Fetes, School Celebrations and a Bishop for Northmoor Flower Festival Weekend

Lorraine Aagaard writes: "We are lucky enough to be holding a Flower Festival here at St Mary's over the weekend of 28th/29th/30th June. It is also a significant celebration in the School year as well, which makes the whole event more meaningful. We shall be holding the Church Fete on the Saturday afternoon starting at 2.15 p.m., and there will be all the usual Stalls, Teas, Games etc in the School Playground and Classrooms. The School will be Country Dancing, singing and having their work and Historical Memorobilia on display. The Gospel Choir from Hatherleigh will be singing and the Exbourne Choir will be running the Human Juke Box. The children will be manning some Games stalls. This is a real chance to get the Village together again as we did for the Jubilee Afternoon, and also bring in others from the surrounding area, so it would be good to make it a really successful  and happy event.

"I would be grateful if anyone could let me know what stall they would be willing to run, man and supply goods for, and who they might like to have to help them. The Stalls will be, Cakes, Books, Quality Bric a Brac, Fancy Goods, Bottle, Tombola, Bat the Rat, the main Draw, a Planter Draw and a Roast Dinner Draw, and any others that anyone would like to think of. The Methodist Chapel will be running the Plant Stall for their funds. If you are not able to help or support on the day, then I will gladly accept donations that I can pass on to those concerned.

"I would also be pleased if you could help Steward the Church during the Flower Fesitival itself. This would involve being in the Churchfor an hour or two, welcoming visitors, providing a cup of Tea/Coffee and Cake from the Belfry, putting on C.D's, so there is light music playing and generally just keeping an eye on things. The Church will be open each of the 3 days from 10 a.m. - 5 p.m.   (Re the Tea, we were thinking of nice Sandwiches, lots of Cupcakes, Fruit Cake and most of all Scones and Cream and Jam, so if that's what you were thinking of doing that's the idea at present.) I really look forward to your support and replies,"

Contact Lorraine at lorraineaagaard@btinternet.com

Two Thank You's

HEDGHOGS: £56.40 was raised by selling hedgehog cup cakes for North Devon Hedgehog Rescue (NDHR).  Many thanks indeed to Lucy at the Burrow for her support and the space in the shop to display.  And thank you to everyone who bought a cake and supported Hedgehog Rescue. Anni Nichols from NDHR said “It is absolutely fantastic, I am so very grateful to you for going to all that trouble for us, 'A MASSIVE THANK YOU”

CANCER RESEARCH: On behalf of Cancer Research UK, Margaret and Dave Weeks would like to thank the parishioners of Exbourne for their generosity for the annual house to house collection. £605.98 was raised for this very worthy cause.

Hedgehogs in Exbourne

If you go down to the Burrow today you'll sure get a big surprise!! The hedgehogs have arrived and are selling fast in aid of North Devon Hedgehog Rescue. Available until Saturday. Buy one before they hibernate!!

WI host Dementia Awareness Day Seminar

Exbourne Sampford Courtenay and Jacobstowe WI are hosting a DEMENTIA AWARNESS DAY Seminar on Friday 24 th May in Exbourne Village Hall, with morning and afternoon sessions and lunch and refreshments included. There will be speakers and representatives from The Alzheimer's Society, Age UK, Devon Carers, Devon Dementia Support Services, Devon Senior Voice and Dr Kathryn Vile MB ChB MRCGP DFFP from Okehampton Medical Centre. The day is free and open to, sufferers' carers, healthcare professionals, care home staff, and everyone who has an interest. Places are limited so please either email exbournewi@gmail.com or telephone Jane Stewart on 01837 851300 to register and for further information.

10 am: Welcome and Opening
10.15am – 11 am: Alzheimer's Society aka Devon Dementia Support service Discussion/ pause.
11.00am – 11.45 am: Devon Carers
Discussion/pause.
11.45 – 12.30. Devon Dementia Support Activity! "Care to (Chair) Dance?"
12.30: Lunch
1.15pm– 2.00pm: Dr. Kathryn Vile MB ChB MRCGP DFFP
2.00 –2.30 pm: Devon Senior Voice.

