Tavy Links Dec/Jan issue 2018

TAVY LINKS December / January 2019

Issue 34

TAVISTOCK • MARY TAVY • KILWORTHY • MOORTOWN • WHITCHURCH • HORNDON • LAMERTON • GRENOFEN • BRENTOR GULWORTHY • PETER TAVY • HORSEBRIDGE • MILTON ABBOT

25

WIN

DINNER FOR TWO

PAGES OF EVENTS FOR CHRISTMAS AND NEW YEAR

AT THE BEDFORD HOTEL SEE PAGE 64

INSPIRATION FOR CHRISTMAS GIFTS DICKENSIAN EVENING, FESTIVALS, FAIRS, MARKETS AND MUSIC FESTIVE FOOD AND DRINK INSIDE THIS ISSUE: VILLAGE NEWS •• GARDENING •• EDUCATION •• FOOD •• HEALTH •• HISTORY •• WHAT’S ON LOCAL PEOPLE A family of entrepreneurs and an artist

CHRISTMAS DAY LUNCH with Rotary at United Reformed Church

HISTORY 700 years of St Eustachius’

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All you want for Christmas...

The deadline date for any inclusions in the February/ March issue of Tavy Links will be 9th January 2018. For all editorial enquiries please contact Rosemary via email: rosemary. best@linksmagazines.co.uk

THE LINKS TEAM: Publisher: Tim Randell Editor: Rosemary Best

Writers: Nichola Williams, Kaye Rogers Design: Sara Venner, Julian Rees Customer Services: Rachel Rees Advertising: Jane Daniel, Olivia Breyley, Joanne Mallard

01822 615627 We’ve spotted Harry Otter 7 times in the magazine. Can you

Here we are again, nearly at the end of another year, with Christmas just around the corner. Whether you are on the search for presents or festive entertainment, this issue has lots of ideas. Enjoy a host of local seasonal events in the lead-up to Christmas, kicking off with tree festivals and Dickensian Evening as well as fairs, exhibitions and a host of Christmas carol services and music. Kaye and I have been to talk to the owners of two of Tavistock’s new shops – Eversfield Organic’s first farm shop and deli, and Amber and Mallow Lifestyle - both of these shops offer a great selection of wares if you’re on the hunt for the perfect gift. Nichola has been to visit Cheryll Kinsley Potter at her studio and find out how she creates her amazing icons.

Plus, as we come to the end of the 700th anniversary year of St Eustachius’, Joan Torvell has written an account of its history, rising to the challenge of fitting 700 years into a mere couple of pages.

We would also really like your thoughts on Tavy Links so we would like to invite you to complete our Reader Survey on page 64 and send it to the address provided to be entered into our prize draw for a chance to win ‘dinner for two’ at The Bedford Hotel.

And finally - Merry Christmas and Happy New Year!

Rosemary Best

spot him too?

32 Contents

Editor

46 50

24

5 Community News

29 Farming Diary

58 Outdoors & Active

11 Book Review

31 Naturalist

60 History

12 Education

32 Christmas Services

62 Business

13 Kids’ What’s On

34 What’s On

63 Tech Tips

14 Local People

45 What’s On Extra

64 Reader Survey

18 Charity Focus

50 Music & Art

70 Trade Secrets

21 Health & Wellbeing

53 National Trust

24 Gardening

56 Food & Drink

@tavylinks Cover photo by Tommy Hatwell tommyhatwell.com - see page 50 for more of Tommy’s work Cover wreath by Amanda Randell Floral Design amandarandell.com The Tavy Links Oct/Nov cover photo was also by Tommy Hatwell and not by Guy Harrop as previously stated

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COMMUNITY NEWS

Tamara Landscape Partnership wins funding The Tamar Valley Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty (AONB) team has received initial National Lottery support* for the Tamara Landscape Partnership project. Development funding of £180,000 has been awarded by the Heritage Lottery Fund (HLF) to help the Tamar Valley AONB and its partners progress their plans to apply for a full National Lottery grant of £2.3million at a later date.

The project aims to provide a brighter future for the Tamar Valley and its communities by making the landscape more robust and less susceptible to a range of pressures, through a programme of 12 individual, substantial projects. Tamara Landscape Partnership will work with farmers and landowners to manage landscapes that are rich in wildlife, as well as cultural and historic heritage; help provide access to those landscapes and promote ways for people to enjoy the

landscape whilst improving their health and wellbeing. Over the next 18 months, new staff will be appointed to produce a Landscape Conservation Action Plan, detailing the proposed works for the 5-year delivery phase, issue a number of local contracts to help inform the delivery phase and bring together farmers and landowners.

Keep a close eye on www.tamarvalley.org.uk or Facebook and Twitter @TVAONB for progress on Tamara.

New chair for Tavistock BID Following on from recent changes to its management and board, Tavistock BID (Business Improvement District) held a positive AGM and is looking forward to the year ahead with renewed optimism and focus. A new chair has been appointed and the position of vice-chair created. During the recent board meeting Kevin Hailey (Abode Sales and Lettings) was voted and appointed as chair after being on the Tavistock BID board of directors for the last 12 months. Valerie Davenport (Kaleidoscope) takes the position of vice-chair. Kevin has been in business for more than 25 years and is now keen to move the BID plan projects forward. Kevin said: “I am delighted to be appointed as the chair of Tavistock BID as I am committed to the town and to working with its businesses in these challenging economic times. With the support of levy payers, I hope to bring a fresh and modern approach to meet the changes that are happening nationwide whilst maintaining the wonderful traditions of Tavistock.”

Tavistock BID was invited to attend an informal meeting of other South West BIDs alongside representatives from Exeter, Plymouth City, Plymouth Waterfront, Falmouth and St Austell.

This is a very exciting opportunity to learn from them and to explore ways in which the BID can collaborate to expand the town centre offerings and encourage footfall.

To complement our wonderful Dickensian Evening on December 7th, we are hosting a number of exciting events over the winter period. The Stannary Brass Band will bring Christmas cheer on December 1st as we support Small Business Saturday, and we are thrilled to put on a ‘Christmas Carol Street Show’ on December 8th to prolong the Dickensian feeling. Our town trails are also proving hugely popular and a fun way of putting our independent shops on the map. For more details on all the upcoming events see What’s on Extra or visit www.visit-tavistock.co.uk

Collection Day Changes Recycling & Waste collections Weeks beginning 24 December and 31 January Usual New 24 Dec  24 Dec 25 Dec  27 Dec 26 Dec  28 Dec 27 Dec  29 Dec 28 Dec  31 Jan

Usual New 31Jan  2 Jan 1 Jan  3 Jan 2 Jan  4 Jan 3 Jan  5 Jan 4 Jan  7 Jan

Week beginning 7 January All collections will run one day late

Don’t forget  Garden waste service does not operate from 24 December – 5 January.  However, all trees up to 6ft tall will be collected between 7 – 18 January.

Put out on normal collection day during non-refuse week.  Sorry, we can’t recycle cards containing glitter or plastic nor wrapping paper.

BOX

Clever

BOX

Clever

plastic bottles

Box 1  

empty aerosols

sticker to Apply this Box 1. front of

Ensure all recycling & refuse is out by 7.30am

See our community website www.dartmoorlinks.co.uk

& food tins drink cans



only.

Empty aerosols cans, Empty rinsed squash wash and plastic bottles. tubs, pots Sorry, no or trays.

all paper

books & books catalogues

Box 2 card

no staples or tape

each material Please sort in Box 2. type sticker to Apply this Box 2. front of

by

the

the

www.westdevon.gov.uk 5

COMMUNITY NEWS

Increased demand for Tavistock Foodbank Tavistock Foodbank has seen a dramatic increase in demand over the past twelve months, assisting nearly 1000 people over the year, up from 650 in the previous year. Thankfully Tavistock has many generous people who donate what they can in order that no one in our community goes without. Anyone in need can be referred to the foodbank via the Citizens Advice Bureau, the Children’s Centre, the debt advice service DATA... just to name a few. Tavistock Foodbank in the United Reformed Church provides assistance to anyone in the PL19 and PL20 postcode areas. Acting chair of the trustees, Rob Weston, reflecting on the question of why there has been a significant rise in need, said: “None of us can give a definitive answer to this complex situation, it is likely that the introduction of Universal Credit is a factor but we are also aware of issues for people on zero-hours contracts who are in work but simply

can’t budget in the way people have in the past. One thing is certain, any caring community cannot ignore those in need and clearly the community in and around Tavistock is such a caring community.”

The foodbank welcomes donations of food, which can be made via Tavistock churches or in Tesco and Co-op stores in Tavistock, where lists of required Christmas goods will be available, in addition to the following items currently needed: confectionery, shampoo, shaving foam, fruit juice, sponge puddings, rice (small), washing powder and sugar. Donations of money are also welcomed to ensure that vouchers can be issued for fresh vegetables and fresh meat products.

Dartmoor Local Plan Consultation We’re publishing a draft new Local Plan for Dartmoor, and consulting on it between 3rd December 2018 and 4th February 2019. The Local Plan sets out what type of development is and isn’t acceptable in the National Park; it is what we use to decide planning applications, and sets out where future development may take place. Help us plan for Dartmoor’s future by commenting on it – it’s important to tell us what you like, as well as anything you’d like to see change.

View and comment on the plan online at dartmoor.gov.uk/ localplanreview or at libraries, parish councils and also at

6

Tavistock Visitor Information Centre during the consultation period. Join the discussion: Twitter: @DartmoorPlan; Facebook: /DartmoorPlan; forwardplanning@dartmoor.gov.uk; 01626 832093.

11 December, 3pm - 6pm Have a chat with us about the Plan and how it might affect you at our public drop-in event in your area at the Meeting Room, Yelverton War Memorial Hall – for a list of other dropin events see the website.

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COMMUNITY NEWS

New cinema for Plymouth Arts Centre Plymouth Arts Centre’s unique independent cinema is to relocate to a new home and double in size. A new 118-seat auditorium is to be built in Plymouth College of Art and will open to the public on 10th January 2019.

The 61-seat cinema in Looe Street enjoyed a record year in 2017, with nearly 18,000 admissions across 135 films. Its live event cinema, film festival, and regular talks by internationally renowned film makers such as director Ben Wheatley, and Oscar winners Roger Deakins and Mia Bays continue to build in popularity.

Tim Bolton, Vice Principal at Plymouth College of Art, said: “Plymouth College of Art shares many fundamental values with Plymouth Arts Centre and we have enjoyed a mutually beneficial relationship spanning numerous years. We welcome this opportunity to continue to collaborate with them, to enrich the arts and cultural fabric of the South West.

“We’re confident that the new, enhanced space will improve the viewing experience for cinema-goers, and hope that together our shared resources will enable Plymouth Arts Centre to continue their mission to bring independent cinema to the city.”

The withdrawal of the Arts Council England’s NPO funding for the Arts Centre in April 2018 put extreme pressure on all areas of the charity’s organisation. The Board has taken the difficult decision to sell the Arts Centre’s Looe Street building and the Trustees have reluctantly reached an unavoidable decision to halt the visual arts programme for the time being. PAC Home, the centre’s highly regarded network of artists and arts professionals, is developing plans to continue independently.

Plymouth Arts Centre will be launching a major fundraising campaign to support the cinema. If you would like to donate or become a friend, visit www.plymouthartscentre.org/supportus for details.

Morris Bros (Tavistock) Ltd Your Local Independent Funeral Director

Arranging any funeral can be distressing, which is why choosing the right funeral director to ease you through the process can make all the difference.

At Morris Bros, we understand the pain of loss and open our doors to you, offering both practical guidance & personal comfort. Simon & Lucie Luke live at the Foundry & are available to you 24 hours a day. Your loved one will stay with us; their care, attention and preparation only provided by us.

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A pre-paid funeral plan with Golden Charter gives you and your family peace of mind with a range of plans to suit all budgets from just £1950. Your plan will be allocated to Morris Bros here in Tavistock.

We also offer bespoke plans to suit specific requests. Contact us for further details or to make an appointment.

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COMMUNITY NEWS

Tavistock Rotary Round up As autumn turns into winter, we can reflect on a superb couple of months for Tavistock Rotary. In the extended warm weather, we held a couple of really fun social events. Our annual croquet match against the Yelverton Rotarians, as always, was a good laugh. Not many people really knew what they were doing and no-one has any idea who won, but that doesn’t matter - it’s about having fun, a couple of drinks and pasties.

We also enjoyed lots of traditional games – swingball, darts, table tennis and horseshoe tossing – as well as excellent food, when Christine and Robin Wilson hosted our annual Bring and Braai (South African for ‘barbecue’), in honour of our recent president, Catherine Bailey.

We were out in force marshalling the car park at Widecombe Fair. We never get to see much of the fair but it’s always a good day helping hundreds of friendly people. We were also proud to help steward the Junior Life Skills event at Tavistock Town Hall, where it was truly wonderful to see so many children learning how to be safe on the moors, in the home, online and in a host of other situations.

But the highlight of the past couple of months has been Goose Fair. Our bookstall, ‘this and that’ stall and ‘guess the weight of the geese competition’ were extremely popular and helped us to raise a significant amount of money for our local charities.

Nigel Ellis, our community team leader was delighted to thank everyone who supported our stalls and to announce that Mary Bradford from Lamerton had guessed the weight of the geese exactly, at 27lb 12oz.

Our President, Norrie Philip, has selected Tavistock Triangle Centre as our charity for the year and, on October 12th, we were really pleased to be able to present the centre with a cheque for £1200 at their coffee morning in the Parish Rooms.

We’re now building up to Dickensian Evening, helping Santa visit as many places as possible in Tavistock, and the Christmas Day Lunch at the United Reformed Church – we’re looking forward to seeing as many people as possible at these events.

Graham Parker

To get involved with Tavistock Rotary activities, or help with fundraising activities, please contact Graham Parker on 07545 075942 or email grahamparker1@me.com

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COMMUNITY NEWS

VIC Friends Scheme Tavistock Visitor Information Centre is delighted to announce its new Friends Scheme which has been set up to help raise some much-needed funds for the VIC which is self-funded and operates with the support of local volunteers under the Tavistock Heritage Trust. The Friends Scheme costs just £10 a year and for this your name/business name will be posted on the Thank You Board at the Information Centre and on the new dedicated page of the website – www.heritageintavistock.

org. You’ll also be recognised on VIC social media channels, given a supporter’s logo for your own website and offered a 20% discount on VIC guided heritage walks. All of this for just £10 a year. If you would like to join please contact hello@ visit-tavistock.co.uk. or drop into the VIC and speak to one of our volunteers.

SeaMoor Lotto helps local causes The Community lottery, SeaMoor Lotto, has already paid over £1,655 to local good causes across South Hams and West Devon after just over a month of operation. At the current rate of sales, the lottery is on track to raise nearly £20,000 annually for good causes. By purchasing SeaMoor Lotto tickets, you support local good causes which then receive funds directly from the lottery in a monthly pay-out. Ticket holders can choose which cause they wish to support, as well as entering to win cash prizes of up to £25,000. For every £1 ticket sold, the chosen local good cause receives 50p and 10p goes to a wider community fund. The biggest cash prize win so far was £250. With nearly 70 good causes signed up to SeaMoor Lotto, you can choose from a wide range of charities and good causes which provide services within the South Hams or West Devon areas. To purchase tickets visit www.seamoorlotto. co.uk. For local good causes and charities who wish to join SeaMoor Lotto contact lotto@swdevon.gov.uk

Charity ball raises £4,000 Sisters Hair & Beauty held a 10th Anniversary Charity Ball in aid of the Oncology Unit at Derriford and the Devon Air Ambulance. More than 240 people attended the ball at Tavistock Town Hall. Sarah McGowan and Nicky Wickett, coowners of the salon, are celebrating 10 years in business and, at the time of writing, have raised an estimated £4,000 for the charities.

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BOOK REVIEW

Book Review Snap by Belinda Bauer

Published by Black Swan: £8.99

In addressing these various slings and arrows of fortune, Bauer provides us with a compelling un-put-downable tale with enough twists and turns to keep the reader hooked to the novel’s bloody conclusion.

