From the Rector

‘’Tis the season to be ... jolly’, but how is that going to work out this year? The cost of heating our homes has shot up, the cost of petrol and getting to work has increased. The credit crunch has had an impact on an increasing number of people within the parish; businesses under threat, jobs less secure, redundancy, uncertainty. People are looking at ways of saving money, of preparing for the ‘rainy day’ that seems ever more likely. How does this ‘jolly season’ fit in? In one way it becomes even more important. When things are difficult we need events where we can look forward, plan and anticipate good things. Celebrations, parties, get togethers with family and friends all help to lift the feeling of gloom, and if we are a little less extravagant, then so be it. The carol services, midnight mass, nativity plays, all help us celebrate. The problem with years of growth and prosperity is that we expect that to be the norm and are shocked when those things to which we have become accustomed are taken away. But gradually we seem to be realising that prosperity was built like a house of cards, nothing substantial, no foundation, no chance of going on forever; more illusion than substance. So is there a jolly alternative, something with a bit more depth? I’m sure you know what I’m going to say and it is the very thing that we celebrate – the unchanging goodness of God, demonstrated in the birth of Jesus, his son. Once and for all, free to all who would receive, good news of great joy to all people, a solid foundation that will never change, can always be relied upon and is worth celebrating (and it doesn’t cost anything!). Can we go back to the original? Are these troubles, although not created by God, and opportunity to get back to the important things of God? Can we reassess priorities and find again the things of true value and worth? I hope and pray that you have a very jolly Christmas and that you will have a prosperous New Year, but if there are troubles ahead I know I would rather face them with Jesus than on my own, and trust you do as well. Nick Law

From Rev Stuart Nixon

Dear Friends, Most of us are probably dreaming of a white Christmas - well, most of the younger generation anyway! But did you know it is statistically more likely to snow at Easter than on Christmas day? This was proved this year, of course, with a covering of snow on the ground on Easter Sunday (which quickly melted!!). Whether it snows or not, Christmas and Easter are firmly linked in the Christian faith. We can’t have one without the other! Christmas is about God coming to Earth in the form of a human baby. However, if we leave the story there we do not understand the Christian faith. We have to understand that the baby grew into a boy, then a teenager, then a man. His name of course is Jesus. Again if we leave the story at that point we miss out on the reason for his coming. It was to heal the sick, give sight to the blind, proclaim justice for the poor and restore our broken relationship with God. This was fulfilled at Easter by his death on a cross on which he paid the price for all our wrongdoing and he rose from the dead to show that we can have life everlasting with God. This Christmas don’t leave Jesus as the baby in the manger but worship him as the Saviour of the World. May you have a blessed Christmas and a Peaceful New Year, Stuart

From Rev David Rogers, BAUC

The Jesse Tree A few days ago I was reading a book and I came across something I thought I could share with you in this, my Christmas thoughts for the fast approaching season. This is the first time I have come across the Jesse Tree in 32 years of Christian ministry. Jesse, as you probably know, was the father of King David, the greatest king Israel ever had. The Jesse Tree has a longer and more Christian history than the ‘traditional’ Christmas tree. The ordinary family Christmas tree can be dressed up as a Jesse Tree (until Christmas Eve, when it can be decorated in traditional fashion). The children may copy and then decorate cut-out pictures and symbols representing people or events that prepare the way through the Old Testament, for the coming of Jesus. Those who use this method to make their Christmas tree fulfil a religious role in the run-up to Christmas using symbols from throughout the Old Testament and not just from King David’s time onwards. For example, creation can be represented by a cut-out sun and moon; the fall of Adam and Eve by an apple. A cardboard outline of an ark can be used for Noah and his family; a bundle of sticks for Isaac; a ladder for Jacob; a harp for King David and so on. It is certainly an excellent way for the children to become familiar with the people of the Old Testament. Bible colouring books, which can be purchased in Christian book shops around the country, can be invaluable as a basis for the decoration and colouring. If a family prefers not to use the Christmas tree, a small branch of a tree can be use instead. The size of the branch will depend on whether the Jesse Tree is going to be a table decoration or stand on the floor on its own. Stripped of its bark and painted with silver paint, it can stand in a pot or suitable container waiting for the addition of the symbols, either daily from the beginning of Advent or each day of the last week. So, come on, Mums and Dads and Grandparents, you will get a lot of pleasure helping the children getting this seasonal project started. (There is a Bible Bookshop in Plymouth at 64 Cornwall St. 01752 661264.) I hope you have a peaceful and a happy Christmas. David Rogers

