N O R NT W S L E W H E NORTHLEW’S WARTIME POEM WHY I’M IN LOVE WITH CHRISTMAS WHAT THE DEVIL? YOUR HELP NEEDED PLUS: THE ART AND TRADITION OF SHAMANIC DRUM MAKING SUMMER ART HELPING CHILDREN PLAYGROUND UPDATE NEWS SNIPPETS & OUR REGULAR NATURE COLUMNS. www.northlewparishcouncil.org.uk
run. If you enjoyed your read please consider sharing it online or lending your copy to another villager Read it Love it Share it In this issue…... From the Editor...............................................................................................................Page 2 Pews News: Rev Leigh Winsbury at Advent...............................................................Page 3 Why I’m in love with Christmas: Rev Chris Jackson.................................................Page 4 Harvest at the Chapel....................................................................................................Page 5 Friends of St Thomas.....................................................................................................Page 6 What the devil? ..............................................................................................................Page 9 School Play Area Update..............................................................................................Page 10 Northlew Remembers: A Poem...................................................................................Page 12 West Devon Art Workshops make a difference.......................................................Page 14 The Spirit of Sound: Shamanic Drum making...........................................................Page 15 Cinderella.........................................................................................................................Page 16 Produce & Craft Show Report......................................................................................Page 19 An Autumn Quiz..............................................................................................................Page 20 The Green Dragon at Christmas...................................................................................Page 21 Congratulations: Mia Albaek & Pippa Marshall hit the grade..................................Page 22 Northlew Nature: Hibernation .....................................................................................Page 23 Cottage Garden Wildlife.................................................................................................Page 25 Tania’s Tart’s: Keeping the colds away .....................................................................Page 26 The Northlew Bat Sanctuary .......................................................................................Page 30 The Back cover: A poem for Autumn...........................................................................Page 33 INFORMATION PAGES Your Parish Council ....................................................................................Page 28 Coming Events - Winter 2025/26..............................................................Page 29 Sports and Recreation ...............................................................................Page 31 Community Contacts..................................................................................Page 32 NORTHLEW NEWS IS A FREE NEWSLETTER PRODUCED BY NORTHLEW PARISH COUNCIL. YOUR NEWS, STORIES, ARTWORK, POEMS OR PHOTOS WELCOMED, EMAIL THE EDITOR, VICTOR HULBERT AT NORTHLEWNEWS@HULBERT.ORG.UK TO ADVERTISE OR IF YOU WISH TO JOIN THE E-DISTRIBUTION LIST, PLEASE CONTACT JOHANNAH SHAW AT CLERK@NORTHLEWPARISHCOUNCIL.ORG.UK OPINIONS EXPRESSED ARE THOSE OF THE INDIVIDUAL AUTHORS AND DO NOT NECESSARILY REPRESENT THE VIEWS OF THE COUNCIL. THE COUNCIL DOES NOT ENDORSE ANY ADVERTISING BUT PROVIDE IT AS A SERVICE TO USE AT YOUR OWN RISK. PROOFREADER: AUDREY ANDERSSON. ALL PHOTOS ARE BY THE EDITOR UNLESS OTHERWISE STATED.
