|
|
Summer 2000 |
|
|
Summer 2000 |
Meavy Oak Fair June 2000What a combination – the hottest June day for years, a huge crowd, lots to do and an England victory to round it off! This year’s Meavy Oak Fair was a great success judging by comments from the many people who thoroughly enjoyed themselves on that Saturday. The afternoon started at 1.30 with a wonderful peal of bells from the St Peter’s Church Bell Ringers.
The children of Meavy School followed that with a very decorative presentation of their understanding of the Olympic spirit (see picture). This was demonstrated straightaway by the 120 runners competing in the Burrator Horseshoe, a gruelling run of 7 miles across country in all that heat!
The first man back was Neil Holmes in a time of 40m 19s, only 4 seconds slower than his winning time in 1998. The first lady back was Jenny Mills in 52m 48s. Jenny very kindly donated her prize money jointly to the Fair and the RNLI.
Another major excitement of the afternoon was the return of the Wilkins Tug of War Trophy to the Royal Oak Inn, as the team outpulled all opposition. The very talented Meavy Morris Minors showed off their dancing skills most enjoyably and even helped some ‘volunteers’ to stagger through a dance with them.
The Meavy Oak Fair Committee is very grateful to all those groups and individuals who worked so hard to make the day so enjoyable and successful.
If anybody is interested in joining the committee or putting forward ideas for new attractions or events for next year, please contact the Chairman, Kate Luffingham.
I am pleased to
say that several more people have offered to give their time in delivering the Burrator
Beacon. Hopefully you should all have received a copy of the Spring issue - unless you
know better!
Once again we have received good positive comments about the Beacon and we are pleased people are reading and enjoying the reports of local events. Thank you for the response to my request in the last Editorial for your comments and articles - keep them coming.
I would like to take this opportunity to thank the volunteers who despite their other commitments walk from door to door with their deliveries.
Articles for future editions are always welcome.
The May General Meeting of the Council is the time for election of Chairman, Vice-Chairman and representation on committees and outside bodies. The members re-elected me as chairman for another year, with Ann Ellis as Vice-Chairman. I look forward to a fruitful year working with the council on your behalf and hope that we can meet the needs of all our residents wherever possible.
Small communities like ours need many willing volunteers if our local events and projects are to succeed. But also events can only be successful if they are well supported. Meavy Oak Fair certainly was - thanks to all who came along. Please support other local events equally as well.
As a contribution to marking the millennium, the council are presenting millennium mugs to all children (under 12) living in the parish. The first distribution was made at Meavy Oak Fair. The next opportunity to claim a mug will be at the Walkhampton School Fair on July 1st.
It is now six months since the publication of the Burrator Parish Community Appraisal Report 1999. The report contains many recommendations, some of which can be actioned by report to the relevant local authority but most of which require local action groups. In the replies to the Appraisal Survey there were offers of help. To bring together all those interested there will be a Public Meeting on Thursday 13th July at 7:30 pm in Walkhampton Village Hall. At this meeting all residents can have the opportunity to form local action groups to take the recommendations forward.
As in the past, The Council is pleased to be able to be an active supporter, in conjunction with West Devon Borough Council, of the Countywide Concessionary Fares scheme. Unfortunately we are unable to provide a fully subsidised scheme, although we would have if we could have, but the rules have changed and participants – those applying – will this year have to pay part of the cost themselves, £3 per half year. For those eligible (and it includes Pensioners, students, people with disabilities etc.) full information and passes are available at the local Post Offices, and it is only from the local Post Offices that passes can be obtained.
ELECTRICAL SERVICES |
HARDWARE AND PET SUPPLIES |
| ‘Wedderlie’, Sparkatown Lane, Dousland | 17 Station Road, Horrabridge |
Telephone: Day 853610 Emergency 854800
Mobile No: 07967 877489
At present there is relatively little to report on, although there are the usual number of meetings taking place dealing in the main with routine administration matters. There are a couple of problems causing concern, in both cases the result of utterly anti-social behaviour. DOG FOULING – if you are a dog owner then you know it is not only obnoxious but it is also illegal to allow your dog to foul any public place and not to clear up the mess – any highway is included, it doesn’t have to be a pavement. It is no longer socially acceptable to look the other way and ignore your responsibility – DO SOMETHING ABOUT IT!! – do not leave it to be dealt with by someone else. This is proving to be particularly problematic in Walkhampton, in Backtown Lane and in Meavy, on The Green, whilst the areas adjacent to both schools are causing concern. The Parish Council is committed to joining West Devon’s excellent dog-warden scheme as soon as possible and will support any official action that prevents the minority of thoughtless owners making life unpleasant for the general public.
