WOODBURY NEWS
FEBRUARY 2024
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3 EDITORIAL £696.39! What a welcome total sum to have raised as a result of the hugely successful Woodbury Living Advent Calendar 2023 event, staged in Woodbury in the run-up to last Christmas! Three local charities (page 6) have benefited from the generosity not only of participants strolling through the village on cold, dark (and probably wet) evenings following their trail maps, but also of the many different sponsors, merchandise sellers and buyers, and of course all the families and individuals involved in ‘revealing’ their windows. The grand finale was the lighting up of the 32 small window panes in the Church Rooms and the fellowship and merriment shown on that occasion. Well done, Jules and Roo! Maybe YOU will rise to their challenge in 2024 (see pages 6 and 7). Our villages are full of people with many different talents. Among these are the artistic talents shown by so many in designing their Advent windows. Ladies from Woodbury WI, who have perhaps been ‘hiding their light under a bushel’, amazed with an astonishing display of handicrafts (page 14); pruners armed with secateurs plan to descend on the fruit trees in the Community Orchard on 17 February; school children have designed and constructed papyrus and scarabs, written and illustrated stories. Other individuals have represented their clubs at sport, sung in concerts and at services, written and entered quizzes and willingly taken on the roles of officers and committee members of the many clubs and societies that flourish in our villages. There is no excuse to be bored if you live here! Looking at past issues of Woodbury News, it is interesting to read about individuals and their achievements and successes. These could be passing an exam, gaining a particular certificate, being born or married, travelling to an exciting place. Please don’t be shy – do send in your own personal news. And if you are too reticent to do this, perhaps your mother or father, son or daughter or friend will do so on your behalf. Well done to Avriel for submitting a quiz (page 27) and how nice to have an article from Kate Ponting of Clinton Devon Estates after an enforced absence from our pages. We feel sure that 2024 will be a year full of activity here in East Devon. We look forward to hearing what YOU have achieved. Woodbury News is a Private Company Limited by Guarantee No. 5263356 Secretary: Karen Squires, Willowfield, Oakhayes Road, Woodbury EX5 1JT. 233299 Registered Office: Willowfield, Oakhayes Road, Woodbury EX5 1JT. Tel: 233299 Chairman: Jeremy Boyden, Rosemary, Broadway, Woodbury EX5 1NR. Tel: 233072 Editor: Sue Bury, Mayflower Cottage, 37 Greenway, Woodbury EX5 1LU. Tel: 233753 Deputy Editor: Val Arndt, Castlehaye, Castle Lane, Woodbury. Tel: 233175 Subscriptions: Jeremy Boyden, Rosemary, Broadway, Woodbury EX5 1NR. Tel: 233072 Deliveries: Chris Bowers, chrisbowers88@yahoo.co.uk or 01395 239338
4 ST SWITHUN’S CHURCH, WOODBURY Administrator: Jill Dupain dupain@hotmail.co.uk CHURCH SERVICES FOR FEBRUARY AND MARCH 4 February. 2nd Sunday before Lent. Holy Communion at St Swithun’s, 11.15. Evening Worship at Exton, 18.00. 11 February. Sunday before Lent. Holy Communion at Exton, 09.30. Holy Communion at St Swithun’s, 11.15. Joint Choral Evensong at Budleigh Salterton, 18.00. 14 February. Ash Wednesday. At Exton - Exploring Spirituality, and imposition of the ashes, 10.30 – 15.00, with Holy Communion at 14.15. 18 March. Lent 1. Morning Worship at Exton, 09.30. Sung Compline for Lent, 18.30. 25 March. Lent 2. Family Service at St Swithun’s, 10.30. Further information will be available on the church noticeboard and in the monthly Digest. To receive this by email please send your email address to st.swithuns.digest@gmail.com. ST SWITHUN’S CHURCH ALTAR FLOWERS - FEBRUARY 4 & 11 - Mrs P Michael. 18 & 25 - Lent (no flowers). Many thanks to everyone who helped to decorate church for Christmas. Barbara Hill FLOODLIGHTING ST SWITHUN’S CHURCH For your special event, contact Mike Jeans on 01395 232544. Floodlight dedications are displayed on the church noticeboard at the lych gate. FoSS (FRIENDS OF ST SWITHUN’S) On Saturday 3 February we will hold the AGM at 19.00, followed by the Supper Concert at 19.30. Bel Canto will offer new and familiar music and there will be another opportunity to hear Woodbury Handbells. Following the concert there will be a hot casserole and mulled wine, all this for £10. Please contact Pat Browne (ruthandpatb@aol.com 232805) if you wish to come — we are limited to 60 for supper. We have organised another visit from Devon County Junior Choir under the direction of Andrew Downton. They will be joined by our own Bel Canto on Saturday 27 April at 19.00. Pat Browne WOODBURY CHURCH ROOMS The trustees of the Church Rooms would like to ask everyone who catches a bus outside the Church Rooms not to lean on the building. It is very old and fragile and is becoming damaged. Thank you for your help in looking after our village heritage. Anna Crafer
5 WOODBURY GARDEN CLUB For our January meeting we were delighted to welcome Michael Jordan once more – speaking not about Devon folklore, as we had anticipated, but the role of trees in myths and legend. He began with a diversion about the origin of Santa Claus. There are many traditions, from pagan beliefs to Saint Nicholas, but the modern-day Santa was ‘invented’ in the USA. The Christmas tree’s origins could well be based on a sacred tree depicted in ancient Middle Eastern bas-relief carvings. The oak tree and its association with the Druids in our own island history is wellknown, along with mistletoe’s role in their beliefs and ceremonies. We are familiar with seeing yew trees in churchyards. As an evergreen, in the early Christian church a yew tree was seen to represent death and resurrection, but from Druidic times it has been associated with the soul and the afterlife. Yggdrasil, the sacred tree of Norse mythology, was an immense ash tree whose roots and branches reached all the nine realms from the underworld to the home of the gods. The title of Michael’s talk, Nine Nights on a Windy Tree, came from the myth of Odin spending nine nights hanging in the branches of Yggdrasil to gain wisdom. The willow is associated with many pagan beliefs, along with its practical uses in weaving and building structures. Julius Caesar wrote that the Celts in Gaul used it to build a large figure, filled it with living human beings and animals, and set it alight. This was the Wicker Man, familiar to many from the film of the same name. However, Caesar had a strong motivation to depict the Gauls as fierce barbarians to enhance his own reputation in conquering them, and there is little evidence of much human sacrifice by the Celts, let alone something so dreadful! Our meeting on 13 February will be the AGM, with a bring-and-share supper. Our 12 March meeting will include a talk on Fuchsias. Debby Mullier WOODBURY NEWS is available online and via Facebook and X (formerly Twitter). SAUSAGE AND MASH SATURDAY 27 JANUARY, 19.00 for 19.30 WOODBURY VILLAGE HALL Rhys McGauley (Cheryl McGauley’s son) is running 12 marathons, one of them being the London Marathon in aid of The Brain Tumour charity. Bar available, vegetarians, coeliac catered for. Tickets @ £10 are available from Cheryl McGauley 07786 706546 / 01395 232057 cheryl@woodburybreakers.co.uk Chris Lear 07941 045918 / 01395 232772 / chrisalear06@gmail.com
