Woolacombe & Mortehoe Voice Issue 19

FREE NOT FOR RESALE

Issue 19 September 2019

Woolacombe & Mortehoe Voice A magazine for all those who love this beautiful coastline.

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Front Cover Design: Ruth Cooper

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Hillsborough, Hele, Rapparee Cove

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Woolacombe Village Hall, Hall 70

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Mortehoe Post Office

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Event Round Up

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Rockham Bay Hotel

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Readers Gallery

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Mortehoe Museum News

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SG Pilates

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CONT

Discovering a little piece of Ilfracombe.

The history of the Village Hall in Woolacombe.

Standing proud in the heart of Mortehoe, the Post Office hasn’t changed much over the years.

A round up of a few of the events that have taken place in North Devon over the last few months.

A favourite with those who have visited this hotel over the years.

A selection of photos from our social media sites showcased in

the readers gallery.

A round up of some the news and events that have been

happening at Mortehoe Museum.

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Learn. Embody. Move, Breath. Nourish. All valuable words

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10-11

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TENTS from SG Pilates.

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People behind the Names

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Fish and Chips

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Potters Hill

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Mortehoe Scarecrow Festival

Add text

A firm favourite for years, we take a look at the tradition of fish

and chips, along with some of the places you can go to enjoy

them in North Devon.

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Stunning views over Baggy Point and Morte Point,

Mortehoe Scarecrow Festival was a great success, here is a

gallery of the 25 scarecrows that were dotted around Mortehoe

over the three day festival.

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Wooly Pots

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Save Woolacombe Fire Service

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Events

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Local business Wooly Pots showcases some of their fantastic creations.

Read more about the potential closure of the Woolacombe Fire

Service and what you can do to help.

A round up of upcoming events in and around Woolacombe & Mortehoe

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Hillsborough - Ilfracombe Hillsborough Walk

Hillsborough, is better known locally as the sleeping elephant due to it’s shape, jutting out into the sea it can be seen between Ilfracombe and Hele Bay. Now a local nature reserve and a country wildlife site, it was bought by the local council to prevent development on the site in 1895. Subsquently the area was laid with pathways, and today allows for visitors to enjoy the beautiful landscape and environment. As part of the North Devon Biosphere reserve, it is a great location for enjoying a nice walk, watching wildlife or simply sitting down with a picnic and enjoying stunning views.

You can enjoy the walk along the southwest coast path from Hele Bay and along the ‘sleeping elephant. The walk is 1.4 Miles and is a demanding with some rocky uneven and slippery patches.

1. From Hele Bay car park walk down to the beach and pick up the South West Coast Path on the left., heading up the steps from the seafront. Follow the acorn waymarkers ignoring the smaller paths. The path zigzags up the hillside to a viewpoint overlooking the Bristol Channel.

The side of the hill is home to a woodland, where the main trees growing here are sycamore trees, as they are salt tolerant and survive well in exposed conditions, during the spring the woodland is covered in bluebells, dog violets and primroses and makes for a beautiful place to enjoy a walk. The summer months see the seabirds nesting on the ledges with oystercatchers, shags, cormorants and buzzards frequently being sighted here.

2. From the viewpoint carry on uphill above the rocks. A further viewpoint can be seen here, with the cliffs rising ahead of you to the harbour and the hills of Ilfracombe.

3. Approaching the summit, carry on along the coast path as it rises and falls around the ancient earthworks of an Iron Age fort.

4. At the junction of paths by the hedge above the swimming pool leave the coast path to turn onto the footpath on your left, follow the path around the back of the hill.

Not only can visitors can enjoy the nature reserve as well as seeing the remains of the Iron age hill fort.

Hillsborough Hill Fort is believed to be the largest cliff castle in the south west, the Hill Fort is around 2000 years old. Hillsborough provided the perfect place as it was accessible from the sea, having beaches either side, but also gave an excellent viewpoint across the Bristol Channel. You can still make out the high banks that would have formed the ramparts that ran along the southern slopes and guarded the entrance of this impressive fort.

5. Carry on along the path as it curves left to head back towards Hele, with glimpses of the cove through the trees For a way to see the local wildlife, he North Devon Coast AONB have produced a walk which can be seen on their website, and is linked to the WMV website page.

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Rapparee Cove Rapparee Cove is situated below Hillsborough and was once a popular beach for bathing in Victorian times with both a ferry, and a pier. Once described in 1874 in a newspaper as a “favourite bathing place for ladies and gentlemen” The ferry would run from Ilfracombe harbour taking visitors to the cove to enjoy the lines of beach huts that could be found here.

Hele Bay

Today it is a secluded cove often used by local visitors, with some reminders of the beaches history on view.

Hele Bay is the starting point for the Hillsborough Walk.

The bay itself is a sand and shingle cove which is home to rock pools and smugglers caves. Just a five minute journey from Ilfracombe, you will find Hele, easily signposted and with plenty of parking close by it is worth a visit.

In 1997, the cove was in the press following the discovery of a mass grave which had been found at the foot of the cliffs.

Hele is also home to a unique 16th century grade II water mill. Dating back to 1525, it was used to produce flour until 1930 when it feel into disuse. In 1970 the mill was restored by a local man, and is now fully working and provides a heritage species of organic wheat for the award winning tea room which is located next door. For those wanting to learn more about the water mill, you can enjoy one of their guided tours. Join the miller himself on an interactive tour.

The grave contained the remains of a shipwreck that had taken place on the 9th October 1796, the wreck was that of the slave ship, The London, which had been travelling from St Lucia to Bristol when it got into trouble due to the stormy weather.

If you just wish to enjoy a nice cream tea, then then four times winner of Devon Life’s Best Tearoom is the place to visit. All the food in the tearoom is baked by the millers wife onsite, with the selection changing daily.

They serve a variety of cream teas and also offer Devonshire splits.

