Swamp Stomp at Village Hall

BRENTOR VILLAGE HALL hosts The Swamp Stomp String Band

BRENTOR VILLAGE HALL hosts The Swamp Stomp String Band

Doors open 7pm for 7.30pm Tickets £12 adults £8 children

The Swamp Stomp String Band are a raucous and energetic travelling three-piece band from the UK, consisting of banjos, upright bass, guitars, anda flat-pack honky-tonk piano. We play rambunctious, up-tempo, old-time music infused with Bluegrass, Country, Americana, and anything else you might find pouring out of a beer soaked, roadside dive-bar!

Book tickets online at: https://villagesinaction.co.uk/performances/the-swamp-stomp-string-band/

 

 

The Brentor Band of Hope Banner

The Brentor Band of Hope Banner

An article has been sent to the website about the restoration and preservation of the Brentor Band of Hope Banner that was donated to the Tavistock Museum when then chapel was closed down. You can read more about it on the Brentor Band of Hope Banner page. Unfortunately the name of the person who sent the article and pictures to the site wasn't included so please get in touch and let us know your details so we can give credit to the author!

Electoral Canvassers

Electoral Canvassers

It is that time of year again when canvassers will be calling on all properties within the council area who are required to, but have not yet returned, a Canvass Form with regard to Electoral Registration. The Canvassers will be trying to make contact with those households who have not supplied information that we have requested under Electoral Registration legislation. 

The canvassers will be carrying ID and will be delivering forms and not taking information at the doorstep, unless it is offered to them.

The Brentorians – 2023 AGM

The Brentorians 2023 Annual General Meeting will be held on the 27th September 2023 in the Village Hall at 7 p.m.

All are welcome to attend the meeting where we will be discussing the next play we will perform and rehearsal and performance dates. If you would like to join us then please come along and find out all the different roles that are on offer.

Click here to download the AGM and 2022 AGM Minutes.

Stop the closure of the mobile library service

Save Devon's Mobile Libraries

Image: Devon County Council

The campaign to save Devon’s mobile libraries from closure by Devon County Council has now reached more than 4000 online signatures and hundreds more paper signatures, with support from a whole host of celebrities and authors including Stephen Fry and Michael Morpurgo.

To sign the petition online  https://www.change.org/SaveOurMobileLibrary

This petition calls on Devon County Council to keep the mobile library service running in Devon, especially here where we have many very rural and isolated areas which really benefit from its service.

Please sign and share this petition to help save our mobile libraries before the final decision is made by county councillors in the next few weeks.

The campaign to save the mobile library service has attracted national attention and support from Stephen Fry and Michael Rosen:

Authors join online campaign to save ‘vital’ Devon mobile library services

If you would rather sign the petition in person then please visit the Brentor Village Hall on Saturday 2 September during the Summer Fete and Produce Show between 9:30 and 3:00

Mitchell and Vincent at Brentor Village Hall

two people, possibly mitchell and vincent, stand in a mysterious and misty landscape

Brentor Community Trust hosts Mitchell and Vincent at Brentor Village Hall

TICKETS STILL AVAILABLE!

New date! Saturday 23rd September 2023

Doors open 7pm for 7.30pm start

Tickets £12 adult/£8 under 16s

To buy tickets online please go to:

Westcountry folk duo Mitchell and Vincent bring traditional and contemporary styles on fiddle and guitar to music from the British Isles with their own varied arrangements telling stories with their tunes as well as songs.

They have performed concerts around the UK, including festivals such as Glastonbury, Broadstairs, Oxford and Beverley.

Acoustic magazine praised their playing as, “Stunning”; FATEA said, “Music that is beautifully played”; while Bright Young Folk described their performance as, "Providing skilled arrangements and expert delivery of tunes and songs which showcase the vibrancy, and variety, of folk music across Britain. A thoroughly engaging and enjoyable experience.”

To find out more about the band, go to https://mitchellandvincent.com/

mitchell and vincent performing in an unknown venue

Parish Cemetery Maintenance

Parish Cemetery - New bench and new contractor

Over the winter period the Parish Council have been advertising for a new contractor to mow and maintain the Parish Cemetery. It has been difficult to find someone willing to take the work on for a number of reasons but we are hopefully about to conclude negotiations with a local company to carry out the work.

During the annual inspection the Parish Councillors noticed that the bench and noticeboard were in a state of disrepair. Both have been replaced using donations to pay for the new bench and noticeboard. The bench is already in place and the new noticeboard is being manufactured and will soon be in place.

Thanks to Cllr Fraser for her hard work sourcing, ordering and installing the bench and removing the old one.

New Mobile Library service for Brentor

Mobile Library Service for Brentor

The mobile library will be visiting Brentor every four weeks. It is a trial stop for the library which will run until Christmas to guage the level of interest in the service. The timetable is attached below. To use the mobile library you will need a mobile library card (which differs from the normal library card), these can be issued from the mobile library van. Once you have a library card you can use it at any mobile library stop, Unfortunately only books borrowed from the mobile library can be returned to the mobile library.

