Head's window wash to raise school funds

David Redman gets ready for his stint of window cleaning.

WHEN Mike and Debbie Hooper found that the headteacher of their children's school was offering his services as a window cleaner in an auction of promises to raise funds for the school, they were determined to buy his services.
What David Redman, headteacher of Copplestone School, did not know then was that the people who paid for him to clean the windows of their home were Mike and Debbie, whose home is the Devonshire Dumpling public house on Morchard Road, which also has a large conservatory.
Honouring his agreement, even though he had far more windows to clean than he bargained for, David Redman turned up, with ladders, bucket and wash cloths, at the Devonshire Dumpling one morning last week.
However, his job was not so bad as it could have been. Mike and Debbie have a regular window cleaner, so the windows barely needed attention.
The promises auction raised £1,600, which included the bid for a meal for two at the Devonshire Dumpling, donated by Mike and Debbie.
Dumpling recipe
Mike and Debbie, who took over the Dumpling with their family nine months ago, would very much like to find a recipe for a traditional Devonshire dumpling.
"We believe it is an apple suet pudding. If anyone has got a recipe, we would love to be able to use it," said Debbie.
She is the chef and plans to extend the kitchen soon. They also intend to have a curry and a quiz night in the autumn.

What a week at Winkleigh

Above- Winkleigh Fair Queen Hayley Stapleton and Attendant Donna Ashmore present principal Floral Winkleigh trophies.

A PACKED programme of fun and events took place at Winkleigh last month to mark the annual Fair Week.
Events began with a parade by Crediton Town Band to the Parish Church for an egg and flower service, followed by the official opening by local Police Constable Ron Loomes, and the crowning of Hayley Stapleton as Fair Queen and Donna Ashmore as her attendant in the Square.
A dancing display was given by the Flowers of the Desert and cream teas served.
That evening there was a talk by John Bowers on water divining and a sacred concert in the village hall.
There was also a car treasure hunt, family dog show, bingo, swimming gala, skittles, heritage walk, maypole dancing, ferret racing, a children's fancy dress competition, tug of war competition and children's races.
Winkleigh Primary School African Drummers and Hatherleigh Silver Band played and there was a children's drawing and colouring competition, a fete, quiz, clay pigeon shoot, well blessing, pig racing, a barbecue and more.
The whole community was brought together and the event was a credit to the Fair Committee who worked tirelessly behind the scenes.

Richard makes his mark

Richard Grant at work.

TO mark the millennium Cheriton Fitzpaine parish council commissioned Richard Grant of Nomansland to work on a village sign. Richard is a stonemason with his own business and, as our photograph shows, is a traditional craftsman in stone.
The parish council provided a large block of granite and positioned it at the entrance to the village at Lagg Hill and Richard set about incising the lettering Cheriton Fitzpaine, together with the roman numeral SMM to indicate two thousand.
To complete his work Richard returned to infill the lettering with special black paint. Surveying his work he commented: "I makes a change from headstones."


Jazz train
IF YOU fancy a train ride with a difference, you might like to ride the Tarka Line, the Exeter-Barnstaple rail line, on the evening of September 7 when the Select Four Trad Jazz band will be playing on the 20.35 train from Exeter St David's.
This is the regular service, stopping at Crediton and other stations along the line, with a bar on board from the Beer Engine at Newton St Cyres to include Piston Bitter.
Normal fares and times apply and the jazz train is always a lot of fun. Some folk like to dress up a bit, others just go along to listen.

Medal for fighting diabetes

Mrs Glenys Northcott (seated) with Dr Paul Westwood, medical receptionist Catherine Rooke and practice nurse Heather John.

DIAGNOSED as a diabetic when she was 18, Mrs Glenys Northcott of Crediton has just been awarded the Alan Nabarro Medal in recognition of her fight against diabetes for more than 50 years.
Mrs Northcott received the medal at Newcombes Surgery from Heather John, practice nurse and diabetic specialist, with Dr Paul Westwood. She is the first patient there to receive the medal.

