Spring 2003

Editorial

Ted Whitehead

It’s true - we are never too old to learn. I never knew there had been a Post Office at Valdivia. I remember Pigeon Post in Iron Mine Lane, Meavy Post Office, Holly Wood Post Office at Dousland and the old Post Office at Backtown, Walkhampton, all now private residences.

As the Clerk reports, there is to be a seat on Walkhampton Green at long last. There were 2 in my original drawing when Buck Taylor, Lou Trembath and I were planning the bus shelter and the Green in 1985, the only changes being turning the whole bus shelter by 90 degrees, and adding a window opening. Use the seat and enjoy this village asset.

The Walkhampton Church car park extension as mentioned in the Summer 2001 edition of the Burrator BEACON has now been completed. This will hopefully mean no more dirty shoes for visitors or cars stranded on muddy grass.

Articles for the Summer 2003 edition by the 15^th of May please.

Chairman’s Report

Ann Ellis

I am now ending two years as Chair of Burrator Parish Council and look forward to someone else taking over in May. I would like to take this opportunity to thank all members of the Council for their support and to the Clerk for his hard work and sense of humour.

This is a good time for any person interested in becoming a Councillor to put their name forward. There are still vacancies on the Council, so now is your chance to be at the coalface of democracy.

One of my most recent tasks, a pleasurable one, was to wish Captain Cross a very Happy 90th Birthday. Captain Cross, who lives in the parish of Meavy, was a member of the Burrator Parish Council for many years and indeed was Chairman during the initial grouping of Meavy, Walkhampton and Sheepstor. I am sure everyone will wish him many happy, healthy years ahead.

Finally, I would like to wish everyone a Happy Easter.

Clerk’s Report

Mike Spry

Planning issues have seen a significant amount of activity in the Parish since the last issue. The Planning Inspector held an Informal Meeting in Meavy in respect of the Application for 1 & 2 Meavy Cottages and there has again been a different result which will require yet another change to one of the proposed properties - it will be interesting to see what eventually gets built. The Planning Application in respect of Little Meadow, Walkhampton received “No Objections” when considered by the Planning Committee, the application relating to proposals to build 9 dwellings, of which two will be for local needs housing. The Parish Council took the unusual step of holding an Open evening to enable anyone interested, who perhaps had concerns or reservations, to view the Plans and discuss points with either the applicants, their architects or the Planning Committee. Everyone considered this a most worthwhile idea and the opportunity was taken by a dozen or so “locals” to attend and inspect etc.

The model aircraft flying licence for the Catstor Flying Club at Greenwell Farm has been renewed by Dartmoor National Park Authority (DNPA) with no modification to the conditions. Although Burrator Planning Committee had no objections in principle it was opposed to Sunday flying; the representations of the many local residents who attended the Planning Meeting, and the numerous written objections received, failed to sway DNPA in their opinion that the licence should be extended.

The proposal to build a two bedroom dwelling alongside Walkhampton Post Office was given approval by The Planning Committee. They considered it very important that Mr Long be assisted in diversifying as this will strengthen his position financially and no doubt help secure the future of both the Shop & Post Office - both vital ingredients for a healthy Village life!

Two meetings were held regarding “the implications of Selected Rural Settlement Status for Walkhampton & Meavy”. The Council met officials of DNPA informally and a Public Meeting was held on 3rd March at Meavy Hall to give local people the opportunity to meet Graham Wall (Chief Planning Officer, DNPA) & his colleague Philip Markham. The Council are opposed to Meavy’s inclusion as a Selected Rural Settlement, but recently altered their stance in respect of Walkhampton; the Meavy area referred to was explained by Graham Wall as being “the area between The Royal Oak Inn & The School”. The Meeting, very well chaired by The Vice Chairman of The Parish Council, Keith Scrivener, was attended by 31 people and conducted in a very amicable but forthright manner and there can be no doubt that the DNPA officials left with no illusions as to the views and feelings of the majority. An informal vote at the end indicated that 24 were in favour of Meavy’s “exclusion”, with 3 against and 1 abstention. The effect, if adopted by DNPA, would be NO development whatsoever in Meavy, affordable housing or otherwise.

