The next Edition of the Burrator Beacon will be Summer 2010 and distributed in June 2010. Please contact the Editor Jenny Sharp jennysharp@meavy.org.uk with any articles or advertisements.
Autumn Edition 2009
Editorial by Jenny Sharp
I think that I am going to stop expecting August to be hot and sunny, then, if it ever is, it will be a nice surprise! Despite the weather seeming to have been awful for the whole of the summer, looking back at the village events, it seems that when we needed the sun to shine (or at least the rain to stop!) it mainly did. Events were once again well attended and obviously, in these times of looking after the pounds, the pennies spent at all events made for good days out. Every organisation which make up our villages, be it our halls, churches or schools are embarking on the next round of fundraising events which enables them to continue. Evenings out at quiz nights or bingo, listening to top quality concerts or watching family shows, they are all available over the next few months at bargain prices, all within a few minutes of home and no parking fees when you get there. Think local!
My apologies go to the lady whose phone number I mistakenly put against the Jumble Sale in the calendar in the Summer edition, it was a mixture of mine and Val Smith’s and never got picked up in the proofing –hopefully they are all correct in this issue.
Please keep the articles coming in for the next edition which is out at the beginning of December. Plan your events for next year early and let me know of any Winter and Spring events planned.
Clerk’s Report
Lucie A Luke - Parish Clerk
In June, PC Pickles attended our meeting to present the PACT Initiative (People and Committees working Together). The Parish Council agreed that they would work with the local Police and other Authorities that will be involved and we are looking forward to hearing more from them on this and how we can be of assistance.
We contacted Devon County Council regarding the school pick up points in Burrator Road with concerns over the safety of the children. A review has been conducted and a new safer route will be implemented. This brings us onto speeding in Dousland; our thanks go to our Councillor Mike Tozer, who has been present with the local police and their Mobile Speed Unit. As a result of this, the Authorities have now recognised that speeding is a problem in the area and investigations are underway to provide suitable solutions. We have suggested a zebra crossing and a 20 mph limit through the village and are waiting to hear feedback.
In July, DNPA (Dartmoor National Park Authority) attended our meeting to present their proposal for a Conservation Area for Walkhampton. The meeting was well attended by local residents but the Parish Council are aware of the need to reach each and every resident and gain their views to provide an informed response to the DNPA. We are in discussions with DNPA over producing some material that can be delivered to each household and farm in the area with a feedback section.
We still have a number of vacancies on the Parish Council, in particular for Meavy Village and Sheepstor. We would like to fill these as soon as possible to ensure continued and fair representation for our Parish. There are notices on the Parish Notice Boards. Co-Option is an easy process with only two short forms for completion once co-opted. Anyone interested in applying, please do contact Tim MacDonald on 01822 854884 or me on 01822 614278.
We now display our agendas for all meetings on our website www.burrator.gov.uk and are now concentrating on updating and revising the website as a whole over the next year. Our great thanks go to Michael Parle of Meavy, who has looked after the website for many years.
Yelvercare
Linda Anderson – Coordinator
YELVERCARE was created eleven years ago with the aim to provide care and assistance to those who need the sort of help that members of the community can provide. All those things that you know a neighbour or a relative would do for you, but you don’t like to keep asking! Thanks to our team of wonderful volunteers we have almost reached 7000 tasks. And we are always looking for new volunteers and new clients.
Now this is the exciting bit! We are in the process of starting a film club. Thanks to a generous donation, YelverCare is going to be able to provide the equipment to show films at St Paul’s Hall. Our ambitious aim is to provide entertainment for all the community – from toddlers onwards. Maybe there will be a Saturday morning viewing, maybe in the evening, or a matinee. Films that are recently released or black and white classics. We haven’t quite worked out how to have an organ rising out of the floor – but you never know! It is intended that we shall be up and running in the autumn and we shall need helpers, so if you have always wanted to sell ice cream and popcorn, now is your chance.
