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 11th October (Agenda) and Thursday 15th November (Agenda) in Brayford Village Hall at 7.30pm.
 
Best Kept Village Competition
Brayford did very well in this year’s competition earning 91 points, putting us in the top group of the Small Villages section. We have been told that with a little more attention to detail we could be winners! Something to aim for next year.
 
Interactive Speed Sign
This is still not working after some months. District Councillor Edgell remarked that there is a high incidence of these signs failing to work. Both Steve Govier of Devon County Council and County Councillor J Yabsley are dealing with this.
 
Charles Churchyard
Geoff Collier has received complaints from Charles residents that certain dogs are using the Churchyard as a lavatory. This is not a place to allow dogs to behave in this way and shows a deplorable lack of respect. It was agreed that both the Church and the Parish Council should put up suitable signs on the notice-board and that the Dog Warden is informed.
 
Neighbourhood Watch
Three trees were stolen from the Bray Cross plantation on 9 September. The matter has been reported to the police not with much hope that they will be recovered, but more to place the theft on record. Otherwise the police have no crimes to report in the last two months. Less happily, the Parish has lost its beat policeman, George Furneaux to retirement, and the PCSO appointed to our area leaving for a job with better prospects elsewhere. Are the recruitment and retention practises of our local Constabulary up to the task, and if not why not?
 

RNLI
The Chairman and committee of the Barnstaple and District branch would like to thank everyone who generously contributed to the recent house to house collection in the Parish, when over £100 was raised, and to the flag day in South Molton which raised a further £259. Thank you all for supporting this worthy cause which saves lives at sea and on our beaches, and is entirely funded by voluntary contributions.
 
In addition, Drinda Gardner would like to thank everyone who generously sponsored her to take part in the Great South West Walk on 14 August, which raised a further £110 for RNLI funds.

Singing In The Church
How long since you've had a good time humming 'Teddy Bears' Picnic with a glass of wine and puddings?
On Friday, 19th October, come along for some singing, some delicious puddings, and wine at 7:30pm at High Bray Church for an evening of free entertainment.
 
Christopher Hewetson has offered to entertain and inspire us by reading and talking about some of the poems which

 
are in the Four Parishes 2008 village calendar and others to enlighten us.
This will be followed by wine, puddings, and singing.
 
All are invited, and no one will be asked to do anything except enjoy the evening!
 
If you have any questions or want to find out more, please call Christopher Hewetson or Madeleine Brownell.

Gardening Club
 
The Brayford Flower Show on 18th August turned out very well indeed, with lots of entries of a high standard. The event was opened to the public by Donald and Hilda Bawden and was encouragingly well attended. Thanks to all involved in running the show, the judges, the exhibitors and everyone who came along on the day, and a special thank you to Dawn Jemmison for masterminding the whole event.

Brayford School
The summer break has seen further improvements at the school with the new steps from the school field to ‘down yonder’ now complete. The school council would like to thank everyone who helped raise money for the new playground markings. They were done during the holidays and look wonderful and are being enjoyed by the children at break times and during lessons.
 
We have welcomed 4 new children to the school, 3 in the infant class and 1 in the junior class.
 
The junior class will be visiting North Molton School on Monday 24^th September to watch a play by the Common Players who have linked up with the Exmoor National Park & the Exmoor Society. It is a short play telling a story of the history of Exmoor’s land, people and animals over the last five decades.
 

The school looks forward to joining in with the Village Harvest Festival on Tuesday 9^th October. On Friday 9^th November the school and Boomerangs will be holding a Diwali celebration. Diwali is the Hindu festival of lights. This will be held in the village hall at 2.30pm and the children would welcome the opportunity to share their learning about this festival with the whole community. The annual Christmas Fair, held with the Boomerangs, will be in the afternoon of Saturday 1^st December in the village hall. Starting Saturday 8^th December the school and Boomerangs will have a display in Barnstaple library for 2 weeks, please drop by and have a look.
 
We are once again collecting Tesco vouchers and Nestle Box Tops and would be grateful for any extra vouchers.
 
Reminder to encourage those using the school grounds to show some respect. We have had goal posts damaged and found empty alcohol containers on the school grounds. Please mention this to your families/children.

Brayford Boomerangs
During the holidays the children went to Lynmouth, rockpooling with Exmoor Ranger, Ioni Willcox, and despite appalling weather, had a wonderful time! Some of the children also met up at Exford for a lovely sunny picnic and a play! Boomerangs have made a great start to the new term and have welcomed some new children to the group; however, due to our expected lower numbers in the Spring term, we need to increase our fundraising efforts this year. To this end, we shall be holding a Coffee Morning at the Methodist Chapel on Friday 2nd November. 9.30 to 12 noon, everyone welcome. Look out for the posters around the village.
 
