Hemyock

Looking back to the beginning of the August saw a very wet and muddy Honiton Show, which many of our members participated at. We had members showing stock, crafts, cookery and our boys pulled Tug-Of-War and even though they didn't take top place, they still managed to appear on Spotlight the same evening on BBC One! The middle of August saw some of our younger members pack their bags and head off to Wales for the weekend along with members of Devon YFC. The members spent the weekend in tents and activities included kayaking, sailing, climbing and the trapeze.

The middle of August also saw one of our members, Sara Spiller, go up to Gillingham & Shaftsbury Agricultural Show to an awards ceremony where she was named Young Country Person Of The Year.

We had three teams entered at the East Devon Group of YFC Call my Bluff competition which saw Mark Davis selected to go through to the county round.

The highlight of the summer was the late summer ball held at Bridwell Park, Uffculme by kind permission of Lord and Lady Ivor Mountbatten. This year's ball carried the colour theme of passion, with flower arrangements and other décor in shades of red and black.

The event was organised by Mark Davis, with help from both members and advisory. Immense thanks must go from the club and everyone who attended the ball to all the members and advisory who made the night possible.

Sadly like many other competitions and events, the European dairy event was cancelled in September due to the foot & mouth outbreak, which would have seen many of our members who had been selected for the Devon teams, competing in the dairy stock judging classes.

The club also started rehearsing for the entertains performance which they will be performing in early February at the East Devon Group of YFC entertains competition.

The club also entered a team at the East Devon Group of YFC Intermediate Brainstrust competition in which they came a very respectable fifth.

A few members of the club also visited the Calvert Trust where they watched club member Daniel Stevens enjoy the activities there as the club had funded this trip to the trust which allows disabled children to have a go outdoor activities that they wouldn't usually get the chance of.

Six members had been chosen to represent Devon at the national competitions weekend so congratulations must go them all, a huge credit to the club.

The club entered a staggering three teams at the East Devon Group of YFC junior Public Speaking Competition where they came 5th, 2nd and 1st.

Congratulations to Sara Spiller, Emily York and Kevin Davis for winning the trophy for Culm valley for the twelfth consecutive year and well done Sara Spiller and Emily York who were selected to represent East Devon Group at the county round, where they came 3rd as team and Emily was the 2nd best speaker and Sara the 3rd best chairman.

The beginning of October saw the start of the new YFC year which meant the election of the new officers so a huge thanks must go to all the officers from last year, in particular Mark Davis and Katherine Persey and good luck to this years new officers in particular, chairman, Andy Broomfield and secretary, Gill Manley.

Also on October 15th, Laura Persey sadly passed away aged 19 years. She was a well known member of the club who took part in anything and everything. She will be sadly missed by the club not only for her giggles and caring personality, but her willingness and enthusiasm in everything she did.

At the beginning of November we entered a team for after dinner speaking. Overall we came second and Mark Davis was selected to go through to the next round where East Devon came second and Mark was selected to go through to the next round at South West Area.

Emily York won a place on the junior scholarship to Sweden and Gill Manley won a place on the senior scholarship to either Russia or Cyprus. Well done to them both.

To round off the year the club went carol singing to raise money for the Laura Persey fund. All together there was between 35 and 40 members who went and a total of £277.48 was raised.

Lastly, congratulations must go to club member Neil Pingunet who had just got engaged to Elizabeth Lawless and also congratulations must go to his cousin, Mark Davis who is also a member who has just got engaged to Claire Davie. Good luck to you both.

Sara Spiller