown is lifted. If you have a son or daughter who may be interested in joining Cubs aged 8-10 or Scouts aged 10-14 or if you are interested in helping out in anyway please contact Jordon on email Jordon. whitear@gmail.com.

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The Trumbles of Torrington Commons - Part One

he Trumbles are a family of cuddly, furry vole-like creatures who live on Torrington Commons. Here they spend most of their time looking after and caring for the Commons. There are five Trumbles in the family Timmy and Toby and their sister Tessy. Mummy Trumble is called Tabby and Daddy Trumble is called Tommy. They live in a tall tree called the thinking tree. The tree is huge and has lots of rooms off every branch. The rooms all have lovely comfy beds made from moss and leaves which the Trumbles have gathered from the Common. Every night they snuggle into their lovely warm beds and wait for Mummy and Daddy to read them a story and kiss them all goodnight. They never know what may happen the next day and they all dream of something exciting and hope it will happen soon. The Trumbles are very inquisitive little people and like to know everything that happens on the Commons. One sunny day they were all playing outside when they suddenly heard a loud shriek! They all rushed to where they thought the noise had come from but could not find anything. They searched and searched and suddenly Toby spotted something further up the stream near the stepping stones. “Oh no, what could it have been” wondered Tessy. They rushed towards what looked like a huge elephant in the water. When they got there the elephant-like creature was moaning and groaning in pain.”Oh dear” said Tessy, “it

seems to have hurt itself”. They were all curious and slightly scared about who or what it could be. Suddenly they heard someone coming from behind them, who was it? “Quick let’s hide” said Timmy. Timmy was always a little bit afraid of things but was trying hard to be brave like Tessy and Toby. They had just got out of the way when suddenly Daddy appeared. He was puffing and panting because he had run so fast. He tried to speak but the sounds that came out of his mouth just sounded like jumbled nonsense. Then all of a sudden the great big elephant in the water stirred and turned around to look at Daddy. The elephant started talking to Daddy Trumble and said: “Tommy Trumble is that you?” Daddy roared with laughter when he realised who it was and said “I knew it! I knew as soon as I heard all the shouting and screaming it had to be you”. Uncle Bertie and Daddy Trumble are brothers. Bertie is a large round vole who had obviously eaten far too many seeds, roots and leaves and who knows what else! He lived on the other side of the stream and across two fields. He had a large family who had lived on the Commons for a very long time. He hadn’t seen his brother for quite a long while so he thought that he should make an effort and visit his brother and his family. This was his plan and because he loved surprises he decided to set off without telling them. That way it would be a great big surprise for the Trumble family and boy

that was exactly what he did! He put on his big grey coat and gathered up some food in case he got hungry on the way. He grabbed his rucksack and headed off to visit his brother on the other side of the Commons. By Gerry Duffy - Part Two will be in the next issue of the Crier!

Hel

Commons Trumble Character Drawing Competition!

wat Sep Bid with the

he Commons Conservators have organised a drawing competition for children who are asked to take inspiration from the Trumbles story by Gerry Duffy, the first part of which features on this page and which will be continued in the June issue. Prizes will be awarded for the best pictures/ drawings overall with 1st, 2nd and 3rd places and there will be a 4th prize for the best effort. Entrants are asked to send in character drawings either on their own or in a scene from the story. Please email entries to competitions@torringtoncommons.org by 15th August 2020. We will feature winners in the October issue.

sup Gan trad kind the Fai form finis It w froc ‘So We day and tha won silv trad har Gre the to f –o

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e are waves of the same sea, leaves of the same tree, flowers of the same meadow. This was the sentence written on a big red banner held by 10 Chinese doctors who had just landed in Italy in order to help the population. Yes, we are. How true! I don’t understand why, but it seems that this is a concept we tend to forget quite often. A little child can immediately recognize the truth of it, but we keep forgetting it all the same. We are waves of the same sea. We need poetry in challenging times, we need softness, we need to be kind to ourselves and to each other. In time of crisis, it’s usually easier to awaken our common humanity, be conscious of its existence and drink from it, but it’s in the aftermath, when the ordinary starts to blur our poetic eye, that we tend to lose clarity on what truly is important, on what lays at the base of what it means to be human. This time, we need to make an effort and learn something from the unexpected situation we are facing. We need to firmly go into our hearts and gently wake up the noble qualities that always harbour there. We have to look for Kinship, Gratitude, Respect, Openness, start to nourish them, help them recover and get stronger. It is just when the heart has been restored to its original potential that we can gently begin to live our everyday life fully, constantly and proudly aware of being that wave, an essential and unique part of the infinite sea. I wish you inner strength. May we all walk in beauty. Valeria

