Editorial

Ted Whitehead

I would like to say a big thank you to all those involved with the publication of the Burrator BEACON. Ann and Keith of the Editorial Team, despite their full time jobs, never fail to contribute articles and photographs. My thanks to all those who deliver the newsletter around our very large parish, to our advertisers who keep the finance committee happy, and last but not least to you our readers who in a lot of cases contact me with very positive feedback.

Thanks must also go to Michael Parle for his input into the Internet version of the Burrator BEACON.

My best wishes for good health and happiness to everyone.

Clerk’s Report

Mike Spry

The Autumn has seen little increase in Council “activity” as such although an address was given by Marion Playle of West Devon Borough Council concerning West Devon Housing and “affordable” housing schemes that are Council generated. It is astonishing that there are only 4 people in the whole Grouped Parish on the waiting list for accommodation. It is worth remembering that local people have priority on these lists and WDH are both sympathetic and helpful so if you have a problem with housing give them a visit and talk the matter through.

The B3212 Yelverton-Dousland footpath between Woodman’s Corner & Dousland rumbles on. Devon County Council are now to conduct a surveyed feasibility scheme hopefully bringing the reality of a safe walkable route closer. Meanwhile the signs advising motorists of the presence of the small Industrial Estate have been installed. The Burrator Road speeding issue remains of concern - nothing has happened for months whilst the responsible Traffic Officer has been away ill. Now a new man has taken on the problems and we have been advised that last Autumn’s traffic monitoring exposed peak times for speeding and they will be targeted in due course with speed traps. Interestingly, among the worst times are the school delivery/collection periods which indicates that the problem isn’t just with through traffic - it’s very regular, very local parents making typically short “I’m late” trips.

Planning matters have been very quiet although there have been a number of refusals including 2 affecting Holewell Farm, where it is hoped a compromise may be reached, and the refusal of outline Planning permission in respect of land off Lake Lane. An informal hearing is being conducted by The Planning Inspector on December 17th commencing at 10.00am at Meavy Parish Hall in respect of proposals for land adjacent to 1 & 2 Meavy Cottages. Again, this is now a long running issue that is looking likely to be resolved in the near future.

A major survey of The Royal Oak Inn has been completed. There is a significant amount of remedial work required to keep the building “up to scratch” and this will be prioritised by the ROI Committee and attended to over the next couple of years. Similarly, the Council owns a small amount of property and this is about to be inspected and any necessary repairs will be carried out. Mr McPherson has completed his first successful year as the new Grass contractor, but like his predecessor, has been unable to stop the green stuff growing in November!!

Golf practising on various parts of the Moor is proving a bit problematic, with some individuals regularly ignoring the fact that it contravenes the law and probably their Club regulations!! Although they will be fully aware that it is not allowed, they persist and take exception when it is drawn to their attention, as do most public nuisances. The answer is to politely bring to their attention that you will be writing to DNPA & copying the letter to the two local Golf Clubs if you see them doing it again (Clerk’s tip - make sure you are standing beyond the range of a wielded club when doing so!!).

The Council Grants have been completed for the current year and amongst the items applied for were assistance with the new hot water system at Sheepstor Village Hall. It’s a lovely little Hall in a beautiful setting, a real small Community gem and it’s great to see it being “breathed upon” by a new Committee full of ideas with an enthusiastic self-help policy. Well done!

Support has also gone to Walkhampton for the Memorial Hall, Cubs & Scouts, Lady Modiford’s School (Governor’s, Pre-school Group & PTA), Meavy School (Governor’s & PTA), Meavy Parents & Toddlers, Tavistock CAB, The Samaritans (not a previous recipient but an Organisation there to assist all local people should the sad need ever arise) and the Ring & Ride scheme - in addition to the routine financial assistance to the three Parish Churches.

The Ring & Ride scheme’s future has produced a lot of incoming mail as there are doubts over the future of the “second” bus service. The Parish Council only has limited resources available for Grant purposes as the distribution of funds is very strictly governed by legislation. However, the limit is to be extended next year which I anticipate will see an increase in the level (or number) of Grants given by the Council via the F&GP Committee.

