Woodbury News March 2015 by Woodbury News

WOODBURY NEWS

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MARCH 2015

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WOODBURY NEWS MARCH 2015 EDITORIAL

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Maybe it was tempting fate to publish a photo last month of daffodils appearing out of season! At the time of writing, the temperature has dropped considerably; a good reason for putting out seeds, fat balls and water for garden birds (see RSPB article on page 38). You may be surprised by the variety of your feathered visitors, as illustrated by John Hall's photo on the cover.

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This month Woodbury News pays tribute to Ann Shell, who has done so much for the magazine, largely behind the scenes (see page 31). Welcomed to the Board of Directors are Anna Crafer, who takes over Ann's role, and Val Arndt who becomes Deputy Editor.

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Woodbury News continues to be delivered to your door each month for the total sum of £5; we hope you will agree that this is great value for money. This is largely due to the generous voluntary support provided by so many people in our villages. Again, a very heartfelt thank-you to everyone involved - too many to mention by name, but you know who you are. If readers haven't already paid their annual sub, please make a point of doing so to your deliverer. OUR COVER PHOTO The photo of a great spotted woodpecker on the front cover was taken in his garden by John Hall, a member of Woodbury Camera Club. These birds can often be heard 'drumming' on tree trunks, proclaiming ownership of territory. They eat insects, seeds and nuts.

SEE WOODBURY NEWS ONLINE www.woodburynews.co.uk Woodbury News is a Private Company Limited by Guarantee No. 5263356 Secretary: Karen Squires, Willowfield, Oakhayes Road, Woodbury EX5 1JT. Tel: 233299 Registered Office: Willowfield, Oakhayes Road, Woodbury EX5 1JT. Tel: 233299 Chairman: Peter Payne, ‘Harsley’, Toby Lane, Woodbury Salterton. Tel: 232394 Editor: Mrs Sue Bury, Mayflower Cottage, 37 Greenway. Tel: 233753 Deputy Editor: Mrs Val Arndt, Castlehaye, Castle Lane, Woodbury. Tel: 233175 Subscriptions: Mrs Anna Crafer, 15 Haymans Orchard, Woodbury. Tel: 232007 Circulation: Mrs Beverley Simcox, 2 Beeches Close. Tel: 232858

ST SWITHUN’S CHURCH, WOODBURY Vicar: Reverend Karen Spray. Tel:01395 488178 Email: church@revdkaren.org.uk Associate Minister: Reverend Christopher Cant. Tel: 01395 488178 Email: chriscant@tiscali.co.uk SPECIAL SERVICES - Sunday 29 March, 11.15 Procession with donkey, and Eucharist.

Palm Sunday

USUAL SUNDAY SERVICES - 1st Sunday 11.15 All Age Eucharist. 2nd Sunday 11.15 Eucharist. 3rd Sunday 11.00 Sunday Club, 11.15 Eucharist, 6.30pm Evensong. 4th Sunday 8.00 Said Eucharist, 11.15 Morning Prayer. Morning Prayer every Monday at 9.15. NEWS AND EVENTS Lych gate Stall in Church on 7 and 28 March (no stall on 4 April). Woodbury PCC Monthly Draw January’s winning ticket – Ruth and Pat Browne. Draw made at Coffee Morning third Tuesday each month. See Church Digest for details. Prize every month ranging from £25 to £500. Sunday Club Meets every 1st Sunday for All Age Eucharist at 11.15, and on 3rd Sunday in Church Room 11.00-12.00, then into church to show what has been made/done. CHURCH ALTAR FLOWERS - MARCH 1, 8, 15, 22, 29 - Lent, no flowers. Easter Lilies - Please add your name to the list in church if you wish to purchase a lily for Easter, in memory of a loved one. We will decorate church for Easter on Saturday 4 April. Further Information: Digest available in church or from website www.whitecrossdevon.org.uk. FLOODLIGHTING ST SWITHUN’S CHURCH (dusk until 11.00pm) Dedications: 16 March - Margaret Batten “Remembering Bev Batten, especially today. He brought us joy and we loved him well”. For your special event, contact Mike Jeans 01395 232544, or see the details and book it online at our website - www.whitecrossdevon.org.uk/woodburywith-exton/flood lighting-form.php.

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6 FoSS (FRIENDS OF ST SWITHUN’S) FoSS held its AGM on 24 January. The outgoing committee were re-elected with Chairman Pat Browne having to stand in for Treasurer David Keep, who had had a bad fall resulting in a broken leg and a stay in hospital. However, David had prepared the accounts, showing a healthy balance which will finance future masonry work at the west end of the Church. The meeting was followed by a concert featuring Robin Whyte on bagpipes, Will Thornton on clarinet, the Bel Canto choir, and finally Nigel Alcock with a Scottish fantasia on the organ, music appropriate for the eve of Burns Night. This was attended by over 50 members and friends, who then enjoyed homemade soup, bread, cheese, and brownies, provided by the catering team of Jo Lovejoy, Elspeth Fisher, Ruth Browne and Carolyn Keep. The event raised another £300 for FoSS funds. The following future events are planned, open to everyone from our own community and beyond: Friday 24 April, a full concert with Exeter School choir and ensembles, the Woodbury Whalers and Bel Canto singers, with the possibility of a surprise act. Also a glass of wine and nibbles at the interval. Tickets £7.50 will be on sale at Rowsells at the beginning of April. Saturday 18 July - afternoon tea in Church, details to follow. We also hope to host an autumn concert featuring Exeter Singers in Church in early October, on an evening which does not clash with World Cup rugby. The acoustics in St Swithun’s are excellent and it is therefore an ideal venue for musical events, which the FoSS committee hope will continue to be held for many years. David Keep at Heatherdene, Broadway, Woodbury, welcomes new and renewal of subscriptions (£25 per annum, which may be gift aided). This income provides financial assistance for the maintenance of the fabric of the Church, and is a useful way for non Church-goers to ensure that the Church and grounds remain a public space open to all. WOMEN’S WORLD DAY OF PRAYER FRIDAY 6 MARCH AT 1.30 CHRIST CHURCH This year’s event has been prepared by the Christian women of The Bahamas and is entitled “Jesus said to them: Do you know what I have done to you?” Over 3 million people worldwide will be praying and worshipping together during this annual day of prayer, which in Woodbury is jointly celebrated by St Swithun’s and Christ Church. The service will finish in time for children to be collected from school.

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ADVERTISING RATES SMALL ADS.: (3 lines) Private £2.00. (3 lines) Business £5.00 (£50.00 per annum). DISPLAY ADS. £17 quarter page To: Karen Squires, Willowfield, Oakhayes Road, Woodbury EX5 1JT Tel: 233299 (e-mail 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.

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CHARITY COFFEE MORNINGS In January the charity coffee mornings raised £100 for A la Ronde to plant a mulberry tree. The photograph shows the money being handed over to some of the volunteers from A la Ronde who come to the coffee mornings. A big thank you to everyone who attended or donated to our British Heart Foundation special coffee morning. We had red cakes, red clothes and a red raffle. We raised an amazing £160, and we had 6 bags of gifts to take to the BHF shop as well. We could not have done it without you all but we would like to say a special thank you to the WI book group for their kind donation. A great morning was had by all for a good cause. The photograph shows our individual Victoria sponges, heart shaped scones with strawberry jam and cream, pavlovas, eclairs and fruit cake. BARN DANCE SATURDAY 21 FEBRUARY, 7.30 - 11.00 WOODBURY VILLAGE HALL Funds in aid of Woodbury Village Hall. Music by Phoenix. Light refreshments and bar. Tickets - £10, under 12 - £6, from Chris Lear 01395 232772 chrisalear@aol.com or Judy Bashforth 01395 233706 FLOWERS FOR HOSPISCARE There will be a variety of spring flowering bulbs in pots for sale at our garden gate in the coming weeks, with all the proceeds going to our local Hospiscare. We're easy to find - Long Summers, Town Lane, Woodbury, just a few yards up from the school. The Neathers

WOODBURY COMMUNITY ORCHARD NEWS This seems to be a time to say thank you to many people: first, all those who came for our second Wassail in January, on another perfect starry night. Sarah Owen led the community choir with some traditional and modern songs celebrating the orchard.