Book Stop recommended reads for Christmas and the new year The Ordnance Survey Puzzle Book Scores of OS maps with accompanying puzzle questions, graded easy to challenging. Trapeze £14.99

Tombland by CJ Sansom Latest in the hugely successful Tudor legal detective series. Mantle £20

Becoming by Michelle Obama Much anticipated memoir of former US First Lady. Penguin £25

Pages & Co by Anna James Delightful novel for children which also introduces the reader to classics of children’s literature. HarperCollins

&

£12.99

Snow in the Garden by Shirley Hughes Beautiful seasonal picture book for younger readers. Walker Books £12.99 Review and recommendations

by Simon Church, Book Stop, Tavistock ‘

As a police procedural crime novel which made it to this autumn’s Man Booker Prize long-list, Belinda Bauer’s new thriller is something of a rarity. Moving from the traumatic events of a sweltering early 2000s East Devon summer, Bauer’s novel follows the paths of three main protaganists: Jack, the traumatised youth, trying to maintain control as the solid walls of his comfortable and loving childhood collapse around him, DCI Marvel, the London copper sent down to the country following his own professional catastrophe, and mum-tobe Catherine whose seemingly idyllic existence gradually becomes exposed as little more than a mirage.

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Call us: 01822 610789 • Email: info@ravenlifestyle.co.uk 14B Market Street • Tavistock PL19 0DB

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11

EDUCATION

Exciting opportunites for Little Owls Pre-school Surprisingly three years have passed since Little Owls first opened its doors to preschool-age children, and in September 2017 the age range was expanded to include two-year-olds.

The children have had great fun taiko drumming, making sushi, apple and blackberry picking, creating wonderful paintings and models, flying kites, as well as a trip to Wembury Beach to discover rock pool creatures, not forgetting a visit to Great Western Railway to enjoy a ride on a real steam train!

Little Owls is based within Milton Abbot Primary School and although the children have their own classroom, they work alongside Snowy Owls Class as a foundation stage unit, which is led by an early years specialist teacher, Mrs Weatherston.

The children enjoy cooked lunches provided by Bridget, the

school cook. They also develop fundamental skills with Mr Wickett, who is a sports specialist, and they take part in sports day along with many more enrichment opportunities, ensuring they are always a part of the whole school community.

Not only does this familiarise the children with the school environment and staff, it embeds a smooth transition into school life.

Use of our Forest School facilities is a fantastic opportunity to enhance outdoor learning opportunities and every Friday the pre-school welcomes parents, babies and toddlers for a stay and play session. It has been wonderful to meet so many new families within the local community, providing everyone with the chance to connect with nature. Jane Weatherston, the manager of Little Owls, said: “It is so rewarding to see every child thriving within Little Owls, and they are extremely settled when they start school. I am so proud of our early years team who always value and support each and every child’s uniqueness.”

For more information please contact 01822 870273 or email littleowls.miltonabbot@gmail.com

12

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KIDS WHAT’S ON KIDS WHAT’S ON

BUCKLAND ABBEY CHRISTMAS WEEKEND FAMILY CRAFTING

January, 11am-4pm. Wrap up warm and bring the family to Cotehele to follow this fun festive trail. Free

Each weekend up to Christmas, 11am-3pm Fancy something creative? Why not come along to one of Buckland Abbey’s festive workshops and create your own World Encompassed style penguin to take home?

Free but normal admission prices apply

MEET MOTHER AND FATHER CHRISTMAS AT COTEHELE Saturday 15th, Sunday 16th, Saturday 22nd and Sunday 23rd December,1pm-3.30pm.

Meet Mother and Father Christmas in their grotto at Cotehele. £3 per child

FATHER CHRISTMAS WITH A TWIST

LET’S WASSAIL!

Weekends up to Christmas Day, Various Times. Time travel back with to 1577 where Francis Drake is travelling around the world. It is here many miles from home that the crew have appointed their own ‘Lord of Misrule’ who managed the festive fun and games. Adult £2.50; Child £4.50 Booking Essential

Saturday 22nd December, 11.30am 12:00pm. Join the Cotehele team at their annual Wassail as they scare away the evil spirits from the orchard to ensure a successful crop for 2019. Fancy dress encouraged, bring something noisy too! Free

WASSAIL WITH DARTMOOR BORDER MORRIS

TAVISTOCK BID A CHRISTMAS CAROL STREET THEATRE SHOW

Sunday 6th January, 12pm-3pm. Grab your bells, bring along your pot and pans and join the team at Buckland Abbey for their annual Wassail. Kick start celebrations with a Mummers Play at 1pm, then join in with the Wassail from 2pm. Free but normal admission prices apply

08 December. Join Untamed Theatre for fun and interactive performances of the Dickens Classic throughout Tavistock.

Follow Ebenezer Scrooge through our winding streets to uncover his Christmas Past, Present and Future The walking performances will have limited numbers so please see the website for details.

COTEHELE

TAVISTOCK FATHER CHRISTMAS TRAIL

FESTIVE FAMILY TRAIL

15 December – 05 January Collect your map and find Father Christmas hiding throughout town. Work out what it

Saturday 1st December – Sunday 6th

is he likes at Christmas to earn your goody bag and to be entered into a prize draw.

Collect your sheets from I Love Candy, Kaleidoscope, The Visitor Information Centre and the Toy Cupboard.

TRADITIONAL TALES PANTOMIMES 16 December. Join Entertainingly Different throughout Tavistock for a series of mini pantomimes jam packed with songs, slapstick and silliness based on traditional tales. Lots of music and energetic fun. The above events are brought to visitors free of charge by Tavistock BID as part of their winter festival. www.visit-tavistock.co.uk

PLYMOUTH MUSEUM ON TOUR WILD ABOUT PLYMOUTH: CRITTERS AT CHRISTMAS Saturday 1st December, 10.30am – 12.30pm. Reindeers aren’t the only animals associated with Christmas!

Come and see the taxidermy collection of animals that can be found throughout the festive season. Learn how they’ve adapted to survive the winter whilst crafting your own Christmas Critter from different materials. Suitable for all ages. COST: £3 donation welcomed Compiled by Rebecca Martin, Dartmoor National Park Authority visitor services manager and Visit Dartmoor ambassador

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Outstanding Childcare and Natural Environments Outstanding and Caring Staff for Your Child 13

LOCAL PEOPLE

An icon fit for an archbishop Artist and iconographer Cheryll Kinsley Potter, has just completed a commission from Dr Rowan Williams, the former Archbishop of Canterbury and now Master of Magdalen College Cambridge.

Cheryll has been painting all her life and has worked in a variety of media including oil painting, watercolour, pastel and printmaking, but it is her beautiful icons for which she is most renowned. She always assiduously researches her icons and most are representations based on originals dating back to the Byzantine and ancient Greek era. In the spring of 2018 her work was on show at the St Endellion Festival and at Truro Cathedral, where her icons were much admired by Dr Rowan Williams – so much so that he commissioned an icon of Mary Magdalene. She created the large-scale icon shown here, made with egg tempera and gold leaf on a lime wood gessoed board – the icon now resides in Magdalene College Chapel.

first at the Northwich School of Art then in 1968 at St Martin’s School of Art in London, reading fashion and textiles. Having married and had children, Cheryll’s artistic talents were neglected for a while, but in 1998 she moved to Connemara on the west coast of Ireland and began teaching in a private art school, while also accepting commissions for landscapes and portraits. Before long, Cheryll had set up her own studio and was tutoring from home. She very much enjoyed this time, regularly teaching over 65 students each week, mostly in oils.

She had her first solo exhibition, ‘Myth and Landscape’ at the Kenny Gallery, Galway following on from successful group exhibitions including ‘Five Women Artists’ in Camden Town.

Born in an army hospital in Hampshire, Cheryll spent the first sixteen years of life abroad, in Singapore, Malaya, Bahrain and finally Belgium where she was sent to a convent boarding school. Whilst the school failed to educate in the sciences, Cheryll was fully instructed in languages and art, becoming skilled at both. It was a wonderful start for someone with a natural inclination for drawing and led Cheryll, on her return to the UK, to study

Cheryll came to iconography after visiting the Monasteries of Meteora in central Greece. She finds a powerful presence in the icons - a silence, a peace and a fierce beauty which she strives to recreate in all her work. After spending a week at a retreat in a monastery in Donegal learning how to create or ‘write’ an icon, Cheryll joined the Association of Iconographers of Ireland and was later commissioned by St Paul’s Arran Quay, Dublin to create an icon of The Blessed Mother Teresa of Calcutta, and following that was privately commissioned to create an icon of St Brigid. Dating back to the Byzantine Empire from the 6th century, iconography or image writing was said to be the depiction of saints and the holy family as real representations, handed down through the centuries.

Originally, Orthodox monks and clerics would have ‘written’ the icon as a vehicle for prayer and it would usually have been kept in a cupboard or niche until required. The process of

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LOCAL PEOPLE writing an icon is complex, involving a lime wood board coated with ‘gesso’, and sanded until smooth as porcelain. Parts of the board are gilded with gold leaf and then it is painted using a mix of pure pigment and egg yolk. An icon is stylised with ancient symbolic imagery and there is a specific order of painting, working in layers from base colours and from dark to light, while the gold detail is said to be divine light.

In 2010 Cheryll fell in love with Dominic Michaelis, an architect and engineer, and moved to Toulon in the south of France to be with him where she continued to paint and write icons. After Dominic’s death, she was persuaded to move to Tavistock two years ago and is now a member of the prestigious Drawn to the Valley group of artists, exhibiting locally. It was through this connection that her work ended up at Truro cathedral where it was seen by Dr Rowan Williams.

Cheryll says it was a great honour and privilege to design an original representation of Mary Magdalene in partnership with Dr Williams who is an authority on icons.

Nichola Williams Cheryll also teaches egg tempera and gilding and will be running two iconography workshops in 2019 for those wishing to learn the process of icon writing and share the peaceful meditative practice with this modest and remarkable artist. For more information visit cheryllkinsleypotter.com

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LOCAL PEOPLE

Eversfield’s organic growth Eversfield Organic farm shop and deli recently opened its doors in Tavistock, with a comprehensive offering of south west produce, which is already proving popular.

Behind this new enterprise is the Bury family - Mark Bury grew up in Yelverton and moved back to West Devon in 2002, seeking to escape the rat race of corporate life and embrace a traditional farming life. With a CV of accomplishments as long as your arm, from IT, to running an international brand-building agency boasting clients such as Kraft UK, Mars and Kenco Coffee, as well as CEO of a national healthcare business, Mark could have had the pick of elite roles. Instead he has chosen to turn his back on it all and focus on farming, pure and simple, recapturing some of his childhood memories of helping out on friends’ farms. He says: “When we arrived at Ellacott (the family farm in Bratton Clovelly) we spent two back-breaking years bringing the land - which had been intensively farmed back to fertility. For me and my family, organic means the best for our own health, the animals we keep and the health of our soil and wildlife.”

Mark set about planting over 30,000 trees and re-establishing miles of hedgerows, then rearing his own herd of native Aberdeen Angus cattle, fed on a 100% pasture diet of grasses and wildflower, excluding grain, as well as a flock of grass-fed sheep. When the farm gained organic certification in 2004, he was able to start developing Eversfield Organic – now a successful online business supplying organic food boxes all over the UK. Mark’s original offering combining his own Soil Association organic certified beef and lamb, with organic south west reared pork, poultry and wild game has been complemented over time with a sumptuous selection of

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LOCAL PEOPLE

organic dairy produce, charcuterie, fruit and vegetables, in addition to wild fish and larder items; Eversfield also supplies retail products to Ocado and Waitrose.

Mark’s wife, Emily, and his eldest children, Anna and Hamish are also very involved in the business. Encouraged to read Marketing Management at Kingston University, Anna says that even though she knows her father obviously had a hidden agenda behind this suggestion, she doesn’t have any regrets as it has given her a very sound basis for her current role as sales and marketing director. Hamish decided university wasn’t for him and started working in the family business at the age of eighteen, proving himself a natural businessman and keeping Eversfield Organic going whilst Anna finished her degree and Mark wrapped up his work in healthcare.

Mark and Anna then came back to hold the reins full-time, allowing Hamish the opportunity to spend eight months at both a local and a leading London butcher’s shop, learning valuable butchery skills, which he was then able to implement at Eversfield Organic. Anna and Hamish have played key roles in the growth of the business with Anna specialising in ecommerce, online advertising and search engine optimisation to grow the online sales significantly, while Hamish’s contribution as production director has been responsible for meeting the rapidly expanding orderbook.

The new Eversfield deli in Tavistock is the result of several years of planning, as well as waiting for just the right premises to become available. The family used to run a stall at Tavistock Farmers’ Market, and also supply a number

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of online customers in the Tavistock area, so knew it was the ideal vibrant market town for a high street presence.

So, when an opportunity came up to take over premises in West Street, Mark, Hamish and Anna leapt at this new and exciting challenge, despite Anna’s imminent wedding.

Restoration specialists, Greenings of Tavistock carried out the shop refurbishment in under three months, transforming the shop interior with a rustic yet contemporary look, using local suppliers. The inviting coffee bar near the entrance has been influenced by Anna’s previous retail experience in food and drink, combined with Eversfield’s sustainable ethos, encouraging customers to bring in their reusable cups when they want a coffee. While at the back of the shop, the wine cave offers an enticing range of organic and biodynamic wines, spirits, ales, ciders and soft drinks – plus there’s a rumour of evening wine-tastings! Hamish has been very involved in launching this new venture and has gone to great lengths to stock a full spectrum of food and drink, which ticks the right boxes - organic, locally sourced and at accessible price points.

Rosemary Best Eversfield Organic, 2 West Street, Tavistock; 01837 871400; eversfieldorganic.co.uk

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CHARITY FOCUS

Plymouth and Cornwall Cancer Fund This local charity supports local people affected by cancer, and also aims to support cancer education and improve facilities for diagnosis and treatment.

Founded in 1972 by the late Countess of Mount Edgcumbe, the Plymouth and Cornwall Cancer Fund (PCCF) supports cancer patients who are under the care of Derriford Hospital and earlier this year Sue Aspley, Chairman of PCCF, formed the Tavistock and Yelverton PCCF Group. One of the most important ways in which the charity assists patients is by giving grants to those facing financial hardship following diagnosis. Last year, over £12,000 was issued to cancer sufferers and their families to help with transport, overnight accommodation and other subsistence costs. The PCCF has also funded improvements to resources to help with the diagnosis of cancer, for example, a grant of £7,000 paid for a facility to enable specialist blood testing to be performed at Derriford, rather than in Exeter, which reduced the waiting time from three weeks to just three days. Specialist equipment has been purchased for the treatment of cancer patients, such as breast boards for use during radiotherapy,

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IT equipment for radiology, and a remote monitoring system for colorectal cancer patients who have completed their treatment.

To improve the quality of patient care, two side rooms in Brent Ward were refurbished in 2016 to help support endof-life care. In addition, practical items, such as a chair and stairlifts have been purchased to assist patients during their treatment. PCCF also supported the introduction of patientheld records to improve communication and information exchange between and within different levels of care, as well as promoting patients’ involvement in their own care. In 2001, a major appeal was launched to provide an extension to the waiting area of the oncology department in Derriford Hospital.

Plymouth artist, Brian Pollard, who was then a local GP and had always taken an interest in cancer care, was asked to design the charity’s eye-catching logo. Following the huge response to the appeal, the charity raised £150,000 towards the project.

Since 1986, the PCCF has been supporting small research projects related to improving treatment and support for people with cancer. Funding is made available for post-graduate training and continuing professional development for doctors,

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CHARITY FOCUS

Juliet Cole, PCCF fundraising manager

£22,000 was raised through the public’s generosity and fundraising events... nurses, radiographers and technical staff. The charity has provided funds to support three oncology-trained nurses to specialise further in a particular area of cancer care and has recently appointed a chaplain for the palliative care team at Derriford Hospital to support patients and carers of all faiths.

A major portion of the fund’s income is received through the well-situated PCCF charity shop in Hyde Park Road in Mutley, Plymouth, which opened in 1997. The shop, which is run by a part-time manager and over 20 volunteers, has been a huge success, last year raising over £21,000. Fundraising manager for the PCCF, Juliet Cole, has been in her role for two years and has been on the committee and a trustee for 25 years.

She is totally committed to helping raise funds for the charity and is proud to say that she knows every penny goes to Derriford Hospital. Through her hard work and dedication, she has successfully managed to raise the profile of the charity, leading to new volunteers and a large increase in donations.

Last year alone, £22,000 was raised through the public’s generosity and fundraising events, including an auction of promises, a horse and dog show, and regular donations from a group of singers who perform in residential homes.

