Country News March 2021

country news march 2021 Parish Magazine of Dunchideock and Shillingford St George MUM’s Shed (today) No entry unless you bring Wine or Chocolate! Spring is springing and it’s warming up! Don’t forget Mothering Sunday - 14th March!

A Glimpse of Rural Ministry Over the last month or so, I have had the great pleasure of walking alongside the Revd Ruth Frampton, as she undertakes her ministry across the Teign Valley and Haldon Hill Mission Community. When I say, ‘walk alongside’, of course I mean that metaphorically! Because of the challenges of Covid-19, I have not left my own ministry area of Dawlish, where I am in my third year as curate. So, my time in the Teign Valley has been very much virtual – making great use of technology and telephone, to take part in a wonderful smorgasbord of services, coffee mornings, and zoom sessions, and allowing me to meet up with a very welcoming number of church members from across the benefice. This has been a chance for me to gain a glimpse of rural ministry, and to meet with people who bring all their skills and commitment, their hopes and fears, and love of their communities to focus on maintaining a presence of Christ in the heart of rural Devon. It has been a chance for me, too, to explore whether rural ministry is the direction that I am being called to, as I look ahead to my life in the church. As I look back over the last month, this brief moment in the Teign Valley has given me the beginning of an understanding of the important and necessary role the church plays across villages and communities: The ancient church buildings themselves clearly provide a tangible, long-lasting focal point for their communities, providing a symbol of hope, of prayer; and marking the passing of the seasons: Plough Sunday, Lammas, Rogation Harvest, Easter Christmas, etc. They mark, too, the significant rites of passages for individuals and for communities: through Baptisms, Weddings and Funerals. And offer a place of quietness and solace. It is, though, the people of the church who are the spiritual heart of communities, involved in local groups and councils; in community events and coffee mornings; in foodbanks and Messy Church. And all the while developing deep relationships within the communities. Being there, walking alongside people through all their hopes and fears, through the good times and the sad; celebrating their joys and holding them in their sorrows. Offering the love of God in all they say and do. Whatever path my ministry takes in the future, I will hold my month spent in the Teign Valley in a very special place. It has given me a real understanding that whatever I do, wherever I may end up, the most important aspect of my ministry must be on developing deep faithful relationships across a community – and not only with those who cross the threshold of the church each week. 2

Maintaining the church buildings is important, of course; but walking alongside the people is even more important! Thank you for all that you have given me during this last month. All blessings Revd Tim Collins Thoughts on Spring No matter how chaotic it is, wildflowers will still spring up in the middle of nowhere. It was one of those March days when the sun shines hot and the wind blows cold: when it is summer in the light, and winter in the shade. Charles Dickens 3

Teign Valley & Haldon Hill Mission Community The Teign Valley & Haldon Hill Mission Community includes the parishes of Ashton, Bridford, Christow, Doddiscombsleigh, Dunchideock and Dunsford. Rev’d Ruth Frampton (Priest-in-Charge) can be contacted on 01647 253164 or [email protected]. Pastoral Care If you would like, or know someone who would be glad of, a call or “virtual” visit from Rev’d Ruth Frampton, or another member of the church community, please contact the rectory (contact details above), or the Churches’ Administrator (see Getting in touch… below). Coronavirus As a result of the current lockdown, services of worship are only being held at St Mary’s Dunsford, and other churches are closed. The situation is, however, constantly changing – please check the “A Church Near You” website for your parish for updates. Please do not come if you are suffering any symptoms of coronavirus, but contact NHS 111 Please ensure that you clean your hands on entering and leaving the church building Please observe social distancing and follow all the safety guidance inside the church Private Prayer - Days and Times of Opening: With the exception of Ashton, all our churches remain open for private prayer, as follows: Monday Dunsford 10:00am - 12 noon Tuesday Bridford 12 noon – 2:00pm by appointment* Wednesday Christow 12 noon – 3:00pm Thursday Dunsford 2:00pm – 5:00pm Friday Dunchideock 10:00am – 12 noon Saturday Bridford 10:00am – 12 noon by appointment* Sunday Christow 12 noon – 3:00pm Doddiscombsleigh 12:00pm – 6:00pm * for Bridford please telephone 01647 252180 / 252515 / 253239 to make an appointment 4

