BACK TO THE GOLDEN 60s CONCERT AT TIVERTON

THE MERSEYBEATS Chris Farlowe, Dave Berry

Vanity Fare

The Back to the Golden '60s concert features 4 ORIGINAL artists and takes place on Saturday, May 7.

It is being headlined by The Merseybeats, supported by Chris Farlowe, Dave Berry and Vanity Fare. The artists regularly sell out theatres and venues across the UK as part of the Solid Silver '60s Show tour.

Adult ticket prices for Spotlight readers will be reduced to £18 if booked before April 16 (reduced from £22). To take advantage of this, readers must quote 'Golden '60s Special Offer (Spotlight)' directly to me, preferably by e-mail at tivvytowncommercial@hotmail.co.uk or by calling me on 07425 133606. This would also apply to the group discount we are doing, of 10 adults for the price of 9. If one of your readers booked 10 tickets, the cost would come down from £180 to £162, or the equivalent of £16.20 each.

The Tiverton concert gets under way at 7pm, with gates opening at 5.30pm. Parking will be available at nearby Tiverton High School.

The concert, sponsored by Ken White Signs, will feature a bar and catering marquee.

Tickets cost £22 for adults and OAPs but are reduced to £20 in an 'Early Bird' special if booked before April 16. Tickets for under-18s are £10. Family tickets cost £60, or £55 if booked before April 16. There is also a group special. For anyone buying 10 adult tickets, the organiser goes free.

The club has joined forces with nearby Tiverton Hotel to offer a special package for those interested in accommodation after the event. The deal, costing £50 for a single or £80 for a couple, includes tickets to the concert and an overnight room only stay at the hotel. To book, call the hotel direct on 01884 256120 or e-mail reservations@tivertonhotel.co.uk, quoting 'Golden '60s Night'. For more information on the package, visit http://www.bw-tivertonhotel.co.uk/devon-hotel/19/rooms.html

Jim Bray

ASHILL VILLAGE HALL -ANNUAL GENERAL MEETING - Friday 15th April at 7.30pm.

All are welcome. If you are interested in joining the Committee please contact the Secretary - Rosalie Fleet Tel No. 841357 for a Nomination Form. Forms to be returned by Monday 10th April.

EASTER

BINGO Wednesday 20

th April

Magelake Hall, Uffculme, Doors open 6.45pm

Eyes down 7.30pm

DISTRIBUTION OF SPOTLIGHT IN THE BODMISCOMBE AREA

For many years we have been very lucky to have Siobhan Fisher who has distributed the Parish Magazine in the Bodmiscombe part of Uffculme Parish. Because of her heavy commitments as a wife, mother and with a full time job, Siobhan has had to give up the job of delivering Spotlight. She will be doing this for the last time when the April issue is published and we would like to record our appreciation of the work she has done in restarting deliveries following the Foot and Mouth crisis in 2001.

We are now looking to continue delivering to every home in the Parish and are looking for a volunteer or two, to enable us to continue to serve the furthest most part of the parish. If you live in the Bodmiscombe area, please contact Siobhan or phone me, Colin Coombes on 01884 841149, who will be happy to give more detail.

MUSIC & MAYHEM RETURNS TO

CULMSTOCK

We are very happy to report that due to last year’s success Music and

Mayhem will be taking place again this year on Sunday 28th August from 11.00

am til 7.00 pm in the beautiful village of Culmstock. We will be keeping the

admission price the same as last year - £3.50 per Adult and £1.50 per child.

There was plenty of delicious food to choose from including Pizza , Bread and

Sweet Treats from The Common Loaf; Organic Hog Roast provided by

Moonbeams Land and Burgers from Wallaces as well as luxury ice-cream from

Styles Farm. There was also plenty to tempt you in the craft stall area

including jewellry, pottery, greeting cards, children’s books, wooden furniture,

hammocks and hanging chairs, decorative items and accessories for the home,

hand-made soaps, garden plants and herbs.

The dog show proved to be a huge success with dogs of all breeds, shapes and

sizes taking part, finishing with the very funny class of ‘Dog that looks most

like its owner which was won Tony James and his dog Henry.

We are in the early stages of organising this year’s event but are already in

the process of securing the same level of entertainment as last year and, due

to the fantastic feedback we had from visitors, entertainers and traders, we

are very confident that this year’s event will be bigger and better.