Whilst a lot of the funds come via the Parish Precept (paid by WDBC but in effect collected from the public via the rating system) the bulk of the Parish income comes in the form of rent from The Royal Oak Inn. Hence this really is a huge Burrator Parish asset, the benefits of which are enjoyed by the parishioners.

Floods - don’t forget there are free sand-bags stored at Walkhampton Village Post Office & Meavy Parish Hall should the need arise. I hope it won’t.

Finally, as another year closes my thanks to all members of the Parish Council for their continued support and the very best wishes to all local residents for a happy Christmas and a healthy New Year.

PS Christmas wish - honestly, a yellow Ferrari would do if red is sold out!!

Chairman’s Message

The Queen’s Golden Jubilee topic was discussed at the September Council meeting, as promised in the last edition of the Burrator Beacon. It would appear that there was some marking of the occasion at the Meavy Oak Fair and also at Lady Modiford’s School, Walkhampton. There was no further response from other members of the parish, either verbal or written. Members of the Council therefore concluded not to continue any further in this matter.

I would like to thank Councillors and the Clerk for their continual hard work. Not easy on a cold, wet winter’s evening!

Finally, keep the letters flowing. The Beacon is there for you to express your views and put forward constructive ideas for the way ahead in your parish. I would argue that the Parish Council is a key organisation in our country, as it is at the “grass roots” of our society and plays an important, non political role. The Beacon can be used as a conduit for your ideas.

Lights, camera, achtung!

Keith Scrivener

A German film crew spent several weeks this autumn shooting a large-scale television drama in and around the Burrator area. The Reservoir, the River Meavy, Norsworthy Bridge and other Dartmoor locations were used as a back drop to the filming of one of the novels of the prolific Cornish author Rosamunde Pilcher.

The film company with all its attendant vehicles, lighting and electrical equipment - and its ever-present ‘chuck wagon’ to feed the crew - became the object of much curiosity as they moved around the parish making the most of the very sunny autumn we enjoyed this year.

Late one dark starlit evening after Sheepstor’s Harvest Festival, church-goers on their way home were surprised to find the woods at the very foot of Burrator Dam illuminated by huge ‘arc lights’ which magically seemed to turn night into day. The film crew was using a huge bowser vehicle to spray hundreds of gallons of water over the television stars as they acted out a walk along the river-bank on a rainy day. Someone should have told them to wait a while and spare themselves the trouble, as the heavens opened a few days later to provide a real Dartmoor downpour. And it doesn’t seem to have stopped raining since!

Rosamunde Pilcher, the doyen of Mills and Boon publications and several novels, is extremely popular in Germany and a real English westcountry landscape was apparently required to provide a true scenic setting. The main actors were, of course, German, but the production company used English ‘extras’ who spoke English in the background shots to provide authenticity.

Sadly we shall never see the result of the crew’s creativity and hard work as the drama is only planned to go out on German television.

Meavy Oak Fair

Michael Parle

This year’s Oak Fair was held on a very wet Saturday afternoon in June. However the rain did little to dampen the enthusiasm of visitors and organisers. The children of Meavy Primary School presented a wonderful pageant to commemorate the Queen’s Golden Jubilee. The organising committee would like to thank all those who braved the wet weather and came along to support the fair, and a big thank to all who helped with stalls and games. Despite the conditions we still managed to raise £1500 to go to local charities and organisations. The distribution of the £1500 is shown in the table below.

New Memorial Seat This year a new seat was installed in the Churchyard of St Leonard’s at Sheepstor to the memory of the late Cdr. Peter Brown who lived in the village for many years. He was a churchwarden and hard-working fund-raiser for the village’s Church hall.

Meet Your Councillors:  

Bridget Cole

Arriving in the parish of Meavy over 31 years ago when I married Arnold, we set up our home at the family farm at Greenwell. It has wonderful views as far as Plymouth Sound, and Wigford Down watches carefully over us, and my love for Dartmoor has grown very quickly. Through work and pleasure many happy hours have been spent riding on various parts of the moors with our children. Times move on and now our two sons and quad bikes have taken over the gathering of cattle, sheep and ponies.

Over the years and with much hard work the farm has expanded to accommodate our two sons Neil and Mathew; Beverly our daughter has gone to London to work, although at heart a real country girl. All the children have been married in the last three years at Meavy and Walkhampton Church. Ida Maria is our first grandchild.

