The Royal Oak Inn Committee is 100 years old!
Michael Parle
At the beginning of the 20th century the Royal Oak Inn, though owned by Meavy
Parish, was let by the Guardians of the Poor of the Tavistock Union. Meavy at
the time was not a Parish Council, it was a rural parish having a Parish
Meeting. A parish meeting could not conduct such business as letting a property,
but the Tavistock Union could under the provisions of the ‘Union and Parish
Property Act 1835’.
However the Local Government Act 1894 gave provision for a County Council to
give powers to a Parish Meeting any of the powers conferred on a Parish Council.
Amongst these powers was the right to let property and conduct business on
behalf of the parish ratepayers. But it wasn’t until 1903 that the ratepayers of
the parish decided it was time for them to manage their own affairs.
At the Meavy Parish Meeting of 7th August 1903 a resolution was put with
respect to parish property: “That this parish meeting of the ratepayers of the
Parish of Meavy desires the County Council of Devon to confirm upon the Parish
Meeting of the said parish of Meavy the powers contained in sub-section 10 of
section 19 of the Local Government Act of 1894”. In other words, they wanted to
take over letting the Royal Oak Inn. Devon County Council conferred the required
powers in an order dated 26th September 1903. But clearly things moved slowly in
Meavy at this time, because it is not until 25th January 1904 that a Parish
Meeting was held to consider the order. A sub-committee was appointed to call
upon Mr Bickle the tenant of the Royal Oak Inn to confer with him as to the
terms of his tenancy. This sub-committee consisted of Ian Northmore, Isaac Moses
and Rev. Richard Tyacke.
Perhaps there was dissatisfaction among the ratepayers that a sub-committee
of three was too small, we will never know. But at the next Parish Meeting on
26th February this sub-committee was enlarged. The minutes show that a proposal
was made by Mr R. B. Johns seconded by Mr Bickle: “that Mr Ian Daw and the two
overseers, namely W. Williams and James Northmore, be added to the sub-committee
appointed at the last meeting, and that it be left to the sub-committee to make
such alterations in the sanitary arrangements of the Royal Oak Inn as shall
satisfy the licensing justices.” The bill of 11 Guineas for the resulting
sanitary improvements was paid from the rates.
This sub-committee was the precursor of what we now call ‘The Royal Oak Inn
Committee’. The Inn has been the responsibility of ratepayers for 100 years.
(ref. Meavy Parish Meeting minute books, items no. 1255/1 and 2727/10 held
at Plymouth and West Devon Record Office)
The Royal Oak Inn, 2004
Picture by Michael Parle
Editorial
Ted Whitehead
We are pleased that the Burrator Beacon is widely read in both paper and
internet versions, as you will see from the Letter to the Editor below.
Mr Gravel in Canada has spent 3 years researching a battle which took place
near Cagnicourt, France on September 2nd 1918.
At this time when we are all remembering the sacrifice of the servicemen and
women in the Second World War, we should spare a thought for all those who went
through the hell of World War One.
I have checked the name “Spencer” with various people locally to no avail.
Perhaps readers could ask the older members of the family if they remember
their parents telling them about the sad loss of Lt. Henry Spencer. A plaque to
his memory is in Meavy Church so we feel sure he would have resided in the
Parish. I will pass on any information to Mr. Gravel.
It makes us realise that some names on our war memorials are forgotten over
the generations. If you have any information about the service-men commemorated
on the memorials in our villages, let us know.
Please get articles for the Autumn issue to me by August 24th. Would
Secretaries of Committees etc. please note that it is their responsibility to
get notices of events to me in time for the relevant issue. Printing and
delivery dates cannot be altered to fit in with any particular event.
Thank you for your co-operation and forward thinking.
Clerk’s Report
Mike Spry
Planning
The Inquiry Inspector’s Public Meeting at Meavy in respect of the Planning
Application appeal relating to The Grange (in Dousland) has now been heard and
the result is awaited - this seems to take anything up to three months. In the
meantime, the final approval has just come through for Richard Gibbings’
proposed development in Little Meadow at Walkhampton - this being for nine
dwellings including two for local needs. Meanwhile, my neighbour has made a most
unusual application - for the installation of a Water-wheel in The Mill here at
Huckworthy. Paul Edge has “resurrected” the line of the old water-course and
will have the wheel operable when the water is available, thus providing a
beautiful & timeless feature in their riverside garden.
