Homepage of Uffculme Parish Council

Spotlight is the parish magazine of Uffculme, Devon, published by St. Mary's Church, Uffculme. It is not published by the Uffculme Parish Council and is reproduced here as a public service only. Views expressed in Spotlight do not necessarily represent the views of the Parish Council or its members.

As you read this letter it is likely that you are contemplating getting the tree up, presents wrapped, cards posted and the fridge filled! The saying ‘Christmas comes but once a year’ is one to which many of us might be tempted to respond ‘thank goodness!’

It is all too easy to so get caught up in the spirit of ‘getting it all done’ that we forget to stop and wonder ‘what is it all about?’

It will be for me a whirlwind of activity with nine carol services to participate in, as well as try to make ‘Christmas happen’ at home with three children and the relatives heading our way this year! I have to confess to being more guilty than most of getting lost in the spirit of ‘getting it all done’ myself, but in the midst of it all my prayer for us all this year is that we would discover afresh what lies beneath the tinsel and the turkey.

At a time of year when so often the question is ‘what did you get for Christmas?’ my prayer for us all is simply this that we would ‘get’ above all else, a chance to stop and wonder this Christmas time at the extraordinary truth of a God who made himself entirely vulnerable and entered our broken and hurting world in order that he could transform it by his love.

I recently read a book called ‘The Shack’ (on offer in Tesco’s) which tells the story of a man, who following a dreadful trauma receives a note from God inviting him to spend a weekend together. God turns out to be not at all the character he was expecting and the encounter is life changing. I cannot recommend it enough for anyone who has ever wondered what it might be like to meet the one who made them. The Christmas story tells a similar tale, God revealing what he is really like to mankind. Why not put ‘The Shack’ on your Christmas list this year and pop along to Church? Who knows, you may just be surprised by what you discover.

May you know joy and peace this Christmas time and may 2009 be a year in which you are richly blessed.

Children are invited to come dressed as shepherds, angels, wise men etc. for a short informal and fun service.

St Mary's is delighted to announce the appointment of a new Vicar for Uffculme and team member of the new Culm Valley Mission Community. Rev Selina Garner will be coming to us in May next year, along with her husband and two children. She is currently curate at a group of rural parishes in Cambridgeshire. We will very much look forward to welcoming Selina and her family, particularly following the long period of vacancy since Alan and Chris Dodd left us. Selina's duties will be split between the parish and her other role as minister to the youth in the Deanery of secondary school age.

At the end of January, however, will be saying goodbye to Philip Sourbut, Team Rector of Cullompton, who is leaving to take up a new appointment in Exeter. He also will be performing a split role both as Staff Tutor for the South West Ministry Training Course and Vocations Officer for the Diocese of Exeter. We extend our best wishes to him and his family for the future.

Carols under the stars in the Blackdown Hills
The whole family can get in the Christmas spirit by singing carols under the night sky at a special free event at Castle Neroche in December.

The outdoor sing-song will gather round a bonfire at the ancient site at 7pm on Thursday 11 December. The voices of the Blackdown Community Choir will lead everyone through all the Christmas favourites, while Bickenhall WI will provide delicious mince pies.

People are encouraged wrap up warm and bring lanterns and torches for a magical evening.

Carols Under the Stars is organised by The Blackdown Hills AONB and the Neroche Scheme as part of the Countryside Events programme. To find out more about the arrangements and to book a place, call 01823 680682.

Due to personal circumstances I regret I am no longer able to continue with the organisation of the Church Cleaning in St. Mary's. I very much hope a replacement can be found for the New Year. I also hope the present members will feel that they can continue to clean the church. If, for any reason, this is not so could they please contact either Geoff Roach (250349) or Rachel Tucker (840148) as soon as possible as a new rota will have to be arranged for 2009.

With many thanks for all the help and support past and present Cleaning Rota members have given me –

I was a little concerned about holding a coffee morning mid-week but my fears were unfounded as we received a lot of support in so many ways - generous donations, cakes, raffle prizes, bric-a-brac etc. etc and many coffee drinkers!! Thank you all so much. We raised the very satisfying sum of £214.26 which is to be shared between the Marie Curie Respite Day Centre in Tiverton and our own church flower fund for the Christmas flowers.

Uffculme Village Hall has been granted an amount of £37,000 from Uffculme Environmental Ltd., to enable us to update the central heating system and completely refurbish the kitchen. This work will take place during January 2009. There will inevitably be disruption for those people using the village hall although we hope to keep this to a minimum. If you have any questions about your bookings in the hall, please contact Christine on 841731.

NEWS FROM THE PARISH COUNCIL

There was a lot of good news at the November meeting of the Council – at last it seems there is progress on many fronts. Vice-chairman, Diane Brandon, reporting a recent meeting of the multi-agency forum concerned with social problems, was able to say that there had been “very little in the way of complaints from residents in the last few months.” The Culm Valley children’s centre, based in Cullompton’s St. Andrews estate, runs an outreach programme and visits Uffculme Village Hall on Tuesday afternoons for children 0-5 years old from 1.30 p.m. to 3 p.m. Additionally two play rangers come to the Highland Terrace play area every Tuesday from 3.30 to 5.30 – whatever the weather! Although already in action, the play area will have its official opening on Saturday January 3^rd – full details in December Spotlight. And if that isn’t enough the mobile unit visits on Thursday evenings from 6.30 to 9ish.

Good progress on the setting-up of a village youth club that is now likely to open at Magelake on Tuesday evenings from 6.30 – 9ish. Watch this space! So much is happening in fact that the forum will have to devise a new action plan!

The County Council seems to have been goaded into action on a number of fronts. The long awaited footpath along by Magelake is now in the negotiation stage and seems likely to actually happen next year. White lining in the Square to try and improve congestion has also been approved and a new layout at Coldharbour will be implemented once residents have been consulted. Shame we will have to wait for the white lining season to open next spring but then we can’t win them all quickly.

The county has also approved expenditure for its urban design department to draw up plans for a re-vamped square. The working party has already discussed a brief, drawing on the comments made at the public meeting held last March, and hopefully the designs will be available for another meeting next spring. A fingerpost will soon be erected in the Square directing people to various village facilities. As an act of faith, the new loos will have their own sign – an act of faith as they are not yet built! There’s confidence for you.

A new planning committee was elected with a new constitution to comply with present day legislation. Comprising about half of the council the new committee had its first meeting immediately after the council meeting and elected its first chairman – David Johnson-Garfield. In future the committee will meet in the Square Corner and its meetings will be held in public.

On the footpath front, Ashill is without four of its footpaths in the Hackpen Mill area. A footbridge was devastated in storms last February and will be replaced next spring with work on the abutments already complete. The little stone bridge that connects Langlands Farm with the rest of the world has been closed for public access for some time and this precautionary measure was justified in the recent downpour when the bridge totally collapsed. We’ll have to wait to see what happens as the bridge is the landowner’s responsibility although three paths have a right of way over it.

There was a very good response to the article in the November Spotlight. As a result several of us met recently and planned what activities we would like to undertake over the next year. These are:

Linda, Joanne and family would like to thank everyone for all their cards and support in their sad loss of John. A special thank you to Dr.Jenner, nurses ,both hospice and district.

We are also so very grateful to Gina, Yvette and all at Markers who made John and myself so welcome since July and also for providing the catering.

A heartfelt THANK YOU to all the lovely ladies (including Co-op staff members) and gentleman, who came to my rescue, on 27th October, when the electric scooter I was manoeuvering, outside the Co-op, overturned. Your speedy response, expertise and concern was much appreciated.

I should like to thank everyone for their cards, messages and beautiful flowers I received while I was in hospital.

I would like to say a big thank you to all who attended my 65th Birthday Party at Magelake and for all the cards and gifts I received. Many thanks for making is such a wonderful night.

QUIZ

Sunday Afternoon 7th December 2:30 pm

£5 per head, includes refreshments.

Teams of up to 6 persons.

All are welcome to come and join in a team.

Uffculme Bowling Club

Highland Terrace

The Annual Village party will take place in the Hall on Saturday 10th January 2009 commencing at 6.30pm. Shared supper. Check the Village Noticeboard and next month's Spotlight for further details.

