Clovelly welcomes their new Oyster boat, 'BESSIE'

This 1904 classic, maritime heritage, Oyster boat, "BESSIE", has arrived at Clovelly. She has been restored by Cockwells Boats, Mylor, for Clovelly Estates. On completion of the main works at Mylor, she was then sent by road to Instow to have her finished off and launched before she could be sailed to Clovelly on 23rd August last.

It is the ultimate intention that 'Bessie' be sailed around Bideford Bay under competent skippers during the months from April to October each year. Working from her new home, Clovelly harbour, it is hoped that many will enjoy the spectacle of her under sail.

She is referred to in the 'Falmouth Working Boat', a book by Alun Davies, as an original Looe (Cornwall) built boat of 19'6" in length. She was then later named 'Vivian' when she moved early in her life to new owners in Falmouth to work commercially on the Helford Oyster beds.

In retirement, she regularly raced with other boats of her class at Falmouth on the weekly summer evenings. At some point before she was moved to her penultimate owner in Mousehole, near Penzance, she was reverted to her original name, "BESSIE"'.

There was much effort in Cockwells' work: After the ballast, garboards and other hull planking were removed, new frames, floors and other timbers were replaced or beefed up. Further side planking was replaced and re-caulking was done throughout.

The hull was then placed in the sea for a few days to take up. She was then re-ballasted and placed back in the water to take up further before being painted and anti-fouled. The later work done at Instow when the temporary rig was assembled to sail her round to Clovelly.

This winter her full rig will be installed ready for a full new season of enjoyment for all to view or go sailing.

October Highlights. Clovelly Lectures "Smart People have too much Power" - Understanding Political disaffection in the West'' with speaker David Goodhart

Clovelly Lectures have been held annually since 2011 both in Clovelly and in London. These Lectures have become an established event in the calendar for individuals wishing to hear first-hand from those who influence our lives and world affairs.

The next Clovelly Lecture will be on the theme "Smart People have too much Power"- "Democracy in Crisis - Understanding Political disaffection in the West'' with Speaker, David Goodhart on the 12th October

David Goodhart is a journalist. He founded Prospect, a British current affairs magazine in 1995 and was the editor until 2010, when he became editor-at-large. In December 2011, he was appointed Director of the London-based think tank Demos. As of 2017, he is Head of the Demography, Immigration and Integration Unit at the think tank Policy Exchange. He was a correspondent for the Financial Times for 12 years; for part of the period he was stationed in Germany. He has written for The Times, The Independent and The Guardian, he has presented documentaries for BBC Radio 4's Analysis programme on immigration and on Blue Labour. He has written of the influence on his thinking of people like Maurice Glasman, who coined the term "Blue Labour."

Publications:
The Road to Somewhere: The Populist Revolt and the Future of Politics (2017). Goodhart identifies the value divisions in British society that help to explain the Brexit vote and the rise of populism.
The British Dream: Successes and Failures of Post-war Immigration (2013). Runner up for the Orwell book prize.

Goodhart is one of seven children born to Valerie Forbes Winant (the niece of John Gilbert Winant) and Conservative MP Sir Philip Goodhart. He is a great-great-grandson of Mayer Lehman, co-founder of Lehman Brothers. He was educated at Eton College, and the University of York, where he gained a degree in History and Politics. He has written of being an "old Etonian Marxist" in his late teens and early twenties.

CLOVELLY LECTURES
Chairman: Sir Michael Burton K.C.V.O., C.M.G.
Director: The Honourable Mrs. Rous
RECEPTION-LECTURE-DEBATE-DINNER
Saturday 12th October 2019

Speaker:  David Goodhart

For tickets and further information please contact:
Clovellylectures11@gmail.com
or
Tel: 01237 431200
www.clovellylectures.com
Clovelly Visitor Centre, near Bideford, Devon
EX39 5TA

Time to celebrate local wildlife at Bat Festival with the Devon Greater Horseshoe Bat Project.

This September people from North Devon are being invited to celebrate some very special local wildlife at one of 25 ‘Bat Festival’ events being held across the county.

The Festival, which is now in its fourth year, is organised by the Devon Greater Horseshoe Bat Project, which is led by the charity Devon Wildlife Trust. Two North Devon events are being planned. Both are ‘bat walks’ where people can discover the secret lives of these fascinating mammals. Both take place in Braunton, the first on Thursday 12 September at 7.30pm; the second on Thursday 19 September at 7pm. Both leave on foot from Braunton’s Countryside Centre. They are free to attend.

The Devon Greater Horseshoe Bat Project, which has been running since 2015, is supported by the National Lottery Heritage Fund. Working alongside local farmers, the community and other countryside organisations, the project is securing a future for what is one of Devon’s most endangered animals.

Ruth Testa, Project Manager of the Devon Greater Horseshoe Bat Project, said:

“We want to welcome as many local people as possible to our fourth and biggest ever Bat Festival! Devon is an vital refuge for the greater horseshoe bat. About a third of the UK’s population of this special mammal live here, making the county a real stronghold for them. The Bat Festival is a wonderful opportunity for everyone to learn about and celebrate local bats. The help of local communities to protect greater horseshoe bats is more important than it has ever been as the species has declined by more than 90% in the last 100 years.”

North Devon Coast Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty (AONB) is helping the project run its Bat Festival events. Dave Edgcombe is the AONB’s Project Officer and said:

“We are delighted with the exciting bat events that are being staged across Devon with the project’s partners. The Bat Festival gives everyone an opportunity to find out more about the secret lives of bats. Here in North Devon there are 2 bat detecting walks in Braunton – do join us for some bat spotting!"

Full details about all 25 of the Bat Festival’s events can be found at www.devonbatproject.org/events

Greater Horseshoe Bat - Photo copyright Mike Symes