From the Rector

Do you have a vision? Do you have dreams you want to fulfil? Do you have hope for the future? Have you got plans? These are all important questions and things that can add depth to life and motivate us to action. The church is in an interesting place when it comes to visions and planning. We have the spiritual side where we know and trust in God’s overarching providence and look forward to eternal life with God. We have accepted God’s commission to share the good news of God’s love for each person in our community; we want to strengthen our spiritual lives and deepen our love for God, for our neighbour and for ourselves. At the same time as dreaming all these heavenly dreams we also have the very real, down to earth situations that are common to us all - maintaining good relationships, looking after our buildings, paying our bills, living in the present reality. It has always been this way: feet firmly on the earth and our hearts in heaven. It is a creative tension. As churches in the Bere Peninsula we want to be effective in fulfilling the most basic and fundamental command of God – to love God with all your heart, soul, mind and strength, and to love your neighbour as yourself. This is both spiritual and practical and although the command never changes, how you fulfil it changes with society and circumstance. Our church council is looking to establish a vision for the parish, a five year plan, that will help us concentrate on the things that matter, and we would love to have your help in this planning and vision making. We hope to present the vision on Easter Day (April 12th). Where should our focus lie; what should our priorities be; how can we best serve our community today; what plans should we make for the future? Will you let me know your thoughts? Write to me, phone me, e-mail me (nicklaw2@tiscali.co.uk) or talk to any church member and let us know what you think. I look forward to hearing from you. Nick Law

From Rev Stuart Nixon, BAUC

Dear Friends, What is the focus of your life? Does your life have a focus or are you too busy even to think about such a thing? Those of you who like athletics may have seen old clips of the Empire Games when John Landy, the Australian champion, looked back over his left shoulder to see where Roger Bannister was, only for Bannister to pass him on the right! So often the important stuff passes us by because we have our focus on the unimportant. Jesus set his face like flint in his journey to Jerusalem. He was convinced and would not be shaken from the task that was set before him. Likewise the apostle, Paul, desired to ‘run the race’ and ‘reach the goal’. Both Jesus and Paul knew the most important thing to be doing was the will of the Father. Their focus was to follow God wherever he was leading and not be thrown off that path. Can we say the same or is our life spent floating from one thing to the next? Can we fix our eyes on Jesus and not be distracted? What is your goal or focus for life? With love in Jesus, Stuart Nixon

From Rev David Rogers, BAUC

You may have met an angel face-to-face In my house group we are studying and discussing angels. I thought I would share some of the things we have been thinking about and discussing. It has been very interesting and thought provoking. Angels are not just a decoration for the top of a Christmas tree or a cute little image to pin on your lapel. Angels are warriors. They are angelic beings that not only share heaven with God but move about the earth doing His will. The Bible says that they help answer prayer, convey God’s messages, offer protection, and sing praises to God. The Bible also tells us that angels can move about unseen, show themselves as they really are, or even take human form. People like Abraham and Sarah, Jacob and Lot all met angels face-to-face. You may have too, but the chances are you didn’t realise it. Keep this in mind the next time you cross paths with a stranger. You never know when one of God’s messengers might show up, unannounced, at your door. With Christian greetings, David H. Rogers

 

