Plym Links December/January issue 2020/21

WALKS | ARTS | EVENTS | PEOPLE | HERITAGE | LOCAL FOOD & DRINK | HOMES | BUSINESS

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Learn more about our festive feathered friend

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Robin Redbreast

BUY LOCAL & SAVE

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Climbing, Nature & the Devil

COM BUS I NESS

The Dewerstone

December 2020/January 2021 | Issue 7

JOBS

CHRISTMAS SHOPPING & MARKETS

The lost village of

Hallsands

Poetry, Pandemic and the Professor

GARDENING Winter jobs and Christmas gift ideas

FOOD & DRINK Rhubarb & Custard Cake

MEET the locals

• A passionate sportsman from Derriford • A priest from Lee Moor

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A gem on our doorstep

The deadline date for any inclusions in the February/ March issue of Plym Links will be January 8th, 2021 For all editorial enquiries please contact me via email at: jane.honey@linksmagazines.co.uk or by phone 07971 917071.

THE LINKS TEAM: Publisher: Tim Randell Editor: Jane Honey Design: Julian Rees Advertising: Jane Daniel, Olivia Breyley, Joanne Mallard

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Christmas 2020 will certainly be a festive period like no other. As I write, at the beginning of November, I’d normally be making plans and lists and looking forward to seeing family and friends yet this year, the uncertainty of living in a global pandemic means to do so seems like tempting fate.

I don’t think I have ever said ‘fingers crossed’ so much!

But Covid 19 will make no difference to the subject of our feature this edition. The Dewerstone has stood proud above the rushing rivers of the Meavy and Plym for thousands of years. It’s a fascinating place for flora and fauna that also has an interesting industrial past, is a mecca for outdoor enthusiasts from near and far - and is right on our doorstep!

Coincidentally the two men I interviewed for our local people section are both called John and both hale from the north - but there the similarity ends.

John McNulty will be a familiar name to long-serving members of the ‘Green Army’ having been connected with Plymouth Argyle for many years. John McIvor is not so well known, but has been a stalwart in a different way to Lee Moor, the village he has called home since the early 1970s.

The Colebrook organisation has been supporting vulnerable adults in the Plymouth area for more than 35 years. You can read all about their valuable

Contents | December & January

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36 What’s On 41 Food & Drink 42 Music & Arts 46 Walk 48 History 52 Business 53 Technical Help 54 Trade Secrets

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Happy reading!

Jane Jane Honey Editor Plym Links

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5 48 44

WALKS | ARTS | EVENTS | PEOPLE | HERITAGE | LOCAL FOOD & DRINK | HOMES | BUSINESS

PLYM LINKS The Dewerstone Learn more about our festive feathered friend

December 2020/January 2021 | Issue 7

November/December 2020 | Issue 22

COM

BUY LOCAL & SAVE

ITY

Robin Redbreast

UN

Climbing, Nature & the Devil

WALKS | ARTS | EVENTS | PEOPLE | HERITAGE | LOCAL FOOD & DRINK | HOMES | BUSINESS

OKE LINKS

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Delivered by the Royal Mail to the following towns and villages: Roborough, Woolwell, Widewell, Shaugh Prior, Bickleigh, Wotter, Sparkwell, Glenholt, Derriford, Derriford Hospital, The Plymouth Science Park and selected outlets.

work and how they enable people to live independent and fulfilling lives in the Charity Focus section on page 26.

Whatever happens to our Christmas plans, the festive period tends to be the season of overindulgence - you can turn to page 33 for some advice from Dr Rachel Tyler if you find yourself a little under the weather as a result of enthusiastic excess or suffering with winter bugs.

This time more 120 years ago, January storms were to prove disastrous to the villagers of Hallsands in South Devon, as their homes were destroyed, partly due to the weather and partly because of careless dredging of the sea close by.

Discover the story of this famous ‘lost village’ in the history section on page 48.

At the end of this very trying year, I’d like to wish all our readers, contributors and advertisers a very merry Christmas and a happy, healthy New Year.

Stay safe everyone.

10

BUS I NESS

5 Feature 8 Local People 12 Noticeboard 20 Nature 23 Education 26 Charity 28 Gardening 33 Health

FROM THE EDITOR

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CHRISTMAS SHOPPING & MARKETS

Devon’s War Girls MED Theatre’s touring performance

The lost village of

Hallsands

Poetry, Pandemic and the Professor

GARDENING Winter jobs and Christmas gift ideas

FOOD & DRINK Rhubarb & Custard Cake

MEET the locals

• A passionate sportsman from Derriford • A priest from Lee Moor

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Church improvement

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Hands-on learning in arts and crafts

Change afoot at All Saints

Okehampton United Charities

Meet the locals

Phenomenal support to communities

A Moretonhampstead shroud maker A Dartmoor gilder

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Spotlight on the thyroid

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FEATURE

Adventure on the doorstep...

Gavin Kelly explores the

DEWERSTONE N

estled in a quiet corner of Dartmoor above the confluence of the Meavy and Plym rivers lies a hidden gem. A place of Dartmoor tales; ancient oak woodland akin to the famous Wistman’s Wood, hide steep boulder fields blanketed in thick moss and towering columns of granite, surpassing the scale of anything else on the moor. Rumour has it the rocks got their name from the ancient Devonian name for the Devil, who would unleash his Wisht hounds from their kennel at Wistman’s Wood to chase unsuspecting souls to their doom over the high cliffs.

This apparently natural landscape hides a plethora of industrial and archaeological secrets on closer inspection.

From the curious ruins of a China clay kiln that shadows the car park, a short foray across the footbridge (manhandled into position in 2010 with the help of the Royal Marines) finds the remains of an old iron mine, and trackways following the Plym and Meavy rivers as Please mention PLYM LINKS when responding to adverts

they diverge and ascend towards their moorland sources.

A number of trails from here offer walks that explore the valleys’ other hidden history such as quarries, tramways and even the old counthouse and smithy, now used as a bunkhouse and activity centre.

Recent events have for many further highlighted the importance of our green spaces for physical and mental health and well-being, as well as providing many examples of how we can leave our indelible marks on the landscape.

The area around the Dewerstone provides a haven for a wonderful range of flora and fauna. In addition to the common sheep and odd pony that are found grazing the upper woodlands, early morning walks will not infrequently provide the pleasure of spotting red or roe deer. Walking through the woods in spring, you will often be confronted by a small green caterpillar dangling from a silken thread - this harmless larva of the Winter moth Visit our community website www.dartmoorlinks.co.uk 5

The rocks of the Dewerstone offer some of the biggest and most diverse “climbing to be had on the moor. The solid granite provides confidence and challenge in equal measure, renowned among climbers for its security as well as its exfoliating properties!

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loves to feed on the succulent new leaves of the oak trees.

In a number of places, you can find huge nests of wood ants. These apparent piles of old foliage and leaf litter can tower to more than a metre high and house thousands in an amazing natural crawling metropolis which can, for some, feel like a scene from a horror movie!

A walk or scramble to the summit of the hill will reward you with views across Plymouth and far into Cornwall and in the other direction, the high moor around Princetown.

It was from this summit that Royal Marines would once collect their Friday pay packet by running from the nearby barracks at Bickleigh.

The towering granite pedestals of the rock itself provide home to a variety of birds including ravens, jackdaws, kestrels and grey wagtails to name but a few. Frequently on 6

fine days, high up above, the valley is patrolled by soaring buzzards, calmly riding warm thermals.

The rocks of the Dewerstone offer some of the biggest and most diverse climbing to be had on the moor. The solid granite provides confidence and challenge in equal measure, renowned among climbers for its security as well as its exfoliating properties!

Easy angled slabs offer beginners the perfect place to try out this rapidly growing sport and the area is well served with qualified instructors and active climbing clubs. The higher cliffs of the main face rise almost vertically 200ft from the banks of the river Plym and offer experienced climbers over 50 climbs of varying complexity and physical demands. Two further buttresses rise from the forest further up the valley take the count to more than

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FEATURE 100 known routes to date, since the first recorded ascent in 1894.

My first trip to the Dewerstone was a seventh birthday picnic with the family, when the surprise was being taken climbing by my dad, whose tales of mountaineering in Snowdonia and the Lake District had captured my imagination. The practice of the time was to ‘securely tie’ a rope around the waist and away we went. Only a few years later I returned for the next instalment, with an evening climbing club trip which ended with me getting temporarily stuck high up on the Needle Buttress in failing

light. These early forays set the tone for a lifetime of adventure across the UK and overseas, in which I exercise my passion for helping people grow, learn and develop their climbing and outdoor skills.

So as the autumn colours begin to fade and winter takes hold, make some time to have an adventure, you could end up discovering something amazing. Share and marvel in taking time to enjoy this amazing natural resource.

Remember, as a friend once said: ‘Take only memories and photos, leaving nothing but footprints.’n Gavin Kelly Gavin is a mountaineering and climbing Instructor based on Dartmoor. He runs specialist training courses for novices and professionals through his company Ibex Outdoor. He is passionate about helping people to access and engage with the outdoor environment.

to the Dewerstone was a seventh birthday picnic with the family, “ Mywhenfirstthetripsurprise was being taken climbing by my dad, whose tales of mountaineering in Snowdonia and the Lake District had captured my imagination. ” Please mention PLYM LINKS when responding to adverts

Visit our community website www.dartmoorlinks.co.uk 7

John McIvor

Priest and family man

J

ohn McIvor came to live in the Dartmoor village of Lee Moor 47 years ago - yet you can still detect an unmistakeable trace of northern accent as he chats.

Born in West Hartlepool in 1932, with the outbreak of the Second World War, John and his sisters moved to the West Riding for safety - West Hartlepool having been badly damaged during the First World War. As a merchant seaman, his father first went to sea when he was only 14. In those days, time spent away could mean literally years, not just weeks.

‘My dad had been round the world twice by the time Brought up a Roman Catholic, he was 17,’ said John. ‘They used to do what was called John’s faith has been steadfast throughout his life. He tramping - you never knew when they were going to was confirmed into the Church of England when he was be back, or what would come back with them. I can 17 and following his marriage, after seven years tuition, remember having a monkey as a pet - you’d be hung, became a licensed reader in the parish of Cowling in drawn and quartered if you did that now!’

1967. John was ordained priest by Bishop Robert Mercer John can recall his school days in West Hartlepool CR of the traditional Anglican Communion in 2000. vividly: ‘I remember crying and saying to my Mum: “I He freely admits to being vehemently opposed to the want to go to school without shoes, why can’t I be like ordination of women for many years - but his views have the other children?” There were kids there who only now changed: ‘I can’t see wore shoes on a Sunday I’d say around 50 percent I can’t see the God I worship making a the God I worship making a difference between men of the children at that difference between men and women. There and women. There were time went to school with were women priests in the very, very early women priests in the very, bare feet - my greatgrandchildren can’t church - I think it was the church of Rome very early church - I think it was the church of Rome comprehend this!’ that suppressed it. I suppose I just used to that suppressed it. I suppose After John left school, be a male chauvinist pig!