Councillors
One of our Councillors has resigned. Ray Lander who “gave it a shot” simply
found it was not for him, but at least he tried - and many thanks Ray for doing
so. Now, how about you?
Red Phone Boxes
It looks as though our red phone-boxes are, or at least may be, on the way out.
With almost everyone seeming to have a mobile held to their ear it’s no small
wonder that they are simply becoming uneconomic, and with the privatisation of
all our former public services profit is now the reality of life. Lovaton is the
first phone-box to be subjected to the viability scrutiny and if the decision is
unaffected by people’s concerns with emergency use and lack of signal then it is
reasonable (or unreasonable, depending on your point of view) to suppose it will
be going.
Royal Oak Inn
At last the work on The Royal Oak Inn is under way and hopefully will have been
completed by the time you read this. We are very grateful to DNPA for
contributing £1,090 to the costs of replacing all the rainwater goods. These are
being upgraded in size to try and cope with the increased torrential rain we
increasingly seem to get, and have to be replaced using cast iron - very, very
expensive!
Grants
Finally, a word for all Treasurers etc. who may be putting in their Grant
Applications - don’t forget to make them as interesting and comprehensive as
possible. The councillors who read them have to interpret what you are after and
why, so the better you make the application the more chance you have of it
succeeding. Don’t forget, you are looking for support from public money so it
has to be justified.
GRANT APPLICATIONS
Applications for 2004-2005 have to be submitted to The Clerk
at the latest on or by
FRIDAY 9TH JULY 2004
Chairman’s Report
Keith Scrivener
It may be the height of summer, and let’s hope it is a fine one, but Burrator
Parish Council has just nicely got into the swing of its new year of business in
governing our joint communities of Meavy, Sheepstor, Dousland and Walkhampton.
At our Annual General Meeting in April I was re-elected chairman for a second
year and Mr Michael Parle was re-elected as vice chairman. New councillors have
joined our committees, and others have stood down. We should all be grateful to
them for their work and their dedication on behalf of the community. I would
like to pick out one individual for some particular thanks and that is Mr Gerry
Falvey who has retired as chairman of the parish council’s Finance and General
Purposes Committee. Gerry’s steadfast and wise guidance has ensured the parish
finances have remained safe and sound during recent years and his good
leadership has seen us through some difficult financial times. Gerry will remain
as a general member of the Parish Council and we are glad to have his experience
still with us.
Looking back over our last year of parish business, I am reminded that there
has been no shortage of controversial matters within our villages and we have
seen battles won and lost as the Parish Council and local groups responded to
these various concerns.
In Meavy, last year started with ongoing worries about the intrusion of new
cottages being built in places thought to be inappropriate by locals. Plans to
impose Selected Rural Settlement Development Status on the village added to the
unease and were vigorously opposed, ultimately to no avail.
A major planning application for Walkhampton, with talk of almost 30 homes on
the water meadows beyond Wheelwrights Court, were submitted and then withdrawn
after a quick riposte by well-organised opposition in the village. Other smaller
scale plans for new homes and some improvements to properties like the Village
Store, were better received during the year.
In Dousland, a major breakthrough occurred in the Council’s 25-year battle to
bring about a footpath along the B3212 from Woodman’s Corner to the Burrator
Inn. Devon County Highways undertook a detailed survey of the route and finally
came up with written plans and drawings showing the outline of a possible
footpath. The plans were displayed at a public meeting and we now hope the idea
is closer to becoming a reality.
Few corners of our parish were untouched by matters which provoked public
debate. In Lovaton a private school’s ambition to establish an outward-bound
style building in the tiny hamlet raised alarm which led to assurances being
sought and eventually given. In Sheepstor applications for new farm sheds
brought concern from ramblers and a few residents. As always, these matters
resolve themselves with time, and life in the community moves on.
On a successful note, it is rewarding to see our three village halls thriving
and providing a sturdy base for the many organisations and community groups
which flourish in the parish. The council has been delighted that it has been
able to sponsor renovations to these halls and boost the activities of those who
use the buildings through the giving of annual grants. Continued financial
support has also been provided during the year for renovations at the Royal Oak
Inn at Meavy, perhaps the greatest asset the parish and its people could ever
hope to own.
