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Gittisham Gazette October 2026

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Mid October 2026 — Produced for the Parish Council and St Michael’s Church

Harvest Festival

October brought a wonderful Harvest celebration to our community, beginning with a beautiful service in the Church led by Rector Tracey. It was a joy to see so many adults and children helping to bring forward the gifts of the harvest, all surrounded by the stunning arrangements generously donated by our talented community members.

The thanksgiving service was followed by a fantastic evening supper in the Village Hall. A huge thank you to Sara Trumper and her dedicated team of helpers who served up a truly delicious meal—and a special mention must go to the scrumptious, locally made apple juice!

The evening was rounded off with a lively auction of the abundant harvest produce, led by Len Abbott with excellent assistance from Kate Gibson.

Thanks to everyone’s incredible generosity and the hard work of all who set up, organised, and supported the event, we raised an amazing £800.00! These funds will go directly toward the maintenance of our historic church building, ensuring it remains at the very centre of our community.

It was a successful, fun-filled event enjoyed by people of all ages. Thank you to everyone who made it such a special evening!

– Helen Hayman

A very big THANK YOU from Rev’d Tracey to all those who made Harvest such a wonderful occasion in Gittisham. Special thanks to our Harvest Decorators in Church and all those who helped with the service, especially Scarlett, Dora and Flick The Harvest Supper was delicious and Edward and I enjoyed being with you so very much. Many blessings Rev’d Tracey

Congratulations May!

A massive congratulations to Gittisham’s own May Puckey, who was recently presented with the Spirit of Devon Award for her fantastic achievements and contributions to the school community during her time at King’s!

Her teachers described her as a “brilliant young writer, journalist and climate campaigner” who works tirelessly to make the world “a greener, happier and more inclusive place.”

Please do read her fantastic article in this Gazette

PUMPKINS GALORE!

The Gittisham Farm Pumpkin patch is now open!

Entry is free, just pay for pumpkins that you pick.

We’re easy to find, just turn up at Combe garden centre, honiton, drive through to the overflow car park and you will find us. EX14 3PD.

Entry 10-4pm, check our opening dates in our bio.

Over 20 variety’s of pumpkin from decorative gourds to big show stoppers.

Dogs are allowed, we have a separate area if you wish to take your furry friends pumpkin picking.

Refreshments are available in the garden centre cafe, along with a range of other seasonal products in the garden centre.

What’s On?

-Village Hall

Open Bookings

  • Tuesdays – Tai Chi & Quigong 09:50 am- 11:10am
  • 3rd Tuesday of the month- Yoga 18:15
  • Wednesday – Folk Dance Club 7pm
  • Thursday- Community Kitchen 18:30
  • 2nd Sunday of the Month Pierre’s Cafe 10am

Hire the hall: www.gittisham.org.uk/village-hall/hire-the-hall/

Committee Events

  • 17th October Jumble Sale
  • 31st October Halloween Party/ Coffee and Cake
  • 28th November Christmas Craft Fair
  • 28th November Christmas Bingo 7pm for 7.30pm 
  • 23rd January Burns Night Celebration

–Church

  • Sunday 25th October at 11am: Holy Communion (St Michael’s Gittisham)
  • Sunday 8th November at 10:50am: Remembrance Sunday (Lych Gate outside act of remembrance, followed by refreshments in the church)
  • Sunday 22nd November at 11am: Holy Communion (St Michael’s Gittisham)
  • Saturday 12th December at 4pm: Christmas Family Event (Famous Organist, carols, festive poems, christingle making and more)
  • Sunday 13th December at 11am: Holy Communion (St Michael’s Gittisham)
  • Tuesday 22nd December at 7pm: Carols by Candlelight (St Michael’s Gittisham)
  • Thursday 24th December at 11:30pm: Christmas Eve – Midnight Mass (St Michael’s Church Gittisham)
  • Friday 25th December at 10:30am: Christmas Day – Christmas Communion (followed by a glass of champagne, St Michael’s Gittisham)

200 Club Winners July

  • 1st Prize              £75        Peter Stansell
  • 2nd Prize             £50     Nicky Wakley
  • 3rd Prize              £25      Reggie Bartlett

Events are also listed here: https://gittisham.org.uk/whatson/

Holy Dusters Needed
Can you spare a little time at your convenience?
Cleaning products are in the church by the vestry door.
Thank you.    

200 Club

Join the Gittisham 200 Club!

The 200 club is a licensed small lottery raising funds to pay for the upkeep of our beautiful church and paying prizes in a monthly draw.

There are a number of tickets still available for purchase. 

Tickets cost £3 per month and you can buy up to 3 for any named person.  Some members buy tickets for children and grandchildren as well as for themselves.

The draw takes place once a month, usually at Natter & Nibbles, and there are cash prizes of £75, £50 and £25 each time.

Contact Sara at  for an application form and further details.

Gittisham Village Hall Monthly Update

Village Hall Update: Recent Successes and Spooky Bakes!

A Month of Generous Fundraising & Celebrations

A massive thank you to everyone who supported our Coffee and Cake afternoon for cancer charities at the end of September. Together, we raised a fantastic £260 towards prostate and breast cancer charities, as well as Macmillan. A special thank you to our committee member Becca for organising the event, and to the wonderful Sara Rae who sang and entertained us all afternoon!

We also had a brilliant time at the Cabaret Film Premiere on the 10th of October, where we gathered to watch the recording of the 2025 performance and presented awards to the cast. Thank you to Nick, Toni, and Clare for providing the great nibbles and drinks that made the evening so special.

A Huge Thank You to Our Local Businesses!

Gittisham Village Hall recently faced a challenging problem when our old boiler reached the point where it needed replacing. As an important hub for our village and the wider community, having reliable heating and hot water is essential to keeping the hall comfortable, welcoming, and available for everyone to enjoy.

Thanks to the kindness, generosity, and support of some fantastic local businesses, we have been able to get a new boiler installed at no cost to the village hall, with both the boiler and materials donated!

We would like to say a heartfelt thank you to Drakes Plumbing, who helped us get in touch with a community project that made this possible. A very special thank you goes to Vaillant Growing Communities, who kindly donated the boiler, flue, filter, and flue clips. This generous donation has been invaluable in helping us resolve the problem. We are also incredibly grateful to Wolsey’s, who donated the pipework, and Blackmore Electrical, who generously carried out the electrical work free of charge.

It is wonderful to see local businesses and community-minded organisations coming together to support our village. Their generosity, time, and expertise have helped solve a major problem for the hall and ensured that it can continue to serve as a warm, welcoming space for village events, clubs, and gatherings. For a village hall where every penny counts, this kind of support makes a tremendous difference. We simply could not be more grateful to everyone who played a part in making this happen.

Upcoming:

Gittisham Village Hall Boutique Jumble Sale

Saturday 17th October, 10am – 1pm

Our next Jumble Sale is fast approaching, and this time we are giving it a boutique twist! Come and browse a lovely selection of quality clothing, accessories, and other fantastic items in excellent condition, with bargains starting from just 50p.

Come hungry! We will have delicious bacon baps, croissants, tea, and coffee available so you can grab breakfast while you browse.

Have a go at our Tombola to win fantastic prizes, and try your luck at our “Guess My Name” competition for the chance to win a giant cuddly dog.

Come along, grab a bargain, enjoy some good food, and have lots of fun—all while supporting our village hall. Please share with friends, family, and anyone who loves a great bargain.

Halloween Bakes!

This month, our beloved Coffee and Cake is getting a spooky twist! Join us at the hall on Halloween between 2:30pm and 4:30pm for a spooktacular party-themed afternoon.

We will have the fabulous Carol Hall on face painting, while the team serves up coffees, teas, and cakes. We welcome kids and grown-ups of all ages to come dressed up (all ready for trick-or-treating later in the day!). There will also be biscuit decorating, colouring in, and temporary tattoos available for the children (and adults!) to enjoy.

Calling all keen village bakers: We gratefully request some delicious Halloween-themed treats, please! All themed bakes will be photographed and judged to announce a winner. 🥇

We hope to see all you witches, wizards, ghosts, and ghouls there!

Dear Geraldine

October’s letter

Dear Geraldine,

A Seasonal Shift in the Lanes

First, I hope this letter finds you well and still enjoying the benefits of life in our little corner of heaven. As the happy holiday-makers of the South West have slowly queued their way home along the M5 and A303, my attention turns to a more local matter: the proficiency of those who use our lanes.

Tractors, Reversing and Rural Realities

It is sometimes suggested that our modern tractor-types, equipped with sat-nav, air conditioning and possibly even in-cab chocolate dispensers, lack a reverse gear. This is, of course, an uninformed slur. I have seen tractors reversed neatly into gateways while their drivers deservedly bite into a chunky bar, and I have watched others perform reverse doughnuts in fields while attempting to synchronise with some manic grass-cutting machine late into the evening.

Let us be clear: expecting a tractor and trailer to reverse as you perambulate towards it on your bicycle is rather like expecting a whale to change course for an advancing Nemo.

The Occasional Visitor Problem

My concern is not with those notable residents who seemingly never learnt how to “go backwards” when taking their test last century. Nor is it chiefly with the numerous white-van delivery drivers who speed through our lanes. In the main, they cheerfully gesticulate as you give way to their rapid approach, or, despite the lack of a rear window, reverse nimbly when needed—often improving visibility by removing generous swathes of foliage in the process.

No, I refer, without prejudice, to what were historically known as “Chelsea tractors”. One reliable way to identify them is to observe the condition of the tow-bar ball as the vehicle edges past you, after you have reversed some 75 metres into a gateway. Whether shiny or rusty, it is often the clearest indicator of an urban postcode.

Possible Remedies

So, what can we do?

A total ban, as suggested in certain WhatsApp groups, may sound attractive but is hardly feasible.

Scheduled, policed convoys in and out of the village seem unlikely in the present economic climate. They might also encourage “us locals” to use farm tracks or carve unhelpful routes through precious crops.

Further adorning our village signs—when not stolen or reversed into—with a flashing neon advisory reading 

“Respect the Highway Code: Locate Your Reverse Gear Before Entering” would seem rather vulgar in an AONB, SSSI, NIMBY and potential Dark Skies area.

A Request for Considered Remedies

So, Geraldine, I wonder whether you might act as a forum for considered remedies to this current plight in our lanes.

As ever, I look forward to your objective boomer-cranial perspective.

(Ed: name and address withheld)

Dear Resident,

(Answered by Geraldine’s Husband Gerald, as Geraldine is currently recovering from an unfortunate encounter with the South West Water pumping station’s latest sewage outflow during her cruise on the Otter)

Geraldine is currently out of action—laid low, I’m afraid, after getting a bit too close to the latest pungent ‘offering’ from the South West Water pumping station—so you are stuck with me again. And let me tell you, mate, you have hit the nail squarely on the head with this one.

The Great Gittisham Lane Standoff is a time-honoured autumn tradition, right up there with the harvest festival. You are entirely correct about the agricultural lads—they can back a ten-ton trailer through a needle’s eye while rolling a cigarette. And the delivery drivers, bless them, consider taking out a few yards of hawthorn hedge just part of the service.

But then we have the “Chelsea Tractor.” You spot them a mile off. The paintwork is pristine, the tyres have never tasted real mud, and as you rightly point out, the tow-ball is suspiciously shiny. They inch toward you, their eyes wide with terror at the prospect of engaging reverse gear, silently begging you to back up half a mile into a passing place you left three bends ago.

Since you asked for remedies, and a neon sign is off the table, I suggest we employ psychological warfare. Here are my top three boomer-approved tactics for winning a standoff with an urban 4×4:

1. The Engine Kill: This is the ultimate power move. Don’t edge forward. Don’t flash your lights. Simply stop, turn off the ignition, cross your arms, and stare pleasantly into the middle distance. If you have a copy of the Daily Telegraph or a thermos of tea handy, now is the time to deploy them. It signals that you have absolutely nowhere to be until next Tuesday. They will usually crack within three minutes.

2. The ‘Helpful’ Guide: If they just sit there gripping the steering wheel, get out of your vehicle, amble over, tap politely on their window, and say, “Morning! Looks like you’re having a spot of bother finding reverse. Would you like me to hop in and back it up for you?” The sheer embarrassment to their motoring pride usually forces them into gear immediately.

3. The Agricultural Bluff: Point urgently over your shoulder, look panicked, and mouth the words, “Combine Harvester! Big one! Coming fast!” They don’t know the harvest is over. They just know they don’t want to meet an agricultural behemoth. Watch how quickly they find reverse then.

Until the tourists finally thin out for winter, hold your ground, trust your mirrors, and never yield a passing place to a shiny tow-ball.

Yours, stubbornly sitting in neutral (and staying well away from the pumping station),

Gerald Gitt

Forever supplying boomer wisdom

Local Business Feature

Nurturing My Gardening Addiction During the UK’s Hottest Summer on Record

– by May Puckey

Since finishing my exams, I’ve been working in two garden centres as a gardener, a job which has left me feeling very connected to the outdoors and has fulfilled all my whimsical flower fairy aspirations – I get paid to pick tomatoes! I get paid to sow sunflowers! However, climate change is a theme which has dominated my work life as my other colleagues and I struggled to keep hundreds of plants healthy during a summer with forty days over 30C. There have only been nine recorded occurrences of the temperature exceeding 37C in the UK, three of which happened this year and July (the month I started working at one of the garden centres) was the driest on record. Luckily, as a business, we’ve been exempt from the hosepipe ban, but nonetheless many of our plants have struggled to cope with such scorching temperatures (and watering them has worn us out too). When conversing with customers, some of them have expressed concerns about buying plants when they’re unable to use a hosepipe or aren’t confident keeping them alive during such extreme weather. This summer, the two main things I’ve learnt from my job is the importance of planting climate resilient plants and gardening as sustainably as possible, with gardens covering an estimated 433,000 hectares of the UK’s land area. Unfortunately, the RHS have estimated that roughly half of the UK’s garden space has been paved over, when the need for green spaces for biodiversity is greater than ever. 

This year, many customers have asked me for my recommendations for drought friendly plants. If your garden has particularly dry soil, echinacea (which often comes in quirky bright colours) and agastache are two flowering perennials which have thrived this year. Buddleia has also enjoyed the heat, and is commonly called ‘butterfly bush’ because of its popularity with pollinators, another incentive to plant it in your garden. In terms of trees, olives and almonds have coped well in the hot weather, though they still won’t produce nearly as much crop as they do abroad. 

