Musbury Parish News Winter 2020

MUSBURY PARISH NEWS

Musbury Diary Winter 2020 ch-Church:

Winter 2020

December Sunday 6th Village Praise 10.00am Ch

Sunday 13th Holy Communion BCP 11.15am Ch

Thursday 17th Carol singing around the village 4.00pm

Sunday 20th Holy Communion 11.15am Ch

Sunday 20th Carol service 4.00pm Ch

Friday 25th All Age Service 10.00am Ch

With optional communion afterwards

January Sunday 3rd Village Praise 10.00am Ch



Sunday 24th Evening prayer 3.30pm Ch

Sunday 31st Holy Communion 11.15am Ch

All the above subject to current regulations

Please look on village notice boards

Your Parish news The Parish news is dependent on many volunteers, allowing it to be delivered free of charge to every house in the Parish. For this issue 320 copies are collected from Axminster Printers and delivered to David Antell who coordinates and organises distribution . The 320 copies have to be broken down into smaller packages which are then delivered by David to the 15 distributors . These volunteers then deliver the news through your letterbox usually in the first weekend of the Quarter

A big thank you to the following the following people

David Antell, Ian King, Judith Rixon, Brenda Wheatley, Annie Durrant, Jill Anderson, John Pugh, Sue Irving, Joan Welch, Cherry Sargent, Stuart Heal, Mr and Mrs Boglione, and Lesley Wilson.

Many of our distribution team have been doing the job for a long time, and are now of a certain age so new volunteers would always be welcome If you are interested please ring David Antell 553454

Rector Fr Steven Martin [email protected] 553180 Church Office Administrator Emma Laughton [email protected] 552307 Revd Preb John Lees (Associate Minister) 551351 Linda Joy (Children and Families Worker) 07599292449 Jan Lees (Reader) 551351 Emma Laughton (Reader) 551400 Revd Victoria Chester 07489882824 Charles Hill (Reader) 552141 Sue McCoulough 552446 Revd Canon Colin Preece (Retired Assistant clergy) 552154 Revd Nigel Freathy (Retired clergy) 22303 Revd Jeremy White (Retired clergy) 32299

St Michael’s Church, Musbury Church wardens Mrs Sue Irving, Cherry Tree House, Church Hill 552440 Mr Michael Pritchard, Knap Orchard, Combpyne Rd 552297

Treasurer Mr Robin Collis, Monmouth House 551105

MUSBURY PARISH NEWS Village Website: www.musburyvillage.co.uk

This magazine is published quarterly by the Parochial Church Council of St. Michael’s, and is distributed free of charge to all households in the Parish. The cost is borne by the PCC but is largely offset by advertising revenue and by a grant from the Parish Council. The Treasurer will always welcome donations by readers. The services provided by our advertisers are commended: when using them please mention the Musbury Parish News.

Editor Jolly Sargent, Ruffles, Doatshayne Lane 552470 [email protected]

Distribution: Mr David Antell 553454

Advertising: Rod Powell 552681

Holyford Mission Community www.holyford.org 2020 (so far ) Quiz

Well it has not all been covid this year can you remember some of the other News ?

1. In January who wanted to live like the common People ? 2. This guitarist died in 2020 best known for the hit jump. 3. Has he out trumped Trump? 4. The first bowler to reach 600 test wickets 5. Announced his retirement in September, best known for the Pompidou

centre and Millennium Dome 6. This Day was declared to be Palindrome Day 7. This washed up near Ballycotton in February 8. Who toppled Schumacher's record? 9. Where did British trained pilots flying British made planes continue to

bomb Civilians ? 10. In June who changed their name to “The chicks”? 11. What was discovered to be able to fly for 5 hours without flapping its

wings? 12.Who has become the worlds richest women? 13.What became worth $2 Trillion in August ? 14. In July what did scientists find on Venus? 15.What theory did Elon Musk advance about the Pyramids? 16. In August this city was rocked by a huge explosion 17.She won the French Open women’s tennis in October 18.This teenager was beatified by the catholic Church 19.How much did William Shakespeare’s First Folio sell for at Auction in

October ? (To the nearest Million) 20.Who Was re-elected in New Zealand ? 21.He was suspended from the Labour Party in October 22.Word of the year according to Collins English dictionary 23.The first ever Solo Male cover star of US vogue 24.The first woman to top the uk album chart over 5 Consecutive decades. 25. In February Boris confirmed this will go ahead 26.Country singing legend known for the Gambler who died in March 27.Whom did Rishi Sunak replace as Chancellor of the Exchequer? 28.Which basketball star died in a Helicopter crash? 29.What did “Eastenders celebrate this year”? 30.Winner of the Tour de France Answers will be posted on a village notice board in January or contact the editor

mailto:[email protected]


http://www.musburyvillage.co.uk

http://www.holyford.org

44 Musbury Parish News Winter 2020 Winter 2020 Musbury Parish News 1

And Finally

“To defend a country you need an army, but to defend a civilisation you need education” Jonathan Sacks 1948-2020

“Wars are won by weapons but it takes ideas to win a peace. ” Jonathan Sacks 1948-2020

“The older you get, I have to say, the funnier you find life. That's the only way to go.” Diana Rigg 1938-2020

“I can see clearly now that the rain is gone, I can see all obstacles in my way. Gone are the dark clouds that had me blind, it's gonna be a bright, bright sun shining day.” Johnny Nash 1940- 2020

Thank you to all contributors and the rest of the team for allowing us to publish another issue in difficult circumstances. As I write this there is a glimmer of light at the end of the tunnel and hope for the New Year. Living in Musbury we have been lucky to be sheltered from the worst of the pandemic and although for many it has been a difficult year let us hope for a return to normality . I do not know what the Christmas , and the New year period will be like but I am sure that it will be celebrated in some way in Musbury and I am certain that the year 2020 will be one that is remembered for a long time. Keep an eye on the village website and the village notice boards for up to date news. After all one wouldn’t want to miss anything.

I am always looking for contribution for the Parish News , from the topical to the controversial , and the humorous .So why not take time over the festive season and write me something

Take care, mind how you go and have a Happy Christmas and a Peaceful New year.

Jolly Editor

Contributors please note Deadline for next Issue 12th February

From The Vicarage Steven Writes

At the time of writing this, we are coming towards the end of November and I, like many, scratching my head and wondering what will happen or be possible after we emerge from the second intense period of lockdown…in particular, what on earth we shall be able do at Christmas in terms of services and gatherings? Planning is tricky, but the aim is always to carry on as best we can, keeping the church open during the day, and returning to having services in church as soon as we are permitted. We also plan to hold extra events to enable people to gather outdoors, again, as regulations allow. Details of these can be found below. Alongside services in church, we continue to offer ways in which people can join us to come together and worship online or over the telephone. Details of services and events at St Michael’s (as well as across the Mission Community) can be found on our website, www.holyford.org and/or our Facebook page @holyfordmission, or by telephoning our churchwardens, Michael (552297) ,Sue (552440) or me (553180) to check when services are taking place. If you wish to sign up for our weekly email newsletter, please send an email to Dr Charles Hill [email protected].

As you may know, we were forced to close the church for a few weeks during summer as part of the plaster from the ceiling over the South Aisle and Nave fell down. With the church out-of-bounds, we held a lovely service in the churchyard. Following the architect’s visit, we have been able to open again, and have services inside, albeit with part of the church cordoned off, until we can repair the ceiling. It has been no mean feat to keep the church open, and my thanks go to all those who lock and unlock the church, and all who have taken on the extra cleaning required to keep our church sanitised and ‘covid safe’.

Many are suffering financial difficulties during this time, and your parish church is no exception. On top of our usual expenses, we are now faced with a new challenge. Repairing the fallen panels on a high ceiling in a listed building will be costly, and we are faced with the added complication of potential extra costs if, after closer inspection, there are further loose panels which need to be replaced. The PCC are currently seeking to raise the necessary funds in order to make progress with the work. My thanks to Ann Veit and others in the village who are fundraising in various ways at a time when fundraising in the usual way is almost impossible.



Every day we are losing memories and memorabilia, even pictures that appeared in Musbury Memories can no longer be found. Let’s hope we can preserve as much as possible. Please remember I will happily store anything relating to our history until we have a place dedicated to displaying and archiving Musbury’s Heritage.

Hopefully, one day Covid-19 will be behind us and we’ll have that meeting for everyone. There’s a lot to talk about!

Martin Minter / Musbury Heritage / [email protected]

www.musburyheritage.co.uk

Despite global pandemics and falling plasterwork (!) the church community have pulled together and is in good heart; we have a new organist, Iain Morison, and we have met for services however we can, in church, socially-distanced, or even in the churchyard.

Back in September, on St Michael’s Day, we held a special service of Choral Evensong to celebrate the village’s patronal festival. Although congregational singing is not permitted during the current government regulations, we were able to have a small choir who sang beautifully for us to celebrate the occasion. We also had a bagpiper … so if you could hear strains of music from the pipes wafting your way, it was to celebrate St Michael’s Day! It was lovely to see a good number in church.

Before the second lockdown, we had been holding a weekly Evensong on Wednesdays at 5pm. These quiet services last about 25 minutes and will hopefully return to church when restrictions ease. All welcome.

Now to Christmas! Kay short is organising a fantastic Musbury Village Advent Calendar, where people decorate and illuminate a window of their house to mark a day in advent (Kay has written an article about it in this magazine—do get involved). At St Michael’s we plan to have the usual services in church over Christmas, as well as a ‘pop-up’ carol service outside, held at a few venues around the village. The Pop-Up Carol Service will take place on Thursday 17th December, meeting at Higher Doatshayne at 4pm.

On Sunday 20th December we shall have our Carol Service in church at 4pm. The seating capacity of the church is now limited because social distancing measures, plus the fact we cannot use sections where the ceiling has fallen. If you would like attend the Carol Service, please let Michael and Sue know so that we have an idea of numbers and can make provision for as many people to attend as possible. Rather than a set number, seating is organised according to the number of people coming as individuals, couples, or ‘bubbles’ and households, so please let us know about anyone who may be coming with you so that we can fit everyone in safely. On Christmas Eve, you are welcome to a special outdoor Crib Service for families and children in the Churchyard at St Andrew’s Colyton at 4pm. There is no Midnight Mass at Musbury, but there will be services elsewhere in our Mission Community. You are welcome to attend Midnight Mass at St Winifred’s, Branscombe at 8.30pm, or St Lawrence’s, Southleigh, at 10pm, or join us at St Andrew’s, Colyton, at 11.30pm.

Anagrams Events we missed this year

For example Arlington Dana (5 , 8) answer; Grand National

boastfully vintagers (11 , 8)

beat greater. (4 ,7)

below mind (9)

Suffolk smith violated. (8 , 4 , 8)

contentious grooviness (10, 4, 7)

condor powerful washed (6,3,7, 4)

micky tole toyshop (3, 5, 8)

a confabbed dextrocardiogram. (6,3,9,4,4)

Dara obits warships (7,4,6 )

force whales wholes, (7,6 , 4 ) (it was available virtually)

diet emotion (2,4,2,3) Hints Answers include; A world sporting event 3 music events of which one is local , 1 local sailing event, 1 river event, 2 horticultural events one of which is local and 1 tennis event . A television event for the world of lather, and a film we have yet to see. Answers e mail me at [email protected] or will be posted on village notice board in January




Christmas Day 25th December there will be “an all age service” at 10.am followed by optional festive communion. On Sunday 27th December there will be a Mission Community service at 9.30am at St Andrew’s Colyton. At this Eucharist we shall be saying farewell to our Curate, the Reverend Victoria Chester who leaving us to explore a vocation to the religious life at the Anglican convent at Tymawr, Monmouth. We wish her well and give thanks for the many years she has served here as a Reader, deacon and priest.

At the end of January, The Reverend Prebendary John Lees will be stepping down from his position as Associate Priest licensed to the Holyford Mission Community. Enormous thanks go to John for his ministry within the Mission Community, especially during the vacancy and in his role with us supporting Victoria as her training incumbent. As Victoria has finished her curacy earlier than expected, John now feels able to step back from parochial ministry to enable him to focus on family and work, as well as his increasing responsibilities both within the Diocese (as Bishop’s Officer for Self-Supporting Ministry) and in the national Church. With John’s changing role, Jan has also decided it is time for her to retire from active reader ministry. We have been hugely blessed to have both John and Jan Lees on our Ministry Team. Although they will be stepping back, this is not a goodbye; John and Jan will still be around, living locally and attending worship, occasionally leading services for us.

We welcome Sue McCoulough onto the Ministry Team as a Licensed Reader. Before moving to Musbury, Sue was a Reader in London. This year Sue has been leading services in Musbury and our telephone Sunday service during lockdown, and we look forward to seeing more of her within the Mission Community.

The beginning of December marks a new beginning in the Church’s year as we mark the period known as Advent: it is a season of preparation and looking forward with hope. I do hope that you will be able to join us over Christmas. Christmas offers us a new opportunity to connect with the light and peace that has come with the incarnation of God as Jesus Christ. As we approach this period, I write to assure all parishioners across our six communities of our daily prayers for you and all your loved ones.

With every good wish and blessing,

Fr Steven.

Musbury Heritage Update

During this period of lockdown, I thought it might be a good time to provide an update on how things are going with Musbury Heritage.

Back in early March a few of us met to discuss progressing with research into Musbury’s history and the possible formation of a Heritage Society. It was decided, rather than forming a society at that point, we would arrange a meeting for all villagers to discuss the issue and gauge enthusiasm. I am sure you appreciate this was very unfortunate timing, because a couple of weeks later we were in the first lockdown!

One thing we did achieve was the start of a small fund, by way of a donation from each of us, to purchase items that may come up for sale at auctions, etc. This enabled us to purchase some 19th century conveyances regarding the Hand and Spear Inn along the Axminster Road. These are old and very large documents, written in old English that will need to be transcribed sometime. Any volunteers?!... Some historic postcards and a 1902 Musbury Coronation mug were also purchased.

The website, though not actively promoted, has continued to draw interest from various people. I have been contacted by two members of the Drake family, one living in the U.S.A. and the other in Guernsey, a lady from Somerset whose grandparents included Oscar Gear (Rose Villa /Nursery) and Charles Rockett (Mount Pleasant) and a direct descendant of Walter Wills (New House Farm / The Chapel) now living in Australia. The Musbury story goes far and wide!

On the research front, I have been trying to digitise as much data as possible and trying to establish where we can find out more about our village history. This includes census data, parish registers, tithe apportionments, electoral registers, newspaper cuttings, wills, trade directories, property sales and much more. Some of this is gradually appearing on the website. The tricky part is combining all this information into presentable stories, pictures and data.

I have not attempted to go further back into Musbury’s history. There is so little we know about the period between the Iron-Age hillfort and the time of the Civil War. Will we ever discover what Mount Drake, that sat on the slope about halfway between today’s village and Musbury Castle, was like?

4 Musbury Parish News Spring 2020 Spring 2020 Musbury Parish News 41

League of Friends Axminster Hospital

As with most organisations the League of Friends of Axminster Hospital Funding Hospiscare at Home in the Axminster District, are finding fund raising efforts very restricted.

However we continue to support requests for help whenever possible. Recent requests for funding that the LOF have agreed to, are, firstly for 3 online places at the Annual Dementia Conference for some of our Dementia nurses. Allowing them to learn of new developments and share experiences in their specialist field of nursing. Secondly funding the purchase, at a cost of approximately £3,000, of a continuous Blood Pressure Monitoring Machine for our wonderful Community Nurses. This is invaluable when treating housebound patients. This is in addition to the large quarterly payments to H@H for care in the Axminster area.

Some of you may have been wondering about the building work going on around the Scott Rowe Centre. The reason for this is that all therapies and clinics are being relocated to what was the Morton Ward in the main hospital. The existing Outpatients Department will be turned over to mainly ophthalmic procedures thus increasing their capacity at Axminster. This should be a great benefit to staff and patients and mean that all clinics are in the main building.