 

Nature Watch

UPS AND DOWNS IN THE BIRD WORLD
As autumn progresses and trees lose their leaves we appear to have an influx of bird-life into the area, and certainly into our gardens; and we have yet to see the main arrival of species from a lot further north. Many of the latter will be wintering on the estuary, so this month I decided to concentrate on the birds of farmland and hedgerow. Some of the smaller species will have been here all the time, spending much of their time hidden in the undergrowth, though they may well be supplemented by individuals from higher ground. The smallest of the lot, the goldcrest, tend to move from their breeding area in coniferous woodlands. A dainty olive-green bird related to warblers, it can be identified by a distinct orange-yellow stripe or crest on the top of its head. They are visible now as they search for insects and spiders amongst ivy and other vegetation still hanging onto shrubs and tree-trunks. Unlike most small birds, they often seem unconcerned by human presence so binoculars may not be needed! A few firecrests are reputed to join them: brighter colour with white stripes over their 'eyelids': but I have yet to be certain of seeing one. Meanwhile, some of the thrush family are polishing off the remaining red holly berries in our garden: mainly blackbirds and mistle thrushes so far, but I am sure they will soon be joined by their migratory cousins. I assume the mistle thrushes have moved in from less sheltered areas, though why they polish off our Christmas berries and leave almost identical trees less than a mile away untouched remains a mystery! The harsh 'churring' song of these larger greyer cousins of the song-thrush is so distinctive that I find I scarcely have to look up to know that they are around and what they are doing. This is one of many species that is a local resident, with extra individuals flying in from further north or the continent to take advantage of our milder winter climate. Much has been made in the press recently of longer term changes in farmland bird populations, generally blamed on the increasingly intensive cultivation practices, the use of chemicals and the 'short back and sides' treatment of hedgerows. Nationally, four have increased in numbers: swallows, magpie, collared dove and chaffinch. Certainly, we seem to have a fair population of each here. Of those in decline, six are (or certainly have been) relatively common around the peninsula: skylark, yellowhammer, kestrel, linnet, starling, lapwing. Anyone who is a regular walker or cyclist might like to watch out for them, and try to remember if there were more around in the past—especially if you can remember the 60s when the decline is supposed to have started. I am certainly familiar with the first two which have been around in the local fields for at least the last 30 years to my knowledge, while the last two are certainly disappearing. (I had assumed that winters were not harsh enough to push lapwings this far south in winter). We are perhaps a bit isolated from the intensification of farming that has been seen further north and east. A few years ago I passed through some of the Midlands with which I was familiar as a child and was quite shocked by the changes that had occurred. Hopefully the recent attention that has been paid to the management of these habitats within agricultural areas will bring benefits: the NFU believes we need more time to notice improvements. I hope they are correct! Plenty to do on your winter rambles! Pete Mayston

UMDUMO WESIZWE
On Sunday 16th November, St Andrew’s Church came alive to the sound of music - African music. All afternoon, local singers had great fun being taught by Umdumo Wesizwe how to make African sounds and articulate African words to strong African rhythms. It wasn't easy, but a surprisingly reasonable result was achieved in the end. During the evening concert, even more surprising was the invitation from the lead singer Kento to his new choir to perform their song in front of a packed audience. No time for stage fright here. These ten extremely energetic young men from Bulawayo thrilled the audience with their beautifully arranged harmonies and rhythms and their great dancing,  their fast and furious footwork, and the sheer joy of it all. They thoroughly deserved their standing ovation and have promised to return. After the concert many people, including the group, went to the Plough ,which obligingly stayed open late so that people would not miss out on the monthly Acoustic night. The Tavy Tars sang welcome songs for our Zimbabwean visitors and in return they sang for us once again. What a day! The following morning the group visited Bere Alston School, where the children sang a lovely song to them and they in return gave the children a short concert. This was such an  enormous pleasure for all concerned and our African friends have gone home to find an appropriate school in Bulawayo which we hope will be twinned with our own. The hope is that a long-term friendship will develop and that in some we may be able to help those less fortunate than ourselves. As a result of the generous donations given during the concert, £350 was collected and will be equally divided between Children's Hospice South West and a charity in Bulawayo that supports orphaned children.  Out of the profits from ticket sales, £100 will go to St Andrew’s Church and  the remainder, just over £400, will go into the Bere Ferrers Villagers Fund for use in promoting and supporting the arts.   Thanks go to the many people who helped stage this event: the school for the loan of the stage, Norman and Matthew Gay who transported it, those who built it, Steve Jackson for doing the lighting, the five hosts who kindly accommodated the group and everyone else too numerous to mention who helped in some way - and most of all, thank you to everyone who bought a ticket and supported us. Without you these Villages In Action productions would not happen. Anne Turner

