CLYST ST GEORGE & EBFORD SECTION OF THE JULY 2017 CLYST VALLEY NEWS
CLYST ST GEORGE AND EBFORD
Wednesday Morning Prayers at Clyst St George
Morning Prayers is a short said service every other week on a Wednesday. Why not take 20 minutes and join us – we also have tea or coffee afterwards if you have the time and enjoy a little fellowship? We start at 9.30 am and everyone is very welcome. This month we will meet on 12th and 26th July.
Strawberries, Cream and Prosecco Party
Clyst St George is having a strawberries, cream and Prosecco party on Sunday afternoon, 16th July from 3 pm. All welcome. Tickets (to include strawberries and a glass of Prosecco) cost £5 and are available from Barbara on 01392 876283, Helen on 01392 877743 or Caroline on 01392 873804.
Clyst St George Parish Council Chairman’s Notes: July 2017
This summer weather is great but it certainly keeps the hedges and gardens growing so fast. Thank you to all who keep their hedges trimmed that border either paths, pavements or our narrow lanes. It makes it so much safer for pedestrians.
I am very pleased to announce that we have been able to co-opt a new Councillor at our June Parish Council meeting. We had three entries all of whom were very able candidates and my thanks for all the interest shown in joining us. A warm welcome to Cllr Alan Marks who was chosen and joins our team and we hope that he will enjoy being a member of our small group.
Our Neighbourhood Plan Steering Group have now completed their Draft Plan and it is being circulated widely in the parish for your valued comments. [More details below.] A dedicated band of volunteers chaired by Cllr Manser have worked tirelessly to complete this Plan and now is another chance for you to have your views heard. Your views are important to the Parish Council and we want to be sure that you all have your thoughts heard on our proposed Neighbourhood Plan. I always feel so privileged to live in such a beautiful part of Devon and it is important to care for and protect such a lovely area. Let us hear what you think of this plan – please.
Please take some time and read it then fill in the feedback form and send it back to . It will be most helpful if you can make sure that all your friends and family in the parish have also got a copy. If you have not received a copy of the Draft Plan and would like one then please email this address and one will be sent to you without delay.
I noticed with all the publicity that went out to us with regards to the new refuse collection schedules that EDDC were advertising their ‘app’. As most of us now seem to have been swept into the 21st century it is well worth downloading. It is free and gives you useful information from contact numbers to setting up a reminder of what refuse will be collected and when each week.
I hope that the new refuse collection arrangements are settling down now but if you have any questions or worries about these arrangements please contact 01395 571515 or email . I am assured that there is a dedicated team ready to help you.
Those of you that are now off on holiday I hope that you have a really great time and come back safely. Thank you
Maureen Ackland-Smith 01392 874065
Clyst St George Parish Neighbourhood Plan: Draft for Consultation
The Steering Group for the Neighbourhood Plan (NP) are pleased to have a first draft for you to comment on. There have been public surveys, presentations and workshops, and now a draft NP. The Steering Group request feedback from every resident of the parish, as it will affect planning for the next 13 years within our parish. We have already asked EDDC’s planners for their initial comments; they are attached to the feedback form. Please read them, and then comment on our policies. The more feedback we have the better; we may even have to modify some of the policies! Both the first draft NP and the feedback form can be found at www.CSGNP.org.uk/documents. The feedback form should be filled in and emailed to or posted to CSGNP, Green Orchard, Lower Lane, Ebford, EX3 0QT, by 15th July please. Thank you in advance. John Manser, Chair, NP Steering Group
Rev’d Henry Thomas Ellacombe (1790-1885)
Ellacombe was an eccentric and multi-talented rector of Clyst St George from 1850 to the end of his life. His interests included, botany, campanology and he was an antiquarian and engineer. He grew up in his father's vicarage at Alphington, one of six sons of Rev’d William Ellicombe (1745-1831), and his much loved mother Hannah (née Rous). After taking a BA at Oriel College Oxford, in 1912, he worked under Marc Brunel at Chatham Dockyard. After an MA he became a curate at Cricklade and later at Bitton, where he rebuilt the church and three others in the vicinity, before being appointed to become a rector at Clyst St George.
