may 2007 vol. 38 no. 5 40p · poster type advertisements: maximum size is half an a4 page. text for...

MAY 2007 Vol. 38 No. 5 40p

FOCUS MAGAZINE INFORMATION

Chairman John Carter, Rewe. Tel. (01392) 841237Vice Chairman Beryl Grace, Moss Bank, School Lane, Thorverton.Secretary Jane Lane, Stable House, 2 The Glebe, Thorverton. Tel. (01392) 861062Treasurer Barbara Uglow, 14 Cleaves Close, Thorverton. Tel. (01392) 860614Editor Nevil le Lane, Stable House, 2 The Glebe, Thorverton. Tel. (01392) 861062 Email. [email protected] editors Chris Cousins & Rob PurvisPrinters Barrie Phill ips & Peter MasonFocus deliveries John Carter, Rewe. Tel. (01392) 841237Committee members Nominated by local organisations.At the present time Focus is produced each month except one (usually August) and is assembled byvolunteers on the last working day of the month.

The Editor welcomes interesting news items, reports etc. for publication. Items for inclusion in Focusshould be accompanied by the name of the originator, which may be withheld from print if requested.

Important note for contributorsItems for publication, adverts, changes to adverts, Diary entries, changes to Thorverton Informationlists should be sent to the Editor, preferably as plain text in an email, or as a Word doc file or a pdf fileemail attachment (to [email protected]) normally by the 20th day of the month prior topublication.Computer file formats: We prefer plain text files, .DOC files, .RTF files and .WPS files because ourproduction team have software that can read such files. BMP and JPEG files are preferred foradvertisements and pictures.Photographs: colour photographs, without too much dark shadow, can be printed in black/white shades(enlarged or reduced) to a reasonably fair standard.

Poster Type Advertisements: maximum size is half an A4 page.

Text for advertisements should be prepared as near as possible to how it is intended to appear.Pictures must be supplied as required on the advertisement.

COMMERCIAL ADVERTISEMENTSMaximum dimensions COST per ENTRY FULL YEAR (11 entries)

Half page 18.2 cm x 12.2 cm £4.00 £40.00Quarter page 8.5 cm x 12.2 cm £2.00 £20.00One-eighth page 8.5 cm x 5.8 cm £1.00 £10.00

LOCAL ORGANISATION and CHARITIES ADVERTISEMENTSCOST per ENTRY

Half page £3.00Quarter or one-eighth page free of charge(It may be possible to reduce A4 size adverts to 1/4 or 1/8 page depending on the size of text.)

Thorverton photo-montage created by John Spivey

The opinions and views expressed by contributors within the magazine are not necessaril y those of Focusproducers and the Focus Committee.

Focus on Thorverton 1 Vol. 38 No. 5 – May 2007

EditorialI was sorry that we did not have a contest for theParish Council elections in May. Indeed, we didnot even have enough nominations to fill all ofthe positions available. Do we really care so littleabout what goes on in the village that we arehappy to leave it to others? Or is it just anotherreflection of the fact that we have so little timethese days to get involved in such goings on? Iknow what the job of councillors can involveand so have great regard for those who take onthese positions and are prepared to continue inthe absence of others to take the baton.

The Arts Festival is upon us, rather earlier thanusual this year. I always love looking at thepaintings and craft work on display in thechurch, so much of it created by people fromhere or nearby. I never fail to marvel at thetalents which people have. The Festival providesa wonderful means of showing some of thosetalents. We are fortunate indeed to have thisFestival and the other activities which go tomake Church Week.

You could hardly expect me to fail to make somecomment about the exceptionally dry and sunnyApril that we have enjoyed this year. For me, theparticular benefit has been in being able to see inbright sunshine, rather than through a mist orhorizontally-driven rain, the wealth of wildflowers that we have around here. I went on acycle ride recently, out past Berribridge toThree-Limbed Oak, up towards Fortescue and onto Brampford Speke before returning pastCrosses down to the station and back up into thevil lage. It was an idyll ic ride, with far betterviews from my slightly elevated position on mybike compared with my usual view from insidemy car, and with the sounds of birdsong allaround me. The trees were just coming into leaf,with that lovely yellowish-green so typical ofspring. I have no great botanical eye or memoryfor plant names, yet I was quite easily able todistinguish and name 15 or more wild flowers.

We have plenty of reports in Focus again thismonth, reflecting the breadth of activity in andaround the vil lage. I am grateful as always tothose of you have contributed articles, helpingmake my job so easy.

Nevill e Lane Editor

In this FocusLetters ..............................................................2

Thorverton Parish Council ................................3

TARTS news....................................................4

Tower News.....................................................4

Thorverton Memorial Hall News.......................5

Notice Board.....................................................6

The Raddon Team Ministry ............................11

Letter from Dick Potter...................................14

Baptist Church News......................................15

Christian Aid Week (13th-19th May) ................16

25 Years ago...................................................17

Glimpses Of The Past: 1853............................18

Thorverton and District History Society..........20

Northcott Theatre refurbishment .....................20

Thorverton WI ................................................21

Poem ............................................................21

Hawk Thoughts ..............................................21

Review – Arctic Monkeys...............................22

Exe Valley Tea Shop ......................................22

Devon Wine Week..........................................22

Cricket Club ...................................................22

Golf Society Players of Thorverton.................23

Godoku...........................................................23

Poem ............................................................24

Nature Notes...................................................25

The Garden in May.........................................26

Crossword ......................................................27

Thorverton Parish Information........................28

Thorverton Organisations................................29

Doctors’ Surgeries..........................................30

Bus services....................................................31

Diary 2007......................................................32


Letters

From Rob Purvis, Jericho Street

On 10th April our car, a white Citroen AX, was stolen from Jericho Street. It ended up in Broadclyst burntout. We had always parked it near the top of Jericho Street, along with other cars belonging to the street'sinhabitants, and we had assumed it was quite a safe place to park. Unfortunately we were mistaken.

In recent months there have been other cars broken into in the same part of the street and a week beforeour car was stolen it was driven into and badly dented during the night by someone on a motorbike (Icould see the bike's tyre marks on the door at waist height).

I doubt that if the culprits read this letter they wil l own up, but if you did happen to see our car beingstolen in the early hours of 10th April then please let the poli ce know.

Rob

From John White, Waters Ford

Numerous organisations in the village, and I have been connected with some of them, have, for a numberof years, run fund-raising events at Court Barton. These activities have taken place with the kindpermission of Chris and Tony Cole who have always made everyone feel so welcome. These events haveincluded Discos, dances, Fayres and even a theatre evening in their garden. In addition organisations havebeen afforded long-term equipment storage facilities.

With changes now afoot at Court Barton, I would like to thank the Cole family for all their generosity andhospitality in the past and wish them well for the future.

From G D Massey, 57 Silver Street,

For many years Gerald Glanvil le operated a series of enjoyable tours from our village. Fromconversations with those who took part it seems that these opportunities to travel are very much missed.

I have an offer from Turners Tours of Chumleigh to divert some of their day excursions throughThorverton if there are sufficient bookings from here.

It is proposed the first tour would be a Christmas shopping opportunity in November or December thisyear. No booking can be taken but expressions of interest would of course be most welcome. These maybe either to me or at the Car Park shop, once there are sufficient numbers we can go to firm bookings.

Yours faithfully,G D Massey

From Dr Amanda Woods, Bridle Cottage, Shobrooke

Dear Patients and FriendsThank you all so much for the wonderful card and most generous present given to me this week. What awonderful surprise. I shall have a really great time spending the present on books that I have onlydreamed of.I have enjoyed working amongst you and caring for you. Thank you, so, so, much.

Yours sincerely ,Dr Amanda Woods


Thorverton Parish CouncilReport of the April meeting of the ParishCouncil

AFFORDABLE HOUSINGRepresentatives of the Church Commissioners and Falcon Rural Housing are to attend the May meetingof the Parish Council to discuss a proposal for linking two development sites in the vil lage providing bothopen market and affordable housing.

VILLAGE SHOPA presentation was made to the Council by members of the shop committee: Thorverton Rural ServicesAssociation. Council lors were reassured that everything was being done to negotiate a joint shop and post officeproject. Councillors resolved to continue to support in principle the ideas proposed by the TRSA.

PLANNING MATTERSA) To note MDDC Planning decisions received to date of meeting:

Ref: 06/02526/FULL Conversion of Barn to residential accommodation including re-roofing thatch. PerryFarm, Lee Cross, Thorverton. REFUSED. Also Listed Building Consent: REFUSED.Ref: 07/00187/CAT Notification of intention to fell 1 Eucalyptus tree in a conservation area, Post Off iceCottage, Bullen Street, Thorverton. APPROVED.Ref: 07/00143/FULL Demolition of Outbuildings, erection of three storey extension and garage, HigherTraymill , Bickleigh. APPROVED.Ref: 07/00264/FULL Erection of conservatory, 33 Silver Street Thorverton. APPROVED.Ref 07/00307/LBC Re-roofing of redundant store area and provision of additional letting bedrooms plus fireexit route, Thorverton Arms, Bullen Street, Thorverton. APPROVED.Also Listed Building Consent: APPROVED.

B) Planning applications to be considered at meeting:Ref:07/00606/LBC Internal alterations to partitions and installation of rooflight and window, 2 & 3 LawnCottages, Silver Street, Thorverton.

OTHER PARISH BUSINESS

• Six Councillors submitted nomination papers and one councillor has indicated that they wish to beco-opted, resulting in three vacancies on the Parish Council. Please contact the clerk if you areinterested in becoming a Parish Councillor. There will not now be a Parish Election, but an electionfor District Council lor will take place on 3rd May.

• John White will be cutting the grass on The Green again this year, but has reported that dogs havebeen fouling the area. The Parish Council would li ke to remind all dog owners to

** please clean up after your dogs **• Cadbury are to put in a request for a speed restriction on the road between Thorverton and

Cadbury. Speeding traff ic has been noted in Silver Street and Lynch Road and the police will beinformed.

www.Thorvertonparishcouncil.org

The next Parish Council Meeting will take place in the Memorial Hall on Tuesday 8th May 2007 at7.30pm. An Agenda is displayed on the Parish Notice Board prior to meetings.

Kate West, Parish ClerkTelephone: 01392 861560, email : [email protected]


TARTS news

For all walks meet at the Bell Inn. Anyoneinterested in joining us on any of the walks justturn up … or phone or email Caroline or Jean onthe numbers/addresses below, or phone Heatheron 01392 860419. Dogs welcome.