The main idea for holding Music & Mayhem was to raise funds for

organizations in the parish of Culmstock and we are pleased to announce that,

For the children there was face painting,

bouncy castles, a children’s activity tent

run by the Culm Valley Children’s Centre,

Bushcraft Demonstrations, Circus Skills

and the very popular animal ventriloquist

Jungle Jim.

Last year’s event saw in excess of 500

visitors and included live music from

The Thorvertones and an acoustic set

from the very talented Alex Hart.

following an application process, the Music and Mayhem Committee will be

awarding part of the profits raised to the following:

• £250 to ‘Fit to Go’ for funding towards new exercise equipment

• £225 to Culmstock School for funding towards new drums

• £120 to Culmstock Pre-School for a new digital camera

• £250 to the ‘Culmstock Society’ for funding towards providing

facilities to hold Royal Wedding Celebrations/BBQ in the village

The remainder of the funds will be reinvested into this year’s event.

We will be looking for sponsors again this year and volunteers to help out on

the day. Please contact Kirsty Harris on 01884 840356 or email her at

kirmats@btinternet.com if your company would be interested in promoting

this year’s event or you are available to help.

Julie Ware

UFFCULME WOMEN’S INSTITUTE

After a very exciting February when we celebrated 90 years of Uffculme WI, we were looking forward to a quiet and sedate March meeting!! Not at all. We were lucky enough to have a visit from Winkleigh Morris who, not only told us about some of the history of morris dancing, but demonstrated a number of dances and persuaded many of our sprightly members to join them. Although we didn’t have bells and hankies to wave about, we were entrusted with wielding around some very long sticks and we came out of it unscathed. It was great fun.

We were able to send two teams to the first round of the WI county quiz and one team managed, with good team work, to come out top at the end. They were also very surprised at this outcome. This was out of 20 teams and they will now be going to the final in Uplowman on 26

th March.

We would like to thank everyone for the cards and letters received congratulating Uffculme WI on the 90

th anniversary.

Our next meeting is on the 5th April when we will be having a talk on ‘The Expat.

Ladies Lifestyle’. Members are asked to bring along an unusual or amusing holiday photograph. If some of you ladies, who have never been and have doubts about joining the WI but would like to give it a try then come along to the village hall, garden room, at about 7pm, and you will be made very welcome. Our meetings are always the first Tuesday in the month.

WHAT’S ON IN APRIL

Fri 1 2.00pm 50 Plus Club VH Tues 5 12.00pm Lent Lunch SC 7.15pm Women’s Institute VH Wed 6 7.30pm Village Hall Committee VH 7.30pm Local History Group VH Thurs 7 8.00pm European Folk Dance VH Fri 8 12.00pm Age Concern Lunch Club VH Sat 9 10.00am “Jean’s” Coffee Morning – Hospiscare SC 7.30pm BEETLE DRIVE VH Mon 11 7.30pm Gardener’s Assoc. VH Tues 12 12.00pm Lent Lunch SC Thurs 14 1.30pm Uffculme Craft Group SC

7.30pm Parish Council Meeting SC Thurs 21 800pm European Folk Dance VH Sat 23 10.00am Local Market VH Thurs 28 1.30pm Uffculme Craft Group SC Fri 29 12.00pm Age Concern Lunch Club VH

Each week Mondays 10.00am Village Coffee Morning SC 10.00am Toddlers VH 6.30 pm Members’ Indoor Club night with

Short Mat Bowls Club 7.15pm Tai-chi Magelake Tuesdays 9.30am Chinese Silk Painting VH

10.00am ShortMat Bowling Bowls Club 6.30pm Youth Club 11-15yrs Magelake 8.15pm Youth Club 15-19yrs Magelake Wednesdays 9.15am Alison’s Keep Fit Class VH

9.15am Keep Fit Magelake 2.00pm Spinning Group VH 5.00pm Ballrm & Lat Am Dance (6yrs+) Magelake

7.00pm Pauline’s Dance Class VH 7.00pm Ballrm & Lat Am Dance (Beginners) 8.30pm Ballrm & Lat Am Dance (Advanced) Thursdays 9.30am Ballet Magelake 10.00am Village Coffee Morning SC

10.00am Yoga VH 1.30pm Daytime Fellowship Group SC 4.00pm Ballet/Dance Classes VH 6.30pm Martial Arts Magelake

7.00pm ShortMat Bowling Bowls Club Fridays 9.15am Keep Fit Magelake 9.30am Keep Fit VH 10.30am Sale of Fair Trade Goods SC