The third very successful and enjoyable Horse & Rider Fun Day took place on 12^th October, thanks to the enthusiasm and skill of Ann Brummitt, who once again provided a wonderful day out for riders of all abilities. The course covered much of the wonderful countryside around Ashill and was possible thanks to the support of many of the local farmers, which made for good open riding including jumps and an opportunity to ride the All Weather Gallops of Stuart Kittow. As with other fundraising activities for the Hall, we were able to call on a great number of volunteers, in particular Ellen Craig and Carol Phillips for their work in the food tent, and Jane & Ivan for the photography.

The net amount raised by this event was over £1200, with some more money still to come from Gift Aid. A donation of £150 has been given to the local Laura Persey Fund.

Thanks again to everyone who helped on the day; we hope to make this a regular event as it creates a real community spirit within the village.

This month the draw took place at the Mill on Monday 3^rd November There were 4 winners.

The Friends of Coldharbour Mill received £120 which will be used to help The Mill.

There is still time before Christmas to join the Club, either for yourself or as a present. Leave your details at The Mill.

On behalf of all the members of The 500 Club I would like to wish all Spotlight readers A Very Happy Christmas and a Prosperous New Year.

Our meeting in November had Johanna Westgate showing us slides from Dungeness and the Kent Coast and showing us the various plants that can grow on stony soil.

Our December 8^thmeeting will be our Christmas party and we ask members to bring along some finger food for the buffet and a wrapped gift for the raffle table. We do not have a meeting during January but start again next year with an afternoon tea-party in February so look out for details in January's spotlight.

October and November have been a fairly busy months on the site. The vagaries of the weather has kept people out of their gardens at times meaning they have to work furiously when rain stops.

We have now completed the program of concreting for this year with a slab to reduce the amount of churning up the JCB does when turning the windrows.

Our revolting thieves have returned, bolt cropping off 2 padlocks, 1 a hardened security lock. Unfortunately for them the items they stole last time have not been replaced so there was nothing of value to steal. Apart from the £50 for the padlocks we now have to spend £150 on further security. What a sad state of affairs for us and the countless victims of the greed and thoughtlessness of a small minority.

We will be doing the Christmas tree collection on January 5^th. More details in the January Spotlight.

Stuck for an idea of a Christmas present for that local person? What better than a bag or two of local compost, always most welcome.

We at UCM wish all of you, gardeners and non-gardeners alike, ALL The Compliments Of The Season.

Once upon a time, some years ago, demand for W.I. membership was such that there was a waiting list to join. Well it's not quite like that, (yet) but our numbers are growing and our new members include a most welcome young mother who has recently moved to the village.

First priority this month was a try-out of the new apparatus at the Recreation Ground. Most of us had a go, though it was a pity that one of the most enjoyable pieces of equipment had had to be returned for modification. We shall be having another try (well at least some of us will).

After this burst of activity we ambled down to the Mill and a delicious meal at Christine's Cuisine.

The monthly meeting was well supported and one of our members had managed to persuade her daughter, Rebecca (nee Ellis), to give us an account of her career at the B.B.C. While at university she went there on ‘work experience' and never looked back. First as a trainee and then moving up the ladder in London before returning to Bristol where she is now Director of the T.V programme ‘Flog It' On her rise through the hierarchy she has met many of the great, the good, and the amusing. Her description of interviewing the Beverly Sisters in situ and in identical outfits was most entertaining, as indeed were many of her anecdotes. It all sounded hard work but great fun and the loud applause at the end was well deserved.

This month some of us are resuming skittles at the Ostler, and our lunch out this month will be at the Waterloo Inn. There wasn't much interest in a ‘Pampering Day' at Exeter College, but our Christmas meeting, when entertainment is traditionally provided by the committee, is yet another thing to which we can look forward.

At the eleventh hour of our November meeting, our speaker was indisposed. However, another was arranged by the National Trust and Mr. D Martin came to the rescue and gave us a very good talk on his work with the RSPB on the Exe Estuary. He showed us some wonderful photographs of the birds that live and visit there. I was most impressed by our members’ knowledge of the birds and how many they recognized and named. I only recognised two – an avocet and a spoonbill!

Our next meeting is on Wednesday 3 December in the Village Hall. We have a return visit by Mrs. Soul who realized how much was written about the loves and work of the men of Exeter but very little about the women. She has redressed this and her talk is entitled “Women of Exeter”.

The children and staff are settling into the new building, and enjoying the extra space inside and out, making great use of the covered decking area, especially on wet days.

If you have a child who will be three between January and July 09, and you wish for them to come to the pre-school it is important you contact the pre-school on 07522970025 (during school hours) or Helen on 841519 out of school hours to book a place, as sessions for the spring and summer term are being allocated. If you would like to visit the pre-school with your child, you may drop in any weekday during school hours, except wednesday mornings. If you have a child who will be three from August 09 onwards and would like them to come to pre-school please contact us on the above numbers.

The children and staff are settling into the new building, and enjoying the extra space inside and out, making great use of the covered decking area, especially on wet days.

If you have a child who will be three between January and July 09, and you wish for them to come to the pre-school it is important you contact the pre-school on 07522 970025 (during school hours) or Helen on 841519 out of school hours to book a place, as sessions for the spring and summer term are being allocated. If you would like to visit the pre-school with your child, you may drop in any weekday during school hours, except wednesday mornings. If you have a child who will be three from August 09 onwards and would like them to come to pre-school please contact us on the above numbers.

We would like to take this opportunity to wish all players, their wives and families, all supporters and sponsors a very Happy Christmas and Prosperous and Happy New Year.

We are beginning to get some improved results but the weather has been against us and we have only been able to play a few games during November.

If anyone is interested we need someone to take over as Secretary. I have no intentions of going anywhere but it would make sense for someone to take over whilst I can assist them for the next few years.

Saturday 20 December 2nd Team v Beer 2.15 Kick Off Saturday 27 December 1st Team v Seaton 2.15 Kick Off

Well we held an initial meeting to establish what the young people would like from a Youth Club,

Since then (and I know it feels like a long time ago) we have been busy trying to form a Committee who will be able to help the young people to run their Club.

I am pleased to say that we have managed to achieve this and the positions will be formalised at our 1^st AGM on Tuesday 2^nd December, 7.30pm at Magelake, all are more than welcome to come along. (It’s a formal meeting to agree the committee which will last about 20 minutes and hopefully will end up with us having a committee which can help set up the sessions for young people!)

We are still in desperate need of volunteers to help run the sessions, and without more we may well struggle to maintain the Club! To find out more, or if you would like to offer your services to help then contact lindsay@involve-middevon.org.uk

It will probably be a few weeks after the committee has been agreed that we will need young people from Uffculme to help us get going with planning the sessions. If you want to put your name down to be involved, just email Lindsay with your name and email address and we’ll get in touch! lindsay@involve-middevon.org.uk

Otherwise, if you go to Uffculme School and you want to get an update of what’s going on with the youth club, visit Clare on Monday Lunchtimes at YEAH!

As at 15^th November over £2,000 has been raised in Uffculme Parish and the final total is likely to be the highest for many years. This is a very considerable achievement for the size of our population. The Legion thanks everyone who contributed and is grateful to all the businesses which took collecting boxes. Our special thanks as always to the dedicated team of volunteer house-to-house collectors.

Any further donations would be greatly appreciated and should be sent to the PAO, 9 Grantlands, Uffculme, Cullompton, EX15 3ED.

UFFCULME YOUTH CLUB

1^st A.G.M

Annual General Meeting: this is a formal meeting to agree the constitution and confirm and agree those who have already put themselves forward to be on the committee.

It’s not a youth club session – we are working towards that!!!

TUESDAY 2^ND DECEMBER

7.30 – 8.00 PM

@ MAGELAKE

ALL WELCOME TO COME ALONG.

For more details contact:

01884 849269

Uffculme Bowling Club held their 2008 Presentation Dinner evening at Verbeer Manor, Willand, where competition winners were presented with their awards by Tony Wills the club’s new Vice President. Tony Wills commented ‘that although the season’s weather had not been good, the standard of club competitions had been well up to previous years’.

He went on to remind everyone that the 2009 season will open on Sunday 19^th April and new members will be given a very warm welcome.

