Woolacombe & Mortehoe Voice Issue 14

FREE NOT FOR RESALE

Issue 14 June 2018

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

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CONTENTS

4 - 5 Plastic Free Woolacombe With a rise in awareness of how plastics are damaging our

oceans and environment, we learn more about this local campaign and reducing single use plastics in Woolacombe.

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Beach Time

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National Trust launch new book

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The Woolacombe Bay Hotel

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The People Behind The Names

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Mortehoe Heritage Museum

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Readers Gallery

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My Woolacombe, My Mortehoe

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Discover more about the local beaches in Woolacombe & Mortehoe and see our brand new art map that is for sale.

The National Trust have published a new guidebook that will help North Devon’s visitors and residents make the most of the region’s spectacular coast and countryside.

We delve a little further into the history of the iconic

Woolacombe Bay Hotel.

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The series that looks into the names that are etched on the Mortehoe War memorial. In this issue we learn of Pte Randall from Mortehoe, who served with the Canadian regiment.

Mortehoe is rich in history and there is no better place to find

out more than the Mortehoe Heritage Museum, who in 2018

have added a local tourism, surf and World War 1&2 display to their collection.

In each issue we share a selection of Woolacombe & Mortehoe

photographs that have been shown via our various social media sites.

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Victoria Tay shares why the area means so much to her and why she will be making an annual return to Woolacombe & Mortehoe 2

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Exmoor

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Aspire Project - Castle School Taunton

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Cache me if you Can

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Find my Happy

With landscapes and wildlife that have been inspiring poets, photographers and writers for years we take a look at what Exmoor has to offer A fantastic project by Castle School saw pupils spending time on Woolacombe Beach, where they cleaned litter and helped reduce the environmental impacts of plastic and waste.

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Rachel Coombs shares her love of geocaching, the addictive treasure hunt based activity and where she has enjoyed this pastime in Woolacombe & Mortehoe.

Katie Britcliffe started this project following her mum’s death, with her idea being to spread some happiness and see some good in each day. We have been sharing some of that happiness in Woolacombe and Mortehoe

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Woolacombe & Mortehoe Voice Shop

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Woolacombe Water Works 1905

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Dubs at Stowford

A selection of items that are available in our online store.

The opening of the new water system in Woolacombe & Mortehoe was so eagerly awaited, a public holiday was given to celebrate, we look at the day’s events.

A bank holiday weekend of sunshine and great VW’s. WMV were pleased to be there, showing their own Beetle and getting into the spirit of what was a great few days.

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Whats on

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News

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A round up of some of the events taking place locally over the next three months.

A selection of news and reviews from the area.

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Plastic Free Woolacombe

An organisation set up to reduce and eliminate single use plastics in our community.

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lastic is big news and has been so ever since viewers saw the BBC’s Blue Planet II and were shocked at how much plastic was in our oceans.

We were already alerted to the problem posed by plastics when supermarkets started charging for their carrier bags. But Blue Planet bought those concerns into sharp focus and told us we simply have to do more to protect the oceans, their inhabitants and our planet.

It is believed that up to eight million objects enter our seas on a daily basis, with up to two-thirds of those objects coming from litter left on beaches or washed down in our rivers. That debris chokes our seas and damages the fish, mammals and birds that either consume it or become entangled in it. The Marine Conservations Society found that rubbish washing up on UK beaches increases year on year; it was up 10% in 2017.

In February, the PFW group announced their presence with a community meeting for local businesses and residents, bringing them together to share ideas and discuss future initiatives. The group also gave a presentation at Woolacombe School, where teachers and pupils have embarked on making their school plastic free.

It is fantastic to see that not only is the business community of Woolacombe interested in using less plastic, but that they are actually making steps to do that right now. By taking these pro-active steps the beauty of the area and the integrity of the oceans can be preserved for generations to come.

For more information on Plastic Free Woolacombe and to read what local businesses are doing to reduce their single use plastic waste please follow “Plastic Free Woolacombe’ at Facebook and Instagram.

In addition a number of local groups regularly run beach cleans or nurdle Surfers Against Sewage (SAS) hunts to reduce the plastic and rubbish list many shocking stories on the beach, it would be wonderful on their website about the if you could take part. We can all do damage done by plastics when they our bit to help preserve the amazing enter the sea. In one case a whale coastlines and oceans for future had to be put down after being found generations and wildlife. We need to malnourished off the coast of Norway. do something before it is too late.

An autopsy showed 30 plastic bags and other packaging in its stomach The beach picture opposite is and intestines.

Woolacombe Beach. As an estimate: if there are 650 pieces in a single tide line section of 30cm and the beach A plastic bag is is 2.5miles long that must mean that typically used for 15 currently there are 8.7million pieces of plastic on Woolacombe beach minutes, but could alone - and that’s probably being take up to 300 years to conservative. Lets us all try and make a difference.

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People in Devon have been galvanised into taking action to curb their own use of plastics and a group has been set-up called Plastic Free Woolacombe (PFW). This group awards the title of ‘Plastic Free Champion’ to businesses that actively minimise their use of plastics.

Join the resistance with us at Plastic Free Woolacombe #plasticfreewoolacombe #plasticfreenorthdevon Plastic Free North Devon #doitlikedevon 5

Beach Life North Devon have many beautiful beaches to enjoy Woolacombe

Grunta

Barricane

Woolacombe Beach is three miles of golden sands and sand dunes. The beach often wins awards for its clean water, clean beach and available facilities. It is predominantly a family beach, but one that is also well known for its surf. It also offers a wide variety of activities for visitors including walking, surfing, running and horse riding.

To the South of Mortehoe, Grunta beach is believed to have been named after an incident that saw a cargo of pigs escape after a ship ran aground many years ago.