For more information or if you have any questions you can contact Libraries Unlimited via their web page: Contact the Library

2023 Mayoral Awards – Nominations Open

Press Release

The following press release has been issued by West Devon Borough Council:

West Devon Mayoral Awards Now Open

Issued: 23 January 2023

Nominations are open for the 2023 West Devon Borough Council Mayoral Awards, which recognise deserving people providing valuable contributions to the community.
The Borough Council is looking for outstanding people who deserve public recognition for their unpaid work or contribution. Whether an individual, group or an organisation, the Council wants to hear about them.
The Mayoral Awards have now been running for a fantastic 25 years. They have celebrated the outstanding achievements of a wide range of people who have done something significant to benefit the Borough.
Some past winners have enhanced the reputation of West Devon nationally, while others have contributed hugely to the conservation and protection of the Borough’s beautiful natural environment.
The four categories this year are:
• The West Devon Mayoral Award for Under 18s
• The West Devon Mayoral Award for Over 18s / Organisation
• The Mayor’s Green Award
• Long Service Award
The Long Service Award, which was introduced for the first time last year, recognises those who have worked behind the scenes, contributing to their community over a number of years.
The Green Award covers a wide range of environmental or sustainable areas, such as recycling, improving biodiversity or green transport. If you know someone who is ‘green fingered’ or doing their bit to combat climate change, this award is a great way to celebrate their achievements.
Nominations close on Friday 17 February 2023.

Mayor of West Devon, Cllr Caroline Mott, said: “With life difficult for many it is even more important for us to value and recognise those who strive to make a difference in their communities.

“Please use this opportunity to nominate someone who has made a difference in the Borough so that they may be considered for an award. It is always a joy to read through the nominations even though it is a difficult task to name a final winner.

“All those nominated will receive a certificate to recognise their endeavours with the winners invited to receive their award after the Hub Committee meeting on Tuesday 7 March 2023."

Judges will include the Mayor, Deputy Mayor and two other Councillors. The winners will receive their awards at a ceremony planned for Tuesday 7 March 2023 at the Council Officer, Kilworth park, Tavistock.
If you know someone who you think is deserving of an award, you can complete a nomination form, giving us details of why you think they should receive one.

To access the nomination forms and for more information visit: https://www.westdevon.gov.uk/mayors-awards

Villages in Action – Help! I think I’m a Nationalist!

This event is now sold out

Don't forget your tickets!

Saturday 18th March 2023 7.30pm start at Brentor Village Hall

Who am I?  Where do I belong?  And who should I vote for? Cornwall is at a tipping point.  House prices soar, the population shifts, tensions rise.  Some people see it as a separate nation, whilst others see it as a prime holiday destination and playground for the rich.  Seamas Carey is confused.  He is desperately trying to understand.  He’s watched a wave of gentrification sweep through his rural hometown.  There’s nowhere to live, yet second homes stand empty.  He wishes Cornwall was more welcoming and inclusive, but watches “up country” money sow division and suspicion.  Could closing borders and nationalism be the answer?  Where’s the line between pride and power?  What happens when it all goes too far?

Seamas needs help…he needs your help!

Suitable for 16+ years.  Tickets £13 available to book in advance online at:

https://villagesinaction.co.uk/events/help-i-think-im-a-nationalist/

TWO VENUES & NIGHTS ON THIS WEB PAGE – SO BE SURE TO BOOK BRENTOR

Or call HELEN ON 01822 810412

 

Free Trees!

Trees, Bacon Rolls, Cake and Hot Drinks this Saturday at the Village Hall

Help us make sure that the morning runs as smoothly as possible:

Please do not arrive before 9:45 and only park on the hall side of the road so that tractors, buses etc can safely pass.

Bacon Rolls, cake and hot drinks will be served from 9:45.

Trees are first come first served. On arrival please come into the hall to collect a numbered ticket to ensure your place in the queue.

Trees will be given away in order of ticket number from 10:30 onwards. Please wait in the hall until your number is called

There is a maximum of 5 trees per household and we have enough trees for about 65 households.

There are about 13 types of native trees including crab apple, hazel, rowan, hawthorn, birch and alder

Drainage maintenance

Brentor Lengthsman

Unfortunately our Parish Lengthsman will be out of action with immediate effect for 8 to 10 weeks due to sudden illness.  Work had only started in the Parish so there are likely to be areas where the drains are not working properly during periods of heavy rainfall, especially now that all the leaves are off the trees.

Should this be causing flooding near you,  I would advise that you call MY DEVON on 0345 1551004 and ask for Highways, this will connect you to the emergency helpline who will be happy to help.

