Church House celebrates first year
In its first year since reopening after restoration, the ancient Church House in South Tawton was used on 220 occasions, including the twice weekly public open days during the spring and summer. The premises have proven invaluable to various groups for meetings, quiet days and exhibitions, popular for private bookers catering for parties and celebrations. It has become a centre capable of hosting a most successful musical event and providing the perfect environment for the popular ‘Encounters’ series of illustrated talks that continues on Saturday evening, 27th January with ‘Stones and Spirits’ a talk by Dr Kenneth Lymer with live music from Steve Tyler and Katy Marchant that promises an Encounter with prehistoric images as the speaker takes his audience on a journey across Khazakstan. During the year over 1100 people visited Church House on its open days, and bought both souvenirs and cream teas. Stewards are to be congratulated on explaining the history of the building and dispensing numerous refreshments and if anyone would like to become a steward or help in any way they are invited to contact David Youle on 01837 840418 who will welcome their offer or provide further information.

What does the future hold for Antarctica?
The man that can probably shed reliable light on what the future holds for Antarctica An illustrated talk by is John Dudeney OBE, an Independent Consultant on Antarctic Affairs with 40 years professional experience in matters relating to Antarctica, and who was Deputy Director of British Antarctic Survey until February 2006. In Throwleigh Village Hall on Saturday, 20th January at 7.30p.m. he will present an illustrated talk on Antarctica, Past, Present and Future based upon the many visits he made to Antarctica between 1966 and 2004. His personal experiences and stunning photographs provide illuminate a story of speculation, exploration and discovery of Antarctica spanning two millennia. John unravels the intertwining of exploitation, politics, conflict and science in and concerning the Antarctic over the past century and describes the central role that Antarctica has played, and will continue to play in understanding, predicting and adapting to global change. Tickets are £5 and can be obtained from Christine Duffy on 01647 231359 or Sarah Paget on 01647 231213.

Prospects for affordable housing
As many Sticklepath residents are aware, a suggestion for affordable housing in the village has been circulating for some years. The current thinking (from West Devon) is that a need has been established and that an area within the playing field is the most suitable. In order that all Parishioners have the opportunity to air their views, an open meeting is being held in the Village Hall on Wednesday 24 January at 7.00pm. The support, or otherwise, for development in the village playing field will require as much input as can be gathered. If residents have a view to express but either cannot attend the meeting or would prefer to write, they are invited to please leave letters at the Village Hall, the village shop or write to the clerk. Val Barns, email her on val_barns@hotmail.com. Val can be contacted by phone on 01837 840123.

Well worth the wait
Conflicting information circulating recently led to hopes that Sticklepath Glee Club’s eagerly awaited next production would be staged in January. However, the dates that enthusiastic supporters actually can look forward to are Friday16th and Saturday 17th of February and, as can be expected of this vibrant company, it will be well worth the wait to enjoy their celebration of Music Hall – Old and New. Tickets will be on sale from Monday 29 January at South Zeal Stores and Sticklepath Stores for the two 7.30p.m performances being staged in the Village Hall, Sticklepath in aid of the Village Hall Improvement Fund.

Ten years of success
The Cheriton Bishop group of West Country Embroiderers have cause to celebrate this year as it is ten years since Janet and Jenny Grist founded the group in the Methodist Chapel. Thanks to their initiative the group that has increased and also enjoyed continually expanding success throughout the years. During the decade members that include renowned embroiderers and beginners, professionally trained people and those whose expertise and talent has been released by tuition and shared experience have presented exhibitions of their work annually that have become an attraction that visitors return to each year; their next public Needlework Event takes place in Cheriton Village Hall in April. Some of the UK’s foremost professional embroiderers increasingly provide days of specialist tuition to the group while West Country experts that have joined or have a close interest in the group regularly share their own expertise with the members. Ten years after Janet and Jenny Grist first introduced a handful of enthusiastic ladies to the prospect of enjoying a world of embroidery that links the tuition of historic needlework to that of the present day they see meetings now held in the village hall filled to capacity with those, sometimes including males, whose work is appreciated wherever it is displayed in major exhibitions.