December 2016

WOODBURY NEWS

DECEMBER 2016

ALL BUILDING JOBS CONSIDERED

Woodbury Village Hall 2

R. Miller & Son Painters and Decorators THORNS COTTAGE, WOODBURY

Tel: Woodbury 233773 All work expertly carried out under personal supervision.

Woodbury Salterton Village Hall Hall –Tables and Chairs, Well equipped kitchen with cooker and fridge, crockery and cutlery inclusive in hire.

Modest Rates.

For bookings please contact:

Pat or Gill Bricknell 01395 232463

Hall and two meeting rooms, Fully equipped kitchen WIFI, sound system and projector Available for: Dances and Parties Wedding Receptions Meetings and Classes Jumble Sales 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.uk

DECEMBER 2016 3

EDITORIAL This month is a bumper edition, with lots of information about events that have already taken place, the exciting times that are being experienced these days in our schools and societies, and about forthcoming events over the Christmas period. As usual, there will be special meals out, carol singing and bingo, Christmas fairs and church services. Make a note in your diaries and don’t miss out on the fun and celebrations.

The closing date for the holiday edition of Woodbury News will be earlier than usual – Tuesday 6 December – and if you are wondering why your submission was not published this month, it will have been held over until then. The holiday edition will contain annual reports, so please make sure that your organisation sends us a summary of your activities over the past year. The Holiday/January edition of Woodbury News should arrive in your homes before Christmas.

Woodbury News extends good wishes for a long and happy retirement to Chris and Joanna Cant, and thanks to Andy Price for his article on page 34. Another of Andy’s profiles will appear next month about Graham and Sheila Gerdes, who are moving away from Woodbury Salterton. We wish them well. We also thank those children who sent in pictures for our cover competition.

THE COVER DRAWING was done by 7-year-old Cerys Rimmer.

Well done, Cerys! We will present you with a book token as your prize, and you will have your photograph in the Holiday issue of Woodbury News.

We hope to be able to distribute the Holiday Issue of Woodbury News before Christmas, so the closing date for copy is 6 December.

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: 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: 01392 877400 4 email: church@Revdkaren.org.uk SPECIAL SERVICES: Sunday 11 December 18.30 Christmas Carol Service.

Sunday 18 December 18.15 Youth Service, then Carols on the Green.

Saturday 24 December Christmas Eve at 23.30 Midnight Mass.

Sunday 25 December Christmas Day 08.00 Said Eucharist, 11.15 Eucharist Sunday 22 January 11.15 Morning Worship.

Sunday 29 January Candlemas 18.30 Eucharist at Aylesbeare. This is the only service in the Mission Community on that day.

USUAL SUNDAY SERVICES 1st Sunday: 11.15 Eucharist. 2nd Sunday: 11.15 Eucharist. 3rd Sunday: 11.15 Eucharist. 4th Sunday: See Special Services. 5th Sunday: See Special Services. Morning Prayer every Monday at 09.15 (not 26 December).

NEWS AND EVENTS Lych gate stall with Christmas Fayre in Church, Saturday 3 December.

Next lych gate stall - Saturday 4 February, 09.30-11.00.

Woodbury PCC Monthly Draw - October’s winner: Mrs Lin MilsomAshby. Draw made at the Charity Coffee Morning 3rd Tuesday each month.

Prize every month ranging from £25 to £500. Details from Ken Crundwell 01395 232826.

FLOODLIGHTING ST SWITHUN’S CHURCH (dusk until 23.00) 16 December “Happy Birthday Marian, with love from Derrick, Bill, David Jo, Sam, India and Daisy: here’s to the next Big One!” 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.

CHURCH ALTAR FLOWERS - DECEMBER 4, 11 and 18 Advent - no flowers. 25 - Mrs S Huish. Please note, we will decorate church for Christmas on Wednesday 21 December.

FoSS (FRIENDS OF ST SWITHUN’S) Foss will be holding its AGM on Saturday 28 January in Church at 19.00.

The AGM will be followed by a short concert at 19.30, featuring the Bel Canto Singers, then a supper at the back of Church. Everyone is invited to the concert and supper; tickets at £7.50 will be available from Pat Browne and committee members. This is a very pleasant post-Christmas event, bringing good cheer and fellowship at a dark time of the year.

CHURCH BELLS The church bells have been in position since the 15th century, the oldest from 1499, the most5 recent recast in 1960. Four of the bells have been identified by the Council for Care of Churches as being of historic significance. They have been an integral part of the history of Woodbury, being rung at times of rejoicing and at times of peril. It is the church bell which is hit when the clock chimes so that everyone in the community can hear the sound every day.

However, as with all mechanical devices, maintenance and overhaul is an essential requirement. Simple tasks have been undertaken by the bells team, but there are many more complex tasks which need to be addressed. An independent survey by Devon Bell Restoration Fund indicated that substantial work was required. Whitechapel Foundry (which maintains Big Ben in London) was contacted, and provided a detailed survey and quotation for work to be done to bring the bells back to full operation. The full cost of the overhaul will be £31,000. This should be sufficient for the next 50 years, but unfortunately the work needs doing now.

The Treasurer of the PCC, Pat Browne, has been actively seeking funding for the project, which, if the funding is in place, will be undertaken in spring 2017. So far Devon Bells Restoration Fund has promised £5,500, FoSS has given £2,500, fund-raising and donations have raised £7,000. Applications for further funding have been made to Coombe Solar Farm Fund and Pennon/ Viridor Environment Fund. Donations from members of the community are always welcome, and will help to ensure the continued sound of the church bells.

Digest available in church or from website www.white crossdevon.org.uk.

SPECIAL CHRISTMAS LYCH GATE IN ST SWITHUN’S CHURCH 3 DECEMBER, 09.30 - 12.30 There will be the usual refreshments plus hot chocolate, mince pies and bacon rolls.

There will also be a cake stall, preserves, book stall and quality gifts as well as Christmas cards for sale.

The grand raffle will be drawn at 12.00.

Tickets for the raffle can be obtained from members of the PCC or on the day. Come along, meet your friends and stock up for Christmas.

Please note that on 15 DECEMBER, Carols around Woodbury will start at 19.00 NOT at 19.30.

RETIREMENT OF THE PCC MONTHLY DRAW ORGANISER Donoveen Alcock, the mover and shaker of the highly successful 6 Monthly Draw, is retiring after an impressive seven-year stint of organising this major fund-raising event.

This has involved persuading around 60 people to part with £5 a month in the hope of winning a cash prize. Most people do this by standing order although some pay with an annual cheque.

Over the past seven years Donoveen has single-handedly raised the huge sum of over £15,000 - this is £2,000 every year!

The current membership stands at 62 and most people have won prizes ranging from £25 to the two major prizes of £500 each year. There is anticipation and excitement at the 3rd Tuesday Charity Coffee morning when the draw is made. Donoveen has some tips for Ken Crundwell, who has offered to take on this major role: · Keep reminding current and former members that their subscriptions are due. · Advertise the prizes and the excellent chances of being a winner.

St Swithun's owes a huge debt of gratitude to Donoveen for her dedication to fund-raising over the past seven years; her efforts have made major projects in St Swithun’s possible. We wish Ken equal success.

OPENING UP TO GOD 6 DECEMBER 19.30 to 21.00, Woodbury Church Rooms This course of Quiet Prayer draws on a range of Christian traditions.

It is open to anyone wanting to develop their relationship with God in the company of others. · Learn new ways of listening to God. · Explore and practise different modes of prayer. · Find and refine your own style of spirituality.

Open to all, free of charge.

For further information please contact Carolyn Keep 01395 232318.

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WOODBURY GARDEN CLUB There was a change to our programme for November. Mike and Ann 8 Wheeler came and gave us an interesting insight into Exmouth In Bloom.

Ann began by giving us some facts about the history of Exmouth in Bloom and how it has grown and evolved. In 1964 the British Tourist Board, influenced by Roy Haye who had been on holiday to France and seen the work of the Fleurissement de France set up by the French Tourist Board, developed our own organisation Britain in Bloom. This continued until 1982 when the government department responsible for sponsoring Britain in Bloom felt it should relinquish its responsibility and the Keep Britain Tidy group took over. This again has an interesting history because Keep Britain Tidy began in the 50s when the National Federation of Women’s Institutes passed a resolution to tackle litter and encourage pride in our country. This partnership continued until 2002 when the Royal Horticultural Society took over full responsibility. Ann then explained that more than 1,600 cities, towns, villages and urban communities take part each year and are assessed on horticultural achievement, community participation and environmental responsibility. Ann then gave us details of how, in Exmouth, they cover each area of assessment. She also explained that some groups are entirely run by volunteers, but there is also partnership with the Town, District and County Councils.