Incidentally, neither the Meavy Public Meeting nor the Planning Meeting for the Little Meadows application (which for 9 properties I would have thought would have produced some degree of interest) was attended by anyone from Walkhampton.

The major roadworks that took place on the B3212 recently looked initially as though they would cause sheer chaos for a substantial time; thankfully however, they failed to do so as the result of some quick reaction to the mayhem that did arise.

Meanwhile, the footpath surveying work continues between Woodman’s Corner & Dousland. This footpath has been an issue for over 25 years, with the late Cllrs. Hopson and Delooze very active with the Parish Council in trying to obtain a suitable path (the latter, when Chair of The F&GP Committee, having proposed the Parish Council setting aside £10,000 towards the costs) whilst Cllr Waterhouse has worked very hard to secure a path via his position with WDBC & DNPA. An amount of £20,000 is now proposed as being reserved in the DCC/WDBC Highways partnership budget (a reduction on last year’s reserve) which, with the PC reserve gives a total of £30,000 - thought to be substantially short of what will be required.

As far as most people are concerned, the ideal path would follow the roadside. However, there are major issues involved not least the removal of a traditional hedge etc, & anticipated high costs which render this a seemingly unviable scheme. I understand DCC Highways are in contact with the landowners in the hope of reaching an amicable agreement to enable them to obtain the required land to run the pathway behind the hedge on the left approaching Dousland from Yelverton. All Councillors, past & present, have very real concerns with the safety issue involved, as do many members of the public. As no definite route decision has yet been made, observations can be sent to the Council before the end of April in order that they can be considered asap.

Whilst talking budgets, the Parish Precept will be reduced for 2003-2004 to £8,500 and our Year end 2002 accounts have just been approved by District Audit with no qualifying comments whatsoever - well done Cllr Falvey & his Finance Committee!

Spring is very much on the way and will be an ideal time for sitting on the various Parish seats enjoying the view. The Redhill seat is being relocated to Walkhampton Village Green. It seemed rarely used at Redhill so Councillors decided to move it to a worthwhile location where it will hopefully be better appreciated.

Parish elections will be held at the beginning of May. We already have two vacancies and a further two Councillors known to be standing down, so if you fancy becoming involved as a Councillor please contact me for further information.

And finally, regarding my Christmas wish in the last Beacon - thanks to the Dobson family for providing me, at last, with the Ferrari - and a gold one at that! Now, about that holiday home in the Auvergne?

Burrator Twinning Association

Nick Shutt

May Visit

Once again we are busy preparing for the visit of our French friends from Mathieu between 1st - 4th May with a party 30+ expected. In particular, this year we are delighted to hear that we are to be joined by the Mayor of Mathieu who is taking part in the Twinning activities for the first time.

On Saturday 3rd May, we are entertaining our guests to a meal at Cuisine Spontanee, a restaurant adjoining Sutton Harbour in Plymouth, which is run by Alex Ashen who resides in Walkhampton. Tickets cost £21.00. You may take your own wine to the restaurant if you wish (subject to a corkage charge of £1). We anticipate this evening booking up very quickly, as the menu looks exquisite, so please order your tickets early to avoid disappointment.

An Evening at the Races

On Saturday 29th March at 7-30pm in Walkhampton Memorial Hall we are arranging “An Evening at the Races”. Tickets cost £5 (buffet meal included). This will be a fun packed evening with 8 filmed races, hopefully a real bookmaker to give the odds, and a licensed bar to drown your sorrows if your horse does not come in as you expected!

Tickets for both events are available from Jim Knight at Walkhampton School, Walkhampton Stores and myself. If you wish to know more about the Twinning and how you can be involved then do not hesitate to contact me.

Nick Shutt, the Chairman of the Burrator Twinning Association, can be contacted on 854653 or by email at Nsshutt@aol.com.

Burrator Parish Walks- 2003

Chris Morley

We have planned again this year a number of Parish Walks following the route of some of our many footpaths. We hope as many people as possible will join us to exchange ideas and knowledge of the wonderful area we live in.

