Merton Monthly
March 2017
(also available online at www.mertondevon.com)
Please send articles to either: [email protected] or [email protected]
th
by the 20 of March for inclusion in the April issue.
If we don’t receive items in time, we cannot put them in!
Welcome to the re-launch of the Merton Monthly. We hope you will like the new format
and consider contributing to future issues.
You can e-mail articles to either of the addresses above, or for hard copy please letterbox
drop or post to:
Dave Folland, Laburnum Cottage, Merton, EX20 3EA
Please look out for our new ‘Letter’s from Reader’s’ section and ‘Kid’s Corner’.
For any news/articles specifically related to the school or children please email, letterbox
drop or post to:
Elaine Tidwell, 9 Meadow Vale, Merton, EX20 3EB
WHAT’S ON DIARY – other info, where applicable, in newsletter
Every Monday
Every Monday
rd
3 Tuesday of the month
st
1 Wednesday of the month
Every Thursday
Every Thursday
Thursdays
2nd Friday of the month
programme)
-
Circuit Classes, Clinton Hall, 7.15 - 8.15pm
Kettlercise, Clinton Hall, 6 -7pm
Merton & Huish Wildlife Group, Clinton Hall, 6.45pm
The Friendship Club, Clinton Hall, 2 pm
Craft Group, Clinton Hall, 7.00 - 9.00 pm
Kettlercise, Clinton Hall, 6.30- 7.30pm
SMB, Clinton Hall 7.00-10.00pm
Merton & Petrockstowe History Group (dates in members’
Welcome to Merton Monthly, re-born!
Dave Says...
A big thank you to Dave and Elaine for
picking up the poisoned chalice so to
speak. I look forward to having it back
on the table after a short break; please
do support it with information and
articles etc.
I recently had an e-mail forwarded to me
and it made me wonder just how far
around the world the Merton Monthly is
read.
I would be interested in hearing from
anyone who reads the MM around the
world, especially if you have a link to the
village, as it may lead to a future article.
The Clinton Hall is pleased to print this
newsletter on behalf of our community.
Please email me
[email protected]
Philip Collins
Chairman of the Clinton Hall
1
Dave Folland
All Saints Church
Team Rector: Revd Martin Warren, tel: 01409-281424
Team Vicar: Revd Susannah Metz, tel: 01837-810621
Methodist minister: Revd Nigel Coke-Woods, tel: 01837-810591
Dear Friends,
Well, resurrection does happen! Welcome back to the Merton Monthly. All the best to Dave and Elaine as they
take it on. It is a hugely valuable tool for keeping us all in touch and together as a community. Thank you to
you both and may it all go well.
There are so many who oil the wheels of our community and that are so often taken for granted (except when
something goes wrong). Whether it is in the pub, the hall, the shop, the school, the church, in looking out for
one another or in the various groups that get together, there are so many people who just make things happen
giving of their time and energy.
Sometimes it all gets too much and it is time to move on for a rest or pastures new. That is certainly true of
Rachel Brennan as she moves on from being Head Teacher at Clinton School (and Dolton as well). She has
overseen a difficult time in bringing two schools together, coping with declining numbers as there are less
children in the area and having to make resources stretch further as the government restricts finances. All of
this in addition to actually teaching children! For anyone in teaching today it is a demanding task and a small
school can be an especially challenging place. It has all the expectations and responsibilities of large schools
which benefit from many more staff and larger resources. In the end a school is not a business, especially a
Church School, despite how much government policy is trying to make them so. It’s people (especially the
children) who are the bottom line; not the money or even the results.
Please encourage those who make our community tick. Grab a chance to say thank you.
Every blessing,
Martin Warren.
Services at All Saints
5th Mar
12th Mar
19th Mar
26th Mar
11.00am
9.00am
9.30am
11.00am
Morning Prayer
Holy Communion (at Huish)
Holy Communion (in the Clinton Hall)
Family Communion
2nd Apr
11.00pm
Morning Prayer
From the Registers (over the last few months)
Wedding: Congratulations
16th Dec
Adam Davis and Mary Pike
Funeral: Our prayers for the bereaved
22nd Dec
Phyllis Braunton
Sunday Service in the Hall
We tried it in February – it was warm, the access was easy and there were toilets to hand. What more could
you ask for?!