Musbury is still giving marvellous support to the LOF. During August and September £377 was raised from the Jam Sales on the carport at Lion cottage. Thank you to everyone who donated fruit and vegetables from their gardens and allotments. From the 1st November funds raised in the carport will go to the cost of Repairs to the Church Ceiling. This is done via the Friends of St. Michael's Church who raise funds for the purpose of keeping the church in good repair. Not only the jams and preserves will be on sale but Christmas ornaments will be available. Wooden ones made and painted by Brenda and Alan, knitted ones from Pam from Axmouth and some felt ones spreading a little love for Christmas. There will not be a Christmas Craft Fair in the Village Hall this year thanks to Covid-19 but there will be a mini version in the Carport at Lion Cottage, Axminster Road. Please Support these sales to help your local Church

FOOTNOTE May I offer my condolences to Mrs Mysie Sutherland and her family on the passing of her much loved husband, the Rev. Alistair Sutherland, who, though retired, spent many years ministering to the people of Musbury. May he Rest in Peace.

Ann Veit

From the Ministry team This is being written early in the second period of lockdown this year when nothing in December can look certain and in this season of Advent our preparations for Christmas will be getting underway. Christmas is a season of hospitality and for many this involves the giving and receiving of food and drink and the sharing of time with friends and family. Mary and Joseph must have been extremely grateful for the hospitality shown to them by the Innkeeper and although perhaps not meriting many stars the accommodation was no doubt a huge improvement over any alternative. In turn, Mary and Joseph were able to offer simple hospitality to the shepherds and wise men and possibly others not recorded. The birth of Jesus was also a sign of God’s hospitality towards each one of us as a reminder that he invites us to be part of his family. In the Eucharist (a celebration of Jesus hospitality to his disciples and their successors) the following words are sometimes said in a prayer after Communion ‘Father of all, we give you thanks and praise that when we were still far off you met us in your Son and brought us home’. At the heart of hospitality is love. Love which seeks to recognise the needs of others and meet those needs either through own actions or by supporting others. Such hospitality can be shown in so many ways; through the offering and receiving of food and drink, through personal presence and presents! But also through a kind word by phone or other means, through the carrying out of a simple errand or just a smile (face masks permitting) at the appropriate time and other possibilities may well come to mind. Through our own acts of hospitality our own love for others and that of a loving heavenly Father can become manifest. I wish you a blessed and peaceful Christmas Season.

Charles Hill

PS Each week on Friday or Saturday an email is sent out to about 200 email addresses with details of what is happening on the Sunday and coming week. If you think you should be receiving this please check your Spam folder as attachments on the email could be routing the email here. If you are not receiving such updates and wish to do so, please get in touch.


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StockersMaidenhayne Lane

MusburyAxminster

Devon EX13 8AG

27 January 2019

Dear Don,

Thanks for coming around on Friday.

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Our magazine is in A5 format and is laser-printed in black & white and published quarterly. We discussed the proposal for a quarter-page advert (approx 50mm wide x 70mm high ‘portrait’) in each of these four issues this year at a total cost of £50

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Weather Watch August began changeable and mild with a few light showers, followed by a hot spell around 10th. An abrupt change brought heavy rain on 18th and 19th with a total of 50 mm (2 in) over the two days. Further heavy rain on 24th, accompanied by a strong wind from Storm Francis, and yet more rain on 27th helped August as a whole to be a wet month with above-average rainfall – a total of 120.5 mm (just under 5”). September was, as a whole, a warm and dry month, with just one day of heavy rain, on 30th. The total for the month was 35 mm (about 1½”), about half the 16-year average of 63 mm. October began very wet, with 54 mm (over 2”) of rain in the first four days, accompanied by strong winds as Storm Alex moved north from France, where it produced torrential rain and flooding in the south. The month continued changeable with a very light grass frost on 9th and 10th (in the bottom of the valley we get frosts when others higher up escape). There was further rain during the last week but not as much as further north and east, but all the same the month’s total was 134 mm (5”) in contrast to the 16-year average of 102 mm. The long-term outlook is for cool weather for the rest of the year followed by wet and windy weather in early 2021. Mike Lock

CHURCH FLOWERS AND CLEANING

Since the end of September the Church has returned to some normality with flowers and cleaning being done weekly. It began with a wedding when flowers adorned the Church in abundance and in the following week with Harvest arrangements. Not as many as usual due to the loose ceiling plaster areas and main porch safety restrictions. As services have continued every Sunday, flowers and cleaning have played a part again, even more so in this second lockdown as the church is now open every day (for private prayer only). From 29th November we will be entering Advent, which is flower free as we await the Christmas season. I DO hope that we can still create our traditional Christmas arrangements and have a reduced Christmas Carol Service (which will be on 20th December) and of course a Christmas Day Service. And whatever happens - WE WILL have a tree ! Thank you to everyone who has helped during these difficult times. I will shortly be preparing the rotas for 2021. Any new volunteers will be hugely appreciated ! A Happy Christmas to you all.

Sue Irving 552440. [email protected]

Friends of St Michael’s

One of the special memories of this summer was evensong one afternoon in early July held OUTSIDE the church on the north side – it gave a sunlit perspective of the building from an angle you would normally not see, leave alone look at for more than half an hour – a view not shown in postcards and pictures.

But this was early July, with the first lockdown just lifted, so why were we outside for the service? Having been closed since March, the building should have been welcoming visitors again. But, strangely but perhaps fortunately, a piece of the ceiling had fallen down while the church was closed.

Inevitably it took some time to assess the extent of the damage and the risk of allowing people inside again. So, repairs to the ceiling may be the first time the Friends are asked to contribute to maintain the fabric of the church as a key building in our community.

We wait to receive a request but already Ann Veit has set about raising funds by selling jams and pickles from outside her house in Axminster Road. To date Ann has raised £215 in this way, including the sale of knitted children’s dolls and some felt and wooden room decorations. Ann is running a mini craft fair outside Lion Cottage instead of the big craft fair in the village hall – so please drop in and buy! The Friends are saddened by the deaths in October of two people who joined from the very start and generously contributed to the funds we are raising – Don Welch and Michael Brock.

Anyone who wants to contribute directly to funds for repair of the church can do so by BACS to Friends of St Michael’s Musbury, sort code 30-90-37 account no 36161468. If you would like to join the Friends, please contact Rosie Houldsworth at [email protected] or me at [email protected]

Andrew Kennon Secretary



8 Musbury Parish News Winter. 2020 Winter 2020 Musbury Parish News 37

Parochial Church Council Report

At our Annual Church Meeting (postponed from April) Sue Irving and Michael Pritchard were re-elected Church Wardens. Caroline Doulton was elected onto the PCC. Ian Doulton was thanked for his contribution to the PCC over several years. The Church Wardens were thanked for their leadership especially during the Interregnum of 2019. Thanks were also expressed to everyone who has a role in the smooth running of the building and services. The flower arranging ladies, once again, even in these difficult times, decorated the Church beautifully for Harvest. Several people came and our Rector took the service. We were encouraged to give donations to the Anglican Church in Melanesia this year. Father Steven had been there and seen the plight of the people in the wake of Cyclone Harold. Musbury sent £67.67 to be added to the Mission Community total. The Remembrance Sunday Service took place outside around the War Memorial with everyone socially distanced. Councillor Colin Corbett laid the Parish wreath and read out the names of those who fell in the two wars. We all sang the National Anthem (which was allowed!) The gathering was well attended considering the restrictions. £116.00 was sent to the British Legion.

Usually at this time I would be encouraging you to join us in our Christmas Craft Fayre but sadly this is not happening.

During this second lockdown, the church building is open for private prayer every day but no services are being held. If you can go on the Holyford MC Website you will see details of on line opportunities to worship together virtually. By the time you receive this magazine things may have changed again. None of us really know what will be allowed from week to week. So planning ahead is quite difficult. Thankfully, no more plaster has fallen from the ceiling but some of the building is still cut off for safety. Much discussion is taking place with regards to urgent repairs not only who will do the work but when it can be done and how we are going to pay for it!

We fully intend, however, to celebrate Christ’s birth in some way or another despite the pandemic! We are trying to organise an Advent ‘calendar’ of decorated windows on walking routes in the centre of the village. Households have kindly agreed to decorate a window facing the road with a Christmas theme and they will be lit up with lights in turn as December unfolds. The old post office in the centre will start us off. Their lights will be on in the evenings the whole of December followed by others in turn until on the 24th when everyone’s windows will be lit!! You may like to go round at dusk trying to work out who is new that night!! A big thank you to all those taking part. You will find them in Axminster Rd, The Street, Compbyne Rd, Church Hill and Doatshayne Lane. If you are interested in taking part after reading this, there may be some dates free towards to end of Dec. Please contact me.

Diary of a Name Dropper Another of my favourite celebrities to cross the threshold of the Golden Hind was Dinsdale Landen. The name may not be familiar to you, but he was a famous West End actor who made many film and television appearances. People of a certain age will have seen him in shows such as Dr Who, The Avengers, Jason King and Jackanory to name but a few. He usually played upper crust buffoons and if you Google him and I am sure you will recognise him. Dinsdale owned a holiday cottage in Whitford Road and was a frequent visitor. One of my favourite memories of him was the day he opened the annual Musbury jumble sale (whatever happened to the good old rummage sales of long ago?). At opening time in burst Dinsdale with his friend Doug Fisher (co-star of the then popular TV show Man About The House) both clad in old ladies hats and coats with matching handbags and plastic pearls obviously bought for a few pence at the event. They took position at the bar and stayed in character all night. They were hilarious, a bit like Hinge and Bracket on steroids! This was the height of the summer and the pub was filled with diners and holiday makers, but nobody batted an eyelid or passed comment which made it even funnier. The only remark made came from dear old Bedford James who duly noted and chuckled "Tis they there actor types from London. They be silly fools, in 'em?"

Those of you who know me will know that my opinion on music is that if it is not Sinatra, it is not music. So it will come as no surprise that the names Deep Purple or Black Sabbath mean nothing to me. Ian Gillan, who was a member of these said heavy metal bands, had booked the village hall to rehearse his new group and were weekly visitors. A very nice bunch of guys who were kind enough to provide autographed photographs for anyone who asked and even allowed a small amount of fans go and watch them at practise. I was never happier to see his vintage Rolls Royce in the car park and I believe he knew I admired it because one night he jangled the keys in front of me and asked me to drive into Axminster to get fish and chips for the group! I will never know if he was joking, but I regret to this day not calling his bluff!

God (and Boris) willing we will see you all in The Hind after the lockdown in December. Hope you all keep well.

Ralph

Ralph has not mentioned that Dinsdale landen was a good friend of Peter Sellers. Mr and Mrs Sellers aka Brit Ekland stayed at the house in the Whitford rd I have this on reliable information from a previous owner of this house: ED


A small carol singing group hopes to sing in different spots in the village but not sure what will be allowed at that time. The date we have put aside for this is Thursday December 17th. We hope to sing in Doatshayne Lane, in Northfield, opposite the pub on the green and possibly down by the old chapel in Whitford Rd. Please stand at your front doors and give us a hand with the singing! At the time of writing we do not know if we will be allowed a Carol Service in Church. If we are, it will have to be by ticket only, I am afraid, as we are restricted on numbers to keep the correct distance from each other. What strange times we live in! Keep watching Notice Boards for further details nearer the time. The service, if it happens, will be on Sunday Dec. 20th at 4pm. Let us look forward to this Festive Season with hope and joy as we celebrate Jesus’ Birth praying that one day we can enjoy each other’s company safely and get back to that wonderful Village fellowship we experienced before this pandemic took us over.

Kay Short (Secretary) 552711 [email protected]

Hindsite Thanks from the Hind

Not quite sure what to write. It would be wonderful at this point in time to have a crystal ball!

Firstly thanks so much to everybody who has crossed our threshold since we re-opened on the 4th July, we really appreciate all of your support and your faith in us for providing a safe COVID aware environment - although we must apologise as it is probably us who have moaned the most about mask wearing! Thank you for embracing one-way systems, track and trace and hand sanitiser!

Thanks also to everyone for emails, messages and even phone calls to check on us and how we are it really did make us feel so much better that people cared about us, our business and how the girls were.

Christmas at the Hind

We will be putting our Christmas opening hours in the village notice board, website and on Facebook as soon as we know what the new rules are and have had time to evaluate impact, but also please just give us a call and we will be happy to let you know.

We have a Christmas set menu complete with cracker! If you have a few friends and are looking for a pre-Christmas get together why not give us a try this year! The kitchen is open Thursday – Sunday.

Breakfast Club

This has been a wonderful success. To celebrate, anyone that comes in for breakfast on January 23rd or 30th with a Musbury Parish news will receive a free freshly ground cup of coffee or Cup of Clipper Tea.

We wish our Customers and Staff a very Merry Christmas and a Happy 2021

Emma & Adrian

In Memory of Jane Bishop

Friends of Jane Bishop in Musbury wish to create a Memorial to Jane in recognition of all her efforts and care within the community, including Parish Council Clerk, Garden Club, community quizzes, WI and Heritage work to name a few. It has been decided that a tree with a plaque be planted in Marlborough Road.

The tree will be chosen by Jane's husband Rod Powell and purchased by way of local donations. The actual place for the tree will be in Marlborough Road in agreement with the Parish Council

If you would like to make a cash donation to honour Jane's memory the collection points are, Emma & Adrian c/o The Hind , Musbury Garage /Spar, or Direct to Ray Cross - "Wagtails" Marlborough Close , 01297 551060 or Graham Durrant "Garden House" Doatshayne Lane, 01297 552387.

Please note that any monies left over after the cost of the tree and plaque will be donated to Exeter Hospice Care.

Your contribution is more than just a donation. It’s away of remembering Jane and also ensuring everyone living with a terminal illness gets the support they need. Because every day matters. Thank you Ray & Graham



Axminster Food Bank

A huge thank you to all of you who have supported the Food Bank throughout these months of pandemic. Your contributions have been unceasing - there's only been a handful of days when the basket has been empty. What a caring community this is! As you can imagine numbers needing food and essential household items are increasing once again and this will continue to be the trend as we move towards Christmas.

We are distributing food not only in Axminster but also to people in surrounding villages within a four mile radius or so. For some transport is limited and we are so grateful to our volunteers who give up their time to deliver food parcels to those unable to collect.

It's becoming evident that more of our clients are needing help towards paying for their gas and electricity and we have set up a hardship fund from which we can give people a one off payment. Thank you, therefore, to those who are giving us funds - they are most welcome.

We continue to open 3 days a week (Monday, Tuesday and Thursday 10.00 a.m. to 1.00 p.m) but may have to increase this again in December. We do try to provide seasonal food and treats at Christmas so would be very grateful for such additional contributions.

Thank you once again.

Sheila

Sky at Night

Winter is closing in fast, although we have not had many clear nights yet, but hopefully this will change between December and February,

This is a time when we have constellations which people find easier with the naked eye. First we have the constellation of Taurus with the beautiful seven sisters near the top, as well as the crab nebula for those with telescopes, at the end of what looks like two long arms or maybe the bull’s horns. There is also an open triangle of star called the Hyades, with the bright star Aldebaran. Rising just after that is the constellation of Orion with its big red star of Betelgeuse in the top left corner and the Orion nebula hanging off the three belt stars. Even in binoculars this is a wonderful sight. For those with larger telescopes there are also the flame nebula and the horsehead nebula near the belt and the bright blue star, Rigel in the bottom right corner. It’s a constellation of many varieties.

