Lions and gazebos’ appreciated

Pupils and staff at South Tawton County Primary School are grateful to the Okehampton Lions Club for the cheque for £300, presented to the school by Ron Jewell, Chairman recently. This generous donation has allowed the school to pay for the steps from the car park onto the field and a zebra crossing from the playground onto the field, which are now in place.

Another recent but separate purchase made by school has been two gazebos, to add to one kindly donated by Sainsburys for use on the playing field to enable more children to be able to sit in the shade. Generously, the school is offering local people the opportunity to borrow a gazebo to use at a family barbecue, children's party etc on the basis of a £5 contribution plus £20 deposit and agreement that they are willing to pack it away and set it up on the return. Any one requiring further information should please speak to Sue in the office.

Supporting St Loye’s

Local appreciation for the Exeter based St Loye’s charitable organisation, where valuable work continually achieves results that helps the disabled, has been confirmed again thanks to the combined efforts of the Cosdon Group of Friends of St Loye’s and people from in and around Okehampton. The magnificent sum of £448.88 was raised at the recent coffee morning held in the Charter Hall, Okehampton in support of St Loye’s and the organiser, Mrs Jan Berry, of South Zeal extends thanks to all those that participated in the event and to the members of the public whose support made it such a success.

A blooming success

Several hundred of people turned their attention on the private gardens that were open to them in and around South Zeal recently and some very much appreciated fringe benefits. On a very pleasant day, in-between exploring the delights contained within more than a dozen normally secluded gardens, local people and visitors alike took the opportunity to enjoy the excellent meals and superb sweets that were available in the Victory Hall, select purchases from among the many plants made available to them by donors and complete their day of exploration of the area with a delightful cream tea. The volunteers that provided and served food, donated and/or sold plants and made the day possible by opening their gardens were all rewarded with the knowledge that their efforts raised over £1700.
Organisers extend thanks to all volunteers without whom there would be no Open Gardens day and to those that visited the gardens that ensured the continued success of the popular event that benefits the community with the main benefactor from the day being the Victory Hall while cream tea income goes to assist the Recreation Ground

Super Summer Event

South Tawton’s recent traditional Summer Event defied all the forecasters that predicted football could affect its run of success. Since South Zeal wasn’t playing at home that day the predictions remained a mystery to many and the hopes and anticipations of organisers and volunteers staging the event were realised. Yet again, thanks to local support those that provided delicious meals in Church House, scrumptious sweets in church and a barbecue to boot were much appreciated. Volunteers on the many sales stalls, art and crafts exhibitor, dancers, musicians, and all that entertained or participated in some way rightly gain the organisers’ thanks and public’s appreciation. The reward for all that helped make the Summer Event another success this year in the announcement that £1550 raised for St Andrew’s Church by their efforts

Village Fair and Cosdon Run

Belstone’s annual Village Fair and Cosdon Run takes place in the village on Sunday, 9th July, from 2.00p.m. and the organisers again promise another fun-filled afternoon that will hold delights and entertainment for all age groups in a family. Local people and visitors tackling the Cosdon Run are always crowd-pullers but while they are away there is time to enjoy the traditional maypole dancing, skittles and egg throwing between perusing, then purchasing from the stalls, that include white elephant and plants. With ice creams, cream teas, pony rides, fun and games for all the family and so much more to enjoy the village fair has something for everyone and a warm welcome for visitors from afar.
Zale Fayre – Saturday, 1st July

Zale Fayre fun formula

Zale fayre continued to live up to its reputation for providing traditional fun, food, games and entertainment for all age groups when parishioners, families and visitors flocked to the Recreation Ground in South Zeal on Saturday. The sporting activities for children were an immediate hit and potential strikers in the junior football teams soon learned that local girl goalies were no more likely to let the ball through than Portugal’s keeper. While other children enjoyed the open air entertainers, Punch and Judy, pony rides and magician the car boot sale, skittles, stalls and duck race were among the pleasure the older age groups could enjoy between sampling the fast selling hot dogs, cakes or cream teas. Soaking up the sun and atmosphere produced a thirst to be quenched at the real-ale beer festival bar and even the failure of the Tv to work, as time approached for the England match to start brought about only a minor diminishing of the crowd that enjoyed an afternoon that satisfied, organisers, participants and everyone attending alike.
Visitors from afar were quick to recognise that Zale fayre slowed down the pace of life as it unfolded its village entertainment values and local people appreciated the work that had gone into providing another fayre that everyone enjoyed.