We are celebrating the coronation of King Charles III on Saturday 6th May in the bar of the Valiant Soldier. On sale will be beer and cider, both produced locally as well as our speciality cocktail Kir Royale. We will be open from 6.30-10.30pm with live entertainment with songs by Georgia Omarah.
We have a new volunteer, Ruth Chadwick of ‘Woolly Nanas’ who will be in the Valiant on a Thursday. She will be demonstrating heritage crafts. Then in the future we plan to have a display of embroidery and needlework.
The garden project is underway with the widening of the gateway to allow work to begin. Next we will endeavour to remove tree roots and start repairs on the walls then we aim to plant the area with a small orchard, wild flowers and herbs.
The next History Society talk is on Thursday, 8th of June at 7pm given by Anne Goulborn entitled ‘Expert Witness’ which links into the theme of our NHS exhibition about evidence given in court by the medical profession. The talk is free of charge, but donations are welcome. There will be further meetings of the history society held throughout the year.
Our exhibition continues looking at the history of health and medicine in Buckfastleigh. There’s information on the housing crisis which isn’t just an issue today. Back in the 1920s, the CWS mill manager, said ‘the problem was a great handicap to the business of the town’. Employers wanted labour for new industries but there were no houses for their employees. Eventually the Council drew up plans for 20 houses to be built on the Glover’s Park site (next to the town hall). By June 1926 a mixture houses were built. Strangely the Council were then investigating the rules on pig keeping!
Sylvee Phillips, Trustee