Medieval Banquet
The parish of Bere Ferrers with Bere Alston continued to celebrate its 750th anniversary with a magnificent Medieval Banquet in Bere Ferrers Church Hall. The majority of people had gone to a great deal of trouble and came attired in authentic costumes. The chosen regal Lord and Lady of the evening were William and Carol Spearing. His lordship welcomed ver 70 upright citizens (well, they were upright initially!). There were lords, ladies, Knights Templar, Saracens, Crusaders, several monks and an abbess, serfs, scullery maids and fair maidens; all had gathered to partake of the eight course banquet. Grace was recited in Latin by Diana Mitchell before Saracen broth (see recipe elsewhere in the Link) and rye bread was offered as a first course. This was followed by Flampoyntes, a savoury pie of pork, cheese and spices. The meat dishes consisted of fragrant whole roast chicken together with succulent glazed ribs of pork, accompanied by breads and green leaves. Jester Marcel Kelly organised amusing games between courses, such as pass the lemon and rescue the damsel in distress. Apples, pig bladders and forfeits also feature prominently on the entertainment menu. Delicious sweet-meats were on offer, including poached pears and fruit compote, and gyngerbrede and a selection of cheeses together with oat cakes rounded off the banquet, which had been researched by the Rev Nick Law. One travelling bard, having been charged with reciting his poems, caused great hilarity by forgetting his lines, possibly due to some potent brew! The trio of costumed minstrels - Tim Hampson, Pru and Beth Barnes - added greatly to the atmosphere. An auction of surplus food such as fowl of the forest followed the feast, adding to the church’s coffers. The rector thanked all who had prepared the food in their homes, kitchen helpers, musicians and jester, and the bard who forgot his poems. Lord Spearing expressed his sincere thanks to the rector for organising such a memorable event. Truly a cornucopia of delights. Betty Endean

Parish Council

October meeting Police Report: PC Callender reported that crime in the area was down by 44.5% during the summer. Some speed checks have been implemented in the peninsula. He also requested that the hedge alongside the Recreation Field on The Down be trimmed back to improve visibility into the field. This will be done soon. Plymouth Marine Liaison Group: Cllr Benson reported that at the last meeting of the group it was stated that mooring levels at Weir Quay are not excessive and that the sunken boat will be removed soon. Waste Management Proposals: Cllr Benson also told Council about the plans for a waste management plant for south-west Devon. The preferred site option seems to be at Ernesettle, with a disposal plant with a 100m (320ft) chimney. With the prevailing winds, this means that discharge from this chimney will carry over the Bere Peninsula and Bere Ferrers in particular. The Tamar Valley AONB has objected to the scheme. It will be discussed at the November meeting of the Council’s Finance & General Purposes Committee. Wind Turbines: It was reported to Council that planning permission was being sought for two wind turbines north of Bere Alston. Christmas Tree Decoration: Along with other local organisations, the Council has been asked by the Rev. Nick Law to supply a decorated Christmas tree again this year. Council agreed that it would provide a decorated tree at St Andrew’s this year as it supplied one at Holy Trinity last year. Ring and Ride: Council approved a donation towards the Ring and Ride scheme. Council Meetings: Parishioners are always welcome at Council meetings and there is a question time at the end of meetings for any enquiries from parishioners. Fixed meetings are: Finance and General Purposes: the penultimate Tuesday in the month, usually at 7.30pm. Full Council: the last Tuesday of the month at 7.30pm, unless there is a guest speaker, when the meeting starts at 7pm. For full details of these and other meetings, please see the parish notice boards. Season’s Greetings: The Councillors and Officers of Bere Ferrers Parish Council wish all parishioners a peaceful Happy Christmas and a hopeful New Year. Bev Slaughter