Above: Hele to Hillsborough Walk

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Reports at the time stated that over 40 people had drowned, 6 of whom were Ilfracombe seamen who had gone to their rescue. It is also said that 4 chests of treasure were also lost that evening, in the 18th Century people made reports of finding gold coins when digging in the sands of the cove.

There is still controversy today over the heritage of the bones that were found and where they should be laid to finally rest. A painting of the Wreck of London by J Walter painted in circa 1850 can be seen in Ilfracombe Museum.

Hall 70 Woolacombe Village W

oolacombe’s village hall can be found on Beach Road, and is available to hire by calling 01271 870247. The hall is the hub of the village used for many social and community events.

“Woolacombe is the only holiday resort in North Devon where traditional repertory still flourishes.

The Woolacombe Players have choosen Charles Dyers the The Rattle of a Simple Man’ and JB Priestley’s ‘When we are a married’ for their programme presented at the 200 seater Hall 70.

Prior to the hall being built, people would use Woolacombe’s church room or the Methodist schoolroom to gather for local events. For many years it was realised that Woolacombe needed a Village Hall and in April 1930 a deputation was received by the Council asking for assistance in obtaining land for the building of a Parish Hall, it would not be until March 1936 that the Parish Council would meet with the Chichester Estate Agent to discuss the purchase of a piece of land near Watersmeet with the intention of building the Parish Hall. There were many reasons against building in this location, and the matter was left.

The nucleus of the company is a family of professionals who moved to Woolacombe to present summer entertainment just after the war and who settled in the locality, having acquired hotel interests. Their supplement their ranks with local amateurs.It goes down well with Woolacombe visitors many of whom came from North of Birmingham.”

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all 70 may be better known today as Woolacombe Village Hall but it still flourishes as a community hub and an intergral part of the village.

Following a fire that severely damaged the Church Hall, it was agreed that this maybe an excellent opportunity to provide a suitable hall on which the Church Hall had been built. The land was subsequently purchased and following a tremendous effort from the villagers a new hall was established. It was finished in 1970, and aptly named Hall 70.

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all 70 soon became the home to theatrical performances, an article featured in the press in August 1975 press promoted the hall, with the following: “For the sixth year in succession, a group of five former theatrical professionals have formed themselves into a company which is providing a summer repertory at Hall 70 Woolacombe.”

Their recipe for getting 70 per cent full houses even in weeks of continuous sunshine is to give holiday makers a stylish comedy and a thriller. Profits from the season are ploughed back to provide funds, which in fact have since become their main source of revenue’ Again, in 1976, the plays were advertised:

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he could toss a letter without stopping. The next postman was a Mr. Connibear who had a little grey pony. He did the same journey three times a week. From a post office directory dated 1866, mention is made of William Tucker, “receiver of letters” which came from Ilfracombe.

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n 1896 Mortehoe Post Office hit the headlines of many of the UK’s newspapers, when a ‘sensation’ was reported. The police arrested Miss Adela Ford who worked at the post office, for the crime of stealing a registered letter containing two £6 notes. Miss Ford was described in many of the press features as being a ‘young and most respectably connected’ person.

On the 25th June 1896 the reported incident had taken place at the Post Office. William Ashford, temporary postman, said “letters on which there was money to pay were usually handed to him the same as registered letters.

On the day in question a letter bill was given to him, but he did not know that there was a letter with it.”

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he Royal Mail can date it’s history as far back as 1516, however it would not be until 1635 that the postal service would be opened up to the public with a letter office being established in London, and a system developed to carry mail across the country. It was at this time that letters would be carried from one ‘post’ to another ‘post’ by carriers on foot or horseback.

A postage act was past by parliament in 1657 establishing fixed rates for the delivery of letters. The postal service continued to develop with mail being carried by coach.

It would not be until 1830 that the mail started to be carried by train, with the first route being between Liverpool and Manchester.

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ortehoe & Woolacombe on the record by Margaret Reed sheds some light on the start of the postal service in Mortehoe in her wonderful book: “In 1836 George Tucker bought a cottage in Mortehoe, part of the tenement known as “Chantry’ at Mortehoe.

He already owned the Barricane Inn (Barricane House) which he had inherited. The properties were altered over time, and eventually renamed post office cottages when George’s son, William became the first postmaster of the village. The house became known as ‘Tuckers House’ R.F.Bidgood in her book ‘Two Villages, the Story of Mortehoe and Woolacombe’ looks further at the history of the postal service in the area: “Stories are told of how the mail arrived in earlier times.

The earliest known postman was a Mr. Hooper. He carried the mail from Ilfracombe through Lee, Warcombe, Mortehoe, Woolacombe, Westdown and back to Ilfracombe three times a week for 6d a day.

He had developed a steady trot on his long journey. At one farm en-route there was a small window through which 9

The postman Conibear and Mr. Gammon the postmaster gave evidence on the practice of the Post Office, Mr Gammon stated that the prisoner did not take part in sorting the general correspondence. It was usual for the registered letters with the wrappers to be placed aside.

They continued to give evidence detailing procedures, however as the Judge summoned up the case, and the discrepancies in the evidence he came to a verdict of Not Guilty and Miss Ford was released. The story hit many newspapers and caused quite a sensation at the time.

The post office as we see it today, has been unchanged for many, many years. Today serving the community as well as the many visitors that come to Mortehoe each year.

Bird Man

The 2019 Ilfracombe bird man comp breaking previous records on Saturd tors. Visitors were enterained with m event tool place when the tide was h from St James Dairy were the winne

Oceanfest The weekend of June 21-23 saw Oceanfest return to Croyde for its 21st year.

A fantastic weekend with top names and bands entertaining the crowds.

Friday was headlined by Krupt FM, with Saturday being home to Craig Davids TS5 DJ set getting the crowds dancing. Sunday was the last day of the festival and closed with Brit nominees The Feeling.