Around the 13th – 15th of December you can also see the Geminids meteor shower, we have a new moon this year so we should have a good view and hopefully many meteors you’ll be able to see. This is followed in January by the Quadrantids meteor shower usually around the 4th – 6th; this can be seen in the north in the space between Ursa Major, Bootes and Hercules. Although meteor showers are generally named after the constellation the radiant is in, the constellation of Quadrans Muralis, no longer exists, (Mural Quadrant, created by the French astronomer Jerome Lalande in 1795.)

On the 14th December there’s a total eclipse of the sun visible at the South Pacific, crossing Chile and Argentina. On the 17th of December the thin crescent moon can be seen just to the left of Jupiter and Saturn. On the 21st of December not only do we have the winter solstice, when the sun reaches its lowest point in the sky, but Jupiter and Saturn are incredible close together. Although this is close to the horizon, grab your binoculars or telescope for the view.

At present the NLO is still closed as social distancing is a problem, but we are hoping that by spring we may be able to open again so keep an eye on our website www.normanlockyer.com for more information.

Have a Happy Christmas and a peaceful start to 2021, and remember to

keep looking up.

Parish Records

Wedding

26th September. Anthony Charles Hickman and Linda Susan Parker

Funerals

7th October. Elsie Forsey Funeral and internment of Ashes

12 October. Irene Parrett Internment of Sshes

19th November. Donald Welch Internment of Ashes

20th November. Rev Alistair Sutherland Funeral and Burial

http://www.normanlockyer.com


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Musbury Short Mat Bowls Club There has not been any action down at the Village Hall since the last Parish Magazine due to lockdowns, closure of the Hall, and of course coronavirus! However, Chris Pomeroy, our Chairman, has kept in touch with everyone and made sure all are safe and well. After the first lockdown there were a few meetings in gardens of six members which were enjoyable. No bowls action on the patio though.

We are very sad to report that two stalwart members died recently - John Daly (who used to live in Musbury with his wife Nesta) and Don Welch. They both played many league games for the club and helped to win a lot of matches for us. Don was a Founder member and Chairman for a good number of years. We would have been at Manor House Hotel this week enjoying each others’ company at the Sports and Craft Hotel but of course we had to cancel. Hopefully we can go next year. Who knows when we will be able to start up Short Mat Bowls again and see friends we haven’t seen face to face since March? It is a question on everyone’s mind at the moment. While we wait, keep smiling, keep safe and stay in touch with each other.

Kay Short (Secretary)

Don Welch 1930-2020

Wordsearch

15 music memories from the seventies

Answers will be posted on a village notice board in January Or email me at [email protected]



The last few months have been very frustrating, with significant delays in working with the Planning Authority on a way forward. Thankfully, after a long hold up due to Covid-19, some good discussions were had and the project is moving forward again.

By way of reminder, the objective is to restore the building back to a large family home without any further development on the grounds. We believe this to be the most sustainable future for the house and restore it back to being a source of pride for the village and wider Axe Valley given its outstanding heritage qualities. We remain amazed by the amount of people contacting us about the house; relatives of past owners who used to live there, university students wishing to use it as a case study and even had a request to film a music video (we politely declined!). The cost of securing the house has been and remains high, however attempted break-ins have reduced dramatically.

Instruction to professionals; building surveyors and the like has now begun. This will form the basis of any submission to return the building back to a family home. There is still a long way to go, the original timeline given of 5 years did not include a global pandemic and identified the planning process as the biggest hurdle to overcome- this still remains the case but credit to the District Council as they do now appear very engaged with the project and recognised that duty of care / part to play.

Subject to lockdowns or any other unwelcome events, we hope that a more detailed update will be ready in time for the early new year. All going well, the next update should be far more exciting! We would like to take this opportunity to thank those well wishers for the project, your engagement will be key to help ‘push things along’ if other stakeholders drag their feet a little. We are sorry it has taken so long to get this far but it has not been for want of trying!

We wish everyone in Musbury a very Merry Christmas and Happy New Year Josh Dutfield

Nature Watch Just after Storm Alex, in early October, there was an extraordinary influx of House Martins. On 4th, all along the road to Whitford, there were several hawking for insects in the lee of every tree, and many more hunting up and down the river. As dusk fell they looked for a roosting place and virtually invaded Waterford Farm, clustering under the eaves and the porch and even entering the house. It was the same at the Wetlands, with birds gathering on the windowsills of the hides, and also on the walls and under the eaves of a house in Primrose Way in Seaton. Elsewhere in Devon many thousands were seen at South Brent on the southern fringe of Dartmoor. People remarked that many were young birds. It seems likely that the warm and dry September encouraged many pairs to raise a second brood and it was probably these birds that were caught by the winds and cold of Storm Alex and became concentrated in the southwest while, in the long run, heading to their wintering grounds in southern Africa.

Another startling sighting in Musbury was four Cattle Egrets feeding around cattle on a local farm. These egrets have recently colonised England, with first breeding in England in 2008 and in Devon in 2016. Their original habitat seems to have been in Africa and extreme southern Europe, but in the 1930s they appeared in northern South America, having presumably flown across the Atlantic, and by 1942 they were breeding in the southern United States where they are now widespread. They have also spread northwards in Europe. In Africa they associate with large game animals, following them and catching grasshoppers and other insects disturbed as the beasts feed. Here they are often seen with cattle but beware: Little Egrets, which are also relatively recent colonists of Britain, often feed around cattle in the Axe valley. Little Egrets are pure white, with black beaks and legs, and yellow feet. Cattle Egrets often show tinges of buff on the head and back (their old name was Buff-backed Heron), and they have yellow beaks and a jowl-like chin under the beak. Little Egrets first bred in England at Brownsea Island, in Dorset, in 1996, and in Devon in 2002.

All the Swallows and House Martins have now headed south, although one or two probably winter in southern England. Likewise, the warblers and other summer visitors have all gone. The winter thrushes – Fieldfares and Redwings – have now arrived although most of those in Devon are on and around Dartmoor. The berry crop is exceptionally good this year but eventually supplies will run out on the Moor and they will appear around here. Fieldfares are larger, with grey backs and a ‘chak-a-chak’ call; Redwings are smaller and browner with a red patch under the wing and a thin ‘seeep’ call. Fieldfares in particular are attracted to fallen apples of which there are a great many this year. Both species feed in open grass fields when the berries have been finished.


Village Hall As we should be entering the pantomime season it would be appropriate to say that "the village hall is open again" - "oh no it isn't!"

The hall trustees had carried out the necessary risk assessments and completed the purchase of appropriate Covid-19 signage and sanitising supplies to open again on Monday 26 October only to have to reverse this decision with news of the latest lockdown!

Bookings Secretary Sarah had undertaken a lot of work with the various hirers to ensure that the current measures were met for a safe opening, with a professional cleaning regime in place between groups to ensure their safety. We hope to be able to seamlessly resume where we left off with another reopening in early December.

Gary Knight has now been appointed as Village Hall Secretary. Gary and his wife Bev moved to the village just prior to the first lockdown and are looking forward to seeing the hall being utilised as fully as possible when restrictions allow. Any updates will be posted on the village website https://musburyvillage.co.uk/

The trustees are currently looking into the potential of installing broadband in the hall, which could expand the type of activities on offer.

The group of trustees are in place as a management committee to operate the hall and meets its obligations to the Charities Commission, it is however very much a hall for use by the village and beyond, we recognise its importance and the part it plays within the community. If you have any suggestions as to its use or other ideas or comments please do email Gary at [email protected]

We look forward to reopening and bringing you more positive news in the Spring edition of this magazine

Gary Knight

A sad loss to the village is the Little Owls. Ten years ago there was always a pair around Drake’s Farm and usually another at Waterford Farm, and at least once they bred in our old barn. They are not a native species but were introduced to England in the 1870s and soon established themselves and spread widely. However, they are now, I think, absent from the village and the lower Axe Valley. The reasons are unclear. They seem rather clumsy birds and I have heard of three instances when they have fallen down chimneys, but they are insect eaters and it seems likely that there are fewer large insects around now, particularly those nice large crunchy dung beetles that have virtually disappeared.

Seaton Wetlands

The Tower Hide, the Island Hide, the Colyford Common Hide and the Discovery Hut hide (but not the hut) are now open, including in the latest lockdown,. MASKS MUST BE WORN IN THE HIDES. Bear in mind that there are no windows in the hides, so it will be very cold when the wind blows. Also, numbers are limited and stays are time-limited. The TOILETS ARE OPEN and will remain so. The wader passage has now finished and only the wintering species remain – one or two Greenshank and Common Sandpipers will stay over the winter, as well as between 20 and 50 Black-tailed Godwits and about 100 Redshank. Rarer species such as Ringed Plover and Avocets may turn up in ones and twos. One of the delights of the Axe estuary winter are the huge flocks of Lapwings and there will probably be 1,000 or so through the winter with more appearing if the weather gets snowy. The water on Black Hole Marsh will be kept deeper for ducks such as Teal, Shelduck, Shoveler and Mallard; other species like Gadwall and Pintail may appear from time to time. Thousands of gulls will gather on the estuary each evening prior to roosting out the bay at Seaton Hole. Smaller species will include Meadow Pipits and, for the expert, Water Pipits and Rock Pipits, some of the latter being Scandinavian birds. Finches like Linnets and Goldfinches haunt Colyford Common, looking for the seeds left there by high tides. Predators like Kestrels, Sparrowhawks and Peregrines are regular, and rarer species like Merlins and Marsh Harriers will turn up occasionally. A Crane visited the reserve on 5 November. There is a re-introduced population on the Somerset Levels and further birds breeding in eastern England that have arrived naturally. It is hard to say where this bird might have originated, but it was not ringed, so it was not one of the birds released in Somerset. One or two are seen in Devon each year.

Mike LockMobile Library Subject to regulations the mobile library will be outside the school on Thursday Jan 14th, Thursday February 11th, Thursday March 11th and Thursday April 11th at 11.45 am

https://musburyvillage.co.uk/




School report

In September, school welcomed back all 46 pupils, after what was for some children, a six-month absence. It has been fantastic to get all the children back together. The children themselves have adapted brilliantly to the COVID related changes and took very little time to get back to their learning and importantly developing their friendships. At the time of writing, we have just gone into Lockdown II and I have been thoroughly impressed with the attitude of the children. The whole school community has adapted fantastically to all the changes and I'd like to thank staff, parents, neighbours and volunteers for their continued support.

Already this term, children in Class One have used Google Earth to learn about Musbury, created 3D junk models, replicated the artwork of Paul Klees and Alma Thomas, while in science they have explored the properties of ice. In Class Two, children have been learning about France and the French Revolution, the digestive system, their teeth and like Class One are also in the process of producing artwork based on Alma Thomas, as part of learning about Black History Month and Black Lives Matter movement. Over the next few weeks we will be working virtually with Historic England learning more about the names on Musbury's War memorial and will also be visited virtually by the children's author, Claire Barker.

Mr T Nield Head of School

Spar and Post Office Apologies for missing the Autumn edition, this year has been very unusual and challenging, to say the least. And for such a strange year, it’s still flying by. Our feet don’t seem to have touched the ground since the first lockdown! Thank you all very much for your support and kind words, we all appreciated it (and still do). We are still maintaining the 2-metre social distancing rule. As we are a small shop, we cannot implement a one-way system. So, if you are queuing for the shop or post office, please respect other people’s space. We will limit the number of people if we feel there are too many, so please don’t be offended if we ask you to wait outside for a moment or two. And thank you for wearing masks or face coverings (unless you’re exempt). Who would have thought that masks would be a fashion accessory? I’m certainly looking forward to the Christmas ones. We are now gearing up for Christmas; we have some lovely boxes of chocolates, advent calendars and Lyme Bay cream liqueur in four lovely flavours. I can’t choose my favourite, so I may have to sample all four! Plus, we have Lyme Bay Christmas pudding wine, mulled wine, mulled cider, gift packs from Norcott Cider, biscuits, and mince pies. Did you know that the Spar Luxury Mince Pies won a Gold in the Good Food awards, beating some very stiff competition? At just £2 for 6, why not see if you agree with the judges? And don’t forget the local cream to go with them. The Post Office will obviously be getting busier the nearer we get to Christmas, so please help us to help you by having your parcels ready to send when you come in, with the address and postcode completed. Christmas last posting dates can be found at royalmail.com, or ask us for a leaflet. The shop and Post Office will be closed as usual on Christmas Day, Boxing Day, and New Year’s Day. Every other day we will be open for our normal hours. Our opening hours for each department will be displayed outside the shop and reception a bit nearer the time. At the time of writing the Exeter Trial will be going ahead as normal, but obviously this could change. But hopefully they will be visiting Musbury in the early hours of Saturday 9th January from around 2.30am. So, if you can’t sleep, come and see what happens at ‘silly’ o’clock in Musbury.

Well, all that’s left is to say a big Thank You for your support this year. Personally, I would like to thank every member of staff at Musbury Garage for their hard work, support and the laughs (badly needed at times!). We couldn’t have got through it without you. Have a very Happy Christmas, wherever and however you spend it. And I’m sure we will all wish for a better 2021.

Theresa Stockman Spar Store Manager - Musbury Garage tel 01297 552292

Rev’d Alistair Sutherland

Sadly the Rev’d Alistair Sutherland died this month in Witney, Oxfordshire, where he went to live when he left Musbury in 2006. He was much loved by everyone in the Village and took most Services in Church. People who have lived in the village for many years will remember him with deep affection. His funeral took place in Musbury on November 19th and he was laid to rest in our Churchyard as he had always wanted to be. He had special permission for this as has his wife Mysie whom it was lovely to see at the service. She was our Choir Mistress for many years. Our Rector took the Service but sadly numbers had to be low in the congregation but many watched on line - technology a wonderful thing! Kay short

http://royalmail.com/


The Old Post Office window In a year in which many of our everyday activities or pleasures have been curtailed I know I’m not the only Musbury resident whose day has been brightened by the window displays in the Old Post Office.

Since the early days of Lockdown in March when Sue and Ken started their weekly windows we have had something of interest to look at as we passed by that has either given us pause for thought, brought a memory to mind or marked a special event. During the height of lockdown we were able to enjoy the vicarious pleasures of Wimbledon and Glastonbury, we were encouraged to keep active by the Local Walks display and, a favourite of mine, simply reminded to smile one week by a window full of cuddly toys. Goodness knows how week after week they have managed to come up with something new, on behalf of the village, a big thank you to them both for adding some much needed interest and fun to our community in 2020.

Susan Nisbet

Pictures Sandie

Musbury Parish Council and Musbury Primary School have been working with Devon Air Ambulance to establish a night landing site at the School playing field. This does not change how the field is used by the School for our children but, with careful planning, the site can also be used at night by Devon Air Ambulance if they need to land in an emergency to help someone locally.

Costs & Fundraising The Council has established costs involved and, once accounting for a grant from Devon Air Ambulance (with funding coming from the Bank LIBOR Fines), there remains £3,400 to raise in order to fully fund this project and have a small ‘rainy day’ reserve for any future maintenance.

We have already received a generous donation from Musbury Movers and Annie Stark to start off the fundraising and a £500 grant from Devon County Council’s Locality Budget, but we would love the whole village to get involved – after all, it could be a life saver to any one of us. Can you help? If any parishioners have any fabulous ideas to raise funds or generate donations, or they would like to donate to the project, please can you get in touch with the Parish Clerk – Jo - who will be happy to help (07923 448809 / [email protected]).

The Parish Council recognises these are unprecedented times with many challenges, but we hope that you can feel able to support what we believe would be a positive asset for our community.

The Old Dairy Kitchen

We really miss going out to eat. Any outing, beach trip, journey or visit is always made better by tasting food cooked by someone else, in someone else's kitchen, with someone else's passion and interpretation. We can't wait to be let loose, to eat everything in sight. In the meantime, our Pantry is here to provide you with just that - a delicious food experience when you can't get out to dine.