Born on the family farm near Ashbury, many Sunday mornings were spent ringing the single church bell in the tiny Ashbury Estate Church where my Grandfur Friend was churchwarden. Northlew (where legend has it, the devil died with the cold) was my primary school and I went on to Okehampton Secondary Modern and became Head Girl in the final year. Needlework and Mathematics were my best subjects and English my worst. To this day spelling is a struggle - thank goodness for the computer and spellchecker. On leaving school I worked on the family farm and of course joined the Young Farmers Club. Naturally I met Arnold through the YFC marriage bureau. Many hours of my youth were spent as “chauffeur” to my grandfather who was unable to drive in later years due to a horse riding accident as a young man. Before and after my marriage extra income was earned by sewing for Berkertex as a home worker. Greenwell in those days only had a generator for electricity, many dresses were stitched on a treadle sewing machine.

Greenwell is a rambling old farmhouse and after the children were born we decided to use the spare rooms to earn some extra money and the Bed and Breakfast business was started. Much enjoyable time has been spent working for farm tourism on a county and regional basis, producing brochures and marketing Devon Farms Accommodation. Over the last two years I have been working with Dartmoor National Park to try and find a way forward for the farming and rural community through the “Moor Futures Project”. Last year through frustration of the Foot and Mouth crisis I was successful in obtaining a Tarka Millennium Award to research ways of adding value to farm produce (concentrating on meat).

Sue Delooze and Elizabeth Hopson had nagged me often about becoming a Burrator councillor. After losing both these friends within a year, my conscience made me apply, and I am only too sorry they are not sitting on the council with me. I am on the Finance and the Royal Oak Inn Committees and as a novice councillor there is a lot to get my head around. Give me time and I will do my best to help the Burrator parish and those who live in it.

Daphne Button

I was born in Southend-on-Sea, Essex and educated in the small town of Rochford, (now much larger). I became a General Nurse in Chelmsford, and went on to further education, qualifying as an Operating Theatre Nurse. I transferred to the Plymouth Nuffield Hospital in 1987, and moved to Dousland in 1988. I have also worked at Derriford General Hospital.

On retirement in 1996, I joined many local and village hall committees, and am currently on the Management Committees of Walkhampton Hall and Yelverton Hall.

I became a co-opted member of the Burrator Parish Council as a Walkhampton Ward representative, and I currently serve on the Planning Committee and the Finance and General Purposes Committee. I am also one of the Emergency Officers for the Dousland area, and also the Parish Council’s representative on the C.A.B. Management Committee in Tavistock.

My hobbies include walking my border collie dog (Floss) and my friends’ dogs, hiking on the Moors, and oil painting.

I enjoy visiting my family and grandchildren and great grand daughter in Essex, Wiltshire and Canada.

Obituaries

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

Walter Maddock (late of Meavy) on October 27th at St Peters Hospice, Bristol.

Pat Trembath passed peacefully away at home on November 9th. A Memorial service was held at Walkhampton Church on Sunday 24th November.

Sylvia Stoneman died November 19th . Her funeral service took place at Meavy Church on Monday 25th November.

Nelson Palmer (late of Sheepstor) died peacefully on Nov. 25th. Funeral service at Rock Methodist Dec. 3rd.

Our heartfelt condolences go to their families.

Their contributions to the parish will be greatly missed.

Go East Old Man - (A Bike Trip)

John Crossley

I suppose, like all good holidays, it happened by sheer chance, in my case last November in Tavistock Town Hall car park.

Having recently retired from my last job I was enjoying the pleasure of a new toy, a Dawes Kara Kum Touring Bike, when I met an old friend.

Stewart Pearce was about to retire from the Police and I knew that he also owned a bike. We got talking about cycling and retirement and trips and I mentioned Santander to Roscoff and he mentioned America coast-to-coast.

Well, it was like a light coming on. That’s a damned fine scheme, I thought, but better see the wife first. Things worked out well and after a practice weekend up to Bideford where we went in the pouring rain, camped in the pouring rain and cycled home in the pouring rain, we found that we could stand each other’s company for at least 48 hours, and more importantly had the same ideas and expectations of such a trip.