Recent walksIn April we had an excellent walk up the PlymValley, through National Trust woodland.Highlights were seeing the nesting peregrinefalcons and ravens, (viewing post manned by thelocal RSPB who also “guard” the nest) and Jakeswimming upriver rather than tackle aparticularly steep set of steps round a high bluff .Lunch was at Shaugh Prior where the pub doesvery good ham sandwiches. After that it wasdownhil l all the way in more senses than one.

Saturday walksMeet at 9.30 at the Bell for May and Junewalks:

May 5th Short walk 3/5 miles led by AlanMay 19th 6/7 mile walk along the DooneValley led by RayJune 23rd 6/8 mile Dartmoor walk led byGrahamThere are no weekend walks in early June due toother village events.

Weekday walksWed May 9 th 1.00 p.m.Thu May 24 th 10.00 a.m.Wed Jun 6 th 1.00 p.m.Thu Jun 21 st 10.00 a.m.

Other forthcoming events are:

• a trip to Lundy on Sunday June 3rd (lastdate for booking is end of April but youmight just get in if you contact numbersbelow in the first few days of May. Seevil lage posters for details)

• Barbecue in August to be arranged.

• The Templars’ Way walk – 18 miles fromHay Tor to Shaldon, (all downhil l!)September, date to be arranged.

Full details of all walks in Old Post Off icewindow a few days before the walk . Allwelcome including dogs.

Simon has passed on the administration toCaroline and Jean so for any further informationcontactCaroline Prince07749 775304 [email protected] Brown01392 861176 [email protected]

Simon Ette

Tower News

Members of the Guild of Devonshire Ringers seta new guild record on 31st March 2007 byringing a peal of 10,800 changes. This was alsoa personal record for Ian Avery, who rang theTreble; Pauline Champion, who rang the 4th;and Michael Mears, who rang the 9th.

Saturday 31st March 2007 in 6 hours 31 minutes10,800 Regwelter Surprise RoyalComposed by D G Hull (No. 2a)

Treble Ian W Avery2. John P Loveless

3. Howard W Egglestone4. Pauline Champion5. Ian R Fielding6. Paul J Pascoe7. Matthew J Hill ing (Conductor)8. Ian V J Smith9. Michael E C MearsTenor Martin J Whitely

Umpires: Linda Garton, Tony Osborne,Mary Mears, James Kirkaldy, John Hill

Bill Ford


Thorverton Memorial Hall News

Saturday Market & Big Breakfast

The number and range of items available at themarket seems to constantly be increasing. Youcan buy books (used), bric-a-brac, jewellery,cards, jams and preserves, cakes, plants, fruit andvegetables, pictures, and nearly new clothes.Order your breakfast then peruse the stalls whileit is being cooked.

100 Club Draw Winner for April£50 – No 65 Andrew Parker

Market Draw Winners for April were:

Chicken Dinner John AllenFruit Box Geoff PointingFruit box Jenny Garne

Duck Race Night

The duck race took place immediately after theApril market. The ducks were “launched”(description supplied by a young onlooker) fromthe bridge behind the Bell and the first duckarrived at the Hall some 12 minutes later. Thiswas owned by Sarah Addicott who won achocolate duck family (dad, mum & ducklings).The second duck’s owner was John Tandy whowon a duck dinner. The third prize, a cuddlyduck, went to Chantelle Gubb with Neil Uglow’sduck bringing up the rear and taking the lastplace. Many thanks to all who supported thisevent.

Dates for your diary

Tuesday 15th May Meat Bingo 7.30pmSat/Sun 9th/10th June Country ShowTuesday 19th June Meat Bingo 7.30pmSaturday 7th July Twelfth NightTuesday 17th July Meat Bingo 7.30pmTuesday 14th August Meat Bingo 7.30pmTuesday 21st August Meat Bingo 7.30pm

Country Show

Yes, it’s that time of the year again, when we askfor volunteers to help with the running of theShow. We need people to help set up the site onWednesday, Thursday and Friday (6th, 7th, 8th)and to clear up on Monday (11th), then, over theweekend to man gates and the car park, helpwith the hog roast (cooking, serving, collectingmoney and sell ing programmes and draw tickets.Many thanks to those of you who have alreadyvolunteered. A large number of slots havealready been fil led but there are still somespaces. If you would like to help contact JeanWhite or Anji Hartnell-Todd to find out whathelp is still needed.

Car Stickers, Posters and Draw tickets are nowavailable. If you could display a car sticker orPoster or know someone who could, pleasecontact Jean White at Waters Ford. Also, if youcould sell some draw tickets for us before theShow that would be a great help. We can offer afree one-day pass for the Show to anyone whosells £20 worth or more.

AGM

The Hall ’ s AGM is on Wednesday 23rd May at8.00pm in the Memorial Hall. Come along andfind out what is happening at the Hall now. Wewould love to see you there.

If anyone is interested in joining the Committeeplease contact the Chairman, Steph Shelton, assoon as possible.

Reg.Charity No. 203776


Notice Board

THORVERTONMEMORIAL HALL

SATURDAY MARKET

Saturday 12th May

9.30 - 11.00am

Breakfast Bar, Books, ClothingFruit & Veg, Plants, Cards

Bric-a-brac, Jewellery, Draw& much more

100 Club Draw

Reg. Char ity No. 203778


ANNUAL GENERALMEETING

Wednesday 23rd May

8.00pm

Memorial Hall

All Welcome



MEAT BINGO

Tuesday 15th May

Eyes Down 7.30pm

Lots of prizes to be won.


THORVERTONCOUNTRY SHOW

ENGLISH CIVIL WARSOCIETY

KAGEMUSHA TAIKOTUG OF WAR (Sun)FAMILY DOG SHOWTERRIER RACING

Stalls- Craft- Vintage Vehiclesetc.

9th & 10th June 2007Ratcliffe Farm10.00- 5.00

Tickets £5 (adults) £3(children)



Thorverton Parish Council

ANNUAL MAINTENANCE CONTRACT

The Parish Council would like to invite tenders for itsannual maintenance contract. The work involvesclearing vegetation from the Brook, footpath atBarliabins and Quarry Car Park.For further information, please contact the Clerk, KateWest, on (01392) 861560, at Great Pitt Stables,Silverton, Exeter, EX5 4BW, or at [email protected]

Thorverton Arts Exchange

At Arts Exchange meetings we share ourenthusiasms for writing, music, painting, film,craft etc. with one another.

Usually there is a theme to our choices, butoccasionally an individual member will takeresponsibility for a whole evening.

The meetings take place in members’ homes at8.00 p.m. The next three meetings are:

May 10th Mysteries Pynes HouseJune 7th Movement Campion CottageJuly 5th Smoke 25 The Glebe

New members are always welcome.For further information contact

Claire Cousins at Cubberley House, The Berry(860438)

Thorverton Church Consor t

Practices (on Thursdays) are usually in churchfrom 7.45 to 9.00 pm

AprilWeds 4th PracticeMayThurs 3rd PracticeThurs 31st PracticeJuneSun 3rd 9.15 practice for 10.00 serviceThurs 14th PracticeThurs 28th PracticeJulyThurs 12th PracticeThurs 19th PartySun 22nd 5 pm Practice

Thorverton Junior Consort

Practices (on Mondays) are usually in schoolfrom 3.30 pm to 4.30 pm

AprilMon. 2nd PracticeMon. 30th PracticeMayMon. 21st PracticeJuneSun 3rd 9.15 practice for 10.00 serviceMon. 11th PracticeMon. 25th PracticeJulyThurs 19th Party

St Mary's Sil verton Flower Club

Coffee Morning - Bring and Buy Stall - DrawSt Mary's Church Hall

Saturday June 23rd 10am - 12 noon

Admission £1.50 to include coffee andhomemade biscuits


FF ii vv ee && AAll ii vv ee

Five & Alive is for men andwomen

who want toll oo ss ee ww eeii gg hh tt ………….. ff oo rr gg oo oo dd !!

Five hou r s o ve r Five Weeks t o f eelAlive

Five a day a guide to healthy eatingFive times thirty – ways to keep activeFive to lose – aim to lose a few poun dsFive for outlook – ideas to keep positiveFive to stay alive – maintain a healthy lifestyle

The weekly sess ions aim to motivate, inform andencourage, you can check y our weight, haveinformal discussions with lifestyle coach andshare ideas to improve your health and well -being

Pay £5.00 deposit to secure your place plus £2.00per week for each o f the five sess ions

Telephone Sylvia Wakeham on 077 11 820 584 orWyndh am House Surgery for application formand for the start date of the next five sess ionsto be held in Sil verton Community Hall.

five weekly sess ions - five ways toll oo ss ee ww ee ii gg hh tt aann dd ff eeee ll gg rr eeaa tt !!

Five & Alive is supported by WyndhamHouse Surgery, Wyndham Road, Silverton,

EX5 4HZ

WishingMargaret May

a Happy 80th Birthdayon 17th May 2007

All our love and best wishes fromArthur, Barbara & Robin,

Michael & Jane,Teresa & Gavin,Reith & Sarah,

Wayne & Kirstie,Sharon

and all her great grandchildren.


Ladies Group Meeting

To end this session of Ladies Group, we willmeet as usual in the garden of MargaretSwaff ield, opposite the school for the usualBarbecue. Please note this will not be the usualdate, but will take place on 24th May, pleasegive Margaret a ring on 860309, and let herknow what you can bring to help out withrefreshments. Thank you Margaret for hostingthis evening for us.

Thank you also to all l adies who have hosted ourMeetings or organised events for us, during thispast winter.

For any ladies wanting to join us, we start ourMeetings again on the second Thursday inOctober, for the winter session, after we haveenjoyed the summer months of holidays etc.

M.C.