SATURDAY 20^th DECEMBER.
ADULTS CHRISTMAS PARTY 8.30pm till Late
WITH "THE BARRACUDAS"
MEMBERS £2.00
NON MEMBERS £3.00
If You Missed Last Year's Don't Miss This Year's

FRIDAY 26th DECEMBER
CASH BINGO AT MAGELAKE FROM 2.OOPM ONWARDS
ALL PROFITs TO DEVON AIR AMBULANCE

Come and see the marvellous butterflies and day-flying moths of the Blackdowns Forest. Learn to recognise common and rare species, and to understand their habitats on this guided walk through Butterfly Conservation’s reserve at Mount Fancy Farm.

Parking at Forestry Commission’s new Staple Hill Car Park (OS Map reference ST 246 159) the walk will begin at 11.00 am – finishing at about 2.30 pm. Bring a picnic and enjoy a summer’s day in wonderful flowery meadows and forest. Suitable for families – all children must be accompanied. There are some steep stony paths and muddy conditions in places so please bring suitable footwear, and clothing for the outdoors. Sorry but no dogs please.

This is a free event – but booking helps us with arrangements - for further details please contact John Davis or Diane Garland at the BC office on 01929 400209 or info@butterfly-conservation.org or Mike Ridge on 01278 450793.

The Friends of Coldharbour Mill look forward to seeing you in the marquee where we will be serving refreshments all day.

Donations of cakes or similar, and, of course, offers of a little help, will be much appreciated.

Although it was Members’ Night (when the Committee takes the night off) there was a little business to be cleared first.

1. £38 was raised for funds at the Village Fete. A successful result from a very simple game of chance.

3. Arrangements for entry into the Mid-Devon Show are still on track. Sub-committee has formed and is forging ahead.

4. For Family Fun Day at Magelake on 5^th July some merchandise will be obtained from County House to try and raise the profile of the WI in Uffculme, as well as two or three games for children.

Katherine Poynton, our delegate at the AGM in Liverpool gave her report. As a first time attendee, her overall impression was of a well-organised, professional, sociably fun, lovely event, and she encouraged anyone who has never been to seize the opportunity in the future. The coach trip to Liverpool was very comfortable with the Devon organisers making sure everyone was comfortable. The open-top bus tour round the European Capital of Culture 2008 was a great way of experiencing something of the city. The next day there was a good atmosphere at the AGM with an audience of around 6000 people. The Mayor of Liverpool opened the meeting. The Resolutions were then presented. Lively and, at times controversial, discussion ensued with one of the two resolutions proving to be a more complex issue than originally thought. This, unusually, resulted in a 50/50 split in the voting. The morning speakers were two eminent female scientists, who emphasised, amongst things, two points: a) the importance in encouraging girls to enter the field of science as a career in order to address the current imbalance and b) for all of us to keep challenging ourselves to keep our brains active. The afternoon speaker was Sandy Toksvig, broadcaster and journalist, who started off with a joke and continued in this vein right to the end, keeping the audience laughing. The meeting finished with the WI choir leading a rousing rendition of Jerusalem. On departure each delegate was given an oak sapling for their branch to plant in its neighbourhood. (It was remarked that an oak tree needs a ¼ acre in which to flourish, so careful consideration will need to be given as to where it will be planted).

At this point the Committee officials handed over to the members. A very interesting, informative talk was given by a member, Linda Grantham, about her job. She works in the Pathology Unit at Musgrove Hospital, Taunton as a Cyto-Technologist. She underwent a 2- year training back in the early 90s. Then she joined a team who study samples taken from patients at routine cervical screenings, in order to identify pre-cancer cells. In excess of 40,000 slides from women in Taunton, Somerset and West Dorset are examined at Musgrove in a year, in accordance with guidelines laid down by Government. Any irregularities are looked at a number of times before a senior member of the team authorises a result to be sent out. Fortunately most samples are normal, but Linda urged that all women attend when invited for cervical screening (every 3 years for 24-49 years of age; every 5 years for 50-65). Better to be safe, than sorry!

We then had a wonderful buffet-style pot-luck supper. Every member had brought something either savoury or sweet. The variety was amazing and there was ample for everyone, plus seconds. Instead of the usual tea or coffee, we washed the yummy food down with a selection of wines and/or juices.

Some ladies were quite ready to go home after their repast, but they were not so lucky. There was still a really fun anagram and acronym quiz to take part in. The answers were proverbs and names of places in Devon. It certainly sorted out who had had juice and who had had wine. The wine drinkers were definitely a little sleepy!

The members excelled themselves and the Committee was extremely grateful to be entertained.

Despite the fact that the weather was against us, those who did brave the elements had a very enjoyable time. It was hoped to have the music outside, but obviously this was not possible, so the Saturday’s entertainment was inside the hall and pavilion. The crowds enjoyed tasting up to 15 real ales, and listened to Wayne Vincent and the Exe valley Rockers, The Barracudas, Mama Stone’s All Star Academy and That’ll Do, with another support band too.

There are many individuals and businesses who were good enough to sponsor the event or provide services free of charge:

Willan Publishing: Jolly Jaunts: Viridor: Osmond Stores: Shirleys Hair Salon: RS Heating: Steve Hayfield: Med-Ex: Michael Tucker Contracting: Andrew Martin IFS Ltd.: Uffculme Sports and Social Club: Uffculme Compost Magic: Twyford Precision Engineering: Thermal Engineering: Jillian Weldon: Lloyd Maunder: Original Organics: Stan Robinson: Donald the vet!: Bramwood Electrical: Travis Perkins: and all those who gave their time and efforts voluntarily.

The Committee have been persuaded to ‘try again next year’, so when we have decided on a date we will let you all know. Fortunately, the facilities at Magelake are such that if the weather is bad, then the event will still go ahead, but inside. However, we hope that won’t happen again! But please be assured that THE EVENT WILL NOT BE CANCELLED.

This month the draw took place at the Mill on Wednesday 9^th July. There were 4 winners.

The Friends of Coldharbour Mill received £120 which will be used to help The Mill.

Anyone who wishes to join the club should leave their details at the Mill. Address the envelope to The 500 Club and put it in the letter box by the red gates.

This could be a very profitable way of helping The Mill. A stake of just £1 a month could win £80, even 4^th prize wins 5 months stake.

‘And now, the end is near; And so I face the final curtain.’ These are words of Frank Sinatra as he said one of his goodbyes and as I too leave Devon for Milton Keynes this month and say farewell to all those I have got to know over the past seven years in Uffculme and the surrounding areas.

‘I’ve lived a life that’s full. I’ve travelled each and every highway’. Certainly one aspect of being in a group of four churches is that I have got to know quite a few back lanes. But in so doing have got to share many deep things with many people. Thank you for trusting me to share with you in this part of your life journey and be assured that I will carry all of you in my heart for a very long time to come.

‘Regrets, I’ve had a few’ and naturally at such times there is reflection on what has been and what might have been. I would like to think there have been ‘too few to mention’ but as Frank says ‘Yes, there were times, I’m sure you knew, When I bit off more than I could chew’. Whereas Frank might have us ignore such times the wonder of God is that we can take them to God and forgiveness is available and a new start is possible. So do not suppress regrets and allow them to drag you down or affect relationships but tell God and receive a full life.

But where I must diverge from Frank in a big way is that for me the worst indictment would be if it was thought that ‘I did it my way’. This is the way of those who say ‘For what is a man, what has he got? If not himself, then he has naught’ which is only true if you see life as self centred and exclude God. But if I have said anything in the last seven years among you it is that with God all things are possible and you need never be alone.

So ‘I’ve loved, I’ve laughed and cried’ but ‘more, much more than this, I did it [God’s] way’. Every blessing to you all.

Heather-Ann and I will be moving from Devon in August to take up a new position in Milton Keynes. This move has very mixed emotions for us because we feel a part of us is invested in this area. We have a great sense of sorrow about leaving as we have enjoyed getting to know so many people and making friends along the way. However we also know that wherever we leave a bit of our heart, as we shall surely do here, then our thoughts are bound to return. For us this means that the people of this area will continually be reflected in our prayers.

We are of course also very excited about a new ministry in Milton Keynes. Milton Keynes is a ‘new town’, started in the sixties, but is still expanding at an amazing rate. The position I will take is based in a Christian school (Baptist, CofE, URC, and Methodist) and is to forge links between different parts of the community with fresh expressions of church.