Making Plans for Torrington’s Biggest Country Fete

Something positive to look forward to! ndoubtedly many of you will be feeling anxious and frightened in these uncertain times - and just trying to find the best way to get through life at the moment. When the nightmare is over, life will gradually get back to normal and it would be great to celebrate with a massive community event - Torrington’s BIGGEST Country Fete (an idea put forward by Town Hall Titan, Sue Perkin). Due to the uncertainty we cannot plan a date yet, but we can start putting ideas together. We would like to embrace all the aspects of an old-fashioned country fair and so far ideas include: - an over 60s competition to choose the Fete’s King and Queen, dog show, tug of war, street entertainment, Morris dancers, fancy dress, scarecrow competition, crockery smashing, face painting, plant stalls, horticultural show, local characters in the stocks, children’s games and races, cake sale, guess who?, slippery pole etc. While we are still in isolation it would be fantastic if you could put your thinking caps on and let me have your ideas; be as creative as you like and help create a BIG celebratory event that the people of Torrington can look forward to and also get involved with. Send your ideas to Anne Tattersall at Great Torrington Town & Community Hall on torringtontownandcommunity@gmail.com or ring me on 07971 696 192.

A Wife For All Reasons

nfortunately due to the Covid-19 virus Torrington Players had to postpone the two performances of “A Wife for all Reasons” which were due to be staged in the Oak Room of the Town Hall on the 24th and 25th of March. We would like to thank all the wouldbe patrons who supported us, and are sorry for those of you whose refunded ticket money is still held by Anne Boleyn (Elizabeth Harris) in Torrington Jewellers. Due to the Government’s directive she had no option but to close her shop. Mistress Boleyn did not wish to contravene this instruction for fear of losing her head a second time! We will therefore contact those of you whose money we still retain as soon as we know when the shop will be permitted to open for business again. We would also like to thank those patrons who chose not to take a refund, but generously donated their ticket money to the Plough and we are able to send them £200 as a result. The cast members were extremely disappointed not to have had the opportunity of performing to two “full houses” as they had invested a considerable amount of time and commitment in order to bring Henry VIII’s queens to life. However they are also delighted to learn that the audiences are still enthusiastic to see “A Wife for all Reasons” repeated, should we be able to perform the monologues again at some time in the future. Torrington Players

TORRIDGE VALE SOCIAL CLUB Families Welcome

Cash Bingo on Mondays • Darts • Pool Skittles • Snooker • BT Sports & SKY Large function room for parties/weddings Karaoke every 3rd Saturday of the month Plus other entertainment Contact Sharon 01805 622543

Fill Some Time By Growing Your Own

e all know the benefits of gardening. It's great for our mental health, it gets us outside, and it keeps us active - good for us at the best of times, and especially now. Growing your own fruit and veg can be especially satisfying, and it is a great (and cheap) way to ensure you have a delicious source of fresh food. Most seeds remain viable after a year if kept cool and dry. Some, such

as cabbage family seeds, can last over seven years, but others such as lettuce, parsnip and sweet corn are best bought afresh each year. Hardware stores have remained open (at time of writing) and many sell seeds, so have a look! Soil has a sort of ‘natural increase’ in

fertility, so if you are making a new veg plot from uncropped ground the inherent

Blood Donation Sessions & Centres Still Open

n NHS Blood and Transplant spokesperson said: “We need people in Devon who are fit and healthy to keep donating as normal during the coronavirus outbreak. We've put extra safety measures in place and safety is always our number one priority. We’re now doing extra cleaning and this week we’ve started triaging everyone who arrives so only people with no risk factors can enter the donation area. “A lot of people have called us asking if sessions are still going ahead. We need them to know that our sessions and donor centres are still open and that travel to a blood donation sessions is essential for the NHS. Blood donation is a reason to do something amazing. Blood donation saves lives. “We’re asking donors in Devon to follow the latest advice on our website and app and the advice from the Government. We’re regularly reviewing the situation and working closely with the Department of Health and Social Care, PHE, and the UK’s other blood donation services. Donations have dropped, though our stock levels are currently still good because hospitals are cancelling routine operations. We need people to keep donating to make sure we can keep supplying the blood hospitals need in the coming weeks and months. Patients and doctors are relying on us to be there.” There is a permanent blood donation centre in Plymouth at Derriford Hospital, Derriford Road, Plymouth, PL6 8DH, and the mobile sessions are still taking part across the county. To make appointment to donate, to find a session or for more information, call 0300 123 23 23, download the NHS Give Blood app, or visit www. blood.co.uk. Key FAQ Do you need urgent donations now? We need regular donations. We need people to keep donating as normal. That will help us to maintain stocks at good levels in the weeks and months ahead. COVID19 transmission could go on for many months. What are your stock levels? They are good, at more than six days, which is a normal level. But we need people to keep donating to keep them that way. Can you get coronavirus from donated blood? Do you test for coronavirus? There is no requirement to test for SARS-CoV-2. Coronaviruses are a family of viruses. There is no evidence of any type of coronavirus being transmitted through blood donation. No blood donation services are testing blood donations for the virus. accumulated fertility will do for a year or two. Otherwise fertiliser is needed for best results – this is widely offered by mail order or in hardware stores. Many seeds can be found in the kitchen cupboard: celery (this will be leaf celery), chickpeas, coriander, cumin, dill, dried chillies, fennel, fenugreek, marrowfat peas, mustard, star anise and so on, which make good microsalads or can be grown as herbs or vegetables. Seeds offered for bird or pet food, wheat for example, should not be used for sprouting as they may not be food grade and potentially harmful. Pot grown supermarket herbs can be grown on, but are surprisingly temperamental, no doubt having been forced with generous heat, water and