Mike then went on to describe the work that the many volunteers and groups did throughout the year. They aim to produce quality floral displays in and around the town, involving the community, elderly residents, children and young people. Businesses and the many voluntary groups in the town are also invited to participate.

The Fish Bed at Exmouth

Cont’d/...

He described the many challenges that they face: how to design a particular area, what to take on, space to raise plants, watering (a big issue), resources 9 and raising money. Approximately £12,000 is needed each year, £4,000 of which comes from the Council. In recent years the Bloom group has worked towards more permanent planting, using Mediterranean varieties. They are aware of climate change and the need for sustainability and try to provide habitats for wildlife and make space for indigenous wild flowers. Exmouth in Bloom not only benefits the environment, but improves health; for example, being involved with the scheme can bring a sense of well-being, a sense of achievement and there are many community connections.

Every year Exmouth in Bloom organises a competition to celebrate the work of local gardeners. There are classes for everyone. The competition is generously sponsored by King’s Garden and Leisure Ltd and Exmouth in Bloom is very grateful for this sponsorship.

In 2016 Exmouth in Bloom was selected to represent the South West in the national Britain in Bloom finals and achieved a silver gilt in the Large Coastal Town category. Well done Exmouth In Bloom and thank you for an interesting evening and for all the work you do in enhancing this beautiful area in which we live.

WOODBURY TENNIS CLUB The Tennis Club is still operating. Club sessions take place on Sunday mornings, ladies on Tuesday afternoons and retired folk on Wednesday mornings. The mild autumn has encouraged members to continue playing, ensuring that all sessions have taken place. The leaves have continued to fall, but the new blower has been frequently used, providing additional exercise and a quick clearance. The Mixed Winter League team is playing in the East Devon Winter League Division 5. So far 8 matches have been completed with 3 wins, a draw and 4 losses. At the time of going to press, the team was in mid-table. Helen Ryland, as captain, has managed to select a good number of members to play in the team, providing them with valuable experience.

The annual pre-Christmas party will take place in the Church Rooms on Friday 2 December from 19.00, a very pleasant end-of-year event. Former members are always welcome. Please contact Helen or Pat, if you wish to be included.

New or returning members are always welcome; please contact Pat Browne (232805) (ruthandpatb@aol.com) or Jackie Clarke (232832), or come to the courts on Sunday at 10.30 when club sessions take place. Occasional use of the courts can be arranged, key from Pat or Jackie, £4 per court per hour + £5 key deposit; however for regular players it is cheaper to become a member.

WOODBURY ROYAL BRITISH LEGION It is a busy time of the year for the Legion, as the making up and distribution 10 tins for the Annual Poppy Appeal of the boxes of poppies and collection starts in mid-October. We were disappointed that we were unable to have the house-to-house collection this year, but we were fortunate that Devon County provided a Poppy Appeal Organiser for the Branch, which allowed us to distribute poppy boxes to over 30 commercial outlets - shops, pubs, and offices in the Parish - to whom we are most grateful. We are also grateful to Becky Simmonds and Caitlin for their work as Appeal organisers. As this note is being prepared, the collection of the tins and counting of the money is taking place, and thanks are due to Karen Weir for her help. A big thankyou also to everyone who bought a poppy and made donations.

The Branch AGM was held on Thursday 10 November in the RBL room, which was well attended. Sandra Huish, Chairman, welcomed Christine Grist as a new member and reported on activities which had taken place during the year. Sandra was re-elected as Chairman as were the other main officers. Christine Grist was elected Branch Chaplain as David Keep did not seek re-election. David was thanked for his efforts over the 42 years that he had been Chaplain. A presentation was made to John Treasaden in appreciation of his great work as Poppy Appeal organiser for the last 10 years during which over ÂŁ40,000 was raised, thanks to the generosity of local residents. After the meeting members moved to the village green where a plaque was placed by the tree that had been planted by the branch to commemorate the 100 years since WW1 started; a plaque has also been placed by the tree in Exton.

On Friday 11 November we were joined by members of the public and the children and their teacher Kate from Woodbury Primary School for an Act of Remembrance at the War Memorial on the village green.

The children had been studying the history of the Battle of the Somme and read the poem In Flanders Field. They then read out the names on each poppy surrounding our War Memorial.

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Our bugler Mike Owen played The Last Post and Reveille and Christine Grist our Chaplain read the Exhortation and gave the blessing.

On Sunday 13 November the village and youth groups gathered on the village green for our annual Act of Remembrance.

Craig Dougal carried our Standard and Reg Brown led the service, followed by a short ceremony in Church led by Christine Grist. The Revd Karen gave us another meaning for the word “poppy� in her sermon.

Helped by the youth groups, a generous collection was taken for the Poppy Appeal.

WOODBURY LOCAL HISTORY SOCIETY On Thursday 3 November, the Society enjoyed a most impressive lecture from Professor Patrick Dillon, who is a 12 splendid speaker with an equally good presentation of material, entitled It’s all in the Map. Patrick is a cultural ecologist who has taught at the Universities of Exeter and Reading, and is currently Visiting Professor at the University of Eastern Finland. He is interested in how people experience the world and come to understand it.

With his wealth of experience he was able to show the audience a quite different way of viewing the landscape. He demonstrated to us that the landscape is not just as depicted in a straightforward visual way, as seen on Ordnance Survey and similar maps, but far more complex. The landscape is not just a visual history of the land, but one in which our sensory perceptions of smell, hearing and touch form a type of map. A map can show not only obvious features but also plot out people’s attitudes to the land or place delineated. He illustrated this with the results of some simple surveys done by three different groups in Woodbury Salterton to show what areas of the village were most important to them. The three groups were a mapping group (from the HEAP project), members of the Women’s Institute, and the schoolchildren. The results were plotted on a map of the village and showed how an emotional response can become part of a map. The talk was extremely stimulating and made one realise how unthinking many of us are about our surroundings.

The AGM of the Society, followed by a social gathering with refreshments, will be held on Thursday 2 February 2017.

On Thursday 2 March 2017 Julian Ware will be showing Part 2 of his film The Ware Family of Woodbury, so put the date in your diaries – 19.30 in Woodbury Village Hall.

WOODBURY NEWS CLOSING DATES 2016/17 6 DECEMBER Holiday Issue - To include annual reports from Clubs & Societies.

17 JANUARY. 21 FEBRUARY. 21 MARCH. 18 APRIL. 16 MAY. 20 JUNE. 18 JULY. 19 SEPTEMBER. 17 OCTOBER. 14 NOVEMBER. 5 DECEMBER. (SEPTEMBER ISSUE WILL BE A DIRECTORY) 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

WOODBURY C OF E PRIMARY SCHOOL So much has happened in school that it is hard to know where to start! In 13 have been visits to Dartmoor and addition to a great deal of learning there the Eden Project, as well as a visit from a mountaineer. We have also been supporting various charities, including the Royal British Legion, Samaritan’s Purse, Hospiscare and Children in Need. As always, the children inspire me every day and make me feel exceptionally proud of them all.

Alison Sparks, Headteacher Dr Croucher – our learning hero!

Dr Croucher visited us to tell us about his adventures as he climbed many of the world’s largest mountains. It was inspiring to learn how he achieved his aims despite having artificial legs beneath the knee. We are now trying to adopt his positive ‘can do’ attitude when we face challenges.

Dr Croucher mentioned that he was raising money Cake sale for Hospiscare, which inspired Jack, William and Anna to hold a cake sale and raise £200.

Year 6 Residential to Pixies Holt, Dartmoor The children in Ash class had a fantastic time on their residential visit to Dartmoor. They enjoyed the challenges of caving, orienteering and building camp fires. Friendships were strengthened and many life-long happy memories made.

Football Tournament We have enjoyed hosting a 7-a-side football tournament which was attended by 6 other local schools. The year 5 and 6 team had the opportunity to play several games with many goals scored and saved. In the end we were pipped at the post in the semi-final, losing to a very strong Lympstone side that went on to be the eventual winners. Well done to the team for showing great resilience and sportsmanship.