All circular walks will start at 10:30 am on the following Sundays:

6 April - From Walkhampton Inn; then Church Path to Holewell, Criptor Cross, Routrundle, Goatstone Pond, Gypsy Rock, Welltown, and back to Walkhampton.

18 May - From Norsworthy Bridge; then Stanlake Plantation, Black Tor, Devonport Leat, Crazywell Pool, Leather Tor Bridge, and back to Norsworthy Bridge.

29 June - From Dartmoor Inn, Merrivale; then Hucken Tor, Daveytown, Criptor Cross, Swelltor, King’s Tor, Merrivale Antiquities, and back to Merrivale Bridge.

27 July - From Norsworthy Bridge; then Newleycombe Lake, Down Tor, Cuckoo Rock, Deancombe, Sheeps Tor, Narrator Plantation, and back to Norsworthy Bridge.

7 September - starting from The Royal Oak, Meavy - Route to be confirmed

19 October - To Be Arranged

Duration : around 2 to 3 hours dependent on the final route taken.

Full details will be on the Parish Notice Boards two weeks before each walk and hopefully in the local and regional press. If you would like to be reminded of the dates, they will also be listed in the Dartmoor Visitor throughout the summer and here on our website.

We look forward to meeting you all and visitors are most welcome. We hope also that these walks will give you the opportunity to meet and chat with some of your Parish Councillors.

Chris Morley is Chairman of the parish council Footpaths Committee.

Broadband For Yelverton

Dr. Graham Goddard

It was good news indeed to learn from the press recently that Tavistock has passed its Broadband trigger level and is to be ADSL-enabled in May.

Good news for Tavistock, that is. Unfortunately, this has no bearing on Yelverton.

All telephone numbers beginning 01822 85 are served by the Yelverton exchange (actually a Remote Concentrator Unit) which is located near to the Fire Station. It is parented from Tavistock with which it shares the 01822 area code, but is a separate exchange in its own right.

ADSL is normally only available to those living within 3.5km of an ADSL-enabled local exchange, but this can be extended to 5.5km for rate adaptive variants of the products (source: OFTEL, see Ref.). However, a problem is presented by the geographical spread of subscribers in Yelverton and similar rural exchanges. It is understood that no trigger level has yet been set here because work to find a viable technical solution to this problem is ongoing.

All we can do is to give as much encouragement as possible to BT by registering our interest in sufficiently large numbers. Then, Yelverton may at least receive priority when that technical solution becomes available. As of 30th March, Yelverton has 215 such registrations.

If you want Broadband but have yet to register, please help by doing so at the earliest opportunity. You can do this either through your own ISP or through www.plusnet.co.uk.

For more details contact Graham by email at gcgoddard@southwestconsulting.co.uk.

Ref: www.oftel.gov.uk/publications/local_loop/adslsheet/adsl0103.htm#AnnexC

Stop Press:  As of 4th April Yelverton has 223 registrations.  BT has now set a trigger level for the Yelverton exchange. It is at 400.  Tavistock was initially higher but was negotiated down to 300 following political pressure.  Yelverton serves a number of Parish Councils, principally Buckland Monachorum and Burrator.  So come on Parish Councillors, let's see some action!

Meet Your Councillors

Scott Ferguson

I joined the parish council only a few months ago. As the most recent member of the council I’ve spent the past few months getting slowly acquainted with its many procedures and roles.

I’m now in my early forties (fairly young!) and was originally born and brought up on Tayside on the outskirts of Dundee (as far as I’m aware I’m the only Scotsman on council). My father worked in the Timex watch factory and my mother in the local shop. I went to university in Scotland to train as a doctor, although the choice of career was a bit of a surprise to many, and after qualifying in the mid-eighties left Scotland to venture “over the border”. I came as far “over the border” as you can get and started work in my first proper job as a doctor at the Royal Cornwall Hospital in Truro. It was while I was there that I met my wife Jane, who was working as a nurse on the same ward - not quite a “Mills and Boon” doctor-and-nurse romance but that’s another story!