Community PCs

Hello Folks. Crime figures in your area are way down but we have recently had some incidents of criminal damage in the Bere Alston area. Unfortunately the offenders have not yet been identified. If you have any information could you either inform Seonaid or Graham or phone in on 08452 777 444. If you wish to remain anonymous you can use the crime stoppers number 0800 555 111. With Christmas approaching we would like to remind you that at this time of year presents are not only given but they are 'TAKEN' as well. Christmas presents on show under the tree in your living room may be seen by passers-by and Mr Billy Burglar may be tempted to try and break in and steal them. Please try and keep them out of sight until as near to Christmas as you can. Also please remember not to leave presents on show in your vehicle when you are Christmas shopping. May we take this opportunity to wish you all a very Merry Christmas and  a safe and happy New Year. PC Graham Callender and PCSO Seonaid Greenwood(your Neighbourhood Policing Team)

GROUPS

Bere Alston Carnival Committee

 

Royal British Legion, Bere Alston Branch

We would like to thank all the people on the Bere peninsula for their support and generosity for this year’s Poppy Appeal. We would also like to thank everyone who attended the War Memorial and church service in Bere Ferrers and the Tavy Tars for their rendition during the service. The parade in Bere Alston was also very well attended and we would like to thank all the organisations, especially the youth organisations, who marched so well. The parade this year was the largest we have had for a number of years and I believe every seat was taken in Holy Trinity Church. A lot of thanks must go to those behind the scenes for their support. The police for traffic control, Mansbridge and Balment, MA Hull, Bere Peninsula Pharmacy, JAN Brown and Bere Ferrers Social Club for their sponsorship of wreaths which were laid by the youth organisations. We must not forget the lovely ladies who gave up their time to prepare and serve the refreshments. We must also thank the Poppy Appeal collectors. Each year they go out in all weathers to collect your donations. Most of these have done this year in and year out and without them the Poppy Appeal would not be the success it is today. The total collected will be published at a later date. A large number of people, including children from the playschool, attended the ceremony at the flagstaff to honour those who failed to come home from the war on the 11th hour of the 11th day. All the members of the Bere Alston Branch would like to wish you all a very merry Christmas and a happy new year. Thank you. Peter York

Bowling Club

The summer has passed and the outdoor season is sadly over. All the preparations for winter have been completed on the green and the club house goes into winter mode. The dominoes and cards are on the tables, the draw for the Short Mat leagues have been made and the mat is down and ready. Meanwhile, back at the New Site, work is in progress on the new green. 600 tons of topsoil have been moved and the site has been levelled and prepared for the new green to be laid. A long way to go, but we are progressing slowly but surely toward what many regard as a dream. Watch this space! I’m sure I don’t have to tell you that Christmas is just around the corner and once again we shall be presenting our annual concert in the Parish Hall on the 13th Dec. “A Song For Christmas”, as it has become known, is going to be bigger and better than ever., starring once again Tyrone Piper and including members of The Plymouth Gilbert and Sullivan Society. They will be supported by more of our talented local performers, to include the ever popular Tutti Voci. Tickets will soon be available so look out for the posters around the village. The Club House will be decorated on Saturday 6th December in preparation for the Grand Christmas Draw on Tuesday 16th December and the New Year Party on ... New Year’s Eve!!!! New members are always welcome so come and join in the fun and make some new friends. Come along and sample the friendly atmosphere on any Club Night (Tuesdays 7.30pm). Ken Bellchamber, chairman 841664 www.geocities.com/berealstonbowlingclub

Bere Alston Gardening Club

The December meeting will be on December 3rd at 7.30pm in Holy Trinity Church hall, when Frances Howard will talk to us on the rare and unusual trees in her garden. Entry is £1.00 including entry to the raffle and you do not have to be a member to attend. There will be plants for sale and orders can be taken for fertilisers and other gardening sundries from the club shop. Tea, coffee, biscuits and seasonal fare, including mulled wine, will be available at no extra cost. Bill Roxburgh

