A Charity Elvis Dance in Wellington on Saturday, June 14, raised £1,000 for St Margaret’s Hospice.

It was standing room only at the football club as Stuart Horne performed his tribute to The King.

The evening was the third fundraising dance organised by Ken and Jeanette Bird.

The couple said afterwards: “Thanks so much to everyone who made it such a success.

“We’ve now raised £4,000 for different charities – and that couldn’t have been achieved without a huge amount of support.

“Special thanks to Stuart for making it another fantastic night, along with our business supporters – Carly Press, Tim Potter Family Butchers and Oaktree Court Care Home.

“Thanks also to the ladies who helped with the food, the bar staff, those who donated raffle prizes and not forgetting everyone who came along.”

If you missed Stuart last night, there’s another chance to see him in Wellington next month. He is performing at one of the Friends of Wellington Park’s free summer concerts on Sunday, July 6.

Our garden visit this month to Ashley Court, Tiverton, was a step back in time. This Regency style house was built in 1805 and has changed little since. This is the second house on the site. The grounds were once part of Henry II’s hunting park, in which Tiverton wool merchant and mayor John Upcott built the original Ashley Court in 1657.

Tara and Nigel, the present owners, bought the property in 2016 as a combined family home and yoga retreat space, and have made restoration of both the walled garden and house. This was obvious from the passionate way they talked about the property and guided us around. In 2024 the garden opened for the first time as part of the National Garden Scheme.

The woodland walk takes you on a path along the perimeter of the property overlooking the Exe river. Within the grounds are specimen trees, probably dating from when the house was built or earlier. For example, a Lucombe oak, which unusually is semi-evergreen, a cross between a Turkey oak (deciduous) and a Cork oak (evergreen). The Exeter horticulturalist William Lucombe discovered and cultivated this natural hybrid around 1762, hence its alternative name of Exeter oak.

The walled garden itself is thought to predate the house. When Nigel and Tara arrived it was overgrown, and in re-claiming it they discovered some interesting and historical features. The garden itself is in a dip between the house and higher ground, and sloping down from west to east, an ideal frost pocket; within the eastern wall is a frost window which allows the frosted air to escape. The garden also contains some ancient espaliered apple and pear trees, submerged water tanks and the remains of the greenhouses with their heating systems and cold frames. Next to the walled garden is a stable block and carriage house, an apple loft and root store, this is topped with a bell, the bell rope runs to the scullery and would have been rung to bring workers in for meals.

While eating generous slices of delicious home-made cakes and tea, Tara related the history of the house. In brief, built by an East India Company sea Captain, William Dunsford, the house later passed to Mr Dunsford’s son, Henry (a banker returned form Melbourne, Australia) and then by another relative Mr Dayman who was a Justice of the Peace. At the outbreak of the second world war Ashly Court was requisitioned as a children’s hospital and subsequently sold in 1946 to Mrs Veda Stuart Murray who moved here with her daughter Yolanda. Yola married Mr Anthony Shrubb in 1946 at Exeter Cathedral and the couple lived here until Mr Shrubb’s death left Yola alone in the house for the remainder of her life. She died at close to 100 years of age having spent nearly 70years of her life at Ashley Court.

Nigel and Tara also run events and retreats within the house and grounds, notably yoga and literature. Topically, with the film Salt Path currently on at the Wellesley cinema in Wellinton, a recent event linking the film to the book was hosted at Ashley Court, with Raynor Winn sharing insights into the book's journey to the screen, the enduring impact of the walk, and a ‘what's next’ session.

Sampford Arundel Gardening Club’s next meeting is on Thursday, July 10. in the village hall, where our speaker, Tom Nielson, will talk on drought tolerant plants, This is followed on Saturday, July 12, by the village flower and produce show as part of Sampford Arundel’s annual fete. Further details from Sue and Nick on 01823 672662.

A personal story of women in policing was enjoyed by West Buckland WI at its June meeting.

Retired police officer Debbie Wood offered fascinating insight into the changing role of female police officers over the past 40 years .

She explained that when she joined the police in Sussex in 1984, policing was still very much a man’s world.

Her talk entitled, “Why is his truncheon bigger than mine”, represented the fact that as recently as the 1980s female police officers were not allowed to wear trousers and were issued with uniform and kit, which included a handbag complete with a smaller truncheon to fit inside it.

There was great hilarity when Debbie showed members two truncheons. One half the size of the other. The smaller one being issued to women.

Debbie said that luckily her uniform skirt had pleats which made it easier to run and climb over walls. She added that the handbag came into its own when chasing suspects, as she would throw it lasso style to stop them in their tracks.

The early part of her career involved patrolling the streets on foot, but later she was allowed to take the police driving course, which she said was wonderful as she thoroughly enjoyed being able to drive at speed with blue flashing lights.

Debbie recalled many funny anecdotes of her various postings in Burgess Hill, Gatwick Airport and Brighton, which were balanced by the very serious aspects of her job.

Whilst at Brighton she was called out to the bombing of the Grand Hotel when the IRA detonated a bomb in a bid to assassinate British Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher, who was staying there alongside many MPs for the 1984 Conservative Conference. Her role was to help set up the administration of this major incident.

Her vocation to be a police officer was triggered during her childhood on the Isle of Wight following two incidents. Firstly she was reported missing as a young girl, having decided to walk to her granddad’s house, and was returned in a police car. The second when her friend of 13 was abducted, later to be found and returned.

Debbie continued her career training police officers and advocating the role of women in policing. She was pleased to report that women now represent almost 50% of all police officers with many reaching the senior ranks, including Chief Constable.

President Christine Wombwell thanked Debbie for an interesting and insightful talk.

The meeting then moved on to WI business and President Christine reported that the 2025/26 programme was now complete.

She reminded members that the West Buckland village hall summer fete takes place on 28 June and that the WI would be providing refreshments. Volunteers were needed to help on the day or to make a cake.

A reminder also went out for used stamps to put towards our collection for Dorset and Somerset Air Ambulance, this year’s chosen charity.

Members were also invited to attend the annual meeting for the Tone Valley Group, which takes place on Friday, June 27.

Treasurer Carole Smith informed members that she has received 47 subscriptions for the coming year’s membership.

Members then enjoyed tea, coffee and biscuits and an opportunity to socialise.

West Buckland WI meets at 7.30 pm on the second Tuesday of each month at the village hall, and new members are always welcome. The next meeting is on Tuesday, 8 July and the speaker will be Stuart Winter from the St Johns Ambulance who will provide a refresher on CPR and how to use the Village Hall Defibrillator.

If you would like to visit or join West Buckland WI, please contact Christine Wombwell on 01823 652863 or 07736712273.

St Mary’s Church, Hemyock, was joined on Trinity Sunday by the congregations of Culm Davy Chapel, along with Clayhidon and Culmstock parish churches for a service of choral Eucharist led by the Rev David Gill.

Trinity Sunday is also recognised as ‘Church Music Sunday’ when the rich vein of music that accompanies services is celebrated.

The church choir led well known hymns while invited guests Ad Hoc Voices, directed by Laurence Blythe, with musical accompaniment by Nigel Atkinson, Hilary Boxer, and Judith Thurgood, enhanced the service singing from Haydn’s ‘Little Organ Mass’.

Following the service, those present enjoyed fellowship and refreshments.