Situated between Woolacombe and Mortehoe, this secluded cove is an area of special scientific interest due to its geological features. The best known of these features is the Gulf Stream, which carries shells from the Caribbean to our shores, something that is not found anywhere else in the country. This, along with its exposure to the Atlantic winds and waves that bring an abundance of marine life following stormy weather, make Barricane Beach a very beautiful and interesting beach to visit.

For those wanting to try surfing for the first time, Woolacombe offers surf conditions ideally suited to beginners, with many local surf schools offering lessons and equipment.

In the summer months the beach is home to a row of iconic coloured beach-huts, which provide the perfect base for the family to enjoy along the huge sandbanks. To book one visit: www.parkinestates.co.uk

To visit Grunta beach from Mortehoe, follow the hill down past the Chichester Arms on your right, after the former chapel turn right through a gate into National Trust fields, keeping the Grunta cliffs to the left.

Reached by a steep descent along the cliff pathway, Grunta is difficult to access and is only really seen at low tide, when there are lots of rockpools to explore The Natural Trust have built into the rock structure several steps to help the public gain access to the beach, but it maybe worth noting that this is not a family-friendly beach, and access can be limited.

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If you are visiting the beach in the summer months, the Barricane CafĂŠ is famed for its homemade Sri-Lankan curries and is well worth a visit.

Hint: bring a picnic rug and a bottle of wine, to enjoy the sun setting on this beautiful beach.

Combesgate Combesgate is a semi-sheltered cove with many rock pools and gullies.

This pretty beach is located on the far side of Woolacombe, close to The Watersmeet Hotel and is a lovely beach to enjoy with the family but it is only accessible between low and mid tide. The beach offers good swimming, surf and of course plenty of opportunity to make sand castles.

Rockham Rockham beach is a rugged and wild beach, often quieter than the other beaches. It’s mix of sand, pebbles and rocks make it a great location for rock-pooling or just enjoying some time with the family. Access to the beach involves descending 100 steps, which were recently replaced by the National Trust after they were destroyed in the 2014 storms. The beach is dog friendly meaning four legged friends are allowed all year round.

Copies of the Woolacombe & Mortehoe map can be bought from the website: www.woolacombemortehoevoice.co.uk

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Discover North Devon’s secluded coves, smugglers’ haunts and exciting walking routes.

National Trust Images/John Millar National Trust Images/David Noton

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The National Trust has published a new guidebook that will help North Devon’s visitors and residents make the most of the region’s spectacular coast and countryside.

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Beautiful, easily-transported and jampacked with information, this new guidebook will inspire visitors and locals of all ages to discover more of North Devon’s varied and fascinating coast and countryside.

ritten by local author and outdoors enthusiast Tor McIntosh, the 64-page guide (RRP £6.99) covers the areas around West Exmoor, Croyde, Woolacombe and Ilfracombe, and Bideford Bay and Hartland. Packed with stunning photography, it features a wealth of inspirational and practical tips that will help adventurers of all ages plan a fun-filled trip whether you have a day, weekend or fortnight.

Find out where you might be lucky enough to see the UK’s rarest butterfly, the high brown fritillary, or a pod of dolphins. Discover secluded beaches, views and lookout points worth hiking to, and our top spots to curl up with a good book or tuck in to a picnic.

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f you fancy working up a sweat, there’s information on bike rides, running routes, and where to take to the water on a canoe or surfboard.

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longside all of this is a fascinating insight into North Devon’s history, making this guidebook an ideal take-home souvenir or gift too. Discover smugglers’ favourite haunts, a ghost story, the important role the area played during the Second World War and much more.

Packing your walking boots? There’s a plethora of recommendations for trails to suit your mood, from gentle strolls at Watersmeet to mid-length circular ambles and challenging clambers such as at Potter’s Hill, Woolacombe. And of course no guidebook to the area would be complete without information on where to re-fuel on a Devonshire cream tea!

A fold-out spotter’s guide will help you identify the flora and fauna in each area, while information on National Trust-run campsites, bothies and holiday cottages will help you plan an extended trip whatever your budget.

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The Woolacom

he Woolacombe Bay Hotel was constructed in 1887, and was initially called the “Shakespeare Hotel”, before it was renamed the Woolacombe Bay. Photographs of the Hotel under construction show, at the time, it was surrounded by empty fields for some distance, highlighting just how small Woolacombe was before the late 1800’s and how speculative these developments were.

In 1894 one guest of the hotel describes it as a “handsome commodious hotel, run on firstclass lines, with water certified by Dr. Blyth, the famous Devonshire analyst, now residing in London; all the latest sanitary arrangements, designed by Barlow, of London, and carried out by Hubber, of Exeter ; and appointments making it a fit home for a prince.”

Early pictures show that many parts of the existing building have retained their original features.

The hotel has enjoyed a long and colourful history, and much of its traditional charm still remains today. In 1895, Rosalie Chichester of Arlington Court granted tenancy of The Woolacombe Bay Hotel to Arnold Perret, who bought the tenancy in 1899.

The Woolacombe Bay Hotel was sold to Cheltenham Brewery in 1932, and over the following nine years an extensive programme of renovation transformed the building.

The original core of the building is of four storeys, with wings of three storeys. Constructed in a Tudor Revival style, the upper sections have mock timber framing while the lower portions are of exposed red brick. Balconies and bays, alongside a cupola and, on the older portions, chimney stacks add to the character of the building.

This work resulted in the Hotel appearing much as it does today and added several notable features – including the ballroom, which showcased the first sprung floor in the West Country. The hotel also retains large grounds facing towards the beach, with its own swimming pool and tennis courts, as well as a private path leading down towards the beach near the old Lifeboat House. In 2013 the swimming pool was renovated creating the Bay Lido

John Phillips was a young boy living behind the hotel in the 1930’s. He remembers the waiters in their long tailed morning suits and the chefs in their hats of varying heights according to their status! The Hotel had a Boiler House which housed four huge boilers – one was for central heating, two for the hot water and the other provided steam to the kitchen. Supervised by three men, they were not always attentive and consequently guests often went without hot water and the kitchen steam!