The Old Dairy Kitchen Online Pantry is open and taking orders for weekly collection or local delivery on Fridays. Find delicious meals and warming soups, loaves of fresh bread, provisions, fresh organic meat and sausages, eggs, sweet treats, preserves and recipe kits available to order at the click of a button. www.olddairykitchen.co.uk

With thanks, Alex (& Chris)

http://www.olddairykitchen.co.uk/


Background Devon Air Ambulance now operates until 2am every day and the Charity’s vision is to eventually operate 24 hours a day.

Operating and landing in towns and villages in the dark is different to how they operate during daylight. To support ‘night’ operations, Devon Air Ambulance are working with communities to create a network of community landing sites which are pre-surveyed open spaces with either existing or newly installed lighting that can be remotely operated. The development of these sites is part-funded and managed by local communities. Using sites like this when it’s dark means they can land in the heart of a community and reach patients much quicker and safer than if they had to land in a ‘dark field’.

There are now 158 operational community landing sites across Devon, and these have helped the charity carry out missions to help patients with life-changing or life-threatening injuries and illnesses during the hours of darkness.

Why have a night landing site? Musbury Parish Council believes such a site could be of vital importance to our community, after all people don’t stop being unwell when it gets dark.

By having a designated night landing site in the village, we will be enabling Devon Air Ambulance to reach our community until 2am every day – that’s about 9 hours of extra service a day during the darker winter months. The benefits of having the Air Ambulance arrive to a local patient is not just about being quickly taken to the nearest hospital by air – if your injury or illness means you need a specialist treatment centre, they can fly you direct to the hospital best meeting your needs. Also, crucially, by arriving into our community quickly their advanced paramedics can start treatment early and that is known to improve a patient’s outcome.

Musbury Garden Club

Now that the gardening year is at an end it’s time to look forward to the Spring. Planning and anticipation is all part of the colder days of Winter. You might like help or inspiration from some newly published books that you can buy from your local bookshop or order from the library. If you buy via www.uk.bookshop.org, profits will benefit local independent bookshops such as Archway in Axminster.

Monty Don – American gardens

With lavish photos by Derry Moore, this book is based on the TV series of the same name earlier in the year. The pair travelled across America to trace the histories of outdoor spaces which sum up or redefine the American garden.

Dave Goulson – The garden jungle: or gardening to save the planet

An expert look at the wildlife that lives right under our noses in our gardens and parks, between the gaps in the pavement, and in the soil beneath our feet

Dan Rouse – How to attract birds to your garden: foods they like, plants they love, shelter they need

How to make a difference to your local birdlife by creating an environment in which they will thrive.

R.H.S. - Complete gardener’s manual: the one stop guide to plan, sow, plant and grow your garden

Dive into this concise, practical encyclopaedia for all the advice you will ever need for your garden.

http://www.uk.bookshop.org


Avian influenza (bird flu). Poultry and other captive birds An Avian Influenza Prevention Zone has been declared across the whole of England effective from 5pm on 11 November 2020.

All poultry keepers in England (whether they have commercial flocks or just a few birds in a backyard flock) are required by law to take a range of biosecurity precautions. If you keep poultry (including game birds or pet birds) or other captive birds, you must act now to reduce the risk of disease in your flock by following the relevant biosecurity measures required within the AIPZ. Your stock needs to be feed and watered under cover to prevent contamination from wild birds.

Good biosecurity improves the overall health and productivity of your flock by helping keep out poultry diseases such as avian influenza and limiting the spread of disease in an outbreak. All bird gatherings within the AIPZ are prohibited therefore the general licence that had permitted bird gatherings has been revoked. For more guidance please visit https://www.gov.uk/guidance/avian-influenza-bird-flu

If you find dead wild waterfowl (swans, geese or ducks) or other dead wild birds, such as gulls or birds of prey, you should report them to the Defra helpline (03459 33 55 77) Public Health England advises that the risk to the public’s health is very low. Food Standards Agency (FSA) has said that on the basis of the current scientific evidence, avian influenzas pose a very low food safety risk for UK consumers Avian influenza is unconnected with coronavirus (COVID-19). Voluntary registration You can choose to register fewer than 50 birds, or birds you keep as pets. The Animal and Plant Health Agency (APHA) encourages you to register even if you do not have to by law. By registering,

• APHA will be able to contact you if there’s a disease outbreak (such as bird flu) in your area

• you’ll help prevent the spread of disease and protect the national poultry flock

We look forward to seeing you at the next Parish Council meeting. Please keep your eye on the noticeboard and website for more details.

Jo Boyce (Clerk to Musbury Parish Council) Tel: 553898

Christmas Quiz

A reminder that you have another week to grapple with the 2020 Garden Club Christmas Quiz – entries should be in by Wednesday December 16th. All money raised will be divided between local charities Axminster Food Bank and ARC. You can post your entries through the door at The Post House, Church Hill. If you haven’t yet managed to get hold of a quiz, they cost £2 or further donation, cheques to be made out to ‘Musbury Garden Club’. If you phone 553521, we will arrange safe delivery to you. A prize awaits the winner!

Karen, Val and Sue

Farewell to Trill

The boxes have been packed, the barn doors closed, the keys handed over. We are sad but appreciative of the last 13 years and excited at what is to come. Trill Farm is not disappearing! We have exciting ideas and plans to form over the winter, centred around our core values of nature, health and education. We'd love for you to be involved in creating the next stage, and will be in touch over the next few months.

We still have stock of some of our favourite products; the online farm shop will stay open until Christmas (last orders Friday 18th December) or while stocks last, so don't miss out. If you have placed an order since 18th October, we've been busy packing them all up over the past week now that the stock has all moved to our new workshop, and they are on their way to you. Thank you for your patience.

Ash and Kate are still be running Trill Farm Garden, growing their exceptional salad and vegetables, and Chris and Anna are continuing to run the Old Dairy Kitchen, cooking up delicious meals. Thomas is continuing to brew his award-winning mead at the farm too. We hope you'll continue to support them and enjoy their produce if you live nearby.

Best wishes,Romy, Lara and Tamsin

https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/934684/ai-prevention-zone-201111.pdf

https://www.gov.uk/guidance/avian-influenza-bird-flu


https://trillfarm.us5.list-manage.com/track/click?u=0abb185b54596d0b901b2a3f2&id=384e588933&e=3d1a284488


https://trillfarm.us5.list-manage.com/track/click?u=0abb185b54596d0b901b2a3f2&id=0e487be792&e=3d1a284488

https://trillfarm.us5.list-manage.com/track/click?u=0abb185b54596d0b901b2a3f2&id=55c155ca49&e=3d1a284488

https://trillfarm.us5.list-manage.com/track/click?u=0abb185b54596d0b901b2a3f2&id=e6508fc2b3&e=3d1a284488


Vehicle Activated Speed Signs (VASS)

Our County Councillor, Ian Hall, has been working on ideas to reduce speeding in our communities. The vision is to purchase one or two solar powered VAS signs that will need to be strategically placed around the Division to have the maximum effect to help change the mindsets of irresponsible drivers. VAS signs are usually only sited on roads with a 20/30/40 mph limit and roads that are within communities.

Uprights will be placed with input from the Parish Councils so the VAS signs can be placed and moved easily around the Division on an agreed timetable.

The Parish Council has agreed to be part of this initiative and two sites for the poles have been identified. The cost of each VAS unit is around £3000, most of which will come from the Precept, therefore being part of this project is the only way small parishes like Musbury would be able to afford to have this kind of solution to the problem.

Thank you

The Council would like to thank Cllr Matt Craker, Noel Jacks and Paul Chapman for kindly digging the hole in preparation for the Christmas Tree. We appreciate their efforts to provide the village with a festive focal point in these restricted times.

The council would also like to thank Mr Steve Hearne and Mr Bob Plumridge for working together to maintain and extend the grass verge walkway into the village all the way from Bottom Lane. The power of community spirit is strong in Musbury.

Musbury Heritage – Stories from our village history

Four events that could have changed Musbury dramatically

1824-28

Life could have been very different in Musbury if the proposed ship canal from the North Somerset coast to the East Devon coast had gone ahead. Although this idea had been proposed from 1769 and involved such illustrious names as John Rennie & Thomas Telford, it was not until now that it was deemed worthy of an Act of Parliament. Sea journeys around Cornwall were hazardous (about 80 lives a year were lost) and slow. A canal could be the beginning of a network of smaller canals connecting towns in Devon and Somerset with new markets. Initially it was thought the southern port would be at Seaton and the canal would have continued up the Axe Valley, via Taunton to Bridgewater Bay with harbours at both ends. Perhaps we would have been divided from Whitford by a canal capable of taking 200-ton sailing vessels from the Atlantic to the Bristol Channel! In the end we were saved from this by an inability to raise funds of £1.75 million (£186 million today) from private investors. In addition, steamships would make negotiating Lands End less risky and, of course, railways were soon to revolutionise the transportation of goods.

1863

To quote directly from the Western Times: - “An alarm of fire was raised in the village on Sunday morning (27 December 1863), and it was discovered that a house occupied by a man named Hoar, a labourer, was on fire. Efforts were quickly made and the fire was quickly extinguished before much damage was done. The premises of Messrs. Gillett and Co., the extensive tanners adjoined the cottage, being thatched, if the fire had not been fortunately put out, might have ignited and probably have caused the destruction of the whole village.”

This was most likely the home of James Hoare, agricultural labourer, his wife and 7 children. Probably part of what we now know as Malvern House. The newspaper report may have been overly dramatic, but imagine how different Musbury could have looked today! Just think, the village could be full of ghastly modern Victorian houses…..

24 Musbury Parish News Winter 2020. Winter 2020 Musbury Parish News 21

Trees, hedges and ditches

There are often questions over hedgerows, trees and ditches. The information and diagram below should give an indication of responsibility for the maintenance of drainage and vegetation on and around the highway.

• Landowners and occupiers are required, by law, to maintain and trim any hedge and trees to ensure growth does not obscure road signs.

• They should give a minimum height clearance of 2.1 m over footpaths and over the road to a height to accommodate vehicles which normally use the same (about 5.2m)

• They should also trim roadside hedges to maintain visibility for road users, particularly at junctions and on the inside of bends.

• They should trim any hedge that directly abuts a road, footway, cycleway or public right of way so that growth does not prevent the passage or affect the safety of the highway user, including cyclists and pedestrians.

• They should remove dead or decaying trees and other growth that may fall across the highway.

• They should remove branches and other growth that may prevent the passage of high sided vehicles or obstruct light from a public lamp (street light).

• They should ensure the highway (including the footway and drainage features) is left clear of debris from the cutting operations (section 148).

It is recommended that hedges are cut in January or February to avoid disturbance of wildlife, allow plants to finish flowering and seeds and fruits to be gathered.

Information regarding overgrown vegetation is available on DCC website. (https://www.devon.gov.uk/roadsandtransport/maintaining-roads/trees-and-vegetation/overgrown-vegetation

1940

In the face of a real threat of invasion by Germany, the Taunton Stop Line was built. Very much like the proposed ship canal, over a century before, this was built coast to coast from Burnham, Somerset to Axmouth. Using natural features, such as the Somerset Levels and the River Axe, and reinforced with pillboxes, anti-tank obstacles, etc., it would be used as a defensive line to stop the advance of an invading force. What if it had been required and was successfully defended? Would Cornwall and most of Devon be separated from us and under German control. Would Musbury have been part of a war zone, devoid of civilians and under bombardment? At the end of World War II, there would not have been much of Musbury left for people to return to. Fortunately, this never happened, but if Hitler had persisted with operation ‘Sea Lion’ (the invasion of Britain) things could have been very different.

1986

In 1985 a licence was issued to allow oil and gas exploration for an area extending northwards from Seaton into Somerset. In November 1986, for the first and only time in Devon, one exploration well was drilled in Musbury, in a field along the Whitford road, opposite Millands Farm. It was found to be dry and the site was subsequently restored. But what if oil or gas had been struck? Perhaps we would have fields of nodding donkeys rather than sheep and cattle. Maybe Devon’s own JR Ewing would be living in Mountfield!


Test Your Self for Covid

Take a glass and pour a decent measure of your favourite whisky (or gin , rum ) then see if you can smell it. If you can smell it then you are halfway there. Drink it and if you can taste it, it is reasonable to assume you currently free of the virus. I tested myself nine times last night and was virus free every time thank goodness. I will have to test myself again today as I have developed a headache which can be one of the symptoms. Contributed


https://www.devon.gov.uk/roadsandtransport/maintaining-roads/trees-and-vegetation/overgrown-vegetation%23vegetation/overgrown-vegetation/




Musbury Parish Council News

Mountfield House Update

The Parish Council have received this update from the owners:

“I am pleased to advise the Parish Council that we are looking at making a planning application, ideally before Christmas, which will see the full restoration of the house and safeguard the grounds.

This has followed a period of huge cost to protect the house and professional fees to move things forward on our part. Due to COVID-19, the local planning authority (East Devon District Council) have experienced significant delays in getting back to us. However, things do appear to be moving forward after a long, detailed and protracted period of discussions.

During the submission, I will of course come back with full details and look forward to engaging with you as a key stake-holders to make the plans work. Community involvement will be a vital aspect to make the project successful.” Josh Dutfield

Parking Not a new issue but one worth re-iterating, especially in these uncertain times – please park responsibly. There are a number of pinch points around the village, particularly around j u n c t i o n s a n d s h a r p c o r n e r s w h e r e inconsiderate parking can lead to problems for road users – bumps, scrapes and potentially prevention of access for emergency vehicles. Please park as close to the kerb/verge/wall as you can to leave as much road space as possible and the parish are grateful for those who park a little further away from their destination than they would like in order to park safely.

Bins

Most of the bins in the village are emptied by East Devon District Council on a weekly basis (usually a Thursday). However, there may be occasions when the collections are missed or there is more litter than usual. If this is the case, you can report a full bin by:

Telephoning: 01395 517528 OR Emailing: [email protected] OR Logging on: eastdevon.gov.uk/environmental-maintenance/litter/report-a-full-litter-bin/ The What3Word location reference is: coach.display.appealing The postcode is: EX13 8BA

IF THE BIN IS FULL, PLEASE TAKE YOUR LITTER HOME.

Playing Field Bin

This bin is not currently emptied by any council. The parish relies on the willingness of volunteers to empty the bin and add the bag to their own wheelie bins.

With this in mind, please can we ask that if you use the Playing Field, please take your rubbish home especially if it is recyclable.

Potholes

If a member of the public or Parish see a pothole that meet the intervention levels of being over 300mm in diameter and having a vertical face (sharp edge) of 40mm or over, the quickest and easiest way to deal with them is to report them online through our website using the link below. This goes straight to the contractor for investigation saving the time of the Neighbourhood Officer’s visit.

All reported potholes are sent direct to our contractor which are then triaged. This process enables the inspector/triage team to assess the road and identify other potential problems which may or are likely to arise.

Potholes are then processed for repair and where necessary an order placed for small works to be carried out in the forthcoming months.

https://new.devon.gov.uk/roadsandtransport/report-a-problem/




Musbury Parish Council News

Mountfield House Update

The Parish Council have received this update from the owners:

“I am pleased to advise the Parish Council that we are looking at making a planning application, ideally before Christmas, which will see the full restoration of the house and safeguard the grounds.

This has followed a period of huge cost to protect the house and professional fees to move things forward on our part. Due to COVID-19, the local planning authority (East Devon District Council) have experienced significant delays in getting back to us. However, things do appear to be moving forward after a long, detailed and protracted period of discussions.

