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Address change

October 16, 2012, 2:28 am
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Due to hardware infrastucture problems, there has been a temporary outage that has gone on too long, to the point where I've been getting a steady stream of complaints.

After considerable reflection, I've decided to move the Topsham town page to topsham.org.uk, where the continued service is guaranteed by a major provider.

I'm very sorry about the inconvenience; Please update your bookmarks.

- Ray Girvan, site maintainer
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Topsham Community Association

November 12, 2012, 5:00 pm
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Topsham Community Association has sent us a reprint of its announcement in Estuary Magazine of changes in its constitution as of 1st September 2012.

TOPSHAM COMMUNITY ASSOCIATION

The Topsham Community Association has changed with effect from 1 September. We hope that for most people it will not be a noticeable change. We are now operating as a limited company, but the people involved and the services we provide are the same as before.

The objects have not changed. They are:
To promote the benefit of the inhabitants of Topsham; and
To establish and maintain a Community Hall (Matthews Hall)

An important part of promoting the benefit of the people of Topsham is developing an understanding of the needs and priorities of the local population by consulting them on issues that are identified as important to the social and commercial life of the town. We will continue to hold meetings on topics we of interest to the wider population, but want to ensure that we hear the views of everyone. We therefore want to develop our membership to include as many people who live or work in the town as possible.

Membership is free. There are no shares to buy. The company is limited by a guarantee from members, which would only be called for on the winding up of the company. The guarantee is a promise to pay up to £1 in the event it is needed on winding up.

Membership is open to anyone aged 16 or over who lives or works in Topsham and who has completed an application form which is approved by the Company. An application form is included in this edition of Estuary. Forms should be completed and sent to Sue Wilkinson, the Company Secretary, at Matthews Hall, Fore Street, Topsham, EX3 0HF. Additional copies of the form can also be obtained from Sue.

We hope that all the residents of Topsham will support the Association by becoming members. We know that Matthews Hall and the activities which are organised there (or from there) are much appreciated and membership will provide a way of expressing your views on what more we could be doing.

- Topsham Community Association
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Blue Peter: Behind the Badge

November 16, 2012, 12:49 pm
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Blue Peter: Behind the Badge is a new account of four decades of the renowned children's TV show, written by its producer for 36 years, Topsham-based Alex Leger. See The Topsham Bookshop for full details.
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Salutation reopens

November 27, 2012, 6:01 pm
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The Salutation Inn just reopened for business after its extensive renovation to what the new owners describe as a fine dining restaurant with rooms (just so we're absolutely clear on this - it is emphatically not a pub!).



 As you can see, now the front coaching gate opens into the a foyer leading to the GlassHouse, a glazed atrium cafe occupying the site of the old courtyard. Today the owner showed me briefly around, and I was very impressed. The Assembly Room above the entrance (I saw it last in the early stages of renovation - see the Devon History Society website) is particularly beautiful.

See www.salutationtopsham.co.uk for further details and menus.

Foyer, with GlassHouse beyond
night view

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Vigilant: Thames barge at the quay

November 29, 2012, 5:24 pm
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Vigilant, a Thames barge dating from 1904, is now moored at Topsham quay for renovation.

Read on for more images, and a description from the attached plaque (click to enlarge any image).




Vigilant
1904 Thames Barge

The Vigilant was built in Ipswich and is a class spritsail Thames Barge rigged with a bowsprit.

She is listed in the Historic Ships Register. Although there were hundreds of these working sail boats on the Thames, only about thirty are still in existence.

Vigilant was built as a working barge for the Horlock Family, who were the Eddie Stobart of the 1900s. These barges worked around the coast transporting massive loads, when Topsham was a working port, they would have been frequent visitors to the Quay.

Vigilant weighs 74 tonnes, could carry 120 tonnes, and was used to ferry grain. When fully loaded up to their marks, these barges would be virtually submerged. They were powered by massive ochre-coloured sails, engines only being fitted in the 1930s. The main sail alone took three men to hoist.

As well as working, these barges were built with racing in mind. The barge racing matches still continue to this day, with racing matches off the Thames Estuary during summer. In 1928, Vigilant was a class race winner. She continued to be sailed until the 1930s, when she was converted into a houseboat.

Vigilant has travelled from the Rover Colne in Essex down the Channel to Topsham, and will be sympathetically restored to enable her to once again take to the seas under her red ochre sails as a racing barge.