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he gardens of the hotel were completely enclosed and supplied a lot of produce and flowers for the hotel, it was also where the young local boys ended up playing football, much to the annoyance of the gardener, Mr Tom Sollis!

In 1935 Miss Crowhurst was the new manager of the hotel and by 1939 the hotel had been enlarged to accommodate up to 180 residents, reflecting the increased number of tourists wishing to stay in Woolacombe in the heyday of British seaside resorts. It was at this time that war was announced and the British army commandeered the hotel. It became home to the 4th County of London Yeomanry, who were based in Woolacombe to protect from invasion.

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When the London Yeomanry arrived at the hotel John remembers three tanks rumbling past their house in Rosalie Terrace en route to Cowlers garage, which was located just behind the hotel.

In 1943 the British Army left Woolacombe to make way for the American Army where they set up their Assault Training Centre Headquarters.

Woolacombe Beach was used for amphibious infantry landing practice involving hundreds of small boats, the long flat beach and the surrounding landscape were thought to sufficiently resemble Normandy as to make this realistic training environment.

The training for the Normandy landings on D-Day saw Woolacombe taken over by the Americans with huge camps, and those who were in the area at the time will remember how much better off the Americans were, as the British had been short of the good things in life for some time.

Some Americans and locals are still in touch today and a stone memorial was erected on Greensward in Woolacombe in 1992 to commemorate those who were here during the war. The soldiers remained in residence until the end of the war in May 1945 and the Woolacombe Bay Hotel was bought by Mr Bertie Johnson.

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he hotel was bought by the Lancaster family in 1978 and ran successfully by Roy and Rosemary until the year 2000, when their daughter Sally returned and took over the reins. Over the last 18 years Sally has taken the hotel to a new dimension, combining old world grandeur with new cutting edge design. In 2010 the hotel was awarded four stars by the AA which is reflected by its outstanding bedrooms, bathrooms, spa, food, facilities and of course the most personal service in the area!

mbe Bay Hotel

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n 2017 the hotel was Winner of ‘Best Hotel’ at the North Devon Food, Drink & Tourism Awards 2017 offering a timelessly elegant yet friendly and relaxed place to stay.

If you want more infomration abut the hotel or to make a booking please visit their website” www.woolacombe-bay-hotel.co.uk

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The People Behind the Names Private Randall 1879-1916 Thomas Randal was born on the 5th February 1879 to Richard and Jane Randall (nee Rose). Thomas was one of seven children, when he was born the family were living at Lily Cottages which can be found opposite the Chichester Arms, in Mortehoe.

The family later moved to Sunnycliffe which they ran as a boarding house.

Richard, died in 1908, following a long illness, he had been well known and was highly respected in the area and the North Devon Journal described him as ‘being a typical Old Salt, he was a great favourite of the juvenile portion of the large number of visitors who, year by year, come here for relaxation or in search of health.

Thomas’s father, Richard Randall was born at Chickerell, near Weymouth in 1839 and joined the Royal Navy from the merchant service in January 1860.

He saw service on many of the old ships of war, notably the ‘Colossus’ St. George and Trafalgar. He was then transferred to the coastguard service, and was stationed at Westward Ho for eight and a half years before moving to Mortehoe for nine years, Thomas was awarded the good conduct medal in 1875, retiring in 1887. For many years he was the caretaker of the lifeboat at Woolacombe

Married to Laura, Thomas was working a as cook. He moved to Canada when war broke, and he enlisted with the Canadian over-seas expeditionary force in May 1915. His papers at the time of his enlistment show him as being 5ft, 6 inches tall, with a dark complexion, brown eyes and dark hair. He was 36 years old when he enlisted, along with his brother.

Private Thomas Randall (433207) had been stationed in France for some months, he saw a great deal of fighting with his Battalion, before he was killed in action on the 29th May 1916. His death was recorded in the local press, describing Thomas as a hero, an amiable disposition and much liked by his friends and comrades, worthy son of worthy Parents. His death is much regretted.

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Mortehoe Heritage Museum

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ortehoe Museum is located in the heart of the village. Established as the Mortehoe Heritage Trust with its main objective ‘To advance the education of the public in the history of Mortehoe and surrounding district, in particular by the management of The Mortehoe Heritage Centre’.

Mortehoe Museum is run by local people and through it’s exhibits it provides information on the life, heritage, culture and maritime history of the area. The upstairs of the museum not only has a stunning view across towards the Church, but also has a large collection of local history displays, artefacts and photographs. Visitors can learn more about local shipwrecks, farming and the growth of the tourism industry locally. On the ground floor, the museum has it’s own shop selling local interest books, locally made crafts and artwork. In the summer, visitors can enjoy the sunshine sitting outside the museum, with its childrens play area and picnic tables.

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2018 OPENING TIMES 23th March – 30th June & September/October: 11.00 a.m. – 3.00 p.m.

(CLOSED MONDAYS, TUESDAYS and SATURDAYS) July & August: 10.00 a.m. – 4.00 p.m.

(CLOSED MONDAYS and SATURDAYS)

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he North Devon coast is known for its history associated with Smugglers and Shipwrecks. The Bristol channel was a busy gateway for ships and vessels to pass, and the North Devon coastline was nicknamed the ‘The Sailor’s Grave’ owing to the number of tragedy’s that occurred along it. It is believed that many of the ships that ran into trouble close to Mortehoe, did so, at Morte Point. The number of shipwrecks in the area encouraged the practice of ‘Wrecking’, and in particular Mortehoe was once well known for this.