Nature Watch

AFTERMATH OF A COLD WINTER
The weather has been dominating the headlines for what seems like weeks! Maybe we have become accustomed to relatively benign conditions over the last 20 years, but my memory goes back to 1963 when frozen snow fell after Christmas and remained till March. (A genuine Devonian confirms this; a local market gardener remembers 1947 when the Tamar froze over—definitely before my time!) So, what effect will this have on our local flora and fauna? Gardeners often comfort themselves with the thought that at least some of the pests will have been killed off. I am not so sure. Driving home from Brentor close to midnight while snow was still lying on the verges we were surprised to see several large moths in flight. Insects are a remarkably resilient group of animals, surviving winter as egg, larva, pupa or, as in this case, adult. Otherwise they would have died out years ago! Any losses are made up within a season as they have such a phenomenal rate of reproducing themselves. By way of a contrast, long-tailed tits suffered a catastrophic decline in 1963 that is believed to have taken 5 years to recover. The evidence from our garden would suggest that the population has stood up well so far, but, like many, we make sure there is plenty of food available. What will happen is that the seasonal changes will be delayed: it will be interesting to see what the phenologists record! Certainly redwings and fieldfares are still well in evidence and at lower altitudes than usual. Similarly spring flowers are about, but with the exception of snowdrops are few and far between, and the first frog spawn has only just appeared (in mid-February) in a local ditch and in a neighbours pond—though not in ours, probably because we are still in our winter shadow. I would estimate a 4-5 week delay, based on the evidence from these indicators! Now when will the first chiff-chaffs arrive? One other sighting of note occurred at night while returning from Bere Ferrers, in one of the last large trees as the road climbs out of the village—a pair of barn owls staring down at me from the branches. There really is no mistaking these birds: ghostly white when seen in flight or from below, though in daylight the light brown of the upper surface of the wings becomes apparent. Seeing a pair would hopefully suggest that they may breed again in the area. Ironically this week the Barn Owl Trust has started a project to increase their numbers in the area between Dartmoor and the Tamar. Unlike the rest of Devon, where the number of breeding pairs has shown a healthy increase, in our patch they have declined dramatically. Loss of breeding sites (they will nest even in modern open barns) and loss of suitable feeding habitat (good tussocky rough grazing holds the most voles and mice) are the most likely joint causes of this decline. The trust would like to hear of any sightings and offer free advice to landowners and farmers on creating suitable habitat. They are hoping to install hundreds of nestboxes in the area. The contact number for anyone interested is 01364 653026 or email info@barnowltrust.org.uk Meanwhile, back to the small matter of the weather. I have already heard some of the sceptics attempting to discredit the idea of global warming on the basis of the last few weeks! Unfortunately its going to take a lot more than one poor summer and a winter the likes of which we have not experienced for 20 years to shift the average trend which is invariably upwards! Pete Mayston

(Many thanks to the two readers who let me know that the ’goosanders’ I reported seeing last month off Bere Ferrers Quay were in fact their close relatives, red breasted mergansers (goosanders are also mergansers). The birds seen on the river in or near Tavistock most probably WERE goosanders though, as they prefer fresh water whereas the red breasted prefer salt water. It is so nice to know from time to time that folk do actually read the Link! Once again, many thanks. Ed)

WHERE HAVE ALL THE BIRDS GONE? Is it just my experience, or have others noticed the same? Far fewer garden birds visit me than even a year ago. Not that long ago I would regularly have between 25 and 35 sparrows visit my small garden, blue tits and great tits, the occasional woodpecker, blackbirds, dunnocks, wrens etc. Now I am lucky if two or three sparrows visit my feeders, or a single blue or great tit. Perhaps my neighbours are offering better food than I am. Or could cats be the culprits? We have at least eight cats living in a 30 metre radius of our garden; I am sure they take a heavy toll. I have also noticed over the years that fewer house martins are building nests in the village, and those that are built often fall down. I have found that artificial nests are very successful; last summer all three on my neighbour’s house, were used. One year a real nest fell down but the young birds survived. We found a small papier mache bowl, cut a hole in it for an entrance and fixed it where the fallen nest had been. The young birds were replaced and the parent birds carried on feeding them. Some people are unhappy at the thought of house martins building nests under their eaves. That is sad; they are fascinating and beautiful summer visitors and, like many of our familiar birds, their numbers are in decline. Various artificial house martin nests are available from RSPB shops, and in an emergency a replacement can be made from an ice cream tub with an entrance cut in it. The breeding season for house martins runs from May to August, so there is time to put up a few artificial nests to encourage those that make it back from their winter quarters in Africa. Roll on spring! Diana Mitchell

