N O R NTE WHS L E W NORTHLEW SCHOOL AT 160 CONFESSIONS OF A NORTHLEWIAN EXPLORING NORTHLEW CROSSES PLUS: BANDAMONIUM SCHEDULE WESTDEVON MAYOR COMMENDS VILLAGE COMMUNITY SPIRIT NEWS SNIPPETS www.northlewparishcouncil.org.uk
With all the English shame, the puritan reproach Of doing nothing on this soft, still day, I sit and think of little. I should be doing something, at least, Mending the battered gate, Trying to understand Spinoza, Stop being hypnotised by seed packets. Get the seed going, and the toolbox open. If, said my sedated mind, you were rich, You could send cheques to the Sunday papers like chaff; The house would shine, high fashioned and impermeable, With the new toy, the faked-up artistry. Lowlier men would fix the garden gate, Unblock the gutters; their exorbitance Would turn no hair, excite me nothing. But the head, on Sunday, revolves some old prophets. If you were rich, perhaps the weight would destroy you. Watching over the garnering, looking for the rust, The lower dividend, the fear of being down To your last million, and a vengeful world Waiting to break your life, since having Is the bane and pleasure of us all. I sit quietly with my love and rest. The man I envied yesterday For what he had and I had not, Died in the night. The lion passes But the tethered lamb survives. Let then the famous to their agonies; The fears they must not show eat them away. For me, the peace is in my anonymity. Our poem for this edition was written by the late father of one of our villagers and is very fitting for sunny Sunday’s during our season of heatwaves. The photo was taken during one such heatwave just below the White Lady waterfall in the temperate rainforest of Lydford Gorge.
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 Northlew School at 160................................................................................................Page 3 West Devon Mayor visits Northlew............................................................................Page 5 The very best of engagement. Rev Chris Jackson..................................................Page 7 Stowford Meadow Singers...........................................................................................Page 8 Musings from the pew: Rev Leigh Winsbury.............................................................Page 9 Be Fun Weekend.............................................................................................................Page 11 Bandamonium................................................................................................................Page 13 Confessions of a Northlewian.....................................................................................Page 14 The Three Crosses of Northlew..................................................................................Page 16 From the Archive. 24 July 1900.................................................................................Page 19 Quiz time: Know your Devon Beaches.......................................................................Page 20 News Snippets from around the village ...................................................................Page 21 Passing on the Legacy / Victory Hall update / Angi’s Ambients Northlew Nature: Worms.............................................................................................Page 23 Tania’s Tart’s: Leintz Torte... .......................................................................................Page 26 Cottage Garden Wildlife...............................................................................................Page 27 My Flax Journey.............................................................................................................Page 28 INFORMATION PAGES Your Parish Council ...................................................................................Page 31 Sports and Recreation ..............................................................................Page 32 Community Contacts.................................................................................Page 33 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.GOV.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.
Victor Hulbert I must be getting old as the GP recommended an audiology visit. I did, and now I am unexpectedly the proud owner of hearing aids - and suddenly the bird song I love has got even clearer! I’m still not quite used to this amazing technology in my ear, [thank you NHS,] but the most pleasant thing about my whole visit was the friendliness of the audiologist. She grew up in a nearby village. I won’t name it for legal reasons as she was bemoaning it’s decline! However, when she learned that I was from Northlew she immediately started enthusing over the village, telling me it was one of the nicest and friendliest villages she has ever visited. Find out about our three historic crosses (page 16) and our efforts to increase our abundance of wild flowers (page 9) She was particularly enthusiastic about The Green Dragon and assured me that these new aids would be a massive asset when I enjoy my Wednesday lunch there. It would also help in church, with the Methodist Market, and the upcoming Produce and Craft show, and when Nads put on their next performance in the the Victory Hall. I may need to turn them down lower for Bandemonium! The hearing aids certainly helped with the recent Open Gardens afternoon in Ashbury, a delightful social time that raised £1651.75 towards the Victory Hall roof refurbishment. Well done to Marion and Bryan Dufty, Alastair and Catherine Campbell, and all the volunteers who gave us such a brilliant afternoon. Even the weather obliged. Did you share your memories of Northlew School? Celebrate 160 years on pages 3 & 4. There are so many exciting things happening across the village, a number of which feature in this edition of Northlew News. Most of them also rely on volunteers and it is a delight to see so many involved in keeping our village alive. Of course, there is always room for more so if you would like to join in volunteering - don’t be shy - a very warm welcome awaits you. PAGE 2