fertiliser during cultivation. Very ripe tomatoes, especially ‘vine ripe’ ones, yield viable seeds and RHS members report that acceptable plants usually result. The same is often true for red and chilli peppers, pumpkins and squash. Boxes, tubs, even plastic sacks can be used to grow your crops, especially if they have been used to pack foodstuffs. However, those used to hold petroleum products, paints, wood preservatives and other industrial materials should be avoided. Images: Lettuces grown in a tray ©RHS/ Neil Hepworth; Harvested veg ©RHS/ Tim Sandall

This is the Time to be Slow

o here we are, stuck at home and possibly feeling frustrated or anxious about ourselves and loved ones. It’s possible that you might be pacing like a caged animal, both mentally and metaphorically, while your thoughts and imaginings run away with themselves. Perhaps you are feeling fretful and anxious. If you can, take time for yourself and slow down. Breathe, don’t force it, just follow the breath’s natural flow, and just in that moment, focusing on the breath; be still and present. “This is the time to be slow, Lie low to the wall Until the bitter weather passes. Try, as best you can, not to let The wire brush of doubt Scrape from your heart All sense of yourself And your hesitant light. If you remain generous, Time will come good; And you will find your feet Again on fresh pastures of promise, Where the air will be kind And blushed with beginning.” John O'Donohue, To Bless the Space Between Us: A Book of Blessings I have been practicing meditation techniques for over 30 years and I am passionate about introducing the benefits of mindfulness-based meditation to those who are seeking peace in this chaotic world, where anxiety and stress, loneliness and depression are all too commonplace. For more information about Mindful Meditation and to access free guided meditations, inspirational poetry, prose and music please visit me on Facebook - https://fb.me/GentlemindMeditation or at my website https://gentlemind.uk/. Take care and stay safe. Gentlemind

Welcome To North Devon Hog Roast

he North Devon Hog Roast & BBQ is a family run venture run alongside our holiday cottage and glamping experience in North Devon. We are very passionate about promoting our own farm-reared pork whenever available and only using the highest quality farm reared alternative when necessary. The North Devon Hog Roast is run by me, Sam Hastings and my husband Andy, with the help of our twins Oscar and Emily. We started the North Devon Hog Roast Company as we wanted to produce pork that was not just full of flavour, but would be succulent and good for us. We are committed to supporting local farmers, producers and small independent businesses, and in turn the local economy. Because of our traditional values we have searched for good wholesome ingredients and we pride ourselves in sourcing everything we use locally. This is part of our ethics and passion for the cause. All our meats and produce comes from either our own farm where possible, or trusted and reputable butchers, bakers and grocers. Everything we serve is locally sourced, home-made and personally presented. The North Devon Hog Roast Company provides hog roast, BBQ and corporate events based in North Devon. Please see our advert on this page for full details.

A Totally Different World for Travel…

hen I wrote my last piece for the Crier’s February edition I mentioned the Coronavirus outbreak, but never imagined the impact it would have on all our lives and on the travel industry in particular. During my 28+ years in the industry, I’ve dealt with the challenges presented by hurricanes, volcanic ash-clouds and the terrible effects of 9/11, but never have I seen anything of this magnitude. The number of grounded aircraft is unimaginable. Happily, I can report that all my clients are safely home, and I have also been able to assist other stranded passengers to get home too. As I write this piece in early April, we still don’t know what the long term effects will be on travel, but I’m monitoring the situation on a daily basis and updating all of my customers who may be impacted, so they know that I’m looking after things. One thing is for sure though, and that is when this is all over we will all be in need of a holiday! I’ve already taken several bookings for 2021! Finally - a HUGE thank you to everyone who has called or sent messages of support and encouragement to me during this testing time. My clients mean the world to me, and it's broken my heart each time I've had to call you to tell you that the much-needed holiday that you've looked forward to for so long is not happening. There have been lots of tears! I promise I will get you there, and I guarantee you're going to have the best time! Stay safe everyone. Gill Farr, Not Just Travel

Vehicle Owners Granted Mot Exemption in Battle Against Coronavirus

ehicle owners will be granted a six-month exemption from MOT testing, enabling them to continue to travel to work where this absolutely cannot be done from home, or shop for necessities. All cars, vans and motorcycles which usually would require an MOT test will be exempted from needing a test from 30th March. Vehicles must be kept in a roadworthy condition, and garages will remain open for essential repair work. Drivers can be prosecuted if driving unsafe vehicles. Legislation was introduced on March 30th and came into immediate effect for 12 months, following a short consultation with key organisations.