History of Rosemoor

The latest meeting of the Exbourne Local History Group was held on Tuesday 16 April in the village hall. The speaker was David Squire from Rosemoor Garden at Torrington. He gave a presentation with slides to show how the garden has developed sinse it was given to the the RHS in 1988 by Lady Anne Palmer. He has worked there for 25 years and pictures were shown how the underpass was built to join up the original garden to the new one across the main road. Also shown was the building of the Visitor Centre and how the various gardens were constructed and planted. He was thanked by the Chairman, Mike Luxton. Instead of a meeting next month the Group are visiting the Seaton Tramway and Colyton. If anyone would like to join them, please contact Rose Williams on 01837 851426.

Feb Council Minutes OnLine

Did you know there are plans for the B3217 road to be re-classified as the C835? What difference will it make? This and other matters are covered in the February Parish Council Minutes, now online here.

River Walk and Tea for WI

Exbourne, Sampford Courtenay and Jacobstowe WI are organising a walk of approximately 3 miles on Wednesday 5 June 2013 around Exbourne, to include a picturesque stroll in fields beside the River Ockment and nearby lanes. Start time is 2.30pm. Teas will be available in Exbourne village hall afterwards. Please contact Margaret Weeks on 01837 851379 for more details and to let us know numbers of people wishing to attend by 31 May. Unfortunately, no dogs - sorry.

Local History Changes.

The Annual Meeting of the Exbourne Local History Group was held on 19 March. The retiring chairman, Steve Gazzard, thanked the committee for all their hard work through the year. Nick Kenealy also retired as treasurer after distributing his financial report. The annual report had been circulated to members. The new chairman is Mike Luxton and the treasurer is Dave Weeks. Rose Williams remains as secretary and the other committee members are Gaye Langham (research and archive researcher) and Margaret Weeks (press officer). After tea and biscuits, Gaye gave a talk on “The Joy of Research”, explaining all the trials and tribulations of researching. The next meeting is on Tuesday 16 April in the village hall at 7.30pm. The speaker is David Squire who will talk about “The History of Rosemoor Garden”. He is team leader of the decorative and nursery section at the Royal Horticulture Society Rosemoor Garden at Torrington. He has worked there for many years and seen how the garden has developed since it was gifted to the RHS in 1988 by Lady Anne Berry. Everybody most welcome.

All Caked Out!

Angie Milsom Smith (above left) and Jane Stewart (right), pictured above with judge Nigel Davies, wrote: THANK YOU!! THANK YOU!! THANK YOU!! For making Red Nose Day Great Exbourne Bake Off such a success.  We raised £202.58 for Comic Relief!! We were very well supported in every way possible and we are very very grateful. A big thank you to Nigel Davies from North Tawton who had the herculean task of judging and tasting, he had a very difficult job and it was a task he took very seriously. The judging was completely “blind” and done in complete secrecy. If you missed the the winners they are:-

• Best Decorated cake 10 years and under : Joel Sawyer for his “Spot on” Dalmatian decorated Chocolate cake
• Best baked cake 10 years and under : Hannah Gazzard for her Jam Sandwich Sponge Cake
• Best Decorated Cake Adults 18 years and over:- Pam Hodgkinson for her Funny Money Cake
• Best Baked Cake Adults 18 years and over: Winner: Jane Stewart for her Three tier Sponge Cake
• Best Baked Cake Adults 18 years and over: Runner Up Claire Kelly for her Venetian Zabaglione Cake
• Best Baked Cake Adults 18 years and over: Judges Special Award Gill Gazzard for her Courgette Cake

Well done to everyone who entered and thank you again.

The Great Bake Off: Caked with Makeup?

There's is still time to enter the Great Exbourne Bake Off!!  Get your baking kit on and bring your cake on Friday 15th March to Exbourne Village Hall.  Entries to be on the table by 1.45p.m.  Entry forms are still available from The Burrow Shop, Exbourne. Or download here. Or call Angie 851377 or Jane 851300.  Judging starts at 2.30pm. Judging will be done by the Grand Dame of North Tawton panto (Nigel the Post Master, cunningly disguised). He/she is well known for his/her love of all things CAKE!! Or, if you would rather eat than bake then come to Exbourne Village Hall between 2pm and 5 pm for tea and cake and support a very worthwhile charity. See you in Exbourne for an afternoon to remember? DOWNLOAD ENTRY FORM.