I just used to be a male he became an apprentice chauvinist pig!’ at T&N Baistow, John remembers his first impression of Lee Moor was worsted spinners and manufacturers, becoming a that everyone knew everyone else: ‘First day, there spinning overlooker: ‘In those days you only became an was a knock on the door - it was Freddie Bowden. He overlooker if you were a rotten sod,’ he grinned. said: “Mother sent this”. There was a bag of potatoes, At that time the woollen industry was still important carrots, turnips - all vegetables he’d grown himself. Every in the UK - wool sorters in the 1950s were earning the week he’d arrive with his veg, for four or five weeks, until princely sum of £20 a week. John remembered the ‘sudponds’ created from washing the wool, when the top the one day when he said: “Now it’s time to till your own!” There were very, very kind people in the village.’ layer of grease and fat was sold to Max Factor for use in One of John’s roles was to give talks to local groups and cosmetics. But by the 1970s, the industry had started to schools about the china clay industry that was such an decline and John was made redundant from the mill. integral part of Lee Moor village. ‘We had one funny In 1973, he successfully applied for a job as a incident, we were telling these schoolchildren about the stipendiary reader and welfare officer for English China clay and how valuable it was - we meant in terms of the Clays. The family - he and wife Betty have two sons, economy - and there was one lad lagging behind the Peter and Graham - moved to what was known as the Church House in Lee Moor and John started work in the group that could hardly walk - he’d filled his pockets with it!’

April of that year.

“

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LOCAL PEOPLE Another time he received a call from an irate parent, whose child had been begging to visit the clay pits on Christmas Eve, after being told the lichen growing there was tasty to reindeer: ‘He wanted to see Father Christmas!’ laughed John.

Being so much a part of the community it was perhaps natural that John was also a parish councillor for many years - although he maybe hadn’t banked on serving quite as long as 30-odd years when he first stood for election! n Jane Honey

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John McNulty Passionate sportsman and construction expert

C

hatting to John McNulty, you would never guess of some 55 bodies, the unfortunate remains of cholera this sprightly 78-year-old recently survived major victims around the 1850s. open heart surgery. His chat is peppered with puns His strong work ethic is obvious - but he has been a and one-liners that range from the very funny to the keen sportsman all his life too. Forced to give up playing cringingly awful, but always lightning quick off the mark. football due to injuries, he took up badminton and His Northern sense of humour is never far away, which has played to county level ever since, only retiring as a he attributes to a long period in hospital as a child, the veteran five seasons ago. result of a horrific car accident in Yorkshire.

‘I love badminton, you get to do some deep, tactical ‘I was in a coma for several months and in hospital for thinking,’ said John. ‘I was quite an agile type of guy too, about two years,’ remembered John. ‘I had to learn to and it gave me the opportunity to do a lot of running walk again - I have no memory from before I was eight. and silent swearing!’

At first I was covered over as dead after the accident, After moving to Plymouth, John became a dedicated they didn’t know which end Plymouth Argyle supporter. of me was which, I had so Work and his love of football I was quite an agile type of guy too, became intertwined when many injuries.’

John left school in and it gave me the opportunity to do a lot he built the club’s new Yorkshire at just 15 years boardroom, bringing him of running and silent swearing! of age. Told by his father into contact with then club in no uncertain terms that chairman, Dan McCauley. he must learn a trade, he secured an apprenticeship in By the late 1990s John had become a main board Swindon, later winning the ‘Silver Trowel’, a UK-wide director of Argyle and was in control of the planning, honour, for his bricklaying. demolition and re-building of Home Park.

‘I was so chuffed with that,’ he said. Continuing to study ‘It was one of the most interesting and passionate as well as work, he progressed through the construction projects I’ve ever been involved with,’ said John. Life for industry and moved to Devon in 1970 as the regional him and Rosemary became even more wrapped up with director of a large construction company he ultimately the club, as they travelled to most away matches with the bought out with his wife, Rosemary, whom he married team, becoming part of the Argyle family in a way he in 1966. Elliott Construction undertook building projects could never have imagined. As if to put the icing on the throughout the whole of the south and west of the cake, he later became the football club’s chief executive country, including one involving the unexpected removal officer.

“

10

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LOCAL PEOPLE ‘I was so proud of that, and the achievements of the club under Paul Sturrock. We gained back to back promotions, three sides of the new stadium - they were brilliant times,’ said John, who remains an Argyle vice president.

If a football stadium was an interesting project, surely John’s most unusual commission was the development of a hotel and visitor attraction on Drake’s Island, then owned by Dan McCauley. Although the project never ultimately went ahead, John spent 15 months working on complex plans for the historic site that needed to satisfy 21 different statutory bodies. He admitted he was ‘gutted’ the project never got off the ground but was very proud of the national award he received for the safety and design aspects of the ‘fabulous’, fully inclusive visitor centre and accommodation blocks.

If John wasn’t busy enough during this time, he also flung himself into a variety of charity projects, including raising hundreds of thousands of pounds for the Pearn Trust, St Luke’s Hospice and survivors of the Chernobyl nuclear accident. He was also a regular on Any Sporting Questions on Radio 5 Live, when his reputation for one liners found a wider audience.

These days, life is quieter for John and Rosemary and he has more time to devote to his photography hobby,

capturing the animal antics in the back garden of his Derriford home, which backs onto a local nature reserve.

‘This is the fifth house I’ve self-built. It’s a cosy retreat, we’ve got lovely neighbours - we are very happy here,’ said the MD of Road Tennis UK, who’s even built a court into his basement! n Jane Honey

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Visit our community website www.dartmoorlinks.co.uk 11

Rotary Club of Roborough We’re very much missing our twice monthly lunches at the moment, with their opportunity to catch up with friends, do a little networking for those still employed or in business and to discuss options to improve life in the local community or raise funds for local and international charities. Instead we meet online and plan events we can still stage or take part in within coronavirus restrictions, as well as those we expect to run when we return to normal.

At this time of the year we would normally be arranging December visits by Father Christmas and taking Rudolph and the sleigh to the supermarkets to raise funds for our favourite charities. Sadly it’s looking as though that won’t be possible this year, so we are concentrating instead on outdoor and online events to allow the club to support the community and perhaps bring some cheer to residents in the north of the city.

We are still actively recruiting members, so if you would like to help work for the local community or expand your social or networking circles why not think about your local club? Go to www.roborough-rotary.org.uk or on social media, where you will see the kind of things we do to help others and have fun doing it! The photo shows some of our members on Roborough roundabout where we planted crocuses just before the pandemic started, but there are plenty more online to give you a taste for what we do. Have a look, you may wish you’d found us earlier!

David Carver-Trotter

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Plymouth Hoe Plymouth’s world famous Hoe is getting some TLC to make the city’s most important spot look even better.

A series of small projects that will make a big difference have been starting as part of the city’s Mayflower preparedness programme.

The first is a dull but necessary resurfacing of the main path, with pothole and edging repairs across other key areas. But then it gets much more exciting.

Banks of stunning wildflowers are planned on the edges of the Hoe as well as the verges along Hoe Road. A small number of apple trees could be planted and the dead QE2 memorial tree replaced with a Mayflower apple tree and mix of five others to form small community orchard.

Other plans include the redesign of the garden next to the café, a landscaping project in West Hoe Park and an updated Welcome to Plymouth sign.

The Peace Garden has already had some new planting and wooden benches have been repaired, thanks to the efforts of the Shekinah Mission’s painting and maintenance team.

The team is working with Plymouth City Council offering on-the-job training, personal development and work experience to help support people into employment. Shekinah have also been involved in painting over 250 metres of railings below the Hoe and along the waterfront.

Deputy council leader Peter Smith said: ‘Plymouth loves the Hoe. It’s so popular that some of it is a bit tired from overuse, so we’re doing some fixing and mixing in some lovely ideas to make it even more special. It’s also great to see this project provide hands-on experience for people looking to get back into work.’

Diane Mansell, CEO of Plymouth Waterfront Partnership, said: ‘I know how important the Hoe and the waterfront are to all the businesses in our BID area which is why we have contributed £10,000 towards the work being undertaken. We are happy to support these projects and they are a lovely mix of maintenance work and improving the natural environment projects.”

The council has also been working closely with the Hoe Neighbourhood Forum, residents as well as vendors and leaseholders on the project.

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NOTICEBOARD

Drake Education Tavistock Heritage Trust has been awarded a £14,750 grant by Historic England to develop a major educational project around the story of Sir Francis Drake.

Working in partnership with Tavistock Town Council, Tavistock Rotary Club, Tavistock College and Mount Kelly School, THT is developing a school’s learning programme that will cover all the many aspects of Drake’s history including his circumnavigation of the Globe and his role in defeating the Spanish Armada alongside his privateering voyages and his involvement in the early slave trade. It will also look at the lives of people from black and ethnic minority groups who lived in England as freemen and women between the 16th and 19th centuries, how the slave trade evolved, and how slavery still exists today via human trafficking and exploitation.

The programme was trialled in the two local schools during Black History Month in October, before being released as an online learning package for both schools and adult learning via the new Guildhall website, also promoted to local schools via the network of Rotary Clubs across Great Britain and Ireland.

Dr Geri Parlby, THT chair, said: ‘We are delighted Historic England has agreed to fund this nationally significant project.

The subjects covered evolved out of a survey run at the college amongst the pupils following the killing of George Floyd and the global protests it provoked.’

David Tout, Tavistock Rotary President, said:

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‘Rotary International has been involved in raising awareness of the issues surrounding modern slavery for several years and education is also a key aspect of our community work.’

The Historic England funding also covers the creation of an interpretation panel on the story of Drake, which will sit opposite the statue on Plymouth Road. This part of the project is being developed in collaboration with Tavistock Town Council working with councillors, local historians, and community groups.

Nick Read, assistant principal of Tavistock College, welcomed the opportunity to be involved in the implementation and development of the Drake Schools Project.

He said: ‘The project will help us to educate the students around the story of Sir Francis Drake and to develop our understanding of how past events should inform our current and future behaviours and attitudes.’

Guy Ayling, Mount Kelly headmaster, said: ‘This is a significant initiative and a meaningful response to pressing issues in society; Mount Kelly is committed to the success of the project.’

The lessons are being developed in a way that will enable schools in other areas across the country to focus their students’ attention on their own local heroes and commemorative statues, using them as a means of addressing wider issues of diversity by bringing a greater awareness of BAME voices and contributions into the classroom across all ages, stages and subjects.

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Visit our community website www.dartmoorlinks.co.uk 13

Health on the High Street?

Shoppers as well as residents living in and near the city centre will be able to drop in to a new centre for health advice as part of an exciting project to bring ‘health to the High Street’.

Proposals are being worked up by the Plymouth City Council for a new, purpose-built health centre on the site of two demolished buildings on the corner of Market Avenue and New George Street, which back onto Colin Campbell Court.

It could include a new GP surgery, a dentists’ surgery, a sexual health clinic and mental health support and a pharmacy - all under one roof.

Mark Lowry, cabinet member for finance, said: ‘There are over 12,000 people on the waiting list for dentists.

We want to help our residents get healthy, and want to make it as easy for them as possible to access medical or dental support. We are bringing health to the High Street.’

The council has been in discussion with health organisations and has agreed to authorise £1,500,000 to develop the project further and to take it through the design development stage. The total cost of the project could be in the region of nearly £14 million.

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Cllr Lowry said: ‘The location we’re looking at is incredibly convenient. It’s near bus stops and is right in the heart of the city centre.

‘This project is about this council looking at a huge difficult problem for its residents and working with partners to come up with an answer. This also ties in neatly with our economic recovery programme Resurgam - rebuilding our city better and more equal, creating opportunities for jobs as well as helping our residents.’

Cllr Kate Taylor, cabinet member for health and social care, said: ‘We know that the health of our residents is generally not as good as the rest of England and within Plymouth, people live, on average, eight years longer in our better-off wards than they do in the poorer ones.

That’s a shocking statistic.

‘We are particularly keen to see more dental facilities at this location. We all know about the difficulties families face trying to find an NHS dentist.

‘We are taking proactive measures to provide the site, the building and the can-do attitude and are making a concerted effort to ease pressure on our hard-pressed hospital and health staff by preventing ill health in the first place within our communities.’

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NOTICEBOARD

Green home improvement scheme A successful bid for Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy (BEIS) funds, through the Green Homes Grant Scheme, means South Hams District Council has secured over £330,000 to help improve older homes’ energy efficiency.

