Winsford Village
in the heart of Exmoor
Events Around the Village
2023
Click on a button to fast forward to a particular month
January: There was a full house at the Royal Oak to see in the New Year, with live music, a disco, and a curry. A great time was had by all.
Later on in the month, the Royal Oak organised a quiz night. The back rooms were packed and treated to an innovative quiz by Ellen and Ian Chamberlain together with half time food. The winners were a team from Brushford.
February saw the 1st anniversary of weekly coffee mornings in the Village Hall, here celebrated by organisers Sue and Beverley.
The inaugural Royal Oak Chess Championships concluded in front of a gallery of excited spectators with two close semi finals and a final that didn't keep those longing for a Sunday lunch hanging around.
In the semi-finals there was a tumultuous battle between pre-tournament favourite Ian Brooks and Bampton's finest Neil Blackmore. The chess appeared (at least to this inexperienced eye) to be of a decent quality, and mutual blows were struck before Neil emerged victorious.
The other semi-final was between tournament organiser Martin Jones, and Paul Sams. While the match's finesse may not have been up to the other semi, it was very close right up to the end, when Martin struck a killer blow and advanced to the final.
The final itself was a short lived affair, and Neil was always in control to end up a worthy winner.
Many thanks must go to Martin, as well as sponsors the Royal Oak, for this very enjoyable tournament.
In March we were treated to a performance by Ali & The Swing Cats, who had performed at 2022's Jubilee.
Organised by the Recreation Association, there was dancing in the aisles in a packed Village Hall, as it was transformed into a cabaret complete with small tables and bottle lamps.
With music largely from the 1920s-1950s the three piece band (guitar, violin and keyboards) band entertained the audience across three sets.
Just as we were beginning to settle into spring we were treated by an appearance of snow . Photos are courtesy of Charlie Beeden, Beverley Flannagan and David Luscott
Singing, dancing and much merriment at St Patrick's night in the Royal Oak which featured folk music from two piece McAlpine's Fusiliers plus a guest appearance from Winsford's own Kevin Connell. There was a welcome reappearance behind the bar of draft Guinness, and an enjoyable St Patrick's quiz was won by the Sams/Jones team.
Barely a fortnight after the snowfall, Spring raised its head. These daffs were on Howtown Lane
Disruption in the Oak Shop as rotten flooring had to be replaced. The shop moved temporarily next door into the Royal Oak.
April 1st brought quite a surprising news story about the Exe being dyed purple for the forthcoming King's Coronation. At least one reader missed the link to Wikipedia's April Fool page
It was lambing time at the Hayes farm, and one ewe gave birth to quintuplets, the odds of which have been estimated as a million to one.
On April 4th, the Exmoor Park committee met and agreed to designate the centre of Winsford as a conservation area.
April also saw the 30th anniversary of Winsford's Short Mat Bowls Club, an event which was celebrated in the traditional style.
With money largely raised through the efforts of Sue Hayes, Winsford Village Green got a new set of swings, to replace the old ones which had rotted. A gathering on the green saw a ribbon cut and the swings put through their paces
Not one to rest on her laurels, Sue followed this up by organising the Easter Sale and Coffee morning, attended by 137 people, and which raised £744 for the Exmoor Youth Club.
The Annual Assembly (below) was attended by 33 parishioners, and heard presentations from Brenda Staples (representing the PCC), Frazer Lawrence (Recreation Association), Mel Mileham (village resiliance plan) Sue Hayes (Village Hall), and Colin Wilkins (Parish Council).
May saw King Charles III's Coronation. Preparations went ahead decking the village and the hall out in bunting
Saturday of the Bank Holiday weekend was Coronation Day, and Moor Movies kindly broadcast the event on the big screen in the village Hall. Being Winsford, there were many fine cakes on offer as well
There was a celebratory coronation church service at St Mary Magdalene's on the Sunday. The bell ringers rang a special peal and local musicians gave an short concert before the service. Afterwards those that wanted to stayed behind to prepare their entries for the Best Crown event at the following day's lunch.
The weather put paid to any hopes of having Monday's planned celebratory lunch on the green, so the event was held in the hall. There was a great turnout, about 75 people who all brought their own food. There was also a shared puddings table that many donated to. The event finished off with a competition for who have created the best crown.
The children's division was shared by three very worthy winners, and the adults was won by Orla Jones, with Jane Orchiston and John Titcombe coming 2nd and 3rd.
John also told us his memories of another Coronation, that of George VI in 1937.
We were treated by a visit from the East Suffolk Morris men who were touring the area. A good crowd enjoyed the dancing in the sunshine
The resurrected Winn Club, having been dormant since the pandemic, kick started it's trips out with a coach to see the Devon Show. The weather was nice and sunny, and everyone had a great time
The annual Plant Show, organised by Sue Hayes, raised £660 for the Winn Club and the Bus Shelter appeal.