As our new council year is underway, we are still dealing with a number of
important items which regularly add weight to our council agendas, not least
some worries and concerns about our local bus services, and an interesting
proposal to adopt Conservation Area status for a large part of old Meavy
village.
If you wish to join in the business of looking after your community we
currently have one vacancy for a representative for the Meavy area.
Old photographs of Dartmoor wanted
Natalie Gibbs
Do you have any old photographs of Dartmoor, particularly from the Burrator
area, you would like to see recorded for posterity?
The Dartmoor Archive is a non-commercial organisation, whose aim is to
preserve Dartmoor's visual heritage through the use of computer-based, digital
technology. Based at Exeter University and supported by the Heritage Lottery
Fund and The Dartmoor Trust, the primary goal of the project is to digitally
preserve Dartmoor-related community and family photographs before they are lost
to the ravages of time. The collected images will then be made available over
the internet as a resource for research and education.
 If you have old photographs of Dartmoor, and would like them digitally
preserved for future generations to enjoy, the Dartmoor Archive would like to
hear from you. The Archive is currently discussing the inclusion of the South Tawton District and Local History Group photographic collection and other
photographic collections from individuals living in and around Lydford in the
image archive.
The project is also keen to involve local communities in its work, and is
interested in forming local volunteer groups who could help scan photographs and
contribute to the continued work of the Archive.
On the right is a sample picture from the archive. It is of Sheepstor
village cross taken by Taylor in 1913. Original
image © Devon County Council.
If you have interesting Dartmoor photographs and would be happy to loan them
for digitisation, or would like to become involved as a community digitisation
volunteer, please contact the Archive on 01392 264308 or email
dartmoor-archive@exeter.ac.uk
The Dartmoor Archive website can be found at
www.ex.ac.uk/dartmoor.trust.archive/
Play Bowls this Summer
Richard Button
Where would you find the terms Head, Long Jack, Toucher, Wide and Rink? They
all relate to the game of Bowls which, like most sports, has its own unique
vocabulary.
The ancient Egyptians are reputed to have played a rudimentary form of
skittles using round stones. The earliest record in England of an operative
green was at Southampton in 1200AD.
We are all acquainted with the legendary game of bowls on Plymouth Hoe
involving Sir Francis Drake, a native of our area, in July 1588, when he uttered
the immortal words, “we still have time to finish the game and thrash the
Spaniards”. He then proceeded to lose the game before sailing to win a great
victory over the Armada.
Today’s game has advanced greatly since those times, becoming one of the
fastest growing sports in our country, and it is played across the world. The
impression that bowls is only for older people is a myth of the past. Now more
people of all ages are taking up the sport and it is becoming especially popular
among the younger generation.
In this area bowls is played at Yelverton Bowling Club. The Green located off
Meavy Lane is one of the most picturesque in the County with panoramic views
across the valley of the River Meavy to Wigford Down and greater Dartmoor
beyond. A clubhouse built by the members, providing changing and refreshment
facilities, completes the complex. The Club offers social bowling; friendly
mixed matches as well as the more serious Men’s and Ladies’ league games. This
year we have introduced a new section known as “Yelverton Young Bowlers” for
those between the age of 11 and 18.
The club also holds coaching sessions, for “Beginners” who are interested in
playing or for experienced Bowlers who seek to improve their skills. Equipment
is available for loan to those who might wish to give the game a try before
deciding whether to play regularly.
If you are interested, it is never too late to start - either call Ron on
01822 854407, or come along to Club Night held every Thursday evening, during
the season, at 6-00pm. You will be made most welcome - see you on the Green!
( Richard Button is a Committee Member and lives in Dousland)
Life in old Sheepstor
Keith Scrivener
Memories of life in Sheepstor more than 80 years ago came flooding back for
Mrs Joan Tucker, aged 87, when she read our last issue of the Burrator Beacon.
Joan, who lives at Sparkwell, is the daughter of Josias (Joey) Nelder, once
the landlord of the old Park Cottage Inn which used to be situated at the foot
of Sheeps’ Tor until it was closed down and demolished in 1928.