Sunday Services The 9am telephone service continues (see details below for how to join). For details of services at Dunsford, please see the separate schedule below - check the “A Church Near You” website for any changes. In line with national requirements, church services have strict measures in place to ensure people’s safety e.g. the wearing of face coverings, increased cleaning, hand sanitisers, social distancing of 2 metres, no singing, communion in one kind only, no refreshments or meeting afterward. You will be asked to give your name and contact details in order to comply with “track and trace” requirements. This information is covered by GDPR and will be destroyed after 21 days. Alternatively you can use the NHS app to scan the “track and trace” QR code. Wednesday Evening Prayer There is a regular, short service of evening prayer each Wednesday at 6pm by telephone – see details below for how to join. For telephone services, you do not need internet access, but simply a landline or mobile telephone. Between 5 and 10 minutes before the service begins, please dial 0333 011 0616 and enter the code 334 7721, followed by the # key, when asked. You will also be asked to give your name. The cost of the call is the standard cost for any 01, 02 or 03 number, but will vary according to your telephone contract. It may well be covered by your “inclusive” minutes, or by free evening or weekend calls, but you are advised to check. Lent Course 2021: These Are Our Stories This year’s five-week Lent course is based on the pandemic stories of five people from across Devon, and will encourage each of us to tell our own stories and reflect on where our faith fits into the experience of the past 12 months. It has been written by Dr Jon Curtis, Diocese of Exeter Lay Discipleship Advisor. The five sessions, based around videos, discussion and reflection, will be held by Zoom at 10:30-12:00am on each of the following Thursdays – 25 February, 4, 11, 18 and 25 March. Ruth will be sending out details of how to join etc to everyone on her current mailing list for Sunday and Wednesday services. If you would like to join this list, please email her - [email protected] Additional material is available online at https://exeter.anglican.org/ministry/lent- course-2021/ and details of other national resources are available at https://www.churchofengland.org/resources/livelent-2021-church-resources-gods- story-our-story 5

World Day of Prayer Service: Friday, 5 March at 2.30pm by telephone The World Day of Prayer is a global ecumenical movement which brings Christians of many traditions together to observe a common day of prayer each year. Through preparation and participation in the worship service, we can learn how our sisters of other countries, languages and cultures understand the Biblical passages in their context. We can hear their concerns and needs and can join in solidarity with them as we pray with and for them. In this way, it is possible to enrich our Christian faith as it grows deeper and broader in an international, ecumenical expression. This year the women of Vanuatu in the Pacific Ocean have prepared a service that highlights the need for safe buildings: Cyclone Pam caused great devastation in 2015 and the islands were just beginning to recover when Cyclone Harold struck in April 2020. You can access this telephone service in the usual way - dial 0333 011 0616 and enter the code 334 7721, followed by the # key, when asked. A promotional video can be found at https://youtu.be/XImJaiClunw A full length video service from Canada will be available from 15 February on wicc.org Easter Services At the time of writing there is no clarity about what will be possible in terms of Easter services. Information will be posted on the A Church Near You website for each parish as soon as it is available, and then in the April magazines. Annual Parochial Church Meetings (APCMs) Each year every parish in the Church of England holds an Annual Parochial Church Meeting (APCM) to elect members to the Parish Church Council and review the past year. APCMs in the Mission Community, which due to COVID restrictions, will all be held by Zoom, will be held as follows: Parish Date Time 3.00pm Ashton Monday 15 March 3:00pm 7:00pm Bridford Tuesday 23 March 7:00pm Christow Thursday 25 7:00pm March 4:00pm Doddiscombsleigh Wednesday 24 March Dunchideock Friday 19 March Dunsford Tuesday 16 March 6