BUSINESS ADVERTISEMENTS Cont’d/... SQUIRREL COTTAGE Self catering 16th century property full of character, available for weekly holidays and short breaks. Sleeps 5. Graded 5 Star. www.thecottagecompanydevon.co.uk Tel: Kay 0776 9975557 (1/12) COMPUTER SALES, HARDWARE REPAIRS AND UPGRADES Based in Woodbury for over 18 years - Broadband and wireless connections. Data recovery and backup. Windows upgrades. Parental control. Free virus/ spyware removal & prevention. No fix no fee – All costs agreed in advance – evening visits to suit you. Mark Doyle Tel: 233694 (9/12) WE ARE POSH NOSH! With over two decades of experience in the catering industry we are at the forefront of special occasion and event catering in Devon and the West Country. We are committed to providing first class cuisine with outstanding levels of service. Phone:- 01392 444877 or email: info@posh-nosh.co.uk (11/12) ECZEMA - HOT, ITCHY, SORE. Homeopathy - natural, safe, nonaddictive. Phone Libby Clapham BA, RSHom, Registered Homeopath 01392 412767 / 07986 157854; libbyclaphamnaturalhealth.co.uk (8/12) BED AND BREAKFAST - Awarded a Certificate of Excellence by Trip Advisor. 4 Star Silver 16thC Devon Longhouse on a working dairy farm. Sally Glanvill, Rydon Farm 232341 www.rydonfarmwoodbury.co.uk (10/12) RUBBISH REMOVALS Domestic and Commercial. Environment Agency licensed. No job too small. Tel: 0800 335 7610 / 07979 841376. www.rubbishremovalsexeter.com (12/12) BED & BREAKFAST APARTMENT with Continental breakfast, or Traditional Farmhouse B&B, twin and double rooms. 01392 877710. Jenny Broom, Courtbrook Farm, Clyst St George. www.courtbrook.co.uk (8/12) 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 (15/24) MATHS TUITION: Experienced, female Maths teacher available to teach primary to GSCE level maths, 11+ and SATs preparation. Reasonable rates. Telephone: Jane Moffatt on 01395 279952 (4/12)

Wassailing at the Community Orchard

Next, to the school children who created a fine selection of beautiful images for our logo and poster competition - look out for these around the village or in your email inbox over the coming months. Lilia Craft’s winning logo

Then, to Cyril Rowsell who hand-turned a selection of stunning wooden apples and pears as prizes for the children and donated them free of Cyril’s apples and pears - prizes! charge. We are looking forward to a fruitful year - and are delighted to see that the Community Orchard even figures on page 37 of the Neighbourhood Plan (please add your support) - a true sign that we have arrived!

SEE WOODBURY ONLINE www.woodburydevon.co.uk

Now that so many people own a digital camera and that it is possible to reproduce such excellent photographs in Woodbury News, do email your photos of local people or events to Karen on karensquires100@gmail.com The editorial team still need a wider spread of news, particularly about our younger people. What are you all up to? Why don’t YOU write an article or send in a photo?

SMALL ADVERTISEMENTS

WOODBURY GARDEN CLUB 10 February This month our meeting took the form of an AGM. It was a well attended meeting with approximately 30 members. Before the business part of the meeting began the Chairman, Marian Mead, gave us time to reflect on the death of two of our members, Liz Newman, a more recent member, and Maggie Connell, a long-standing member. She gave thanks to both of them for their contribution to the club and especially Maggie for her friendship, generosity, gardening advice, her open garden for charity and her cooking, especially her cheese straws! Both members will be sadly missed. In her Chairman’s report, Marian thanked the Committee for its support and for an interesting year. Special thanks went to Judy Bashforth as Secretary, Ken Crundwell as Treasurer and for all the extra work he does ensuring that the Plant Sale goes well. Annette Smith was also thanked for organising the Annual Show. Marian also thanked the general members of the club for the support they give in so many different ways. She gave a special 'thank you' to Jean Carpenter for the help she gave members when growing pelargoniums and Jean was given an Honorary Membership of the club. The Treasurer reported a small loss on the year but, as there was a reasonable reserve in the bank, subscriptions would stay at £10. Marian Mead, Valerie Whiteley and Sally Bull are retiring from the Committee and they were thanked by Ken Crundwell and presented with plants. Jill Newton, Sally Yeoman and Sandra Wills were elected to the Committee. Ken Crundwell will remain as Treasurer, Judy Bashforth as Secretary, Annette Smith as Show Secretary but the Chairman will be elected at a future date when the Committee meets for its first meeting. Following the formal part of the meeting Ken Crundwell shared some beautiful photographs of Marwood Hill Gardens with us. Members will be visiting Marwood in June. Jean Carpenter, John Robertson and Marian Mead then read an amusing sketch called God’s Gardener’s Almanac. To finish the evening Jean Carpenter gave us an insight into the Jersey Battle of Flowers with some interesting photographs. This event began in 1902 as a flower parade. Along the route flowers were torn off and thrown to the spectators who then threw them back and the Battle of Flowers began. The Battle remains a star attraction to this day and is watched by thousands of visitors. Many charities benefit from this event. Our next meeting is on 10 March, when John Eustace will present Bees and their uses in the Garden. 7.30pm WVH.

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WOODBURY NEWS for 2015 remains at £5 for the year, with subs payable to the person who delivers your copy.

WOODBURY ROYAL BRITISH LEGION The Branch was represented by Derrick Mead at the Devon County AGM in January, held at the Crownhill Branch Club in Plymouth. It was a very informative and impressive meeting with banners ‘flying’ and buglers sounding the Last Post and Reveille. In January we welcomed Paul Oliver, the County Secretary, to our coffee morning. He gave members an update of the Legion’s work in the county. The new county office in New North Road in Exeter (just down the road from John Lewis) is receiving many visitors. Paul added that he is always pleased to see anyone calling in. The Regional Hub in Plymouth, which looks after the welfare of members and their dependants in Cornwall, Devon and Dorset, is doing great work including the launching of the new high profile campaign Insult to Injury. This is endeavouring to get the UK, Welsh and Scottish Governments to change local authority guidelines regarding social care; currently veterans in receipt of war pensions who require care via the local authority are having the majority of their payment taken away to pay for the care. The Legion believes that this is a violation of the principles of the Armed Forces Covenant, which affects personnel returning from many campaigns, including Iraq and Afghanistan. The Devon Poppy Appeal for 2014/15 has already exceeded £1m which is a record for the county, no doubt helped by the 100th WW1 outbreak anniversary events last August and the 70th anniversary of WW2. Devon County is just about maintaining its membership numbers and it is pleasing to note that the average national age of members has reduced from 72 to 65 in the last few years. Many younger personnel, due to the cutbacks, are seeking help from the Legion. C offee mor n ing s w il l continue during David Keep’s enforced absence and we wish him a speedy and successful recovery from the broken bones in his leg.