Stall-holders for Saturday Fair(5th May)

Books etc Frank and Alice Selley, 1 Dark Lane,860280

Bott le Stall To be confirmed

Cakes Liz Rendell, 20 Silver Street, 860780 (orcan be left on Saturday at Kirkfoard, in TheBerry)

Cash donations for flowers Marion Crang, 18The Glebe, 860754 and Elspeth Holmes, DrillHouse, 860535

China and Glass Tina Ayre, Ratcliffe Farm,860434 (can collect)

Draw Pr izes Ed Greed, Fortescue, 841231

Lucky Dip Tina Ayre, Ratcliffe Farm, 860434

Plant Stall George Greed, Fortescue, 841231

Tombola Stella Barron, 860007 and KaronMurphy, 861056

White Elephant Marg Maynard, 3 BullenStreet, 860661

Greetings to all � � � � �

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Charity Pledge Auction

Friday May 4th, 8 pm

at the Exeter Inn

Viewing in the skittle all ey duringopening hours on Friday

Auctioneer: A Tuff in of Husseys

FRIENDS OF DEVON’S ARCHIVESand

SILVERTON LOCAL HISTORY SOCIETY

present

A FILM ARCHIVE NIGHT

featuring 20th century footage from this area

25 June 2007 7 p.m. for 7:30in

SILVERTON COMMUNITY CENTRERefreshments available

courtesy of Silverton W.I

ADMISSION Members £2 Non Members£2:50 BY TICKET ONLY

Contact Graham Parnell, The Pippins, OrchardLane, Silverton EX5 4JA

Tel 01392 860595

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Morning Prayer Evening Praye r7.30 am Thorverton (Tuesday – Friday) 5 pm Upton Pyne (Tuesday)8.30 am Thorverton (Saturday) 6 pm Rewe (Tuesday)

5 pm Newton St Cyres (Thursday)Holy Communion9.30 am Thorverton (Last Wednesday of the month)

Focus on Thorverton 13 Vol. 38 No. 5 – May 2007� � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � �� ! � � � � � � � � � � � " � � � � � � # � � � � � � � � $ � � " � � � � �� ! � � � % � & ' � � " � � � � � � � � � � ' � � � � � � � � � � � � � � ( � '� � � � � � � � � )* � � � ! � � � � � � � � � � � ! � � � � � � � � & � � � � ! � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � " � ' � + � � $ � � " � � � � � � � & � � � � ' � � � � ' '! � � � � � � � � � ! � � � � � � � " , � � ' � � � - � � � . � � / � � � ! � � � ' 0 � � ! � � � � � � ! � � ! � � � � � ! � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � & � � � � �! � � � � � � � � � & � � ! � � ' " � � � 1 ) 2 � � � � � � � � � � � � $ � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � ! � � � � � � � " � � % � & ' � � " � � � � ! � � � � � � � � � � + �� " ' � � $ � � " � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � " ' � ! � � " � " � � � � � � � ! � � � � � � � � � � � ! � � � � � � � � � & � � , ) � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � �� & � � � � " ' � ' � � � � � � � , � � � � � � ' � � � ' � � � � � � � � ! � � � % � & ' � � " 3 � � � � � � + � � � � � ' � � � )* � � � � � � � � � � ' � � � � � � � � � & � � � � � � � � � � � � � " � � ! � � � � � � � � � � � $ 4 5 6 7 8 6 9 6 5 6 4 : ; < 6 = ; > ? 5 7 8 = 6 9 9 @ 6 A ; <B C D E F G H I J C E E G ) ( � , � ' " � � + � � � � ' � � � � " � � � � ' K , � � � � � � � � � � � )L � � � � � � � � K � � & � � � � � � � � � � � � � � ' � � � � � ! � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � + � � � " � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � M � � � � � � � � 3 � � � & � � � � ' �� " � " ' � � � � � � � � � � � � & � � � � 3 � � � M � ' � � � , � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � " � � � � " � � � � � � � � � K � � , '� " & � � �� ! � )2 & � � � � � � � � � & � � � � ' � � � � � � + � � � � � � ' ' � � ' � � � � " � � � N O J 4 @ ; < P > < Q 7 R 7 S 9 6 A < ; ; < 8 8 9 7 A 9 T < ? T < U > < 6 , � � �� + � � , � � ! � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � ) 2 " ' � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � & � � � � � � � � � � � ' ' � ! � � + � � � � � � � � � � )V W X Y Z [ \ ] ^ W _ ` [ a \ b _ ` Z \ W ` c d e f g h i j k f lm ; < S T A @ 7 9 T ; < 8 n � � � � ' � � � $ o � � � � p � � � 0 2 � � � ' / � � % M � � � � � � � � � " � � ' 1q � � r � � � � � $ p � ' � � � � � � 0 2 � � � ' / � � % M � � � � � � � � � " � � ' 1s > < 6 A 7 5 8 ( � � � � t ' � " " � � 0 2 � � � ' u � � v � , � � � r � � � � � � 1% ' � � � ( � � � � � 0 2 � � � ' w w � � v � , � � � r � � � � � � x � � � � ' � � � � � � � 1


Letter from Dick Potter

BROADENING OUR CONTACTS

I know that many readers do not owncomputers, or like them, and many ofthose who do own them find the Internetmore of a challenge than a help in theirlives! This is not meant to be a “Look atme, I’ m getting up to date at last” sort ofletter. Far from it! However, in recentmonths I realise that the computer Ibrought from Hertfordshire five years agowas not able to do the job I required.Much as I had valued the traditionalcontacts and communications abil ity ofmy old machine, it was too old, slow andfar to limited to cope with theexpectations of my colleagues (includingthe editors of this magazine!) or to matchthe wonderful range of facil ities in theelectronic world around us.

So I have had to replace my computerwith something more up-to date, and nowthe shiny new machine on the desk infront of me is ready to provide me withall sorts of invaluable services andcontacts as well as making my writingand church communications much moreaffective. At least, that is what I amexpecting!! But first, I have to makesure that I have converted to Broadband.This is a combined operation, partly bymy own up-dating of my telephoneequipment, but more importantly, by achange at the local exchange, which wil l,they promise me, be done on Thursdaynext, by 8.00pm. Then I shall plug in,and I shall find that the new world wil l beopened up to me - to my wife too, I trust -with easy access to the world’s libraries,news resources, suppliers of all types ofgoods and services, and easy personalcontacts with my family and closefriends, working exchanges with the local

churches and church leaders, and manyother advantages that I haven’ t yetcontemplated!

But the key to it all wil l be the Broadbandsystem, and I must be patient for it to beset up! Jesus told his followers to waitfor something similar to transform theirli fe and work, giving them an instantcontact with God at all times and bringingthem together with each other and fellow-Christians everywhere and down the agesof time. The coming of the Holy Spirit,recorded in the Acts of the Apostles,changed a small group of uncertain andfrightened ex-followers of an executedleader into a bold, energetic andimmediately successful organisationwhich from the start attracted thousandsof new recruits and began to reachoutwards across the world.

Nearly two thousand years laterChristians stil l thank God for the HolySpirit which helps to join us together.Despite our very human differences, theSpirit (sometimes called the Holy Ghost)gives us the resources of guidance andencouragement in the tasks we attempt,and, above all, helps us, all over theworld, and at all times, to be in touch withour God and coming to know more abouthim and his plans for us. Whit Sunday(this year on 27th May), the Christiancelebration of this great gift from Godwhich was first given on the old Jewishreligious festival of Pentecost, is anopportunity for us all to give thanks forour “Broadband” connection to eternalGod and all his being and his works.Whether you share with others in achurch service or simply make yourprayers in the quiet of your home it wil lbe a day for giving thanks!

With very best wishes. DICK POTTER


Baptist Church News

It is not too late, even in the merry month ofMay, to be still pondering the fall-out of theResurrection. A few weeks ago, JohnHumphrys,veteran reporter and presenter of theToday programme, interviewed representativesof various faiths in an attempt to find God forhimself. The Christian proponent was none otherthan the Archbishop of Canterbury, who dulyrehearsed the classic arguments for the existenceof God. Humphrys was unconvinced. I think DrWill iams missed a golden opportunity. Heshould have started with the resurrection andworked backwards. If the resurrection is true,then everything follows on from there.

Probably the world's most famous atheist isProfessor Richard Dawkins. In his book "TheGod Delusion" he attempts to bring together allthe arguments against the existence of God.Dawkins has been answered very convincinglyby Christian heavyweights such as AlisterMcGrath and more recently by Andrew Wilsonin "Deluded by Dawkins?" Wilson points outthat Dawkins fails to examine the evidence forthe resurrection. And yet this evidence hasconfounded many sceptics over the years - mensuch as Frank Morrison, a young lawyer who setout to write a book disproving the resurrectionbut found the evidence so convincing as he siftedthrough it that he ended up writing the book"Who moved the Stone?" in favour of it.

So what happened that first Easter day 2000years ago? What was going through the minds ofthe disciples following the death of Jesus on thecross? The first thing to be said is that they werecertainly not expecting him to rise from the dead.You can see that in the general air ofdespondency, the perplexity of the apostles, thedecision of the women to anoint the body ofJesus with spices. Despite the enigmaticlanguage that Jesus had used about rising afterthree days, the resurrection came as a bolt fromthe blue. It was the greatest event, and thegreatest miracle, in all history.

It is not easy to harmonise the gospel narratives -not impossible but not easy, mainly because theyare so compressed and represent the personalviewpoint or interest of the person writing. But itis nevertheless possible to make sense of theEaster story as the text unfolds.

A party of women arriving early in the morningat the garden tomb; the apostles Peter and John;Mary Magdalene; two disciples walking toEmmaus; ten of the remaining eleven apostles;St Peter alone; these were the witnesses to theresurrection on that first Easter day. What a dayof emotions it was for the followers of Jesus.The despair they had experienced on GoodFriday had been turned into joy. Their heavyhearts had been lightened. The Lord was risen.

Now these are the facts. They are presented asactual facts, as history, and were to become thefoundation stones of the Christian faith.Christianity stands or falls by them. St Paulwrites: "If Christ has not been raised, ourpreaching is useless and so is your faith." Herecognised that if anyone could disprove theresurrection then it was curtains for Christianity.Conversely, if the resurrection is true - and thefirst Christians staked their lives on the fact thatit was - then it proves the whole Christian faith.Paul had personal experience of the risen Lord.He encountered him on the Damascus road andbecame a changed man. In fact, his whole lifewas turned upside down. He had been a violentopponent of the faith but after that encounter hededicated the whole of his li fe to preaching theresurrection. He emphasised it so much thatwhen he was preaching in Athens and referringto Jesus and Resurrection the citizens thought hewas talking about two strange gods. It made sucha difference in his life he couldn't help talkingabout it.

On the evening of Easter day Jesus had appearedto the ten. A week later he was back, this time toconfound the sceptic Thomas. The one who haddoubted fell to his knees in submission: "MyLord and my God." Surely this is the rightresponse to these li fe-changing events.

Maurice Harr ison, Minister

Jesus said, ‘Blessed are the pure in heart, forthey will see God’ Matthew Ch 5 v 8.