At Clyst St George he rebuilt the nave and provided a school and master's house. However, perhaps his greatest achievement was his 'Ellacombe apparatus' that allowed one person to chime a set of church bells. This didn't supersede the ability of bell ringers to change ring a peel of bells, but alternatively a carillon (or tune) can be played on a set of bells.
In 1875 Ellacombe donated a memorial window at Topsham St Margaret to his late mother Hannah Rous (1751-1825). This two-light window in the choir (pictured right) depicting the nativity and baptism of Christ, was appropriate for Hannah, as she was baptised in St Margaret's on 18 July 1751, daughter of Thomas and Hannah Rous. The inscription in Latin reads: In Honorem Dei et in Memoriam Matris sva dilecta Hannah filia et coheredis Thoma Rous et trium ejus avorum de hac Villa de Topsham Armigervrum hanc fenestrum dedit dicavit posuit HT Ellacombe AS MDCCCLXXV. This inscription is found under the window on tiles in Lombardic lettering. Although the artist at present is not known, nevertheless it is likely to be Frederick Drake (1838-1920), the Exeter Cathedral glazier who provided several memorial windows for St Margaret's.
Ellacombe's son, Rev’d Canon Henry Nicholson Ellacombe (1822-1916) succeeded him at Clyst St George, and like his father, was a great plantsman and garden writer.
Sadly Clyst St George Church was destroyed in 1940 by an incendiary bomb, and lost nearly all its stained glass windows and memorials. Thankfully it has since been rebuilt. I was therefore pleased to find this memorial window to Ellacombe's mother, Hannah Rous, at St Margaret's Topsham, that was spared damage in WWII. Dr Stuart Bird
Lady Seawards C of E Primary School
Alps Class Open Morning. Parents from Alps Class joined their children in a celebration of learning.A wonderful experiencewas shared between parent and child where there were plenty of opportunities tolook through the different learning activities the children have been participating in. The pupils really enjoyed the chance to celebratetheirachievements with their parents and show the progressthey have made so far this termwith Mrs Frost, their class teacher.
Pyrenees Class at the Devon County Show. Pyrenees Class, along with the Gardening Club, had a great day out at the Devon County Show. They enjoyed making ‘brush monsters’ from dustpan and brushes in the science workshop. First the children were shown how to connect wires and a battery to make a complete circuit, which made the motor work. When it was switched on, the brush moved across the table like a creature. The children then decorated them with feathers, googly-eyes, pipe cleaners and lolly-pop sticks.
The children also visited the RAMM stand which had many Roman activities – and a Roman soldier to talk to! They were able to make coin rubbings of Roman coins with gold paper, and were allowed to hold some real Roman coins which were over 2000 years old! The children then looked for wheelbarrows which schools had been invited to make for the show, one of which had been designed by one of the children, Lily Mandeno. They then went to find the garden troughs which again had been made by local schools, and were thrilled to find that we had won first prize! Well done the gardening Club!
Other highlights of the day were using the assault course provided by the Exeter Chiefs, sitting on an old tractor, collecting stickers and visiting the different animals.
Nature Garden
Clyst St George has a delightful nature garden by the side of the parish church. The aim of the garden is togrow local Devon indigenous plants and trees and to encourage a Devon meadow with local wild flowers. Should you wish to help develop this ‘green’ facility, you can come along on the first Saturday of every month from 9.30 to 11 am.
Little Dragons Pre-School
Following our successful OFSTED inspection in April 2015 'good with outstanding features', we do still have a few spaces for children. So do come and visit and meet our highly experienced staff team. We are based in Lady Seaward’s School and open four days a week, from Monday to Thursday 8.45 am - 3.15 pm during school term times. For more information, please contact Elly on 01392 877793 in school hours or visit our .