October Highlights. A Charity Choral Concert featuring The Barnstaple Ladies & Barnstaple Male Voice Choirs

A Charity Choral Concert featuring The Barnstaple Ladies & Barnstaple Male Voice Choirs will be taking place in aid of The Northam Care Trust on Saturday 19th October 2019. Arrival is from 7.00pm, with the concert commencing at 7.30pm at the Lavington Church, Bridgeland Street, Bideford. This will be a wonderful musical celebration with songs from shows as well as classical and popular music.

Charity Choral Concert 

featuring The Barnstaple Ladies & Barnstaple Male Voice Choirs 

on Saturday 19th October. 

Arrival is from 7.00pm, with the concert commencing at 7.30pm 

at the Lavington Church, Bridgeland Street, Bideford. Devon EX39 2PZ

  In aid of The Northam Care Trust 

Tickets are priced at £6 each are available in advance from our website www.northamcaretrust.co.uk or on the door on the night. Under 12's are free.

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ABOUT NORTHAM CARE TRUST

The Northam Care Trust is a charity formed as Northam Lodge in 1978 and our mission is to support people with learning and physical disabilities in having choice and control in achieving the best possible quality of life, evidenced by real quality outcomes and supported by our passion for excellence. They are based in Northam and Bideford in North Devon and have developed person centred support for people with profound and multiple learning and other disabilities and complex needs in residential and day activities. Excellent communication, respect, dignity, engagement, support for carers and a set of values and behaviours underpin our work and add value with personalisation at the core. They are the only organisation in North Devon and North Cornwall providing this high care specialist service and are a vital resource for families and carers whose relatives live in our accommodation or use our community support facilities including the range of day activities we offer at Rose Hill. Tap here to find out more about the Northam Care Trust Past and Present

October Highlights. Art Exhibition at Barnstaple Library with local artists Ken Funnell and Bill Bromfield.

Barnstaple library welcomes local artists Ken Funnell and Bill Bromfield with their upcoming exhibition showcasing their distinctive styles. 

Ken Funnell
"I have returned to a favourite pastime after a long interruption whilst working in the aerospace industry, this has given me a keen eye for detail which is reflected in my favoured medium of pen and ink. Subjects range from aviation and architecture to marine and the countryside, more recently I have been developing my skills in the use of acrylics and I am also satisfying a long held interest by exploring techniques in relief printing. I am currently chairman of the Bishops Tawton Art Group."

Bill Bromfield
"As an artist living and working in North Devon I find inspiration towards every horizon and potential paintings along every mile of our glorious coastline.

Watercolour is my choice of medium – it is versatile and unpredictable. I love the transparency of watercolour and the way colours mix together on the paper to produce exciting results. I enjoy sketching outdoors and often develop these “plein air” studies back in the studio. I am a member of several art groups and this helps my artwork by sharing tips and knowledge with others."

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Barnstaple Library

North Devon Library & Record Office, Tuly Street, Barnstaple EX31 1EL. Website

The pictures will be on display in the foyer area 

from Saturday 12th October to Saturday 26th October

(closed on Sundays)  

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.