In the Holy Land, chapels have been built at thesites of the major events of Jesus’ life.Beautifully designed and sensitive to theirenvironment, they use colour, shape and symbolsin ways that give another dimension to the way


Christians reflect on the life of Jesus. One ofthem is at the summit of the hill that hastraditionally been associated with the Sermon onthe Mount. It is an octagonal building, full oflight, with large windows in each wall givingspectacular views over Galilee. On each wall iscarved one of the beatitudes--the sayings ofJesus about the ways of true happiness.

Having never been there to see it, I was veryinterested to read, from someone who had-that asyou walk into the Chapel, the sun was like avivid shaft of light, falling directly on the words,from Matthew Ch.5 v. 8, (as above) and madethem leap straight from the wall, and into theirconscience. They stood paralysed for a momentprofoundly convicted about the jokes that madethem laugh, the thoughts that distract them, andthe difference between the life that people sawthem live and the life going on inside their head.No wonder we find it difficult to understandGod, or even to focus on Him-only those whoare utterly sincere could bear the dazzling visionthat evaporates hypocrisy and deceit. It is not thepurely religious who are clear-sighted aboutGod, it is those who are inwardly pure.

The second week in May (13th-19th) is ChristianAid Week, it is one week of the year duringwhich the sincerity of our desire to please Godbecomes transparent. The week when we arechallenged to work, pray, and give for God’sworld, a light shines straight into our hearts.Let’s all be challenged by it.

Early May is a time that Baptists from all overEngland will be congregating in Brighton for theAnnual Baptist Assembly, and this year it marksthe 200th anniversary of the abolition of the slavetrade with its theme-“In search of freedom”.

This is a four-day event, hosted jointly by BMSWorld Mission and the Baptist Union of GreatBritain. Speakers include Jonathon Edwards, athis first assembly as BUGB General Secretary,Alistair Brown, BMS General Director; and LesIsaac, Director of the Ascension Trust andpioneer of Street Pastors, which operates in citiesacross the UK. We need to pray for those whowill be attending the Assembly to have a greaterunderstanding of the concept of freedom- and tobe stirred to help those who do not have it.

And here in Thorverton, the Baptist Churchwelcomes you all to an Open Evening andConcert, which is being held on Saturday 26th

May, starting at 7-00pm, to celebrate our newlydecorated Church, do come and see us, andenjoy the evening with us. We also welcomeeveryone to any of our Sunday morning services,at 11-00am.

Phylli s Langdon, Church Secretary

Christian Aid Week (13th-19th May)

Just another reminder that Christian Aid Week isnearly on us again, please look out for theCollectors in your area, and do your best to fil ltheir envelopes. Also if you are a tax payer,please remember to put your name and addresson the envelope to enable C.Aid to get that littlebit more from your donation.

Last year’ s grand total was £1780-69, can weagain do better for 2007, I do hope so.

Christian Aid works where the need is greatest-irrespective of religion or race. They provide thishelp through more than 600 local “partners” ,who are best placed to understand and fight thecauses of poverty. For every pound raised, 79.5pis spent on fighting poverty, 19p is used to raisethe next pound and only 1.5p goes onmanagement and administration costs.

Jamaica AIDS Support for Life (JASL) is justone of the partners that C.A. uses. As well asprevention and educational programmes, JASLoffers counsell ing, support and skills training forpeople living with HIV. A small group of pastorsfrom the South West recently visited JASL,Pastor McCalla said, many many people wespoke to told us that without Christian Aid theyjust would not have any help.

Your donations will be used to respond to theimmediate crises where ever it may be, and tohelp increase the long term resil ience ofcommunities in the region. Please givegenerously and keep the affected people in yourthoughts and prayers. Thank you.

If you can help in any way during this week,please contact me, we always need more peopleto call on areas in the village to deliver or collectenvelopes.

Phylli s Langdon, Ferndale, Bullen Street,Thorverton. Tel 01392 860932.


25 Years ago

Focus May 1982

The Exeter MarathonName. Position Time

Roy Luke 49 3hrs. 3mins.Alex Fice 328 3hrs. 39mins.Cliff Webber 410 3hrs 46mins.Paul Uglow 472 3hrs. 53mins.Martin Bell is 499 3hrs 56mins.Dave Pointing 720 4hrs. 30mins.

Jack Uglow finished 1 Lap (13miles) but had topull out with a leg injury.Martin Rogers and Peter Coombe were unable torun through injury.Roy Luke was running for Exeter Harriers whowon the Team Award.It was a very hot day, but with the route linedwith cheering people it helped us to keep going.Our main ambition was to finish the marathonand enjoy it.Of the 1,200 runners who started, 890 completedthe 26 mile course.

Alex Fice.

Round & About.Congratulations to Alex and Penny Fice on thearrival of Georgina Marie, born on 26th April1982- -a sister for Samuel.

Congratulations to Mr. Reg Fry who was 80 onthe 5th May 1982.Born in Exeter, he has lived in Thorverton sinceleaving the Army in 1927, having served in the10th Prince of Wales Own Royal HussarsRegiment for nine years.Mr Fry worked for 17 years at the ThorvertonFlour Mill until joining the South WesternFarmers. He retired in 1967, but continued to

work part-time for 9 years in Birks Hall, ExeterUniversity.To celebrate his birthday, he was treated to asurprise lunch at the Bell Inn on the previousSunday, in order that two of his grandsons—Mr.Nigel Fry, a Bank Clerk at Newquay, and Mr.Robert Landick, a School Teacher in Stafford,could attend with the rest of his close family- Mrand Mrs John Fry, his son and daughter–in-law,Mrs Nancy Landick, daughter, Miss Ethel Fry,sister, and, making four generations in all, hisgrandson Mr. Alan Fry and his wife, Maggie,with their two children: 3-year-old Melanie and21-month-old Jamie.

DAF.

Baptist ChurchOn Saturday April 3rd 1982, the SpringAssembly of the Exeter and District BaptistChurches met at the Thorverton Church.Friends and Delegates from Kilmington in theeast to Okehampton in the West attended, andthe fellowship at such a rally was very muchenjoyed.At the business session, with the retiringPresident, the Rev. Edmund Palmer ofBradninch and Cullompton in the chair, MissDora Plucknett was voted in as the newPresident.A service followed, when Miss Plucknett gaveher Presidential address, and all joined in theCommunion Service at the close.Everyone then adjourned to the Women’sInstitute Hall for tea, and so ended an afternoonwhich only comes to a small vil lage such asThorverton about once in twenty years.

M.Beedell


Glimpses Of The Past: 1853

Last month’s reported tussle betweenThorverton’s elected Inspectors and the Vicarover the “Dissenting Policeman” seems to haveended in a draw, in that in the following year ahigh enough rate had after all been approved topay a police constable’s salary but that constablewas not Henry Perriam. Instead, it was JamesPullen, the police constable of Thorverton, whocaused James Mears, at the Tiverton DistrictPetty Sessions, to be charged with threatening todo him some grievous bodily injury. It appearsthat about 11 o’clock in the night of Sundayweek, the complainant hearing a disturbance inthe Welli ngton Inn - the Exeter Inn went underthat name for some years after Waterloo -proceeded thither to ascertain the cause. Thedefendant, who was there drinking andquarrelli ng, made use of foul language to Pullen,and threatened to break his neck and rip him upif he interfered. He was ordered to find bail ,himself for £10 and two sureties in £5 each, tokeep the peace for twelve months. Hisdescendant, the J.P. in New Zealand, will be gladthat James was at least spared being described,as another defendant (not from Thorverton!)was, as a hungry, redfaced, unintellectualindividual, and a melancholy specimen of theworst condition of the agricultural labourer .

At the Castle in Exeter, John Heard, son of JohnHeard, of Thorverton, and James Vicary, a lad inhis employ, were charged with furiously drivinga timber waggon and two horses, and also sittingon the waggon, with no person to guide thehorses. The Rev S.C.Northcote (the Vicar ofUpton Pyne) stated that he was in his ponycarr iage coming towards Exeter, when nearPynes Bridge he met the timber waggon and twohorses; they were going a fast trot and JohnHeard and James Vicary were sitting on thetimber waggon. He pulled up the pony carr iageclose to the bridge, and had not the road beenvery wide, he must have been crushed to pieces;the defendants never tried to stop the horseswhen they saw him coming. The Bench wasdetermined to put a stop to such a dangerouspractice, and fined Heard 20s and Vicary 10s,and the expenses, or to be imprisonedrespectively 20 days and 10 days.

In a third court case, Thomas Ellis, seed-dealerof Newton St Cyres, claimed that GeorgeRadmore jnr had failed to deliver turnip seed at aprice agreed some weeks before and had sold itto Messrs Veitch, of Exeter, for a better price.Radmore denied this, saying that he had made nopromises, but the Judge did not believe him andordered that Ellis should be recompensed.

The death of Will iam Hutchings in 1852 led tothe disposal, by his Trustees, of properties thathe leased from the Dean and Chapter. Six Lotswere put up for auction at the Dolphin Inn.

Lot 1 - All that compact Farm and Lands calledCOURT BARTON, together with ALWAYSORCHARD, containing 83 Acres, viz. 19 Acresof Meadow, 11 Acres of Pasture, 5 Acres ofOrchard, and 48 Acres of Arable Land, of first-rate quality, on which there is an excellentDwelli ng-house, and convenient Farm Buildings,in good repair.

In fact this can only have been a part of theearlier Court Barton, which the Coldridge Mapof 1813 showed as quite the largest estate in theparish, as befitted the principal Barton of theManor, where the tenants’ Courts used to beheld. Roughly speaking, all the agriculturalland visible on the farmhouse’s side of theBrook, from the River along Silver Street, viathe Berry, to beyond Dinneford Bridge, belongedto Court Barton. Always Orchard - which hadno connection with Eternity but was named forJohn Alway - was a curiosity, a tiny separatetenement within the large one, which was moreor less where Nos 21 to 35 Silver Street nowstand.

Lot 2 - All that Messuage, Tenement and Farm,called STONE, lying within a Ring Fence,containing by estimation 112 Acres ..., now inthe occupation of Mrs Mary Manning.

In this case the size tallied with that given byColdridge, 109 acres. Perhaps it is still the same.

Lot 3 - All those Eight Closes of very fertileArable Pastures and Orchard Land, containingtogether about 32 Acres, parcels of an OverlandTenement called BARLIABINS.


This was a quite broad strip of handily placedpasture-land, running from the present Barliabinsfootpath some way up Dinneford Meadow on theleft-hand side of the Brook.