The council is now proposing to commit a further £200,000 specifically targeted at low-income families living in fuel poverty and to underline its commitment to do it all can to tackle the global climate change and biodiversity challenges.

The Green Homes Grant project will focus on the installation of external wall insulation and air source heat pumps for eligible households.

This scheme would mean properties, which are not on

Test and trace support For people facing hardship because they have been contacted by NHS Track and Trace and are required to self-isolate for 14 days, the Government has launched a grant to support scheme.

Cllr Jonathan Hawkins, South Hams District Council’s executive member for health and wellbeing, said: ‘There is a challenge ahead of us all, we must help to control the COVID virus and stop it spreading. This payment will enable those people who would otherwise not be able to

mains gas supply and rely on alternative, less efficient sources of heating such as oil and solid fuel, would benefit from these improvements early next year.

The district council’s Leader, Cllr Judy Pearce, said: ‘I’m delighted that we have been able to secure crucial funds to improve energy efficiency in homes, and to support some of our most vulnerable households while underlining our commitment to the climate change and biodiversity emergency.

‘This is an important step in reducing the district’s carbon footprint in homes which don’t currently benefit from efficient insulation or use inefficient methods of heating.’

To find out more about the Green Homes Project and to see if you are eligible, email: eco@swdevon.gov.uk afford to self-isolate, protect others and play their part.’

You can apply for the Test and Trace Support Payment of £500, if you meet the following criteria: • You are over 16 and have been told to self-isolate by NHS Test and Trace on or after 28 September 2020.

• You are employed or self-employed.

• You cannot work from home and will lose income as a result.

• You are currently receiving at least one of the following benefits: • Universal Credit, • Working Tax Credit, • Income-based Employment and Support Allowance, • Income-based Jobseeker’s Allowance, • Income Support, • Housing Benefit and/or • Pension Credit.

If you fail to comply with the Test and Trace isolation rules you could face a fine. If you are facing financial hardship, please contact the council who may be able to help. You can find out more information at: www.southhams.gov.uk/test-and-trace-payments

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Hospice care during Covid

Social isolation is not new to families caring for children with life-limiting conditions. Many are used to long hospital stays far from home, long periods of illness preventing normal daily activities, being unable to attend school due to health needs, and sacrificing social interactions due to care needs.

But the Covid restrictions have brought many new and often terrifying challenges to these families, many of whom have seen care packages fall away and their wider support networks disappear.

Children’s Hospice South West (CHSW), which looks after 500 families around the South West, had to adapt its care model to continue providing the lifeline support it has offered since 1995.

Because of the significant risks and the vulnerability of children, routine respite stays at the three hospices have been cancelled. But the hospices remain open for emergency and end-of-life care and the charity has developed a ‘hospice, home and virtual’ model to be able to continue caring for fami-lies wherever they are and whenever they need it most.

Alli Ryder, CHSW’s director of care, said: ‘For the first time ever, we have started working in the community,

which has been an amazing transformation in our services.

‘We have supported children in their homes providing night shifts when care packages in the commu-nity have fallen apart, enabling families to step in and care for their children in the morning.

‘We have also been providing care for community children’s nurses, cover over weekends and eve-nings, replacing nasogastric tubes for example.’

In one six week period, the charity, funded almost entirely by voluntary contributions, supported 102 bed nights at its hospices, carried out 335 community visits, and made 7,654 virtual contacts with families.

‘That is an amazing achievement for us to deliver,’ added Alli.

CHSW needs around £11m a year to run its three hospices and around 85 per cent is raised through voluntary donations. As a result of the lockdown, the charity had to cancel or postpone many fundrais-ing events planned for the year. It also had to close its 35 South West charity shops for a time. To find out more about how you can support the charity, visit www.chsw.org.uk

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NOTICEBOARD

A new boost for businesses An exciting new project has been launched in Tavistock, just in time for Christmas. The Tavistock Gift Card aims to provide a much-needed boost to the town’s businesses in this period of uncertainty and beyond, encouraging more people to shop locally and support the high street. The Tavistock Gift Card works in the same way as other pre-pay gift cards – preload it with your chosen amount and it is ready to use at a wide-range of businesses throughout the town. Recipients can spend it in any participating business - whether you want to use it for a facial or sausages, the choice will be yours!

Why buy it? It takes the decision out of gifting and is a great idea for any occasion.

It is easy to use and supports Tavistock’s businesses.

Discover the best of Tavistock in one gift card and experience Tavistock however you decide.

The scheme has been spearheaded by Tavistock BID (Business Improvement District). BID Manager Janna

Sanders is hopeful it will make a meaningful difference to the town. She said: ‘It is a fantastic initiative for the town and comes at a time when ongoing support for businesses is crucial.

‘We know gift cards are a popular choice for Christmas so we really hope people will consider the Tavistock Gift Card this year for friends, colleagues and loved ones. We are thankful to West Devon Borough Council and Mount Kelly for helping us get this project off the ground.’

To purchase a card, you can go online: www. tavistockgiftcard.co.uk or pick one up from Lawsons Tavistock. For further information on how it all works, go to: www.visit-tavistock.co.uk/giftcard Christmas is not cancelled in Tavistock and the town is ablaze with beautiful lights, including a new display in the churchyard. Dickensian Evening is sadly cancelled, but there will be plenty of other opportunities to celebrate the Christmas season safely this year.

Working with St Eustachius’ Church, there is an alternative Christmas Tree Festival taking place which sees some wonderfully decorated trees being displayed in businesses throughout the town. There will also be Christmas markets to enjoy. Then come January, it will be time to redeem the gift card you received under the Christmas tree.

Please enjoy a trip out and support the businesses of Tavistock!

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Visit our community website www.dartmoorlinks.co.uk 17

NEW LOOK PLAY AREA The play area in Plymouth city centre is to have a new look in an attempt to prove attractive to local families and visitors alike.

New images show the play area which will be created in front of the House of Fraser and Debenhams buildings for children and parents to play and relax.

The area has been designed to reflect the natural environment in and around Plymouth, but with fun in mind. Boulders formed on Bodmin Moor will be piled up for children to climb over, along with two slides and a rubber crumb surface to help with safer landings.

There’s a curved seat for parents to enjoy watching children at play and a small performance space is also planned.

Cllr Mark Lowry, cabinet member for finance and city centre champion, said: ‘We want families to enjoy coming to the city centre. We’re refreshing its look to keep people coming back time and time again.

‘The new play area is about creating something children can clamber over, to use their imagination on and to be strong enough to withstand whatever the weather and being in a city centre throws at it.

‘We are constantly investing in the city centre and want it to continually attract thousands of shoppers from across

Devon and Cornwall as well as local people.’

The transformation is a collaboration between British Land (who own Drake Circus and the block which houses House of Fraser and Debenhams) and Plymouth City Council. British Land has permission to create a number of smaller retail pavilions within this space to entice smaller brands. Plymouth City Council has agreed to fund to the public realm improvements and is keen to ensure the area looks as attractive as possible.

New trees and planting is being planned with the old raised planters taken out and replaced with a series of ‘islands’. Some trees will be going but in their place, 27 large new trees including Scots pine, silver birch, pin oak, wild cherry and lime will be planted in deep tree pits connected to a new separate surface water system, which means they will be better irrigated using rain and flood water.

The planting will include native species such as primrose, cowslip, Lady fern, Scalymale fern and Broad Buckler fern, woodrush and campions to create a woodland edge in the heart of the city. It will include many flowering species that will provide a vital supply of nectar for pollinators such as bees.

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NOTICEBOARD

Charity looking to the future

Hearts Together is a Plymouth-based charity providing accommodation and support for patients, carers, relatives and healthcare professionals at our Hospital Hotel.

These past few months have been very different for us all, but we are looking ahead to the future and a time when we are able to (safely) ask our volunteers to support us once more.

We hope spring 2021 will bring with it the opportunity to launch a gardening project in the grounds of our Hospital Hotel and we are looking for willing volunteers to help us to create a beautiful and relaxing space for our guests.

We are also fundraising for a minibus to provide transport for guests to and from the hospital and local amenities; we are looking for volunteer drivers so that when we reach our fundraising target, we are able to get this service up and running.

If you are interested in either role or would like to find out more about who we are and what we do, please email info@heartstogether.org.uk or call 01752 315 900.

Hearts Together, Plymouth

More electric vehicle charge points are set to appear on the streets of Plymouth thanks to new funding.

The council has been successful in obtaining £225,000 through the Office for Low Emissions Vehicles’ on-street electric vehicle charging grant.

The money will mean that 50 new, on-street electric vehicle charge points will be rolled out to help residents with the transition to cleaner, greener transport.

The charge points will be installed next year and while exact locations have yet to be decided, it is intended that

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Electric charge points

they are installed on streets which are predominantly used by residents, rather than in public car parks.

This allows the nearly 40 per cent of Plymouth households who do not have access to off-street parking to access charging infrastructure.

Cllr Mark Coker, cabinet member for strategic planning and infrastructure, said: ‘We know not everyone has an electric vehicle and we know that not everyone can afford one, either.

‘But we know that electric vehicles are the future. We have to make it as easy as possible for people to transition if we’re going to take the climate emergency seriously.’

Nearly 30 percent of Plymouth’s carbon emissions come from transport and the electrification of vehicles has been identified as a key means to tackling this problem.

In a recent survey 85 per cent of residents felt that the council needed to provide more charging points.

Visit our community website www.dartmoorlinks.co.uk 19

A Redbreast

for Christmas T

he bird we most often associate with Christmas, and which is on many Christmas cards, is the Robin. In Victorian Britain the postmen wore red uniforms to deliver letters and cards and were thus nicknamed ‘Robin’ or ‘Redbreast’. Hence the Robin was linked with Christmas. Other names for the Robin include Redbreast, Redocke, and Ruddock.

Robins are widespread and very common across Devon, apart from the open parts of Dartmoor. In the Postbridge area, numbers in the 1950s and 1960s were believed to be around 100-150 pairs. In a countywide breeding survey from 1977 to 1985, the Devon population was estimated to be over 200,000 pairs!

They are early breeders and have occasionally been recorded laying in February, although they normally

20

start to nest in March and often the first young birds are seen in April. They lay 4-5 eggs in a hole in a wall, or a Dartmoor bank, and normally raise two or sometimes three broods of young.

Robins are one of very few birds that sing throughout the year. In autumn and winter the wistful song of a Robin is often the only birdsong you hear. At this time of year males and females hold separate territories, and will strongly defend them. Originally they were shy woodland birds, but they are now found in many other habitats, including farmland, hedgerows, gardens and parks.

British Robins are common garden birds and frequently come close to gardeners in the hope of a tasty

worm. With patience it is even possible to train ‘your’ Robin to feed on mealworms from your hand! However, caution is needed.

Like many garden birds, Robins are vulnerable to predation by cats; around a quarter (25%) of ringed birds which were later found dead had been killed by cats.

They take a wide variety of insects, spiders and earthworms, feeding mainly on the ground.

When available, Robins also feed on fruits, mainly smaller fruits up to eight milimetres; the wide range of fruits includes ivy in winter and spring, elderberries and dogwood from late summer to autumn and spindle from November to February.

In urban areas with street lights, Robins have adapted to feeding their young at night aided by artificial light.

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NATURALIST

are one of very few birds that “singRobins throughout the year. In autumn and

winter the wistful song of a Robin is often the only birdsong you hear

”

There is much folklore about the Robin. On Dartmoor it was believed that taking a Robin’s nest was bound to be followed by the smashing of your own crockery. In Devon there was a warning rhyme that went: ‘Kill a Robin or a Wren, never prosper, boy or man.’ While an old belief was that the Robin and the Wren were the male and female of the same species!