Brentor Car Park charging proposal

A site meeting about the proposed introduction of charges at Brentor Church car park was held on Monday 18th July.  It was attended by Andrew Watson (Estates Officer) and Richard Drysdale (Communities Officer) of Dartmoor National Park Authority (DNPA), Helen Harris, Rob Harris and Christopher Pancheri from Brentor PCC, Gary Hunt (Chairman of Brentor Parish Council (BCC), Terry Pearce of WDBC and BCC, and two other councillors from Brentor Parish Council, Caroline Mott , and Philip Sanders representing Devon County Council (DCC) and DNPA. Carol and Colin Sergant represented the bell ringers. (more…)

Come on you Brentor singers!

You too can sing the Hallelujah Chorus!

Always wanted to but never have?   Now is your chance.  Come along to Mount Kelly on Thursday 8 September 2022 at 7.30 p.m. in The Big School, Mount Kelly, Parkwood Road Tavistock.  Join the Mount Kelly Choral Society at a special,open door “come and sing” event and sing The Hallelujah Chorus.   Score provided and refreshments will be available. (more…)

My Place, My Views

West Devon Borough Council, South Hams District Council and Plymouth City Council have launched a new consultation asking local residents what they like about their neighbourhood and what could be improved.  My Place, My Views consists of a simple survey and interactive map, which asks people how they feel about:

  • Their local facilities, services and open spaces
  • The types of places they like most and why
  • Using online services.
  • The places they would like to see change in the next five to ten years.

To find out more and take part in the survey, click here

Mystery house

This mystery photo was sent to our website by Sue Swanborough and was featured as picture of the month in August.  She acquired it recently but so far has had no success in locating where it was taken.
The reverse of the photograph is inscribed  ‘St Barbara, Brentor, Devon, August 1932’,  but no house called St Barbara is listed in local censuses.

Alvin Diaz has been researching the photograph and thinks that he has located it.  He searched local directories which led to two names – Mary Cooke Allen and Frances Ann Powell – both listed as resident at St Barbara.   Mary Cooke Allen is also listed in the 1921 census as residing in St Barbara and the house appears to be in the Rowden House locality.

Is it still there, in a different name – or has it been rebuilt?  Do you know?


If you recognise the house please contact the editor at editor@brentorpc.org.uk.

You can see all the past pictures of the month by clicking here.

The Growing Communities fund

The Growing Communities Fund has just been launched by Devon County Council and is intended to support proactive, effective, measurable, and sustainable actions to enable individuals and communities to build self-reliance and community resilience, reduce food and fuel inequalities and improve mental health and wellbeing and respond to the climate emergency.
A wide range of groups and organisations can apply including ‘host’ organisations. The Growing Communities Fund will provide grant awards of between £500-£1000 and £1000-£3,000 (though we will enter discussions with applicants who have exemplary or innovative projects).   The grants of between £1,000 and £3,000 will be reimbursed upon receipt of an end of project report outlining what the funds paid for and the impact and outcomes. (more…)

Cost of Living payments

Millions of people on means-tested benefits are receiving the first of two cost of living instalments totalling £650 from 14 July 2022, as part of a £37 billion government package to help families with cost of living pressures.

The first £326 instalment for qualifying low-income households in England, Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland by their usual payment method continue to the end of the month. For those eligible, the rest will follow in a second instalment in the autumn. (more…)

Brenstock tee-shirt sale

Get your memento of this year’s Brenstock! There are a few Brenstock tee-shirts remaining from this year’s festival, now on sale for just £5! 

Unisex, heavy quality, small and medium sizes in black and larger sizes in white – don’t miss a bargain!

To purchase yours contact Colin Dawes on 811079

USO Broadband survey

Full Fibre to the Property Broadband has now arrived in Brentor village. Unfortunately only a relatively small proportion of properties in Brentor are able to make use of this facility, the  majority still need alternative methods with poor speed and/or reliability/cost issues.

In order to encourage OpenReach to complete coverage of the whole of Brentor Parish, over the coming weeks, one of your Parish Councillors will be visiting you with a short list of questions about the availability of broadband in your home and what your broadband requirements may be. The information you provide will be collated and used to try to improve the broadband service to all homes in our Parish. OpenReach have already installed a dedicated fibre from Tavistock to Brentor – we are now working to get OpenReach and/or Airband to extend coverage to the whole of Brentor.

(more…)

Report the Asian hornet!

Vespa velutina, known as the ‘Asian hornet’ or ‘yellow-legged hornet’ is an invasive species from Asia.  If you find one you MUST report it.  The species arrived in France in 2004 and has spread rapidly.  As a highly effective predator of insects, including honey bees and other beneficial species, it can cause big losses to bee colonies, other native species and potentially ecosystems.  We have several beekeepers in Brentor who would appreciate your help in preventing this species from spreading.

(more…)