Juliet’s main focus for this year is to develop and support a network of local fundraising groups, where volunteers are encouraged to combine their own ideas and skills, and organise a couple of events each year to raise awareness of the charity and help raise funds. Several successful groups have been springing up in the area and the Tavistock and Yelverton PCCF Group has already held a popular fashion show, an antiques roadshow and a quiz night this year. Juliet says that being a local charity makes a difference to people, knowing that all the money raised is used locally.

Kaye Rogers

If you would like to become a local fundraiser, contact Juliet Cole, fundraising manager, on 07398 117001 or email fundraising@pccf.org.uk; to make a donation online, visit www.justgiving.com/plymouth-cornwallcf, or to find out more, visit www.plymouthandcornwallcancerfund.org.uk

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HEALTH & WELLBEING

The power of a smile I love smiling, I do it all the time – to my patients and colleagues, to strangers, with my children, on my own in the car. It is one of the most powerful tools I have to connect with my patients, young and old, and help them feel better in periods of distress and pain. Even in the most harrowing of consultations a smile is essential and can communicate so much which can’t be said in words. We feel the positive effects of smiling every day but how and why is it so good for us?

Smiling is important from the moment we are born. If babies aren’t exposed to smiling their global development is significantly impaired. The very first milestone we check for in the long and complex journey of child development is the smile which develops at 6 weeks – a human being’s very first learned skill. Studies show that smiles are key to social cohesion and interaction. We are more attracted to smiling faces than stern ones, and this overrides effects of age, gender and race that tend to influence our initial attraction and openness to others. If we smile, people see us as more attractive, reliable, relaxed and sincere. Seeing a smiling face activates your orbitofrontal cortex, the region in your brain processing sensory rewards, suggesting that a smile actually feels like a reward.

So seeing others smile makes us feel good, but I know when I smile it makes ME happy. Darwin was one of the first to detail the ‘Facial Feedback Hypothesis’, which described the fact that if you physically express your emotion, it intensifies that emotion i.e. the action of smiling makes you even happier. Smiling can also have very real and measurable effects on your physical health, as every time you smile the physical action signals the release of dopamine, endorphins and serotonin. These hormones are related to lowered blood pressure and heart rate, reduced stress and all the health problems that come hand in hand with that: they are natural painkillers and aid relaxation. This explains the strong link between positive happy emotions and frequency of smiling, with higher life expectancy overall, quicker recovery from illness and lower risk of diseases such as heart attacks and strokes. It can also moderate the effect of chronic illnesses like arthritis. A study found that social laughter increases your pain threshold, creating a higher pain tolerance.

The fascinating thing is that the body doesn’t seem to know the difference between a real and a ‘fake’ smile – so you can literally smile yourself to healthiness and happiness – and what’s more, smiling is infectious. The part of your brain responsible for your facial expression of smiling when happy or mimicking another person’s smile, is located in the cingulate cortex, an unconscious automatic response area. If you beam at someone, about 50% will automatically smile back, hence

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spreading the positive effects of your smile. We can all benefit from smiling more – a free drug that makes us and those around us healthier and happier, with no side effects - there is no reason not to! Some suggestions on how to get those extra smiles into the day are: •

Smile as soon as you wake up

•

Remind yourself in the morning that you’re going to smile more today

•

Have a ‘smile buddy’ - someone else who is actively trying to smile more, or someone who naturally smiles frequently, and spur each other on

•

Seek out happy, positive experiences, like watching a comedy, looking through old photos of happy events, meeting up with good friends

•

Create cues to smile (remember a ‘fake’ smile is still beneficial) for example every time you stop at traffic lights, or set a reminder on your phone.

•

Indiscriminately smile at strangers – perhaps some will become friends!

And if all that hasn’t convinced you smiling is a wonder drug, apparently studies have shown that while you are smiling on average you look 3 years younger!

Dr Jo Coldron Tavyside Health Centre, Tavistock

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HEALTH & WELLBEING

Tai chi for long-term neurological conditions I don’t know how you feel about exercise but as I’m writing this, Michael Mosley of ‘Trust Me I’m a Doctor’, has scientifically compared tai chi to Zumba classes in a 12week study. He asked: “Is it possible to get the benefits of exercise without the effort?” - and appeared as surprised as his scientific researchers when the answer was a resounding - ‘yes!’. Why does this make me jump for joy? Because there are many people who cannot do Zumba, but are able to do tai chi’s soft flowing movements. 14 years ago, we set up a class for people with conditions such as MS, Parkinson’s, stroke and post-polio syndrome. Some of the original participants still attend today and the value of this weekly class has been acknowledged by their physiotherapists, GPs and neurological consultants. No matter what your age or physical ability I believe you can practise tai chi and feel its benefits. It is an effective form of self-defence, yet also a moving meditation that has gained a reputation for improving health. When you practise tai chi you are looking to relax not only the muscles but to calm the mind and the emotions as well. Slowing down and focusing on your body’s sensory information has positive effects - benefits attributed to tai chi are: •

reduced stress or anxiety

•

enhanced flexibility

•

better balance and agility

•

increased leg strength

•

lower blood pressure and better blood vessel elasticity

In this specialised class we carry out both standing and seated tai chi patterns; but we’re not inactive when sitting, using swivel seats, cushions, and tai chi rulers to create the flowing patterns of the art. All movement can be demanding for those with long-term health conditions though, so I encourage self-monitoring. An onlooker might see very variable results, varying from a few centimetres of reach or bend to a full range of movement. Each person has a unique movement threshold and is encouraged to explore and understand the changes they can bring to their body by noticing sensations of ease created by muscle or breath. These classes also play an important social role, bringing people together who experience and understand similar challenges. They are the perfect antidote to those ‘why me?’ moments. You will always find a friendly face at our tai chi sessions, and you are welcome to come and give it a try – the first session is free!

My name is Pippa Cherrington and I’ve been practising tai chi for 20 years and teaching for the last 15 years. I am a registered instructor with Tai Chi Union of Great Britain and my work includes structural integration, scar work and massage.

The above class runs on a Tuesday lunchtime at Whitchurch Community Hall. For more info ring 07889 532982 or visit www.pippasmovementtherapy.com.

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GARDENING

Christmas from your garden Sue Fisher explains how to make the most of your garden this Christmas Making Christmas decorations using natural materials is delightfully creative and satisfying: fun to make for all ages, truly personal, and saves a heap of cash into the bargain.

Plus, it’s a great way to have a ‘green’ Christmas, now that plastic and other waste is a huge issue, avoiding the tide of manufactured decorations shipped from the other side of the world.

From the garden, harvest evergreen foliage of all types: glowing red or orange stems of dogwood and willow; long slender ivy stems; berries; strips of birch bark; seed heads and cones. In future years, remember to harvest architectural seed heads and stems in late summer and store in a cool dry place until needed. After a winter gale, enjoy a woodland walk to collect conifer branches, pine cones and the like (only fallen material though – don’t cut anything living from the wild), or wave-washed driftwood branches from the beach or an estuary. Both gathering and making are lovely activities to do with children and grandchildren, or with a group of friends where you can share and mix the harvest from different gardens.

Lots of different decorations can be made for both indoors and outside. A wreath for a door or gate can be made from scratch, weaving a base from flexible willow or ivy stems, then adding moss (I rake some from my lawn) to tie around the base to retain moisture. Using thin, flexible wire cut to 12-15cm lengths, make up bunches of mixed foliage, leaving spare wire to wiggle through the base, twist and secure. On a larger scale, I love to make a long garland of greenery using a length of thick rope for the base and simply winding string around to secure stems to rope, overlapping foliage to hide the string.

Little table centrepieces are simple: fill small terracotta pots (you could spray-paint them gold or silver) with clean sand or rice to securely hold a candle, then place sprigs of foliage, berries, dried flowers etc around them - but not so close as to be set alight! The same principle can be adopted on a larger scale to make welcoming pots of greenery outside, using large pots, tall stems of dogwood, hazel branches or driftwood, maybe with a tall, chunky candle in the centre. These are just a few ideas: for more inspiration, visit Buckland Abbey’s Elizabethan Christmas where the house and Great Hall are filled with beautiful displays from 1st December.

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GARDENING

Looking good

Seasonal jobs

Shrubs with evergreen foliage really come into their own now, giving life and structure to the garden. For variety, go for different shades of green, variegations and bright warm yellows. Large leaves like Griselinia and holly-like Osmanthus ‘Goshiki’ make a lovely contrast to small-leaved Box.

Plant garlic in midwinter to ensure a heavy crop. (The Garlic Farm on the Isle of Wight offers excellent gift packs).

Check fences and garden structures for signs of weakness or wind damage from autumn gales. Small repairs now, can avert big ones later.

Many ornamental grasses keep their shape and structure right through the winter, particularly upright ones like Miscanthus and Calamagrostis.

Container plants for winter interest major on form and foliage.

Small evergreen grasses like Carex and Uncinia; ‘wintergreen’ perennials such as Euphorbia Glacier and Ascot Rainbow and Heucheras with colourful scalloped-edged leaves in a wealth of colours. Add winter-flowering pansies and violas for bursts of bloom.

Order seed catalogues and luxuriate in some armchair gardening.

Now’s a good time to clean, sharpen and oil tools and send the mower for servicing while it’s not needed. It’s a great feeling to be well organised in advance of next year.

Sweep and clean, or pressure wash, paths and patios, which can become dangerously slippery over winter. Wooden decking can be fitted with non-slip strips or inserts.

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WHAT’S ON in your local area VISIT

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GARDENING

Christmas gift ideas Thrifty: A propagator will save a whole heap of money by efficiently raising vegetable or annual plants from seed and propagating many plants by cuttings. Heated ones are by far the best, although even an inexpensive unheated one gets reasonable results if used indoors on a warm, well-lit windowsill.

Green: A wormery enables anyone with even the tiniest garden to transform kitchen waste into superbly rich, nutritious compost. Wormeries are vermin-proof so you can safely compost cooked food too, along with brown cardboard and non-shiny paper.

Wildlife: Bird feeders make wonderful gifts for all ages

from young to very old – it’s fascinating to watch the whirl of activity as different birds come and go through the day, plus

Sue is a garden designer, advisor and writer based on the Bere Peninsula near Tavistock. www.suefisher gardens.co.uk the food you provide can be a lifeline for birds in hard winters. The Royal Society for Protection of Birds (RSPB) does a wide range of feeders and tables, plus some great gift packs too.

Time saving: A garden planner or diary makes a lovely gift and really helps make efficient use of time. A great help for looking ahead to what needs doing, enabling you to order seeds, bulbs, plants etc well in advance, and also excellent for checking back on what you did – and didn’t – grow well in your garden.

Looking after someone?

Are you looking after someone? Attending a best interests or discharge meeting?

If you are confused about what is happening, what your options are or feel no-one is on your side, then speak to Hilary Cragg of Nash & Co. Hilary will work with you, to be at your side when making decisions for someone else, to ensure that you understand what is happening and have someone to advocate for you and your loved one.

Hilary Cragg Partner Tel: 01752 827047 Email: hcragg@nash.co.uk

www.nash.co.uk See our community website www.dartmoorlinks.co.uk

27

SHOULD THE UNTHINKABLE HAPPEN THIS CHRISTMAS WE’RE ONLY A PHONE CALL AWAY

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28

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FARMING DIARY

The end of another year As 2018 closes its curtains, I reflect on the year and it’s the weather that dominates my thoughts. You may notice us farming types love talking about it - it is either too wet too dry, too windy. ‘Never happy’ I hear you say! But it does affect almost everything we do and this year we started the year with a wet winter that got progressively worse. Spring arrived with two beasts that made March a horrid month. It then dried up and we had a heat wave until August, crops wilted away - several farmers were already into their winter feed.

Fortunately, the rains did come and crops recovered, most farms managed to cut more grass and bulk up the winter feed reserves. The late summer and autumn were then fantastic.

Enough rain, but dry enough not to have to live in wellies and waterproofs! Many farmers were worried about feed stocks going into the winter and rightly so because feed will be short.

But the long dry warm autumn has helped a lot. The cows have stayed out and are happy grazing and October saw some amazing sunny days. Who knows what’s next, but as a wise man once said ‘they can’t take what you’ve had’!

I mentioned in my last article that Dartmoor Farmers will be supplying lamb to Morrisons. It has been a great success so far with the farmers delivering great quality lambs, and as a result Morrisons is happy and numbers are set to rise. We even had a visit from the CEO of Morrisons, David Potts and his team.

It was great to engage with them and discuss our aspirations and fears for the future; I think all parties went away happy.

It also helped that it was a glorious autumnal day which makes the landscape and the farms on the moor a lot easier to sell! Those misty days at Princetown don’t look quite so picturesque… At Dartmoor Farmers we are also working on a pie partnership with Dartmoor Brewery to produce a Dartmoor beef and Jail Ale pie. You can rest assured the pie tastes cracking - I have road-tested a few just to make sure they get the recipe correct.

See our community website www.dartmoorlinks.co.uk

Mum is now semiretired from the business, although she still takes a keen interest. You would think she might relax and take it easy, but those of you who know her will not be surprised to hear she certainly hasn’t let the grass grow under her feet! Since taking a ‘step back’ she is now studying for a degree in fashion design. She has just started her second year and is busier than ever! She even managed a month trip to Australia before the start of term, to visit family, farming friends and take in a few sights. My mother is a mad woman, but we are all very proud of her. But can someone tell her it is ok to take things a bit easier?

Christmas on the farm is a lovely time of year, all the cattle will be in the barns and the sheep are spread across the moor and the fields. We try and shut down to a tick-over for a couple of weeks but the jobs will keep coming as everything has to be fed and mucked out. Even on Christmas day I will be feeding the animals, and it is lovely to walk off the Christmas dinner with an afternoon stroll around the farm when it’s quiet and no one else but the family is around. Although I am sure with two young boys there will be plenty for me to build, put batteries in and referee over the holidays. From all at Greenwell - Merry Christmas and Happy New Year!

Mat Cole, Greenwell Farm

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NATURALIST

NATURALIST

When wildlife comes in from the cold!

As autumn changes to winter and the outdoor temperature falls, animals seek cover and protection for the winter months. Suitable habitats may include leaf litter, nooks and crannies on tree trunks, hedge-banks, walls and vegetation but they may move into built environments: sheds, garages and even our houses. These incomers may include rats and mice, which few of us would wish to share our homes with, but also numerous invertebrates, and it is these that I want to consider. Some butterflies overwinter as adults and occasionally emerge early from their resting places but unfortunately they are unlikely to survive. They will perish if put outside and use up valuable energy by fluttering about.

Centipedes, millipedes and woodlice are more resilient, generally keeping out of sight, moving along the edges of floors and cupboards. And of course we have the spiders.....

All of these belong to the scientific ‘super-group’ the Arthropoda and have a hard waterproof skin that also doubles up as a skeleton (so they will crunch if you accidentally squash one!). Their bodies and limbs have multiple joints to allow movement, particularly the seven-segmented legs of spiders which are a marvel of bioengineering and are a fascination for some of us but probably contribute to the phobias that others feel towards these creatures, especially if they are hairy specimens. I suspect that many of us do have at least one phobia that we may not admit to but I am just pleased that spiders are not one of mine!

All spiders have a body divided into two main parts, a large fat abdomen and a generally smaller front half which carries all the sensory and feeding apparatus of the ‘head’ plus the characteristic eight legs belonging to the ‘thorax’. Indoors, most spiders do not produce the elaborate orb-webs such as those of the garden spider but instead a much more chaotic sheet-web with a tubular retreat. The classic house spider is Tegenaria, the big hairy one with a leg-span of up to 10cm which makes its home in a neglected corner. Males often wander round at night but scuttle into the corner when you put the light on; they are searching for the more sedentary and long-living females. We also see a lot of the daddy-long-legs spider which resemble the similarly named insect only in terms of their long spindly legs. Their bodies are comparitively tiny and the webs they spin are quite extensive and filmy. There are another eight species commonly found indoors from a total of

See our community website www.dartmoorlinks.co.uk

around 650 species that live in the UK, most of which are much smaller than those I have mentioned. Identification of the 10 ‘indoor’ species is easy using guides on the internet and I would paricularly recommend those published on the websites (appropriately!) of the Natural History Museum and the charity Buglife.

