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 Meeting will be held on Thursday 20th July in Brayford Village Hall at 7.30pm.
 
Best Kept Village Competition
Please do all you can to help Keep Brayford Tidy for the competition. Please pick up any litter you see lying around.
 
BBC Radio Devon
John Coates would like to contact individuals with a "story to tell" so that he can invite them to take part in an interview for BBC Radio Devon. Coates in Conversation is a programme to be broadcast on weekday afternoons and is intended to provide sufficient time, in longer interviews, that give greater understanding of topics and individuals. The interview could be either live (between 3 and 4 pm) or recorded at a mutually convenient time. There are studios in Exeter, Plymouth, Torbay and Barnstaple. For a recording John can visit almost any suitable location or it can be arranged in one of the Devon Studios. If you can help, please telephone John on 01752 260323 or via e-mail at john.coates@bbc.co.uk. You can also write to him at BBC, Broadcasting House, Seymour Road, Mannamead, Plymouth, PL3 5YQ.
 
Internal Auditor
Brian Down, who edited our Newsletter for many years, has resigned as Internal Auditor to the Parish Council. If anyone feels able to fill this position, please contact Margaret Hartnoll, Parish Clerk for further details.
 
Play Area
This project is moving forward with the area now decided. A business plan will be drawn up, including design and cost of equipment. Grants can then be sought and local fund-raising initiated.
 
Neighbourhood Watch
During the period from mid March to mid April, there was a theft of power tools from a vehicle at Homedale and the theft of a chainsaw at Lydcott. During the period from mid April to 19^th May, no crimes reported. However, one parishioner reported their car alarm going off at night, although no theft or damage was found.

Gardening Club
Mrs Recycle gave a very interesting talk on composting in May inspiring us to think more environmentally. Our next two meetings will be visits. On 14^th June we are joining with WI members to visit Marwood Hill Gardens meeting at 6.20 pm in the Village Hall car park. On 19^th July (again meeting in the Village Hall car park at 6.20 pm), we have been invited to visit Orswell Cottage Gardens, on the edge of Stoke Rivers, which is an organic smallholding with pretty gardens, vegetable garden, poly-tunnels, goats, sheep, chickens, etc. These gardens are also open as part of the Organic Open Gardens Scheme on 8^th and 9^th and 22^nd and 23^rd July from 12-4 pm.
 

Brayford Flower Show
Brayford is celebrating its 85^th Flower Show on Saturday, 19^th August, and to mark this occasion we are planning to produce a souvenir programme. We would like to include some advertisements in the programme, so if anyone in or around the Parish would like to advertise their business, please contact the Gardening Club Treasurer, David Swash, no later than 1^st July.

The Duck Race
The weather brightened and dried for Duck Race Day, but due to the heavy rain last week the river was too swollen and fast to allow the ducks to actually race. The organisers thought someone might report them to the RSPB! However, there was plenty of entertainment on offer from the Barnstaple and District Dog Agility Team and local band 4-5-1, together with Pony Rides, Penalty Shoot-Out, Plants, Cakes, Teas, and various other competitions. It was a good chance to catch up with friends too.
The Village Hall Committee would like to thank all those who helped and those who attended.

Brayford Flower Festival
This is a joint event being held by the Methodist Church, High Bray Church and Charles Church, which will be held at the Methodist Church. On Saturday 17^th June there will be a Strawberry Tea at 3 pm. On Sunday 18^th June there will be United Service at 11 am conducted by Rev. Peter Attwood. The Chapel will be open in the afternoon with tea available and at 6.30 pm there will be a Songs of Praise. The proceeds of the Flower Festival will be divided between the three churches and the proceeds of the Strawberry Tea will be for the Methodist Church. We hope we will see many of you over the weekend.
 

Methodist Church
Our services will be at 11 am and 6.30 pm as usual throughout the coming months but on Sunday, 30^th July we will celebrate the Chapel Anniversary. There will be a service at 11 am taken by Anthony Huxtable who was born at Shutescombe.
 
Coffee Mornings
Don’t forget there are Coffee Mornings at the Methodist Schoolroom on 7^th June and 5^th July at 10 am. Please call in for a chat.

High Bray Church
We have had a Church Organ very kindly donated to us by Dr Barley from Seaton. It sounds wonderful, so do come and join in any service to hear it.
 
On Friday, 30^th June, we are having an auction of gifts, large and small, at the Village Hall, to raise money for High Bray Church. Martyn Coombes will be our auctioneer. Please support the evening and bring your items for sale and funds to buy!! To make it a good night, we need to see you there.

Charles News
The highlight of the month at Charles, will be a Festival Service, followed by refreshments on Sunday, 11^th June at 6.30 pm, when the Bishop of Crediton, Bishop Bob will be the preacher. Also, during the weekend of 10^th/11^th June there will be an exhibition of local history in the Church.
 