Remembrance Service Each year, it is a privilege 14 for us to take part in the village service. The year 6 children each contributed to the event, whilst back in school a service was led by the year 5 children.

Over the last few weeks we have been focussing upon forgiveness, one of our school values, as well as the British value of respect. Taking part in these services and learning about specific family stories helped us understand the huge sacrifice which so many have made on our behalf.

Cross Country Twenty children have taken part in a cross country race held at Bicton College. The course took the runners into two fields involving an uphill stretch which tested their young legs! All children received a certificate of completion and felt a great sense of achievement for finishing the race.

Go Ride Cycle Event Two teams of children took part in a cycling event at Bicton College, arranged through the local school sports partnership. The course was held in a field, with sharp turns and steep ascents that required the children to use the gears effectively to help them complete the course in the quickest time they could.

The children had great fun and supported each other well throughout.

Netball Tournament A team of older children enjoyed representing the school in a High 5 netball 15 tournament at Exmouth Community College.

It was a very busy afternoon with ten other schools taking part. The children played extremely well together, working as a determined team. Despite being a lot shorter than their opponents, the children won 6 of their 10 games.

Come and join the Christmas fun!

WOODBURY SCHOOL CHRISTMAS FAIR SATURDAY 10 DECEMBER, 12.00-15.00 Stalls and games, nail painting, refreshments, raffle, tombola and much more!

Visit Santa’s Grotto … Please support your PTFA. Stalls available for hire £10.00 each. Contact Steve 07950 469898 WOODBURY TWINNING ASSOCIATION VISIT TO NORMAN LOCKYER OBSERVATORY THURSDAY 1 DECEMBER, 19.15 AT THE OBSERVATORY £8pp, £4 children.

Contact Jan Owen 232694 to reserve your place.

CAROL SINGING AROUND WOODBURY This year this will take place on one evening, 15 DECEMBER STARTING AT 19.00 AT THE ARCH All welcome to sing with the Community Choir or collect for Save the Children.

SEE WOODBURY ONLINE

www.woodburydevon.co.uk

WOODBURY WOMEN’S INSTITUTE It has been a very busy Autumn for Woodbury WI with meetings, sports 16 activity, outings and holidays.

On a lovely sunny morning seven Woodbury WI members joined forty other DFWI members for a two-day trip to Blenheim Palace and Bletchley Park.

On arrival at Blenheim our guide told us about the history of the palace and the family, its most famous member being Winston Churchill. It was a fascinating tour, with a special modern art display in each room. We then enjoyed a walk in the beautiful grounds, designed by Capability Brown.

At Blenheim Palace, Bletchley Park and Alan Turing’s office

The next morning we set off early for Bletchley Park, a delightful drive through the countryside. We had a guided tour of Bletchley, our guide explaining how the facility had come to be sited where it was, who was employed there and what their different jobs were. He explained about the Colossus machine that broke the code of the German Enigma machine, possibly shortening the war by two years. These machines were the forerunners of the modern computer. We saw the rooms in which the female operators worked and heard of the secrecy involved. Personnel signed the Official Secrets Act and never divulged, even to their families, what they did in the war. Again we enjoyed the delightful grounds and everyone agreed we could have easily stayed longer.

On another trip, the WI Book Group went to see the film of The Girl on the Train, a book they had read earlier in the year. All enjoyed the film but 17 from UK to USA was a pity. agreed that changing the setting of the book WI Badminton Under the excellent tuition of Sandra Wakefield, a group of us attended an introduction to badminton. Helped by regular (and more skilled!) players from the Tuesday and Thursday morning badminton groups, we were shown essentials such as high, short and backhand serves, high shots, smashes and drop shots. Sandra also showed us how to move around the court in order to maximise our chances of returning the shuttlecock. We ended a really good morning’s tuition by playing a game and learning to score.

Man y thanks again to Sandra, whose kind patience made me think if only my PE teachers had been as pleasant as Sandra when teaching, maybe I would have actually liked sport as a pupil!

Our November meeting was a Craft Evening. The meeting opened with President Lin Milsom-Ashby welcoming members and guests, then going through the business items. Reports were given on recent trips, notices from DFWI and National HQ. Future events, including the Christmas lunch, a craft afternoon and practices for the WI Carol service, were promoted.

The Treasurer reported that our finances are in a healthy state, membership is up to 50 and we have an interesting programme to look forward to. Flower of the Month was won by Joan Mansell. Three members won raffle prizes.

The President then introduced Joan Mansell as the speaker for the evening.

She is a member of Woodbury WI and had offered to demonstrate a Christmas craft activity. Members were shown how to make an attractive and very useful Christmas card holder. It was a busy and productive session.

After all the card holders had been displayed, a vote of thanks to Joan was given by Jo. Lin Milsom-Ashby

WOODBURY SALTERTON NEWS 18 HOLY TRINITY CHURCH We really want to say Thank You When the church inspection by the Architect (Quinquennial – every five years) revealed damage to the timbers under the church floor in the kitchen, choir vestry and back of the church, which it was essential to remedy, we faced the daunting prospect of a bill for over £14,000. The work is now completed and thanks to some grants and especially some very generous donations, we have been able to pay it almost in full (just £100 short at present) without having to dip into our church financial reserves. For this we are extremely grateful. The wonderful people in our village and around have come to the aid of the church. The Treasurer Nigel Dupain has written to each and every donor expressing the gratitude we feel, but the PCC debated how to make such a thank-you public. We have decided to send personal invitations to all the donors to come to the Candlelit Carol Service on Sunday 18 December at 18.30 so we can thank them en masse - no names mentioned as some donors wished to remain anonymous. A presentation showing some of the work which has been done is planned while people are enjoying their wine and mince pies.

Remembrance Sunday Graham Gerdes led the Act of Remembrance at the lych gate. He read the story of how the poppy came to be the symbol of remembrance. Poppy wreaths were laid above the memorials under the lych gate by Patrick Bricknell on behalf of the Parish Council and by Alan Nixon, a veteran of the North Africa campaign in the time of Montgomery, on behalf of the Royal Br itish Legion.

Nearly all of the forty people present came into church afterwards for a short service led

by Mark Lovett.

Graham Gerdes leading the Act of Remembrance

Church Quizzes and Colouring Competition Entries for the Children’s Colouring Competition should be handed in at school or to Mrs Wheeler by 19Haines and Sarah Nosworthy, who Sunday 4 December. Thanks to Heidi have been selling entry forms in the school playground, and Esme Taylor and Lola Webb who have been going round in school getting people to enter.

Copies of the adult quiz Transportation have been selling very well – entries not due in until 8 January. Copies still available from Katharine Wheeler and friends in the other churches – Donoveen Alcock, Dawn Cowler and Jackie Hatton. Your help is much appreciated – thank you.

Christmas services and events · Christmas Coffee Morning - Saturday 3 December from 09.30 until 10.30 in the Church. We hope that some of the schoolchildren will come and sing to us. · Make a Christmas Table Decoration On Tuesday 13 December you are invited to enjoy a fun evening in the village hall from 19.30 with wine and nibbles and to try your hand at making a Christmas table decoration. Tickets cost £12 and include wine. · Woodbury Salterton C of E School will be performing their Nativity Play on Monday 12 at 18.30 and taking part in the Christingle Service on Thursday 15 at 14.30. Do join them for the lovely Christingle Service. · The Candlelit Carol Service will be on Sunday 18 at 18.30 – followed as usual by mulled wine and mince pies. The collection at this service will be divided between our church and the local charity ShelterBox. · Carols Round the Village Some members of the Church Choir and anyone else who cares to join us will be singing carols round the village to raise money for the Children’s Hospice South West. Meet outside the Diggers Rest on Wednesday 21 at 18.30. · The Midnight Communion Service will begin at 23.30 on Christmas Eve. WOODBURY SALTERTON PRIMARY SCHOOL PTA CHRISTMAS FAYRE THURSDAY 8 DECEMBER, 17.00-18.30 WOODBURY SALTERTON VILLAGE HALL Santa’s Grotto - bottle tombola - mince pies - tea - coffee mulled wine. Various stalls. Children’s entertainment.