If you would like to be a friend of Vigilant, please email info@vigilantbarge.com





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May's Field Consultation

January 16, 2013, 4:41 am
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The Topsham Society, Topsham Community Association and Topsham Allotments Society invite you to A Consultation on the future of May's Field. Matthews Hall, Topsham, on Thursday Jan 31st 2013 at 7.30pm.

May's Field, you may be aware, is one of the very few
(if not the last) undeveloped pieces of land on the Topsham peninsula. Historically an orchard, it comprises woodland and open field, and - despite occasional attempts to fence it off - has long been used as a popular venue for walks and blackberry-picking. There is, however, continuing concern that it will go the way of every other piece of open land that remained in Topsham over the last few decades: property development.
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Topsham Museum News

February 4, 2013, 2:14 pm
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Topsham Museum reopens for 2013 on 27th March.


Events and exhibitions scheduled so far are:
Mar 27: Museum Opens
March 27 to May 29: Topsham Families Exhibition
Apr 16: ‘Starting your Family Tree’
Apr 24: ‘Topsham’s First Museum’ - Tony Eccles
May 29: ‘Who Sank The Mary Rose?’- Dr Peter Marsden
Jun 26: ‘Mud Glorious Mud’- Dr Tegwyn Harris
Jul 31: ‘A Tangled Web’ - Jill Drysdale
Sept 25: ‘Pictures In Pebbles’ - Jill Cobley
Oct 30: ‘Devon Ghosts’ - Robert Hesketh

Topsham Museum, apart from its regular website - www.devonmuseums.net/topsham - is now on Facebook www.facebook.com/TopshamMuseum
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Lower Clyst Project: last chance to comment

February 27, 2013, 8:25 am
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Nigel Cheffers-Heard of the Bridge Inn just drew my attention to a flyer by the Save the Clyst group, which opposes the Lower Clyst Project, the controversial Environment Agency plan to create an intertidal habitat on the flatlands of the Lower Clyst. The
public consultation phase closes on Monday March 4th, so if you have anything to say, now is the time. See Save the Clyst (one-page flyer) / Save the Clyst (main site).

For full details of the Environment Agency plan, see Exe Estuary Flood and Coastal Erosion Risk Management Strategy page, which has detailed descriptions of the plan.

Last week, Topsham Community Association hosted a meeting by the Environment Agency to promote the Lower Clyst Project. The Environment Agency site says of it:
At the latest public meeting in Topsham the audience were able to view a short film [see YouTube - Exe Estuary: Living with a Changing Coast] produced by the Living with a Changing Coast (LiCCo) project, which shows differing viewpoints on sea level rise and coastal change in the Exe Estuary. Martin Davies of the Environment Agency was also able to provide reassurance that no new intertidal habitat would be created in the Lower Clyst Valley without landowner agreement. The Environment Agency recognises that local people have concerns about flooding of the Topsham to Clyst St George road and has pledged to work with Devon County Council, (the highways authority) and its other partners to resolve this issue as part of any future proposals. This could involve, for example, measures to raise the road in future and provide erosion protection to the bridge.
- The Exe Estuary Strategy: Still time to have your say
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The Mysteries

March 25, 2013, 5:17 am
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Tuesday 23rd to Friday 26th April, St Margaret's Church -
The Mysteries -
Tony Harrison's adaptation of the mediaeval mystery plays, presented by Estuary Players:
Director Alan Caig / Musical Director Ben Beeson
7.30pm
Tickets £8 from Topsham News or telephone 01392 873043
See  www.topshamestuaryplayers.org.uk or the Events page for fuller details.
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Estuary Magazine. Apr 2013

April 8, 2013, 4:24 pm
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Estuary Magazine for April 2013 is now in print.
 
Estuary Magazine is a monthly community magazine for Topsham, available from Topsham News, The Topsham Bookshop, and other local shops.

Comprising 56 pages, Estuary Magazine includes events, society news, local articles, contact addresses for local services and amenities, etc. Contributions in the form of articles, poetry, drawings or interesting reports of ventures or adventures are always welcome.
 
More details.
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The Clubhouse

April 13, 2013, 9:48 am
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the clubhouse - Topsham R.F.C.
more than just sport

We need your help. We need to raise £30,000 more to finish our new facilities.

