August was a busy month for FoBL often behind the scenes. With holidays in full swing, this was an opportunity for FoBL to sponsor a number of holiday activities for children and young people ensuring that our library was not forgotten during the fine summer weather.
Flotsam & Jetsam Project
Whilst great progress was made in producing the first throw, sadly it is to be the last in this project. Despite several volunteers being inspired by Marion Wood’s idea the project has been put on hold for the present. However, the good news is that the finished item will be made available in the near future – possibly through holding a special raffle or auction at one of our Autumn Friday coffee mornings. On behalf of all FOBL members our thanks go to Marion and her eight crafters for all they have achieved.
Loyalty Card Scheme
Many of you will know that the owners of Bertie & Crew, Nicola & Charlie have finally sold their business, keys changing hands last week. We wish them both the very best for the future. The new owners Leanne & Tim Jones allowed themselves a mere morning to effect some minor changes before opening again. So, it’s business as usual and I’m pleased to confirm that the shop will continue to be part of our loyalty card scheme offering a 10% discount to current FoBL members.
Leanne Jones, the new owner of Bertie & Crew
We also welcome the Chloe Pavely at the Fishcombe Cove Café to the scheme. Chloe took over the business only weeks ago and has great ideas which she hopes to roll out over the coming months. So, whether you are taking a stroll through Battery Gardens or walking the Coastal Path, be sure to stop by for a cuppa and perhaps a snack as the view from the café terrace is just delightful. Chloe will make you feel very welcome and is keen to offer all FoBL members 10% off if you spend £5.00 and over.
Chloe Pavely, new owner of the Fishcombe Cove Cafe
Reminder- Reminder- Reminder- Reminder- Reminder- Reminder- Reminder- Reminder
This is a reminder to all members that those retail outlets participating in the loyalty card scheme do this on a voluntary basis and the concessionary offer to members is their kind offer. Such offers are only available to FoBL members with a current membership card and these must be produced at the time of any purchase to avoid any embarrassment or misunderstandings. Your help in doing this would be much appreciated.
St Marys Churchyard; Cow Town Project 1850 – 1900
In the heart of Higher Brixham lies St Mary’s Church, a site that has overlooked both ‘Cow Town’ & latterly ‘Fish Town’ for hundreds of years. Over the last 18 months a group of people have been regularly meeting in the church yard to record all the names on the gravestones to once again have, as near as is possible a complete record of those who lie there. The original records were lost in the Exeter Blitz and although over the years some of the work has been accomplished, nothing to date has been done on this scale before. In this oasis of quiet, just yards away from the hustle and bustle of St Mary’s Square, it is so easy to reflect on the lives of those who are buried there. For over the years, history reveals itself behind those names, many of them so familiar and still heard today within the town. As a result of the project a new Commonwealth War Graves sign can be found in the main entrance to the churchyard signposting those who should never be forgotten. I have to confess that like many a visitor I had no idea that there were some war graves in the church yard, one dating back to 1919 and the remaining eight graves from WW2.
If you have an interest in the above lottery funded project ‘St Mary’s Church Yard – Cow Town 1850-1900’, please contact the project co-ordinator Phil Trayhorn tel: 01803 752239. Help is now required to verify and confirm the details on the records that have already been compiled. If you have any knowledge or information about family or people buried there that can be added to the information already collated, you will be welcome with open arms. Alternatively, why not go along on a Wednesday or a Saturday morning and make yourself known.
The project is also putting on an exhibition ‘Cow Town Victorian Higher Brixham’, to be found on the Ledge in the library from Friday 25 August to Friday 28 September.
Illustration by the later Peter Archer
A Stitch in Time
Busy hands have been very active as they applied themselves to a project inspired by Laura Scott from ‘The Sewing Room’ to produce a splendid banner .
Coffee Morning
Just a reminder that our next ‘First Friday of the Month Coffee Mornings’ is on Friday 7 September between 10-00 – 12.00 noon. We have been really pleased with all the support you have shown, and this really is an opportunity to meet with friends, make new ones and or enjoy a cuppa with perhaps a slice of cake too. At the next coffee morning there will also be a sale of prints which could make ideal small gifts or presents with the festive period looming in the distance.
At the last coffee morning we were giving away jars for small change. We know that many of you already collect for other charities and good causes in this way but every little helps, and it is such an easy way to find a home for unwanted small change. Therefore, if you would like one, do ask at the coffee morning. If your jar is already full – bring it back and we shall be delighted to empty it for you!
Events in September
September brings with a number of events and activities which we hope will inspire you to book a place as follows:
- Osprey Watch with Mike Langman on Friday 7 September, 10.00am – 12.30pm – meet by the car park at Powderham Church (£8.00 to FoBL members & £10.00 to non-FoBL members)
- History of Acupuncture with Michael Johnson on Thursday 13 September at 10.00am in Brixham Library. (£5.00 to FoBL members & £8.00 to non-FoBL members)
- Victorian Vignette of Cockington with John Risdon on Wednesday 19 September at 14.00pm in Brixham Library. (£5.00 to FoBL members & £8.00 to non-FoBL members)
- Skittles at ‘The Skipper’ on Friday 21 September at 19.00pm. (£6.00 to FoBL members & £8.00 to non-FoBL members)
For further details for any of the above or to book a place please visit Brixham Library or tel: 01803 853870.
And Finally,….
As we look towards the coming of autumn, this is also the time when we start thinking about our events programme for next year. If you have any ideas of any activities or events that you have enjoyed in the past either with either FoBL or with other organisations and would like to see in our programme do let us have as much information as you can so that we can consider them for inclusion. All ideas should be handed into the library FAO, Alasdair Anderson (Events Programme Ideas 2019) and we will do our best to see how they can be incorporated.
We are also looking into the possibility of holding evening events in the library, something we have wanted to do for a long time but felt unable to do because of the cost of paying for a member of staff to be in the building. With the permission of ‘Libraries Unlimited’ this may not now be necessary and could enable many new opportunities to be created.
Secondly, if you would like to contribute to our newsletter, any contributions would be much appreciated as it would be even better if it reflected the news and views of the wider membership.
Finally, we are always looking for fund raising ideas. With everyone doing just this, if you know of a good idea that would help FoBL and even better if you would like to try an idea out for us do let us know.
Alasdair Anderson – Chairman, The Friends of Brixham Library
4 September 2018