Please come and support your local school

Goodbye and Thank You At the end of November a well-known and well-loved couple left our village for their20new home. Graham and Sheila Gerdes have long been so much part of our church and village community that their departure leaves a large hole. Sheila has been Church Secretary, Synod Representative, Chairman of The Friends of Holy Trinity and organiser of the flower rota. Her floral art skills have been much in demand for weddings and at church festivals. Her Christmas wreath events with Jane Butler filled the village hall and raised money for our funds. She led the team which got the monthly Family Services going and organised many fund- Sheila’s Poppy display in Church. raising events.

Serving coffee after services, doing often more than her share of the church cleaning and cooking for coffee mornings and other social events, Sheila was always there helping – and smiling!

In all this Graham was her constant support, using his computer skills to make attractive posters for all the events and typing out PCC minutes.

Sheila has served as WI President and was a Poppy Appeal Collector for many years. She helped as a Friend of the Surgery and did turns on the hospital trolley. Graham served for many years as a Parish Councillor and as Chairman of the Governors of Woodbury C of E School.

We thank them both for all this (and any contribution omitted) and wish them every happiness in the future - but we will miss them!

WOODBURY SALTERTON-DUMBUTU LINK Individual members of Exmouth and District U3A have kindly donated £334 to sponsor 13 children from the village of Dumbutu in The Gambia.

This means those girls and boys will be able to attend primary school for another year, benefiting from a rice and onion meal daily, some exercise books and uniform items. Since 1990 Woodbury Salterton-Dumbutu Link have supported some of the poorest people in the world by contributing to a sponsorship scheme at £25 per year in a direct (no expenses) fund for education. WSDL wish to thank U3A members for their generosity following on from the chairman Leo Wilson’s talk this month.

WOODBURY SALTERTON WOMEN’S INSTITUTE At the November meeting President Jenny Kemp showed the two letters of 21 thanks she had received from Hospiscare for the sum of £170 raised at her coffee morning, which had been well supported by WI friends.

Members had enjoyed the Group Meeting hosted by Magnolia WI and an outing to the ballet.

The games afternoons, followed by tea and cake, will run throughout the winter months. The December event will be held at Jenny Kemp’s house on Wednesday 21 December at 14.00.

Unfortunately the speaker booked for the November meeting had been obliged to cancel as he was having a hip operation. Secretary Terrie Newman came to the rescue and compiled a multiple choice quiz, which was enjoyed in the usual spirit of hilarity. Gill Bricknell was quizmaster and Ngaio Southard won the first prize. The second prize was won by Jill Scott after several tie breaker rounds with Ann Short, Carole Shortland and Anne Summerhayes.

The December meeting will be our Christmas Meal at the Half Way Inn on Wednesday 14. The first meeting of 2017 will be on 11 January and will be the usual wine and cheese evening, with a speaker to be arranged.

CHARITY BINGO WOODBURY SALTERTON VILLAGE HALL WEDNESDAY 30 NOVEMBER AND MONDAY 12 DECEMBER Doors open for the WESC fundraiser evenings at 19.00.

Admission is £10 and includes bingo book and refreshments.

The profits from the bingo evenings will help us fund a new minibus for the All Year Round students and the Adult Day Centre clients to use.

Having the freedom to travel and visit friends or family is something most of us do without a second thought. However, WESC’s young people need a specially adapted vehicle to take them for a trip to the beach, horse riding, sailing sessions, ten tors camping, Calvert Trust breaks, church groups, bowling, disability swims, or to visit a friend or join in music and sports groups. In fact, so many life-enhancing opportunities are only possible with access to specially adapted vehicles and this minibus will enable our students to travel safely to so many more stimulating activities.

Pat Bricknell

WOODBURY SALTERTON C OF E PRIMARY SCHOOL Our children have been enjoying the “wonders” of autumn and making it part of their learning. They are now22getting ready for Advent and preparing for Christmas.

Autumn Wonder On 14 October our children took part in their first big Collective Worship of the year as part of the school’s Harvest celebrations.

They were joined by a good number of parents and family members too.

Well done our Class 1 children who took part for the very first time.

Class One had a lovely time at Bicton Arena. They learnt lots about the trees and seeds during autumn, whilst having fun in the beautiful countryside.

Children in Need Living out our school value for the term, we took part in the national fund-raising day thinking about children less fortunate and in need of our support.

Diwali Some of the pupils in Class Two were lucky to be able to participate in a Hindu workshop at Sidmouth College where they were active in finding out about Hinduism. They participated in a variety of workshops which included having a go at yoga to discover how Hindus listen to God, and listening to and exploring how music can be used in worship. After hearing about the Hindu festival of Diwali, the children made their own rangoli patterns on Diwali lamps. The children had a fantastic time and discovered many new facts about Hinduism and the importance of religion to believers.

Well done to our newly formed and fab u lous PTA w ho organised a superb pumpkin carving competition in school, raising over £100 for school funds. With so many excellent entries, it was an extremely difficult decision to award prizes. Well done to our overall winners!

23

Foundation Stage Unit at Woodbury Salterton CE Primary School We are delighted to have finished our consultation on TUPE and are now in a position to confirm the staffing for next term in school. We are pleased to share the news that Sarah, Mary and Michelle will be involved in the Foundation Stage Unit FSU from January. This will ensure that the children’s transition is as smooth as possible. We’re excited about the opportunities that working as a Foundation Stage Unit from January will bring and have been working hard to develop what our FSU will look like.

For those families who are interested in any sessions for their child, please complete a School Nursery Application or Note of Interest form which is available from the school office and on the school website. Once we have this information, we can then confirm the exact sessions we will offer in January. We recognise that for some parents this can feel like an unsettling time. However, if you have any questions or would like to make an appointment to talk to a member of staff about this, please contact the school office. We do feel confident that we will be able to provide the same, if not more, flexibility than previously.

Our Governing Body Needs You! We are going through some changes within our Governing Body which covers both Woodbury Salterton and our partner school Littleham C of E Primary School. We have said farewell to long-serving members including Ruth Edwards and Catherine Holt. We thank them for their input and support and will be pleased to continue working with them through the Ethos Committee and Parent Links. We are looking for new members and would like to invite you to contact us. If you want to support our school through becoming a Governor or find out more information before making the commitment, please get in touch with Chair of Governors Clare Rooke via email clare.eastwood@btinternet.com.

Compassion Our Value for this term has been compassion. The word compassion comes from a combination of two words “com” which means with and “passion” which can mean24 suffering. We have been thinking about the Good Samaritan and how we can show that we are good neighbours today.

We’ve also thought about the Lost Sheep and how our feelings of compassion move us to do things that help others in need.

Advent and preparing for Christmas Christmas is always a special time at Woodbury Salterton Primary School and we are getting ready for this very special celebration of the birth of Jesus. Our children will be preparing for the annual nativity service as we tell the story of Christmas. The whole school will be going to a pantomime, which promises to be enjoyable. We will be fund-raising with our Christmas Fair where our children will come up with lots of ideas for their stalls. There is always friendly competition amongst our older students to see who can raise the most money. We may even be lucky and find that a certain visitor comes to our special grotto. Please come and join us at our Christmas events - call the school office for further details on 01395 232649.

We wish you greetings for the coming season and thank you for your support.

If you are interested in visiting our school we have places in all our year groups.

Clare Rooke

WHIST - TUESDAY 20 DECEMBER, 19.30 17 JANUARY, 19.30. WOODBURY SALTERTON VILLAGE HALL FRIENDS OF WOODBURY SURGERY ANNUAL GENERAL MEETING MONDAY 28 NOVEMBER 14.30 IN THE CHURCH ROOMS Refreshments available after the meeting CHARITY COFFEE MORNINGS 10.00-12.00, EVERY TUESDAY CHURCH ROOMS, WOODBURY Coffee/tea and a homemade cake on vintage china. £2. 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.

EXTON NEWS ST ANDREW’S CHURCH, 25 EXTON SUNDAY SERVICES 1st Sunday - Advent 2, 4 December, 18.00 Evening Service.

2nd Sunday - Advent 3, 11 December, 09.30 Eucharist Service.

3rd Sunday - Advent 4, 18 December, 09.30 Lay-led Service.

4th Sunday - Christmas Day, 09.00 Family Eucharist Service.

1st January - Christmas 2, 11.00 A joint Mission Community Eucharist Service at St Swithun’s Church Woodbury.