There is no fixed agenda for the post but it is a blank canvas that needs to be painted. Only God knows fully why this is the time for us to move there but we are always excited to be part of what God is doing among the people. We trust you will continue to be excited by what God is doing among you here.

Uffculme URC now enters a period of discernment of its mission and who may be God’s person to help in that mission. This may take a while. Please continue to pray for all the churches that God’s leadership will be discerned for all.

We have been overwhelmed by the financial support we have received from you all. We have been able to support Pastor Timothy and the team who are in the South Irrawaddy Delta working in appalling conditions.

Recent communications tell us of the situation getting worse each day. Thousands of children have been orphaned, have no home and are forced to become street children begging for survival. Constant monsoon rains are compounding the situation. Mosquitoes are everywhere and as the people have no protection from them malaria and dengue fever will be rife. Most of the areas affected can only be reached by boat and boats are limited as most have sunk. Water and food prices are 3 times higher than normal and the infrastructure has been completely devastated in these areas.

You can see that the needs of the people are great and the problem will not go away for several months. Please keep praying for them and for the team.

Any local fund raising you can do would be greatly appreciated and it would also keep the needs of the Karen/Burmese people in the hearts and minds of our friends and neighbours.

We have recently had a visit from Timothy’s daughters Karenna and Elisha. They have been working with their father and the team from ATM taking aid to the people - some of the stories and pictures we saw were very harrowing but it was comforting to see how much good was being done with the funds we are sending out. A boat has now been purchased named Karen Action Group - Praise God!

NEW HIGHLAND TERRACE RECREATION AREA

At long last it is all systems go for the redevelopment of the recreation area at Highland Terrace on land that forms part of the parish’s war memorial. Work will be starting very soon on levelling part of the existing playing field prior to the installation of fitness and play equipment in the autumn. Once completed, the area will include an expanded play area for children using both the existing and new play equipment and a separate area for teens and older people that will effectively be an outdoor gym. It is hoped that a “teen” shelter will also be provided as a place for teenagers to “hang out”.

The project has been lead by parish council vice-chairman Diane Brandon who said: “it is great to see this important facility for Uffculme coming to fruition at last after many months, indeed years, of planning and talking to potential users. I believe it is going to make an important contribution to the quality of life in our village, particularly for children and young people.”

Costing upwards of £70,000, a significant contribution has been made by Uffculme Environmental Ltd from the landfill tax credit scheme together with other contributions from the developers of Highland Park, the housebuilders Barratts, and the parish council.

If you would like to find out more, then an artist’s impression of the area is on display in the Square Corner window.

HIGHLAND TERRACE PLAY AREAS REFURBISHMENT

CALLING ALL VOLUNTEERS!

Work will soon begin on the refurbishment of the Highland Terrace play areas, but first of all, the old equipment in both existing areas has to be removed. It is hoped to be able to do this with the aid of volunteers from the village and surrounding area.

It is hoped to get this work done at the weekends during August, so if you are willing and able, please contact Diane Brandon on 01884 841127, so together we can be ready for the installation of the new and exciting play and fitness equipment

PLEASE HELP IF YOU CAN. OUR CHILDREN HAVE WAITED LONG ENOUGH FOR THESE PLAY AREAS TO BE REFURBISHED. WE OWE IT TO THEM!

CHATTERBOX
Not just a coffee - Time out for you!

www.chatterboxonline.co.uk

COMING UP…COMING UP…COMING UP…COMING UP…

August – No Chatterbox!

Friday 26^th September – ‘A Mother Living with Disability’

Friday 24^th October – ‘Life in the MET – A Police Woman’s Story’

Friday 19^th November – T.B.C.

Friday 19^th December – ‘It’s Christmas…Financial Chaos?’

Every 3 to 5 year old child is entitled to 5 free sessions each week.
Culmstock Pre-school is a small, well established, friendly and well resourced playgroup with good OFSTED reports, providing childcare Monday to Friday, 9:15am – 3:15pm.
To request further information, or to arrange an informal viewing for you and your child, please contact Dian Beech 01884 849332 or Maria Rayson on 01823 674400.

Many thanks to those of you who responded so quickly to my plea for old Spotlights. I now have the complete set from 1999 onwards although the earlier ones listed are still missing. If anyone hasn't yet got round to inspecting the attic, the missing copies will be gratefully received still.

UFFCULME COMPOST MAGIC
This last month or so has been a different time. The shredder has had a problem with the Stress control which has been ongoing for some time, it has caused considerable annoyance to the hard working crew as it affected the efficiency of the machine and increased their frustration. The distributor eventually decided to collect the machine and take it back to Kent to mend. On the first Friday in June we waved the machine off to promises that it would be back very soon as they would start work the moment it entered the workshop. 2½ weeks later it was returned with a new unit fitted and not a word of apology for the length of time.

During this time several other sites needed shredding and Uffculme was filled up so a week of solid shredding followed which was hard work for every one concerned.

Regular visitors to the site will have seen some new concrete with railway sleepers sticking out of it. The aim is to make up 3 bays in which to store our products in a tidier manner which will help us and help our customers. This may take several weeks to complete.

We currently have a large stock of wood-chip available, either by the sack, dumpy bag (delivered) or trailer, all at very reasonable prices.

I would like to thank all my family and friends who made my “Surprise party” such a wonderful occasion, and to thank everyone for all my presents. I had so many flowers my dining room looked like a florist’s shop.

If you wish to come on the visit to Holbrook Gardens on Tuesday 5th August, please be in the square at Uffculme at 2.15 p.m. For any other details please contact me - Valerie Holbrook 02884 840330.

It is hoped to run Yoga Classes at the Hall, providing there is sufficient interest. Classes to start in September on a Monday afternoon or early evening, depending on majority preference.

Please contact Maureen Williams Tel.No.840721 after 4th August for more information/to register your interest.

Every afternoon from 11 – 15 August with different sessions for 6 year olds and upwards.

The building and grounds are the place of learning. This is where we gather together to focus on learning about the world in which we live, how to get along with each other and to enjoy the experience. The building sets the scene and we are lucky to have such a lovely building (apart from the leaks in the roof) and such a dedicated team of Caretaker and cleaners who look after it. The fact that the school building is cared for and well looked after positively effects the ethos of the school; it is the backdrop for all the learning that takes place. I thank them for their care.

the children are happy, motivated, appropriately challenged and supported to succeed; they lead the way to learning. I would like to thank all the adults, past and present, who are or who have been part of the school team for their dedication and commitment.

The parents and carers are the partners in learning. A child’s first and most important teachers are his or her parents and by the time a child starts school they have already learnt a vast amount; for children to continue to learn as effectively as possible there needs to be an active partnership between parents and the school. Our open door policy ensures that parents feel welcome in school, can share the experience of learning and are actively involved with their child’s education. The PTFA provide support for school activities and unending energy for fund raising, supporting the enrichment of the education we have provided for the children. I would like to thank all the parents for their support and for sharing the learning with their children.

Above all, children are at the heart of every school. The sound of children playing and laughing echo through the building, the buzz of children learning, the noise made by the excitement for the learning task, the quiet of their thoughts and reflections, all these make up the sounds of a school. The efforts, the emotions, the smiles, the occasional tears are all part of the school. I thank the children for bringing so much energy and enthusiasm to that task of learning.

Finally…I would like to thank the community for supporting the school and showing interest in our endeavours. Most of all I would like to thank the children past and present for the memories I will take with me.

Uffculme Primary School is a good school and I am extremely proud and honoured to have spent the last nine years as Headteacher. What makes Uffculme Primary School a joyful place to learn? It is all the children and adults who spend time there – I wish you all success and happiness in the future.

As you read this exciting things are happening. We are having a new pre-school building constructed over the summer holidays, and when we return in September things will be quite different. Our new building will have space for 20 children per session, with better facilities, and a covered outside area, so children can spend more time outside. Staff, committee and parents have worked extremely hard to clean, sort and pack all the equipment. We will be holding an open day for everyone to come and have a look - keep an eye out in Spotlight for more news. We would like to take this opportunity to thank Kandi Smith and the governors of Uffculme Primary School for all the work they have put in to making a new building happen; this is an amazing opportunity for the village pre-school which has been active in our village for around 30 years.

If you have a child who will be three in 2008/2009 please contact Helen on 01884 841519, so that we can be sure we have your child’s name down on our list of children who would like to attend. Thank you

Volunteer Befrienders

needed For Child Carers

Could you spare a couple of hours a fortnight to take a youngster out and give him/her a bit of fun?