During the submission, I will of course come back with full details and look forward to engaging with you as a key stake-holders to make the plans work. Community involvement will be a vital aspect to make the project successful.” Josh Dutfield

Parking Not a new issue but one worth re-iterating, especially in these uncertain times – please park responsibly. There are a number of pinch points around the village, particularly around j u n c t i o n s a n d s h a r p c o r n e r s w h e r e inconsiderate parking can lead to problems for road users – bumps, scrapes and potentially prevention of access for emergency vehicles. Please park as close to the kerb/verge/wall as you can to leave as much road space as possible and the parish are grateful for those who park a little further away from their destination than they would like in order to park safely.

Bins

Most of the bins in the village are emptied by East Devon District Council on a weekly basis (usually a Thursday). However, there may be occasions when the collections are missed or there is more litter than usual. If this is the case, you can report a full bin by:

Telephoning: 01395 517528 OR Emailing: [email protected] OR Logging on: eastdevon.gov.uk/environmental-maintenance/litter/report-a-full-litter-bin/ The What3Word location reference is: coach.display.appealing The postcode is: EX13 8BA

IF THE BIN IS FULL, PLEASE TAKE YOUR LITTER HOME.

Playing Field Bin

This bin is not currently emptied by any council. The parish relies on the willingness of volunteers to empty the bin and add the bag to their own wheelie bins.

With this in mind, please can we ask that if you use the Playing Field, please take your rubbish home especially if it is recyclable.

Potholes

If a member of the public or Parish see a pothole that meet the intervention levels of being over 300mm in diameter and having a vertical face (sharp edge) of 40mm or over, the quickest and easiest way to deal with them is to report them online through our website using the link below. This goes straight to the contractor for investigation saving the time of the Neighbourhood Officer’s visit.

All reported potholes are sent direct to our contractor which are then triaged. This process enables the inspector/triage team to assess the road and identify other potential problems which may or are likely to arise.

Potholes are then processed for repair and where necessary an order placed for small works to be carried out in the forthcoming months.




24 Musbury Parish News Winter 2020. Winter 2020 Musbury Parish News 21

Trees, hedges and ditches

There are often questions over hedgerows, trees and ditches. The information and diagram below should give an indication of responsibility for the maintenance of drainage and vegetation on and around the highway.

• Landowners and occupiers are required, by law, to maintain and trim any hedge and trees to ensure growth does not obscure road signs.

• They should give a minimum height clearance of 2.1 m over footpaths and over the road to a height to accommodate vehicles which normally use the same (about 5.2m)

• They should also trim roadside hedges to maintain visibility for road users, particularly at junctions and on the inside of bends.

• They should trim any hedge that directly abuts a road, footway, cycleway or public right of way so that growth does not prevent the passage or affect the safety of the highway user, including cyclists and pedestrians.

• They should remove dead or decaying trees and other growth that may fall across the highway.

• They should remove branches and other growth that may prevent the passage of high sided vehicles or obstruct light from a public lamp (street light).

• They should ensure the highway (including the footway and drainage features) is left clear of debris from the cutting operations (section 148).

It is recommended that hedges are cut in January or February to avoid disturbance of wildlife, allow plants to finish flowering and seeds and fruits to be gathered.

Information regarding overgrown vegetation is available on DCC website. (https://www.devon.gov.uk/roadsandtransport/maintaining-roads/trees-and-vegetation/overgrown-vegetation

1940

In the face of a real threat of invasion by Germany, the Taunton Stop Line was built. Very much like the proposed ship canal, over a century before, this was built coast to coast from Burnham, Somerset to Axmouth. Using natural features, such as the Somerset Levels and the River Axe, and reinforced with pillboxes, anti-tank obstacles, etc., it would be used as a defensive line to stop the advance of an invading force. What if it had been required and was successfully defended? Would Cornwall and most of Devon be separated from us and under German control. Would Musbury have been part of a war zone, devoid of civilians and under bombardment? At the end of World War II, there would not have been much of Musbury left for people to return to. Fortunately, this never happened, but if Hitler had persisted with operation ‘Sea Lion’ (the invasion of Britain) things could have been very different.

1986

In 1985 a licence was issued to allow oil and gas exploration for an area extending northwards from Seaton into Somerset. In November 1986, for the first and only time in Devon, one exploration well was drilled in Musbury, in a field along the Whitford road, opposite Millands Farm. It was found to be dry and the site was subsequently restored. But what if oil or gas had been struck? Perhaps we would have fields of nodding donkeys rather than sheep and cattle. Maybe Devon’s own JR Ewing would be living in Mountfield!


Test Your Self for Covid

Take a glass and pour a decent measure of your favourite whisky (or gin , rum ) then see if you can smell it. If you can smell it then you are halfway there. Drink it and if you can taste it, it is reasonable to assume you currently free of the virus. I tested myself nine times last night and was virus free every time thank goodness. I will have to test myself again today as I have developed a headache which can be one of the symptoms. Contributed






Vehicle Activated Speed Signs (VASS)

Our County Councillor, Ian Hall, has been working on ideas to reduce speeding in our communities. The vision is to purchase one or two solar powered VAS signs that will need to be strategically placed around the Division to have the maximum effect to help change the mindsets of irresponsible drivers. VAS signs are usually only sited on roads with a 20/30/40 mph limit and roads that are within communities.

Uprights will be placed with input from the Parish Councils so the VAS signs can be placed and moved easily around the Division on an agreed timetable.

The Parish Council has agreed to be part of this initiative and two sites for the poles have been identified. The cost of each VAS unit is around £3000, most of which will come from the Precept, therefore being part of this project is the only way small parishes like Musbury would be able to afford to have this kind of solution to the problem.

Thank you

The Council would like to thank Cllr Matt Craker, Noel Jacks and Paul Chapman for kindly digging the hole in preparation for the Christmas Tree. We appreciate their efforts to provide the village with a festive focal point in these restricted times.

The council would also like to thank Mr Steve Hearne and Mr Bob Plumridge for working together to maintain and extend the grass verge walkway into the village all the way from Bottom Lane. The power of community spirit is strong in Musbury.

Musbury Heritage – Stories from our village history

Four events that could have changed Musbury dramatically

1824-28

Life could have been very different in Musbury if the proposed ship canal from the North Somerset coast to the East Devon coast had gone ahead. Although this idea had been proposed from 1769 and involved such illustrious names as John Rennie & Thomas Telford, it was not until now that it was deemed worthy of an Act of Parliament. Sea journeys around Cornwall were hazardous (about 80 lives a year were lost) and slow. A canal could be the beginning of a network of smaller canals connecting towns in Devon and Somerset with new markets. Initially it was thought the southern port would be at Seaton and the canal would have continued up the Axe Valley, via Taunton to Bridgewater Bay with harbours at both ends. Perhaps we would have been divided from Whitford by a canal capable of taking 200-ton sailing vessels from the Atlantic to the Bristol Channel! In the end we were saved from this by an inability to raise funds of £1.75 million (£186 million today) from private investors. In addition, steamships would make negotiating Lands End less risky and, of course, railways were soon to revolutionise the transportation of goods.

1863

To quote directly from the Western Times: - “An alarm of fire was raised in the village on Sunday morning (27 December 1863), and it was discovered that a house occupied by a man named Hoar, a labourer, was on fire. Efforts were quickly made and the fire was quickly extinguished before much damage was done. The premises of Messrs. Gillett and Co., the extensive tanners adjoined the cottage, being thatched, if the fire had not been fortunately put out, might have ignited and probably have caused the destruction of the whole village.”

This was most likely the home of James Hoare, agricultural labourer, his wife and 7 children. Probably part of what we now know as Malvern House. The newspaper report may have been overly dramatic, but imagine how different Musbury could have looked today! Just think, the village could be full of ghastly modern Victorian houses…..


Avian influenza (bird flu). Poultry and other captive birds An Avian Influenza Prevention Zone has been declared across the whole of England effective from 5pm on 11 November 2020.

All poultry keepers in England (whether they have commercial flocks or just a few birds in a backyard flock) are required by law to take a range of biosecurity precautions. If you keep poultry (including game birds or pet birds) or other captive birds, you must act now to reduce the risk of disease in your flock by following the relevant biosecurity measures required within the AIPZ. Your stock needs to be feed and watered under cover to prevent contamination from wild birds.

Good biosecurity improves the overall health and productivity of your flock by helping keep out poultry diseases such as avian influenza and limiting the spread of disease in an outbreak. All bird gatherings within the AIPZ are prohibited therefore the general licence that had permitted bird gatherings has been revoked. For more guidance please visit https://www.gov.uk/guidance/avian-influenza-bird-flu

If you find dead wild waterfowl (swans, geese or ducks) or other dead wild birds, such as gulls or birds of prey, you should report them to the Defra helpline (03459 33 55 77) Public Health England advises that the risk to the public’s health is very low. Food Standards Agency (FSA) has said that on the basis of the current scientific evidence, avian influenzas pose a very low food safety risk for UK consumers Avian influenza is unconnected with coronavirus (COVID-19). Voluntary registration You can choose to register fewer than 50 birds, or birds you keep as pets. The Animal and Plant Health Agency (APHA) encourages you to register even if you do not have to by law. By registering,

• APHA will be able to contact you if there’s a disease outbreak (such as bird flu) in your area

• you’ll help prevent the spread of disease and protect the national poultry flock

We look forward to seeing you at the next Parish Council meeting. Please keep your eye on the noticeboard and website for more details.

Jo Boyce (Clerk to Musbury Parish Council) Tel: 553898

Christmas Quiz

A reminder that you have another week to grapple with the 2020 Garden Club Christmas Quiz – entries should be in by Wednesday December 16th. All money raised will be divided between local charities Axminster Food Bank and ARC. You can post your entries through the door at The Post House, Church Hill. If you haven’t yet managed to get hold of a quiz, they cost £2 or further donation, cheques to be made out to ‘Musbury Garden Club’. If you phone 553521, we will arrange safe delivery to you. A prize awaits the winner!

Karen, Val and Sue

Farewell to Trill

The boxes have been packed, the barn doors closed, the keys handed over. We are sad but appreciative of the last 13 years and excited at what is to come. Trill Farm is not disappearing! We have exciting ideas and plans to form over the winter, centred around our core values of nature, health and education. We'd love for you to be involved in creating the next stage, and will be in touch over the next few months.

We still have stock of some of our favourite products; the online farm shop will stay open until Christmas (last orders Friday 18th December) or while stocks last, so don't miss out. If you have placed an order since 18th October, we've been busy packing them all up over the past week now that the stock has all moved to our new workshop, and they are on their way to you. Thank you for your patience.

Ash and Kate are still be running Trill Farm Garden, growing their exceptional salad and vegetables, and Chris and Anna are continuing to run the Old Dairy Kitchen, cooking up delicious meals. Thomas is continuing to brew his award-winning mead at the farm too. We hope you'll continue to support them and enjoy their produce if you live nearby.

Best wishes,Romy, Lara and Tamsin

https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/934684/ai-prevention-zone-201111.pdf





https://trillfarm.us5.list-manage.com/track/click?u=0abb185b54596d0b901b2a3f2&id=0e487be792&e=3d1a284488

https://trillfarm.us5.list-manage.com/track/click?u=0abb185b54596d0b901b2a3f2&id=55c155ca49&e=3d1a284488

https://trillfarm.us5.list-manage.com/track/click?u=0abb185b54596d0b901b2a3f2&id=e6508fc2b3&e=3d1a284488


Background Devon Air Ambulance now operates until 2am every day and the Charity’s vision is to eventually operate 24 hours a day.

Operating and landing in towns and villages in the dark is different to how they operate during daylight. To support ‘night’ operations, Devon Air Ambulance are working with communities to create a network of community landing sites which are pre-surveyed open spaces with either existing or newly installed lighting that can be remotely operated. The development of these sites is part-funded and managed by local communities. Using sites like this when it’s dark means they can land in the heart of a community and reach patients much quicker and safer than if they had to land in a ‘dark field’.

There are now 158 operational community landing sites across Devon, and these have helped the charity carry out missions to help patients with life-changing or life-threatening injuries and illnesses during the hours of darkness.

Why have a night landing site? Musbury Parish Council believes such a site could be of vital importance to our community, after all people don’t stop being unwell when it gets dark.

By having a designated night landing site in the village, we will be enabling Devon Air Ambulance to reach our community until 2am every day – that’s about 9 hours of extra service a day during the darker winter months. The benefits of having the Air Ambulance arrive to a local patient is not just about being quickly taken to the nearest hospital by air – if your injury or illness means you need a specialist treatment centre, they can fly you direct to the hospital best meeting your needs. Also, crucially, by arriving into our community quickly their advanced paramedics can start treatment early and that is known to improve a patient’s outcome.

Musbury Garden Club

Now that the gardening year is at an end it’s time to look forward to the Spring. Planning and anticipation is all part of the colder days of Winter. You might like help or inspiration from some newly published books that you can buy from your local bookshop or order from the library. If you buy via www.uk.bookshop.org, profits will benefit local independent bookshops such as Archway in Axminster.

Monty Don – American gardens

With lavish photos by Derry Moore, this book is based on the TV series of the same name earlier in the year. The pair travelled across America to trace the histories of outdoor spaces which sum up or redefine the American garden.

Dave Goulson – The garden jungle: or gardening to save the planet

An expert look at the wildlife that lives right under our noses in our gardens and parks, between the gaps in the pavement, and in the soil beneath our feet

Dan Rouse – How to attract birds to your garden: foods they like, plants they love, shelter they need

How to make a difference to your local birdlife by creating an environment in which they will thrive.

R.H.S. - Complete gardener’s manual: the one stop guide to plan, sow, plant and grow your garden

Dive into this concise, practical encyclopaedia for all the advice you will ever need for your garden.

http://www.uk.bookshop.org


The Old Post Office window In a year in which many of our everyday activities or pleasures have been curtailed I know I’m not the only Musbury resident whose day has been brightened by the window displays in the Old Post Office.

Since the early days of Lockdown in March when Sue and Ken started their weekly windows we have had something of interest to look at as we passed by that has either given us pause for thought, brought a memory to mind or marked a special event. During the height of lockdown we were able to enjoy the vicarious pleasures of Wimbledon and Glastonbury, we were encouraged to keep active by the Local Walks display and, a favourite of mine, simply reminded to smile one week by a window full of cuddly toys. Goodness knows how week after week they have managed to come up with something new, on behalf of the village, a big thank you to them both for adding some much needed interest and fun to our community in 2020.

Susan Nisbet

Pictures Sandie

Musbury Parish Council and Musbury Primary School have been working with Devon Air Ambulance to establish a night landing site at the School playing field. This does not change how the field is used by the School for our children but, with careful planning, the site can also be used at night by Devon Air Ambulance if they need to land in an emergency to help someone locally.

Costs & Fundraising The Council has established costs involved and, once accounting for a grant from Devon Air Ambulance (with funding coming from the Bank LIBOR Fines), there remains £3,400 to raise in order to fully fund this project and have a small ‘rainy day’ reserve for any future maintenance.

We have already received a generous donation from Musbury Movers and Annie Stark to start off the fundraising and a £500 grant from Devon County Council’s Locality Budget, but we would love the whole village to get involved – after all, it could be a life saver to any one of us. Can you help? If any parishioners have any fabulous ideas to raise funds or generate donations, or they would like to donate to the project, please can you get in touch with the Parish Clerk – Jo - who will be happy to help (07923 448809 / [email protected]).

The Parish Council recognises these are unprecedented times with many challenges, but we hope that you can feel able to support what we believe would be a positive asset for our community.

The Old Dairy Kitchen

We really miss going out to eat. Any outing, beach trip, journey or visit is always made better by tasting food cooked by someone else, in someone else's kitchen, with someone else's passion and interpretation. We can't wait to be let loose, to eat everything in sight. In the meantime, our Pantry is here to provide you with just that - a delicious food experience when you can't get out to dine.