The warm, sunny weekend made an already fantastic festival even better. The family friendly atmosphere makes this a great festival to attend, with plenty of good music, sporting events and entertainment to cater for everyone.

The 22nd Oceanfest will be coming to Croyde on the 19th-21st June 2020.

See you there!

Woolacombe

The Woolacombe Mara anniversary this year, w June.

Andrew Siggers from t place with a running tim Macintosh in 2nd place Stephen Cameron form

The half marathon saw Bideford AAC in first p from the Cheltenham H 01:27:16 and in third p the London Frontrunne

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petition was a great success, day 3rd August with 15,000 visimusic, and stalls before the main high enough. The Dairy Boys ers of the day.

Mini Madness The much loved and annually anticipated mini run came through North Devon over the August Bank holiday weekend.

“The little cars with big hearts” bought smiles and laughter across the county, when it returned for their 24th outing. Not only creating a wonderful specticle for visitors and residents alike, but also raising money for the Children’s Hospice South West.

Over 200 Minis spent the weekend in the area, starting at the Big Sheep, before heading to Westward Ho!, Northam, Appledore, Hartland Quay, Torrington, Fremmington, Bideford, Lynton and Combe Martin to name a few places.

Many of the Mini’s were decorated and passengers wearing fancy dress.

Run with an Olympian

22nd August saw the UK’s second fastest female marathon runner of all time, Mara Yamauchi joined by fellow runners in Woolacombe.

Mara Yamauchi is not only the second fastest female runner, but also a two time olympian. She was joined by runners who enjoyed a coached running session along Woolacombe Dunes. The session included warm up, drills, intervals and a warm down. It was a great success, and set in such a beautiful place it was a unique way to enjoy Woolacombe Sand Dunes.

e Marathon

athon celebrated it’s 10th with the event taking place on 30th

the Kenilworth Runners took first me of 03:16, followed by Keith e (03:30.23) and third place going to m Bidefor AAC (03:31.48)

w Ronnie Richmond from the place with 01:20:30, John Parker Harriers with a running time of place James Gillanders running from ers with a time of 01:28:43

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he Rockham Bay Hotel, previously started its life as a smaller hotel, run

by William and Andrea Charlesworth.

In 1946 the the hotel was descried in a local newspaper article as a small friendly country by the sea side hotel, with a big reputation for comfort good food and service.

William and Andrea set on developing the hotel and in 1948 the hotel had requested a license to sell liquor which was rejected, the reason for the opposition had been that liqueur was ‘in shortage’ locally and they did not want to encourage it. I am not sure what happened in that year, but by 1949 the licence was granted excluding Scotch whisky and port, as there was ‘no shortage of intoxicating liquor’.

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The court said the character of the applicant was everything that could be desired, and the property was satisfactory. The police offered no objection and the bench granted the application.

By 1955 the hotel had become known as The Rockham Bay Hotel, and was described in The Sphere newspaper by a journalist who had stayed there: “Another night was spent in a small but compact bedroom at Rockham Bay Hotel near Mortehoe, formerly named Hillside Cottage Hotel.

The change of name became necessity, for since Mr. And Mrs W.S . Charlesworth acquired the hotel it has grown from some dozen bedrooms to forty.

Apart from its compactness and reputation for catering, Rockham Bay Hotel draws clientele as much as anything for its friendly informality, It is one of the those all too rare British hotels where one finds oneself making new friends soon after arrival”

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The

Readers Gallery

We love to share your photographs of Woolacombe and Mortehoe. If you would like to have your photographs included, please email to woolacombemortehoevoice@gmail.com or use #wmvphoto on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram. We also have a facebook group for Woolacombe & Mortehoe photographs that you can join.

Steve Parker

Jo April

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Julie Chambers

Marivic F. Hill

Marion Callaghan

Amy Denning

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Allan Collins

Nannette Shepherd

Joel Chambers

Ruth Cooper

Allan Collins

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Dek Healey Junior

Trevor Cohen

SG Pilates

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m u e s u M e o h e t r o M

Tractor and Trailer Season over for 2019

We would like to say thank you to everyone who has supported a our 2019 Tractor and Trailer Safaris. We have had a great time sh around the beautiful North Devon Coastline to see Morte Point an We would love feedback and look forward to seeing you in 2020 Wonderful photos by Woolacombe Tourist Information Centre

Museum’s exciting future - extension plans approved Exciting times for Mortehoe Museum as plans have been approved for the extension to the existing building to house the Coastguards Wagon cart as well as allowing additional space for exhibitions and a viewing gallery. The extension will be in keeping with the tradiftional style of the existing building.

Plans are available online, and further details about our fundraising efforts will be available soon!!!

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and come along howing you nd Bull Point. .

Volunteers are very important to our continuing success as a local museum and registered charity.

Mortehoe Museum is free to visit. We are a charity run museum and we do rely on your support so do ask for donations in our collections milk churn which can be found by the museum entrance.

#mortehoememories We have launched the new hashtag #mortehoememories to use on our social media sites to share and collect stories and photos from the area.

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We require a strong team of volunteers to help advise and guide throughout the year, both as front of house and behind the scenes. Becoming a volunteer is a great way to support the Museum, as well as gain new experiences, new skills and socialising with like minded people. Volunteers are a vital part of our museum and help in a variety of roles.

Mortehoe Museum is looking for new volunteers to join our team. If you have a morning/ afternoon to spare once a week or just a few hours every now and then we would love to hear from you. We offer full training for the front of house roles, which includes welcoming visitors and operating the till in the shop.Â

‘Learn. Embody. Move. Breath. Nourish’

We move from deep inside the body, from your heart and lungs, we create the elasticity, strength and resilience we crave in all our muscles, bones and fascia. To fulfil our desire to move and flow freely like the ocean, we are after all mostly water.

Why Woolacombe?

What is your style of teaching?