Northlew and Ashbury Primary School Sarah Counter Headteacher A particular highlight to conclude my first year as Headteacher of Northlew and Ashbury Primary School, was undoubtedly our 160th Anniversary Celebration on Sunday, 5 July. It was a truly wonderful afternoon that brought together current and former pupils, past staff, families, and members of our wider community to celebrate the school’s rich history. The event offered a fascinating journey through the school's past and present. Visitors enjoyed displays of old and recent photographs, reflecting on how both the school and its pupils have changed over the decades. Many also explored the historic log books, gaining a unique insight into the experiences of children and staff who walked through our doors generations ago. It was heartwarming to hear stories shared across generations and to see so many people reunite through their connection to the school. The celebration was a wonderful reminder of the important role Northlew and Ashbury Primary School has played at the heart of the community for 160 years. The event also included the official opening of our new play area, a delightful result of committed fundraising. The ribbon was cut by two of our committed supporters, Mags Jarvis and Morgan Witzel. Writing on the Village Facebook page, Louise Fewings enthused, “Well done to all involved today. It was great seeing all the improvements in school since we were last there. And lovely seeing old and new faces. A massive well done to the PTFA on the playground too. That is such an achievement and a lot of hard work put in by you and all of the community.” One year in, I am incredibly proud of what our pupils, staff, families, and wider community have achieved together. I have been touched by the warmth, dedication, and sense of belonging that make our school such a special place. It has been a privilege to be a part of it. This academic year has been filled with challenges, successes, growth, and opportunities. Our PAGE 3
day. Whether in the classroom, on the sports field, through creative projects, or during enrichment activities, they have consistently impressed us with their enthusiasm, resilience, and kindness. Their achievements are a testament not only to their own efforts but also to the commitment and professionalism of our staff, who work tirelessly to provide the best learning experiences for every child. One of the most notable aspects of this year has been the continued support from our families and the wider community. The partnership between home and school is incredibly important, and I am so grateful for the encouragement, trust, and support that parents and carers provide. From attending school events to volunteering their time and supporting fundraising activities, our families play a crucial role in helping our school thrive. I have enjoyed seeing strengthened links with the church. Working closely with Reverends Leigh and Jonathan has undoubtedly enriched the life of our school. Through collective worship, special services and shared community events, they have helped our pupils deepen their understanding of compassion, respect and service to others. Such partnerships continue to strengthen the caring and inclusive ethos at the heart of our school. This year provided some truly memorable opportunities beyond the classroom. This includes three highly successful residential visits. At Okehampton Adventure Centre, children challenged themselves through a range of outdoor activities, boosting their confidence, independence, and teamwork. Meanwhile, visits to Bristol and Bath gave pupils exciting opportunities to explore history, culture, and heritage in meaningful and engaging ways. I would like to extend a heartfelt thank you to our incredible PTFA, whose hard work, dedication, and enthusiasm make such a difference to our school, especially making the anniversary celebrations such a success. Throughout the year, they have given countless hours organising events and fundraising activities, creating additional opportunities for our pupils and strengthening our school community. We deeply appreciate their efforts. In the next academic year, we are committed to expanding the enrichment opportunities available to our pupils so they continue to benefit from a broad, inspiring, and memorable educational experience. I am also delighted to welcome Mrs Lora Medland to our team. She will be working alongside our existing staff teaching Early Years and Years 1 and 2. She will make a valuable contribution to the life of our school. Thank you, everyone, for your continued support, encouragement, and dedication. This year, we have achieved so much, and I am excited about future possibilities. A brilliant afternoon! What an amazing range of old photographs you had and great to see all the old minute books and admissions registers. Helen Hawken PAGE 4
