BRAYFORD      

A rural parish in North Devon, England including Brayford village, High Bray and Charles, and a part of Exmoor National Park

Archive

Parish Council News
 
A Thank You
The PC hope that everyone enjoyed the carol service at the Nook and are sure you will agree that it looked very festive. They would like to extend their thanks to Bill Ludgate and Andy Wright for the donation of the tree and electricity.
 
Parish Trees
New trees are currently being planted by the PC in the parish. They hope you will agree they will enhance the landscape.
 
Shop Hill Junction/A399
The PC would like to express their thanks to Councillor Geen for his recent support for Brayford’s representation to NDDC and the Devon Highways Committee regarding improvements at Shop Hill Junction.  His help has provided proof for Brayford’s case, resulting in the County Council’s Highways Department being asked to act on recommendations made and begin work as soon as possible. The PC will be following this up and seeking urgent action.
 
Freedom of Information
From 2005 each local authority has to conform to the Government’s ‘Freedom of Information’ Act. The PC confirm that they will be in a position to comply with the Act.
 
Brayford Website
The Parish Council has approved in principle the creation of a website for Brayford. The primary aims are to provide a general source of information about the parish - its history, geography, scenery, amenities, clubs, societies and groups; and to provide frequently updated information about forthcoming events, club and society activities, and other current local news.
The website is currently at an early stage of development, and is in no way intended to replace the printed newsletter, which will continue to be the main method of communicating information around the parish.
 
Neighbourhood Watch
The Neighbourhood Watch Co-ordinators all receive regular information from the police, keeping them informed of any important incidents likely to affect the community. In the last couple of days the messages have related to car crime and the manner in which cars are so easily broken into, with contents stolen or indeed vehicles themselves being taken.
The problem for each co-ordinator is in disseminating this information and making it available to people in the parish. If you have any thoughts on how this may be achieved or are able to assist the flow of information in any way, contact your nearest co-ordinator.
Although there have been no incidents in Brayford Parish since the last newsletter, there have been recent break-ins at East and West Buckland so please be vigilant. Tell your co-ordinators immediately you are aware of something untoward so this information can be shared as well as avoiding speculative rumours.
 

Boomerangs
The Boomerangs Committee would like to thank everyone who helped and supported their Christmas Fayre. The event was hugely successful and raised over £600 for pre-school funds. Bridget Golightly won their competition with John and Margaret Thorne and Angela King receiving joint 2^nd prize.
The Boomerangs are pleased to welcome Jackie Wildig as their new play leader and Dawn Jemmison as the new assistant. They are always pleased to welcome new children so if you want any information, please contact Tracey Thorne or Carole Gentle.

Brayford School
Everyone associated with the school wishes you a happy new year and thanks everyone who attended their carol service which raised £72 for the Barnstaple Poverty Action Group.
Their play this year is ‘Sir Spence and a Dragon Called Horace’ and will be held on Thursday 20^th February at 2pm and Friday 21^st February at 7pm.
On 4^th March at 2pm, the school will be having ‘pancake races’ which will take place in the school grounds. They would like to invite all pre-school children and adults to take part so please go along and join the fun.

Brayford Football Club
Many people in Brayford will probably not be aware that in the 1950s Brayford had its very own football club. The club closed in the 1960s because of dwindling interest but on the 19^th January last, 70 members, their wives and other people associated with the club met for a nostalgic night out at the Fortescue Hotel in Barnstaple. Some ex-players had not seen each other for 50 years.
The club still had over £400 in the bank and they decide to split this between Brayford Primary School and the Children’s Hospice SW. A photograph and write-up appeared in the 23^rd January edition of the ND Journal.

High Bray Church
Mothering Sunday service will be held on 30^th March at 11.15am. Ruth would like children to come at 10.45am to make posies. Members of the church welcome you to this all of their services.

Charles Church
Work on tidying up the churchyard is well under way. A dehumidifier has recently been purchased by the church to deal with the internal damp problem. As with all their services, you are most welcome to attend their Mothering Sunday service at 6.30pm on the 30^th March.
 

Parent and Toddlers
A reminder that the Parent and Toddlers Group meets on a Tuesday morning from 10am to 12 noon in the Methodist Chapel schoolroom. If your children would like to attend, a warm welcome awaits you from Sarah Stone.

Women’s Institute
The WI meeting on the 12^th February will feature a speaker from Exmoor Zoological Centre who will be talking about rare animals. On the 12^th March, David Ryall will give us a talk on ‘local family history’. Both meetings are in the Village Hall and start at 7.15pm. Don’t forget that non-members, including men, can attend.

Mothers Union
On Tuesday 18^th February at 7.30pm the Mothers Union will be meeting at North Molton Methodist Church where the speaker will be Jenny Buckle. She will be talking about her work in Channingswood Prison. Men are welcome to attend this event.
The Lady Day Holy Communion will be included in the 8.30am service at High Bray on the 6^th April.
 

Fasten the Gates
If you use any of the designated footpaths in Brayford, would you please ensure that all gates are properly closed and fastened so that animals don’t roam free.

Gardening Club
The residents of Beech House, South Molton would like to say a public thank you to members of Brayford Gardening Club who gave up a day last year to take some of them to Rosemoor.
On the 19^th February the club will be meeting at Mike and Norma Thorne’s to view a gardening video. Dr Gavin Haig will be the guest speaker at the meeting on 19^th March and he will tell you about ‘healing with plants’. The club need a good audience for this meeting so why not go along, even if you are not a member. Both events start at 7.30pm.
Any early warning for participants in the Brayford Flower Show. The date of the show this year will be Saturday 16^th August, a little later to fit in with the growing season in the area.
 

Supported by Brayford Parish Council