However, many people forget that alongside drier summers, climate change also causes milder, wetter winters, meaning it is important to grow a variety of plants that are both drought and flood resilient. Moreover, this year’s El Nino – described by the Met Office as the “strongest in a lifetime” – is expected to increase the risk of flooding in the UK and wildfires in places like Australia this autumn, already worsened by climate change. Irises are a flower which cope well in very moist conditions and stiff upright grasses like calamagrostis and miscanthus have extensive root systems, benefitting them both in periods of drought and flooding.

Uniforous plants (flowering plants which only have one flower per stem instead of a cluster) tend to be more disease resilient than multiflorus plants (as the name suggests, these plants have multiple flowers per stem).  Extreme weather puts significant pressure on plants, making them more susceptible to diseases like powdery mildew in summer, which we’ve struggled a lot with this year. The plant pathogen Phytophthora, commonly affecting potatoes, is giving horticulturalists a cause of concern because it spreads rapidly in warmer and wetter conditions, the ‘new normal’ of UK winters. Uniforous plants also tend to be more accessible to pollinators, which is vital because in the last thirty years, the UK’s flying insect population has dropped by 75%, largely thought to be because of climate change. Allowing your grass to grow wild is also beneficial to both insects, birds and larger animals like hedgehogs. At home, our garden is fully organic, which is a crucial step in helping insect populations and encouraging nature. We’ve had a great harvest this year of tomatoes, courgettes and lettuce in particular, showing that organic gardening can still be just as productive as using chemical fertilisers. 

In March 2023, the UK government announced a welcome ban on the use of peat in gardening products, which won’t be fully implemented until 2030. Peatlands are a rare habitat, covering just 3% of the earth’s surface, though storing more than 3.2 billion tonnes of carbon dioxide in the UK alone. Peat extraction is an environmental disaster, releasing fossil fuels, obliterating biodiversity and destroying a habitat which has devastatingly already been damaged by up to 80% in the UK, largely for farming and horticultural industries. On a more positive note however, since the ban, the availability and range of peat free composts has grown exponentially, meaning it’s a must-have essential for your garden. 

There are a multitude of other innovative ways to improve sustainability and climate resilience in your garden. Walls with climbing plants growing on them and green roofs have been proved to benefit home insulation, having a cooling effect during summer droughts and providing a flood barrier in wetter winters. It has even been discovered that evergreen hedges reduce particulate pollution, illustrating the widespread benefits gardening can have. At work this year, there was a large demand for water butts as people rightfully aimed to conserve more water. When I was a kid, I left an old kitchen tub full of the water in the back garden after discovering that water features encourage animals to live in your garden. I impatiently checked it the next day, hoping to share my breakfast with any badgers lurking, though unfortunately all it attracted was a few flies. However, if you have the time and space to install even a small pond it can be incredibly beneficial to animals like hedgehogs. Soil stores more carbon than global forests combined, and composting food and garden waste both improves soil quality and prevents your green waste ending up in landfill, where it can produce potent greenhouse gases as it decomposes.  

At a Green New Deal Rising climate event recently, I met Martyn from Exeter Seed Bank, an organisation who saves seeds organically, often storing seeds which promote biodiversity and have proved climate resilient in the local area. Exeter Seed Bank regularly holds free and creative seed saving workshops in Devon which I recommend if you found this topic interesting and are considering tangible ways of making your garden more sustainable and climate resilient. The Climate Change Garden by Sally Morgan and Kim Stoddart is also an informative read suitable for all ages if, like me, you’re nerdy about horticulture. It’s kinda chic to grow your own organic produce!

I hope you found this an interesting and informative read, I’d love to hear your thoughts on the issue or provide gardening tips! Feel free to send me an email (my address is ) or contact me on Instagram or Substack (@mayrosepuckey).  

PARISH COUNCIL – OCTOBER MEETING POSTPONED (Check Website for updates)

Gittisham Sky Watch: What to look for this Month

As the autumn leaves drop and the evenings draw in, Gittisham’s night skies really begin to put on a show. With the clocks falling back at the end of October, we are treated to prime stargazing hours well before bedtime. Here is what to look out for over the coming month.

The Orionid Meteor Shower Peaking on the nights of the 21st and 22nd of October, the Orionids are one of the most reliable meteor showers of the year. What makes them special is their origin: these shooting stars are actually dust and debris left behind by the famous Halley’s Comet. You can expect to see around 15 to 20 meteors an hour under clear skies. They will appear to radiate from the constellation of Orion in the east, but can streak across any part of the sky.

The Clocks Go Back and the Hunter’s Moon Don’t forget that British Summer Time ends on Sunday, 25th October, plunging us into darker evenings. Coincidentally, this lines up beautifully with October’s Full Moon, traditionally known as the Hunter’s Moon, which peaks around the same time. Historically, the bright moonlight allowed hunters to track prey late into the autumn night to prepare for the coming winter.

Jupiter Dominates the Evening While Saturn has been our main planetary attraction recently, Jupiter is now stealing the spotlight. Rising in the east as the evening progresses, the gas giant is impossible to miss—it will be the brightest star-like object in the night sky. If you have a pair of binoculars, steady your elbows on a wall or fence and you should be able to pick out up to four of its largest moons (the Galilean moons) lined up like tiny pinpricks of light on either side of the planet.

The Return of the Seven Sisters As we head into November, look towards the east in the mid-evening to spot a tight, glittering cluster of stars. This is the Pleiades, or the Seven Sisters. While it looks like a tiny, frosty smudge at first glance, letting your eyes adjust will reveal a beautiful arrangement of stars. It is one of the most stunning sights of the season and a sure sign that the winter constellations are on their way.

Thank you to everyone who contributed pieces to this Gazette. If you would like to submit something for next month’s issue, please email .

Gittisham Gazette September 2026

by
Gazette Logo

Mid September 2026 — Produced for the Parish Council and St Michael’s Church

Gittisham Fete 2026

Now that the dust has settled and the final figures have been tallied, we are absolutely thrilled to announce that this year’s Gittisham Fete was a resounding success. Thanks to the perfect weather and an incredible turnout of over 800 visitors, we raised an amazing £3,500+! As always, these vital funds will be split to support both our Church and the Village Hall.

The village truly came alive at 2pm when Ottery Town Crier Laurie Palmer officially declared the fete open. Visitors were immediately treated to a brilliant atmosphere, soundtracked by fantastic live performances from the Exeter Street Band, Plum Jam, and Hooligans Rule. Everywhere you looked, there was something to enjoy—from George the Magician entertaining the crowds to the stunning classic cars displayed on the Church Green.

Our magnificent tea ladies kept everyone fueled with gorgeous cream teas in the hall, while visitors browsed the craft stalls, tombola, and our highly successful grand raffle.

The afternoon was packed with highlights. Down in Will’s Field, our dog show saw record-breaking entries, giving judge Maryanne a wonderfully difficult task. Later, crowds flocked to the bridge for the grand finale: the famous Gittisham Duck Race. After a morning of hard work from Len’s expert damming team, the ducks were finally released, racing down to the finish line at Charlie’s Cottage.

An event of this magnitude relies entirely on our amazing community spirit. A massive thank you to our hardworking volunteers, stallholders, vintage vehicle owners, Honiton Police, and the generous local businesses and sponsors who backed us. Gittisham always gives 200%, and it shows.

You can view photos from the fantastic day at: https://gittisham.org.uk/past-events/

Please save the date for next year’s fete: Saturday, September 4th, 2027!

Thank you everyone

    Jimmy’s Pit – Paul Wakley

   Walking on the footpath from the village to Westgate, over the wooden bridge, look to the right, and you will see a wide gap in the opposite hedge. That Is the site of Jimmy’s pit. Marl, which was spread on the fields as a soil improver, was dug from there.

    The pit was filled in, I think in the late sixties, using many lorryloads of building site waste from Exeter.

   Gittisham militia used to meet at the Rookery (now, called the Green) at what was called the castle, a low stone structure. They would then march up to Jimmy’s pit, lay or stand on the lip of it, to fire their rifles across to the steep hill opposite, where the targets were situated. That is why the field is called ‘Targets’. The remains of the targets were for many years in the ditch, where they were dumped.

 Targets is the best sledging slope ever, but it is best to bale off the sledge before hitting the barbed wire and bramble hedge at the bottom, just ask Pete Dominy!

What’s On?

-Village Hall

Open Bookings

  • Tuesdays – Tai Chi & Quigong 09:50 am- 11:10am
  • 3rd Tuesday of the month- Yoga 18:15
  • Wednesday – Folk Dance Club 7pm
  • Thursday- Community Kitchen 18:30
  • 2nd Sunday of the Month Pierre’s Cafe 10am
  • 3rd Oct Wim Hof Method

Hire the hall: www.gittisham.org.uk/village-hall/hire-the-hall/

Committee Events

  • 26th September Charity Coffee and Cake 2.30  – 4.30
  • 10th October Cabaret Film Premier
  • 17th October Jumble Sale
  • 31st October Halloween Party/ Coffee and Cake
  • 28th November Christmas Craft Fair
  • 28th November Christmas Bingo 7pm for 7.30pm 
  • 23rd January Burns Night Celebration

–Church

  • Church Services 2nd and 4th Sunday of the Month
  • Harvest service & supper on Sunday 4 th October! Auction of produce, Tickets from Helen out soon!
  • Natter and Nibbles Oct 10th- Gittisham Farm
  • 12th December! – A celebration for Christmas (details soon! ) 4 pm in church!

200 Club Winners July

  • 1st Prize              £75        Peter King
  • 2nd Prize             £50     Molly Furniss
  • 3rd Prize              £25      Will Wolsey

Events are also listed here: https://gittisham.org.uk/whatson/

Holy Dusters Needed
Can you spare a little time at your convenience?
Cleaning products are in the church by the vestry door.
Thank you.    

200 Club

Join the Gittisham 200 Club!

The 200 club is a licensed small lottery raising funds to pay for the upkeep of our beautiful church and paying prizes in a monthly draw.

There are a number of tickets still available for purchase. 

Tickets cost £3 per month and you can buy up to 3 for any named person.  Some members buy tickets for children and grandchildren as well as for themselves.

The draw takes place once a month, usually at Natter & Nibbles, and there are cash prizes of £75, £50 and £25 each time.

Contact Sara at  for an application form and further details.

Gittisham Village Hall Monthly Update

Dear Friends of the Hall,

What a wonderful summer we’ve had! A huge thank you to everyone who supported the Fete, and to the Fete Committee for generously donating half of the day’s profits to the Hall. This helps enormously with running costs and has funded small upgrades—including new mugs, trays, and potted trees—to keep the Hall warm and welcoming.

Coffee, Cake & a Good Cause

Saturday 26th September, 2:30–4:30pm

Join us for a cuppa, homemade cake, and a natter as we raise funds for cancer charities. Baked donations are warmly welcomed, and we are very happy to reimburse ingredient costs.

A Night at the Movies… Gittisham Style!

Saturday 10th October, 7:00pm

For one night only, we are screening the acclaimed 2025 Gittisham Cabaret. This is no ordinary film night: think red carpet, tiaras, tuxedos, and a professional bar! Relive the standout performances, laugh at the bloopers, and celebrate our fantastic local talent. Entry is free, with donations gratefully accepted on the night.

Village Jumble Sale

Saturday 17th October, 10:00am–1:00pm

Bag a bargain and discover hidden treasures! Refuel with bacon baps, croissants, and hot tea, then try your luck at the tombola or our “Guess My Name” game to win a giant cuddly dog.

Bring your friends, bring your shopping bags, and join the fun. We look forward to seeing you there!

Finally, the whole committee would like to express our deepest gratitude to Stella, who has decided to stand down after more than a decade of exceptional service. Over the past two years, she has served as our brilliant Vice-Chair, steering the Hall with dedication, sound judgment, and warmth.

Stella has been a driving force behind the scenes for over ten years, handling the vital admin, governance, and policy work that keeps the charity running smoothly. Most notably, she was instrumental in delivering our most ambitious project to date: our superb new commercial kitchen. Her tireless effort, vision, and practical guidance turned that huge project into a reality for the whole community.

We cannot thank Stella enough for everything she has given to the Hall and our village. She leaves big shoes to fill, and we wish her the very best in her well-earned step back.

Dear Geraldine

September’s letter

(Answered by Geraldine’s Husband Gerald as Geraldine is on a cruise along the river Otter this month)

Dear Geraldine,

While I thoroughly enjoyed this year’s literary-themed Scarecrow Competition, I feel compelled to raise a rather delicate matter. It is one thing to build a Harry Potter or a Mary Poppins, but did anyone else notice that several of these fictional characters bore a striking, and surely not coincidental, resemblance to specific members of our community?

I am pointing no fingers, but the Ms Trunchbull sitting on the bench on the village green looked suspiciously like a certain familiar face around the village. Then there was the Gruffalo lurking down in the allotments, whose posture felt awfully familiar. Most glaringly, we had not one, but two Mr McGregors—one down at the farm and another outside Kings Cottage (clearly two people had the exact same idea!)—both bearing an uncanny likeness to a rather well-known local resident!

I saw Tracey Voysey doing her rounds with her clipboard, but I was far too fearful to ask if she had noticed the resemblances. Is there an unwritten rule about using children’s book characters as a Trojan horse to stuff our neighbours with straw?

Yours,

Resident

Dear Resident,

Geraldine is currently off enjoying a cruise down the River Otter for the month, so I’m afraid you’re stuck with me. But between you and me, you’re absolutely right on the money with this one.

Let’s be honest, using a kids’ book character as a convenient excuse to build a straw dummy of your neighbour is an absolute masterstroke. I had a good chuckle myself walking round the village.

I stopped by the bench on the green, and the scowl on that Ms Trunchbull was spot on. I’m almost certain I saw that exact expression during a recent heated village debate. As for the Gruffalo lurking in the allotments, the stance alone was a dead ringer for a certain bloke with very strong opinions on potatoes.

And you’ve got to laugh at the double Mr McGregor tribute. For the folks at both the farm and Kings Cottage to independently decide to stuff the exact same local character with hay… well, you couldn’t write it.

You were smart to give Tracey Voysey a wide berth. When she’s on duty with that clipboard, she means business. Asking her if a sack of straw legally constitutes a caricature of a fellow villager is a surefire way to find yourself at the bottom of the scoreboard. She did a grand job keeping a straight face and judging them purely on artistic merit, completely ignoring the fact that half the entries looked like they could walk into the pub and confidently order a pint.

So, to answer your question: no, there’s no written rule against immortalising your neighbours in hay. The only unwritten rule is that if anyone kicks up a fuss, the builder has to play dumb, look completely innocent, and swear blind that any resemblance is pure coincidence.