We had also cleared things with senior management and promised them a two-week holiday at the end of the journey, in America.

All that and some terrific organisation by Maureen (Stewart’s wife) found us in Seattle in Washington State on 17 July. The route we had decided on was a classic Trans-America one travelling from Astoria in Oregon and finishing in Yorktown, Virginia.

This route had originally been done in 1976 to celebrate the Bi Centennial by, I think, some 2,000 riders and is now one of the great routes of America. It takes you through a good cross section of America scenery; from the Pacific North West Coast and the Rocky Mountains, the National Parks and the endless Prairies, the Devon-like terrain of the Ozarks at Appalachians (that is either steep ups or steep downs - nothing in-between!), to the rolling history of Virginia.

The route also keeps you away from large cities and leads you across America via the quiet backroads, and the route maps have useful information in them like campsites and bike repair shops.

So after a couple of days in Seattle staying with friends of Stewart we caught the train down to Kelso on the Columbia River and cycled down to the start of the route at Astoria just over the State border in Oregon. And yes, we did dip our wheels in the Pacific Ocean. The ‘Sea to shining Sea’ thing is a custom of Trans-Am. participants and I did think that we would need all the luck we could get.

But I do not wish to do a Baedeker or a Rough Guide job on this, sufficient to mention some highlights. Such as the spectacular scenery of the North-West, camping out at 11,000Ft. in the Rockies and remembering to stow your food in Bear Bins, seeing the tracks made by the Wagon wheels on the Oregon trail, the endless Prairies and that no matter which way you cycled the wind was always in your face, the fact that there is a statue of Popeye in Chester, Illinois, meeting real cowboys, the friendliness and kindness of Americans, all-you-can-eat-for-$7.00-diners, Blueberry Pancakes, meeting only one person out of the hundreds that we did meet who recognised my accent; not just that I was English and not Australian or Canadian, but that I came from the North. After picking myself off the floor I found that in this remote corner of Missouri there was a spot that is forever ‘Coronation Street’. And that she thought Alan Titchmarsh the best thing since whatever the last best thing was.

It was a wonderful trip, sun and heat most of the way except for some freezing nights in the mountains and a mini tornado in Kansas that tore our tent outer to shreds. Oh yes, and two days of a good old English downpour in Virginia. I won’t mention the aching backsides which happened for only the first half of the journey.

We did 4,402 miles and ended the route on 20 September in Yorktown, at the monument for the surrender of Cornwallis and the Brits to George Washington and his fledgling American Army. And yes, we did dip our wheels in the Atlantic Ocean, well it was Chesapeake Bay actually but it is salt water and tidal so it counts.

Then there was a beer or two and stopovers at the homes of some American friends, fellow cyclists whom we had met on the trip. Real beds, hot water, tables, knives and forks, that sort of thing. Then the trip north to Boston to meet the wives and to bore them to death with tails of the trail.

Was it worth it? Yes, it was wonderful and we loved it all. Would we do it again? Yes, definitely. And I would recommend it to all travellers. As somebody famous once said - you meet more people and see more things in one hour on a bike than you do in one month in a car.

My case, and backside rest.

All donations went to Childrens Hospice Southwest

Kilimanjaro 2002

Chris Morley

One very dismal and damp Sunday last January, I reached Lynch Tor on the western side of Dartmoor. I was helping a group of youngsters from Kelly College to do some expedition training with Ian their School manager. We had our lunchtime break together and before we left for our next objective, Ian & I had agreed to climb Kilimanjaro together in the summer, - the last thing on my mind when I set out that morning!

The summit of Kili is 19,340 ft above sea level, the highest mountain on the African continent and the highest freestanding mountain in the world. This was going to be my second high altitude trek, the first being to Everest Base Camp, my Challenge 2000. This earlier experience had prepared me for what was in store, having had to combat altitude sickness coupled with strenuous trekking where the oxygen levels were at 50%. This time we were going to climb a further 1,000ft.

