Bigbury News September 2018

BIGBURY NEWS Sept 2018

Issue 439

PRODUCE SHOW p14

Memorial Hall Sun 2nd Sept set up & judging 11.00 am to 2.00pm refreshments & exhibition from 2.30 pm

BIGBURY BURGH p8 BASH Mon 24th Sept midday - 3.30 pm Tickets SOLD OUT

BB BASH RAFFLE p8 Open to all Luxury prizes including stay at Burgh Island Hotel tickets available

HOLYWELL STORES & BEACH SHOP, FRYER TUCK’S, PILCHARD INN

SHRIMPS TODDLER leader needed p12 BIGBURY NEIGHBOURHOOD WATCH coordinator needed p14 VOTE for LOCAL HEROES

p14

£16,021 RAISED for CHARITIES p22

Charterlands Chatter

www.bigburycommunity.co.uk

THIS MONTH

Please help raise money for the Bigbury News Living Archive project, so that we can buy equipment to video record interviews with local people and visitors about Bigbury Life, now and in the past. Let’s create a real treasure trove of memories!

www.seamoorlotto.co.uk/support

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LETTER FROM THE EDITOR Dear Readers, It is the end of an era, as Dane and Hilary hang up their mantles and scratch their heads about what to do next. Holywell Stores and the Vanestones have become such an important part of our village life. Many Readers have penned their thoughts and shared memories of the Vanestones (page 20).

Thank you all !

DONATIONS PLEASE! If you have not yet made a donation this year to Bigbury News - we would really appreciate your contribution.

It is a way for you to thank all the people involved in the writing, producing and distributing Bigbury News - they all do this as volunteers. It is a lot of community effort.

A warm Bigbury welcome is offered to the Kooner Family who will arrive during Septemper to take on the challenges and triumphs All funds in excess of production costs will of a much-loved village shop and post office. be shared with local charities that have been The exciting news is that there will be a great supported by parishioners. Thank you. event hosted on Burgh Island on Monday Louise Wainwright 24th Sept - the BIGBURY BURGH BASH. Bigbury News Editor Please see the feature in ‘Crews that Keep us cruising’ on page 8 and support our local life savers: Devon Air Ambulance, Hope Cove Lifeboat and the RNLI. Thanks.

See page 14 and Nominate your Local Hero in a nationwide campaign to celebrate good neighbours. I have voted. Have you?

CONTENTS Letter from Editor Neighbourhood Watch Keeping Bigbury Busy Holywell - All Change Bigbury Burgh Bash Beach Banter & Pub Cat VOLUNTEERS needed NHW, Local heroes VOTE Produce Show Farm Gate, Garden of Bigbury PULL OUT CALENDAR BIGBURY LIFE EVENTS Charity, Church News Culture Club, Bookworms Bigbury Bio Blog Neighbourhood Plan BPC Minutes (June) Bigbury Ladies, Rusty ODA Nineteenth Hole

3 4 5 6-7 8-9 10-11 12 14 16- 17 18-19 20-21 22-23 24-25 28 30 31 32 34

FREE COPIES

Bigbury News - to 450 homes in Bigbury

There is also a link on page 15 to have your say about plans to merge Devon, Cornwall and Dorset police forces. What do you want and need in South Hams? Fill in the questionnaire.

Valerie Scott needs everyone to check out the Final List of Heritage Assets by 10th Sept, when the list will go to the Parish Council for final approval. See www.bigburycommunity. co.uk/groups/neighbourhood-plan/ for list and photos. Have your say now.

So - another month has gone past and have you ‘had time’ to send Bigbury News that reminiscence or photograph or letter yet? No? Time to tick that box! Please keep our Postbag full.

I am still searching for a sub-Editor for the Culture Club (featuring local artists, photographers, authors, history, book club etc.) and someone to be the sub-Editor for ‘Events’ (editing timely reports from Organisers, obtaining photos, liaising with neighbouring parishes over events listings etc.) Is that you?

I am also very pleased to report that Maggie Best and Sharon Smith have offered to come and help me with the folding and bagging of Bigbury News - ready for the Distribution Team to take over! See the list in the black box below for the amazing Delivery Team of people who deliver Bigbury News up and down all those hills and dales in Bigbury.

THANKS to volunteer DISTRIBUTION TEAM

DONATIONS

welcome all year round cheques ‘Bigbury News’ post to - The Editor, Bigbury News, Long Easton, Easton, Bigbury. TQ7 4AN. or BACS :Lloyds Bank Sort Code 30-99-12 Acc No: 29305568 Acc Name Bigbury News

SUBSCRIPTIONS

2nd class post to UK mainland £30 per year (12 issues - colour version) payments as detailed above. bigburynewseditor@gmail.com 01548 810991

HOLYWELL STORES free copies

FREE DOWNLOAD bigburycommunity.co.uk & bigburyonsea.co.uk

SECOND HOME OWNERS Please subscribe to Bigbury News to keep in touch with local events so that you can plan your trips to coincide with community get togethers.

PLEASE JOIN IN

Have YOU Contributed to this Community Effort - the BIGBURY NEWS? Total Donations & Sponsorship 2018 £2,030 from 58 individuals + 3 companies Total Postal Subscriptions 2018 11 postal subscriptions Total Bigbury News FREE distribution 2018 4,000 copies.

Feature Sub-Editors: Stuart Watts and Fiona Barker (Bigbury Bio Blog), Norman Botton & Trish Bagley (Take a Walk on the Wildside), Richard Mathews (Parish Minutes), Valerie Scott (Neighbourhood Plan), Marlene Johnson (Nineteenth Hole), Sally Watts and Charles Harrington (Memorial Hall Events), Alice Taylor (The Garden of Bigbury), Steve Comley (Neighbourhood Watch), Rusty (ODA Agent) and Monty (The Pub Cat) Event Reporters: Michael Tagent, Hazel Osborne, Jean Wright, Yvonne Klidjian, Lynn Hiscock, Photo credits: Louise Wainwright, Luke Lane-Prokopiou (RNLI fron cover), Justin Clifford & Don Gaskin (Farm Gate), Alice Talyor (Garden), S. Dyer (bat) Annika Connolly (Beach Banter) DISCLAIMER Bigbury News and Editor cannot be held responsible for any loss or inconvenience caused by any inaccurate information contained within this magazine. Please contact the relevant party directly to confirm the details of any information or event. Inclusion of a business advertisement does not imply a recommendation by Bigbury News or the Editor. Please take up references of previous clients or customers before enlisting the services or products advertised herein.

Editor Louise Wainwright bigburynewseditor@gmail.com 07908 525663 (01548) 810991 Long Easton, Easton , Bigbury TQ7 4AN Treasurer: Lucinda Ellis Bigbury Communications Team: Stuart Watts, Lucinda & Aidan Ellis, Rose Owen, Valerie Scott and John Davies.

Distribution Team: Simone Stevens, Jim Bennett, Iris McSherry, Peter & Gill Cook, Trish Bagley, Jill Gubbins, Suzy Owelett, Danny Grace, Burgh Island Causeway, NISA shop, Park Dean, Noel Thornton, Sally Watts, Margaret Singleton, John Simes, Elise Wilson, Jenny Very, Jane Tucker, Ann Lamble, Burgh Island, Pickwick, Hexdown, Oyster Shack, Venus Cafe, Holywell Stores, Dane & Hilary Vanstone.

Thanks to the Vanstones for delivering the bundles of Bigbury News to the Distribution Team and allowing Holywell Stores to be a pick up point.

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• Two keyholder’s details: their names, address, postcode and telephone number • A list of hazards at the address, such as toxic substances, dogs, ponds, swimming pools Who is holding the keys to your property? Are And your preferred emergency repairs tradesthey legally permitted to do so? Is your Insur- men and their contact number for glazing, ance cover valid by your existing method? Do locksmith and any others you can think of. the Police know who to contact in the event Who should join the new scheme? of an emergency? An SIA (Security Industry Association) licence is required if you under- However, you may also wish to join the scheme, quoting your existing Unique Refertake the licensable activities of a key holder and your services are supplied for the purpos- ence Number in case there are any incidents which affect your premises but would not es of or in connection with any contract to a cause your alarm to be activated. For example, consumer. (Note this is unlikely to be a requirement for if there was a flood following a burst water neighbours or friends and generally applies to a Commercial pipe. Unless your alarm activates, the emeragreement). gency services may not immediately know who your keyholders are.

For many years, Devon and Cornwall Police has provided a benefit to businesses and indiMonitored alarm? vidual residents by recording details of their If your premises have a monitored alarm, then keyholders.This enables a responsible person you should already be updating your alarm to be called out if an incident occurs at your property if you are unavailable (on holiday for company and alarm receiving centre of your current keyholders. example). The keyholder information database and service has been successfully running Audible-only alarm? for over 10 years and is staffed by personnel If your alarm rings a bell or siren at the premdedicated to inputting and maintaining the ises but is not monitored by a third party you confidentiality of your details. In the event of may still join the scheme. It is of paramount a member of staff not being available to deal immediately with your email they will process importance that keyholders can be called to investigate why the alarm has activated and to it at the earliest opportunity and email you reset it. Or call 101 to report any potentially back with your reference number. crime related incident. If you join the scheme officers will always know how to contact your To join the scheme email the required inforkeyholders. mation.

No alarm?

• Your name and telephone number Even if your factory, workshop, office or • The property name, address, postcode and home does not have an alarm, should sometelephone number

KEYHOLDERS !

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thing happen at your address when you’re not there, the emergency services will know who to contact if you join.

What are the advantages to you?

• The ability to bring problems at your property quickly to the attention of a keyholder – to ensure that your property receives attention in the shortest possible time.

• To allow the authorities to quickly notify you of any impending danger such as flooding, pollution etc – to ensure your safety.

• Your information will be kept secure and will only be available to the emergency services – to ensure the security of your personal details.

• Your information can be easily updated to make life simpler. You may wish to advise the police if leaving your property unoccupied for any length of time (holidays?).

• You can indicate your preferences for emergency repairers – who the police could call if they were unable to contact you.

What do the police do with the information?

The information you provide will be held on a secure database for 2 years, after which it will be deleted, unless you contact them and request that your entry is still current and you wish it to stay live. To request the removal of your details from the database or to update your information please email: keyholderservice@devonandcornwall.pnn.police.uk.

Of course, one needs to also consider the response situation when an alarm is activated.

Stay safe.