For those who would welcome a guided tour of the Holy Land in the autumn, please note that the Vicar, Rev. Peter Attwood will be leading a party from 24^th October to 2^nd November. Details are in the Church.

Various potholes have been repaired around the parish and drainage channels cleared, for which we are grateful!
 

 
The South Molton Team Council of Churches has now been replaced by three "families" of Churches and Charles & High Bray will be linked with North Molton, Chittlehampton and surrounding parishes. Team Focus magazine will be published until December 2006. Chris Whinney and Sarah Burnett were re-appointed as Church Wardens and Jonathan Hudson as Lay Chairman at the recent Church AGM. The annual report of an interesting year and the annual accounts can be seen on the Church Noticeboard. Routine architectural inspection of the fabric identified no major problems, although some routine maintenance will be undertaken.

Brayford Boomerangs
We are pleased to welcome Sarah Beard, who is now Chris’ Assistant. This half term the children are learning about the history of and types of "clothes", which is lots of fun. In May, the children were hoping to have a surfing lesson at Westward Ho! Beach with Justin Hillyer of North Devon Surf School. We had a fabulous Live Music and Wine Evening at the end of March.

On Friday 21st July, we are holding a 'Masked Ball' at the Village Hall, where you can dance the night away to the band 'Sonix' . We are hoping to arrange a spit roast so if anyone has any spare wood for this, please let us know. Tickets available from Boomerangs parents.

Mothers Union
The Mothers’ Union Diocese of Exeter Spring Council meeting on 6^th June will be a Filleigh Village Hall at 10.30 am. Tea and coffee will be available but bring a packed lunch. At 1.45 pm Mrs Fay Wilson Rudd will be our guest speaker. All are welcome, so please join us, as it is an honour to have the meeting in our part of Devon.
 
The Mothers’ Union Festival with Banners will be held at St Margaret’s Church, Northam, on Wednesday, 21^st June. Coffee and tea will be available from 10 am and there will be a Eucharist at 10.45 am. There will also be a "Bring and Share Lunch". July 5^th will be a Quiet Day at Filleigh Church with Rev. Colin Davis from 10 am to 3 pm. Bring a packed lunch.

Women's Institute
Members enjoyed Dr David Berger’s talk on his experiences as Ship’s Doctor on a Voyage to Antarctica. Attendance was good for our walk around Wistlandpound Reservoir and we enjoyed supper at Blackmoor Gate. In May Pat Witheridge talked about Pottery and Chain and markings and dates.
 
On 5^th June at 9.45 am we are going to Crediton Church Flower Festival. On 14^th June, we are meeting in the Village Hall car park at 6.20 pm to go to Marwood Hill Gardens. The W.I. Walking Group will meet in the Village Hall car park on the last Wednesday of each month at 11 am. On 12^th July Geoffrey Fisher will be telling us how to "Have Fun with Sponge" (Cookery!!). This meeting will be in the Village Hall at 7.15 pm.
 

An Invitation
Amanda would like to invite you to an Aloe Vera party at Homedale on Saturday, 10^th June starting at 5.30 pm, with a free glass of wine and nibbles.
 
Aloe Vera is not just used in after-sun; it has a wide range of uses from toothpaste to creams for eczema and a gel that you drink.
And it’s not just for people; there are many uses for animals too. One of Amanda's own dogs is on the drinking gel - her skin and coat are a lot healthier now and her breath (which you could smell from across the room!) is an awful lot better.

Come Dancing
Well done Selina for organising such a wonderful evening which was enjoyed by children and adults alike. You worked very hard to bring it together, as well as raising over £400 for our Village Hall Funds.

Garden Party
On Saturday, 3^rd June, from 2.30 to 5.00 pm there will be a Garden Party at Cott Bridge, Loxhore. Come and relax in this extensive natural streamside garden and enjoy a delicious cream tea. Music will be provided by the Swingboat Quintet and all proceeds are for Cancer Research UK.
 

World Environment Day
Did you know that 5^th June is World Environment Day, which was created by the United Nations General Assembly in 1972? Ever since, on this day, people all over the world have been raising awareness about environment issues and participating in all kinds of activities – from green concerts in Sydney to poster competitions in Doha – to celebrate the environment. This year in the UK, the Environment Agency is asking everyone to Promise the Earth by carrying out one or more of 10 easy lifestyle changes to save water and energy and reduce waste, or hold an event to raise awareness of the environment. To see what promises you can make, please visit the website at www.environment-agency.gov.uk/wed or visit the drop-ins at one of the following:
 
Barnstaple Green Lanes Shopping Centre 2^nd June
Exeter Guildhall Shopping Centre 10^th June
 

Special thanks to the Newsletter Editor for providing extracts from the Newsletter.

Supported by Brayford Parish Council