Robins occupy a large breeding range from western Europe, north to Scandinavia, south to north-west

Africa, the Canary Islands and the Azores, and east to Siberia and Iran. In Britain, Robins are largely sedentary, and young birds are likely to settle within 10-12 miles of their birthplace.

In the USA, the American Robin is much larger than our Robin and is in fact a thrush, closely related to our Blackbird, with an orange-red breast. On rare occasions American Robins have been recorded in Devon, most recently on Lundy in October 2018.

If you would like to know more about the Robin’s life history, it is described in the classic book ‘The life of the Robin’ written by David Lack. While he was a schoolteacher, he carried out a very detailed five-year study of a population of colour-ringed Robins at Dartington in Devon. Another enjoyable and informative book is ‘Robins’ written

by Chris Mead. So, enjoy Christmas robins, on your cards and in your garden! n Anthony John

o Shby app

ur O omnly sit ro nt o Vi ow intme

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Visit our community website www.dartmoorlinks.co.uk 21

Moorsway Federation Where learning is an adventure!

Shaugh Prior Primary School

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Moorsway Federation can offer: l Small class sizes l A broad and balanced curriculum combining excellence and enjoyment of learning

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Please contact us to arrange a personalised visit with our Head Teacher, Mr Hall, or Assistant Head, Mrs Baker, where we can share in your child’s journey

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Why Poetry?

Dartmoor inspires a pandemic project

by Professor Sarah Kember

A

s a sixth former at Southway Comprehensive School, I already knew that English, specifically poetry, was my thing. I had a good English teacher, Mr Wilkins, who introduced me to Yeats and Eliot, Thom Gunn and Ted Hughes, working through a copy of George MacBeth’s Poetry 1900-1965. I still have this (oops) covered in annotations, written in indecipherably small handwriting. It remains one of the most important books on my shelf.

In an eclectic mix of English, Biology and Geography A level, it was Biology I worked hardest at, and struggled with the most. One day, during a lab class close to my mocks, I walked out, leaving everything but my packed lunch and made my way, by foot, onto the moors. I went past Dousland, where my Nan lived, onto Yennadon Down. I gave my lunch to a pony and sat looking at the reservoir, and soaking my senses in the colours, smells and unique feel of this much loved place.

My relationship with Dartmoor is not only contemplative.

I played there as a child, tobogganing in winter, picnicking in summer. I did Ten Tors twice and my friends and family still groan when I tell my tale of burst blisters, bloodied boots and heroism. When I was at Oxford, studying English, I would regularly jump into

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EDUCATION

my Ford Anglia and drive (55 mph max, with a following wind) down to Plymouth so that I could visit my Mum, my Nan and the moors, probably not in that order.

I live in Brighton now, and the South Downs, however lovely, are no match for the moors. I was there in February, standing on top of Sheepstor, leaning in to a wind that cleared the sky and nearly swept my feet. I have always enjoyed the rough and tumble physicality of being on Dartmoor. Its rough edge can seem familial, but is not to be underestimated.

In September, I came down with a new purpose. As a writer, as well as academic and publisher (I work at Goldsmiths, University of London), I’ve been engaged in a project to get poems into public places. The main rationale for this is that I believe poems are a public good. We need them now, more than ever. They

distil, and help us process experience in a way that is important because it connects our inner worlds with the world around us. It’s pretty obvious that right now, we Visit our community website www.dartmoorlinks.co.uk 23

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EDUCATION have a lot of processing to do and ‘we’ includes teachers, parents and children.

In March, at the start of lockdown, I went for a walk with my partner in a neighbourhood that was eerily quiet.

Nobody had even started to think through life and living in a global pandemic. We were still in shock, culturally and individually: calm on the outside perhaps, but fearful, inevitably. We passed a local school and were drawn to the fence where the children had posted drawings and messages of support to their community. It was a bright, colourful and heartening display that I felt compelled to respond to.

When You Go Back is my response to the children of Lancing Prep. It is illustrated in order to enhance its appeal and accessibility.

It is dedicated to my young nieces and is being used in schools all over the country to talk about poetry, the pandemic and, I hope, the important role of children and young people in our immediate future. I must admit that at the start of the crisis I wanted to help in more obvious ways. I signed up as an NHS Volunteer and for first aid training with the Red Cross and St John Ambulance. I’m not a keyworker and I felt relatively useless until someone reminded me of what I already knew: poetry and the arts in general can have a huge impact on people’s lives. They not only deal with the past and present, but also help us imagine a better future.

I made space for this in my poem and look forward to school workshops in which I’ll be encouraging children to write their own.

Poetry captures time and place in different ways, and Please mention PLYM LINKS when responding to adverts

can combine locality, physicality, spirituality, and even transcendence. I knew my Dartmoor poem needed to do all of that. It was daunting. Most importantly, I had to do justice to my own, longstanding relationship with Dartmoor. n Get Your Copy: When You Go Back is available, free of charge, as a poster or printable PDF. Dartmoor is available as a postcard. Please get in touch if you would like a copy. s.kember@gold.ac.uk www.sarah-kember.com/poetry.html Visit our community website www.dartmoorlinks.co.uk 25

CHARITY FOCUS

C

support our clients emotionally and signpost them to olebrook has been supporting vulnerable adults for other services as appropriate. over 35 years. Over the years, like other charities we Where do we do this? have had to respond to local need, take opportunities as We have eight supported living projects in Plymouth – but they’ve arisen and adapt to a changing world, so we look some people receive support in their own home. quite different now than we did then!

We have many success stories – here’s a letter of thanks Who are Colebrook Support Services? from just one of our clients: We are a local charity who supports vulnerable adults ‘When I first moved into a Colebrook accommodation, to lead independent and fulfilling lives. Some people I was a complete mess, and without any direction. But find managing a home, having relationships and being in time, I started a journey to get my healthy and happy quite challenging, so life in check and a journey my support at Colebrook, we aim to teach everyone workers were with me on, they believed to have the skills to live as independently in me when I did not. It was enough as possible. Our clients are usually to spur me on and to fight my battles people who have a severe and enduring and demons. Very early on I knew my mental health condition, a learning support workers were with me, and not disability, or are vulnerable in some to do it for me, I had to do it for myself. other way, maybe they have experienced They of course encouraged me. trauma in their lives or were never ‘At first, I did start slipping back, but quite taught the skills that are needed to I spoke to all my support workers and manage in everyday life. started to believe in myself. I found How we do this strength and the fight I never knew I We find out what area a person may had, but with thanks to Colebrook, I have difficulties in – initially, we all knew I could do it, I just had to put my need shelter, food and warmth. We mind to it. then get to know the person better and At Colebrook, we ‘So, I worked hard, and I made a aim to teach people the skills to meet other needs and develop a plan with aim to teach everyone commitment to myself to never hurt myself ever again, to never give up like I did in my our clients to address other areas. For to have the skills to past – giving up is not an option!! example, do they have any debt? Can live as independently ‘Today I am finally free from my past the client look after their home and keep me like it did. Life is to be safe? Are they meeting their nutritional as possible The network ofaffecting sensors, including scientific datafull buoywith networks and cherished and lived to the and health needs? Can they understand autonomous vessels in Plymouth Sound my dog I never thought I would have. any medication and manage any symptoms?

Thank you to you all for being with me on my journey.’

But life isn’t all about paying the bills and running a Then and now home! We also support people to improve their quality When we opened in 1983, our organisation only provided of life through their friends and relationships. Hobbies, direct support services as described above. Now we have recreation and spiritual needs are addressed and of many other teams and services including the Healthwatch course, meaningful activity and good citizenship such service for the whole of Devon, the Headspace and as work, study and volunteering. Throughout all this we

“

”

26

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Headscount, community centres, a Wellbeing Hub, self help groups funded by the lottery, and a gardening project.

We have been working with individuals, communities and organisations in and around Plymouth for more than 35 years now and pride ourselves in putting people at the heart of everything we do.

Our mission is to inspire and empower people and communities to achieve their independence and aspirations. We will achieve this by supporting people to achieve skills, realise goals and improve independence, support community independence and sustainable growth and involve people, providing them with a voice to help shape our services.

If you are interested in receiving a support service from Colebrook, you would usually need a social worker to refer you – but some people also pay for their own support. We do not provide any personal care and support is a minimum of two hours – contact us via email on

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We are currently looking for board members who volunteer some time to help steer our organisation and we have other volunteering opportunities available. If you are interested in volunteering, please email us via enquiries@ colebrooksw.org or call ✆ 01752 205210.

Finally, we are always interested in hearing from supportive and passionate people with the right ethos to help us achieve our mission and join our fantastically dedicated staff team. If you think this could be you please have a look at the vacancies on our website www. colebrooksw.org/jobs/n Shelley Sanderson Senior Support Services Manager

More Information: Visit our website for more information on the wonderful and varied work our colleagues do: www.colebrooksw.org/colebrook-services/

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Winter garden at RHS Rosemoor

Gardening in those dark winter days G

pyramids or lollipops or those which are naturally ardening and nature provided enormous solace architectural in shape. during the ‘lockdown’ spring of 2020, and although Carpet the ground with evergreen grasses like Carex and winter days don’t make it so easy or enticing to get Uncinia, and some winter flowers like hellebores, pansies outdoors now, our gardens can still give us a huge boost and violas. If your key viewpoints are soil-less, plant up during the darkest months of the year. Long winter containers, choosing pots that withstand frost and packing evenings are a great time to indulge in some ‘armchair’ plants in closely for maximum colour, as they won’t put on gardening, making plans for what to grow next year and much growth during winter. Larger-growing plants can go perhaps giving your garden a New Year makeover. Look in containers on their own and kept through photos taken through the there to give cheer for years to come. season, think about what’s worked Long winter evenings are a With social distancing here to well and what hasn’t, and browse great time to indulge in some stay for the foreseeable future, an through seed catalogues which are ‘armchair’ gardening, making outdoor seating area for all seasons packed with temptation. plans for what to grow next is creeping onto the wish list for Much of our winter garden year and perhaps giving your many. This can be created relatively admiring is done from indoors, garden a New Year makeover easily with wind-shielding screening, so take a good look from daytime a cosy firepit, outdoor lighting of viewpoints like favourite armchairs some kind (simple tealights in jam or breakfast and lunch spots, not jars work well) and a few containers planted for seasonal forgetting the kitchen sink. Concentrate on cheering interest. Some fragrant winter flowers will be even up these key spots with colourful winter plants, like more enticing, like the shrubby honeysuckles (Lonicera dogwoods (Cornus) with glowing red or orange stems; fragrantissima, L. purpusii); winter-blooming Camellia evergreens with golden, variegated or lustrous green sasanqua and Christmas box (Sarcococca). leaves; plants clipped in architectural shapes like balls, 28

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GARDENING

Gardening jobs for winter

Grow a great crop of garlic by planting now. Buy cultivated seed garlic which is bred for our climate: widest choice from www.thegarlicfarm.co.uk

Take advantage of dry spells to carr y out garden DIY and maintenance. Pressure wash decking, paths and paving which can become dangerously slippery, and apply stain or preservative to sheds, fences and other garden woodwork. Lots of different coloured wood stains are available so you could give your garden a whole new look.

Lawns have grown like mad this year.

Use a half-moon edger to cut fresh, neat edges (compost the cut-off bits) and your lawn will look smart until well into spring.

Make more plants for free by dividing herbaceous perennials.