The problem has been brought to the attention of WDBC Environmental Health Dept and you can contact Dave Arscott direct (Tel 813600) – he will take appropriate action. WALKHAMPTON BUS SHELTER – is exactly that – it is neither an obstacle course nor a Graffiti board. So if it is your children (and they must be someone’s) who are regularly seen on the roof in both the daylight (so there’s no real problem with identifying the culprits) and the dark, or who are writing and spraying on the walls kindly ask them to curtail their activities or allow them the facility of doing the same to your own home. If you are one of the parents of the offending children then obviously you would not dream of allowing the latter – so why do you happily ignore their vandalising simply because it involves "Public property"? Every resident contributes to the expense of dealing with the problem and everyone regards the offenders as a complete pain – so, perhaps like the dog-fouling problem, think about the rest of the community, and if the kids are yours, stop them.
The Police have been notified of the Council’s concerns and they can be contacted at Tavistock (Tel 0990 777444) should you feel the need arises.
In an ideal world the above problems will be resolved by the dog-owner or parent; if not and the problems persist but you feel unable to broach the subject with the people personally, then any direct contact you have with the Authorities will be dealt with on a strictly confidential basis.
On a much pleasanter note, THE ROYAL OAK INN – as you are no doubt aware, is owned by the Council making it almost unique in Britain. Following the departure of Roger & Sue Barber, Chris & Zenna Kingdon have taken over the tenancy. Having successfully run Public Houses in Plymouth, Chris has returned to the area of his up-bringing (having lived for many years at Huckworthy) with a very extensive knowledge of the industry and in particular, real ales, whilst Zenna will be in charge of the catering. Differences in style to the previous landlords can already be seen and we wish them every success - particularly as the whole community benefits from the Inn’s success. The Inn’s rent is, quite literally, put back into the community via Parish Council spending. This may be through a Grant to the various organisations including the Halls, local Groups such as the Scouts, Football clubs, Mums & Toddlers etc. to subsidised bus passes for those eligible. It really is a diverse range.
However, the Inn is also a listed building and requires continual maintenance, and the past couple of months have seen a very substantial investment for the future. To cope with the increasing power demands of an increasingly busy and sophisticated kitchen, 3 phase electrics have been brought to the Inn, benefiting the village itself with a massively increased supply, courtesy of SWEB. The kitchen itself was totally "gutted" and refurbished, with all new stainless steel units, shelves, worktops, splashbacks, sinks etc, whilst the walls are now nylon clad and the floors hygienically covered and sealed. Zenna has added a huge new American cooker and griddle so it really does boast a very modern state of the art kitchen - not something you would see as a member of the public but very much contributing to the Inn’s future.
I hope all adults will enjoy the new Landlord’s hospitality and eating and drinking for the community!
If there are any Parish Council matters of concern that I can help with, please contact me on 854046 – chances are you will get the "dreaded" Answerphone but I will deal with your call!
It is with regret that we record the passing of Audrey Doidge who died on April 30th.
Audrey was very well known in the area, having run the Post Office in her Mother’s general store at Hollywood, Dousland and later was school secretary for Lady Modiford’s Walkhampton. For a period she also worked part-time at Leg O’ Mutton Post Office and at times helped out at the old Post Office in Walkhampton.
She will be sadly missed by all who knew her. Our condolences go to her family.
Crispin died suddenly at the University of Wales Institute, Cardiff. He was 19 years old, educated at Kelly College, Tavistock between 1994 and 1999, a member of the rugby first XV and he also played for Tavistock Rugby Club first team. He was an outstanding sportsman and artist, and went to University to study International Hospitality Management. We express our condolences to his family and friends.
The local fund raising feat of the year must be Chris Morley's climb up Kala Pattar in the Himalayas. The Walkhampton man climbed to 18,250 feet above sea level, passing Everest base camp on the way. The climb was his millennium ambition to do something really challenging and raise money for the RNLI at the same time.
Chris said the ascent was the most difficult thing he had ever done but the whole trip was a great success. The splendour of the Himalayas made the effort worthwhile.
