All smiles and a lot of Atlantic Spirit Gin, Crackington Cider and Rock Rum Down Along Clovelly Harbour for the maritime festival.
Live music, craft, food stalls with cream tea and cakes served by the ladies in the Lifeboat House. Well known author, Liz Shakespeare, whose books draw inspiration from the local history of the North Devon coast and countryside, was also book signing on the quay. Not forgetting Punch and Judy, Clovelly Soap, Devon Wildlife Trust, the RNLI and Coastguard teams. All credit to the stilt walkers "Higher Beings" traversing the bumpy cobbles on the Quay.
Spanning the generations. Bobbing boats and boatmen down below the Quay. Featuring Lugger Lilly, a new build to order by boatbuilder Chris Frisby, based on the lines of Bucks Ledge Lugger, Flying Foam, a small boat that once worked around the Bay in Bucks Mills.
Lugger Lilly in Clovelly Harbour. Photo copyright Pat Adams
Lugger Lilly with RNLI Boatman, Chris Braund, Chris Frisby and Stephen Perham in Clovelly Harbour. Photo copyright Pat Adams
Lily, was launched in May 2023, is planked in Sitka Spruce and Mahogany with #oak frames and fit out along with an Elm transom. (www.cfrisbyboats.co.uk)
Watch the video, take a walk Down Along Clovelly to the shore
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Many thanks to Chris Braund for telling us all about the history of the oldBucks Ledge
Shout out to the teams that respond to your shouts for help on the coast.
Passing on their invaluable safety advice on the day with a smile.
As Covid restrictions ease, one Devon author is looking forward to meeting readers again. Liz Shakespeare, whose books are inspired by the people, history and landscapes of Devon, will be attending a number of events this summer to sign copies of her books and to talk to members of the public.
Liz said, ‘Over the past year I have been able to continue writing, and I published my most recent book The Song of the Skylark in October 2020 with a launch on Zoom, but I have missed meeting readers at my usual talks and book signings throughout Devon.’
She has written six books set in Devon, bringing to life the stories she finds in old newspapers, on gravestones and in parish records. Liz has a long Devon ancestry which she feels has given her a good understanding of the county and its people. The Song of the Skylark tells the true story of a young girl sent out as a parish apprentice to work on a remote Devon farm.
Liz will be signing copies of all six of her books in the Magpie Marquee at the following events:
Mid-Devon Show on July 24th
Hartland Farmers’ Market on August 1st
Sidmouth Folk Festival on August 2nd
Honiton Show on August 5th and 6th
Clovelly Maritime Festival on August 8th
Okehampton Show on August 12th
Bideford Pannier Market on August 21st
North Molton Country Fair on August 22nd
High Bickington Fete on August 28th
Author, Liz Shakespeare and her Books from Devon
Devon author, Liz Shakespeare at the Mid-Devon Show 2019.
As if Clovelly couldn’t get any more colourful, expect to be wowed this July as the famous picturesque fishing village is “Yarn-Bombed”. Knit one, purl one down along the cobbled streets to the ancient quay, discover the bright and beautiful ‘cobble cosies’, knitted donkeys, seaside garlands and more. There’s a pattern here as that ‘tight-knit’ community of Clovelly Village residents have been busy preparing this ‘blooming’ lovely project with the help of people from all over the UK & abroad. There is even a life-sized model of the Queen watching over proceedings.
Clovelly Yarn Bomb 2016 is part of the village’s entry to the Britain in Bloom competition and is in aid of the Devon Air Ambulance Trust. Don’t forget the Clovelly Maritime Festival in aid of the North Devon Hospice is on 17th July so expect plenty of crafty fun for the kids, lots of fishy treats, a pirate or two, maybe a few mermaids and with a top crew of shanty singers aboard it’s bound to be a lively day out. The Clovelly Gun Run starts the event. You can cheer on the two teams of cadets from the 326 (Hartland) Squadron ATC as they heave away, haul away that weighty gun from the harbour to the Victoria Fountain. July is also time for a dramatic entrance to North Devon. Stage left for the outdoor theatre season at Hartland Abbey.
Over at the Big Sheep, Abbotsham the FUNdraising never stops. There's a Nearly New Baby and Toddler sale to help raise money for Friends of St Helen's School. On Purple Day, the BIG Sheep flock will be donning their purple clothes, wigs and anything else purple, if you're wearing purple, they'll donate £1 of your entry fee to the The Special Care Baby Unit at Barnstaple Hospital. This is followed by an evening of live music and fun for all the family FOSHfest organised by and raising funds for the Friends of St Helen's School in Abbotsham.