Steve Comley

07871 310987

Ringmore & Bigbury Neighbourhood Watch Coordinator

KEEPING BIGBURY BUSY GREEN DREAMS Having lived with ‘the builders’ in my life for over 12 months and a seemingly endless horizon of mud, I cannot describe the feeling of elation, when a magic green carpet of turf was laid over the memories of last year.

Green is such a peaceful, verdant colour. The magician involved was my Easton neighbour, Luke Bateman who co-owns Green Keepers Ltd and Auto Cut Ltd. Luke, and his team of local lawn care professionals. Working with the same, seemingly effortless, ease of the BBC Ground Force team, they came in and conquered ‘The Brown’. The land had been prepared by our equally dedicated team of builders and stone masons (Rock Solid Ltd) – meticulously removing all the stones and ensuring it was as level as possible. I can recommend them both without hesitation. www.gk-uk-com www.autocut.co.uk luke@gk-uk.com 07890 700115 or 07837 132499

have fewer weeds in the lawn too, as nothing will be able to grow for long enough to flower and set seed. No need to collect the grass clippings as they are so small and will compost within the lawn, returning their nutrients.

I can adjust the height of the cut and the start and stop times. In spite of the precipitous cliff at the end of my lawn – he stops just before the edge every time and turns around to mow in another random direction. I am sad to say it is quite fascinating to watch him. There is a perimeter cable buried in the ground that restricts his movement and his location and activities are plotted by GPS and monitored

by Auto Cut Ltd. A silent alarm is triggered if he is outside the set perimeter guidelines.

We are more than happy with our lawn and Sir Mowalot. So are the rabbits Louise Wainwright

COPY DATE for Oct issue is 21st Sept PLEASE COOPERATE to help the Editor

Luke grew up in Bigbury and began a love affair with grass and golf at Bigbury Golf Course, and later at the Dartmouth Golf and Country Club. His skills as a golfer blossomed and lead him into a career as a professional golfer and golf teacher. He spent time in Norway, where he not only learnt Norwegian and obtained his Professional Golf Association teaching certification – but he also met his Norwegian wife-to-be, Christina.

It was whilst he was teaching at a Norwegian golf resort that he noticed the robotic lawn mowers in action. These tireless robots sported the brand, HUSQUARNA – which he reassures me is Swedish not Chinese. At that time, there were not many of these in the UK and he astutely realised that there was a gap in the market that he could exploit. So, he began his return migration to Bigbury with Christina, to re-join his family who live in St Ann’s Chapel. A perfect storm of beaches, family, golf and fishing.

And so, it was that, 15 years ago, Luke set up these businesses in Torquay with his family friend, Oliver Etoe. They mainly cover private lwans but also specialise in private tennis courts, bowling and croquet pitches.

Luke also has a formidable 8-man lawn care team to compliment the robotic lawn mower offer. Together they cover Devon, Somerset and Cornwall and are expanding steadily. His head office has moved to modern premises at Torr Quarry, where there are now two full time local people providing the administration of the business.

We now have one of Luke’s robotic lawnmowers tending our lawn. We call him Sir Mowalot. He only costs about £30 a year to run and he cuts the lawn for as long as we want every day. I guess this means we will also 5

BIG BIGBURY WELCOME When Jas Kooner and her husband Jaswinder Kooner and their family came to the South Hams on holiday, little did they know that it would one day be their home. “We loved our time when visiting” says Jas “and knew this is where we wanted to settle”. I am sure many of us share that feeling and will join with me in welcoming the Kooner Family to Bigbury.

Jas and Jaswinder have run a village store, very similar to Holywell since 2009 and were looking for a life style change. Somewhere where there would be a better environment to bring up their children, Harman (12) and Arash (7). Their daughter Arash is on a waiting list for a high school place locally whilst their son Arash will join Modbury Community Primary School.

“We could not have found a lovelier place to bring up our children than Bigbury” explains Jas. “After searching for three years, we found Holywell Stores. The perfect business in the perfect place”.

I asked Jas whether they had any hobbies or interests - so that we could begin to find some Common Ground to invite them to join in.

She revealed, “Running a busy shop takes up the majority of our time, hopefully this will change when we move to Holywell Stores as it already has a great team of staff meaning we should be able to spend more time enjoying activities along with more family time”. Let’s hope this all works out for them Jas also said that her husband enjoys a daily visit to the gym, and their children both have purple stripes in Tang Soo Do Karate. So I am sure they will all be up for the challenges ahead.

BIG HUGS As for Dane and Hilary - they have certainly ‘Kept Bigbury Busy’ since they arrived with their young families to make a new life here, 21 years ago. They featured in the first Bigbury News that I published back in February this year, about the time when it became known that the business was up for sale.

The Vanestones are very special people and have always generously helped anyone in need or supported others who were trying to do something positive for the community. Thank you from Bigbury News for all the help you have given in many ways, but particularly in the distribution and collection of magazines.

To Dane and Hilary - A few words from your old customers and friends:

They run the best village shop in the world.

Gilbert Snook

When the Vanstones first came they really put all their energy and enthusiasm into developing it into the business it still is. I was a great fan of theirs in the early days and they always had a cheerful smile to welcome their customers and were prepared to go the extra mile to get into stock anything that you asked for. Their family was very young in those days, although I can’t remember the year, and some of the children would be helping out too which was good to see. They also opened up the area at the back of the shop which made a very good sized car park with a great view.

Ursula Phelan Really appreciated the support and generous donations given to me when I organised a charity event at the Memorial Hall. Nice to know we are not losing you completely! Enjoy your ‘retirement’!’

Fiona Dukes It is with much sorrow that we are losing Dane and Hilary from the shop. They have been such Trojans and though I am so really sorry to see them leave the shop, they have really deserved their well-earned rest. They really knuckled into the community immediately on their arrival and I particularly remember them organising a magnificent fete in the Memorial Hall and Playing Field I think it might have been for the Millennium – it was certainly to celebrate something momentous. Dane’s mother, Jenny, was alive then and I remember her all dressed up in a period costume for the day. How can we write in 50 words how wonderful they have been and what an asset to our community. Very many thanks Dane and Hilary and please have a happy retirement.

Pam I do hope that they will enjoy their retirement, if that is their plan, and that the new owners will follow in their good footsteps.

Noel & Ursula Thornton You have helped make St Anns Chapel home for us.

Stay in touch and close by.

Love Simon & Helen.x When our shop/post office closed in Bigbury On Sea, I thought it a bit of a cheek to suddenly start using Holywell, but Dane and Hilary welcomed the extra customers and gave us the same excellent service as those who had always supported them.

Soon they were delivering (free) papers,milk etc. early in the morning and I for one really appreciate having my paper in time for breakfast. Their shop is well stocked with everything from bargains to gourmet foods and the post office offers an excellent, efficient, friendly service. In addition Dale and Hilary very generously support all local events and we at St. Laurence Church are so grateful for all their help in our fund-raising events. I am so glad they are planning to stay in the village and wish them a very happy retirement. Looking forward to welcoming the new owners and wish them well – they have a hard act to follow!!! Hazel Osborne.

Dane and Hilary have been a blessing to this community. Hard working and generous. They have helped my business grow by giving me the opportunity to re-brand the shop. They will be missed and will be a hard act to follow, I wish them all the very best and hope the new family fits in with ease. Good luck for the future Dane and Hilary, when’s the 6

house-warming party??!!

Karen and Taff Lawrence xx Heartfelt thanks to Dane and Hilary for providing such a friendly and marvellous service in the shop and for doing so much for the community over the years. We will greatly miss them in the shop and send our best wishes for the future.

Barbara and Roger John and I would like to add our thanks to Dane and Hilary and to wish them all the best for the future. They have been an inspiration to us all.

They made the Holywell Stores into a fantastic shop with a great range of goods and in addition have provided help and support for most of our community events. They also ran a great bed and breakfast service, which we have used for our visitors on many occasions. We wish them all the very best.

John and Valerie Dane and Hilary have been so welcoming and helpful to us since we bought our house in BoS. They have delivered our newspapers and countless emergency supplies that I forgot to buy whilst in the shop and have even provided our whole Christmas dinner in a box with not a single ingredient missing, even things they don’t normally stock. I think they are the only ones who know how to put up and take down the Xmas lights correctly. Ditto the gazebo for Carols on the Green. Dane’s skill at lashing down the gazebo in the face of hurricane force winds is second to none and he is a master at shinning up telegraph poles to install floodlights. The Barker family would like to wish Dane and Hilary a very happy, well-deserved retirement FiB When our shop/post office closed in Bigbury On Sea, I thought it a bit of a cheek to suddenly start using Holywell, but Dane and Hilary welcomed the extra customers and gave us the same excellent service as those who had always supported them.

Soon they were delivering (free) papers,milk etc. early in the morning and I for one really appreciate having my paper in time for breakfast. Their shop is well stocked with everything from bargains to gourmet foods and the post office offers an excellent, efficient, friendly service. In addition Dane and Hilary very generously support all local events and we at St. Lawrence Church are so grateful for all their help in our fund-raising events. I am so glad they are planning to stay in the village and wish them a very happy retirement. Looking forward to welcoming the new owners and wish them well – they have a hard act to follow!!! Hazel Osborne.

A massive thank you to Dane & Hillary for always being there for us. Your advice and support was a life line in the early days of starting our business.

We would like to wish you joy in your next big adventure! All the best, Hannah, Adrian, Honey & Pearl and everyone at the Bigbury Beach Shop Thank you Dane and Hilary for being fabulous bosses, coping with my many senior moments and having in depth discussions about post boxes ! Have an enjoyable and restful retirement Trish

There is little we can add to the praise for unsung heroes Dane and Hilary, other than a little quip about our ‘paper boy’. It was a year or so ago when Peter’s offer to help out was taken up on a rare Vanstone holiday weekend. The training having been completed, the big day came one Saturday when Peter had to ‘go it alone’. Having memorised the collection points in each house - a box to the left of the gate here and under the veranda there - Peter set off from Holywell Stores into the rain with the car loaded. It was ages before, rather bedraggled, he returned home for breakfast, regaling the stories of some customers upset with their late delivery, but so pleased that someone else had offered to do it on Sunday! And this was only the Bigbury-on-Sea section of the round - he had no idea what an onerous task Dane and Hilary (and the rest of the team) face every day. Thank you both for all your efforts, friendly approach and help with the newspapers, the shop, the Memorial Hall and the Church. We have been very lucky having you at the shop during our 18 years in Bigbury, and wish you every success in your future ventures.