My advice to anyone who suspects they’ve been ‘straw-ified’ via Roald Dahl or Beatrix Potter is to take it on the chin. You haven’t truly made your mark in Gittisham until someone has spent their weekend recreating your likeness out of old tights, a broomstick, and half a bale of hay.

Yours, keeping my head down for next year’s theme,

Gerald Gitt

Forever supplying boomer wisdom

Scarecrow Competition Results: A Storybook Success!

Our village lanes were completely transformed this year as a whole host of literary characters took up residence for the Fete’s Scarecrow Competition. The standard of entries was absolutely magnificent, making the role of our esteemed judge, Tracey Voysey, harder than ever!

To tackle the incredibly high calibre of straw creations, Tracey deployed a brand-new, highly stringent set of judging criteria alongside a rigorous point system to help make the tough decisions a little easier. Even with the maths to back her up, separating the winners from the rest of the pack was a mammoth task.

Here are the official results from this year’s competition:

3rd Place: Harry Potter and Dobby A truly magical entry that scored highly on the judge’s clipboard. Tracey particularly loved the fantastic attention to detail on this one—especially the inclusion of Dobby’s iconic sock!

2nd Place: Mary Poppins and Bert Bringing a touch of Cherry Tree Lane to Gittisham, this practically perfect pair swept the judge off her feet to secure a very well-deserved second place.

1st Place: The Gruffalo Taking the top spot and the coveted first-place rosette is this absolute showstopper! An incredible, towering piece of work. A huge congratulations to the masterful building team of Claire, Bella, Jack, and Gary from Batts Cottage for bringing the Gruffalo to life so brilliantly.

Judge’s Special Bonus Prize: Ms Trunchbull While the strict points system governed the top three, Tracey insisted on awarding a special bonus prize without even glancing at her clipboard! As a huge fan of Matilda, the terrifyingly brilliant Ms Trunchbull held a special place in her heart (even while glaring at passersby from the village green). A huge well done to Toni for capturing this fearsome headmistress so perfectly!

A massive thank you to everyone who spent hours stuffing old clothes, painting faces, and tying up straw to make the village look so spectacular. We can’t wait to see what you all come up with next year!

Garden Tips and Tricks

As the evenings draw in and the temperature begins to drop, the garden naturally starts to slow its pace. However, the transition into autumn is one of the most important periods in the horticultural calendar, setting the groundwork for a successful spring.

Harvesting and Clearing Now is the time to gather the very last of the summer bounty. Make sure to pick any remaining tomatoes, beans, and courgettes before the threat of the first frost arrives. Once your summer crops have completely finished, clear the spent foliage and stems to the compost heap. Leaving rotting vegetation on your beds over the winter provides a perfect hiding place for pests and diseases to overwinter.

Sowing for Next Year Autumn is often considered nature’s true planting season because the soil is still warm from the summer but now holds plenty of moisture. It is the perfect window to get spring-flowering bulbs like daffodils, crocuses, and alliums into the borders. In the kitchen garden, you can start planting overwintering onion sets, garlic cloves, and hardy broad beans to guarantee an early, robust crop next year.

Making Leaf Mould As the leaves begin to drop over the coming weeks, try not to view them as a nuisance. Instead of sweeping them into the green bin, collect them in a simple wire mesh cage or pack them into black bin bags with a few holes punched in the sides. If you keep them damp and leave them to rot down, in a year or two you will be rewarded with leaf mould—a fantastic, entirely free soil conditioner that works wonders for soil structure and moisture retention.

Autumn Lawn Care After the stress of the summer heat and any dry spells, your lawn will appreciate some autumn TLC. Rake out the dead thatch and moss, and aerate the soil with a garden fork to improve drainage before the heavier winter rains arrive.

✨🛍️ GITTISHAM’S BOUTIQUE JUMBLE SALE! 🛍️✨

Our next Gittisham Village Hall Jumble Sale is fast approaching, and this time we’re giving it a boutique twist!

📅 Saturday 17th October
⏰ 10am – 1pm
📍 Gittisham Village Hall

We’re looking for quality donations to create a lovely selection of clothing, accessories and other fantastic items — with bargains starting from just 50p! 👗👜✨

We’d love:
👗 Good-quality clothing
👜 Lovely accessories
🎁 Quality gifts and items in excellent condition
✨ Anything clean, usable and ready for a new home

To keep our boutique theme, we kindly ask that donations are good quality and in a condition you’d be happy to buy yourself. We’re unable to accept broken, damaged or unwanted items that are destined for the bin, and we’re keeping the event bric-a-brac free! ❤️

🥓 COME HUNGRY!

We’ll also have delicious bacon baps, croissants, tea & coffee available, so you can grab some breakfast and enjoy a browse! ☕🥐🥓

🎟️ TOMBOLA!

We’ll be running a Tombola with some fantastic prizes — and we’d really appreciate your help!

If you have a new, unused item, bottle, chocolates, toiletries, voucher, gift or anything else that could make a great Tombola prize, we would be incredibly grateful for your donation. Every contribution, big or small, will help raise much-needed funds for Gittisham Village Hall. ❤️

🐶 GUESS MY NAME!

And for a bit of extra fun, we’ll also have Guess My Name for the chance to win a GIANT DOG! 🐶😂

So come along, grab a bargain, enjoy a bacon bap and a cuppa, have a go at the Tombola and see if you can guess the name of our giant furry friend!

Donations for the jumble sale are welcome up until 30th September.

📧 To arrange a donation or find out more, please contact:

We’d love to see you there — please share with friends, family and anyone who loves a good bargain! 🛍️❤️

✨ Quality donations • Great bargains • Good food • Lots of fun — all while supporting our village hall! ✨

PARISH COUNCIL – SEPTEMBER 2026 REPORT

Four councillors met for the September meeting along with one member of the public.  

Broadband.

Adam Powell said the rollout of fibre broadband in the village was experiencing further delays.  Councillors discussed the whys and wherefores of the parish council receiving a grant from Connecting Devon & Somerset [CDS], which will be used to part-fund whichever supplier can deliver; at this point Bush Broadband / Radio Fibre is the most advanced. They agreed to sign the grant funding agreement with CDS.

Finance.  Councillors agreed the finances.​

Crimes. May 2026

Beech Walk: 1 x violence & sexual offences

Parsonage Lane: 1 x vehicle crime

Hodges Close: 1 x violence & sexual offences

June 2026

Parsonage Lane: 1 x burglary

Road closures.

1900–0700 nightly Tuesday 15 – Friday 18 September Devonshire Road closed for patching and joints. Unusually there is no diversion route.

2000–0600 Monday 14 -Friday 19 September A30 Honiton Bypass full closure eastbound for bridge joint replacement.

Planning applications.

a) 25/0369/FUL – Roebuck Farm Weston Devon EX14 3PB Proposed MOT station, hard-standing and widened access track (retrospective) and surface water drainage works (amended plans showing change to location of proposed surface water attenuation basin)

Councillors had previously discussed this application in June 2025, when they objected because they felt this application risks increasing vehicle movements in the surrounding area.  Also in 2025, they expressed concern and disappointment that the tree cutting had taken place outside the context of a planning application.  Councillors had no additional objections to the amended plans.  

The clerk said East Devon DC had emailed to note the parish council’s comments regarding 26/1050/FUL – 97 Meadow Acre Road (Hayne Farm).  EDDC said any enforcement investigation would be separate from the current planning application, which relates only to the proposed fence and will be assessed on its own planning merits.

Play area.

Alex Rowe said he had met a representative from RhinoPlay, the original supplier of the swings in 2018, to discuss whether or not future maintenance of the swings was appropriate.  RhinoPlay has advised the swings are approaching the end of their natural life.  Councillors agreed the timber and joints at the top are worn, although it was noted that the annual play inspection safety report did not advise urgent attention was required.  RhinoPlay has quoted around £11,000 to replace them with two different types of swing in one long frame.  Councillors agreed that steel swings would likely be more long-lasting, although Adam Powell advised some consultation / notice in advance of installation.  The clerk agreed to source quotes from three suppliers.

Casual vacancy, Gittisham Village ward.

There is a vacancy for the role of parish councillor to represent Gittisham village ward.  Anyone interested in finding out more about how they can make a difference in their local community should contact 

Next meeting.  Thursday 1st October at 7.30pm in the parish room.

Gittisham Sky Watch: What to look for this Month

As the evenings start drawing in, the shift into autumn brings some of the best stargazing of the year to Gittisham. Here is what to look out for in the village skies over the coming month.

Autumn Equinox & The Harvest Moon We officially welcome autumn on Wednesday, 23rd September at 1:04 am with the equinox, giving us almost exactly equal hours of daylight and darkness. Just a few days later, on Saturday, 26th September, the Full Harvest Moon will rise. The Harvest Moon is unique because it rises at roughly the same time for several evenings in a row, traditionally providing farmers with extra bright moonlight to finish gathering their crops.

Planets on Parade Saturn is the absolute highlight of the month, reaching ‘opposition’ on Sunday, 4th October. This means Earth is directly between Saturn and the Sun, placing the ringed planet at its closest, biggest, and brightest for the year. You can spot it shining steadily as a bright, yellowish ‘star’ in the southern sky around midnight. For early risers, brilliant Jupiter is currently unmissable, dominating the eastern sky just before dawn.

The Great Square of Pegasus Looking east on a clear evening, try to spot four medium-bright stars forming a large, unmistakable box. This is the ‘Great Square of Pegasus’, an asterism representing the body of the mythical winged horse. It is a fantastic seasonal landmark to help you navigate the autumn constellations.

The Draconid Meteor Shower On the evenings of October 8th and 9th, the Draconid meteor shower reaches its peak. While it is a relatively modest shower (expecting 6 to 10 shooting stars per hour), the viewing conditions this year are exceptional. The moon will be a very thin waning crescent, meaning the skies will be dark enough to spot fainter meteors. Unusually for meteor showers, the Draconids are best viewed in the evening rather than the early hours of the morning—so grab a deckchair, wrap up warm, and simply look up.

Thank you to everyone who contributed pieces to this Gazette. If you would like to submit something for next month’s issue, please email .

Gittisham Village ward – parish councillor vacancy

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Notice of Parish Council Vacancy

  • Do you want to serve your community?
  • Do you have time or expertise which could benefit your community?
  • Do you want to make a difference to those around you?
  • Are you passionate about your local area?
  • Do you want to represent the views of local people?

If you would like to make a difference, and be involved in shaping the future of your local community, you could apply to become a Gittisham Parish Councillor

Gittisham Parish Council is looking for a new Parish Councillor for the Village ward.  If you are interested, please contact the Clerk, Fiona Clampin, on

You will need to fill in a short application form and be prepared to submit a short paragraph on your suitability for the role

The closing date for completed applications to be with the Clerk is

23.59 on Sunday 11th October 2026

To qualify to become a Parish Councillor a person must *be a British subject over 18 years old *be listed on the current electoral roll *live in Gittisham, or occupy as owner/tenant any land/premises therein or have a principal place of work within the Parish *must not be disqualified from holding office as a Councillor.

Gittisham Gazette August 2026

by
Gazette Logo

Mid August 2026 — Produced for the Parish Council and St Michael’s Church

Who’s Got the Heaviest Spuds?

Turns out it was John, On Saturday, August 1st, crowds gathered in anticipation for the annual “Potatoes in a Bucket” weigh-in. The highly competitive event took place during the afternoon of the Village Hall Flower and Produce Show, where parishioners traditionally fight it out for the coveted titles of longest runner bean and best lemon drizzle cake.

Owen, our official pomme de terre adjudicator, was on hand to double-check the weights. The ultimate champion, yielding a whopping 1,600 grams of chippable goodness, was John Adamson, with his wife coming in a very close second!

Making your way around the hall, there was a vast array of fantastic entries across all the categories, even if a few of the vegetables were looking slightly worse for wear after such a dry summer.

Lovely homemade cakes and generous helpings of tea were enjoyed by all as everyone sat out in the beautiful sunshine to watch the prize-giving ceremony.

It was a truly enjoyable afternoon for the whole village. A massive thank you to the Flower & Produce Show committee and all the wonderful helpers who made the day such a success!

Winners – John with his Spuds and Gary with his Sunken Cake
Which to hold on to? Cider vs Trophy a hard decision!
Usually try and grow more potatoes than what you started with

    Funding Fibre Broadband to Gittisham

We now have a route to connect Gittisham to fibre broadband, but we need your help. To get the funding each property has to fill in a grant application form, this will release £3000+per property, the government grant goes to connect a property and not the owners. This allows each residence to then sign up to a broadband contract at a later date, if they wish. To fund the fibre installation we need 30 properties plus to sign up, with round about 50 properties in Gittisham this is a challenge.
Even if you are in a rented property ask your landlord to help, or if you are thinking of moving please sign up, getting a connection will improve your property for the future, and give you and your family fast broadband access.
Any questions or worries please contact Gittisham Parish Council. Thanks for signing up.

What’s On?

-Village Hall

Open Bookings

  • Tuesdays – Tai Chi & Quigong 09:50 am- 11:10am
  • 3rd Tuesday of the month- Yoga 18:15
  • Wednesday – Folk Dance Club 7pm
  • Thursday- Community Kitchen 18:30
  • 2nd Sunday of the Month Pierre’s Cafe 10am

Hire the hall: www.gittisham.org.uk/village-hall/hire-the-hall/

Committee Events

  • 5th September Gittisham Fete and Scarecrow Competiton
  • 26th September Charity Coffee and Cake 2.30  – 4.30
  • 17th October Jumble Sale
  • 31st October Halloween Party/ Coffee and Cake
  • 28th November Christmas Craft Fair, expressions of interest in tables being taken 
  • 28th November Christmas Bingo 7pm for 7.30pm 
  • 23rd January Burns Night Celebration

–Church

  • Church Services 2nd and 4th Sunday of the Month
  • Natter and Nibbles September 12th- Gittisham Farm
  • Harvest service & supper on Sunday 4 th October! Auction of produce, Tickets from Helen out soon!

200 Club Winners July

  • 1st Prize              £75     Peter Stansell
  • 2nd Prize             £50      Phyllis Broadhurst
  • 3rd Prize              £25      Stephen Howe

Events are also listed here: https://gittisham.org.uk/whatson/

Holy Dusters Needed
Can you spare a little time at your convenience?
Cleaning products are in the church by the vestry door.
Thank you.    

200 Club

Join the Gittisham 200 Club!

The 200 club is a licensed small lottery raising funds to pay for the upkeep of our beautiful church and paying prizes in a monthly draw.

There are a number of tickets still available for purchase. 