During my career I have had the good fortune to spend time living and working in many places including Australia where I trained for a couple of years at a children’s hospital in Sydney. Despite the fact that both my wife and I had previously lived and worked in Cornwall, until 1998 neither of us had had much experience of the phenomenon that is Dartmoor. Just prior to moving to this area our previous posting was near Romsey in Hampshire. We came down to Devon after I got the offer of a position as a consultant at Derriford. The decision to come back to the West Country was not a difficult one since we loved the area, Jane is Cornish, and we have family down here (albeit over the Tamar!).

It still seems like yesterday but amazingly we’ve now been living in the Burrator area for over five years. It didn’t take long for us to become entranced by the moor and as a consequence of having two dogs, we seem to spend a lot of our free time walking them in all weathers! Apart from stomping across the moor with the dogs, what little free time I have is spent either trying to keep fit by waddling around Burrator (best time 35:25), cycling (and yes I do wear a helmet!), D-I-Y (badly, ask Jane!), and very intermittently trying to master the enigma that is golf (how can any sport be so much fun and so frustrating at the same time??).

My motives for joining the council were multiple but Meavy ward had a vacancy and as I wanted to get more involved in local affairs and decision-making it seemed eminently appropriate. Although I’ve had little previous experience of the machinations of a parish council, as a “newcomer” and a political neutral (I even voted for the SNP once!) I look forward to being actively involved in local issues. We all undoubtedly live in a beautiful area and one that we should ensure as much as possible is preserved for generations to come.

Finally by the time you read this no doubt England will have thrashed Scotland at rugby so before you phone or otherwise bring it to my attention please remember that gloating is cruel!!

Chris Morley

I was born in Plymouth and have lived in the area all my life. I was educated at Kelly College in Tavistock and I continue to maintain close liaison with the school and assist with their moorland expedition training. One of my other hobbies is singing which I enjoy and I am a member of the Kelly Choral Society.

Immediately after leaving school, I joined the family construction business in Plymouth originally training as a quantity surveyor. I progressed through to construction management and ultimately to corporate management.

However during the 90's I decided to have a change of direction and, with my wife Ann, began converting and restoring redundant buildings. Our latest project has been the conversion of Town Farm in Walkhampton where we live which we started in June 1997. We eventually moved to the village for Christmas 1999. We have nearly finished although it is a bit like the Forth Bridge!

As I approach the twilight years of my professional working life, I also now carry out project management for clients, coordinating projects of a varied nature and size. Perhaps this is less “hands on” than I have been used to but the conversion works make up for that!

I joined the Parish Council in 2001 as a Walkhampton Ward representative and serve on the Planning & Footpaths Committees. I was soon to take over the chair of the Footpaths Committee. My love of Dartmoor and enjoyment in walking perhaps complements this role. I hope, as time permits, to expand on one or two ideas which we have already begun to look at in the form of informative leaflets for anyone walking our extensive network of parish footpaths. Watch this space!

I am on the Walkhampton Memorial Hall Committee and recently joined the new initiative of the Walkhampton Community Play Park which has been formed to hopefully create a playpark for youngsters of all ages in the village.

I am also one of the Emergency Officers for Walkhampton.

I have two daughters, one married and living in Cornwall and the other working in London. We also have 'Paddy', a silver and black spotted tabby who some of you may have met sitting in the middle of the road as you go through Walkhampton!

Obituaries

It is with regret that we record the passing of the following;

E. L. M. (Biddy) Crowcombe of Dousland who died peacefully at Derriford Hospital on February 19th The funeral service took place at St Peter’s Church, Meavy on Thursday February 27th. She will be sadly missed by her many friends in the area.

Patricia Campbell of Eggworthy died peacefully on March 10th at St Lukes Hospice. Pat was a West Devon Borough Councillor and always had time for local causes - even despite her illness, ringing recently to congratulate us on the Christmas issue of the Burrator Beacon. A Memorial Service was held at Sampford Spiney Church on March 20th .

Our thoughts go out to their loved ones.