7.00pm UADS VH 7.30pm Bingo Bowling Club Saturdays(alternate) 10.00am Culm Valley Orchestra Magelake

COME TO THE BEETLE DRIVE

THERE WILL BE A BEETLE DRIVE IN

UFFCULME VILLAGE HALL ON SATURDAY APRIL 9TH

STARTING AT 7-30pm. THE COST IS JUST £5 FOR A

BEETLE CARD (CHILDREN UNDER 12 ONLY PAY £3) THIS

INCLUDES A PASTY AND TEA/COFFEE/FRUIT JUICE FOR

SUPPER.

THERE WILL NOT BE A BAR SO BRING YOUR OWN

ALCOHOLIC DRINKS. TELEPHONE CHRISTINE ON 841731 -

IT HELPS IF WE KNOW HOW MANY PEOPLE WILL TURN UP.

QUIZ NIGHT

THERE WILL BE A QUIZ IN

UFFCULME VILLAGE HALL ON

SATURDAY MAY 7TH, STARTING

AT 7-30pm. IT WILL COST YOU £5 TO TAKE

PART AND THIS INCLUDES A PLOUGHMAN’S

SUPPER.

THERE WILL BE A BAR AVAILABLE FOR THIS

OCCASION SO PLEASE DO NOT BRING YOUR

OWN. TELEPHONE CHRISTINE ON 841731 IF

YOU WISH TO TAKE PART - THEN WE CAN

CATER FOR SUPPER NUMBERS.

UFFCULME BAPTIST CHURCH - APRIL 2011

Part of God’s Church in Uffculme

3rd

11.00 am Mothering Sunday – Dr Sowah Adjei, Exmouth

(Holy Communion)

10th

11.00 am Rev Rod Elston, Cullompton

17th

11 00 am Rev Gareth Dyer (Pastor)

22nd

11.00 am GOOD FRIDAY Service at Prescott

Preacher: Pastor Tom Hill, St Just, Cornwall

24th

11.00 am EASTER DAY – Mr Brian Hooper, Silverton

2nd

8.00 am United Prayer Breakfast at Curwood House,

Kent Close, Uffculme

12th

2.30 pm Tuesday Fellowship – Speaker: Rene Apps

All are welcome

19th

7.30 pm Bible Study and Prayer Meeting at Penbrook with

Ken Cox

5th

7.30 pm SANKEY EVENING Do join us and bring a friend

for an evening of song and fellowship

Margaret Beer

ST MARY’S AND ST.STEPHEN’SST MARY’S AND ST.STEPHEN’SST MARY’S AND ST.STEPHEN’SST MARY’S AND ST.STEPHEN’S

Part of God’s Church in UffculmePart of God’s Church in UffculmePart of God’s Church in UffculmePart of God’s Church in Uffculme

Services in March

SUNDAYS Each Sunday 8.00am Holy Communion (BCP)

11.00am 1st Sunday All Age Service

2nd

Sunday Holy Communion 3

rd Sunday Morning Worship

4th Sunday All Age Holy Communion

Each Wednesday 9.30am Holy Communion Each Thursday 1.30pm Fellowship Group at the Square Corner

Saturday 2nd

8.00am United Prayer Breakfast at “Curwood”, Kents Close

ST STEPHEN’S Ashill see separate page ALL SAINTS’ Bradfield 10 April at 6.30pm – Holy Communion

(Contact details can be found on the inside front cover of Spotlight)

THANKSTHANKSTHANKSTHANKS Pauline and June would like to thank everyone who supported their Coffee Morning in aid of the Air Ambulance. We raised the magnificent sum of £351.72 which we have now given to Radio Devon for their Helicopter Appeal. They are trying to raise £600,000 to obtain a new helicopter. Once again, thank you all for your generous support.

From April 1

st the site will be fenced. Along with the fence

there will be 2 new gates which will have combination locks. This means that to gain access to either the plastics or the compost areas it will be necessary to know the combination number. This number will be communicated to all members of 'The Compost Club'. To join the club the much preferred way is to send an e mail to 'compostmagic@hotmail.co.uk'.

If you do not have e mail then please write to :- UCM, West Poynings, Uffculme, EX15 3AQ

Either way you will then receive a brief form (far less than the census!), return this and nearer the time you will receive the number for the locks.

