Thursday 10 November 2022

Ode to Remembrance. "For the Fallen"

LEST WE FORGET

Ode to Remembrance. "For the Fallen"

They went with songs to the battle, they were young.

Straight of limb, true of eyes, steady and aglow.

They were staunch to the end against odds uncounted,

They fell with their faces to the foe.


They shall grow not old, as we that are left grow old:

Age shall not weary them, nor the years condemn.

At the going down of the sun and in the morning,

We will remember them.

The Unknown Soldier. Photo copyright Pat Adams North Devon Focus (All Rights Reserved)

The "Ode of Remembrance" is an ode taken from Laurence Binyon's poem "For the Fallen", which was first published in The Times in September 1914.

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The photo was taken in July 2018, a stunning commemorative display at RHS Garden Rosemoor celebrating the centenary of the end of the First World War. (Photo credit Pat Adams)

The "Unknown Soldier" (by Artist: George Hider) amidst one hundred ceramic Poppies (by Artist: Renee Kilburn)

The Great War started on the 28th July 1914 and ended on 11th November 1918

-"The Royal British Legion provide support for members of the Royal Navy, British Army, Royal Air Force, veterans and their families. By making a donation, you’re helping us to help those in need within the Armed Forces community." CLICK HERE TO SUPPORT THE POPPY APPEAL

Local Chimney Sweep provides lifeline this Christmas for local 400 struggling families

The Community Christmas Hamper Fund needs your help to provide a lifeline this Christmas for 400 struggling families.

The Community Christmas Hamper Fund started off in 2020, when a local Chimney Sweep, Tobias Kennedy Matthews, decided to help families in North Devon and Torridge struggling through the pandemic by fundraising to provide a lifeline at Christmas. The family would receive everything needed to make Christmas possible. The hampers included Christmas dinner complete with the trimmings, sweets, treats, crackers, stocking fillers and family games. In this first year of 2020 115 families received a Christmas hamper ensuring they had the Christmas they deserved.

Last year £7000 was raised, enough to provide a Christmas hamper for 250 families. Sadly Tobias had to turn away 400 applicants. This year, with the soaring cost of living, it is expected many more families will be in need of extra support to be able to make Christmas possible. ‘It is going to be more important than ever to try and be there for families in our communities here in North Devon and Torridge’ says Tobias.

This year Tobias has been awarded both the Mayor of Great Torrington’s good citizen award and The Voice radio’s Local Hero Fundraiser of the Year awards. ‘It’s made me realise how needed and appreciated this help is to so many’.

With a target to help 400 families this Christmas Tobias has been fundraising by cycling 400km with good friends Rob and Kane at the start of October. He is going sober for a month during busiest period of working as a Chimney Sweep from October 17th to November 16th. ‘I enjoy nothing more getting home from a stressful day to a lovely glass of wine!’ So far the Community Christmas Hamper Fund has raised £7000, with Christmas just around the corner, The Community Christmas Hamper Fund needs to raise an additional £3000 to be able to provide hampers for 400 families.

Donations have been coming in from individuals and local businesses such as Whitfield Tattoos running fundraising activity. In the past some supermarkets have been able to donate food items. Tarka Self Storage are providing a premises for free to store all of the goods and space to prepare the hampers.

If you are able help, please donate at www.gofundme.com/christmashamperfund22

If you own a local business and might be able to help us in any way, please get in touch. - Businesses that make sponsorship contributions will be publicly thanked at the beginning of the new year.

If you are struggling or know someone who may need help this Christmas 
please join our Facebook group TKM Community Fundraising 
or apply via the following link https://tinyurl.com/ChristmasHampers22
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Local Chimney Sweep provides lifeline this Christmas for local 400 struggling families
If you are able help, please donate at www.gofundme.com/christmashamperfund22

Contact Tobias on 07800544315 

Email: tkmchimneysweep@hotmail.co.uk

Gofundme Christmas Hamper Fund 22

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Saturday 5 November 2022

Event full Christmas calendar with Devon author, Liz Shakespeare

For those wanting to solve those difficult Christmas present problems, one North Devon author might have the answer!

Liz Shakespeare, who specialises in breathing life into true stories from Devon’s past, will be attending a number of events this Christmas to sign copies of her books and to talk to members of the public.

Liz said, ‘Many people like reading books which have local settings, especially when they are based on true stories. A signed book makes an ideal present.’

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. Her most recent book The Song of the Skylark tells the true story of a young girl who was sent out as a parish apprentice to work on a remote Devon farm.

‘I am currently working on my seventh book which will be set in Torrington,’ Liz said. ‘Each book takes around three years to research and write, I am making good progress with my latest one but it will be at least a year before it is ready to be published.’

Liz will be signing copies of all six of her books at the following events:

  • Christmas Market at Affinity, Devon on Saturday 12th and Sunday 13th November;

  • The Hospice Christmas Fair, Durrant Hotel on Thursday 17th November

  • Great Torrington Christmas Fayre (Town Hall) on Saturday 19th November

  • Connect and Create Winter Fest, Barnstaple Pannier Market on Sunday 20th November

  • Kingsley School Christmas Fair, Bideford on Saturday 26th November

  • Butchers' Hall Christmas Market, Tavistock on Friday 2nd December

  • Appledore Food and Craft Market on Saturday 3rd December

  • South Molton Fatstock Show on Sunday 4th December;

  • The Big Sheep Christmas Market on Saturdays 10th December and 17th December

  • Hartland Farmers' evening Christmas Market, 5-10pm on Thursday 22nd December.

Liz’s books are also available from good bookshops and with free postage from www.lizshakespeare.co.uk

 Christmas highlights from Devon Author, Liz Shakespeare

Devon author, Liz Shakespeare at the Mid-Devon Show 2019..
 Devon author, Liz Shakespeare at the Mid-Devon Show 2019.