If anyone wants more information about becoming a volunteer or who needs help from YelverCare then please ring 07775695864 between 10am and 1pm on weekdays or contact Brian Medhurst (Chairman) 01822 853337 or Linda Anderson (Volunteer Coordinator) on 01822 855912
Events in Sheepstor
Trevor Rookes – Sheepstor Village Hall
Concert
Sheepstor Village invites you to an enchanting professional harp and flute classical duet called “Hoot” which will be held at 7:30PM in Sheepstor Church on Thursday October 15th. Entry by ticket will be £6.50 for adults, £4.50 for children in advance available from Patrick Drennan on 01822 853186 or on the door for an extra £1 surcharge. Refreshments after the concert will be provided in the hall, for which donations in aid of St Leonard’s church bell restoration fund will be welcome.
Bingo
Sheepstor Bingo evening is on on Friday 30th October at 7pm in the village hall. There will be bring and share food and drinks and it will be fun for all ages and all are welcome. The cost is £2 for a card for the evening and proceeds are in aid of Sheepstor Hall funds.
Scottish Country Dancers
Brenda Burt
Scottish Country Dancing is a wonderful form of exercise, where you can enjoy lively toe-tapping music, in good company and very much a fun setting. For that different form of exercise to improve your fitness, both body and mind, without any stress or pain, come and join a light-hearted group. Beginners are particularly welcomed – just bring yourself, a pair of lightweight shoes, and your sense of humour! We meet in Yelverton War Memorial Hall, Meavy Lane, on Mondays at 8-00 pm. Call me on 01822 852984 for more details.
Yelverton & District Children’s Hospice Group
Linda Landick
The group held a successful Mad Hatters Tea Party at Eggworthy Farm in July, Total raised £2,174.75 for the precious lives appeal, a big thank you to everyone who gave so generously and braved the wet weather. There are several events organised during the year and the group would like to meet new friends to join the committee, or volunteers to help at events. A coffee morning will be held in Doiran, Walkhampton, at the home of Sheila Glanville, Tuesday 1st December 10am-12am. Get your cards, preserves and order wreaths for Christmas. A bumper draw will be held, you can buy tickets before at Yelverton Post Office. For more information please contact Linda on 852142.
Emergency Planning in Burrator Parish
Tim MacDonald – Chair, Burrator Parish Council
I have been asked by the Parish Council to write a short note to update people on the progress to date and the way ahead for an Emergency Plan for the Parish.
Councillor Mike Tozer wrote in the last issue of the Beacon about the setting up of an advisory group to report to the Parish Council on the form and extent of an emergency plan to provide initial response within the community to flood, fire or other ‘disasters’. Mike, three councillors and a couple of volunteers from Walkhampton village had done some preliminary work to try to establish the scope of any plan, following the flooding in Walkhampton village and the heavy snow across the parish last year. We had concluded that what we needed was a practical organisation with the minimum of paperwork to provide initial aid and information before the arrival of assistance from the professional emergency services.
In his article and in adverts on all the parish notice boards, Mike called for volunteers from the community to manage the provision of such a plan. Mike had to report back to the council in July that we had had no response from anyone and that the Advisory Group had therefore come to the conclusion that, other than those who had met originally to make arrangements to cope with potential flooding in Walkhampton, no one in the parish saw any need for an emergency plan.
The Council has therefore accepted Mike’s recommendation that no other work will be done by us to establish any response to emergencies in the parish other than to provide some first aid flood response in Walkhampton village.
Should any residents in the parish consider that further action is needed to provide first aid emergency response within the rest of the parish, be it for flood or other emergency, then I should be delighted to hear from them either directly or through Mike Tozer or our Clerk, Lucie Luke. Such response will be welcomed provided it comes with offers to assist in the practical effort to produce, operate and maintain such a plan. If a plan is to work it must be driven by the community, with ongoing support across the parish. The plan will not produce itself and it will be a waste of time and effort if the required information and equipment, however simple and rudimentary, is not checked and maintained. Telephone numbers that are out of date, sandbags that are rotten or a sand store that has been emptied are of no use in an emergency.
The Magical Christmas Tree Tour comes to Meavy
Every December, three of the finest folk performers, Pete Morton, Maggie Boyle and Chris Parkinson, go around the country with their magical Christmas tree! This year they are coming to Meavy on Saturday 5th December at 7:30pm. The tree is full of songs and tunes from everywhere and this is your chance to write the set list! A fun and spontaneous evening is assured for adults and children of all ages. There will be posters and information available nearer the time.
Remembrance Day Services
Meavy, 8th November: The Service of Remembrance will take place on the Green at Meavy following the 10am Service in St Peter’s. Please join us for the church service at 10am or on the Green by the War memorial at 10:50am for a short service cumulating with the minute’s silence at 11am.
