The Crier Prize Crossword

The winner of this month’s crossword will receive one free chair fitness class with Zita Costello Please send completed crossword with contact details, to The Crier, Castle Hill, Torrington, EX38 8AA, or email to torrington.crier@gmail.com. The winner for last issue is Pat Boud. The winner for this issue will be picked at random from correct entries. Deadline for entries is Thursday 11th May and the solution and winner will be in the June issue.

Yoga has helped me balance my mind and body. I have a very gentle practice that has helped me overcome injuries, anxiety and overwhelm.

I am passionate about mental health and would love to share my wellbeing practices with the community. Particularly those who are seniors, have limited mobility, injuries and disabilities. Aiming to reduce social isolation, loneliness and help to improve physical and mental wellbeing.

Chair fitness is a very gentle form of exercise that is suitable for those who need to sit down for any reason. A gentle practice will help if you have health issues that are temporary or chronic, and can help regain some strength and flexibility that has been lost by your condition.

Benefits may include relieving stress, fatigue, pain, joint lubrication and balance. It is very gentle and acceptable for all levels of fitness.

Everyone will feel very welcome and will get to choose their favourite song to put on the class playlist!

It will be a 45 minute class with a 45 minute social at the end. We will share stories, cups of tea and biscuits all while getting to know one another in a relaxed and safe environment.

Sign up to the first class on 12th May to win one month’s worth of classes!!! Class is £10 or buy three and get the fourth class free!

Booking essential. hello@ wellbeingmethods.co.uk, 07950 864611. Available to hold classes in rural areas. One-to-one teaching available on request.

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

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

Fabulous Freddie here checking in with all the K9Focus news.

Well, April was quite a busy month at the rescue in terms of both organising all our summer events, new dogs arriving and some lucky dogs finding their forever home. Aero the Sprocker adopted his new family and I was quite sad to see him go, as he was such a lively little soul who I loved playing with, although he did wear me out at my grand old age! Bodhi the lurcher also left us and went to Battersea, as sadly we had no interest in him at all - fortunately, he too has now found his home. Being one of Battersea’s Animal Partners is really helpful to the rescue, as it does enable us to share our dogs with such a large rescue and improve their chances of finding that loving home. Sadly as many of you will know, Battersea lost one of its main ambassadors last month in Paul O’Grady, who did so much work not only for Battersea, but also as a direct result for many of us smaller rescues – a great loss to all us woofs.

Anyway on to brighter things. Our summer events are all planned and we’re really excited that we have been given permission to hold one of our fun dog shows on the Torrington Common on 22nd July – I’m so looking forward to meeting all my followers. Aunty Lynne has asked that if anyone would like a stall at the show, then please email her at lynne@k9focus.co.uk for more details. The stalls will be free and we are only asking for a donation to the rescue to help us help more woofs. It is already looking like it will be a fun day, with lots of activities planned for all the family. Before that you will find us at the Braunton Fair on 29th May, which is one of our regular dog shows and always great fun.

Now between you and me (and about 50 others in the club), Aunty Lynne has been going to Slimming World with Tracy, in the hope to shed the few pounds that she gained during lockdown.

Now this has meant that I am getting extra walks as part of her weight loss programme which is great – but crikey, she is wearing me out!! Anyway it made me think that a few people might also be thinking of shedding a bit of their coat now that summer in nearly upon us, and so in the middle of May we will be starting a fitness campaign called ‘Pedal for Paws’. This is an idea that has been thought up by some of our volunteers, who find it quite amusing that Aunty Lynne bought an electric bike in an effort to get fit, but has never really managed to ride it. The group will be aimed at anyone who would like to start riding a bike, but is a little nervous or hasn’t ridden one for a while. You don’t even need to have your own bike as there are plenty of local places who will hire them. Full details will be launched on our Facebook page later in the month, but it sounds like fun, although I am not sure that I will be fit enough to chase alongside!

Enough of all this slimming malarkey – who baked doggie biscuits for Easter? Sadly at the time of writing the rescue had not received one single entry into its photo competition, perhaps all the dogs ate them before pictures could be taken! A bit disappointing but watch this space for our online summer competition.

Don’t forget you can follow me on my own Facebook Group - www.facebook. com/groups/freddiesfrolicks

That’s about all for this month –hope to see you on the 29th and in the meantime…

Licks & woofs, Freddie

Torri Youth

As we are now looking to summer evenings, don't miss out on the activities and projects we have on offer both at Torrington Methodist Church and offsite.

If you’re aged between 10-17, registering with us to participate in our activities is easy, just scan the QR code and complete our online membership form.

Some projects have limited spaces, book yours by speaking to a youth worker or emailing You can also find us on Facebook and Instagram.

We have a photography project starting in May, ‘Through your Eyes’, which we hope will lead to a display of young people's work in the winter term.

We want young people to capture May

Fair, or your favourite place in Torrington, the landscape, places of interest or just what you see in your town?

Please remember, if taking photos with people in them, always better to ask the person’s permission first, even if it's your friends/family, they might not want their photo taken!

We have photography consent forms available for you to use, please ask your youth worker.

We can also update you with some exciting news, the shelter project is getting nearer the target, thank you to everyone who has fundraised, donated and given grant funding for this project.

We are looking to have a community fundraising day in the park in the summer, so watch this space!

Do you have skills or experience of working with young people?

Would you like to gain new skills, training in youth work?

If you are over 18, would like to volunteer and are interested in joining our committed staff team, please get in touch. For enquiries email sec. torriyouth@gmail.com, or contact paula. ftorriyouth@gmail.com

Paula Fuller, Senior Youth Worker, Torri Youth