THE BELLS, THE BELLS

A Gothic Tale, Tolled Picture, if you dare, a brooding turret pierced by a narrow, worn, spiralling stairway strewn with the broken homes of carrion crows and where the intrepid Stranger disturbs the inverted slumber of clammy-winged creatures at his peril. Luxury. As you hasten to the hallowed sanctuary of St. Andrew's, Dear Reader, hazard a fleeting glance into the tiny windowless chamber at the foot of the tower and you will see no such commodious expedient, but rather a dusty ladder leading to a darkling trap: such is the unique access to the six bells (1775) mounted in pairs above each other on a massive iron frame (1956) high overhead. Here it was that foregathered, one chill morning not long ago, a disparate company driven by a mission: Professor van Adams, mastermind and monitor of the Expedition; a henchman, a henchmaid and the Shock Trooper, to be seen loading his guns with unspeakable Slimy Stuff - the Norman Conquest was about to begin. The ladder was set and mounted, leading to a higher chamber traversed by the six ropes, and where a second ladder was similarly scaled to yield entry into the upper sanctum. An agile Quasimodo figure flits through the massive struts and stanchions with consummate ease as each sonorous recipient draws the sustenance it craves, its sated appetite revealed by the plasma oozing from its very vitals. Thus appeased, our time lords will, for another five years, preside over our high days and holy days whilst their servants toll below; and you may be sure that any ding wrongfully donged shall henceforth be roundly blamed upon: the Greasing of the Bells.                                                              
Viktor Yugo  (or rather: a shamelessly over-written but essentially truthful account of a routine maintenance job as perceived by Roger White 01822 840121)

BERE FERRERS LENT LUNCHES

The annual Lent Lunches will start on Wednesday 4th March in Bere Ferrers Church Hall at 12.30pm and each Wednesday in Lent thereafter. There will be the usual wonderful selection of homemade soups, with bread rolls. Donations will be in aid of Christian Aid and the Children's Society and the suggested donation is £3.

Burns’ Night in Bere Ferrers

The 250th anniversary of the birth of Scotland’s National Poet – Robert Burns - was celebrated with traditional fervour and much conviviality at the Olde Plough Inn on Sunday 25th January. This is the third year in a row that the event has been held at the Olde Plough and the supper was another sell-out with guests/participants/ supporters not only from the parish of Bere Ferrers but also from farther afield - London and Horrabridge. Scottish and Cornish tartans were also in evidence. The evening’s festivities commenced with words of welcome and a recitation of the traditional Selkirk Grace. Melody Mason then read two poems, “Surprise, Surprise” by Alexander Hutchison and “Hamnavoe Market” by George McKay. This was followed by Clive Charlton singing “The Westlin’ Winds”, a Scottish country love song. Then the first course - tattie soup- was served. Next came Jane Hamlyn ably assisted by Mike Grimshaw on guitar, who gave a fine performance of the famous Burns’ love song, “Ae fond kiss”, said to be written by Burns for his girlfriend Clarinda. Then the assembled company all stood to welcome the arrival of the haggis, carried in by Master Chef Sarah Williams to rousing applause and musical accompaniment by piper Tim Hamlyn. The haggis was duly presented for the attention of Ross Heriot who gave his usual dialect-perfect rendition of the “Address to the Haggis” before he stabbed the beast according to ancient ritual. Then we all drank a toast to the haggis. The main course of haggis, neeps and tatties with optional whiskey gravy was then speedily devoured before we moved on to the next part of the evening’s entertainment. In the absence this year of the Bere Ferrers bard, Vic Martin, Rae Bullough stood in at short notice to ensure that Vic’s explanation of what a Scotsman really wore under his kit was aired. Well done, Rae. Next on the programme was another performance from that well known West Country raconteur and man of many accents, Clive Charlton, who gave a fine presentation of the classic Burns’ saga of praise for the honest working man, “A Man’s a Man For a’ That.” Robert, Lesley and Mike gave a rousing interpretation of two Scottish folk songs, “The Bonny Lass ‘o Fyvie” and “Highland Harry.” This was followed by another amusing poem about a haggis from Tim and Keith and then a recitation by Ross Heriot of the original Scottish national anthem – Robert Bruce’s address to his troops at Bannockburn – “Scots Wha’ Hae”. No Scottish meal is complete without pudding – in this case Tipsy Trifle. This was immediately followed by a toast to the Lassies presented by Robin Eastwood who confirmed his Scottish connections by divulging that, when younger, he had served both as a “clippie” and as a trainee neurosurgeon in Edinburgh. Angela Hooper ably gave the reply on behalf of the Lassies. Being a Geordie she is almost Scottish and had spent many happy years as a child venturing over the northern border. They both acknowledged their debt to Burns for the many celebratory evenings, such as the present one, that they had enjoyed over the years. Following oatcakes, cheese and coffee, Andy Stewart (not of White Heather club fame but a Scottish resident of Horrabridge and recently retired exciseman) rose to give the keynote speech. He explained carefully why we were all gathered together in Bere Ferrers - a long way from Scotland - on a cold January night to eat and drink, sing songs and remember Robert Burns. He gave a brief history of Burns: the ploughman poet and latter day exciseman who was both a nationalist and international supporter of the working man with a passionate love for both the water of life and the lassies. The assembled company then rose and along with Andy raised a toast to the Immortal Memory of Robert Burns. The formal part of the supper now over, the assembled company were entertained to some fine musicianship by members of Unplugged. Keith, Julie, Rebecca and Tim played/sang a selection of Scottish airs, jigs, reels and polkas. Rob then lead the singing of the “new” Scottish anthem “Flower of Scotland” and the assembled company joined hands for “Auld Lang Syne”. A good time was had by all thanks to the hospitality and fine Scottish fare supplied by Ted and Sarah, the team at the Olde Plough and the participation of all entertainers, musicians and diners, without which the event could not have taken place. We look forward to the 251st celebration next year. Robert Mackintosh Smith

