2012 started with the residual mildness of 2011, with the minimum temperature on the 1st being the same as on the 31st December at 9.4,  the warmest night of the month. Other than four or five days in the middle and the last few days when the continental high pressure brought cold easterlies, January was mild, sometimes remarkably so, with my highest reading of 14C occuring on the 18th.  Overall, with a mean temperature of just over 6C,  this was the mildest January since 2008. Even so,  I recorded eleven air frosts with my ' low' reading minimum thermometer; the extreme ...

MINUTES OF THE MEETING OF SHUTE PARISH COUNCIL HELD AT WHITFORD VILLAGE HALL ON THURSDAY 15TH DECEMBER 2011 AT 7.30PM. Those present: Cllrs. Ms C Miltenburg, B Marshall, J Pearce, P Rugg, Mrs E Sweetland, and R Wood, guest speakers Kimmo Evans & Patricia Farrell (East Devon AONB) and Mrs M Thomas (Clerk). GUEST SPEAKERS – WILDSCAPES, SHUTE AND WHITFORD Kimmo Evans following his presentation this time last year East Devon AONB has assisted with further work within the parish including the Parish Biodiversity Audit which is a snapshot of the wildlife within the parish on public ...

Short Mat Bowls at Whitford Short mat bowls became official in November 1989, although the beginning really started in 1988 when Devon Sports Council launched Action Sports to encourage the older population to "get off your armchairs?" By fund-raising events such as Table top sales, concerts by Tina and the Corry Dale singers and jumble sales etc. we were able to purchase our own mats and other equipment in April 1991, at a staggering price of over £1000, thus saving Action Sports the need to bring their equipment to Whitford. From then on, success followed success, winning Leagues and ...

12th Night at the Hall     - 7th January 2012 We were delighted with the huge turn out for this annual event in the hall - 75 locals turned up for an evening filled with food and fun. We had four wonderful people from Shute Stables and even a couple from as far away as Whitford! - what a grand way to start the new year! Everybody brought a plate full of either a savoury dish or a dessert, and some even brought both so there was plenty to go round with just a few sausage rolls left at the end! After Peter's ...

UMBORNE LADIES SOCIAL CLUB. Prospective members are often concerned about whether they would enjoy a club specifically for 'ladies'.  It is with this in mind that I set out below the frequently asked questions that I encounter in my postbag every day. F.A.Q.s Q  Hi, I live alone and sometimes the only person I speak to all day is the lady at Tescos.  Would I enjoy the Umborne Ladies? A  The Umborne Ladies are a group of very friendly people of all ages and backgrounds, they meet once a month on the second Tuesday at a quarter to ...