All spiders bite and in the process inject a venom to paralyse their prey so that it can be stored and consumed over a period of time. They feed on many of the insects that enter our homes at this time of the year, so clear up the cobwebs if you need to but you may wish to allow a bit of space for these useful carnivores! Humans are far too thick-skinned to be bitten by the majority of spiders and a small area of inflammation is the worst ill effect to expect. When the noble false widow spider attained a certain notoriety in October this year, with some Birmingham schools being closed, this really was a false worry. With potential allergic reactions to bee and wasp stings, diseases carried by ticks and the bites of horse-flies and midges to worry about, spiders should come very low on the list of concerns.

Pete Mayston 31

CHRISTMAS SERVICES

photo courtesy of Ossie Palmer

Christmas in the Community FRIDAY 30 NOVEMBER 30 TO SUNDAY 9 DECEMBER

Tavistock Christmas Tree Festival at St Eustachius’, 10:00am to 4:30pm daily and until 9:30pm on Dickensian Evening THURSDAY 13 TO SUNDAY 16 DECEMBER

Fifth Christmas Tree Festival at St Mary’s Church, Mary Tavy, 11:00am - 5:00pm daily, all welcome SUNDAY 2 DECEMBER

4:00pm Community Nativity and Christingle service at Tavistock Methodist Church 5:00pm Carols by Candlelight at Christ Church, Brentor

9:45am Advent Holy Communion at Christ Church, Brentor 6:00pm Advent Carol Service at St Eustachius’, Tavistock

6:30pm Christmas Carol Service at St Paul’s, Gulworthy followed by mince pies and mulled wine

THURSDAY 6 DECEMBER

FRIDAY 21 DECEMBER

2:00pm Mary Tavy & Brentor Primary School’s Christingle Service at St Mary’s Church, Mary Tavy

6:00pm Carolling Round the Village, meet at Brentor War Memorial

SUNDAY 9 DECEMBER

7:00pm Nine Lessons and Carols led by Canticorum Choir at Our Lady of the Assumption and St Mary Magdalen, Tavistock

7:30am Morning Prayer; 8:00am Holy Communion; 9:45am Family Communion; 6:00pm Said Evening Prayer at St Eustachius’, Tavistock

SUNDAY 23 DECEMBER

9:45am Advent Prayer & Praise at Christ Church, Brentor 2:45pm Carol Concert at St Michael’s, Brent Tor 4:00pm Christingle Service at St Eustachius’, Tavistock 6:00pm Service of Nine Lessons and Carols by Candlelight at St Mary’s Church, Mary Tavy followed by mince pies & mulled wine SUNDAY 16 DECEMBER

7:30am Morning Prayer; 8:00am Holy Communion; 9:45am Family Communion; 6:00pm Holy Communion at St Eustachius’, Tavistock

7:30am Morning Prayer; 8:00am Holy Communion; 9:45am Family Communion at St Eustachius’, Tavistock 9:15am Holy Mass at Our Lady of the Assumption and St Mary Magdalen, Tavistock 9:30am Holy Communion at St Peter’s Church, Peter Tavy 9:45am All Age Nativity Service at Christ Church, Brentor 11:00am Sung Eucharist at St Mary’s Church, Mary Tavy 11:15am ‘All Comers Come and Worship’ - a Christmas celebration at St Paul’s Gulworthy 6:00pm Candlelit Festival of Lessons and Carols at St Eustachius’, Tavistock

9:30am Sung Eucharist at St Mary’s Church, Mary Tavy (final day of Christmas Tree Festival)

6:00pm Carol Service at Mary Tavy Methodist Chapel followed by mince pies & coffee

9:45am Gaudette Sunday Communion at Christ Church, Brentor

6:00pm Carol Service at Tavistock Methodist Church

10:30am Christmas Carol Service with Stannary Brass Band at Redeemer Church, Kilworthy Park, Tavistock. Refreshments from 10am. Sing carols, enjoy festive fun and games, join us after for mince pies and refreshments. All are welcome!

3:00pm Joint Carol Service in Peter Tavy Methodist Chapel followed by mince pies 32

MONDAY 24 DECEMBER (CHRISTMAS EVE)

4:00pm Crib and Carol Service at St. Constantine’s, Milton Abbot 4:00pm Crib Service for parents and children at St Mary’s Church, Mary Tavy, all welcome

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CHRISTMAS SERVICES

4:00pm Crib Service (especially for children) at St Eustachius’, Tavistock 6:00pm Crib Service (especially for children) at St Eustachius’, Tavistock 6:00pm Vigil Mass of the Nativity at Our Lady of the Assumption and St Mary Magdalen, Tavistock 9:30pm Sung Eucharist by Candlelight at St Mary’s Church, Mary Tavy 11:00pm Midnight Mass at Christ Church, Brentor 11:00pm Midnight Mass at St Paul’s, Gulworthy 11:30pm ‘Midnight’ Holy Communion Service at St Peter’s Church, Peter Tavy (please check church noticeboards or blackdownnews.blogspot.com for updates)

9:30am Holy Communion at St Peter’s Church, Peter Tavy (please check church noticeboards or blackdownnews. blogspot.com for updates) 10:00am Mass of the Nativity at Our Lady of the Assumption and St Mary Magdalen, Tavistock 10:00am Christmas Day Celebration for all ages led by Rev. Dr. Steve Emery-Wright at Tavistock Methodist Church 10:30am Christmas Day Service at St Paul’s Gulworthy (please note new time) 3:00pm Carol Service at St Michael’s, Brent Tor 3:00pm Service of Nine Lessons and Carols at St Peter’s Church, Peter Tavy followed by mulled wine, tea or coffee and mince pies.

11:30pm Midnight Mass at St Peter, Lamerton

SUNDAY 30 DECEMBER

11:30pm Midnight Mass at Our Lady of the Assumption and St Mary Magdalen,Tavistock

9:30am Joint Benefice Service of Sung Eucharist at St Mary’s Church, Mary Tavy

11:30pm Midnight Mass – a service with Tavistock Methodists at St Eustachius’, Tavistock

SUNDAY 6 JANUARY

3:00pm Epiphany Carol Service at St Michael’s, Brent Tor

TUESDAY 25 DECEMBER (CHRISTMAS DAY)

7:30am Morning Prayer; 8:00am Holy Communion; 9:30am Family Communion at St Eustachius’, Tavistock

See our community website www.dartmoorlinks.co.uk

33

WHAT’S ON

REGULARS 1 - 30 DECEMBER (WEEKENDS) CHRISTMAS WEEKEND FAMILY CRAFTING Every weekend in December come along to Buckland Abbey and create your own World Encompassed style penguin to take home!

What’s On Relax your way into Christmas with a superb three course Festive Lunch or Festive Dinner, or decadent Festive Afternoon Tea, in the warm and welcoming setting of The Bedford Hotel.

1 DECEMBER – 2 JANUARY AN ELIZABETHAN CHRISTMAS Experience the sights and smells of Christmas, as Buckland Abbey transforms into an Elizabethan home of feast and festivity.

1 - 30 DECEMBER (WEEKENDS) FATHER CHRISTMAS WITH A TWIST Join our Lord of Misrule as he leads the festive celebrations and hands out gifts to those who join in with the revelling!

UNTIL 6 JAN COTEHELE’S GARLAND IN THE GREAT HALL The Commemoration Garland will be on

1 DECEMBER – 6 JANUARY FESTIVE FAMILY TRAIL AT COTEHELE Bring the family to Cotehele to follow

ORGANISED BY DR ANN PULSFORD, 2PM TAVISTOCK WHARF​

DECEMBER

3 course Festive Dinner £29.95 Festive Afternoon Tea & Mulled Wine £19

3 December Laura Quigley Devon’s spies of WW2

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1 DECEMBER – 6 JANUARY ‘DECK THE HALLS’ EXHIBITION IN COTEHELE GALLERY This festive exhibition within the arts and crafts gallery at Cotehele features the work of West Country makers, with beautiful pieces for your home or that extra special Christmas gift. 10am-4pm

FRIENDS OF WHARF LUNCHTIME LECTURES

3 course Festive Lunch £22

Available on most dates throughout December.

display from 11:00am-4pm. We’re also commemorating the centenary of the end of WW1 with an artwork by Dominique Coiffait to complement the 60ft cut flower garland. Normal admission charges apply.

12 December Pam Kemp The splendour of Antarctica

JANUARY

Scrambles amongst the Alps: mountaineering in the 18th and 19th centuries 14 January Rod Martin Tavistock’s grocers 21 January Peter Brinsden Galapagos: the enchanted islands 28 January Brian Freeland Richelieu: the cardinal and his ‘city’

7 January Andrew Thompson

ANTIQUES VALUATION DAY TAVISTOCK

14th February 2019

The Bedford Hotel

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In the heart of Tavistock

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An 18ct gold, sapphire and diamond oval cluster ring Sold for £1,500

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WHAT’S ON this fun festive trail around the gardens.

Normal winter admission charges apply.

10am-4pm UNTIL 24 DEC WILDWOOD ARTS WINTER EXHIBITION The exhibition features a range of new and exciting art work in a variety of mediums, plus ceramics, jewellery and felting by some of the region’s finest professional artisans. Wildwood Arts, Horrrabridge.

3 - 28 DECEMBER FACES FROM FAR-OFF PLACES Local photographer Tommy Hatwell exhibits photographs from his extensive journeys around the globe. 10:00am – 4:00pm daily at Tavistock Wharf (admission free). 10 December at 7pm, join Tommy for the stories behind the photos (tickets £3 Wharf box office).

UNTIL 5 JAN MAGICAL GARDEN ILLUMINATIONS ‘GLOW’ Follow the festive illuminations along a new route, extended to the lake, around RHS Rosemoor’s Foliage Garden and Stream Field. Last entry to the garden, gift shop, last food service all at 7.30pm.

Normal garden admission includes entry to ‘Glow’.

UNTIL 17 FEB WINTER SCULPTURE EXHIBITION Rosemoor’s winter sculpture exhibition is an exciting and eclectic mix of exhibits from a diverse collection of sculptors, in the garden as well as inside, including

WW1 centenary display. 10am - 5pm, normal garden admission applies.

1ST SATURDAY OF MONTH TAVI ARTS MARKET High quality, handmade wares from local artists - unique products not found on the high street and a chance to meet the artists and makers themselves. 9.00am to 4.00pm in Butchers’ Hall, Tavistock 3RD MONDAY OF MONTH LEARN TO TURN WOOD Learn to turn wood with Tavistock Turners & Carvers Club in 2019! We meet monthly on the 3rd Monday at 7:30pm at the Scout Hall, Pixon Lane, Tavistock. the first two visits are FREE. Membership fees approx. £3 per club night. We provide all tools, equipment and materials necessary, help and advice is freely given as needed, no previous experience is necessary, the only thing required is enthusiasm and a good sense of humour! For details see: www. tavistockwoodturners.co.uk LAST TUESDAY IN MONTH PARKINSON’S SUPPORT GROUP Join us at the Anchorage Centre, Tavistock from 10.30am to noon. We also have monthly exercise classes and social coffee mornings. For more information please contact Pam on 01822 614204 or Val on 01822 613992.

FIRST SATURDAY OF MONTH TIDY TAVI LITTER PICK-UP Meet outside Meadowlands Leisure Centre. There’s no need to register or signup to take part - just turn up! 10:00am to

midday. All necessary equipment provided, but please bring your own gloves and wear stout footwear.

EVERY WEDNESDAY THE CITY OF PLYMOUTH CREDIT UNION OFFICE Savers can obtain loans at 2% or less.

Children can save too. All savers are covered by a free life insurance. Call in for more information or ring 01752 201329.

What’s On Festive Feasting Perfect for your office party, or a pre-Christmas get-together with friends or family.

3 course Festive Lunch for groups of 4 or more

£24 3 course Festive Dinner for groups of 10 or more

£26 Festive Teatime Decadent Festive Afternoon Tea, with a warming glass of mulled wine.

£20 Available on most dates throughout December.

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High Quality Watch Repairs - Watch batteries, straps and simple watch repairs.

- High quality watch servicing and repairs.

- Omega certified on-site watch workshop.

- We can repair and service a range of watch brands

SERVICE CENTRE

We have a selection of luxury pre-owned watches including Omega and Tag Heuer Open Tuesday - Saturday 9.30am - 5pm | Outside these hours by appointment

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See our community website www.dartmoorlinks.co.uk

In the heart of Dartmoor

Two Bridges | Dartmoor PL20 6SW 35

WHAT’S ON 11.00am - 1.00pm in the Princetown Community Centre, Tavistock Road, Princetown, PL20 6QE

NOVEMBER 30 NOVEMBER TREES OF LIGHT Lions Club president Jan Meakin, will turn on this year’s Trees of Light on the front of Tavistock Town Hall at 7pm. For more details visit tavistocklions.org.uk, visit the Facebook page or call 0845 8334807.

30 NOVEMBER - 9 DECEMBER ST EUSTACHIUS’ CHRISTMAS TREE FESTIVAL Come and view the stunning sight of some sixty trees beautifully decorated by local groups and organisations. This event is organised by the Friends of St Eustachius’ Christmas Tree Festival. Join us for a number of events during the festival, including our Advent Carol Service on Sunday 2nd December at 6pm. Further details to follow.

DECEMBER 1 DECEMBER TAVISTOCK STANNARY BRASS BAND Come along for a morning of traditional brass band music on Bedford Square 10:30am-12:30pm and support our independent traders on Small Business Saturday. Free event as part of Tavistock BID’s winter festival. www.visit-tavistock. co.uk 1 DECEMBER LAMERTON CHRISTMAS FAYRE Come and enjoy the fayre in Lamerton Sports & Community Centre from 11:00am to 2.30pm. Father Christmas will be making a guest appearance, plus various stalls, draws and refreshments. For more details contact Valerie Hill on 01822 614319.

1, 8, 15 & 22 DECEMBER GINGERBREAD HOUSE WORKSHOPS Decorate and take away your own gingerbread house, baked and assembled

by Cotehele’s chef. Decoration materials provided. Booking essential, £30 per family (max 2 adults, 3 children). Call 01579 351346 to book. Cotehele 4-6pm

10.30am (12pm on Sundays) to 4.30pm.

1 DECEMBER BERE ALSTON VICTORIAN EVENING An evening of festive entertainment in Bere Alston with Santa’s grotto from 5:00pm, Christmas market and street entertainment from 6:00pm and shops staying open late, plus children’s activities and refreshments.

2 DECEMBER TAVISTOCK RAMBLERS AT COTEHELE We will be walking the route on pages 58 & 59 around Cotehele on 2nd December.

Why not join us? www.tavistockramblers. org.uk

1 DECEMBER IN THE MOON OF WINTER Phoenix Chorale presents Magnificat

by John Rutter and a selection of contemporary carols at 7.30pm in St Peter’s Church, Wyndham Square, PL1 5EG. Tickets on Eventbrite.co.uk - adults £10, children (U16) free or £12 on the door. plymouthphoenixchorale.org 1 - 9 DECEMBER HORRABRIDGE NATIVITY SCENE FESTIVAL The festival includes exhibits from village organisations neighbouring churches and individuals, filling every nook and cranny of St John’s Church, Horrabridge.

Entry is by donation for church funds and refreshments are available. The festival ends with a carol service at 4.30pm on Sunday 9th December. Open daily from

2 DECEMBER FESTIVE WATERCOLOURS Learn how to create beautiful seasonal watercolours with Shari Hills and make your very own collection of unique, personalised Christmas Cards. 10am-4pm, £70 at Wildwood Arts, Horrabridge

2 DECEMBER THE DRAT PACK Fine saxophonist Neil Maya leads this lively swing, jive, jazz & Latin band fronted by charismatic singe Adam Moran. 7.30pm at the Royal British Legion Club, Tailyour Road, Plymouth. Tickets on the door £9 (members £7, full-time students £5) information 01752 721179, plymouth-jazzclub.org.uk 2 & 9 DECEMBER CHRISTMAS DOOR WREATH WORKSHOP Fun workshop with Amanda Randell at Hotel Endsleigh - all foliage and equipment will be provided. All skill levels welcome. 9.30am-3pm including tea/ coffee and a two-course lunch with a glass of wine. £70.00per person - to book call Hotel Endsleigh on 01822 870000

Fun, Self Defence, Discipline, Health, Fitness, Strength, Balance & So Much More.

Instructors are Enhanced DBS,Safeguarding & First aid qualified. BTC& TAGB Insured instructors.

FREE MONTH TRIAL!

Training times: Monday only:5.30-6.30pm Junior/Family Beginner session.