Could you offer friendship, support and encouragement?

You could make a difference

Training provided and expenses paid

Please contact 07773 446928

info@unitemd.org.uk

Uffculme After School Club committee would like to thank everybody who supported them with the duck race on Sunday 22^°d June.

Uffculme Twinning Association would just like to be a bit picky with regard to the report in July's Council Cuttings. The members who came to the meeting did not bring their begging bowls as was implied, but brought the Charter (not a Banner). to be signed by the Chairman of the Parish Council, as he was not able to accompany us on our visit in May, which indeed did celebrate thirty years of the group's being. The generosity of the grant given by the council in 2007, was naturally mentioned, as the group was very appreciative of this gift, but the anniversary as will now be clear, has passed. So no "proof" was needed, or given, but that may be why the correspondent thought that the Council "had been here before." Merci, mille fois.

"Off the Peg" Fashion Show

Do you need a few new separates to liven up your wardrobe?
Would you like to buy them at bargain prices?
LOOK NO FURTHER.
Come along and enjoy this evening of fashion and fun hosted by
"Off The Peg".

Try on and buy on the night-cash, cheque, debit or credit cards accepted

Ashill Village Hall

Thursday 25 September 2008

Doors open 7.30 pm Show starts at 8 pm

Tickets £5 (includes a glass of wine)
from Brenda on 01884 849100

All proceeds to Ashill Village Hall

Spiceland Quaker Meeting House, near Uffculme, the oldest Meeting House in Devon, will be open as part of Heritage Open Days on Saturday and Sunday 13th and 14th September from 2 p.m. to 5 p.m.

Set in lovely gardens, looking out over open countryside, Spiceland is both a tranquil and inspiring retreat. Teas and cakes will be available, together with information.

Everyone is welcome. There is disabled access and further details can be obtained from 07766 145000.

Spiceland is near the hamlet of Prescott, between Uffculme (1 mile) and Culmstock (1.5 miles) - signposted from the A38.

If you are approaching from Uffculme, take the right fork into the narrow lane immediately after the 30 mph de-restriction sign. The Meeting House is on the right about a quarter of a mile beyond Five Fords Farm. Please park in the field to the left of the Meeting House drive.

Tradition has it that the Parish Council hold their June meeting at Ashill, (well, July 1st this year). Ashill didn't seem over-excited, the hall wasn't open at the requested time and very few Ashillites came along to listen to the deliberations of their elected representatives. But the hall is well worth a visit, though the acoustics aren't quite as good as the Square Corner, so I might have missed a bit.

Ashill shares our concerns about heavy traffic, though compared with Uffculme which, as well as lorries, suffers from a plague of motor bikes, it is a peaceful oasis.

A few general alterations. Parish Council meetings will, in future, be held on the last THURSDAY of the month, instead of Tuesday (make a note in your diary).

Progress has been made on the internet www.uffculme.com. ‘Spotlight' and the Council minutes are there in toto, so the whole world can now read and marvel.

A parishioner, no doubt egged on by promised anonymity, raised the problem of the smell from the Mill, which has been particularly offensive in certain areas of the village. There was once a faint hope that with new owners, it might re-locate. Sadly there is no reason for optimism on that score, in fact there may well be expansion plans in the offing. Also, there is a plan afoot to change the name to Uffculme Feed Mill. A Councillor wondered if we could ask them not to mention our name in this connection but we don't have sole rights. Pity that.

The Square is beginning to look as though someone cares, with the new bicycle rack, tubs etc. and the new finger post will soon be added. The flag pole has been re-instated and we are to have New Flags to celebrate auspicious dates as and when. The old ones have had their day. Other on-going plans for the new equipment for the children's playground have gone from ‘soon' to imminent.

Allotments are all the rage with ‘grow your own' being very popular. Sadly Uffculme allotments once owned by the council were sold and used for house building and new sites are hard to find.

The saga of Violet Lane continues with a further enquiry. More information will be available at the next P.C. meeting.

The meeting closed with the P.C going into Committee about a certain sensitive subject, so members of the public were asked to leave. Not too unwillingly it must be admitted.

We had a fantastic fund-raising evening at Magelake in July with bingo, a huge draw and auction of a Gary Lineker shirt – and we raised over £600 towards the new foo9tball strip. Many thanks to all who sponsored and supported us, and to all the volunteers and helpers who made the evening such a success.

BRIDWELL PARK COUNTRY FAIR - 2008

*** UNDER NEW MANAGEMENT! ***

Please make a note in your diary now!

Sunday 7th September 2008

For a Great Family Day's Entertainment !

At Bridwell Estate, Uffculme near Cullompton, Devon

(by kind permission of Lord and Lady Ivar Mountbatten)

From 10 a.m. to 6.00 p.m. Entrance £3.50 - Children £1.50

Following the success of the Uffculme Show held on May Day, the Rotary Club of Exe Valley has been invited to stage the Bridwell Park Country Fair this year. This will be a one - day event and the Exe Valley Rotary Club Show Committee have planned a completely new show for your family enjoyment! Events include a new Horse Jumping show, Dog Show, a bigger Classic Vehicle Rally, new Fun Fair, Staghounds, Strongman, Moms Dancers, Majorettes, Horse Whisperer, Dog Agility Team display, Puma Tai Kwan Do demonstrations, Army Cadets' Climbing Wall, Sea Cadets' Field Gun display, Air Cadets display, together with live music from Devils Elbow, the George Formby Society and the Blackdown Samba Band, plus much more! Plus a host of Trade Stands !

This event will be held in aid of Rotary charities -
Marie Curie Cancer Care, the NSPCC and the Devon Air Ambulance Trust
- supported by the Coldharbour Mill Charitable Trust.

Further details may be obtained from Mike Hooper, Show Chairman.

Tel: 01884 259812 or see our Show website « www.bridwellqark.co.uk »

Coldharbour Mill & Uffculme School

Present

The GCSE Year 10 & 11

2008 SUMMER SHOW

In the Fox Gallery Coldharbour Mill

Until August 29th

Free Entry - Donations will be gratefully accepted

PLEASE OBTAIN A VISITOR’S PASS FROM THE SHOP

presents
LIVE ENTERTAINMENT
Saturday 9th August 2008
at Magelake Hall Uffculme
with Steven Parr
8.30pm to late
Members £2.00
Non-members £3.00
- so come on down!

Well it only seems that yesterday we were playing our last game of the season but believe it or not we are already holding Training Sessions on Tuesday nights at 6.30pm at Magelake in preparation for next season. We have a new Manager for our Reserve Team as Phil Dunbar could not commit himself to the time required to do the job properly although he will assist the new Manager who is Ian Middleton (Scrooge) formerly at Kentisbeare. The First Team Manager is Keith Berner who has been with us for quite a few years now and must be one of the longest serving Managers in The Devon & Exeter League and we are very grateful to him for this. He actually started playing for Culm Utd in 1987.

The League Fixtures commence on Saturday 6th September but both teams are away on this date as Magelake is in use on that day. The first home league games in September will be on 20th and 27th -these will be 3pm kick offs.

We hope to see all previous spectators and lots more new ones joining us for matches and a drink in the club.

Sunday 3 August 11.00am – no service at Uffculme as we are invited to Kentisbeare to say farewell to Rev Jenny Davies.

Sunday 10 August – BIG CREAM TEA at Bradfield Hall at 4.00pm, followed by “Summer Songs of Praise” at Bradfield Chapel at 6.30pm.

Here at The Vale we don't just treat the animal we also care for the owner. Our client base is growing rapidly and after 40 years we have outgrown St George's House.

Therefore we are moving to a new, bigger practice in College Road to enable us to extend and improve the services we provide to our loyal, valued clients.

Car Park - You will all be very pleased to hear that we now have a client car park for your convenience whilst visiting the practice.

Waiting Area - The new practice has a fantastic waiting area and we are going to divide the seating for cats and dogs. We are echoing this for our inpatients providing completely separate wards. This will limit any stress for the animals and give owners peace of mind that Rover won't be chasing Whiskers around in circles.

Cat only Clinic - This is a new service we are offering for our feline friends. We are also running a "Senior Cat Clinic" for cats over 10 years to have a free health check with one of our nurses. This enables us to detect any signs of common elderly cat ailments at the earliest opportunity.

