Colyford is a village on the A3052 Lyme Regis to Exeter road, situated mid-way between Lyme Regis and Sidmouth. Seaton is 2km. away on the coast and Colyton 1km. further inland. Colyford was formerly an Ancient Borough of long-standing and still elects a Mayor. Colyford is a linear village, and on the current Ordnance Survey maps it is still possible to make out the original narrow burgage plots running back from the main road.

There is a strong sense of community within the village and the social scene is centred on the Memorial Hall. Much village effort is put into the annual Michaelmas Goose Fayre, held on Springfields on the south side of the village. Villagers and friends dress in medieval costume, with mummers and medieval music, as they follow the Mayor and his Lady, in a horse-drawn cart, as they process along the main road to the fayre ground.

Colyford has a chapel-of-ease, dedicated to St. Michael and All Angels, also a village Post Office, a Butchers, and two Pubs, the Wheelwright and the White Hart. Unfortunately we recently lost the service of our village Filling Station.

Another of the attractions of the village is the Tramway that runs along the discontinued railway branch line from Seaton to Colyton.
Very popular with tourists, the Tramway runs a regular service from Spring to Autumn.

More information can be found on the Tramway website.http://www.tram.co.uk

It is generally agreed that Colyford is a very friendly and agreeable place to live and visit.

If you require further information about Colyford or any of the events staged by the village then please e-mail:-

welcome@colyfordvillage.co.uk

The Old Manor 1976.

COLYFORD VILLAGE NEWSLETTER: NOVEMBER 2011

GOOSE FAYRE 2011: Again we were blessed with superb weather and the Fayre was a tremendous success from all points of view with a record crowd and excellent support from stall holders and demonstrators of craft skills. The committee offers grateful thanks to all those who helped in any way both on the day itself and during the set-up and packing-up. As usual, we would also like to express our gratitude to Henry and Wendy Pountney and to Clive and Gwen Organ for allowing us to use their fields. The Goose Fayre AGM will be on Friday 23rd March, 2012 and requests for funds to help local causes may be sent, by the end of February, to the Treasurer, Dr David Horrill, 39, Springfields, for consideration by the committee. Several members of the committee are feeling that they would like a rest after a good number of years and we urgently need some new and younger helpers. PLEASE GET IN TOUCH with any committee member or Chairman, Mick Askew or Secretary, Vicky Mills – 553666.

BEATING THE BOUNDS: 55 people participated in Beating the Bounds on a fine afternoon in October following the boundary of the Ancient Borough as far as possible and then meeting at the Memorial Hall for the usual excellent tea. Our thanks to all those who helped with tea and with setting up the route. Also our thanks to the landowners who allow us to cross their land.

ANNUAL BURGESSES MEEETING: This was held on Friday 4th November. John Mills was re-elected Mayor for 2011 – 2012 and also re-elected were Geoff Marshall as Clerk, Howard West as Treasurer, Nigel Pritchard as Constable, Martin Sawer as Mace Bearer and Graham Stephens as Flag Captain.

MESSAGE FROM THE MAYOR: I am honoured to have been elected Mayor for another year. Each year seems to become busier and this year has been no exception, with traffic management and road safety issues around the Tesco development in Seaton and the Stop Line Cycle Way proposals causing anxiety to residents of Colyford. As always, I’m grateful to my wife, Vicky, for all she does to help make the role of Mayor a success. I would like to acknowledge and thank all of you who organize and work in village activities and events. We wish everyone a very happy and peaceful Christmas and hope that 2012 will be a good year for us all.

CELEBRATION OF HER MAJESTY THE QUEEN'S DIAMOND JUBILEE: A small meeting has already taken place in Colyton and the people of Colyford now need to decide whether to hold a celebration in the village or to join with parish events in Colyton. As there will be extensive TV coverage on Saturday 2nd and Sunday 3rd June it has been suggested that our local plans should be for the Bank Holidays on Monday and Tuesday. If you are able to help or have ideas for a party or other event please contact Howard and Anne West on 551375 hm.west@hotmail.co.uk or John Mills on 553666 johnmills49@btinternet.com.

CHILDREN'S CHRISTMAS PARTY: This year’s annual party will be held on Saturday 10th December from 3.00 – 4.45pm in the Memorial Hall. Children from birth to the end of primary school age are invited, please ring Tammy Norcott (552293) if you would like further details. There will be the usual mix of fun, games and party tea with a present for everyone from Father Christmas.

HOLYFORD WOODS - WORKING PARTY DATES: Meet at Horriford Farm on Saturday 3rd December at 10.00am and Wednesday 15th February 2012 also at 10.00am.

STOPLINE WAY - CYCLE ROUTE SEATON - AXMINSTER : The County Council have promised a further public meeting at which they will explain their proposals for the route through Colyford. The date for this has not yet been set. It is understood that Colyton Parish Council will raise various road safety and traffic management issues with the County Council and that the Parish Council is supportive of investigating the possibilities for an off-road route through Colyford in the longer term. Hopefully, we will have more detailed information available for the next Newsletter in February 2012.

MAYOR'S DINNER OR PARTY): Please reserve Saturday 3rd March 2012 in your diaries. The Burgesses have asked that we have a fresh look at the format for the evening, and the Mayor and his Lady will be seeking ideas regarding how the evening and the music should be organized. Please call us on 553666 if you wish to put forward your ideas.