EXTON GARDEN CLUB The speaker at our October meeting was Julie Steed and her subject was Wildlife Gardening. Julie works with DEFRA and has been involved in detailed studies about the safe use of pesticides, none of which are 100% safe. She stressed the need to read labels and instructions with care. When applying pesticides, increasing the strength does not increase efficiency and can be more likely to cause damage.

Julie gave us an insight into the life cycle of aphids. She explained that aphids and blackfly cause problems as they suck out sap, and the sooty mould that they can cause spreads viruses. Because of this, most seed potatoes, for instance, are grown in Scotland or Ireland where there are fewer aphids. Adult aphids lay eggs in the autumn in a host plant, where they overwinter. On hatching in spring, the all-female aphids lay eggs themselves, and when the plant they are on is exhausted, they fly to the next.

In any one year there can be 40 generations of aphid – so no wonder we have such a job trying to keep them under control. Ants can help with this as they take aphids to harvest the honeydew they produce.

Julie referred to a publication by Ken Thompson, who studied many gardens and selected some of the features which encourage wildlife, something that wasn’t always encouraged in the past. As the countryside has lost so many hedgerows and meadows, the diversity of gardens, with different colours, scents and foliage, attracts a variety of insects and other wildlife. Garden size and situation isn’t important, but we should aim for a structured garden, including trees and shrubs, ivy and grasses, ponds (preferably without fish), compost heaps, dead wood and some long grass. We are no longer encouraged to leave some nettles growing, but were also told that it is better to leave the autumn tidy-up until the spring.

Careful use of slug killer pellets was also stressed – they should be sprinkled around sparingly and not left in a pile. All in all, this interesting talk gave us good and helpful advice.

EXTON LADIES GROUP The Work of ShelterBox by Jim Cobley All too frequently it seems we 26 hear news of natural or man-made disasters affecting groups of people round the world. It’s actually all too easy to become inured to such events. But that’s not what happened to one Rotarian and his wife who were watching helicopter deliveries of aid on their television only to see dropped packages breaking and their contents being damaged beyond use. ‘There must be a better method than this’ they mused and ShelterBox was born. In their first year, supported by Rotary Clubs throughout the UK, six boxes were assembled and taken to areas of need. Each box contains materials to provide ten people with safe shelter and the tools to help rebuild their communities. At our November meeting we were very privileged to have Jim Cobley, a volunteer with ShelterBox, to talk to us about this amazing organisation.

Do you remember the Boxing Day tsunami of 2004? Most of us were enjoying the aftermath of our usual comfortable and overindulgent Christmas when the news of an earthquake and subsequent tsunami in the Indian Ocean came through. This was the deadliest tsunami in recorded history with over 250,000 people killed and almost 2 million displaced. The public response was just staggering and ShelterBox ended up sending out aid worth more than £6 million in response to the tsunami alone. In just a few years ShelterBox had grown from being a small volunteer-run charity to one of the world’s most dynamic and effective aid agencies. Each box costs about £600 and the charity has a £19,000,000 turnover, of which about half comes from UK supporters with a quarter of this being provided by Rotary.

Now, although still supported by an extensive volunteer network, the charity has a core professional staff and prides itself on the quality of the aid it provides. The content of the boxes is determined with great care to ensure that materials are durable and suitable for the conditions to which they are sent. For example, tents to be used in cold climates have a thermal lining as well as waterproof outer layer, mosquito nets are a staple component of boxes sent to hot environments, eating and cooking sets are of high quality metal which is not only durable but can be cleaned easily. Solar lights are included as well as crayons, pencils and notebooks for children. Recently, and depending on the situation, they have also provided extra items, such as SchoolBoxes that contain everything needed to get lessons up and running after a disaster.

Aid is delivered as fast as possible to wherever it is needed but, Jim told us, despite excellent organisation and planning, often things don’t run smoothly.

After the Haiti earthquake in 2010 a plane was hired to fly out the Green Boxes, but of course Haiti was in chaos and the plane was forced to land in 27 responding to a different crisis in neighbouring Dominican Republic. When another country, they were told they would have to pay 100 dollars per box to the president before the boxes would be allowed in. Considerable diplomatic skills were required!

Currently ShelterBox is operating in Haiti, Ecuador, Niger, Cameroon, Iraq and Syria providing a lifeline and hope to millions of desperate people.

Jim’s talk was interesting, informative and inspirational; it was enjoyed by all those present.

8 December Christmas Lunch at the Puffing Billy.

Please book with Pauline Sturtridge.

12 January 2017 TBA More details about the Exton Ladies Group can be found on the Exton village website http://www.extondevon.org.uk/. We usually meet in Exton Village Hall at 14.15 on the second Thursday of the month and you would be most welcome to join us. Please just come along.

ST ANDREW’S CHRISTMAS FAYRE 3 DECEMBER IN THE CHURCH, 14.00-16.00 There will be festive stalls containing something for all ages, a raffle and tombola with many exciting prizes and other interesting activities.

You can also rest your feet with an enjoyable afternoon tea.

CAROLS AROUND THE CHRISTMAS TREE WEDNESDAY 14 DECEMBER, 19.00 Outside St Andrew’s Church or, if wet, inside the church, followed by mince pies and a drink in the hall.

A collection will be made in aid of The Children’s Society.

CRCRM LYMPSTONE ANNUAL COMMUNITY CHRISTMAS CONCERT TUESDAY 20 DECEMBER, 14.30 - 15.30 Names and all details to Sandra Huish please by Friday 2 December.

Tel: 01395 232696.

PRACTICAL ARRANGEMENTS FOR CHRISTMAS AND THE NEW YEAR 28the C&NY period is proving very hard Information about arrangements over to find!

Everyone directs us to their websites, as details about many services and amenities are not currently available.

So, please consult the relevant website for up-to-date announcements.

Rubbish and recycling collections: www.eastdevon.gov.uk (01395 571515) Leaflets detailing revised collection times will be left at your house. These leaflets will also contain information about Christmas tree and Christmas card recycling.

Train services: www.nationalrail.co.uk (03457 484950).

National Express bus services: www.nationalexpress.com (08717 818181).

Bus services: www.traveline.org.uk (0871 200223, or 01392 427711 for Stagecoach).

Woodbury Post Office & Londis Store (01395 233864 ): Opening times will be posted in the shop as soon as they are known.

Clyst St Mary Post Office and Store (01392 875647): Opening times will be posted in the shop as soon as they are known.

Mobile Library www.devon.gov.uk/libraries (03451 551001): The final visit of 2016 will be on Friday 16 December, times as usual for Woodbury Salterton, Woodbury and Exton. Information about dates for 2017 will be available from the mobile library.

Woodbury Surgery www.woodburysurgery.com (01395 232509): Please refer to the box below for details.

WOODBURY SURGERY CHRISTMAS & NEW YEAR HOLIDAYS We will be closed Monday 26 and Tuesday 27 December 2016 and Monday 2 January 2017.

OPEN SURGERIES will be held from 08.45 on Wednesday 28 December and Tuesday 3 January.

No appointment is necessary, but please arrive by 10.30.

For urgent healthcare queries when we are closed, call “NHS 111� by dialling 111. NHS111 is a 24 hour non-emergency medical helpline.

You may be directed to an appropriate local service, for example, Devon Doctors on Call, a Minor Injuries Unit, Emergency Department, community nurse or community pharmacy.

NHS111 is free to call from landlines and mobile phones.

If you need an ambulance for a medical emergency at any time dial 999.

LETTER TO THE EDITOR From Dan Simpson, Landlord of The29 White Hart The White Hart has been undergoing complete refurbishment and is due to launch on 9 December (subject to the builders finishing on time). Whilst significant investment has been made on the building as a whole, we have been careful to complement the building by restoring as much as we can in a traditional format. The skittles alley has been retained and has been completely upgraded. It is now ideal for hosting any type of event, including professional events and special occasions. It now feels more integral as a warm dining area and part of the main pub. Our new kitchen will open around one week after our launch. There are lots of changes that we’re confident you’ll love.

We are keen to recruit fabulous people to join our growing team, so if you would like to join the fun, contact me for a chat! We’re very community orientated too, so if you have a group, a sports team, a charity, a project, or something else that is dear to Woodbury which needs support or would benefit from a fresh point of view, do get in touch.