Booster - Is your pet due for it's booster? In addition to our normal appointment times we now have a weekly "Booster Clinic" on Wednesday evenings that ensures a fast and effective turn around to help in our busy day to day lives.

Ambulance - You may have already seen our new Ambulance driving around. It is a huge asset to the practice as it enables our vets and nurses to get to emergencies, house calls and branch clinics with ease, confident they have all major equipment on board.

Surgical Facilities - We have more state of the art operating theatres and a dental suite in the new practice. This will enable us to have designated theatres for routine operations, dental work and complex surgery.

Equipment - We have extensive diagnostic facilities including x-ray and ultrasound equipment.

Technology - We have recently upgraded our computer and telephone systems. The advanced technology is allowing us to work more effectively and efficiently. It provides a direct link with vets and nurses, has an exceptional booking system and many additional features that will improve our service.

Extended Opening Hours - Our Saturday morning surgery has always been very popular and we have decided to extend the opening hours so we are now open all day.

Farm Clients - The farm side has not been forgotten! The new medicines storage area will mean that medicines are closer at hand than at St George's House. As we developed the old building, we ended up with medicines stored in 3 or 4 different places. In the new building, all medicines will be in one area, near reception. This should lead to much better efficiency and service for clients. The parking at the new building should make visits to the surgery much easier for you. The large waiting room also means we will have an area perfect for farm meetings.

Staff - Our dedicated, experienced staff are proud to be part of one of the largest Veterinary Groups within the South West and all have fantastic team spirit. Our open plan office will enable Reception and Office staff to work as one team. So you will now be able to put faces to the names.

Completion - Our new surgery in College Road, Cullompton has undergone months of extensive building works and alterations. These are now coming to an end and we are counting the days until the move.

We are very pleased to confirm that our new doors are opening on Monday 1st September and we are all looking forward to welcoming you and your pets to our new home.

Tell Prime Minister Gordon Brown how you feel about the Cullompton traffic jams!

NB: If you would also like to support this petition, please log on to the Number 10 Petitions web site:

In the absence of further information, it is hoped that the above is correct!

Last summer I fulfilled something of a life time’s ambition. One Friday afternoon I was handed a stop watch at sports day, at the school where I worked as chaplain part time. My task was to press down hard as the child in lane four crossed the finish line after several laps. You could be forgiven for thinking that my ambition was to become a ‘sporting time keeper’ but you would be very wrong. No, the life time ambition about which I am talking was to participate in a school sports day without finding the whole experience humiliating! Being the time keeper wasn’t difficult at all!

It is the season of the sports day and youngsters up and down the country will line up longing to be the first across the line and make their parents proud. Sadly, there can only be one winner and all too often it’s the same one every year! Equally for many children this event, and others like it, is merely another occasion at which they are left feeling like a failure. I was that child and sports day every year confirmed it for me!

I recently found a poem that warmed my heart and would like to share it with you in this issue of Spotlight magazine.

As I read it, it spoke to me of the way in which our Heavenly Father looks upon each one of us as we face life’s trials, inviting us to press on with courage never forgetting that nothing can separate us from his love.

For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither the present nor the future, nor any powersneither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord.

I hope ‘the race’, will put a smile on your face this Summer and help you to know God’s loving support in your life.

A children’s race, young boys, young men; how I remember well,
    excitement sure, but also fear, it wasn’t hard to tell.
They all lined up so full of hope, each thought to win that race
    or tie for first, or if not that, at least take second place.
Their parents watched from off the side, each cheering for their son,
    and each boy hoped to show his folks that he would be the one.

The whistle blew and off they flew, like chariots of fire,
    to win, to be the hero there, was each young boy’s desire.
One boy in particular, whose dad was in the crowd,
    was running in the lead and thought “My dad will be so proud.”
But as he speeded down the field and crossed a shallow dip,
    the little boy who thought he’d win, lost his step and slipped.
Trying hard to catch himself, his arms flew everyplace,
    and midst the laughter of the crowd he fell flat on his face.
As he fell, his hope fell too; he couldn’t win it now.
    Humiliated, he just wished to disappear somehow.

But as he fell his dad stood up and showed his anxious face,
    which to the boy so clearly said, “Get up and win that race!”
He quickly rose, no damage done, behind a bit that’s all,
    and ran with all his mind and might to make up for his fall.
So anxious to restore himself, to catch up and to win,
    his mind went faster than his legs. He slipped and fell again.
He wished that he had quit before with only one disgrace.
    “I’m hopeless as a runner now, I shouldn’t try to race.”

But through the laughing crowd he searched and found his father’s face
    with a steady look that said again, “Get up and win that race!”
So he jumped up to try again, ten yards behind the last.
    “If I’m to gain those yards,” he thought, “I’ve got to run real fast!”
Exceeding everything he had, he regained eight, then ten...
    but trying hard to catch the lead, he slipped and fell again.
Defeat! He lay there silently. A tear dropped from his eye.
    “There’s no sense running anymore! Three strikes I’m out! Why try?
I’ve lost, so what’s the use?” he thought. “I’ll live with my disgrace.”
    But then he thought about his dad, who soon he’d have to face.

“Get up,” an echo sounded low, “you haven’t lost at all,
    for all you have to do to win is rise each time you fall.
Get up!” the echo urged him on, “Get up and take your place!
    You were not meant for failure here! Get up and win that race!”
So, up he rose to run once more, refusing to forfeit,
    and he resolved that win or lose, at least he wouldn’t quit.
So far behind the others now, the most he’d ever been,
    still he gave it all he had and ran like he could win.
Three times he’d fallen stumbling, three times he rose again.
    Too far behind to hope to win, he still ran to the end.

They cheered another boy who crossed the line and won first place,
    head high and proud and happy -- no falling, no disgrace.
But, when the fallen youngster crossed the line, in last place,
    the crowd gave him a greater cheer for finishing the race.
And even though he came in last with head bowed low, unproud,
    you would have thought he’d won the race, to listen to the crowd.
And to his dad he sadly said, “I didn’t do so well.”
    “To me, you won,” his father said. “You rose each time you fell.”

And now when things seem dark and bleak and difficult to face,
    the memory of that little boy helps me in my own race.
For all of life is like that race, with ups and downs and all.
    And all you have to do to win is rise each time you fall.
And when depression and despair shout loudly in my face,
    another voice within me says, “Get up and win that race!”

The Friends were well represented during the Woolly Day which accompanied the Steam-Up on the 25th and 26th June.

The Spinners, Weavers and Knitters were there in force, showing a very good number of visitors the sorts of things we get up to on Wednesday (S) and Thursday (K) afternoons and Friday (W) mornings.***

Our next social event will be the Summer Quiz on Friday, 25^th July. Peter Walter will be our Quizmaster as usual, and we look forward to as many Friends as possible making up teams of four and trying to win our version of the World Cup. There will be, of course, tasty refreshments and a licensed bar. In order to help with the catering arrangements, it would be very useful if as many people who are entering teams could let Kathleen know on 01884 840359 a day or so before the event.

The Digital Switchover is due to take place in the West Country from April to June 2009.

The BBC has appointed eaga plc as the supplier to deliver the digital switchover help scheme.

Eaga will contact people directly and deliver or install equipment in line with their particular needs. It will also provide the scheme contact centre. People eligible for the help scheme are those over 75, or those in receipt of certain benefits.

Digital UK has teamed up with Trading Standards and the Devon and Cornwall Constabulary to encourage residents who believe they may need a new aerial to use contractors who are Registered Digital Installers (RDI’s) and who display the digital tick logo. This means they are approved and security checked with qualifications and insurance.

The Digital UK manager for the west country is Bill Taylor and he can be contacted on: 07970 861238 or via email at; billtaylor@digitaluk.co.uk

Thanks to Colin Coombes of Ashill for being so diligent, we have an almost full collection of Spotlight's in the St Mary's Church Archives. I've been going through these and would dearly love to complete the set if I can. If anyone has some old copies being eaten by mice in the loft, I would be eternally grateful if they could look through them and see if they have the following dates:

If you have any of the above and are willing to give them up, could you please either give me a ring on 250349 or pop them into the Square Corner with a note for my attention.

Owing to an unexplained glitch with the computer and the e mail system last month’s report is still in the ether somewhere.