6 WOODBURY LIVING ADVENT CALENDAR Our gratitude extends to everyone who responded to our call for volunteers (through the Woodbury and Woodbury Salterton Community Facebook page, Woodbury News, posters and Instagram) to be involved in what has seemingly become a village tradition. Your imagination, willingness to spread the word and offers to sell merchandise made WLAC 2023 a huge success. Thank you! There’s no denying that it takes a bit of organising behind the scenes to roll out such an event, but we think it’s worth it. As custodians, we deliberately chose to offer one window reveal a night to mirror a real advent calendar, and it gave a focal point for people to meet for an ‘ooh, aah’ moment when the lights were switched on. We know from previous years that the trail is followed in many different forms: either attending each reveal, following it on social media, seeing a few together on an evening stroll, or saving them all to see once Christmas guests have arrived and every window is ‘opened’. It is a trail created by volunteers for the community to enjoy, often with tasty festive treats along the way. A new initiative was the Community Advent window opened on Christmas Eve at the Church Rooms. With its perfect windows, it provided an opportunity for more people to be involved and we were delighted with the response. Many people chose to join us at 17.30 to light up and enjoy the 32 unique window panes, a truly triumphant end to WLAC 2023. Finally though, a wonderful by-product of WLAC is the money raised for local charities. Again, as custodians, we were at liberty to choose local charities with personal importance attached. The generosity of FORCE who printed our trail maps without cost, the anonymous person who covered the cost of our merchandise, Dartmoor Tree Surgeons donating mistletoe to sell, the School, After School Club and PC office offering to sell maps, Rook Pie and Willow Hair & Wellbeing doing a sterling job selling merchandise and you, our community giving generously, meant that we raised a grand total of £696.39. We were able to present an equal share of £232.13 to the following charities: Woodbury Church Rooms, Salt Path Challenge; You, Me & MND and FORCE.
7 From its inception in 2018, it was always intended to hand over the reins to new custodians each year to keep the event fresh. We have had great fun as friends working together in this role and look forward to hearing from anyone who would like to oversee WLAC 2024. Jules and Roo WOODBURY COMMUNITY ORCHARD Thank you to everyone who joined us wishing each other and the trees good health in the annual Wassail - we had a beautiful starlit evening, with singing from the Community Choir, poetry from Kate Turner and a lot of noise and good cheer!
We are starting the year with a pruning event on Saturday 17 February please come along from 10.00-12.00. There will be support from an expert and some tools provided, but if you do have secateurs or a pruning saw, please bring them. With over 60 trees to prune we have a lot to keep on top of. Expect to be cold, so wrap up well and bring gloves. There will be some more woodchip to help mulch the trees and keep the weeds at bay. In 2024 we will be having monthly work parties to keep on top of the orchard jobs - look on Facebook or Instagram for the dates, or in Woodbury News. It would be good to have more members join us throughout the year. Annual subscriptions (£5 a person or £10 for a family) help us to hold events and buy equipment. If you are interested in continuing or renewing your membership, email WCOTreasurer@outlook.com or contact us via Facebook. Alex Thiemann
8 WOODBURY C OF E PRIMARY SCHOOL Chestnut Class had a brilliant time exploring Exeter city centre to answer their key question: Is Exeter Fit For Purpose? The children observed and explored many of the facilities in Exeter such as bike racks, defibrillators, signs, bus shelters, bike lanes, the new bus station and the train station. The children were even brave enough to politely approach members of the public to complete a survey they had written to gain their thoughts about Exeter. In the afternoon, they thoroughly enjoyed learning about their next topic - Medieval Exeter. They were lucky enough to be taken on a Red Coat Tour of the city and the children's favourite part was definitely walking through Parliament Street, the narrowest street in the country. Chestnut Class were a credit to the school, demonstrating our school values through their good manners, respect, and support of a visually impaired member of the public.
WOODBURY HISTORY SOCIETY 7 MARCH, 19.30 WOODBURY VILLAGE HALL Tombs, Headstones and Graveyards A talk by Charlotte Coles on how to read a cemetery, what headstones tell us, the best burial spots and cemetery folklore. All very welcome, members free, visitors £4 at the door.
9 This term, the writing focus for Ash Class is to create a ghost story, using Neil Gaiman’s The Graveyard Book as a stimulus to enter a competition called The Spook Squad by Young Writers. A traditional teaching approach usually explores images and plays video clips of graveyards from various places in order to build the atmosphere. However, as another strand of learning that we are also exploring is Outdoor Learning, we agreed one of the best places to learn about a graveyard, was to visit one – and why not a local one? The class met the church warden of St Swithun’s on a chilly and rainy Wednesday afternoon. She was kind enough to allow the children to roam respectfully, inspecting the range of war and family graves, reading the inscriptions (or attempting to decipher the information), identifying the ‘Known Unto God’ and finally ending at Keble Martin’s resting place. As they entered St Swithun’s, greeted by the warm and cosy environment provided by Ms Hudson, they learnt about the history of Keble Martin and his love for fauna, flora and botany in particular. The children were also able to look at a first edition of Keble Martin’s The Concise British Flora. They returned to school, ready to embark on a descriptive and atmospheric feast of imagery to bring the graveyard to life. cont’d/...