Tickets cost £3 per month and you can buy up to 3 for any named person.  Some members buy tickets for children and grandchildren as well as for themselves.

The draw takes place once a month, usually at Natter & Nibbles, and there are cash prizes of £75, £50 and £25 each time.

Contact Sara at  for an application form and further details.

Gittisham Village Hall Monthly Update

Dear Friends of the Hall,

We hope you’re enjoying the glorious summer weather — though if anyone has a spare rain cloud, our garden would be very grateful! It’s looking rather thirsty.

🌿 A Myrtle with Royal Connections!

Have you noticed the Myrtle bush in the Hall’s back garden?

It may look unassuming, but it has rather special royal connections. The plant is believed to descend from Myrtle used in Queen Victoria’s wedding bouquet, originally brought from Germany. Myrtle has long been associated with royal weddings, and cuttings were later shared with stately homes.

One of these was Killerton, which propagated the plant further and kindly donated young specimens to local village halls — including ours. So our Myrtle is something of a botanical celebrity!

Sadly, it’s currently looking a little crispy, but we’re giving it plenty of water and TLC in the hope this historic little plant will recover and thrive. 🌱

🌸 Gittisham Flower & Produce Show

The Hall was delighted to host this year’s Flower & Produce Show — a fiercely contested and highly entertaining afternoon!

There was clearly plenty of planning and friendly rivalry involved, with impressively high standards all round (and, happily, all friendships still intact).

A big thank you to everyone who entered, supported, and helped make the event such a success.

We were also pleased to welcome our Gardeners’ Question Time panel, who fielded plenty of questions and shared lots of useful advice. We hope everyone left with something new to try in their gardens.

If you missed it, don’t worry — we hope to run another session in the spring.

🎪 Gittisham Fete – 5th September

The Hall Committee will be supporting the Gittisham Fete on Saturday 5th September, so our August Coffee & Cake afternoon will be postponed.

Instead, we hope to see you at the Fete for a wonderful village day — and we’ll be back with coffee and cake very soon!

🎀 Coffee, Cake & a Cause

We’ve been considering how the Hall might support cancer charities, a cause that has touched so many of us.

We’re pleased to say that all profits from our September Coffee & Cake event will be donated to a cancer-related charity.

Rather than choosing one ourselves, we’d love your input.

Is there a charity you feel strongly about — perhaps one that has supported you, your family, or someone in the community?

Please send your suggestions via our social media channels or the Hall’s contact email. We’ll gather ideas and choose together.

Do come along in September for homemade treats, good company, and a chance to turn coffee and cake into something meaningful. ☕🍰💕

💬 Your Kind Words Mean a Lot

We often receive lovely feedback when people hire the Hall, but reviews can understandably slip down the to-do list once the celebrations are over.

That’s why we’ve been especially delighted to receive some wonderful reviews this month — thank you to everyone who has taken the time to share their thoughts.

It means a great deal to hear how much the Hall is valued as a space for celebrations and community gatherings.

This beautiful old building plays an important role in village life, and your support encourages the Committee to keep caring for it, improving it, and ensuring it remains here for everyone to enjoy for years to come.

Thank you for supporting your village hall — we really couldn’t do it without you. 💚

Gittisham Fete Call To Arms!

With under a month to go, preparations are in full swing for this year’s Gittisham Village Fete – a wonderful celebration of our community. But to make it all happen, we need your help.

Last year was a fantastic day, but we were stretched thin on volunteers. A small group ended up covering far more than expected. This year, we’re asking for more helping hands, even just for an hour or two, so everyone can enjoy the day.

Whether you’re new to the village or have helped before, please consider joining the team – it’s a great way to meet people and be part of something special.

Volunteers Needed

We’re looking for people to help with the following roles:

  • Traffic management and car parking
  • Admissions desk (welcoming visitors)
  • Duck Race team (setting up and launching ducks)
  • Cakes! (selling and baking)
  • Ice cream sales
  • Bar team
  • Tombola stall
  • Dog show assistance
  • Setup and end-of-day pack away

No experience needed – just enthusiasm and a friendly face!

To volunteer, email: 
Or contact us via the Village WhatsApp group.

Duck Race Tickets are on sale now! Please contact Carol Hall  to purchase, Prizes are: 1st £100 , 2nd £50, 3rd £25 & 4th £10

Running alongside the Fete is the Scarecrow competition which will be judged by the recently appointed team rector of Honiton The Revd Tracey Voysey

Dear Geraldine

August’s letter

Dear Geraldine, 

May I firstly congratulate you on managing the quiet, but distinctly unpleasant backlash you received given your adequate reply to the concerns raised in June’s Gazette. Hardly fair, you answered to the best of your abilities.

As congratulations are in hand let us all applaud the ‘top tier’ of potato producers in the recent competition.Nothing short of amazing; some of the accompanying gasps that followed the revealing of those tubers were genuine; honestly.

However, the event having concluded successfully for another season, despite the vagaries of the weather thrown at those buckets, I feel it is now a time to raise another associated matter. It comes again from a collective whisper. The following is in NO WAY a suggestion of skullduggery on the part of any of those achieving that ‘top tier’.

It has come to notice, in other parts of our once fair land, of a rising suspicion that certain vegetable competitions – notably of the tuber kind- may have been, at best, ‘influenced’ by the introduction of Wegovy. This apparent issue, seemingly gathering weight (no pun intended), relates to the public beginning to access this drug as tablets. For many, upstanding citizens, that meant the proper disposal of any injectable form by returning it to a notable pharmacy. For some disreputable types this may be providing an illicit means of sabotaging the tubers of others. 

Looking around, one cannot imagine anyone in our green and pleasant Gittisham succumbing to such malpractice, let alone having access to such means. Nevertheless, I am confident that come next year’s competition, a few of us will be securing our bucket of tubers closer than ever before.

Dear reader:

Thank you for your kind words regarding my previous correspondence. I was particularly touched by your observation that I had answered “to the best of my abilities”. I am not entirely sure whether that was a compliment, but at my age I have learned to accept praise wherever I find it.

It was, of course, wonderful to see another successful Potato in a Bucket competition, and I would like to add my congratulations to those whose tubers reached the upper echelons of the competition.

There were some truly magnificent specimens, and an abysmal 15g entry!

The annual presentation of Mr Potato Head was, as ever, a particularly proud moment for the village. I hopewe can all agree that this distinguished gentleman has earned his place among Gittisham’s most respected civic honours. He may have started life as a children’s toy, but after years of service he has acquired a dignity that some members of the Parish Council might struggle to match.

Indeed, I understand that the winning bucket was approached with the reverence normally reserved for a royal visit. Despite the usual winner being pipped to the post. 

Which brings me to the matter of Wegovy.

I confess I was intrigued by the suggestion that pharmaceutical intervention may be creeping into the world of competitive potato growing. I am not sure what the manufacturers would make of it, and I certainly wouldn’t want to speculate on whether a potato can actually lose weight. In Gittisham, we have traditionally been rather more interested in putting weight on them, however there was definitely evidence of pharma misuse. 

Still, the possibility that someone might deliberately interfere with another competitor’s crop is quite concerning.

Not that I believe for one moment that anyone here would do such a thing.

Gittisham is, after all, a close-knit community. We know our neighbours, we know their gardens and, in some cases, we know rather more about their gardening habits than they probably realise.

But perhaps a little vigilance would not go amiss.

Next year I shall certainly be keeping my bucket somewhat closer than before. I may even sleep with the shed key under my pillow. Although knowing my luck, this will merely result in a disturbed night’s sleep and a very suspicious-looking husband.

The most important thing is that we don’t allow all this speculation to detract from what is, after all, one of Gittisham’s finest traditions.

The potatoes are grown.

The buckets are admired.

The judges deliberate.

And eventually, Mr Potato Head chooses his next home.

Long may he reign.

Yours, with one eye on the potato patch,

Geraldine Gitt

Forever supplying boomer wisdom

Pete’s Tips and Tricks

Residents are being encouraged to make the most of every drop of water while the current hosepipe ban remains in place until reservoir levels recover.

We can help conserve water by collecting and reusing grey water from washing up and baths to keep ornamentals healthy. Watering is most effective in the early morning when temperatures are cooler. If watering in the evening, aim water directly at the soil around plants and avoid wetting the leaves. Watering during the heat of the day should be avoided, as much of the moisture is lost through evaporation.

Applying a layer of mulch around plants is another simple way to conserve water. Organic materials such as compost, bark chips or well-rotted manure help the soil retain moisture, reduce evaporation, and suppress weeds, meaning plants require less frequent watering during dry spells.

It is worth reminding gardeners that many plants naturally wilt during the hottest part of the day as a way of conserving energy, so a drooping appearance does not always mean they need water.

Rather than giving plants a little water every day, provide one or two deep soakings each week. This encourages stronger root growth and helps plants cope better with dry conditions while making the best use of limited water supplies. – Pete Harris, Head Kitchen Gardener at the PIG.

Live Music Nights in The Folly

Join us this summer for a chilled tipple, freshly baked pizzas hot from the wood oven, and plenty of live music to help you see out the weekend, the PIG way.

Every Friday evening in August 6:30-9 and the Sunday afternoons in September 4pm – 6:30.

August Dates

  • Friday 14th August – Dan Tolman
  • Friday 21st August – Andy Doran
  • Friday 28th August – Consciuos Club

September Dates

  • Sunday 6th September – Dan Tolman
  • Sunday 13th September – Andy Doran
  • Sunday 20th September – Conscious Club
  • Sunday 27th September – Adam in the Hat & Rich James

Dear Geraldine Cont.

Dear Geraldine,

I have noted with interest your sensible response to my neighbours trifling concerns and so felt safe to entrust you with my more recent village drama. 

This change in temperature has sadly  necessitated a change in my well established routines, and I now find myself going for my daily constitutional in the early hours. 

On one such excursion I found myself in Dark Lane, having just stepped in a dogs business. This is most unusual.  In part because I always look where I’m going as falls at my age are particularly hazardous (I’m told) and also, I can only assume village dogs or owners are trained not to foul our paths and walkways.

Not only do I  find myself having to purchase a new pair of slippers, i  am now constantly checking on my neighbours dogs and specifically they size of their bottoms to see if I can find out the culprit to try and reclaim my losses as a substantial slipper is not cheap.

I would welcome and advice you see fit to give.

Dear reader:

Thank you for entrusting me with your latest village drama. I am very sorry to hear that the recent heatwave has forced you to abandon your established routine and take your daily constitutional in the early hours.

I had always thought the great advantage of an early morning walk was the peace and tranquillity.

Clearly, I had forgotten about the dogs.

Your unfortunate encounter in Dark Lane is particularly troubling. Not only have you been deprived of a perfectly good slipper, but you now appear to have been drawn into what can only be described as a full-scale canine forensic investigation.

I confess I admire your dedication.

However, I would urge a little caution when inspecting the bottoms of neighbouring dogs in an attempt to identify the offender. There is a considerable difference between discreetly observing a dog and standing in someone’s garden thinking, “Yes, I’m fairly certain that’s the one.”

You may also find that the dogs themselves are not especially forthcoming.

A guilty-looking Labrador is, after all, very difficult to distinguish from an innocent one. They both tend to look as though they have recently done something wrong.

As for the slipper, I would certainly retain it as evidence. A substantial slipper is not something to be casually written off, particularly when it has been prematurely retired in the line of duty.

I would suggest keeping it somewhere safe, although perhaps not on display in the sitting room. There is a danger that visitors may begin asking questions.

Perhaps the Village Hall Committee could establish a Gittisham Canine Incident Register, recording the date, location, approximate size and general characteristics of any future occurrences.

I am sure the Committee would be delighted to take this on, particularly if it involves another spreadsheet.

We already have committees for considerably less important matters.

Although I would suggest that the official title should be carefully considered. “Dog Poo Subcommittee”may be accurate, but I doubt it will encourage many volunteers.

In the meantime, I recommend a good torch, sensible footwear and perhaps a slightly more suspicious approach to Dark Lane.

Should you encounter another dog during your investigations, I would advise looking at its face rather than its bottom. If it suddenly looks embarrassed, you may be onto something.

And should the culprit eventually be identified, I feel the matter should be approached in the traditional Gittisham manner: politely, firmly and with just enough evidence to make it very difficult for anyone to deny responsibility.

I am, of course, happy to assist with the investigation.

I have already begun looking suspiciously at several dogs myself.

Not that I am casting aspersions.

But I will say this:

Some of them are looking distinctly shifty.

Yours in the interests of justice, footwear and village cleanliness,

Geraldine Gitt

Forever supplying boomer wisdom

Water Nationalisation & Pollution

by May Puckey

Two conversations in the last week have made me reflect on England’s issue with water regulation. When I offered a visitor a glass of water a few days ago, she informed me that she only drinks bottled water from the supermarket because of her mistrust of South West Water since a cryptosporidium outbreak in 2024 left hundreds ill and thousands of households dependant on bottled or boiled water. Lacking faith in the water from your tap may appear ludicrous, though a few days later I had a conversation with a family friend about the new 2026 factual drama Dirty Business. The three-part Channel 4 series focuses on the story of Heather Preen, who died aged 8 after contracting E Coli O157 in 1999 shortly after swimming in Dawlish, which had been awarded a Blue Flag award for water quality despite concerns about sewage pollution. The inquest into Preen’s death the following year was ultimately non-conclusive, despite six primary cases of E Coli O157 being recorded by swimmers in Dawlish around the time of her death. One father had three children hospitalised after they swam in the sea and in the days leading up to Preen’s visit, there had been fourteen complaints registered to the Environment Agency about sewage in Dawlish. Just yesterday, it was announced that the former CEO of Southern Water Matthew Wright is facing a trial over allegations that his team manipulated sewage wastewater testing results to avoid millions of pounds of fines-it’s not surprising that the public have little faith in our water.

England’s dire problem with water pollution stems from underinvestment since Margaret Thatcher’s 1989 Water Act which privatised the ten regional water authorities in England and Wales (in 2001, Welsh Water returned to public ownership). This made our water sector the only fully privatised water system in the world. David Cameron’s coalition government from 2010-2015 further deregulated the sector, with the 2014 Water Act introducing more competition into the commercial water market and his ‘Red Tape Challenge’ scrapping hundreds of water regulation rules and reducing Environment Agency funding by almost two thirds. So what does this mean? Our water is more polluted than ever before-in 2024, water companies dumped raw sewage into England’s rivers and seas for the equivalent of 3.61 million hours. My nearest river, the River Otter, has been directly affected by this-in 2024, South West Water released untreated sewage into the river for more than 9,500 hours. I grew up on these river beds, regularly paddling and playing with minnows in the river when I was younger, though now the once biodiverse waters appear murky and sludgy. My nan used to say she wanted her ashes scattered in a specific area of the River Otter where she used to play as a child, though I doubt she would want that now, since the darting kingfishers and aquamarine dragonflies have been replaced with dirty toilet roll and used sanitary products. Devon beaches like Dawlish have also been damaged-earlier in June, the Environment Agency announced ‘no swim’ warnings in Teignmouth, Dawlish, Seaton and Exmouth because of water pollution. South West Water has received a red rating for its environmental protection for fourteen consecutive years, responsible for 189 separate major pollution incidents.