Last month the draw took place at the Mill on Wednesday 14^th May. There were 4 winners.

The Friends of Coldharbour Mill received £120 which will be used to help the Mill.

Each month The Friends of Coldharbour Mill receive an amount equal to the prize money so this month they received £120.

If you would like to take part in the monthly draw then please leave your details at the Mill, either at the office or in the letter box by the red gates.

When reading this in the Village Magazine, we should be in the middle of Wimbledon Fortnight. This is the time when rackets are turned out from cupboards and people get the tennis bug. If this is you, please come and use our tennis courts, pay John Morrison apposite the courts at Driftwood, Gables Road 01884 32331 to reserve a court if you wish. £2 per hour for adults £1 for children students £1-50.

If^, you are free on Monday afternoons at 2pm, come and join in the session, pay £2 to John Morrison and mix in. You do not need a partner, give it a go! You can borrow a racket from John if you wish. We are trying to get more people playing tennis, we are lucky to have 4 courts in a small village like Willand.

For competant players, club nights are Monday and Thursday nights from 6.30pm Do come along and join in, again you do not need a partner.

Junior coaching is going well on Tuesday and Wednesday nights. All the places are taken but if you think your child would like to have coaching next year, please contact Rita on 820803 and I will put their name on a waiting list.

All 16 places in the adult coaching have been taken up, again if interested contact me and put your name on the waiting list.

The Club is doing well in the inter club Leagues (East Devon and Exeter & District) with Willand near the top in their divisions.

This first piece should have been in the June Spotlight; unfortunately it never made it so here are 2 reports in one go.

There are some very odd people around. Someone struggled to remove the padlocked door from our shed in the corner of the site and then pushed it through the hedge or through a pile of green to a waiting vehicle. The door was not in good condition and had been cut to fit a hole of reduced height. A few weeks later the shed was broken into but this time the door was left on site and nothing was touched, not every one wants bags of sieved compost, no matter how good it is - which it is.

We have had lots of customers in the past 2 months, a majority wanting trailer loads of sieved or unsieved compost. To accommodate this demand we have purchased a tipping trailer with about a 2 ton capacity. It has certainly worked hard since joining us and saved us the labour of emptying a trailer by hand.

We are happy to supply product from a 1 bag order to as much as you need, all at sensible prices.

At the beginning of June we received a 20’ shipping container. Watching it being craned in certainly showed the strength and manoeuvrability of the Hi-ab crane system on the lorry as the 2.2 tons of container swung over the woodchip area and was lowered gently into place, all controlled by remote control and no fuss. This container will be used for storage of items, none of any particular value that we normally have to carry to site when ever we are working there, as well as bags of compost. The original shed is obviously too tempting to the vandals and idiots.

Our End of Season Dinner and Dance took place at Magelake an enjoyable evening was had by all who attended, the following players were presented with their trophies:

The generous people of Ashill, Craddock, Stenhill and Uffculme gave £1384.74 for the work of Christian Aid this year, in spite of all the fiscal problems and the Burma and China tragedies occurring at the same time. Thank you very much.

I am grateful too to all those who collected the envelopes and in particular to Mr Patel for allowing the Post Office counter to be a collecting point.

UFFCULME CHRISTMAS LIGHTS

COFFEE MORNING

SATURDAY 12^TH JULY

SQUARE CORNER

10am until 12noon.

REFRESHMENTS, STALLS AND RAFFLE

Cream Tea afternoon With Entertainment

We will be holding a Cream Tea Afternoon in the Garden Room of The Village Hall on the 9th August 2008 Starting at 14.30 till 16.30

Lucky number tickets available at the door priced £3.00 to include a cream tea, There will be a Bric a Brac stall & Grand raffle.

All proceeds going towards Uffculme In Lights

UFFCULME SPORTS & SOCIAL CLUB

PRESENTS
THE VERY POPULAR DUO

**MORPHEUS**

AT MAGELAKE HALL UFFCULME
SATURDAY 12' JULY 2008

8.30pm to LATE

MEMBERS £2.00

NON MEMBERS £3.00

Do you ever wonder what happened to those spotty teenagers hanging about in Uffculme a decade ago? Our friendships have matured and a group of us now put on live music nights in clubs and professional, licensed festival events in fields. We run these events entirely from knowledge and skills that we’ve learnt for ourselves on the job, whether that’s doing the sound engineering, running our own kitchen and bar (for which we source lots of local and organic produce) or working out how to design and build our own 7m high geodesic dome tent with a stage inside.

Last year in September we staged an event on Whitmore Farm (just outside Uffculme) and a return visit will happen this year too: Wattsfest, from the 11-13^th of July. Owing to the fact that Uffculme is so close to home for many of us, we were delighted to be in a position to offer an opportunity to musicians from a new generation in the area.

Steve Douglas has been teaching the drums at Uffculme School for a year. Being a peripatetic teacher he sees a lot of schools in Devon but told me that Uffculme is one of the best he knows. As well as teaching drums, Steve is also holding a Battle of the Bands night at Uffculme School and he asked us if we could offer a gig to the winner. We thought it was a great idea. It has always been important for us when booking our line-up to have local talent alongside bands and acts from further away.

At Wattsfest we have acts coming from Bristol, Brighton, London and as far away as Cameroon, America and Australia. They will all share a stage with the winner of Uffculme School’s Battle of the Bands.

Wattsfest is a family friendly event, limited to a small number of tickets and promoted largely by word-of-mouth. This ensures that the people who come are there to enjoy the diverse music and to experience a small community of like-minded people on a weekend in the Devon countryside. We take great care to be considerate to those around us, for example, adopting strategies to minimize noise pollution and cleaning up after the event.

To find out more about Wattsfest, or to buy a ticket, you can visit, www.wattsfest.co.uk

On Friday 18^th July there will be a Fun Afternoon at the school to say farewell to Kandi. Any past pupils, parents and friends are welcome to come along from 2p.m. There will be a presentation at 3p.m.

FRUSTRATIONS WITH THE COUNTY COUNCIL

Frustrations with Devon County Council played a large part at the May meeting of the Parish Council. The clerk reported on his attempts to get answers regarding the provision of a footpath alongside the busy road outside Magelake Hall. Farmer Edward Doble has agreed to cede land at no charge for the work to be carried out but no reply was received from the County Council until Councillor Radford intervened and then a most negative and unhelpful answer was obtained which basically said the council had no intention to do anything. Not good enough was the unanimous view of your Parish Council, which considers this derestricted length of road to be dangerous for the many pedestrians that use it. Only about 150m of new path is needed to join the two existing sections of path together and the council now awaits the results of the further action Councillor Radford has agreed to take. And so another month will pass!

That’s not all either as the request for white lines in the Square area as part of the improvement plan and works to improve the junction of Commercial Road and Coldharbour are also suffering the same delays. Watch this space is all I can say.

On a brighter note it was learned that improvements are to be carried out at the junction of the A38 with Broadpath at Downs Farm. This welcome piece of news comes after many years of agitation and suggests that the improvements at Magelake may still be some long time in the future.

Some modest improvements have been carried out in the Square including a new type of planter with seat and one with bicycle rack. At last the bins outside the Co-op have been screened and shortly we will have a new flagpole. Meanwhile attempts are being made to get local authority help to devise a long-term plan taking account of the comments made at the consultation meeting.

Finally it was agreed to investigate the provision of allotments near the village in response to requests. The problem will be finding a suitable site to rent or buy but at least the parish might be able to move faster than the county.

Tickets, priced at £15.00 inclusive of entry fee may be booked by ringing: Bill Douglas on 840370; Kathleen Sprague on 840359 or The Mill on 840960

Karen Action Group NEWS … … …

Thanks to everyone who supported our Organ Recital Evening - sounds boring but it was great fun … we raised £350. The musicians really enjoyed the evening and are proposing to return next May Bank Holiday for another wild evening playing some more familiar organ music.

The Hemyock Singers performed Mozart’s Requiem and that event raised £500; again many thanks to all who supported the event.

As you are aware from the media the area where a great many Karen live, inside Burma, was devastated by Cyclone Nargis but thanks to the generosity of many people we have been able to send out over £20,000 of aid. This has been directed via Timothy Laklem from Asian Tribal Ministries who has gone directly to the most needy people with teams of helpers using the money to the very best advantage. Some of you will have met Timothy when he was here for the Drum it Home Festival.