Backalong - Dousland Post Office (aka Valdivia)

Steve Dey

“Valdivia! What an extraordinary name for a house”, friends and relatives would exclaim in some bafflement. “What made you choose the name and what does it mean?” they would ask.

The same questions went through my mind also when I bought the house in January 1975. It is the first house in the lane leading to the Grange at Dousland. All I knew was that at some time in the past it had been the village Post Office, run by a member of the Trathen family one of whom, Eric, father of David and Mike, lived with his wife Yvonne in a bungalow at the other end of the lane, near the Grange. Then one day a friend of my wife’s came to visit us with her Spanish friend. “How interesting that you should call your house Valdivia” was the first thing she said as she came through the gate. When I asked why, she replied “Don’t you know it was Pedro de Valdivia, the Spanish Conquistadore, who conquered Chile in the 16th century?” She also mentioned that there is a big city called Valdivia in Chile.

My curiosity about Valdivia now having been aroused, I shot off a letter to the Mayor of Valdivia seeking information on the history of the city. Before long, a bulky folder arrived in the post with all the Chilean stamps cancelled with the post mark Valdivia on them. What the postman made of it all I don’t know! I learnt that a British sea captain called Cochrane (later Lord Cochrane) felt outraged by the slaughter and atrocities committed by the Spanish conquistadores in Chile and hatched a plot to kidnap Napoleon from St Helena, install him as King in Chile and drive the Spaniards out. As it happened, he never made it to St Helena but he did sail to Chile where he was instrumental in liberating the country from Spanish rule. To this day there is a statue of Cochrane in Valdivia in commemoration of his role in gaining independence for the country.

By now I knew all I needed to know about Valdivia but why my house carried the name of a far away city still remained a mystery. It was about this time that someone mentioned the book ‘An Edwardian Lady’ by Ina Taylor and the fact that, not only did the book contain a lot of information about my house, but a painting and photograph of it as well taken early in the last century. There were innumerable references in the book to Thomas Trathen (brother of Digory), his wife Anne as well as their children - Alberta, Isabella, Ernest, Thomas and Carol along with their pictures. Edith Holden, the Edwardian lady, stayed at the Grange and became friends with the Trathen family down the lane, especially with their daughters Bella and Alberta. The book contains facsimiles of post cards addressed to the girls c/o the Post Office, Dousland.

My natural curiosity about the links of the Trathen family with my house led me to the County Records Office in Exeter where I discovered that Thomas Trathen was recorded in Kelly’s Directory 1906 as Sub Postmaster in Dousland. Looking through my house deeds, I also noticed that he had bought the plot of land on which my house stands for £42.50 on 9.6.1904. The following year, my house appeared for the first time in the Ordnance Survey map.

Now, I knew when my house was built, what it was originally called (Belbert Cot - letters from the names of Bella and Alberta joined together), who owned it and what it was being used for at the time. But why and when did the name change from Belbert Cot to Valdivia?

The mystery was eventually solved with the kind help of Mr Percy Trathen, grandson of Thomas and Anne Trathen. During the First World War his father, Ernest Trathen, was brought back home in a hospital ship called Valdivia and it was sometime around 1925 when the family moved from Plymouth to Belbert Cot to look after his elderly grandfather that the name was changed to Valdivia House. Mr Trathen thinks that it was shortly after his grandfather’s death in 1926 that the ‘House’ was dropped, though he can’t be 100% sure.

A final footnote - the hospital ship Valdivia was torpedoed and sunk by a German sub-marine west of Gibraltar on 2nd May 1918.

Parish business is there for all to see

Mike Spry

All you ever wanted to know about Burrator Parish Council is now available-all you have to do is ask.

This is because Burrator Parish Council has agreed to comply with the new Freedom of Information Act and will adopt and maintain a scheme under which it will publish and make available the information it holds to the public.

At a special meeting in January the Council voted in favour of accepting a model publication scheme which has been approved by the government’s Information Commissioner for local councils in England and Wales. The Freedom of Information Act 2000 gives a general right of access to all types of recorded information held by public authorities, sets out exemptions from that right, and places a number of obligations on public authorities. Any person who makes a request to a public authority for information must be informed whether the public authority holds that information and, subject to certain exemptions, supplied with that information.