It is reported that the ‘shipwreckers of Mortehoe’ would use lanterns tied to horses along the coast line to lure ships into the rocks, where the ships would get into trouble, as their vessels sank, the crew would endeavour to make safety on land, it is here that the wreckers would kill them, either by clubbing them or drowning them. Once a ship had been wrecked, the villagers could claim the ships cargo for their own. Mortehoe museum is a great place to visit to learn more about the shipwrecks of the area, as you enter the museum they have a large map detailing many of the shipwrecks that happened along the coastline.

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ne of the 2018 displays in the museum highlights the growth of tourism in Woolacombe & Mortehoe. A delightful selection of local memorabilia including old tourist information brochures and postcards showing how people for generations have enjoyed visiting this North Devon area. The development of road and rail links meant more and more people would come to Woolacombe & Mortehoe for their holiday’s. Woolacombe itself offered miles of beautiful beach which were often crowded with people enjoying the sea, and relazing in the iconic beach huts of the time, as they still are today.

The museum are pleased to have on display this year a collection of WW1 and WW2 medals and items, which tell the story of a local hero who served his country. Mortehoe and Woolacombe have strong history with the second world war, as much of the area was used as a training based for the D Day landings.

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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

Chris East

Andy Bystram

Bridget Weaver Hopwood

David Thornton

Emma Thornton 16

Paul Perry

Alex McCartan 17

My Woolacombe, My Mortehoe

By Victoria Tay C

I was sorry to leave Woolacombe at the end of my stay, so I’ve decided that a trip out there needs to be annual

hasing a kite across Woolacombe Beach is a childhood memory that is as clear as day to me. I had a Garfield kite, and my dad let go of the string. The wind caught it and swept it across the beach, Dad and I running like crazy to try and catch it. Eventually it was stopped by the dunes and I had my kite back. It seemed like we’d been running for miles trying to catch the thing, and what struck me at the time was how big the beach was.

I was about nine years old when the Kite Incident happened. I was in Woolacombe with my parents, and although I don’t remember much else about the holiday in detail, I’ll always remember the beach and the kite. A vast expanse of sand like Woolacombe beach isn’t something that can easily be forgotten.

I hadn’t been to North Devon at all since that family holiday, but when I was looking for somewhere to get away from it all last year, Woolacombe was the first place that popped into my head. I’d been quite ill during the previous few months, and was looking for somewhere quiet to go where I could do some walking, eat good food and get some fresh air. Woolacombe fit the bill – I was going to stay at the Woolacombe Bay, indulge in some good food and walk on the beach every day. It was almost exactly what the doctor ordered.

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’m from Surrey, which is just south of London, and you’re never truly out in the middle of nowhere here.

We have the Surrey Hills (including Box Hill of Olympic cycling fame) but even they aren’t really the middle of nowhere. There’s always the distant whoosh of the motorway or the rumble of aircraft passing overhead on their way to Heathrow or Gatwick. Woolacombe is so far removed from this bustly place, and I needed the change, even if it was only for a week.

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Some of my friends were sceptical that I could survive a week in ‘the wilderness’, as they called it. ‘You’ll never make it,’ they said, ‘there’s no Starbucks.’ No, there isn’t a Starbucks, but Devon does have WiFi. And besides, I wouldn’t be working during my little getaway. Freelancers and bloggers have a bad habit of working wherever we are, but I deliberately didn’t pack my laptop. I wanted to disconnect as much as I could while I was in Woolacombe.

As I was packing up the car, I found myself wondering if Woolacombe would be like I remembered from my childhood. The drive to get there certainly seemed less of a trial than when I was nine – perhaps that’s because I was driving there myself in my nice big air-conditioned car, and not wedged between suitcases in the back of my Mum’s ageing Metro. It was a long drive, that I remembered, but a couple of stops broke up the monotony and I knew I had a nice hotel room and some good food waiting for me at the end of the journey.

The Woolacombe Bay did not disappoint – the bed was super-soft, which after five hours in the car was very welcome, and after an excellent dinner in Doyle’s, I was lucky enough to catch the sunset behind Lundy Island. My photography skills did not do the sunset justice, so I gave up trying to capture it and decided to just enjoy it. I spent my week in Woolacombe exploring without using the car, taking a walk up to Mortehoe on my first full day there. I had never realised how steep The Esplanade is – I felt like I had blood in my mouth as I crested the hill and entered Mortehoe properly. That hill is a killer, but it was worth the walk.

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instantly fell in love with Mortehoe church and the museum, in which I spent a long time chatting to one of the staff about anything and everything.

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walked out to Bull Point Lighthouse, which is the perfect spot to have some sandwiches and a sit down.

I bought some incredibly delicious fudge in the post office and a couple of other gifts. I headed back down to Woolacombe, clutching a portion of fish and chips from the takeaway to eat as I walked. It’s very much easier to walk down the Esplanade than up it! I had spent almost a whole day in and around Mortehoe, so I was very tired when I got back to the hotel. I had a camera full of pictures and a pair of sore legs as a reminder of what a good day I had had in such a lovely place.

The remainder of the week was spent exploring the beach. Rockpooling was huge fun, even though all I found was a very small crab who seemed to be asleep, so I left him alone. I built a sandcastle, which made me feel like I was nine again. I spent some time one early morning sitting quietly on one of the benches up above the beach, watching the surfers – that was a good time to think, contemplate and create. I find landscapes like Woolacombe and the surrounding area extremely inspiring and idea-generating. My job is a creative one, and last year’s trip resulted in a design concept for an accessories line that hopefully will become more than sketches one day.

I was sorry to leave Woolacombe at the end of my stay, so I’ve decided that a trip out there needs to be an annual thing. I’m returning in April this year, and I am so excited for my holiday. I can’t wait to walk on the beach again and feel the wind on my face. I can’t wait to feel the burn of my leg muscles as I hike up the Esplanade to Mortehoe, knowing that there’s fish, chips and a good cup of tea waiting at the top for me. And most of all, I can’t wait to be woken up by the seagulls and the distant crash of the sea. Woolacombe is a world away from Surrey, and it’s my ultimate escape.

