2021-03 Gittisham Gazette March 2021

A monthly Community Newsletter
Published by St. Michael’s Church and Gittisham Parish Council
March 2021 Edition 229

Spring has sprung


Well we seem to be well on the way to warmer times, the lovely wild flowers and
Shrove Tuesday leading us into Lent. Gittisham church usually collects ‘jars of change’ for
WaterAid and I do hope some of you have started collecting, I know not many people use coins these days but I’m sure you might be able to find a note.

Tip Tip Toe

Gittisham’s annual Tip, Tip Toe took place this year on Zoom to keep up the tradition on Shrove Tuesday with children going round the village chanting “tip, tip toe please for a penny and then we’ll go, if you haven’t got a penny a halfpenny will do, if you haven’t got a halfpenny then God bless you.”

2021 Census

Census weekend is the 21st March It is so important everyone takes part and we have made it easier for people to do so online on any device, with help and paper questionnaires for those that need them. Results will be available within 12 months, although personal records will be locked away for 100 years, kept safe for future generations. You should receive a paper copy in the post. For more information visit www.census.gov.uk

People in the news

Lewis Lawrence-Jones and Katalin Kristo announced their engagement on the 16th February.
Lewis is grandson of Lilian Hayman, Katalin comes from Szeged Hungary 20 miles from Serbia
we congratulate them and wish them every happiness.


Jack and Lize Hunt announced the arrival of Lily Florence Hunt , 4kgs , born in Dubai on
Sunday 17/1/21. Ruth sent some photos but I couldn’t copy them despite having permission as they were sent PDF. This is their first grandchild.


Hazel Snell has moved from Church Mead to a care home in Colaton Raleigh, we wish her
every happiness as she settles in.


Becky Knowles and James have moved to Torquay as James was able to get a transfer from his Ambulance station in Yeovil and is joining Becky at hers in Torquay. We will miss them and puppy Tor and wish them good house hunting.

Chris and Naomi Lancaster have moved to 2 Westgate, Chris is herdsman at Gittisham Farm
and Naomi (on furlough) works in the travel industry, we welcome them to Gittisham.

Gittisham Village Hall dates to save for your diary

THURSDAY 18th MARCH. FILM NIGHT. 7pm
The film will be Educating Rita, to be watched on BBC iPlayer, with chat before and discussion afterwards.
Zoom link below.
Join Zoom Meeting
https://us02web.zoom.us/j/85731315536?pwd=RGdRVmRrZ1lsWForbW1LcERCRGRFUT09
Meeting ID: 857 3131 5536
Passcode: 840046


SATURDAY APRIL 17th. GITTISHAM BAKE OFF 2
Following the successful and enjoyable baking last time we hope for another well supported Bake Off.
(Hamish has requested a single ingredient recipe!).
Zoom link will be in the April Gazette.


PLAY READING. Date in April to be confirmed
SATURDAY JUNE 26th: GITTISHAM BASH


A start to a summer of enjoyment! A great event to make up for all those missed birthday parties, Christmas get-togethers, Easter, Father’s Day, Burns Night….. We plan a Duck Race, BBQ, Bar, Band / Disco…..


SATURDAY 6TH AUGUST GITTISHAM FLOWER AND PRODUCE SHOW (See end of Gazette for full show schedule)

Proposed events and services for and around Easter

Mothering Sunday – due to Covid restrictions sadly there will be no service, but posies will be available in the church porch for collection.


National Day of Reflection: March 23rd will be exactly one year since lockdown for the Covid pandemic. From 11.50 to 12 noon one church bell will be rung followed by a minute’s silence at the Lych Gate, as part of the national day to reflect on our collective loss and to support those who’ve been bereaved. Other suggestions include shining a light in your window at 8pm for everyone to see.


Good Friday: A Cross will be brought from the church and affixed to the lych-gate and there will be a short service. There will be an invitation to place a flower by the Cross to remember those who have lost: their lives to the virus.


Easter Day: at 11.00am there will be a short service on the green and the bells will be rung and again an opportunity to place a flower by the cross as a sign of the new life promised by Christ’s Resurrection.


Easter Monday: we are planning for Easter Egg hunt in the church yard and/or trail round the village. Watch out for a poster in the porch or bus shelter in due course.: please, please, please remember to observe social distancing regulations for all the services and events. For further information see notices in church porch and posted on St Michael’s Gittisham Facebook Page.

Parish Council March report

EDDC / DCC Report.
Phil Twiss said in what has been a very difficult past year due to the pandemic, there is finally genuine cause for hope that we are emerging from it with the escalation of the COVID-19 vaccination programme, a reduction of daily cases, hospital and community deaths and a cautious roadmap in lifting lockdown restrictions, where we can look forward with optimism towards a good summer for us and our families and friends, as well as the recovery of our economy. He outlined DCC’s budget for 2021/22. There is to be an increase for a Band D Council Tax property by 4.99 per cent to £1,511.28 per household. Phil Twiss reminded councillors of DCC’s holiday food voucher scheme, which is a way of providing funds to ensure families of children who are eligible for free school meals during term time are able to purchase food over the holidays to replace the meals a child would have received during a school day. DCC has also been given Government funding to support a holiday activities and
food programme.
Susie Bond said EDDC had approved an increase in Council Tax of 3.41 per cent. Car park charges across the main car parks in East Devon are set to increase by 20 per cent (i.e. from £1 per hour to £1.20 per hour). However, this increase has been deferred to 2022 in an attempt to help businesses during the Covid recovery.


