ST TUDY METHODIST CHURCH  

There is a warm welcome to everyone to join us on all or any of the following dates:

The Soup and Sweet Lunch this month is on Tuesday 11th November at 12 noon. Cost £3. Names and numbers to Pat Hodge on 850321 asap please.

Coffee evenings start again this month in the Schoolroom at 7.30pm and the speaker on Thursday 20th November will be the Revd Ray Avent from Wadebridge who will tell us about his work with CRY (Care and Relief for the Young), which supports 25 Christian-based projects in 12 countries overseas.

AMBULANCE FIRST RESPONDERS COFFEE MORNING AND FREE HEALTH CHECK!

On 29th November there will be a coffee morning in the Clink with the proceeds going to The St Tudy/St Mabyn First Responders. Some of you will be aware of what Responders are and that in our group there are currently myself and Helen Sneddon at Longstone. To find out what we are and what we do and a bit more about the ambulance service come along and have a chat over a coffee. There will be an ambulance from Camelford (subject to availability) with the opportunity to see how it is equipped and what treatment can be carried out at the roadside, the home etc. There will also be a free health check; we can check your blood pressure, blood glucose and cholesterol levels, the oxygen saturation in your blood and show you a defibrillator though we hopefully won't actually get to use one! There will also be demonstrations of Basic Life Support.

In addition, through publicising what First Responders do, we are keen to encourage those who may consider training as responders to swell our numbers and give as near to full time cover as possible in our area.

We will need some help serving coffee if there are any willing people and also donations of cakes and biscuits for sale and items for a raffle would be most gratefully received.

PHIL TIZZARD 01208 851344

ST MABYN CHURCH RESTORATION APPEAL

As I write this, to catch the deadline for the Magazine, the scaffolding is still up round the Church as the last works on the roof are completed. We are assured that this will be complete by The Big Day when we celebrate the successful conclusion of nearly two years fundraising and the generosity of our many benefactors. I should like to take this opportunity to thank everyone who has worked so hard, especially the members of the Appeal Committee who had been tasked with actually raising the monies needed. By the time you read this we will have held our final committee meeting, to plan the handover back to the PCC of all the information and documents amassed during the past two years and arrange to liaise with the Friends of St Mabyn Church how we can best all work together for the future maintenance of this lovely building. I have been asked if the "final" committee meeting means that the Restoration is complete? And of course the answer is "no"! A building of this size and antiquity needs constant work and maintenance; the responsibility of the PCC and the Friends was formed precisely to assist with the raising of the necessary funds. Works, which will need to be tackled in the not-too-far-distant future, include the releading of the Great East Window (the Hext Memorial Window), repairs to the roof of the tower and further internal redecoration. Donations towards these projects are always welcome and during the process of the Appeal much has been learned about grant-giving bodies and no doubt this information will be useful in the future.

Over the years our Church has benefited from legacies, and I have been asked how to make sure that monies bequeathed will be used in accordance with the testators intentions, as not all solicitors are conversant with ecclesiastical law and on occasions bequests to "my Church" have ended up in central funds! The short answer is to leave your bequest (either a certain sum, or else a stated proportion of the estate) to "The PCC of St Mabyn (or whichever) Church" and trust to their deciding on how best the building can benefit. St Mabyn Church has several plaques on the wall of the bell tower commemorating several specific bequests, which were most gratefully received at the time. Have a word with Treasurer Joanne Hyde in St Mabyn on 841546 for any further details

Finally! I was delighted to be invited to the St Mabyn YFC AGM to receive a further donation of £500 towards the Appeal. This is most generous, as they gave us £1000 last year, and gratefully received. I hope that everyone who has donated anything at all, or been involved in any way will feel warmly invited to the celebration on 16 November, at 11 am when our Patron Sir David Brewer will officially declare the Appeal to be over, and the commemorative plaque will be dedicated. This will be followed by lunch in the village hall; please come to what should be a very jolly occasion!

ABIGAIL KIRBY-HARRIS

ST MABYN MISTLETOE FAIR

A not to be missed date is Saturday, 6th December when St Mabyn will hold their third Mistletoe Fair in the Village Hall from 12 noon until 4pm. We will have an exciting mix of crafters and stalls with ideas and lovely items for Christmas presents, teas and refreshments for the weary shopper and some fun and games for all. If you are interested in having a stall at the Fair then please contact Helen Barrett on 01208 84342 for details.