Mondays and Thursdays: 6-7pm Junior/Family Session 7-8pm Mixed; 8-9pm Adult and Senior Belts All at Tavistock College Gymnasium, Crowndale Road, Tavistock Pl19 8DD

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Call Dan Hunt 07779253719 36

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ALL AGES WELCOME! editorial@tavylinks.co.uk

WHAT’S ON 5 DECEMBER FESTIVE WREATH MAKING WORKSHOPS Create your own festive wreath with fresh foliage and berries with artisan florist Miranda Hackett at Cotehele. Booking essential, £60 per person. Call 01579 351346 to book. 10.30am-12.30pm 6 DECEMBER MAKE A CHRISTMAS WREATH Christmas wreath-making evening in Gulworthy Hall at 6.30pm. £15.00, all materials provided and includes a glass of mulled wine and a mince pie. Please contact Lowenna on 616435 or Hilary on 613448.

7 DECEMBER TAVISTOCK DICKENSIAN EVENING Come along for our Christmas Light Switch-on at 5:45pm on Bedford Square and then enjoy an evening of late-night shopping until 9pm. There will be a host of entertainment including steam

engines, Morris dancers, a Magician, Father Christmas and an animal enclosure featuring real Reindeer.

8 DECEMBER BRENTOR MISTLETOE FAIR A delightful mix of stalls selling homemade and handcrafted gifts and produce, plus homemade refreshments available all day.

Brentor Village Hall, 10am and 3pm. www. brentorvillage.org 8 DECEMBER A CHRISTMAS CAROL STREET THEATRE SHOW Join Untamed Theatre for fun and interactive performances of the Dickens Classic throughout Tavistock. Follow Ebenezer Scrooge through our winding streets to uncover his Christmas Past, Present and Future The walking performances will have limited numbers so please see the website for details. Free event as part of Tavistock BID’s winter festival. www.visit-tavistock.co.uk

See our community website www.dartmoorlinks.co.uk

8 & 9 DECEMBER CREATIVE DIGITAL PHOTOGRAPHY WORKSHOP 9:00am-1:00pm with Tommy Hatwell at Church Lane, 1 Church Lane, Tavistock, PL19 8AA - £15 per person per session, for details visit www.tommyhatwell.com 9 DECEMBER TAVISTOCK SANTA FUN RUN Join CHICKS family fun run from 3:00pm to 4:00pm and raise funds for vital respite breaks for children. Register at www. chicks.org.uk/santa. Entry: £10 for adults, £5 for children or £25 for a family of four (2 adults, 2 children). For info email events@ chicks.org.uk or call 01822 811125.

9 DECEMBER CHRISTMAS CAROLS FOR THE COMMUNITY You are invited to this annual carol event organised by The Salvation Army in Tavistock Town Hall at 6:00pm, with the mayor, Geoffrey Cox MP, and Tavistock Church Schools Federation Choir. A

37

Christmas

Gift Guide

Peruse our gift guide and find your loved ones that special something from our selection of local outlets

BUY LOCAL this Christmas

Make your Christmas sparkle! Have your rings polished and re- rhodiumed half price.

Usually £30. Up to Christmas 50% off at £15. Exclusive to Tavy Links readers.

Open: Mon-Sat 9.30am-5.00pm 11 Duke Street Tavistock PL19 0BA 01822 613129 baldwinjewellery.com

Visit this family-owned independent Gift Shop to see the amazing, unique, solar-powered MOVA Globes in action, and browse their extensive and varied gift ranges.

Open: Mon-Fri 9.00am to 5.30pm Sun 10.00am to 4.00pm 39 Brook Street, Tavistock PL19 0HE

www.brocanteofdevon.co.uk

Wood burned gifts • Personalised cheese boards • Christmas Eve Boxes/Santa Treat Boards • Hand engraved and painted glass with Swarovski elements crystals • Craft Sessions • Birthday Parties

Open: Mon-Sat 9.00am-5.00pm 21 West Street Tavistock PL19 8AN 07445 301238

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COFFEE & CREAM PATISSERIE

BROCANTE OF DEVON

THE LITTLE CRAFT CAVE AT PENS & MOOR

We offer treats for yourself & perfect Christmas gift ideas including finest loose chocolates, cakes, cookies, coffee beans, tea blends and many more !

Open: Mon-Sat 9.00am-5.00pm Sun 10.30am-4.30pm 1B Brook Street Tavistock PL19 0BN

DEVON & MOOR Beautiful gifts inspired by the Dartmoor countryside and historic Tavistock.

Fabulous range of presents for Christmas too. For all your gift ideas visit us at

15 Pannier Market Tavistock PL19 0AL 07803 539368 Open: Mon-Sat 9.00am-4.30pm

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WHAT’S ON collection will be taken in aid of the Tavistock Area Children’s Centre. Come and enjoy your favourite carols!

9 DECEMBER FREESTYLE FELT Freestyle Felt, a workshop suitable for novice felt-makers - choose to make a simple decorated bowl, fingerless gloves, a reusable book-cover and/or festive tablerunners suitable for giving as Christmas Gifts. All materials included. 10am-4pm, £70 at Wildwood Arts, Horrabridge 11 DECEMBER A TALK ON DARTMOOR SEARCH & RESCUE A chance to learn about Dartmoor Search & Rescue as it celebrates its 50th anniversary, with a talk by Neil Richards, DSRT. Burrator Discovery Centre, 7:30pm-9:30pm, £4 per person (including refreshments). For more information or to book your place call 01822 855700.

11 & 12 DECEMBER FESTIVE WORKSHOP Learn how to decorate using nature this Christmas at Lewtrenchard Manor’s festive workshop. Bring secateurs and apron, all other materials provided. 10:30am-3:30pm including lunch, £40.00 per person 13-16 DECEMBER MARY TAVY CHRISTMAS TREE FESTIVAL Fifth Christmas Tree Festival at St Mary’s Church, Mary Tavy in aid of church funds open from 11:00am to 5:00pm daily - entry free.

14 DECEMBER DEVONSHIRE ASSOCIATION A demonstration with artefacts on ‘The medieval longbow, truths and legends’ by Chris Thomas at 7.30 pm at the Tavistock Parish Centre, Plymouth Road. For further details contact Barbara Edwards edwardsbobbarbara@btinternet.com, 01822 852 636 or visit www.devonassoc. org.uk

15 DECEMBER STANNARY BRASS BAND AT CHRISTMAS An ever-popular Christmas concert in St Eustachius’ Church, Tavistock, with special guests the St Austell-based Acappella Sound and Barbershop. 7:30pm, £7 for adults, £2 for under-18s - available from Stags Estate Agents, Tavistock or on the door

14 DECEMBER CLARINUTS A concert with five very talented clarinettist friends who play for the sheer fun of it, at Rock Methodist Church, Yelverton at 7:30pm, with seasonal music, plus items from Handel and Leroy Anderson.

15 DECEMBER – 05 JANUARY TAVISTOCK FATHER CHRISTMAS TRAIL Collect your map and find Father Christmas hiding throughout town. Work out what it is he likes at Christmas to earn your goody bag and to be entered into a prize draw.

Collect your sheets from I Love Candy, Kaleidoscope, The Visitor Information Centre and the Toy Cupboard. Free event as part of Tavistock BID’s winter festival. www.visit-tavistock.co.uk

14 DECEMBER MURDER MYSTERY DINNER A night of fine food and high intrigue, in the stunning setting of Two Bridges Hotel.

Call 01822 892300 for details.

15 DECEMBER WREATH MAKING Make your own Christmas wreath using natural materials at Burrator Discovery Centre. Support, materials and refreshments will be provided – just drop in between 10.00am – 4.00pm. £7.00 per wreath. For more information call 01822 855700, email: heritage@swlakestrust.org. uk or pop into the Discovery Centre (PL20 6PE).

16 DECEMBER FESTIVE FOOD, DRINK AND GIFT MARKET Gift market in Tavistock’s historic Pannier Market with a range of items from specialist & local businesses including jewellery, leather goods, glassware, wreaths. 11am and 4pm.

16 DECEMBER CENTREPIECE MAKING WORKSHOP Make a table centrepiece at our Christmas craft workshop at The Bedford Hotel starting at 9:30am, includes tuition, materials, and two-course lunch.

Antiques • Collectables • Jewellery Quality Furniture Architectural Salvage Garden Furniture & Ornaments • Tools & Machinery We offer house clearance and valuation services, and accept goods at our office weekly, please contact us for more information.

For more information call: 01822 616992

www.drakesauctions.co.uk cdf

Unit 6 Parade Business Park, Pixon Lane, Tavistock PL19 9RQ

See our community website www.dartmoorlinks.co.uk

39

WHAT’S ON 16 DECEMBER KEVIN GRENFELL’S JAZZ GIANTS Just the band for a Christmas party! Great music, great humour, great fun!

7.30pm at the Royal British Legion Club, Tailyour Road, Plymouth PL6 5DH. Tickets on the door £9 (members £7, full-time students £5) information 01752 721179, plymouth-jazz-club.org.uk

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19 DECEMBER CHRISTMAS EXTRAVAGANZA Do join us for our annual Christmas Extravaganza - an evening of carols and entertainment familiar to you all at St Mary’s Sampford Spiney from 7.15pm.

Tickets are £5 with children attending free, includes a glass of mulled wine and a mince pie at half-time. Tickets are available from Helen Sims on 01822 853784.

22 DECEMBER LET’S WASSAIL AT COTEHELE Come and join us at our annual wassail as we scare away the evil spirits from the orchard to ensure we have a successful crop for 2019. Fancy dress encouraged, bring something noisy too. Free event.

11.30am start 23 DECEMBER TAVISTOCK FESTIVE MARKET Come along to Bedford Square for some last-minute Christmas shopping and entertainment at this festive outdoor market. Join Jack Frost for seasonal stories, songs and interactive silliness. A Tavistock Pannier Market and Tavistock BID collaboration. www.visit-tavistock. co.uk 25 DECEMBER TAVISTOCK CHRISTMAS DAY LUNCH Join Tavistock Rotary for Christmas Day Lunch in the United Reformed Church in Russell Street, Tavistock at 11:30am.

TASS can collect you before 11.30am and take you home at 3.30pm. To book contact Christine Ellis on 01822 616507.

JANUARY 6 JANUARY NEW YEAR WASSAIL Join in at Buckland Abbey to ensure we make as much noise as possible to help awaken the trees from their winter sleep and wish them a bountiful new year.

Dartmoor Border Morris performs its traditional Mummers play from 1:00pm.

16 JANUARY VOLUNTEER RECRUITMENT DAY What are you doing in 2019? Do you have an interest in volunteering with us? Come and learn all about how you can help us look after Cotehele. Join us for a casual chat, tea, cake and to meet the team. No need to book, just drop-in anytime during the day. 11am-3pm 18 JANUARY DEVONSHIRE ASSOCIATION Social Evening in the presence of the Mayor and Mayoress of Tavistock, Cllr Paul and Mrs Jane Ward, both members of the Devonshire Association. Joint speakers John Mather and Jenny Bennett, also members of the DA, recounting their geological trip through Nepal. Pre-booking essential – please note 7.00pm start at the Tavistock Parish Centre, Plymouth Road. For further details contact Barbara Edwards edwardsbobbarbara@btinternet. com, 01822 852 636 or visit www. devonassoc.org.uk

Special Thali Taster Ni ghts Every Wednes day £12.95 Reservations Only

Open 7 Days a Week From 5pm Till Late

Restaurant & Take-Away

All Major Credit Cards Accepted Fully Licensed Spend over £30 on takeaway - get a FREE beer Spend over £50 on takeaway - get a FREE bottle of wine

For Reservations 01822 616520 07860942849

67 West Street Tavistock PL19 8AJ www.tharikstandoori.co.uk 40

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WHAT’S ON 19 JANUARY WASSAILING Come and experience an authentic Devon village wassail at Bere Ferrers Parish Hall from 7pm. Dartmoor Border Morris, Tavy Tars, bonfire (weather permitting), torchlight procession and wassail in the orchard ceremony – bring wellies, pans, wooden spoons and toast. £5.00 per adult, free for children - this includes a hot pasty and cider or apple juice (free for children).

24 JANUARY WINTER WARMERS WORKSHOP Students will learn how to make nuno-felt using merino-wool fibres and silk fabrics, forming a drapey scarf with wavy edges and purposeful holes that can be worn in a number of ways, suitable for novice feltmakers. Materials included with exception of a button/ fastener. 10am-4pm, £70 at Wildwood Arts, Horrabridge 27 JANUARY THE MAGNOLIA JAZZ BAND A relatively new Devon-based band formed by banjoist Pete Miller to play in the New Orleans style at The Royal British Legion Club, Tailyour Road, Crownhill, Plymouth at 7.30pm. Tickets on the door £9 (Members £7, Full-Time Students £5). Information 01752 774343; plymouth-jazz-club.org.uk 30 JAN – 2 FEB ROBIN HOOD AND THE BLACK KNIGHT Buckland Monachorum Drama Group’s pantomime, ‘Robin Hood and the Black Knight’ for all the family. 7.30pm daily,

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plus Saturday matinee at 2.30pm.

Tickets cost £6, concessions on Wed & Sat matinee. Full details at bucklandmonachorumdramagroup.co.uk

FEBRUARY 1 FEBRUARY IMAGINATION AND ALLEGORICAL ART EXHIBITION Joint-themed exhibition of two of the region’s finest artists - David Brooks and Richard Slater (Royal Institute). Wildwood arts, Chapel Lane, Horrrabridge, PL20 7SP www.wildwoodartsdartmoor.co.uk; info@wildwoodartsdartmoor.co.uk; 01822 258529 10 FEBRUARY NUNO-FELT BAGS Students will learn how to make nuno-felt using merino-wool fibres and silk fabrics, around a ‘resist’ to form a simple square bag, suitable for novice felt-makers.

Simple materials included, leather handles purchased separately. 10am-4pm, £70 at Wildwood Arts, Horrabridge 13-16 FEBRUARY GOATFINGER A tale of intrigue, espionage and goats….

Meavy Amateur Dramatics (MAD) presents Goatfinger performances Wed to Sat at 7:30pm, plus Saturday matinee at 2:30pm.

01822 600105 or 07768 852555 help@berecomputing.co.uk www.berecomputing.co.uk

We have included as many events as possible here in the magazine but for a full and comprehensive list please see our new community website: .dartmoorlinks.co.uk All event listings are FREE. Send details to editorial@tavylinks. co.uk or upload directly to our website by pressing the SUBMIT button

Oriental & British Silver

WE ARE NOW CATALOGUING OUR SPRING AUCTION CALENDAR

Fine Wines & Spirits

Jewellery

Watches

Valuations for auction, probate and insurance purposes

The local I.T. Guy - providing support for small business and home users • PC and Mac set-up and installation • Virus and spyware removal • Networking and broadband set-up and troubleshooting • Affordable websites for small businesses and the self-employed • CCTV supply and installation

For professional advice and valuations, please call 01752 721199 email: enquiries@eldreds.net

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See our community website www.dartmoorlinks.co.uk

Regular specialist auctions with live online Internet bidding

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WHAT’S ON

Tavistock’s main venue for Films, Theatre, Live Music and Live Broadcasts

Welcome to...

live broadcasts.................

Thursday 6th December

ANTONY & CLEOPATRA

Broadcast live from the National Theatre, Ralph Fiennes and Sophie Okonedo play Shakespeare’s famous fated couple in his great tragedy of politics, passion and power.

Sunday 9th December

Saturday 15th December

Tuesday 22nd January

THE KING & I

CBEEBIES CHRISTMAS SHOW

THE QUEEN OF SPADES

Wednesday 30th January

Thursday 31st January

The King And I comes to cinemas in this unmissable event recorded live from London’s iconic Palladium.

COFFEE SHOP Did you know that The Wharf has its own coffee shop open 6 days a week (except Sundays) serving a varied menu to suit all tastes and at very reasonable prices.

With an outside seating area running alongside the canal, on a hot sunny day there can be no better place in Tavistock to enjoy a cream tea or slice of cake!

The much anticipated annual CBeebies Christmas Show is coming to the big screen for a family-friendly cinema experience

LA TRAVIATA

Richard Eyre’s stunning naturalistic production contrasts the superficial glamour of 19th-century Parisian high life with intimate scenes for Violetta with Alfredo and Giorgio Germont, culminating in the heartbreaking final act

The penniless soldier Gherman has fallen in love with Liza, even though she is engaged to his friend Yeletsky

I’M NOT RUNNING

I’m Not Running is an explosive new play by David Hare, premiering at the National Theatre and broadcast live to cinemas.