Lot 4 - Seven Acres of very excellent Meadow,and two Closes of superior Arable Land,containing about 12 Acres, calledSWINESHEAD, with the Cellar and Courtlagethereon.

That accounts for some of Court Barton’smissing acres. Swineshead was the land pastDinneford Bridge between the Brook and theroad up to Cadbury.

Lot 5 - Two Cottages, with a Garden andOrchard adjoining, in the occupation of JohnMunkley and George Pleace, as yearly tenants.

The 1851 census shows Munkley and Pleace sideby side, one in “Church Lane” and one in “DarkLane”, while a baptismal entry for one of hischildren states that Pleace lived at “Castle” .This neatly pinpoints the two cottages above asbeing perhaps the last two of a number ofdwellings that, before the rearward extension ofthe churchyard, used to stand at what is now thetop exit into Dark Lane. Part of the orchardadvertised remains as churchyard; part remainsas Castle Orchard.

Lot 6 - All that productive Orchard, containingby admeasurement 2r 28p, called QuarryOrchard, parcel of BARLIABINS TENEMENT,together with the Blacksmith’s Shop adjoining.

That was the current Quarry. Some readers mayremember that some years ago, when it wasbeing cleared in preparation for the making ofthe car-park, a still recognizable pair ofblacksmith’s bellows was unearthed in theremains of the forge.

A rather surprising event was the suddendissolution of the apparently vigorous NetherexeFarmers’ Club, which may have meant the endof the practice of giving financial rewards in thelocality to servants of long-standing and toimpecunious yet independent parents of lengthyfamilies.

Nearby Crediton suffered the loss, throughdeath, of its Vicar, the Rev. Samuel Rowe,whose Perambulation ...of Dartmoor was highlyinfluential in transforming the image of the Moor

from that of a dull wilderness to be avoided tothat of a place to be wondered at. Over twohundred and fifty clergy sought to replace him asincumbent. The Governors at Crediton whittledthese down to a short list of seven, who, rathersensibly, were all to preach in the church as anexercise of their vocal powers, to see if they havethe lung-power necessary to fill t he old fabric.The Bishop put a stop to this, allegedly becausehis own favoured candidate had not beenshortlisted, which gave the Editor of the WesternTimes another opportunity to refer to theBishop’s blocking of an appointment toStockland, so that his nephew might get theliving there, and to Coleridge being spooned intoThorverton from Lawhitton, so that his son-in-law might be comfortably placed in Cornwall.

With luck, the Focus production team will findroom to include an advertisement showing whatthe well-dressed men of Thorverton might havebeen buying in Exeter’s High Street in 1853.

Ian Stoyle


Thorverton and District History Societywww.thorhistsoc.org

Devon Farmhouses

"Houses don't stand still!" This was therecurrent theme of Tom Coleman's talk at theSociety's March meeting.

The distant predecessors of the many localfarmhouses built in the 16th and 17th centurieswere described briefly through his own slides:caves, huts with stones for walls and thatch-typeroofing, round dwellings gradually replaced byrectangular dwellings, and changes taking placevery slowly over hundreds, indeed thousands, ofyears. By Tudor and Stuart times there hadevolved the agricultural Longhouse,characteristic of much of Devon, in whichfarmers, labourers and livestock co-existed in asingle high-roofed, chimneyless cob-walledbuilding with a fire somewhere in the middle.The next development was the separation ofhumans and animals to different sides of thesame building, the former turning left and thelatter turning right once they had passed throughthe communal door (or the directions reversed, ifsuch was necessary for the humans to remainupstream). A further refinement was the creationof a third living space, a private chamber for themaster and mistress of the household. Everythingstill happened on a single floor until secondstoreys were inserted into the existing structure,perhaps at each end of it, both for sleepingquarters and for storage. Many more yearspassed before chimney-building technologyenabled smoke to rise directly from the hearth tothe sky and permitted a complete second floor tobe created.

These chimneys themselves were often statussymbols, placed where they could most easily beseen and admired. Wattle and daub dividers -and sometimes wooden screens - were installedas walls in order to make more rooms, and wingswere often built on to the sides of houses, all i nthe interests of increasing both space andprivacy. At the same time, porches were addedas embell ishments - and the important point wasmade that, as on the old butcher's shop here inThorverton, where there is a date it is that of theextension not that of the probably much olderbuilding behind - and moulded ceil ings were

introduced where they could be afforded.

Tom Coleman made a detour into Exeter toil lustrate that the old three-storey houses at StMary Steps and elsewhere were essentially thethree-part single storey houses of the countrysideplaced on end because of lack of space withinthe city walls, and that in the case of shops it wastheir display windows that were given pride ofplace on the ground floor.

The availabil ity of new construction techniquesand materials from further afield, particularlyafter the arrival of railways, meant thattraditional buildings ceased to be put up, butmany are still standing after four or five hundredyears and are still recognizable beneath theirsuperficial changes.

Ian Stoyle

Northcott Theatre refurbishment

In April, all 433 of the Northcott Theatre inExeter's 40-year old seats were removed andfound new homes. Volunteers stripped thetheatre's auditorium back to somethingresembling a Roman amphitheatre. The seatswill have their vinyl covers and foam paddingremoved and will be re-covered to a higherdegree of flame-retardancy.

The Northcott Theatre is now closed to thepublic, although the box office is still operatingand customers wil l soon be able to book by post,telephone and online for the Northcott TheatreCompany's annual open-air Shakespeareproduction - which this year is Macbeth - and fora range of exciting community participationevents. The theatre will announce its season ofworks for its "dark" period very soon.

The first major refurbishment of the building for40 years will see the replacement of all the seatsin the auditorium with brand new, customdesigned seats. When the building re-opens tothe public in December, the auditorium wil l benamed the Eagle One Auditorium in honour of avery generous contribution to the theatre'sredevelopment fund from Exeter based propertydevelopment firm Eagle One.


Thorverton WI

The topic for our April meeting was CornDollies and Mrs Sweetland gave the ill ustratedtalk.

The wording, Corn Dollies, has nothing to dowith dolls; it actually refers to an idol. Nobodyknows when the first Corn Dollies were made,but it is believed that when man settled downand grew corn something would have been madefrom the crop to worship. When the corn wascut in the old days the men-folk concernedworried that the god of harvest would becomeuppity. To quell their fears they would leave acircle of corn and throw their scythes into it.The theory was that the god of harvest wouldn'tknow who cut the corn. To make Corn Dolliesyou must have the right kind of straw. It must becut with an old fashioned binder, stripped andthen soaked. 5 to 40 straws can be used to makethe various designs.

My good self won the flower of the month andDoreen Beer won the flower arrangement in anunusual container. Marion Parr and Jane Sleepwon the draw.

Sylvia Gregory

PoemI am most grateful to Doreen Beer who is aregular contributor of poems to Focus. If youwould like to buy her second book of poems,Through Nature's Voice, which was publishedlast year, it will be on sale at the Parish Churchduring the East Devon Arts Festival. Ed

The bliss of soli tude

I walked alone upon the hills(Envisaging those ‘daffodils’ )And while my head was in the cloud,My mind a thoughtful furrow ploughed,As in the vale below I spiedA host of flowers drifting wide,Beside the stream, beneath the trees,In procession, poised to please;(Not Daffodils, they’d bloomed and gone),Bluebells en masse I gazed upon,Continuous as a rippling ocean,

Moving, merging – great emotionRose within me at this scene,I was, where Wordsworth once had been;Although these hills were not the same,Although myself knew not his fame,That exultation deep insideWould, like his, with me abide;Oft now I sit indoors and seeThis vision blue – although each treeHas shed sere leaves and winds blow coldThe picture’s framed in memory’s hold‘To flash upon the inward eye’And lift the weary spirit high.

Doreen Beer

Hawk Thoughts

‘Hawk Thoughts’ strives to promote anunderstanding of birds of prey, their ecology andconservation.

Bird of Prey talks for your local CommunityGroup, meet our Hawks, Falcons, Owls andEagles at your choice of venue and we willformat the session to meet the requirements ofyour organisation. We can also includeworksheets and activities on ecology andconservation.

Static displays for Village Fetes and privatefunctions whilst at the same time raising moneyfor Hospicare.

For further information, please contact Annie on07702709226


Review – Arctic MonkeysArctic Monkeys - Great Hall ExeterUniversity – 10th Apr il 2007

Due to what seemed like some kind of a miracle,current indie saviours, the Arctic Monkeys,decided to play the Exeter Uni on the l0th ofApril. I was extremely lucky to be in possessionof two tickets to the concert, as I had won araffle-style competition via the Arctic Monkeys’website (tickets were on sale for £200 on eBay).So off I went, with a friend, to the concert. Onarrival I noticed several thousand others had alsobeen lucky enough to win tickets and a ratherlong wait for the doors to open welcomed us. Atthe gig itself, it took another extended wait forthe band to arrive on-stage due to one of thesupport bands cancell ing. The other supportband, Gas Club, also hail ing from Sheffield, puton an entertaining performance.

So after what seemed like an eternity, the ArcticMonkeys finally took to the stage and rattledthrough hits from their debut album and theirnew album 'Favourite Worst Nightmare'. Songssuch as 'Teddy Picker' and 'Brianstorm' from theMonkeys’ new album were particularly catchy aswell as crowd favourites 'Bet you Looked Goodon the Dance Floor' and 'View from theAfternoon'. The gig was thoroughly enjoyed byme and my friend and here's hoping theMonkeys don't get too successful and never playin Exeter again, and from the performancetonight that’s highly likely!

Patrick Crawford

Exe Valley Tea Shop

Have you tried the Exe Valley Tea Shop inBrampford Speke? The tea shop, run by SueSatchell , makes a lovely resting place on a walkor cycle ride. We will be having a feature on itshortly, but in the meantime you might like to beaware of its opening hours:Monday 12.00 to 6.30 pm (roast

dinner from 12.00 to 1.30 pm)Tuesday 9.00 to 10.30 amWednesday 12.00 to 6.30 pmThursday 9.00 to 10.30 amFriday 3.00 to 6.30 pmSaturday 12.00 to 6.30 pmSunday 12.00 to 5.00 pm

Devon Wine WeekSaturday 26th May marks the start of DevonWine Week. Our nearby vineyard, at Yearlstonenear Bickleigh (which you can visit free, andenjoy tea there too!) has over 6,000 vines which,back in March, were pruned to the main trunkplus two/four fruiting arms with about 6-9 budson each arm. The fruit is contained within thebud and so the potential for the 2007 vintage waslaid down the previous summer. If there is poorwood ripening, then the vines are cut back to justtwo or three buds close to the centre of the trunk- a year's crop is sacrificed on the altar of thefuture!