Finally, one of the most colourful tableaux of the year, Woolsery Agricultural Show and the Lundy Gig Row from Clovelly will bring the July highlights to a close. Scroll down for event details.
The Pirates of St. Piran just one of the acts performing at Clovelly Maritime Festival 2015
Punch and Judy at Clovelly Maritime Festival 2015 - Photo copyright Pat Adams
1st - 31st July Yarn-Bombing at Clovelly- Discover yarn-bombed areas throughout Clovelly. The village will look even more colourful with knitted donkeys, seaside garlands and crocheted 'cobble-cosies' plus much more. This unusual project is part of Clovelly's entry to the Britain in Bloom competition and is in aid of the Devon Air Ambulance Trust. Visit site for details Sunday 3rd July Nearly New Baby and Toddler sale on at the Big Sheep from
10:30am until 2pm to help raise money for Friends of St Helen's School. Visit site for details Friday 8th July Purple Day. The BIG Sheep flock will be donning their purple clothes, wigs and anything else purple to help raise money for The Special Care Baby Unit Visit us them on Friday 8th July wearing purple and they'll donate £1 of your entry fee to the The Special Care Baby Unit at Barnstaple Hospital Visit site for details Friday 8th July FOSHfest at the Big Sheep. FOSHfest organised by Friends of St Helen's School in Abbotsham. An evening of fun for all the family with LIVE music from :The Horse Band, Yazzy, Oscar Young, Chloe and Charlotte.There will also be Food available, and family fun with Bouncy Castle and Sumo Suits. Raffle
prizes include Tickets to The BIG Sheep, Eden Project, Woodlands
Diggerland, Quince Honey Farm & Combe Martin Wildlife &
Dinosaur Park. Raising funds for Friends of St Helen's School. Sponsored by Phatdog Events and Roberts & Clarke Tattoo Studio Visit site for details 17th July Clovelly Maritime Festival in aid of the N. Devon Hospice. The day will be full of fun and packed with a programme of all sorts of activities and entertainment for all ages. The 'Clovelly Gun Run' starts the event from the harbour to Victoria Fountain. Two teams will take it in turn to manhandle this weighty gun. Come along and support the cadets as they try to beat their race time last year. It really is an amazing sight of hard work and dedication! Then there'll be lively music, street entertainment, crafty creations, sea story telling, puppet shows and family activities. On the quay, there'll be seafood kitchens and a range of food and art & craft stalls. Free entry for under 16s if they come dressed as a pirate, mermaid, salty sea dog or fish wife. Under 7s have free entry anyway, but we would love it if they come dressed up too. So do come along and enjoy this fun-packed day out in support of the North Devon Hospice. Standard admission charges include all entertainment. Visit site for details Sunday 17th July The BIG Sheep Majorettes Competition!Visit site for full details Thursday 28th July Gullivers Travels performed by The Pantaloons.
5pm. Hartland Abbey, Hartland Nr. Bideford, N. Devon EX39 6DT
www.hartlandabbey.com
Set against the backdrop of this wonderful historic house,
steeped in the history of North Devon, enjoy a night out under
the stars! There is no need to bring a picnic unless you would
like to as there will be refreshments, ice creams, a bar, and
Mr. Crackling's delicious barbecue. Cream teas too in the Old
Kitchen Tea Rooms. Grounds open free to those attending the performance
1 hour before their start. Bring rugs/low backed seating. Tickets:
Full £13; Concession £11, Supporters/families with
children under 18 £9 each: Please contact the Plough Arts
Centre booking office on 01805 624624 or visit their website:
www.theploughartscentre.org.uk 25th July Woolsery Agricultural Show Summer in North Devon
would not be complete without a visit to this ever popular show.
Classes include crafts, cattle and sheep, together with horse and
pony competitions. There will be a Dairy Marquee with displays such
as yoghurt and ice cream making and the chance for children to "milk
a cow" along with competitions. You'll find bustling trade
stalls offering locally made crafts and food with fairground rides
and a bouncy castle for the children. There'll also be a family
dog show, a display of hounds, the Young Farmers' "It's a knockout"
and to finish the day, a parade of vintage farm machinery. It's
a great summer day out for all the family! A separate admission
charge applies. Visit site for details
Tuesday
26th July DANNY THE CHAMPION OF THE WORLD by Roald Dahl, performed
by Illyria. 5pm Hartland Abbey, Hartland nr. Bideford, N. Devon
EX39 6DT www.hartlandabbey.com (with a Drama workshop for 5-11 year
olds from 3.45 - 4.30pm - £3)
Set against the backdrop of this wonderful historic house, steeped
in the history of North Devon, enjoy a night out under the stars!