Last year I wrote briefly about what happens to the tons of plastic we recycle. This is a more comprehensive reply from the company that collects from us.

The plastic bottles go from us to a recycling company up Manchester way. They have mechanical sorting machinery, which separates out the different types of plastic one from another, with all sorts of fancy kit - using lasers, water, air, etc.

The PET (mineral water bottles type) and HDPE (milk bottles type) are washed and processed into flake, and they then sell this on to manufacturers of PET and HDPE bottles, where of course it begins its new life. The other materials where they are present - for example butter containers, yoghurt containers, etc. are also separated, and these are generally not processed by them, but baled up for onward sale to a mill which reprocesses that particular plastic type, i.e. polystyrene, poly prop. etc.

Most of these materials do need some virgin material added to them, but increasingly the amount of recyclate used is overtaking the virgin material, and in the case of HDPE, new milk bottles can now be made of 100% recyclate.'

I hope that this helps clarify the fate of all the plastic that is thrown into our dumpy bags.

PARISH COUNCIL NEWS

Councillor Ray Radford probably wished he hadn’t come to March’s parish council meeting as he took quite a pummelling from councillors and the public over vexed highway issues. A major grievance was HGVs using the road from Stag Corner via Skinners Farm to Willand. This road is not suitable for HGVs because of sharp bends onto the bridge, weight limits on the bridge and culverts on the approach to Willand Old Village. Mr Atkins of West Lodge on this road showed councillors dramatic pictures of stuck vehicles and the damage caused. The parish council asked that DCC erect adequate signs indicating that lorries are banned except, perhaps, for access to Skinners Farm.

That wasn’t all though and the council would like to see action on the following:

• Introduction of speed limits at Ashill and Magelake. In the case of the former, which has been ongoing for ten years, it is pathetic to say there is no funding and in respect of Magelake we seem to be going round in circles with the police and the county. Council has also received representations from residents of Stenhill where excessive speed has become a major problem.

• Council hopes that there will be sufficient funding for the scheme at the George in next year’s budget after the failure this year to undertake the work within the budget allocation.

• Now that the permissive path along Magelake to Cemetery Corner has been permanently closed, DCC were being requested to examine the feasibility of a path alongside the road and around the corner.

Other council news in brief:

• A response to the waste core strategy will be prepared as it affects Uffculme;

• Work on the BMX track starts at the beginning of April and it should be available for Easter. Council is grateful to Uffculme Environmental for most of the funding.

• The first two stages of the refurbishment of Uffculme Central will start shortly with preparation of a design scheme for Ayshford and repairs to the Shambles.

• Two representatives will join a working party with other upper Culm Valley councils examining the feasibility of a Culm Valley cycleway.

The next meeting of the council will be on Thursday 14th April at 7.30 p.m. in the

Square Corner and will be preceded by the parish annual meeting to which all residents are invited. This will be the last meeting of the present council as elections are to be held along with the national referendum and district council elections on 5

th May. Nomination forms for aspiring parish councillors are available

from the parish clerk. Nominations close on Monday 4th April.

Mike Hilson, UPC Communications Officer

APRIL EXHIBITION

Throughout the month of April, Coldharbour Mill will have a Felt & Fibre Exhibition;

Vibrant Rugs And Medieval Splendour

in the Fox Gallery.

Open 10.00am – 4.00pm, Monday to Friday, from 4th April to 28th April.

Free Entry to Exhibition (usual prices for Mill)

Uffculme United Reformed Church Part of God’s Church in Uffculme A P R I L 2 0 1 1 Sunday morning worship at 11.00 am (followed by tea/coffee and biscuits): 3

rd Family Service – Mothering Sunday

10th Speaker – Alf Bovett, to include Holy Communion

17th Speaker – Mary Dunn

24th

Easter Sunday – Speaker to be confirmed

During the services (except during the school holidays) there are also “Light Factory”

meetings for Children, for 3 to 5 and 5 to 10 year olds.

No Sunday evening service this month, (it has been replaced by the Good

Friday Service).

Other meetings include:

Wednesdays There is a new lent course running up to Easter on Wednesdays based on

the book “The Way of the Cross”. All are warmly invited to come along to

the URC church at 7.45 pm to learn more about Christ.

After Easter – usual Home Groups and Bible Studies at 7.45pm.

Note: Home Groups take place in member’s homes.

Saturday 2nd

United Prayer Breakfast led by UURC at Curwood House at 8.00 am.