We will do this again in March.
Sunday 19th March
9.30am
Sunday Service at the Clinton Hall
2
LENT AT THE MOVIES
TUESDAYS AT 7PM
LANGTREE PARISH HALL
The stories and ideas presented by films form one of the strands that is shaping the evolution of
society as we emerge from the modern age. Films offer a rich source of material for reflection and as
we consider how the story of the film, our own story and God’s story might all intersect, we too can
make meaning through watching films together.
7TH MARCH
PHILOMENA
One woman’s search for the son she was forced to give away
14 MARCH
THE GOOD LIE
Orphaned youngsters from Sudan are given the opportunity to resettle in America – a new set of
cultural challenges
21 MARCH
MIRACLES FROM HEAVEN
The portrait of a family who discover joy and hope in the toughest of times – the illness of the 8
year old daughter
28 MARCH
BEGIN AGAIN
Alone in New York, a singer finds a new musical partner and friendship
4TH APRIL
CALVARY
Father Lavelle comes across faith and doubt, fear and solace, anger and grace after hearing an
appalling confession
Free entry.
Friends Of All Saints Church
Merton
AGM
To be held on
Wednesday 12th April 2017
In the Church at 2-00pm
All Welcome
QUIZ SHEET - Raising funds for Amigos
Some of you may remember our son William going to
Uganda in 2013. One of the projects he visited was at
Kira Farm; a centre for training young people with
practical skills and farming methods to work their way
out of poverty with dignity. It was developed and run
by Amigos www.amigos.org.uk a Barnstable based
charity.
We have compiled a quiz sheet with a few of the 90
questions connected to Uganda and Amigos.
Available for just £1 from Vera Collins, Mowhay
Merton - 01805 603443 (work) 01805 603656 (home)
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The Merton Friendship Group
Written by Barb Laughton
The Friendship Group held their February 1st meeting in the Clinton Hall. Mr Roy Watts
welcomed 10 members and went on to introduce our two speakers; representatives from
Wiltshire Farm Foods, a firm who deliver ready-made frozen meals directly to your door.
A large range of menus are displayed in their catalogue and they tempted us with sample’s of
their quality food’s and also a delicious chocolate éclair each.
Question time was held over tea / coffee made by Pat Marshall and Doreen Tolley, along with
Pat Watts delicious cakes.
Roy thanked our speakers, no business to discuss.
Mrs Annette Asteraki had a fall earlier that day and sadly she did in fact break her hip. She is
now home from the hospital - Our Best Wishes and Get Well Soon from us all.
We would welcome any new people (ladies and gentlemen) to our meeting which are held on
the first Wednesday of each month at 2pm in the Clinton Hall.
Our speaker on 1st March will be Mr Les Salmon giving us a talk on his life as an evacuee.
Wednesday 5th April will welcome Mr Adrian Hill with a talk entitled ‘My Trip to Lundy Island’.
Any questions please contact Christine Wickett on 01805 603258
Merton and Huish Wildlife Group
The MHWG would like to say a big ‘Thank You’ to Elaine and Dave for taking over the
publishing of the Merton Monthly Newsletter!
In January we had a fascinating talk by Keith Lee from the Peters Marland Clay Quarry. He told
us about the history, geology, ecology and wildlife of the area. There has been a quarry in some
form on the the site for over 300 years. The Quarry sits on a major fault line, the Sticklepath
Fault, which runs from Bideford Bay past Merton to Torbay. It was movement on this fault line
that created the basin and subsequent deposition of ball clay in the Petrockstow area and it is
still active! The last earthquakes recorded were in Bideford 2001 measuring 4.0 and 2014
measuring 4.1!
It is a highly complex and skilled operation from digging out the clay in the various layers, to
analyzing and grading the clay in the laboratory on site. There is also a protected area of culm
grass in the north of the clay site where fritillary butterflies can be found. Our thanks go to Keith
for a very informative talk.
Diary
Sunday March 5th – Members Only Skittles Afternoon at the Clinton Hall between 2.30pm and
4.00pm.