Congratulations to a brave man.
Millennium Yew TreesYoung cuttings which were taken from 2000-year-old yew trees and donated by the Conservation Foundation were distributed around the country and planted in our Parish churchyards.
I was present at the planting ceremony at Walkhampton Church which took place after the Easter service. The congregation assembled outside where Revd. Nick Shutt said a few words as he placed the young tree in the ground ably assisted by a young member of the congregation who dropped a traditional memento into the hole.
It is nice to know that future generations will watch this special tree grow and think back to the year 2000.
Congratulations to Meavy school governor Major Kathy Howard who has just been awarded the MBE for her work in the TA. Her other commitments include voluntary work for Buckland Abbey, Yelvercare and St. Paul’s Yelverton PCC.
Well done.
With reference to the Spring edition of the Burrator Beacon, we would like to highlight the condition of the disused 'oil pump house' situated at the cul-de-sac end of Stowford Close, Dousland. The doors and frames are disintegrating and depositing pieces to the four winds. As far as we can recall, the original owner of the pump house was Conoco Ltd. when heating oil was distributed to properties on this development via pipelines and individual meters but the system was closed down some 15 years ago due to many leakages. We hope that proceedings can be instigated to have the complete structure removed, as it has been redundant for a long time and can only deteriorate further.
Professional Caring Service with over 20 years experience
Clipping, handstripping, trimming, bathing etc. Terriers & Gundogs a speciality
For all details and appointments: Tel Linda Minett on 01822 855445
For all your flat, slate and tile roofing
Upvc Fascias, guttering and all lead work, chimney repairs and removals
Other work undertaken Free estimates Reliable, friendly service
Contact Nick Lyons, Grafton, Dousland PL20 6PO Tel: 01822 854456
The new licensees at the Royal Oak Inn, Chris and Zenna Kingdon have taken up
station behind the bars of the popular pub in Meavy. The couple told the Beacon they would
like to thank the community for the warm welcome they have received since taking over on
April 25th.
Having grown up in the area, Chris was delighted to take the opportunity to run the Royal Oak Inn after previously running pubs in Plymouth. His wife Zenna gave up her career in teaching in order to join Chris in the licensed trade and both are delighted to now live and work in such an idyllic location.
The Parish Council has just completed a major refurbishment of the pub’s kitchen and many more changes are planned by Chris and Zenna, including extended opening hours in the future. The couple would like to apologise to all their customers for any disruption caused during the recent building works which will lead to a much improved service in the future.
The Kingdon family is completed by 11-month-old Billy, and Chris and Zenna are supported by their staff Gina, David, Malcolm, Tom, Kerry, Dawn and bar manager John. "The Royal Oak’s many customers can rest assured that their favourite pub is in safe hands and that a warm welcome awaits all visitors to the historic inn," said Chris.
At the last Royal Oak Committee meeting there was discussion about the village green. There is an area of worn ground by the granite edging, and a suggestion was made to cobble this. What do you think?
For all coal and smokeless fuel requirements
Also Pressure Washing – Houses, patios, Drives etc
Telephone: 01822 853973
Captain Gordon Cross of Dousland who became the first ever Chairman of the new Burrator Parish Council in 1973 looks back at some of the reasons behind the grouping of the three old parishes of Meavy, Walkhampton and Sheepstor.
I was not going to be allowed to continue as the clerk to the old Meavy Parish Council. Sometime about 1970 after a return from a holiday, I found I had been elected as chairman of Meavy in my absence.
One of the first problems we encountered was to consider Plymouth City Council’s proposals for a new reservoir in the Swincombe Valley on Dartmoor .The aqueducts for this would have come down through Meavy village. We opposed the project not only because Meavy would have been affected but also we thought it was an environmentally ill thought out proposal for the whole area. Our voice was heard loud and clear at the public meeting with the city representatives in Princetown and the Swincombe reservoir was not built.
Whilst I was chairman we continued to meet the same problems I had met with as a clerk-the Royal Oak Inn, flooding, planning applications, and how to ensure that Dousland continued to grow with all its needs being met.
We knew that councillors in Walkhampton as well as Meavy were equally unhappy about how to best serve the interests of a Dousland that was divided geographically.
We sought careful advice from the Devon Association of Parish Councils. They reminded us of a mechanism laid down in the Local Government Act of 1958 and repeated in the 1972 Act, whereby parishes could if they wished make application to have a single grouped parish council with each parish retaining the right to ungroup at any time.
