Village Chronicle Dittisham

May 1 2009

Some of us talk a lot about our dreams but do nothing and some of us actually make them come true.  The  gorgeous, glamorous, Kay Novak  decided to celebrate her ninety fifth birthday last week  by going up in a Tiger Moth at Tiger Airways in Gloucester and doing a loop the loop.  ‘The hardest part was actually getting into the open cockpit’ said Kay laughing ‘but once my legs were in my body just seemed to follow.  It was the best thing I have ever done in my life.’  She wore thermal underwear under the flying jacket and was far too excited to feel cold. She had invited friends and family to the event and they celebrated with ‘loads of champagne’.  Happy birthday to a very plucky lady.

St George’s church looked lovely for the concert last Friday with huge red and white and flamboyant  red and white flower arrangements and all the performers wore red rose buttonholes.  Jonathan Watts, the church organist, played some lovely pieces by Handel, William Walton and Mendelssohn.  The Blackawton School choir sang a rhythmic ‘40’s Glenn Miller style number and belted out Mama Mia.  There were readings, poems (some written especially for the occasion) and a duet of saxophone and guitar.  After the interval the enthusiastic audience sang a rousing ‘Jerusalem’ and then there was a wonderful mood change as  the  beautiful voice of  soloist Janet spread like honey over the audience. She gave us masterful renditions of The Tale of Barbara Allen and White Cliffs of Dover.  The finale of Rule Britannia with many people standing up and waving flags was on a par with the Last Night of the Proms.  Well done to Tom Leeman who organised it all so well.

An addendum to last week’s football final report: After the match the cup was presented  to Marldon Reserves FC by Mrs Emmins from Stoke Gabriel.  It was she who gave the cup to the South Devon League in memory of

Mr Ivor Andrews who played football for Stoke Gabriel.  He was one of three fisherman who tragically drowned one Sunday afternoon forty years ago in the River Dart off Blackness Point.  The men had been collecting cockles on Flat Owers and the boat had become swamped.  Thank you Peter Ford and Brenda O’Flaherty for providing this interesting extra information.