Friday 22nd

Good Friday Service at 4.30pm followed by Hot Cross Buns at 5.15pm.

(Contact details can be found on the inside front cover of Spotlight or on the

web site)

Visit our web site: www.uffculmeurc.info

Jean’s

Coffee

Morning

In aid of Mid Devon Day Hospice in Tiverton

Saturday 9 April at the Square Corner

Details from Derek on 840202

A NOTE FOR YOUR DIARY

June and Pauline will be holding A CAKE SALEA CAKE SALEA CAKE SALEA CAKE SALE in aid of HOSPISCARE on

Friday 6 May and Saturday 7 May at 26 Coldharbour from 10.00am until 3.00pm. Please do call in and support this worthwhile cause. The Cake Sale is being held in memory of Emmi Wooding (neighbour).

CAKES….COFFEE….DRAWCAKES….COFFEE….DRAWCAKES….COFFEE….DRAWCAKES….COFFEE….DRAW

CULM VALLEY MODEL RAILWAY CLUB

After the fantastic success of the last two Model Railway Shows at the Willand Village Hall we have booked a date for our third show on Saturday 24

th September 2011. Again we

will try to get new layouts not seen before in Willand so if anyone has a layout they would like to exhibit at our show please get in touch with me. (Club Secretary, Peter Fosberry on 01884821811 or cvmrc@hotmail.co.uk)

In the meantime if anyone is interested at what we get up to as railway modellers we are holding our first ‘Clubroom’ open day on Saturday 9th April 2011 at our Clubroom behind the Baptist Chapel, on Chapel Hill, Uffculme. (There is no admission charge so come and have a look.)

This could be a new event on the local calendar, it is hoped to encourage new members and promote the hobby of model railway construction and operation in the Culm Valley area. The doors will be open from 10.30am – 3.30pm with light refreshments being available throughout the day.

Some of our Exhibition layouts [Chinehurst – 00 gauge] & [Blackdown – 009 gauge] will be in operation together with the permanent clubroom 00 gauge & N

gauge layouts being available for visitors to try their hand at driving a model train (for a small donation of course) under the supervision of one of our members.

Our newest Exhibition Layout project, Tiverton Junction [C1960] is currently under construction in the clubroom and visitors will have an opportunity to see its progress and also look at other modelling demonstrations being carried out by our members.

Everyone is welcome, though children must be accompanied by a parent, (and hopefully parents won’t come unless accompanied by their children!!!) For those of you who know Uffculme, there is limited parking on Chapel Hill, and the easiest way is to approach it from the B3181 going past the school and down the hill. Otherwise park in the centre of the village and walk the short way up to the Baptist Chapel. (There is limited disabled access to our rooms as we are on 2 floors.)

Railway Modelling has come a very long way since the early ‘Tri-ang’ and ‘Hornby Dublo’ days ……. So you closet model railway enthusiasts ….. Or the just plain inquisitive ….. Come along as see for yourselves, we look forward to meeting you.

For further information contact Malcolm Trump on 01884 840369.

UFFCULME 500 CLUB

This month’s draw took place on March 7th. There were 5 winners.

Mr G Wheatley £80 Mrs GM Hunt £50 Mrs ME Williams £25 Mrs AJ Harrison £10 Mr & Mrs AJ Weller £5

The Friends of Coldharbour Mill received £170. The Friends use this and all the other monies they raise to help with general and exceptional expenses incurred by the Mill.

At the AGM it was agreed to change the value of the prizes from the current span of £80 to £5. The new prize band will be £60, £30, £20, £10. The total will stay the same at £120. It was also agreed to stop the quarterly £50 extra prize. The Christmas extra £100 will remain. If you wish to help the Mill and possibly win your stake back join this monthly draw. To do this, please give me a phone call.

Mike Pollard 840398

UFFCULME SPORTS & SOCIAL CLUB

**************************************

LIVE ENTERTAINMENT

SATURDAY 9TH APRIL

WITH LISA DUBOIS

8.3Opm to late

Members £2 Non members £3

Memberships are now due at £3 per person

*************************************

Entertainment Nights are on

the 2nd Saturday of the month.