There is no need to bring a picnic unless you would like to as there
will be refreshments, ice creams, a bar, and Mr. Crackling's delicious
barbecue. Cream teas too. Grounds open free to those attending the
performance 1 hour before their start. Bring rugs/low backed seating.
Tickets: Full £13; Concession £11, Supporters/families
with children under 18 £9 each. Please contact the Plough
Arts Centre booking office on 01805 624624 or visit their website:
www.theploughartscentre.org.uk Thursday
28th July FAMILY ARTS AFTERNOON with The Plough Artists. 2-4.30pm
Hartland Abbey, Hartland nr. Bideford, N. Devon EX39 6DT. Tel: 01237
441496 www.hartlandabbey.com
Drama, kite making, willow weaving, story-telling, character treasure
hunt, wacky races and more… £2.50 per person. 30th July Lundy Gig Row from Clovelly Gig racing is exciting
and strenuous, with crews reaching speeds of nine knots in North
Devon's powerful tidal waters. You're assured and exhilarating day's
racing.So come along and cheer on the brave crews! Normal admission charges
apply, please consult www.clovelly.co.uk
for details For more North Devon Events see Local Press: What's On North Devon Gazette - North Devon Journal ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- North Devon Tourist Information Centres Barnstaple
Tourist Information Centre, North Devon Museum, The Square,
Barnstaple, EX32 9LS Tel: 01271 375000 Bideford
Tourist Information Centre, Burton Art Gallery, Kingsley Road,
Bideford, EX39 2QQ Tel: 01237 477676 Braunton
Tourist Information Centre The Bakehouse Centre, Caen Street,
Braunton, EX33 1AA Tel: 01271 816688 Combe
Martin Tourist Information Centre Cross Street, Combe Martin,
EX34 ODH Tel: 01271 889031 Holsworthy
Visitor Information Centre Ruby Country, Holsworthy Manor
Car Park, Holsworthy EX22 6DJ Tel: 01409 254 185 Torrington
Tourist Information Centre, Castle Hill, South Street, Torrington
Tel: 01805 626140 lfracombe
Tourist Information Centre The Landmark Theatre, The Seafront,
Ilfracombe, EX34 9BX Tel: 01271 863 001 Lynton
& Lynmouth Tourist Information Centre Lynton Town Hall,
Lee Road, Lynton, EX35 6HT Tel: 01598 752225 Lynmouth
National Park Centre, The Pavilion, The Esplanade, Lynmouth,
EX35 6EQ Tel: 01598 752509 South
Molton Tourist Information Centre 1 East Street, South Molton,
EX36 3BU Tel: 01769 574122 Woolacombe
Tourist Information Centre The Esplanade, Woolacombe, EX34
7DL Tel: 01271 870553
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Click here to add an event go to North Devon Focus Coast & Country Chronicle Community Calendar (We advise that you check with venues to ensure events are taking place, to confirm details dates & times)
Since 1912 The Royal Navy’s Interport Field Gun Competition, inspired by the exploits of a Naval Brigade during the Boer War in 1899, took place during the Royal Tournament. In 1989, Jim Cory, then a civilian instructor with 326 Hartland Squadron, single handedly built a replica field gun out of scrap metal and old car wheels for use by the cadets as it is easy to dismantle and reassemble.
It had its first outing on the playing fields at Hartland and was an instant success with locals. In the early 1990’s a ‘Gun Run’ took place in Clovelly, with the cadets pulling the gun up the street and ‘race’ times were recorded. Last year, the cadets resurrected the tradition and are hoping to make the ‘Clovelly Gun Run’ an annual event. This year, two teams will take it in turn to manhandle this weighty gun from the Harbour to the Fountain at the start of Clovelly’s annual Maritime Festival!
Come along and support the cadets as they try and beat last year’s race time. It really is an amazing sight of hard work and dedication!
Clovelly Maritime Festival, 10th Anniversary in aid of the North Devon Hospice, 19 July 2015 at Clovelly Harbour 10 am to 5 pm Contact: Tel: 01237 431781. www.clovelly.co.uk Photos Clovelly Gun Run 2014 copyright Hartland ATC (All rights reserved)