Everyone is welcome to attend these meetings, although only those on the electoral roll are eligible to vote. Please contact the Churches’ Administrator (email [email protected] or telephone 01392 832332) for details of how to join. Giving It is now possible to make a donation towards the general mission and running costs of each of our six churches through an online giving page on the “A Church Near You” website – see https://www.achurchnearyou.com and search for the relevant parish. The “Give Now” button will enable you to make an online donation, which can also be Gift Aided. Treasurer Wanted! Christow Church is looking for a volunteer treasurer to supervise its money and prepare the accounts. Phil Trotter, our valued treasurer has retired after many years' service. We are very sorry to see him go and wish him well. He is happy to help whoever is willing to take over and to lead them through the systems. Full training is available! Resources During this time, you may find the following online and telephone resources helpful. Daily Prayer: https://www.churchofengland.org/prayer-and-worship/join-us- service-daily-prayer General prayer resources: https://www.churchofengland.org/more/media- centre/coronavirus-covid-19-guidance-parishes/coronavirus-covid-19-liturgy-and- prayer Daily Hope – a free phone line of hymns, reflections and prayers – 0800 804 8044 Recording of Rev’d Ruth Frampton’s “Reflection” from the previous Sunday – 01647 407047 If you are anxious about the current situation or would like prayer or pastoral support (e.g. because of illness or bereavement), please do not hesitate to contact Rev’d Ruth Frampton or the Churches’ Administrator (Steve Cook) – contact details above and below. There is a separate notice elsewhere in the magazine giving details of how the churches are working together with local parish councils and others to co-ordinate shopping, collect medication etc for those who need to “self-isolate” or who can’t leave their homes. 7

From the registers… Funerals: 1 February – Keith Thomas (Dunsford) 10 February – Patricia Hill (Dunsford) 15 February – Elizabeth Guy (Christow) Our thoughts and prayers are with the families and friends of those who have died. Getting in touch… If you wish to discuss plans for a postponed or future baptism/christening, banns of marriage, wedding, funeral, interment of ashes or memorial service, or have any other enquiry, please contact Steve Cook, the Churches’ Administrator, on 01392 832332 or email [email protected] Spring Indoors or out, no one relaxes In March, that month of wind and taxes, The wind will presently disappear, The taxes last us all the year. Ogden Nash 8

The Friends of Shillingford Wood launch appeal The Friends of Shillingford Wood are proud to announce the launch of our fund raising campaign to raise the funds needed to purchase the woods. At the week end we unveiled our “Thermometer” which will indicate progress as money is received. The thermometer is positioned on the wall of the parish hall and will be regularly updated as necessary and will be a lovely visual reminder to all. Subscription to our FaceBook page continues to grow and has proved invaluable in spreading information relating to progress to buy the woods. It has also served as a beautiful library of photos of the wood throughout the year, all of which have been taken by people visiting the wood and sharing their experience. Anyone who would like to donate please contact Claire at [email protected] or call in to 3 Ilex Close or see Ian at Blacksmith’s Cottage, Shillingford St George. 9

Shillingford St George Church Calendar for March 2021 Date Name Service Time 7 March Lent 3 Private Prayer 9.30 Reading Exodus 20.1-17 John 2.13-22 Prayers Road through Shillingford St George Time Date Name Service 9.30 14 March Lent 4 – Mothering Sunday Private Prayer Reading Numbers 21.4-9 John 3.14-21 Time Prayers Surrounding parishes of Dunchideock, 9.30 Name Kenn & Exminster Date Lent 5 Service Time 21 March Jeremiah 31.31-34 Private Prayer 9.30 Reading John 12.20-33 Prayers Name Barrack Lane & Barton Lane Time Date Palm Sunday Service 9.30 28 March Psalm 118.1-2,19-29 Private Prayer Reading Mark 11.1-11 Prayers Name Oak Close & Waybrook Lane Date Good Friday Service 2 April Private Prayer Date Name Service Time 4 April Easter Day Private Prayer 9.30 Reading Acts 10.34-43 John 20.1-18 Prayers Road through Shillingford Abbot At the time of writing, we await the Government announcement of the “roadmap” out of the latest Covid lockdown. Unlike the 2020 lockdown, our churches have not been closed; but we took the decision to forgo our special authority to continue with public worship along with other faiths. The church is open for Private Prayer every Sunday, and at other times by request to the Rector or churchwarden (details on back page). IF the Government announcement on 22 February and hoped-for results from the widespread vaccination programme give us a positive indication that we should re- commence Public Worship in church, we will re-start services at their “usual” Sunday times, and subject to whatever public safety measures are required. Notices will be put up on village noticeboards and the porch door in this happy event. Palm crosses will be available to collect from church on 28 March at Private Prayer or (hopefully) if we can hold a service on that morning. NM 15.02.21 10