 

 

 

 

Parish Council

January meeting West Devon Connect Outreach Surgery. The outreach surgery is held every second Tuesday at Hope Cottage in Bere Alston. The surgery, which is a Borough Council initiative, brings local services to local people. By teaming up with other agencies, such as the Police and Devon Pound, a very comprehensive service is brought out to residents, assisting them with a wide range of issues and enquiries. Our surgery is not being used as much as it could and there is a danger that it may be withdrawn. There is a wide range of services available; for more details go to www.westdevon.gov.uk. If you need help with personal or local issues, try the surgery. Digital Television switch-over. Digital TV, the company responsible for the nationwide switch-over to digital television transmissions, has told Council that the switch-over date for this area is 12th August. Council have asked Digital TV to send a representative in advance to explain what will happen; at the time of going to press no reply has been received. 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. Full Council is the last Tuesday of the month at 7.30pm, unless there is a guest speaker. when the meeting starts at 7pm. For other meetings, please see the parish notice boards.

 

Royal British Legion, Bere Alston Branch

The next branch meeting will be at the Victoria Social Club in Bere Alston on Monday 9th March, commencing at 8pm. We would like to invite anyone over the age of 18 to join us. The Royal British Legion is a very worthwhile organisation, committed to supporting service men and women and also ex-service men and women and their dependants. Our support is there when it’s most needed. You see those young men and women returning from Afghanistan injured in both body and mind. We support them and their families when they need help the most and for many years after. There are only a few survivors of the First World War, but there are still many more survivors of World War Two. The Royal British Legion looks after the needs of these ex-service men and women and their families, and again it could be for many years to come. Since 1945 there have been many more conflicts and casualties. All these people need our support.

Bere Alston Bowling Club

The weather has been pretty rough recently and I know that a quite a few of you have been suffering from winter ailments so I will start by wishing you all well and hope you have a speedy return to good health. There is some good news with reference to the New Site. Within the next few weeks (weather permitting!) work will start to prepare and lay the New Green. The weather is a big factor but within a couple of months the New Green should be in place. There will be many large lorries in and out of the site, delivering hundreds of tons of gravel and soil, while works are in progress. I will take this opportunity to apologise for any inconvenience that may be caused to our friends and local residents. Our new home will very soon be more than just a site. Forthcoming activities include our Annual Open Shortmat Competition. Clubs from near and far compete over two days for the prestigious trophies.Teams from Bere Alston will be there challenging some of the best players in the area so come along and support them. Saturday 7th and Sunday 8th March are the dates. Bere Alston School Hall is the place and play starts at 9.00am on both days. Refreshments will be available all day on both days. Come along, have a cuppa, and see some top bowlers in action. Race Nights are always well attended and a good turnout is expected for the next one, which will be on Saturday 28th March. The first race will be off at 7.30pm sharp. Henry Hooper and his crew will again run the Tote and its 20p a bet as usual. £2.50 entrance is inclusive of refreshments (a hot pasty). See you there. The new season is not so far away so if you fancy bowling this summer now is your chance to come and join us. Established bowlers or mere beginners, all get equal opportunities to play. Social members are also welcome. Club nights are every Tuesday. The bar is always open so come along, have a drink in a warm friendly atmosphere, and meet the members BERE ALSTON BOWLING CLUB IS ON THE BRINK OF A NEW ERA. COME AND JOIN US AND BE PART OF IT. WE LOOK FORWARD TO MEETING YOU. All enquiries, call Ken Bellchambers on 841664 website www.geocities.com/berealstonbowlingclub