Ian and I joined our two other fellow trekkers once we had landed in Tanzania and we made contact with our African leader, Mashud. After an overnight rest in a hotel in Moshi, we wasted no time in starting our trek, which was to take six days to the top. The ascent of the mountain takes you through four distinct zones, - rain forest, moorland, high desert and finally the rugged summit. Because of this the climate is as unpredictable as on Dartmoor and a cloud belt exists around the base of Kili above the rain forest. It wasn’t until the morning of Day 2 after we had trudged through ankle deep mud in the dank forest and eventually camped at Machame Hut, just outside the forest, that we had our first views of Mt Kilimanjaro. From then on, this magnificent mass of rock and lava with its ever-changing colours and moods, covered in hanging glaciers, seem to lure us ever nearer.

The daily routine was a wake-up call at about 7.30am with a bowl of water for washing. Breakfast then followed and the tents were taken down as we started our day’s trekking. This would take us well into the afternoon with plenty of stops for water, snacks, photographs and so on. The pace was very gentle but always uphill, and continual reminders from Ali, the other leader, chanting “puli, puli” checked your speed to ensure you kept walking ‘slowly’.

The food generally consisted of a mixture of soup, chicken, pasta, and fruit with porridge and frankfurters for breakfast! I am not a lover of regular fried food so, although altitude sickness was not a problem for me this trip, with a poor appetite and the effort of walking at high altitude, I was losing energy fast. I really felt that I was not going to get beyond our Base Camp. However, following some helpful advice from Andy who knows about these things, that evening for supper I consumed half a loaf of bread with lashings of peanut butter and jam which I enjoyed. I was like a spring chicken the next day being the day before our final ascent to the summit!

At midnight on summit day, we left camp hoping that by the time we returned sometime in the morning, we would have made it. The trail up the last 4,000ft in the dark was most memorable. The clouds had cleared and we could see the lights of the townships 10,000ft below us, and ahead we saw this weaving snake-like trail of head torches of other groups who had left before us. At 3.00 am I was slowing down too much for the others. It was important to keep moving in the sub zero temperatures, accentuated by the chill factor of the now strong wind. The others went on at their speed and Ali accompanied me for the last 2,000ft slog. It was now becoming a case of six steps forward and a stop for breath before going on up again. Thankfully other groups were experiencing the need for the same regime.

Suddenly the sun came up above the cloud and the crater rim was now only half a mile away. At about 7.30am, I had made it to Stella Point but we were not at the top yet. Uhuru Peak is another 750ft rise around and above the crater, which takes a further hour. But this didn’t seem to matter as the euphoria of seeing the goal ahead helped to keep you going. Also your aches and pains diminished with the fascinating views of the glaciers at close hand hanging precariously to the side of the mountain amidst this dusty barren lava landscape. Thanks to Ali, who at times gently pushed me up one or two of the sections, at about 9.00 am I made it to the top. But you don’t stay too long there. You are exhausted and cold, and to avoid any effect of the lack of oxygen, you soon retrace your steps to Barafu. After lunch at Base Camp, we left to descend a further 5000ft to a new campsite near to the forest and then we would be back at the trailhead the following afternoon. So on summit day we had climbed 4000ft and descended 9,000ft! We didn’t seem to worry that much - we had made it.

A rest day before the long flight back was welcomed. Just before we left the hotel at dusk Kili showed its head above the clouds and for the first time we saw the mountain from the plain. This view was to haunt us all the way to the airport. I thought to myself, ‘I wonder if I will ever see the white caps of Kili again’, a view which is expected to disappear by 2020 with global warming.

At home, I slept virtually for a week and decided that, in my mid-years, there must be an easier form of recreation - but I said that last time!

My thanks to all the many members of the Parish who supported me and in turn I was able to raise £750 for the Dartmoor Rescue Group.

For information and Diary dates you can: 
contact Lis Richards on 01822-853850;
visit our Web site  www.dartmoorbordermorris.internet-today.co.uk;
or email us at dartmoor.border@internet-today.co.uk.
(PS Yes, we are available for hire!)

Leukaemia Research Fund

V. Wright

The Leukaemia Research Fund (Yelverton Branch) wishes to thank all those who contributed in any way to the successful Craft Fair, held at The Moorland Links Hotel on November 6th. We are pleased to report that, despite the miserable weather, over £800 was collected. This amount will be sent to the Headquarters in Great Ormond Street.