COLYTON LINK continues to offer its services to all who ask for help. Please contact Howard West (551375) or Vicky Mills (553666) if you would like more details. LINK urgently needs more volunteer car drivers. LESS THAN 5% OF DRIVERS LIVE IN COLYFORD but LINK receives plenty of calls from Colyford residents. Please contact us if you could join our list of drivers.

NEWS FROM ST. MICHAEL'S AND (FOSM): Thank you very much indeed to everyone who came and supported the St Michael’s Market on the 12th November and to all those who came and enjoyed the delicious lunches put on by the FOSM. We did even better than last year, making a total of £859, which is hugely encouraging and a great help. Everyone seemed to come again just four days later to Café St Michael! thank you – we love seeing you. We look forward to the Café before Christmas. The church will be decorated (before the Carol Service) and we will have some Christmas music and mince pies – we just hope everyone won’t come at the same time!

NEWS FROM COLYFORD MEMORIAL HALL: At our AGM on 28th October we were sorry to lose John Bennett, Clive Stone and Barbara Eavis from the Committee, many thanks for their help in the past. We have 3 new Committee Members: Simon Card, Helen Maynard and Sue Price, we are sure they will be a great asset. Howard West is still the Chairman, Alison Waters is the Secretary, Jill Badley is the Treasurer and Anne West is the Bookings Secretary.
THE ROOF APPEAL has reached £13,600, our main aim for 2012 is to raise more money for the Roof Fund and modernise the bar. We hope to see you all at the Hall at some time joining in the many activities that are on there. If you are interested in any new activity please let us know - 551375.
Christmas Fair 26th November: Memorial Hall from 10am – 3pm. Lots of stalls full of presents for Christmas. Come and have a delicious bacon roll or mince pie with your tea or coffee. Fun stalls for children. Over 20 stalls.
Upholstery is still on in the Hall on Mondays. Do come and join us, it is a sociable occasion and will continue after Christmas.
Water Colour Techniques, Keep Fit, Pilates and Stitchers are all continuing after Christmas. For any information on activities in the Memorial Hall please give Anne West a ring on 551375.
All are welcome as the funds raised are for the continued renovations of the hall. The next Jumble Sale is on Saturday 25th February, please save your unwanted items, we can collect - 551375. Finally, thanks to all who have helped at events during the past year. We are always pleased to hear from new volunteers so please ring Paula Collingwood on 553211 if you can spare some time to become more involved.

COLYFORD WOMEN'S INSTITUTE: Meets at the Memorial Hall on the first Wednesday of each month at 2.30pm.
We have speakers on a wide range of topics – many tell us of their humorous experiences, while others speak on more serious subjects. The talk is followed by tea, and a chance to chat to fellow members. The WI provides friendship, entertainment, education and the opportunity to meet like-minded people. Many long-lasting friendships have started at WI!
Please come to one of our meetings, you can attend as a visitor with no obligation to join. We look forward to seeing you!

COLYFORD AND DISTRICT FLOWER CLUB: Meets at the Memorial Hall on the first Tuesday of the month starting at 2.15pm. Next meeting – Tues 6th December, no meeting in January, first meeting of 2012 – Tues 7th February. Please see Diary for details.

COLYTON GARDEN SOCIETY: New members will be welcomed at any time. A wide variety of topics are covered, no need to be an expert, just enjoy your garden and we can all learn so much from the speakers and from one another. Meetings every third Wednesday evening of the month at 7.30pm at various venues. Please ring Peter Clark (553341) for more details.

THE NATIONAL TRUST - AXE VALLEY CENTRE: Nearly £800 was raised at the Autumn Fair held in the Colyford Memorial Hall on Saturday 29th October. The committee of the Axe Valley Centre and the National Trust, Killerton thank all those who came and so generously supported the event. Next National Trust Spring Fair fund raising event on Saturday 21st April 2012, Killerton Garden will bring their plants and shrubs to the Colyford Memorial Hall once again! Talks are held in the Colyford Memorial Hall. Concert trips have been arranged for Exeter Cathedral and The Great Hall, Exeter University. Walks on the first Saturday of each month start in March and our first outing takes place in April. Non members are welcome to our events: there is a small charge of £1.50 (including coffee & biscuits) for the talks; the concert trips are on an availability basis but we can often find spare seats on our coaches for those who have obtained their own tickets. Contact our organisers for further details: Malcolm Steer (tel: 01297 631831) for BSO concert trips; Sue Back (tel: 01460 220636) for walks, Roger Findlow (tel: 01404 549503) for outings and Beryl Chesterman (tel: 01297 551419) for theatre trips. If you are already a member of the National Trust, join the Centre for just £5 a year! If you are not a member, join our subscribers list for £5.Please contact the Membership Secretary, Mrs Janet Creasey (tel: 01297 35880) for details.

COLYTON PARISH HISTORY SOCIETY: There will be a new programme of meetings for 2012 early in the New Year. New members are welcome, subscriptions due in January, please contact Shirley Campbell Brown (553557) for further detail.

COLYRIDGE PROBUS CLUB: Meets at the Wheelwright Inn, Colyford, twice a month on Thursdays. We are a very friendly group and hold many functions during the year. Contact Brian Nason for more information on Colyton 552686.

The next Newsletter will be distributed in February and contributions from all village organisations and societies would be appreciated by the end of January. Contributions can be delivered by hand to Dolphins, Popes Lane or sent by email to vickymills2002@yahoo.co.uk (please type in Microsoft Word – Arial 9 bold).