February 2015 I am writing this on a bitingly cold day at the beginning of February, while my colleagues are out with some students from Bicton College doing a bit of controlled burning (swaling). Preparations have already been made by mowing firebreaks around the area to be burnt, using a special mower which picks up the debris. If the debris is left lying then the fire can easily cross the fire not-break! Also the tractors will be standing by with the big sprayers to damp down any runaway flames, as well as all those staff, volunteers and students armed with rakes and fire beaters to put out any stray sparks. The little herd of Dartmoor and Exmoor ponies are stolidly surviving the winter and keeping the vegetation under control. We now have GPS tracking on one, so I can find out where they are from the comfort of the office! If the person who is persistently tying one of the gates open is reading this – shame on you! You are endangering the lives of the ponies and setting up potential road accidents – how can I make this any clearer? If anyone finds an open gate, please close it and let us know. If there are no grazing animals on site we will remove the gates. This is the time of year, the real dead of winter, when the birds have eaten most of the food in the wild areas but before the new growth and spring insects start to appear, when you are most likely to get unusual birds in your garden. Check the goldfinches to make sure siskins haven’t joined them, and make sure that chaffinch isn’t a brambling, and if you live near the heath you might be lucky enough to get lesser redpoll and linnets. I am assuming you have a bird book to hand, as if I start describing them all this will be a book as well. Or you can go to the RSPB website www.rspb.org.uk/discoverandenjoy nature/discoverandlearn/birdguide/ and see what they look like and even find out how they sound! The feeders outside our office have had a jay bouncing on top of them to make the seed spill out this morning and a nuthatch is scaring the smaller birds away. At least, I have only seen one nuthatch. There could be a whole flock of nuthatches taking orderly turns at the feeder but, because I have only seen one at any one time, I can only definitely say there is one. This is where birdwatching gets tricky: trying to estimate numbers of birds when you can’t make them stay still. Doing Big Garden Birdwatch back in January made me realise how hard it is accurately to count small things that are whizzing about all the time! My little flock of about 20 house sparrows drove me nuts. But there are some tricks: eg if the males and females are different, like the sparrows, or like blackcaps where the males have the eponymous black cap but the females have a brown one, I know I have two blackcaps, though I don’t see them together. Or, if they have very characteristic behaviour, like the robins: the males are very aggressive, so if I see two happily feeding together, I’m pretty sure that’s a male and a female. But if one is chasing another and only stopping for a threatening sing, those are pretty likely to be two males. So, I have at least three, because I’ve seen both activities. Large numbers can be estimated by counting a small block, then estimating how many blocks are there. However, if I was faced with counting a huge flock of whirling starlings I would probably just enjoy watching it and find a real expert to do the counting! Nicky Hewitt

John Treasaden, Branch Poppy Appeal organiser, Sandra Huish, Chairman and Paul Oliver, Devon County secretary

38 RSPB AYLESBEARE COMMON January 2015 I am writing this with the rain hammering against the window and very glad that I am not out there, with my colleagues (and today is a volunteer workparty!) continuing the usual round of winter work: clearing scrub and coppicing gorse. At least they will have the comfort of a bonfire to huddle round at lunchtime. This is part of the patchwork of clearance work carried out each year to create a mosaic of micro-habitats throughout the reserve to benefit all the various creatures and plants with their differing preferences, from the bare soil to be colonised by annual plants and hunted over by beetles right through to the big gorse bushes that the Dartford warblers like to use as singing perches. One of the most dramatic types of management is controlled burning or “swaling” (I always have to look up how to spell it). A section of old vegetation is burned to get rid of the old, woody growth of heather and gorse and stimulate re-growth. Our reserve team are experts in carrying this out safely and sometimes the local fire brigade bring their trainees out to observe. Swaling has to be done during the winter, so as not to affect nesting birds, and in small, controlled areas and under good weather conditions, so days are chosen carefully, when the heath is dry enough, but the wind is not too strong. Sites are chosen in advance and preparations made, such as mowing of fire brakes. It will probably happen during February and March, but not after the end of March. So, as I keep repeating, if you see a fire on the heaths in the summer, it will be a wildfire, so please call the fire brigade. Winter doesn’t stop us surveying the birds, just controls the species we look for. Recently 154 snipe were counted during a transect walk, plus 5 woodcock. So watch out for these lovely brown-dappled little birds. Snipe are very well camouflaged and will burst up from under your feet in the wetter parts of the reserve, so not for the weak hearted! Hen harrier counts continue, to try to spot the over-wintering birds. During these counts great grey shrike have been spotted: we usually get at least one wintering on the reserve, so keep an eye open. They are medium-sized grey birds with a black mask, and like to perch somewhere to watch for prey. We’ve had a bit of a changeover in our volunteers: Stuart and Emily have finished (many thanks to them) and Dave has started. Everyone seems to have been off on exotic holidays: Mark to New York, Tia to Indonesia and Richard snowboarding somewhere in the Alps. Even Toby has got away to do chainsaw training in new and exciting parts of the UK. I would like to mention my usual plea for the garden birds in winter: if the weather turns cold (which is currently threatened) don’t forget that they need water as well as plenty of food. I make sure I break the ice on my garden ponds, or if it has got too thick I put out a shallow dish of clean water each morning. And, speaking of ponds, if you have one it is good to try to break ice daily, especially if it is covered in snow. I found this out one year when I had a dreadful frog mortality: if the ice is thin and clear the water plants carry on photosynthesising and making oxygen, but if it gets too thick, and the edges are sealed, light can’t get in and the gases created by decomposition can’t get out, and the frogs who may be hibernating on the bottom could suffocate. On that happy note I shall finish my January report with a reminder that the heaths are always there for a bracing winter walk, whatever the weather, and the gorse is in beautiful, fragrant flower…

11 WOODBURY FOLLIES Following November’s show, Still Quirky at Thirty, the Woodbury Music Hall committee was pleased to make donations to the following good causes: Force Cancer Charity, Dartmoor Search and Rescue Team Ashburton, Woodbury School, Woodbury Village Hall, Woodbury Community Playing Fields, Woodbury Community Orchard, Riding for the Disabled (Powderham Castle Group), Woodbury Salterton Residents Association, Exmouth Community College (Music Department), Budleigh Salterton and District Hospiscare. WOODBURY TWINNING ASSOCIATION AN ’ALLO, ’ALLO EVENING SATURDAY 28 FEBRUARY, 7.30 WOODBURY VILLAGE HALL Presented by Moonstone Theatre Company Come and meet Rene', Edith and Herr Flick over a 5-course French meal. £15 p.p. for members. £18 p.p. non-members For tickets phone Jan Owen 232694 Have you ever considered a Career in the Forces? ROYAL BRITISH LEGION WOODBURY PARISH would like to invite you to AN EVENING WITH MILITARY AND PUBLIC SERVICES PERSONNEL (MAPS) FRIDAY 20 MARCH, 7.00pm THE WHITE HART, WOODBURY Free entry. Sausage and mash supper available at a small charge of £3.50. Presentations from MAPS Bicton College, Police and Fire Services, Royal Marine School of Music CTCRM Lympstone, Royal Army Veterinary Corps, Royal Marine Cadets. Come and hear and see what the future holds and how to join the Royal British Legion, supporting young and older personnel whenever needed. Become a junior or senior member now. Raffle and Royal British Legion regalia available. Tel: Sandra Huish 232696. Tickets available on the night.

WOODBURY C OF E PRIMARY SCHOOL Poster Design Competition Following a presentation at school by one of Woodbury Community Orchard’s founder members, Alex Thiemann, children in all classes were keen to enter a competition to create a logo suitable for the organisation’s posters and leaflets. From a large number of entries, Imogen Congreve, Lilia Craft, Georgia Crook, Joe Fordham, Freddie Fordham, Sophie Goodall, Jessica Johnson, Heather Owen, Rebecca Squires, Hazel Joyce and Evie Spencer all produced designs that impressed the judges. At a specially organised school assembly, each of the winners was presented with a certificate and a packet of seeds. The overall winner, Lilia Craft, also received a large carved wooden apple. Competition design winner, Lilia pictured above, with her winner’s certificate and the beautifully carved wooden apple created by local woodturning craftsman, Cyril Rowsell. Lilia’s eye-catching design (right) impressed the judges and will be used as a logo to help promote the Community Orchard. Well done Lilia!