Bere Alston Gardening Club

The next Meeting will be on Wednesday March 4th in Holy Trinity Church Hall at 7.30pm, when Sue Fisher will talk to us on ‘Making the Most of a Small Garden’. Entrance is £1.00, which entitles ticket holders to entrance to the raffle and refreshments after the talk. You do not have to be a member to attend. There will be plants for sale. We make a considerable effort to provide a varied and interesting talks programme during the winter and it would be appreciated if we could have more support. So please switch off the TV (that programme will be repeated) and come along. The club shed is open every Sunday from 11am to midday for the purchase of compost, fertiliser and other gardening sundries. This is a service provided by the club for the local community, so why not save on transport fuel. If we do not stock any item that you require then please let us know and we will endeavour to obtain a supply.  Dates for your diary: The Plant Sale, Parish Hall, 15th May. The Annual Show will be on 25th July at a venue still to be established. This year we have experienced a proper hard winter. I cannot remember when the soil was last broken up by the frost which used to happen every winter. Perhaps we will have a more clement Spring and Summer than in recent years. Bill Roxburgh  

Bere Ferrers WI

 Members and visitors gathered on llth February to see Margaret Cartwright's slides and talk on ‘Holiday Images of Japan’. Japan has a unique culture and is shaped by its geography and history, which results in isolation from the rest of the world. Communities gather in densely populated areas due to the mountainous terrain. New buildings replace old ones and new development is in abundance. Due to the volcanic environment, hot water baths are plentiful and a real experience for the tourist! Maggie's slides of the fish market showed us raw tuna fish and an incredible line-up of enormous mussels still breathing. All food is eaten with chopsticks and is mostly raw with rice but savoury pancakes are popular too.  Trains are modern and travel above 300 mph. Each station has a rail at the edge of the platform and one steps onto the train which is spacious and comfortable and very clean. We were shown a traditional house with a table and chair without legs and a mat to sit on cross-legged. Slides of a geisha girl summed up the talk and, after questions from the floor, Maureen Knaust thanked Maggie for a brilliant evening. We look forward to seeing you at our next meeting (NEW MEMBERS VERY WELCOME): ‘Physiotherapy—Prevention is Better Than Cure’ with Gill Parnaby.              Kate Harman

A RAINBOW OF OPPORTUNITY   Do you want to make friends and influence people? Do you want to learn new skills? Do you want to meet remarkable exceptional women? Are you interested in diversity and democracy? Do you want to make a difference to your life and those around you? Do you want to laugh and have fun?   If you have answered yes to one or more of the above and are a woman (sorry guys) and are 16 years or more, then you are eligible to join the largest women's organisation in the country.  The Bere Ferrers Women's Institute meets on the second Wednesday of every month in Bere Ferrers Church Hall. You are welcome to come along to any of the meetings as a visitor and learn more about opportunities on offer. Please contact Rosemary Bell 840408 or Caroline Clark 841481 if you would like to discover more. 