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Devon Winters of Long Ago Extreme winter weather has always made the news, even as long ago as 1691, when William III was on the throne. Newspapers of the 19th and 20th centuries give us a good picture of how the storms, ice and snow of winter have affected our part of the country. In the 17th century Exeter had no newspaper of its own, but the “London Gazette,” the first newspaper to be published in England, contained two reports on the severe weather being experienced in Devon in early February 1691. In Barnstaple, a regiment of horse which had arrived the week before from Ireland, were trapped in Barnstaple and at the port of Bideford on 1st February, as the snow had prevented them marching east towards Salisbury. A week later, it was reported from Exeter that ‘great quantities of snow’ had fallen in those parts over the past seven days; the strong wind had driven it into heaps, and had made the ways so impassable that the mail from Plymouth, which travelled on the road over Haldon, had not arrived. Travellers were missing, feared lost in the snow. An envoy from the Elector of Bavaria, who had been visiting the Court in London, had left Exeter for Plymouth to embark for Spain, and managed to get over Haldon, but could get no further than Ashburton. Several hundred men were put to work to clear the roads, ‘there not having been known so deep a snow in the Memory of Man’. The Devon and Exeter Institution, founded as a scientific and literary society in 1813, began collecting meteorological information in their garden in 1817, daily measurements being recorded by the librarian. As interest in natural phenomena and weather forecasting expanded, these were also published in Trewman’s Exeter Flying Post newspaper. So, from 1817, we can identify the months with the coldest average temperatures in Exeter. These indicate the coldest winters, but not necessarily the snowiest. Prior to this, there are only regular records from other parts of England, and of course the South West does not experience the same weather as the rest of the country. London newspapers did not always report the weather in Devon, and although Exeter’s first newspapers appeared in the first decade of the 1700s, few copies survive today, and anyway, these early newspapers contained little or no local news. 12

For accounts of the local weather at this time, we therefore also have to rely on contemporary accounts written in diaries or memoirs, or weather records kept by individuals. The fiercest winter experienced in the south west in the early 18th century was apparently in 1739-1740, and in this case it was not characterised by heavy snowfalls. A severe storm from the east blew in on 22nd December, followed by an intense frost which lasted for eight weeks from Christmas Eve 1739. A great thaw with rain on New Year’s Day 1740 was followed by the return of severe frost. A Plymouth doctor named Dr. John Huxham, who had responded to the call by the Royal Society asking for volunteers to keep daily records of their observations of the weather, fortunately kept measurements from 1724 until 1748. He later wrote about The Great Cold of 1739-1740 in his published work “Observations on the Air and Epidemic Diseases”: In an instant a most piercing Cold froze up every Thing, both within Doors and without….whatever was exposed to the Air instantly turned into Ice. People even shivered by the largest Fire’s Side, nor could they keep themselves warm in their very Beds; indeed so very greatly were we benumbed by the Excessive Cold that we scarcely seemed alive. According to Dr. Huxham and another contemporary, the sea froze on the shore, trees split and died, even the hardy furzes were killed. From 1st January to 5th February the temperature rarely rose to freezing point; it was rare for temperatures to be below freezing for consecutive months in England. On the farms, cattle in their stalls died of cold, crows and other birds froze in mid- flight and fell to the ground, while beer and wine froze in cellars and bread was cold and as hard as stone. Dr. Huxham’s account was, of course, filled with the medical consequences of this weather, ‘the severity of which had never been known before in this country’. But by this time, there were probably not many still alive who recalled the severest winter of the 17th century, the Great Frost of 1683-1684. This was a frost across the whole of England which has been reported as the worst in its history. In late January, the sea ‘for above a mile about the shore’ off Deal in Kent was frozen, trapping a ship from Lubeck, and preventing local boats from reaching her in order to rescue the crew. In 13

