Popular appeal of chess

Chess continues to be a popular lunch time activity at South Tawton County Primary School where a chess club has been thriving for many years. The new year 5 have been attending in force (19 when all are present) and a number are becoming very useful players in a school that is establishing a national reputation for excellence in the game.

Rev John Smart and Peter Brotherton run the school club every Thursday lunchtime with the help recently of member of staff, Mrs Caroline Boother and the school's 2005 champion, Helena Marshall, who sometimes helps as assistant coach. Their dedication is very much appreciated by players, staff and parents.

Last year the school participated in the annual British Land UK Chess Challenge in which 70,000 children competed from over 2,000 Schools. Every participating school has received a certificate based on the scores achieved at the county finals and the school was delighted to discover that it was placed 384= (equal 384th) in the top 1,000 Schools and Clubs throughout the UK. Within Devon , South Tawton Primary came 7th out of 22 entries. Well deserved congratulations go to the eleven children who took part

Archive open

SouthTawton and District Local History Group is opening its photographic archive on Friday 10th February to display many visual treasures to visitors at an ‘open' meeting that evening. Everyone with an interest is seeing the past of the area illuminated through the lens of photographers from past decades and previous eras are invited to join members at the Victory Hall, South Zeal, from 7.30p.m.

Guest for the evening will be Natalie Gibbs from Exeter University who will be talking on the Dartmoor Photographic Archive for which the Dartmoor Trust has gathered together a great quantity of photographs of Dartmoor and its surroundings that are now available on the internet to anyone who would like to see them or study them for research.

The local history group's photo collection, over 300 nobly digitised by Rosaleen Thayer, has been entered in the Dartmoor archive together with other photos from people who have lived or still live in. the parish. Natalie Gibbs, who set up the web site will outline the aims and aspirations of the archive and will also "showcase" its use using club photographs and others during what promises to be an interesting and interactive evening.

Carnival continues

After yet another successful year, the organisers of the annual South Zeal Carnival are pleased to announce that a new committee is up and running, ready to put on the 2006 carnival event. Despite some disappointments with the all year round fund raising events, the 2005 Carnival did show a small profit and managed to donate £100 each to The Children's Hospice South West and The British Heart Foundation from the Carnival Fund.

The support of the community last year was particularly appreciated when there was no input from other carnivals. However, the carnival evening parade consisting of all local floats and entries was received and applauded by parishioners and visitors as being among the best ever assembled.

Members of the 2006 Carnival Committee are Dawn Watkins (Chair person), Andy White (Vice Chair & Treasurer), Donna Mallett (Secretary), Mike Watkins, Vicki Watkins, May Madders, Maria Guscott, Jackie Guscott, Kenny Shaddick, Serena Woolland, Kate Wimberley and Rob Drew. They now look forward to encouraging the return of entries from other carnivals and will be organising a fund raising programme of events during the year and the continued support of local people for South Zeal Carnival.

In for a spin

With more interest in knitting developing, more wool is in demand now than has been the case for some years but many who knit are also finding that there is no better way to produce a garment than to start by first spinning the wool that is needed. Each Wednesday evening throughout most of the year a group of ladies meet in Sticklepath Village Hall to develop and extend their abilities in the art and craft of spinning wool. Tuition is given by expert, Doris Nethercott, who also encourages the use of the wool produced in weaving as well as knitting. With a now long established reputation for excellence, group members are often called upon to demonstrate spinning at events around the area. The weekly group meetings have become pleasing social gatherings at which newcomers to the craft are made welcome, introduced to the craft at their own pace or encouraged to extend their skills.

Anyone with an interest or wishing to know about spinning is invited to go along to a meeting one Wednesday evening or call Doris on 01837 840774. There is no joining fee, but just £1 a week helps pay for use of the premises and provide a tea break during a pleasant evening.