Coronavirus & Support For Businesses

t the time of writing (6th April 2020) we are in the middle of ‘lock-down’ and I have spent the last two or three weeks advising many of my clients on the impact of the crisis, and how they can access the various measures put in place by the Government to assist businesses and their employees. Information on current measures in place can be found by at: www.gov. uk/government/publications/guidanceto-employers-and-businesses-aboutcovid-19/covid-19-support-for-businesses A list of frequently asked questions can also be found at: www.businesssupport. gov.uk/faqs/ By the time you read this, I would expect that the portal for the Job Retention Scheme will be operational and that there will be guidance available to help employers to access this to claim their grants. The Government intends to work with employers to set up the mechanism for claiming statutory sick pay paid to employees for sickness absence due to Covid 19. I would also expect that eligible businesses will have received their Local Authority cash grants. If you have not received a grant but you think you were eligible, you should contact your council. VAT payments falling due in the period 20th March 2020 to 30th June 2020 can be deferred until 31st March 2021. You do not need to tell HMRC that you are deferring the payment, but if you pay by direct debit then you will need to cancel this with your bank in sufficient time to

ensure the payment is not collected. If you’re due to pay a self-assessment payment on account by 31st July 2020, then you may defer payment until January 2021. The Self-Employment Income Support Scheme (SEISS) will support selfemployed individuals (including members of partnerships) who have lost income due to coronavirus (COVID-19). This scheme, subject to conditions and eligibility, will allow you to claim a taxable grant worth 80% of your trading profits up to a maximum of £2,500 per month for the next three months. This may be extended if needed. At the time of going to print you cannot apply for this scheme yet. HMRC will contact you if you are eligible for the scheme and invite you to apply online. All businesses and self-employed people in financial distress and with outstanding tax liabilities may be eligible to receive support with their tax affairs through HMRC’s Time to Pay service. These arrangements are agreed on a case-by-case basis and are tailored to individual circumstances and liabilities. If you have missed a tax payment or you might miss your next payment due to COVID-19, call HMRC’s dedicated helpline: 0800 024 1222. If your business is short of cash flow as a result of Covid 19 and is viable, then finance may be available through the Coronavirus Business Interruption Loan Scheme. The temporary scheme supports SMEs with access to loans, overdrafts, invoice finance and asset finance of up to £5 million and for up to

The Crier is delighted to be supporting our local businesses through Coronavirus, so many of them are going over and above to help our community at this difficult time. It has definitely shown just how important they all are. As always, please Think Local wherever possible and support those who support you.

six years. The government will also make a business interruption payment to cover the first 12 months of interest payments, and any lender-levied fees, so smaller businesses will benefit from no upfront costs and lower initial repayments. There are 40 accredited lenders able to offer the scheme, including all the major banks. To find out more and if you are eligible follow this link: www.british-business-bank.co.uk/ ourpartners/coronavirus-businessinterruption-loan-scheme-cbils-2/ for-businesses-and-advisors/. The Government has recently criticised the banks for failing to deliver on this scheme and is working to make it more accessible and fit for purpose. Our advice is be proactive and seek help if you have been affected, if you have any questions or need assistance do contact Keith Berry on 01805 628122 or email keith.berry@berrysaccountants. co.uk Keith Berry FCA (Berrys Chartered Accountants)

Blackberry Farm Helping the Community

lackberry Farm shop in Milton Damerel has a huge stock list including home-cooked foods, essential groceries, giftware, household, toiletries, beer, wine and spirits. We are processing most orders within 24 hours and are offering a completely contactless drive through and home delivery service for at risk and isolated people. Stock lists are available by email at lizzy@lizzyslarder. co.uk or can be seen on Facebook. Orders can be made by email, on 01409 261440 or by PM on Messenger. I'd really like to say to everyone please if you are worried or scared and unsure what to do then please pick up the phone or send me an email or a message and just ask. If we can help we will, if we can't we'll find someone who can. No one should have to go without, and no one should be scared and alone. We are working together and together we can beat this. Stay home. Stay safe. Lizzy

Thanks from West Heanton

est Heanton Residential Home would like to say a huge thank you to our staff for all the hard work and dedication that they've shown in this current crisis. It is very worrying for them when they have to leave their families behind and go out to work supporting our clients. They are showing immense dedication to their role and we couldn't be prouder of our team.