Gill Cook

Keep smiling!

All the best from ‘Bigbury’ xx

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CREWS that keep us CRUISING BIGBURY BURGH BASH Mon 24th Sept 12.00 midday to 3,00 pm Burgh Island SOLD OUT! All 120 tickets for this stunning event have now been sold or allocated. Any allocated tickets that have not yet been paid for in full by 31st August will have to be re-allocated to people in nearby villages who have indicated that they would like to attend. Get your skates on today if you want to come!

There will be up to 120 people at the event, which will be held at the Burgh Island Hotel, Ganges Restaurant and Cocktail Room.

It will be low tide at the time of the event which will run from midday to 3.30 pm.

Please walk over to the hotel but try to leave the sand on the beach! Dress is smart casual.

Anyone who is less mobile and requires assistance to get to the island by vehicle should call Louise Wainwright one week before the event and book hotel transport. 07908 525663. Remember there is no phone signal at the Bigbury on Sea car park so you must call Louise in advance so that special arrangements can be made. Thank you for your cooperation.

Louise will be waiting for you at the Burgh Island Hotel gate to check your names off the list and hand you the souvenir ticket before you enter the hotel. Thank you for your support.

Ticket holders will be offered: a welcome drink, hog roast, salads, puddings and dessert wine, live music and tour of hotel.

LUXURY RAFFLE THANK YOU to our generous sponsors! Everyone can buy raffle tickets, not just those going to the event - and there are some great prizes including:

One night stay at Burgh Island Hotel (for two) including black-tie dinner and breakfast Black-tie dinner for two at Burgh Island Hotel Curry night in Pilchard Inn (for two) Hairdressing voucher - Unwind Beauty Voucher - Unwind Biscuit and Fudge Hamper - Beach Shop 2 course lunch/dinner (for two) & bottle house wine. - Oyster Shack Sunday Roast for 4 people & bottle wine Park Dean Meal voucher - Fryer Tucks Fine wines and cheeses - local producers Cuddly toys - Park Dean Discovery Surf voucher - Discovery Surf

Tickets £2 each and available from Holywell Stores, The Beach Shop, Pilchard Inn, Fryer Tucks and Louise Wainwright

PLEASE SUPPORT OUR RESCUE CHARITIES who work closely with our fabulous COASTGUARDS

There will be a ‘paying bar’ for other drinks, after the welcome drink.

The charities to benefit are: Hope Cove Life Boat, Devon Air Ambulance and RNLI. A brief talk will be given by each of the organisations.

The event to is be hosted by the new owners of Burgh Island and Duncan Gray will be there to welcome the mainlanders in this first ever joint fund raising event. The GM of the Burgh Island Hotel, Vladimir Krupa has valiantly sought out discount supplies of food and drink as well as raffle prizes for the event.

John Tucker provided the hog roast at cost and gave his time as a donation. There is a rumour he may break out into a dance when the live music is in full swing - courtesy of Burgh Island. No promises (either way!).

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DEVON AIR AMBULANCE TRUST www.daat.org In 2017 it cost £6.4 million to run the service. and £1m more is needed to build capital funds for maintenance and replacement in ten years time. Devon’s two Air Ambulances are stateof-the-art Eurocopter EC135s.

Devon Air Ambulance work closely with the South Western Ambulance Service NHS Foundation Trust (SWASFT) which deploys the helicopters. Although our paramedic aircrew are employed by SWASFT too, they are seconded to us and the Charity also makes a contribution. The Charity, together with the other Air Ambulance charities under the SWASFT umbrella, funds a specialist HEMS desk (helicopter emergency medical services) staffed by a team of six, based at the 999 control room. They monitor tasking and despatch the aircraft in order to optimise availability for the patients most in need.

HOPE COVE LIFEBOAT www.hopecovelifeboat.org The Hope Cove Life Boat is run by volunteers as a registered charity with no funding from the government or any other organisation. It is an essential part of our local community effort to keep saving lives in Bigbury Bay. Graham Phillips, Chairman of Hope Cove Lifeboat will explain the history of the lifeboat service at the Bigbury Burgh Bash. It is an amazing example of how good people can achieve much in the light of adversity.

Fund raising is directed at covering annual running costs of around £25,000, replacement costs for specialist equipment and a sinking fund for the purchase of a new boat in ten years’ time.

RNLI www.rnli.org Kate Doison, South Hams Supervisor for the RNLI, will be explaining the work of our local teams at the Bigbury Burgh Bash. There are about 45 paid RNLI lifeguards manning the area covering Challaborough, Bigbury-onSea, Bantham, Sedgewell, Blackpool, South Milton and Hope Cove. Volunteers are welcome and there are now around 10 volunteer lifeguards.

The South Hams RNLI team featured in ‘The Crews that Keep us Cruising’ in the May 2018 Issue of Bigbury News.

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BEACH BANTER MONTY the PUB CAT SPEAKS And so to Purrr Island. A wonderful little excursion with my friend Bruce - a very fine Persian Blue. Such fun! Nancy, the landlord’s wife at the Artful Dodger Inn, packed our little rucksacks with potted shrimps and bottle of milk, and we donned our little peaked caps.

“There we are boys. You look lovely!” she gushed.

And we padded through the front door, making sure the road was clear before slipping into the hedge. We yomped along the hedgerows and hey-hoe-ed down windy lanes, strolled across meadows, slipped over the dry-stone wall on Folly Hill, before pausing by the stile just above Catbury-on-Sea. Oh, my whiskers! What a sight to behold!

The sparkling sea, sapphire blue, topped with curling whitecap waves, bearing a scattering of yachts and yawls, dinghies and kayaks, the laughter of children and happy families lifting as a joyful wave in the clear air! Boris, the blond tractor driver, let us perch on the throbbing engine, as the giant wheels rolled us -swaying - above the foaming ocean. The elegant Purr Island Hotel, recently liberated in a glorious revolution from stoats and weasels, dazzling white, drifted majestically towards us. We waited for the other travellers – festooned with colourful bags, floppy sunhats, and rubber rings to clatter down the metal steps. Bruce and I stepped down more delicately, turning our heads as we did so, attracting much admiration and applause from the jolly multitude who had come to see us.

And then on, to The Sardine Inn. Bruce and I availed ourselves of a knickerbocker glory from the stripy ice-cream hut before making our way to the Smugglers Bar. But wait!

Would we be allowed in? On a previous visit, I was asked if I was ‘Local and Regular’?

What cheek! “I’m Local and Regular – as clockwork! And Royalty, my man. Just ask my friend, Bruce.” This time, we weren’t asked at all.

Which was nice. Mind you, we don’t want any riffraff, do we? Perhaps, next time, the island will send a taxi…..

Monty

If you have stories to share about the beach, estuary, riverside, sea, surf, fishing or fun - please send in your photos and words to: The Editor Bigbury News bigburynewseditor@gmail.com

John Tucker came to the rescue of a delivery van trying to reach Burgh Island.

At peak season it was difficult to get families and young children out of the way on the causeway, making it touch and go if he was to reach the van before the tide took it. John has regular call outs to help stranded vehicles. Could he have a blue light and a siren... what are the rules about this?

Charterlands Chatter

Compass jellyfish Chrysaora hysocella Several different species of jellyfish have found themselves washed up on the beach at Bigbury on Sea. Did you know that even a dead jellyfish stranded on the beach can sting?

The pain caused, varies depending on the species and the sucspetibility of the person stung.

Treatment for jellyfish stings involve:

This is a CLOSED Facebook group to keep local residents ‘in the know’ about current issues affecting them. It allows them the chance to have ‘private’ conversations about things that matter. If you are a resident or second home owner, want to join, get in touch with Beth Huntley.

Applying warmth to the area that was stung.

Use a heat pad or as warm water as the person can withstand. The warmth denatures the protein that is in the toxin from the sting.

Vinegar can also neutralise the sting. If it is painful, follow the instructions on the label and consider using paracetemol. Seek advice from a pharmacist about anti histamines to reduce any swelling.

If you have a severe reaction, severe pain or become short of breath then seek medical help quickly.

Thanks to Anthony Hoogwerf our new council operative keeping us all neat and tidy.

Beach Banter is Sponsored by Burgh Island, Venus Cafe and Discovery Surf - thank you.

More page sponsors needed please. Any funds surplus to production costs of Bigbury News will be donated to local chartities at the end of the year.

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TO THE RESCUE HOPE COVE LIFEBOAT www.facebook.com/hopecovelifeboat posted 30th July This morning, the lifeboat was launched on service to assist with a capsized vessel close to challaborough beach. Once on scene, it soon became apparent that the casualty vessel had been washed ashore due to the large swell and heavy surf. As were the two casualties who had been in the boat when it capsized- they were checked over by the Lifeguards on the beach whilst Bigbury Coastguard righted the vessel and arranged its removal.

Thanks to Beth Huntley for posting the extract (below) from the RNLI Facebook page, onto our Charterlands Chatter Facebook page.

Picture above: Stop and talk to Sophie Whistler (left) and Luke Kent (centre) at their information tent next time you see them.

They give talks on sea safety...take your family to their tent or find out yourself so you can tell others. Both are local South Hams people who are part of the RNLI team in the busy summer period. Joining them at the tent is lifeguard, Ellie Payne. There are now even more visitors, squeezing the space available for vehicle access to the beach for emergencies.

Big shout out to Adam AKA “Spud� (pictured Please keep to the pavements - even on the above) who attended his first shout today! causeway. Keep safe on land and sea.

www.facebook.com/SHGuards

Remember, Discovery Surf also teaches sea safety in all their courses.

FLOAT LIKE A TURTLE!

A BIG BIGBURY THANK YOU to our own Bigbury Coast Guards, who have been very busy the last two months. Bigbury News hopes to catch up with them in September, when the school holidays are over.

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Meet the first #RNLITopDog Dash! Dash is helping us to ask dog owners to take the lead when walking on cliffs with their canine companions. The RNLI advises dog walkers to always keep your dog on a lead when walking close to cliff edges. If your dog does fall, do not go after them! In an emergency always call 999 or 112 and ask for the Coastguard. #RNLITopDog #Respectthewater

VOLUNTEERS WANTED TRUSTEE NEEDED Citizens Advice South Hams plays a vital role in our local community providing free, independent and impartial advice to clients on issues such as debt, benefits, housing and employment.

Our trustees ensure that the charity is well managed and that resources are utilised effectively and appropriately.