Architectural evergreens for winter form and colour

Christmas gift ideas For anyone of any age who’s interested in gardening, there’s lots of potential gifts ranging from stocking fillers like gloves, plant labels and small hand tools, to big presents like a handsome patio pot, heated propagator, fire pit or a wormery to compost household waste. (I’m trialling wormeries for Gardeners’ World magazine – look out for the results in the February issue). House plants are excellent, but when it comes to garden plants I recommend only buying if you have a very good idea of what the recipient would like, otherwise they could be stuck with something large and long-lived not to their taste, like a tree or rose bush. Vouchers for plants are the safest bet!

There are lots of fantastic wildlife-related products, particularly for attracting birds into the garden – and winter is when the food we provide can mean the difference between life and death. The fascination of watching birds at feeders and tables can give countless hours of entertainment. Support the work of the RSPB and the Wildlife Trusts by buying from

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GARDENING www.rspb.org.uk or from www.vinehousefarm.co.uk.

Give the pleasure of garden visiting all year round. Gift memberships are available from the National Trust and the Royal Horticultural Society, while independent local gardens open to the public often offer ‘Friends’ membership or season tickets. This year, all these organisations need our support more than ever. For 2021, the RHS is planning to run four of its fabulous flower shows, including the Malvern Spring Show in early May and the world-famous Chelsea flower show in late May, with an extra day and fewer visitors (good news for anyone who’s ever battled the Chelsea crowds). Tickets would be yet another great gift idea. n Sue Fisher

GARDEN DESIGNER & HORTICULTURAL SPECIALIST Inspirational ideas to transform your garden Sue continues to be available for garden advisory visits and design work, operating according to Covid-19 social distancing guidelines. Christmas gift vouchers available for garden advisory visits. Contact Sue for more details.

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HEALTH & BEAUTY

Timely health advice for Christmas & New Year W

ith the festive period nearly upon us, it is a good time to look at some of the seasonal health issues that you may encounter: 1) Coughs and sneezes – colder weather, central heating and more indoor activities mean colds and flu viruses spread easily at this time of year. Hand washing and safely binning used tissues reduce transmission.

Fluids, rest and over the counter treatments ensure these virtually always settle on their own without the need to visit your doctor.

2) Norovirus – aka winter vomiting bug. As the name suggests, an unpleasant highly infectious virus that causes vomiting and diarrhoea at this time of year. It will usually settle in 48 hours or so with rest and fluids. It is very important to wash hands frequently and to isolate yourself from work or school until the symptoms have been gone for at least two days.

3) Indigestion – ‘Tis the season to overindulge, with rich food, large meals and alcohol. Unfortunately this can be a recipe for heartburn and bloating. Keep portion sizes down by using smaller plates, avoid alcohol on an empty stomach and avoid eating late at night. Propping yourself up more upright at night and the use of over the counter antacids can also help. Remember though, if things don’t settle down, persistent indigestion is something you should see your doctor about.

4) Alcohol – Heartburn isn’t the only downside to drinking too much - hangovers are not on anyone’s Christmas list. Try alternating alcoholic drinks with soft drinks, drink plenty of water to counter the dehydrating effects of the alcohol and try and have some alcohol free days to allow your body a chance to recover.

5) Stress – Christmas is meant to be a happy time

to spend with family and friends, but the reality is that sometimes families cooped up together, coupled with the pressure of producing a ‘perfect’ day, can cause a huge amounts of stress. Try not to focus on ‘perfect’ but on things being ‘good enough’. It is only one day after all.

6) Loneliness – On the other end of the scale, while some are struggling with a houseful, others can feel very isolated at this time of year. There are lots of helpful agencies out there including The Silver Line for older people, offering information, friendship and advice 24 hours a day, seven days a week. 0800 470 8090.

7) Food poisoning – A common problem at this time of year, with underdone turkey and reheated food being prime culprits. Store raw meat at the bottom of the fridge where it can’t drip on any other food, don’t refreeze food, cool leftovers quickly in the fridge and use within two days and wash hands and surfaces with hot soapy water if they have been in contact with raw meat.

8) Icy conditions – When the weather turns icy, emergency departments start to fill up with broken bones. If you need to head out in icy weather, make sure you wear suitable footwear, take short shuffling steps, bend forward slightly to keep your centre of gravity forward, so that if you fall you are less likely to fall back and bang your head, keep your hands out of your pockets and keep to treated paths if possible.

9) Accidents – Over the years I have seen all kinds of yuletide-related accidents: electrocuting oneself on fairy lights, falling out of the loft while getting the decorations down and a broken toe from dropping a frozen turkey on it! Try to be careful, and if there are roller skates under the tree – make sure there’s a helmet and knee pads too!

So eat, drink and make merry . . . but not too much!

And here’s to a happy and healthy 2021 n

Dr Rachel Tyler is a doctor at Stirling Road Surgery, St Budeax

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HEALTH & BEAUTY

Better care for Parkinson’s sufferers

have all the information about their care available in one place, and be able to better self-manage their condition.

‘This new approach has led to a much more reactive, flexible service. It means that patients are seen when they need to be, and can access support and People with Parkinson’s in the South West are being information easily.’ supported to better manage their condition with an A resource folder is given to patients when they innovative new ‘Home Based Care start the pathway. It contains Pathway’ launched last October. attractively designed materials, The service reform, brought and includes information on about by a team of researchers led how to recognise and manage

by University Hospitals Plymouth different Parkinson’s symptoms, (UHP) and University of as well as what to do if help Plymouth, could reduce waiting is needed. The team is using lists and improve quality of care patient feedback to improve for patients. upon the materials.

Despite guidelines that consultant The resources also highlight reviews should be every six other important aspects of months, a patient experience wellbeing such as exercise, and survey found 46% of patients provides support information for had appointments delayed by carer partners. more than six months, and some As well as the self-management had not seen a community nurse information, patients are within a year. monitored regularly at home.

By changing the setup of review Patients wear a wrist-worn device appointments, patients are now which monitors movement seen when they need it most. In symptoms and is supplemented addition, they are provided with with questionnaires which asks a suite of resources and wearable patients about other Parkinson’s The goal, according to symptoms, such as their mood. technology to closely monitor their condition at home.

This information is then fed to Dr Camille Carroll, The goal, according to Dr the Parkinson’s team who can consultant neurologist at Camille Carroll, consultant work remotely to support patients UHP and associate neurologist at UHP and associate to manage their troublesome professor at the University of symptoms and provide additional professor at the Plymouth, is to empower patients help, or review, if needed.

University of Plymouth, is to be in control of managing their The Home Based Care pathway to empower patients to condition. has been rolled out across She said: ‘We learned that Plymouth, West Devon and East be in control of managing patients wanted to be better Cornwall with 87 people with their condition. informed about their Parkinson’s, Parkinson’s on the new pathway. n

“

”

Dr Camille Carroll Consultant Neurologist UHP Associate Professor University of Plymouth

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December 13

Christmas Market

It’s that time of year again, when Miss Ivy Events stages their popular Christmas Market at the Butcher’s Hall and Pannier Market in Tavistock on Sunday, December 13th between 10.30am and 3.30pm.

The day will be jam-packed full of festive treats from more than 50 artisan, upcycled and gift exhibitors selling a selection of jewellery, candles, food, gifts and many other amazing items. This is the perfect chance to pick up those special gifts for loved ones.

Refreshments will be available and the venues are dog friendly.

There will also be a gnome trail for the little ones.

Miss Ivy is proud to support local businesses and you can too by popping along and shopping local this Christmas season.

Entry to the Christmas Market is free, Covid precautions in place.

For more information: www.missivyevents.co.uk

Christmas shopping on Dartmoor Locals and visitors can celebrate Christmas on Dartmoor in the National Park Visitor Centre at Princetown from Thursday, November 12th. They will find gifts crafted by local artisans for all the family – even for their beloved dogs - all made easier by carefully created shopping lists. There are also artisan goods and produce from The Dartmoor Range, from locally made honey to handmade soap and shampoo bars.

The visitor centre, once home to Conan Doyle as he wrote the Hound of the Baskervilles, is open from 10am until 3pm, Wednesday to Sunday in December and January. subject to Covid restrictions applicable at the time.Check www.dartmoor.gov.uk for the most up to date opening information.

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December 12 & January 9

Glenholt Market

10.30 am Saturday 12 December

Since the first lockdown in March, the popular monthly Glenholt Community Market at St Anne’s Church had to be suspended. Set up four years ago, the market had become a focal point for the local community.

With many regulars shielding, the market has now moved to the internet. Karen Griffiths, a member of St Anne’s Church and one of the organisers of the ‘Virtual Market’, said: ‘We were missing the community and wanted to bring together and support small local businesses.’

The first ‘Virtual Glenholt Market’ was due to take place via the Zoom video conference platform and also streamed live on Facebook on November 14. The next market will be taking place on December 12th between 10.30am and 12.30pm, when traders will be offering handcrafted items which can be ordered and delivered directly. To get into the Christmas spirit, there will be a Christmas carol sing-along. Just bring your own mince pies!

After the event, all traders can be contacted via the market’s Facebook group.

All you need to do to take part is register here: www.glenholtcommunitymarket.co.uk/register.html or on Facebook www.facebook.com/groups/glenholtvirtualmarket.

A new year ‘Virtual Market’ is scheduled for January 9th.

Frank Hartkopf

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WHAT’S ON

December 11-13

Together with community partner Whirlwind Sports, CHSW is asking this year’s participants to raise sponsorship or make a donation to enable the charity to continue to providing vital care for children and families when they need it most, whether that be in the hospice or at home.

Kiley continued: ‘Over the weekend of December 11th to 13th, we will have a warm-up for people to join online each day, as well as lots of prizes including for the best-dressed family, child and dog!

Individuals who raise £15 or more will also receive a medal. It’s undoubtedly been a challenging year and we would encourage people to get involved however they like this Christmas but most importantly, have fun and help us raise money to continue supporting local children living with life-limiting conditions and their families.’

Santas go freestyle!

Children’s Hospice South West’s (CHSW) annual Santas on the Run event is back - but not as you know it! Taking place over the weekend of December 11th to 13th, supporters will be able to choose their own distance, route and festive fancy dress.

The festive fundraiser usually takes place at Great Torrington’s RHS Garden Rosemoor each year, but the local children’s charity has taken the decision to hold it virtually this Christmas due to the pandemic. It’s free to register and anyone who manages to raise more than £15 will receive a special Santas on the Run medal.

Kiley Pearce, CHSW events fundraiser, said: ‘This year, Santas on the Run is going freestyle! Although we can’t all come together at Rosemoor, we can still spread some joy and laughter and we’d encourage everyone to go crackers with their festive fundraising!

Whether you twinkle in tinsel or rock it like Rudolph, you can get creative with your costume and complete a distance of your choice, your way.’

CHSW’s Santas on the Run has taken place at Rosemoor since 2018 and before that was held in Bideford town centre. Over the years it’s seen thousands of people join together raising vital funds for CHSW and its Little Bridge House children’s hospice in Fremington.

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January 29-31

Big Garden Birdwatch Hundreds of thousands of people across the UK will celebrate their love of nature and unite to watch and count the nation’s garden birds over the last weekend in January for the RSPB’s Big Garden Birdwatch, and the RSPB are counting on Devon residents to join in too.

This year’s event takes place on January 29th, 30th and 31st, 2021.

Devon residents are asked to spend just one hour watching and recording the birds in their garden, balcony or local park, then send their results to the RSPB. Beccy Speight, the RSPB’s chief executive, said: ‘We know for many people, garden birds provide an important connection to the wider world and bring enormous joy. Lockdown brought few benefits, but the last year has either started or reignited a love of nature for many people.

‘By taking part in the Birdwatch, you are helping to build an annual snapshot of how our birdlife is doing across the UK. We know that nature is in crisis but together, we can take action to solve the problems facing nature.’

The house sparrow remained at the top of the Big Garden Birdwatch rankings as the most commonly seen garden bird with nearly 1.3

million sighted in 2020. Starling held down the second spot once more, with the blue tit completing the top three.