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10 WOODBURY C OF E PRIMARY SCHOOL cont’d/... Cherry Class thoroughly enjoyed their trip to Torquay Museum to learn about the Ancient Egyptians. We are so lucky that the British Museum has embarked on a touring exhibition with Ancient Egyptian artefacts. The children learnt the fascinating story of how hieroglyphs were decoded and were introduced to great pioneers like Jean-Francois Champollion, who undertook revolutionary work on deciphering the ancient Egyptian language. The children were given the opportunity to unearth the central role hieroglyphs played in the life and afterlife of the ancient Egyptians - they even learnt how to write their own names. Did you know that this early ancient civilisation played its part in looking after the environment by reusing and recycling in the process of making papyrus? Cherry Class constructed and designed their own papyrus on the day, which involved lots of patience and concentration.
11 More opportunities for creativity were offered as the children designed and created their own clay scarabs, which have behaved themselves impeccably well in Cherry classroom as they dried out over the weekend let’s hope they will be as well-behaved at home! The afternoon role-play embalming session gripped the children’s attention as they embraced their inner Ancient Egyptian, reenacting the embalming ceremony: they extracted major organs from the body and learnt all about the key roles of the priests and the Anubis, who oversaw mummification, weighed souls, guided the dead into the afterlife, defended against chaos and punished those who violated tombs. We think we chose the Cherry Anubis very well, as they did a splendid job of roleplaying this duty. Gillian Pyle (Head of School) WOODBURY EVENTS TEAM are busy again! Five course ITALIAN MEAL SATURDAY 9 MARCH, 19.00 WOODBURY VILLAGE HALL Veg/coeliac catered for. Tickets £15. Bar - we will have a card reader. Apart from providing a good social evening we hope to raise funds for Woodbury Handbells. Tickets will be limited. Contact Chris Lear. Chrisalear06@gmail.com. 01395 232772. 07941045918.
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12 WOODBURY TENNIS CLUB Despite the weather and on-going building works, many of us have continued to play and we have won some matches. I am delighted to report that the new pavilion is in place and certainly looks the part. There is still a lot of clearing around the outside though. Some of the electrics have been installed, but kitchen units are still to be fitted. We are all greatly indebted to Russell Gibbs and his team for getting the concrete base in place, and to Alan Wills, assisted by David Rawlings, for fitting out the interior so that we can have a comfortable club space. We are still hoping that someone in our community has spare sink and kitchen units, which can be donated to the club. The club is very grateful to many members who paid their membership early and to those who have given gift-aided donations. There is now sufficient funding to complete the building project.
Winter players at the pavilion We hope to have lighting back on court at the end of January. The AGM of the club will take place on Wednesday 7 February in the Church Rooms at 19.30. Any enquiries on tennis, please contact Pat Browne (ruthandpatb@aol.com). Pat Browne
WOODBURY NEWS CLOSING DATES 19 FEBRUARY. 18 MARCH. 15 APRIL. 20 MAY. 17 JUNE. 15 JULY. ALL MATERIAL FOR THE MAGAZINE SHOULD BE SENT TO KAREN SQUIRES, WILLOWFIELD, OAKHAYES ROAD by 19.00 on the closing date, with a name and telephone number, or email to karensquires100@gmail.com
13 WOODBURY WOMEN’S INSTITUTE Our WI Chrismas meal at the Maltsters on 14 December was well attended, with lots of Christmas cheer.
On the following day, four intrepid adventurers, Livvy Robbins, Ann Shell, Avriel Blaber and Jenny Champion, went on a mini break to Street, Longleat and Wells. Our hotel was in Street, and many happy hours were spent in Clark’s village. The next day was spent at Longleat going through the safari park, where the monkeys were being very playful, then on to Longleat House, the interior of which was magnificent and steeped in history. Our busy day ended with awesome light displays around the grounds. Our last day was a visit to Wells, where we could browse or visit the cathedral and, best of all, no rain! A great time was had and thoughts are turning towards the next trip in the spring. Avriel Blaber cont’d/...
14 WOODBURY WOMEN’S INSTITUTE cont’d/... Our first meeting in 2024 was entitled I Made It Myself when a large number of members attended, bringing with them examples of their own handicrafts — what an array of talent we have as a group! The result was an amazingly diverse collection of items and skills involved including the following: a lot of beautifully embroidered tablecloths, many intricate designs of patchwork quilts for beds and cots, with lovely colour combinations, baby shoes, a christening gown, an example of a three-dimensional intricately made paper card, corn dollies (made from plaited straw), a metal screwdriver, a wooden step (both so useful when you need them) and three ball dresses made for a member’s daughters when they were students (silk or velvet, strapless and boned).
Some of the WI handicrafts
Items displayed also included books compiled during Covid, one a collection of members’ favourite poems, and the other research into family ancestry. There were also beautifully knitted and crocheted Christmas decorations, along with a stuffed doll with floppy legs (so cuddly) and small knitted animals (raising funds for a local church), a picture on glass, and tapestry work as done in Norway. The work that particularly caught my eye was a flamenco dancer in fine scarlet silk.