We considered this very carefully before taking any positive action.
Although technically it was not our business, as Sheepstor was a separate civil parish with its own parish meeting held annually (no parish council existed because of its small population) Sheepstor and Meavy had a lot of common interest in 1970 such as the shared school and the Rector. Sheepstor was a much larger geographical area than Meavy, rivalling Walkhampton in this respect. We felt that if we were to propose any action Sheepstor should be allowed to contribute as equal partners.
The DAPC also drew our attention to the 1969 report of the Royal Commission under Lord Redcliffe Maude. For rural areas the report proposed taking into account the large geographical areas some former parishes would bring with them. In 1970 Walkhampton, Sheepstor and Meavy as a grouped parish of under 2000 electors and a large geographical area would meet the new structure.
Meavy Parish Council considered all this and decided that the other parishes should be consulted. As Meavy chairman I was asked to speak to the other chairmen. I accordingly met with Mr Hilson of Walkhampton. I then met Mr Andrews chairman of the Sheepstor parish meeting and Mr Legassick (senior). All agreed to consider it at their meetings.
To cut a long story short, parish meetings were in due course held in all three places and they each agreed to group. The necessary submissions were made to District and in due course authority for grouping arrived.
Elections by the parishes for their members of the new Burrator Grouped Parish Council took place and the new council assembled. I was elected the first chairman of Burrator and Col. MacLaren of Walkhampton was elected vice chairman and succeeded me at the end of my year of office.
In 1943 some people in the village thought it would be appropriate to set up a fund for local servicemen. This was suggested at a meeting of the Savings Committee.
In 1945 it was formally proposed to use this money and surplus monies held by the Savings Committee towards the building of a village hall in memory of those who had been killed in the war. In 1946 Lord Roborough promised the land on which a Hall could be built on a 99 year lease. However a sitting tenant precluded any further action at that time. In 1955 the land was formally gifted to a management committee which still runs the hall.
Money for the building of the Hall was raised by public subscription and events such as whist drives, dances, etc. By 1965 costs had risen to such an extent that the fund had less than half the money that was required. However with a Government Grant of 50% and a generous gift from Lord Roborough, building was able to go ahead in 1966.
The Hall is available for meetings and other social events. It is licensed for 200 persons with catering facilities for 100. It is presently used by Pre-school, Scouts and Cubs, Monday Painters and Forum on a regular basis with many other ad hoc activities. Come and enjoy our improved facilities. WE NEED YOUR SUPPORT.
For further details on availability and rates of hire please contact our Booking Secretary, Viv Scawn on 854038.
This year's exhibition will be held from Thurs. 31st Aug to Sun 2nd. Sept.
between 9 a.m. and 7 p.m. (Sun. 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.).
Refreshments available - Free admission and parking
An extension to the Walkhampton Memorial Hall is the proposal on offer if adequate lottery funding etc. is secured. But firstly, IS THIS WHAT YOU WANT?
The intention is that this facility is to be available to all, with priority being given to the residents of Burrator parish. The hall committee has given tacit approval subject to full committee agreement. We will be consulting with Maristow Estate and the National Park prior to a full public meeting.
This multi-purpose community hall will provide facilities for, among other things, short mat bowls, badminton, football training, theatre, volleyball and private hire.
Because of the cross passage between the two halls, which also houses changing facilities for 2 teams, the halls can be hired singly or jointly depending on the event. The intention is to provide a very flexible low maintenance facility.
However, before we proceed further we would like to hear your views at a public consultation meeting on Friday 7 July 00 at 7.30pm at Walkhampton Hall.
Registered CORGI Gas Installer
Institute of Plumbing Registered Plumber
5 Knowle Terrace, Walkhampton PL20 6JT Telephone: 01822 852185
Following the successful visit of our French guests in May as part of the Burrator-Mathieu Twinning, an adult party has been invited to make a return visit to Mathieu in October. The outline details of the proposed visit are:
Depart: Friday 20th October.