We know that many of you are gifted at making beautiful and unusual items, but may not wish to take a whole stall. We are offering an opportunity to sell your wares on our 'Community Craft' stall whether you have one item or ten. A small percentage of the item's ticket price will go towards the Village Hall Fund and the remainder to the item's maker; again contact Helen Barrett on 01208 841342 for more details.

WAN I•ED .... MUSICAL SOCKS AND OTHER UNLOVED CHRISTMAS

PRESENTS ... We would love any Christmas presents that are living at the back of your wardrobe, kitchen cupboard, etc received last year and not quite you .... We promise not to tell anyone that you passed them onto us for our special Christmas Gift stall ...... please deliver to St Mabyn Post Office and Stores. Thank you.     

LAURA BROWN

GIFT AID AND RETIRED PEOPLE.

Because of the increase in personal allowances in the Budget for people aged over 65 years some people who have been tax payers in the past may not be now. The personal allowance for people aged 65-74 is now £9,030 and £9,180 for those over 75.

A church should not reclaim Gift Aid on any donations given by someone who is no longer a taxpayer. Any tax misclaimed may be recovered by HMRC from the donor.

It is good practice to remind our older congregation members that if they are no longer tax payers they should let the Gift Aid Secretary or Treasurer know and cancel their Gift Aid declaration. JOHN EDWARD-COLLINS BENEFICE TREASURER

ST MABYN GARDEN CLUB

The September outing saw 20 members visiting Ellis Gardens and Nurseries at Polyphant, near Launceston. We were lucky with the weather and had a most enjoyable and informative tour of the gardens and nursery.

The autumn season of Garden Club evenings began in October with a slide and talk on Wild Flowers of Cornwall given by Ian Bennalick. He is well known for his knowledge and love of wild flowers and is involved with their conservation in Cornwall. We were shown beautiful slides, of not only wild flowers but also our local countryside where they can be seen. After many questions to our speaker, he was thanked by our chairman John Lobb.

The next meeting is Wednesday 12 November in St Mabyn Village Hall where Mr John Harris (of Radio Cornwall fame) will be speaking about all aspects of growing roses. For more information and membership please telephone Angela Buimey 01208 841511.

VOLUNTEER CARDRIVERS WANTED:

Due to Corlink's new timetable, it seems that people who attend the Wadebridge surgery for blood tests or to collect medicines are having to wait up to 3hours before being able to return to St Tudy. Several people have said that they would be happy to provide return transport, perhaps allowing a little time for shopping first but we need a few more names and phone numbers. Any offers please contact Jenny Muir, 01208 850293.

OVER 60s

After yet another successful supper party, the committee would like to thank the Carnival and Binding Stone Committees for their generous donations to enable us to purchase new tablecloths. These will now be available to hire with or without the china.

At present we have 100 plus place settings. If anyone has a function and would like to hire any amount large or small, please contact Lilian on 851056.

K HILLSON (SEC)

NORTH CORNWALL HUNT  

The Master, Robin Nicholls is looking for homes to host couples of hound puppies. If you have done this before and would like to do so again, or, equally if you would like to know more about what this involves give the Master a ring on his mobile, 07876241445 or Kennels a ring on 01208-850223 or the Supporters Club Secretary on 01637876098.

CONSERVATIVES COFFEE MORNING

Members and supporters attended the Coffee Morning hosted by Venning Davey to welcome Tony Baldry MP who was spending the weekend at Tredethy Hotel. He talked to those attending about the recent Party Conference and also their plans to restart the St Mabyn Branch; particularly appropriate as it is the home village of Conservative Candidate Sian Flynn, and those who have expressed an interest will be contacted shortly.

ABIGAIL KIRBY-HARRIS

COFFEE MORNING ST MABYN VILLAGE HALL

It was three years ago that the Friday fortnightly coffee mornings began in St Mabyn Village Hall. To celebrate this and to thank everyone who has contributed in anyway (especially the stalwart coffee makers and washer-uppers), on Friday 7 November there is to be a free coffee and refreshments morning between 10.30 am and 11.30 am. All are very welcome to come and meet new and old friends and enjoy a friendly chat in a congenial atmosphere.

