BRAYFORD      

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

 
BRAYFORD PARISH COUNCIL
 
Parish Council Meetings
The next Parish Council Meetings will be held on Thursday 18th February and on Thursday 18th March 2010 at 7.30pm in Brayford Village Hall.  Parish Council meeting minutes are on show at 4 notice boards - The Nook, Village Hall, High Bray and Charles (by the Church), and also on the Brayford website.
 
Church Bells
There will be a parish meeting held at Brayford Village Hall on Thursday 11^th February at 7.30pm to assess the parish's views on the proposal to restore the bells to ringing condition at High Bray Church.
 
Village Play Area
The Play Area was officially opened by Johnny Kingdom on 5^th December and this was reported in the North Devon Journal on 30^th December.
 
Carols at The Nook 
The Collection taken at Carols at The Nook raised £130 for North Devon Hospice.

Neighbourhood Watch
Parish Cllr. Tony George has offered to attend small groups, e.g. W.I., Garden Club, Skittles, Boomerangs etc., with their permission, to promote interest in the Neighbourhood Watch Scheme, with special regard to crime prevention and the messaging system.  Tony Abbott is the Neighbourhood Watch representative for Brayford village.
 
The Millennium Garden 
As many parishioners will know, the Parish Council have been involved in a lengthy dispute over the ownership of part of the land in front of the garages by the bridge. This dispute was subsequently resolved following a Hearing held at Taunton at the end of November. The decision of the Court was that the area disputed was "highway", with the Parish Council being awarded costs of approx £21,000.
 
The Parish Council have been very concerned about the escalated costs that this case has involved, but felt obliged to defend the rights of the community. They have much appreciated the support provided by many of the parishioners, both during the Adjudicator’s visit to inspect the area, and at the subsequent court hearing.
 
In view of the Court’s decision, the solicitors for the Parish Council have been instructed to write to Devon CC asking for reinstatement of the licence agreement to use the land for public use (previously granted and subsequently amended), and for the removal of the obstruction (fence) that has been erected besides the garages. The solicitors will also inform DCC that the Parish Council consider this matter closed and DCC must now respond to any further issues that may arise regarding ownership.
 
Should there be any further contentious issues within the parish, it is proposed that future Village Newsletters will carry a short note of developments that occur. Details will also continue to be recorded in the monthly PC Minutes.

Brayford School
We started the spring term a little later than scheduled because of the bad weather, although the children enjoyed the sledging. We would like to welcome Bethany and Flora our two new reception children.
School needs your help. We are taking the junior class on a residential trip to London for 3 days in May this year. However, the cost of this trip is high so we have decided to try and raise funds to help bring the cost down for all parents. Parents will be organising a ‘Sunday Lunch’ and a ‘70’s/80’s night’ both to be held in the village hall within the next couple of months. Please look out for posters with details of these events and lend your support. School is still collecting Nestle Box Tops and will also be joining the Tesco Voucher scheme in March in order to collect books and equipment for the children. There is also a PTFA Cake Stall held in school at 3.00pm on the last Monday of every month to raise funds for the PTFA. All are welcome.
 

Brayford Boomerangs
Best wishes and good luck to Flora and Bethany who started at Brayford Primary School at the beginning of January. Our topic this term will be 'Air' and we will be enjoying finding out about the wind, flags, paper aeroplanes and kites as well as lots of other fun things. We are also looking forward to Miss Lewis from Brayford Primary School visiting us again this term to help us work on our letters and sounds. 
 
Thank you to Brayford Parish Council for the wonderful new play area – we are really enjoying it! Thank you for the unexpected donation from the Brayford Television Association; we will make very good use of it. A big thank you to John Smallridge for giving us a computer; it will provide important support for our children’s IT learning and development. 
 

 
Thank you to Mrs Bearman and Brayford Primary School for providing us with temporary use of a classroom when the Village Hall was unavailable due to frozen pipes in the snowy weather! We are looking forward to 2 new children joining us this term. If you require any details about Brayford Boomerangs Pre-School please contact Fiona.