Devon Fire and Rescue Service

Devon Fire and Rescue Service are actively seeking more retained firefighters, male or female, for stations at Crediton and Okehampton. Assistant Divisional Officer Adge Tilke, left, and Group Commander, Ally MacDonald, had a stand at the Okehampton Show to urge people to "join the team". Phone the recruitment number on 01392 872331 for further information or call into the Crediton Fire Station on a Tuesday evening.

Ploughing up money!
DEVON'S Air Ambulance is the charity set to benefit from a Ploughing Marathon to be held at Melhuish Barton, Tedburn St Mary, from 8am to 6pm on Saturday, September 14.
Eight County tractors will be ploughing with Dowdeswell ploughs, with drivers including Rob Beer, Nick Martin, Gerald Bowden, Terry Bowden and Roger Cann.
Admission to the ploughing marathon is free and you will be able to see the following County tractor models in action: 1884, 1454, 1184, 1174, 1164, 7600, 7600E and Lyn Paver, Devon Air Ambulance Trust General Manager, said: "I would like to thank Roger Cann, all of the drivers and the organisers for putting this event together.
"It is a must for all enthusiasts of tractors and machinery and an interesting way to spend the day.
"Please go along and pledge your support."
"There will also be a clay pigeon shoot and hog roast," she added.
Further details about the day, or to make a pledge, telephone Roger Cann on 01647 61822.
Lyn added that she would like to hear from anyone who could put on a fundraising event for the Air Ambulance.
Contact the office on 01392 466666.

Okehampton Show

Mike Brown and Claire Brown of Gratton and Oldridge Quality Jams, Jellies and Chutneys of Handsford Farm, Chawleigh, offered visitors to Okehampton Show a free sample in the food and drink marquee.

Visitors to the Food and Drink Tent at Okehampton Show were offered a sample of cider produced by Winkleigh Cider Company.

Simon and Caroline O'Sullivan of Granny's Meadow, Colebrooke, sold a range of plants on their stand at the Okehampton Show.

David Gray, just two and a half years of age, enjoyed sitting on an all terrain vehicle.

Unusual sighting
OVER the past week we received several reports of an unusual bird being seen in Newcombes Meadow, Crediton.
It had a glorious purple blue sheen on its back, was the size of a large starling with a russet coloured chest with a pale yellow band at the top of the russet.
Having conferred with a local expert on foreign birds, we found it was a Spreo Starling. From its lack of timidity when people were around it, it would seem that it had escaped from an aviary. Wherever it came from, it was a very pretty addition to the park.
The bird is usually seen in the Sudan, Somalia, Ethiopia and East Africa.

Good results for QECC

Michael Williams

STUDENTS returned to school on Thursday to find how they had fared in the GCE A level exams, and Queen Elizabeth's Community College was very pleased with the 93 per cent pass rate.
Head of sixth form and deputy principal, Chris Jordan, explained that this was the first year of the new system of A2 results with the final exam being at the end of students' second year in the sixth form.
"We are very pleased indeed," he said. "There are a number of people who had A and B grades."
This year the boys took the top places and one of those who achieved the best results was Michael Williams, aged 18, of Spreyton. He got four grade A's and one grade B.
He is going on to read chemical engineering at Imperial College, London.
Ben Rickey was another who got high grades. He is going to Cambridge University to read archaeology and anthropology.
James Gibson, aged 18 of East Village, got A's in geography and sports studies and a B in psychology. He is going to Bath University to read sports studies and coaching.
James plays cricket for Sandford's First Eleven and for Devon Under 19's. He has been playing cricket for Devon since he was in the Under 12 side.
He is a member of Crediton Rugby Club Colts and of the Devon and South West Under 18 side.
Kate Campbell (18) got A's in English and Geography and James Gibson and Kate Campbell.
a B in French. She lives at Bow, one of triplets. Her brother goes to Exeter School and was pleased with his two A's and two B's and her sister, Sarah, also goes to QECC and got an A, B and a C.
Kate is going on to read law at Birmingham and is a former member of the Kirton Kalls junior drama group.


