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 20th August and on Thursday 17th September 2009 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.
 
News
The Freedom of Information Act, new publication scheme, will be available on the website. Also on the website is an Accommodation page, to advertise costs £5 per year to be paid to the Parish Clerk. To advertise in the Newsletter costs £3 - £5 per advertisement, also to be paid to the Parish Clerk.
 
Village Play Area
David Gosling and Alan Boddington are hoping to assemble volunteers during the school holidays for further work on the Play Area - notices will be put round the village!
 
Neighbourhood Watch
P.C. D.Chapman and P.C. F.Clopet came to the Parish Council meeting in July.  They have agreed  to help re-vamp our Neighbourhood Watch scheme, and will set up a meeting shortly to give advice on Best Practice.  They still are reminding everyone to keep sheds/garages locked and thieves are still around looking for quad bikes, strimmers etc.  They also warned that travellers, driving yellow tipper vehicles, are offering to tarmac drives etc.  Make sure of the legitimacy of anyone you employ to carry out work. For advice or to voice concerns contact PC Julie Bradshaw or PCSO Michael Livett at South Molton Station on 01769 575053.
 

 
Brayford Flower Show
This year the Flower Show is on Saturday 15 August, opening to the public at 3.30pm. In addition to the displays of Flowers, Vegetables, Arrangements, Cookery and Handicrafts there will be refreshments and a raffle. If you’ve never entered before why not have a go this year – it’s a very friendly and relaxed show, and the more entries there are the better it will be.
Schedule and Entry Form 
 

Gardening Club
In June we had an evening visit to Charles Bottom where Anna gave us some invaluable information about propagation and a chance to practise what we had learnt. We then had a tour of two wonderful gardens and finished with tea and biscuits. Thanks to Anna and Chris, and Hans and Doris for their hospitality.
 
Our trip in July started with a visit to Westcountry Nurseries to see the National Collection of lupins – a beautiful display and an interesting talk. We then went to Cheristow Lavender Farm for a very tasty lunch and a leisurely wander around.
 
On Wednesday 16 September at 7.30pm in the Village Hall we have our AGM and a plant swap.
 

Brayford School
Many thanks to all who supported the school ‘Summer Fete’. In excess of £300 was raised for school funds. The school play, which was enjoyed by everyone, was hard work preparing for the performances but it all went well. We were really proud of them.
 
Our Year 6 children recently went on their residential trip to Skern Lodge with Mrs Bearman. They had an energetic but wonderful weekend. The trip made a good end for their years spent at Brayford school. They will be moving on to their respective schools in September and we wish them well.
 
In September we will be joined by 3 new children in the Infant class and 2 new children in the Junior class. We would like to wish them all a warm welcome. We return to school in Thursday 3^rd September.

Well Done
Well done and thank you to the pupils of Brayford school. We spent the evening watching them perform ‘Ballooning Around the World’, every pupil (and helpers) playing their part to put together this wonderful evening. There was even a celebrity, Johnny Kingdom, who is very interested in his old school and was happy to attend. Well done -  everybody!!!

Brayford Boomerangs
This term our children have enjoyed several sessions in the infants classroom at Brayford School, whilst the school children held their play rehearsals in the Village Hall. Our Sports Day was a lot of fun, cheering, shouting and laughter for everyone and of course the obligatory parents race which was only a little competitive! Our children enjoyed digging up, preparing, cooking and eating delicious new potatoes which they had grown in their vegetable tubs outside the Village Hall. We welcome Cate who has joined us this term. We say goodbye and good luck to Oli, Luke and Oli who moves up to Brayford Primary School in September 2009 and we also say farewell to Dylan and William. Term starts again on Friday 4 September 2009. We wish everyone happy summer holidays.
 

 

Brayford WI
Spence Kingdom's reminiscences of his Brayford childhood were very interesting and entertaining.  We all very much enjoyed his visit at our July meeting. Our President, Mrs. Ruth Knights is kindly hosting the W.I. annual lunch in the relaxed atmosphere and lovely gardens of South Deans at the end of July. We are hoping that the Peninsular School of Medicine will send a lecturer on Wednesday 9^th September to talk about their research into Diabetes, Neurology, Human and Environment Health.