CHRISTMAS FAIR AT TREVEIGHAN METHODIST CHURCH

You are invited to a Christmas Coffee Morning and Christmas Fair in the Methodist Chapel Community Hall on Wednesday 12th November at 10.00am.

There will be the usual features: cakes, cards, tombola, £1 parcels, books and raffle, as well as coffee and biscuits. Come and see if you can find what you want in Treveighan before making the journey to Exeter or Plymouth!

PAT HARRIS/MARY WATKINSON 850269

PARISH TO PARISH FROM THE ST KEW TREE WARDEN

With the escalating cost of fossil fuels, I think many people will be turning to the cheery comfort of the log fire and the wood burning stove. I also believe that more small businesses will be offering logs in response to this. Is this a good thing? I believe it to be an excellent thing! British deciduous trees have been "managed" for centuries for "timber" for building and "wood" for fuel. The ancient trees we have left are as a direct result of their usefulness to us. Because most of our native trees regenerate when we crop them, their chances of survival into old age can be measured in centuries not decades if their usefulness survives. The countryside that we are privileged to live in also exists because of its usefulness to us. If our countryside was not used we would all be living in a wall-to-wall oak woodland.

Which brings me to another, not unrelated, observation. How often have I heard someone complain about being stuck behind a tractor, or kept awake at night during silage time by the late night rumblings of the wagons? I have heard of people complaining about the organic smell of farmyard manure or silage; or to the

noise that animals make; or the early morning rumble of the milk tankers; or mud

on the lanes; or having to wait behind a flock of sheep; or the cows going to milking.

Yes, we've all done it – some seriously and others in jest. Not all fanners are acre-rich with Dutch barns full of cash; most are family concerns. In fact, I believe over 40% of Cornish farmers are small scale or smallholdings.

I do not feel put out when my neighbours bring in the silage or the hay. I feel humbled and comforted, that despite Bovine TB, Bluetongue, Foot and Mouth, random European legislation and the vagaries of the Cornish climate, these hardy men and women and their workforce are still prepared to put food on my family's table. I buy as much of it as I can from local producers, however small, and ponder the fact that, despite what is said to be the oldest profession, food production has been carried out for thousands of years in defiance of politics, disease and the weather, (although probably not random legislation). We are prepared to pay vast salaries to company directors, footballers and entertainers, but without food producers, large and small, we would all starve.

So go on, next time you get stuck behind a tractor, give a fanner a cheery wave instead of scowling at him.

N.B. I express no-ones opinion but my own.

JENNY McGANN

FROM REVEREND MARGARET

After attending the beautiful Harvest Service of the children of St Tudy School, I can finally say that "All is safely gathered in." Harvest services have been different this year, but every one of them has been joyful and uplifting. Now we move on and prepare for November, the month of "Remembering". Saturday 1st November is All Saints Day. It is a very important festival in the Christian Church and to mark it there will be a service of Holy Communion at 7pm in St Mabyn Church. Everyone is welcome and do try to come, particularly if you cannot make the Sunday service. Sunday 2nd November is All Souls Day when we remember all those whom we have loved but see no longer. There will be a simple, quiet and contemplative service at 6pm in the evening when the names of all those whom you wish to be remembered will be read out, and there will be an opportunity to light a candle. There will be lists for names at the back of all three churches and all those who have lost loved ones during the last year will receive a special invitation. Sunday 9th November is Remembrance Sunday. There will be the usual services and Acts of Remembrance at all three churches. At St Tudy our bugler will be with us as usual. I am delighted that the speaker will be Major General Peter Williams C.M.G., O.B.E. Remembrance Sunday is very special and we have been very privileged at St Tudy with having traditionally had some wonderful speakers over the last few years. Long may it continue.

On Tuesday 11th November at 10.45am in St Mabyn Church, there will be a short service of Remembrance at which on the 11th hour of the 11th day of the llth month, the names of those in the benefice who have given their lives for their country will be read out. It is a very short service and it provides an opportunity for anyone unable to attend on the Sunday to have the time to "Remember".