While house sparrows and starlings may be the UK’s most commonly sighted birds, a closer look at Big Garden Birdwatch data shows that numbers have in fact dropped dramatically since the Birdwatch began in 1979. House sparrows are down 53% while starlings are down 80%. It’s a pattern echoed by two more garden favourites, with blackbirds and robins down 46% and 32% respectively.

To take part in the Big Garden Birdwatch 2021, watch the birds in your garden or local park for one hour at some point over the three days. Only count the birds that land, not those flying over. Record the highest number of each bird species you see at any one time – not the total you see in the hour.

The RSPB Big Schools’ Birdwatch takes place between January 6th – February 21st, 2021. This year, it celebrates its 20th anniversary of connecting children with nature in their school grounds. Further information can be found at www.rspb.org.uk/schoolswatch For your FREE Big Garden Birdwatch guide, which includes a bird identification chart, top tips for your birdwatch, RSPB shop voucher, plus advice on how to help you attract wildlife to your garden, text BIRD to 70030 or visit www.rspb.org.uk/birdwatch Registration for Big Garden Birdwatch 2021 opens December 9th, 2020.

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WHAT’S ON

January 15

Adoption information

January 30

Tom Stade

With the current COVID situation ongoing, the adoption agency Families for Children is now running information sessions online via Zoom.

If you are considering adoption but are not sure where to start, why not try an online information session to give you the opportunity to find out more. You will hear from adopters and can talk to Families for Children’s experienced adoption team about how you can adopt, the qualities needed to be a great adopter and of course about the children waiting.

To Book: Visit www.familiesforchildren.org.uk/book-onlineinformation-event/ The sessions are being held on Friday, January 15th between 2pm and 4pm; Tuesday, February 9th between 6pm and 8pm and Saturday, March 13th between 9am and11am.

Following his last smash-hit UK tour and direct from this year’s Edinburgh festival, Tom is back on the road with a brand-new show which comes to The Watermark in Ivybridge at the end of January.

The kids have moved out and it’s the dawn of a new era! Tom’s embracing change with his usual spirit and irrepressible sense of mischief; what’s coming is way better than what has gone!

Thirty years on the comedy frontline and this Canadian legend remains as engaging, innovative and hilarious as ever. As seen on Ch4’s Comedy Gala, BBC One’s Michael McIntyre’s Comedy Roadshow, The John Bishop Show and Live at the Apollo.

‘For energy think Porsche 911: 0-60mph in 2.9 seconds. Wouldn’t be out of place in an arena. Career-wise he’s just getting into his stride.’ Mail on Sunday ‘Swagger of a rock star, charisma of a talk show host. Hilarious.

See for yourself before the secret gets out.’ Warrington Guardian ‘UNMISSABLE’ Edinburgh Evening News

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WHAT’S ON

Pledge to shop local!

This year has been incredibly hard for local retail and hospitality businesses. Shop4Plymouth is asking you to join its amazing cast of characters and make a pledge to shop locally for your Christmas gifts this year. With so many businesses offering local deliveries, click and collect and alternative ways to shop, it’s easy to shop local and means you’re helping to make a positive difference to Plymouth.

A spokesperson said: ‘Whether it’s continuing to buy your fresh produce from local butchers, green grocers and fruit and veg shops or committing to buying gifts for friends and family from Plymouth businesses, we’re asking you to make a pledge and to share with us on social media how you’re supporting local this Christmas.’

Many, small, independent businesses depend on the Christmas shopping season so please support them where you can to save businesses and protect jobs.

But remember the big chains and leisure businesses employ thousands of local people too, so any money spent in Plymouth still helps the local economy.

Simply post your pledge, saying how you’re planning to buy locally and share it on social media, tagging @Shop4Plymouth on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram and using #Shop4Plymouth Join our city’s amazing cast of characters

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Rhubarb and Custard Cake A

t Knightstone Tearooms, based on the old airfield in Yelverton, we like to keep to the spirit of RAF Harrowbeer and the Harrowbeer archives with plenty of retro recipes and meals. Developed by our own ‘Queen of Cakes’, Janine, this old-fashioned favourite reminds Ingredients 500g spreadable butter 500g golden caster sugar 3 sachets instant custard mix 500g self-raising flour 8 eggs

3-4 sticks rhubarb 200g caster sugar 1 jar apricot jam 250g butter 400-500g icing sugar 8 rhubarb & custard sweets

Method Cut the rhubarb into two centimetre pieces and put it in an oven-proof dish, sprinkle with 200g caster sugar, and bake at 165°c for about 15 minutes or until the sugar has dissolved and is starting to caramelise. Remove it from the oven and leave to cool, before mixing in a quarter of a jar (two tbsp) of apricot jam or marmalade.

While the rhubarb is cooking, beat together the spreadable butter and caster sugar until light and fluffy. Beat in two sachets of custard mix powder and 1 tsp of vanilla extract or paste. Add the eggs one at a time then gently fold in the flour. Pour the mix into two greased and lined nine or ten-inch round cake tins. Bake at 165°c for 20 to 30 minutes until the top is golden brown and bounces back when touched gently. Leave the cakes to cool.

Make up a sachet of custard mix with half the quantity of milk or water stated on the packet. Beat well to a thick consistency, beat in the vanilla extract, and leave until cold. Then add all the icing sugar and the 250g pack of butter. Beat well and chill.

When the cakes are cold turn one out onto a serving platter and spread it generously with the rhubarb jam. Top it with the Please mention PLYM LINKS when responding to adverts

FOOD & DRINK

us of sucking on those red and yellow candies from yesteryear. The cake is topped with sweet and creamy, custard buttercream and filled with our homemade sharp and tangy rhubarb jam - truly a match made in heaven and our regulars agree! second sponge and spread the top with an even thin layer of the custard butter cream. Pipe swirls around the edge of the cake and add a shard of rhubarb and custard sweets (see below) to each swirl.

For the shards Put eight sweets onto baking parchment on a baking tray, two or three inches apart, and melt them for two to three minutes in the oven – watch them carefully and do not walk away!!

Remove them from the oven and quickly but very carefully as they will be scorching hot, run an oiled knife through the middle of them to leave a line. Don’t panic if they re-merge, timing is of the essence, so mark them again before they harden and they will snap easily at this mark once cold.n

Music for Dartmoor When Two Rivers Meet is the new album from South Devon-based folk duo, Rhillig.

Featuring original and traditional tunes and songs inspired by Dartmoor and beyond, the music is played and sung by Phil and Mahrey Berthoud on fiddles, vocals, guitars, mandolin and bodhran.

The album features a variety of material, from a ballad based on the moving story of the Buckland clock, to a foot-tapping trip up Haytor; from the haunting beauty of Sweet Rosalie to the disconcerting Hairy Hands of Postbridge! There’s also the lovely A Ship Came Sailing, collected by Baring-Gould in Hexworthy and a flowing evocation of the East and West River Darts meeting at Dartmeet. Other tracks include the rowdy Rough Music Tonight (a traditional form of punishment!), a hanging and the drowning of a village!

Rhillig cast their net near and far for their inspiration. Visit their website at www.rhillig.com where you can also buy their CD. 10% of profits from the sale of each CD goes to Donate for Dartmoor, to help conserve this wonderful landscape.

Barbican B-Hive Barbican Theatre launched it’s B-Hive Online Hub just before the first Covid 19 lockdown in March, offering fun, informative and useful tutorials, challenges and masterclasses.

The B-Hive is a free hub on YouTube that anyone can access. The material is suitable for artists, emerging artists, anyone still in training, young people studying performing arts and anyone who just wants to have a bit of online fun and opportunity to be creative and move. Access the B-Hive at https:// barbicantheatre.co.uk/artists/b-hive/ More than 47,000 people have taken a look at the B-Hive and some of its most popular films included Zoom Games, where you can join ReBels Co-Lead James as he takes you through some fun games and activities you can play during Zoom calls with your friends and family. ReBels theatre practitioner Kevin Johnson leads a ‘carelessly creative’ challenge where he suggests you ‘settle down in the muck of your own mind’ and make something just for yourself, not for show and with no expectation. ReBels dance practitioner Daisy Harrison leads a challenge/tutorial on how to incorporate a wall or walls into a piece of movement or dance - especially useful for those who want to dance/move in their homes but are restricted with space.

And Plymouth Culture CEO Hannah Harris gives you tips and tricks about how to find funding, leverage more money, understand the language used and how to figure out what funders really want you to say.

If you have an idea for a B-Hive film or would like to be a part of Barbican Theatre’s ReBels, email rebels@barbicantheatre.co.uk

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Prestigious prize winner joins college BA (Hons) Painting, Drawing & Printmaking students at Plymouth College of Art have welcomed the college’s newest appointment, incoming subject leader Richard Kenton Webb, winner of the prestigious international Sunny Art Prize in 2020.

Richard joined the college at the beginning of November from his previous role as programme lead on BA (Hons) Drawing & Print at University of the West of England. He has extensive experience in various institutions including The Slade School of Fine Art, London and The Royal Drawing School, London over the last 30 years, has taught at some of the most respected art colleges in the UK and taken part in many residencies overseas.

Richard said: ‘I love teaching. For me, teaching is a vocation, and I’m so passionate about helping each student to find their own unique voice. I’m always looking for new ways to communicate and share complex ideas.

‘Having visited Plymouth for the past 10 years, I’ve watched as Plymouth College of Art has grown, thinking to myself ‘now that’s a real art school’! It has been my dream job to teach painting, drawing and printmaking at the college for a while - and then it happened!’

Richard is an artist with painting, drawing and printmaking at the

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MUSIC & ART heart of his practice, even making his own paints and inks with pure pigments. He has exhibited internationally and has work in collections in the UK, Europe, China, Mauritius, Japan, Australia, the USA and Canada.

Stephanie Owens, head of school for arts and media, said: ‘We are thrilled to welcome Richard. His years of teaching expertise and experience will contribute greatly to the programme, supporting a hands on approach to critical thinking, as well as promoting the continued relevance of material-based practices as a whole.

‘During a challenging year for both students and academics, this appointment and Richard’s timely win of the Sunny Art Prize before joining us, sets a wonderful example for our students and reminds us all to strive for excellence even in the face of adversity.’

Visit our community website www.dartmoorlinks.co.uk 43

MUSIC & ART

Plymouth Arts Cinema

during the production of Orson Welles’ masterpiece in a film that looks set to be a lock-in for Oscar season.

December 11-17 The Ladykillers (U)

December 11-17 Mank

In a sparkling new restoration, The Ladykillers is one of the classic Ealing Comedies. The fllm follows the hilarious capers of a group of small-time crooks, taking on more they can handle in the form of their sweet, but slightly dotty, elderly landlady Mrs Wilberforce, who likes to report suspicious behaviour to the police.

Unaware of her reputation, the dapper thief Professor Marcus (Alec Guinness) rents rooms in the elderly widow’s home for himself and his band of cohorts. Posing as a string quintet, the thieves pull off a bank robbery, but slip up in front of the old lady as they try to escape. Agreeing that they need to ‘silence’ her, the bumbling crooks wind up double-crossing each other and slowly killing themselves off. An absolute gem of a film.

Mankiewicz as he overcomes personal and professional setbacks

Gary Oldman stars as legendary Citizen Kane writer Herman J. Mankiewicz.

1930s Hollywood is re-evaluated through the eyes of scathing wit and alcoholic screenwriter Herman J. Mankiewicz as he races to finish Citizen Kane. The story follows Mankiewicz as he overcomes personal and professional setbacks during the production of Orson Welles’ masterpiece in a film that looks set to be a lock-in for Oscar season.