EXMOOR

Recognized as one of the UK’s finest landscapes

Did you know that Exmoor is the first European Dark Skies

Exmoor covers a unique landscape of moorland, woodland, valleys and farmland, which has been shaped by people and nature over thousands of years.

Designated as a National Park in 1954, Exmoor is a breath taking place to explore, covering parts of both North Devon and Somerset it offers visitors stunning landscapes and wildlife to enjoy.

People come from all over the world to visit this diverse place and with plenty of activities to enjoy there is something for everyone

WILDLIFE Exmoor has a diverse variety of habitats providing homes for many species. Perhaps the best known wildlife on Exmoor are the Red Deer and the Exmoor Ponies

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Red Deer have called Exmoor home for many centuries, dating back to pre-historic times when they were considered protected which allowed their numbers to grow. It is believed that there are about three thousand deer on Exmoor, which it has the largest concentration in England.

The Exmoor ponies are for many people a highlight of visiting Exmoor.

The ponies are part managed herds the graze freely on the rough pasture of Exmoor. The ponies are rounded up once a year to be marked and checked over.

You can also enjoy a guided hawk walks where you get up close to some of these amazing birds.

LANDSCAPE Exmoor is the moor on which the River Exe rises, it is a plateau which falls away towards the Bristol Channel. Exmoor covers 692 square kilometres.

Exmoor National Park is recognised as one of the finest landscapes in the UK. Its deep valleys, high cliffs, wide open moorlands and clear streams provide inspiration and enjoyment to both locals and visitors.

Exmoor is also an amazing place to marvel at the wonders of the night sky and one of the few places in England where low levels of light pollution allow us to experience night skies that have sadly disappeared from much of the country.

The landscape has inspired poets, writers and artists for hundreds of yeard and continues to inspire people today. With a different world class view around every corner there is something for everyone.

OUTDOOR PURSUITS From a gentle walk with family and friends to something more adrenaline fuelled, Exmoor has it all on offer.

On land you can enjoy mountain biking, rock climbing. For those wishing to enjoy the rivers and sea you can go white water rafting, kayaking With over 1000km of footpaths and bridleways, Exmoor is known for the abundance of walking routes, from a short stroll to something more experienced. The Exmoor website provides a selection of routes and information to aid anybody planning to go to Exmoor for a walk. Lynton and Lynmouth which are in the North Devon part of Exmoor are a perfect example of some of the beautiful scenery on offer to those wishing to visit Exmoor.

The Exmoor App further provides visitors we a new way to discover the park, it allows users to explore the area, follow walking routes, and even has ‘hotspots’ where you can listen to expert audio commentary.

If you are looking at staying in Exmoor, there are a large selection and variety of accommodation providers to choose from, simply enjoy the openness and ease of camping through to luxury hotels, the Exmoor website has a comprehensive list of accommodation providors, and local pubs and restaurants for those staying in the area …. Or day visitors just wishing to enjoy a nice bite to eat or a traditional Devon Cream Tea (after all you have plenty of places to walk it off afterwards!)

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ASPIRE PROJECT The Aspire project forms part of our year 9 Palm+ curriculum.

Palm+ is the work students do with their tutors each day and it encompasses lots of important things that might not otherwise feature in the curriculum, including life skills, health and well-being.

Aspire Aims: To Reflect on skills and qualities for life beyond school.

To Build Participation, Teamworking and Community Engagement.

Develop confidence and independence, enhancing students’ CVs. One part of the Aspire project is the “Group Challenge”, the challenge runs for 6 school weeks and during this time students are asked to work with others on an issue they feel strongly about to “Make a difference”

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s part of a school project, each form where asked to produce a project that was about giving something back and making an impact. Ideas were talked about and one student decided that it was important to make awareness of how rubbish was ruining our beaches and in particular plastic. As form tutor I feel strong about this problem and felt that it was important to act.

When discussing where to collect litter, we discussed local beaches that we could use, but felt that we wanted to choose a beach that students have enjoyed spending time there in the past and in particular on holidays so Woolacombe was a beach that students have experienced good times.

Woolacombe is beautiful beach and the form want to keep it that way.

We choose the dates and travelled down by minibus, it was a shame that we choose such a cold, blustery and snowy day, but this didn’t dampen the spirits of the team, they set to their purpose and spent 2 hours collecting rubbish and small particles of plastic that were covered all over the beach.

From a distance it looks very clean, but its the small pieces that are damaging to the whole coastal system and there was plenty to collect.

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On Saturday 12th March eleven students from The Castle School in Taunton visited Woolacombe for the day in order to pick-up litter on the beach. We left school in the schools minibus and arrived at 10:30am were we went straight to the beach ready to pick litter.

We were pleased that there was not lots of rubbish evident on the beach, but we soon started filling up our black bags and were amazed by some of the items we collected with shoes and pint glasses being some of the largest items.

We mostly picked up small bits of plastic, the problem with plastic is it gets broken down into tiny small pieces and animals mistake this for food, they consume the food and as a result, plastic now is beginning to become evident in our food chain.

The small pieces of plastic also effect life as they cause problems to breathing and even their ability to move.

Did we make a difference to the world for our trip? The answer is probably NO, but this problem is just as much to do with education and awareness; the more people that are aware of the problem,will hopefully result in cleaner and safer beaches for everyone.

t

he amount of rubbish we picked up wouldn’t have made a huge amount of difference, but realised that its about awareness and education and that its this that will make a difference�

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Geocaching with Rachel Coombs AKA one half of RoscoeCoombs

n a C u o Y f I e M e h c g a n i C h c a c o e G

It was 2016 when my boyfriend and I first discovered Geocaching and now we’re hooked and regularly out for at least six hours on the weekend.

