Parish News December 2022

Love came down at Christmas

Love came down at Christmas,
Love all lovely, love divine;
Love was born at Christmas,
Star and angels gave the sign.
Worship we the Godhead,
Love incarnate, love divine;
Worship we our Jesus:
But wherewith for sacred sign?
Love shall be our token,
Love shall be yours and love be mine,
Love to God and to all men,
Love for plea and gift and sign.
Christina Rossetti

Uplyme December
2022
P Narish
ews

www.uplymechurch.org.uk

Worship in Uplyme Church December & early January

December 10am Advent 2 Holy Communion
6pm Evensong - A book of common prayer service with sung responses
Sun 4th Dec 7pm Compline (Night Prayer)
Mon 5th Dec 10am Advent Praise
Sun 11th Dec 4pm Telephone Service
6pm Carol Singing led by the Festival Choir

Sun 18th Dec (around the Christmas Tree in the Church grounds
10am Together@Ten Christingle all age Service
6pm Service of Carols and Readings

Christmas Eve 3pm “Car Park Nativity” by The Village Hall

Sat 24th
11pm Midnight Carols & Communion at Axmouth Church
All are very welcome to join us there

Christmas Day 10am Christmas Day Holy Communion
Sun 25th

January NO SERVICES AT UPLYME CHURCH

Sun 1st Please see Uplyme Church website and social media pages for details
of AVMC joint Communion Services in the Mission Community

Sun 8th 10am Epiphany Morning Worship
4pm Telephone Service

4pm Telephone Service – call 0333 011 0616, access code 723 9782#

Wanted!
UPLYME CHURCH FESTIVAL CHOIR

Angels, Shepherds, Kings, Animals, Star,
All singers are invited to join the Festival Choir to
Mary, Joseph
participate in two events at Uplyme Church:

Families to take part
Carols Around the Christmas Tree
Children especially welcome
6pm on 11th December
and the
Come and Join us on
Carol Service
Saturday 24th December at 3.00pm
6pm on 18th December

at the Village Hall Car Park
We sing in 4 parts but you are given lots of help
to help tell the story of the Very First to learn your part! You don't have to be a sight
reader!
Christmas.
Please ring Adrian on 01297
Contact: Nicky Davies 07931 413629 442902 if you'd like to learn more
about getting involved this time
or in the future. 

CONTENTS

Services for Christmas Inside Front Cover
Contents 1
Reflections from the Rectory 2
From the Editor 3
Altar Frontal & Uplyme Help@Hand 4
Church Notices 5
Church Christmas Events 6&7
Katie Lyons - School Head 8&9
Journeys of faith with David Dare 10
Adverts 11 & 12
Make a Difference Award 13
News from your Local 14 & 15
Walking in New England with David Jones 16 & 17
Uplyme Community Fund 18
1st Lyme Valley Scout Group 19
Horticultural Society & U3A 20
Axminster & Lyme Cancer Support 21
Uplyme Village Hall Dates & Update 22 & 23
King George Playing Field 24
Adverts 25 & 26
Parish Council Report 27
Trinity Matters 28 & 29
Community Land Trust Meeting 30 & 31
Local Notices 32
Church Officers Inside Back Cover

Parish News Copy Deadlines

Please remember the NEXT issue of the magazine is for January
and all articles up to and including things for early February should be with us

by the 10th December
Email to - [email protected]

1

As I write this we are speeding towards the
period of Advent, that wonderful time of
expectation and preparation before
Christmas. However, even as I write those
words, I begin to ask myself how ‘wonderful’
is it likely to be for many people, as we all
struggle with the rise in the cost of living?

How will we be able to enjoy it as we struggle
to pay for heating, food and presents? How
do we connect with the spirit of Christmas, as
we remember again the birth of our Saviour
Jesus Christ, who came among us as our
hope and light?

I don’t have any easy answers. All I do know is that we NEED Christmas.
We need to experience hope and love now more than ever. We need fun
and the joy of being together.

Perhaps you feel that Christmas has become nothing more than a source
of emotional and financial stress and you are wondering what is ‘the
reason for the season?’ The most amazing thing, is that Jesus came to
be among us as a baby regardless of our backgrounds, religion, problems
or circumstances? Christmas is for every person.

So I wonder, how might we all make space to encounter the Christmas
story again? Why not try your local church? Come along to some
Christmas services, sing some carols and eat some mince pies with
others from your community.

Whatever you choose to do and however you celebrate, I pray that:

the spirit of Christmas may bring you PEACE,
the joy of Christmas may bring you HOPE and
the message of Christmas may reveal God’s amazing LOVE.