The latter work has markedly improved visibility around this junction. Dr Sam Bridgewater Contact Clinton Devon Estates through their Countryside Learning Officer, Kate Ponting kate.ponting@clintondevon.com 01395 43881 http://www.clintondevon.com

Pictured are some of the other logo entries. Jessica Johnson

Sophie Goodall

Imogen Congreve Hazel Joyce and Rebecca Squires

Joe Fordham

FORTHCOMING EVENTS 21 Feb. Parish Council Surgery, 10.00-11.30, Parish Council Offices. 21 Feb. Barn Dance. 7.30-11.00. WVH. 28 Feb. Parish Council Surgery, 10.00-11.30, Parish Council Offices. 28 Feb. Exton Garden Club Meeting in Village Hall. 28 Feb. Woodbury Dance Studio Suite Provencal 7.30. 01395 514413 28 Feb. 'Allo, 'Allo Evening, 7.30. WVH. Twinning Association. 1 March Woodbury Dance Studio Suite Provencal 2.30. 01395 514413 6 March Women’s World Day of Prayer. 1.30. Christ Church. 7 March The Great Devon Breakfast in aid of Force. WVH. 8.00-11.30. 7 March St Swithun’s lych gate stall. 9.00-11.00. 9 March Police Surgery, 2.30-3.30, Parish Council Offices. 10 March Garden Club. Bees and their uses in the Garden. 7.30pm WVH. 12 March Open Evening: Amos Trust, WSVH, 7.30. 12 March Woodbury WI Button making, 7.30, WVH. 20 March British Legion Career in the Forces evening. The White Hart 7.00 18-21 March Exton Drama Club 84 Charing Cross Road. 01392 874623 21 March Quiz Evening, Twinning Association. 7.00 for 7.30, WVH 21 March Parish Council Surgery, 10.00-11.30, Parish Council Offices. 21 March Dumbutu Coffee Morning, Hillside, Toby Lane. From 10.00. 26 March Annual Parish Meeting. 7.30. WVH. 28 March St Swithun’s lych gate stall. 9.00-11.00. 9 April Woodbury WI Brooch & attach button, 7.30, WVH. 13 April Police Surgery, 2.30-3.00, Parish Council Offices. 14 April Garden Club. The Rise & Fall of a Country Estate. WVH. 7.30. 24 April FoSS Concert, 7.30pm. 2 May St Swithun’s lych gate stall. 9.00-11.00. 4 May RBL Table Top Sale. Woodbury Village Green. 11.00-3.00. 7 May Parish Council and EDDC Elections. 16 May Exton Garden Club Plant Sale. 13 June Fun Day on the Green. 2.00-6.00. 14 June Woodbury Salterton Scarecrow Challenge Judging Day and Fete 2.00 on the Glebe Field. 18 July FoSS afternoon tea in Church.

CLINTON DEVON ESTATES The cold snap at the beginning of February meant that conditions were suitable to undertake controlled burning (swaling) on Colaton Raleigh Common. Those walking on the heaths north of Woodbury Castle during the week of 2 February may have noticed work parties from the Pebblebed Heaths Conservation Trust undertaking this work. Unlike the large uncontrolled fire on Colaton Raleigh in 2010 that many might remember, managed burns are part of heathland management. Heathlands are dominated by dwarf shrubs, with heather (Calluna vulgaris) being one of the defining species. Upon germination heather goes through a series of distinct growth phases (pioneer, building and mature) that can last in excess of 30 years before it degenerates. Controlled burning resets the heathland ecological clock back to zero, and is a useful tool in conservation as it can help create a mosaic of habitats of different ages to support a wide range of wildlife. It ensures that the needs of all species are catered for and can also help to remove some of the nutrients held in the leaf litter layer, ensuring that heathland does not become too fertile. Once an area is burnt, regeneration is either from remaining rootstocks, or from a seedbank. Whilst walking on the Commons over the next six months take a look at how the vegetation recovers. Typically grass comes back first, and then gorse, and finally heather, although it can take a few years for heather recovery to be evident. Heather burning is legally restricted to the period between 1 November and 31 March. This avoids the period of active plant growth, the breeding seasons of reptiles and birds, and limits any adverse impacts on wildlife. The weather is closely monitored before and during a burn. Too wet and the vegetation can be hard to ignite; too dry and the risk of a fire getting out of control increases. Ideally there is a light breeze of predictable speed and direction. Other work undertaken by the Pebblebed Heaths Conservation Trust in January has been scrub clearance on the western fringe of Woodbury Common (close to the bridleway below Estuary car park), just north of Woodbury Castle and at Four Firs.

Handwriting In spite of the ever-increasing use of computers, tablets and mobile devices as a means of communication, at Woodbury School there is a firm belief that there are a number of very good reasons why children should develop good handwriting skills. Within the schoolâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s broad and balanced curriculum, computers and digital literacy occupy a vital and important part of the childrenâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s experience but alongside this, the school is firmly committed to helping pupils master the basic ability to develop a clear and fluent style of handwriting. Research shows there are a number of significant benefits that derive from writing by hand, not least that the physical process of using a pencil or pen engages motor skills as well as exercising memory â&#x20AC;&#x201C; important prerequisites for effective learning. With assistance from recently purchased computer technology, teachers are helping children throughout the school to hone their handwriting skills.

Practising their handwriting skills after watching a demonstration on the interactive whiteboard, are two Year 2 pupils. Heather Owen

Georgia Crook

Evie Spenser

Freddie Fordham

14 Continued Success for Year 5/6 Athletes

35 6.

Place the fish in a roasting tray. Transfer to the preheated oven and roast for 10 -15 minutes. 7. When cooked, remove from the oven and place onto a large serving plate. Carefully undo the foil and parchment, folding back the sides. 8. To serve, sprinkle over some chopped fresh parsley and squeeze over fresh lemon juice to taste. Our thanks once again go to Stephen Leger who can be contacted at: stephenleger55@gmail.com Tel: 01395 233549 / 07977 422164 Secret Gourmet. www.secretgourmet.co.uk RNLI HOUSE TO HOUSE COLLECTION WOODBURY AND WOODBURY SALTERTON Will all of my collectors please note that the collection dates are 11 to 24 April. If you cannot help, please let me know as quickly as possible. If you can get anyone to fill in for you, I should be very grateful. Jean Carpenter 232120

(Photo: Simon Horn, Exmouth Journal) Congratulations to Woodbury’s indoor athletics team who recently won the East Devon Level 2 Schools’ Games qualifying round for the Under 11 Year 5 & 6 Sports Hall Athletics. The competition provided some very close and competitive field events and hotly contested races on the track. The tournament was well attended with 10 schools and over 120 young athletes taking part. All local learning communities in East Devon were represented – a clear indication of the growing interest and ambition that exists among local schools to reach the East Devon Finals and, if successful, to go on to participate in the Devon School Games. The individual events, which included standing long jump, chest push, speed-bounce and reversaboard relays, were marshalled and judged by young Sports Leaders and Young Ambassadors from The King’s School, Ottery St Mary. Results could not have been closer between the top two schools, Woodbury Primary School and last year’s winners, Sidmouth Primary School, as both teams battled to secure a victory. This year it was Woodbury’s turn to claim the East Devon title with Sidmouth achieving a close second. The Woodbury athletes are now looking forward to representing East Devon schools at The Plymouth Life Centre for the County Final in March.

ROYAL BRITISH LEGION WOODBURY PARISH TABLE TOP SALE FOR ROYAL BRITISH LEGION FUNDS MONDAY 4 MAY, 11.00-3.00 WOODBURY VILLAGE GREEN £5 per 6ft table or space (pay on day). (will be cancelled if wet) Tel: Sandra Huish 232696 Stan Hacking Concert Band ST PETER’S SCHOOL, QUARRY LANE, EXETER SUNDAY 22 MARCH AT 7.30 Tickets £8.00 per person are available from The FORCE Cancer Support Centre, Exeter Phone 01392 402875

The 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).

RECIPE OF THE MONTH

WOODBURY WOMEN’S INSTITUTE

SEA BREAM WITH GARLIC AND ROSEMARY BAKED EN PAPILLOTE Serves: 6.