The Green Mist Chronicles

The self-published books can be found on both Kindle and Amazon and are available in both ebook and paperback formats. They have received positive reviews on both goodreads and Amazon.

The first and recommended book introduces a female lead called Sarah Salter who is swept into the City of Devonport following a lightning storm. She discovers a land covered in green mist and people with green faces who are fighting a military menace from a modern version of Ancient Egypt. In a land of advanced technology she alone must adapt to the challenges and make a difference?

The second book is called Green Mist Singularity and continues with Sarah Salter waking in a local hospital with a green face and a series of confused doctors. Can she escape to return to the green mist world she secretly knows and take on the might of the singularity?

Book three is due for release by January 2021.

Plymouth author NR Gurney will shortly be releasing his third book in a series called Green Mist Chronicles. Neil works in a local hospital and wrote these books during his spare time, marketing them at events like Devcon and through personal appearances.

His books are aimed at the teen plus age group and would appeal to all fans of science fiction and fantasy who want a local twist.

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More information: You can see both films at Plymouth Arts Cinema at Plymouth College of Art, Tavistock Place, Plymouth. Call ✆ 01752 206 114 or email info@plymouthartscentre.org

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Separation and divorce, especially when you have children, is always an emotionally stressful time.

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Three miles of autumn bliss

From Cadover Bridge to Shaugh Bridge and back

by Ron Smith of Plymouth Ramblers

START: Cadover Bridge, in the large car park below the bridge. Grid reference SX 55441 64505 DISTANCE: Approximately 3 miles TIME: Approximately 1.5 hours The walk involves open moorland, a granite tor, steep old woodland, a tramway and quarries, an old incline, splendid rivers running over rocks and finally the route of the old china-clay slurry pipeline. Do choose stout footwear and, after a study of the weather forecast, appropriate warm waterproofs.

Park at Cadover Bridge. Use it to cross the Plym and then turn left on to the moor short of the trees. Pass the reconstructed cross on your left. Follow the track parallel to the river, on the high line of that stretch of moorland. Soon you will see Dewerstone Tor ahead, reached after one mile of walking. A good place to pause for breath and to enjoy the best views you will get on this walk; misty Dartmoor fading into the distance to the north, on your right.

Leave the rocks to your left and follow the well-trodden but steep path down. Take care! Wet rocks are slippery and there will be some mud. The moss-covered trees in the wood are a sight to behold. In fact, if you were to do this walk in spring, the moss on rocks and trees is such a bright green that any photo you took might cause your friends to accuse you of photoshopping the colour.

You reach a level shelf halfway down. This is the bed of an old tramway used to access two small granite quarries. It is possible 46

Atop of Dewerstone Tor

to carry straight on down; but the recommended route is to follow the nearly horizontal tramway to your right past the quarries. You are parallel to the River Meavy coming busily down from the north, heading behind you towards Shaugh Bridge; not to worry as you soon turn sharp left and descend to the junction of the Meavy and the Plym. You can’t miss the turn, as the tramway just stops.

At this point there was a specially-built incline with a pulley at the top, arranged so trucks heavily laden with granite went down to the junction, their weight drawing up the unladen trucks.

Note the widened point about half way down to allow the trucks to pass.

At the bottom the little headland between the Meavy and Plym rivers is a lovely spot to picnic, right by a convenient footbridge that crosses you back to the Cadover side of the Plym.

Here were the works for processing china-clay; immediately beyond the buildings take the steep narrow stairway up, and continue for a mile all the way uphill back to Cadover.

At the top of the steps, look left and into the large enclosed pits.

Here china-clay slurry was led to settle and lose most of its water, before the caked material could be dug out ready to transport onward for export from Plymouth. In those days, the river ran white with suspended clay. Just imagine how busy the area was with quarrymen and china-clay workers where now it is only you, enjoying this peaceful wooded landscape.

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WALK

N  Start: Cadover Bridge Car Park

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Ordnance Survey ©

Crown copyright.

Media 082/14

You have a steep climb in front of you, with views through the trees to your left across the Plym to the Dewerstone Rocks, great for rock-climbing. The path does level out and soon you reach the car park, deeply satisfied and with legs well stretched.

Do join a Rambling Group for further adventure. You will be

The Dewerstone

expertly led by a volunteer, and welcomed by a friendly bunch of people. Plymouth Ramblers have a wide variety of walks: just Google them for more information. Dartmoor Rambling Club has a limited range of walks, all using public transport; ideal for non-car drivers. Contact Ron Smith on 07780 913546 or email ronaldfwsmith@gmail.com n Ron Smith The pulley wheel pit Please mention PLYM LINKS when responding to adverts

Enjoy your walk!

Visit our community website www.dartmoorlinks.co.uk 47

Hallsands

‘Where has your beach gone?’

‘It be way down Plymouth!’

a predictable disaster I

n the 1890’s, Hallsands was a thriving village with 159 people living in 37 owner-occupied houses. The village was perched on the 25ft wave cut fossil platform backed by a cliff, protected from the sea by a wide expanse of shingle beach, where their fishing boats were beached.

Tucked in to the east of Start Point, Hallsands was well protected from the prevailing south westerly winds and storms. There was a grocer/baker, post office and the pub – the London Inn. The main occupation was inshore fishing, but dairy products came from local farms, with the butcher visiting from Torcross. Even during storms like ‘The Great Blizzard’ of 1891 the village suffered little damage, due to the protection of the shingle beach.

All that changed in 1897, when Sir John Jackson was appointed to construct the new Devonport North Dock Yard. He decided to source the shingle needed to make the concrete from the Start Bay area, offshore between Hallsands and Beesands. Dredging commenced immediately, without prior consultation or warning. The first the villagers knew was when the

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dredger arrived offshore. They protested vehemently via the Devon Fisheries Committee and local MP Frank Mildmay, concerned at the loss of their fishing grounds and the protective beach.

Sadly, Mr Cole, the shoreline landowner, had agreed to it, and the area below high water mark was controlled by the government. Eventually Sir John agreed to pay the village £125 a year for the loss of the fishing, with a further £200 at Christmas. Sir John reassured them the beach would replenish naturally in time. The villagers continued to press for the dredging to be stopped, so Sir John appointed a Captain Vereker to investigate - a report was made to the Board of Trade which has, suspiciously, since been lost. In all 60,000 tons of shingle was removed. On New Year’s Day 1902, the frustrated fishermen surrounded the dredger - eight days later the licence was withdrawn and dredging ceased.

However, it was too late to prevent disaster. South Easterly storms in February 1903 and the winter of

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HISTORY last of the sisters died in 1975, when it was sold and 1903/1904 washed over the village, destroying several became holiday flats. Until their deaths in the 1960s the houses and causing much damage. An area in front of the London Inn became a huge water-filled void. Luckily Prettijohn siblings lived in the last remaining house in the old village. It too became a holiday home. there were no fatalities but much work was needed to Since the loss of the village, the sea has continued repair the houses and some villagers were left homeless. to erode the coastline. Little shingle remains in the Besides Frank Mildmay and Mr H Ford of the Devon immediate vicinity of the old village, and that at the Fisheries committee, the villagers enlisted the help of Greenstraight continues to erode. Without the protection Plymouth engineer and geologist Richard Hansford of the beach the cliffs are rapidly eroding, with the Worth to construct new sea walls. Hansford Worth area in front of the Trout Hotel badly affected. A large made a detailed study of the whole area. By analysing landslip in 2012 made the old viewing platform unsafe the shingle from the beach, he demonstrated it would never replenish as it was a ‘fossil’ beach from interglacial and undermined the outhouse of the old Prettijohn house. Years ago the path to the old village was declared periods. To demonstrate how great the loss was, he unsafe and the south west coast path route has been used before and after photographs. Eventually some compensation was paid by the government. The greatest moved further inland.

With coastal erosion it seems likely the cliff top buildings help to the villagers was a fund set up by the Western will fall into the sea. The road across the Greenstraight Morning News. This enabled the building of four new was destroyed by storms in 2014. The Environment homes on the cliffs near the coastguard cottages. For Agency refused to provide some years life returned any money for repair, as to pretty much normal it affected so few people for the villagers, although residents raised £27,000 for the beach was much lower the work themselves. On and narrower than it had January 18th, 2016, ITV been before the dredging.

West Country news reported On January 26th, 1917 that the ferocious winter there was another violent seas caused the shingle at south easterly storm, Greenstraight to completely which, although Hansford disappear, exposing the peat Worth’s wall held, below, the waves attacking overtopped the houses. a boulder bank put in to With water pouring down protect the rebuilt road. It their chimneys and doors was reiterated that the plan and windows caving in, Hallsands village in 1885 was to allow this part of the many thought they would die. Some managed to escape via the rear of their houses coast to erode in order that the money could be spent to save areas of higher population density. and scramble up the cliff to safety.

Several questions arise from this sorry tale of coastal This time, only the Prettijohn family house, highest mismanagement. Why did Sir John Jackson use dredged up the path out of the village, remained intact. Again, shingle for the concrete rather than gravel from pits? amazingly, no one died, but most were homeless, their The answer is cost, as extraction, and transport would way of life destroyed along with their homes. Help be more expensive. The same probably applies as to why, continued to come from Frank Mildmay, Mr Ford of without scientific evidence, he said the shingle would Devon Fisheries, R Hansford Worth, and the Western be replaced – doing a study would have been costly.

Morning News, who again set up an appeal for funds.

However, it could be argued that if the Devonport North The authorities dragged their feet over funding and Yard had not been built, the impact on Britain’s ability building the promised Fordworth Cottages in North to fight the naval battles in both World Wars might have Hallsands. Eventually, they were ready for occupation been severely limited, and that the loss of the 197 homes in 1923 and were to remain in ownership of the was a small price to pay. local council, so villagers had to pay rent. Not a good Nowadays we are better informed and understand outcome, as the villagers had all owned their houses. In the impact of beach loss and climate change, but it the six years they had waited, many lived in the ruined seems once again, government is prepared to sacrifice village or doubled up with friends and relatives. The Hallsands for financial reasons... n three Trout sisters were more enterprising, and built a hotel on the cliffs,which opened to guests 1925. The Ursula Myers Please mention PLYM LINKS when responding to adverts

Visit our community website www.dartmoorlinks.co.uk 49

Why advertise your business in Plym Links?

Aqua Tech Water Services

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Ellis Taylor, Dartmoor Ponds Advertising with Moor & Tavy Links has been worth every penny, with great response to the advert from the local community. I now have very loyal local customers and would like to thank them for their support. It more than pays for itself each time I advertise.

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Door Sets for all projects

www.mooremooredoors.co.uk unit a1 yelverton business park pl20 7pe

WILL WRITERS SERVICES •67% of UK adults don’t have a valid Will • Wills aren’t just for the elderly or wealthy • Using a regulated professional to write your Will or help with estate planning will provide both you and your family with Peace of Mind

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BASIC WILL JUST £140 • Your Will allows you to instruct your executors on how to distribute your estate on your death.

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Making a Will is the only way to ensure that your wishes are carried out after your death.

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Married Couples

Do not assume your spouse will automatically get everything.

Under the law of Intestacy, your children can have a right to part of your estate if large enough. Wills made before marriage could be revoked by your marriage unless the Will stated it was still to stand.

Children & Guardians

A Will allows you to state who you would like to look after your children in the event of both parents deaths, otherwise courts will make this decision.

You can also specify at what age your children can inherit your assets.

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IF YOU ARE ISOLATING I AM HAPPY TO TAKE INSTRUCTIONS/DISCUSS YOUR OPTIONS VIA PHONE OR ZOOM. When I do visit full appropriate care is taken with PPE.

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Our thanks to key workers and essential staff, wishing all a safe Merry Christmas and New Year!