Sunday 16th November will be a very important occasion at St Mabyn. We will celebrate our Patronal Festival plus we will be giving thanks for the completion of the costly repairs to the roof. We hope to be joined by all those who have helped in any way. Our Patron, Sir David Brewer, will be with us and the preacher and celebrant will be the Ven Clive Cohen, Archdeacon of Bodmin. He will also dedicate and bless the commemorative plaque. The service is a joint Benefice service so we hope that the church will be full to overflowing. It will begin at 11 am and will be followed by a buffet lunch in the Village Hall to which everyone is invited. Please support this very special occasion.

I should now like to place on record my personal thanks to everyone who has contributed towards the restoration of the roof. In particular I must thank Abigail Kirby-Harris for Chairing the Appeal Committee and for all her drive, enthusiasm and hard work. My thanks must also go to Jenni Tarring, the wonderful Appeal Secretary. Jo Hyde and Alan Millson have put in countless hours filling in forms and applying for grants and their successful efforts have meant that we have been able to considerably supplement the generous giving that we have received. Thank you very much to my Churchwardens, John Lobb and Colin Hyde and all other members of the committee. You know who you are. Thanks must also go to Richard Church our architect and Graham from Ry-Arch. The words, which will be placed, on the commemorative plaque say it all.

"The restoration of this church roof was completed in 2008 thanks to the contribution of benefactors and the generosity of those who love St Mabyn Church."

Thank you and God Bless You All.

ALLEN VALLEY SINGERS

We are looking forward to concerts at St. Kew Highway Community Hall (date to be confirmed), a Joint Concert with the Tintagel Orpheus MVS on the 7th December plus a concert at Bederkesa Court in Bodmin, on 9th December. We will have our Christmas concert at St. Tudy Methodist Church on 11th December and on the 13th December, our Musical Director's birthday. We also have a concert to raise funds for Vitalise, Churchtown, in which we shall be joined by the Triggshire Youth Orchestra. We will be competing in the St.Austell Festival this year also and all of these events need different repertoires and a range of styles. However we are nothing if not versatile!

We are also singing at the 25th wedding anniversary of our Chairman, Ronnie Fawkes and her husband Howard, who has a birthday within days of the anniversary, so it will be a glorious celebration. We have been asked to forgo our uniform for that evening, as we will be expected to 'boogie the night away'. We all send good wishes to Ronnie and Howard.

On Friday 26th September the choir sang at the Christian Centre in Wadebridge in order to raise funds towards the continuing building of a school in Africa. Chris Holliman, not only represented the church, which has supported this venture so remarkably but teaches at Wadebridge School and is a member of the choir. The concert, with the raffle and refreshments, raised a useful sum towards the work. Newcomers wishing to join the choir are welcome to apply to our Musical Director, Janette Man, Tel. 01208 841784. For bookings, please contact Jennifer May Tel. 01208 880131. All other enquiries to Jenni Tarring 01208 841329

Joyce Hargrave-Wright (Dr.) Publicity Officer 01208 264004.

FROM THE PARISH DIARIES

Rest in Peace

4th October at Michaelstow Neva (Pat) Prout

Holy Matrimony

4th October at St Tudy David Rollo Hayman and Kerry Bond of Mallorca

BOOK OF REMEMBRANCE

There is a Book of Remembrance in all three churches in the benefice. Names of loved ones and their anniversaries of death can be recorded in it. Their names are then read out and they are prayed for on their anniversary every year. The pages of the book are turned over every day. It costs £6 for each entry to cover the cost. Forms can be obtained from either myself or the churchwardens.

ST MABYN CHURCH CLEAN

The restoration work is nearly complete but naturally as a result the church needs a good clean, as there is dust everywhere. A big "clean up" will take place during the week after half term commencing Monday 3rd November. If you are willing and able to give a little of your time to help in any way, please contact Anthea Lobb on 841581. Thank you.

COFFEE IN ST TUDY VILLAGE HALL

I would like to thank everyone for their support, phone calls, texts and cards when my son Sebastian was rushed into hospital with meningitis on 8th July. He spent ten days in hospital while receiving his daily medication and then a long wet summer to rest before starting St Tudy Primary School in the reception year. He is now doing very well.

To say thank you to the Meningitis Trust for their ongoing support and advice, I am holding a Coffee Morning at St Tudy Village Hall from loam till 12 on Saturday 8th November. Please come along and help me raise money so they can carry on the good work they do supporting families with meningitis. Thank you.