Letters to the Editor

From John Glanville

The last two magazines made interesting reading.

Further to the question concerning Woodmans Corner; I understand that a family called Woodman built the two houses, and stables behind, from where they ran a carriage hire business. A carriage would wait at Yelverton Station just as a taxi would today. Among those using the service was the author of “ An Edwardian Country Ladies’ Diary”.

Editor: Many thanks to Mr Glanville for his letter; I knew somebody would know the answer. 

Happy hall-i-days at Sheepstor

Keith Scrivener

Sheepstor residents are planning a ‘Winter Warmer’ party sometime after New Year to bring everyone together for a village supper. After the much enjoyed summer Jubilee party, the St Leonard’s Village Hall Committee hopes to arrange a get-together for local families in the dark days of winter, once Christmas and New Year celebrations are over. The aim will be to organise a communal meal in the hall, perhaps with some entertainment to lighten the mood. One suggestion was to combine a quiz evening with the supper party. If anyone in the village has different ideas or would like to help, please let me know or speak to another Hall committee member. Watch out for further details on the date and time - to be announced later.

The winter programme of whist drives in the village hall is continuing on the second Friday of each month, with the Christmas Whist evening and raffle planned for December 13. This year’s prize draw was to be a more modest affair - sometimes the raffle lasts longer than the whist!

After this year’s fundraising and a much appreciated grant of £250 from Burrator Parish Council, the committee is about to start on its improvement and repair programme for the inside of the hall. A painting and decorating weekend has been arranged for the end of February. One other happy outcome of the summer “party in the paddock” is that many people commented on how attractive Sheepstor Brook looked after it had been stripped of weeds for the duck race. The committee is now hoping to organise a brook-clearing day to improve an even longer stretch of the water next Springtime.

Your support may be sought for a splashing time!

Walkhampton Cricket Club

Mike Dobson

Much work was done on the wicket both before and during the season and this resulted in higher scoring games.

Our final match of the season was between the Club and the President’s team of local dignitaries! - Jim Knight,(Head of Walkhampton School), Burrator Council members Chris Morley and Derek Lavers and Mike Spry (Council Clerk) and relatives and friends of the President. The match was played on Sunday 8th September, the weather was glorious and a good time was had by one and all. Especially enjoyable was the Cream Tea.

The match was fiercely contested! The result was very close with the Club scoring 168 runs and the President’s team of 3 cricketers and the rest as “casual” players scoring 158 runs.

The Council members performed with great distinction - Chris Morley scored 25 runs not out, Mike Spry took a magnificent catch and Derek Lavers was also not out but needs to improve his bowling!! The President presented a trophy to the Club Captain and it is intended to make it an annual fixture. Rev. Nick Shutt playing for the club was caught and bowled by his son Chris in the Club’s innings but obtained some redress when he bowled Jim Knight, opening the batting for the President’s team, for a duck!

It was good to see new club members during the season, - John Berry and his son Richard, Mark Gibbings, Mark Armstrong and John Leal. In 2003 we shall lose some of our players who are going on to University so we will welcome new members. If you are interested in playing, please contact Chris Long at Walkhampton Post Office (telephone 853212) who will be pleased to fill you in on how the club works, details of Winter nets and other club matters.

The Parish of Walkhampton is not noted for the genius it has produced but it did welcome the entrepreneurial skill of the Trathen family who came to Huckworthy Mill about 1910. The family consisted of Digory and his matriarchal wife Susanna; they came from the area around Kit Hill and married at an early age (17?). The children were Charles, Lena and Fred the youngest who served in the Royal Navy at the end of the Great War.

On his return he set about producing an electrical supply by water using the great water wheel and Leat which came down from opposite Woodtown: the water which came from the Walkham could be regulated and eventually returned to the river. Poles were erected to the village and power supplied to the Post Office and my father’s workshop behind: it also went through the village to Alf Palmers’ carpenter’s workshop on the Yelverton road. A supply was continued until 1933 when the West Devon Supply Co. brought power to the village: this too was water powered and came from Mary Tavy.

