As we go into April we look forward to the springtime once more. Of course there is still sometime for winter type weather following on from the wettest autumn for over 200 years. The countryside seems to be a real attraction for people to move her from town and city life and many farmhouses are now sold at a very high price with often the newcomers having no need or interest to farm the land. My hope is that soon we shall have more local needs housing at a fair rent or price to buy for locals and young people.
Thelma of Thelma's Hair Salon. Thelma came to the village from the London area some years ago and can be often found walking her dog. She is a kind and cheerful lady and helps many in the village. In fact she has entered into community life very well. She does give a good service at the hair salon and her first class service there is of the best.
Late payments of beef grants have been causing farmers cash flow problems. Some farmers lived on an income of just £8,000 last year. Some farmers are turning to possible windfarms to make more income from the land. The Government white paper on the future of the countryside advises farmers to continue to diversify.
Church bulletin howlers. Today we welcome Pastor Don, a caring individual who loves hurting people. When parking on the north side of the Church please remember to park on an angel. If it is hard to sleep why not come to one of our sermons. I hasten to add not mine.
A recent report tells us that active membership of both the Church of England and the Methodist Church still have an ever decreasing memberships and attendance at Sunday services. The average number at both the C of E and the Meythodist Church at Woolsery is 60 with 60 at Chilsworthy Methodist Church, 30 at Bradworthy Methodist Church and 25 at Bradworthy C of E. The only Church with an increase are house groups, the Baptist Church and evangelical ones.
Last December ITV's Coronation Street celebrated it's forty years. One of the best programmes on BBC Radio 4 is Dead Ringers, which is a take off of people in the news. This programme is having very high listenership and makes me laugh from start to finish. Some weeks ago I much enjoyed my visit for BBC Radio Cornwall to St. Mark's School at Morwenstowe for recordings of their very fine school choir.
Parish Councils hope to have more say in what goes on in the community and better funding for local needs, i.e., Transport under a new Government Bill. TDC hope to have a new swimming pool at Torrington. Devon County Council are spending more on roads and Social Services.
When the late Methodist and Liberal W. J. Cory Esq. Was still selling at Bradworthy Market at the age of 94 being then the oldest auctioneer in the south west. Or maybe when the BBC Radio announcer, the late Stuart Hibbert, opened Bradworthy Church Fete or when TV's Gus Honeybun came to the playing field Fete. Yes, time goes on.