As your new landlord, the rest of the team and I very much look forward to welcoming you all back to The White Hart.

Dan Simpson. 07523 494313. dja.simpson@icloud.com From Dr Lisa Gibbons I would like to let people in Woodbury know about two hard-working village youngsters.

Oscar Gibbons and Thomas Coldrick both sing in Exeter Cathedral Choir.

They will be singing in a number of concerts and services over the Christmas period. This year members of the choir and Cathedral are selling some beautiful Christmas cards of art designed by south west artists to fund raise for the choir. The cards are on sale in the Cathedral shop and in the upcoming Christmas market.

We hope people may wish to buy the cards to support the choir which will benefit many children in the village and hopefully continue to inspire other children to follow the wonderful tradition of English choral music.

ROYAL BRITISH LEGION COFFEE MORNINGS 8 & 22 DECEMBER. 5 & 19 JANUARY. 2 & 16 FEBRUARY 10.00 - 11.30, RBL ROOM behind WOODBURY VILLAGE HALL All are invited to join us on alternate Thursdays.

ROUND AND ABOUT DEATH 30 Margaret Parkinson There will be many in Woodbury who will be very sad to hear of the death of Margaret Parkinson. She died peacefully at her retirement home near Goring-on-Thames on 18 October after a long and full life, many years of it in Woodbury where she was an active member of the community. She was a founder member of the Local History Society and a past President of our WI. She was also a keen supporter of the Woodbury Music Society. Margaret’s vast knowledge of ecology and all aspects of natural history are reflected in her superb contribution to the Woodbury Parish book Living a Century of Change, 1894-1994 wherein she documents the effects of change on wildlife of that period. She put her knowledge into practice as the first tree warden to be appointed for Woodbury Ward and held the post for several years.

Sylvia Wickenden and Sally Elliott We are sorry to report the death of Bertha (Penny) Summerfield (nee Stamp) aged 97 years. She was the aunt of Antony Stamp, to whom we send our condolences.

THANKS A big thank you to everyone who took apples from the basket outside Broadway House and made a donation to FORCE raising an amazing £131.87! Mike and Sally Bull and Liz Ollerenshaw Alan and Maureen Wright would like to thank their friends in Woodbury who have supported them during Alan’s illness. He is now well on the road to recovery. Special thanks to Chris Lear.

WOODBURY CHRISTMAS FAYRE SATURDAY 3 DECEMBER, 10.00 - 16.00 WOODBURY VILLAGE HALL Come and see a wonderful selection of quality crafts and fine art paintings.

Ideal for that special present for that special person.

Teas and coffee, cakes and mince pies.

All donations to lighting up St Swithun’s Church over the Christmas period and New Year.

WOODBURY TWINNING ASSOCIATION ANNUAL GENERAL MEETING 24 JANUARY 2017 AT 19.30 THE DUBUISSON ROOM, WOODBURY VILLAGE HALL

THE BLUESBURY’S RIDE FOR LIFE CHRISTMAS PARTY Once again it’s time for The Travelling Bluesburys to put on their their Christmas hats and formally invite 31 the entire population of Woodbury, Woodbury Salterton and Exton, their friends, families and anyone else to their Christmas party on Saturday 17 December in the Malt House at the Maltsters Arms, Woodbury, 19.30 till late.

Appearing this year are The Low Notes who had to pull out of the summer festival due to illness, hospital appointments and age, Hooper and Mills who are appearing despite the age thing and The Travelling Bluesburys who refuse to grow old (or even up). Doors open at 19.30. Admission to the event will once again be free.

Right: The Low Notes

The Travelling Bluesburys

There will be a bucket collection throughout the evening to raise funds for Devon Freewheelers. Commonly known as the BloodBikes, this hardworking organisation provide a free out of hours service to the NHS transporting blood and other vital medical supplies from hospital to hospital quickly and efficiently. Their motto is Ride For Life.

Find out more at https:// bloodbikesdevon.org.uk - a very worthy cause we think many would want to support.

Meantime plans are afoot for the summer festival… it never stops!

CHRISTMAS WISHES 32 send Christmas greetings and best Colin and Lin Ashby wishes for the New Year to all friends and neighbours. This year they are making a donation to the St Swithun’s Bell Fund.

Margaret Batten wishes friends and neighbours a Happy Christmas and a peaceful New Year. A donation will be made to Médecins Sans Frontières.

Sue Bury wishes all her friends in Woodbury a Happy Christmas and a healthy New Year. She is supporting FORCE in lieu of sending local cards.

Jean Carpenter sends her very sincere good wishes for a Happy Christmas and a very happy, healthy and, hopefully, prosperous 2017. She is cutting down on the Christmas cards this year so apologises for the formal greeting.

She hopes to see all her friends in the New Year and wants to tell them how much she values their friendship, without which she would be lost.

Gordon Davis wishes all his friends and neighbours a Happy Christmas and Peaceful New Year. Instead of sending Christmas cards locally, he will be making a donation to the British Stammering Association.

Christmas greetings from Bill Fenwick, Westhorpe, who will be donating to Marie Curie in lieu of cards.

John and Elspeth Fisher wish their friends and neighbours a Very Merry Christmas and Good Health and All Happiness in the New Year. A donation to go to CRP Bangladesh.

Elizabeth Gage sends all her friends and neighbours best wishes for a Merry Christmas and a Joyful New Year. She will be making a donation to the British Heart Foundation.

Nancie Grist sends greetings for a blessed Christmas and every happiness in the New Year to all friends and neighbours. She will not be sending Christmas cards locally, but will be making a special donation to ShelterBox in lieu.

Carolyn and David Keep wish all their friends and neighbours a Happy Christmas and a peaceful New Year. Instead of local cards, they have sent a donation to Christian Aid. Chris Lear and family wish everyone a happy Christmas and best wishes for the New Year. A donation from the family will go to FORCE.

Julie and John Maidment would like to wish all their friends in Woodbury a Happy Christmas and a Healthy New Year. A 33 of sending individual donation is being sent to FORCE in lieu cards.

Derrick and Marian Mead wish all their friends in Woodbury a happy time at Christmas, and hope for a more peaceful year in 2017. They will not be sending cards, but will make a donation to St Petrock’s, for the homeless people in Exeter. Best wishes to all.

Hazel Pyatt sends best wishes to all her friends in Woodbury. She will not be sending any cards this year due to difficulties with failing eyesight. She wishes all her friends a happy and peaceful Christmas. A donation will be sent to ShelterBox to contribute towards the wonderful work they do; they are always first on the scene of any disaster.

Pam and John Rose-Casemore wish all their friends in Woodbury a very happy and blessed New Year. Instead of sending cards, a donation will be sent to Barnardos to help the children at Christmas to enjoy themselves.

THE CHRISTMAS CARD LIST - anon (submitted by Jean Carpenter) There is a list of folk I know All written in a book And every year at Christmas time I go and take a look.

And that is when I realise Those names are all a part Not of the book they’re written in But deep inside my heart.

Once you’ve known that “Someone” All the years cannot erase The memory of a pleasant word Or of a friendly face.

So never think my Christmas cards Are just a mere routine Of names upon a list that are Forgotten in between.

For each name stands for someone Who has touched my life sometime.

And in that meeting they’ve become A special friend of mine.

I really feel that I’m composed Of each remembered name.

And my life is so much better Than it was before they came.

For when I send a Christmas card That is addressed to you, It is because you’re on the list Of folks I’m indebted to.

And whether I have known you For many years or few The greatest gift that God can give Is having friends like you!

A PROFILE OF CHRIS CANT

34

When I first moved to Woodbury and let it be known that I would write the odd bit for Woodbury News, somebody I should have listened to said: ‘Go and talk to Chris Cant, the priest who has for the last six years been part of the Anglican ministry team in the parish. He has had an adventurous life.’

Well, I finally met this dedicated servant of Christ in his family home in Budleigh.

You know how the Bible is full of characters who, because of the strength of their faith, cast themselves on life without the sort of day-to-day planning most of us think vital? Well, he is one of those. Chris was sent to Lancing, a public school with the ‘daily chapel habit’ and, although he came from a Christian family, it was all a bit too much and he reacted against it. Even so, by the time he went to Oxford to read chemistry, he had found a living faith in God through his home church – St Andrew’s, Chorleywood. He developed a concern for people living in countries where it is hard to live as a Christian.