In January, a government white paper titled Vision for Water sparked hopes about the future of the UK’s water system. The government’s key intentions are to reshape regulators under a more centralised system, create regional water bodies and ensure that water companies plan ahead on a twenty-five rather than five year time scale. Vision for Water is a step in the right direction particularly regarding the financing of water companies, with proposals for a requirement for regulators to agree specific percentages of return for investors. However, the white paper has been criticised by prevalent campaign groups like Surfers Against Sewage for being too vague and for altering the regulation process rather than the role of privatised water companies themselves. The 2025 Independent Water Commission chaired by Sir John Cuncliffe received similar criticism for its emphasis on regulating private water companies instead of nationalisation. Surfers Against Sewage have instead called for the government to take failing water companies under their control using their Special Administration Regime powers. 

The new Prime Minister Andy Burnham has an interesting track record regarding the water sector. His only direct commitment is nationalising Thames Water, stating it’s “what should be done”. However, he also said about the entirety of the water sector, “I don’t think you necessarily nationalise the whole thing straight off, because that’s complicated and probably expensive but you look at the different situations in different parts of the country”, perhaps eluding to some of the problems Welsh Water has faced since nationalisation though maintaining his commitment to devolution and “more public control, more public ownership” on a long-term timeframe. The water sector in England remains a mismanaged ‘dirty business’, though increased public awareness and scrutiny is promising. In short, I’ll stick to drinking tap water-for now. 

I hope you found this an interesting and informative read, I’d love to hear your thoughts on the issue! Feel free to send me an email (my address is ) or contact me on Instagram or Substack (@maypuckey)

Gittisham Sky Watch: What to look for this Month

As we move from the warm, hazy days of August into the slightly crisper evenings of September, the night sky begins to change its character. The nights are getting noticeably longer, which means prime stargazing hours start earlier!

  • Did You Catch the Eclipse? We hope you all managed to safely enjoy the spectacular partial solar eclipse on August 12th! We were unbelievably busy at the observatory!
  • The Milky Way at its Best: Late August and early September offer some of the best views of the Milky Way of the entire year. To see it, you need a moonless night, so aim for the last week of August or the first week of September. Look straight up and towards the south—if your eyes are adjusted to the dark, you will see a faint, glowing “cloud” of billions of stars arching across our Devon skies.
  • Saturn’s Summer Show: This is the perfect time of year to spot Saturn. Throughout late August and September, the ringed planet reaches “opposition”—meaning it is directly opposite the sun from our perspective. It will be at its biggest and brightest for the year! Look low in the southeastern sky after sunset for a bright, steady, golden-yellow “star.”
  • The Harvest Moon Approaches: As we head into September, we start looking for the famous “Harvest Moon.” While it officially peaks later in September, you will notice the moon rising large and golden in the east just after sunset. Historically, this bright moonlight helped farmers work late into the night to bring in the autumn harvest.

Thank you to everyone who contributed pieces to this Gazette. If you would like to submit something for next month’s issue, please email .

Gittisham Gazette July 2026

by
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Mid July 2026 — Produced for the Parish Council and St Michael’s Church

A Heartfelt Thank You and Farewell to Julia

Earlier today, on Sunday 12th July, the community gathered at Gittisham Church for a beautiful service and a celebratory afternoon tea. It was a wonderful opportunity to officially mark Julia Barratt’s retirement after eight years of dedicated and faithful service as our Licensed Lay Minister. Over the years, she has been a true pillar of support, offering compassionate care, guidance, and a listening ear to anyone who needed it.

But as everyone in Gittisham knows, Julia’s impact has reached far beyond the church porch! She has always thrown herself wholeheartedly into the vibrant, everyday life of the village. We will certainly never forget her starring role as a brilliant puppeteer in the legendary village cabaret!

When it came to community events, Julia was always ready to roll up her sleeves. She was instrumental in working alongside other dedicated volunteers to get the much-loved Gittisham village fete up and running again. On a quieter, yet equally impactful note, she has also been the generous soul consistently supplying the fresh bread for our weekly community kitchen.

Now that she is stepping back from her official ministry duties, Julia is preparing for a new adventure and will be moving away from the village in a month or so. While we will miss her warmth, kindness, and wonderful sense of fun, we are incredibly grateful for the legacy of community spirit she leaves behind.

We wish Julia every happiness, health, and blessing as she packs her boxes and settles into her new home. If you see her out and about over the next few weeks, please do stop, share a memory, and wish her the very best for the future!

​

  The path at the top of Landscore Lane by Paul Wakley

  The path at the top of Landscore lane is part of the track that used to run from east hill to Combe House. Although the path is in Ottery parish I tend to think of it as Gittisham. At the start of the path, the wooded land on the left were gardens, Mr Marks, an estate carpenter, was, I think, the last person to till them in the thirties. Mr Marks was then living in part of Westgate. He told me that he had planed every plank of wood used in the building of the village hall!

 Somewhere around the old gardens once stood a house/shack said to be the last of its kind in the area, where the fire was in a pit and the family had to sit around the edge of it. Carrying on over the track from the top of Tommy Wax, the path passes some beautiful old oaks, carry on a bit further and you come to the site of a chapel, of which nothing remains. I think the site was also subsequently used for a farmstead. The last of the bits of wall from the barns? which were built into the hillside unfortunately were used as ramps for motorbikes ect to jump and no longer exist.   The fields to the right are very steep and now covered in bracken and scrub. The family who lived there could not afford a horse or donkey to pull the plough, so the wife had to do it! 

 On the way back I like to visit what I think is the biggest beech tree left on the estate.

I often think when walking out that way how lucky most of us are now.

 The story of the families, I heard from people in the village and also from Peter Hill who lived in the house just beyond the style near the end of the path. He collected historic papers and maps to do with Ottery and Gittisham.

What’s On?

-Village Hall

Open Bookings

  • Tuesdays – Tai Chi & Quigong 09:50 am- 11:10am
  • 3rd Tuesday of the month- Yoga 18:15
  • Wednesday – Folk Dance Club 7pm
  • Thursday- Community Kitchen 18:30
  • 2nd Sunday of the Month Pierre’s Cafe 10am

Hire the hall: www.gittisham.org.uk/village-hall/hire-the-hall/

Committee Events

  • 1st August Flower and Produce Show
  • 29th August Coffee and Cake 2.30  – 4.30
  • 5th September Gittisham Fete and Scarecrow Competiton
  • 17th October Jumble Sale
  • 31st October Halloween Party/ Coffee and Cake
  • 28th November Christmas Craft Fair, expressions of interest in tables being taken 
  • 28th November Christmas Bingo 7pm for 7.30pm 
  • 23rd January Burns Night Celebration

–Church

  • 15 th July PCC meeting 7 pm Parish room
  • Sunday July  26th @11 am Holy Communion
  • Natter and Nibbles August 8 th – Gittisham Farm
  • Natter and Nibbles September 12th- Gittisham Farm
  • Harvest service & supper on Sunday 4 th October! Auction of produce, Tickets from Helen out soon!

200 Club Winners July

  • 1st Prize              £75     Una Wakely-Beddows
  • 2nd Prize             £50      Michael Never
  • 3rd Prize              £25      John Adamson

Events are also listed here: https://gittisham.org.uk/whatson/

Holy Dusters Needed
Can you spare a little time at your convenience?
Cleaning products are in the church by the vestry door.
Thank you.    

200 Club

Join the Gittisham 200 Club!

The 200 club is a licensed small lottery raising funds to pay for the upkeep of our beautiful church and paying prizes in a monthly draw.

There are a number of tickets still available for purchase. 

Tickets cost £3 per month and you can buy up to 3 for any named person.  Some members buy tickets for children and grandchildren as well as for themselves.

The draw takes place once a month, usually at Natter & Nibbles, and there are cash prizes of £75, £50 and £25 each time.

Contact Sara at  for an application form and further details.

Gittisham Litter Pick

Thank you Cllr Powell for organising and to all the volunteers that helped keep Gittisham a bit tidier ( A car full of rubbish!) we will organise another soon!

Gittisham Village Hall Monthly Update

Dear Friends of the Hall,

What a scorcher July has been! The hall lawn has certainly felt the effects of the sunshine and is looking a little worse for wear after weeks of baking. In contrast, the beautiful Agapanthus plants, so generously gifted to us by The Pig last year, have absolutely thrived in the heat. They’re just about ready to burst into a spectacular display of blooms, so do keep an eye out when you’re passing!

It’s been another busy month for the committee. We were delighted to host our ever-popular Father’s Day BBQ, followed by a fantastic evening of live music with Exeter Street Band, who had everyone tapping their feet and dancing along. Events like these simply wouldn’t be possible without the wonderful support of our community, so thank you to everyone who came along, volunteered, or helped behind the scenes.

We’re also thrilled that so many local families have recently chosen the hall as the venue for their special celebrations. The lovely feedback we’ve received has reminded us what a fantastic community asset we have. For those of us who visit regularly, it’s easy to take it for granted, but the hall really is something special. Thanks to over £60,000 of improvements in recent years, together with the support of our growing parish, it continues to go from strength to strength.

A special mention this month must go to Jim. Quietly working away behind the scenes, he’s been clearing fire escapes, tidying, cleaning, watering, trimming hedges, and tackling countless other jobs that often go unnoticed but make such a difference. Jim, on behalf of us all, thank you for everything you do—we really do appreciate it.

Dates for your diary:

  • Coffee & Cake
  • Village Fete
  • Jumble Sale
  • Christmas Bingo
  • Christmas Makers’ Market

As always, we’d love to hear from you. Whether you have feedback on recent events, ideas for future ones, or would simply like to get involved, please do get in touch. New faces and fresh ideas are always welcome, and we’d be delighted to hear from you.

We look forward to seeing you at the hall soon!

Flower and Produce Show

Remember, remember the 1st of August!  All entries welcome – children’s classes, baking, handicraft, flowers, veg.  Even if you don’t enter please come along and enjoy the exhibits and teas and think: “Hmm….maybe next year….”

Dear Geraldine

Dear Sir,

Unease Over the Potato-in-a-Bucket Debate

I write in response to the recent correspondence(Letters,June26) concerning the glorious and legendary “Potato in a Bucket” competition, that singular highlight of the Gittisham Flower and Vegetable Show.

While I share the general admiration for this cherished village institution, I must express a degree of unease about the direction the discussion has taken.

Credit Where It Is Due

The “Deeply Concerned Potato Grower” — whom I shall refer to as DCPG — has, no doubt, voiced concerns that others may previously have entertained, though perhaps only under their breath. For that, DCPG deserves thanks.

Likewise, Geraldine — hereafter GG — should be applauded for a reply that was clear, unequivocal and, in the main, perfectly adequate.

The Real Aim of the Competition

However, both correspondents appear to share a misunderstanding about the competition’s true purpose. The aim is not simply to produce the largest single specimen, but to maximise the overall growth of the potatoes in the bucket.

It is an easy enough error to make, but such comments have consequences. I am reliably informed that at least one seasoned — indeed, well-honed — adjudicator has been shaken in their preparations for this year’s event.

A Thought for the Adjudicators

This competition is, after all, the main attraction of the show — second only, perhaps, to the cup of tea and the quietly snaffled second slice of cake.

For an audience so well educated in the art of root growth, the spectre of a Viagra-stimulated “mega-spud” is surely an unwelcome distraction. Spare a thought, please, for those charged with judging these noble tubers.

Further Assistance

For anyone seeking further guidance on this delicate subject — possibly including GG, and definitely DCPG — the Gazette refers readers to the charitable organisation .

(Ed: after police advisory, name and address withheld)

Sir,

I must thank your latest correspondent for taking such a scholarly interest in the Potato in a Bucket competition. It is reassuring to know that, even in these uncertain times, someone is prepared to defend the honour of the humble spud with such admirable vigour.

I am especially grateful for the clarification that the objective is to maximise the overall crop rather than produce one unnaturally dominant specimen. I confess I had not appreciated that this distinction was causing sleepless nights amongst our seasoned adjudicators, though I daresay they’ve seen enough odd-looking tubers over the years to avoid being too easily startled.

As for the suggestion that I may need “further guidance”, I can only say that my potatoes have always managed perfectly well without chemical assistance. In my experience, if a potato has to rely on Viagra to make an impression, it probably lacks substance beneath the skin.

The true champions of Gittisham have always been those that perform naturally, fill the bucket generously and leave everyone quietly satisfied at the end of the day. Size alone has never guaranteed success—something most gardeners, and indeed most married couples, worked out years ago.

May this year’s competition be free from performance-enhancing substances, inflated expectations and any further discussion of erect tubers. The judges have enough on their plates already… alongside the tea and that entirely justified second slice of cake.

Geraldine Gitt

Forever supplying boomer wisdom. 

Gittisham Fete is on Saturday 5th September 2026 

We need as many helpers as possible please get in touch with Alex, 

Returning for 2026 is the Gittisham Parish Scarecrow Competition!
Get your thinking caps on!

Duck tickets are also now on sale!

Church stall- fete- Bric-a-Brac  & second hand clothes ! ( good quality!) drop to Helen Hayman at Gittisham farm please! 07806480246

Dear Geraldine Continued

July’s letter

Dear Ms Gitt, 

Like many residents, I have found the recent spell of hot weather rather trying. While some have invested in paddling pools of questionable structural integrity and others have taken to standing in front of the freezer with the door open, I wonder whether Gittisham might embrace a rather more ambitious solution.

It has long struck me that the River Gitt is making only fleeting use of the village before continuing on its way. Would it not be possible to persuade it, temporarily of course, to take a gentle detour through the park, thereby creating a naturally replenished open-air swimming pool for the benefit of all?

I appreciate there may be those who raise concerns over water quality, but I understand that nature has already provided us with a perfectly adequate filtration system in the form of newts. I cannot pretend to understand precisely how this works, but they seem conscientious little creatures and are surely overdue some formal recognition for their public service.