In the winery the 2006 vintage has been bottled.Over 6,000 bottles of white and rose sparklingare now stored at a temperature controlled 12Cin the bottle store. The sparkling wine is made inthe traditional champagne method, which cantake 12 months at least.

Fourteen vineyards are taking part in DevonWine Week. A special Devon Wine List is beingoffered to local restaurants and pubs toencourage more of them to stock their ownregional specialities. The Wine Week is beingsponsored by Ashfords solicitors in Exeter, andalso backed by Devon County Council , MidDevon DC, and Exeter City Council. Slow FoodDevon is also being associated with the weekthis year.

Cricket ClubThorverton Cricket Club's season has just begun(having waited until the warm, dry spell ended!).The 1st XI has moved across from Division DWest to D East this year, and is hoping to buildon our 5th place finish of last year. The 2nd XI islooking to bounce back following relegation lastyear. There are home fixtures on Sundays 6th and27th May (with a 2.30 pm start), while on Sunday13th May the East Devon Under-11s have afixture at Thorverton.

Both senior and junior sides should benefitgreatly from the new artificial nets, which shouldbe ready in June. Adult practice sessions are onThursday evenings and colts training on Fridayevenings (both 6:30 pm). Anyone is welcome tocome along.

James Meredith


Golf Society Players of Thorverton

It is almost back to normal now. It has stoppedraining at last, nearly time for a hose pipe ban,and the grass is growing faster than it gets cut -(some may say).

Since last month’s Focus we have had a fewGSPOT competitions, with the following results.

Sunday 25th March

Joint Winners: Andy French & Rob Flatt (quitean achievement as I know what state he was in at4.30am.).

The “Donna - y” I did that trophy was awardedto Roger Flitney for a superb trick shot from the6th tee to bounce off the rocks on both sides ofthe pond by the 5th green and finish up in play.

Good Friday 6th April

This was our 2nd Birthday competition, withglorious weather and a good turn out of 18players. We also had lots of extra prizes donatedby Paragon Finance, The Exeter Inn, The Bell ,The Thorverton Arms, Rob Flatt and PhilBeasley.

The competition was individual stableford. Theresults were:

Winner: Phil Beasley

2nd: Robin Tooze

Joint 3rd :Ken Galvin, Gary Kilby and DavidHarlow

Extra prizes were also given for nearest the pinin 3 shots on the 6th hole to Ken Galvin, nearestthe pin from the tee on the 7th hole to PeterThomas, and longest drive on the 9th hole toRobin Tooze.

The “Donna - y” I did that trophy was awardedto Geoff Bulley for hitting his approach shot tothe 4th green out of bounds, dropping anotherball and doing it again. This was followed by atee shot on the next hole straight out of boundsas well .

Friday 20th April

Winner: David Harlow

Runner up: Geoff Bulley

David Harlow also won the 2’s pot that onFridays had accumulated to £149

The “Donna - y” I did that trophy was awardedto Bob Hyde for telling everybody one thing anddoing the opposite. It was close though with PhilBeasley having no golf shoes.

Entries are still welcomed for the pairscompetition on the 7th May.

The dates for May;

Annual Pairs Competition Monday BankHoliday 7th May

Friday the 18th and Sunday the 27th May

Anybody interested in joining us wil l be morethan welcome, just turn up at the Exeter Inn at1.30pm lunch time on Friday, or 10 30 am. onSunday.

David Harlow

Godoku

Instead of the digits 1 to 9, the GODOKU uses 9different letters of the alphabet - in this caseLATECUPID - each of which must appear inevery row, column and 3x3 block.

Somewhere in the solution a word, a name or aphrase wil l be revealed. If you can guess this inadvance and spot its location it speeds up thesolution. Good luck.

The solution is on page 31.


Poem

This poem is one person’s response to the themeof April’ s Arts Exchange meeting

Consequences

My dad was a draughtsman,who was made redundant.He trained as a teacher,then they were not needed.He bought an Observer,and saw an advert,for a draughtsman in Cape Town.He went to London,to have an interview.He was offered the job,then had to decide what to do.We moved to Cape Town.I started at a new school.It was '76,South African kids were shot in the streets,Steve Biko was kill ed,because he Wrote What He Liked.Mozambique and Angolabecame threats to Apartheid.Still at school I was givena form to sign so I would becalled-up to fight.I side-stepped that because ofmy nationali ty.In 1980 I started a B.Scat Cape Town university.I made new friends,became Christian which led me to seethat the state's ideology,and its support from the DRChad made people believethe Apartheid societywas sanctioned by God.My first full -time jobwas in Pretoriathe heart of Afrikanerdomwhere, in 1901,they fought as guerrillasto have freedom from Britainwho wanted their diamonds and gold.Now 80 years onthe British were gonebut their colonial legacyof the Native Land Act of 1912and the 1913 start of the ANCcame down through the yearsand caught up with mein the form of a call -up to the

South African armyto fight for Apartheidto defend the statefrom atheist communist terrorist insurgentsa surprising number of whomlived just down the road in a separate suburb,whose friends and relations worked with mesweeping the floors and bringing me tea.So I objected to my call-upand became the firstmodern-day Conscientious Objectorto work for the South African Weather Bureau.I got married.I became a dad.For two years I worked for the statebut my low National Service salarymade li ving quite toughso I came on holidayto the UKand never went back.I had a brief jobwas then unemployed,but finally found a job I enjoyed.My South African past was gradually diluted.Life in Devon certainly suited me.I divorced, got my own house,saw my kids twice a week.Then one day, by chance,while buying some paintLouise spotted me and decided to waitto chat about what we were doingat B&Q on that Saturday.Then we went our ways.But we finally got together,and bought our house together,and now we come togetherto Arts Exchangeso I can tell you the consequencesof my dad the draughtsmanbeing made redundant.

Rob Purvis

Notes:

DRC = Dutch Reformed Church - the predominantchurch in South Africa - which was spli t into "racial"factions to reflect society. They made a theologicaljustification of Apartheid, which they eventuallyaccepted in the 1980's was wrong.

Steve Biko, a well known Black Consciousness (BC)leader wrote a book "I Write What I Like" about hisviews on BC in South Africa. He was killed while inpolice custody in 1977.


Nature Notes20th March 8pm My brother-in-law noticed awren disappear into one of the many swallow nests atWyke Hill Gardens, near Shobrooke. He decided totake a closer look and found not one but four wrensroosting in the nest on this very chill y night. Thisnest was buil t in 2005 and is small compared to otherswallow nests and my sister wonders if it was the‘owners’ first nest.

24th March At Newton St Cyres in a field nextto Creedy river bridge (in Station road, between thevillage and recreation ground) my brother saw twokingfishers and noticed several otter prints.

30th March After the school bingo my daughterRowie, her friend Abigail and I walked home and atCleaves Close we saw a hedgehog on the grass bankbeside Enid and Jack Andrews garden. At ourapproach it hid among the flowers with its bottomsticking out. As we left Cleaves Close it was outagain on the bank foraging for tasty snails, slugs andworms.

6th April Abigail and her dad Nick cycledfrom Thorverton to Camps bridge, the little humpback bridge situated along the lane towards Creditonperhaps half a mile past Newton St Cyres GolfCourse. They saw lizards in the hedgerows andnoticed one was particularly green and also cameacross a baby squirrel. The following day in the samearea Nick saw a house martin.

8th April I found a wren’s nest at the base ofone of our cordyline palms. It is a fresh nest whichthe female has lined with small pheasant and pigeonfeathers. A cordyline is not the easiest of trees for asecure footing for the type of nest buil t by a wren.My husband Jeff decided to put the nest back,secured to the sword shaped leaves with kebab sticks!

Swallows I had reports of swallows seen atHolcombe Burnell near Longdown weekcommencing 2nd April and on Exmoor 10th April, but‘S’ day hereabouts was 11th April when my sister sawher first swallow return to Wyke then Ann Coomberang me to say hers had arrived at Cleaves Close (3days later than last year) and that evening ColinMarshall saw one at Rewe.

Raptors Clive King tells me that at his home atUpexe he observed a merlin had caught a greenfinchand flew off with it. Then while sat in his garden withfriends a sparrow hawk landed in a bush, flew off andcame back again, must have been after something.Clive’s son, a Landscape Architect, has recently beenworking at Bodmin where hedges have been removedscattering the mouse population. He noticed a mouse

below him and stooped to pick it up but before hecould do so a sparrow hawk swooped down, grabbedthe mouse and was gone.While Ray Mason was ploughing he counted 27buzzards in the field, a handsome bird and a healthypopulation.Mike Rich is fairly certain kestrels are nesting atUpcott Barton.

Other Birds A robin is nesting in the hedge outsideour property and there is also one nesting inside thegarden. Mike Rich has a blackbird nest with four orfive chicks, a yard or so from his back door in BullenStreet. The blackcap has returned to our garden and issinging away.

Moths Back in February I saw a hairy caterpillar andsuspected it was a ruby tiger moth caterpil lar thenwhen I opened the summer house door this April Ifound the adult moth fluttering about and noticed ithad emerged from a cocoon made in the folds of acurtain. On 11th March there was an early thorn mothoutside the front door and on 28th March an angleshades moth in the same vicinity. On 10th April Ifound a delightful hairy caterpil lar with a black bodyand rows of tufts of brown hairs and a ruddy headwhich according to one of my books describes acream spot tiger moth caterpillar. 19th April I’ vediscovered on one of our damson bushes caterpillarsof the brown tail moth outside of their ‘ tents’ a silkweb type structure spun by the caterpil lars. At themoment these caterpillars are approximately 10mmlong.

Butter flies The lovely weather has brought outpeacock, tortoiseshell, comma, speckled wood,orange tip, holly blue, brimstone etc but the mostinteresting sightings have been of clouded yellows. Iwas out for a walk with Rowie and nephew Jack on19th April when we saw one at Pennycott, Shobrooke.My mother had one in her garden a few days beforethat. Reference books state the first migrants arrivehere in late May. Are these clouded yellows earlymigrants or did they survive the winter inhibernation? Just out of interest on the same walk wesaw a female beautiful demoiselle damselflyCalopteryx virgo another early sighting.