Requests may be made to the clerk of Burrator Parish Council Mr Mike Spry on 01822-854046. In some cases a small fee may be charged to cover any costs.

Walkhampton Community Play Park

Glen Williams

A Committee has been formed to promote and raise funds for the installation of a play park and BMX/Skateboard area. We are trying to put together a list of people willing to help out. If you are prepared to help in any way at all please ring Glen Williams (Secretary) 855900 and leave your contact details.

Letters to the Editor

from George and Dorothy Eggins

Following the recent article on Woodmans Corner, we have a little bit more information about Mr Woodman that we remember our parents telling us and which may be of interest to your readers.

Mr Woodman also kept horses which he trained for the Grand National. He and his jockeys would take them over very high fences that he had had built there; one of his jockeys was Mr Tommy Leach, Derek Lavers’ Grand Father.

Further to John Glanville’s piece about the water supply in Walkhampton.

In 1926-27 Sir Massey Lopes, who owned most of the farms in the parish of Walkhampton, gave the water for the village from a spring at Welltown on one condition; that water was piped to Knowle Farm. An underground reservoir was built on marshland at the rear of Welltown Farm. The water was then piped through the fields, down the Church road to the village. How pleased the housewives must have been to have water on tap outside or just inside their back doors.

George remembers the trench for the water pipe for Knowle Farm being dug when he was a little boy just starting school in 1929.

This lovely supply of spring water lasted until about 1956 when Plymouth City Waterworks took over the distribution connecting the village to their water works at Dousland and cutting off the Welltown source.

From then on we all had to pay for our water.

Editor’s Footnote

Many thanks to Dorothy and George for their interesting letter. The old reservoir workings are still in situ behind Welltown Farmhouse, and the 2 granite water troughs are still in place outside Town Farm and Backtown, Walkhampton. 

Meavy Flower Society

Margaret Duffy

It is possible there are people living in the Burrator area, especially those who have recently moved here, who are not aware that there is a thriving gardening club in their midst. Meavy Flower Society was formed at the end of October 1962 and had an initial membership of forty. It is now many more than that. Members enjoy monthly meetings during which talks are given by gardening experts with a wide range of experience. Two examples:-

April 14th Endsleigh. A history of house and grounds.

May 19 Sue Boxall. The work of the Devon Life Trust.

The rest of our calendar is just as interesting;

June 16th Tracey Wilson Year-round Colour

August 18th Barry Starling Plant Hunting in Kashmir.

September 15th Ted Pitman Fascinating Fungi.

October 20th Mrs E.M.Arnold Visions of Paradise.

November 17th Terry Underhill Waterwise Gardening (To be confirmed)

In addition there are two trips - a visit to East Lambrook and Tintinhull Gardens on Wednesday 30th April and on Saturday September 6th a visit to Bicton Gardens and College.

The Society also has two annual shows, a Spring Fun Show held this year on March 17th and a Summer Flower Show, when members of the public vote for the winners, on August 9th.

New members will be assured of a very warm welcome. The annual subscription is a mere £3 for single people, £5 for couples. All meetings are held at Meavy Parish Hall and start at 7-30pm. But you don’t have to remember all this, just ring Margaret Duffy (Secretary) on 854969.

Walkham Valley Cricket Club

Chris Long

Another season fast approaches and preparations are well under way on the wicket and the field. We hope to start outdoor practice at the end of April and we are also trying to secure a venue for indoor practice from March.

New members will be very welcome, of all ages, abilities and genders! For information on joining the club and for an update on Practice, please contact Chris Long at Walkhampton Post office on 01822-853212.

Tavistock W.R.V.S. News

Volunteers are needed to collect Books/Tapes from Tavistock Library and take them to housebound and disabled people, approximately once a fortnight.

If you like reading you will appreciate this is a valued service for those who can no longer get to the library.

For further information on how to help contact the Co-Ordinator on 01822-612218.

Parish Council Grants (2002/03)