15 And last but by no means least, Anna Eyres, a great crocheter, brought several woollen blankets she had created, out of the total of 181 she had made, having begged, borrowed or unpicked yarn over the years. Many of these have made their way to Ukraine, where they have been warmly received. Several members made cakes as their contribution, which were delicious to have with our tea. Tricia Willey HOPE 4 KIBERA Breaking the Cycle of Poverty through Education <hope4kibera.org.uk> Charity Number 1189029 School development A great deal has happened during the Christmas and New Year break at the school we support in the Kibera slum, Kenya. Thanks to grants from our supporting trust and very generous donations locally, two new buildings have essentially been completed, despite difficult winter rains. This is the biggest transformation since we first saw the school in 2019, doubling the number of classrooms and providing a proper washroom block with facilities for the planned increase in student numbers. Again, thanks to our supporters, we have just sent out £9,923 to cover the budget for the first term of the new school year, annual school registration and uniforms for the new Form 1 students. These students are now being recruited and a number will be fee-paying. Although subsidised, these fees will help the school transition to an increasing level of self-sustainability. Much has been achieved but we are still in business, initially completing the fitting out of the washrooms. So, please come to our next event and help us “Build a Bog for Kibera”. The legendary H4K BARN DANCE is on Saturday 23 March in Woodbury village hall at 19.30 with dancing to the brilliant band Spinach for Norman. Tickets are £12.50, including a ploughman’s supper. There’ll be a cash bar and a raffle. For tickets, go to <Hope4Kibera.org.uk> Get a gang together and come and enjoy. Yee Ha! Join the journey and register for regular news or support @ www.hope4kibera.org.uk. Please consider becoming a regular donor, which helps us greatly. Charlie Collins, Chair H4K FRIENDS OF WOODBURY SURGERY Our AGM will be held on Monday 12 February at 14.30 in the Church Rooms, Woodbury. All are most welcome to attend and find out what's been happening over the past year. If you feel that you would like to become more involved with FOWS, either as a driver, a committee member, or a volunteer, please get in touch with us on 07546 347311. Val Arndt, FOWS coordinator
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WOODBURY SALTERTON NEWS HOLY TRINITY CHURCH Looking back at Christmas Once again, we are grateful to Devon Clinton Estates for their kind gift of the tree we had in church and to the Parish Council which gave money to purchase the lights outside on the fir tree. The Carol Service was very well attended and was led by Debbie Jung. Thanks to all those who read – Shirley Moore, John Hitchcock, Mark Lovett, Simon Andrews, Jo Parsons and Paul Mattin — and to Nigel and Jill Dupain who made the mulled wine which was enjoyed after the service, and those who gave mince pies. Debbie thanked the choir and organist, Katharine Wheeler, those who decorated the church and members of the PCC for their work and support during the past year, and in turn Fiona Vessey expressed appreciation for all that Debbie does as our hard-working churchwarden and fundraiser. The Carol Singing around the village, led by Debbie, raised money for The Children’s Society, and this, added to the collection at the School Christingle Service (which was led by Mark Lovett) amounted to £144. Fundraising A big thankyou to Estelle Hitchcock who very kindly sold some of Katharine’s knitted items in her Nail and Beauty Salon in the village. Estelle raised £135 for which the church is very grateful. Church Quiz The result will be published next month. The furthest away entry this year came from Phil Dent’s niece in Stavanger, Norway. As over thirty entries have been submitted, it is likely that there may be a draw for the prize at the next Family Service. Church Microphones For some time the microphones in church have proved unsatisfactory despite the kind efforts of several people to make them work. The PCC have therefore decided to look at a new system and Mark Lovett will consult a couple of local firms for advice. This will be an extra and unexpected expense on top of all that we have to pay as a church, so if anyone would like to make a donation so that they and others can hear better, it would be much appreciated. Donations please to Nigel Dupain (Treasurer). Katharine Wheeler OUR POPULAR QUIZ NIGHT AT WOODBURY VILLAGE HALL EX5 1LX FRIDAY 15 MARCH, 18.30 FOR 19.00 Entry still only £10 per person to include pasty (vegetarian option available) and salad, and dessert. Cash bar and raffle. Proceeds to FORCE. For further information and a booking sheet, please email suebury@aol.com
17 CHRISTMAS WREATHS A group of Woodbury Salterton residents got together in the village hall to make splendid wreaths with the help and encouragement of Sam Greetham. Our sincere thanks to Sam for supplying the metal frames all mossed-up, and for the vast array of green foliage, not to mention her expertise in constructing them.
The afternoon was helped by Prosecco, mulled wine, mince pies and the coffee and walnut cake baked by Louise. The surplus greenery did not go to waste as it was used to decorate the church in readiness for the carol service. Thanks to everyone who supplied the raffle prizes, the proceeds being divided between our monthly craft afternoons and the village hall. It was agreed that the village hall should be booked for something similar next year. Gill Bricknell NOTE TO CONTRIBUTORS FROM THE EDITORIAL TEAM We are most grateful to all contributors for sending in copy and photographs for inclusion in Woodbury News. Without your efforts, our monthly publication simply would not exist. However, please may we remind you to help us by sending in your contributions by the closing date, and even more importantly, before the deadline of 19.00 on that day. If you are not yet on the list of people who have already provided me with their email address so that I can send you a reminder each month, please do so now. This arrives in your inbox one week before the deadline. Emails go out bcc, so no-one knows who else is on the list. Sue Bury (Editor), suebury@aol.com
18 WOODBURY SALTERTON C OF E PRIMARY SCHOOL Class One’s main History topic this term is Magnificent Monarchs. This project will teach the children about the English and British monarchy from AD 871 to the present day. Using timelines, information about royal palaces, portraits and other historical sources, they will build up an understanding of the monarchs and then research six of the most significant sovereigns. The Reception and Nursery children will also access this topic through activities and challenges set up through continuous provision, which will be linked to Kings, Queens, Castles and Knights. This term, the English topic is Penguins, when the children will be learning all about them and will produce a non-fiction report. Class Two will continue to work on addition and subtraction in maths. The Year 3 children will have texts in guided reading linked to their afternoon topic The Tudors. The Year 2 children will continue to develop their phonics knowledge and link this to their spelling, reading and writing. The children in Class Three enjoyed sharing with their families at the storytelling event the stories they had written and beautifully illustrated. The children used the drawing techniques that they had learnt in their Art lessons to carefully illustrate the wonderful stories and poems that they had written, before painting them and sending them to the publisher. WOODBURY HISTORY SOCIETY AGM THURSDAY 1 FEBRUARY AT 19.30 WOODBURY VILLAGE HALL To be followed by a short presentation on the churchyard records by Chris Sheppard and Jim Champion. Social and refreshments. JOIN THE COFFEE CLUB Whether you're a coffee lover or prefer alternatives, we've got you covered! In partnership with Devon Carers Time for You, we're creating a welcoming space for you to pop in, chat, and connect with others. Mondays, 10.30 - 12:30 at Seachange for £10 (includes refreshments). It's more than a coffee break – it's a chance to unwind, share stories, and build connections. We look forward to seeing you there.