I create sessions from 30 years of movement, bodywork and energy teachings. My classes are more than just an exercise session, it’s a way of being, exploring, creating but,

‘with a kind heart and open mind and there has to be a space to laugh.’

I create a place of safety to let go, a place of relaxation inside to dig deeper, the place to let go of selfdoubts, fears and limitations and empower you to reach new levels of ability. When we let go of our worries, we find growth and strength. When we hold on to our fear, we move from restrictions and boundaries.

Woolacombe has such a beautiful energy, it is so energising and healing to be by the ocean, the wonderful beach and beautiful coastline.

I brought my children to Woolacombe for their holidays since they were babies, little did I know I would end up being lucky enough to live here!

I married my husband nearly 4 years ago and he was living here when I met him.

How did you get into fitness and movement ?

I have been passionate about movement ALL of my life. From a young age I did martial arts, dance and gymnastics, I was in every school sports team and competed in county athletics and basketball. So, it was pretty natural for me to end up teaching exercise. I have been teaching full time since 1990.

I am a qualified Stott Pilates, Garuda and mindful movement teacher, I am also a qualified body worker 20

in many approaches including Thai Massage, deep tissue massage, reflexology, and many more. I’m also qualified in more subtle energy work, being a Reiki Master and a meditation teacher and practitioner. I am also a Franklin Method Educator. Garuda is itself a combination of Yoga, Pilates and gyrotonics.

In my classes I use an integration of all these methods and knowledge to provide my students with a deep knowledge and understanding of their own bodies and how to get the best out of them.

My approach is compassionate, empowering and fun.

That’s a lot, so how do you keep up to date?

I am still madly passionate about learning and studying the body and mind, in fact, more and more so. I have studied, practiced and qualified in many forms of movement throughout my career. I believe the more interconnected, complete and deep my knowledge is, the more I can help people overcome their movement challenges and fulfil their desired goals. The more they can enjoy their body.

How has movement helped in

your personal journey?

I have suffered my fair share of traumas and injuries throughout my life and learnt from them all. I broke my neck (C1 & C2) in a car accident 14 years ago. The strength of my neck muscles was the only thing holding my head on much to shock of my surgeons, who eventually pinned me back together again! I used my knowledge and practice to rehab myself and so I can hopefully share what good rehabilitation can do and how to get through the setbacks with determination and not give in to the negative stories of mind chatter and doubt.

I love helping people to move freely, better, more efficiently and this is how I teach.It is an integrated approach of using the mind through visualisation, being present, awareness and setting intention, noticing emotions and how that works or inhibits the body through movement and vice versa.

Tell me about your sessions?

Every session is different but all with a careful intent to make everything work. The result is “feeling” and becoming more perceptive, with a better somatic experience, identifying the areas of weakness or stuckness, ironing them out, softening and surrendering back a little from the big muscles and joints to the subtle

energies. It is a fine tune of balance and coordination and that’s where strength and resilience lie in balance with flexibility and mobility, a beautiful harmonious relationship.

Where else do you work?

I am fortunate enough to be able to share my work outside my regular classes too. I have taught many professional athletes including, premier league rugby players, professional football players, triathletes and world record holding windsurfers.

I am also a presenter at Fitness Fiesta’s health and wellbeing breaks weekend, they are the UK’s biggest organiser of fitness events.

I have written a program for FKPro suspension strap instructors, I teach workshops and mentor other instructors.

Basically, I am very busy ha-ha, but I love it – it’s my passion. I also spent 16 plus years teaching actors how to move at the Bristol Old Vic theatre school. I love the variety!

What do you do in 21

your spare time ?

When I am not working, you’ll find me with my lovely husband, Peter, my lovely dog Blaze, either at home, in the sea or walking and meditating on the beach and along the coast. I love it when my two children come to visit us, Tommy and Evie, both in their early 20’s, love Woolacombe, the peace, the beauty and the outdoor active lifestyle.

I finally “let go” of my house in Bristol to move here permanently last year. I am still building my practice here in Woolacombe and so I still work in Bristol. continued overleaf ...

I condensed all my work into 3 days from early mornings to late nights, so I can still fit in all my clients there, so I can maximise my time here in Woolacombe.

I build deep relationships with my clients and many have been with me for many years (some of them for 20 years!) and I can’t quite just let go yet, they are like family.

Where are you teaching locally?

I am teaching group sessions in the heart of the village at Meadow Hall in Woolacombe on Mondays 9:15am 10:30am and 7:00pm and would really love to teach here more. I can also do private groups sessions, one to one, couple training, coaching, workshops and retreats I have a few workshops in the planning about pelvic health so watch out for dates.

I especially love one to one training for a deeper experience (I have a fully equipped studio for it at home). I meet the client right at their own starting point, whether that is from a place of injury to recovery, wanting to get or stay fit, move better, if you want a hard workout or gentle relaxing session, whether you are a total novice or a professional athlete wanting to get better results and prevent injuries.

I also run Well Being Retreats in Mortehoe twice a year. The wonderfully warm, Will and Stacey, at the Smugglers Rest and Miss Feas CafĂŠ provide the lovely accommodation and amazing food, and Mortehoe provides the amazing backdrop for our practices.

I have a retreat in Tuscany coming up shortly which I am running with an amazing professional actress/singer and an artist in a wonderfully creative week of bliss, I am so excited, let’s hope they can teach me to sing, I am very bad at that!

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I would be delighted to meet you and welcome you to my sessions. Come and experience how to be the best version of yourself in mind body and spirit đ&#x;’•. Come and fulfil your desire to move and flow freely with the strength and ease of the ocean.

You will know you have worked out but you will feel amazing at the end, not broken, nor exhausted in a detrimental way. Just in a healthy ALIVE type of way, with your energy increased and your body feeling great.

Come and try 9:15am Garuda/Pilates - Find your flow 10:30am Breathe & Nourish Meditation 7:00am Garuda/Pilates and Meditation If you would like to know more information please get in touch, if you would like classes on different days please let me know.