Trustees devote time, commitment and experience to carry out this voluntary role, which normally requires attendance at formal meetings once per month in Totnes and participation in informal meetings and subgroups.

We seek applicants with previous experience in the commercial, public or voluntary sectors and welcome applications from all sections of the community and are particularly keen to recruit additional women to the Board, and also those who may have used our services. Training and support will be provided.

If you have the enthusiasm to help us steer and develop this essential advice service, please write to Rob Austin, Citizens Advice South Hams, Follaton House, Plymouth Rd, Totnes, Devon TQ9 5NE or email robaustin100@gmail.com or telephone 07908 807855 for an informal discussion.

SUB EDITOR for CULTURE CLUB in BIGBURY NEWS New feature in Bigbury News to promote local authors, artists and photographers - needs a sub-editor to discover our Creatives as well as explore and promote the cultural activities on offer locally. Estimate a minimum of 2 hours per week.

Contact: Louise Wainwright bigburynewseditor@gmail.com

SHRIMPS LEADER Organiser for Shrimps, toddler group needed from Sept 2018. For more information please contact: Becky Phelan 01548 811179 / 07789 111200 Or find Shrimps toddler group on Facebook

BIGBURY NEIGHBOURHOOD WATCH COORDINATOR For more information please contact: Steve Comley Ringmore & Bigbury Neighbourhood Watch Coordinator 07871 310987 12

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Night landing site.

I am pleased to advise the sites are now live and fully operational should there be any need.

Damage- witness appeal Between 1100hrs and 1500hrs on Tuesday 7th August damage was caused to a black Peugeot 407 index number WP10 TMU. This vehicle had been parked unattended in the car park for the Journeys End PH in Ringmore. Considerable damage has been caused which it is estimated will cost around a £1000 to repair.

It may be totally unconnected but at around 1100hrs there was considerable congestion in the road brought about by way of a lorry carrying a blue container. This Manchester lorry was delivering in the village and clearly had great difficulty negotiating the bends particularly outside of Cross Manor. Indeed, the only way the driver could get around was to jump out of his cab and request the stream of vehicles that had collected behind him reverse. It maybe that one such vehicle perhaps a lorry or van then reversed into the car park causing the damage? The details of the offending vehicle have not been supplied to the unfortunate owner of the Peugeot. Did you witness this incident? Were you perhaps stuck within the congestion? Better still any dashcam footage? If you have any knowledge at all please advise.

Prowlers?

Kingsbridge Police have been made aware of some reports of prowlers in the Aveton Gifford area. If you witness anybody acting suspiciously then please call 101, or 999 in an emergency. If you live in Aveton Gifford and have any information that you would like to pass to us slow time, then please email your local Neighbourhood Officer, PC Ryan Hayhurst on 16486@dc.police.uk Stay safe.

Steve Comley Ringmore and Bigbury Neighbourhood Watch Coordinator 07871 310987

BIGBURY NEIGHBOURHOOD WATCH COORDINATOR

For more information please contact: Steve Comley

LOCAL HEROES Neighbourhood Watch and co sponsor Co-op Insurance have launched a nationwide search to find and celebrate some of the best and most considerate neighbours of 2018! They are urging people to nominate the most deserving good neighbours and there is also an opportunity to put forward your ‘Hero Next Door’ for a true act of heroism. They want to know about the local heroes in your street and community whose acts of kindness and neighbourliness really set them apart.You don’t need to be a Neighbourhood Watch member to nominate and the person you nominate doesn’t need to be a member either.

Nominations close on Sept 5 WAYS TO VOTE: If you do not wish to become a Co-op member, but would like to nominate your neighbour, please e-mail neighbourawards@ourwatch.org.uk OR joinin.coop.co.uk/opportunities/159 OR www.alerts.dc.police.uk/ 14

Police Forces may merge Here is an extract from the explanation from Devon and Cornwall Police and Crime Commissioner Alison Hernandez: A merged police force will differ from the (former) alliance – the new force would become one legal entity where two currently exist. There would be one chief constable with one chief officer team, one police and crime commissioner with one team of support staff and one Police and Crime Plan. A merger will allow the new force to invest in increased policing capability across Cornwall, Devon & Dorset. Our detailed business case will propose an immediate uplift of 100 posts in the first year, with an aspiration for a further 300+ posts on top of this, depending on future

funding of the new force. That means more staff for everyone. The council tax alignment is a legal requirement, and subject to Government decision, but should cost approximately ÂŁ1 - ÂŁ3 per month for average (Band D) residents.

A full business case will be presented to the Home Office in October with a decision in principle expected by the end of the year.

If approval is given the proposal will go to Parliament. Full permission to merge will need to be obtained by the beginning of November 2019 in order to tie in with the 2020 PCC elections.

The new force would come into effect in May 2020. If this deadline is missed, change cannot happen statutorily until 2024.

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FARM G Parish Walls If you have walked up the public footpath from Parker Road to the campsite at Mount Folly Farm recently you will have noticed that the old stone wall running along the top of the steep field has been rebuilt. The work has been carried out by members of Devon Rural Skills Trust at the request of farmer John Tucker.

The old wall was constructed of soft local brown slate which has eroded away over the years in this exposed location. Some of the stone has been salvaged but John has brought in new material from elsewhere on the farm to complete the job. The repair work has been carried out on Saturday courses organised by the Trust and on training days for members

SUMMER OPENING WEDS to SATURDAY

10.00 am to 6 pm

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GATE who intend to make a living from such work.

The wall is adjacent to the inland route of the South West Coast Path and many passing walkers and campers have stopped for a chat and to admire the new structure.

Devon Rural Skills Trust is a charity which was set up in 1980 to preserve the county’s traditional crafts such as stone walling, hedge laying stone and turf facing, cobble-stoning etc. These skills are still much in demand to maintain the fabric of the countryside.

More information about the Trust is available on the website at www.DRST.org.uk.

Don Gaskin

The GARDEN of BIGBURY THE TEASEL (Dipsacus) A really versatile plant for Christmas decorations, looking great sprayed in gold. Not suggesting you do this as there aren’t that many about, at least not on our patch!

However, they start life as a really boring plant with leaves around the stem which form a kind of water bath. The Latin name derives from the word for thirst for water – Dipsacus and then presumably to Dipso!)

Then the blade develops with fabulous lilac coloured flowers which are a magnet to bees. After this the prickles become serious and very painful – perhaps a warning not to cut them! The hooked spines were once used for “fleecing” or raising the knap of woolen cloth.

The seeds are very attractive to goldfinches and they are such a lovely bird to spot around here.

Alice Taylor Water storage in teasel nodes (below)

Alice Taylor’s painting (above)

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MONDAY

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EXERCISE MH 11.00 - midday

BIGBURY BOOKWORMS

YOUTH CLUB 17.30 -19.30 MH

KORNILOFF COFFEE 10.30 - 12.00 COURTLANDS Cleveland Drive, BoS BIGBURY PARISH COUNCIL 7. 30 - 9.00 pm MH

KINGSBRIDGE JAZZ 6.30 pm Fishermans Rest Aveton Gifford

St Lawrence Service 11.00 am Communion

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BROWN bins RE-CYCLING EXERCISE MH 11.00 - midday St Lawrence Service 11.00 am Sunday Worship

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YOGA MH 7.00 - 8.15 pm

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BROWN bins RE-CYCLING

BIGBURY BURGH BASH midday to 3.30pm St Lawrence Service 10.30 am Holy Communion

EXERCISE MH 11.00 - midday

YOGA MH 7.00 - 8.15 pm

KINGSTON

£5 (adults) £2 (under 16) 18

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THURSDAY

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COMING UP LATER...

Friday 26th October Paddleboat Theatre’s ‘Rustle’ Half term entertainment for children and families.

More details next month.

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Friday 2nd November - 7 pm Musical Evening in the Church Friends of St Lawrence KINGSTON Sat 29th Sept Flicks in the Sticks Kingston Community Cinema 7.00 pm £5 (£2 under 16s)

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Vintage Bus Festival Kingsbridge - all day Beach Watch - litter survey and clean up. meet: midday Aymer Cove NT carpark

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BIGBURY NEWS

accepts no responsibility for errors in the calendar.

Check tides before journeys.

Check with organisers about tickets & times.

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LOW TIDE

Bigbury-on-Sea

Key: MH = Memorial Hall St Anns Chapel

CHURCH CLEANING ROTA 2nd Sept: Brian Lamble 9th Sept: Lynn Hiscock 16th Sept: Mike Holness 23rd Sept: Maureen Richter 30th Sept: Team Service

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BIGBURY LIFE - SUMMER CHURCH FETE

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DIARY

BIGBURY LIFE BIGBURY MEMORIAL HALL

SEPTEMBER Sunday 2nd September Garden Produce Show.

This year’s theme is ‘Sun, Sea and Sand’.

More information on other pages of this Bigbury News and on posters around the parish.

There is something for everyone to enter!

OCTOBER Friday 26th October Paddleboat Theatre’s ‘Rustle’ – Half term fun for children &families.

NOVEMBER Sunday 18th November Churchfitters (folk band) Fri 2nd Nov 7.00pm Informal Musical Evening St Lawrence Church - in aid of FSOL

ARTS SOCIETY KINGSBRIDGE Meetings in Kingsbridge Methodist Hall 100 Fore St TQ7 1AW Weds 7.30 Thurs 10.30

Bringing the Community Together

Hopefully you will read this a few days before our annual Produce Show, which will take place on Sunday September 2nd. The brilliant weather this year will, I’m sure, lead to some magnificent entries. You can enter items on the day right up to the last minute, just deliver them to the Hall between 10.00 and 11.00 a.m. on the day. Judging starts at 11.00. For those who don’t have green fingers, there are some non-growing categories, eg. limericks. See poster for full list.

October sees the start of a busy Winter season of events at The Hall. On the 26th we welcome the Paddleboat Theatre who will be performing their theatrical adventure Rustle. This vibrant mix of storytelling, music, theatre and unbounded imagination is ideal for children and families. It invites you to set up camp in the forest where the greatest campfire story ever told will unfold. Ideal for the Half Term holiday. Check out their website www.paddleboattheatre.co.uk Full ticket details will appear in next month’s Bigbury News.

The 50/100 Club has had another very successful year, thanks to the efforts of Mike and Rita Baker and Dane and Hilary at the shop. The new “year” would normally start in October but, in view of the fact that the new owners of the shop are likely to have been there for only a few weeks and that Mike and Rita are away, it’s been decided to postpone the launch until January.