Coronavirus COVID-19 & Eye Care

t A&J Opticians, we remain committed to providing the very best patient care through this current COVID-19 outbreak. In line with Government guidelines, we are currently operating an essential and urgent service only. We are temporarily closed for all routine eye examinations and contact lens aftercare appointments, and will be in touch with our patients to recall them when it is deemed safe to do so. We will still be monitoring our emails and manning our telephones so please contact us if you are worried about your eyes, in particular if: * Your vision has suddenly become distorted, blurred or has changed in any way that you are finding distressing or worrying. * You have a painful and/or red eye. * You have been advised to contact us by NHS 111 or another healthcare professional for urgent eye care. * You have broken or lost your glasses and need a repair or replacement in order to function. * You have a problem with your contact lenses. We can then assess how best to meet your needs and may be able to answer your queries by phone or video link. We are operating with reduced staffing levels so you may need to leave a message and we will get back to you as soon as we can. If you have spectacles or contact lenses on order or wish to order more contact lenses or replacement spectacles, we will arrange for these to be delivered or sent to you by post. If you have an eye emergency, please contact us first rather than your GP or A&E. We urge all our patients to adhere to the latest guidelines and follow the advice given to stay at home. Please do not come to the practice. Only contact us by email (enquiries@aandjopticians.co.uk) or phone (01805 628271). For more information about contact lens wear during the outbreak, please visit www.bcla.org.uk and for information about eye conditions and eye care during the pandemic, please visit fightforsight.org.uk or lookafteryoureyes.org. We hope that you stay well and we look forward to seeing you all again soon. A & J Opticians We'd also like to thank our clients for their understanding, working with us to protect our staff and being flexible with the changes this has brought about. It has been heartening to see how many people have been in contact to

volunteer during this time. If you would like to volunteer or apply for a temporary care role then please do get in touch on 01409 6281754 or via email jobs@ westheanton.co.uk.

Blackberry Farm Shop

* Open 7 days a week, & s�ll producing our home cooked food * Please order in advance & use our fully contactless collec�on or delivery service. * Product range: now includes general groceries, household items, toiletries beer, wines & spirits. * Delivery service now reaches out to those who are isolated or wan�ng to stay at home. For full details & a stock list: Call 01409 261440 • Email: lizzy@lizzyslarder.co.uk or Visit our Facebook page Blackberry Farm Shop Stay Safe everyone. Lizzy’s Larder, Blackberry Farm Shop, Milton Damerel, Holsworthy, EX22 7NP

From Your District Councillor…

ue to what is happening at the moment, Torridge District Council meetings have been cancelled, however we are looking at the possibility of holding virtual meetings in the future. We have regular updates from the Leader Ken James and Interim Head of Paid Services Steve Hearse. We would like to thank all of the amazing council staff for their hard work at this time, for keeping everything running and dealing with this unprecedented crisis so well. At the final Community and Resources meeting (before meetings were cancelled), we are pleased to report some good news... TDC agreed to grant £25,000 to The Plough Arts Centre for 2020/21 and officers are also tasked to work with The Plough management; the council will consider the possibility of any extra funding in future years at a later date. The committee also agreed to take part in a refugee resettlement scheme, providing support through the allocation of one property in each of the two years of the scheme to house a refugee family. This will involve providing a relatively small amount of money to fund the difference between the Landlord’s costs and the local housing allowance. Ongoing support of community sponsorship was also agreed. We would like to give our sincere thanks and gratitude to everyone in this wonderful community during this crisis. We have been overwhelmed by the number of volunteers who have come forward and in particular would like to thank the town council staff who have done an amazing job co-ordinating volunteers to those who need help. Also thanks to our local businesses who have been offering delivery services in order to help people stay safe and well. I’m sure this has been a great relief and has offered reassurance to many people during these uncertain times. Best wishes, Cheryl Cottle-Hunkin 07495 367 801

Is Taddiport Part of Torrington? Part Two

o the left of Taddiport bridge, before you cross over into the village, is the former toll-house, a Grade II listed building. It was built when the canal was filled in and Mark Rolle, Lord of the Manor, hoped to open the section from the station to New Town Mills as a toll road. However, potential loss of trade for the town made it politically inadvisable and plans were abandoned. The house has been flooded on several occasions when the river has broken its banks. The building to the left of the tollhouse, on the opposite side of Rolle Road, was one of the canal warehouses which was converted into a cottage. On the far side of the bridge, facing the toll house across the river, is a large square whitish building, formerly a coaching house called the Buckingham Arms. You can still make out the name on the front of the property, along with faint letters saying 'Riding Stables and Livery'. A previous owner was forced to live upstairs for several years because of the danger of the property flooding. As well as floods, there have been tragedies down by the bridge including the drowning of a young boy in the late 1990s and a man in 2011. Town Crier, Alan Mitchell lives near the bridge. He was born in the village and is well-known in the local community. He sings and plays guitar, helps to maintain the commons and restores gypsy caravans. When 1646, the Civil War centre, was open he played the character 'Ambrose' wearing 17th century costume and demonstrating how to fire a musket, amongst other things, as well as giving talks further afield about the Civil War. Over the years he has found various artefacts dating from that period on the commons. When the Rolle Canal was in operation (1827-1871) the Canal Company had its main headquarters at Taddiport basin. It was a busy place with canal boats arriving to unload lime and coal, to be taken inland, and returning with bricks, clay, grain and oak bark.