Rosemary Lethbridge FROM THE EDITOR My 6th form class in 1975. Can you spot me plus two new village residents? Back in 1969 my parents moved to Plymouth. I was a shy boy who had been attending a very small Junior School. Suddenly I found myself in a very large Comprehensive. I did not settle well. As a result, my parents decided to send me upcountry to Stanborough Secondary School in Watford, a Christian school with a section for boarders. That became my term-time home from Form 2 (now called year 8) right through until I completed my A-levels. During those years I made friends with people from many different backgrounds – and some of those friendships have lasted for life, most recently via social media. Imagine then my surprise when two classmates from fifty years ago, not only turned up on our doorstep for a coffee, but then bought a bungalow with a large garden on the very same road as us! Following me on social media they were attracted by my photos and reports of village life. It is good to reconnect face-to-face – and after just a couple of months in the village they tell me they feel right at home. Connections are important. I love hearing the stories of those whose families have lived and farmed in Northlew for generations. Fascinating too, to hear the stories of more recent residents, most of whom tell me that they never plan to move from here. I can’t blame them. Victor Hulbert community events, clubs and volunteer groups in the village – and even for those who no longer live in the village but avidly follow life here via the Facebook group and Northlew News. We live in a world where many are ‘uprooted’, whether through work, family changes, war or natural catastrophes. Thus it brings me joy to learn of Polish Scouts that have camped on a local farm here almost every year since the end of World War II. They feel rooted. Some in our village helped with an art group for displaced children this summer. Kids who love their own country but who currently cannot live there for fear of death. The art group made community real for them. As I learnt reporting from refugee camps in Greece, Serbia, Italy, France and Germany, today’s business person can easily become tomorrow’s refugee as their families flee for their lives. They are forced to make impossible choices. But when they eventually settle elsewhere, they make a positive difference in their new communities. As one Afghan 12-year-old living in Okehampton explained, “I don’t consider myself a refugee. I love my country and one day hope to go home. But here I want to study, learn, and make a difference. She plans to be a doctor. Community is important. My school friends gave me a sense of belonging and the roots I needed as my parents moved frequently due to dad’s work. That is the welcome challenge for each of us: Accepting each other, contributing to our wonderful village and community, and making a difference. I sense the same feeling here with the various Thank you for being part of it. PAGE 2
Dear Nor’lewians, My thanks again to Victor for inviting me to write a little something and for being patient with me along the way! And thanks to you for taking the moment to have a read. By now we’re well on our way towards Advent, the mysterious four weeks that very few people understand running up to Christmas. It is now a word mostly understood to be something about chocolate in little boxes, a far cry from its origins. Advent literally means ‘an arrival, particularly of a notable person or event’. In the case of the four weeks of December, it’s a preparation for celebrating the arrival of Jesus. We all know that getting ready for Christmas is a big job, and even after years of trying to simplify the thing it still seems to get harder each year. But what are we preparing for? A few days of over Photo credit; Shaun McCarthy indulgence, only to then hit the gym and the diet in January? Why not try something else entirely. At a time when peace is a rare gift and so hard to find, why not consider making a full welcome to the Prince of Peace himself this year? There is an old saying; ‘No God, no peace. Know God, know peace’. There is something astonishing happening almost like an underground movement in this country right now. Yes, there’s a lot of fear, political dissatisfaction, polarisation of opinion and mistrust of government and media, one could say, a whole pile of reasons to not be at peace. And yet, perhaps surprisingly, people are returning to a simple, straightforward faith in Jesus in numbers we’ve not seen in generations.* They are finding that connection with God is giving what nothing else can; peace in the midst of the storm. Whether they be national and international political storms, or the personal struggles of life, the peace of Jesus, which surpasses all understanding, is stronger than all. I believe there has not been a better time in my entire lifetime to be turning to Jesus. Maybe, as the lights on your tree shine out better on a winters night, the light of Jesus is easier to spot against a backdrop of darkness. Either way, this is our time, our generation, our opportunity to shape the future. Will we welcome Jesus as our King this advent, or miss the moment? Wishing you a peace-filled and blessed advent and Christmas, with love Revd. Leigh. *See: https://www.biblesociety.org.uk/research/quiet-revival PAGE 3