Again, more information will follow shortly.

Finally, advance notice of something of a coup for The Hall. In November (the 18th) the wellknown band the Churchfitters will be performing their unique blend of folk, funk and jazz.

Since their formation in 1978 they have appeared all over Europe and will be touring the West Country in the Autumn. We’ve managed to secure them for the Hall because of our connection with Carn to Cove (formerly Villages in Action). Watch this space!

Charles Harrington.

Tel. 810023.

SEPT Wednesday 26th/ Thursday 27th 2018 The Queen of Sheba

By Louise Schofield.

How this legendary Queen has inspired artists, film makers and archeologists.

Detailing discoveries of great temples, tombs and treasures associated with her in Yemen and Ethiopia.

OCTOBER Wednesday 24,/Thursday 25th Female Faces of Victorian art: Facial features and the Fallen Woman.

Janet Couloute. Taking the Theme of the Fallen Woman, Janet will look at a series of 19C works many underpinned with Pre-Raphaelite influences that chimed with the morals of the times and challenged them.

Visitors always welcome on payment of £8 which includes Tea/Coffee.

Gill Markham 01548 724 364 or 07831 448 203

FOUND - behind some hay bales!

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Email charles_harri@yahoo.co.uk

BIGBURY CARES

LETTER from MINISTER at ST LAWRENCE

CHARITY UPDATE to mid August Macmillan Cancer Care £1,303 Fiona Dukes 01548 811188 fiona@fionadukeshr.co.uk Motor Neurone Disease Ass. Multiple Sclerosis Society £5,748 Cllr Beth Huntley 01548 810385 Cllr.Huntley@swdevon.gov.uk.

Blood Bikes £750 Golf Captains Charity Team Cathy Hamilton & Marlene Johnson Friends of St Lawrence £680 Alice Taylor (Treasurer) enquiries@silchestercellars.co.uk Modbury Caring £213 Korniloff Event (March) Hope Cove Lifeboat £224 Korniloff Event (April) South Ham Shrimps £152 Korniloff Event (May) Children’s Hospice S.W £195 Korniloff Event (June) Devon Air Ambulance £135 Korniloff Event (July) St Lukes Hospice (Aug) £153 Jean Wright & Yvonne Klidjian Memorial Hall £500 50:50 Club Dane Vanestone St Lawrence Church (bells etc) £523 Bazaar (Angie Carson & team) Jamie Proctor Foundation £812 Krista Pickering marathon run Friends of St Lawrence £370 Barn Dance Hilary Vanstone Devon Air Ambulance £300 Bigbury Church Bells £100 Bigbury Youth Club £50 Fun Run - Zoe Walters & Rob Heathman Friends of St Lawrence £575 Victorian Tea Party Alice Taylor et al Bigbury News £138 Juliette Jackson, Editor, Vanstones & Team Devon Air Ambulance £1,100 Hog Roast @ Scoble Farm Tucker Family St Lawrence Church £2,000 tbc August Fete Helen Smith & team BIGBURY TOTAL to mid Aug

£16,021

FILLING STATION

50:100 CLUB Promoted by Dane Vanstone. 50% of the money goes in prizes & 50% to the Memorial Hall.

Surplus funds from donations and printing projects carried out by Bigbury News will be allocated to the above charities in accordance with the percentage of the total raised by the end of 2018.

2019 LAUNCH POSTPONED to January 2019

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In need of spiritual fuel?

Top-up here.

20th September.

Speaker is Jonathan Bell.

Subject Spiritual Warfare - how to win the struggle.

The Filling Station is a new informal way of expressing the Christian faith using local mid-week monthly celebration meetings in a cafe-style setting. In a relaxed and friendly atmosphere with tea, coffee and cake. We have a worship time and a speaker. Prayer Ministry is always available.

EVERYONE IS WELCOME. Filling Station is an inter-denominational fellowship which hopes to benefit the local church. Gil and Kate Snook 01548 810017

BIGBURY CARES THINGS THAT MATTER

Janie’s 2018 challenge Janie Moor, CEO of Citizens Advice South Hams, is back in training - this year to complete a gruelling Aquathlon. The multi-sport event which takes place on September 1st , involves a challenging 1.5 mile swim in the River Dart from Totnes to Sharpham followed by an exhausting and hilly run back along the river to the starting point at Totnes Rowing Club.

Janie is undertaking the challenge to raise money and awareness for Citizens Advice South Hams. She says, “So few people realise that we are a local charity. We help thousands of local people every year from all parts of the South Hams. Our service is mainly run by volunteers who can offer advice and support on the phone, by email and from offices in Totnes, Dartmouth, Ivybridge and Kingsbridge. We’re lucky to be a household name, but many people still don’t realise that we are a local South Hams charity, dependent on local funding and local volunteers.

Hopefully by me doing this and talking about it people will come forward to sponsor me, offer help or decide to make a regular donation.

This will be my second racing event, last year I completed in the South Hams Triathlon and raised over £1,000 in sponsorship. It’s becoming my personal challenge to do something like this each year. I’ve always been interested in sport and thought it would be good to push myself in a way that would help raise funds and awareness for Citizens Advice South Hams at the same time.”

If you would like to help Janie reach her £500 target visit everyclick.com/7kaquathlon or if you would like to set up a regular donation, become a volunteer at Citizens Advice visit southhamscab.org.uk

On Wednesday 1st August we raised £153 for St.Luke’s Hospice. It is in its 35th year and the unit at Turnchapel is rated as outstanding by the Care Quality Commission, an accolade only given to less than 3% of the organisation they inspect. We are very fortunate to have such a good facility for end of life care so near at hand. A big thank you to everyone who came and supported us so generously and for the people who popped in with donations.

On Wednesday 5th September we will be supporting Unique (understanding chromosome disorders) at Courtlands Cleveland Drive Bigbury on Sea. We look forward to seeing you between 10.30 and noon.

On Wednesday 3rd October we will support the Plymouth and Cornwall Cancer Fund at Mariners Ringmore Drive, please note the change of venue.

Jean and Yvonne

DO YOU SUPPORT A CHARITY?

Please send 100 words describing their work and your involvement.

Provide a website and contact for the charity so that Bigbury News can promote them. Thank you.

KORNILOFF COFFEE MORNING

Photo: Janie Moor

FRIENDS OF ST LAWRENCE’S – UPDATE AUGUST 2018 At last we have some positive news regarding the repair works to the tower and spire. Andrew Wood, the Church Architect, and I met up with the Development/Grant Officer of the Heritage Lottery Fund at their offices in Exeter at the end of June. He made it clear that there were insufficient HLF funds for us to proceed with our first round application in August, due to the pressure of a backlog of applications which would take priority over new ones, but he was keen that we should carry on and make an application for their new funding programme at the beginning of 2019 with his support. Details of their new five year programme are there to see on the Heritage Lottery Fund website.

In the meantime, our plan now is to make applications to other grant funding bodies, which has always been part of the process.

We held a meeting of the Steering Group (Rev Matt Rowland, the Vicar, Helen Smith and Bryan Carson, the Church Wardens, Peter Walton, the Church Treasurer, Andrew Wood, the Church Architect and Alice Taylor Treasurer of the Friends) on 6 July 2018 to review the situation where we agreed the above approach. We also decided to try and deal with the birds in the tower. They are mainly jackdaws, not a protected species, but a huge problem. It is intended that the detritus left by the birds in the church spire and around the Bell Chamber will be removed in the autumn, once the fledglings have gone – this will reveal part of the problem involved in a later part of the repair programme. Steel mesh will be attached to all the entry points which should prevent the birds from entering again.

This is a start. We are still carrying on with fundraising – see item on the Victorian Tea Party – and we are very much on the case!

Alice Taylor (with input by Andrew Wood) 23

Organic and Vegan; Gluten, Wheat & dairy - free Available from HOLYWELL STORES

SUB EDITOR for CULTURE CLUB in BIGBURY NEWS New feature in Bigbury News to promote local authors, artists and photographers - needs a sub-editor to discover our Creatives as well as explore and promote the cultural activities on offer locally. Estimate a minimum of 2 hours per week.

Contact: Louise Wainwright bigburynewseditor@gmail.com 24

LIVEWIRE YOUTH MUSIC CHARITY Livewire Youth Music Project, has been operating since 1946, it was originally set up in an old Mission Hall, to work with young men following the war, particularly those from disadvantaged backgrounds and those thought to be at risk of offending, drugs or alcohol abuse. It works with vulnerable young people by teaching music, guitars, drums etc. and forming bands for them to work together as a team and have a safe place to go. I am on the management committee supporting the team both pastorally and practically with all the necessary rules and regulations they have to adhere to. Website: Livewireyouth.com Viv Yandell MBE St Milburgas Oratory, Bigbury A few words about us – ‘In the South West, there is no more visible project for changing young lives than Livewire Youth Music Project in Saltash. At our heart, we’re a youth club, but with a difference. We give hope to young people who in some cases have none - sometimes saving lives. These are big claims for what is essentially a music-based community service, but nevertheless it’s true and you can check out real-life cases on our website. Some of them are quite harrowing to read, but all of them have outcomes which without Livewire would have been very different.

Sometimes we uncover and produce literally stellar talent – ‘Haunt the Woods’, who have appeared on Chris Evans’ TFI Friday, being a great example. This is a Livewire-grown band and the lead singer/songwriter will tell you himself, he was a very different and angry 9 - year old from the young man you see today – all down to Livewire in his opinion. ‘ How could musicians in Bigbury help us?

We’re always on the lookout for volunteer teachers – contemporary instruments and vocal coaching. We teach a range of styles as well, from Rock through to Rap, so all specialities are of interest.

Do our musicians do gigs? If you mean our young people, yes, we have several bands like ‘Stranger’ who gig all the time an are quite commercial now – we’d have to put you in touch with them as far as charges are concerned. One of our most well-known is ‘Haunt the Woods’, who tour nationally and abroad and who have appeared on TFI Friday – they aren’t in Livewire anymore as they’re outside of the age range, but they are still very close to us. ‘Stranger’ is still currently in Livewire and they are very good.