Return: Monday 23rd October
The visit is for adults and we need to know numbers by 30th June so that we can decide whether we book a coach or go by cars. If you would like to be included in our party please telephone Nick Shutt (854653) or Jim Knight (853277). If you have not been to Mathieu before, this visit offers you an ideal opportunity to take part in our twinning association. We have always received a very warm welcome in Mathieu and the trips are always very enjoyable. The precise timing, and costing of the visit are subject to the availability of the ferries but at this stage we would anticipate travelling overnight on Friday to arrive early on Saturday morning and departing on Monday morning to arrive home sometime on Monday evening.
If you need any further information please let me know.
All residents of the Burrator Parish are automatically eligible to be members of the association. If you would like to be more involved please contact one of the officers for further details.
Officers elected this year are:
Nick will be running the lottery on an annual £12 subscription basis. For details call him on 854383.
Hosting a French family for the weekend changes a lot of English preconceptions of our Gallic cousins.
Having met them late on Friday evening we returned home for a meal and a chat over past visits, and the development of our various children. As our guests had been travelling all day they decided they would like an early night. The Saturday was pre-programmed, organised by the Twinning Committee, involving visits to the brewery at Princetown and the Prison Museum, the original being built by their ancestors and surprisingly they showed a lot of interest and knowledge and no prejudice. The lunch at Walkhampton Inn and dinner in the evening at the Moorland Links Hotel helped to dispel a lot of ideas of English food.
Fun from being a host is helping our guests in their hobbies, in this case gardening - hunting down a plant for their collection, which originates in the Himalayas and now can only be found in the U.K.! To take them to visit friends from previous visits, and to help arrange visits for the children of the Parish, to broaden their horizons.
All in all a very pleasant weekend.
I am a member of the French-English Twinning for more than 10 years and came the first time in Sheepstor when all the rhododendrons were in blossom. I didn't know before neither Devon nor clotted cream! The proper (purpose) of a twinning is that you discover people and things from the innerside - this has nothing to do with the classic tourist. I knew three chairmans at Mathieu and three in Burrator, several families who I meet with pleasure. Always present kindness and solidarity if need be.
A wish? - Have more time for walking on the moors.
Installation and maintenance of domestic wiring
ALL WORK TO B.S. 7671
Telephone: 01822 614648 Mobile: 07967 210525
Annual Show to be held in Walkhampton Memorial Hall
Saturday 26th August at 2.30 p.m.
Refreshments and Free Parking
In response to Mr Nicholas Waterhouse’s article in Burrator Beacon Spring 2000, I would like to point out that two previous attempts had been made to "List" Burrator Lodge – early in 1996 and again in November / December 1998. Supporting photographs and documentation were sent to the Dept. of Culture, Media and Sport (formerly National Heritage). As required, they took advice from English Heritage who "concluded that in their opinion this building does not possess sufficient special architectural or historic interest to merit listing".
Mr Waterhouse is incorrect in linking the Iron Store directly with the "commercialisation of the catchment" by planting conifers. Tree planting commenced at Burrator in 1921 (Dartmoor – A New Study, 1970, p.270), some twenty years after the erection of "a galvanised iron building to be used as a store" (Plymouth Corporation 22.2.1901).
We fully support any new efforts to list both Lodge and Store, as they complement each other, but are not hopeful that this attempt will be successful, given the rigid criteria that limit the scope of English Heritage and DCMS. Of greater importance in our view is the attachment and value that local people (and South West Water) put on these buildings. Ninety per cent of buildings will never be "listed" but many of them are of great significance to local communities and contain valuable messages for future generations about historic use of the land.
As a child I was interested to hear of an old boy who lived in a turf hut in the lane leading from Eggworthy Road to Walkhampton Church. My grandparents had known of him as they lived at Peek Hill cottage in the 1880's and 90's.
In 1960 my uncle Samuel Spry came home from Australia for a long stay visit, and he showed me where it had been - at the top of the lane going up the stile into the field is a roundish space where the hut used to be. During school dinner time in the 1890's the boys would go up the lane and stuff dobs of earth down poor old Jimmy's chimney to smoke him out. Boys will be boys!
Editor's Note: Many thanks to Joan for responding to our request for your memories of nicknames for lanes and footpaths etc. Please follow Joan's example and share your memories with us all.
On behalf of the members of the Dartmoor Rescue Group (Tavistock Section) I would like to express our thanks for the money raised at the Walkhampton Arts and Crafts Exhibition held last year. In addition to all the artists involved, particular thanks must go to all those who helped with the organisation of the exhibition; also Liz Brimacombe and those who donated cakes etc. must not be forgotten. The money received will greatly assist the running of the Section. For example we have just spent over £2000 on a new pager system to improve the service we offer.