Sunday April 9th – Walk at Beam riverbank. Meet at Merton Square at 10.00am.
We now have a Facebook page! Merton and Huish Wildlife Group
Remember to keep taking your wildlife pictures for the Photographic Competition which closes at
5.00pm on Tuesday 19th September 2017. For details see poster in The Clinton Hall.
4
Merton Short Mat Bowling Club
FIXTURES
Date
Wed 01-Mar
Thu
02-Mar
Tue
07-Mar
Thu
09-Mar
Thu
16-Mar
Thu
23-Mar
Fri
24-Mar
Thu
30-Mar
Thu
06-Apr
Thu
13-Apr
Thu
20-Apr
Thu
27-Apr
Fixture
Pancrasweek
CLUB NIGHT
Bradworthy
CLUB NIGHT
Hatherleigh
Wick
CLUB NIGHT
Winkleigh ‘A’
Hartland ‘B’
CLUB NIGHT
1st Round & Quarter-final of
Singles Comp
CLUB NIGHT
CLUB NIGHT
Semi-final and final of Singles
Comp
CLUB NIGHT
Final of the Clinton Cup
ANNUAL GENERAL MEETING
Where
Away
Home
Away
Home
Away
Home
Home
Away
Away
Time
07:30
07:30
07:30
07:30
08:30
07:30
07:30
07:30
02:00
Code
NDEL
CN
NDEL
CN
MCL
MCL
CN
MCL
NDAL
Home
07:30
CN
Home
07:30
CN
Home
07:30
CN
Home
07:30
CN
Home
07:30
CN
RESULTS
Mon
Wed
Wed
Thu
Thu
Tues
Thu
Thu
Fri
Mon
Thu
Thu
Thu
Tue
Wed
Thu
Date
21-Nov
30-Nov
07-Dec
08-Dec
15-Dec
03-Jan
12-Jan
19-Jan
20/Jan
23-Jan
26-Jan
02-Feb
9-Feb
14-Feb
15-Feb
16-Feb
Fixture
Hartland Blues
Hartland ‘B’
Holsworthy Rivers
Yarnscombe
Christ Church
Bideford Strand
Shebbear Acorns
Torrington Yellows
Woolsery Wasps
Winkleigh ‘B’
Hartland Blues
Anstey
Holsworthy Rivers
Winkleigh Tornadoes
Holsworthy Oaks
Westward Ho! Sharks
Where
Away
Home
Away
Home
Away
Away
Away
Home
Away
Away
Home
Home
Home
Away
Home
Home
Merton
28
59
23
10
35
34
19
38
26
17
59
30
46
15
53
21
Against
36
20
40
19
29
43
49
28
34
14
27
27
30
62
28
8
There has been quite a lot going on since the last Merton Monthly (see above). The Winter Season
is now winding down and we have experienced mixed results; we have had some good wins, but
some equally bad losses! We are currently lying 3rd in the North Devon Afternoon Triples League, 5th
in the North Devon Evening Triples League and 6th in the Merton Charity League.
IMPORTANT NOTES FOR YOUR DIARY! On 20th April, Lord Clinton will be making the
presentation to the winners of the Clinton Cup and on 27th April it will be our AGM. We would
like all members to attend if at all possible.
5
NEW PLAYGROUND UPDATE
We now have the funding for the first phase of the new playground. We have been awarded
another grant of £1000, so will be able to add to the equipment of phase 1. We are hoping that
work will commence at the beginning of May. We have some fundraising events coming up; the
more money we raise the quicker it will be to get the whole project up and running. Please come
along and support us.
AUCTION OF PROMISES on March 17th has some wonderful auction lots including concert tickets
for Leo Sayer, tractor rides around the Estate, home cooked meals delivered to you, theatre tickets
in Bath and tickets to local attractions. The full list can be seen at
www.auctionofpromises.com/Auction2017Merton. You can also place bids on this site.
As this is St. Patricks Day there is a two course supper, Irish stew and Irish apple cake before the
auction. Supper is £5 pp at 7pm - booking essential. The auction will start at 8pm with free entry.
To book a ticket for the supper ring Jill – 01805 603524 or Tim and Debs - 01805 603441.