Nigel Follett Marketing and PR Trustee Livewire Youth Music Project Brooke Close, The Waterside, SALTASH Cornwall, PL12 4EN

BIGBURY CULTURE CLUB David says that it is never too late to take up that instrument again, if you have at least a Grade 8 in music study and would like to replenish your skills on whatever instrument, David Gay a former editor of the Bigbury News, not only had a very successful career in please get in touch with him and he may be able to point you in the right direction tel: banking but in his spare time is still continu810146 or visit the Torbay Symphony Orchesing a very rewarding amateur career as a tra`s website www.torbaysymphony.org. musician.

LOCAL MUSICIAN Still blowing his horn after 75 years

David was eight years old when he was first introduced to a brass instrument and was given a tenor horn and played in the junior band of The Bristol Citadel Salvation Army, his father being a Salvationist. The training in a Salvation Army brass band was and is still second to none mainly because of all the hymn tunes regularly played.

Following a family move to the country David joined the local village brass band and really flourished putting his previous training to good use. This culminated in him being auditioned and accepted into the newly formed National Youth Brass Band of Great Britain in 1950. He played with them for three years before National Service reared its head.

However, David had already decided that as he had no option than to join up he might as well take advantage of the many places being advertised for bandsman and was successful in getting accepted for the Regimental Band of the 13th -18th Royal Hussars (Queen Mary`s Own).

BIGBURY BOOKWORMS

We had a very enjoyable meeting at Erica’s house for our August Meeting and discussed “The Sapphire Widow” by Dinah Jefferies. This was a very, light, pleasant, easy read but we were all disappointed in it.

He was immediately introduced to the French It had no depth or substance and was very Horn and for the next two years, in Germany, predictable and not as good as the author’s enjoyed making music and received excellent previous book “The Tea Planters Wife.” military band training. Although encouraged to make the army a career, a place would have All our chosen books seem to be No.1 been available at the Military School of Music Best Sellers and this was The Sunday Times at Kneller Hall had he done so, David decided choice but we all wonder how they can be given these accolades until they are widely read. the army was not for him and following his discharge he joined the Westminster Bank.

For our next book Erica has chosen “Eleanor Oliphant is Completely Fine” by Gail HoneyPlaying the French Horn really opened the man and we will discuss this when we meet way to more satisfying music making and on September 5th at Pat’s house. almost immediately David joined the Bath Symphony Orchestra. He played in numerHazel Osborne ous orchestras over the years and prior to his retirement in 1995 had been a playing member of the Somerset County Orchestra for fifteen years. On arrival in Bigbury-onSea David joined the Plymouth Symphony Orchestra and in 2001 he joined the Torbay Symphony Orchestra where he still plays in the horn section and is also the orchestra`s secretary and treasurer.

If that wasn`t enough in 2011 David was invited to join the Britannia Royal Naval College Volunteer band and played with them until the end of last year when due to a few health problems he was forced to give up.

Furthermore, David is also a trustee and treasurer of SaMMS which is the Saturday Morning Music School held for young people in Totnes.

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BIGBURY BIO BLOG Bigbury goes bats!

You probably know that bats are the only mammal species that can truly fly but did you know that bats make up a quarter of all mammals on earth? That’s a lot of bats! Did you also know that they can live up to 30 years, a remarkable lifespan for a small mammal? Or that a tiny Pipistrelle Bat weighing about the same as a 20 pence piece can eat three thousand insects in a single night’s hunting? These are just a few of the fascinating facts about bats - of which most of us know astonishing little.

Because bats are active only at dusk or late evening, it’s easy not to notice these wonderful little creatures in our midst. They can be hard to spot owing to their spectacular aerobatic abilities, allowing them to silently and smoothly swoop and swerve in pursuit of their tiny insect prey. All the bats in the UK eat insects, so they are great natural pest controllers!

Bats find their prey through echolocation - this is where the bat calls at a very high frequency beyond the normal human hearing range - although children are sometimes able to hear them - and listens for the return call as it bounces off an object. However, some prey species, like moths, are able to detect these calls and then take avoiding action, so some bats just listen for the sounds that the insects, themselves, make.

Many bat species show strange, out-of-thisworld, physical adaptations to make this echolocation possible. For example, Horseshoe Bats have a special nose-leaf, shaped like a horseshoe, which helps them to direct their calls to build up a map of their surroundings and find their prey.

bat walks where you can get out and about with an expert and a bat detector. What’s more, you could borrow a bat detector and participate in the Devon Bat Survey to help work out how bats are using our landscape.

This survey is being run as part of the Devon Greater Horseshoe Bat Project, which is a 5-year partnership project of 18 organisations led by Devon Wildlife Trust. If you decide to take part, go to http://devonbatproject.org/ devon-bat-survey/ for details. You’ll receive a report telling you what bats have flown past your detector. It does not give an exact number of bats but tells you how many times a bat of each species has been recorded passing by.

I can guarantee, you’ll be in for a big surprise!

We took part in the survey in July this year and during May in 2017. We haven’t received the 2018 results yet but last year, to our amazement, the Watts’ detected the following eight species of bat fly-past over a 3-night period in our garden at Duke’s Mill, below Easton.

Brown Long-eared Plecotus auritus (one record) The ears of a brown long-eared bat are nearly as long as its body (see photograph)! Their highly sensitive hearing means they can hunt by listening for sounds made by insects, rather than using echolocation, which some moths can detect. Brown Long-eared Bats are found hunting amongst vegetation in gardens and parks, along hedgerows and in woodland where they will pluck insects off leaves as well as catching them mid-air.

Common Pipistrelle P. pipistrellus (80 records) Common Pipistrelles are the most common and widespread of all British bat species. They are found in lots of places, including towns and cities, as well as in the countryside. They are small, and their flight is fast and jerky as they pursue small insects, which they catch Why not try venturing out in the company of a bat expert armed with a bat detector, as dusk and eat whilst flying. falls? It can be an eye-opening experience!

The detector converts the bat beeps into a frequency that humans can hear and suddenly the night is filled with the clicks and chirps of busy bats. It is these calls or beeps that the bat detector picks up, and as many of these are distinctive to a particular bat or a group of bats, it allows the experts to work out what species have been detected. Once located, if you’re very lucky you can begin to pick the bats out in flight, silhouetted against the darkening sky - a really magical experience for young and old.

There are 18 species of bat known to be breeding in the UK, the most common being the Pipistrelle. They live in out-buildings, roof spaces, trees or anywhere they can find a safe, dry place to roost each night. All of the UK bat species are in decline and need our help.

If you’d like to find out more about the bats living in our area and maybe even see some yourself, Devon Wildlife Trust organise local

Daubenton’s Bat Myotis daubentonii (2 records) Daubenton’s Bats have a strong association with water and they normally hunt for food over smooth surfaced water such as ponds, lakes and slow flowing rivers and streams.

They have a pale belly and fly low over the water, using their large feet and tail to scoop up insects from the water surface.

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Leisler’s or Noctule (1 record) These two bats belong to the same family, and are fairly large for a British bat. The Noctule is generally one of the first bats to be seen of an evening, and they like to hunt over open ground, particularly pasture. Leisler’s are more likely to be found in woodland, but they can also, be found in the same places as Noctules - making them hard to tell apart!

Lesser Horseshoe Bat Rhinolophus hipposideros (32 records)

The Lesser Horseshoe Bat is one of the smallest British species, being about plum - sized. It has a complex horseshoe shaped nose, which is related to the way it echolocates. It rests by hanging upside - down with its wings wrapped around its body, and avoids flying and foraging in lit up areas. Lesser Horseshoe Bats mostly hunt close to their roost in sheltered valleys, woodland edge, pasture and wetlands.

Natterer’s Bat Myotis nattereri (3 records) This medium-sized species has long, slightly curved ears, and a fringe of very stiff bristles along the trailing edge of its broad tail membrane. Natterer’s bat is highly agile in tight spaces, making quick, sharp turns. This means it can hunt very close to vegetation, picking up insects off leaves and twigs and catching insects flying close to dense vegetation. They tend to hunt in dense woodland, along treelined rivers and over water bodies, but are also found in woodland clearings, meadows and parkland.

Pipistrelle species (8 records) There are 3 species of pipistrelle that are commonly found in the UK, the Common, Soprano and Nathusius’. They are the smallest of the British bats, with both the common and soprano likely to be found in most areas - including the middle of towns and cities. The Nathusius’ is a rarer, migratory bat, normally found near water.

Whiskered or Brandt’s (8 records) Whiskered and Brandt’s bats are very similar in appearance, both are small with slightly shaggy fur - and Brandt’s is normally a bit bigger, but often DNA analysis is the only way to tell them apart. They are often found in slightly different areas; whiskered bats are mostly found in open wooded country, often near water, whilst Brandt’s feed through the night at low heights in woodland, parks, meadows and near water bodies.

However, a friend in Ringmore found considerably more species; some quite rare - bat wars for 2018! What might you find near you?

Contact the Devon Wildlife Trust via their website to start looking and listening.

Stuart Watts and Fiona Barker

Great pizzas at Pickwick!

Below: Devon Valley Stompers on 7th August.

The next event is TICKET only (4th Sept).

Gigs every ‘first Tuesday’ of the month at Fisherman’s Arms in Averton Gifford. Members £8, Non Members £10. Discounts for under 18’s.

Come early (6.30 pm) for a pre-booked meal.

WELCOME !

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NEIGHBOURHOOD PLAN MINUTES OF STEERING GROUP MEETING TUESDAY, 31st JULY 2018 PRESENT: Cllr Valerie Scott (Chairman), Jean Wright, Jo Symes, Grant Peet and Simon Bronstein.

1.APOLOGIES FOR ABSENCE: Apologies were received from Cllr Bryan Carson, Cllr Beth Huntley, Jill Gubbins and Karen Lawrence.

2. MINUTES OF LAST MEETING: The minutes of the last meeting held on 12 June 2018, previously circulated were agreed.

3.MATTERS ARISING Valerie Scott apologised for not having spoken to George Rosevear to find out if he had met with John Cullen to discuss the possibility of providing a new footpath link from Memorial Hall linking to Footpath 14 at St Ann’s Chapel. Valerie Scott advised that a meeting had been held with Roger English, AONB Unit to discuss the proposed development on Site 4, Land at Holwell Farm. Mr English had no objections to the propose development subject to providing appropriate landscaping and ensuring that the proposed development was carried out in a manner which fitted in well with its setting. He had suggested having a good variety of building styles which gave the appearance of organic growth rather than looking like an estate of houses, using natural materials eg stone clad walls and slate roofs which would blend into the landscape. If the walls were clad in stone the render should be set in so that it was not flush to the outside walls and gave the appearance of dry stone walling. A meeting had also been held with Nicholas Johnston and officers of the Bigbury Golf Club (see Item 5).