Bere Ferrers WI

  At our November meeting, Dr Douglas Herdson, Information Officer at the National Marine Aquarium, give a talk on ‘Scylla - a scuttled sanctuary’. The southwest is a major area for scuba and technical diving and it can be l7 degrees in the water in the summer! The water is generally clear with occasional plankton. This is the area where the southern and northern wild life meet. The James Eagon Layne, sunk in l945 west of Rame Head, has a growth of pink sea fans (a type of coral) and anemones. This wreck is now crumbling away: hence the idea of Scylla came into being. HMS Scylla was the last warship built in Plymouth so seemed the ideal wreck to put in the 20m contour of Whitsand Bay, 800m from the James Eagon Layne. This was planned by the Plymouth science partnership and DML, to name but a few, and a majority of fundraising came from the South West Development Agency. In this new wreck you can even sit in the captain’s bath 15m below in the sea! There is an abundance of John Dory, conger and a new finding - a pink sea fan. All is there for us to find!  Dr Herdson summed up by saying a marine sanctuary aims to provide wildlife protection, improve diving experience and increase the value of fishing and angling to aid the economy. A university group checks Scylla for safety etc so all is well so far. All in all you missed a good evening! Our next meeting is our Christmas Party on 10th December.  Kate Harman

Chatterbox

It is mid November at the time of writing and we have just completed a very successful ‘Let’s Cook’ course led by Pam Law of the High Moorland WI. If you heard hoots of laughter and hilarity coming from Hope Cottage Café on 21st November it was the Chatterbox Parents Group running a taster session of Belly Dancing led by Sheila Buchanan – will report more in January’s Bere Link! We are now busy planning the decorating of our Christmas tree for the display in Holy Trinity Church this Christmas and also planning our stall at the Victorian Evening on 6th Dec – we are still hoping for fine weather as we plan to be outside in the village street. Do come and support our fund raising effort. Other plans are the hosting of a Body Shop Party in December – again to raise funds for our group, which will go towards future courses, equipment and events. On 9th January we are commencing a six week certified Paediatric First Aid course run by Triangle Training. Tavistock Children’s Centre are kindly funding this course. (A crèche is run by volunteers with the support of a creche worker when a course is being held.) If you are a parent of a baby / toddler and wish to meet other parents, do drop in on a Friday 1-3pm in Hope Cottage Café. We look forward to meeting you. For further information or to find out more about our group please contact Julie Overnell on tel. 01822 840452 or via email on jjeo@hotmail.co.uk

TIDDLEY WINKS

Tiddly Winks (formerly Bere Alston Toddler Group) is coming to the end of another busy year. It has seen the group continue to grow and prosper. It is a happy and well supported group with both the children and their mums (dads and some grandparents too) enjoying the friendship and support of each other. The year began with the children and parents participating in the Village Carnival. Unfortunately we came 2nd again but we are undeterred and will try for first next year! It was good fun decorating the float and it looked wonderful. The children enjoyed the thrill of riding on the float dressed up as miners, train drivers, flower sellers and even the mums and dads dressed up too as vicars or train drivers to represent ‘Bere Alston through the ages’. On Village Day we able to raise some much needed funds to replace and re-stock on toys and equipment. Some of the mothers started and successfully completed a family workshop. The course was designed to help, support and advise parents to encourage their children’s development through play and other activities. The completion of the course was celebrated by a ‘Picnic in the Park’ The weather was kind to us and the children enjoyed burning off their energy playing on the park equipment then getting covered in melted chocolate when they sat down eventually for the picnic! In July the group thoroughly enjoyed a family day out at Trethorne Leisure Farm park. The children were exhausted at the end of the day with all but one child sleeping all the way home on the coach. They enjoyed donkey and go-kart rides, ball pools and the experience of holding and feeding farm animals. On 1st November the Tiddly Winks held a Halloween Party for children under the age of five in the village. About 30 children attended for three hours and enjoyed such activities as costume making, face painting, marshmallow dipping, mask making to name but few. A ’dad’ won the award for best costume – he was a robot made in tinfoil! The group continued to run throughout the summer holiday. Throughout the year Jo Jingles (music and movement) and Topsy Turvey (soft play) visit at regular intervals. We are now preparing for the Victorian evening in the village and making Christmas decorations for the Christmas tree decoration competition. Next year will be just as busy with a sponsored bounce and a trip to ‘Jump’ among other things. We would love you to join us on a Monday morning, 10am to 12 midday at Holy Trinity Church Hall. For more information contact Julie (Marks), Play Leader 01822 840349 or e-mail mummy_marks@hotmail.com