Born in Song
CREDITON Methodist Church will be the venue for a four-day flower festival in September.
The Festival, with the theme "Born in Song", will take place from Thursday, September 26 to Sunday, September 29.
It will be open daily from 10am to 6pm on the first three days and from 2.30pm to 6pm on the Sunday. Refreshments and lunches will be available throughout and there will be a display of hobbies and crafts in the school rooms.
On the 26th there will be Opening Devotions, with the Crediton Preparatory School Harvest Celebration at 2.30pm on 27th.
The Ad-Hoc Singers will be performing from 7.30pm on the 28th and on the 29th there will be a family service with Rev Kevin Hooke at 10.30am and a Harvest Songs of Praise with Mrs Cynthia Dixon at 6.30pm.

Booktrack for Jessica

Jessica Harford with her certificate and badge.

PROBABLY one of the fastest Booktrack readers at Crediton Library was Jessica Harford who began reading for her Booktrack in January, completing it this month.
Jessica, who lives in Crediton and goes up next term from Landscore School to Queen Elizabeth's Community College, received her certificate and badge from Library assistant, Cath Fitzgerald.
Her younger sister, five years old Amelia, has just begun reading for her Booktrack.
Jessica and her family moved to Crediton last November. She joined the Library in December, usually calling in on her way home from school.
Authors she enjoys include Jacqueline Wilson and Jenny Oldfield, the Sleepover Club, and a wide range of other writers.
When she has not liked a book, she has been able to give Library staff constructive criticism, which they very much appreciate.


Something for everyone at Coldridge

PEOPLE travelled from miles around to enjoy a pleasant afternoon and evening at the 2002 Coldridge Fete and Vintage Rally.
A great deal of planning had gone into the event by the fete committee headed by Jeremy Lee, with secretaries Jane Whitcombe and Liz Abbots.
About 600 people attended and found lots to see and do.

Marjorie Daw, with fete chairman,
Jeremy Lee, during the official opening.

Maisie-Sue Carpenter (2) won first prize in the fancy dress competition (3 and under), dressed as a mermaid.

Former Coldridge postman, Charlie Haydon, Mayor of Crediton, has a go at judging the weight of the cake competition at Coldridge fete.

Helpers on the plant stall at Coldridge fete.

Neil Potts ran a "have a go" at archery at Coldridge fete and is pictured with some of those who did.


Cubs at camp

South Zeal receive the Dot cup.

Tedburn St Mary and Sandford share the Moore Brothers shield.

OVER a most glorious weekend, members of Mid Devon Cubs held their district camp at Taw Bottom near South Tawton. They worked hard, competed in many games and challenges, including a water game, before the final presentations in front of parents.
The Ibbotson shield for camp inspection and general achievements through the weekend was won by Sandford Cubs.
The Moore Brothers shield, for the mini commonwealth games had to be shared by Tedburn St Mary and Sandford Cubs.
The Dot cup for the best decorated cake went to South Zeal Cubs.
A mixed team won the tug of war competition. Tedburn won the trophy for the best made model car while South Zeal took the award for the model car that travelled the furthest.
Sandford won the award for the best designed model boat and Chulmleigh took the prize for the model boat that travelled the furthest.
Presentations were made by Brian Durrant, assistant district commissioner cubs.
First aid officer was Dr John Warre who was called upon to treat one blister.


26 years at Spreyton School
PRESENTS and cards from staff and pupils were given to Rosemary Vile who left Spreyton School at the end of last term after 26 years as meal time assistant.
She has lived all her life in the area. Her parents went to school there, so did Rosemary, and so did her children. She is married to Alan, who also went to the school.
During all that time, Rosemary has served with only four headteachers, the latest being Mrs Cynthia Higbee.

'Full house' for churches' Holiday Club

Children at one morning of the Desert Detectives club with leaders, including the Rev Jerry Crosby, Congregational Pastor for Crediton, and the Rev Kevin Hooke, Methodist Minister.

ABOUT 50 children had an enormous amount of fun at the Churches in Crediton Holiday Club held at the Congregational Church each morning last week.
Theme for the club was Desert Detectives with the children taking part in games, drama, craft sessions, memory verse, each day finding a different artefact, leading them to a different part of the Bible which, in turn, led them to discover the mighty God Sword, which they found to be God's Word.
The club, for children aged 5-11 years, was organised by Francesca Raymont in a joint effort with representatives from the town's churches. Elizabeth Wakley organised the craft sessions.