Joan was delighted to read our last Backalong article telling the history of
the Inn as she had been born there in 1917. She was the seventh daughter of Joey
and Emma Jane Nelder who also had two sons. One son died in infancy, but for
many years the whole family lived and enjoyed life together at the Park Cottage
Inn. Joey Nelder ran the bar room at the Inn while his wife served cream teas to
walkers and day trippers from Plymouth.
“I can remember horse-drawn wagonettes bringing people out from Plymouth to
the Inn. My father dug out the small vehicle park opposite the Inn so they had
somewhere to stop.” This spot below ‘Joey’s Lane’ (named after Mr Nelder) is
still used as a car park today by visitors to the tor.
As a young girl, Joan went to the village school, now Old School House (a
private residence), until it closed down. She and her family left the village
when she was aged about 13.
“I didn’t want to leave - I loved it there in Sheepstor. Winters were cold
and we had to fetch our own water from a nearby stream. It was always ice cold
but tasted lovely,” she remembers.
Joan could also remember the workmen who helped raised the height of the
Burrator dam in the 1920s. “They spent the week living in huts near us and only
went home at the weekend.”
The Park Cottage Inn would no doubt have been a welcome and refreshing place
for these hard-working chaps to quench their thirst after a long day’s toil.
Joan also remembers that the Inn had its own field, gardens and stables. There
were hardly any trees in the area in the 20s - unlike the forested slopes we see
today.
“It was a beautiful place,” she said.
If you have memories of life in any of our villages in days gone by,
please send them to the Editor.
Meavy Garden Society
Dates
Monday 19th July
Functions and Freaks, George Kestell
Saturday 14th August
Summer Show
Saturday 4th September 4th
Afternoon visit to Longham garden, Coryton. (Arrange own transport.)
Monday 20th September 20th
Gardens through the seasons. Jean Dawkins.
Summer fun at Sheepstor
Keith Scrivener
A summer barbecue and fayre will be the highlight of another season of
activities centred at Sheepstor’s village hall by the church.
At the annual meeting of the St Leonard’s Room Committee held in May, members
were re-elected en bloc. Treasurer Trevor Rookes reported that the last year had
seen the village hall suffer a loss of £336 on the year’s finances, but assets
held in reserve meant that hall funds were still in credit. Chairman Corrina
Legassick said another year of enjoyable community events at the hall was needed
to help put the building to good use and bring funding back into order. The
summer fayre in August, a supper evening with a local speaker, a barn dance and
buffet, and a possible Christmas event were all put forward as ideas to bring
local people together for evenings of friendship and entertainment.
Some further maintenance work is still needed to the building and a day will
be planned soon when a working party of volunteers can get together to tackle
various outstanding jobs. A discussion also took place about purchasing new
floor covering to complete the homely new look to the hall’s interior.
Finally, another stream clearing day may be organised to allow the beautiful
Sheepstor brook to be the setting for another exciting duck race. So get your
wellies ready!
New seats for village
greens
Keith Scrivener
Two new bench type seats are to be purchased and installed on village greens
in Burrator. The parish council has given the go-ahead to buy the teak seats
from a local supplier for the benefit of residents who wish to use the greens as
a resting place - or somewhere simply to sit and watch the world go by.
One new seat is to be situated on Walkhampton’s village green after a
proposal to move the present seat from Redhill to the green brought objections
from those who found the old seat a useful stop-off point halfway up the hill.
The second new seat will be set-up on Meavy village green to replace one that
‘went missing’ some time ago.
Dartmoor National Park has agreed to help with the foundations and
installation of the new seats.
Woodside Charity Shop - Yelverton
Some of you will be aware that a new shop has recently opened in the premises
of the old Lloyds Bank at Yelverton.
To help the animals, please support this very worthwhile cause.
The shop is open six days a week from 9-30am to 4-30pm.
Walkhampton Community Play Park
The Fun Day fund raiser for the Play Park is on Saturday August 28th in the
Memorial Field, starting at 2.30 p.m. There is a Dog Show, Fun Run, Bouncy
Obstacle Course and lots of stalls and things for you to do. Contact Mrs
Kitchin, 01822 853992.
This event is run in conjunction with Walkhampton Cottage Garden Annual Show
which also opens at 2.30 p.m. Contact Mike Dobson, 01822 852937.