Chatterbox

CHATTERBOX Chatterbox Parents Group has just completed a SIX week certificated Paediatric First Aid course. There was much laughter as we all bandaged each other up but we also learnt a lot from Ann, our trainer from Triangle Training. She made it very enjoyable but also extremely informative. Fourteen of us participated and successfully completed the course and two of us have already put the training into good use—proving how valuable first aid knowledge really is and you never know when you might need to use it. Thanks go to Ann and also Julie Marks and the staff from Tavistock Children’s Centre (TCC) who ran the crèche, enabling us to run and participate in the course. TCC also funded the course for Chatterbox members and three parents from the surrounding area—thank you. We are now busy making plans for future sessions. At present we have Steffi from Usbourne books presenting the benefits of books on 6th March and a sponsored bounce on 21st March to fundraise alongside Tiddlywinks toddler group in the Parish Hall—don’t forget to sponsor the youngsters if asked. All proceeds will be split between the two groups and spent on equipment, courses, trips etc. Other plans for the next couple of months are:- A jewellery making session A taster handbell ringing with the Bere Alston Handbell Ringers (? 24th March) Participating in the Carnival and Fun Day OUR FIRST BIRTHDAY on 5th June—hopefully, weather permitting, a cream tea party in the garden. A child development / parenting course If you are interested in coming along to Chatterbox just drop-in any Friday 1pm to 2.45pm in Hope Cottage Café: a warm welcome awaits you. For more details contact Julie Overnell on 01822 840452.

Bere Alston Carnival Committee

This year’s Carnival day is the 2nd May with the theme ‘H2O’. Already some groups are planning their float so it’s time to get your thinking caps on! Entry forms are available from our secretary Steve Costello, who can be contacted on 841353 or by e-mail stevesarah@talktalk.net By the time you read this we will have chosen this year’s Carnival Queen and her attendants, so we would like to say a very big thank you to our 2008 Queen Shannon Morris and her attendants Emily Warren and Emily Nunn who have done a fantastic job representing the Bere Peninsula. We must also thank their parents, who have been a tremendous support. Not only did they repair and decorate the queen’s float; they also took the girls to local events and to other carnivals in the area. If you would like to help by making the girls, dresses we would love to hear from you. All materials will be supplied. For more information please contact our secretary as above. We have decided to decorate the Parish Hall with bunting, currently being made by local groups, for you to enjoy when you sit down to tea after the procession! The committee are busy planning Fun Day and other events for Carnival week, so look out for our posters! STOP PRESS! The new Carnival Queen for 2009 is Olivia Labrute and her attendants are Emma Kirby and Marie Milne, chosen by judges Iris Snell and Mrs Paddy Richard.

Bere Peninsula Players

NEVER BEFORE, HAS A BOY ASKED FOR MORE . . . Oliver, Oliver! Coming soon to Bere Alston: The Peninsula Players will be performing a musical version of Charles Dickens famous story of Oliver, the boy who asked for more. This delightful, witty version is a combination of a humorous script and the celebrated lyrics of Lionel Bart performed by a cast of very young people supported by a small group of more experienced actors and backstage volunteers from the community. Oliver will be performed at Bere Alston Parish Hall on Thursday, Friday and Saturday, 5th – 7th March with two performances on the Saturday. Tickets will be available at The Victoria Bookshop in Bere Alston or by telephone on 01822 841353. Ticket prices are very reasonable and group rates are available. We guarantee you will leave with a song in your mind and a feeling of warmth in your heart. Food Glorious Food, Where is Love (Oliver will melt your heart), Gotta Pick a Pocket or Two, Consider Yourself . . . A great performance of a wonderful show. All seats £3.50; Under fives 50p; Students 16-18 years £3.00; Group bookings 10-15 £2 each, 16+ £1.50 each. Performance times 7.30pm; Saturday matinee 2.30pm.

 

Bere Peninsula Residents Association

Our next meeting will take place on Wednesday 25th March at 7pm at Hope Cottage in Bere Alston (next to the United Church). In the interim, residents, please look out for questionnaires, located in your local Post Offices and at Hope Cottage, requesting your views on use of our local roads. Is there too much speeding? Is there enough parking? Are there any other problems or suggestions you would like to bring to our attention? We would love to hear from you and maybe we can help resolve some problems.