REBECCA ROSE

ST TUDY W I

Mrs Lobb and Mrs Dibble gave a very good account of the Autumn Council meeting held recently in the Hall for Cornwall, when Margaret collected a plaque and £300 for the Best Kept Village Competition in which we came rd. Sue was awarded the Goldsworthy Cup for coming 1st in the programme competition. Final arrangements were made for our birthday lunch at Bowood and the Primestock Show in Wadebridge. Names were taken for Plymouth late night shopping on Thursday 27th November.

David Prowse was a very entertaining speaker with his own poetry. It is hoped to have him back in the near future — watch this space.

THANK YOU

Michael Lendrum, Vincent and Nicola would like to thank everyone for their support both before and since Hazel passed away. We have been overwhelmed by the number of cards and letters we have received and feel lucky to be part of such a caring community. Thank you!

WEDNESDAYS COFFEE IN THE CLINK

Thank you to all the ladies who kindly cooked "goodies" and served coffee in the Clink on Wednesdays from the beginning of May until the end of September. It was reasonably well attended and thanks also go to our stalwart supporters. We raised £418 towards church funds — a substantial help much appreciated. H.M.G.

COUNTRY DANCING ST TUDY

We meet once a fortnight at St Tudy Village Hall between 2.15 and 4.15 pm. Why not come and join us for a bit of fun, a bit of friendship and a bit of fitness. Previous experience is not necessary, just come along and have a go and any of you fellas out there, there is always room for a bit of balance!!

Interested? ...... Please contact Jenny Muir on 01208 850293.

ST MABYN HARVEST    

This year's Harvest Festival Service, conducted by the Reverend Margaret Millson assisted by the Reverend John Brendon-Cooke was particularly well attended by residents and visitors alike. The farming community were out in force, giving heartfelt thanks for the eventual conclusion of the long harvesting process, which for some time had been in jeopardy. Members of the congregation were delighted to have the organ, damaged in the floods in May, back in action and played by Marjorie Hamly and the traditional favourite hymns rang out in the midst of the internal scaffolding as the interior restoration nears the end. Churchwarden John Lobb led the prayers and many stayed afterwards, to enjoy the usual refreshments and fellowship.

MICHAELMAS & HARVEST FESTIVAL AT MICHAELSTOW

It took a lot of work but was well worth it when, after the service, around 35 of us sat down to a most sumptuous repast. We did our best, but there was still some food left over. Following the feast was the traditional auction of goods, with Alan Sanders as auctioneer. He'd made the mistake of saying that he wouldn't mind having a go at it so was immediately 'volunteered', and did a first rate job. I think he's got a regular job there. Thanks go to everybody who helped in so many ways to make the day a great success, not least those who supported us by coming and being so generous. We have been able to send a donation of £290 to the children's hospice appeal, and just as importantly everybody had a most enjoyable time.

DAVID FORD

ST TUDY PRE-SCHOOL

... are holding a table-top sale (indoor car boot sale) at St Tudy Village Hall on Saturday, 15th November, from 1-4pm, with set up from 12 noon. Please come and support your local pre-school either by having your own stall or by looking around & having a cup of tea!

We will be selling a variety of items, refreshments, children's crafts, Xmas stocking fillers & much, much more. Due to limited space we would appreciate it if sellers pre-booked their table by contacting either Liz on 01208 850278 or Susie on 01208 851107. Hope to see you there.

LIZ HUSTWAYTE

ST TUDY GARDEN PRODUCE ASSOCIATION

The final show of the year was held on Saturday 11th October and, despite a decline in the number of vegetable entries, the flowers and floral art certainly filled the tables. The judges were Mrs V Bluett (Floral Art), Mr M Blake (Vegetables), Mr J Godden (Flowers) and Miss N Sheer (Juniors).