There had already been an ongoing pattern of time spent with like-minded Christian people back home in Chorleywood, but leaving university involved choices and change. Rather than settling down to a job, Chris wanted to travel and so when a friend invited him to come and stay in his home in Bangladesh, that was where he decided to go.

He flew to Bombay where another friend was working with an international evangelical group, OM. He’d worked with them in Europe in previous summers. It just happened that a van was leaving for Calcutta and so he hitched a lift. He then travelled by train and bus to Dacca, the capital of Bangladesh.

He volunteered with the World Health Organization working on the smallpox eradication programme. It was an emergency situation over a huge 35 rural area. ‘We had to trace the contacts of people who had contracted smallpox and inoculate them before they could pass it on. Often we found the patients were sitting up, covered in pustules. We would go back to the village and find that most of them had died, especially the children.’ Chris asked himself: ‘Why are these people suffering, who have nothing, when we in the west have so much? It was very distressing.’

Six months of that was enough; Chris was still in his early twenties when he travelled half-way down the east coast of India to join a ship called The Logos, also run by OM, which was on its way round South East Asia spreading the Christian word via book sales and public meetings. ‘By far the most popular books we sold were western cookery books.’ Chris was still struggling with some of his experiences in Bangladesh and this, coupled with a ten day sea-sick voyage from Singapore to Bombay, brought him to a crisis of faith. Even so he decided to continue with OM and join the evangelistic teams in India as a driver.

It was while working with tribal Christians in the State of Bihar that he developed the idea of doing something similar later in life. This episode finished with Chris travelling by public transport to Kabul and driving a truck back to Europe overland with a colleague.

Cont’d/...

CHRIS CANT Cont’d/...

Living back in England, Chris embarked on a PGCE and a period of teaching 36 science. However, ‘It was not a profession for which I was temperamentally suited.’ There followed a year on a kibbutz in Israel.

Back to the UK for study at the All Nations Christian College in Ware where his wife-to-be, Joanna, was a fellow student. After Ware he set off for Pakistan with Interserve, an interdenominational missionary organization.

After two years’ Sindhi language study he started work training the local church workers and visiting village families with them. He was based in a town 30 miles south of Hyderabad called Tando Mohammed Khan or ‘TMK’ for short. Around that time Joanna came to Hyderabad independently to help with Bible translation. It wasn’t long before Chris and Joanna got together and married back in the UK. They returned to TMK early in 1986 with their first child already on the way and began setting up a Christian community on a piece of church land a mile out of town with no electricity or mains water.

Chris was ordained by the Bishop of Hyderabad but had to come back to the UK in 1992 after becoming diabetic. After a two-year theological course at Wycliffe Hall in Oxford, he did a curacy and then 12 years of Anglican ministry in Hainault, Essex.

Now his six years as part of the ministry team in Woodbury have come to an end, and he and Joanna are celebrating with a visit to TMK and other places in Sindh to find friends they have known since they were first married in the early 80s.

They are hoping to have an opportunity to share some of their experiences in the coming months.

Andy Price OCTOBER WEATHER In what I think of as the nice part of the year, April to October, when I can catch a trout with rod and line, rainfall in Woodbury was 40% below the 25 year average. This is nothing like the very severe drought we had in 1976 but still exceptional. During the last ten days of the month the wind went to the NE and we had a couple of ground frosts plus some foggy mornings courtesy of being stuck between high pressure over Scandinavia and low pressure in the Atlantic. During two visits to Chew Lake I saw a flock of 17 great white egrets dancing at the water’s edge which had the twitchers out in force. I also put up several wisps of great snipe; the bulk of these birds are migrants from Scotland and further North and are said to come ahead of severe weather. Rainfall: 56mm (2.2ins and 50% of average), max/min temperatures 18C/2C. PJH

CLINTON DEVON ESTATES - CHRISTMAS TREES Each year Clinton Devon Estates select two 30-foot Norway 37deliver the trees to Spruce from our woodlands, harvest and Exeter Cathedral. One is taken inside the building and the second becomes the Hospiscare Tree of Light and is erected on Exeter Cathedral's Green from early December until Twelfth Night, on January 6.

The Tree of Light is lit at dusk each evening, providing a symbol of comfort and pleasure to everyone at Christmas time. The Hospiscare charity invite people to Light up a Life in memory of lost family and friends. They also organise twelve services across Exeter and East Devon to remember loved ones at what can be a difficult time of year. For details of the services and to make a dedication visit www.hospiscare.co.uk/light-up-a-life.

Although Clinton Devon Estates no longer produce Christmas trees commercially, we honour the tradition of many years and donate this seasonal decoration to churches, schools and communities with historical links to the Estate. In early December we donate and deliver 10-foot trees to many local churches including Holy Trinity, Woodbury, which we source from a specialist Christmas tree grower.

The Norway spruce (Picea abies) remains the traditional Christmas tree, although faster growing fir species with non-drop properties such as Nordmann Fir (Abies nordmanniana), Fraser Fir (Abies fraseri) and Noble Fir (Abies nobilis) are now much in favour too.

Most cut Christmas trees will last over four weeks and should be treated as you would cut flowers. When you get the tree home leave it outside, or in a cool place until needed. When you are ready to decorate it, make a fresh cut to remove about a 1/2-inch thick disk of wood from the base of the trunk before putting the tree in the stand that can be topped up with water. The outer layers of wood are the most efficient in taking up water and should not be removed. At the end of the season Christmas trees can be taken to the Recycling Centres at Knowle or Sidmouth.

We wish all readers of Woodbury News a very Happy Christmas with all the beauty, blessings and joy this season brings.

Kate Ponting LIGHT UP A LIFE AND REMEMBER SOMEONE SPECIAL Your local remembrance service will be at HOLY TRINITY CHURCH, ROLLE ROAD, EXMOUTH WEDNESDAY 7 DECEMBER, 18.00 To put your dedication into our Book of Memories that will be at your local service, please pick up a leaflet at our nearest shop, visit our website www.hospiscare.co.uk, or contact us on 01392 688020 or fundraising@hospiscare.co.uk

SMALL ADVERTISEMENTS FOR SALE Bunk Beds, solid pine 38 construction. Easily dismantled and reassembled. With mattresses and ladder. Ideal for visiting grandchildren. £80 ono. Tel: 233514.

BUSINESS ADVERTISEMENTS PET FEEDING SERVICE Will Cartlidge - offering a helping hand for when you’re away. £5.50 a day to feed your pets. Tel: 07522 351637.

SANTA VISITS - avoid Grotto queues, the Christmases will come to you!

With stories of elves and baby reindeer, a sing-along around the tree and presents for everyone. Dates going fast. Ring 01395 233874.

OFFICE SPACE FOR RENT Woodbury Salterton. Private house, with room and facilities. £4 per hour, Monday to Friday. Flexible arrangement.

Tel: David 01395 233297 / davidrouse@talktalk.net. Reference required. (2/4) TOOBY SWEEPS New Chimney Sweep in Town (Former Royal Marine), NACs Member. Certificate given. From £35 Call 07803 059844. (2/2) 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 (6/12) FOOT HEALTH PRACTITIONER & REFLEXOLOGIST Former RGN provides routine nail and skin care (inc corns and callus) or a reflexology treatment. Nicky Mattin (MAFHP itec RF) 01395 233222/07807603690 (3/12) PROPERTY MAINTENANCE – James Waddell Interior & Exterior, Carpentry, Flooring, Fencing & Gates, Plumbing, Decking, Bathrooms & Kitchens, General Repairs. Free Advice & Estimates 01395 263496 (7/12) FOOT HEALTH PRACTITIONER Nail Cutting and Treatment of Corns, Callus and Verrucas - Home Visits. Contact Lindsey Waddell MAFHP 01395 263496. (11/12) LITERACY TUTOR Qualified teacher and specialist in Special Needs offering 1:1 private tuition for children and adults to support learning in literacy and language skills. See www.katecoldrick.com for further information or phone Kate Coldrick BMus (Hons), BSc (Hons) Psych, PGCE on 01395 232472 (9/12) ROOFING Woodbury based RWI Roofing Specialising in Slating, Tiling, Re-Roof, New Roof, Repairs, Guttering. For a friendly, reliable service call Ray 232926, or 07988 691051 (As recmd in OurLocalExpert.co.uk) (6/12)

SEE WOODBURY NEWS ONLINE - www.woodburynews.co.uk

SQUIRREL COTTAGE Self catering 16th century property full of character, available for weekly holidays and short breaks. Sleeps 5. Graded 39 Tel: Kay 0776 9975557 (9/12) 5 Star. www.thecottagecompanydevon.co.uk GIVE BIRTH CALMLY - relaxed, confident and alert with KG Hypnobirthing classes. Find out more: libbyclaphamhypnotherapy.co.uk phone: 07986 157854 (4/12) BED & BREAKFAST SW Tourism 2016 Gold Award winner. Certificate of Excellence from Trip Advisor. 16thC Devon longhouse on working dairy farm.