The canal basin, which was overlooked by the company offices, from where the Clerk of Works managed operations and employees, was ideally situated next to the main road over the bridge to Okehampton and Plymouth in one direction and up the steep Mill Street into the centre of Torrington in the other. Robert Sandford, a member of a wellknown Torrington family, established the Torridge Vale Dairy Factory in 1874 on the site of the Rolle Company's stores near Taddiport Bridge. The factory was surrounded by gardens which produced flowers, fruit and vegetables grown for the local markets. The Sandfords had been engaged in that business for many generations in Torrington and the road called Sandfords Gardens off Mill Street is named after the family. It was a pioneering butter factory and eventually became the Dairy Crest Creamery – main producer of Clover – which closed in 1993 with the loss of 134 jobs. The factory buildings remain, stripped of their machinery, vandalised, full of rubbish, an eyesore in the midst of this lovely Devon valley. Moira Brewer

The Crier Prize Crossword

The winner of this month’s crossword will receive a £20 voucher for Y.H. Beauty. Please send completed crossword with contact details, to The Crier, Castle Hill, Torrington, EX38 8AA, or email to torrington.crier@gmail.com. The winner of last issue’s prize is Doreen Higgs. The winner for this issue will be picked at random from correct entries. Deadline for entries is Thursday 14th May and the solution and winner will be in the June issue.

This month’s crossword competition is proudly sponsored by Y.H. Beauty. Until recently it was known as Yasmin Stacey – BodyWorks, but after five years of marriage I thought it was finally time to incorporate my new married name. Established since 2012, and based within Function Fitness, I have been offering a wide range of beauty treatments to an extensive client base over the past eight years. I am pleased to announce that Emma joined Y.H. Beauty earlier this year to enable us to keep up with demand and extend our opening hours. Emma is a fully qualified beauty therapist with many years’ experience, her waxing skills are exceptional and she has recently trained in lash lift. At Y.H. Beauty we offer a full list of headto-toe treatment including nails, eyelash extensions and lifts, waxing, threading, henna brow, tinting and facials. Clients can also enjoy holistic treatments including massage and reflexology. I have personally specialised in all aspects of eyelash extensions over the past few years, and have built a strong reputation for providing a high standard of work. Y.H. Beauty is usually open for appointments six days a week, and will reopen once restrictions are lifted. Please contact 07825 586 474 or find us on Facebook and Instagram and send us a DM. I would personally like to take this opportunity to thank all our previous, existing and new clients for your continued support of my small business. Yas x

Torrington RFC

What a difference a month makes! irstly, I would like to think that you are well out there? Sadly, I realise that may not be the case for everyone. Let’s hope we can all get through this unprecedented situation and come out the other side in good health. Our season came to an abrupt end when the Government, and subsequently The RFU, wisely called a halt to all mass gatherings. We were due to travel to Plymouth Arguam on 14th March, but due to players’ concerns over the rapidly unfolding Coronavirus situation, several players wisely didn’t want to take any risks and opted not to play. This was the last weekend that any games were played, so in hindsight a wise move on everybody’s part I feel. At time of writing The RFU has calculated the finishing positions of all leagues in rugby, with the exception of The Gallagher Premiership. It was calculated that we’d won 49.5% of our games played, and so Torrington were awarded 6th place in the Tribute Devon 1 League. This put us smack in the middle of the table, a spot which we had occupied for most of the season anyway. Off the field we as a Club would like to thank our outgoing Head Coach James Creek for his sterling efforts in keeping our first team in a competitive state; a none too easy task at the best of times. So, thank you, Creeky, and good luck in your new venture. You will always be welcomed back at any time. Following on from that we would like to welcome Zerren Bell as our new head coach. Zerren hails from Bude but is well known to us anyway,as he has refereed us many a time before, and is well respected among the players for being a top-quality ref. Let’s hope he can get his teeth into the role physically before too long, and make Donnacroft as formidable place to play as ever. Our Clubhouse remains closed in line with current Government recommendations. We will be looking forward