Walkhampton, 8th November: The Service will be in the Memorial Hall, Walkhampton at 9.30. Immediately following the service we move to the War Memorial for the act of remembrance at 11 am.
Meavy, 11th November: Meavy C of E Primary School will be having a Service of Remembrance at 10:15am in St Peter’s Church and then on the Green by the War memorial at 10:50am with the minute’s silence at 11am. All are welcome at the service and at the War Memorial.
Could you be a Dartmoor Conservation Volunteer?
Fiona Senior – Dartmoor Preservation Association
If you have a few hours to spare during the week or at weekends why not join the Dartmoor Preservation Associations friendly volunteer groups working to keep Dartmoor special? You can learn more about the Moor, meet new people and even keep fit at the same time!
Autumn is the perfect time to clear invasive bracken and other scrub. This autumn we will start working on a big project on behalf of Natural England clearing gorse from around a number of Scheduled Ancient Monuments on Leeden Hill – a few minutes the Yelverton side of Princetown – as well as repairing footpaths at Hound Tor, continuing to clear Plymouth Leat and our regular programme of conservation work on our own land at High House Waste, near Cornwood.
Saturday 3rd Oct Scrub clearance Leeden Hill
Sunday 4th Oct Conservation work High House Waste
Saturday 10th Oct Scrub clearance Leeden Hill
Thursday 22nd Oct Scrub clearance Plymouth Leat, Roborough
Sunday 1st Nov Conservation work High House Waste
Saturday 14th Nov Scrub clearance Plymouth Leat, Roborough
Monday 23rd Nov Scrub clearance Leeden Hill
Wednesday 2nd Dec Scrub clearance Plymouth Leat, Roborough
Sunday 6th Dec Conservation work High House Waste
Tuesday 15th Dec Scrub clearance Stanlake Cairns, Leeden Hill
No special skills needed – just being willing to have a go! For details of where to meet, what to bring and any other questions you may have please call Fiona on 01822 890646 or email fiona@dartmoorpreservation.com
Sheepstor Bells
Drinda MacDonald
Think of the typical Dartmoor village – stone cottages, farmsteads and fields of sheep and cattle spring to mind, along with the village church with its crenolated tower and its bells ringing out across the moors and tors.
Sheepstor’s five bells were re-cast in 1769 with a sixth bell added when they were all re-hung one hundred years ago. We have since maintained the bell tower but after a survey we have been advised that we have some major work to do to replace worn headstocks and fittings on the bells.
It is now the turn of this generation to step up to the mark if we are to keep alive the tradition of bells ringing out across the countryside for the 21st Century. As a small community, Sheepstor would be most grateful for any support you can offer us. We are embarking on fundraising and donations can be given through our Captain of Bells, Mr. Peter Legassick or myself, Drinda MacDonald, Brook Cottage, Sheepstor, Tel: 854884. (cheques payable to Sheepstor PCC). Beverly Mears has produced a Sheepstor Calendar for 2010, all profits are for the bell fund, to purchase one please contact Bev on 855150 or Peter Legassick on 852970 after 6pm. Peter also has a range of cards for sale.
If you are interested in learning to ring the bells, there is a practice at Sheepstor every Monday evening; please contact Peter Legassick (tel.852970) for more information.
Meavy Oak Fair 2009
Jenny Sharp – Chair, MOF Organising Committee
Given what the rest of the summer has been like, Oak Fair back in June hit lucky with the weather and it was an absolutely brilliant day. The Fair opened as usual with the bells of St Peter’s which were ringing for the first time after the repointing of the tower and the children of Meavy School entertained us all with an impressive display of maypole dancing. The traditional dance theme continued with our local Morris dancers – Meavy Border Morris with their displays and participant dances.
126 runners took part in the 13th Burrator Horseshoe, a scenic, challenging moorland run, starting and finishing at the Green. Results of the race can be found at www.meavy.org.uk. As always there was plenty for visitors to do and see including the traditional games such as the coconut shy, hoopla and the skittle alley. The refreshments were this year provided by the congregation of St Peter’s Church and did good business with the cream teas in the Hall, Meavy Friendship Group ran the very popular cake and produce stall. The plant stall, as always, had high quality plants which were kindly donated by Champernowne Nursery at Buckland. The ever popular Mr Showers kept the children entertained during the afternoon, and Disco Dad supplied the music and dancing for them in the evening.