I hope to see you soon

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People behind the Names Pte Herbert Dyer

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H

erbert was born on the 23rd August 1912 in North Devon. His parents were James and Mary Dyer, following their marriage they went on to have a large family, living most of their life in the Ilfracombe and Woolacombe area.

Aged only 2 when the first world war broke out, Herbert would be impacted by the events that took place as his older brother’s saw active service, one of them never returning home.

His brother Frederick James Dyer.

Herbert’s oldest brother, Frederick, born in 1893 would be 21 when he served during the First World War. His service records show him as working as a butcher, aged 21 when he enlisted at the time he is shown as living at Lincombe, Lee. He enlisted with the Australian Imperial Force. During his time in active service, he was admitted to hospital on a number of occasions, eventually being diagnosed with an Irritable Heart condition in April 1916, he would be discharged from the Australian Imperial Force on the 29th August 1916.

He would go on to reinlist in April 1917, again with the Australian Impreial Force where he would go on to serve with the 4th Light Horse Regiment, he would remain in Australia following the war, with his wife and children until he died in 1959.

Thomas William Dyer Thomas would be James and Mary’s second born son, and like his older brother Frederick would see active service during World War One, sadly Thomas would be killed in action in November 1916 ----Herbert married Hilda Hopkins in October 1934, a few years later the 1939 census shows the family living at Old Tree Cottage, Ilfracombe, Herbert is working as a Bricklayer, with his father James living with them, and their son David had only recently been born.

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Herbert would enlist with the Duke of Cornwall’s Light Infantry where he would serve as a Private in the regiment (PTE 5445061), with the 2nd battalion.

He would be killed in action on the 7th May 1943 and is buried at Medjez-El-Bab memorial in Tunisia.

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n May 1943, the war in North Africa came to an end in Tunisia with the defeat of the Axis powers by a combined Allied force. The campaign began on 8 November 1942, when Commonwealth and American troops made a series of landings in Algeria and Morocco.

The Germans responded immediately by sending a force from Sicily to northern Tunisia, which checked the Allied advance east in early December. In the south, the Axis forces defeated at El Alamein withdrew into Tunisia along the coast through Libya, pursued by the Allied Eighth Army. By mid April 1943, the combined Axis force was hemmed into a small corner of north-eastern Tunisia and the Allies were grouped for their final offensive. Medjez-el-Bab was at the limit of the Allied advance in December 1942 and remained on the front line until the decisive Allied advances of April and May 1943.

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he MEDJEZ-EL-BAB MEMORIAL commemorates almost 2,000 men of the First Army who died during the operations in Algeria and Tunisia between 8 November 1942 and 19 February 1943, and those of the First and Eighth Armies who died in operations in the same areas between 20 February 1943 and 13 May 1943, and who have no known graves.

The memorial stands within MEDJEZEL-BAB WAR CEMETERY where 2,903 Commonwealth servicemen of the Second World War are buried or commemorated.

385 of the burials are unidentified. Special memorials commemorate three soldiers buried in Tunis (Borgel) Cemetery and one in Youks-les-Bains Cemetery, whose graves are now lost.

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Fish & Chips Fish and Chips have always been associated with holidays by the seaside, and North Devon has some amazing places to enjoy this tradition delicacy.

From award winning restaurants, to enjoying a take away out of the paper, sitting on a bench enjoying the view, North Devon has it covered. We take a look at the history of this British love affair with fish and chips, and some of the restaurants and take aways you can enjoy locally.

The history of the great British tradition is thought to date back to about 1860’s, although some disagreement to who actually invented the meal is still in question, with both Lancashire and London staking a claim to being the first to invent this meal!

Following the potato being bought to England from the New World by Sir Walter Raleigh, the fried potato chip became a known dish, providing a cheap staple food in the North, with the fish believed to have been introduced in the East end of London. The fish was usually sold by street sellers with large trays around their necks.

Some believe it was a northern business man, called John Lees who put fish and chips together to become a recognised meal, it is believed that he sold fish and chips from a wooden hut in a Lancashire market.

The other claim is that London is the home of the fish and chip supper, with a shop being opened in the East of London by a Jewish immigrant, Joseph Malin In 1910 there were more than 25,000 fish and chip shops across the UK, today it is believed that there are over 10,500 which outnumbers other fast food oulets such as McDonalds who only have 1500. It is without doubt that the traditional fish and chip supper is still a firm favourite in the UK. North Devon has a number of great restaurants to try out, here are just a few of them:

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Squires, Braunton www.squiresfishrestaurant.co.uk

Squires has been serving fish and chips since 1969, and this family run business certainly know how to do it! Having won many awards over the years, they have also been recommended by celebrity chef Rick Stein, not to mention visitors such as the Prime Minister and Damien Hirst.

Located in Braunton, the restaurant seats 130 people over two floors, and has built up a glowing reputation for its food, and its service.

The Pelican, Barnstaple www.pelicanfishandchips.co.uk

The award winning restaurant, picked up the accolade of the UK’s ‘best fish and chip restaurant’ in the National Fish and Chip awards 2018, priding itself on choosing wild caught or farmed fish from sustainable and responsibly managed fisheries, its food certainly reflects this.

Mor-Shellfish-T-Eat www.mortehoefishandchips.co.uk

Based in Mortehoe Village sqaure, the seafood and chip shop offer a take away service providing specialist take away seafood along with the class fish and chips.

The lobsters and crabs are caught from many fishing boats, working around the local coastline.

They also offer delcious seafood platters or wet fish to purcahse for your BBQ

Woolacombe Fryer www.woolacombefryer.com

Priding themselves on local sustainable products.

Their cod and haddock are sourced soley from the Icelandic seas, whilst their chips are from local farms in and around North Devon. Meaning that their chips are freshly prepared in the shop on the day of opening. The chips are guaranteed to be fresh from the basket every time.