The oak is well into leaf and miles ahead of the ashso we are only in for a splash this summer? Manythanks to all of you who have contributed to thismonth’s Notes. It is cuckoo time next and you shouldhave heard it by the time this edition of FOCUS isprinted.

Jenny Garne

2 Lower Poole, Raddon, tel 860875


The Garden in MayIs it summer already? And if not, what kind oftemperatures will we get when it is summer? Itreally has been incredibly warm lately, and theseason does not seem to know what to do next.Some plants have flowered extraordinarily early,some are about on time, others look as thoughthey may be later than usual. I expect thatoverall, things will sort themselves out to bringus back to a fairly normal sort of summer. I thinkthat if seasons like this are going to becomestandard, we may have to start thinking aboutadjusting our planting schemes to allow forchanging weather patterns, and if summers aregoing to be very hot we shall need to grow manymore Mediterranean-type plants to stand up tohot, dry conditions.

Who knows, we may all be growing our ownbananas in a few years time! There are manyvery colourful things such as Portulacas,Livingstone daisies, Ursinias and the like, whichrevel in really hot sunny weather.

In the meantime, and to come back down toearth a bit, we must carry on as usual for thepresent. So - hanging baskets should be plantedup and ready to go out, spring bedding plantsdug up and summer bedding plants ready to goout as soon as the danger of the odd late frost isover. Clear nights at the time of the full mooncould lead to a radiation (ground) frost evennow, so be on your guard at this time rememberthe Franklin nights around the 19th- 21st of May!-- and if you have put vulnerable plants outside,be prepared to cover them with fleece or evennewspaper overnight. Make sure that a slightbreeze won't blow these off, especially if you areusing newspaper. This should give adequateprotection at this time of year.

Old bedding plants such as wallflowers andsweet Will iams should be composted,polyanthus and primroses can be lifted, cleanedup, divided into separate pieces and replanted ina shady corner to be re-used next autumn, andforget-me-nots should be pulled up, and throwndown in an out of the way corner onto clean soil ,

when they wil l seed and produce more thanenough young plants for next year. . I have nothad to buy a forget-me-not in twenty years theycome up all over the place, and unless they arereally in the way, I just leave them to get on withit. They give a lovely patch of blue, and last formonths, as the flowers open gradually all up thelength of the growing flower stems.

When planting up baskets, planters and troughs,it is well worth-while adding a slow release plantfood and water-retaining gel to the compost,which will ensure that they have adequate foodfor all the season, and help to cut down theamount of watering needed in hot weather. Dobe sure to dead-head the plants regularly toensure that the plants all go on producingflowers for as long as possible.

This is a good time to plant evergreen trees andshrubs - these days it is recommended that wemake a square hole when planting to encouragethe roots to go out into the surrounding soil whenthey reach the sides, and not carry on round andround as they probably were in the pot. Soundslike good sense to me. Do make quite sure thatthe plants never dry out over the next fewmonths, until they have had time to make a newsystem of feeding roots, and have got enoughanchoring roots to stop them from rocking in theground. If you think a stake is needed, use ashort one, only 2ft or so above soil l evel, as thestems will thicken up better if they are free tomove about in the wind.

More recycling news. Those of you who live inMid Devon already have a pretty good recyclingservice, but I do feel that East Devon could do agreat deal more - perhaps we should all write tothe council and ask that they increase the rangeof their recycling to include cardboard, plastics,etc. In the meantime the recycling centre atAshley - just this side of Tiverton - will takealmost anything. Do make your 'trip to the tip'part of another necessary journey, though.

P.B.


CrosswordFocus Christic May 2007

The solution is on page 31

One answer is an acronym.

ACROSS

1 Prevent headless shellfish substituting forminced beef in Glasgow. (6,7)

9 Delivery in the main is insubstantial.(1,4,2,3,5)

11 Frenchman meets frenzied tourists inCornwall . (6)

12 I let mine react to form mineral containingtitanium. (8)

14 Get in it and fly around quickly. (7)15 Welsh dog. Wow! A great one!. (5)16 Muslim leaders – of insurgents, mil itia and

mercenary soldiers? (5)17 Like a serf a Russian , maybe, is first to help.

(7)18 Feeble old man ordered daughter around. (8)20 Blow working – that’ s the ticket. (6)22 Alcoholic drinks cause high-pitched noises to

be heard and ghosts to be seen. (5,3,7)23 Speculate on measuring apparatus – one used

to examine surfaces. (13)

DOWN

2 The haka, for example, though war has beenoutlawed. (10,5)

3 Sheriff’ s officers and employees receivegratuities. (9)

4 Tip is to top and tail a glazed cotton fabric.(4)

5 Hang so to relax, lose nothing thereby. (5)6 Bolton or Everton from PM’s informed

viewpoint. (11,4)7 Rains down on joint where Hazel lives in

novel. (9,4)8 Imaginative skill revealed in session with

ingénu. (13)10 Hear about an insect buzzing round for

several months. (8)13 Genius, German one with beer mug. (8)15 Erin and Colin dressed in horsehair and flax

fabric. (9)19 Cut top off plant to make a support frame. (5)21 Legal restraint on on spread of constrictors.

(4)


Thorverton Parish Information (Please notify any changes to the Editor.)

AIR AMBULANCE EMERGENCY - QUOTE NATIONAL GRID REFERENCERECREATION GROUND - SS 923019 MEMORIAL HALL FIELD - SS 926020

Bus services See inside back coverCarers' Suppo rt Group Anne Higman, Wyndham House Surgery, Silverton. 860034.

Meetings - 3rd Wednesday of month, Wyndham House, 2.30-4.30 p.m.Church (C of E) The Revd. Douglas Dettmer, The Rectory, Thorverton. 860332

Readers Nicholas Orme, Mrs.Rona Orme, Cob Corner, Brampford Speke. 841521Church Wardens Peter Colebrook, Ockero, Thorverton. 861019.

Edwin Greed, Fortescue, Netherexe. 841231.Consort Mary Thomas, 1 The Glebe, Thorverton. 860730.P.C.C. Treasurer Royston Kershaw, 25 The Glebe, Thorverton. 860419.Friends of Thorverton Parish Church Trust Emmie Aird, Kirkfoard, The Berry, Thorverton.

Church (Baptist) The Revd. Maurice Harrison, 01884 258599.Secretary Phyllis Langdon, 860932. Services, notice board or Focus.

Coun ty Coun cillor Cllr. Mr. M. Lee. 01363 772671.District Coun cillor Cllr. Mr. T. H. C. Noon. 01884 855352.Doctors Amanda Woods & Jon Wride / R. Leete, A. O’Brien, J. Stead & B. Stanley.

Surgery times: see below.Electricity (Western Power) Report a loss of power: 0800 365 900 Bill Enquiries: 0800 365 000

Street lights 0870 556 1851Friends of Thorverton & Silverton Surgeries Christine Walker, 881501Gas Emergency 0800 111999Leonard Trust Chairman: R. Hughes. Secretary: Mrs. E. Hughes, 3 Dinham Mews, Exeter EX4 4EFLibrary (Exeter Mobile) EVERY WEDNESDAY, 2.55pm to 3.15pm in the Quarry Car ParkNewspaper Reporter (Express & Echo) Jane Ristic, 53 Silver Street, Thorverton. 860054Parish Coun cil Chairman Cllr. Mike Shelton,Parish Clerk Mrs Kate West, Great Pit Stables, Silverton. 861560.Parish Coun cil Meetings 2nd Tuesday of month, at Baptist Church Schoolroom, 7.30 pm.Parish Allotments Contact the Parish Clerk - 861560Parish Coun cil Notice Board Situated in School Lane, opposite the Thorverton Arms. IMPORTANT!- PLANNING APPLICATION NOTICES ARE DISPLAYED HERE.Pension Service PO Box 93, Plymouth PL6 5WJ. 0845 60 60 265Police Central Switchboard 24 Hours: 0845 2777444.Post Off ice Portacabin (TCT Ltd ) Quarry Car Park, Thorverton EX5 5NG. 860455

Mon. Tue. Thurs. Fri : 9 am.-1.00 pm., 2 pm.– 5.30 pm.Wed. : 9 am.-1.00 pm.Sat. : 9 am.-12 noon Sun. closedChair: John Whiteside, Raddon Barton, 861133Business Manager: Jill Blewett, Faircop, Jericho St, ThorvertonCompany Secretary: Heather Kershaw, 25 The Glebe, 860419

Public Telepho ne Kiosk Opposite the Church, outside the Bell Inn, Dinneford St.Schoo l (C of E Primary) Head Teacher: Angela Thavarajah 860374.Schoo l Governors Chair: John Iffla 01392 851943

Clerk: Jane Ristic, 53 Silver St. 860054Schoo l P.T.F.A. Chair: Carolyn Johnson, Hillside, Bullen Street, Thorverton. 860584

Secretary: Marie Thomas, 01884 855275Treasurer: Di Baker, 860426

South West Water 24 Hour Emergency: 0800 169 1144. Helpline: 0800 169 1133.

Thorverton Millennium Chair: Dame Margaret Turner-Warwick, Pynes House,Green Trust Silver Street 861173 Hon. secretary: Shirley Hoole.

Tiverton Volunteer Centre 28, Gold Street, Tiverton EX16 6PY. Judy Seymour, 01884 255734.


Thorverton Organisations

Amateur Dramatic Society Chair: Colin Marshall, 861228Secretary: Sally Salter, 841740Meetings - Last Wednesday of each month at the W.I. Hut.

Art Group Barrie Phillips, Crossmead, School Lane, Thorverton. 860529Meet Fridays during term-time at the Memorial Hall, 9.30 am-12.00.

Arts Exchange Claire Cousins, Cubberley House, The Berry. 860438.Monthly meetings in members’ homes at 8.0 pm. ( see Diary)

Association Foot ball Club Chairman: Lewis Jones, Ivy Cottage, Thorverton. 861064.Secretary: David Gregory, 2 The Orchard, Brampford Speke, 841803.

Bowls Group Chair: Roy Clark, 860927.Secretary: Ken Maynard, 3 Bullen Street, Thorverton. 860661

Bridge Circle Graeme Culshaw, 3 The Glebe, Thorverton 860203.Meets 1st/3rd/5th Fridays at the W.I. Hut from 7.00 p.m..

Brownies’ Leader Marjorie Maynard, Bullen St. Thorverton. 860661.Meet Fridays during term-time at the W.I. Hut, 5.30-7.00 pm.