Mothers' Union
Thank you Ruth and Mike Edwards, as usual a super ‘Summer Lunch’ followed by a talk by Lisa Elson who has just completed six months as a nurse in Vietnam. We are so glad she enjoyed her time there and most importantly, came back safely, thank you to all who helped in anyway. In June we went to Brayford school to talk to the infants about what we ate and did when we were aged 7 years old and moving on books were given to the leavers at the school. Rev Peter Attwood will lead the Festival at Landkey Church on Thursday 10^th September at 10.30am.

ND Conservatives Auction
We are holding an Auction on Friday 23^rd October at 7.30pm in the Village Hall to raise funds for the North Devon Constituency so this is a date for your diaries. The auction will consist of either 50/50 , Pledges or outright Sales, with entries taken on the night, so now is the time to be sorting out your attic treasures and we look forward to seeing you for an enjoyable evening. Tickets £10 each to include a Ploughman’s Supper and one drink, can be purchased from the Conservative Office (tel. 01271 343101) or by tel. 01598 710081 or on the door.

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 week olds to 11 year olds. Our own minister is Deacon Rona Eastman (740283) and our Circuit Minister is Bob Kitching (01769 572637). They will be pleased to help you if you need then. Can we remind you of the community Coffee mornings on the first Wednesday of every month at 10.30am, everyone is welcome to this free and friendly get together.
 

High Bray Church
Ray and Ruby visited Exeter Cathedral green for 1100 years of Christianity in Devon. Around 7,000 people were there all singing and taking part in worship, full of Bishops, Priests and lay people enjoying the day which also included puppets, swizzhorn blowing, jazz and sideshows.
 
High Bray Church Quiz will be held at the Village Hall on Friday 4^th September, 7-7.30pm start. Teams of six will be needed, the questions are for young and old. Prizes for 1^st and 2^nd plus Booby Prize and Draw. Entry charge ~ Adults £3, 11-16yrs £1 and 10 and under free. Bring own food & drink.

Charles Church
Everyone enjoyed the wedding of Rachel Burnett to Chris Hogg in June. It was a real village affair with everyone joining in the preparations, which made it all the more special. Chris' family and friends were there from New Zealand and experienced Devon hospitality, and a welcome they assure us they will never forget. It was so good to see many of the guests in the Church service next day. We all send our best wishes to them for their future life together. Congratulations to the Boddington girls, Kelsey and Gessica, on achieving their medical qualifications. Both have jobs to go to in the South West and we wish them well. A history exhibition is up in the church at Charles. Following the course run by Rev Andrew Jones we decided to develop his theme on 19^th century North Devon clergy. We hope people will take a bit of time to pop in and see it. Advanced notice of the Autumn Concert, A Harvest Cornucopia to be held in the church on Saturday 10^th October at 7.30. It will be an evening of music and light entertainment by local performers, planned and coordinated by Margaret Faulkner.

Dartmoor Military Heritage Weekend
to be held over the weekend of 12^th and 13^th September. A large attendance is expected at both the Heritage Weekend and the Rally from the ex-Service community of Devon as well as representatives from the many branches of the Royal British Legion across the county and the general public.
 
Attractions include how the Military look after Dartmoor, a fitness trail, laser rifle ranges, climbing walls, a display of vintage military vehicles, demonstrations by the Army and Air Force Cadets. The opportunity to meet regular soldiers of the Army and Royal Marines, bands, models, free fall and a guided walk on the moor each day at 2 pm. Parking and entry are free, and refreshments are available in the NAAFI. Children are particularly welcome with plenty of things to see and do. For further information see
 www.dartmoor-ranges.co.uk

R.N.L.I.
The Chairman of the Barnstaple branch of the Royal National Lifeboat Institution thanks everyone who generously contributed to the recent house-to-house collection, which raised £115 for the funds to save lives at sea and on our beaches.
 
 
Ovisfest
Several of us enjoyed the open day, can you believe it, it was a wonderful hot sunny day of prayer and worship. Freedom band played, filling the ‘shed’ and our hearts with joyful music. ‘Ovis’ where hearts and minds are given time to heal life’s problems is a very caring place.

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

Supported by Brayford Parish Council