INGREDIENTS ¨ 6 x 160g sea bream fillets (ask your fishmonger to prepare them for you) ¨ 18 cloves of roasted garlic, skin left on (simply roast garlic cloves, wrapped in foil, in a hot oven with a drizzle of olive oil and sea salt for about ten minutes) ¨ 2 small dried chillies (or to taste) ¨ a few sprigs fresh rosemary ¨ pinch of sea salt ¨ 150ml dry white wine ¨ 100ml oz good-quality, fruity, extra virgin olive oil To serve ¨ chopped parsley ¨ 2 lemons, quartered METHOD 1. Preheat the oven to 220C. Place a large piece of aluminium foil, onto a work surface and cover with a layer of parchment paper almost the same size. (Alternatively make smaller individual parcels in the same way) 2. Fold over the edges so that the foil and parchment are secured together at the edges. 3. Place the fillets onto half the parchment paper and scatter over the roasted garlic cloves (squeeze them gently to release the soft insides as you do so). 4. Crumble over the dried chilli and scatter over some rosemary leaves. Season with sea salt and pour over the wine. Drizzle over the olive oil. 5. Fold over and seal the parchment paper and foil around the fish. Start at the ends, rolling them inwards to ensure the ends are properly sealed, then crimp the sides to create a pasty-shaped parcel. The parcel should be tightly sealed so that the fish steams as it cooks without any steam escaping.

This month we celebrated our ninetyfifth Birthday Party with a Bring and Share Supper followed by Scottish Dancing. Flowers were presented to Sylvia Wickenden, who has compiled beautiful scrapbooks for several years. This year the Women’s Institute celebrates its Centenary Year and Woodbury WI prides itself on being one of the oldest in the country. The first Women’s Institute was formed in Ontario, Canada in 1897 as a branch of the Farmers’ Institute. It brought women from isolated communities together and offered training in home economics and child care as well as all aspects of farming that were traditionally done by women. In this country the WI was formed during the First World War in Anglesey, Wales. Its aims were to revitalize rural areas and to encourage women to become more involved in growing and preserving food and help increase the supply of food in the war torn nation. Since then the WI has evolved to what it is today, the largest voluntary women’s organisation in the country with 212,000 members. It plays a unique role in providing women with educational opportunities and the chance to build new skills, as well as to take part in a wide range of activities and to campaign on issues that are important to them and their community. The Book Group continues to meet monthly. Additionally, on 21 February we have a team of four members taking part in the area WI Quiz. Our next meeting will be held on Thursday 12 March at 7.30pm in the Village Hall with a demonstration by Jo Hunter on Button Making with members participating and making their own creations – another skill! Why not come along and join us? Sylvia Wickenden

WOODBURY TENNIS CLUB The Tennis Club held its AGM on 4 February. Helen Ryland was elected onto the committee as Vice Chair, and will shadow Chair Phil Moores with a view to taking over in 2016. The former committee were re-elected en bloc and will coordinate the activities for the coming season. The club will again enter two men’s teams in the Exeter and District league, both teams having retained their status in Division 5 and 7 respectively. There will be one mixed team in Division 5 of the East Devon League. There will be a full junior programme operating as in previous years on Wednesday evening with top coach Steve Wood in charge. After many years of coordinating the junior coaching programme, Glenis Pewsey is standing down and concentrating on other interests, cycling and work! The club is deeply indebted to Glenis for the efficient and patient manner in which she has organised the groups. The Club is looking for one of the parent group to volunteer for this coordination role; Glenis will assist and mentor and has a good database on file. Thus the task should not be too onerous, but will ensure the continuation of the junior coaching programme. As always the club is seeking new and former members to come and play. Club sessions will continue throughout the winter on Sunday mornings from 10.30 and will start again on Friday evenings from 6.00 when we have warmer weather. Local electrician Will Childs, of Infinity Electrical, has kindly agreed to look at the lights and will put in a plan to have them working at the end of the summer, providing the Club can raise the necessary funds. Please come and join us; if you can hit a ball you are needed! Details of membership from Pat Browne (232805 ruthandpatb@aol.com) or Jackie Clarke (232832).

As Shirley puts it, “We were our own healthy guinea pigs and we would submit to be injected with trial doses of some new penicillin. I can tell you some of them were very painful.” Another big disadvantage of working in this laboratory environment has stayed in Shirley’s memory through the decades. “You picked up all sorts of smells - in your hair, in your garments and, if you had to go home on the bus, people would move out of range quite quickly! I was much relieved when one of the girls got a car and took me home.” While Shirley Stevens loved the hard work and the excitement of progress, sometimes it was tragic too. “I remember we treated this American pilot in a London hospital and, although Methicillin did cure him of his Staphylococcal meningitis, the infection had severely damaged his brain, but he returned to America alive. In the end, you just had to rationalise that event by telling yourself that without those failures we would never have perfected the treatments which save countless thousands to this day.” Shirley gave up this work to raise her two boys. “I thought of going back but it would never have been the same; it was so thrilling and anyway they had changed the names of everything. Microbiology moves very quickly and so much of the work we did is now done by computers.” Shirley still puts her science training to work: “I do Patient and Public Involvement … that’s checking that the documents which explain treatments to people taking part in medical trials make sense and are in plain English, something medics and academics find tricky.” Shirley followed her biochemist husband to the West Country in1969. He taught in Exeter and the family lived in Exton. When her husband died and her two sons were working abroad, Shirley moved up the road to Woodbury in 2001. Andy Price

Photo right: Ben Johnson being presented with the Under 10 player of the year by the Devon Lawn Tennis Association

ROYAL BRITISH LEGION COFFEE MORNINGS 10.00 - 11.30 5, 19 MARCH. 2, 16 & 30 APRIL RBL ROOM behind WOODBURY VILLAGE HALL All are invited to join us on alternate Thursdays. WOODBURY TWINNING ASSOCATION QUIZ EVENING WOODBURY VILLAGE HALL SATURDAY 21 MARCH, 7.00 for 7.30 start Tickets at £5 per person available from Jan Owen 232694

A TIME IN A LIFE - SHIRLEY STEVENS

I had the honour of being present at the Devon Lawn Tennis Association AGM on 29 January, when all those who had contributed to tennis in the county were acknowledged and presented with awards. It was no surprise that the award for the Under 10 player of the year was presented by President Sir Simon Day to Ben Johnson (Town Lane, Woodbury). The following citation was read out ... 2014 was a great year for the winner of the 10 & Under Player of the Year Award. He is the 9 & Under County Champion and won numerous grade 3 tournaments and reached the semi finals in grade 2 national tournaments before becoming the 9 & Under Nike Summer National Tour Champion, a fantastic achievement. However, just as important is the fact that his coach has said that he is a great athlete, an exceptionally hard worker and a pleasure to coach! The winner of the 10 & Under Player of the Year for 2014 is Ben Johnson. Pat Browne

If you are lucky, for a period of your life you find yourself in the right place at the right time, a time when the world or a small part of it seems to have found an appetite for you and your particular skill set. It does not necessarily last long, but when it passes it is always a memory you can hug and silently say, “I was so lucky that I did that.” Well, it happened to Woodbury resident Shirley Stevens, now in her late seventies. In the 1950s Shirley found herself working on the development of penicillin, the material derived from the blue mould we have all seen in stale bread and cheese. Penicillin was already in mass production, but it was felt that there was much more benefit for mankind to be had by working on the basic material to stretch its application as far as possible. The scientists who discovered its extraordinary healing properties, Fleming, Florey and Chain, had been awarded the Nobel Prize in 1945. Shirley had graduated from Leeds University in 1956 and in those days companies came after young microbiologists to snap them up. It was the Beecham Company who signed up Shirley; they were keen to get a part of what was already changing the future of world health. The work was split into two teams: biochemists and microbiologists. Shirley led the microbiologists and week after week of tests always came out with conflicting results, “and we microbiologists were always wrong,” says Shirley. Eventually it was discovered that penicillin was composed of active and inactive parts and the microbiologists were measuring only the active part and the biochemists were measuring both. This was a big breakthrough. Once the structure of penicillin had been better understood it became possible to more easily adapt the structure to produce a series of names, some of which may ring a bell to this day: Broxil, Penbritin, Amoxicillin and finally Methicillin which for a long while was used to treat Staphylococcal infection until the bacteria found a way round the Methicillin (MRSA), and the drug was no longer used.

