A LOTTERY grant of £995 has been made to North Tawton Town Council to enable the community to produce a book on its local history.
Town clerk Alison Baker, who applied for the money on behalf of the council, said the grant was 'excellent news'.
'They were very supportive at the lottery end. Maybe it was because it was members of the community doing something for the community at no profit. You never expect to get a grant — you put in the application and hope,' she said.
Mrs Baker, along with David Hoare and Dr Jean Shields, is involved in the book project. It was this group that approached the council to inquire if it could apply for a grant to help with administration costs.
The publication will be purchased by subscription. There will be no profit — but the satisfaction of having the community's local history recorded.
'We have a deadline of May next year. We are dividing the book into twelve chapters on various aspects of the community,' said Mrs Baker.
'So far we have done the school, war years, farms and farming, churches and chapel. Other chapters are to follow.
'We are still desperate for more pictures and reminiscences. We have a lot but you can never have too many.'
Mrs Baker believes the great interest the publication has caused is because communities like North Tawton are keen to record their special identities in a world where places seem to be increasingly losing their identity.