The twice weekly visiting Post Office was cancelled in May, with the owners of the Watchet franchise deciding to cut back on their out reach services.
The annual Inter Hunt cricket tournament was held in June, in memory of Timmy Gill. The event was packed and had a variety of stalls and entertainment.
The Winn Club's second outing was to the RHS Rosemoor gardens (above), followed by a trip to the local Dartington Museum. Photo by Ian Chamberlain.
Walking rugby sessions were introduced, suitable for all ages and abilities. Photos by Chantel Herbert
The Red Arrows decided to fly over Winsford Hill, on their way from Newport to Cornwall
The first weekend in July saw Mike and Sue Hayes's traditional Pimms and Strawberry Cream Tea afternoon, which raised a very impressive £840.71 for the Recreation Association.
The Winn Club had an excursion to the Haynes Motor Museum, one of the few successful events in a very wet month.
In August, children had great fun at the Forest School run by Exmoor ranger Patrick Watts-Mabbot, learning how to safely light a fire and cook bread on sticks over it, dam building in the Winn Brook and other activities. Photos by Ros Dearing.
Winsford's annual Fete and Produce Show was greeted by the occasional shower, but not enough to dampen enthusiasm of a good sized crowd.
Stars of the produce show were Jeff Howe's amazing hand painted cupcakes depicting local scenes. The full list of winners were:
Flowers: Sarah Cox
Kitchen Garden: Mike Hayes
Men's Cookery: Jeff Howe
Domestic: Sue Hayes
Handicrafts: Beverley Rule
Photography (junior section): Jemima Calvert
Photography (adult section): Tracey Staples
Photographs by Jane Orchiston, Martin Jones and Tracey Staples
Despite some indifferent weather many turned out for fun on the Green in the form of Duck racing, Skittles and raffles
Photographs by Ellen Chamberlain and Jane Orchiston
In September there was another chance to see the bellringers in action in the tower, and learn more about this integral part of village life.
There was a two week photography exhibition and workshop based around the Exmoor Pony, in the Old Village Hall by Willian Jones-Warner - part of Somerset Open Studios 2023.
The Harvest Supper in October was again a well attended sell out, with over 50 people sat in the Village Hall.
The village received two "new" benches, one in the car park by the Winn that had been rescued from the old bus shelter, and the other, donated and made from recycled plastic, on the Village Green.
The bus shelter was also demolished by Charlie Beeden, Paul Sams and Mike Hillier, before being replaced a couple of days later.
The Royal Oak's themed winter Wednesdays started off with a Pie night before a Chocolate themed quiz, run by Ian and Ellen Chamberlain.
Sue Hayes's annual Halloween Family Bingo night again was hugely successful raising over £1,000 for Exford Cricket Club.
A dark and windy night on the Village Green saw some wonderfully inventive pumpkins on display. The overall winners, judged by Roy Thomson and Steve Thomas, were Izzy Farmer and Theia Watts-Mabbutt
In November, the annual Halloween Family Bingo raised £1,058 for Exford Cricket club, who had suffered the theft of their equipment earlier on in the year.
A Winn Club organised talk was given by local re-enactor Ian Chamberlain, in guise of Sir Robert Chamberlain (no known relation) - a real-life "knight of the body" to both Edward IV and Richard III. Ian gave an entertaining and informative talk on the Wars of the Roses.
Photos by Ros Dearing and Jane Orchiston
The annual Act of Remembrance was conducted by David Godsal and wreaths laid by Frazer Lawrence and Colin Wilkins. There were more than 50 in attendance.
St Mary Magdalene's organ received a thorough service. The organ, made by JW Walker in 1848, was a gift of a Mrs. Twopeny in 1860. It has been given Grade I status on the National Pipe Organ Register.
Winsford was treated to a visit by Stars in their Eyes finalist Gary Ryan doing a Neil Diamond tribute. A packed out Village Hall danced the night away
December started off with a family bingo evening, which raised £652 to be shared between Exton and Winsford churches.
The Christmas tree arrived on the green, set up by Mike Hillier and team, and decorated by Steve and Bernadette Hunt
No sooner was the tree up than it was put to good use at the centerpiece of the annual carol gathering on the green
The end of an era as Bridge Cottage poured its last cup of tea and served its last 112 Christmas lunches to a packed restaurant. Roy and Teresa officially retired from the Tearooms which they have run since 2011 and are now preparing the building to accommodate more Bed and Breakfasts from 2025.
The final coffee morning of the year was attended by 52 participants who were treated to some festive live music. Photos by Sue Hayes.
And for the 4th year, the children of Winsford and surrounding villages were visited by Santa with some very helpful elves (photos courtesy of Elf Ellen)