After 33 meritorious years, Mrs Sheila Taylor retired as our organist on Easter Sunday. To mark the occasion she was presented with a C.D. player plus a C.D. of 50 hymns by our churchwarden Mrs. Drinda MacDonald after a short ceremony conducted by the Rector.
The Millennium yew tree was planted on Good Friday.
On a personal note, we (the Hopsons) entertained our grand-daughter Madeleine, who is 3 years old, and some of her godparents over Easter. On Easter Day the service was about halfway through when a small voice rang out loud and clear – "Can we go home now Daddy?" Madeleine had had enough!
Liberally adapted from a church booklet at the turn of the century
Begin by gathering together:
4lb of love
1lb butter of youth
a dash of good looks
1lb sweet temper
1lb blindness of faults
a sprinkling of self forgetfulness
1lb of pounded wit
equal measure of good humour
2tbs sweet arguement
1pt of rippling laughter
1 wine glass of common sense
1oz of modesty
Then you must do as told:
Put love, good looks and sweet temper into a well furnished house. Beat the butter of youth to a cream and mix well together with the blindness of faults. Stir the pounded wit and good humour into the sweet argument then add the rippling laughter and common sense. Work the whole together until everything is well mixed and bake gently forever.
The winners of the Spring Quiz were Yvonne & Stephen Hughes of Meavy Bourne who won the £10 voucher which was donated by the Walkhampton Inn.
The correct answers were:
A. St. Leonard’s Church, Sheepstor
B. St. Mary’s Church, Walkhampton
C. St. Peter’s Church, Meavy
Slightly different, testing your knowledge rather than observation. The prize for being drawn from the correct answers received is a £10 meal voucher donated by Chris & Zenna Kingdon of The Royal Oak Inn.
Q. 1. Where in Walkhampton is the site of the old workhouse?
Q. 2. What ancient past-time took place in the vicarage field below Sheepstor church?
Q. 3. In what year did Meavy Flower Society play host to B.B.C. Radio 4’s Gardeners Question Time?
Answers please to the Editor by the last day of August. The Editor’s decision is final.
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 40. It is now several times that number. Members enjoy monthly meetings during which talks are given by gardening experts with a wide range of experience – for example on June 19th Miss Sally Whitfield talked about the Elizabethan Garden at Buckland Abbey – and there are two garden visits arranged during the year. This year there is an outing on Wednesday September 6th to Rosemoor RHS Garden at Great Torrington.
The Society also has two annual shows, a Spring Fun Show held this year on March 20th and a Summer Flower Show, when members of the public vote for the winners, on July 22nd.
So come on all you keen gardeners, young and old. Come and join us and enjoy the benefits, both of increased knowledge and the opportunity to buy seeds and gardening requisites at discounted prices. There are no stuffy rules and regulations and you most definitely DO NOT have to be a horticultural expert to be allowed through the door. This is not the kind of organisation where be-whiskered ancients sit in a close huddle arguing about the number of stamens on the flowers of species rhododendrons!
New members will be assured of a very warm welcome. The annual membership is a mere £3 for single people and £5 for couples. All meetings are held at Meavy Parish Hall and start at 7-30 p.m. You don’t have to remember all this – just telephone the Secretary Margaret Duffy on 854969.
We are a group of people who enjoy getting together to raise money for local charities and to give two Christmas parties each year, one for our Senior Citizens and the other for the children of Burrator Parish. Our members are scattered throughout the Meavy, Dousland and Yelverton areas, but since we started in Meavy, we adopted the name "Meavy Friendship Group". We always welcome new members, who quickly become new friends! If you would like to know more about us please phone Ros Tall on 852221.
We are now in our ninth year and have raised over £1000 in each one. Organisations which have benefited from our donations include St.Luke’s Hospice, Macmillan Nurses, Woodside Animal Shelter, Riding for the Disabled, Meavy School and, most recently, Yelverton Village Park.
Our fund raising events include Jumble Sales, Whist Drives and Craft Shows, but as yet no Calendar! The Summer Coffee Morning has proved so popular that this year we are expanding it into a whole day! We will serve Morning Coffee, Light Lunches and Cream Teas. There will also be a quilting and crafts display, a tombola and stalls selling home-made cakes, produce and plants. Please make a note in your diaries and come and support our charity this year, the RNLI and enjoy yourselves at THE MEAVY MINI-MARKET on THURSDAY JULY 27th.in MEAVY HALL, 10-30-4-30pm.