Church Flower Club Meetings as advertised.Cricke t Club Chair: Charles Kislingbury, Arley House, 19 Church St, Silverton. 860270

Secretary: M C Denford, 14 Moorlands, Tiverton EX16 6UF 01884 255076Fixture Sec: J Meredith, 190 Mincinglake Rd, Exeter EX4 7DS 01392 272504

Focus Magazine Chair: John Carter, Rewe. 841237Editor: Neville Lane, 2 The Glebe, Thorverton. 861062.Secretary: Jane Lane, 2 The Glebe, Thorverton. 861062.Treasurer: Barbara Uglow, 14 Cleaves Close, Thorverton. 860614. Focus deliveries – John Carter, Rewe. 841237

Friends of Silverton & Thorverton SurgeriesCoffee Mornings in The Royal British Legion Club , Silvertonheld on the LAST THURSDAY of every month except December.

Golf Society Players of Thorverton Contact David Harlow. 860724History Society Chair: Bill Stamper, Dunelm, Raddon, Thorverton. 860214

Secretary: Phyllis Langdon, Ferndale, Bullen Street, Thorverton. 860932. Website <http://www.thorhistsoc.org/>

Ladies Group Meet 2nd Thursday of month, (Venue and time - see Focus Notices).Memorial Hall Committee Chair: Mrs S Stephanie Shelton. Fir Tree House, Bullen Street. 861027.

Treasurer: John White, Waters Ford, Milford Lane. 860827.Secretary & Bookings: Jean White, Waters Ford, Milford Lane. 860827.

Memorial Hall Market 2nd Saturday of the month, at the Memorial Hall, 9.30 - 11.00 am.Play Group Contact: Sara Burnard (Chair) 01884 855216.

Mon/Tues/Wed/Thurs during term-time, at Memorial Hall, 9.30 am-12.00.Thorverton Ambling, Rambling and Tramping Society (TARTS)

Contacts : Caroline Prince 07749 775304 or Jean Brown 861176See notices of walks in Old Post Office Window Bullen Street.

Todd ler Group Contact : Fiona Kugele, 861448.Wednesdays, during term-time, at the Memorial Hall, 9.45 a.m.-11.45.

Rainbo ws Contact Jean Pearn 860105, Penny Fice 861136,Term-time, Tuesdays 4-5 pm at the W.I. Hut.

Royal British Legion Chairman / Hon. sec: Bill Stamper, Dunelm, Raddon, Thorverton. 860214Hon. Treasurer: Emmie Aird.

Women’s Institute Secretary: Susan Maguire 01363 775624Bookings: Susan Maguire 01363 775624.W.I. Meeting. 1st Tuesday of the month at the W.I. Hut, 7.30 pm.Whist, 3rd Tuesday of the month, at the W.I. Hut, 7.30 pm.

W.I. Market & Coffee 4th Saturday of the month at the W.I. Hut. 10.00 am. to 11.00 am.


Doctors’ Surgeries

THE EXE VALLEY PRACTICE

Dr AMANDA WOODS and Dr JON WRIDE

The Surgery, The Berry, The Surgery, 3 Coach Road,THORVERTON EX5 5NT SILVERTON EX5 4JLTel: 01392 860273 (24 hours) Tel: 01392 860176 (in surgery hours)Fax: 01392 860654 Fax: 01392 861598

Surgery Hours

Mon. 2.30 - 4.30 Mon. 9.00 - 11.00Tue. 3.30 - 5.30 Tue. 9.00 - 12.00Wed. 10.30 - 11.30 Wed. 3.30 - 5.30Thu. 3.00 - 5.00 Thu. 9.00 - 11.00Fri. 9.00 - 12.00 Fri. 3.00 - 5.00

The Surgeries are OPEN at the foll owing times

Mon. 8.30 - 12.45 & 2.00 - 6.00 Mon. 8.45 - 12.30Tue. 8.30 - 12.45 & 2.00 - 6.00 Tue. 8.45 - 12.00Wed. 8.30 - 12.45 & 2.00 - 5.00 Wed. 3.00 - 6.00Thu. 8.30 - 12.45 & 2.00 - 6.00 Thu. 8.45 - 12.30Fri. 8.30 - 12.45 & 2.00 - 4.00 Fri. 2.00 - 6.00

Surgery in STOKE CANON Village Hall – 2.00pm on last Thursday of every month. Please let usknow in advance if you will be attending.

REPEAT PRESCRIPTIONS (Monday – Friday) Please note that 48 hours notice is required for ALLrepeat prescriptions. Repeat Prescription line: Tel: 01392 861622

WYNDHAM HOUSE SURGERY, Fore Street, SILVERTONTelephone 01392 860034 www.wyndhamhousesurgery.co.uk

Dispensary Hours: Monday to Thursday: 09.00 – 13.00 & 14.00 – 18.00 Friday: 09.00 – 13.00 & 14.00 – 17.00

Please note The doctors are happy to speak to you on the phone instead of an appointment. Pleaserequest this from reception when you telephone.

Dr Jonathan STEAD Dr Anthon y O’BRIEN Dr Emma ZIEGLER

Monday 09.00 - 11.00 08.30 – 10.30 09.00 - 11.00 15.30 - 17.30 15.00 - 17.30 Tuesday 09.00 - 11.00 09.00 - 12.00 15.30 - 17.30 15.00 - 17.30 Wednesday 09.00 - 11.00 09.00 - 11.00 15.30 - 17.30 Thursday 09.00 - 12.00 09.00 – 11.00

15.30 – 17.30

Friday 09.00 - 11.00 09.00 - 12.00 09.00 – 11.00Alt. weeks *15.00 – 16.00 Alt. weeks

(Urgent cases only)*


Diary, continued from back page

JANUARY 2008Fri 25th Thorverton & District History Society, Thorverton W. I. Hut, 7.30 p.m.

AGM and Bil l Stamper – ‘Going to School in Thorverton’

Crossword and Godoku solutions

Bus servicesTurner’ s Tours (bus 678) Mon-Fri. 10.09 from The Berry and the Baptist Chapel.Return 13.35 from Exeter bus station, Stand 5.

Cook’s Coaches (service 355), Stagecoach (service 55B) Mon-Sat (except Bank Holidays)To Tiverton 9.02, 11.02, 13.02, 15.02, 17.32, 18.11 (55B) from The Berry and Broadlands.Return from Tiverton bus station. 9.40, 11.40, 13.40, 15.40, 18.05.

To Exeter 8.00, 10.05, 12.05, 14.05, 16.05, 18.30 from The Berry and Broadlands.Return from Exeter bus station. 8.40, 10.46, 12.40, 14.40, 17.10, 17.50 (55B).

Timetables for the 355 service are available at the Post Off ice.

Stagecoach 55 service runs every half-hour in each direction along the Exeter-Tiverton road, stopping atthe Thorverton turn. Please consult Stagecoach 55 Group timetable for details of this service.

Stagecoach free service to Somerfield’s, Broadclyst, from Broadlands on Tuesdays 14.00.

Stagecoach offers a variety of concessions for regular commuters, shoppers, children, students andjobseekers as well as one-day unlimited-use Explorer tickets. Further details from Stagecoach: 01392427711 or 01803 664500 or www.stagecoachbus.com or www.devon.gov.uk/devonbus.

Devonbus Timetable Information: call Traveline 0870 608 2 608 Timetables available at the Post Office


Diary 2007Please notify FOCUS Editor of additions or changes.

(Email: [email protected] or phone Neville Lane on 861062)

MAYTue 1st – Sat 5th 37th East Devon Arts Festival, Thorverton Parish Church, 10 a.m. – 8.30 p.m. (to 4.30 p.m. Sat)Wed 2nd Talk and Slide show at Court Barton, '50 years of Steam' by Amyas Crump 7.30 p.m.Thu 3rd Cream Tea at W.I. Hut, including display of crafts & WI photos of past events, 3 p.m. - 4 p.m.

Music in Church : ‘A Musical Miscellany – afternoon and evening, beginning at 2.00’ .Fri 4th Pledge Auction at Exeter Inn, 8 p.m. (Viewing from 12 noon. in skittle alley.)

Pledges already include...weekend at Woolacombe, music lessons, meal for 2 cooked for you, hair cut,dog walking, gardening, trip to Met Off ice, butcher’s voucher, bedding plants, car-wash, and manymany more.

Sat 5th Fair in The Berry, 2.30 p.m.Draw, 4 p.m.

Tue 8th Recycling collection.Wed 9th TARTS walk. Meet at the Bell Inn at 1 p.m.Thu 10th Arts Exchange, Mysteries, Pynes House, 8 p.m.Sat 12th Saturday Market, Memorial Hall, 9.30 – 11 a.m.Sun 13th to Sat 19th Christian Aid week.Mon 21st Recycling collection

Thorverton Church Flower Club, June Flower Festival meeting - Thorverton Church 2.30pmThu 24th TARTS walk. Meet at the Bell Inn at 10 a.m.

Ladies’ Group at Margaret Swaff ield’s house, School LaneFri 25th Thorverton & District History Society, Thorverton W. I. Hut, 7.30 p.m.

David Stone – ‘A Clash of Eagles – Germany’s Historic Defeat of France 1870-71’Sat 26th Baptist Church Open Evening and Concert, 7.00 p.m.

JUNEMon 4th Recycling collection.Wed 6th TARTS walk. Meet at the Bell Inn at 1 p.m.Thu 7th Arts Exchange, Movement, Campion Cottage, 8 p.m.Sat/Sun 9th/10th Country ShowFri-Sun 15th-17th Flower Festival, Thorverton ChurchMon 18th Recycling collection.Thu 21st TARTS walk. Meet at the Bell Inn at 10 a.m.

The Organist Entertains - concert by Andrew Daldorph at Thorverton Church, 7.30 p.m.Fri 22nd Thorverton & District History Society

Outside Visit to The Bil l Douglas Centre – Exeter University

JULYSat 7th Rain or Shine Theatre - Outdoor Shakespeare Twelfth Night, Thorverton Memorial Hall

(evening performance - time TBA)

SEPTEMBERFri 28th Thorverton & District History Society, Thorverton W. I. Hut, 7.30 p.m.

Robin Langhorne – ‘Aspects of Crediton’s History’

OCTOBERFri 26th Thorverton & District History Society, Thorverton W. I. Hut, 7.30 p.m.

Sadru Bhanji – ‘Hedgeland’s Model of Georgian Exeter’

NOVEMBERFri 23rd Thorverton & District History Society, Thorverton W. I. Hut, 7.30 p.m.

Members’ Evening

Diary continues inside back cover

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