Communities Help Nature Across North Devon

ome positive news in these challenging days, as the Pledge for Nature project gets off to a flying start! Since launching in January, communities across the North Devon Biosphere have pledged to plant over 2500 trees, install over 40 bird boxes, 30 bug havens and make space for nature in more than 30 gardens! Some examples of the brilliant pledges include: The Taw Fishing Club has put up six nest boxes for dippers and grey wagtails on the upper Taw near Coldridge, Nymet Rowland and Wembworthy. ‘Tom’ from Dolton has pledged to plant apple, walnut, field maple and alder buckthorn trees to diversify his hedges. ‘Michelle’ from Barnstaple pledged to plant bee-friendly shrubs in her garden. ‘Kitty’ from Northlew pledged to plant six - eight trees of local fruit varieties and sourced locally to make an orchard, and the Environment Agency will be creating two wildflower areas at their Alverdiscott depot. Mike Moser, Chair of the North Devon Biosphere Nature Improvement Group said, “This is great news for north Devon’s nature – please encourage your friends, family and colleagues to get involved. Thank you to everyone who has made a pledge so far - from individuals to community groups, and schools to businesses. Let’s make something positive from these difficult times”. We are now excited to announce the next round of seasonal activities (April to June) for you to get involved in: 1) Garden for Insects. Pledge to join the Devon Wildlife Trust’s Action for Insect campaign. Can you reduce pesticide use and make your garden more wildlife friendly? Devon Wildlife Trust will be providing useful tool kits for individuals, communities and primary schools to find out what you can do to help insects. 2) Create a Wildflower Patch. Use advice from the Butterfly Conservation Trust and Bumblebee Conservation Trust on how to create a wildflower patch (a seed tray on your window, a patch on your lawn or a meadow on your lane verge or farm). 3) Care for nature in a space near you. Choose a lane, layby, local park, beach spot or river section and keep it free of litter. You can also help by keeping an eye out for invasive species. 4) Family Activity. Learn to identify wildflowers together. Help start an early appreciation for nature- use our resources to help learn about nature with your children and let us know what you find. 5) Become a Citizen Scientist. See the list of projects on our website. Make your pledges on the Pledge for Nature website. You can still make a pledge even if it’s not an activity on this list by choosing ‘Other’ on the pledge form and tell us what action you have taken for nature. Please spread the word by sharing pictures of completed pledges using the hashtag #PledgeforNature via: Twitter: @PledgeforNature. Facebook: Pledge for Nature. Instagram: NorthDevonBiosphere. www.biosphere.org.uk/pledgefornature to welcoming you back to Donnacroft in whatever capacity as soon as possible. We are always looking for new/returning players, so if you’re interested keep a lookout on our Facebook page. Similarly, we are appreciative of our volunteer force that keeps the club surviving. So if

you would like to help out in one of the friendliest clubs around, give us a shout on TRFC1985@outlook.com. As an essential worker myself I implore you to follow Government recommendations and Stay Indoors Stay Safe. C’mon Torrie! Mark Waterson

THE PLOUGH ARTS CENTRE WE WILL BE BACK! Stay safe & we look forward to seeing you soon! The Plough Arts Centre 01805 624624 • Films, Satellite Screenings + Various Workshops www.theploughartscentre.org.uk

Power The Plough

Fundraising and new grants provide much-needed good news for all who value the arts in North Devon! ack on 1st February 2020, The Plough Arts Centre announced that it was facing financial difficulties due to a gradual rise in core costs and a long term decline in its core income. Although audiences had risen by 55% in five years, it was facing an uncertain future and running a deficit, which threatened to close the muchloved venue in Great Torrington. A public appeal for donations went out to all who value The Plough’s diverse arts programme, which has been a constant feature of cultural and community life in North Devon for 45 years. The funding appeal was covered by BBC Spotlight, BBC local radio and The Gazette and Journal, as well as via online appeals through social media which reached a national and even international audience. An overall funding target of £50,000 was set and by Thursday 26th March, over £54,000 had been donated by local people from across the region and beyond. Plough Director Richard Wolfenden-Brown said ‘The people of North Devon have been absolutely amazing! We have been astonished (and humbled) by their generosity and the passionate support they have demonstrated for the survival of The Plough Arts Centre, particularly at this time of national emergency. Our trustees, staff, volunteers and supporters owe a very big ‘thank you’ to all who have contributed.’ One of The Plough’s charity trustees, Hugh Wormington, who set up the online crowd funder that raised £30,000 of the total, said ‘this was a stunning community effort and achieved with such speed. We offered various rewards for donations at different levels with 16 people kindly donating £150 and receiving a 10-word plaque to go on one of our new balcony seats. Others made donations large and small and left uplifting comments on the crowd funder. One comment from an Ian Hobson in Yorkshire said “The Plough? In a field

of its own”. One very generous person happily paid £1,000 to receive a reward of a bottle of champagne signed by the Prime Minister, plus a bonus of three toilet rolls. He then accepted the toilet rolls but kindly declined the champagne so that it can be used at a future Plough auction.’ In addition to the success of the public fundraising, The Plough recently received some additional positive news. After representations by Plough Trustees, Great Torrington Town Council, Councillor Cheryl CottleHunkin and Plough Supporters, Torridge District Council voted overwhelming at their Community & Resources meeting on 16th March to invest £25,000 in The Plough for 2020/21 and promised to explore three year funding within six months. In addition The Town Lands Charity, owners of The Plough building, agreed to invest £10,000 towards the venue’s buildings costs for 2020/21. Great Torrington Town Council voted to increase their annual grant to The Plough by £1,000 to £10,000 and to backdate that change to the current financial year. Devon County Council were unable to commit to core funding, but via Cllr Andrew Saywell and other County Councillors they contributed £3,600 to the online crowd funder and encouraged The Plough to apply for Health & Wellbeing project funding. Cllr Saywell commented ‘The Plough is vital not just to Torrington but to the surrounding communities, and people do travel to it from all over Devon and beyond.’ North Devon District Council is considering The Plough’s request for regular core funding which is based on the fact that over a third of the venue’s