Minutes On Line

Parish Council Meeting Minutes for January 2013 are now online here

Comic Update

Jane and Angie wrote: Hello Everyone: Thank you for showing interest in our Comic Relief Fundraiser. Entry forms if you wish to enter the cake competition are in the shop or with Angie (851377) and Jane (851300). Attached is a poster for the event so if you know of space it would go in then please put it up. If you just want to make cakes to go with tea that would be good too, or just come and eat them that's good also!! Let's make it a Comic Relief to remember!! Please feel free to contact us if you want any further information. DOWNLOAD THE POSTER.

Geological History of Exbourne

The latest meeting of the Exbourne Local History Group welcomed local resident, David Williams, who gave a presentation entitled “A Journey through Geological Times”. He explained how Exbourne evolved through millions of years. The British Isles were once joined up to other countries and went through times of being under water and also desert. He concentrated on the red rock, on which most of Exbourne stands, which accounts for the red soil. He answered questions on the subject and was thanked by the chairman, Steve Gazzard. The next meeting is the AGM and will be held in the village hall on Tuesday 19 March at 7.30pm. Everyone welcome.

Get Your Kit on and Bake

The Great Exbourne Bake Off takes place this year from 2pm to 5pm on March 15th. Come and join us in Exbourne village hall to raise funds and do your bit for Comic Relief. In the afternoon, tea and cakes will be available to buy. Also, get your baking kit on and enter the Red Nose Cake competition. It's open to everyone and the results will be judged during the afternoon too.  Contact Angie 851377 or Jane 851300 for a cake competition entry form.  Entry fee £1.00 All proceeds to Comic Relief.  http://www.rednoseday.com/fundraise/the-fun-raisers/bake

Vacancy for Councillor

Owing to the resignation of Rob Phipps there's a vacant seat on the Parish Council. A by-election has to be held and there are certain rules governing this.

If you fancy being a council member, read the poster first.

Council Minutes OnLine

Find them here.

Telling the Story

Exbourne Local History Group is one of the groups in the UK chosen to receive a Heritage Lottery Fund “All Our Stories” grant to research the “Story of Some of the 18th Century Houses and Farms in Exbourne Parish”. The Heritage Lottery Fund sustains and transforms a wide range of heritage for present and future generations to take part in, learn from, and enjoy. “All Our Stories” is a small grants funding programme, enabling groups to explore their heritage and share what they have learnt with others. The programme was launched in support of BBC Two's “ The Great British Story” and has been designed as an opportunity for everyone to get involved in their heritage. The series was presented by historian Michael Woods, who said “We love British History and it is really tremendous that people in Exbourne have been inspired to tell their story by digging deeper in the past of the village”

Richard Bellamy, Head of Heritage Lottery Fund South West, said “Clearly the success of “All Our Stories” has reinforced the fact that we are a nation of storytellers and that we want to explore and discover more about our past and what really matters to us. This is exactly what the grant will do for Exbourne Local History Group as they embark on a real journey of discovery.”

Steve Gazzard, Chairman of the Group said: “It's great that we have been awarded this grant and we can't wait to get started. There is so much to discover about Exbourne's past. We are all really excited about telling other people about our findings and sharing our heritage and history with them. We will be working on the project throughout 2013 and we intend to keep everyone informed about what we discover.”

New Bishop has Local History

The next Bishop of Crediton is to be a priest who has spent most of his life in Devon. The Reverend Prebendary Nick McKinnel, 58, has been the Rector of the Minster Church of St Andrew in Plymouth since 1994. He is also a Prebendary at Exeter Cathedral. Previously, he spent seven years in a rural part of Exeter Diocese as the Rector of Hatherleigh, Meeth, Exbourne and Jacobstowe. More here.