• MOT • Service and Repairs • Diagnostic Testing • Air Conditioning • Laser Wheel Alignment • Specialist Engine Treatments • Tyres and Exhausts at competitive prices

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BUSINESS

Rhoop Design A success story of extraordinary diversification, proving all is not lost when a global pandemic wipes out your order book.

Local Yelverton company Sussex Seating has changed its product offer, resulting in the creation of something quite beautiful and long lasting. Liz Dawes, proprietor of Sussex Seating and director of the new Rhoop Design, explains how this came about.

So where did it all start?

We started in Sussex in 1997. I was general manager of a theatre and in the middle of a massive refurbishment. I was dealing with the company responsible for the seating and, to cut a long story short, ended up going into partnership with Robert Hooper and setting up Sussex Seating. We supply many of the independent cinemas, theatres and lecture theatres around the UK - anything with fixed auditorium seating. I moved the business down to the West Country in 2010 and we are now based at Yelverton. Then came Covid-19!

The birth of Rhoop Design

chair is inspired by the Bauhaus School and is supremely comfortable and ergonomic. We also offer a re-upholstery service, so clients can bring in their old chairs and we reupholster them.

Many businesses have had to reinvent themselves due to this pandemic and Rhoop Design is a great example of how to use your existing skills, but in a slightly different way. Even when auditorium seating is back in demand, Rhoop Design is here to stay.

Just launched, the Grenofen homeworker’s office chair

For our Sussex Seating clients it is a desperate situation; theatres and cinemas are closed and these are our key customers, so at the end of March, all our orders and contracts just stopped. The cancellation of the latest James Bond film put the final nail in the coffin for many of our clients. This business will come back at some point but we decided that diversification was something we had to do. Robert has always designed furniture, and at some point we had always planned to offer domestic seating. Covid-19 just made that happen a lot quicker. During late March and early April, we revisited Rob’s desire to design and make domestic-use chairs and sofas. We have very highly skilled craftsmen working for us and we needed to utilise their abilities. Robert started to design a range of chairs and sofas and I spent a great deal of time building up contacts in the area with interior designers and retailers. This was the birth of Rhoop Design.

The new range We have now created a completely new range of domestic furniture, to suit a discerning taste. These are high quality pieces of furniture. We also offer a bespoke design service, where clients can come to us and tell us what kind of chair they are looking for; we talk to them about their chair, use computer design technology, discuss materials, patterns and styles and create a chair especially for them. We have also just launched a new office chair called the Grenofen, aimed at all those new homeworkers. The 52

More information: You can see the range of seating at www.rhoopdesign.co.uk and get in touch with Liz as below:  sales@sussexseating.co.uk ✆ 01822 835968

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TECH HELP

Banish the pop-ups!

Many use Chrome these days to browse the internet. But regardless of the browser you use, if you choose to ‘allow’ notifications on a website such as the Plymouth Herald or The Daily Mail, you will regret it forever. You will be plagued by pop ups that will continue even though you may have closed the browser! You need to remove the notifications in ‘Settings’ in the browser you are using and try to remember not to allow it again! If you want to use Chrome, but cannot get your Favorites from Internet Explorer, open Chrome and go to the three dots at the top right and choose ‘Bookmarks’, then ‘Import Bookmarks and Settings’, from the drop-down menu choose Internet Explorer and allow it to complete. You will find all your Favorites are on the

Bookmarks Toolbar labelled ‘Imported from IE’.

I have written this before, but it is always worth repeating; If you have a new BT Hub and your older device connects to it, but there is no internet, then it is the router’s fault! Out of the box, the BT Hub is not backward compatible and needs to be made so for older kit to work. It is to do with the security protocols. You will need to log in to the Hub as admin and change the wireless mode from 1 to either 2 or 3, trying it each time until you find the mode that makes it work. Crazy I know but these Silicon Valley guys think we all have modern technology!

These days, many people only visit a bank to pay money in. I can’t make paying in cash any easier for you, but did you know that if you have the banking app (smartphone or tablet) you can pay in cheques without having to leave home? In the app, there will be an option to ‘Pay in a cheque’; it will use the camera on your device to photograph the cheque; you put in the amount (because it is not THAT clever) and it will hit your account in a day or so. n Tim Lambie Chezvous PC

For help with any home or business IT needs call

✆ 01822 855822 or email help@chezvouspc.com

PC, Tablet & Mac Help for home or business - visit or remote Got a computer problem at home or office?

The LOCAL help you have been looking for!

Advice on PCs, laptops, tablets, printers, etc.

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TRADE SECRETS

Catherine Brockie The Yelverton Carpet Company How long have you been running Yelverton Carpet Company?

I have been managing the business since I purchased it in September 2016, so just over 4 years.

Where are you based?

We are based on The Yelverton Business Park in Crapstone on the edge of Dartmoor.

Do you specialise in any particular type of flooring?

We don’t have any one product that we specialise in, we pride ourselves on ensuring that we can offer extensive knowledge on all the exciting ranges of quality carpets and hard flooring products that we sell. However, I am passionate about promoting more environmentally friendly and sustainable flooring and have a large selection in store, so you could say this is our specialty.

Do you sell anything other than carpets and flooring?

To complement our flooring products, we have beautiful fabrics, made to order curtains and soft furnishings and are stockists of ‘Little Greene’ stunning wallpapers and fabulous paints, Can you describe a typical day?

No two days are ever the same, which is why I love it! The start of the day is always ensuring the fitters have everything they need for the installations going out, but after that it is very varied, consultations with customers in the showroom, appointments to measure - whether it’s a full house, a small bathroom or summer house! Then there are meetings with suppliers, writing up quotes and ordering products.

What is the most difficult part of your job?

Probably keeping all the balls in the air at the same time, which can be very challenging - but also satisfying.

What do you like most about your role?

The fact that it is so varied - no two people

will ever want the same combination of products. I strive to offer my customers something a bit different, I want to ensure that choosing their flooring is a pleasurable experience not an ordeal and that they end up with the flooring that they will really love. I enjoy the constant challenges of owning and running a small business and the the fact that I still learn something new everyday. n Get in touch:  sales@yelvertoncaroets.co.uk ✆ 01822 854 363

FOR ALL YOUR FLOORING & INTERIOR NEEDS

Be Inspired

Visit our showroom for quality products Carpets • Curtains & Blinds Fabrics • Wall Coverings • Paints Domestic & Commercial Installations WE OFFER A RANGE OF PRODUCTS WHICH ARE

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ITY

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Climbing, Nature & the Devil

Robin Redbreast

December 2020/January 2021 | Issue 7

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BUS I NESS

The Dewerstone Learn more about our festive feathered friend

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Delivered by the Royal Mail to more than 32,000 homes and businesses in West Devon, Dartmoor and North Plymouth.

WALKS | ARTS | EVENTS | PEOPLE | HERITAGE | LOCAL FOOD & DRINK | HOMES | BUSINESS

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Garden Centre Endsleigh Gardens Nursery 30 Garden Services Hartland Landscaping 29 Hedge to Hedge Garden Services 30 J A Francis Stone Walling & Patios 30 Men for All Seasons 30 Glazing Beacon Glass & Glazing 51 Groundworks Marcus Allen Groundworks 30 Health Therapist Emma Conway - Mobile Foot Practitioner 32 Hearing Care Centre Alistair Kinsey Hearing and Mobility 32 Plymouth Hearing Centre 34 Heating & Electrical Engineering Chamings Heating and Plumbing 15 & 21 DB Heating 11 Soper Plumbing & Heating Ltd 27 Kitchen Planning & Installation Callington Kitchen Studio 18 Legal & Financial Services Personalised Social Care Solutions 32 Letting Agents M&B Lettings 2 Museums The Box 43 Nursery School Bambinos 24 Bumblebees 24 Oven Cleaning Oven Wizards 51 Photographer Georgia Gee Photography 39 Pond Maintenance Dartmoor Pond Services 30 Private Water Engineers AquaTech Water Services 50 Residential Parks Berkeley Parks 9 Solicitor Woollcombe Yonge Solicitors 45 Tree Surgeons The Stumpman 30 Will Writing Service Will Writers Services 50

JOBS

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Accounting Tax Assist Accountants 18 Art Tavistock Picture Framing Gallery 44 Wildwood Arts 42 Auctioneers & Valuers Drake’s Auctions 31 Bakery Porsham Cakes 38 Bathrooms Easy Bathrooms Plymouth 4 Tavistock Bathrooms & Tiles 56 Beautician Dartmoor Skincare 32 Bed Centre Tavistock Beds 17 Bridal Shop Two for Joy Bridal 19 Business Services Tavistock BID 45 Care Home Bethany Christian Care Home 24 Carers / home help Day and Nightcare Assistance 34 Sante Care at Home 14 Carpet Retailer Tavistock Carpets 16 Yelverton Carpet Company 54 Computer Maintenance Bere Computing IT Consultant 19 Chez Vous PC 53 Council Plymouth City Council 40 Doors Moore & Moore Doors Ltd 50 Education Shaugh Prior Primary School 22 Electrician Plym Pat Testing 51 Estate Agents & Property Cavanna Homes Southwest Ltd 13 Farming The Hen House Farm 38 Funeral Services Bellacouche 37 Garage Services Barton Garages 51

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In every issue of Plym Links we promote local businesses, conversely, these businesses support and enable us to continue writing and publishing your local community magazine. If you are looking for a great local business then please choose from the list below. Next to each business is the page number on which they appear in this issue, please go and look at their advert and, if you call them, mention that you found them in Plym Links.

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Plym Links Business Directory

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JOBS

CHRISTMAS SHOPPING & MARKETS

The lost village of

Hallsands

Poetry, Pandemic and the Professor

GARDENING Winter jobs and Christmas gift ideas

MEET the locals

FOOD & DRINK Rhubarb & Custard Cake

• A passionate sportsman from Derriford • A priest from Lee Moor £3.50 | WHERE SOLD

Delivered FREE by your postman to PL6 - 7 and PL7 - 5. Guaranteed Circulation of 7,000 homes

WALKS | ARTS | EVENTS | PEOPLE | HERITAGE | LOCAL FOOD & DRINK | HOMES | BUSINESS

OKE LINKS

November/December 2020 | Issue 22

Devon’s War Girls MED Theatre’s touring performance

Church improvement

Freehand

Hands-on learning in arts and crafts

Change afoot at All Saints

Okehampton United Charities

Meet the locals

Phenomenal support to communities

A Moretonhampstead shroud maker A Dartmoor gilder

Delivered free by your postman to EX20 1,2 & 4 and TQ13 8, postcodes. Guaranteed circulation of 10,233 homes and businesses

HISTORY

Finding Bert Stead

GARDENING Time for a change?

£3.50 | where sold

HEALTH

Spotlight on the thyroid

To make sure your business is featured in the next issue of Plym Links magazine, call us today on 07450 161 929 or email tim.randell@linksmagazines.co.uk Visit our community website www.dartmoorlinks.co.uk 55

ur Y g o AR atin RS ebr IVE Cel NN A TH 10

Tavistock Bathrooms & Tiles

Amanda & James invite you to their showroom OVER 50 BATHROOM SETTINGS TO INSPIRE YOU We would like to thank all our customers past, present and future for their support

BATHROOMS • TILES • SHOWERS • WET ROOMS • BATHROOM FURNITURE MIRRORS & CABINETS • TOWEL RAILS & DESIGNER RADIATORS • ACCESSORIES Unit 8 Plymouth Road Industrial Estate, Tavistock PL19 9QN

01822 618 619 info@tavistockbathrooms-tiles.co.uk

www.tavistockbathrooms-tiles.co.uk

TAVISTOCK

BATHROOMS & TILES By amanda - james