We have a Father’s Day Lunch coming up on June 18th and a Quiz in September. Watch the
Merton Monthly and posters for more details.
Jill Malcolm
6
Great Torrington Mayfair - The Square
Thursday 4th May 2017
Events start around 9am with a morning service and continue throughout the day. There will
be Floral Dancing and Country Dancing during the morning, the crowning of the May Queen
around 12 noon and the Cavaliers entertaining during the afternoon plus much more
entertainment for all throughout the day.
Rowlands Fair will also be in attendance at Barley Grove Car Park
Great Torrington Carnival
Saturday 6th May 2017
Why not have some fun and enter!
Entry forms are available from Xanadu-South Street Torrington, The Town Council Website & The Great
Torrington Mayfair & Carnival Committee Facebook Page
PLEASE NOTE:
• All vehicles MUST carry the appropriate insurance
• NO INTOXICATING DRINKS ARE ALLOWED ON ANY OF THE FLOATS OR BY WALKING
ENTRIES THAT TAKE PART IN THE PROCESSION
• Would all road users please note that various roads and streets in Torrington will be
closed for a short time between 6:00pm and 8:00pm whilst the Carnival is proceeding
through the town
• Please bear with us but do expect some delay if your journey takes you through
Torrington at this time
• PLEASE DO NOT THROW COINS AT THE FLOATS
Natasha Batty-Secretary
Great Torrington Mayfair & Carnival Committee
Merton AFC 150 Club
Draw for October 2016
£30 – R. Down
£10 - D. Petherbridge
7
Merton and Petrockstowe Heritage Group
David and Maureen Kelsey, with their grandson Archie, gave a presentation at the Heritage Group on 10th
February.
David’s family have farmed near Bexley in Kent since the 1800’s. College Farm, where they lived, belonged
to Oxford University but when his father died David and
and his brother weren’t allowed to take the tenancy.
Luckily a neighbouring farm came on the market and they bought that. Cereals and cattle gradually gave way
to market gardening and they grew acres of spring onions, cabbages, sweetcorn, lettuce and beans for a local
co-operative,
operative, eventually selling to the supermarkets. Not an altogether happy experience. We saw film and
pictures of their farming in the 1960s. A farm shop was opened - the first in the area. The farm and shop are
still in the family and beingg run by David and Maureen’s youngest son.
The next meeting is on March 10th at the Clinton Hall, Merton at 7.30 p.m. Lis Shakespear is our speaker for
the evening. A local author, her talk is entitled Fevers and Fried Mice, health and healthcare from 1850 –
1900.
All meetings are open to the public. Admission is £4 for non-members
non members and £2 for members.
Other dates and speakers:
April 14th
Chris Chapman from Dartmoor.
May 12th
Bryer Mason from Castle Drogo
th
June 9
A walk around Hatherleigh
July 14th
A visit to Buckland Brewer
In September the group are putting together an exhibition of Merton and Petrockstowe in the 1950s – 1960s.
Ann Luxton
COMEDY NIGHT
Comes to Baxter Hall,Petrockstowe
Saturday 11th March promises to be an evening of entertainment and laughter with one of our leading
comic speaker-entertainers
Val Bugden Cawsey on ‘Growing
Growing Old Disgracefully’
£7.50 including hot supper
Tickets to be booked in advance from John Davey - 01837 811617 – book early!
Starts 7:15 pm
8
Letters from Reader’s
I feel compelled to write about our Church;
the first thing you see when you enter our
village, it stands tall over all.
The congregation has dwindled over the last
few months with only two or three people
attending services, maybe 5 if we are lucky.
On one occasion only the Vicar was present,
how sad no-one came.
Can we do something about this? One
service is at 9:30am; two of the services start
at 11am. It'd be lovely if some could attend to
help get our congregation up to a more
acceptable level.
I am very sad to say Eileen McLafferty, who
has been the King Pin of the PCC and
Friends, is moving – who will replace her?
We have two lovely Vicars who take good
services and are there for us when we need
them. I wonder in a few years whether the
Church will be there for Christenings,
Weddings, Funerals etc. Someone has to
keep it going week by week.
Have a think.
