WOODBURY NEWS

The Big Help Out is a campaign to showcase how volunteering benefits both communities and the people who take part. The campaign is specifically encouraging a national day of volunteering on Monday 8 May, which is the bank holiday following the coronation weekend.

Keen-eyed readers of Woodbury News need look no further than pages 23, 30 and 31 to see a full programme of events planned in our three villages on the 6 and 7 May to celebrate the coronation of King Charles III, and we thank all those volunteers who are working behind the scenes to plan and organise these exciting events. So, having read this edition of Woodbury News and having taken part in all the fun and games, you will see that help is indeed needed not far from home. Katie Harries, who is planning a year volunteering in Senegal, is organising an Easter Fete in Woodbury all morning on 7 April (see page 7) and welcomes our support. We look forward to hearing all about her year in due course. The Scouts and Guides, who meet at The Hive in Woodbury, are recruiting new members, but are in desperate need of leaders and helpers (see pages 14 and 15) so that they can continue being part of this worldwide organisation. And Woodbury School is still looking for governors (more information on page 19).

On the subject of reading, the mobile library is coming to Woodbury on an extra day each month, as the information in the box on page 15 shows. On a more serious note, those with less time on their hands because they are busy walking their dogs, are urged to read the piece on page 29 from the Devon & Cornwall police rural affairs team about dogs and livestock, which urges dog owners to be aware of legislation and the legal responsibilities of owning and walking dogs. The sole letter to the editor this month on page 28 needs no further explanation, but the editor sincerely hopes never to have to publish another letter in this vein again.

So let’s enjoy the coming months, and the editorial team wishes readers of Woodbury News a happy, sunny and fulfilling Easter. Let the volunteering begin - or indeed continue!

The cover photograph, of daffodils on Woodbury village green, was taken by the editor to mark the spring equinox, and to herald the promise of warmer days to come.

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ST SWITHUN’S CHURCH, WOODBURY

Vicar: Reverend Bill Lemmey 01395 232161 revbillwhitecross@gmail.com

Administrator: Jill Dupain dupain@hotmail.co.uk

Church Services

2 April - Palm Sunday Holy Communion at St Swithun’s, 11.15. Evening Worship at Exton, 18.00. Cross of Christ at St Swithun’s – a sequence of music, hymns and readings for Passiontide, 18.30.

7 April - Good Friday Walk of Witness in Woodbury, 11.30.

9 April - Easter Day Holy Communion at St Swithun’s led by Bishop Jackie at 09.30.

16 April - Easter 2 Morning Worship at Exton, 09.30. Evensong at St Swithun’s, 18.30.

23 April - Easter 3 Café Service at St Swithun’s, 10.30.

30 April - Easter 4 Mission Community Breakfast ‘Creation Service’ at Woodbury Salterton at 09.30.

St Swithun’s Easter Lych Gate

The next lych gate stall in St Swithun’s church will be on Saturday 1 April, 09.30 - 11.00.

There will be a special Easter-themed raffle as well as the usual bacon rolls, cake and coffee. Do join us.

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.

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.

CHURCH ALTAR FLOWERS - APRIL

2 - Lent no flowers. 9 & 16 - Easter lilies. 23 & 30 - Mrs C Keep.

Please add your name to the list in church if you wish to purchase a lily in memory of a loved one.

We will decorate church for Easter on Saturday 8 April. Barbara Hill

FoSS SPRING CONCERT

SATURDAY 29 APRIL AT 19.00 (note earlier start)

ST SWITHUN’S CHURCH

Featuring Devon County Junior Choir, Bel Canto Choir with Catherine Luke. Tickets £10.00 (children £2) from Rook Pie, Pat Browne, committee members or on the door.

DEVON’S BEST KEPT CHURCHYARD COMPETITION

Following last month’s article about the competition run by the CPRE (Campaign for the Protection of Rural England) to find Devon’s best kept churchyard, I thought that Woodbury News readers would like to know that St Swithun’s churchyard has participated in this competition in the past and been successful in being awarded Highly Commended and Commended. We have already submitted our application for this year.

The churchyard group continues to meet on a regular basis on Saturday mornings. We have been fortunate to receive funding from FoSS (Friends of St Swithun’s) to enable us to buy a mower, which will make our management of the grass in high and late summer much easier and more effective.

During the past year we have planted two trees, a rowan and a crab apple, and will be planting a wild cherry in the next few weeks. Our compost bins are working well and producing compost, which we are using in the churchyard or in our own gardens.

If you walk through the churchyard and see any interesting birds or mammals, do let us know. Equally, if you would be interested in joining our friendly group, please contact Sue Hudson 232203 or just turn up on a Saturday morning around 10.00ish in your wellies!

Sue Hudson

FOSS (FRIENDS OF ST SWITHUN’S)

The Spring Concert will take place in St Swithun’s on Saturday 29 April at 19.00 featuring Devon County Junior Choir under the direction of Andrew Downton (an organ scholar), who will make the organ sing; we will also have our own Bel Canto choir joined by Catherine Luke as soloist. Tickets £10 adult, £2 school-age child from Pat Browne (232805), committee or Rook Pie - a pre-coronation event not to be missed.

FoSS has supported the maintenance programme at St Swithun’s by paying for extensive masonry stonework in the tower and providing a motor mower for the churchyard. We are intending to fund the return of the clock chimes with the help of a Parish Council grant.

Pat Browne

Woodbury And Newton St Cyres Cricket Club

We are all looking forward to another new season of cricket at Town Lane. Work on the ground has been underway over the last month or so and will continue in the run-up towards the beginning of the season. The club has been taking steps to improve its facilities and has recently replaced all the old traditional lighting to energy-saving LED. As always, new players are most welcome. We look forward to welcoming adults and colts back to the club in the coming season.

Ian Hughes

Woodbury And District Royal British Legion

With sadness I have to report the death of Commander Peter Hill RN (rtrd), a member who always supported our events and coffee mornings. Peter, who died at the age of 97 years, served in the Second World War and was such an interesting gentleman to listen to.

We are having a coffee morning on Wednesday 26 April in the British Legion room, at the rear of Woodbury village hall, from 10.30 to noon. Please come and support the event and say hello; it's been a long time since we socialised. New or prospective new members do come and meet us we are a small but welcoming group.

Sandra Huish

WOODBURY

Easter Fete

FRIDAY 7 APRIL, 09.00-13.00

WOODBURY PLAYING FIELDS BY THE PLAYPARK

Easter egg hunt for all ages, bake sale, egg decorating, egg throwing, test your strength and more.

Raising money for Katie Harries’ year volunteering in Senegal.

Woodbury Garden Club

In February we held our AGM; the business part of the evening was followed by a bring-and-share meal and a quiz. It was good to see so many members attending. Members of the committee were willing to continue and Eileen Pye was elected to join them. A thankyou was given to the committee for its work throughout the year and a general thankyou given to the members for the support they have given. New members were welcomed and, as the accounts illustrated, the club has a healthy membership. The business part of the meeting was quickly concluded, the members having agreed an addition to the club rules so that online banking could be accessed if so desired. Mary Wheaton and Eileen Pye have accepted responsibility for producing the programme of meetings and events for next year. Supper was thoroughly enjoyed and the evening concluded with a quiz provided by Tricia Willey. No one managed to get full marks but several people got just one answer wrong so there had to be a tie-breaker question. This was won by Anna Eyres. Congratulations to Anna and also to Sue Sturdy who won the Flower of the Month competition. Over the months Sue had collected the highest number of points.