THE WHARF GALLERY Tommy Hatwell – FACES FROM FAR OFF PLACES 3rd December 2018 – 18th January 2019

Local photographer Tommy Hatwell presents a delightful selection of his new photographs.

MUSIC.....................................

JOEY THE LIPS Friday 7th December

BON JOVI EXPERIENCE Saturday 8th December

THE KINGSTONS Friday 14th December

DESPERADO Saturday 15th December

For 2018 Joey the Lips have a new line up and will be videoing their wharf show so be sure to come along and join in the fun.

Fronted by Jon Bon Jovi “clone”, Tony Pearce, the complete Bon Jovi Experience return by popular demand with their spectacular show.

...with Malavita and The Cabarats, a Christmas ‘special’ night of music with 3 outstanding bands.

Relive those classic hits from The Eagles with breathtaking accuracy delivered by Desperado.

ULTIMATE ELVIS TRIBUTE Sunday 16th December

BJORN BELIEF Friday 21st December

ROCK & ROLL OUTLAWS New Years Eve

VOODOO ROOM Saturday 19th January

The Ultimate Elvis tribute With a full repertoire of songs covering all era’s, the 50’s, 60’s & the iconic Vegas 70’s, The 2 set show is a must for people who love ELVIS and his music.

Bringing the very best of Abba hits alive with an outstanding performance by this amazing band

See the old year old and the new year in with Tavistock’s finest rock covers band!

Paying tribute to Jimi Hendrix & Cream - a stunning “Power Trio” featuring some of the UK’s finest musicians, performing an incredible show in the true spirit of these legendary superstars.

COMING TO TAVISTOCK WHARF IN EARLY 2019 LENNON RETROSPECTIVE February 2019

Online booking available for all music events at...

KRIS BARRAS BAND March 2018

www.wegottickets.com REBECCA DOWNES BAND March 2018

GLENN TILBROOK April 2018

For full details and how to book events visit our website: www.tavistockwharf.com

Tavistock Wharf Box Office 01822 611166 FACEBOOK.COM/TAVISTOCKWHARF Dates and times shown may vary, so please check our website for all up to date information: www.tavistockwharf.com

See our community website www.dartmoorlinks.co.uk

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W hat’s O n 3 December - 3 January Penguins: a LEGO® brick trail

28-30 November Design to Sell Design to Sell at Plymouth College of Art provides a unique opportunity for students to design, make, promote and sell their own work - including illustration, painting, glasswork, metalwork, ceramics, photography, fashion, textiles, printmaking and more. 28th 6pm - 8pm; 29th 9.30am 3.30pm; 30th 9.30am - 12.30pm

Set off on an adventure to find the 19 Rockhopper penguins and one very special Emperor penguin in Plymouth city centre shops and cafes - they’re all life-size, and made out of LEGO® bricks! And don’t miss the Santa Express train at Drake Circus! Download a map from visitplymouth.co.uk.

4 December Evening Lecture: Unwrapping Christmas Carols Helen Astrid leads you through 300 years of musical history.

Discover the legends and stories behind your favourite Christmas carols and join in a special festive sing-a-long at the end. £5 per person. 7:00pm at Roland Levinsky Building (Lecture Theatre 2), Plymouth University.

Booking essential on Eventbrite

1 December In the Moon of Winter

29 November to 16 December Plymouth Christmas Market

Phoenix Chorale presents John Rutter’s Magnificat and a selection of pieces from across the globe including two regional premieres. 7.30pm in St Peter’s Church, Wyndham Square, PL1 5EG. Tickets on Eventbrite.co.uk - adults £10, children (U16) free (£12 on the door).

8 & 9 December Native Makers Market Native Makers is back with its two-day festive artisan makers’ market at Ocean Studios, Royal William Yard. With the return of Native Cubs Craft, delicious snacks, fun and free activities, over 60 local emerging makers, plus plenty of Christmas sparkle, there’s no reason not to pop by!

10am-5pm, donations welcomed on the door.

With over 50 traders in traditional wooden cabins in Plymouth city centre piazza, the market offers a great opportunity for Christmas shopping, along with a Bavarian Bar, delicious festive street food and live music from Thursday to Sunday, including a Spanish guitarist, Sandy Sparkle and Ocean City Sound.

www.visitplymouth.co.uk D@visitplymouth E@visitplym

WHAT’S ON EXTRA

Friday 30 November 30 to Sunday 9 December

Tavistock Christmas Tree Festival For the tenth year Tavistock Parish Church will be awash with lights and a hive of activity during the annual Friends of St Eustachius’ Christmas Tree Festival. 65 trees will be on display, all decorated by local businesses, schools, associations and charities, with a wide variety of styles and innovative ornaments, reflecting the nature of each organisation.

Refreshments, tea, coffee and light lunches will be available, while local musicians will also be performing - it really is an experience not to be missed.

The grand ‘switch-on’ happens at 2.30pm on Friday 30 November with the Mayor of Tavistock officiating - the church will be open that evening until 6:00pm. Regular opening hours are 10:00am to 4.30pm. On Dickensian Evening, 7 December, mulled wine will be served in the church and the festival will stay open until 9.30pm.

1st December to 5th January

BID Winter Festival There is something for everyone this December with a host of events for visitors to Tavistock brought free of charge by Tavistock BID as part of its winter festival. Tavistock Stannary Brass Band starts off the month with a morning of traditional brass band music on Bedford Square and then the following week you can join Untamed Theatre for fun and interactive performances of a Dickens classic as you follow Ebenezer Scrooge through Tavistock’s winding streets to uncover his Christmas past, present and future. From 15 December, collect your map and find Father Christmas hiding throughout town, and get a goody bag if you work out what it is he likes at Christmas. Then make the most of some last-minute shopping and join Entertainingly Different for a series of mini pantomimes jam-packed with songs, slapstick and silliness based on traditional tales, with lots of music and energetic fun.

Chriast tmas

Finally, just before Christmas Day, come along for seasonal stories, songs and interactive silliness with Jack Frost at the Tavistock Festive Market. www.visit-tavistock.co.uk 1 Dec: Tavistock Stannary Brass Band - Bedford Square 10:30am-12:30pm 08 Dec: A Christmas Carol Street Theatre Show - Limited numbers for walking performances - see website for details 15 December – 05 January: Tavistock Father Christmas Trail - Collect your sheets from I Love Candy, Kaleidoscope, The Visitor Information Centre and the Toy Cupboard.

16 December: Traditional Tales Pantomimes - throughout Tavistock 23 December: Tavistock Festive Market - Bedford Square

EXCITING EXPERIENCE GIFT BUNDLES! Rather than a toy, why not buy someone a fun experience this Christmas and make memories! Our gift bundles start from just £13.50 and include a voucher for our THE G IFT O climbing centre along with a F ADVE NTUR E! variety of merchandise options to choose from, all gift-wrapped!

CHRISTMAS PARTY WITH A DIFFERENCE! With a fun range of team building climbing challenges on offer, your Christmas party will be one to remember! We DISCO have packages to suit all UNT F LARG E GR OR ages and budgets, and AVAIL OUPS ABLE can also provide fresh food and drink.

Book over the phone: 01752 717567 | Visit us: The Ship, PL6 5AA | plymouth.clipnclimb.co.uk Ordering gift bundles and booking your party in advance is recommended to avoid disappointment!

See our community website www.dartmoorlinks.co.uk

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WHAT’S ON EXTRA

Friday 7th December

Dickensian Evening

This is one of the town’s favourite dates in the calendar, seeing the town ablaze with colour and cheer. Most shops and offices stay open late, inviting visitors and locals to share with them in an evening of festivities and traditional Dickensian dress. It is a joy to see so many people and businesses working together to produce such a spectacular evening.

This year you can expect the traditional light switch-on as usual at 5:45pm followed by entertainment throughout the town, with Christmas carols from local school choirs, Morris dancers, stilt walkers, traditional Christmas rides, magic, REAL reindeer alongside other festive creatures in an animal enclosure in Bank Square. And of course, Father Christmas will be on hand to spread the festive joy. To complement the town’s shops and eateries, we can also expect a host of other wonderful stalls, selling mince pies, cider, Christmas puddings, delicious waffles, BBQ food and beer. This year we will also be welcoming our outstanding sensory and

community gardeners. In addition, you can visit the Christmas Tree Festival in St Eustachius’ Church and the Winter Market in Butcher’s Hall; while Tavistock Heritage Trust will also be opening the Guildhall, so drop in for mulled wine, mince pies and craft stalls, as well as a chance to look around the historic magistrate’s court, one of Tavistock’s hidden heritage gems!

Do come back into town the following day to enjoy Untamed Theatre’s street performance of Dicken’s ‘A Christmas Carol’.

Then don’t forget to pick up those Christmas gifts you had your eye on the previous evening!

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WHAT’S ON EXTRA

Saturday 8th December

The Brentor Mistletoe Fair This popular annual event has become an essential start for the Christmas shopping season. A delightful atmosphere is provided by a beautifully decorated hall and an eclectic mix of stalls selling homemade and handcrafted gifts and produce.

Homemade refreshments will be available throughout the day, from morning coffee and mince pies to hot lunches, tea and cakes. There is ample time to browse and buy from a variety of stalls which includes textiles, ceramics, jewellery, cards, gifts, decorations, cakes and preserves. We feel sure there will be something to suit all ages and all pockets. Mary Tavy

and Brentor School Singing Club will be providing seasonal musical entertainment at 11am and it is hoped Santa will find time in his busy schedule to visit and distribute small gifts and sweets. The afternoon concludes with the grand prize draw and profits from the day will be used to benefit Brentor Village Hall and Playing Field. Do come along, everyone is welcome to our friendly village event at Brentor Village Hall between 10am and 3pm. For more information about Brentor activities visit the village website at www.brentorvillage.org

Sunday 9th December

Tavistock Santa Fun Run Ho ho ho! Join us for CHICKS festive family fun run from 3:00pm to 4:00pm and give hundreds of children across the UK the chance to attend a CHICKS break! You can sprint, jog, walk or skip along the 1.5-mile route and we’ll provide you with a free santa suit as part of your entry fee! The route, which starts at Bedford Square car park and finishes by the bandstand in the Meadows, is suitable for wheelchairs and pushchairs; well-behaved rein-dogs on leads are also welcome to join in the fun. You can register at www.chicks.org.uk/ santa - once you have registered, set up a free, easy-to-use fundraising page at justgiving.com and raise as much in sponsorship as you can to help fund vital respite breaks for children living in incredibly difficult circumstances across the

UK. If you don’t want to join in the run then why not sponsor someone else?

Entry: £10 for adults, £5 for children or £25 for a family of four (2 adults, 2 children).

Any questions? email events@chicks. org.uk or call 01822 811125.

Christmas Opening Hours

Christmas Eve 11am-6pm • Christmas Day & Boxing Day - CLOSED New Years Eve & New Years Day - CLOSED • Open all other days as normal

Monday: 12pm to 9pm Tues to Sat: 11am to 9pm

TO PLACE AN ORDER PLEASE CALL 01822 613311

36 Brook Street, Tavistock, Devon PL19 0HE

See our community website www.dartmoorlinks.co.uk YOUR LOCAL

YOUR LOCAL

47

WHAT’S ON EXTRA

Sunday 16 December

Festive Food, Drink and Gift Market As Christmas draws ever closer, there’s an event in Tavistock that’s sure to provide the answer to all your festive shopping headaches. The gift market hosted by Miss Ivy Events in the town’s historic Pannier Market proved such a success last year, that this year’s Christmas extravaganza has been expanded considerably, to include food and drink products, as well as a superb range of gift items from specialist, local businesses.

Stalls will include producers of coffee, preserves, Christmas wreaths, spices and all sorts of gifts. Whether you’re looking for unique jewellery, lovely leather goods, marvellous mosaics or glorious glassware, there’s sure to be plenty to choose from.

All the exhibitors come from Devon and Cornwall, so making a purchase will be providing a welcome boost to small, artisan businesses.

You can also learn some new skills while you shop with various workshops during the day. In addition, we have local choir Cantabile performing a host of festive tunes to get us all in the Christmas spirit. And in case you are hesitating about bringing the children with you, there will be a special ‘gnome trail’ around the market, which is sure to keep the little ones entertained! So make a date in your diary and don’t panic if you can’t find Aunty Edna a Christmas present — make a beeline for Tavistock Pannier Market on Sunday 16 December between 11am and 4pm.

Thursday 13th to Sunday 16th December

Mary Tavy Christmas Tree Festival This year we are holding our fifth Christmas Tree Festival at St Mary’s Church, Mary Tavy in aid of church funds. This event has progressed from strength to strength since it was first held in 2014 and will be open from 11:00am to 5:00pm daily - entry is free. Refreshments will be available, together with a raffle and table top sale. St Mary’s Church is just off the main A386 down in the original Mary Tavy village. All are most welcome and we hope that those passing our door will pay us a visit so as to enjoy the very creative displays achieved by the groups

taking part. On behalf of the Parochial Church Council at St. Mary’s, our very sincere thanks go to the local businesses and many Mary Tavy organisations involved, for once again coming together to support our local parish church and help in the continued success of this local event.

Christmas Workshop Tuesday 11th December

Let us help you get ready for the wonderful festive season with a workshop to make your own wreath and table decoration.

Includes a two course lunch. £40.00 per person

A Family Run Hideaway in Devon 48

LEWDOWN, OKEHAMPTON, DEVON EX20 4PN TELEPHONE: +44 (0) 1566 783 222

To promote your business to 20,700* readers - call 01822 615627

EMAIL: INFO@LEWTRENCHARD.CO.UK WEB: WWW.LEWTRENCHARD.CO.UK

editorial@tavylinks.co.uk

The West Devon Club An ideal venue for celebrations, parties and special events such as weddings and wakes WINTER IS HERE - CHRISTMAS IS ON THE WAY - ENJOY A MULLED WINE IN OUR WARM COSY AND FRIENDLY CLUB WITH A GREAT PROGRAM OF ENTERTAINMENT

FORTHCOMING EVENTS 7 Dec Dickensian • 16 Dec Grand Xmas Draw • 18 Dec Christmas Quiz • 22 Dec Christmas Party Disco 31 Dec New Year’s Eve Party with Total Stranger and The Professionals Disco • Bingo every Wednesday January Membership Renewals • More to follow...

Get online and check out the website to see the latest events at the club

3 Abbey Place, Tavistock, PL19 0AB • 01822 613025

westdevonclub@yahoo.com

Care Services for your loved ones Devon and Cornwall Care Services

specialise in providing professional support and care for you, your relatives or friends n Personal

Care service n Meal Preparation n Cleaning Service n We are able to work with any type of care no matter how complex n Sitting

We have packages to suit your needs and we are registered with the Care Quality Commission Free, no obligation initial meeting All managers and Carers are DBS (CRB) checked

Devon and Cornwall Care Services t. 01822 610734/611221 email: pauline_daccs@yahoo.co.uk www.daccservices.com

5 Canal Road Tavistock PL19 8AR

See our community website www.dartmoorlinks.co.uk

Caring for People in the Community

49

MUSIC & ART

Monday 3rd to Friday 28th December

Faces from far-off places

On 10 December at 7pm you can join Tommy for an engaging evening as he shares the stories behind his photographic adventures (tickets £3 from the Wharf box office).

FOR YOUR BUSINESS - YOUR BRAND - FOR YOU

www.TOMMYHATWELL.com COMMERCIAL PHOTOGRAPHY SERVICES TOMMYHATWELL@GMAIL.COM

07940753321

WORKSHOP

Relationships are at the heart of this exhibition and each portrait has a story behind and beyond it, with some of these portraits taken in minutes, while others were created over many years of friendship and shared experiences which continue today. Ultimately each portrait is a window in time and into Tommy’s world as he captures the essence of the moment, the people and the relationships, helping you connect with the subject. The exhibition includes portraits from visits to Uganda, India and other countries, and can be viewed from 10:00am – 4:00pm each day at Tavistock Wharf (admission free).

Creative Digital Photography

A local photographer born in Devon, Tommy Hatwell has a very international portfolio, drawn from time spent travelling, working and photographing all over the globe. His camera has been intrinsic to this journey as he explores the environment around him - along with a smile, Tommy’s camera is a universal icebreaker to amazing people, places and experiences. In 2017 Tommy’s image ‘Night School’, was selected from 6000 entries worldwide to feature as part of the Taylor Wessing Portrait Prize exhibition displayed at the National Portrait Gallery in London.