The trophies were well distributed. Mr John Edward-Collins won the cup for most points in Vegetable Section with Mr C Kestell receiving the Runner up cup and Mrs S Dibble the M.E.L, Williams Cup for the best exhibit in Vegetables and Fruit with her bunch of grapes. Mr Edward-Collins also won the Dick Lamerton Cup for the best Vegetable Collection. Mrs Ivy Bastard was awarded the F and M Hinson Memorial Cup for most points in flower Section with Mrs A ffrench-Blake taking the Runner up cup. Mr Ken Metcalfe received the Cup for the best Flower exhibit with a gorgeous large red cyclamen, which he assured us, has been on the go for at least three years. Mrs Judith Jasper gained most points in Floral Art and was awarded the Millennium Cup. Mrs Jane King won the Dulcie Denny Cup for best exhibit in floral Art with a simple arrangement of three deep pink gerberas.

The Junior Section, once again, was very sparse but the animals made from vegetable matter were amazing – 1st Daniel Hocking, 2nd Joseph Hocking and 3rd Marley Lamerton Maddern. Daniel also received the Cup and Medal for best exhibit in Juniors. Photos should be on the village web site very soon.

The Coffee Morning we held in the Clink on Saturday 18th raised the very healthy sum of £148 to help swell our funds and pay for our speakers over the coming months. Many thanks to all who supported us.

Our next meeting will be on Monday 10th November when Claire Woodbine will be telling us how to make the most of shade. Do come!

JANE KING

CONSERVATIVES ANNUAL DINNER

The St Breward branch of North. Cornwall Conservatives held their Annual Dinner at Lavethan, Blisland, by kind invitation of Catherine and Christopher Hartley. Guest speaker was Tony Baldry, MP for North Oxfordshire and a former Fisheries Minister. He was introduced by Sian Flynn, Conservative Candidate for North Cornwall, who also accompanied him for the rest of the weekend as he attended functions organised by other branches in North Cornwall. In her vote of thanks Chairman Mrs Abigail Kirby-Harris commented that it had been some years since any local Branch had held an Annual Dinner and felt sure that it was the first of many future successful events.

THANKS

Thank you to everyone who came to my party, helpers, providers and givers of umpteen cards and especially the donations. £157.00 will go to StPetroc's Society to help the homeless in Cornwall. Now I have come down to earth. ANDY MUIR

Tamsin (Burney) and lan Ford thank everyone for their kindness, well wishes and help received that contributed to make their wedding at St Mabyn on 20 September such a memorable and happy occasion. Special thanks to Reverend Margaret for a beautiful and meaningful service and Audrey Cooke for her amazing prowess in photography and filming, We have just returned from a lovely honeymoon in Vienna and are settling down to being an old married couple.

Many thanks to all who helped to make our Art Exhibition such a success. The Clinkers were able to send a total of £111 to the charities, Mount Edgcumbe and Cornwall Air Ambulance as a result of money raised at their recent exhibition. Lesley Fraser was the winner of the Cornwall painting. We enjoyed meeting everyone and were heartened by many positive remarks about our work. We were even more pleased to sell some paintings and lots of our handmade cards. We look forward to seeing you all at our next exhibition some time in the future.

THE CLINKERS

BINDING STONE UPDATE

Due to another generous donation and several book sales during the last few months, thanks mainly to the village shop; the Binding Stone Fund now stands at £600.77. This money is not doing any good sitting in the bank! This money is raised to benefit the village of St Tudy, so if your organisation requires money from the fluid, or you have any ideas for a project for the village that some of this money could be used towards, please apply in writing to The Binding Stone Fund, c/o Cavalier Cottage, St Tudy.

SUE DIBBLE TEL 01208 850748

THE LAST GREAT FIRST

The Friends of St Mabyn Church invite you to a three course lunch with wine and drinks followed by a 'Ripping Yarn' by Gage Williams, who will recount tales of derring do' when he was a member of the 1968 Ethiopian Blue Nile Expedition. Noon for 12.30pm Fri 28th November at St Mabyn Village Hall. Tickets £12 from Audrey Cooke 01208 841607 or ayce@kemow76.freeserve.co.uk Registered Charity No 1105840

CONGRATULATIONS     

Belated birthday greetings to John Chugg who celebrated his 80th birthday in October.