Our club is a registered charitable organisation, and we aim to serve the whole community of Topsham.

You will be able to hire our venue and we plan to run activities & events for everyone.

For more information about what we are doing & to make a gift, please visit our website, or call Neil on 07545 952 423. Thank you.

www.theclubhousetopsham.com
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TOPJAM

June 3, 2013, 12:25 pm
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Sunday 23rd June, The Nelson
TOPJAM 
Open Mic & Jam Sessions
All musicians & singers welcome
All ages, all ability
For more info, call Martin on 07917771651
See us also on Facebook: www.facebook.com/groups/TopJam/
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James Woodrow Matthews

August 15, 2009, 4:01 am
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In answer to a number of enquiries about the builder and donor of Topsham's Matthews Hall, here's a brief biography.

James Woodrow Matthews, J.P., started his career in Topsham as a clerk in the office of one of the old sailing ship insuring clubs in the building [Grove House, then residence and business premises of John Holman] in which, having bought the property, he spent the last few years of his life. He was for many years with Messrs. W Lamplough & Co., Insurance Brokers, and was manager for them until, in 1901, he founded Matthews, Wrightson & Co. in conjunction with Mr Harry Wrightson and his brother Mr R.G. Wrightson. The firm became a private limited company in 1911, when Mr Matthews was appointed as chairman, and he held that position until his retirement in 1924. He was an annual subscriber to Lloyd's from 1901 to 1916, when he became an underwriting member. He underwrote marine in the syndicate of Mr Eustace R. Pulbrook [Sir Eustace Pulbrook, 1881-1953, Chairman of Lloyds] and non-marine, motor and employers' liability under the agency of Messrs. Matthews, Wrightson & Co. Ltd. He was one of the founders of the Corporation of Insurance Brokers, and was later its treasurer and a member of the council, finally being elected a vice-president. He was a prominent Freemason, a member of its Grand Lodge. He died at Grove House on July 30 1934 aged 83.
- from Times obituary, July 31, 1934 (thanks to Michael G Matthews for the enquiry that led to filling in the details).
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TOPJAM, Sunday July 28th

July 12, 2013, 8:39 am
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Sunday July 28th, The Nelson
TOPJAM
Open Mic & Jam Sessions
All musicians and singers welcome
All ages, all ability
For more info, call Martin on 07917771651 or find us on FaceBook (TopJam).
7pm-11pm, The Nelson, High St, Topsham, EX3 0DU, tel 01392 877776
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Topsham Town Fayre 2013

August 1, 2013, 5:33 pm
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*****************************************************************************Saturday 17th August - Saturday 24th August
TOPSHAM TOWN FAYRE
A week of events culminating in Carnival Day on Saturday 24th
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Full programme is available for £1 from Topsham Stores.
See Facebook - Topsham Town Fayre - for ongoing news.

QUICK EVENTS GUIDE 

SATURDAY 17th AUGUST
10.00am: Live jazz from Take A Train, outside Matthews Hall
3.00pm onwards: Estuary League of Friends 'Topsham to Turf' Charity Swim and Ferryman's Swim Summer Festival with live music in the evening: The Jax, Big Fat Astronauts, Dakar Audio Club. Outside Passage House Inn. See Events for full details.

SUNDAY 18th AUGUST
Topsham Allotments & Garden Society Flower and Vegetable Show
Sale of produce and raffle.
Matthews Hall: 2pm opens, 3.45pm presentations, 4pm closes. 

MONDAY 19th AUGUST
Town Fayre Bingo and Crowning of the 2013 Royal Family
Matthews Hall: 6.30pm doors open, 7pm crowning, 7.30pm eyes down. 12 games - cash prizes - and prize raffle.

TUESDAY 20th AUGUST
10am: Topsham  Museum Coffee Morning. Topsham Museum, The Strand. Fun, games and stalls. Admission £2, includes coffee and biscuits.
2pm: Town Fayre Dog Show. Matthews Hall Green, or inside if wet. Judging at 2.30pm: see print programme for categories.
7.00pm Topsham Town Fayre Musical Extravaganza - Matthews Hall, an evening showcasing local bands and musicians including X-Static, Alex Kumar, Julian Piper and The Jukejumpers, John 'Wafty' Waft, Sam C Piper, Big Fat Astronauts, and Dan Akimbo's all star band The 'Sham. Tickets £3 on the door, licensed bar. For more information, see Events.