 

Local Walks

PATHS IN HANGING CLIFF WOOD NOS 54 & 55
Enter Hangingcliff wood at Holes Hole. If the tide is low this is the time of year you may be lucky and see avocets on the mud flats. Follow the narrow steep path up hill through the woods until you see a stile in front of you. (Just before the stile, footpath No 55 begins on your left). Over the stile, follow the hedge on you right hand side. You will come out on the South Hooe road;  Hewton is on your right. From the junction with 54 in Hangingcliff wood, follow the path descending on your left. It is very narrow in places and steep, so take care. In spring time there are masses of daffodils and narcissi on the woods steep slopes, bearing witness to its horticultural past. Eventually you will come to a division on the path. Footpath 55 splits in two here, both legal paths, but the left hand fork goes through a private garden very close to the house, and when you reach the road at the end, it is a private road so you would have to retrace your steps back to where the path divided in the woods. From the division the route is straight on upwards and bearing to the right, where you will leave the wood. In front of you is a stile\; over that and you are on the South/North Hooe road junction. Doris Chapman

Crib Services at St Andrew’s
The search is on once more for the young actors of the parish to be shepherds and angels. Due to the large number of people who come to the services, we are running two once more, at 2.30pm and at 4pm on the 24th December. If you would like to be a shepherd or angel, just turn up at the church, dressed for the part, at either, when you will be made very welcome.

Christmas Tree Competition
By popular request, we will be holding our Christmas tree decorating competition in Holy Trinity and St Andrew’s again this year. It is open to groups or individuals and, as last year, you supply your own tree, decorate it in a fashion appropriate to your group, and show off your skills. Entry forms are being sent to the different village organisations, but extra copies are available from the Rector from the end of November. Decorating will take place on Monday 15th December.

Carols & mince pies
Holy Trinity Church Hall Wednesday 17th December at 3.00pm
Carols & mince pies at Glebe House, Bere Ferrers (part of the old rectory) in aid of new Children's Hospice
Thursday 11th December at 7.30pm Mince pies and hot chocolate
Everyone welcome to both!

A Very Big Thank YOU !!
At the time of writing I have 278 ‘Love-in-a-box’ boxes waiting to be collected by the distributing organisation Mustard Seed Mission, and I have been promised some more in the next couple of days. This is a wonderful effort! It is a wonderful sight. Colourful boxes crammed to almost bursting point with presents for children in orphanages in Ukraine, Bosnia, Romania and Herzegovina. These will probably be the only gifts that these children will get this year. There are so many people I would like to thank for the love and effort that they have put into producing these boxes, but space does not allow me to name you all. You know who you are, so please accept my heartfelt thanks. I hope you enjoyed putting together these boxes as much as I did, and YES we will be doing it again next year, so do not put away your knitting needles as hats, scarves and gloves will be needed again! And remember to save all the unwanted trinkets from your Christmas crackers as these make good box fillers. Thank you again. Sue Belfield

Bere Alston Brownies Christmas Post
Cards delivered to addresses in the Bere peninsula only. Post boxes in the Butchers, the Chemist, & John Brown’s in Bere Alston and Margaret’s Hairdressers, Alpine House, Bere Ferrers. Cards 15p each Post Boxes will be collected midday Thursday 18th December Delivery from 20th December

PANTOMIME TIME IN BERE FERRERS
After a break for a couple of years, Bere Ferrers is once again putting on a pantomime. A merry band of villagers, known as JOT Productions, have been working and rehearsing hard for the past three months on a 1930’s script of Red Riding Hood. There will be three performances in the Church Hall, Bere Ferrers: Friday 19th December at 7.30pm; Saturday 20th December at 2.30pm and again at 7.30pm. Tickets (Adults £4 and Children £2) will only be available from Margaret Willmott – 840380. As always, seating is limited, so to avoid disappointment book your seats early for what promises to be a fantastic production of epic proportions! For those of you that are unable to make the performances, there will be limited seating (at £1) at the Dress Rehearsal on Thursday 18th starting at 7pm, but remember, the pantomime may well be performed out of sequence, you might see the same piece more than once and it will finish later!!