Finance. Members agreed the finances.


Crimes. January 2021, 1 x anti-social behaviour


Councillor vacancy (Vale ward) Carol Hall encouraged all councillors to speak to people who might be interested in joining the parish council.


Planning applications. 21/0428/FUL 34 Meadow Acre Road Gittisham EX14 3FE Construction of single side/ rear storey extension

Members had no objections.


Superfast broadband. Jurassic Fibre gave a short presentation to bring councillors up to speed on their plans to extend broadband infrastructure to Gittisham. Members heard that once construction was underway in summer 2021, the company would be in a position a few months down the line to offer individual installations. Residents interested in receiving the service should register on the Jurassic Fibre website, and in doing so there is no obligation to sign up for their services at a later date. Phil Twiss asked for reassurance that the roll-out would happen sooner than the end of 2021, but Matthew Galley said applying for road closures and such like for construction usually takes three months.


Scams. Janet Twist warned members that with Census Day due on 21st March, the latest round of scams would undoubtedly use the census in some way to trick people.

Bus shelters. Carol Hall explained that the swap system in the village and Vale bus shelters would finish at the end of March. Items in good condition will be passed to charity shops once they reopen, and those in poor condition will be disposed of.


Sports facilities. Carol Hall said she would be meeting Honiton Town Council’s chair to discuss how S106 money from the Hayne Farm development (which belongs to GPC) can be spent, and what proportion could be spent in Honiton itself. A proportion will be earmarked for Gittisham to use as appropriate.


Next meeting. This will be on 7th April at 7.30pm via Zoom.

St Michael’s Church, Honiton Mission Community and 200 Club

St. Michael’s Gittisham: Like the other members of the Mission Community St. Michael’s Church remains closed for visitors and services; however if you would like to contact our Lay Minister Julia Barrett her details are within the Mission Community piece below. The churchyard is of course open and is looking very springlike with all the grave flowers and daffodils coming up. Once we are permitted we hope to have a churchyard tidy-up with lots of people helping at the same time. At our PCC meeting on 4th March the annual accounts prepared by treasurer Ian Warne were ratified as was the annual report, thanks go to Ian for all his hard work as he has to prepare accounts in several different ways for the Diocese of Exeter.


The Honiton Mission Community: The website (honitoncofe.org) is updated regularly and has news about the latest guidelines on the new covid regulations there is also a link to the Gittisham website. The monthly newsletter Around the Parishes is included plus details of Rev’d Sue’s weekly Zoom Sunday Morning Worship at 10.00am, if you would like to join in this service do please email Rev’d Sue and she will forward the link sue41260@gmail.com There is also a ‘virtual’ Eucharist at 6.00pm. Julia our Lay Minister also holds a telephone (freephone) Morning Worship service at 11.00am to receive the details for this please email Julia on gshaminister@gmail.com or for those without internet ring her on 07763111367 or 01404 850680. St. Paul’s is still closed. The Parish office is also closed to visitors, but can be contacted on 01404 44035 or honitonteam@tiscali.co.uk and messages will be replied to when someone is available.


200 Club: March is the time to renew your 200 Club subscriptions (£12 per number per year)
There are some numbers available If you would like to have a number do please let me know, I can email or post an application form. Payment can be made by cheque – payable to Gittisham PCC, BACS or by standing order – I can email or post this form too. (Carol McCann 01404851113, 07946 409142, charli.mcc@mypostoffice.co.uk. Draws are made monthly with prizes of £40., £20., £15., £10., and £5., with 2 six monthly of £48.


MARCH 2021 200 CLUB RESULTS
1st Steve Minshall

2nd Margaret Ballantyne

3rd Michael Hawkins


4th Edith Phillips

5th Jane Whitehouse

6-monthly Helen Fuller

Printing

Gazette printing is still not possible with the lockdown situation, as the Parish Office in Honiton remains closed. The Gazette is also available on the Gittisham website gittisham.org.uk. If you would like a copy by email please let me have your email details or if you have no internet it can be posted to you until things get back to order some help with 2nd class postage would be appreciated, Carol McCann 3 School Cottages, Gittisham,Honiton, EX14 3H. I will leave a few copies in the Vale bus shelter again until the whole print run can be delivered by Peter and Ann again.

Contact details

Editor/Distributor:
Carol McCann 01404 851113/07946409142 charli.mcc@mypostoffice.co.uk. If you have events
or news items for inclusion in the Gazette do please email it to Carol as early as possible (using Arial font please) Copy date for April edition is the 29th March please. I hope to have the edition ready to send out on Friday 9th April.