Walkhampton Art & Craft Exhibition & Sale
The 20th Annual Art & Craft Exhibition will be held this year from Thursday
2nd September until Sunday 5th September at the Walkhampton Memorial Hall. It is
open from 10am to 7pm on Thursday, Friday & Saturday, and 10am to 5pm on Sunday.
Refreshments will be available. Entry free.
A commission is taken on all items sold which provides a dedicated fund for
the upkeep and improvement of the Memorial Hall
For further information contact Michael D’Oyly, 01822 852268.
Meet Your Councillors
Tim MacDonald
I come from a family of itinerant Scots engineers who have sought work in
England for the last three generations. I am a chartered engineer who served in
the Royal Navy and the Ministry of Defence for 47 years. In the Navy, I
specialised in submarine engineering, starting with diesel boats and
subsequently moving to nuclear propulsion. After time at sea I worked on design
and manufacture of submarines.
I married Drinda at St Peter’s Yelverton in 1965 and we have three grown up
children and six grandchildren. We returned to Dartmoor in 1980, living first at
Yelverton, then moving to Sheepstor when I left the Navy in 1992 and took a
Retired Officer’s job on the staff of Flag Officer Plymouth.
My interests are rare breed ducks, walking with my dogs on Dartmoor,
Sheepstor church and conservation of the countryside - particularly the parish
in which we are fortunate to live.
I volunteered to fill a vacancy on the parish council last year because I
consider it is essential for all the areas of our diverse parish to be
represented. I had been happy to sit back and pass my comments to Elizabeth
Hopson and then to Keith Scrivener for ten years. However when Keith was
proposed as chairman of the council, I felt this might jeopardise his ability to
remain an independent voice for the needs of Sheepstor so I decided it was time
to do some of the legwork. I now serve on the Planning and the Finance & General
Purposes committees and also on the SW Lakes Trust Advisory Group.
As a councillor, I think my main task is to ensure that I represent the views
of the residents of the parish, particularly those in the ward of Sheepstor. I
do not believe in change for change’s sake and my main concern is to see that
changes in the parish are only introduced when they are necessary for the
benefit of the people of the parish. The majority should not be compelled to
change our way of life for the benefit of vociferous or avaricious minorities,
or business interests from outside our parish.
You may question why those on the Council are there, especially those like me
who have not been elected; and you may consider that you could do a much better
job. If you do, the answer is simple; there is currently a vacancy to be filled
on the Council and you will find Mike Spry’s number in the Beacon.
People of the Parish
Reverend John Weir
My early years were spent at Marlow on the Thames where I acquired my love of
all things “watery” and wild life in general. I was educated at St.Peter’s Court
School, Broadstairs from September 1944 when the school was evacuated to
Shobrook Park near Crediton, Devon. On the night of the 20th January 1945 the
house was burnt down with considerable loss of life and injury, but I escaped
down sheets tied together. In 1950 I went to Sherborne school in Dorset before
going to the Britannia Naval College in Dartmouth in 1954 as a Special Entry
cadet. I was a Supply Officer in the Royal Navy rising to Lt. Commander till I
retired at my own request in May 1967. I met my wife Rosemary, a Nurse at the
Torbay Hospital, in 1958 and we were married in St.Mary’s Church Diptford in
September 1959. When I left the Navy I attended a selection conference for the
Church and was accepted but having a young family by then the financial
situation prevented me going ahead. At that time our daughter Angela was born in
Chatham and our older son Christopher was born at Petts Wood while I was serving
at the Admiralty. We came to live at Goblins Green in August 1964 when I was
serving at the Commander-in-Chief, Plymouth’s Office at Mount Wise.