Editor’s Note : In order to maximise submitted copy and photographs into Woodbury News, it may be necessary to reduce the size of some items. The Editorial team will attempt to do this as carefully as possible.
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EXTON NEWS ST ANDREW’S CHURCH FEBRUARY SERVICES Sunday 4th Evening Prayer, 18.00, Revd Roz. Sunday 11th Holy Communion, 09.30, Revd Margaret. Ash Wednesday 14th. A Contemplative Day. 10.00 - 15.00, including Eucharist at 14.15. Coffee and biscuit on arrival, bread and soup for lunch. Janet Atkins CHRISTMAS 2023 IN EXTON Rudolph comes to Exton Whilst Exton residents recovered from the excitement of the pantomime earlier in December, and busied themselves with Christmas shopping and wrapping presents, Rudolph the red-nosed reindeer (stopping temporarily with the Murrin household) was being brushed and polished and reminded of good behaviour, ready for the arrival of eager young visitors. He did not disappoint, and there were chocolates for those who came to see him before he departed for the busiest night of his year. Let’s hope he’ll be happy to stop off at Exton for many years to come. Carols at St Andrew’s Church Rather nearer to Christmas than in previous years, Exton’s carol service took place in St Andrew’s church on 20 December. Led by Trevor Perkins, and with enthusiastic singing and playing from the choir and organist of St Swithun’s church, the service followed the familiar path of carols for all, with readings relating the birth of Jesus and the visit of the shepherds and the Magi. The service started in semi-darkness with the singing of Once in Royal David’s City, the first verse as a solo. The slightly ‘off-piste’ first reading was John Betjeman’s Christmas, a delightful reflection on the essential simplicity of the Christmas message in the midst of the pre-Christmas rush to put up decorations and buy presents: Bath salts and inexpensive scent, And hideous tie so kindly meant clearly resonated with some of the congregation!
20 The St Swithun’s choir, in their festive red robes, sang Harold Darke’s beautiful setting of In The Bleak Midwinter. Their contribution to Exton’s carol service is very special, particularly at such a busy time for them all, both in and out of church. A retiring collection was made for The Children’s Society and a lovely service was rounded off with mince pies and mulled wine in the village hall. And as the poet Robert Herrick wrote in 1647, “What sweeter music can we bring than a carol, for to sing the birth of this our Heavenly King.” Christmas Morning at St Andrew’s It was so good to welcome back Revd Nigel to take the Christmas morning service of Holy Communion with Hymns. It began with the Blessing of the Crib, a charming little ceremony involving putting Baby Jesus into the manger in the crib scene at the back of the church. The church looked quite lovely with its Christmas tree, beautiful window decorations of greenery and poinsettias and the Advent wreath candles fully lit. Pre-Christmas Fair With perfect timing, this coincided with the opening of the first door on our Advent calendars. Alex Johnstone, the well-known Exeter musician, provided the musical backdrop for the evening, the highlight of which was a visit from Father Christmas (well done and thank you, Phil Jordan!), bringing all sorts of treats for the children and mulled wine for the adults. An excellent fun evening for all the family! Exton Village Christmas Party It was so good to see new residents among the more familiar faces at this event on 15 December. The food was excellent, and once again Alex Johnstone entertained with his versatile singing and keyboard skills.
21 Puffing Billy Christmas Quiz Held on 28 December, this provided a perfect opportunity for folk to get together to compare notes on how their Christmas had been, and to test their knowledge on a wide variety of topics. Special thanks must go to Theo, for all his hard work over Christmas, making sure all these events ran smoothly. And last, but not least, thank you Puffing Billy Exton’s local has hosted several events over the Christmas period, and we are fortunate to have our own pub and social centre, in addition to the village hall and St Andrew’s church. Liz Williams EXTON GARDEN CLUB Annual Exton Garden Club Lunch Fifteen of us attended our annual lunch this year on a beautifully sunny day in Exmouth. We took over ‘Saveur’ on Tower Street and were treated to some delightful cuisine and a lovely atmosphere to get the New Year underway. EXTON GARDEN CLUB Flowers of Argentina & Chile - Richard Horswood FRIDAY 2 FEBRUARY, 14.00, EXTON VILLAGE HALL All welcome, non-members £3, refreshments after the talk. * * * Launch of 2024 programme and AGM FRIDAY 1 MARCH, 14.00 - EXTON VILLAGE HALL Any queries skellagher5@gmail.com Woodbury News attempts to represent a variety of views within the community, but does not accept responsibility for anything but editorial comment. While it may publish unacknowledged material, nothing is included unless the editor knows the name and address of the author(s).
WOODBURY NEWS ADVERTISING RATES SMALL ADS: (3 lines) private £2.00. (3 lines) Business £5.00. (£50.00 p.a.) DISPLAY ADS: £20.00 ¼ page (£200 p.a.) £50.00 ½ page (£500 p.a.) To: Karen Squires 233299 karensquires100@gmail.com The Woodbury News accepts no liability for:i) Any claims made by the advertiser; ii) Any errors or omissions in the advertisement as submitted by the advertiser; iii) Any legal action as a result of the advertisement.