Tommy will be holding workshops on Saturday 8th & Sunday 9th December: 9:00am-1:00pm at Church Lane, 1 Church Lane, Tavistock, PL19 8AA £15 per person per session - maximum of 8 spaces each day - for details visit www.tommyhatwell.com.

Tommy also visits clubs, schools and colleges delivering a fun and inspiring talk about his photographic adventures - to book a talk contact Tommy on 07940 753321 or tommyhatwell@gmail.com

PRODUCT - SERVICE - PORTRAIT - WEDDING - FAMILY - FOOD - EVENT

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MUSIC & ART

Saturday 15th December

22-years-old and still entertaining!

Stannary Brass Band invites you to its ever-popular Christmas concert in St Eustachius’ Church Tavistock, with special guests the St Austell based Acappella Sound and Barbershop Chorus - a fun-loving group of women, ranging from 16 to 75-yearsold from all over Cornwall, who are passionate about singing.

The ladies’ desire to perform and entertain to the very best of their abilities has placed them 10th barbershop chorus in the UK and Netherlands for two years in a row. The concert will be hosted by Angela Rippon CBE, who has been a familiar face and voice in British broadcasting for over 50 years as well as an award-winning journalist. In 2002 she was voted European Woman of Achievement and has been awarded an OBE in recognition of her services to broadcasting, charity and the arts, and a CBE for services to dementia care. The concert starts at 7:30pm and tickets cost £7 for adults and £2 for

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under-18s - available from Stags Estate Agents in Tavistock or on the door.

Stannary Brass Band, now in its’ 22nd year, enjoys taking part in local events, such as parades, services, concerts, weddings and fetes. It promotes family inclusion and provides opportunities for young people to learn to play an instrument and perform in public. Instruments are available – free of charge - for anyone from the age of 6 upwards who would like to learn to play. Beginners and experienced players are welcome - please phone 01822 854888, contact us at stannarybrassband@outlook.com, or speak to any band member. The band is grateful for the continuing support of Fairway Furnishing, Stags Estate Agents and the Lions Club of Tavistock.

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MUSIC & ART

Friday 1st February

Imagination and allegorical art exhibition Wildwood Arts is thrilled to be hosting this joint-themed exhibition of two of the region’s finest artists - David Brooke and Richard Slater (Royal Institute). Themes for David’s paintings often originate from mythology, although interpreted and embellished by his imagination, and there is often something of a humorous or quirky nature about his work. David is a member of the South West Academy of Fine and Applied Arts, the National Acrylic Painters’ Association, the Society for Art of Imagination and the Bath Society of Artists. His paintings have been exhibited in London at the Royal Institute of Oil Painters and United Society of Artists, and the Royal West of England Academy, Bristol. He has also exhibited in New York and Miami.

Richard Slater has developed a wellcrafted, poetic and often allegorical style which places him at the centre of the British neo–romantic movement. He portrays local landscapes as abstracts with a narrative through the medium of vibrant colours. Working with equal dexterity across the mediums of pastel,

David Brooke

oil and watercolour, Richard Slater creates complex images of local rural scenes, villages, buildings, wildlife and flora. His paintings are in the permanent art collection of the Royal Albert Memorial Museum in Exeter. He was elected to the Royal Institute of Painters in Watercolour in 1999, and remains a member with his work being exhibited yearly at the Mall galleries in London.

He is also a full member of the St Ives Society of Artists as well as being listed in ‘Who’s Who in Art. His paintings represent the art of a master of his craft and are both an enduring joy and an investment for the future.

Richard Slater

Wildwood arts, Chapel Lane, Horrrabridge, Yelverton. PL20 7SP www. wildwoodartsdartmoor. co.uk; info@ wildwoodartsdartmoor. co.uk; 01822 258529

Richard Slater

Dartmoor’s Art Gallery

Representing the region’s finest artists Fine art inspired by Dartmoor and the Westcountry of England We also offer a range of art classes & felting workshops Gift vouchers also available

Chapel Lane, Horrabridge, Yelverton Pl20 7SP

•

01822 258529

INFO@WILDWOODARTSDARTMOOR.CO.UK • WWW.WILDWOODARTSDARTMOOR.CO.UK

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David Brooke editorial@tavylinks.co.uk

NATIONAL TRUST

Christmas ‘Elizabethan-style’ at Buckland Abbey Step back in time and experience an Elizabethan-style Christmas at Buckland Abbey. With cooking in the kitchen, decorations throughout the abbey and an awe-inspiring 8-metre-high Christmas tree in the centre of the Great Barn - it is a Christmas not to be missed!

The doors to the Great Barn are swinging open to reveal a Christmas from the natural world. The centre of the barn is dominated by a 20,000-pinecone painted tree which has been lovingly created by visitors, local scout groups and volunteers.

Come and see this remarkable sight from 1st December.

There are lots of things to do this December with great family trails from hunting for Christmas penguins in the abbey to completing the star trail on the estate. Or perhaps come along to one of our weekend craft sessions and create your very own Buckland penguin to take home. Or why not come along to one of our ‘Father Christmas with a twist’ sessions and join the Lord of Misrule as he leads the festive celebrations and hands out gifts to those who join in with the revelling!

AN ELIZABETHAN CHRISTMAS OF FEAST AND FESTIVITY 1st December-2nd January Experience the sights and smells of Christmas, as Buckland Abbey transforms into an Elizabethan home of feast and festivity.

NEW YEAR WASSAIL Sunday 6th January Join in to ensure we make as much noise as possible to help awaken the trees from their winter sleep and wish them a bountiful new year.

CHRISTMAS WEEKEND FAMILY CRAFTING Weekends 1st-30th December Every weekend in December come along to Buckland and create your own World Encompassed style penguin to take home!

FATHER CHRISTMAS WITH A TWIST Weekends 1st-30th December Join our Lord of Misrule as he leads the festive celebrations and hands out gifts to those who join in with the revelling!

Christmas at to Add some colour your weekend this Buckland Abbey

autumn at Gibside With a stunning display in the Great Barn, floral displays throughout the abbey and bad behavior from the Go crunching through fallen leaves and discover a forest Lord of Misrule - there's to do teeming with wildlife and autumn colours,lot's with walking routes for all ages and abilities. at Buckland this Christmas time.

Call 01822 853607 for details nationaltrust.org.uk/gibside nationaltrust.org.uk/buckland-abbey When you visit, donate, volunteer join the National When you visit, donate, volunteer or join theor National Trust, your support your helps us to look after special places <inafter the region> <like Trust, support helps us to look special places property X, property Y and Proeprty Z> in for ever, for everyone. for ever, for everyone. © National Trust 2018. The National Trust is an © National Trust 2016. The National Trust is an independent independent registered charity, number 205846. registered charity, number 205846. Photography © National Trust Photography © National Trust Images\Grant Images.

Wyness.

#nationaltrust #nationaltrust

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53

NATIONAL TRUST

Commemoration garland at Cotehele Cotehele’s annual Christmas garland, built from flowers grown on the estate is always a big event, and this year, the centenary of the end of the First World War, is being marked with an extra-special display. West Country print-artist, Dominique Coiffait, has worked alongside the garden team to transform the Great Hall into an artwork to commemorate the armistice. The artwork represents the ebb and flow of life and seasons at Cotehele, with flowers and foliage interwoven with reproductions of the First World War artefacts that the local community have shared for the four years of the centenary exhibitions. We’re open every day until 6 January 2019, except Christmas Day and Boxing Day. Over the festive season, there are also lots of other events to enjoy – including choir performances under the garland, family trails, wassailing, gallery exhibitions, roasts in the restaurant, and even a visit by Mother and Father Christmas. Visit our website www.nationaltrust.org.uk/cotehele for more details about everything happening at Cotehele at this magical time of year.

GINGERBREAD HOUSE WORKSHOPS AT COTEHELE Saturday 1, 8, 15 and 22 December, 4-6pm Come along as a family and decorate your own gingerbread house which Cotehele’s chef has baked and assembled for you. Take away your decorated house for Christmas (decoration materials provided). Booking essential, £30 per family (max 2 adults, 3 children). Call 01579 351346 to book.

LET’S WASSAIL AT COTEHELE Saturday 22 December, 11.30am start Come and join us at our annual wassail as we scare away the evil spirits from the orchard to ensure we have a successful crop for 2019. Fancy dress encouraged, bring something noisy too. Free event.

VOLUNTEER RECRUITMENT DAY Wednesday 16 January, 11am-3pm What are you doing in 2019? Do you have an interest in volunteering with us? Come and learn how you can help us look after Cotehele. Join us for a casual chat, tea, cake and to meet the team. No need to book, just drop-in anytime during the day.book.

Remembering the to Add some colour Armistice with Cotehele's your weekend this Commemoration Garland

autumn at Gibside

Open daily until 6 January

The annual Christmas garland, built from flowers grown in Cotehele garden is always a Go crunching through and discoverof a forest big event and this fallen year,leaves the centenary the end teeming with wildlife and autumn colours, with walking of the First World War, will be marked with an routes for all ages and abilities. extra-special display.

nationaltrust.org.uk/gibside

nationaltrust.org.uk/cotehele When youvisit, visit, donate, volunteer orthe joinNational the National Trust, your When you donate, volunteer or join Trust, your support helpsusus look after special places support helps toto look after special places <in thearound region>Tavistock, <like such as Buckland and Cotehele ever, everyone. property X, propertyAbbey Y and Proeprty Z> in forfor ever, for for everyone. © National Trust 2018. The National Trust is an © National Trust 2016. The National Trust is an independent independent registered charity, number 205846. registered charity, number 205846. Photography © National Trust Photography © National Trust Images\Rich Burrow.

Images.

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#nationaltrust #nationaltrust

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NATIONAL TRUST

Winter walks at Lydford Gorge The walks to Whitelady Waterfall and the bird hide are open during daylight hours through December and January. A walk in the gorge is a great way to escape the modern world for an hour and burn off some of the Christmas excess. Please be aware that if high winds are forecast then the walks will be closed for safety reasons and this will be notified on the website www.nationaltrust.org.uk/lydford-gorge. We have a lot of trees growing on steep banks in thin soil which are more likely to fall or drop branches when it’s wet and windy so please choose to visit another day.

During December the shop and Devil’s Cauldron tea-room are open Thursday to Sunday, 11am-3.30pm, until Christmas.

Why not spend a little time on your Christmas shopping in a relaxed environment before taking a break with a cuppa and a tasty snack. The shop has a range of Christmas food, cards, decorations and more. In the tea-room there will be warming soups and paninis as well as cakes to tempt you.

The gorge is classified as a Site of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI) for its geology as well as the plants and animals that call it home. Now is the time that the rangers get stuck into

making it a great habitat for wildlife and visitors alike. Since March over 100,000 feet have walked the gorge and this takes its toll on the surfaces, handrails, steps and bridges. The rangers work hard to maintain the safety of the paths over summer, but need the time in the gorge over winter to do some of the bigger jobs. For example to stop the path edges from eroding away winches are used (and only powered by ranger muscle, no engines) to move large lengths of tree trunk into place.

Something for Add someat colour to everyone Lydford your weekend this Gorge this winter

autumn at to Gibside Wintry walks Whitelady Waterfall, relaxed Christmas Go crunching through fallen leaves and discover a forest shopping and tempting treats teeming with wildlife and autumn colours, with walking for all ages and abilities. inroutes the tea-room nationaltrust.org.uk/gibside Call 01822 820320 for details nationaltrust.org.uk/lydford-gorge When you visit, donate, volunteer or join the National Trust, your

helps usTrust to look 2018. after special places <in the region> <like ©support National The National property property Y and Proeprty Z> in for ever, for everyone.

Trust isX,an independent registered charity, number 205846. © National Trust 2016. The National Trust is an independent registered charity, number 205846. Photography © National Trust #nationaltrust Photography © National Trust Images. #nationaltrust Images.

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55

FOOD & WINE

Sweet Wines Sweet wines, pudding wines, dessert wines, call them what you will, but one thing for sure is that they all, not only, have high levels of residual sugar, after all fundamentally that is what makes sweet wines, ‘sweet’, but also their reception when offered to the uninitiated will generally be mixed.

When hosting various wine tastings, it is often my practice to conclude a tasting by sampling a little gem to complement the pudding, maybe to check the salty tang of a soft cheese or purely enjoy on its own for pleasure. Sweet wines are made in most of the world’s key wine producing regions; their individuality, possible intensity and luscious fruity notes can be so diverse - something for everyone. And yet often I witness inverted snobbery from those who claim not to like sweet wines, and yet these ‘bah- humbug’ kill-joys will often confess to having a penchant for a scoop of honey, a spoonful of jam, or even an intensely sweet humbug. That said, for many, and this includes the gastronomes from France, who do know a thing or two about food and wine, sweet wines are seen as the perfect complement to cheeses, pâtés and puddings alike.

Think of one of the sweetest wines, that being port and how we happily associate this with salty stilton.

As with red, white and indeed rosé wines the extreme range of styles of these wines is equalled by the spectrum of colours, sweetness and honeyed floral notes offered by sweet wines. As someone who spends much time compiling hotel and restaurant wine lists, I will always try to encourage my customer to list at least three or maybe five different sweet wine options – wines to cover all eventualities. A light less cloying not too sweet wine such as a young sauternes to pair up with a creme brûlée or a pavlova. A classic Loire chenin blanc, such as Coteaux du Layon is ideal with fruit based midweight puds, and don’t forget the delicious German Auslese wines... so many options!

Many will be surprised that all white wines including sweet wines must have a degree of natural acidity. Every wine needs a punctuating full stop to mark the wine’s finish. Without acidity the finish will be dull and incomplete. The secret of maximising such a finish is understanding at what temperature each wine will be best served. A well-chilled riesling can accentuate the perceived acidity, in fact riesling is one of the few grapes that favours being served well-chilled. By contrast, if one is to serve a chenin blanc based sweet wine too cold, it will have a detrimental effect, the magical honey glow will be lost and all the fragrance will be suppressed. Continuing with the food match theme, rich fruit puddings and mid-weight to heavy puddings will in turn need a wine with concentration, maybe a touch of citrus spice to match, yet not overwhelm the pud. A wonderfully complex Hungarian Tokaji, the nutty slightly orange-peel style of a vin santo or maybe an Alsace Gewürztraminer could be a consideration... And then there is chocolate - rich chocolate is potentially such a hard food to match, dark soft and often bitter. To check the chocolate’s edge and also rise to the challenge of equalling the intensity and structure, possibly explore a Banyuls, a vin doux naturel or fortified wine from south western France.

Two thoughts to consider: luckily for Father Christmas, a half bottle of pudding wine neatly fits into a stocking; and remember, a meal without a pudding wine is not a real meal, it’s a missed opportunity.

Charles Steevenson

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FOOD & WINE

Tavistock Christmas Day Lunch Tavistock Rotary is delighted to invite people to join us for Christmas Day Lunch in the United Reformed Church in Russell Street, Tavistock. Christine Ellis, the lunch organiser, said: “This promises to be a brilliant party and we still have some places available. Thanks to Tesco, the food will be superb, and our new kitchen team will be there to make sure that it’s perfectly cooked. There will be lots of fun, singing and, if possible, the Queens Speech. As always, thanks to the generosity of the volunteers, there will be no charge for the day.”

Celebrations begin at 11.30am on Christmas morning. There will be a traditional Christmas turkey dinner and the very best of good company. This will be followed by a drink, mince pies and Christmas cake before our guests are taken home.

Volunteers from TASS will happily pick people up from their homes before 11.30am and will take them home at around 3.30pm. To book a place at the lunch please contact Christine Ellis on 01822 616507.

MERRY CHRISTMAS & SEASON’S GREETINGS from all the team at the Moorland Garden Hotel

We look forward to welcoming you to the hotel soon!

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MUSIC & ART OUTDOORS AND ACTIVE

Out and About with Tavistock Ramblers A delightful 4½-mile walk in the Tamar valley with John Noblet of Tavistock Ramblers. This is a fine stroll at any time of year, but in winter, when the trees are bare, the views are even better.

Start in the free car park on Calstock Quay (SX437685).

The area is rich in agricultural and industrial history and the walk passes plenty of evidence of these activities before arriving at the fine medieval National Trust property of Cotehele, once the home of the Edgcumbe family.