After the Navy I went to St.Luke’s College. Exeter to train as a teacher. My
first teaching job was at Okehampton Primary School in September 1969 and I left
the next year to take up a post at Princetown Primary School. Our second son
Peter was born in 1970 and in 1973 I was elected to the newly-formed Burrator
Parish Council. In 1975 I became deputy Headteacher at Princetown and was also
attending the College of St.Mark and St.John to obtain a B.Ed degree. I was
Chairman of the Parish Council in the Jubilee Year, 1977. I left the council
after six years as I began my training to become a Non-Stipendiary Priest in the
Church of England. I was ordained Deacon in Exeter Cathedral in 1985, and
priested at St. Mary’s Church, Plympton in 1986, the same year that I took over
as Headmaster at Princetown School. I was licensed to the Parish of St.Peter’s
Meavy and to the Yelverton Team when it was set up and I became a part time
Chaplain at Dartmoor prison where I had been a Prison Visitor. This I had to
give up when I retired from Princetown School following heart problems in August
1994. I remain as Hon.Curate in St.Peter’s Meavy.
Rosemary and I enjoy our garden and walking our two dogs on the moor. We have
a Canal Narrow boat to which we retreat from time to time. It is kept in the
Midlands not far from our two sons who both work in Birmingham - Christopher as
a mechanical engineer and Peter as a Teacher and Departmental Head in a
Comprehensive school. Our daughter Angela lives in Plympton with her family and
is also an English Teacher at the Ridgeway school.
We enjoy our ten grand-children and look forward to the birth of our eleventh
this summer. We are so lucky to live in this lovely part of the country and
retirement for us is busy but enjoyable with the part we can both play in the
Church and the Parish. I am also a regular supporter of Plymouth Argyle - a fact
the congregation in St.Peter’s are unlikely to forget, along with my love of
chocolate biscuits!
Obituaries
It is with regret that we record the passing of the following:
Muriel Marion Clarice Blanchard (aged 96) Service at Walkhampton
Church 12th March.
Ivy Eileen Meacher (aged 93) Burial of cremated remains at Walkhampton
on 26th April .
Sonya Ann Eastel (aged 36) Service at Meavy, followed by cremation.
Burial of cremated remains at Meavy 21st.May.
Laura Hartley Waldron (aged 81) Service and burial of cremated remains
at Meavy 28th May.
Amy Eastel (aged 86) Funeral service at Meavy 14th June.
We pay tribute to Jim Ball, who gave so many years excellent service
to local people at Bidders of Yelverton. He will be sorely missed.
Our condolences go to their families and friends.
Our condolences go to Ken Eastel, former Councillor and Chairman of Burrator
Parish Council on the recent very sad loss of his wife, his daughter-in-law
Sonya, and his mother Amy.
Letters To The Editor
from Michel Gravel, 17th March 2004
I am a historian living in Cornwall ONTARIO CANADA. I am trying to locate the
family of Lt. Henry Beresford SPENCER of the West Somerset Yeomanry, who
was killed in action September 2, 1918, while attached to the Tank Corps. He is
commemorated on a monument in Meavy.
Lt. Spencer was extremely well connected as he was a direct descendant of the
4th Duke of Marlborough and is a distant relative of Sir Winston Spencer
Churchill and the late Princess of Wales, (according to Burke's Peerage
and Baronetage, 106th edition).
The short essay below is the product of three years of original research,
conducted in Canada, the U.S.A., the U.K. and France. Lt Spencer died very
bravely as you see. He was killed in an action that saw the award of the
Victoria Cross to an infantryman, William (Bill) Metcalf, but his act of bravery
has just now come to light!
Would you consider writing a story about Lt. Spencer in your publication, in
the hopes of finding his family, or a person who knows of the family? You may
already know someone who could help me find out more about his family and his
connection to Meavy? Also, are any of the people listed below buried in Meavy?
Here are Lt. Spencer's parents and known descendants. (I don't have any
addresses)
His father: Captain Henry Montagu SPENCER, Born 13 November 1851, died
26 October 1924.
His mother: Ethel Louisa BERESFORD, died 5 November 1925.
Lt. Henry Beresford SPENCER, born 5 July 1881. Killed Sept. 2, 1918 Buried at
QUEANT ROAD British cemetery, France and commemorated in MEAVY.
His wife, Dorothy Acter FERRER, (or Farrer) died 17 November 1950 (After the
war, she lived in EXMOUTH)
His daughter, Audrey Joan SPENCER (Married Major John Alexander Sneyd
HAWKINS) born 3 September 1911
His son, F/O Denis Henry SPENCER, born 29 August 1913, died in a plane crash
18 July 1936.
His Grandson, John David HAWKINS born 11 September 1940
His Grandson, Timothy Spencer HAWKINS born 15 June 1945
His Grandaughter, Denzil Audrey HAWKINS, born 11 January 1946
I hope you will be able to help me.