22 EXTON LADIES GROUP This friendly group meets at Exton village hall at 14.15 on the second Thursday of the month. An outside speaker comes to talk about such varied topics as the The Bevin Boys in WW2, the work of ShelterBox and Rotary. Friends and partners are always welcome. Tea and biscuits round off the meeting and there’s the chance to chat with friends. January’s meeting welcomed our Exton local councillor, Sally Cole, to talk about her work in and for the community. A lively question and answer session followed and most people present were surprised to learn just how hard local councillors work on our behalf. Checking street lighting and dogpoo bins, organizing hedge cutting and play park maintenance, explaining (to not always friendly gatherings) proposals for housing developments, listening to people’s concerns, complaints and suggestions – all this and much, much more are part of a councillor’s work. And there happens to be a vacancy for another councillor for Exton, should you feel inspired to offer your services. The next meeting is on Thursday 8 February. It is possible that a cream tea may follow. Any enquiries about the group, or offers to come and speak should be addressed to pauline@sturtridge.com. Liz Williams
WOODBURY PARISH COUNCIL
Woodbury Parish Office Greenside, Greenway, Woodbury, Devon EX5 1LP. Telephone: 01395 233791. Email: clerk@woodburyparishcouncil.gov.uk The Parish Office is open: 09.30 - 12.30, Mon, Tues, Weds and Thurs. Clerk to the Council: Anne-Marie Bates www.woodburyparishcouncil.gov.uk https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100084814840341 X@ParishWoodbury (formerly Twitter) Parish Council Update A New Community Arts Project funded by the Parish Council will provide the community with an opportunity to come together and design and make a mural showing the history of the village and the assets it has to offer residents and visitors alike (dates to follow). This is an exciting project conducted in a warm space environment and open to all ages and experiences to get involved, a chance to meet others in the village, and share /learn new skills resulting in piece of artwork. We are lucky to have local artist Kate Turner to oversee this project. Gas Works We have been notified that gas pipes will be replaced along the A376 between The Saddlers Arms and Courtland’s Cross from 29 January for up to six weeks. A single lane system will be put into place and road closures (Summer Lane / Courtland’s) as well as one-way systems for Wotton Lane / Exe View Road / Harefield Road. HGV drivers will be asked
23 to use Sidmouth Road / Woodbury Common to access Exmouth. This will have an impact on Woodbury roads. Highway Flooding We have been chasing Devon County Council for an update regarding the flooding hotspots across the Parish. Cllr J Trail advised that: he has requested another drain clearance at Clyst St George. Past the petrol station towards Sandy Park, research has been conducted (blue stakes) to test water levels for a new system to be installed. Pink House Corner, pipes underneath the road are broken and dryer weather is needed for them to be replaced. Mill Lane, Exton, the farmer has been granted permission for pipes to be connected to DCC drains; hopefully this will alleviate the issues. Planning Cllr G Jung advised changes to the National Planning Policy Framework (NPPF) that was published late December 2023, and the positive changes to the weight attributed to Neighbourhood Plans. Cllr Jung confirmed that our MP in his December newsletter claims the new NPPF has made local housing targets “advisory,” arguing that “there is no truly objective way to calculate how many homes are needed in an area” and criticising the EDDC administration for pushing ahead with the emerging Local Plan and associated New Town. In the light of commentary like this, Cllr Jung needed to be absolutely and categorically clear, the revised NPPF changes nothing for housing numbers in strategic planning in East Devon. The government figures remain as before! The EDDC Strategic Committee has agreed that EDDC will continue to use the existing calculations; this is because we have been through the first stage of the new local plan. Therefore, we can now demonstrate a 4-year land supply for housing, so the local plan compliance will now be back on and not be considered “out-of-date” as it has been for the last 18 months. However, it was also noted that where applications were not local plan compliant, they may be considered as a benefit to help towards the housing requirement; housing number completions are dropping. The Committee also agreed that Neighbourhood Plans will cover only two years. It will be a requirement for the Neighbourhood Plan to include a document outlining any future sites for development. This will hopefully provide some surety and confidence to our present local plan whilst the new plan takes shape. Cllr B Ingham confirmed, following Michael Gove’s report, that the fiveyear land supply required will be reduced to four years for EDDC. He particularly believes that should result in a significant change of attitude by EDDC and the Climate Emergency that we need to respond to. Cllr R Parr asked why Outline Planning approvals are not included in the number for the land supply and should there not be a mechanism so that they are part of the overall numbers. Cllr B Ingham advised that this was a government issue. cont’d/...
24 WOODBURY PARISH COUNCIL cont’d/… Neighbourhood Plan The Neighbourhood Plan Steering Committee is working hard and looking forward to being able to publish the Draft Neighbourhood Plan for public consultation for you to “Have Your Say” along with other statutory bodies. The consultation will run for at least six weeks and at the end of it comments will be collated, and the Neighbourhood Plan amended accordingly. It will then be submitted again to the Parish Council for their consideration as to whether it is ready to be presented to East Devon District Council, the next stage in the process. The consultation date has not been set as East Devon District Council are currently carrying out a screening and once this has been completed, we can then run the consultation. Finance Precept 2024-2025 The Parish Council has set its budget, earmarked reserves and precept for 2024-2025. It was resolved that these be accepted with our precept request being £139,155, which equates to a Band D increase of 51 pence per week. The increase is mainly due to the maintenance required and asset enhancements needed across the parish. Exton The Parish Council are looking for a volunteer to become an Exton Ward Councillor. Are you interested in taking an active role in the community and to help shape it? If you are 18 or over, a British/eligible citizen, live, work, or occupy land within 3 miles of the Parish for at least 12 months, and can spare a few hours a month, then you meet the criteria. Please contact the Parish Clerk for more information and look at our website to see what we are all about. Closing date is Monday 5 February 2024. Flood Resilience Event On 31 January in Exton village hall 14.00-16.00. Please have your say! Recent flooding issues have been forwarded to the relevant bodies. We are busy working on the refurbishment plans for the play park, an exciting project which will benefit the community and visitors. Additional tree works will be carried out soon due to damage after the high winds; safety checks have been completed. Woodbury February should see the resurfacing of the footway between Mirey Lane and Bonfire Lane, also new Welcome and village hall, car park and toilet signs. New Bus Timetables / Stops There is now a new bus timetable, which is available from the Parish Office, or The Maltsters Coffee Shop. As previously advised, two new stops have been installed in the Broadway, near to Town Lane and Meadow View Close. We are in discussions with Devon County Council regarding an additional stop on Broadway at the end of Fulford Way. We will keep you informed.
25 Yonder Oak Wood – Community Tree Planting Event Saturday 10 February, 10.30 – 12.30 and 13.30 – 15.30. Bookings essential. To book go to www.woodlandtrust.org.uk/events. Parish Office Normally the Parish Office is open to residents Monday to Thursday 09.3012.30, so please, pop in and say hello or raise any ideas or concerns that you may have. Information is available regarding bus timetables, Community Transport events, services etc. Our Full Council meetings are usually held in The Church Rooms, Woodbury, on the second Monday of each month and our committee meetings when held are on the fourth Monday. No meetings during August (recess). All residents are welcome to attend.