1. Walk out of the car park with the river on your left and past the village hall and the Tamar Inn. Turn left into Commercial Road, then almost immediately fork left into Lower Kelly to

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continue towards the massive viaduct dominating the view ahead. This was completed in 1907 and built of concrete blocks, very unusual for the time. The farm on the other side of the river was once a boatyard where many Tamar sailing barges were built.

Pass under the viaduct and soon you will see Cotehele House in the distance in the trees above the river. Pass a working boatyard, noting the unusual opening hours, and then the old railway carriage. Go under a bridge, once an incline plane for

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OUTDOORS AND ACTIVE

a mineral tramway serving the mines around Gunnislake, and then a huge lime kiln.

2. The road goes sharp right by an elegant house just where the river bends to the left and into the Danescombe valley.

Ignore a concrete track on the right, but continue ahead. Just past a row of cottages turn left signed to Cotehele House.

The track climbs steadily at first through beech and oak woods before levelling out. Bear left at a path junction and start to go downhill. Pause at the viewpoint for a splendid outlook of Calstock and the river. Pass a 15th century chapel with a curious story relating to Sir Richard Edgcumbe avoiding his pursuers all those years ago.

3. The wide track gradually descends to Cotehele Quay. Pass to the left of several large stone buildings on the quay to join a road by Quay House signed as a footpath to Cotehele Mill.

Alongside the quay is the Shamrock, built in 1899 and now the last Tamar sailing barge in existence.

4. At the bridge continue on the track straight ahead (not over the bridge) and up the valley. Where the path forks, bear right uphill and immediately right again signed to Cotehele House.

At the top, go through the white gate and carefully cross the

Christmas Carvery

road to enter Cotehele’s main drive.

Go past the car park entrance and then follow the road to Cotehele House reception.

5. To continue the walk, pass reception and through a wooden gate behind the toilets, signed as a public footpath. The path goes below the front of Cotehele House and overlooks the lower garden before bearing right alongside a stone wall. At the path junction retrace your steps back to Calstock the way you came.

Come and join Tavistock Ramblers for more walks in the Tamar Valley or on Dartmoor or other parts of West Devon. Walks vary from short strolls to all-day treks and everything in between.

See www.tavistockramblers.org.uk for the programme of walks on offer. We will be walking around Cotehele on 2nd December. Why not join us?

at

LAKESIDE ROADFORD L AKE

25 th November & 2 nd , 9 th , 16 th December 12.30pm to 2pm

Adult two course - £18.95 including mince pies and coffee Child two course - £8.95. Under 3's eat for free

01566 784859 • www.southwestlakes.co.uk • lakeside@swlakestrust.org.uk Roadford Lake, between Okehampton and Launceston PL16 0RL Find us on Facebook - Lakeside, Roadford Lake

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HISTORY

700 years of St Eustachius’ Church As we reach the end of St Eustachius’ 700th anniversary year, Joan Torvell takes a look back at its history.

Little evidence has been written about the founding of Tavistock Abbey and the records that do exist were not accessible to the local populace, as most folk were illiterate at that time. The abbey was built by Ordulf, Earl of Devon, and according to legend he dreamed he was praying one night under the stars outside his home above the present Kelly College, when he saw a vision - an angel in a brilliant column of light, was directed to build an abbey where the light touched the ground. Ordulf, with the support of his brother-inlaw, King Edgar the Peaceful, built the abbey in the north west corner of the market. It was an excellent situation near the ford, where the trackway from Exeter to Cornwall crossed the river, with water, wood for building and fuel, an abundance of fish and fertile lands.

Subsequently Ordulf had the remains of a Celtic saint, Rumon, brought from Cornwall and the abbey was dedicated to the Virgin Mary and St Rumon. Tavistock Abbey followed the rule of the Benedictine order and carried out pastoral work, caring for the sick (at the hospital in Abbey Chapel and a leper house at the bottom of Spring Hill), and providing education, employment and welfare services (equivalent to today’s food bank) for the local populace. Sixteen years later, the Danes

All photos by Ossie Palmer

came up the River Tamar in their longships, were repulsed at Lydford, and fell back on the richer prize of Tavistock Abbey, which they plundered and burnt down. It was soon rebuilt, possibly by Ordulf, but on a grand scale, with stone. I give credence to the legend that the abbey invented the well-loved Devon cream tea, as milk, flour and fruit were available in quantity for the scones, cream and jam - and the labourers working on this magnificent building were partially rewarded with a cream tea!

Alongside the complex buildings of Tavistock Abbey, a church was also built, but nothing of this church survives. However, a new church was built by Abbot Robert Champeaux and dedicated in 1318. Research has not given any evidence for the choice of Eustachius as patron. My theory is that this monastery was built in a huge hunting forest belonging to the king, and Eustace or Hubert was chosen as he is the patron saint of hunters. St Eustachius was a Roman general in the second century, who was converted to Christianity and disgraced, exiled and martyred by his family for refusing to sacrifice to Roman gods. In the church there was no furniture.

A rood screen divided the chancel from the main body of the church and tradition has it that women stood on the north side

The Arts Society South Devon offers enjoyable opportunities to discover and support the arts of yesterday, today and tomorrow, this is just a sample of our forthcoming lectures.

12th December 2018 The Great Fire of Westminster The lecture looks at the work of Augustus Pugin and Charles Barry who rebuilt the Palace of Westminster after it was destroyed by fire in 1834.

9th January 2019 Jacob Epstein This lecture examines the life of Jacob Epstein, one of the most famous sculptors working in Britain whose career was dogged with criticism, ridicule and anti-Semitism.

SOUTH DEVON

For more information on these and to see a full list of the coming seasons lectures please visit our website

www.theartssocietysouthdevon.org.uk • email: info@theartssocietysouthdevon.org.uk 60

HISTORY

Tavistock Abbey

The Fitz Monument

There’s also the story of John Fitz... and men on the south, the warmest area! By the middle of the 14th century the church had fallen into disrepair and was roofless, but by the end of the century it had been rebuilt in the Perpendicular style, with the addition of the south aisle, the Clothworkers’ Aisle, funded by a bequest from Constance Coffyn, the widow of three wealthy, Tavistock wool merchants.

The work was completed in 1447.

stained-glass windows all tell their own stories of the people associated with this place. In its earliest days, St Eustachius’ was a focal point in the town for worship, social gatherings, music, celebration, sorrow and refuge. It has suffered perilous times but still survives, serving the same needs of its people.

The dissolution of the abbey in 1539 ended the old order; the lands and properties were gifted to the Russell family, who held the patronage until 1912. Stone from the abbey remained a ruin was used for many of the buildings we see today.

However, the church remained in use and its interior tells its own story: the Glanville memorial (erected 1615) depicts Judge Glanville holding a skull, with his wife, Alice, kneeling beside him and the small figures of four children, heads missing. Was this vandalism a result of the boredom of parliamentary troops during the Civil War? In the book, “Homage to Eustachius”

by Gerry Woodcock, the skull was believed to be the Judge’s niece, sentenced to death for murder (though prior to him becoming a judge). There’s also the story of John Fitz - a naughty boy of Tavistock, who is possibly the son kneeling piously in the Fitz Monument which commemorates Sir John Fitz, who died in 1859, and his wife, Mary Sydenham; it is said that Francis Drake was baptised in the 15th century font, whose cover is a splendid example of 20th century carving by Violet Pinwell. There are legends surrounding the roof bosses, in particular the Three Hares, and a beautiful 14th century panel carved with lilies, and a Cornish piper may have come from the abbey. In addition, there is the breath-taking Victorian organ screen with its carved figures; artefacts including the early Saxon holy water stoup, the painting by local artist Arthur Read, of ‘The Dawn on the Third Millennium’, presented in 2000, the well-known window attributed to William Morris and the little-known soldier of the First World War. Gifts to the church over the ages, from Tavistock Abbey, the Bedford family and citizens of the town, as well as memorial brasses and

For the comprehensive story of St Eustachius’ Church read ‘Homage to St.Eustachius’, by the late Gerry Woodcock, well-known historian, respected teacher at Tavistock College, chairman of Tavistock Local History Society and distinguished lecturer.

See our community website www.dartmoorlinks.co.uk

Joan Torvell

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BUSINESS

Amber & Mallow Lifestyle Amber and Mallow Lifestyle Ltd opened its new shop in Market Road, Tavistock, at the end of September. Kim and Jerry Laye-Sion are the co-founders of the business, which offers its customers both an interior design and styling service with an extensive fabric library for home furnishings, including names such as Casamance, Anna French, Manuel Canovas and Jane Churchill; and a complementary, well-coordinated range of gifts to suit every pocket, providing a one-stop shop for the perfect present.

Kim and Jerry met whilst working for an international manufacturing and distribution group, but when the group floated on the stock market, it provided the ideal opportunity for them to follow Kim’s passion and move into the world of design, and so, combining Kim’s design experience and Jerry’s IT skills, they started their own interior design business. Initial commissions came from their existing overseas clients, but the arrival of their son meant that the building of a UK client base became more important. They moved to Devon in 2008 and, at the end of 2016, Kim and Jerry ran a couple of pop-up shops in Tavistock to test-run the idea of selling well-coordinated gifts, and the success of this urged them to set up in business in the town. They feel that there is a ‘real warmth from the people of Tavistock’, and they hope

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that their business will complement the extensive range of products and services already on offer here. Since opening, the response has been very encouraging, and they are now working on commissions for a number of local clients. They can offer anything from a length of fabric for a single project to a full interior design service. Kim and Jerry say that they find it extremely rewarding to see an interior project crystallise, and see the positive effect this has on their clients’ lives.

By far the greatest challenge that the couple have undertaken to date is the renovation of their business premises, which was until recently the storage and food preparation area for Creber’s and historically, the town’s slaughterhouse.

The project included removing and relaying the original granite flagstones, each weighing between 250 and 500 kilos - a real labour of love! Where possible, local craftsmen, including joiners and roofers were employed to help with the sympathetic renovation.

Kim and Jerry passionately believe that, for a business, the level of service provided is paramount and want to ensure that their customers are happy and will want to return again and again.

Above all, they say that their desire is ‘to be able to continue doing what we enjoy for a long time to come’.

Kaye Rogers

AMBER & MALLOW

Lifestyle

An inspirational new lifestyle store in the heart of Tavistock • Well Considered Gifts • Interior Accessories • Interior Styling & Design • Extensive Fabric Library

The Barn, 5 Market Rd Tavistock 01822 617853 Open 10.00 to 17.00 Tuesday to Saturday

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TECH HELP

Tech tips from ChezvousPC Upgrading to fibre can be a little confusing. Some companies are able to offer nice cheap fibre in comparison to others, but may not be very clear about precisely what they are offering. For example, we had a customer who paid £47 a month for 130mb broadband (Plymouth with BT), which of course is expensive. What she had never been told was that her line was only capable of getting 30mb so she should never have been on that tariff. There are two types of fibre – full speed and half speed - make sure you get the right one!

If over the next few weeks and months you have a Windows update and lose the sound as a result, then I am afraid this is a well-known issue. The most recent update to Windows (version 1809) has been a disaster. It had to be withdrawn once because of problems such as people losing data. The new update is more stable, but there are still issues. We have always recommended taking the updates in the past as they are usually well-crafted and necessary, but this may not be

the case with 1809. So, take the update, but make sure your system is backed up first. If you don’t have a backup – call us!

If you get an email or even multiple emails from someone who tells you their ‘dark web nickname’ and then shows you your email address and a password, it is fake. This is a scam to try and extort money from you by way of a ransom. There is nothing to worry about even if in one of the emails they do get a password correct. This could have been obtained in one of the many data breaches we are hearing about. As long as you know you have not been compromised, then there should be nothing else to worry about. If you are uncertain, then please give us a call.

TIM, Tim and Carol – ChezvousPC For help with any home or business IT needs, give us a ring on 01822 855822 or visit chezvouspc.com

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

We are the LOCAL help you have been looking for!

We sell new PCs, laptops, tablets, printers, etc.

We can even set your new equipment up for you.

Got a virus? We can remove it.

We also fix and maintain all Apple Macs and iPads.

Also networking, cabling, broadband issues, email, etc.

Range of experience with people of all ages/abilities for teaching.

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See our community website www.dartmoorlinks.co.uk

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READER SURVEY

WIN! FOR TWO DINNER

at the

The Bedford Hotel

In the heart of Tavistock

2018 Reader Survey We’d love to hear your feedback on Tavy Links!

Your thoughts and opinions are really important to us so there follows a short questionnaire about Tavy Links magazines. Your answers will help us to make decisions on how we edit and collate future editions.

5. Would you use the magazine to find local businesses?

Yes o No o 6. Do you find the advertisements useful?

Yes o No o 7. How long do you spend reading the magazine?

5 Minutes o 10 Minutes o 15 Minutes o 30 Minutes o 45 Minutes o 60 Minutes o Longer o 8. How long do you keep the magazine for?

1 Day o 1 Week o 2 Weeks o 1 Month o Many months o 9. What other content would you like to see in the magazine?

We hope you’re able to find time to give us your feedback and to thank you, we will enter your name into our Reader Survey Prize Draw to win dinner for two with a bottle of wine at The Bedford Hotel.

1. Do you receive your copy of Tavy Links magazine?

Always o Usually o Rarely o Never o

continue on a separate sheet if required

10. Please describe what the magazine means to you?

2. How would you rate the quality of the magazine?

Excellent o Good o Average o Could do better o 3. Is the magazine helpful to you?

Yes o No o 4. Please rate these editorial sections in order of importance?

(There are 18 sections, please number from 1 -18, with 1 being the most important) continue on a separate sheet if required

Community News Local People What’s On Charity Focus Health & Wellbeing Education Gardening Features Farming Diary Naturalist Music & Art Walks Food & Wine History What’s On Extra Trade Secrets Tech Tips Book Review

Your details: Name: Postcode: Email: Telephone: Please cut out and post your completed survey to: Tavy Links Magazine, The Sanctuary, Kilworthy Hill, Tavistock, Devon, England, PL19 0EP Closing date for entries is Monday 24th December 2018.

The prize will be drawn on the 28th December and the winner notified by email and in the next issue of the magazine.

Thank you for your help!

PRIVACY STATEMENT: Your personal data will be deleted after the prize draw is made.

No personal data will be shared or used for any other purpose.

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NKSLINKS OKE MOORLINKS TAVY LI Issue 9

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TRADE SECRETS

Trade Secrets Name: Christabelle TRADE: CHRISTMAS FAIRY

Where do you work?

At the very top.

What training or qualifications are involved?

There is very little training – I did have to show that I could balance at jaunty angles, and of course you have to be very good at staying absolutely stock still for a very long time. Some people put the tree up in November!

What is involved in being a Christmas fairy?

You have to have a complete tolerance of tinsel and baubles and if you are even slightly allergic to pine this is not the job for you. Oh, and you must be able to sleep in a multi-coloured, flashy light environment.

How long have you been a Christmas fairy?

For nearly two hundred years! Ever since Prince Albert introduced the idea of having decorated trees indoors at Christmas time.

How does your day usually unfold?

My day usually starts at midnight when I get down from the top of the tree and check the tree over for any stray bits of tinsel or a bauble that may have fallen.

Some people take a great deal of care

RHS CHELSEA GOLD MEDALIST 2014

Why did you become a Christmas fairy?

After a long haul as the tooth fairy I fancied a change and my friend, Sugar-Plum suggested this. I was up against Tinkerbell who has had a lot of experience, but I was delighted to be chosen and have really enjoyed my time at the top.

70

Who else works with you?

Well sometimes there are other entertaining characters dangling from the tree, but mostly its pretty lonely at the top.

over the design of their tree and I like to maintain that standard. Occasionally you get trees that look like they’ve been decorated by five-year olds- they are very difficult to manage. I’m not a fan of those.

What would you say to someone thinking about this as a career?

If you don’t mind having a prickly tree up your skirt whilst holding a smile all day long this could be the job for you. You do get to wear some very nice frocks although they can get a bit dusty.

What is the best thing about your job?

Christmas day of course – I get to share in all the fun and have the very best view from the very top of the tree.

Nichola Williams

Workshops available

One to one’s or groups Experience playing with flowers with your friends and learning techniques you can use at home.

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www.amandarandell.co.uk To promote your business to 20,700* readers - call 01822 615627

editorial@tavylinks.co.uk

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TAVISTOCK

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