Rev Nicky

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A Very Happy Christmas to you and all those whom you love.....
You will see that once again we have made the outside
of the magazine a Christmas Card for you to display.
The card wraps around this magazine and represents
a hug from us all at the church and an invite to join us
at any of our services this year.

You will see lots of plugs in the magazine for our various Christmas services, we
really would love it if you could manage to come along and join in, you’d be most
welcome, and if you fancy giving your vocal chords a treat, why not join the Festi-
val Choir for this season and get stuck into a real good ‘guided’ sing song!

This months magazine is a bumper edition, I apologise to the distributors who will
have to carry this mighty tome around and deliver them to many of you in the Par-
ish. There is so much happening and so many events and festivities taking place,
we won’t know where to go first!
It was wonderful to see the 1st Lym Valley Scout group out in force on a bright
and sunny day for the Remembrance service in Uplyme this year. It’s been a long
time since they have been with us, and it was great to see them parading from the
Village Hall to the Church and then after the service to the War Memorial for the
wreath laying ceremony.

As I was putting the magazine
together, Heather and Hannah
Pullinger contacted me. The
Christmas Card cover of the
magazine is Hannah’s design in
memory of her dad Neil and Cards
of this design will be sold at the
Fayre this year and may be avail-
able afterwards. Please contact
me by email if you want to be put
in touch with Heather or Hannah.

I read Nicky’s reflection this month
I was struck by the prayer at the
end, and it reminded me of the
blessing in last years Christmas
Card, which I have repeated this
year...... and so as 2022 comes
to an end, I want to wish you all
A Very Merry Christmas and a
Happy New Year.

Ed

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Altar Frontal

Next time you are in Uplyme Church,
glance up to the Altar and notice the
cloth hanging at the front and see
what colour it is.
During the year it is changed to mark
the time of the church calendar.
Green marks “Trinity” or “Ordinary
time”, Red marks “Pentecost’, Gold
marks “Easter and Christmas” and
Purple marks “Advent and Lent.”
We have a green, red and gold frontal, but no purple one, only a strange dull blue
one…….so a lovely lady, Jenny Short, who helps out at our Shining Stars group for
under 5’s on a Friday morning and takes part in the Annual Art Festival in the church, set
to work to research materials in order to adapt the strange dull blue altar frontal.
Well……she has come up trumps with a glorious design shining brightly. She has design
ed, cut and stitched the wonderful golden crosses onto rich purple cloth, then, with a
very little help from Jenny Perham and Sue Wells, the strange blue altar frontal has
been absolutely transformed.
Jenny Short we thank you for giving your time and talents so generously.

Uplyme Help at Hand - cares

General Enquiries: Marilyn – 07885 859946
Anne – 01297 444799 Fred – 01297 445647
Transport:
Dave - 01297 444799

A group of 16 of us enjoyed a super morning at The Mariners Hotel in Lyme. The staff couldn’t have been
more helpful. They produced some mouth-watering cakes which were rapidly devoured! And a variety of coffee
made to individual request was much appreciated.
It’s not easy to organise outings in December as there are so many events on but we are already making
plans for our next trip in January.
If you are interested in joining us, please contact Anne or Marilyn. While the days are short, we will be going
for morning coffee, but as soon as the hour changes it will be afternoon tea.

Don’t forget, if you need help we are here. Please contact the transport organisers if it is a lift you require.

• A meal if you’re unwell? • Your dog to be walked if you’re not up to it?
• A lift to the doctor? • A visit and a chat if you can’t get out?
• Prescriptions collected? • A lift to see a friend?
• Emergency items of shopping?
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Uplyme Bell Ringing

Practice & teaching for those who’d like to learn.


Thursday evenings 7.30pm - 9pm
in the Church

If you’ve always wanted to have a go at ringing church bells,
we’d love to meet you and let you have a go.


For further details please contact Jo Clarke, on 443050 she’d
love to hear from you


Please do come along and join in.

KNIT AND CHATTER

Who are we:
A very friendly group who love to Knit and Chat
Come and join us, bring yourself, your knitting or
crochet if you like. Or we’ll start you off!
Where and When:
Uplyme Church, Wednesday afternoon 2 till 4
Who’s it for:
Everybody is most welcome. Please do join us
There's always a ready supply of tea,
coffee and biscuits.
Who to Contact:
Elizabeth Cooper on 01297 445538

Shining Stars is a playgroup for the under 5’s and their parents or carers.
It is supported by Uplyme Church and run by volunteers.