I

f someone asked me three years ago to go on a six hour walk for fun I would have thought that they were mad and they would have had to drag me along. Fast forward to early 2016 when my boyfriend and I first discovered Geocaching and now we’re hooked and regularly out for at least six hours on the weekend.

So what’s Geocaching I hear you say? Some people describe it as one of the biggest secret hobbies in the world, with thousands of Geocachers living secretly amongst us. Geocaching is a bit like a treasure hunt where you have online clues and co-ordinates to find (mainly) physical items, known as ‘caches’ which are often very sneakily hidden in plain sight. These caches can range from the size of a fingernail up to very large boxes (some are huge in the USA!).

Once you find one of these caches, there will be a piece of paper, known as a ‘log’ for you to date and sign with your Geocaching name. Some of the larger caches also have room for you to add ‘swappables’ or ‘trackables’. A swappable is where you leave a small object in exchange for one in the cache. These can range from small toys to beautiful handcrafted objects that many Geocachers spend a lot of time making.

sa ng i oor i h c td ca Geo orld, ou t is tha -w real enture ll the adv ening a d the n p hap all arou , e d l . tim wor

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A trackable is an object, often a key ring, with a special code attached. Here you can set your trackable missions so that when other Geocachers find it they can help it on its way by moving it to another cache. Our first trackable, Sid the sloth was released into a cache in Ireland in July 2016. He has now travelled nearly 13,000 miles over the USA and is currently in a Travel Bug Hotel in Nebraska.

There are three main rules of Geocaching. The first being you must sign the log, second that you must replace the cache exactly as you found it and third, you must do all of this without being seen. Now all you need is a handheld GPS unit or a smartphone and a pen and you’re on your way! As most people already own a smartphone, this is a relatively cheap hobby to get into and from our experience both adults and children thoroughly enjoy it.

Geocaching has taken us to some fantastic places, including two trips to North Devon. We first visited Ilfracome and the surrounding area in April 2017. We fell in love with the beautiful coastal walks and scenery around Mortehoe, Lee and Ilfracombe and walked many miles over a long weekend. For amateur walkers who are not used to the hills of North Devon we took this as a major achievement. We also found over 130 caches in the same time!

There is a notorious Geocacher in the area that has spent many hours inventing some fabulous caches which have been enjoyed by hundreds of Geocachers both young and old. We returned to the area again in March of this year and once again walked the breath taking circular route from Mortehoe along the coast to Morte Point then to Bull Point and back inland and finding 33 caches along the way.

We’d love to return to the area again next year and do the loop around Combe Martin and take in the Hangman Hills although we’ve been told we need to practice a bit before we tackle those hills!

If you’d like to find out more about Geocaching, visit www.geocaching.com or join one of the many groups on Facebook for Geocachers. And remember shhhh…..

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Find My Happy Be crazy.

Be stupid.

Be silly.

Be weird.

Be whatever.

Because life is too short to be anything but happy.

The tags read the words; “This keyring is a gift, a little pocket of happiness.

Keep, re-hide or pass it on, it’s up to you. Please do spread more happiness by sharing where this was found or stories of giving/ receiving, reasons for keeping it and any plans for its next destination”

Find My Happy is a project developed by Katie from her heart and follows the concept of ‘pockets of happiness’. Created in 2016 and inspired by her Mum, it was the way in which she coped when she lost her mum to Motor Neurone Disease.

They would often phone or message each other with “having a happy pocket?” meaning they were enjoying the moment or had seen something good in the day.

Katie says, “It also became the coping strategy we used throughout some difficult days of her illness by seeing “pockets of happiness” this is basically seeing a good thing in each day no matter how small or insignificant to anyone else! It is a powerful way to cope with grief, depression, anxiety...it fixes none of them but certainly helps.

So what exactly is Find My Happy? Find My Happy is a little keyring with the word “happy” inscribed in it. It then has a tag attached and these are left in random places for people to find, sometimes referred to as a “Random Act of Kindness”, they can then track the journey and the pockets of happiness they create for someone else. The journey it makes can be seen every time it gets logged on the website using the unique number on the tag.

1

Take a photo of where you leave the happy keyring, make sure you note the number on the keyring tag as you’ll need it to track it.

2

Go to findmyhappy.org and upload the photo and enter the unique number leaving as much information as you wish as to the location of the keyring

Each tag has a unique number on it that can be tracked.

The concept is a “happy” keyring and tag is left for someone to find.

When found they can be kept, re-hidden or given, a pocket of happiness that can be spread far and wide.

4925 Clearing the table when I saw the tag. I was very stressed that day, this small key ring gave me a big smile and made me feel comforted and supported.

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4948 Left on a seat with a view and then found on a bench at Woolacombe on a misty hot spring day, rehidden close by my daughter.

“In everyday, no matter how hard, there is always a pocket of happiness to be found” Annie Oxby

3

Track if/when it gets found and where it goes next using the same number you noted in step 1 from the keyring.

3732 Left at the Ship Aground Mortehoe on a very misty night.

In addition to these packs there is also a Find My Happy for Kids which is a “make your own” pack that allows kids to put their own message on the back of the tag or draw a picture.