ROUND AND ABOUT
DEATH Sadly, Derrick Mead died on Saturday 13 January. He will be greatly missed by family and friends. A full obituary will follow next month. FAREWELL On Sunday 31 December a service was held at St Swithun’s to say goodbye and wish good luck to Revd Bill. He was presented with cards and a cheque from the Mission Community. MOBILE LIBRARY Sadly, the last visit to Woodbury and Woodbury Salterton by the much appreciated mobile library van will be on Friday 2 February, following the council's decision to axe the service. The nearest public libraries for us will then be at Exmouth, Topsham and Sidmouth. Books can be returned after 2 February to any of these libraries. Regular users of the Mobile Library Service should receive a phone call advising them of possible alternative schemes, such as the Home Library Service and the Good Neighbours Scheme. We’d like to thank our librarian and van driver, Mike, for his helpful and friendly service and wish him well for the future. Gill Gorman PUPPY TRAINING AT WOODBURY Our next six-week course commences on Wednesday 7 February at 19.00 and is for puppies aged between 12 weeks and 1 year. Contact Margaret for more information on 07470 368707 or margaret6goldens@gmail.com. Margaret Edwards COFFEE AND CAKE EVERY 3RD TUESDAY, 10.00 - 12.00 CHURCH ROOMS, WOODBURY All the coffee mornings will raise money for local charities. All are welcome. Contact Di Phaby 07933 787055
26 ROUND AND ABOUT cont’d/... MUSIC NIGHT AT THE MALTSTERS The idea of a night of music at the Maltsters took shape some months ago and as 2 December approached, the arrangements started to come together. Sam and Matt had kindly offered the marquee as the venue and had assured me that the heating would be on and the bar would be available! Three groups of singers had agreed to perform and notice of the event had been posted on the Woodbury and Woodbury Salterton Facebook page. I must admit, I wasn’t sure how it would all work out and if anyone would come to listen and join in. So, I was delighted to see the marquee packed with people. The singing started with the wonderful Sarah Owen and the Woodbury Community Choir. I’ve listened to the Community Choir from time to time over the years and they go from strength to strength and never fail to delight. Next up were the Woodbury Whalers, Woodbury’s only, and therefore best, Shanty Group. Skippered by the accomplished Mike Jeans, we were taken on a tour of the globe with sea shanties about voyages to Africa, Hawaii, Australia and even Bristol. The last shanty was specially adapted to reflect the Christmas season, which prepared us for what was to follow. We were very lucky to be able to welcome the Exeter a cappella group Tess and the d’Urbervilles to our evening. Led by the talented Tess Read, the group treated us to a number of toe-tapping pop classics with soaring harmonies, followed by some Christmas carols where everyone was encouraged to join in. The evening was free to all and was not intended as a fundraiser. However, a collection in support of FORCE raised over £320. Thank you to everyone who enabled the evening to go ahead, to the three brilliant groups who sang for us and to everyone who came along to listen and join in. David Whitton WEATHER REPORT FOR DECEMBER December began seamlessly from November in terms of very heavy rain during the first week. This was followed by a relatively dry period up to and including the 25th and 26th, after which rain certainly fell again to provide a monthly total here at Ebford of 142mm (5.6ins), similar to that for December 2020. Averages: 2018 to 2022, 114mm; but significantly between 2013 and 2017 only 76mm. So Decembers seem to be getting wetter and annual amounts also increasing; 2023, 1101mm (43.3ins) rather exceptional! Annual average amount of rain between 2018 and 2022 ran out at 888mm (34.9ins). Are we awaiting another warmer, wetter year in 2024? Norman Cann
27 QUIZ CORNER We realise that you could easily find out the answers by asking Siri or Google, but NO CHEATING! Find out next month how you did. 1: What was the first toothpaste brand? 2: What are the five colours of the Olympic Rings? 3: Where is the smallest bone in the body? 4: Which 1980 band was the Rev Richard Cole a part of? 5: What famous actor was born Maurice Micklewhite? 6: Who or what is a lupine group? 7: What is a hairstyle with tight braids called? 8: What is the app where photos disappear? 9: What are young pigeons called? 10: A dish baked in the oven covered in breadcrumbs is known as…? 11: What is another name for a detective or private investigator? Avriel Blaber CLINTON DEVON ESTATES World Wetlands Day falls on 2 February, celebrating the beauty and biodiversity of wetlands along with the vital role they play in supporting life across the planet. Globally, human wellbeing is tied to the health of the world’s wetlands as they provide much of our freshwater needs. Closer to home, in the Otter Valley, the problem is rarely too little freshwater, but too much! Storm Ciarán tested the restored landscape for the first time in October when seasonal rainfall caused the river to over-top its usual channel and spread across the floodplain. With natural processes returned as part of the Lower Otter Restoration Project, floodwater is now able to disperse quickly over the lowered sections of the embankment and out through the new breach, on the falling tide. The reintroduction of tidal flows is allowing the habitat to adjust and develop, with the machine-cut channels through the low-lying fields transitioning to mudflat and saltmarsh. A range of visiting bird species make use of the increased area to feed. The appearance of each new species or familiar birds in larger numbers delights wildlife watchers, and many visitors are making use of the routes through the reserve, including those who may have found access challenging before. February brings important news for this newest of wetlands. Look out for the notice from Natural England, who will announce that the Otter Estuary has been declared a National Nature Reserve (NNR), becoming an extension of the Pebblebed Heath NNR. cont’d/...
