Newton Abbot Civic Service

Newton Abbot Town Council held it's annual Civic Service for the Mayor, Cllr. David Howe in the lovely setting of St. Paul's Church, Devon Square. The theme of the Service was Youth in the Community with young people very much to the fore and a film of local children re-enacting wartime evacuee experiences, complete with period dress, ration books and labels. The polished Choir 86 performed a programme of choral music, including a delightful setting of Leonard Cohen's "Halleluiah"

"A Place for Trees"

How the treescape of towns and villages can be enhanced. This was the theme of the South West Region Tree Warden Forum held in historic Old Forde House and I was very pleased to be able to go along to open the proceedings and greet the delegates who came from all over the South West. The day-long event looked at the pressures for trees in the 21st Century, concentrating on issues of design, planning, village and town issues and creating tree filled spaces in which we can all live. The Warden Scheme of volunteers is overseen by The Tree Council and more information about the Council's work and excellent publications can be seen on the website http://www.treecouncil.org.uk/

Teignbridge Civic Service

It was standing room only for my Civic Service. I chose my own parish Church, St. Michael the Archangel, East Teignmouth. The service was conducted by my Chaplain, the Rev. Graham Stones. The honoured guests included the Deputy Lord Lieutenant of Devon, Mr. Robin Barlow, Lord and Lady Clifford, Civic heads from all over Devon, uniformed organisations and Council colleagues and officials plus an overflowing congregation of friends and guests who raised the roof to join in the familiar rousing hymns I had chosen, including such favourites as "For the beauty of the earth"and "Mine Eyes have seen the Glory"! The Stover School Chamber Choir CANTABILE rounded off their repertoire with "Boogie, Woogie Bugle Boy from Company B" which was much appreciated by the group of Normandie Veterans. Afterwards the guests were entertained to a cream tea at Bitton House.

South Devon College Awards Ceremony

Still recognising achievements in education I was invited by the Principal, Stephen Criddle, to South Devon College's Day of Celebration when Students of all ages received recognition for their success at the highest level. The morning was taken up with Further Education Awards in Arts & Leisure, Business & General Education, Care & Learning Opportunities and Apprenticeships among the many courses within the curriculum. The Higher Education Awards Ceremony was led by Professor Wendy Purcell, Vice Chancellor & Chief Executive of Plymouth University. The College has made tremendous progress since moving to the new campus in Paignton and has been rated outstanding by Ofsted. http://www.southdevon.ac.uk/

Speech Day at Stover School

This time it was the turn of the senior school to receive congratulations on their achievements throughout the past year. The Prizegiving and Address was given by Pen Hadow, British explorer and author. He is currently working with NASA, ESA the UK Met Office, the Hadley Centre for Climate Prediction and Research and other research and campaining organisations dedicated to global climate change issues. He gave a graphic account of the many setbacks he overcame during his trek to the Geographic South Pole and the theme of his address to the Students was how to overcome disappointments and setbacks to reach individual goals.

Reaching for the Stars

Earth to Universe - Come in please! Civic event with a difference marked an evening in the beautiful surroundings of The Knowle, Sidmouth with dinner hosted by Cllr. Graham Liverton, Chairman of East Devon District Council, Sidmouth the Regency town on the Jurassic Coast and according to the Poet Laureate, John Betjeman "a town caught still in a timeless charm". Timless yes, but also the home of an Observatory founded by Sir Norman Lockyer in 1912 as a centre for astrophysical and geophysical research until the 1980's. Today the observatory is managed by unpaid volunteers to support science education and houses the Kensington 10-inch refracting telescope (1884) marking the start of astrophysics in Britain. With lecture theatre and Planetarium the observatory provides facilities for experimental projects, educational courses, school visits and courses of general interest on the night sky. A visit is highly recommended. For more information contact http://www.normanlockyer.org/