Naturally, provision should also be made for the annual duck race. A modest diversion dam, opened by a ceremonial sandbag or perhaps a retired parish councillor with a shovel, would allow competitors to proceed with minimal disruption while adding an exciting tidal element to the event.

There would, of course, need to be rules. No bombing, no inflatable flamingos before 10 o’clock, and absolutely no dogs after they’ve discovered the shallow end.

Finally, may I express the sincere hope that, should this scheme come to fruition, the only floaters to be encountered will be children’s arm bands. It would do wonders for village morale if everyone could leave the pool discussing the water temperature rather than anything less savoury drifting downstream.

I offer this suggestion in the spirit of community enterprise and look forward to hearing from anyone with experience in river redirection, amphibian engineering or, failing that, a particularly long spade.

Yours, in hopeful anticipation of cooler days! 

Dear reader:

I was delighted to read the recent proposal to divert the River Gitt through the park to provide the village with a much-needed lido. At first glance, it may appear to be the ramblings of someone who has spent rather too long in the sun. On reflection, however, I concluded that it merely requires the same qualities as every successfulGittisham enterprise: optimism, volunteers, and someone willing to lend a tractor.

Those imagining this to be a simple weekend project are perhaps underestimating the scale of the undertaking. Diverting a river is not a one-man job. It will, as they say, take a village. Fortunately, we have one.

Naturally, there will be practical considerations. The Gittisham Farm calves have an uncanny ability to appear wherever water is involved, and I suspect at least a handful will find themselves enjoying the new current before anyone notices. Still, the prospect of an afternoon swim accompanied by half a dozen inquisitive calves seemsconsiderably more appealing than sharing a beach with inflatable unicorns and someone else’s portable speaker.

The annual fete committee will also, I imagine, insist upon one non-negotiable condition: that every one of the 200 duck race ducks is safely retrieved before the sluices are opened. Anyone who has spent an hour searching nettle beds for Duck No. 143 will appreciate why no sensible person would risk sending the entire flotilla halfwayto Ottery.

The Village Hall Committee should, of course, seize the opportunity. “Laps and Lunches” could become a regular Tuesday fixture, while “Aqua Aerobics and Apple Cake” has a certain ring to it. Our annual quiz night might finally include a round where contestants are expected to know which team has drifted furthest downstream. I understand the committee is also considering whether wet wellies constitute appropriate footwear for committee meetings.

As for the Gittisham Glen, I can see no reason why it should not become our own riverside promenade. A few strategically placed benches, a lifebuoy or two, and perhaps a discreet notice reminding visitors that the newts are there to supervise water quality, not to be interviewed about it.

I remain convinced that, with sufficient goodwill, enough wheelbarrows and only a modest amount of interference from the Environment Agency, this could become one of Gittisham’s finest achievements.

After all, if we can organise a flower show, a duck race, and persuade otherwise sensible adults to compete over potatoes in buckets, redirecting an entire river hardly seems beyond us.

Geraldine Gitt

Forever supplying boomer wisdom

July Natter and Nibbles


£123.00 Raised
Thank you to Gordon & Fray!

Mid Summer Sunset Over Gittisham

Parish Council Updates

PARISH COUNCIL – July 2026 REPORT

Three councillors met for the July meeting along with one member of the public, Tom Biddle (Baker Estates) and Cllr Alasdair Bruce (East Devon District Council). 

Planning – EDDC report.

Alasdair Bruce said that a recent victory in Ottery to throw out a proposal to build 140 homes close to the Sidmouth Road has shown the power of the neighbourhood plan, when pitted against the current pressure from the government to build, build, build. The reasoning is interesting, and should help parishes and town councils – faced with an avalanche of planning applications – to try and bat these off. The presence of a robust housing allocation complying with the National Planning Policy Framework was a key factor that the inspector commented on.  Landscape impact was also a factor.

Hayne Farm.

Tom Biddle provided an update on the development at Hayne Farm.  He explained that the original phase is almost complete, and work has begun on the new site at The Acorns.  One plot there has already been sold off-plan.  He anticipated the new phase would be finished in 2028, depending on market conditions.  Regarding the allotments, Tom Biddle said the fencing and sheds have been installed and paths are there at the site, so he was positive that they would soon be ready.  He agreed to report back to the clerk on how residents can apply for an allotment, after he had spoken to the Sales team.

Finance.  Councillors agreed the finances.  

Crimes. The clerk said there was no update since last month from the police.

Road closures.

0700–1900 6 August one-way system in place for Honiton Show.

0800–1200 9 August road through Alfington closed for BT works.

Planning applications.

  1. 26/1050/FUL – 97 Meadow Acre Road EX14 3FH – Retrospective application to raise the north-facing fence to a maximum height of 2.35 metres
  2. 26/1096/LBC – Town House Gittisham EX14 3AJ – Part-retrospective application for Internal alterations and improvements to the existing dwelling, including subdivision of ground floor rooms to create a larder and utility areas, installation of sinks and worktops, underfloor heating beneath existing and new stone flooring, and installation of a new first-floor water tank. External works include a new roofed shelter in the rear garden, a self-supporting canopy over an existing doorway, repairs to the cobbled driveway, new path along side of house, re-roofing of the outbuilding with slate tiles, and replacement of the roof above the utility with slate hanging tiles and new cast iron gutters.

Councillors had no objections to b).  Regarding a) the clerk agreed to contact EDDC for more detailed information on what is being constructed at the site.

Iron Bridge.

Alex Rowe said he had met engineers from Network Rail and discussed the blocked culvert.  They have agreed to liaise with Devon County Council highways engineers to remove the blockage, which could be contributing to flooding under the bridge in wet weather.

Casual vacancy, Gittisham Village ward.

The clerk reported that EDDC had received no request for an election after the advertised period.  EDDC has advised GPC that it may co-opt a councillor to the vacancy. Co-option is the process by which the parish council selects a new councillor.  The vacancy will be advertised in due course, and anyone interested in finding out more should contact

Next meeting.  Thursday 3rd September at 7.30pm in the parish room.

Gittisham Sky Watch: What to look for this Month

As we move through the height of summer, the nights are slowly starting to draw in just a fraction—which is fantastic news for stargazers! The slightly darker skies are returning just in time for an absolutely bumper month of astronomical events right above the parish.

  • The Perseid Meteor Shower: Nature’s greatest summer fireworks display is back! The Perseids build up slowly from late July and peak on the nights of August 12th and 13th. Known for being bright, fast, and leaving long trails, you can expect to see up to 50-100 meteors an hour during the peak. Just grab a deckchair, let your eyes adjust to the dark for 20 minutes, and look up!
  • A Spectacular Solar Eclipse! Mark your calendars for Wednesday, August 12th. A major solar eclipse is sweeping across Europe, and here in Devon, we will be treated to a very deep partial solar eclipse in the early evening, right before sunset. The moon will take a massive bite out of the sun! (Remember: never look directly at the sun without proper certified eclipse glasses!)
  • A Special Event at the Norman Lockyer Observatory: If you want to make a proper evening out of the eclipse and the meteors, you are in luck! Just down the road in Sidmouth, the wonderful Norman Lockyer Observatory is holding a special event on the day of the eclipse (August 12th). Alongside safe eclipse viewing, the evening will feature a brilliant talk all about the Perseid meteors, followed by magical “storytelling under the stars.” It is a fantastic family-friendly way to experience the night sky.
  • The “Sturgeon Moon”: Towards the end of this period, look out for the next full moon peaking on August 19th. Known as the Sturgeon Moon, this will actually be a “Blue Moon” (the third full moon in a season that has four full moons), making it a brilliant, bright anchor in our late summer sky.

Thank you to everyone who contributed pieces to this Gazette. If you would like to submit something for next month’s issue, please email .

Casual vacancy in Gittisham Village ward – election will not be held

by

TO: Clerk of the Gittisham Parish Council

FROM: Returning Officer, East Devon District Council, Council Offices, Blackdown House, Border Road, Honiton EX14 1EJ

CASUAL VACANCY in the Parish of Gittisham (village ward)

I HEREBY GIVE YOU NOTICE that the period for the receipt of notice requiring an election to fill the above vacancy has now expired. No such Notice has been received by me and an election will not be held. The Parish Council should now proceed to fill the vacancy by co-option.

DATED this 25th day of June 2026.

Returning Officer

Melanie J Wellman

Gittisham Gazette June 2026

by
Gazette Logo

Mid June 2026 — Produced for the Parish Council and St Michael’s Church

A Standing Ovation for the Flower Festival!

This year’s Church Flower Festival brought the magic of the stage to Gittisham with the fabulous theme: “Welcome to the Theatre!” A huge thank you to our incredibly talented flower arrangers. They truly brought the church to life with beautiful scents, vibrant colours, and brilliantly creative props hidden amongst the displays. The journey into the church was a show in itself, starting at the Lychgate with Charlie and the Chocolate Factory, passing by Bedknobs & Broomsticks on the path, and stepping through a beautiful Sound of Music porch by Carol Hall.

Inside, the church was transformed with a spectacular lineup of displays:

  • The Jungle Book: Betty & Helen Madden
  • Carmen: Nikki & Paul Wakely
  • Old Time Theatre: Kate Kimber
  • A Night at the Theatre: Angie Hutchings & Sue Trivett
  • Cinderella, Phantom of the Opera & Mamma Mia: Helen Hayman
  • Alice Through the Looking Glass: Octavia Madden
  • The Tempest: Anne Stansell
  • Matilda: Florence Wolsley & Merial Hill
  • A Midsummer Night’s Dream: Heather & Maggie
  • South Pacific: Sue Fallows
  • The King & I: Sarah Abbott & Lynn Denn

A Roaring Success in the Village Hall Café Despite the disappointing weather, the festival catering over in the Village Hall was a triumph. A steady stream of satisfied customers enjoyed lunches, teas, and a fabulous spread of cakes, scones, and the “world’s best meringues” produced by our industrious village bakers to suit all dietary needs. The hall looked wonderful thanks to Paul Wakely’s beautiful table flowers, and the service was top-notch thanks to two incredible volunteer teams organised by Sarah Trumper:

  • The Fabulously Glamorous Saturday Team: Julia Barrett, Maggie Walker, Sarah Agg-Manning, Sue Fallows, and chief dishwasher John Adamson.
  • The Stunningly Proficient Sunday Team: Richard Marker (who deserves a special mention for a fetching pinny/shorts combo!), Will Wolsey, Nick Chapman, Scott Angell, and Jayne Bramley.

Music and the Grand Total The Saturday was capped off with a fantastic musical performance organised by John McGregor, showcasing an amazing array of local talent with singing, Celtic flute, keyboard, organ, guitar, accordion, and fiddle!

Thanks to everyone’s hard work, generous baking, and wonderful support, the festival raised an incredible £1,000+ to support our village church! A final round of applause to Helen Hayman, the dedicated “Holy Dusters,” and everyone who contributed to such a show-stopping weekend.

​

Gittisham’s Water by Paul Wakley

 For years the main supply of water for the village were the wells dotted about. Myrtle cottage Eveleigh’s, Riverside are a few. And the village pump, which I always thought was too close to the graveyard for comfort!

 There is a line of springs which stretches from the Sidmouth road to East Hill. Houses and farms were built near them, Kercombe, Rapshayes, Coign ( the Parsonage), Beech Walk/Combe. There are several springs in Chalcombe bottom, at least three of these were capped ( in the thirties or forties?) and piped to an enclosed reservoir. The water was piped to the village and surrounding houses and farms, Pomeroy made use of a spring up Parsonage lane, the water was piped under the fields and Kings Cottage garden, which could also make use of it.

   Now we are on the ‘mains’ though, a few years ago South West water accidentally turned the valve outside our houses the wrong way, after flushing out, and put us back on the old supply, it was a bit stagnant after all those years in the pipe!

What’s On?

-Village Hall

Open Bookings

  • Tuesdays – Tai Chi & Quigong 09:50 am- 11:10am
  • 3rd Tuesday of the month- Yoga 18:15
  • Wednesday – Folk Dance Club 7pm
  • Thursday- Community Kitchen 18:30
  • 2nd Sunday of the Month Pierre’s Cafe 10am (Not July)

Hire the hall: www.gittisham.org.uk/village-hall/hire-the-hall/

Committee Events

  • 21st June Father’s Day BBQ
  • 27th June  Coffee and Cake. 2.30  – 4.30pm
  • 11th July Band Night.  Exeter Street Band 7pm
  • 1st August Flower and Produce Show
  • 29th August Coffee and Cake 2.30  – 4.30
  • 5th September Gittisham Fete and Scarecrow Competiton
  • 17th October Jumble Sale
  • 31st October Halloween Party/ Coffee and Cake
  • 28th November Christmas Craft Fair, expressions of interest in tables being taken 
  • 28th November Christmas Bingo 7pm for 7.30pm 
  • 23rd January Burns Night Celebration

–Church

  • Sunday June 28th  @ 6pm Choral Evensong with the HMT Choir
  • Sunday July 12th  @ 3pm  Juila’s Leaving Service
  • Monday July 13th at St Paul’s Honiton @ 7.30pm Rev Tracey’s Licencing Service
  • Sunday July  26th @11 am Holy Communion

200 Club Winners June

    • 1st Prize              £75     Tony John
    • 2nd Prize             £50      Peter Stansell
    • 3rd Prize              £25      Stephanie King

Events are also listed here: https://gittisham.org.uk/whatson/

Holy Dusters Needed
Can you spare a little time at your convenience?
Cleaning products are in the church by the vestry door.
Thank you.    

200 Club

Join the Gittisham 200 Club!

The 200 club is a licensed small lottery raising funds to pay for the upkeep of our beautiful church and paying prizes in a monthly draw.

There are a number of tickets still available for purchase. 

Tickets cost £3 per month and you can buy up to 3 for any named person.  Some members buy tickets for children and grandchildren as well as for themselves.

The draw takes place once a month, usually at Natter & Nibbles, and there are cash prizes of £75, £50 and £25 each time.

Contact Sara at  for an application form and further details.

Gittisham Village Hall Monthly Update

Gittisham was serenaded with a stunning and whimsical piano performance last weekend when Michael Allen Harrison chose to perform a delightful selection of pieces to a packed audience of all ages at the village hall. Michael is an international composer, film scorer and soloist from Oregon who by chance met members of the village Betty and Alan, while staying at the Pig. The recital included his own compositions as well as entrancing versions of several well known tunes including Summertime and Imagine. Each piece was introduced with a fascinating and informative explanation of their history and meaning.
The concert took a charming turn when Michael asked young Dora to play and they played a lovely duet.
The musical cognoscenti of the village showed enthusiastic appreciation. Overall donations generously raised £480 which was split equally between the village hall and Michael’s own charity Play It Forward that provides children and families musical instruments, professional instruction, and performance opportunities to foster their mental and social development.