 

Local Walks

Footpath No.38: Unclassified road opposite Beech House, Tuckermarsh, to join footpath 37. Begin this walk beyond Tuckermarsh Bridge, 100 yards or so further down the hill. Just at the steepest curve of the road, on your left you will see the sign post pointing to the start of 38. It develops into a pretty walk through fields and woodland. It is a straightforward path passing cottages on you right, until you enter a field beyond. Keep to the right of the hedge that faces you until you come to a small gate leading into the woods. The path is easy to follow but because it is steep it can be slippery in wet weather. In a short distance you join footpath 37. Doris Chapman

WEIR QUAY SAILING CLUB

Weir Quay Sailing Club has been unsuccessful in negotiating a new lease for its riverside headquarters and vacated them in January. The club, which was launched in 1966, has provided affordable sailing and sail training for local residents for over 40 years and has been leasing its club premises for over 30 years . The non-profitmaking club, which in the past had been grant-aided, was very sad to leave its premises, but is determined to continue to operate from its moorings, which are on a lease from a different landlord and provide dinghy sailing launched from trailers on the public slipway .It is hoped that long term arrangements for a new base can be made. The club also hopes for continuing support from the local community to maintain its activities, including youth training and family dinghy sailing, and would appreciate any offers of nearby storage for dinghies and safety boats Further information can be obtained from the club’s commodore Mick Johnson on 01822 810596.

Bere Ferrers Spring Flower Show 2009

it has sometimes been hard to imagine ‘Spring’ amidst our chilly, wild and wet winter. But in March, Spring is definitely on its way – and a fine way to celebrate is to come along to Bere Ferrers Church Hall for the Spring Flower Show (our 61st!), on Saturday 28th March. Some ideas about the many competition classes appeared in last month’s Bere Link, and you can find out full details from the Flower Show Schedule booklets that are available in Bere Ferrers from Margaret Willmott at Alpine House and the Post Office, and also from the pharmacy in Bere Alston. Remember, all competitors should get their entry forms to the Show Secretaries, Ann Street or Valerie Hamer, by 5pm on Friday 27th March, or can be delivered to the Church Hall between 6pm and 9pm that evening. All entries must be staged ready for judging by 10am on Saturday 28th March. The Show itself opens at 1.30pm, with prize-giving at 5pm (the ‘silverware’ will be presented by Dr Leverton). So come and enjoy the cheerful springtime sight of all those daffodils and other colourful flowers, delicious cakes and fine photographs. And the theme of the Show - ‘clock change’ and ‘British Summer Time’ - marks another reason to wave goodbye to winter (we hope!). Invite some friends or relatives along - and if they live in Plymouth or further up the Tamar Valley, why not suggest they come to the Flower Show by train? Clive Charlton Bere Ferrers Spring Flower Show Committee

Bere Community Village Shop and Cafe

On Tuesday 22nd January there was another well-attended and successful Shop and Café Rota meeting for teams to sign up for Saturdays until the end of May. Thank you to all who came and signed up. We welcomed Frances Gorringe to the steering committee and she has offered to run the 'bread rota'. Our special thanks go to Joyce Peden, who has successfully organised the bread order for nearly three years. For the first time, there were three dates left without a team. This is due to one team not being available for this session and another re-forming to make the 'Bread Rota'. It has highlighted the fact that we need some more volunteers to help. The RUG (Really Useful Group) is stepping in and some teams are doing three sessions this time, but we do need at least one new team. Can you help? A team is made up of five or six people, for three hours once every six weeks or so. It is not difficult and each team is free to organise its session in its own way. The feedback we get from nearly all the teams is that they find it fun and very rewarding! Our Shop and Café is a very special community project. Its third birthday is mid-April and we have been open every Saturday for nearly three years. The number of stalls has grown; we have a solid core of regular customers and the social benefits of regularly seeing neighbours and friends is immeasurable. It is a pleasure, and we think a privilege, to be part of such an organisation in such a community and we look forward to having new teams. Please ring any of the steering committee to offer your services as an individual or as a group. Please note that on the 28th March the shop will be in the Social Club as it is the Flower Show in the hall. Caroline 841481, Frances 840277, Juli 841660, Lesley 840315, Pearl 840334 (Cake and Bread Rotas are pinned up in the Church Hall by the kitchen door)

The Olde Plough Inn

Our RNLI night in February raised over £100 and money is still coming in for the Bring Your Own Bottle evenings. Thanks to everyone for their support.