New Business Training Opportunities

From Landfill to Management courses and skills training. Off with the wellies and a drive to the other side of Heathfield to the opening of an important extension of the work of the South Devon College Management Centre. In an increasingly competitive market South Devon College is providing expert advice regarding training and apprenticeships to the business community Courses on offer include Higher Education and professonal programmes, apprenticeships in Hairdressing, Hospitality and Catering, Childcare, Horticulture and Business Administration. For information contact The Centre at 24 Battle Road, Heathfield, Newton Abbot TQ12 6XJ or e-mail business@southdevon.ac.uk

A fresh look at Landfill

Torrential rain, a fierce wind and glowering clouds. Not an auspicious day to visit Heathfield Landfill Site, near Bovey Tracey at the invitation of Lord Clifford of Ugbrooke Environmental Ltd. and Viridor Waste Management. Out came the wellies and the waterproofs and in company with around 4o local representatives we set out on a tour of this 200 acre site to see for ourselves how the disposal of our inert rubbish is handled. No longer just burying the lot in a hole in the ground, regulations in force since 1990 ensure the site is engineered to stop contamination, using clay, bentonite, welded plastic linings and drainage stone to contain the waste and stop water getting in and deadly gas getting out. Currently the site accepts 1,200-2000 tonnes per day. Energy from waste is the way forward and the gas captured goes to the Grid to power electricity. Looking ahead to when landfill is full, future plans include the building of two incinerators in Devon. The highlight of our visit was the display by the two site falconers, who work the site to deter the thousands of seagulls and crows scavanging the rubbish and carrying disease back into the town. Jess, the tiny peregrine falcon enjoyed showing off her remarkable speed. The only one not at all impressed was a buzzard sitting on a post ignoring the whole display.

A Celebration of a New Ministry

It must be a bit nerve racking for any Vicar coming to minister to a new Congregation, in a new Church in a new Town but Dawlish and district turned out in force to welcome The Revd Simon Croft as Associate Priest at St. Gregory's Parish Church, Dawlish together with The Ven. Penny Driver, who is no stranger to Dawlish, as Priest in Charge. The installation was led by the Rt. Revd. Bob Evans, Bishop of Crediton in a moving ceremony and along with others, I was pleased to add my voice of welcome to Simon on behalf of Teignbridge District Council.

Doing the Rounds

As the Civic year moves into autumn my colleagues throughout Devon hold formal Services and functions and welcome fellow Civic heads to join the proceedings. It is a pleasure to visit friends in this lovely County of Devon and we are always given a wonderful welcome and hospitality. We recently travelled to Dartmouth to join Cllr. Melvyn Stone and South Hams District Council at St.Saviour's Church. Following the service we were taken to the impressive Dartmouth Apprentice project where young people learn skills and confidence to run a professional restaurant service in a superbly converted Church building.


Our next visit was at the invitation of the Mayor of West Devon Borough Council, Cllr. Alison Clish-Green to her Civic Service held at the magnificent St. Eustachius Parish Church, in the lovely moorland town of Tavistock. Pupils from the Choir of the famous Kelly College sang the anthem "The Heavens are Telling" from Hayden's Creation - a tricky Choral piece which they performed with confidence.

Not such a Secret Society!

The AGM of the Freemasons Grand Charity afforded me the opportunity to find out the real work of a band of Brothers. I found a room full of beaming gentlemen being kept in order by a businesslike female Chief Executive! How's that for smashing through the glass ceiling! Far from being self-serving, this Charity reaches out beyond the Brethren to donate millions of pounds to non-Masonic Charities. The 2008 Annual Report detailed thousands of pounds donated to good causes as diverse as Ovarian Cancer Action, The Island Trust helping disadvantaged children through sailing, Mobility Equipment Grants, Devon Air Ambulance, Leonard Cheshire Disability, Hospicecare and much more. The Grand Charity has raised £80M since 1981 supporting Masonic and National charities and worldwide emergency relief. All this money is raised entirely within the Masonic movement. More information is available on http://www.grandcharity.org/