WOODBURY TWINNING ASSOCIATION We had a very successful AGM on 27 January, well attended by our members. Nita Goffron was voted in as Chair and Aileen Spedding took the office of Treasurer as David Bowers stepped down. David was an excellent treasurer and we would like to take this opportunity of thanking him for all his hard work. This year Bretteville is celebrating 1,000 years of its founding and we hope to join them in their celebrations at the end of May. This will mean the visit to Woodbury by our French Twinning friends may be postponed until the Autumn. Tickets for our exciting 'Allo 'Allo evening to be presented by Moonstone Theatre Company on 28 February quickly sold out and we shall give a full report of this event in the next Woodbury News. For more information contact Jan Owen 232694. THE GREAT DEVON BREAKFAST IN AID OF FORCE WOODBURY VILLAGE HALL SATURDAY 7 MARCH, 8.00 - 11.30 Full English Breakfast £5, 12 and under £2.50 Tickets from Chris Lear 01395 232772 chrislear@aol.com Chris Quantick 01395 233080 or Rowsells Hardware Store, Woodbury A great social occasion for a great local charity

WOODBURY SALTERTON NEWS HOLY TRINITY CHURCH Family Service Debbie Jung took the January Family Service on the theme of Epiphany. She explained that in Western Europe the arrival of the Three Wise Men or Kings is celebrated, whereas in Eastern Europe the emphasis is on the Baptism of Christ – both events relating to the manifestation of Christ to the world. Alice Rooke and Libby Windle carried the pictures Debbie had brought of events in various countries so that everyone could see them. In the Czech Republic and Slovakia children dress as the kings or wise men and sing about the birth of Jesus and are rewarded with praise and cookies; Spanish children fill shoes with straw or grain for the Kings’ horses to eat and place them on balconies on Epiphany Eve and next day find sweets in their place. Perhaps the most spectacular of the pictures showed were of people in Eastern Europe going down into cross shaped holes cut in the ice to commemorate Christ’s baptism. In some countries the priest throws a cross into the water and the faithful dive to try and retrieve it. Debbie commented that by comparison we do little to celebrate Epiphany, which officially lasts from 6 January until the beginning of Lent. Clare Rooke read the bible story and Alice Rooke read a prayer. The Annual Parochial Church Meeting will be held on Monday 30 March at 7.00 in church. This is the opportunity for members of the congregation to hear about the work done by the PCC during the year and the financial state of the church. One of the matters the PCC is considering is the possibility of creating an open space at the back of the church for coffee, meetings etc. This would involve the removal of some pews. Anyone who has any objections to this being done is invited to express their views at this meeting or contact any member of the PCC. Funeral Revd. Karen Spray conducted the funeral of Irene Morey in church on 21 January. Mrs Morey lived formerly at Hogsbrook. She was buried in the grave of her husband. We extend our sympathy to her family. Meeting with Rev. Chris Cant On Thursday 12 March at 7.30 in the Village Hall Chris will be talking about the Amos Trust and the visit he and Joanna will be making to Palestine to help rebuild a home for a family there. Everyone welcome. The next of the Monthly Coffee Mornings with bacon butties will be on Saturday 7 March from 9.30 until 10.30 in church. Easter Lilies If anyone would like to donate an Easter lily in memory of a loved one please contact Sheila Gerdes on 233168.

31 DEATHS Cont’d/… Sadly Joyce Merriman passed away on 9 January at 89 years old. Joyce and her husband Hugh lived in their retirement for 20 years at Thurle Cottage. Following his death she moved to an apartment in Church View House (was Fairfield) until ill health forced her to move closer to her son. In Woodbury she was a keen member of the Music Society and the Short Mat Bowling Club, as well as a regular member of the congregation at church. Joyce and Hugh will be remembered for their devotion to their rescued border collie and greyhounds. Joyce's ashes will be brought back to Woodbury to be reunited with Hugh. GET WELL SOON We are sorry to hear of former editor David Keep's recent accident, and wish him a speedy recovery. THANKS Many thanks go to Anne Shell who for nine years was responsible for coordinating the cash collection of annual Woodbury News ads and also subs from local distributors, as well as sales through the Post Office, Redferns and Cyril's Hardware Store, and postal sales. Ann retired on 31 December and Woodbury News is extremely grateful for all her help. The occasion was marked with flowers and chocolates presented by Chairman, Peter Payne and Treasurer, Tim Green.

ROUND AND ABOUT

Church Quizzes Thanks to everyone who supported the quizzes this year. A record number were sold and there was a record entry in the Children’s Christmas Story quiz. The winner of the adult quiz entitled Bless This House was Judy Spargo, with only two points lost. Well done Judy! And many thanks for your generosity in handing the £10 prize back to the church. There were three perfect entries by the children (spelling mistakes losing marks) and after discussion the three winners decided to share the prize rather than drawing lots for it. Congratulations to Amie Abbott, Megan Holt and Sophia Thomas. Again many thanks to Donoveen Alcock, Jackie Hatton and Dawn Cowler for selling copies to their church members and to the valiant mothers, Ruth Edwards, Anna Taylor and Clare Rooke, who pestered parents in the playground to buy quizzes and especially to Alice Rooke who went round school classes to persuade her schoolmates to enter. Thanks also to Fiona Vessey for duplicating the colouring competition entries and the school for some duplicating and to George Wheeler who does the quiz layout. The quizzes and colouring competition raised a total of £427 for church funds.

DEATHS Mike Rowley from Woodbury Salteron passed away on 25 January after a short increase in his long term health problems. Grateful thanks go to Dr Crawford, Dr Symmonds and all at Woodbury Surgery. Also thanks to the Hospital at Home team. Mike was for a time a Parish Councillor and a member of the Woodbury Camera Club. His funeral was held at East Devon Crematorium on 3 February. We are sorry to report the death of John Stamp of Woodbury House on 25 January, devoted husband of the late Ruby and dearly loved dad of Anthony. An obituary will follow next month. Maggie Connell Marguerite Joan Connell died late on 7 February after a long and brave struggle with cancer. She was born on 30 November 1931, second daughter of William Thomas Brissenden and his wife Mabel Grace. She had a brother, Ken, who died in 2011 and a step-brother, Roy Houghton. She was brought up by her grandmother as her mother, a nurse, died of TB in 1936. When Maggie left school in 1945 she went into domestic service, which educated her in cooking and housekeeping to a very high standard. It was always a pleasure and a privilege to enter her home and especially to enjoy her cooking. For RBL coffee mornings she brought cheese straws and other treats. She married Vic Connell in 1952. Vic was a friend of the founders of B & Q and in 1974 they went to work for them; first to Margate and then other branches in Kent. In 1988 they came to open a new branch at Alphington and moved to the two-year-old Culvery Close. The next year they opened the new store in Exmouth and retired in 1991. They became active in the life of Woodbury: their special interests were the Garden Club and the Village Hall. When Vic died after a long illness in 1999, Maggie bravely made a new life for herself. She continued to welcome visitors to stay. She worked for Devon Breatheasy and continued on the committees of the Village Hall and the Garden Club. She waxed eloquent about people who joined committees but were not active. Despite not being a believer she baked for the lych gate as well as all the other groups. Methodical in everything, she prepared her funeral in July 2014. She will be missed by many.