There is a suggested donation of £1 per child, but if you don’t have any change,
or can’t manage this, it’s not a problem as you will still be warmly welcomed.

Please bring an adult Free parking
Suggested donation - £1 per child

Come and join us on Friday’s 10am to 11:30am
at the Scout Hut, Rhode Lane, Uplyme DT7 3TX - Free parking

Our last session this term will be 9th December.
We’ll be back on 6th January.

For more information please e-mail Jan at [email protected],
visit www.uplymechurch.org.uk/worship-3-2/shining-stars/ or phone 01297 441986

5

Sunday 18th December

6.00pm
at Uplyme Church

With the
Festival Choir

Would you like to Film Night
advertise in ALL WELCOME

this magazine? The titles of the films will only be
Drop us an email available in advance from inside the
to find out what church, the church office in Axminster
good value it is! or Mike and Jan Maccoy on 442321.

parishnews@ Doors open at 7.00 pm
uplymechurch.org.uk film starts at 7.30 sharp.
Date : Friday 9 December
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THIS SEASON YOU ARE ADVISED TO
BRING EXTRA WARM CLOTHES AND/
OR BLANKETS ETC TO KEEP THE
COST OF HEATING OUR LOVELY
CHURCH DOWN, AND TO KEEP YOU
WARM.

Join us to sing Carols outside Come and Join us on
around the Christmas Tree
Saturday 24th December at
3.00pm

at the Village Hall
Car Park

Uplyme Church Witness the Very First Christmas,
and be part of this amazing Event
Sunday 11th December at 6.00pm

Mulled Wine and Mince Pies

Lots Happening in Church!

The Ridiculously Together @ Ten
Easy Quiz!
www.uplymechurch.org.uk

Why not come to Uplyme Church’s
Family friendly all age services?

Friday 16th December It’s for everyone!
6.30pm for 7.00pm start It’s at 10am, every 3rd Sunday -

Uplyme Church 8th Dec, 15th Jan, 19th Feb

Teams of 6 (We can place you in a team) There’s children’s activities,
a creche corner & refreshments.
£6
You’ll be warmly welcomed!
To include delicious soups and a pud! For more info phone Rev Nicky
But bring your own drinks
Raffle 07931 413629
You do need to book

Contact Sue Wells 07912 272102
Jenny Perham 07761 081424

Or sign up on the sheet by the Church Door
Money raised to go towards the Church running costs

7

Katie Lyons

In a smallish village like ourselves in Uplyme
it is vital that certain essential constituent
parts in the service of our community are at
the top of their game .
Our Primary School, Mrs Ethelstons ,
definitely fits that bill and the reason for that
lies in the quality set by the leadership of
various past Headteachers.
Katy Lyons has taken on that mantle and to
quote a few parental comments she has
shown that she has the qualities both to lead
and inspire.
‘Thoughtful, Generous, Sparky,
Understanding, Kind , are just a few of the
words that have described her.

But what do we know of this special lady ?
Born in Reading, Berkshire she moved at the age of 4 with her parents, brother
and sister to West Coker in Somerset attending West Coker Primary School.
From there she transferred to Preston Community School in Yeovil and then to
Yeovil College studying Literature and Theatre Studies. At that time she knew
that what she really wanted to be was a teacher and studied through
Bournemouth University for an English and History degree where she obtained
her teaching qualification.
Her next move was to Greenford Primary in Maiden Newton where she stayed
for 8 years and then in 2016 she applied successfully for the position of
Assistant Head of School at Mrs Ethelstons which she held for 3 years until she
was confirmed as Head Teacher.
There was no way that she could have foretold that the next few years could be
so traumatic with the advent of Covid in 2020. It was in her own words ‘ a
unique experience’.
That I think was an understatement.
The real essence of Katy Lyons lies however in what she believes is the real
role of being a teacher and especially a Head Teacher. She believes that it is
vital that a school can make a positive impact on a child’s education, so that
the children can start to make the right choices as they go out into the world.
That children should think of others.

8

Anyone who has seen the Year 6 pupils taking the hands of the Reception class
children as they leave Church to return to school will bear witness to this
amazing ethic which is symbolic of Mrs E’s.

Of her own role.

She has a passion for training teachers and at Mrs Ethelstons she has a strong
dedicated team which allows her time to tackle some of the more routine tasks
which every Head Teacher has to face .