February the sea at Deal was frozen two miles out and people were walking on it. The sea around the Devon coast was apparently also affected. From Plymouth, on January 25th it was reported that a ship named the Elizabeth of Waterford had managed to arrive, but that there were more than 80 Dutch merchant ships lying off the coast, some of which had lain there a long time. Plymouth was waiting on several deliveries of mail from France, Flanders, and Holland, as well as Ireland, as the packet boats were not able to get through because of the abundance of ice along the European and English coasts. In early February, a severe storm blew up, and two Dutch ships, one laden with wine and brandy from Bordeaux, the other with chestnuts and planks, were wrecked off the coast between Plymouth and Weymouth. A small collier bringing coal from Wales was lost, and two other ships were wrecked off the Isles of Scilly in the same night. The River Thames was frozen to the depth of one foot that winter, and one of the famous London Frost Fairs was held on its surface. A similar fair was held on the River Aire in Leeds, which froze for a month. No accounts of the effects of the Great Frost in Exeter appear to survive, but it is certain that as in other less severe winters, the River Exe also froze, no doubt allowing an ox to be roasted on the ice, and people to skate near the mediaeval bridge which crossed from St. Thomas to the city. The winter of 1814 was also a fierce one in the south west, and the intense cold again affected every part of England. National records show that there was a severe frost lasting with little relief from 8th January until 20th March. Local Exeter newspapers reported that the snowfall of early January had been ‘greater than anything within living memory.’ It seems that all bad winter snowstorms and frosts throughout the decades seem to have been regarded as the worst ever by contemporaries - and without temperature records, it’s difficult to know how severe the cold was that winter. Nevertheless, it was one of the snowiest winters in the last 300 years. The 1887 novel “The Revolution in Tanner’s Lane”, written under the pseudonym Mark Rutherford, includes on its opening page a description of the weather in the west of 14

England that year, where snow was even then regarded as comparatively rare. Roads were impassable and about 10 miles west of Exeter, four men who had perished were dug out of a deep drift. Even at Plymouth, close to the warmer southwestern ocean, the average snowfall was 20 inches deep, and there was no way of travelling eastward except by packhorse. Trewman’s Exeter Flying Post newspaper of 13 January 1814 reported that the fall of snow, which had commenced on 10 January following heavy frosts and continued without intermission throughout the next day, had buried the roads leading out of Exeter in snow many feet deep. The city’s shops were shut, the streets were empty of people, and most travelling had ceased. Mails from Plymouth had to be brought over the Haldon Hills by packhorse. The Royal Renfrew Militia, which had been formed in Scotland in 1793 and served all over England in the early 1800s, was attempting to march towards Plymouth, but had to turn back and return to Exeter, on finding the snowdrifts on Haldon from ten to fifteen feet deep. In Chudleigh, a local diarist recorded that the wind blew strongly and drifts there were up to 8 feet deep, blocking house entrances. The mail coach was overturned, and no other coaches attempted to proceed. On 13th January the London mail finally got through from the east, 18 hours late. Though the cold was not particularly intense at the time, the River Teign had frozen over the day before, and on the 15th, men cut a pass on the Exeter road through 8 to 12 feet of snow. After a slight thaw, rain was followed by more heavy falls of snow and then on 21st January a severe frost and snow, again burying coaches and wagons on Haldon. Snow, fog, rain, hail, sleet and strong north winds continued until 8th February, but on that day a rainbow appeared and the Chudleigh diarist was relieved to report that snow had almost disappeared. Jan Wood, Shillingford Local History Society 15