Potters Hill, Woolacombe

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Potter’s Hill in Woolacombe extends to over 30 acres and overlooks Woolacombe and the sands, the views are stunning looking towards Baggy Point and Morte Point, the extensive views are worth the walk to the top of the hill.

Believed to have been named after Thomas Pottere, Potters Hill would have been the central focus of Woolacombe at Harvest Time, as corn was grown here until 1866 when it would then be taken to Woolacombe Mill. It is said that a German Band visiting Lady Chichester who was in residence at Barton Farm where she had a suite of roomk, she paid the bandsman to go to Potters Hill to play to the reapers whilst they stopped to have a meal.

In 1935 Lady Chichester gave Potters Hill as a gift to mark the Jubilee of King George V. A granite block was placed at the entrance to Potters Hill with an inscription which recorded that the land had been handed over to the nation. The gift was made unceremoniously with no mention of the donor’s name. The inscription read:

Potters Hill, presented to the National Trust, to be held for the benefit of the nation, in commemoration of the Silver Jubilee his Majesty, King George V, 1935.

The area is now enjoyed by many people, for those wishing to visit , as well as the stunning views visitors can enjoy the array of plants, including dog violets, bluebells and wood sage not to mention the Exmoor Ponies who graze on the hill.

The National Trust website has a guide to local walks including the mini mountain walk to Potters Hill.

1. From the beginning of Marine Drive car park walk up the grassy bank and through a field gate, then follow the footpath up hill, signed by a finger post saying Public Footpath 2. Continue up the hill as the path winds its way around Potters Hill. Bear left at the first waymark you reach.

When you reach the second waymark, either follow the route to the left onto Potters Hill or, if continuing on up to Woolacombe Down, head straight on.

3. At the top of Potters Hill retrace your steps back to Marine Drive or, if continuing on to Woolacombe Down, go to point 4.

4. Go through the bridle gate and follow the track up and over Woolacombe Down, passing a bench with fantastic views over to Hartland. Continue along this track until you reach another field gate. Go through the gate and head down hill.

5. Take the footpath to the right, waymarked to Marine Drive. When you reach Marine Drive go left for 20 metres then take the footpath down into the dunes on your right.

6. When you reach the dunes follow the South West Coast Path signs to the right. Where the path forks, take the right hand fork which will take you through the dunes and back to your starting point at the beginning of Marine Drive. www.nationaltrust.org.uk/walks

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Mortehoe Scarecrow Festival 2019 saw another successful and enjoyable Scarecrow Festival taking place in Mortehoe. This year’s theme was ‘Sounds of Stage and Screen’.

The festival saw 25 scarecrows dotted around the village.

Over £2000 was raised for local charities 1.

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Mortehoe Scarecrow F 30

3.

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1 My Fair Lady – Eliza 2 The Little Mermaid - Sebastian 3 Oliver The Artful Dodger 4 Singing in the Rain 5 Beauty and the Beast 6 The Sound of Music 7 The Woman in White 8 The Little Mermaid - Ariel 9 Happy Feet 10 Mary Poppins 11 The Lion King 12 Joseph and his Amazing Technicolour Dreamcoat 13 Shrek 14 The Wizard of Oz- the Scarecrow 15 Grease 16 Les Miserable 17 Billy Elliot 18 The Wizard of Oz – all 4 main characters 19 Robin Hood – Friar Tuck 20 We Will Rock You 21 Annie 22 Oliver – Fagin 24 Pocohontas 25 The Greatest Showman

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Festival 31

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The winner was the Wizard of Oz by The Chichester Arms, Mortehoe with 188 votes/ Second place was Mary Poppins with 112 ... made by us!! So thank you for all your votes.

Third Place. ‘We Will Rock You’ by Mortehoe WI which was a great scarecrow of Freddie Mercury

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Woolypots

WOOLYPOTS was founded in 2011 by Malcolm and Sue Wilkinson following his long career as head of the arts faculty at Ilfracombe Arts College.

These pots are all created and fired in their Woolacombe Studio and draw their inspiration from the colours and wildlife that can be found in the sea and along the shores of the magnificent Woolacombe beach.

They use two different types of clay in their work.

The lighter stoneware clay is 34

the perfect body for the deep, azure blue glazes reflecting the sea and sky whilst the red earthenware is a much more traditional material and is decorated with liquid clays in the local North Devon technique of slipware.

We hope that you enjoy our work and that it gives you fond memories of your visit to our beautiful corner of North Devon

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Sav

Proposed Closure of Woolacombe Fire Station.

A 12-week consultation period started on July 3rd and will end on September 22nd.

The Parish Council are opposed to the proposed closure and urge residents and visitors to the area to take part in the on-line consultation. The council are working to campaign against the proposals and met with Devon & Somerset Fire Service in August to further express their concerns. The next Parish Council meeting is on September 16th.

The response of Mr Peter Heaton-Jones MP to a letter from Mortehoe Parish Council: “Dear Sally, Thank you for contacting me on behalf of Mortehoe Parish Council regarding the consultation on the future of our Fire and Rescue services, and in particular the changes being proposed to fire stations in North Devon.

I am deeply concerned by some of the proposals currently being considered by Devon & Somerset Fire & Rescue Service. I have had detailed discussions with the Chief Fire Officer and heard the community’s concerns at public meetings, so I have now considered both sides of the argument. As a result, I am firmly opposed to the closure of Woolacombe Fire Station and am deeply sceptical about the wisdom of the other changes being proposed at Ilfracombe, Lynton and Barnstaple.

In my meetings with the Chief Fire Officer, he assured me that the overall changes are about making the service better and more resilient for the future, as well as matching resources with changing demands. Whilst I accept the need for such a review, I cannot accept the proposed closure of Woolacombe. I have already challenged the Chief Fire Officer on this point, and he encouragingly said that it is not a done deal. If, for instance, the Station Crew and wider community can come together with a plan to maintain the presence in Woolacombe, that would be considered.