Please don't forget to book your tables for the Christmas Fair which is due to be held on 1st December and if you would like to share any favourite recipes, they would be gratefully received for our forthcoming recipe book.
Please visit our new website:- 
www.brayford-boomerangs.org 
and don't forget to mention us to friends and family with children aged two and upwards.

Methodist Church
This year’s Harvest Festival will be on Sunday 7 October at 11.00 am when our preacher will be Rev. Terry Spencer from Christ Church, Barnstaple. At 6.30 pm a Circuit Service will be taken by Rev Bob Kitching. The Remembrance Day Service will be on Sunday 11 November at 10.55 am taken by Chris Whinney. This will be a joint service with Charles and High Bray Church at the Methodist Church.
 
Our Sunday services are usually at 11 am and 6.30 pm. Additionally the Sunday Club meet at 1.00 am on the first three Sundays of the month and there is a Prayer Meeting Every Tuesday at 7.30 pm (Prayer Request Box in the porch). Our Minister is Rev Bob Kitching and our Deacon is Rona Eastman. Everyone is very welcome to attend any of our services or meetings.

Charles Church
A collection in Charles for the Devon Air Ambulance raised £255. Thank you for these contributions to such a worth cause. A very large entry from Charles added to the success of the Brayford Flower Show, and assuring its future. In particular, we congratulate Pamela Hudson for the number and quality of her entries. She struggled home with a well deserved armful of cups. Despite the variable weather this summer, there have been an amazing number of trips and social events in gardens, houses, halls, etc. The coming months will be full of interesting events, so watch out for publicity. A large collection of provisions and produce was delivered to Barnstaple Poverty Action Group by Michael Olson following the Harvest Festival Service conducted by the Rev. Colin Davis. Dog mess in the Churchyard is becoming a problem and owners of dogs are asked to be aware and to clean up behind their pets. Apologies for mentioning Christmas so early, but please bear in mind that there will be hand made cards sold in aid of the Church fabric.

Community Harvest
This year’s festival will be held at the Village Hall on Tuesday, 9 October at 7.00 pm. Please come along with a bring and share supper and any gifts for the Havest table. These gifts will be sold to raise money for "Shelter Box", so please bring some "pennies" with you.
 
High Bray Church
Huge thank you to all who supported the garden party in any way, especially Donald and Hilda for allowing us to use their beautiful gardens. A "good night" also raising over £600 for Church funds. Harvest Festival is on Sunday 14 October at 11.15 am. We would like to invite you to join us, perhaps your first time in Church or a welcome return after a time away.
 
Bereavement Service
Rev Peter Attwood is holding a service in North Molton Church of 4 November at 4.30 pm for all of us to join together, newly bereaved or long term and offer love and sympathy to each other while remembering our loved ones.

Womens' Institute
In September, Julie Parkin (Johnny Kingdom's sister) came to share her Brayford memories with us, which many WI ladies particularly enjoyed.

On 10th October Liz Evely from North Molton will be talking about he life as a beautician and on 26th October the Autumn Group Meeting will be held at our Village Hall, including a talk by Helen Bamber on Modern Textiles.  Our 14th November meeting will be our AGM followed by a Bring & Buy and out own entertainment.
 
The Travel Club have just returned from a wonderful trip to Austria, retracing the steps of The Sound Of Music, visiting many spectacular places and enjoying lovely weather.
 

Mothers' Union
There will be a quiet day at Charles Church on Wednesday, 17th October, starting at 11.00 am. Coffee will be served at 10.30 am and please bring a packed lunch, although drinks will be provided. There will be a short Holy Communion at 2.15 pm taken by Rev Peter Attwood. All are very welcome to join us. There will be a Deanery meeting in South Molton at 10.00 am on 20th November, when the speaker will be Mary Steer, our Diocesan President. We would like to thank everyone who came to the summer lunch.
 
Comings and Goings
At High Bray in the little bungalow in the Town, we have lost Derek and Pauline who have gone to Braunton.  We welcome Aubrey and Paula Davies who come from Barnstaple; Aubrey is no stranger to country life having earlier in his life managed a small holding at Bury Down.

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

PARTICULARS OF SALE - THE BRAY ESTATE - 1919
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Supported by Brayford Parish Council