Membership Available@ £3 per person Ring Kevin on 01884 - 840187

for more information

CULM UNITED FOOTBALL CLUB

MATCHES TO CATCH AT MAGELAKE IF AVAILABLE Saturday April 2 Reserves v Hatherleigh 3.00pm KO Saturday April 9 First's v Newtown 3.00pm KO Tuesday

, April 12 Reserves v UAU Exeter 6.30pm KO

Saturday April 16 Reserves v Bampton 3.00pm KO Saturday April 23 Firsts v Beacon Knights 3.00pm KO Monday April 25 Reserves v Axmouth 3.00pm KO Saturday April 30 Reserves v Honiton 3.00pm KO Please note Mid Week Matches Both Teams have slipped up in the last few weeks but are still in contention for promotion places therefore we must not be too disappointed. We could encounter a problem finishing our matches this season at Magelake as the new changing rooms may begin to be built by the end of April. If that is the case we will have to play our remaining home games elsewhere maybe Kentisbeare or Tiverton. At the end of the day I am sure it will be all worthwhile and we will have facilities to be proud of. Thanks to Viridor and Di Brandon and her Committee for all the time and work they have put into the project. MONTHLY DRAW RESULT FOR Februarv

1st No 34 Mr C Pengelly £25

2nd

No 84 Mr B Woodgate £10 3

rd No 41 Mr P Dunbar £5

Congratulations to those winners and thanks to all members for your valued support.

Many thanks, Jim Turner (Secretary)

OVER 50S CLUB – CALENDAR FOR 2011

When Where Subject Start time

Fri 6 May Allerford Inn at Norton Fitzwarren

Lunch and Mystery Trip

11.00am

Sat 28 May Square Corner Coffee Morning 10.00am

Fri 3 June Ross-on-Wye with stop at Thornbury

Trip 9.30am

Fri 17 June Donkey Sanactuary & Lyme Regis

Half Day Trip 11.00am

Fri 1 July Trethorne & Looe Trip 9.30am

Fri 22 July Mystery Trip & Evening Meal

Trip 1.15pm

Fri 5 August Weston super Mare via Sanders Garden World

Trip 9.30am

Fri 19 August Teignmouth Half Day Trip 11.00am

Sat 27 August Square Corner Coffee Morning 10.00am

Fri 2 September Lynton, Lynmouth & Valley of the Rocks

Trip 9.30am

Fri 30 September Village Hall Harvest Meeting 2.00am

Fri 7 October West Bay on to Poole Trip 9.30am

Sat 8 October Square Corner Coffee Morning 10.00am

Fri 4 November Wilton Shopping Village & Salisbury

Christmas Shopping 9.30am

Fri 2 December The Beam Bridge & Bridgewater

Christmas Lunch & Trip

11.00am

Sat 10 December Square Corner Coffee Morning 10.00am

Costs of trips to be confirmed. Trip on 6 May costs £10.00.

WHITHER UFFCULME

Despite a few little local difficulties Uffculme remains an above average place to live. But it ought to be a lot better. We are underperforming and failing to use much of the expertise talent and, ability which we have.

I hope that recent talk about the Big Society will inspire more people to stand for the new Parish Council to be elected on 8th May. Being

, a Councillor is not terribly

onerous or time consuming and claiming to be too busy is not a valid excuse.

I also hope that the new Council will take an early opportunity to review the many Trusts and Charities we are fortunate to have. The last major review was in 1990 and their work is more important than ever in the present political situation.

E.J.G.

NEWS FROM UFFCULME PRIMARY SCHOOL – As a Community Governor and parent of a Reception class child, it was my pleasure to take part in the “Exploring our Community Week.” From 14

th to 18

th March, schools in the Culm Valley Learning

Community explored the variety of cultures that reside not just within our own school, but that of multicultural Britain.

The week kicked off with Gloria Lawrence entertaining the entire school with stories from her upbringing as a British black woman born to Jamaican parents. Her Caribbean folk songs, stories and activities was not only entertaining and enriching but it set a wonderful tone for the rest of the week’s activities. This fabulous event was paid for by funds donated very kindly from the PTFA. Key Stage 1 and 2 children spent time either with a Bengali, Polish or Arabic Bilingual Support Worker and thoroughly enjoyed the Polish folk and Brazilian carnival dancing. My contribution was to speak to the Reception class about Wales, even teaching them a few Welsh words and telling them the story of the small train station with a very big name! Staff member and governor Diane Jolly shared her experience of living in South Africa by teaching the children nursery rhymes in Afrikaans. Several other parents also contributed to the event throughout the week. Later on in March, the children also benefited from a visitor from the Travelling community who provided them with a valuable insight into their culture.

