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 at 7.30pm on Thursday 18th December in the School Room, Brayford Methodist Chapel, and on Thursday 15th January 2009 in Brayford Village Hall.
 
Carols at the Nook
The Christmas Carols at the Nook will be on Monday 22^nd December at 7.00pm. A collection will be held on the night for the Play Area and Boomerangs. David Gosling's quiz night for the Play Area raised £225 and was much enjoyed.
 
Children’s Play Area
There is to be a fund-raising event (with a difference) in the village hall on Saturday 17^th January 2009.
 
Affordable Housing
The Affordable Housing meeting with Hastoe's was informative and helpful and allocation should be made before Christmas. 
 
Neighbourhood Watch
Just a reminder that leaving your vehicle in the driveway will not ensure that the vehicle or contents are safe. Short days and long nights are ideal for the opportunist thief. Whenever you park it -- LOCK IT.
 
Don’t forget to clear out drains and gulley’s if you are able this time of year when there are so many leaves about.
 

Gardening Club
 
At our AGM in October we reviewed the past year’s activities, including the very successful Flower Show, re-elected the Committee unchanged (Chairman: Dawn Jemmison; Vice-chairman: Ruth Knights; Treasurer: David Swash; Secretary: Margaret Hartnoll), and agreed to reduce the annual subscription for 2009 to £5, or £1 per meeting for occasional members and guests. Our Programme Secretary, Jane Horne, outlined plans for the 2009 programme – the final version will be published soon. In November we had a very enjoyable Club Dinner with the Flower Show judges who gave us some hints and tips for the next show.
 
Christmas Carols In Flowers
On Wednesday 17^th December at 7.30pm in the Village Hall, we have "Christmas Carols in Flowers", a talk and demonstration by Brenda Davison. This promises to be a very entertaining evening – all are welcome and tickets are available around the parish from committee members, or at the door on the night, price £4 to include mince pies and drinks.

Brayford School
The new children have all settled in well at the school this term. The infants recently spent an energetic and enjoyable morning at the school Tarka Tennis event.
 
You may have seen the posters for the Bingo Evening at the Village Hall on the 28^th November. This is to raise money to purchase a video camera for the school. Please come along and bring a friend or two, it should be a great evening. The House of Fun Theatre Co. visited the school on 25^th November and performed a play called ‘Lost Lionel’, and the children thoroughly enjoyed themselves. The play is linked to their work this term.
 
The Children will once again be going to see the Pantomime at the Queens Theatre for their Christmas treat at the end of this term.
 
The Children will be singing Carols on Wednesday 3^rd December at the Village Coffee Morning and at the Christmas Carol Service on Monday 15^th December at the High Bray Church, starting at 6.30pm, everyone is welcome.

Brayford Boomerangs

Christmas Fair 2008
Saturday 6th December, 1.30pm to 4.00pm.  
Please don't forget to put the Christmas Fair at the Village Hall on both your Christmas shopping and social calendars! We will have fantastic stalls again this year, including lots of gift ideas, sheepskin items, jewellery, handmade cards, scarves, glass-painting, preserves, skincare products, wooden angels, confectionery, cakes, books, patchwork items, glove puppets, bird boxes, stocking fillers, calendars, RNLI and North Devon Hospice stalls and more. We also have a cookery and cookware demonstration, raffle, refreshments, fun children's activities, face painting and, back by popular demand, Santa will be popping in too! Children might also like to enter the Christmas Cracker fancy dress competition.
Entry is free and refreshments will be available! Please come! 
 
Donations of home-made cakes, biscuits, sweets and preserves would be gratefully received for our cake stall or tasty morsels for our refreshment kitchen would be much appreciated – thank you, Fiona.

Brayford Womens' Institute.
Nora Huxtable, a well-known local author and speaker, is coming to entertain us with Farmyard Tales at our Christmas Meeting, to be held on Wednesday 10^th December.  Guests are very welcome; it will be a fun evening with festive high tea! Programmes for 2009 will also be available and we do have interesting speakers. Mrs. Derham is coming on Wednesday 14^th January to teach us how to write the History of Brayford W.I., and to give hints on how to write our family history. 

Mothers Union
Would you please collect the Holiday Tokens from the ‘Western Morning News’ and ‘ The North Devon Journal’. Last year Mothers Union did 104 holidays. We are having a Coffee Morning 10.30am on Wednesday 20^th January at Purbrook. The school Carol service will be at High Bray Church on Monday 15^th December at 6.30pm ~ please help with food.

 
Village Calendars
The 2009 Village Calendars are now in, £5 each; all proceeds go to community projects; 3 pages of faces and events; each month with a local photograph. They are a useful size (A4) and make wonderful Christmas presents.
 
There is a limited supply, so reserve yours now by calling or talking to  Madeleine or Jonathan Brownell or Christopher or Alison Hewetson.
 

 
Emergency First Aid Course
This will be a 3 level course (adults, children, babies) and is scheduled for Saturday 17th January 2009 at Brayford Village Hall.  It will start around 10.30am and finish around 3pm. The cost is £25 each. Please call Ruby White or Madeleine Brownell for a reservation and for further details; only 18 places are available on a first come first served basis.

Methodist Church
Just a reminder of our Service times: Sunday Worship is at 11.00am and 6.30pm. Sunday Club 11.00am until 12.00noon every 2^nd & 3^rd Sunday of the month. All children welcome. Special Christmas Service dates are listed on the Diary page.
 
Charles "County Christmas"
This will be an evening of entertainment at Charles Church on Friday 12^th December at 7.00pm, with mulled wine and mince pies. No charge for admission but there will be a collection for The Devon Air Ambulance Service. Barnstaple Poverty Action group would be glad to receive gifts of food and a basket will remain in the church to receive them. The Christmas Day Service will be at 8.15am – Holy Communion with Carols.

High Bray Church
We have heard back from "Shelter Box", the result of our community harvest helped to send a box to the Congo. Well done everyone and thank you for your support.
  
Thank you: Dave & Lynn Gosling who "came home" to raise money for the play area. We had a super quiz and all enjoyed the evening.
A bunch of keys has been found in church. Please contact Ray White.
 
Dog mess - since I have been contributing to the newsletter over several years now, every couple of months someone says ‘don’t forget to mention dogs mess’. Please use a bag BOTH sides of the river, churchyard and footpaths. 

 
Christmas services are being planned, the School Carol Service in church at 6.30pm on Monday December 15^th, Candlelit Carols on Christmas Eve at 6.30pm.  Don’t miss these special times in church. 
 
A very happy Christmas and a peaceful new year, from all at High Bray Church.
 
 
Puddings & Songs - a new date for your diary, Friday 20^th February. Would you like to take part? Please contact Madeleine.

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

Supported by Brayford Parish Council