Fred also ran transport to Plymouth Market and carried people to sell their goods. I know this continued to 1948 and eventually they moved to Dousland where scope for expansion was found. At one time a daily service by double decker bus was run to London: in 1982 I took advantage of the service and found it excellent.

Praise is also due to Captain Griffith Jones R.N. for his foresight in bringing water and sewage disposal to the village. Captain Jones, a widower, came to reside at the Grange, Dousland with his two sisters in about 1920. He took an interest in parish affairs and as Chairman of the Council was instrumental in organising the water supply on a proper basis. Prior to this the only supply was a culvert which came out by Town Farm in Walkhampton where two large stone troughs were used by the village women to do their weekly wash, reminiscent of third world countries. Captain Jones was also interested in getting sewage works inaugurated. The houses around the Grange were in the Parish and on the right side of the hill supplied by Plymouth City Water. A further incentive was the intention of Tavistock District Council to build houses in the village. I can remember the men digging the trench which came from Dousland via Houndel Lane and thence down the Yelverton road to finish up on Knowle Farm. These two things were major improvements and allowed the village to expand.

Parish Footpaths

Chris Morley

For further information, telephone 01822 855145 or email crmorley@town-farm.com  

Christmas Services

Festival of Lessons and Carols

• Sheepstor  3:00 pm Sunday 22nd December
• Meavy  6:00 pm Sunday 29th December

Christmas Eve

• Walkhampton  3:00 pm Nativity Service
• Meavy  11:30 pm Midnight Communion
• Walkhampton  11:30 pm Midnight Communion

Christmas Day

• Walkhampton  9:30 am Christmas Eucharist
• Meavy  10:00 am Christmas Eucharist
• Sheepstor  10:45 am Christmas Eucharist

A warm welcome to all.

Samaritans

A Service which has provided emotional support to people in distress throughout West Devon and East Cornwall celebrated its 30th birthday at its annual meeting recently. The Samaritans opened its doors in Plymouth on September 11th 1972. The committed work by its volunteers was recognised by Samaritans members and ex-members and the Deputy Lord Mayor and Lady Mayoress of Plymouth at the meeting in Plymouth’s Lower Guildhall. The annual meeting also saw the launch of the new green on white logo and recognition of the change of name to Samaritans, rather than The Samaritans. The Plymouth branch is run solely by volunteers who do one duty every week. Anyone who is interested in becoming involved in Samaritans work should call 01752 221666.

Walkhampton Post Office and Stores

Telephone  01822 853212

There's a lot more going on down at the Walkhampton village stores than you might expect.  In addition to all the usual goods and services you might expect from a village store, we also offer the following:

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

GO GREEN

WATER BUTTS  --  £14

Contact Ann Ellis on 01822 854383

The Walkhampton Inn

Walkhampton, Nr Yelverton, Devon PL20 6JY

Telephone 01822 855556

Your hosts: Roger & Jan Sawyer

Email:   info@walkhamptoninn.co.uk

Abbey GARDEN MACHINERY

Sale, Service and Repair of Garden Machinery

Unit 22, Pixon Lane, Crelake Industrial Estate, Tavistock, Devon  PL19 8DH

WRIGHT WINDOWS

MOORHEAD

ELECTRICAL SERVICES : DIY : HARDWARE

17 Station Road, Horrabridge
Telephone: Day 01822 853610  Evening 01822 854800

Q Electrical

HOUSE REWIRES   ALTERATIONS   EXTENSIONS

We also cater for pond pumps and other outdoor fixtures
interior and exterior lighting
testing to B. S. 7671

Telephone 01822 853225 or 07967 210525

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

Home of the Duskhunter ‘West Highland White Terriers’

TERRY LEYTHORNE
DOUSLAND FUELS

For all coal and smokeless fuel requirements

Also Pressure Washing – Houses, Patios, Drives etc

Telephone: 01822 853973

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

Children and Adults with Individual and Group Sessions

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  Michael Parle

Published and issued quarterly, free of charge by Burrator Parish Council. Copy to be sent to the Editor by the end of February for the next edition to be published in March 2003.

Advertising

The charge for adverts is £10 (inc. VAT) per advert per single issue or £24 (ex. VAT) per advert four 4 issues. One full page advert costs £30 (ex. VAT) per 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.