BERE ALSTON REGENERATION PARTNERSHIP
Re-live that summer magic ‘MAMMA MIA’ CHRISTMAS FAMILY DISCO Saturday 20th December in the Parish Hall 7.30pm – midnight No bar, so bring your own drinks and nibbles Fancy Dress! Price: If you come in fancy dress: Adults £3; children £1 Otherwise: Adults £4; children £1.50

 

 

CHARITY Concert in aid of the RNLI by members of the Glyndebourne Chorus On the occasion of the 750th Parish Anniversary

Thursday 4th December 7.30pm In St Andrew’s Church, Bere Ferrers

SONGS OF THE SEA

The concert will include Elgar's Sea Pictures, Stanford's Drakes Drum, Sea Fever, Tom Bowling and works by Brahms, Faure, Borodin,,Grainger, Butterworth, Rossini, Hahn, Ireland etc

Tickets £7, available from Margaret Willmott (840380), Bere Alston Pharmacy

RNLI cards and gifts will be on sale at the concert

Contact Ann Parsons (840609) for more details

Bere Community Village Shop and Cafe

As Christmas approaches there are going to be more stalls so we will need to spread into the Hazel Room, giving us all greater opportunities to buy our regular provisions and also find the perfect presents for those we love. There are some special events over the Christmas holidays, so please note them in your diaries. Dec 17th. Decorating Christmas trees. Last year the shop and café entered the competition but somewhat half-heartedly! Now we know the high standard of entries, let us rise to the challenge and get a ‘team’ together for a stronger enter this year. Café funds will provide the tree and your steering committee will get it to the St Andrew’s Church, with a string of lights. So all we need now is a few creative team members and stall holders to provide decorations on an agreed theme. Please let us know if you have any ideas and want to help. Dec 20th. Shop & Café Christmas Party. The shop & café will be in the Social Club as the Pantomime will be ‘laid out’ in the hall, (buy your tickets early for this spectacular event!). Mince pies and mulled wine will be served from 11.30ish! Dec 27th. Shop & Café Free Raffle. All stall holders generously donate an item and when we buy our tea and coffee we are given a raffle ticket. The draw will take place at 11.45am. Jan 3rd 2009  Shop & Café January Sale! Every drink you buy you will get the second one free! Jan 15th. Shop & Café Rota Meeting. This will be in the Social Club at 8pm. PLEASE Café Team Leaders come with your diaries to sign up for Saturdays to the end of May. Other issues that need to be discussed by all shop & café users are: Bread orders. After two and a half years of running the bread ordering system, Joyce needs our help! She is asking for others to join her team, signing up to a rota which she will organise and she will also train all helpers. However, please don’t wait for the meeting, if you want to help, just contact Joyce on 840696. Ideas. Do you have any ideas that would make the Shop & café better? Would you like anything to change? This meeting will be an opportunity for all of us to contribute and listen to all suggestions. PLEASE come along. Merry Christmas & a very Happy New Year to all stall holders, café teams and shoppers! Steering Committee

For Children In Need
On Saturday 15th November the Village Café took £80.88p, which was doubled from Café funds to £161.76. Margaret Willmott raised £27.00 from donations and Find the Bottle game giving us a total of £188.76. An odd amount! So with a little extra from Café Funds, it was rounded up to £200.00! Thank you to all who enjoyed a very busy day in the Community Shop and Cafe and thereby contributed to our donation to Children in Need. Steering Committee

1 CORINTHIANS 13 THE CHRISTMAS VERSION
If I decorate my house perfectly with plaid bows, strands of twinkling lights and shiny balls, but do not show love to my family, I'm just another decorator. If I slave away in the kitchen, baking dozens of Christmas puddings, preparing gourmet meals and arranging a beautifully adorned table at mealtime, but do not show love to my family, I'm just another cook. If I work at the soup kitchen, sing carols in the nursing home, and give all that I have to charity, but do not show love to my family, it profits me nothing. If I trim the spruce with shimmering angels and crocheted snowflakes, attend a myriad of holiday parties and sing in the choir's cantata, but do not focus on Christ, I have missed the point. Love stops the cooking to hug the child. Love sets aside decorating to kiss the husband. Love is kind, though harried and tired. Love doesn't envy another's home that has co-ordinated Christmas china and table linens. Love doesn't yell at the children to get out of the way, but is thankful they are there to be in the way. Love doesn't give only to those who are able to give in return, but rejoices in giving to those who can't. Love bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things. Love never fails. Computer games will break, cashmere jumpers will wear out, golf clubs will get lost. But giving the gift of love will endure. Happy Christmas!