Rag Rugs Workshop

Exbourne, Sampford Courtenay and Jacobstowe WI are holding a Rag Rug Workshop in Exbourne Village Hall on Saturday 2nd March, from 2pm to 4pm. All welcome. Please book early to avoid disappointment. The cost is £4 per person not including tools rags and hessian. To book, and if you require tools, rags or hessian or further information, please contact Anne Hollis 851734 or Jane Stewart 851300

Properties to be researched

The Local History Group held a meeting in Exbourne village hall for the owners of the 8 properties which have been chosen to be researched, with the help of a Heritage Lottery Grant. It was a very successful meeting and most of the owners agreed to be involved. Some had already done research and others expressed the wish that they could have help from the Group. A meeting will be held on 6 March for an up-date. At the monthly meeting of the Group, the speaker was Simon Dell, who gave an interesting and amusing presentation about “Policing in the Peninsula”. He explained how policing in Devon and Cornwall advanced through the years from village watchmen to several towns having its own force. Even the Isles of Scilly had its own force, which eventually joined with Cornwall and then Cornwall joined with Devon to form the Devon and Cornwall Constabulary. The next meeting of the Group will be held in the village hall on Tuesday 19 February at 7.30pm. The speaker will be David I.R.Williams who will give a talk about “Exbourne 180 Million Years Ago”. Everybody welcome.

History Group Xmas Meeting

Exbourne Local History Group held their Christmas Festive Evening in the Village Hall Tuesday 18th December. The group enjoyed mulled wine and mince pies and took part in a quiz with a Devon theme. The first round was Devon dialect words to be translated, then photos of various sites in the parish to be identified and finally questions about the subjects of the speakers through the year. The evening ended with carol singing. The next meeting is on Tuesday 15th January 2013 in the Village Hall at 7.30pm. The speaker will be Simon Dell who will be talking about "Policing in the Peninsula". Visitors are always welcome.

STEAM STOP PRESS!

Steam puddings all sold - offer now over. Profit was £100!

Steaming Puddings

Lucy, the manager of The Burrow shop, made her steam oven available for the steaming of the Exbourne Sampford Courtenay and Jacobstowe WI Christmas puddings. Using the oven enabled the WI to steam all the puddings together, totalling 21lbs of pudding and taking 6 hours!!! The Burrow didn't charge the WI and it was done as a goodwill gesture. Said Lucy: " We see it as part of the Community working together and we were delighted to support our local branch of the WI." There is still time to buy if you haven't done so already. Read poster. Or call 01837 851300.

Rotary Coffee Morning

Exbourne Sampford Courtenay and Jacobstowe had a very successful time at Okehampton Rotary Club Christmas Coffee Morning, making a total of £100 thought a Hamper raffle, Christmas puddings, home made preserves and mincemeat and bric a brac. In the photo are the stall helpers Mrs Sandra Luxton Mrs Jane Stewart (President) Mrs. Kath Neno and Mrs Sally Kenealy (Treasurer). Jane Stewart said: "we were delighted to be involved once again with the Rotary Club as it is a great event and, despite the terrible weather, it was well attended. We wish to thank the Rotary Club for involving us and hope that we may do it again next year."

Council Minutes

Now online here.

History latest

At the latest meeting of the Exbourne Local History Group the chairman, Steve Gazzard, reported that the group has been granted a Heritage Lottery Grant. More details will be available at a later date. A very interesting presentation was given by Sue Rose and Gaye Langham about “The Poor of Exbourne”. They had done a lot of research from the 1600's to the 1800's on how the better off inhabitants of the parish paid a forerunner of our rates system to keep the poor. Various handouts were given for food, clothing, getting people to hospital, etc. During that time children from the ages of 7 for boys and 9 for girls were “apprenticed” to households in the parish. In the 1800's the workhouses were built and if a family was unlucky enough to be inhabitants, families were split, with men in one part, women in another and the children separated from their parents. The next meeting is on Tuesday 18 December in the village hall at 7.30pm and will be a “Festive Meeting” with wine and mince pies, a quiz and carol singing. Everyone welcome.