WOODBURY SALTERTON WOMEN’S INSTITUTE President Jenny Kemp spoke about some of the events to mark the centenary of the WI movement this year. Some members had enjoyed an afternoon of Scrabble at the home of Chris Moores recently and Jenny will be hosting another on 13 February. The speaker was Anne Baker, a village resident, who has run a Sea Rangers group for many years. Anne applied to join an all-female crew on a research trip across the Atlantic and was accepted as Second Mate because of her sailing experience. The 14-strong crew, which included a Professor of Marine Debris and women of various nationalities, some with Doctorates in Science, travelled 2,800 miles from Lanzarote to Martinique. Their mission was to explore the issue of chemicals in the ocean and their impact on the environment and on human health. Each day they halted their voyage, trawled the surface of the ocean for half an hour, sieved their samples and analysed them under the microscope. Anne took the opportunity to complete her sights for her Ocean Yacht Masters qualification. Members learned a lot about different types of plastics and Anne urged everyone to do their bit by reducing usage of plastic bags and plastic bottles. The 11 March meeting will hear about the Exeter Academy for Deaf Education.

WOODBURY SALTERTON C OF E SCHOOL One of the Top 100 Primary Schools in the Country A letter has been received from the Minister of State for Schools, Rt. Hon David Laws MP, congratulating Woodbury Salterton School on being named in the list of the 100 top performing Primary Schools in the country. This is based on improved results in the expected standard of reading, writing and mathematics each year from 2012 to 2014. The accolade follows the School’s most recent Key Stage 2 test results which were published last month. David Laws praised the school staff, leadership, pupils and the Governors for the achievement. Moving towards Federation On 1 September 2014 our school formed a management partnership with Littleham C of E School which has involved Mr Duncan Nelmes acting as Executive Headteacher for the two schools. This arrangement has proved beneficial to both schools so the Governors of both are now recommending that a formal Federation should be set up. A Consultation Process has been set up to seek the views of parents, staff, the community, the Diocese, the Local Authority and other key partners. This process will last six weeks. Letters have been sent out to all parents and open meetings have been taking place at both schools. The Governors of both schools will make the final decision, taking account of all views expressed. It is hoped that, if the decision goes in favour, a formal Federation will happen on 5 May 2015. Each of the schools will retain its own individuality but a Federation has many advantages, enabling more sharing of expertise and resources, and is generally felt to be the most viable way for small schools to survive. Forest School Year 5 pupils have been heading off to the forest with those from Littleham. They have been having great fun outdoors in woods, learning how to create fires from scratch among other things. They will use their first hand experiences of the Children relaxing in a shelter they built forest over the next few weeks to as a team. support their story writing.

LOCAL GOVERNMENT ELECTIONS All District and Parish Councillors must stand down this year and an election will take place on 7 May 2015. Anyone wishing to stand for office must complete a nomination form (available from East Devon District Council Offices – 01395 516551). A timetable is shown below. Parish Councillors are hard-working individuals who have the general good of the community at heart and are committed to keeping the Parish a good place to live and work. Woodbury Parish Council meets on the second and fourth Monday of every month except August and December with occasional committee meetings in between. If you are interested in working for your community (on all matters – not just planning!) and would like to know more about it please attend one of the Parish Council surgeries in February (dates on page 21) or contact the Clerk or one of the current Councillors whose names and contact details can be found on the noticeboards and on the website (www.woodbury devon.co.uk). LOCAL GOVERNMENT ELECTION TIME-TABLE Timetable of Proceedings for Thursday 7 May 2015 Publication of Notice of Election Not later than Monday 30 March 2015 Start of Nomination Process On the day following publication of Notice of Election Deadline for Receipt of Nominations 4.00pm Thursday 9 April 2015 Withdrawal of Candidate 4.00pm Thursday 9 April 2015 Appointment of Election Agents Thursday 9 April 2015 Publication of Notice of Election Agents Thursday 9 April 2015 Publication of Statements of Persons Nominated 4.00pm Friday 10 April 2015 Last Date for Registration to vote Monday 20 April 2015 Deadline for Receipt of Postal Vote Applications 5.00pm Tuesday 21 April 2015 Publication of Notice of Poll Tuesday 28 April 2015 Deadline for Receipt of Proxy Vote Applications 5.00pm Tuesday 28 April 2015 Appointment of Poll and Count Agents Wednesday 29 April 2015 First Day to Issue Replacement Lost Postal Ballot Papers Thursday 30 April 2015 Receipt of Emergency Proxy Vote Applications 5.00pm Thursday 7 May 2015 Last Day to Issue Replacement Lost/Spoilt Ballot Papers 5.00pm Thursday 7 May 2015 Day of Poll 7.00am to 10.00pm Thursday 7 May 2015 Declaration of Candidates Expenses Thursday 11 June 2015

WOODBURY NEWS to your door … If you are a new resident to the area, or would like your Woodbury News to be delivered to your door monthly we can arrange this. Just call Beverley Simcox on 232858 and she will put you in contact with your local deliverer.

JANUARY WEATHER The theme of the month was above average sunshine (so the BBC weatherman David said, but I did not seem to notice it so much) and ground frost almost every night which I did notice due to cold fingers scraping ice from screens day after day. We had gales on the 13th and I did a major job of lifting what I thought would be the last of the leaves and taking them to the dump, then we got more of the same a few days later which spoiled everything; I notice the Council did not clear the leaves from Oakhayes Road this year. So rainfall turned out to be a gnat below average at 90.2mm (= 3.55ins and 95%) and max/min temperatures were 13C/-3C. All our reservoirs are now full apart from Kennick where the last of the three dams holding Torquayâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s water supply is in the final stages of upgrading. PJH

Lent This year school pupils will be following 40 Actions of Lent. The idea is to encourage children to think about what to give rather than what to give up. Class 2 shared some of their thoughts at School Worship in church on Monday 9th with some suggestions on giving love and friendship. Proposals included being a good team player, ready to compliment others in the team, not having arguments with brothers, sisters - or parents - and sharing your school lunch. Class 1 have been learning about Baptism in church with Revd Karen Spray ?

WOODBURY PARISH COUNCIL NOTICES WOODBURY PARISH COUNCIL CHANGE OF ADDRESS Please note the following new address: Woodbury Parish Council offices Greenleigh, Greenway, Woodbury EX5 1LP woodburyparishcouncil@gmail.com Class 2 have been learning how fabrics are made ANNUAL PARISH MEETING THURSDAY 26 MARCH AT 7.30pm WOODBURY VILLAGE HALL Please see website in March for agenda and details of speaker www.woodburydevon.co.uk WOODBURY PARISH COUNCIL Agendas for future meeting, and minutes of meetings of Woodbury Parish Council can be found on www.woodburydevon.co.uk PARISH COUNCIL ELECTIONS Elections for the parish council will take place on 7 MAY Anyone wishing to stand for election can collect nomination papers in March from the Clerk at the new office Greenleigh, Greenway, Woodbury 01395 233791 Or from East Devon District Council 01395 516551

WOODBURY SALTERTON C OF E SCHOOL Cont’d/... Key Stage 2 pupils went to Exeter University to listen to a concert by the Bournemouth Symphony Orchestra entitled Motion and Commotion. A photo was taken of all the pupils in the University Café behind the large model of the Zebra.