The Last Moments Of Lt. Henry Beresford Spencer Of Meavy
At zero hour, September 2nd, 1918, the 16th battalion, “Canadian Scottish”,
the assaulting battalion on the extreme right flank of the attack on the
Drocourt-Queant line, near Cagnicourt, France, moved forward without too much
opposition. The infantry advanced behind a “rolling barrage”, and if they were
vigilant, could capture enemy positions before the defenders could man their
machine guns. For such an important attack, the Canadian Scottish received the
support of a company (four tanks) of the 14th Tank battalion of the Tank Corps.
(One tank advanced to within 300 feet of the German wire under heavy fire)
Meanwhile, the driver of the tank, Private Haydn John of Swansea, Wales,
could see, through the view port of his Mark V tank, the shape of a kilted
soldier waving his signal flags. Lt. Henry Beresford Spencer of Meavy
(near Plymouth), the tank commander, ordered to turn in the direction of the
signaller. The tank then became the favourite target of the German machine
gunners. The crew could hear the repeated “clang” of the bullets hitting the
land ship’s hull. This unnerving commotion may have given the crew a little
relief. They probably forgot, if for only a moment, the bad air and the
unbearable heat of their tomb-like environment. (The tank was being fired upon
by no less than seventeen machineguns!)
(Lance-Corporal Metcalfe walked beside the tank pointing with his signal
flags.)
Sergeant Earwaker, records the final moments of Lt. Spencer’s tank:
“The tank started to amble out in front the minute we got into the trench;
about fifteen minutes later I saw it in smoke five hundred yards in front.”
It had caught fire, and the crew frantically evacuated the tank through the
escape hatches. The entire crew was badly burned. Lt. Henry Spencer, probably
made it out but died shortly after his escape.
Captain Pemberton, the officer in command of the company to which Spencer’s
tank belonged stated in a report “the tank undoubtedly accounted for several
machinegun nests, which were found within 50 to 100 yards of the tank, with
their dead and guns, one gun having received an obvious hit from a 6-pdr. The
infantry afterwards reported that these guns were in action behind them, and
were inflicting heavy losses until Lt. Spencer’s tank returned and dealt with
them.”
Spencer was buried near the tank, probably in a shell hole. His remains were
moved to QUEANT ROAD cemetery, near Buissy, France, after the war.
For his bravery, Lance-Corporal Metcalf, was awarded the British Empire’s
highest award, the Victoria Cross. Lt. Spencer's bravery went unnoticed until
now...
(Editor’s Note: A plaque commemorating Lt. Spencer is on a wall inside
Meavy Church. Please contact me if you can shed any light on his connection to
the Parish)
Village Halls
Please support our local village halls. Each hall has disabled access.
Booking details can be obtained from the following:
| Meavy Hall |
Val Smith |
01822 855909 |
| Sheepstor Hall |
Enid Stebbings |
01822 852838 |
| Walkhampton Hall |
Neil Morrison |
01822 854880 |
Advertisements
LAND WANTED
Horse Pasture of about
Two Acres required in the Dousland Area
Telephone
01822 854469
Walkhampton
Post Office and Stores
A Garden Centre at
your Local Store!
Telephone
01822 853212
Commencing Easter weekend
we shall be offering a wide selection of Herbaceous Perennials and shrubs.
We specialise in the more unusual, and at prices you would be hard pushed to
beat anywhere. Before you stock up elsewhere, we invite you to come and
have a look round. We think you may be surprised!
In
addition to all the usual goods and services you might expect from a village
store, we also offer the following:
Riverford
Organic
|
Riverford award winning vegetable box scheme.
Small, medium and large boxes delivered each week.
|
SAINSBURY’S
|
We stock as wide a range as we can of Sainsbury’s products.
We are the only village shop in the area participating in Sainsbury's
village store scheme.
|
Bulk Pet Foods
|
We keep our own stock and can also take orders for your
requirements. We particularly recommend Wellington complete
dried dog food. Very high quality at only £12 per 15kg.
|
Dry Cleaning
|
We can turn around Dry Cleaning in 3 to 4 days, at normal high
street prices.
|
Organic Compost
|
High quality, locally produced, organic compost. £3.95 per large
bag.
|
Home Delivery
|
We are pleased to deliver orders of any size to your home at no
charge
|
At Walkhampton Stores
we are bucking the trend. We are proving that a local store, serving the
local community, can succeed in an environment dominated by the supermarkets.