4. UPDATE ON SITE 4 Valerie Scott said that the Heads of Terms for the land option agreement had been agreed with the landowners and Solicitors had been appointed to prepare the Agreement.

SHDC and the management consultants, Arcadis were in the process of appointing consultants. Most of those previously appointed would be retained. Valerie Scott has been appointed as the Planning Consultant.

An initial meeting had been arranged for Wednesday, 1st August 2018 which Valerie Scott would be attending. Amongst other matters the Architects will be asked to prepare a revised layout for further discussion with the landowners and for discussion with the local community. The local community event will hopefully be arranged for a date towards the end of September 2018.

5.MEETING WITH NICHOLAS JOHNSTON, BANTHAM ESTATE AND GOLF CLUB A meeting was held with Nicholas Johnston and officers of the Bigbury Golf Club on 26 June 2018. The meeting had been held to discuss matters relating to the future of the golf club and general matters relating to the Bantham Estate.

of the policies might need to be amended and in particular there was likely to be a change regarding the application of settlement boundaries. Bigbury Parish could however include settlement boundaries within their plan as this had been agreed for the Thurlestone Parish.

Discussions were held regarding the possibility of entering into new lease arrangements with the golf club having regard to the fact that the club has for many years not been able to pay the full rent for many years due to the diminishing number of club members. It was explained that whilst golf was still a popular sport less people wished to become members of a club and preferred arranging away day events and weekends travelling to different golf clubs and possibly combining this with other activities and overnight stays.

Valerie Scott has written to AECOM asking them to proceed with the SEA as quickly as possible so that it does not hold up the examination of the Draft Neighbourhood Plan. It had now reached a stage when an SEA could be carried out to ensure that the Draft Plan meets the Environmental Regulations.

In order to boost the finances of the club and to attract more visitors it would however be necessary to enhance the facilities of the club with possibly an events area, larger dining area and some accommodation. A driving range would also attract new members. There was also the opportunity of arranging events for people staying at the Burgh Island Hotel.

Nicholas Johnston said that he had asked a firm of landscape consultants to look at the opportunities of development on part of the golf club site which would have minimal impact on the landscape and which might be used for providing the additional facilities which would be required to make the golf club more profitable. A number of sites had been considered but this work was still on going and he would be in a position to share the consultants’ report in a few weeks.

Valerie Scott advised that any new development on the golf club or on areas away from the village settlements would need to demonstrate exceptional circumstances and would need to be directly related to the golf club and not just an excuse to provide some more holiday lets.

6. MEETING WITH TOM JONES, SHDC POLICY DIVISION A meeting had been held with Tom Jones to discuss the Draft Neighbourhood Plan, the evidence base and the draft policies of the plan.

Mr Jones gave some helpful advice in relation to the wording of the policies and suggested that the wording of the Thurlestone policies which had now been agreed by the SHDC and the Inspector would be a useful source of guidance on these.

7.PROGRESS ON STRATEGIC ENVIRONMENTAL ASSESSMENT

8. SECOND HOME/HOLIDAY LET SURVEY Valerie Scott advised that she was still waiting for completion of the survey of properties on the northern part of the Parish. She will give this a chase.

9.DRAFT LIST OF LOCAL HERITAGE ASSETS The Draft List of Local Heritage Assets has been sent to SHDC, Devon CC and Historic England. Useful and very positive comments have been received from Richard Gage, SHDC Conservation Officer, Susan Watts, Devon CC Heritage Division. Ms Watts had suggested possibly adding some further assets and these had been investigated with at last two being added to the list.

Consultation on the draft list can now take place and this will be done by an advert in the Bigbury News, an advert on the community website, notices on the noticeboards and an advert on the Holywell Stores. Comments can be sent to Valerie Scott or other members of the Steering Group or placed in the comments box in the Holywell Stores.

10. OTHER BUSINESS Valerie Scott advised that SHDC had placed Tree Preservation Orders on the two Monterey Cyprus trees on Burgh Island and notices had been sent to the owners.

11. DATE OF NEXT MEETING: Glen Cottage, Bigbury on Wednesday, 29th August 2018 at 6pm.

Cllr. Valerie Scott Chairman of Steering Group

LOCAL HERITAGE ASSETS

Please check the website below for a Final List of HERITAGE ASSETS for your approval and comMr Jones that SHDC was still awaiting comments before 10th Sept. The List will be submitted ments from the Inspectors who considered the to the Bogbury Parish Council meeting on 12th of Joint Local Plan. They had been advised that Sept for final approval. with some modifications it would be possible to find the Plan sound and hoped that SHDC www.bigburycommunity.co.uk/ would be able to adopt the Plan towards the groups/neighbourhood-plan/ end of this year. SHDC were aware that some 30

BIGBURY PARISH COUNCIL MINUTES - 25th July 2018 - Memorial Hall St Ann’s Chapel EXTRAORDINARY MEETING PRESENT: Cllrs: C Carson, G Rosevear, S Smith, E Huntley (D.Cllr.), H Getley, C Case and Clerk R Matthews. C.Cllr Gilbert and five residents were also in attendance.

1.0 Declaration of Interest No such interests were acknowledged.

2.0 Apologies for absence:from Cllr. V Scott.

3.0 District Councillor’s report D.Cllr. Huntley provided an update on activity since the last meeting, reminding everyone that those registered with Charterlands Chatter had access to more frequent updates.

Rubbish removal around the beach and car park – A new operative (Anthony) was now working in the area from 10:00 to 14:00 and 16:00 to 19:00 daily. A different operative was covering Challaborough. At long last more bins were shortly to arrive and be trialled for one week at Bigburyon-Sea car park. As I am away in the coming week, it is important that Parish Councillors and others (including residents) write to SHDC to advise if this additional capacity is helpful. Please contact Dale.Cropper@swdevon.gov.uk and copy myself Cllrehuntley.bigburypc@gmail.com.

I have also requested a new dog poo bin to replace the broken one on the Warren.

Ragwort - spot weed killing was completed on Monday (23rd) and strimming would be completed on the Warren by the end of this week. This area will be attended to and cut

by SHDC to coincide with every second grass cut of the Play Park in St Anne’s Chapel. The frequency and cost for grass cutting at the Play Park needs to finalised.

Action Clerk I am still working on a long term solution for the payment of car parking and WC charges that the District Council want to implement.

The current situation where local businesses need to provide a coin for notes exchange is both unacceptable and unsustainable. Venus & Beach Shop exchanged £470 on May Day Bank Holiday and Hannah had to provide a pool of £3,900 for the ten day period.

SHDC have considered my idea of combining WC & parking charges into a single contactless payment. My hope is that this will relieve Hannah and Venus Café of any need to provide change and lessen queues for the loos which will appear to remain free. There will be no old fashioned (1850!) coin boxes to empty, no Out of Order loos because coin box are clogged or full, no staff needed to empty coins, no opportunity for funds to go astray as all monies will go straight to SHDC electronically. This initiative is supported by C.Cllr. Gilbert who thinks it could be rolled out across the entire South Hams. Following a discussion between Cllr. Getley and a Mobile Telephone Engineer, I met with the main owner of Burgh Island to explore the use of cupola to house mobile phone signal booster equipment, which could bounce a signal

to other points of the Parish. The Head of Maintenance on the island confirmed this was feasible. It may also be possible for the church spire and other buildings to house similar devices, providing greater and improved coverage across the entire Parish. Such installations could attract grants of between £300 and £1,400 from the hosts; perhaps a welcome boost to the church bell fund. Gigaclear, Telent and Connecting Devon are to talk at a public meeting about the implementation of ultra-fast broadband across the Parish. Perhaps the Parish Council should adopt a local expert to help interpret the technicalities and translate the concept into words the average person can understand. Phil Shea would be a good person to take on this role. Cllr. Case reminded the meeting that as this was not an agenda item and as such a discussion and any decision needed to be deferred to a future meeting.

Action Clerk The Avon Estuary Patrol Boat had been reinstated and should cut down on unreasonable behaviour. Buoys had also been placed in Bigbury Bay to limit speeds and make it safer for swimmers.

Waves Edge – the owners are appealing against the condition imposed to lower the ridge height by 12 inches. They hope to overturn this decision. If individuals think this is inappropriate they should write to the Inspectorate - John Simes has web address.

The Parish Council also need to consider their position on this matter again, having opposed the additional height at every stage so far in the process.

Warren Cottage - the internal & external work is continuing apace, the grounds look improved and they are hoping to open the café in late August.

The new menu at the Pilchard is well accepted by locals and visitors alike and more staff have been trained to drive the Sea Tractor which reduces the wait for the transit.

Two trees on the island have received Tree Protection Orders last week.

Every pub/cafe in the area is seeking additional staff for the summer.

4.0 Planning related matters 2052/18/HHO Foxhole – Application for a single storey ground floor extension. Having reviewed the plans on line and discussed at the meeting itself, the Councillors were of the opinion that the proposed changes were in keeping with the area and improved the property. Cllr. Rosevear proposed the application be supported. Cllr. Case seconded the proposal which was agreed by the Councillors with the exception of Cllr Huntley who abstained from the vote.

5.0 Finance: Approval of payments to be made and presentation of finance statement Cllr. Carson proposed the recommended payment be accepted which was seconded by Cllr.

RosevearSmith and all councillors agreed.

Clerk was to raise the following payments: 31

£30.00 – Bigbury Memorial Hall – hire charges for the use of hall for PC meetings 6.0 Agenda items for next meeting Resident A raised a concern about additional car parking spaces at the Oyster Shack – this was to be included on the agenda for the September meeting.

Action Clerk IMPORTANT NOTE – IT WAS DECIDED TO BRING THE DECEMBER MEETING FORWARD BYONE WEEK TO WEDNESDAY DECEMBER 5TH The meeting closed at 7:00pm - the next meeting is to be held on WEDNESDAY September 12th at 7:30pm

HAPPY HOLIDAYS Thanks to Bigbury’s hard working volunteers who are our Parish and District Councillors.