visits Northlew Patronal Service and Church fête The Mayor for West Devon Council, Chris Edmonds, spent what he described as “a highly enjoyable afternoon” at Northlew on Saturday, 4 July. Mayors are sometimes known to undertake official engagements for a token amount of time before making a discreet exit. After all, they have a busy diary. Not so for Councillor Edmonds, who took the entire afternoon to attend the St Thomas’ church Patronal Service, and then the ensuing fête and cream tea next door in Church Gate Farm. You can’t blame him for staying. In addition to the normal stalls and activities, this year saw the addition of a fencing display with many adults, youth, and children having a go. Dressed in chain mail, Rev Leigh Winsbury seemed to fit naturally into the role while encouraging others to take part. He also joined the ‘over 50’s’ team for a very enthusiastic tug-of-war against younger members of the village. Despite their best efforts, and a small amount of good-hearted cheating, the elders’ wisdom and age gave way to the muscle and enthusiasm of the younger set who bested them in two of the three rounds. Rev Leigh’s engagement perhaps reinforced his earlier message inside the church: Getting involved, standing up for what is right despite the cost, and realising what is important in life. Sampling the cream teas, the BBQ, various stalls, enjoying the music of Northlew Silver Band, and joining in a few of the challenging games takes time, and with good company, villagers lingered long. Mayor Edmonds commented on how well the substantial attendance reflected the community spirit of the village. PAGE 5
Edmonds spent the entire afternoon sampling all that is best in Northlew. Having lived his whole life fairly locally, he knows Northlew well with several good friends in the village. But it is not just Northlew that he has committed to visiting. “When I became mayor, I was told that since the Covid-lockdown there had been a decrease in invites to official functions,” he stated. “I decided to reverse the trend and attempt to visit every parish during my year in office. As there are fifty-two that may be a challenge, but so far, I’m finding it very rewarding.” Being mayor is a ceremonial role that includes hosting or attending events, welcoming visitors, and promoting the Borough of West Devon. He is also an ambassador for the Borough and its residents. For Northlew residents, it was a particular joy to see the active connection and interest between the Borough Council and the village. As the main motivating force behind the day, church warden Tania Haycocks, was more than satisfied with the success. “A big ‘thank you’ to everyone who helped make the church festival and fête a great day. A winning combination of traditional teas, bar and BBQ, maypole, sword fighting, the ‘tug o war’, the band, all the stall holders, and the children who murdered St Thomas Beckett.” PAGE 6
Engagement Rev Chris Jackson. Superintendent Minister West Devon Circuit of the Methodist Church Photo Credit: Nelson Ndongala on UnSplash As I write this article, the World Cup is in full swing, and Wimbledon has just begun. Sports fans are in a state of delirium as though Christmas and birthdays have all come together in some kind of heavenly bonanza. For others, however, the invasion of silly people hitting and kicking balls around a pitch or a court has simply ruined their TV viewing schedules. However much I keep telling my wife that the WWorld Cup only comes around every four years, I fear my pleas of justification are falling on deaf ears as I sit in front of the TV on yet another evening to watch a country that has us all rushing to our atlases to locate it, playing the mighty France, Spain, or Brazil. But what of the world itself? Has life stopped just to watch sport? Perhaps sport for a lot of us has become an escape from the realities of the real world? Has our world become so distressing for people that escapism is the preferred state of being? I know this sounds a little profound for a summer newsletter, but it is something that genuinely concerns me for several reasons. Escapism is good. It is a way to temporarily immerse oneself in something that does not truly matter in the greater scheme of things. The danger comes when that escapism becomes our reality, whether via social media, sport, TV, or any number of other media. It is a bit like shutting our door, closing our curtains, and denying our own involvement in society and community. As human beings, we are created to be social, to live with other people rather than to be separate from them. As I understand the Bible story, God created our world so that He could dwell with humanity. It is not about individualism but about a community of people coming together to form a society and structure based on ways of living that support those within its community. People are expected to be involved. So, what goes wrong? I am not going to suggest some grand solution to the world’s ills… that is way beyond anything I could possibly imagine. However, there is something important in us looking out for our neighbours and living in the real world that surrounds us outside of our front doors. We learn about each other, we respect others that are different from us (we are all unique), and we serve humanity rather than simply take from it. Jesus taught this stuff, and obviously, as a Church Minister, that matters deeply to me. Photo credit: Nensi Patel on UnSplash PAGE 7
Fleepit Digital © 2021