Welcome to our autumn newsletter and no surprises that we have a number of topics to bring to your attention.
Loyalty Card Scheme
We welcome Karen Johnson of ‘Trinity Cakes’ to the scheme. Karen’s business is a well-established Brixham firm but has only recently moved into her Fore Street premises that for many years was a sweet shop. Karen is offering a 10% discount on any celebration cake ordered by FoBL members.
We are also pleased to confirm that following the change of ownership of ‘The West Country Deli’, their new owners Angela, Graham & Anna Mosey will be continuing to offer FoBL members a 10% discount on all purchases. This is an opportunity to formally thank Mark Chopin the previous owner for all his support whilst at the Deli’s helm and we wish him continuing success in his other business ‘Twitt Twoo’ in Union Lane who also participate in the scheme.
Denise from ‘Taste’ in Middle Street has confirmed that she is no longer able to offer a 10% discount on alcohol sales as this would make her sales of certain brands unviable to stock. However, concessions still apply to all her other products. So, if you haven’t called in yet do go and have a nose as you will be pleasantly surprised.
As we’ve said before, these offers are only available to current FoBL members and membership cards must be shown to retailers to claim a favoured discount or concession.
Beat the Street
You may have noticed that small boxes have appeared around the town in various places and these can also be found right across the bay. Delivered by Intelligent Health on behalf of Sport England and Torbay Council, this scheme running until the end of this month is to encourage people of all ages to walk, cycle or run for fun. Thus, ‘Beat the Street’ is turning Torbay into a giant game with opportunities to win prizes and discover more about the area.
Information leaflets which contain a map of all the beat Boxes and cards so that you can register online are available from Brixham Library and when joining one of the teams you might want to consider signing up for ‘The Friends of Brixham Library’ team.
There is no doubt that this is just a fun thing to do and having tried it myself whether with friends or family or both, it’s worth giving it a try.
Protect library services by ringfencing government funding for libraries.
Whilst FoBL tends not be political there is a national campaign being run at present which may be interest to some of you. It is often forgotten that the provision of our public library service is because local authorities by law must make provision as it is a statutory service. Hence, the link below and I would urge everyone to take a moment to consider the proposal because if implemented such funding could make a huge difference to the security of library services being offered right across the country.
Libraries across the country are being closed, cut back and/or outsourced to volunteers as a result of government cuts to local authority budgets. Councils are unable to keep staffed library services open when faced with the competing demands of social care, child protection etc.
Local libraries are a vital resource for the promotion of reading, literature and culture. They are a necessity for the digitally excluded who need to go online to access benefits, health, education and employment resources.
While the commitment of volunteers is welcomed, volunteer-run library services are unsustainable long-term. The government must ringfence funding to ensure councils can fulfil their statutory duty to keep libraries services available to the general public.
Sign the petition at
https://petition.parliament.uk/petitions/228742
FoBL Events
As mentioned in the last newsletter we are actively putting together a programme for next year and our thanks must go to Emma in Brixham Library who is busy beavering away on much of the detail at present.
Brixham Library Quiz Night – 9 November
This evening event is being put on by Libraries Unlimited on Friday 9 November. Doors open at 7.00 for a prompt 7.30 start. A bar will be available, and teams can enter of up to six people at £2.00 per person. However, please don’t worry if you are not part of a team as teams can be put together on the night. To ensure you or your team have a place or if you require more information please ask the Brixham Library staff or tel: 01803 853870.
Cosgrave & Banks in Concert on Friday 16 November in Brixham Library
Back by popular demand, this local duo is a joy to listen to and a magical evening is promised. Tickets are now available from Brixham Library and selling fast – £10.00 FoBL members and £12.00 to non-FoBL members. Each ticket includes a free drink on entry.
Date for the Diary: –
Tuesday 26 February from 7.00pm ‘Idle Women of the Wartime Waterways’ will be appearing in Brixham Library. Written and performed by Heather Wastie & Kate Saffin, this will be their first visit to Torbay and the West Country with this production. In a double bill of theatre, story, poetry and music they whisk you back to the days of WWII when a shortage of crews to keep the working boats brought a new breed of boater to the canals of England. Young women took on the challenge and this is their story.
So please pencil the date in your diary and as soon as tickets go on sale we will be reminding you of what promises to be an evening to remember.
First Friday of the Month Coffee Mornings
Many thanks for all those who supported our Macmillan Coffee Morning on 5 October. £205 was raised, which is a fantastic result. The Library was certainly buzzing this morning, and we hope everyone who was able to come had a fun morning. Mike O’Donnell won the ‘Stick the Cherry on top of the Cake’ game, and Wendy Coote won the ‘Guess the Weight of the Cake’. Once again many thanks to all who contributed, especially Chris and her team who probably had their busiest 1st Friday yet!
Our November coffee morning on Friday 2nd November between 10.00am – 12.00 noon has two themes to the morning. Being so near to Remembrance Day, we will be selling poppies in aid of the British Legion. Izzie Lomas will be coming along with her carefully crafted poppies and a number of friends have been busy making poppies and all poppy proceeds will be given to the British Legion.
Our December coffee morning, December 7th, will celebrate 25 years since Brixham Library officially opened in its current premises. Over this period there have been many changes, but the library still looks as good as it did then. However, whilst not quite unique, our library in Brixham was very fortunate in that for many years staffing remained fairly constant. Thus, those familiar faces are still with us at our monthly coffee mornings for it was those individuals who were inspired to set up our coffee mornings which we all enjoy so much. Come and join the birthday celebrations.
Libraries Unlimited Coffee Morning Wednesday 10th October 10.00 – 12.00
The Library staff have asked me to remind you that its National Libraries Week next week, and as part of the celebration they are hosting a coffee morning in the Library next Wednesday. Once more some of the ex staff will be there and yet more homemade cakes to enjoy!
And Finally…..
I make no apology for quoting from an article from the August edition of the Mature Times* – issue no 312 on page 20 entitled ‘Tales from the Bookshelf’ as it encapsulates one of the strongest reasons for using libraries:
‘With so many new books being published every month, choosing a new book to read can be somewhat bewildering. Just identifying what genre you’re interested in can be problematic; books are not always so easily pigeon-holed.
So instead of agonising about reading something from the new releases list, why not re-read an old favourite or dip into the classic literary canon and try something you always meant to read but never got around to?’
So, there you have it. Whether you read to learn, study or just for fun, our library is an open doorway into a literary world and if what you are looking for isn’t there, Emma and her team of Helen, Sarah and Sue will be very pleased to help you. Don’t forget your current FoBL membership card entitles you to some free reservations. Happy reading….
*Mature Times – free copies of this regular publication are available from the library.
Alasdair Anderson
Chairman, The Friends of Brixham Library
October 2018