Some of you may have noticed the reinstatement of flagpoles to the hall, which has been undertaken with the hall’s centenary next year in mind. The village hall committee fully understands that the flying of different flags can for some be an emotive and divisive issue while for others is an expression of identity and unity. We would hope that in the interests of the general welfare of our community and it’s overridingly positive and friendly nature, we should keep the debate respectful and avoid unnecessary personal language whether in writing or in person. We are working to find a solution amenable to everyone. Before making a final decision of flags and the flying of which flag when, anyone who has not expressed their views to the committee and wishes to do so can write to the hall email .

As you may be aware, the Gittisham village hall is a privately owned community building run by a charity whose stated object is to provide a place of instruction, recreation and entertainment for its parishioners. The committee are keen that this cherished facility continues to be used by and feel welcoming to all residents and visitors.

Thank you, as always, for your continued support of Gittisham Village Hall, we look forward to welcoming you to our parish hall soon

Community Land Trust AGM

The Annual General Meeting of the Gittisham CLT will be held on Tuesday 30th June at 7.00pm in the Gittisham Village Hall. It would be nice to see as many members as possible of the GCLT attending for what is an important but, I promise, not a long meeting.

The planning application process for the GCLT  village development has been particularly long and frustrating, however, the EDDC Planning Officer’s report finally became available at the beginning of the year and documented in detail the planning considerations that had taken place. In conclusion the officer commented :

The proposed scheme represents an example of a strongly community-led development that would, on account of its benefits in terms of affordable housing provision, realise significant social benefits in line with one of the three main objectives to the achievement of sustainable development set out at paragraph 8 of the NPPF (National Planning Policy Framework).

It would also likely generate moderate economic benefits, more particularly though the construction phase, including direct and indirect employment provision, but also for the limited range of services and facilities provided in the village. When considered against the likely limited impact of the development upon the wider character of the National Landscape and the significance of the adjacent designated heritage assets and the absence of any concerns having regard to the other contextual issues set out above, it is considered that the overall planning balance weighs firmly in favour of the proposal.

Approval is therefore recommended subject to a legal agreement (Section 106 Agreement) being entered into to secure the proposed affordable housing and open space and its maintenance and conditions as set out below.

Once the  Section 106 has been finalized the formal planning permission will be issued.  

There is still work to be done and finding a Registered Provider (RP)/Housing Association management/development partner is proving to be another difficult challenge. There is a major significant economic squeeze on RPs’ capacity for development at present due to having to divert funds to accommodate meeting requirements of incoming legislation. On the bright side, once we have found a partner, there is plenty of capital grant for new house-building in the government’s new 10-year, £39bn national programme.

For further details of the work and membership of the GCLT please contact David Valentine ().

Dear Geraldine

I write with the utmost concern regarding this year’s potato-growing competition.

While I have always believed the event to be a shining example of agricultural integrity, recent observations have left me questioning whether all competitors are relying solely on sunshine, rainwater, and honest gardening.

Rumours abound that one particularly enthusiastic grower has been administering suspicious quantities of Viagra to his prize potatoes in the hope of achieving unusual firmness and impressive dimensions. While I am no horticultural scientist, I struggle to believe that potatoes should stand quite so proudly at the weigh-in.

Furthermore, another competitor’s harvest appears remarkably similar to the specimens available at the local supermarket. Several villagers have reportedly witnessed furtive

movements involving carrier bags and a suspiciously clean bucket shortly before judging commenced.

I am not making accusations, merely raising questions that any reasonable potato enthusiast would ask.

Questions such as:

  • Why do some potatoes arrive cleaner than a surgeon’s instruments?
  •  Why do certain competitors become nervous when asked why their potatoes look different to everyone else’s?
  • Why does one exhibit appear to bear the exact dimensions of a commercially graded baking
potato?

For the preservation of village honour, I respectfully suggest stricter inspections, random bucket checks, and, if necessary, performance-enhancing substance testing for all root vegetables.

Yours in the pursuit of fair competition, A Deeply Concerned Potato Grower

(who definitely did not come second last year and is absolutely not bitter about it)

Dear Concerned Potato Grower,

Thank you for your letter, which arrived on my desk accompanied by a quantity of indignation rarely seen outside parish council meetings and parking disputes.

First, let me assure you that I take allegations of vegetable misconduct extremely seriously. The suggestion that a competitor may be administering Viagra to potatoes is certainly a novel one. However, until science confirms the existence of performance-enhancing drugs for root vegetables, I would advise caution before drawing conclusions from a potato’s size, firmness, or overall confidence.

As for the accusation that another grower may be supplementing their harvest with shop-bought specimens, I must point out that the burden of proof is rather higher than “it looked a bit too tidy.” Some gardeners are blessed with green fingers; others are blessed with the ability to remove soil without causing an international incident.

My advice is simple. Resist the urge to become the village’s self-appointed Potato Detective. Instead, focus your energies on your own crop. Water diligently, feed appropriately, and avoid staking out supermarket vegetable aisles with binoculars.

Should you discover a competitor wheeling a trolley full of baking potatoes directly into the show tent, then by all means alert the organisers. Until then, remember that village shows are intended to celebrate community spirit, not launch agricultural tribunals.

And if someone does produce a potato of truly extraordinary proportions, perhaps the correct response is not suspicion but admiration—or at least a request for their growing tips.

Yours faithfully,

Geraldine Gitt 

Forever supplying boomer wisdom. 

Father’s Day BBQ

Whose home is this? Climbing Potato Plant?

Email in

Last months gas powered home was Claire’s congratulations to Gary for his correct guess!

Fix Your Own Potholes

Did you know there are about 8000 miles of tarmac road in Devon, that is more roads than in the Netherlands and Belgium combined.
Many miles of rough surfaced tracks in Devon were tarmaced after the Second World War, partly to make remote farms more accessible, but also to create work for the unemployed.

Maintaining Devon’s tarmac road surface in good order is a mammoth task, so potholes have become a hot topic of conversation. Recently alot of busier roads have been resurfaced, often at night. The A373 from Honiton to Cullompton is now a dream drive and, try the road from Broadhembury upto Dunkeswell, so smooth.
However it is unlikely all the minor lanes will be fixed soon. But Devon County Council (DCC) have a scheme where Rural Parishes can do it themselves. DCC provide training, especially on safe working on roads, tools and clothing, and yes 50 tubs of tarmac, all free of charge.

I heard about this Road Warden Scheme from Simon in Awliscombe Parish, they have so far got through 75 tubs of tarmac. Have a look at the road upto Awliscombe Church, that was their first project.
We need a few people to go on the training and any number of additional folk who fancy a fun few hours filling potholes. Simon tells me it is satisfying, fun, and a great community activity.

Gittisham Parish Council are planning to join the scheme so we need a few people to do the training and volunteers to help them. May be five or six people to start off with.
You don’t have to be super strong, and you don’t have to commit to hours of hard labour, you only need a willingness to help make our lanes smoother.

Please contact the Fiona Clampin, the Parish Council Clerk if you would like to offer a few hours occasionally in the Gittisham Pothole Fixing Team, no official name yet but suggestions welcome.

On Sunday 12th July here at Gittisham St. Michael’s Church there will be a special service to thank Julia Barrett for her support & work within the Parish Community especially here at Gittisham which will be at 3 pm followed by refreshments in the village hall!

Any donations can still be given to Helen Hayman & also a rough idea of numbers attending the tea so please contact Helen -Preferably by end June! Thank you Gittisham PCC

Exeter Street Band are performing on July 11th from 6pm at the Hall

A Very Warm Welcome!

We are absolutely delighted to welcome some new faces to the parish! A huge Gittisham welcome to Taylor, Sarah, and Ophelia, who have recently moved into their new home down at Church Mead. We hope you are settling in smoothly, finding your way around the boxes, and already feeling at home. If you see them out and about exploring the village, please do stop, give them a wave, and say hello!

Gittisham Fete is on Saturday 5th September 2026 

We need as many helpers as possible please get in touch with Alex, 

Returning for 2026 is the Gittisham Parish Scarecrow Competition!
Get your thinking caps on!

Authentic Indian Food
in Gittisham — Punjabi Home Cooking

When I moved to Devon, I found myself craving the flavours of my childhood. There were plenty of places serving Indian food, but nothing captured the true essence of Punjabi home cooking — the slow cook, the depth of spice, the recipes passed down through generations. I missed the comfort, the warmth, and the feeling of being nourished in the way only home food can.

So I returned to my roots: my mother’s recipes, my family’s traditions, and the soulful cooking that shaped who I am. From that longing, Spice@Five was born — bringing authentic Indian curries and Punjabi home food to Devon, made with the same care and patience it deserves.

Every dish is cooked the way it was taught to me: slowly, lovingly, and with respect for the flavours that define our culture. And now, all you need to do is Just Heat and Eat — real home-cooked Indian food, ready when you are.

Private party catering available — from intimate gatherings to family celebrations. Just email or call us to arrange your bespoke event:  – 07354 349636 (Hayne Farm Estate, Gittisham)

For pre orders. www.spiceatfive.co.uk order by Monday 7pm for collection on Thursday between 5-7pm.

Parish Council Updates

PARISH COUNCIL – June 2026 REPORT

Three councillors met for the June meeting along with Simon Ricketts (AwliscombeParish Council) and Tom Hills (Radio Fibre / Bush Broadband).  

Flytipping.

In his absence, Cllr Alasdair Bruce (East Devon District Council) sent an update: there has been a notable upsurge in reported cases of fly tipping across east Devon recently. In the past he said it was a minor issue, but criminals have been emboldened by the numerous national stories in the press regarding giant flytipping incidents. Cllr Bruce said the clerk had reported one particular incident to him, which will be followed up by a team from EDDC.  He encourages anyone in the parish to report any further incidents as quickly as possible. Cllr Bruce said it seems that rubbish left acts as a magnet for others to dump, so a rapid clear up helps to stop a bad situation getting worse, and avoid additional expense.

Finance.  Councillors agreed the finances, as well as the annual accounts and governance statement for 2025/26.​

Crimes. April 2026: 

Honiton link road: 1 x shoplifting

Parsonage Lane: 1 x violence & sexual offences, 1 x other theft

Broadband.

There was a lot of discussion with Tom Hills about the technicalities and legal negotiations required to install superfast broadband.  The proposal is to lease an Openreach line from Fenny Bridges to the edge of the village, and a further 2kms ‘ring of fibre’ is then trenched around the outside of the village along the boundary of each property.  Eligible homes and businesses can access Government-funded vouchers to help towards the suppliers’ costs of installing a gigabit-capable broadband connection. Tom Hills encouraged all residents to apply for the voucher, even if they didn’t intend to use it, as it allows others in the community to access fibre broadband.  Each property that requests a full fibre service is able to specify the route the fibre takes from their property boundary into their home.  Councillors said the signs were encouraging and looked forward to making this project a reality at long last.

Road closures.

27 July–1 August road through Alfington closed overnight for surface dressing and stud removal.

Road warden scheme.

Simon Ricketts, chair of Awliscombe PC, explained how his parish has become involved with Devon County Council’s road warden scheme over the past two years.  The scheme enables communities to carry out approved minor works on or around the public highway, including filling in small potholes.  Each community can choose the activities that they have the volunteers to support, and that will make the greatest local impact. DCC will pay for a maximum of three volunteers to attend a one-day course on highways work, and the parish council can recruit further volunteer road wardens who do not have to be councillors.  DCC also provides third-party (public liability) insurance for volunteer work completed in accordance with DCC guidance. Simon Ricketts said the scheme was proving successful in his parish, and he reminded councillors that any defect that poses a risk to public safety on the roads will still be repaired by DCCmaintenance teams.

Play area.

Councillors agreed that the hedge at the top end of the play area is getting overgrown, and there are also weeds growing up through the tower.  The clerk said she would arrange for these to be trimmed. (After checking for nests etc.)

Next meeting.  Thursday 2nd July at 7.30pm in the parish room.

Gittisham Sky Watch: What to look for this Month

We are officially in the season of the shortest nights! During the weeks surrounding the Summer Solstice, the sun barely dips below the horizon, leaving us with a beautiful, lingering twilight instead of true darkness. Here is what to look out for over the parish:

  • The Summer Solstice: On June 21st, we celebrate the longest day of the year. From this point on, the days will slowly begin to shorten again, but for now, enjoy the endless evenings! It is the perfect time to sit in the garden and watch the bats emerge as the light finally fades.
  • Electric Blue Clouds: Mid-summer is the only time of year you can spot one of the most magical sights in the sky: Noctilucent Clouds. These are the highest clouds in Earth’s atmosphere, made of ice crystals. Long after the sun has set for us on the ground, it still shines on these high-altitude clouds, making them glow with an eerie, electric-blue light. Look towards the northern horizon about 90 minutes after sunset to try and spot them!
  • The Full “Buck” Moon: Our next full moon will rise at the end of the month, peaking around June 29th. Traditionally known as the Buck Moon (because this is the time of year when male deer begin to grow their new antlers), it will sit very low on the horizon. Because it stays so low, it often takes on a beautiful golden or reddish hue, shining warmly through the thick summer air.
  • Summer Triangle Still Shining: As the sky deepens into its midnight blue, look straight up. The three bright stars of the “Summer Triangle” (Vega, Deneb, and Altair) will be directly overhead, anchoring the summer sky.

Thank you to everyone who contributed pieces to this Gazette. If you would like to submit something for next month’s issue, please email .

Casual vacancy, Gittisham village ward

by

FROM:       Returning Officer, East Devon District Council,   Blackdown House, Heathpark Industrial Estate, Border Road   Honiton, Devon, EX14 1EJ

TO:             Clerk of the Gittisham Parish Council

1.      I note that a casual vacancy exists in the office of Parish Councillor on the Parish Council of the Parish of Gittisham (Village Ward) following the resignation of Cllr. Carol Hall.

2.      The period during which any ten electors can give notice requiring an election to fill the vacancy will expire on the 24th day of June 2026.

          DATED this         4th  day of                 June 2026         

          SIGNED.……………………………………………..

                             Name                       Melanie Wellman

Returning Officer

Gittisham Gazette May 2026

by
Gazette Logo

Mid May 2026 — Produced for the Parish Council and St Michael’s Church

Grain To Cream

It’s been a while since I last wrote so time to update about the going’s on here at Gittisham Farm.

Well after a long wet first few months of the year we now could do with a little bit of rain. It never ceases to amaze me how quickly the ground can dry in the spring, we have had quite a bit of wind which speeds things up. Now we are out of winter and new growth is marching on, always a great to see.