 

Bere Local History Society

Diane Lawer, the secretary of the Plymouth Postcard Club, gave an illustrated talk on the 27th October, based on her own collection, and entitled ‘A postcard view of World War I - Life on the home front’’. The golden era for collecting and sending postcards was from the end of the 19th century to the end of WWI in 1918, when 800 million postcards were sent annually in this country. They often featured blatant propaganda, but were also poignant, sentimental and a reflection of the times. The start of WWI occurred when Germany invaded Belgium in 1914, Arch Duke Ferdinand having been murdered. Britain had previously agreed it would defend the neutrality of Belgium should this be necessary. The Territorials were called up for service and as conscription did not become law until 1916 volunteers in vast numbers were needed urgently. Popular cards included ‘Your country needs you’ and ‘Your King and country want you’. Humorous cards illustrated by Donald McGill were particularly attractive and are highly sought after now. There were numerous cards poking fun at the German nation. Pictures of generals were popular, for example of Lord Jellicoe, as birthday cards. Lord Kitchener died when HMS Hampshire was torpedoed and these cards were known as ‘Old Bill’. The British were extremely patriotic then and popular songs included ‘Pack up your troubles’ and ‘It’s a long way to Tipperary’. Sentimental cards such as beautiful Belgian and French silk cards were often sent to and from France, costing five shillings - a full day’s pay. Glamour cards were a treat for the troups and cards with regimental names were highly prized, being very expensive even then. Social history is often observed in picture postcards. Early in WWI there was almost a light-hearted attitude: ‘we’re all pulling together to defeat the enemy’, ‘the war will soon be over’. But as the war escalated and thousands died in the Battle of the Somme, cards became more sombre, starting to show the reality of war in the trenches. The Ministry of Food introduced rationing with ration books and 1917 Britain was almost starving, with queues for groceries, which also happened in WWII. ‘I’m doing my bit’ became the catchword. The women’s contribution to the war effort was considerable. They frequently left home to take jobs such as land girls, ploughing by hand, harvesting, butter making etc They became policemen, drivers, inspectors and worked in dangerous conditions with TNT and cordite in munition factories. Clerical work was popular and secretarial colleges were set up nationwide. The one in Tavistock was known as Skerry’s. Many women joined the nursing profession, for example as Voluntary Aid Attachment nurses who were unpaid at first, eventually getting £30 per annum. Women at home knitted gloves, scarves, hats and socks for the troups. One card sported the caption ‘Sister Susie sewing shirts for soldiers’. Nurse Edith Cavell was executed by firing squad in 1915 for helping people to escape through Belgium. Cards were produced specially for St Dunstan’s, a charity which cared for the war-wounded, which still exists today. Cards became more poignant and those illustrated by Flora White are particularly collectable. The was finally ended on 11th November 1918, but the Peace Treaty was not actually signed until 28th June 1919. Ceremonies celebrating peace throughout the land were held on the 19th July 1919 and a temporary ‘black’ cenotaph was erected in London, the present permanent one being designed by Sir Edwin Lutyens. The end of this was effectively the end of the great period of collecting and sending postcards, although there may be a revival as groups of people like the Plymouth Postcard Club are dedicated to acquiring desirable items. Mrs Lawer was thanked for a fascinating evening by chairman Trevor Bond. Some interesting memorabilia were on display, including books and pamphlets. One recorded the Peace Day celebrations in the Borough of Plymouth, price tuppence. There was a grand procession with three bands: The Royal H Garrison Artillery, The 2nd Battalion Duke of Cornwall Light Infantry and the Band of the Royal Marines Light Infantry. Sports took place at Home Park. A medallion given to widows, inscribed ‘He died for Freedom and Honour’, attracted a great deal of interest. No pension was awarded - unbelievable by today’s standards. Betty Endean

December Diary