The small committee spends 9 months from September to June organising the Fair but on the day it is all the volunteers from groups and organisations and local people who man the stalls and attractions that keeps the Fair running. This year there were many such helpers – a big thank you to you all– it was much appreciated. Our thanks especially go to Yelverton Guides and West Devon Explorers who were a huge help – we really could not have run as many stalls and games without them. All our raffle prizes are donated by local businesses or companies with which locals have links and so we have some great prizes for which we are extremely grateful. As well as having a great day, we once again were successful in monetary terms and have over £3000 to distribute – our best ever profit. The groups who will benefit this year are those that are recognised for their support of the Meavy community: The Friends of St Peter’s Meavy, Meavy and Yelverton Preschool, Meavy Bellringers, Meavy Border Morris, Meavy Friendship Group, Meavy Mums and Toddlers, Meavy Parish Hall, The Governors of Meavy School, Vintage Vehicles, West Devon Explorers, Yelverton Fire Brigade and Yelverton Guides. This year we are having a presentation evening on 6th October where the committee can meet the groups who benefit from our donation and vice versa.
If you have your 2010 calendar already then please mark on the third Saturday in June: Saturday 19th June – Oak Fair 2010. If you would like to be on the organising committee you are very welcome, we meet every couple of months from September to April and then a little more regularly until the big day in June. The meetings are not formal – brainstorming ideas and allocating tasks. If the idea of the committee is too much we would welcome any suggestions about how we can improve or change Oak Fair – please get in touch – Jenny Sharp, 853652, jsharp@plymouth.ac.uk
Parish Council Meetings
Full Council Meetings are usually held at 7:30pm on the last Thursday of the month (but not always!), the dates of the next few are:
29th October and 26th November
There is no meeting in December; dates of 2010 meetings will be in the Winter Edition of the Beacon. Agendas and dates of the subcommittee meetings as well as the Full Council meeting are posted on the black Parish Notice Boards and also on the Burrator Parish website: www.burrator.gov.uk. Residents of the parish are welcome to attend the council meetings – you should check the notice board to see the location and times.
Meavy Garden Society
Forthcoming meetings:
October 19th: Care and Maintenance of House Plants – Carol Westlake of Endsleigh Garden Centre
November 16th: The Garden House from a Gardener’s Perspective – Matt Bishop, head gardener
All meetings are at 7:30 in Meavy Parish Hall unless stated. For more information on the Garden Society please contact the chair, Mrs Joyce Williams, 855396
St Mary’s Church, Walkhampton
Mike Dobson – Church Warden
Following the success of our Discovery Day in 2008, we decided this year to have the Church open on Tuesday and Wednesday afternoons, during July and August. A team of volunteer stewards opened the Church and were on hand, not only to help visitors with any questions, but to provide refreshments. Displays were erected using material from our Discovery day – these covered Church history, our stained glass windows, Admiral Sir Robert Hastings Harris (the possible father of the field gun run), The Reverend Charles Henry Walker and our Memory reports. We had over 100 visitors and we will be opening again in 2010 for the same months. However we would be more than happy to open the Church for any interested group outside these times. Please contact either Mary Geen on 855887 or Mike Dobson on 852937, who will be only too happy to help.
Finally a plea for help – we are still keen to collect any memories that local residents may have about the Church. If you have any that you can contribute we would welcome them and will include them in our Memory Book.
Lady Modiford School, Walkhampton
Gavin Hamilton – Head Teacher
Well the long balmy Summer (!) is over and it’s like we never left. Welcome to a new term. The end of the school year was really busy with the sending off of Y6 on the next stage of their educational journey. We will miss them but are proud to see the calibre of young persons who leave us.
We tried an experiment at the end of term with our curriculum and older children. In an attempt to make the work more creative and relevant, we exchanged lessons in the penultimate week and put together a cafe day. All areas of learning were covered by this project. Children worked out prices, costs and profit margins in maths as well as calculating food miles. They looked at the geography of where the food comes from and learnt about fair trade and organic sustainability. The Elfordleigh Hotel very kindly allowed groups in to talk to the chefs about menus and food hygiene as well as learning how to set tables and wait on customers. The youngest children made cakes and rolls whilst the older children picked fruit and bought ingredients for the day’s food. We took bookings and set out the hall as a cafe. The children then cooked the menus and waited on tables. It was a really special day enjoyed by all- we even made a slight profit.