with Christmas Rev Chris Jackson. Superintendent Minister West Devon Circuit of the Methodist Church I genuinely love Christmas. I admit it. I love Christmas carols and endless carol services and the buzz of the high street. I also appreciate that for some Christmas is a very difficult and lonely time. For others it can be a time not of celebration, but one of anxiety and looming debt. There are people all over the world that do not recognise or celebrate Christmas at all. Ethnic, religious and social differences separate people from others in a myriad of ways. Very contrasting feelings from many different people. And yet… The birth of Jesus over 2,000 years ago was heralded by angels in heaven as “good news of great joy for all the people”. This was revolutionary. Jesus’ birth was not to limited to one set of people or believers of any specific ethnic group or religious affiliation, but “for all the people”. That statement by an angel is powerful indeed. Firstly it is GOOD NEWS… not something we are used to today… I watch the news with grave anticipation to be honest, I rarely expect or receive good news from our broadcasters. But this birth of a tiny baby was universal good news, and it was news of great joy, it was a birth to be celebrated by everyone, from humble shepherds, to wise men. We read elsewhere that this baby was to be a Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace. So much in our world is transient, here today, gone tomorrow. Celebrities whose time in the limelight is both bright and short at the same time. And yet this baby is still being worshipped and followed over two thousand years after his birth. The baby grew into the greatest teacher of life that we have ever seen. To follow the teachings of this divine teacher is to become truly and fully human. In a world of division and exclusivity, Jesus teaches unity and inclusivity. All are welcome in Jesus’ kingdom, here on earth and throughout eternity. Now that is truly GOOD NEWS. Many blessings and Happy Christmas. Rev Chris. PAGE 4
with Mrs Vicki Penfound Winifred Davey Sunday 12 October was Harvest Festival day for the Methodist Church. Regular attendees were joined by a good number of visitors as the preacher, Mrs Vicki Penfound, read Psalm 65 and spoke about her bird watching holiday in Norfolk, but also mentioned the butterflies and reminded us all to look out for the little creatures as we walk around the countryside. Vicki asked if we could name some breads and also brought with her some different varieties to test our taste buds. She reminded us of the words in the Lord’s Prayer – Give us this day our daily bread. Bread is a staple diet and eaten all over the world, but JESUS is the Bread of Life. As her final food item she produced not bread, but a bar of dairy milk chocolate. Why? Bread you eat daily., she emphasized. It is a staple and is essential. Chocolate, on the other hand, is an occasional treat. Too much and it will have consequences. The contrast brought home to the congregation that Jesus is a necessity, the bread of life, not the chocolate of life. Hymn singing is a great Methodist tradition. Voices were raised in vibrant worship as we sang the well known harvest hymns accompanied by Mrs Kath Brimacombe on the organ. The church had been beautifully decorated by Dorothy Cole, Jean Curtis, Marion Dufty, Pat Hutton and Bet Spry. Following this everyone gathered in the hall for a lovely tea prepared and served by the ladies. The offering and donations for the goods and tea amounted to £453.22, and we have sent £230 to Prostate Cancer UK. Thank you to everyone for your support. Come and join us on Sunday 21st December at 6.30 p.m. for our Carol Service with music by Northlew Silver Band. After the service there will be tea and mince pies. PAGE 5
Church, [FOST] Val Walsh Our Open Day to support Devon Historic Churches Trust in September was well attended, despite the pouring rain. The theme St Thomas’: past, present, future celebrated the rich history of the parish church and looked forward to new developments. A display about Thomas Becket, our patron saint, traced his life through to his murder in Canterbury and his eventual legacy as a Saint. Visitors were able to reminisce with photographs of past Church and Flower Festivals, and poems on show about the men of Northlew who volunteered for the First World War. These were written in 1914 by the then school Headmaster, J W Baldry, and will also feature in the Remembrance Sunday service on 9 November. And finally, we had a display on caring for God’s creation and Eco Church, highlighting the steps we need to take as a church to achieve a bronze award. Watch this space. Away in a manger: This December we have a really special treat in the lead up to Christmas. On Saturday and Sunday 13 & 14 December you can see a fantastic display of nativity sets in the church and marvel at the many different interpretations of the birth of Jesus. Collected from around the world (and more locally too), they are made by talented crafters including woodworkers, felters, and even lego builders! Luisa and Tania are also planning to create a walk-in manger grotto in the Rutleigh Chapel especially for younger children. Proceeds from the event will go to the Children’s Hospice South West who care for babies, children and young people with lifethreatening and life-limiting conditions and their families. If you have a Nativity set you would us to include in the display, please let me know valofgreen@gmail.com or 07780 544679. FOST Committee 2025 Chair: Keith Ellis Secretary: Jackie Ellis 01837 658750/07952 071809 or email jackie.ann.ellis@btinternet.com Treasurer: Tony Hazell Email: carmelcoaches@hotmail.com Tania Haycocks Shaun Millership Charlotte Rowland Alan Welsh Val Welsh Revd Leigh Winsbury [ExOfficio] PAGE 6
the School Headmaster, and even an opportunity to peer through a microscope lens at some of the smallest inhabitants of the church yard, all part of the Devon Historic Churches Trust open day. PAGE 7
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