0n another side. ‘I’m more competitive than I used to be but know that
collaboration is the real answer. I have fantastic support from both the
Community and the Church and here I know that my own faith is an important
element as part of my life.’

And for the future.?

‘Obviously we hope that the New School will become a reality but if we can
continue to make Mrs Ethelstons that special place in the lives of our young
people then we will have succeeded.’

Thoughtful, Generous, Sparky, Understanding , Kind? Absolutely.

For the next 10 months we will not be seeing Katy Lyons at Mrs E’s as she is
soon to have a baby but she knows that the school is in good hands . I know
that we will all wish her well over the next few months.

Uplyme is very fortunate that we have people such as Katy Lyons looking after
the well being of our young people.

So thank you Katy.

Martin Wells

While the Cats away, the mice will play……

This half term we are enjoying the run up to Christmas. Key stage 1
are busy practising their Nativity, and the rest of the school are
learning some festive songs.
Years 3 and 4 are looking forward to their trip to the Eden Project, and Years 5 and 6 had an
earthquake in their classrooms - a great start to our new topic Extreme Earth.
This half term we had a non-uniform day to raise money for Children in Need, as well as our
Times Tables Rockstars day. You may have seen us dressed up for this!

Mrs E’s Primary School

9

A Well for the Blind Camp

An Italian prisoner of war camp
was situated just over the road
from our house at Tabora. Five
hundred miles of bush
separated us all from the coast
so the prisoners were safely allowed regular time
off from the camp.

Our family befriended a number of these Italians,
some of whom helped my parents with jobs like
tuning our piano and fixing my father’s car. We
also received valuable assistance from them related to a camp for blind Africans which
my father was building ten miles from Tabora on a plot granted by the government.
Unfortunately there was no water there. My father happened to mention this to the
Commandant of the camp who said, “I have just the man to help you.” My father soon
took this Italian ‘water diviner’ to the camp. He spoke no English but on arrival got out of
the car, went into the bush and selected a large fork from a tree shaped like a chicken
wishbone.

The man grasped the ends of the long parts of the fork holding its apex upwards. He
spread it apart and proceeded to walk up and down the the plot. Suddenly, the apex
forced itself towards the ground. The man stood still at that point and proclaimed, “Isa
water here!” My father, with some skepticism had some workmen dig a well at the spot
and, sure enough, water was found seeping onto a flat rock eighteen feet down. More
help was provided from the prisoner’s camp whose bricklayers beautifully lined the walls
of the well and installed a hand-pump which supplied the blind residents for years
afterwards.

My father appointed a wonderful African officer named Ndamu to manage the blind
camp. Ndamu also introduced the residents’ guests to the Gospel of Christ no doubt
including Christ’s own words in John 4v17 when Jesus said, “Everyone who drinks this
water will be thirsty again, but whoever drinks the water I
give him will never thirst. Indeed, the water I give him will
become in him a spring of water welling up to eternal life.”

One of the prisoners named Deo, told me how he missed
his young son in Italy. My mother would sit us down for a
chat and cup of tea in our garden where she took this
photo of us - like two old men outside a cafe in Rome! I
still have a memento he gave me - an ashtray that he had
beautifully crafted from the base of a large, brass,
discharged military shell. The following words are inscribed
on its underside:

To David from his Italian prisoner
of war friend Deo, Tabora 1944.

David Dare

10

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modern, traditional, bespoke
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Prices from £50 scatter cushions.

Hard Floors cleaned from £15 Anna Doxey

for a free quote Member of the Guild of Traditional Upholsterers

Contact William based in Axminster
07540 342058
01297 442430
07432 687047 [email protected]
[email protected]

Mike Ebdon
Electrician

For all your
Electrical needs

Roseneath
Venlake Lane
Uplyme
Devon
DT7 3SD

Home: 01297 442861
Mobile: 07774642740

FREE ESTIMATES

All work Part P certified

11

DOES YOUR DAUGHTER OR
SON ENJOY SINGING?

So many children do but have maybe only
sung as part of a group, in class or a choir.
Would your child like the chance to discover
their solo voice? My fun lessons, tailored to
their age and experience and drawing from
a wide range of songs appropriate to their
level and interest, will increase your child’s
confidence, nurture pride in performance
and build a firm foundation for whatever
exciting musical journey lies ahead.

SPECIAL CHRISTMAS OFFER!

Free taster/trial lesson (subject to availability)

*convenient studio in central Uplyme
*optional practice online back-up
*optional ABRSM exam opportunities

Adrian Pearson B.A., Cert. Ed.
(01297) 442902

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