Dartmoor is often thought of by those who live nearby and by the visitors who enjoy its natural beauty as a timeless place, undisturbed by human hand. Only the ravages of the weather and the changing seasons inflict occasional change. Or so it seems. But in the pages of a fascinating new book we are shown how the impact of man and beast has had a constant effect on the shape and scenery of this wild and ancient place.
"Dartmoor Century" is a unique collection of around 200 photographs capturing life on the moor at the birth of the 19th Century and comparing it with its appearance 100 years later at the start of the year 2000. It contains some interesting old photos from Burrator Parish-of Meavy, Sheepstor and the moor area.
The bulk of the vintage photographs are from the work of early photographer Robert Burnard who lived between 1848 and 1920 and was a founder member of the "Photographics", a Plymouth-based camera club. Alongside Burnard’s pictures of a century ago, the book displays modern photos taken at exactly the same spot and from similar angles to provide a perfect illustration of how times and people have changed.
Published by Halsgrove Devon Books, the A4-size volume of 160 pages has a forward by the Prince of Wales. Prince Charles writes of Dartmoor "It is easy to believe that such a place is immune from the ravages of time. Yet we see from the contemporary photographs in this book, mirroring those taken a century ago, that Dartmoor has undergone great changes. These images remind us that, despite its enduring nature, Dartmoor requires our continuous care and protection."
This new book has been produced in association with the Dartmoor Trust, an independent charity established in 1996 to aid practical projects which benefit Dartmoor, its communities and visitors. The year 2000 sees the Trust launch a major fund-raising campaign towards the establishment of a Dartmoor archive containing photos, like those in the book, and other artefacts and materials for preservation in one collection that would be accessible world-wide via the internet. Royalties from the sale of Dartmoor Century will go towards the work of the Trust.
Price £19.95 the book is available at local stockists or from Halsgrove Direct on 01884 243242. For exhibition details visit the Dartmoor Trust website at www.users.mwfree.net/~dartrust
Sheepstor
residents stepped out in style on a sunny Sunday afternoon in May for the official opening
of the village hall’s new millennium path. Volunteers have built a new sturdy
footpath and ramp to the door of St.Leonard’s Church hall making access much easier
for those who use the facility. No more slipping on the wet grass on dark winter’s
nights!
Permission for the new pathway was kindly given by landowners Annie and Patrick of Greystone, Sheepstor, and materials and new lighting for the pathway has been provided using funds from the village’s very own lottery fund.
A special tape-cutting ceremony was held on Sunday May 14th. When Annie cut the ribbon and Patrick declared the path officially opened. Tea and cakes followed inside the hall. The local community thanks the village hall committee, Patrick and Annie, and all the volunteers who helped with the path.
Railings and gates made to measure
Any size or style
Decorative, security or safety
Telephone: 01822 614648 Mobile: 07980 079526
BURRATOR BEACON EDITOR Ted Whitehead, Yelverton 853435
EDITORIAL TEAM Michael Parle, Elizabeth Hopson, Keith Scrivener
Published and issued quarterly, free of charge by Burrator Parish Council. Copy to be sent to the Editor by the end of month prior to publication. Next edition published in September. Advertising
The charge for future adverts is be £5 per advert per issue. These can be booked and paid for on a yearly (i.e. four issues) basis, payable in advance within seven working days of going to press. A full page advert would be £25. We have 750 copies going into every household in the Burrator Grouped Parish and also on the website, so why not take the opportunity to publicise your business.
Please contact the Editor with any enquiries or adverts in writing. Please include any illustration preferably in the form of a clear line drawing.
Apart from providing information from the council, the web site can be used by any business within the parish to advertise and attract new business. This service is provided free of charge to all council tax and business ratepayers within the parish.
We have many businesses that could benefit from the national and international coverage that World Wide Web provides. If you are interested in taking advantage of this offer get in touch with either the clerk Mike Spry or the council chairman Michael Parle.
The opinions expressed in the Burrator Beacon are not necessarily those held by Burrator Parish Council. Every effort is made to ensure that information in these pages is accurate. However, the Council cannot be held responsible for errors or omissions. Including information does not imply recommendation.