YOUNG PEOPLE'S ACTIVITIES

The nature of our local geography means that not every village can offer every possible activity for all ages, but in this "triangle" of North Cornwall we are very fortunate as in St Breward we have the meeting place for the Guides and Brownies (and we hope that following the recent piece in the Cornish Guardian we will soon have Rainbows up and running) and in St Mabyn there is the Scout Hut, for Beavers (ages 6-8), Cubs and Scouts. Great news is that the new extension to house toilets is almost complete, following much hard work and applications for grants. (Contact Jana 815418 for Beavers.) The Guide Hut will soon also have proper modern facilities now that the arrangements for the transfer of the necessary land have taken place.

The Girl Guides enjoyed an active summer camping in the New Forest and trying out new activities like falconry, outdoor adventures, especially the high ropes in the forest and water sports such as canoeing and rafting. Next summer they look forward to the Guides and Scouts Jamboree at Windsor Castle, where there will be 4,500 10-25 year olds. Meanwhile they look forward to a year packed with the activities, which they all love. Guides is for girls aged 10-14 and are actively seeking some volunteer leaders to help set up the Rangers which all the present Guides would like to follow on to after they reach 14. They have recently been joined by some Brownies who have "graduated", thus creating some much needed spaces. There is no shortage of eager little 5-7 year olds looking for a Rainbow Group, but, just as with the Rangers, what they need is some volunteer leaders. Guide Leader Jill Jeffs is a Joint District Commissioner and she urges young women of 18+ to give it a try and bolster their CV at the same time. "My involvement with the Guides, and the training which I receive as part of it has always gone down very well in job interviews and it really does offer a lot of enjoyment too." Ring Jill on 01840 212497 for Guides (you don't have to have been a Brownie to join!) and Snowy Owl Kathryn Tiplady 01208 850185 for Brownies).

And not forgetting the Young Farmers! There is an active Club in St Mabyn (also one in Warleggan and Camelford) which always welcomes new members (and you don't actually have to have a farming background!)They meet on Friday evenings in the Village Hall at 7.30pm and Secretary Amanda Harris 01208 851027 will be pleased to hear from anyone between aged between 16-25 interested in going along.

ABIGAIL KIRBY-HARRIS

ST MABYN PARISH COUNCIL

Local residents expressed concerns about the mobile Golden Fry Fish & Chip Van that visits the village. Problems occurred with parking near the Public Ilouse. The Council granted permission for the van to park on the Parish Council owned, old canteen site, adjacent to the Memorial Hall.

Cur Mrs C Cordell produced photographs highlighting the condition of the footpath no 5. The Clerk confirmed that she had asked the County Council to look at this path and the public right of way at Menkee. The No Parking signs had been erected at Meadow Court, Wadebridge Road. Curs R Heath and L Wood had visited the Planning Office to clarify the conditions on the original planning approval notice in relation to the visibility splay. Listed Building Planning consent for the erection of 11 holiday cottages, demolition of single storey building and removal of part of internal wall at The Walled Garden, Tredethy, Hellandbridge has been approved.

Cllr R Heath highlighted the contents of a letter received from the NCDC Head of Housing Services in relation to the access arrangements across the NCDC land, adjacent to Corfe House. NCDC would be prepared to acknowledge access for pedestrians but not for vehicular purposes. Older youths on bicycles, continued to go into the playing field – this is not permitted. A new sign was proposed and accepted, to read, "No Dogs, Cycling limited to children under 12's only, Please shut the Gate, Please do not obstruct this entrance". It was agreed that a small handrail/barrier be erected to segregate the pedestrian entrance and to stop the parking of vehicles in this area, outside the main gates.

The re-decorating works of the public toilets were near completion and Councillors resolved that the facilities be locked during night time hours, unless a function in the Memorial Hall or Church required them to remain open. Cllr L Wood agreed to lock the toilets from approx. 7.00pm in the evening until 8.00am the following day. Cllr Wood agreed to carry out this function from the beginning of October until the end of December 2008. The Hall Committee and PCC will be asked to notify the Clerk of any large functions when they require the toilets to be left open. It was suggested that the Hall Committee contribute towards any extra cleaning work required.

The County Council will restore the directional sign in the centre of the village sometime in this fmancial year. Some residents were allowing their dogs to foul on the grass at The Crescent. Signs will be obtained from NCDC and displayed. The District Council Dog Warden will be notified. The "No Smoking" sign had been removed from the bus stop in the village. Next Meeting: Tuesday, 4th Nov.

CLLR HELEN BARRETT