We are now preparing for winter it’s long term thinking this farming lark!

The first cut of silage has already been taken and looks promising and the grass is growing away nicely for the next cut. We have planted all the maize so we wait with anticipation to see it germinate and poke through the soil. We have also sown some grass which we will hope to see soon. We usually plant the grass in the autumn after a crop of wheat, as we have less weed competition but this was sown where the pumpkins were and it was too late by the time they are picked and the field needed a break from pumpkins and grass is a good restorative crop as it can stay in the soil so it has a break from cultivation improving the soil structure!   I have just ploughed the field we will use for pumpkins this year so don’t fear you will still be able to get your pumpkin fix here! (As long as they grow; mustn’t count my chickens before they hatch so to speak)

​As always calves are being born, we have just started using some new calf pens which are proving to be successful.

​After not seeing or hearing them for a while I have heard the barn owls again, I was a little worried if bird flu may have got them but thankfully not and as per usual the ducks are waddling around pairing up. The females don’t half lead the drakes on.

​The cows are now grazing for a short while as they need and want access to the milking machine all day. It is a bit of a learning curve as we must gauge how much food they require on top.  If it was easy the supermarkets would do it!  We are doing it to cut costs a bit less silage to make, once out the girls soon want to come back in and are queuing for the robots, and they don’t queue like Brits well I suppose there is Danish, Swiss and Dutch heritage in their breeding so very European but I do think they are more Italian in their style!

​For the eagle eyed among you, you may have seen some white sticks in our field of wheat on the left towards Fenny Bridges. This is some trial plots for different fungicides. We have trials here quite often in the wheat, maize and grass for different things like weed control and disease so things are always progressing.

​

Gittisham PCC

The Parochial Church Council (PCC), is the group responsible for the running of our beautiful Gittisham church, St Michael’s. We are comprised of 10 people who live in or near the village and meet on average six times a year. We form part of the Honiton Mission Community (HMC) which oversees a number of other churches within our neighbouring parishes. The Honiton Mission Team is based at St Paul’s church Honiton and we are all part of the Diocese of Exeter. 

As the mid-point in 2026 nears, we approach a sad date for the PCC and for Gittisham as a whole. Sunday 12th July will be Julia Barrett’s last service as Lay Minister at St Michael’s. Julia who started her post in Gittisham in 2018 has led the church faithfully and spiritedly for almost 8 years, whilst also providing dedicated pastoral care for the wider community. Her tenure here will be an indelible part of the church’s history and we wish her all the very best in her retirement. Please join us at 3pm on 12th July for Julia’s farewell service.

In other news, the vacant Team Rector position at HMC has been successfully filled and we are delighted with the appointment of Reverend Tracey Voysey. The PCC has worked with Tracey for some time and looks forward to continuing to do so in her new capacity.

Lastly thank you to all those that have supported the church through donations, maintenance and cleaning, helping with fund-raising events and attending services. The church is good physical, administrative and spiritual order as a consequence.

Flower Festival

Various Performers in Gittisham Church on the Saturday 6th June!
Starts 5 pm , no entry fee!

Delicious refreshments in the village hall all weekend from 10-5 pm!
Not to be missed, information from Helen on 07806480246!

What’s On?

-Village Hall

Open Bookings

  • Tuesdays – Tai Chi & Quigong 09:50 am- 11:10am
  • 3rd Tuesday of the month- Yoga 18:15
  • Wednesday – Folk Dance Club 7pm
  • Thursday- Community Kitchen 18:30
  • 2nd Sunday of the Month Pierre’s Cafe 10am

Hire the hall: www.gittisham.org.uk/village-hall/hire-the-hall/

Committee Events

  • 30th May coffee and cake 2.30 – 4.30
  • 6th & 7th June Flower Festival 
  • 21st June Father’s Day BBQ
  • 27th June  Coffee and Cake. 2.30  – 4.30pm
  • 11th July Band Night.  Exeter Street Band 7pm
  • 1st August Flower and Produce Show
  • 29th August Coffee and Cake 2.30  – 4.30
  • 5th September Gittisham Fete
  • 17th October Jumble Sale
  • 31st October Halloween Party/ Coffee and Cake
  • 28th November Christmas Craft Fair, expressions of interest in tables being taken 
  • 28th November Christmas Bingo 7pm for 7.30pm 
  • 23rd January Burns Night Celebration

–Church

  • Sunday May 24th 11am  Pentecost (Whit) Sunday
  • Flower Festival 6 th & 7 th June With refreshments in hall & entertainers!
  • Natter and Nibbles, June 13th
  • Sunday June 14th  11am Holy Communion
  • Sunday June 28th  6pm Choral Evensong with HMT Choir
  • Sunday 12th July Julia’s farewell service
  • 200 Club Winners June
    • 1st Prize              £75      Clara Hall
    • 2nd Prize             £50      Amanda Ackland
    • 3rd Prize              £25      Julia Barrett

Events are also listed here: https://gittisham.org.uk/whatson/

Holy Dusters Needed
Can you spare a little time at your convenience?
Cleaning products are in the church by the vestry door.
Thank you.    

200 Club

Join the Gittisham 200 Club!

The 200 club is a licensed small lottery raising funds to pay for the upkeep of our beautiful church and paying prizes in a monthly draw.

There are a number of tickets still available for purchase. 

Tickets cost £3 per month and you can buy up to 3 for any named person.  Some members buy tickets for children and grandchildren as well as for themselves.

The draw takes place once a month, usually at Natter & Nibbles, and there are cash prizes of £75, £50 and £25 each time.

Contact Sara at  for an application form and further details.

Gittisham Village Hall Monthly Update

Well that was another busy and successful month at the hall, and have you seen how wonderful the gardens are looking now?

It was wonderful to see so many of you join us for our recent Coffee & Cake afternoon. The sunshine was certainly on our side, with the garden parasols making a most welcome first appearance of the year. It was lovely to spend such a relaxed afternoon together.

April also saw our much-anticipated kitchen inspection from the Food Safety Agency. Much of the work undertaken in the kitchen over the last 9 months has been with this inspection in mind, given we now need to register with the FSA. We are delighted, and just a little relieved, to report that we passed with flying colours, achieving a fantastic 5-star rating! We proudly display our shiny new certificate and sticker, knowing how much hard work and community support has gone into achieving and maintaining such high standards.

Thanks also to Jim who has given the hall foyer a much needed lick of paint. What a brilliant job he has done and what a difference that has made!

We enjoyed a great turnout for our recent Quiz Night. A huge thank you goes to Hamish Hall for being such an excellent Quiz Master, keeping everyone entertained with a wonderfully varied selection of questions — some certainly more challenging than others! The evening finished with a hilarious final challenge that tested knees rather than knowledge! Thank you to Sue for keeping us well fed, again!

Many of you will know that we held our AGM last week. The Chairman’s Report is available to read on our website, and we were pleased to share that the hall remains in profit despite the significant upgrades and improvements made this year. Everything we achieve is thanks to the incredible support of our community, and we are always keen to hear your thoughts and ideas for future events. Please do send us your feedback using the QR code provided or by emailing the committee directly.

We are hoping to continue with our program of improvements with replacement of the now dilapidated back garden bench. If anyone has any ideas or suggestions as to who might be able to approach for help with this, we are all ears. We are also hoping to arrange some signwriting in our newly painted foyer and to continue with garden upgrades.

We have plenty of exciting events coming up over the next few months. Plans are already underway for a Jumble Sale in October, while nearer at hand we are looking forward to our Father’s Day BBQ in June.

Make sure to save the date for Saturday 11th July, when the fantastic Exeter Street Band will be bringing their energy and music to the hall for what promises to be a brilliant Band Night.

Finally, we look forward to welcoming everyone once again to our next Coffee & Cake gathering at the end of the month, May 30th! We are always grateful to the incredible bakers we have in Gittisham for their gorgeous bakes!

Thank you, as always, for your continued support of Gittisham Village Hall, we look forward to welcoming you to our parish hall soon

New Village Information Boards

Conceptualised by Councilor Pester, funded by the Parish Council and Made by Taylor signs. These mark the start of a project to inform visitors about the village another is being sited close to the Village Hall.

Dear Geraldine

Introducing Geraldine, your new go-to agony aunt column—where no problem is too small, too strange, or too serious to share.

Life has a way of tying us in knots, whether it’s love, friendships, family drama, workplace dilemmas, or those quiet worries you can’t quite put into words. That’s where Geraldine Gitt comes in. With warmth, wit, and a refreshingly honest perspective, Geraldine is here to listen without judgment and offer thoughtful, compassionate advice.

Got a burning question? Stuck in a situation you can’t untangle? Or simply need an outside perspective? Send in your problems and let Geraldine help you make sense of it all. Chances are, if it’s on your mind, someone else is wondering the same thing too.

Write in, open up, and let’s figure it out—together.

On Sunday 12th July here at Gittisham St. Michael’s Church there will be a special service to thank Julia Barrett for her support & work within the Parish Community especially here at Gittisham which will be at 3 pm followed by refreshments in the village hall!

Any donations can still be given to Helen Hayman & also a rough idea of numbers attending the tea so please contact Helen -Preferably by end June! Thank you Gittisham PCC

Spring in the Village

Road past Keepers by Owen Morgan

Morning River Mist by Claire

Red Kite at Westgate by Paul

Whose home is this? Gas fire with real logs?

Email in

Last months garden tool home was Maggie’s congratulations to Paul for his correct guess!

My name’s Claire and I sing with the Sidmouth Gospel Choir (we’re the enthusiastic, slightly-too-loud-in-a-good-way kind 😊)
Picture Sister Act — but instead of a group of vibrant young singers, imagine a collection of men and women who are mostly over the hill and have less time left on their hands than Noah watching the rain clouds gather!

We’re hosting a charity event at St Peter’s Church in Sidford, and we’re putting together a fun Silent Auction to raise as much as we can for a great cause. Plus there will be alcoholic refreshments, some scrummy home-made cakes and a raffle!

All proceeds are going to an orphanage in Uganda, where we hope to raise enough to replace essential water pipe to return the orphanage to self-sufficiency. We are going to quite literally, turn wine into water!!

Tickets are selling but concessions are also available, if someone wants to come along but can’t afford the £10 entrance fee, just get in touch.

Look forward to seeing you all there!

Huge Congratulations to Connor Davey

On graduating from No.1 Radio School, RAF Cosford! From trainee to Cyberspace Communication Specialist, onwards and upwards to your next phase and future in the Royal Air Force. We are so proud! Per Ardua ad Astra.

Parish Council Updates

PARISH COUNCIL – May 2026 REPORT

Six councillors met for the May meeting and annual parish meeting, along with Richard Jefferies (DCC) and one member of the public.  

Chair & Vice Chair.

Alex Rowe was elected as chair and Peter Orchard as vice chair for 2026/27.

Finance.  Members agreed the finances.​

Crimes. Feb 2026 Parsonage Lane: 1 x other theft

Longlands Way: 1 x violence & sexual offences

Laburnum Way: 1 x drugs

March 2026 Parsonage Lane: 3 x violence & sexual offences

[Please note police crime report areas lack specificity primarily due to legal privacy requirements such as the Data Protection Act, which prevents identifying individual victims, suspects, or exact residential addresses.  As a result, exact incident locations are placed in general hotspots, or rounded to broader geographic units.]

Planning applications.

a) 26/0570/FUL – 1 Hamlet Cottages Weston EX14 3PB – Change of use of existing outbuilding to hair salon with alterations to fenestration and construction of a new roof

b) 26/0457/LBC – 2 Mitchell Cottages Gittisham EX14 3AF – Re-slate roof (re-using where possible) & extend existing ventilation through rear roof space; repairs to chimney stack; replacement of cement render to front elevation with lime equivalents; refurbishment of the stone and timber windows WG1, WG2, WG3, WF1, WF2, WF3 & WF4; replace external suspended ceiling; internal replacement of cement plaster with lime, and installation of ventilated panelling to defective timber framed and party wall

Councillors had no objections to the above applications.

Road closures.

04-22 May 2000-0600hrs Construction / Improvement/Upgrading – A30 westbound and eastbound, Daisymount to Turks Head junctions.

CIL.

The clerk reported that GPC had received approximately £27k in CIL receipts [Community Infrastructure Levy] from East Devon District Council.  According to EDDC, a local council must use CIL receipts passed to it in accordance with the CIL Regulations 2010 to support the development of the local council’s area, or any part of that area, by funding:

a) The provision, improvement, replacement, operation or maintenance of infrastructure; 

b) or anything else that is concerned with addressing the demands that development places on an area

Councillors agreed to reflect on ways of spending these funds and to come to the next meeting with suggestions for how to take this forward.  A public consultation is advisable.

Vale bus shelter.

Peter Orchard said that the solar panel and the floodlight had been removed or stolen from the Vale bus shelter.  Councillors agreed to replace them in the autumn.  

Green Gittisham.

Gary Pester said that he had contacted a range of wildlife organisations who would be interested in visiting the parish to see what could be done to improve biodiversity.  Councillors agreed that an event could be arranged for early next year, with stalls and workshops.

Next meeting.  Thursday 4th June at 7.30pm in the parish room.  

Gittisham Sky Watch: What to look for this Month

As we head towards the longest day of the year, the night sky never gets truly dark. This period of “perpetual twilight” gives us a wonderful, deep blue sky to explore. If you are enjoying a warm evening in the garden, here is what to look out for over the parish:

  • The Return of the “Summer Triangle”: As the evenings warm up, look toward the eastern horizon just after sunset. You will begin to see three incredibly bright stars rising: Vega, Deneb, and Altair. Together, they form a massive shape known as the Summer Triangle. It is a sure sign that summer has officially arrived in Devon!
  • A Kiss Between the Moon and Mars: On the evening of June 3rd, look low toward the western horizon just after sunset. You will see a beautiful, waxing crescent moon passing extremely close to a bright, reddish “star”—that is the planet Mars! It’s a wonderful sight that requires absolutely no binoculars.
  • The “Strawberry Moon”: The next full moon peaks on May 31st. Traditionally known by early Native American tribes as the Strawberry Moon, it marked the time of year when the wild strawberries began to ripen.
  • Spot the Space Station: Because the sun never dips far below the horizon in June, it is the best time of year to spot the International Space Station (ISS). It looks like a very bright, fast-moving star gliding silently and steadily across the sky (usually taking about 3 to 4 minutes to cross).

Thank you to everyone who contributed pieces to this Gazette. If you would like to submit something for next month’s issue, please email .