SPREYTON NEWS
PCC AGM: The Rector, Preb. Anthony Geering, presided at the annual meeting of St Michael’s Church. Present were members of the PCC and some members on the electoral roll of the church.
The first part to elect two church wardens; the re-election of Helen Powlesland and Ken Vile.
The Rector thanked them for their responsible dedication during the past 12 months.
This was followed by the annual meeting of Parochial Church Council, the Rector again presiding.
The minutes of the 2007 annual meeting had been circulated prior to the meeting by the Hon Sec Dr Ken Whitaker, who told the meeting that 34 people were on the electoral roll, a similar office to the previous year.
Also circulated was the Rector’s annual report, in which he thanked all members and helpers for their excellent support to the church and work for the churchyard over the past 12 months.
He said he had just returned from a week-long conference held by the Diocesan Missioner attended by 70 clergy from different parts of Devon.
He realised how far the Whiddon group of parishes had moved in the Mission Group and said how proud he was of that group, recently joined by South Tawton and South Zeal.
Unfortunately, the Spreyton common share may be in the region of £69,000 by 2009. At present travelling, with fuel costs, is in the region of £6,000 pa.
The group population of 5,000 people has eight churches containing 11 villages.
He paid tribute to the loss of the Rev John Withers, who had retired from the Benefice last October. The vice chairman’s (John Williams) report had already been circulated prior to the meeting as had the financial statement of accounts.
More than 70 people from the Benefice had attended the licensing service at Spreyton Church on November 15 for the Rev Noel Walter by the Bishop of Plymouth, the Right Rev John Ford.
The annual accounts showed that expenditure had exceeded income by a large amount and suggests the PCC may have to consider fundraising or individual contributing payments to balance the accounts in the future.
The wardens gave a satisfactory annual report about the building inside and out and the churchyard and thanked the many helpers with cleaning, decorating, lesson reading and other matters at various times in the churchyard and especially thanked the organist and bellringers.
There was still much to be done on the extra land donated by Mr Hamly to extend the graveyard.
Planning permission was very important. A start had been made, also work needed to be done on the old oak tree on the land given.
Following on land clearance and levelling, seeding, drainage, fencing and hedge planting were needed to complete the operation.
There would be a heavy cost involved to complete all work, some of which had already been raised. Help for funding from the local parish council would be available.
It was also stated that offers of funding by former residents would be very acceptable by the warden.
The two Deanery members Eve Collins and Alethea reported and they were both elected for another year.
The official auditor, Mr Rob Henderson was thanked and re-appointed again.
John Williams was again appointed as the lay representative for the Deanery.
The Hon Sec Dr Ken Whitaker and the Hon Treasurer John Williams were both re-elected as were all the PCC and sidesmen, with the addition of Dr K Whitaker as an extra sidesman.
Joint service. Members of St Michael’s Church joined with the congregation at Hittisleigh Church for the Rogation day service. KJV
30 years of Bow Twinning
BOW is this year celebrating 30 years of twinning with Saint-Martin-de-Bienfaite La Cressonniere, but their celebrations will be a bit different for this special anniversary.
They are using this landmark event, not only to celebrate the twinning, but to renew their links to their community and launch their 30th Anniversary Project.
During the special anniversary there will be a visit by a group from St Martin (May 1-4) they will start the Appeal for Memories for “C’etait il y a 30 ans ...”
There will be a number of events in and around the village which will be open to all.
Bow Twinners get up to all sorts whilst fundraising to host their French visitors – tug of war, international football matches, annual quiz nights, bingos, Villages in Action shows, boules matches, safari suppers, curry nights, cream teas and even an annual Fun Dog Show! Not to mention all the places they have been to on their two way visits in Devon, Calvados and beyond.
Bow first became involved with Twinning in 1976 after their Parish Council had a vote on whether or not to start looking at the possibility of twinning with a village in Calvados. Devon is the only county in England to be twinned with a county in France.
Devon County Council signed the Twinning Charter with the Conseil General of Calvados, Normandy in 1971, to help promote the development of social and cultural links between the two regions.
Over the 30 years since, until 2006 (with the sole exception of 2001, the year of the Foot and Mouth epidemic) two-way exchange visits were made each and every year. In 2006 it was decided to visit in alternate years.
At the end of the first visit they were accompanied by some of their new friends for part of the journey back to the port. At Tancarville Bridge they joined hands and sang Auld Lang Syne amidst laughter and tears.
This visit was the foundation stone of their enduring friendship. Now in 2008 they are signing a Charter of Renewal to mark these 30 years.
Their motto is friendship, fellowship and fun and they have lots of all three, long may it continue.
Arts Festival at Thorverton
THE work of more than 150 local craftspeople and artists will be displayed or on sale at the 38th East Devon Arts Festival, to be held at Thorverton later this month.
The Parish Church, dedicated to St Thomas of Canterbury, will be transformed to accommodate the work, which will include pottery, woodwork, about 300 paintings, embroidered items, cards, jewellery, porcelain, stained glass, glassware, handmade bags, and much, much more.
This year, the Festival will be open from 10am to 8.30pm each day, from Tuesday, May 13 to Friday, May 16, and from 10am to 4.30pm on Saturday, May 17.
Very reasonably priced, home-made, refreshments will be available in the north transept of the Parish Church and are welcomed by those who visit the church to buy or browse.
In recent years, due to popularity, refreshments have been expanded from simple teas and coffees to include light meals such as pasta, pies and puddings.
Many parishioners spend many hours cooking for the Festival and volunteers serve on a rota basis. Regular visitors will find some new exhibitors among the many they will recognise from previous years.
During the afternoon and evening of Thursday, May 15, there will be music in the church while the exhibition is open.
On the first day of the Festival, Tuesday, May 13, there will be cream teas in the WI Hut from 3pm.
A few days previously, from 7pm on Friday, May 9, there will be ferrett racing and a barbecue at the Exeter Inn. On Wednesday, May 14, there will be a walk through Dinneford Meadow and on to Lynch.
On Friday, May 16, from 6pm, there will be a photographic exhibition of Thorverton, which will take place in the school, followed at 8pm by a quiz. The exhibition will also be open from 2pm on Saturday, May 17.
It is on Saturday, May 17 that the Street Fayre is held in the Berry, near the Church. There will be many stalls and a grand draw. During the evening, there will be a Variety Show in the Memorial Hall.
Visitors are reminded that there is no admission charge to the Parish Church during the Festival but donations are welcomed in aid of the Church Funds.
The Festival ends with a service in the Parish Church at 10am on Sunday, May 18, when the school’s new Head Teacher will be commissioned.
Yeoford goes Reggae
YEOFORD Village Hall is hosting a reggae evening on Friday, May 9, to raise money for its community hall project.
The evening will feature South West band “Heartland Reggae”, known for their passion and vibrance, and described by a reviewer as “British reggae personified”.
Tickets are available from Crediton Record Shop or Yeoford Post Office at a cost £10 per person, which includes a hot Caribbean style meal and complementary rum punch. Doors open at 7.30pm.