A Very Big Thank You
Following Annette’s unfortunate accident and
short spell in Hospital, Annette and David
Asteraki wish to thank our friends in Merton
and beyond for their good wishes, get well
cards, the lovely flowers and offers of help.
Also thanks to the person who left a bunch of
daffodils and catkins outside the front door.
Annette is improving each day and becoming
more mobile and hopes to be out and about
soon.
David & Annette Asteraki
Janet Nancekivell
01805 603924 Merton, Okehampton, Devon. EX20 3EA
• Traditional farmhouse Sunday lunch from £9.95
• Saturday morning breakfast from 9am. Full English, toast and tea or coffee
for £5.95
• Quiz night on the last Sunday of every month.
• Please contact us for menus.
9
Kid’s Corner
Little Otters Stay & Play
Little Otters Pre-School, Merton
Opening times: Term time
Tuesday & Thursday 9am – 2.15pm
Wednesday 9am - 3.30pm
£3 per hour
We aim to provide a safe and stimulating pre-school
environment and to work within a framework, which ensures
equality of opportunity for all children and families.
We believe that early years’ education is much more than
teaching sounds, colours, numbers and letters. It is about
developing strong, curious and confident children. Our aim is
to make learning fun and for children to enjoy learning as they
start their journey in life.
Your child is entitled to 15 hours, funded, the term after they
are 3 years old. We are also able to provide 2gether funding
for 2 year olds.
For more Information please contact the school on
01805 603357 or email [email protected]
Little Otters Pre-School has a ‘stay and play’
session, every 1st& 3rd Thursday of the month.
This will give Parents, Siblings and young
families a chance to spend time within our
fantastic facilities and see the interesting
activities we have on offer.
The sessions will run from 9am until 10am. For
more information please contact the school on
01805 603357
Little Otters Parent & Toddler Group
Fun and stimulating activities for children aged 0-5 Years.
Activities available vary from messy play, story/singing sessions,
small world play and much, much more!!
A chance for Parents/Carers to have a catch up while your
children play in a safe environment. A snack & drink will be
provided for the Children & tea/coffee & biscuits for the Adults.
Where - Merton Pre-School
When - Every Friday, 9am - 11.30am
Price- £3 per child, £4 per family (Under 6 months free)
Contact the school on 01805 603357
A new addition to our Newsletter – a colouring competition!
(see below)
th
For those in the village under 10 years of age. Closing date for entries will be Monday 27 March.
st
A small prize will be given out at Merton Primary School on Friday 31 March during the Celebration assembly.
The winners name will also be printed in a future edition of the MM newsletter.
When you are happy with your artwork hand your entry to Elaine Tidwell (Eli’s Mum) or post/letterbox drop it to 9
Meadow Vale, Merton, EX20 3EB
Please remember to put your name and age on the back of your entry. Have fun doodling!
10
Full Council vote to consult on proposed changes to Waste Collection and
Recycling Services in Torridge
At a meeting of the Full Council on Monday Councillors voted in favour of taking forward an options model that looks at
the way Waste and Recycling services are delivered across the district. While Torridge’s recycling rate of around 43-45%
is already above average nationally, a study has shown that without a change in the way the service is provided the
Council will not be able to achieve the statutory environmental target of 50% by 2020. The increasing numbers of houses
being built in the area and a need to modernise the fleet of vehicles and the depots operated by the Council will also bring
cost pressures on the service which need to be addressed.
The proposals in outline include:
·Weekly recycling collection in boxes and bags with an enhancement to include additional mixed plastic materials.
Weekly food waste collection on recycling vehicles.
·Fortnightly charged for garden waste collection offered to 100% of the district, with a charge of £35 per annum.
Fortnightly non-recycled waste collection in black bags.
A project to investigate depot options.