They make fabulous wedding favours and a great conversation starter at the wedding breakfast around the table. These are available for personalisation

For more information or to buy some tags, please visit: www.findmyhappy.org 27

Woolacombe & Mortehoe Voice Shop www.woolacombemortehoevoice.co.uk

Woolacombe & Mortehoe Heart £10 plus £3.50P&P

Woolacombe & Mortehoe Coloured Circle £10 plus £3.50P&P

Woolacombe & Mortehoe Hanging Heart £4.00 plus £1.00P&P

Mortehoe Keyring £3.00 plus £1.00P&P

Woolacombe & Mortehoe Sunny Circle £10 plus £3.50P&P

Woolacombe VW Wooden Coaster £3.50 plus £1.50P&P

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Woolacombe & Mortehoe Camper Van £10 plus £3.50P&P

Woolacombe & Mortehoe VW Beetle £10 plus £3.50P&P

Woolacombe Keyring Heart £3.00 plus £1.00P&P

Woolacombe & Mortehoe Car Sticker £3.00 plus £0.80P&P

Woolacombe & Mortehoe Christmas Decorations £3.50 plus £1.50P&P

North Devon Heart £10 plus £3.50P&P

M

Woolacombe Water Works 1905

ortehoe and Woolacombe, two of the most popular watering places in the North Devon coast, were given over to a public holiday, the occasion being the inauguration of the splendid new supply of water which, thanks to the public spirited action of the Ilfracombe Urban Council, is now conveyed from the heather clad hills of Exmoor direct to the pretty little watering places on the coast. For a long time a good water supply has been the one thing lacking at Woolacombe. This want has been supplied, and now there is little doubt that a new era of prosperity will be opened up.

The rapidity with which the work has been carried out is exceedingly creditable to all concerned. The pipes traverse about five miles, but, nevertheless, the work has been accomplished in about eight weeks, thus rendering the supply available for a large portion of the summer season.

The contract for the erection of filter beds and a service tank to hold 100,000 gallons on the eastern side of Mullacott Cross has been given to Mr. Pickett, of Ilfracombe. Nine-inch pipes will connect with the service tank and filter beds. With the exception of excavations from Mortehoe to Woolacombe the whole of the work has been carried out by the Ilfracombe Council’s workmen under the supervision of the Engineer (Mr. O. M. Prouse).

Tuesday’s proceedings commenced at 1.45pm when all those interested in the scheme assembled at the Woolacombe Bay Hotel and marched in procession, headed by the Volunteer Band, to a spot above the famous Barricane shell beach, where the was turned into the pipes

by Mr. G. C. Davies, J. P, C.C (Chairman of Barnstaple Rural District Council).

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There was a large gathering around the improvised platform, which in common with the whole of the houses in the vicinity was gaily bedecked with banners and streamers. Those present included Mr. E. J. Davies, who with Mr. H. Beer, arranged the day’s programme.

Mr. Beer in asking Mr. Davie to turn on the water, said this was indeed a red letter day in their history. Not long ago they were under a cloud, thinking their new supply would not be available at all during the present season; but thanks to the energy and faithful service of all engaged in the works, the pipes had been laid, the water secured, and, they hoped, a new period of success and prosperity begun for the twin Mr. G. C. Davie, after congratulating Morte Hoe and Woolacombe in having such a splendid supply, turned on the water amidst cheers. Mr. Prouse, the engineer, filled a silver goblet, with the water, and in proposing the health of the twin villages predicted for them a splendid future of health and prosperity.

The Vicar as one who had lived many years amongst them, felt very grateful to see what Mr. Davie had done for them that day. They were surrounded with some of the loveliest of Devonshire scenery, their shores were washed by the broad Atlantic, and refreshed by its life-giving breezes, and now, blessed with an irreproachable water supply, surely Woolacombe was an ideal holiday resort.

Luncheon was partaken of at the Mortehoe Hotel, several complimentary toasts being proposed. Subsequently all the children in the parish were entertained at tea in the Schoolroom, whilst the day terminated with a public dance.

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dubs at stowford It was great to see everyone enjoying the glorious weather at the weekend as WMV headed to Stowford Meadow Farm campsite for their Dubs @Stowford event.

With many people camping, the show had a fantastic atmosphere, and a good collection of VW enthusiasts all in one place. From the campsite to the ‘show and shine’ area there were plenty of campervans to be seen and one or two beetles (ours being one of them ☺) The show lasted 3 days over the bank holiday weekend, with plenty on offer for those attending.

The trade show had a good mix of stands from the beautiful dresses made by Frocksafrilly, the pretty handmade glass from Ocean Glass Studio and Made with love by Mazz’s home decoation.

For those wanting to buy something for their VW, a collection of spare parts and accessories were available.

Stowford Farm meadow is a family friendly touring caravan site in North Devon, Stowford Farm Meadows is a superb rural camping and caravan site from which to explore the best of North Devon.

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Whats On

13 June

Grand Victorian & Steampunk Festival Visit Ilfracombe’s Victorian Celebration from 13th to 17th June 2018.

Many townspeople don Victorian costume for the week, while a full programme of activities is hosted from parades to concerts and shows.

You are welcome to dress as a Victorian as simply or elaborately as you choose - to participate in our events or to sit back and enjoy the spectacle as the town is transported back to yesteryear. www.ilfracombevictoriancelebration.co.uk

24 June

Woolacombe Marathon & Half Marathon The North Devon AONB Marathon and Half Marathon has established itself as one of the most challenging and visually stunning events in the UK.

14 June Oceanfest

www.northdevonhospice.org

It’s big enough to create a great party atmosphere, yet small enough to not be overwhelming.

6 July

Oceanfest blends a potentially intoxicating, eclectic and laid-back mix of quality music, exhilarating surf, action packed sports, locally sourced food and family‑friendly fun.

The annual beach run to Black Rock (and back). For some its serious, for others its fun, for Woolacombe Surf Life Saving Club its a fundraiser!

www.goldcoastoceanfest.co.uk

www.redbarnwoolacombe.co.uk

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Woolacombe Black Rock run

7 July

North Devon Street Food Awards, Ilfracombe From midday on Saturday. Street Food Vendors from around the region competed for cash prizes and individually hand crafted trophies.