I will be writing to the Chief Fire Officer and every member of the Devon and Somerset Fire Authority directly, and I will be encouraging everyone to fill in the questionnaire online at www.dsfire.gov.uk.

As an MP, neither I nor the government has the power to overturn any decision that might be made by Devon & Somerset Fire & Rescue Service. But what we can do is seek to influence that decision. That is why I will be making it clear that the community will not accept these proposals and that I will continue to oppose them.

On the specific questions that the Parish Council has sent me I have enclosed the responses that DSFS have provided me to these questions.

Thank you once again for taking the time to contact me on behalf on your Parish Council and do please let me know if I can be of any further assistance.

Yours sincerely, Peter Heaton-Jones MP, Conservative, North Devon 36

ve our Station 2. Public Consultation

1. Increased Risk

“The Woolcombe public dropin exhibition was scheduled for Wednesday 17th July between 1:30-5.30pm. We had booked the village hall for convenience to local residents and some of the venues we have booked only had availability (for 4 hour slots) at certain times.

“As detailed within our Consultation materials, the papers presented to the Fire Authority and the range of supporting documents within the Consultation area on our website, we have carried out full risk response modelling to ensure we continue to respond to the risks we face. Woolacombe has low levels of risk. In 2018 all incidents attended in the station area totalled 21 of which 8 were fires and there were no RTCs (road traffic collisions).

Our Fire Service statutory work is fire and RTCs response. Of the total 2018 incidents in the station area, Woolacombe station attended 8, and of the 8 fires in the station area, the station attended 2. Of the total 2018 incidents, 7 were medical co-responding within the station area. The first appliance had 51% availability to respond in 2018 which means it often was not available and appliances from other stations would have attended.

Further station data is available within ‘Supporting Documents’ in the Consultation area of our website (www.dsfire.gov.uk) and we have attached the information poster shared at the drop-in exhibition in Woolacombe.”

The public consultation has been held for a very limited time slot when most residents are at work.

(Wed. 1.30 - 5.30 p.m.)

Depending on the resident groups, such as the elderly, some times of day are better than others and we have tried to find a balance with venue availability and potential groups in the area. The session ran until 5.30pm.”

3. The Presentation of facts The way in which the facts and figures have been presented for the consultation has been disingenuous and misleading.

The figures do not show the full workload of the fire stations, with no mention of support/call outs for other stations or for routine calls outside the narrow category chosen by the Fire Service.

Nearest Fire Stations - in an attempt to show that the neighbouring fire stations are nearer than in reality, an official at the consultation confirmed that the mileage quoted in the official documents presented was “as the crow flies”. (Braunton 5.1 miles)

cont....

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• Online questionnaire on DSFRS ...website www.dsfire.gov.uk • Email with your comments to ..safertogetherprogramme@dsfire.gov.uk

Text from the original letter from Mortehoe PC to Mr Heaton-Jones & responses from Devon and Somerset Fire and Rescue Service (M’hoe PC comments in bold, and those from DSFRS in italics):

The proposed changes presented in all 7 options will have a drastic effect on the safety of visitors and residents in both our Parish and across the whole of North Devon.

How you can help

• Write to DSFRS at ..Communications and Engagement ..Devon and Somerset Fire ..and Rescue Service, Service ..Headquarters, ..The Knowle ..Clyst St George, ..Exeter ..EX3 0NW • Email or write to the Fire ..Authority Members voicing ..your concerns. The full list of ..members is available from on ..the Parish Council website or ..available from the Parish Clerk: ..sallyatmortehoepc@gmail.com • Email or write to your Local .. ...MP Mr Heanton-Jones

peter.heatonjones.mp@parliament.uk

• Email or write to your Local ..Devon County Councillor andrea.davis@devon.gov.uk

Congestion on the narrow roads leading to Woolacombe and Mortehoe in the season would lead to dangerous delays in reliance on the retained neighbouring stations.

All residents of Somerset and Devon pay the same rates for the fire service and therefore should expect the same level of basic cover.

“The facts used and presented are fully available on our website. As detailed in the Fire Authority paper and the consultation document, these options are based on our statutory response (which we are funded for), for fires and road traffic collisions. Each station supports neighbouring ones where greater responses are needed which will increase the number of times the fire engines are used, this is based on the next nearest asset that is available being mobilised. To be fair and equitable however, we have based the review of the station on the work in their station area as this enables a direct comparison between stations.

Alternative stations of Ilfracombe and Braunton have estimated 16 mins and 19 mins response times respectively to Woolacombe station (estimates as there are many factors that can affect the response time for any incidents on the day and the same approach is used across the Service). The distance is not ‘as the crow flies’ and represents road routes. On the information poster shared at the drop-in exhibition the map had been simplified for ease of reading.”

4. Impact of the loss of the Co-Responder Scheme The figures for Category 1 call outs in our Parish show 7 critical cases last year i.e. 7 lives potentially saved. The resident population of Mortehoe Parish is 1178 but with 1,700 registered bed spaces plus touring pitches on the 12 sites available, the population of both villages can shoot up by over 13,000 + day visitors to the beach (approx. 3,000 parking spaces). Mortehoe Parish Council fought a long campaign to have the coresponder scheme in the Parish and know that reliance on the ambulance service will result in loss of lives.

“Woolacombe will continue to be provided with a Fire and Rescue service, and depending on the outcome of the proposals consultation, this may be from alternative nearby stations as detailed above.

Residents of Devon and Somerset are directly precepted by the Fire & Rescue Authority for Council Tax and the same emergency response standards apply across both coun- ties. There are many towns and villages that are of a similar or higher risk profile than Woolacombe that do not have a fire station, therefore the same level of basic cover is being provided.