Gardening Club
On Wednesday 17 February we have what promises to be a very interesting talk on Bee Keeping by Tony Wright, and on Wednesday 17 March David Hopkins will be telling us all about Vegetable Growing. Both meetings are in the Village Hall, starting at 7.30pm, and we look forward to seeing all our regular members and hopefully some new ones too. Membership is currently only £5 for the year and we have a varied programme of talks, demonstrations and visits lined up – the full programme is here.
 
Brayford Flower Show
The Flower Show this year is on 21 August and the preliminary schedule is now available.  The full schedule, rules and entry form will be issued later in the year with the newsletter. We look forward to lots of entries to once again produce a successful show.
 

Brayford WI
We were delighted our Christmas party was so well attended.  Mrs. Penny Blower, Colour me Beautiful, was a very interesting speaker and we all enjoyed her colour/fashion show very much. This was followed by the Christmas fairy bearing gifts, and a delicious supper. Our January meeting was held a week late and in the afternoon, due to snowy conditions, and we were very pleased to welcome members of the House of Heroes (Ovis Farm) and to listen to their experiences, and the work they do at Ovis. How fortunate we are to have such dedicated people on our doorstep.  Next month, 10^th February at 7.15 pm, Ian Roome will be talking about the Children's Hospice. All are welcome. Cost £3 per evening, which includes high tea. 

Mothers' Union
A big thank you to everyone who supported our coffee morning in January, we raised £106 for M.U. funds. On Friday we went to Joan’s and put together toiletries for A & E at Barnstaple Hospital. Please see the Diary Dates for details of M.U. activities.

Brayford Conservative Group
The Gift Auction now to be held on Friday 26^th February at 7.00pm had to be postponed from the autumn. Sadly, our President Drinda Gardner died in December. She was keen that Phillip Milton, our prospective candidate, should have an opportunity to meet and discuss any issues with local people. There will be a buffet supper and a welcome drink. Any saleable items, including produce etc, will be gratefully received. Doors open at 7pm. Tickets are £5 and available from Ruth or on the door.

Charles Church
Despite the inconvenient conditions, the Christmas spirit survived. Thanks to all those who salted dangerous corners and lethal slopes, and to the council for gritting many of the roads and lanes. Without their thoughtfulness, many could not have got out at all. The church has been given a new Nativity set, installed underneath the Altar and the children took part bringing individual figures forward in the appropriate Carol. The Church has also been given a new lectern Bible with good bold print. Lent of course starts Tuesday 22^nd February at 7.30pm at the Old Chapel, Charles Bottom. Everyone welcome, five evenings, each a stand alone study.

Methodist Chapel
Our services are held at 11am and 6.30pm each Sunday, with a Circuit Service at Duke Street, South Molton on the first Sunday evening of each month. Our lively Sunday Club is held every 2^nd and 3^rd Sunday from 11am ~ 12noon. It is well supported by the local 3 year olds to 11 year olds. Our own minister is Deacon Rona Eastman and our Circuit Minister is Bob Kitching. They will be pleased to help you if you need them. 
 
Community Coffee Mornings
There will be community coffee mornings on Wednesday 3^rd Feb and Wednesday 3^rd March at 10.30am at the Chapel. Do come and have a chat with your friends or, if you are new to the village or haven’t been before, there is a warm welcome.  Everyone is welcome to this free and friendly get together.

High Bray Church
We had a wonderful evening in church with Brayford School’s Nativity. Which the children wrote and produced themselves, joined by the Boomerangs, the church was full. Thank you Ruth Edwards and helpers for super food and mulled juice. Exmoor Carollers came on a freezing cold night but we all forgot about the weather as we sang very old Exmoor Carols.  Mrs Drinda Gardner, a very strong supporter of our church, died unexpectedly in December. The Thanksgiving Service was full, a mark of the love and respect everyone had for her, a very smart lady always amongst the first to offer help for anyone in need, we shall miss her in many different ways.
We are having a quiet Evening of Music in church on Friday 5^th March at 7pm followed by coffee at Ray & Ruby’s. Please come if you can.

 Thanks to the Newsletter Editor for providing Newsletter information.
 

Supported by Brayford Parish Council