The Old Dairy Kitchen Online Pantry is open and taking orders for weekly collection or local delivery on Fridays. Find delicious meals and warming soups, loaves of fresh bread, provisions, fresh organic meat and sausages, eggs, sweet treats, preserves and recipe kits available to order at the click of a button. www.olddairykitchen.co.uk

With thanks, Alex (& Chris)

http://www.olddairykitchen.co.uk/


School report

In September, school welcomed back all 46 pupils, after what was for some children, a six-month absence. It has been fantastic to get all the children back together. The children themselves have adapted brilliantly to the COVID related changes and took very little time to get back to their learning and importantly developing their friendships. At the time of writing, we have just gone into Lockdown II and I have been thoroughly impressed with the attitude of the children. The whole school community has adapted fantastically to all the changes and I'd like to thank staff, parents, neighbours and volunteers for their continued support.

Already this term, children in Class One have used Google Earth to learn about Musbury, created 3D junk models, replicated the artwork of Paul Klees and Alma Thomas, while in science they have explored the properties of ice. In Class Two, children have been learning about France and the French Revolution, the digestive system, their teeth and like Class One are also in the process of producing artwork based on Alma Thomas, as part of learning about Black History Month and Black Lives Matter movement. Over the next few weeks we will be working virtually with Historic England learning more about the names on Musbury's War memorial and will also be visited virtually by the children's author, Claire Barker.

Mr T Nield Head of School

Spar and Post Office Apologies for missing the Autumn edition, this year has been very unusual and challenging, to say the least. And for such a strange year, it’s still flying by. Our feet don’t seem to have touched the ground since the first lockdown! Thank you all very much for your support and kind words, we all appreciated it (and still do). We are still maintaining the 2-metre social distancing rule. As we are a small shop, we cannot implement a one-way system. So, if you are queuing for the shop or post office, please respect other people’s space. We will limit the number of people if we feel there are too many, so please don’t be offended if we ask you to wait outside for a moment or two. And thank you for wearing masks or face coverings (unless you’re exempt). Who would have thought that masks would be a fashion accessory? I’m certainly looking forward to the Christmas ones. We are now gearing up for Christmas; we have some lovely boxes of chocolates, advent calendars and Lyme Bay cream liqueur in four lovely flavours. I can’t choose my favourite, so I may have to sample all four! Plus, we have Lyme Bay Christmas pudding wine, mulled wine, mulled cider, gift packs from Norcott Cider, biscuits, and mince pies. Did you know that the Spar Luxury Mince Pies won a Gold in the Good Food awards, beating some very stiff competition? At just £2 for 6, why not see if you agree with the judges? And don’t forget the local cream to go with them. The Post Office will obviously be getting busier the nearer we get to Christmas, so please help us to help you by having your parcels ready to send when you come in, with the address and postcode completed. Christmas last posting dates can be found at royalmail.com, or ask us for a leaflet. The shop and Post Office will be closed as usual on Christmas Day, Boxing Day, and New Year’s Day. Every other day we will be open for our normal hours. Our opening hours for each department will be displayed outside the shop and reception a bit nearer the time. At the time of writing the Exeter Trial will be going ahead as normal, but obviously this could change. But hopefully they will be visiting Musbury in the early hours of Saturday 9th January from around 2.30am. So, if you can’t sleep, come and see what happens at ‘silly’ o’clock in Musbury.

Well, all that’s left is to say a big Thank You for your support this year. Personally, I would like to thank every member of staff at Musbury Garage for their hard work, support and the laughs (badly needed at times!). We couldn’t have got through it without you. Have a very Happy Christmas, wherever and however you spend it. And I’m sure we will all wish for a better 2021.

Theresa Stockman Spar Store Manager - Musbury Garage tel 01297 552292

Rev’d Alistair Sutherland

Sadly the Rev’d Alistair Sutherland died this month in Witney, Oxfordshire, where he went to live when he left Musbury in 2006. He was much loved by everyone in the Village and took most Services in Church. People who have lived in the village for many years will remember him with deep affection. His funeral took place in Musbury on November 19th and he was laid to rest in our Churchyard as he had always wanted to be. He had special permission for this as has his wife Mysie whom it was lovely to see at the service. She was our Choir Mistress for many years. Our Rector took the Service but sadly numbers had to be low in the congregation but many watched on line - technology a wonderful thing! Kay short

http://royalmail.com/


Village Hall As we should be entering the pantomime season it would be appropriate to say that "the village hall is open again" - "oh no it isn't!"

The hall trustees had carried out the necessary risk assessments and completed the purchase of appropriate Covid-19 signage and sanitising supplies to open again on Monday 26 October only to have to reverse this decision with news of the latest lockdown!

Bookings Secretary Sarah had undertaken a lot of work with the various hirers to ensure that the current measures were met for a safe opening, with a professional cleaning regime in place between groups to ensure their safety. We hope to be able to seamlessly resume where we left off with another reopening in early December.

Gary Knight has now been appointed as Village Hall Secretary. Gary and his wife Bev moved to the village just prior to the first lockdown and are looking forward to seeing the hall being utilised as fully as possible when restrictions allow. Any updates will be posted on the village website https://musburyvillage.co.uk/

The trustees are currently looking into the potential of installing broadband in the hall, which could expand the type of activities on offer.

The group of trustees are in place as a management committee to operate the hall and meets its obligations to the Charities Commission, it is however very much a hall for use by the village and beyond, we recognise its importance and the part it plays within the community. If you have any suggestions as to its use or other ideas or comments please do email Gary at [email protected]

We look forward to reopening and bringing you more positive news in the Spring edition of this magazine

Gary Knight

A sad loss to the village is the Little Owls. Ten years ago there was always a pair around Drake’s Farm and usually another at Waterford Farm, and at least once they bred in our old barn. They are not a native species but were introduced to England in the 1870s and soon established themselves and spread widely. However, they are now, I think, absent from the village and the lower Axe Valley. The reasons are unclear. They seem rather clumsy birds and I have heard of three instances when they have fallen down chimneys, but they are insect eaters and it seems likely that there are fewer large insects around now, particularly those nice large crunchy dung beetles that have virtually disappeared.

Seaton Wetlands

The Tower Hide, the Island Hide, the Colyford Common Hide and the Discovery Hut hide (but not the hut) are now open, including in the latest lockdown,. MASKS MUST BE WORN IN THE HIDES. Bear in mind that there are no windows in the hides, so it will be very cold when the wind blows. Also, numbers are limited and stays are time-limited. The TOILETS ARE OPEN and will remain so. The wader passage has now finished and only the wintering species remain – one or two Greenshank and Common Sandpipers will stay over the winter, as well as between 20 and 50 Black-tailed Godwits and about 100 Redshank. Rarer species such as Ringed Plover and Avocets may turn up in ones and twos. One of the delights of the Axe estuary winter are the huge flocks of Lapwings and there will probably be 1,000 or so through the winter with more appearing if the weather gets snowy. The water on Black Hole Marsh will be kept deeper for ducks such as Teal, Shelduck, Shoveler and Mallard; other species like Gadwall and Pintail may appear from time to time. Thousands of gulls will gather on the estuary each evening prior to roosting out the bay at Seaton Hole. Smaller species will include Meadow Pipits and, for the expert, Water Pipits and Rock Pipits, some of the latter being Scandinavian birds. Finches like Linnets and Goldfinches haunt Colyford Common, looking for the seeds left there by high tides. Predators like Kestrels, Sparrowhawks and Peregrines are regular, and rarer species like Merlins and Marsh Harriers will turn up occasionally. A Crane visited the reserve on 5 November. There is a re-introduced population on the Somerset Levels and further birds breeding in eastern England that have arrived naturally. It is hard to say where this bird might have originated, but it was not ringed, so it was not one of the birds released in Somerset. One or two are seen in Devon each year.

Mike LockMobile Library Subject to regulations the mobile library will be outside the school on Thursday Jan 14th, Thursday February 11th, Thursday March 11th and Thursday April 11th at 11.45 am





The last few months have been very frustrating, with significant delays in working with the Planning Authority on a way forward. Thankfully, after a long hold up due to Covid-19, some good discussions were had and the project is moving forward again.

By way of reminder, the objective is to restore the building back to a large family home without any further development on the grounds. We believe this to be the most sustainable future for the house and restore it back to being a source of pride for the village and wider Axe Valley given its outstanding heritage qualities. We remain amazed by the amount of people contacting us about the house; relatives of past owners who used to live there, university students wishing to use it as a case study and even had a request to film a music video (we politely declined!). The cost of securing the house has been and remains high, however attempted break-ins have reduced dramatically.

Instruction to professionals; building surveyors and the like has now begun. This will form the basis of any submission to return the building back to a family home. There is still a long way to go, the original timeline given of 5 years did not include a global pandemic and identified the planning process as the biggest hurdle to overcome- this still remains the case but credit to the District Council as they do now appear very engaged with the project and recognised that duty of care / part to play.

Subject to lockdowns or any other unwelcome events, we hope that a more detailed update will be ready in time for the early new year. All going well, the next update should be far more exciting! We would like to take this opportunity to thank those well wishers for the project, your engagement will be key to help ‘push things along’ if other stakeholders drag their feet a little. We are sorry it has taken so long to get this far but it has not been for want of trying!

We wish everyone in Musbury a very Merry Christmas and Happy New Year Josh Dutfield

Nature Watch Just after Storm Alex, in early October, there was an extraordinary influx of House Martins. On 4th, all along the road to Whitford, there were several hawking for insects in the lee of every tree, and many more hunting up and down the river. As dusk fell they looked for a roosting place and virtually invaded Waterford Farm, clustering under the eaves and the porch and even entering the house. It was the same at the Wetlands, with birds gathering on the windowsills of the hides, and also on the walls and under the eaves of a house in Primrose Way in Seaton. Elsewhere in Devon many thousands were seen at South Brent on the southern fringe of Dartmoor. People remarked that many were young birds. It seems likely that the warm and dry September encouraged many pairs to raise a second brood and it was probably these birds that were caught by the winds and cold of Storm Alex and became concentrated in the southwest while, in the long run, heading to their wintering grounds in southern Africa.

Another startling sighting in Musbury was four Cattle Egrets feeding around cattle on a local farm. These egrets have recently colonised England, with first breeding in England in 2008 and in Devon in 2016. Their original habitat seems to have been in Africa and extreme southern Europe, but in the 1930s they appeared in northern South America, having presumably flown across the Atlantic, and by 1942 they were breeding in the southern United States where they are now widespread. They have also spread northwards in Europe. In Africa they associate with large game animals, following them and catching grasshoppers and other insects disturbed as the beasts feed. Here they are often seen with cattle but beware: Little Egrets, which are also relatively recent colonists of Britain, often feed around cattle in the Axe valley. Little Egrets are pure white, with black beaks and legs, and yellow feet. Cattle Egrets often show tinges of buff on the head and back (their old name was Buff-backed Heron), and they have yellow beaks and a jowl-like chin under the beak. Little Egrets first bred in England at Brownsea Island, in Dorset, in 1996, and in Devon in 2002.

All the Swallows and House Martins have now headed south, although one or two probably winter in southern England. Likewise, the warblers and other summer visitors have all gone. The winter thrushes – Fieldfares and Redwings – have now arrived although most of those in Devon are on and around Dartmoor. The berry crop is exceptionally good this year but eventually supplies will run out on the Moor and they will appear around here. Fieldfares are larger, with grey backs and a ‘chak-a-chak’ call; Redwings are smaller and browner with a red patch under the wing and a thin ‘seeep’ call. Fieldfares in particular are attracted to fallen apples of which there are a great many this year. Both species feed in open grass fields when the berries have been finished.


Musbury Short Mat Bowls Club There has not been any action down at the Village Hall since the last Parish Magazine due to lockdowns, closure of the Hall, and of course coronavirus! However, Chris Pomeroy, our Chairman, has kept in touch with everyone and made sure all are safe and well. After the first lockdown there were a few meetings in gardens of six members which were enjoyable. No bowls action on the patio though.

We are very sad to report that two stalwart members died recently - John Daly (who used to live in Musbury with his wife Nesta) and Don Welch. They both played many league games for the club and helped to win a lot of matches for us. Don was a Founder member and Chairman for a good number of years. We would have been at Manor House Hotel this week enjoying each others’ company at the Sports and Craft Hotel but of course we had to cancel. Hopefully we can go next year. Who knows when we will be able to start up Short Mat Bowls again and see friends we haven’t seen face to face since March? It is a question on everyone’s mind at the moment. While we wait, keep smiling, keep safe and stay in touch with each other.

Kay Short (Secretary)

Don Welch 1930-2020

Wordsearch

15 music memories from the seventies

Answers will be posted on a village notice board in January Or email me at [email protected]


m15

Installations & RepairsSatellite Installation

UHF & VHFExtensions etc

Multi Point Installation

HELEN G BEADSAt

The Old Reading Room Studio

(Axminster Road, Musbury)

!"Artisan Hot Lampwork Jewellery and

Silversmithing Demonstrations : Lessons : Commissions

!"Visitors welcome but best to ring in case I am away at a fair or lessons in progress

!"

Tel: 552482 or 07525 780 431

Email: [email protected]

m23

m15

Handmade Glass Beads and Jewellery

at

The Old Reading Room Studio Axminster Road, Musbury

Workshops in glass bead making and silversmithing

Individual dates to suit you

Please call me on 07525 780431 to visit the studio

Or for more information

www.helengorick.com m15

every daym

throughoue sumer

BEER • DEVON • EX12 3NA • Tel: 1297 21542


Family Funeral Directors & Monumental Masons

W. G. PotterWilliam Potter House, West Street, Axminster 01297 34283

Overmass & ChappleChapple Court, Queen Street, Seaton 01297 20644

Offices also at Bridport, Honiton & Ottery St. MaryMembers of the NationalAssociation of Funeral Directors

Prepaid Funeral Plans

Julian & Karen Hussey Dip FD NAFD

24hr Dignified, Professional & Caring Service

www.funeraldirectors.uk.comRecommended by The Good Funeral Guide & The National Death Centre m19

x Evershot Bakery breadx Fresh Fruit & Vegetables

including local growers x Off Licence with chilled wines,

beers & cidersx Newspapers & Magazinesx� Dry Cleaning & Shoe Repairs

SHOP & OPEN MON-SAT 7.30am8.00pm SUN 8am-8pm 01297 552292

x Post Office in-storex� National Lotteryx Free to Use Cash Machinex Woodland View &

Colyton Butchers LocalFresh Meats

x Khushi curries

01297 553700

AND DON’T FORGET THE WORKSHOP.......

01297 552292

x Class 4 & 7 MOT Testingx Repairs, Servicing & Diagnostic Testing to all makes of

cars & light commercial vehiclesx Tyres at VERY competitive pricesx Wheel Alignment Specialists

x Full range of Cars & Vans includingautomatic cars, Lutons with tail-lifts &9-17 seater minibuses

x European Travel Specialistsx Special weekend rates

m8


Axminster Food Bank

A huge thank you to all of you who have supported the Food Bank throughout these months of pandemic. Your contributions have been unceasing - there's only been a handful of days when the basket has been empty. What a caring community this is! As you can imagine numbers needing food and essential household items are increasing once again and this will continue to be the trend as we move towards Christmas.

We are distributing food not only in Axminster but also to people in surrounding villages within a four mile radius or so. For some transport is limited and we are so grateful to our volunteers who give up their time to deliver food parcels to those unable to collect.

It's becoming evident that more of our clients are needing help towards paying for their gas and electricity and we have set up a hardship fund from which we can give people a one off payment. Thank you, therefore, to those who are giving us funds - they are most welcome.

We continue to open 3 days a week (Monday, Tuesday and Thursday 10.00 a.m. to 1.00 p.m) but may have to increase this again in December. We do try to provide seasonal food and treats at Christmas so would be very grateful for such additional contributions.

Thank you once again.