Recognising our school does not possess the cultural diversity that other schools throughout Britain have, Mrs Shinn has forged links with a school in Romford, Essex with a view to sharing their experiences of multiculturalism whilst at the same time providing their school with an insight into rural life in Devon; hopefully challenging mutually held preconceptions of what life must be like at each school.

Several children from Year 5 and Year 6 travelled to Cullompton Community College on 22

nd March to attend a festival that marked the culmination of the

“Exploring Our Community Week.”

Years 3 and 4 have just enjoyed a residential stay at Heavitree Activity Centre where they benefited from taking part in various outdoor activities such as den building and woodland walks as well as being creative learning traditional old skills such as basketry and wool spinning.

The Spring-cleaning season has set in with a tidy up the outdoor area for the Reception and Year 1 class. Over 50 volunteers helped revamp the area ready for the children to enjoy well into the Spring and Summer months. One of the Governors, Maggie, also organised a tidy up of the border by the swimming pool wall.

We would like to thank all of those from the community who responded to our request for people to sit with children while they read. This is not only enjoyable for the children, but for those who listen to them and experience their development first-hand. If you have any spare time, no matter how little it may be, please contact the school for further details.

Rebecca Dyer, Community Governor.

April - A month of pain and parties

This April is a month in which we are still reeling from all we

heard in the news from across the world of lives devastated

by earthquakes, Tsunamis and nuclear melt down. We’ve

heard of the lives torn apart by the conflict in the Middle

East. I wonder how the memories of this will form us and

the world in which we live?

So how can we make sense of it all?

In April, with others in the Christian community I will retrace the long and painful

journey Jesus made through his suffering, terror and death on the cross. A time

of devastation and betrayal. A time when all the hopes and dreams of his family

and followers were destroyed.

Sometimes in my job all I can do is listen and sit with people as we wrestle with

the problem of suffering. And more often than not it is suffering closer to home

that really challenges us. The news of cancer, the death of a loved one, mental

health problems, financial difficulties or addictions. Sometimes all I can do is give

people permission to cry out to the God who seems to have disappeared. There

is a space for this in the Christian story.

But one thing I have learned through my own times of suffering, is that Jesus

identifies with our brokenness, pain, grief and loss. For God allowed himself to be

stripped of everything, including his life.

In April we start to see the signs of new growth and new hope as God’s creation

bursts back into life after a long hard winter. My garden has seemed so bare and

dull for so long, but as I write the daffodils offer a burst of colour and the promise

of new life.

On April 24th I will celebrate the miracle of the Christian faith as Jesus bursts

back into life bringing hope and a new beginning. I will get up at dawn to

celebrate. To begin the party I will hide Easter eggs for the children to find – each

one a symbol of new life and hope. A group from our village will transform the

church with flowers. On Easter morning I will be joined by many others across the

world and we will sing this story. We will urge each other to get caught up in the

mission of Jesus to bring love and justice back into the places of pain and

suffering.

So this April you are warmly invited to explore the Easter story through the many

different services and activities planned by the Christian community here in

Uffculme. To both share the pain, and to enjoy the party.

Selina

Holy Week at St Mary’s Uffculme

Palm Sunday 17th April 8am or 11am

@ St Mary’s Uffculme

Monday 18th

April, St Mary’s Uffculme

Hemyock Singers Haydn’s Nelson Requiem Mass

7.30pm followed by refreshments Donations to support The Karen people

Tuesday 19th

April, St Mary’s Uffculme

7pm – 7.30pm Easter Meditation

Wednesday 20th

April, St Mary’s Uffculme

9.30am Holy Communion

7pm – 7.30pm Easter Meditation

Maundy Thursday Passover Meal

St Mary’s Uffculme 6pm

A simple soup supper and family friendly Passover Service round tables

for our Mission Community

Good Friday 22nd

April

All Age opportunity to explore Good Friday with the creative arts – music,

woodwork, crafts and storytelling

St Mary’s Uffculme 10.30am -12.30am

Holy Saturday April 23rd

Night Prayer and youth sleepover at The Vicarage

Easter Sunday April 24th

at St Mary’s Uffculme

There will be a Dawn walk and service with the young people on Easter morning.

Meet at 5.30am at St Mary’s Uffculme See Selina for more details

8.00am Holy Communion BCP

11am Communion with an Easter egg hunt!