WEDNESDAY 21st AUGUST
2.30pm-4pm. Children's Arts, Crafts and Games (ages 4-11, including mask-making, flag design, giant board games). Matthews Hall.
7pm: The Topsham Pub-A-Thon: an evening of fun, games and chaos around the pubs and clubs of Topsham. 10.30pm: prize presentation at The Nelson. Organised by Sue Bendell: teams must be pre-entered, and entries are strictly limited. (editorial note: the programme has no contact details, and going by past years, places are generally already filled by the time the programme comes to print).

THURSDAY 22nd AUGUST
10am-5pm: Topsham Flower Club Exhibition, St Margaret's Church: theme is "Wish you were here". Tea, coffee & biscuits available 10am-noon, light lunches noon-2pm.
11am: Children's Flower Arranging Competition, Matthews Hall. Organised by Topsham Flower Club. Age groups: under 5, 6-8, 9-12, 13-16. All materials supplied.
7.30pm: Town Fayre Quiz, Topsham Rubgy Club. Organised by Norman Voysey. Entry fee £18 for a team of six (must include at least two females). Entries strictly limited: entry forms from Topsham Stores.

FRIDAY 23rd AUGUST
10am-5pm: Topsham Flower Club Exhibition, St Margaret's Church: theme is "Wish you were here". Tea, coffee & biscuits available 10am-noon, light lunches noon-2pm.
8pm: Live Music at the Nelson, with Boogie Train.

SATURDAY 24th AUGUST - CARNIVAL DAY
9am-12pm: Topsham Flower Club Exhibition, St Margaret's Church: theme is "Wish you were here". Tea, coffee & biscuits available.
10am: Live jazz from Take A Train, outside Matthews Hall.
2.30pm onwards: Town Criers Competition, Matthews Hall Green.

Carnival Timetable
1.30pm: Fore Street closed to traffic, for stalls to set up.
5pm-6pm: Children's Music & Games with DJ Regan, outside Matthews Hall.
5pm-7pm: Topsham Rock School, outside Chapel Platt.
6.30pm: Judging of Carnival entries, in Elm Grove Road.
7.30pm: Carnival Procession starts.
9.15pm-11.30pm: Live Music & Dancing in the Street, with 'Changes' and DJ Regan, outside Matthews Hall.
9.30pm approx: Grand Prize Draw.

See print programme - available from Topsham Stores - for carnival procession entry forms and full terms & conditions.

CARNIVAL ETIQUETTE
We hope that you enjoy the Carnival Procession and will show your appreciation by giving generously to the official collectors. However, for safety reasons, please do not throw coins at any float except the Last Appeal Float. Have a safe and enjoyable Carnival!
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Topsham Town Fayre Musical Extravaganza

August 5, 2013, 4:20 pm
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Tuesday 20th August, Matthews Hall
Topsham Town Fayre Musical Extravaganza
A showcase of local musical talent for your delight ... This event on Tuesday evening however is not to be missed. For just £3 entry fee payable on the door we have a wonderful night of musical entertainment with licenced bar. There will be many live acts on show including; X-Static from Topsham Rock School, Alex Kumar the supremely talented young bluesman who has been described as a 'Junior Bob Dylan', Julian Piper and The Jukejumpers, a highly refined band that will get you literally jumping out of your seat, John 'Wafty' Waft, a superb singer/guitarist that oozes quality, Sam C Piper, son of Julian, who is a great artist in his own right and is destined for a bright future in the music business, Big Fat Astronauts, an instrumental power trio that will blow you away with their talent, and Dan Akimbo's all star band The 'Sham, who have been brought together especially for this one-off event. If you enjoy live music this show will be one of the highlights of the local music calender for 2013. Show your support for our amazing local talent and fill Matthews Hall to the rafters on this incredible night for just some loose change. Bar prices will be very kind to the pocket too!
See Facebook - Topsham Town Fayre Musical Extravaganza - for more, or contact Martin on 07917 771651.
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Ancient right exercised

August 30, 2009, 6:05 am
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See the BBC story Traffic makes way for sheep herd for a video of Mary Evans exercising her right as an honorary alderman to herd sheep down Fore Street. Note the error in the story: "Traffic came to a standstill in a Devon town when an ancient right to drive sheep through the town was exercised". Fore Street is always closed to traffic from 1.30pm on Carnival Day, so nothing was stopped for the sheep-herding at 2.30.
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Estuary Swim - report

August 29, 2013, 1:26 pm
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Press release just received from Michelmores:

Record entry for charity swim

Organisers of the 8th Topsham-Turf swim are celebrating the annual event’s biggest number of participants who are estimated to have raised over £8000 so far with more sponsorship to be added over the coming weeks for a local charity .