Sheila

Sky at Night

Winter is closing in fast, although we have not had many clear nights yet, but hopefully this will change between December and February,

This is a time when we have constellations which people find easier with the naked eye. First we have the constellation of Taurus with the beautiful seven sisters near the top, as well as the crab nebula for those with telescopes, at the end of what looks like two long arms or maybe the bull’s horns. There is also an open triangle of star called the Hyades, with the bright star Aldebaran. Rising just after that is the constellation of Orion with its big red star of Betelgeuse in the top left corner and the Orion nebula hanging off the three belt stars. Even in binoculars this is a wonderful sight. For those with larger telescopes there are also the flame nebula and the horsehead nebula near the belt and the bright blue star, Rigel in the bottom right corner. It’s a constellation of many varieties.

Around the 13th – 15th of December you can also see the Geminids meteor shower, we have a new moon this year so we should have a good view and hopefully many meteors you’ll be able to see. This is followed in January by the Quadrantids meteor shower usually around the 4th – 6th; this can be seen in the north in the space between Ursa Major, Bootes and Hercules. Although meteor showers are generally named after the constellation the radiant is in, the constellation of Quadrans Muralis, no longer exists, (Mural Quadrant, created by the French astronomer Jerome Lalande in 1795.)

On the 14th December there’s a total eclipse of the sun visible at the South Pacific, crossing Chile and Argentina. On the 17th of December the thin crescent moon can be seen just to the left of Jupiter and Saturn. On the 21st of December not only do we have the winter solstice, when the sun reaches its lowest point in the sky, but Jupiter and Saturn are incredible close together. Although this is close to the horizon, grab your binoculars or telescope for the view.

At present the NLO is still closed as social distancing is a problem, but we are hoping that by spring we may be able to open again so keep an eye on our website www.normanlockyer.com for more information.

Have a Happy Christmas and a peaceful start to 2021, and remember to

keep looking up.

Parish Records

Wedding

26th September. Anthony Charles Hickman and Linda Susan Parker

Funerals

7th October. Elsie Forsey Funeral and internment of Ashes

12 October. Irene Parrett Internment of Sshes

19th November. Donald Welch Internment of Ashes

20th November. Rev Alistair Sutherland Funeral and Burial

http://www.normanlockyer.com


A small carol singing group hopes to sing in different spots in the village but not sure what will be allowed at that time. The date we have put aside for this is Thursday December 17th. We hope to sing in Doatshayne Lane, in Northfield, opposite the pub on the green and possibly down by the old chapel in Whitford Rd. Please stand at your front doors and give us a hand with the singing! At the time of writing we do not know if we will be allowed a Carol Service in Church. If we are, it will have to be by ticket only, I am afraid, as we are restricted on numbers to keep the correct distance from each other. What strange times we live in! Keep watching Notice Boards for further details nearer the time. The service, if it happens, will be on Sunday Dec. 20th at 4pm. Let us look forward to this Festive Season with hope and joy as we celebrate Jesus’ Birth praying that one day we can enjoy each other’s company safely and get back to that wonderful Village fellowship we experienced before this pandemic took us over.

Kay Short (Secretary) 552711 [email protected]

Hindsite Thanks from the Hind

Not quite sure what to write. It would be wonderful at this point in time to have a crystal ball!

Firstly thanks so much to everybody who has crossed our threshold since we re-opened on the 4th July, we really appreciate all of your support and your faith in us for providing a safe COVID aware environment - although we must apologise as it is probably us who have moaned the most about mask wearing! Thank you for embracing one-way systems, track and trace and hand sanitiser!

Thanks also to everyone for emails, messages and even phone calls to check on us and how we are it really did make us feel so much better that people cared about us, our business and how the girls were.

Christmas at the Hind

We will be putting our Christmas opening hours in the village notice board, website and on Facebook as soon as we know what the new rules are and have had time to evaluate impact, but also please just give us a call and we will be happy to let you know.

We have a Christmas set menu complete with cracker! If you have a few friends and are looking for a pre-Christmas get together why not give us a try this year! The kitchen is open Thursday – Sunday.

Breakfast Club

This has been a wonderful success. To celebrate, anyone that comes in for breakfast on January 23rd or 30th with a Musbury Parish news will receive a free freshly ground cup of coffee or Cup of Clipper Tea.

We wish our Customers and Staff a very Merry Christmas and a Happy 2021

Emma & Adrian

In Memory of Jane Bishop

Friends of Jane Bishop in Musbury wish to create a Memorial to Jane in recognition of all her efforts and care within the community, including Parish Council Clerk, Garden Club, community quizzes, WI and Heritage work to name a few. It has been decided that a tree with a plaque be planted in Marlborough Road.

The tree will be chosen by Jane's husband Rod Powell and purchased by way of local donations. The actual place for the tree will be in Marlborough Road in agreement with the Parish Council

If you would like to make a cash donation to honour Jane's memory the collection points are, Emma & Adrian c/o The Hind , Musbury Garage /Spar, or Direct to Ray Cross - "Wagtails" Marlborough Close , 01297 551060 or Graham Durrant "Garden House" Doatshayne Lane, 01297 552387.

Please note that any monies left over after the cost of the tree and plaque will be donated to Exeter Hospice Care.

Your contribution is more than just a donation. It’s away of remembering Jane and also ensuring everyone living with a terminal illness gets the support they need. Because every day matters. Thank you Ray & Graham


8 Musbury Parish News Winter. 2020 Winter 2020 Musbury Parish News 37

Parochial Church Council Report

At our Annual Church Meeting (postponed from April) Sue Irving and Michael Pritchard were re-elected Church Wardens. Caroline Doulton was elected onto the PCC. Ian Doulton was thanked for his contribution to the PCC over several years. The Church Wardens were thanked for their leadership especially during the Interregnum of 2019. Thanks were also expressed to everyone who has a role in the smooth running of the building and services. The flower arranging ladies, once again, even in these difficult times, decorated the Church beautifully for Harvest. Several people came and our Rector took the service. We were encouraged to give donations to the Anglican Church in Melanesia this year. Father Steven had been there and seen the plight of the people in the wake of Cyclone Harold. Musbury sent £67.67 to be added to the Mission Community total. The Remembrance Sunday Service took place outside around the War Memorial with everyone socially distanced. Councillor Colin Corbett laid the Parish wreath and read out the names of those who fell in the two wars. We all sang the National Anthem (which was allowed!) The gathering was well attended considering the restrictions. £116.00 was sent to the British Legion.

Usually at this time I would be encouraging you to join us in our Christmas Craft Fayre but sadly this is not happening.

During this second lockdown, the church building is open for private prayer every day but no services are being held. If you can go on the Holyford MC Website you will see details of on line opportunities to worship together virtually. By the time you receive this magazine things may have changed again. None of us really know what will be allowed from week to week. So planning ahead is quite difficult. Thankfully, no more plaster has fallen from the ceiling but some of the building is still cut off for safety. Much discussion is taking place with regards to urgent repairs not only who will do the work but when it can be done and how we are going to pay for it!

We fully intend, however, to celebrate Christ’s birth in some way or another despite the pandemic! We are trying to organise an Advent ‘calendar’ of decorated windows on walking routes in the centre of the village. Households have kindly agreed to decorate a window facing the road with a Christmas theme and they will be lit up with lights in turn as December unfolds. The old post office in the centre will start us off. Their lights will be on in the evenings the whole of December followed by others in turn until on the 24th when everyone’s windows will be lit!! You may like to go round at dusk trying to work out who is new that night!! A big thank you to all those taking part. You will find them in Axminster Rd, The Street, Compbyne Rd, Church Hill and Doatshayne Lane. If you are interested in taking part after reading this, there may be some dates free towards to end of Dec. Please contact me.

Diary of a Name Dropper Another of my favourite celebrities to cross the threshold of the Golden Hind was Dinsdale Landen. The name may not be familiar to you, but he was a famous West End actor who made many film and television appearances. People of a certain age will have seen him in shows such as Dr Who, The Avengers, Jason King and Jackanory to name but a few. He usually played upper crust buffoons and if you Google him and I am sure you will recognise him. Dinsdale owned a holiday cottage in Whitford Road and was a frequent visitor. One of my favourite memories of him was the day he opened the annual Musbury jumble sale (whatever happened to the good old rummage sales of long ago?). At opening time in burst Dinsdale with his friend Doug Fisher (co-star of the then popular TV show Man About The House) both clad in old ladies hats and coats with matching handbags and plastic pearls obviously bought for a few pence at the event. They took position at the bar and stayed in character all night. They were hilarious, a bit like Hinge and Bracket on steroids! This was the height of the summer and the pub was filled with diners and holiday makers, but nobody batted an eyelid or passed comment which made it even funnier. The only remark made came from dear old Bedford James who duly noted and chuckled "Tis they there actor types from London. They be silly fools, in 'em?"

Those of you who know me will know that my opinion on music is that if it is not Sinatra, it is not music. So it will come as no surprise that the names Deep Purple or Black Sabbath mean nothing to me. Ian Gillan, who was a member of these said heavy metal bands, had booked the village hall to rehearse his new group and were weekly visitors. A very nice bunch of guys who were kind enough to provide autographed photographs for anyone who asked and even allowed a small amount of fans go and watch them at practise. I was never happier to see his vintage Rolls Royce in the car park and I believe he knew I admired it because one night he jangled the keys in front of me and asked me to drive into Axminster to get fish and chips for the group! I will never know if he was joking, but I regret to this day not calling his bluff!

God (and Boris) willing we will see you all in The Hind after the lockdown in December. Hope you all keep well.

Ralph

Ralph has not mentioned that Dinsdale landen was a good friend of Peter Sellers. Mr and Mrs Sellers aka Brit Ekland stayed at the house in the Whitford rd I have this on reliable information from a previous owner of this house: ED


Weather Watch August began changeable and mild with a few light showers, followed by a hot spell around 10th. An abrupt change brought heavy rain on 18th and 19th with a total of 50 mm (2 in) over the two days. Further heavy rain on 24th, accompanied by a strong wind from Storm Francis, and yet more rain on 27th helped August as a whole to be a wet month with above-average rainfall – a total of 120.5 mm (just under 5”). September was, as a whole, a warm and dry month, with just one day of heavy rain, on 30th. The total for the month was 35 mm (about 1½”), about half the 16-year average of 63 mm. October began very wet, with 54 mm (over 2”) of rain in the first four days, accompanied by strong winds as Storm Alex moved north from France, where it produced torrential rain and flooding in the south. The month continued changeable with a very light grass frost on 9th and 10th (in the bottom of the valley we get frosts when others higher up escape). There was further rain during the last week but not as much as further north and east, but all the same the month’s total was 134 mm (5”) in contrast to the 16-year average of 102 mm. The long-term outlook is for cool weather for the rest of the year followed by wet and windy weather in early 2021. Mike Lock

CHURCH FLOWERS AND CLEANING

Since the end of September the Church has returned to some normality with flowers and cleaning being done weekly. It began with a wedding when flowers adorned the Church in abundance and in the following week with Harvest arrangements. Not as many as usual due to the loose ceiling plaster areas and main porch safety restrictions. As services have continued every Sunday, flowers and cleaning have played a part again, even more so in this second lockdown as the church is now open every day (for private prayer only). From 29th November we will be entering Advent, which is flower free as we await the Christmas season. I DO hope that we can still create our traditional Christmas arrangements and have a reduced Christmas Carol Service (which will be on 20th December) and of course a Christmas Day Service. And whatever happens - WE WILL have a tree ! Thank you to everyone who has helped during these difficult times. I will shortly be preparing the rotas for 2021. Any new volunteers will be hugely appreciated ! A Happy Christmas to you all.

Sue Irving 552440. [email protected]

Friends of St Michael’s

One of the special memories of this summer was evensong one afternoon in early July held OUTSIDE the church on the north side – it gave a sunlit perspective of the building from an angle you would normally not see, leave alone look at for more than half an hour – a view not shown in postcards and pictures.

But this was early July, with the first lockdown just lifted, so why were we outside for the service? Having been closed since March, the building should have been welcoming visitors again. But, strangely but perhaps fortunately, a piece of the ceiling had fallen down while the church was closed.

Inevitably it took some time to assess the extent of the damage and the risk of allowing people inside again. So, repairs to the ceiling may be the first time the Friends are asked to contribute to maintain the fabric of the church as a key building in our community.

We wait to receive a request but already Ann Veit has set about raising funds by selling jams and pickles from outside her house in Axminster Road. To date Ann has raised £215 in this way, including the sale of knitted children’s dolls and some felt and wooden room decorations. Ann is running a mini craft fair outside Lion Cottage instead of the big craft fair in the village hall – so please drop in and buy! The Friends are saddened by the deaths in October of two people who joined from the very start and generously contributed to the funds we are raising – Don Welch and Michael Brock.

Anyone who wants to contribute directly to funds for repair of the church can do so by BACS to Friends of St Michael’s Musbury, sort code 30-90-37 account no 36161468. If you would like to join the Friends, please contact Rosie Houldsworth at [email protected] or me at [email protected]

Andrew Kennon Secretary



6 Musbury Parish News Winter 2020 Winter . 2020 Musbury Parish News 39

StockersMaidenhayne Lane

MusburyAxminster

Devon EX13 8AG

27 January 2019

Dear Don,

Thanks for coming around on Friday.

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Our magazine is in A5 format and is laser-printed in black & white and published quarterly. We discussed the proposal for a quarter-page advert (approx 50mm wide x 70mm high ‘portrait’) in each of these four issues this year at a total cost of £50

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4 Musbury Parish News Spring 2020 Spring 2020 Musbury Parish News 41

League of Friends Axminster Hospital

As with most organisations the League of Friends of Axminster Hospital Funding Hospiscare at Home in the Axminster District, are finding fund raising efforts very restricted.

However we continue to support requests for help whenever possible. Recent requests for funding that the LOF have agreed to, are, firstly for 3 online places at the Annual Dementia Conference for some of our Dementia nurses. Allowing them to learn of new developments and share experiences in their specialist field of nursing. Secondly funding the purchase, at a cost of approximately £3,000, of a continuous Blood Pressure Monitoring Machine for our wonderful Community Nurses. This is invaluable when treating housebound patients. This is in addition to the large quarterly payments to H@H for care in the Axminster area.

Some of you may have been wondering about the building work going on around the Scott Rowe Centre. The reason for this is that all therapies and clinics are being relocated to what was the Morton Ward in the main hospital. The existing Outpatients Department will be turned over to mainly ophthalmic procedures thus increasing their capacity at Axminster. This should be a great benefit to staff and patients and mean that all clinics are in the main building.

Musbury is still giving marvellous support to the LOF. During August and September £377 was raised from the Jam Sales on the carport at Lion cottage. Thank you to everyone who donated fruit and vegetables from their gardens and allotments. From the 1st November funds raised in the carport will go to the cost of Repairs to the Church Ceiling. This is done via the Friends of St. Michael's Church who raise funds for the purpose of keeping the church in good repair. Not only the jams and preserves will be on sale but Christmas ornaments will be available. Wooden ones made and painted by Brenda and Alan, knitted ones from Pam from Axmouth and some felt ones spreading a little love for Christmas. There will not be a Christmas Craft Fair in the Village Hall this year thanks to Covid-19 but there will be a mini version in the Carport at Lion Cottage, Axminster Road. Please Support these sales to help your local Church

FOOTNOTE May I offer my condolences to Mrs Mysie Sutherland and her family on the passing of her much loved husband, the Rev. Alistair Sutherland, who, though retired, spent many years ministering to the people of Musbury. May he Rest in Peace.

