BLACK TORRINGTON: AT the Ladies Group this month Mrs Recycle gave an interesting talk on 'What we can Recycle', practically everything can be recycled if we know where!

The meeting in May will be at the Chapel Schoolroom, when Mrs Gribble will demonstrate 'Needlework and Crochet', same day and time as usual.

The winners of the 150+ Club this month were 1, Louise Windsor;  2, Gordon Thomasson; 3, Margaret Grabham; 4, Jackie Nutt.

The fundraising committee met this week and plans are well in hand for this year's village fete on Saturday July 31.

THE Crusaders are coming to Black Torrington for one night only! It's not an invasion! It is entertainment.

Many years ago the churches were the centre of activity for the community it served.

This year, there are celebrations for St. George's Day with a difference, being planned in the village. Everyone is invited, if you feel patriotic, and you may have a flag, bring it to wave. It is not a service of worship, it is a celebration of the entertaining talent that there is in the village. Some of the schoolchildren are going to give a short story of St. George.  Adults are going to continue with various other serious and light hearted entertainment throughout the show.

Henry V and Queen Elizabeth I, Noel Coward, in a dressing gown? Albert and the Lion and a chance to see 'Joyce Grenfell' and more, and Adrian Edwards playing his trumpet.

There will be light refreshments, including pasties. Afterwards possibly another impromptu sing song with Benjie around the piano.

Admission is free, but a retiring collection will be taken for St. George's Church, Baghdad.

Come and have fun in St Mary's tomorrow (Friday) at 7pm. Attendees should let Kate Inniss know if they are coming on 01409231234, it will be useful for catering.  

THE village hall monthly craft and table top sale takes place this Saturday, April 24, starting at 10am.    The following week the annual plant sale will be held at Hillcrest, Victoria Road, Black Torrington. Watch for the posters.  

EXBOURNE: THE March parish council meeting was held in Exbourne Village Hall. All councillors were present together with auditor Fiona Rooke.

PCSO Danielle Dunstan-Moore outlined her role within the Neighbourhood Beat Team. She does school visits and has arranged to visit Exbourne Primary and the Pre-School. Councillors again emphasised concerns regarding speeding traffic in both Exbourne and Jacobstowe and PCSO Dunstan-Moore agreed to report these to the NBT. Cllr Luxton thanked her for her attendance.

Councillors were updated on the progress of the website.

It was agreed to inform businesses within the parishes of the availability to advertise on the website at a reasonable price.

Councillors also agreed to transfer council information from the old website and to place minutes on it in future.

Councillors agreed to allocate grants to the following: £50 to Exbourne and Jacobstowe Community Association Ltd towards printing of their newsletters; £50 to Exbourne Village Hall towards its maintenance; £50 for churchyard maintenance at St Mary's Church; £75 to Exbourne Pre-school for hand-washing facilities.

The result of the local housing needs survey recommended the need for three rented homes.

Exbourne Playing Field Association had informed the council that its annual meeting would be held on May 5.

It was confirmed that Cllr Glanville is the parish council representative.

Cllr Lawson gave a report of the Northern Links Committee meeting he attended.

The crime figure for Jacobstowe had risen to two in the last quarter. He also outlined the new refuse/recycling scheme due to start during the summer.

A planning application for alteration and extension to Orchard House, Exbourne was supported. A reserved matters planning application for Hayes, Exbourne, was supported in principle.

However, the council expressed concern on the designs of the proposed buildings and that the windows in the west elevations in one of the proposed dwellings overlooked Townsend Farm.

An application for variation of condition to a previously approved application at Risdon Farm did not receive council support.

The council's recommendation now goes to West Devon Borough Council's planning committee.

The following applications have been approved by West Devon: Coxwell Farm, Exbourne, erection of agricultural storage building; land adjacent to Pookes Ridge, Exbourne, erection of agricultural building; Risdon Farm, Jacobstowe, installation of three solar panels, three sun pipes and a glazed porch.

GERMANSWEEK: THE March, tea and chat afternoon was held on Saturday March 20, with Mrs Vivian England being the guest speaker.

She gave a talk and slide show on the work that she and her husband Graham does for the village of Kerogwe, in Africa, talking of their visits and how water supplies and apparatus have improved so much for the villagers.

It was a very interesting talk and Sylvia Kay served tea and food for all. Sylvia had also made some more delicious sponges and cakes for sale. The amount for Vivian's charity, Kerogwe Devon Aid came within the excess of £48.

THE family morning service at the church was taken by Caroline Miles, who we love to see at Germansweek.

Mr David Muir of South Tawton Rectory, who is a full time Pioneer Minister, preached the Sermon. He was accompanied by his wife.

At the close Sandy Hopkins and Sylvia Kay served cake, biscuits and tea and coffee.

ON Friday March 26, Peter Webb came to the village hall to give a talk and slide show on the Westonbirt Arboretum which was very interesting, talking of the wonderful trees and bushes grown there, some many years old.

His slide show, showed work done there in the past and present day, from the spring through to the winter season.

Sylvia Kay and Elaine Morgan, then served sausages, mashed potatoes, pasta, bake beans, and rolls and butter which concluded a lovely evening of raising £60 for the Parish Church.

Brian Singleton thanked everyone for coming and Ron Hopkins who took the money at the door welcoming Mr Peter Webb and for his very interesting talk, for Sylvia Kay and Elaine Morgan for serving the supper.