Thank you for your
support
Mon-Fri 8:00-5:30 (Thu 1:00), Sat
8:00-5:00, Sun 10:00-12:00
The Walkhampton Inn
Walkhampton, Nr
Yelverton, Devon PL20 6JY
Telephone 01822
855556
| Warm Welcome |
Real Ales
& Fine Wines
|
| Real Fires |
Good Food
|
Email:
info@walkhamptoninn.co.uk
WRIGHT
WINDOWS
|
Terry Wright
Sharpitor
Burrator Road
Dousland
Yelverton
PL20 6NE
Tel. 01822
852275
wrightwindows@freeuk.com
|
Windows,
Doors and Conservatories in Quality UPVC
FENSA
Registered with Insurance-Backed Guarantee
Also
UPVC Fascia etc.
EST: 1983
|
MOORHEADS
ELECTRICAL
SERVICES : DIY : HARDWARE
|
New
installation & rewires
Repairs, Vac. Bags, Cooker Spares
Wide range of Lamps & Tubes
Cables & Accessories
|
Range of Pet
Foods
Hardware, Glassware, Tools
Seeds, Garden
Decorating accessories and sundries
|
17
Station Road, Horrabridge
Telephone: Day 01822 853610 Evening 01822 854800
DUSKHUNTER
DOG GROOMING
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
TAYLORS
TREE AND HEDGE LAYING SERVICES
Competitive Rates - Free Quotations
Hedge laying and general chainsaw work undertaken
General Hedge Maintenance
No jobs too small
Tel.
01822 854276
GOT A
COMPUTER?
New
business - Yelverton based - Specialised visiting help service.
No
more telephone Help-desks!
Local support in your own home or business from 11:00 to 20:30 hours.
Broadband set-up, client-led tuition, e-mail, internet, anti-virus & more.
Tim
Lambie 01822 855822 or 07932 024096 chezvouspc.com
Do you
need a fast accurate typist?
Reliable lady with over 30 years office experience. Audio or copy.
All types of work undertaken. Letters, reports, manuscripts, CVs, etc.
Scanner, colour printer, email and fax facilities.
Why pay agency fees? Reasonable rates for a first class job.
Delivery and collection if required.
Call Jill on 01822
859214
CHIROPODY
Krista Linnen BSc(Hons) SRch MchS
State Registered Chiropodist & Podiatrist
Professional & caring home visiting service
Tel (home) 01822 853953
(mobile) 07789 513043
Creating
Changes
Jacqui
Balloqui
B.A.
P.G.Dip. Intergrative Psychotherapy; CAPS Mental Health;
P.G.Dip. Youth and Community Work; C.S.C.T.Cert. Counselling
Qualified
Counsellor and Creative Therapist
T.A. Psychotherapist in Supervised Clinical Practice
Telephone
01822 855727
Sheepstor House, Sheepstor, Yelverton, Devon
Burrator BEACON Editor
Ted Whitehead,
Moorland House, Golf Links Road, Yelverton PL20 6BN Tel. 01822 853435
Editorial Team
Anne Ellis, Keith Scrivener Internet
Edition Editor
Published and issued quarterly, free of charge by Burrator Parish Council.
Copy to be sent to the Editor by the 24th of August
for the next edition to be published in September 2004.
Burrator Parish Council is a body which complies with the Freedom of Information
Act 2000. Contact the Clerk Mike Spry for specific details about parish
business.
Advertising
The charge for adverts is £10 (inc. VAT) per advert per single issue or
£28.20 (inc. VAT) per advert for 4 issues. One full page advert costs £35.25
(inc. VAT)
per single issue. Adverts must be booked and paid for in advance. Cheques made payable
to Burrator Parish Council and sent to the Editor (address above). We have 800
copies distributed free of charge to every household in the Burrator Grouped
Parish. The Burrator BEACON is also on the parish council 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.
Burrator Web Site
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
councillor 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.
|