The savings are provided in the paper presented to the Fire Authority. They include £300,000 relating to Estate and Fleet savings (reflecting the appliance etc.) and £41,953 representing revenue savings, such as running and maintaining the building, appliance etc. On-call staff costs are not included as the incidents, depending on the consultation outcomes, will still be responded to but potentially by staff from other stations.”

6. Retained crews In the event of an incident the residents or visitors in the Parish Woolacombe would be severely disadvantaged in their reliance on the retained crews of adjoining stations of Ilfracombe, Combe Martin and Braunton who of whom are understaffed at present.

(Woolacombe station currently have 3 volunteers undergoing training, taking the retained crew to 9 and are in a better position than many of our neighbours.)

“Woolacombe station attended 16 co-responding incidents in 2018. 7 of these were within its station area and 9 were in other station areas. Co-responding is not a statutory function for the Fire & Rescue Service and is a voluntary activity carried out on only 20 fire stations. The statutory obligation for attending medical incidents lies with the Ambulance Service.”

“Depending on the outcome of the proposals consultation, we may be looking at staff relocations packages, if staff would like/are able to transfer to other nearby stations. In terms of Woolacombe staffing, there is currently one new recruit undergoing training who was offered a contract of employment in May this year and two others who are still within the recruitment process. Separate to these proposals we are looking at new duty systems (ways of working) that will hopefully improve our recruitment of on-call staff and retention overall.”

5. Cost-saving

7. Proposals for a Retained Night-time crew

Members question the £350,000 savings as quoted for the closure of Woolacombe Fire Station. These include the infrastructure and equipment already in place. The staff costs are approx. £41,000. The council believe that the cuts will delay emergency response and will have very serious consequences.

Barnstaple - a further retained night-time crew in Barnstaple (Proposal 4 ) would leave all residents in North Devon severely disadvantaged. It is the opinion of the council that the statutory duty of the Fire Service is to provide an effective fire and rescue service across the two counties to ensure that help arrives quickly when needed.

Members ask you the following questions:

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1. Do you believe that any of the seven options presented will lead to an improvement in the services that residents of the two counties can expect in the event of a fire, road traffic accident or other incident?

“Through these option proposals we are looking to improve our overall response across the two counties, reallocating resources to where they are needed. We are currently under-resourced in some areas, unable to meet our response demand, and over-resourced in others. We are looking to improve our ability to meet our Emergency Response Standards across the whole service through reallocation of our resources. This is especially true of option 6 which introduces the concept of roving appliances that can be deployed flexibly throughout the two counties dependent upon changing risk levels.

Therefore if a seasonal change in risk is apparent then the Service will be able to dynamically respond to this. We are also looking to invest further in prevention and protection activities to avoid the incidents happening in the first instance. This is an important point as the provision of a response service only will not necessarily save lives. The reason incident numbers have decreased over the last 20 years is due to increased safety work undertaken by the Service.”

2. Do you think that lives will be put at risk by the loss of the co-responder schemes across the affected rural stations in Devon Cornwall and how will this be addressed by the already over-stretched ambulance service?

“As detailed, in total last year there were 16 coresponding responses from Woolacombe station, and of which 7 were in the Woolacombe station area.”

Save Our Station The Woolacombe Fire Service 39

Whats On

1

st September Lobster and Crab Feast

Lobster and Crab Feast is how Clovelly celebrates its famous links to this amazing seafood. It’s a great day out for all the family. www.clovelly.co.uk

14-15

September Harry Potter Themed Weekend Calling all wizards in training! This is a weekend full of magical fun with the world’s leading Harry Potter Lookalike characters! www.thebigsheep.co.uk

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September Rosemoor Craft Fair Harry Potter Themed Weekend The Autumn Artisan Craft & Design Fair at RHS Garden Rosemoor will showcase a wonderful range of interior and exterior products for sale.

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th September Ilfracombe Bike Show

The North Devon Motorcycle Action group hold this popular event staged along the Seafront. This event is open to all riders and also open to the general public.

www.rhs.org.uk

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14

th September Heritage Open Day - Arlington

Free entry to Arlington Court and The National Trust Carriage Museum as part of Heritage Open Day. www.nationaltrust.org.uk 40

th September (11-3) The BIG North Devon Wedding Show Meet the finest wedding exhibitors Devon Cornwall have to offer at our annual North Devon Wedding Fair and Show. Come and meet 70+ of best wedding suppliers. www.thebigsheep.co.uk

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th October Halloween Hocus Pocus

This Halloween half term at The Milky Way families are invited to enrol in our very special School For Witches and Wizards. From Saturday 19th October to Thursday 31st October 2019 there’ll be lots of extra Halloween activities to enjoy – all designed to be fun rather than scary!

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rd October Clovelly Apple Day

It is Apple Season – so we are holding our Fourth Apple Day with lots of lovely apple crafts and activities. www.clovelly.co.uk

www.themilkyway.co.uk

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th October Foodfest Barnstaple Pannier Market Foodfest features over 100 local food and drink exhibitors, six top chefs, numerous tastings…

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th October Family Volunteering Bash and Burn A fun family day with a sense of a job well done. Get out in the fresh air and help the Rangers cut and burn gorse bushes on Woolacombe Down. www.nationaltrust.org.uk

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th November Fireworks Night

Remember, remember the 5th of November – Bonfire and Burgers – Fireworks and Fun; The BIG Sheep in Bideford will be the best place to celebrate this year’s Guy Fawke’s night on Tuesday 5th November. www.nationaltrust.org.uk

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st October Autumn Walling Workshop

Join the experienced Rangers at Mortehoe. Learn about courses, how to shape the stones and what makes a good capping stone. This is a hands on, practical way to learn and help repair our heritage. nt. www.nationaltrust.org.uk

If you have an event you would like to list on our calendar and in our magazine, please get in touch: woolacombemortehoevoice@gmail.com

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