The new proposals include a significant extension to the range of materials that the Council intend to add to its kerbside
recycling collections including nearly all types of plastics with only the exception of black plastic. The collection of food
waste will also be made available to more households and not just those on the current garden waste collection rounds
which only covers 60% of the district at the moment. Removing food waste from the material that goes to landfill will be
handled through a new sealed 23 litre caddy system. This has been designed not to attract vermin and should at the
same time reduce the incidence of bags being ripped open by wildlife and domestic animals which has been an issue
particularly in rural and coastal hotspots
Garden waste collection will now be offered to the whole of the district at a charge of £35 per annum which will
contribute to the additional cost the service will face in implementing not only an extension of the garden waste service but
all the other changes being proposed. Torridge is the only authority in Devon which still collects black bag waste on a
weekly basis which research and evidence suggests has a restraining effect on the level of recycling. The planned
changes to a fortnightly black bag collection, while at the same time extending the range of plastics collected, and
enhancing food waste and garden waste collections, are expected to have a positive effect on recycling rates, reducing
the amount of waste that ends up in environmentally damaging landfill.
Councillor James Morrish – Deputy Leader and Lead Member for Waste and Recycling said:
“The Council has thought carefully about the need to recycle more and extend the range of services we offer to as wide a
group of customers as possible. At the same time in a large sparsely populated rural district such as ours, the cost of
providing services is always going to be a more significant factor then that faced by Councils in more urban areas.
However, the proposals being put forward offer a balanced approach to extending the range of services we provide
geographically, offering more opportunities to recycle, while limiting the impact of cost to a small charge per year for
garden waste where people choose to receive this service. It is a comprehensive package that will deliver a better
outcome for the environment which I hope residents will choose to support when we consult on the changes.”
11
D
W
Decorating
Painting & Decorating Specialists
Interior * Exterior * Commercial * Domestic
Also guttering and down pipe cleaning
Tel - 01805 603011 Mob - 07515100827 Merton
Mill, Merton
BUCKLAND ACCOUNTS SERVICES
Farm and Rural Business Accounts
Accounts / VAT - Day to day accounts, VAT,
Cash flows / Budgets
Payroll RTI ready
Animal Movements - On-line submissions
Tim Cartwright MAAT, AIAgSA
Haddiport Farm,
07971 118964
Buckland Filleigh [email protected]
WCM PLANT
3 – 14 TON EXCAVATOR HIRE
ALL ASPECTS COVERED
GRASCOTT FIREWOOD
GROUND WORKS & DRAINAGE
Quality Seasoned Firewood
Also logs for sale
01805 603603 – 07860 754853
Wayne Mansfield - Merton Devon
£85:
£160:
£230:
Single Load
Double Load
Triple Load
Delivery charges may apply
Tel: 01409 281393
E-mail: [email protected]
POUND-WISE BOOKKEEPING SERVICE
Tanglewood, Merton, Okehampton EX20 3EA
01805 603405/07970 541448
[email protected]
FOR THE SMALL TO MEDIUM SIZED BUSINESS
- Accounts and VAT
- Tax Returns
- Payroll (Real Time Information)
NB Non-compliance with RTI could result in fines
being levied by HMRC
12
HANDY-VAN
Man & Van– Ready to Help!
Removals Clearances Labouring
Local or Long Distance
Careful Safe Deliveries
Any Job, Big or Small
Producers & Stockists
of Building Lime Products
Specialists in Cob & Stone Repair
01837 811172
www.jjsharpe.co.uk
On Facebook
https://www.facebook.com/JJSharpeLtd
Alan Davison
Plumbing & Heating Services
~ Peter Bright ~
THATCHER
Oil boilers and Rayburn services
and repairs
Wheat Reed – Water Reed
Tel: 01805 603233
Elm Cottage
Merton, Okehampton EX20 3EA
Tel. 01837 810148 (Petrockstowe)
Merton Post Office & Shop
(part of Agrimotors Merton Garage and Petrol Station)
Torrington Hypnotherapy
Bill Payments - Phone Top Ups - Personal Banking
National Lottery – National Express Tickets – Health
Lottery
Foreign Currency –Stamps - Greetings Cards - Wrapping
Paper
Newspapers &Magazines - Milk
Devon Air Ambulance Lottery …..and lots more
FREE initial consultation with Meg Palmer—
Solution Focused Hypnotherapist
torringtonhypnotherapy.moonfruit.com
[email protected]
Tel: 01805 603200
Agrimotors Merton Garage
0781452259
MOTs – Tyres – Batteries – Servicing
CoolCar Air Conditioning Centre
Eclipse Automotive Diagnostics
Tel: 01805 603324
13