Can we thank all those involved, especially Anne our cook, and everyone who came to patronise our establishment!! Next stop will be on tele rivalling Master Chef!!! The children certainly learnt a lot and really enjoyed themselves. We also met many people from the community and it gave them a chance to meet us. The children have now decided their skill based project for this term which is exciting. We would also welcome support for our other projects which I will tell you about in future editions.
It’s Party Time – Come and Join us
Val Smith – Chair, Meavy Friendship Group
CALLING THE YOUNGER AND OLDER MEMBERS OF MEAVY PARISH
Each year the Meavy Friendship Group provides a free lunch, and entertainment afterwards, for the Senior Citizens of our parish. This year the lunch is on Friday 4th December and the invitations will be sent at the end of October. However, we are also aware that there are probably some new people in the area who are eligible that we don’t know about, or even some residents who we have slipped through the net and are therefore not on our list. The criteria are i) aged 60 and over and ii) live in Meavy Parish. Meavy Parish consists of: Meavy, Lovaton, Hoo Meavy, Goodameavy, Brisworthy, the lower side of Meavy Lane (from where the road turns down to Meavy), Gratton Lane and parts of Dousland: Burrator Road, Lake Lane, Sparkatown Lane, Manor Park, Myrtle Close, Woodlands, Nine Oaks and Iron Mine Lane.
So, if you would like to join us, or know of anyone who would, we would be delighted to see you but you must contact us so we can add you to the list. This is a very relaxed occasion that enables some people who aren’t able to get out and socialise that often, to meet old and new friends and acquaintances during lunch and over a glass or a cup of something! If transport is a problem just let us know and we will arrange for you to be picked up and returned home afterwards – it is not a problem for us.
We also run a party for Children aged 3 to 7 (up to and including year 2 in school). This will be on Saturday 5th December and again this is open to children who live in Meavy Parish as described above and also to children who attend Meavy School (Year R to 2 plus siblings aged 3 or 4 and not yet at school). Please contact Jenny Sharp on 853652 so we can make sure everyone is invited.
We always welcome anyone who can help at all of our fundraising events and at the parties (especially the senior citizens lunch). If you can help out – it is really good fun – or would like to know more about the Friendship Group please contact Val on 855909.
Walkhampton Cottage Garden Society
Simon Ward
Despite a slightly lower entry, The Walkhampton Cottage Garden Society Show proved itself as the most popular village show in the surrounds with numbers through the door up by 25 per cent on the previous year.
Malcolm McMahon secured the honours in the vegetable classes, scooping five trophies including the Eggins Punch Bowl for the top tray, the Lewis Cup for the collection of vegetables and the Hilson Silver Cup for the highest points in the vegetable class. Also prominent in the running were George Eggins and Colin Vass, with Sheila Glanville and Derilie D’Oyly giving as good and they got.
The ‘Silver Cup’, awarded for the highest number of points in the flower section, resolved into a three way tie between A. Dawe, J. Fitzsimmons and D. MacDonald. Despite not appearing on the podium for that, Wendy Swinburne carried off the McClaren Rose Bowl, for best exhibit of floral art and the Lillicrap Miniature Cup.
In the cookery section, Angela Dawes maintained her grip on proceedings, securing the cup for the most number of points, and winning two the classes. For the second year in a row, the Buck Taylor Cup for the best pasty travelled down the road to Horrabridge in the pastry-flecked fingers of John Cartwright.
G. MacPherson downed the prestigious cups in the Produce section, taking away the McNeil Cup for the best bottle of wine and the Greenwood-Penny Tankard for the best home brew. Meanwhile, Chrissie Brannigan won the Dorris Gibbings Rose Bowl for the highest number of points in the handicrafts section.
The show was held on Saturday 29th August, just as the weather picked up and was supported by a splendid refreshment tent – ably run by Mavis Goddard and Linda Landick. Out on the Memorial Field, visitors were dazzled by a collection of vintage cars and were parted from their money by a variety of plant stalls, arts stalls and local meat produce.