28 CLINTON DEVON ESTATES cont’d/…
The existing Pebblebed Heaths NNR was declared in 2020 and is managed on behalf of Clinton Devon Estates by their conservation charity the Pebblebed Heaths Conservation Trust in partnership with the RSPB and Devon Wildlife Trust. National Nature Reserves are the crown jewels of England’s natural heritage. The ‘King’s Series of National Nature Reserves’ will see five major National Nature Reserves named every year for the next five years - 25 in total. The Otter Estuary is the latest in the ‘King’s Series’ celebrating the Coronation of His Majesty King Charles III and leaving a lasting public legacy for people and nature. The Pebblebed Heath Conservation Trust is excited and proud that the Otter Estuary has been awarded this honour now. It joins the most important sites nationally and we are trusted to manage these sites and uphold the national nature reserve vision to see England’s nature restored, enriched and reconnected to people. Likewise, World Wetlands Day calls each of us to recognise the value of wetlands and to ensure that they are stewarded responsibly so their benefits are retained for today’s needs and those of the future. At the Otter Estuary Reserve this month, we’ll be celebrating both the NNR extension and marking World Wetlands Day on site. We’ll launch a self-led trail, in time for half-term, but suitable for anyone who’d like to know the reserve better and understand the benefits wetlands deliver. If you are on site this month, let us know what you are enjoying and if the wetland supports your wellbeing. Kate Ponting Community Engagement and Countryside Learning, Clinton Devon Estates kate.ponting@clintondevon.com 01395 442881 www.clintondevon.com
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BUSINESS ADVERTISEMENTS BEGINNERS 8-WEEK POTTERY CLASS IN WOODBURY Tuesday and Friday (10.00-13.00), Wednesday (18.30-21.30). Contact: Bernice.fynn@gmail.com/07494 502726. WOODBURY EVENTS TEAM For Hire. Gazebos, Chairs, Crockery, wine glasses, tumblers, champagne glasses, KFS Cake stands, Brick wall which helps to raise money, £1 a brick Bunting. Contact Chris Lear 07941 045918 chrislear06@gmail.com (3/6) CARPENTER Chris Isaac Property Maintenance, Kitchens, Doors, Flooring, Fencing, Fascias/Guttering, Tiling, General Repairs. Free Estimates. Reliable tradesman. 07855170674/01395 233933 chrisisaaccarpenter@gmail.com. (10/12) BED AND BREAKFAST Peaceful location situated in Exton. Website riverdownbedandbreakfast.co.uk. Please contact Tim on 07779 715222 or email timdashwood@yahoo.co.uk (11/12) ACCOUNTS AND TAX SERVICE Sole Trades, Partnerships, Limited Companies and Personal Tax. Full range of advice. Fixed fee plans and free initial consultation/quotation. Wheelers Accountants. Tel: 233184. (12/24) BEE SWARMS COLLECTED FREE OF CHARGE Also cash paid for unwanted bee keeping equipment - hives, tools, smokers, clothing etc. Call Nigel Moore on 07815 514997. Email:nigemoore007@gmail.com. (12/12) RUBBISH REMOVALS Domestic and Commercial. Environment Agency licensed. No job too small. Tel: 07979 841376. www.rubbishremovalsexeter.com. (21/24) ELECTRICIAN James Sliman Local, reliable, fully qualified and experienced. NAPIT registered and insured. From a socket to rewire 01395 276323 07866 313812 www.jslimanelectrician.co.uk. (6/12) HOME HELP Mrs V. A. Perry: Experienced, reliable. Support with transport to social/community events, trips out/medical appointments. Support with shopping, household management. Companion service. DBS Enhanced Certificate, Insurance and references available. For a confidential, no obligation discussion of your individual needs and requirements ring 01395 232865 (4/6) INDOOR CAR BOOT - SOMETHING FOR EVERYONE Every Saturday from 2 March. 10.00 to 15.00. Lympstone Methodist Church/Hall EX8 5HH. (1/4)
30 27 Jan. 31 Jan. 1 Feb. 2 Feb. 3 Feb. 7 Feb. 8 Feb. 8 Feb. 8 Feb. 10 Feb. 12 Feb. 13 Feb. 17 Feb. 1 March 7 March 9 March 12 March 14 March 15 March 23 March 27 April
FORTHCOMING EVENTS
Sausage and Mash fundraising evening. 19.00, WVH. Flood Resilience event. 14.00, EVH. Woodbury History Society AGM. 19.30, WVH. Exton Garden Club. Flowers of Argentina & Chile, 14.00, EVH. FoSS AGM, 19.00 and Supper Concert 19.30. Woodbury Tennis Club AGM, Church Rooms, 19.30. Woodbury WI Birthday Party, 14.00, WVH. Woodbury Golf Society Annual Dinner. The Maltsters. Exton Ladies Group meeting. 14.15, EVH. Tree Planting, Yonder Oak Wood (p.25). Friends of Woodbury Surgery AGM. 14.30, Church Rooms. Woodbury Garden Club AGM and Supper, 19.15, WVH. Community Orchard pruning, 10.00-12.00. Exton Garden Club. 2024 Programme and AGM. 14.00, EVH. Woodbury History Society Tombs & Headstones. 19.30, WVH. Woodbury Handbells. Italian Meal. 19.00 WVH. Woodbury Garden Club Fuchsias, 19.15, WVH. Woodbury WI, RSPB, 14.00, WVH. Rotary Quiz Night. WVH. 18.30 for 19.00. H4K Barn Dance with Spinach For Norman. WVH. 19.30. FoSS Concert, 19.00. St Swithun’s Church.
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Woodbury Village Hall Hall and two meeting rooms, Fully equipped kitchen WIFI, sound system and projector Available for: Dances and Parties Meetings and Classes Exhibitions and Craft Fairs Badminton, Plays, Business Lettings For bookings please contact: Robin or Marian Lennox Tel: 01395 232126 email:- woodburyvh@gmail.com www.woodburyvillagehall.org
Woodbury Salterton Village Hall Hall –Tables and Chairs, Well equipped kitchen with cooker and fridge, crockery and cutlery inclusive in the hire. Tables and chairs available for outdoor hire. Modest Rates. For bookings please contact: Pat or Gill Bricknell 01395 232463 Or email woodsaltvillage hall@outlook.com Further to many recent enquiries:
Robert Miller Local Painter & Decorator of many years, is still in business. A lifetime of experience! All painting and decorating jobs considered. Contact Bob on
01395 233773 or 07800 854839 THORNS COTTAGE, WOODBURY
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Royal Academy of Dance and IDTA Ballet grades and majors Start to Dance from from 2½ years Dottie Markham RAD CBTS Frankie Rowsell RAD CBTS Tel: 07885829531 Tel: 07713243369 woodburydancestudio @outlook.com Classes at Woodbury C of E Primary School
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