Sally Glanvill, Rydon Farm 232341 www.rydonfarmwoodbury.co.uk (6/12) HOME SWEET HOME DECORATORS - Lucy Ryan Lady interior and exterior decorator. Walls, ceilings, woodwork, up-cycled furniture, garden painting and more. Professional, very tidy, competitive, reliable and friendly. Fully DBS checked. Free estimates. Phone: 07484 272534 (12/12) RUBBISH REMOVALS Domestic and Commercial. Environment Agency licensed. No job too small. Tel: 0800 335 7610 / 07979 841376. www.rubbishremovalsexeter.com (8/12) WOODBURY HOLIDAY HOME TO RENT in centre of village. Luxury accommodation for 4 people, 2 en-suites, parking, courtyard garden. Weekly holidays & short breaks. www.woodburyholidays.co.uk 01579 350365. (5/12) COMPUTER REPAIRS AND UPGRADES; Broadband and wireless connections; Data recovery and backup; Windows, iPads and Apple computers, Virus and spyware removal; No fix no fee - Evening visits to suit you. Contact: Mark Doyle 01395 233694 (5/12) FARMHOUSE BED & BREAKFAST AND APARTMENT, twin and double rooms. CL Caravan Club site. Jenny Broom, Courtbrook Farm, Clyst St George. 01392 877710. www.courtbrook.co.uk (4/12) 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 (11/12) 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 (12/12) 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, just call Beverley Simcox on 232858 and she will put you in contact with your local deliverer.

FORTHCOMING EVENTS 28 Nov. 30 Nov. 1 Dec. 2 Dec. 3 Dec. 3 Dec. 3 Dec. 3 Dec. 6 Dec. 8 Dec. 8 Dec. 8 Dec. 10 Dec. 12 Dec. 13 Dec. 14 Dec. 14 Dec. 15 Dec. 17 Dec. 20 Dec. 21 Dec. 21 Dec. 2017 11 Jan. 12 Jan. 14 Jan. 14 Jan. 24 Jan. 28 Jan. 2 Feb. 9 Feb. 2 March

40 Friends of Woodbury Surgery AGM. 14.30, Church Rooms.

Charity Bingo. WSVH. Doors open 19.00.

Twinning Visit to Norman Lockyer Observatory.

Tennis Club Christmas Party. 19.00, Church Rooms.

St Swithun’s Church Christmas lych gate. 09.30-12.30.

Woodbury Christmas Fayre. 10.00-16.00. WVH. Christmas Fair at St Andrew’s Church, Exton. 14.00-16.00.

Christmas Open Studio, 10.00-17.00. Hollytree, Newton Poppleford.

Opening up to God. 19.30-21.00. Church Rooms. (232318) Woodbury Salterton School Xmas Fayre. 17.00-18.30, WSVH. Woodbury WI: Seated one day at the Organ … WVH, 19.00.

Exton Ladies Christmas Lunch at the Puffing Billy.

Woodbury C of E Primary School Christmas Fair. 12.00-15.00.

Charity Bingo. WSVH. Doors open 19.00.

Garden Club Christmas Social.

Exton Carols Round the Tree.

WS WI Christmas meal. Halfway Inn. Carol Singing around Woodbury. 19.00. The Arch.

Bluesburys Ride for Life Christmas Party. 19.30. The Maltsters.

Marines Christmas Concert. 14.30, Lympstone Commando.

WS WI Games Afternoon, 14.00.

WS Carols Round the Village, 18.30.

WS WI Wine and cheese evening.

Woodbury WI: Have Wig will travel.

Woodbury Community Orchard Wassail.

W/S Bangers and Mash Supper.

Woodbury Twinning Association AGM. 19.30. WVH. FoSS AGM. Concert and supper. 19.30.

Local History Society AGM. Woodbury WI: Birthday party, bring & share.

The Ware Family of Woodbury film by Julian Ware. WVH. 19.30.

Do email your photos of local people or events to Karen at karensquires100@ gmail.com The editorial team still needs 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?

CHRISTMAS OPEN STUDIO SATURDAY 3 DECEMBER, 10.00 TO 17.00 Hollytree, Hunger Hill, Newton Poppleford, Devon EX10 0BZ Ann Bruford - contemporary jeweller.

Linda Dowsett - watercolours, cards and prints.

Judy Edwards - sculptor and casting workshops.

Chris Taylor - artisan crafts from Africa and India.

Helluvakinky Woodworks (Nick Hannan) - furniture and sculpture from locally sourced oak.

Jules Hester - felt artist.

Zsuzsi Morrison - enamel artist.

PICTURE FRAMING

ADVERTISING RATES 41SMALL ADS.: (3 lines) private £2.00. (3 lines) Business £5.00 (£50.00 per annum).

DISPLAY ADS. £17 quarter page (£185 per annum).

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.

WOODBURY SALTERTON

Artwork, photos, memorabilia,etc.

40 years experience with Fred Keetch of Exeter & Exmouth

W.S. TAXI

local collection and delivery in this magazine area SIMON BOLT Tel: 01395 233407 or email: simonbolt60@gmail.com

1 - 8 People LOCAL & LONG DISTANCE

S G Digital TV Solutions 11 Winslade Park Avenue, Clyst St Mary, Exeter, EX5 1DA.

· · · ·

Installers & Problem Solvers of: Digital TV's & Recorders Smart TV’s & On-Demand Routers Setup Blu-Ray & Home Cinema

TV Signal Problems?

Qualified Technician with years of trade experience.

Competitive Rates.

Tel: 01392 874578 Mobile: 07799 303944 Email: digitaltvsolutions@hotmail.co.uk Web: www.sgdigitaltvsolutions.co.uk

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43 Are you looking for a quality bicycle to enjoy the countryside?

Does your existing bicycle need a service and some TLC from an expert?

Or do you want to embrace the future of cycling on a top of the range eBike?

Here at iBike motion, the customer is at the centre of everything we do – you can rest assured that whether you are looking for advice on an upgrade, looking for a brand new bicycle or requiring a full service on your existing bicycle, the team at iBike motion are on hand to help.

The Retreat, The Arch, Woodbury, EX5 1LL 01395 262354

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TREE SURGERY & CONSULTANCY

· Fully Insured and qualified staff · All aspects of tree work · Stump grinding · Tree survey/reports · FREE quotations Office: 01884 232911 Mob: 07703105126 24 hr call out enquiries@arboricare.co.uk www.arboricare.co.uk

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WOODBURY GARAGE

¨ MOTS ¨ SERVICE ¨ REPAIRS ¨ ALL MAKES & MODELS ¨ ENGINE DIAGNOSTICS The Arch, Woodbury, Devon, EX5 1LL woodburygarage@hotmail.co.uk T: 01395 233004 M: 07527 125956

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47

Woodbury Dance Studio

RAD BALLET Grades and Majors

Children from 2½ years Principal: Mary Griffiths ARAD, MA(Oxon) Tel: 01395 271249 marygriffiths@hotmail.com www.woodburydance.co.uk All classes at Woodbury C of E Primary School

James Sliman Electrical Services Reliable, Fully Qualified, Local Electrician with over 15 years experience.

All aspects of electrical work undertaken from an extra socket to a full rewire Free Estimates - No job too small All work fully insured & guaranteed All work inspected, tested & certified to current standards.

01395 276323 07866 313812 www.jslimanelectrician.co.uk Previous customers said:

“Very neat & tidy work, & a nice guy.”

“I am delighted to recommend James, he is highly competent and reliable, I trust him implicitly.’

For further references please visit: www.ourlocalexpert.co.uk

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