Ann Veit

From the Ministry team This is being written early in the second period of lockdown this year when nothing in December can look certain and in this season of Advent our preparations for Christmas will be getting underway. Christmas is a season of hospitality and for many this involves the giving and receiving of food and drink and the sharing of time with friends and family. Mary and Joseph must have been extremely grateful for the hospitality shown to them by the Innkeeper and although perhaps not meriting many stars the accommodation was no doubt a huge improvement over any alternative. In turn, Mary and Joseph were able to offer simple hospitality to the shepherds and wise men and possibly others not recorded. The birth of Jesus was also a sign of God’s hospitality towards each one of us as a reminder that he invites us to be part of his family. In the Eucharist (a celebration of Jesus hospitality to his disciples and their successors) the following words are sometimes said in a prayer after Communion ‘Father of all, we give you thanks and praise that when we were still far off you met us in your Son and brought us home’. At the heart of hospitality is love. Love which seeks to recognise the needs of others and meet those needs either through own actions or by supporting others. Such hospitality can be shown in so many ways; through the offering and receiving of food and drink, through personal presence and presents! But also through a kind word by phone or other means, through the carrying out of a simple errand or just a smile (face masks permitting) at the appropriate time and other possibilities may well come to mind. Through our own acts of hospitality our own love for others and that of a loving heavenly Father can become manifest. I wish you a blessed and peaceful Christmas Season.

Charles Hill

PS Each week on Friday or Saturday an email is sent out to about 200 email addresses with details of what is happening on the Sunday and coming week. If you think you should be receiving this please check your Spam folder as attachments on the email could be routing the email here. If you are not receiving such updates and wish to do so, please get in touch.


Christmas Day 25th December there will be “an all age service” at 10.am followed by optional festive communion. On Sunday 27th December there will be a Mission Community service at 9.30am at St Andrew’s Colyton. At this Eucharist we shall be saying farewell to our Curate, the Reverend Victoria Chester who leaving us to explore a vocation to the religious life at the Anglican convent at Tymawr, Monmouth. We wish her well and give thanks for the many years she has served here as a Reader, deacon and priest.

At the end of January, The Reverend Prebendary John Lees will be stepping down from his position as Associate Priest licensed to the Holyford Mission Community. Enormous thanks go to John for his ministry within the Mission Community, especially during the vacancy and in his role with us supporting Victoria as her training incumbent. As Victoria has finished her curacy earlier than expected, John now feels able to step back from parochial ministry to enable him to focus on family and work, as well as his increasing responsibilities both within the Diocese (as Bishop’s Officer for Self-Supporting Ministry) and in the national Church. With John’s changing role, Jan has also decided it is time for her to retire from active reader ministry. We have been hugely blessed to have both John and Jan Lees on our Ministry Team. Although they will be stepping back, this is not a goodbye; John and Jan will still be around, living locally and attending worship, occasionally leading services for us.

We welcome Sue McCoulough onto the Ministry Team as a Licensed Reader. Before moving to Musbury, Sue was a Reader in London. This year Sue has been leading services in Musbury and our telephone Sunday service during lockdown, and we look forward to seeing more of her within the Mission Community.

The beginning of December marks a new beginning in the Church’s year as we mark the period known as Advent: it is a season of preparation and looking forward with hope. I do hope that you will be able to join us over Christmas. Christmas offers us a new opportunity to connect with the light and peace that has come with the incarnation of God as Jesus Christ. As we approach this period, I write to assure all parishioners across our six communities of our daily prayers for you and all your loved ones.

With every good wish and blessing,

Fr Steven.

Musbury Heritage Update

During this period of lockdown, I thought it might be a good time to provide an update on how things are going with Musbury Heritage.

Back in early March a few of us met to discuss progressing with research into Musbury’s history and the possible formation of a Heritage Society. It was decided, rather than forming a society at that point, we would arrange a meeting for all villagers to discuss the issue and gauge enthusiasm. I am sure you appreciate this was very unfortunate timing, because a couple of weeks later we were in the first lockdown!

One thing we did achieve was the start of a small fund, by way of a donation from each of us, to purchase items that may come up for sale at auctions, etc. This enabled us to purchase some 19th century conveyances regarding the Hand and Spear Inn along the Axminster Road. These are old and very large documents, written in old English that will need to be transcribed sometime. Any volunteers?!... Some historic postcards and a 1902 Musbury Coronation mug were also purchased.

The website, though not actively promoted, has continued to draw interest from various people. I have been contacted by two members of the Drake family, one living in the U.S.A. and the other in Guernsey, a lady from Somerset whose grandparents included Oscar Gear (Rose Villa /Nursery) and Charles Rockett (Mount Pleasant) and a direct descendant of Walter Wills (New House Farm / The Chapel) now living in Australia. The Musbury story goes far and wide!

On the research front, I have been trying to digitise as much data as possible and trying to establish where we can find out more about our village history. This includes census data, parish registers, tithe apportionments, electoral registers, newspaper cuttings, wills, trade directories, property sales and much more. Some of this is gradually appearing on the website. The tricky part is combining all this information into presentable stories, pictures and data.

I have not attempted to go further back into Musbury’s history. There is so little we know about the period between the Iron-Age hillfort and the time of the Civil War. Will we ever discover what Mount Drake, that sat on the slope about halfway between today’s village and Musbury Castle, was like?


Every day we are losing memories and memorabilia, even pictures that appeared in Musbury Memories can no longer be found. Let’s hope we can preserve as much as possible. Please remember I will happily store anything relating to our history until we have a place dedicated to displaying and archiving Musbury’s Heritage.

Hopefully, one day Covid-19 will be behind us and we’ll have that meeting for everyone. There’s a lot to talk about!


www.musburyheritage.co.uk

Despite global pandemics and falling plasterwork (!) the church community have pulled together and is in good heart; we have a new organist, Iain Morison, and we have met for services however we can, in church, socially-distanced, or even in the churchyard.

Back in September, on St Michael’s Day, we held a special service of Choral Evensong to celebrate the village’s patronal festival. Although congregational singing is not permitted during the current government regulations, we were able to have a small choir who sang beautifully for us to celebrate the occasion. We also had a bagpiper … so if you could hear strains of music from the pipes wafting your way, it was to celebrate St Michael’s Day! It was lovely to see a good number in church.

Before the second lockdown, we had been holding a weekly Evensong on Wednesdays at 5pm. These quiet services last about 25 minutes and will hopefully return to church when restrictions ease. All welcome.

Now to Christmas! Kay short is organising a fantastic Musbury Village Advent Calendar, where people decorate and illuminate a window of their house to mark a day in advent (Kay has written an article about it in this magazine—do get involved). At St Michael’s we plan to have the usual services in church over Christmas, as well as a ‘pop-up’ carol service outside, held at a few venues around the village. The Pop-Up Carol Service will take place on Thursday 17th December, meeting at Higher Doatshayne at 4pm.

On Sunday 20th December we shall have our Carol Service in church at 4pm. The seating capacity of the church is now limited because social distancing measures, plus the fact we cannot use sections where the ceiling has fallen. If you would like attend the Carol Service, please let Michael and Sue know so that we have an idea of numbers and can make provision for as many people to attend as possible. Rather than a set number, seating is organised according to the number of people coming as individuals, couples, or ‘bubbles’ and households, so please let us know about anyone who may be coming with you so that we can fit everyone in safely. On Christmas Eve, you are welcome to a special outdoor Crib Service for families and children in the Churchyard at St Andrew’s Colyton at 4pm. There is no Midnight Mass at Musbury, but there will be services elsewhere in our Mission Community. You are welcome to attend Midnight Mass at St Winifred’s, Branscombe at 8.30pm, or St Lawrence’s, Southleigh, at 10pm, or join us at St Andrew’s, Colyton, at 11.30pm.

Anagrams Events we missed this year

For example Arlington Dana (5 , 8) answer; Grand National

boastfully vintagers (11 , 8)

beat greater. (4 ,7)

below mind (9)

Suffolk smith violated. (8 , 4 , 8)

contentious grooviness (10, 4, 7)

condor powerful washed (6,3,7, 4)

micky tole toyshop (3, 5, 8)

a confabbed dextrocardiogram. (6,3,9,4,4)

Dara obits warships (7,4,6 )

force whales wholes, (7,6 , 4 ) (it was available virtually)

diet emotion (2,4,2,3) Hints Answers include; A world sporting event 3 music events of which one is local , 1 local sailing event, 1 river event, 2 horticultural events one of which is local and 1 tennis event . A television event for the world of lather, and a film we have yet to see. Answers e mail me at [email protected] or will be posted on village notice board in January




And Finally

“To defend a country you need an army, but to defend a civilisation you need education” Jonathan Sacks 1948-2020

“Wars are won by weapons but it takes ideas to win a peace. ” Jonathan Sacks 1948-2020

“The older you get, I have to say, the funnier you find life. That's the only way to go.” Diana Rigg 1938-2020

“I can see clearly now that the rain is gone, I can see all obstacles in my way. Gone are the dark clouds that had me blind, it's gonna be a bright, bright sun shining day.” Johnny Nash 1940- 2020

Thank you to all contributors and the rest of the team for allowing us to publish another issue in difficult circumstances. As I write this there is a glimmer of light at the end of the tunnel and hope for the New Year. Living in Musbury we have been lucky to be sheltered from the worst of the pandemic and although for many it has been a difficult year let us hope for a return to normality . I do not know what the Christmas , and the New year period will be like but I am sure that it will be celebrated in some way in Musbury and I am certain that the year 2020 will be one that is remembered for a long time. Keep an eye on the village website and the village notice boards for up to date news. After all one wouldn’t want to miss anything.

I am always looking for contribution for the Parish News , from the topical to the controversial , and the humorous .So why not take time over the festive season and write me something

Take care, mind how you go and have a Happy Christmas and a Peaceful New year.

Jolly Editor

Contributors please note Deadline for next Issue 12th February

From The Vicarage Steven Writes

At the time of writing this, we are coming towards the end of November and I, like many, scratching my head and wondering what will happen or be possible after we emerge from the second intense period of lockdown…in particular, what on earth we shall be able do at Christmas in terms of services and gatherings? Planning is tricky, but the aim is always to carry on as best we can, keeping the church open during the day, and returning to having services in church as soon as we are permitted. We also plan to hold extra events to enable people to gather outdoors, again, as regulations allow. Details of these can be found below. Alongside services in church, we continue to offer ways in which people can join us to come together and worship online or over the telephone. Details of services and events at St Michael’s (as well as across the Mission Community) can be found on our website, www.holyford.org and/or our Facebook page @holyfordmission, or by telephoning our churchwardens, Michael (552297) ,Sue (552440) or me (553180) to check when services are taking place. If you wish to sign up for our weekly email newsletter, please send an email to Dr Charles Hill [email protected].

As you may know, we were forced to close the church for a few weeks during summer as part of the plaster from the ceiling over the South Aisle and Nave fell down. With the church out-of-bounds, we held a lovely service in the churchyard. Following the architect’s visit, we have been able to open again, and have services inside, albeit with part of the church cordoned off, until we can repair the ceiling. It has been no mean feat to keep the church open, and my thanks go to all those who lock and unlock the church, and all who have taken on the extra cleaning required to keep our church sanitised and ‘covid safe’.

Many are suffering financial difficulties during this time, and your parish church is no exception. On top of our usual expenses, we are now faced with a new challenge. Repairing the fallen panels on a high ceiling in a listed building will be costly, and we are faced with the added complication of potential extra costs if, after closer inspection, there are further loose panels which need to be replaced. The PCC are currently seeking to raise the necessary funds in order to make progress with the work. My thanks to Ann Veit and others in the village who are fundraising in various ways at a time when fundraising in the usual way is almost impossible.


Rector Fr Steven Martin [email protected] 553180 Church Office Administrator Emma Laughton [email protected] 552307 Revd Preb John Lees (Associate Minister) 551351 Linda Joy (Children and Families Worker) 07599292449 Jan Lees (Reader) 551351 Emma Laughton (Reader) 551400 Revd Victoria Chester 07489882824 Charles Hill (Reader) 552141 Sue McCoulough 552446 Revd Canon Colin Preece (Retired Assistant clergy) 552154 Revd Nigel Freathy (Retired clergy) 22303 Revd Jeremy White (Retired clergy) 32299

St Michael’s Church, Musbury Church wardens Mrs Sue Irving, Cherry Tree House, Church Hill 552440 Mr Michael Pritchard, Knap Orchard, Combpyne Rd 552297

Treasurer Mr Robin Collis, Monmouth House 551105

MUSBURY PARISH NEWS Village Website: www.musburyvillage.co.uk

This magazine is published quarterly by the Parochial Church Council of St. Michael’s, and is distributed free of charge to all households in the Parish. The cost is borne by the PCC but is largely offset by advertising revenue and by a grant from the Parish Council. The Treasurer will always welcome donations by readers. The services provided by our advertisers are commended: when using them please mention the Musbury Parish News.

Editor Jolly Sargent, Ruffles, Doatshayne Lane 552470 [email protected]

Distribution: Mr David Antell 553454

Advertising: Rod Powell 552681

Holyford Mission Community www.holyford.org 2020 (so far ) Quiz

Well it has not all been covid this year can you remember some of the other News ?

1. In January who wanted to live like the common People ? 2. This guitarist died in 2020 best known for the hit jump. 3. Has he out trumped Trump? 4. The first bowler to reach 600 test wickets 5. Announced his retirement in September, best known for the Pompidou

centre and Millennium Dome 6. This Day was declared to be Palindrome Day 7. This washed up near Ballycotton in February 8. Who toppled Schumacher's record? 9. Where did British trained pilots flying British made planes continue to

bomb Civilians ? 10. In June who changed their name to “The chicks”? 11. What was discovered to be able to fly for 5 hours without flapping its

wings? 12.Who has become the worlds richest women? 13.What became worth $2 Trillion in August ? 14. In July what did scientists find on Venus? 15.What theory did Elon Musk advance about the Pyramids? 16. In August this city was rocked by a huge explosion 17.She won the French Open women’s tennis in October 18.This teenager was beatified by the catholic Church 19.How much did William Shakespeare’s First Folio sell for at Auction in

October ? (To the nearest Million) 20.Who Was re-elected in New Zealand ? 21.He was suspended from the Labour Party in October 22.Word of the year according to Collins English dictionary 23.The first ever Solo Male cover star of US vogue 24.The first woman to top the uk album chart over 5 Consecutive decades. 25. In February Boris confirmed this will go ahead 26.Country singing legend known for the Gambler who died in March 27.Whom did Rishi Sunak replace as Chancellor of the Exchequer? 28.Which basketball star died in a Helicopter crash? 29.What did “Eastenders celebrate this year”? 30.Winner of the Tour de France Answers will be posted on a village notice board in January or contact the editor



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MUSBURY PARISH NEWS

Musbury Diary Winter 2020 ch-Church:

Winter 2020

December Sunday 6th Village Praise 10.00am Ch


Thursday 17th Carol singing around the village 4.00pm


Sunday 20th Carol service 4.00pm Ch

Friday 25th All Age Service 10.00am Ch

With optional communion afterwards

January Sunday 3rd Village Praise 10.00am Ch



Sunday 24th Evening prayer 3.30pm Ch

Sunday 31st Holy Communion 11.15am Ch

All the above subject to current regulations

Please look on village notice boards

Your Parish news The Parish news is dependent on many volunteers, allowing it to be delivered free of charge to every house in the Parish. For this issue 320 copies are collected from Axminster Printers and delivered to David Antell who coordinates and organises distribution . The 320 copies have to be broken down into smaller packages which are then delivered by David to the 15 distributors . These volunteers then deliver the news through your letterbox usually in the first weekend of the Quarter

A big thank you to the following the following people

David Antell, Ian King, Judith Rixon, Brenda Wheatley, Annie Durrant, Jill Anderson, John Pugh, Sue Irving, Joan Welch, Cherry Sargent, Stuart Heal, Mr and Mrs Boglione, and Lesley Wilson.

Many of our distribution team have been doing the job for a long time, and are now of a certain age so new volunteers would always be welcome If you are interested please ring David Antell 553454

Documents

Musbury Parish News Winter 2020