March events Sunday 1st Plugged and Unplugged night Sunday 8th Trad Irish session night Thursday 12th Race Night in aid of the Bowling Club Sunday 15th Acoustic night Sunday 22nd Mothering Sunday—book meals early. Eddie’s Quiz at 9pm Thursday 26th Mexican Night Sunday 29th Jazz 3-5pm. Common as Muck 8pm

Bere Local History Society

Our group, together with other local history societies, contributed to a display at Derriford Hospital on the 27th January, organised by the Plymouth Medical Society. We provided the historical collection with local information on the cholera epidemic of 1849 and of the social reformer Percival Johnson, who lived at Ward House from 1846 to1855. The speaker for the January meeting was Paul Rendell, whose subject ‘The leats and rivers of Dartmoor’ ranged from the Bronze Age to the present day. He talked at length about the eight major rivers, numerous streams, most of which start near Cranmere Pool and flow south—West and East Dart, Teign, etc. He explained with the help of slides the importance and use of water on Dartmoor. The River Tavy starts at Fur Tor, is 22 miles long and is the second fastest flowing river in England. The picturesque Tavy Cleave has been forged by ice and water. The quaintly named Devil’s Kitchen, a favourite haunt of dippers, has treacherous undercurrents. On Dartmoor, peat lies six foot deep in places and this affects the type and diversity of the plants which thrive, for example sundew. In Tavistock the monks sited their abbey adjacent to the River Tavy and it was essential to the thriving woollen industry of the 15th century. The farmers needed water for stock, crops and to run their farmsteads, but it would all have to be collected by hand from local streams. Mr Rendell discussed the tin mining industry on the moor. In the 1100s they would have needed water, and the water courses of streams and rivers were diverted for their specific purposes. They used the power of water to crush the tin ore and leats were constructed. Sheepstor still has a leat as a water supply. Water from the Cherrybrook stream near Postbridge was used in the production of gunpowder at Powdermills. Clapper bridges of the 1300s such as Postbridge, and packhorse bridges such as Fingle Bridge (1500s) were built to take wool and tin to market. Alarmingly, the rivers can rise eight feet in an hour, completely enveloping these bridges and leaving travellers stranded. In 1588 Sir Francis Drake was commissioned to bring water to Plymouth. This Plymouth leat was built by 1590, now universally known as Drake’s Leat. It runs from the River Meavy through ‘Jump’ (Roborough) to Plymouth. As Drake owned local woollen mills, this project was most advantageous to him financially—a profiteer in many ways. There is an annual ceremony at Weir Head and Burrator Reservoir in June named the Burrator Fishing Feast, where a toast is proposed to the immortal memory of Sir Francis Drake, followed by a banquet attended by local and City of Plymouth dignitaries. During World War II the leat at Roborough was re-opened in case the water supply for Plymouth, namely Burrator Reservoir, was bombed. The Devonport Leat was constructed in the 1790s, bringing water from near Wistman’s Wood at Two Bridges 18 miles to Devonport. It incorporated a tunnel near Nun’s Cross Farm. Today it flows into Burrator and is then piped to Plymouth. The Grimspound and Sortridge Leat runs across Plaisterdown and is still used and maintained locally. Holne still uses its leat as a water supply. Mr Rendell talked about the reservoirs on Dartmoor, such as Venford, Burrator (1899) and Fernworthy (1940-50s). The latter two were built by Edward Sandeman. Fernworthy, near Chagford, was to supply the Torbay area and was delayed due to World War II. Meldon, near Okehampton, was the last one to be built and was started in 1972. It was constructed on concrete blocks, took one year to complete and is used not only as a water supply but also to produce hydroelectric power. It is anticipated that at least one further reservoir on Dartmoor will be needed due to the increased demand for water in the 21st century. Incidentally, the small reservoir which was built for the military camp at Okehampton in the 1890s is still used today. Paul Rendell once again turned up trumps with an interesting talk, supplying little-known facts such as in the 1850s there were 200 public houses on Dartmoor; now there are only 80! An overflowing table of books, card etc allowed members to browse and buy. Betty Endean

March Diary