The needs of the Karen will not go away as the monsoon season is upon them bringing yet more problems with mosquitoes and torrential rain. More fund raising events are taking place …….. …..

SATURDAY 5^TH JULY 10 AM COFFEE MORNING AT THE SQUARE CORNER all contributions gratefully received……. AND

Thank you all so much for your support and generosity – look forward to seeing you at the above events.

We invited George Williams and his dog, Tess, back for our June meeting, to take us on the second leg of his Walk Round Britain. As zany as ever, he recounted his adventures from Blythe on the east coast of Scotland, round the extreme north and down the west coast to Dundonald in Ayrshire. The journey was not without incidents of every kind; amusing, scarey, awesome, inspiring and downright dangerous. In spite of it being the 1019^th time George had told his story since the mammoth walk in the late 80s, his joyful, humorous manner brought it to life as if it were yesterday. The meeting room constantly resounded with laughter. We can’t wait to rebook him to come and talk us through the final stage.

It was a light, sunny evening, a sure sign summer is round the corner, so the atmosphere was positive. It was with pleasure the President handed Welcome Packs to three new members. After a bit of cajoling, two members offered to organise the July meeting, with a pot luck supper and a quiz. There was talk of a trip to Sheppys Cider Museum. A sub-committee was formed to put together the Mid-Devon Show exhibit. A lunch date at the Globe in Sampford Peverell was finalised. Volunteers were found to man stalls at the Village Hall Fete and the Magelake Fun Day.

More formal business matters included the distribution of a notice setting out fares to be paid to drivers for WI trips. This was put together in the light of increasing petrol prices and to clarify ambiguity which occurs. Our Treasurer advised that a £20 donation had been sent towards the new Devon room at Denman College.

One of our members had attended a County-organised Race Day at Exeter Racecourse. She said it had been a ‘thoroughly lovely day’. There had been an explanation of how the racecourse operates and talks from a member of St John’s Ambulance and Martin Pipe, the well-known, local Trainer. Added to this, as a birthday treat for her husband, was a rather expensive meal in the ‘posh’ restaurant, a tour of the paddocks, and the icing on the cake, two winners and some seconds and thirds. Could it have been beginner’s luck!

lst 7.30 p.m. Sankey Evening. Do come and join us for an Evening of Song and Fellowship followed by a cuppa.

The evening started with a deputation from the Uffculme Twinning Committee, who had been on a visit to our ”twin” Caumont l’Evente which had been enfete for the occasion. They reminded the Council that next year would be the 30^th year of entente cordiale-ing and the banner was brought along as proof. Despite having been here before the Parish Council agreed that this would be worthy of Special Occasion status; there aren’t that many reasons pour pousser le bateau dehors.

To add to the excitement; there was talk by the Community Development Officer – Lindsay Cameron. She is keen to start a youth clubor similar in the village. She enthused on the possibilities. The P.C. listened attentively and wished her the best of luck.

On to the agenda. Mr David Wells was re-elected Chairman and Mrs Diane Brandon was re-elected Vice-Chair. This was unanimous.

Mr Hilson, footpath guru, reported that the Inquiry regarding Violet Lane footpath is to be re-convened. Fresh evidence is available. The Inspector who conducted the previous Inquiry has been re-appointed. This really is something to which we can look forward.

The re-cycling bins at Magelake are to be removed, not merely because their useage is reducing but funding for the car park at Magelake – which is in a very poor state – is conditional on their departure. With doorstep collection now almost universal this should be no hardship. The composting site which for many is essential, will remain.

Complaints about the odours from the Feed Mill have been increasing. It’s the pellets wot does it - so we are led to believe.

We used to have a designated policeman – a face we knew and recognized. This doesn’t seem to be the case these days, but the Clerk is going to see what can be done. It would be nice to think that we could be embraced specifically by one particular arm of the law.

Members of the public were dismissed before the P.C. got down to the serious business of discussing Codes of Conduct, which sounded much more interesting than some of the other items on the agenda. Perhaps it was classified as sensitive. We shall never know.

United Prayer Breakfast – Saturday 5^th July at 8.00am at “Curwood”, Kent’s Close.

Please note that on the first Sunday in August there will be no 11.00am service at St.Mary’s. Services in the Mission Community on that Sunday morning will be as follows:

Come and take part in the

Treasure Hunt

on Saturday July 26^th

Collect your clues by

The Shambles in the Square between 5 - 6 pm.

Cost per car is £4.

When you get back to the Village Hall,

there will be a Bar-b-que (if you wish to join us)

and the prize giving.

Courtesy of the Village Hall Committee

and Friends.

Club Competition Winners 2008
Men's Singles Championship	John Harries
Ladies Singles Championship	Val Hardwick
Open Singles	Geoff Jenkins
Men's Handicapped Singles	Derick Peek
Ladies Handicapped Singles	Tessa Shere
Men's Non Winners Singles	Phil Harris
Men's Two Wood Singles	Ken King
Men's Pairs	Ken King, Derick Peek
Ladies Pairs	Tessa Shere and Sylvia Brett
Mixed Pairs	Hazel Aldridge and Matt Jenkins
Triples	Nick Scantlebury, Chris Fuller, Ken King
Rinks	Wally Perry, John Shere, Matt Jenkins, Ken King
Husband and Wife	John and Tessa Shere

Uffculme United Reformed Church

Part of God’s Church in Uffculme

D E C E M B E R 2 0 0 8

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.

Other regular meetings include:

Wednesdays Home Groups and Bible Studies at 8.00 pm.

Friday 19^th Carols by Candle Light at 7.30 pm to be followed by coffee and mince pies. All are welcome to join us for our annual carol service.

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

Visit our web site: www.uffculmeurc.info

NEWS FROM THE PARISH COUNCIL

NEW HIGHLAND TERRACE RECREATION AREA

Uffculme United Reformed Church

Part of God’s Church in Uffculme

A U G U S T 2 0 0 8

Other regular meetings include:

Wednesdays Home Groups and Bible Studies at 8.00 pm.

Saturday 2^nd United Prayer Breakfast led by UURC at Curwood House at 8.00 am.

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

FRUSTRATIONS WITH THE COUNTY COUNCIL

Karen Action Group NEWS … … …

Uffculme United Reformed Church

Part of God’s Church in Uffculme

J U L Y 2 0 0 8

During the services there are also “Light Factory” meetings for Children, for 3 to 5 and 5 to 10 year olds

Other regular meetings include:

Wednesdays Home Groups and Bible Studies at 8.00 pm.

Saturday 5^th United Prayer Breakfast led by St Mary’s at Curwood House at 8.00 am.

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

Uffculme United Reformed Church

Part of God’s Church in Uffculme

D E C E M B E R 2 0 0 8

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.

Other regular meetings include:

Wednesdays Home Groups and Bible Studies at 8.00 pm.

Friday 19th Carols by Candle Light at 7.30 pm to be followed by coffee and mince pies. All are welcome to join us for our annual carol service.

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

Visit our web site: www.uffculmeurc.info

NEWS FROM THE PARISH COUNCIL

NEW HIGHLAND TERRACE RECREATION AREA

Uffculme United Reformed Church

Part of God’s Church in Uffculme

A U G U S T 2 0 0 8

Other regular meetings include:

Wednesdays Home Groups and Bible Studies at 8.00 pm.

Saturday 2nd United Prayer Breakfast led by UURC at Curwood House at 8.00 am.

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

FRUSTRATIONS WITH THE COUNTY COUNCIL

Karen Action Group NEWS … … …

Uffculme United Reformed Church

Part of God’s Church in Uffculme

J U L Y 2 0 0 8

During the services there are also “Light Factory” meetings for Children, for 3 to 5 and 5 to 10 year olds

Other regular meetings include:

Wednesdays Home Groups and Bible Studies at 8.00 pm.

Saturday 5th United Prayer Breakfast led by St Mary’s at Curwood House at 8.00 am.

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

Friday 19^th Carols by Candle Light at 7.30 pm to be followed by coffee and mince pies. All are welcome to join us for our annual carol service.

Saturday 2^nd United Prayer Breakfast led by UURC at Curwood House at 8.00 am.

Saturday 5^th United Prayer Breakfast led by St Mary’s at Curwood House at 8.00 am.