This year, after a time too long for polite people to mention (about 20 years!), Mike Dobson gave a final thank you to all the judges and organisers and stepped down as Show Secretary. That the Walkhampton Show is, and remains the most well-attended and entered show around, is a testament to his hard work over the years.
Village Halls
Please support our local village halls for your meetings, parties and activities. All the halls have disabled access and they vary in size and facilities so one of them will suit your requirements. All the Halls are run by willing volunteers who strive to keep them in good repair providing vital facilities for our communities.
Booking details can be obtained from the following:
Meavy Parish Hall Val Smith 855909
Sheepstor Village Hall Enid Stebbings 852838
Walkhampton Memorial Hall Michael D’Oyly 852268
Meavy C of E Primary School
Sue Blair – Head Teacher
I hope that everyone has had a peaceful summer break. The children are setting their own goals both socially and academically this term and are building towards the future. Regarding building, the works at the school are well underway and we look forward to the completion around half term. Harvest is very much in our minds at the moment and we will be celebrating as usual at St Peter’s Church Meavy on the 1st October at 2pm.
This term also sees the Christmas performances, a Nativity play and a Christmas School Fair. Our children will once again be entertaining our senior citizens in the Parish Hall. We have added cross country running and martial arts to our repertoire of extracurricular activities this term and the children seem to be enjoying these.
As usual, right at the beginning of term our older children took part in a ‘Junior Lifeskills Day’ where year 6 children use all their resources to solve problems of a vital nature and have to make decisions that teach them about consequences of actions. The children always benefit greatly from this kind of exercise and learn a lot of crucial knowledge and skills regarding how to keep themselves safe. Our year 3 and 4 children have visited Buckland Abbey and Plymouth museum as part of their studies of the Tudors and have been really inspired by their experiences.
Dates for your Calendar
October
15th Concert at Sheepstor
17th Jumble Sale, Meavy,
29th Full Council Meeting, 7:30pm
30th Sheepstor Bingo Evening
November
8th Remembrance Day Services, Meavy, Walkhampton
11th Remembrance Day Services, Meavy
12th Copy Deadline for Winter Edition of Burrator Beacon
13th Quiz Night, Meavy,
21st Dancing Class, Meavy, 2pm
26th Full Council Meeting, 7:30pm
December
1st Coffee Morning, Walkhampton, 10am – 12 noon
4th Meavy Senior Citizens Christmas Lunch Val Smith 855909
4th Burrator Twinning Assoc, Concert, 8pm, Yelverton
5th Meavy Children’s Party Jenny Sharp 853652
5th Magical Christmas Tree Show, Meavy
7th Whist Drive, Meavy, 7:30pm
12th Meavy Preschool Christmas Fair, Meavy, 10:30am Sue Screaton 854845
20th West Dartmoor Benefice Carol Service, Walkhampton, 10:00am
20th Sheepstor Carol Service 4:00pm
Full details of Christmas Services at Meavy, Sheepstor and Walkhampton Churches will be in the next edition
January 2009
13th, 14th, 15th, 16th
Meavy Pantomime Graham Dimmock 859331
To have your event included in future issues please send details (date, time location, contact name and phone number) to the Editor as soon as you have decided on the date. This will ensure maximum publicity and avoid clashes with other events. The next issue will be distributed at the end of November so details of any Christmas fairs etc can be included.
Remember to set your events dates as soon as possible and send to the editor for inclusion in the next edition which will have dates up June/July 2010.
Published and issued quarterly, free of charge by Burrator Parish Council. The next edition will be published beginning of December, copy deadline 12th November. Copy to be sent to the Editor, Jenny Sharp, 8 Marchants Way, Meavy, PL20 6PW, email: jenny.sharp@plymouth.ac.uk, tel: 853652
Burrator Parish Council is a body which complies with the Freedom of Information Act 2000. Contact the Clerk, Mrs. Lucie Luke for specific details about parish business.
Advertising
Local events are publicised free of charge. Businesses and clubs and societies (which have membership fees) can advertise in the Beacon and should contact the Editor for advertising rates.
The opinions expressed in the Burrator Beacon are not necessarily those held by Burrator Parish Council. Every effort is made to ensure that information in these pages is accurate. However, the Council cannot be held responsible for errors or omissions. Including information does not imply recommendation and any subsequent contact is made at readers’ own risk.