audiences and participants come from the NDDC area. Any decision will have to wait until the current virus emergency is resolved. The final good news was the support of Buckland Brewer Parish Council which kindly made an investment of £200. Sadly, less than 24 hours after learning the good news of new public investment, The Plough was forced to close due to the virus on 17th March, along with all other cultural venues. For a few days it seemed that the charity would rapidly go out of business, but hopes are now high that if the government’s Staff Retention Scheme applies to Plough staff then costly redundancies can be avoided, and that The Plough will survive to reopen as soon as it is safe to open the doors. The Plough’s Chair of Trustees, John Eeles, summed up a rollercoaster fortnight, ‘recent events have been beyond anything we have experienced before, but thanks to the local community and their elected representatives, our future now looks more secure and we can plan with some confidence to be here and thriving when the current virus crisis is overcome. We want to be able to offer people something to look forward to and we are working hard behind the scenes to re-schedule performances, to maintain communications online and to plan ahead for a brighter virus-free future for all of us.’ Plough Director, Richard WolfendenBrown added ‘When the current national emergency is over, people will want to gather together again and to celebrate the things that make life worth living and that includes arts and culture which bind our communities together. As the posters say across the front of our building – ‘We Will Be Back’!

Fleur’s Gardening Forum Your Garden in May

ay is when the garden really starts to move, with the first of the new vegetables being harvested, and you can plant out those more tender annuals and perennials, once the threat of a hard frost has gone. Having said that, the weather in May can be grey and cold as well as very warm, so be prepared with fleece and cloches! We all need to take stock this year, after the extremely wet winter and early spring, the soil will have been leached of many vital nutrients for healthy plant growth and some plants will have suffered badly. May is the time to check what has survived or needs some TLC. Firstly, if you can, give a good top dressing to beds and borders; blood, fish and bone is an excellent all round fertiliser. If you have a decent compost heap, dig it out and use the well-rotted stuff from the bottom to mulch around fruit trees and bushes, shrubs and perennials. Even raised or no-dig beds may need a light forking to break up any crust that may have formed during winter. Those perennials that have survived should be checked over, if necessary dug up and split, replanting only the strong, healthy parts. This is also the perfect way to increase your stock and fill any gaps, especially if we are still unable to visit garden centres. By now, the soil will have warmed sufficiently to sow many seeds direct. Runner beans, broad beans, French beans, peas and mangetout can all be sown throughout the month. These larger seeds are ideal for children to

Torrington-Roscoff Exchange Group

n behalf of our group, I would like to wish everyone well during this unprecedented period in our lives. While the planet has been allowed to rest from much of the pollution, and some of us have been able to take stock of our lives and homes, we can't forget the selfless contribution from all the essential workers who place themselves on the front line to protect and care for others. We are in touch with our friends in Roscoff and although a couple of weeks ahead of us, they are going through this lockdown period pretty much as we are. It stands without saying that all future Torrington-Roscoff Exchange events are on hold for the foreseeable future, and we will just have to wait for a clear indication that both countries are out of the woods before making any firm arrangements for visits, meetings and social events. We currently have over 40 members ranging from 10 years and upwards; some speak French and some don’t. We welcome new members, so if you are interested in joining us, please contact: Antony Jefferies (Secretary) 01271 549454, or Nick Roberts (Chairman) 01805 625765. Nick Roberts, Chairman

handle and plant. Beetroot, carrots and lettuce can still be sown for successional crops. Tomatoes should have been pricked out by now and will be ready to plant in grow-bags or raised beds in the greenhouse; by the end of the month they can be planted outside depending upon the variety. Don’t forget to harden off all plants before putting them in the open ground, ie, placing them outside during the day and taking them inside at night if the weather is very cold or windy. After a few days of ‘in and out’, you can leave them out at night, too, for a few more nights before planting into their final positions outside. Shrubs that have just finished flowering, such as Forsythia, Berberis, Camellia et al, can be pruned. By pruning as soon as they have gone over, you will encourage more flowering shoots

to form for next year. In fact, it’s worth checking all your shrubs for any damage that may have been sustained through the winter (remember, the three ‘Ds’ – remove, dead, damaged and diseased branches first), then prune to maintain an open, tidy shape. Check pots and containers for vine weevil, especially Fuchsia, Primula and Heuchera, but the little devils can inhabit almost any potted plant. Regarding larger potted plants, scrape out the top inch or two of soil and discard, apply some fertiliser and top up the pot with fresh compost – John Innes No 3 is by far the best, or a mixture of your own compost with some sharp sand/grit. Don’t forget to use ericaceous compost for acid-loving plants such as Acers and Blueberries. Happy gardening, Fleur

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