COMMUNITY POLICE REPORT

CHURCH SCARECROW CHALLENGE As was decided last year at the conclusion of the very successful Scarecrow Challenge, another Scarecrow event has been arranged. This year the theme is Film Characters. Judging will take place on Sunday 14 June, so please note this date in your diaries and get your thinking caps on! Last year we had 51 entries – can we exceed that number this year? The Scarecrow event not only brought the village together but also resulted in a substantial donation for our church funds. It is intended that this will become an annual event on our village calendar. WHIST DRIVE TUESDAY 17 MARCH, 7.30 WOODBURY SALTERTON VILLAGE HALL

PCSO Donna Baker Tel 08456569412 Donna.baker@devonandcornwall.pnn.police.uk Crime report There were three crimes during the month as follows – ¨ On 11 January between 3.00 and 4.00pm a vehicle left in the car park on Woodbury Common was broken into and a handbag left in the front passenger well was stolen. We continue to have this problem and I would stress users should never leave valuables in their vehicle. ¨ On 18 January at approx 6.00pm a vehicle left the road opposite Venmore Farm, the driver was found to be over the legal drink limit. ¨ On 24 January officers attended a RTC on the B3180 Woodbury; the driver found to be over the legal drink limit. Scam Alert - “We are holding a parcel in your name" scam postcards delivered to resident’s homes. The personally addressed postcards say: “The office is attempting to reach you. To claim this parcel and accept this offer, you must telephone the number below immediately and arrange for a delivery. The item is prepaid, but a processing and delivery fee of £10 must be remitted. This fee can be paid only by telephone and only with a credit card (VISA or MasterCard). This is your only notification”. If you call the 020 number you are asked to pay £10 by credit card. Victims who have reported this to Action Fraud have said that the automated service told them the package would be delivered the same day, but did not receive anything. Also be on the lookout for slight variations of this scam - which use different phone numbers and delivery items. Next Police Surgery is to be held 2.30 to 3.30pm on Monday 9 March at the Parish Council office opposite The Green. WINTER LYCH GATE IN ST SWITHUN’S CHURCH 9.00-11.00 SATURDAY 7 and 28 MARCH, 2 MAY Helpers needed. Do come along to meet old and new friends, enjoy a cup of coffee and bacon butties. There will be home-grown and home-made produce for sale. We look forward to seeing you.

EXTON NEWS

CARAVAN FIRE

ST ANDREW’S CHURCH, EXTON SUNDAY SERVICES: 1st Sunday - 6.00pm Evening Service, St. David’s Day. Lent 2: 2nd Sunday - 9.30am Eucharist Service with hymns. Lent 3: 3rd Sunday - 9.30am Lay-led Mothering Sunday. Lent 4: 4th Sunday 9.30am Eucharist Service with Hymns. Lent 5: 5th Sunday - No service at Exton - see below. Mothering Sunday is on 15 March, when every lady will receive some spring flowers. This is a chance for us all to remember our own mother as well as children saying thank you to theirs. Sunday 29 March is Palm Sunday when there will be a White Cross Mission Community Service at 11.15am in St Swithun’s Church Woodbury. This is a great opportunity for us all to celebrate Palm Sunday together, particularly with family and friends. EXTON CRAFT GROUP We shall be meeting as usual on the third Thursday which is 19 March in St Andrew’s Church. Present and new members are always welcome for this convivial afternoon. EXTON DRAMA CLUB Director Jenny Goode returns to Exton this March with a production of 84 Charing Cross Road by Helene Hanff (adapted for stage by James Roose Evans). This touching play documents the twenty-year correspondence between New York-based Hanff and London-based Frank Doel, chief buyer for antiquarian bookseller Marks & Co of London. 18 to 21 March at 7.30pm, Exton Village Hall. Tickets, £7.50, from Kevin Butler, kevinbutlerkbc@btinternet.com or 01392 874623. Exton Drama Club is always looking for new actors, directors and backstage crew. If you would like to be involved contact Hilary Hoar on 01392 875042.

CHARITY COFFEE MORNINGS EVERY TUESDAY, 10.00-12.00 CHURCH ROOMS, WOODBURY Coffee/tea and a homemade cake £2 on vintage china. All profits to local charities. Everyone welcome. 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.

Caravan fire, WS. Photo by Sheila Nunnington who was staying on site.

A fire began around tea time on 31 January - the first the people of Woodbury Salterton knew of it was when huge clouds of dense black smoke appeared in the sky followed by high flames. It turned out to be a caravan on fire at Browns Farm. Two fire engines attended the fire which was put out in about half an hour. Thankfully no-one was hurt. Ann and Bob Hunt invite you to a COFFEE MORNING AT HILLSIDE, TOBY LANE, WOODBURY SALTERTON SATURDAY 21 MARCH FROM 10.00 In aid of the Woodbury Salterton/Dumbutu Link. Raffle and Bring and Buy. N.B. The Link’s brief AGM will follow at noon. All Welcome. PARISH COUNCIL SURGERIES Parish Council surgeries will be held between 10.00 and 11.30am every Saturday in February and on 21 March in the new Parish Council offices. No appointment is necessary. Representatives of all Wards will be there to answer your queries and help in any way they can on subjects relating to the Parish elections or any other matter relating to Parish Council affairs. We look forward to seeing you there.

SAGES LEA APPLICATION REFUSED The news received on 5 January from East Devon District Council`s planning department that the proposed 60 dwelling extension to the Sages Lea housing estate has been refused has been warmly welcomed by the residents of the village of Woodbury Salterton. It was clear from the initial public consultation held in December 2013 by the developers, Greendale Investments, that most residents considered the proposal was inappropriate, too large, and would create a higher flood risk to neighbouring properties within the village. The Woodbury Salterton Residents Association therefore organised a campaign setting up meetings, raising substantial donations to pay for an expert planning consultant, delivered leaflets, used the Association website and sent numerous emails, to galvanise the residents to write their objections to the Planning Authority. Over 124 residents from the village sent a letter of objection, and the Association with the assistance of Charlie Hopkins, an expert planning consultant hired by the Association, sent the Planning Authority a detailed 18-page dossier highlighting the contentious issues related to the application. Following the first phase of the campaign residents were asked to write to their Conservative MP Hugo Swire regarding the government policy on house building, which is allowing developers to apply and build unsuitable large housing estates in small rural villages due to recent changes to government planning policy. After a substantial number of letters were received, a letter was sent by Hugo Swire to the Local Planning Authority informing them of his concerns. Shortly after the New Year the Consultants for the Developers introduced further documentation which was published on the Planning Authorities website, hoping to overcome the objections of the Environment Agency and DCC Highways. During the two weeks of the consultation period, 75 residents again sent a further letter to the Planning Authority objecting and stating the new information did not change their opinion about the application. The culmination of the sustained efforts from the residents was the Planning Authority’s recommendation that the application should be refused. In a statement the Woodbury Salterton Residents Association committee said they: “Would like to thank residents for all the support, help, encouragement and financial contributions they received during the long 13-month campaign!” The Committee also thanked:

“Their Planning Consultant, Charlie Hopkins who provided expert advice and guidance to their campaign. Also all the Woodbury Parish Councillors for their support, District Councillor Ray Bloxham, County Councillor Christine Channon for their advice guidance and support.” The Association also said: “The refusal demonstrates that “people power” can work! A massive 124 residents wrote letters to the Local Planning Authority and many wrote to their MP, contributed to a fighting fund, delivered leaflets, organised meetings, until finally the Planning Authority saw sense and refused this unwanted development proposal in the village.” However the Association warn that the refusal may not be the end of the saga as: Greendale Investments may appeal to the Planning Inspectorate for the decision to be overturned, or possibly amend the application to overcome the objections listed in the Decision Notice, or submit another smaller application.” The Association statement concludes: “Because of the lack of an EDDC Local Plan (due sometime this year) and no Neighbourhood Plan in place (Woodbury Parish Council are striving to complete this) the village is still vulnerable to developers using these omissions to their advantage. Without these documents the Local Planning Authority cannot demonstrate that they are building enough houses (in planning terms “cannot demonstrate that they have a 5 year land supply”) so the local authority is less able to refuse planning applications. The committee, therefore, propose that the fighting fund is retained until the Local Plans are in place. Until these important planning documents are approved the developers may try again! The committee therefore propose to retain the services of their Planning Consultant Charlie Hopkins to provide advice if the developer resubmits or appeals. Geoff Jung (WSRA Secretary)

WOODBURY NEWS CLOSING DATES 2015 17 MARCH. 21 APRIL. 19 MAY. 16 JUNE. 14 JULY. ALL MATERIAL FOR THE MAGAZINE SHOULD BE SENT TO KAREN SQUIRES, WILLOWFIELD, OAKHAYES ROAD by 7.00pm on the Closing Date, with a name and telephone number, or e-mail to karensquires100@gmail.com