All sorts of cuisines, BBQ, Thai, Mexican, seafood, Caribbean, French pot and much more. As this event is part of All Things Morris weekend you can browse and sample the street food and watch Morris Dancing all afternoon. www.visitilfracombe.co.uk

11 August

South West Birdman, Ilfracombe The South West Birdman Competition sees crazy aviators and would-be pilots hurl themselves off Ilfracombe Pier into the icy waters below - all hoping to “fly” the furthest and be crowned champion of the event. www.visitilfracombe.co.uk

17 - 19 August Rosemoor Flower Show

Rosemoor looks forward to hosting its second Flower Show. The show highlights the very best the South West has to offer in nurseries, atmosphere and local fare, all set against the stunning backdrop of the garden. www.rhs.org.uk

10-12 August 27 August Mortehoe Scarecrow Festival

Collect your Scarecrow Trail Map from Mortehoe Museum ... match the scarecrows located throughout the pretty village of Mortehoe to the clues on the trail map ... once you have found them all, you will be entered in to a prize drawer! Great fun for all the family! www.woolacombetourism.co.uk

Mini Madness, Ilfracombe

The Mini Grand Tour takes in some fantastic countryside and has some breathtaking stopping points. The final resting place is Ilfracombe and what a sight to behold, not to be missed.

31 August

Outdoor theatre - Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland - Arlington Take a trip down the rabbit hole this summer as Chapterhouse Theatre Company present this brand new production of Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland at Arlington Court www.nationaltrust.org

www.visitilfracombe.co.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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Local NEWS

A very English Scandal In May the first episode of “A very English Scandal” aired on BBC, the three part BBC drama follows the career of MP Jeremy Thorpe who served as a North Devon MP from 1959-1979 before his downfall for conspiring to commit murder.

The lead actor in the series is none other than Hugh Grant with Ben Wilshaw playing Norman Scott.

The scenes depicting a Calafornian style beach hut were filmed at nearby Saunton Sands, further scenes were shot at Chittlehampton.

DID YOU KNOW? The Woolacombe beach huts were all given female names when Ray Parkin took over from his father in 1995 as he thought it a more personal touch.

Number one was named after Lady Knight a leading supporter of Woolacombe and Mortehoe when she was both a district councillor and parish councillor.

Sonia was named after his sister and when more were added Rita was named after Rita Moon who was the bookkeeper at Parkin Estate. We have recently added Poppy, after Poppy the Dog.

ANCHORS AWEIGH Anchors Aweigh is a shanty group from North Devon. They sing both traditional shanties (18th and 19th century sailing work songs) and other songs of the sea. They are a loose formation of old friends and acquaintances from the Mortehoe and Woolacombe area of North Devon and play regulary locally.

They regularly raise funds for ‘local’ charities (Devon Air Ambulance, RNLI, North Devon Hospital Chemotherapy Unit) and up to the start of 2018 have contributed over £12,000 to these worthy causes.

Coast thday SW

ir

Happy B

Path

www.anchorsaweighdevon.com

On the 20th May the South West Coast Path celebrated its 40th Birthday.

They have launched their #40for40 campaign to raise £40,00 for work that is needed along the path. They need to replace 1,000 wooden steps this summer; this is the number of step that are required by local rangers to ensure that their local stretch of the Coast Path is well maintained.

Replacing these steps enables better access and reduces erosion in some of the most protected landscape in the UK. It costs £25 to replace each step so help the SWCP raise money by donating online and spreading the word of their worthwhile campaign. www.southwestcoastpath.org.uk

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Perfect Weather for Photography

A Tale of Two Potters Beatrix and Harry 10th-12th August 2018 After the success of last years Mortehoe Scarecrow festival it will be returning for an extended three days in August. The theme for this year is “A Tale of Two Potters - Beatrix and Harry”. Awards will be given for the top three scarecrow makers (as voted by participants of the trail), 3 winners who have completed the trail (drawn at random) as well as a raflle.

February and March saw heavy snow falls in North Devon, as the Spring bulbs started to appear so did the snow. Woolacombe beach looked stunning and an unusual sight covered in a three mile long white blanket.

As the first May bank holiday started and the country was enjoying record temperatures and blue skies, Woolacombe became lost in a haze of sea mist. For those who know the area well, know it comes as quickly as it disappears, but it made for some great photography as it enveloped over the beach.

If you would like to share your photos please send them to woolaocmbemortehoevoice@ gmail.com

Lucy Campbell retains surfing title Watergate Bay in Cornwall saw170+ entries across 19 divisions, from shortboard to longboard competitors descend over the Bank Holiday weekend.

Lucy Campbell fought off her competitors to retain her title.

Picking up the Women’s Open trophy for the second year running, she said: “It’s a real thrill to win this title again.

Woolacombe & Mortehoe Photography Group If you follow the Woolacombe and Mortehoe Voice page, you may have noticed I have added a photography group, I get many people sharing their photos of the area and thought it maybe a nice way to let people upload their Woolacombe & Mortehoe photos for people to see, the group can be found via the Facebook site.

All are welcome to join @woolacombemortehoevoice 35

Contact Us Contributio

ns

Events

Do you love W oolacombe & Mortehoe?

Do you have a story or memo ry you would like to share a bout the area?

If you would li ke to write for our magazine, or a blog for ou r website we re ally would love to hear fro m you.

like to at you would th t n e v e n a e ch.

If you hav ase get in tou publicise, ple of events l feature a list il w e in z a g a Each m months. for the next 3 etails to: Please send d il.com evoice@gma o h te r o m e b woolacom

We are happy to consider any id eas as long as its relating to Woolacombe o r Mortehoe, it can be past or present or futu re.

Please send det ails to: woolacombem ortehoevoice@ gmail.com

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We love to hear from you, if you want to get in touch, you can in all of the following ways:

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The website is constantly ev olving with b and features b logs eing added to re gularly so kee going back an p d read the late st articles.

Please get in touch if you w ould like to contribute to the site in any way, we wou love to hear fr ld om you!

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If you have a photo of Woolacombe or Mortehoe you would like to share with us, please use #woolacombemortehoevoice all photos on instagram automatically get displayed on

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If you would like to write a blog for our website please get in touch, we would love to consider any article or blog about the area.

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Any ideas, requests or feedback on any of our features please drop us an email.

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