www.dunchideock.org.uk A link to Country News Online can also be found here. Dunchideock Village Hall 100+ Club February 1. S Harris 2. H Bye 3. M McCarthy Time for a Nature Walk (all ages!) What do you see? Trees budding and flowering. Spring flowers blooming in gardens and fields (crocuses, tulips, daffodils, buttercups). The sun rising early and setting later every day. Butterflies flying from flower to flower. What do you hear? Busy bees collecting nectar. Birds singing and calling to each other. Woodpeckers drumming on trees. Flies buzzing around. What do you smell? The fresh damp scent of rain (petrichor). An earthy scent coming from the ground (geosmin). Freshly cut grass. The soft, sweet scent of flowers and blossoms. What do you feel? Warm sunshine on my face. Raindrops falling on my head. Cool wind blowing. Cold, damp earth. 16

Teign Valley Larder – latest news Make time for out of date The Teign Valley Larder’s success depends on everyone using it, not just those in need, and here’s why. The Teign Valley Larder was established during the first lockdown last year to help provide meals to those who may have gone without as household incomes were put under increased pressure. Ten months on, and the success of this venture is evident: we can confidently say that the larder provides the equivalent of at least 150 meals a week, which is the result of a community pulling together to help those in need. However, there is another aspect to the larder, the aims of which are just as vital as making sure people don’t go hungry: reducing food waste. In fact, they aren’t two separate aims. They are two halves of the same problem, and it is uncomfortable to know that some families are going hungry while perfectly edible food is being discarded by others. Thankfully, there are members of the Teign Valley Larder who have built up connections in the region to divert food away from the waste incinerator to the larder’s shelves in Christow, Bridford, Ashton, Doddi and Dunsford. And this food is there for everyone to enjoy. There are clearly some people who are aware of the bounty available in those boxes, because we have had to recruit new volunteers to manage this aspect of the larder. And it is important that this continues, because among the items with a ‘best before’ date that has already expired (but are still perfectly good to consume – nothing inedible makes its way on to the larder shelves) are lots of fresh vegetables and fruit that have been donated by local farms and retailers. Our friendly local farms include: Windout Farm, Teign Greens, and Whippletree Farm. Other food comes from Food in the Community, South Devon Food Alliance, and other smaller organisations. We do ask that other items are exchanged where possible, but this is definitely not a necessity. However, it is now starting to become a common sight, watching people walking through the villages with tins in hand to exchange for bananas, onions, potatoes, etc. It also becoming a common practice in households (typically round about teatime) to send a child down to the larder to see if a substitute can be found for something that was thought to be in stock at home. 17

It is worth noting that between May and Christmas last year, we saved at least 255kg (more than a quarter of a ton) of surplus fresh fruit, vegetables and longer life packaged food from being thrown away. You can find the out-of-date items in the plastic crate on the floor in the church porch in Christow clearly labelled ‘Out of Date’. Fresh fruit and vegetables can be found on the vegetable rack on the table. When we get large amounts of fresh food, we also put this in the satellite larders in Ashton, Bridford, Doddi and Dunsford, and post a message on our Facebook page to let people know. If you are clearing out your store cupboards and have out-of-date items to donate, please put them straight into the out-of-date box in the Christow church porch. Please don’t donate anything that has been opened, has damaged packaging, is more than a few months out of date, or (in the case of tins) has gone rusty. And, again, thank you for helping to make the Teign Valley Larder a success. teignvalley.org/larder The residents of Shillingford Abbot sent Greetings to Postman Mike on his birthday Monday 15th February 18 0