The event, which has been staged by the Estuary League of Friends since 2005 and is now supported by Michelmores Solicitors, witnessed 133 swimmers start the mile long swim last Saturday (17th August) at Topsham Ferryman’s Slipway on their way to the Turf Hotel.

Exeter St James resident, Nye Levett was first swimmer back with Laura Davies from Baker Street, Exeter, the first female swimmer to finish. Topsham’s own Eileen Duthie raised the most sponsorship money contributing over £700 while 13 year-old Tom Veale, also from Topsham, was the youngest competitor.

Estuary’s chief executive, Rachel Gilpin said: “We had previously said our aim was to break last year’s record of 100 swimmers and surpass the £8000 raised last year. We are truly delighted to have achieved this and I’d like to thank all the swimmers, all those who helped on the day, Michelmores for their continued backing and all the people of Topsham who have supported us.”

The Estuary League of Friends is the local charity working to improve the quality of life of those in need of care, comfort and support in Topsham, Countess Wear, Cat & Fiddle Park and Clyst St Mary, Clyst St George, Ebford and Exton .
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Forthcoming events

September 12, 2013, 4:38 pm
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Sunday 22nd September, The Lighter
DAFT RAFT RACE - FAMILY FUN DAY - MUSIC FESTIVAL
in aid of Macmillan Cancer Support

Charity Raft Face & Family Fun Day
Build your own raft and race for glory!!!
Festivities start at 2pm
Minimum teams of 4, able to swim an advantage ...
Best Raft judged 5.30pm / Raft Race from slip at 7pm, Prizegiving at 9pm
For entry forms contact Stuart or Jo at the Lighter Inn
Plus: Great Beers, Delicious BBQ, Kids' Magician, Live Music, Family Games
The Lighter Inn, Topsham Quayside (01392 875439) or see us on Facebook.

The Lighter Inn Music Festival
2pm-9pm
Showcasing the best of local talent with blues, soul, funk, jazz, reggae, acoustic, folk, rock, pop, bluegrass and more, all coming together to help raise funds for Macmillan Cancer Support.
For more information, or if you wish to play or help at the event, please contact Stuart at the Lighter Inn (see us on Facebook).


Saturday 19th October, Matthews Hall
CEILIDH
in support of Stop Abuse For Everyone
Time: 7.30 doors and bar, with music 8 - 11pm
Music: Mrs Midnights with caller Mike Boston
Ticket price: £7.50 (children £3.50, under 10's free).
Tickets available on the door or in advance from Kirstin Wardell 01392 877 617 or WilkinsonGrant & Co's Exeter and Topsham offices.
Bar, and food: soup available at the interval with some snacks also available from the bar

Stop Abuse For Everyone is a local charity working in Exeter, East and Mid Devon supporting women, men, children and young people who are affected by domestic violence and abuse. For more information, see www.safe-services.org.uk / Facebook.
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Topsham TV

December 5, 2013, 1:28 pm
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The local producer and director Alex Leger just sent me details of his new YouTube channel Topsham TV, which has a number of clips of local interest.
There are - after a couple of months of production (and at the time of writing on11th November) - twenty four clips on view, and eleven are about Topsham. These are: three Blue Peter films shot in 1979 (the mud football), 1984 (about flooding) and early 1990s (John Leslie and the pump running competition on the quay), salmon fishing with two of Topsham’s remaining salmon boats, two with Graham Rich talking about his work as an artist (he is represented by the Fine Arts Society), Show of Hands performing at the Rugby Club during their tour of Topsham in 2010, the Puertas String Quartet practising in St Margaret’s Church prior to a performance, the last week (and sale) at Underhills shoe shop, the recent Devon Air Ambulance celebration at Darts Farm with Steve Knightley of Show Of Hands reminiscing about the town when he was an ‘Exmouth boy’, and a clip shot by me from the cockpit of a RN Sea Harrier flying low and fast over the town.
- extract from feature in current Estuary Magazine
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