Cllr Bryan Carson (Chairman) The Byre, Easton TQ7 4AN Tel 01548 810296/07977 900606 e-mail: Cllrbcarson.bigburypc.@gmail.com Cllr George H. Rosevear (Vice-Chairman) The Quoin, 4 Bigbury Court TQ7 4AP Tel: 01548 831427 Email: Cllrgrosevear.bigburypc@gmail.com Cllr Valerie Scott (co-opted April 2018) Glen Cottage, Bigbury TQ7 4AP Tel: 01548 810336 Email: cllrscott.bigburypc@gmail.com Cllr Cathy Case (co-opted September 2015) Lower Willings Farm, Bigbury TQ7 4AP Tel: 01548 810079 Email: Cllrccase.bigburypc.@gmail.com Cllr Beth Huntley (co-opted September 2015) Cleveland, Warren Road, Bigbury on Sea TQ7 4AZ Email: Cllrehuntley.bigburypc@gmail.com NB Cllr Huntley is also the SHDC Ward member for ‘Charterlands’as from March 2017 Cllr Sharon Smith (co-opted September 2015) The Old Vineyard, Easton, TQ7 4AN67 Tel: 01548 810115/07752 918386 Email: CllrSmith.bigburypc@gmail.com Cllr Hannah Getley (co-opted March 2017) 7 Little Hill, Salcombe TQ8 8LZ email: CllrGetley.bigburypc@gmail.com Parish Clerk - Richard Matthews 10 Lower Brook Park Ivybridge PL21 9TZ Tel: 01752 896266 or mob 07967 130599 E-mail: clerk.bigburypc@gmail.com

TOWARDS A FA

BIGBURY LADIES

Here at Bone House, the head kennel office of “Only Dogs Allowed”, we maintain a There were ten of us who gathered at Long Easton, the home of Louise Wainwright for a constant vigil inour quest to achieve a fairer bring-a-plate lunch. Initially we gathered round the large table on the patio, some drinking world for the cause of the hound. Our watch wine and one other (me – the teetotaller!) drinking water!! After a while we adjourned indoors is not just in the home countries, but is also and sat round the large table in the kitchen, upon which was a lovely spread of food – e.g. hard- pan European, where, to the average observer boiled eggs, Mediterranean flan, a quiche, coleslaw, a Greek salad, cold meats, pastry turnovers it may superficially seem that the playing field with a delicious filling, etc. Then out came a gorgeous coffee cake made by Gill Peet and a is, or pitch is even. But there are many pitfalls lovely Victoria Sponge made by Jane while I supplied squares of old-fashioned bread pudding and potholes to be avoided in our journey. made to my late mother’s recipe.

Take for example, this business of “Brexit”, a There was a story to my contribution. I had put the mixture in my oven at 9.30 the night bematter which seems to exercise many hufore with it due out of the oven at 11.0 .p.m. – sat down to watch TV and after while I struggled mans. Dear Reader, until now you may have to open my eyes – looked at the clock and was horrified to discover it was 1.0 a.m. You can assumed that this is a matter only for the huimagine what the bread pudding looked like – so there I was up till 2.0 cleaning the burnt smell man. But if this is the case, then why should from everywhere!!! So, the next morning I had to make another one. Many thanks to Louise these campaigners against “free movement” for hosting the get-together which we all enjoyed. have appointed someone called “Mogg” (AKA “Rees Mogg”) to champion their We discussed where to book for our annual Christmas dinner when we will meet one week cause? A ‘moggy” is a moggy however you earlier on 12th December, so further news on that in the next News issue. For September, we spell it, and in my profession one learns how are going on the river trip from the Barbican, round to the River Yealm and back to Plymouth. sneaky and deceitful the feline can be. I had This is on Wednesday 19th September and the boat leaves Plymouth at 1.0 p.m. (13.00 hours) never heard of this individual until recently, and gets back to Plymouth at 3.0 p.m. The cost is £15.00. It will mean we will have to leave and yet now I learn from “The Daily Dog”’ Bigbury approx. 11.30 a.m. If you wish to come on this trip please contact me on 810 719 that he may become our Prime Minister.

Pam Trundle This is serious, but not necessarily bad news, and let me explain why: Two years ago, the good people of South Hams voted, in the Brexit Referendum, to remain in The European Union, an arrangement under which something called “free movement” has enabled my master and mistress to negotiate a “pet passport” for me and an elderly Jack Russell terrier, Millie, who assists me in my duties here at Bone House.

This document allows us to travel without impediment to any of 27 other countries in Europe. Of course, before returning, I have to take my master to a vet, simply to ensure he hasn’t contracted some unpleasant condition or other. However, since as humans go, he has comparatively clean habits, this presents little difficulty, although there was one occasion on which he contracted cat flu.

For some time now, we have been using our

The BREXIT Question is very worrying

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AIRER WORLD annual vacation, enabled by the pet passport system, to start and nurture foreign branches of “Only Dogs Allowed”.

And this brings me back the said “Jacob RM”: visitors to Europe will know that there are far more domestic cats in some countries there than there are here in Britain. France and Germany, for example have twice as many cats as we do. And cats being cats, they know it.

All I ask of Mr Mogg is this: Does the ban on free movement apply to cats as well as humans? If so, then then I suggest that you change your name by deed poll. It is only a question of a syllable, to exchange the “M” for a “D”. And then one would know where one stood. You could be our new President following the retirement of the well known slipper manufacturer, Jimmy Chew.

We have had little success in Germany and France which have 30,000 cats between them.

This is nearly 11,000,000 cans of cat food a week. (You do the maths: no wonder Europe is broke). Yet in Spain, our first sister organisation, “Solo Se Admiten Perros”, has enjoyed remarkable success.

There are only about 3000 domestic cats in Spain, thus allowing the 5500 domestic dogs to enjoy a decent feline free existence, and enabling a weak economy more chance of survival If free movement is to be restricted after “Brexit”, I need not exhaust myself so much. The Franco German War was getting a bit much anyway.

Yet political debate is not just a two footed affair. If there is no “deal”’ the boots, so to speak, could soon be on the other feet, but a politician called “Mogg” or even “Dogg”, only confuses the issue, until he brings much needed clarity and transparency to the question.

Rusty ODA Agent

g

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NINETEENTH HOLE The Golfing at Bigbury has continued through July and August at a somewhat frenetic pace.

There have been many Trophy competitions, regular Stableford and Medal competitions, the popular Opens continue and the Inter Club matches are still being played. The course has been playing really well and many members have had their handicaps cut, some by as many as six or seven shots over just 10 days or so.

Two of our Bigbury Golf ladies have been selected to represent Devon Ladies and Girls Teams and everyone at Bigbury Golf Club is very proud of Amanda Burchell and Jess Leach.

Amanda Burchell (handicap 4) played for the Devon Ladies at the South West Inter-Counties Match Week which took place at the wonderful St. Enodoc Golf Club in Cornwall from 2nd to 6th July 2018. The course is currently rated no.

11 in the Top 100 Courses in England and is a real golfing challenge. The South West Division comprises of Devon, Cornwall, Dorset, Wiltshire, Somerset and Gloucestershire. Our Devon Ladies were second to Gloucester, with just half a point between the two teams, an excellent achievement. There were very tough competitors amongst these County teams and the competition throughout was tough. Amanda very much enjoyed the five days of intense competition, playing in a team of Devon’s top lady golfers, at one of the most beautiful courses in the country. The week leads to some great camaraderie and the weather was fantastic.

owned and run. We were made most welcome

by Laura, whose grandfather started the club some 18 years go, and her friendly team. The weather was super for golf and the course played really well.

The golf was a relaxed 3 ball team Stableford format, with just two scores to count. Every player received a “Mulligan”, which allows a bad shot to be played again, without penalty, even though this is against the formal rules of golf!

Each player had a Mulligan balloon tied to their golf trolley and when their Mulligan was used, they had to burst their balloon. The winning team with a very good 79 points, were Faye Pannell (handicap 22), Sue Warren (handicap 26) and Karen Hales (handicap 36). In close second with a good 77 points were Jenny Balkwill, Brenda Lee and Sally Watts. As well as the prize for the winning team, there were three additional prizes and the winners of these were: Nearest the line Christine Greenfield (handicap 34); nearest the Pin Sally Watts (handicap 30), and the longest drive Chris Bridgett (handicap 34). The winning ladies enjoyed having two

Bigbury Golf Club is also delighted to report that our Junior’s Captain, Jess Leach (handicap 15), was selected to represent Devon Girls in the South West Inter Counties event at Brickhampton Golf Course from 12th to 14th August.

Brickhampton was created in 1994 and is set in 200 acres of rolling Gloucestershire countryside with no steep hills. Rather different to Devon.

Congratulations Jess, and we hear you had a very good few days but that the weather wasn’t too kind for you and your fellow Devon Girls team mates.

The photograph accompanying this report has both Amanda and Jess in it. It was taken at Yelverton Golf Club where they had just played against each other representing different Devon teams.

Our Trophy winners over the past four weeks or so include, Jan Dimmock (Balkwill Trophy) and Jason Holtom (The Men’s Pickwick Bowl). The team of Pam Hollingworth, Pam Goode and Marlene Johnson were delighted to win the coveted Border Reiver Trophy, which was donated by the family of the late Elizabeth Buckingham.

Friends and Past Captains Mick Gates and Harry Kerswell played a stunning round of golf to win the Oakleigh Memorial Trophy, recording a score of Nett 59. Mick and Harry were Captains in consecutive years, 2014 and 2015. The Senior’s Harry Pitt Memorial Trophy attracted 65 entries and the winner was John Cocks.

Our Lady Captain, Marlene Johnson, with 23 of the Bigbury Ladies, had a most enjoyable Away Day at the Bovey Tracey Golf Club. Bovey Tracey is unusual in that the golf club is family

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chances at these prizes as Bovey Tracey is a rather tricky nine hole golf course, with the back nine played off different T’s. The Ladies all enjoyed a relaxed, fun style competition, with a good meal afterwards followed by the prize giving.

The Opens continue at Bigbury Golf Club and the recent Texas Scramble attracted 88 players.

As well as many local golfers, others came from as far away as Scotland, and down into Cornwall. All enjoyed good weather, a course that was playing very well, and a good meal.

Bigbury Golf Club will be hosting an “Eve of the Ryder Cup Party” on Thursday 27th September. The Captains Thomas Bjorn (Europe) and Jim Furyk (America) will be announcing their pairings for first morning’s play.which will be the cause for much debate. This year the Ryder Cup is taking place in Paris and our caterer Liz will be providing a meal of coq-au-vin, followed by tarte tatin. Tickets will be on sale soon at a cost of £10 each.

Marlene Johnson

BIGBURY EVENTS

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