Coronavirus – help for those “self-isolating” who need shopping and/or medications collected – STILL AVAILABLE! The situation with Coronavirus continues to change, so these arrangements may well have to be reviewed. We plan to keep this scheme running as long as it is required. Government and NHS advice is available as follows: NHS: https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/coronavirus-covid-19/ Government information: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/coronavirus-action- plan/coronavirus-action-plan-a-guide-to-what-you-can-expect-across-the-uk Teignbridge District Council: https://www.teignbridge.gov.uk/coronavirus-covid-19/coronavirus-help-and- advice/coronavirus-updates/ Significant numbers of people in the valley are still having to “self-isolate” or not leave their homes to go shopping etc. The churches and other groups are working together to try and ensure that those who may need practical help with shopping, collecting medication etc in this situation can receive help if needed. Details are available at the following: A Church Near You websites: Ashton – https://www.achurchnearyou.com/church/8766/page/53729/view/ Bridford – https://www.achurchnearyou.com/church/8767/page/53727/view/ Christow – https://www.achurchnearyou.com/church/8765/page/53726/view/ Doddiscombsleigh – https://www.achurchnearyou.com/church/8793/page/53728/view/ Dunchideock – https://www.achurchnearyou.com/church/8770/page/53671/view/ Dunsford - https://www.achurchnearyou.com/church/8792/page/53725/view/ Christow website - http://www.christowparishcouncil.gov.uk/ Doddiscombsleigh website - https://www.doddiscombsleigh.org/ Dunchideock website - https://www.dunchideock.org.uk Dunsford website - http://www.dunsford-village.org.uk Mission Community Facebook page - https://www.facebook.com/tvhhmc/ Each village has a local co-ordinator to link up those offering to help with shopping and/or collecting medication with those who need some assistance. Arrangements are currently as follows: 19

Ashton: John May – T: 01647 252212 or E: [email protected] Bridford: Kathy Fitzjohn – T: 01647 252515 or E: [email protected] Christow: Phil Trotter – T: 01647 252874 or E: [email protected] Doddiscombsleigh: Elliott Fairs – T: 01647 253169 or E: [email protected] and Toby Berry – T: 07764 547556 or E: [email protected] Dunchideock: Steve Cook – T: 01392 832332 or E:[email protected] Dunsford: Karen Morris at The Shop – T: 01647 252330 or E: [email protected] \"Silence is golden. Unless you have kids. Then silence is just suspicious.\" \"A mother is the person you can always call to see how long chicken lasts in the fridge.\" \"If at first you don’t succeed, try doing it the way your mum told you to do it from the start.\" 20

Teignbridge District Council funds a Home Improvement Loan Scheme for homeowners and land- lords (subject to eligibility). We understand the expense of maintaining your home. We want to help you to take the stress out of funding repairs, im- provements or adaptations to your home. We see you as an individual, not a credit score. For a free, no obligation home visit or more information: Contact Wessex Resolutions CIC on 01823 461099 or visit: www.wessexresolution.org.uk 21

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ANNUAL LITTER PICK SATURDAY 13th March 2021 10am – 1pm Starting from Shillingford Village Hall Please come along and help us to tidy up our Parish Bags and equipment provided Teams of volunteers will collect rubbish that has accumulated over the winter Please adhere to social distancing measures All welcome even if you are limited as to how much you can do

Shillingford St George Priest in Charge: Rev. Mike Partridge, The Rectory, Alphington Ex2 8XJ (day off Thursday) Tel: 01392 491476 or 07751 725306 Email: [email protected] Churchwarden: Mr Nick Mansell, Tel: 832660 or email: [email protected] Dunchideock Priest in Charge: Rev. Ruth Frampton, The Rectory, Christow, EX6 7PE (day off Thursday) Tel: 01647 253164, email: [email protected] Churches Administrator: Steve Cook, Tel: 01392 832332 or email: [email protected] Country News Editor this month: Anne Barwell (833958) Editor April: [email protected] Front Cover: Advertising Ed: Tam Mucklow (832652) Treasurer: [email protected] Main Distributors: Judith Travell (832600) [email protected] Michelle Saunders (07856 663696) [email protected] Elizabeth Jenne (832240) [email protected] Peter and Liz Wareham/ Elizabeth Jenne Articles for April issue should be sent to the editor by 15th March Country News Advertising Rates For all ads please contact the Advertising Editor (see above) Classified: £1 for up to 3 lines, per issue Box advertisements: Quarter page: £4 or £30 per annum Half page: £8 or £60 per annum Full page: £16 or £120 per annum Payments in advance please, to the Treasurer