Kingtsteignton Twinning with Orbec Association

A group of the Association consisting of residents from Kingsteignton including school children with their parents or grandparents enjoyed 5 days and 4 nights in Orbec. We were hosted very congenially by the residents of Orbec and received very enthusiastically by the local shops and businesses.

I enclose the itinary but I will give special attention to the Memory game devised by Giselle Motio, a teacher at Orbec school and organiser of Orbec Twinning.
We were given places to visit and to mark the name of street they were in. Some of us walked but soon took the option to go by car. Not easy driving in the very narrow streets of Orbec.

A reception took place as soon as we returned to the Place de Mairie where the Mayor of Orbec and Mayor of La Vespiere were on hand to welcome us. KOTA was represented by our President Veronica Chambers. A letter was read out in apology from our Mayor. Also an apology from our Chairman who was also not able to attend.

A visit to France Miniature was planned on Sunday. It is the largest miniature park in Europe situated at Elancourt near Paris. 2011 is the 20th Anniversary of France Miniature funded and supported by the Ministry of Agriculture and the Ministry of Rural Affairs ( if I have interpreted that correctly).
It is advertised as “A chance to visit all of France in less than a day”.
It was a very hot day, minus ‘mon chapeau’ I bought a baseball cap and wondered around the imposing figure of the Eifel Tower inaugurated 1889 for the Universal Exhibition The real Eifel Tower now has a television antenna on it. Also came across the le Mont St Michel and had my photo taken with my host Michel named after the Saint. The monestry was founded in 966 by the Benedictine monks. A tape could be heard of monks chanting. It was also a prison during the French Revolution.
There was a fantastic model of The Chateau of Versaille built by Louis X111 but characterised by his son Louis X1V the Sun King. The model takes 200 sq metres and took over 12 months to build.

Every now and again a passing TJV train would come through the countryside on the French Rail Network.

Another sound alerted us was a rocket being launched to remind us of the Launch Pad in French Guiana. It was the rocket Ariane 5 at Karou Space Centre. The model was designed by Sculptor William Glachant and took 1,500 hrs to complete.

Anne Lonsdale

August Break for Councillors !!!

Well that is what I was told. Personally I was working well up to last two weeks when I made a firm stand and said 'No more'. My annual holiday was much needed. I had worked solidly for 13 months (having put off three attempts to have a holiday) and was looking forward to a five day break in Orbec Normandy. I had joined the Twinning Organisation at the beginning of my retirement 5 years ago with the intention of improving my school french. I had never been to France until joining twinning and this visit would be my third time and I was relieved to be staying in La Vespiere with my hosts Maud and Michel.

Taking a coach to Portsmouth we set sail for the port of Ouistreham We arrived late at night around 11pm so it was a tired group who set out the next day to meet the Mayor of Orbec and the Mayor of La Vespiere.

Orbec Twinning inspired by teacher Giselle Motio had arranged a tour of Orbec which included a quiz to find which places of interest was in which street.

The medical centre , the post office and the police station were very close to La Place de Mairie in Orbec's market square....... Catch up later with photographs!

Information Fair Event

Kingsteignton Local Services and Information Fair was held at Rydon Community hall on Saturday 23 July. It was a valiant effort that was presented by Local Small businesses to promote their services.
Advertising their services were:-
Susan's decorating Services contact number:- 07887 575304
Glad Rags, Ladies Designerwear Rental contact glad.rags4rent@sky.com
FTB Networking IT support and repair: steveharris@ftbnetworking.co.uk
LockeRite 24 hour locksmiths contact: g.mcnae@lockrite.org
Kingscare League of Friends contact: kingscare.L83004@nhs.net
Trophy Pet Foods, " A One Stop Shop for any pet at competitive prices" contact:
http://www.trophypetfoods.co.uk/
Supa Clean Ovens, Washing Machines, Dishwashers and a lot more contact: richard@supacleanovens.co.uk
Rotary International looking for voluntary workers contact: http://www.ribi.org/
Bluebird Care caring visits at home contact: http://www.bluebirdcare.co.uk/
Nationwide Wills, Home visits to make a will. Inheritance tax Also Nursing Home Fees,
contact: roland@nationwidewills.org

Further news of this promotional day to follow later, with career news from Bluebird.

Dates for Your Diary

Events taking Place July/August in and around Kingsteignton:-

Saturday 16th July - St. Michaels Church Hall, Chudleigh Road. - Consultation on the Future of Kingsteignton. This is most important as the findings will go towards the Vision for Teignbridge in the Local Development Framework.

Saturday 23 July - Community Hall Rydon Road - Local Businesses Information Day. A chance for the local residents to know what businesses are in the area that can be called upon. Keep contractors local.

Saturday/Sunday 20/21 August - Stover Canal Society Open Days Entrance at Exeter Road,Newton Abbot near Teign Bridge. Walk along the cleared canal and meet the people who have helped restore this important part of local history. Sign up to be part of a working pary.

New Sea Wall at Shaldon

On Friday 1st July, a sunny day welcomed Important Officials at Clipper Quay for the opening of the £8.3m flood defence scheme.

One hundred guests and visitors assembled at the sea wall to see the Environment Agency chairman Lord Chris Smith unveil a plaque to mark the occasion. The scheme will reduce the risk of of tidal flooding to 453 homes in Shaldon and Ringmore. One resident told me she was pleased with the way the consultation was undertaken, listening to her fear of upheavel during the building of the sea wall.


Pictured above Planning Officer Nick Davies and Principal Planner (Heritage) Maureen Pearce ) with Mayor of Teignmouth David Cox and Chairman Shaldon Parish Council Peter Williams.

Devon County and Teignbridge District Councillor Chris Clarance spoke on what constitutes the defence system which includes ten flood gates, 25 flood windows and doors together with steps and ramps in specific locations.

Shaldon Parish Council Chairman Peter Williams told of the time in 2008 where he was organising sandbags because of sea water coming right up to the Clipper Cafe. The floodgates will be operated through the Parish Council.

Funding was obtained from the Department For Environment, Food and Rural Affairs.

Picured the children and teachers entertaining guests with folksongs.

As a representative for the Teign Estuary Forum for Kingsteignton Town Council I went along unofficially, taking photos and ready to report back to our council. What happens at the mouth of the River Teign affects Hackney Marshes and Reeds where swans build their nests. Where also is seen heron and egret. Egrets have only been seen back at Hackney over the past few years. Birdwatchers are often seen at this part of the estuary, which is handy for the Passage House Pub/Resturant together with the Hotel and Conference Centre who rely on a vibrant Estuary for tourism and trade.

The Teign Estuary. A Boat with straw sailors. Look out for news of the Shaldon Regatta. See Link www.shaldon-devon.co.uk

Keeping Warm this winter with a New Boiler

Teignbridge District Council are extending a scheme to the Over 75's, who are home owners or who are private tenants. In return for their old boiler they could receive £400 towards a new efficient one. Please see Link: www.teignbridge.gov.uk/boilerscrappage ,to see if you meet the right criteria.

Summer Fayre at Rydon School

Saturday 18th June saw parents governors and friends of Rydon School go along in procession to the summer fayre. The sun forgot to shine but the rain kept away. There were plenty of fundraising stalls, bottle stall and prizes to be won in the raffle.
We were welcomed by the sound of Country Dance music and were entertained by the pupils performing the Ribbon Dance. Once again the teachers worked hard in planning this event and rehearsing the children to make the day successful. Also the Parents Association gave their time to set up and run the stalls.